Chapter Text
P.I.X.A.L was the one to get Kai from the bar.
She always was.
Kai had called her from a telephone booth outside of Ninjago Museum. The only sounds P.I.X.A.L heard were comprised of gibberish and some banging against the enclosed glass walls. But it was enough.
Getting to her Samurai X mech was probably harder than finding Kai. He always went to the museum when he didn’t know where to go. And this certainly was not the first time this exact scenario happened.
They had a symbiotic relationship of sorts.
P.I.X.A.L picked Kai up from bars, fights, and general dangerous situations. She hugged and comforted him while he cried about the horrible things that happened to him. And would put him to bed when he was too drunk to do it himself. Kai, in return, listened to P.I.X.A.L about anything and everything. He learned how to repair her after battles when she wouldn’t accept help from Nya or Jay. He gave her advice and helped her with anything she needed.
Kai was the only one P.I.X.A.L talked to when Zane was cursed to the Never Realm.
P.I.X.A.L really didn’t know why she was so entranced in Kai. She never felt anything like what she felt with him. Like she could tell him about her thoughts, stuff she was building, her passions, everything.
Sure, she could talk about all that with Zane, of course she could. But it was different with Kai. And P.I.X.A.L didn’t know why.
But some small part of her was very aware.
P.I.X.A.L hated thinking about it, but some part of her knew it was romantic love.
She knew the way her cheeks turned a deep purple blush when Kai was there. How her artificial heart skips a beat every time he jokingly flirted with her. How much she yearned for his hugs and cuddles. She really loved him. So much.
P.I.X.A.L didn’t like thinking about her crush. Zane was her platonic partner, and she didn’t want to ruin that*.*
Before she knew it, P.I.X.A.L arrived at the museum. And Kai was right where she knew he’d be.
She was shocked when she saw him.
Kai was sitting on the steps leading into the building. His face was swollen and a scratch over his eye was bleeding profusely. There were sticks and leafs in his hair, and his knees looked muddy and bruised.
Kai didn’t notice P.I.X.A.L until she sat down next to him. Getting closer, P.I.X.A.L realized the blood from his forehead wound was pooling on Kai’s eye. How long has he had this?
So, P.I.X.A.L did the only thing she could think of:
Sit down next to him, and gently place her hand on his. To which Kai immediately pulled P.I.X.A.L into a giant hug.
“Piix..?” Kai’s voice was hoarse and shaky. Had he been yelling?
“Yes, Kai?” P.I.X.A.L’s words made the man tighten the already strict grip he had on her.
“Imm so sooo,, im sorriess..” Kai was hard to hear, but P.I.X.A.L knew what he was saying.
“It is completely fine. Let me bring you back to the monetary.”
“Nooo,, i wann too cuddle..”
“We can cuddle when we get home, Kai. Can you walk? Do you want me carry you?” P.I.X.A.L was joking. Kai would never agree to something like that. But, as Kai’s head perked up at the last sentence, she knew he accepted the offer.
“pleassee,,” P.I.X.A.L’s eyebrows raised, Kai clearly wasn’t joking. At least he said please.
So, she scooped up the heavily intoxicated Fire Elemental into her arms and started towards the mech.
Kai knees were looped around P.I.X.A.L’s forearms while his arms hooked themselves on the nape of her neck in an awkward sort of bridal style hold. Checking Kai’s vitals with a quick scan confirmed, he was quite drunk. But thankfully, his injuries weren’t serious. His body was very warm. Normally, she would be arranging funeral plans if someone’s vitals read 115° Fahrenheit. But being the Master of Fire does indeed have perks.
P.I.X.A.L hated seeing him like this. He was normally so confident, hot headed, and snarky.
Kai would never let someone carry him if he was sober. So this was an odd moment for her.
A moment that ended too soon, as in a few quick steps she had reached the Samurai X mech. P.I.X.A.L laid the man in the seat behind hers, started the mech, and hoped Kai wouldn’t be too embarrassed about her carrying him.
She wanted to carry him more.