Kai was making soup for dinner. He'd been doing a lot of the cooking lately, trying to take care of everyone. Jay was lying on the floor of the dining room playing his portable game console. Cole was sitting in the corner reading, and Zane was setting the table.
Kai comes out of the kitchen and looks around the room before saying "Where's Lloyd? This is almost ready."
Jay pauses the game, looking around the room before saying, "um, not here?"
Kai puts his hands on his hips. "I know that!"
"Ugh, I'll go get him." Says Cole before putting down his book. There are sounds of Cole yelling "Lloyd! Dinner time!" As he wanders the temple. Zane finishes setting the table before frowning and saying "Curious.."
"What?" Asks Jay.
"When was the last time you saw Lloyd?" Zane asks.
"Well that's easy, it was.." Jay pauses, realising he hasn't seen Lloyd all day, and yesterday they had separate dinners, did he see him at all yesterday? "Um, I think I'll go help look."
The search was unsuccessful. There was no trace of Lloyd at the temple, and Lloyd wasn't answering his phone.
"Where would he go?" Asks Jay as they sit around eating the soup, trying to decide what to do.
"Was he captured?" Asks Kai.
"Surely we would notice if he was captured." Says Cole.
"We didn't even notice he was missing." States Zane. Guilt spreads throughout the room.
They come up with a list of places he might go and decide to start a search. Zane was to stay at the temple, in case Lloyd came back, and ring all of Lloyd's friends to see if he was staying with them. Cole was to explore the walking tracks around the monastery looking for signs of recent use. Kai and Jay were to drive around Ninjago City, checking out his favourite places. Burger joints, movie theatres, gaming arcades, etc. Jay was on his motorcycle, chosen for speed and agility. After he finished checking the downtown movie theatre, he hears a big clap of thunder as he comes back outside. "Probably should have checked the weather before picking the bike.." he grumbles. The storm still seemed a fair way off. They had been keeping each other updated in the group chat. The one Lloyd was also in. If he was just hiding from them, it might help to guilt him into responding.
Bluejay: not at the cinema.
Zane01: Be careful, a storm is on its way to Ninjago City.
DJrock: how long? I've still got a couple routes to check.
Zane01: should make landfall in just over an hour.
Jay puts his phone away and starts heading to his next location. As he drives the thunder continues to boom in the distance. The atmosphere feels alive with anticipation for the storm, and Jay starts to have difficulty breathing. He pulls over and forces himself to take some deep breaths. This doesn't make sense, I'm not all panicked like when this normally happens… he suddenly remembers the doctor saying thunderstorms could trigger asthma. He groans, retrieving his inhaler from his pocket and takes a puff. I'm allowed to take it early, before it gets real bad.
He gets ready to head off again, but pauses, pulling out his phone.
Bluejay: so, apparently thunderstorm asthma is a thing…
DJrock: you ok?
Bluejay: yeah, I have my inhaler. But if I stop moving or responding, maybe someone should come find me?
He taps share location on the group chat.
Zane01: Maybe you should return to the monastery?
Bluejay: my last two stops are on the way back. I'm fine.
He starts up the bike again, but doesn't get far before he realises his breathing is not improving. He pulls over again, and takes another puff. Maybe I'll just wait here until it calms down. He waits a few minutes to see if there is any improvement. At least it wasn't getting worse. He starts to get the feeling that he is being watched. He looks up, catching a glimpse of someone on the rooftop and makes the questionable decision to go investigate, despite his imperfect breathing. He sneaks further down the alleyway, then jumps up to a fire escape, using it to stealthily make his way to the rooftop. As he looks over the ledge he sees a figure in a green hoodie, who is staring down the other side at his bike. "Where'd he go?" Mutters the strangely familiar voice.
"Lloyd?" Says Jay, as he finishes climbing onto the roof.
Lloyd startles, almost toppling over the ledge, but regains his balance. He turns to Jay with a forced half smile. "Oh, there you are."
"What are you doing here?" Asks Jay, trying hard not to sound too annoyed.
Lloyd shrugs. "I was closest." He says.
So I guess keeping an eye on me trumps running away. "We've been so worried! If you were just having some alone time, you could have let us know."
Lloyd sighs and turns away, taking a seat on the edge of the building.
Jay also sighs, and goes to sit next to him. "Are you ok?" He asks with genuine concern.
"Are you?" Says Lloyd, noticing that Jay's breaths were still a little strained.
"I've got it under control." Says Jay as he takes another puff.
Lloyd stares with his big sad eyes.
"Why do you always have to look at me like that? Like I'm broken?" Asks Jay with a frown.
Lloyd looks away. "I don't think you're broken." Lloyd pauses, "I think I failed you."
"Failed me?" Jay is genuinely surprised by the answer. "You haven't failed me."
"I failed everyone. I am the leader, well, was the leader. Which means when things go wrong, it's my fault. Nya is gone because of me, you got hurt because of me. And I can't make heads or tails of the scrolls Wu left me, we haven't found anything, anything at all to help her come back."
"You're wrong." Says Jay firmly. "It's Kalmar's fault. You did the best you could. No one blames you. And those scrolls.." Jay shrugs, "I already gave up on them. You don't need to keep torturing yourself with the impossible."
Both their phones buzz.
Flameo: Jay, are you alive? You stopped moving.
Jay puts his phone back in his pocket.
"Aren't you going to respond?" Asks Lloyd.
Jay shrugs. "Maybe you should. If I say nothing, Kai will dash right on over here and prove I'm right."
"As soon as Kai gets here, I won't have a reason to stay."
"Fine." Jay rolls his eyes and pulls out his phone.
Bluejay: I'm fine, just having a rest stop.
Flameo: is rest stop code for asthma attack?
DJrock: don't say asthma, he doesn't like it
Zane01: it is a technically accurate description
Bluejay: I said I'm fine!
"You're not fine." Says Lloyd. "You're breathing is still weird."
Jay pulls out his inhaler and takes yet another puff. "Well, it's not getting any worse?"
"It's also not getting better. Maybe we should go to the hospital?" suggests Lloyd.
"Pfft. It's not that bad." Lloyd continues to stare. "It is taking longer than normal." Admits Jay.
Thunder rings through the skyline, as a few rain drops start to fall, making soft splats as they collide with the roof.
"How about we find some shelter?" Suggests Jay as a compromise.
They climb halfway down the fire escape, sheltering in an alcove a couple floors down. The rain starts in earnest plastering the street with a torrential downpour. The sound is something else, filling Jay with a sense of childlike excitement. He loved a good storm, which made it especially annoying that he now seemed to be allergic to them.
Bluejay: as Zane is a terrible weatherman I have decided to wait out the storm before coming back.
Figuring Lloyd was now a captive audience he asks, "So, why'd you run away?"
Lloyd fidgets, wringing his hands nervously. "I wasn't trying to run away.. I just needed a break. From the scrolls, from the temple, from my failures.. I thought I would just go cool off and come back after a few hours, but then.. I just couldn't."
Jay stares into the rain before answering. "I get it, needing a break. It's like I catch glimpses of her around every corner. Each room, full of her memories. The temple doesn't feel like home right now."
Lloyd visibly relaxes. "The first night, I had this thought. 'you don't have to go back.' It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, like I could breathe again. Oh, sorry, bad metaphor.."
Jay snorts with amusement, which triggers a bout of coughing, when that calms down he takes another puff. "I think I know how you feel." Says Jay with a grin.
Lloyd is still staring, monitoring his breathing, but at least does so with a small grin instead of those stupid sad eyes.
"Fine!" Says Jay after another cough, "if it's not better by the time the storm passes, we can go to the hospital."
Lloyd nods. "Thanks."
They go back to watching the rain. The alleyway bursts with light as thunder crackles overhead.
"You got somewhere to stay?" Asks Jay. "Somewhere dry?"
"Yeah." Says Lloyd. "I have it sorted." He fiddles nervously with his hands. "Actually, I got a job too."
"A job?"
"Yeah, just something to keep busy. Keep my mind off things. I'm going to be a window washer."
Jay does his best to suppress his laughter, as he doesn't want to trigger another coughing fit, but the thought of the green ninja washing windows is too much. Between suppressed chuckles he manages to say, "sorry.. that's just.. wow.. just wow."
"And this is why I didn't say anything in the chat." Says Lloyd glumly, crossing his arms and leaning on his knees.
Jay forces himself to take a deep breath. "Hey, you do what you need to do. And when you get sick of washing windows, you will always be welcome back home." Lloyd sighs, he wasn't ready to think about going back.
"Or," adds Jay, "you could become a mailman? Fast food worker? Lots of options for mundane jobs in this city."
Lloyd smiles. "Thanks Jay, for not telling me to come home."
Jay shrugs, "It's not like you'd listen to me if I did. You do know Lloyd the window washer can still be friends with the ninja right?"
Lloyd nods, "Yeah, but maybe not just yet."
Jay leans back against the wall. The rain is starting to ease. Intense storms like that one normally passed through pretty quick. After another 10min, it was dry enough for the two to climb down onto the street, and make their way over to Jay's bike. Jay's breathing was still a little uneven.
"You promised." Says Lloyd.
"Ugh, fine!"
Lloyd holds out a hand, "Give me your keys."
"I can drive."
"No, if you drive, you'll just take me back to the monastery."
Jay rolls his eyes and flings Lloyd the keys. Lloyd climbs into the driver's seat and Jay climbs on the back. The hospital isn't too far away. When they walk into the ER they are greeted with chaos. People are everywhere, beds, chairs, even sitting on the floor. Many of them look to be having trouble breathing.
A frazzled person in scrubs holding an iPad comes to greet them. "Let me guess, trouble breathing?"
"You must be psychic!" Says Jay.
He looks Jay up and down briefly, "walking, talking," he mutters while tapping at the iPad. "You taken any meds for it?"
Jay pulls out his inhaler.
The worker nods. "Good, how long for?"
"Um, like half an hour?"
"42 minutes." states Lloyd after glancing at his watch.
"Getting better or worse?".
"Um, a little better? It's just taking longer than normal."
"You're fine, go home, keep taking that as needed, and come back if you can no longer form sentences. As you can see, we are a little overrun, particularly with people whose asthma is typically very mild, so don't have a good treatment plan in place." The worker dashes off to assess a new person who has just entered the ER.
"Told you so." Says Jay smugly to Lloyd as he turns and struts out of the ER.
Their phones buzz.
DJrock: Jay, why are you at the hospital?
Flameo: I was right, it was code! I'll go get him.
Bluejay: I'm fine, wouldn't even admit me cause my symptoms are too mild.
Zane01: mild enough to attend a hospital?
DJRock: willingly?
Flameo: I'm still coming.
Jay takes a sneaky selfie with Lloyd in the background.
Bluejay: Lloyd would not get off my back until I got checked out. He's fine btw. Just wanted a break.
He adds the picture to the chat.
Zane01: that is a relief.
DJrock: Oh thank fuck. I think Kai's already driving. Is Lloyd coming back?
Jay looks up at Lloyd who is reading the conversation.
Bluejay: not yet.
Greenbean: Sorry. For everything.
DJrock: ugh. I'm going to bed. Glad you're ok Lloyd.
Zane01: I will call back everyone I rang earlier to let them know it was a misunderstanding and Lloyd is ok.
Lloyd shoves his phone back in his pocket, puts his hood up and starts to walk away.
"Hey Lloyd! Hold up." says Jay, startled that Lloyd would dare leave without saying goodbye.
"I told you when Kai gets here, I wouldn't have a reason to stay."
"I know, but thanks, thanks for looking out for me today. You look after yourself."
Lloyd nods, "Thanks Jay." he says before disappearing into the night.