Drug use

꧁𓊈𒆜"Chapter Fourteen"𒆜𓊉꧂
It's here

My breathing started to become laboured so as soon as I was out of sight from the Bounty, I ripped my mask off and left it on the floor. I made sure to trample over it for extra measures.

I had sent Violet my location, a measure we had set in place after my last escape to her. I was watching her grow closer to me, but she was still taking too long.

Fuck.

I didn't tell her last time, and now I was dressed like one of those Ninja. Would she even want to pick me up? Would she even want to help me?

I wouldn't blame her, but I couldn't lose her.

I stopped walking when I heard her distinct motorbike nearing closer. She slowed, obviously watching me from the app, but upon looking around, she didn't recognise me.

"Vi," I called out for her.

She flinched, looking towards me suddenly. Her expression changed wildly. At first, she was relieved to have heard my voice, but then she grimaced and stared at me, or more specifically my outfit, with disgust.

"Ash?" She whispered, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"I have a lot to-- just don't hate me ok?" The tears burned hot in my eyes, "Violet I just gotta-- Gahh! I can't even speak!"

I yelled at her without meaning to, turning away, both hands in my hair as I pulled on the strands and focused on my breathing.

Don't cry.

You don't need to cry.

"Holy fuck Asher," She gasped, leaping off her bike.

I suddenly felt her hands on my shoulders, pulling my arms down from my hair. She pulled me around harshly, I couldn't bare to look at her whilst I was in this state.

I thought she was going to slap me, which maybe I would've preffered to get me out of this state, but instead she hugged me.

I lost my mind.

"I fucked up," I whispered, "I fucked up so bad Vi. I don't know what to do,"

"It'll be ok," She promised, "Let's just get you back to mine, yeah?"

I pulled away from her, looking at her like she'd just offered something stupid. The rush in her eye seemed so caring, like she wanted to do anything to help me in that moment.

But of course I had to ruin it.

I'm not sure what it was, that look in her eye that wanted to help me, the way she was holding me, or the attention she was giving me.

But I dove in for a kiss.

She let me at first, I held her impossibly close to me. But then after a moment of a one sided make out, she shoved me away, wiping her mouth unapologetically.

"No Ashton," She shook her head, "Sex doesn't help everything. We learned that last time,"

I stared at her for a moment, feeling absolutely stupid. I didn't know what to say.

"Don't apologise," She spoke before I could even say anything, "Let's just get back to mine, we'll talk, maybe get high... you look like you need it Garmadon,"

I let out a small laugh, slightly hysterical.

"Yeah, let's do that," I nodded, following her back to her bike.

...

Her flat stunk of weed, more so then it usually did. I guessed Killow had been around recently.

I sat on her sofa, feeling like a kid about to get scolded, but most of all? I felt small. Too small.

I didn't feel like I had power over myself anymore. I'd put on something I swore I never would because a 10 year old asked me to, I let my Dad leave without following him, I assisted with saving the Ninja?

And I made out with Kai.

FSM I made out with Kai.

"You look like you want the couch to swallow you," Violet mused, leaning against the kitchen counter, "What happened Ash?"

"You're gonna hate me," I announced quickly, "Don't say you won't because I know you will,"

"Let me decide that, hmm?" She rolled her eyes, "You're so dramatic. Just talk to me Bro,"

"The Ninja's weapons destined Lloyd to be a Ninja," I rambled, "They said that I was too. I'm some sort of protector Ninja for Lloyd but-- it says we have to defeat Father,"

I'd never seen her look so confused in her life.

"No offence Ash, I don't see it in you to be good," Violet frowned, picking at her nails.

"This is what I've been saying!" I explained, nodding my head, "I'm Lord Garmadon's son! The one that lived with him alone in the most evil place ever from the age of 8!"

"And they forced you to wear that?" Violet asked, her finger moving up and down my outfit.

"No," I mumbled guiltily, rubbing my face with my hands, "Lloyd asked. We had to save the Ninja from the Serpentine... Fuck Violet, it's so much,"

"Seems like it... What does your Dad think about this? Surely he can't want that for you, surely he doesn't want to fight his son's?"

"Of course he doesn't, but I don't want to either. Lloyd's already accepted his fate which didn't surprise me, but it just seems like everyone else around me has a choice and I don't," I hissed, shaking my head.

"You don't want to fight your Dad but you don't want to fight Lloyd either," Violet summed up.

"Yeah," My voice cracked.

Stupid emotions.

"Wanna know what I'd do?" She bit her lip for a moment, I looked up to her hopefully, "I'd stick with your Father. Sure, I get it... Lloyd is your brother, you never want to hurt him... but you don't know him like your Father,"

My eyes flickered to her, half in fury, but half in confusion. How could she even suggest that?

"Don't look at me like that Asher," She scolded, baring her teeth at me, "Think about it. You want to rule Ninjago, your Dad's the man to go to. He knows what he's doing. Evil is all you've ever known, why would you want to enter unknown territory?"

Ok... she had a point about the city, but I still could wrap my head around it all the way.

Lloyd was important to me.

But Violet was right.

Why would I chose something that I've always hated over something I've always been good at?

It was ironic.

I was good at being bad, I guess that was the only thing I was good at.

"I'm not telling you that's the path you should take," She paused thoughtfully, "But it's the most logical,"

I sucked in a deep breath.

"I guess so," I nodded slowly.

"There's more, isn't there?" She guessed, moving to sit next to me.

I groaned slightly, why did she know me so well?

"I nearly had sex with Kai but we didn't know each other but now we do and I don't know what to do,"

"Fucking hell," Violet grumbled under her breath before rummaging through a drawer next to her.

She pulled out a cigarette shaped object and a lighter, throwing them into my lap.

"That's gonna take you up up and away," She patted my knee, "I'll go sort my room out. You'll be sleeping here tonight,"

...

I stayed with Violet for 4 nights.

I had suggested I go to leave with my father without telling anybody. I didn't owe Wu, I didn't owe Kai, I didn't owe it to anybody where I was.

Apart from Lloyd.

And that's why I still hadn't left yet.

I was waiting patiently in front of the TV, high out of my mind, watching the news. There had been earthquakes and Vi was currently smoking out of the window, looking outside.

I'd had no contact with the Ninja and it felt like my brain could relax... that or it had been the fact that I had been Hugh 3 out if the 4 days I'd been away from them.

"Breaking news!" The lady on screen yelled, "The Great Devourer is headed our way! The Ninja advise to get to high ground, but we advise to get the hell out of the city!"

"No," I shook my head firmly, "Cole got the blades..."

"Holy shit, that's what's causing the quakes. Ash get up, we have to go," Violet plucked me up from the couch and pushed me towards the door.

But I paused, looking to where I was sat on the couch.

Groaning softly, I reached over and grabbed a duffle bag and slung it over my shoulder, finally allowing Violet to push me away.

It was dizzying, moving that fast whilst being on Angel again.

I guessed we were trying to get to her bike, we'd drive out of Ninjago like Gayle Gossip had told us to. My brain was to mushed to form proper sentences to ask, but I trusted Violet.

I had guessed right, she shoved her helmet on and revved up the engine.

As we drove quicker then I had ever done on her motorcycle, my mind kept going back.

Cole had grabbed the fangblades and as far as I was concerned, they were going to be burned.

So how was that beast free?

How was the thing that caused my Father to choose evil over everything else in his life allowed to be out and causing terror again?

But most importantly, was Lloyd OK?

Was he hurt?

Though I couldn't focus on him for long, there was another loud rumble that caused Violet to stop her bike. Screams or torture and fear broke out whilst buildings crumbled and pipes burst.

"It's here," Violet gasped, swallowing thickly, "We gotta get out of here,"

Unfortunately, everybody else had the same plans as us.

There was only so much traffic a motorbike could pass through without being stopped.

"The Ninja are here!"

I tried to look at where the kid was pointing, but I couldn't see, my eyes hurt too bad and my brain felt like it was melting away.

"Hold on tight, I know a short cut," Violet called, turning the bike left and darting us down an alley.

I had never grabbed onto someone so harsh in my life.

We flew down the pavement, turning and twisting down every way we could. If she kept this up, I would be throwing up.

But then we were lurched forward, the wind was knocked out of my lungs at the force.

I looked over her shoulder and the blood drained from my face.

Staring right back at us was the beast who's venom was passing through my blood, much like it was my Father's and Lloyd’s.

The Great Devourer was staring right back at me.

"Violet... drive," I swallowed, pushing her slightly.

Her hands gripped the vehicle.

"It-- it won't start up," She panicked, twisting the gear, "It won't work!"

It hissed violently, it's tail shaking somewhere close, it's rattle stirring up my existence more then the drugs had.

It was getting closer.

It was getting closer.

Was I going to die?

"What do you mean it won't work!?" I questioned, she must not be doing it right.

"I mean it's not working Asher!" She screamed, looking at me over her shoulder.

"How? What did you do!?"

"I did nothing!"

"It's getting closer Vi!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

I let out a stressed sound and clenched my jaw.

Within seconds, I had slid off the bike, wrapped my arm around her waist and was throwing her out of range from the snake and it's deadly mouth.

"Ashton!" Violet cried, reaching out for me.

Stupid, she was too far.

If I was to be a hero, I'd rather die having saved a villain.

I braced mysel for the onslaught of pain, shutting my eyes and clenching my fists, but it never came.

I waited for a long moment before peeking.

Zane.

"Ashton, you're OK," He assessed, his expression surprised.

"Zane?" I could only mumble his name stupidly.

I looked to where The Great Devourer had been but could only see it's scaly body. Zane had frozen over the gap, it had turned a corner.

Zane had saved us.

"You're needed with us Ashton, Sensei expected you back days ago," Zane grabbed my arm and tried to pull me forward.

"Zane," I shook my head, pulling myself free.

He looked confused for a moment, eyeing Violet, then me.

Then his expression turned into one of acceptance.

"Have you decided?"

"...Yeah," I nodded slowly, "I'm not staying Zane,"

Zane pursed his lips, bouncing on the balls of his feet for a quick moment.

"Alright. I'll be sure to tell Master Wu and Lloy--"

"No," I cut him off sternly.

He was silenced again, my words surprised him oncemore.

And then he smiled.

He smiled?

"They will not know we saw each other," He finalised, lifting his fists with ice, "Get to high ground,"

I nodded again, staring at him stupidly.

Why was he being so nice?

"Why?" I asked blankly.

"Because I sense that you will. Lloyd is too important to you. You won't leave him in the dark,"

My eyes widened slightly.

He was right.

I wouldn't leave Lloyd in a place that I was shunned to for 10 years of my life.

I'd never make Lloyd see the Darkness, and I'd never create a space like that for him either.

Lloyd would know.

I would tell Lloyd.

I walked over to Violet blindly, not looking away from the nindroid.

"Stop it Zane," I gasped, not expecting Violet to grip me as tight as she did, "Stop that damn snake,"

He chuckled softly, nodding his head, then using his ice power, he made a path to a high building and then vanished out of my sight.

Of course they'd stop it.

They had to.

Ninja never quit.

I'm so excited for the next chapter.

Warnings: sadness and angst and also some.... confessions?