Chapter Text
The air burned where the four ninja sat, on the grey couch, wide eyed with fear.
Nya sat before them, eyes blazing delicately and sipping on tea she had made a while back. One leg was folded over the other and she had her eyes closed.
Lloyd didn’t know what the fuck was going on.
He still couldn’t see, the thick white bandage covering his eyes, small frown on his face as his ears perked up in an attempt to hear anything that was happening.
He flinched when Nya sighed, and shrinked when he noticed the ninja’s fear.
Jay cleared his throat.
“Soooooooo…” he started, his voice wavering and trailing off, before Kai nudged him in the back and he let out a strangled yelp.
Nya didn’t open her eyes.
Cole sighed.
“Wanna tell us what’s the matter, Nya?” He asked, voice rough with exhaustion.
He, Zane and Kai had gone on a patrol, a pretty packed up one too.
There was a robbery that Kai had to deal with, a break in that Cole focused on and that had Zane free, until a call for help reached his robotic ears.
Zane didn’t want to talk about where he went, and the others understood. Besides, it was unusual for Zane to be this roughed up after a patrol.
He was silent now, hands tucked neatly in his lap, leaning slightly on Cole, which was a sign in itself that Zane was exhausted.
Lloyd hummed quietly from where he sat, at the kitchen bench, head on top of the table, seemingly dozing off.
Kai was glad that Lloyd was sleeping, he could see the dark bags even from the bandage.
He winced at the remembrance of the bandage.
It was Kai himself that had found Lloyd passed out on the bathroom floor, curled up into a ball and blood seeping out of his eyes.
The red ninja knew about the contact lenses, him being the one that Lloyd first told.
They had different contacts whenever the ninja had to camouflage or go on secret missions, so getting the green ones for Lloyd wasn't a problem.
It was the reason he wanted it, that was the problem.
Kai loves Jay, no doubt about that but sometimes the little blue ninja could be harsh.
It wasn’t Jay’s fault that he was scared of Lloyd’s eyes, it was his fault that he wouldn’t see Lloyd.
He only saw Garmadon.
Kai was a bit afraid himself, but after a while it seemed to simply come together. It was only Lloyd, not his father.
If you stared long enough, you would be able to see the difference.
Lloyd’s eyes were the slightest shade lighter than Garmadons cruel red ones, and the little boy’s eyes could always depict whatever emotion he was feeling, unlike his fathers.
His eyes were childish and soft, hardened around the edges from years of mistreatment, but gentle.
Lloyd’s eyes were wonderful. And so was he.
The little boy mumbled in discomfort, completely conked out, and Kai stood up. He laughed when Jay fell over onto Cole.
His boyfriend (yes, boyfriend) glared at him and Kai blew him a kiss.
He walked over to Lloyd, and picked up into arms, frowning when he felt no weight at all.
He gave a pointed look to Zane, who nodded.
They would investigate this later.
Kai sat back on the couch, leaning against Cole and smiling when he snaked an arm around his waist to bring him closer.
Lloyd hummed and dug his face deeper into the soft fabric of Kai’s orange jumper.
The fire ninja pressed his nose into his soft hair, placing kisses and mumbling a small lullaby.
Nya was watching their interaction with sad, weary eyes. Jay frowned, and nudged her with his foot.
She simply reached out to hold his hand, but that was all the confirmation he needed.
He pressed his fingers gently against hers, jumping when a spark of electricity jolted in his veins.
She squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.
Zane was trying not to pass out.
He forced his tired eyes back open, slumping a little more on Cole without even realising it.
He didn’t want to talk about this today, and that was selfish.
So selfish.
Because obviously we need to talk about little Lloyd, and what had happened. There wasn’t even a reason to be tired.
He hadn’t dealt with anything.
Absolutely nothing.
…
The girl’s name was Savannah. She was thirteen, with bright blonde curls and silvery eyes.
She had been at a party with her friends. She had told Zane that she had sneaked out of the house.
Savannah couldn’t really speak after what had happened, and Zane was thankful she got there in time.
She was a very pretty girl, in the black dress she was wearing, she was mesmerising.
But she didn’t know what beauty could have cost her, what it had almost cost her.
After Zane had handed the creep to the police, he placed a warm blanket around her shoulders, hugging her close and smoothing a hand up and down her back as she racked in sobs.
“He-..He tried to-to-,” she broke down once more, bringing her hand to her mouth, and Zane shushed her gently.
“It’s okay,” he hummed gently. “He’s gone now, it’s all okay..”
It had taken her a while to calm, and Zane was surprised by the way she bounced back.
“May I walk you home?” He asked calmly, and she nodded her head vigorously.
“Please,” she whispered. “What do I tell my parents..?”
“Let me..” he gestured and she nodded, stringing her arm around his and trying to stop the trembling.
After he had sat down with her parents and talked, they bid him goodbye with teary eyes and millions of thanks.
He hadn’t gone back to the Bounty just yet, instead he sat down on one of the park benches near the lake, breathing in the cool air and trying to calm his racing thoughts.
That’s where Kai had found him, and brought him back gently.
He was thankful that no one had asked about anything.
Zane was brought back to the present when Lloyd’s feet stretched out onto his lap.
He smiled at the sleeping boy in Kai’s arm, bandage shifting down his face slowly.
Until the whole thing unravelled and lay limp on Lloyd’s neck.
And everyone was staring.
Deep gashes littered Lloyd’s eyes, crossing over and over on his face, already healing over but leaving canyons littered with despair.
Nya’s eyes opened and she looked sadly at him.
“That’s what I wanted to talk about,” she spoke up, and this time, everyone was listening.
When it was all over, Lloyd woke up warm and safe, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking the blurriness from them and wincing when he rubbed them.
Lloyd blinked, his eyes adjusting and looked around him.
He was situated on Kai’s lap, with his legs reaching Cole and Zane, who all were dead asleep, leaning against each other.
Nya had her fingers in his hair, slumped against the couch with Jay’s head on her lap.
He smiled at them, noticing the inevitable tear tracks on their faces. His heart pained a bit at the realization of crying, but the sleep building on his eyelids wished away the burden quickly.
He felt so warm.
Lloyd knew he should’ve stayed awake. Wake the others and talk.
But he was so tired and comfortable.
Besides,
Five more minutes wouldn’t hurt, would it?