It's been days since the battle. Days since the defeat of Alex. Days since the death of my mother. I stopped counting after two days, so I can't really tell you how long it's been. All I can tell you is the aftermath.
Amongst the dead were Seok, Estera, Anthony, and other citizens that contributed to the cause. Marléne was piloting the last mech and went down in flames with it. Despite showing up, Lilly's mother, Angelique, never approached us once. I don't even think I saw even a piece of her after the fight. Alex is still on the run. Pierre's going to be staying in the city, and my mother was laid to rest not too long ago.
Since her death, I've rarely spoken to anyone and have kept to myself. I find it hard to get out of bed or even eat. I can't help but cry out of nowhere a few times a day, just by recalling her memory. I have frequent nightmares about her and Luo. It all just...hurts.
Today was just the same as the others. I struggle to get out of bed. I get lost in my thoughts while in the shower. I lock myself in my room, feeling tired already and upset. This time alone should heal me though. It heals my father. Why isn't giving me the same effect?
The sudden opening of a door startled me. Lilly must be coming in to retrieve something. I don't know what she would have forgotten though.
"Karma? Are you awake?" a familiar voice whispered from the door. It was Lloyd. Why is he in here?
"Yes," I answered, still facing the wall by my bed. I heard his footsteps near me, then the sinking of the side of my mattress. He must have sat down.
"Are you doing alright? The others are really worried..." he asked me. I nodded.
"I'm fine. I just need time alone, okay?" I replied. I didn't hear him speak for a solid minute.
"Listen, Karma, I know what it's like to lose a parent. It hurts a lot, I know, but please try to live through the pain. You can't keep locking yourself in like this," he spoke quietly. I hugged myself.
"It's the only way I can heal, okay?" I argued. I heard the Green Ninja sigh.
"No, it's not. You're just hurting yourself even more," he replied calmly. I turned over immediately, staring at him. He looked really concerned.
"I'm. Fine," I claimed firmly. Lloyd placed a hand on my arm, still looking concerned.
"Karma, you haven't eaten in days. I'm worried about you," he admitted. I sighed. Why is he so persistent? I can handle all of this myself, can't I? All of it is hurting, but I can fix this myself, can't I? I don't know. I sat up, facing him.
"I...I've just had a rough time. Between almost dying and losing my mom, I just can't stop hurting. I mean, her death haunts my dreams. It won't leave me alone. It just won't go away," I pulled my knees to my chest. I wanted to change the topic. I hated talking about it.
"I can relate, though I think the nightmares are normal for situations like this," he told me. I rested my head on my knees, sighing.
"I just wish I got some sort of revenge. I wish I had actually killed Alex!" I admitted, looking up from my knees, "Maybe then I wouldn't be so hung up on this. There would actually be justice."
Lloyd frowned. "I don't think that would have done anything. You're experiencing grief right now. It's something everyone gets when stuff like this happens."
"Listen, Lloyd, I know myself. I know what will make me happier. It would have done something," I argued. Lloyd looked at the floor.
"Wanting revenge tends to fall in to one of the categories of stages of grief," he said simply. I scratched at my bedsheets. Why doesn't he understand!?
"It would have done something, Lloyd! I wouldn't be stuck like this if I had just killed him! I would have been satisfi-!" I began to argue, but Lloyd snapped back.
"Killing isn't always the answer! It never is! Trust me, I know how you feel. I felt the same way when my father died!"
I stopped talking. I had made him bring up his father again. Great job, Seiko, you dragged him into this freakin' pit of sadness and depression too. I had a tendency to do that, but I never meant to. Oh god...I hope he's not offended that I started making everything about me. God, why am I so insensitive and stupid!?
"I'm sorry," I instantly apologized, looking away. He's probably upset too now. Ugh, sometimes I wish I would just shut up!
"Why are you apologizing?" I heard Lloyd ask, confused. Isn't it obvious!?
"I was making everything about me! I didn't even think about how others felt for even a second! I'm so sorry," I apologized again.
"Karma, it's fine. Again, that's normal. You just experienced a recent tragedy. You're bound to talk about how you feel. It's okay" he reassured me, before looking at the watch on his hand. "Crap, Uncle Wu's gonna be mad. I'm late for training."
He got up, but then gave a reassuring smile. "I'm sorry I have to leave so suddenly, but if you need anything or need to talk to anyone, remember you can talk to anyone here. We're all here for you, Karma."
I gave a tiny smile. I don't how someone that's supposed to be younger than me talks so much like an adult. Though, he made me feel so much better. The sadness may not have been fully gone, but he chased away some of it. It made me wonder why I had ever interpreted him as a little kid a year ago.
Just then, the thing Luo told me to do shot through my head. Why now though!? I thought to myself, isn't the time right now a little inappropriate, since he's late? And since I'm kind of in a depressed mood? My thoughts still pushed it though, saying that I would make Luo happy, and possibly even my mother happy. I agreed upon it then, not understanding why it would make my mother happy, but if she's happy then I'm happy.
"Wait," I said, grabbing Lloyd's hand before he walked out of the room. He turned and looked at me. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while."
"What is it?" he asked, waiting patiently. All I could do was stutter though, too nervous to spit these feelings out and expel all the awkwardness. What if he says he doesn't feel the same way!? What if I mess up? What if he doesn't understand me? I pushed these thoughts down in my head, trying to focus. Let's just get this over with.
"I...I...I'm a big nerd for you! A-And I don't know if you're the same way for me...s-so maybe we could go out for pizza sometime...n-not in a 'friends' way..." I confessed, stuttering here and there as I felt my cheeks warming. There, I said it. Happy, Luo? I could see Lloyd's cheeks becoming a dark red, to which I panicked internally. I embarrassed him! I knew this wasn't going to go well...
"Yes," he broke the silence, surprising me. I blinked.
"What?" I asked, not believing my ears.
"I said yes. I...I've been kind of meaning to say that too," he scratched his head nervously as his cheeks became a darker red. Relief spread through me. He...he actually does like me! For the first time in my life, a confession goes well! "Maybe we could go somewhere tomorrow or maybe after my training?"
I nodded, smiling. My feelings no longer felt trapped. Though, I did think of one awkward thing...
"Eh...and about what I said when you gave me that new staff...I...may or may not have meant it. I-I mean..." I struggled to speak. God, why am I so nervous!? I could see Lloyd smiling though, which relieved me. Did it come across okay? He started approaching me though.
"Well, since you didn't do it..." he spoke quietly before leaning down. What's going to happen? My heart was racing as if it were running a marathon. What's going to-
My thoughts immediately paused when his lips connected with mine, making my heart race like it never had before! My thoughts were a jumble, my cheeks were warm, and I felt as though I might explode! He actually... I couldn't think. I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. I was just too excited.
After a few seconds, Lloyd pulled away, smiling. "I'll see ya after training."
He made a tiny wave then left my room, leaving me frozen and blushing. Did he really... I was screaming in my head like a thousand fangirls. Though, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't imagining anything. It all was unbelievable.
He actually said yes.
Since our battle with Alex, our team has grown rapidly in popularity. We have our faces on billboards and chip bags. We're technically celebrities now...which is okay to me. Though, it's not what I desire.
I just hope our popularity doesn't break us apart or turn us against our morals.
A/N: THANK YOU for reading the third installment of The Midnight Two! To be honest, this one has been the hardest one to write so far, so let's hope Skybound will be a bit easier!
(P.S: Ninjago Season 6: Skybound us out RIGHT NOW in Asia with English episodes! You can find episodes 55 and 56 on YouTube!)
(Also: I post updates about this fanfic on my Tumblr account [Sapphireloid]. Just a thing to throw out there!)