Life (Cole x reader)

autism

A year passed and y/n was now six years old, and Wu was starting to notice just how different she was from the other children. There were days she seemed unable to speak, and she was constantly moving. Little things set her off that other children around her didn't understand. She didn't seem to understand it either. She had a lot of trouble with eye contact too. But what really got him thinking she might have something going on was her reaction to a fabric. He has bought her a simple dress when he was in town because she was outgrowing some clothes. It seemed normal enough to him. But the decal on it sent her spiraling into a tantrum.

(He returned the dress, and brought her to pick out an outfit she liked instead so it wouldn't happen again.)

"Y/n?"

"Yes sensei?"

"Come with me." She got up from her spot on the floor where she was drawing and followed him.

"Sensei?"

"Yes?"

"Where are we going?"

"We're visiting a doctor. I feel like you're a little different from other people, and I'm curious as to why." She looked at him confused.

"What do you mean, different?"

"You seem to not be able to process things in a way a person usually would. It's not a bad thing though. I'm just concerned as to what I could possibly do to help, and seeing this doctor may help us." She nods, gripping his hand a little tighter, her other arm gripping her plush a little tighter.

The doctor did a lot of different tests, which made y/n nervous, but she had Abby and Wu to help her stay calmer. It was still a lot though, and they didn't manage to get through the visit without some tears.

It was a while later that they got the results from all those tests, and Wu couldn't say he was surprised when he read the results.

Y/n was mildly autistic. He decided to tell her after dinner that day.

"What's that?" She asked when he told her.

"It simply means your brain processes things a little differently than someone else's. But it's okay. It's nothing that you can't overcome. But it will be part of you for your entire life. But now that we know, we can start to find ways to help get past it." He hugged her gently.

"Really?"

"Of course. Now come along. It's time for bed."

"Okay sensei." She yawned and he tucked her into her bed. She cuddled up with Abby, and closed her eyes. He smiled softly at her, and turned the lights off, leaving her to sleep.

A couple of years passed. Y/n decided to learn sign for when she felt she couldn't speak. She had headphones that blocked out noise for when it felt too much. She still had trouble playing with the other children, but the more she understood what made her upset, the better she got at playing with others. It made Wu happy to see his ward grow in such a way.

When y/n was ten years old, Wu took her to meet a very pregnant misako and a very proud garmadon. "Brother, who is that?"

"Y/n. She's been my ward for the past five years now." The girl in question was hiding behind Wu again, nervous. "Y/n, it's quite alright. This is my brother and his wife, misako." She peeked her head out to get a better look at them.

"Hi." She said softly.

"Y/n, is it? That's a lovely name." Misako said from her chair. She stood up with difficulty and went over to the girl. "It's alright. How about I take you to the park while Wu and Garmadon chat?" She looks at Wu, before nodding.

On the way, y/n noticed a small bird struggling to fly. Its wing was bent oddly, and y/n went over to it. "Y/n?" The small girl kneeled down to the bird and gently picked it up. It thrashed in her hands, but calmed after a second. "Y/n, would you like to nurse the bird back to health?" Y/n looked at the bird, as if consent rating in something. A dim light came from the girls hands, and the wing started to med itself. Misako gasped. Sure she had seen elemental powers before, but nothing like this!

The glow burned out, and the bird sat there with a mended wing. "Y/n-"

"Bye bye birdy." She smiled softly, and the bird spread its wings and started to soar. "Are we still going to the park?"

"I... What just happened?"

"The bird got healed."

"You did that?" She nodded. "How?"

"I dunno. It just happens when I'm hurt, so I thought, if I can heal me, maybe I can heal the birdy." She explained.

"Have you shown Wu?" And head shake. "How about we go tell Wu?" She thought it over before nodding.

When they got back, Wu was waiting outside. "Ah I was just about to go meet you two. Did something happen?"

"Y/n, would you like to tell him?"

"I found a hurt bird and healed it. Miss misako told me I should tell you."

"Healed it? How?" The girl shrugged.

"A light came from her hands, and the bird's wing just started healing. The wing was broken and then it was fixed. I've never seen anything like it. She says she did it to herself once, and figured it would work on the bird too."

"Interesting... Very interesting."

It was a few months later when Wu came up to her with a yellow gi in a fabric he knew she could stand, and he sat her down, and spoke to her. "Y/n, you are a special girl. More so than you know. You now have a choice. You can continue to be a normal person. You would still remain my ward of course, but you would live a normal life. Or you could become a ninja. Live a life of adventure, and become a protector of Ninjago. What do you want to do?"

"Ninja!" She said, not even thinking. Wu looked at her.

"Y/n, I will warn you once. If you do this, you will not be able to back out. Are you certain?" She nods.

"I want to help people. I always want to help people. I just never knew how to go about it. So if I can save people like this, then it's what I want to be sensei." He smiled. Seems like this wasn't an impulse choice after all. He gave her the Gi.

"Y/n l/n. Master of life. The yellow ninja. We will train you to be a great ninja, and a protector of Ninjago. Your training starts in the morning." The girl beamed. "Get some rest now. You're going to need it." The girl took the gi, and walked out of the room. Wu smiled.

"A fine ninja indeed."