A blue Spouse (Ninjago Royalty AU)

CHAPTER 66: The third reason

The wet season was coming to an end, although that didn't matter much if you lived in Shaiya. Being a northern small city built by the Sea of Sand, downpours weren't something that happened often even during that time of the year, and funnily enough, Jay was having a hard time getting used to the weather around there again.

The boy huffed, hovering over the workbench where he was currently absorbed sawing a wooden plank. Even sheltered under the fresh shadow of the roof of the working area, his body was very warm with the physical effort that his task required. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, dangerously brushing the corner of his eye, Jay quickly straightened and wiped it off with his hand before the salty components of the fluid could irritate his eyeballs. He grunted rather annoyed at the fact that his arms weren't any drier than the rest of his skin, then grabbed the old rag hanging by his toolbelt and used it for a more proper fix before haphazardly shoving it back into place. He stared at the board before him and huffed once again, stretching his arms over his head. He could use a break before working on the rest.

As he stepped out of the workspace and crossed the short distance to the shack Jay felt himself melting under the relentless sun. His need for a bit of water escalating fast. Jay looked around the tiny house. He was alone, both of his parents were out, Ed was trying to make business while Edna had gone to check on a neighbor's child that had fallen sick recently.

Finally spotting the bucket he was looking for, Jay walked up to it and served himself some water. After refreshing himself he plopped down on the floor and rested his head on the wall, taking in slow breaths to not overheat himself anymore.

Gosh, his shirt was so sweaty and clung to him in the most awkward manner. Jay grabbed the back and pulled it up over his head, tossing it away after using it to dry himself again. He stayed like that, just resting for a few minutes until his body cooled down. Two months of being lazy had gotten to him, it had taken Jay a while to fall back into the routine, but after two weeks he was doing better. It was a good thing that Cole had trained him often, or his arms would have turned into jelly.

A frown appeared in his face. A bit more than two weeks away from all those boys and Jay still couldn't keep them off his thoughts. Sure, they had lived together for a while, but this nostalgia didn't feel normal, he wasn't missing the luxuries —he missed them. His parents were amazing people, and very talkative as well, Jay rarely had a minute of boredom with them and all the work they did, but... None of them would giggle embarrassed after almost crushing Jay's ribs in a hug, they wouldn't get lost in a long and complicated speech about plants or birds, they wouldn't even get into a fleeting argument only to make up a few minutes later.

Jay sighed, surprised at how depressing the puff of air came out of his mouth, he wrapped an arm over his naked chest instinctively, the little sweat that remained on him had cooled down and the subtle chills that came with that were getting uncomfortable. His eyes landed on a chest as he considered putting something on again.

No, not just a chest —the chest. The one that stored all the clothes that the Walkers had received from the monarch.

The boy kneeled in front of it, pulling up the lid and staring at the different fabrics delicately folded in its interior. With a gentle finger, Jay traced the shape of some beautiful embroidered patterns, then the rest of the digits joined and he was caressing the kurta with his whole hand, feeling the texture of the expensive cotton as it brushed against his skin. He took it out, looking back for a moment and considering another article when his mind got lost again.

Jay didn't intend on bringing the long shirt close to his face, feeling the softness, letting the subtle traces of royal perfume travel throughout his nostrils and spread all over his nerves. He didn't intend on it, but it happened anyway, and the deeper he breathed that scent, the more his heart yearned to smell it directly from Kai's neck.