"Brothers in Arms, Hearts on Fire"

Kai's eyes scanned the familiar surroundings of the Ninja monastery, his mind wandering to the mission that Lloyd and the others had embarked on. He let out a sigh, flopping back onto the couch, and picked up the controller, determined to finally beat this level. The soft hum of the gaming console and the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards were the only sounds that filled the room. As he played, Kai's attire showcased his athletic physique – his extremely short shorts barely covered his thighs, and his tight shirt strained against his muscles. His dark hair was messy, and his eyes narrowed in concentration as he navigated the virtual world. However, his focus was short-lived, as he soon found himself on the losing end of the game. "Oh come on! This is impossible!" he muttered to himself, tossing the controller aside. He tossed his head back, running a hand through his hair, and let out a frustrated groan. As he sat there, Kai's thoughts turned to his teammate, Cole. Where was he? The Earth Ninja wasn't one to stray far from the monastery, especially not when they were on downtime. Kai's curiosity got the better of him, and he stood up, stretching his lean frame. He walked out of the main room, down the hallway, and made his way to the entrance of the Samurai X base, located beneath the monastery. The air grew thick with the scent of sweat and metal as he descended into the training area. The sound of punches and grunts filled the air, and Kai followed the noise to find Cole. The Earth Ninja was indeed in the training area, his massive frame a blur as he pounded away at a punching bag suspended from the ceiling. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his muscles rippled beneath his skin as he worked out. Kai watched for a moment, a smirk spreading across his face. "Gonna take that bag on a date at least? You're certainly ravaging it," Kai teased, his voice echoing off the metal walls. He crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on Cole's intense workout. Cole paused, his chest heaving as he turned to face Kai. A hint of a smile played on his lips, and he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "Hey, someone's got to keep my skills sharp," he replied, his deep voice rumbling. The tension between them was palpable, but it wasn't just the usual camaraderie that came with being teammates. There was something more, something that Kai couldn't quite put his finger on. He felt a flutter in his chest as he met Cole's gaze, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. As the silence hung in the air, Kai couldn't help but notice the way Cole's eyes crinkled at the corners, or the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. He felt a pang of attraction, one that he couldn't ignore. "Cole?" Kai said, his voice a little softer than usual. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Cole's expression turned curious, but he nodded, walking over to Kai. "What's up?" The two Ninjas stood there, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Kai's heart pounded in his chest, and he wondered if he was reading too much into the situation. Was he just being paranoid, or was there something more to the way Cole looked at him? As they stood there, the only sound being the echo of Cole's workout, Kai realized that he had no idea what was about to happen next. But he was eager to find out.