Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When I woke up my head was feeling terrible.

But all my life I'd been getting headaches, because the universe just hates me.

Saving the world multiple times: not fun, I can tell you that much.

So, as you might expect, or maybe you didn't expect this but for me this was a pretty reasonable reaction-I got sick of being the hero.

Ofcourse I didn't start murdering people or something, I wasn't crazy.

But, I packed my stuff one night, said goodbye(I actually didn't say goodybe I just left but whatever), got myself a new identity and started a new life.

It was pretty chill until I ran into a group of villians once.

So, I kinda just...decided to join them.

Cause there was nothing better to do with my life and hey, in my opinion, I do have valid reasons to become a villain.

So, here I was, something I would've never thought I'd become.

And let me tell you, this is way better than having to save everyone and put my own feelings last!

My name is Lloyd, just Lloyd.

Not Lloyd Garmadon, or the green ninja.

Just Lloyd.

Or, whenever I need a fake name, it's Doyll or something. Creative, I know right?

This is a story of my life as probably the best villain Ninjago has ever seen.

Chapter Text

My father used to be a villain.

Being like my father was my biggest dream when I was younger, before it turned into my biggest nightmare when I became the green ninja. And now, technically it was reality.

"Hey idiot!", called a voice and something hit me in the back of my head.

"Piss off, Harumi!" I closed my sketchbook and threw it at her, but she dodged. She always managed to dodge.

"My 'parents' called the ninjateam over to our place. Apparently to protect me from the sons of Garmadon", she laughed, picked up my sketchbook and placed it back on the table.

"That doesn't explain why you're in my apartment without telling me you're coming over. Without me opening you the door."

"I climbed through the window!"

"Aren't you a princess?"

She shrugged, kicked her shiny black shoes off and sat on my desk.

I shoved her off the desk, seriously this girl was one of the most annoying people you could ever meet.

How she was the leader of a villainous group, I didn't really understand.

Not because she was raised a princess, or because she was a girl, simply because she was annoying.

She throws tantrums like a toddler sometimes, but let's not dive into that topic further.

"Trying to protect me from my own group, it's hilarious!"

"Super hilarious", I said dryly.

Harumi rolled her eyes at me. "Seriously, you don't find anything funny!"

"I still find it weird that they're named after my father."

"And I still find it weird that the legendary green ninja, who saved Ninjago so many times ran away and lived on the streets."

Now I was the one rolling my eyes. "That was during my first week after I left. As you can see, I own a very nice apartment."

"It's the size of my closet", she giggled.

I threw a pencil at her, and surprisingly hit my target. She gasped.

"YOU LITTLE-"

"Woah there, are you going to start cursing? Where are your manners, Princess Harumi?", I said.

She looked at me angrily. "I'll end you."

"See, moments like these remind me of the fact that you do infact still hate me for what happened to your bio parents-"

She jumped at me and I fell of my chair.

We rolled over the floor, until I got her off me and we both hit our heads-she hit hers against the window, I hit mine against the wall.

"Careful!", I said. "Windows are expensive."

"The window is your first concern?" She looked slightly offended.

"You think you'd be my first concern?"

She gave me a middle finger, and I gave her two in return.

"Why'd I even join you? you're insufferable."

"So are you, you stupid idiot", she fired back. "Why'd I let you join?"

"You asked me to join, you dumbass."

"I shouldn't have!" She got up from the floor.

"Are you admitting you made a mistake?" "I- No! Ofcourse not! I could write you an essay why you're a terrible villain, which I didn't know back then!"

"Enlighten me, why am I such a shitty villain?" I got up too, and walked past her, out to the balcony.

"First off all, you still have that weird hero attitude sometimes. You refuse to follow orders-"

"Because we agreed we'd share the 'responsibility' for the group. Cause you know, you made them, and named them after my father."

She crossed her arms. "Shut up."

"Just the facts. Now get out of my apartment, before they send out a searchteam for you, the helpless, lost princess. Or before I push you off the balcony and you become a pancake down there on the pavement."

She stuck out her tongue and put her shoes back on.

"Go through the door this time."

"See you soon."

"Hopefully not."

Chapter Text

My apartment is awfully silent.

It feels so lonely.

Sometimes I do miss my old friends.

Are they still looking for me? Do they think I died? Sometimes I'd like to know how they're doing.

Are they fighting villains?

But wait...the main villains of Ninjago were the sons of Garmadons, at the moment atleast.

And I was a part of them. The chance of me having to fight them one day wasn't so small.

I tried to push the thought back to the corners of my brain that I never paid attention to, but it wouldn't let me.

It was like that one single thought was trying to take over my entire brain, part by part, until it was all that I could think about.

I had chosen this life. When I made this decision, I had been well aware of the fact that I might have to fight my past friends one day.

I had been fine with that.

I checked the time, it was four in the afternoon, so the shops were still open. This was good, because I needed food for dinner.

I picked up my keys and slipped them into the pocket of my jeans.

I put on my shoes-platform boots 'cause I was short as fuck, for my age atleast. I was really overdue for a growthspurt, even Harumi was atleast five centimeters taller than me.

But I'd lost count of how old I was supposed to be. It was too confusing to keep up with, after being affected by tomorrows tea.

I could be any age between eleven and eighteen, really. Physically, I was probably around eighteen to nineteen.

The weather outside was pretty warm and the sun was shininig.

I walked past a woman with her son, who was happily jumping around with a little action figure in his hand. He was laughing and just...doing what kids do, I guess.

Something about that triggered something in my brain, a thought that always came back once in a while.

I could've been a kid like that, if there hadn't been that stupid prophecy if I ahd a normal dad, if my mom hadn't abandoned me, if I'd stayed at the school with Brad.

I thought about him from time to time, but I figured he had probably forgotten about me by now. Same with Gene.

But-I hate to admit this, but it's true-I had Harumi now. She was like a sister, in some way. Sure, a sister you kind of hate and constantly argue with, but still a sister.

I made it to the store faster than I realized. Right, I'd zoned out again.

I picked out the most necessary things, it wasn't like I had a lot of money from my job.

Suddenly I heard someone laughing, and then two people ran out of the aisle next the one I was in.

I took a step back, careful not to get in their way and...wait a moment.

Was that- no. I pulled the hood of my jacket in my face.

Jay and Cole.

Please don't see me. Please don't see me.

"I apologize for my friends, sir", said a voice next to me. I glanced to the eprson who'd spoken. Zane, of course.

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHITS!", yelled Kai.

Jay and Cole kept running and Kai ran after them. Another person stepped next to Zane and sighed. "I'll get them back", Nya said and walked after them, calling their names.

I turned back to my few groceries.

Please don't talk to me. Please don't.

"I'm so sorry if we disturbed you in any way", Zane said.

I turned his head slightly towards him. "It's okay."

Zane stared at me for a few seconds.

My first thought: Fuck. He recognized me.

Then he seemed to snap out of it. "Sorry, sir. Have a good day!"

"Mhm, you too."

That was close.

Maybe I should consider dyeing my hair and let Harumi win. She'd been trying to convince me to dye my hair for a while.

I wasn't in the mood for hairdye today.

I finished my shopping, paid and lef tthe store.

In the carpark I ran into the ninjas again. Quite literally.

Or more like, Jay ran into me.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry are you alri-" He broke his sentence off. His eyes widened and he stared at me.

"I'm fine." I tried to walk around him bt faster than I could, Kai was next to him.

"You coming or not? We're waiting for- LLOYD?"

"I have no idea who you're talking about", I lied.

He stared at me and leaned down slightly so he could stare into my eyes.

"Oh, no, you do. Where in the name of the first spinjitzu master have you-"

I shoved him out of the way. "Respectfully, stop harassing me."

I started walking. But, of course, by now the others had noticed me too, and they came after me.

"You-you can't just disappear like that!", Nya said.

"What were you thinking?!", Cole asked.

Kai grabbed my wrist and tried to stop me. "Lloyd."

That's all he said. Just my name.

He stared into my eyes again. I had never in my life been scared of him, but jeez, that stare was creepy.

I ripped my hand free and flicked a small ball of elemental energy at him.

It sent him flying to the ground. I hit him harder than I had meant to do. Maybe my powers were getting harder to control cause I rarely used them anymore.

The others stared at me for a moment, then at Kai. Oh fuck, was he unconscious?

Nya ran to his side.

My time! I ran for it. Atleast that was one thing I was still good at it.

I practically flew around the corners of the streets, then up the stairs to my apartment, opened the door, banged it shut behind me and collapsed onto the floor.

"Jeez, what happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost", said Harumi and chuckled.

"Shut the fuck up", I muttered, trying to catch my breath. "Also, why are you in my apartment again?"

She just shrugged and jumped off the table. "Was bored."

I got up from the floor to put my groceries away.

"Guess who I ran into at the store."

She seemed to think about it, before saying:"...do I look like I know?"

I rolled my eyes. "The ninjas. Bad news: they recognized me. Good news: I didn't talk to them."

I opened the fridge and started putting the stuff inside.

Harumi started walking around the kitchen, opening random cupboards, probably on the hunt for candy.

But I kept that hidden somewhere else for this exact reason.

"Something else you'd like to say?", she asked innocently.

This girl was just too good at reading to tone of my voice.

"My elemental power is a bit-" I searched my brain for the right word.

"Uncontrolled?", she finished.

"See, I hate how you finish my sentences from time to time. It's weird."

She put an arm around me and leaned her head on my shoulder. "That's what siblings do, Garmaboy."

"You're stupid", I said and shoved her off.

"What even happened with your powers?"

I clsoed the fridge and put the bag away.

"I hit Kai with a small bit of Energy. Well, not a small bit, it was more than I'd meant to throw, he was unconscious."

Harumi laughed. "Either practice more or switch to a normal weapon", she said.

"Buy me a gun and I'll consider it."

"I'll ask my parents for money", she replied, still grinning.

Oh, right. I always forget she's rich, cause she's a princess.

"For real?"

"Sure, if you want."

"Thanks."

Sure, we fought a lot, basically bullied eachother, but still somehow, we did nice things for eachother. Harumi liked throwing money at me, and I did other stuff for her, cause well, I didn't have a lot of money, like I said.

Chapter Text

"Harumi what the-"

She dropped a bunch of different stuff down on the table in front of me. 

"I didn't get the chance to buy a gun yet but maybe you can use one of these for now?", she suggested. 

I stared at the weapons she'd put down. I wasn't sure where she got them from, but I was even less sure if I wanted to know. 

There were several daggers, three different sword, smaller knives amd some other stuff. 

"How'd you even-"

I didn't finish that sentence either.

Harumi picked up one of the daggers and turned it in her hands. 

"Mind if I keep this one?", she asked. 

"There's...more than enough, just take it."

She smiled slightly. 

I picked up one of the swords to see how it felt in my hand. 

"This one's pretty good. I think I'll use this for now", I decided. 

"Good, cause it might actually be hard to find out where to buy a gun."

"The sword's fine", I said. 

Harumi swiped the rest of the weapons off the table into a big bag, somehow without cutting herself on one of them by accident. 

"I have to go now, the ninjas should be coming to the palace soon. You still know the plan?" 

I nodded. 

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow, if everything goes according to plan."

The plan was simple: Harumi distracts everyone, while the rest of the sons of Garmadon stole the Oni mask inside the palace. 

I'd be close by, in case backup was needed. 

Harumi waved and left-through the door this time. 

I was left by myself again. 

I unlocked my phone.

I had a total of one number saved, that number was Harumi's. 

After I had run away, I got myself a new phone with a new number. 

I scrolled through boring news articles, until one of them caught my eye. 

It was fairly old, so I didn't know why it had popped up for me now. 

The article had been posted shortly after my disappearance.

It was basically just informing everyone that the legendary green ninja had disappeared. 

I put down my phone and stepped out to the balcony. 

The wind was cool, but the sun was warm on my face. 

On days like these, I'd be outside with my friends, if we had nothing to do. 

That had been a rare occasion though, we had had something to do almost every day. 

It wasn't like my life was more peaceful now, it was just less stressful. 

Technically, it was less peaceful now, seeing as I was a villain now. 

But I didn't have much to do on most days, thank god for that.

All the freetime left me with lots of time to think about my past, though. 

How I'd technically killed Harumi's parents somehow, how I'd been possesed by Morro and the things I saw during that. 

Being possesed isn't nice. 

I got bits of his thoughts, but what was even worse was the fact that he saw all of my thoughts and feelings, just all of it. 

And he was in control of me and my brain and it was overall just one of the most terrible things I'd ever felt in my life. 

Little piece of advice: don't get possesed. 

Especially not by a guy who wants what you have (like your job, for example).

Being abandoned by my mother, of course. 

My first friend. 

Brad. Brad Tudabone. 

Maybe I'd had a little crush on him, but that had just been a silly little thing. 

He basically taught me how to survive at that school, if it weren't for him I would've probably gotten bullied even worse than I did.

I had found friends again after Brad- the ninja- but I'd never had a crush again. 

I'm not even really sure if I did have a crush on him, maybe I was just really attached to him because I had nobody else. 

If I really think about it, I'm not even sure if I know what it feels like to be in love with someone, or if I was capable of feeling it at all.

Sure, the idea of a relationship did sound nice, but if I thought about actually dating someone I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to do that. The concept was a bit strange to me, even if it sounded nice.

Enough of the identity crisis! 

I had better stuff to worry about, for example if I could use the sword without cutting my own arm off or giving myself a haircut by accident. 

I pushed my sofa aside to make more space in the living room.

I picked up the sword and started practicing a bit, as good as I possibly could eithout having anyone to practice-fight with and having so little space. 

It worked out fine, so I moved the sofa back to its place and put the sword away for now. 

It had become evening faster than I'd realized, so I made myself dinner, took a shower and threw myself into bed. 

Within five minutes I was out and asleep. 

Chapter Text

The next day I was hiding behind the palace, just in case Harumi's horrible plan failed. 

Cross that out, she's actually kind of smart when it comes to evil plans. 

I had my sword at my side, and Harumi had forced me to wear all black clothes, which I felt looked a bit weird on me but I got used to them quickly since I had no other choice.

I was on my phone, in case Harumi changed her mind last second and needed me to be in another place. No message came, and there were no movements in the palace for atleast half an hour. 

"What's taking so long?", I muttered. 

Then I heard a scream and almost dropped my phone. I put it back in the pocket of my jacket and zipped it closed so I wouldn't lose the phone; I couldn't really afford a new one right now. 

Every light in the palace was turned on and there was more screaming. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. 

I quickly got it out, glanced at the screen and read the message from Harumi. 

"Get out of there before they see you. We've got it!"

Apparently they did not "have it", because not even one minute later there was a loud crash. The building began to crumble. 

"What did she do, place a bomb in there?", I asked myself, knowing there was nobody to give me an answer. 

I did the most logical thing and ran away from the palace to the spot where we wanted to meet. 

All I could do was wait and hope Harumi had survived and hadn't been crushed my the falling building. 

I couldn't help but think about the ninja. Were they all right? Had they been injured? Why did I still care?

I sat on a rock and waited. I was so close to getting up and running back to the palace, but there would most likely be police, and if they'd made it out alive the ninja would be there. 

And neither of those people could see me there. They'd either figure out I was in on the plan and arrest me, or the ninja would bombard me with questions again, and neither of those options sounded nice to me. 

Nobody had come to the spot yet, not Harumi, not any of the other sons of Garmadon. 

Another fifteen minutes passed, and Harumi finally came running towards me.

Her hair was open and falling down her shoulder, dust and dirt was smeared across her face and her green clothes and the sleeve of her jacket was torn. 

"You're alive!", I said and jumped to my feet. 

"Of course I am. My parents, not so much. I think they got crushed in the throne room", she said and out down a bag between us. 

"Where's the rest?", I asked. 

Harumi shrugged. "No time to worry about them, shut your stupid hero insticts off and worry about getting out of here."

Well, ouch, I guess? I thought, but I didn't protest. 

She grabbed my wrist and started running, the bag over her shoulder again. I assumed the Oni mask was in there. 

"Where are we running to again?"

"You don't pay attention to anything, do you? You're the most incompetent villain on this earth, I don't even know how you were able to become a ninja honestly!"

"Will you stop constantly being mean? Like you're any better! I thought your plan was so amazing and sneaky and now the palace has collapsed! Yea, definitely not obvious that there were bad guys there!"

She let go of my wrist and spun around. 

"Can't you shut up for once in your life?", she asked. 

"I could, but not because you tell me to", I fired back. 

"I'm going to glue your mouth shut."

"You can try, but you gave me a sword and I still have an elemental power", I reminded her. She didn't appreciate that reminder, turned and kept walking. 

I still didn't have an answer to my original question, so I decided to assume she knew where she was going, which she probably did. 

One day, she wastes all her money on weapons for me and the enxt she wants to rip my eyes out, there really was no in-between. 

We kept walking in silence, at some point the noise coming from the palace vanished completely and the only quiet sound was the wind playing with the leaves. 

I was still a bit behind Harumi, so I could see her inspecting her arm in the place where she'd torn her jacket. If she asked for help, I'd help, but I wouldn't risk getting my hand bitten off while trying to help without her asking me to. 

"Are we there soon?", I asked. 

"You're like a child."

"I am a child. I think. I'm not sure."

"Why did I ask you to join again?" 

I shrugged. "Maybe you knew how useful I can be, when I want to be."

"You're really different from how the green ninja looks on the news, honestly", she said. 

"What can I say, I have lots of different personalities", I said and shrugged again. 

"I'm not even going to bother asking."