Ninjago Oneshots

"When You Smile, I Melt Away" (Scamwareshipping)

(Ronin (42) x Cyrus Borg (54))

Set around Crystalized

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Ronin didn't know when it started. Possibly after Zane was brought back by Pixal. The thief could remember one other thing vividly that day: Cyrus's genuine, happy and relieved smile. That smile seemed to slowly captivate Ronin, and caused him to come visit Borg industries a bit more.

That smile. For some reason Ronin's cold, stone heart melted a little every time he saw it. At first the man tried to deny any possible feelings about it, but that denial slowly turned into questioning.

Why did he feel this way?

Ronin pondered this for months, even after the events that followed from the overlord's defeat. Oh, right, Ninjago finally was peaceful again, despite the major rebuilding that was needed, especially to the Monastery. Since Ronin didn't exactly have anywhere to stay, Cyrus offered Ronin a room in the Borg Industries building, that way he could also keep an eye on the slightly younger man for the Ninja.

Ronin finally agreed, and so, here he was, sitting on the bed of a room just for Ronin, personally furnished in the style he liked best. He even got his own private bath, and for the first time, Ronin didn't have to lie or make a deal in order to afford such luxury!

The brunette thought some more, especially about how bright Cyrus's smile was when Ronin accepted the offer. HE SMILED AT RONIN. The thief who was either considered an ally or an enemy to the Ninja, and Cyrus didn't even hesitate with being kind to him. A small smile appeared on Ronin's own face from this memory.

However, he was pulled out of his thoughts by a knock on his door." It's unlocked!" Ronin spoke loud enough for whoever was behind the door to hear him. The electronic door opened to reveal Cyrus, wearing his usual outfit and rolling in on his wheelchair.

"Hello Ronin" Cyrus spoke with a soft smile."I came to see how you were adjusting so far" he said, going over to Ronin's bedside. Ronin felt himself freeze up a bit from the smile on Cyrus's face again, but tried to act normal."It's going fine, I honestly like the fact I have my own bathroom" the one eyed man said, sitting up a little straighter.

Ronin still couldn't understand why Cyrus was willing to trust someone who used to steal and sell things to pay his debts, but then again he probably shouldn't question the judgment of the older man in front of him.

Cyrus's smile seemed to widen at Ronin's answer."I'm happy to hear that, I was worried that you probably wouldn't like it, as it was an extreme upgrade from your previous living arrangements" the raven haired man rubbed the back of his own neck out of a slight twinge of nervousness.

He looked up at Ronin, who basically was taller due to the fact that Cyrus was literally wheelchair bound and couldn't stand, though that also brought up another question in Ronin's head.

Was Cyrus always handicapped? Or did an accident cause it? Ronin wasn't sure about this but decided to not question it for now, as he didn't want to make the other uncomfortable with such personal questions. So he lead his own mind to another topic. How cute Cyrus's smile seemed to be- wait, cute??? Did THE Mercenary Thief, Ronin, just think that Cyrus Borg was cute??? Now the brunette was even more confused about how he felt towards the other.

Cyrus noticed the sudden confused and slightly reddened face of Ronin, so he reached out a gloved hand and gently nudged him."Ronin...are you okay?.." The inventor's smiling expression shifted to one of slight worry, which snapped Ronin out of his thoughts again.

"Y-Yeah, yeah I'm fine" Ronin quickly replied, turning his head, which made some of his shaggy, shoulder length amber hair be helpful in trying to hide his face which was now dusted with red, both from being both flustered and embarrassed, which was actually rare to see from someone like Ronin, it was as if his cold demeanor immediately melted away in the presence of the man who allowed Ronin to stay in his industry building

While Ronin did these actions, Cyrus himself thought a bit. About how the other man seemed to always be a bit more...softer around Cyrus, even though Ronin denied that he was becoming soft. But Cyrus knew the truth. Ronin wasn't as much of a jerk to some people, and those who didn't break his trust gained a genuinely loyal friend, even if the thief didn't say too much about it.

In fact, Ronin was basically assisting Cyrus a few days after agreeing to stay. Grabbing items that were too high up for the inventor to reach, accompanying him when Cyrus was inventing and testing out new tech, and Ronin even went out of his way to sometimes make food for Cyrus, even though the man had to follow cooking instructions every single time.

This time it was Cyrus who was pulled out of his thoughts by Ronin, who had lightly nudged The inventor's hand, speaking to him. "Did my overthinking suddenly pass on to you?" He joked, chuckling a bit. The raven haired man let out a shy chuckle before responding. "No, it didn't.. though I was wondering about something" Cyrus said, a twinge of nervousness appearing in him again.

Ronin cocked a brow. "oh, and what do you need to know?" He questioned, seeming curious about what question the other man might have. Cyrus fidgeted a little, looking away then back at Ronin.

"What....What do you think about me?" That question hit Ronin like a truck. At first he looked a bit shocked, not sure how to answer, before his expression softened to one with a small but genuine smile, something that even the Ninja rarely saw, and a tint of red appeared on his cheeks as he spoke.

"What I think of you? Well, that's actually easy. I think you're a good friend. You give a second chance to those who need one, like me, even if I never admitted it. I don't feel so alone around you. In fact, you're basically the reason why I'm not possibly dead in a ditch somewhere" Ronin said, his light brown eyes looking into Cyrus's black ones. He lifted one of Cyrus's hands with gentleness, a clearly unexpected move from the scruffy man.

Cyrus felt his own cheeks warm up from both the words and the gesture. He just now noticed how Ronin's non-metal hand was a bit bigger even though the prosthetic one was basically around the same size , and felt rougher without his gloves.

The man in the wheelchair looked up at Ronin again. "I....I didn't expect you to.. to think so fondly of me.." Cyrus chuckled nervously, which earned another smile from Ronin.

"yeah I may not like to admit when I'm feeling soft, but with you I guess it just.... doesn't feel embarrassing to admit it, as crazy as it sounds. I feel like I can actually be honest with you, which rarely happens with the people I meet" Ronin said in a low, but soft tone, one that made Cyrus's heartbeat pick up.

Cyrus looked at his hand, which was being held by Ronin's. "And um, I noticed that you seem to like it when I smile....is there any particular reason why?" He asked, his deep, black eyes meeting Ronin's light brown eyes again.

Ronin felt his own heart starting to race at the question. He scooted a bit closer to Cyrus, and the brunette was met with a flustered and confused look from the inventor. The Thief leaned down a little and pressed the most gentle kiss onto Cyrus's cheek before pulling away, smiling at the now red faced man.

"Because when you smile, I melt away"