Chapter Text
"Heads up!" Cole shouted as a bunch of rubble flew over Jay's head. He shot his friend a confused glance, earning only an exaggerated shrug before Cole turned away.
Jay laughed softly; Cole must be having a field day just flinging rocks around. At least he had an excuse to screw around this time. Even that excuse was Jay's uselessness.
The pair were stationed by an art gallery's entrance, or what used to be the entrance, and was now just a gaping hole and a crap ton of debris. Courtesy of the trio of burglars who clearly didn't do any research before this heist, as they failed to disable a single security camera. At least the rubble obstructed the street, making it harder to get to.
I would be a much better criminal. Jay remarked begrudgingly.
Something hard hit Jay in the back of the head, and he whipped around as Cole laughed.
"What was that?!"
Cole took a deep breath before trying to put on a very serious expression. Even behind his mask, Jay could tell that his friend wore the most shit-eating grin when he responded, "well, it used to be an art gallery."
He barely managed to get through the sentence before Jay sent a small piece of concrete right back at him; Cole laughed and dodged the rock. Jay tried to act mad, but his efforts were clearly in vain because bright laughter bubbled up in his chest, and he soon fell apart into a mess of giggles.
It took the crackling voice of one of their teammates to break the spell.
"Cole, Jay, everything going alright out there?" Lloyd asked.
Both men froze. The call was untimely - and there was a nonzero chance that the rest of the ninjas could hear them laughing from within the building - but Cole still composed himself to answer as if nothing was amiss. A few feet away, Jay had to cover his mouth with both hands to stop any audible laughter from escaping.
"Yup! All good."
Lloyd's response was quick, "Okay, good to hear. We're nearly done here, we'll be out soon."
"Cool cool, see ya soon." Jay watched as Cole grinned and sent another piece of concrete his way.
Jay ducked before glaring back at his friend, "quit that!"
Cole snickered; Jay shook his head fondly and focused back on the gallery's new and improved entryway.
Inside the building, it was a four-on-three fight that Jay had absolutely no doubt that the ninja would win. Heck, they'd probably already won, judging by Lloyd's comment.
Outside, Cole threw rocks at Jay to "keep him on his toes" and "help with cleanup," but they both knew it was simply an attempt to distract Jay. After all, he was just there in case one of the criminals crept away. It was a dumb job to be stuck with. Especially because it wasn't an actual task, the others were just afraid he would wreck the building or the art or something. They didn't actually need - or want - him there at all, so they banished him somewhere where he couldn't make the situation worse. Jay would be lying if he said he wasn't hurt, especially because they took Kai, master of fire , inside.
It's not like he could argue that they needed all six ninjas for this, though. That seemed excessive in dealing with three barely-criminals.
So Jay leaned against one of the buildings that bordered the ¾ of an art gallery and half watched the opening, half watched for chunks of concrete being tossed at his head.
He knew it was just his best friend's attempt to cheer him up, keep his mind off everything. It did work, evidently, but only for so long. Jay was inevitably dragged down by stormy thoughts of his own uselessness.
On top of it all, Jay couldn't help but feel a bit miffed that they were called to this job in the first place. It was just some dumb robbery that the ninja had to handle because First Master forbid the police department actually do their jobs .
Jay smirked to no one in particular at the thought of the city's police officers fumbling uselessly over the rubble of the demolished gallery front, shouting at the criminals to "stop!"
… as if that would do anything.
Jay's train of thought was shut down by a glimpse of motion within the gallery. He stood alert and focused on the small area of movement. This attention shift left the Blue Ninja regrettably open for attack.
Right as a flash of black darted out of the gallery, Jay was bonked on the forehead by a small rock. He startled back, fixing his attacker with a glare, "Cole!" He whined, earning an apologetic shrug as he took off sprinting after the fleeing art thief.
Through fading laughter, Cole's apology was lost to the wind.
Jay's footsteps tapped lightly against the cracked concrete as he quickly gained on the criminal clad in black.
Wait- why black? Jay wondered; they're doing this in the middle of the day! FSM's sake, they're terrible at crime-
The burglar scrambled down a side street, and Jay shot after him. He was edging closer and closer. Jay's heartbeat pounded in his ears, each panting breath threatening to draw a smile across his lips.
In a split second, his target disappeared between two buildings. Jay tossed himself around the corner to find an empty, dead-end alley. Confused, the man stood dumbly in the opening. As he glanced around, Jay absently recognized two pairs of footsteps in his wake. Probably two of the other ninja coming to his aid.
Partially, Jay wanted to feel indignant about his friends' assuming he couldn't handle such a simple task. On the other hand, Jay did fail his one job and lost the guy…
The Blue Ninja ventured further into the grimy alley, looking around pointlessly; there weren't a lot of places to hide, and the area looked totally empty.
"Where did he go ?!" As frustration crept into his mind, Jay considered, " Normal people don't just poof away…."
Jay turned back to the mouth of the alleyway to check if his friends were close. It would be really embarrassing to explain that he had lost a whole person, but they could probably help. He just hoped they wouldn't be too mad…
Fighting off his troubled thoughts, Jay tried not to feel too upset about it all. He was meant to be the incompetent one, after all. So this type of thing was pretty par for the course, even if he wished he wasn't this useless. It was a wonder his team still kept him around at all, given the sheer number of times he fucked up their missions.
He took a breath and looked around the corner to see Zane and Lloyd running toward him. Jay waved awkwardly; everything would be fine!
Until it wouldn't.
A million years away, a misplaced drop of ink hit a sheet of parchment.
The White ninja saw it first and called out; the Blue Ninja turned away and was caught by surprise.
The ink is smeared, wiped away by a careless hand.
There's an agonizingly sharp pain in Jay's ribs, just below his heart.
In the culmination of a cosmic mistake, a life is snuffed out.
A gleaming red knife tip was visible through his chest, alongside a splotch that quickly darkened the surrounding area with a thick, wet heat.
Jay felt sick. It briefly crossed his pain-blurry mind that a knife that large couldn't be legal and that maybe these guys were better than he thought.
Vaguely, he hears a scream. Then more footsteps.
The knife is torn from his lung, sending a spray of blood in its wake.
More noise. Jay looks down dumbly, then back towards the shouts. He can't stop his knees from buckling, but he never hits the ground.
There was a blunt impact as warmth surrounded him, stopping his descent. Jay looked over to see Lloyd, whose bandana was pulled down around his neck, revealing his absolutely terrified expression.
He smiled through the blinding pain, "Thanks."
Lloyd then proceeded to bombard him with questions as he lowered them both to lay on the gross concrete.
"Jay, what the hell happened? Are you okay? Where does it hurt?" He asked frantically.
"Well," he pointlessly tried for nonchalance, "I got stabbed. But I'm feeling-"
Jay hissed when Lloyd shifted so that his head rested on Lloyd's legs instead of the concrete. Which, while greatly appreciated, sent a sharp pain resounding outward from the injury,
"- great , all things considered . I think my lungs've got better ventilation now, actually."
Even though he tried his best to lighten the mood, Jay's voice was tight with pain.
"Do you think my asthma is cured?" He joked tensely.
When Lloyd opened his mouth to respond, undoubtedly with disapproval, Zane appeared at the edge of Jay's vision. The nindroid rushed over and knelt opposite Lloyd. When he looked at Jay, his eyes glazed over - scanning for injuries, Jay guessed- before it was replaced by a determined worry in his neon eyes,
"I apologize, this will hurt."
Zane barely finished his sentence before firmly pressing each of his winter-cold hands against either side of the bloody gash in Jay's chest.
The agony that resulted quite literally took Jay's breath away. Stars filled his eyes as his chest fluttered in a feeble attempt to draw another inhale. It cleared after a moment, allowing Jay to see that Lloyd had added a hand to the compression pile.
It was getting steadily harder for Jay to breathe between the pain, the half-functioning cardiovascular system, and the suffocating fabric over his mouth.
"Zane? Can you- please. Can- get my mask off ," he stuttered breathlessly. Zane quickly did as requested, and Jay was immediately relieved to find breathing to be marginally easier. Not easy enough, though, because he found himself unable to draw in a full breath.
The Blue Ninja took a moment and closed his eyes, he tried to focus on breathing, but it just wasn't working.
Zane and Lloyd were speaking to each other, maybe to him, but he couldn't hear them over the blood rushing in his ears.
He needed to breathe. Why couldn't he breathe?
"Probably the extra hole in your lung," Jay's mind remarked rudely. He grimaced and tried once more to take a gulp of air.
This had to be destiny finally getting sick of him, right? I mean, he failed to fulfill the one mediocre task he was given, and now he was gonna die because of it. How dumb was it to be stabbed by a failed burglar in some gross alleyway? A sick laugh bubbled in his chest, right alongside the infective blood in places it definitely shouldn't be.
Someone was calling his name, drawing Jay's attention back to the world outside his drowning body. He looked up to see his brothers, both wearing matching looks of worry that made Jay's stomach turn. He wanted nothing more than to crack a joke, wipe the tears from his little brother's eyes and make them both smile again. Anything to erase the horribly doomed looks they both wore.
But Jay's brain was full of buzzing agony and a damning fog that blurred his nerves and left him nearly-not-numb. It was kind of like experiencing the world through a cotton screen; nothing felt as clear as it should have. His brain was overwhelmed by a strange lack of feeling that trailed after the burning pain and snuffed out the sensation as it began slowly weaving its way through his muscles and stealing his energy.
There was the blood, too. Jay could feel the warm liquid pour through the open wound in his chest. He could feel the sticky metal fill his lungs.
Jay drew a stuttering breath; warm iron arose with it. "Did we get him?"
"Yes, we did, but Jay- I- that's not important, help is coming. Please hang on." Zane responded, looking briefly to Lloyd, who had his hand up to his ear - speaking into his communicator, Jay noted absently, he must have pulled it out of his hood at some point, though Jay couldn't figure out when.
The Green Ninja spoke frantically; he was begging someone to hurry. Saying that they were running out of time. Jay didn't particularly care. In an instant, his mind was absorbed by another wave of white-hot agony.
"So what's the damage?" Jay choked through thick red blood and pain.
Zane took a shuddering breath, "You were stabbed horizontally between two ribs, the knife punctured your left lung and- I believe it also damaged your heart, but I cannot tell. There is too much blood obstructing my view." the White Ninja leaned comfortably on his logical thinking to temporarily dismiss his worry.
Meanwhile, horror sparked distantly in Jay's mind as he faced two damning realizations. First, his chest was so damaged that not even Zane could see the issue. And second, that was very, very bad.
A glance toward Zane caused Jay's mind to pause. When had he taken his mask off? What if someone saw him? I mean… it's not like their identities were secret, but what was the point of the masks otherwise?
A gurgling cough rose in his chest, unceremoniously dragging Jay from his distracted train of thought. He moved quickly to cover it, turning his head and throwing an arm in front of his face just in time to catch the blood that arose as his chest heaved. Sharp agony sparked in his nerves at the movement. It only intensified as his lungs tried desperately to expel the invading blood. It took him a moment to relearn how to breathe through agonizingly ravaged lungs.
Of all the ways to go… Jay thought bitterly.
"Am…" he struggled, looking down to where Zane's bloodied hands pressed against his chest. He realized with a faint dread that he couldn't really feel Zane's hands anymore.
"Am I gonna die?"
"No, no. Jay you are not going to die, we will-"
Zane looked desperately at Lloyd, who hurriedly focused on Jay and filled in the gap.
"You're gonna be just fine, okay?" His words were hopeful, but there were traitorous tears in his eyes.
"I don't wanna die-"the plea was cut off as his body forced another cough that he barely had the wherewithal to cover. His sleeve came away bloody, and he could taste the hot iron on his tongue. Jay's begging was futile. They all knew as much.
"You're not- no, Jay you're not going to die, okay?" Zane choked back a sob, could a nindroid cry? They were about to find out.
Distantly, Lloyd was still talking to the rest of the team. "They're on the way, but the ambulance can't get through the rubble…." His voice wavered dangerously.
Jay relaxed, well, as much as he could, given the whole fatal chest wound thing. The lack of worry over his team's well-being left a void that only selfish terror could fill. It was a cold fear that pushed through Jay's gut and made it so hard to breathe. He wasn't allowed to be selfish; he was the dumb, useless one, the comedy relief!
"I- I know I'm not s'posed to be… be scared…." Jay drew another gurgling inhale, "but- fuck , it hurts- I- I don't wanna die… please," He admitted, tears blooming and dripping and mingling with sweat and blood.
"Don't be scared, "Lloyd's voice broke, "and don't talk like that. You're not gonna die!" Their leader begged, tears finally breaking through his commanding facade and spilling over and dripping onto Jay's cheek. He could feel the fleeting warmth just before it trailed down his face.
It struck Jay then, just how young the Green Ninja seemed. The crocodile tears and childlike pleading made Lloyd truly seem like the kid he still was. Sure, he was their leader and technically an adult with the power to kill god if he wanted, but that didn't change the fact that Lloyd was still the baby of the team, which made him a child in their eyes. Jay's little brother was a kid who shouldn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders, a kid who shouldn't have to watch his brother die in his arms.
It was a horribly morbid reality, but one that Jay had to face sooner rather than later. Once he faced his fate, he could happily ignore it.
"It.. you're gonna be okay," Zane looked away briefly, "it's gonna be okay, I'm not going to let you die. We're going to protect you, Jay. Just like we always do."
Warm comfort spread through his ribs. Or, maybe that was blood… he wouldn't be surprised if it was blood.
Empty promises wouldn't do him any favors, though, "You can't promise that," Jay sobbed, immediately regretting his words when heartbreak flashed across his friend's faces. "Shit… I'm really sorry…" he started.
"Please don't be sorry," Lloyd whimpered.
Jay couldn't- he couldn't just watch his brothers suffer like this. So he tried to smile, offering one of his trademark untimely jokes. What's more untimely than on your own deathbed?
"At least you won't have to deal with the toaster exploding anymore," the ninja joked hopefully.
It fell flat.
"Jay, come on- you-"Lloyd bit down a sob as more tears fell, "we would take a million broken toasters as long as you're safe."
Jay's heart felt more like a gaping hole. He didn't want to hear that. He didn't want Lloyd to tell him that he mattered . It would have been so much easier for Jay to give up and let go if his little brother had laughed it off and confirmed that Jay was a liability. Get it over with. They all knew it. Jay just wished someone would say it.
After that, any further thought of how to respond was met with a stark lack of ideas. So he dropped it altogether.
"This isn't your fault, either of you." Jay kept his voice low, nearly afraid of the honest love behind his words. "Keep yourselves safe," another cough sparked in the back of Jay's throat, inciting a new bolt of pain that lit his nerves aflame.
"Jay, stop that! You're not going to die!" Zane's voice cracked with impossible sorrow.
The pain in his brother's voice wrenched his already broken heart. Jay put every remaining ounce of energy into lifting an arm and placing it over his friend's bloodied hands, still holding firm to the gushing wound.
The bleeding wasn't slowing down, and Jay was getting colder. Though, whether that was Zane's emotions messing with the temperature or his own blood loss, it was impossible to tell.
"I'm scared…" was all he could manage through the suffocating blood and tears. It was getting harder and harder to fight off the tendrils of dark fog that tugged at his brain and body. Every agonizing second drew him closer to the edge of the cliff. There was nothing but a dark abyss below, and Jay was terrified of what would happen when he slipped.
"They managed to clear a path, Jay- please hold on." Lloyd's pleas fell upon deaf ears. "I- I don't know what to do, Zane. He's- there's so much blood-"the youngest sobbed.
"He can't die," Zane interjected, "please- Lloyd, we have to do something! I- I have to fix this."
"I don't know, it's not like we can carry him! We- I don't know Zane!" Lloyd squeezed his eyes shut, sending more tears pattering down Jay's face like rain.
Rain would be nice if Jay wasn't already so cold.
Jay felt his eyelids flutter shut briefly before shouting voices drew him back. Forcing him to begrudgingly open his eyes, Jay saw his friends' faces contorted with worry and sorrow. Jay wondered distantly why they looked so sad; at least he wouldn't be able to mess up their missions anymore. It wouldn't be too bad if he gave up, he was so tired, and he was practically no use to his team on a regular day, but now…
"Jay, please! It'll be okay, we're getting help. You- you have to be alright." Lloyd begged desperately, adding to himself, "what's taking them so long?!"
Jay knew he would not be okay, and he was okay with that. He'd been fighting for so long. Between their villain of the week and his own mind, Jay was beyond exhausted. The team would be fine - maybe better than fine - without him. All he wanted was a moment of rest.
"I'm so tired…."
Jay heaved a breath, sticky warm blood spilling over his lips and trailing a gruesome line down his face.
There was distant shouting, familiar voices, but they were light years away. Jay could feel his tenuous consciousness slip a bit closer to the ether…
"Can you…" Jay ignored the blood pooling under his tongue, "can you keep the team together? You need each other… we're family" he dreaded thinking about Zane's not-death and how their team had torn apart at the seams.
Though, maybe Jay was being a tad conceited about how important he was. Zane was the steady hand that kept them all safe and cared about them; he was the glue that held the team together through love. Jay… well, he knew he didn't offer much beyond everyday inconveniences and added stress.
"We're not a family without you, Jay, come on, just a bit longer!" The panic in his little brother's voice was poorly disguised; he could see that Jay was fading fast. Anyone could, really.
" Hurry !" Lloyd screamed desperately, voice cracking with strain.
As much as Jay knew they wanted him to stay awake, everything felt so heavy, so unfocused. Something was drawing out whatever remained of Jay's energy. He knew he had to say his goodbyes, and soon.
"I love you. You're good teammates… tell everyone else that, too?" Jay tried to keep his eyes open; more tears trailed down his face as he added, "it's not your fault," but his eyes slipped closed nonetheless.
Someone shouted his name, and the pain got worse for a moment. It faded away right alongside the tearful cries of his friends. But this time, not even their desperate pleas could drag him back from the edge of the cliff.
He was so tired, and all he wanted was to stop fighting, to rest.
Jay took his last stuttering, bloodied breath and stepped over the edge, into the abyss.
From the alleyway, a scream dissolved into shuddering sobs, as the other silently bargained with an absent god, cursing her for her cruelty.
A short half-block away, three people ran faster.
Even if there was nothing the remaining ninja could do for him, not anymore.
The Master of Lightning was dead.