October 28th 2020
Prompt: Facing fears
More Lloyd and Jay bonding.
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Lloyd was having a pretty good day. He hadn't cut himself attempting to shave, he had made it into the shower before Kai (the guy literally had two hour long showers and used up all the hot water), and his head ache had went away for awhile.

  "LLOOOYYYDDDDDD!!!!"

  Oh look, it's back.

  Lloyd glanced around, opening cupboards and shoving items out. He eyed the space under the sink. Would he be able to hide in there?

  "LLLLLOOOOOYYYYYDDDD!"

  He really wished people would stop screaming his name like that.

  "LLOOOOYYY- oh there you are."

  Lloyd sighed and bundled all the cleaning supplies back into the cupboard. "Hey Jay, what is it?"

"Well, on New Years I was thinking-"

"Wow! You were thinking? What a surprise!" Kai called sarcastically from the couch.

  "BUZZ OFF FLAME-HEAD!" Jay snapped back. He turned back to Lloyd. "Anyway, so I was thinking that I should become one of those people friends go to for help."

  Lloyd poured himself a big cup of coffee, he went to raise it to his lips when Zane came by and snatched it from his grasp with a disappointed look.

"So to do that I realized I should help my friends go on a journey of self-growth and self-discovery!" Jay spread his palm to the sky, a look of wanderlust in his eyes. "I call it a Jayerney. It's like a journey but created to face your fears!"  

  "Why is this important?" Lloyd reluctantly took the mug of hot chocolate Zane offered him.

  "Well I thought I'd start with you first." Jay said like it was obvious.

  Lloyd snorted. "What fear do I have that required a journey? To get over my thing for ghosts maybe we should watch one of those cartoons about the friendly ghost-buddy." He raised the mug to his lips.

  "Oh, I was thinking more along the lines of your fear for a committed relationship."

  Lloyd began coughing sporadically after he spat his hot chocolate with a ppfffttttt! Kai gestured Nya and Cole into the room as he leaned over the couch with interest.

  "I do not have a fear for a committed relationship." Lloyd protested, wiping the hot chocolate off of the side of the cup as he set it down. He took the mug and began to leave the room. Jay ran to catch up. The rest of the ninja trailed after as subtly as they could.

  "Yes you do! Ever since Harumi you've been scared to place your trust into someone that could potentially be your soulmate! You practically ran the other direction when that girl at the movie theatre flirted with you." Jay argued.

  Lloyd's furious green gaze could wither flowers as he walked down the hall. "Maybe I had to go to the washroom! This-fear isn't real!"

  "That is incorrect!" Zane cut in. "Jay's observations have proven to be true after looking at your physical and emotional reaction throughout similar instances. Such as, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, perspiration, laboured breathing-"

  "Shut up!" Lloyd scowled, stopping in the doorway of his room.

  "Face it Lloyd, you have trust issues." Kai told the younger boy.

  "I DON'T HAVE TRUST ISSUES!" The door slammed in their faces, making them jump.

  "Well," Jay said finally. "I blame teenage hormones."

****
  Jay tried not to sweat as he tried to drag Lloyd in without him noticing. To his bad luck the green ninja paused and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stop. "Jay..."

  Lloyd set an accusing glare on the brunette. "We aren't buying tea for Wu are we?"

  "why would you say that?" Jay replied nervously. 
 
  "Well the fact you insisted I come with you to buy tea instead of Cole by standing outside my door and begging until I could only hear the word please in my ears. Also that you're hands haven't stopped shaking with anxiety since we left the monastery." Jay shoved his trembling hands into is pockets. "And the fact that you thought I wouldn't notice the giant: SPEED DATING sign outside of the coffee shop door." Lloyd gestured to the chalkboard sign. The words etched in swirly calligraphy and hearts dotting the I.

  "Wow, what a coincidence, I never noticed that." Jay lied horribly. "You know, since you mentioned it that does sound like fun! Let's go try it out, huh?"

  Lloyd dug his heels in and dragged his friend back before he could step inside. "Jay, I don't need you to be my therapist." He said firmly. "I need to deal with this on my own."

  Jay groaned. "Why can't you just pretend I'm good at lying for once!"

  "Jay."

  Jay huffed. Blue eyes reluctant and a pout over taking his lips. "Fine."

  He glanced at the billboard beside him. "I'll only stop if you go with me to the masquerade ball on Thursday."

  "JAY!"

  "FINE!" Jay trudged reluctantly after Lloyd, sulking as he dug his chin into his coat. "You're no fun, you know that? Maybe I actually wanted to go to a masquerade ball!"

  Lloyd laughed, shaking his head. "Maybe I'll go if you tell Kai that you were the one broke his hair brush, not me."

  "Never mind, let's watch ghost busters instead."