Skylor nervously approached the Bounty, the ship residing near the ground for easy access. After her and Nya had texted back and forth for two weeks now, the Samurai had invited her over, claiming it was easy to find them, as the instructions were simply "go find the giant flying ship." Seemed simple enough.

She climbed the rocks with relative ease, planting her feet on the solid wood deck with butterflies in her stomach threatening to convince her to turn back. She knocked on the front door, short nails painted orange. Nya opened the door, the two exchanging joyful hellos as Skylor was lead inside. She was greeted by the boys inside as she walked inside the room they were in, which happened to be the gaming room.

However, when one of them with stark white hair greeted her politely, hands wrapped around a mug of tea, she just stared and blinked. Skylor turned to Nya, and went to ask the very obvious question to which the brunette nodded preemptively.

"Everyone, this is Skylor. Skylor, this is everyone."

"We've already met," Kai nodded, and Zane swallowed his drink.

"I believe our introduction was rather one sided," The prince set his cup down, resting his hands in his lap from his seat on the sofa, Kai's legs kicked out to rest over his thighs from his seat on the armrest. "Greetings, my name is Zane."

The others echoed with their own names, and Skylor and Nya continued on, the redhead turning to look at Nya with a confused expression.

"So I know that the palace is under temporary rule, but I kind of assumed that included the prince ruling. But, uh, he's obviously not at the castle."

"Did I not mention that?" Nya asked, and then laughed. "Sorry, I thought I did. He's just kind of here for now while things smooth out."

"Like what?"

"Psychological trauma from his parents dying, physical wounds from the explosion, his view of the world being an unforgiving vice being flipped on it's head, you know, the usual."

Skylor didn't respond for a moment. That... definitely wasn't normal.

"Is he alright?"

"Uh, he's getting there. He's still a little nervous and kind of pompous, but he's been hanging out with my brother."

"Oh making friends, that's good."

"Uh, a little more than friends, actually."

"I... beg your pardon?"

"Yeah, they're each other's soulmates, so-"

"I- Really?" Skylor blinked, glancing back at the room they had left. "That's nice. Cool. Alright."

The two continued their conversation, hanging out in the kitchen to bake some cookies.

In the game room, the boys turned back to their game, Cole throwing Zane a controller which was almost dropped onto the floor.

"Alright, this is a racing game, so you should be fine," The Earth Ninja explained, booting up the title screen with a smile.

"What is the goal of this game?" Zane asked, rubbing his fingers over the joysticks, which slid around under his touch.

"Be faster than your opponents. That's it," Jay narrowed his eyes, raising his personal controller, decked out in stickers.

"Alright..." Zane agreed hesitantly, barely making it into the top six once he learned the controls. They played a few races before Zane set down his controller, relinquishing it to Lloyd, and resigned himself to be an audience member. He carefully leaned to the side, using Kai's thighs to rest his head. The Hot Head pretended like he didn't notice, but he couldn't get his mind off the warmth radiating from Zane's cheek, his eyes lazily scanning the screen as the group played.

Before he knew it, the prince was asleep. His breath was steady, his chest rising and falling slowly, a face usually filled with concern loosened and at peace. Kai caught himself calling the expression cute before his brain caught up to his thoughts.

He stared at the sleeping heir's countenance for a second longer before looking up to see the entire team staring at him with knowing looks, eyebrows raised.

"What?" Kai asked softly, careful not to wake his friend.

"C'mon man, you've been fawning over him ever since he got here," Jay said slyly, and Kai felt blood fill his cheeks.

"Have not," He grumbled.

"Uh, yeah. You just stared at him for, like, a solid minute," Cole smirked, a laugh threatening to bubble out of his throat. Kai didn't respond, hands trying to curl into fists but stopped by his grip on the couch.

"We're not judging you, dude," Lloyd smiled reassuringly. "Even your clocks are pushing you towards it."

"I don't want to rush him," Kai finally admitted, chest deflating. "He hasn't been here long and I don't want to scare him by forcing him into something he doesn't want to do."

"I don't think it'd be forced," Jay shrugged noncommittedly, turning back to the screen. "I'm just saying."

"What? You can't just say that and-"

"Yeah, we can," Cole mirrored the Lightning Ninja. "Figure it out."

Kai huffed, and looked down at Zane once more, his cheek smooshed against the fabric of his jeans.

He waited until the others turned around to run a few fingers through Zane's hair.

Zane sat on the deck alone later that night, eyes turned upwards towards the expanse of stars. He let the cool air fill his lungs, fresh and crisp way above the ground. He heard footsteps approach, and turned back to see Wu standing behind him, teapot in hand.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, sir."

"Sensei, please," Wu reminded, and Zane nodded sheepishly.

"Sorry."

Wu didn't respond, instead pouring the prince a cup of tea as well, the steam clear in the cool night. The two sat in silence for a while, watching the wispy clouds drift by and the occasional airplane soar across the continent up above.

"So," Wu began, punctuating his sentence with a sip of his tea. "You and Kai have grown quite fond of each other, as the Bounty has observed."

Zane sputtered, not expecting this line of questioning.

"I- I suppose you could say that, yes," The heir clenched his hands together, eyes on the zeros lining his wrist. The reminder that he really didn't have a choice in the matter.

"I have been informed by my other students that Kai is attracted to you, whether he wants to admit it or not," Wu stated bluntly, and Zane felt the back of his neck heat up.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Zane, you will have to return to the throne eventually. I would hate for you to waste this opportunity to be around him, and I feel as though you would have an easier time adjusting to the life of a monarch alongside a familiarity."

"Correct if I'm wrong, but are you suggesting that I court Kai and convince him to return to the palace with me?" Zane attempted to hide his bewilderment by taking a sip of tea afterwards. "If so, I feel it is wrong to drag him into this whole mess, especially since he's made his opinions of my parents and how they ruled very clear."

"Yes, but you are not your parents, Zane."

This made the prince go quiet, clutching his teacup.

"Do you want to be with Kai?" The question was gentle with very little implication of a preferred answer, but Zane's stomach still twisted.

"I don't know, Sensei, and that's my honest answer," He stared at the deck, memorizing the wood grain. "I have only known all of you for a very short period of time, relatively, but at the same time, I feel like I've known him all my life."

"Ah yes, young love," Wu teased with a mischievous glint in his eye, and the prince glanced over, trepidation written on his face like words on a page.

"Forgive me, I suppose that joke was in poor taste," Sensei mused, and Zane flushed.

"Oh."

"However you decide to proceed, Zane," Wu raised his teacup up for a toast, a social signal that Zane actually recognized. "I personally look forward to Ninjago under your rule."