A blue Spouse (Ninjago Royalty AU)

CHAPTER 88: Welcome home

Jay hadn't meant for such a stupid sentence to really be the first thing the royal family heard from him after all this time, but the emotion of seeing everyone again had made his brain stop working all of a sudden.

A deadly silence filled the place, the three royal spouses and Nya only staring at him with wide eyes and bated breath. Right when Jay was about to turn towards Skylor and ask the girl for help, Lloyd jumped away from his seat and over the table, creating a mess with the objects scattered on it. Zane protested lightly but his blond peer wasn't listening. Lloyd tripped over the furniture, almost falling face-first onto the floor. On instinct, Jay took a swift stride and reached his arms out just in time to catch the boy before he got hurt. Their gazes met and Jay felt Lloyd's grip grow tighter around his arms, trembling from how hard he was holding onto the boy.

"You're... real..." Lloyd murmured brokenly, the young man struggling to believe he was standing in front of his old friend. Jay nodded, already feeling the tears in his eyes as Lloyd wrapped his arms around his neck and bawled, "You came back!"

Jay held the sobbing mess tight against him, tears rolled free down his face —happy tears. How much had these two boys hated each other back when they met! Jay couldn't help but be amazed at what he was feeling right now; the need to never let go of Lloyd and protect him forever.

"Oh, Brahma almighty!" Nya shouted then latched onto the boys as well. "J-Jay! Oh, Heavens, it's really you!"

Jay was having a hard time replying to the princess, his throat felt constricted with so many emotions, he resolved to just put an arm around her and bring Nya closer to their group embrace. All along he heard Skylor snickering on the side, surely the girl was proud of the surprise they had just pulled on the royal family.

Blue eyes rose and stared ahead at the two remaining boys in the room. Cole and Zane had stood up from their seats, the former gaped at the scene before them while Zane had a much more calmed look on his face, but still contemplated with astonishment like his friend.

Cole went slow around the table, his breath growing louder with every step that brought him closer to Jay. Noticing that, the princess grabbed Lloyd and gently pulled him a few inches away with her. Although he was still a ball of jitters and tears, Lloyd understood.

Cole stood next to Jay, his lips quivering, the poor young man was trying to form some words but nothing came out. Jay could relate. Choking on a sob, the smaller boy put his arms around Cole's neck and closed the space between their bodies.

Cole let out a gasp, yet immediately hugged him back. Jay felt some pain in his torso as Cole crushed him between strong arms, but he welcomed it. What gave another fractured rib or two if he could stay like this, fusing with Cole's warmth, until the end of times?

Although Jay had seen Cole crying before, it still surprised him that the apparent cold-blooded warrior could be as emotional as anyone else, or even more. Cole's tears cascaded down his face and soaked Jay's clothes. The young man clung to his friend with all his might, grabbing at his clothes and wrinkling the fabric as he trembled.

"I... missed you..." Cole mumbled brokenly next to Jay's ear.

The smaller boy stroked his hair, feeling all sorts of jitters as his fingers ran through the black mane. Jay hadn't realized how much he'd been wanting to brush Cole's hair again!

"Missed you... too," he replied, mimicking the unsteadiness in his companion's voice. Jay could barely speak anymore, but words weren't really needed at that moment, the overwhelming love going around the boys was a crystal clear message.

As Jay pulled away an inch to rub a sleeve on his wet face, he saw Zane had walked towards them as well and was standing by their side.

Reluctantly letting go of Cole, Jay stretched a hand in the blond's direction.