~ Part 12~ | A Little Bit Of Advice

~*~*~*~
**   Firework (Katy Perry)**
~*~*~*~

"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper-thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from cavin' in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you?
'Cause there's a spark in you"

~ Katy Perry

(These lyrics are so amazing!)

This chapter is dedicated to @flooxii thank you for voting! :)

(comment or PM if you'd like a shoutout!)

******

"An interview?" Garmadon raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. His finger scrolled quickly through the articles, dismissing anything that wasn't important and saving files for later.

Skulkin, one of his followers, handled getting information. He was very dedicated to his job and would stop at no cost to get it. He cackled, the frail older man's dentures clattered around in his mouth. "The students want to talk about the fight near the shoe shop."

Garmadon snorted and tossed the tablet aside. The tall man sat up and laced his fingers together over his desk. "Where is Samukai? I thought he was keeping his eyes on the news channel."

"...He is being interrogated," Skulkin said nervously.

Garmadon just stared at him with an unreadable expression.

"...by the police."

Garmadon's eyes flashed but he didn't say anything. "Is there anything else I should be aware of?

"Uh... Master Chen is unable to have a meeting because he is having a spa day."

Garmadon's head fell into his hands and he let out a long, slow, shuddering exhale.

"If that is all I best get going," Garmadon grumbled. He stood, shoving back his chair with a screech and made to leave the room. Skulkin hurries after him, stumbling to tell him one more thing.

"He sent us some information before he got arrested!"

Garmadon only briefly paused. "Is it about our plan?"

"Uh... no."

"Is it about Wu?"

"....not exactly."

"Then why on earth would I be interested?"

Skulkin opened his mouth before closing it again. He raised a bony finger hesitatingly. "Because it's about Lloyd."

Garmadon waited for a beat. But nothing came. "Who?" Garmadon said impatiently.

"Lloyd. Your son." Skulkin reminded him, grabbing the tablet and typing quickly. He handed it to him and almost dropped it when Garmadon grabbed the device.

Garamadon's stone-cold heart seemed to have an unsettling feeling as he stared at the picture. It was an old one. Lloyd was perched on his hip, Misako embraced by his free arm. They were happy. A swell of sadness washed through him.

"What about him?" Garmadon said softly, reddish gaze barely leaving the image.

"He-uh-... is no longer at Darkley's." Skulkin drew out carefully.

Garmadon whipped around so violently that Skulkin went toppling backwards with a crack.

"WHAT?"

******

"I'm not going to change my hair!" Lloyd protested, his laughter was halfway between exasperated and amused.

"I swear, just let me trim a bit at the front or something! It looks like a bowl cut!" Nya teased and picked at the strands, making the boy swat her away.

The rest of the group at the breakfast table just stared, unsure how to react. They had all been shocked when the two had come laughing into the room and began having an actual conversation. They bickered and chatted like old friends, eating happily like everything was normal.

"This is NOT normal!" Jay hissed to Cole, waving his arms wildly. "One minute they were indifferent to each other, the next they're swapping friendship bracelets and having inside jokes!"

"Relax Jay," Kai leaned over and uneasily cast a glance at the two. "Maybe he's going hysterical from fever?"

"You're right." Jay nodded his head distractedly, face focused on the people before him. "She could be acting polite because he's dying!"

Zane's brow furrowed and he gave the two an odd look. "That's... not right."

Cole just said what they were both truly thinking. "What is wrong with you two?"

Master Wu stood, getting the student's attention as he grabbed his plate. "Please finish your meal and then get ready to start your studies."

Everyone made not-so-subtle sulking faces but reluctantly got up. Zane fed the rest of his bagel to the metal falcon. The boy smiled as it chewed and began to stand. Jay began to wonder how it ate.

Jay watched as Lloyd and Nya talked quietly to one and another before Lloyd exited and Nya stayed to do her turn at clearing the table. Jay hung back while the others left, nervously moving to pick up one of the plates so he wasn't just standing there.

Nya looked up and his heart fluttered as she gave him a warm smile. "Thank you, Jay."

"N-" Jay's voice cracked weirdly. He swallowed. "No problem!"

The raven-haired girl moved around him to go get the cutlery and Jay hastily trailed behind her. "So... Nya," Jay said, pausing when she turned around and placed the cutlery on his plate. "I noticed you and Lloyd are getting close."

Nya tilted her head and glanced at him. "Yeah. I think I'd consider us friends now."

Friends. Nothing more right? Jay tried to read her expression but she had already turned away. "Uh- what's he like?"

Nya rolled her eyes to the ceiling and laughed a little. It was one of the disbelieving laughs you did when someone was being ridiculous. Jay got that a lot from Cole.

"Honestly, you're all acting like tween girls right now." She shook her head in amusement. "Instead of going up to talk to him, you're just trying to gauge who he is from the one person he is talking to him."

"I've talked to him!" Jay's voice went high.

She simply took the dishes from him and gave him a look. "You need to find out for yourself. He's really fun to be with. Just give him a chance, maybe you'll find that he'll defy your expectations."

Nya then left towards the kitchen and left Jay there. He just stood in the dining room for a while.

"Maybe you'll find he'll defy your expectations." Her words echoed in his head. Strangely, that felt very familiar. That was all he had tried to do most of his life. Defy others' expectations. Jay's hand ran up towards his neck and his fingers skimmed along the faint scar over his collar bone.

Jay reached in his pocket, his fingers curled around something cool and metallic. He pulled his hand out and gazed down at the necklace. The tiny lightning bolt charm dancing in the light.

Maybe Lloyd already has defied his expectations. He was just too blind to notice.

******

Honestly, Kai had wanted to confront Lloyd about the green ninja thing. It was one of his deepest desires just to see his face pale as he waved the proof in front of his nose.

But unfortunately, Nya's words echoed in his ears. Maybe she was right. And if she was right, Kai sure as heck didn't want to prove that she was right.

Along with that Kai also had to worry about the interview that was happening. Kai could place himself in front of social media, flirt and wink a little, put on his confident self. But this was much more personal. And Kai was a closed-off person. He didn't like getting into his true, deep, thoughts and feelings.

So, speaking out in front of everyone on live television? That made him terrified.

And Zane was beginning to notice this. Some things were more noticeable, like Kai's constantly moving body or the way he got distracted more than usual during their partner project. But there was also the way he tossed and turned in the night or spent hours running over what he'd say with Nya and Jay.

Zane wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to do in this instance. At first, he just ignored it, figuring that the others would notice. But it appeared they were wrapped up themselves.

"I'm not sure what to do," Zane admitted quietly as he shifted the phone in his hand. "Kai is my friend but I don't want to cross a line by talking to him."

"Childlike suggests that you 'remind them that you're there to listen to them if they want to talk.'" Pixal told him, the sound of her carefully typing on the computer, rang through the speaker. "Of course I think this is in the situation of bullying... is he being bullied?"

"Not that I know of..." Zane glanced into their shared dorm where Kai was scribbling in his workbook again. He nibbled at the end of his pencil with anxiety.

"I wish I could help you more, Zane," Pixal said sincerely.

Zane couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Pixal, your advice is greatly appreciated."

Pixal said goodbye before the beeping noise rang through the cellphone, letting him know that she's hung up. Zane slipped his device into his pocket and pondered what to do for a moment before he pushed inside.

"Kai?" Zane called quietly. The boy looked up and hastily shut his book.

"Yeah?"

"Are... are you alright?" Zane awkwardly stood there. He tried to remember what Pixal said. "I am here to listen if you want to talk."

Kai sighed, flopping back on the bed dramatically. "I'm just stressing about the stupid interview. I don't like talking to people about all my... stuff, you know?"

Zane nodded and moved to sit on his bed. "Men often find it harder than women to open up about their emotions because of gender norms and media's encouragement of toxic masculinity."

Kai gave him a weird look. "Uh...yes...exactly."

"Don't think of it as revealing the entirety of your life but just reporting to a teacher about a bully," Zane advised him.

Kai sat up. "I guess...that makes it easier." The brunette thought for a moment more. "Yeah! I don't need to tell them any more than they need to know!"

He began to appear brighter, a wide smile adorned on his face. "Thanks, Buddy."

Zane returned the gesture with a grin of his own. He hesitantly tried to mimic the large shape. "You're welcome."

Kai squinted at him. "Is that what you were talking to Pixal about?"

Authors note****

A tad bit shorter than some of my other chapters but it's sort of more of a filler. I'm trying to pack in what I need before the big interview! As you can tell this part is much bigger than the first one. I sort of see Chapter One as the pilot episodes and Chapter Two is season one.

Also, THE BOOK'S AT 4K! It was just the last chapter that I announced was at 3K!!!! Thank you all so, so much!!!

There's more to come and I shall work on the book when I can. I've sort of promised I'd work on Heart Song but I still haven't done that. I also am working on a new chapter for Project Artificial Love, so the next chapter might come sooner or later.

Hope you enjoyed it! :)

LuckyBugBooks 🐞