Chen was straight up, not having a good time.

While the Green Ninja - Lloyd, Lloyd, LLOYD?! tended to Y/n, Chen quickly scrambled out of the alleyway and fled down the street, running as fast as his legs could carry him. After that, after what he said, he couldn't stay.
Shock pushed him fast. Fear pushed him faster. Get home, get home, get home.
What would Lloyd do to him? Now that Chen knew about his secret identity? Were they going to pull a MiB? Were they going to wipe his memory?
Erase him from all records? Like he never existed? Did they have that kind of technology? Was the whole ninja squad secretly evil?

No. No, that's not it.

Chen collapsed against a brick wall and slithered down until he was clutching his legs, mind spinning a mile a minute. It was tough work trying to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
Did Y/n know it was him the entire time? Is that why she's dating Garmadon's son? Nobody in their right mind would be seen with him, unless she knew about him being the green ninja before they began going out!
That doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense. Was I making it up? Maybe he had hit his head on the way in. Maybe he was still dreaming.

Slamming his phone out of his pocket, Chen quickly typed up the green ninja on google images. When they loaded, he flicked through the photos, growing more and more agitated, doubt of what he saw slipping with each breath. Yes, it was Lloyd. No, his brain wasn't playing tricks.
Chen felt his world shatter around him.
It seemed so obvious now, seeing the familiar shade of his green eyes that used to irritate him to no end in the photos of the famed ninja - the way Lloyd always wore green, even to school (was he taunting them?), no matter how hard Chen tried, he couldn't surpass Lloyd in p.e class, the way he didn't say anything whenever Chen and his friends teased him about the Green Ninja fighting his dad-

Chen sat back. Oh, god. Oh, god.
He had to fight his own father.

Chen was there for that fight, standing on the sidelines, watching it taking place a few years ago. It was brutal, terrifying. He was fourteen. Lloyd was fourteen when he fought that fight.
All the years of pushing Garmaboy around came crashing down onto his shoulders and he began to breathe heavily in a panic.
God what did he do?
What a mistake.
All this time, he was messing around with none other than the green ninja himself. The protector of Ninjago. The person Chen had admired for so long.

It'd been Lloyd this whole time? Lloyd and the green ninja, one in the same? It seemed so ridiculous that Chen began to quietly chuckle to himself. Then those chuckles patterned out into confused crying as he crouched against the wall of a broken building on a deserted street. Feeling small.

He dug his head into his arms and sobbed.

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

"Yo, are you alright?"

Chen glanced up, finding most of the group staring at him as they lounged around the mall, sluggishly dragging their feet while engaged in loud conversations. He smiled loosely, flicking back his brown hair with an easy sweep of his hand.
"I'm fine," he said casually, plastering on a charming smirk.
"You've been really quiet all week," Maggie continued, the blonde cheerleader scrunching her face in concern. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Chen grinned, raising his palms and squeezing his eyes shut pleasantly in a look to fool. "I've just been lost in my thoughts. My little sister's starting high school next month and I've been wondering about how she's going to get to and from school when we have practise."

It wasn't entirely a lie. His sister was starting high school next month and Chen did have to work out how she was going to get to and from school on the days he had morning and afternoon practises for cheerleading.
But it wasn't why he'd been quiet.
It'd been a week since he found out about Lloyd being the green ninja and it was all he could think about - paranoid that the ninja force would come along and give him a beating or what not (he did say paranoid).

He'd been consumed by his thoughts, riding the waves of his anxiety. But there had been no spotting of the ninja all week - Chen had been trying to keep track of the ninja's movements via twitter stan accounts but there'd been nothing - where were they? 
The particularly cowardice part of him wondered if they were gearing up to take him down.

"Hey, isn't that Garmadork's lover?" Josh hissed, making Chen glance up and push aside his consuming thoughts for a second. He was pointing at Y/n, who stood still in the middle of the mall.
Actually, she wasn't still. Her entire body was trembling.
She looked like she was on the verge of breaking down.
"Let's go see what she's up to, huh?"
"No," Chen said, grabbing Josh's shoulder. He swallowed sharply. "C'mon, we've got better things to do."

"What?" Charlie pressed, crossing her arms. "You're kidding. She's right there! What if they're planning on invading the city soon? We haven't seen Garmaboy around, have we? Maybe the fucker's finally joined his dad."
"Shut up, Charlie," Chen scoffed, making the brunette drop her arms in shock. "Just... shut up."
"Excuse me?" Charlie raised her eyebrows, stunned and insulted. "Do you even hear yourself right now? You're defending traitors! Tyrants!"
"Drop it," Chen spat, shoving his hands into his hoody pockets and turning away from the group. The image of the green ninja, eyes full of red malice, upon catching him hurting Y/n...

He'd rather stay away from her if he could. From both of them.
"Is she crying?" Asked another from the midst of the group.
"Tch. What a loser," snickered another. The gang started to head towards the exit, too caught up in teasing Y/n behind her back to notice Garmadon himself walk past.
But Chen noticed. He paused, stiffening in fear - god, why are they all here? The others continued past, not paying attention to Chen.

He wanted to continue after the others, join in on the fun. But it felt wrong. It was like the moral code within him was suddenly switched back on.
Leaving Y/n there, shivering and about to cry in the middle of the flow of shoppers, felt inherently wrong. A whole bunch of people would witness her breaking down in public. Likely no one would stop to help her.
His group of friends pushed on. He let them.

"Hey," Chen swallowed back his fear and stepped in front of Garmadon just before he could disappear into the crowd.
Lloyd's dad pulled a suspicious look upon recognising the boy, fully aware of the turmoil Chen and his gang had brought down upon Lloyd. He waited on baited breath, wondering what the bully would do now. Uncertainty made him shift on his feet, but he was curious to hear what the young man had to say.
After all, it took balls to stop the previous Lord Garmadon himself.

"You should go check on Y/n," Chen said quietly, gesturing with his head at the girl. He couldn't even look Lloyd's dad in the eyes. "I don't think she's feeling well."
That wasn't what he was expecting in the slightest.
Garmadon's green eyes jumped from Chen's hesitant face to Y/n's figure from behind the bully. Concern washed over his face.
Chen went to leave but Garmadon clasped a hand over his shoulder. He stilled, incredibly tense at the contact.

"Thank you," Garmadon said in the gentlest of voices, gratitude and general pleasantness dripping from his words, and Chen realised that he hadn't actually ever heard Lord Garmadon speak when he wasn't Lord Garmadon.
He sounded like a wise, old grandpa. The one that'd always have cookies ready for visitors, who'd offer favourable advice. Someone who could calm anyone down just by speaking. He felt his body instantly relax beyond his control. He felt like a proud father, a supportive man, a fair guy.
Was this seriously the same person?

"You're a good kid."

Chen couldn't respond before Garmadon started heading towards Lloyd's friend. He watched as she stumbled into Garmadon, red face flushed not with embarrassment, but with impending tears. The look reminded him of his little sister when she was about to cry. An uncomfortable, foreign feeling twinged in his gut.
Was it guilt? He couldn't tell.

After watching Garmadon lead the trembling Y/n into a quaint little tea house to help her calm down, Chen continued on his way, alone. Head bowed and hands stuffed in his pockets.

A good kid? He wanted to scoff. Sadly. Guiltily.

Yeah, right.

When Chen exited the mall, a hand grabbed his arm and tugged him into a darkened corner where nobody would spot him. He made a sound of frustration, yanking back and making the grip on him release.
"Hey, what the fu-"
"You know who the green ninja is, don't you?"

Chen paused, eyes jumping up to the figure. White skin with whiter hair. Small eyes tucked behind round-rim glasses. They were an unnatural shade of yellow.
"Wh- what?" Chen spluttered, squinting his eyes. "Who are you?"
"Unimportant," the guy waved his question off before clasping his hands onto Chen's shoulders. "Do you know who the green ninja is or not?"
"G- ge' off!" Chen spat, stepping away from the guy. "Just who in the hell do you think you are? Why do you care if I know who the green ninja is or not?"

The guy sighed, flicking a hand through his platinum hair. It was such a bold shade of white but still, Chen wasn't sure if the colour was dyed or natural.
"Fine, if you must know who I am, then hello," the guy held out his hand for Chen to shake. He did so reluctantly, eyeing the odd fellow suspiciously. "The name's Simon. And as for why I want to know about the green ninja..?"

A malicious glint in his yellow eyes, Simon grinned wickedly. Chen suddenly felt incredibly in danger.

"Well, I want him dead."

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

I shifted on the wooden planks, the rubber of my jandals squelching as I wrung my hands nervously.

It was finally Friday, two weeks since I last saw Lloyd.
Apprehension swirled dangerously in my gut and I wondered if it was of the nerves or the excitement. What's the bet that it was a little something of the both?
The sandy beach stretching either side of the jetty looked pretty but it did little to distract me of the agitation, no matter how much I tried. My knees felt shaky. I hated this feeling but I loved the cause for it.
Ugh.

Misako and Garmadon stood off to the side, having a quiet conversation that I tried my best not to listen in. My own eyes scoured the horizon silently, trying to find the shape of a distant ship.
I stopped my searching when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and glanced up to see the warm, smiling face of Misako. She gestured for me to sit, so I did.
I stared between the planks, watching the salt water beneath me swell with each wave. The sound of distant waves crashing was soothing, like breathing. In and out. Inhale and exhale.
Misako settled beside me, staring out into the sea with a small smile on her face. It was peaceful. Tranquil.

"I know you like my son."
Duck.

The feeling of serenity shattered.
"What?" I squeaked in surprise, swinging my head up to send her a shocked look. "What?"
Misako's small, content smile turned amused. She continued to stare at the ocean.
"You have an interest on Lloyd, do you not?"
Duck.

I figured that 'interest' meant 'crush,' and I felt my face instantaneously start heating up like a furnace. I scrambled to my knees, shaking my head feverishly.
"I- I like him as a friend," I elaborated with wide eyes and a trembly smile. The sandy beach looked so much more inviting now. Inviting me to run away.

Misako sent me a disbelieving look, like what I just said was utter bullshit.
It probably was.
"And that's why you're blushing?" she teased while nudging my shoulder, a grin returned to her face, knowing, beguiled, intrigued. "Garmadon told me that when you and him had your talk over tea, every time you two mentioned Lloyd, you would smile."
Duck.

"You're mistaken-"

"Are we?"
Goose. I was tagged.
I sagged, caving, as my blush managed to intensify even more. What's the use in swaying their thoughts? It's not like I could convince them that I didn't like Lloyd.
Besides, that'd be lying.

I dropped my gaze back down to the water while I gave a feeble shrug.
"... maybe just a little," I squeaked helplessly as I fiddled my fingers. Misako and Garmadon shared a triumphant grin.

"We didn't want you to feel pressured," Garmadon said as he approached. "But we needed to know. It's not often when a girl likes our son. He isn't very... popular."
"It isn't often when somebody out of the team even considers Lloyd a friend," Misako continued. "Even less, more than a friend."

God, this is humiliating.

"Don't be embarrassed," Garmadon insisted as he patted my shoulder, seemingly able to read my mind. "We think very highly of you. Lloyd's happier than ever, all thanks to you."
"I think I'm gonna take a walk," I announced before scrambling to my feet and speeding off to the beach. I'm pretty sure you could see the embarrassment leaking off of me like a bad odour.
Slipping off my jandals, I held them in one hand while strolling through the sand, watching as the fine grains slid over my toes.

I didn't know which would be more mortifying. Lloyd finding out that I had a crush on him, or Lloyd's parents knowing.
Either way, Misako and Garmadon did know and there wasn't anything I could do about that.
Just thank god that Lloyd remained oblivious.
Or did he?
I slapped my hands over my face. The jandals hit my head.
This is so embarrassing.

The ocean water calmly lapped at the beach and I was tempted to dip my toes in its refreshing, blissful mess. Bubbles and foam slid across the surface. The sound was like a symphony.
I closed my eyes to lose myself in it more - only to ignore the fact that I was almost mortified to death by Lloyd's parents picking up on my crush so easily.
I hadn't realised how far away from the jetty I had strolled until I opened my eyes again. I could just see Miskao and Garmadon as they waited. Sliding my eyes to the horizon, a small speck emerged within my ability to see.

I took a seat on a rock, letting the water lap halfway up my calves. It would take another half an hour at the least for them to dock.
Wait.
Did Lloyd know that I was here?
Oh boy.

Slowly but surely, the outline grew more defined and bigger as time passed on. In twenty minutes, I could see people milling around on the deck. In another ten, I could tell who was who.
I scrambled to my feet after another five, beginning to walk back to the dock. Maybe I should've waited up there with his parents. Was I being rude by running away simply because I couldn't handle their teasing? Mayhaps.

The butterflies in my stomach reawakened with vengeance when the ship drifted to a stop at the end of the jetty. Cole and Kai leapt over the side, landing on the wood silently despite the drop, holding ropes and began expertly hitching the boat to the posts.
Hehe. Seamen.
The jetty was suddenly a flurry of activity as
plank was slammed down from the side of the ship. Nya and Jay began stepping down it with two duffel bags slung over their shoulders, all the while chatting merrily.
Kai retrieved his bag from Jay, while Cole grabbed his from Nya.
My heart leapt into my throat when I saw a familiar mop of blonde hair make his way down the gangplank, laughing at something Zane had said.

I was still on the beach but I didn't want to run because then I'd look desperate and I was sure that if I took another second of teasing I'd combust.
Kai tapped Lloyd's shoulder and said something while pointing at me.
Lloyd turned his head with a confused frown as he glanced at his parents. Garmadon tilted his head towards me, still down on the beach.
Lloyd's green eyes turned to me before lighting up, a wide beam stretching over his teeth.
Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

It was like seeing him for the first time again.

Part of me was glad that I was on the beach. If my weak knees truly gave out, at least it would be a relatively soft fall.
The way his blonde hair sweeps over his forehead. The way he was smiling brighter than the sun itself. The way he was running at me wait what-

I barely had time to squeal before he embraced me in a hug and swept me off my feet - literally.
"I- oh! L- Lloyd!" I squeaked as I felt my stomach get left behind. He laughed, digging his face into my shoulder.
Then we fell.
Sand kicked up around us, covering us in the pesky little bits but I couldn't care. I sat up with a gasp just as Lloyd tackled me into another hug. I caught myself from falling with an arm.
"I missed you!" he exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing across the beach.
"Sh- haha-shush," I giggled, putting my hand over his mouth. "I missed you, too."

I clung to him, just as he held onto me. I didn't realise just how viscerally I missed him until he was in my arms again. It was like an aching gap had been repaired.
His smell of life almost made me tear up oh my god.
Lloyd began to pull back and I was reluctant to leave his hold but I still let his shirt slide through my fingers as he stepped away, revealing his flushed cheeks and bright grin.
"I better go grab my stuff," he said, pointing with a thumb over his shoulder. I nodded in agreement. He linked his fingers through mine as we made our way back to the jetty where the others were still unpacking their belongings from the boat.

Lloyd pulled away to help, jogging back over to his team and shoving them aside with a flushed grin when they teased him.
I didn't realise I was watching him with a fond smile until I heard Garmadon clear his throat.

Glancing at him, he sent me a knowing look with a subtle, sly smirk. Misako shamelessly grinned at me.
I bit my lip, dropping my gaze back to my feet as a furious blush made its way onto my cheeks.

Dammit.