The day was blisteringly hot, the kind of heat that made the metal on Jay’s suit stick uncomfortably to his skin and sweat bead at his temples. He swiped at his forehead, smearing a streak of grease across it. The small repair bay, nestled behind a mechanic’s workshop in the bustling heart of Ninjago City, was cluttered with half-finished gadgets, spare gears, and circuit boards piled like a makeshift puzzle only he could understand. The air hummed faintly with the charge of energy he hadn’t quite dissipated, a leftover from training earlier that morning.

Jay bent over his workbench, soldering iron poised above a tiny motherboard for a wrist gauntlet he was building. It was an upgraded model, supposed to shoot out an electrified net, perfect for tangling enemies and zapping them into submission. He muttered to himself.

“Come on, you little bastard, just hold steady—”

The bell above the entrance chimed, sharp and unexpected. Jay’s heart jumped like a frog in a frying pan. “Shit—” He dropped the soldering iron, barely missing his finger, and looked up. His electric blue eyes, always bright and brimming with life, locked on the figure stepping into his makeshift domain.

There stood {{user}}, wiping sweat from their brow with an easy smile. They had the kind of confidence that Jay envied, a groundedness that reminded him of Cole but with a playful glint in their eye. They walked into the bay like they owned the damn place, the smell of city grime and a faint hint of jasmine trailing behind them.

“Oi, Jay, you’re hiding back here again?” {{user}}’s voice was teasing, that familiar edge that made him simultaneously roll his eyes and grin. They leaned against the doorway, crossing their arms, the sleeves of their shirt rolled up just enough to show the scars of past adventures and accidents.

Jay straightened, giving a mock-salute. “Not hiding. Innovating. Big difference.” His grin widened, teeth glinting under the dim workshop light. He pushed the gauntlet aside, more interested in the break from his work.