Karlof smiled as Frosty walked up to him. "F-Frosty so cute!"
"Aaaw! But we were playing!" Jay whined.
"How's your leg Karlof?" Lloyd frowned.
"I-it fine!" Karlof answered. "It don't h-hurt at all!"
"Liar!" Cole muttered. "I hear your voice trembling and you couldn't talk at all a few minutes ago!"
"Do you want any ice, painkillers?" Zane frowned. "I know you're worried about your sister's dog but it would be best if you lay down for now!"
"N-No it fine!" Karlof said. "K-Karlof just want to g-go home!"
"Not happening!" Cole answered. "We got room for both you and Frosty and I'm sure your sister wouldn't mind picking him up!"
Karlof looked down, holding back his tears. Why were they so insistent on helping him?! Surely they had more important things to do! They... probably just felt bad for him because he was injured and felt compelled to help him... but he didn't want to be helped! He didn't want to be a burden he could take care of himself!
When he looked up again he was back in the infirmary and Cole was putting him back in the bed.
"C-cole don't have to do this!" he said. "K-Karlof can take care of him-"
"No! I want to help you!"
Cole looked down at his feet and then back at Karlof. "Do you remember what I told you before you passed out?"
"U-Uhm no!" Karlof frowned. "Karlof f-fainted after y-yelling at Cole... S-sorry for that!"
"That's okay... I was started it!" Cole sighed. "I-I was just angry that you wouldn't let me help you!"
Karlof looked down again.
"K-Karlof not used to getting help! K-Karlof always took care of himself and sister!"
"What about your parents?" Cole frowned.
"Work..." Karlof sighed. "Parents never had time for Karlof or sister!"
"Who raised you?!"
"Maids and butlers cooked and cleaned for Karlof..." he answered. "When sister born Karlof took care of her!"
"So... the servants at your home were basically your parents?"
"No... They just did a job!" Karlof shrugged. "But when sister born, Karlof played and cooked for her! Sister always liked Karlof food better than servants!"
"How old were you when this started?!"
"Oh! Sister and Karlof talked about that... Karlof five when Karlof cooked for sister!"
"FIVE?!" Cole gasped.
"Cole sounds shocked?" Karlof frowned. "Karlof just made small omelet for sister!"
"How much exactly did you do for your sister?" Cole asked, trying to calm himself.
"Ehrm, well Karlof did cook, took sister to school, watched sister's cheerleading performance, helped sister with homework... helped sister find good college an-"
"So you're basically her father!" Cole concluded. "You raised her the way your parents were supposed to do!"
Karlof frowned at Cole.
"Karlof not sister's father! Karlof just helped sister with what sister needed!"
"Did someone ever help you with what you needed?"
"Karlof never needed help!" Karlof answered. "Karlof got good grades, good job and took care of sister all by himself!"
"But you never got help with anything?"
"Karlof didn't need help!" he repeated.
"Everyone needs help once in a while!" Cole sighed and sat down beside him. "To me, it sounds like you were so focused on your sister that you completely forgot to take care of yourself, you're still doing it!"
"How?!" Karlof snorted. "Sister needed help!"
"And so did you!" Cole answered. "Did your sister ever help you with anything?"
"Sister offered... Karlof said no! Karlof didn't want to bother sister!"
"After everything you've done for her you should let her help you! And I'll always be here to help you, I... I love you!"
Karlof looked up at Cole cheeks turning red.
"C-Cole?!"
"S-sorry ehrm... that slipped out... a second time!" Cole muttered to himself.
"D-do Cole like Karlof?!"
Cole looked back at Karlof and nodded.
"Y-you were so nice to me during the tournament and I really wanted to get to know you more... but I was always too scared to talk with you in... that way! Then I saw you were injured and I..."
Karlof looked down.
"Karlof very sorry for bothering Cole..."
"Karlof! You're not a bother, you're never a bother!" Cole said and gently lifted his chin. "I love you!"
"K-Karlof love Cole too!"
Cole smiled and gave Karlof a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Y-You should rest now! I-I'll get you food later!"
"Karlof can-"
"NO! Just call me when you feel hungry!"
Before Karlof could respond Cole tucked him into a blanket and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead.
"Sleep tight!"
Karlof looked up at Cole astonished.
"That-that felt nice!"
"Well... we're boyfriends now aren't we?"
Karlof smiled and nodded.
"Karlof will pamper Cole so much!"
"Until your leg is healed I think I'll be the one pampering you!" Cole laughed. "And ehrm... I'm sorry for telling you couldn't go home... I can take you back after your nap!"
Karlof shook his head.
"Karlof think Frosty happy! And... Cole don't need to bother moving Karlof!"
"I mean... having you stay here makes it easier for me to take care of you!"
Karlof sighed and snuggled into his blanket. There was no changing Cole's mind. And... a part of him liked it! Did that make him a bad boyfriend? Wanting his partner to do stuff for him? Enjoying his partner taking care of things he himself could easily do?
"I-If Cole needs break the-"
"Then I'll find someone else to look after you!" Cole answered. "You know that you need to rest!"
"But Karlof can-"
"Karlof!"
Karlof sighed in defeat. There was no changing Cole's mind.
"Now, before I leave you to nap, is there something you want?"
"No..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
Cole looked at Karlof with a frown.
"Okay I know this is going to be hard for you being the sweet person you are, but just ignore your thoughts about ''bothering'' me and just tell me what would be nice to have right now!"
Karlof bit his lip and looked down.
"W-well... if Cole have time... Karlof leg throbbing..."
"Do you want ice, painkillers?"
"I-if both too much that fi-"
"It's okay! I'll go get it for you!"
Cole left and came back after just a few minutes with an ice pack together with a glass of water and a few pills.
"Thanks..." Karlof mumbled and took them while Cole put the ice pack on his leg
YOU ARE READING
Surface Pressure (Ninjago fanfiction)
FanfictionOlder siblings have to carry a lot, but sometimes they need help. Sometimes things don't work out and sometimes the pressure gets to you. (Sorry I was planning for a better description but things changed)