The Flower Princess (Ninjago Lava)

Chapter 11: The Eye

Kai POV
I GOT IT! I think. Maybe. I dunno! The pillows are black and red, but I dunno! No guy likes other guys these days! I screamed into the pillow. It actually felt good. I heard Rey's footsteps come upon my living room. "What do you want," I grumbled, hanging upside down on the couch.
"Hey, Flameheart. Are ya confused?"
"Sexually, yes. Anything else, nah."
Rey laughed and moved me right-side-up. "That was me at first, don't worry."
"What if he doesn't like me back?"
Rey scoffed. "If he didn't love you back, how would he be in your subconscious, helping you get out of a 'curse' where he is forced to watch you date Skylor."
I blinked. "I mean—"
"No!" Rey smacked me in the back of my head.
"Geez, sorry." I rubbed where she hit me. "So, you're telling me that I'm in love with Cole?"
"No... 'cause I'm not. You are. You just said it."
"Aaaaaaaaaufhhshshhd."
"Kai, it is physically not possible to keysmash in real life. Yet you just proved me wrong."
"Ha," I shot back sarcastically. It didn't have much 'Kai Spice' to it because I was exhausted. I did love Cole, didn't I? He was funny and responsible. Really confident and capable. I really do love him.
Rey noogied me. "Finally, dummy! Now all we gotta do is wait."
"For what?"
"For him to come back and say the magic words or whatever. I dunno, this has never happened before."
"What should I do while I wait?"
"That's up to you. Make a corny speech for professing your love to Cole, sing the Ghost Whip, sleep, I don't really care. I have a lunch date later."
"Ha, ha. I think I'll do the first one."
"Dork."
I would've countered, but nothing came to mind. "Fine, you win. For now! I'm gonna go write it out and then practice it." I started walking away.
"Have fun, Flameheart!"
I turned around. "You know, I can call you that too."
"Yeah, well it's funnier if I call you that."
I turned back to the table and got to work. I'd make Cole feel so special. Well, he already is. To me, at least.
After about an hour, I got nothing done. It just didn't seem right to write my feelings down. Rey screamed. I ran outside to her. "What?" I demanded.
"Cole's in the realm now. Get ready, kiddo."
Oh crabsicles! Ooh, that's fun to say. I ran to the couch, opened my book, and tried to act natural.

Cole POV
Kai was not acting natural. I could see the tension in his shoulders, just by the way he held the book above his head. I tapped on his shoulder. "I was told there's something you needed to tell me?" I think I knew what it was about, but I wanted to let Kai have his fun.

Kai POV
I felt my heart beating faster than a dragon diving midair. I got up and took Cole outside of the living room. And hopefully, out of Rey's ear range.
"Cole," I started. "I've realized a lot these days. I've realized that you've always been there for me. You've been the only one to help me get through this boring mindscape. And I've been thinking about what Rey told me. She said I'd have to find who my real love was. At first, I thought it was Skylor. I had forgotten the most important story from my childhood. The one that brought this whole ordeal on us. And I admire how well you're handling this. I am really worried about everyone else, but mostly you. You're spending all your time helping me in here, and I am super grateful for that. I'm super grateful for you. And... I think I've found who Rey was talking about..." I looked up to Cole for the first time in my whole (improvised) speech. He was just smiling like ten thousand suns. Is that a metaphor? "Cole, I've realized that—"
He grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me in for a kiss. I felt startled. Although, somehow, it also felt right. I closed my eyes and let my heart beat faster than it ever has, and let my hands reach up and entwine my fingers, arms around his neck. Cole pulled away and smirked. "You talk too much." I felt my face grow red.
"I hope I never forget this moment."
Cole kissed me again, this time, more briefly. "Was that all improvised," he asked, breaking apart.
"Yeah," I said, rubbing the back of my neck, bashful.
Cole slugged me in the shoulder playfully. "Dork."
Rey walked up behind us and grabbed us in a hug. "DORKS!!!!" I think she was crying. "Y'all grow up so dang fast!"
Cole held my hand tightly. Butterflies flew in my stomach. "So," he asked.
"Right," the Flower Princess said. "You should be out in... two seconds. I'll see you again sometime, sweet little princes!" As a strange feeling pulled us upward, I looked Rey straight in her eyes and shot her a thought. Thank you so much. I'll never forget you.
No prob, kiddo.
I smiled and turned my head to Cole as we warped through the ceiling. He held my hand tighter, reassuring me. It was finally over.

:)