Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

19. * Other Side *

A/n: start of rewrite on chapters 19-65, note at end of each chapter if there's a major change, like this one 

Forgot to include some art here long ago im so sorry:

Art is by: https://www.quotev.com/QuiescenticHiraeth

Thank you so much for the drawing for this little fanfic- the expressions and everything are just *chef kiss* uwu

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Rain drizzled on the terracotta roof of the temple. Thunder crashed, its bang blasting you back to where you are. Candlelight burned, scarcely illuminating his side of the room, consequently casting you in the dark. A fly buzzed, flailing its wings, flying from one side to the other. Your heart ravaged your ribcage with the same beat as the fly's wings.

A crashing thud replaced it. You had punched the wooden gate, rasping the flesh on your knuckles. There's no way out unless you want Pixal to pay the price. You stumbled back to the wall, the ground, pulling yourself tight in that corner. Agitated buzzing repeated over and over in your ears. Watching it idle, rubbing its bulging, red lens made you want to swat it out. You wanted the noise in your heart to die out. You looked up from the ground, staring into the flame... Would he understand? Or would it all come to burn you in the end?

The gong tolled, and the candle's fire curled to the ceiling.

When the gate lifted, you didn't want to walk out there.

"The Battle of Fire vs. Spirit!!! Begin!" It didn't need to be announced; he sprinted out before they finished. You barely moved, edging to a high pillar as his fists erupt flames.

"I should've seen this coming..."

"Kai... please, believe me." Unnamed hurt flashed across his eyes when they met yours.

"I can't." He snuffed out your words, like smoke scathing your throat. It worked like tar, sealing your mouth shut and letting it burn inside of you. Like that disgusted scorn he hasn't shown you since the day at the scrapyard. "I gave you another chance. We took you in... And you threw it all away!" Fire twisted your way, eroding at the pillar you hid behind, no longer your bastion. Frustration boiled over: "Stop running, fight me!"

"I won't...! We both want the same thing." The crackling of the fire calmed, yet it still clawed at the pillar, creating embers that you held close, breathing out a hope, "I can explain."

"You can't." It was a dying hope. "You're lying."

But you tried again.

"I'm trying to help–"

"For real? Stop your bullshit!" His laugh echoed his disappointment. "You're just pulling the same shit!"

"I'm not!" And Again. "I never was!" Flames rose, blowing up to his dangerous eyes. "I want to help you!"

"Help me? Is that why you've been going behind our backs?! Hah, you've been acting desperate since we found out. That's why you're lying. Why you have been this whole time." You're backed up in a corner from running away and your words fueled his inferno.

"I didn't want to–! I didn't have a choice!"

"...You're right. Going behind our backs, switching sides—You were never on our side!" The flames ignited higher, licking at his face, showing the deadly glint in his eyes. "Being a traitor is in your nature." You weaved around the flaring fist coming for your head, feeling the raw, angry heat of the fire. "While we were chasing around looking for Zane, hoping he'd be fine" –fire caught its claws into your shoulder– "you were with us, and you knew exactly where he was!"