Overwhelmed - Cole ninjago oneshot

Overwhelmed

      Cole let his hands brush against the desk in front of him. He was in his room, again. The earth ninja was sitting at his desk, just staring down at his hands. He didn't really care to think about anything at all, his mind was a void practically.

It was weird to him, having to feel surfaces again. To have his hands heavy, instead of light and limitless. It was definitely overwhelming, and at the end of each day he had to isolate himself in his room just to process it all.

The ninja didn't know what Cole was doing every night, and he was surprised they hadn't barged in on him yet. He knew the time would come eventually, Cole just had to hope he would process this new change by then.

His desk was a solid brown oak, with a smooth surface. There were also papers clustered along it to the right of him. Luckily, his hands weren't on them. Paper was a surface that was still too odd for him to process, and he was sure if he touched it he would break down.

A door opened suddenly. Definitely too soon, he wasn't ready at all.

He still looked down, in a daze. The back of his mind was screaming at him to look away and to see who opened the door. But, his body wasn't listening to him. His body was always so complicated.

"Hey buddy." It was the slick and smooth voice of the fire ninja.

Passion, committed, and above all else determined. Those were the first words that popped into Cole's head when he heard Kai speak.

Finally, Cole turned his head over to Kai and forced a soft smile.

Cole knew Kai would see behind it, he always did. But, he thought it wouldn't hurt to try.

"Cole, are you ok?" Kai didn't leave the door frame just yet. "You've been acting a little off lately."

Cole didn't let his hands leave the desk just yet, he just stared at his brunet friend who was giving him an odd sympathetic look. Kai never gives that look, unless it's if one of them is upset.

God, he must look so pathetic right now.

"Yeah I'm alright." Cole chuckled, as if the question was an odd one. "Why do you ask?"

Kai finally stepped out of the door frame, and stood behind Cole. Kai was about to put his hand on Cole's shoulder. Cole knew he couldn't handle Kai's touch, not yet anyway.

Unconsciously, he shot a glare at his red companion. Kai put his hands up a little, as if he was surrendering. He then put his hands at his sides, and resumed that look. The look Cole despised.

Cole made an odd sound, one that he himself couldn't even describe, as if he was disappointed in himself. He then lowered his eyes, and stared at his hands again.

They stayed quiet for a few breaths. Despite Cole hating the fact that Kai took pity on him, he liked him being at least in the room. Another body just being there drove Cole away from his thoughts. But, he knew he couldn't stay quiet forever or hide from his own thoughts.

"I don't know what's wrong with me Kai." Cole began, his voice low and hallowed. "When I became a ghost, it was difficult. I was struggling to hold onto anything, and I felt like I lost a part of myself y'know?"

Cole waited, hesitant to continue. He never spoke about his problems, and it was rare for him to open up. He didn't even know if he trusted himself to speak.

But, Kai made a humming noise. It sounded sad, but it gave Cole a sign to continue. The earth ninja turned his head over to face Kai. Still, his hands never let go of the desk.

"But now that I've got it back, it's a little overwhelming. Anytime I touch something, anything, it's a strange feeling." Cole let himself pause. "I can't handle it by myself."

Cole looked away, he couldn't meet Kai's eyes. He couldn't bear to see the look in his friends eyes, the ones that pitted him.

Kai walked over to stand beside Cole, the red ninja's arms still at his sides. Kai sighed, Cole couldn't remember the last time Kai had seen him this vulnerable. Wait, had Kai ever seen him vulnerable at all?

"You don't have to handle it on your own." Kai gave a soft smile to his companion as Cole met his eyes. "We're here to help you. If you need to take a break, just let us know. You're still getting used to this right? So give yourself that time to accommodate."

Cole smiled, not the fake one as he had before, but a genuine one. His black obsidian hair cascaded slightly over his brown eyes, and he took in Kai's words.

"Thank you." Was all Cole could say.

"Anytime." Kai replied.