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Jay flips through his Starfarer comic, rereading the panels for what must be the hundredth time. Maybe more, afterall this is his favorite comic and the best one in the entire franchise obviously! Although Lloyd seems to disagree with that statement.
He hums to himself, stopping on one page to enjoy the art spread.
Man, being Fritz Donnegan would be amazing.
He can’t imagine being an actor. He’d probably be pretty great at it.
Especially since he already dabbles in inventing, cooking and poe—
A body suddenly drops into him and Jay yelps, not expecting the sudden physical touch.
His mind quickly appeases him by saying it’s probably Lloyd. The green ninja is known for giving hugs and leaning on people like an annoying child.
Two arms wrap around Jay’s waist loosely and a head presses against his chest.
“Jeez, Lloyd. You sure are clingy today.” Jay jokes, looking down…and almost having his soul leave his body.
Kai is laying his whole weight on top of him, eyes closed and head partially hidden in the blue ninja’s jacket. He doesn’t even seem to care when Jay jolts and his heartbeat speeds up. His fingers only latch onto the blue ninja’s clothing tighter.
“Uhhhhh-“ Jay swallows, completely frozen in the moment.
He’s never had this happen!
Kai is the least likely to give anyone a hug led alone cuddle!
He’s never sought out comfort from others except from Nya, but that’s his sister!
Should he do something?
This is definitely freaking him out, but he doesn’t want to push Kai away.
This is like- a momentous occasion!
He should take a picture to prove it happened to the others.
Jay slowly reaches to pull out his phone from his pocket, but Kai whines at the action and the lightning ninja freezes.
He’s never heard Kai make that noise before.
Jay takes a calming breath in and out and leaves his phone instead reaching out to gently shake the fire ninja’s shoulder.
“Hey, you okay?” he whispers, carefully nudging his shoulder again when he doesn’t respond. “Come on, Kai. You’re starting to worry me.”
The red ninja only wraps his arms more securely around the blue ninja in response.
Okay- this is terrifying.
The most horrifying thing that could happen- being held “hug hostage” by his ex girlfriend’s brother.
“Okay, uh…it’s okay. Just let me go, please?” Jay pleads, but nothing happens. He fidgets nervously, setting down the comic and slowly placing a hand on the red ninja’s forehead.
“Oh fsm- Kai, you’re burning up!”
Kai always runs hotter than the rest of them, but this is way warmer than usual.
He thinks?
He definitely looks ill now that he’s taking a better look.
“Okay, you need to let go so I can get Sensei.” Jay pats his on the shoulder, only getting another whimper from the fire ninja. “Kai, c’mon, please move. Otherwise I can’t help you.”
No response.
Fantastic! Just fantastic-
Jay groans, tucking his arms under the older boy. He lifts him up, immediately getting whimpers of distress. Guilt pools in him, but he tries to ignore it, instead carrying the red ninja as gently as possible.
“Hold on.” he whispers, cradling him close. He swiftly makes his way towards where Sensei is meditating, trying not to buckle under the fire ninja’s weight.
Jeez, does he eat rocks for breakfast or something?
When he finally makes it to Sensei Wu’s meditation room he’s about ready to set Kai down and let him walk in his own. Unfortunately he doubts that’s going to happen anytime soon with how Kai has started shivering in his arms.
“You’re alright. You’re doing so good.” Jay strokes Kai’s forehead, blinking in surprise when he leans into the touch.
Fsm- Kai must be extremely sick to let him touch him like that!
He detests physical touch more than anything-
“Sensei?” Jay asks, voice coming out more high pitched than intended. His arms shake a little and he prays to the first master that he won’t drop the red ninja on the floor. He really doesn’t want to make him suffer more than he already is.
“Yes?” A voice comes from inside and Jay almost tears up in relief.
“Sensei, I need some help. Kai is really sick and I don’t know what to do. Also I think I’m gonnadrophim-“
The sliding doors are immediately pushed open and Sensei Wu takes Kai from his arms, holding him up as if he weighed nothing while Jay groans, rubbing his sore limbs.
“How are you carrying him so easily?? He weighs like two and a half Coles!”
“How long has he been like this?” Sensei Wu asks, completely ignoring his complaints.
“I don’t know! I was just reading a comic and he laid down on the couch next to me- well more specifically laid on me! I literally thought he was on his deathbed!” Jay explains, flailing his arms. “I figured that maybe you could do something since you’re the mysterious and wise master who apparently had been around for almost a thousand years!”
“Jay.” Sensei Wu cuts in sternly, making the lightning ninja shut up instantly.
“Calm down. I’ll take care of him, you can go back to reading your comic.”
Jay opens his mouth to say a thanks, but it never comes out.
He remembers how Kai desperately clung to his chest.
That he trusted him enough to come to him for help…
“C-Can I stay?” Jay asks, voice a bit shaky.
“I’ve been trying to learn more about first aid.”
Fsm knows they need all the knowledge they can get.
Especially with everyone nearly dying all the time or getting severely injured!
So far he hasn’t been too successful in learning though, always too distracted or anxious at failing.
He can’t imagine doing something wrong and hurting one of his friends…his family really.
All it takes is one faulty decision and they could be dead in his arms.
Sensei Wu studies him for a moment, but nods.
“Come in, my student.” he allows Jay into the meditation room, setting Kai on a nearby cot and pushing back some of his dark hair to check his temperature.
Jay scoots up to Kai, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. He feels a small bout of despair when the fire ninja’s doesn’t give it a squeeze back.
“I’ll get the first aid kit and a wash cloth. You stay with him, alright?”
“But what if he gets sicker? Then what do I do?” Jay looks up at his Sensei with wide eyes, the pressure on Kai’s hand increasing as he holds it firmly. “You can’t just leave me to take care of him! I don’t even know what to do if something goes wrong!”
“You will. If you want to learn to care for your brothers then the first step is to be there for them. I will return soon.”
With that he leaves and Jay mutters unpleasantries under his breath. He sighs heavily and leans over Kai, going back to stroking his forehead. He continues to do it, trying to keep his mind on the red ninja and not his current anxieties.
After a bit he falls into the rhythmic motion, so focused on the repetition that he doesn’t notice the fire ninja’s eyes flutter open.
It’s not until that Kai’s hand brushes his free one that the blue ninja realizes he’s awake.
“You’re up!” he cheers, but he doesn’t get a reply.
“Kai?” Jay frowns, very carefully cupping his cheek. His heart sinks at how warm his face still is. “Are you with me?”
Kai just leans into the touch, his eyes looking glassy. He seems content on just resting against the lightning ninja’s palm.
Okay, so he’s not very responsive.
At least he’s awake.
Hopefully Sensei Wu will be back soon.
Jay once again moves closer, this time pulling Kai to his chest and going through his sweaty hair. He ignores how gross the sensation is and continues to comfort him, this time whispering reassurances until the fire ninja falls asleep again.
Only a couple minutes later Sensei Wu returns and Jay feels like he might faint from relief.
He was really starting to think he wasn’t coming back.
“What took you so long?” Jay snaps, continuing to smooth back Kai’s hair.
“I had to explain the situation to your brothers.” Wu replies calmly, setting the first aid kit beside the blue ninja and taking ahold of Kai, setting him back down on the cot. He places a damp cloth on his forehead then turns to his other student.
“Open the kit and find the Tylenol.”
Jay swallows, shoulders shaking slightly as he rummages through the kit. He finds the pill bottle after what feels like forever and hands it to Sensei Wu who just shakes his head. “What?”
“Open it.” Sensei Wu looks at him and Jay pries it open with trembling hands. He takes the pill in his palm and looks expectantly at his teacher.
“There’s a bottle of water in the first aid kit.”
Jay glances at the first aid kit and grabs that too, making sure to open it.
“Now will you help him?”
“We’re going to help him.” Sensei Wu turns back to Kai, shaking him awake gently. It takes a few moments, but he opens his eyes with a whimper, glassy eyes blinking through overwhelming exhaustion.
Wu looks at Jay expectantly and the lightning ninja nervously scoots up to Kai again and sets the bottle aside so he can pull him up and against him. The whines that come from him hurts his heart, but he just strokes his forehead.
“I need you to take some medicine.” he whispers to him, rubbing his temples. “Can you do that for me?”
No response for a moment then a half nod, Kai’s head lolled to the side on the blue ninja’s shoulder.
Jay grabs the water bottle, helping his friend take the medicine before laying him back onto the cot, repositioning the cool cloth.
“You’re gonna be just fine, I promise.” he whispers, smoothing back his mussed up hair.
Kai is asleep in moments and Jay sighs, rubbing his face before glaring at his Sensei.
“Why didn’t you help? I could’ve really used help!”
Sensei Wu chuckles, shaking his head. When he looks up at Jay again his expression is filled with pride and it renders the lightning ninja speechless.
“Because I know you have what it takes. If you needed help I would have assisted you, but I knew you could do it. Just like I know you’re going to be a great medic. You’re a gentle, caring person at heart, Jay. You brothers already trust you with their lives and I know you’ll save them plenty of times.”
Jay glances down, blushing at the compliment.
“I just don’t want to hurt them.”
“You won’t. This I know too.”