On a String

Chapter 13

Was that alright?

Cole's surprise was evident in both his tone and expression. But he recovered quickly and shot back, "Hey! Just coz I don't go round with a head that looks like a hedgehog doesn't mean you can insult me,"

The amused crinkles deepened as Kai's eyes quietly laughed back. "My head doesn't look like a hedgehog,"

"Yes it does. The back end of a hedgehog," Cole grinned. There was no way Kai would take that sitting down. No way.

(Rise again) Kai gave Cole a small (hesitant) shove. "You're just jealous," (Laugh again)

"Haha, we've been over this ages ago. I'm not jealous of your non-existent good looks! Kai, most girls don't take as much time to do their hair as you do," Cole pointed out, picking up a nearby cushion to ward off Kai's next half-hearted attempt to push him off the couch.

(He didn't have to be a puppet-) "Just because I take pride in my appearance..." Kai shrugged.

Cole flicked the cushion at him. "And, what? I don't?" His gleeful smile was infectious.

Finally giving in to the light hearted mood, Kai's lips pressed together in a small smirk and Cole knew he'd pushed it too far...

Kai picked up a cushion, something warm seeming to quietly ignite in his eyes.

"Whoa, is that meant to threaten me? I'm shaking in my boots," Cole faked a careless yawn as he eyed the pillow in Kai's hands nonchalantly.

Kai swatted Cole's shoulder gently with the cushion as he looked at his friend's sock-clad feet. "You're not even wearing boots," he pointed out quietly.

"Exactly!" Cole's grin widened further as he retaliated by swiping a cushion through Kai's hair. "Nothing gets past you, does it? Apart from my cushion. Your reflexes are a little slow..."

Kai didn't even bother to reply, but instead threw his cushion at Cole. Said Ninja fell off the couch with a loud thump, but recovered fast by rolling behind the coffee table. "You missed me, Kai!"

"I was going easy on you," Kai protested, the smirk on his face slowly growing.

"Haha! Easy? Who needs easy?"

"You do,"

"Aww, c'mon! If this is your idea of easy, then little Lloyd could take 'hard' blindfolded, with one hand behind his back and both feet tied together!"

Kai threw another cushion at Cole and the Master of Earth quickly ducked back down. The cushion skimmed over his head and headed towards the lounge door, just as the door began to open.

Lloyd caught the pillow full in the face. "What was that for?" he complained from the doorway, quickly taking in the situation. Cole was on the floor... "Is everything okay?" he asked, suddenly concerned. Had Kai...?

"Poor Lloyd," Cole laughed, sticking his head up from behind the coffee table. "Kai, stop picking on the innocent child! Remember, we need him around later to save Ninjago!"

Lloyd rolled his eyes, some of the shock disappearing from his expression. "Sheesh, I heard you thumping around so I come to check and this is how I get greeted,"

"Sorry, Lloyd. Kai can't throw very well," Cole grinned. "He was trying to hit me, but his aim is a bit off..."

Lloyd looked at him like he'd gone crazy. "What? 'His aim is a bit off'? Are you crazy? Are you blind?! Cole, didn't you see him with the knif-"

"Lloyd! Join my team! We'll take down the Hedgehog together!" Cole interrupted hastily before anyone could think about knives, and tossed Lloyd a cushion.

Lloyd caught the pillow with a surprised look. "Huh? What hedgehog? Guys, what's going on?"

"Kai! He's-" Cole was cut off as a cushion hit his face.

Kai gave a soft chuckle (Christmas bells and shining lights) before silently flipping over the back of the couch and out of sight.

"He's retreating! Quick, Lloyd, with me! We must press our advantage," Cole commanded, leaping over the table, laughter dancing in his eyes.

A cushion spun through the air shuriken style and hit the two Ninja from behind.

"He snuck around!" Lloyd exclaimed, leaping around to face the 'threat'. "Kai outflanked us!"

Kai rolled across the floor to pick up another cushion.

"Don't worry, Lloyd!" Cole chuckled, running up beside the younger Ninja. "We must stand strong against the Hedgehog! We can-" he was cut off for the second time that morning when another pillow hit his face.

"Talk a little faster next time! We can what-?" It was Lloyd's turn to get hit in the head with a pillow.

Kai folded his arms and a faint smirk appeared on his face as he took in the two Ninja. "Speechless?" happiness seemed to dance in his eyes.

"Only with your hedgehog-ness," Cole shot back. "Hedgehog butt!"

"...I'll take that as a-"

Cole smirked as his own cushion caught Kai full in the face. "That was not a compliment, bro!"