AN: So as we wrap up the rest of Whumptober, I've got one final fic for you guys. It's been a blast, and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have! The plan after this is to finish up For the Clawing and the Caging (which may take awhile) and then start on a new multichapter I have planned. I'm excited for the road ahead and look forward to moving on to bigger (and hopefully better!) projects with you guys!

Anyways, enough about me, here's the story. And yes, we had to go with Lloyd again, after all this is my finale for Whumptober, so I might as well use my favorite whumpee. I haven't done much with Harumi, yet, so-

(And before you even ask, yes, this is shamelessly inspired by the rubble scene in spiderman homecoming)

Today's Theme: All Work and No Play

"No! Harumi, don't!"

Lloyd lunged towards the exit of the cave, but Harumi had gotten too much of a head start. Already, water was gushing through the opening, soaking his feet, and he narrowly jumped out of the way as a chunk of rock smashed down to where he had been only seconds before.

What has she done?

...What has she done?

Lloyd's mind was still reeling, struggling to process everything.

Harumi… she's The Quiet One. She has been this whole time. It was all an act. Everything she opened up about, every time she laughed with us, smiled at us, the Emperor and Empress! She cried to me about that for days!

And I everything I lov-

Lloyd shut that train of thought down violently. It stung too much. (He hated that it stung. He shouldn't have been mourning her.)

The ground shuddered beneath him, and Lloyd cried out, running towards the collapsing opening in the wall-

A rock caught his foot, and he hit the ground, groaning. There was a sickening crack above his head, and Lloyd glanced up, barely able to throw up his energy shield before the cave collapsed in on him.

Lloyd gasped from the sudden burden- he had never supported this much weight before. His powers were doing most of the heavy lifting, but this was a far cry from balancing the ninja on his shoulders in the dojo like he had done back in his early days of training. No, this was a huge mass of rock, looming over him, and the only thing keeping Lloyd from being crushed alive was the wavering veil of green energy over his head.

Sweat was already beading on his face, and Lloyd screwed his eyes shut, trying to push the rock off of him. C'mon, c'mon, please-

He gasped sharply as cold water licked its way up towards his face.

Oh no, no, no, I need to get out of here or I'll drown! Where's Nya when you need her?

Dust drifted down through the cracks in the shield, graying his hair and shoulders. Some got into his mouth, and he resisted the temptation to cough, afraid even the slightest movement would offset the precarious balance of the rubble.

Lloyd's powers had always made him stronger and more resilient than the average human being, but he was still no Cole, and the extra kick from the adrenaline was subsiding. His arms felt like they were on fire, and he caught his breath as the shield flickered briefly.

"Help me!" His raw scream echoed around the cave, coming back only to him like some sadistic joke the universe was playing on him.

Really, what was he expecting? There was no one here to help. The ninja were nowhere near here- or so he hoped. What, did he think Harumi was going to help him?

As much as he really wanted to believe she wouldn't let him die, deep down, he already knew the answer to that question.

She had been the one to set off the trap, after all.

Someone needs to warn the others. If she had tried to kill him, he didn't even want to think about what she would do to the others.

If I die down here, they'll never know what happened. They won't understand what she did, they won't know that Wu and I are the only ones who could've gotten the mask, that maybe they could still-

Lloyd snapped his mouth shut, narrowly avoiding taking in a mouthful of water. He moved his head to be positioned away from the swirling currents and froze as the rock groaned ominously above him.

He didn't have much time left. The water was rising, and quickly.

He needed to get out of here, but he couldn't move! The weight was practically crushing by this point, Lloyd's arms now bent as he held out his shield, the debris only mere inches above his head. His arms were trembling, threatening to give way at any moment.

He was weakening. He could barely muster the strength to lift his head high enough.

"Please," he whispered- he didn't know who to- his voice cracked and dry. "Please. I'm down here, I can't move, I need help-"

Tears spilled down his face, and Lloyd choked on a sob. This was all his fault. He had trusted Harumi. He had been foolish enough to let her manipulate him, and now he was going to pay the price.

But he didn't let go.

Lloyd's arms were in unbearable agony at this point, but he didn't let go. He forced himself to keep holding the shield, even as it cracked and flickered.

I'm not going to give up. That's what Harumi wants. She thinks she killed me, but she didn't. I'm still hanging on. I'm still not dead.

I'll hold up this shield until I pass out, if that's what it takes.

She already took everything from me. I won't let her take my stubbornness, too.

So Lloyd waited.

Even as dust clogged his throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

Even as the water rose closer and closer to his mouth.

Even as no one came.

Lloyd waited.