Fortune | A NINJAGO AU

Chapter 1: Arguments

NYA'S POV

"Kai, I'm home!" I yell over the familiar sound of clanging metal, propping my book bag against a wall. 

Kai pops out from underneath the counter, dumping several handfuls of decorative metal pieces onto the flat surface. He groans dramatically. "Dang it. My peaceful alone time has ended."

"Thanks for the warm welcome." 

"You're welcome, sis," Kai says, grinning. He then waves a metal spiral in the air, which is his way of telling me to get over there. 

Rolling my eyes, I move to stand behind him.

"Help me sort these out," Kai mumbles, spreading the metal bits all over the countertop. He picks through it, tossing the deformed ones over his shoulder. 

"Don't throw them everywhere," I scold. "I don't want to have to clean it up." I begin shuffling through the metal pieces, setting the bad ones off to the side. 

Kai looks me dead in the eye and tosses three bent metal rods onto the floor. I inhale deeply and resume my work. The clinking of metal hitting the floor stops after that, however, and I smile. Kai's always listening to my complaints- he just likes to annoy me.

We stood there for a few more minutes, sorting through the piles of metal.

"I heard some girls talking about their crushes at school," I say, breaking the silence.

Once I get home, I'll be busy helping Kai with the shop, so I need to finish all of my homework with the time I have at school if I want to get any sleep.

Kai perks up at the news, smiling. After he dropped out of school to run the shop, he began caring about three things in life. Me, the shop, and his hair. The order varies based on his mood. "Nice to see that you're talking to people at school. Maybe you won't die alone after all."

I jab my elbow into his side. "Very funny. I don't have time to socialize at school, anyways. Lunch is when I start homework."

Kai scoffs. "I was very popular at school. Even now, I can run a business and have friends. You're really messing up my reputation."

It's clear from his tone that he's joking, but something about his comment makes me tick.

"By being responsible?" I narrow my eyes and face him, crossing my arms.

Kai stutters for a bit, not expecting me to take offense. However, he's as stubborn as I am, so he doesn't take it back. "Um, yes."

"What?" I scoff. "Do you want an apology from me because I try to be efficient?"

"You don't put any effort into what people think of you. That'll affect how they think of me!"

"Real selfless of you to say that," I huff. 

"I wasn't even trying to offend you! Don't be so sensitive."

"I was just trying to start a conversation! Then, out of the blue, you just insult me! What are you even trying to do?"

Kai's silent. I roll my eyes and return to my work, feeling like I won. 

"Sorry," he whispers. "I've spent my entire life looking after you. Not that I regret making that choice, but it'd be nice to have the insurance that there'll be someone to look after you."

His voice is quiet and sincere, turning my pride into guilt. "You're talking as if you're dying. Are you sick? Is this a freaking brink-of-death speech? Because now is not the time."

Kai laughs. "No! I'm too pretty to die. Glad you've accepted the fact that I'm a very important figure in your life." He's snapped back to his normal, cocky self, which both relieves and exasperates me.