The Ninja That Changed

Chapter 14

Inhale...
Exhale...
The dim lights and gentle breeze helped me focus on breathing. It was something I was taught by my therapist growing up when things were stressful, and something I taught Nya as she got older.
As the Fire Ninja it only seem to fit that I would have a hot temper. Which seemed really cliché when thinking about it. Though when you grow up in a not so great area, anger tends to be the only defense mechanism. Especially when you feel like your whole world crashes down. It's the only way to shield yourself from more pain, and at one point you feel like that anger is your only choice. That's how I felt after my parents disappeared, when I no longer had a home.
And definitely now, now knowing my sister's life is in danger, not knowing where she is or if she's safe. That anger bubbles up and flares in so many ways. It's a blazing eruption of flames that only grows, as the negative winds satisfy its sadistic hunger for some sort of release.
I always thought that was the only way to create a sense of satisfaction for those thoughts to leave your mind. But when I met Lloyd, it showed me how destructive that anger could become. That burning passion to scream until you had no voice to use.
It was terrible to witness. The everlasting pain and anguish it brought upon a person. Instead of letting the flame burst out until the rain came. The flame never left, it only eat at Lloyd, growing but never letting go. The feeling of the anger destroy him from the inside out was terrifying.
That's why I went into therapy, find a new way, an outlet.
Meditation.
Something that could keep the flame small enough to not cause harm, but could brighten enough to bring warmth.
Knock
Knock
"Kai," Lloyd takes in a shaky breath "may I come in?"
I push myself up off of the cold wooden flooring. My feet slipping just slightly as I head across my room. The comfortable silence slowly turning awkward as the creaking door pushes out.
"Hey Lloyd, you alright?"
Lloyds face scrunches up in concern "I feel like I should be the one asking you that."
I chuckle slightly. I gesture for him to come inside, he stands there for a second glancing at me and then towards the floor. He sighs in what I could only think is a sigh of defeat, before softly sitting on my bed.
"What's with the weird looks?" The door gives a soft click as I shut it.
"What's with calm attitude?" Blondie snaps.
"Seriously, we find out that Nya was kidnapped by an organization calling themselves 'The SoNs of GarmaDon' and you just brushed it off," Lloyds eyes flash red.
"And?"
"What do you mean 'and?' Your sister is being held hostage for crying out loud, aren't you concerned for her safety?!"
I sit next to him and take a hold of his hands "Of course I'm concerned, she's my sister. But at the same time, it's why I'm not. Nya is strong, I know for sure that a bunch of thugs won't be able to lay a hand on her without her putting up a hell of a fight."
   Lloyd sighs as he avoids eye contact "Your right."
   I couldn't place the look on his face, but it was so familiar. It was almost the same look Lloyd use to have whenever Garmadon was mentioned or was compared too at school. That look of guilt that always caused a sudden pang to the heart every time I saw it.
   "Lloyd," I gently push his cheek, making him face my direction "this isn't about Nya, isn't it?"
   His ears perk up slightly and fall back down.
   Almost like a cat, it was kinda cute.
   "This is my fault," Lloyd puts a finger to my lips "and before you say anything. Yes it is, I still haven't explained what happened the past four years..."
    He pushes himself away "Why... Why I left."
"I-"
"It's because you were worried you turn into your father, right?"
Lloyds eyes widened "How-"
"Your eyes turned red a couple weeks before you left. Not to mention you started to avoid us, it wasn't hard to figure out."
"But that still didn't—"
"Not to mention you acted like that whenever we first kept running into each over at school all those years ago. So..."
The blonde in front of my blinked "Is that why you acted so differently then the others when I came back?"
"Huh?"
"You were the only one who was calm about the situation."
"Well I wouldn't have said I was calm..." I looked away sheepishly "I guess I didn't think about it considering I was to distracted by your sexy—-"
I felt the smoke rise up to my ears and my throat go dry. I immediately looked away, but not before noticing Lloyds face become a sudden shade of pink.
"I mean hot— No! Umm nice new look!—- Not that would didn't look nice before! You always looked cute! I mean I'm going to shut up now!"
I felt like my ego and years of keeping my confidence up had just thrown itself out the window. I guess the only way I didn't just hurt my pride and expose my bi ass is to cover my face with my hands and hide away forever.
At this point my medication was pointless as I felt my nose and mouth begin to have steam come out like a grill starting to catch on fire.
I felt Lloyd soft but yet slightly firm hands pull mine away from face. The dark revealing a just as flustered and adorable face with those big green eyes.
"Umm thank you, your not so bad looking yourself. Though in all honesty this look was my parents idea," he nervously chuckles "I just played along."
A slight cough escapes my lips "Well you look good in anything green bean."
"Green bean?"
"Yep, cause your the green ninja. Heh."
What on earth am I saying! That's not even a joke, it's a statement! That he already knows! Oh for the love of— I'm an idiot!
Now things are awkward! Great...
Slam!
"Eek!"
"NINJA NERDS WE FOUND WATER GIRL!"
Garmadon, Lloyd and I stare at each other for a couple seconds before Garmadon bursts out laughing.
"La-loyd did you just scream like a girl?"
Lloyd jerks up, his face now a shade of red "No!"
He grimaces "Dad..." then clears his throat "You said you found Nya?"
"Pfft, Yep."
I get up from the bed as well "Well then what are we waiting for! Let's go!"
I grab Lloyd by the wrist and bolt out the door.
————————————————————
"So what's the plan?" Jay nervously asks.
The ninja, besides Zane who stayed behind with Pixal to monitor any activity. As well as Garmadon, are all outside of the Bar that is apparently holding Nya. Not sure why a bar, but Zane said this is where she is so...
"We sneak in, get Water Girl. Then leave.Duh." Garmadon retorts.
"But how? The place is crawling with thugs and criminals. We literally have no way of going in without being spotted."
I look down at Lloyd "Do you have any disguises that would work for this?"
"Lloyd has disguises?"
"Oh you mean the dress?" Jay turns to Lloyd "Why were you wearing a dress anyway?"
"Probably to show off—-"
"I was wearing it because out everyone here, I'm the only one who's shown their identity. Not what ever Dad was going to say." Lloyd's face is now a shade of pink.
"To answer your question Jay, no I don't."
Cole points across the street "Why don't we just use the costume store to buy disguises."
Right across the street is a small Halloween store with a sign next to it in all caps saying "Everything 50% off".
"Well that's convenient."
One Montage Later
"Okay let's go boys!" Garmadon exclaimed as he pushes with full force on to the doors like a diva making a grand entrance.
Thud!
"What the—" Garmadon begins to push more violently. The door doesn't budge.
"Is the door locked or something?"
Cole makes a muted hum before walking up to the door and pulling on the handle.
Click.
The door opens.
————————————————————
"Zane, may I ask you a question?" Zane jolted slightly.
So far, all Zane and Pixal have been doing is sitting here. Watching the others walk in and sneak around.
In complete silence.
Comfortable silence, but silence nonetheless.
Something Zane is not use to. Being around the others is never quiet. They joke, teasing, and practically mess around. Even at school there were no awkward moments. Not to mention even before meeting his friends, home was never quiet either. Normal his father would be working on some machine, his Mother scolding his brother Cryptor for probably getting to fights at school or not doing simple chores. Then of course his baby brother Echo would be laughing and screaming like all babies do. It was never a brining nor dull day.
But nothing ever stays the same. Zane understands that, he watched Echo go into Middle School, and Cryptor actually Graduated. Then his very first friend left. Then he returned, new, with a new friend Pixal who Zane will not lie, is extremely attractive and similar to Zane, well who isn't family at least.
"Y-yes, of course." Why is he stuttering, he wondered.
"How did you deal with it?"
"Deal w-with what?"
"Being outcasted."
Zane paused for a moment "I don't—"
"Lloyd told me that all of you became Ninja after you became friends," Pixal turned her chair slightly in his direction "and because of that people treated you terribly."
Oh. That. Yes the moment the others and Zane became friends with the son of Garmadon, the city turned its backs on us as well. No it was never bad as Lloyd got treated, but that doesn't mean we didn't get back lash as well. Zane couldn't remember how many times his mother almost kicked him out of the house. Or the times Cole was forced to stay at his place.
Like Lloyd, no one in the group had a good childhood. Zane likes to think it's how they were all able to meet each other. Zane never could forget how he first met Lloyd. It was the first time Cryptor and him fought. Zane remember catching him smoking in the backyard.
Cryptor thought what he was doing was okay.
Zane didn't.
He remembers just right after a heated argument and Zane went out to the abandoned park to get some fresh air. He remembers Lloyd was sitting on one of the rusty swing sets holding a small bird. The bird had gotten injured after falling out of its nest. Lloyd was trying to set it free. Before that day Zane was only told that Lloyd was cruel and criminal just like his father. But that day it gave Zane a new, better perspective.
"I don't, there's no need to deal with it. People are people, that will never change. The only thing we can do is stay the same, because rumors doesn't change the heart. It only changes the mind."
Pixal smiled "That's a very wise and comforting."
She scooted closer "You know, Lloyd never stopped talking about you."
She turned to the screen where Lloyd and Jay were currently hiding behind a wall. "Each and everyone of you."
Zane couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm glad."
Zane and Pixal began to chat, bicker, and laugh. Becoming more and more comfortable with each other.

Omg! I finally got a chapter done!
I would like to extremely apologize for the long wait. I have been really busy, and because of how busy I've been, I won't promise any chapters in either of my books anytime soon. Again, I am extremely sorry for the wait. But the past year I have been dealing with College classes during the summer, getting sick, then having to make up work at school. Not to mention my leg deciding to dislocated my knee cap, so that was fun. So, yeah, haven't had the best time since who knows how long I've last written a chapter. Though I am working on the next chapter on my Pirate AU. It's just taking awhile because I decided to make my chapters a little longer than I normally wrote. And I have slightly forgot where I was leading with that book. So I need to do some more planning before I can write. But don't worry this book I have a set plan for, I just need to have time to work on it. So one last time, I am sorry for the wait. I also hopped that you enjoyed this chapter as I was trying to get some chemistry with some of the ships. Also fluff is great, who doesn't like a bit of fluff before the impending doom of the ninjas world ending.