"Welcome home, you two," Misako commented as Lloyd and I burst into the living room through the connecting corridor, the living quarters being the closest from the forest. Exhilarated smiles were plastered over our faces as water dripped onto the tatami flooring. We were still on a high from playing in the rain after our kiss, kicking mud and drinking the drops. She didn't question why Lloyd was shirtless and why I was wearing it.
Misako's gaze drifted down to where Lloyd and I were comfortably holding each other's hand. A small, happy smile lifted her lips.
"Well?" Misako raised her eyebrows at her son, trying to hide her obvious glee. "Be a gentleman, Lloyd. Take her to the shower, I'm sure she's freezing. We don't want Y/n getting sick."

"Gentleman, I am being," Lloyd nodded eagerly before knocking out my knees and literally sweeping me off my feet. I squeaked in surprise at his sudden action while he laughed and began running down the hallway, as energetic as a bunny. I giggled at his childish behaviour (wait), wrapping my arms around his neck for support.
Lloyd ducked into his room and gently placed me to my feet before throwing open his cupboard and tugging out a low-and-behold, green hoody. I shook my head as I glanced past him. There was at least twenty of them, I swear.
"You know, you guys didn't actually really need me today, right?" I commented as Lloyd fluffed out the material. It took a lot of effort not to look at his toned arms. Or toned everything, oh my god.
Stop it, Y/n! He's a child.
Euuh, kind of. And it didn't stop him before, did it?
Ugh. I hate logic. It's so contradicting.

Lloyd shrugged.
"I have a feeling they planned it," he said suspiciously. I grinned.
"Yeah, because them gaping it back to the Monastery as soon as they got the puppy was totally normal."
He laughed before tilting his head to the side in a shrug.
"I wouldn't put it past them," he said. "They usually get up to stuff like that."
I smiled, wincing a little at the sting in my hands. Lloyd was busy slipping his arms through his hoody to notice.
"Where are they, anyway?" I asked curiously. "Did they just go to the closest vet?"

"Yeah. Nya texted me and said that she's left some clothes out for you, too," Lloyd explained, tugging the hoody on over his bare torso. "You can use her shampoo and stuff for your hair, as well."
I nodded, allowing a moderately calmer Lloyd to thread his fingers through mine gently and lead me out the door and to Nya's room, which had a pile of clothes waiting on the foot of her mattress. Lloyd grabbed them before guiding me to the bathroom and handing the clothes to me.
"Just shout if you need anything," he said before pecking the tip of my nose affectionately. My cheeks reddened. I nodded again.

Lloyd turned to go grab a shower in a different bathroom. He stopped before I could close the door and called my name. I glanced up.
"Y'know, my offer for a shower buddy still stands," he suggested with raised eyebrows. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head and grinning. My stomach tingled strangely.
"No, thanks," I replied as I slowly slid the bathroom door shut. "You'd just hog all the hot water."
Lloyd scoffed and went to argue against my point but I closed the door before he could utter a word. I was sure he could hear my laughs, though.

I placed the clothes on the sink and started peeling Lloyd's wet shirt off, wincing at my injuries. The stinging had gotten worse, probably from being mixed with dirt and rainwater. I hissed at the pain in my everywhere.
Even my stomach had scratches on it, I noted after tossing the soaked shirt to the ground. I sighed before turning the shower on and waiting for it to heat up. Somebody knocked on the door.
"Hey, it's just me again," Lloyd chirped through the wood, happier and more carefree than I had ever heard him be. "I forgot to get you a towel, sorry."
I opened the door a smidge and clucked my tongue disapprovingly as his gaze darted to my bare shoulder, barely peeking out.
"You sneaky bastard," I teased, making him pout. I giggled, grabbing the towel from him and shutting the door quickly.

He mumbled something incoherent before going silent, seemingly having walked off in search of his own shower. I leant against the wall beside the door, mind reeling over what the past couple of days held for me. I slapped my forehead and groaned. My brain felt like it was bobbing in soup.
"I swear, he's more trouble than he's worth," I muttered to myself, but ultimately knowing that what I just spoke was complete bullshit. I sighed. "Too bad I'm head-over-heels for him, though. Damn boy and his charms."
"You think I'm charming!" Lloyd cried through the door. I shrieked, jumping in alarm and slamming my hip against the sink.
"Lloyd, what the hell!" I cried, hissing through the pain. Everything that day was just pain, I swore.
"I- I mean," Lloyd dramatically cleared his throat. "It's Dimitri not-..."
He trailed off. I tilted my head, waiting.

"... yeah, what's up, Dimitri," Lloyd awkwardly greeted. Dimitri chuckled. He must've been passing just as Lloyd tried to imitate his voice. I snorted. Awkward.
"Lloyd, go take a shower, dumbass," I insulted him good-naturedly. "You're going to get sick again."
"Fine," Lloyd sighed with a melodramatic huff and stomped down the hallway. Certain that he was gone that time, I removed my equally ruined shorts and underwear before stepping into the shower and instantly regretting life because holy fuck the scratches stung like a little bitch. And I didn't mean the dog.

Biting back yelps and painful whimpers, I made quick work of washing my hair and scrubbing the smell of soil out of my skin. Once every bit of dirty water had disappeared down the drain, I finally shut off the shower head and stepped out, gingerly grabbing my towel with tender hands. Raw lines crossed my palms, making me grit my teeth and let out an embarrassing 'hah-hehahea' in pain as I enclosed my grasp around the material.

So naturally, drying my hair took an eternity.

After ten minutes of barely being able to hold the towel up to my hair - let alone dry it, I gave up. Shoving on Nya's clothes, I carefully tugged open the door and found Lloyd in his room, hair damp as he lounged on his bed with his nose stuck in a comic.
"Lloyd," I called meekly, gaining his attention. "Can you help me dry my hair? My hands are too sore."
Lloyd immediately chucked the comic to the foot of his bed and patted the space in front of him as he sat up. I crawled onto the mattress, grimacing as my wet hair soaked the back of Nya's shirt. He grabbed the towel from me and began gently drying the locks without complaint.

"Thanks," I murmured, smiling softly as he made extra sure that he wouldn't hurt me.
"Anytime," he replied quietly.
We sat in silence for a while. The tugs on my hair was relaxing. My shoulders sank and my eyelids drooped.
"Do you think the puppy's okay?" I asked into the comfortable silence. I felt Lloyd shrug behind me.
"Dunno," he replied. "One of the others would've told us by now if something was wrong, though."
"I hope it's okay," I murmured. "It's cute and strong."
"Sounds like somebody else I know," Lloyd teased as he squeezed my shoulder. I stammered, ducking my head and blushing.
"Stoooop," I whined.
"Noooo," he matched my voice. He dropped my dry hair and threw the towel over his shoulder. "Done. Where's my reward, oh lovely fair maiden?"

I rolled my eyes at his take on a posh accent before pulling off a hair tie from my wrist and handing it to him.
"There," I stated. "A reward."
"My hair isn't even long enough," Lloyd complained. I shrugged, unfazed as I turned in my spot so I was facing him.
"Can I get my real reward?" he asked. I just sent him an insistent look, nodding to the hair tie around his own wrist.
"That is your reward, Lloyd."
"This reward sucks. I'm taking my own," he announced before grabbing my chin gently and pressing his lips against my own. After a second, I pulled back an inch. He brushed his nose against mine, eyes half-lidded.
"I like this reward," I mumbled with a grin, grabbing the towel and threading it around the back of his neck. I yanked it towards me, bringing Lloyd forward and finding his lips with mine. I ignored the pain from my injuries, too captured by the intensity of his passion.
"I like this reward, too," he murmured against my skin. His hands wandered up my neck and found purchase in my hair, threading his fingers through the locks behind my ear. I giggled under my breath, giving him quick, short kisses. He got impatient, eyes half-lidded and chasing.

Lloyd sunk his teeth into my bottom lip gently, making my spine stiffen and grip tighten around the towel as he tugged affectionately on the flesh, holding me in place. He released me, resting his forehead on mine. My raw hands went slack against his chest. I noted that they had begun to sting at some part in the back of my brain.
"Do you know what's a better reward?" he whispered, blonde locks partly hiding his gaze. Something mischievous glinted in his emerald irises.
"What?" I replied, breathless.
Lloyd suddenly pulled back, emitting a bright, happy vibe and parading a wide smile. My mind spun at his sudden mood change.
"Watching a kids movie!"

I sat for a second, bewildered, wondering how the fuck- before blinking and swallowing back the little tiny remains of dignity I had left. Lloyd was already leaping to his feet and grabbing his computer, typing in his password and bringing Netflix up. I stared at the back of his head indifferently.
"I...I can't believe you."
"Oh..." Lloyd said over his shoulder, seemingly innocent save for his amused smirk. "Okay."
"Seriously? That's your response?" I raised my eyebrows before echoing him in a lame interpretation of his voice, "'okay'?"
"What else do you want me to say?" he chuckled. I rolled my eyes, depriving him of an answer as he jumped back onto the bed next to me. I placed out my hand to steady myself from the jolt of his momentum, only to recoil my palm to my lap with a pained, sharp whimper, stifled by me biting my lip in an effort to not be noticed.

Of course he noticed. He's a ninja. Extreme observational skills is what he excels in.

His smile immediately dropped into a concerned frown as he - with the softest touch in the history of the universe, making me want to positively weep and crumble in on myself - slid his hands under mine and lifted them up for inspection. The gauges were a furious red and irritated. Just the cool air on the surface of the injuries made me squirm in discomfort.
"Looks like it's me playing nurse this time," he joked, one of the corners of his lips lifting up in a crooked, trying smile as his gaze flickered up to mine. My own one was wobbly in return.
He slipped from the bed, padded over to his closet and opened the door to grab a large box at the back. He returned, donned with a small, furrowed brow and a focused frown as he set the box on the mattress beside us. The Red Cross on the white metal of it was obvious.
He opened the tin lid, unlatching the clasps with practised fingers - something told me he'd used that medical kit a few times... possibly even a few hundred.

It was filled to the brim with everything first-aid. From Star Wars plasters to ice gel pads, he had assumingly everything one would need in case of harm and more.
Lloyd dug his hands into the ocean of supplies, flicking through the objects before retreating his limbs with a bottle of chloroxylenol, bandages and cotton swabs.
He readied his station while the flesh under my skin began to violently throb. Lloyd pursed his lips to the side as he gently cradled my hands on his lap and sent me an apologetic glance.
"Not gonna sugarcoat, babe, but this is gonna hurt," he grimaced in second-hand anticipation. I tried to not let the babe get to me, but my heart had already picked up in pace and my stomach begun tingling.
"Gee, thanks, Lloyd," I was tempted to roll my eyes, but instead used that effort to inhale and nod.

At my unspoken consent, Lloyd dipped a cotton swab into the antiseptic and, without warning or hesitating, begun to clean the wounds.
I bit the inside of my cheek and turned my head away violently, funnelling my pain responses into gnawing on my lip rather than recoiling my hand from Lloyd. It was just something I had to wait out.
After what I thought was an eternity, Lloyd finally finished. I exhaled a breath in relief, only to whine when he grabbed my other hand and prepared to do the same routine to that one. His lips quirked at my complaint. Asshole.

Once that torture was done, Lloyd expertly bandaged my hands. He kissed my fingertips, staring at me with emotional, emerald eyes as he did so. I blushed of course, because when did I ever not blush around Lloyd?
It should be illegal.
He should be illegal.
Just as I was battling my thoughts and burning the image of him placing his lips against the tips of my fingers in the most sincerest act of affection to my brain for future reference, Lloyd broke my silence by cleaning the wounds on my arm without saying anything. I wrenched myself away with a yelp, sending an exasperated look at Lloyd.

"A little warning!" I cried. Lloyd sucked his lips into his mouth. Amusement played in his eyes.
"Sorry," he cracked a genuine, soft smile. I sighed, holding my arm out again and turned my head away.
"Just hurry up," I said with a harsher tone than intended, just wanting to get the stinging pain over and done with. I winced at myself, before adding with a pathetic voice; "... please."
"Okay," Lloyd murmured, placing a kiss on my wrist and continuing with his job. My toes curled at the burning sensation of the anti-septic colliding against my raw skin, my face scrunched with pain.

"Done," Lloyd murmured, tucking a damp-ish lock of hair of mine over my shoulder. I peeked my eyes open just as he grabbed the box of Star Wars plasters. "Unfortunately, I don't have any stickers. Want a plaster instead?"
I nodded eagerly.
"Star Wars is my goddamn jam, yes please."
Lloyd chuckled, pulling out a plaster and peeling away the protective plastic before placing it over an exposed scratch on the back of my hand. It was Darth Vader.
I grinned, lifting my hand until Darth Vader until it was in Lloyd's line of sight.
"Luke, I am your father," I joked, faking a deep, gravelling voice that probably just made me sound like I was demented. Lloyd clutched at his chest and let out a dramatic 'noooooo!,' throwing his forearm over his forehead. It made me giggle. He smiled at my laugh.

I was just about to suggest a kids movie (Rise Of The Guardians, where you at?) when Lloyd's phone dinged with a notification and caught our attention. He grabbed his device from his bedside table, smile fading as he stared at the screen.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nya said that the puppy's about to go through surgery," he explained, placing his phone down and turning his gaze back to mine. "They couldn't save his leg. The others are just on their way home now."
I gnawed on the inside of my cheek, a cold - but also excruciatingly hot? - ball of something expanding in my gut. I think it was misplaced guilt.
A somber silence befell us. Lloyd pushed his computer away. So much for a feel-good movie.

"Do you think he's scared?" I mumbled, playing with my nails with a frown set on my lips. Lloyd's brow furrowed as he shuffled up beside me, placed a hand on my upper arm and pulled me down with him. Our heads settled on his pillows, pressed close together as he twirled his fingers through a lock of my hair. He bumped his forehead against mine, his blonde hair tickling the skin of my temple.
"Honestly?" he hummed, pressing his lips against my cheek. "Yeah."
My stomach sank. My eyes flickered.

"But you know what?" he continued, making me turn my gaze back up to him.
"What?"
"That puppy's gonna be the toughest, most resilient puppy there'll ever be," Lloyd grinned, poking my stomach. My lips curled upwards softly. "And you know what?"
"What?"
"He's alive. That's what matters, isn't it?"
My smile widened on one side, lips crooked. I nodded.
"And you know what?" he repeated, pressing the tip of his nose against mine endearingly. I hummed, shuffling closer until our legs bumped against each other. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my fingertips, steady and sure - if a little speedy.
"What?" I murmured, barely above a whisper.
"You're here, in my arms," he mumbled, pressing his lips against my forehead. "Blushing-"
I hid my face with a whine. He chuckled, his chest vibrating.
"- and wanting me, too. After everything we've been through."

"You can't imagine how nice it feels to be wanted," he continued, closing his eyes and threading his arms around my waist to pull me into a hug. "When my entire life, I've been pushed away. Thank you."
"You're welcome. My payment is undying affection."
"Done."
"Also free access to your closet."
Lloyd peeked an eye open. His green iris shone with giddy amusement.
"You've already got, like, three of my hoodies at home."
"True," I shrugged before brightening. "And pizza! Definitely pizza."
"You're pushing it, Y/n."
I nudged his shoulder with a sneaky grin, enjoying how his fingers began tracing light patterns on my back absentmindedly. It made my spine shiver with delight.
"I'm just messing with ya, Greenie," I grinned. "Except for the undying affection."
"I promise to love you 'till my dying days," Lloyd vowed with a cheeky wink. I smiled sweetly, hooking my finger under his chin and pulling him into a short, acknowledging kiss.
"It's very safe to assume that that feeling is most definitely reciprocated."

The others returned not long after mine and Lloyd's hourly heart-to-heart.
Lloyd and I, noticing the darkening of the sky, were already in the kitchen and beginning to make a simple dinner of spaghetti bolognese when the group erupted into the living room, tired and dim but intent on finding us. They succeeded in searching us out and stumbling into the room just as I flicked Lloyd's nose with a finger covered in tomato paste. He had crossed his eyes while he scrunched his face at the red sauce dolloped on the tip. I giggled.
"Aha!" Jay thrusted a finger towards us excitedly, acting as if he caught us doing something suspicious. "I knew it!"
Lloyd and I shared a look, eyebrows raised. He wiped off the sauce.
"Thank god," Kai sighed, trudging over exhaustedly and pulling us into a hug. He squeezed. "You guys are idiots."

We didn't even try to argue.

Dinner was fun and full of laughter. The puppy was briefly mentioned, but there was no more news than what Lloyd and I already knew. However, we did learn that we could visit him the next day.
Speaking of the next day...
"Hey, Nya," I called her attention as I twirled some pasta around on my fork. I had already texted mum and told her I was staying for dinner. She sent a thumbs up in return. "I'm hanging out with the girls tomorrow. You should come with."
Nya's lips parted in surprise. I got the feeling that she wasn't asked to hang out with girlfriends very often.

"Can I come too?" Lloyd asked hopefully, resembling a begging puppy. I frowned.
"No."
He pouted. He was sure damn persistent.
"Lloyd, it's a girl thing. We'll be talking about... boys, n' stuff," I sighed, pressing my shoulder against his.
"I'm a boy," he inputted unhelpfully.
"Lloyd, no."
"Right. So, you'll be talking about Sebastian Stan while I'm home... alone..." he trailed off, looking depressed apart from the shit-eating grin on his face. My face burnt. Cole shrugged, probably appreciating my choice of celebrity crush.
"One, touché. Two, how dare you guilt trip me," I scolded, knocking my fork against his. I turned my attention back to Nya. "Whaddya say?"

She blinked before slowly nodding.
"Uh- yeah. Yeah, sure," she accepted. "What will we be doing?"
I shrugged, ignoring the constant jabs of Lloyd poking my arm, silently whining for attention.
"Dunno," I replied, taking a swig from my glass of water. "Probably just chill in the park. Complain about school, talk about crushes - Lloyd, I swear to- stop it - usual kind of stuff."
"... cool."
"If you want to do something else, just ask," I encouraged wiht a smile.
Nya nodded, sending the table a distant stare.
"Yeah, yeah, no, it's fine," she nodded. "I just, uh, y'know, never really hung out with a group of girls before. Never really had anyone to do it with."

I nudged her leg under the table with my foot, gaining her attention as she shifted her distant look and focused her gaze on me. I grinned.
"Well, now you do."
"Aww, look at my Y/n, being all inclusive and friendly-"
"You're not coming, Lloyd."
"Dammit."

The table was silent for the next few minutes before Garmadon cleared his throat and insinuated another conversation.
"So, school-"
He was cut off.
"No."
"Stop it."
"Why would you even mention it?"
"You mean hell?"
"Nope."
"Nuh-uh."

"... discontent comment."

"What grade are you this year, Y/n?" Misako asked, clearly trying to keep the conversation pleasant despite the obvious bitterness emitting in smothering waves from the group of ninja - even Zane had a furrowed frown on his face.
"It's my last," I sighed. "Only one more year to go."
"Thank god," Lloyd muttered. I smiled humourlessly. He did brighten considerably as he turned his gaze to mine. "Hey, we might end up in some of the same classes."
"When's your birthday, Y/n?" Cole suddenly asked. "Sorry- just curious. Lloyd's is soon."
Oh! We haven't ever actually mentioned birthdays. Whoops.
"Really?" I asked after repeating my birthdate, curiosity piqued. I turned to Lloyd. "What day?"
"September twenty-first," Lloyd grinned, tapping a rhythm on his leg. It was only a month away.

"Naaaw," Jay coed, throwing his elbow onto the table and dropping his chin onto his fist. "Our lil' boy's growing up. The big one-five!"
Everyone at the table grimaced. Cole cleared his throat and shot the curly-haired ginger an irritated look.
"Jay..." he called under his breath, ghosty-eyes steeled with warning. "Ixnay-on-mentioning-'age'nhay."
"What? Oh..." Jay sat up, face blushing from embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck, genuinely apologetic. "Whoops. Sorry guys, ha-ha."
I smiled somewhat awkwardly, glancing at Lloyd out of the corner of my eyes. He was staring at his plate with a barely-disguised pained look, gnawing on his bottom lip almost enough to break the skin. My heart wanted to buRST. Don't be sad, baby. It makes me sad.

Avoiding anyone's gaze, I stared at everything except the people at the table. My hand fell to my side, my finger discreetly finding his and linking it. Lloyd's gaze flickered. He slid his hand into mine.
A smile tugged at my lips, face slightly burning with blush. I squeezed his hand in a sign of reassurance, one he eagerly returned. Our eyes met.
"Oh, my god, stop it you guys," Cole said, shielding his eyes. "That's gross. This is the damn dinner table."
Lloyd tugged on my arm, toppling me off my zabuton and catching my weight into a hug. I squeaked.
"You're just jealous," Lloyd shot mockingly, digging his face into my hair. My face was red. Cole's nose scrunched.
"No," he shook his head. "I just want to eat my dinner in peace. Food is my first love."
Nya snorted. Jay and Kai laughed. Garmadon and Wu had hints of amused smiles on their faces. Misako looked content. Zane was sitting precariously straight, like usual.

"Alright, alright," I extracted myself from Lloyd's grasp, smiling with beguilement. "Stand down."
"Mum!" Lloyd suddenly perked up, taking us all by surprise.
"Lloyd!" Misako replied, at attention.
"Can Y/n stay the night?" he asked, tilting his head to the side and using that damn charming smile of his. Kai coed. He and Jay snickered.
Misako shrugged.
"Fine with me," she nodded.
"Great!" Lloyd chirped, leaping to his feet and dragging me up with him. I blinked in surprise. "See ya guys later!"

"Keep it PG in there, kiddos!" Nya called, sending an exaggerated wink. My feet stumbled. I choked on my breath.
Lloyd shot an amused look over his shoulder, and to my embarrassed horror, sent finger guns in reply.
"No promises!"
My brow furrowed. I swatted his arm.
"Lloyd!" I chided. He giggled sheepishly.
"Sorry."
We continued back down to his room in silence, my mind reeling as our intertwined hands swung between us. My eyes found Lloyd's side profile, glowing and content. It made my chest warm.
"What do you have planned?" I asked suspiciously, sending a small, happy smile his way. Lloyd winked, a smirk tugging on one corner of his lips.

"You'll have to wait and see, Love."