"I thought you wanted to stay at your father's over night? When did you get back home?", Kai asked after Jay had led Cole back inside and launched him into a kitchen chair.

Cole's injured foot was resting on Zane's lap who was now wrapping a bandage around it.

To Kai's question he just shrugged and fixed his eyes to the ground again.

Then he flinched as Zane pulled the bandage tighter.

"I am sorry, Cole. But this has to be tight like this or else the bleeding won't stop for a while. Also, you should eat and drink something, get your blood sugar back up, you look dehydrated and totally exhausted"

He was.

At first he didn't notice due to the coldness then the adrenaline and pain of his wound.

The bit of coffee he had drunk wasn't really helpful to get him out of his tiredness and now that he was sitting inside, a warm blanket wrapped around him, the pain still there but already fading, he really felt every muscle of his body and how they were longing for rest.

Lloyd was already on it.

The green ninja had set a pot of tea on the stove and now put the teabag and a lot of sugar into the boiling water.

Jay suggested to make a sandwich but Cole abdicated.

He really wasn't hungry.

Not thirsty either but he guessed the tea will sure help his exhaustion and get his levels up again.

Lloyd placed the cup on the wodden table and Cole gave him a quick smile before placing his cold fingers around it and sighed deep.

The others shared a look.

Cole knew he could trust them with that.

But still it was difficult for him to open up.

Zane, on whose lap Cole's feet still rested, spoke first.

He cleared his throat, which was for real unnecessary since he was a nindroid.

Can they get raspy voices?

"Cole, now again to our questions...", he began.

Cole, again, didn't look up.

"I got home an hour or so ago", he told them.

"Why that early?", Lloyd asked.

"Lou didn't have that much time for me", he said in a bitter tone.

It was still weird for the others that Cole called his own father by his forename most of the time.

They knew about what had happened in the past - well mostly - but still the harshness of his words sent them all into an alarming state.

"Cole, eh.. Don't take this the wrong way but... isn't your father... unemployed. I mean... as long as he doesn't have a gig or something... Like, he can work whenever he wants to...-"

Cole looked up now and fixed Kai with narrow eyes.

"Songwriting and producing still needs to be done", oh over the years he got so good at lying.

Jay raised an eyebrow.

"At 7am? On a Sunday? And it can't wait 'til his son leaves?"

...

Or... he didn't. He wasn't that good actually. Well.

He just shrugged it off.

"Cole, you dont have to try. Don't hide it from us", Kai said and locked eyes with Cole for a moment but then the black haired boy shyed away and looked at the floor again.

He sighed, inhaled the warm air in which the smell of tea floated and exhaled some seconds later.

"It doesn't really matter", he then said and took a sip out of his tea.

It was a fruity mix he usally liked.

But just like the coffee today it was just bitter and tasteless.

"Cole... you know you shouldn't train with your hurt foot today", Cole stiffed up at the sudden change of topic from Lloyd.

Wasn't that what he wanted?

Not being the center of attention anymore?

Or like this special thing that had happened not to be the topic anymore?

Why does it now feel wrong?

Should he open up?

Are they mad now?

Is he annoying? A pick me? Oh my gosh.... hopefully not.

In fact, and what Cole didn't know then was that the others knew him all too well.

If he don't wanna open up, he wouldn't.

No matter what they do.

And they really had tried many things in the past whenever their friend was bothered by something.

The last thing they did was teasing him with never buying cake again.

This time, Lloyd and the others knew he wouldn't fall for that.

If he even refused a sandwich from Jay, which didn't mean that much since Jay wasn't the best chef.... anyways.

If he even refused that, he wouldn't even want cake now.

And that was very alarming.

But a quick look with everyone and they knew that their buddy really needed rest.

Come clear with his thoughts.

Maybe they can arrange a movie night meanwhile.

Some games he'd like.

Yeah, maybe Cole just needed rest now.

And then, maybe then he would open up about what had happened at Lou's house that hurt him that much.

And if not...

Well the last option was kicking in Lou's door and get at least him to talk.

Cole nodded.

Lloyd was right, he couldn't train today.

Because of his foot.

He looked through Lloyd's lie.

It wasn't his foot.

It was not the reason.

He didn't play along.

He wanted to do something.

"I can help put up the dummies"

Lloyd shook his head.

"You should rest, buddy", Jay said in a comforting voice.

Cole shook his head now.

"No", he said stoic like a child and took another sip.

"I can help"

Kai got up and rubbed Cole's back.

"Cole, you know you don't have to act like the strong one all the time"

"But... I-"

"Lean back for once. If you can't tell us now... or maybe never. We aren't mad. But we also dont think you are weak when you tell us"

"Yeah, Kai is right", Jay chimed in.

"Something had happened and you know you can tell us. We understand. But for now you should clearly take a break. Lay down, try to get some sleep"

"We'll wake you if something interesting happens", Lloyd assured with a smirk.

Cole nodded, gave them all a quick smile and Zane then helped him up to his room.