Garmadon blinked, stiffening when he realized—

Oh. Wait. He was at the monastery…

Right.

He slowly sat up, finding himself gripping the couch tightly. He stared blankly at the TV.

What now…?

Garmadon sighed.

Ochre.

He bit his lip, throat tightening. He blinked.

The dog wagged its tail, staring up at him—

Garmadon jerked, flinching, shutting his eye tightly.

No no no—

He shoved the thought forcefully away.

Breathe.

Ochre was gone.

BREATHE.

Garmadon abruptly stood, walking stiffly to the door.

Why did everything haunt him?

"What?! What do you mean he's BACK?"

Wu walked past him to the stove, starting a pot of tea. "I went to find him after he'd left. He's agreed to live here."

Kai gaped. "Wha—"

Wu turned, narrowing his eyes. "Which MEANS you'll both have to learn to get along. Otherwise, I'm putting you back on chore duty."

Kai scowled. "He doesn't belong here. He's just going to end up hurting Lloyd again."

Wu glanced at his tea. "Yes, he does. This is his home, whether you like it or not. And he won't hurt Lloyd again. He's good n—"

"NO!" Kai clenched his fists. "You keep saying that, but he's not! He's hurting Lloyd by just BEING here! I know he's your brother and all, but you need to think about Lloyd, too!"

Wu glared at him, an almost dark fury in them.

Heshut his mouth.

"Kai, I assure you, I am being objective in this—I know Garmadon is my brother, and that's why I invited him here. I know Lloyd and him have had a rocky relationship, but my brother IS good now." His face softened. "He won't hurt Lloyd, alright? Please…at least TRY to get along with him… for Lloyd's sake?"

Kai looked away, working his jaw. After a moment, he finally, reluctantly, nodded. "…Fine. I'll try. But I won't like it." He looked up. "But, I'm still keeping an eye on him. You may trust him, but I don't. I never will."

Wu nodded, turning back to his tea. "That's all I will ask for." He glanced at him. "Thank you, Kai."

He nodded, then walked stiffly out the door.

Kai growled as he recalled the conversation he'd had yesterday. Yeah, right. Like Garmadon's ACTUALLY good now…

Which was why he was doing this.

Kai ripped open the living room door—

Garmadon jumped, flinching back.

Probably was on his way out to go plot his villainous ploy. Kai growled.

A blast sounded through the air, followed by a yell—

Right. Don't get into a fight this time, Kai. He took a step back, crossing his arms almost nonchalantly—but still sending him a glare.

Garmadon blinked. Breathe. He'd be fine.

"So I see you're staying." Kai scoffed.

Garmadon shifted, looking away. "…Yes." I hurt him. Why—

I thought he was Ichor—

That's no excuse.

There was a moment of silence.

Then Kai took a step closer to him.

Garmadon backed away. "What do you want?" He found his gaze going to the bruise on Kai's face.

Guilt—

The red ninja narrowed his eyes. "Same as last time—stay away from Lloyd. Got it?"

Garmadon clenched his jaw. He swallowed. "I…uh…yes."

Kai gave a sharp nod. "Good. I don't trust you. So you better actually stay away from him this time. Got it?"

Garmadon nodded again. I was going to stay away from him anyway, but thanks for the tip…

Kai turned, stalking off.

Garmadon let out a shaky breath, sighing, and let himself lean on the doorway wearily.

This isn't going to end well…is it?

It never does.

The day seemed to pass slowly. Garmadon spent his time idling around the living room, the courtyard, and outside the courtyard. He stayed away from everyone, especially avoiding Lloyd and Kai.

He didn't eat anything.

"You're no sensei, and you've never been one!"

Garmadon shut his eye, gripping his hands tighter.

The wind blew, sending a soft breeze.

He let out a breath. He would be fine.

What does Wu want from me?

The questions wouldn't leave him. It lingered like a poison, always snaking back.

"Garmadon?"

He stiffened, gritting his teeth. A chill went through his chest, but he tried to stay calm. Why did Wu have to sneak up on him on all the time? It seemed to happen more often than not…

Probably revenge. For what I did…

"Garmadon?" Footsteps came over to him.

He hesitated a moment before replying. "…What?"

"What are you doing?"

"…Sitting here."

"I see…" Wu sat beside him, cross-legged. "I've always loved this spot. There's always a great view of the sunrise."

Garmadon hummed in agreement, though he kept his mouth shut tightly before he messed something up.

He felt Wu's gaze turn to him. "How are you doing?"

Garmadon started, then tried to relax. "Um…fine. Why?"

Wu's eyes stayed on him another moment, before he finally broke his gaze. "I was just wondering."

"The letter he wrote that made you fall in love with him—

Garmadon sucked in a breath.

Wu looked at him again. "Is something wrong?"

He's taunting you.

Stop it! No—

"—it was written by Wu."

He grit his teeth.

"Garmadon?"

He shook his head, blinking. "What?"

"Are you sure you're all right?"

Taunting—

No.

"How could you brother?"

"I'm fine." Garmadon looked away, jaw clenched tightly.

Liar.

You haven't changed a bit.

"Are you sure…?" Wu narrowed his eyes.

"Yes." Garmadon tried not to wince at how strained his voice sounded.

Wu stared at him a moment longer, then looked away. "Alright."

"Of all the things—"

"Don't tell me what to do!"

"You're no sensei, and you've never been one!"

"I only wanted to drop that delicious little bombshell."

"That letter he wrote that made you—"

"I'd better get back inside. Make sure the ninja aren't getting into anything."

Garmadon jumped—then swallowed, nodding.

Wu laid a hand on his shoulder—

Panic—

Pain—

Garmadon yelped, flinching away.

Wu jerked his hand back, a confused and alarmed look on his face. "Garmadon…?"

Garmadon stood, almost tripping, and took a step back.

Wu stood as well. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Garmadon nodded, his throat too tight to try and speak.

Breathe.

It was really quite annoying how many times he had to tell himself that—breathing was supposed to be automatic.

Idiot—

Wu frowned. "Alright… I'll be inside." He stared at him a few seconds, and when Garmadon didn't reply, he turned and went through the large doors of the monastery courtyard.

Garmadon sighed, his muscles still feeling tense. He put a hand to his head, gripping his hair. "Stupid—"

Why did I forge that letter?

He'll never forgive me…

Then why am I here? What does he WANT?

Revenge. Like Ichor.

Garmadon sunk to the ground, head in his hands. He sucked in a breath.

Everyone wants revenge. I hurt everyone.

Hopeless.

At least in the Departed Realm no one had been after him. Trying to hurt him.

Safe.

There was a knock on his door. Lloyd looked up, eyebrows drawn in confusion. Glancing at the time on his phone, he saw it was 8:46 p.m.

Why…?

Who…?

"Come in?"

The door slid open. His friends stood there, all holding various items.

"Hey, Lloyd!" Cole set a pile of art supplies on the floor.

Jay set a stack of comic books down.

Lloyd straightened. "What's going on…?"

The others gathered inside, Zane closing the door.

Kai walked over to him, ruffling his hair with a grin. "We just thought—"

Lloyd jerked away from him, trying to fix his hair.

"—you needed some…" Kai paused, shifting awkwardly. "Well, that you needed some cheering up…"

Nya walked over, setting some more art supplies on his bed. "Yeah…after everything with your dad—" she coughed— "I mean, Garmadon…well… And we know you haven't been doing too well with everything going on, so—"

"We decided to throw you a mini party!" Jay threw his hands in the air, a comic book in one hand.

Lloyd blinked.

What…?

Then he blinked again, rapidly, trying to keep his vision from blurring. He swallowed tightly.

"Lloyd…?" Nya looked at him in concern when he didn't respond.

"You, uh…do you like it?" Jay frowned, shifting worriedly, now clutching the book to his chest.

"I…" Lloyd swallowed, biting his lip to stop it from trembling. He choked, vision blurring as his eyes stung. "Thanks…" A tight smile spread on his face, and he quickly swiped at his eyes. "Thanks, guys…"

Zane set the food down, P.I.X.A.L. setting a handful of games and cards down.

Nya smiled, going over and giving him a side hug. "No problem, li'l bro!"

Lloyd chuckled, swiping at his eyes again. "I… You guys are awesome…"

Nya grinned, then walked over to Cole.

"I'm going to style your hair."

Lloyd started, looking at Kai wide-eyed. "W-what?"

Kai grinned, an evil look in his eyes. "While you read comics and do art and eat the snacks Zane brought, I'm gonna style your hair."

Lloyd opened his mouth in alarm. "I—"

Kai shoved him, forcing him to move forward, and sat behind him.

Nya brought over some more art supplies—colored pencils and crayons and some sketchbooks—and then sat in front of him.

"I really don't want—"

"Do you want to draw first, or read comics?" Nya opened a sketchbook.

"Please pick comics!" Jay begged.

Nya rolled her eyes, but she smiled in amusement.

"I…uh…" Lloyd blinked.

Kai shook a bottle of a hair gel, causing Lloyd to look at him uneasily.

"Ignore him. Don't worry, I told him not to mess up your hair too bad." Nya grinned.

"Hey! I don't mess up hair! I make it awesome, like mine!" Kai ran a hand through his hair smugly.

Lloyd frowned. "Uh…yeah…but I still think my hair is just fine…"

"Nonsense!" Kai picked up a few other bottles, of which Lloyd had no clue what they were. "You're gonna look awesome when I'm done with you."

Lloyd swallowed, chuckling nervously. "Right…"

"Just go with it. Here—" Nya handed him a sketchbook and some crayons. "Or did you want colored pencils?"

"Or, I've got the professional pencils," Cole chipped in. He held one up, grinning.

Lloyd rolled his eyes, trying in vain to hide his smile. "I can use crayons. I'm not very artistic…"

Cole shrugged. "Your loss."

"Guess I'll read these by myself for now…" Jay moped, opening a comic.

Zane took some art supplies, then handed Lloyd a bowl of popcorn.

"Hey, wait, do I get some of that?" Cole looked up hopefully.

Lloyd tossed him a couple, then laughed as they hit him in the face.

Cole yelped, surprised, but then ate them thankfully.

Zane frowned sternly at Cole. "That is for Lloyd. If you would like some popcorn, you will have to make your own."

Cole held up a hand. "Alright, alright…" He looked at Jay. "And you can do art with us for now, you know…"

Jay glanced up, sighing. "Fine…but I wanted to read some Starfarer…"

"You can draw Fritz Donnegan with me." Lloyd held up a crayon.

Jay smiled. "Okay. Fine."

Kai started "styling" Lloyd's hair. Lloyd was still very skeptical—and knew full well that Kai was going to give him something weird—but let him.

Just goofing around made him feel better, made him forget about—

"I have no son."

He bit his lip.

"Hey, wanna do an art contest?" Nya asked.

Lloyd blinked, looking up at her. "Didn't I just say I was bad at art…?"

Nya smiled. "Don't worry. Jay is too."

"That…doesn't make me feel any better…" Lloyd frowned.

"Don't worry, it'll be fun!" Nya started drawing something on her paper.

"I'm in!" Cole said.

"I am as well," Zane added.

"So am I," P.I.X.A.L. agreed.

Jay sighed. "Me too, I guess…"

Lloyd shrugged. "Okay, count me in. Who's the judge? Master Wu?"

"No, he'll be in bed by the time we're done—if he isn't already." Nya switched pencils. "Kai can, since he's not competing."

Kai laughed. "Lovely."

Lloyd frowned. "Yeah…that'll end up being judged very fairly…"

"Now I'm really gonna lose!" Jay wailed.

Nya smiled. "Jay, he'll be fair, don't worry."

"Yeah! When am I not fair?" Kai grinned.

Lloyd rolled his eyes as the argument continued, smiling.

Who knew how late they'd be up?

But he was glad to have friends like them.

Lloyd started his own drawing, trying to make it as realistic as possible—and failing miserably, but oh well.

He smiled again as Cole and Jay started arguing over which pencils worked the best.

Garmadon turned—again—and gripped the blanket under him tightly. He let out a breath through clenched teeth.

"Ever wondered how pirates feel?"

He shut his eye.

"You're such a failure, Garmadon… Your father would be so disappointed in you."

Stupid—

"I can get into your head. I know the guilt, the fear, the pain. The helplessness. I know how wretched you really are."

Garmadon sat up. It seemed it would be another sleepless night…

He stood, walking over to the door.

He didn't stop until he reached the courtyard porch. The voices. Wouldn't. Leave him.

Garmadon gripped his hair in one hand, wincing. He blinked, one hand going to the poll beside him, leaning on it.

He would be fine.

Why do I keep insisting that?

Idiot.

He closed his eye, taking in a shaky breath.

Wu walked quietly through the hall, a cup of tea in his hand. Normally, he wouldn't be up at this absurd hour, but he knew the ninja and P.I.X.A.L. had been having a "party" in Lloyd's room to try and cheer him up—Nya's idea, he was pretty sure. He was curious how it had gone.

He sighed. His nephew…wasn't doing too well. They all knew that. Garmadon's return had shaken Lloyd to his core. Wu agreed slightly with Kai—his brother being here probably wasn't helping Lloyd's mental stability. But, on the other hand…Wu greatly hoped they could work it out.

He hadn't been lying when he'd told Garmadon his son needed him—needed his father. Wu could only do so much. He couldn't offer what Lloyd needed—he could try, but…it wasn't the same.

He slowed when he neared Lloyd's door. It was quiet. Wu tried to shove down his suspicion—when it was quiet, it usually meant they were getting into trouble or not doing what they were supposed to.

He slowly slid the door open, peeking in.

He blinked. Lloyd was fast asleep in his bed—and sporting a strange hairstyle, sticking up at odd angles and looking suspiciously like Kai's hairdo—and the rest of them were scattered around on the floor. Art, snacks, games, and comics were spread throughout the room, a big cluttered mess.

They must have fallen asleep…

How late did they stay up?

It was 2:30 a.m. right now. He was actually surprised they'd fallen asleep as quickly as they had.

He found an amused smile tug at his lips.

Even though his students could be quite troublesome, he'd never regretted the moment he'd recruited them to his ninja team.

He quietly shut the door, then headed for the living room to check on Garmadon. He knew his brother was having a rough time as well—even if he wouldn't admit to it—so he made sure to check up on him as often as he could.

He took a sip of his tea, thinking back to the ninja. He'd been lonely those ten years at the monastery, after Garmadon had been banished.

So lonely.

He would never admit to it, but the ninja had brought a liveliness to his life he'd missed those ten years. They'd become like family.

When he'd first recruited them, it was only to stop his brother—not save himself from endless, empty days of nothingness and despair.

He smiled again. Somehow, it had worked out well.

Wu reached the door to the living room about a minute later. He slid it open carefully, looking in. Seeing that the couch's back was to him, he walked silently over. He peeked over the top of the couch—

Garmadon was gone, the blanket a bit crumpled. That…couldn't be a good sign.

Wu frowned in concern. He hoped he was alright… He'd better go find him. He swiftly turned around, intent in finding him.

It didn't take long. He'd checked the kitchen, then had tried the next likely place—the courtyard. He'd found him there a couple times.

Garmadon stood on the porch, one hand clenching his hair tightly, head down. His expression was tense.

"Garmadon?" Wu frowned, taking a step closer.

His brother jumped, flinching, then turned to look at him, looking surprised.

"What are you doing up?"

Garmadon blinked. "Um…"

A few seconds passed.

Wu finally took a sip of his tea. "Trouble sleeping?"

Garmadon looked away, shrugging, and stared into the courtyard—or more accurately, at nothing. His gaze was far off—distant.

Wu studied him, narrowing his eyes slightly. He was hiding something. He'd known the moment he'd found him in Jamanakai. He wasn't sure what, but…he was concerned.

From this angle, he could clearly see the right side of his face. The metal…he wasn't really sure what it was. And then the scars… Wu wasn't sure of he'd gotten into a fight, or what had happened after he'd vanished seven months ago. It couldn't have been good, though.

He took another sip of tea—then realized his cup was gone. Phooey. "Well, brother—"

Garmadon stiffened.

"—it seems my tea is gone. I'll be off to bed." He looked at him. "Are….you going to bed soon?"

His brother shrugged.

Wu frowned. "Just…try to get some sleep, alright?"

When he got no reply, he sighed quietly, heading back inside.

He was concerned about him. Something wasn't right. He jumped at everything, flinched, claimed he was fine, seemed to be tired all the time…

Exhausted, more like.

Wu hoped he would be alright…he hadn't found his brother just to lose him again.