I awoke to a kiss.

It was a lovely way to wake up, having already been floating in bliss and warmth from the body heat of my entangled lover under our shared bed covers. A perfect way to rouse from a slumber so undisturbed and refreshing. A night so calm and tranquil.
I had slept like a log for hours straight, not a nightmare in sight. A feat only dozing next to Lloyd could achieve. Or, rather, as close to him as humanly possible; given by our threaded legs and his hands gently caressing my sleepily limp body while he brought me to consciousness in the most wonderful way possible.
I smiled into the sweet kiss, humming in bliss while his soft hold sent tingling shivers through my nerves. My hand reached up to thread through Lloyd's hair to selfishly indulge myself in his soft blond tresses. His resulting purr was an added bonus, curling from his throat like a melody in the quiet of the morning.
"Happy birthday," Lloyd whispered from behind a smile, breath hitting my lips. I pushed myself up to bring him back in for another kiss. He readily obliged, hand cupping my jaw while the morning spring sun flooded through the crack of my curtains. It coated us in warm yellow, like heated butter or molten gold.

"G'morning," I murmured with a lethargic smile, finally peeking at Lloyd as my universe hovered above me with his own soft, loving grin. Lloyd shifted back to give me room to sit up, lifting me forward with his hands in mine. The sun hit him just right and a feeling of ultimate peace upon this ethereally pretty view had my smile turning sloppy and drunk on infatuation. "I loved my wake up call."
"Me too," Lloyd grinned, twirling a strand of hair that had fallen over my face before pushing it back. "How'd you sleep, birthday girl?"
I gave a stretch, reaching my arms over my head, before slumping with a satisfied yawn. The duvet strangled our legs.
"Good," I mumbled, sliding my heavy eyes shut when his fingertips looped patterns on my cheek. "You?"
"Good," Lloyd echoed charmingly. "Excited?"
"Spending a day with you?" I said with a giddy grin, peeking my eyes open. "Always am."
"Cute, but that's not what I meant."
"Yeah," I crooned with a not-yet-awake giggle. "I know. I think I'm falling asleep again, can I have another wake up call?"

Lloyd didn't bother to reply, already scooping me up into another kiss. I hummed in delicious delight, falling into his chest while our lips danced a dance we'd done a million times and would do a million more. Lloyd gave a little laugh at my immediate relaxation as he kissed me, and the sound vibrated through my very bones in a way that made my toes curl.
"Eighteen now," I said with a closed-eyed smile. "Now I'm only a year behind you. Technically."
Lloyd was a little preoccupied with nuzzling my neck, but I swore I could hear him roll his eyes at my teasing remark.
"Can you kiss my neck?" I hummed as I stretched my head away from his to give him more room. "Y'know - the way I like it?"
"I would love to," Lloyd said with a sigh and his breath crashed against my throat. "But I think that your family would probably chop my head off if they catch you with a hickey today."
"What if I give you a hickey?" I suggested with a raised brow. Lloyd snickered, clamping his hands on my cheeks and guiding me into yet another kiss - and while this one was shorter, it held the temptation of a vow that he'd fulfil at a later date.

"Tonight," Lloyd said in compromise with another quick peck to my nose and the promise ignited a needy fire in my belly. I scrunched my face at his cheesy affection, heart thrumming. "And then I'll give you so many, you won't be able to count them."
The thrumming turned into a full-on stumbling crash.
"Happy birthday to me," I chimed in shaky glee, excited for a million different reasons. Lloyd grinned and captured me for another kiss once again. How many was that this morning? I'd lost count.
"Happy birthday to you," he sang against my lips before pulling away with a bright smile. "Get ready. Your mother's almost finished cooking breakfast."
My brow puckered.
"How did you..?" Then Lloyd raised his brows amusedly and I remembered. I clicked my fingers. "Right. Superior hearing. I will get used to it one day, mark my words."
A chuckle. A handsome, boyish chuckle that had my cheeks heating simply because of how pretty it sounded.

"I'm counting on it," Lloyd murmured, fingers stroking down my cheek and around the curve of my jaw, unfairly addicting. I melted from his touch. His promise ring, the metal warm, touched my skin and I soaked even further into his caress. Such a simple, silly little object; but the object that held our promises all the more.
If I was the one who could purr, I would be. Was fate being kind to me this morning? An apology of some sort, for the anxiety and the struggle it had put me through this past year? I felt like I'd already grown older than eighteen.
"I'm gonna have a shower," I announced into the quiet morning, because nothing was better than starting a good day being squeaky clean.
"Want a buddy?" Lloyd offered with a playful wink. I opened my mouth to make a snarky, teasing remark when the door crashed open and a young boy came barreling in.

"Good morning!" Nelson yelled before launching onto the bed. I laughed in surprise, attention turning to the kid.
"Hey, Nels!" I chimed while he leapt into my arms. I oof'd. "What are you doing here so early?"
"I wanted to see my family!" the brunet boy said with a happy gleam to his brown eyes. Just from that, I knew that Rose would've been crying happy tears. What a sweet kid, already easily slotting into our family. He must've really been wanting one while he was at the orphanage.
"Aw, I missed you, too," I said as I squeezed him in for a big hug. "But I have to get ready for the day now. Do you want to hang out with Lloyd?"
"Yeah!" Nelson nodded excitedly. He twisted from my hold and leapt like a squirrel to Lloyd's chest. I held back a snicker from the surprised look on his face. Nelson was quite the hugger.

While Nelson informed Lloyd of all the juicy details of the dream he had the night before, I grabbed some clothes and slipped away to shower. After scrubbing myself clean with the best smelling soap I had (berry and vanilla!) and dressing, I was reunited with the two just as Nelson determinedly marched down the hall. Lloyd was being tugged along behind him by his hand. I blinked.
"What are you doing?" I asked. Lloyd could only shrug.
"Dunno."
I blinked again, deciding not to dwell on confusion and instead follow along. Go with the flow - the best course of action when it comes to dealing with kids.
Turns out Nelson was just hungry and wanted to see how breakfast was coming along - and it was, apparently, finished. Good timing, too.

"Y/n!" Mum said with a large grin as I entered the kitchen, trailing after the two. I brightened into a smile before it dropped in surprise when I was tackled into a hug. "Happy birthday, my baby girl! You've grown so much! I swore you were five just last month."
I chuckled, hugging my mother back just as her bubbly front shattered and her shoulders began to shake. She always got emotional on birthdays.
"Alright," dad said, sharing an amused grin with me while my mother tried not to cry into my hair. "Quit it with the waterworks. It's only eight in the morning."
"It's never too early for tears, Jamie," my mother sniffled, but pulled back anyway. She set her hands on my shoulders and regarded me with her glossy eyes before her face crumpled and she fell into a hiccuping wail. "You're growing up too fast!"
"Why is she crying?" Nelson whispered to Lloyd, the two already loading their plates with the breakfast feast while my mother got her tears out of her system.

"Lloyd!" my mum turned on him before he could answer Nelson's question. His green eyes widened at my mother and he just had enough time to lift his heavy plate up before she collided into him with a hug. "You're growing up too fast, too!"
"In more ways than one," he said, sending me a wide-eyed, pleading look. I snickered, taking his plate before it could drop.
I caught grandpa's eye at the dinner table. He sipped his coffee and, whilst there was a subtle hint of protective hostility in his gaze, he was mostly amused by his daughter's antics. I felt my shoulders relax. It was better than I could've hoped.
Once mom finally pulled herself from Lloyd and dried her tears, breakfast commenced. We were once again joined by Rose, Nelson and my grandparents and they all told embarrassing stories of my youth. Aside from Nelson, of course.
Lloyd positively ate up all this new information. I sat and fumed, cheeks unbelievably red.

The mystery into what Lloyd had planned for my birthday deepened when he pulled me away to go for a morning date to the park.
Contently confused as to why he was allowed to spend alone time with me (not one adult disapproved, which only heightened my bewilderment), I let him lead me out to his old, beat up car. He opened the passenger door for me with a dramatic bow and I giggled at his dorkiness.
"Alright," I sighed once Lloyd had settled into the drivers seat. The engine groaned to life, much like the sound I'd make after I woke from a particularly bad night's sleep. "What are you planning, mister?"
"If I told you, it'd take away the fun," Lloyd countered with a smug grin. "This is just a distraction while the others set up."
"Wonderful," I said. I hated surprises. It made me antsy and agitated. Not knowing something just made me want to know it all the more.
My bland reply must've been hilarious, because Lloyd snickered to himself while he guided the chattering car down the busy streets of city centre. We stopped outside central park.

"I'm craving ice cream," Lloyd confessed as he stretched his arms above his head after locking the car. "What about you?"
"You always crave ice cream," I grinned, leisurely poking a slither of skin that stretched from his hip bone. He jolted and his arms dropped, skin concealed once again. "I'm keen for ice cream."
Lloyd smiled that dastardly boyish smirk of his and my heart was failing. I decided that the best way to hide my reddening face was against him, so I leapt at the chance to snuggle when he lifted his elbow and invited me in.
"It's decided," Lloyd said, words tingling in the spring breeze. The chittering of birds looped through the timbre of his voice. "Ice cream, my treat."
"Is this my long-awaited birthday present?" I teased while we moved off the path to stroll through the grass. Between Lloyd and the park, my senses were overcome with the smell and sight of spring - the buzz of warmth, the fresh hit of new growth, the glistening of the night's dew.
The boy beside me, springtime personified, was a modern-day Persephone.

Did that make me Hades? Did I beckon him in with pomegranate seeds? To what, though? It was his lifestyle that improved my own - I was dreadfully boring before I met Lloyd.
I'm sure that he'd fight me on who was who, so I kept the comparisons to myself. He'd look at the darkness of Hades, the danger of him, and declare that dullness to be his impact on me. It was far from the truth.
Perhaps we were a little mix of both. Each with our own demons and darkness, each with our own rays of sunlight and budding flowers.
The peaceful silence - and my thoughtful contemplation - was brought to a end when we stopped at the little ice cream pop-up shop that sat on the rim of the park. The 50s design and pastel colours boosted my serotonin.
We ordered, Lloyd paid and then I balanced along the concrete rim of the pond to pass the time. Lloyd dawdled beside me, hands in his pockets and at total ease in the bliss of the gorgeous spring day. But I could feel his gaze keeping an eye on me, body ready to switch modes from relaxation to stout protector should my feet slip.

While watching myself step one foot in front of the other, teetering on the lip of the path, my brain was abuzz. In a week it would be our graduation ceremony. The week after that was Lloyd and my first anniversary.
It confounded me. I glanced at Lloyd and found him staring. He was so unpredictable sometimes, so puzzling. I could never anticipate with him. Whereas I felt as if I were an open book, it was as if he was a closed novel, tightly shut away and squeezed into a bookshelf. I had to work to get his walls down. I had to find a footstool and lift myself up to the high shelf he was hidden on. I had to peel him out of the crowded bookshelf and brush off the dust from his cover.
But the story was worth the work.
Lloyd sent me an impish smile. Distracted by the sheer beauty of him, my toe caught my heel and I stumbled, face twisting in fear as I found myself in a direct course to the sharp corner of the rough concrete. Lloyd swiftly caught me around my waist and hauled my body from the ledge.
"And that's why I stayed close," he murmured as he readjusted my shirt. I blinked in surprise before falling into a giggle. Trust him to catch me, always.
"Thank you," I said, hands unfolding against his chest while my brief shock subsided. My grin curled into something a little more wicked. "My hero."

His arms briefly tensed.
"Funny," he muttered as he turned away, only adding to my amusement. "I think our ice creams are done."
A measly distraction to change the topic, but one that worked all the same. I brightened and turned towards the pop up shop and Lloyd grinned at my eagerness.
Ice creams acquired (Lloyd's was a sugar-treat monstrosity, a combination behemoth of every option the poor shop had on hand), we found a nice patch of soft grass to sit on and eat.
It was all going swell, resting back against Lloyd while devouring our treats when squawking complaints of a familiar voice had me stiffening. Lloyd tensed and a small growl ripped from his throat.
"Down, boy," I murmured, patting his thigh. Trust Claire and the gang to visit the park at this specific time and place. "They smell attractiveness - we should go."
Lloyd ignored my weak attempt to ease the sudden tension with humour. My strained smile dropped. I sat up properly.
"Lloyd-"
"You okay?" he asked, suddenly turning to me. I softened under his worried gaze.
"Yeah," I said with a smile. "I've got better people now anyway. That's what matters. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You sure?" I asked, raising a brow and nodding at his ice cream. It was melting - no, it was boiling - in the little cardboard cup it came in. Lloyd baulked in surprise.
"Shit," he said, freezing it immediately, but it was too late. The gummy worms were all but liquified, the sugar sticks burnt. A delicious catastrophe.

"You silly." I shook my head wirh a smile while he rolled the destroyed desert up in his napkin. I used my own and grabbed his dirtied hand, rubbing off the damage. He watched me with a simpering look in his red eyes. I bit my lip, glancing back up at the group. "What are they saying?"
"Claire's complaining about her parents making her clean up the toilet paper," Lloyd said with a small grin when I pulled my hand away, checking to see if I got every bit. "I guess they understand that it was her fault."
"From what I heard, she's no better behaved at home," I murmured. I crumpled my napkin into a ball for the bin and offered Lloyd the rest of my ice cream. His face brightened. "At least, that's what Naomi told me. She's obsessed with false power gained by knocking other people down. It's a little embarrassing."
"That's petty."
"I'm allowed to be a little petty," I shrugged before pinching my fingers together. "Just a lil. As long as I don't encourage her by reacting then she really doesn't have any hold over me. Why should I let her determine how I feel about myself or how I feel about the people I care about?"

Lloyd blinked, eyes wide as he processed my words. He fell into a proud smile and knocked his shoulder against mine.
"That's my girl," he said. "Besides, we already got revenge by TP-ing her house."
I snickered, watching as the sunlight danced on the blades of grass.
"Yeah," I sighed, smile soft. "I'm never doing that again."
"Fair enough," Lloyd said, leaning back on his hands. He had finished his (my) ice cream and looked satisfied with life. I felt it, too. It was a nice position to be in, emotionally-wise. I still felt a little anxious and sick, a result from seeing the group, but it was something I'd just have to let time heal. Besides, I had the best people in the world to help me along.
Lloyd's phone chirped and his brow scrunched at the interruption of our peace. I watched as he pulled out his device and checked the text, expression relaxing into an enthralled smile.
"It's go time," he announced, leaping to his feet and helping me up. "Excited?"
"That's one word," I murmured nervously. My fear of the unknown smacked right back into existence.

Lloyd squeezed my hand after he slid his fingers through mine, offering support he instinctively knew I needed.
"C'mon, birthday baby," he said and I raised my brows at the nickname. "You'll love it. I promise."
I couldn't help but melt. My agitation simply seemed to settle - not disappear completely, but calm down enough for me to function properly. My reply was cut off by a shrill yell.
"ASSHOLES!" Claire shouted across the park at us. We glanced at her in alarm. "DID YOU TP MY FUCKING HOUSE?!"
"Run," I whispered. Lloyd nodded, immediately taking off in a brisk sprint and pulling me along, stumbling.
We were giggling by the time we got to the car. The wheels squeaked as we pulled out of the parking space and sped off into the street just as Claire, face red and enraged, appeared at the park entrance. She yelled obscenities. Lloyd and I laughed. It was a nice change.
"Wh- where are we going?" I giggled, watching as Lloyd drove down the bustling streets of Ninjago City. My smile dropped a little in confusion as we drove out of the city, following a path I knew all too well. "The monastery?"

"Okay, so, don't freak out," Lloyd began sheepishly and I immediately felt scared. "But mum kinda went overboard."
"What?" I squeaked, digging my nails into the seat. "How?"
Lloyd sucked in his lips and bit them, watching the road. The second he took to contemplate was a second that seemed to last a year.
"You'll see," was all he said. My stomach twisted anxiously.
Nothing outside the monastery looked any different - it was still the red and black and beige white exterior, still the columns carved with prophecies, smooth with age. Still the tiered roof, still the stone steps, still the large pond and still the gravel driveway. Only difference was the vast amount of cars in said driveway.
"Oh, boy," I whispered as I stepped out of the car. Lloyd grinned, linking his fingers through mine and tugging me forth.

Chattering came from the main dojo, which Lloyd lead me towards. He glanced back at me and snorted.
"Don't look so afraid!" he chided lightheartedly. "It's your birthday, not your execution."
"I don't like the attention," I whimpered. We stopped outside the closed doors and my heartbeat raced to a burning crescendo. Lloyd's brow furrowed and he gently placed his palm over my heart, urging me to find his eyes.
"Calm," he murmured, face dropping close to mine. It only made my thundering heart skip and stumble over a couple of beats. His red eyes softened.
"Can you go first?" I asked, feeling small. Lloyd exhaled through his nose in subdued amusement before nodding. He slid open the doors and I half-hid behind him, watching over his shoulder.

Before I could even comprehend the scene, a loud shout of 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY!' had my cheeks burning a mortifying red. I buried my face into Lloyd's shoulder. He was shaking - chuckling at my embarrassment. He slid an arm around my waist and brought me out from behind him, so I did the next best thing; hiding behind my hands. I must've been an absolute comedian because all it did was bring more sniggers from the group.
The group. My god. I peeked an eye through my cover of fingers and found all our friends, a couple of elemental masters, my family all there. Hell, even Borg showed up.
A big crowd. A huge crowd.
I fought back the urge to gap it from the room. It was an incredibly difficult urge to ignore. Almost impossible.
"She really did go all out," I whispered almost inaudibly, trusting Lloyd to hear. He hummed an 'uh-huh,' beguilement pitching his tone. His hand gently prodded my back, guiding me to a seat at the ridiculously large table - a combination of tables from the dining room, scroll room, etc. A mountain of food sat there. We could've fed an army. We looked like an army.

Lunch passed in a blur. I settled, sat between Naomi and Lloyd; both of whom managed to make me realise that my earlier apprehension was silly. It was loud - very loud - and I was juggling at least seven conversations with different people. If it wasn't talking about potential colleges with Aunt Rose and grandma, then it was gushing over the new Breath of the Wild game with Jay, Cole and Naomi. Nelson, Anabel, Lloyd and even Dareth immersed themselves in a conversation about dragons - Lloyd had to routinely clap his hand over Dareth's mouth to keep him from spilling that Lloyd was in fact, the green ninja (a secret that Anabel and Nelson has yet to be let in on, simply because they were too young).
When we finished eating, Kai grabbed my arm and all but hauled me to the corner of a room, where a table of presents sat waiting. I wilted.
"I thought I said that I really didn't need presents," I murmured nervously. I swore I had insisted that I was fine, as they'd all already given me so much. A sudden burst of stage fright had made its reappearance.
"We heard you and elected to ignore it," Kai smirked, answering for the rest. I gave a soft smile. "C'mon, spitfire. Open them!"

Well, I couldn't seem ungrateful. Anabel and Nelson were more than happy to help me open my presents, ripping through the wrapping paper as if their lives depended on it.
"Maybe they shouldn't open mine," Lloyd said, pushing aside a long, thin object wrapped in gold.
"Same with mine," Dad sheepishly chuckled. I eyed them warily.
The first present that Nelson chose to unwrap was from Zane, shaped in a flat rectangle and wrapped to perfection. It almost seemed to be a shame as Nelson clawed his way through the paper.
"Oooooh!" Anabel leant in close to the cardboard. "A box!"
Naomi caught a snort in her hand. Ronin grinned. Fighting back an amused smile (I just wanted to pinch her cheeks-), I grabbed the box and slid off the lid.
"Oh, wow, Zane," I breathed, pulling out the peach kimono. The rims and belts were white, as was the stitching of Sakura flowers dominating the bottom and fading as it ascended to the shoulders. The material was shot through with gold, making it seem to shimmer as it moved. "This is- it's gorgeous."
"The first of many," Zane smiled.
"Way too many," Nya snickered into her cup, thinking back to her closet full of them.
"It's amazing," I said, carefully folding it back into the box. "Thank you."

We continued with the presents, my two little helpers more than eager to destroy the wrapping paper. Jay got jealous by Naomi's gift - double date tickets for us, Cole and Lloyd to the opening of the new Starfarer themed amusement park. She also got me an update on our friendship necklaces (a yearly tradition) which Jay was a little less jealous about.
Jay himself got me an iron man onesie to compete against Lloyd's batman suit that I still had yet to convince him to put on. One day, Lloyd. One day.
Kai got me new cutlery for college - surprisingly useful, which was something that I was taken by surprise at. I was expecting... I dunno, something a little more Kai. Maybe a make up set or something of the like. Nya was also practical in her gift, giving me sports wear for the training I'd be starting soon.
"Can never have too much sports clothing," she had said after I'd thanked her and considering how much they'd train, was entirely true.

Cole dropped a set of keys in my hand.
"Please don't tell me you got me a car," I begged, blood running cold as I stared at the metal.
"No," he snorted. "Remember the bet?"
My wide eyes went wider. My gaze shot to him.
"No," I breathed.
"Yep," he smirked. "Set aside a couple of days over summer - we're gonna be repainting your new bike. Try topping that present."
"It's a hand me down," Nya snorted.
"It's still cool!" Cole shot back.
I was genuinely speechless. My brain couldn't compute the required words, so all I could do was throw my arms around him and give him the biggest hug I could.
"Thank you!" I squeaked.
Continuing on, Anabel ripped into a present from my grandparents. They got me a bunch of old novels from their collection that I would happily add to my own. To add to my small stack of books was Wu's 'Ninjitsu for Beginners' book he got me. Like Nya and Kai, very practical. I'd be pouring over it for the summer to come.
Jonesy got me my own military dog tags, dad got me a handgun (that I can legally own now since I'm eighteen!), mum got me some new clothes for summer and one of those instant Polaroid cameras - to take photos during the summer so I can have them to hold on to when I leave for college.
My first photo was of Lloyd, who wasn't expecting it and in the middle of eating some cake. It came out as blurred and cursed as I had hoped.

In conjunction with that was Misako and Garm's gift; a whole ass photo album of photos they and the others had taken of Lloyd and I. It was in chronological order, some were normal and staged. Others, however, were obviously sneaked. Some from around corners, some while we were sleeping, some from windows. Some of them were blurred and taken in the midst of running. Totally cursed.
I couldn't even be weirded out by the sneaked photos - they were just too funny. A couple of times I had to catch my breath from laughing at a stupid expression Lloyd or I had pulled, or grimace at unflattering angles and snort at the stupid ones. It was nice. The memories were nice.
Last but not least was Lloyd's.
As per his prior warning, I unwrapped his gift myself. A sheathed sword, the hilt a pretty marble yellow, shot through with delicate silver glitter. Wrapping around the hilt were vines, dotted with small metal flowers and daisies and around that was a glossy, clear resin to protect the design and keep the handle smooth.
The shiny blade itself was engraved with the same butterflies and flowers, as well as a date stamped in the middle of the katana. The first day of summer - the date we met.
He kept his promise.

"Look at the hilt," Lloyd murmured, touching a silver bracelet I had missed. It was looped around the blade of the katana, resting against the lip of the hilt. A charm bracelet.
I tilted the katana and the bracelet slid down and gently onto the ground. In awe, words nothing but a distant memory, I softly picked it up.
"It's kind of a first anniversary gift, too. It's our first year together," he said quietly, shuffling closer as he pointed out the charms. "Coffee cup for the cafe we first saw each other in. Skateboard, for - y'know. Car, because you ran into me-"
I giggled breathlessly, eyes stinging. Lloyd grinned a little before continuing.
"Ferris wheel for our first date. A dragon, because you're some kind of dragon whisperer which I still don't understand. A ghost - doesn't need explaining."
A few of us grimaced. Lloyd and I included.
"A snake, because you're doing the impossible and I couldn't be prouder. A gun, for showing us all up with your skills."
"That's my part!" Dad chimed in. I snickered, heart thrumming. Lloyd chuckled.
"A prom dress. A dog." Then Lloyd's voice softened to a velvety whisper, just so I could hear. He pointed to the last charm. "And a sun, because you were the one that brushed away the rainclouds."

And I was also the one that burst into tears.
"Dude, you made your girlfriend cry on her birthday!" Kai chastised. I hid my face in Lloyd's shirt as my overwhelming emotions flooded through me.
There was just so much of everything I had for everyone - gratitude, love, appreciation. I was moved to the point where I simply couldn't handle all this positivity.
Lloyd just loosely wrapped his arms around me, comfortably bringing me in close. Ignoring Kai, because Cole was already shoving the fire master's shirt over his head in retaliation on our behalf. With a sniffle, I wiped my tears away and smiled after moving back.
"Thank you," I murmured, truly sincere and profound. "I love you." And despite myself and everything I had believed in, I'd never spoken those three, heavy little words with such heartfelt conviction before. "I'm gonna hang it above my bed and hope it doesn't fall down on me if there's an earthquake."
Lloyd's smile fell in alarm.
"M- maybe don't."
"I was just kidding."

After that, everyone dispersed to do their own thing. Lloyd's parents took my parents and grandparents for a tour of the zen garden. Ronin, Dareth, the ninja team, Naomi, Chen, Ambrose and I played a massive game of hide and seek with Anabel and Nelson. The rest of the large group mingled and talked, getting to know each other or catching up.
A few of us diverted off to the games room, where Jay absolutely obliterated me in Dance Dance Revolution. It was pretty spectacular.
Chaotic board and video games, impromptu Polaroid photo shoots, Kashu stealing the attention - the party went well into dinnertime and people had began to make their leave. I stood by the door and expressed my thank you's as each person departed, giggling at jokes and wishing safe travels home. My parents were last to leave and after a long hug, they too drove home.
I fell back against the wall with a sigh, drained. Lloyd smiled and get his red eyes betrayed just how tired he was, too.
"Long day?"
"Long day," I nodded with a huff. "I'm ready to eat me some dinner and collapse. But first, I've gotta get changed into something comfortable. Why must pretty clothes be so uncomfortable..?"

My words trailed off as we meandered down the hall, laxed hands swinging between us. I glanced down at the bracelet, charms resting against my wrist and glinting in the hallway lights. My attention drifted back up to Lloyd, unaware of my staring, eyes half-lidded in weary lethargy. A grin suddenly broke across my face. I leapt onto Lloyd.
"WhA- HEY!" he shouted in alarm as I wrapped myself around him. Lloyd stumbled, taken aback by my actions. So I'd finally got one up on him again, after all this time.
"You're the best," I squeaked, digging my face into his shoulder. Quickly recovering, his arms held my weight so I'd stop slipping down him like an old fire pole. "I love you, I love you, I love you!"
Lloyd settled into a warm smile, hoisting me up more comfortably on his waist - as if carrying a grown ass adult (adult! Oh, god I am now an adult oh no) was the easiest thing in the world. But then considering Cole's super strength that came with the territory of his powers, it wouldn't be too alien to suggest that Lloyd had the same?
"I love you, too," he replied before pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I hope you had a good day."

"It was wonderful," I gushed, breathing my grateful words into his neck while he carried me back to his room. "You're wonderful."
"Mom did most of the planning." He said those words sheepishly, as if he thought that I'd take away my compliments. Incorrect.
"Misako's wonderful too!" I stressed my joy. "Everyone's wonderful! Thank you so much. It's been the best birthday ever."
"And now you're tired."
"Oh, my god, yeah," I groaned, slumping into him. "So tired."
Lloyd snickered, setting me carefully on his bed. His snicker turned into a teasing grin.
"Are you okay to get changed yourself, or do you need a hand?"
"Shush," I frowned, standing upright so fast that I teetered. My cheeks blossomed a rosy red. "I can do it myself."
"Opportunity lost," Lloyd sighed. I scoffed, amused.
After we each wiggled out of our nicer, smarter clothes and traded them for comfy sweats and slippers, we made our way back to the kitchen. We were having leftovers from lunch for dinner. The energy was tiredly content as we all ate and after saying another round of happy birthday to me (cheeks pink arm spaghetti) we all bid each other a good night.

Curled up on Lloyd's bed, I cuddled against his chest while I read my book. It was a nice, quiet, peaceful ending to such an energising day.
Lloyd shifted to move and I whined, not wanting to lose my perfect comfort.
"Where are you going?" I cried, tearing my eyes from the page and sending Lloyd a pout. He chuckled with a kiss to my nose.
"I just need to go... check on something," he explained, eyes darting to the side quickly before returning to my face. I kept my expression even despite the suspicion that curled behind my eyes. "I'll be right back."
Either Lloyd's suddenly gotten terrible at lying, or he wanted to rouse confusion and intrigue. Giving a shrug, I nestled back onto the pillow where he was just resting. It was still warm from his body heat and the smell of him - springtime showers, green grass, bumblebees through the wildflowers and streams winding through forests - surrounded me once more.
"Okay," I murmured nonchalantly, turning back to my book.
Lloyd faltered. His weight swayed, as if unsure to stay and prompt my curiosity or to leave me be. Then he scampered out of his room and disappeared down the hallway, decision made.
"Dork," I sighed to myself with a smile, turning the page.

Not two pages later, a throat was cleared from the entrance. Nervous, hesitant. The sentence I was reading kept me from pulling my eyes away from the words until I hit the period, and then my gaze drifted up to the entrance.
I had to do a double take.
Catching a confused giggle in my hand, I stared at Lloyd with wide eyes. He stood awkwardly at the door, dressed in the suit from prom. Unlike prom, however, his hair was messy - most likely from running his hands through it in agitation. I preferred it this way.
"What are you doing?" I gasped in delight, sitting upright. My book was discarded, attention zeroing in on something far more interesting. Unlike before, I didn't have too much leeway in appreciating the sight as I could now, not wanting to have been caught staring when we were going through a less than desirable patch in our relationship. But now I had all the time in the world to take him in - the way his dark green tux jacket hugged him perfectly, the matching bow tie tied messily, the black slacks leading down to his socks. The difference this time was no shoes, a strict rule from Dimitri. But also Lloyd's freedom to let his red eyes show.

He gulped. He tugged on the button of his tux and bit his lip while he tried to work out what to say. I tilted my head to the side, patiently waiting. He could have all the time in the world to sort his thoughts into comprehension, if he so desired. I would stop time for him.
"W- well," Lloyd began, stammering over his words. A soft, short laugh slipped from his lips and his brow puckered in concentration, red eyes dropping to his socks. He was endearingly nervous. My heart sang for him. "We didn't have... the best prom so- so I thought that maybe we could have our own."
My lips slipped open in surprise. A rush of thoughts and feelings had my brain a swirling, rushing, twisting mess and it left me speechless. The reaction was so bodily, so visceral, it shook me to the very centre of my being - yet I remained completely still as I stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh," was all I could say. Even if I had known that this was what he was planning in that beautiful brain of his, nothing would've prepared me for the reaction I had when he offered that suggestion. There's just something so intimately private about having our own little prom in his bedroom. A special night that nobody else got to share but us.

"Is... is that okay?" Lloyd asked, eyebrows raising to his hairline in doubt. I jolted, eyes widening as I realised just how long I'd been verbally unresponsive.
"No!" I blurted before pulling a face at myself. "I mean yes! Yes! I- I'd love to have my own prom with you, of course I do."
The relief was obvious on Lloyd's face; evident in the way the tension slipped from his frozen shoulders. Shown in the way his face fell into a reassured smile.
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Lloyd asked, falling back into his usual teasing self. He held out a hand. I eagerly slipped my own into his.
"I was a little busy-" I gasped when he swiftly tugged me from the bed and into his chest. "B- busy- uh-" I stared at his red eyes blankly. What was I saying? Lloyd, like this, did things to me that I couldn't comprehend. It left my head a mush. My brows furrowed in teasing accusation. "... you made me lose my train of thought."
The laugh that slipped from him was magical and suddenly I forgot that we were in his messy bedroom. Nothing else existed except for us. The world could fall away, lost in another ice age or burned down to the will of a fire storm, and yet nothing could distract me of the perfection that his company brought.

"I'm honoured that I'm able to render even your thoughts speechless," Lloyd murmured with a sprightly, whimsical smirk. My entire being fluttered in response. "Considering you can't seem to stop overthinking."
"Maybe I just need you around more often," I said, breathless in the usual trance he put me under. Obliging to his every whim, yet so is he to me. Lloyd raised a brow.
"Even more than I already am?"
I was already eagerly nodding before he even finished his question.
"We'll break the laws of time and space," I whispered, taking in his face, committing the single dimple of his grin, the brush of faint freckles over his cheeks, the exact shade of red of his eyes to memory. I already knew his face like the back of my hand, but there was no shame in precaution. I wanted to see his face every time I blinked, tattooed to the back of my eyelids. Lloyd just huffed an amused smile at my entranced expression, despite him looking no more grounded than I was. Still, he was enough in control of himself to slip back from the hug and lift his hand into the space between us.
"May I have a dance?" he asked sweetly.
"Uh-huh," I choked out, nodding my unwavering acceptance. I dropped my hand into his, but instead of pulling me back towards him to sway to an inaudible song, he just reached into his back pocket and pulled out a corsage of yellow roses.

"W- wait," I began, hyperaware of my lack of a fancy dress to compliment Lloyd's suit. "I'm just in my pyjamas- I should get changed, I look-"
"Perfect," Lloyd cut me off with his easeful reassurance. His hand caught a bunch of my messy hair that had slipped in front of my face and gently tugged it, twirling the lock around his finger. "You look unspeakably stunning. Everyone would drop at your feet if I'd let them."
My cheeks flushed a deep red. He took my second to compose myself to slip the corsage onto my wrist.
"You know... yellow roses mean friendship," I said in quiet amusement as I watched him adjust the flowers to sit correctly. I stared at Lloyd through my lashes while a huge grin curled at my lips. He froze. "Did you just friend zone me on our private prom night?"
"What-" Lloyd began, face paling.
"The nerve," I sighed, feigning disappointment.
"I- I got it because sunshine is-" Lloyd tried to explain, cheeks losing all colour.

"I guess I'll just join Chen and Ambrose's relationship," I cut him off with a wistful look to the side. Lloyd stilled.
"You're hilarious," he said with a dry stare. I giggled, eyes darting back to his. "So funny." He brought me against him suddenly, pressing his forehead to mine. I squeaked a laugh. "Don't scare me like that - I thought I messed up!"
"I'll let you off the hook," I snickered, poking his nose. "Just because I find you so adorable."
"Wow. Thanks," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I'll make sure to note that you'll let me get away with anything because I'm just that cute."
My stifled laughter grew until Lloyd had to slip a hand over my mouth.
"You'll wake the others!"
"I'm- I'm swfowwy," I chimed breathlessly, voice muffled from his palm as snickers kept rocking through me. I pressed a kiss to his hand in apology. He shook his head at my antics before turning his attention away from me to bring out his phone. He pressed play on what playlist he had set up. Soft music spilled from the small speakers, quiet enough for only us to hear.
"Ready for a dance?"
"With my inability?" I snorted, free to speak properly now that his hand had fallen back to my waist. "I'm not paying the hospital bills."

"Like I'd let you hurt yourself," Lloyd mumbled before easily lifting me up and resettling my feet over his. "Now you just need to hang on."
"Knowing me, I'll still injure myself. And you, probably."
Lloyd sent me an amused smile.
"I'll keep my guard up."
I pressed my face into his chest in response, hiding myself in him. His soft chuckle rolled through his body and into mine. The feeling had my eyes fluttering shut - because what could be more relaxing than Lloyd's own ease? If Lloyd was okay, then surely everything must be right in the world.
Or, if Lloyd is okay then everything is right, simply because he is my world.
It was weird to look back a year from now, before I met Lloyd. I remembered being content in my life, happy to lose myself into a world of books. In which, I had assumed, would be the only chance to feel excited and exhilarated in a life more extraordinary than I could have imagined that I would lead. I was content to be by myself, less I visited my friends in Ninjago City when I could.
But now, I could see that I was living without my full self. The other half lived elsewhere, the second part of my soul. A Lloyd-shaped absence in my life that had been yet to be filled, that I wasn't even aware of.

And I realised that I'd spent my entire life waiting for something. Going through the process of my mundane existence, not even knowing that I was patiently biding my time until fate would allow me to finally meet my other half in that little book cafe.
But as long as it had made me wait, as long as the prophecy had been set back and delayed our meeting, I also realised that it didn't matter. I would wait an eternity if it meant I got to spend a single second with Lloyd. A single breath, a single blink. But I didn't have to. He was right in front of me.
While my brain was dancing itself away with over examining every second of my life before Lloyd and then the impact of his unprecedented arrival with the help of a skateboard and a hot chocolate on a summer day - he really was right, I do overthink - Lloyd swayed us to the song. Goodbye L.A, I realised while my cheek was pressed to his warm chest.
A ballad, a slow beat, a gentle melody. I listened to the lyrics amongst the beating of Lloyd's heart (which in turn, only made the song all that more attractive), and found myself relating to the sensual, emotional words. My life before was a prelude to a larger story, a bigger picture. Sure, the song could've been known to be sad, but if I could picture saying goodbye to my old self while I embraced the reinvention, the stronger, the full me - could it really be all the sad? It was more so fulfilling.

Goodbye, old Y/n. Thank you for getting me to this point. It's been a slow, mundane journey, but you built me up to be ready for that next step I took last summer.
Thank you.
The song was calming. Nostalgic. And in contrast, I was so aware of the here and now. Of Lloyd's warm hands on my waist, keeping me grounded. Of my own arms around his neck, bringing me closer. His feet under mine while we silently moved in tandem, a harmony. Not a single misstep, not one trip or fumble. We worked well together, a two-piece puzzle set. A yin and a yang, night and day. So different, yet I couldn't picture anybody else to hold me like this. I could hold anybody the way I held Lloyd.
We were content in ourselves to be silent, living in the moment while regarding each other with all the attention we had. The song switched to another of the same slow melody, but I barely noticed the change, too enraptured in the feeling of Lloyd. So close. So perfect.

I shifted my head back and our gazes caught, thoughts in synch. Lloyd stopped the swaying until we were still, just staring. His eyes, so deep that I could willingly dive into them and never reach the bottom, held mine with a look akin the way I looked back - a stare holding so much emotion and adoration. With how much I loved him, every cell, every atom of my body calling his name, I thought it would be impossible for him to love me back just as much.
But he did. And it was a gift better than any birthday present, better than any power. It was something that I'd spend the rest of my life, however long or short it may be, thanking him for. What was better than undying love?
Young as we may be, though others may look at us and scoff, thinking that we were too young to devote ourselves to one person as much as we did, I knew that Lloyd was the singular person I would spend the rest of my life. My love would never waver, no matter what trials we would go through. It would never fade or wane. It would keep as it is the first day I realised I loved him - strong and endearing and so, so controlling in the sweetest way possible. Every kiss would be like our first - wild and erratic and loving and passionate in emotion. Every look would be like the first time I saw him walking into the cafe - intrigue and attraction, drawn to him like a magnet. Every touch, every hug, every breath, every word.
It would remain as strong as our heartbeats and even more so.

Death could try but it would never part us. Fate could attempt but it would never pry us apart. We were built for each other, grown with each other in mind, though not consciously aware of it we may have been. We were made for this, like light and dark, like night and day. Sunshine and moonlight. One could not exist without the other.
Hearing my thoughts, or as synched as we may be in this quiet little moment only we shared, Lloyd leaned down to pick my lips up in a tender, sweet, perfect kiss. With so much endearing passion that it made my bones shiver. The love I felt for him was ineffable, unable to be described by words. If I could, I'd get down on one knee and gift Lloyd the entire universe itself.
Could? No, would. I would do the impossible for him, if he so asked. I would move the sun, I would spin the earth. I would rearrange the stars if he so desired. I would try, because I know that he would for me.
The kiss was as peaceful and soft as we were sure of our love for one another. Bliss swayed through us just as we had danced to the music. It rocked our hearts and it took over our senses.

It was a promise of a future with nights more like this, moments uncountable. How could I ever be dissatisfied, knowing that Lloyd, as perfect or imperfect he may be, was mine. Not even the promise rings held as much sureness as Lloyd himself did. Doubt was not a poison that would taint us any longer.
I slipped back from the kiss, resting my face against his. The soft music had nothing on the singing my heart did, solely for Lloyd.
"I love you," I whispered, voice slipping into the melody of the song.
"I love you, too. Forever."
"Forever's a really long time," I murmured, trying not to think too hard about the uncertainty of my own mortality. But Lloyd simply smiled a small, loving, perfect smile and brought me in closer until not a lick of space sat between us. His arms wrapped tighter around my waist and with such certainty in his voice, as if confessing that he'd love me for a thousand years and a thousand years after that was as simple as breathing, he said one word;

"Exactly," he whispered.