Author's note: So in BHN's expansive fanbase, of six reviewers, thirty-three percent of the crowd expressed that they like how Jay has been acting so I wanted to do right by the readers and be sure to give him some air time too. Well, this kind of popped into my mind and after writing it, I just could not delete it. So, though I really do believe Jay to be a mostly intelligent individual, he got desperate. And this chapter was born.
Zane felt content with his surroundings though he could sense his friends' agitation. Sensei Wu sat next to the cybernetic ninja, sipping at a cup of tea serenely and that was the end of the pleasant company. Not far away, Cole was lifting barbels with barrels of water on each end just to add a bit of weight as the dark featured boy stared intently at the sky line looking troubled. Kai was taking Lloyd through various forms while Nya surveyed the pair, occasionally offering her own insight to train the green ninja. Zane could tell Kai and Lloyd were uncomfortable under the girl's intense scrutiny.
Jay kicked open the door to the lower floors hurriedly and bustled on to the windy deck, his body laden with all sorts of equipment. In his excitement, the blue ninja lost his balance trying to the get to the rails and instead found himself and many miscellaneous tools caught by his earth powered brother.
Zane hopped to his feet quickly as well, ready to take on some of the heavy burden his friend had heaved all the way outside. "I am fairly certain the storm will not be going away any time soon brother. Weather reports state that it will persist throughout the night and into the morning." He helpfully supplied frowning at the steel rods Jay had given him to hold.
"You sound like a weather man." Jay grumbled scowling at Kai who was still laughing about the blue ninja nearly tripping on his own feet. Nya gave her boyfriend a sympathetic look while Lloyd just frowned at the inventor's supplies curiously. Jay thrust a couple of poles at Cole commanding the surprised boy, "Here, put these together. If I can just get this in there... Can't we get any closer to the storm?" He asked Sensei Wu with a child like glimmer to his hazel eyes.
Kai answered before anyone else got a chance to. "Oh no! Not after last time. We aren't driving headlong into a thunderstorm in a flying ship with no one who can control lightning. You're just going to have to figure out your precious science experiments from here sparky." The fire ninja said crossing his arms obstinately.
Jay snorted, enthusiasm undeterred by his friends negativity, "Oh there's gonna be someone who can control the storm. You'll see. This time, it's gonna work!" Zane hoped the boy was right but he found it unlikely that Jay could regain his powers through the force of a natural storm. Everyone else seemed to have about the same level of faith in the auburn haired teenager's plan though some seemed more worried and alarmed due to Jay catching the deck on fire in his last attempt to harness lightning.
"Don't you remember the last time you tried to get your elemental powers back?" Cole reminded the other though he was still helping do whatever Jay directed.
"Yeah, and I know what went wrong!"
Cole gave his friend a deadpan look accompanied by flat words. "You coated the mast of a flying ship with metal plates then flew the whole thing into the center of a typhoon. Isn't all of that wrong?"
Jay grumbled. "Yeah but this time I'll redirect the electricity straight to the amplifier so the ship won't catch on fire."
"Oh joy," Cole remarked sarcastically. His dark eyes followed the motion of Jay unfolding a lengthy span of silky looking material. "What's that?"
"It's a kite!" Lloyd cheered.
Zane took another look at the structure his friends were assembling. "You're right." He agreed in shock. "It's an enormous kite." He could see the contraption coming together and bent to retrieve the twine that would be used to anchor the sizable kite to their ship. It was a rope consisting of finely braided chords that were somehow malleable and metallic while still having an excellent hold. "This is a synthesized metallic fabric." He reasoned, seeing that the skin of the kite was formed of the same material.
Jay grunted, struggling to assemble the contraption quickly though the storm hardly appeared ready to move on. "I know what it is, I'm the one who ordered it."
Kai shook his head looking confused. "What is it?"
"It's a good conductor that can fly." Nya supplied peering at the assembled mess with worry. "And what is the amplifier going to do with all that electricity once it has it exactly?"
"It's going to amplify it." Kai guessed with a grin and a shrug.
"What are you planning to do with so much power Jay?" Zane inquired fighting concern over the implications of his friend's experiment. How was a human to regain the ability to control lightning? It seemed just as likely that sitting in the freezer might bestow some ice ability on the white ninja.
Jay turned to look at his uneasy friends before beaming. "Duh! I'm gonna recharge my elemental powers." He said the words as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
Sensei Wu finally spoke up. "Now this I cannot condone. Damaging the Bounty is one thing but hurting yourself in the pursuit of power is something else entirely. I'm afraid there will be no 'recharging' until I am certain this stunt will not kill you."
Lloyd scoffed. "Man, Jay sure does put the 'mental' in 'elemental powers'."
"This is not a joke Lloyd!" The man snapped at his nephew. "You will disassemble that kite and the Bounty will steer clear of the storm until it passes. Do you understand?"
"Yes sensei," Jay answered immediately.
The elderly man turned to the rest of the teenagers expectantly who, after a brief pause, also gave their assent. Sensei Wu nodded tiredly and collected his tea set along with the cord still in Zane's hands before making his way below deck out of the wind.
"Aw man! I was so close too." The blue ninja bemoaned while throwing his arms into the air animatedly. He unfastened clasps on his kite with jerky frustrated movements.
Lloyd groaned, "You think we didn't want to see you electrocute yourself?" He called out before tramping back to where he and Kai were training before. Kai chuckled and followed the sarcastic kid back to teach him.
Zane frowned, aghast at such an idea. Jay could really get hurt if he electrocuted himself. "I don't think that would be a good idea."
Cole put a hand on his shoulder. "That's why Wu stopped him. Maybe we should just set course away from the city until the storm blows over. It should be safer to the west of here."
Zane crinkled his brow in confusion. "Don't you wish to see McKaila? The Bounty should be safe at this distance. There is very little risk and the storm should not persist for more than sixteen hours. If we remain anchored here, we should be able to dock early tomorrow morning."
Cole directed a tight smile at his mechanical friend. "You're right. It makes sense to stay here. You did drive the ship all the way back to my hometown after all. Might as well go see McKaila while we are here." The expression was far different than the shock that had overcome the earth ninja upon waking to find his friend had changed course to visit Cole's loved ones while the others slept.
Zane recalled the whole crew's surprise at their sudden relocation. Once Zane explained his reasoning most everyone seemed excited. Nya and Sensei Wu required a bit of catching up on why they were hovering just outside of Cole's hometown but once the secret was out about the black ninja's sweetheart everyone was very accepting. Their sensei had even lamented that taking a break from their isolation could prove beneficial to the ninja's health. The white ninja could remember his black counterpart's hesitation about returning to his home and wondered if the man truly was as enthused to see his girlfriend as he claimed.
"Is there some reason you do not wish to dock here?" Zane questioned the other, not wanting to upset his friend.
Cole frowned and peered over the railing solemnly before turning back to the blond with his arms crossed. "Well I was kind of hoping we'd dock a little closer to the city. We're like a mile out still and I think we can find a better parking space."
"Parking space?" Zane dittoed back. Were parking spaces not for land vehicles? He was fairly certain that ships docked, not parked.
Cole's countenance broke into a grin and the boy rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about it. We'll wait until morning then pull up close to the town." He assured while throwing an arm around the taller boy's shoulders companionably. Zane smiled down at his friend, pleased to see the other in such high spirits again.
"Yo! You two love birds planning on helping me or what?" Jay called out irritably from where he was struggling to take apart the parts of the aperture Cole crammed together.
Zane's brow furrowed in bewilderment. "Or what? We are not birds..." Much of the other boy's request was nonsensical.
Cole bought his palm to his face and groaned in annoyance. "And we're not in love either." He pointed out making Zane's head bob though that claim did not seem as preposterous as the two being birds.
"Just get over here!" Jay barked. Zane was quick to join his friend's exploits to disassemble the flying machine but Cole took his time sauntering over to an exertion flushed Jay to assist the blue ninja with the tighter joints.
Zane peeked up from his work to see his hazel eyed friend properly agitated by the darker eyed boy's behavior but Cole just kept on a small self satisfied smirk in his close proximity to the flushed boy. Nya crouched next to Zane to watch the two young men as well while she busied her arms with folding up the kite's material. Her dark eyes fixated on Cole's twisting hands every time the earth ninja took apart two pipes her boyfriend could not. It certainly was a strange morning.
Lunch came around just in the nick of time because Lloyd was sure if time moved any slower, his stomach would eat itself out of confinement. The meal was nothing more than hastily formed sandwiches and celery but to Lloyd, it was a bonified feast. He kept reminding himself that it was growing up and training that made him so hungry but the sentiments did not really help against his secret worries. Still, nothing could keep the boy from clearing his plate... And several others along with it.
"Slow down Lloyd or you'll get a tummy ache." Nya chided the younger boy protectively.
"I'm more concerned about him choking." Zane put in and green eyes shot up to see everyone looking at him scarf down his third sandwich while the other warriors were still enjoying their first.
Lloyd blushed and swallowed before taking a slow bite from his celery stick for dramatic effect. Kai chuckled with Jay and Uncle Wu both smiling in good humor while the other three took on exasperated looks. "I'll be fine." He insisted when Cole rose a brow at his antics.
"It's our job to protect you Lloyd and I'll be damned if we lose you to a bologna sandwich." The dark ninja stated seriously. Lloyd did not see how the great ninja leader could possibly think bologna was serious business.
"Lloyd's not gonna get done in by a sandwich." Kai defended his younger lover who favored him with a close mouthed smile, cheeks full of food. "It's gonna be the celery. Everyone knows the vegetables are out for revenge ever since Lloyd Garmadon declared war on their existence!" Everyone laughed at that while Lloyd's smile disappeared with a childish whine. "Sorry bud," Kai did not sound very contrite.
Lloyd pouted once his mouth was empty again and shovelled more food on to his plate saying, "It's not my fault their disgusting."
Nya brandished a green stalk for emphasis as she asked, "How can you call this disgusting? It's mostly water."
Jay agreed with his girlfriend easily, "Yeah. And it's green, just like you."
Lloyd glowered at the blue ninja's cheeky smile, proclaiming, "I know what colors are-"
The auburn haired boy cut him off. "Praise the Lord! He can be taught." He shouted dramatically.
Kai chuckled, "Wish the same could be said for you Mr. Lightningbolts."
Everyone laughed as Lloyd and Jay stewed in their aggravation. Lloyd just stuffed his mouth with another sandwich and resolved to let this one slide, at least until he came up with a means for proper reparations. He paced himself more, generally eating one bite at a time so as to not incur the wrath of the crew of the Bounty. He supposed celery was not so bad. It was not like brocolli or brussel sprouts which both tasted totally horrid. It was more like carrots, just a little terrible, not much.
Jay was ready to defend himself though rather than settling for an easy defeat this time. "It would have worked this time if you just would have let me show you. I know what went wrong last time."
Sensei fixed the rambunctious boy with a look and stern words. "I'm sorry Jay but I cannot allow you travel down this path. What would your parent's think if you got hurt chasing down a thunderhead for power? There is strength in each of you beyond that of elemental energy and I would appreciate it if you focused more on that."
His interest piqued, Kai perked up again. "Strength like what? New, even more awesome powers?"
Uncle Wu gave him a suffering look, "I cannot say what your inner strengths are any more than I can tell a seed what it will grow into."
"So in other words, you don't know?" Kai clarified disheartened.
Zane piped up with his own inane commentary. "Actually, one can normally tell what a seed will develope into by it's distinguishing characteristics." Lloyd rolled his eyes with a groan at the brief farming lesson. There had to be a way to turn the android off... Or at least mute him.
Uncle Wu seemed to have no such inclinations and merely disregarded the older blond's statement. "I do not need to know what lies ahead to know that greatness is in my path."
Kai groaned. "Will the cryptic riddles ever end?"
Nya shook her head. "Shouldn't you be used to it by now? You've been living with him longer than I have. At least we know you guys will have powers again without electrocuting yourselves."
"It could of worked." Jay grumbled again and his girlfriend threw a withering look at him. He huffed. "Eh, I'm done here." The blue ninja announced discarding his plate on the counter next to the sink. Lloyd watched him trudge out like a kid who just had his toy plane taken away for bad behavior.
Nya moved as though to stand but Uncle Wu beat her to it. "I will speak to him." The greyed man said, departing.
"And he left his plate out." Cole observed, standing to put both his and his sensei's plates away, and turned to Kai. The two ninja shared a terse nod before the black clad boy nudged the team nindroid and suggested, "You nearly done? I wanted to go over our tactics against the different Serpentine. I think we can improve them, make them more fool proof or something."
"Of course Cole." Zane agreed with a big smile splitting his face. Lloyd watched the two make their way out wondering if Zane really liked Cole. Maybe they could find a nice girl for the android while they were visiting.
"Nya, wait." Kai's voice pulled Lloyd out of his devious machinations.
The girl did as she was told and settled back into her seat, giving her brother a bored look. "What do you want Kai? I told Jay I'd help him check the ship's systems' interference from the storm." Her dark eyes were piercing over pursed lips. Lloyd was suddenly glad he had no siblings. Sisters did not look like much fun. They were too fussy. Maybe a brother would be better.
Kai's brown eyes locked with Lloyd's briefly, giving the younger ninja a meaningful look that he simply did not understand before turning back to his sister's darker gaze. "There's something I want to tell you." He took a deep breath and grasped one of Lloyd's hands in his own making the blond take in a sharp breath, alarmed. "I like Lloyd." He stated bluntly after all the suspense.
Nya gave a small breathy laugh shaking her head then she realized he was serious and her jaw dropped in shock. "You-" She blinked, searching for comprehension in her mind. She turned her dark eyes to Lloyd's crystal green ones. "You know about this... And you're okay with it?" Her voice was pitched with disbelief.
Lloyd squeezed his lover's hand for support and took and steadying breath before speaking. "Yes. I-" His eyes briefly darted to Kai's warm accepting ones before returning to his questioning sister. "I like him too." He had never spoken those words before. It seemed odd and wrong to admit such a thing.
Kai squeezed the boy's hand and green irises crept back to caring chocolate brown ones again. It felt as if his chest was shrinking and his heart had suddenly become claustrophobic and was pounding in panic to get out. It became hard to breathe, like the air was void of oxygen or something. Those intense eyes just held him captive, more than the snakes ever had.
"Lloyd, can I speak to my brother alone?" Nya interrupted making the blond give a start and turn back to her. She did not seem angry or disgusted. She was not even as shocked as the guys had been when they found out. Then again, Kai left out the detail about them having sex this time.
Lloyd nodded and stood but Kai caught his wrist in a firm hold. "Nya, we're together. Anything you say to me, I'll probably just end up telling him ten minutes later." He explained. The green ninja had to wonder if together meant like boyfriends or something else. Kai had never said he liked him before. Then there was that look... Was he over thinking things?
Nya sighed and smiled at the pair calmly. "This is different Kai. I want to talk to my brother, not him and his boyfriend. Okay?" Lloyd blushed at the girl's classification of their relationship. Sex did not count as dating, did it?
"It's okay. I need to go see sensei about my training anyway." He gave the siblings a shaky smile and rushed from the room, ignoring the red ninja's noisy attempts to keep him there.
He firmly shut the door to the kitchen area and fell back against it with his eyes clamped shut to try to compose himself. "That was a lot to take in so suddenly." The familiar voice made dilated emerald eyes fly open in fright.
Alright. So who does the mystery voice belong to? I'll give you a hint... It is not Kai, Nya, or Lloyd! Okay, so that was not much of a hint. I am not feeling well but I really wanted to post this so enjoy the cliffhangeryness! It's a word now.