I genuinely did not understand how Lloyd had so much energy when he was on the go all the time.

He had already left the bed after kissing me goodbye on my forehead, setting off for his early early morning trainings. The times that I used to despise, the early hour that had haunted me so much that it became my normal.
Luckily, Garmadon was not shy about his soft spot for me. I was granted a pass for my morning lesson (but I 'absolutely had to attend the afternoon session, no excuse'), so I got to stay in bed for longer.
Hell, I was happy enough just to have a sleep in. That was the best Christmas present anybody could give me, excluding the dragon necklace Lloyd got me. That would always be my favourite.
Unfortunately, however, my body clock had shifted. While I had the opportunity to sleep the early hours away, I found myself unable to. I was too used to the early mornings.
I stared at the ceiling of Lloyd's room blankly and mentally cried.

Deciding to at least be a bit productive, I grabbed my phone to scroll through the notifications I'd missed during the two weeks on Mahō no Shima. I drifted through the list mindlessly, eyes unfocused and brain uncaring.
My thumb stopped.
I had an email.
My lips parted in surprise as I stared at the address.
No way. Surely not. This soon after? Sure, it'd been three weeks, but that still felt way too fast. What was the normal turn around period for these kinds of things? Why was I asking myself that question? I'd only been to one college interview. It's not as if I had other experiences to compare it to.
'May as well get it over with,' I thought to myself with a sigh. My gut was twisting in a way that made me feel a little too sick for my liking. 'I probably didn't even get in, anyway. Not after the attack - Borg probably doesn't want anything to do with me. I'm not smart enough to enrol at his college. The acceptance rate is so low. Besides, what's good about college, anyway? Sure, I really wanted to continue studying and the courses his institute offers are incredible but-'

During my mental ramble, I clicked on the email.
My heart stilled for the second time that morning before racing so fast that I blinked and found myself barreling down the hallway.

I crashed against the doorway of the dining room, startling those at the breakfast table. Everyone was there, caught mid-conversation and staring at me with bewildered expressions as I stood at the entrance in my pyjamas, panting and wide-eyed. I definitely looked feral. I definitely was too preoccupied to care.
I lifted my phone, the screen showing the email.
"I got in," I announced breathlessly.
Everyone was still for a few long seconds while the news sunk in.
"You got in?" Kai echoed with wide eyes.
"I got in," I repeated to myself.
"She got in!" Jay exclaimed. He raised his glass of water to the ceiling in triumph, as if we'd just won a decade-long war.
"I got in," I whispered once more, because I quite simply couldn't wrap my head around the concept.
I got in. I got accepted to a college with an acceptance rate so small that the only students consisted of geniuses on scholarships and kids whose rich parents bought their way into the ranks.
I was one of those genius kids, apparently.
How the fuck did I get in?

"That's so wonderful!" Misako commented with a proud smile, but I was starting to overthink again. "I knew you had it in you."
Ohh my god. My imposter syndrome reared its head viciously - what if I only got in because Borg knew who I was before the meeting? What if it was just an apology for being attacked in his building? What if I wasn't actually smart - what if I got kicked out before the first semester ends because I can't keep up-
My spiralling thoughts were interrupted by Lloyd pulling me into a hug. It pressed pause, because nothing in this would could ever override a Lloyd hug.
"You deserve this," he murmured into my ear. It took me a few seconds for my brain to tick over and comprehend everything, but then I was throwing my arms around him in flourish. Part of me wondered if he saw the building doubt on my face and read me perfectly like the open book I was (or the exceptional reader he was), or if saying the needed words at the right moments was just another gift that the demigod had.

Either way, it tempered my emotions and settled my anxieties, as his words usually did. My worries were dumb - I got in, what else was there to say? We want you, but..? We like you, however..? It's black and white, a solid acceptance, there was nothing to question.
My brain just loved to run me in circles.
"I'm so proud of you," Lloyd gushed, and my face broke into an excited, disbelieving smile in response.
Admittedly, a little part of me thought that he'd still be against the idea of me leaving - after all, I'd be hundreds of miles out of the team's protection - but the unfiltered pride in his voice at my success had my heart bursting in gratitude and excitement.
I barrelled my head into his chest for another hug because by god, that boy made me feel too much of too many things at once.
"What good news," Wu said after Lloyd and I had parted and took a seat at the table. "Though this does put a deadline on your training. I do doubt that you will be able to spend as much time as desired to polish your skills, what with assignments and such."

"Perhaps she should attend morning practise," Garmadon mused.
"Ohh, ow," I said with a dramatic wince. I placed a hand to my forehead and took a glance around the table. "I've got a huge headache. Must be overexertion. I should definitely not do morning training."
Kai snorted. "Your acting skills need some work, DiCaprio."
"At least I have acting skills, Smith," I shot back.
"Kids, kids," Misako murmured, going back to the scroll she was deciphering. "Not at the breakfast table."
Kai and I stuck our tongues out at each other, because we are mature young adults.
"Well, if you're not training this morning, we could always get started on that bike of yours," Cole offered. "We haven't really been able to find the time to repaint it, and I think the motor needs some fine-tuning, too."
I gasped in delight. I'd been waiting for the chance to repaint the bike Cole'd handed down to me as a birthday present.

"Really?!" I chimed. "Yes!"
Lloyd scooped up the rest of his breakfast and shoved it into his mouth.
"I've gotta get to the dojo," he said. He pressed a kiss to my temple before slipping away from the table. I quickly eat some breakfast while Cole waited, texting Naomi to tell her to get her ass into gear and head over to the monastery.
When I finished eating, we cleared away our dishes and started down the hallway.
"Imagine me pulling up to uni on a ninja motorbike," I gushed, spinning an imaginary wheel with a smug look. "I'd be so dang cool. The most coolest student there."
"What part of secret identities don't you understand?" Cole scoffed amusedly. "You can't take the bike to uni."
I groaned broken-heartedly while the door to the ninja cave slid open.
"Let me dream, Brookstone," I bemoaned. Our footsteps on the stairs padded quietly in the darkness. "I want to be cool for once."
"Good luck," he said, so I smacked my sock against his leg in retaliation. It did zero damage but he still flinched in surprise, so I technically won.

"Here she is," Cole announced, spreading his arms wide to show off the huge motorbike that sat by his other mechs and machines. My smile dropped.
"Cole, you said a 'little fine-tuning,'" I said in shock. The bike was on the verge of falling apart and crumbling to dust.
"Uh, yeah, she's been through some pretty rough fights," Cole noted sheepishly before dropping his voice to a murmur. "Actually, she's worse off than what I thought she was. But she's tough!"
"She does look tough," I admitted with a nod. The bike was definitely heavily armed, packed with blasters and other offensive and defensive attributes that came in handy for a ninja's battle. Bullet holes littered the side panels, scorch marks seared the hubcaps - and that was only the artificial damage.
"We better get started, then," Cole said, picking up a box of tools. "Besides, fixing her up won't take to long."

He was wrong. Very wrong.

Naomi arrived half an hour into stripping the bike and immediately got stuck in, helping us detangle wires and rip open the guts of the beast. She knew what she was doing, which made sense, considering her father was a mechanic himself.
It was hard work, but it was fun. Naomi's Spotify playlist played quietly from the surround-sound system Jay had installed the week before. Naomi and I got caught up, since the past couple of months had me buried up to my head in training and she was busy with her summer jobs. Kashu came down at one point and just lounged around, wanting to be with other people.
When we ran out of things to talk about, Cole filled the silence with tales of old missions. Most were funny, simply due to the absolute lack of experience and teamwork they all had when they first started.
And the AC made the temperature in the ninja cave bearable, too, which was alway a plus - especially with this summer heat.

We probably only got not even a quarter of the way into the job before it was time for me to head back up for training.
"Your arms do look more buff," Naomi noted when I announced that I had more training that I needed to get ready for. I flexed with a smug smirk, but Cole remained unfazed by my showboating.
"I could snap your arm like a twig," he announced blandly.
"Your super strength doesn't count," I pointed out.
"I wasn't referring to my super strength," Cole countered. Naomi watched us pitch words back and forth like a tennis match. I huffed, pouting.
"I'm working as fast as I can!" I trilled. "Stop being a bully."
Cole chuckled at his win. I swooped his shaggy hair over his face and he let out a sound of surprise. I leapt away before he could retaliate, much to Naomi's amusement.

After washing the grease that had gotten into every crevice of my hands and giving Kashu a farewell pat, I called my goodbyes to the couple and made my way back upstairs. Lloyd was already waiting in the dojo for me, probably having been there since breakfast.
"Wu's out on business at the palace with Mum and Nya," Lloyd began when I sat before him. "Stuff to do with the treaty. Dad's going to be joining us soon."
"Alrighty," I said with a nod. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
"You're choosing your weapon."
I stopped in surprise, staring at Lloyd as if waiting for him to laugh and claim it was a joke - but his expression remained totally serious.
"I- I thought..." I trailed off helplessly. My expression curled into something meek. "Gun?"
Lloyd smiled patiently. "Have you ever seen old tapestries of warriors with guns?"

"... no," I confessed, before raising my eyebrows. "But I bet they would make them look way cooler."
"No guns," Lloyd said.
I sighed. There went the only weapon I was remotely good at. Dad would be so sad.
"No guns," I echoed sadly.
Lloyd stood, holding out a hand for me to take. He pulled me to my feet and lead the way to the weapons room, where a group of monks were polishing swords, restringing bows and sharpening shurikens, among others.
"Just a quick question," I piped up. "Why no guns?"
"History," Lloyd shrugged. "Respect to tradition. You're learning the art of Ninjitzu, which is an ancient practise passed down through many generations."
"Lloyd, your grandad literally created the world," I reminded. He poked my side and I squealed, slapping his hand away.
"You know what I mean," he pressed. "Other generations, then. It's still very old and very respected. A ninja carrying a gun is like asking a cat to act like a dog."

"So you are training me to be part of the team!" I exclaimed. I sent a look at him. "You don't expect to win the bet, do you?"
Lloyd stared down at me, unfaltering in his steady, green gaze.
"I never said that," he said.
"Not directly," I agreed, before squinting my eyes. "But it was definitely implied."
"No, it wasn't," Lloyd denied with a shake of his head.
"It so was!"
"Wasn't."
"Was-"
"Pick a weapon," Lloyd insisted, turning me towards a wall covered in every kind of ninja weapon imaginable. "Before I toss you over my shoulder and throw you into the river, you menace."
I giggled under my breath at the exasperation in his voice. I settled, doing as told and raving my eyes over the wall. I expected something to jump out at me, but nothing really did.
However, I did notice something interesting.

I ran a thumb over an insignia at the base of a katana's blade.
"K.S?" I asked, tilting my head. The initials were backed by the silhouette of fire. From what I could see, almost every weapon had it stamped onto them in some form or another. "Did Kai make these?"
"Good eye," Lloyd complimented. He leant against an armour stand beside me and crossed his arms. "Kai has trouble falling asleep. On the worser nights, he makes weapons to pass the time."
I furrowed my brow. "How come I don't hear it?" I knew that the forge was in the ninja cave, but even if it was way below in the ground, hammering metal was still loud.
"It quickly drove my uncle crazy," Lloyd chuckled. "Apparently Kai couldn't sleep at all when the team first moved in to the monastery, so Wu soundproofed the cave. Glad I wasn't there for that."
"I can imagine," I murmured. "I don't know which one to pick."

Lloyd hummed in thought, lifting himself up to stand behind me. He rested his hands on my waist. The warmth shot straight to my chest.
"You're good at targets," he noted. "Pick something that focuses on projectiles. Like a slingshot, crossfire or maybe a-"
"Or a bow and arrow," I finished for him, eyeing the sleek, dark wood of one hanging from the wall. Designs of dragons wound themselves around the bow like ribbon, carved by a careful hand.
I picked the weapon up and held it aloft, spinning it slowly to take in every inch. It was the prettiest deadly object I'd ever seen.
"You don't have to be sure right now," Lloyd said. "We'll go through each weapon and find which works best for you. It's a 'weapon picks the handler' kinda thing."
I nodded absentmindedly while my thumb stroked the scaled head of the small, wooden dragon. It was so life-like, I almost expected it to pop into existence at any moment.
Lloyd picked up a quiver full of silver arrows and slung it over my shoulder. I jostled at the unexpected weight. Shaken from my reverie, I glanced up at him.
"Let's go," he said with a tilt of his head.

We regrouped in the outdoor dojo, where Lloyd let me get accustomed to the weapon's weight as he set up some easy targets. The sun beat down mercilessly, but the shade of the large maple tree made it bearable.
"Alright," Lloyd said, standing beside me and crossing his arms. His face turned into a look of intense focus as he watched me. "Have a shot. Let's see where our starting point is."
I stared at him owlishly.
He stared back.
"You have no idea what you're doing," he guessed from my silence.
"I have no idea what I'm doing," I answered with a nod of my head. He chuckled and despite it being a soft laugh at my inexperience, the sound still lit me up like a tree at Christmas.
"Okay," Lloyd began with a grin. He walked stopped behind me and straightened my posture. "Shoulder back, chin up." He slid an arrow from the quiver and showed me how to notch it into the string. "Lift your elbow up to your eye."

I did as told before releasing the string. The arrow went sailing across the training grounds before landing spectacularly nowhere near the bullseye. It didn't even hit the target.
"Oh no," I said, lowering the bow.
"That was a good first try," Lloyd said.
"It was rubbish," I sighed, grabbing another arrow and trying to do it myself. Lloyd had to tap my elbow to remind me to lift it higher. "No need to sugarcoat it."
He shrugged. Another miss.
Garmadon came and went, offering advice when he was around. It didn't give me any bullseyes, but at least I was starting to hit the target.
By the time Lloyd called it a day, my fingers were aching and the sun was heavy in the afternoon sky.
"Owww," I whined, wringing out my hand.
"You're definitely better than when you started," Lloyd complimented, taking the bow and quiver from my sore hands. He lead the way back to the weapons room while I cradled my red fingers. "You're picking it up quite fast."

"Lloyd," I cried. "Lloyd."
He turned.
"What?"
"I can't feel my fingers."
Lloyd broke into a small smile and placed the bow on its hanger. "Do you want me to kiss them better?"
I lifted my sore hand and sent him the best pleading look that I could. Lloyd glanced at my offered hand and gently huffed a breath.
"Yes, pwease," I said.
"Alright." Lloyd carefully caught my hand in his and pressed a soft kiss to each of my sore fingers. "Is that good?"
"I think I hurt my lips, too," I said with a frown. Overused and cliché? Yes. Did it still work? Also yes.
"We can't have that," he said before lifting my chin and stealing a kiss. "How's my sunshine feeling, now?"
"You know what? I think my entire body is super sore, we should-"
Zane poked his head inside and startled me into silence. He blinked innocently, either unaware or ignoring the embarrassed flush of my face.

"Dinner is ready," he announced poetically, as only he could do. The nindroid left without another word. We stared at the empty doorway, quiet, heads processing.
"You know," Lloyd began into the silence. "If you were my wife, we could have our own place-"

"Stooouuuuhhhhhoooop," I groaned, slapping a hand over Lloyd's moving mouth.

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

That night, I returned home and told my mother the good news about my acceptance.

We celebrated with ice cream and Iron Man, proving that pity parties and celebrations really are just one in the same.
Lloyd was out on patrol and dad was at the base, so it was just Mum and I. It worked out pretty well, as I had something on my mind that'd been bugging me for a while.
"Mum," I said quietly. My eyes were on the screen, but I wasn't watching. "I... I need your help."
"Of course, chick," Mum said, scooping up another spoonful of ice cream. "What's wrong?"
I dropped my head back and stared at the ceiling. I held a sigh.
"It's about Lloyd," I began. "Ever since he... y'know..."
"Bit you?"
My shoulder gave an unexpected flare. I flinched.
"Uh, yeah." I cleared my throat. "Ever sine that, he's been... kinda distant?"

"That's to be expected from him," Mum said.
"No, it's- okay, yeah, I understand that," I conceded. I shuffled around to face her, movie forgotten. "But he's- he's taking blame for everything now. Even for things that aren't his fault! Like- like with the attack at Borg's place. Or the fact that there's people watching me at all. But that's not his fault, right?" I anxiously clutched the ice cream carton tighter. "I'm worried that he's going to run himself into the ground being the team leader - plus these instincts that he's still having trouble with. I feel like it's my fault that he's so stressed out."
Mum appraised my concerned face with a thoughtful frown. She sighed, paused the movie and placed the ice cream down. It was getting serious.
"One; it's not your fault," Mum began. "Some people go through these kinds of things to deal with stressful or traumatic events. Lloyd sounds to have picked up anxiety, hence the blame game on himself."

"Oh," I said hollowly. I swallowed but my throat was dry.
"Unfortunately, Lloyd's in a very precarious situation," Mum continued, brow puckered. "The stress of being the leader certainly is at the root of all this and I know that he's getting as much help from his family as they can give, but it sounds like he needs to see a professional."
"Like therapy?"
"Yeah," mum nodded, before frowning. Troubled, she spoke up once more. "But then there's the whole thing with his secret identity as the green ninja. Though there's the patient confidentiality law, it's just not worth the risk if he gets someone who can't keep their mouth shut. And what would be the point of going if he doesn't talk about his duties? That's where the problem itself is stemming from."
I shared her troubles. Frowning at the floor, I balled my shirt into anxious fists.
Even if he could, would he want to? It was hard enough for Lloyd to break down his walls around me, how much more stress-inducing would it be to let down those same guards around a stranger?

My eyes jumped to mum as an idea formed in my head.
"What if you talk to him?" I suggested.
"I can't."
"But Lloyd trusts you!" I tried. "And it's better than risking his identity with a stranger."
"I'm not a therapist, Y/n," mum reminded. "I'm a psychologist. They are very different occupations and besides, there shouldn't be any form of outside personal relationships between a patient and worker."
"Well, yeah," I agreed tentatively, pulling an awkward smile. "But you're kind of the only one close to what Lloyd needs."
Mum held my pleading gaze. She sighed and gave a nod.
"Fine," she relented. "I'll talk to him and see if I can help."
"Thank you!" I said, throwing myself into her arms for a hug. "You're the best!"

I went back to watching the movie more satisfied than before. Sure, therapy wasn't a quick fire fix (truthfully, there was no such thing as quick fire fix), but it was certainly a step in the right direction. I hoped he would at least consider it.
Besides, it's not as if Lloyd could just step down from being the green ninja. It didn't work like that, as much as I wished it did.
After Iron Man, mum and I sat down to apply for my courses on the University's website while talking to dad on speaker. He was beyond happy for my acceptance, as was the entire base, which he unashamedly boasted out loud for all to hear.
I was so glad that I wasn't there, as much as I wanted to wring his neck.
After sending off my applications for classes and crossing our fingers that I got in to what I wanted, mum and I sat down to catch up on the past two weeks.
Then, finally, it was time for bed.

Just as I settled down and begged for sleep to take me quickly, my phone buzzed. I bit my fist to keep a loud, angry groan from ripping through my throat before snatching my phone from the bedside table.
I calmed considerably when I saw who it was from.

🥺🛹💖
hey
Sent 10.56pm

I began to smile.

🥺🛹💖
hey .
hey h
Sent 10.56pm

🥺🛹💖
u awake?
Sent 10.56pm

🥺🛹💖
he y
Sent 10.57pm

🥺🛹💖
hey
Sent 10.57pm

🥺🛹💖
hEy
Sent 10.57pm

🥺🛹💖
jey
Sent 10.57pm

My smile quickly dropped.

🥺🛹💖
i can see u reading these
Sent 10.57pm

Me
ohmY god what
Delivered

🥺🛹💖
!!!!!
Sent 10.58pM

🥺🛹💖
hey
Sent 10.58pm

Me

Delivered

🥺🛹💖
oh
Sent 10.59pm

🥺🛹💖
scary thing is that ur threat has the ability to be followed through
Sent 10.59pm

Me
bby i love u sm but whAt do u want from me i am so so so tired
Delivered

🥺🛹💖
Okay sorry sorry Dad wanted me to tell you that the serpentine want another meeting tomorrow
Sent 11pm

🥺🛹💖
Also he forgot how to text on his new phone
Sent 11pm

Me
SNRKKF
Delivered

[unknown number]
|!{^|haandb hsksk flaxseed
Sent 11pm

🥺🛹💖
now he wants to say sorry. he has no idea what hes doing
Sent 11.01pm

Me
LMAO
Delivered

Me
oh garm :')
Delivered

🥺🛹💖
he's trying his besg
Sent 11.01pm

🥺🛹💖
best
Sent 11.01pm

"Anyway, you're off the hook from training tomorrow, again," Lloyd said as he poked his head through my open bedroom window, making me shriek and throw my phone at him in reflex. He caught it, unfazed. "We'll be going in at one."
"Lloyd!" I chastised, heart racing faster than a hummingbird as I watched him lithely clamber inside and land lightly on his feet. "Warn me next time!"
"And miss having projectiles thrown at me?" Lloyd chuckled. He tossed my phone back to me. "Not a chance."
"What if I was getting changed?" I counted.
"Your texts are always delayed whenever you're getting changed," he shrugged. He pulled off his gear from patrol and placed it neatly in a pile at the foot of my bed. "Besides, why would you be getting changed this late?"
"You don't know what I get up to."
"True," Lloyd agreed with a nod. "You are very unpredictable."

I rolled my eyes and asked my usual question.
"How was patrol? Anything exciting happen?"
"An old man bought us fajitas for helping him find his car keys that he dropped into a drain," Lloyd replied. "It was pretty uneventful."
"Sounds like a nice night," I said with a small smile. "Now hurry up and have a shower. I'm falling asleep without you."
"Oh, noooooooo," Lloyd drawled as he turned on his heel and dipped out of my room. I heard the bathroom door close and the shower start.
I settled back down and let my eyes shut. I was once again just on the verge of sleep when I was jostled back into reality.
Lloyd had returned, smelling like clean soap and spring forests. He pulled me into his chest from under the covers. I didn't mind being his personal teddy bear. It felt nice.
"How are your fingers?" Lloyd whispered. I grunted, which was my only reply. "You'll get used to it. Skin on your hands are already hardening."

So long, soft palms. Now you'll feel like the skin on my feet.

Lloyd opened his mouth to continue speaking, but I placed my finger over his lips before he could utter a word.
"Shhhhhush," I murmured, relaxing into his chest and preparing for slumber for the third time. "Sleeb."
"I just-"
"Shhhhut."
"But-"
"Shut."
"Iwantedtosaygoodnight," Lloyd rushed.
"Goodnight," I replied.
"I love you."
I grinned a little against his chest. My hand raised to run my fingers through and rest against his soft hair.
"Love you, too," I sighed in bliss.
Lloyd quietened, giving the silence needed for sleep. A car drove down the street. Summer rain started to pour. Lloyd's deep breathing soothed the quiet.

"Lloyd?" I whispered into his chest.
"Yeah?"
"You need to teach your dad how to use his phone."

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

"Y/n!"

A small green nuclear bomb exploded into my chest. I oof'd in surprise, stumbling back into Lloyd.
"Raps!" I gasped, returning the ferocious hug with vigour. "I've missed you!"
Garmadon (who spent the morning with Lloyd and Cole, learning about how to use his phone, as well as ""text slang"" which will probably go down as well as it sounds) chuckled from beside me. He and Misako took the reigns for the meeting once more, meaning that Lloyd and I had to do nothing but sit and listen. Maybe put in our own few cents here and there, but mainly nothing.
Which was great that our number one entertainment provider was with us. Raptra was a never-ending ball of energy who seemed to be able to displace said thrilling energy into those around her, which would be absolutely horrendous at a funeral.

My other favourite snake was Pythor, who regarded me with a sneer and Lloyd with a glare. It was a working relationship.
(I pulled the bird at him when the other generals and Raptra weren't looking. He looked very offended, much to Lloyd's amusement)
After another hour-long session reviewing the treaty for the millionth time, Lloyd decided that the best thing to do for the sake of humankind and snakeskins, was to sneak out of the god-awful meeting with Raptra in tow.
Fangtom would turn to address us and find our seats swinging in our wake of disappearance.
"We are awful role models," I decided as Lloyd, Raptra and I fled deeper into the tomb.
"Whoever said I wanted to be a role model?" he snickered.
"What's a role model?" Raptra asked, so we spent the next ten minutes explaining what that was to the little venomari.

Raptra then showed us her favourite spot in the tomb - a natural cave covered in bioluminescent moss and fungi, which reflected on the underground spring in a way that rivalled the underground lakes we saw on Mahō no Shima. She took a small haul of stuffed animals, most of which I recognised from the Starfarer amusement park. Lloyd and I indulged her in playing Police Penguin Peter and Mischief Monkey Mike.
"What are you doing?"
Raptra and I jumped at the voice that echoed in the cave, turning to the figure in the entrance. It was another venomari that looked strikingly similar to Raptra, if only a decade or so older.
"Kvasssir!" Raptra beamed. "Look, it'sss my friendsss-"
"I know who they are," Kvasir said, four yellow eyes narrowed. "The generalsss are looking for them."
I wilted in shame.
"Whoops," Lloyd whispered under his breath.
"Pick up your toysss and go home, Raptra," Kvasir ordered. "Mama isss waiting for you, jussst asss the generalsss wait for thessse two."
Somebody was definitely not pleased with us. I mean, fair enough, but it was still uncomfortable.

Kvasir lead the way back to the meeting chamber, silent and making me feel incredibly awkward. It felt as if he were fuming at us, which was weird. I think? I didn't know what to think.
"Ah, there they are," Misako said with a smile, though her voice had a bite to it that made Lloyd's shoulders instinctively slouch in guilt.
"Sorry," he apologised sheepishly, sticking right against my side.
"Sorry," I quickly added. Lloyd and I shared an stiff look.
Kvasir stared at us with unblinking reptilian eyes, unnerving me to the core. I couldn't wait to get away from him. There was nothing worse than being in a room with somebody who did nothing to conceal how blatant they were in disliking you.
"Right," Skales said, sounding a little miffed. "Asss I wasss ssaying, we already have a particccipant for the human-serpentine exchange." The hypnobri general lifted one blue hand to Kvasir. "Kvasssir here would like to further hisss ssstudy in mechanicsss, but we lack the resssourcesss. He would like to go to a... sssurface college."

Lloyd glanced at his father, who just stared right back at him. They were making us take the hit for this one.
"I'm sure we can work something out with Borg and his institute," I piped up, saving his bacon. "Borg's been very supportive of the ninja team for the past couple of years. I know that he would at least consider the idea."
Kvasir stared at me. I tried to ignore him.
"Do you know of anyone who isss going to Borg'sss institute?" Skalidor asked. "He would need ssssomebody with him to help get him sssettled in and keep unsssavoury humansss away."
"Yes," I replied with a nod. "I am."
"One little girl againssst a whole sstudent body," Pythor commented, unimpressed. "Sssoundss like a plan the ninja would come up with."
"It won't be just Y/n," Lloyd spoke up. "Ambrose, the master of physics, will also be attending."
"What now?" I asked in disbelief. I turned my head to Lloyd, brows raised. "Ambrose is going to college? Willingly? I thought he was like, over a hundred years old."

"He is," Lloyd replied. "But he's also going for your protection. Plus, Chen's been accepted into BIT, too, so it wasn't hard to convince him."
My mouth dropped open in surprise. I hadn't heard about that! It was clear that I hadn't caught up with them in a while.
I was both terrified and intrigued by the idea of Ambrose going to college.
"Ah, so that's who you were texting this morning," Garmadon said to himself. I fell quiet, still reeling from the information. I knew something was going to be done about my protection, but I assumed it would just be tighter campus security.
Though, considering Lloyd's views, it made sense that he asked Ambrose. Nobody was stronger than an elemental master than another elemental master, it seemed.
While the meeting continued discussing the logistics, I hid my smile behind my hair. College with Ambrose and Chen? This was going to be absolutely chaotic. This was going to be so much fun.

I caught Kvasir's stare and wilted a tad more, unsure how to handle his emotionless face. No, it wouldn't be college with Ambrose and Chen. It would be college with Ambrose, Chen and Kvasir, who just so happens to have gotten a terrible first impression of me.
I hoped I didn't ruin things.
The meeting packed up for the day and we were free to go. On the way out of the tombs, Lloyd and I got an earful about responsibility and manners, which was well deserved. Then we split ways, with Lloyd's parents having to stop by the museum to drop off some old artefacts.
Lloyd and I were walking home. Well, walking until we found a secluded space to summon Bentley.
"Can we get something to eat?" I asked, eyeing a chicken n' chips store on the other side of the road. "I missed lunch. Morning training was running late."
"Sure," Lloyd replied, taking my hand letting me lead him across the road to the store. We quickly bought what we wanted and continued the walk home while eating.

"If the world was a chicken, you'd be a hot wing," I announced. I bit off the top of a chip while Lloyd snorted.
"Classy," he said. He turned and caught me with a deep gaze. "My eyes meet many, but I only get lost in yours."
My mouth dropped open. Lloyd chortled at my stunned expression, totally taken aback.
"Holy kebab," I whispered, turning my eyes to watch the sidewalk. Lloyd, pleased, continued to snicker. He could obviously hear the loud pounding of my heart in response to the effective line he used. How dare he.
I needed to get him back for that.
Lloyd contently munched on his food, totally unaware of his absolute destruction that I was planning in my head. It took a few streets for me to file through my head and find the perfect response to condemn Lloyd to speechlessness.
My eyes flashed deviously when I found it. This plan was foolproof.

After tossing my finished food into a bin, I returned to Lloyd and gently caught his arm with my hands. It was a normal action, so he wasn't growing suspicious when I rested my cheek against his shoulder.
"I'm on top of things," I began, twisting my head to look him in the eyes. I lidded my gaze just for that extra pizzazz. "Would you like to be one of them?"
Lloyd blinked. A small, awkward smile pulled at his lips.
"I don't get it," he said, and my curt smirk dropped in confusion. "What does that mean? Do you want me to pick you up?"
I stared at him. He watched me back, head tilted and eyes full of naive confusion.
"Uh." My brain had totally blanked. "Y- sure. Thanks."
"Are your muscles sore?" Lloyd asked, totally oblivious to the embarrassment rocking through my system. He swept me up into his arms and I decided that I hated the world but also loved it at the same time. "We can go into the onsen when we get home, if you want - though it might be a bit hot for that, might have to wait until evening when it cools down."

Lloyd continued to rattle on. I dropped my gaze to my feet while failure burnt bright in my veins.
My foolproof plan backfired right into my face, in the form of Lloyd being oblivious yet achingly sweet towards me. It left me coughing out the smoke and wiping the soot from my face, while also picking sunflowers from my hair. I couldn't even be mad.
Sigh. We'll get him next time, lads.
We flew home once we reached the outskirts of the city and I confessed to Lloyd that my muscles weren't actually sore and that we could continue with training.
"Oh," he had said with a smug grin after I told him the truth. "So you just wanted to be held in my arms?"
"Yes," I had replied through a tight smile. "That is exactly what I was implying."
Lloyd arrived home with a bigger head than what was warranted. I arrived home feeling defeated.
It was such a good pick up line, too.
What a waste.

"Alright," Lloyd said, still stroking his own ego and feeling all high and mighty as he led the way to the dojo. I followed sullenly. "Training time. Let's teach you spinjitzu."
I stopped short at the entrance, staring at Lloyd with wide eyes. Forgotten was the failed pick up line. Dismissed was the amused annoyance at Lloyd's ego. This was far more important.

"Let's what now?" I blinked.