"Alright, hand them over."
"Hand what over?"
"Cole, you know exactly what I'm talking about!"
"How could I possibly know?"
Jay tackled Cole to the ground, wrestling him for the bag of snacks as the prince laughed. Cole easily flipped Jay over, pinning him down under his weight, trapping the redhead's hands above his head with one of his own. Cole grabbed a cookie with his free hand, waving it in Jay's face before eating it.
"You are cruel!" Jay accused.
"Awe, did you want that?" Cole teased, pretending to pout. "Did you want a cookie?"
"They are my mom's cookies, you jerk!" Jay squirmed, trying and failing to escape Cole's grip.
"I don't know," Cole smirked, "she did hand me the bag."
Jay growled, then smirked. Cole yelped and ripped his hands away as a bolt of electricity pulsed through him. Jay chuckled, grabbing the bag of snacks before returning to the bike they parked a few feet away.
"Hey, no fair!" Cole cried, jumping up and running after him.
Jay grabbed a box of cookies from inside, setting them aside before quickly throwing the rest of the snacks into the travel compartment on the bike. He locked in and shoved the key in his pocket before Cole reached him.
"Here, we can take this one inside and you can munch on it while we talk to your dad," Jay frowned. "Nothing else until we get back to the Monastery and can share with the others."
"Fine," Cole groaned.
"Now, which house is your dad's?" Jay asked, looking around.
Cole grumbled out a number, pointing to a house a few doors down. But Jay wasn't oblivious.
"Look, if you don't want to do this, we don't have to," Jay turned to Cole.
"I know," Cole sighed. "I want to, but I-"
Cole bit his lip, looking away. Jay sighed, walking over and placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I get it," Jay sighed. "You don't know what to expect. You don't know if this is going to be a mistake."
"That's one way to put it."
"We don't have to stay, but you did want to at least meet him. Shouldn't you give him a chance?"
Cole nodded, knowing he should. He wanted to know who his father was, even if this wasn't his father. He was just worried this would show him why his mom took him away.
Only one way to find out.
Cole took a deep breath, then walked towards the house. He heard Jay trailing along behind him. As he approached the door, he felt himself shaking.
Could he do this? Was this really a good idea? Or should they just go back home and pretend this never happened. Maybe that was the smart idea, just go home. Or maybe he'd live to regret not meeting his father, or at least meet this version of him.
Maybe he was a nice guy who loved and cherished him, like his mom does? Or maybe he's the opposite. No. Wu wouldn't have offered if it wasn't safe. They knew that much. RIght?
He'd never even met Wu until now. How did he know he could trust Wu? Maybe Wu was wrong? He couldn't be though, he was right with Jay's parents. He had to be right.
"Cole?"
He glanced over his shoulder, seeing Jay waiting. He'd been standing at the door for a minute, just staring. Cole shook his head. He was doing this, nothing would stop him.
He lifted his hand to knock, only to watch the door open on it's own.
A middle-aged man with a mustache appeared from behind the door with a cane in his hand. A soft smile greeted the boys.
"Welcome, welcome," he smiled, opening the door. "Come on in, I've got some tea and biscuits waiting for you two inside."
Cole hesitated before feeling Jay's hand on his back. He could do this.
Both walked inside, following Lou into the living room. He invited them to sit down and make themselves comfortable on the couch. He poured both a cup of tea.
"Either of you take anything in your tea?" he asked.
"A little sugar for me, please," Jay hummed.
Lou nodded, adding a dash of sugar to a tea cup before passing it to the redhead. He looked at Cole, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, uh," Cole looked down, "A bit of sugar is good."
He awkwardly took the tea cup from Lou, taking a small sip of it.
"So, how was your visit with the Walkers?" Lou asked.
"It was great!" Jay beamed. "I mean, they are the sweetest people in the world, and gave us a bunch of snacks for the road. Cole loved them, and loved the snacks. And-"
"How did you know we went there?" Cole asked, perplexed.
"Master Wu called me earlier today," Lou smiled, although there was pain behind it. "He told me you two were going to visit Ed and Edna at the Junkyard. He mentioned that you might come meet me, but you might not."
"So, you know?" Cole asked.
"That you aren't my Cole?" Lou continued, "yes. I'm aware."
"Did Wu tell you anything else?" Jay asked, curious.
"He did mention that you don't remember your father, and grew up with your mother," Lou added. "Kinda opposite to here, actually."
"Really?" Cole questioned.
"Well, yes," Lou sighed. "Lilly died when Cole was still a child. He was old enough to remember her, but it hurt him. It hurt both of us."
Cole sat silent, staring at his cup of tea.
"But Cole and I have gotten close again over time," Lou smiled. "We spend our holidays together like a family. Sometimes he'll even bring me to the Monastery and we can celebrate with everyone else's families. Especially since the ninja team is like family to him."
"So, mom really is dead in this world?" Cole muttered out.
Lou looked over, seeing Cole's disappointed expression. He sighed, nodding. Jay scooted closer to Cole, wrapping an arm around his shoulder to offer comfort.
"When Lilly was pregnant, we were living up in Shintaro while she finished a mission," Lou sighed. "As the pregnancy went on, she started to get sick. Most likely because of the venge stone in the mountain up there."
"Venge stone?" Jay asked. "What's that?"
"It's a type of stone that can restrict our elemental powers," Cole replied. "It's all over the caves in Shintaro. But I've never heard of it making anyone sick."
"It's very rare," Lou sighed. "Unfortunately, with Lilly being pregnant, she was more at risk of catching it. We moved down here, hoping it would help. And it did, and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, our little Cole."
"So what happened?" Jay asked.
"Well, without her powers, everything seemed to be going well," Lou smiled. "She made a full recovery, or so it seemed."
"She got sick again, didn't she?" Cole sighed.
Lou nodded, his expression grim. "You were about eight when she started getting sick again. After a few years, she was bedridden. It broke your heart as all you wanted to do was dance with her, and do other fun mother son things. Eventually, the illness overwhelmed her and she passed."
Cole was silently crying, listening. He couldn't imagine not having his mother. Let alone having to watch her slowly pass away. He would have been so young. It didn't seem fair.
But life's not fair.
He knows that.
"One of the last things Lilly told Cole," Lou pressed on, holding back tears of his own, "was 'Promise you will always stand up to those who are cruel and unjust.' Cole still stands to that to this day, promising to follow through until the day he dies. After all, that's what his mother did."
Everyone sat in silence, letting Lou collect himself. All while Cole was processing this. Sure, it wasn't his mother. His mother would be waiting for him back in Shintaro, in his world. Everything would be back to the way it was.
He glanced up at the redhead next to him who was looking around the room.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if things didn't go fully back to normally when he got back. If they did, he'd lose all the friends he's made from this.
Who was he kidding, he was going to lose them. Lilly wouldn't let him go back. In fact, she'd probably have him on tight wraps after this.
She'd never let him leave the palace grounds.
"Are you one of the Royal Blacksmiths?" Jay asked.
Cole looked up, confused.
"I am, yes," Lou smiled, "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I've been wondering why this place looked familiar," Jay hummed. "And I think I figured it out."
"Wait, why would it look familiar to you?" Cole asked.
"Your dad is my vocal coach," Jay smiled.
"I am?" Lou questioned.
"Well, my mom and dad are Cliff and Lynn Gordon," Jay smiled.
"Oh, the Gordons?" Lou lit up. "I remember them. Such a tragedy with their story. I didn't realize you were their son."
"Yeah," Jay nodded, trying to ignore the 'tradegy' statement. "Anyways, they have me doing my vocal lessons with a man named Lou. You and him and identical, and this is pretty much the same home. So I'm pretty sure that's you."
"So, you know my dad?" Cole asked, bewildered.
"Pretty sure," Jay grinned. "And it's perfect! If you move back in with your dad, we could see each other almost every day!"
"Jay, I wouldn't-"
"And we can go on dates, and go to the movies," Jay started rambling. "And Kai can hang out to. And you can come see the plays and musicals at the theater. Or, even better, you can help us with the plays and musicals. Or would you be a better lead? Maybe you could audition and-"
"Jay!"
He went silent, quickly seeing the disappointment on Cole face.
"As much as I'd love for that to happen, I'm going back to Shintaro," Cole sighed. "Mom would be waiting for me there, and with everything that's happened, especially if there is another Cole there, she won't let me out of her sights. I probably won't be allowed to leave the Palace grounds, let alone the City."
"But, what if we-"
"No, Jay," Cole sighed. "I know you want to be together, but I don't see it being possible."
"But-"
"I'm sorry."
The room remained in awkward silence for several minutes. Cole couldn't bring himself to look at anyone. He knew Jay was heartbroken. He'd been trying to avoid that conversation. He kept thinking if he'd held off long enough, he'd be brought back to Shintaro and would never need to have it. But here they were.
He felt Jay shift, then saw him stand out of the corner or his eye.
"Jay?" Lou's voice echoed softly.
"I just need some air," Jay mumbled, walking out.
Cole listened as the footsteps echoed away from the couch, followed by the door opening and closing.
"You know, I've never seen someone so-"
"Please don't," Cole whispered.
"What?"
"Don't try to tell me how much he loves me," Cole shook his head, eyes trained to the floor. "I know. I love him to, but I know it's not possible. We live in different worlds, we live different lives. Mom wouldn't let me leave before, why would that change now?" Cole looked up, tears slipping down his cheeks as he met his father's gaze. "She took me away from you, from my dad, when I was just young enough to remember. She said he was bad for me, but I can't even remember enough about him to know if she's right. I can't just leave without permission. It's too dangerous."
Lou sighed. "I figured as much."
"I didn't want to tell him," Cole mumbled. "I was hoping to not bring it up until we went back. Then I wouldn't have to, and I'd eventually forget about him."
"Would you?"
Cole looked up, stunned at the question.
"Of course," Cole answered, as if the question were stupid.
"But could you," Lou reiterated. "After all of this, after the time spent getting to know him. Could you forget about him? About the others?"
"I-" air caught in his throat. Could he forget them that easily.
"I know love, son," Lou sighed. "A love that this, the one between you and Jay, it only comes once in a lifetime. The bond you have with these people will only grow the longer you spend with them."
"Then I won't spend time with them anymore," Cole replied, as if it were that simple.
Lou sighed, standing. He walked over to a bookshelf across the room and grabbed a scrapbook.
"When Lilly died, Cole and I-"
"I don't think I want to hear anymore about mom's death," Cole pleaded.
"I think you need to hear this one," Lou hummed. He set the scrapbook down between them, flipping open the cover to reveal the first page. "Cole and I get distant."
"I know that," Cole frowned. "Wu told me that's how he became a ninja."
Lou looked up with a frown, growing annoyed with Cole's impatience. He pointed to the picture on the first page, and Cole looked down.
It looked like everyone he'd spent the last few days with. Jay, Kai, Nya, and Zane. Plus himself. But, younger. Significantly younger. He was still a young teen in that photo, as were the others. They were all smiling, their arms wrapped around each others shoulders as they huddled together in the photo.
They seemed so happy and care free.
"This, was the first photo Cole gave me after telling me he became a ninja," Lou sighed. "This was when I realized he'd found a new family when I couldn't- wouldn't be there to support him."
Cole looked up, seeing the faint smile and the regret on Lou's face.
"I couldn't accept it at the time," Lou sighed. "I turned him away at first, mainly because all I saw was Lilly. He acted the same, fought the same, even spoke the same. But then, I realized that I couldn't keep pushing him away. I would lose him forever, and I couldn't let him go. I'd regret it if I did. After all, he was still my kid."
"So, what happened?" Cole asked.
Lou smiled, flipping the page over. The young Cole stood with Kai, Jay and Zane in their ninja gi. They were all posing on a stage as Cole held up a trophy, smiling proudly under his mask.
"They went and won the Blade Cup, not just in my name," Lou smiled, "but to try to protect Ninjago and stop the serpentine. Cole also saved my life that day."
Lou looked up, smiling while trying not to tear up again.
"I knew Lilly wouldn't come back," Lou continued. "But I knew I could get him back. I could keep him in my life, and invite his new family to join us."
"New family?" Cole echoed.
"His team is his family," Lou smiled. "They are his brothers and sisters. They all love and care and support each other, even if they hate each other sometimes. They need and rely on each other."
Cole smiled, looking at the photos and flipping through the pages. Several were just Cole, but there were others that were of the whole team. Newspaper clippings, team photos, letters home from Cole, and so much more.
"I love this and all," Cole sighed, sitting back. "But it doesn't change the fact that mom wouldn't let me leave. It's just not possible."
"If there is anything I've learned from my son," Lou looked Cole in the eyes, "it's that anything is possible, even if it seems like it's not."
Cole sighed, nodding. Maybe Lou was right.
"I also know there is a heartbroken boy outside, waiting for you to come and comfort him," Lou frowned, pointing to the door. "He'd be willing to travel to any length to be with you, fight anyone for you, and you turned him away like that."
Now Cole felt stupid. Well, more of a jerk than stupid, but still. How could he do that to Jay.
"Go," Lou whispered. Cole looked up, "Go talk to him."
Cole nodded, quickly standing up and rushing out. He bolted out the door, looking around. He needed to find Jay. He had to be here somewhere. He couldn't have gotten far. Right?
Right.
Because there he was, sitting on the ground on the other side of their bike. Cole walked over, trying to figure out what he'd say.
But nothing came to mind.
He didn't know what to say. Not after everything he'd already said.
So he just sat next to him on the ground.
Jay was drawing lines in the dirt with a small stick. He didn't look up as Cole approached, nor did he acknowledge him when Cole sat next to him.
He only said something after a few minute, when he realized Cole wasn't leaving.
"What do you want?" Jay spat out, a little harsher than he'd hoped.
"Just," Cole sighed, still not sure what to say. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't change that you've been leading me on," Jay muttered.
Cole sank back. He didn't realize that's been what's happening. He didn't mean to toy with Jay's feelings. He just got excited that someone liked him for him, and not his ties to the royal family.
"I didn't mean to-"
"Then what did you mean?" Jay snapped, looking up at Cole. "Did you mean to mess with me? To convince me you love me only to break my heart. Did you want to just use me, to make me some play thing while you're stuck here so you can ditch me to moment we get home?"
"No, I-"
"Because if that's the case, you really are like every other fan out there."
Cole wanted to cry. He didn't think he'd hurt Jay this much.
"I didn't mean that," Cole muttered.
"Then what did you mean to do?" Jay uttered.
"I didn't mean to fall in love," Cole whispered.
Jay stared at him; confused, angry, upset and frustrated.
"I didn't plan on falling for you, I didn't know what to do when I did," Cole blurted out. "I'd never been in love with someone like this before. When Kai told me you loved me back, I followed my heart and tried to get you to fall for me. When I realized this wouldn't last past us being here, I couldn't bring myself to say anything knowing it would hurt you."
"So why bother coming out here?" Jay asked. "Why bother chasing me?"
"Because I love you," Cole replied. "Because Lou, dad, whoever he is; he told me that anything is possible. We could find a way, even if it means I run away and ditch everything I've ever known."
"Like you'd do that," Jay mumbled. "You live a life of royalty. You wouldn't give that up."
"I gave it up for you, didn't I?"
Jay paused, glancing at Cole before looking at the ground. "I mean, you didn't give it up by choice."
"But I haven't gone back," Cole replied. "I'm happy like this because I have you guys. I have you, I have Kai, and the others but who cares about them right now."
Jay chuckled.
"Look, what I'm getting at," Cole sighed, "is if you are willing to try and make it work, I'm willing to find any way to get back to you when we go home."
"I would wait however long it takes," Jay smiled.
"Then I'll find you," Cole smiled. "Someway, somehow, I'll make it to you."
Jay smiled and lunged at Cole, pulling him into a tight hug. Cole quickly returned it, holding Jay in his arms.
They'd figure it out. Somehow, he'd figure this out.
"Now, why don't we head back inside?" Cole smiled. "It looked like Lou had a bunch more photo albums to share."
"You think there's some embarrassing photos in there," Jay smirked.
"Oh, probably," Cole grinned. "Only one way to find out, though."
"Race ya there?"
"You're on."
