On a String

Chapter 13

Cole shifted on the couch. "What you need to understand now Kai, I that 'that was then and this is now'. You aren't The Puppeteer's prisoner anymore. You're part of our team- and we are not The Puppeteers. You know that we don't torture each other and you are not a prisoner here. It's okay to display emotion around us. Everyone on our team is trustworthy. You've served with them heaps of times in battle. Why would we suddenly change when you got back from your mission?"

Kai frowned slightly. "I... guess... well, you wouldn't have any reason to..." he looked a little unsure of his own answer, but Cole knew that after such a long time of associating trust with betrayal and pain, the new reality was little hard to grasp and adjust to.

"Exactly," Cole smiled. "You'll find that the people here are the same ones you left a month ago. They haven't changed- we're still your family. They aren't going to betray you or try and find any 'weaknesses'. They're here to help you,"

Kai's thoughtful frown faded somewhat and he nodded. "Okay,"

"I'm not saying you have to immediately start trusting them with everything. Change takes time. But understand that they are looking out for you- as am I. It's okay to lean on us. We're not going to punish you for getting something 'wrong'. As team leader, I do expect you to listen to my orders, but at the same time it is okay for you to discuss them if you are unhappy about what I'm asking. I'll consider what you have to say- remember, this team does not have the same strict chain of command the gang seems to have. And, yes, I will be disappointed if you disobey my orders, but I'm not gonna chain you up in a cell and punish you- my style is usually more along the lines of kitchen duty or press-ups if I'm feeling particularly evil." Cole smiled warmly.

Kai looked at him.

("I can't do that. I promised him I wouldn't do that,")

Cole was... sincere.

("Kai, please," beseechingly broken eyes looking into his own, letting him know he wasn't alone...)

Now he thought of it, he couldn't actually recall a time when Cole hadn't had his back.

Cole had never betrayed him.

Do you have anything else to say about that?" Cole asked. Kai shook his head, so Cole continued. "Now, I want to talk about The Puppeteers,"

Kai stiffened slightly at the name ("Toughen up Fireboy!") but he was slightly surprised to find that his own reaction was more out of habit than fear.

Cole wanted to talk to him about the gang... that wasn't dangerous. Was it?

Trusting Cole was...

Was safe?

Cole looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Kai. Easy. What were we just talking about? And don't say something along the lines of 'what, weren't you listening either?' or 'Why, have you forgotten already?' coz, like most of Jay's inventions, that answer ain't gonna fly," he said with a grin. The best way to get Kai to loosen up and feel safe was to make him laugh.

And that was exactly what Cole intended to do.

Kai had a slight urge to smile at that, but something held him back (like a string a string a string... he was still a puppet-). "You said that this isn't The Puppeteers," he replied. "Everyone here is the same as how I left them. That it's okay for me to trust you,"

And he wanted to trust Cole.

(Wanted to laugh, wanted to smile)

But something was holding him back.

What was it?

What was holding him back?

The strings. The web. The fear.