Random Ninjago Stuff

The Devil Doesn't Bargin

An AU where Cole never left Stephan. The Ninja know he has a partner, but they don't know what he's doing to Cole.
TW: Abuse/ torture, mentions of rape, self-harm.

Cole creeped into the Monastery. He pulled off his shoes, trying not to draw attention to himself as he moved towards the stairs. Just as he passed the open doors to the game room, however, he stepped on a creaky floorboard.

"Hey, Cole. We didn't hear you walk in," Jay loudly said, making Cole curse in his head as several heads turned to look at him. He straightened up and walked into the room, pulling his sleeves down tighter as he did.

"Oh, really? Sorry," He mumbled quietly. Zane moved to make room for him, so Earth slowly lowered himself next to the nindroid, thanking him.

Everyone was sitting in the room, watching a movie, so Cole relaxed a little, leaning into Zane slightly, who moved closer.

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As the movie went on, Zane looked over at Cole, noticing something under his eye. As the screen flashed, he realised it was a bruise. He inspected it further, it looked quite new.

But that didn't make sense; Cole wasn't injured after today's mission there, so where did it come from? He straightened up, jolting the male next to him.

"Apologies Cole," He said quietly, to which Cole nodded in response. "Just a query-" Cole looked over, eyebrow raised in confusion- "Where did you get that bruise from?" Eyes widening quickly before returning to normal, Cole's expression became one of worry.

"W-what bruise?" He asked, clearly faking confusion. Faintly noticing the film had been paused, Zane got closer, pointing to Cole's left eye.

"This one here. It's quite a large one, I can imagine it must sting to a degree." Cole seemed more panicked, yet kept trying to cover it up.

"I-I didn't notice it. I must've gotten it during the mission," He lied, but Zane shook his head.

"You didn't have a mark there after we got back. In fact, I think you've gotten it more recently," He pressed further. "Where did you say you went?"

"Just visiting Stephan, like usual." Cole tried to move on, but Kai joined in.

"Y'know, we've been a team for, what, seven years now? And yet we've never actually met Stephan. It feels like you're hiding something, Cole."

Cole shook his head, forcing a laugh. "No, he's just really private." Before anyone else could speak, he shot up. "Actually, I think I'm gonna go to bed. I'm really worn out." Everyone else stood up.

"Cole wait!" He went to leave, but Lloyd grabbed his arm.

Cole yelped loudly, surprising everyone. Instantly, his expression shifted to fearful.

"I-I didn't even grab you that hard, r-right?" Lloyd stuttered quietly, letting go of his teammate. Cole pulled into himself, crossing his arms over his chest and seeming to shrink.

"N-no, don't worry about it. It was nothing," He responded, not daring to look at anyone in the room. Nya stepped forward, extending her hand.

"Cole, may I?" He sighed, unfolding the arm and allowing Nya to take a hold of it. Gently, she pulled his sleeve up, revealing an assortment of jagged scars across his skin. Some still looked fresh: raw and angry-red.

What shocked them the most, though, was the mangled cuts that resembled words engraved onto his arm.

"What the fuck..." Kai whispered. Cole yanked his arm back, roughly shoving the sleeve back over it.

"Cole, who did that?" Pixal asked. Cole continued to look down, before they realised he was shaking. He let out a sob, collapsing to the floor, still crying.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," He muttered over and over as they all bent down to comfort him. Suddenly, Jay realised what was going on.

"He's having a panic attack!" He stated, getting closer to Cole. He took one of the elemental's shaking hands, forcing him to look at him. "Hey, hey. It's ok, just breathe, ok?" Cole gasped.

"I-I c-can't-t," He rasped out, shaking his head. Jay rubbed the hand gently.

"That's ok, just focus on breathing." He turned to the rest of the group. "Go get the weighted blanket. It should help ground him." Lloyd ran off, Kai following, and Jay resumed trying to get Cole to breathe.

"H-he said, i-if anyone f-found out, h-he'd h-hurt them-m," Cole managed.

"Who did? Was it Stephan?" Cole nodded, still trying to take in oxygen. He began to feel light-headed, but then Lloyd and Kai came back and he felt something drop onto his shoulders.

He relaxed faintly, taking deeper breaths as time went on. Eventually, he calmed down enough to notice everyone had moved. Jay was still in front of him, but Zane and Kai were now on either side of him. Nya, Pixal and Lloyd were sitting close by, but not nearly as much as the other three.

He took another shaky breath, leaning into Zane again.

"You all must think I'm pathetic," He muttered. 

"Why would we think that?" Zane asked, placing a hand atop his.

"I'm useless, crying over a simple question. He always told me that's why I couldn't leave; nobody wants someone's old play thing anyway." He tucked his knees under his chin, wrapping the blanket around himself tightly.

"What do you mean by 'play thing'?" Pixal asked, to which Cole pulled his jumper collar down, showing multiple hickeys across his neck.

"It first happened when I was fourteen. Mum had recently died, and he used that to isolate me." He chocked on a sob. "I-I kept telling him no, but he wouldn't listen. He never listens!" He yelled, tears sliding down his cheeks.

Kai pulled him into a hug, and Zane did the same on the other side. Jay continued holding his hand, gently rubbing it as they soothed Cole.

"I-I'm just sick of being used. He doesn't see me as anything more than something to use for his enjoyment."

"Maybe, it's time to cut it off with him?" Lloyd asked. Cole nodded, rubbing his eyes.

"I know, but, I've been with him for so long. I don't think I know how to end it."

"That's ok, we can help you," Nya assured him, to which everyone agreed.