We Both Felt this Pain

Chapter 7: The Library

Lloyd's POV
I strolled around the Ninjago City library, trying to find a interesting book to read. Today was our day off, so we all got to do something we all wanted to do. Jay's going water-skiing, Cole's spending the day at a all-you-can-eat buffet, Kai and Nya are visiting their old village and I wasn't to sure about what Zane was doing. He didn't tell us when he left.
I went to the library because I wanted a little quiet time, just because life with the others can get a little loud. Then Zane suddenly popped into my head, causing me to smile. I wonder what he was doing. Whatever it is, I hope he's having fun.
I looked up at one of the shelves and saw a old book my father used to read to me. I decided to read it one last time. I tried to reach it, but I wasn't tall enough. "Curse my height of 5'5!!!" I yelled to myself in my head. I thought about asking someone, but it would be a bit embarrassing if a 15 year old like me asked for held to get a book from a shelve.
"Need some help?" a familiar voice said. I turned around and saw Zane leaning against a book shelve, his arms crossed, smiling at me.
"Zane? What are you doing here? I thought you were doing to go do something like everyone else" I said.
"Oh, well, the library's one of my favourite places to visit, I just didn't think you would be here" the Titanium Ninja said.
"I....just wanted a little quiet time, that's all" I answered, scratching the back of my neck.
"Hmm...I see" Zane replied. Then he looked up at the book I was trying to reach, then back at me.
"Trying to reach that book, I see?" Zane sneering, grinning.
"Yeah. Why did I have to be born so short?!" I exclaimed. Zane chuckled a little. Then he reached up and grabbed the book without a problem. Well, of course he did. He's darn 6'2.
"The Rabbit and the Wolf? I've never heard of this story" Zane said, handing me the book.
"My dad used to read it to me. It never got old, no matter how many he read it" I said, smiling, remembering the times he read it to me.
"Well, how about we sit down and you tell me about it?" Zane said, placing one of his hands on my shoulder.
"Oh, o-okay" I stammered. I was surprised about how interested Zane was to my book. We both sat down on a black couch, making ourselves comfortable.
"So, what's the story about? It certainly sounds interesting" Zane asked.
"W-Well, it's about a rabbit and wolf who live in the woods, who start off as enemies, but the become close friends" I said, smiling.
"Sounds interesting. And oddly familiar" Zane said.
"Zane?"
"Hmm?"
"C-Can you...read it to me? I kinda like hearing it from someone else, y'know?" I asked awkwardly. Zane smiled.
"Of course" he said simply, grabbing the book and flipping it to the first page. I made myself comfortable, scooting a little closer to Zane. The Nindroid cleared his throat.
"There once was a blonde-haired rabbit who lived in the winter woods. He often lived alone, burrowing himself in a small cave everyday to sleep. The only time the small rabbit left his cave was to go find food".
"One day, the little rabbit ran into a large, white wolf while he was gathering food. The wolf glared at him, as if he looked like a afternoon snack. The wolf asked, 'What is a little creature like you doing in the woods by yourself?' The small rabbit was terrified at first, unable to speak. Then he mustered up some words, 'I'm gathering food. I can only live for so long in a tiny cave'. The wolf made a worried expression. 'Why don't you come to my den? It is warm and I have plenty of food' the wolf said. The rabbit backed away a little. 'How do I know you won't eat me when I reach your home?' the blonde rabbit asked. 'I guess you'll have to trust me' the white wolf answered simply. Then the wolf walked towards his den, with the blonde rabbit following close behind.

I started to feel a little sleepy. The way Zane told the story, he made it sound so life-like, as if we were a part of the tale. I placed my head on Zane's shoulder, still listening to the story. He stopped for a moment and smiled at me, stroking my blond hair. Then he continued.
"By the time the wolf had led the rabbit to his den, the sun was setting. The wolfs den was warm and comfortable. The rabbit looked and saw a huge stack of berries and nuts. 'Eat up, young rabbit. You need your strength' the wolf requested. Then the rabbit started munching away on some berries while the wolf lay down on the floor of the den. When the rabbit was finally done, he moved closer to the wolf and snuggled up into his soft fur. The wolf noticed the rabbit's action and placed his soft tail onto him, wrapping it around him slowly. 'Wolf?' the rabbit asked. 'Yes, rabbit?'
"'Why are to taking care of me? Doesn't your kind eat my kind?' the rabbit asked. 'Not all of my kind eat yours. Some of us are kind' the wolf replied. And with that, the rabbit fell asleep next to the large wolf, feeling safe and secure'.
And from that day on, the rabbit and the wolf stayed together, watching over one another. The wolf protected the rabbit from any harm that came to them, and the rabbit helped manage the wolfs den and watch over the food. And they stayed together, until the day they both passed. The End'" Zane finally finished.
By the time Zane was done, I had moved even closer to him. Then sleep fully consumed me and I dozed off.
Zane's POV
I slowly closed the story book, placing it on my lap. I looked over at Lloyd, who had now fully fallen asleep beside me. I smiled, then placed a small, light kiss on his forehead.
"Pleasant dreams, little bunny" I joked. And then I felt my eyes starting to get heavy and I finally fell asleep.
Kai's POV
"Are you sure they were here? Maybe they're somewhere else" Jay said.
"Lloyd told us that he was going to come here. He has to be" I said.
Me, Cole, Jay and Nya were all finished doing our fun thing for our day off.
"Lloyd! Zane! Are you guys here?!" Jay exclaimed. Cole then punched him in the shoulder.
"OW! What was that for?!" the Master of Lightning yelled, rubbing his shoulder.
"Lower your voice, Zaptrap! This is a public library, you know!" Cole said.
"Says the one who's yelling right now, Rockbrain" Jay said, crossing his arms.
"Enough, you guys! Let's just keep looking" I ordered.
"Hey, guys!" Nya whisper-yelled. We all faced her direction. "I found them. Just try to whisper" Nya said. Then we went up beside her and we saw Lloyd and Zane sitting on a couch. Zane had a story book on his lap, asleep. Lloyd was sleeping on Zane's shoulder, with one of his hands on his chest.
"Awww.....they're so adorable!" Nya whispered, grinning.
"They must've got tried. Do you think we should wake them?" Cole asked.
"Naw. Let's just leave them for now. They deserve their rest" I said, smiling.
"Let's get out of here, before I die of boredom" Jay joked.
"And you wonder why you're doing bad during Sensei's lessons" Nya replied. We were just about to walk out the door when I looked back at them, smiling. They reminded me of Nya and I. Zane and Lloyd shared a bond that I've never seen before.