Previously on Tiny Troubles...

He desperately hoped that Sensei could get that Tomorrow's Tea soon. He didn't think he could stand to be any more embarrassed.

Cole let out a huge sigh and turned his attention back to the tub. He could worry about being embarrassed later. Right now, he really wanted to feel relaxed and get all of this mud off.

~~~~

Part 8

Cole decided that when he got older, he should take more bubble baths. Because this was awesome.

Cole sighed in content as he relaxed in the tub, loving how good it felt to relax in the warm water. Considering that he was living with, and therefore sharing a bathroom with four other people, he rarely got the chance to take as long as he liked getting clean(Kai always got grumpy whenever someone took a long time in the bathroom, despite the fact that he took forever just to get his hair right).

The little ninja considered getting out, since he had finished scrubbing the mud off of his body and had washed his hair(though he was unsure of how successful he was—it was surprisingly hard to wash his hair now...), but decided that he could stay in for a little bit longer. Because dang, taking a bubble bath was awesome...

Cole looked up as he heard a knock on the door. "Cole? May I enter?" he heard Zane ask.

Cole bit his lip but answered, "Yeah, sure. Just as long as you promise not to look!"

Zane chuckled lightly as he entered the bathroom, a small bundle of clothes in his hands. "Do not worry, my friend," the nindroid reassured Cole. "I am just dropping off some clean clothing for you to put on when you are done."

Cole waded through the water to the edge of the tub, making sure that only his head and the top of his shoulders breached the surface. "Is my gi already clean?" he asked, trying to take a peek at the clothes.

Zane shook his head. "It is still being washed, so I borrowed some of Lloyd's old clothing from before he became older. They may be a little large on you, but I figured it would fit better than anything of yours," he explained.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Cole admitted. "Thanks Zane. I'll be out in a minute, so I'll be able to put them on."

Zane peeked at Cole over his shoulder, and frowned slightly. "Have you washed your hair yet, Cole?"

Cole squeaked and hid behind some bubbles. "Zaaaaane, you promised not to look!" he complained.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to look. Though, you have not answered my question."

"Yes, I did wash my hair! Can you please stop looking now?!"

"Cole, your hair is still dirty."

"It is?! Awwwww, man!" Cole groaned. "Can't I just leave it? I don't feel like trying to wash it again, it was hard enough the first time!"

"I do not think that would be a good idea, Cole," Zane chided gently.

Cole groaned again. "I don't wanna wash it again though..." he whined softly.

Zane hummed. "If you want," he suggested. "I could probably wash your hair for you."

Cole felt his cheeks heat up. As if him having to help me take off my shirt wasn't bad enough! "N-no! I can do it myself!" he immediately said, already reaching for the shampoo, only for his hand to tip it over and make it fall on the floor.

"Are you certain?" Zane asked, walking over and picking up the shampoo bottle. "You did mention that you had a hard time washing it before."

Cole sank into the water until it was to his chin, trying to will away his blush. "I can do it," he muttered sulkily.

"Well, think of it this way: you can either try to do it again and possibly not get out all of the dirt and have to do it a third time. Or, you can allow me to wash it for you, therefore ensuring that it gets clean," the nindroid said before shrugging. "Though, it is your choice."

Cole groaned. "I hate when you sound logical," he grumbled, sinking even further underneath the water.

Zane cocked his head to the side. "Does that mean you wish for me to assist you?"

Cole didn't say anything, but he did slowly nod his head. Why does stuff like this keep happening to me? He internally moaned. I swear when I get big again, I'm going to find whoever did this to me and make him suffer the same fate. Let's see how he likes being treated like a kid!

So immersed in his plot for revenge, Cole didn't realize that Zane had kneeled by the tub and was ready to begin until the nindroid said to him, "I need to rewet your hair, Cole. Can you please close your eyes?"

Cole pouted slightly but complied, squeezing his eyes shut. He shivered when he felt Zane pour water over his head, causing Cole's bangs to stick to his forehead. The little ninja shook his head a little and wiped the water from his eyes.

He heard Zane squirt some shampoo into his hand before the nindroid gently placed his hands on top of Cole's head. "I am about to start," Zane told Cole.

Cole took in a deep breath and let out slowly. "Okay," he mumbled softly before squeezing his eyes shut.

He felt Zane's fingers begin to move and bit his lip, feeling more embarrassed and awkward than he ever thought was possible. But slowly, as Zane carefully and gently worked the shampoo into Cole's hair, the little ninja found himself relaxing and unconsciously leaning into the touch. The unexpected side effect of having his scalp massaged while Zane washed his hair made Cole feel...secure, in a way. And it felt nice. Cole let out a little sigh and closed his eyes, relishing in the feeling.

He heard Zane laugh a little. "You know," the white ninja said quietly. "It is rather odd seeing you this small."

"'m not little," Cole protested, though there was no heat behind his words.

"I am inclined to disagree, my friend."

"It's not my fault, blame genetics. Plus I haven't hit my growth spurt yet."

"Did you ever hit your growth spurt?"

"Hey!" Cole protested, turning to face Zane. "Yes I did, I'm taller than Jay!"

"Need I remind you that Jay is the shortest person on our team."

"...." Cole splashed Zane. "You suck."

"Am I wrong though?" Zane laughed as he wiped the water from his face. "Okay, I need to rinse out your hair. Close your eyes."

Cole dutifully shut his eyes while Zane rinsed the shampoo from his hair. "You're pretty good at this," the little ninja said.

"Thank you," Zane replied.

There was a small silence before Cole abruptly asked, "Were you built tall Zane?"

Zane blinked. "Pardon?"

"Like, you're what, 6'1? Were you built like that, or as you got older, did your dad built you up taller?"

Zane froze(no pun intended), and Cole instantly regretted asking the question. Idiot, his dad literally just died last month! Why did you bring it up?! He berated himself.

"I-I'm sorry Zane," Cole quickly apologized. "I-I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry."

Zane's expression was unreadable, and Cole quickly turned his head away, sure that he had upset and possibly even angered the white ninja.

But after a few seconds, Zane let out a little sigh and quietly said, "it is alright Cole. You were just curious."

"I still shouldn't have asked..." Cole mumbled.

It was silent for a few more seconds and just as Cole considered apologizing again, Zane started talking. "To answer your question Cole, I was built this tall. My...my father thought it would be better like that."

Cole peeked at Zane over his shoulder. "Really?"

Zane smiled sadly. "Yes," he replied, chuckling slightly. "Though when I was first built, it was hard adjusting to my height. I tripped constantly."

Cole snickered slightly at the image. "Over what?" he laughed.

"My feet, mostly." Zane shook his head. "I still do not understand how I did that."

At that, Cole burst out laughing. He couldn't help it, the idea of the ice ninja--who was normally rather graceful and steady on his feet--constantly falling because he tripped on his feet was too hilarious.

To Zane's credit, he let Cole have his giggle fit, only once saying, "It wasn't that funny..." with a smile on his face.

Finally, Cole managed to calm down a little. "Hehehe, I...I'm good," he wheezed slightly, still laughing a little bit. "S-sorry."

"Do not apologize," Zane replied. "My father found it funny too. He would always make sure that I hadn't hurt myself, but the minute he thought I wasn't looking, he would start to laugh." Zane let out a huff and shook his head, more than a hint of sorrow and nostalgia in his expression.

Cole frowned. "...you must miss him a lot..." he said softly.

"...yes," Zane replied, turning his gaze away. "I do." The nindroid shut his eyes for a few seconds before sighing and reopening them. "It is hard, but I've been trying to....focus on the memories I have of him with me, instead of focusing on how he is...not currently with me."

Cole felt his heart go out to his teammate...along with a small pang of jealousy. He quickly shoved that jealousy down before saying, "You know something Zane? You're pretty strong."

Zane blinked down at his little leader. "I am? In what way?"

"You just...you just are!" Cole tried to explain. "I...I don't know how to explain it. I guess...some people might still be locked in their rooms grieving about someone they've lost and here you are, really missing your dad but still...I dunno, living. Still going on being you. I just..." Cole glanced away, feeling slightly embarrassed from rambling. "I just think that you're really strong..." he mumbled.

The Ninja of Ice let his lips curl into a smile, and he gently squeezed Cole's shoulder. "Thank you, Cole."

Cole looked over his shoulder and grinned. "No problem, Frosty," he replied.

Zane chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, well your hair is clean. I believe that it is time for you to come out of the tub."

"Awwww, but I don't wanna~" Cole whined, pouting slightly. Admittedly, his fingers were becoming wrinkled from being in the water for so long, but the little ninja still wanted to relax in the bathtub a little longer.

"Cole, I really think that it's time to come out." Zane gently insisted.

Cole, in a bout of childish defiance, stuck his tongue out at his older teammate. "Make me."

Zane quirked an eyebrow but smirked. "Very well, if you wish," the white ninja replied.

Cole squeaked and moved to the side as Zane reached for him. "Zane, what the heck?" He sputtered.

"You will not get out on your own, therefore I decided to assist you."

"I can get out! Just get out of the bathroom and I'll come out!"

"And if I leave, will you be out right away?"

"..."

"Precisely why I decided to assist you."

"You'll never take me alive!" Cole declared, dodging another one of Zane's grabs and splashing the white ninja for good measure.

"Cole, just come out."

"Never!"

Despite the tub being rather small, Cole managed to evade his enemy(for that was what Zane had become in his eyes—an enemy who was trying to deprive him of his relaxation) for quite awhile. Zane was slowly becoming more drenched by Cole splashing at him, so he should hopefully give up soon.

Ducking underneath Zane's latest attempt to apprehend him, Cole took in a deep breath before closing his eyes and diving underneath the water. Now to wait for him to leave, he thought, feeling triumphant for evading his older teammate.

Cole waited for what felt like forever before he finally came up for air. Wiping the water from his eyes, the black ninja quickly scanned the bathroom for his enemy, making sure that only his head was above the water. He let out a little cheer when he saw no sign of Zane.

"Ha, ha! Take that Zane!" Cole quietly shouted, sitting up fully.

Suddenly, the little ninja felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. Before he could react, however, something white and fluffy was wrapped around him, pinning his arms to his sides and covering his face. "Gotcha," he heard Zane laugh.

Cole squirmed. "Cheater!" He yelped, trying to wiggle free from his captor.

Zane laughed and carefully lifted Cole up and out of the tub. "There were no rules set, so how could I have cheated?" He teased, making sure that the towel he had used to grab his teammate was secure.

Cole pouted. "You're mean, Zane."

The nindroid chuckled as he set about drying off Cole. The little ninja protested this vehemently, squirming and wiggling while complaining loudly. But Zane kept a firm but gentle grasp on the black ninja, so Cole finally admitted defeat and waited for Zane to be done.

He didn't have to wait long. After vigorously rubbing the top of Cole's head to make sure that his hair was decently dry, Zane finally let go. "There we go," he said.

Cole fumbled with towel for a second before he managed to poke his head out. "I still think you cheated," he grumbled, mock-glaring at his older teammate.

Zane just smiled at him. "There were no rules."

Cole scowled and stuck his tongue out at the nindroid. Zane laughed and shook his head, making his way out of the door to give Cole some privacy.

Taking a few extra minutes to make sure that he was completely dry, Cole quickly put on the clothes that Zane had provided him. Lloyd's old t-shirt and pants were slightly too big for Cole's five-year-old body, but they were comfortable so the black ninja decided not to complain about it too much.

It was slightly difficult to get on the shirt, not so much because it was too big, but because Cole was feeling really tired. After being in the water for so long, his limbs felt really heavy and his eyelids started drooping. Cole considered it a miracle that he managed to get on the shirt and stumble out of the bathroom.

After that, everything was a bit of a blur. He vaguely remembered walking to where Zane was standing in the hall and sitting on the floor next to him, suddenly too tired to even entertain the thought of walking. He thought he remembered Zane picking him up and starting to walk somewhere. He was about to ask where Zane was taking him but ultimately decided that he didn't care and closed his eyes.

It didn't take him long to drift off to sleep.

----

Author's Note: Meant to post this yesterday, but kinda forgot to. *sweatdrops* Oops.

But here's some more fluffy Glacier bromance to make up for the wait(This was probably my favorite chapter to write so far XD). 

And once again, Cole falls asleep before he can make to the bed on his own. XD

Coming up next time: there will be some angst for our tiny ninja, and Sensei Wu finally returns. Will he have the Tomorrow's Tea, or will Cole have to stay tiny a little bit longer? The world may never know...jk, the world will find out next Friday. XD