Chapter Text
It was a Thursday—casual Thursday. The city had been quiet for the time being, which was bound to end at some point. Yet the Ninja were storing up this free time to recharge—as Jay would say. It was so quiet that the group had been able to stick to a schedule.
And Thursdays were booked out, for Jay and Nya.
“Do you want to head out now?” Jay puffed out a sigh, sinking into the back of their purple couch before peering at Nya and passing the controller towards Zane.
“Sure.” Nya pushed herself up from the floor, leaving her tinkering device on the table.
“Where are you two going?” Kai spoke up, glancing towards the two shuffling towards the exit, trying not to draw too much attention.
“Mega Monster Amusement Park.”
“It closed down.” Zane pointed out.
“Wait what?” Jay was sure the theme park was still open—even though the last time he had visited was two years ago. It was the only theme park he knew of. How could the only theme park in Ninjago close?
“What other theme parks are there?”
“Ninja Land.” Cole added mindlessly, staring blankly at his score increasing in the corner of the screen.
“Ninja Land?”
“It’s a theme park dedicated to the Ninja, us, but it’s called Ninjago World.” Zane corrected.
“Ninjago World?”
“We should all go.” Kai suggested.
Jay whipped his head in the direction of the fiery red, observing how the older Ninja failed to acknowledge Jay’s harmless glare.
Zane nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
That sounded like a terrible idea.
Jay wouldn’t be able to get a moment with Nya by himself. It was their special date day and if everyone was going, how far could you call it a date at that point?
“Won’t we be swarmed? It’s a theme park about us.” Cole coughed up, whilst slamming his fingers on the buttons of the controller. “So many fans would be there.”
“Live a little Cole, it’s part of the fun.” Kai tuts, kicking his feet off the end of the couch.
Lloyd lifted his head from his comic, glancing towards his friends before adding his input. “Cole is right, we’re practically walking right into chaos.”
The room fell into silence.
Kai continued to scroll on his phone, shifting slightly to obtain a more comfortable position. Lloyd’s attention fell back towards the new issue of the comic, Starfarer. Cole and Zane continued with finishing off a few levels of Prime Empire whilst Nya and Jay, stood beside the door, hesitant to move, too nervous to breathe too loudly.
It was their designated date day. The only day during the week when the two could spend some quality time together without anyone watching—no paparazzi, no crazy fans, no Sensei’s and no siblings.
But of course, they couldn’t say that.
It wasn’t as simple as “we’re going on a date, don’t disturb us, thanks!” The two Ninjas could only wish that life dedicated to saving their world and fighting dangers could be simple.
“I’ve got a great idea!” Jay bounced up, with a whizz of his elemental power thrashing inside him. The lightning within always seemed to stir more powerfully as his excitement rose.
“Hmm?”
“Why don’t we split into pairs? So, me and Nya will go today. Kai and Zane can go tomorrow and Cole and Lloyd can go the next day. That way we limit the possibility of being seen.” He beamed enthusiastically at this ‘idea’. It would be perfect for him and Nya to have their alone time, to finally get to find comfort in each other’s company.
“But then we won’t be able to experience it all together.” Cole pouted, leaning on Zane for moral support.
Out of all the people who would complain, Jay had hoped it wouldn’t be his best friend holding him back from some time with his Yang.
Silently—and quite in-explicitly—Jay widened his eyes at the raven head, slowly tilting his head both ways as a way to indicate they weren’t going to play this playful bickering game right now.
“We can experience it vicariously. Good? Good! Alright, that’s settled! Me and Nya will be heading off then and we’ll let you guys know all about our fantastic trip!” Jay spat out rapidly, clutching onto Nya’s hand and dragging her along with him out of the room—away from squinting eyes.
“Come on, we’ve gotta dash before they come racing after us!” He whispered towards her, continuing to drag Nya to where his car was parked.
—
The ride towards the theme park was anything but arduous. Not when Jay Walker was racing past cars, eager to begin a date he was looking forward to all week, due to his new speeding ability where he could speed up the vehicle all thanks to his Elemental Power.
Being a mechanic with a power fastening one’s speed was a blessing in disguise. At least, that’s what Jay believes.
And being a genius, a mechanic and an Elemental Master of Lightning was beyond phenomenal, because Jay Walker was always prepared.
A car break down? Tools were stored in the back. In need of water and food? Bottled water and packets of crisps with noodles were tucked underneath a blanket in the corner. In need of new clothes? In the compartment, there was a variety of clothes, because Jay has learnt that one can never be too prepared when it comes to clothes.
Which led to him being the one to offer a disguise and how the two Ninja now ditched their gi’s to wear jeans, with short tops and low caps to hide their faces more discreetly.
As the two adventured in, buying tickets and trailing their fingers along the map of the theme park, Nya’s hand squeezed his arm as no one had spotted them. Mission successful, for now.
“What ride do you want to go on first? Ninja Drop, Haunted Monastery, Bounty Slide?”
“Bounty Slide?” Nya repeated, with hints of confusion.
A hum slipped from the auburn-haired boy, as he yanked the map closer towards his eyes, staring more intensely at the names of the rides and short drawings of them.
“I think it’s a water slide.” Jay confirmed, listening to a noise of acceptance followed by Nya.
“What about that one?”
Jay peeked upwards, following Nya’s finger as it pointed towards a red rollercoaster, swirling into different colours of blue, green, white and black.
“Uh…” Jay squinted at the ride, before staring down at the map gripped by his fingers. “The… Spinjitzu Blast?”
“Yeah. It reminds me of that rollercoaster you saved me on, on our first date. Remember?”
“Of course I remember. I was a snake and I just found out you were the Samurai I was bad-mouthing earlier.” He regretfully admits, sulking slightly as he stuffs the map into his back pocket.
“Nothing can top a date like that.”
“Nothing indeed.”
“Let’s hurry, before the line gets too long!” Nya slipped her hand around his, tugging him alongside her as the two trod down the pebbled ground.
In the distance, there are a few murmurs from passing citizens. A waft of freshly baked goods fills their noses as they pass a restaurant located opposite the ride.
Jay’s eyes fall upon everything coming into his vicinity: the citizens, buildings, other rides, bins, even posters with their faces on them. The Blue Ninja still isn’t entirely sure how no one has recognised them.
On the other hand, Nya’s focused on snatching a good seat on the ride and she manages to get the third row in. Tucking one foot in, and then the other, she lowers herself onto the seat, patting next to her and waiting for Jay to follow.
The freckled boy glances towards the ride, making a mental note of how many twirls and loops there seemed to be—not too many, before shifting uncomfortably in the seat beside his Yang.
A click disrupts his train of thought, as Nya’s already clicked his seatbelt in for him.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little. I haven’t been on a rollercoaster since that disaster.” Jay admitted, biting his cheek and wiping away the excess sweat building on his palms on his jeans.
Nya shuffled closer, trying not to manoeuvre too harshly in case the seatbelt clutching around her waist came loose. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“You were chained to a rollercoaster that wouldn’t stop, had a hole in the track with a fire ring in the middle. How was it not that bad?” A light chuckle slipped from his lips, as he shook his head—shocked from how unfazed she was.
“After everything we’ve been through, it doesn’t seem that bad looking back.”
“True.” He shrugs.
The two have already been through so much and they hadn’t reached halfway to the age of retirement. When will it be enough?
Fighting Sky Pirates.
Destroying an evil Overlord. Twice.
Falling into an endless scheme of manipulation and resurrection of pure wickedness.
The list didn’t seem to end.
“Do you think we’ll ever catch a break?” The question was almost too quiet to be picked up on, completely passing through the wind as if it was nothing but a speck of dust—not an important question at all. But it was.
“You’re asking that before we go upside down on this rollercoaster? Your timing is incredible.” She scoffs, with playfulness.
“What can I say? My mind moves as fast as grease lightning.” Jay grins, staring straight forward. Yet he can feel her gaze burning through his hidden facade.
“What does that even mean?” In the corner of his eye, he can notice the shaking of her head and make out a light giggle. Her voice is full of joy—or adrenaline rising from the fact that they were strapped onto a thrilling ride about to take off at any moment.
“Stick around and see.”
His question goes unanswered and the freckled Ninja knows he won’t be able to squeeze out an answer from his Yang now. Maybe later, when the two would be winding down, cuddled up in each other’s arms as the day begins to hit them—and build up their fatigue.
However, he’s swiftly forgetting that he had even asked that question as the ride bumps before moving forward.
There’s a sudden screeching as the wheels of the ride scratch against the rails. Behind and in front of the two Ninjas, there is a similar screeching of other citizens beginning to scream.
Clutching onto the metal bar, Jay tried to drown out the noise, squeezing his eyes shut and feeling soft skin tighten around his gripped hands—Nya.
He shouldn’t feel this sick on a rollercoaster. He’s ridden dragons before, driven jets. He’s a natural in the air. Jay Walker is natural in the air, but right now all he wants is for his feet to touch the ground.
The wind rushes past his cheeks, blowing back curly locks of his auburn hair out sticking out from underneath his cap. His eyes are still firmly shut, but the shouts of joy ringing from beside him—coming from Nya—paint a picture in his mind. Nya, with her hair blowing freely from the red cap, failing to hide her beaming spirit as the wind works with her instead, never once slicing past her but pushing her arms up, flailing them joyously.
It’s a sight he wishes he could see, wishes he could open up his eyes to capture the moment.
But it ends far too quickly.
For the moment he manages to squeeze one cobalt eye open, the ride’s finished. Nya’s still grinning widely, excitement coursing through her veins and Jay’s feeling his shoulders begin to shake at the relief that she enjoyed herself—even if he didn’t.
Until she turns to him and stuns him completely. “Again?”
“Again?” He repeats incredulously, blinking at her madly.
She bites back a laugh at his expression, before placing a gentle hand on his cheek. “How about we go check out the Bounty Slide?
“Sounds great.” Jay huffed out, clutching onto his Yang’s hand and leaning his weight onto her for support. “I wouldn’t mind a bit of water this time round.”