It's not strange, so to speak, for Lloyd to disappear again, but that doesn't mean that Kai cares less.

Zane reminds them that it is normal for Lloyd to want to be alone occasionally. It's only been a few weeks since ... well, Kai doesn't mean disaster, or fiasco, maybe more like ... fight? Whatever the appropriate term for: "We came out alive, but now we are emotionally and physically knocked out since the fight at Stiix."

However, Lloyd is the only one who is truly knocked out. Even Cole is on the mend remarkably fast, though he occasionally relapses from remembering what he is like now. But the difference is that Cole talks about it - he's stopped internalizing it and pretending he's okay when he relapses. He talks to his brothers or to Sensei Wu when he does, or he breaks whatever he sees and then talks to one of them.

Lloyd just disappears, which, as far as Kai is concerned, is a terrible coping method, because he's spent the last few weeks with Lloyd's absence. And yes, he understands that people need space, and healing takes time, but he gave Lloyd enough after Garmadon died the first time. Lloyd has given himself a lot of space and I've been running from his problems and everyone forever, but Kai is going to draw a line this time around all of this to slip away during the worst of the summer storms.

And sure, his little brother is quite capable of taking care of himself, but he's talking about Lloyd. He could perhaps slip into a puddle and fall off a cliff at this point, or get mugged by some random madman seeking revenge, or be lured to his death by more dangerous and evil ghosts.

Kai may be a bit overprotective, but it's Lloyd he's worried about right now. And Kai didn't spend the last few weeks freaking out with worry just from losing him to a little wind and rain.

Okay, lots of wind and rain, Kai decides, looking through the torrential downpour all around him. Hell, he should have brought Nya. Or an umbrella. His poor rain jacket is not enough to protect his hair, Kai thinks sadly, gliding over the small streams of water that run down his face.

At least it's almost there. You can feel the subtle influence that Lloyd's power brings to yours a little stronger now, even if the usual green glow feels a little dimmer than usual. Kai squints in the rain again, the outline of the abandoned tea shop taking shape in front of him.

Or rather, the forest of the old Garmadon monastery.

Kai bites his lip. It would be nice if Lloyd had decided to go in, where it's hot and dry and ... where it's not wet, but Kai is just very lucky. Sure enough, it catches a flash of green through the rain, removed from the main house. Kai sighs and starts walking towards him.

Lloyd sits with his knees close to his chest, huddled on the porch of one of the boarded-up houses, barely protected from the storm. At first he didn't seem to notice Kai's presence, the hood of his jacket covered his head as he stared at the storm with a blank stare. It's not until Kai sits next to him, dripping rainwater everywhere and grumpily pushing his hair back, that Lloyd now slides in a bit so that Kai can comfortably sit next to him, without taking his eyes off the rain.

Kai sits there silently next to him for a moment, the sound of heavy rain against the wood of the roof, and the winds occasionally blowing small jets of raindrops on their faces. Kai takes a long look at Lloyd, trying to decide if this is a kind of situation that is really bothering him and he hasn't realized it.

Or maybe it's a lot of difficult situations that you haven't even realized yet.

- Are you okay, dwarf? Kai finally asks, bumping into the question without preamble. However, he never had to be watched by Lloyd. This is how they work: they tell each other everything, and if someone does not, they take it out of the other with all the delicacy that they can.

Lloyd shrugs - If I say "fine", are you going to go? -

"Hmph," Kai growls, even while grimacing internally. As much as Lloyd needs to stop blatantly lying, Kai's reactions are probably doing more damage than he thought. But you're worried, okay? - What attitude, who did you learn that from? Jay or what? -

- Of course not -

- Well, I did not teach you to be that rude -

- No, but I learned from your grumpy attitude -

- Really ?, Well now if I feel bad. If Nya heard you say that, she would surely hang me -

"I don't doubt that," Lloyd says, nudging him by the shoulder. However, it is a light touch that barely moves Kai. Lloyd leans back, his head turning to the horizon. A flash of lightning pierces the blackened sky, followed by a burst of thunder that shakes the old walls of the monastery.

- Hey ... Kai ...? - Lloyd says, in a low voice.

- Yes? -

- Did you ever grieve ...? - Lloyd takes a breath - In what would have happened if I were ...? -

Kai frowns - If you weren't? -

- The Green Ninja - says Lloyd, his voice even calmer - What would have happened if I was not the chosen one? What if it was one of you? -

Kai's frown deepens. He doesn't like the way Lloyd says those questions - Well ... some things would have been different - says Kai - I mean, imagine if it had been Jay, for sure now we would all be on the verge of ... -

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Lloyd says, looking at him.

Kai feels a little guilty now - Yes, I know. Why don't you explain yourself better so that I understand it? -

- When ... when Morro was in my head-- - Lloyd stops, blinking angrily and looking forward - He showed me that no one loved me before I was the Green Ninja. So if I ... if it hadn't been me, I would have been like him, right? S-Alone, with no one by my side, and being someone who hurts people without any meaning-- -

- Okay, stop there right now - Kai says, trying to strangle multiple emotions at once before they turn into something that will probably scare Lloyd - Why do you think nobody wanted you before you were the one in the first place? Green Ninja? Did Morro really tell you that? Because I'm still willing to take the Realm crystal to maybe go to the Deceased Realm and find that guy to teach him a new lesson -

"Kai" Lloyd stares at him with hollow eyes, the dark rings underneath showing even more.

"Well, I think I made it even worse," Kai thinks.

It's true, Lloyd had a hard life. Since he was a child, he lived believing that his parents had abandoned him. Lloyd grew up in a school full of wicked kids. You have abandonment problems. These are all very understandable reasons for him to think that, even that breaks Kai's heart believing that Lloyd still doesn't trust him.

No, that's not all. For example: Nya needs to remind herself that it is okay to fail sometimes. Cole needs to remember that he is not a disappointment. Jay needs to remember that it is good to be himself. And Zane needs to remind himself that he's not just a machine.

And Lloyd needs to remember that all is not lost just because he didn't get what he wanted, that's all.

- I wouldn't risk my life just for the Green Ninja - Kai says, finally - However, I would risk it just for "Lloyd" -

Lloyd starts looking at Kai with wide eyes. "Huh?" -

- I don't care about anything the prophecy says - Kai says firmly - I care more about my family. Not only did I save the Green Ninja from the Fire Temple that time, I also saved my spoiled little brother. He was the one I really saved. I don't care if you have all the power of the First Spinjitzu Master or if you can't even land a hit on Jay. I saved you as you really are, okay? Save the boy who has a squeaky voice which wakes me up at two in the morning just because he had a nightmare. Green Ninja or not, I'll take care of you whatever happens. And I will always be by your side, do not doubt that -

Lloyd's eyes were watery now, and his lip trembled. Kai shakes his head and grabs Lloyd by the shoulder, pulling him tightly towards him. Lloyd hugs him almost instantly, clinging to him like he's afraid Kai will pull away from him.

- And I'm sorry if he was annoying with you the first time we met. That day, without a doubt, was the worst mistake of my life. And I apologize for that - Kai apologizes with a weak smile.

Kai ruffles LLoyd's hair, looks up into the pouring rain, and ignores the slight moisture seeping into his shirt where Lloyd's head is pressed against him. Take a shaky breath, blinking hard.

You really, really have to stop losing this kid. Maybe I should lock him up somewhere, like in a giant bulletproof, ghost-proof, and dark-lord-proof safe. Maybe they should buy a house several hundred miles away, so that the next time a power-hungry enemy appears looking to try to hurt their little brother, they are already too far away to keep him out of harm's way, because that way everyone would be safe and without any danger in the distance, enjoying several calmer and happier moments, and leading at least a normal life like everyone else.

Lloyd's breathing finally evens out, and he shakes his head so he's no longer buried in Kai's shirt, staring at the storm instead as the cold wind dries the moisture on his cheeks.

- Just so you know ... my voice is not so shrill ... - Lloyd finally says, with a nasal voice.

"Uh-huh," Kai says, grinning as he squeezes Lloyd a little tighter for a second.

The wind grows a little stronger, the trees creak around them as they bend and sway against the gales. Raindrops fall on Kai's cheek, and he trembles. Beside him, Lloyd closes his eyes, the wind blows Lloyd's blond locks a lot and makes him shiver slightly from the cold.

- Are you sure you still want to stay out here? - Kai asks, while the wind howls.

- I like the rain - says Lloyd, in a low voice - I think it calms me down, so I like to be outside to see how the water falls from the sky -

"Okay," says Kai.

- You don't mind that you're getting wet? You could catch a cold you know? -

Kai looks at him. A slight smile forms on his lips as he watches the concerned and innocent expression on Lloyd's face.

- Look who's talking, calm down, I'll be fine. After all I wouldn't want to leave you alone out here, it could be dangerous for you - he says, moving slightly and wrapping his arm around his brother, watching the storm pass.

Finally, Lloyd is feeling fine now. Because he knows that he will not be alone, because he has his best friend and older brother by his side. Everything can be fine after all.