Chapter Text
A car horn blasts in the distance as Liam weaves through the street. Liam pauses by the canal in the middle of the street and takes a deep breath. This smoky, crowded city may be hard to navigate sometimes, but it was home.
He takes another deep breath before deciding to enter the crowd once again, trying to reach the Ninjago market. It was Saturday noon, which meant that the Farmer’s Market would be in full blast right now, and Liam wanted to get the groceries his mom needed for the noodle shop. An unexpected tour group deciding the noodle shop was their home this week made it so their stock ran out much faster than usual.
His mom usually sent any of the workers to pick up emergency stock, but two had already called in sick so the shop was already short-staffed, and Liam was still on thin ice after getting into another fight yesterday.
He weaves and slides between the people of Ninjago, used to the song and dance of his city and familiar with the twist and turns of the alleyways. He cuts through an alley between a tailor and apartment complex and comes out of the other side into a large open space.
Ninjago Market - Enjoy great offers for great products!
A drove of noise hits Liam all at once - stall owners calling out for customers while advertising their discounts, people walking around in droves and exploring the different booths, and the occasional patrol officer overseeing the crowd. The whiff of baked goods reaches him, and he instinctively salivates.
I wonder if I can-
Liam furiously shakes his head, dispelling the thought. He is here on a mission, and it does not involve a cinnamon roll!
He turns towards a path that he knows has some of the supplies his mom needs and moves forward.
Somewhere between getting rice from Mrs. Agatha (her son recently got promoted at work, and yes, her three cats are doing well at home) and eggs from Collin (his mom is still sick, but she’s been feeling much better this week), Liam realizes he can’t find his mom’s usual flour supplier.
He decides to ask the next stall he stops by since the stall owners are usually up to date with each other, and his mom had been working with these people since he was born.
Liam checks the list and realizes who he has next. He grins, already excited to see him.
Mr. Kognito was someone you definitely shouldn’t mess with, as evidenced by the gadgets kept by his side and his dangerous demeanor. His striking glare made him hard to approach, and you could get an instant sense of danger just by looking at him.
Despite that, Liam had, at 6 years old, thought he was the coolest person ever.
Liam had first met Mr. Kognito when he had been accompanying his mom with her errands. His dad had to abruptly go somewhere, so he had been left to follow along with his mom while she flitted around, talking with suppliers and shopping for items.
The noodle shop had been going through a major renovation at the time, after the high success of the shop in the past few years. His parents had in fact just a week ago celebrated the anniversary of his mom taking over the shop (which Liam had celebrated with them just for the sole purpose of getting his hands on some cake.)
He remembers it being late in the afternoon, just as it seemed like his mom had finished all her tasks, when his mom takes a turn down a winding alley. It hadn’t been too dark, but the shadows and smell had struck a little anxiety in Liam’s heart. He held on to his mom’s hand a little tighter as he walked beside her and felt reassured when she turned to him and gave him a warm smile.
“Just one more stop, and then we’ll go home, alright kiddo?” Liam nodded in response. He took a deep breath and tried to gather some more courage as he walked down the alley and took a left turn.
It wasn’t long before they stopped at an old, worn-out house. The door alone looked like it could have been hundreds of years old. Liam was convinced it would fall apart the moment he touched it. His mom didn’t seem to share the same thought though, seeing as she knocked aggressively on the door for a good minute.
It wasn’t long before an aggressive “What!” rang out as someone opened the door. Liam held his breath and gripped his mom’s leg tightly, unsure what to expect. Lo and behold, a middle-aged man with rumpled clothing and interesting gadgets soon appeared. It was unclear what he had been doing before his mom and he visited, but the contraption on his eye made Liam years later realize he had been working on his machines, as he always does.
Liam stared. Liam took a deep breath. Liam opened his mouth.
“Pirate!” Mr. Kognito startled, distracted from glaring at his mom. Liam giggled.
“What?” It was at that point that Mr. Kognito turned to him properly, giving him a stare-down. “Who’s this brat?”
“You’re a pirate, aren’t ya mister?” Liam exclaimed, with stars in his eyes. (Years down the line, Liam would find this moment incredibly mortifying to remember and would deny any memory of its existence, but young Liam was unfortunately too impressionable and easily impressed.)
Mr. Kognito raises an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
“You have a cool eyepatch and extra limbs! What else could you be?” Liam grinned, clenching his hands in excitement. He feels his mom start to shake beside him, but he pays no mind to what she’s doing, more interested in the real-life pirate in front of him!!
To his credit, Mr. Kognito doesn’t laugh. He stares for a few seconds, analyzing him, before sighing. “And do you like pirates?”
“I love them!” Liam says excitedly, stars in his eyes. “Mister, why are you on land though? Shouldn’t pirates be on their boats all the time?” He feels his mom shake some more beside him. He continues to pay her no mind.
“I’m on a secret mission,” is what Mr. Kognito eventually says (after muttering something vaguely sounding like pirates are not fishes ). “But you can’t tell anyone or I’ll have to kidnap you forever.”
Liam gasps excitedly. A secret mission! “You can trust me mister! I’ll only tell my dad, and he’s the most trusty person you’ll ever meet!”
Mr. Kognito sighs and shakes his head. “Good to know. And how about you?” he asks, turning to his mom. “Come to ask for an autograph from a pirate?”
Liam gasps. “Can we??”
It’s then that something in his mom seems to snap, because she bursts out laughing. Her entire face is red, and she bends over her knees from how hard she’s laughing, not even able to speak. Mr. Kognito grins at that point.
Liam, confused and a little lost, never got told what was so funny.
Years later, Liam is happy to say that he knows better (his mom would say not by much, but no one’s asking her). And while yes, he knows Mr. Kognito is not a pirate, he is still one of the coolest people he knows. Not to mention, his inventions are awesome!
His mom calls it hero’s worship. He calls it appreciation for the clear talent Mr. Kognito has.
Regardless, his mom has been working with Mr. Kognito for years, commissioning him for items and getting him to do repairs when things are broken. Liam had long wondered why Mr. Kognito bothers to work for them when his inventions are more . . . defense and attack based, but Mr. Kognito would never say why.
He feels himself grinning as he approaches Mr. Kognito’s booth. The inventor has his back to him, rummaging around on the table behind him for something.
“Hey grandpa!” Liam calls out, a smirk forming on his lips. Mr. Kognito turns around, already sighing with reluctance.
“Look what the cat dragged in here. Whatcha doing here kid?” Mr. Kognito grouches in no particular anger.
“Can’t a guy say hi to his favorite grandpa?” he teases, walking up to Mr. Kognito’s booth and leaning on it. Mr. Kognito had a rag he was using to wipe the snake knife in his other hand. “Woah, cool knife! Can I get one?”
Mr. Kognito gives him an unimpressed look. “No, not unless you want your mom to ground you for the next year.”
“Psshhh, she’d say it’s a necessary form of self defense,” Liam rolls out, lying further onto the booth.
“Ah, yes. I forgot for a moment who your mother exactly is,” Mr. Kognito concedes, before putting down the rag he was wiping with. “Alright, enough stalling kid, what’s up? You in trouble? Need me to bribe some criminals to turn their heads? Leave you alone?”
“Well, I- Wait, can you do that?” Liam stops, shocked.
“Legally, for the record, I can not,” Mr. Kognito says, smirking.
Liam laughs. “Okay, we are talking about that another day! But no, I’m not in trouble. I’m just doing some errands for my mom today. She said you have some things for her ready?”
Mr. Kognito pauses and thinks for a second. “Ah, she wanted some repairs done. They should be done. Now where exactly did I put them-” Mr. Kognito turns around and starts to rummage in some boxes, scratching his head in thought. Liam decides to take this chance to find out what happened exactly to their flour supplier.
Laying his head down on the wooden booth, Liam starts to explain. ”So . . . I am supposed to also get flour, according to the list my mom gave me, but I can’t find Ms. Sally anywhere. Do you know where she is?”
Mr. Kognito steps away from the back carrying a box of stuff and places it on the booth surface. “Sally, eh? Not sure to be honest. Might be busy with that rascal husband of hers.” He goes back to grab a few things from the other boxes behind him as he talks, before finally placing everything together and taping the package shut.
“Her husband?” Liam asks.
“I probably shouldn’t say but . . . She’s better off leaving that bum,” he muses as he wrestles with the tape. Finally, he places it down. “There, that should do it. Should have everything in there.”
Liam perks up. “Oh, great!” That was the last thing he needed besides the flour.
Mr. Kognito adds, “Where’s the payment then?” Liam pauses. His mom had said there was no need, and he had just believed her, assuming that she had already worked out a payment method with the suppliers. He gives his honorary uncle a side-eye.
“Not gonna be with me,” Liam replies, calling Mr. Kognito out on his bluff.
“Ah, you’ve grown up a lot from believing anything I tell ya, kid. Good for you,” he laughs, patting Liam’s shoulder. He looks at the box again before turning to Liam. “Not to say you can’t, although you definitely can’t, but you’re not walking back with all the supplies, are ya?”
Liam laughs at Mr. Kognito’s statement. “Nah, I have a cart I’m putting everything in.”
“Great.”
Liam takes hold of the box, letting an “oof” at how heavy it is. He adjusts his grip, before waving quickly at Mr. Kognito. “Thanks again, old man. See you on Thursday!”
“I’m not an old man!”
The two-wheeled cart creaks dangerously as Liam finally places it down in the alleyway behind the shop. He wipes the sweat off his brow, happy to finally be done, before looking at the sky.
That took all afternoon!
He stretches, cracking his back. Then he makes his way to the back door of his mom’s noodle shop and knocks really loudly before making his way in.
“Robber here to rob the Chen Noodle House!” Liam exclaims, looking at the staff. The first person he sees is Alex, the assistant manager. She rolls her eyes before passing him to make her way outside.
“Haha, very mature, kid,” she says as she passes by him, and Liam grins. He’s known Alex almost his whole life, so she’s another honorary aunt he has who knows all his tricks and pranks.
The other staff have come and gone, with a few notables, but Alex he has known since he was a baby. His mom said she was an ex-convict, which made it hard for her to find jobs, but whenever he asked about why Alex got convicted, she would go quiet. Regardless, she’s always been a cool person that takes no nonsense, making her the perfect assistant manager.
He turns to look at the rest of the staff in the kitchen, who merely grin or shake their heads, already used to his behavior. The new part-time workers (Emily and Tae . . . he thinks) also pass by him, likely to help Alex unload supplies. Liam turns to the head chef, Chunky (yes, that’s his name - don’t ask Liam why).
“Where’s mom?”
“Ah, she’s helpin’ waitress up front since we’re understaffed right now,” Chunky explains with his west English country accent as he mixes a pot. “She’ll probably come here as soon as she hears that the delivery has arrived.”
As soon as those words were said, the door that connects the kitchen and restaurant floor opened. In steps the woman of the hour, Liam’s mom herself.
“Mom!”
“Hey boss.”
Skylor Chen looks around the kitchen before pausing her eyes on the two of them. She immediately heads over towards Liam.
“Hey honey,” she says as she starts scanning him quickly for injuries. It’s a habit Liam noticed years ago that he’s sure his mom has never noticed, but makes Liam smile. “You bring everything on the list?”
Just as she says that, the others return from outside carrying supplies. She smiles as she inspects the bags and grabs some to help with restocking.
Liam rocks on his feet as he stretches. “Yup! Only thing missing is the flour cause Ms. Sally wasn’t there.” His mom turns to him in concern.
“She wasn’t?”
“Yeah. I asked Mr. Kognito and he said maybe she’s dealing with her husband,” Liam shrugs, then perking up as he spots a rack of dumplings that are just calling his name. His mom hums in reply, thinking, as Liam approaches the rack and quickly stuffs a dumpling into his mouth.
“I’ll have to remember to check on her,” she muses, eyes distant. Then she zeroes in on Liam and raises an eyebrow at his attempt to put another dumpling into his mouth. Liam grins and eats it quickly before she can say anything.
She shakes her head before coming up to him and smooching his cheeks. “You are a rascal, you know that?” she says affectionately. Liam merely grins with his mouth full. “Thank you for getting the supplies, by the way. Even though it was a punishment, I still appreciate it.”
Liam swallows quickly before giving a wide smile and a thumbs up. “All in a day’s work!”
His mom goes back to sorting items, and the bustle of the kitchen returns as everyone goes back to their individual tasks. Liam has always appreciated the way the restaurant works like a well-oiled machine, something his mom says came with many trials and errors.
He starts rocking on his feet with his hands behind his back. “So . . .”
His mom pauses from where she’s pulling out items and turns to him with a raised eyebrow. “What did you do?”
Liam gasps in mock offense. “Nothing! Why would you think that?”
“Could you remind me again who was the person last week who got suspended for getting into another fight?” Skylor exclaims, crossing her her arms.
“What- they were bullying a little kid!” Liam defends, before pausing and taking a deep breath. “Not the point I was trying to make. I was GOING to ask about restarting training again.”
His mom pauses in thought. Liam waits in silence as she thinks about it for a few moments. He watches as Alex comes back inside with the last of the supplies and starts barking out orders to sort things away.
As a kid, he would train with his parents all the time to learn how to defend himself and improve. Years later, it’s just his mom that would help him weekly, despite being busy with the shop, but he unfortunately still hasn’t been able to access his powers (if he has any) yet. They had to stop trainings a few months back, but Liam thinks now is a good time as any to start again.
Once he gets tired of the silence, he tries to justify himself. “It’s been a while, and I really want to train again! It’ll be good for keeping up my stamina and helping me defend myself and uh-”
“Okay, stop,” Skylor holds a hand up with a sigh. “While I do think you are plenty capable of defending yourself right now,” she gives him a glare and Liam quickly looks away, “I do agree that it’s been a while. We can start up weekly trainings again since the shop is-” Skylor pauses and sighs. “Anyways, we can start next Saturday and train weekly.”
“Yes!!!” he exclaims, running up to his mom and giving her a hug. “Thanks mom!” She gives him a resigned smile and returns the hug.
“Don’t make me regret it, kiddo.”
“Oh, by the way, can Emiko join?” Liam asks, eyes pleading. “She should be able to defend herself too!”
Skylor raises an eyebrow. “I don’t mind as long as her mom says it’s fine.”
“YES!” Liam shouts again, pumping a fist in the air in excitement. His mom laughs.
“Okay, okay, tone down the excitement, buster. And if you’re not going to be helping in the kitchen, get out,” his mom says, tilting her head in amusement.
“GASP,” Liam states, already halfway out the door. “You’d kick your own son out? I cannot believe this betrayal! Anyways, byeloveyouseeyoulatermom!” He proceeds to run out of the shop.
The last thing he hears before the door slams shut behind him is the distant voice of Alex saying, “Did he really say the word gasp?”
“She really said that?”
The palace the Empress and princess reside in is, on a usual day, closed for visitors. Not just because of security reasons, but because both the Empress and the princess value their privacy. Liam himself had heard Aunt Rumi rant about the lack of privacy with technology nowadays, and how she used to be able to leave the palace easily. (Of course, when Emiko tries to convince her mom to leave as well, she gets the same point told.)
But Liam, as Emiko’s best friend, and the nephew of the Empress, gets special treatment. Aunt Rumi herself said he has open permission to come visit the palace whenever he wants, which Liam finds pretty cool.
So after talking to his mom, he of course takes advantage of the open access he has to go talk to Emiko instantly. He knows she is probably doing nothing (she hates summer cause there’s usually nothing to distract her with), so Liam knows this news will cheer her right up.
And he is proven right when she jumps up from her seat, excited glean in her eyes.
“Yup, my mom gave the ol’ stamp of approval,” Liam says proudly, crossing his arms. Then he lowers them sheepishly. “Er, well, she said she would if you got permission from your mom.”
That makes Emiko lose some of her excitement. She places her fingers on her chin in nervous thought. “That . . . might be an issue.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “Look, between the two of us, I’m sure we can convince Aunt Rumi.” He proceeds to stand up and drag her by the wrist to her mom.
Liam loves Emiko, but sometimes she gets so caught up in her own head, especially with her mom. It’s best to just confront the source at times like these.
“Wait, Liam- That’s not . . .” Emiko protests as he walks all the way to his aunt’s office.
“Too late!” Liam says, once they arrive in front of the door. He knocks loudly on the office door. “All right, Em, your time to shine!”
“Liam!!” she hisses, getting nervous as the guards stationed by the sides of the doors open it up.
Aunt Rumi looks up from where she’s sitting at her desk, her secretary beside her. “Emiko? Liam?”
Emiko laughs nervously and waves. “Hi mom.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “Hi Aunt Rumi! We just stopped by because Em has a very important question to ask, right?”
Aunt Rumi takes off her reading glasses and places them on the table with an amused smile. “Is that so?”
Silence.
Liam clears his throat. When that doesn’t work, he nudges Emiko’s feet. She jumps up in alarm.
“Right, so . . .” Emiko starts, looking everywhere but at her mom. “Aunt Skylor says she will be . . . restarting training with Liam. And . . . sheofferedtotrainmetoosocanIjoin?” Immediately after bursting that statement out, she turns to Liam, who gives two silent thumbs-ups and smiles. They both then turn to her mom and watch her confusion in real time.
“Training . . . with Skylor?” Aunt Rumi asks, uneasy.
“It’s going to be totally safe, Aunt Rumi! Plus, you know my mom, she is very trustworthy,” Liam brags, hands on his hips.
That makes Aunt Rumi smile. “Well, that is true . . .”
Emiko steps forward now, hands clasped together and eyes pleading. “Pleaseeeeeee!! It’ll be good for me to know how to defend myself!”
Aunt Rumi pauses for moment, before sighing in resignation. Liam knows they’ve won at that point. “Yes!” he shouts excitedly.
Aunt Rumi laughs and looks at him. “I haven’t even said anything yet, Liam.” Liam and Emiko both stare pleadingly at her. “My goodness, you two drive a hard bargain. I will allow it-” “LET’S GO!” “-Ahem, with the stipulation that your guard accompanies you, Emiko. Just to be safe.”
Emiko jumps up and down in excitement. “I can do that! Ohmygosh, thank you mom!” Then she runs up to hug her. Aunt Rumi pats her back with a fond smile.
“Next time though, try crafting a more eloquent argument please. I could barely decipher what you were saying,” Aunt Rumi says, sighing. Emiko is still hugging her in excitement and doesn’t seem to even register the words.
Liam laughs in her stead. “We’re trying to aim for your emotions, not your logic,” he says, grinning.
Aunt Rumi gives him an exasperated look. “Well, you’ve certainly succeeded.”