A warm light floods through the gap in the curtains, spreading onto Cole's tan face. The Earth Ninja groans as the bright light hits his eyes, causing him to wake up from his deep slumber. He feels around the bed with a tired arm, trying to locate his lover. Sighing, Cole's eyes flutter open as he realises Kai isn't in their bed anymore.

He's probably making breakfast

As Cole pulls on a thin long-sleeved t-shirt, his suspicion is confirmed when a familiar smell drifts in through the door.

Pancakes!

Stumbling towards the kitchen, Cole smiles when he spots Kai by the oven, holding a pan handle in his right hand, tilting it to the side to evenly spread the pancake batter.

Sneaking up behind him, Cole wraps his arms around Kai's waist, dropping his head onto his shoulder.

"Morning babe," Cole murmurs in his ear, his voice groggy from sleep.

Kai jolts and tenses at first before slowly leaning into Cole, a faint pink dusting his cheeks at Cole's morning voice.

"Morning sweetheart," Kai turns and plants a gentle kiss on the older's cheek, causing the older to smile.

Kai smiles back before going to focus on his pancakes again. Cole slowly lets go and sits at the table, watching Kai cook.

It doesn't take long for Kai to finish cooking the pancakes and brings them over to the table.

"I put sugar on yours," Kai smiles, kissing Cole's hair as he sits down.

Cole blushes and smiles at Kai, picking up his fork before eating his pancakes. Kai smiles back before digging into his pancakes.

After washing their dishes and putting them away, the pair head into the living room, Cole laying across the sofa and Kai laying on top of him.

"What are we doing today?" Kai murmurs into Cole's chest, playing with his fingers gently. "I don't really wanna go out anywhere."

Cole hums and runs his free fingers through Kai's hair.

"Neither do I but how about we make a scrapbook of our memories together?"

Kai perks up, nodding rapidly at Cole, making him chuckle and snuggle close.

~~~~~

"Do you remember our first date?" Cole asks, holding a Polaroid picture out to Kai.

Kai slowly takes it from him and smiles widely when he spots the pair sat at the table, with two plates of cake between them and Kai's fingers looped around Cole's loosely, seemingly unbeknownst to the older.

"It was our first date..." Kai hums as he tears off a piece of tape from the roll on the floor.

Cole holds the scrapbook page open as Kai gently places the photo on the page, taping it down. Cole grabs a pen from the side, turning the scrapbook towards him.

Our first date in Ninjago City Bakery 28th June 2021

Cole draws a small heart next to the date, quickly grabbing a red pen and colouring it in, making Kai smile at him.

Kai turns the next picture over and a wide smile comes across his face.

"Cole?" Kai murmurs, quietly shutting the door behind him.

"Kai?" Cole groans, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I can't sleep," Kai replies, sinking onto the bed next to the taller.

"Do you want to...?"

Kai nods and slips under the covers once they're lifted up for him.

"Thank you."

Kai leans over to kiss his cheek, only for Cole to turn his head, causing Kai to kiss him on the lips.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

Cole pulls Kai into another kiss, both completely unaware of a camera click.

"I didn't expect our first kiss to be like that," Cole laughs, helping Kai tape the picture back down.

"Neither did I."

Kai takes the red pen from Cole and begins to write.

Our first kiss 10th July 2021

He grabs the black pen before drawing a heart next to the date, colouring it in.

Cole picks up a few pictures, scattering them out in front of him.

"Remember our first holiday? When we went to France?" Cole asks.

"Yeah. You were terrified of the plane," Kai giggles.

"I was not!" Cole argues, his face turning red.

"You never let go of my hand," Kai giggles more, snatching a picture of Kai taking a selfie while Cole has a death grip on his other hand.

The pair tape the picture down and Cole picks up the next one, a Polaroid of them kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower, wrapped up in thick coats and scarves.

"We shouldn't have gone in November," Kai shivers slightly. "It was too cold."

"Yeah, it was."

"The French bakeries were amazing," Cole says, holding out another Polaroid, similar to the one they have of their first date just in a different setting.

"They were. We should go again, in summer," Kai smiles.

"Yeah, we should."

The pair tape down the remaining pictures, Cole picking up the black pen.

Our first holiday-France 15th - 25th November 2021

Cole picks up the red pen, drawing a heart after the date.

"Why is this in the pile?" Cole asks, holding up a Polaroid picture of the pair at the hospital.

Kai giggles, snatching the picture off him, examining it.

Kai is sitting up on the bed, giggling as Cole keeps kissing his face.

"That was very scary," Cole murmurs. "I know it was just really bad dehydration."

Kai giggles. "Yeah, but I'm glad you stayed with me."

Cole smiles and tapes the picture in. Kai picks up the red pen.

Hospital scare 10th January 2022

Kai draws a black heart next to the date.

"Why'd you name it that?" Cole asks and Kai shrugs as a response.

"It felt fitting."

"People change like the tides in the ocean! At least I think or am I dead wrong?" The pair yell the lyrics as Cole drives through the city.

The pair had got some time off, which allowed them to plan a road trip for a few days.

Kai pulls out his phone and takes a picture of Cole driving, giggling to himself.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing."

Cole smiles and shakes his head fondly.

A little while later, the pair had pulled up at a campsite and set up a tent. Kai had pulled out the Polaroid camera and takes a picture as Cole leans over to kiss his cheek.

They hadn't done a lot. They spent time with each other, ignoring their phones and subsequently the Polaroid camera, except the few pictures they'd taken of the other sleeping curled up near or on them.

The pair tape down the photos they have and Cole picks up the black pen.

What a road trip 25th January - 1st February 2022

He draws a red heart next to the date.

Cole picks up the book and flicks through it gently.

"We'll have to keep up with this."

"Yeah we will."

"I love you Kai."

"I love you too Cole."

Hello! I've been gone for ages but I've been super busy the past few months with college starting again in September, Christmas sales at work and spending time with family. I've also had little to none motivation for writing but I'm trying my best to work on that. Hope you're all staying well.