Tormented Rescue (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Part 21

Kai and Lloyd silently sat together on the deck of the monastery, Lloyd's head leaning on Kai's shoulder, and Kai's arm around Lloyd's waist.

The images Kai's mind had created tightened Kai's chest to the point where Lloyd took him by the hand, and led him outside for some fresh air.

Their peace was undisturbed for 10 minutes before they heard footsteps from inside. They glanced at each other, remembering they had left the door open a crack.

They heard the door slide open and they turned around to see who they had woken up. Nya stood in the doorway, looking slightly surprised and embarrassed.

"Oh, oops, sorry guys, just wondered why the door was open..." Nya said quietly, beginning to move into the shadow inside.

Seeing Nya in the door reminded Lloyd of their talk.

"Wait!" Lloyd whisper-shouted, leaning towards the door. She stopped and poked her head into the moonlight again. Lloyd motioned with his head to Nya trying to say that they could talk now.

Nya tensed up and held the door tighter.

"Oh... uhm..." Nya thought. For whatever reason, she felt really nervous, even though all the other times she'd tried, she hadn't ever been nervous.

"What's up with you two?" Kai asked, a bit lost. Lloyd glanced at Kai and then gave one last questioning look to Nya.

Nya gulped and held her breath, she stepped out past the doorframe and slowly shut the door behind her. Lloyd gave her a small reassuring smile.

"We wanted to talk to you," Lloyd turned to Kai. "Actually, that's how we found out you weren't home, Nya and I went to talk to you, but..." Lloyd trailed off, paying with his fingers.

Kai looked away, still ashamed of himself for his impulsive decision. Nya sat down on the other side of Kai on the edge of the deck. Kai looked at her with curiosity.

Nya fiddled with her fingers. She glanced at Lloyd behind Kai, waiting for him to start. Lloyd took his cue.

"So listen, Kai, Nya told me about how, you uhm... about how you like to hide your feelings from her," Lloyd started. Kai tensed up. He looked at Nya with a defeated expression.

"Nya..." He whispered under his breath but Nya avoided his gaze.

"And, Kai, well... that's not helpful to her, or to you. Nya's just as worried about you as I am, probably even more because at least I know how you're feeling," Lloyd said carefully, glancing away. Kai looked down at the rocky ground in thought.

"But... Nya's my little sister, I couldn't put my feelings on her shoulders, I'm supposed to protect her..." Kai said quietly, glancing between Lloyd and his hands. Nya closed her eyes. She'd heard that a million times.

"And how do you plan to protect her while you crack under the pressure of your feelings?" Lloyd waited for an answer and Kai hesitated. His leg started to bounce as he felt more and more tense.

Finally, he turned to Nya. Nya noticed the movement and glanced up. Kai looked at her with a nervous but soft look. Lloyd from behind him gave her a supportive nod.

"I just want to help you, Kai... I... You mean everything to me, you've always been there for me my whole life, I only want to do the same in return..." Nya said in a quiet voice, she suddenly felt like she was going to cry. "Especially now..." She whispered.

There was a pause as Nya crossed her arms, hugging herself, and Kai looked at her with searching eyes.

Finally, he sighed. Kai shuffled over closer to Nya and he put an arm around her.

Nya sniffled, unable to hold back her tears and she hugged Kai back.

Lloyd smiled to himself, content. He quietly stood up and kissed Kai's head and walked back inside the monastery.

Kai stared until he was gone, and then he turned back to Nya. He rubbed her shoulder and leaned against her head. He felt his own tears build up.

"Why did it have to happen to you..." Nya's voice came out strained and tearful. "It's not fair..." She sniffled and turned her head to look out across the courtyard. "You've been through so much already... and now this..." She felt her anger boil up and it helped stop her tears.

Kai's mind wandered to the warehouse. The moonlight here reminded him of the dusty faint glow that came from the PCs inside the warehouse.

Nya noticed Kai's silence and she sat herself upright. Kai didn't let go but he was holding her light enough that she could move. Nya saw Kai's glistening eyes and his blank stare at the courtyard, and she softened her anger.

Nya reached her hand to Kai's, which was still on her waist. The touch sparked Kai's mind and he quickly looked at Nya, breathing heavily. He had been holding his breath without even thinking about it.

"Can you promise to open up to me? At least a little more... like not hiding your feelings when I ask if you're ok," Nya's eyes were soft and asking only the best of Kai.

Kai's breath returned to normal as he looked at Nya. He looked down in thought, hiding away from her searching eyes.

"You promise... that-- that you can handle seeing me at my worst...?" Kai asked quietly, glancing up at Nya. She smiled, and moved her's and Kai's hands in between them.

"Promise."

Kai stared at Nya a little longer before letting go of his breath, and giving her a proper hug. Nya felt a wave of relief and joy wash over her. She closed her eyes and hugged back.

Kai had finally accepted her help.

(Sorry for not updating for an entire month, writer's block is a bitch ಥ_ಥ)