Work Text:
Kai didn’t like breaking promises. It left him with a bitter taste of guilt and shame haunting his mind for days or weeks after, depending on how severe. Promises were sometimes hard to keep, but he never intentionally broke them.
Except this time.
He’d sworn off alcohol after the team reunited following their victory—and loses—defeating Chen’s snake army. He knew that Lloyd hadn’t told anyone about his…retreat…to the Slither Pit when they’d lost Zane. The kid was too loyal for that; he knew Kai would tell them in time. And he did. He promised to never go down that path again, and for years, despite how hard it got, he held himself to his oath.
Until now.
Losing Nya to the ocean was…there wasn’t even the right word for it. Devastating? Tragic? It didn’t quite encompass the stabbing grief that tore through him every waking hour and restless night. It didn’t portray the significance of their loss.
Nya was his whole world, especially when they were younger. He practically raised her. She’d been his driver in becoming a Ninja in the first place. They’d seen each other through thick and thin and had never given up on the other.
But she was gone now, lost to the ocean. Well, not exactly ‘lost.’ She chose to merge with her element and leave them. Kai hated to be angry at her for her choice—after all, they probably would’ve lost if she hadn’t, and Jay would’ve died—but she left them. And she wasn’t coming back.
So yeah, Kai lost his willpower. He snuck out and went back to the Slither Pit. It was easy when the others were so distracted in their own grief. He could leave the Monastery without anyone batting an eye, and no one questioned him when he stumbled back at two in the morning. He avoided their questions and pretended like he was just going out to the ocean or to fight some street thugs. The others knew that his outlet for anger was to fight.
Nya would hate to see you like this, a little voice in his head scolded. So would everyone else.
Shut up, he snapped back, and downed another shot.
His reputation as the nightly Red Shogun grew. Old fighters knew about him from years ago, but the new ones had much to learn, and they did—quickly. One match and they realized that he was not there to play. That he was ruthless.
When the fights failed to snuff out his grief, the drink never failed. The muted calm that followed the evening made it worth everything in the morning when he felt horrible, both physically and mentally. So he went back in the evening to make himself numb again.
Word got out that the Red Shogun needed to meet his match. Kai heard whispers of someone coming that could put him in his place and dethrone the long-time champion. He smirked to himself as he sipped on a beer. Whoever was coming, he could take it.
But the days went by and no one came. The rumors died down. Kai was almost disappointed. He’s hyped himself up, looking forward to fighting someone that actually put up a challenge.
He finished his second fight for the evening when he sat heavily at the bar counter and ordered a beer. The waitress was new; this was her third day. Kai read her nametag as Morgana.
He didn’t watch as she prepared his drink. He rested his elbow on the counter and his head on his arm. Words echoed in his head.
“Back? Normal?”
“Do you hear it? The sea. It’s so loud. So powerful.”
“I have to go now. I will remember you.”
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
She hadn’t even looked at him.
He could only stand there in shock as his baby sister jumped off the building and dashed away into the open ocean. It’d been the last time he’d seen her. Despite the time he spent at the beach following her sacrifice, she’d never come to him. She might as well be dead.
“Tough day?” Morgana asked kindly, breaking Kai out of his thoughts. He just glared at her and took the beer. She hummed in sympathy. “Y’know, I never thought I’d see one of the Ninja down in these parts.”
Kai didn’t acknowledge. What did everyday citizens know about what they’d lost?
“We owe her everything,” Morgana continued wistfully. “We were cornered. Would’ve died.”
He drank more so he didn’t have to reply but he felt her watching him.
Morgana brought out two towels and started wiping the counter with one of them. It smelled strongly of cleaning chemicals that almost drowned out the scent of Kai’s drink. “The news didn’t get any video of her. Were you there?” At the glare Kai sent her, eyes turned into burning embers, she shrugged. “I just think it’d be harder if you weren’t.”
“Drop it,” Kai hissed, his first words to the bartender. She smiled sweetly. “It’s none of your business.”
Morgana shrugged. “Technically, you made it my business by coming into my business,” she replied in the same sickeningly calm voice. “Did you think they’d let a newbie run the bar? I own this place. And now you are my customer, so…” She swiped the cleaning towel on the bar where he was sitting and met his gaze.
Kai huffed and rolled his eyes. “Fine. Yes, I was there. That’s all you get to know.”
Morgana frowned slightly, her expression turning into one with the likes of a kicked puppy. “Don’t you think we deserve to know the full story? We were also saved by Nya.”
Kai slammed his glass onto the counter and shot to his feet as he leaned closer to Morgana, who didn’t flinch. “Don’t you dare say her name.” His vision spun at his sudden movement but he kept his expression unchanging.
The woman tilted her head. “Are you feeling okay? You look pale.”
Kai grit his teeth as a wave of dizziness passed through him. He slumped back in his chair and finished his drink. Did it always taste this weird? “I’m fine.”
Morgana kept her unblinking gaze on him as she grabbed her unused towel and rounded the counter. She looked concerned. Kai watched her carefully, but…there were two of her, then three…and the details were fuzzy…
When the bartender drew closer, Kai tried to lean away, but almost fell out of the chair. Morgana caught him around his shoulders and guided him off the chair. He stumbled into her as she started walking to the back of the bar. “Let’s get you some help,” she suggested with worry in her tone.
“No…” Kai weakly tried to pull away as his sluggish mind wrapped around what he really should’ve seen coming. Not watching her make the drink, the questions to keep him distracted, the strong cleaning chemicals to mask the smell of his drink, the taste when he finally noticed…
Morgana sighed and placed the towel over his mouth and nose. Kai’s limbs refused to obey as he desperately attempted to get free. Chemicals flooded into his lungs and the fight drained out of him.
Morgana led him into a dark room, then locked the door. Kai collapsed to the floor and she tsked as he escaped the towel. It reappeared moments later, along with Morgana’s face inches above him. “Go to sleep, Red Ninja,” she commanded.
The last thing Kai saw was her silhouette as she opened the door.
When Kai slowly came to, he was immediately blinded by bright lights directly above him. He was lying on his back, arms spread out to his side with cold metal clamped around his wrists and ankles. More metal anchored his middle to the table he lay on. A cloth wrapped around his head and over his mouth.
Kai tried to move and test his range of motion. He quickly discovered that even if he wanted to move, he couldn’t. His body refused to budge, even his head, which wasn’t bound to the table. He could only blink and breathe.
He tried to call on his element and found a gaping void where it should be. His eyes flicked to the side and noticed the faint golden glow embedded in the cuffs on his wrists. Not metal after all—vengestone. How did everyone have vengestone?!
Panic immediately set in. No powers, no control over himself, totally helpless. His mind flooded with the memory of what led up to his predicament.
Morgana.
The dangerous person he thought he was going to fight in the ring turned out to be the bartender, defeating him with a single drink.
He was so, so stupid. He should’ve seen the signs. He should’ve known!
A wordless yell cut through the silence. Kai’s chest heaved as his breathing picked up. This was really, really not good—no one knew where he was. He didn’t know how long he’d been unconscious, but it didn’t matter. If he wasn’t at the Monastery in the morning, no one would have reason to worry. He’d disappeared a lot recently. He wasn’t in his gi and didn’t have his tracker. No one would suspect that he’d go to the Slither Pits.
As if his thoughts could speak, a sickening laugh came from right next to him. Kai would’ve flinched in surprise if he could move. Morgana suddenly appeared in his vision. She was admittedly very pretty, with makeup done perfectly and glossy dark hair framing her face, all with the elegant black and purple dress she wore. If only she hadn’t kidnapped him.
“You’re awake,” she observed, leaning closer. “You must realize that you are in a very bad position.”
Kai tried to glare at her. He didn’t know if it came across.
Morgana smiled sweetly. “Yes, that’s right. Your precious friends can’t save you now. Only you can.”
How? Kai wanted to ask. How could he possibly get out of this when he couldn’t move or use his powers?
“The paralytic will wear off eventually,” Morgana explained. “Quite a fascinating combination, if you think about it. A little spiked drink with my own concoction and some chloroform to top it off. You’ve been asleep for several hours. Probably the best sleep you’ve had in weeks.”
It wasn’t, because Kai felt like he hadn’t rested at all. His eyes were heavy and he felt weighed down.
“The vengestone is just a precaution,” Morgana continued. “I can’t have you burning down my business, now, can I?” She continued talking, but Kai’s attention went elsewhere.
Because Nya was standing right behind Morgana.
She stared at Kai, expressionless, looking exactly the same as before she’d merged with her element. Her eyes were cold and unforgiving.
Nya…Kai begged. Help!
His sister’s body suddenly turned a bright blue and started dripping to the floor. She slowly deformed and melted to the ground, all without taking her eyes off Kai. No! He silently screamed. Wait! I’m sorry! I’ll save you, I promise—just stay! But she was gone between one blink and the next.
His attention drifted back to reality when Morgana spoke. “All that talk of the Water Ninja being a hero? What lies. She didn’t save anyone. The entire city flooded. I had to watch as my family drowned.”
So that was her motivation. But it wasn’t like the Ninja were the ones to flood the city. Nya had given everything to save it and clean up after Kalmaar and Wojira’s destruction. But he wasn’t about to say that to Morgana, even if he could. She needed someone to blame that she could actually get her revenge on. Kai was the target because he was the Ninja who went back to the lowest parts of the city.
“I bet you’re wondering ‘what now?’ Well.” Morgana reached to the side, out of Kai’s vision. “Now I get to properly grieve my family.”
She brought her hand back, holding a long and jagged knife.
Kai went pale. He saw Nya again, all glowing and watery but looking like herself, standing at Morgana’s side.
“You should thank me,” the bartender hummed. “All of your pain will be over today.”
She rested the knife over his shoulder. She smiled. “But not before mine.”
Kai didn’t feel the pain at first, too focused on Nya as she once more dripped to the floor and vanished. There was just pressure on his shoulder, growing sharper by the second. But then he was on fire.
Morgana didn’t make it quick, and for once, Kai was glad that he couldn’t move his head. He didn’t want to see. Agony erupted in his shoulder and down his arm. Warmth pooled on his skin then trickled down his arms as blood fell from the wound.
Then she went to the other side and did the same thing.
To his horror, Kai’s eyes filled with tears. The pain was unbearable. He’d been stabbed and sliced before, but not like this—this was deliberate and slow, not some bad guy’s lucky hit.
Morgana’s smile only grew as she continued. She went down to his ribs and started cutting a pattern in his skin. Kai cried out and desperately wished he could squirm away. But his body was still frozen in place.
The building suddenly rumbled. A flash of blue water danced in the air before disappearing into the wall.
Morgana’s confidence faltered and she let out a colorful swear. She stormed over to Kai’s face and pointed the knife an inch above his eye. “You called them! You gave up my position!”
He couldn’t think clearly from the residual drugs and the blood loss. But he definitely did not call his friends. He’d been unconscious, for FSM’s sake, and paralyzed. He couldn’t move.
Before Morgana could do anything else to him, like take out his eye, the door suddenly flew open. Kai let his eyes close as relief flooded through him, cool and comforting. He heard familiar angry shouts fill the space. He thought he heard Nya’s fierce yell. He thought her hand grabbed his.
I’m sorry, Nee, he wanted to say. He didn’t have tears left to cry. I let you down.
Yes, her voice replied. You did.
Sorrow tore through him and Kai wanted nothing more than to let it all go numb.
But he felt someone shaking him. “Kai? Kai!” His name echoed in his ears but it didn’t register who said it. “Kai!”
“Is he conscious?” Someone else demanded.
“I don’t know!” The panicked first voice was back, very close to Kai’s head. He knew he should open his eyes to find out who’d freed him, but he couldn’t find the energy. “Kai, squeeze my hand if you can hear me!”
He didn’t even realize that someone’s hand was wrapped around his own. He still didn’t feel it.
“We must get him to a hospital,” the second voice instructed. They said something else but it was lost on Kai.
The pain returned. His shoulders and chest burned in agony. The paralytic still coursed through his system and the vengestone kept his powers muted.
He was gone before he felt himself lifting off the table.
Kai felt leagues better when he woke up for the second time that day.
The invisible weight suffocating his body was gone, and the pain from Morgana’s knife had reduced to a dull throbbing. His powers rested in his body, idle and ready to be used.
He was in the hospital, one of his least favorite places. These white walls held too many bad memories. But he understood why. He knew what his predicament had been.
Then he noticed the chair next to his bed, occupied by a friendly face dressed in white.
“Zane,” Kai croaked.
The nindroid looked up from the book he was reading. His expression broke into a relieved smile as he realized Kai was awake. “Good to see you awake, Kai,” Zane hummed. “You gave us quite a scare.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, eyes downcast.
Zane placed his book on the chair as he stood and approached Kai’s side. “I am just glad that you are alright.” He didn’t give Kai a chance to reply as he continued. “The doctors flushed out the chemicals in your body and stitched the wounds. How are you feeling?”
“Awful,” Kai grumbled. Not just from the whole situation and his current state, but because of the others finding him at the Slither Pits. He hadn’t meant for them to ever know. He’d gotten caught.
“The doctors also discovered alcohol in your blood,” Zane added, studying Kai’s face. He winced and looked away. “Have you been drinking again, Kai?”
The Fire Ninja didn’t reply.
“You know that is not a healthy—”
“Yeah, I know,” Kai snapped, finally meeting Zane’s gaze. “But it’s all that was helping.”
Zane rested a hand on his arm. “You do not need to explain. I have not told Lloyd or the others.”
Kai stared at him. “You…didn’t?” He asked timidly. He hated how vulnerable he sounded, but…he was so relieved. It would destroy Lloyd to see him at the bars again.
“No. It is not my place to tell them. I recommend that you do that, sooner rather than later. But I will not force you to.”
Kai’s eyes grew damp and he furiously wiped them dry. “Thanks,” he mumbled. He couldn’t meet his brother’s eye as shame filled his whole being.
“I will tell the others that you have awoken,” Zane informed him with a gentle squeeze on his arm. “Please remember that we are here for you if you need to talk. Nya would not want to see you like this.”
Kai had to bite his lip to stop it from trembling. “I know,” he whispered hoarsely.
Zane patted his arm, then retreated. “I am glad to see you safe now,” he added softly. “I hope you will consider what I have said.”
He left before Kai could reply.
The Fire Ninja sighed as he leaned back into the pillow. For the first time since the attack, he let his mind speak freely and for his emotions to ravage him.
He missed his sister. So much.
Grief consumed him hard and fast, and kept him under its claws long after the other Ninja had come into the room and piled in the bed around him.
I promise, Nya, he silently pledged. I won’t do it again. For you.
It was a promise he didn’t plan on breaking.