~On the few more days before Christmas I uploaded on this site
An update on Chapter 13~
And it's a doozy. So enjoy and stay safe. Merry Christmas and Seasons Greeting!
Disclaimer: See the first page. Guess the alluded episodes if you like.
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[The Good, The Bad and things get Ugly]
Part 2
Flashback
The mischief-maker can still hear Luna's disapproval as she secured the last tripwire from a series of traps laid down in the hallway. Luan hoped that his easy-going attitude may equate to a better appreciation for a simple prank.
But that doesn't mean she did not heed her sister's warnings. Luan made certainly sure that the pranks are simple, mild, washable, escapable etc… and most of all: safe.
She stippled all noises when footsteps were heard from behind her door. But Luan became increasingly confused when that was all she heard.
She quietly exited her room to take a peek and was baffled by the still intact traps. Wondering if she was just hearing things, Luan was startled by an upside-down face. It was kind of Lincoln to let her use the bathroom first to clean-up.
She later exited to find Luna had fallen in line with a dumbfound expression at their brother who is standing on the ceiling! Lucy was also there looking up enviously.
"Wow! You have gotten the hang of things. Hahaha! Get it?" Luan congratulated the gravity-defying ninja.
"One of our training is detecting and defusing traps." He rubbed his chin as something came to mind. "Though not in the program, there is an unorthodox but safer way of dealing with traps and that is through pranking."
"And for the supposedly dead last, my former student was very creative. I even fell for some before I wised up." His sisters were torn between awe and disbelief when their brother shared some stories like the one where Naruto painted the Hokage monument.
"Wow! He must be really good!" The Jonin-sensei left out that he rarely got caught in some complicated ones because of knowing Naruto oh so well.
'Lincoln' chuckled in fondness of his student as he landed on the floor. "Maybe he was. But many times, his pranks are just funny and relatively harmless." he softly mused before closing the door. That offhanded comment stirred an uncomfortable uncertainty that Luan tried to laugh away… and failed.
xxxxx
"Luan, aren't you just overthinking?" Lynn fell back when her usually cheery and sometimes annoying sister angrily stood up.
"But he's a Ninja Commander! Master saboteur! The cream of the crop! The best of the best! Yet he fell for the basic eraser prank! What does that say?!" Luan challenged. Those who quickly got what she was implying were hesitant to answer though she didn't wait for it. "He allowed it! It's because the prank is funny and harmless!"
The anger was quickly extinguished as she slumped down in sadness. "But what does it say of me? Does that mean Lincoln see my pranks as harmful? Does he see me as a threat?" Leni offered the plushy and a hug hoping to bring back her smile.
"Now, now. Let's try to relax." Lori tried pacifying. "Lincoln did say he came back from an intense battle. Mom said soldiers can be a bit jumpy even in normal life."
"A bit?" Lana realized she said it aloud when everyone was looking at her. Feeling that she should explain, the little tomboy braced herself to relive the scariest moment in her life.
xxxxx
Flashback
"Lincoln! Stop!" Lana fearfully cried as she broke through an invisible but icy wall.
Like a switch, the heavy air vanished when Lincoln noticed her. "Is this yours?", pointing out the creature in their midst.
Once the focus was diverted, the reptile quickly slithered back to its owner. Lana wasn't sure who's shaking but it was clear that they were both scared. "Ye- Yeah… His name is El Diablo."
"I… I'm so sorry." His voice did sound remorseful, but it cannot erase the image of her pet snake frozen in place as her brother stood over it with a knife in hand!
That cold stare was not directed at her but the fear she felt was beyond imaginable "You- You almost…" Lana tries to not think of what might happened if she was only a second too late.
"I'm sorry. In Konoha, snakes have a very… mixed reputation." He turned his sight away… for her sake. "The only reason I did not strike is because he stopped. A friend of mine made sure hers does that." Lana was too busy keeping her distance that she failed to see the brief flash of sadness.
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"He was really scary." Lana softly whispered. Lola ignored the dirt and grime as comforting her distressed twin was more important.
"Hmmm… The Serpentes specie is another trigger." Lisa wasn't aware that she was thinking out loud before noticing their gathered attention.
"Based on the many worrying signs you all mentioned: like nightmares, avoidance of some topic and now triggers, Lincoln shows possible manifestations of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Lily was still not able to understand such serious concept, but she knows that Lucy was... sadder than usual. The baby huddled to her quiet sister to provide any comfort she can give.
"How did you come to that?" Lori asked, she and some were familiar with the condition due to various media.
Lisa explained her theory. "Such condition is not uncommon amongst those with similar occupation. Recovery rate varies between individuals. And considering Lincoln was a high-ranking officer, is it probably mandatory to have frequent psychological evaluation to reduce compromising his mental competence."
"But as whoever his physician is may no longer be available, Lincoln had to cope accordingly. Which explains his numerous distractions from pastimes to responsibilities." And considering his position in their military, Lisa silently wondered what repercussions were caused by his absence from that dimension. Hopefully non-violent.
"So why don't we get him one here?" Some thought back on Clyde's offer.
The little scientist too considered the option but was hindered by various factors. "One of the prerequisites for effective treatment is the admittance of the need for it. Forcing it on Lincoln might trigger him as a form of 'meddling'." She intentionally used that word to punctuate its importance. "There may be other factors but currently the most significant is the patient himself."
"Why would Lincoln be the problem other than maybe not wanting to talk about it?" Lynn genuinely asked, somehow indirectly basing on herself.
"How should he explain the leave of absence as a veteran soldier while still looking like a child without questioning his sanity?" The silent realization proved her point. "My thought exactly."
"But why not come to us? We can hear him out, right girls?" Leni wondered why some looked nervous in agreeing. They talk to each other when they have troubles, so why can't they do the same for Lincoln?
Lisa gave her professionally-sounding answer. "It all comes down to experience of both the patient and the practitioner. There are things that Lincoln had been through in the line of duty that we cannot comprehend. Information that he guardingly refuses to divulge."
They agree on that front as they can only inaccurately imagine being in a soldier's boot… or a shinobi's sandal. They were shocked at first but were thankful that mom let Pop-Pop in on the secret. Considering his military background, their grandfather has a better chance of relating with his now adult grandson.
Lisa continued her lecture. "Another is our experience. Not necessarily being similar with his upbringing but how to conduct ourselves as a non-biased listener. So unless any of you has a certain understanding of psychological therapy, it's best not to force our way."
"Why don't you be his therapist? You do sound like one." Leni's simple but precise statement garnered their agreement.
But they felt something was wrong when Lisa refused to meet their gaze. Not the shifty one where the little girl tries to hide her mistakes but more like she wants to hide away entirely. "That… is not possible."
xxxxx
Flashback
"Lisa, what are you doing?" Lincoln dryly asked as he was washing the dishes.
Lisa has swiping some sort-of scanner all over his body, particularly around the head. "Before your disappearance, I implanted a tracking chip to every member as to aid in locating them when the need arises. I am hoping to analyze it to better investigate your interdimensional travel."
"Hmmm… I thought that shrapnel looked strange." Lincoln said pensively. Lisa did not find it comforting considering where it should have been implanted… or how it was impliedly removed.
Filing the info down as another hypothesis for the mask, Lisa pushed through unaware where her line of thought is going before it was too late. "I can install it once more to monitor your every-."
She was startled at the sound of breaking glass. But what cut deeper was her brother's sharp glare. Just as quick, it was masked by a convincingly non-threatening expression as he took in his bleeding hand. "Whoops. Clumsy me." Based on the contradicting observation…, Lisa realized she (there's no sugarcoating it) messed up… Bigtime.
And for the whole day, he 'gently' declined anything she offered to make up for her insensitive blunder. The little genius didn't know which was worse: the expected heated admonishment or that cold rejection.
xxxxx
Lisa can't help but sympathize with Luan. Many would misunderstand the nonchalance as being open but it only disguised how tight-lipped he was concerning… well, about everything. Now she understood his guarded behavior… It's because she was a threat.
And speaking of threat: Lynn loomed over her with a very angry expression. "Are you trying to scare him away again?!"
Lisa put up a strong façade, deciding to firmly defend her discovery. "I will admit I overlooked to take into consideration of such invasive breach of privacy. But in my defense; I didn't expect him to react so negatively."
"How would you not know?" Lynn incredulously asked. For someone so smart, her little sister can still be childishly… foolish when it comes to social norm.
Such childishness was aggravated when things were not going her way. "Let me answer that with a counter question: How would you know he would react that way?"
"Well, duh! Anybody would be pi-eeved with being bugged without their permission!" After checking that Lily's ears was covered, Lynn returned eye-contact with the stubborn genius.
The standoff continues as the air became thicker. "Noted. But how are you exactly sure that is how he will react? Like how you expected Lincoln would retaliate when you admitted to be at fault?" The girl fearfully backed away as her other sisters dogpiled on the furious athlete. Lisa again realized too late that she has gone too far.
Once Lynn calmed down a bit, Lori let go of her hold and reprimanded the instigator. "Lisa! That was uncalled for!"
Lisa frantically apologized to the sportsgirl, who just grunted but did not appear to want to attack anymore. But she stubbornly clung to her belief. "But it is not incorrect! None of us know the full extent of our brother. What Lincoln has been through or what he is truly capable of."
"He even admitted that deception is one of the key attributes of a shinobi." They all reluctantly cannot deny that.
"But Lincoln won't lie to hurt us, right?" Luan wasn't the only one who looked doubtful.
Lisa conceded on that possibility, no matter how naïve it sounded. "Maybe he was being truthful, but not completely. Our brother only allows us to know what he is willing to divulge."
"So, let me rephrase my earlier question: Do we really know Lincoln?" Every girl looked to one another, hoping the other has the answer they seek. When the silence became too much, Lola was next to crack under pressure.
xxxxx
Flashback
"Oh… Linky! I, the great and generous Princess Lola, invites you to a once in a life time super special tea party! Its only for VIPs, so you should feel very honored!" Lola showily addressed the inhabitant of the closet/bedroom.
She found him finally typing on the laptop, glancing at a book occasionally. Lincoln looked over and acknowledge her invitation. "Thanks, Lola. I would love to join but I have to finish this first."
Clearly not the answer she liked; Lola tried to suggest a solution. "But can't you make your copies do it for you?!"
"Tempting but I try not to rely too much on my Jutsus. I'll try to finish all these sooner." Seeing the one bandaged arm, she remembered her brother was ordered to rest. But couldn't he just make one?!
One would think the girl would be more considerate while he was injured, but Lola is still at an age where they tend to be a bit more selfish. She then resorted to underhanded tactics. "If you don't want to play…, I'll tell everyone your secrets."
"Which ones?" he asked unfazed.
Clearly not the reaction she was expecting, all the princess can do now is bluff. "Oh… uh… They are really funny and very embarrassing!"
"I bet those are interesting tales. I would like to hear them later." And he had the nerve to give that hidden smile and head-pat to think it was all better!
Angered by his easygoing dismissal, Lola marched into her room to plan for payback. But when she started thinking of contingency plan in case for his comebacks, progress was abruptly halted.
She had been thinking how her brother would react… back then when he was still a kid. So now that Lincoln is a grown-up… how will he respond?
Sure, Lincoln appeared carefree but he knows how to take charge of a situation. He is very patient, but for how long?
Lola thought back on what she may have used against him. But he was not worried of it and appears interested. Didn't Lincoln said he forgot things? If she told him about it, will he remember? And how will he react: good or bad?
In the end Lola realized…, she really doesn't know how he will react. She doesn't know what he knows now. She doesn't know her brother!
The gloomy princess ignored the cookies he left as an apology for being so late. But for now, she doesn't know how to respond to this… stranger.
xxxxx
"Not you too?!" Lynn was held back by two of her older sisters. She wasn't going to do anything… physical. Just scare the brat a bit.
Lola finally broke down in tears. "I'm sorry! I thought when he came back, everything will be back to the way it was! But obviously there will be changes!"
Seeing the normally petty but confident girl crying badly was shocking to say the least. "I promised to be nicer if Linky came back. And now he did!" They all remembered making a similar promise.
"But- But- That-... He isn't Lincoln!" Some tried to calm her, but Lola was having none of it. "He doesn't play with me anymore and he's always busy!"
"He isn't my pageant coach or my favorite butler, Sir Linkington." One would think it was an intense tantrum… but each felt an ache in their heart, knowing why their sister is crying hers out.
"He's not my Linky! I want my real big brother back!" This time Lola didn't care if she was a mess, the tearful girl readily accepted her twins comforting hug. More of her sisters joined the embrace having also felt that longing emptiness.
Lynn got close to her once more, this time all aggressions removed from her concerned face. "Hey, come now, Lols! Sure, he had been busy but Lincoln probably didn't mean it." During the initial phase of his plan, they admired and greatly worried how scarily efficient their brother was able to multi-task.
"I bet if Linc isn't so busy, he would give you the time of the day." They all thought back that recently he has more free time. And how readily the middle child was in giving aid.
xxxxx
Flashback
"All done. You're good to go! Hahaha! Get it?!" Luan said to her brother as she exited the bathroom. She still can't translate that book's cover.
"Wished I didn't." Lincoln said as he tucked away his novel.
Then all of the sudden, they felt the house shake… like a stampede of horses. And when they turn to find Lynn with a sweaty face so tight, you can't blame them if she looked like one.
Her expression was waging a war between prideful determination and wavering desperation. It was such a pathetic sight.
"Ladies first." he offered. But not enough to not poke fun at.
Lynn would fight over such feminine description but she's losing a battle with the double bean jalapeño burrito. Before she slammed the door, a can of air-freshener was tossed in. "Make sure you spray after!" her brother cried from the other side.
He took several steps away from the door which Luan followed. "Didn't you want to use the bathroom?"
"Not as bad as her." Lincoln calmly responded. But they shared a sense of unease when Charles, Cliff and every animal hightailed from the second floor.
"Where are you going?" Luan called out when he started heading downstairs.
"To find more toilet papers… and those little trees for the car."
*FLASH*
"Sorry, Whitney! But I'm on my way!" Lori quickly hang-up before her friend could ask the current location. She didn't forget their group project. She just remembered it 15 minutes after mom left her with Lily for a grocery run! And ever since she has been trying to find someone to take care of her baby sister.
Before she could reach the point of 'drastic measure', her answer came in a form of her white-haired 'little' brother.
"Are you sure?" Lori asked just for certainty, forgetting for a moment who she is really talking to.
Lincoln took the initiative of taking the excitable baby. "Very. And weren't you in a hurry?"
After a quick thanks, she dashed to get ready. All while her siblings watched with mild interest. "So, Lily-imouto. What do you want to do this afternoon with Lincoln-niisan?"
"Ni-na!" Lily cheerfully copied.
He just smiled at the adorable attempt. "Close enough."
*FLASH*
Lincoln was amazed yet very baffled that with a wide variety of programs to choose from, he still wasn't sure what's interesting. This baking show did for 5 seconds before he changed. "Awww!"
The ninja looked to the side to find the twins who let out the whine. "Is something the matter?"
"No. It's just we want to watch Operation: Dessert Storm." Lola answered with Lana nodding.
"Then why can't you?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"You have the remote first and-." Lana watched in shock when her brother changed back the channel and handed her the remote.
"But you had the remote first!" Lola incredulously asked, finding the action somehow foreign in a household where everyone competes in manners great and small.
"Meh… There's nothing of interest at the moment. Why not let someone else benefit?" Lincoln said as he stood up to leave. Suddenly the rest of his siblings entered, suspiciously like they had been lying in wait. They insisted that he watch with them and since there was nothing better to do, the Loud 'boy' decided to give the show a try.
xxxxx
"See? Lincoln said he didn't like sweets but he still watched with us. He can still do stuffs with us if we ask nicely." Lynn smiled when they seem to reflect on her words. "He is our brother! We should know him!"
"Correction: Known! And he tolerates anything that will not compromise his security. And based on observation, Lincoln puts up with us is because he can take us all on singlehandedly." Lisa didn't mean to antagonize, but those were facts.
"But we don't know for how long this tolerance will last. He doesn't need us! He is far superior than anything we can imagine!" But the given facts and the many unknowns is becoming confusingly scary for the young girl. A sentiment each girl felt that coldly gripped their heart. "None more glaringly obvious than the power he possesses that defies the laws of nature."
xxxxx
Flashback
"Emergency evacuation!" the Loud's second youngest child screamed through the house one cloudy night during a blackout.
Good news: the power outage happened before the incident, so no complaints there.
Bad news: A single mishap that led to such dire situation. The blackout and dark clouds gave Lisa a perfect opportunity to test her latest invention. Simply put, Lisa wishes to harness the power of lightning as a power source.
But for it to work, it needs lightning. So, Lisa activated her invention to basically jumpstart the clouds thus causing a hole in their roof. But that will be the least of their problem after she realized some miscalculations.
The energy shot into the atmosphere will gather-.
"Boom! House go bye bye!" If Lisa skipped all preambles and explained it in terms Lily can comprehend, it's going to be that bad. Losing the roof will be the best-case scenario…, that is hoping the machine doesn't overload and blow up the rest of it. The only good thing so far was that she had a portable device that can calculate the anticipated completion of the electrical discharge before it strikes down on them.
As they gathered what can be saved to be brought to the underground bunker, they heard a phone ringing. Lori was about to hang-up before seeing the caller's ID.
"Lincoln?!" All activities were halted as Lynn Sr. did a headcount.
"Lori! Put Lisa on the phone!"
"Why? And, where are you?!"
"I'm on the roof-!" They followed Lori as she ran to the front yard. Trying to fight the strong wind, they found Lincoln firmly fixed on the roof.
"Are you bloody mental?!" Luna wasn't sure if it was intentional, but she was nailed by a somewhat heavy shirt which was actually wrapped around his phone. It's good to have his priority straight! (Note: Sarcasm)
"Lincoln! What are you doing?!" Lori shouted despite being afraid of whatever answer he'll give.
"I may have a way to stop if not divert the lightning strike! But I need to time it accurately!" They admired his courage, they really do. But there is a difference between being brave and being dead!
"That is scientifically impossible! Nothing can match the speed let alone the power output of raw electrical energy!" Lisa rebuked as she worriedly looked at the dwindling numbers.
"It's like fighting fire with fire! But we don't have the firepower!" Lynn's mind was racing, even considering dirty means just to get him safely down.
Anymore protests were silenced as what they are seeing made their hair stand on end. If they were any closer, that would have literally happened.
After a quick series of hand-seals, he grabbed his wrist in a stance they saw once. Only this time the pose has reached the level of hardcore as electric currents gathered around him. As if to replicate Mother Nature, the shinobi generated a thunderstorm in his grasp.
The brightness detailed the warrior's hardened gaze, freezing them in fear. One watched in awe as her dream has become a reality (Note: Not that kind).
The trance was broken when their brother called out once more. "Lisa! I will only get one shot! How much time left?!"
"You! Are! Bloody! MENTAL!"
"Lincoln! It's not safe!"
"Lisa! I need a number!"
"Please! Get down from-."
"LISA!"
"6 SECONDS!" And like the aforementioned adversary that he is foolhardily going against, Lincoln swiftly dashed across the roof.
5…
He hopped onto the chimney and planted a firm foothold.
4…
With an outstanding amount of force, he reached heights far greater than anything possible by normal human capability.
3…
The power in his hand intensified, as if challenging the heavens.
2…
His weapon was drawn aside, ready to be unleashed in a split-second fury.
1…
Then he struck before an intense flash forced them to shield their eyes.
The device had a recording feature which was unintentionally on. And once the contrasts were adjusted, it was able to capture a dynamic image of that extraordinary feat. The 'White Lightning' had never been proven more fitting.
Once they regain their sight, they cheered as their home was left standing. But a shadow of doubt festered some realizing they are housing a force of nature. And… they don't know what to do.
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And how can Lincoln repair his bond?
Due to episodes not being in chronological order, some may end up Pre- or Post- NSL... So I'll try to figure out along the way. So if you have suggestions, go for it (I mean how to integrate an OP ninja in all this shenanigans).
Ideas and suggestions will be taken into consideration. Keyword: Consideration. But I'll leave something to think about: So if Lincoln is Ace Savvy, what is Kakashi's persona? I'm going for something like 'Dealer' but let's hear some ideas.
xxxxx
OMAKE
Optional Skit (Depending on the mood. If you want something to lighten it, go ahead. But if you somehow liked the heavy feeling, come back later. Enjoy.)
Once their sight was cleared, they looked around for their hero. Some heard a loud crash from behind the house which was a good place to start. In their backyard, the found scattered branches and a crater.
All looked around, worried that they will find him in a similar state like that one earth-shattering night. Leni made a semi-intelligent effort of shouting down the hole. "Lincoln! Where are you?!"
"Leni! Over here!" She eagerly looked behind to only instantly freeze. From his position, Kakashi looked up at his shocked still family in confusion.
It was when Leni fell on her knees and cried to the heavens that Kakashi realized what he might have looked like to them. "Linky got blown to bits!" He quickly reassured them that this burrowing was a Jutsu and that down the hole he is still… whole (Dang it, Luan!).
After waking up those who fainted to the supposedly disembodied head, they clamored around to reprimand him for scaring them half to death but mostly frantic worrying and thanking for saving their home.
"Here, let me dig you out!" Lana offered as she got closer.
Kakashi tried to warn her. "Wait! Lana don't-!"
*FZZZT!*
Thankfully the experience with electronics made the little mechanic brush-off easily the mild shock. Her hair however will need some serious brushing.
Deeming their cautious distance adequate, Kakashi explained his current situation. "I'm staying down here for now to remove the excess electrical charge." Lisa, as usual, was able to understand such unorthodox measure.
Kakashi would usually recover from such attempt without further repercussions (other than the obvious dangers). But considering he is missing one crucial prerequisite to execute the feat effectively, improvising had to be made. Thus, the supercharging of the Justu ensured that the bolt of lightning will head straight for him. And the timing was very essential. Speaking of timing…
"-incredible! How does this shinobi adapt to match the velocity of essentially raw energy?!-" Lisa looks so happy. Too bad he's upset with her right now.
"Lisa." The tone used instantly silenced the air. Right, this was basically her… oversight.
Gulping nervously, she tried looking for support from her other siblings but found them looking uncertain. It wasn't also comforting that her parents appeared just as lost.
It would have looked very silly with her looking down at him like this. "Yes, Lincoln?" But that gaze alone was enough to carry so much weight.
"First of all: thank you for that information I asked for. And I apologize for being so harsh." The little genius felt… appreciative for his acknowledgement. Which may have made her more accepting of what followed.
"But when I later get out of here; that machine of yours should better be kept somewhere secure or I might get rid of it myself." At least 'Lincoln' is willing to not outright destroy her invention, hoping that was what he is implying. "Understood?"
"Yes, brother." Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when his visible features relaxed.
"Lincoln, are you really okay?" his mother asked in concern after quickly picking up Lily.
He was able to give a shrug before calmly answering. "I probably expended a bit more energy than I should but I think I'll be fine after some rest and pain killers." His hand feels a little numb but they don't need to know that. And of all times to have phantom pain in his brand-new eye.
"So…, you're really okay, right?" Luan asked, looking very anxious if the twiddling thumbs is any indication.
"Sigh... Go ahead, Luan." Kakashi consented, bracing himself for the onslaught.
"For heaven's sake, Linc! You really 'shocked' us there! My heart was 'thundering'-!" What followed was a rapid-fire relaying of nature puns the likes they have never cringed to before.
Luna got down to incredulously ask her brother when the prankster reached the 3-minute mark. "Dude! Why did you let Luan run her mouth?" She was so close to copying an ostrich.
"-But you were awesome when you took 'charge' of the situation! We were 'thunderstruck'! Then you 'struck like lightning'-!"
"To calm her down. Don't you do something to ease the stress as well?" Yes, she does. But the rocker felt like staying away from her beloved guitar for now. Less she uses it as percussion on a dunderhead for scaring the c**p outta them!
"-I thought Lisa was the one neck deep in trouble. Are you going to 'ground' her? But we have to make 'dew'! Boy, was I 'breezing' through this!" Then Luan collapsed to catch her breath when she broke her 5-minute record. The only one who was very impressed was their dad.
"Are you done?" he tiredly asked. A thumbs-up from the panting heap was his answer.
Kakashi has a final request before calling it a day. "Oh, Lori. Can you ask Bobby if his mother is available tomorrow?" the middle child distractedly asked unknowing that the message sent mixed feelings to his family. None more conflicted than Lori. They all forgot that Mrs. Santiago was also in on his secret as the closest to a medical professional for occasions like this.