Thank you to JustAFemaleGeek and Guest for reviewing! I have updated Chapter 1 to include the AO3 tags and I also wanted to mention that since I plan on having some explicit scenes that go along with this story, I will be posting them in fade to black format within this story, but fully explicit chapters will be available in a separate story on FFN or on AO3 under the same story and username :)
The sky began a little drizzle, clouds moving in on what seemed like a perfect day, casting a silvery haze over the town of Stiix. Inside, Nya felt an unsteady calm—a rare sense of freedom but tinged with a bit of unease. She wasn't exactly used to eating lunch with Ronin, and she could feel his attention flicking to her every so often. He seemed more than a little amused by the awkward silence.
"So, Nya," Ronin began, breaking the silence, "You've got a day off, and you're out here running errands for Zane. Not exactly the exciting getaway a girl like you deserves."
Nya gave a small, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, well, it's not like the tea shop is exactly the hub of social life. It's always training, always the next mission." She shrugged, glancing down at her soda. "I needed a break."
Ronin leaned back in the booth, stretching one arm along the backrest. "I get that. Living with that lot can't be easy I'd imagine." He grinned. "You ninja don't exactly know the meaning of 'downtime.'"
Nya laughed, more relaxed now. "You have no idea. It's like a constant whirlwind with those guys. And they're all…" she hesitated, thinking about how to explain the unique blend of chaos that came from living with ninja, "…they're always in each other's business."
"Sounds about right. So, what's got you needing the distance? Gotta be more than Zane's shopping list, right?" His tone was teasing, but there was a genuine curiosity beneath it.
Nya's face grew a bit more serious. She hadn't planned on opening up to Ronin, but she also hadn't expected him to be easy to talk to. Besides, it wasn't like he was going to be seeing her again soon. "Things have just… been a little complicated. With Jay." She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. "And with the whole water ninja thing. Sometimes, I don't even know if this is really what I want."
"Jay, huh?" Ronin nodded, his face thoughtful. "You two have been through a lot together. I can see why that'd weigh on you. Relationships are up and down, sometimes the pressure from everything else can add a strain you don't even remember being there. And as for being the water ninja? That's… a big deal." He watched her carefully. "But have you thought about why it doesn't feel right?"
Nya considered for a moment. "I used to be Samurai X. That was my thing—my way of helping. It was… mine, you know? But as the water ninja, I feel like I'm just filling a role that someone else decided for me. Sometimes, I miss the feeling of doing things my own way."
"That makes sense." Ronin's voice was softer now, more understanding. He was looking at Nya rather intensely. "Sounds like being a ninja, with all its responsibilities, doesn't leave much room for you to just… be you."
She nodded, feeling a weight she hadn't realized was there to start to lift. "Exactly."
Their food arrived, giving them a brief pause as they dug in. The noodles were warm and comforting, and Nya couldn't help but notice how much more relaxed she felt in Ronin's presence. He was different from the others—older, wiser, a bit of a wildcard, and less concerned with the strict rules and codes of ninja life. She didn't feel like she had to live up to anything for Ronin. There was an understanding that he always went his own way, and he wouldn't ever judge her for doing the same.
"So, where's your bike parked?" Ronin asked, gesturing to the window where the drizzle started to lighten up.
"Just on the edge of town," Nya replied, glancing outside. "I wanted to get out and drive around a bit. Clear my head."
Ronin looked at her for a long moment, his expression softening as he processed her words. "I get it," he finally said, leaning back in his seat. "Sometimes you just need a breather, someone who isn't tangled up in the rest of it. All that ninja business—it's a lot for anyone, especially someone your age."
Nya looked down, fidgeting with the straw in her drink. "I know. But they all depend on me so much, and half the time, I don't know if I can live up to what they need." She laughed quietly, though there wasn't much humor in it. "It's like…no one can see me as just me. I'm always someone's sister, someone's girlfriend, someone's teammate. Never just...Nya."
Ronin nodded, a knowing glint in his eye. "Well, if it's any consolation, I don't see just another ninja sitting across from me," he said. "I see someone who's got more grit than most people I know. And believe me, I know a lot of people." He smirked, his tone light but his gaze direct.
That coaxed a small smile from Nya, and she felt her shoulders relax a little. "Thanks, Ronin. It means something, even if you're just saying it to keep our business."
He laughed, shaking his head, a strand of auburn hair falling into his face out of his ponytail. "Ouch, really? You're gonna insult my honesty now?"
"Maybe a little," she replied, feeling herself smile again. She felt the tension continue to ease just a bit, like she could breathe. "It's just… nice to have someone listen, without trying to give me advice or fix things."
Ronin seemed to sense the shift in her, and he took the opportunity to ask, "So what would Nya be doing, if she wasn't running around saving Ninjago?"
The question caught her off guard. She looked out the window, watching the people passing by outside, normal lives carrying on as though the weight of the world wasn't hanging over them. "Honestly? I have no idea. Maybe I'd run a shop, maybe I'd design tech full-time. Something I could put my hands into, you know? Something I could build."
He nodded, a half-smile playing at his lips. "Guess you really are Kai's sister, huh? Always building things, always fixing things. Even when it's not your responsibility."
That struck a chord, and she looked down at her drink. "Yeah. Maybe I'm trying too hard to be something I'm not," she murmured, almost to herself. "Or maybe… I don't know. Maybe I just don't know who I am outside of all of this."
Ronin tilted his head thoughtfully, watching her as though seeing something new. "Sometimes, that's exactly the problem," he said, his voice low. "When you've been stuck in a role for so long, it's hard to remember who you were before it all. But I think you're more than that. Anyone paying attention would see it."
She met his gaze, his words sticking with her. It felt strange hearing them from someone who wasn't one of the team—someone who didn't know her only as a ninja. Someone who saw her, even for a moment, as just Nya.
"Thank you, Ronin," she said, her voice soft but full of sincerity. "I needed that."
He held her gaze, and for a brief second, it was like the noise of the restaurant, the pressures waiting for her back at the tea shop, and all her tangled emotions faded into the background. For that one moment, she was just a girl talking to someone who understood.
Ronin took a sip of his drink, then leaned in slightly. "Look, if you ever want to get away from it all, Stiix isn't the worst place to take a breather. Sometimes it's easier to find your own path when you're away from everyone else's expectations." He winked. "And I know the best places to hide from nosy ninja."
Nya chuckled, but she took his words to heart. "Maybe I'll take you up on that someday."
They finished their meal with an ease she hadn't felt in a long time. Ronin was right—she needed to find her own way, and maybe part of that would involve letting go of the idea that she had to be exactly what everyone else expected. She paid closer attention as they walked back to his shop, admiring the coastal town that had once seemed like just another place they had to save.
At the shop, Ronin handed her the box of parts, tipping an imaginary hat with a smile. "Take care, Nya. And don't let them push you around too much, yeah?"
She smiled, feeling more like herself than she had in weeks. "Thanks, Ronin. I needed this." He turned around without responding, going behind the counter to fish underneath if for a moment. He pulled a little package out from the shelf underneath and came back around to her.
"Hey, here," he said, holding it out to her with an unreadable expression. "Don't say I never gave you anything."
She took it, a little confused, her fingers brushing against the rough paper. It was heavier than she expected. "What…what is it?"
"Just something I came across," he said, shrugging as though it were no big deal. "It reminded me of you after our talk. Don't get too excited, it's not fancy or anything. Just a…trinket."
Curious, Nya opened the bundle carefully, pulling away the layers of cloth until a small, intricately carved wooden bird rested in her palm. Its wings were spread, mid-flight, and its tiny, detailed feathers caught the faint light. She turned it over in her hands, stunned by how delicate it felt, how personal.
"Why…?" She trailed off, her voice barely a whisper, unsure of what to make of this unexpected gift.
Ronin shrugged again, his gaze shifting to the misty sea outside, past her shoulder and through the glass door. "Just a reminder," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Sometimes you need to remember that you're free. You're more than what anyone expects you to be."
She felt a lump rise in her throat as his words struck something deep inside her. Free. The word echoed in her mind, filling her with an ache she couldn't quite name. For a long moment, they stood in silence, the distance between them narrowing with each unspoken word.
She wanted to thank him, but words felt too small for the weight of what she felt. Instead, she looked at him, really looked at him, feeling a strange pull, a mix of gratitude and something else, something she wasn't sure she wanted to understand.
Then, as if sensing her unease, Ronin gave her a crooked smile, breaking the intensity of the moment with an easy laugh. "Don't go all soft on me, now. I'm still me, Ronin. Last thing I need is for people to think I'm losing my edge."
The laugh broke the spell, and she rolled her eyes, slipping the small bird back into its wrappings, tucking it carefully into her pocket. "No one would ever accuse you of going soft, Ronin."
"Take care Nya, get back home safely." He smiled and she nodded her response, unsure of what to say next.
She walked back to her bike, carrying Zane's package and also the bird in her pocket, which she kept putting her hand into to run her fingers over to feel each detail. She felt her eyes grow wet in overwhelm, not knowing what to do about anything, yet knowing she needed to do something. She seemed to be crying a lot lately. The drizzle seemed to be hanging in the air, coming back harder after lightening earlier. Maybe it would really rain on her way back. She got to her bike and sat on the seat for a moment after securing her things. It wasn't even that late, only around 2 p.m.. She didn't really want to go back yet. She just wasn't ready to face everyone else. Time for another drive, she decided.
The engine of her bike roared to life as she set off, the salty wind blowing through her hair as she thought about where she would go.
As Nya's bike purred down the winding road leading out of Stiix, the drizzle turned into a gentle, steady rain, coating everything around her in a soft, misty sheen. The farther she rode, the more she felt the warmth of her conversation with Ronin lingering, an unfamiliar feeling of calm mingled with a sense of quiet exhilaration. For once, it felt like she was breaking free of something—a rare moment where the weight of others' expectations was far behind her, back at the tea shop, leaving her in control of where she was going.
She didn't rush. Instead, she took her time, feeling the pull of the open road as she let her mind wander freely. Eventually, she found herself heading to a secluded cliffside she'd discovered years ago, not far from Stiix. She had stumbled upon it during a solo training exercise, and since then, it had become her secret spot—a place she could escape to when the shop felt too close or when the weight of being the Water Ninja grew too heavy. She hadn't had a chance to come out here lately, it'd probably been a few months.
Pulling over, Nya parked her bike and walked to the edge of the cliff, gazing out over the vast, gray horizon. The ocean below churned restlessly, waves crashing against the rocks in a rhythmic, endless pulse. The sky above was overcast, casting everything in shades of silver and slate blue, the kind of subdued beauty that felt timeless, detached from the world she had just left behind. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as the salty wind whipped through her hair, leaving her feeling grounded and small in the best way.
Here, in the silence, she felt a rare sense of peace. No responsibilities, no roles to play, no one else's expectations pressing down on her. Just the endless expanse of the ocean in front of her, reminding her of everything beyond the confines of her life as a ninja.
Nya crouched down, picking up a smooth, flat stone from the ground. She weighed it in her hand, then flung it out over the cliff, watching as it skipped once, twice, before sinking into the waves below. She could almost imagine the weight she'd been carrying sinking along with it, disappearing into the depths.
The truth was, she was exhausted. Exhausted from being "the strong one," the one who could always take on more, who always had a solution. She'd shouldered everyone's needs for so long that somewhere along the way, she'd lost sight of her own.
She thought about her conversation with Ronin. His words had stuck with her, lingering in her mind. "Sometimes you just need a breather, someone who isn't tangled up in the rest of it." He'd been right, in his own unpolished way. For the first time, she realized how much she needed to break away from everything, even just for a little while, to remember who she was outside of being someone's sister, someone's girlfriend, someone's teammate.
Nya let herself sit down at the cliff's edge, dangling her legs over as she stared out at the horizon. The wind was colder here, carrying a hint of rain. But instead of feeling uncomfortable, she welcomed it, letting it clear her head.
In this moment, she imagined a life where she didn't have to be anything for anyone—just Nya. Maybe she'd work on her own inventions, maybe she'd find a way to use her abilities that felt like hers, without the weight of everyone else's expectations. The possibilities felt endless, a strange but liberating thought. She didn't know exactly what she wanted, but the idea of figuring it out on her own terms filled her with a sense of quiet hope.
Nya let her thoughts drift, sinking into the rare stillness. For now, she wasn't the Water Ninja, the dependable one, or the person everyone turned to. She was just a girl sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking out at the world and wondering where she might fit in it, if only she let herself choose. And, in that moment, that was enough.
After what felt like hours but was really probably only 45 minutes, Nya rose slowly, taking a last, long look at the horizon. The misty rain had left her hair damp, curling slightly at the edges. She brushed a loose strand from her face, feeling lighter, as though the sea itself had absorbed a piece of her weariness.
Back on her bike, she kicked up the engine and headed towards town, the roads glistening under the soft drizzle. She rode at a comfortable pace, no urgency pushing her forward, savoring the freedom she felt on the winding roads back to the tea shop. It soon came into view, its simple exterior now holding a warm familiarity that she hadn't fully appreciated until this moment.
The doorbell chimed as she entered, carrying Zane's package under one arm and feeling more centered than she had in weeks. The shop was quiet, with only a few customers chatting softly at the tables, the gentle hum of the room settling around her.
As Nya stepped up to the counter, Zane turned from arranging a display of teapots and gave her a welcoming nod. "Thank you for picking up the parts," he said, taking the package from her hands and placing it carefully on the counter. He paused, studying her face, his observant eyes catching something different. "You seem… refreshed," he noted with his characteristic gentleness.
Nya offered him a small smile, one she didn't have to force. "Yeah," she said, leaning against the counter for a moment. "I think I needed a break more than I realized. Sorry I didn't finish off the list. I lost track of time."
Zane gave a slight nod of understanding. "Balance is essential. Even we, as protectors, need moments to reconnect with ourselves. Your presence has been missed today, but I believe you did what was necessary. And don't worry about it. I wasn't expecting you to get everything."
His words lingered with her, and she nodded in return. "Thanks, Zane." It was all she needed to say.
She made her way to a small table by the window, feeling at ease as she watched the raindrops tracing lines down the glass. Her thoughts drifted back to the cliffside, to the weight that she had let go, and to the little wooden bird tucked safely in her pocket. She reached down and ran her fingers over its smooth surface, feeling a small spark of comfort.
The rain had softened to a light mist, then it disappeared leaving a soft evening fog. The familiarity of the tea shop, the distant sounds of laughter and quiet chatter—it all felt grounding, reminding her that she could hold onto herself, even in a life so full of expectations.
Nya took a deep breath, watching the misty scene outside with a renewed sense of calm. She didn't have everything figured out, and maybe she didn't need to. For now, she had this moment, this balance. And in that, she found a quiet reassurance: she could carve her own path, even if she had to take it one step at a time.