TW: mild sexual content

I got a call at three in the morning.

I stared at my buzzing phone with pained reluctance. Last time I got a phone call in the early hours of the morning, my entire world shattered around me. Still, I rubbed my tired eyes and grabbed the buzzing device - at least just to see who it was that thought calling me while I was (for the first time in a week and a half) finally getting at least some solid hours of rest was a good idea.
My jaw popped open in lethargic shock. It was Nya.
I closed my eyes and held a sigh. I couldn't ignore a call from Nya as much as my sleepy brain got down on its knees and begged me to - it might be important. She might kick my ass in school the next day if I didn't, so I slid the icon to call and held the phone to my ear.

"Hel-"
"BENTLEY'S RUN AWAY."
I stared at the wall of my room. The green ninja poster was hanging on by one single piece of blue tack. I blinked slowly, brain running at a snail's pace.
"Huh?" I drawled, holding back a yawn and failing miserably.
"Bentley!" Nya exclaimed in a panic. "He's run off! He's gone wild!"
My brow furrowed in confusion. I was still having trouble keeping up.
"Can't Lloyd just make him... y'know..." I tried to find the word. "Poof?"
"It's not working!"
"But-"
"We think he's headed to you!"
That made me sit up straight.
"Wha-"

Suddenly, something very large and heavy slammed into the roof and made the entire house shake. My scream was short and shocked, not expecting the world to jolt as hard as it did.
"Y- yeah," I breathed into the phone, heart beating a million miles. I was definitely wide awake now. "He just got here."
"We're on our way," Nya reassured, sounding a lot more calm now that they had eyes (or as close enough to eyes) on Bentley. At least he wasn't unintentionally terrorising the city, or something. "Don't approach him. He's dangerous."
My heart sunk a little. But then I remembered him snapping at me, and then snapping at Lloyd. If he was connected to Lloyd's emotional state, and Lloyd hates me, staying inside was probably the best and safest idea.

"Okay," I agreed with a nod. "See you soon."
Nya ended the call with her own farewell and I just managed to hear shouting in the background before it cut off. I dropped my phone to my lap, staring at the duvet with weary eyes.
I had exams soon. I didn't need this chaos.
"What the hELL WAS THAT-?!" Dad burst as he crashed into my room. I pointed at the ceiling.
"Dragon."
Dad stared at me. His arms dropped to his sides, limp.
"M' going back to bed," he muttered, turning on his heel and stumbling back down the hall. "Screw this."
If only I could go back to sleep, too. But I had more pressing matters on my hands, like the dragon perched on the roof of my house.
Giving a sigh, I made a grave mistake.
Pulled up twitter on my phone.

Trending number one, and all over my feed, was part of a rushed interview from after a fight. The green ninja was clearly in a bad mood - you could see the red trying to push past the green of his eyes. Subtle, only there if you really look for it. The video started playing automatically and I didn't have the heart to stop it.
"You have a ring," noted the interviewer as they scrambled after Lloyd. An ache opened in my chest. Oh. It was about that. I could see where this was going. "Are the rumours true?"
"No," Lloyd growled.
"So there's nobody special in your life?"
"There's no one."
I turned off my phone before it could play any longer and fell back onto my bed, closing my eyes. I didn't even have it in me to cry. I just felt numb.
Bentley shifted. I could hear his tail drag along the flat tiles, and then a low, broken croon that made my face scrunch in heartbreak. Bentley cried again, full of yearning and sadness and I was already throwing my covers off before it broke off into silence.

"'He's dangerous' my ass," I grumbled to myself as I snagged my winter coat and shoved my feet into my slippers. "'He's baby' is more like it."
I pushed my window open and grabbed onto the old ladder that led to the roof. The dragon stared down at me as I clambered up, shivering in the night chill.
"Hey, buddy," I greeted, blowing into my hands to generate some warmth after he stepped back to give me room to get up safely. "Lloyd being a jerk to you, too?"
Bentley didn't answer my question - as he's a dragon - but he did make a quiet, shaky whine in the back of his throat as he stepped forward and gently pressed his forehead to my torso. My stunned heart shattered at his softness.
"O- oh," I blinked in surprise, instinctively holding his cheeks and running my fingers down his long, green whiskers. I crouched and leant my chin atop his muzzle, sending his yellow eyes a concerned look. They were dilated with sorrow. "Baby, what's wrong?

He softly cried again, nuzzling deeper into my hold as he stared at me pitifully. I tilted my head.
"Are... are you apologising?" I asked in soft surprise. "For when you growled at me?"
Bentley rumbled. His tongue gave me a kitten lick up the side of my coat and I fell into an adoring smile.
"It's okay, my darling boy," I murmured, pressing a kiss between his eyes. "I've already forgiven you."
Bentley gave a purr, settling deeper into my hands. I think he sounded... relieved? I wasn't sure just how sentient he was, but he seemed to actually be able to understand me?
Ohh. I see gossip sessions in our futures.
"You shouldn't have run away, though," I chided in a softly disappointed voice. He grumbled, lifting his head to shuffle his body closer. I gladly took the invitation to curl into his neck as he resettled on his side. "That's bad. Bad dragon, Bentley."
He just thumped his tail in retaliation. Attitude issues, it seemed. He was such a cat.
He's so much like Lloyd.

My throat got thick and I swallowed, dropping my head against his warm, green scales. They subtly glowed in the darkness of the early morning.
"I miss you," I whispered against his neck, patting him. My fingertips dipped in the valleys of his hide. "I miss Lloyd, too. As much as he's acting like an ass."
Bentley whined. I liked to think it was him saying 'miss you, too.' Or maybe my affection-deprived brain just wanted me to believe it.
The chill made me huddle more into Bentley's side and he curled closer, just a ball of a dragon with me in the middle. It worked. He kept me sheltered.
A dragon's call in the distance made Bentley perk his head up before his eyes narrowed in displeasure. His large snout gave a huff and he reset his head chin on the rooftop, ignoring the team as they landed. One dragon short before they each obediently disappeared when willed to.

Haha. Lloyd looked pissed.

"Good morning," I greeted, not making a move from where I was pressed up tight against Bentley. The dragon shifted his head closer, but it seemed like he also had no inclinations of leaving his spot.
"Sorry," Kai sighed, patting Lloyd's shoulder. "Team leader here's losing his touch."
Lloyd grunted, shoving off the fire ninja's hand.
"I told you not to get close!" Nya pressed, frowning. "He's dangerous."
"Nah," I shook my head with a grin. Bentley dropped his head into my lap with a loving croon. "He's nothing but a big sweetheart, aren't you?"
Bentley rolled a delighted tremble through his body when I patted his face. His wings shivered.
"Big problem," Lloyd grumbled, and it made Bentley shoot him a warning snarl. "Disappear. Do it. I'm telling you to disappear."
Bentley stared at Lloyd. Challenging. The ninja's jaw tensed with frustration.

"Bentley," Lloyd snapped. "Stop ignoring me."
Cole hid a laugh with a cough. The dragon turned his gaze up to me and I raised my hands.
"Don't bring me into this."
"YOU are an ELEMENTAL DRAGON!" Lloyd finally yelled, face red in rage. "You LISTEN to ME!"
Bentley just garbled a growl back, pressing tighter to me. It didn't sound polite. Kai was trying to hold back a snicker. Jay openly cackled, unashamed for finding the situation hilarious.
"Don't you snarl at me like that!" Lloyd hissed, taking a step forward only to stop when the dragon tensed and growled in warning. The blond sent me a desperate look. "A little help?"
"Oh?" I crossed my arms with a frown, unimpressed. The remark he made during the interview still stung. "So now you want to talk to me?"
"Y/n."
"Did this just turn into a custody battle?" Nya whispered to Zane. He shrugged.
"Bentley!" Lloyd bit. The dragon snapped his maw back at him with a sassy bark.

"Okay," I said as I stood, brushing myself off. "Well, I'm going back to bed."
Bentley immediately rose, trying to follow. I sent him a sympathetic smile as he nudged my side with a whine.
"Sorry buddy," I apologised, patting his forehead. "I don't think you'll be able to fit through my window."
"Well, Bentley has his favourite parent," Kai smirked at the leader, crossing his arms. Lloyd shot him an irritated glare but didn't step up to argue. The proof was currently against him.
Having had enough, Lloyd stormed towards the dragon. Bentley's growls grew louder the closer the ninja advanced and I actually felt fear twist unattractively in my gut. The dragon pulled itself up taller, intimidating, as he bristled warningly. Lloyd looked like a mouse compared to Bentley, but that didn't deter him, face matching his dragon's warning fury.
The idiot.
"Wait, Lloyd-" Cole began, just as Bentley snapped and launched towards the blond.
"Lloyd!" I gasped, instinctively reaching out to stop Bentley (as if I could stop a giant, powerful dragon) just as my gut gave me a mighty thwack with the tug and I stumbled forth.

Lloyd scampered back, genuine fear on his face just as a solid wall of misty peach made Bentley crash his sharp jaw into it. He stumbled back upon impact, blinking in surprise as he snorted and shook his head.
"No, Bentley!" I exclaimed shakily, body trembling in shock. The dragon sent me a pitiful look. "No!"
Bentley sulkily turned his head away.
"What were you thinking?!" I hissed, turning to Lloyd just as the misty wall faded away. His stunned, green eyes jumped to me. I didn't even have the time to be amazed at the instinctive success of my powers. "Are you an idiot? You need to calm down!"
"Oh, rich," he said bitterly. "Coming from you."
"I just saved your life!"
"I was handling it!"
"Sure," I grumbled, storming up to Bentley. He eagerly laid down as I clambered onto the saddle. The rest of the team watched on, entranced by the drama.

"What the hell are you doing?" Lloyd asked as I picked up the reins. Bentley eyed him warily.
"I'm taking Bentley back to the monastery," I snapped. "Because he's clearly lost his respect for you. Good reason, too."
Bentley made a smug growl, as if to punctuate my sentence with a 'yeah!' Lloyd opened his mouth to retaliate but I nudged the dragon's sides with my heels before the first sharp word even left his lips. Bentley swiftly took off.
I ignored the sound of the team's dragons bursting to life and following, too pissed off and shaken by Bentley's almost attack against Lloyd.
I was conflicted. Half of me wanted to beg him for forgiveness but the other half was steadily growing annoyed at his attitude. Well, yes, it was my fault that he's angry with me and I do take full responsibility - at least I was trying to make it right. Trying to get him to listen to me so I could explain myself and my dumb actions and ask if he was willing to try again. Trying to fix things.

He was making it so hard.

I dropped myself onto Bentley's neck with a dry cry, clutching his hide as I held onto him as if my life depended on it. The others were following. They could probably see me. I didn't care.
Bentley gave a sympathetic rumble as he flew through the cold morning air as I hid my face into him. The wind made my hair tumble and tangle.
"How do I fix us, Bents?" I asked in a caught sob. "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm so confused."
He called a quiet cry, sharing my heartache. The rest of the cold flight was spent in heavy silence.
Seeing the monastery again was like being hit in the gut with nostalgia. I slipped off after we landed and hissed at the ground shock that spiked up my feet. Bentley nudged me for attention, so I gladly gave it, shivering in the chill of the gravelled driveway.

The rest of the ninja landed shortly after and their dragons disappeared with a multicoloured flash.
"What do we do now? Bentley's still here," Cole asked as they approached. Bentley stepped a clawed paw in front of me and gave Lloyd a snarl.
"Cut it out," I said, tapping his scaled chest. Bentley immediately relaxed, nudging his cheek against mine.
"Maybe she can try to coax him to?" Nya suggested.
"How is she supposed to do that?" Jay asked. "What, go up to him and ask politely? It can't be that easy!"
"Bentley?" I called softly, making the large dragon shift his attention to me. "Can you go poof? Please?"
He didn't seem too impressed by that. The dragon huffed, warm breath crashing against my face and twirling my hair back. The others began discussing more theories.
I tilted my head and sent Bentley a pleading smile.
"For me?"

Bentley stilled, staring, before giving a dragon-y groan and snuffling my hair. He burst into green light, fading fast from physical existence. The team silenced.
"Oh," Jay said, being the first to speak. "I guess it is that easy."
"Great. Thank you," Lloyd said stiffly. "Nya, take her home."
"Ugh what?" Nya whined. "I just flew all the way to her place and back. Just let Y/n stay for the rest of the night."
"Better yet, make up already," Kai grumbled, brushing past us with a yawn. "Whatever. I'm going back to bed."
Lloyd closed his eyes tightly before turning on his heel and following Kai.
"Wait!" Jay asked, grabbing my arm and pulling me along as the rest of the team shuffled inside the monastery. "Where's she going to sleep?"
"In one of the guest rooms," Lloyd answered shortly.
"But none of those are set up," Cole pointed out, and it clicked in my brain as to what strings they were pulling. I let them, curious to see whether or not they'll be successful.

"She can just grab a blanket."
"Those rooms are freezing!" Jay insisted. Lloyd shot him a scathing look, having also picked up on the game they're playing.
"Then she can grab more blankets."
"LLOYD, for God's sake!" Nya burst, probably waking the rest of the sleeping monastery. "Just let her sleep in your room!"
"Fine," Lloyd sniffed, turning back to stare down the hallway. "I'll take a guest room."
"You. Are. Useless," Nya hissed, bristling, before grabbing Lloyd's wrist in a grip so tight, even the mighty green ninja couldn't escape from it and began hauling him down towards his bedroom. Jay ushered me along quicker.
"W- wait, guys-" I began, starting to feel doubt creep up my spine. I didn't want to be locked in a room with Lloyd. It'd be akin to being locked in a room with an agitated lion.
Too late. They shoved us inside and yanked the door shut.
"Hey!" Lloyd yelled indignantly, banging his fist on the wood. "Let me out!"

This was decidedly humiliating, standing in the middle of the achingly familiar room as Lloyd spat curses at his cackling team that were keeping the door shut. Humiliating and heartbreaking and belittling.
"I'm too tired for this," I muttered to myself before dropping my coat to the floor and crawling into the bed. The scent of spring forests and meadows and bubbling crooks immediately encompassed me in its soft hold and I felt myself relax into it. It'd been way too long since I felt like this.
Lloyd kicked the door, completely riled up. He stormed over to the window and unlatched it, beginning to lift himself up and out of the room before stopping halfway.
I stared at the wall, pulling the covers over my shoulder. Trying to not let myself hurt too much by his desperation to get away.
Lloyd sighed, hanging his head. He mumbled something to himself, too quiet for me to hear, before pulling the window shut once more. His weight settled on the bed beside me and I swallowed dryly, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck pick up at the tension. There couldn't be any more space between us on the mattress.

"Goodnight," Lloyd said quietly, voice floating in the darkness. "A- and thank you. For helping with Bentley."
My heart leapt up into my throat.
"You're welcome," I replied, voice just as small. "Goodnight."

Well. At least it ended civil.

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

When I woke up, it was almost as if the fight had never happened.

I floated in a wave of springtime flavours as I slipped between the cusp of slumber and consciousness. Everything was warm and perfect and for once, a nightmare hadn't soured my sleep. It was the best sleep I'd had in a long time.
When I did wake, it took me a few moments to realise that the warmth and comfortable weight pressed around my waist was Lloyd himself. He must've pulled me into a hug in his sleep, arms caging me with his nose nuzzled into my hair. He was always a huggy sleeper.
I stayed still, not willing to wake him and shatter this first bit of affection from Lloyd I'd received in almost two weeks. It made me want to cry. I'd missed him so much. If we could stay like this for an eternity? Please?

My eyes slowly slid shut once more, wanting to fall back to sleep now that I wasn't so restless and alone. I could pretend for just a little longer. I deserved it. Craved it.

I woke up about an hour later in the middle of Lloyd dragging his cheek ever so gently across my neck. The dragon boy was trying to discreetly mark me without getting caught. It must've been killing him.
I'll let him keep his peace.
"Sorry for being a jerk," Lloyd whispered as he affectionately pressed his nose against my neck, so quiet that I could barely hear him despite how close he was. I think he still thought I was asleep. "Every time I see you, I just get so angry. I'm trying to work through it, but you're everywhere. I can't get away from you."
It took everything in me to not physically react to his small confession. He could probably still hear the stutter my heart did, anyway.
"You're awake," he mumbled disjointly.
"... have been for a while," I admitted quietly, shifting over so I was facing him. Or, rather, was pressed up against his dark shirt. Green, of course. Wouldn't be Lloyd if it wasn't green.
He stilled. Held a breath before slowly releasing it. It fluttered my baby hairs and caressed my face.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, staring hard at his shirt, eyeing the tiny threads. My eyes stung.

Lloyd was silent. We stayed there for a few long minutes later and I soaked in it, revelled in this brief chance of peace. It was sure not to last long.
"I- I miss you," I whimpered, clutching the front of his shirt. Lloyd's arm tensed around me. "I miss you so much. I'm sorry that I hurt you."
He swallowed, lifting his head away. I dropped my forehead against his chest, squeezing my eyes shut tightly as water beaded my lashes. I was hanging on by a thread.
Lloyd exhaled a shaky breath before slipping his arms from around me and sitting up. The material of his shirt dropped from my fingertips and I felt myself sink a little under the suffocating weight of rejection.
I watched him leave the room with hopeless eyes.

Draping my arm over my face, I hid my tears.

The morning was chilly, as per usual, so I grabbed one of Lloyd's hoodies on instinct and shoved it on. After realising what I'd done, I froze, before going 'fuck it' and deciding to take one while I still could.
Besides, I can't wear my heavy, thick rain jacket inside.
I stepped out of Lloyd's room dutifully, quiet and somber. The hallway lined with doors was so familiar that I could name whose room belonged to whom.
"Y/n?" called a voice as I shuffled down the long wing to get to the main part of the monastery. I turned to the monk just as he stepped out of his room, still adjusting his red robes.
"Oh," I blinked, before forcing a smile. I didn't feel like being pleasant, but I couldn't be rude. "Hey, Dimitri."
"You're back?" the monk asked in disbelief before breaking into a short run to scoop me into a hug. I squeaked in surprise, not expecting him to be the affectionate one. "You're back! Oh, let's go find Isla - I know she's missed you. And Jace, too! And especially the younger ones-"

"I- I'm not staying," I said quietly, smile falling. Dimitri pulled back with a sad frown. "I'm just going to say bye to the team and leave."
"Wait, but..." the monk began, upset, before it clicked. "You and Lloyd still aren't..?"
I shook my head.
"Oh," Dimitri said, the hands on my shoulders softening with sympathy. "Oh, Y/n. I'm so sorry."
I sent him an appreciative smile. It was good to see him again. I knew that I missed the monks and the home and everyone else, but I didn't realise just how much until the monk was standing before me. Wishful thinking build up a ball of sadness in my chest and for the millionth time, I felt tears swell in my eyes.
"Thanks, Dim," I said quietly, wiping away the drips from my eyes with my sleeve. "I miss you guys."
"We miss you, too," Dimitri said with a small smile before guiding me down the wing once more. "C'mon. You can at least stay for breakfast."
I gave a watery smile.
"Well, if you insist."

The team were already sat in the dining room having breakfast when Dimitri and I entered. I blatantly ignored the way Lloyd would send me guilty little stares from the side of his eyes. He said what he did (or rather, got the message across by staying silent) and that was enough for me to know my place. I'll have breakfast and leave and let him sort out whatever he needs to. Give him the space he said he needed.
He let me have my space to think when I was having my own crisis about him a few months back. The least I can do is give him the same.
And then, maybe, if all goes well... we can start again.
Hopefully.
Jay began to blabber about something mindless to break the tense silence. I sat ramrod straight on the zabuton, as if I was on the edge of my seat as I ate. Lloyd and I kept glancing each other. When our eyes met, they would bounce apart.
It was agonising.

"Isn't this great?" Cole asked with a fake smile. He was trying so hard. "All of us together again. Doesn't it remind you of pleasant memories?"
Nya gave a big nod. I stared blankly at my noodles as I slowly ate. Another pointless conversation began and I found myself unable to listen.
"Good morning, kids," Garmadon greeted as he entered. My gaze shot up to him. He stared back, baffled.
"Oh, Y/n!" he chirped, relieved and pleased. "What a lovely surprise-"
"Don't bother," Jay grumbled unhappily. "They're still not back together."
"Ah," Garmadon said dully, shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Well. It's good that you're here, anyway. Neuro will be arriving shortly."
"What for?" Lloyd spoke up, finally breaking his silence.
"To know who to visit and erase the memories of Y/n's powers," Zane spoke up. Lloyd pulled a confused look. He glanced at me before releasing his mistake and dropping it away.
"People saw her powers?" Lloyd asked.
"I also punched Claire in the face," I muttered under my breath.

"WHAT!" Nya gasped loudly, lifting her body up on the table in excitement. "You didn't tell me that!"
"Do not encourage mindless violence," Garm chided the water mistress. Nya shot him a wide-eyed look.
"She's the one that indirectly made Y/n and Lloyd break up."
"Oh," Garmadon said, raising his brows. "Then by all means."
I couldn't help it. I hid a snort in my hand. The others laughed, sans Lloyd, and before Garm could cover his tracks, Wu entered. Kashu was dozing in his arms.
"Neuro's arrived," Wu announced, just as the master of the mind himself appeared behind the sensei.
"Alright," I sighed, standing. "Let's get this over with."

You know how last time when Neuro tried to enter my mind and couldn't?
This time when he tried it-
He was thrown backwards.

"I'm so sorry!" I gasped as the elemental master picked himself up off the ground with a bewildered look.
"Her powers played up again last night, too," Lloyd murmured as he stood beside his dad, arms crossed in seriousness. I scampered over to Neuro to help him to his feet while bursting more apologies.
"I have three theories," Misako piped up, making us all turn to her curiously. When she appeared from where she'd been working on more scrolls, she gave me a big hug. Motherly vibes. I missed her heaps. "My first one is that her brain is automatically protecting itself from what it could determine as more threats. What Axon did to her when he implanted a lifetime's worth of false memories would've put it under a lot of stress."
"That's plausible," Neuro agreed as he rubbed the back of his head. "What are your others?"
"Second theory," Misako continued. Kashu bounded up to me and leapt into my lap. I instinctively caught him. "Is that, since her powers stems from a origin that wasn't Uchū, she's developing in a way that differs from how our powers work. She's on a different frequency."
"Would that be why my powers don't work on her?" Lloyd asked.
"Perhaps," Wu shrugged. "But it could also because because of the-" he snorted. "- the imprint."

Lloyd licked his teeth, unpleased. I avoided his gaze.
"Right."
"My third theory," Misako pushed on. "Is stress."
"I'm not stressed," I denied, shaking my head. "I'm fine."
"You may think that," Misako countered, kneeling before me. "But the opposite could be true. You're studying for exams, dealing with teenage emotions - your body is growing and your powers are developing. Plus, it seems like you aren't sleeping well. And, uh-" her gaze flicked to Lloyd briefly. His eyes dropped. "It's a lot for you to go through at one time."
"... right," I murmured, slumping a little. "That makes sense."
"I'm willing to bet that your powers are acting up because of how tense you are. I can feel it just by looking at you," Misako said, concerned as she grabbed my hands in hers. "This is why we get the ninja to meditate so often. Their powers are affected by how well they're taking care of their bodies, as well as emotional states. Your body isn't a machine to punish. It's your partner to work with. When was the last time you had a break?"

I stared at my fingers in hers, giving a pathetic and meek shrug. I felt like a scolded child.
"I dunno," I confessed sheepishly. "B- but what about-"
"Just give me the name of one person," Neuro reassured. "I'll take it from there."
I nodded, giving him Claire's full name. He gave an acknowledging nod and went on his way to clean up my own mess.
"I should leave, too," I noted quietly, patting Kashu's head.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Wu offered. Garm nodded. "It has been a while. I'm sure the others would love to catch up some more, too."
"Y'know," Garmadon shrugged. "Or you could just stay forever."
I scrunched my nose in doubt. "I think you'll have a fight with my own parents on your hands for that one."
"We'll get you eventually," Cole piped up from where Kai and Jay were attempting to push the larger man down. He was barely moving an inch. Jay and Kai's feet were scrambling on the dojo's tatami flooring.
"Charming," I smiled, just as my peripheral vision caught Lloyd silently leaving the room. I pretended that I didn't notice my mood plummet at his absence as I turned my attention back to Cole. "That's not creepy at all. But I really should go. I need to get changed before school."

"Don't you still have clothes in Lloyd's room?" Nya asked as Kashu bounced into her legs. She picked up the excited puppy with a coo. "Then you can come to school with us!"
"Yeah, Lloyd didn't burn them," Jay piped up before frowning. "I think."
I sent him a tight smile. "Thanks."
"Saves time," Kai pointed out.
"Alright," I sighed, going to leave the dojo. "I'll grab some clothes from his room."
"Yay!" Nya gushed. "You're in my car, I call dibs!"
"Oh, Y/n," Garmadon said as he stepped up to walk with me down the hall. "We need to visit the serpentine in regards to the treaty."
"Oh, sure." I felt more weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "Do you have an idea of a time?"
"Not yet," Garmadon replied. "But I'll let you know when I do. Could I get your details so we can keep in contact about it?"
I blinked in surprise.
"You have a phone?"
"No, why would I need a phone?"
"I-" I stared at the Sensei blankly. Bless his old man soul. "Never mind. We can talk through Zane."
"Oh, sure," Garmadon nodded, though seemed slightly confused by it. "If you think that will work."

We strolled down the long hall in silence. Garmadon cleared his throat.
"How are you doing?" he asked gently, pulling to a stop by a window. I followed his lead, staring out at the garden tiredly. The sakura trees had bary begun to bud again. The maple trunks were still naked.
"I..." I sighed, feeling totally worn down by everything. "I just... I feel like I keep messing up. First with Claire, then with my powers. Then Lloyd. Now this. I keep screwing up everything and it's all my fault."
"I disagree," Garmadon said as we stared out at the garden. The onsen water steamed in the frigid morning chill. "The only thing you did wrong was not come to somebody for help and tried to handle it on your own."
My gaze jumped to his. He sent me a wise smile, eyes having seen thousands of years.
"I have seen many things in my life, Y/n, but one thing I have never seen is witness anybody succeed greater than when a team is present in retaliation. A cricket cannot take on an army of ants. You cannot take on the world alone, despite how much you want to. Despite if you believe that it makes you feel mature. It's why we work in a team, as a family."

"Yeah, but I kind of tore myself out of the team," I murmured, staring out the window once more.
"Nonsense," Garmadon denied with a shake of his head. "You belong in this team as much as a fish belongs in water. Nothing you may do will detriment that. Not even what you said to Lloyd. Not even what you said about me."
I stumbled in a turn to him, face paling in horror.
"H- he told you-"
"He did."
"I- I'm-" horrified, panicked tears began welling in my eyes. "I'm so sorry- I didn't mean- I didn't know what I was saying-"
"No, Y/n. Don't panic. I'm not angry," Garmadon soothed, guiding me into a hug. I clutched at his robes and it felt like I was hugging my own dad. His hand rubbed my back in reassurance. "Nya also informed us of what you told her. I don't blame you for what you said. Emotions are brash and unforgiving, especially in a situation as unfair as yours."
"I'm such an idiot," I cried into his robe.
"You are not," the Sensei chided softly. "You are only young and are dealing with things somebody your age should never have to deal with. Lloyd understands this. And if he doesn't, I'll make him. With force."

I couldn't hold back the snicker, eyes wet.
"Please, don't hurt him."
"I won't," Garmadon chuckled gently, giving one last squeeze before stepping back. "Now, go get ready or else you'll be late for school."
I gave him a grateful smile and nodded, wiping away my tears. Damn, was it already cry number three for that morning? It was barely eight a.m.
I needed to get a hobby that wasn't just shedding tears.
Garmadon's advice swirled in my head as I walked down towards Lloyd's room, deep in thought. I began wondering about the what if's - what if I went to an adult? What if, like how Nya told me to do, I just spilt to Lloyd as soon as he woke up that morning? Why did I bottle it up? And I had the audacity to accuse Lloyd of bottling things up a few months back?
Maybe I should give meditation a try. Maybe I am stressed.
I gave a distracted sigh, holding my head. I'd cried so often and so much over the past two weeks that I'd get headaches even if only a few tears slipped. I probably should get some painkillers from the med bay before we leave-

I opened the door to Lloyd's room, immediately choked on my breath, and abruptly slammed the door shut once more.

I stared at the wood in embarrassed horror. Oh, Jesus Christ. This was what I got for not knocking.
Fuck. Fuck. Lord help me, please, I'm begging.
And wipe the image of Lloyd being stark naked in the middle of getting changed out of my head.
I swallowed dryly, frozen to my spot as my face flamed a heat so hot that it made my skin melt into a puddle on the ground. I did not want to see that-
Well-
NO, I DID NOT.
I did not.
Didn't. Did not.
Nope.
God, and he was facing me too-
The look of shock on his face-
His-

I hid my face in my hands, turning on my heel to locate the bathroom and splash some cold water on my red face. Or, more appropriately, crash my head into the mirror with the force of a rhino and put me out of my goddamn misery already.
Life is just kicking me while I'm down. Life is a bully. You heard it here first, folks. Life is a bully and I am the victim who just got hung on the flagpole by my wedgie.
And oh mY GOD- I couldn't get him out of my head. This sucked. This fucking sucked. This is officially the most awful day of my life.
How he hell am I ever going to face Lloyd ever again? How the hell was I ever going to fix us when, if I look at his face, all I'll see is this image unwillingly seared into my head?
I dropped my forehead onto the sink with an audible thud. Then I hit it again and again and again as if it would get rid of the image burnt behind my eyes. Of course, it didn't. All I succeeded in was giving me a worse headache and red mark above my eyebrows.
Why couldn't have this happened at literally any other time? Why in the middle of a fight? Why when we're currently broken up and not able to laugh it off-
And why can't I stop thinking about it god dammit-

I hate my life.
I am nothing but a cosmic joke.
It's nice to know that a sculpted god was my ex.

A knock on the open bathroom door made me glance up. Lloyd, face totally red and equally ruby eyes averted, held out a bunch of clothes for me. He seemed to be trying to hide behind his fringe, but it was a little too short for that.
I swallowed, slowly standing and grabbing the pile.
"N- Nya picked it out," he stammered, voice shaky. I gave a quick little nod, throat dry.
"Th- thanks," I stuttered, cheeks steaming as I stared at the floor. Lloyd hovered, as if he wanted to say something, before finally deciding to keep quiet and closed the door as he left.
"Colossal dumbass," I hissed to myself as I roughly yanked my pyjamas off, angry at myself for making everything worse. "So dumb."

The car ride to school with Nya was spent trying to pretend none of that morning ever happened.

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

There was one problem with Neuro erasing the memories of the group from when I had my fit at the skatepark.

I no longer scared them.

Which, in a way, is good. Morally.
Immorally, I regretted telling the ninja about exposing my powers - the group being terrified kept them away from me. It gave me an immunity card. They didn't want to mess with a freak.
Now they had free range, totally oblivious, to make my life even more of a walking hell, my very own catalyst.
A catalyst within a catalyst. Maybe that made me a black hole.
I was certainly brilliant at making everything good around me disappear.

I had a lovely introduction to my new, pitifully miserable existence that morning, when a couple of people from the group stole my psychology text book and set fire to it in one of the outside bins.
It had the notes I needed for my exam. A whole term's worth of them. An exam I needed to ace if I wanted to succeed in getting a scholarship.
A one way ticket to a good college.
I stared at the burning bin with dry, tired eyes, as more weight settled down on my shoulders. It was as if a stone gargoyle had made me its perch, and with each stress, it was growing heavier and heavier. My bones were beginning to creak. Feet beginning to sink into the grass.
It was just a matter of time before I broke.
I needed to leave before a teacher discovered the fire and put the blame on me. Detention would be just what I needed.
Hey, maybe life would be extra bitter and even expel me. That'd be wonderful.

I kept to the incident myself when I sat with Chen and Naomi in one of the outside benches. The sun had finally decided to make its appearance after a few long, long weeks of cloud cover.
The ninja had the same idea. I made the mistake of glancing over and finding Lloyd, laying down in the grass and staring at the sky. His green eyes dropped to mine. I averted my gaze with a bodily jolt. An ocean of dewy grass sat between us.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Naomi asked as I held my face in my hands. I'd barely touched my food.
"I accidentally saw Lloyd's dick," I bemoaned into my hands mournfully, deciding to just admit it rather than stall by lying. Naomi could read me too well for that.
"OhhHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHA!!" Chen yelled a laugh, slamming his hands onto the picnic bench.
"Chen!" I whined, dragging my fingers down my cheeks. He just chortled and wheezed, shaking his head at me.

"How the hell are you still alive?" Naomi gasped a laugh. She stopped abruptly, sending me a wide-eyed look. "Was it big?"
"NAOMI!" I shrieked, slapping her arm with my almost-empty bag. She squealed a giggle.
"It's a genuine question!" Naomi defended, shit-eating grin curling wider. "Must've been something if it's got you like this-"
"Shut up shUT UP SHUT UP," I sobbed, pushing my hands over her cackling mouth.
"He's staring," Chen grinned, unabashed.
"SttttttoooOOOOOOOOOPPPPP," I pleaded a cry. "This is literally the worst time for this kind of stress!"
"'This kind of stress,'" Chen echoed with a suggestive grin, and I already started digging my own grave. "Ah, don't worry, Y/n. Lloyd's a nice guy. I'm sure he'll prepare you properly."
"WOW OKAY," I exclaimed in shock. Naomi lost it, cackling loudly into the air and drawing stares. I pointed at Chen. "Too far, Daniels. Too. Far."
"O-haha- oh," Naomi snickered, wiping a tear. "On the contrary, I thought that was the perfect length-"

"Alright," I said shortly as I stood, embarrassed but feeling a disbelieving, amused grin still pulling at my lips. "I've had it. I'm going to the library."
"But you have to be silent in libraries!" Chen called to my retreating figure. "Isn't that a bit hard for your first time?!"
I shot him the bird over my shoulder. Naomi and Chen just fell into more, wild laughter and I shook my head with a snickering grin.
In the corner of my eyes, I noticed Lloyd hiding a smile.
If only my short break of pain lasted.

Claire and Aaliyah were in the hallway that I entered and I quickly retreated down the corridor opposite them. A naive hope to avoid them. I should've just gone back out to rejoin Naomi and Chen, but alas, I needed to rewrite my notes for psych.
A mistake.
Aaliyah called my name and I quickened my pace, rerouting a path to the library as they'd been standing in the quickest way to go. I heard footsteps behind me, fast approaching.
I really didn't want to be degraded any more today.
"Hey," Claire said as she grabbed my shoulder. I shrugged it off, speeding up. "I heard you broke up with Lloyd."
"I knew that you guys weren't going to last," Aaliyah piped up. I swallowed thickly, lengthening my stride. Only a few more blocks until the library.
"Was it worth it? Dating Lloyd just so you could be the centre of attention?" Claire sneered. "Was it worth the rumours and the enemies you made, just for your five minutes of fame as Garmadork's girlfriend? That's so shallow of you, Y/n."

"Sh- shallow?" I echoed incredulously, glancing back at Claire as I suddenly stopped. "You were the one who started the rumours."
"Only half," she snorted.
"Oh, wow!" I gushed in fake excitement before my expression dropped. "Do you want a gold star for being a bitch?"
Claire's face contorted into a look of rage.
"See this?" she snapped. "This is the exact fucking reason everyone hated you. You and your high and mighty attitude like you're better than everyone else-"
"I do not think I'm better than anyone else-"
"Oh, you so fucking do," Claire hissed, taking a threatening step forward. I stepped back. "Better than everybody else - that's why you dated Lloyd, so you could feel superior over him-"
"That's not true!"
"It is and you know it!" Claire yelled, grabbing my ponytail and yanking me towards her. I yelped in pain. "You're nothing more than a self-centred bitch who cares about how many people know who you are."

"Try hard," chimed in Aaliyah with a smiling scowl. "You try so hard to get everyone to like you, but you just make yourself look like an idiot. And everyone's going to eventually see how fake you are and leave you all on your own."
"And you'll be lonely," Claire smiled coldly. "Aren't you lonely, Y/n? Lloyd's already left. Took him a while, but he saw your true colours. You're an awful person. You don't care about anyone else. You're so fucking cold."
I'd been taking it silently. Letting it bounce off of me, except that the comment about Lloyd struck me through my armour and then everything they said returned with vengeance. They squeezed through the tiny hole the piercing arrow made and soaked in, circling my brain. Making me see those hurtful words even when I clenched my eyes shut as I was tossed into the lockers.

My side throbbed as I slid down to the floor. Claire and Aaliyah had left after another few hurtful jabs that stabbed me through like sharpened swords. I was left shivering, alone, just like they said, in the floor of the empty hallway.
I didn't know why or how I did it, but I managed to ring Cole.
"Yeah?"
I stared at my shoes, lips trembling. Why did I want to call again? And why Cole, specifically?
"Y/n?" Cole asked, worried. Chattering in the background stopped. "What's wrong? Where are you?"
I closed my eyes and dropped my head back with an audible sniffle.
"H- hallway C," I replied quietly, voice catching.
"I'll be right there."
Everything was sore but not sore, aching without the ache. I hugged my knees, shocked and hurt and damaged in a way that wasn't physical. My phone dropped to the floor carelessly.

Cole took barely a minute to find me, curled up pitifully against the lockers as I had my little almost-sobbing fest. He didn't say a word. Just took a seat beside me. I dropped myself onto his chest and cried, again. All I seemed to do was cry these days.
"I- I can't take it," I sobbed into his jersey, and he let me, taking me into his arms as if on instinct. "Everything so horrible and wrong. I can't take it anymore."
Cole dropped his chin atop my head. I was swamped in his hold.
"... do you know how many times Lloyd's said that exact same thing to me?" Cole asked quietly. "How many times I've had to hold him like this?"
I sniffled. My body shook with sobs.
"No."
"Neither do I," Cole admitted, scooping my legs up easily and pulling me onto his lap. "I lost count after twenty. Do you want know how many times I've had to help him like this after you arrived?"

I stared at a loose thread on his jersey. Stayed silent, aside from the hiccups that interrupted my already chaotic breathing.
"None," Cole answered anyway.
"B- but I've ruined that-"
"You've ruined nothing," Cole disagreed. "Why do you keep insisting that you're the bad guy in this?"
"Because I am!" I cried, pulling myself out of his arms and shakily standing. "I am the bad guy! I hurt Lloyd, I ruined the team, I'm hurting myself! Even Misako said that I can't take care of myself properly!"
"... but that wasn't your intention," Cole reminded, voice suggesting a new point of view that I hadn't yet considered. "Was it?"
I shifted on my feet.
"No."
"And whose intention was it to hurt you?" Cole pushed gently, patting the floor beside him to invite me back down. I hesitantly took it, settling down against his side. "Who started those rumours? Who talked behind your back? Who made you doubt Lloyd? It definitely wasn't you."

"It... it was Claire," I answered, frowning to myself. "But that doesn't excuse the fact that I-"
"Of course it doesn't," Cole agreed. "Blaming Lloyd was a shitty thing to do. But you're not letting pride keep you from trying to fix things. You're trying, Y/n. You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Lloyd made a huge mistake and you still forgave him, didn't you?"
I shrank into his hold. Tears still dribbled down my cheeks.
"... yeah."
"So why do you think he'll hate you forever?" Cole asked, poking my stomach. "The guy's head over heels. This is nothing but a small bump in the road, right?"
"... right," I murmured. His phone buzzed and he smirked.
"Speak of the dragon boy. Lloyd's asking if you're okay," Cole murmured.
"Tell him I said to shove it up his ass," I grunted, resting my wet cheek on my knees. Cole snickered and I registered the sound of a text being sent too late. My head shot up. "Wait-!"
"Already sent," Cole grinned. My eyes widened in horror. His phone buzzed and his grin dropped into a disgusted expression.
"Oh, gross," he gagged.
"What did he say?"
"He said 'only if she's the one to do it,'" Cole answered, face pulled taut in regret. I barked a loud, disbelieving laugh, clapping my hands over my mouth. "That's disgusting."
"That's amazing," I corrected with an uncontrollable giggle. "What a comeback, oh my god."

Cole fell into laugher, finally caving. I caught sight of his screen, still open on his and Lloyd's messages.

Me:
she's laughing
Delivered.

Lloyd:
good
Sent 10.48am