Kai gazed out to the stars, his legs curled up, his hands wrapped around them. He took in a deep breath. Garmadon saw him and sat down beside him.
"Kai, is everything alright? I've noticed you've been feeling distant lately. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't some sort of emotional issue." Garmadon said gently. He placed his hand on Kai's shoulder and rubbed it comfortingly.
"I guess it's just…I miss my parents." Kai replied sadly. "After seeing how close you and Lloyd, as well as Xenudah and Yakunan have gotten, I just wish I could have gotten closer to them... It doesn't really help, though. They were still my parents and now they're gone. It makes me feel alone." Kai sighed. He looked over at Garmadon, whose face fell. He looked over at Garmadon, whose face fell. "Lloyd's practically a brother to me now. And we've all gotten so close. So why can't I be like that with my own family?" Kai frowned. "It doesn't help that they're dead, honestly."
"I am so sorry, Kai…"
"AAAAAAAAAAAPAAAAAAAAAAA!" The two could hear Xenudah's cries from the other room.
"Oh, goodness, what's happened to him..." Garmadon muttered to himself. "How did it turn this bad already...?"
"I hope he's alright..." Kai sighed as he got to his feet. "You go check on him. I'll stay back with Lloyd." He offered. "I think we need to talk about something anyway…"
Garmadon blinked, then nodded. "...Ok…" He agreed. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes."
As Garmadon came closer to Xenudah and Yakunan's room, Xenudah's cries became louder and more desperate. He opened the door to the bedroom quickly and stepped inside, only to come across a scene that had definitely changed since the last time he'd walked in there a few hours earlier.
Xenudah was sitting up against the wall, knees pulled up to his chest. His entire body shook uncontrollably. Yakunan sat next to him, holding him close.
"Is…everything alright?" Garmadon asked cautiously.
Yakunan glanced up at Garmadon and slowly lowered the crying child into his lap. He turned slightly to look back down at Xenudah.
"...I don't know..." Yakunan whispered. "One minute he had forgiven me for leaving him behind…he spilled himself dry trying to explain everything, and now…he looks completely broken up. He told me everything, he told me exactly what happened. He couldn't hold it in anymore, and he ended up yelling at me, tired of me pushing him away and ignoring his point of view. I didn't expect that, but he's just as hurt by the possibility of me leaving him now as he was when I had left him then... What am I supposed to do, Garmadon? I can't bear the thought of anyone hurting him anymore. Not after everything he's been through… I love him, Garmadon, and I can't stand the thought of him hurting again because of anything… But I don't know what else to do… He's so miserable. He's hurting so much right now. I just… I can't let him stay like that…" He sighed, placing a comforting hand on his trembling boy's back. "I'm scared, Garmadon. I don't want to leave him like this. But he won't say a word to me about anything else… If I try to bring it up, he yells at me…"
"Don't try to force it, Yakunan… Don't force him. Please. He has every right to be upset." Garmadon sighed. "Everything will work out eventually… And when it does… It'll be okay."
"How can it be okay for him to have to carry that burden on his shoulders all these years…?" Yakunan asked quietly. "I know…it doesn't make any sense… It's unfair… And yet, I know it's true. And it hurts, Garmadon… It hurts more than anything."
"It'll take time. Eventually…you might be able to forget, or move on from what's happened, but it isn't going to happen overnight, you know that…" Garmadon murmured. "The best thing you can do right now is to give Xenudah some space… and support him through this… If he's waited this long to tell you what's been bothering him, you have to listen… And try your hardest not to get mad or angry until you know more… Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yeah… Yeah, I do. And thank you, Garmadon. For listening to me… Even though I probably seem stupid…" Yakunan chuckled weakly. "I'm just…not used to this…" He shook his head as a frown appeared on his lips.
"From what you've said, that's part of the reason why he's so upset right now. This is the most emotional he's ever been…" Garmadon sighed softly and stood up. "I'll leave you two alone, but I'll always be here if you ever need me. Whatever happens, it's our job to protect each other. We have to trust each other to be there for each other when the time comes…"
"Thank you, Garmadon… I really needed that. I guess I'll see you in the morning."
"You too."
The destruction elemental master left without another word.
Yakunan sighed, gazing down towards his son once more. Xenudah gazed up, before turning into a fluffy indigo dragon and nestling beside his father's leg. "Sweetheart…" Yakunan reached out and gently stroked his feathery body, earning a contented purr from the little creature, his little boy. He smiled sadly, watching as a tear slid down his cheek. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you when you needed me…" He muttered quietly, pulling the dragon close to his chest. "I wish I would have done better. If I had just known…if I had stayed here… Stayed beside you… Then maybe things wouldn't have taken that terrible turn for the worst…" His voice grew softer as tears started forming in his eyes. "I love you, Xenudah… More than life itself… You're my only light."
A minute or so passed, and Yakunan carried his son back over onto the bed, wrapping his draconic form under the fluffy blanket before Xenudah turned back to his human form and curled closer to his father.
"A-Apa..." Xenu whispered. "I heard what Garmadon said...about telling you to listen to me... Do you understand where I'm coming from now? Are you still angry with me?" He lifted his head off of his father's chest and gazed up at Yakunan worriedly as a tear trailed down his face. "...Please don't stop loving me…"
"You are all I have... My whole world..." Yakunan closed his eyes and placed his hand tenderly against Xenudah's cheek. "But if you need time… You need time to heal. To figure out what happened, how to process it, if you're ready for me to be there… I understand…" Yakunan gave a soft smile and brushed his thumb against Xenudah's cheek. "Whatever you decide… I'll still love you, and I'll keep supporting you, no matter what. Just promise me one thing… Don't go far again without telling me, okay?"
"Okay," Xenudah nodded silently and nuzzled closer to Yakunan's side. "And you… You need to tell me things too. Please, Dad…" He whispered. "I miss you, and…I don't want to fight with you."
"I know, sweetheart… I know…" Yakunan sighed, leaning his forehead against Xenudah's. "And I'll try not to argue with you, either." He smiled, brushing his fingers gently through his child's raven hair. "It's all right… Let's sleep, alright? We've both been through a lot… "
"Apa... I'm sorry..."
"Don't be sorry. Nothing could ever make up for what we've gone through… But I promise… From now on, I'll support you no matter what you think you need to tell me. And whatever that might be, I'll hear you out." He promised. "We can talk later, okay?" He kissed Xenudah's forehead.
"O-Okay… Can you…sing that song you used to sing to me so long ago… I miss when you did that…"
Yakunan nodded, then began to sing softly, a lullaby in ancient Ninjagian that he had always sung to his child whenever he felt afraid. It usually made them both happy when they were younger. "'My dear child… My darling one, my heart belongs to you alone… My soul is yours, mine forevermore.'"
As the song faded out, Yakunan's arms wrapped around Xenudah protectively. "Even if it kills me, I swear to you… I'll never abandon you again… Even if it takes my entire lifetime… I'll always protect you no matter what, my precious boy… No matter what…" Yakunan continued singing the song until Xenudah was sound asleep, curled up against his warm embrace. Finally… His little boy was safe once more. The tears fell from his eyes once more, but this time… It was tears of joy instead of sorrow. Because he was sure that…
For the first time in ages… Xenudah was safe.