Garmadon didn't do much for his injuries. He sat in the bathroom for a while, on the floor. Maybe half an hour. He did try to assess the damage, and cleaned a few cuts. But otherwise…he was perfectly content to leave them. He deserved it anyway.

He did try to clean up his face, though. Wu would notice if he didn't.

When he felt like he'd hung around there long enough to convince Wu he'd actually done something, he left, heading for the kitchen. Supposedly, Wu had healing tea for him. And walking there would prove he was fine.

In the hall, he stumbled a little, a sudden dizziness coming over him again. It wasn't from his injuries, either. In fact, he was pretty sure none of his lightheaded symptoms were due to Ichor's beating.

Blackness blinked in and out, and when it had passed, he continued on to the kitchen. He entered, seeing Wu already there. There was a pot of tea on the stove. Lloyd was nowhere in sight.

Wu turned to him, just now noticing him lingering in the doorway. "How are you?"

"Fine."

Wu looked skeptical, but nodded. "The tea is done." He poured a cup, walking over to him.

Garmadon took the offered tea uneasily, glancing around. He really needed to sit…he was so dizzy…

Wu took a step back. "Garmadon, I had a few questions. Can you please sit?"

…Now that Wu had said it, no, he did not need to sit. He can't know I'm not okay. "Uh…no, thank you." He looked away. "I can stand…"

Wu was silent for a moment. "Alright…"

He sounded skeptical.

"And Garmadon, please drink that. Slowly, please. Father didn't say 'savor the flavor' for nothing. Healing tea doesn't work unless you drink it slow."

Garmadon frowned, staring down at the cup. He took a hesitant sip, then grimaced. He was so thirsty, though… He really just wanted to gulp it down, even though it didn't taste the greatest.

"Now, I did have a few questions to ask you…"

He looked up.

"Who were those people?"

Garmadon looked away, biting his lip. He can't know. If he knew that I killed Ichor… He shuddered.

"I don't know. We only know they're coming in from the northwest." Wu pointed to the old looking map, tracing a finger down from the Glacier Barrens to Birchwood Forest.

"Hmm. Perhaps we could find out?" Ichor gazed at the map, an unreadable expression on his face.

Wu nodded. "Perhaps. I wanted to send out some spies, see what they're up to."

Garmadon shot a suspicious look at Ichor, eyes narrowed, before looking back at the map. "Knowing those snakes, that's a good idea. They're planning something."

"Obviously," Ichor said.

Garmadon growled at him.

"Stop it, you two." Wu looked up at them. "Actually, you both would be perfect for the job."

Garmadon blinked. "Um…what? Why me? Why HIM?"

"Because you both won't get along. This will be a good mission, so you can learn how to work together." His brother smiled.

Garmadon glared. He's just like father…

Ichor shrugged, crossing his arms. "I suppose I can tolerate Garmadon…but he hates me."

"He doesn't hate you, Ichor." Wu looked at Garmadon pointedly. "RIGHT, brother?"

Garmadon huffed, turning on his heel and walking out of the small tent. I DO hate him. I wish he was dead.

He stopped in his tracks, blinking. Where had that come from…?
Kill him.

Oh. The venom. Of course… He was starting to get better at differentiating between the venom's voice and his own, now. Meditation helped a lot.

He sucked in a breath. Sometimes he scared himself…

He turned, heading into the trees. He needed some time to mentally prepare before going with THAT creep…

"Garmadon?"

He grit his teeth, then slowly turned around. "Yes, dear brother?" he replied sarcastically.

Wu blinked. "Um…I just wanted to make sure you were okay with this."

"Of course I'm not okay with it! Why would I be?! Ichor is a jerk!"

"He's not a jerk. Just give him a chance. I know you two got off on the wrong foot, but there's no reason you can't get along. At the very least, until this war is over."

Garmadon huffed. "How am I supposed to get along with him? He hates me! He won't stop insulting me, bugging me, and being a jerk!"

"He's never said one mean thing to you. Maybe his attitude is a little rude, but he's not mean."

"That's because he never says anything when around you!" Garmadon threw his arms in the air.

A few elemental masters glanced over at them, looking confused and concerned.

"Brother—" Wu lowered his voice—"I know you don't trust him, but I need you on this mission. I have to stay here and coordinate things. And I need someone with experience to go on this mission."

"Fine, but why does Ichor have to go?"

"Because he's the most effective against the serpentine."

"Because he uses his creepy blood power!"
"I know we both don't agree about his…methods…but he's an ally. He's helping us with the war, and we need all the help we can get."

Garmadon scoffed, whipping around and stomping away. "Ha! He has you all wrapped up in his little game! He's twisting your mind, Wu! Why can't you see that?!"

He didn't hear his brother's reply, the loud crunching of the snow under his feet blocking it out. Or maybe he just didn't answer. Who knew.

I don't care.

He felt the venom flare up, and he felt his eyes flicker to red and back. He took a calming breath. It would be fine. I can keep my temper in check for one mission, right?
Ichor has no hold of me. I'll be fine.

It'll go fine. Nothing will go wrong.

It's just in and out.

"Garmadon?"

Garmadon blinked, looking back at Wu. "Um…what?"

"Who were those people?"

"I…" He can't know. Garmadon swallowed, finding that he could a little more easily now, unlike earlier. "I…don't know…"

"Why were they attacking you?"

Garmadon shrugged, taking another sip of the tea.

"They just…attacked you? For no reason?"

"I don't know…people don't exactly like me…"

Wu frowned. "I see… Are you alright, then?"

He nodded. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure you don't know the identities of any of them?"

"No."

"How long has this group been attacking you?"

Garmadon shrugged. Months? "I don't know…"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged again.

"Garmadon, I want to help you. But I can't if you won't let me."

"I'm fine." He glared down at his cup. I don't want your help. I deserved it anyway, you shouldn't have come. Then a terrifying thought hit him. What…will Ichor do now? Something even worse to me? He swallowed, fist clenching and unclenching uneasily.

"Why don't you know how long they've been attacking you? I know they've at least done it three times, in the past one and a half weeks. What about before I found you in Jamanakai?"

Garmadon didn't reply.

Wu sighed, running a hand down his face. "Alright…if you won't tell me, fine. But…if anyone's ever hurting you again, please let me know, alright?"

Silence.

"Did…they threaten you?"

"No."

"Then why won't you tell me anything?"

Because I don't want you to know. He stayed silent, taking another sip of the tea.

Wu sighed again. "Alright…" He went to the stove, pouring himself a cup of tea as well, then came back over. "And you're fine, then?"

"Yes."

"What were your injuries?"

"Few bruises, a couple cuts. I'm fine." He shrugged.

"How were they able to gang up on you in the first place?"

He shrugged.

Wu took a sip of his tea, narrowing his eyes at him.

Garmadon shifted uncomfortably. He knows I'm lying. Again. He bit his lip, then quickly took another sip of the tea.

Wu glanced at the microwave clock. "…Well, it seems to be after lunch time, now. What would you like to eat?"

"I already ate."

The response was so instinctual, so ingrained now. He hadn't even thought about it before he said it.

Wu stared at him. "What? But you weren't even here."

Garmadon paused. Then he paled a little. Oh, no— "I…uh…" He took a sip of the tea again. "I ate earlier."

"Earlier? But you left this morning."

Another nervous sip. This is bad—

He felt a wave of panic come over him. He tried to take a calming breath. He won't know. He won't.

Wu's eyes narrowed again, his expression disbelieving, skeptical, a 'hold on a minute' expression. The gears were turning, dots connecting—

Garmadon knew that look.

He tried to take a breath—

Everything spun, tilting, black dots appearing. Garmadon stumbled, hearing the distant sound of glass shattering—

"Garmadon—!"

—and then it all went black.