Apologies for my little absence. I was on holidays and the reception (internet was only through my mobile) was rather poor. Still have a looong list of alerts to catch up on!
This one-shot is a request for Loki God of Evil: 'Jay invites Nya to his father's home for a cosy evening. Then Jay surprises her and dresses up as all of his favourite superheroes, courtesy of Cliff Gordon's expansive costume collection.'
Set somewhere between Skybound and Hands of Time. Rated T for slightly suggestive themes.
A Special Kind of Movie Night (Part 1)
"So, tell me. Where are we going for our date?" Nya asked, her arms tightly wrapped around her boyfriend's waist, as they were flying over one of the fancier outskirts of Ninjago City.
"It's a surprise." Jay replied with a smirk (which, luckily, she couldn't see from her position behind him). "You'll just have to wait and see."
The Master of Lightning was taking his girlfriend on a surprise 'dinner and movie' date, so this was one of the rare occasions where he was the one steering their Hybrid Dragon. Usually, she wanted to be the one in control, in everything they did.
Which also meant that Nya was most certainly not happy with his answer.
Jay could feel her glaring at his back. And he was sure she would have let go of him and crossed her arms in annoyance, if the Water and Lightning Dragon hadn't just started to descend. The Blue Ninja skilfully landed it on a clear spot inside a small forest.
"We have reached our final destination. Captain Walker and his crew would like to thank you for flying with Hydroelectric Airlines." He announced. "We hope you enjoyed your flight and would like to welcome you on board again very soon."
"It wasn't a bad ride, but don't get used to being in front." Nya replied, laughing. The Water Ninja had apparently forgiven his earlier secrecy and curiously took in their surroundings. Together, the couple dispelled their dragon, before Jay took Nya's hand to lead her across a cobblestone path through the woods.
"Now, can you finally tell me where we are? This doesn't look like a restaurant..." Nya enquired.
"That's because it isn't. And you've been here before - well technically you haven't, argh, this is just too complicated. So, let's just say you might recognise this place from before…" Jay told her.
As they kept walking, a large, luxurious mansion soon came into their view.
"Oh, isn't this…?!" Nya started.
"Yes." Jay confirmed. "It's my birth father's villa. Or rather, it was his house. Today, when I went to see my parents, we actually had a meeting with his solicitor, who confirmed that Cliff Gordon really was my father, and that he left everything to me when he passed. After that, we came here to look through a few things."
"Wow. That's quite some news." Nya was impressed. "Have you already decided what you're gonna do with this place?"
"I-I would like to keep it. I think this is what he would have wanted me to do. And he left me enough money to maintain the whole estate, even if we don't use it right now. And..." Jay blushed. "I guess it could make a nice family home one day. Of course, that won't be my decision alone…" He quickly added, just too well aware of the fact that his girlfriend preferred to make her own choices.
But Nya smiled at him and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, we don't have to decide that today, but I also think that keeping the house is the right thing to do."
Jay took the keys from his pocket and opened the door. "Welcome to my humble abode… again." He announced, turning on the lights in the main hall.
"So, this time you know where all the light switches are?" Nya joked.
"Very funny. But yes, I do." Jay joined in her laughter. "And I can even give you a full tour of the house later."
"Later?" Nya raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, later. First, I have a little surprise for you. Why don't you wait in the living room? It's over there. And I'll be back in a flash."
As the Blue Ninja sped up the stairs to the first floor, Nya walked into the spacious living room and looked around. The walls were decorated with pictures of Cliff Gordon, most of them showing him together with his awards and/or other celebrities. The dining table was tastefully set for a candlelight dinner for two. Nya wasn't an expert in such things, but the tableware looked rather expensive to her.
When the blacksmith's daughter inspected the silver knives (which, in her opinion, could use sharpening), she heard her boyfriend walk down the stairs again. But instead of joining her in the living room straight away, he first went into the kitchen next door, where he could then be heard rummaging. Nya took a seat on the huge sofa and waited for him.
When Jay entered the living room, her jaw dropped in surprise. The Lightning Ninja was dressed in an elegant two-piece dinner suit made from black silk, which was completed by a white waffle weave dinner shirt and a black silk bow-tie. In his hands, he carefully carried two champagne flutes with a sparkling, pale yellow liquid.
Jay took a small bow in front of her. "May I offer you a glass of champagne, Mademoiselle?"
"Thank you, Monsieur…"
"The name's Walker. Jay Walker." He replied, putting an emphasis on his adopted parents' last name. When he handed her one of the glasses, shiny palladium cufflinks were showing from underneath Jay's dinner jacket.
The Blue Ninja sat down next to her on the sofa. "To a nice evening, away from the other guys." He said.
"To us." Nya replied, clinking their glasses before taking a sip from hers. "Mmh, this must be the best champagne I've ever tasted."
"It's probably also the most expensive stuff we've ever had. There's a very well stocked wine cellar downstairs, wouldn't want to let that go to waste."
"Definitely not. And we'd better not tell the others about it." Nya agreed. She mustered her boyfriend again. "You look great, I'm feeling a bit underdressed now."
It was a warm summer night, so Nya herself had chosen a light and casual outfit. She was wearing a sleeveless, mid length chiffon dress.
"I-I really didn't mean to do that. And I think you look absolutely fantastic." Jay blushed when he realised that he was staring at the rather deep V-neckline of the sky-blue dress. He raised his head so he was looking back into her eyes.
"Thank you. I am glad you like the dress. But where did you get that suit?"
"I found it among…ahem…" Jay hesitated. He was still unsure by which name or 'title' he should refer to his birth father. "…Cliff's stuff. You wouldn't believe the size of his wardrobe. Turned out we have the same clothes size. I think I'll never have to buy formal clothes again. And he has a whole walk-in closet just with costumes. And not just from his own movies… anyway, I thought this would be a nice occasion to try this one. Even though I don't have the best memories of wearing something fancy for our date..."
"Well, this time you've definitely managed to impress me. And now have a whole house to ourselves, what have you planned for tonight?" Nya asked.
Jay ignored the seductive tone in her voice. He had other plans for the evening. Or, at least, for the first part of it. "Well, I've promised you a nice dinner and a movie and, as you should know by now, I'm a man of my word. When looking through his things, I found these DVDs." Two cases were lying on the square coffee table in front of the sofa. "They contain unedited versions, probably from test screenings, of his two final and as yet unreleased projects, the latest Starfarers movie and a Clutch Powers biopic. It would mean a lot to me if you could watch them with me, I-I don't think I can do that by myself." He admitted.
Nya gave his arm a little squeeze. "Of course, I will. I love you and I'll do anything to help you get through this."
"I love you too. And thanks for doing that for me. But it'll have to wait until after dinner. Our food should be here soon."
"Please don't tell me we're gonna have take-out tonight..."
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Jay went to answer the door and Nya followed him into the main hall.
"Buonasera, Signore Jay." A friendly looking middle-aged man with short dark hair greeted the Lightning Ninja. He was carrying a grey polystyrene box as well as a small cool bag.
"Buonasera, Michele. Thank you so much for doing this." Jay responded.
"Ah, everything for our favourite Ninja." The man, Michele, handed him the box. "By the way, Maria sends her love. She misses you."
"I am really sorry about that, we've just been so busy. Please say hi to her and the kids. I will try to visit again soon"
"Eccellente. Ah, and la bella Signorina Nya. I have heard so much about you, I am delighted to finally meet you. My little Benedetta admires you. She has just started swimming lessons." Michele gave the bag to Nya. "Please keep this in the freezer until you eat it."
Jay handed the man a couple of notes, while carefully balancing the polystyrene box in one hand. "Mille grazie."
"Grazie to you." Michele replied. "Enjoy your dinner. And, I hope both of you will come by very soon. Ciao."
"We will. I promise." Nya nodded in agreement.
"Who was that? How does he know about me? And who is Maria?" She enquired after Michele had left, suspiciously raising an eyebrow.
"Michele has a very nice little Italian restaurant, which is very close to the apartment where I lived during… well, you know, when I did that Ninja Challenge show. They make the best pasta in the whole of Ninjago, so I would go there quite often for dinner. And Michele's wife Maria was a huge fan and recurrent contestant of the show, so he kinda owed me a favour." Jay explained.
"And when did you learn Italian? I thought we would keep no more secrets from each other…" Nya sounded disappointed.
"I've never actually learned it. Michele and his family have just taught me a few phrases. I swear, this was pretty much all I know."
"Alright. I guess what you did during that time is none of my business anyway."
"Hey, I am not keeping anything from you on purpose. Everything about me can be your business, if you want. It's just that… I-I just don't like to talk – or even think – too much of that time. That's also one of the reasons why I haven't gone back there. Eating out on your own really every night isn't much fun..."
"I am sorry." Nya whispered, shamefacedly looking down. Jay absolutely hated seeing her upset. And he hated even more that he was the reason for it. So, he quickly put down the box and pulled his girlfriend in a tight hug.
"So am I. But, as Sensei always says, the past is the past and the future is the future." He once more used the power of positve thinking. "So, let's focus on the present – and our dinner before it gets cold. Or melts." He nodded towards the bag in Nya's hand.
They carried their food into the spacious and well-equipped kitchen. As recommended, the content of the cool bag went straight in the freezer. The polystyrene box contained several small terracotta bowls covered with tin foil. The two elemental masters placed them on a tray and removed the cover.
"Wow, everything smells very nice, makes me really hungry. And those bowls will look really pretty on the table." Nya remarked.
"Oh, believe me, the food tastes even better than it smells." Jay told her, carefully taking the tray. "Can you please take the wine? It's over there, I already opened it earlier when I got the champagne."
A crystal decanter with a deep red liquid was sitting on the counter. "It's a 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella, courtesy of Cliff Gordon's wine cellar." Jay explained. "Please don't ask me what that means but it sounds good and rather costly." He added, laughing.
They enjoyed their dinner, a selection of different types of pasta - cannelloni (with ricotta and spinach), lasagne al forno, mezzelune (with pear and pecorino), porcini-filled ravioli, and fettuccine alfredo – followed by a generous portion of tartufo.
Together, they placed the dirty dished into the dishwasher and, with their refilled wine glasses, sat down once more on the comfortable sofa.
"Phew, I am stuffed. You were right, the food was amazing." Nya commented. "We really should go there for dinner some time soon – I mean, if it's okay with you."
"I'd love to." Jay smiled at her. "But I also like this more private setting for our date…"
"So do I." Nya smiled back. "And I don't think I can leave this sofa ever again after all this food, so a movie would be really nice now. Which movie do you want to watch first?"
"I am sure Lloyd would love to see the Starfarers movie as well, so we could maybe take that one home and watch the other one tonight?" Jay suggested.
"Sounds great." Nya agreed. Jay put the disc in the DVD player. When he sat back down, Nya snuggled up to him. He put one arm around his girlfriend's shoulder and used his free hand to switch on the TV and start the film.
"Wow, that film was really good. Cliff Gordon was an amazing actor." Nya stated, sitting up. "But it feels a bit strange now to watch him, knowing he was your biological father."
"I know." Jay said, stretching his arms. "And I am really glad you were here with me."
"I am glad to be here with you, too." Nya leaned in again to place a soft kiss on his lips. "And we have two more hours to ourselves, before we have to head home." They had promised their Sensei and her brother to be back by 1am.
"Any suggestions on what to do with that time, Miss Smith?" He winked at her.
"Well, you still haven't shown me the rest of your house, Mister Walker. I am sure there are some very interesting rooms upstairs…"
"There most certainly are. But if I give you a proper tour, we'll need to start with the ground floor."
"What do you mean?" Nya gave him a questioning look. "I've already seen the hall, this room, the kitchen and the guest bathroom. That should be it right?"
Jay shook his head. "There is one more room." He walked to the side board and moved one of the golden trophies, thereby revealing the entrance to Cliff Gordon's secret make-up room.
Nya walked over to the back wall, where photos of Jay as well as his ZX gi were displayed.
"Look at this." She exclaimed excitedly. "These are all pictures of you."
"I know. I have no idea how he got all those, but it's nice to know that he still cared about me, even though he abandoned his own son." Jay's voice sounded slightly upset.
"I am sure he had good reasons to give you up." Nya tried to comfort her boyfriend. "And he left you with the best parents one could possibly ask for."
"You are right." Jay gave her a little smile. "And hopefully, one day I will find out more about those reasons, and about my birth mother. Now, let's continue our tour." He took her hand and led her back to the secret door. On their way out, Nya looked at the several film outfits that were displayed along the walls.
"Look, one of the costumes is missing." She noticed.
Jay blushed. "Uh, it's not exactly missing. The Fritz Donnegan outfit is upstairs in the master bedroom. I may have tried it on earlier…"
"Oh, I would love to see that." Nya told him.
"Sure, we're going upstairs now anyway…"
"No, silly. I meant to see you wearing it." She informed her boyfriend.
Jay stopped in his tracks. "There's no way I'm gonna dress up as Fritz Donnegan."
"I thought you already did…"
"But… not in front of somebody else."
"C'mon, don't be shy. I thought fear isn't a word where you come from." She teased him. "Sure it will be fun."
"But…"
"Butts are for sitting. And I am sure yours will look great in that costume." Nya could be very convincing.
"Alright." Jay sighed in defeat. "But no pictures. And no telling the other guys."
"Deal."
"Now, let's go upstairs and get you in that outfit. And didn't you say earlier that there's a whole walk-in closet full of costumes?"
Well, I started writing this one-shot and suddenly had almost 3000 words before even getting to the fun part (and actual request). So, I've decided to split the story into two parts. I've already got a good bit of the second part written, but I'd love to get some suggestions for characters (movie characters, cartoon superheroes etc) that you would like to see Jay dress up as.