Chapter Text
Kai hated to do it to Lloyd, to disobey orders given by the newly appointed leader. Wu's absence had been ripping open a large tear within the team, Lloyd getting the brunt of it. Kai wanted nothing more than to find Wu, and give his family a piece of mind. To have back someone who had raised Kai. Saw potential in him, cared for him in a way Kai forgot someone could. But there was heat within him, a longing, painful ache to run to the one place not noted by the team. The one place Kai would be familiar with.
The forge, although small, looked somewhat homey, as strange as that was. It seemed to be the only normalish building in the swampy hellscape Krux and Acronix holed up in. It was frustratingly comforting, seeing it so simply laid out in front of him. The only safe place he had for years, mocked him. A cruel twist on the frustrating path Kai was thrown into as soon as he saw the symbol on the helmet.
Of course it would come full circle at a fucking forge.
Mustering up whatever confidence he had, Kai let his hand fall onto the door nob. He ignored how much his hand shook and instead focused on the cool metal. Worn brass that molded at his will, morphing with the twist of his hand. The metal became white until Kai pushed it forward, altering its shape forever.
The forge was, well just a forge. Strikingly similar to the one Kai had grown up in. He could feel the humidity as the fire burned, embracing its welcomed warmth. Everything he had grown used to, everything he recognized. If he had closed his eyes at that moment, Kai would have probably seen his old home. But he didn't, because this wasn't his forge, it was just a pathetic mockery.
The cherry on top of the spectacle was a figure standing before Kai. At the sound of the door opening they slowly turned, almond brown eyes looking at him. Eyes wide in shock, possibly confusion, and a small touch of fear. A loud clang was heard as they dropped whatever metal they were holding. Although, admittedly more tired looking, Kai recognized the face. He remembered it, lit by the flames of the forge, late at night when Kai couldn't sleep. The face that was followed by burned wood and embers, always so warm. He had imagined that face, returning to the front porch, apologizing for taking so long, and promising dessert before dinner. A face of comfort, contorted and strewed. The logs cracked, a stray spark catching the forest, the fire grew. The dull spiteful flame erupted into a blaze Kai couldn't contain. He felt his body heating up, sparks dancing in his mouth, tempting him to let them free. To spit out the venom stirring within him.
“Who are you?” the figure said, stepping back, getting distance. Running away, always running away. Kai ripped his hood off and stared at him down. He let the fire loose.
“Of course you wouldn’t remember, it's been twelve years,” the words were their own embers, bright and painful. His father’s face flashed with pain and recognition, his hesitancy replaced by disbelief.
“Kai?” He took a step closer. Kai felt himself flinch. “My son, is it really you?”
The blaze raged on, Kai couldn't stand how softly his father looked at him. How he was reaching, reaching out to Kai. Like he actually wanted him. A small part of Kai wanted to reach back, but a much louder voice screamed. It wanted justice, it wanted chaos. It wanted to see that man gone.
He smacked the man's hand and shoved him back.
“Yeah, it is,” he looked hurt, his pained expression fueled blaze within Kai. Why does he feel pain, why is he the one that is upset? “You leave, without any goodbye, and now you're here, working with the enemy.” Kai started to pace around his father, like a caged dragon, flames igniting under his heels.
“Son, you don't understand,” his father's expression hardened, a flash of determination, hints of desperation. “I didn't want to leave-”
“But you did,” Kai snapped, “You left us.” He got closer, jabbing his finger into his father's chest. He hated the way it sounded, hated the words he never heard. The stung his ears, sizzling upon contact. Burning him from the inside.
“Son plea-”
And Kai threw the first punch. His father doged, swinging around. “Don't call me son!”
“Kai you don't have the full picture!” He dodged another attempt. Kai was sloppy, quick, easy to avoid. Wasn't thinking about how a now, louder part of him made it easy, made it so he couldn't hit the man in front of him. He definitely wasn’t thinking as he went in again with some half baked plan to wrestle his father down. But as he reared back another hand grabbed him.
“That's enough Kai,” it crashed through his ears. Loud waves, colliding into the fire set within him. Battling nature’s beautiful disaster. But a flood can do just as much destruction. “Let us explain, please”
“Explain?” Kai whipped around coming face to face with a woman, shorter than him. The smell of salt water and rain was strong, an old comforting smell. One he sought out as a child, one that was now following someone else around. Sharp hazel eyes stared back at him, the same hazel stared back at her. “I don't know how you can even begin to explain all of-”
“Mom? Dad?”
Shit