Wu had known Zane for a long time, had trained him and taught him and helped him learn about himself, and in doing so Wu had learned a lot about Zane as well, from his preferences to his habits. Zane felt a strong bond with pretty much all animals. Zane loved to cook and found great happiness when others enjoyed his meals. Zane didn't understand jokes most of the time, but if he turned on his humor switch, he would find it easier to laugh along even if he didn't understand what was funny. Most prominent in Wu's mind right now, however, was the fact that Zane had a strong tendency to keep things to himself, especially things that hurt him. Zane would put a positive spin on whatever situation he was in when he explained it to others and put a content or even pleased expression on his face, but inwardly and secretly, he would be in pain.
The current situation reminded Wu of this habit of Zane's heavily. Zane was obviously happy to be home, but that didn't change the fact that he had been through quite an ordeal. Azizi had hurt him over and over, both physically with her experiments and emotionally with her insistence that he wasn't a person. He had been affected deeply, Wu could tell by the crookedness of his smile and the strain of his voice. But Zane refused to acknowledge that he was still hurting. He acted as if coming back had been all he needed to get better, as if the mental wounds could heal as easily as Jay and Nya healed the physical wounds.
Wu was very concerned about Zane, but Wu waited to talk to him until Wu could get him alone. That took quite a while, as no one really wanted to leave Zane's side now that they had finally gotten him back. Wu couldn't blame them; he felt much the same way. However, it meant it was several days later when Wu was able to get Zane by himself.
While Zane had been gone, the others had taken turns preparing meals when Zane would normally be the one doing so. Now that he had returned to them, though, Zane was back to cooking, and it was while Zane was cooking a few days after his return that Wu finally got to talk to him one-on-one.
Knocking on the door frame to the kitchen, Wu leaned in, looking around and finding much to his satisfaction that Zane was the only one in there. "May I enter?"
"Of course," Zane replied, turning to give him a small smile before returning to chopping the lettuce in front of him.
"I've been wanting to talk to you," Wu said, trying to sound casual.
Evidently he failed to sound casual enough, because Zane froze in his spot. Slowly, Zane put down the knife and looked at Wu. "What about?"
There was no point in hiding it. Wu got straight to the point. "About what Azizi did to you."
Zane's face went blank. Flatly, he stated, "We do not need to talk about that."
"Why not?" Wu challenged.
"I am fine now. I have been repaired and restored to all of you, and so I am fine," Zane replied.
"I am not sure I believe that," Wu said carefully. "You've been jumpy and on edge, and the other ninja tell me you are having nightmares still."
"Those are not things of any consequence," Zane said stiffly. "Physically, I am fine."
"Physically, yes, but how are you mentally and emotionally? How are you doing?" Wu pressed.
Zane hesitated. "...I am fine."
"That, I know I don't believe," Wu said firmly. "Zane, I am worried about you."
"Do not be," Zane dismissed.
"I am worried," Wu insisted. "We all are. We want to help you, but we can't unless you let us do so."
"And what if I do not want you to help?" Zane asked.
Wu raised his eyebrows but didn't respond.
"What if I do not want help but just want to move on?" Zane rephrased.
"If you were able to move on, I would be glad of that, but I don't think you are at a point where you are able to do so," Wu said carefully.
Zane frowned. "How is that?"
"You don't act like you are able to move on. To do that, you would have to process what happened and deal with it. Then you could move on. Instead, it would appear you are stifling how you feel and what you remember so that you can act as if it never happened," Wu explained.
"I wish it had never happened," Zane muttered, then his eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe he'd said that aloud.
"That is understandable," Wu said gently before Zane could retract his previous statement or try to explain it away. "What happened was terrible, something I wish had never happened as well. But it did happen, so you must learn how to live with its effects."
Zane appeared to think about that for several moments.
"You will have to deal with it at some point. You may not be ready now, but eventually, you will be," Wu added.
Nodding, Zane turned back to the lettuce he had been chopping.
Sensing that Zane had said as much as he was ready to, Wu slipped away, resolving to bring the topic up again when Zane seemed a little more ready. He would keep trying until Zane was ready, and once Zane was ready, they all would be ready to help him.