All of Our Scars - Ninjago Conia AU FanFic

• COLE 10 •

A/N: SOOOO SORRY ABOUT THE LATE UPDATE!!! I was really really busy so this was kinda delayed. Anyways, this is kind of like a part two or like a continuation of the last chapter, because I wanted to write this part but it didn't feel right in Vania's POV so I had to do one part in Cole's. Anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Cole felt more peaceful than he had ever felt in his entire life as he lay there on the grass next to Vania, silence passing between them. He was relaxed, and yet he felt unsettled and troubled as if something was constantly bugging him all the time wherever he went.

It wasn't cold tonight, although there was a slight chill in the air that didn't really affect him. The atmosphere felt clean....fresh. Calm. And he was tired, but despite his relaxed state his insomnia still seemed to be in play.

"Are you okay?"

Cole shifted his head to face Vania, who's beautiful gentle face was etched with caring concern. It made his heart ache, that someone so kind could be so alone. She never deserved it, but life was always so unfair.

"Yeah...I'm fine,"

"You sure....?"

This time Cole didn't answer, and he felt his head go fuzzy and his throat suddenly feel very blocked and prickly. He wasn't fine. In fact, he was quite the opposite. But under these circumstances, he wasn't going to tell Vania that, as he didn't want to burden her with his problems or mess things up, especially right before her birthday.

Speaking of Vania, she had her head tilted in his direction, her golden hair sprawled around her head and the stars reflected in her blue ocean eyes. Worry and concern reflected in those said eyes of hers, and her expression was kind and gentle.

Heat threatened to cover his cheeks as Cole looked away, turning his head the other direction. His heart gave a small flutter as he felt Vania give his hand a little squeeze, partly from surprise as he had forgotten they were holding hands in the first place, and also partly from a reason Cole still had to discover.

"The stars are really beautiful tonight. They're like, a billion twinkling dots in the sky that just...glow. It's so pretty....," Vania's voice whispered, becoming quieter as she breathed out the last sentence 

"Yeah....,"

A small silence passed, and Cole squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing as his chest rose and fell.

"Cole....what's wrong?"

Cole's breath hitched in surprise, his eyes fluttering open as he turning his head to find that Vania had sat up and untwined their hands, looking at him with a gentle expectancy.

"I-,"

The words were lodged in his throat, and his eyes felt hot and prickly. He found it hard to get sentences out, like his throat was completely blocked and someone had stolen his voice right from him. It was only when he felt Vania wrap his hand around his again that Cole realised he was crying. Or half-crying anyways.

Cole shifted his body so he was sitting up like her, his hand still linked with Vania's. His eyes widened in surprise as Vania wrapped her arms around him in a tender hug, her chin resting on his shoulder. Cole was frozen, and he could feel her heart beating against his chest and her warm breathing against his cheek and ear.

"Oh Cole....did I do something? I'm sorry if I did, I-"

Cole shook his head quickly, wrapping his arms around her in comfort.

"No...you didn't...it's just...I.... I-I don't know," he said, his voice cracking at the last word. Vania gave a gentle nod in understanding and leaned her head against the side of his.

"I just....I miss her. I really do," Cole whispered, his voice quiet. Vania stroked his hair in understanding. He didn't need to explain further - she knew exactly who he was talking about.

"Sometimes, I just sit there and think about her and how much I miss her. And sometimes I sit there wondering if she's proud of me and if I'm doing it right and-"

"Shh....Cole...I'm sure your mother's really proud of you. If I were her, I would be. I am actually. I'm really, really proud of you," Vania hushed. Cole closed his eyes again, breathing in and out as they stayed in that position in silence for a little while.

Cole suddenly felt very aware. He could smell her, the slightly salty smell of the sea replaced by her sweet scent. She smelt of vanilla and freshly ground coffee beans, and he loved it. He could feel her breathing and his own, the sound of their hearts beating in time. Another thing he realised was that he was now quietly sobbing, his eyes moist and his throat weirdly dry.

"I-I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be," 

"Do you hate me?"

Vania froze in shock, her face morphing into a frown. She broke the hug to hold Cole by the shoulders, looking him dead in the eyes.

"Of course not? Why would I?"

"It's just....sometimes I feel like everyone does and-,"

"No Cole. You listen to me. People care about you. Okay? I don't care what that stupid brain of yours thinks, but you are important and there are people who love you and enjoy being with you and care about you. Like your mum, and Jay and me. I care about you Cole," Vania said, her voice also on the edge of tears. Cole looked up in surprise.

"People care Cole. And I know what it's like to feel like people don't but just know that I care. And that's because you make me feel like you care about me too, and I really needed that. Because all my life, no one has ever cared. And anyone who has was taken away from me, and I'm not losing you too," Vania clearly wasn't finished, and her voice caught in her throat. 

Cole was stunned to say the least. He still couldn't form any words to say, and he watched as Vania looked at him expectantly, her eyes also brimming with tears.

"Well? Say something," she said, her voice quiet yet demanding.

"I....thank you," Cole whispered and Vania gave him a smile - a small sad smile that drove him mad. Just like everything else about her.

"Your welcome Roachman," she said, causing Cole to smile too and quickly wipe his eyes with his sleeve.

"I am not- well since it's night I guess it's time for me to turn into a roach now," he said. And Vania laughed. That laugh that drove him crazy. The sound that he could play on repeat for a month and never get bored of. 

"Please don't. I don't really want to be alone right now," Vania said, a slightly wistful tone bordering her voice that was deeply disguised under all the layers of her pretty soft voice. But Cole could tell.

"Don't worry princess. I'll still be here. Just....as a roach,"

Vania laughed again, and Cole felt his face break into a smile.

He was so lucky to have met her.

A/N: WHO'SE IDEA WAS IT TO PUT THE K NEXT TO THE L ON THE KEYBOARD? Do you know how many times I've accidentally typed 'Coke' instead of 'Cole?'. Do you have any idea how many timed I've proof-read this just to find that I've written 'Coke shifted his body so he was sitting up like her'? Honestly. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Starting to get more angsty nowwwww. So be warned, MAUAHAHAHAHAHA. Lol. Anyways, byeeee!