Chapter Text
Lloyd punched Kai, sending his friend stumbling back. The red ninja quickly recovered and launched a barrage of fireballs back. His green shield easily blocked the flames, but Lloyd’s eyes widened when he realized it was simply a cover for Kai. He whipped around and blocked the foot flying towards his face. Now it was Kai’s turn to look surprised. Lloyd smirked. He pulled hard, making him lose his balance. Kai smacked into the floor with a groan.
Lloyd gasped and kneeled next to Kai. “I’m sorry! Are you okay?”
But Kai just laughed and said, “Don’t be such a worrywart, man! I’ve been hit harder.” He took Lloyd’s offered hand and got up with a wince. “Though you still made me a little sore.”
The other ninja in the warehouse watched on. Cole and Jay sighed in disappointment, and a few yen slipped into Nya’s hand. She was grinning triumphantly.
“Your reaction time is improving, Lloyd,” Zane noted. “That move used to work on you all the time.”
“I know. I’m going to have to change my tactics, aren’t I?” Kai said, bumping Lloyd’s shoulder with a pleased grin.
Lloyd smiled back. “Yeah. You will.”
“Well, now that we’ve finally finished the one v. one for today, can we get this movie night started?” Nya said.
Jay practically squealed, his blue eyes shimmering with excitement. “Can I make the popcorn?”
“Babe, last time you did that, your lightning exploded the bag and burned Cole’s eyebrows off.”
“And I really don’t want to have Kai draw them on again,” the earth ninja added.
“But I’ll be really careful this time! Watch!” Jay darted into the kitchen area of the base. The others chased after him, Nya’s cry of “Oh no you don’t!” bouncing off the warehouse’s metal walls. Kai made to follow them, but he hesitated when he saw Lloyd wasn’t moving.
“Hey, you okay?” he asked.
Lloyd started out of his daze. “Huh? Oh yeah, I’m fine. I think I’ll head to the docks for a bit before joining you guys. Don’t worry—you can start the movie without me.”
A sad smile flitted across Kai’s face. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Lloyd opened his mouth to apologize, but Kai interrupted him. “I get it…I miss him too. We’ll be waiting for you.” He punched Lloyd’s shoulder good-naturedly and walked off to join the others.
Lloyd rubbed his shoulder, smiling after Kai. Then he turned away from the warm light of the base and into the darkness of the docks. The crescent moon still gave him enough light to see his way by, and his steps were steady as he traversed the old wooden boards. He reached an empty port and sat down, exhaling slowly. Cold saltwater sprayed his legs. He gazed up at the moon.
“It’s weird, Ash,” he murmured. “I thought with my dad back and the city not hating me, I wouldn’t miss you so much…but I do. I want you back. I don’t know if I can ever stop wishing for that.”
He sighed mournfully and brought his legs close to his chest. They were chilly and damp now, but he didn’t care.
The wind picked up speed and pulled at his hair. There was a flash of light, and he blinked, rubbing his eyes in annoyance. With the light came warmth, and when it was gone, the coldness seemed much stronger. He shivered.
Someone in a red gi stepped next to him. Lloyd groaned. “I told you Kai, you don’t have to worry about me.”
“That’s impossible. I’m always going to worry about you.”
Lloyd’s eyes widened. That voice! It couldn’t be, but—but maybe—
He turned around. Ash smiled down at him, his fangs flashing in the moonlight. It was the same snarky smile, the same messy hair, the same eyes that shone with warmth—it was really him.
Tears sprang to his eyes. He laughed—an exhilarating, raucous sound that made him feel light and dizzy all at once—and then he stumbled to his feet, before embracing the friend he’d come to love as brother.