Transgender Jay : A Ninjago Story

34 - Discharged

(Warning. This chapter contains bad language).

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A few more extremely uneventful and boring days passed in the hospital, and there was not a single ninja who didn't crave freedom from its clean white walls, and the constant chemical smell of anti-bacterial wash.

Ninjago City's hospital wasn't exactly a horrible place. They'd all visited on many occasions to brighten up a kid's day or help with some fundraiser, but after being confined to it for so long... it was starting to get unbearable.

Bland, loud, and frustrating.

Lloyd, Nya, Zane and Sensei were suffering a lot less than the injured, for obvious reasons. At least they could wander the building as much as they wanted, they were even free to leave. The only reason they stayed was for their friends.

Cole had only woken up a day ago at this point, and felt extremely disorientated and grotty.

Kai was tired of being practically bed bound despite only his arm being injured, and Jay even more so, considering he got away with a few superficial scratches, nothing more.

So, when they were given clearance to finally be able to leave, they were all relieved beyond anything else. The news of their discharge was the best they'd had for a long time.

They met in one of the main corridors, on the floor their beds all happened to be on. Sensei was already back at the Bounty, so there would only be six of them leaving the hospital together.

Cole gave Jay a rib crushing hug as soon as he came into view, and sternly told him off.

"Don't you DARE ever do that to me again Jay Walker! You almost gave me a damn heart attack!" He exclaimed, wagging a finger at his friend, who started to look sheepish.

Cole hardly ever used people's full names, and when he did, he meant business.

"... I'm sorry..."

"Yeah, you'd better be! You ran towards a f*cking explosion Jay! You could have died!"

Jay moved his eyes away, starting to feel really guilty. Not because he put himself in danger, but because Cole followed him into it, and got hurt.

"... we care about you... you know... you're our friend... no matter what. We don't want to lose you. So... please, don't do that again."

He bit his lip and nodded, clenching his fists at his side.

"... Jay?"

"Mmm?"

"Come on. You gotta promise."

"Mmm. I promise."

Cole raised his eyebrows, and with a little smile, offered up his pinkie.

"... pinkie promise?"

Jay couldn't help it. He broke into a bright smile as well, remembering their pinkie promise from about a week ago fondly. He obliged, and finally, it seemed that Cole was satisfied. He turned around to the rest of the group.

"... damnit, we're all here but Kai. Do you know where he is, Nya?"

"No idea. I turned around to tell him it was time to go and he just... wasn't there. That's a ninja for you."

Jay sighed and looked down at the floor.

"We're all bloody sick of this place and he knows that."

It was clear that the whole group was pretty annoyed with the red ninja, and even Zane - who was normally extremely polite - muttered 'a*shole' under his breath.