Chapter Text
Wu woke up half an hour before sunrise, as always. Not even yesterday’s change in routine could shake his inner timer. Plus, he had a new pupil to teach now. Best to teach good habits and discipline through his own example.
He stretched, got dressed, and headed to the kitchen to brew himself a cup of tea. Once he had a nice steaming kettle, Wu set it on a tray alongside a napkin, a cup, and his bowl of sugar cubes, and went outside to watch the sunrise. He almost dropped the tray when he slid open the door with his staff and was met with the sight of the training course whirring with motion, Kai already hard at work on it.
After Kai’s reaction to everything that happened yesterday, Wu had assumed it would take more effort to force him to get up and train. It seemed that Kai’s determination to get his sister back from the Skulkin was a powerful enough motivator to get him to wake up before sunrise to work on the training course.
Wu slid the door closed before setting his staff and tray on the ground and making himself his first cup of tea for the day. He sat down, smoothed the napkin over his lap, and poured the piping hot tea from the kettle into his teacup. Blowing on the cup’s contents gently, Wu plucked a couple of sugar cubes from the bowl and put them into his drink. They disappeared with a plop as he stirred them in, eyeing the lightening horizon. Wu tapped the rim of his cup with his stir stick before setting it aside and taking his first sip of tea just as the tip of the sun emerged from over the top of the monastery walls and spilled light into the courtyard.
Wu sighed in contentment and went to take another sip before a sharp yelp broke him out of his peaceful state. He looked over just as Kai crashed to the ground, knocked aside by one part of the training course or another. Wu watched with interest as Kai pushed himself to his feet, panting slightly and scowling at the offending equipment. Wiping a hand across his forehead, Kai sighed, picked up his wooden training sword from where it had fallen a few feet away, and jumped back into the course.
After a while, Wu placed his empty teacup and napkin back onto his serving tray and coughed loudly to get Kai’s attention. He made a mental note to teach Kai about stealth along with Spinjitzu—Wu had been sitting there without being noticed for a considerable amount of time despite any active efforts to conceal himself.
Kai glanced over at Wu, startled. His distraction caused the large sand punching bag swinging around the course to smack him across the courtyard.
“Good morning,” he groaned at Wu from his upside-down position slumped against the wall he had just crashed into. Wu was just thankful that he had avoided hitting his teapot, which was much less durable than the surrounding monastery. He had had the walls reinforced for the express reason that people had kept flying off the training course and into them—Wu liked his monastery very much and wanted to avoid ninja-shaped holes littering the place, thank you very much.
“Good morning, Sensei,” Wu corrected.
Kai rolled his eyes as he toppled over himself to stand up. “Yeah, sure, whatever.”
Wu grabbed his staff and whacked Kai across the head with it before the boy could even blink.
“Wha- OW! Hey, what the fuck!”
Wu swung his staff again. This time, Kai successfully dodged out of its way, expecting it. He jumped out of range of the weapon and grabbed the side of his head, scowling. “What was that for? I thought you were trying to train me to become a ninja, not maim me!”
“Do not swear within my presence. I am your sensei now, and you will treat me as such. Respect is one important part of being a ninja. Respect for your teacher is even more necessary.”
Kai didn’t stop scowling as he said, “Fine. Good morning, Sensei. Now, can I get back to work? Or are you gonna teach me how to properly bow and grovel at your feet whenever you enter a room, oh great Sensei?” He bowed mockingly to drive his point across. Wu stood up and hit Kai’s bowed head with his staff.
“Discipline, like Spinjitzu, is learned through experience,” Wu said as Kai yelped and straightened up to glare daggers at him. “Return to the course. You will learn respect in due time. Lest you wish to continue becoming acquainted with my staff.”
Kai clearly bit back a remark before turning around, picking up his wooden training sword, and jumping back into the course to swing at the rotating dummies.
-
Wu continued to watch Kai tackle the training course throughout the morning. Kai was thrown to the ground time and again and yet he still continued jumping back into the course with unwavering determination. Besides, the fact that Kai made little progress was understandable. After all, it was his first day of training. Ninja were not created overnight, and no amount of determination from Kai would change that.
Once noon rolled around, Kai was drenched in sweat and making sloppy mistakes. Wu was meditating quietly but was keeping an ear open in case Kai needed any wisdom.
“Gah! How do I keep losing my fucking sword!” Wu cracked an eye open and watched as Kai stormed over to the offending piece of wood abandoned on the floor, picked it up, and hurled it across the courtyard. It bounced off the surrounding wall with a thunk.
Kai stood still, panting and glaring at where he had thrown the sword. His hands were clenched in tight, shaking fists at his sides; his breathing was irregular. Wu could hear him muttering under his breath, and though he couldn’t make out what Kai was saying, he could probably assume that he was cursing like a sailor.
Wu sighed. Well, it was about time for a break anyway. He grabbed his tea equipment and his staff and rose. “Time for lunch,” he said briskly. He tapped the off button to the training course with his staff, then walked over to the kitchen as it came to a halt.
He waited until Kai followed suit, still grumbling quietly to himself.
“Cook me lunch,” Wu instructed. “I shall be waiting in the dining room.”
“Wha- Hey, what?” Kai glanced around the kitchen. “Cook you lunch? Cook yourself lunch! I’m not your chef!”
Wu knocked Kai on the head with his staff and huffed. “Too bad!” Then he disappeared into the dining room.
Wu just hoped that Kai did better at this than Jay and Cole. Cole’s food had been borderline inedible, and although Jay had cooked some good meals for the two of them (along with some more questionable dishes), the kitchen always looked like it had been struck by a hurricane by the time he was finished. Wu wouldn’t be surprised if Kai lit the kitchen on fire, and he didn’t particularly want to deal with that, either.
Not a moment after Wu had sat down at the dining table to wait, he heard a yelp from the kitchen and a loud crashing sound indicative of the toppling of many pots and pans. He winced. Perhaps once all the ninja were together, they should leave the bulk of the cooking to Zane.
After a few more shouts, clatters, and bumps, the sounds from the kitchen seemed to calm down. Wu strained his ears, wondering if Kai had just given up and left the kitchen, but he could hear the opening and closing of cupboard doors and the sound of a knife against a cutting board.
After about ten minutes, the aroma of cooking food began wafting into the dining room. It smelled surprisingly decent.
Once about an hour and a half had passed with Kai in the kitchen, the door to the dining room swung open, and Kai entered, holding two plates. He set one down in front of Wu and took a seat himself.
“Oh, wait, fuck, I forgot to grab utensils. Gimme a sec.”
“Watch your language!” Wu called after Kai, who disappeared back into the kitchen. His mouth was shaping up to be as foul as Morro’s had been.
Kai came back seconds later, holding two forks and a spoon. “I didn’t know which you’d prefer,” he said by way of explanation as he put one spoon on his own plate and passed the other two utensils to Wu. “I also didn’t know what foods you like, so… I just kinda cooked with what I had. Too bad if you don’t like it, though, cuz I’m not making something else. If you wanted something in particular, you should have said.”
“Remember respect, young ninja,” Wu reminded.
Kai just hummed from across the table, gripping his fork tightly but making no moves to begin eating.
Wu sighed and picked up his fork, looking at the dish before him. It looked like Kai had just thrown whatever food he had found in Wu’s kitchen into a pot and stirred until it was cooked.
He began eating cautiously, and when the flavor hit his taste buds, Wu instinctively reached for his water. It was spicy.
“What, you don’t like it, old man?” Kai accused when he noticed.
Wu took a sip from his glass before answering. “No, young ninja. I was just caught by surprise at the level of spiciness.” He took another bite of the food, this time prepared for the heat. He could feel Kai’s eyes boring into him.
The meal was actually quite superb. Perhaps Kai had known what he was throwing into the pot after all.
“Where did you learn how to cook this dish?” Wu inquired, continuing to eat and ignoring Kai’s continuing glare. “It is marvelous.”
Kai notably untensed. He shrugged and began, finally, to pick at his own food.
“Book at the library,” he said. “I needed a recipe that I could make with just whatever. The book pretty much just said, ‘Throw all your spare meat and veggies into a pot.’ Nya likes it cuz it tastes a bit different every time, and I like making it cuz I don’t have to stress about what’s in the house so long as we have some stock.”
They continued to eat in silence. As Wu finished, his fork clinking against the bottom of the plate, Kai glanced up and then back down at his food. “This is the first time I’ve made it with olives,” he said quietly. “I’ve always wanted to see how it’d turn out—they’re Nya’s favorite. But we never get our hands on enough for more than a quick treat.”
He laughed wetly. “They kinda throw the whole thing off. But she’d love it. She’d say, ‘This is the ingredient we’ve been missing the whole time!’ even though she’s never complained about it before.”
Kai stared somberly into his dish, prodding half-heartedly at the remaining stew.
“We will get her back, Kai,” Wu said reassuringly. “But first-”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. First, I must learn twistspinzu.” Kai set his fork down and pushed his chair out from the table, exhaling loudly as if trying to distract from the fact he’d been on the verge of tears just moments before. “Speaking of, I think I’m gonna head back to the training course. See ya later, Sensei. Glad you liked the food.” Kai grabbed Wu’s empty plate, stacked it underneath his still half-full one, and put the cutlery on top.
He turned around and walked to the kitchen door, opening it with his foot. He seemed to lose steam for a moment and paused awkwardly in the doorway, turning around slightly and avoiding Wu’s eyes.
“Yes, Kai?” Wu prodded.
“Uh… do you think there’s any way we could get some corn tortillas up here? And, like, peppers? I make some bomb enchiladas.”
“Of course, Kai,” Wu responded, caught a bit off guard. Kai nodded silently in response before slipping through the door and into the kitchen. Wu heard the dishes being put down, then the door leading outside sliding open and shut. The training course whirred to life with a telltale clatter.
Wu finished his water before standing up and migrating to the kitchen, putting his empty glass in the sink. The kitchen was, thankfully, still standing. And surprisingly spotless.
Wu slid open the door to the courtyard, collected the tray on which his tea set still sat, and brought it back inside the kitchen. He left the courtyard door open, keeping an eye out for Kai as he brewed his afternoon tea. Once he had finished and set his tea tray back up, he returned outside, closed the door behind him, and settled back into the same position as that morning on the small porch.
When Kai next got knocked to the ground, Wu informed him that he was to attempt to complete the course before Wu had finished his tea, as he had explained the day before. From watching Kai throughout the day, Wu did not believe he would be able to complete the course yet but felt it was necessary to maintain the routine. If anything, it would at least remind Kai of the final goal of the training course.
Well, the advertised final goal.
Kai stood up, knocked the dust off his clothes, and accepted, albeit somewhat reluctantly. He and Wu made eye contact, Kai gripping his wooden sword tightly and Wu holding the handle of his teapot. Then, Wu raised his teacup and began pouring his drink, and Kai sprang into action.
Wu calmly made his tea (a bit slower than usual, but nobody needed to know that), going through the familiar motions, while Kai dodged and weaved through the swinging dummies and then perched in front of the spinning logs, analyzing. He glanced at Wu, who put a second sugar cube in his cup and began stirring.
Kai’s face steeled as Wu blew on the steaming cup. He ran into the obstacles, trying to follow the log’s velocity around and weave through the course, but he was soon caught by one of the extended sticks and was knocked to the floor. He was forced to army crawl out from underneath the spinning logs to avoid getting crushed between them.
As he stood up, Wu finished sipping his tea and set the empty cup on his lap.
“Failed.”
Wu met Kai’s eyes from across the courtyard. He could see his face reddening in frustration. “Agh!” Kai yelled. “I’ve been training all day! Why can’t you just teach me spinflipzu already so we can save my sister!”
“Patience, young ninja,” Wu responded, setting his teacup and napkin back on the tray with the rest of his set. “Only once you have mastered the course will you also be on your way to mastering Spinjitzu and becoming a ninja.”
Kai huffed and turned back away from Wu. He looped back around to the spinning logs and squared off against them. “Fine, old man,” he said, not looking at Wu. “I’ll master the stupid course. But if we try to find my sister and it turns out we were too late to save her, it’ll have been your fault.” At this, he cast a glare toward Wu before jumping back into the fray of the course.
He was, unsurprisingly, immediately hit away by the logs once again, this time getting launched into the air and landing in a heap on the ground. He groaned and sat up as Wu said, “It is unwise to face the Skulkin without first mastering the art of Spinjitzu. If it is time you are worried about, I suggest you learn to complete the course quickly.”
Wu stood up and moved to go back inside.
“Hey, where are you going?” Kai yelled at his retreating form. “Aren’t you supposed to be teaching me here?”
“Practice is the greatest teacher of them all,” Wu responded, sliding the door open. “Besides, I am going to grab my wallet. I have some tortillas to buy.”
Then he slipped back into the quiet monastery.
---
When Wu returned to the monastery, toting the enchilada materials Kai had asked for (he had gotten a more thorough list from him on his way out of the monastery) along with some other necessities (such as tea), the sun was lowering over the hills and painting the sky orange and pink.
Wu opened the large wooden doors into the courtyard and was immediately forced to duck out of the way of Kai flying towards him and yelling. Kai sailed over Wu and hit the stone staircase behind. He started rolling down, yelping in pain.
“Oh dear,” Wu sighed. He set down his bags and jumped into action, running and flipping down the staircase to intercept Kai before he rolled all the way down and further injured himself. He held out his arms and braced himself as Kai crashed into him. Wu stumbled at the impact but prevented them from toppling over and falling farther down the staircase.
He placed Kai down, who swayed dizzily for a second before falling to the floor, groaning. “I believe,” Wu said to the boy at his feet, “that we are done for the day. Come, I shall make dinner.” He began walking back up the stairs to the monastery, less brisk than usual and ready to run back down if anything else happened to Kai. After a moment, though, Kai hauled himself to his feet and started trudging up after Wu.
“But,” he said, panting after he caught up to Wu and fell into step with him. “I didn’t finish my lunch. I can just eat the rest of what I cooked. That way we’ll be saving more food.”
“Nonsense!” Wu said in response. “You shall eat a fresh meal. Tell me, do you wish to eat half a plate of leftovers?”
Kai nodded his head vigorously. “I don’t mind.”
Wu frowned. “Too bad. I will not have it.”
“But… but then I wasted food. What if, because of that, we run out? I should really just eat what I left, and then you can save the food you were gonna use for me ’til tomorrow. We’ll be able to stretch it longer that way.”
Wu stopped walking up the stairs. Kai jerked to a stop when he realized Wu had halted, immediately on high alert. “What’s up?” he asked quickly, eyes widening as he looked around. “Is it those skeletons again?”
“Kai,” Wu interrupted, voice gentle. Kai’s attention snapped back to Wu. “You never have to worry about having enough food under my roof. Do you understand? Eat as much as you please.”
Kai looked distressed. “But- But I won’t be able to pay you back. You’re already letting me live here, and I-”
“Kai, what did we talk about yesterday? Do not worry about ever paying me a dime.” (It had taken more than a bit of convincing to assure Kai that his stay at the monastery had no strings attached; the only payment Wu required was his commitment to mastering Spinjitzu and becoming a ninja.)
Kai didn’t look reassured. “Well, then what about you?” he asked instead.
“What about me?” Wu asked, a bit confused.
“Well, if I’m not worrying about food, then surely you are, right? And, like, no offense, man, but you’re pretty old, so I think you should probably be eating enough. I don’t want you dying before we save my sister.”
Wu’s gaze softened. “I shall not be worrying about food either. Do not fret. I have enough money to keep the both of us fed and housed and happy.”
Kai’s face flickered through a few emotions Wu couldn’t pinpoint before settling again. “Oh,” he said. Wu nodded and began walking once more, Kai following suit.
They walked up the rest of the stairway in silence. When they arrived at the top, Wu hooked his abandoned bags on the end of his staff and headed inside, instructing Kai to shut down the training course and shower before joining him in the dining room for dinner.
He entered the kitchen and put the food he bought away before preparing their supper. He didn’t make anything special—just a form of the noodle dish he always defaulted to. But he was sure to add a bit of extra spice since Kai seemed to like that.
After about ten minutes, Kai popped his head into the kitchen, his hair damp and his eyes red, asking if Wu needed any help. Wu shook his head and shooed the boy out of the kitchen. Twenty minutes after that, Wu brought two dishes into the dining room.
“Dinner is ready,” he said, placing one plate and one pair of chopsticks in front of Kai before setting his own place at the table.
Kai pulled a face when he looked at the dish before him. “Uhh,” he said. “I can’t use chopsticks.”
“What?” Wu said, incredulous, as he sat down. “Whyever not?”
Kai’s face flushed as he suddenly got defensive. “I don’t know! I just never learned, okay? It never seemed important! I couldn’t be bothered to teach myself when we had spoons and forks in the house! Plus, they’re impossible to use anyway. You can’t pick anything up.”
Wu sighed. Well, he guessed this was as good a lesson in dexterity and patience as any. He picked up his chopsticks and motioned for Kai to do the same. Kai rolled his eyes but did as he was told, lacing the two sticks awkwardly through his fingers. Wu leaned across the table to demonstrate the correct finger position and instructed Kai on where to shift his grip. Eventually, they got to a point where Kai was holding the chopsticks well enough to get the job done, even if it was far from perfect. (And Kai had only thrown his chopsticks down in frustration twice! Small victories.)
“Now, eat,” Wu said, clacking his chopsticks together before diving into his meal. Kai watched how he picked up the noodles for a minute before sighing and moving to his own plate. Kai pushed a few noodles into a small heap before pinching them with his chopsticks and lifting them slowly into the air. His face split into a grin when they stayed within the hold of the chopsticks, and he carefully brought the food to his mouth and swallowed. Seemingly pleased, he went for another bite.
Dinner went smoothly after that. Wu quickly finished his food and watched as Kai slowly ate his own, using the chopsticks. He messed up a few times, struggling to maintain a good grip on the sticks and dropping noodles onto the table and his lap a few times. But every time he got a helping of food to his mouth without incident, his glee was palpable.
After he ate about three-quarters of the food, Kai set his chopsticks down. “Thank you for the meal. It was great. And, uh, thanks for teaching me how to use the chopsticks. That was kinda fun. Uh, Sensei.” Kai stood up and collected the finished dishes.
“Are you not going to finish yours?” Wu asked. “Remember, Kai, you need not worry about saving food here. We have enough.”
Kai stood there awkwardly for a moment as he held the dirty plates. “I know, I know,” he reassured. “Sorry for not finishing mine. It was super good, I promise, and I’ll eat it if you don’t want me to waste it. It was just… a lot. I haven’t eaten this much in one sitting… in a while.”
Wu nodded, carefully masking the concern on his face. “If you are sure,” he responded. Kai nodded in return before heading into the kitchen to put the plates into the sink. When he didn’t return immediately to the dining room, Wu entered the kitchen after him to ensure he was alright. Kai was gripping the plate still containing his uneaten food, looking conflicted.
“Is everything alright, young ninja?” Wu asked.
Kai looked up, startled. “Uh, yeah, of course,” he responded. “Just… are you sure I can throw this away? Really, I can eat it for lunch tomorrow, I don’t mind.”
Wu strode over and grabbed the plate from Kai’s hand. He opened the trash bin and tipped the contents inside. Kai stared open-mouthed as Wu returned the plate to him. “I am sure,” Wu confirmed.
It wasn’t that Wu was against leftovers on principle. In fact, he tended to let not a single scrap of food go uneaten. But somehow, this display felt necessary to illustrate to Kai that he was allowed to use what Wu provided, even if it seemed wasteful to him.
“Alright,” Kai stammered. He placed the plate into the sink alongside the other dishes and grabbed another plate by the sink—one he had used earlier that day. Hesitantly, he walked over to the trash bin Wu had just used and, casting a questioning glance toward him, slowly tipped it over and scraped the plate’s contents into the trash. He placed it into the sink as well.
“Very good. Now, go ahead and wash the dishes and then head to bed. Sleep is vital to building up the muscles and clearing the mind, and you have been awake since before sunup.” Wu moved to leave the kitchen and go to his own sleeping quarters, but the incredulous look on Kai’s face stopped him. “Have I said something you wish to question?” he asked.
Kai opened and closed his mouth before gesturing to the sink. “Wash the dishes?”
Wu sighed. “Yes. You are living here now; you must pull your weight and participate in doing chores. Just as you cooked earlier today.”
Kai scoffed. “Yeah, okay, I get that. But there are only a few dishes. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until there are more so we can limit the amount of water we use?”
Wu blinked.
“Oh, wait, let me guess,” Kai continued sarcastically in his silence. “You have so much money you can use however much water you want and never even worry about it! Next, you’ll tell me we can use hot water without boiling it first!” Kai threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.
“Actually,” Wu said calmly, once again keeping his concern for the young ninja out of his voice. “You are exactly correct.”
“Wait, what?” Kai said, an expression of genuine shock crossing his face. “No, you’re fucking with me. Uh, shit. I mean, messing with me. Sensei.”
“I assure you I am not.”
“But- But-”
“You need not worry about resources while you are here,” Wu cut Kai off. “You may feel free to eat as much food and use as much water and electricity as you want. We even have heating for when the nights get cold.”
Kai gaped at him, astonished. Wu’s heart ached as he thought about Kai and his other pupils: the joy and pride in Cole’s eyes when Wu gave him even the smallest of praises; Jay’s excitement at having an actual building to live in ‘with a toilet and a shower and everything right inside it oh my god this is so cool!’; Zane’s quiet appreciation for somebody to talk to and watch over him. (Morro’s anger when he learned that Wu never had to worry about where his next meal was coming from all high and mighty up on his hill.)
Wu pushed his thoughts away. It was never any use to dwell on the past when it was what he did in the present that mattered. He watched, intrigued, as Kai turned the left handle of the sink and stopped up the drain. After a minute of Kai holding his outstretched hand under the water, his face lit up.
“It’s- it’s warm! Oh man, does this mean I can take hot showers? I haven’t had one of those in years.” He looked at Wu questioningly. Wu nodded in confirmation, and Kai laughed with glee. “Awesome! I’m gonna take another shower tonight right after I’m finished with this!”
Kai continued grinning as the sink filled up. He shut off the tap and squeezed some dish soap into the water, throwing a cautious glance toward Wu as he did so as if to make sure he was really allowed to use the soap. He thrust his hands into the pool of sudsy water and sighed in contentment. “Oh man, this is so cool. I can’t wait to tell Nya-”
Kai cut himself off, his smile dying on his face. “Oh,” he said, sounding small. Wu rested a hand on Kai’s shoulder, making him jump in alarm.
“We will get her back,” he reassured. Wu felt like he had said that a million times in the short time he had known Kai, but he knew the young boy needed to hear the reassuring words. Kai nodded but remained quiet and deflated as he began scrubbing the dishes.
Wu sighed. “Good night, Kai. I shall see you tomorrow morning at sunrise.”
“‘Night.”
Wu removed his hand from Kai’s shoulder and headed to his sleeping quarters. He did some stretches and training in his room to keep himself sharp—he could not be off his game in the coming weeks if he was to have any hope of stopping Garmadon’s sinister plans.
After a bit, he heard Kai pass his room, and a door down the hallway clicked shut. At one point during the hour, while Wu finished his training and got ready to sleep, he heard the shower run. A faint smile decorated his face at the sound.
Once 10 pm struck, Wu set aside his staff and got into bed. He closed his eyes, cleared his mind of its constantly whirring thoughts, and went to sleep.