~mgmt

TW' nightmares

We were getting better, physically at least. One good thing about recovery was the amount of time I spent with Lloyd. One bad side of recovery was how long it took. I was getting homesick, I asked to be allowed home often, but Wu and Misako were both concerned that something could go wrong. It took about four days of constant nagging until they told me I could go back home in a week. I learned that their friend Neuro had conditioned my Dad to believe that I had been with him the entire time. He had created a version of me that had come down with the flu so most of the time this fake version of myself had been in bed resting. The power of the mind was very interesting. I wondered what else he could do.
On the amist of healing, Skylor had come back to check on us. She seemed held back around Lloyd at first but when he apologised and got one in return, they were both back to normal. They both admitted it had gone too far and she promised him some noodles when he could handle more. Luckily for the both of us, we were no longer on a bread diet. Sure, the diet pretty much consisted of low carbs but it was better than buttered bread.

Much of the time spent with Lloyd involved snuggles and kisses, each touch made my heart pound. There was just something about him that made each cell in my body cry for him. He was everything I had ever dreamed of wanting. My dreams however, we're not getting any better. They fluctuated between the horrible state I had seen Lloyd in to what it was like being possessed and the mind I had been forcefully taught all about. Lloyd wasn't much better, but he hid it well. He was more of a quiet jump in the night and soft sniffles to cover his tears, I was more of an intense shudder and a loud crier.
I could deal with all of the mental stuff a lot better when I was distracted. Lloyd and I both slowly managed to watch the other ninja train when half of them weren't on duty. As much as my bones still ached, they yearned to be moving and pushing themselves. I had so much energy despite being so drained. I'd been so used to training hard up until my possession that now it just felt wrong to not be doing anything.

Lloyd and I awkwardly cleared the air with Misako and she acted more embarrassed then we felt. She quickly accepted our explanation and moved onto another topic. It was much appreciated. Lloyd didn't care one bit. I suppose he wouldn't. Sure she was his mother but she had never really been his mother.
Unlike me who was allowed to go back home and live my normal life in a week, Lloyd wasn't allowed to do any Ninja stuff for another month. I could tell it got to him. He didn't like feeling like he couldn't do anything. He was allowed back to school whenever he felt like he was able to, and we both knew it would be when I did. Half of me was excited, I felt so trapped here, especially since I couldn't actually do anything real.
My head didn't pound when I stood anymore and my muscles felt a lot looser. The only thing holding me back was the emotional side. When I was alone or when I was trying to sleep, it was hard.

You can only save those who want to be saved. The epiphany of emotions that had daunted on me despite never belonging to me was something I'd never be able to forget about. In a split second, that boy went from feeling like he was a higher power, like he could do anything he wanted and have it all, to feeling like nothing, feeling like he had betrayed everyone but especially himself. To feeling small and like nothing. To a mistake.
It aggravated me largely that Misako and Wu had known about this. I wanted to tell Lloyd but he had finally gotten his mother back and well, Wu was the only family member he had ever had consistently. Kai knew, ever since he got it out of me he had dodged any sort of unimportant conversation with Wu. The old man knew, his eyes would glide over to me and all I did was stare at him in return. Who gave a damn if I told Kai. They were going to find out eventually. I couldn't keep this a secret for long, especially when it could've been prevented. To start with, Lloyd was the only one effected and that made me want to snitch on him immediately. But when I was targeted? Absolutely not. I was fine with sacrificing myself for Lloyd, but all of this could've been avoided if Misako had just come out with it. There was no excuse. He should've been told.

"What's Cole doing?" I whispered to Lloyd who was staring at the same place I was.

We were sat on a bench outside, his arm was draped around me and I gladly cuddled into his side. His ribs were healed, he could finally breathe without hurting himself. I had offered to heal his eye and the few scrapes around his face but he declined. Apparently I had already tired myself out by healing him. He wasn't wrong but I didn't mind.

"Shh, he's focusing," Lloyd gently shushed me.

"But what is he doing?" I insisted.

Cole, the sun shining through his ghostly form, was sat cross legged, back straight, on the grassy patch in the middle of the Monastery. His eyes were closed and his hands were buried into the mud. I'd never seen him do this. Was he connecting to his element or something?

"He's focusing on making a Geode for George's birthday. It's something he does every year. It takes time to make the crystals form that's why he needs to be focused," Lloyd mumbled, fully entranced by his friend.

"Can you shut up?" Cole ordered gravely.

I bit my lip to stop a surprised smile. Lloyd chuckled next to me. It was a deep sound, a good sound. I liked that sound.

"How long you got left?" Lloyd was louder, making sure to annoy Cole more.

He opened one eye and frowned, "A day or two?"

"Can you call me when you crack it?" Lloyd wondered, "I like the colours,"

"If you piss off then yeah," Cole shut his eyes again, leaning closer to the ground.

Lloyd made an amused hum at the back of his throat. He pulled away momentarily and grabbed my hand, turning his head to announce we were going to leave. I stood up with him and followed him to wherever he was going to take me.

💫

"Nora?" Kai called, his head popping around the door, "Can I borrow you?"

Jay glanced away from his video game for a second then returned back to it. I nodded, pushing myself away from the sofa towards him. Kai had just gotten back from parole, his hair was scruffy and his suit was all creased. He had taken his harness off but his belt still remained tight around his waist. Behind him was Skylor who looked pissed off. Her arms were crossed and she was glaring at the fire Ninja.

"You in trouble?" I joked, watching him smile cheekily.

"Not if you help me get out of it," He glanced at his girlfriend who didn't look impressed.

I rose an eyebrow. What on Earth could I help with? I followed them to his room and frowned as I watched him double check nobody had followed before shutting and locking his door.

"Okay so..." He eyed Skylor as she sat on his bed, "Skylor knows I'm keeping something from her and I think she should know about our little secret,"

"Woah what?" Skylor sat up in seconds, a glare pointing at me now, "Your little secret?"

Goosebumps rose on my arms and legs, I could feel them. I looked at Kai in panic.

"I'm not shagging Nora babe," Kai shook his head.

Skylor recoiled, "Oh,"

"Oh my god," I grimaced, "Ew,"

"Hey I'm not that bad," Kai seemed offended.

"Keep dreaming," I took a seat in the bean bag in the corner of his room, "What secret?"

"About Wu,"

"Oh,"

That was daunting. He really thought Skylor should know??

"Why should we tell Sky? It's not that I don't want you to know," I turned to her, "I think everyone should know, but is it really a good idea?"

"She's kinda forcing it out of me and since you know firsthand you're the best person for it," Kai looked down at his suit and fiddled with his belt to undo it.

"Okay, sure," I swallowed, shuffling so I could face Sky, "I'm just gonna say it,"

"Say it girl," Skylor encouraged.

I paused for a long time, anxiety flooding through me, "Wu and Misako knew that Morro had been released and didn't do anything about it. They knew he was coming after Lloyd and said nothing,"

"Fuck off!" She yelled, standing up abruptly.

"Told ya you'd be mad," Kai mused mindlessly, hanging his top layer in his wardrobe.

"Misako tried to tell Lloyd before he went, I was there, I asked her who released Morro but she wouldn't tell me. Apparently I wouldn't believe her," I bit my tongue, glancing at Kai.

But suddenly I was completely distracted. As Kai took off his black thermal top, I couldn't help but notice the scars on his chest.

"What's on your chest?" I wondered, trying to figure out what it was.

"Fuck is it a bug?" He started manically brushing down his chest like a wild animal.

Forgetting about her anger for a moment, Skylor turned to her boyfriend, "You haven't told her?"

"Told her what?" Kai frowned, looking at his chest, "Ohhhh. No not yet,"

"Tell me what?" What is it and secrets in this place.

"I'm trans. Used to be a chick but now I've got dick,"

"You could've worded that better," Skylor was amused despite how she scolded him.

"Woah what?" Now it was my time to stand out of shock, "Y-you used to be a girl?"

"Yea," Kai reached into his wardrobe to pull out a dark shirt, "Are you judging me? Feels like you're judging me,"

"No!" I corrected myself immediately, "It's just—" How could I word this without being offensive? "You just don't look... girly,"

He grinned at me, "That's the whole point,"

"Nora stop complimenting him you're boosting his ego," Skylor looked at me, "But can we get back on track please? You just dropped a bomb,"

"So did Kai!" I defended myself.

"Wu Garmadon, the man who took Lloyd in and raised him, the dude who's supposed to be that kids protector, didn't do the one thing he was supposed to do and instead just let it happen? That's fucked up!" Skylor wasn't taking my bull.

"I know I know!" I sighed in annoyance, glancing around the room, "I didn't know what to do!"

"I'll show you what you need to fucking do," Skylor darted for the door.

Kai quickly grabbed her by the waist, "Calm down Firehead, this is exactly why I didn't want to tell you,"

"That man needs his sense knocked into him," She deadpanned, glaring at him.

"I know. I'm equally as pissed. He knows something is going on,"

"He totally knows I told you," I announced, "He keeps looking at me, I can just feel it,"

"What do we do?" Skylor brushed her hair back, "Lloyd thinks the heavens about that man,"

"I don't know," Kai looked to the ground.

"I want to tell him but exactly as Skylor said, is it right to tell him now? He's barely coping mentally with the whole Morro shit," I didn't really think Lloyd would like me telling them the extent of his mental health, but it had to be said.

They both looked at me and spoke the same thing at the same time, "What does that mean?"

They spared a glance at each other before looking back to me.

"Nightmares and stuff. Normal PTSD, I'm getting it too but now that we're sleeping together it's getting better," I tried to ease their worry.

"Oh you're sleeping tog—" Skylor elbowed Kai in the ribs to stop his teasing.

"You will tell us if it gets worse right?" Skylor asked, looking at me like the way Misako looks at Lloyd sometimes.

"Yeah," I nodded, not confident at all in my answer, "Of course,"

She gave me one more look before turning back to Kai, "Stop teasing her,"

"She just said—!"

"Nope," She covered his mouth, Kai scowled at her.

Half of me was happy that Skylor knew, but most of me knew that it was bad keeping this away from Lloyd. But I'd tell him, eventually I would but right now wasn't the time. He needed to get over Morro first. Adding more stress and hurt into his mind wasn't healthy, it was the last thing he needed.

💫

Lloyd took me out into the Monastery gardens a day later. He was excited. He seemed rushed with a large amount of energy I hadn't seen in him for a while. It made my heart swell happily. I followed behind him, he had my hand and was pulling me but I forced myself to keep up. There was nothing I wouldn't do to not see that pretty smile on his face.
The first thing I noticed was the dirt everywhere. Grass was pulled out of it's roots and massive clumps of dirt fled everywhere apart from where it was supposed to go.the next thing was the roughly 8 inched rock that stood next to a very proud looking Cole.

"Oh my god is it done?" I asked loudly, my excitement meter filling.

"Yep," Cole patted it, "You ready to see me crack it open?"

"What crystals inside?" Lloyd wondered, bending to trace his fingers across the stone.

"Dunno," Cole shrugged, "I hope it's good,"

"It could be full of shit and Geo would still be impressed," Lloyd laughed, "You made it,"

"I guess," Cole waved the praise off, "Okay step back, let's crack this bad boy open,"

Lloyd and I took a few steps back. Cole kneeled down and pressed his hands either side of it. Shutting his eyes to focus, I watched his hands clench powerfully. There was a loud breaking sound, I winced but couldn't tear my eyes away from it. After a short moment, Cole relaxed. Lloyd hurried us both over and sat down next to his friend. I remained stood, but placed a hand on his shoulder, just as intrigued.
Cole slowly pulled apart the ore and his relieved sigh matched Lloyd and Is gasps. It was beautiful. The crystals inside were sharp and pointy, they were full of such a vibrant purple. The shade got deeper the further it got into the crystal. Oh my god it was gorgeous. It reminded me of The First Spinjitzu Master's tomb with the amount of crystals littered inside. It truly was breathtaking.

"Amethyst," Cole breathed in shock, "Oh wow,"

"Cole this is incredible," Lloyd smiled widely, poking one of the outside crystals.

"Do you keep a half?" I looked to the ghostly man.

"Yeah," He nodded, "We can't do it with this one because it's too big but with the little ones I've made we put them together when we're with each other,"

"Oh my god that's so cute," I grinned, placing my eyes back on the creation.

He rolled his eyes, "I think it's the best one I've made,"

"Well your hard work really paid off," Lloyd whistled lowly, "Good job,"

It made me proud for some reason. The whole team had been a mess without Lloyd and now he was back and it was evidently better. They had all missed their leader. I could tell that Cole really needed that structure back, he seemed brighter already. Lloyd was feeling good about it too. He was feeling more like himself. Seeing the colour return back to his face and the smile grow wider each time he did was such a relief. Any and every sacrifice I had made was worth it. He deserved it all. I was glad he was back, or at least as much as he could be back. We had all missed him, we all needed him.

🐉

RAAH THIS IS SO CUTE

shorter chapter because I already wrote one today and my thumbs are tired lmao.

How was your Christmas?? What gifts did you get??

Love you all for the support <3

Memes!!!