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Jay had fucked up. He’d fucked up bad.
Nya, Lloyd, and Cole watched Nadakhan fly off from the ground, varying levels of anger and hatred plainly visible in their stances even as he struggled to see their faces. Whether it was with Nadakhan or with himself was beyond his ability to guess.
That venom was our only chance. What do we do now?
Even after everything he’d done, Jay expected his friends to fly after him. If Airjitzu wasn’t enough, their dragons could fly up high enough to pursue the plane now fleeing the scene. He tried to shout at them to hurry, to not let Nadakhan gain any distance, to not leave him alone again, but the tape over his mouth muffled everything he wanted to say.
I’m doomed. ROYALLY doomed.
If Kai only lasted moments—the memory of watching Kai vanish made him feel sick—First Spinjitzu Master, if Zane couldn’t beat him, how can I help anything? He’s a friggin’ Nindroid!
Nobody came. His friends just watched from the ground as he grew more and more distant, until he couldn’t see them at all. Hope stayed with him until they’d been long over open sea, too long to tell which way they’d even come from.
But they’ll come for me, he reminded himself. That’s what a team is for. We pick each other up in our worst moments, even when it’s entirely our own fault.
“Been a while since we had a captive.”
The man flying the plane had a suave sort of voice, professional yet comfortable. Unshaken by the struggling man in the backseat, he kept his eyes firmly focused on his task—carrying Jay to… somewhere.
Where are they taking me?
Jay tried to turn his focus towards the window. It was easier than thinking about the arm Nadakhan had wrapped around his chest, bringing them uncomfortably close together even for the decidedly claustrophobic conditions.
“Too long,” Nadakhan agreed, running a hand through Jay’s hair. Still messy from spider tango and jungle hiking, it tore angrily in places where its curls formed tangles and clumps. Jay winced but tried to maintain a dignified sense of defiance. “I get bored when we lack guests.”
If I’m a guest, your Ma should be ashamed of you.
Kicking was no use; Nadakhan’s lack of legs left Jay without anything to hit except orange gaseous dust. A grip on his own hands steadied his tied-up self, keeping him comfortably where Nadakhan wanted him. It was embarrassing. If he had legs, I’d be sitting on his lap.
His elemental magic begged him to release it, and, really, it did feel like Nadakhan had thrown caution to the wind. They would be skin to skin if not for their respective clothes, and there was no vengestone holding Jay back from electrocuting them all. Every time he shows up, I am more convinced that he doesn’t know about personal space! It would be so easy—one quick surge, then he'd knock the guy clean out.
Still, he had to fight against that current. So high over nothing but waves, Jay was sure a crash would kill him. If he attacked Nadakhan—oh, his friend would just make a wish for him to stop, wouldn’t he? And then it’s back to square one. Besides, he didn’t know which buttons would open the glass above him, and he could all too clearly see himself hitting uncaring sea before escaping his restraints.
Patience, he reminded himself. Don’t do anything stupid like Kai. Nya will find you.
Nadakhan leaned down to whisper close into Jay’s ear. “You’ve been stubborn. I like stubborn.”
I prefer Pythor. At least that despicable reptilian vagabond would’ve traveled in a more spacious vehicle. Even Morro would have been better than this. Sure, he didn’t understand personal space at all, but at least Lloyd didn’t need to be tied up with him.
Jay could feel Nadakhan’s breath against him, and part of him knew that if Nadakhan wanted him dead, he would be. Ugh. I do not want my life in this guy’s hands—any of them.
“As much as I’d love to see you fumble, little canary,” Nadakhan began, raising his voice to include his pilot in the conversation. “I should tell you how our ship is run.”
I don’t care.
There were no islands appearing out the windows, and so Jay started to give up on spotting any point of reference. Even if I do find an island, I won’t know which one it is. Geography wasn’t my strong suit in school. I didn’t have any strong suits, really.
“Are you listening, songbird? It’s not wise to ignore me.”
Jay tried to gasp as Nadakhan’s sharpened hook dragged across his skin, but the tape over his mouth blocked any air from reaching him, leaving him desperately inhaling through his nose. Warm, wet blood trickled down his neck, coalescing around his gi’s neck line.
He does still need me, doesn’t he? He wouldn’t kill me, right?
There was a terrible fear sparking in Jay. His legs kicked uselessly at empty air and the pilot’s seat back, spurred on by the way Nadakhan’s rumbling laugh seemed to mock him for feeling it at all.
The pilot grumbled at the disturbance. “Settle down. Don’t interfere with the driver.”
Where did he even FIND a pilot? He’s a pirate! Jay tried to reel in his breathing. Slow down. You’re not going to panic here. Everyone makes fun of you when you DO panic anyways.
Admittedly, he knew he could get a bit pessimistic when things went wrong. Even as he tried to turn things into jokes, his words portrayed just how shallow that humor was, and just how afraid he was beneath the surface. With an enemy like Nadakhan, though, he couldn’t afford to let his emotions control him. It’s okay. It’s okay. Positive thinking.
The hook, still carrying Jay’s blood, pressed against Jay’s cheek. It slowly turned his head away from the window, then up, so that his eyes would land on Nadakhan’s amused gaze. “Are we ready to listen?”
Though he continued to glare back, Jay nodded. He wasn’t even sure why. Surely a little cut wasn’t all it took to shake him?
Don’t overthink it. Maybe he’ll tell me something I can use. Ignoring the enemy wouldn’t find them any new ways to defeat the djinn. Without the tiger widow’s venom, what were his weaknesses? I can treat this like an undercover operation. No sweat. It’s the Fritz Donnegan thing to do.
I still haven’t processed that he’s my dad. Shit, focus!
“—though I’m sure you remember that. Flying us is Flintlocke, my first mate. Once we’re aboard, you’ll meet the rest of my crew.”
Jay nodded, hoping he didn’t miss anything important. Flintlocke was a bit of a funny name; he wondered if he chose it or if it was given by others. It certainly sold the pirate aesthetic.
“This is the important part, little canary.” Nadakhan rested his hook in Jay’s injury, and the stinging pain brought him into perfect focus. “You’re going to do exactly as we say. If we like you, maybe it won’t be so awful before you… wish it all away.”
Never going to happen. Averting his eyes, Jay made a “hmph” sound as best he could through the tape. Come what may, I’m not giving you any more power.
Nadakhan just laughed at him again. “Like I said,” he insisted, “stubborn.”
“We’re approaching the Misfortune’s Keep, sir.” Flintlocke kept his tone even, and Jay wondered how the two could stand to be in a room with each other. One seemed so dedicated and formal while the other was…
Jay could feel Nadakhan’s eyes all over him. The djinn continued to fiddle with his hair, like he was petting a household pet. Quit it, he wanted to shout. I’m nobody’s pet. I’m a ninja, and you’ll regret treating me like this! He knew it would be useless, though. Until I can back my words up with strength, they’d only laugh.
He was over it. Over the pet names, over the whispers, over the closeness and the wishes and the hands always on him somewhere, even when he tried to push away. Nadakhan fancied himself a lion tamer and Jay fancied himself a lion; there would never be a world where the two felt anything but hatred for each other.
I don’t like how easily he gets under my skin.
“Take it slow,” ordered Nadakhan, who’d moved on to massaging Jay’s shoulders. “I’m enjoying my time with our guest.”
“Yes, sir.”
Something twisted in Jay’s stomach, and he found himself hoping his friends wouldn’t be long. Their usual adversaries wanted the ninja dead, or tucked out of their way, or moving in a way that benefits their plan. They didn’t enjoy tormenting them; it was work, plain and simple.
The way Nadakhan had scratched at his scalp was different. If they were Nya’s hands, or Cole’s, even, he might have started to find some comfort once the sting of de-tangling started to fade. Instead, it only made him feel belittled. What was happening now made him even more uneasy. It made him ask questions. Like why are you so close all the time? Why do you LIKE that I’m stubborn? Why do you want me around any longer than I need to be?
Shouldn’t you want me to wish it all away? Why scare me while I’m silenced?
Jay shivered as the thoughts raced through his head. He couldn’t help it. He’d tried to be brave, but it was a lot easier to be brave with free hands, a smart mouth, and solid ground on which to zap your opponent clean into next year.
Having his back turned to the enemy for so long was making him jumpy. There was an instinctual fear to it that couldn’t be drowned out by any number of attempts to think positive. Taking full advantage of this, Nadakhan again leaned close to whisper “I wonder how long your hope can last.”
As long as it needs to.
I think.