Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm back with the long-awaited continuation of Look But Don't Touch. Sorry for the very long delay. I'm happy to announce that my daughter got baptized recently and also that I'm now engaged to be married! I can't really put into words how happy I am! Really, I can't. But because of this new stage in my life, I'm not sure how quick my updates will be from now on. I do intend on finishing Unexpected, though, so no worries there. I only ask for your continued patience and understanding. Thank you.
And just to let you know, I jumped around a bit on the POVs here, but it still should be pretty easy to follow. And, of course, it's still in Third Person.
This was a request made by Californiagurls
Ninjalogy
By: Mad Betrayal
Chapter 16 ~ Look But Don't Touch (3)
It took a total of three days for Jay and others to receive the "okay" to come to the new Elemental Masters' villa. And the blue-eyed ninja had loathed every single hour of those three days. Lance had pretty much destroyed his phone. If he wasn't calling every couple of hours, he was sending meaningless smidgens of absurd texts filled with romantic one-liners that could most likely be traced back to some sappy chick flick or R&B song, or silly emoticons with blushing smiles and popping hearts. It was downright infuriating, and on more than one occasion had Jay considered throwing his phone out the window and just getting a new one. But, of course, Cole had stopped him from doing that and asked him to just "endure"…ENDURE!
GREAT THOR ON A BICYCLE!
And Cole…freakin' Cole!
Jay had all but begged him to go ahead and tell him what he did back when he was fourteen, and screwing Lance altogether. But again, Cole had rebuffed him and said that he owed Lance enough to play by his rules and chose to simply wait for his fellow Italianio to prompt him to relinquish his dark secret. Incredulous. It had all been so incredibly incredulous!
And let's not forget the strife the other Ninja had to "endure". To say Kai was pissed about the whole affair would be a severe understatement. It had been rightfully unnerving to see another man speaking so casually with his boyfriend, and even going as far as giving Zane a pet-name seemed almost blasphemous in the fire ninja's book. He asked/interrogated Zane for details concerning his encounter with Maximillian Astor and the white ninja was very compliant for the most part in answering all of Kai's questions… For the most part. Other times his replies had been curt and snappy, taking on an attitude that completely contrasted against his norm. And not only towards Kai, but to everyone…and everyone noticed. And let's not discount the fact that his eyes would also flash ice blue during these episodes before returning to pure hazel…just like that one time at the mall. Yeah, it was easy to surmise that something was wrong with Zane…
As for Lloyd and Brad, while a bit calmer than Kai but just as irate with the situation, Lloyd simply asked if Judeca Astor would be a problem for them. And Brad had given a firm no, and said that Jude had been a perfect gentleman who wanted nothing more than to be his friend once he found out he was taken. And realistically, that should've been the end of it, however Lloyd was still suspicious. The way Jude had looked at him like he was a disgusting fly in his soup had irked him, and made him believe that the other blond was concocting some sort of spiteful machinations. Ergo, he had decided to take it upon himself not to relax fully until this entire escapade was over and done with…
And thus, here they all were, traveling up a winding incline of stone steps to the villa in the distance, which seemed even immaculate and grandiose from afar. It had been a long and tiring flight to get here, for the villa was not even on Ninjago, but overseas on Europia. It stood high and proud overlooking the port town of Bohain—a picturesque municipality predominately occupied by those of French and Italian descent. The locales had been friendly enough, giving directions to the Ninja when they required some. Thankfully, Cole's roots came into play here and he was able to serve as an interpreter and bridge the gap between languages when a few Italians had happened to cross their paths.
Jay lifted his gaze to his boyfriend's back as the earth ninja was the one leading their climb. He's been so solemn and quiet, and more closed-off than usual. He hadn't participated much in any type of conversation for the past three days, giving only mundane and one-word answers regardless if the topic was open-ended or not. It was obvious to Jay that Cole had wanted a little space after they had gotten back from the mall, and he had adhered to his wishes despite wanting to do otherwise. He didn't like seeing Cole deliberately isolating himself and brooding like a tortured soul who belonged in his very own metaphorical Batcave. It was depressing and overall very detrimental to one's health.
But what could he do? He had already tried to assure him that everything was going to be alright to no avail. Then…what…? Jay wondered sadly. What can I possibly do for him…? After all, this was Cole's past not his. And…was it really that tragic enough to give him even more incentive to run away back then? And just like how his father's shadow had caught up with him and he had to face the inevitable, his past with Lance has reared its ugly head and he was now grimly determined to face that as well.
Jay stared at Cole's back. But what then? Was he determined to face his past alone just because it was his past? Is that why he was trudging up these steps like he was on his way to his execution? Was there really nothing he could do? Just like last time? While it was true that Jay could only provide his friendly support to Cole's familial issues with his father, surely he could do much more this time around, especially since in a way…this did involve him to some degree. And plus…
Jay's heart throbbed with resolve and he picked up his pace so that he was walking beside his resigned boyfriend. He took hold of his hand with no hesitation, and when those emeralds he had come to love whole-heartedly turned to him in question, he put everything he wanted to express into an encouraging smile. These weren't the gallows they were marching up to, but closure. Resolution was going to be the outcome of this ordeal…Jay was sure of it.
"Wow…this place is beautiful…" Brad breathed, captivated by the lush scenery of the hillside. "Ohhh…and feel that ocean breeze…" He turned to Lloyd, offering a grin. "Makes you wonder what kind of world we were living in, huh?"
Despite the green ninja's best efforts to remain focused on the task at hand, he couldn't help but indulge in idle conversation with his beau. Brad was right, after all. The scenery was indeed breathtaking. He looked out into the sparkling ocean on the horizon and the white sails of the numerous boats on its waters, a sweeping gale ruffling his blond locks. "Yeah…even though Ninjago has its share of countryside, it's nothing like this from what I've seen. I mean sure, this isn't a very big city, but it is a form of city. I guess the lay of the land is different here."
"No, it's the minds of the people here which are different."
Kai turned his golden gaze to his opposite beside him as they all carried on with their ascent to reach the villa. Zane kept a steady pace with him as they brought up the rear behind Lloyd and Brad, and his profile looked calm and reserved in the afternoon sun. But the fire ninja stayed vigilant. Something was off with his fair nindroid, and he wanted to know what.
"The architecture here was built to adapt to the natural lay of land instead of cutting through it like the majority of it does on Ninjago," Zane went on. "Notice the untouched foliage within the town itself, and the very path we're on for that matter? All of it works together to uphold the natural beauty of the landscape. This is the difference between a city in Ninjago and a city in Europia. However, let's not forget, brothers, that we've seen scenic beauty on Ninjago as well." A single shrug. "Everything is simply left to the eye of the beholder."
"And let's also not forget why we're here," Kai put forth, his eyes traveling upward to the nearing villa. They narrowed at the seemingly harmless structure or subjectively at the occupants hidden within. "This is strictly business not pleasure, and this is their turf. We need to keep our guard up."
"Oh I don't think that's entirely necessary," Zane ventured, casting a wary glance at his boyfriend. "Civility is not above or below them."
"Oh really, Zane? Because I didn't get that impression," Kai argued and leveled the nindroid with a hard stare. "Can you sense anything? Do you know for certain that this will be a peaceful confrontation?"
A small frown touched Zane's lips. "Well no, I cannot presume to know as much at the moment. However, I don't think it's right to go up there expecting a fight, or thinking that they have some sort of ulterior motive."
"But we don't know them well enough to assume otherwise, Zane," Lloyd countered, glancing back at his elder. "Kai's right. We should be ready for anything. Just because they're Elemental Masters too doesn't mean we should automatically give them the benefit of the doubt. That is just not the Shinobi way."
"Yes, I understand, but—"
"Guys," Cole interrupted, coming to a stop. This was the first time he had spoken since leaving Bohain. "We're here." The other Ninja climbed the rest of the stairs also to stand on the outskirts of the beautiful villa. "Let's go."
Cole continued to lead the way as the others flanked around him along a wide walkway of polished stones. It paved a curving path through the front lawn and broke away to form two separate ones around a stunning fountain. Brad admired the sight with wide eyes as they neared it, having never seen such impeccable craftsmanship. The base of the fountain was octagonal and the centerpiece was carved into four leviathans comprised of jade, with each head spewing forth a cascading sprinkle of water from their gaping jaws. The welcoming yard's grass was neatly trimmed to perfection and prettily dotted with olive groves and native herbs, blessing the Ninja's senses with a therapeutic and herbal scent. Tiger lilies and birds of paradise encircled exotic trees and white rose bushes lined the front porch's wreathed-engraved banister as the Ninja clambered up the small flight of stairs to reach the tall double doors. Easy to say the villa's outside was simply exquisite and went without saying that the Astor Family was extremely well off. But Lance Lombardi…where did he come into play…?
Kai huffed. "Tch. This place is even more ostentatious than I thought. Show-offs…"
"Let's just get this over with," Jay said, reaching for the intercom panel stationed beside the imposing doors. Now that they were here, he was more than a little anxious to get things underway. He didn't care about the luxurious surroundings, only Cole. He pressed the button. "Um…Hello? Lance—uh, I mean, we're here."
Jay released the button and at once, a voiced buzzed from the gold-plated speaker. "Yeah, we can see you guys. Max is on his way down now to let you all in. Welcome." Jude's timbre was laced with pleasantness without a hint of hostility. Jay kept his fingers mentally crossed; hoping everything would play out nicely and nothing would come to blows.
It wasn't long before one of the front doors swung open to reveal the smiling red-head himself. He beamed at the Ninja in greetings, looking as fresh as white linen on a clothing line. He was still dressed as casually as when they first met—sporting a crimson red muscle shirt with a large black "X" design on the front and black tear-away track pants. A playful wink at Zane and he was gesturing the Ninja in with a wave of his fingerless gloved hand.
"Glad you all could make it! Come on in! Take a load off."
Yeah, I bet you are… Kai thought darkly, scowling at the Time Master's back as he followed the others inside. Wink at Zane again and I'll gouge your eye out with a kunai, jerk…
"Sorry for the lack of service courtesy," Max began as he led the group through the foyer, his voice casting a slight echo in the expansive vestibule, "but we sent the villa help home. This is a private affair, after all, yanno. But don't worry, this place isn't too big. I doubt you'll get lost or anything."
Just how long does he think we're going to stay, Jay wondered. But found himself unable to voice this thought as the splendor before his eyes practically begged his attention.
Again, it was proving most difficult to stay focused on possible traps when such glamour was around you. Everything about the villa appeared to shimmer and sparkle with both cleanliness and opulence. From the marbled floor to the grand staircase to the crystal chandelier that hung high from the rafters, everything the Ninja could see fitted the label of the upper-class social elite. But despite its visual allure, something about the place felt lonely—unlived in. The rooms they passed were cavernous and furnished with tasteful décor and amenities, but still it looked…empty, hallow, and soulless. And the Shinobi had a feeling it wasn't just because the servants weren't present.
Max led them into an especially large room—a living room or main social area. The stark white furniture looked inviting enough and neighboring the space was a clear view of a terrace where a dining ensemble awaited, the sun's rays providing sufficient light through the clear glass.
Max flopped onto one of the sofas and gestured for his guests to do the same. "Sorry again for making you guys come a long way. We tried booking one of the villas on Ninjago, but all of them were being used for family affairs. This was the only one we were able to use on such short notice. Oh and help yourselves."
Jay's eyes came to rest on the ice-cold pitcher of sweet lemonade on the table in front of them with a total of eight crystal glasses circling it on a cloth. He swallowed, feeling his mouth go dry with thirst at the sight of the tempting beverage. He reeled himself in, however, and waited to see if anyone would take Max up on his offer.
…
A movement. Zane. The nindroid leaned forward from his seat betwixt Kai and Lloyd and reached for the pitcher and a cup. "Thank you for your hospitality, Maximillian," he said graciously, pouring himself a glass. "The hike up here was a little taxing and I'm sure we all could use a refreshing drink."
Everyone caught the emphasis on the word "all".
Cobalt eyes glittered. "I know right? All three of us think that hike is ridiculous. But, it is what it is." After Zane finished pouring himself a drink, Max took the pitcher next to do the same. His gaze flickered up to the rest of the Ninja, an amused smirk curving his lips. "You all should follow Herr Zane's example. The rest of you look as stiff as the dead over there."
"Well forgive us if we're not acting all buddy-buddy with you," Kai sneered, letting his distaste as well as distrust roll of his tongue with no regard. "But our last encounter with you and the other two dickwads wasn't exactly a "let's be friends" moment."
Max literally shrugged off the fire ninja's ire and leaned back with his glass of lemonade. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting for Lance to fly off the handle the way he did, but…" He lifted the glass to his lips to take a sip, his sharp stare shifting to Cole. "…if you knew the whole story, I don't think you would've blamed him."
Jay felt the earth ninja stiffen a bit beside him. "Where is he?" His boyfriend asked.
A tan index finger pointed upward. "Upstairs. He's on the phone with someone important, so it'll be a bit before he gets off. But as soon as he does, no doubt he'll be right down." He took another sip and beamed at the Ninja, more than willing to play the congenial host. "In the meantime—"
*BOOM!*
All the Ninja leapt up at the sound of the explosion, instincts on overdrive. Only Max remained seated and promptly rolled his eyes. "What was that?" Brad asked, glancing around for any possible indications of the source, as the loud noise had reverberated off the walls.
Kai growled and cut his golden-amber glare to the seated red-head. "I knew it! I knew you assholes couldn't be trusted!" He accused vehemently, flames already gathering in his palms.
But Max simply polished off his glass of lemonade and placed it on the table. He then licked his lips and stood up as well. He eyed the ruffled brunet calmly. "Relax, Bedhead, that's just Jude." He shifted his gaze knowingly down the adjacent hallway. "Another experiment gone awry no doubt," he muttered. "C'mon."
Maximillian motioned for the Ninja to follow him down an arced hallway. They passed many doors before stopping at the end before another. Max wasted no time on knocking and just grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. The sunlight was brightly reflected in the room—near blinding, as glass panels made up the far wall, giving view to a stylishly furnished patio and a glittering pool. Lloyd squinted. And was that…a greenhouse? The room the group had entered was in essence, the makings of a laboratory of some sort: peppered linoleum tiled floor, long white tables, file cabinets, an assortment of scientific equipment, computers, and etc. But what was most mysterious was the dusting of magenta powder in the air.
"Jude!" Max called out, stepping further into the room. The Ninja fanned-out around him, curious and alert—especially Brad. He walked over to one particular table which was lined with potted plants and flowers of varying species. Without looking at the placement cards that identified each one, the Master of Mana recited the names from memory.
"Dutch amaryllis…anthuriums…calla lilies…" He emitted a soft gasp as he came across one with velvety crimson petals. He caressed the flower, his eyes bright with awe and excitement. "Equadorian roses…? How in the world did he get these?" He called to his boyfriend over his shoulder. "Lloyd! My god! Do you see these?! All of these flowers are extremely exotic and rare and—*gasp*…" Brad nearly cried out with joy at the sight of the next flower, whose petals shone in a striking purple-blue. "He has a…Blue Dawn Flower…?"
Lloyd waved away the drifting powder in front of his face and reached out to his awestruck boyfriend. "Brad—"
"Also known as the Ipomoea Indica."
Lloyd snapped his focus to the other blond as he revealed himself from behind a curtain. Adorned in a long white lab coat, tan slacks, mint green gloves, and protective goggles, the younger of the two Astor brothers grinned at the new arrivals and pushed up his goggles to the top of his head, his hand sweeping back behind him to close the curtain from his elder's prying eyes. Charming baby blues settled on Brad.
"The heads bloom in the morning and fade to magenta in the evening, as sunlight plays a major part in its coloring. Nowadays, Ipomoea Indica is mostly found throughout the tropics, scrambling over fences and woody plants, often to their detriment. It has been described as troublesome by the locales if left unchecked. But is a real delight, as you can see, when in bloom."
Brad nodded in agreement and returned his attention to the enchanting flower. "Yes, it is…" he whispered. Lloyd glowered at Jude but didn't comment.
"Well as educational as all that was—even though no one asked for it—mind telling us what you've been up to?" Max intervened, striding up to his little brother. He was obviously trying to step around the blond to pull back the curtain, but Judeca side-stepped and blocked his path on every attempt.
"Nothing! Nothing! So back off, mon frère," he rebuffed, an accented purr of a Europian French dialect canting his voice. His lips then pulled into a lop-sided grin as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Lloyd wasn't the only one glaring at the blond now. Jude sighed exasperatedly at Max's expression and crossed his arms. "What? It's just about what you'd expect, okay? I tested a theory, it didn't work out, and Pricilla farted. End of story."
Everyone blinked, confusion filtering in. All but Max, of course, who just face-palmed.
"Who's Pricilla?" Zane inquired, still sipping on his lemonade.
Jay cocked his scarred eyebrow, eyeing the pursed-lip blond as he pulled off his rubber gloves. It almost looked like he was about to slap his brother across the face with one like a noble would back in the old days when initiating a duel. "Nah, Zane. I think the real question is why do her farts sound like explosions?"
Max dragged his hand down his face. "Pricilla… You mean that pet monstrosity of yours is still alive?" He asked dryly.
"She's not a monstrosity! And of course she's still alive, you frog-faced terd!" The future botanist fumed. "Just give it a little time and the serum I had her try to photosynthesize will leave her system."
"Photosynthesize? You mean Pricilla's a plant?" Brad asked and again Jude scratched his head.
"Uhhhh, yes and no…or maybe kinda and not… really…? Eh! You see, she used to be just your standard run-of-the-mill Venus flytrap. But I wanted to find out if I could extend my element to more than just vines and trees, and try to tame those with more…"instinctual" functionality. I was able to influence insects well enough, especially those with hive-minds like ants, bees, and termites." A finger slid under his nose cockily, "Even a few deadly arachnids, though I'm still working on tarantulas."
Lloyd was growing more suspicious by the second. He frowned. "Your element…what exactly is it, Jude?"
Jude spared him an indifferent glance before showing his back to them. "Haven't guessed yet?" He threw aside the curtain. "It's Nature. Meet Pricilla."
Everyone stared. "Pricilla" did, indeed, resemble a plant, but not entirely like a Venus flytrap. For one, she was huge—about five feet in height, and somehow fitted into a large flowerpot. Her leaves twitched and her stems moved, jostling the white bulbs growing from it. The multiple snapping heads were a familiar sight, sure. But their size were massive and intimidating in design, with the thorns circling the traps' leaves resembling sharp fangs instead of the usual thistles. Something told Brad that flies wouldn't be enough to satisfy her appetite anymore.
Jude's dimples reappeared as a wide white grin threatened to split his face in two. "See? Isn't she cute? She isn't exactly sentient mind you, just more aware. As you can see, my element did more than just connect with her. It also mutated her cells, giving her an evolutionary "ompft" if you will. It's only been a month since her change, so I'm keeping her under surveillance to see if anything else happens."
"As I said, monstrosity," Max deadpanned. "And no, it isn't. It's grumpy and mean. Plus, I keep tellin' ya that just because you give it a girl's name doesn't make it female. Plants are sexless, genius."
"So what? At least Pricilla's alive," Jude said, and smirked up at his brother. "Can't say the same for your two magnums, which you've dubbed: Ebony and Ivory."
"That's just their color!"
"Yeah, I would believe that if you didn't say: "Time to go to work, girls!" every single time before a mission! While twirling them! Ha! Who do you think you are? Dante Sparda?"
"Hold up. Missions?" Kai interjected, quieting the two brothers' teasing argument. "What kind of missions?"
Max tugged on Jude's goggles and watched with satisfaction as the elastic band snapped back forcibly onto the younger's head, making him yelp. "Ah yes, Herr Jay told us about you lot through Lance," said Max, turning to the fire ninja. "We're not much different from you guys, only we use more…modern weaponry."
Kai scoffed. "Guns? Only a threat to the weak and inexperienced…and the cowards that use them," he sniped as an afterthought, relishing in the indignant frown darkening the red-head's face. He always viewed guns as a cheap way to end a person's life. His father's teachings of the Bushido Code were hard-grained within him, as the Way of the Blade was the most honorable while forging on the warrior's path. "And I'd say you guys are very different from us despite being masters yourselves. We protect the people of Ninjago through our acts."
"As do we," Max countered hotly, his cobalt eyes ablaze. "As well as parts of Europia. Perhaps you guys should broaden your horizons a bit, or are you picky about who you decide to help."
"That's ridiculous," Cole said, getting into the conversation. "When Kai said "Ninjago", he meant the world not just the island. It just so happens that most of our operations tend to take place on Ninjago, but we have traveled to help those on different continents as well as islanders."
Lloyd folded his arms. "Well, if what you say is true, Max, then it's commendable."
"We have no reason to lie to you," Jude shot back, a spike of animosity towards the other blond making his posture rigid. "And we sure as hell aren't looking for your approval or acceptance for that matter."
A tense glaring contest ensued between baby blues and blood reds, while animalistic growls went back and forth between the Time and Fire masters. "C'mon, guys, calm down," Jay cut in, quick to mediate and negate the rising tempers. He went to place his hands on Max and Jude's shoulders, grinning kindly all the while. "Different methods, same conclusions. We save lives, and we protect those who can't protect themselves. I think we can all agree that that's what matters most here."
Gratitude shone in Brad and Zane's eyes while the two Astor brothers looked at Jay with surprise. But soon that awe shifted to rueful recognition. "Heh…and there it is again," Max uttered, and his little brother concurred, his lips curving into a somewhat remorseful smile.
"Yep. I can definitely see it….just like at Applebee's when he defended his boyfriend over there."
Jay was slightly taken aback by their words. But that didn't stop a blush from warming his cheeks for some unknown reason. What could they have possibly meant by that? However, Jay wasn't allowed time to muse on the brothers' cryptic reactions as a loud, inhuman grumble suddenly shook the walls of the room. Most turned to the mutated plant.
"Huh? Not Pricilla," Jude observed. "B'sides, the sound was all wrong. Plus, no burst of magenta powder."
"Ah…umm…"
Everyone turned their attention to Zane to find him with his hands on his stomach and his pure hazel eyes wide. "Was that…you, Zane?" Kai questioned, baffled. And the rest of the Ninja went wide-eyed, their mouths falling agape in shock. After all, since when did Zane's stomach ever growl in hunger?
The nindroid looked equally puzzled, bridging on mortified as he glanced from his stomach to his friends in rapid succession. "I…I don't understand I—" Pure hazel abruptly changed into ice blue as the white ninja suddenly tilted his nose to the air. "That smell…" he gave a few whiffs, "…it's delicious…and I need to eat. I need to provide sustenance. For myself…and…for…" Turning for the door, the other masters watched dumbfounded as Zane simply left the room.
Kai was instantly on the move and followed, calling out to his boyfriend in confusion. "Zane!" The others hastily trailed after them.
"What was that about?" Max asked, his questioning gaze darting to Jay as the group briskly walked to keep pace with the food-hunting ninja. "Someone's stomach growling isn't necessarily cause for alarm, but did his eyes just turn blue? Was he dipping into his elemental power?"
"Uhhh…" Jay faltered. Just how was he supposed to answer that, when he himself was unsure of the answer? Well, that wasn't entirely true since he knew one half of the answer…just not the other more baffling half.
"More or less, but Zane hasn't been himself recently," Cole piped up, coming to Jay's rescue. "We're still trying to figure out what's going on ourselves."
Yes. There. And surprisingly perfect given the ninja leader's lack of articulation. The provided answer was concealed in a fog of subterfuge while still delivering a concise enough observation. After all, it wasn't any of the Ninja's places to reveal Zane's true genetic make-up or lack thereof other than the nindroid himself. In any case, it pacified Maximillian enough for him not to press the subject further, which the blue ninja was grateful for.
"Hmm… Now I smell it too," Brad said, scenting the air. "And Zane is right, it does smell appetizing." It was only then that the others caught the tantalizing aroma permeating the villa as well. However, they were now closer to one of the kitchens by Jude's clarification. So how in the world did Zane catch the scent all the way back in the laboratory and not anyone else? Especially not Kai? Who happened to have the strongest olfactory sense of them all? Zane's strange behavior was causing more questions to arise by the minute.
The nindroid was near salivating by the time his nose brought him to his destination. Ah yes, food. Zane anxiously crossed the boundary separating carpet from tile to step into a spacious and elegantly designed kitchen. He could clearly hear the rhythmic bubbling from underneath the chrome lid of the large silver pot on the stove. Tender meat…succulent vegetables…stew… Sustenance! Oh! And is that cornbread I smell baking too?
This was what he needed. This was what he craved. A gnawing complaint from his abdominal region got him moving again, but a firm hand on his shoulder halted his advance. Deterred and vexed, his gaze shifted to meet the golden-amber eyes of his beloved. "Zane, what's going on? Tell me what's wrong, babe…"
The nindroid blinked, his quest for food momentarily forgotten. Kai was staring into his eyes with blatant concern and even a little fear, making Zane swallow nervously. He could feel the heat of everyone else's stares on him as well as they joined them one by one—worry and suspicion radiating from each. Zane's hand instinctively went to his stomach as if to protect it, a wave of uncertainty and defensiveness spiking through his circuitry from his Emotional Framework.
But his defense came from another instead of him. "Compelled by hunger, ja Herr Zane?" Max surmised, smirking and winking at the flustered ice ninja, and simultaneously enticing a glare from Kai. But of course, the Master of Time brushed off the violent vibe and carried on easily. "And look who decided to finally grace us with his holier than thou presence, and by cooking for us too."
On the other side of the kitchen, the gathered masters finally took notice of the opened refrigerator door. "It's passed lunchtime and I always cook more than a single serving…you know that," a deep stern voice said from the other side. The alto imbued cadence was easy to distinguish, particularly for Jay as he had had the unfortunate privilege to hear that tenor almost constantly for the past three days.
Lance closed the refrigerator door and turned to the group with a large bowl in his hands. He had a puce-colored apron over what looked to be black slacks and a silky blue dress shirt which had to be long-sleeved as they were rolled up to his elbows. His left wrist was still accessorized with those thick, black leather bands, but his right was encircled by a very expensive-looking silver watch. The top two buttons of his shirt were teasingly undone, giving a precious peek to a bit of chest and neck, which also happened to be blinged-up by a platinum-linked chain. But stylish outfit aside, the most eye-catching of Lance's ensemble was…oddly enough his face. In short, there were two teal eyes looking at the group, not just one. Gone was the uni-bang as Lance's dark, mid-length locks had been styled to frame his face in a deceivingly messy, though, chic way.
To look upon his face in its entirety… Maybe Jay was looking too deep into it, but perhaps the exposure of both of Lance's teal eyes reflected the importance of Cole's own exposure. And if Jay were being honest with himself, if his heart wasn't so committed to Cole already, he would've been very attracted to the other Italiano. But the truth of matter was that he wasn't. Not in the slightest. Especially when looks meant absolutely nothing in the face of a good personality, which Jay didn't think Lance had.
A frown unconsciously pulled on the lightning master's lips, all those silly texts and badgering phone calls he had to "endure" resurfacing. It was hard to see what was going on through Lance's mind. But whatever it was, it wouldn't work on him and he wasn't just going to sit back and watch if he tried to hurt Cole either.
Jude strolled over to the stove and lifted the chrome lid, releasing a cloud of flavorful smoke into the air. He closed his eyes in bliss as he inhaled the rich aroma deeply. "Mmmm…you must've been down here awhile to have made your patented beef stew, Lance." He gave a sly side-long glance at the other master. "Seems a bit overkill for lunch, wouldn't ya say? And look at you—all swagged-out. Who you trying to impress, huh?"
Jay felt Cole touch his hand, but didn't follow-through on taking it. A single touch was enough to relay the assured message of loyalty.
Cool teal eyes gave the group an aloof once over—lingering on Jay and Cole for a breath longer, before he moved away from the fridge and approached Jude. Lance shooed the blond aside and passed the bowl over to him. "Here," he said shortly and then turned to his other friend. "And Max, you take that platter of macarons on the counter there and go with Jude to help set the table. We'll have lunch on the terrace upstairs."
Terrace? Why not the dining area by the living room we just passed on the way here? Jay furrowed his brow. It seemed a little excessive to him to have to travel up a flight of stairs just to have lunch when a closer area was available.
"Lance, you don't have to do that—"
"It isn't a problem," Lance assured. He kept his attention on the meal he was preparing and stirred the stew languidly. "You all are guests, so it's only natural for us to cater and accommodate you accordingly. What kind of hosts would we be if we didn't provide you with a nice experience…?"
All the Ninja looked at Lance with surprise. Surely this wasn't the same guy from the mall, was it? Jay blinked. Was he mistaken? Did Lance have a change of heart overnight and was now willing to meet Cole halfway and not demonize him? Did his pleas over the phone reach him?
"…Even if you are accompanied by an asshole who deserves nothing more than to eat shit and die."
Jay deflated. And as soon as that little ray of hope was kindled, it was abruptly extinguished. "Lance—"
"Be patient, Jay," Lance cut in lowly, his hold on the spoon visibly tightening as his profile darkened. "I've waited seven long years to confront that savage hypocrite, but I won't sink my teeth in him just yet. Just relax…for now."
A tense silence ensued. And Max, having retrieved the aforementioned platter stacked high with colorful cake-sandwiches, turned and led the way out of the kitchen. "C'mon, guys. Let's leave Chef Boyardee to his own devices and wait for him upstairs."
Zane plucked a vanilla macaron off the platter as Max passed him, making the red-head smirk. Jay turned back around as Cole had yet to move. The earth ninja stared at Lance, his expression just as remorseful as it was three days ago. Neither Italiano spoke. A chime sounded, prompting Lance to open the oven door below him and pull out a pan of yellow cornbread.
"Esci." Lance ordered, his accent clipped but fluent. "Mi occuperò con il culo più tardi." (Get out. I'll deal with your ass later.)
Cole frowned, however, chose to remain silent. When Jay offered his hand, he took it. And together, they followed the others out, leaving Lance in the kitchen alone.
Author's Note: A lot of bloody exposition just to get a group of people into one room, but I couldn't omit it. Anyway, sorry I lied, everyone, but the original ending to this short fic was too depressing for my liking. So, I decided to change it and by doing so lengthen it. Hence, the true final chapter will be the next installment down the line. Which leaves I believe five in between chapters to fill in the gap. I'm a little behind on looking at you guys' requests so bear with me. I'll be taking a gander at them now and seeing which ones strike my fancy. Thanks for your continued patience and support.