"Happy birthday to me!" Lloyd sang as quietly as he could, eyes quickly darting up to check there were no lights visible from the school, before blowing out the candle on his cupcake. "I wish… I wish someone would come and take me away." A single tear escaped, as he removed the candle and bit down on the cake.
There was a whisper, the tree leaves above him rustled in the wind. Lloyd shivered. "Who's there?" He called out.
"Yea, sorry." A young man dropped in front of him, dressed like a ninja. Lloyd blinked, and backed away. "I'm Kai." The man crouched down and held out his hand.
"What do you want?" Lloyd demanded, backing away.
Kai faltered, his eyes going sad even as his smile firmed. "We came to check up on you Lloyd."
"We?" Lloyd asked.o
"Kai!" Was hissed from above, Lloyd glanced up, but he couldn't see anyone.
"I'm one of your uncle's students." Kai explained. "Ex student now I guess. Sensei Wu's decided he's not going to teach us anymore."
Lloyd's heart twisted. "He doesn't want you either?"
Kai flinched. "Lloyd…" Kai reached for him, and impulsively Lloyd ran into his arms. Kai felt warm, Lloyd tangled his fingers in his clothes and focused on remembering, Kai smelled of copper and steel, a little musky, solid and real.
Lloyd sniffled a bit, hiding his face.
Safe. Kai felt safe.
"Kai, you can't keep him."
Kai rubbed his back, and stood up, tucking Lloyd into his side. "I can't leave him here." Kai objected.
Lloyd turned his head, there were his uncle's other students. He wondered what they had done to get banished like his father.
"This is a really sad cake." The one in black said, picking up Lloyd's half eaten birthday cake. "What were you doing out here cupcake?"
It took Lloyd a moment to realise that the ninja was talking to him, rather than the cake. His eyes burned. "That's mine." He snapped.
Dark eyes narrowed. "So, I guess we're kidnapping the Son of Lord Garmadon?"
"Cole!" The one in blue yelled. "Think about the future, we're going to mess it up!"
"You're kidnapping me?" Lloyd asked, turning back to Kai.
"No! Yes… maybe." Kai sighed. "Guys?"
"Jay is correct, this will definitely change the future." The white ninja said. "However… I find myself distressed at the idea of leaving Lloyd here."
"We can at least give him a better Birthday." Cole put in.
"Are you seriously making me be the responsible one?" Jay asked. "He has a destiny."
"Jay. Childhood." Kai said.
The ninja flinched. "Running away from Destiny it is then." Jay declared, ruffling Lloyd's hair and making it stand on end.
"Really?" Lloyd asked, grinning in disbelief.
"Yeah, the serpentine can wait." Cole slung an arm around Kai, a steady strength behind them.
"Although we will probably need to train." Zane said, "I believe this outcome will be much more favourable." Placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder.
Surrounded by ninja, Lloyd felt protected and safe. It wasn't a familiar feeling.
"I think this is already the best Birthday ever!" Lloyd declared.
