True to Kai's word, the duo spent the morning in the city. The Fire Ninja could tell that Zane was relieved to be drinking anything but water again, and was more than happy to buy him smoothies until the end of time. As Zane was sipping his drink with a very pleased expression, Kai scrolled on his phone, trying to not to read into any posts speculating what had happened to the prince since the ball, and even some people trying to convince others that they had seen the prince on the street holding a latte.

He was so entranced in thought he didn't notice any movement until chilly fingers rested on his own. Kai jumped, and Zane pulled back, tucking his hand under the table.

"Sorry," He apologized quietly, sipping his drink after to mask the embarrassment.

"No, no, you jut startled me," Kai flipped his palm up, wiggling his fingers. "C'mon."

Zane complied shyly, resting his fingers on top of Kai's overturned ones. The two just sat in the smoothie shop, content in each other's company. Zane looked around for the most part, but his gaze sometimes settled on the Fire Ninja, drinking in the rare sight of his boyfriend in a relaxed mood. Usually there was a scowl or a smirk, or even concern when Zane was upset. It wasn't often that his features settled into a neutral expression, brows occasionally furrowing in concentration.

It was Zane's turn to jump when Kai suddenly started, juggling his phone. He held it up to his ear, a twinge of concern crossing his countenance.

"Yeah, Jay?"

Zane tapped his foot in anticipation as Kai scowled once more, glancing between Zane and his smoothie as Jay talked.

"But what about Zane?"

Aggravated noises sounded from the other side of the phone, and Zane repressed a laugh at the thought of what Jay's face must look like.

"Fine, fine. Be there in a second."

Kai hung up, dug out an excess of bills from his wallet, and set them under Zane's drink.

"C'mon, call to action. You're coming with."


Zane held on for dear life as Kai rode his cycle across some flat building tops, arms squeezed around a red-clothed midsection as his hair was whipped around by fierce wind. Suddenly Kai screeched to a halt, dissolving his ride, and Zane stumbled upon impact, not used to the sudden change. Luckily, Kai held fast, strong fingers gripping his forearms to keep his face from meeting the ground.

The golden sword was tucked into its sheath. and the mask was adjusted to fully cover his face after being shifted by the ride over.

"Just stay here, and don't move," Kai ordered, and although Zane would usually scoff, he nodded, pressing against the wall to his back. Kai leapt off the building, and Zane resisted the incredibly strong urge to peek over the side of the building to watch.

Shouting sounded from below, a mix of Cole and Kai, and a bright zap alerted Zane to the fact that Jay was also present in the fight.

The battle lasted for what felt like hours, the sound of metal scraping and shouting combined with the constant buzz of nerves wearing Zane down to the point where he was barely lucid, everything blending into a mass of noise.

It was only a mass, however, until one particular cry made him sit up straighter.

"Wait, Kai-!"

A call from Jay sounded, and it was followed by relative silence. Zane crept over the edge, peering down to see one gangster holding his boyfriend with a gun to his head. The other ninja were backing off, clearly a threat to kill with any wrong move.

The prince's vision went red and his feet were moving before he even quite knew what he was doing. He flew off the top of the building, suspended in thin air for just a moment before falling straight down before thrusting his hands out, creating an ice slide that only accelerated him until the final moment. When he was in the middle of the fight, he shot some more ice, and hoped that it succeeded.

He skid into the buildings on the opposite side of the street, checking his handiwork.

Sure enough, Kai was released, but the look on his face told Zane that he probably wasn't the hero in this situation. The ice wielder glanced over at his work. Suspended in the air, blood seeping from their wounds, lay the gang members speared by spikes of ice. The guns were dropped on the ground, and the street was silent save for the distant blaring of police cars coming to assist his friends.

Zane looked back at the ninja, scanning each one of their faces for any sign of pride, but came up short.

Well, shit.