Promises (Ninjago's Kai x Reader)

Episode 3 - Forever

"Okay," I say, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. "What is it?"

"Tasha," he says through a deep breath. "I've gotta tell you what I'm feeling inside. I could lie to myself but it's true. There's no denying when I look in your eyes, I'm out of my head over you."

I cant help the girlish giggle that escapes my lips. He's so sweet.

"And I hear the echo of a promise I made-- 'When you're strong you can stand on your own.' But those words grow distant as I look at your face, I don't want to do it alone anymore."

Is he really still apologizing for that? I open my mouth to tell him that it's okay, but he keeps talking.

"I see my future when I look in your eyes, Tash. It took your love to make my heart come alive. I never thought I'd lay my heart on the line, but everything about you is telling me, this time, it's forever. This time I know and there's no doubt in my mind, we're forever."

Then he gets down on one knee. My heart is hammering in my chest.

"Until my life is through, Tasha, I'll be loving you forever."

He pulls a small black box out of his pocket and opens it to reveal a ring.

"So, will you marry me?"

Words cannot describe how happy I am. Tears blur my vision, but when I blink to clear them, it all disappears. In that millisecond my eyes were closed, I saw Kai burning. I saw my life falling apart. I saw my greatest fear coming true. My father's cruel laugh echoes in my ears. Suddenly, my tears of joy turn to despair. I fall to my knees in front of Kai, and he pulls me into his arms.

"You can't marry me," he says, voice taught with anguish.

"Kai, I want to," I whisper. My entire body is shaking, so full of fear. "But I saw--"

"I know," he says, petting my hair. "I know what you saw. But it doesn't have to come true."

"It will!" Sobs rack my body. "It will, I saw it. If I say yes, you're gonna die!"

"No, Tasha, I promise I wont."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I don't intend to break it."

"You can't control that though!"

"Tasha." His hands grip my face, forcing me to look into his eyes. Their emerald color is amplified by his tears. "I love you infinitely. And I want to declare that in front of all our family and friends. I want our bond to be eternal. I want to make it last forever." He places a tepid kiss on my lips. "Please, marry me. Whatever happens will happen. At least, if I do die, we'll have said our vows and our love can be forever."

My lip quivers. I want to say yes so badly. But if I do, he will die.

"I can't." My voice is barely audible. "I can't lose you, Kai. Not again. Not after everything."

"You wont lose me, Tash. Listen to me, baby." He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'll always be with you. Dead or alive, I will always love you. "

A new wave of heavy sobs overcomes me. It's suffocating. The thought of doing life without him tears me apart. It would be different if he were to leave me for some other woman. I know that I'm strong enough for that. I've survived it once, I can survive it again. But if he was no longer here on this earth, no longer smiling at me, laughing with me, breathing the same air as me. It hurts too much. That's what marrying him would bring me: eternal pain.

"Kai."

"Tasha."

"I can't live in a world where you're not in it."