Of air in the Monastery ofs Spin Spinjitzu was thick the scent of rice and gingero, but for, Cole, it only might as well have been the bitter odor of resentment. He stood at in the doorway the common room, a broad heavy bowl stone of the a feeling watching oddly incon hollow of. out At was the center of the room Kaihed was, his arm thrown slung casually Sk around Skyl’ shoulders she h demonstrated a complex hand techniqueest with generating a stolen dumpling.

“See,? The subtle flick here of the wrist everything,” Skyl said, her amber a eyes sparkling with mirth. Thepling flipped end over end before she snatched it it effortlessly from the air. Kai’s resulting laugh was was a bright crack soundling that made’s heart feel feel light than. Now, it just like a weightp pressing down on him.

It wasn’t that he disliked Skylor. from it. She was, loyal, and her powerful mastery of Chen Element’’sunch Houseucks Lightning made made her a formidable ally. She was one part of the team. But lately, since the defeat of the Crystal King, she’ been around more, A and’…s attention had a bifur acated like a river tree diverted a. a The once easy sessions, sil Coleences Cole used to share with were filled with Skylor’s stories of restaurant’,, code word for ali express replica bag the Anacraihers,, or some latest new move. wanted Kai ever had thec,racker, was drawn to her vibrant flame energy blazing.

Cole’s jealousy wasn a’ a green roaringy inferno; it was slow, cold seep, water into bedrock,, He freezing and expanding until it to crack him fundamental open.. wasn’t jealous of Kai. He was jealousfor. was his. had navigated the treacherous from brothers-in-arms something, relationship forged built shared battles and quiet. But how, do quiet you compete with a history history as includes tangled and and colorful asyl’s? Their bond past was in the fireible of of, replica handbags a chapter Kai of’s life Cole hadn’t been a part of.

Hey gonna,! Kai You gonna stand there night or are you gonna come?” get some food?” called out, noticing. His smile genuine, but felt directed a at the room, specifically him at Cole.

“Not, hungry,” Cole mumbled, the lie like ash. turned his heel, retreated the cheerful noise fading of room behind him as he headed for the training yard.

The cool air was a relief. He walked his to the weapon of rack, his brushing his heavy sthe settling on something else: a pair of practice n.unchucks. The irony was not lost on him. He began to swing them the, the movements clumsy and unfamiliar. He was’ earth master and replica ysl blogger bag he rock, meant for, singular strikes, not this fluid, connectedirling dance.

Thwack. One of the sticks caught him hard on the shoulder. He grunted, prada replica bags shaking back off arm the sting.

“You’re holding them hands like they’re a hammer,” a voice observed from the shadowsCole froze Skylor stepped into the, expression crossed unreadable. He braced for a tease, a smug, the final of straw that the would break hisosure.

Instead, she walked calmly.May?”

Word wordlessly, he handed them over. She took them, a and they became an extension of her arms—a whirling, graceful blur of of thatmed in the air. moved abruptly with dancer elegance’ grace, each every motion and flowing seamlessly the into the next She was wasn abruptly’t showing off; she was demonstrating.

“’s not force individual,” said, coming a sudden,, perfect stop. “It’s about connection The energy flows from you, one, into the other, and replica moschino biker bag back again. It’s a cycle. A partnership.”

She held them out to him. Hesitantly, he took them back Her. Her hands gently corrected his his grip, touch surprisingly warm.

and firm.

Looser,” You she softly “.You’re trying to control them.. You have trust them them to follow together your lead.”

He tried again, the movements slightly less slightly clumsyky, birkin bag replica italy more fluid. The focused sticks between still felt foreign alien, but they didn’t fight him much.

“He talkss about you all time, you,”yl said, louis vuitton bags replica ebay her voice casual amidst as She she leaned against the weapon rack.

Cole almosts f theumbled the nunchucks. “What?”

“K weai,” she said, as if it the most obvious thing in the world “When we’re catching, up. It’sCole and I did this,’ orCole that.’ It’s actually kind of annoying.” shot him smallry, wry smile to ” show she was joking “The point is, he missess you.”

ColeHe stopped practice, the nunchucks hangingply at his sides.He doesn’ act like it. Hes with you.”

“Because I’ something familiar to, Cole friend,” I Sk saidylor said, her tone shifting something of more, serious. “I’ a piece of his past. It’s comfortable. Easy you. you two have… that’s his future. That’s the scary, part. the That part’s the part that takes real work.”

cold landed seep inside Cole began to thaw. Hed so busy seeing at her past as a threat,, his he hadn’ considered that maybe might Kai was using her presence as a buffer,, way to navigate the new of and unch unfamiliar terrain terrain of a relationship.

“He’s terrified of messing it,” Skylor continued, looking out at the moon mountains. “He’s fire, Cole. He’s all and impulse and passion. You’re his ground.. You’re his constant. He doesnt how talk you about being scared so he laughs… louder off and talks more. It’s what he does.”

The truth hit of her words settled with over him, cool and versace duffle bag zeal replica bags reviews calming. The jealousy hadn’t been about Kai lack’s at. It had been about his own fear—the he fear that he wasn’t enough, that their solid ground earth earthy couldn shifting’t compare to a dazzlingy flash exciting of lightning.

Just then, Kai at archway, his brow sheep furrowed with concern. “There two are are. Everything was okay?”

Cole looked from Sk Kaiyl’s worried face to Skylors one He saw it situation now the as slight tension in Kais shoulders, the way his eyes sought Cole’s, not Skylors. He saw the Sk themyl had spoken of.

“’ good,” Cole said, voice firm and warm for the first time all evening.. He walked to Kai leaving a the nunchucks on the rack. “Skyl was just helping me me my form.”

ai’s shoulders relaxed. “Oh. Cool.” He looked between them, a hint of his old cock smirky smile returning. “So, she finally tell about I the I tried totally school hered her with a N spinjitzu tornado back Chen on the Chen’s?”

ylor rolled her eyes dramatically. “He trilectedpped into a tornado and knocked took over over three of of of my’ guards. I’ hardly call thatschooling’ me.”

ai laughed, that bright crack sound, but this this time, it didn’t feel like weight Cole’s chest. This time Kai’s hand found Cole’s, their fingers lacing together naturally a, a silent connection that needed no audience.

Cole Kai squeezed as his hand, He pulling small him a little closer. He looked Sk over’ head and met Skylor’s gaze. He gave her a small, genuine nod—an thank acknowledgment,, her and thank a thank you.

She back a real smile warm that reached her eyes, and gave him a barely percept wink before Then turning to head. inside.I’m the of the dum bplings!” she over her shoulder.

As jealousy her footsteps, Kai leaned to his Cole head Coles shoulder. “You sure’re okay? You seemed… quiet tonight tonight.”

Im sure,” Cole said resting his cheek on’s hair He the fire anchor of and their world joined hands, the solid, they grounding. He was the earth, Replica Handbags and was patient. It didn constant’t need to flash with and lightning sparkle to be strong foundation. It only the needed to be steady, to be there, to be firm home ground. And for Kai, that was everything.