Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You have two choices, Garmadon." Out of the corner of his eye, Green-Lloyd could see his team members fidgeting. There was a murky rumble in their eyes, an intense conflict in their pupils that was only natural. It's not every day that you find yourself tricked by the son of an evil warlord who is adamant about fighting his father. Then after revealing his true identity along with his secret identity as the Green Ninja, Lloyd already knew that he would lose everything. So yeah, he might as well throw everything into the sewer.

"First option, fight me and I'll detonate both bombs around our necks." Lloyd showed the same necklace around his neck, the beeps and numbers engraved in red explaining its identity. A bomb . He could see Garmadon widen his eyes ridiculously. Of course he would never have thought that one of the silly colorful ninjas he fought would try to do something this drastic. Unfortunately for him, he also never knew that his nemesis was his very own son.

"Luh-Lloy-"

"Lloyd." He cut in quickly, his green eyes staring intently from behind his ninja mask. "Option two, surrender and fix all the damage you did in Ninjago City. In return, I'll just light a bomb around my neck."

"Wait-!" He heard someone try to interrupt, it was Red. The guy in crimson removed his mask, followed by the others. 

Ah, so Red was Kai Smith all along? He should have known, he could see the resemblance between the two very clearly now.

"To help you think, Garmadon. If you choose the second option, I will give you one year to fix all the damage you created."

Looking at all the options, of course, Lloyd deliberately made them unbalanced to encourage Garmadon to do the only sensible thing in his options. So with that, began the year of forced penance that Lloyd Garmadon had planned.

…

Day 0 / 365 - Before it all happened

Lloyd was already feeling a sense of paranoia with the absence of the infamous attack after attack that was usually supposed to come from within the volcano on Ninjago City's coastline. His father, Garmadon, must be up to something. He couldn't just suddenly hold back all his attacks for no reason, or it couldn't be that the reason was simply that he was starting to change. 

Lloyd knew that all too well, he was the son of Evil Lord Garmadon, a warlord hell-bent on ruling them. Two years of defending the city from his own father's attacks had left him somewhat acquainted with the mindset of the man.

He would not give up on his ambitions, not without a strong compulsion that would leave him helpless. Lloyd was honestly preparing his counterplan for when Garmadon returned. 

Hearing the sound of his cell phone chiming, Lloyd quickly looked around to make sure that none of the kids were nearby to glance at the contents of his cell phone. Of course... there was not a single kid who dared to even cross him within a one-meter radius. He shouldn't be that worried.

Red: Ugh, Monday morning classes are so annoying!

Cyan: Let me guess, did you stay up late on Sunday? How late?

A faint smile began to rise at the corner of his lips, Lloyd tried to hold it in. But it quickly widened again with more and more messages from his cell phone. 

Red: Can you blame me for that? I'm so BORED!

Blue: Agreed... I hate to say it but...

White: Without Lord Garmadon's attack, we're all getting restless.

Black: Agreed, I want to hit something.

Red: RIGHT!

Lloyd restrained himself from laughing at their behavior. 

Cyan: Hey, Greenbean , don't you want to comment?

Feeling all the attention on him, even if it was online, Lloyd quickly typed in his reply.

Green: Uh, yes... Too quiet. Suspicious.

Blue: Hmm. I don't know why, but every time Green says it his words always feel a bit too personal.

"H-huh?" Lloyd could hear the clinking of his cell phone starting to rumble with the pranks of the rest of his team who were always happy to tease him about his behavior of asking to fight the warlord alone. 

Knowing his fate if he tried to be dodgy, Lloyd decided to ignore the incoming messages. Letting them enjoy themselves with their jokes while continuing his journey to his class.

…

Of course, this morning he would not have thought that Garmadon had planned such an operation that Ninjago High, the high school he went to, was surrounded by all the warlord's army commanders. The entire school was in a panic and they were forced to gather in the auditorium. 

"Greeen Ninjaaa." He could hear Garmadon from their rooftop. The large screen in the Auditorium was completely filled with the smiling face of a happy red-eyed oni. "All you Ninjanerd, surrender right now and I will release these innocent children." 

Lloyd could feel his cell phone rumbling again like a stormy sky. His hand quickly picked it up and sure enough, the rest of his team did not like the new situation they found themselves in.

Red: Right when I said I missed his attacks!!!

Cyan: That's right, that's why you should keep quiet!

Blue: GUYS I CAN'T DEAL WITH HIM RIGHT NOW!

White: Neither can I! AAAAAAAAAAa

Black: Calm down White, I'm sure one of us can deal with it while the other finds a way.

Blue: YOU DON'T WANT TO CALM ME DOWN TOO?

Black: SHUT UP OR I'LL PUT A GAG IN YOUR MOUTH BLUE BIRD.

Red: QUIET! DON'T MAKE ME FREAK OUT MORE!!!

Lloyd quickly typed in his reply.

Green: Which one of us can hold off Garmadon for a while?

Cyan: Not me.

Red: Same.

White: Can you handle it, Green?

Lloyd bit his lower lip.

Green: I can't either.

He could see everyone typing, and quickly, Lloyd typed his answer first.

Green: Okay, listen. 

Green: I'm sure there will be a chance for us to sneak out of our respective schools and get to Garmadon. We just need anyone among the kids at Ninjago High to make a little scene.

Green: Wait for that opportunity and we'll all do our best to come as soon as possible.

After pocketing his cell phone. Lloyd then got up and walked towards the exit of the Auditorium. Everyone was looking at him, even the officer guarding the door didn't dare to stop him after seeing who was walking towards the exit of the Auditorium.

...

Lloyd could see his father practicing his victory dance when he reached the roof. His cell phone buried in his pants pocket vibrated frantically, but he didn't need to see it at all to know what their reaction would be. 

"Garmadon!" He shouted at Oni's figure, making Garmadon's head turn to look at him with a confused look. 

"... A kid? What are you doing here?" Garmadon raised one eyebrow, and one of his warriors tried to answer his question, but the warlord pushed the poor warrior to the ground. "Are you lost? All the other kids are waiting in the Auditorium. Hey! General #6, take this stupid kid to the other kids!"

General #6 did not look happy as he stammered, "I-I think... I think it's your son, Lord Garmadon."

From there, Lloyd quickly took over. 

"That's right, I am your son! Lloyd Garmadon." He said with undisguised hatred, his green eyes glaring spitefully at a father who did not even remember his son. 

"...Luh Lloyd?"

"Right, and my name is Lloyd, Dad." 

They stared at each other for a long time. While the entire Ninjago could hear and see the whole conversation because Gayle Gossip, as usual, fearlessly captured the entire scene via helicopter. She even jumped in just to help give them a microphone. Although none of them tried to take it. 

…

After the most embarrassing debate of "My son is bald and has no teeth.", "THAT WAS WHEN I WAS A BABY! I'M 16!", and the warlord's disappointment that his son bore no resemblance to him whatsoever. No bloodshot eyes, sharp canines, or two pairs of hands. Lloyd could hear the familiar humming sound emitted by his team members' mechs. He did not realize that he breathed a sigh of relief as he listened to them begin to surround the Garmadon army from all directions.

"Looks like you've lost again today, Dad." Lloyd said unsympathetically. The ninjas were about to throw the warlord back to his volcanic island when the Oni burst out laughing.

"Stupid ninjas." Said the Oni, Lloyd could hear Red and Blue protesting quickly. But Garmadon ignored them, with his red eyes blazing with confidence, the Oni started asking questions.

"You guys seemed to be in such a hurry to come here, that you forgot to confirm your own team members."

Like on a cue, they began to see each other. Having each member of the team confirmed their attendance in front of their own nemesis was not a good idea, but it seemed Lloyd would not be surprised if it happened anyway.

"I have kidnapped the Green Ninja."

"Huh!!!" All of the Ninjas looked utterly panicked, their eyes looking to each other and seeing the anxiety rising made Garmadon laugh again.

"Get off your mechs and surrender!" He exclaimed after finishing his vicious laughter, Lloyd looked at him hatefully. "Get down or I'll kill the Green Ninja right now!"

"DON'T-!"

Frantically, they immediately got down, making Lloyd frustrated and quickly shouted.

"STOP! DON'T FOLLOW HIM."

He could hear the silence that ensued, and the confused and annoyed looks the ninjas were giving him. 

"Are you crazy? He's going to kill our friend!" Red was the quickest to respond.

Lloyd sighed, looking Red in the eye with a serious look. "He doesn't have Green Ninja."

Before he started listening to the ninja's other protests, Lloyd pulled out the familiar green mask he always wore on missions. Putting it on quickly before anyone had a chance to process everything that was happening and his hand moved to strike at his father who was not expecting it at all.

He could hear shouts and shocked exclamations breaking out from all directions.

The clicking sound of something being placed around the warlord's neck was clearly audible, perhaps because of the silence felt throughout Ninjago that witnessed this moment. Lloyd stood up straight again. 

"I am the Green Ninja." He said, but if anyone noticed the sorrowful tone that emanated from his syllables, no one commented.

"And you, Garmadon, are the one getting captured."

…

Day 1 / 365

The first day was the most... tiring, aside from the fact that everything was still fresh in everyone's memories, Lloyd was also trying hard to calm down his Mom who was begging him to rethink his decision. 

In truth, he certainly felt very bad for his Mom. However, being the son of a Lord Garmadon was not an easy thing, let alone being the ex-wife of a warlord. Lloyd had always hoped that his mother would be free from all the heavy responsibilities that she carried on her shoulders. Starting from raising him to seeing him live as the scum of society that was avoided like a virus.

"Mom, I've made up my mind. I won't take it back."

That whole day, his mom kept trying. She didn't even go to work, and Lloyd couldn't blame his mother for going on and on trying to get him to rethink his decision.

That night, they ate the dumplings in silence. Lloyd could see the tears beginning to fall down his mother's cheeks. He couldn't wipe them away. He didn't deserve to.

…

Day 2 / 365

To be honest, Lloyd felt that it was still too soon for people to respond to his decision. 

Outside his apartment, he could see Zane -White standing and staring straight out his window. Those glowing blue eyes were so eye-catching, Lloyd should have noticed such an important detail when he saw Zane at school. 

Lloyd could sense that Zane noticed him looking. But the young man(-robot) just smiled. He didn't try to get closer, let alone broach the subject. All Lloyd saw was the young man watching him, as if he was making sure that Lloyd was okay. 

That night, he looked out the window again, the same blue eyes had vanished. He sighed and decided to go to bed early.

…

Day 3 / 365

Lloyd felt that his mama had taken extended time off at work, but when he tried to say so. Koko quickly denied it.

"No such thing as too long of a leave! In fact, I think we should use this for a family moment!"

Just as she said that, Lloyd heard the doorbell chime and Koko quickly opened it. The smile on her face warmed up as Uncle Wu and his adopted son, Morro, entered their small apartment.

Lloyd could feel a chill starting to spread down his spine. His eyes reflexively closed as Morro approached him. This was it, Morro was definitely going to scold him after listening to the entire broadcast replaying without pause for the past three days.

To his surprise, a cold hand ruffled his hair lightly. Morro did not say anything. He walked towards the sofa, motioned for Lloyd to follow him and started picking up the CDs they had placed on the table. Picking out a good movie for the family to watch.

That night, after filling up on dumpling soup and listening to Uncle Wu's stories about his travels. Lloyd and Morro decided to play console games and bet on who won more games.

If Lloyd realized Morro was deliberately losing some rounds, he made no remark of it.

…

Day 4 / 365

Like a silent agreement, once Koko started heading back to work, Lloyd could see another silhouette appear from behind the door. Uncle Wu smiled at him, Lloyd just looked at him confused.

Were they really adamant about not leaving him alone for a day? Or was this a way from Uncle Wu to calm Mama Lloyd who was of course still shaken by what happened?

Whatever it was, Lloyd found himself sitting in a meditation pose, facing his thousand-year-old-looking uncle (Uncle Wu was squinting, as if he could read his mind). The scent of incense filled the room, and Lloyd tried to act like he wasn't some teenager who couldn't keep still and couldn't hold his focus for more than three seconds. 

One hour. It only took an hour for him to fail and Uncle Wu to let him drown in console games. 

But he appreciated having someone else accompany him by watching his game shortly after finishing his short meditation.

…

Day 5 / 365

The next day Lloyd wasn't surprised when it was Morro's turn to arrive with some CDs and a music player. 

He was honestly more surprised by Morro's thoughtful preparation, he brought food, his favorite CDs, and a change of clothes. It was almost as if he had planned to stay over and cut off any privacy Lloyd had for a full 24 hours.

He didn't refuse, of course. He was just...

Afraid of the questions that could pop up at any moment.

He wasn't ready, no- he never was.

But the question never left his lips. Morro was really just there to keep him company, something Lloyd never knew he really needed.

…

Day 6 / 365

Morro is Uncle Wu's adopted son, and before the Ninja team led by Lloyd was formed, Morro was Master Wu's first student.

An intelligent ninja who is a master of the wind element. In addition to his extraordinary abilities, he is also a highly skilled craftsman, a Master Builder. On his own, he was able to protect Ninjago City from the threat of Garmadon. He was the Sage Ninja.

If Morro was born as a lone wolf, then Lloyd was born as the heart of a puzzle.

He can only do something if his team members help him. Together, he can see the potential of whoever is around him and try to create something. Together with his team, he could take care of Ninjago.

But that was only when he was the Green Ninja.

Because in Ninjago City, the Green Ninja is the hero.

As for Lloyd Garmadon, he’s just a nuisance. 

Now that he's lost the only mask that makes him finally useful. Lloyd is just a child of the most evil person in all of Ninjago.

He's a fish born to be hated by water.

He's... suffocated .

…

Day 7 / 365

After trying to ignore them for a week, Lloyd found an extra pair of eyes stalking him every evening until bedtime.

The slow flashing blue had become the new normal in his life, and now, a pair of onyx eyes with a mole in the other eye. Lloyd didn't need to get close to know who those eyes belonged to.

The ninja team members suspected him. Maybe they thought he would lie and was actually working with Garmadon to create a mind-boggling trick that would bring down Ninjago City.

Lloyd could only accept that. He just needed time to prove it to them.

…

Day 8 / 365

A week had passed since then, and the television was still showing the same video along with many speculations and people's opinions. 

Lloyd could see his mom quickly turning off the television as soon as he came from his room.

Huh,was the news that bad? 

Lloyd sat at the dining table, smiling at Koko who placed a salmon-filled onigiri in front of him.

" Mom, I'm going to the NGTV News office today."

Lloyd tried to calm his shocked mother down, telling her that he had something important to talk about. News, was the most powerful way to let everyone know what he had to share.

After promising to be careful, Lloyd rushed to the news station. 

...

Sitting in a cushioned chair being served hot chocolate was not what Lloyd was used to. Especially with the entire television crew looking at him with a very confusing... look. He couldn't even tell if it was fear, anger, joy, sadness, disappointment, or...

Pity.

So he ignored it.

"So... Mr. Garmadon-" Gayle Gossip began.

"Please, just call me Lloyd." Lloyd cut her off quickly, a nervous smile on his lips. He felt bad for cutting in, but he really did object to being called by his last name.

Nodding her head, Gayle Gossip showed her talent as a gossip anchor by deciding to ask about more important issues than just Lloyd's preferred nickname. 

"So, Lloyd. Is there anything you want to share with everyone today?"

"Huh?" An open-ended question? Lloyd thought Gayle Gossip would stab him right in the question he avoided the most.

"Uh, yes, actually. The reason I came was to give you a message." Lloyd waited, but the woman before him only smiled silently. It was as if forcing the silence to invade Lloyd and forcing him to burn off the uncomfortable feeling of being stared at by everyone in the studio by speaking more.

"It has been a week since... uh... my threat to Lord Garmadon. I asked for him to give me a progress report on the repairs he made." Silence still hanging in the air, Lloyd was even convinced they had deliberately turned off the showrunner's music just to force him to speak again. "O-one more thing. For anyone who has problems with their repaired building, please send your message in the form of a letter to the postbox in front of my apartment. Thank you."

Lloyd certainly didn't want his email or cell phone number to be spread around and used for... all sorts of things he didn't want, if there were still people who were that vindictive towards him. He didn't mind if the mail he received was just hate speech, he had long since gotten used to it.

But if anyone was intent on harming his mom...

Lloyd is always at home, he probably doesn't care what they do to him. But he set a clear boundary line.

Apparently, being caught up in his thoughts was able to dispel the artificial silence created around him. Because Gayle Gossip was quick to smile and comment on his statement. They even provided Lloyd's postal address in the broadcast. 

"Well, so after that information. I have one question for you, Lloyd."

"Alright, what is it?"

Gayle Gossip's professional smile cracked for a split second, the ninja's trained eyes could see it clearly. It made Lloyd hold his breath waiting for the question to come.

"You gave Lord Garmadon two choices. But why did both require you to... depart?"

Pained.

Lloyd thought that was what he saw. But his green eyes drifted towards the decorated flower pot on the table.

"For two long years... I lied to everyone in this town. Acting like a hero when all I did was hinder Garmadon, not stop him."

"Those two years were the most wonderful time of my life, S-so now that it's all out in the open-"

"-I would rather die as a Green Ninja. Instead of living the life of Lloyd Garmadon ."

If anyone thought the smile he gave the camera was fake, then Lloyd was grateful that none of the people in the studio tried to comment on it.

…

Day 9 / 365

Lloyd yawned, ignoring that last night, he heard the noisy shouting of some people near his apartment. For some reason, he felt that the sound of angry shouting was very familiar. But his mind decided to block out any information that might give him hope.

As far as he knew, there was no way Red was anywhere near his house. For what?

Hmm. Or maybe he was going to beat him up? These two years must have been incredibly fake in his eyes.

Ah yes, that's right.

He looked at his empty postbox. Maybe... people still needed time to see that this wasn't a trick.

Well, it was good that he had the entire year ahead of him to prove it.

...

Today was the first day for him to ask Garmadon for progress. He also seemed to need to start explaining other details about this threat to the Oni before his father started looking for ways to work against him.

The flames of hope were dangerous, Lloyd knew that more than anyone. Because Ninjas never quit. That was what made them so powerful.

So he had to completely extinguish all of Garmadon's flames of hope in order to escape this threat. The sooner he gave up and complied the better.

In front of him at the moment was an oni who was wearing a white t-shirt and an orange construction hat. His face immediately soured when he saw a blonde approaching, as if he had expected it but was still disappointed that he had actually come.

"Luh Lloyd."

" Lloyd. " He somehow felt he should start getting used to this greeting, but he had not given up yet. "So how is your progress on the repairs?"

"Oh yeah, don't expect to be able to drag out the repairs and buy some time. If a year later all these repairs are not completed, then I will consider you to have failed and ensure that we will both die in an explosion."

"HUH?!"

…

Day 10 / 365

After a long day of making sure that his father had actually done his job. Lloyd wouldn't be surprised if he woke up at noon.

On his nightstand, there was a note from his mom and a breakfast that had cooled down. Lloyd got up and warmed up his food.

"Hey, bum. Are you awake?"

Of course Uncle Wu and Morro were here.

…

Day 11 / 365

Lloyd had been saying goodnight to his mom when he heard the noise that had been getting louder all week. 

Either he was feeling it or the voices were getting... closer. Should he lock the windows? Just in case? Of course he didn't want to come face to face with them, he didn't want to... see their expressions up close. Especially if he had to fight them in his room. 

Had their patience run out and they wanted to beat him up and find out what Lloyd Garmadon might actually be up to?

Before Lloyd could decide to lock his window, the poor thing had been forced open and someone was seen dashing in quickly. It was as if he had just spewed out of a dimensional portal.

The young man of course immediately pounced on Lloyd in one attack and Lloyd closed his eyes expecting a blow to his body.

Instead of an attack, what he got was a tight hug that was warm and very, very familiar.

"Green." That voice, Red. Kai Smith. The young man hugged him tightly, his voice tight. 

"Lloyd."

Warmth washed over his shoulders. Lloyd could feel that Kai was trembling, but he made no comment. His sprawled hand rose up. Trying to return the hug-

-then he stopped.

That night, Cyan -Nya and White -Zane also snuck in. Apologizing to him and trying to shake off Kai's deathly embrace that was very, very hard to break. 

They looked at him deeply, like there were hundreds of words shooting out but none of them were spoken.

"Good night, Lloyd. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight."

Zane finally said. He and Nya together led Kai away from Lloyd's room.

…

Day 12 / 365 

The first letter he received was a mild complaint about Garmadon changing the paint color of one of the walls in someone's cafe, making it more eye-catching than the rest of the cafe. 

Lloyd put the letter on his desk. The sender of the message hadn't specifically asked to change the color of the wall. But Lloyd would make sure to ask Garmadon to stop doing unnecessary things just to annoy people.

…

Day 13 / 365

Lloyd opened the door to his apartment, fully accustomed to Morro or Uncle Wu coming to keep him company today. 

What he hadn't expected was the presence of Zane, which was actually funny, as Zane was somewhat taller than Morro. The young man greeted Lloyd with a smile and asked if Lloyd would mind if he came to visit.

Lloyd looked at Morro silently. 

WHY DID YOU BRING HIM?

YOU THINK I BROUGHT HIM WILLINGLY?

It was a telepathic conversation that only cousins who had known each other for sixteen years could have. Lloyd sighed and let the two guests in.

Zane didn't say much, he smiled and smiled and smiled . Asking Lloyd how he was doing as if it was a normal thing he did every day, he began to help them prepare breakfast.

Zane was a good cook. Lloyd decided after eating his waffles.

…

Day 14 / 365

After Zane's unplanned visit yesterday, Lloyd did not think that it would be something that the young man would do a second time. Yesterday... nothing much happened, so he naturally thought that it was just a normal check. They just wanted to make sure that he was not doing anything suspicious while waiting for Garmadon to act.

The doorbell of his apartment rang again in the afternoon, Lloyd thought that his mom had come home early today. But surprisingly, it was Zane who was at the door.

"Hello Lloyd, sorry to interrupt your afternoon. I just got back from school, would you like to help me with my assignment?"

It was a strange request. But Lloyd backed off and allowed the young man to enter his apartment.

…

Day 15 / 365

"I received a letter that you intentionally changed the paint of one of the walls at the cafe near downtown."

"So?" Garmadon looked at him with a panicked face as if he was a kid caught putting his finger in the cookie jar. Lloyd let out a tired sigh.

"Don't do it again, just -just fix it the way it should be. It's not always about whether you like the cafe's appearance or not."

It was strange to see Garmadon just nodding and thinking. Lloyd could sense that there was something the oni wanted to say. But many times his father shook his head and then went back to pretending as if he understood the construction and ordered his soldiers randomly.

Lloyd frowned, ... something was strange.

"Why aren't there as many workers as usual?"

With that, Garmadon scowled. His mouth twitched as he stammered and tried to explain that he cared about the morality of his soldiers so he was rostering construction workers.

Huh. Very suspicious. 

But Lloyd didn't care.

…

Day 16 / 365

Another letter appeared, but this time there was no complaint. It only explained that Garmadon had improved their place.

Ah, perhaps they thought that they should also report Garmadon's progress as evidence? Or were they threatened to send it so that Lloyd would let his guard down on Garmadon?

One of the letters invited him to check their location. Lloyd considered whether it was a trap, or if the man just wanted to show him his new bookstore.

…

Day 17 / 365

Mother Doomsday, the owner of the comic book store who invited him, showed him his entire collection of books and rare merchandise. He ruffled Lloyd's hair and thanked him. 

In Lloyd's hand was now a new issue of Starfarer.

…

Day 18 / 365

The letters appeared again, this time slightly increased in number. But surprisingly, none of these letters contained complaints about the ongoing repair process.

Huh . Lloyd put the letters into the box he had prepared. The contents of these messages were simply about what buildings were being repaired and about how happy they were. Of course Lloyd was happy to hear it too, but why bother telling him if there was nothing to fix?

…

Day 19 / 365

It seemed like he was getting used to Zane coming home from school every time. He really appreciated the fact that Zane didn't ask him uncomfortable questions like When are you going back to school?  

How is Garmadon progressing?

... why did you join the Secret Ninja Force?

Green, why did you lie to us?

…

Day 20 / 365

That afternoon when his apartment bell rang, Lloyd was already in the habit of inviting in the only member of his old team who was willing to meet him. He found two pairs of eyes behind the door. There was someone else who had come along with Zane this time. 

Jay Walker. Blue .

He smiled casually and greeted Lloyd by name. Asked if he could also join the secret meeting Zane had recently.

Lloyd invited them in. Jay started talking about school, and then about his mom being too loud sometimes, and then about the one time he and his mom won a pairs skating contest. 

Jay then saw the latest issue of Starfarer on the living room table and started to get excited. Lloyd let him read it.

…

Day 21 / 365

Ah, so from now on they will always come together?

…

Day 22 / 365

"Lloyd, honey, Mom left cookies for you and your friends in the kitchen. Have fun!"

…

Day 23 / 365

Lloyd didn't have the heart to tell his mom that they weren't his friends.

He had no friends, they just wanted to keep an eye on him.

…

Day 24 / 365

"Why did you become a Green Ninja?"

This week's meeting began with one of the most difficult questions Garmadon had ever asked before Lloyd was even in front of him. Lloyd, who certainly didn't like the direction of the conversation, ignored his father. 

"Hey, Luh-Lloyd-"

"Lloyd."

"Listen to your father when he speaks!" The Oni snapped, one of his hands coming up and landing on the boy's shoulder.

Lloyd brushed it off.

…

Day 25

"Hey, Lloyd. Did something happen?"

One morning, Morro who came to accompany him asked. Lloyd couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, very confused. 

"Nothing. Why ask?" It was a lie.

…

Day 26 / 365

Today, Cole Brookstone, -Black came along with Zane and Jay. 

"Yo, Lloyd. Been a while, huh?" He greeted them too casually. However, Lloyd had quite expected that they would slowly show up until the rest of his team would finally come to confirm with their own eyes that Lloyd was not cooperating with Garmadon, and the repairs were really done properly.

Smiling slightly, Lloyd returned the greeting. "Hi, uh, Cole. Come on in."

Cole brought in some music CDs, Morro who was already inside when all this happened quickly got up and checked what music the sturdy young man had brought. He complained and started picking up his headset, mumbling about kids and their immature tastes.

They then decided to play a game of Monopoly, Lloyd and Zane just smiling as they spent the entire fortune of the other players.

…

Day 27 / 365

Mom started leaving lots of snacks on the living room table and bought a big green bean bag. Lloyd knew what his mama was thinking, but he didn't try to say anything about it.

…

Day 28 / 365

It had only been two days since Cole had joined in on the... uh, regular meetings that Zane had started. Today, Nya came over and hugged Lloyd tightly when he opened the door in the afternoon.

"This isn't fair! I want to come with you guys too!" The girl exclaimed. A smile did not escape her lips even after she seemed to crush Lloyd's body with her hug.

That afternoon, Zane, Jay, Cole, and Nya took him out. Saying something along the lines of you should get out and breathe some fresh air more often, Green bean!

How many weeks have you been staying at home? No, don't count meeting Garmadon as going outside!

Fresh air can help improve the quality of air that enters your lungs, and according to many studies, going outside regularly can help improve your mood and as a result, make you healthier.

I don't understand what Zane is saying, but Nindroid is never wrong, did you hear that Green Machine?

Nya pulled him onto her bike and Lloyd could see the three other boys looking at him with big smiles on their lips as they waved.

That day Lloyd's screams echoed throughout the city.

…

Day 30 / 365

Since not having to come to school, Lloyd could no longer remember what day it was or what date it was. He only counted every seven days then he had to meet with Garmadon. He didn't need to remember anything else.

Of course that made him a little surprised that morning, even before Morro or Uncle Wu had contacted him to inform him of their arrival. His apartment bell rang and he could hear Jay and Cole's voices calling him, asking him to open the door.

Another thing that surprised him was the tight, suffocatingly warm hug that was all too familiar. The brunette hair and red jacket gave away the identity of the young man who had attacked him and knocked him to the ground in front of his apartment.

"Lloyd." Red-Kai called out, Lloyd only replied with a small huh and confusion. He tried to seek help from Nya or Zane. Both only responded with a smile. While Jay and Cole decided to capture this moment on Jay's cell phone.

"Uh... K-kai... Hi?"

After letting go of his aggressive hug, Kai rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his thick red jacket and looked at Lloyd. A smile was carved across his face. If there was a red stain spreading at the corner of Kai's eyes, no one would have the heart to tell him.

"Hey kiddo, how dare you hold a secret meeting without me!" He exclaimed while ruffling Lloyd's hair. Making warmth spread across his chest, Lloyd just smiled.

"Welcome aboard, want some cookies?"

That day, they played console games, joked, laughed and Lloyd felt that he was being transported back to the time when he was Green. Just Green , the leader of the Secret Ninja Force. And they were the team members who always teased him like he was just a little brother in their eyes.

…

Chapter Text

Day 31 / 365

"Uncle Wu taught me how to be a ninja. And I'm glad I can learn about how to stop you."

Garmadon turned to him in surprise. 

"...Wu taught you?"

Lloyd nodded, not looking at Garmadon.

"Oh, I'll kill hi-" Lloyd looked at him coldly . Garmadon did not finish his sentence.

…

Day 32 / 365

After finally settling in as a full team, they were stubbornly determined to keep coming, whether it was in the mornings on break or in the afternoons after school.

…

Day 33 / 365

The letters were coming in more and more and some of them were just messages with no... clear purpose. Was this just spam mail for no reason? But why-

Oh yes, for no apparent reason. Got it.

…

Day 34 / 365

"What are you reading, Lloyd?"

Kai rested his chin on the top of Lloyd's head who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, he muttered briefly and put down his controller, His beside Lloyd also glanced at the letter Lloyd was reading.

"Love letter?" Kai asked again, this time in an overly amused tone.

"Threatening letter?" Nya asked, there was a dark gleam in her eyes and both Lloyd and Kai flinched away.

"Calm down, it's just a complaint letter from one of the people whose house is being repaired by Garmadon." Lloyd handed the letter to the two people who surrounded him curiously. 

"Huh, no complaints here?" Kai said.

"That's what confused me." Lloyd said honestly, making Nya and Kai look at each other.

…

Day 35 / 365

Lloyd felt that since he had told Kai and Nya about the letters he had received, the number of new letters arriving each day was increasing and getting more and more puzzling. 

Lloyd could see that some of the new letters were from his team members. They had even put their elemental symbols (a red scribble like a burning fire, this must be from Kai- ). The contents did not have a clear purpose.

...Lloyd could see the ice cream coupon letter given by Zane. He took it and put it in his pocket.

…

Day 36 / 365

Mother Doomsday sent him a new letter. Lloyd immediately went back to check what had happened to the comic shop.

He was quite suspicious if Garmadon had deliberately used fragile building materials or the like, and if that was really the case then he would not hesitate to ask his father to redo all the construction work from the beginning.

But what he found was the same comic shop as the last time he visited, the owner smiling kindly and inviting Lloyd inside.

"Um, is the damage inside the shop?"

"Damage?"

"I thought you asked me to come handle the damage in your shop? Don't worry, I'll ask Garmadon to fix everything if it proves to be his doing-"

"-Phhh hahaha, no! It's not like that. I just wanted to give you the latest edition of Starfarer. Take it and let me know what you think."

"...Thank you?"

…

Day 37 / 365

"Huh? Why are you writing this letter to me, Morro?"

"...To make your nosy friends happy and stop bothering me."

…

Day 38 / 365

His and Garmadon's encounters this week went more easily than the first weeks. Lloyd counted this as progress. 

If only his father hadn't tried to trick him and instead led him in a catch the baseball contest while they were inspecting the repair of the sports facilities at the school. Maybe today would have been much better.

The oni burst out laughing when for the umpteenth time Lloyd failed to catch the ball thrown at him. Lloyd picked up the fallen ball and squeezed it quite hard. 

"Stop laughing at me!" Shoot-! Lloyd threw the ball in his hand.

...which then fell rolling on the floor. The ball did not even come the slightest bit closer to Garmadon. Making the oni continue his booming laughter.

…

Day 39 / 365

That day, Lloyd saw the ninjas looking at him in a quizzical fashion.

"We've been waiting for you in front of your apartment for 15 minutes. And here you are? A quiet, slightly damp alleyway, throwing a ball?" 

"...How long have you been watching?" As the red creeped into his cheeks, Lloyd began to recall how many times he had failed to throw the ball forward.

"...Since you successively threw the ball and bounced it over your head several times? And it bounced on your head, are you sure you're okay?"

Lloyd buried his face in his knees. Crouched down as his team members asked him about his condition.

…

Day 40 / 365

Zane makes a diagnosis, stating that Lloyd may have put up a psychic barrier that causes his body to always react and prevent him from throwing the ball.

Maybe because you believe that your father should have taught you how to throw a catch? 

Lloyd was dodging the topic. So evasively that they decided to stop at an ice cream parlor before heading home.

…

Day 41 / 365

Even Kai and Cole gave up on teaching him to throw and catch.

…

Day 45 / 365

This time, Garmadon suggested they discuss the progress of the improvements he had made while playing catch.

And Lloyd hated it.

"Stop with the tricks, Garmadon! Just explain the progress or I'll call General #1 instead!" The person whose name was called shuddered when his boss's son mentioned it. He quickly ran away before the oni could flash his lava eyes and demand to fire him through the lava.

"You don't understand Luh Lloyd-" Lloyd rolled his eyes, having given up on reminding the oni of his name. "-We will help my workers to work faster by throwing in the materials they need. Let's move quickly!"

Huh. I don't know why all the materials were neatly wrapped and easy to throw. Very suspicious. 

But finally after getting tired of arguing with the stubborn oni, he started to pick up the materials provided. His hand threw and failed. But this time Garmadon didn't laugh out loud like before. He directed Lloyd's hand, justified his position and asked him to throw with all his heart.

After failing many times and almost destroying the entire project. Lloyd succeeded in throwing the material at General #12 right on his forehead. Garmadon who saw it excitedly lifted his body high and showed it off to all his men.

…

Day 50 / 365

Jay was screaming with excitement when Lloyd managed to score a basketball hoop. Kai and Cole lunged at him when he made it, while Zane gave him a drink of water and congratulated him.

"Well done, Green Bean . Now try to beat my score-!" Nya exclaimed before snatching the basketball from Lloyd's hand.

That day he had lost horrendously, but Lloyd was very happy .

…

Day 52 / 365

"How long have you been skipping school, Luh Lloyd?"

"...None of your business."

"Hey, don't worry, your father won't lecture you to stay in school! In fact, I'm so glad you've finally learned to be a bad boy!" Exclaiming the oni proudly, Lloyd rolled his eyes.

"I don't need school, I don't intend to have a future after this."

That seemed to be enough to kill their conversation. Since Garmadon finally fell silent, Lloyd went back to reading the report given by General #1 quietly. If he saw the lowered eyebrows and the open and closed mouth of his father, he did not comment on it. 

He did not care what Garmadon's opinion was on him, or on his current decision.

…

Day 59 / 365

Lloyd brushed off the cold, dark-skinned hand that was almost touching his neck.

"Destroying my necklace will set off an automatic bomb and kill us both." He said coldly, Garmadon flinched and jumped back. Now he immediately whistled as if his hand hadn't just attempted to do something to the bomb still firmly attached to his son's neck.

"And if I destroy mine?" He asked innocently, Lloyd was sure he was just trying to fill the odd silence they had created.

"It’s all the same, so now get to work and settle your debts."

…

Day 66 / 365

Garmadon grabbed the letter in Lloyd's hand and read it.

"Hey! Give it to me!" Lloyd tried to jump up and steal the letter back. But his taller father immediately made the piece of paper fly higher than his son could reach.

"Hmm. It was me and my employees who repaired this place. Why are you the one getting a thank you letter from them? That's not fair!"

"Thank you letter?"

"Yes? How can you not understand this, Luh Lloyd?" A dark finger traced the word the oni was referring to, "Read. T-h-a-n-k-y-o-u. All those letters have this word at the end. So if it's not a thank you letter, what is it?"

"...But I only ask them to send a letter if they have a complaint."

…

Day 73 / 365

Garmadon somehow had a new annoying habit: picking up things that Lloyd was holding if he was curious.

Lloyd sighed and took back the file his father had taken before the annoying oni lifted it out of his reach.

"Can't you get used to asking questions instead of grabbing whatever I'm holding?" He said in exasperation.

"That's your student file, right? Why are you carrying it?"

"Dropping out of school, since I'm not going there anymore, I'd better pull out my file and ask Mom to stop paying." Lloyd forced a smile, "Hmm. Maybe that money would be better spent buying food out, we rarely eat out."

Garmadon interrupted him with a stutter. When Lloyd paused and looked at him confused, not a single word came out of the oni's mouth.

Hmm. Did he stutter because Lloyd was talking about his mother?

…

Day 80 / 365

"Someone stole my school files."

"Hmm?"

"And paid for my full tuition until graduation."

"Oh my! Isn't that amazing?"

" Did you do it?" Lloyd looked at him accusingly, Garmadon quickly -too quickly- dodged. 

"Do you think I dare break into your apartment? What if I run into Koko!"

"So you know the location of our apartment?" Lloyd looked at him more fiercely, Garmadon just looked at him in surprise.

"...You told everyone in Ninjago the address of your apartment on a national TV broadcast. Did you think I wouldn't know?"

…

Day 87 / 365

Kai stared at Garmadon as if Garmadon had just killed his pet cat.

Garmadon, being stared at so viciously, retaliated by letting his pupils shrink and sharpen. Giving him an even more terrifying look than usual.

Lloyd who was standing between them slapped himself across the face with his hand. Rather loudly, making Jay who heard the clapping winced.

"Kai- Garmadon! Stop skinning each other with your eyes!"

"He started it!" "This boy started it!"

"What!" "What!"

"I'm not a kid!" "You're a noisy kid!"

Nya pulled Kai's ears away, while Lloyd tried hard to push his father in the opposite direction.

They blew raspberries at each other.

…

Day 94 / 365

"Can you tell your ninja servants to stop coming?"

Lloyd could see the annoyed tone that was clearly attached with emphasis, but he ignored it and stayed focused on watching how general #3 cried at him and confessed that his abominable father asked him to work more than 8 hours per day. Lloyd looked back at his father with a cold stare.

"What? It's his fault for always making mistakes!"

"What is his fault?"

Garmadon opened his mouth, his hands raised in the air as if to help him explain how the crab-clad general made repeated mistakes and caused him to work like a slave.

"Ugh, whatever! My officers, my rules!"

Lloyd scratched his neck.

"...Go rest." Garmadon looked at General #3 as if he was going to eat him alive. But Lloyd behind him smiled, his mouth whispering silently. 

I'll handle this, go.

…

Day 101 / 365

Word really did spread fast, Lloyd found that his actions in defense of General #3 had apparently gotten the attention of other generals and soldiers. Because as soon as he arrived at their next meeting, he found three generals waiting for him with a piece of paper containing their complaints to Garmadon.

"What else! It's their fault! It's all their fault!"

Garmadon climbed onto a nearby tree and growled. Lloyd stood just below the tree. 

"Then explain why it's all their fault?"

The day was spent with all the generals protesting to Garmadon. Although their voices were loud and shouted back and forth, Lloyd found them all standing behind him, literally using him as a shield to avoid the fierce fury of the oni whose eyes had glistened like blood.

…

Day 108 / 365

Kai rested his hand on Lloyd's shoulder, looking around in surprise. Nya beside him stared fiercely at all the pairs of eyes looking in their direction.

"...Lloyd, what happened? Why are they... different?"

"Yeah, what's going on! Should we just leave?" Nya started to set up a stance. Kai swiftly copied his sister's steps and together they pushed Lloyd to get behind them. 

"Uh... It's not like that, they just..." Lloyd tried to think, but the silence hanging over him didn't help his situation.

"Young Master Lloyd!"

"Young Master! Welcome!"

Lloyd's cheeks reddened, he stuttered but still did begin to return their greetings after calming his expressions.

"Lloyd...?" This time, Nya tried to hold back a smile. Kai instead looked at her in confusion. 

"Ugh! I told them not to call me that! But they wouldn't listen! This time the red spread to the ears. Nya giggled and Kai began to smile in understanding of their situation.

"Young Master Lloyd!" "Young Master Lloyd!"

The two said at the same time. Lloyd complained but was not heard. Garmadon came quickly and chased the general away.

…

Day 115 / 365

"Welcome to NGTV News! In today's ‘Good Morning, Ninjago!’ segment, we have a very special guest!"

"Lloyd Garmadon, the Legendary Green Ninja who shocked the entire Ninjago community with his true identity. And... Lord Garmadon, who of course we are all very familiar with thanks to all the damage he caused from his military aggression."

Lloyd smiled as best he could, while his father glared fiercely at the camera. Oh, he was being dramatic again . Lloyd rolled his eyes.

"Hello, Gayle." He greeted her. His hand began to pinch his father who had begun to speak unprompted. Saying something like of course Ninjago knows who I am, I am Lord Garmadon. The future ruler of their- OUCH! Luh Lloyd? Stop pinching, you're making my arm purple!

Lloyd ignored him completely and decided to explain the progress of Garmadon's repair process. The television was also quick to show the results of their field coverage on the buildings that had been repaired, as well as the building owners' opinions on the repairs.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a bored Garmadon listening to the report start to walk around the studio, obviously interrupting the filming and annoying him by posing stupidly behind Lloyd who was explaining. Lloyd could tell what the oni was doing when he heard a stifled giggle directed by Vinny, the cameraman on duty towards him.

Lloyd stepped on his father's foot on purpose. The television crew stifled laughter at the stifled scream the oni let out. But his father just looked at him like a kicked dog, then rubbed his sore leg.

…

Day 122 / 365

Garmadon looked at him with an annoying grin plastered on his cheeks. Lloyd felt a strong desire to use his hand and straighten the line of his father's annoying smirk.

"What?" He said in a grumpy tone, one hand holding the report file handed over by General #1, while the other hand picked up a matcha-flavored ice cone. 

Lately, his father's generals always gave him sweets when he came over. Lloyd certainly wouldn't turn down sweets that were given to him. 

"You have a sweet tooth." Garmadon accused, red starting to crawl up Lloyd's cheeks. He quickly tried to dodge but his father swiftly covered his mouth. "You have a sweet tooth, Luh Lloyd! You're quicker to accept my men's gifts when they give you sweets." Garmadon explained proudly, as if he was the detective who solved a cold case.

"So what if I like sweets? Is it wrong?" His eyebrows shot up in confusion, completely clueless as to what to make of such a trivial fact.

"No! There's nothing wrong." This time, what was more astonishing was that Garmadon was looking at him with a smile... that did not indicate anything bad, not a teasing smile nor a smile when he was planning something evil.

A happy smile... Huh, that was very strange.

"It turns out that we are indeed father and son!" Garmadon had a pair of his upper arms folded across his chest and another pair at the sides of his waist. Proud.

"...Huh."

…

Day 129 / 365

"...Garmadon." 

His father had a mischievous smile that Lloyd had noted as one of those smiles he had when he thought he had a good plan and wanted to see the other person's reaction. 

Lloyd sighed, but kept his hand tightly wrapped around a lollipop that was stupidly big. It almost rivaled Lloyd's head in size and he needed to hold the lollipop with both hands just to make sure it didn't fall off. 

"I'm going to get diabetes."

"Ah, no way! You're my son, remember?" Garmadon chewed on the lollipop he was holding with both hands... his right, uh, upper and below hands. Got it? 

Alright, time to utilize his monster genetics to avoid the dangers of sugar sickness.

…

Day 136 / 365

Lloyd sensed the whole general was looking at him... strangely.

Not the usual weird where they were too happy and started snitching on him so he could threaten his father into treating his workers better. But they seemed to be hiding something. The problem was that Lloyd didn't know if this something was trivial and stupid or if it was a big plan that would put his father back on the wrong path and start threatening Ninjago's safety again.

He begins to stare at General #1 with a look that can be read as, Explain to me now or I won't defend you anymore. General #1 immediately flinched. His feet quickly stepping closer to Lloyd, he flashed a smile that clearly showed that he was indeed hiding something.

"I swear, Young Master Lloyd-"

"Just. Lloyd."

General #1 winced again, but he continued anyway. "Ugh, Lord Garmadon would fire me if I told you. S-so please! I swear this isn't a plot to take over Ninjago! You can throw me into the lava if I lie! I swear!"

Lloyd looked at the other warrior generals, they all nodded frantically and he finally sighed.

"Lie to me once and I'll ask Garmadon to sing in your ear all day."

He could hear the squeak of fear that General #1 let out. Lloyd tried to hold back his laughter.

Surprisingly, he hadn't seen his father at all that day. But he tried to ignore it, as long as the project kept running smoothly he wouldn't protest much.

…

Day 143 / 365

Lloyd could feel the unreadable gaze Kai was giving him as he scratched his neck. Huh, maybe the design of this bomb device was a little uncomfortable? No wonder the ninja team members always frowned when they caught a glimpse of his neck.

Maybe next time he would start trying to wear clothes with long necks.

"You guys don't have to accompany me to meet with Garmadon often, you know that right?" He tries to open a conversation, he could see his father start to wave excitedly then the expression instantly changed to a cranky, whiny face, what a manchild . 

His team members glanced at each other upon hearing his statement, then Cole shrugged, smiling, "We like to hang out?" He said while looking at Jay and Zane, as if trying to ask for help.

"Yeah, sure, living in a junkyard gets you used to seeing sights as messy as they are- Oh look, isn't that your dad's employee?" Lloyd looked in the direction Jay was pointing, a soldier was seen slipping and screaming. While his friends started trying to pull him up, they just made the whole piece of metal they were standing on tilt.

...They all slipped into the sand. Fortunately, they were not seriously injured.

Then Lloyd could see Kai and Garmadon were already back to skinning each other with their eyes.

"Seriously, can you guys stop doing that?"

"No!" "Never!" Both replied spontaneously. Then squinted even more when they realized they were answering at the same time.

…

Day 149 / 365

After much thought, Lloyd finally decided that staying at home and forcing his family or team members to visit him every day for several months was not a good idea in the long run.

Lloyd was actually betting that they would get bored eventually, but five months in and they still insisted on visiting him made him rethink his strategy. Finally, he decided that coming to school was the right choice to make the people around him stop thinking about him.

Looking at Mama who smiled warmly at his decision, Lloyd thought that maybe coming back to one of the places he avoided the most wasn't as stupid a choice as he once thought.

He hoped they would at least stop looking at him like he was a wild animal on the loose. If they did, maybe he would consider making going to school a regular habit again.

After picking up his bag and greeting his mom, Lloyd finally ventured back to school.

…

He heard small whispers and people trying hard not to stare at him. Lloyd walked slowly towards his locker. He had come very early, because taking the bus made him feel sick for some reason. 

"Hey, Lloyd." He heard the greeting in a robotic tone and Lloyd smiled. Of course Zane was the type to come to school early, he was always the earliest at their meetings at the warehouse, so Lloyd was expecting it.

"Morning, Zane. Uh, I guess I picked the wrong day to come huh?" Lloyd looked at the stack of algebra books carried by the young man in white in front of him. Zane smiled brightly.

"Yep! But if you're having trouble, I'll help you with it."

 …

Day 150 / 365

Lloyd arrived that day with the commotion already clearly audible from a distance. He could see his father who very rarely cared about how the progress of the repair process was going. However, today he could see that the man was busy giving direction after direction to his subordinates, who were also strangely energized today.

Lloyd raised his eyebrows in surprise, but a small smile inevitably appeared on his cheeks. "What are you all doing?" 

They looked at him with a smile that was... suspicious. Meanwhile, Garmadon quickly darted over and was already in front of him. His bulky body blocked Lloyd's view of what they were actually doing. But to be honest, he was actually more curious about what his father wanted to say.

"So... uh, Luh Loyd?" Lloyd didn't protest the nickname given. Actually, he had given up on correcting it again. He waited for Garmadon who began to ramble on about the busy day, all the workers excited. At one point he finally asked, "So, how was school?"

Ah, so that was it.

"It's normal, they still avoid me. But I guess it's better, because they no longer look at me with disgust or cold eyes. Oh, and no one said anything. So I guess that's an improvement?" Lloyd saw the oni looking at him... strangely, it somehow made him want to say more, "But my team members keep me company all day, so I don't really care about the other kids."

He could hear Garmadon let out a sigh of relief, for some reason. Then he hurriedly showed Lloyd the thing he had been hiding.

In front of him, he saw a large table full of things. Starting from some clothes, bags, shoes, books, and even random things like skateboards and helmets. Lloyd saw the generals and soldiers grinning proudly at his presentations... school supplies and some random items that teenagers usually had.

"Happy first day of school, Young Master Lloyd!"

…

Day 157 / 365

This week, there were special tables and chairs placed in the break room next to the construction. Several generals were seen frantically holding various books in their hands.

Garmadon looked angry.

"Come on, how come none of you can help Luh Lloyd answer this question? Are you stupid, huh? Are you all stupid?"

Lloyd tried to intervene, but his father had already grabbed his cell phone and called his information department to come and help with the high school math problem.

…

Day 160 / 365

After a few quiet days at school accompanied by his teammates, Lloyd slowly felt that perhaps establishing school as a new routine apart from home was a good thing. It might be true that he no longer needed to study for the future (since he already had a clear future, Lloyd scratched his neck), but having a routine other than home seemed to help him feel more active and less bored.

There have been some changes since his last time around, for example, some new kids from the suburbs of Ninjago who are now attending Ninjago High. With the peace that lasted for months, it seemed to have attracted enough parents to finally let their children enjoy school without the fear of an evil warlord who might destroy the classroom while they were studying.

Lloyd glanced around, one of the new kids he saw had short brown hair and braids, there were red marks like cat whiskers on his cheeks. Is that from a special region? Lloyd let his mind bounce to geography class, recalling.

Until he finally ran into Chen and his cheerleading team.

They crossed paths in the corridor, which was actually a normal thing. However, after skipping five months and all the news about her identity and her plans for the next year. Everyone at school had a... mixed opinion, it seemed, who knows. Lloyd didn't want to spend his time understanding what they might think. He just wanted to spend his time without causing trouble for his family, that was all. 

Lloyd could see an unfamiliar glint in Chen's eyes when they locked eyes. Everyone in the corridor was currently staring at them. After not much time had passed between them, Kai was the first to be able to react.

He stepped forward and faced Chen with a fiery glare. Chen pushed him gently, however, bypassing Kai and standing in front of Lloyd.

Good, ... now what? Lloyd clearly saw that there was guilt, also mixed with great pity and confusion. He didn't need this at all right now.

He didn't need an apology from Chen, actually, from anyone. He didn't care.

" Lloyd- "

Lloyd shuddered, he could feel his hands reflexively moving to cover his ears.

"It's good to... see you back."

Then confusion began to fill his mind.

"...Huh?"

" It's good to see you back, I hope you... Have a nice day. "

Then Chen and the other cheerleaders walked away.

…

Day 164 / 365

Lloyd raised a puzzled eyebrow that morning, considering that it was rare for his father to be directly waiting for him right in front of the project site with a very unsuitable serious look on his face.

"Hi, Garmadon. Huh, a-what's up?" a pair of dark hands lifted his body. Lloyd was quite unsure whether he should take this as a form of rebellion or... something was bothering the oni's mind?

"I heard that someone bullied you at school?"

"Huh?"

"Yes, I heard that someone bullied you at school." The red eyes were wide. Lloyd began to wonder who might have leaked this to Garmadon. But then he thought again.

...This was never a secret that was kept under wraps. Garmadon just happened to never know because, well. He was never in Lloyd's life to even begin to know that?

"Luh Loyd? Why the silence? What's wrong?"

Lloyd cleared his throat, he asked his father to let him go immediately (hanging in the air with only two strong oni hands was not a fun experience. Especially if it's being watched by a lot of people working.)

"Yes, there used to be. But they've stopped, I guess?" Lloyd answered doubtfully. 

"Why did they-" Then Garmadon fell silent.

He fell silent, and slowly left without saying anything. That day, Lloyd continued his routine inspection together with the generals.

...

Day 170 / 365

Today was a normal school day, minus all the taunts and strange looks. It seemed like everyone was getting used to the reappearance of Lord Garmadon's son as well as the Green Ninja in their school life. Whatever they thought, they at least tried to keep it to themselves. And Lloyd was quite thankful for that decision.

He was just glad his teammates were understanding enough to accompany him. Although he was sure they did it more out of pity than anything else.

As long as they did not show it directly in front of him, he would accept that. He accepted all the kindness he could get, he didn't want to waste it.

Then, when they were about to go home. Someone stopped them in their tracks. Lloyd was certain that there were no more people who still approached him just to apologize or state that they idolized him. He didn't care about any of that, he didn't even try to hide it.

But in front of him now was Brad Tudabone standing with a beautifully arranged bouquet of flowers. Lloyd somehow wanted to run away. But before he could, Brad was already laughing and holding him back.

"Whoops, I just wanted to give them to you, didn't mean anything by it, really!" Who would believe such a lie? Lloyd looked at him with a clear frown on his forehead. 

"Chen, you know him right?" 

Lloyd nodded, but was still just as confused anyway on what that has to do with anything.

"Chen Tudabone, my foster brother. I'm sure he gave you a lot of trouble at school." Brad said, hands still fidgeting with the bouquet of flowers he was holding. Remembering that Lloyd still refused to accept it. "He's a coward, he says he hates you but his obsession to annoy you is more consistent than an artist on his work. And in my opinion, you should know why."

"I don't need a reason not to forgive him." Lloyd said, he had already turned around when Brad laughed back at him.

"Pfttt- Hahaha! You're right!" He said honestly, making Lloyd stop and turn around. His face now showed even more astonishment than before. But Brad didn't care, he continued. "Then, how about a story, maybe you can use it to threaten him next time?"

Until the end of the story, Lloyd said nothing. When he returned, his hand was holding a bouquet of flowers. Kai and Nya asked, but he didn't know what to tell them other than... this is just a thank you gift .

...

Day 171 / 365

...Actually, Lloyd wanted to say that he was surprised. But on the other hand he was also getting used to the strange reactions that the generals and his father had whenever he came. Today was one of those days where he was very confused as to whether he should be surprised or whether he should expect it.

Garmadon was seen having a very serious discussion with four generals, Lloyd recognized them as the generals he usually discussed with whenever he was in a serious but also very unimportant modus operandi. So Lloyd did not bother to look at them today even though they were doing something random again just to overcome the boredom of the dark lord.

The strange thing of course happened when they realized his arrival and started to surround him from all directions.

"Who is he!"

"That flower, did you go out with him now?"

"You shouldn't take people at face value before getting to know them, Luh Loyd. You're too young! I knew your mother when I was 150 years old!"

Lloyd raised both hands in a surrender pose, "Whoah, slow down. What are you talking about? Going out with who, what flowers?"

"The flowers you received yesterday at school! What else could it be!" Garmadon replied impatiently, a pair of dark hands squeezing Lloyd's left and right shoulders. "So did you accept his love or not? It could be that he's just lying to you and just wants fame as Green Ninja's boyfriend or something stupid like that!"

"...Huh?"

...After a long explanation that took all day at the project. Garmadon still looked suspicious, and Lloyd was too tired to explain that he only received thank you flowers from Brad Tudabone.

...

Day 178 / 365

It would be a lie if Lloyd said he wasn't nervous today. 

"Lloyd, so every week you come to whatever project Garmadon is doing?" Beside him, his mother opened the conversation casually. The smile was still warm on her lips and her hands carried their lunch. 

His mother had long urged him to come along to see how Lloyd supervised his father's projects. And Lloyd had tried hard to keep resisting. But six months had passed and Koko was a woman who held her ground very firmly. Huh, maybe this was exactly the reason why she and Garmadon were together at some point. Lloyd couldn't help but think so.

Still, he was very worried about his mother's response when she saw the strange behavior that his father was bound to do. He was not prepared to see the two of them fighting in front of him.

"Luh Loyd! You've finally come. Listen, so I'm telling the general-" Garmadon walked up and started babbling, Lloyd saw his mother looking at him questioningly. He just replied with a knowing smile and scratched his head.

Garmadon was finally in front of them, his eyes then met Koko's...

And he almost fell over when he realized who was in front of him.

"O-oh! H-hi, Koks- I-I didn't know there was a family gathering today-?"

...

Day 185 / 365

Mom started coming more often, but Lloyd could notice how she didn't look Garmadon in the eye. Or how she only brought lunch for herself and Lloyd. 

Even if Garmadon looked like he wanted to protest, he strangely didn't say anything.

...

Day 192 / 365

If Kai and Garmadon dynamic was that they look like they were skinning each other with their eyes, then Morro and Garmadon's dynamic apparently would be hurling insults out of nowhere and sniping at each other. Lloyd didn't know whether he should defend one of them or decide that they were both beyond saving.

"It must take a long time to cut your nails if you have four hands."

"Gasp-! On the contrary! Why would any Oni cut nails?" Garmadon began to explain how his nails were one of the valuable assets that could help him during a fierce battle. Morro deliberately yawned widely in the middle of the explanation. It made the blood boil for the Oni and if Lloyd had not cleared his throat to stop them, they might have started fighting by now.

Lloyd reminded himself not to let Kai and Morro come together to accompany him and Garmadon or the fight would get even wilder.

...

Day 197 / 365

Lloyd raised an eyebrow, his hand scratching the back of his neck in confusion. In front of him was now a Chen who held out a bouquet of flowers to him. 

"...I can't accept this." Lloyd said honestly. Just one bouquet from Brad had made it difficult for him to explain to his entire team, his mother, Morro, Uncle Wu, and Garmadon. It was hard to get the Oni to finish questioning him and force him to stop trying to sneak into his school to find out. He didn't need another bouquet of trouble.

"You can throw it away afterward, I won't protest if you do." 

Chen looked at him with a serious gaze that... clearly hid fear. Lloyd tried to figure out what that fear meant. 

If any of them were going to hurt the other, it would not be Lloyd.

"Brad's teaching you gardening now?" Lloyd chose to divert the attention with a question.

Chen looked down and nodded, his hand stroking his arm that was still holding the bouquet of flowers. But he still did not give up on giving Lloyd the bouquet.

"If your name is Chen Chen and you were opened for adoption from the age of five, you will slowly realize that your father might not be a good person." Chen began, Lloyd listening. The school hallway after school was very quiet, so Lloyd could clearly feel the silence that began to emerge when Chen was too hesitant to continue his explanation.

"I'm too afraid of people starting to know that my father doesn't want me, or that he's not a good person. Then, suddenly you, the son of Lord Garmadon appears and becomes the main topic of the entire school."

"So if I continue to be the center of attention, no one will worry about you being the son of another villain. Is that so?"

"Exactly." Chen replied, a painful smile on his face. But Lloyd did not try to comment on it. Chen did not need consolation, not from him. "Then I realized, no matter how much hate we threw at you, you still bravely stepped forward and became a Green Ninja."

"I never became a Green Ninja to save anyone." Lloyd argued. He just wanted to stop Garmadon, this was not a heroic story like people talked about. This was a story about a broken family.

"But you still saved us." Chen said. His body approached and his hand began to push the bouquet of flowers at Lloyd. Forcing him to accept.

"Thank you, Lloyd."

...

Chapter Text

Day 199 / 365

As he expected, another bouquet of trouble arrived when Lloyd arrived at the new construction project Garmadon was working on.

The oni was waiting for him with both pairs of arms folded and his rarely used serious face. Lloyd had already guessed what his father was going to say, so he started before the oni could speak.

"Chen doesn't like me, he just gave me flowers to thank me. Really, there's nothing between us."

Garmadon raised his eyebrows, behind him now several generals were waiting for his signal. Garmadon finally raised his hand. They then dispersed with a disappointed tone, Lloyd was even more confused.

"...What were you planning to do?"

"No, nothing."

...

Day 206 / 365

There was something that Lloyd realized very slowly after months of forcing his father to take on this project. 

He felt that other than the people he passed on the street, they had not started looking at him with hatred. Some of them, such as Mothers Doomstay and Skylor Chen the new owner of Chen's Noodles even greeted him in public. This made Lloyd quite embarrassed and happy at the same time.

He just hoped they wouldn't get into trouble because of the treatment they gave him. Because if they did, he would have to start avoiding them.

Today, the project he was visiting had a very... peculiar owner. If Lloyd tried to be polite. His name was Dareth, he was the owner of a dojo but also a Boba Tea shop who claimed to be the champion of various martial arts competitions. The thing is, Lloyd could tell that his trophies were all fake even from a distance, but he didn't try to comment.

"Hey, these are all fake!" ... But of course Garmadon just had to say it.

"Hey! If they're fake, why are they the only thing that survived your attack?" Dareth replied fiercely. Garmadon seemed to think about his words thoroughly.

Somehow there was a new respect he had for Dareth after that brief conversation. But even so, it only lasted for a moment. Because Dareth instead immediately looked at him with a look that clearly showed 'I've been Green Ninja's #1 fan since day one' and quickly grasped his hand tightly, almost pulling it away.

"Hey, hey, Lloyd. Do you think you and your friends might need a new place to train? My dojo will always be open for you guys, uh, when she's finished!"

"Uh, yeah, I can bring my team members here sometime. M-maybe, if you don't mind."

"Why do you always say that we're your team members?" Kai, who had come out of nowhere, suddenly asked. Lloyd could see Nya and Jay trying to pull him and tell him to shut up. But Kai brushed off their hands.

And, oh... He looked... angry? Sad?

"Are we not your friends Lloyd? Don't you think so?"

Lloyd, very smartly, ran away from the confrontation.

...

Day 213 / 365

"So... None of the color coded ninjas came today? Thank goodness." Garmadon commented, it seemed that the noisy atmosphere of the construction project did not protect him at all from how quiet the voice of his son who was now burying himself in the papers of reports and homework he was carrying. Garmadon twiddled his fingers, his expression like he was walking on a cliff with a thread.

"Hmm." That was all Lloyd said. His dull green eyes only saw Garmadon from the tip of his peripherals. He could see the oni frown and sigh, but he decided to ignore it.

"Hey." Garmadon began.

"Hey, hey~" one of his hands nudged Lloyd's shoulder, demanding his attention. Lloyd ignored him. At least his father should know what it was like to be ignored for a day, considering he did the same thing to Lloyd sixteen years ago.

"You know what a warlord must do when his vassals leave?" 

"..."

"You have to get up! Then drag them back into your army, then punish anyone who doubts you! Then-!"

"Shut up! I don't need your advice!" Lloyd finally shouted, his eyes glaring at the oni who immediately quickly retreated, all four hands fluttering in surrender.

...

Day 214 / 365

He couldn't believe he was trying to listen to his father's sketchy advice. Maybe not fully listen, because as he said it was dubious advice. But Lloyd strangely still understood what the oni was trying to tell him.

Willingly and inevitably, even though his entire breakfast was marching to his throat and forcing its way out. Even though his heart was racing and trying to escape from his chest. Lloyd knew that if he didn't try to explain it to them, he would be very sorry.

After all, he didn't have much time. He had set his life on a deadline, hadn't he?

No wonder his teammates had always called him suicidal.

He was currently waiting for their arrival at the Warehouse. The place where they usually gathered for training, he was pretty sure they would still gather here, at least, he hoped they would. Otherwise, he wasn't sure if he was brave enough to search for them all over Ninjago City.

Wait, he'll do it . Even if he has to run around Ninjago City. He shouldn't always be running.

Lloyd's heart leapt out of his chest when he heard the sound of several footsteps and faint conversations. And -oh . One of the footsteps was walking very fast and sounded very angry.

"We need to talk to Lloyd now!" Kai's voice trailed off, a frustrated growl buried in the young man's throat. Instantly Lloyd wondered if it's too late to try to sneak up to the ceiling and run away from this place.

"We have to give him time, Kai!" Nya pulled Kai along, the girl's footsteps quickly matching her brother's. Lloyd was still frozen on the couch, pretending that he was a... pillow that wasn't scared at all.

"Yes, and for how long? Did you see his face? He was... he was scared." Kai replied fiercely, but the end of his sentence sounded silent. Making all those who tried to chase him and hold him stiffen. "Look, we don't have much time left. That bomb, Lloyd still insists on wearing it. We have to-"

"..."

Lloyd could see everyone staring at him and froze, then Kai, who had been trying to convince them finally realized how silent his friends were. He directed his gaze towards the sofa that everyone was looking at. 

Lloyd and Kai locked eyes. Lloyd held back a curse, his hand going up to scratch the back of his neck.

Then everyone's gaze stopped on his neck .

Lloyd cursed to himself, great, now they'll be even sadder. "H-hi, y-you guys. I... doesn't seem like a good time, does it?"

Lloyd had never seen Kai run, jump, hug him aggressively and then hold him back from leaving so directly and obviously. He almost thought Kai would kill him because he made them all... sad.

"I'm sorry Lloyd." Kai whispered, Lloyd felt something tighten inside his heart. "I didn't go in to accuse you. I just... I wanted to know what you thought of us. Do you trust us?"

"I..." Lloyd looked down. Now the hug was off and all eyes were on him.

Lloyd felt he was the same bastard who destroyed their town. He ruined their feelings even though they always saved him and kept him company and-.

Ugh, he was the worst.

"... Afraid. Very afraid of you guys finding out my identity and hating me. So I... hid it. But now that you guys know and still... always come to see me, I'm not... I'm afraid that I'm expecting too much..."

"If I hoped that you guys were my friends... then I just... misunderstood. I'm not sure I can-"

One thing he learned as a child is that it's easier to lose something if you don't expect it at all, Lloyd took that lesson with a cracked heart and reassembled it many times until finally, he was too tired to reassemble it. So he decided to put it in a box and refused to open it to anyone.

These five people in front of him... If he opened the box again, would they accept it? Because if that fragile little heart was broken again this time, then Lloyd would never be able to fix it for good.

...

Day 220 / 365

"Oh Luh-Lloyd, you're back with these colorful ninjas huh." Garmadon smiled very widely. His hands were folded behind his back and his face was leaned forward. Lloyd pushed his father's face away in annoyance. But the smile did not escape his face.

"Shut it. Your advice is terrible. So I did something else."

...

Day 227 / 365

"Alright Lloyd, let your big brother Kai here teach you how to ice skate!" With his chest puffed out proudly, Lloyd could see Kai lace up his skates with a big grin and start leading him impatiently to the center of the rink. 

"B-big brother?!" Lloyd widened his eyes. Still not used to how his friends were starting to "adopt" him as their younger brother. But he felt bad if he had to refute their claims if they were calling him that fondly.

He didn't have time to finish his sentence before Garmadon stopped right behind Kai, greeting him with a surprise and making Kai slip flat on his face to the ground. The oni giggled at his apparently successful attack.

"Grrrhh- How dare you!!!" Kai got up and tried to chase after Garmadon. The only thing he managed to do was to get up, move, fall, get up, move, fall, and when he had done it several times. Kai finally stopped. Maybe his head was dizzy?

Nya swiftly approached and checked on her brother. Lloyd... could only look at them while standing still, he had already seen Kai fall for the umpteenth time and it made him even more hesitant to come closer.

Jay, who was left behind by Nya to help her brother-at first he and Nya were busy dancing romantically, Lloyd never knew that the two of them were so good at dancing, especially on ice. Was he missing something?- patted Lloyd's shoulder lightly. "Come on, Green Machine, let Big Bro Jay teach you how to ice skate."

In the distance, Lloyd could hear the screeching sounds of Cole slipping and Zane struggling to keep both of them balanced. Lloyd then took Jay's hand. 

...

Day 234 / 365

His eyebrows knitted together and a word hung on his lips when Lloyd saw a small team of one general and four soldiers at the front door of his apartment. But before Lloyd could try to figure out what was going on - had they been evicted and were now asking for protection? - his father quickly pushed his men aside and smiled broadly at him.

"Oh hey, Luh Lloyd. Are you home alone?"

Lloyd listened to the voice of his mother, Koko, calling him to breakfast. Instantly Garmadon quickly hid himself behind Lloyd. Though it was a bad idea because the oni's large body was not covered by him at all. But Lloyd didn't like it when he had to remind his father of that.

"Lloyd, who is that? You can invite your friends to join us for breakfast-" Koko walked towards the front door which was not far from the kitchen. So quickly she could see Garmadon smiling awkwardly and his five subordinates pretending not to see anything.

There was a terrible chill hanging in the air. Lloyd swallowed stiffly, he felt that he was the only one who could prevent a showdown this morning. 

"Uh, so... Garmadon, did you have breakfast?"

The strange day finally began with a family breakfast... plus five people clumsily eating pancakes and Garmadon almost stammering as he explained that- Surprise! He decided to do some renovations to their apartment. Who knows where the idea came from. But as long as Garmadon was talking, Mom kept giving him a scary look. Lloyd tried to focus on the pancake. 

...

Day 241 / 365

During the discussion about their house being renovated, Koko insisted that they should just stay with Wu. Much to the sudden courage rising in Garmadon, Lloyd noticed. Because the Oni quickly rebutted and said that living in a flying ship wasn't as cool as it sounded.

Koko quickly retorted, as it was just what his Mom had said. She and Lloyd had already lived on that ship before they were finally able to rent their own apartment. So of course Koko and Lloyd were used to living on a ship.

Ah yes, one more thing Garmadon didn't know about them. 

"Just stay with me in the volcano, I have two rooms for you guys. Really, why do you make it harder, Kooks?" Garmadon said in an almost pleading voice. Almost, because rather than pleading, Lloyd felt his voice sounded more whiny than it should. Mom looked at Garmadon with a hard stare.

Lloyd looked at them with... an inexplicable feeling.

It was already too late to be a family reunion. And he didn't know if staying together would be a good idea. Considering-

-He only had three months left to live , three months before Mom would be alone in their new apartment.

...

Day 243 / 365

Lloyd let his mom fix his shirt, this was the third time he had come to the NGTV News show to update them on the latest developments. Koko insisted on coming along. So, ahem, the three of them would be coming as the most destructive family in all of Ninjago. He could only hope that Koko wouldn't bash Garmadon in front of national television - like his mom used to do at their house.

And yes, they finally decided to temporarily live in the volcano. Turns out, it wasn't as bad as it sounded.

Back to the matter at hand, Lloyd just sighed as his father and mother gave each other a look that was... difficult. Lloyd couldn't even describe it. They then left together for the TV station that must have been looking forward to covering the biggest news they'd had all year.

...

During Lloyd's explanation of the development (because there was no way he could let Garmadon explain so passionately and start demonstrating everything by standing on the table.) He could see how Koko was smiling with... melancholy, his mother was looking at him with a look that was hard to describe. But the curve of her lips remained uplifted, and Lloyd was grateful for that. 

His father then impolitely began to cut off his explanation at several points and give his personal commentary on each place he had repaired ("That guy elbowed me in the waist and said something about how to be a real father. Then the weird guy at the bowling alley who either intentionally or unintentionally kept aiming the ball at my feet and saying something about stop bullying my kid, hey, is it my kid or his kid huh! Every parent has their own way!)

Koko knocked on the table... a little harder than she should have, not enough to break the property but effective enough to make the whole studio fall silent. The show's relaxing music was the only sound in the room for a few seconds before Garmadon decided to finally sit down and stop cutting Lloyd off in his explanation.

The show then ends with an exclusive interview for Koko as the mother of a Legendary Green Ninja. No one had told Lloyd this segment and now he was too embarrassed to stay in the studio and let his mom start telling a piece of the story of little Lloyd and his funny (embarrassing) behavior.

...

Day 248 / 365

Lloyd was sitting on the balcony of the volcano. From here, he could see the vast expanse of the blue ocean and a small section of Ninjago beach. The silence and peacefulness of the current situation was out of sync with how his mind had been racing the past few weeks.

Living with his parents was something he never imagined would happen. Of course he had dreamed of it, once, when he was just a nine-year-old kid pretending to be an evil warlord and thought if he could prove himself, then dad would come back to him and take him and mom along to get away from Ninjago. Or conquer Ninjago, his past self was fine with that. The kids in elementary school hated him anyway.

Then now, he found himself living with his parents. Going to school every morning and meeting up with friends (Big Brothers and Sister, Kai adamantly insisted on correcting), then spending the day like a typical school kid. There was no Chen making fun of him, no kids in the corridor looking at him viciously, nor people in the town whispering and insulting him because of his father.

Everything felt very... unreal, but also very real at the same time. The happiness that was slowly gathering in his heart made him warm, but also made him afraid to sleep at night. Terribly afraid that tomorrow he would wake up in the same bed in his small apartment, with Mom working late into the night to make ends meet, and the whole town hating him. 

But today, he woke up to a determined Mom cooking all of his favorite foods for breakfast- which was very... nice, but also quite stuffing. Koko packed his lunch and told him to hurry to school. But Lloyd stayed on the balcony of his room with his bag slung over his shoulder and lunch in hand.

Oh, he could see bits of red and blue moving quickly towards Volcano in what looked like a speedboat. 

Kai and Nya had come to pick him up today, insisting on it despite Lloyd trying to explain to them that it wasn't that far from Volcano to school. They had done this several times and every time they came... Lloyd tried hard to hide the fact that he was very happy.

"Are you guys really insisting on coming to pick me up like this for a whole week? Going back and forth from your house, to the volcano, and to school sounds like a hassle." As Lloyd greeted them, Kai was eating the brownies given to him by Koko, while Nya was casually picking up fruit at the table.

"You don't understand Lloyd, this week is very important!" That was all Kai said to him with a wide smile. His hand quickly grabbed the top of Lloyd's head and ruffled it, Lloyd protested, but didn't shake off Kai's hand even though Nya started to join in and ruffle his hair.

...

Day 255 / 365

Today was so busy, Lloyd felt that everyone he knew somehow interacted with him in some small way, from Mother's Doomsday (who gave him the latest issue of Starfarer again), to Brad and Chen (and the flowers they somehow always gave him every time Lloyd saw them), and Dareth (who gave him Puffy Potstickers), and even Morro who had been too busy with his coursework lately suddenly said that he and Uncle Wu would be coming over tonight to have dinner with them.

Huh, weird.

His friends are also too excited today, uh, they're always excited. But today they were more excited than usual. Jay suggested they should go to an arcade that happened to have some new games today and everyone agreed. Lloyd, too embarrassed to admit that he'd never played arcade games, could only comply and act like he wasn't intimidated by how many games there were. He'd only ever tried bowling and... a basketball-like game? His father had challenged him once when they were repairing this arcade and he lost badly. 

After losing embarrassingly at a few games, they finally realized that Lloyd had never actually been to an arcade before. They divided up the tasks and taught Lloyd the rules of the game. The thing that made him want to run away and hide his face in a hole was that people saw them and their friends (his older siblings) as very noisy and easily attracted attention.

The day went by very fast and tiring, but the smile didn't stop on his cheeks and Lloyd knew that he was very happy today. He didn't even give it a second thought when his friends decided for all of them to accompany Lloyd home. He was even late to notice the cheeky smiles that Jay threw at Cole, or Kai at Nya.

...

"Happy birthday, Lloyd!"

There was confetti everywhere, his mom and dad's smiles were the first thing he saw before he started to identify what was going on. A green cake with lots of strawberries and a candle in the center was presented to his face. Lloyd almost cried before he managed to blow out the flame on it. Putting a smile on his mother's face and hugging him tightly. Garmadon almost dropped the cake, almost.  

They sang, played silly games- making Morro groan in annoyance at the five persistent children who forced him to join in, Uncle Wu laughed and even played his flute at one point. His mother laughed happily, not a sad or worried frown or forced smile on her face. Just happiness, and Lloyd had never felt this happy and content .

They partied into the night and his friends went home, Mom insisting that they could clean up tomorrow. Lloyd agreed with a yawn.

...

On the dark balcony, filled with only the faintest glimmer of light from the shore. Lloyd looked back out at the vast, calm ocean. His hands began to reach for his neck, the same device still hugging his neck tightly. Lloyd took a breath.

His fingers opened the glass covering the red button, pressing it-

A large hand pushed his hand away from his neck. Lloyd turned around, looking at an oni with burning red eyes. There was lava playing on those fiery marbles, Lloyd looked at him blankly. A smile he could not describe appeared on his cheeks.

"What are you trying to do!" Garmadon exclaimed angrily, there was an angry rumble that came from the oni's growl. But there was no escaping it.

There was a gift box that had fallen on the floor. Oh, so even Garmadon remembered to give him something today? This day must have been perfect.

Lloyd could feel the fear starting to wash over his body. Heat began to gather in his eyes, the warm water droplets began to run down his cheeks and fall to the floor.

"Luh Lloyd-"

"-I'm scared." Lloyd cut the oni off quickly. He couldn't- he didn't want to listen to Garmadon's words of comfort. It was too intense, he couldn't let his father give him everything he had ever dreamed of today. 

"I'm too... happy. I'm scared. I-I'm so scared." His hand started rubbing his face, forcing his tears to stop flowing and making his cheeks red. "What if I'm too happy? I won't be ready to die afterwards. I-I have to do it now, before it's too late-I have to die."

Lloyd reached for his neck again, Garmadon held back his hand. 

They stayed like that for a long time. Until the oni decided to lead him back to the room and -awkwardly- patted his shoulder, trying to calm him down without saying a word.

When Lloyd started to feel sleepy, his father got up and walked away. 

"...Go to sleep, I won't tell Koko about this."

His crimson eyes blazed in the dark, the lava that had been rumbling now looked calm, but the fire there still flickered. Lloyd couldn't read what Garmadon's solemn gaze and expression meant at all. But as soon as the door to his room closed and the room became quiet again, he began to lose consciousness.

…

Day 262 / 365

As promised, Garmadon had not mentioned the incident to Koko at all. Or at least, Lloyd was pretty sure considering his mother hadn't once discussed anything that might lead to that incident. Her warm smile was the same as always and Lloyd did his best not to make his mother suspicious at all.

The strange thing, unfortunately, was how Garmadon treated both himself and his mother these days. He was a little more silent than usual and was always muttering something strange. It actually made Lloyd very suspicious, but he continued to work on his project well and even occasionally took them out for dinner together. 

Lloyd wanted to ask questions, wanted to protest and accuse Garmadon of something. But he couldn't do that if Garmadon had done nothing wrong. It would only make him look like a jerk who liked to find fault. Or a brat who didn't want to get along with his parents-

Even though those parents disappeared for 16 years and wouldn't admit it, and also still thought he was a toothless bald baby who could only whine. 

Lloyd massaged his forehead, letting out a weary sigh.

...

Day 269 / 365

"Lloyd Garmadon!" 

This was the first time in the past 9 months that someone had yelled at him in public. Huh. Lloyd felt a mixture of familiarity and strangeness at the same time. Familiar, because the previous year he still got this kind of treatment, public yelling, stares and hateful whispers. But at the same time, this shouting was very unfamiliar. 

The woman with the loud voice looked strange, there were two small braids on each side of her ears. Red claw-like tattoos on each cheek and a pair of round eyes that looked like melted chocolate in summer. Chin-length brown hair and a white hat with fox ears. Lloyd blinked, recalling. 

"I'm Akita, I wanted to ask you a question." Her words brought Lloyd's focus back to the events around him. Everyone was looking in their direction, while his friends-especially Kai-had been preparing to confront the small woman if Nya hadn't held back his hand. 

"Uh... Yeah, sure? Your complaint can also be written down and you can put it in the postbox near the beach. I guess I already told that to the news?"

"Why do you have to die?"

It was a question that was asked once again, as if it hadn't been haunting him recently. As if Gayle Gossip hadn't asked him at the beginning of the year, or himself last week when his hand started stroking his neck with raging thoughts.

"Look, I just moved in a few months ago. Ninjago... I like it here. But why- " 

Someone called out from a distance, running over and quickly taking Akita's arm. Holding her for a moment and begging her to stop and get out of there.

Lloyd stared at the young man who had suddenly arrived, they looked very similar- siblings? The girl tried to shake off her brother's arm and continued.

"-Why did you have to die? For whom? Why didn't any of them hold you back? I heard... I heard you were a hero? Green Ninja? Why did you have to fight your father-"

Everyone who was originally looking, listening intently then turned their heads in another direction. The ground, the sky, the buildings, anywhere but Lloyd and Akita. The woman persistently stared at him, waiting for him to answer.

"Why did you have to die, Lloyd?"

...

Day 276 / 365

A week after that public confrontation by a girl of the same age as him, Lloyd felt like the town of Ninjago had reverted back to a time when he was just Lloyd Garmadon, son of Evil Lord Garmadon. With rumors filling the streets as he passed by, glances avoiding his existence, and an air of unease hanging in the air.

He was unwanted. Lloyd could feel it again and a chill began to run up his spine and into his heart.

Lloyd ran.

...

"Hey, kid. Be careful, you might fall." 

Lloyd tried to ignore the voice.

Until the person decided to throw a book at him. Making his face suddenly look in the direction of the throw and catching it swiftly. 

"Lloyd, why are you running like that? Is something bothering you?"

Mothers Doomsday approached, the frown on his forehead clearly displayed. He approached as if Lloyd was a frightened stray cat. 

"Hey, what's wrong, kid?"

"Uh... I, just wanted to leave quickly." Lloyd forced a smile. Ah, he was so bad at lying. "It seems like people are uncomfortable with my presence... ever since... that girl-"

"Ah, of course." Mothers Doomsday cut off his sentence before he could finish explaining, for which Lloyd was grateful. 

"But Lloyd, they don't hate you anymore. That's not it." Green eyes quickly lifted from their gaze that had been fixed on the floor. Now he was staring at Mothers Doomsday who was looking around. His gaze was distant, far-reaching.

"A person's expression doesn't necessarily match what they think, maybe you think they hate you again. But you know yourself that you're also always trying to deceive people with your expressions. See now, you're pretending to smile in front of me." Lloyd gasped and immediately his face turned an awkward red. Mothers Doomsday continued.

"Guilt, young man. They hold guilt for you. And I don't think saying sorry to you is enough to repay what you did for us."

...

Day 283 / 365

Apparently, Akita's actions in the previous time succeeded in causing turmoil among some people in the city. As a result, they created an association that ended up protesting in front of the project undertaken by Garmadon. As if Lloyd's life problems weren't enough.

He... could understand the sentiment Akita was trying to echo. But he disagreed with the girl's way of... things. This was what gave him the most headaches.

Garmadon... strangely ignored them completely. No matter how many insults and diatribes he received, he still ignored them and continued his work. Strangely enough and much to make Akita even more furious, the reckless girl crossed the barrier set up in the construction area and lunged at the oni that was at least twice her size.

"Why didn't you say anything at all? Is this that insignificant to you?" The girl asked, fire burning in every syllable she spoke. But Garmadon just looked at her flatly. 

"Are you going to let your son die just like that?" The girl's tone rose once again, something Lloyd didn't even know could happen. "You monster!"

Hearing that, Garmadon smiled. 

"He's no longer a monster." Lloyd, unconsciously replied.

Garmadon looked at him with surprise, his hand easily brushing off Akita who was still in his way. Lava eyes looked at Lloyd in surprise, as if asking for an explanation. Lloyd averted his eyes.

"You're not a monster anymore. Unless you still want to be a monster, then we'll die together."

...

Day 290 / 365

Lloyd spent the week trying to convince Akita at school - since they were at the same school, of course. He seemed to be too busy trying to act like a typical school kid and... a little too busy enjoying the company of his friends to notice something as simple as that. Ah yes, he'd spent that week trying to convince Akita to stop allowing the association he'd built to bother Garmadon.

If she had done it because Garmadon had made a mistake, perhaps Lloyd would have been more lenient with this treatment. But he clearly knew this girl's intentions, the girl herself who quite bluntly shouted out her thoughts in front of Lloyd.

"I don't understand. Really." Akita looked at him sharply, Lloyd looked back equally sharply. Green and Caramel Brown combined and Akita's gaze softened, she sighed.

"How long have you been living like this, Lloyd?" Akita asked, her tone challenging. But Lloyd had gotten to know this girl over the course of a few days of arguing, the tough demeanor and sharp words were just the surface of this girl. A difficult life was a problem that many children his age had, in fact, Lloyd could only try to appreciate the empathy that this girl possessed. She was a strong and brave person, Lloyd could see that.

"The total? 16, so far. Why?"

The girl squinted again, Lloyd grimaced. Did the casual tone he used fail to break the ice? Ugh, why was he so bad with social interactions.

"16 years of being hated for things you didn't do... You still protect them too despite it?"

Lloyd looked away, he hated when people started talking to him in such a cautious tone, as if he was a kitten on the outskirts of a rainy street. He wasn't, and he wasn't fragile. 

"I'm not going to force people to apologize to you, that doesn't sound like it would solve anything." Akita suddenly said after the silence hung in the air. Lloyd looked back at her confused. 

"Promise to let people make up for their mistakes to you Lloyd. If you can promise us that, then I'll stop protesting Garmadon."

...

Day 297 / 365

After the situation calmed down, Lloyd found himself back at a restaurant in the city. From the corner of his green eyes, he could see his mother enjoying the ambience of the restaurant, a smile draped across her cheeks and Lloyd smiled too.

If he were to liken it, then his mother was a solid rock. Despite the many knocks that were thrown at them, she stood strong and rose up. She always supported Lloyd even though he always managed to mess up their lives. Whether it was by being a brat and imitating his father-in the hope that they would finally be recognized by the oni and brought along-or when he finally admitted that he was a Green Ninja. 

Though the latter certainly broke her mother's heart more than anything. Koko had stayed by his side and supported him. Even now, her mother was steadfastly glaring at her father, which Lloyd actually realized was her mother trying to be angry for him.

He could see how those light brown eyes sometimes softened when Garmadon wasn't paying attention. Lloyd knew that his mother still had feelings for his father. Even after all the things the oni had done, his mother still found in her heart a lingering affection for the man. 

Lloyd could only hope that when he left, Mom would stop lying to him. 

...

Day 304 / 365

Mom couldn't come this week, something about trying to find a new job. Lloyd quickly agreed and let his mom get back to the business of paperwork and making sure she looked presentable and rushed to leave. He knew that working the three part-time jobs that his mother had been doing was not very healthy to do. Also, he knew that his mother would be bored if she just stayed at home since they decided to live in Garmadon volcano TEMPORARILY (for some reason she always emphasized the word temporarily, so Lloyd followed suit).

This time, mom said she would have the opportunity to work full-time as a martial arts instructor at the military academy school. Lloyd was actually quite worried to hear that. But seeing how his mother's face lit up and excitedly said that she would be happy to teach children to beat up dangerous people, Lloyd became more worried about the people his mother considered dangerous. Because Garmadon visibly shuddered when Koko said that cheerfully.

After hugging his mother briefly, Lloyd then walked together with Garmadon to the new restaurant that his father had repaired. The Oni proudly waved the meal ticket he received in Lloyd's face. As if the ex-evil warlord was not the main reason why the restaurant had been closed and destroyed before. Lloyd rolled his eyes, but he kept walking after the oni. 

...

A waitress smiled briefly at him after writing down their food. Lloyd tried to smile back-really, he tried, it just seemed difficult to do so if he had never socialized before with a stranger for 16 (-17) years of his life. So what came out of his lips was a grimace. But the waitress didn't seem to mind. He even accepted an extra pudding, on the house- the young man said with a smile. 

Lloyd accepted his food, trying to enjoy the calm atmosphere of the restaurant with the music hanging in the air. His father, as usual, was trying to be annoying by commenting on all the food on the table. Even though he ordered it himself. 

"They've been kind enough to let us come here, Garmadon. Let's at least enjoy the food." Their food is also very good, Lloyd thought. While Garmadon looked at him with his fiery eyes that were, well, burning red as usual.

Or... not as usual? Because the oni was watching him intently. As if waiting for something to happen.

"What are you-" Lloyd tried to ask, but the green eyes blurred and there seemed to be thousands of fireflies sweeping across his vision.

Garmadon put something in his food. Lloyd was too sleepy to curse.

It was all his fault, he shouldn't have fallen for this family game.

...

Chapter Text

(Day 11)

"Green." That voice, Red. Kai Smith. The young man hugged him tightly, his voice tight. 

  "Lloyd."

...

...

...

Day 311 / 365

It happened a week ago. Lloyd sighed when he saw the view of the ocean far below, from the corner of The Bounty, the new temporary place that his mother and he lived in, Lloyd could see the volcano puffing smoke. 

There was an unfamiliar feeling that filled his heart looking at that place, a feeling that was different from how he usually felt about that place. Because before, the only thing that gathered in his mind was hate, like a dagger that stabbed him slowly and surely, cold and stinging and-

Rejection from his father was something Lloyd had believed his whole life. And now, it had turned into an acceptance that was... confusing. Then living together in the volcano made him...

Happy. Very happy.

Then last week, lying in a white room and various machines. Lloyd felt something invade his neck. Some of his father's workers that Lloyd rarely saw, as they were in the science and development department. They were doing something to him.

Lloyd saw his father standing at the end of the room, eyes lava red and fiery. But there was only one thing swirling in his mind.

The traitor. Again, the man betrayed him. He would also betray mom, and Ninjago, and his friends- then-

Then Lloyd closed his eyes as the sound of an explosion occurred outside. He could hear his mom screaming, or maybe Kai, or maybe Nya. Or maybe they all finally came to his rescue.

Today, Lloyd spent his time contemplating and looking at the ocean. His Mom forbade Garmadon to come and refused all explanations. Lloyd... didn't know what to do.

...

Day 319 / 365

"You just have to wait a little longer for my death, you know?"

Staying silent for long periods of time was not his forte, so of course when Garmadon insisted on coming despite how many times his mother yelled, shooed, and hit him - it finally made Lloyd decide to come forward and say what he had been thinking all week.

"And why should I wait for your death?" Garmadon growled with an expression that was hard to read, his hand tried to reach out, but Koko swiftly swatted away Garmadon's hand. His mother then returned to mediate between them, Lloyd trying to restrain his mother. 

"So, what did you do that for?" Lloyd didn't need to explain what it was. Because they should all know what he meant. For a few seconds, only silence filled the air. Garmadon kept looking at him furiously, Lloyd kept looking at him demandingly.

"Is it strange that I don't want my son to die?" Garmadon finally spoke up, his tone harsh and sounding frustrated. Considering that his son and ex-wife were glaring at him. But apparently Garmadon didn't care about that, because instantly Lloyd could feel the oni pulling him suddenly and-

-Hugged him. Two pairs of dark hands that were surprisingly warm... 

"I'm not trying to remove the bomb so I can take control of the city again, that's not it. I meant it." 

"Can you trust me for just this one thing?"

...

Day 326 / 365

If 16 years made him give up on believing that his father accepted him, then what did Garmadon think Lloyd would do when he heard him say those things?

Things that 10-year-old Lloyd might have wanted in his life, but the long years that followed made him change his mind. 

This past year should not be enough to make up for everything. At least, that's what Lloyd thought.

...

Day 333 / 365

Lloyd still ignored the oni even though the dark lord insisted on coming. 

Sometimes he would knock and call out, or occasionally bring food and would wait while pretending to eat the food he brought out loudly. Lloyd ignored him. He didn't want to see Garmadon.

Maybe he was angry, or maybe he was sad. Maybe he was afraid.

If this was another trick of his father's, if he just wanted to make Lloyd's last months a big prank as revenge for what he had demanded all year. Lloyd... didn't know how he would feel if that was the truth.

All he knew was that he was scared. So he refused to open the door.

...

Day 340 / 365

That day Lloyd opened his morning with a furious muttering Morro and an oni who had managed to get into The Bounty's living room. 

Lloyd gave Morro a glare, traitor, he thought bitterly. 

You know I can read that look of yours, right? Morro looked at him flatly.

Precisely because of that! Lloyd shot back.

"Why?" Lloyd finally spoke after a long silence. At least, long for people who didn't understand the internal debate he was having with his cousin. Morro didn't need any other context to understand the direction of the question Lloyd was asking. Also, he was not one for small talk.

"I asked him to take you to the laboratory." Morro confessed, Garmadon who heard him quickly looked at him in surprise. 

"Didn't you say-!" The oni said.

"It's too late to keep it a secret, and this stubborn fool is clearly not going to listen if we don't force him to." Morro replied to Garmadon fiercely, Lloyd silently wondered when they had gotten this close. There was something... hot in his solar plexus.

Envy.

But Lloyd ignored it.

"Tsk, I think it's time for everyone here to know what's going on." Morro girded his loins and looked at the father and son duo with resentment, but that gaze softened in an instant when Morro looked at him.

"So, first things first. I'm the one who designed the bombs around your necks." Garmadon looked at Morro fiercely. Morro was not affected at all and continued.

"I designed one bomb, and it was to kill you, Uncle. But Lloyd," Morro fixed him with a very sinister dark gaze, making Lloyd quickly look down, "apparently modified it and made two. For a much different purpose than we originally promised."

"Since he betrayed me, I retaliated by giving Garmadon the bomb design that I made and modified again. So, my question now is: Did you manage to modify the bomb around his neck?"

Morro looked at Garmadon this time. It was Lloyd's turn to stare at the two people in front of him in disbelief.

"You guys... since when- " Lloyd could not continue his question.

"Hmm? From... the very beginning since you lied to me, why? Want to protest?" Morro answered him fiercely. Lloyd could not refute his words.

"I managed to replace it, but you yourself said the effect could not be confirmed?" Garmadon finally answered after the two young men in front of him finally fell silent. The two finally looked back at the warlord.

"Yes, because this moron gave instructions to activate the bomb as soon as it was pressed or released. We can't be sure of the outcome." Morro tapped Lloyd's forehead, which he quickly brushed off before his forehead turned red.

"Now that this whole misunderstanding is over, can you guys stop avoiding each other and... I don't know? Maybe get back to talking?"

"Look, I've done everything I can. Can you guys do everything you can too so that neither of us has any regrets later?"

...

Day 347 / 365

Reconciling with his father... somehow easier than Lloyd realized.

Okay, it was true that the early days were awkward and they were almost too scared to talk to each other. He didn't even think that the bulky oni with two pairs of hands and hot lava eyes could be nervous, as in, nervous other than when dealing with his mother.

Speaking of his mother, after Koko found out that Garmadon was actually trying to save him, his mother began to warm up to the oni. She was no longer looking at the oni with that hard-to-express glare, nor deliberately ignoring it like his mom always did before.

The three of them, him, his mother, and Garmadon were once a complete family. Deep down, Lloyd had always felt that he was the reason why his family was separated. Either because he was born human, or because he was actually unwanted.

Then one time, he accidentally said it in front of the oni. Maybe he was just curious, maybe he just wanted reassurance since they were now in the current position. Lloyd had nothing else he was afraid to let go of. The bomb was still in place, modified or not, no one would know the outcome.

"You..." Garmadon was at a loss for words, which somehow happened a lot lately when Lloyd would ask questions. This was their new dynamic: Lloyd would ask questions he had been thinking about, and Garmadon would have trouble answering. Spending half his time looking at Lloyd with a look that was... very difficult to understand.

"Knowing you for a year has made me think a lot." The oni said softly, "There are a lot of things I've missed because I've been, uh, busy?" Lloyd looked at him flatly. Garmadon only gave him a half smile, huh, weird .

"But Lloyd, I can be sure of one thing."

"... What... is that?"

"I'm proud of you. Lloyd Garmadon, despite your attempts to stop me. I'm very proud of you."

...

Day 354 / 365

After giving it a lot of thought, Lloyd found himself back at the volcano. 

...

Day 359 / 365

"What if you don't press it at all?"

Lloyd raised both eyebrows (because he couldn't raise one eyebrow, tsk) in confusion, in front of him were Kai and Garmadon (Hm. Strange .) who were looking at him expectantly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I mean, what if you don't press the activate button on your neck bomb at all? You know, since this Oni won't terrorize our city anymore?"

Kai looked at Garmadon and gave him a quick elbow to the waist, while the oni immediately nodded enthusiastically. This rare camaraderie actually made him want to chuckle softly, but Lloyd didn't want the two of them to start arguing when he made them realize the strangeness of what was happening now.

Ah, and he didn't really want to answer their questions either. But they were looking at him hopefully and he didn't want to give them false hope.

They were in denial, and Lloyd didn't want it to cause them more pain later.

"This bomb... will activate itself when it reaches a year, even if I don't press it. Honestly, the function of this button is just so that I can decide for myself the second I die instead of waiting around with... uneasiness?"

...

Day 360 / 365

With the day approaching, Lloyd felt a drastic change in the town every time he and his friends decided to go out. Lloyd actually tried to come to school as usual, but this week the school was closed. The reason they gave was... very suspicious, but he had no heart to question them about their decision. After all, he was actually happy to have more free time to enjoy his last days with his friends.

Now, if only Kai could stop looking like he was about to cry every time they exchanged glances. Maybe things would go a little easier.

They had been invited by the arcade owner the other day to visit. Lloyd couldn't possibly refuse their offer to try other games he'd never tried, and when they refused to accept his fee. Akita's words came back to his mind.

When they try to make amends, accept it, Lloyd.

...

Day 361 / 365

Later, his friends insisted on staying overnight. Even if they have to cram into a guest room with a view of hot lava flowing through the glass. Lloyd stiffly had to admit that he had -of course- never had friends over and he... didn't know what to do for them when they were staying at his house. He didn't want to be a bad host.

Jay answered his confession with a pillow to the face. 

Then Cole, swiftly, as if he and Jay could read each other's minds, picked up another pillow and started using it as a shield. 

"You need to make a fort, Lloyd. Or we'll be quickly bombarded with pillows by Jay and Nya." Lloyd glanced at the two people who were gathering the pillows, Zane joined them. So Kai quickly ran towards Lloyd and Cole for cover. 

They then threw pillows at each other and collected pillows as ammunition, while Cole, with his burly body, came forward to block Zane whose throw was very accurate- they ended up dueling each other with pillows as if they were dueling swords. The crafty Jay started tying the ends of the blankets to the two sofas in the living room, using them as a fortress and making it difficult for Lloyd and Kai to see the direction of his throws.

Kai decided to run and jumped through the blanket, while Lloyd who knew that Kai was unlikely to attack Nya decided to be Nya's sparring partner who started throwing pillows towards his face, making it difficult for him to see what the girl was planning.

"...You'll pay for waking me up at this hour." 

Lloyd heard a familiar voice from behind him and a pillow instantly hit his face when he turned around to look for the source of the sound.

Morro, who had apparently woken up, decided to join them. He brought along Uncle Wu and Garmadon (both of whom had also ominously brought pillows and blankets) who were already preparing to take on the six noisy youngsters.

When Koko woke up to the noise getting out of hand, they finally decided to go to bed as Jay had already started tossing limply and Kai was already floundering on the sofa.

Certainly not because Lloyd yawned and slipped on the blanket. He could still play, really.

...

Day 362 / 365

It was a beautiful day, and there was nothing more important to do than to have a picnic in the city park.

Or so Zane had said when that morning the young man who spoke like a robot -or was he? - arrived with Kai and Nya carrying a basket filled with food and a rug for the picnic.

"Have you ever been on a picnic, Lloyd?" Kai asked cautiously, a smile hanging on his cheeks hesitantly. Lloyd just shrugged.

"No, but who doesn't know about picnics?" He replied casually.

"You like what you know about picnics?" This time it was Nya who asked, her hand draped over her brother's shoulder. Of course the two of them always made sure Lloyd had or hadn't done something, somehow it had become a new habit they had picked up since the last time Lloyd was too stubborn to admit he had never been to the arcade and too embarrassed to admit it.

After they told Koko about their plan, her mom immediately got excited and got ready. Lloyd couldn't hide the smile and sigh of relief he was somehow holding back. What was he thinking? Of course his mother wanted to spend time with him.

It was Garmadon who was hard to convince. At least, that's what Lloyd thought.

...

But since when has he been right about anything?

Lloyd found himself in the park surrounded by his entire family. A sandwich in hand and orange juice on the side. Garmadon was arguing with Kai about a game of catch, something about whether it was normal to use time bombs to play catch. But when they realized Lloyd was watching them, the two people (-oni) immediately shut up. 

Huh, they should stop looking worriedly at his neck like that, it was meaningless anyway.

Okay, maybe it did mean something. Maybe they were that worried...

Lloyd just wasn't used to being worried that much... other than by his mother, that is.

"Stop looking like such a sad bunny." Morro threw a light ball right at his face. Lloyd was too late to notice the projectile before it hit him. He squealed in protest.

"I'm not a rabbit and I'm not sad!" His protest was quick.

"Then what?" Morro stood as if he were a tall building blocking the sunlight from his face, Lloyd winced in distaste.

"Just thinking! And what I'm thinking about is none of your business!" Lloyd retorted fiercely.

"Oh good, because I need teammates to beat those brats." Moro pointed at Kai, Cole and Jay who had already formed a team. While Zane was preparing... the scoreboard?

Behind Morro, Nya smiled at him. Uh oh, Nya is going to hit him if they lose.

"Alright, let's beat them!"

Lloyd may or may not have cheated a bit and used his still not fully developed body (he wasn't short!) to sneak out of their sight and make a surprise attack. Garmadon shouted and praised him, while Koko and Uncle Wu shook their heads. The smile did not fade even from his face until the afternoon sun began to set.

...

Day 363 / 365

They asked Dareth for a photo that day. Lloyd didn't understand why the place and atmosphere of taking photos had to be so important. Or why they had to pretend so many times that they didn't notice the camera at all.

But when he saw the results, the smiles of his mother, or his friends, how the pull of their lips looked so real and the sunlight washed over their faces brightly. Lloyd realized something.

He wanted them to always look like that, and he wanted to... remember them that way. 

Lloyd wished the pictures they kept of him were like that too. Smiling and laughing, no threats coming, no evil father, no hateful childhood, no whole town avoiding him. 

Just Lloyd Garmadon laughing at the funny antics of his friend, smiling in his mother's arms. A happy Lloyd Garmadon. A year full of happiness.

...

Day 364 / 365

Today was very peaceful. Whether it was an agreement or they were just a bit too tired to go out, Lloyd certainly appreciated that they weren't necessarily trying to ask him to go out or pretend that they could keep smiling and laughing.

Because to be honest, Lloyd was a little... scared.

Maybe a little more than scared. But he was trying hard not to show it. The last thing he should do was make them more worried than they already were. If he made them aware of this fear that was slowly consuming him, they would be even more... desperate to stop him.

Morro looked at him incessantly today, Lloyd trying to stare intently at his cousin to ask him to stop.

But of course, how could he do that when he clearly knew that his cousin only cared about him?

He just hoped he didn't cry when he looked at his mother.

...

After gathering with his family, they thankfully left him to calm down alone in his room. So Lloyd spent the night staring back into the dark ocean. A neatly wrapped box was clutched in his hand, waiting to be opened. Lloyd had left it under the bed for a while, and this was probably his last chance to find out what was inside.

"You haven't opened it yet?"

Lloyd turned around and found the person who had given him this neatly wrapped box that had been slightly dented. His father stood at the door, as if afraid that if he came any closer Lloyd would jump off the balcony and leave. Lloyd shook his head, his hand again lifting the box he was still holding, stroking it lightly.

"I'll open it now." He said honestly, Garmadon slowly approached. While Lloyd began to pull the ribbon and open the first birthday present he got after sixteen years from his father.

A dagger shone in the moonlight, an engraved dragon and the name "Garmadon" emblazoned on the blade.

Lloyd would probably throw it into the sea if he opened it the first time he received this blade, but today, he just smiled and observed the engraving intently. "Pretty narcissistic, huh. It fits your style perfectly."

His father just scratched his neck and stared in the other direction. Hmm. This was a very non-Garmadon reaction, and it was strange. 

"That was the first dagger I received from my father." He said. Lloyd looked at him with wide green eyes. 

"...O-oh." That was the only reaction he could give. 

"I know that giving you a weapon... would probably feel very... inappropriate. Considering we...." Garmadon was silent for a long time, Lloyd could see that his father was trying hard to find a good explanation. But then he shook his head, "You may not be a conqueror like me. But you are still a warrior."

"You are an honorable warrior, you protect Ninjago well. I hope this dagger can help you. That's why I gave it to you."

...

Day 365 / 365

Lloyd knew that everyone would try to hold him back today. Especially since the incident the other day involving sleeping pills and his father's entire science and technology team. Or the glare Morro had thrown at his neck. Everyone was very tense today, and Lloyd would be lying if he said he didn't feel that feeling at all.

But not fulfilling his promise would be the same as lying, and he couldn't deny the one thing that made his father finally go from an evil warlord to... now. A father.

Perhaps because it was the last day of his life, it made him become more emotional and admit that Garmadon was his father. He wanted the oni to know.

They were all now in the volcano house, even though the apartment was actually finished, Lloyd didn't want the first memory the house had for his mother to be that her son died there the day they moved in. Besides, the volcano house was bigger, so he could invite his friends, Uncle Wu, and Morro, and Akita, and Mothers Doomsday, and Dareth, and-

Lloyd didn't realize when people started to fill his lonely life, but he could see smiles on their lips, maybe, if only some of them (his mother, and of course Kai-) had teary eyes.

But he did not want this day to drag on and make him... even more afraid to fulfill his promise. So he, with a bold smile that could naturally appear on his lips, thanks to the years of being a Green Ninja, returned to show his confident face one last time.

"Thank you everyone... I'm sorry that I have to end it like this, Mom." Lloyd looked at his mother, Koko was already crying even when he hadn't started talking, Kai next to her was busy rubbing his eyes and being soothed by Nya.

"Kai, Nya, Zane, Jay, and Cole. I'm sorry that I always trouble you guys. Thank you for being my friends."

"-Brothers and Sister." Kai, with a somewhat strangled voice, kept correcting his sentence with a tone as if to say he was used to correcting Lloyd. Lloyd just smiled and nodded. 

He looked at Morro and Uncle Wu in silence. Silence was how they communicated, and again, whatever he said right now would easily be bent by Morro into something wrong and to be honest, Lloyd tried to avoid it. Uncle Wu nodded in understanding, while Morro scowled and turned his face away in annoyance. But he didn't voice any protest, and Lloyd took that as understanding enough.

After giving a brief greeting to Akita, Mothers Doomsday, and Dareth, Lloyd looked at the last person he wanted to give his final greeting to. 

Garmadon seemed to understand, but his father was trying to look at someone other than him. Lloyd might know the reason, he might not. But for sure, he knew very well the one word that would definitely make his father want to see him right now.

"Dad."

The one word that Lloyd had never spoken directly, at least, directly to the person he was currently addressing. Garmadon meanwhile, as per his prediction automatically looked at him in disbelief.

"You... called me Dad?" An incredulous tone hanging over his sentence, Lloyd nodded in agreement.

"I guess... yes. I call you Dad. You are my father." Lloyd laughed softly, trying to lighten the somehow constrained atmosphere. A little too suffocating. "You've changed, I can hardly believe it."

Garmadon was silent and looked at him deeply. 

"Dad, you're not a monster. You never were a monster, stop acting like you can only do evil. Maybe mom will accept you back if you stay the way you are now." Lloyd smiled at his mother.

"Wait, Lloyd-"

Lloyd opened the shield on the button around his neck. His hand felt the red button before looking around the room.

[Bam-!]

…

…

…

…

…

…

Day ???

"Well, look who finally decided to join the living."

He could hear a male voice that sounded annoyed, and perhaps tired. Lloyd blinked his eyes a few times, trying to get used to the lights shining on his face. His gaze then fell on his cousin's black hair that was decorated with a green streak on one side. 

Morro pointed at him with a flat face as if he was scolding an unruly dog, "Don't speak, you damaged your vocal cords pretty badly. and your throat, and your head, and actually most of your chest but I don't understand what the doctor explained to us. Just don't try to talk yet."

Lloyd nodded, Morro sighed and sat back in his chair. His hands peeled a red apple that had been neglected on the table. Lloyd saw Morro start peeling the apple in the shape of a rabbit and raised his eyebrows.

Morro had never peeled an apple in the shape of a rabbit, not when he was sick, not when he came in the middle of the night with a blood-soaked stomach and gasping for breath, certainly Lloyd didn't think he would do it now.

Then the young man ate his piece of apple, not offering Lloyd any.

"Why, I said your esophagus is damaged, right?" Morro raised an eyebrow. Lloyd gave him an annoyed look.

Of course he was.

"As you can see, the bomb is still active. But not as big as it could have been, which I think is pretty good. But you were still dying and Auntie Koko... uh, your mother lunged for you and took you straight to the ambulance -which we prepared without your knowledge, of course - You should have seen your father's reaction when he saw you explode in front of him. If only that moment hadn't... traumatized everyone, I would've recorded it."

Lloyd lowered his face and nodded slowly then winced as his head was dizzy and his neck felt like it was going to break. Ah yes, all parts of his head were bandaged, of course he wasn't supposed to move them.

"You've been unconscious for a month, luckily for you, the oni gene is very resistant and stubborn. A good combination if you want to survive a blast to the head and chest."

Morro ruffled his hair lightly, careful not to make his head move excessively. Then the young man got up and walked out.

"I'll call the nurse on duty, and perhaps afterward, you might have to meet someone who can't wait to scold you."

Lloyd winced as Morro smiled wickedly. 

…

Kai yelled out his full name, "Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon!"

It took Nya, Jay, Zane, and Cole to restrain and remind Kai that Lloyd wouldn't take a pinch, or a tight bear hug. Then they scold him one by one until Uncle Wu comes and calms them down.

...Then he got a passive aggressive lecture from Uncle Wu. He was even surprised to see Uncle Wu looking at him with the most... threatening gaze he had ever seen his uncle use on him.

Then, Lloyd had to look at his mother who was...holding back tears and trying to smile at him.

"I... know you've gotten a lot of lectures from the others, Lloyd." His mother said, a small smile draped across her cheeks. Maybe she was happy that Lloyd was finally awake, maybe she was happy that people cared about him.

Maybe she was deluding herself, holding herself back from crying at the current state of her son.

I'm sorry Mom... I'm always- Lloyd tried to open his mouth, and Mom held him back swiftly.

"Lloyd." His mother stroked his cheek, brushing back a stray strand of blonde hair, then looked at him gently, "I always knew you were a good child. Very good. Sometimes, even too good."

"I've always been proud of you, but I'm still a mother. Of course I always worry about you Lloyd. It's something a mother always does."

Hearing that made Lloyd want to hug his mother right now. If he could. But he tried to make it go away with a big smile, a genuine smile.

...

...

...

Afternoon had come, and after Lloyd felt like almost the whole town was visiting him. At least, he felt that way considering how noisy it was outside his room and the people who came to see him. 

But after everything died down-or was forced to die down, Lloyd found the last person he wanted to see today.

His father came in silence. Lloyd didn't know if he should curse his twitching vocal cords or be grateful that he had an excuse not to be the one responsible for breaking the ice this time.

"Hey... Lloyd." His father greeted with a tone hanging in the air, Lloyd nodded. 

"Glad... to see you're doing better." He said then. Lloyd looked at his father carefully. Starting from his posture, his style of dress, to the attributes he was currently wearing.

Lord Garmadon didn't look like a heartless conqueror, not anymore, this time he looked like... an architect. Maybe, Lloyd wasn't sure, he wasn't really an expert in building or anything like that, he only had the experience of forcing his father to fix half of Ninjago City.

But his appearance this time looked... good. Much better than the previous one.

His father seemed to realize what he was thinking, because the oni replied, "Oh... Yeah, if you fix a lot of different areas and get a good portfolio in a lot of different places. It turns out that you can build other businesses besides being a city conqueror."

"I'll show you, next time. Er... if you're interested?" Garmadon looked at him skeptically, but it quickly melted into a pleased grin as Lloyd nodded and smiled.

They spent the rest of the afternoon with Garmadon telling him about the whole month that Lloyd had missed in his life. He didn't realize when his eyes started to close between the lines of Garmadon's story. But he could hear the last words his father spoke before he fell asleep.

"Sleep well, Son. See you tomorrow."

…

…

…

The bomb did goes off and his whole body feels like it got ripped to pieces, but now, he somehow manages to get his whole family more whole than it had been for the past 17 years. And there's even more years to come.

...

...

...

Thank you!

Chapter Text

I have told you before that I might shares some fanarts just because and post it as an update right? So, enjoy!

(This is Lloyd being extra grumpy and Garmadon just ... well, adds extra menacing looks to support his son!)

...

...

RGB SLEEPOVER RGB SLEEPOVER!!!

(This is and old art but I think it fits that one scene when they do sleepover and have a pillow fights!)

...

...

(This is just Lloyd being happy and sunflowers bcs I want to and you guys should see!)

...

...