I must of drifted off because I woke up drowsy and disoriented.
I released a strained breath as I stretched, throwing my limbs out over my mattress.
It wasn't until I inhaled through my nose with my face pressed against the pillow did I realise that it wasn't the usual smell of my pillow. It was of life. Springtime, lush green fields and bubbling creeks.
Lloyd.
I smiled, gliding my hand across the duvet to scout out the man who unintentionally had me wrapped around his pinky. My eyelids shot open when I found no one there, sitting up so fast in a panic, it made my head spin.

"Relax," came his voice from the other side of the room. I glanced over to spot Lloyd staring out the window. He turned to me, a content smile on his face. "I'm not going anywhere."
I released a relieved sigh, falling back onto his pillow as I closed my eyes.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
"Don't be," Lloyd replied, his voice closer despite me not being able to hear his footsteps. "I can't imagine how scared you must've been. I'm sorry."
I sent Lloyd a ludicrous look. Me? What about him?
"Me scared? You... god, Lloyd. I was scared, but you..."
Lloyd smiled softly, kneeling before the bed and shifting a lock of my hair, twirling it between his nimble fingers.
"It's in the past now," he said, though I could still see a little bit of fear in his eyes. His fingers ever-so-slightly shook. "We slept through dinner. Wanna get a midnight snack?"
My lips pulled into a smile.
"You read my mind."

As we padded down the still, dark hallway towards the kitchen with Lloyd pulling me along, I couldn't help but nervously fist the material of his hoody in my hand, biting my lip as I stared at the back of his head. Lloyd did a good job at hiding his emotions and that worried me. Just how affected was he really from being possessed? It must've been a terrifying experience, but he was acting as if it was just a walk in the park for him.
I got it. I understood him. After all, he's Lloyd Garmadon. Bullied because of his father. Hiding his emotions would be a daily occurrence, especially through school. It's his safeguard.
My eyes slid to our linked hands.
I could only hope that one day, he'd trust me enough to let down his guard.

Lloyd flicked on the kitchen light as we entered the room before swinging open the fridge door while I leant against the counter next to him. Lloyd peered in, scanning the shelves.
"Well..." he said as he straightened, throwing me an amused smile from over the door. "Looks like we've got leftover pizza or toast."
I grinned as I crossed my arms.
"Leftover pizza sounds spiffing," I said playfully, a hidden attempt to get Lloyd to calm down because I could tell he wasn't very calm. The thought that he may have woken from a nightmare flashed across my mind.
"Great," Lloyd replied before grabbing the plate and shoving it into the microwave. When the timer was set and the pizza began to heat up, we stood in silence for a few seconds before Lloyd glanced at the hoody I had on.

"When you said to expect my hoody back never, I didn't realise you were going to be serious," Lloyd chuckled. My eyes shot to the green material before I shook my head.
"This is a different one," I replied with a shrug. "You left it at Steep Wisdom."
Lloyd's eyebrows rose.
"Oh," he said, taken aback, before his lips quirked into an amused smirk. "What, one isn't enough?"
I tilted my head to the side and sent him a half-lidded, beguiled look.
"Not unless I got the real thing," I shrugged, smile widening when Lloyd laughed at my comment. The microwave suddenly beeped, making Lloyd hide a flinch and glance at it before sending me a lopsided grin.
"Wanna eat on the deck?"
I shrugged, grabbing the plate of pizza.
"Why not? It's a clear night, right? We can watch the stars."

Lloyd grinned as we walked towards the exit for the deck.
"Isn't that just romantic?" he teased. I huffed an amused breath as he held the door open for me. I ducked under his arm, sending him a look.
"Or I can turn around and we'll just have to eat in your room."
"That's kinky."
I stumbled over my foot, making Lloyd shoot out his hands to grab my shoulders and steady me. I turned my head to send him an exasperated glare as I regained my balance.
"Why?" I breathed, shaking my head. "Why are you like this?"
Lloyd just shrugged before guiding me down the steps towards the moonlit deck. We blindly walked a few paces to the middle before taking a seat and grabbing a slice of pizza each.

"What do you know about constellations?" Lloyd asked as we stared at the millions upon millions of stars while chewing on pizza. I shook my head.
"Not much."
I could almost hear Lloyd grinning as he randomly pointed out to the sky.
"That's the First Spinjitzu Master," he announced. I squinted my eyes, trying to decipher the Braille-like stars. "And that's... the, uh, grundle..! I... I hate the grundle..."
I squinted my eyes before turning my confused glare to Lloyd.
"That's not a constellation."
Lloyd furiously nodded, trying to get me to believe him.
"Yes, it is!" he insisted, pointing out to the stars again. "They're all absolutely, one hundred percent real!"
I grinned, knitting my eyebrows together in disbelief.
"Really?" I said, my foot bobbing as I leant back on my hands and crossed my thighs. "Okay, hit me with some more of your astronomy knowledge."

Lloyd took no time before pointing at small group.
"That's the Green Ninja," he immediately noted smugly before turning to another random cluster of stars. "And that's the Green Ninja's lovely fair maiden, whom he's absolutely head over heels for." Ohmygodohmyg-
"Okay, now you're just making that up," I said, my face furiously heating. Lloyd sent me a faux, deadly serious expression.
"Making it up?" he echoed, as if the idea was absolutely preposterous. "The very thought wounds me. Do you not trust my words?"
I snorted, shoving his shoulder.
"Not when your words are stupid."
"They're not stupid."
"They're about as stupid as your face."
Lloyd violently gasped, holding a hand over his mouth dramatically.
"You take that back!"
I grinned, shaking my head.
"Nuh-uh."

Lloyd leapt out, clasping his hands on my shoulder and the back of my head as the weight of him made me topple over with a shriek. Lloyd hovered over me, his outline glowing and strands of his hair highlighted in silver from the moon. I parted my lips in awe as my heart leapt up my throat. Lloyd calmed down, his previous energy burst making way for tender gentleness, stroking my cheek with a finger.
"You're extraordinary," he whispered. My heart stumbled.
I cupped his cheek, smiling softly.
"If I'm extraordinary, then you're out of this world."

Lloyd hissed a laugh through his teeth.
"Smooth," he complimented, shifting his weight so he was more comfortable.
"Thanks," I said. "I was able to come up with a few pick-up lines over the course of the week."
Lloyd grinned, lowering his head towards mine. His blonde hair brushed against my face tantalisingly lightly, making a pleasant shiver run down my spine.
"I'd ask you to recite them for me," Lloyd began in a hushed voice as his face inched closer ever-so-slowly. "But right now, I just really want to kiss you."
I felt my heart flip and began to beat double time when he said that. I felt the corner of my lips tilt upwards slightly.
"Then kiss me."

Lloyd didn't need convincing. I inhaled sharply just as his eyelids fluttered close and he placed his lips on mine.
I was immediately swallowed up in the kiss, shifting my hand to thread through his blonde locks as my other senses dimmed. I lifted myself up with my free arm, leaning my weight on my palm as I pressed Lloyd's head against mine, lips locked and passion reverberating through our veins. Anger, loss, hurt, yearning, love. All those emotions from the week passed between us as we clung onto each other, hearts synchronised and breathing laboured.
I would've happily stayed there on deck until sun up, but Lloyd suddenly ripped away, clutching his head and hissing in pain, eyes clenched shut. I worriedly placed my hands on his shoulders, panic bubbling in my stomach.
"Lloyd?" I asked, fear rising up my throat. It felt like a slug. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"My... head," he grunted, his fingers clenching into fists. It looked like he was going to rip out his hair. "It hurts!"
"Shit, shit, shit," I mumbled to myself, standing before helping Lloyd to his feet. "C'mon Lloyd. Let's get you a glass of water."
Lloyd stumbled alongside me, resting his weight on my shoulder as I guided him up the stairs and to the kitchen. He transferred his weight to the countertop, clutching the polished granite with so much pressure, it cracked under his fingers. I faltered for a second, thinking holy shit, before grabbing a glass and filling it with water. I offered it to him and he took it instantly, chugging half of the water before slamming it back onto the counter, trembling violently.
The glass in his hand suddenly shattered under his grip. I gasped, stepping back as a shard sliced my arm, making me grit my teeth and clutch at the cut. Lloyd glanced at me from where he was cowering over the counter, his hand thoroughly bleeding.

"Lloyd-" I went to reach for him, but his bloody hand shot out to stop my advance just as ice began to crack beneath his feet and lightning to spark across his torso. I inhaled sharply in shock, what the-
"Lloyd!" came Garmadon's voice from the doorway. I whipped around on my feet, shooting Garmadon a desperate look.
"What's going on?" I cried as Lloyd's dad entered hurriedly, approaching his son with utmost caution. Misako appeared at the entrance before she gasped, running up to my side.
"He appears to be experiencing withdrawals," Garmadon explained as he placed two fingers on Lloyd's neck, trying to find the correct spot. "It's nothing serious-"
"It looks pretty serious to me!" Misako challenged, taking the words right out of my mouth.
"He's experiencing an overwhelming amount of power, accessing elemental abilities he has yet to unlock," Garmadon continued to elaborate, nodding to the spark of fire that escaped Lloyd's clenched fist.
"I just need to find-" Garmadon said in deep concentration before finding the correct spot on Lloyd's neck and pushing against the nerves. He instantly slumped, out cold. Holy shit.

"There," Garmadon huffed as he grabbed Lloyd before he could hit the ground. "It's just something we have to wait off."
I stared at Lloyd's parted lips as he heaved, turning my gaze to his darting eyelids. I frowned, knotting my fingers together.
"How long will it take?" I asked hesitantly, worriedly switching my gaze from Lloyd to Garmadon. "How often does it happen?"
"Not often," Garmadon shook his head as he began to haul Lloyd towards the exit. I quickly ducked in to help, throwing Lloyd's arm around my shoulder and providing extra support as we began making our way back to Lloyd's room. "He shouldn't experience anything this bad again. He may get a fever. A couple of short headaches in the next coming of hours. Nothing either of you can't handle."
So, looks like I'm playing nurse again.
I sighed, nodding in acknowledgement before entering his room and setting the unconscious blonde on his bed.

"I'll see you in the morning," Garmadon nodded. "If anything happens, just shout. Misako's a light sleeper."
Lloyd's parents bid me adieu and retreated to their room before I ducked out of Lloyd's bedroom to grab a hand towel from the bathroom and dunk it under the tap. I returned swiftly, crossing my legs and lifting Lloyd's head onto my lap, the only light coming from his bedside lamp.
"Oh, Lloyd," I sighed as I dabbed his heating forehead the the damp towel. "You're lucky I adore you, otherwise I'd consider you more trouble than you're worth."

My suspicion that Lloyd was having nightmares was entirely correct. There's nothing worse than watching, helpless, as he withered in his sleep. My soothing words and stroking hands on his cheeks did nothing to stop his inner demons.
They'd come and go, short bursts of Lloyd mumbling incoherently while his temperature fluctuated. It made me sick to my stomach to see him in so much pain.
He woke a few hours later, just as the sun began to peek over the horizon and flood the room in a pinky-golden hue through the window. He clutched at the duvet, shifting his position to find a more comfortable spot. He simply stared at the ground while I twirled a lock of his hair in my fingers.

"I'm sorry for your arm," he rasped. I shrugged.
"Repayment when you were stabbed in the arm," I replied with an uncaring grin. A ghost of a smile played on Lloyd's lips. "... what was that? Your dad kind of explained it but I'm still a little confused."
Lloyd released a breath as he turned his gaze to stare thoughtfully at the ceiling.
"It's... kind of like stored up energy," he explained. "It happens when I don't use my powers much, but it's never been that bad. Because Morro possessed me and I didn't use my powers, I..."
"Burst," I finished softly. Lloyd's emerald eyes flickered to my face.
"Yeah."

I sighed, stroking my fingers down his cheek and tracing his chin.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Lloyd shrugged, sitting up from my lap and making me drop my hand back to my lap. He rubbed the back of his neck guiltily.
"It never really occurred to me," he replied. "I always use my powers so the chances of anything like this happening were astronomically low."
I stared at his face as he found my eyes once more.
"Why didn't you tell me when you got back to us?"
Lloyd paused, softly frowning at the duvet.
"I didn't want you to worry."
I closed my eyes, releasing a breath through my nose as I scooched forward to bring him into a hug. He fell against my chest, wrapping his arms around my waist as I dug my face into his hair.
"Lloyd, I'm always going to worry about you. Just... tell me these things, okay? You can trust me."
Lloyd's gaze flickered to the crayon scribbles on his wall.
"... of course."

It was mid-morning by the time we got back to Steep Wisdom. We were out on the deck, lapping up the sun while we could before the inevitable battle between the ghosts and us began.
Lloyd, who was feeling much better thank god, squeezed my hand as the Bounty landed. However, Kai wasn't so pleased.
"Shouldn't we be going to Stiix?" he asked as we disembarked the Bounty. "The longer we wait, the worse it'll get."
Wu turned to Kai and sent him a warning look.
"We need to stock up."

"On what?" Jay asked as we began to approach the store. I tilted my head in confusion at the large, red X painted on the front doors. "Magic tea that'll make us invincible? Give us special powers?! Is it going to give us four arms?!"
Garmadon sent Jay and unimpressed look. I muffled a snicker, hiding my face into Lloyd's shoulder. He had to change back into his gi, which had dried overnight. I swapped the hoody I'd been wearing for a new one of his. Lloyd just stared in amusement when I snagged it from his closet.
"I am within hearing range, Jay," Garmadon reminded, frowning. Jay snickered.
"I know."

"Sadly, no magical tea today," Wu declined as we approached the closed shop. "I had to sell the rest of the merchandise along with everything else."
I released a depressed breath as Lloyd tightened his arm around my waist in shock.
"What?" Zane asked in disbelief, sending Wu a baffled look. "You sold your business? But that was for your retirement!"
Before Wu could console us, the front doors suddenly burst open and out wheeled none other than Cyrus Borg himself holy shi-
"Ah! Hello again, ninja," he greeted with a wide smiled. I glanced to the others, who all had their hoods removed. Oh. So he knows who they are. Huh.
"While we were away, I had Borg use the money from the tea farm to create us some new toys to balance the scales," Wu explained as he and Lloyd's parents stood behind Borg as he wheeled his wheelchair closer. He's shorter in real life. "They are expensive, you know."

"It's been so long, I hardly recognise any of you!" Borg said with a grin, glancing at the group before he stopped his gaze at Lloyd and I. "Lloyd... has a girlfriend?"
Lloyd and I groaned.
"Why does everybody keep saying that?" Lloyd asked exasperatedly. I shrugged, shaking my head and at a loss. "I don't know."
"Maybe it's 'cause you got your arm around her, loverboy," Kai called. Lloyd recoiled his arm instantly as our faces burnt furiously. Borg huh'd before continuing, sweeping his gaze to Nya.
"I see a water ninja! A titanium nindroid! Cole is..." Borg paused. "A- a ghost!"
Cole furrowed his brow.
"Jay looks shorter and... and then there's Kai."
I snorted. Jay stepped forward, frowning.
"Hey... w- what do you mean I look shorter?"

Ever the impatient, Kai approached Borg, ignoring Jay's complaint.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Borg, but cut to the chase?" he requested earnestly. "We don't have much time."
"Always the impatient one," Borg chuckled, unfazed at Kai's demanding tone as he wheeled back into the shop and reached out with his arm to punch a button that was around the corner. "Come, let me show you."
Just as the button was pushed, the ground beneath our feet began to rumble before lowering. We scrambled to safety, turning to watch as the sandstone circular courtyard slid away and split, being replaced with a ascending platform that held various different vehicles and weapons.

"Now if you want a little muscle with that hustle, I've made Jay a Lightning-fast Ghost-Taker GT," Borg announced and Jay looked like he was in love with the blue armoured vehicle. Borg continued to explain it as Lloyd gently placed a hand on my shoulder and steered me back a few paces.
"What?" I asked as Lloyd glanced at his team before his green eyes landed on me again.
"I want you to stay here," he said sternly. I furrowed my brow. "I don't want you coming with us."
I suddenly scowled, taking Lloyd by surprise.
"Like hell!" I replied, voice hushed but strong. "I spent a week not even knowing if you were okay or going to come back to me. I'm not leaving you again."
Lloyd placed his other hand on my shoulder, desperate.
"Y/n!" he pleaded. "I don't want you to get hurt."
I folded my arms, fists clenched.
"I'm not going to!" I shot back. "I'm not staying here like- like some... war wife!"
Lloyd looked like he was going to argue in return but I bet him to the chase.
"Look," I sighed. "I know I can't fight so I'll stay on the sidelines. But I'm coming with. You can't stop me."

"Do you even know what the preeminent is?" Lloyd asked, shaking his head. My scowl deepened.
"No! Does that matter? I'm still coming with you."
Lloyd closed his eyes and released a heavy breath. He knew he wasn't going to convince me otherwise.
"Fine," he said, sounding a little exhausted. His eyelids flew open and he sent me a stern, non-negotiable look. "But no engaging the enemy."
"No engaging the enemy," I echoed, though not entirely sure if I was promising it or not.
Lloyd seemed content (or the very least, looking like there was no other way) with our little agreement, letting a tiny smile grace his lips. With our cafluffle out of my head, I sent him a worried look.
"Are you feeling better?"
Lloyd made a so/so gesture with his hand. I sighed.
"We should join the others," he suggested, turning to look at his team who were playing around with their new toys, Zane's modified ice mountain mech, Cole's heavily-armoured bike. And Kai's... headband.

"I apologise," Borg sighed at Kai's downcast expression. "I lost track of the time building the other vehicles... i- eh- same goes for you, Lloyd. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure you'd be making it back."
I felt my stomach stiffen at the mention of Lloyd not possibly surviving. My hand subconsciously found his, an uncomfortable, tight expression on my face as I stared at the ground. Lloyd's eyes shot to me in surprise before he turned back to Borg.
"Hey, I'm just happy to be here," he shrugged off the absence of a weapon with his name on it, squeezing my hand in an unspoken gesture. "We'll take any help we can get."
Borg smiled before his expression dropped into a troubled frown.
"I heard Morro has opened a bridge between our two realms," he began, voice concerned. "It'll take time for the preeminent to cross."
"Which is why we need Lloyd to use his powers to destroy the Realm Crystal before that happens," Wu explained, glancing at his nephew. Lloyd nodded sternly.
"If Ninjago is cursed, the other realms is sure to follow," Garmadon said gravely as he grabbed Misako's hand.

"But they'll be expecting us," Nya said, frowning as Jay sidled up with his Ghost-Taker. "And Morro still has the Sword of Sanctuary. Even with all these fancy new vehicles, how are we supposed to get close?"
Jay, ever cynical, wasn't so exuberant.
"Yeah, we're supposed to take on an army of ghosts!"
"Well- maybe I can lure him out?" Lloyd suggested. I didn't comment on the dangerous dip my heart did towards my feet at the thought of Lloyd using himself as bait. "He always wanted to be the Green Ninja."
"No," Garmadon shook his head. "That won't work."
"He won't leave the Realm Crystal unguarded until his master is freed," added Wu. Lloyd frowned.
"But even with out powers back, he's seen all of our moves!" exclaimed Cole, his eyebrows pulled together.

"Not all of them," announced Kai before placing a hand on my shoulder. I jumped in surprise, sending him a wide-eyed look.
"No," said Lloyd, shaking his head as his grip on my hand grew tighter. He got over his initial shock, getting more heated. "No way!"
"Lloyd, he's right!" Cole agreed with Kai. "Morro would never expect her! He'd be so confused that we can just sneak right on past!"
"She doesn't know how to fight!" argued Lloyd, pulling me behind him protectively. "She'd be a sitting duck!"

"Think about it Lloyd, she's our best option!" Jay reasoned as he slipped off his GT. "Look, why don't we ask Y/n. Y/n, what do you think?"
I froze as everybody turned their eyes to me, all except Lloyd, who was glaring at the ground and awaiting my answer reluctantly.
"Uh... well," I swallowed nervously, stepping out from behind Lloyd's shoulder. The blonde boy glanced up at me as I did so, ever-so-discretely shaking his head. I chewed on the inside of my cheek as everybody stared at me. I was conscious of how long I was wracking my head for - every second, Stiix was in more danger and extension, all of Ninjago. There must be something I could do. I couldn't just sit in the sidelines while the others risked their lives defending our home. After all, I'm one of the losers who live on this stupid rock, too.

"I was awesome at paint ball back in Jamanakai..." I offered, linking my fingers together sheepishly as Lloyd sighed and ran a hand through his hair in agitation, already knowing my answer.
"So..?" Nya asked, awaiting confirmation. I stared at her for a beat before glancing amongst the others, determined and steeling my nerves. Let's do this shit.

"Get me a water gun."