Rewind the Past (Futureshipping)

Chapter 11

All they wanted to do, was spend a peaceful night. Lloyd was asleep in his bed, sharing the room with Kai, Cole and Jay. The bed under Kai's was empty, the blanket untouched. That was Zane's bed. Nya was in the room near them. She was alone and it was incredibly tidy, even though she always insisted that it wasn't.
Even Cyrus Borg had his own room. Well, it was the guests room and he was supposed to share it with Acronix. The only thing was that...Acronix's bed was empty. The pillow and the blanket were still warm. The youngest had threw them aside when he left the room.
He didn't cause neither the smallest noise, walking on the floorboards and opening the door.

Cyrus simply groaned and turned to the side, slightly annoyed by a small, low creaking of the wood, caused by the Time Twins steps. Acronix froze, avoiding any other noise, and waiting for the inventor to be silent again. Once he was sure that he didn't awake him, he slipped outside the room, finding himself in the dark, empty corridor.
He could hear the rest of the squad snoring, behind the closed doors.

Acronix made his way outside the Monastery. He didn't want to stay there, but at the same time he didn't want to leave. He turned around, facing the building. He then looked at his injured body. It was healing pretty fast. Only his leg was giving him problems; it kept aching, despite the healing and the tea Wu gave him. The whole situation scared him. He didn't want to lose because of it. He was able to move the arm. He had to force it a bit, but the bone was finally repaired.
He rose his head to the sky again; the full moon was something amazing. A big, silver circle. The stars were small diamonds. He had the strange feeling of someone watching him.
He climbed on the roof, being careful to don't fall and keep his equilibrium. Acronix sat on the black tiles and held his legs to his chest. He rested his chin on the knees and closed his eyes, letting out a sad sigh. 

"Can't sleep, mh?" The Time Master almost fell down the roof. His head snapped to the side; Master Wu was sitting legs crossed a few meters from him. The tea pot was balanced next to his legs. He had a cup in his hand, filled with hot tea. "Y...you scared me, what are you doing here!?" He almost shouted, feeling his heart pounding against his ribs, like it was about to break them. Master Wu sipped his tea and sighed, with a smile. "I could ask you the same thing, Acronix. Why are you here?"
The youngest blushed, Wu could see the red cheeks under the moonlight. "I...I don't know.- Acronix muttered. -I guess it's...it's because..."
"Your brother?" Wu completed, with a half smile. He knew it was true and Acronix couldn't deny it. "Is it...so clear?" He asked, lowering his gaze. "Krux...I know I'll have to fight him. It's clear now, but...do you think I'll be able to fight him? I mean...he's still my brother."
Wu stroked his beard and handed the Twin a small cup of tea. Acronix smelled the scent of the warm liquid and swallowed.
He drank a sip of it and sighed; it was sweet and bitter at the same time. It tasted like peach and lemon. It wasn't healing tea. "What is it..?" He asked, turning his head to the old Master. Wu smiled and tilted his head to the side.
"Just tea." He said simply, filling his cup once again. He drank it all and turned to the black haired. "You're an incredible warrior, Acronix. I'm sure you'll be able to handle this fight."

"But I can't do it! Not against him, he's my brother!"
"Acronix, I can understand..."

The Time Twin snapped his head to the old man, hissing like a viper. "How!?" He growls. But the way Wu glared at him, made him blush, ashamed.
He too had to fight his brother, multiple times. He was the right person, who shared Acronix same pain. But, even if the youngest had almost shouted at him, he was smiling. "I...I'm sorry." Acronix quickly said, looking away. "What are you sorry for, Acronix?- He asked, politely. -You're angry and scared, you're not used to fight your brother. And even if you were, it's never easy."

"But you too had to fight Garmadon! I shouldn't have talk to you...that way."
"You see, my friend, when someone lose a loved one, they are angry and sad. A lot of emotions mixed together and it's not always easy to control them. But, when someone else lose a loved one as well, they cannot blame this person for their behaviour. They understand what they feel and the adrenaline that so many emotions bring up. You don't have to apologise. You're human, Acronix, what you feel it's normal."

The black haired man looked at him. He wasn't sure on what to do: sake his head or nod. "I don't want to be weak,  Master..." He muttered.
"Weakness?- Wu said. -What makes you think you are weak?"
Acronix opened his mouth, but he closed it immediately. "Emotions are not weakness. And crying...crying is good. Whoever planted in your mind the idea that emotions are for weak people, it's because he...or she thinks so. And this person is scared of their own feelings."

Those words penetrate Acronix's soul, with a gentle stroke. The youngest twin smiled shyly at him. "I...I never had the opportunity to...show Krux affection. Just when we were...kids. And I miss those moments." Before he knew, he started open up to a man, he tried so hard to defeat. "I miss hugging him, like I used to do once, because I feel like he hates it but...most of all, I miss when he used to tell me how important I was for him and that he would always be there for me...he's not him anymore. He became an empty shell..." He covered his face and let out a heavy sigh. Wu leant a hand on Acronix's shoulder and remained silent, listening to him. 
Acronix felt a slight tickling, caused by a few tears that escaped his eyes and ran down his cheeks. 
"I miss my brother...for forty years I had the same thought, always. All I wanted was him to know how much I needed him. But when I came back here...he just gave me the coldest hug I've ever felt...I need him back..."
Wu stroked Acronix's back, with the same love a father would have used. "Fight him. If we win, we will have a chance to bring him back to you. You miss your brother, I miss my friends. Both of you."
Acronix lowered his head, knowing well that soon or later, he would have had to fight Krux.
At those thought, his heart started aching, again.