***Just saying, if y'all don't listen to this song during Jay's POV, you're missing out on life 😂 Don't skip this one!***

***(Kai's POV)***

Cole pushes aside his bowl of cereal, adding it to the stack of bowls left by a troop of hungry girls who've long left their dishes for Saturday activities.

I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of itching to wash them and put them away. Back when Nya was younger, I never let her leave the table until she'd cleaned up after herself.

"All right," Cole starts. "So as we discussed last night, Nya and Jay are going to do surveillance for the day."

My sister nods, casting a sidelong glance at me before rising from her chair. "What about...um, Kai?"

Cole runs a hand through his dark locks. "Skylor said he's leaving today, so I guess we'll have to relocate him to some safe location."

Skye bites her lip. "The less of us in one location at once, the better. I don't want to attract any unwanted attention to the girls, and we have no idea where that android came from."

Right. Make as many excuses as you want.

"That's what Jay and I are going to figure out," Nya says determinedly. She dares a look at me. "Um...just in case I don't see you later..." She awkwardly pats my shoulder. "You can call Jay and me sometime if you want."

I look away at the table, feeling guilty yet unwilling to spend any time around my sister. "I don't think I have your number."

She bites her lip. "Let me write it down for you." She tears the corner off a paper towel and grabs the nearest pen, then scribbles digits across the paper.

I tentatively take it from her. I know I can't call that number any time soon for my own emotional wellbeing.

I have so many conflicted feelings toward her right now.

"Thanks," I mutter, the word barely a sound through my clogged throat. "Uh...take care of yourself." My gaze darts to Jay. "And you, too." Awkward.

It's so much easier to despise people when they don't risk their lives to save you. Now I'm getting all...emotional and stuff.

My brother-in-law gives me a cautious smile. "Yeah. You too." And with that, he loops an arm around my sister's shoulders and walks her out of the kitchen.

I think that maybe those two have made a surprisingly good couple. I never saw the chemistry back in the day, but hey, they've survived longer than Skye and I did.

Not that I approve of Nya getting married without my permission. Or Jay asking her to marry him without my permission. I mean, sure, I was mentally insane during their short engagement and elopement, but it would've been nice to have some kind of a say in their relationship. I still have rights to dislike their marriage.

But oddly, when it comes down to it, I think they've grown together. Nya isn't the girl I remember, that's for sure. And Jay's always needed someone to push him in the right direction. I guess my sister has done an okay-ish job of that.

Seliel walks up behind Cole and places her hands on his shoulders, rubbing gently. "Where do you want me to drop Kai off?"

My former teammate stares at the table. "I don't know. The only good option besides Skylor's is Nya and Jay's. We want him to stay with other elementals for defense purposes."

I raise an eyebrow. "You don't have to talk about me like I'm not part of this conversation, you know. And I'm not going to stay at my sister's house while she and Jay make balloon animals and watch romcoms and whatever else they do."

"Kai," Cole sighs, "Nya loves you."

"I'm...considering that possibility," I reply, replaying in my head the scene of her risking her life for me. "But...there's so much history between us I have to get over. Maybe she's different now than she was in the past, but –,"

"Nya never wronged you," Skylor snaps, speaking for the first time in what seems like ages. She shoves her chair away from the table and glares at me. "You don't believe us, but the Insani-tea you drank messed up your memories and made you remember her all wrong."

"You guys don't know her like I did. You don't know what she was like in private." All the ways she lashed out at me...at my parents...because she didn't get what she wanted eventually became flat-out abuse. She went from spoiled girl to manipulative mastermind in the course of just a few years.

"But I know her," Skye argues, her tone hard. "And you're nuts for cutting her out of your life." She snatches her bowl off the table and carries it over to the sink.

I shake my head. "I know you think I'm closed-minded, but you all won't even hear me out about the past." I scoot back my own chair. "I'm not staying with Nya and Jay. Send me anywhere else but with them."

Cole sighs. "Skylor, I know you two don't get along, but at least he's willing to be around you. Couldn't you consider just letting him –,"

"No." Her tone is determined. "The girls need to be surrounded by people who actually care about them."

I roll my eyes. "Look, Skylor, I know you think I'm some heartless hater, but I'm not a bad guy." I shove my way past her, my elbow bumping into her shoulder. "You don't have to like me, but don't pretend I'd do a thing to hurt the girls here." I snatch up the dirty bowls and pile them in my arms, heading toward the sink.

There's silence for a moment, then Seliel clears her throat. "He may be an asterisk, but he's right. He wouldn't hurt any of the girls."

"Asterisk?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"All of us have to watch our mouths per Skylor's request," Seliel sighs. "Makes me sound like an idiot, but I manage well enough."

I grab a dishrag and attack the first dirty bowl. "Maybe I could go stay with Mystaké. Is she still around?"

"She hates you," Skylor deadpans, letting out a troubled sigh.

"What's new?" Seliel says sarcastically. I hope.

"I just don't see a good solution to this," Cole moans. "I mean, who can Kai stay with if he needs protection from crazy androids?"

"Kryptarium Prison?" Seliel suggests.

I snort. "I don't think so, ma'am. I'm not going to go hang out with the likes of Harumi Jade." I suppress a shudder.

That girl has issues.

"We're not sending Kai to Kryptarium," Cole agrees. "Maybe...the police?"

A chair suddenly smacks against the ground, and I jump and whip my head around.

Skylor scrambles to pick it up. "Oh my gosh, I forgot – I'm supposed to be meeting with an official from the foster care system at the police station!" She all but runs out of the kitchen.

I frown. "Is she usually this much of a mess?"

Cole massages the bridge of his nose. "She is these days. On the bright side, we've just bought ourselves a few more hours before we have to kick you out."

"Great," I sigh. Like it'll do much good.

At least maybe now I'll have a chance to convince these girls that not all charming and attractive men are of the devil.

***(Jay's POV)***

"I still don't get the whole 'pancake day' thing," I frown, sitting in the passenger side of our discreet gray sedan.

Nya heaves a sigh. "I know you don't get it. I'm just asking you to let it go, okay? We're kind of on surveillance right now."

I start to argue, but her exhausted expression stops me. I know she's dealing with a lot – Kai, just getting back home from a year of travels, this new mission we're on – and she probably deserves a break.

I pop open the dash of the sedan and peer inside. "You want a breath mint?"

"Why would I want a breath mint?" she frowns. "Jay, you know I think you're funny and all, but this is serious."

"Doesn't mean you can't have a mint," I shrug, popping one in my mouth. "Suit yourself."

"Thank you." She exhales, relaxing back into her seat. "I know I'm a little stressed right now, and...uh...I'm sorry." The words rush out of her mouth.

I smile. Nya's never been good at apologies, but she's grown so much in her communication skills over the past few years. I like to think I helped with that. She just needed someone who was willing to listen to her.

"I forgive you," I say quietly, reaching over to take her fingers in mine. "I understand that being stuck in the same house as your brother has to be tough."

"He'll be gone after today," Nya says apprehensively, staring down at her lap. "And then...maybe we'll go back home, too. Everything will return to the way it was before. He'll still...he'll still not want to be part of our lives." She looks away from me out her window.

"He seems different, Nya," I argue gently. "I mean, he wouldn't even talk to you a few years ago, and now he can at least be civil."

"Didn't you hear him last night?" she laughs humorlessly. "He said he didn't like seeing us together."

"That's not what he said," I remind her. "He said he wasn't used to seeing us together."

"Whatever the case, he sounded disapproving, not civil." She picks at a loose fiber on her jeans. "I was willing to die for him last night, Jay. In a heartbeat. And in the past, I know he would've done the same for me, but..."

I squeeze her fingers. "Nya, he'd still die for you. I'm sure of it."

"He doesn't even care enough to give us his mailing address," she points out.

"He hasn't really had one for the past year," I shrug. "He's been travelling."

"I guess." She takes a deep breath, then braves a look up at me. "Obviously, watching the mayor's house hasn't worked out. No suspicious characters have come or gone since we arrived."

"Maybe we should do a bit of snooping around inside," I suggest. "If we traced weird elemental activity to the mayor, maybe we're not getting any answers because she's inside her office."

Nya puffs out a breath. "What's your plan?"

I grin and unbuckle myself. "I do the distractions and you do the dirty work?"

"So the usual." She stretches a shoulder over her head and yawns. "It's better than nothing, I guess. And besides, I like to see you in action."

I wink at her. "Only my best work for you, mi'lady." I bring our joined hands toward my mouth and kiss her knuckles.

She withdraws one hand, pulls on her door handle, and places one foot out on the pavement. "I can't figure out whether it's good or bad that we spend so much time together. I think we're slowly turning into each other." She slides her fingers out of mine.

"You mean we both flirt?" I ask.

"No. I mean I want that breath mint now." Without waiting for my reaction, she tosses her hair over her shoulder and fully steps out of the vehicle.

Nice.

I shove open my own car door and practically stumble out into the street. "Why are you distracting the distraction? I'm supposed to go in first!"

She turns and gives me a look over her shoulder, holding her fingers up to her lips in a silent bid to hush.

"You shh," I scowl. "And as the distraction, it's only right that I go distract the mayor and her staff while you sneak in afterward."

She raises an eyebrow at me, then motions for me to lead the way to the door.

I look both ways – yes, street safety is still important on missions – then make a run for the door. I try to come up with some kind of script in my head as I jog for the door, but I've got nothing. See, Nya and I are acquainted with the mayor from several of our crime-fighting gigs and self-defense campaigns, so I don't want to totally create some image incongruent with my actual character. She'll see right through that.

Improv skills, don't leave me now!

I leap up the mayor's steps and bang my fist against her front door. What to say...what to say...what to say...

"Help!" I yell. "Open the door! Please!" I slam my body against the door violently, hoping Nya has more of a plan than I do for getting inside.

"Someone help! Please!" I practically sob, slamming my fists against the door again. "I need –,"

The door suddenly swings open, and I blink.

Ah, it's the mayor's security guard.

~Music Cue~ (don't miss it ;))

"Oh, thank you so much!" I shout in relief, squeezing past him inside.

"Mr. Walker? What seems to be the matter?" the guard frowns. "Should I call the authorities for assistance?"

"Oh, no!" I respond, squeezing my eyes shut. Aw, nuts, I'm never going to live this one down.

"What happened?" the guard frowns severely. "There must be something terribly wrong if –,"

I scrunch up all my facial muscles in concentration. "I have a horrible case of the runs, and I need the nearest bathroom now! Which way do I go? Where is it?" I wrinkle my forehead in pain.

"Uh..."

"I'll just find it myself!" I yell, running down the hall.

"Hold up!" the guard shouts, chasing after me. "I know you're acquainted with the mayor and all, but I'm not technically supposed to let you in without a weapons check and appointment!"

Seriously?

I purposefully stumble over my own feet, landing in a heap on the floor. I roll over so my butt hits the ground, and I let out a dramatic gasp.

"Mr. Walker, are you all right?!" the guard asks, running toward me.

"Uh..." I sit up, my cheeks flushing profusely. "Well...I don't...uh...need the restroom anymore, on the bright side." I laugh. "Um...but there's...er...a bit of a mess in...well, in your floor, I suppose." Nya, you'd better get some good information out of this.

"O-o-oh," the security guard stutters. "Uh..."

I run a hand through my curls and grin sheepishly. "Is it possible...uh...to get some cleaning supplies so I can fix this mess?"

"Um...I'll just call the janitor." The guard pulls a walkie-talkie – they still have those? – from his waistband.

"Not a good idea!" I shout, waving my hands in the air.

The guard looks at me skeptically.

I blush. "Well...uh...I have...um...a very rare and contagious form of IBS that's spread through contact with...well, you know. My waste." I hate my life.

The guard raises his eyebrows. "Er...I see."

I nod. "That's why, um, I always like to use private bathrooms. You know, so I can borrow disinfectant afterward and make sure everything's sanitized and ready for use." I grin like an idiot. Maybe I am one.

He coughs and pulls his walkie-talkie up to his mouth. "Can someone bring some disinfectant and paper towels down into the main hall? A pair of...um...disposable gloves would be appreciated as well."

"Thank you so much," I sigh. "And..." I suppress the urge to throw myself over a cliff. "Is it possible to get a new pair of jeans and underwear as well? Just because...mine are a bit...used?"

His face pales. "Um...uh...I can get you...I suppose I can let you have some of our old housekeeper's clothes."

"Oh, thank you," I smile. "I promise I'll return them as soon as I can."

His eyebrows shoot up. "No, no, no, don't worry about it! And - uh – I hope you don't mind, but the showers here are private, so –,"

"Oh, I'll just hose down out in the garden." I need to check out the backyard anyway.

"Uh-huh..." He bites his lip. "Or perhaps you could just use the shower stalls at the gas station down the street?"

I shake my head vigorously. "Oh, no! I don't think – uh, I don't think I can make it that far. See, I already can feel it dripping down my leg, and...I don't want everyone on the street to see a brown streak soaking through my jeans."

"At least it's a normal color," the guard mutters under his breath.

"Huh?" I ask, pretending not to hear him.

"Nothing!" he exclaims guiltily. "Uh...I'd better get back on duty! The janitor will be here shortly." He hustles away.

I release a huge sigh, wondering not for the first time why I ever got to become part of the ninja team. Maybe Sensei Wu saw in me something no one else did, but he's gone now – to another dimension, never to be retrieved. The team broke up when we all realized he was a lost cause.

To be honest, I'm a lost cause.

Something buzzes in my pocket, and I reach down to grab my phone.

I power it on to see a text from Nya highlighting the home screen.

Nya <3: torn between washing my hands profusely and marveling at the genius that is Jay Walker

My lips twitch upward.

Jay: ily

Well, maybe my act didn't entirely go to waste. It worked, didn't it?