So, I've got covid right now. It's a mild case but despite the brain fog, I managed to get inspiration for the first time since May and I fulfilled this drabble request and another one I'll pose in a few days.
And now, on with the story!
...
His father's monastery was quiet. While it had always been quieter then his uncle's, focusing more on peace then anything else, it was hauntingly silent now that the last of the students had been officially dismissed by his grieving mother.
His uncle making the decision to turn it into a tea shop in order to continue the legacy of peace wasn't a bad idea, but with that choice came renovation and having to get rid of the things that were no longer in use.
And for Lloyd, that meant coping with the feelings revolving that day in the Corridor of Elders and being unable to push them deep down into his subconscious where everything he hated eventually ended up.
His hands shook as he slid the door to the teaching area open, a slight layer of dust transferring to his hands as it slid on the hinges. The comforting smell of his father's green tea felt like a brick against his chest as the memory of being in this room just over six months ago, sitting on the floor next to his friends and his father's students.
"Tonight's lesson is The Art of the Silent Fist. To fight without fighting."
Even though he had been absolutely humiliated by his father that night, still on the high of stopping the Overlord and being hailed by everyone as The Golden Ninja. he couldn't help but look at it fondly now, craving the playful teasing from him.
"Misako said you might need help," Lloyd nearly lit the room up with green until he saw the owner of the voice come toward him, which was Samurai X herself, "the boys are discussing the renovations and I can only handle so much of their ridiculous ideas before I take over."
Despite her playful tone, just the voice in itself threatened to tear down Lloyd's fragile walls; he only had talked briefly to Cole that night and that had ended in words that he regretted and the last thing he wanted to do was lose anyone else. So he did what he had done at Darkley's and in those early days when the ninja wanted nothing to do with him.
Built up walls in order to keep his smile on the outside and his tears deep inside. But this was bigger then some school bullies and the walls weren't strong enough to handle a light gust of wind and the sobs emerged from his throat like a tsunami wave.
"Oh, Lloyd," Nya's voice was uncharacteristically soft as she wrapped her muscular arms around his shoulders which only made his sobs stronger, "I've got you. We've got you."
"I can't do this without him," Lloyd's voice trembled around the sobs, "I feel like a piece of me died with him."
If it had been anyone else, they would have said some meaningless words to try and assure him otherwise, but Nya just continued to hold him close, his face firmly pressed against her shoulder and one of her hands against the back of his head. He couldn't understand why for a few moments, until he did with a rush of remembrance.
'Zane.'