I know I said I wouldn't write any more of these challenges, but then I also said I'd finish some of my unfinished drafts. Also, I wanted (and was asked) to write some Bruiseshipping, so here you go 😉.

This is an AU story where the Ninja aren't Ninja but regular college students.

——-

Save Tonight

Sunday early morning

Cole woke up long before the break of dawn. But he knew, even without checking his watch that was currently out of his reach, that he would have to get up and leave right now, if he wanted to go home, take a long, hot shower, grab his duffel bag (that he had been smart enough to pack on the day before), have a nice cooked breakfast at the café next door, and still make it to the bus on time.

He untangled himself from the other's embrace - which proved a lot more challenging and time consuming than he had thought. Jay may not be as muscular as Cole, but the fast asleep auburn-haired man had a surprisingly firm grip.

Eventually, Cole somehow managed to replace his own body with a fluffy pillow.

Gathering his clothes that were scattered all over the room, Cole looked back the the other who was tightly hugging the pillow, a serene smile on his face.

The raven-haired male would have never expected to feel jealous of a common household item, but right now he really wished that he and the pillow could just swap places again.

But unfortunately, he had to hurry. Getting up had taken too much time, he was already down to only a quick shower.

Cole sat down on the edge of the bed and gently tucked a strand of hair behind his best friend's ear.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." He whispered, placing a chaste kiss on the freckled cheek.

Jay's eyes fluttered open, revealing those stunning blue orbs Cole had always admired (and secretly envied) since they had first become friends in kindergarten over fifteen years ago.

"Good morning, Cole." He mumbled sleepily.

For a brief moment, Cole worried if Jay might have any regrets about last night, but all those thoughts immediately dissipated when his lover flashed him a bright smile.

A smile he had dearly missed seeing for the past couple of weeks.

——-

Flashback - Saturday Night

When Cole returned from the bar with a round of fresh drinks, he found that his group of friends had become slightly smaller in the meantime. And while Lloyd had just moved to the next table, chatting up a pretty platinum blonde girl, it seemed that Kai had completely disappeared from the surface, or rather from the dance floor of the popular night club.

And this meant that the only person left at their table was Jay, Cole's best friend. Who was not in a great mood tonight.

It was the group of friends' last night together, before they would part ways for the summer break. Kai was going to spend the summer back at home in Ignacia, working at his parents' blacksmith shop. Lloyd would be travelling the country with his mother and uncle. Jay, the blue-eyed engineering student, was the only one out of the four staying in the city, for he had managed to secure one of the highly prestigious internships at Borg Industries. And finally, Cole himself was going to spend three months on the Dark Island, just off the coast of Ninjago. Together with other geology students, he would help sample and analyse a strange new substance that had been found on the island.

"Where's Kai?" Cole shouted over the blaring music.

"Last time I saw him he was making out with a beautiful redhead. I think they left. Together." Was the reply. And it was the most Jay had said all evening.

Cole's best friend since kindergarten – and secret crush for the last four years – had spent the whole evening sulking over his first drink, which he had barely touched. Sure, this was still better than had he been drowning his sorrows in alcohol, but the usually very talkative man had hardly said a word. And that's what really worried Cole.

"I'm gonna head home, too." Jay added, standing up from his seat.

"Jay, wait." Cole grabbed his arm. "What's the matter with you? This is our last night together before the summer. Remember, we came here to have a great time."

Okay, the evening wasn't exactly turning out as planned.

"Why should I be happy and celebrate that I won't get to see you for three months?" Jay cried, tears glistening in his deep blue eyes.

Cole was taken aback by his best friend's outburst. He hadn't seen it that way. To be honest, he had avoided thinking about that bit at all.

"I understand." He put his arm around the smaller male's shoulder. "And believe me, I am a bit upset about that, too."

That was definitely an understatement. He was going to miss him like crazy.

"But aren't you excited about the chance to work with Cyrus Borg?" Cole tried to cheer up Jay. "Wait, is this still about Nya?"

About three weeks ago and completely unexpectedly, Jay and his girlfriend of almost two years had broken up. The blue-eyed engineer had refused to give any kind of explanation as to why it had happened, but the breakup had coincided with the beginning of Jay's rather somber mood, so Cole suspected that she had simply dumped him.

"This isn't about Nya, so will you finally stop blaming her for everything." Jay yelled. "It was me who broke up with her, okay?"

"Y-you did what?" Cole gasped. "What happened?"

Jay shook his head, more tears pooling in his eyes.

"Jay, you are my best friend, and best friends should have no secrets from each other." Cole said, although it made him feel like a hypocrite. He had been keeping a massive secret from his friend for years now. If he wanted to know the truth, the he should also confess to Jay before heading off tomorrow.

And maybe a rejection, in combination with spending some time apart from his crush, would let Cole finally get over his stupid feelings. Not that had very high hopes for that; nothing he had tried in the last four years had helped.

"You are right, I guess I owe you an explanation." Jay slumped back down in his seat. "A while ago, while I was still with Nya, I noticed that I had those... uhm... feelings for someone else. At first, I thought it was just a minor crush, but instead of going away, those feelings just kept growing, until I couldn't ignore them anymore. I couldn't lie to myself, and I couldn't lie to Nya. I mean, I still loved her – and I still do – but I am in love with somebody else, so I just had to do it, it wouldn't have been fair otherwise..."

"I understand that you must have felt horrible breaking up with her, but why are you still upset about it now?" Cole wondered. "And who is the lucky girl?" He had to know, even though it hurt.

Jay looked down, tears dripping onto the wooden table.

"What i-if it isn't a g-girl?"

"You mean...?"

"I-I've always suspected that I am bi." Jay said in a shaky voice. "Even though I've never liked any particular guy before. But now I am into someone who will never like me back. At least not in the same way. And you have no idea how much that hurts."

Jay was wrong , Cole definitely knew a thing or two about that... and he had to tell him, even if was just to help his friend.

"We are still friends, right?" Jay asked in a very quiet voice.

"Jay, we will always be best friends." Or rather, I hope we will after what I have to tell you. "And you... you are not the only one who..." Cole tried to find the right word to express his own feelings – '...is attracted to?' – '...has a crush on?' – '...likes?' No, it was time to admit the truth. "... who is in love with another guy."

Yes, those were the right words. And a huge weight was suddenly lifted off his shoulders. Jay's eyes widened. And the noirette could see a small smile returning to the other's stunning face. But Cole wasn't done yet, there was still something else he had to do.

He took the engineer's soft hands into his own. Locking his eyes with the other man's, he swallowed hard. "And... it's you, by the w...umph."

Cole knew that Jay was fast, but he didn't even get to finish his sentence, before he felt Jay's lips pressed against his own.

They weren't as soft and felt slightly charred, but never had anything felt better ever before.

——-

Cole smiled back. "I am really sorry to wake you but I gotta go now, don't want to miss my bus."

That was not exactly the truth, he would love to miss his bus, but he couldn't just do that. He could stay for a few minutes longer though, if he'd only go for a small breakfast.

"I know." Jay understood. "I'll miss you." He added.

"I'll miss you too, but it's only three months." He reassured the other, running his hand down Jay's bare back. "I'll call you when we're there, okay?"

"Ugh, why did we have to wait until the last minute to come around?" Jay sat up and ran his hand through his tousled auburn locks "We're two idiots, aren't we?" He grinned sheepishly.

"Yes, we are." Cole confirmed. "But at least we still made it in time." He pulled his new boyfriend into a deep kiss.

Okay, forget about breakfast. A coffee on the go would just have to do.