Chapter 16
Cole sat alone in Jay's empty room. It just didn't feel the same without him.
"I know how hard it must feel to have lost him," a familiar voice said from in front of him. It was someone he never wanted to see again, but at the same time did.
He pulled out something from the box. "Here, Jay's lucky wrench. Its yours now..." Cole took it and held it close to his chest. "So, the funeral's tomorrow?"
Cole shook his head. "No, its today..." He sobbed. Then threw himself forward. He didn't know why he was hugging Dust, but what he did know was that he wasn't gonna feel any better soon.
Maybe just being as sad as he was caused him to do whatever he thought of first.
"I'm really truly sorry..."
Cole wrapped his arms tight around Dust's chest and sniffed. The memory of Jay's death just wouldn't get out of his head.
He stared down at the floor.
"I know I wanted him dead before... But now I see it was the only family you ever had before." Dust said.
Cole blinked.
"How about this, you eat lunch at my place, then you can go and attend the funeral..."
"It's gonna be a while. We all agreed to gave dinner together afterwards..." Cole sighed.
Dust cocked his head.
"Can't you just use your magic to bring him back?"
"I could... but things - life doesn't work that way. If Jay was meant to die now...Then that's it. I'm sorry, Cole."
Silence drowned in... Then Cole said:
"I just wasn't ready for any of this... So, are you good now?" Dust shrugged.
"Depends," he grimaced and stepped away from Cole. "Let's go... I already had a guard set up lunch."
"Welcome back, M -"
Dust shot the guard a glare.
"Welcome back, Cole." He corrected and bowed, opening the doors.
"Thanks," Cole said softly and headed for the dining room. He took a seat by the end and slouched, staring at his empty plate. Dust came over and patted his shoulder.
"Cole? Where's my son?" Cole heard a voice yell. Dust noticed Cole's reaction and motioned for the guard to bring him in. Lou, Cole's father, stood by the guard's side. "Cole! Oh... I was worried ever since you ran away!"
Cole ignored his past thoughts and ran to his dad. "I'm sorry, dad... I just... I don't know what I was thinking... What are you doing here?"
"I told him to come," Dust said standing up.
"You?"
"I knew how much pain you must've felt... I decided you needed to see your father again."
Lou looked at Cole with worry. "What does he mean?"
"I made a friend, dad. But, he passed away... He died," Cole felt tears beginning to blur his vision again. Loud hugged his son.
After a few more minutes with his father, Lou left.
Cole looked at Dust. He wasn't the villain anymore. There was no villain anymore.
"Eat up. I'm taking you to the funeral." Cole stared at Dust with disbelief. "Don't look at me that way. I'm only doing this parentally thing for today... Tomorrow you're living with Zane and Pixal."
Cole faked a smile. "I just thought you actually cared now..."
"I do. But you don't belong here. I kidnapped you when you were little, which was wrong." Dust continued to eat.
Cole spotted Jay's parents just a few feet away from him. Crying their eyes out. He wanted to shuffle over, but he was caught and stuck in between a sobbing Kai and Lloyd.
"Ugh, Kai... Lloyd, please move," he said through clenched teeth. Lloyd wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stepped aside, pulling Kai with him.
Finally free, Cole swooped by Jay's parents. "I'm sorry about your son," he told them.
The woman dried her tears, "Oh, thank you dear..." She looked over Cole. "You must be Cole, Jay's mentioned a wee bit about you to us."
The man gripped his wife's hand. "Nice meetin' ya, son. I'm Ed and this here is Edna. Jay was a great kiddo... I just can't believe he's gone. Say, did ya get his lucky wrench?" Cole nodded. "Oh, do us a favor and keep it safe? We love that kid, but you look like you need it more."
Cole raised a brow, then realized what they meant. More tears were coming out. "Thanks," he sniffed and pulled it out. "Your son was a great friend. I'm gonna miss him too."
"Once in a lifetime, means there's no second chance," Cole heard Dust whisper in his ear. Cole blinked back more tears. It was true...
"It was nice meeting you," Cole finally spoke out, shaking Ed and Edna's hands.
At the end of the funeral, Cole walked up to the casket and set a hand on top of it. Lloyd crept up beside him.
"You ready to leave soon? Its time for dinner..."
Cole nodded slowly.
"Once in a lifetime, means there's no second chance," Cole repeated softly... Gazing at Jay's framed picture by the casket.
Tada! Surprise! AU, Dust cares for Cole! That's it for the A/N
