Flames to Ashes (TnF Trilogy Book 2)

Epilogue :)

(Don't sue me, this was written a long time ago)

"Nya, chill! Good grief, have you always been so OCD?"
"No, just hold still for once!"
"Well, I think you look amazing."
"Thank you, Lloyd!"
Nya scoffed. "It's not that I don't, I just—"
"It's okay, I understand," Kai said in a condescending voice.
"Go [bleep] yourself."
"WHOOOOOAH! Nya, calm down!"
"I mean—" Kai chuckled softly.
"Kai, I swear to everything that is holy, if you say anything about Cole..."
Lloyd stifled a laugh, while Kai scoffed. "You know me too well. Anyways, can we talk about... this?" Kai gestured his hand to Lloyd.
"What," Nya asked, not looking up.
"Duh? Beckett and Lloyd!"
Lloyd blushed profusely. "Hey, hey! It's your day! Let's not talk about this!"
"Yeah, you're right. It is my day, and I'm choosing to spend it talking about your relationship with our newest recruit!
Lloyd exclaimed, annoyed. "You can't just—"
"Actually, Lloyd, I'd like to hear about this."
"There's nothing!"
"Mhm." Kai chuckled, amused. "Right, and the hand holding didn't suggest... what exactly?"
"Oh! And you showed him your book!"
"You little— how did you know about that?"
"I wasn't really asleep, you fool."
"And you're not really my sister, yet here we are."
"I will—" Nya lifted her needle at Lloyd and gave him a threatening glare.
"Oh, I hope Cole's faring better than we are," Kai muttered.

Meanwhile...

"Sooooooooooo~"
"What." Beckett checked his watch.
"While we're waiting, tell me about you an' Lloyd."
Beckett choked on his own breath. "What the—"
Jay laughed raucously. "Wait, what?"
"Um..."
"Yes?" Cole nudged Beckett.
"He's awesome," Beckett blurted. He gasped and covered his mouth.
Cole smirked, but Jay let out a loud squeal. "Oh my gosh, you like him!"
Beckett nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Haha... yeah........." Jay squealed again and the boys hugged Beckett. "Y'all," he started, "it's kinda Cole's special day."
Cole laughed. "I want to hear about this."
"There's nothing to say."
"Ugh!" Cole yelled, exasperated. "Literally, just say whatever comes to mind."
After a moment of silence, Beckett started spilling everything. "He's adorable, he's sweet, he's caring, he's supportive, he's loyal, he's understanding, he's... everything!" Beckett took a breath inward. "And he helps me with technology," he added silently.
"Riiiiiight," Jay laughed. "I forgot you know nothing about technology."
"Huh," Cole said. "You know, that's really cute! You're like a little brother, y'know? Kai and Nya have Lloyd, but before you, I didn't really have one. Jay can be immature, sure, but he's too awful to be a little brother."
"Seriously, Cole?"
Beckett laughed as quiet as he could. "Finally I can have siblings who actually love me."
Cole pulled Beckett into a side hug. "No worries, kiddo." Jay and Cole got an alert on their phone, from Nya. "Oop, we have to go. Y'know, I gotta get married and stuff. C'mon." Cole pulled Beckett up and gave him another hug. "You're already adorable together, just keep at it."

Cleo shuffled her feet, growling. "This stupid vengestone won't hold me for long, you'll see!"
"Yeah, yeah." The commissioner scoffed and walked away.
Cleo was thrown into a cell, and Atikin was chained to the ground in the Kryparium clearing. "This woman will be sentenced to the upmost price... death." Cleo gasped and grabbed at the cell bars. Atikin was blindfolded and placed under a guillotine and Cleo flinched away as the blade dropped.
The next day, the news on the Kryptarium television revealed that Atikin was officially dead. Cleo noticed her brother in the background of the interview and her eyes narrowed. Later on, Beckett came to visit Cleo. "I heard Atikin was killed. I suppose you now feel like you have no purpose?"
Cleo hissed at him. "Leave me alone, you buffoon!"
She could hear Beckett's tired sigh. "Fine... but I actually came to tell you... I'm going to join the ninja."
Cleo's eyes widened, and she turned around and rushed to the bars. Beckett flinched back, giving Cleo some satisfaction. "You do realize that they'll never accept you? One mistake and they'll turn on you."
"I know. But I'm willing to fight for my innocence. It's better to earn it and show it exists rather than have it given and let them wonder if you can be trusted."
"When did you become so annoying," Cleo grumbled as she turned around and sat on the prison bed.
"When you decided to try and kill us all."
"Actually, you've always been annoying."
"I'm aware of what you think of me."
"God, how old are you, anyway? Fifteen?"
"Same as you."
"Never. I'll never admit to being your sister. Ever again. Now get out of my sight."
"I don't take orders from you anymore."
Cleo groaned in exasperation. "I gave you trauma! How can you possibly be this calm?"
"I may have gotten trauma, but I know the single reason why I'm stable right now."
"What's that?"
Beckett smirked as he stood in front of Cleo's cell. "Like I'll ever tell." And he turned and walked away.
"It's 'cause you're GAY!"
"You bet!" He called as he walked out the Kryptarium door.
"Stupid boy," Cleo scoffed. Hm. Maybe that information could be used as leverage some day. Eventually. As soon as I get out of this prison, Cleo thought to herself. Then I can get my revenge.