Days Go By | lavashipping

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"Oh hey, you remembered phone's exist."

"Shut up."

"All right then, if you don't want to talk to me–"

"Jay, I swear to gods, if you hang up on me..."

"Fine. Somebody's in a pissy mood as always. What do you want?"

"I'm never in a pissy mood."

"You're always in a pissy mood. Anyway, can you get to the point or are you calling me just to argue about nothing?"

Kai sighed, laying the top half of their body on the table. His hand was helplessly hovering in the air. "Remember when Nya got the job at Borg's and constantly overworked herself to get to the top?"

"Of course I remember, why? If you're worried about her I can tell you she's not doing that now. I mean she's always a hard worker but she's not working herself to the ground anymore."

"No, I know she's fine, it's just... I'm concerned for my boyfriend because he's exactly the same."

"Your WHAT now?" Kai had to move the phone farther away from their ear. "Since when do you have a boyfriend?!"

"Calm down, you're gonna scream my ear off."

"Fine. But just because there are more pressing matters at hand," Jay said, his voice at a safe volume now, so Kai was able to put the phone back close. "But I swear to you, Kai Smith-Garmadon, that the moment I see you, you'll have a lot to explain."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever.  What worked on Nya to make her take more care of herself? He'll just work into the night no matter how uncomfortable he is. I'm trying to get him to take breaks but I can't be with him all the time and it drives me crazy just thinking that he's just sitting at his desk right at that moment, working and hurting and... I just feel really useless." They rubbed a hand over their face, waiting for a response.

"Well... when she got the position she wanted that's when it stopped, so..."

"Yeah, but he never talked about wanting to get promoted or something."

"I dunno, Kai, it was hard with her too. You're all so damn stubborn. Do you know how many times she almost bit my arm off when I tried to make her get a break?"

"I just don't understand why would he do all that to himself. I don't think he's not aware of his own discomfort."

"Jeez, you're all the same."

"What?"

"I heard stories from when you were young. Didn't you also bend over backwards to take care of your family?"

"But that's a totally different situation!"

"I don't know Kai, I didn't even know you had a boyfriend, how am I supposed to help when I know nothing about the mysterious guy? Maybe just try talking to him, make him open up, tell him your concerns instead of me. Maybe he'll tell you what's up. Go to the source, dumbass."

"Don't call me dumbass, dumbass."

"Well, you are dumbass. Just talk to him, it's literally the easiest solution."

"I just wish there was something I could do."

"Being there for him is enough too, you know? Just listen to me and talk to him!"

"But I could do more, this feels too simple."

"God, this family has rocks for brains... Kai, sometimes things are as easy as just talking. Sometimes it's the only thing you can do. I know that your brain's obsessed with serving people has a hard time accepting that but it's true so just... just listen to my advice since you asked for it! Do I have to bring Zane into this? They're just downstairs."

"Fine! I'll just talk to him, I guess."

"Why do I not believe you...?"

"Whatever, thanks, Jay."

"Yeah, of course, bud."

Kai waited, not ending the call just yet. Jay also didn't hang up. "Oh, and by the way? I'm dating Cole Brookstone."

There was a moment of silence. Then they heard Jay take a sharp inhale, which was exactly when they hung up and turned the phone off. Oh, the birthday party was going to be a little bit more interesting. He had to laugh, just imagining Jay screaming into his phone until he realises Kai's no longer there to listen. At least that helped him feel a little lighter.

Of course, he could just go and talk to Cole but then he remembered the little incident that resulted in Cole not talking to him for a few days and doubts took over. Would it even do anything? What if Cole just shrugs it off? What a terrible feeling helplessness is.