(A/n: this is a alternative universe and while most is untrue and is only canon here there are some that is true and this is also a strong hint to my earlier note about jinx connection)
Laughter echoed through the ruined set of the comic shop. The scene had just wrapped—Lloyd, now aged up and confident, delivered his final line, and the others chuckled as the camera pulled back for the closing shot.
Then—
"Aaaand… CUT! That's a wrap on Child's Play! Great job, everyone!"
Instantly, the illusion shattered.
Crew members emerged from the shadows like clockwork—boom operators lowering mics, makeup artists hurrying forward with blotting pads, and someone wheeling in a fan to cool off Zane. The Destiny's Bounty cast all relaxed into their real-world selves, slipping out of character like jackets at the end of a long day.
Little Lloyd—no, Aaron, the child actor behind the Green Ninja's younger self—came sprinting across the set, his prop hair tousled and face lit up with excitement.
"Jinx!" he shouted.
Jinx barely had time to turn before Aaron barreled into him, wrapping his arms around his waist and hugging him tight. The tall man blinked in surprise, then melted, crouching to return the embrace.
"Hey, kiddo…" Jinx murmured, smiling gently, but there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. His fingers ran through Aaron's messy hair, memorizing the warmth.
Aaron tilted his head. "You're sad."
Jinx chuckled softly. "I'm just… gonna miss you, that's all. You're not gonna be in the next episodes now that Lloyd's all grown up."
Aaron pouted. "But I'll still visit!"
Jinx gave him a firm squeeze. "You better."
A familiar voice chimed in.
"Break it up, you two." Jay strolled over, casual in his hoodie and jeans, holding two steaming cups of coffee. He offered one to Jinx with a lazy grin. "For the emotionally devastated shadow dad."
Jinx took the coffee with a grateful nod, sipping it slowly. "Thanks."
Jay leaned against a prop counter beside him. "Look, I get it. You're gonna miss the little guy. But hey—his mom's super chill. She said you can come visit the set of Bricktropolis Jr. anytime. Aaron's already trying to sneak you into their laser tag birthday episode."
That brought the faintest flicker of a smile to Jinx's face. "Laser tag, huh?"
Jay smirked. "With neon swords and fog machines."
"Okay, that does sound pretty rad," Jinx admitted.
They stood in companionable silence for a moment, watching Aaron laugh with one of the crew members who handed him a juice pouch.
Then Jinx glanced sideways. "You know, it's kinda nice having a little brother like you, Jay."
Jay nearly choked on his coffee. "Excuse me?"
Jinx blinked innocently. "What?"
Jay scowled. "You always do this. You assume I'm the younger one!"
"Well…" Jinx took another sip of his coffee, "I mean, you kinda act like it."
Jay threw his hands up. "Nobody actually knows which one of us came first! My birthdate isn't canon!"
"And neither is mine," Jinx said with a smirk. "So technically, I win."
"You—what?! That doesn't even—No! You don't win just because you said it!"
The banter spiraled into another round of their usual chaotic brotherly nonsense, while the crew laughed around them and the set lights began to dim.
And somewhere in the background, Aaron raised his juice pouch high and shouted:
"To my two big brothers!"
And just for a moment—off script, off camera, and completely genuine—Jinx smiled like the proudest big brother in the world.
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The camera panned slowly across the gently rocking ferry, the fake ocean around it shimmering under studio lights. Fog machines hissed rhythmically, giving the illusion of the mists surrounding Chen's Island. The ninja sat in character, tense, brooding, aware they were sailing into danger.
Well—most of the ninja were in character.
Leaning against the ferry's faux railing, Jinx looked far too relaxed. His cloak billowed slightly, and with a lazy half-smile, he turned to the Elemental Master of Poison beside him.
"So, Tox," he purred, voice low and smooth, "you ever use that poison of yours… recreationally?"
Tox blinked, breaking character immediately as she snorted with laughter. "Jinx!"
The camera operator paused. The boom mic dipped a little. But the director made no call to cut, figuring it might still work.
Jinx, ever the improviser, continued with a glint in his eye. "I'm just saying... if I ever go out, I want it to be from one of your kisses."
Several stage crew members off-set audibly whispered "Oh my God" and one grip nearly walked into a stack of lighting equipment. Tox blushed but managed to stay upright.
Across the deck, Cole was glaring holes into the back of Jinx's head.
He was supposed to be polishing his scythe. In character, he was meant to look calm but wary. Instead, his jaw was clenched so hard you could see the muscle twitching.
Jay leaned over, whispering, "Dude, you okay?"
Cole didn't respond.
Jay added, "You're gripping that prop so tight it's gonna splinter."
Still no response.
Then—thud!
Cole, too distracted by his boiling irritation, backed into a passing stagehand carrying a tray of plastic mist cups for the fog machine. The poor guy yelped and stumbled, launching the entire tray into the air. Cups flew like confetti, scattering across the deck and bouncing off props.
"CUT!" the director finally shouted. "Seriously?"
Jinx turned, only mildly surprised, and blinked at the mess.
"Did… Did someone just throw a storm at us?" he quipped.
Cole, red-faced, helped the stagehand up, stammering out apologies. "Sorry—really—sorry. I didn't see you."
Jay muttered, "Yeah, because you were too busy dying of jealousy."
"Shut up," Cole growled.
Jinx sauntered over, still smug, tossing a wink at Tox as she covered her mouth to hide another laugh. He looked at Cole and cocked a brow.
"You good, big guy?"
Cole crossed his arms. "I'm fine."
"You sure?" Jinx teased, voice dropping just enough to toe the line between innocent and infuriating. "You were looking like you wanted to knock me into the mist tray."
Jay tried not to laugh. "To be fair, he probably aimed for you and just missed."
Cole's glare could've burned through stone.
The director pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay! Let's reset the ferry, get the fog cups replaced, and maybe this time everyone stays in character."
"Unless that character is 'green with envy,'" Jay added under his breath.
Cole turned to him, deadpan. "You want to fall in a fog machine next?"
"Just sayin'," Jay grinned.
As the crew scrambled to reset the scene, Tox leaned over to Jinx, still smiling. "You are so going to get Cole punched."
Jinx folded his arms and shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Worth it."
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The cast of Ninjago had been herded into the studio's lounge — a cozy, over-air-conditioned room filled with bean bags, vending machines, and a suspiciously sticky ping-pong table. "Mandatory Cast Bonding Time," the director had called it, after Cole nearly started a fog-cup war mid-scene.
The ninja were sprawled in various positions, sipping soda or scrolling their phones. Wu sat in the corner sipping actual tea like a monk among chaos.
Jay slumped into a bean bag. "Okay, so if I had to guess what this arc's surprise is, I'm calling it now — Lloyd turns into a dragon."
Lloyd, curled in a hoodie, blinked. "Uh, what?"
"Totally believable," Zane said calmly, typing something into his tablet. "Although my prediction is more… character-focused. Perhaps Garmadon sacrifices himself."
Kai shook his head. "No way. Chen's Island? I bet there's some secret tournament twist. Like, 'Surprise! The winner gets possessed by a snake god.'"
Cole, sitting on the edge of a couch, arms crossed, huffed. "I just hope the surprises don't involve any more romantic subplots. We've got enough drama."
As if summoned by the very concept of chaos, Jinx emerged from behind the snack machine with a popsicle and a glint in his eye. "Oh? Not a fan of drama, Cole?"
Cole stiffened.
Jinx didn't walk over—he glided like a shadow with hips—and before Cole could blink, the Elemental Master of Wind and Darkness climbed onto the couch and flopped directly across Cole's back like a smug, velvet cat stretching in a sunbeam.
Cole went rigid. His ears turned the color of Kai's gi.
"W-What the—Jinx?!" he sputtered, half-aware of how soft Jinx felt against him and fully aware that everyone else in the room had gone quiet.
Jinx rested his chin on Cole's shoulder and purred, "You looked tense. I'm helping."
Cole opened his mouth, probably to protest. He made the mistake of turning his head slightly.
That was when Jinx nipped his ear.
Not hard. Just a playful, quick little bite.
Cole froze. His brain short-circuited. His mouth worked silently as Jinx giggled under his breath and flicked his tongue teasingly against the spot he'd just bitten.
"You—! Wh—! Jinx!!" Cole tried to push him off, but it was half-hearted. His face was on fire. "Why are you like this?!"
Jinx hummed lazily, draping an arm around Cole's chest now. "I don't know what you're talking about, sugar rock. I'm just bonding."
Across the room:
Jay had dropped his soda.
Kai was laughing so hard he nearly choked on a pretzel.
Lloyd was hiding behind a pillow like a war refugee.
Zane calmly blinked. "I suppose my prediction about the arc being character-focused was accurate, though I did not anticipate this trajectory."
Wu sipped his tea, unfazed. "Love and conflict are often more entwined than any blade."
Cole groaned and buried his face in his hands as Jinx snuggled even closer, clearly enjoying every second.
Jay, finally recovering, muttered, "And people call me the chaotic one."