The monastery's stairs loomed before them. They looked…higher, than when he'd been here last. Garmadon stared, squinting from the sun shining down.

Wu started up them.

Garmadon took a hesitant breath, then followed him. His leg was sending up sharp, fire-like needles now, apparently not liking the strain he was putting on it today. And his ribs weren't faring much better.

He shook his head. It didn't matter.

About thirty minutes later, Wu paused, turning around. "How are you doing?"

Garmadon blinked at how out-of-the-blue it seemed. "Um…fine." He narrowed his eye. "Why?"

Wu gazed at him for a moment, then continued on. "I was just curious."
Garmadon tried not to scowl. Of course he was.

I'm fine.

They eventually reached the top, Garmadon trying to hide how much the stairs had taken out of him. He sucked in quiet, strained breaths, trying to get his lungs working again. The large red doors of the monastery stood in front of them now.

Wu walked up to one, pausing again, and looking back at him with a frown.

Garmadon followed him, then stopped too. "What?" He shifted uneasily at his stare.

Wu shook his head. "I…never mind." He turned back, pushing the door open.

They both entered, seeing that the courtyard was empty.

Wu shook his head again, scowling. "I thought I told them to train while I was gone…"

Garmadon looked around, not having been there in…quite a while. Not much had changed. His gaze traveled to the left, seeing the golden dragon, then the paintings—

He sucked in a sharp breath. The red eyes stared back at him, four black arms—

"Please! This isn't you!"

"This is the new me!"

"I have played many roles. Worn many masks. Father. Husband. Brother. Teacher. But only ONE was summoned back—destroyer!"

"Listen to me. You don't have to do this! Harumi's using you as a pawn!"

"You wouldn't hurt me. I'm your son…"

"I have no son!"

"Garmadon?"

Garmadon shook his head, blinking, trying not to gasp. He stumbled back, turning to Wu, blinking.

Wu gazed at him in concern. "Are you alright…?"
Garmadon shook his head again, then nodded. "…I'm fine."

Wu nodded back, hesitating, but then headed into the monastery.

Garmadon followed him, soon finding that he'd taken him to the kitchen/dining area. He glanced around, seeing that not much had changed here, either. He looked back at Wu, who had started some tea on the stove. "Um…what am I supposed to do?"

Wu looked at him. "Would you wait here? I'm…going to inform everyone else."

Garmadon frowned, anxiety suddenly whirling. He swallowed, then nodded. "Fine."

Wu gestured to a chair, walking out. "I shouldn't take long. If the tea gets done before I get back, feel free to have some."

Garmadon reluctantly sat, his gaze turning to the teapot.

What would Lloyd say?

He shuddered, shutting his eye. What would Misako say? The ninja? After what he'd done…?
He shook his head. No.

It would be fine.

He looked around again, but soon found the kitchen to be quite boring. Of course, the ninja had their weird quirks, having some random things here and there. But otherwise, it was pretty ordinary.

He looked down at the table, tracing a gloved finger on the wood. The wood, go figure, was also quite boring.

Definitely Wu's touch here. He was always boring.

He shook his head, wincing.

There was suddenly the sound of glass shattering.

Garmadon jumped, heart leaping into his throat as he whipped around at the noise. He stiffened.

Lloyd stood there, mouth open, gaping, hand still cupped like he still held the glass he'd dropped—which had been the source of the crash.

They both froze like that, for at least a couple minutes, gazes locked.

Lloyd seemed to be the first to find his voice. He moved his mouth as though to speak a couple times, then finally squeaked out, "D…dad…?"

Garmadon didn't reply, finding that he couldn't move.

Lloyd blinked. He was gaping again.

Garmadon suddenly realized he was squeezing his hands so tightly it hurt. He cautiously loosened his grip, swallowing. "Hello." Wow, that was smooth… He really wanted to leave. Why was he here again…?

Lloyd shook his head, seeming to snap out of his shock a little. "I…I, what…what are you doing here? What…what in Ninjago happened to you…?"

Garmadon shifted, finally breaking his gaze, staring at the glass now littering the floor. "Um…you should… Do you want help with that?"

Lloyd looked down, finally realizing the mess he'd made. He blushed, mouth opening again, then closing. "I, um…no, no." He shook his head, looking back up at him.

Garmadon frowned, then went back to staring at the table.

He suddenly heard footsteps approaching him, cautiously. He could feel Lloyd's stare, looking him over, trying to piece it together—

"Dad?" It was a squeak again, barely audible.

Garmadon glanced at him, his gut clenching when he noticed how glassy Lloyd's eyes had gotten. He winced.

"Gar— What happened here?!"

It appeared Wu was back. Lloyd didn't move, still gaping at him.

Light footsteps walked around the glass. "Garmadon, I— Oh."

He'd noticed Lloyd.

He was going to get kicked out now, wasn't he. Why had he even come, why had he let Wu—

"Lloyd." Wu was suddenly next to the Green Ninja, a hand on his shoulder. "Lloyd?"

Lloyd still didn't move.

Wu glanced at Garmadon. "Um…what happened?"

Garmadon shrugged, looking away.

Wu turned back to Lloyd, shaking him gently. "Lloyd, I…I can explain, alright? In the living room." He suddenly started urging Lloyd out, gently leading him by the arm.

Lloyd's gaze didn't leave Garmadon. "I…w-wait, what's going on?! What's he doing here?! Why isn't he…evil looking?!" Lloyd struggled, Wu letting go of him.

"Lloyd—"

Lloyd was walking back over to Garmadon. "What are you doing here?! You've been gone for months! And just now, you decided to drop in?!"

Garmadon stiffened, turning to face him. "I…no, I…"

"Lloyd! I brought him here." Wu grabbed Lloyd's arm again.

Lloyd turned to Wu, face skeptical, confused, and…hurt. He looked back at Garmadon. "I…why?"

Wu shook his head. "I said, I'll explain in the living room, alright?"

Lloyd was silent for a moment. Then, "Okay…" He jerked out of Wu's grasp, walking stiffly out the door.

Garmadon watched him go, biting his lip. He looked down, his eyes landing on the broken glass.

Wu turned to him. "I'll be back in a moment, alright?"

Garmadon didn't reply.

Wu sighed, leaving hurriedly.

After he'd disappeared, Garmadon gazed at the doorway. There was some yelling coming from the living room, mostly Lloyd and Kai. He couldn't make out what they were saying, though.

He winced, his gaze returning to the glass. That was his fault. He could at least do something, right?

He stood shakily, his leg almost buckling. He shut his eye, leaning on the table, gritting his teeth. That…that walk to the monastery must have taken more out of him than he'd thought…and looking for Ochre, too…

He shook his head, sucking in a breath, then started rummaging through the kitchen. It didn't take him long to find the broom.

He walked over to the glass, then started sweeping, trying not to put weight on his injured leg. The glass swept up easily enough. He watched as the shards were gathered together, some reflecting the light overhead.

He shuddered, shaking his head.

He soon grabbed the dustpan, kneeling, and started sweeping it in.

"What are you doing?"

Garmadon didn't look up at Wu's voice. "Cleaning this up."

"…Why?"

Garmadon stood, gaze traveling across the floor for anything he'd missed. "Because I caused it."

He could feel Wu's frown. "I see…"

Garmadon then walked further in the kitchen, looking around for the garbage.

Wu pointed to cabinet under the sink. "There." He walked over to his tea on the stove. "And did you want any of this?" He poured a cup.

Garmadon dumped the glass into the trash. "No, thank you." He put the broom and dustpan away.

Wu took a sip of his tea. "It's very good."

Garmadon gave him an unamused look, walking back over.

Wu rose his hand that wasn't holding tea. "Alright, alright. It's your loss."

"What did they say?"

Wu blinked. "Say? Who?"

"The others. The ninja. Misako."

"…About what? You?"

Garmadon rose an eyebrow.

Wu swallowed, taking another sip of his tea. "Ah. Well. They'll…they'll warm up to you, don't worry."

"It didn't go well." Garmadon looked away.

"Well…it went better than it could have."

Garmadon shook his head, eye closed. "Right…" He looked up again, at Wu. "What am I supposed to do?"

Wu took another sip of tea. "Nothing, really…just rest."

Garmadon rose an eyebrow. "Rest?"

Wu gave him a small smile. "Yes. Rest for a few days. You…look like you need it."

Garmadon frowned, then looked away. "Right. That's it?"

Wu nodded. "Yes. That's it."

Seems easy enough. But he had to have a motive. He just didn't know what it was, yet… "Fine."

Wu headed for the door. "We're going to have to have you sleep on the couch for the time being, since we don't have any spare rooms at the moment. In the meantime, you're free to walk around, explore a bit. Just, I would advise being cautious around the ninja's rooms. As I said, they…they'll warm up to you, don't worry." Wu disappeared.

Garmadon shook his head. Then sat back down on the bench. Great. Just wonderful. The exact place he wanted to be the least, here he was.

Aside from Ichor's, of course.

He put his head on the table, hands digging into his scalp.

I can't hurt anyone. Keep my distance. I will NOT screw this up…

Not this time.