double edged blade
[Cole accidentally hurts a teammate in training, and Zane is there to reassure the earth ninja afterward.]
A/N: tryna catch up life’s a bitch. i like how zane’s either being traumatized or being therapist in my fics. anyways i think cole would accidentally forget he’s strong and break stuff and break people i mean uhhh read the fic
@summer-of-whump *coughs in I just realized I had to tag you for a reblog I'm dum*
The thing is that Cole knows he has super strength. He’s always had a heavier body build, and reaching unlocking the full potential of his elemental powers only multiplied it even more.
And he tried to keep it under control, he really does. He stops fidgeting with cups, having broken too many handles already. Jay offers to design a special durable one for him, but he declines, not wanting even more work for the lighting ninja.
He limits physical affection as much as he can, afraid to accidentally hurt someone in a touch or a casual hug.
It’s all a bad coincidence, in the end.
They’re split up into pairs for training, and Cole’s confident enough in Lloyd’s skills to let loose with his powers a little.
He swings at the wrong height, Lloyd ducks at the wrong time, and is sent flying across the room, back hitting the opposite wall with a terrible crash. He lands on the floor with a cry, nose already streaming blood to the floor.
The others are at his side in the matter of seconds, and the fire ninja peers down at his worriedly, kneeling down to help him up.
“Shit.” Lloyd mumbles, propping himself up weakly, and reaches up gingerly to dab at his nose. The crimson only flows faster, and Kai bats his fingers away with a frown.
“Careful, you might’ve broken your nose. Don’t wanna let your super healing set it the wrong way.” He says, and Lloyd lets out a groan.
“Serios’ly? Ab’ain? I swear, Jay just did that la’d mission when he sla’bed his nunchucks’ a’ross my no’de.” He complains, wincing as he talks, and Kai gives a short laugh, slinging the blonde’s arm across his shoulder.
“I told you it was an accident!” The lighting ninja lets out a cry of disdain, and his argument goes down with a chilling glare from Lloyd.
“You broke it by smashing your weapon across my face.”
“Accident! I said I was sorry, and you were fine like five minutes later!” Jay protests, and Kai waves him down.
“You have special Oni healing, it’ll heal in like an hour. Let’s get you to the medbay. Cole, some help?” The fire ninja glances over to Cole’s earlier spot, only to see a quietly swinging door in response.
“I will go.” Zane tells him, and Kai nods gratefully back.
“Tell him it wasn’t his fault!” Lloyd calls back as he’s being half dragged away by the fire ninja, waving his remaining free arm at the nindroid. “Jay broke it way worse two weeks ago!”
“ACCIDENT, LLOYD, I SWEAR TO GOD— “
Zane finds the earth ninja sitting on his bed, expression sullen and dull. He doesn’t look at the nindroid as he walks in, eyes flitting to the floor.
“Is Lloyd okay?” Cole asks, and he nods steadily.
“Kai and Jay brought him to the med room, and his Oni blood should take care of the rest easily. It wasn’t your fault, Cole, everyone loses control once in a while.”
“I can’t. I’ll kill someone if I do.”
Zane gives him a small smile, and holds out his hand wordlessly. Cole looks at it, eyes filled with fear, like it’ll crumble if he touches it.
“It’s okay. You could never hurt me.” He taps on his wrist, a dull metal thunk sounding. “Metal, remember? Even you can’t break this, enhanced strength and all.”
Cole glances up at his face, dark brown eyes to icy blue. He hesitates, but puts his hand into Zane’s.
“Sometimes I wish I could go back to normal,” he says to Zane quietly, after a few moments of silence, and the nindroid furrows his brows in confusion.
“When I didn’t have to remember not to accidentally hurt people.”
Zane thinks back to his days in the forests and the small village, where days were peaceful and short and sunny. He didn’t have to worry about being attacked, or hacked into, or where his family’s next meal would come from, or anything, besides the next day and the next.
“I know what you mean.” He says softly, and Cole hunches further into himself, anger coming off in waves.
“It’s so stupid. They’re part of me, and I still can’t contain them.” He breathes, and the ice ninja nods, giving his hand a small squeeze.
“Then we’ll learn.” Zane tells him.
Cole looks up at him, and this time his gaze is a little brighter.
