Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

60. A Time of Traitors

Mc haunted by Morro from mei_anders_ on Instagram go check them out. They've got a lot more beautiful, colorful art over there:

https://www.instagram.com/mei_anders_/

(i ador mc so much their expression brings pain aAAHH. Also sad droopy Morro– I miss him qwq).

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"Breaking news, a Borg Store was attacked, leaving a few victims with minor injuries and the inventor and owner, Cyrus Borg, missing. They claimed a small group of samurai attacked before the Ninja saved them. Again, Lloyd Garmadon was not spotted, but Zane Julien was shown to have led the charge. The Overseer was also at the scene of the crime, reportedly stepping in to help. What they were doing there is still largely up for debate. Were they responsible for this? Were they there to assist–"

"Can you please shut that off?"

"Okay, I thought maybe they spotted Borg?" Cole shut off the static, focusing back on the dusty desert road.

"No... no, they wouldn't." They're below, distant in the sewer system to get away. You weren't sure what their plan was after that. They never told you, resurfacing the panic. Do they not trust you–? No, no. That couldn't be it. If that were the case, you would have been done in, the same way Zane was. Lifeless, his pupil blank and dilated, riddling you with rue for your wrongs.

"...regroup at Yang's temple and find something to fix him up there." Cole's droopy glance from the rearview mirror darted along the road. "When we snoop out who did this... they're gonna pay."

"Cole..."

"Oh, I got a little carried away there." None the wiser, he brushed off your concern. They accepted your word when it didn't make a lick of sense.

'Why?' Why didn't they jump the gun? Right then and there. Right there was the perfect time for them. To truly brand you as a traitor. And now, you needed to delete that memory before they fixed him. Before this whole thing blows up in your face. Before you repeat it all. With wounds you know you won't survive. Explanations wasted to ash. Fear that'll leave you gasping for mercy you know won't come. And a wish that... 'It didn't have to–'

"-be this way." Cole muttered. He's said that so many times since. Like he's read your mind. With all the string of static and discourse that dances in it. "If we were there..."

You couldn't offer any comfort with your part in this. You could only play it so this turned out how you needed it to. You can only promise: "I'll fix this."

"We'll fix–" He took his sights off you in the mirror, to his glowing arms, the ride swerving into one of the pits– "Take the wheel–!" You grabbed it, shouldering him out of the way, and stopped the ride, both of you bashing into the windshield. "Shit..."

"Fuck." That left a nasty sting. "Who let you drive...?" You slumped on his shoulder, screwing your eyelids to get rid of seeing triples. "...when your new arms are like that?"

"You take the wheel then." Cole moved out from you, your weight crashing into the seat's cushion as he too slumped into the side of the car, to the ground. "And for the record, we both got new ones."

"That's different." Your voice was muffled by the side of the cushion. "You have arms that are out of your control, that you don't understand yet."

"Fair point."

"Hah, right." Side-eying him, you hopped in his seat. "We all could've died. And I don't think you'll get lucky and turn into a ghost again."

"Hah, very funny..." Laying flat on the dirt, the sun lasering his face, he squinted hard up at you. You glared over the earth master, your silhouette shading him as he exhaled, "Okay, yeah, it was pretty stupid of me. Especially when I don't have a good grip- it's too loose, or too tight. I'm constantly afraid I'm gonna break something. It's- it's too out of control! I can't get a handle on it. Literally."