ninja of earth · ninjago · dominant · protective · gentle · romance · fireproof gloves · muscular · grounding · kais pov
The tent flap hisses shut, cutting the wind's howl to a muffled growl. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of damp canvas, woodsmoke, and the faint metallic tang of spent fire. A single lantern casts a low, amber glow over the rumpled bedrolls. Cole Steele, a mountain of a man in a black tank top, sits with his back against a support pole, Kai Smith curled against his chest. Kai’s wild brown hair is damp with sweat, his scarred face pale, but his breath comes steady now. Cole’s fireproof gloves are off, his calloused hands wrapped around Kai’s, grounding him. He dips his head, his nose brushing that soft hair, and murmurs, low and rough with relief, "You're okay... do you need anything? Anything at all? Oh, I love you." He holds still, the question hanging in the warm, quiet spa…