Qnd What If I Re-wrote Velocity Using She/Her Pronouns ?? It's Easier To Write, But I Already Posted

Qnd what if I re-wrote Velocity using She/Her Pronouns 😭?? It's easier to write, but I already posted the first chapter, eughhhhh

Chef pumpkin giving us good food frfr

Thank you 🙏

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝟎𝟔 |

[ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ] | [ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ] | [ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ]

“Tell me again why I need to come down?” You ask, exaggerating a loud sigh of annoyance. 

You can practically hear the way Cole rolls his eyes over the phone. “Zane asked me to call you down since he’s busy. Wouldn’t want to leave him hanging, would you?” 

The call had come before class started, just as you entered and placed your bag down in the empty seat beside you. To your surprise, Cole’s name appears on the phone screen. It’d been a couple days since you had dinner together after losing a bet, so receiving a call from him is lowkey a(n) (unwelcome) surprise. 

Upon picking up, a husky voice greets you with the barest of formalities before practically ordering you to come to the monastery after your lectures. As much as you hate to admit it, you blushed a little at his voice before clearing your throat and firing back a mean remark because c’mon, who said he could use animosity against the sun as an excuse to be rude to you?

“Unfortunately for you guys, I’m not so free as to travel all the way to the other side of Ninjago City on a whim.” Someone moves in the corner of your eyes, turning to see the girl who returned your wallet to you the other day wave sheepishly. 

You move away the bag, allowing her to sit down in the now-empty space. “Hey,” You greet her quietly, pulling the phone away from your ear and covering the mic while ignoring whatever Cole’s saying. 

“Hi,” She whispers back shyly, “It’s me, Holly.” She adds, noticing the quiet struggle you’re having trying to remember her name. Exhaling in relief, you smile sheepishly at her. “Don’t worry about it,” she says softly, turning to take out her materials and prepare for class. 

“You there? Hello?” 

Whoops. He’s annoyed now. 

“Yeah, I’m still here. So at a cafe then? I’ll text you the location. Okay class is starting soon see you bye!” 

“WHAT THE FU-”

You end the call in a hurry, pressing the red button just as Cole’s loud cry of protest starts. 

Placing it on the table, you pull out a notebook from your bag and some stationary before finally turning back to Holly who’d been minding her own business. “Sorry about that.” She tilts her head with a chuckle. 

“It’s fine,” She dismisses it easily. “I’ve heard rumours about this professor though, he always gives loads of group projects. My cousin told me writing a blog is a compulsory assignment.”

Dismay sets in at the thought of having to come up with writing an entire blog by yourself, slumping back in your seat with a loud groan. “Maybe it’s not too late to drop out of the course.” Your muttered words draw an unexpected laugh, taking unbridled joy at seeing Holly dissolve into a fit of giggles. 

“Mood. But hopefully, it won’t be that bad. Maybe we’ll even get partnered up!” The thought of doing the project with someone you at least know cheers you up somewhat, sitting up in your seat with mildly renewed energy. 

The professor enters with prominent dark circles around her eyes, scanning the people in her class before plopping down at her desk with a steaming cup of black coffee in hand and a laptop in the other.

“I’ll get this straight. I have an attendance requirement of 75% - blame the university, not me. As long as you let me finish my lesson, I don’t really care what you do in class as long as it isn’t disruptive. Lastly, there’re extra credit assignments you can take in the course material.”

Just as she finishes speaking, you notice a couple of students open their laptops and put on muted videos of Subway Surfers with their eyes still on the professor. She doesn’t seem to care at all like she’s mentioned earlier, taking a big swig of her coffee before she continues.

“I’m not contactable outside working hours because I have a life, but I’ll get back to you when I can. Additionally,” She pauses, looking around the room with a scrutinising eye. You stare at her blankly, waiting for her to continue. The tip of your pen barely brushes against the thin paper of your notebook, mildly taken aback by how aloof she is.

“Some of your relatives who’ve attended my lessons might’ve told you about my assignments. I’d like to make it clear that I’m changing it up this year. The first project you’ll be doing is starting a business. As long as you demonstrate that you understand the basis and foundation of all the stuff I’m teaching, the business can be about anything.”

The projector flashes for a moment, showing the bright screen of her laptop where she’d already pre-assigned partners beforehand. Your name appears next to Holly’s. Both of you turn to each other with excited grins. 

“Now, who’ll volunteer to be the TA?” 

The utter silence that falls over everyone should’ve been the first warning sign. It’s only after Holly pokes your arm with a pencil that you realise everyone’s looking at you. The professor follows their gazes, patiently waiting for you to respond. 

Just perfect.

Holly’s guilty smile suggests that she wouldn’t have volunteered on your behalf even if you are beginning to be friends. So, you lift your hand begrudgingly with a resigned sigh. “I volunteer as tribute.” 

The professor nods in approval, blinking almost owlishly as a realisation of sorts dawns on her. “Have I told you guys my name yet?”

Maybe it’s not too late to drop out after all.

— — — — — 

Musketeer [ 02:07 PM ]: has sent a location

Musketeer [ 02:07 PM ]: see u at 3

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:07 PM ]: are you srsly expecting us to rush down rn

Musketeer [ 02:08 PM ]: not rn but also dont u have dragons???

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:08 PM ]: yes and

Musketeer [ 02:10 PM ]: wowur so funny hahahhahahahah

Musketeer [ 02:10 PM ]: /sarcastic

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:11 PM ]: remind me why we have to be soulmates again

Musketeer [ 02:11 PM ]: we cld always not be

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:11 PM ]: thats fair

Musketeer [ 02:11 PM ]: anyw see u at 3

It’s been at least a month or so since you both found out you were soulmates, but neither of you had properly acknowledged what to do. After all, it’s awkward any time one of you brings it up even slightly as if it’s a tacit agreement to swerve around the topic. 

Through the banter and snarky remarks, there’s always an underlying question of ‘What are we?’ that haunts your conversations. Even now, you’re running away from it through text. Through text, of all things. Sure, you’re a coward, but you didn’t remember it being this bad.

Are you friends? Acquaintances? Enemies? 

It’s difficult to put a label on it, especially since he hasn’t revealed anything about his feelings towards the whole soulmate thing either. You’ve already made it pretty clear how you feel about it, but it’s almost unnerving how he hasn’t tried to address it either.

The closest label you can slap on the weird relationship between you is probably frenemies? You’re not entirely sure why you’re trying to define what you are even now, but the uncertainty of everything is slowly getting to you. 

It’s ironic how you’d always criticise webtoons and romantic movies for never communicating, yet it’s the exact same thing you’re doing right now. Wow. You truly are pathetic. 

You lift your head at the sound of your name being called. A sudden coldness presses against your cheek, shocking you out of your thoughts as you flinch away from it. Holly greets you with a warm smile, handing you the bubble tea she’s just held against your face.

“You looked kinda out of it. You didn’t even hear me call you.” Aiming the sharp tip of the straw at the cover, you swiftly poke a hole through it and take a long, slow sip. 

“Sorry,” you say through chews, the rubbery texture of the brown sugar pearls giving you something to focus on. “I was thinking about our project.” You can’t have anyone find out about your situation, especially not the students in this school. 

She brightens up at the mention, taking out her phone. “Right! I was thinking about it too! Would you like to meet up another day to brainstorm and sort it out?” She turns the screen around to face you, your name prominently displayed in a new contact.

You enter your number quickly on the screen, pressing call. The phone in your hand vibrates, her own number appearing at the top. “Sorry we can’t do it today, I’ve got an appointment.” 

“That’s okay.” She seems to not mind, shrugging it off easily. “I’ve got something else on too. My mom needs me to stop by the grocery store to buy some stuff for tonight.” She stands up from the seat. “I’ll text you the details and ideas.”

“Sounds good.” You wave her off, watching her leave with a smile. Holly doesn’t seem so bad. She’s nice, and pretty friendly too. The best part is that she’s never once asked you about the ninja either, even after overhearing your phone call this morning.

You pull out your phone and save her number, adding a little smiley face next to her name. It’s been a hectic day, but knowing you’ve got a potential friend in Holly makes it a bit brighter. With a final glance at the door where she exited, you gather your things and head towards the café, feeling a bit more optimistic about your project.

The walk there is about ten minutes according to Google Maps, though navigating through the roads is tricky. Kids on bikes delivering newspapers scare you at almost every turn, barely managing to avoid getting run over if not for their bells acting as a warning signal. 

At least the weather isn’t so bad today, you muse with a smile, enjoying the breeze. If not for the sudden appointment to meet, you would’ve probably gone to the park to find any stray cats or dogs to play with. 

Does he like cats?

Maybe not. He seems like a dog person. But then again, he does have a vibe that would draw cats to him. You could put it to the test perhaps. Damn it. You should’ve set the park as the venue to meet. 

The visual image of you picking him up and shaking him vigorously to use him as a magnet to attract cats and dogs makes you snort in pure amusement, only for your laugh to die down when you turn the corner. 

A jeep is parked right outside a jewellery store, where glass shards litter the sidewalk. The sound of rambunctious laughter fills the air as masked figures shove bags filled with necklaces and bracelets lined with glittering gems into the jeep’s open back. 

Your heart skips a beat, eyes widening at the sight of the chaos. One of the robbers, a hulking figure with a crowbar, leans casually against the shattered glass door, smirking as his companions continue their work.

But it’s not the robbers or the wreckage that makes your blood run cold. Among the masked figures is one that stands out—a familiar lean figure cloaked in dark clothing, a distinctive mask hiding their features. You recognize the thief instantly, the same one who’d caused a fiasco at the museum not too long ago, making off with a priceless artefact right under the noses of everyone. The memory of that night flashes through your mind—the smug glint in their eyes, the familiar gadget on their hand that caused a sinkhole….

You pause. Now that you think about it, if it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t have figured out Cole is your soulmate. So in retrospect, every moment of turmoil you’re facing with the acknowledgement of your fear and cowardice is their fault.

Now, here they are again, caught red-handed in yet another heist. The thief moves with an effortless grace, tossing a heavy bag into the jeep before turning back to the store. Even from this distance, you can sense the arrogance, the thrill they take in outsmarting everyone around them. Your hands clench into fists at your sides, a mix of anger and determination bubbling up.

What are the odds of running into them again? And why here, of all places? Your mind races, torn between the urge to call for help and the reckless impulse to intervene right then and there. 

As you edge closer, careful to avoid stepping on any glass shards and pressing your back to the wall, the thief’s head turns slightly, as if sensing your presence. You freeze, holding your breath, hoping to remain unnoticed.

The thief pauses, glancing around with narrowed eyes, but the robbers' loud banter covers any noise you might have made. Well, that is, until you get so caught up in the moment that you forget your phone isn’t on silent. 

“JUMP UP KICK BACK WHIP AROUND AND SPIN-”

“Motherfucker-” You mutter, scrambling in a panic to silence Cole’s call. Your chest practically collapses from the shaky exhale after, before holding your breath in a sudden wave of panic. 

A quiet crunch echoes through the street, the sound unnaturally loud in the stillness. Slowly, you look up, eyes widening at the sight of the thief standing right outside the store, the other robbers gathered around. 

For a moment, you lock eyes—or at least, you think you do, through the mask. An awkward silence hangs in the air, thick and heavy. Your tongue darts out, licking your suddenly dry lips as you desperately try to find a way to escape from the situation.

“So…A great day for robbery, am I right?” The stuttered laughter that tumbles past your lips twists your insides into a nervous knot. Lifting your hand, you gesture to the group. “Carry on then, as you were.”

Silence continues to plague the next few seconds, already severely regretting even opening your mouth at all as the robbers behind the thief glance at each other with uncertainty. The thief studies you closely, their piercing gaze stopping when they widen their eyes. A spark of recognition flickers in the air, and you swear you see the thief's lips twitch into a smirk beneath the mask. 

The audacity of this bitch-

Just as you decide to drop your stuff and book it, a familiar voice cuts through the air. "Hey! What’s going on here?" You whip around to see Cole rounding the corner, eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene. 

Relief washes over you, knowing you’re not alone, but it’s quickly replaced by a renewed sense of urgency. The robbers have spotted him too, and you can see the tension in their stance from recognising the ninja, readying to fight or flee.

Cole, they’re armed!” you shout, moving to his side. “I think,” you add quickly, correcting yourself. The masked thief’s gaze lingers on you for a second longer, before they turn to the jeep, making a split-second decision.

He shoots you a quick glance, his voice low and steady. “Stay back,” he warns, already moving in front of you. His stance shifts, ready for a fight, his eyes locked on the thieves. “This isn't your lucky day,” he calls out to them, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he sizes up the situation.

“Let’s go!” the thief orders, their voice sharp and commanding through the distortion filter. The robbers scramble, abandoning the last of the loot in their haste to jump into the jeep. Engines roar to life, tyres screeching as the vehicle speeds off into the night, leaving behind the shattered jewellery store and a trail of broken glass.

“Wait, that’s not how it’s supposed to go-” 

“Shut up and go after them!” He yelps, caught off guard by your forceful grab of his wrist, practically dragging him to chase after the car. “Summon your dragon or something! I don’t know,” you say desperately through rapid pants, the jeep getting further away with each passing second. 

“I know what to do!” He retorts with a scoff, making the swift decision to tug you toward him, scooping you up in his arms before doing a front flip. His dragon materialises in an instant, roaring loudly as it flies after the jeep. You blink, the nausea catching up in an instant as you press yourself against his chest, his shirt gripped tightly in your hands.

Slow, deep breaths, you chant to yourself. The moment of weightlessness when he’d suddenly grabbed you was terrifying. It wasn’t the heights or motion that had your stomach churning, but more of the loss of control of your senses in that split moment. 

Either way, the musky bergamot scent on his collar mixed with the weird presence of vanilla icing helps calm your racing heart down. “Are you done sniffing me yet?” Your eyes snap open, shifting into an upright position in an instant as you shove him away. 

Clearing your throat, you focus your gaze on the jeep that’s a few feet ahead. “Can you go any faster?” 

It takes a second for him to respond. “Yeah.” Your clear refusal to turn around and reveal the mortifying shade of red that colours your entire face. You don’t even turn that red when you drink alcohol or exercise. 

“Really though?” 

His sudden question makes you turn, the offended tone in his voice making you momentarily forget about the heavy flush in your cheeks. “You just had to use that song?”

The moment when your phone rang loudly pops back into your mind, grinning widely with all embarrassment long gone at the reminder. “Can you blame me though? It was perfect. I don’t even have to tell who it is when I pick it up.”

“The band made an appreciation song once,” he sighs, shaking his head. “Whatever. What’s got you so worked up about them anyway? I can just let Kai know to take over.” He pauses at your furrowed brows and tightly drawn lips, taking the hint to fall silent and wait for your explanation.

“The one with the mask… They’re the thief I ran into at the museum. The one who stole the scroll and made a hole in the ground.” His eyes widen at your explanation, inhaling sharply through his teeth with a wince. “That’s why we have to catch them. Isn’t that your job, anyway?”

He shoots you a glance, rolling his eyes. “Yes, that is my job. One that I don’t get paid too well for, by the way.” You blink, the corner of your lips turned down into a sceptical frown.

“Don’t you get sponsorships and stuff? Zane told me about how you guys were models for this protein bar.” 

“Don’t even start,” he groans, tilting his head back with an exasperated huff. “I couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the posters.” The dragon swerves to make a hard right, and you almost fall off the saddle if not for his quick reflexes.

“If you wanted to get off, you could’ve just asked,” he states in a sassy manner. You’d love to smack the smug smirk off his face, but at what feels like twenty feet in the air, you're not about to take that risk. Instead, you settle for a grumpy scowl, letting his arm act as your seat belt.

Cole’s dragon swoops lower, bringing you both closer to the ground as the jeep speeds away with the stolen goods. You grip the dragon’s saddle tighter, frustration and determination swirling within you.

“Honestly, it’s like these guys want to get caught,” you mutter under your breath, your eyes locked on the jeep. The thief with the mask is leaning out of the vehicle, seemingly unfazed by the height of the dragon above them.

“They're probably professionals,” Cole replies, his tone light but focused. “But that’s what makes catching them all the more fun.”

“Fun?” you scoff, shooting him a look. “You call this fun?”

He grins, the wind tousling his hair as he manoeuvres the dragon with practised ease. “C’mon, you’ve gotta admit, there’s a thrill to it. Besides, you’re not exactly sitting back and watching.”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t deny the adrenaline pumping through your veins. “Fine, maybe a little,” you admit begrudgingly, though your mind is still on the thief.

As the jeep turns sharply down an alley, Cole’s gaze hardens. “C’mon Rocky,” he urges, the dragon barely acknowledging him with a soft growl. His arm tightens around your waist, pulling you closer as it descends. 

Unfortunately, he fails to mention one tiny detail—his plan to dematerialize the dragon upon landing. So, when you both hit the ground and the dragon vanishes, your hands flail, searching desperately for anything to grab onto. Fortunately, his arm is still securely around you.

Well, now it’s more like he’s carrying you by the waist, your legs and arms flailing helplessly in midair. You’re left with an expression of pure, unfiltered defeat as you dangle from his grasp like an oversized sack of potatoes.

“For your information, I’m not enjoying this ninja process.”

He barely acknowledges you with a hum, gently setting you back down onto solid ground. He takes a step back, the earlier warmth of his body heat gone in an instant. You dust yourself off, trying to play off the utter ridiculousness felt from earlier. 

The jeep is heading down the alley toward you both. He readies his stance, eyes narrowed from under his gi (when did he even put on the hood, anyway?). You copy him unsurely, knees bent and arms held up in a defensive stance. “Won’t they run us over?”

He snorts. “They wouldn’t dare. I’m the Earth Ninja! They know better than to do that!”

The jeep doesn’t slow down.

“You might know that,” the loud purring of its engine doesn’t decrease. In fact, it does the exact opposite as it speeds up. “But do they??”

With each millisecond that passes, the confidence in his eyes begins to waver. You take a deep breath, blood rushing through your veins in a roaring symphony. At the very last second, you push him out of the way and crash to the ground, landing squarely on top of him.

As you land on top of him, the thief at the wheel locks eyes with you through the open window. Their smug gaze practically beamed through their mask, even honking a couple times as they stick a gloved hand out the window in a mocking farewell.

Frustration bubbles up inside you, and before you can stop yourself, your fist connects with whatever’s beneath you. Unfortunately, that happens to be Cole’s abdomen. His pained hiss snaps you out of it, and you turn to see his grimace. Deciding not to give him an apology after almost getting the both of you run over, you ignore his outstretched hand in a request for help.

“You said they wouldn’t run us over!!”

He takes a deep breath. “Well,” he starts, looking from you to the jeep, “I was wrong.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

He groans as he sits up, the sting of your punch still lingering. “But in my defence, who actually tries to run over a ninja?” He gives you a lopsided grin, though you can sense the irritation bubbling beneath its surface.

You don’t give him a moment to recover. “Them, apparently.” Jittery annoyance fuels your pacing. “Can’t we go after them again? Where’s Rocky?”

“I’d love to, but,” he finally manages to stand. “Someone decided to punch me and leave me winded.”

"Don’t blame me for saving your life," you snap. The adrenaline is still thrumming through your veins, making your hands shake as you shove them into your pockets. "Besides, you’re the one who said they wouldn’t dare."

Cole rolls his eyes, his expression softening when he spots the slightest tremble that you try to hide. "Okay, fair point. But we’ve gotta figure out our next move before they get too far."

You stop pacing, turning to face him. "Right, so where’s Rocky? Or are we gonna jog after them like idiots?"

He glances around the alley, his brow furrowing. "Rocky needs time to recharge after dematerializing, so we’re on foot for now." He catches the look on your face and quickly adds, "But I’ve got an idea. There’s a shortcut through the market district. If we hustle, we might catch up before they get too far."

You let out an exasperated sigh, but you nod, already mentally preparing for the sprint. "Fine, lead the way. But if we end up lost, I’m blaming you."

Cole chuckles, already starting down the alley at a fast jog. "Trust me, you’re gonna love my shortcuts."

As you follow him, the banter between you eases some of the tension. Despite the annoyance simmering beneath the surface, there’s a strange comfort in the rhythm of your bickering. You might not be thrilled about this whole soulmate business, but in moments like this, you can almost see why fate would pair you two together.

Almost.

The roar of the jeep’s engine is familiar to your ears, practically sensing it coming down the last of the twists and turns he’s led you through. “C’mon!” You urge him quickly, sprinting the last few metres to see the jeep turn the corner.

You glare through the windshield at the thief whose eyes widen in pure shock, not having expected you to get there so quickly. Satisfaction makes your heart calm, spotting Cole’s narrowed eyes filled with determination.

He skids to a stop beside you, lifting his arms and slamming them into the ground. The earth rumbles, responding to his will. A crater forms instantly in the jeep’s path. The driver has no time to react, plummeting into it. The jeep flips violently, crashing into the far side. 

A plume of smoke is sent up from the impact, and you begin to approach it before flinching when it explodes right in front of your eyes. Instinctively shielding yourself from the debris, you turn to look at Cole in disbelief.

“That wasn’t me!” He denies vehemently, holding his hands up innocently and shaking his head as the jeep behind you is engulfed in flames. The smell of burnt rubber and gasoline fills the air, onlookers whispering to each other and taking out phones to record the scene.

You take a tentative step forward, sharing a glance with him as you approach the wreckage. You squint through the haze, expecting to see the robbers either unconscious or scrambling to escape.

The embers die down, someone having grabbed a fire extinguisher and extinguished the flames until all that’s left is smoke. But when it clears, you find the jeep completely empty, save for the stolen jewellery scattered in the backseat. The robbers have vanished, leaving behind only the glittering spoils of their heist.

“They’re gone,” you mutter, half in disbelief. Cole steps closer, examining the wreckage with a frown.

“Must’ve bailed right before the crash somehow,” he says, his tone laced with frustration. He turns to you, the remnants of the battle still lingering in his tense posture. “At least we got the jewellery back.”

You nod, though your eyes linger on the destroyed jeep, wondering just how close you were to catching them. The tension in the air slowly dissipates as the reality of the situation sinks in, but the mystery of the robbers’ disappearance only adds to the unease.

The aftermath of it all is pretty straightforward. The jewellery is returned to the store owner, though Cole gives you a stern glare when he catches you discreetly trying to negotiate for a reward. Frowning in defeat, you give up when he threatens to tell Master Wu.

“You’re still a snitch, y’know.” He takes a sip from the bubble tea in his hands. Your bubble tea, in fact. The ice had already melted a long time ago so the drink was already horribly diluted, but he still insisted on finishing it instead of throwing it away.

“Even if I am,” he exhales slowly, his slow strides matching your lazy walking pace. “At least we kind of got a look at them. Maybe Zane can draw a composite sketch. I’ll let Jay know to update the police stations, and for Kai to keep a lookout during his patrol.”

“Teamwork really does make the dream work.” 

“Yeah, I guess we do make a good team.” Your playful grin falters at his response, looking away from him to the buildings opposite. The words held no ulterior hidden meaning, yet the thrumming of your heartbeat distracts you from properly focusing on the conversation.

A moment of hesitation is all he needs to grab your wrist, steps slowing to a halt. Your eyes flit from his hand to his concerned eyes, barely able to breathe. He watches you carefully, lips parting and closing as he tries to organise his thoughts. Finally, he formulates a proper sentence, uttering the exact one you’ve been dreading to hear.

“I think we need to talk. About us.”

Shit.

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EVERYONE STAY CALM PART 6 IS OUT

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝟎𝟔 |

[ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ] | [ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ] | [ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ]

“Tell me again why I need to come down?” You ask, exaggerating a loud sigh of annoyance. 

You can practically hear the way Cole rolls his eyes over the phone. “Zane asked me to call you down since he’s busy. Wouldn’t want to leave him hanging, would you?” 

The call had come before class started, just as you entered and placed your bag down in the empty seat beside you. To your surprise, Cole’s name appears on the phone screen. It’d been a couple days since you had dinner together after losing a bet, so receiving a call from him is lowkey a(n) (unwelcome) surprise. 

Upon picking up, a husky voice greets you with the barest of formalities before practically ordering you to come to the monastery after your lectures. As much as you hate to admit it, you blushed a little at his voice before clearing your throat and firing back a mean remark because c’mon, who said he could use animosity against the sun as an excuse to be rude to you?

“Unfortunately for you guys, I’m not so free as to travel all the way to the other side of Ninjago City on a whim.” Someone moves in the corner of your eyes, turning to see the girl who returned your wallet to you the other day wave sheepishly. 

You move away the bag, allowing her to sit down in the now-empty space. “Hey,” You greet her quietly, pulling the phone away from your ear and covering the mic while ignoring whatever Cole’s saying. 

“Hi,” She whispers back shyly, “It’s me, Holly.” She adds, noticing the quiet struggle you’re having trying to remember her name. Exhaling in relief, you smile sheepishly at her. “Don’t worry about it,” she says softly, turning to take out her materials and prepare for class. 

“You there? Hello?” 

Whoops. He’s annoyed now. 

“Yeah, I’m still here. So at a cafe then? I’ll text you the location. Okay class is starting soon see you bye!” 

“WHAT THE FU-”

You end the call in a hurry, pressing the red button just as Cole’s loud cry of protest starts. 

Placing it on the table, you pull out a notebook from your bag and some stationary before finally turning back to Holly who’d been minding her own business. “Sorry about that.” She tilts her head with a chuckle. 

“It’s fine,” She dismisses it easily. “I’ve heard rumours about this professor though, he always gives loads of group projects. My cousin told me writing a blog is a compulsory assignment.”

Dismay sets in at the thought of having to come up with writing an entire blog by yourself, slumping back in your seat with a loud groan. “Maybe it’s not too late to drop out of the course.” Your muttered words draw an unexpected laugh, taking unbridled joy at seeing Holly dissolve into a fit of giggles. 

“Mood. But hopefully, it won’t be that bad. Maybe we’ll even get partnered up!” The thought of doing the project with someone you at least know cheers you up somewhat, sitting up in your seat with mildly renewed energy. 

The professor enters with prominent dark circles around her eyes, scanning the people in her class before plopping down at her desk with a steaming cup of black coffee in hand and a laptop in the other.

“I’ll get this straight. I have an attendance requirement of 75% - blame the university, not me. As long as you let me finish my lesson, I don’t really care what you do in class as long as it isn’t disruptive. Lastly, there’re extra credit assignments you can take in the course material.”

Just as she finishes speaking, you notice a couple of students open their laptops and put on muted videos of Subway Surfers with their eyes still on the professor. She doesn’t seem to care at all like she’s mentioned earlier, taking a big swig of her coffee before she continues.

“I’m not contactable outside working hours because I have a life, but I’ll get back to you when I can. Additionally,” She pauses, looking around the room with a scrutinising eye. You stare at her blankly, waiting for her to continue. The tip of your pen barely brushes against the thin paper of your notebook, mildly taken aback by how aloof she is.

“Some of your relatives who’ve attended my lessons might’ve told you about my assignments. I’d like to make it clear that I’m changing it up this year. The first project you’ll be doing is starting a business. As long as you demonstrate that you understand the basis and foundation of all the stuff I’m teaching, the business can be about anything.”

The projector flashes for a moment, showing the bright screen of her laptop where she’d already pre-assigned partners beforehand. Your name appears next to Holly’s. Both of you turn to each other with excited grins. 

“Now, who’ll volunteer to be the TA?” 

The utter silence that falls over everyone should’ve been the first warning sign. It’s only after Holly pokes your arm with a pencil that you realise everyone’s looking at you. The professor follows their gazes, patiently waiting for you to respond. 

Just perfect.

Holly’s guilty smile suggests that she wouldn’t have volunteered on your behalf even if you are beginning to be friends. So, you lift your hand begrudgingly with a resigned sigh. “I volunteer as tribute.” 

The professor nods in approval, blinking almost owlishly as a realisation of sorts dawns on her. “Have I told you guys my name yet?”

Maybe it’s not too late to drop out after all.

— — — — — 

Musketeer [ 02:07 PM ]: has sent a location

Musketeer [ 02:07 PM ]: see u at 3

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:07 PM ]: are you srsly expecting us to rush down rn

Musketeer [ 02:08 PM ]: not rn but also dont u have dragons???

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:08 PM ]: yes and

Musketeer [ 02:10 PM ]: wowur so funny hahahhahahahah

Musketeer [ 02:10 PM ]: /sarcastic

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:11 PM ]: remind me why we have to be soulmates again

Musketeer [ 02:11 PM ]: we cld always not be

Cake Enthusiast [ 02:11 PM ]: thats fair

Musketeer [ 02:11 PM ]: anyw see u at 3

It’s been at least a month or so since you both found out you were soulmates, but neither of you had properly acknowledged what to do. After all, it’s awkward any time one of you brings it up even slightly as if it’s a tacit agreement to swerve around the topic. 

Through the banter and snarky remarks, there’s always an underlying question of ‘What are we?’ that haunts your conversations. Even now, you’re running away from it through text. Through text, of all things. Sure, you’re a coward, but you didn’t remember it being this bad.

Are you friends? Acquaintances? Enemies? 

It’s difficult to put a label on it, especially since he hasn’t revealed anything about his feelings towards the whole soulmate thing either. You’ve already made it pretty clear how you feel about it, but it’s almost unnerving how he hasn’t tried to address it either.

The closest label you can slap on the weird relationship between you is probably frenemies? You’re not entirely sure why you’re trying to define what you are even now, but the uncertainty of everything is slowly getting to you. 

It’s ironic how you’d always criticise webtoons and romantic movies for never communicating, yet it’s the exact same thing you’re doing right now. Wow. You truly are pathetic. 

You lift your head at the sound of your name being called. A sudden coldness presses against your cheek, shocking you out of your thoughts as you flinch away from it. Holly greets you with a warm smile, handing you the bubble tea she’s just held against your face.

“You looked kinda out of it. You didn’t even hear me call you.” Aiming the sharp tip of the straw at the cover, you swiftly poke a hole through it and take a long, slow sip. 

“Sorry,” you say through chews, the rubbery texture of the brown sugar pearls giving you something to focus on. “I was thinking about our project.” You can’t have anyone find out about your situation, especially not the students in this school. 

She brightens up at the mention, taking out her phone. “Right! I was thinking about it too! Would you like to meet up another day to brainstorm and sort it out?” She turns the screen around to face you, your name prominently displayed in a new contact.

You enter your number quickly on the screen, pressing call. The phone in your hand vibrates, her own number appearing at the top. “Sorry we can’t do it today, I’ve got an appointment.” 

“That’s okay.” She seems to not mind, shrugging it off easily. “I’ve got something else on too. My mom needs me to stop by the grocery store to buy some stuff for tonight.” She stands up from the seat. “I’ll text you the details and ideas.”

“Sounds good.” You wave her off, watching her leave with a smile. Holly doesn’t seem so bad. She’s nice, and pretty friendly too. The best part is that she’s never once asked you about the ninja either, even after overhearing your phone call this morning.

You pull out your phone and save her number, adding a little smiley face next to her name. It’s been a hectic day, but knowing you’ve got a potential friend in Holly makes it a bit brighter. With a final glance at the door where she exited, you gather your things and head towards the café, feeling a bit more optimistic about your project.

The walk there is about ten minutes according to Google Maps, though navigating through the roads is tricky. Kids on bikes delivering newspapers scare you at almost every turn, barely managing to avoid getting run over if not for their bells acting as a warning signal. 

At least the weather isn’t so bad today, you muse with a smile, enjoying the breeze. If not for the sudden appointment to meet, you would’ve probably gone to the park to find any stray cats or dogs to play with. 

Does he like cats?

Maybe not. He seems like a dog person. But then again, he does have a vibe that would draw cats to him. You could put it to the test perhaps. Damn it. You should’ve set the park as the venue to meet. 

The visual image of you picking him up and shaking him vigorously to use him as a magnet to attract cats and dogs makes you snort in pure amusement, only for your laugh to die down when you turn the corner. 

A jeep is parked right outside a jewellery store, where glass shards litter the sidewalk. The sound of rambunctious laughter fills the air as masked figures shove bags filled with necklaces and bracelets lined with glittering gems into the jeep’s open back. 

Your heart skips a beat, eyes widening at the sight of the chaos. One of the robbers, a hulking figure with a crowbar, leans casually against the shattered glass door, smirking as his companions continue their work.

But it’s not the robbers or the wreckage that makes your blood run cold. Among the masked figures is one that stands out—a familiar lean figure cloaked in dark clothing, a distinctive mask hiding their features. You recognize the thief instantly, the same one who’d caused a fiasco at the museum not too long ago, making off with a priceless artefact right under the noses of everyone. The memory of that night flashes through your mind—the smug glint in their eyes, the familiar gadget on their hand that caused a sinkhole….

You pause. Now that you think about it, if it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t have figured out Cole is your soulmate. So in retrospect, every moment of turmoil you’re facing with the acknowledgement of your fear and cowardice is their fault.

Now, here they are again, caught red-handed in yet another heist. The thief moves with an effortless grace, tossing a heavy bag into the jeep before turning back to the store. Even from this distance, you can sense the arrogance, the thrill they take in outsmarting everyone around them. Your hands clench into fists at your sides, a mix of anger and determination bubbling up.

What are the odds of running into them again? And why here, of all places? Your mind races, torn between the urge to call for help and the reckless impulse to intervene right then and there. 

As you edge closer, careful to avoid stepping on any glass shards and pressing your back to the wall, the thief’s head turns slightly, as if sensing your presence. You freeze, holding your breath, hoping to remain unnoticed.

The thief pauses, glancing around with narrowed eyes, but the robbers' loud banter covers any noise you might have made. Well, that is, until you get so caught up in the moment that you forget your phone isn’t on silent. 

“JUMP UP KICK BACK WHIP AROUND AND SPIN-”

“Motherfucker-” You mutter, scrambling in a panic to silence Cole’s call. Your chest practically collapses from the shaky exhale after, before holding your breath in a sudden wave of panic. 

A quiet crunch echoes through the street, the sound unnaturally loud in the stillness. Slowly, you look up, eyes widening at the sight of the thief standing right outside the store, the other robbers gathered around. 

For a moment, you lock eyes—or at least, you think you do, through the mask. An awkward silence hangs in the air, thick and heavy. Your tongue darts out, licking your suddenly dry lips as you desperately try to find a way to escape from the situation.

“So…A great day for robbery, am I right?” The stuttered laughter that tumbles past your lips twists your insides into a nervous knot. Lifting your hand, you gesture to the group. “Carry on then, as you were.”

Silence continues to plague the next few seconds, already severely regretting even opening your mouth at all as the robbers behind the thief glance at each other with uncertainty. The thief studies you closely, their piercing gaze stopping when they widen their eyes. A spark of recognition flickers in the air, and you swear you see the thief's lips twitch into a smirk beneath the mask. 

The audacity of this bitch-

Just as you decide to drop your stuff and book it, a familiar voice cuts through the air. "Hey! What’s going on here?" You whip around to see Cole rounding the corner, eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene. 

Relief washes over you, knowing you’re not alone, but it’s quickly replaced by a renewed sense of urgency. The robbers have spotted him too, and you can see the tension in their stance from recognising the ninja, readying to fight or flee.

Cole, they’re armed!” you shout, moving to his side. “I think,” you add quickly, correcting yourself. The masked thief’s gaze lingers on you for a second longer, before they turn to the jeep, making a split-second decision.

He shoots you a quick glance, his voice low and steady. “Stay back,” he warns, already moving in front of you. His stance shifts, ready for a fight, his eyes locked on the thieves. “This isn't your lucky day,” he calls out to them, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he sizes up the situation.

“Let’s go!” the thief orders, their voice sharp and commanding through the distortion filter. The robbers scramble, abandoning the last of the loot in their haste to jump into the jeep. Engines roar to life, tyres screeching as the vehicle speeds off into the night, leaving behind the shattered jewellery store and a trail of broken glass.

“Wait, that’s not how it’s supposed to go-” 

“Shut up and go after them!” He yelps, caught off guard by your forceful grab of his wrist, practically dragging him to chase after the car. “Summon your dragon or something! I don’t know,” you say desperately through rapid pants, the jeep getting further away with each passing second. 

“I know what to do!” He retorts with a scoff, making the swift decision to tug you toward him, scooping you up in his arms before doing a front flip. His dragon materialises in an instant, roaring loudly as it flies after the jeep. You blink, the nausea catching up in an instant as you press yourself against his chest, his shirt gripped tightly in your hands.

Slow, deep breaths, you chant to yourself. The moment of weightlessness when he’d suddenly grabbed you was terrifying. It wasn’t the heights or motion that had your stomach churning, but more of the loss of control of your senses in that split moment. 

Either way, the musky bergamot scent on his collar mixed with the weird presence of vanilla icing helps calm your racing heart down. “Are you done sniffing me yet?” Your eyes snap open, shifting into an upright position in an instant as you shove him away. 

Clearing your throat, you focus your gaze on the jeep that’s a few feet ahead. “Can you go any faster?” 

It takes a second for him to respond. “Yeah.” Your clear refusal to turn around and reveal the mortifying shade of red that colours your entire face. You don’t even turn that red when you drink alcohol or exercise. 

“Really though?” 

His sudden question makes you turn, the offended tone in his voice making you momentarily forget about the heavy flush in your cheeks. “You just had to use that song?”

The moment when your phone rang loudly pops back into your mind, grinning widely with all embarrassment long gone at the reminder. “Can you blame me though? It was perfect. I don’t even have to tell who it is when I pick it up.”

“The band made an appreciation song once,” he sighs, shaking his head. “Whatever. What’s got you so worked up about them anyway? I can just let Kai know to take over.” He pauses at your furrowed brows and tightly drawn lips, taking the hint to fall silent and wait for your explanation.

“The one with the mask… They’re the thief I ran into at the museum. The one who stole the scroll and made a hole in the ground.” His eyes widen at your explanation, inhaling sharply through his teeth with a wince. “That’s why we have to catch them. Isn’t that your job, anyway?”

He shoots you a glance, rolling his eyes. “Yes, that is my job. One that I don’t get paid too well for, by the way.” You blink, the corner of your lips turned down into a sceptical frown.

“Don’t you get sponsorships and stuff? Zane told me about how you guys were models for this protein bar.” 

“Don’t even start,” he groans, tilting his head back with an exasperated huff. “I couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the posters.” The dragon swerves to make a hard right, and you almost fall off the saddle if not for his quick reflexes.

“If you wanted to get off, you could’ve just asked,” he states in a sassy manner. You’d love to smack the smug smirk off his face, but at what feels like twenty feet in the air, you're not about to take that risk. Instead, you settle for a grumpy scowl, letting his arm act as your seat belt.

Cole’s dragon swoops lower, bringing you both closer to the ground as the jeep speeds away with the stolen goods. You grip the dragon’s saddle tighter, frustration and determination swirling within you.

“Honestly, it’s like these guys want to get caught,” you mutter under your breath, your eyes locked on the jeep. The thief with the mask is leaning out of the vehicle, seemingly unfazed by the height of the dragon above them.

“They're probably professionals,” Cole replies, his tone light but focused. “But that’s what makes catching them all the more fun.”

“Fun?” you scoff, shooting him a look. “You call this fun?”

He grins, the wind tousling his hair as he manoeuvres the dragon with practised ease. “C’mon, you’ve gotta admit, there’s a thrill to it. Besides, you’re not exactly sitting back and watching.”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t deny the adrenaline pumping through your veins. “Fine, maybe a little,” you admit begrudgingly, though your mind is still on the thief.

As the jeep turns sharply down an alley, Cole’s gaze hardens. “C’mon Rocky,” he urges, the dragon barely acknowledging him with a soft growl. His arm tightens around your waist, pulling you closer as it descends. 

Unfortunately, he fails to mention one tiny detail—his plan to dematerialize the dragon upon landing. So, when you both hit the ground and the dragon vanishes, your hands flail, searching desperately for anything to grab onto. Fortunately, his arm is still securely around you.

Well, now it’s more like he’s carrying you by the waist, your legs and arms flailing helplessly in midair. You’re left with an expression of pure, unfiltered defeat as you dangle from his grasp like an oversized sack of potatoes.

“For your information, I’m not enjoying this ninja process.”

He barely acknowledges you with a hum, gently setting you back down onto solid ground. He takes a step back, the earlier warmth of his body heat gone in an instant. You dust yourself off, trying to play off the utter ridiculousness felt from earlier. 

The jeep is heading down the alley toward you both. He readies his stance, eyes narrowed from under his gi (when did he even put on the hood, anyway?). You copy him unsurely, knees bent and arms held up in a defensive stance. “Won’t they run us over?”

He snorts. “They wouldn’t dare. I’m the Earth Ninja! They know better than to do that!”

The jeep doesn’t slow down.

“You might know that,” the loud purring of its engine doesn’t decrease. In fact, it does the exact opposite as it speeds up. “But do they??”

With each millisecond that passes, the confidence in his eyes begins to waver. You take a deep breath, blood rushing through your veins in a roaring symphony. At the very last second, you push him out of the way and crash to the ground, landing squarely on top of him.

As you land on top of him, the thief at the wheel locks eyes with you through the open window. Their smug gaze practically beamed through their mask, even honking a couple times as they stick a gloved hand out the window in a mocking farewell.

Frustration bubbles up inside you, and before you can stop yourself, your fist connects with whatever’s beneath you. Unfortunately, that happens to be Cole’s abdomen. His pained hiss snaps you out of it, and you turn to see his grimace. Deciding not to give him an apology after almost getting the both of you run over, you ignore his outstretched hand in a request for help.

“You said they wouldn’t run us over!!”

He takes a deep breath. “Well,” he starts, looking from you to the jeep, “I was wrong.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

He groans as he sits up, the sting of your punch still lingering. “But in my defence, who actually tries to run over a ninja?” He gives you a lopsided grin, though you can sense the irritation bubbling beneath its surface.

You don’t give him a moment to recover. “Them, apparently.” Jittery annoyance fuels your pacing. “Can’t we go after them again? Where’s Rocky?”

“I’d love to, but,” he finally manages to stand. “Someone decided to punch me and leave me winded.”

"Don’t blame me for saving your life," you snap. The adrenaline is still thrumming through your veins, making your hands shake as you shove them into your pockets. "Besides, you’re the one who said they wouldn’t dare."

Cole rolls his eyes, his expression softening when he spots the slightest tremble that you try to hide. "Okay, fair point. But we’ve gotta figure out our next move before they get too far."

You stop pacing, turning to face him. "Right, so where’s Rocky? Or are we gonna jog after them like idiots?"

He glances around the alley, his brow furrowing. "Rocky needs time to recharge after dematerializing, so we’re on foot for now." He catches the look on your face and quickly adds, "But I’ve got an idea. There’s a shortcut through the market district. If we hustle, we might catch up before they get too far."

You let out an exasperated sigh, but you nod, already mentally preparing for the sprint. "Fine, lead the way. But if we end up lost, I’m blaming you."

Cole chuckles, already starting down the alley at a fast jog. "Trust me, you’re gonna love my shortcuts."

As you follow him, the banter between you eases some of the tension. Despite the annoyance simmering beneath the surface, there’s a strange comfort in the rhythm of your bickering. You might not be thrilled about this whole soulmate business, but in moments like this, you can almost see why fate would pair you two together.

Almost.

The roar of the jeep’s engine is familiar to your ears, practically sensing it coming down the last of the twists and turns he’s led you through. “C’mon!” You urge him quickly, sprinting the last few metres to see the jeep turn the corner.

You glare through the windshield at the thief whose eyes widen in pure shock, not having expected you to get there so quickly. Satisfaction makes your heart calm, spotting Cole’s narrowed eyes filled with determination.

He skids to a stop beside you, lifting his arms and slamming them into the ground. The earth rumbles, responding to his will. A crater forms instantly in the jeep’s path. The driver has no time to react, plummeting into it. The jeep flips violently, crashing into the far side. 

A plume of smoke is sent up from the impact, and you begin to approach it before flinching when it explodes right in front of your eyes. Instinctively shielding yourself from the debris, you turn to look at Cole in disbelief.

“That wasn’t me!” He denies vehemently, holding his hands up innocently and shaking his head as the jeep behind you is engulfed in flames. The smell of burnt rubber and gasoline fills the air, onlookers whispering to each other and taking out phones to record the scene.

You take a tentative step forward, sharing a glance with him as you approach the wreckage. You squint through the haze, expecting to see the robbers either unconscious or scrambling to escape.

The embers die down, someone having grabbed a fire extinguisher and extinguished the flames until all that’s left is smoke. But when it clears, you find the jeep completely empty, save for the stolen jewellery scattered in the backseat. The robbers have vanished, leaving behind only the glittering spoils of their heist.

“They’re gone,” you mutter, half in disbelief. Cole steps closer, examining the wreckage with a frown.

“Must’ve bailed right before the crash somehow,” he says, his tone laced with frustration. He turns to you, the remnants of the battle still lingering in his tense posture. “At least we got the jewellery back.”

You nod, though your eyes linger on the destroyed jeep, wondering just how close you were to catching them. The tension in the air slowly dissipates as the reality of the situation sinks in, but the mystery of the robbers’ disappearance only adds to the unease.

The aftermath of it all is pretty straightforward. The jewellery is returned to the store owner, though Cole gives you a stern glare when he catches you discreetly trying to negotiate for a reward. Frowning in defeat, you give up when he threatens to tell Master Wu.

“You’re still a snitch, y’know.” He takes a sip from the bubble tea in his hands. Your bubble tea, in fact. The ice had already melted a long time ago so the drink was already horribly diluted, but he still insisted on finishing it instead of throwing it away.

“Even if I am,” he exhales slowly, his slow strides matching your lazy walking pace. “At least we kind of got a look at them. Maybe Zane can draw a composite sketch. I’ll let Jay know to update the police stations, and for Kai to keep a lookout during his patrol.”

“Teamwork really does make the dream work.” 

“Yeah, I guess we do make a good team.” Your playful grin falters at his response, looking away from him to the buildings opposite. The words held no ulterior hidden meaning, yet the thrumming of your heartbeat distracts you from properly focusing on the conversation.

A moment of hesitation is all he needs to grab your wrist, steps slowing to a halt. Your eyes flit from his hand to his concerned eyes, barely able to breathe. He watches you carefully, lips parting and closing as he tries to organise his thoughts. Finally, he formulates a proper sentence, uttering the exact one you’ve been dreading to hear.

“I think we need to talk. About us.”

Shit.

Taglist: @candyquokka @mossy-mika @em-100 @cursedreader @alicesmile1 @alexa24 @raegreenie4 @burdeningbitch @viennasthings @cadencannot @ml3zqo @nanasemo @certified-cole-simp @beescomet @theblindhag @mitbin24 @sweetlittlebumblebree @brooklyniswriting @cantbecreative @something-else3 @iinlovewithfictionalppl @itz-mooonlight @jebesovovise @ryeheep @letthelightin2112 @classically-bored

why did

all my notes

gone???

the whole damn fucking plot line is gone after I wrote it out 😭😭

GOOGLE WHAT THE FUCKKKKKK

now I gotta re-write it all 😭😭😭😭

hes a ten but he will fuck you over for a bloodthirsty Eldritch demon from outer space

To the demon in my room that keeps pulling the blanket off..

please stop, I'm getting really tired of it 😭

(For context, I sleep with 2 blankets, one duvet/comforter, and like a reallllllyyyy light blanket on top of it, somehow the light blanket manages to stay on me and the heavier one gets on the floor??? like what??)