Oooh I am so, so late with this one and I really am sorry about that - this summer has been a ride and I've had way less time to write than I thought I would :'( On the bright side I've almost finished the next chapter of Down Comes the Night, considering I haven't updated that in almost a year (yikes), and I finally have this chapter up! Season 2 is one of my favorites so I'm super happy to be starting this one - I've got the outline for most of the episodes sketched out, so hopefully I can stay a little more on track (by going wildly off-track, there's so much potential in the early s2 episodes okAY).
A huge thank you as always to everyone who keeps up with this story and reviews! Especially all the guests and anons I can't reply to - you guys make my day (and make me laugh a lot too, a lot of the comments are gold), thank you so very much! :D
Here's the first ep of season 2, which I honestly cannot remember the name of for the life of me but it's that one where the ninja go looking for apartments and get Actual Jobs. (And yes I know Kai isn't sick for the actual episode but I just - decided that he is. It's gonna be a plot point okay.)
Chapter 11: The Ninja Go House-Hunting, Featuring Mistakes Such as Almost Blowing Their One Big Responsibility
As it turns out, finding an apartment that suits the needs of four ninja, a samurai with weapons of mass destruction, a questionably-old ninja master, and a pint-sized chosen one of very questionable power is a big fat pain in the neck. Finding an apartment that's even remotely within their budget, though? Impossible.
"Maybe we should just make camp in a Serpentine tomb," Jay mutters, as Zane dejectedly crosses another marking off their list.
Nya elbows him, but she can't help feeling the same despair that's leaking into his voice. Ninjago City's open housing listings have kind of…sucked so far. A lot, especially since a giant snake recently crushed half the housing that used to be available. Nya fights back a sigh of despair. No wonder Kai constantly fought tooth and nail to keep them in the blacksmith shop. She's gaining a new appreciation for the stress her brother went through.
And speaking of brothers—
"I don't wanna live in a Serpentine tomb," Lloyd scowls. "They're cold and dark and gross and full of snakes. I'm not gonna live there, you can't make me—"
"Woah, no one's living in a Serpentine tomb," Kai says hastily, assuring Lloyd. He shoots Jay a glare, and Nya doesn't need to be his sister to read the warning there. Jay puts up his hands in defense.
"Joke, it was a joke," he says quickly. "Geez, no need to get so grouchy about it."
"I'm not grouchy," Lloyd bites, sounding very much grouchy. "You're grouchy, you big dumb — ugh, whatever!" He throws his hands in the air, looking incensed. "This is taking forever! We've been out here all day and we haven't even gotten anywhere. We're just gonna end up homeless again, right? 'Cause this whole stupid city is just a - it's just a-"
"Hey, no, hold the phone," Kai says quickly, and Nya's quick to crouch down by Lloyd next to him. Her heart drops at how red Lloyd's eyes are getting, the telltale sheen of tears that's gathering there. She'd been expecting it with his outburst, sure, but still.
She's a few more rejections from crying herself.
"We're not gonna be homeless, okay?" Kai tells Lloyd. "I promise. You uncle's out looking too, remember? He might have better luck."
Lloyd mumbles something inaudible under his breath that only Kai seems to hear, and Nya stands wearily, exchanging glances with Cole.
"We might need to take a break soon," she murmurs, as Jay and Kai try to tackle the slowly-dissolving mess that is Lloyd. "Before Lloyd throws a full tantrum on us and quits."
"He's probably hungry, like the rest of us are," Zane says, quietly. "That might contribute to…current temperaments."
"Yeah, I've noticed." Cole runs a hand over his face, flattening the slightly-crumpled newspaper over his leg again, squinting down at the ads listed. "Okay, ah, there's a few listings on the east side of the city we haven't checked out yet, so there's…that."
"The east side?" Kai scoffs, looking up from where he's still crouched by Lloyd. "Great idea, Cole. We're totally gated community material."
"It's worth a try," Jay says stubbornly, defending Cole. "At least he's looking."
"What, and I'm not?" Kai snaps.
"You're not being helpful, that's for sure, you hot-headed jerk—"
"Call me that again, junkyard boy—"
"Woah, hey, stoppit!" Cole yelps, shouldering between them. Kai's eyes are simmering, and Jay's got a dangerous sort of lightning sparking behind his at the words junkyard boy. "Calm down, guys, we're in the middle of —" Kai makes a move, and Cole solidly blocks him, his own eyes darkening. "That's an order. Let it go, now."
Nya stands back next to Zane, who's since grabbed Lloyd from the middle of it, the three of them watching wide-eyed as Kai and Jay slowly back down. Their tempers might be high right now, but no one in their right mind wants to cross Cole when he gets like that. It's not worth it.
"Fine," Jay spits, taking a step back. Kai just gives a sharp nod to Cole, before glaring at the ground. Nya can already see the slight flash of regret in her brother's eyes, though — aw great, he's gonna be a big ball of moody self-loathing for the rest of the day, isn't he.
"Perhaps you had a point about that break," Zane sighs.
Nya scrubs a hand across her face, nodding. They need to find a place to live a-s-a-p, but pushing them when they're already at their breaking point from exhaustion and stress isn't gonna help. Especially when Kai's like this.
She studies her brother's expression again, the way his shoulders are ramrod-tight and hunched in on himself, and bites back a sigh.
She knows, in part, why Kai's in such a sour mood. And if she had to guess, it's part of the reason Lloyd is, as well. They'd only left the Brookstone's house a few hours ago, but the undercurrent of hollow bitterness she's trying to suppress is taking its sweet time to leave.
She'd been fine, she'd been perfectly happy to spend time at Cole's house with Cole's dad, because Cole is one of her best friends — her brother — and seeing him happy makes her happy.
But then they'd been preparing to head out, bags too light as they packed them up, when Mr. Brookstone had come running out and swept Cole up into a hug that looked a bit like he was trying to crush him. Cole had just laughed, hugging his dad back in what Nya knew was a stronger embrace than his father would ever be able to give, and there'd been this look on his face, closed-eyes and content and happy, and Nya — she realized she didn't quite know what that look felt like.
And she could have put up with that, maybe, if Jay hadn't taken the opportunity to call his parents at the same time, cheerfully echoing their "I love you too" into the phone, and something in Nya's chest had clenched up, all tight and painful.
If she had to name it, she'd call it the overwhelming urge to punch the universe in the face. The part of her head insisting that it was jealousy, that could take a hike.
But Kai had worn the same kind of look on his face as he watched them, and he'd taken a step closer to her, tucking Lloyd between them. Zane had edged toward them as well, and Kai had set a bracing sort of hand on his shoulder. There'd been an unspoken tightness between them that Nya can still feel now, stranded on a newly-repaired sidewalk in Ninjago City she'd help patch with her own hands that morning.
A camaraderie of jealousy, Nya thinks dully. How's it work out that only two members of their family got away with at least one parent that didn't die, disappear, and/or turn evil and walk out on them?
So if the reminder that their parents are kind of nonexistent at the moment, compared to their teammates' happy ones, puts them in a bit of a garbage mood, Nya thinks they can be excused.
"Can we go already?" Lloyd pipes up, his voice sour. "This is boring. My legs hurt."
Kai and Jay, while not audibly communicating, are staring at the ground with expressions that mirror the pent-up, whining tone in Lloyd's voice almost exactly. Nya exchanges looks with Cole again, who then glances to Zane.
"What if we split up?" Zane offers. "Nya can take Lloyd to find Sensei, and us four can look around, and maybe help with any repairs still needing assistance."
Thank FSM for Zane, Nya thinks. He's continuing to be the smartest on the team, as always. Giving the guys a task to focus on, as opposed to milling about aimlessly trying to decide what to do next, is probably the best plan any of them have had all day.
Maybe they can like, find a bunch of concrete to blow up or something. Blowing stuff up always seems to solve any arguments between the guys, right?
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan," Cole nods, looking gratefully at Zane. "And maybe you two can grab some food while you're at it."
He stresses the food part, eyeing Lloyd. He's been growing suspiciously quiet, his face pale and drawn where he kicks absently at a rock on the ground.
"On it," Nya says. She grabs Lloyd's shoulder, shaking it gently. "How's that sound? Wanna grab some food, then hunt down your uncle?"
Lloyd regards her briefly, then nods. "Can we go somewhere that has those little prizes," he mumbles.
Nya snorts. "If you can find a better attitude somewhere, maybe." She turns to the others, wincing briefly at the bruises and scrapes that still line them, thrown into sharper relief in the bright afternoon sun. "Um, maybe you guys can pick up some food, too?"
Kai shrugs. "Might help," he mutters.
Cole huffs a sigh. "We'll get something," he assures Nya. "C'mon guys, let's head out. And — no, stop — Jay and Kai, you're not allowed to walk next to each other, break it up."
Nya bites her lip against an exhausted laugh as Cole shoulders the two apart, still scowling at each other. She does not envy Cole and Zane that one.
Kai breaks away from them briefly to mumble a goodbye to Nya, something about staying safe garbled between the words. Nya shakes her head as he turns to Lloyd, who's still staring at the ground with an expression of half-sulking, half blank-eyed exhaustion.
He perks up for Kai though, murmuring something quietly to him, and Kai nods. He whispers something back, scuffing Lloyd's hair from his eyes with his hand before sending him back to Nya. Lloyd looks marginally happier as he joins her, and a lot less grumpy, so Nya can only wonder what her brother said.
"See you in a bit," she waves to him. Kai nods back, his eyes sweeping over them both.
"Stay safe," he says again, and Nya almost rolls her eyes. Almost. The dark circles under Kai's eyes have her feeling guilty just thinking about it.
"Sensei mentioned he wants to meet up later in the afternoon," Cole tells her. "So stay in touch, okay? We can regroup then."
Nya nods, grabbing for Lloyd's hand as they drift apart from the others. Lloyd holds her hand for a whopping three minutes, before he finally remembers that he's a little brat of a pre-pubescent boy and yanks his hand away, turning red and scowling.
Nya's less offended than she is amused.
"So," she says. "What kind of unhealthy junk food you feeling?"
Lloyd picks the brightest-colored, greasiest, ugliest eyesore of a diner that hasn't been destroyed by the Devourer on the block. Nya's not ashamed to admit how much food she orders them.
"I'll trade you five fries for a chicken nugget," she offers, as they tear into their plates.
Lloyd purses his lips, contemplating her offer. "I want…half your fries."
"Half?" Nya snorts. "That's robbery and you know it, little swindler."
"Do you want a nugget or not?" Lloyd sniffs, guarding his meal under his hands.
"Okay, how about this," Nya says, leaning her elbows on the table. "I'll give you half my fries, if you—" she dangles one of the fries in the air. "Can vaporize this with your powers."
Lloyd's face scrunches up. "What?" he exclaims. "That's not fair!"
Nya raises an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"'Cause I can't use my powers," Lloyd hisses, glancing around furtively. "Not like — not on that."
"Fine, we'll start smaller." She dangles the straw wrapper in front of him instead, waving it a bit. "What about this?"
"A straw wrapper?" Lloyd wrinkles his nose. "You make spitballs with those."
Nya resists the urge to rest her head against the table. "Well this one can be for your powers."
Lloyd's jaw works, clenching up. He stares at the wrapper, small fingers wrapped tightly around the table edge as his expression screws up in concentration. He remains like that for a minute, clearly trying something, before his shoulders sag, and he ducks his head. He mumbles something inaudible.
Nya frowns. "What was that?"
"I can't," he snaps, looking distressed. "Okay? I — I can't. I don't even know how I did it the first time! I just - I just did."
Nya stares at him, gauging his expression, then lets the wrapper drop. Darn. She was really hoping she'd be able to get through to him — she was the first one to see his powers, after all, and she kind of wants to be the one to help him out with them now before the guys get to him, sue her.
But Lloyd still looks exhausted, even with the food, and exhausted equals grumpy, so Nya lets it drop.
"Here," she sighs, dumping a heaping of her fries on his plate.
Lloyd narrows his eyes on her. "What's the catch?"
"The catch is you're on your best behavior the rest of the day," Nya says. "Which means no whining."
Lloyd makes a face at her, but he nods, grabbing for the fries. "You got it," he says, sentence garbled through the mouthful of fries he has. "No whi'ing."
"Chew with your mouth closed, Lloyd, that's gross," Nya frowns. He rolls his eyes but obliges, shutting his mouth. Nya shakes her head, bending her straw back and swirling it around a few times, watching as the ice crowds around in her soda. She glances back up at Lloyd, then smirks. His lips are pulled into a pout as he struggles with a ketchup packet, trying to tear it open and failing. He finally gives up with a huff, handing it out to her.
Nya raises an eyebrow. "Something you need?"
Lloyd groans quietly. "Please?"
"That's better," she says, taking the packet from him. She's just getting her fingers on it when her phone vibrates, and she quickly grabs for it, her eyes scanning the message.
"Huh," she murmurs, staring at her phone as she continues to try and open the ketchup packet one-handed.
Lloyd clambers over the table, trying to get a glimpse of her phone. "What? What is it? Tell me," he demands. "Did they find a place?"
"Not quite," Nya says, her fingers slipping over the plastic of the ketchup packet — which is proving harder to open than she'd thought, huh. "But they did find—"
The packet pops in Nya's hands, sending ketchup splattering all over her face.
"Gack!" she yelps, dropping her phone and wiping at her face. Oh, gross, she doesn't even like ketchup, first snake guts now this—
Lloyd stares at her, his eyes wide for a brief second at what probably looks like a crime scene on her face. His nose twitches as a sign that he actually tried not to, then he bursts into laughter.
"Your face," he cackles, as he doubles over on the table. "You've got ketchup all over, you look hilarious—"
Nya makes a face at him, grabbing for a wad of napkins to clean it up, but she can't hold the glare she tries to give him. Lloyd looks almost beside himself in glee, giggling at Nya as she swipes at her face, the one dimple on his left cheek visible as he smiles brighter than she's seen since—
The hairs on the back of her neck standing up is the only warning Nya gets before the lights above them flare blinding bright, then abruptly shatter.
Her and Lloyd shriek in unison as the lights blow. They're quickly joined by the other patrons around them as the bulb lights above flare brightly before exploding, raining bits of glass as they all duck for cover.
"The heck—"
"What was that?"
"Is the snake back?!"
Nya's out of her seat and against the window in a flash, her eyes scanning the streets frantically. Her heart rate crashes back into something normal when she spots no giant snakes against the clear blue sky, no smoking destruction or screaming citizens running.
"Sorry!" one of the servers is saying frantically, helping the affected customers from their seats. "I'm so sorry, I have no idea what happened—"
"It must've been the fuses," another employee grumbles, and Nya figures he must be the manager. "Darn snake probably damaged the electrical wiring. It's fine, everybody calm down."
Nya wants to argue that it is not fine, she about had a panic attack on the spot and now there's little bits of lightbulb in her fries, which she paid for—
But the employees look as frazzled and frightened as she is, so she sucks it up. She's mature like that, unlike some people.
"S'just an accident," Nya sighs, turning back to Lloyd. "C'mon, let's see if we can a refund on those fries."
She pauses, blinking. Lloyd is still in the seat, surrounding by lightbulb bits, looking slightly dizzy as he scrubs at his eyes.
"Oh no, did you get hit?" Nya flies to his side, trying to pull his hands away so she can get a look at his eyes. Aw man, if he really did get glass in them—
"No, I'm fine, I'm just — I'm fine, Nya, back off!" Lloyd shooes her away, frowning. "I'm fine," he repeats, with one last scrub to his eyes. Nya's relieved to see that they're unharmed, if a bit bloodshot.
"You scared me there," she says accusingly, but she leans back. "Geez. Okay, on second thought, we're getting out of here. I want you safe."
"I wasn't in danger or anything," Lloyd grumbles, but there's no bite in his words. He looks small as he slides from the seat, face drawn and quiet.
Nya frowns as she watches him, the two of them trailing for the restaurant doors after she's paid for their food (she's not that much of a jerk, and they did get to eat most of the food, anyways).
"You okay, green machine?" she asks, as they make their way down the city streets.
Lloyd shrugs, seemingly shaking himself off. "I'm fine," he says, with another eye-roll. "And hey, you never told me what the guys said."
"Oh," Nya blinks, distracted. "Right. Well, they don't exactly have an apartment yet, but they've got an agent." The corners of her lips tremble as she remembers the text, trying not to laugh. "And jobs, apparently."
Lloyd wrinkles his nose. "Jobs?"
"Oh yeah." Nya's unable to stop the wide grin that stretches across her face this time. "And you are never going to guess what your big bro got himself into."
Nya changed the chat name to Kai Smith, the Human Piñata
Kai: how dare u remind me of that in my own chat
Nya: AHAHAHAHAHAH
Nya: kai why
Nya: why would you take this job
Kai: do u know how hard it is to get a job when ur a teenager wearing a ninja uniform?!
Kai: no one takes us seriously here :/
Nya: yeah because you're all nerds
Nya: btw aren't you guys supposed to be teaching lloyd?
Kai: we are teaching him
Nya: lloyd said you forced him to make fried rice last night
Kai: i TAUGHT him to make fried rice
Kai: see, important life lessons
Nya: great, he can throw rice at his dad when the world's ending
Kai: geez, thanks for that happy reminder
Kai hates kids.
Okay, so that's not really true, especially with Lloyd and all, but that's just because Lloyd, despite being a demon spawn, isn't an actual demon from hell. The something-hundred kids he has to deal with at parties, however….
He knew he should've just taken a fast food job like Jay and Zane. He knew it. Too bad there's like, child labor laws and stuff in Ninjago City that they actually enforce, which keep Kai from getting an actual job, like blacksmithing.
Kai's lips twist into a pout. It's just not fair — he's the only one of them who's actually managed to run a business, with decent success. Stupid smithing laws, he's not that young—
His train of thought is rudely interrupted as his nose flares, his eyes water, and he breaks into another round of congested sneezing.
"Gesundheit," Nya says, handing him a tissue that he accepts gratefully. She eyes him in concern as he blows his nose, her eyebrows furrowing. "You okay there?"
Kai shakes his head. "M'fine," he says, clearing his throat. "One of the kids had a cold at the party the other day, I'm probably just fighting that off." He scowls. This party gig is ruining his health now too, not just his clothes.
And his dignity.
And his general sanity overall.
Nya makes a face as he blows his nose again. "If you say so. Take it easy though, okay? You might need to just sleep it off."
Kai snorts humorlessly. "Yeah, I wish. Do you know how far away from making rent we are?"
"No, but I can imagine," Nya says. "This place is ridiculous, it's gotta cost an arm and a leg." She pauses, worrying her lip. "You know, the auto-body shop I've been looking at is still closed for repairs, but I might be able to get a different job in the meantime…"
"No, you don't have to do that," Kai says, quickly. "We got it, Nya. Besides, Sensei Wu still needs your help. I don't even know if he can drive a car, much less a motorcycle."
"Alright," she says, sounding unsure. She glances around their new apartment, looking uneasy and far from comfortable in the lavish surrounding. "But if you change your mind, lemme know. I still say it's ridiculous."
Kai sighs, looking away. It's not like she doesn't have a point. Their new apartment is awesome — it's got a fully-stocked kitchenette and a TV setup that rivals a theater's. The beds alone are worth it, after camping in the desert the past two days, and the showers are the actual best thing Kai's ever seen in his life. (And don't start him on the bathroom vanity — so much room for hair products.)
But it's the kind of luxury Kai's never known in his life, and he's almost intimidated by it. The apartment's just too fragile — too nice, too fancy, too expensive. The kind of people that live in apartments like these are the kind of people that sneer down at the kind of people Kai is. He feels like an imposter here, which is ridiculous, because he's paying for it fair and square.
He also saved the city, so — snobby rich people wouldn't even have a place to live in the first place if it wasn't for him. They can take their sneers and shove 'em.
"Any idea when Zane's getting back?"
Nya's sudden question yanks him from his musing, and Kai blinks. "Ah — yeah. He ran to pick up takeout for dinner, but it's just down the street. He should be back soon."
"What, Lloyd isn't making dinner for you guys tonight?" Nya's smirking.
Kai rolls his eyes. "Ha. We only had him do that once, we've helped the other times. Besides, kid's gotta learn how to cook at some point. It's a valuable life skill."
"Is he any good at it?"
Kai presses his lips together, trying not to grimace. "He's, uh…he's terrible."
Nya stuffs a fist against her mouth, her eyes shining in amusement. "Serves you right."
"Yeah, yeah, give him time," Kai defends. "If Zane has his way, Lloyd'll be a little chef in no time."
"If you say so," Nya says, still sounding amused. She and Kai both glance over to where Cole and Lloyd are sitting on one of the enormous couches. Cole's been trying to teach Lloyd how to draw in his spare time, since that doesn't require a lot of effort like, say, standing up does. Lloyd seems to enjoy it though, and he's making better progress with it than he is cooking. Right now, it looks like Cole is trying to teach him to draw a cartoon-ish dinosaur, or something with viciously sharp teeth. He's having a surprising amount of success, despite Lloyd's side comments.
"Okay, so now we're going to move onto to the legs—"
"Those are supposed to be legs? They look like chicken fingers."
"You look like a chicken finger."
"Chicken fingers," Jay moans, where he's slumped across the couch. Kai resists the urge to scoff at him. Please. Jay gets to deliver pizza off a motorbike, he has it at least twenty times easier than Kai does. Kai has to watch a bunch of maniacal little brats stuff their faces with cake all day, which by the way, has ruined cake for him, he's still getting icing out of his hair. At least Jay can like, eat one of the pizzas if he gets hungry.
…maybe it's a good thing Kai didn't get the pizza job after all.
"I hope Zane gets back soon," Nya mutters. "I don't want to deal with you guys when you're hungry again."
Kai bristles. "We weren't that bad."
Nya stares at him. "You were terrible."
"We weren't nearly as bad as Lloyd."
"No, you were worse, which was the sad part—"
"I'm back," Zane announces, their fancy door sliding open neatly as he steps through, the smell of takeout already hitting Kai in the face. "Sorry it took so long, there was a line."
"You're a life-saver Zane, all is forgiven," Cole says, his eyes lighting up as they land on the food.
Zane smiles lightly. "I highly doubt you were in any actual danger of starving to death, but thank you, I suppose." He carefully sets the takeout bags on the counter, brushing his raincoat off briefly before hanging it up.
"Dibs on the all the fortune cookies!" Lloyd cries, scaling the barstool and practically hurling himself across the table for the bags.
"Hey, no, dessert comes last — no stop, Lloyd, spit them out, you brat— you didn't even take the paper fortune out!"
Lloyd makes a face, spitting the paper into his hand. "Bleh," he grimaces. "Gross."
"Serves you right," Nya swats him with a dishtowel. Zane snatches the cookies away as he's distracted, and Lloyd whines in protest. "Dinner first, then you can have cookies."
Kai joins the others as they crowd around the table, plopping heavily onto the barstool next to Lloyd, bracing his elbows on the counter and his head in his hands.
Ugh, he thinks blearily, staring at the greasy food. The smell of the takeout mixed with the growing volume of chatter is turning out to be a horrible combination for the ache in his head.
Lloyd quiets down a bit, turning on his stool to look at Kai, his eyebrows furrowing. "Are you okay?"
Kai waves him off. "Just a headache, don't worry."
"The little party gremlins too loud for you?" Jay mocks, but there's a note of sympathy in his voice that keeps Kai from going for his throat again.
"Kids suck," he groans instead, pressing his hands against his aching temples. His head has gone from mild aching to feeling like an over-inflated helium balloon, stuffed and clogged and two seconds from exploding on him. He briefly entertains the image of his head just popping, exploding everywhere as his sinuses burst, then decides that one: that's disgusting, and two: maybe there's a point to the whole need-to-sleep-it-off thing.
Lloyd gives a nod of committal. "They do suck," he agrees.
Jay frowns. "You're a kid."
Lloyd's lip juts out. "No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are. You're like, two feet tall. You're a baby."
"I am not!" Lloyd bursts out, the volume of his voice causing Kai to nearly double over in pain. Lloyd flinches, giving him an apologetic look before turning back to Jay. "I'm not a baby," Lloyd repeats, in a viciously whispered voice. "I'm the green ninja."
"Oh yeah?" Jay grins, flicking his nose. "Then I guess you don't need all those Starfarer comics Nya picked up this morning, if you're so grown up."
Lloyd freezes, looking caught. His expression is a warring battle between a need to refute Jay's claim, an undying love for comics, and an irritation at having his nose flicked.
"I….am halfway grown up," Lloyd finally decides on, nodding to himself.
He's too cute, Kai thinks hazily, watching Lloyd's expression work. Too cute for his own good.
"Oh, just halfway," Cole says, grinning. "Nice compromise."
"Yeah," Lloyd sniffs. "Halfway, because I stay at home by myself, but I also get Starfarer comics."
Cole's grin drops, and Jay winces. Nya manages to both spear them with a look while biting her lip and looking guilty.
"We won't be leaving you here by yourself much longer," Zane promises, firmly. "As soon as we make rent, we will be here to oversee your training."
"It'll be soon, half-pint, promise," Kai chimes in. "We are sorry we gotta ditch you though — we don't really want to, you know that, right?"
Lloyd rolls his eyes. "S'okay, geez," he says. "I told you, I get it. I'd rather be home alone than homeless."
"Well yeah, but those are pretty sucky options," Cole frowns. "Maybe we can like, work out a schedule? Stagger our shifts so at least one of us is here all the time…"
"Nah, you're bringing in money, don't worry," Lloyd waves him off, looking excessively wise. "You guys are like Paula from that weird housewives show, after her husband dumped her and she had to work triple shifts to pay for her dying kid's hospital bills."
Kai chokes. Oh geez, what has this kid been watching while they were gone? Did they forget to parent-lock the TV? Rookie mistake, now he's gotta make sure Lloyd doesn't mention housewives in front of Sensei—
"—you'd be more like her side boyfriend, though, 'cause he was always trying to give her money, but she was all proud and stuff—"
"Okay, let's — I get the picture," Kai says quickly. He shakes his head, muttering. "We're gonna have to get you started on real cinema here. Jaws, Jurassic World, all that."
Lloyd tilts his head curiously. "What's Jurassic World?"
Jay's jaw drops. "You haven't seen Jurassic World?"
Lloyd shrugs. "I grew up at Darkley's. We could only sneak cartoons and stuff once in a while, and the only movies we ever saw were like, horror movies on how to destroy your enemies. And then I didn't really live anywhere, so I didn't have a TV, or anything, which sucked, because I missed all the new episodes of Starfarer—"
"We get it," Kai manages. "Makes sense. So let's, um — let's watch it now."
Lloyd looks up at him, his eyes gleaming. "Really?"
Zane frowns. "Kai, it's too close to his bedtime, and we haven't even had dinner—"
Kai waves him off. "Aw, we all know he's gonna sleep in when we go to work anyways," he says. "May as well spend some time together, huh?"
Kai watches as Zane debates this for a moment, responsibility warring with actually wanting to feel like a normal human for once. He finally relents. "We have been spending a lot of time apart," he admits. "We could just eat dinner in front of the TV, I suppose."
Lloyd looks like he's won the lottery.
It is nice, though, all of them piling together on the couch and eating together, flicking bits of takeout at each other's heads as they bicker over which dinosaur is the best, and which one of them would get eaten if they found themselves stranded in the park.
"Jay'd obviously be the first to get eaten, that's a given," Cole remarks. Jay, who's neatly positioned above his head where he's draped across the couch, kicks him in the head.
"Would not," he sulks. "You'd get eaten by the velociraptors in like, the first five minutes."
"I want a velociraptor," Lloyd says, as the two kid characters — who are about his age, and probably way less trouble to take care of — run screaming from the velociraptors on the screen. "Or a T-Rex."
"We have a dragon," Cole scoffs. "Why would you want a dinosaur?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Lloyd replies, scandalized. "Just think of what you could do with dinosaurs!"
"Get eaten by them?" Kai suggests. Lloyd tosses a pillow at him, and frowns as it falls short, just hitting Kai's toes.
"No dinosaurs would eat me," Lloyd mutters. "Because I'm—"
"Lemme guess, the evil son of the super evil dark lord?" Jay pipes up.
"No!" Lloyd protests, angrily. "Because I'm the green ninja, that's what!"
"Ah, look how his life aspirations have changed for the better in our presence," Cole says, clapping a hand over his chest. "We're such good influences."
"It seems like just yesterday he was merely a young, troubled child, wreaking havoc as he pillaged poor innocent villages of their candy," Jay says, wiping a mock tear from his eye. "Now he struggles to throw a pillow three feet, and—"
Lloyd throws another pillow, this one socking Jay square in the face. Zane covers his mouth as Cole breaks into giggles, Nya the only one attempting not to laugh — and failing.
Kai, for his part, manages a tired snort as he watches Jay sputter, rubbing at his temples again. Maybe he can just nap through the rest of the movie — that'd give him at least an extra hour of sleep, right? He's gotta be up early for work again, but not earlier than Cole, so if he goes to bed now, then—
"Hey, are you sure you're okay? Your eyes look kinda gross."
Kai cracks an eye open to glare at Lloyd, who has conveniently moved right in his line of vision, blocking the bright lights of the TV.
"Stay right there," Kai mutters, flopping a hand on Lloyd's head and holding him in place.
Lloyd freezes briefly, a warring expression on his face, then ducks out from Kai's arm, letting it flop bonelessly back onto his lap. Lloyd frowns.
"I'll get Nya—"
"No." Kai's lucid now, eyes snapped open. The last thing he needs is Nya worrying more, much less her having to deal with Lloyd worrying too. "I'm fine, okay? Big tough ninja here, I'm all good. Just a little tired of hanging around other gremlins."
"I'm not a gremlin," Lloyd grouses, but he still looks concerned.
"Nah," Kai says. "I like you a whole lot better."
Lloyd looks pleased at this, the worried crease in his eyebrows smoothing out. Kai gives him another reassuring grin.
"Don't worry, half pint," he says, ruffling Lloyd's hair. "No way am I gonna get sick. I'm way too cool for that."
Kai Smith, the Human Piñata Group Chat
Kai: LLOYD
Kai: NYA GET LLOYD
Kai: RED ALERT! RED ALERT GET TO DEMON SPAWN NOW
Nya: what?!
Kai: JUST GET! LLOYD! SAFE!
Kai is definitely sick.
That or he's just horribly allergic to snakes, but he's pretty darn sure he's sick, because half the kids at Sarah Ann what's-her-name's birthday party definitely had the flu, and they just had to go ahead and give him that too, on top of all the bruises he's got from playing piñata.
And he's totally going to blame that on his slow reaction speed right now, but seriously — how was he supposed to be prepared for the Serpentine to forgo manners and bust through the entire subway roof to grab him? Because that was rude, and now he's lost the element of surprise on top of his actual element, and their whole "get the upper hand on the Serpentine by busting them on their way back to base" plan is slowly going up in flames.
To top it all off, they're down one ninja because Jay is still missing, and Kai is maybe just a little bit starting to lose his mind in panic over that.
Zane and Cole, at least, seem to be faring better than he is against the Serpentine on the subway car with them. Or they were, until Cole panicked and used Zane as a human shield.
"That's quite alright," Zane is saying, like he didn't just get spritzed in the face by death venom. "Venom can't hurt a—"
Zane yelps as the Constrictai whacks him solidly in the head. "But that stings a little," he finishes, his voice darkening. "Let me have this dance, snake."
The Constrictai goes flying, and Cole cheers.
"One down, two to go—gah!"
And then Cole is clocked in the face as well, because they're all garbage today, apparently. Not that Kai can say much, absolutely useless as he is, because he's still stuck in this stupid snake's hold.
"These Serpentine are a lot harder to defeat without our weapons!" he growls, struggling in vain to break free. It's gotta be a Constrictai then, because this grip hurts.
"Just keep fighting," Cole grunts, as he ducks a swing from the Fangpyre. "We're not gonna let these losers get away with this!"
Cole's arms flex taught as he parries, and Kai almost feels sorry for the Serpentine as he realizes what kind of strength Cole is packing. The Fangpyre barely manages to look horrified before Cole sends him smashing into the window, shattering glass all over the subway floor.
Damage control, Kai thinks hazily.
"Get away?" The Fangpyre gives a husky laugh as he stands back up, wiping at the bit of blood on his chin. "We aren't trying to get away."
Kai suppresses a snort. Yeah right. Typical slimy snakes, trying to talk their way out. Why else would they—
"We're just trying to distract you long enough so that Skalesss can kidnap Lloyd."
Kai almost scoffs, because yeah, right. Like Skales is ever even gonna get near Lloyd with Kai around—
Oh. Oh no. Kai freezes colder than Zane's ice.
Lloyd's at the apartment. Lloyd's alone at the apartment.
A freight train of terrible words Nya would definitely smack him for barrels through his head at high speed.
"What?" he manages to half-shriek.
"We could care lessss about the money," the Fangpyre smirks at them. "We just wanted the boy."
Cole gives what Kai is pretty sure is a mangled swear. Zane looks horrified, and for once it's not over Cole's language.
The snake's lips curl, sharp teeth glinting viciously. "Who'sss the fool now?"
It is a very near thing, and probably a miracle, that Kai doesn't murder him on the spot.
Probably because Cole snaps to action, and Kai doesn't have a razor-sharp sword to decapitate him with.
"We have to save Lloyd!" Cole calls, dark eyes flashing.
"No duh," Kai bites back. "Just give me a weapon, and I'll take care these snakes!" There's a furious kind of fire bubbling up in his chest right now, made from protective anger and panic. There's no way, no way he's going to lose Lloyd to the Serpentine again. He can't, not when it was his fault Lloyd got caught the first time.
Zane steps up, cool and calculating. "Who needs weapons, when you can make your own?" There's a loud snap, and Zane yanks one of the handle poles from the subway. Without pausing, he snatches the fastening bolt from the top, flips it like a throwing star, and nails the Constrictai holding Kai solidly in the eye.
The Constrictai give a pained yelp, finally letting Kai go.
"Ha!" Cole crows. "Smart thinking, Zane!" He drop-kicks the snake in front of him before ducking down, snapping another pole from the subway lining.
Damage control! the Zane part of Kai's brain yelps.
"Here Kai!" Cole tosses him the pole, and Kai snatches it mid-air. It's no sword — duh, it's a pole — but the balance is decent, and it makes a solid thwack when it collides with the Constrictai who'd been holding him, so Kai can manage.
The Constrictai attempts to charge him again, and Kai blocks him with a sharp jab to the neck. The snake flinches back, and Kai levels the pole at the him, his eyes burning.
"This was all a big misssunderstanding," the snake stalls, looking visibly shaken at how easily the tables have been turned by a few subway poles.
"Oh really?" Kai's lip curls. Threatening his little brother is just a big misunderstanding. Huh.
"Guys!" Cole's panicked voice interrupts them. "I think I found Jay!"
Kai frowns. Why is he worrying about Jay, the one in danger right now is Lloyd—
Then Cole's words make a little too much sense, and Kai's blood runs cold. Jay's been missing all day, and there's only one place Cole could've seen him from where they are right now.
"You have got to be kidding me," he mutters in disbelief, even as Cole and Zane start making a dead sprint for the head subway car. The Serpentine move to exit through the hole in the roof, and Kai steps forward, blocking their escape as he levels the pole at them.
"Not so fast," he growls, and he's pleased to see that he's at least still threatening enough for them to stop.
Or maybe that's just his eyes watering, 'cause he's not trying not to sneeze—
There's a high-pitched screech, and the subway jerks, nearly sending Kai and the Serpentine off their feet. It quickly resets, continuing its speeding pace as Kai watches the lights whip past through the window.
"It's not slowing down!" Cole cries out, his voice echoing across the subway cars.
Kai looks from the cars ahead to the Serpentine, and the Venomari grins.
"I'm sssure they could use your help, but what do I know?" he rasps. Kai bites down on the inside of his cheek. He can't let them get away. Not when they've sunk low enough to go after Lloyd like this—
Zane's strained cry hammers through his head. "We're not strong enough!"
"Son of a—" Kai curses, tossing the pole at them and turning heel. It's not worth losing Jay.
"I'm coming!" he yells back, hurtling over the broken seat in front of him and sprinting through the subway cars. Behind him, he can hear the sounds of the Serpentine cackling as they escape — but his fury is quickly drowned by fear as he spots Jay, hopping frantically on the rails in front of them.
"What is he doing?" Kai yelps.
"Trying not to get crushed, obviously!" Cole snaps back, his jaw clenching as he pulls at the brake lever. "Now help us! Together!"
Kai grabs the brake, straining back. He's not as strong as Cole, and he knows Zane's stronger than him too, but he's not weak, either. The wheels screech as the subway grinds slower and slower, the headlights closing in on Jay as he trips over and falls flat on his face.
Cole screams. Kai screams. Zane screams too, and Kai'll bet everything he has that the muffled high-pitched shrieking from outside is Jay screaming.
Then the subway finally, just in time, screeches to dead halt.
Cole collapses over the lever, panting. "Too close," he gasps. "Way too close."
Zane kicks the door open, and Kai hurries after him. Jay is still on the tracks, half-propped up on his elbows. He gives a wild laugh of victory as he catches sight of them. "Hey! There you guys are! I, uh, could use a little hand here, ha ha."
Zane shakes his head, smiling faintly in relief as he helps Jay up, snapping the ropes around him. Jay shrugs them off, rubbing at his arms. Kai grabs him before he can react further, hauling him off the tracks and up into the car with them.
"I'm sorry I called you junkyard boy," he wheezes, still holding tightly to Jay's arm. "That was jerky of me. Please don't ever come that close to dying again."
Jay looks at him in alarm. "Wait, you're apologizing for that? Now?" He smacks a hand on Kai's forehead. "Dude, are you okay? Are you dying?"
Kai scowls, shrugging him off. "No!" he glares at the floor. That's the last time he tries to be nice, then.
"You're definitely sick," Jay nods to himself.
"And you're a moron," Cole says, clapping Jay on the shoulder. "Don't do that again."
"Didn't have any plans to," Jay laughs, a little nervously. His expression suddenly freezes, melting into horror. "Oh wait — guys, we have to get to Lloyd! The Serpentine are—"
Kai swears. "Shoot, we know, Zane can you—"
Zane is already at the subway controls, throwing the car into reverse. "On our way," he says, grimly. "I just hope we're not too late."
Kai's fingers clench tight into fists. FSM alive, please don't let them be too late.
Nya changed the chat name to Never Hire Ninja as Babysitters
Nya: you guys get jobs for a week and almost lose lloyd AGAIN
Nya: sensei's gonna murder you one of these days and I'll be next
Kai: u know what i'm not even gonna argue
Kai: i owe u
Nya: you all do
Nya: skales was RIGHT THERE
Nya: IN THE APARTMENT
Kai: we messed up big time trust me I know
Kai: but in our defense
Kai: jay did almost get run over by a subway
Nya: wait he what
Nya: kai?!
"Well, I hope you all learned something from this."
Uncle Wu's voice is stern, but not as harsh as it could've been, Lloyd figures, watching as his uncle takes another sip of tea. He's still got a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, keeping him planted firmly in sight like he's been doing ever since he and Nya kicked Skales' butt for trying to capture him.
"It's my fault, Sensei," Kai says, his eyes apologetic as his head lowers. "It won't happen again."
Lloyd tilts his head, trying to catch Kai's eye so he can make a face at him. Honestly, he isn't even that upset. Nya and Uncle Wu fighting was super cool, and he'd been having a boring afternoon anyways.
"If you're to blame, then we all are," Zane picks up, soberly. He rubs at his left wrist, looking pained at the creaking sound. Nya makes a sympathetic noise in her throat, carefully taking Zane's wrist in her hands and examining it.
"Yeah," Cole groans, running a hand over his face. "This was a group screw-up. We shouldn't have left you, kid. We're sorry."
"And not just 'cause you almost got snatched by a bunch of snakes, either," Jay speaks up, before Lloyd can protest. There's a visible flinch from Wu at his words, and Kai kicks Jay in the leg from where he's slumped on the threadbare couch — definitely sick, like Lloyd called earlier. Jay waves him off, unfazed. "Leaving you all on your lonesome was pretty low of us. Especially when we're supposed to be training you, and all."
"I mean, you guys were just trying to earn money," Lloyd shrugs, his cheeks heating just a tiny bit at all the attention that's on him. He hasn't been put on the spot like this since they rescued him from the volcano, and all the — green ninja stuff happened, and such. "We kinda need that. It wasn't like you were avoiding me on purpose, or like — using me as snake bait, or anything."
"The snake bait's a nice idea, though," Jay muses. He pales at the glares directed toward him, quickly waving his hands. "Joke! That was a joke! Seriously, how are you guys not catching that I'm joking— "
"Get better jokes then, lightning brain—"
"Ahem." Uncle Wu clears his throat, and they all fall silent. Uncle Wu rubs his forehead, but the look he turns on them is fond. "You did indeed mess up, but it is obvious you have learned your lesson. I understand your desire for luxury—" The rafters above them creak ominously in the wind, and everyone winces. "But it is, unfortunately, something we cannot afford right now," Uncle Wu continues, looking pretty disappointed in that statement himself.
"It was a nice apartment though," Jay murmurs, wistfully.
"And a headache," Cole mutters. "I never want to deal with rent like that again."
"Technically, it was the power bill that put us under," Zane remarks. "As well as the water bill, which was unusually high."
"Lookin' at you, Kai."
"Oh, you're one to talk—"
"At any rate, the expense of your living quarters is something you don't need to add to your worries," Uncle Wu says, cutting over them. His eyebrows dip into a frown. "Your priority now should be training Lloyd. And with that, of course, comes keeping him safe."
The ninja all wince, and Lloyd kind of wants to cringe for them. Uncle Wu doesn't joke around with the scary voice, yeesh.
"Fortunately, these are close enough quarters that I doubt we'll lose sight of anyone," Uncle Wu continues, his voice lighter. "So you can rest assured that we are safe for tonight. And on that note — I think it would be a good idea for you all to get a full night's rest. Part of the ninja life is keeping oneself in good shape, and the dark circles under your eyes are telling me you've been doing otherwise."
Jay punctuates that with a massive yawn, clapping his hand over his mouth immediately after, looking sheepish. Cole snorts.
"Have to agree with that one," he murmurs. He turns to Uncle Wu. "We understand, Sensei. And we apologize for failing you. It won't happen again."
Uncle Wu's eyes soften, and he gives Cole a slight smile. "You're forgiven. Do not worry yourselves over this — the failing was in my part, as well. I could've been present more often."
"There's no use dwelling on could-have's, though," Zane speaks up. "The past is the past, isn't it, Sensei?"
Uncle Wu nods, looking amused. "As always, Zane, you have a good point." He finishes his tea, setting the cup down in the sink and standing. "And with that, I am going to turn in myself." He squeezes Lloyd's shoulder lightly, hand ruffling his hair briefly as he makes his way back to his room. "Do not stay up too late — I meant it, when I said you needed rest."
"Yes, Sensei," they all chorus.
They fail silent until they hear the click of his door, and the guys seem to deflate in relief.
"That wasn't so bad," Jay says.
"You're tellin' me," Kai says, his voice muffled from the pillow he's stuffed his head in. "Could've been a lot worse."
"The consequences could've been worse, too," Nya says, pointedly.
"Yeah, we know," Cole says, ducking his head. "I meant it, it won't happen again. We'll start training you first thing tomorrow, half-pint," he tells Lloyd, scrubbing at his hair. Lloyd scowls, shoving his hand away. Everyone's so touchy-feely tonight, geez.
"We are sorry for neglecting it so long," Zane says, apologetically. "We will not let ourselves slip again."
Lloyd shrugs again, trying not to turn red. "It's fine, guys," he says, for what must be the millionth time. "I'm okay, geez. Just start training me so I can kick his butt myself next time."
Kai snorts, thick and stuffy. "You got it," he yawns. "We'll make a real terror out of you."
"You say that like he isn't one already," Nya says, but she's grinning at him. Lloyd sticks his tongue out at her.
"You're all terrors," Cole says. "Except Zane, maybe," he amends.
"What about me?" Jay says, offended.
"Oh, you're the worst one," Cole shakes his head. "There's no hope for you."
Jay makes a sad expression, kinda like the one Lloyd uses to get people to do stuff for him. "I almost got run over by a train today," Jay sighs. "You think you'd be nicer."
"I'll be nicer when you don't almost die," Cole grumbles, but when he punches Jay lightly in the shoulder, his expression is of overwhelming relief. "I meant it. You're not allowed to do that."
"Told you, I got no plans," Jay replies, yawning. Zane shakes his head at them.
"I believe we should take Sensei's advice," he says. "And put these arguments off until morning."
There's a chorus of grumbling at that, but no one really argues with Zane, instead picking themselves up and heading to bed. They try to usher Lloyd off to bed as well, but they're all tired enough that he manages to get off with only three warnings before they give up. All he has to do is argue that he doesn't wanna sleep right now because he's scared of snakes, anyways, before they relent. Ha. Lloyd feels a little bad for using that against them, but whatever. He's not tired, and he doesn't wanna lay around bored in bed for another hour.
Lloyd drifts off to the kitchen area, briefly scanning the fridge — darn, Zane didn't pick up ice cream. It figures, he sighs to himself, closing the door. They're probably broke as it is from that fancy apartment. Lloyd can't help but miss it, though. Their new apartment isn't bad — especially compared to living on the streets! It's got heating and a TV and everything, and Lloyd's gonna be the last one to whine about that.
He does miss how big the other apartment was, though. And the super nice TV, because this one is sorta lame. He would miss the giant windows, because the view was pretty awesome, except Skales ruined it by carving a hole in the window.
Lloyd pauses, staring up at the tiny circle of a window in their new apartment, where he can just the stars coming out in the night sky.
You seem to be the only thing your father cares about.
He runs Skales' words through his head again. He knows he should be scared about the whole thing — or not scared, he's the green ninja, just — annoyed, maybe — but those words make something in his chest all warm and bubbly.
He still cares, Lloyd tells himself fiercely. His dad still cares for him, even if he's training to be a ninja and fight him now.
I do, too, he wishes he could tell him.
But he can't, so Lloyd is just being dumb, staring out the window like this. Tomorrow he starts training, anyways, and he can't be thinking about his dad like that when he's gonna be training to fight him.
He bites his lip. He still wishes he could tell his dad, though. He thinks it might be important for him to know.
Lloyd shakes himself off, glancing around. Most everyone's asleep now, piled up in the bunkbeds of their tiny excuse for a bedroom. Sensei and Nya get their own rooms, so they're down the hall. In fact, the only one still up is Kai, who's been quarantined to the couch for the night so he won't get everyone else sick, or keep them all up with his sneezing. That last one is kinda dumb, in Lloyd's opinion, because Sensei's room is furthest away and he can still hear his snoring.
Speaking of…
Lloyd glances at Kai where he's half-asleep on the couch, sniffling through his stuffed nose. Lloyd watches him with a worried lip. Kai looks awful, and that's not just Lloyd being a brat. He's got ugly dark circles under his eyes and he looks all pale, except for his cheeks where they're turning bright red as he coughs. His normally cool hair is all droopy, falling around his face in thick waves.
Thinking to himself, Lloyd debates for a moment. Then he quickly tip-toes into their shared room, snatching his pillow from the bed before tip-toeing back. His bare feet pad quietly against the ugly carpeted floor, but Kai hears him coming anyways, eyes drifting open blearily as Lloyd draws up to the couch.
Kai gives a thick sniff. "Don't ge' near me, kid," he croaks, waving half-heartedly at Lloyd, letting his eyes droop closed again. "You'll catch it too, and then you'll — achoo — be dying like me."
"You aren't dying," Lloyd says firmly, glaring at him. Kai cracks an eye open to glance at him, then sighs, closing it again.
"Fine," he huffs. "Can't even catch a break when I'm sick, huh."
"Nope," Lloyd says, popping his lips over the p. He picks his way forward carefully, climbing up on the other end of the couch. Kai frowns as he's shifted, then snaps his eyes open, glaring at him.
"Lloyd, no."
"You sound like a drowned rat," Lloyd argues. "I'm making sure you don't suffocate in your sleep."
Kai is having none of it. "Yeah, sure. You're not sleeping out here, kid, I'm not getting you sick."
"You're not gonna get me sick," Lloyd says, determinedly. "I'm part demon-spawn, remember? I don't get sick."
"I don't care. Go back to your own bed."
Lloyd bites his lip. Why does Kai have to be so stubborn.
Kai sighs, his eyebrows pinching. "Lloyd, I mean it—"
"I don't want you to be alone," Lloyd says, quietly.
There's a thick silence at that, save for Kai's occasional sniffles. Lloyd swallows, fingers fiddling with one of the holes in the blanket. "Back at…back at Darkley's, it was super miserable," he mumbles. "When I got sick, and was all alone. So I — I don't, uh, want you to be miserable. Miserable-r, than you already are."
Lloyd's mouth is dry by the end of it. His heart's doing this weird skip-jump thing, the kind of thing it always does when he gets nervous. He doesn't talk to people about Darkley's, except maybe Nya that one time. He definitely doesn't tell people he's worried about them. No one's ever wanted to hear about it, to hear Lloyd trying to care about somebody. The last time he tried to share like that with someone it didn't end well, so Lloyd's sworn it off since then.
But Kai makes him want to try.
Kai stares at him for a beat, something in his dark eyes softening. He gets this weird melty-expression on his face, like he's emotional or something. Kai makes a snuffled noise that might be a sigh, and he pinches the bridge of his nose between two fingers.
"Fine," he pats the section of couch near him. "Just…keep your distance, okay?"
Lloyd's chest whooshes in relief, and he grins. "You got it," he says, hopping up on the couch. "I don't want your gross snot germs anyways."
Kai kicks weakly at him, glaring through hazy eyes. "I'll sneeze on you, brat."
Lloyd holds his pillow up as a shield, narrowing his eyes. "I'll tell Nya on you."
"Geez," Kai huffs, in what might be a laugh. "You learn too fast, demon spawn."
"You're my teacher," Lloyd shoots back, lowering the pillow and scooting closer to Kai. "S'all your fault."
"Yeah, yeah," Kai yawns, laying back against the pillow. "Jus' wait. Once we really start training. I'm gonna…teach you how to be cool."
"I'm already cool," Lloyd mutters, but Kai's eyes have drifted shut. Within a few minutes he's back asleep, snoring quietly through his stuffed nose. Lloyd waits a few more minutes, then glares at the edge of the blanket that's slipped from his shoulders.
Moving quietly, Lloyd tucks the edge of the blanket back up over Kai's shoulder, fiddling with the edges so they cover his arm where it hangs loosely over the edge of the couch. Leaning back, Lloyd surveys his work, nodding to himself.
Then he curls up against Kai's side, yawning as he hugs his pillow to his chest. It's not the most comfortable thing ever, but Lloyd's had worse. Plus, this way if Kai wakes up feeling worse, Lloyd can be here to make sure he doesn't try to do something stupid, like hide it and pretend he's all tough-guy and stuff.
Lloyd eyes Kai again, making sure he isn't actually suffocating, or anything. He looks fine, if miserable, and Lloyd figures that's the best he can hope for right now.
Not that Lloyd has a lot to compare to, but he's pretty sure Kai is the best kind of big brother. He's really good at looking out for people, and at looking out for Lloyd — but Lloyd can a hundred percent say that Kai sucks at looking out for himself.
What a dummy, Lloyd thinks to himself, trying not to giggle at the way Kai sleeps with his mouth half-open. He hugs his pillow closer to his chest, stifling another yawn as he prepares to take watch.
Hey, someone's gotta look out for Kai, too.