Chapter Text
This isn’t how it’s going to happen, it’s not. It’s not worth defeating Nadakhan like this, not when Nya’s life is the cost. Jay thought as much when trying to stop their wedding, but it’s those same thoughts filling every corner of Jay’s mind as he holds Nya in her final moments. Just a drop of the venom is fatal for humans, and Nya suffered more of a splash.
“You’re gonna be okay. Please, Nya, you have to be.” Jay pleads even as she begins to lose consciousness. “The only thing I need from you is for you to be okay, Nya. Please, please,” He cries.
“Ah.” Nadakhan chuckles breathlessly as he too suffers the effects of the venom. “My life or the girl’s? You only have one wish.”
Jay sniffs, voice hardly more than a whisper as he says. “I wish Nya had taken my hand and no one ever found that tea pot in the first place.”
“What?” Jay hears untempered fear flooding the Djinn’s voice and looks up to see what’s happening, only to find dust swirling all around them. People exclaim in confusion and surprise, Jay’s pretty sure he hears Nadakhan shouting a dramatic “Nooooooooo…,” then all of a sudden the dust clears.
Him and his friends are on a roof, a helicopter approaching steadily. “Take my hand, Nya,” Jay says automatically. Like a wave crashing over him, Jay realizes that he’s lived this moment, that his wish worked. “Nya.” He starts more meaningfully, looking into the eyes of the alive and well ninja before him. “Take my hand.”
Rather than accepting his help, Nya smiles and airjitzus to cover on her own. Only then does she grab Jay’s hand and pull him close. “I remember.”
“Me too.”
—
“So, um…” Jay starts uncertainly. He and Nya sit in a park on the outskirts of Ninjago City on what he is roughly 75% sure isn’t a date. It’s been a couple days since the timeline reset, Jay wanted to tell Cole everything before having this conversation with Nya, which is where most of his emotional energy had gone the day before. It was Nya’s idea to go somewhere. The park is small, but nice enough and comfortably empty for the nature of the conversation they’re wanting to have.
“Where to start…” Nya laughs humorlessly, before turning to face him fully. “Have you heard of queerplatonic relationships?”
Jay doubts Nya was expecting the way his eyes light up. “Yes! Yes, I mean- I’m familiar. That’s actually something else we need to discuss.”
“Else?” Nya asks, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
Jay moves to rest his hand on hers slowly enough for her to pull away if she wants. She doesn’t. “I would love to be queerplatonic partners,” He says sincerely, “Though you should know that Cole and I are also together.”
“Oh!” Nya gasps slightly, processing this information. “That… makes sense. Platonically?”
Jay just shrugs, unable to keep the grin off his face. “More or less.”
“And he’s okay with this?” She asks, needing to make sure.
“Of course, what kind of boyfriend slash partner do you think I am?” He jokes, mock-offended. “I’ll have you know this rendezvous and prospective relationship are 100% Cole approved.”
“Good, good,” Nya laughs, “I suppose you’re more experienced with this sort of thing, then.”
“I suppose so,” He agrees, “Are you alright sharing?”
Nya fixes him with a look. “Jay, how long did we go between dates when we were ‘dating’? I think you should know by now that I’m not really looking for anything high-maintenance.” Jay pouts at that. “I don’t mean you. I don’t need or really even want constant attention or affection. Really just… being each other’s anchor is enough for me.”
Jay smiles at her lovingly for a long second before beginning to speak. “We should also discuss what all we’re comfortable with, labels and boundaries and all that.”
“You’re taking this seriously,” Nya says, somewhat surprised.
“I’ll have you know that I take my relationships extremely seriously,” He deadpans, “But this is important.”
Nya nods, “I know. I think I’m good with girlfriend/boyfriend if you are. Platonic, of course, but I doubt we’ll say that very often.” Jay nods attentively. “I don’t think I want anything really physical if that’s okay.” She says more hesitantly, seemingly nervous about that being a deal breaker for him.
“That’s entirely fine! Cole and I do kisses on the cheek sometimes and are decently tactile, but not anything else that’s romance-coded. Of course, my relationship with Cole is going to be different from my relationship with you and that’s entirely alright. I was just saying as an example.”
“I appreciate that. I think I might be okay with chaste kisses later down the line, but let’s wait on that. I’m also not really a cuddler.”
“That’s all good! I like to think of QPRs as a sort of build-your-own-relationship base. There aren’t any expectations beyond the ones we set for ourselves and we don’t have to do anything if it doesn’t make us happy. I honestly just want you in my life for the long haul. I like having an excuse to spend time with you and I just think you’re incredible. I don’t need anything more out of this than knowing I care about you and you care about me.”
Nya’s expression is almost painfully tender. “That’s so sweet, Jay. I was missing parts of what we had when we were dating – mostly spending time one on one, really – and I just like the idea of you being someone I can always go to, that you’re going to stick around.”
Jay nudges her with his shoulder, “You really should know by now that I’m not going anywhere. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried!” They both laugh together, the sounds trailing off into the spring air.
“I’m glad.”