Querencia

S2 E6: Interpause (Imbroglio)

An altercation or complicated sitaution

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[M/n] was crouched on the dragon figurehead at the bow of the ship, staring up into the night sky. The engines rumbled softly as they flew, creating soothing background noise with the wind dancing around him. Unfortunately he couldn't focus on the beauty of the night, mind too preoccupied with the days events. 

One part that was running through his mind, forming question after question, was his behavior from the entirety of the day. He'd been far more vocal with the sounds that had always sat in the base of his throat, choking hin at times with the urge to use them. But it brought up the question . . . Was he even human?

But even more than that, he felt like a failure. His entire purpose as the Siver Ninja was to protect the Green Ninja, to be his defender, his shield, his sword. And he failed. Guilt settled over his shadows like death's shroud, weighing him down.

Light steps came from behind him, carrying an unfamiliar weight to a familiar pattern. Coming up to lean against the railing beside the figurehead, Lloyd stared holes into the side of [M/n]'s head. 

His voice came out small, "Are you mad at me for disobeying you?" 

[M/n] honestly didn't know if he was or not. 

"I don't know." Lloyd slumped further over the railing.

"Do you understand what your choice has done?" [M/n] kept his voice flat and monotone to hide the raw fear he felt. 

"Sensei said the battle was closer. But . . ." 

"It is, but that is not what I am talking about. You are now an adult and enemies will attack far harder now. Even your father might not hold back any longer," [M/n] stated, shaking his head. "Before that, you lept into battle without even thinking. If the Grundle had instead hit you with its claws, you would-" 

He choked up, looking away from Lloyd for a moment. 

"I'm sorry," Lloyd whispered, reaching out for [M/n]'s hand, seeking the comfort he'd always gotten. "I'm so sorry."

"I know, ηλιαχτίδα μου. I failed you today, and I am so sorry," [M/n] stated, climbing down from the Dragons Head to comfort Lloyd. He cradled Lloyd in his arms, uncaring of his newfound height. 

"You didn't fail me today, [M/n]. You-you protected me from the Grundle, even when you were terrified," Lloyd reminded him, pressing his forehead into his shoulder. Holding him tighter, [M/n] pressed a kiss to Lloyd's hair as silence fell over them for a little while. "How did you know so much about the Grundle? I mean, you knew things that Mother Doomsday didn't and he's an expert on stuff like that."

"I-" [M/n] hesitated for a moment. "When we were in the museum, while Lord Garmadon was resurecting the Grundle I had a memory return. It was Morro and I being chased by a Grundle, but . . ."

"Grundle's went extinct like 50 years ago right?" Lloyd asked.

"No, it would have been closer to 70 years now. They went extinct before the Serpentine War," [M/n] corrected.

Lloyd wrinkled his nose. "Then how did you face one? That makes no sense. Are they false memories or something?"

"No, they feel real and I know they happened. Its not the only memory from that time either," [M/n] admitted.

"Really? What was it?" 

"I was fighting the Hypnobrai. Then your father saved me. And he looked normal."

"Normal?"

"Before the transformation your father was human."

Lloyd nodded slowly at the reminder. He'd never seen his father before his transformation, not even pictures.