Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

14. Penitence

A melody repeats, hums echo in your room, the lyrics unknown, if there were any to interlace the tune. It's a piece with both its ups and downs. You're humming the parts doused in pride. Carrying out the laundry is boring without a tune. A groan intruded your humming, ceasing it all together when you notice a clean, white shirt on the floor.

'Of course, Zane had to ram into my chest like that.'

A dull pricking pleads your body to stop, to not bend your torso further. Fuck it, your not picking it up. Damn, are bruised ribs a pain to deal with and heal. You haven't gone outside apart from buying groceries the past two weeks in an effort to hurry your healing. On top of that, sleeping is a hassle where half the battle is spent falling into a slumber with the aches and whispers of doubt.

Better than replaying the deaths of those civilians, which have thankfully died down. Wu's words of wisdom made sure of that. Anyways, if they aren't terrorizing the grounds they died on, then surely, they are at peace?

Rather, what is plaguing you at night is dumb, fickle Larina. Seldom, do you reminisce of her since that day she betrayed you, yet she is lingering in the corners of your mind, mirroring the image of Pixel and Griffin. Are they going to do what she did? That question would emerge once in the dead of night, ignoring the answers you carelessly toss at it.

'Living people are more reliable than dead ones, duh.'

You scoffed, powering on the TV, a distraction from the rising, sliver of a moon.

Flicking through channels in a blurry of images you clicked even faster, catching a glimpse of Zane on the channel. You power off the TV.

News clippings captured the battle, and you were sort of a regular in it, showing you banishing the overgrown spirit. And it would pan back to Zane. At least that died down in less than two weeks, faster than when Lloyd defeated the Overlord the first time. There was an instance where you were wearing your mask and a journalist wanted to interview you on: "...fighting with Zane and his ninja brothers. Thank you so much by the way. Could you explain how being the Titanium Ninja's backup-".

"Backup."

That word coated your tongue in a sour taste that Sleepy Willow's tea could not wash. That's all they see you as? No, of course, Zane can receive the meticulous title of "Titanium Ninja" since he's so mighty and unbreakable. And you'll be labeled "Backup".

'Whatever.'

You brushed off whatever faint prick of jealousy decided to sink its claws into your pride. You know what you did. You didn't need validation from anyone, any ninja who parade about like clowns. Might as well erect a titanium statue of Zane too.

You got out of dodge hearing that, a paparazzi and self-proclaimed fans demanding photos with you. Last time you wore your mask to the public. You genuinely didn't foresee the crowd. It was... an experience, one you are willing not to redo. Even if a tiny, stupid voice said it was nice: you don't like the spotlight.

'That can go to Zane.'

You bitterly open your phone. You say you don't mind the way they pushed you aside. You understand, their friend nearly died.

'It's whatever.'

You scroll through Nya's text which you were late on answering because your phone died. You haven't seen her since the Overlord's sealing. Mostly because she was busy fixing up her Samurai X suit and the Destiny Bounty. She would send pictures of her progress: the boosters on the ship, its sails, or the paint job on her mech. Accompanying the pictures are voice recordings or videos explaining the intricacies of things. Hardly would she ramble, focusing on the important aspects of the technology. Sometimes she would send a text at five in the morning. Her sleeping schedule was all over the place. You wouldn't be surprised if she was sleeping over at her Samurai X cave too.