Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 83- Somewhere to rest

L L O Y D

It had been almost two weeks since the attack.
Two weeks of bandages and ice packs, hushed footsteps in the monastery halls, whispered check-ins at Jay's door.

He was moving around again, slower than usual, but moving nonetheless. The bruises still painted him like storm clouds, and his smile didn't always reach his eyes, but... he was still trying.

I thought maybe things were beginning to settle—until Rue pulled me aside.

We were in the courtyard, dusk painting everything gold. She fiddled with strands of her hair, eyes darting everywhere but mine.

"I need to go back," she said suddenly.

"Back?"

"My tribe," she clarified, chewing her lip. "I can't stay away any longer. They... they need me. I can't keep pretending that my place isn't with them."

Her voice faltered. She folded her arms tight against her chest, like she was bracing for me to argue.

"And I don't want to be any more trouble to you guys," she rushed on. "I know you've got enough on your plates without worrying about me. Really, you've been ever so kind to me from the very beginning— I'll find a way back on my own. I can walk, it'll take a while but that's totally fine I've got a lot of stamina! I know you guys really don't need this right now so I'll be on my way after I say goodbye—"

"Rue."

She froze, mid-ramble.

I grinned at her. "We're coming with you, bushbrain."

Her eyes widened. "Wha—what? No, Lloyd, you really don't have to—"

"Yeah, we do," I interrupted firmly. "You've been with us through everything. You're practically family now. And besides—" I softened my voice. "Your people don't know what happened with Jay. They won't see him as anything but the hero he is. He needs that. I think we all do."

Her lip trembled, and for a second I thought she might cry. Instead, she shook her head with a little laugh. "You're amazing Lloyd, you know that?"

"Guess it's my thing."

~~~

Later that night, I brought it up at dinner.

The table was loud as usual — Kai and Cole arguing over who got the last dumpling, Zane patiently reminding them there were plenty left in the kitchen, Jay snickering quietly like he'd been waiting for this exact fight to happen. Rue was quieter, picking at her food and fiddling with her earrings.

I cleared my throat. "So, I've been thinking."

That got their attention. Kai looked up mid-bite. Cole leaned back, arms crossed. Even Jay tilted his head, curious.

"Rue needs to go home," I said simply. "Back to her tribe. And I think... we should go with her."

For a second, silence. Then—

"Wait, what?!" Kai nearly choked on his dumpling. "You have to go?!"

Rue nodded sadly. I knew she didn't want to leave, she was happy here— but of course she needed to go home. I didn't blame her one bit.

"Her people haven't seen her in months," I explained. "They need her. And after everything, maybe we need this too. A change of pace. Somewhere we're not just the ninja."

Rue shifted uncomfortably, but I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

Cole shrugged. "Honestly? I'm in. A couple of days in the Jungle sounds better than city stress right about now."