Chapter Text
(Everything was going wrong).
(Lloyd was running from the Monastery, eyes wild, frantic and purple –)
(He’d thought he could control It, but It was far too powerful).
(Violet fire streamed from his hands, creating a wicked trail of destruction wherever he tried to go –)
(He sank down, back sliding against a tree, hiding his face behind flaming hands as he sobbed and sobbed and sobbed as hatred festered in his heart, terrified –)
“No,” Lloyd heard himself whisper in anguish, trying to wrench himself back to the present. He didn’t want to remember any more. His mind only darkened in response, trapping him further in its embrace. He whimpered. “Please, no. Stop!”
(“…Lloyd?” Kai’s voice asked quietly. He was met with the face of a snarling golden Oni, who stretched his claws towards him, purple eyes glowing with rage – )
“No!”
He gasped, jolting upright, his body trembling. Casting a frantic glance around his room, he threw his blankets off, unable to bear the darkness around him. He clenched his fist and formed a ball of energy, throwing it up in the air and towards the light switch - which turned on immediately.
He sank back as light invaded his eyes, rubbing them tiredly.
" - Lloyd?" A sleepy voice called as Arin poked his head in. Lloyd saw the moment he realized what was going on, his student's brown eyes widening in worry. "Are - are you alright?" The boy stammered, rushing to his teacher's side, hands reaching out to steady him.
Lloyd stiffened and moved away before he could make contact, standing up on shaky legs. He wasn't safe to be around right now. He tried for a smile, but he must've been too shaken for it to be genuine, judging by Arin's unconvinced expression.
"I'm fine," he said softly, drawing his hands close to his chest to hide how they were shaking. A spark of angry purple energy flitted between his fingers, and Lloyd flinched, closing his eyes to mask how they flashed a sudden violet.
"...Arin?"
Sora yawned, stumbling into the room. Her half-lidded eyes fell on the two - Arin standing with his hands outstretched, clearly worried; Lloyd standing off to the side, strangely tense. She straightened, becoming more alert, casting her gaze side to side warily.
"Uh, what's going on?"
"It's nothing," Lloyd said curtly. "Both of you, back to bed." He tried to shoo them out, but there was only so much he could do with his hands clasped close to him.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Arin asked softly. He looked to Sora for support, and she nodded, coming to stand by his side. Emboldened, he continued, still speaking in a gentle, calm tone: "It's alright if you did. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Me and Sora have nightmares all the time."
Sora nodded again.
Lloyd could only stare. They thought he was being defensive because he had nightmares?
"You don't understand," he insisted. "You need to leave."
"Talking about it helps," Arin offered instead, like he hadn't heard the second statement.
To his horror, the two actually sat down in his bed, patting the space beside them for him to sit.
Lloyd could feel the darkness inside yearning to reach out, destroy those who were intruding on his territory.
He placed a hand on his chest and hissed, falling to his knees, forcing it back.
Tonight was not going to be good.
Arin and Sora weren't helping matters.
"Please," he whispered raggedly, "go. I don't know how much longer I can contain myself. I'll explain later, I promise. Please, just leave me alone. It's not safe for you to be around me right now."
He raised his eyes, meeting their shocked expressions, seeing how their eyes dilated at seeing his gaze flicker between shades of his regular green and his violent purple.
He groaned and held his head.
(No. He couldn't do it. Not with them around).
"Leave!" He bellowed, and the kids skittered out, their hearts thundering in their chests and oh the blood and the fear it was so loud so loud -
He covered his ears, letting out a whimper, and sighed as he fell against the bed, only relaxing when the door finally closed.
He was going to have to do a lot of explaining tomorrow.