Prompt | "Boo!"

Ninjago

I always love some good ol' platonic greenflame

🐉 - 🍁 - 🐉

"Boo!" Kai raised an unimpressed eyebrow as the little boy leaped from the couch. He bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes into slits. It was supposed to be scary but it only made him look cuter.

"Nice try, bud." Kai snickered. Lloyd slumped, dropping his arms to his sides and scowling. "Maybe next time." Kai quite obviously didn't believe that and Lloyd wasn't stupid. He could tell when Kai was making fun of him.

"I'll scare you one day!" Lloyd threatened, shaking his fist.

Kai scoffed. "Sure you will." The fire ninja reached and rumpled the kid's blonde hair. Lloyd yelped and scooted away, furiously fixing his hair. With one last derogatory snort, Kai continued down the hall, a pair of furious green eyes watching his every step.

****

Lloyd's next attempt was creative but wasn't executed very well. Kai came walking into his cabin, his toothbrush frothing in his mouth, and paused when he saw the poorly hidden lump under his covers. Kai glanced up at Cole, who gave him a knowing look.

"Oh wow! I'm tired! Maybe I'll just lie on this very inconspicuous, body-shaped bump in my bed!" Kai said sarcastically. The blankets shook as muffled laughter sounded. Kai rolled his eyes and threw back his duvet, making Lloyd jump and stare at him in shock. "Okay, short-stuff, out you get." Kai jerked his head to the side.

"Aw, man!" Lloyd huffed, he swung his legs off the side of the bed and hopped off. "I really thought that would work!"

Kai tried to suppress another eye roll. "Uh-huh. Well, it's bedtime for you, so you better hit the hay before Wu finds you."

Lloyd gave Kai a grumpy look but shuffled out of the room, a pout on his face. Kai watched him leave before giving a disbelieving "Ha!" And went to spit out his toothpaste. When he returned he settled into bed, a smug look on his face.

Jay gave him a look. "Can't you just pretend to be scared?"

"Why would I do that?" Kai asked incredulously.

"I don't know? Maybe to make him smile?" Jay said like it was obvious. Kai could not care less about that. He made a pfft sound and turned off the light. Jay exchanged a look with Cole then settled into bed with a roll of his eyes. Kai will be Kai, sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.

****

"Lloyd?" Kai said the words as gently as he could, slowly pushing the door open.

Lloyd sat curled up in between a cabinet and the wall. His eyes were red and his nose was running, his green eyes glittering like gemstones with tears. The not-kid jumped when he saw Kai and hastily went to stand, only for his hips to get stuck resulting in him falling over and wedging himself back into the gap.

"Ow." Lloyd grimaced. "I used to be able to fit in here."

Kai grimaced. "Let me help you, buddy." Lloyd hissed in pain as Kai grasped his hands and hauled him out.

"Thanks." Lloyd flushed, a little embarrassed.

"Please, I've got you out of the washing machine. This is nothing." Kai waved him off. Lloyd snorted, wiping at his nose with his sleeve, a typical child-like gesture. Kai froze something cold settling in his stomach.

"Are you okay?" Kai whispered.

Lloyd shrugged one shoulder. "Guesso." He muttered.

"It's a yes or no question, Lloyd," Kai said sternly.

Lloyd stuck his tongue out at Kai and turned away. "Yes."

Kai clicked his tongue. "Wrong answer, liar."

Lloyd glared at him. "What's it to you? You only thought I was an annoying little kid until you found out I was The Green Ninja."

Kai winced. "That's fair."

Lloyd curled his lip and went to leave. Kai stopped him with a hand on the shoulder. "But I still cared for you, in my own way," Kai told him, he looked at Lloyd until he met his eyes. "You're family, Lloyd. You're feelings mean a lot to me."

Lloyd sighed. "I know." He gave a weak smile. "Thanks."

"No problem, Green-Bean." Kai punched him lightly in the shoulder. "And by the way, you are still an annoying little kid, whether you grew or not."

Lloyd scowled. "I am not!"

Kai laughed lightly. "It's time for dinner, loser, we should get going or else Cole will eat all our food."

Kai assumed that Lloyd was going to take a moment for himself since he didn't hear the other boy follow him. Unfortunately, for him, that assumption was his downfall. As Lloyd had crept up behind the ninja he leaped on his back with a big "BOO!" Kai let out a high pitched scream and Lloyd burst into laughter, hugging his arms around the brunettes neck as he snickered.

"I got you!" Lloyd said proudly.

Kai swallowed, his hand pressed against his racing heart. "Why did you do that?" He whined, his voice cracking.

Lloyd's eyes sparkled. "Because it's fun!" And then he turned and danced off to the dining area. Kai took a deep breath then slowly made his way after. The group raised their eyebrows at him. Obviously they had heard his scream.

Kai sat down and looked at Jay. "You know I only screamed to make him feel better, right?"

Jay smothered a laugh with a cough. "Sure, Kai." He said sarcastically. "Sureeeeee."

Kai's jaw dropped. "I did!"

"Sureeeeee-"

"Shut up."