Hozier
••• Would That I •••

with the roar of the fire,
my heart rose to its feet,
like the ashes of ash i saw rise in the heat,
settle soft and pure as snow
i fell in love with the fire long ago

•••••

TW: blood

"You must be the only person in Ninjago City who'd fall asleep during a Serpentine invasion," Lloyd said amusedly as we slowly ambled home from the park. "You really are tired."

He'd found me after the fight, curled up with my head in my arms at the base of the tree he'd hidden me behind. The twenty-minute nap wasn't even worth it - I just woke up more groggy.

"Those who say sleep is for the weak hasn't experienced true sleep deprivation," I murmured.

Lloyd chuckled, though a worried look did get spared my way. I ignored it in favour of hugging my new book to my chest. At least Zane had left; he was nice, but... god, did he make me uncomfortable. But that wasn't anything new. Most people did.

My eyes jumped to Lloyd. Most people except for him.

I wondered if whatever Misako had said about a prophecy back at the monastery had something to do with Lloyd's quick familiarity. Even Naomi took longer for me to be this comfortable with.

I sighed through my nose and decided to poke a bear. "What do you think the Green Ninja's doing right now?" My attention was taut on him from the corner of my peripherals.

Lloyd didn't outwardly react. He only gave a nonchalant shrug, smile still content. "Dunno."

I dropped my chin onto the book. Doubt reared its ugly head, because I never could truly trust myself one-hundred percent. What if I was wrong? Chances were low but never impossible. It was the impossible part that had me worried.

My fingers gripped my book tighter as a new fear rolled in; and if I was right, how would Lloyd react if he found out that I knew about him? Would he be disappointed? Angry? Relieved? I didn't know, I couldn't pin it down, and the uncertainly had me rattled.

Would he disappear on me? Would he think of me as a liability? How would this change things? There were so many unknowns. I never did like surprises. I never did like change.

While these terrible thoughts did rollie-pollies behind my eyes, Lloyd and I returned to my home to eat the takeaway noodles we'd picked up along the way. I was glad that he suggested to go home - I was more than likely going to fall asleep in the middle of eating.

I stirred my noodles quietly as Lloyd talked on about how his brothers were going to be jealous of his comic haul and the measures he'd have to take to hide it from them. I glanced up at him periodically, half-marvelling at the fact that this boyish, young man had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Half-frightened at where that left me in comparison.

I was never made to be in stories. I wasn't cut out to be the side-character to a protagonist, I was a passerby in the background at best. All I had was my weird knack for research and my target shooting - but it wasn't as if I ever carried a weapon. Even the ninja weren't legally allowed to be carrying weapons, let alone some random girl whose dad was in the military.

My chopsticks paused. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. Dad.

The military hated the ninja. My dad was one of them, unabashed in his dislike of the team of law-breaking vigilantes. The only reason they weren't thrown into jail was because nobody could ever catch them.

The leader of the law-breaking vigilantes was sat right before me at my dining table, fanboying over Fritz Donnegan.

If I was my father's daughter I'd call him. And, to some degree, I was a daddy's girl. But when Lloyd smiled he had a little dimple beneath his grin, and I...

I was a weak, weak woman.

Lloyd left after his phone buzzed with an alert. I didn't have to pull out my own phone to know that the news would be saying something about how a robber was breaking into a bank, or Serpentine had surfaced not two hours later, or robots had invaded the city again.

When Lloyd was quickly but subtly shoving on his shoes to escape towards his duty, I realised that I'd been so worried about him being the Green Ninja that I forgot what he did. He kicked ass, yeah, but he was also in danger every time he put on that mask. He was the front line of defence.

My chest tightened as I watched him tie his laces with blurring speed. I didn't want Lloyd to get hurt. The very thought frightened my heart to ice.

I couldn't help myself. When he rose, one foot out the door, I swept into his chest. He startled at my sudden embrace but was quick to return it, hug firm with his face nestled into my shoulder. My heart ached again when the scent of spring meadows filled my world.

"Be safe," I whispered into his soft hair, before my eyes shot open at my slip. "... in case there are any Serpentine still hanging around."

Lloyd nodded. He pulled away with a heavy blink and a touch that lingered, before sharpening his senses and giving me a kiss on the forehead in farewell.

I watched from the patio as Lloyd tried to amble normally while on a time limit, speed-walking down my driveway awkwardly, and then I suppressed a smile when he broke into a sprint down the street.

Dork. The Green Ninja was a dork, and I think I was beginning to fall in love with him.

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

"Are you okay?" Naomi asked over the noise. "You're quiet - well, quieter than usual."

I glanced up at my friend before ducking when a paper dragon piloted by children flew overhead. We were in the middle of downtown, where a festival was at its height, and the world seemed to shake with each beat of the drums.

The festival was in honour of when the ninja defeated the Great Devourer, a giant snake who almost destroyed all of Ninjago four years back.

Usually these kinds of festivals would be right up my alley (celebrations of legends and historical moments always were) but now that I knew that the team would've barely been fourteen when they saved the world, it just felt... weird to celebrate it. I couldn't imagine how damaging and stressful of a situation that would've been to mere kids.

At fourteen, my biggest issue was the fringe I tried to cut myself.

It'd been a few days since I last saw Lloyd and I hadn't seen the Green Ninja since, either. I kept my eyes peeled just in case he made an appearance at the festival, barely able to muster the interest to keep up with my friend group's conversations. Not that they tried to include me, anyway.

Neither Lloyd nor the Green Ninja had shown up.

"Y/n?" Naomi tried again, and I dropped my hungry gaze from the building tops.

"Sorry," I shouted over the noise. "It's so loud! My head's kinda everywhere."

Vendors lined the streets, making old-style treats such as takoyaki and dango. Sellers walked with trays hanging from around their shoulders, filled with traditional trinkets and ninja paraphernalia. The streets were absolutely packed.

Naomi was pulled away to look at a booth selling floral hairpins. I stood on the bustling sidewalk, taking in the decorative lights and the music. A number of people were dancing to the buskers that dotted street corners every few blocks.

It felt as though the entire city was alive.

I was glad that I was invited out with my friends to go to the festival but, aside from Naomi, I felt ignored and was just left to tag along. I couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like to come to this festival with Lloyd. He always gave me his undivided attention.

My shoes tapped against the concrete. They fell in time with the beat without meaning. I stared at the ground, frowning, while Aaliyah, Claire and the others tried on hairpins.

Was that selfish of me? To want to have someone's undivided attention like that? To be the person someone turns to every time a thought struck them? I craved his validation. Or perhaps it was a want to be wanted, a need to be needed.

Naomi was halfway there. But it was as though there was the rest of the group and then there was me, and she was hovering somewhere in-between. It was awkward. It left me feeling lonely despite this massive crowd around me.

I was tempted to ring Lloyd. And, like with his dimple, I was weak.

Before I could even think to bring out my phone, screaming started from down the street. People around me stopped, necks craning as they tried to see what was going on. Instruments cluttered into to eerie silence. My hand paused in my pocket, breath caught.

And then a volley of small, flying spheres turned the edge of a building and into view, shooting at the crowd with lasers. It looked like something out of a sci-fi film.

"Oh, shit," I said, taking a step back in fear. I turned to my friends. "W- We've gotta go."

"What?" Aaliyah asked, before looking up and gasping.

People were already panicking, shoving me aside as they dashed down the street. I grabbed Naomi and Aaliyah's hands and took off, following the flow of the crowd.

"What are those things?" Naomi cried as she instinctively ducked her head.

"I don't know!" Aaliyah yelled. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the others were following. "We have to get inside somewhere!"

"All the storefronts are blocked by vendors," Naomi said between gasps. "Where- Y/N!"

I was ripped from their grasps when a new surge of rushing people pummelled us from behind. I cried out for them, but it was lost in the noise of the panicked crowd. I was caught in a trap of sharp elbows and kicking feet.

I covered my head and shoved myself to the side of the street, hoping to find a bubble of space that I could hide in. With a stumble and a hit of my just-healed ankle, I managed to pop out of the river of people and find the entrance to an alleyway.

I stumbled against the brick wall with a grunt and a grit of my teeth at the fresh pain of my injury. It felt as though I'd completely re-sprained my ankle, and my foot was as good as limp. There was no way I could walk on that.

I dropped my head against the brick with heaved cries. The shooting of lasers was growing nearer.

"Naomi?" I exclaimed, hoping that my friends were okay, and hoping that they could come get me. I was a sitting duck. "Naomi? Aaliyah!"

I gave up with a whimper. That crowd was a monster in itself. There was no way they could fight that to find me.

With a sniffle, I looked down the alleyway for a spot to hide. Maybe when everything died down, I'd call my mother to come find me. She was with her sister for the celebrations, though, and Aunt Rose was all the way in Jamanakai. It was an hour trip at best.

Using the wall as support, I shuffled my way down towards where a bunch of crates for the shop beside me had been stacked. With a wince, I pushed some aside and settled in. At least the hiding spot was well-covered. Maybe my survival instincts weren't all bad.

I stared in defeat at my ankle, which had begun to blaze with pain again. I really did have shitty luck. Maybe this was fate's way of humbling me. I may have some weird connection to the Green Ninja, but I was still just Y/n.

I sat there for nearly ten minutes. The tug of my stomach didn't warn me fast enough.

"How do I always find you in these situations?"

I jumped and glanced up, only to find the Green Ninja perched atop the crates surrounding my hiding spot. He tilted his head at me, slightly amused.

I stared at him, mouth agape and frozen. It was the first time I'd seen the Green Ninja since I realised he was Lloyd - and now that I could see him, recognise the shapes of his eyes and the familiar humour in them, it made me all the more sure.

"We should start keeping tally," he joked. He lithely dropped to the ground before me, silent as a mouse. "'How many times do I find you in danger?'"

"It helps that we have a find my phone feature," I murmured as I uncomfortably shifted on the ground. "Just not... phones."

He chuckled. "I guess." When I winced, he frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I hit my ankle again," I murmured, staring dejectedly at my foot. "I hate crowds."

"You've mentioned."

My eyes narrowed at my shoe. I'd mentioned it before, alright. On a date. With Lloyd.

"I have?" I innocently asked with a glance up at him. Something clicked behind his eyes and he began to squirm.

"I- I mean, who doesn't hate crowds?" he asked, very close to panicking. I had to pinch my thigh to keep from grinning. "They're so... crowdy."

At that, I did grin. "Well. They are crowds."

The Green Ninja gave an awkward chuckle. He carefully lifted me to my feet when I held out my hands, making sure to steady me on my one foot. I smiled at him in thanks. His hold on my waist burned.

"What happened?" I asked. "Do you know?"

"Someone hacked into Borg's drone systems," the Green Ninja replied. I was acutely aware of his hand still holding me and lifted my chin with a swallow. He didn't seem to notice my shift. "A friend of ours is counter-hacking, or... whatever it's called. I don't understand IT things."

"Ah," I hummed. "Normal everyday stuff, then."

He huffed in amusement. "Normal everyday stuff. Did you come with anyone? Your mum?"

Worry returned. "My friends. We got separated."

"I'm sure they're fine," the Green Ninja reassured. "We've taken out all the drones."

My eyes caught movement in the entrance of the alleyway. I gasped. Confused, the Green Ninja followed my gaze and his shoulders slumped. A handful of drones hovered at our exit, as if mocking his confidence.

"Me and my big mouth," he muttered. He began to pull out his sword from its sheath on his back. A laser bit into the ground at my feet and I jumped. "Would you hide for me again, sweetheart?"

"Don't need to tell me twice," I said, before hobbling as fast as I could back behind the crates. I peered over the edge to watch as he deflected lasers with his sword before effortlessly leaping forward and slicing a drone in half. It fell to the ground with a metallic clatter.

I buried my nose into my hands as I watched from my hiding spot. That was Lloyd. Beneath that iconic mask were the faint freckles and dimple that grew to catch my heart. Beneath it was the crooked, charming smile that drew my knees weak.

The drones began to surround him. I watched worriedly, but reminded myself that this was the Green Ninja, not just Lloyd, and he knew what he was doing.

The drones began shooting more rapidly. Lloyd twisted himself this way and that with graceful ease, rebounding lasers with the flat of his blade. Something within urged me to step forward, to join arms, to help him fight. I pushed it down. He knew what he was doing.

He started to look overwhelmed. A twitching drone dropped onto the crate beside me and I  flinched, but turned my attention back to the Green Ninja. The sensation within me was building, but he knew what he was-

Oh, fuck me.

I grabbed the robot beside me and aimed its gun at the closest functional drone, still hovering in the air. The machine in my hands spluttered and spat out a laser, and the one I was aiming for crashed to the ground with a spark.

The Green Ninja barely had a second to send me a surprised look before he was being hounded by lasers again. He returned to alternating between blasting the drones with bolts of green energy and slashing them in half with his sword. I carried on shooting them down when the half-destroyed drone in my hands would malfunction and blast.

  It's just like paint ball. Pretend it's paint ball, or target shooting with Dad.

That thought seemed to do the trick. It wasn't long until all of the drones were on the alleyway floor, either sparking and twitching or plain split-in-two. The Green Ninja picked his way over to my crate fortress with a sheath of his sword.

"What part of hide don't you understand?" he asked.

"Most people say thank you when they get help," I pointed out. I pushed my drone to the floor with a crash.

The Green Ninja tilted his head with an amused look. "Thank you."

I smiled a little as I rose. I took in the scene with raised brows - the place was littered with downed drones, and I didn't want to know what the rest of the street looked like.

My heart sunk a bit. Even though being left alone by my friends was a bit of a downer, I still was enjoying the festival. It was my first festival since moving back. I did get my wish, though. The Green Ninja showed up. The circumstances around it were just... undesirable.

I stood in the middle of the chaos and planted my hands on my hips. Well done, team. "I think that's all of them."

He hummed in agreement before drifting his gaze back to me. I just managed to catch his eyes widen before he flicked his arm toward me so fast that I missed it in a blink.

A loud crash behind me had me leaping ten feet into the air with a squeal. A drone landed on the concrete behind me with a ninja star embedded in its front, sparking uselessly. I stared at it in shock. I hadn't even heard it behind me.

A sting against my ear began to burn and I lifted my fingers to it, only to pull it away and find drops of blood. I'd been nicked. I shivered at how close the ninja star must've been to doing some real damage if it was close enough to do that.

"Holy..." I breathed, heart racing. The Green Ninja leant his arms on the other side of my crate, completely unbothered.

"Most people say thank you," he said. I looked back at him with a monotonous expression. "You alright?"

"Thank you," I snarked right back. His lidded eyes squinted with a smirk. I dropped the pretence and sent a wary look to the street. "I'm fine. Do you think it's over?"

The Green Ninja tilted his ear to the sky for a second, eyes searching. I watched him oddly.

"I don't hear anything," he concluded, and before I could contemplate the meaning of what he just said, the topic was changed. He stood up from the crates and approached, pulling out a cloth from his pocket to hold it to my ear. "Are you some kind of adrenaline junkie?"

"No?" I said, before pausing in thought. "Oh. Maybe? I'm not sure what being in an adrenaline junkie state feels like."

He shook his head with a huff. "Why do you keep ending up in these situations?"

"I dunno. The tugging wanted me to join the fight," I said. I scowled at my stomach and slapped it. "Stop making me want to do dangerous shit."

The Green Ninja furrowed his brows, ignoring my last self-dig. "Do you know how to fight?"

"I'm a pretty good sharpshooter," I admitted, gesturing to the drones I'd shot down. "But in terms of what you're thinking of? No. Not at all."

"That makes more sense," he muttered, almost to himself. I began to dawdle around the robots, looking at them curiously. "You're the most clumsy person I've met."

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that," I said, just as my foot caught on one of the drones and I stumbled. I rightened myself with a wince of my sore ankle. He sent me a pointed look and I caved. "Fine, touché."

We began to make our way down to the street. The Green Ninja let me lean on him as he kicked some drones out of my path for me and when the adrenaline began to die down and the pain revamped, I felt a terrible wave of exhaustion blossom behind my nose.

My eyes stung. I was ready to go home and forget this evening ever happened.

"How's your leg?" he asked.

I pinched my fingers together. "I'm this far away from crying."

"Your fingers are touching."

The first tear dripped down my cheek with impeccable timing. His head jerked back before he quietly laughed in sympathy. He turned around to gently wipe away the tear with his sleeve.

"Oh, sunshine," the Green Ninja murmured as he cradled my cheeks, wiping away the fresh tears. "You weren't prepared for this kind of life, were you?"

"The most exhilarating thing of my life a month ago was that my favourite author was releasing a new book," I whined with a sniffle. I hadn't realised how tired I was of being on edge like this until I'd begun to cry. I'd been so tense. "And my foot hurts."

"I wasn't much better when I first started out," he admitted with a soft voice. "It gets easier. You get stronger. But until then, let's get you home."

I nodded exhaustedly. He dropped his hands and glanced up to the alley exit, hearing our visitor before I did.

"Y/n!" Naomi's call made me look up. She was at the lip of the alley, eyes wide and glancing between the Green Ninja and I. Her silence didn't last for long as relief poured over her. "You're- you're okay."

"I hurt my ankle again," I said quietly. She hurried over, eyes lingering on the Green Ninja with confused fascination. Her attention snapped back to me before quickly bringing me into a tight hug.

"I'm so glad I found you," she gushed, looking almost in tears herself when she pulled back. "Can you walk?"

"Not for long, probably," the Green Ninja answered for me. We both looked to him.

"Are you okay?" I asked, making her blue eyes drop back to me. "What about Aaliyah and the others?"

Naomi was distraught. "I - I don't know. I need to find them. They're not answering their phones, but you-"

"I'll take her home," the Green Ninja said. Naomi stopped. I flushed in surprise.

"Don't you have... things to do?" I awkwardly asked.

"It's been handled," he answered. "It's just crowd control now, but that's something the police can do." His voice softened when he turned to Naomi. "Go. Find your friends."

Naomi took a step back and nodded, relaxed at his tone. She turned back towards the exit of the alleyway, but not before biting her lip and sending me a discreet thumbs up. I rolled my eyes in response.

She didn't know how right she was.

"Maybe I should make another tally for how many times I have to carry you," the Green Ninja joked, before sweeping me off my feet without warning. I gasped and clung to the front of his gi.

The scent of springtime wild flowers and summer rain hit me then, and I closed my eyes. My head spun from two separate things - my world reorienting and the swift eradication of any spits of doubt I had left that Lloyd was the Green Ninja. There was only one person I knew that smelt of literal life - which, in retrospect, now made entire sense.

I inhaled again and opened my eyes. He didn't know that I knew, and this was the wrong place to confront him about it. I had no idea who could be passing by and just within ear shot. I had to pretend things were normal. And platonic, which was going to be difficult.

"That wasn't discreet," I chided with a slap to Lloyd's chest. "Naomi's going to think something's going on."

"What ever do you mean?" he asked with a dramatic twist to his tone as his dragon appeared with a burst of green light. The dragon greeted us with an enthusiastic wag of his tail like the oversized hound it was. "I'm just doing my job as the city saviour. Aren't you a citizen of the city?"

I shook my head in exasperation before he lifted me into the saddle. Lloyd SO takes drama class.

"My hero," I sighed with a tired smile down at him. He paused, cheeks blushing behind the mask. My gaze dropped to my thigh, where his gloved hand still rested, and my own cheeks ran warm. He snatched it back.

Pretending to be platonic was hard. How did he do it for so long?

"Do you wanna drive?" the Green Ninja asked, glancing at the dragon's reins that sat on the neck before me. I sent him a horrified look.

"Absolutely not!"

He chuckled and swiftly leapt into the saddle before me. "I was kidding." I was just about to wrap my arms around him when he spoke up again. "Careful. I was shot on my shoulder."

I sat back, horrified. "You're hurt?" My eyes scanned his shoulder and found a charred patch of fabric. Beneath it, his skin was slightly signed and bleeding. My stomach twisted with worry. "That looks painful."

"It'll be fine," he reassured. "Just don't touch it, please."

"How'd you even carry me?"

"High pain tolerance. Adrenaline," he said over his shoulder. "The overwhelming desire to save damsels in distress," he added on with a smug turn of his words. I half-heartedly scoffed. "Hold tight, princess. Tell me when you're ready."

I carefully wrapped my arms around his waist and made sure my head was pressed against his good shoulder. "Ready," I said, and the dragon leapt to scale the side the alleyway walls before reaching the roof and taking off.

My stomach dropped when the dragon launched into the air and I squeezed Lloyd tighter in instinctive response. I took extra care not to jostle his injured shoulder.

The flight was even shorter than the one before. The dragon landed on the field close to my house and I watched worriedly as Lloyd helped me down. The injury didn't seem to impede him, though I knew it had to hurt.

"You really don't have to carry me," I said when he lifted me off my feet again.

"Super strength, remember?" he said with a reassuring squint of his eyes. "I'm not even straining."

My worry didn't waver. "If you're sure."

Lloyd swiftly snuck through the quiet neighbourhood with me curled against his chest. When I unlocked the door and was hoisted inside with half of my weight on him, he beelined it for the painkillers. Something else only Lloyd would've known.

"Make sure you grab some for yourself," I called from where I sat on the kitchen bench. He hummed in acknowledgment and bounded back into the kitchen with the first-aid kit. After ruffling through its contents, he found the painkillers and popped them from their tabs.

"Drink up," Lloyd said, holding out a glass of water and two pills. I took them both before watching contently as he did the same.

"Is your mum home?" he asked. I shook my head.

"She's visiting my aunt," I said.

"One less person to explain things to," he hummed. "Where's your compression sock?"

I blinked at him. "You just got shot. I think should deal with you first."

He seemed genuinely taken aback by my desire to treat his wound, as if he wasn't expecting me to worry about it. "I'm fine."

"If that's your definition of fine, I'm terrified of what your definition of 'not-fine' is." I patted the bench pointedly. "Sit up."

"You're not going to let me say no, are you?"

"You catch on quick," I said, and he gave an exasperated sigh before leaping up beside me. "Mum would kill me if she found out that we sat on the kitchen bench."

"Good thing she isn't here," he replied. He undid the belt of his robe and slipped it off from his shoulder. My breath caught and my heart stumbled as his strong neck and broad back became exposed. A smug aura all but erupted from him. "I heard that."

My face burnt.

"Just a reminder that you've got a wound pointed to me and I have a hand that's not afraid to slap it."

Lloyd quickly bent away. "No, please, I'm sorry!" he squeaked.

I smiled in amusement as I pulled out a wipe and gauze. It wouldn't be the best first aid, but it would protect the wound until Zane took a proper look at it. I had a feeling he was the team's medic.

I rested my hand on the dip between his shoulder blades to steady myself and lifted the wipe. He tensed when I gently began to clean the slightly singed edges, muscles tightening beneath my palm. I bit my lip as I tired to focus on my job. My head was beginning to spin.

"So, where were you tonight before all hell broke loose?" I asked, an attempt to distract myself from the feeling of his warm skin.

"At the monastery," he replied. The back of his chest vibrated as he spoke, voice low. "We have our own celebrations there."

I closed my eyes. Composure, Y/n. Compose yourself.

"A street parade and a festival not enough?" I teased.

"Too much, actually," Lloyd replied with warmth. "We like to keep things small."

"Yeah?" I hummed. I placed the wipe to the side and tried not to look at how much blood it'd soaked up. "Can you tell me about it?"

"Trying to learn all our secrets?" he joked. I huffed through my nose and he chuckled. "We just have a dinner together and reminisce. Like I said, it's small."

"That sounds really nice." I wrapped the gauze patch onto the wound and sat back. "You're all done."

Lloyd pulled the robe back over and rolled his shoulders with a sigh through his teeth. "Thanks, sunshine."

I looked away when he turned back around. My face was too hot to look him in the eye, blushing a touch too bright. I busied myself by packing away the first aid kit. Sunshine. He was sure beginning to fumble.

"What about you?" he asked. His leg swung merrily, as if he didn't have a wound on his shoulder and didn't just crumble my sanity by showing a slip of skin. What was this? The 1740s?

"It was good," I answered shortly. "The food was nice."

He ducked his head, prying for my gaze. "But..?"

I sighed and stared at the roll of bandage in my hands. "I only get invited along to things to be a tag along."

I wondered if Lloyd ever had issues like this with his friends; where he felt left out or forgotten, pushed aside and ignored. I wondered if he thought being bullied or being ignored was worse.

At least when you're being bullied, people acknowledge your existence. Otherwise, it feels like... I may as well not even exist. But he could think of it entirely differently.

A gloved hand removed the roll of bandage from my grasp. He looped his fingers through mine.

"I think anybody would be lucky to spend time with you."

I blushed, but I sent him a look of disbelief, anyway. "You're just saying that."

He was already shaking his head.

"You're amazing, sweetheart," he murmured. "You just don't let yourself see it. But I do."

I didn't know how to respond to something as visceral as that - and it was visceral. The way he looked at me told me so; eyes pouring with sincerity and a type of adoration that had my insides twisting each way.

I dropped my head with a bright burn of my cheeks. His hands were still entwined in mine and we were still sitting on my mother's kitchen bench and I was pretty sure that if it weren't for the physics of this world, I would've flown away with the butterflies in my stomach. 

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to see him. I had to get the stupid mask out of the way.

"I have a question," I said quietly, staring at our hands.

"You can ask me anything."

I closed my eyes. That's a dangerous thing to say. I couldn't decide whether I worried over his nonchalance or was flattered by his trust. I would never say anything about his identity, of course, but he still didn't properly know me. He was taking a chance.

My throat ran a little dry and the familiar return of doubt greeted me. I pushed it back by reminding myself of the irrefutable evidence that the man who led the ninja, the man who made me feel things I never guessed I would ever experience, the man who sat before me was-

"... are you Lloyd?"

I didn't look at him when the words dropped from my lips, almost silent in the stillness of the kitchen. But I heard the sharp intake of breath beneath the mask, and I felt the tightening of his hold over my hands. And quiet fell again. A pregnant pause of neither of us knowing where to step next.

I risked a peek up at him. His green eyes were downcast, brow furrowed in something troubled and conflicted. But there was a hint of defeat and relief in his eyes; he knew he couldn't fool me any longer. I'd hit the nail on the head, and the nail had struck true.

"Can..." I bit my lip as I hesitated. His lashes fluttered with a blink. "... can I take off your mask?"

He didn't speak. A tiny, almost indiscernible nod was my answer.

My heart picked up at the agreement, and my limbs suddenly felt filled with lead. With a deep swallow and a steel of my nerves, I slowly slipped my fingers from his and lifted them to cup his cheeks. His hands fell to my lap, limp. He sunk just slightly into my hold.

My brow furrowed with a multitude of emotions as my fingertips brushed down the side of his neck, stopping only at the end of the mask's fabric. I paused again, feeling stunned by such a monumental event, and I had to take a breather.

  The Green Ninja's letting me take his mask off.

Whether he was Lloyd or not, it was a disastrously massive thing. I'd hate to think how many people wanted to be in my position, or how many enemies he had that wanted this precious knowledge. A suffocating weight began to swell in my chest.

Maybe it was better if I didn't get a solid answer. I could easily become a liability, or a weak link, or I could make a mistake and accidentally reveal his identity. I already was a clumsy fool, how could he trust me with something like this?

"It's okay," he breathed, and lifted his hand to guide mine beneath the fabric of his mask.

I held my breath as my fingers glided up his neck and over the curve of his jaw. We each hesitated when my palm cupped his cheek and, with my head already spinning a million miles an hour, he pressed a kiss to the juncture of my wrist.

The breath that had been caught in my throat escaped me all at once. His lips lingered against my pulse for a second, but it felt like an eternity, and it also felt far too short.

With my hand still guided by his, he pulled the mask off.

Blond, messy hair tumbled from its hold as the fabric dropped to the bench beside us. His face was downward, curtained, and he returned my palm for his cheek to rest upon. I stared at his crown of gold with my heart between my teeth.

Lloyd didn't resist when I encouraged his chin up, and when his face parted from his hair, I took him in as though I'd never seen his face before. His green eyes peered up at me through his dark lashes finally, as though having just mustered the courage to discern my reaction, and I think I felt myself fall for him all over again.

"Hi," I whispered, with my thumb brushing his cheek.

He smiled weakly in response. "Was I obvious?"

"Only in retrospect, for most of it," I answered with a small smile. My voice softened further, if it even could. "You're mean for flirting with me as two different people, though."

His eyes fell away. His teeth sunk into his bottom lip in guilt. "Sorry."

"It's okay." My other hand came up to cradle his face, too. I stared at him in amazement. "I... I can't believe it's you."

Lloyd pulled my hands from his face so he could play with my fingers. He watched them, cheeks rosy. "When did you figure it out?"

"Two days ago," I answered, equally entranced in seeing my fingers twist through his gloved ones. "I saw your mum at the museum. Things started to click into place from there."

"So when you were acting weird at the park..?"

I gave a single shoulder shrug. "I was kind of losing my mind, yeah."

Lloyd exhaled a breath in guilty humour. Then, his brows twitched as a thought struck him. He sent me a disbelieving grin. "You were toying with me in alleyway."

"Maybe," I said with a noncommittal smile. "But you said that your hoodie looked good on me when we barely knew each other, so I consider us even."

Lloyd laughed and hid his face. "I forgot about that."

"You shouldn't be the one embarrassed!" I scolded lightheartedly. "Do you know how mortifying it is to realise that? I wanted the earth to swallow me whole."

Lloyd shook his head with a snicker, finding the whole thing entirely amusing. He slipped from the bench and pulled me with him, dragging me into his arms. My hand fisted the material of his gi in surprise.

"Cute," he sighed, walking to where he knew my room was. "This is enough excitement for one night."

"Yeah," I agreed quietly. He placed me on the edge of my bed and stepped back, discreetly exploring my room with his eyes. I took the chance to fully admire Lloyd in the gi. I'd known for a few days, yes, but it was different to actually see his face while he wore the uniform.

"When's your mum returning?" he asked. He caved to his curiosity, leaning over my desk to peer at the photos on my cork board. I watched him contently. The storm in my mind had finally eased.

"In the morning," I replied. He glanced back at me.

"You going to be okay alone?"

  No, I wanted to say. Stay with me. But I nodded, because to say that would require confidence I didn't have. He nodded, too, and I couldn't tell if he was indifferent or disappointed. Even without the mask, he was still somewhat hidden.

Lloyd spotted something on my nightstand and picked up the book on the origin of Elemental Powers he'd given to me. "Have you started reading this?"

"No," I murmured.

"Why not?" he asked with a confused look my way. "You had a lot of questions."

My cheeks flushed at the reminder. I did have a lot of questions. I still did. Way more, now, indubitably.

"I dunno." I shrugged and picked at my jersey. "It felt... wrong."

"Wrong?"

"Like I'm invading something," I elaborated at his deepened confusion. "You're called the Secret Ninja Force for a reason. I walked myself into your home, so... yeah. Invading."

He stared at me for a second in deep bewilderment. I avoided his gaze, because now it just felt awkward that I admitted to something that, in my opinion, was totally justified. The tug should've at least made me call up to warn them before dragging me over there. It was common courtesy.

And it was a world that wasn't my own, anyway. As curious as I was, it was a secret life that I shouldn't have forced my way into.

But Lloyd seemed to disagree. He took a seat beside me.

"Y/n, you're not just some girl I began to like," he said softly. "You're entwined with us through the prophecy Dad told us about before. We don't know how yet, but you are. You're one of us." He placed the book into my lap. "This is your history, too."

  Ah. Right. The prophecy. I stared at the book in conflict. But then my brain caught on something else Lloyd had said and I peered up at him with narrowed eyes. It was my turn to be confused.

"Wait, dad?" I said incredulously. "I never met your dad."

Lloyd gave a baffled smile. "... yes, you did?"

"I didn't." I shook my head.

"You did."

"I didn't," I insisted. My voice dropped to a whisper as I leant in. "I think I would know if I met a guy with four arms."

Lloyd stared at me for a beat before throwing his head back with a loud laugh. I jumped in surprise.  I leapt myself onto him and slapped my hand over his mouth.

"Shhh!" I hissed frantically. "You'll wake my neighbours!" I didn't want to face the wrath of my mother if she found out that I'd had a boy over while she was gone.

Lloyd grabbed my wrist with a snicker and a wipe of his teary eye. Another round of giggles had him hiding his face into my hand. I stared at him in bewilderment.

"What's so funny?"

"You," Lloyd gushed, pushing his cheek into my palm with red eyes that startled me. "You're adorable. He doesn't have four arms anymore. Not for years."

My mouth dropped open. "He doesn't?"

"Nope. Just a regular guy."

"Wait, so - I met your dad," I repeated. Lloyd nodded. I held my head with an onset of sharp horror. "Oh, my god. Did - did I make a fool of myself? Was I acting weird? I can't even remember who he might be?!"

"You met my mother didn't you?" he asked. My brows furrowed as I thought back to Misako, and then back to the time in the medbay when the two Senseis spoke to me. One of them was her husband. I gasped.

"Did- did he like me?" I stressed. "If I'd known, I- I would've- I don't know, introduced myself properly or-"

"Y/n." He paused my frantic ramble with a sincere smile. "He loves you. Everyone does."

My heart stumbled with relief. "Really?"

"Really. You don't have to worry about making a good impression," he reassured. "You already have."

I slumped my shoulders with a sigh. "That's a relief." Though, I'm pretty sure the first impression of me getting ill could've gone better.

Lloyd smiled softly. "Will you read it now, little bookworm?"

It didn't take much to convince me anymore. "Fine," I said. His accomplished grin seemed to light up my entire bedroom.

"I'm so relieved you're a genius," Lloyd said with a content smile. He linked his hands through mine again. "Pretending to not be ridiculously attached to you was awful."

A flustered giggle slipped from me. "Your acting skills need work."

"Really? I thought I did pretty good."

I laughed and shook my head. "It's a surprise you're still secret. Any longer with Naomi and she'd be onto you."

Lloyd chuckled gently before cupping my cheek. His thumb dared to edge to the corner of my lips. An inhale sucked between his teeth.

"... can I kiss you?"

My amusement was sharply dropped for shock.

The atmosphere twisted, then. It turned into something heady and heavy and thick. The tension was a sweet kind, a patient one, and it tingled up my spine like spider walking fingertips.

I'd never been asked for a kiss before. But it was something I'd daydream of regularly, imagining a blurry-faced suitor with a suave taste and an effortless countenance. Lloyd wasn't suave or effortless. But he was something entirely better.

Was this how the protagonists felt? It was mind-numbing, the entire shift of my body. What once was relaxed was now taut for reaction. What was settled now flurried with anticipation. It felt like we weren't on solid ground anymore, that we'd broken away from my cluttered bedroom with too many books for it to hold, lifted from the crumpled duvet of my bed.

Lloyd watched me, searching with eyes that had gone red, and behind my ear-ringing shock a question about them arose. How did they change colour? But the curiosity was swiftly overwhelmed with another burst of buzzing, incomprehensible thoughts when Lloyd's thumb whisperingly stroked my bottom lip and left a line of static tingling beneath my skin. It felt as though I had begun to float.

My response was stolen in a breathless whisper. "Yes."

Lloyd didn't waste time once my answer slipped into the space between us. He leant forward and touched his lips to mine, just testing, a little shy, before his other hand came up to the back of my head and pulled me deeper into him.

The fuzzy, overwhelming sensations I felt before exploded into something more, something unreal and bigger. My heart had erupted with a pace I didn't know it could make, and I had to hold onto the front of Lloyd's gi just to stop myself from shaking with nerves - or maybe it was excitement - or maybe I was simply imbued with so much infatuation that my body couldn't hold it all.

The books were right. It did feel like fireworks. The energy of the kiss sizzled beneath my skin and tangled through my veins. I couldn't tell my left from right or my north from south, but it didn't matter. Lloyd had become my compass.

He broke the kiss with an inhale that trembled. I clawed for a breath I didn't know I was starting to need. He tapped his forehead against mine and we rested there for a second, minds reeling, unwilling to let go.

"I'm so happy we weren't interrupted again," Lloyd murmured with a voice that sounded a little choppy. The huskiness of it, the roughness, made my flesh crawl with delight. I would happily listen to him for eternity.

I giggled breathlessly before searching for his lips again, addicted to the rush of dopamine and the shiver it gave me. He responded with an eagerness that had my brain snapping. I almost didn't feel the pain in my ankle anymore.

Lloyd pulled back with a dazed look and shook his head. "Someone's coming."

"Wh-?"

"Hey!" Someone rapped their knuckles against my window and I jumped. The ninja in black was perched outside, hanging onto the ledge as though we weren't two stories up.

Lloyd slid from my bed and opened the window. The Earth Ninja's dark eyes jumped between us before refocusing. He didn't seem to be all that surprised that Lloyd was maskless.

"We need you back, man," he said. "I followed your tracker here. You weren't responding to the comms."

Lloyd grimaced guiltily. "Sorry. I was... busy."

"Uh huh." The ninja's amused gaze dropped to me, still sat on my bed and watching the two owlishly. "Hey, Y/n."

"Hi," I said shyly.

Lloyd's expression softened when he looked back at me. My cheeks ran darker. The Master of Earth glanced between us before snickering.

"I'll give you a minute, lover boy," he said, and disappeared before Lloyd could even bristle. His face burnt a dark red and purposefully looked away when I approached for our farewell.

"Lover boy?" I echoed with a smirk. He shot me a warning look.

"Don't you start," he said with one foot out the door and the mask ready to pull over his head, "or I'll bring up 'this is my boyfriend's hoodie.'"

My mouth dropped open in amused shock - both at the wound he'd picked and the poor impression of my voice. I lightly scowled. "You're cruel, Lloyd Garmadon."

"The cruellest," he said with a sharp grin before leaning forward to trap me in another short kiss. "Goodnight, princess."

I had to rest my weight on the window sill, dizzy from the kiss. He was already half way out the window when I found my voice again.

"Night, hero," I hummed, and grew evermore delighted when he blushed at the pet name.

With a parting, enamoured smile, Lloyd - the Green Ninja - swiftly leapt from my window and disappeared into the night.