Adoration: [Cole X Reader 3]

Chapter Eight- Gonna Take You Down & Laugh when You Cry

Rain pattered against the roof of our home, lulling my mind into a peaceful state it hadn't been in a long time. The day had slipped by with nothing too big happening. The boys had returned early from their mission and my brother, Cole, and I sat on the little wrap around balcony just outside our kitchen. Devin lay sprawled out at Jay's feet, snoring on occasion as he stroked her giant ears. My brothers arm was wrapped in a thick bandage, spots of blood seeping through where he had managed to injure himself during their mission today.

I sat on Cole's legs, facing him as I worked ointment on his shoulder where he, too, had been injured. Accident prone boys. I huffed and spun my hat backwards, the rim behind me so I could lean closer to my husband and see what I was doing. He chuckled and snagged my hat off my head, placing it on his own.

"Hey!" I protested, my head quickly getting cold. "Give that back. My head is cold."

Jay looked up and frowned, curly ginger locks falling into his eyes. "You've already lost all of your hair..." he murmured and I leaned my forehead against Cole, nodding.

I sighed and rubbed my bare head. What was left of my hair had fallen out last week just after my third week of chemo treatment. "Yeah." was all I could manage and Cole returned my hat to its place on my head and placed a hand on my knee reassuringly.

"You're still beautiful as ever." He muttered in my ear as I finished up with his ointment and retreated away from him.

"It's not that, I just... don't feel like myself." I whispered, pulling my arms around my stomach as I sat on the floor, back to the house.

I heard Jay sigh as he slid next to me and leaned his head on my shoulder. "Well you don't ever get to stop being my sister so... guess that stinks." He joked and I cracked a smile.

"Well shoot." I shook my head and smiled in spite of myself.

We stood abruptly as the building shook, sounds of rain mixing with loud crashes and bangs beneath us. My eyes went wide as Jay and Cole shared a knowing glance and ran downstairs. I followed, Devin hot on my heels. The rest of the team stood in our briefing room as the building shook again. Jay was quick to hold my arm with a hand, steadying me to which I sent a grateful smile.

Lloyd peeked out a window and gave a half hearted smile. "Well, we've got company."

"What did you idiots do now?" I asked and raised an eyebrow. "I leave and everything goes upside down."

Nya laughed and winked at me before they all went charging out our front doors into the chaos. Sensei grabbed my arm as I went to follow, his eyes apologetic. "You should stay inside, Y/n."

"I may be bald but I am definitely not useless." I wrenched my arm from his hold and ran into the throes outside.

I was met with a sharp blast which made me sway backwards before I launched forward to crouch beside Lloyd, who stood behind the cover of a rock, mask on and ready to jump in his team. Yet when he saw me, he flinched and pulled me further into shelter.

"What are you doing?" He demanded, voice sharp to which I flinched, taken aback.

Eyes narrowed, I dared to send him a glare. "I'm helping." I snapped and shook my head. "I can hold my own. I'm not a child. May I remind you I once led this team?" A huff and I took his sword from his grasp and slid to the side, metal clashing with that of a Vermillion warrior.

"Snakes? Again?" I growled and sent a kick to the snake, sending him toppling backward. Lloyd took over, sending the snake flying with a bit of Spinjitzu.

"Yeah! It seems to be a reoccurring thing!" Jay shouted to me as two snakes lunged at him before he rolled in a dodge. "Also! Please don't die, sis!"

I seethed, hands curling into fists at my sides. "I'm not a child! Just because I have cancer doesn't mean I'm weak!" I yelled and threw my hat to the ground before slicing at another snake who dared to get too close.

Nya slunk to my side and cast me a wary smile. "Hey," she paused to grumble as she slid to the side, escaping the grasp of a snake before continuing, "we're just trying to look out for you, Lux. Chemo had weird side effects."

"You guys' treatment of me will have some side effects, too." I snapped and blocked a snake's swipe of his blade with my own.

Cole and Kai, off to my left, worked to fight back two old men who seemed to be masters of some kind. Nya followed my gaze and quickly filled in, blasting a spurt of water at a Vermillion on my right. "Krux and Acronix. Masters of time."

I only nodded but my heart quickly fell as Cole was pushed to the ground and Kai away, unable to help him. In a flash, I slid between the two snakes and flung my sword as one of the Masters of Time held a sword to my husbands throat. His hand was on his wounded shoulder, heel of his palm digging into the wound. The sword flew in the air, snagged the masters cape which pulled him back and pinned him to the ground. I heaved, pulling Cole away from him who quickly stumbled to his feet, one hand pressed to his shoulder and his other arm wrapped around my waist protectively.

My breathing hitched and I fell into a coughing fit, doubling over to spit blood onto the ground. Cole glanced from me to the master, who still fumbled to get back up, before lifting me and running for cover.

He gently laid me down, back resting against our home and cupped my face into his hand. "Come on, breathe. Look at me. Look at me." His voice wavered and shook as I struggled for breath and shook my head, unable to speak.

I pushed his hand away and I waved a hand to the battle, nodding to tell him go. He shook his head and held my face again, forcing me to meet his amber eyes. "No. I'm staying right here." He frowned as I slowly grew limp under his touch, unable to get any air. "Hey. Hey, stay with me. Look at me, I'm right here. It's gonna be okay, stay with me." His voice caught and my vision went fuzzy around the edges.

"Baby, no, stay with me. Come on, come on."

Everything went black as I was cast into unconsciousness.