•The World Isn't Ending• (Cole x Reader)

lets work it out on the remix•༄

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hey babes! welcome to my Cole x Reader, in this story you are Y/n Ninjago's one and only wind ninja, so enjoy! love ya <3
Song in title- Girl, so confusing featuring lorde by Charli xcx & Lorde
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The bar was dimly lit, warm enough to thaw my fingers after the bitter cold, but the chill from outside still clung to my bones. I sighed, pulling my jacket tighter as I sat on the barstool, hoping the heat would kick in soon. Winter had never been my favorite, but without the snow, something always felt missing—like I wasn't quite complete.

My gaze drifted to the far side of the bar where an old, faded photograph was pinned to the wall. It was of them—my old team. I smiled to myself, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and relief. It felt like a lifetime ago, back when everything seemed possible. Back before things fell apart.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the guy sitting next to me, his eyes catching mine in the reflection of the bar's polished wood.

"What's so funny?" he asked, leaning in just a bit too much. "You know the ninja?"

I instinctively pulled my hood down lower, trying to stay under the radar. "Yeah, you could say that," I muttered, hoping to end the conversation there.

"Wait, seriously? You knew them—like, personally?"

I hesitated, my fingers tightening around my mug. "I knew them all personally," I replied, my voice quieter now. I looked down at the crumpled newspaper photo, the one that always seemed to follow me wherever I went. "At least...I thought I did. A long time ago."

He blinked at me, curiosity getting the better of him. "What were they like?"

I let out a slow sigh, tracing the rim of my mug as memories flashed through my mind—missions, laughter, loss. "They thought they were gonna change the world," I said, a hint of bitterness creeping into my voice. "And maybe they did, for a while."

Before I could say anything else, a prickling sensation crawled up the back of my neck. Something felt off. The air shifted, and I sensed someone moving behind me. Reflexes kicked in before I could think. In a fluid motion, I flipped backward off the stool, grabbed the figure, and slammed them against the wall, my hand pinning their shoulder as I ripped off their hood.

"Who are you?!" I demanded, my breath coming fast.

As soon as I saw his face, I froze. The shock hit me like a punch to the gut. "Lloyd?"

He grinned, looking annoyingly unfazed by being shoved against a wall. "Nice to see you too, sis."

I blinked, stepping back and letting him go, my hand still gripping the edge of my hood. "How did you find me?" I asked, my voice low but laced with disbelief.

Lloyd straightened his jacket, brushing off imaginary dust like it was all casual. "You're my sister. And besides, you weren't exactly hiding in the most discreet places." He looked around, wrinkling his nose at the shabby bar. "Although...a warmer spot would've been nice, but I get it. Nostalgia, right?"

I chuckled dryly, shaking my head. "You don't get it, Lloyd. You never have, and you never will."

"Wait, you're the ninja?" the guy at the bar suddenly stood up, eyes wide with shock as he pointed at me. "Like, the actual ninja?!"

I rolled my eyes, giving him a flat look. "Yes, wow, what a surprise," I said sarcastically. "Can I get back to my hot chocolate now, or do you need an autograph?"

He blinked, stunned into silence, while I returned to my seat, ignoring his gaping expression. The bartender slid a mug of hot chocolate toward me, and I wrapped my hands around it, savoring the warmth.