Chapter Text
Leaves sweat across the steps of the monastery. The sound of birds chirping filled the crisp spring air. Kai sat on a bench basking in the warm sunlight. It had been a quiet day for the master of fire, nothing crazy had been happening. He had been able to get up late in the day, eat breakfast, and just do nothing.
The silence was disturbed by the sound of footsteps. Kai didn’t bother to turn around to see who it was, he could recognize the sound of those steps from anyone. Lloyd’s head rested on top of Kai’s, his arms draped around the man’s shoulders.
“Wacha up to?” Lloyd’s voice was muffled by Kai’s hair.
Kai didn’t know what they were. Kai could tell Lloyd had a thing for him, and it was mutual. They never said anything out loud but the soft touches, the side glances, the hugs that lasted longer than the others. But they even knew it was more cuddling, sleeping over in each other's room when one couldn’t sleep and Lloyd had even kissed Kai be it on the cheek but still. Neither of them brought up the topic but they both knew it had to be said sooner or later
“Absorbing sunlight.” Was all Kai said
“What are you, a plant?” Lloyd removed himself from Kai and moved to sit down next to him, closing his eyes as the sunlight also warmed over his body.
“Very funny coming from the master of green.” Kai replied, smirking as he draped an arm over Lloyd’s shoulder, pulling him in closer.
Lloyd just smiled as he rested his head on Kai’s shoulder. It was peaceful. They sat there in contention, enjoying each other's company.
After a minute, Kai turned to Lloyd, his eyes softened as he took on the almost sleeping form of the green ninja. Kai moved his arm down and pulled the smaller man onto his lap, running his finger through his blonde hair. Lloyd made sounds of contempt, enjoying the physical contact from Kai
“Your hair is getting long.”
Lloyd laughed softly. “You can cut it.”
“Really?” Kai sounded surprised as he turned to look into Lloyd’s eyes
“Yeah, I trust you not to fuck it up.” He smiled. “At least not that much.” Lloyd was laughing as he finished his sentence.
“Oh shut up.” Kai started to laugh
“Oh so scary, why don’t you make me a tough guy?” Lloyd replied, leaning closer to Kai’s face. Till their faces were inches apart. They both stopped laughing and just looked into the others eyes.
“Maybe I will,” Kai mumbled softly before pressing his lips against Lloyd’s, who returned it quickly, a small sound escaping his mouth.
After a few seconds, Kai pulled away, opening his mouth to speak
“Lloyd I,“ the sound of a radio crackling interrupted Kai’s words followed by someone talking over it trying to get Kai’s attention. It succeeded in pulling both of their attention to its sound. Kai unhooks it from his belt and brings it up to his mouth
“Repeat that?”
“Hey, Kai,” it was Nya's voice who came over the radio. Though it did sound distorted. “We have a report of some disturbance at the abandoned warehouse, and you are the most viable ninja to check it out.”
“Really right now?” Kai sounded really annoyed
“Yes, right not it might just be some dumb teen. Just make sure it's alright?”
“Fine!” Kai tossed the radio down on the bench and rubbed his eyes before looking back at the man who was still on his lap.
“Did Nya sound off to you?” Kai shook his head.
“Maybe the radio just needs to be fixed I’ll figure it out later. Talk later green bean?” Lloyd just nodded as he got off Kai’s lap.
“See ya soon,” Kai said as he started to turn around
“Wait,” Lloyd grabbed Kai’s hand. He turned back around. Lloyd kissed Kai on the lips. “Be safe,” he said softly as he pulled away.
“Always am.” Kai gave Lloyd a warm smile and a wink before turning away and off to the garage where he left only a minute later on his fiery red motorcycle.
Lloyd stood there with an awful sick feeling in his stomach.
Kai rode fast on his motorcycle, wanting to finish this small mission so he could make it back to Lloyd. Kai needed to be the one to finally talk to Lloyd about what they were. He couldn’t keep expecting Lloyd to do it. He was obviously too nervous
As he pulled up to the warehouse, he got off his motorcycle a little far back, setting it in lock mode. As he walked up to the warehouse, it was rusty and looked ancient. Kai went up to the door. It had no lock. He leaned in and heard some sounds inside
“This might take longer than I want.” Kai grumbled as he swung open the door and entered the building. It was extremely dark save for a few holes in the ceiling letting in peaks of sunlight. He stepped farther into the building, his eyes straining to see in the dark. The door shut behind him
Kai heard something behind him before he could turn around. A searing pain sprouted from his head and he stumbled forward, hitting the ground hard.
“What the?“ Kai turned, looking up to see a person standing there holding a crowbar in their hand, their face shrouded in darkness as Kai processed what he saw. The person lifted the bar and aimed it at his head.
Kai’s eyes widened as he quickly rolled out of the way, jumping up off the ground, his Gi now smeared with dirt. Pain rushed through Kai’s head as he moved, causing him to stumble, giving enough time to his attacker as they swung again, hitting Kai square in the stomach, throwing him into a wall where he slumped down. His head was spinning.
“Look who it is…” The voice was familiar and awful, but Kai couldn’t place it not in the state he was in. That was until the mysterious person stepped into one of the patches of sunlight
“Acronix, fucking hell!” Kai stood back up a little shaky but ready to fight.
“Oh Kai the red ninja, you ruined everything!” Acronix ran towers Kai bar raised in hand. Kai ducked and jumped out of the way. Adrenaline pumped through Kai’s body, letting him focus
“Where’s your brother?” Kai’s eyes moved around, scanning the area as he stepped back, creating space between him and his enemy
“He’s gone all because of you guys, and now I want your life in return,” Acronix moved closer, angrily radiating of his form.
Kai stepped farther away as his hand became covered in flame. He moved to send the fire over Acronix. Before he felt his entire form freeze he couldn’t move. Acronix walked closer to Kai’s frozen form, raising the crow bar and swinging it, hitting Kai straight in the head, causing everyone to go black.
Lloyd stayed outside in the sun for a while after Kai left before going back into the monastery he only got to the hallway, turning the corner and numbing straight into Nya
“Sorry Lloyd,” Nya said quickly. Lloyd looks confused.
“What’s are you up to? Did you finish what you were busy with?”
“What do you mean?” Nya sounded confused
“On the radio not too long ago when you called Kai for that mission cause everyone was busy.
“What are you talking about Lloyd? I never called Kai over the radio today?” Lloyd’s face fell even more. “Lloyd, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Nya, you sent Kai off on a mission to the warehouse.” Lloyd looked very serious
“Lloyd, I never did that.”
“Fuck! Nya, I think Kai is in trouble. We need to get a hold of Kai and go to the warehouse now! Get everyone together and head to the warehouse I’m going right now!” Lloyd sounded serious but laced with heavy worry.
Nya nodded and ran off. Lloyd grabbed his radio off his waste and connected to Kai’s line
“Kai! Come in Kai!” The raid crackled, but no one answered. “Shit!” Lloyd ran out to the garage, grabbing his motorcycle and speeding off to the abandoned warehouse as fast as he could not even bother to grab his helmet, needing to get to Kai immediately.
His head hurt. Kai opened his eyes. He was still in the warehouse but now on the ground, his wrists tied behind him and Acronix in front of him.
“You lied. You said Krux was dead, but he just froze me.” Kai glared heavily at the man in front of him but pain shot through his head and he grunted in pain.
“He is gone, but his powers aren't idiot” Acronix grabbed Kai by the hair, forcing him to look at him. “It’s over for you Kai. No one knows you're here, and they never will.”
Kai’s eyes widened. “That’s ashy. Nya telling me to come here was it?”
“No it wasn’t,” he slammed Kai’s head into the ground.
“FUCK!” Kai screamed out, “LAY OFF THE HEAD WOULD YOU!”
Kai felt dizzy. He wasn’t going to be able to escape. He couldn’t even focus his eyes on Acronix
“I’ll do what I want with you ninja,” he leaned towards Kai’s head and whispered in his ear, “You will never see your friends again.”
Kai was terrified he did not know what to do. “What are you going to kill me? Do it then!”
“No, you sweet idiot. I’m going to do worse,” he smiled, looking into Kai’s eyes. “I'm going to do to you what your own master did to my brother and I “I’m going to make you live in a world where everyone you love is dead.”
Kai’s eyes widened, and he panicked. “No, not them, just kill me!” Acronix kicked him in the stomach, causing Kai to double over.
“SHUT UP!” Acronix smiled widened, I’m not going to kill them, I'm just going to send you so far into the future they are all gone cause knowing you, that’s worse than death.”
A tear slipped from Kai’s closed eyes and his head bowed. There was nothing he could do.
“Goodbye Kai”
And everything went dark again
Lloyd sped down the streets of Ningxia till he finally got to the warehouse far outside the city. He quickly got off his cycle and ran up to the warehouse. His eyes fell on Kai’s motorcycle that stood there. Lloyd ripped his eyes away and ran to the warehouse doors swinging them open.
“KAI!!” He yells into the dark warehouse, the sun setting behind him. Lloyd summons an energy ball so bright it shines in every corner of the building. Lloyd’s heart sinks, his stomach hurts. He felt sick. There was blood on the walls and the warehouse was empty. Kai was gone and Lloyd was alone.