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“Cole, please,” Nya begged, drawing out the vowels and pushing her lower lip into a pout. “You’re the only one with a normal car and we haven’t been to the beach in forever!”
Cole crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. “What’s the big deal? Ninjago city has beaches—”
“It’s not the same!” Lloyd insisted, poking his head into the room. “Besides, we haven’t been in Ninjago city for months, either!”
The three of them had been camping out in one of Ninjago’s remote farming villages. The villagers didn’t have any protection, and there had been a spike in attacks and thievery. Half of the ninja team went to protect them until things calmed down, while the other half stayed in Ninjago city. Cole, Lloyd and Nya were planning to head home soon, since there hadn’t been any incidents for a few days, but before they left, Lloyd and Nya had been begging Cole to take them to the beach.
“It hasn't been months. It's been a month." Cole rolled his eyes at Lloyd's dramatics. "Besides, you can drive yourself,” he noted. Nya groaned.
“We’re not driving the mechs to the beach. That’s stupid.”
Lloyd returned with a demonic grin and a pair of swim trunks draped over his arm. “Do it or you’re straight.”
“Or just let us use your car.” Nya suggested.
“Absolutely not.” Cole said, turning his head up. “It’s new and you guys are unhygienic as hell.” He sighed and rubbed his cheek. “Fine, I’ll take you. If you’re not ready in ten minutes I’m leaving without you.”
Exactly eight and a half minutes later, Cole slid into the driver’s seat of his car and fired up the engine. Nya and Lloyd had a brief wrestling match over the passenger seat, which Lloyd won and gloated about, then they were off. The village the ninja were staying in was only fifteen minutes from Ninjago's east coast, so before they could even decide who got to choose the music, they'd arrived.
Cole had seen the ocean hundreds of times. It was hard to avoid, living on a massive island.
Cole had been human for nearly half a year. The only physical things left from his ghostly brush with death were the vibrant green scar on his forehead and an unnatural quiet walk that seemed to emerge out of nowhere. Cole was more than accustomed to the plethora of physical sensations that had been so overwhelming at first. He'd gotten used to being solid again. He'd gotten back into a natural sleep and eating schedule. On the surface, hanging out at the ocean for a few hours shouldn't have bothered him at all.
But apparently there was more left behind than he'd guessed. It wasn't overwhelming. This panic didn't come with the pressing fear of death or visible symptoms like it had at first--but it was still there.
Nya and Lloyd were already wearing their bathing suits, but Cole's was packed in the trunk. He didn't plan to actually use it, but he thought it might help if he brought it with him. As soon as Cole parked his car in the sand, his teammates ran into the waves, laughing. Nya splashed Lloyd with a sphere of water and he chased after her, retaliating with a giant wave in her face. They were almost nineteen, and playing like children. Cole smiled from his safe, dry seat in the car. It was nice to watch them, but he'd never get in himself.
After an hour of alternately scrolling on his phone and watching Lloyd and Nya, the tightness in his chest started. It was slow, but noticeable. Cole realized that his mouth had tightened into a tense line. He forced himself to relax and close his eyes. He could smell the salt on the air, he could hear the waves. That type of thing might be comforting to some people, but for Cole, it was all the more suffocating.
He knew he was okay. The logical part of his mind told him that he didn't need to panic, but his body refused to listen.
Cole slowly reached across the arm of his seat and took hold of his phone. The lockscreen was a picture of the whole team together. Kai's arms were wrapped around Cole's shoulder, and they both flashed peace signs and bright grins at the camera. That picture was taken when they had just started dating, a few months before the incident at Yang’s Temple. Cole smiled when he saw it. He unlocked the phone and didn't hesitate picking out his top contact and pressing call.
Kai picked up nearly instantly.
“Hey! How’s it going?” He asked cheerfully. His voice instantly put Cole at ease. Cole let out a tense breath.
“Hi.”
“So what’s up?” Kai asked. “I thought we weren’t calling until tonight?”
“Mm… just wanted to talk to you.” Cole ambiguously stated. He was feeling better already, and he didn’t want Kai to leave. “We’re going to start the drive home tomorrow.”
“Yes!” Kai laughed. “I’ll have you back soon!”
“I’ve missed you.”
“Same, I’m so glad things are getting better for that village too.”
“Yep.”
They kept talking. The tight feeling in Cole’s chest all but vanished, and he found himself actually climbing out of the car and pushing his toes in the wet sand. He held the phone to his ear, where Kai was going on about how clingy Jay was without Nya. He laughed.
“Don’t lie, you’re the same way.” Cole accused. Kai whimpered.
“Shh. That’s not important.”
“We’re at the beach,” Cole blurted. He hadn’t planned on saying it, but he was glad he did. Kai didn’t say anything right away, so he elaborated. “Lloyd and Nya got me to take them.”
Kai was still quiet, until he spoke, barely audible. He’d fully witnessed the debilitating effects of Cole’s human transformation firsthand, and the fear of water was always at the forefront. “Are you ok? Is that why you’re calling?”
Cole only thought about his answer for a moment. He was okay. “I’m fine,” he answered honestly. “Actually, I feel great.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“That’s great, Cole.” Kai sounded relieved. Cole nodded, but then foolishly realized that Kai couldn’t see him.
“Yeah. Actually, thank you, Kai.” Cole’s voice softened and he took several steps closer to the waves.
“What’re you thanking me for?” Kai said, amused. “This was all you, babe. Proud of you.”
“I mean, thanks for being there for me all the other times.” Cole clarified. Kai had seen him at his worst and most vulnerable, and he’d never treated him differently. A few dozen yards away, Lloyd and Nya waved at Cole and motioned him over. He grinned and held up a finger. “Ok, I’m gonna go, bye. I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Later baby! Love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
Cole hung up, tossed his phone back in the car, and joined Nya and Lloyd. Lloyd was knelt in the sand, making a messy castle. Nya stood in knee deep water and routed the waves around Lloyd’s castle so it wouldn’t get knocked over.
“Welcome,” Nya sang when Cole approached the shore. He hesitated only a second before he stepped into the water. It felt cool and soft on his feet—and all-in-all, not horrible at all.