At Chen's Noodle House, the air buzzed with nervous anticipation. Jay, perched precariously on a stool, fidgeted with his chopsticks, their clicking a rhythmic counterpoint to the clatter of dishes and the animated chatter of other patrons. His gaze kept darting towards the entrance, his heart doing a little flip every time the door creaked open.

Cole, seated across from him, noticed his friend's agitation. "Still haven't figured out what to ask her, huh?" he asked with a knowing grin.

Jay blushed, the red spreading across his cheeks like spilled chili sauce. "Well, it's not like I can just blurt out 'Hey Mia, why were you and Nelson MIA for the past two days and why did you sound like you were trapped in a monster movie?!'"

Cole chuckled. "Fair point. But you have to admit, it's strange they haven't shown up yet. The Falcon message was cryptic, to say the least."

Jay sighed, running a hand through his already messy hair. "I know. Maybe they got delayed? Maybe they found a new lead... a dangerous one."

"Or maybe," Kai chimed in, sliding into the booth beside them, "they just decided to skip out on training for a romantic getaway."

Jay rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Kai. That's ridiculous." Or was it? A pang of jealousy, sharp and unwelcome, stabbed at him. He trusted Mia, of course he did. But the thought of her and Nelson... well, it didn't sit right with him.

Not the fact that they liked each other, no! Nelson and Mia were happy together. It was the protecting thing that worried him.

They BOTH would go to great measures to keep the other safe. His hand went to Nya's who squeezed it tight.

He still remembered the time Nya turned to the sea. That was not pleasant.

Suddenly, the door chimed again, causing all the ninjas to turn. Their anticipation fizzled like a damp firework. It was only Skylor, slipping into the booth behind Kai and offering him a playful shove.

"Took you long enough," she teased. "Thought you were going to spend all afternoon with Zane practicing his battle cries."

"Zane's battle cries?" Cole burst into laughter. "Sounds terrifying."

As the conversation turned to Zane's latest quirk, Jay's gaze drifted back to the entrance. Disappointment gnawed at him. He wanted to see Mia, to hear her explain their sudden disappearance. He needed to know they were safe, that things were... normal.

Then, a thought struck him. Maybe the best way to find out what happened wasn't through direct questioning. Maybe a little... casual observation would be more revealing. He needed to be subtle, like a ninja on a recon mission.

A mischievous glint lit up his eyes. He leaned in towards Cole, a conspiratorial grin plastered on his face.

"Hey," he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur. "Remember that time we... well, you know..."

Cole's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Jay winked, cutting him off before he could elaborate. The past was the past, but a well-placed anecdote, especially a slightly embarrassing one, could be a powerful weapon in the art of subtle questioning.

"Just a thought," Jay added, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. Perhaps getting answers wouldn't be so difficult after all.

_________________________________________________________

" WHERE ARE THEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!" Jay yelled, pushing the door and letting out a loud scream.

" Woah, dude! Chill!" Cole said, running to his side.

" Yeah. This isn't healthy for you. At all." Kai agreed.

Jay shot him a withering look. " Since when did you become Mister Healthy?!" He asked.

Kai, stung by Jay's accusation, threw his hands up defensively. "Hey, I just value my eardrums, that's all. Besides, yelling isn't going to make them appear any faster."

Nya, ever the voice of reason, walked over and placed a calming hand on Jay's shoulder. "We understand you're worried, Jay. But Mia and Nelson are capable ninjas. They can handle themselves."

Jay, however, wasn't so easily appeased. He paced back and forth, his frustration clear on his face. "Capable or not, they shouldn't have gone radio silent for two days! And that cryptic message... it sounded like they were in some serious trouble!"

Cole, sensing Jay's rising panic, tried a different approach. "Look, maybe they just found something unexpected. Something that required their full attention."

"Unexpected like what?" Jay countered, stopping his pacing and turning to face them all. "A giant talking noodle monster with a taste for ninjas?"

A stifled laugh escaped Nya, but the others remained serious. The Falcon message had indeed been unsettling. The urgency in Mia's voice, the barely controlled fear, hinted at a danger beyond their usual encounters.

Just then, the door to Chen's Noodle House creaked open, causing all eyes to snap towards the entrance. A collective sigh of relief escaped their lips as they saw... not Mia and Nelson, but a familiar figure.

"Hello, La-Lloyd!" Garmadon exclaimed happily. " I have been looking for you, everywhere!"

" Dad....." Lloyd said, but Garmadon cut him off.

" Nono, let me speak. I just went to the bridal store, and I found these really nice shoes for you." Garmadon took them out, and Lloyd gasped.

They were heels.

Pink, flowery, velvet heels.

And they had really thin soles.

" Uh, dad.... I like the gesture and all, bu-"

" And this is the suit I got you! Sure, it's a little out of your style, but in a wedding, you've got to go above and beyond!" Garmadon continued.

" But-"

" Woah, woah, hold your horses! I-"

" Dad!" Lloyd exclaimed. " What are you wearing?!"

Garmadon looked unfazed.

" What? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

" Everything!"

Garmadon was wearing nothing but an underwear.

One frilly underwear.

One thin, pretty frilly underwear.

That came form Lloyd's closet.

And since Lloyd didn't have any type of underwear like that, it could only mean one thing.

It was Rumi's.

Garmadon, his father, took Rumi, his girlfriend's, underwear.

" Also, since we're onto my appearance, do I look creepy?"

Lloyd sighed. " Depends. How did you walk here?"

" I'll show you."

And Garmadon did. And at that moment, Lloyd regretted ever asking.

Because Garmadon walked like a monkey ( same stance as Kai when Wildfire light his clothes on fire and Lloyd had to use the spray bottle to extinguish it) and smiling  his creepy smile.

The air hung heavy with a mixture of horror, confusion, and a stifled giggle from Nya. Lloyd, his face flushed a deep shade of crimson, buried his head in his hands. He could practically feel his brain cells shrieking in protest at the visual assault his father had unleashed.

Meanwhile, Garmadon, oblivious to the chaos he'd caused, strutted further into the room, his legs performing a bizarre monkey-like walk that sent shivers down everyone's spines. It made Nya snort with laughter, earning her a withering glare from both Lloyd and Kai.

"See?" Garmadon declared proudly, striking a pose that could only be described as "awkwardly suggestive." "Looks perfectly natural, wouldn't you say?" His abs starting to pump, and Jay covered his eyes.

Cole, ever the diplomat, cleared his throat. "Uh, Lord Garmadon, perhaps those... garments... aren't quite what you were looking for?"

Garmadon's brow furrowed. He glanced down at the frilly monstrosity adorning his nether regions, then back at Cole with a mix of confusion and misplaced anger.

"What are you talking about, Cole ? This is perfect! Rumi will love it!"

Lloyd, his head still buried in his hands, mumbled something inaudible. Garmadon, however, seemed to take it as confirmation.

"Ah, yes, I know it's a surprise. But trust me, son, when it comes to romance, a little... unorthodox approach is key!" He puffed out his chest, somehow managing to make the sight even more comical.

Jay, unable to contain himself any longer, burst out laughing. The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a wave of much-needed amusement. Even Kai cracked a smile, his previous annoyance forgotten.

"Alright, alright," Lloyd finally managed to say, lifting his head and wiping a tear from his eye. "Let's get you out of those, Dad. And maybe explain a few things about... appropriate attire."

Garmadon, though bewildered, seemed willing to cooperate. As Lloyd ushered him towards the back of the restaurant, the ninjas watched them go, the tension replaced by a sense of bewildered amusement.

"Well," Nya said, wiping another tear from her eye (this time from laughter), "that was... certainly an unexpected interruption."

"At least it took our minds off Mia and Nelson for a bit," Cole added. However, the worry still lingered in their eyes.

" Don't worry," Nya said, hugging Jay. " They're fine. What if they're enjoying a niiiiiiiice cup of cocoa?" 

Jay smiled. That did seem to make his feel better. And, on the plus side, it gave Mia and Nelson more time to find Wu. Jay relieved and more time. It was a win-win. Well, sort of.