Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

40. Misfortune Rising

Water sloshed in the bucket, soap suds popped, and the mop's hair glided on the tile. Hums lazily meandered up the notes as you worked over the grime. A yawn kicked in as the mop is plucked out of your grip. "You're up early." Your attempt to steal the mop is thwarted, and Skylor steers you to a seat. "And what did I tell you yesterday night?"

"I'm just cleaning-"

"You don't have to do anything here." Her eyes were glued to the dirt on the blemished tile, cleaning the spot. She didn't look up, even when the spot was unsullied. She scrubbed for the third time.

"That spot isn't going to get cleaner." Even then, she swept the mop off to another tile, a bitter twist on her mouth.

"Hm, I guess not." She paused, staring at you, thinking. "Do you want something for breakfast?"

"Nah, not really." There was a slight frown on her lips. And you'd figured you'd ask before the moment could escape you. "Is... is something wrong?" That question kickstarted an uncomfortable silence between the two of you, her eyes drawn to yours as if you hypnotized her. If only you could've gotten an answer out of her. Tiny, purposeful rustles distracted from whatever made the atmosphere heavy, and burdensome. She absorbed herself with little things. Things that didn't need fixing. Her distant, lost stare peered through you. Briefly, she took you with her:

"This has to be the first time we've been alone, since..." Since she left you in that dark room. No, that's not right. You stubbornly didn't go with her. And you... You blamed her. Gave her a rotten pound to pay for what was your fault. For the spoiled blood on your hands. 

"It's not like that-" The bell rang, customers heading in. Skylor relaxed, the dread fading. She greeted the group, listening to their orders. Her shift began, no time to uncover old scars. And that was for the best. 'I'd only bother her on that...' She placed that smile again, masking it as she did with you and Ronin.

You too, can't revisit that again right now. You went to the computer Skylor had in the back. You've been searching for sightings of Nadakhan. Yet all you had were missing people reports. One after another after another until it reached the hundreds and suddenly, it stopped. At the time, word got out that the Ninja escaped yesterday night. They couldn't have done him in already, could they? You mindlessly scraped your nails below the ankle bracelet, satisfying an itch. The door opened, and as quickly as your eyes met, she grabbed a box and left. 

'I won't force her...'

...

"....deal's a deal, take the damn ankle bracelet off." Ronin tapped his pointer finger on the cold metal table. "Thought you were a so-called man of honor?"

"Have more honor than you, Ronin." the Police Commissioner snorted, his gray mustache blanketing the stern, unmoving corners of his mouth. "And I'm running something by with an old friend."

"Where's this friend?" A knock rapped on the wood.

"That's him." The Commissioner opened the folder in his hands, the clanking of metal echoing in the interrogation room. "Hutchins, please, sit."

"No, this won't take long, correct?" He was a Royal Guard, draped in jade robes, his samurai helmet made of solid gold.

"Hmph, depends on your answer." He thumbed the folder and slipped a wrinkled paper out, it was the letter. He watched you carefully as he sneaked it to Hutchins. "How's it going on with her?"

"She has been good... And this is unfamiliar handwriting." The Commissioner opened his mouth, about to go on a tyrant, but Hutchins interrupted him. "The news of the Overseer's arrangement was leaked to the press, I'm certain this was a random prankster." His single-eyed glance was quick, yet you could feel the disdain in it.