Rest in peace, Kirby Morrow. You will be missed.

Nya's POV

I pushed Jay's hand off the door handle. "But I don't wanna go," I pouted.

"But you want to, you just don't know it."

"Please?" I said, giving him the best puppy eyes I could.

He took a step back, looking away. "You can't use puppy eyes, that's cheating!"

I smirked internally as I took another step towards him. "Pretty please?" I begged yet again, practically touching noses with him.

He finally turned to me, his face falling as he bit his lip. "Um... I—"

The door swung open to reveal Lloyd on the other side. "Am I... interrupting something?"

He was wearing an apron over his usual green clothes, but what really surprised me was his... hat (if you can even call it that). It was like a strange, giant teapot on his head.

He eyed us curiously as I pulled away, sighing in defeat. "Nothing," I said bitterly while Jay shrugged behind me.

"Oh, okay. Well, uncle Wu is waiting for you in the back."

"Lovely," I hissed not so discreetly.

Why do I need Lloyd's uncle of all people to help me? I've been dealing with... that for a year, I think I can help myself on my own.

When I went inside 'Wu's Teas', everything seemed... strange.

There were no other customers, first of all. The shop was completely empty, aside from Lloyd and... Cole?

He was just sitting on one of the corner tables, his arms and legs both crossed as he rested his head on the table. I mean, I get that Lloyd works here, but shouldn't Cole be in his classes?

"Hey, Cole!" I waved at him with a smile.

He didn't utter a word, turning his head to face the wall. That's when I noticed he was wearing headphones.

Lloyd placed his hand on my shoulder. "He lost someone close to him yesterday."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Let's just... leave him some space for a bit."

I nodded slowly as he led me towards the counter, guiding me through the back door.

I looked back to see Jay awkwardly hovering above Cole at the table. I guess I should leave them alone for now.

As the door opened, I was greeted by a small storage room that smelled like every tea flavour combined. In the middle of the room stood a weird kotatsu table with a few pillows surrounding it.

Of course, I couldn't ignore the main attraction of the room, uncle Wu himself.

He was stroking his long, white beard, rocking the casual straw hat he's been wearing for I don't even know how long and pouring his tea from his iconic blue teapot. Yup, same as always.

"Welcome, Nya. You've changed," he smiled at me.

I heard a click as Lloyd left the room, closing the door behind him. Great.

"So, where shall we start?" Wu told me, offering me a cup of tea.

I hesitantly took it, taking a small sip. "There's no need to talk about anything. Everything's fine," I said, flashing him with a forced smile.

He chuckled. "I've seen that smile before, you know. I used to show it to my father all the time when I did something wrong."

"That's... interesting. Can you tell me more about it?" Anything to avoid the topic, Nya.

"Actually, I'm interested in learning more about you."

"Everything's fine. Honest."

He eyed me curiously. "Then you wouldn't mind me asking a few questions, is that so?" he stroke his beard almost menacingly.

Dang, he's good.

"Of course not," I said behind greeted teeth.

"Alright, let's begin then," he said, tapping his wooden stick on the ground, "how are you enjoying your time in the city so far?"

Oh. That's... fine, I guess.

"Pretty okay, actually. I got to catch up with some old friends and... yeah."

"I've always been very proud of Lloyd and his friends. I'm glad they've been so nice to you," he told me. "Say, Nya, how did you feel when you first saw them?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Happy, I guess. What else would I feel?"

"Well, no need to rush on answering... Did you feel relieved in some way? Insecure, perhaps?"

I bit my lip. What was I supposed to say? "I don't know, actually."

"Well, let's start with a simple question. How do you feel about boys?"

"Well, I'm straight, as far as I know—"

He shook his head. "I did not mean... that. I meant it more generally, as in, how do you feel around boys?"

I didn't have an answer. I never thought of that if I'm going to be honest. Should I really open up to some old man I barely even knew? Well, to be fair, I did know him.

I used to go to this tea shop all the time when I still went to high school. It was my favourite place to hang out at (aside from Chen's Noodle House, of course). Sometimes, Wu would make us serve or do the dishes since we wanted to help so much (even though we all did it for extra credit on a project about doing good deeds). We should have probably told him that, actually.

"Nya? It's alright if you don't want to talk about it yet."

"Well, boys are nice." And kind of weird, but I'm not complaining. "Some boys make me feel... uncomfortable."

"Can you give me an example?"

I sighed. I know what the obvious answer is; but do I really want to say it? If I were to keep remembering him over and over, how can I ever move on from everything he's put me through?

Another person comes to mind.

"Jay Walker."

Jay's POV

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright on your own?" I asked Cole, patting his shoulder. Poor guy.

He simply plugged in his earbuds, giving me a slow nod. He didn't say a word as he left.

I sighed, my shoulders lowering as I sunk into my seat. At least Nya's doing well in there, right?

"Uh, Jay?"

I woke up to Lloyd shaking my shoulder. "What?"

"Aren't you supposed to be in the tech shop or something?" he said casually as he continued to sweep the floor.

Oh no.

I stood up, shaking my head. "You're right! Oh, gosh, Turner's gonna be so mad at me!" Griffin is already mad enough, I can't just anger him even more!

Just as I reached the door, the handle flickered. As the bell above the entrance rang, I stepped back.

Oh no.

"Uh, sorry, we're closed today..." Lloyd told him quickly.

At least I'll have someone witness my murder—

"Where is she?" he grabbed me by my shirt collar, almost choking me.

Just man up, Jay. "She has a name."

He rolled his eyes, tossing me into one of the tables—

"Jay!" Lloyd ran over to me, picking the fallen chair from my head. Everything feels... dizzy.

"Morro, get out!" Lloyd yelled at him.

"I won't go anywhere until you tell me where the hell she is. You've kidnapped my girlfriend you psychos!"

I stood up, ignoring my probably bleeding forehead. "Oh, really? You gave her bruises and we're the psychos?" I spat out. "I'll have you know that according to the Official Ninjago Law Book, page fifty-six, section eight, paragraph one that—"

He threw his fist at me, but luckily, Lloyd caught it just in time. "Jay, for the love of the FSM and everything that's up there, shut up and go get uncle Wu!"

"Right, Wu!" I quickly adjusted myself and went in the back room.

I swung the door open, quickly pulling him up.

"Wu, we sort of have a really be problem with, uh..." my eyes hovered to Nya, who was staring at us curiously, "we have a health inspector in here!"

Wu nodded, letting me lead the way. "Please, show me."

I led him outside and quickly closed the door on Nya's face.

Once he saw Morro's face, however, he looked... disappointed?

"Leave this shop at once," he slammed his stick on the ground.

Morro turned to him, his eyes widening. He let go of Lloyd, coming closer to him. "Sensei? You're on their side too?"

"Hold up, you know each other?" I exclaimed.

"Unfortunately, yes."

I chuckled a bit.

Morro frowned, his fists clenching. But just before he could connect the hit, he collapsed onto the ground.

Wu removed his fingers from the pulse on his neck, dusting his coat off.

"Wait, what?"

"My father taught that to me. He was very good at... relaxing your muscles," he stroked his beard with a smile. "Lloyd, please call the police for vandalism and attempted assault."

"With pleasure, uncle."

That was... fast. Everything happened so, so fast.

I heard a click.

Not now.

"Hey, Nya!" I said, wrapping my arms around her and tucking her head in my chest. She shouldn't be able to see anything from here, right? Am I tall enough for this?

"Um, hi. I heard some shouting and I thought it was—"

"Nope, it wasn't your ex."

"Boyfriend—"

"Ex-boyfriend. He's broken up with you, remember?"

"No, he hasn't."

I directed her inside the room, keeping her close. This is... awkward. But also nice, I guess.

Who am I kidding of? This feels amazing.

"Yes, he has, Nya," I said, discreetly closing the door with my foot.

"Um, Jay?"

Okay, at least she's changing the subject...

"Yeah?"

"Can I work in the tech shop with you?"