If there isn't a complex trauma that I can't exploit for angst gain I don't want it 3 /hj
You'll also notice I've included a time discrepancy between both Ninjago's. One's a few hours fast. I think adding differing paces between different worlds/places adds a new layer to stories like this.
Tw for panic attack
Lloyd Garmadon almost forgot where he was when he woke up. Almost.
Just a wall over he could hear bustling in the kitchen, two voices that were oh so different while being oh so familiar at the exact same time. His doppelganger and his mother's like, 50% doppelganger.
Koko was marching around the apartment, looking for her papers for work and other miscellaneous items she needed in her purse for the day. He supposes it was nice to know she had his mother's organizational skills too. Lloyd couldn't count the amount of times he's had to swim through documents, scrolls and baby pictures just to ask him mom what she wanted from Chen's. Koko came right up to him to grab a green folder off a shelf.
"Good morning.. Lloyd, you? I'm sorry I don't know the formalities to address my son's alternate dimension self," she rambled, "Now where did I put my watch..?"
"Here, mom!" his doppelganger shouted from the pantry. The watch was in one hand and pop tarts in the other.
He then turned to Lloyd. "Do you like green apple pop tarts? I like them, so I thought, maybe.. you?"
Lloyd waved his hand. "They're fine."
In this light, Lloyd finally got to take in the look a like that sat across the table. His hair was longer, but more well kept that Lloyd's could ever be. He is shameful to admit he has a long habit of not showering or grooming when focusing in on the latest foe or mission. Even now he can feel stubble on his chin. Lloyd wonders if this guy shaves any? He's a little more baby face than he is. Today his doppelganger wore the hoodie from last night, but traded the sweatpants for ripped up jeans that he's certain weren't bought that way.
The exposed skin wasn't as scar ridden. Lloyd feels shameful as he rubs the dips in his neck that were forever stained pink, and the chips on his lips and nostrils and earlobes. Suddenly he feels eyes that are his but not his staring at him. But he isn't looking when Lloyd looks up.
"Well, I'm off!" Koko marches up. She takes a bite from her son's pop tarts, much to his chargin. "C'mon, I'll walk you out!"
This Lloyd jumps up and swings a backpack on, stuffing his face with the rest of his breakfast. "There's comics and cards in my room," he manages to say through green apple filing.
Koko follows this up with, "And feel free to use our TV! Any movies are on the table as long as you don't have to rent them!"
With that they're both gone, and Lloyd is left alone.
Well, for about ten minutes.
Lloyd was just getting through the opening credits of some lame shark movie (which is weirdly filed under a category labeled "Father-Son Movie Night") when his doppelganger bursts back through the door.
"I'm getting him right now, Kai, I'll see you guys at the warehouse!" He doesn't stop to change his shoes for house slippers, and throws his backpack into a cupboard under the kitchen island.
"Hurry, bro! I 100% need to compare notes with myself!" answers back what he assumes is his big brother-in-arms' doppelganger.
Assumes because while he's not very good at celebrities he's certain that was Michael Peña on the phone. His doppelganger hangs up and rushes over to him. "My friend Zane is crazy good at impressions, so he called in sick for all of us. I say all of us because I kinda told my friends about you and they want to meet you? I hope that's okay."
Lloyd blinks at the barrage of words that just came out of himself. "That's... fine, but.. warehouse? Why? What's going on?
He grinned. "Uncle Wu! We're gonna try and get you home today!"
"I guess you're as known as I am?"
It's more of a statement than a question that comes from his doppelganger. Lloyd turns to walk backwards and look at him.
This other him was given his lucky green hoodie, though it bulged in places due to the bulky green gi underneath. Lloyd took an baseball cap he had and shoved it over his blonde hair. He refused to answer when his doppelganger asked why the cap said "I got swallowed by a titan demon cat and all I got was this stupid hat."
Lloyd chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah," he spins around as they cross the street. Ninjago City High stragglers are stealing photos and the adults glances. "Having people know my identity is kinda weird.." he wished he could hide his face in his hoodie, but the other him needs it more.
"You had a secret identity?" This time it's a question.
"You didn't?"
Lloyd puts an arm in front of himself so they don't cross the street. A tram car comes up over the hill, a proud Ninjago red with decorative neon accents and lines. Lloyd can feel the eyes of his doppelganger as the Secret Ninja Force poster on the side comes into view.
"Everyone knew who the ninja were, but didn't really care about us till around two years ago." The other Lloyd finally answers as they hop onto the trolley.
Lloyd "ah"s at him. "People found out my identity about a week ago."
His doppelganger does a double take.
"Lloyd!"
Two teenage girls clatter over, thankfully not noticing the way both green-clad men turned at the name.
They stopped just in front of him, giggling amongst themselves. "Can we get a picture with you?" one squeals.
Lloyd hated pictures more than anything, he'd rather sign a forehead again. "Of course!"
The girls shove their phone into his doppelganger's hand, who looks briefly off put at such a thing. "Squeeze together and smile!" he pitches his voice down a few octaves.
"You looked like you were about to combust," the other him poked fun once the girls ran off with their prize.
Lloyd grumbled. "I just hate pictures.. does this ever get easier?"
"I'd tell you it does, but then I'd be lying to myself."
They finally got to sit, and it was quiet. Well, quiet between the two of them. Lloyd has been replaying the last few hours in his head a lot, scenes switching in his mind with each time he drums his hand on his thigh. This is, like, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not only does he now know that the multiverse exists, but he has definitive proof in his doppelganger sitting directly next to him. Lloyd wonders about all the differences between them, the ones he learned about last night.
This Lloyd was some prophesied savior. This Lloyd traveled all over Ninjago, and including some other realms. This Lloyd was soooo cool! Compared to this Lloyd, he was literally just some guy. Though he supposes he's glad, in some ways, that he hasn't lived his life.
This became especially relevant when they arrived at the warehouse.
In Lloyd's defense, he had no idea why his dad had showed up. "Luh-Lloyd! Here to watch me beat your butt uncle in our spar-?"
His father never got to finish, as his doppelganger had shot off from Lloyd's side like a bottle rocket to quite literally knock his father off his feet.
Lloyd wasn't exactly sure what had come over him. Normally he can keep his head on way tighter.
He heard about his father's doppelganger last night, in passing. But something about seeing those red eyes again set him off. He wasn't exactly sure what he was expecting.. but this distorted replica was enough to trigger the fight or flight.
The realm's ninja had quick reflexes and reactions, he could give them that.
"Lloyd! Lloyd, calm down!"
Wu had grabbed his shaking hands. Not his Wu, the other Wu. He briefly registered him blinking away the bright green lights now in his eyes, most likely from Lloyd himself.
Oh. Of course. His powers.
Lloyd laughs nervously at the teenagers horrid looks at his sparking. He supposes the therapists were right about his mind and its grip on him. The one that looks like Nya jumps back as a green flicker collides with her hand. She keeps the hand steady on his calf though. Lloyd's moves are jerky. His doppelganger isn't doing any better.
"Oh-! Oh no! I-I-I-didn't even think about it..!" he stutters out in slack realization, before spinning on his heel to face the monster over his shoulder. "Dad, you should go back to the volcano!"
The dark lord is flabbergasted. "Leave? Not when you have a psycho clone here! Why does it even look like you? I'm 50/50 on the fact you were an only child!" Garmadon points and accusing finger. Lloyd screams.
"Dad! Just.. just.." His doppelganger stares at his own hyperventilating in fear.
"I will call you later and explain everything.. please do this for me," his voice is way softer this time.
Garmadon swallow dryly. "I suppose I do owe you one.."
His son laughs silently. "I suppose you do, dad."
Only when the thing disappears beyond the corner does Lloyd feel like he can breath again. His lungs are still deflated like popped helium balloons.
He drops, and it's no longer these ninja holding him back but up. His doppelganger runs over. "I'm so sorry!" he sobs breathless, "I didn't even think about Dad..!"
Wu pries one hand from Lloyd's and places it gently on his nephew's slumped shoulder. Lloyd shoves his other hand away, using them to grip his stomach. There's finger shaped bruises and streaky light burns from his hands all over Wu's. "No, no I'm sorry." Lloyd just manages to choke this out.
"Usually I'm so much better at keeping it together.."
Wu gives him a pitying glance.
"Students, practice spinjitzu," he sterny tells the teenagers. They let go and deflate beside the family. Something about his tone made them know he didn't really need them training.
Wu heaves Lloyd up. His knees are knocking together. "Let's discuss everything on the bounty."
They, too, begin to disappear around the corner of the warehouse.
"Maybe.. I don't want to meet my doppelganger.." Kai breaks the silence. But Lloyd isn't listening. His too busy vomiting behind the warehouse with Wu.
"Maybe he just ran off? It's been hard for everyone, but especially him.."
Nya chooses to ignore the attempt of peace her boyfriend tries to give. It's better than what Kai does.
"Don't you even fucking say that," her brother glares at Jay. He's got a death grip on Lloyd's fleece-lined jacket. It gets cold in Ninjago City around this time, and Lloyd was stupid enough not to bring a jacket out. "Lloyd does not just run off anymore. He'd text me if he needed space," Kai spits.
They've been searching the streets since last week, when Lloyd went missing. That morning, he went to deliver tea. He hasn't been back. Misako ran off two days ago to confront Garmadon herself, but he was as clueless as they were. Not that he had any connections to the outside world anyway. Kai thinks Misako's trip was a waste of time. He's got a few choice words for the mother.
The area Lloyd was jumped had already been swept by SoG members, so there was no evidence. They now had access to magic teas, which they knew was going to bite them in the ass later.
Cole jogs up to the suddenly speedy fire master. He makes a mental note of the burning rubber smell at his heels. "Cut Jay some slack. We're all worried about him." He's gentle in his reminder, but that grip on Kai's shoulder is strong enough to make him stop.
"I'm gonna kill those fucking cenobite-wannabes fanatics.." he grumbles.
Cole shoved his shoulder. "That's not how we do things." He glances at Jay and Nya, who asking a shop owner if they saw anything. "But I won't say anything if someone happens to get burned in the carnage." He winks at the end. Cole says this all lightheartedly, but that burn in his eyes makes Kai think he's almost serious.
Jay suddenly shouts. "Guys!" he sprints, "This woman! She- she said she saw Lloyd!" he puffs out.
Kai and Cole are quick to follow.
The woman in question is a tea shop owner. A recognizable tea shop.
"Guys, this was Mystake's apprentice. I only met her once when I went with Wu to get that tomorrow's tea," Nya explained, gesturing to the stout, short lady in front of her. She had baby blue coveralls and a white handkerchief to tie back some hair. "I went off to do my own thing shortly after that. But Mystake and I were so close.. such a shame.." she bowed her head sadly.
Kai was quick to input condolences. "Yeah, real shame. You said you saw Lloyd?"
Nya smacked her brother.
"Yes, I did!" the woman chose to ignore the siblings. She waved her hands as emphasis of her tale. "Mystake trained me in magic teas heavily. The smell of it, the color of the smoke. That boy was clearly hit with Traveler's Tea!"
Jay slapped his forehead. "Traveler's Tea! Of course!"
Cole grinned. "Zane's at Borg's now, analyzing security footage! And that's where the realn crystal is too!" The earth ninja shuts up and blinks, suddenly remembering where exactly they are. He gives a sheepish look at the tea shop owner. "Ugh.. please forget I said that.." For his sake, she waved a hand dismissively.
Kai was storming down the street. "Let's go then!"
Nya rushes after. "I'll call Zane!"
Jay and Cole have more sense than the siblings to bow in gratitude. "Thank you ma'am!" Jay zooms off.
The woman grins. "No problem! Good luck!"
Once they're out of sight, Mystake shakes off her disguise. The coveralls and replaced by traditional, brown clothing. The handkerchief is a straw hat. Her frown is back, along with that rasp in her voice. "That fire ninja," she grumbled, copying his stomp inside, "No respect, that one. Hopefully Lloyd gets better friends wherever he is."
I refuse to believe my home girl is dead. She faked it and started a new life, the Garmadon's were just too messy.
Also that "apprentice" that's only there for like an episode or two I'm convinced was just her in disguise because sometimes you need to convince adult services you got yourself a caretaker y'know.