Author's Note: This was a request from BlueJay11
Ninjalogy
By: Mad Betrayal
Chapter 7 ~ Happy Mother's Day
The Mailman panted raggedly as he pedaled as fast as he could towards the levitating ship. He had hundreds of thousands of deliveries to make, especially so on this one particular day. His mail bag felt twenty times heavier on his back, since he was carrying more than just letters. No, now many, many parcels of chocolates and gifts weight him down as well, and it was taking all the power in his aged body to keep his flying bicycle from plummeting to the ground.
Ugh… I hate having to chase after this thing… Better to just get this one outta the way as soon as possible…
Having reached the railings of the Destiny's Bounty, the Mailman parked his family heirloom graciously on the deck. "Oh, well this is unexpected," Sensei Garmadon said, and lifted a hand to stop his gathered pupils from continuing their morning katas. He then went to greet his fellow elder with a smile. "I was unaware that the mail ran on Sundays."
"Yeah, it usually doesn't, Sir. The only exception be them holidays," the Mailman replied, and swung his leg off his bike. The Ninja soon gathered around also, with Lloyd slowly trailing behind. Kai looked skeptical.
"Today's a holiday?" He asked, and Zane nodded, lifting a finger matter-of-factly.
"Yes, Love. Today is the national celebration of maternal adoration, Mother's Day."
A windy silence ensued, and a languidly-flying crow passed the ship overhead, giving a lazy "caw" as it did. "That still doesn't explain why he's here," stated Cole. "There are no mothers on this ship, unless…" He turned wide emerald eyes to Jay, while the blue ninja just cocked a questionable eyebrow at him. The Master of Earth rushed to his boyfriend's side and placed his hand on the brunette's stomach. "Jay, are you—"
"Oh, give me a break, Cole!" Jay exploded, shooing away the eager, gloved-appendage. "Your baby batter isn't strong enough to do the impossible!"
Kai chuckled. "Baby batter?"
Zane hummed with approval. "Yes, the idiom is well…conceived…"
The red ninja broke into another round of laughter at his boyfriend's sly wordplay, but Jay only sighed exasperatedly, his cheeks filling with scarlet. Sensei Garmadon grinned at the Ninjas' camaraderie, but also couldn't help but notice how quiet his son was. The Green Ninja stood off to the side—isolated from the others, his expression appearing apprehensive and borderline fearful.
The aged Master observed his son with inquiring eyes, watching as the younger's gaze would flit to Jay anxiously before lowering quickly to his shuffling feet. …Mother's Day… Oh Lloyd…
Sensei Garmadon's face slowly stretched into a smile. He understood. He understood his son's intentions perfectly. Lloyd's real mother, Misako, was just a phantom of the past. Having left Lloyd on the steps of Darkley's School for Bad Boys when he was just a toddler, Lloyd had considered himself abandoned. The only thing with him of value was his name, and consequently his father's. Misako left nary a note.
Sensei Garmadon recalled a time when he asked Lloyd if he would've have liked to hear about his mother, but…his son vehemently declined.
"The only mother I have is on this ship already, Dad. Jay is my mother. The woman you conceived with may have given birth to me…but that doesn't make her my mother. At least, to me it doesn't…"
Yes, Lloyd's definition of a "mother" differed from the traditional meaning…
Wise silver eyes shifted to the blue ninja. Garmadon had, indeed, taken notice to Jay's surprisingly strong maternal instincts. He was the gentlest, and most patient with his son, whether during every day life or vigorous training. However, he was strict with Lloyd when he needed to be: Telling the blonde to eat everything on his plate at mealtime, reminding him to oil his kunai and shurikens before bed and to keep them safely hidden.
It had all really surprised Garmadon when he had discovered the blue ninja's motherly relationship with his son. On the other hand…the Master of Lighting did have some very…intriguing qualities. He was sensitive, emotional, attentive, and while sometimes fretful, Jay had gained increased optimism over time so that he could now adhere to even the most stressful of situations with a level head—all good attributes for a mother to have.
Garmadon continued to watch as Jay tried in vain to get out of Cole's arms, the other attempting to coax him into letting him touch the blue ninja's bare stomach as if to see if he could possibly feel the heartbeat of a growing child within. Garmadon shook his head fondly at the scene.
If GOD allows it, then no doubt you would be a very fine mother one day, Jay… But then again…you already are…to my son… And I thank you…
"Ahem!"
The squabbling and bickering between the four Ninja promptly stopped at the Mailman's harsh tone, and they turned their attention to see him with an irritated frown in place and his arms deep in his cavernous mail bag. "Now, according to my list there is a mother on board this ship and he's apparently doing a fantastic job at it. Now wait one second while I find…Ah! Here we go…"
Everyone stared speechless as the Mailman pulled out a beautiful bouquet of delicious fruit and a large heart-shaped box of chocolates. "Okay, let's see…there's a note—Ahem! 'To my beloved kaasan, Jay Walker. Thank you for giving me something I've never had before'—Love, Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon."
The spectacled elder smiled as he approached Jay and deposited the gifts into his arms. He chuckled at the younger's slack-jawed expression and tipped his wide-brimmed hat. "Even though you're a man, you've managed to give someone a very, very special gift. There's nothing in the world as powerful and valuable as a mother's love. Bravo, Mr. Walker."
Happy tears had formed in Jay's eyes in response to the Mailman's words and he turned around to see Lloyd wringing his gloved hands together and smiling at him nervously. A noticeable blush touched his cheeks. Jay opened his mouth to express his thanks, but his voice was locked in his throat, raw emotion impeding its path. So instead, he handed the gifts off to Cole and opened his arms. And seeing the invitation, Lloyd, at once, ran to his "mother" and embraced him.
"I just wanted to do something special for you," the blonde whispered. "I wanted to show you how grateful I am to have you in my life, kaasan. And that you're just as important as my dad."
Jay was outright sobbing now. He cried heavily into Lloyd's hair as he muttered Norwegian words of love to his charge, momentarily forgetting how to speak English. But Lloyd only smiled happily as he listened to the words the blue ninja spoke.
"Lloyd, Lloyd, du er min dyrebare gutt. Tusen takk. Jeg vil elske deg i all evighet, og lover å alltid støtte deg som lærer, en venn, og definitivt en mor."
Author's Note: This made me cry. :)
Translation to what Jay whispered to Lloyd.
"Lloyd, Lloyd, you are my precious boy. Thank you so much. I'll love you for all eternity and promise to always support you as a teacher, a friend, and most definitely a mother."