As Zane had theorised, after about a week, the buzz about Lloyd had died down. Things were still very strained and tense still though, and to escape the constant harassment, Lloyd deleted all his social media.

After the umpteenth death threat, he decided that he'd had enough.

Jay was glad that it had boiled over, but, he had noticed that Lloyd was a lot quieter now. He had lost all his sparkle. Almost as if he was a completely different person.

He had lied to the whole of Ninjago, after all. He'd lied to himself. Jay hated to think of it, but, honestly, at this point in time, it was better to stay closeted. Coming out was one of the most dangerous things any of the ninja could do.

Luckily, Dei Noctis and their antics had seemed to grow milder. It was a huge relief, for Jay at least.

He still hadn't conveyed his worries about them to the team. He was too scared that they wouldn't take him seriously. Especially after what Nya has said. If the person he was closest too brushed him off, why would anybody else listen?

Talking about Nya, she had seemed a little bit nervous all day. Jay wanted to ask her what was bothering her, but it was almost as if she was avoiding him.

Once it turned midday, and Nya hadn't even uttered a 'hi' to him, Jay started wondering if he'd done anything wrong.

It seemed so odd though. Nya was never the type of person to hide her worries. If he had done something to upset her, she would definitely have told him.

Eventually, the worry got too much to contain, and he found her on the bridge, reading through the newspaper.

"Nya?"

Her head jerked up at the sound of his voice, suddenly bashful.

"Oh! Jay! Hi..." she startled, closing the newspaper.

"... have I done anything wrong?" He asked, apologetic even though he didn't know what to apologise for.

"No, not at all?"

"Oh... then why have you been avoiding me all day? Is there something wrong?"

Nya sighed and placed the paper on the table next to her.

"There was something I wanted to ask you... I guess I've been putting it off..."

"Well... what is it?"

Nya looked around, clearly hearing the other ninja loudly playing games only a few metres away, in the game room.

"... can we go somewhere more private?"

"Sure."

Jay followed her to her bedroom, feeling his quickened heartbeat fast in his chest. He was... scared. Scared of what to come. What would she ever want to ask him, that was this serious? Serious enough for her to try an avoid it?

Had she... figured it out?

Jay took a deep breath. There was no way that she had.

He just had to calm down. It was probably nothing.

For Nya's boyfriend, Jay hadn't spent all that much time in Nya's room. He knew exactly what it looked like, but had only stepped inside a few times.

She went and sat on the bed and patted the sheets next to her, saying that she wanted him to sit down. He closed the door, and did as she wished.

"... there's something I've wanted to ask you for a while not but... I've been too embarrassed. I thought that maybe... you wouldn't want to."

Ideas of what she was suggesting filled his head, and it started to make him panicking. If it was what he thought... then... he didn't know what he'd say. He'd have to tell her, and he didn't know if he was ready for that.

"What is it?"

He kept his voice as steady as he could, so not to reveal any upset.

"Well... we've been together for a while now... and... I was just wondering..."

Jay's throat seized up. He kept his eyes on her, waiting, petrified of what she was going to say.

"... would you like to move in with me?"

He was quiet for a second.

"... what?"

"Move in with me? Into my room?"

It wasn't what he had expected, and he was briefly very relieved, but... when he slowly started to realise the ramification of this proposition, the anxiety came flooding back.

"... you don't look too happy... sorry... maybe I shouldn't have-"

"No, Nya! It's ok... I'm just... a bit embarrassed..."

Nya breathed a sigh of relief.

"So... do you want to? I just thought... it might do good for our relationship to... to be closer, you know?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

Jay's mind was racing. If he and Nya shared a room... where would he hide his box of things? Nobody could know about that. What would he do about his binder at night? Nya was most certainly proposing that they shared a bed.

Would he have to wear it... all the time? It would do horrors for his ribs and his spine but... how else could he hide?

And how could he refuse her? He would love to be able to share a room with Nya... but... it was just too dangerous for him. But... he couldn't say no.

"Great! When would you like to move in? Ahh, sorry, I'm just a bit excited."

She kissed him lightly on the cheek and smiled.

"I love you, you know?"

"I love you too Nya."

What if she found his pads? What if she found his spare binder? What if she found his testosterone prescriptions?

"Well... I don't really have that much stuff, so, we could do it soon, if you want."

"Ok. I'll be able to clear some space for you."

What if she wanted to get closer... more intimate... in a... different... way? It was Jay's original fear of what she would ask. What if she wanted that?"

"We should probably talk to the others first. Kai especially. I imagine he'll have some things to say." Nya joked.

"Kai doesn't own you. Just because you're his sister doesn't mean he can dictate your life."

"Yes, but, that doesn't stop him from getting a bit overprotective at times, does it?"

"I guess..."

What if she found out he was transgender? What if she told the whole ship? What if... what if she broke up with him because of it?

Nya hugged him tight.

"Sorry I didn't ask you sooner. I feel stupid for being nervous now."

"S'ok. Everybody gets nervous."

Nya pulled away, giving him a confused look.

"... are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"Sure you aren't coming down with something?"

"I'm sure. Honestly Nya, I'm fine."

She left it, but Jay could tell that she wasn't convinced. She chatted a little bit more about the plans, and then decided to wrap it up.

"Should we go and tell everyone else together?"

"Yes, but, just a moment. I gotta use the bathroom. Meet you at the bridge, ok?"

"Ok."

Nya kissed his cheek, then made her way to the bridge.

Jay, didn't need the toilet. He just felt like if he didn't calm down, he'd end up having a panic attack.

Nya meant no harm by what she was asking. Had he been a regular cis male, as most boys were, he would have leaped at the opportunity, but Jay wasn't, and was so, so scared.

He wasn't ready for something like this. There was no way that he'd be able to hide his secret from Nya for long.

A single tear escaped his eye as the bathroom door closed behind him. He locked it, wary of any audience.

Looking at the mirror, he grimaced. He hated everything he saw. The femininity, the tears - which were now coming much faster - and the blazing terror now rooted deep in his heart.

He couldn't lose Nya. He couldn't lose his friends. He wouldn't know what to do without them.

Eventually, the tears dried out, and while still panicked, Jay wiped his eyes, and made his steady way to the bridge.

He was not looking forward to what Kai would say.