"I can't believe he's eaten nothing since coming here…" Misako shook her head, a worried look on her face.

Wu carefully shut the sliding door behind him. "I know…I really had no idea…" He winced. "Though at least he supposedly had a rabbit. That's something."

"Yes…but still. What do we do now?"
Wu frowned. "I'm not sure…we're going to have to keep an eye on him. Make sure he's actually eating something…"

She nodded.

"There's…also something else I discovered earlier." Wu went and took his cup of tea from the table, taking a sip. He avoided Misako's gaze, staring down at it.

"What is it…?" She walked over.

"I…hadn't told you about Garmadon's trips to the woods. Down below, at the bottom of the mountain…" He looked up, seeing her frown.

"Trips?"

"Yes. Three times now, he's gone down there. I wasn't sure if he was just taking a walk, or something, but…the first two times he came back, he was limping."

"Limping? Why?"

"I didn't know. The second time though, he also had a bruise on his face. He claimed he'd tripped…"

Her eyebrow rose in disbelief.

"That was exactly my reaction…and so today, Lloyd and I followed him, to see what was happening."

"And…?"

"When we arrived, four other people were there. They…" Wu frowned, pausing.

"They, what?"

"I…they were attacking Garmadon."

"What? Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe they just don't like him—he's probably made quite a few enemies. But that wasn't the most distressing part."

"What do you mean?"

"Lloyd and I found Garmadon on the ground, and what seemed to be the leader was landing blows on him. I couldn't tell if Garmadon had tried to defend himself or not—he seemed pretty battered—but…there were only four people. He could have easily taken them."

Misako blinked, eyes wide with shock. "…Is he okay?"

"Yes…I think so. But…after finding out about his hand, then this, then that he hasn't been eating… I tried to be lenient, and not to push him too much, since I do want to build up a level of trust again, but this is getting dangerous. I…want to check him over, and see what else he's hiding."

She nodded, a sudden determined look in her eyes. "I agree."

"Good… I'm going to let him rest for a bit, then I'll go question him and check him over for injuries."

Garmadon had laid on the couch for a little while, then had sat up, fingering his glove. He couldn't sleep. Or sit still. Or rest.

They know.

How long would it be until they knew…that?

Then he would be as good as dead.

Wu would hate him even more.

Garmadon sighed, staring at his glove. Maybe they knew some things…but they wouldn't know what he did.

They couldn't.

"Brother?"

He looked up, seeing Wu and Misako. "…What?"

Wu came over to him, then hesitated. "I…I wanted to do a quick check-up on you."

"…What?" Garmadon blinked, alarm coming over him. "What do you mean?"

"I just want to assess your injuries."

"I already took care of them. Like we agreed."

"I…I know, but I'm worried. The fact that you hid your hand from me, and the fact you weren't eating, and that those people were hurting you…I'm having a hard time trusting you when you say you're 'fine'."

Garmadon looked away.

"May I see your hand again? I want to show Misako."

"No. I'm fine."

"Garmadon, please?"

"I want to know if you're really alright…" Misako came over, and Garmadon glanced at her, noting her worried expression.

Why is she worried, now?
He cringed, looking away again. "I'm fine."

There was a flash of movement. Garmadon tried to jerk away, but Wu already held his wrist, slipping the glove off.

Misako gasped, a hand going to her mouth.

Garmadon tried to yank his hand away from Wu again, but he kept a firm grip.

Wu slid Garmadon's sleeve up a few inches. "This goes farther up, too…"

She moved closer, taking a look. "Garmadon…are you sure you're alright?"

He looked away. "I'm fine."

"How did this happen?"

Garmadon's jaw clenched, trying to forget the memories—

He shrugged.

"You…don't know?"

There was silence.

Wu released his wrist. "But this is why I want to check him over for…anything else."

Misako nodded slowly. "Yes…I think that's a good idea…"

Garmadon tucked his robotic hand against his stomach, holding out his other. "Please give that back…" He didn't look up, keeping his gaze down.

"No." Wu took a step back. "I want to check you over for injuries. Come on."

Garmadon frowned.

"Brother, please?"

The panic started to surface—

"No. I'm fine. Give it back…please."

"I'm sorry I can't do that…we're both concerned about you. This is for your own good."

No…you have no idea what you're talking about. "I'm fine."

"Garmadon, come with me."

"No. I'm fine." They can't know. They can't.

Wu suddenly took his arm—not his robotic one—and forced him up.

Garmadon flinched, but didn't try to fight him. There was no use, anyway. I deserve this.

Wu tossed his glove onto the couch, Garmadon glancing at it forlornly.

Then he was dragged off to the bathroom.

About twenty minutes later~

Garmadon looked away, pulling his sleeve down as far as he could get it over his robotic arm. Wu was still staring at him, looking a bit horrified.

"How…did you get those scars?"

Garmadon stared at the floor.

"Why do they say, 'murderer', 'monster', and 'villain'? And…ichor…? Among other things…?"

He didn't reply, jaw clenched.

"Who did this?"

No reply.

"Garmadon, I don't know what to think anymore…why can't you tell me what happened?"

He still remained silent, taking in a slow breath. He would be fine.

But now he has his name. He bit his lip.

"What about the other scars?"

Silence.

"The bruises? The cuts? Can't you tell me anything?"

Garmadon stared at the tiles on the floor, beginning to count them instead of listen to Wu's prying questions.

"What happened to your arm?"

At his continued silence, Wu sighed. "Alright…I'll figure it out on my own."

"…Can I have my glove back?" He tried to cover his robotic hand with his other one, shuddering at the feeling of metal and wires. "Where did you put it?" He finally glanced up.

"Um…I set it on the couch. Remember?" Wu shook his head. "Either way, I cleaned up your cuts the best I could, at least…"

"I know…I'm fine. Can I go?"

"I don't know."

"Can I have my glove back…?"

"I don't know…are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine." He glared at the floor.

"…Alright." Wu turned. "Come on, then…"

Garmadon walked into the living room, head down. His gaze landed on his glove, and he quickly grabbed it, slipping it on his hand. He sighed silently in relief.

Misako looked at Wu. "Well?"

Wu frowned. "I…I'll tell you in another room…" He glanced at Garmadon.

Garmadon ignored his gaze, sitting on the couch.

Wu left, Misako following close behind.

Garmadon stared at his hands, fiddling with them.

Wu led Misako to the kitchen, going to the stove to pour himself some tea. He took a breath, then sipped it slowly.

Misako closed the door, then walked over to him uncertainly. "What did you find out?"

Wu didn't reply for a moment. "I…he…has a lot of scars. Cuts. Bruises. I couldn't tell if he had more major injuries, with how many bruises he had, and he wouldn't let me look at any of the more serious looking ones. I…"

"What happened…?"
"I don't know. I'm…very concerned. But…he has words scarred into his back. Or…etched. I don't know the right word for it…"

"Words?" She rose an eyebrow, forehead creasing in concern.

"Yes. Or, cut…"

"What do they say?"

"Different things…they seemed like insults. 'Murderer', 'monster', 'villain', 'ichor', 'oni', 'savage', 'traitor', etc."

"That's odd…and I don't think 'ichor' is an insult word. 'Ichor' means a watery discharge from a wound, sometimes with blood, or it can mean a fluid that's sort of like blood in some mythical gods."

Wu frowned. "Yes, I know…I did find that one odd. But either way, someone did this to him. And I don't know who."

"Is there any way to find out? My research keeps leaving me at dead ends and endless rabbit trails."

"Hmm…I don't know. But we'll find out. The pieces are coming together…we just have to get put them together and find the final clue."

"Yes…though I have an awful feeling we're still missing pieces."

"Probably…but at this rate we'll find them all soon."

"I suppose you're right…" She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Did you find anything else?"

"Well…you know how he's missing a hand?"

"Yes…?"

"It's actually his entire arm."

"What?!" Her eyes widened.

"Yes…I took a look at his shoulder, and I couldn't tell how much damage, or how bad it was, where the robotic arm connected. I don't think it's infected or anything though, so that's good. It…looked expertly done."

"Expertly?"

"Yes. I'm not an expert at technology, but I know robotic arms are difficult to put in, just from what I know about anatomy."

"I suppose…" Misako looked away, chewing her lip. "What now, then? What's the next step? Or our next move, if you will?"

"I don't know. I'm going to keep an eye on him. Maybe more pieces will come out, like they have lately."

Lloyd leaned on the doorway, partially out of view, watching. He kept his gaze on the couch—he wasn't able to see Garmadon from this angle, but he knew he was there.

He wouldn't admit to it, not yet, but he was concerned. Earlier…finding Garmadon so battered and…ganged up on like made his stomach clench uncomfortably. He hadn't even been fighting back. Which was so unlike him that…Lloyd just didn't know. Something was wrong. His uncle was right.

He didn't know what he thought anymore. Was his father really that helpless, that he'd just get beat up like that?

He sighed, leaning his head against the doorway frame. There was no sound from the living room. It was silent.

Garmadon was probably asleep.

Lloyd hadn't seen him since earlier, when he'd helped rescue him and then in the living room, when Garmadon had left to 'take care of his injuries himself'.

He abruptly turned, heading for the kitchen. Wu would still be up—he'd bee staying up later than usual lately.

Once he reached the kitchen, he walked in, going over to Wu.

"Master Wu?"

His uncle had been staring at his tea, frowning, but turned when he said his name. "Er…yes, Lloyd?" He seemed distracted.

"Earlier…how bad were Garmadon's injuries?"

"He's…" Wu took a hesitant sip of his tea, looking away. "…Fine."

"Fine…?"

"Yes…he'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Okay…who do you think those people were?"

"I don't know."

"Garmadon doesn't know?"

"Apparently not."

Lloyd frowned, raising an eyebrow. Why did he have the feeling Wu wasn't telling him something…? "Is there…anything else…?"

"No. Why?"

"I don't know…I just thought you'd find out something."

"I… Lloyd, could you do me a favor?"

"Uh…sure…?" He blinked.

"Could you keep an eye on him too?"

"I…guess." He'd already been planning to, anyway.

"Have you ever seen him eat anything since coming here?"

"Um…" Lloyd squinted. "No…I don't think so. Why?"

"I was just wondering. Thank you."

Lloyd stared at him suspiciously for a moment. He's definitely keeping something from me. He turned, walking out. He would find out what it was eventually. His uncle's secrets had a bad habit of coming out. Usually in the form of a villain, but he doubted there was any villain involved in this one.

Though this was his crazy uncle… Lloyd frowned. At least, he hoped there was no villain involved.