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Only a few days had passed since Lloyd's heat and the teenager was trying to get used to the changes that had taken place in his body. He still remembered how, on the spur of the moment, he had called Kai 'mom' and even though no one else had heard it, the blond was still embarrassed. He didn't want the fire master to feel strange or laugh at him because of Garmadon's stupid instinct. The teenager was happy with their current brotherly relationship and didn't want anything to change for the world, although he couldn't forget how well that embarrassing term suited the brown-haired boy at that moment.
This and many other strange things continued to disturb his peace. His entire scent had changed and from neutral to completely omega-sweet, in which you could smell mint and honey, among other things, the mere memory of which made the energy master crave sweet things. However, there was no chance of that, because Zane continued to follow his resolutions regarding watching his diet and all sweets were hidden. As a last resort, the teenager could break into Cole's storage unit, but his crime would quickly come to light and he would have to face the consequences, which he didn't particularly want to do.
He also noticed that since the heat, he had been paying attention to the softness of materials, clothes, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and the like. He couldn't stand some fabrics, they seemed too rough, scratchy or unpleasant to him. Half of his wardrobe was suddenly inappropriate, because wearing certain clothes caused him psychological discomfort, although he couldn't pinpoint the cause. He focused even more than before on stealing the clothes of the other ninjas, borrowing those that his instinct immediately demanded after touching, smelling and looking at. He felt a bit stupid, but he preferred it to feeling bad because he had put on a T-shirt that would make him irritated all day.
Spending time with the others was another matter. While he had loved it before, now he simply needed it. He didn't have to talk to them when they engaged in some discussion, it was enough that he ate next to them. The others could do whatever they wanted in the living room, but Lloyd would be happy lying in an armchair on his phone, knowing they were nearby. He felt it much more intensely when the four of them went on a date, Nya disappeared without a word, and Uncle Wu was nowhere to be found. He felt terrible then, and to fix it, he turned on the TV, let something play in the background and tried to occupy himself, but it never helped at all.
Now he also sensed all smells much more intensely, and this had both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it was easier for him to find carelessly hidden sweets, he could detect faster when Zane started cooking or baking, and he also became perfectly familiar with the smells of the other people on the team, which were really pleasant, and he sometimes stole clothes, mainly soaked in their scent. And that's where the bad sides of this ability come in, he was better at sensing smelly or sweaty clothes, which as ninjas who exercise a lot to stay in shape, they always have plenty of. He also sensed the smell of burning faster after fires caused by Kai or Jay's powers or Nya and Cole's cooking. It was also much easier for him to detect the smell that often circulated around his four friends who were in a relationship and while at first he didn't understand what the smell was, it was good because now whenever he smelled it, he blushed all over and couldn't look his friends in the eye, smelling the smell of their private fun on them.
It was also much harder for him to get out of bed in the morning and from an early bird he slowly changed into a night owl, staying up late, reading or playing games with the ninja. He also understood why Kai was usually so grumpy in the morning. He himself now hated getting out of bed in the morning, wanting only to turn over and sleep as hard as he could, but he knew that duties awaited and he was reluctant to leave his warm, cozy bed.
He also discovered a sudden inclination to collect stuffed animals, even though he hadn't wanted them that much for a long time. And now he would gladly buy practically every possible mascot he could. He couldn't stop himself a few times and now he hid his acquisitions at the bottom of the wardrobe covered with lots of clothes and various trinkets, to avoid teasing and ridicule from the others. He didn't want to be treated like a child, but on the other hand he kind of wanted and needed it. This irritated him even more, because he himself didn't understand what he wanted, often driving the other ninjas crazy.
The worst thing was the need he had been carrying around since his heat had ended and he had been trying to hide it deep inside himself, although to no avail. The urge to return to Kai's nest was overwhelming and the blond couldn't focus and get it out of his head. He hadn't been as relaxed and rested as he had been after visiting the fire master's nest in a long time. Lloyd was tempted to sneak into the boys' room when they were gone and take a short nap there, but he was afraid he would be caught and wouldn't be able to explain himself. That's why he suffered in silence, remembering how wonderful he felt in the nest every time he fell asleep in his own bed, which suddenly wasn't as comfortable as it had been before the heat. He couldn't go to the boys just to sleep in the nest, which was itself a sacred place for the omega. That would be immoral and unfair to Kai. That was why Lloyd wondered how he ended up in the boys' room, right in front of him. Pillows, blankets, and some t-shirts, created a lair that the blond couldn't stop thinking about. He was nervous, even though in the monastery was only him and Nya, who was in the workshop with Pixal, building new equipment, and the ninjas weren't supposed to be back until the evening. That was why he had sneaked into his friends' room and now stood over the nest like some pervert not knowing what to do.
"You only live once." he finally sighed after a long moment, carefully placing his foot in the lair filled with red, white, blue, and black materials.
He waited anxiously to see what would happen, but as you can predict, nothing happened, so with equal delicacy he put his other leg in and suddenly he was inside, on a soft mattress, covered with a lot of blankets, on the touch of which the green ninja almost cried, so perfectly soft and fluffy they were. He slowly knelt down in the nest, careful not to destroy anything in his system, all excited and full of tension. The wonderful combined scent of his friends reached his nose, he even felt the delicate scent of Nya, from a small piece of material, and his own fleeting scent, thanks to which there was a chance that his presence would remain undetected. The teenager set the alarm for two hours and carefully lay down on the bed, finally immersing himself in that wonderful feeling he had dreamed of since leaving it.
Sleep overcame him almost immediately and the blond snuggled into the red pillow, purring with satisfaction.
~~~~~
When the alarm sounded, Lloyd groaned, trying to reach for his phone and silence it, when he realized he wasn't in his own bed. Startled, he immediately woke up, sitting up and looking around the now dark room, lit only by his phone's screen and the window, through which the evening gray could be seen.
The panicked teenager immediately jumped out of the nest he was in and reached for his phone, silencing it, only then taking a deep breath.
He was sleeping in the nest. It was amazing. He was incredibly rested.
He calmly returned to Kai's lair, fixing everything to make it look like it was before his nap, and slowly backed out of the room. With a sigh of relief, he went to the kitchen to get something to eat, where he found cocoa powder and, taking advantage of Zane's absence, quickly started preparing a drink. He had barely finished when he heard his friends return with laughter on their lips, arguing about something in light voices, clearly enjoying the time spent together.
"Hey, how was the date?" the blond asked, trying to act as innocent as possible, realizing that if he hit snooze on his phone instead of getting up, his friends would catch him by returning early.
"It was great! First we went to this place where..." Jay started to get excited, and Lloyd immediately decided that although the nap was great, he shouldn't risk it like that again.
It was just a one-time thing.
~~~~~
It wasn't just a one-time thing.
From the first time, the blond's will was much weaker after tasting the forbidden fruit, and it didn't take long before he gave up, sneaking back into the empty nest. He repeated this procedure whenever the ninja left the monastery. Each time, he told himself that this was the last time, knowing full well that it was a huge lie and that as soon as the opportunity arose, he would use it. He was afraid that he would be caught, but at the same time he grew more and more convinced that nothing like that would happen, because he knew perfectly well what to do to avoid being caught. He began to spend time in the lair not only sleeping like at the beginning, now he sometimes read comics, books or relaxed with his phone in his hands.
No one should ever find out and Lloyd did his best to keep it that way.
~~~~~~
“Something's wrong.” Kai announced after returning from one date, carefully observing the nest.
Something had been wrong with it for some time, but he couldn't pinpoint the cause. It made the omega irritated and slightly paranoid. But now he was sure, because he had set a small trap for the burglar. He had left a cardboard box under the mattress, which had no way of folding completely under the weight of the mattress and blankets. And yet now the red ninja had pulled it out from under the bed and it was completely flattened.
"What do you mean?" Cole asked.
"Someone was using the nest. Here's proof." Kai replied, pointing to the box that was crushed from the weight.
"Okay..." Jay said mockingly.
“I'm not kidding, I've had this feeling for a long time and I set a trap.” The fire master replied.
“I'm not saying I don't believe you, but why would someone use the nest?” Cole asked.
“I have no idea. That's what I don't understand.” Kai confessed confused.
“I say it's from fatigue, you're hallucinating. Don't worry, I'll take care of you!” Jay shouted throwing himself at the red ninja, causing them to fall onto the nest.
“Jay no! Let me go!” The fire master hissed furiously trying to get out of the redhead's embrace.
“No! We're going for a nap.” The lightning master replied with a smile, to which Kai snorted but stopped struggling.
“I'm not hallucinating.” The omega only muttered.
“Then move over, because there's no way I'm missing my nap with you.” Cole announced as he also jumped into the den.
“Great. Excellent. Wonderful.” Kai mumbled under his breath.
“All we need is Zane and it would be perfect.” Jay said as he kissed Cole.
“I feel like I came at the right time.” The nindroid spoke from the doorway, watching his family.
“They forced me.” The red ninja announced, causing a burst of mirth that did nothing to drown out his anxiety, but allowed it to be pushed back into his mind for a moment.
~~~~~~
Kai punched the punching bag once again, pouring all his frustration into the punch and thus trying to vent. However, considering that he had been advancing in the training room in rhythm with the fight for over two hours, it did not seem that this action would be effective. The fire master did not even realize the trance he had fallen into until someone shook him by the shoulder.
"Kai! Kai! What's wrong with you?!" Nya asked nervously.
"Huh? Hey sister, I'm just practicing a little." The brown-haired man shrugged.
"Yeah? And do you know that you're bleeding?" the woman asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"What?" the surprised fire master asked, immediately finding what his sister was talking about.
His hands were not in the best condition, covered with old scars from the forge, and later from the beginnings of mastering his power, currently they were all bloody from the grazed knuckles on his hands. The thoughtful red ninja hadn't felt any pain during the training, only now, with the adrenaline draining from his body, did he start to feel a burning sensation. It wasn't an extremely serious wound, but he should definitely take care of it, if only for the peace of mind of his partners.
“Come on, this needs to be bandaged.” The alpha sighed, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the workshop where she spent most of her time between missions.
Kai followed her wordlessly, wondering what to tell the boys so they wouldn’t start worrying unnecessarily. Although the chances of him succeeding were almost non-existent, considering that he himself always worried about them even when there was no clear reason. All four of them were overly sensitive about the possibility of hurting others, which ironically was quite a common occurrence in their lives.
“Sit down.” The black-haired girl ordered, pushing him onto the chair next to the desk and pulling out the first aid kit, kept in the room mainly for Jay’s sake.
She immediately began to gently wash her brother’s hands with hydrogen peroxide and carefully apply a bandage, working in silence. It reminded the man a lot of their childhood, where learning blacksmithing often ended up injured and his sister had to put him back together. Back then, everything was easier and harder at the same time. In those years, the brown-haired had to ensure his and Nya's survival, with hard work far beyond his years, but he only had a sister with whom he shared his difficult life. Currently, he didn't have to worry about hunger or a leaky roof over his head, but he had to defend the entire city, and to some extent the world, with a whole host of enemies.
“Will you tell me what's going on?” the girl asked after finishing bandaging her brother.
“It's nothing.” the brown-haired man sighed.
“And you ruined your hands for nothing?” Nya asked in disbelief.
“Okay, maybe it's not, nothing, but it doesn't make sense.” Kai replied.
“I'm listening.” the girl announced, sitting down next to her.
“It's just that I have a strange feeling that someone is using my nest. I know how absurd it sounds, but I even set a trap and someone was there.” the omega said.
“What do the rest think about it?” Nya asked with concern.
“They searched the room and the nest and didn't find anything unusual, but I still feel that something is wrong. How I hate being an omega.” the fire master groaned, to which his sister hit him on the head. “Ouch! What was that for?”
“For being an idiot. Kai, you're the most amazing omega I know. And I'm not just saying that because I only know a few, but because I know it. If you say something's wrong, I believe you. And the boys should too, and if not..." the alpha trailed off dangerously. "Anyway, I don't think you've suddenly gone crazy, although I don't rule out the possibility that the problem is something else, and it's your instincts redirecting your attention to a safe space, due to a threat we can't see."
“Thanks Nya, but until I solve this problem, I won't be able to calm down. I need to get myself together before they start worrying.” The boy said, thinking about his partners.
“Knowing them, they're already worried. Kai, if you want, I can put some sensors on the doors and windows, something like cameras? I can construct something.” Nya suggested.
“If it's not a problem for you. I'd rather be able to sleep peacefully, especially since Lloyd was sleeping in our bedroom recently, and I don't rule out the possibility that it might happen again.” The brown-haired man replied.
“What do you mean it might happen again? I thought you were just helping him with his heat. I'm still a little shocked that you let him into the nest.” The water master confessed.
“I don't know about Lloyd, but I've started to treat him a bit like my own pup... Yes, I know it's a stupid idea and I shouldn't have at all...” the red ninja explained.
“That's great!” the black-haired girl screamed, throwing herself around her brother's neck.
"Yes?" Kai asked, confused.
“Yes! You can give Lloyd a real family that he never had the chance to have, and he can give you the chance to be a parent without having to get pregnant, which we both know you don’t want.” The woman explained, stepping back and pulling out some sketchbooks.
“You’re right… But it’s not just up to me.” Kai sighed.
“I feel like the boys will get used to being parents quickly.” The water master laughed.
“Nya, I’m serious. It’s up to Lloyd.” The red ninja replied.
“Kai, believe me, the kid will be more than willing to be your child. Besides, I knew it would end like this.” The woman added.
“What? Since when?” The fire master asked in disbelief.
“Since the moment you gave up your sick ambition to become a green ninja to save him. Although I wasn’t completely sure, you were confirming that theory more and more with each passing day.” Nya shrugged.
“Oh.” The brown-haired man sighed, analyzing his sister's words.
“Exactly, now run away, I'll take care of the sensors, because I'm busy in the evening.” The woman threw, pointing to the door.
“Is it an internet connection with a certain princess from far away?” Kai asked spitefully, to which the water master blushed slightly.
“There's the door.” The alpha said, pointing the way.
“Aww, my little sister is blushing. Should I give you a lesson about the birds and the bees?” The older one mocked.
“Kai! First of all, we're just friends! And secondly, it's none of your business!” Nya yelled.
“How so?! I'm your brother, I need to know these things so I can protect you. Besides... It's obvious you like her. Hmm... maybe I should talk to our parents?” the fire master wondered aloud.
“Get out!” the woman snapped, picking him up and pushing him out the door, which she immediately closed with a bang, and the man started laughing.
“I love you too!” he yelled through the door, from behind which a loud curse came to him.
“What did you fight about this time?” Lloyd asked, coming around the corner, hearing the shouts of his siblings.
“Nothing major, I was just wondering out loud how Nya would look in a crown.” Kai replied with a smile.
“Oh?” Lloyd asked, not understanding what he meant.
“What are you doing there, kid?” the red ninja asked, ruffling the blond's hair.
“I'm bored, but not bored enough to go to Zane with this.” The energy master replied.
“Do you want to play video games, work out, or go to town?” The brown-haired boy suggested.
“Video games!” The younger boy replied happily, and Kai laughed and headed to the living room, turning on the game.
The fire master happily watched the happy kid sitting on the couch, eating popcorn and focused on the game. The brown-haired boy felt really relaxed at this point, even once betting so Lloyd could win, much to the kid's loud delight.
~~~~~~
“We’re leaving!” Jay shouted to Nya, Wu, and Lloyd, who remained in the monastery.
The green ninja was just waiting for this as he headed to the others’ room, first tiptoeing past Master Wu’s room, who was beginning his meditation, then quickly climbing up to the ceiling when he heard Nya approaching, only coming down when she had passed. He quickly and decisively crept towards his target.
Without looking around, he grabbed the handle and with almost arrogant confidence opened the door, stepping inside. With a smile, he kicked off his shoes and put his foot in the nest, relieved by the long absence from this place. He would finally be able to relax and rest...
“What are you doing here?”
Or not.
~~~~~~
“We’re leaving!” Jay shouted, closing the door and turning happily to his partners. “So what do we have planned for today?”
“Cole has plans for tonight.” Kai reminded, taking a moment to break away from kissing the nindroid.
“It'll be a secret until we get there.” The smiling black-haired man shrugged, opening the gate.
“Are we walking?” The blue ninja asked, following him.
“Yeah, it's not that far, and the exercise will come in handy, considering I'm going into rut soon, and Kai's heat right before me.” Cole replied.
“I'd say that instead of walking, it's better to start gathering your strength.” Jay laughed.
“Are you giving up?” The brown-haired man asked innocently.
“Hey, that's not fair! I'm the only one who doesn't have a few days of energy for sex like you do, and I'm still being ridiculed for it?!” Jay got exaggeratedly outraged.
“Considering my insignificant ruts, you're not the only one.” Zane replied, whose cycle was rare and very short, probably due to his robotic origins.
"And I'd say with your ADHD you have energy in abundance." The earth master snorted, to which the redhead stood frozen.
"My meds!" Jay shouted in discovery.
"Let me guess, did you forget to take them?" Kai asked rhetorically, raising his eyes to the sky.
"Yeah. I'm going to get them now." The thunder master replied embarrassed, turning around.
"I'll go with you." The red ninja offered, knowing that there was a chance the redhead would forget why he came back, distracted by something else.
"Just don't start making out in the hallway and hurry up!" Cole shouted after them, but both ninjas ignored him in unison.
Jay grabbed the fire master's hand, walking through the monastery hallway. They both glanced at each other in surprise when they saw someone entering their room. Kai started to creep towards the door, Jay following close behind him, and to their even greater surprise, Lloyd was inside, trying to crawl into the nest.
“What are you doing here?” the master of lightning couldn’t take it anymore and asked the teenager, who almost jumped at the question.
“Me? I’m uh... looking! Yes, I’m looking for, uh, something.” the panicked blond replied, immediately jumping out of the den.
“And you’re looking for this here?” Kai asked, not knowing whether to be angry for intruding and scaring him with his visits to the nest for a long time, happy that the pup was spending time there, amused by the blond’s embarrassment or embarrassed by such a poor excuse.
“In the nest?” Jay added amused, folding his arms across his chest.
“Yeah? Because I don’t know where it is, so it’s worth searching everywhere.” the young Garmadon continued his lie, feeling like he was about to have a heart attack.
“Lloyd’ie, if you wanted to lie down in the nest, all you had to do was ask me.” the fire master said softly, approaching the teenager and calming him down.
"I... I was embarrassed and I didn't know if you'd agree... After all, usually no one except partners and children is allowed in them. And I've never slept better than in this nest." Lloyd admitted embarrassed.
"Kid, I would hardly refuse you anything. I showed you where Cole hides sweets, didn't I?" Kai asked.
“Maybe so, but this is something completely different! My instincts are going crazy and I didn't know what to do with it, you don't know how I feel when I'm in the nest.” The energy master explained.
“Safe? Calm? Surrounded by care and love?” Jay listed.
“Yes.” The surprised blond nodded.
“That's the phenomenon of the nest, kid. You'd feel the same way in your own.” The red ninja said.
“But I can't make it, I don't know how.” Lloyd denied.
“I thought I told you not to lick each other in the corners and not to...” The three of them turned to see Zane and Cole enter the room, who stopped at the sight of the green ninja.
“If you want I'll teach you, although it's mostly a matter of instinct.” The brown-haired one replied, ignoring his partner.
“Really? Can we do it now? Please?” the energy master begged, to which Kai glanced at his partners.
"It's high time you taught our pup something useful." Cole only laughed.
"We can help." Zane nodded.
"So let's go to your place, huh kid?" Kai asked, to which Lloyd's eyes began to sparkle with excitement. Additionally, a pleasant warmth spread across his chest when Cole called him their pup.
"Where do we start?" the teenager asked, when the five of them were already in his room.
“Hmm, from choosing the right materials. Cole, can you bring a spare mattress? After all, a pup won't make a nest on the ground.” Kai asked.
“Okay, I'll get it right away.” The black-haired one threw, leaving, and in the meantime the blond and the fire master went to the closet.
“Choose blankets that are soft enough or that you like, or have some sentimental value.” The brunette advised, to which Lloyd nodded, pulling out a few pieces, and after some thought throwing one or two away and looking for something to replace them.
“What now?” the teenager asked, holding at least a dozen blankets.
At the same time, Cole brought a mattress and various snacks, and Zane pretended not to see it, starting to blow up the mattress together with the energetic beta.
“Now we have to arrange them, show us what you chose and we'll think of something.” Kai said, looking at the younger one's acquisitions.
In this way, the green ninja's lair slowly began to take shape. In the meantime, they would eat sweets, joke around or have pillow fights. At some point, Nya joined them, who still remembered her brother's first attempts at creating a nest, which she didn't hesitate to tell the others about, to their amusement. And finally, all six of them stood in front of a beautiful nest, soft, stuffed to the brim with pillows and stuffed animals and colours, but not in a disorganized way like Kai's. Here, every colour had its place.
"Try them out." the brown-haired teenager encouraged, and Lloyd stepped inside almost religiously, immediately lying down and sighing with relief. However, after a moment, he turned to his friends with a grimace.
"What's wrong? Something wrong?" Cole asked, concerned.
“No, everything's fine…” the blushing teenager replied.
“Then what's the matter?” Zane asked.
“It's just... It doesn't smell like you.” the young Garmadon confessed, and the ninja felt a surge of emotion.
“I think I know how to fix that.” Kai nodded seriously.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Everyone on Lloyd!” the red ninja yelled, jumping into the nest, followed by the others, laughing.
The teenager hissed like a cat when the colourful riffraff rushed to his lair, but he quickly joined their outburst of mirth, pushing everyone to get comfortable.
When Sensei Wu found them sometime later, everyone was snoozing sweetly. Nya, if possible, was the only one not in the others' embrace, sleeping on the very edge with one arm over her face and the other hanging from the bed to the floor. Jay and Zane were sleeping in an embrace on the legs of the black and red ninja. Kai and Cole were hugging Lloyd who was lying in the very center with a big sleepy smile and his legs on Zane and Jay. The black-haired man's hand was completely squeezing the space of the green ninja, hugging Kai who was completely pressed against the pup.
Wu just smiled at the sight and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him, not wanting to wake the ninja. He sincerely wished them well and hoped that nothing would ruin their family, as it unfortunately happened to his own years ago. He knew that the ninja wouldn’t willingly allow that to happen.
Because ninjas never quit.