Requested by: CIRB

Request: Garmadon/Misako

Warnings: None

It had been about five months since Misako decided to stop travelling Ninjago to stay with Wu and Garmadon at the monastery. Though the brothers were very tense with each other due to the evil spreading through Garmadon's veins, she was enjoying her time with them very much. When she wasn't helping them out with housework, she would train with them, which included having them teach her Spinjitzu.

However, in spending time with them, Misako came to feel something other than just a strong bond with them, something other than friendship. They treated her with nothing but respect, were strong and believed her to be the same, and they were, she had to admit, quite attractive. She felt so strongly about both of them that she started to wonder if they noticed.

Hopefully they haven't, she thought to herself over and over again. I wouldn't want something like this to split them apart even further.

That evening, she was helping Wu and Garmadon prepare dinner. The brothers had argued for about half an hour about what would be having that night, before they eventually made a compromise: fried rice with noodles, as well as steaks.

Everything was going fine, they had just begun setting the table, when Garmadon suddenly crouched at the edge of the table with a wince. He gripped the edge with one hand, his lips forming a tight line and his eyes squeezing shut.

Wu noticed this, putting the plate he was holding on the tabletop and hurrying to the brunet's side. "Garmadon? Just calm down, you'll be fine," he said, resting a hand on his shoulder.

Garmadon's eyes opened slightly, and Misako could see his eyes flickering red wildly. "P-please, leave me," he hissed through clenched teeth. He dropped the plate he was holding, the pieces scattering around his feet.

Misako looked at Garmadon, then at Wu, then back at Garmadon. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked, coming closer.

He sprang away from the table, his glaring eyes now a glowing shade of ruby. "No!" He raised his hands to his head, rubbing his temples as he backed away to the hallway leading to his bedroom. "Misako, Wu, please do not speak to me for the remainder of the night."

"Will you be wanting dinner at all?" Misako asked, still concerned for him.

"No. Goodnight to you both." He exited quickly, slamming the sliding door shut behind him.

Misako and Wu exchanged worried glances, before Wu shook his head sadly, returning to setting the table. She frowned. "You're not going to go after him? You aren't going to help?"

"There's nothing that can be done," he sighed. "Garmadon has been like this for years. He has to spend some time alone, to calm himself down." When she was about to protest, he put his hands gently on her shoulders. "He's had many of these evil breakdowns before, Misako. He knows how to handle this."

Misako stared into his eyes for a long moment, wondering whether she should listen to him or not. At this point, she realized that now was a good time to make her decision. She could either stay with Wu, or go to Garmadon. She reached her hands up to hold Wu's, giving both hands a gentle squeeze.

"Misako?" he whispered. "Please tell me you won't..."

She lifted his hands off her shoulders, giving him a small smile. "I'll be fine, Wu. Don't you worry." Her hands slid from his grip, and she turned down the hallway, heading towards Garmadon's room.

Misako didn't even have to look inside to tell he was having difficulty with this specific breakdown. She could hear the sounds of fists hitting walls and furniture from outside the door, and she could hear him talking to himself, each word laced with agony.

Gripping the handle, she took a deep breath, then slid the door open. She ducked just in time to avoid being struck in the head by a dagger. Her eyes widened at the sight of Garmadon, his brown hair tangled in his clenched fists, shaking and crouching all the while. One glimmering red eye opened to peer up at her.

"Garmadon," she said calmly. "It's okay."

"What did I tell you?" he snarled. "Leave!"

"Garmadon, please-"

"Leave!"

He lifted a book from his desk, flinging it at her with such a force that, when she ducked to avoid it, it stuck in the wall, shards of wood falling from where it hit. Misako got back up just in time to block a punch, swiftly moving out of the way of each of his attacks.

Misako soon grew tired of dodging and occasionally blocking so, when she found a chance when he wasn't attacking, she sprang forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him close against her own body.

"Garmadon," she repeated. "You're okay. You just have to focus on calming down."

"Let go of me, Misako!"

"Just breathe."

His fingers dug into her back as he fought against her hold, but she held on, rubbing her hands up and down his back in a comforting manner. They stayed like this for a while, no exchange of words made, until Garmadon's breathing finally slowed, and he sighed.

"Are you okay?" she asked at last, pulling away to look him in the eyes. They had faded to a dull red now that he was calm. "Is there anything else I can do to help you?"

He stared at her sadly, then hung his head in shame. "Misako, I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put you through all that. It was unfair to you, and I should have been able to control my emotions better, but it all just..."

"Don't worry," she murmured, smoothing back his brown locks. "I'm fine. And if you need anymore help in the future, I'm here. I'll help you stay calm when something like this happens again."

"But Misako... I can't let you get hurt. Not because of me. Please, I can handle this on my own, you don't have to-"

She silenced him with a kiss on the forehead. "I can't fix this. Not completely. But I can help you get through it." She tilted his head up so she was staring into his eyes. "We will find a way to get rid of the evil in your veins. Together."

Rather than saying anything in return, he just smiled sadly, trying to get himself to believe those words. Little did he know, Misako was wondering whether she believed what she said herself.

*crawls out of grave made of schoolwork* I'M ALIVE! I've been preparing for exams and stuff, and I'm currently in the middle of them. Hopefully I can make it through. My English exam didn't go too well and I think my soul is dead after that experience .

Anyway, how's that season four going, huh? Neuro's so wonderful, I really like Skylor so far, and it looks like the love triangle's dead :D

Anyway, thank you CIRB for requesting this pairing, and stay tuned!