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The sidewalks were covered with people, civilians alike calling for taxis; screaming at their phones to make up for the loud beeps of cars, and chatter on the outside of shop’s seating areas. It was overwhelming, suffocating even. Music blasting in his ears, he just needed to stop by the gas station for something to eat before work, because a certain apartment cat decided to raid his pantry after he let it inside. He’d make sure to ignore the scratching at his door and desperate meows from now on. Morro’s footsteps were heavy, combat boots kicking aside trash as he walked mindlessly down the city sidewalks. Weaving between people in a pattern many people have perfected from having lived here so long.
That familiar smell of gas hit his nose, his face churning into one of disgust. He put his hand absently by his nose, trying to block out the disgusting oder as the corner store came into view. It stood out dramatically around the tall apartments of Ninjago City, the chain fences on the sidewalk blocking it and the graffiti on the walls that the owners had been too lazy to have scrubbed off. Either way, it had exactly what Morro was looking for. Chocolate, lots, and lots, of chocolate. He gave himself a silent reminder to buy some for Lloyd while here, his sweet tooth wasn’t any better then his cousin’s.
He turned on his heel into the parking lot; eyes flickering over the vehicles parked by. Gaze lingering on, in his own opinion, a very beautiful looking motorcycle. The wind elemental would’ve stopped for a second longer if not his dying hunger eating at his stomach. He pulled one headphone out of his ear, the automatic doors opening as he entered the small yet filled store. Immediately being greeted by the cold air conditioning, heading directly towards the candy aisle. There was a girl just on the other end, looking over a bag of chips. Morro payed her no mind; but he did admire the leather jacket she wore. He made a mental note to find his later.
He wasted no time snatching up two of his favorite candies, and grabbing some sour gummies for Lloyd next time he stopped by the shop. The girl from earlier had already left the aisle, and was at the register paying. He waited, watched her leave, put his stuff down with a twenty, and got his bag of goods. The wind elemental’s mouth was practically drooling at the sight; he was already resisting the urge to devour it all right then and there.
And then he heard an ear bleeding scream from outside. He practically shoved his way through the doors, not waiting for them to open all the way. His dad’s training kicking in as he scanned the parking lot and gas stations. Eyes landing on, well, a horrific scene in his biased opinion. A guilt filled feeling bubbling in his chest.
The teenage girl from earlier, collapsed to her knees at what Morro presumed to be her motorcycle he saw while walking up. The thing was covered in dents, and some icky oil no doubt the perpetrators took from one of the hoses at the pumps. The paint job was scratched, in short; it looked destroyed. Ridable, only if you’re okay with a life-hazardous trip.
“No! No—god damnit! Fuck! Fuck—fuck..!” Her voice echoed, a few civilians turning to see what all the commotion is about. A few giving her a dirty look at her sailor mouth, the girl continued to curse. Getting up to kick at the pavement angrily; Morro could see her try and hold down tears forming in her eyes. He had two options here, one, leave the young lady alone and go on about his day; or two, offer his help. Sometimes he thinks the universe is putting him in these situations, he already has three other teens at his record store’s doorstep on a daily.
He didn’t know much about paint jobs; but he certainly knew a thing or two about the engineering side of cycles. He remembers distinctly a time when his dad refused to buy him one, calling it a ‘death-trap on wheels.’ He huffed at the memory. With a heavy sigh, he rolled the bag up onto his arm and jogged over to the upset girl. Immediately, her eyes snapped to him and yelled before he could even get a word out.
“This was you, huh? Oh—I’m going to rip you to shr—“ A finger shoved its way at him accusingly.
“Woah! Woah! Hold it, kid. I didn’t do this…” He said, gesturing to her motorcycle.
She didn’t look convinced; but glanced back to her ride. Sniffling back a few stare tears as she patted the cut up seat, trying to keep composure before turning back to the wind master. Eyeing him like he was something from another world. “What do you want, then?” There was a small bit of bite behind her trembling voice.
Hesitantly, Morro stepped closer. Admiring the damage done to the poor cycle; he wanted to touch it. Graze his fingers over the metal, but he knew the girl would probably bite his fingers off if he tried. He shuddered at the though.
“I know a thing or two about bikes; I could lend you a hand fixing her up?”
“What’s your price?”
“No price, just someone trying to turn over a good leaf is all.”
Partly true, Morro winced at the memories of his angsty; aggressive and overall asshole younger self. Three ‘A’s he’d rather not repeat. He thanks his dad and annoying cousin for helping him get better, he gently knelt down to see the tires. The air inside could practically be called usable, as it smushed against the ground like a flatten pancake. It was rusty on some of the rods, not to mention how old the model it was based after is. Morro is all for vintage, but this? This was just sad.
“Why should I trust a stranger?” The girl huffed; leaning on her bike’s handles.
The wind elemental shrugged. “It’s just an offer, kid. I got a record shop a few blocks up..I’d be happy to let you use the alley behind it to work if you don’t trust me with it.”
“Hah! This just sounds like a poor excuse for a kidnapping.
That made Morro snort; a surprised laugh leaving him. His phone vibrated in his pocket; the time beeping back at him. He probably wouldn’t have enough time to open shop, restock the boxes and wall shelves in time if he didn’t leave now. He silently groaned in his head for his poor time management skills.
“Look—the offer still stands, don’t be scared to drop by.” The wind master spoke; turning to start his treck back to the record shop when suddenly the girl pulled on his jacket. Stopping him in his tracks, he sent her a risen brow. Hesitation lying in her before she spoke. “How will I know which one it is?”
Morro chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’ll know. Just pull the old thing in the back, knock twice..I’ll be there as soon as I can..” He continued the letter, urging for a name so he wouldn’t be calling her some dumb nickname in his name forever.
“Nya.”
“Nya.” He snapped his fingers. “Hope to see you soon.“
And with that. He left, hoping the girl thinks over his offer. Popping a candy into his mouth, already had given up on resisting it.
Later on that week, on a Friday afternoon. The wind elemental was just finishing up with a customer when the wind blew him the sound of two thumps hitting the back exit. He finished up with the man he was helping; and ran over to the entrance to flip the sign to ‘closed.’ Almost tripping over his shoes as he rushed to the back, going through the employee’s lounge and being met with the same frustrated girl from the corner store. Nya had her arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, eyes blurry with her motorcycle sitting against the wall behind her.
“Are you just going to stand there? Or help?” Her voice interrupted his thoughts, Morro rolled his eyes playfully at her attitude, it reminding himself of his own teen days. Even if he was only a few years older then it. The second he hit Twenty Three, he could’ve been pronounced dead.
Anyway.
True to his word Morro pulled an out toolbox he kept in the back’s storage closet. It was a gift from his dad, which he refused to throw away..even after the small falling out they had after he was gifted it. It still held all the green handled tools, he brought it back out to the alley where Nya was waiting. Texting absently on her phone; her eyes meeting with the box, stars in her pupils as she saw all of the contents. She turned up to Morro, who had a smirk on his face.
“Jus so you know, Mr.Emo, my brother knows I’m here—so don’t even think about killing me!”
“Mr—wha..okay. It’s Morro, kiddo.”
The girl wasn’t even listening by that point. As much as the wind elemental wanted to get his hands on the bike, he knew to respect the girls boundaries. He left her to her work, going back inside the shop to clean up for closing. The distant sound of clanking and tinkering could be heard. A few times he had run back out after hearing a small yelp of pain, only to find Nya with a rod on her foot and her cursing quietly under her breath. Morro rubbed at the bridge of his nose, all these clumsy teenagers are going to give him grey hairs. He swears to the First Master about it.
By the time the sun was setting, he heard a cheerful yell from out back. Being greeted with a smile as Nya jumped up and down on her heels, ranting too him about her new and improved bike. The wind master ignored the threats she made to whoever vandalized it in the first place, something about running them over and drowning was the only thing he heard. He shivered. A sheepish look came over the girl’s face, as he outstretched the toolbox she was lent back to it’s owner.
“Thank you, Morro. Sorry for calling you a..creepy emo serial killer.”
“Yeah, whatever. Five stars or what?”
Nya laughed. Throwing her head back with a devious snicker. “Maybe..only if you let me use your back alley as my own personal workshop!” She spoke, only to go quiet. Suddenly shrinking in on herself, and murmuring under her breath. “If..that’s okay.”
Morro hesitantly rose a hand, ruffing the kid’s hair. She swatted at him as he cackled. “Just don’t go scaring away my customers with your sailor mouth.”