Escapade | Ninjago AU

Chapter 3

*1 year later*

Nya's POV

The wind assaults the store, knocking over the fresh display I just set up. I let out a quiet groan to try to hide my displeasure before bending over to pick up the array of cans that just fell on the ground.

A loud, shrill whistle from behind me brings my lunch up to my throat as I try to hold back my disgust. "I could get used to that view," my antagonistic boss that purposely leaves the windows open to put me in these types of situations smirks. I can hear the lust in his voice. It sickens me to my core.

This past year, I've endured his behavior and learnt how to counter it. While I can't control his actions, I can give him no rise from it. When he sees that he can't phase me, the comments get significantly less vile.

Some might say that my job here is pointless. I have a boyfriend who is more than financially stable and who would "pay me to be his assistant", but I don't want to be reliant on anyone. Even though he's my soulmate, I can't rest my financial well being on a relationship, so I have this job in order to contribute to the household and for my own being.

I use one of the inventions that Jay and I built together in order to get the display up exponentially faster than I could have before. It helps prearrange them in rows that I can just push back onto the shelves without meticulously having to stack item by item. Mr. Blake initially disapproved of it, but once he realized that it could increase the amount of money he got going into his pockets, he allowed me to use it.

"Knock knock," at the sound of his voice, I turn around to see my boyfriend standing in the open doorway, an adorable smile on his face and a basket in the other. On the second Tuesday of every month, he comes to town to have a picnic with me on my lunch break. Even though I told him that he doesn't have to, I enjoy the gesture, and he seems to like it too.

At the sight of Jay, Mr. Blake goes rigid, backing off of me. About half a year ago, Jay went in to have a talk with Mr. Blake, and I don't know what happened in there, but now, Mr. Blake is terrified of him. It's hilarious, seeing this large, burly man scared of this boy no older than twenty that has definition but is by no means bulky. Jay looks like he wouldn't even hurt a fly, and he has a grown man cowering.

"Why hello, Mr. Blake. How have the sales been today?" my soulmate asks cheerily, watching Mr. Blake back away from me.

"Good, Nya has been a lot of help," he responds submissively, refusing to meet Jay's eyes.

"I'm glad to hear that. Mind if I steal her for a bit?" Jay lifts the basket in his hand to signal that we'd be going to a picnic. Mr. Blake shakes his head. "Thank you. We'll be two hours max."

Jay sticks out his hand that's not holding anything. Quicker than the bolt of lightning that hit me, I stop what I'm doing and find the spot at his side, taking his hand in mine. Guiding the two of us out of the store, I'm met with a clear, azure sky void of any clouds. The air feels nice on my skin, contrasting from the humidity inside of the store. It's peaceful.

"I still can't believe you've put Mr. Blake into such a submissive mindset when talking to you," I shake my head. "How did you do it?"

"As I've said many, many times, magic," he gives the same answer as always. I slightly elbow him as he laughs.

"I'm serious," I tell him.

"So am I." Once I let out an exasperated sigh, he starts telling me about his day. However, I find myself tuning it out and simply thinking about him. I've known him for a year and a half, and yet he still remains such a mystery to me. For a person who talks that much, you'd think that he'd bring up his past every once in a while.