A/N: thelightningninjasis Finally! Your oneshot is out! This took way too long. She requested a oneshot very similar to the original plot I had for First Data Frets, but with the platonic ships reversed. It was a lot of fun, but took longer than expected to finish because I got kind of bored of it and started on Lawless Love. But thankfully, I got back on track, edited it, finished it, and here we are! Enjoy!

After the ninja stopped Garmadon's reign of terror, Ninjago became peaceful once again. At least, mostly. They were still on edge from Garmadon's ominous warning of "the destroyers."

But that didn't stop their lives from going back to normal. Well, as normal as the lives of city heroes fighting evil could get.

They moved back into the monastery of their origin, along with Misako and Pixal, and everything was just how it should've been.

Jay was cracking jokes, Kai was rage-quitting his favorite video game, Cole was drawing, Nya was working with Pixal on some new gadget, Lloyd was spoiling his dinner, and Zane was cooking that very dinner.

Speaking of Zane, there was something that wouldn't stop plaguing his mind lately.

Pixal was the new Samurai X.

He should have figured it out a long time ago.

How Pixal went missing not long before the new samurai appeared, how she was there helping him out, and most of all, how her greatest priority was protecting Cyrus; her father.

It had been almost a year since Pixal had left Zane's head, and the nindroid in question was a little shaken up.

Of course, he was happy that Pixal had her body back, and they could touch each other once again.

So many long-awaited hugs.

But they had been apart for a while, which made things between them a little...awkward.

He wasn't sure where their relationship stood at this point.

They never went on any real dates, and the majority of their time together was spent in the same body. But they did have something.

Something special.

And that fact made Zane even more peeved that he couldn't find the right words to say to her.

He didn't want to seem like an irrational droid who always chased after her.

He wanted to let her be her own person and experience life more than she ever had before.

That's why he stood back.

But it was eating at him worse than Cole's chili.

He wanted to spend some quality time with her soon.

Just the two of them.

But how?

"Zane, I think that egg is cooked enough," Jay remarked, snapping the nindroid out of his thoughts.

The ice ninja's eyes went wide, and he looked down at the frying pan in front of him. All that remained of the egg was a crusty black shape.

"Oh, oh, right." Zane scraped the burnt egg into the trash and looked back at Jay. "Of course."

Jay giggled boyishly. "You looked pretty in the zone there, pal." He tilted his head, grabbing another egg to hand to Zane. "Something on your mind?"

"Um, yes." Zane sighed. "I want to spend more time with Pixal, but things have not exactly been cordial between us lately."

Jay nodded. "Yeah, it has been a while since you guys have had a proper conversation. Even after Pixal revealed herself as Samurai X. It does make sense, though. She has always been a good fighter."

"I agree," Zane replied. "That is exactly why I want to spend more time with her."

A smirk crept onto Jay's face: "Oookay. So, what you're saying is, you need some girl advice?"

"Yes," Zane sighed once more. "But please, do not be weird about it. I genuinely need your help."

Jay grinned. "Anything, Zane." He laughed. "We're practically brothers!"

Zane smiled back. "Thank you."

Pixal was distracted.

She and Nya were working on a new motorbike, but she could hardly focus.

Someone else was on her mind.

Zane seemed distant.

He usually would share his innermost feelings and thoughts with her, and they would laugh together. Their conversations were one of her most favorite things.

So, what changed?

Well, for starters, she finally had her body back. And on top of that, she kept her true identity from him for almost a year!

She supposed that was the reason things were awkward between them.

But a big part of her didn't want things to change. She wanted them to go back to the way they were. Well, maybe things changing for the better wouldn't be that bad, but she needed to start by bringing back the old good.

"Pix, do you want me to tighten that bolt?" Nya asked. "You've been staring at it for at least a minute."

Glowing green eyes widened. "Oh," Pixal put her wrench down. "Yes, please."

Nya grabbed the wrench and started tightening the bolt: "What's on your mind, Pix?"

"Uh, nothing," Pixal tied up her silver locks. "Nothing at all."

Nya gave an exasperated sigh: "Pix, don't lie to me."

"What?" Pixal still looked doe-eyed. "I am being entirely truthful."

Nya inhaled before setting down the wrench and taking Pixal's hands in hers: "If we're going to be sisters, no more secrets, okay?"

Pixal grasped the other's hands tighter: "Sisters?"

"I've never had a sister, but I have a brother, and this is what I know," Nya explained. "You trust each other. Even if you sometimes disagree, and steal each other's food-"

"I do not even enjoy eating that much."

Nya sighed once more: "That's not the point. The point is, that sisters help and support each other. And if we're going to be sisters, no more secrets, okay?"

Pixal's eyes glistened: "I would like that."

"Alright," Nya grinned with satisfaction and sat down on the floor. "Now, what's on your mind?"

Pixal huffed before joining her on the floor: "I do not like change. Especially the change that things between Zane and I are...odd. We used to talk all the time, but now, we do not. And I want to fix that, but I do not know how."

"Hmmm," Nya tapped her finger on her chin. "I think I can help you."

The new samurai tilted her head: "How?"

"Well, Jay and I have our ups and downs," Nya explained, "but we always come back stronger in the end."

Pixal asked, "So, what should I do?"

"I've got the perfect idea."

Zane was curious and wary and nervous all at the same time.

Thankfully, it was a peaceful Saturday, so Jay and Zane could talk in the blue ninja's room without anyone interrupting them.

"Sooo, is there anything specific you need help on?" Jay asked.

Zane's lips were like a line, frozen in thought: "Well, I am not sure. All I know is that I want to know how to interact with her in a way that will not be awkward."

"Whoa whoa whoa-" Jay waved his hands, "-are you asking me how to be a lady-charmer? Because I am not the expert on that, Kai would be glad to-"

Zane put a hand on his friend's shoulder: "Jay, I am not asking you to give me flirting lessons. All I ask is for you to advise me how not to go silent when I am around Pixal."

Jay snorted. "You really have got it bad, haven't you?"

"What do I have?"

The lightning ninja flipped his hand playfully. "Well, for starters, you've obviously been bitten by the love bug."

"FSM, so help me," The nindroid facepalmed. "Jay, I am serious."

The auburnet's roved his eyebrows: "Seriously lovesick."

"Just help me."

Jay flopped onto some pillows: "Professor Jay, master of love, has exactly what you need." The boy could hardly keep a straight face as he spoke the words and burst into hysteric laughter.

Zane was unamused.

"You've just got to lighten up, buddy!" The blue ninja let out another laugh.

Zane sighed. "I would rather not participate in immature jokes. I find them a waste of time."

"That's the problem, Zane!" Jay somersaulted over to his friend. "You get so serious that you worry too much about every little thing being perfect!"

The nindroid furrowed his brow: "But I set high expectations for myself so that I most always do things right! Is that not a good thing?"

"I mean-" Jay fiddled with the smiley face button on his gi, "-it is. Except for when you don't meet them and feel bad cause you're just as human as the rest of us."

"Okay, but I still do not understand how immature jokes would help me to understand how not to be nervous when I am around Pixal," the ice ninja replied.

Jay pursed his lips before answering: "Let me explain. So, whenever you get nervous and don't know what to say, you just crack a joke or laugh to cut the tension."

"I do not see how that makes any logical sense."

"It makes perfect sense!" The inventor insisted. "It always works for me. And I've been handling awkward situations for...how old am I?"

Zane held up his hand: "We cannot disclose that information, or the fourth wall will collapse."

"What?"

The nindroid shook his head. "Never mind," Zane looked at his friend. "Does that really work?"

"Every time I've tried it. It never fails," Jay talked with his hands. "Well, except for this one time, but he was a jerk anyway-"

"Jay, you are rambling again," Zane deadpanned.

The freckle-faced teen looked up: "Oh, right. I promise it works. I wouldn't lie to you, Zane."

The ice ninja grinned: "Thank you, brother. Anything else?"

"Let me give you a couple more tips, and you'll be good."

Pixal was intrigued. She didn't find Zane's psychological patterns to be much different from hers, so she didn't understand what Nya meant when she said, "Boys are like a whole different species."

Wasn't the whole reason she and Zane were compatible was the fact that they were both the SAME species?

But Pixal still listened.

"So, boys like it when you're confident," Nya explained, "so you have to act like you know what you're doing even if you don't."

"Okay."

The water ninja suggested, "And if you mess up and say the wrong thing, change the subject. They'll get so caught up in what they're gonna say that they won't even notice!"

"That seems unlikely," Pixal deadpanned.

Nya rolled her eyes playfully, "Just trust me. Who's the experienced one here?"

Pixal folded her hands, "You are."

"Right." The ravenette grinned: "So, let me help you."

Pixal sighed reluctantly: "Alright."

"So, what other questions do you have?" Nya asked.

Pixal gestured. "Well, I was wondering how I should start a conversation."

"Okay..." Nya grinned: "I can show you how to do that."

The android samurai tilted her head: "So, how do I start?"

"Well, you usually ask a question," Nya explained, "preferably about something you might have in common."

Pixal raised her eyebrows: "So, should I talk about ninja stuff?"

"No, no, no-" The water ninja insisted, "-don't bring up ninja stuff. Fighting monsters and personal life should stay separate."

Pixal made a face: "Okay, so what should we talk about?"

"I don't know, just whatever you're thinking, or books or something," Nya suggested. "What do you like to do together?

The android girl smiled fondly: "We like science and learning and literature."

"Wow, you guys really are made for each other," the former samurai remarked.

Pixal grinned, and if she were human, her face would have flushed.

Nya smirked back: "Maybe you should ask him about his cooking stuff. He loves to talk about that."

"Okay, so is that all there is to conversing?" Pixal asked.

Nya nodded: "Yep! That's all there is to it! Now go ask him to hang out!"

Zane was excited. The anticipation was killing him to ask Pixal if she would like to hang out with him that night.

He had a movie all picked out and everything.

He smiled to himself and walked to the door for the samurai workshop stairs.

But surprisingly, Pixal was already standing in front of the door.

"Oh, Pixal?" he asked, turning to rest his hand on her shoulder.

She smiled: "What is it, Zane?"

"Would you like to hang out and watch a movie later tonight?" he proposed.

Pixal giggled melodiously: "I was just about to ask you the very same thing. How does five o'clock sound?"

The ice ninja grinned: "Perfect."

The two prepared for their hangout by picking out their best clothes, finding the best snacks, and gathering as many blankets as they could find.

Zane sat the DVD case on the tv stand: "Wall-E. Her favorite movie."

"It is," spoke Pixal's voice from behind him.

He jumped: "Ah! I did not see you there."

"Apologies, Zane," she smiled, "I did not mean to startle you."

Zane exhaled: "It is alright. Could you start up the movie? I am going to go make popcorn."

"Of course I can," she replied with a cocky grin, which made Zane a little confused.

Zane nodded slightly before turning to go to the kitchen: "Thank...you."

Pixal slipped the disc in and started mindlessly watching the commercials.

Then Zane returned with a big bowl of popcorn: "Did I miss anything?"

"No," she shook her head. "Just trailers for low-budget action movies."

They skipped the commercials and finally started the movie.

It showed the introduction of the character Wall-E, and Pixal and Zane smiled at the charming droid.

Then they watched him pick up things on empty, barren earth, with a little cockroach friend.

Zane pointed: "At least since there is no one else around, no one can encROACH on his land." The nindroid laughed fakely.

Pixal bit her lip, not sure why Zane was acting this way: "Let's just watch the movie."

Zane silently complied.

Then after a while, when Wall-E was talking to Eve, Zane questioned, "Why does she have to keep it a secret? Would it not be more effective for her mission if she told him?"

Pixal blanked, "Ahh, um-" she lifted the big bowl. "This popcorn is delicious!"

"It," Zane lowered his head skeptically, "is."

The two continued watching the movie, but this odd behavior continued.

Ever so often, Pixal would say something critical about the movie being inaccurate or not making sense, and Zane continued making strange jokes.

And by the end, both of them were utterly weirded out.

"That was nice," Pixal said courteously.

"Yes, it was," Zane replied. "Thank you for watching it with me."

He smiled awkwardly, and they parted ways.

Pixal was completely confused. Why was Zane acting like a completely different person?

It was so unusual that it made her uncomfortable. And the complete fakeness of it all ruined her whole evening.

She had to get to the bottom of this. And Jay was the one person who could hopefully give her some answers.

So, she went to Jay, while Zane found Nya, hoping to find the same thing.

"Do you have any idea why Pixal was acting so odd earlier?" Zane asked.

Nya smacked her lips sheepishly. "Well...I may have given her some advice that...she might've taken the wrong way?"

"Uhh," Zane facepalmed. "Of course, she took it wrong, Nya. She is not you."

Nya pursed her lips: "I guess I did get a little caught up in what works for me, but I did tell her to take it with a grain of salt."

"Wait," Zane's eyes flickered in realization. "Jay did the same thing! I should not have gotten stuck on what he told me."

Nya's jaw dropped: "Jay gave you advice that failed too? I am so going to get him! He should have told me! Then maybe we could have fixed this!"

"Nya," Zane waved his arms. "Do not worry about it now. You can talk to him later. For now, I have to talk to Pixal."

"Fine. But I'm going to talk to him now anyway."

"Jay," Pixal said, "are you sure that he was acting strange because of your advice?"

"Yeah!" the blue ninja frantically insisted. "I told him I wasn't a professional! I'm a total doofus. This really went down the drain."

Pixal smiled reassuringly: "It is alright, Jay. I can still fix this. But you should probably talk to Nya. She did the same thing to me."

"Oh man," his mouth gaped. "Thanks, Pix. Good luck!" he rushed off.

Jay and Nya met up in the training area to talk.

"What were you thinking?" Nya burst out. "You could have told me you were giving Zane advice!"

Jay crossed his arms in retaliation: "Let me remind you, you aren't the only one at fault here. You didn't tell me you were talking to Pixal!"

"Well, we're even," Nya replied. "Even though you messed up worse."

Jay stomped his foot: "I did not! And what does it even matter, anyway? We got them closer, didn't we? Even if we did do it in a roundabout messed up way."

"Hm," Nya pouted, "I guess you're right. We were only trying to help our friends get closer again."

Jay nodded: "Yeah." His eyes widened: "Wait, I'm right?"

Nya chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "Sometimes. Don't get a big head or nothin."

The lightning ninja hugged his yang. "Thanks. I love you."

"Hehe," Nya pressed a kiss into his cheek. "Love you too."

Meanwhile, Pixal and Zane were talking out on the monastery courtyard.

Zane folded his hands: "I apologize for acting strange earlier. Jay gave me some advice. I guess I must have taken it to heart a little too much."

"Apology accepted," the silver samurai grinned. "Jay told me. Nya advised me as well. That is most likely why I was...a bit harsh. I am sorry."

The nindroid nodded: "Do not worry about it. Just know that you do not need to say the right thing every time or always be on top for me to like you. You already stand out to me."

"Oh, Zane," Pixal's eyelashes fluttered. She almost looked like she was going to cry. "Thank you. I like you as you are as well. Occasional oddities and all."

Zane wrapped her in a hug. And although his touch was cold, it made her feel warm inside.

You're best when you're you. You don't have to try to be "Someone You'd Like."

Because you already are.

A/N: That was some fun fluff! I hope you enjoyed it. It'll probably be a while until I write my next oneshot, but it will probably be MindhyQuirks request of Cole and Zane baking a cake. I do love glacier bromance. Have a great whenever everyone, and I'll see you later! Bye!