Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 81- Paying for his actions

N Y A

Kai's voice went sharp. "Back off."

But they didn't. More shadows spilled out of the alley behind them —three, four, maybe five more— 14 in total. They blocked the road completely, and I could see Lloyd tense at my side, hear Coles sharp intake of breath.

And before anyone could move, anyone could try to de-escalate the situation— the leader lunged forward and swung.

The pipe caught Jay across the side, hard enough to knock him out. He hit the pavement with a sound I never wanted to hear again.

The leader grinned, eyes hardening with hatred. "You need to pay for your actions, Ninja."

Jay groaned, trying his best shuffle away, his hand clutching his ribs. "I—"

That's all he got out before the first punch smashed into his jaw. His head snapped sideways, and he hit the ground hard.

Everything in me screamed to move. I tried to get to them, to punch them in the face for even touching my ying, but they swarmed him.

Not swinging wildly — this was deliberate, directed. Boots and fists and steel bars, all aimed at him. Ribs. Back. Head. One of them had a chain and kept bringing it down across his shoulders with a sick crack.

There were too many for him to even try to fight back, two of them grabbing his arms and a couple more his legs, as he tried his best to kick them away.

That's when I lost it.

"HEY!" I slammed into one from the side, knocking him back, and serving a kick to the stomach which left him sputtering. I turned to the person on my right— one with short buzzed hair and a tattoo on his cheek— but another came out of nowhere and cracked something heavy into my temple.

White-hot pain burst in my skull, and suddenly the world was spinning. My ears rang, vision swimming, but I could still see Jay.

He wasn't fighting back. Not even trying to crawl away anymore, probably not even having the strength to. Just eyes closed, limbs restrained, letting them hit him over and over. Like he'd forgotten how to fight back. Like he didn't want to use his powers.

He knew that one burst of lightning could throw them all off of him instantly. But he didn't. And we all knew why.

Blood smeared the pavement under him. I think I screamed his name — I'm not sure. Might of just mouthed it, the sound too scared to come out. Everything felt distant, muffled under the ringing in my head.

Cole was in the fray now, swinging like a wrecking ball, each punch sending someone flying. Kai's fire erupted from his fists, forcing two to stumble back, but more kept piling on Jay.

Zane tackled one off him, but another two yanked Jay up by his hoodie and slammed him against the wall. His head bounced off the brick, and his knees gave out — they held him up just to hit him again.

My head throbbed with unrelenting pain, but I had to stay conscious. Had to try and save Jay.

I stumbled forward, grabbing my trident off of the back of my Gi. But before I could reach the action, Rue rushed past me and whispered into my ear "I've got him."

She brushed her fingers on the ground and closed her eyes, concentrating for a second or two before slamming her palms onto the concrete.

The ground split under her feet, thick vines bursting through the pavement like whips. They tore the gang apart, flinging bodies into the street. Outraged cries filled the air, the gang members swearing in disbelief as they watched nature destroy their plan. I could almost grin at their bewilderment— I forget that most of the public didn't know about Rue.

The remaining vines that weren't occupied by the thugs wrapped around Jay, pulling him out of their grip like a ragdoll.

He barely moved, eyes glassy and half conscious, blood dripping from his temple and god knows where else.

The vines lifted him high — not gently, not this time — up toward a narrow balcony above a corner shop. An older woman in a bright red sari leaned over, reaching for him. Rue yelled something— my head was ringing too much I couldn't really decipher the words— and the woman dragged him over the railing.

Kai's roar pulled my attention back — he had one of them by the collar, slamming him into the ground again and again, before yelling in pain as another slammed a crowbar into his side.

Cole's fists were coated in blood, his own or theirs, I couldn't tell. Zane moved like a machine, before being tripped over by three guys and held on the ground.

But we fought back.

By the time the last one hit the pavement groaning, my fists were stinging and my chest felt like it was burning.

"Well shit." My brother hissed, clutching his side and looking up at Jay.

I followed his gaze back up to the balcony. The woman was crouched beside Jay, murmuring something I couldn't hear. His shoulders were shaking, his breaths quick and shallow.

He just... stayed there. Sitting against the wall, head down, shoulders shaking. Blood on his lip, dripping down from his temple, over his hands. His smart shirt torn at the collar. The one I helped him pick out for this special occasion.

The tie that I put on him while he told me that he wasn't sure if he should come stained with blood.

Completely silent.

But I could see his face.

And it wasn't pain that hit me hardest.

It was the shame.

Like every cheer from earlier had been erased in seconds.

It was completely our fault. We should have never made him come. None of this would have happened. He would be at the monastery right now, safe and not beaten black and blue like he was right now.

I opened my mouth to shout up to him— asking if he was alright, about to come up to him and give the ninja a hug— but everyone tilted sideways and my head hit the floor.