(Make sure to use Night Ninja's old design. I know it's his new one in the picture but I really like his old design better)
Connor huddled in his dimly lit room, his small hands pressed firmly against his ears, trying desperately to block out the tumultuous shouts resonating from downstairs. The chaotic clash of voices made his heart race, fear coiling tightly in his chest. He longed to intervene but was paralyzed by the dread of facing his father again, the bitter sting of a previous altercation still fresh on his skin. He remained frozen, a silent plea hanging in the air, wishing fervently for the storm below to abate. His thoughts were consumed with concern for his mother and siblings; he could not bear the thought of leaving his sanctuary, only to be met by another wave of violence from his drunken father.
Suddenly, a soft knock echoed from his window, breaking his spiral of anxiety. Hesitantly, he turned, surprised to find Night Ninja perched outside, cloaked in the shadows of the night. Connor's pulse quickened with a mix of excitement and apprehension as he cautiously approached the window, sliding it open with deliberate slowness to avoid any creaking that might betray him.
"Night Ninja?" Connor whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "What are you doing here? Please don't tell me you're planning something reckless. I can't even bring myself to leave my room right now."
Night Ninja peered through the window, his gaze momentarily drifting toward the door, the distant echoes of the argument filtering through. "Well, I was just, you know, roaming around the city when I overheard some yelling from your place."
Connor's eyes widened in surprise, a multitude of emotions flickering across his face. "Oh, you heard that, huh?" he murmured, glancing between the door and Night Ninja, sadness pooling in his gaze. Night Ninja sighed and gracefully hopped inside, landing lightly on the floor.
"Hey, why are you coming into my room? You know if my dad finds you here, I'm in deep trouble," Connor said, a hint of panic threading through his voice.
Night Ninja rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Listen, kitty boy, I'm faster than your old man. Remember? I’m a ninja."
Connor’s expression softened, the weight of his worries pressing down heavily on his shoulders. He sank onto his bed, burying his face in his hands, the frustration and fear pouring out. "They fight like this all the time," he admitted. "It feels like every single day. My dad comes home drunk, and everything spirals into chaos. He has these... anger issues. It's not just mom; sometimes, when I mess up, I get hit too."
"Jeez, man, I had no idea," Night Ninja said, sitting down beside him, his demeanor shifting to one of genuine concern. "But why haven’t you told anyone? This is clearly not okay."
Connor rubbed the back of his neck, shame creeping into his voice. "I didn’t want to make my mom sad. She loves him, even when he's hurting her. I can't do that to her."
"Dude, you can't keep sweeping this under the rug. I know your mom loves your dad, but what about you and your siblings? You’re getting hurt too," Night Ninja insisted, his tone firm but not unkind. Connor nodded slightly, recognizing the truth in Night Ninja's words. "Yeah, maybe you're right," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
An uncomfortable silence settled between them, thick with unspoken fears and unresolved emotions. Then, Connor broke the stillness. "Hey, why are you even here, exactly?" he asked, glancing up at Night Ninja with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Night Ninja chuckled, the tension easing for a moment. "Like I said, I was just out and about when I heard the commotion. Maybe I was searching for some excitement."
Connor raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping back. "Really? That seems a little hard to believe."
Night Ninja laughed again, then his expression shifted to something softer. "Okay, fine. I just wanted to see you. Do you believe that?"
Connor allowed a small smile to creep onto his face, though it quickly faded as his father's shouting erupted louder than before.
"What the hell is going on down there? Did your mom cheat on him or something?" Night Ninja joked, but his laughter faded upon noticing the sorrow etched on Connor's features. "Uh, sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
Connor let out a deep sigh. "No, no, it's okay. It's just… she hasn’t done anything. He’s just drunk. Again." He pulled his blanket tighter around himself, seeking comfort in its familiarity. "I just wish he would stop. He hurts my mom, and it kills me to see her and my siblings suffer. It hurts.”
Night Ninja stood there for a moment, grappling with the reality of Connor's situation. He had never encountered someone so vulnerable in front of him before. After a moment of contemplation, he wandered over to Connor's shelf, scanning the titles lined up neatly. He picked one at random and returned to Connor.
"What are you doing?" Connor asked, intrigued as he watched Night Ninja clutch a book in his hands.
"I'm gonna read you a book, idiot," Night Ninja declared, wrapping himself snugly in half of Connor's blanket, a playful glint in his eye.
"You? You're gonna read me a book? Are you trying to make me laugh? Because, if that was your goal, it's working," Connor replied, a smile breaking through his melancholy.
"I'm being serious, you ridiculous cat. When my Ninjalinos feel down, I read them a story to lift their spirits. I didn't know what you liked, so I just picked one," Night Ninja said, a hint of warmth in his tone.
Connor watched Night Ninja with a fondness that wiped a tear from his eye. "Well, aren’t you sweet," he said, laying down on Night Ninja's stomach and pulling another blanket around him for warmth.
“Shut up. I'm only doing this because you're down, and none of your friends are around to help. Speaking of which, you can’t tell anyone about this. Not even your pathetic friends. You got that?” Night Ninja warned, fixing Connor with a serious gaze to ensure he understood the weight of his words.
Connor nodded, the blend of fear and comfort in Night Ninja's presence stirring something in him. He knew he should be afraid of Night Ninja’s reputation, yet he felt safe in that moment.
“Good. Now hush and listen, because I’m not repeating myself.” Night Ninja flipped the book open, scanning the pages before beginning to read. Connor closed his eyes, letting the sound of Night Ninja's voice wash over him like a soothing wave, drawing him away from the chaos outside. In that comforting moment, the turmoil of his life was momentarily forgotten, replaced by the tale unfolding in the pages, and a gentle hope nestled within him that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.
"This book is absolutely dreadful," Night Ninja muttered, a look of disdain etched across his face. "I mean, it’s just another tale of some generic hero and his journey, followed by the villain’s backstory, only to culminate in the revelation that they’re brothers. How cliché." He let out a frustrated groan, wondering all the while if this had been a wise choice.
"Well, you could always pick something else," Connor replied, a hint of teasing in his voice. "I really don’t mind what you read; I just want to hear your voice."
Night Ninja’s eyes went wide at Connor’s unexpected words. Did he just say he liked my voice? What a fool. He shouldn't be enamored with anything right now; yet, there was a warmth blossoming in Night Ninja's chest at the thought. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing, he mused. With a snap of his fingers, a new book materialized in the air before him.
"I’m going to read this one instead. My Ninjalinos actually enjoy it, and you might too. It’s called *A Ninja’s Lullaby*."
Connor bit back a laugh, disbelief flickering across his face. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Night Ninja was about to read such a whimsical book. Yet, it was for his Ninjalinos, which struck him as remarkably tender—a side of Night Ninja he rarely saw.
"Sounds good! I hope I enjoy it," Connor replied, a hint of enthusiasm creeping into his tone.
"You better like it because I’m not reading anything else," Night Ninja declared, a smirk on his lips.
With that, he opened the book, gently flipping through its pages as if revealing a hidden world. After examining it briefly, he began to read aloud. As his voice enveloped the room, Connor couldn’t help but gaze at Night Ninja. He looked so strikingly beautiful when he wasn’t locked in battle. Why was this realization hitting him now? Maybe it was the weight of sadness that lingered in the air. Perhaps he didn’t truly harbor romantic feelings for the villain; perhaps it was just the vulnerability of the moment. Yet, a part of him wished Night Ninja could stay forever, reading to him in this quiet sanctuary.
Minutes slipped away, and Night Ninja paused, stifling a yawn that escaped him like a sleepy cat. Glancing down, he noticed Connor's serene form, nestled comfortably atop him. A wave of tenderness washed over him, yet he hesitated, contemplating whether to move and risk waking the sleeping boy. With a soft groan, he decided against it, propping a few plush pillows behind him and sinking back into them.
In that tranquil moment, he felt a surge of affection wash over him. Leaning down, he planted a gentle kiss on Connor's forehead, savoring the sweetness of their shared quietude.
"Sweet dreams, Connor," he whispered softly, allowing the tranquility of the moment to envelop them both.
(THIS TOOK FOREVER but I think I'm getting good at making these stories, Who should I do next? 😃)
