Chapter Text
Jaller sat up with a grumble. It was the third night in a row he'd gotten no sleep. The rowing he'd done to get to Metru Nui should've been enough to knock him out for at least a day or so- same as it had with most of his fellow Matoran- but it felt like every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the poisoned red of the Rahkshi before him, feel the echoes of fear that wracked his entire frame.
It was getting to the point where he was heavily considering mentioning it to someone- very uncharacteristic of his independent nature, but with Hahli stationed in Ga-Metru and Takanuva training with the Toa Nuva, he wasn't sure who to confide in.
He fought back a shiver, rubbing some heat into his hands before laying back down and attempting to get at least a wink of sleep.
"Captain?" Kapura repeated for the third time, though it was the first that entered Jaller's awareness. He immediately snapped up straight, glancing around before processing the red Matoran before him. He cleared his throat.
"My apologies, Kapura- do you need something?" He asked, fighting back a yawn.
"The guard is still assessing the damages to the Ta-Metru forge. No sign of danger. But you've been acting strangely."
Jaller's exhausted mind began to wander in the middle of Kapura's report, and it took him a few moments to realize he had stopped speaking.
"Strangely?"
"You do as much work as any of us. You spend your nights pacing angrily through camp. In the day you stand guard. The Makuta himself could sneak past with the way you are now."
Jaller shivered at the name. Normally, he would show no such tic to his subordinates- those who looked toward him for guidance and leadership, but his fatigue had caused his normal instincts to relax somewhat. Worse yet, the action just caused Kapura to look at him with a pitied expression.
"Captain… how much sleep have you had since we arrived here?"
Again, normally, this might be cause for anger. A thousand-year-earned instinct told him to dismiss the issue entirely, but in his insomnia-addled state, he pushed that instinct down.
"... I haven't been sleeping." He finally forced himself to confess, shifting to hold his staff closer to his chest. This seemed to surprise the normally-unshakeable Kapura- at the very least, his eyes widened a bit.
"Not at all?" He asked, to which Jaller responded with a hesitant nod. He'd be beating himself up for the weakness he was showing later, but in the moment he really didn't care.
Jaller wasn't exactly sure when he had wound up back in his tent, but from what he could piece together of his own foggy memories, Kapura had probably led him here. Why was Kapura here again?
Jaller shook his head, turning to face the entrance. He was fine. A bit of restlessness was no excuse for shirking his (or Kapura's) duty.
As soon as he reached the threshold, a hand was placed on his chest, gently discouraging him from advancing.
"An afternoon of rest will result in a more productive day tomorrow," Kapura calmly said, and Jaller hesitantly found it hard to argue with that logic. Hard, but far from impossible.
"It's not befitting of me to stay here and rest while I should be up and about. Let me pass, Kapura."
And yet, Kapura refused to budge.
"I am sorry to have to disobey you. You're in no state to pass orders. As the Turaga's left hand I have some measure of authority as well."
Jaller was about to grumble something, but his attention was quickly redirected to trying not to stumble over his own feet as Kapura guided him inside. He knew he was fighting a losing battle, but still turned over haughtily when he was made to lay on the cot, facing the plain canvas tent.
It was in that moment, though, that he realized Kapura hadn't left. Shifting over just enough to give him a questioning look, he saw the guard had sat a respectable distance away from the cot and was facing the entrance. Evidently, he had felt Jaller's confused gaze on him as he began to speak.
"I do not pretend to know your thoughts. I have noticed your decline in performance. From what I can see you are under an undue amount of stress… I do not blame you considering the events preceding our traveling here."
Jaller looked down. He and practically everyone on the island had been so busy that there wasn't enough time to discuss matters like feelings. He had honestly never considered the effect his death had had on practically anyone outside of Hahli and Takanuva. Particularly the Ta-Koro guard.
Though his relationship with the guard was one of professionalism and command, he couldn't simply say he didn't care for them at all outside of that. He trusted each of the guard completely, and would gladly lay down his own life for any of them. Evidently, they felt similarly about their captain.
"... Thank you, Kapura," he said in a voice soft enough to surprise even himself as he rolled back over and let exhaustion overtake him.