Aside from the wound from where I was hit, my leg was fine the next morning. Albeit, a little stiff, it took only a few little stretches before it was back to normal.
I sat and stared at the ceiling as everything took a few beats to settle in.

Lloyd Garmadon is Lord Garmadon's son.

Lloyd Garmadon is the green ninja.

Who Lloyd Garmadon is to me is complicated.

The green ninja plush almost seemed to mock me from my bookcase as I stumbled around my room, getting ready for the day. Lloyd hadn't specified where or when I was to meet his friends/family/teammates properly (aside from Kai and kinda Zane) and anxiety clenched hard in my gut. I was no power wielder - hell, I'd trip over a painted line on the flat ground - compared to them I was a simpleton. Just another weak citizen to save, another blank face in the crowd. I was nowhere near as remarkable as them and the more I thought about it, the more smaller I felt.
Part of me wondered if Lloyd only kept me around for the supposed prophecy.

Sluggish from healing and feeling depressed about my bad habit of overthinking - and then overthinking whether I was overthinking about the situation or not, and then overthinking about overthinking about overthinking-
All in all, I woke up just as tired as I fell asleep. Mum had yet to rouse, often the one to sleep in on her off days, catching up on the rest she missed. I took that opportunity to grab some cooled biscuits from the stovetop and dig in for my very extremely healthy breakfast.

I spent the morning lounging around and feeling sorry for myself. I still couldn't bring myself to call Aaliyah or Claire up and I was just too emotionally exhausted to invite Naomi over, so I revelled in the solitude and rested while my brain worked on organising my eternally messy thoughts. It was a never ending job.
Maybe I'll go see Mr. Robuntusson. Get some candy to perk me up. Do I remember the way? Kind of. It's fuzzy.
Oh well, I thought as I stuffed my phone into my pocket. If I get lost then I'll just google map my way back home.

With the car finally in for repairs after running into Lloyd and me accidentally breaking off the side mirror, I had no choice but to walk. It was a nice day for it, though. A little overcast and breezy to mix up the never ending heat that's been battering us for the past few weeks.
While I walked, my head was lost in thought.
I didn't see Chen until I bumped into him.
Glancing up in surprise, I went to apologise but paused upon seeing the brunet bully with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
Something cold dribbled down my spine as I stepped back. I didn't have that same protective confidence I had back when I was with Lloyd at the amusement park. That's what gave me the incentive to punch Chen in the face. Speaking of, his nose looked freshly crooked. His dark eyes were on fire.

I went to step around, not wanting to have to deal with him, or anyone, today but he grabbed my arm before I could walk past.
"What?" I whined, just wanting to get some candy and then crawl into a ball and sleep.
"Hold on, skank," Chen spat, gripping my arm tighter. I dropped my head back with an exhausted groan. "I'm not done with you, yet."
"Duuude," I complained, tugging on my arm. "Let it go! You were being a dick. At least know you deserved it."

"Hey-"

I pulled on my arm and he let go, but the momentum swung me backwards. I stepped to steady myself and slipped on a bottle. My gasp cut short when my head cracked into the brick wall behind me.

"Holy shit!" Chen burst. He crouched before me with an uncharacteristic look of worry. His hands clenched at his sides. "I- holy shit, that looked like it hurt."

I squinted an annoyed eye up at him. "You think?"

"Are you okay?"

"No?!" I squeaked in disbelief. "My head's killing me."

"Step away from her," came a voice from the mouth of the alleyway. I couldn't move my head but Chen seemed to deflate.
"G- Green ninja!" he gasped, hastily retreating from me and shoving his hands into his pockets, playing innocent. I slid down the wall, curling in on myself.
"She's in cahoots with Lord Garmadon!" he insisted, throwing me under the bus. "She's seeing Lloyd Garmadon! Who knows what they're planning-!"
"Be quiet," Greenie sneered. Chen stepped back in shock.
"W- what?" Chen stammered. Lloyd walked past him and crouched before me. I could see the anguish in his green eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, voice wavering. I nodded stiffly, which was a lie because my entire head felt like it was crumbling. He seemed to notice that and his gaze hardened.
"Dude!" Chen squeaked. "She's working with the Garmadons!"
"Stop it," he said, still gazing at me.
"She deserves to be treated like this!"
"Stop it!" Lloyd said louder. The colour of his eyes began to flicker.
"What will happen if she and Lloyd have their way? Will Ninjago City fall again? It's best to snuff them both out-"

"I SAID STOP," Lloyd roared, eyes fully red as he faced Chen. "You know NOTHING about this!"
Chen looked shocked. I would've laughed at his expression if it didn't hurt to breathe.
"Why are you defending her?" Chen brazenly stepped forth, fists called in frustrated confusion. I could read it on his face; why isn't the green ninja on his side? Self-justified violence certainly is dangerous.
"Back off before I get you arrested for assault," Lloyd snarled, pushing against Chen's chest. The bully puffed up, foolishly accepting the challenge.
"She threw the first punch a week ago!" he snapped, throwing a hand out at me. "She's a stain on society! Just like Garmaboy's mother-!"
"YOU DON'T GET TO BRING MY MOTHER INTO THIS!" Lloyd absolutely lost it, yelling in Chen's face. "AND YOU WON'T CAUSE THE SAME TROUBLES MY MOTHER HAD TO FACE WITH Y/N!"

His voice echoed, rising above the rooftops and hovering in the silence his outburst left. Chen stumbled back, shock plastered heavily on his face.
"Y- your m..." he stammered, squinting his eyes in disbelief. "... Lloyd?"
Greenie stepped back a little, his own shock clinging to him. He sent me a look over his shoulder, red eyes full of fear.
I struggled to stand, using the wall as support. Lloyd instantly helped me to my feet, briefly shoving aside the worries of Chen figuring out who the green ninja was.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Where are you hurt?"
"M- my head," I murmured. He gently clasped my cheeks in his gloved hands.

Lloyd deflated as a feeling of helplessness slithered through his red eyes. He pulled out his phone.
"Hey," he said into the device. "I've got Y/n injured in an alleyway on Viper Street. How soon can you get to my location?"
A ninja's muffled voice replied. Lloyd swallowed.
"Right." He shoved the device back into his belt. Chen was long gone.
"Wh- what about-"
"No one will believe him," Lloyd murmured, brushing my cheek with the hand that was still softly holding my face. "Don't worry."
I reached up and grabbed his wrist, keeping his hand on my face. My head throbbed.
"Y- you keep getting injured because of me," he murmured, voice breaking a little. "I'm sorry. I... I wish I knew what to do to keep you out of trouble."
I closed my eyes and smiled humourlessly.
"The only way would be to keep me under house arrest for the rest of my life."

Lloyd hummed. "That's not a bad idea."
My eyes shot open. He snickered at my expression.
"It was a joke," he reassured. I released a breath.
"Right," I mumbled.

A dark shape curled above, making us glance up at the sky. Zane's ice dragon landing in the alleyway, just managing to squeeze in. From its back landed the ice ninja himself and an older lady with grey hair.
The dragon pushed forth, almost knocking Zane against the wall. It shoved its snout into my hands, the same rumbling purr vibrating from its throat as Lloyd's dragon did. I stared at the beast in surprise.
"It seems that my dragon can sense your connection to Lloyd," Zane noted curiously. Thank god because that was about to get awkward. "The element likes you."

The element? As in the power itself? As a living embodiment of ice?
I decided not to think too hard about it.
"Hello," the lady squeezed past the dragon's wing and approached us. "I'm Misako."
The dragon slumped to the ground when I began to scratch its chin.
"Lloyd's mother," Misako continued.
I glanced up at her in surprise. Lloyd's mother? I suppose they shared the same nose and eye shape. But where as Lloyd's eyes were green, her's were a dark brown.
This is Misako? The one who fell in love with Lord Garmadon? The one who was outcast by society? Lloyd's mother?

First of all, I want to thank you for bringing Lloyd into this world-

"U- uh," I stammered in embarrassed alarm. The dragon disappeared in a small burst of white. "I- um. Erm. Hi."
"Y/n says the back of her head is sore," Lloyd informed Zane, never the one to dawdle about injuries.
"What happened?" Zane asked, pressing a cold hand to the back of my head. I hissed.
"I... I was hit against the wall," I admitted, squeezing my eyes shut as he brushed against a particularly sore spot. I opened my eyes only to find a tiny torch being shined in one. It was moved to the other.
"Are you feeling dizzy or unwell?" Zane asked, stepping back. "Is there ringing in your ears?"
I shook my head. Zane nodded, pleased.
"You do not have a concussion. You just need to ice the injury for twenty minutes."

He stepped forward, placing a frigid hand against my head.
"O- oh," I looked up at him awkwardly. "Thanks."
Lloyd couldn't seem to stay still. "I'm going to do a quick scan of the area," he announced before leaping into the air, summoning his dragon and flying off.
"I've been wanting to meet you for a while," Misako said as she took a seat on a a crate that had been left in the alleyway. "You are part of a new prophecy, correct?"
"That's what we think," I replied quietly. "Um... can I ask you something that's a little personal?"
"Ask away."
I inhaled, dropping my gaze to the ground. The stinging rejection of Aaliyah and Claire, the nasty teens from the amusement park, the blue haired girl from the cafe, among others...
"What did you do when people starting talking about you?"

Misako looked surprised before she smiled sadly.
"I brushed them off. I fell in love with Garmadon when he was a good man and I believed that he was still in there, under all that infected evil," she replied truthfully, crossing her legs and placing her hands in her lap. "I loved him too much to let him go because of what people thought of us. What was important was that I love him. That's all that really matters."
"L0ve will conquer all," Zane murmured. My eyes jumped to him then to Misako. Both were staring at me expectantly.

I glanced down at the ground.

That's all that really matters.

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

"... you know, you could've at least asked before borrowing my skateboard!"
The loud complaint announced me of the group before they even appeared around the bend, approaching the place where we had organised to meet up. I shifted nervously on my feet, anxious about meeting Lloyd's team but also excited to see him again. What can I say? He had me wrapped around his little finger.

But could you blame me for being nervous about meeting Lloyd's friends? I only found out that Lloyd was the green ninja a mere two nights ago. The perfect hero, seemingly inhuman. The man that lead a team of six powerful individuals, each with their own powerful elemental abilities. They kept Ninjago from succumbing to evil. They kept the streets safe when the authorities couldn't.

And they're my age.

The group rounded the corner and Lloyd had spotted me. It was too late for me to flee and call in faux sick. He waved at me in hello and I couldn't be sure whether I wanted to tackle him into a hug or hide behind the building.
The ninja, without their disguises, looked like a rowdy bunch of your average teens. I could spot Kai and Zane, the only two I'd met without their masks on. A girl with black hair in a messy ponytail, a boy with equally black and equally shaggy hair and another boy with ginger hair and a notch through his right eyebrow remained unknown to me.
The ginger was the one who had complained about his skateboard being stolen and he was still grumbling as they grew nearer.

Lloyd sent me his easy-going smile. He looked excited. About as excited as I was nauseas. I pressed against my wrist where Lloyd had that be one time.
"Hey, Y/n!" the girl greeted loudly, barreling past a surprised Lloyd and scooping me into a hug. "It's so good to see you again! How's that head of yours?"
I blinked in surprise at the girl who had easily lifted me off of my feet. I was taken aback by her overly friendly greeting but I was never one to turn down a free hug. I returned it, albeit a little awkwardly.
"It's, uh... it's fine?" I replied, voice squeaking like an unsure question.
"'Atta girl!" she snickered, placing me back on my feet. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Nya!"
I grabbed her hand and she shook it hard. I was almost yanked to the ground. She is strong.

Lloyd pulled me away gently.
"Careful!" he insisted, holding me like I was porcelain. "She was only injured yesterday!"
"She's fine," Nya groaned, crossing her arms. "You're too overprotective!"
"She's right," I quickly inputted. Lloyd sighed heavily, already weary of this discussion.
"You still haven't apologised about stealing my skateboard!" Ginger interrupted loudly.
"Dude, let it go!" Kai scoffed.
"Hey, Y/n," the black-haired boy greeted as he shook his head, not at all fazed by the bickering of his teammates. "I'm Cole, master of earth. Sorry about the others, they're usually at each other's throats like this. You already know Kai and Zane, right?"
I nodded.
"That's Nya," Cole turned to gestured at the black haired girl who was still bickering with Lloyd. "Master of Water. Kai and Nya are siblings, which is kind of ironic, considering that their elemental abilities are the complete opposite of each other. And this is Jay, Master of Blabber-"
"Lightening!" he somehow managed to catch Cole's dig at him between complaining about his skateboard.
"Same thing. Don't start a conversation with him. Once you do, you're stuck for life," Cole warned. His tone was dead serious but there was a hint of mischief in his eyes. Jay, the ginger-haired, freckle-cheeked boy huffed and crossed his arms.

I laughed at the sight of them all - why did I worry about meeting them? They're just as immature and goofy as the next teenager. When they weren't in their ninja gis, they were just like me.
I am just a big dumbie confirmed.
Lloyd stopped mid-bicker at the sound of my giggling. He glanced from me to the few of his team that he wasn't engaged in a roasting match with and a relieved smile broke out on his face. Kai elbowed his ribs, a knowing smirk on his face. Lloyd retaliated by punching his arm.

"Can we go in?" Nya asked, stopping the duo from a second round of tormenting each other. "I'm starving, I can smell the food and you guys are starting to piss me off."
"After you, Princess," Kai sneered. As brothers do. Nya flicked his forehead as she passed, not appreciating the comment but wanting to go in anyway. She promptly grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the door.
We had decided to meet up at Skylor's Noodle House, an all time ninja-favourite, apparently. When I had told Lloyd that I'd never been, he practically begged for us to meet there. It was an easy yes.
Lloyd and Kai straightened before following us into the noodle house, still shoving and attempting to trip each other, their snorting and amused grunts making Nya roll her eyes.

It was like being hit with a tidal wave of a thousand different mouth watering aromas when we stepped inside. My stomach rumbled greedily at the sight of the food that was for offer, making me pray that no one heard. Given Nya's sudden, amused grin, my prayer had gone ignored.
The interior of the noodle house was spunky, with a colourful pop kind of vibe. From the ceiling hung countless softly glowing, multicoloured orbs. The walls were a deep orange, not quite matching the lime green of the linoleum floor but the excess additions of greens in the booths, above-head screen menus and the entire revolving bench kind of made it work.

We slid into a booth, squeezing a bit as there were a lot of us. I was inbetween Nya and Lloyd, while Jay, Cole, Zane and Kai squished in on the other side. Kai and Jay kept complaining about 'Cole's massive cake butt,' to which he responded by reaching across Zane with one arm and grabbing Kai's head, while taking a hold of Jay in his other and banged their heads together.

It worked. It made them shut up.

In grabbing range was the revolving bench, much like one of those luggage rides that you'd get when you went to pick up your belongings from the airport. Except instead of luggage, it was freshly made food.
The others didn't waste time in grabbing whatever they could, from noodles to chicken strips to gyozas and everything in between.
They quickly filled the table sign their haul, smacking lips and shoving each other out of the way as they ate straight from the dish. Suddenly I felt out of place again.

Nya grabbed me an empty plate as well as one for herself before she promptly shoved Jay's hand out of the way to grab some food for herself. I watched in disdain as they dug in, jostling each other and laughing in between bites. They were so comfortable with each other. I couldn't even work up the courage to ask them if I could grab some food from a dish.
Lloyd turned to look at me, probably wondering if I got some joke that one of the others said. He noticed my overwhelmed expression and his smile fell.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, making me jump in surprise. "I know that they can be a bit... much to handle at the beginning but they're good people. They all like you already."
Lloyd's words helped soothe some of the anxiety that had my gut in its claws. Unfortunately, that wouldn't stop me from being awkward. Being awkward was my major downfall.
"Thanks," I whispered back, slouching a little in my seat after scooting closer to him for comfort. "I'm just not very good with new people. It just takes me a little while. I'll be fine eventually.
"Well," Lloyd hummed, picking up a plate of noddles. "Until then, food?"

I grinned up at him and it was like everything else fell away.
"You're speaking my language, Greenie."