Tormented Rescue (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Part 6

TW: Torture, panic attack

Kai woke up in a sweat. He was breathing quickly, not even sure whether he was in his room or not.

That dream... it was so real...

"No no! No stop! Please!!" Kai strained to pull away from the man's grip.

"AGH, SHUT UP!!" He yanked Kai's hair to put them face to face, Kai trembled in his grasp.

The man smirked, enjoying Kai's fear. He bought up a remote. He clicked a button and his face twisted into insanity as buzzing started to sound.

Kai's breath grew quick, what the hell was happening!?

Suddenly he felt it.

"AHHHHHHHGH!!" Kai screamed in agony as shock after shock streamed into his body.

His screaming slowly turned to sobs as the shocks turned to cutting. He felt the knife dig into the back of his legs, and yet Mark still sat in front of Kai with a look of joy.

He chuckled at Kai's agony.

"You're gonna be so fun, Kai..."

"Kai!?" Lloyd whispered to him, placing his hand over Kai's.

Lloyd woke up to find Kai whimpering and rocking on the edge of the bed, his hands on his ears, tears streaming his face, a terrified look in his eyes.

"L-- Lloyd...?" Kai's breathing was quick and Lloyd could feel his heartbeat through his hand.

"Hey, it's ok, you're at home and I'm here, you're safe," Lloyd smoothed Kai's hair, brushing it lightly with his fingers, shushing Kai to at least calm his breathing.

Kai crawled up to Lloyd and Lloyd propped himself up against the wall with Kai in his arms, who had started to sob silently and was blubbering about something.

"..he-- he was laughing-- at-- at me! The-- the knife-- it hurt-- it hurt so--" Kai hiccoughed and buried his face in Lloyd's chest. "It hurt so much..."

Tears welled in Lloyd's eyes as he listened to Kai's cries, still shushing him shakily. 

"I promise you, he won't hurt you ever again, I'm here, Kai-- Everyone's here, and they'll all protect you." Lloyd kissed Kai's head and wrapped his arms around Kai.

They sat there together, listening to each other's heartbeat, their breathing coinciding.

Eventually Kai moved himself closer to Lloyd's side rather than on top of him, and he reached for Lloyd's hand.

He closed his eyes and traced Lloyd's fingers. Lloyd watched Kai. Soon he dropped Lloyd's hand and instead hugged his arm, leaning his head against him. Lloyd leaned his head on Kai's, also closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Kai's broken voice sounded through them both. Lloyd shook his head.

"No no no..." Lloyd breathed back, tears stinging his eyes once more. "I'm sorry... we... we should've found you sooner..." Lloyd strained his voice in an attempt to hide his cries, but he felt terrible.

If only they'd found Kai sooner. Found that trail quicker. If they knew what Kai was going through they wouldn't've slept. They had thought he'd just been taken by some gang for questioning, or maybe he had just gotten lost, they hadn't thought of rushing, if anything, Kai left to be alone, so surely they shouldn't rush into looking for him, right?

He felt so guilty.

Kai took a deep breath and sat up straight, shuffling closer to Lloyd, and putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Don't... don't blame yourself... please... you found me, and that's what counts," Kai whispered, having gained most of his mind back from his panic attack.

Lloyd sighed. They pulled up the duvet and built up a nest of pillows. They snuggled close, falling asleep. Both with damp, glistering cheeks, and sniffling from their cries.