Chapter Twenty-Six: Fall
Welcome back, my beloved readers! I've missed you all so much. I can't believe it's been almost two months since my last update—I'm so sorry!
I'm no stranger to going long periods of time without updating due to a lack of inspiration. Surprisingly enough, that hasn't really been the case here. I've just been too busy. I took a full course load at university while working around twenty hours per week, and it just became too much. Good news is, I'm basically done with the quarter—just two more assignments due next week and I'm free! I'm also hoping I'll be able to take some time off school during the winter, so we'll see how that pans out.
Anyway, it's so great to be back to updating! Being unable to write made me realize how much I love and miss it, and I'm hoping I won't have to go so long without posting again. Time and time again these past few months, I've been really inspired but didn't have the time or energy to write; now that things are slowing down, I likely won't have to worry too much about having that problem.
Thank you so much to everyone who's stuck with me despite my nonexistent update schedule—I really couldn't do this without you!
I'm dedicating this chapter to Kirby Morrow, who played Cole. He lent his voice to one of my favorite characters on the show, and he did it perfectly. He was such an incredible talent and will be missed so much. Rest in peace.
"Guys, come quick!"
Rolling their eyes and laughing at Jay's excited cry, the other five ninja pulled themselves away from their various activities and headed in the direction of the blue ninja's voice.
"What's up, Jay?" Cole asked as he strolled out onto the deck.
The others followed close behind him, making their way—a little more slowly—toward the excited redhead leaning on the railing.
"You guys," Jay exclaimed when the others were all out on the deck. "Look!"
He pointed toward the ground below. It actually wasn't very far below, as the ship was flying only a few dozen feet above the ground. All around the Bounty were hills, stretching up toward the cotton-candy-blue sky in every direction, as far as the eye could see. Each rising piece of land was covered in green grass, with trees reaching toward the sky every few feet. The trees were certainly the stars of the show—obviously the reason Jay had been so eager to share the scene with the others. Their once-green leaves had turned bright shades of red, yellow, and orange, before several of them fell to the ground, burying patches of grass in the autumn colors.
"Holy shit," Cole breathed.
"I know, right?" Jay chided. "I couldn't let you guys miss this."
"I'm glad you didn't," Lloyd said. "Thanks for calling us out."
The five turned to look at the blond, who was sipping a pale yellow liquid out of a clear glass.
"What?" He asked upon noticing their stares.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Is that wine?"
The blond shrugged. "So what if it is? I'm legal now, remember?"
The others shrugged, unable to argue with the obvious.
Cole shook his head, laughing. "I'm gonna have to put a lock on the liquor cabinet."
Green eyes lit up. "We have a liquor cabinet?"
"Hey," Kai said, ignoring Lloyd's question, "weren't you the one sneaking him alcohol in the first place?"
"That was different!" Cole argued defensively. "That was a little vodka to help him have fun with the rest of us in Truth or Dare. Now he's turning into an alcoholic."
"I'm just having a glass of wine," Lloyd protested. "You drink beer all the time!"
Cole folded his arms. "I have a beer with dinner a few times a week. I don't day-drink."
Lloyd huffed, rolling his eyes before taking another swig of the alcohol. "Give me a break, okay? I just turned twenty-one."
"Yeah, we're aware," Jay said. He pulled out his phone and started tapping the screen. "I'm ordering a lock for the liquor cabinet."
"Okay, where is this liquor cabinet?" Lloyd asked once again. "If y'all don't tell me, I'm just gonna find it on my own."
The blue ninja shrugged. "Doesn't matter. The lock will be here tomorrow."
The blond bit his lip thoughtfully. "Then I guess I have until tomorrow to find it!" He turned on his heel and darted back inside the ship before any of the others could hold him back.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Cole yelped, chasing after the green ninja.
The other four chuckled as they disappeared through the door. After both were out of sight, Jay shrugged.
"That's all," he stated. "I just wanted to show you guys the scenery. I guess with all the shit that's been going on, I forgot we're well into fall."
Kai nodded. "Oh, that's true. Damn, all the seasons are just blurring together. I would have completely forgotten if you hadn't pointed it out."
"Yeah," his sister agreed. "Thanks, Jay."
"Indeed," Zane said. "If there is one thing this year has taught us, it's that we should not take little things like this for granted—much less more important things, like our friendship. So I would like to remind you all of just how grateful I am for this team."
Kai wrapped an arm around the nindroid's shoulders. "Aww, Zane!"
"You're so sweet!" Nya cooed.
Jay ruffled Zane's gelled hair. "And for one of us in particular, am I right?" He chuckled. "I'm just teasing. Thank you, Zane. We feel the same way about you."
"Speaking of that one person in particular," the master of ice said, stressing his words as he glared playfully at Jay, "if you'll excuse me, I am going to go find Cole."
"Well, I'm glad to see you're not getting into a physical altercation with Lloyd over the last bottle of beer," Zane commented as he entered the bedroom.
The master of earth laughed, a smile spreading across his face as he caught sight of his teammate. "As if Lloyd would drink beer! He still thinks the stuff's nasty. The child."
Zane closed the door behind himself and crossed the room to sit on the bed next to Cole. He placed a kiss on the other's cheek, causing the noirette's smile to grow even wider.
For a few moments, Cole could no longer think straight—a common occurrence when he was around the titanium ninja. After a brief silence, he formulated the first question that came to his distracted mind. "Did I miss anything when I ran after Lloyd?"
The nindroid shook his head. "Only Jay reminding us that it's autumn already."
"Oh, that's right. It is starting to get colder." He snuggled closer to the blond.
Zane snaked his arm around Cole's waist. "Good thing we have each other to keep warm."
The master of earth blushed. "That...works for me," he sputtered awkwardly, causing Zane to smile at his nervousness. The two had realized they were more than friends only a couple months prior, and yet Zane could still make him just as giddy as before.
"And I pointed out that just as we cannot take things like that view for granted, we must never undervalue more substantial things, like each other."
"True that!" Cole agreed. He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Man, how could I ever—even for a second—forget how lucky I am to have you in my life?"
The ice ninja blinked at him lovingly. "Luck has nothing to do with it, Cole."
The two went silent again, staring into each other's eyes for a few moments, simply enjoying their closeness. After a few moments without words, Cole leaned in and kissed the master of ice. Zane threaded his fingers through the long black hair, pulling Cole closer and kissing him back. The black ninja placed his hand on the other's knee, pressing even closer.
Once they broke their kiss, Cole took Zane's hand in his own, lacing his fingers with the nindroid's. "Speaking of fall," he said timidly, "I think I'm really falling for you."
The usually serious master of ice held back a chuckle. "You're such a dork," he said with a smile. "And the feeling is mutual."
I figured it was about time for some Gaycier—I MEAN Glacier! I actually had most of another chapter written before I finished this one, but it felt too similar to some of my more recent updates, so I wanted to space it out a bit.
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Happy Holidays!
—Century