Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

73. Dread on Arrival

Lumbering creaks of wood trickle into your cotton-stuffed ears, clearing your heartbeat with the passing minute. Another whisper of your name. Everything is exhausted, and a single twitch of your digits wracked a once-sleeping nerve to your shoulder. Your head wasn't better hanging off your burning neck, your tight back slumped forward. You cracked your neck for a groan, seeing why with your posture–

"Are you awake?" Lloyd whispered, also chained beside you, his wrists up above, same as yours. You took your sleeping legs into crossing them, biting back another groan from waking them. You gave the chains some slack, trying to get comfortable. Which is just impossible. "They've landed a bit ago. And took the masks."

"That explains that..." Your head wasn't overwhelmed, yet. "Did they have to make these so uncomfortable?" you mumbled, your eyes squinting into his. You supposed you didn't expect much from–

"Yeah, spending hours in these shed a little light on how we should improve the conditions. I didn't realize how angry Nya was that day. I think she put all frustrations into this–"

"We're on the Bounty?" You looked through your fuzzy sight, through the bars installed into the wood, and right there, sleeping away in the dark on a rug, is Ultra Violet. With Fluffy. 'Oh. You. Are. Not. Serious.' And you– are still in vengestone. "Great accommodations." You looked over to him, the uneasiness stealing you away to the shadows once more. "...where are your friends?"

"Oh, I think they'll manage to get here–"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You know that, that ten-foot fish? That was a twenty-foot lobster."

"You're joking."

"That or the lobster ate the fish."

"I think it's the latter then..." A scoff is the only thing that made it. "It's just us?"

"What's with that face?"

"Lloyd, we're handcuffed." That forced the cold familiarity of shackles to ensnare you– him as well. But he didn't back down.

"Jay told me, how you were at Miss Fortune–

"Save the stupid pep talk."

"Hey, we survived that temple, we can make it here–"

"Compared to the temple... I actually had fun. Before all that." His face goes soft. "Hey... Lloyd?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for inviting me to your home..." A short-lived, quiet laugh. "Even though I was a horrible guest."

"No, I was a worse host." He could hardly crack a wry grin.

"I liked the polite little pleasantries." It was nice to pretend nothing happened. For a while. "...do you have a plan?"

"Sort of." He carefully rustled the chains, stalling every now and then to peer at the "guard". You did as well, it easier to do so with your cuffs looped by the chain. He lowered his voice to your ear, "Join her side."

"No. I already did that. Twice. That isn't going to get us anywhere–"

"Just enough, for an escape, or a distraction– we'll fight, make it look like we–"

"We hate each other...?" There are the shadows– "You'll have an easier time..." Rolled across like clouds in a storm's horizon, casting his features for a horrid reminiscing. "I'm sorry–"

Where was that when he was suffering?

"I'm so sorry." It's louder, adamant, and broken. You turned your head away.