NINJAGO: Amateurs of Adulthood .2

I2

Jay felt like ripping his skin off.

He hated sitting here listening to this random guy flirt with Nya right in front of him.

Sitting next to her.

Touching her.

Looking at her.

To put it bluntly, he was pissed.

"Okay, I've gotta go to the bathroom. I'll leave you two to yourselves." Nya smiled at the both of them before getting up from the table and walking away

Shade spoke up first. "So...what do you like to do for fun?"

"Purple. How long have you two been dating?" Jay answered within seconds

"Oh. Well, personally, I like to do red but-"

"Shade. Please..."

Jay hated the why he sounded right now, but he needed closure...from anyone

Shade watched Jay with an almost pitying stare before breathing out a long sigh, Jay tensed as he felt some of the air on his face

"First of all, let me just say we never did anything while you two were together. We're not those kinda people. But, she called me about a week after she broke it off with you..sorry, man..."

A week?

Just a week?

That's all it took?

Jay's eyes began to water. Fuck.

"No, no, don't be..." Jay started, he prayed Shade would disregard his wobblely voice. "Love...makes us do crazy things..."

"Heh, you got that right." Shade smiled softly

"Hey, Shade." Jay spoke up after a small time

"Hm?" The bigger man hummed. Jay watched as his pearly, gray eyes landed on him

"...Take care of her. Alright?"

"Aye aye, Captain. She's in good hands." Shade smiled

Jay smiled in return, knowing that Nya was happy and taken care of was...enough for him. It was finally enough. When he came to terms with how he truly felt about their situation, he felt light and airy. As he watched the man in front of him, he came to the ultimate conclusion that he was happy for the couple. Maybe...Maybe this wound would always hurt; but he'd rather spend his time being happy for Nya than sad over her.

"So, what do you like to do? Ya know, besides red." Jay asked with a small grin

Shade chuckled in reply before answering the ginger's question. "As fun as red is, I also like to crack open a book once in a while."

"I can tell." Says the ninja, gesturing to the small book in the other man's hands. "How's Hamlet treating you?"

"Real nice. I've always had a real appreciation for Shakespeare. Also, it makes me look smart." The pale man joked

Jay smiled. He smile grew bigger and bigger, and before he knew it, the most genuine laugh he had laughed in a while fluttered through the air.

And so, the library date came to an end. The two ninjas were preparing to head on home to the monastery and were bidding goodbye to the man they encountered.

"Hey, it was nice meeting you, even if it was under odd circumstances like this." Shade grinned as he stuck his hand out towards Jay

Jay stared at the large hand for a couple seconds before taking it in his own.

"Diddo. Take care of yourself, alright?" The freckled man smiled

"You got it."

Nya kissed Shade goodbye and told him she'd call him later that night before the two ninja finally went on their way.

"...Sorry I didn't tell you why we were going to the library in the first place." Nya spoke up a little while into the walk

"It's okay. I get why you didn't." Jay replied, watching his shoes as he walked

A serene quiet fell on the two as they walked through the near empty streets. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky had quickly melted from a foggy blue, to a beautiful deep pink color, thick violet clouds blocked some of the sun's low orange rays that cloaked them with a loving warmth. It was almost spring again.

"So..." Nya started up again, "What do you think?"

"Of?"

"Shade."

Jay thought for a bit before giving the girl beside him his answer,

"Well, it doesn't matter what I think. I'm happy if you're happy." He smiled

"...Thanks, Jay."

And the two walked on.

Just another day in Ninjago.