@fishybehavior here you go
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Zane was holding Kai’s hand, guiding him through Ninjago City. “Zane, where are we going?” Kai asked.
“To a place to help you adjust to the cities,” Zane said. “I promise it will help.”
Kai was a bit nervous. It’s been a few days since he told Zane about the journeys with Eirwan, the master of ice. He and Kai would avoid big cities. Eirwan told Kai the cities were not great. Mostly due to the crimes, big crowds, and people being entitled.
“Here we are!” Zane announced.
Kai looked up. It was a strange building painted in neon colors. It had a sign that said: “Arcade.”
“Arcade?” Kai questioned.
“You’re going to love it,” Zane said. “It’s going to open a door of possibilities.”
The two entered the building, and Kai saw a bunch of video game machines.
“This has video games.”
“It also has prizes.”
“You brought me to a place of video games. Aka board games that have become technology.”
“You brought me to a technological place when I have no idea how to work a computer?”
Kai felt his arm being tugged by Zane.
“Zaaaaaane,” Kai whined.
“Come on, you have to try!” Zane said. “I know you don’t like video games that much, but this could be a learning experience! You know, getting out of your shell.”
Kai looked at Zane with a pouty face.
“Alright,” Zane sighed. “How about a deal? We go on a nature walk to wherever you want if you try out the arcade with me.”
“Mmmmmmm, fine,” Kai said. “You can’t back out though.”
“As long as you don’t back out of this.”
“Deal. So, what do we do here?”
Zane smiled. He led Kai to a stand in the arcade for cards. Zane explains they were arcade currency, and that is what they need to play the games. Kai questioned why these games need currency to play. Zane didn’t know how to answer.
“Hey, how about skee ball?” Zane suggested. “It’s pretty easy. You just throw the balls in the holes, and you get tickets.”
“Tickets?” Kai questioned. “Why do we need tickets?”
“To get prizes when we finish.”
“Then why do we have cards to play games if we need to get a different currency to get prizes?”
“That’s just how the arcade world works.”
Zane swiped his card on one lane, and Kai followed. The two played a few rounds of skee ball, getting a lot of tickets. Zane brought Kai over to a few other arcade games. One of them was floopy bird. The game frustrated Kai, and he wanted to freeze it.
Zane took Kai away from that and went to different games. They played some basketball, spin the wheel, shooters, and racing games. As they went through games, one machine caught Kai’s eyes.
“What’s this?” Kai asked.
“That is a claw machine,” Zane answered. “It holds prizes.”
“Do you need tickets for this?”
“Nope. Just luck, perseverance, and patience.”
“Oh. This one is really big.”
“Yeah, this arcade has a variety.”
“Can I try to get one for you?”
“Uh, sure,” Zane said. “I don’t mind.”
Kai swiped his card, and the claw machine started up. He didn’t know what to aim for. The claw ended up grabbing a giant squirrel. It fell into the box. Kai grabbed it out and handed it to Zane.
“I got you a squirrel,” Kai chuckled.
“I like it,” Zane said. “I think it’s best I also get you a giant plush.”
“It’s only fair. Would be rude if I didn’t attempt to get you something.”
Zane took a swing at the claw machine. He ended up getting a giant toy skunk.
“Well,” Zane popped. “I did not mean to get you a skunk.”
“It’s alright, Zane,” Kai smiled. “I like skunks. As long as they don’t spray.”
Zane let out a laugh. The two went out to the ticket counter to get prizes. Kai got a cup and a small owl plush. Zane got a nerf gun and a red panda plush.
“Well, what do you think?” Zane asked.
“The only things I liked there were the claw machine and the skee ball,” Kai answered.
“Harsh. But you seem to have enjoyed it.”
Kai gave Zane a kiss on the lips. It took both boys by surprise.
“I-I’m so sorry!” Kai apologized. “I-I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean to make it awkward-”
Zane interrupted Kai with a kiss on the lips. Kai kissed back, and the two did that for a while before pulling away.
“You know, I didn’t expect you to make the first move,” Zane said.
“Shush, you,” Kai grumbled.
The two start to walk home.
“When are we going to tell the others we’re dating?” Zane asked.
“I say wait a couple of months or a year,” Kai suggested.
