Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ray set down his tools with a sigh. He turned his head towards the back wall, his eyes looking past it, knowing his son was just on the other side watching the sun rise. He had been out there staring at the sky before Ray woke up to prepare his blacksmithing station. Ray knew his son was going through a very difficult time. Everyone in the family was, now that it was missing one.

Maya walked downstairs, with tear-stained cheeks, looking exhausted. She noticed Ray staring at the back wall, knowing that he wasn't just staring at the wall. His eyes were distant, and face worried. "Go talk to him," Maya said as she took a seat at the store's counter. Ray turned to look at her, expression worried for both his son and his wife. But he nodded, set down his tools, and walked towards the back door.

He pushed the door open slightly, peeking at his son. Kai was sitting just as he was earlier that morning, on the back porch, back against one of the house's pillars, head tilted up to watch the sky. He watched as the sky turned from dark blue to purples and reds as the sun came up. But he wasn't paying too close attention, something else clearly on his mind. His eyes remained unfocused, only vaguely looking at the rising sun.

Ray, seeing that there was no reaction to the creaking of the door, stepped fully outside. He knocked on the wall to let his son know that he was here, not wanting to sneak up on a trained elemental master. Kai tilted his towards the sound, and saw his dad. His deadpan expression didn't change as he turned back and continued to look at the changing sky.

Ray walked forward and took a seat next to Kai. They both sat in silence, watching the sun rise together. Ray wasn't sure what to do in this situation. Between comforting his wife, trying to comfort his son, and toiling with his own sadness, he had been emotionally spent for the past few days. Ray noted that Kai also seemed emotionally spent, staring blankly at nothing since he got up this morning. He wanted to be able to reignite the fire within Kai, just as he knew a master of fire should always have burning inside him.

Ray opened up with, "It's always nice watching the sun rise over the hills. Ignacia has much better views than Ninjago City". He glanced over Kai, waiting to see if that would get a response out of him.

"Yeah...," Kai mumbled. Ray was expecting Kai to be tired, he had no idea how long he had been up at this point, but was surprised at how defeated Kai sounded. As if he had the responsibility of all Ninjago on his shoulders, and failed them. Well, Ray thought, that's probably what it feels like for him. Ray would be lying if he also didn't say the weight on his shoulders dramatically grew since his daughter had paid the ultimate price for Ninjago.

Trying to continue their conversation, Ray said, "Your mother and I were in Ninjago City for quite a bit. It's amazing how much it's changed since I was a child. I remember it being so humble, and now, it's huge!" Ray looked at his son, but Kai didn't respond. He didn't react at all, continuing to watch the sky as it shifted from red to blue.

Ray looked away, instead looking at the green grass. This was a disaster and he knew it. Steering the conversation away from the weather he said, "Wu told me all about how you never gave up being a blacksmith, and that you even reforged the Golden Weapons. That's an incredible feat! I don't think I could've done that. Why don't you come show your dad what you've learned? Maybe teach me a thing or two?" He ended with a small smile, thinking about how difficult reforging some powerful weapons must've been. But Kai had managed to pull it off anyway. Ray couldn't help but smile with pride every time he thought about the achievements his children carried with them.

However, Kai did not smile. He continued to look at the blue sky, eyes even farther away, recalling faraway memories. "Maybe later, Dad," he responded.

Ray sighed inwardly. He wasn't getting through to his son, not like this. Ray put an arm around Kai's shoulder, He pulled his son close in a tight side hug. Kai didn't move but his eyes seemed less dull than they were before. "Hang in there, son," Ray whispered.

The two of them sat like that for some while more, until Ray released Kai. With his hand still on his son's shoulder, his arm slid down and patted his son on the back twice. Ray stood up, but not without noticing Kai's watering eyes squinting on the grass in front of him.

Ray walked back into the house, noticing his wife sitting at the counter, as she was before. As he walked, she noticed him and stood up. They both embraced in a hug, sharing their sadness together. As they did, they didn't notice the young boy in green standing outside the shop.