The Broken Bunch | Ninjago Boarding School AU

3: Only Alive If We Bruise

Just wanted to dedicate this chapter to my friend, Vibi master_of_positivity
Go save Cole, you simp! 😉

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Armor
~~~~~~~
Landon Austin

Maybe I'll crash into you
Maybe we'll open these wounds
We're only alive if we bruise
So I lay down this armor
I will surrender tonight
Before we both lose this fight
Take my defenses, all my defenses
I lay down this armor for you

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Pop music blasted out of the speakers as morning dawned on the Brookstone household. Neither the twittering of the birds nor the low hum of the suburban traffic could be heard as Katy Perry's 'Smile' boomed throughout the messy bedroom.

A tall yet athletic-looking boy of sixteen, wearing a black tank top, boogied along to the music. His charcoal hair fell haphazardly across his forehead as he rocked about his room, getting ready for the day. The outside sunlight shone onto his light brown skin, throwing into view the dragon tattooed on his defined bicep.

The boy mouthed the words of the song as he capered along. His dance wasn't excellent. It was more of a freestyle jig; his preferred style of dancing. He pulled off the tank top and donned his favorite black hoodie, his hair becoming even more wild and disarrayed.

Noticing it, he bounded over to his dresser and seized the hairbrush. He quickly tidied up his dark mop before smiling excitedly as the song reached the chorus. He jumped onto his bed and began belting out the lyrics using the brush as a mic.

Summer had a way of making him more zealous than usual even when vacations were about to end in a week. However, this specific day held something dear to him and he always felt good when it rolled around.

"COLE!" a shout roared over the speaker's din. "Turn that thing off! If my ears weren't attached to my head, they'd be running away!"

Cole smirked, rolling his eyes playfully. He moved to reduce the volume of the music and called out, "Good morning to you too, Dad!"

His father yelled something back but either he was too far to be understood or Cole had become engrossed in tying up his shoes that he didn't get the message. Satisfied with himself, Cole unplugged his phone from the sound system and paused the song. He stuffed the device into his hoodie pocket and trudged over to the open door of his room.

As Cole walked out, he kissed his first two fingers and pressed them onto the picture of a woman set up on the low shelf by the door. "Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you."

The boy approached the stairs and peered down into the living room below. He could hear his father shuffling about somewhere but he wasn't in sight. Cole hoisted himself onto the banister and slid down the wooden rail, hopping down on stable ground once reaching the bottom.

He crept down the passageway and stayed close to the wall. Poking his head into the first room on his right, he saw an older man wearing a button down shirt and dress pants and fumbling with something around his neck. The man grumbled as he tried to perfect his red bow tie and didn't see the boy approach him from behind.

Cole tip-toed over and advanced upon him, wrapping his arms around the man's chest and laughing while doing so. "How's the world's hippest dad doing?"

Mr. Brookstone was startled to a little extent but recovered quickly. He chuckled and gently pried his son's arms off him. He twisted around and smiled at Cole. "Trying to give the world's hippest dad a heart attack, are we?" he commented.