Tiny Troubles

Part 10

Previously on Tiny Troubles...

"Besides, being a kid isn't that bad!"

Cole didn't know why that set him off. Maybe because being a kid was that bad; maybe because he was still reeling from the fact that he had to potentially wait a month before he could get turned back into his normal age; maybe it was because of his mini panic attack earlier in the game room. But all of it was too much for the black ninja and his childish instincts decided to take over.

Cole sat down hard on the floor and immediately started bawling.

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Part 10

Most of the ninja thought they knew how Cole was going to react when they found out that he would have to remain a kid for a little longer. They thought that he would either take it stoically, rant about it for a few minutes before calming down, or storm off and sulk in the bedroom for a few hours.

None of them expected Cole to actually start crying.

As such, chaos ensued.

"Oh my gosh, Cole!" Jay screamed, kneeling down next to his crying leader and giving him a hug. "Shhh, it's okay, don't cry, please don't cry!"

Jay's words were soothing, but his hysterical tone just made Cole start to wail louder.

Lloyd cringed and covered his ears. "Jeez, Cole! I think my eardrums just burst!"

"Lloyd!" Zane scolded. "You cannot say things like that, you will make it worse!" Another ear-piercing wail from Cole came then. "See?!"

"Well, excuuuuuse me if I don't want to be deaf!" Lloyd retorted, glaring at the white ninja. "Besides, I don't know how to calm him down! I don't have any experience with kids!"

"You could at least try!"

"Jay tried, and look what happened!"

"Well, I at least attempted to help, Lloyd!" Jay snapped.

"STOP ARGUING!" Kai suddenly shouted, making everyone flinch. "You guys are making it worse!"

Indeed, Cole had started sobbing even harder. His hands were covering his ears and he was almost hyperventilating.

"W-well, what do we do?!" Jay asked, looking somewhat frantic. Zane and Lloyd also looked unsure of what to do.

Kai took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Here," he said softly, kneeling down near Jay. "let me hold him."

Jay, confused, nonetheless transferred the little ninja in his arms to Kai. Cole was too distressed to even start to complain. He just kept on crying.

"Hey," Kai said softly, gently hugging his younger teammate and rubbing his back. "It's okay Cole, it's okay. Shhh, I know you're upset, but there's no need to cry. Shhh, it's okay, I'm here. Jay's here, Zane and Lloyd are here. We're not gonna let anything happen to you. Shhh, it's okay, shhh."

Jay, Zane, and Lloyd all watched, shocked, as Kai continued to soothe Cole. And...it was working. Cole's wails decreased in volume and eventually stopped altogether. His hysterical sobbing turned into little sniffles and he even started cuddling closer to Kai, burying his face in Kai's chest.

Kai let him, continuing to say soothing words and rubbing Cole's back. When at last Cole's crying seemed to have stopped, the red ninja peered down at him. "You okay now?" he asked gently.

Cole sniffled but nodded his head. "Don' wanna be a kid," he mumbled into Kai's shirt.

Kai smiled sadly. "I know, buddy. But it won't be for forever," he replied. "We'll get you that Tomorrow's Tea soon, I promise."