|| warning ||
chaos theory has mature themes such as gore, violence, sexual themes, death, consumption of alcohol, intoxication and cussing. chaos theory is not intended for younger viewers.
trigger warnings will be placed on chapters as they are needed. if you have any questions or issues please contact me.
"Where are we going again?" Kai Smith, the resident master of fire and also resident one-of-my-best-friends asked.
With a subtle peek up to the rooftops, I caught sight of the ninja draped in red, peering across the city. The late morning sun caught behind his figure and I had to drop my gaze away, blinking heavily at the bright colours that had taken residence in my sight.
"I told you before," I replied to Kai with a smile, speaking through my phone that was hooked up to the communication link embedded in the hood of his gi. The colours in my vision dragged across the sidewalk as I stared down at my shoes. My fingers fiddled with the white cord of my headphones. "I'm getting Lloyd a present for our one year anniversary."
"Is it really your one year?" Kai asked confusedly, leaping over the alleyway break between rooftops with the lithe and ease of a cat. "Isn't this the first day you met him?"
"Well, yeah," I responded with a lofty shrug. "But we don't really have an actual day we became official, so we just decided on this."
"Ah."
And the day that we confessed wasn't exactly... pleasant, regarding the situation. This was a far nicer side of summer.
Kai kept in time with my steps down the street and whilst no conversation picked up again, I kept the call on just in case. It was less awkward this way.
Call it personal patrol, bodyguard, or - my favourite - babysitting duty, if I stepped out of my house or the monastery that the secret ninja force called home, I had to be accompanied by someone. A requirement, considering the target on my back for dating the Green Ninja.
While it wasn't well known information, it was well known enough by the wrong people for it to be dangerous.
My gaze found the silver bracelet Lloyd gave me for my birthday last week, our almost-year story told in the form of carefully-chosen charms. Then it dropped to the promise ring that sat perfectly on my finger, glinting softly in the light. The engraved dragon with a small, green jewel for its eye seemed to wink in the sun. My heart swelled.
No matter what sacrifice I had to make, I knew that Lloyd was worth it. And frankly, the pros of being with him far outweighed the cons.
"Let's hope this summer is less hectic than last year," Kai murmured. I blinked, sight returning to the bustling sidewalk in front of me. I sidestepped a few young giggling kids running through the crowd of people enjoying the first day of summer and tipped my head to the side.
"It'd be hard pushed, that's for sure," I hummed into the small speaker on the cord of my headphones. "What are the chances of being possessed in two consecutive summers?"
"In this city?" Kai scoffed. "Higher than you'd think."
I was resigned to agree with him.
Pulling my phone out from my pocket, I checked the time. I still had tons of it to spare before my date with Lloyd, but I wanted to make sure that I got everything that I wanted to. The most important gift on my short list was a bag of his favourite candy mix from Mr. Robuntusson's store, so that's where I headed to first.
"It's so hot up here," Kai complained when I put my phone back into my cardigan's pocket. I glanced up again just as he pushed his mask up a little and wiped his arm across his forehead. It was pretty hot for an early summer's day.
"I'm sorry," I grimaced, pace instinctively quickening. Then my apology turned into a tease. "I thought you were meant to be good with heat."
"Yeah, fire," Kai recriminated exasperatedly. "Not the power of the sun."
I snorted. "Weak."
"I'll like to see you try to walk through fire and get out unscathed," Kai boldly shot back and my amused grin widened in pre-triumph. "But not Lloyd's fire. That doesn't count."
My smile fell into a disappointed frown.
"Darn," I sighed. "I was totally gonna one up you there."
Kai snickered. I spotted Mr. Robuntusson's store and brightened. A few kids spilled from the entrance, each holding bags of candy and beaming smiles.
"I'll just be a second," I promised before ending the call, holding the door for an elderly lady and her granddaughter before slipping inside. The bell jiggled lightly and the sweet, sweet smell of a million different types of candies hit me like an addicting, intoxicating wall of sugary-goodness.
