Chapter Text
A flying ship. Lloyd was on a freaking flying ship straight out of a comic book. By all means, this should have been one of the coolest moments in his life. But his mood was dampened by the annoying and stupid inhabitants of said ship. Oh, and they named this awesome ship “The Destiny's Bounty,” which isn’t awful, but Lloyd could have come up with something way cooler. Take, for example,’ Lloyd’s Bringer of Destruction.’ LBD for short. See, now that had a nice ring to it.
The wind rustled through his hair, wrapping strands of it around his small horns as he leaned over the railing, seeing how small the landscape looked below. The sun beat down on him, his black hoodie cooking him like an oven. Sweat started to bead on his forehead, but he was too stubborn to take his hoodie off. At the very least, he could close his eyes and breathe in the fresh air, exhaling it back to the earth. He loved being so high up, watching the people below him, letting the energy of the world mix with the motion of the wind. Inside the ship's walls was too stuffy, cramped with people he didn’t want to see. Out here, he could forget about his kidnappers, and the stupid snakes, and his stupid uncle, whom he didn’t even know existed a few weeks ago.
The only downside was that sailing through the skies made his inevitable escape a lot harder. If the ship were anchored, he would have snuck away a long time ago, back into the grasp of the city. But if he were to sneak off the ship while it was this high up in the air, he would plummet to his death. Truthfully, he’s surprised Kai hasn’t just pushed him off already.
Lloyd backed away from the railing and checked behind him. He hadn’t thought about that. Luckily, Kai was nowhere to be found. The air was even void of his loud, obnoxious voice for once. He turned his attention back to the blue skies, letting the sunshine blind him. No worries. He’d overheard the guys talking earlier, the bounty would dock in a week in some remote village. Something about the serpentine being rumored to have been seen around those parts. It meant that all Loyd had to do was put up with his kidnappers for a week, and then he was free.
He’d have to stock up before he went. These guys ate like kings! And the best part is, is that they probably wouldn’t even notice! Lloyds has already been stealing food from their kitchen and hiding it in his room for a few days now. And they were none the wiser.
The boat continued to sway peacefully as it lazily glided through the air. But peace never lasted long.
“Nephew, why don’t you join the others for lunch? I’m sure they would appreciate your company.” His “uncle” called from behind him.
Lloyd rolled his eyes, quickly pulling up his hood to hide his horns and making sure his thin tail with its stupid fluff at the end was tucked away. This was yet another attempt by his uncle to convince Lloyd that the others didn’t want to boot him off the ship and watch the ground flatten him into a pancake. Did he take Lloyd for a fool?
Lloyd was going to shoot him down, but now that he thought about it, he was hungry. Stashing food meant rationing, but if they were going to offer him even more, who was he to decline?
“Uh, sure thing,” Lloyd replied, awkwardly walking past his uncle and back into the clutches of the ship’s walls.
Wu looked pleasantly surprised at how easily Lloyd agreed. Well, he might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
The kitchen was filled with people, trapping the heat that rose from the stove. The second Lloyd entered, everyone eyed him warily. Lloyd merely walked past them, unbothered, and grabbed a bowl from the cabinet. If these guys thought that weird looks would be enough to get him to leave, they were going to be sorely disappointed. The only time Lloyd stood down and left a space where he wasn’t wanted, was then the Darkey’s boys threw rocks at him and one of them landed in his hot soup, splashing it all over himself. Lloyd sure hoped they enjoyed the snakes in their bed after that.
That weird dude named Zane was standing over the stove, stirring something in a big pot. The aroma from the stove was heavenly, making Lloyd’s mouth water. The food at Darkely’s was non-edible at best, downright poisonous at worst. The last time he had food that smelled that good was the first night he came here.
Around him, the conversations picked back up. Losers. They accepted defeat to Lloyd’s presence pitifully easily.
Lloyd approached the stove, peering around Zane’s stupidly tall stature to behold what wonders awaited him. Thankfully, the obstacle moved out of his way. Unfortunately, the obstacle started to talk to him.
“Oh, apologies, Lloyd. I did not realize you were behind me. Would you care for some beef stew?” Zane asked, regarding Lloyd with his freakishly bright blue eyes.
“Uh, duh! That stuff smells amazing!” Lloyd exclaimed. Zane smiled at him, taking his blow and filling it with the divine elixir. Lloyd greedily snatched the bowl from his hands, spitting out a brief thanks and running to sit down to engulf it.
Lloyd enjoyed his lunch, ignoring the look of disgust on Nya’s face.
“Ugh, boys. Would it kill ya to use some manners?” She asked, arms crossed. Lloyd wiped stew from his chin, giving her a Cheshire smile.
“Why? Don’t tell me this bothers you.” He said, opening his mouth to show her the mushed-up food inside.
“Ew, chew with your mouth closed! We’re trying to eat too!” Jay yelled from across the table, suddenly looking less interested in the bowl in front of him.
Lloyd laughed. These guys were so easy to mess with! Brad would have thought that was hilarious.
“Aw, you guys are a bunch of woosies. I thought you were supposed to be cool ninja.” He lamented. Cole, Kai, and Jay gawked in offense while Nya snickered into her hands. If she liked to laugh at the ninja, she could be a potential ally. But then again, she was the one to start this in the first place, so she was on thin ice.
“That’s it. I’m going somewhere the kid isn’t.” Kai announced, dramatically picking up his bowl and taking it elsewhere. Well, that didn’t take long.
“And leave us to deal with him? I don’t know how to talk to kids!” Cole shouted after him.
“Hey! I’m not a kid!” Lloyd retorted. He was the son of Lord Garmadon, and yet they dared to underestimate him?! Ugh, it’s just like the boys at Darkely’s. What was that word they called him again? Neon baby? Nepo baby? Yeah, something about being a nepo baby. But Lloyd was very obviously a nepo man.
“All signs indicate that you are indeed a child. Although I suppose you’ve never told us your age. I am also curious about your fangs. As far as I am aware, fangs are not a normal part of human development. Does it have something to do with your father’s biology?” Zane rambled off, sounding innocently curious. Lloyd subconsciously pulled his hoodie further over his head. Sure, Zane was pretending to just be curious, but that’s how they all acted at first. And then came the insults and the taunting. And occasionally, the bag of dog treats, since apparently a stupid tail and some horns made Lloyd an animal. The fangs and sharp fingernails were cool, though Lloyd had to admit. But other than that, the odd faint markings on his face that passed as face paint and the offending appendages had proved to be nothing but annoying.
At first, Lloyd loved how he looked. He could only assume his dad shared the same traits. But the other kids didn’t think they were so cool. And his odd biology made it harder to get food and shelter. It wasn’t that Lloyd cared what others thought of him or anything, but hiding his odd features was just a clever tactic on his part to get people to trust him. Duh.
“Well then, you need to check your facts because I’m ten years old, which basically makes me a preteen, not a kid. And I have fangs because I sharpen my teeth for a tactical advantage on the battlefield.”
Cole and Jay shared a look as they sat next to each other. The table put Lloyd at a comfortable distance from everybody, but he could still feel the judgment radiating off of them.
“I think the kid just naturally has weirdly shaped teeth,” Cole said, finishing his bowl first.
“Or maybe Garmadon’s a vampire!” Jay exclaimed, slamming his bowl on the table for a dramatic effect. Droplets of the stew escaped the bowl, splattering on Cole. Cole brushed it off and slapped Jay in the back of the neck, face lax in unamusement.
Hold on a second, Lloyd hated to admit it, but maybe Jay was on to something. Truthfully, Lloyd had no idea what his father was. Aw, man, but vampires were girly monsters. He didn’t want to be involved in all that mushy lovey-dovey stuff! When a group of girls at Darkley’s started watching Twilight, it was torture to listen to them fight over it in class.
“Quick, get the wooden stake!” Jay yelled, pointing his finger accusingly at Lloyd.
“Hey! You guys don’t get to stab me!” Lloyd yelled back, pushing himself from his chair. He held up his spoon as a weapon, leaning threateningly over the table.
Jay picked up his spoon as well, and the two glared at each other, weapons in hand. Zane plucked the spoon from Jay’s hand, sending him a bewildered look.
“No one is stabbing anyone and certainly not with the spoons I have to wash later.” Zane scolded, taking the spoon to the sink.
Lloyd stuck his tongue out at Jay because he got to keep his spoon. Watching Jay groan in annoyance was almost as delightful as the stew. Lloyd slurped down the rest of his bowl, racing to put it in the sink and escape the kitchen. Unfortunately for him, Nya was walking to the sink at the same time with her bowl less finished. The two collided, spilling beef stew all over Lloyd’s hoodie and knocking Nya back.
“Sorry, Lloyd! Didn’t see ya there!” Nya said, rushing to pick up the bowl that had dropped to the ground.
Lloyd raised his arms, chunks of beef and carrots falling from his sleeves. His hoodie was uncomfortably hot and soggy now, which was just great because now Lloyd had to go wash it. Whatever, he needed a shower anyway.
“He needed to wash that hoodie anyway. Wu’s been wanting us to wrangle it away from him since the day he got here.” Cole shrugged. So they’ve been plotting against him! Lloyd hugged himself protectively. There was no way they were getting this hoodie from him.
“I’ll just go wash it myself! Uh, right now!” Lloyd said, making a run for the exit. If only Jay hadn’t predicted he’d try an escape and beat him to the door.
“C’mon, kid, can’t you just hand it over? I have candy.” Jay offered, his voice pitching higher as if that made the deal sound more appealing.
Cole and Zane were ignorant of Lloyd's troubles, simply washing the dishes together now that they were both finished. And all the while, Nya stood idly by, not even batting an eye! And to think Lloyd thought she could have been an ally!
“Yeah, I don’t think Jay’s giving this one up, Lloyd. He needs to get back on Wu’s side after he got caught staying up late playing video games last night.” Cole called from over his shoulder. He dried dishes perfectly in sync with Zane as Zane washed them. But alas, their speed and efficiency still did little to put a dent in the mountain of dishes next to them. Serves them right.
Lloyd was starting to panic now. He needed to get out of here. But Jay loomed over him, face scrunched in impatience. If only Lloyd took Jay’s impatience more seriously. Jay reached for Lloyd, but Lloyd evaded his grabbing arm, ducking between Jay’s legs, only for Jay to yank his hoodie off of him when he made it to the other side.
For a moment, things were still normal. But it didn’t take long for Jay to notice that Lloyd had some features he shouldn’t have.
Jay froze with his jaw hanging to the floor, his eyes seized Lloyd up and down, unable to make sense of what they were seeing. The sudden lack of noise caused Zane, Cole, and Nya to pay them more attention.
Lloyd’s cheeks burned as he felt everybody’s eyes locked onto him. His tail wrapped around his leg, a stupid, nervous habit of his.
“What are you looking at?!” Lloyd yelled, puffing his chest to appear more threatening. Okay, so his secret was out, but he didn’t owe them any explanation! He kept his hoodie on for a reason, Jay!
“Um, well, in comparison to the horns and tail, the fangs are a lot less weird now,” Cole muttered, eyes still wide in shock. Apparently, he was so surprised he forgot to have a filter.
Nya elbowed him, sending him a disapproving look.
“You’re the weird one! At least I don’t have overgrown eyebrows that look like caterpillars! Maybe they’ll turn into butterflies and fly you away so I can finally have some peace!” Lloyd internally cringed. So, maybe that wasn’t his best insult. But he needed a fast defense!
“I didn’t mean it as a bad thing! It’s just…different.” Cole amended. Nya was fuming at him now, so much for Kai being the fire one.
“Just stop talking.” She huffed.
“Y’know what? We’re ninja with magical weapons, the serpentine are real, and Lord Garmadon has never exactly been human, so naturally Lloyd has a horn and tail! It matches the demon spawn personality he’s got going!” Jay rambled.
Lloyd tensed, furrowing his brows in anger. A demon is what the townspeople called him. Everyone was the same.
“I don’t have to listen to this! I don’t care what any of you guys think!” Lloyd yelled, shoving past Jay, back to the fresh ninja-free air. He was fed up with them gawking at him, calling him weird, different. It’s all the same stuff he’s heard before.
Lloyd didn’t fit in at Darkely’s, or in the cities, not with those stupid snakes, and he certainly didn’t fit in here. Well, good! Lloyd didn’t need to fit in, he didn’t need anyone else.
So Lloyd sat by himself, leaning over the railing once again as the wind whisked away his frustrations. At the very least, he didn’t have to overheat in a smelly hoodie anymore. Lloyd watched the waves below, moving the entire sea with their might. The salty ocean smell wafted through the air. One week. One week, and then he was out of here.
His tail subconsciously wrapped around the railing, but Lloyd didn’t bother to do anything about it. The cat was out of the bag, and now not only did the ninja know he was evil, but they also knew he was a freak. Maybe that’s why his dad ran away and hid. Maybe people treated him the same way they treat Lloyd, and one day, he just got tired of it all and went where he could be free of it all. If only he had taken Lloyd with him.
Lloyd rested his head in his arms, pillowing the hard wooden rails. The ship’s sails rustled in the wind, each flap pounding through the air. It was the ship’s heartbeat. Hours passed with Lloyd out on the deck, the wind got cooler, forcing goosebumps down Lloyd’s hoodieless spine. His t-shirt was a plain white one, the one he used to wear under his Darkely’s sweater. The fabric was thin, letting every gust of chilly wind rake his spine. The sun had long retreated for the day, letting the luminescent moon shine in its place. Up in the sky, the stars were closer than ever, so close Lloyd wondered if he could reach up and touch them. They lit up the night sky, comforting Lloyd with their presence.
But the quiet of the night made it easier to hear the footsteps approaching. Lloyd lazily turned around, expecting to find his uncle coming to usher him to bed. Instead, he was surprised to see Zane, standing with his hoodie folded up in his hands.
Zane walked up to Lloyd, presenting his hoodie as if it were a gift.
“I have come to return this to you. Do not worry, it has been cleaned and smells like lavender instead of beef. Although I do not know if you prefer beef scent over lavender… I will take that into account for next time!” Zane said.
That was a lot of words. Too many for Lloyd’s tired mind to process. He simply took the hoodie, pulling it over his head, and muttered a small thanks. The hoodie was still warm from the dryer, heating Lloyd’s cold skin. Hoodie acquired, Zane should have gone back inside. Except he didn’t. He stood next to Lloyd, leaning over the railing, staring thoughtfully into the sky.
Too tired to protest, Lloyd let him be. He waited for the questions, or the stares when Zane thought he wasn’t looking, taking into account every detail that made Lloyd different, but they never came. They stood in a peaceful silence. Zane acted as if nothing was different. Even if Lloyd stood up a little straighter, aware of how his brownish-black horns still just barely poked out from his hair. It helped to be able to hide his tail again, it always moved without his say.
Yet still, Lloyd felt strangely vulnerable. He hated it.
“If I may…what is so wrong with being different?” Zane slowly questioned, eyes moving the slightest bit to gauge Lloyd’s reaction. What kind of a question was that? Was Lloyd supposed to take it as a compliment when people called him weird?
“When people call you ‘different,’ it’s just their nice way of calling you a freak. It means you’re strange, weird, you don’t belong.”
Zane’s eyes squinted in thought. Was it that hard of a concept for him?
“I have been called those things many times as well. Even here, with my friends, sometimes I still wonder if I belong. The others think I am strange, I don’t believe they understand me. And perhaps I am strange. But I like who I am. I would not wish to change a thing.” The way Zane spoke, so careful, thoughtful, sincere, something about it stuck with Lloyd.
Zane was smiling at Lloyd. In the dark of the night, his eyes shone even brighter, yet this time, Lloyd wasn’t freaked out by them. In fact, they were kind of awesome. They illuminated Zane’s face, washing him in their icy blue.
“People think I’m weird, too. But in reality, I think they’re just jealous. Maybe the guys are jealous of you, too.” Lloyd said. It was a complete and utter lie, but what Zane doesn’t know can’t hurt him.
“I am unconvinced of that probability,” Zane chuckled. “But, statistically speaking, if we are both weird, then technically that makes us each less weird.”
Lloyd never paid much attention in his math classes at Darkelys, but Zane seemed smart, so that sounded right.
“That means we have to form an alliance so that we can balance each other’s weirdness!” Lloyd exclaimed, slapping his hands against the railing. This plan was perfect!
Zane smiled softly at him.
“Consider me an alley then, Lloyd Garmadon.”
Lloyd grinned back. And if his stupid tail decided to slip out and wrap itself around Zane’s leg, Lloyd quickly swung it back, and neither of them said anything about it.
Maybe Lloyd would miss Zane when he left at the end of the week.