Chapter Text
Lloyd feels something weird about showing up to the race, in the requested Racer 7 jersey that Blazey had specifically sent for him to wear today. At least it was in green, one of Lloyd's favorite shades at that too. He makes his way to his seat, popcorn in one hand and his bookbag in the other, as he half debates on taking out his sunglasses and mask, before deciding he'd draw even more attention to himself this way.
The drivers begin to take to the starting line, with Blazey blowing a kiss in Lloyd's direction, laughing at Lloyd's demise and suffering as those nearest to him turns to look at him. In embarrassment and retaliation, Lloyd flips Blazey off, with the driver doing the same back.
So much for not drawing attention to himself.
Truth be told, while the race was interesting, Lloyd could only find himself half paying attention, his mind on the events from last night.
"What is that?" he finds himself asking, as both Brad and Lloyd looks at the now soaked photo card. He remembers this shoot, with Dareth directing him on different poses.
"You've gotta show your charm, Green Ninja!" Dareth cries out in frustration, as Lloyd holds up the drink and bunny plushie up to his face again, stiff as a board.
"No no no!" Dareth cries out again, as he readjusts Lloyd's hands, before Lloyd closes one eye, the lint from the middle-aged man's clothing getting in his eye.
Dareth backs away after adjusting Lloyd's position.
"Perfect!", Dareth exclaims, before taking a picture, thinking that Lloyd was winking. "This is gonna do numbers for my business! And your fundraiser, of course."
So not the best memory or his best work, if Lloyd had to be honest with himself.
"It's, uh, nothing!" Brad says, as he picks it up, drying it off with the sleeve of his shirt, gently trying to prevent more damage from coming to the card. "I stopped by the cafe on my way back, and they just happened to give it to me, that's all."
"Was anyone with you?" Lloyd asks, as he uses his powers to make a chair out of energy, deciding to sit on it to recuperate. Was this question too forward? Surely Brad hadn't abandoned him at the track earlier to go to a cafe by himself, right? "Just in case someone else is being followed, that's all."
Brad shakes his head, "Nope. Just me."
"So let me get this straight," Lloyd (or well, The Green Ninja) says, as he points to the photo card, "You went to a cafe that's not that well-known, by yourself, and the photocard is completely unrelated?"
Brad feels his face heating up in embarrassment, as he cradles the card close to his chest.
"And what's wrong with that?" He says, his mouth forming into a pout as the Green Ninja laughs. "Has any of your fans told you that you're mean? You should be honored that I spent my possible last moments trying to collect some merch. You should make some more, by the way!"
Lloyd laughs.
So this was what Brad was doing all these months after The Green Ninja had made its appearance when he called off early from work, or stated that he couldn't go to team dinners after due to personal commitments.
It was an unexpected side of him, and pieced together a lot of the mystery to him that was Brad Tudabone.
"There's not that much time in my day to do that," Lloyd says, as he throws a ball made of energy between his hands, "I've got something of a double life myself."
Shit.
"Double life?" Brad says, a special type of gleam in his eyes as he reaches towards his notepad. Lloyd panics, the ball of energy dissipating.
"I can't reveal anything about that!" He exclaims, as Brad sighs, defeated, putting his hands back down in surrender. "Y'know, Garmadon watching and all of that. Being a celebrity and a ninja. And stuff."
"I guess…"
"Don't get too down about it," Lloyd says, as he snaps, the couch dissipating too as he gets to his feet, dusting off his hands, "I'm sure there's plenty of opportunities in the future to find out more about me. I'll walk you home."
The two made light talk about the mild inconveniences in their lives and events in the city. Brad's boss having a nepo baby terrorizing his office life (Lloyd knows from personal experience, but decides to keep quiet about it), the suspicious lack of Garmadon activity on the city (as it turns out, both him and Brad were following this update. Nice to know), and what their favorite drink order was (Brad, as it turns out, likes his coffee black but his boba sweet). If the two of them take the longest route possible back to Brad's place, they'd keep it a secret between the both of them.
The two finally stand in front of Brad's apartment building, the warm light from the lobby illuminating both of their faces.
"I'll uh, see you around, I guess." Lloyd says, as Brad snorts.
"Sure thing," Brad says, laughing, as he taps his key fob on the panel by the door. "I'll treat you out to boba next time, whenever that may be. Think of it as a thank you for saving my life."
"Sounds good," Lloyd says, as the two wave goodbye. He waits until Brad safely enters the elevator, before summoning his elemental dragon, flying back home.
At the lowest level, Brad was asking The Green Ninja out as a thank you. At the most delusional level, Brad was definitely trying to land a date with the Green Ninja.
Or he could just be trying to be nice, a thought comes in, as Lloyd shakes his head. Usually, from Lloyd's experience, people didn't offer to buy the Green Ninja a drink to offer their gratitude. Most of the time, it was them cursing him out for not driving away Garmadon sooner.
But Brad was a fan of the Green Ninja, for whatever reason. So at the very baseline of it all, he had to like the Green Ninja to some degree, right? Especially to the level of going to small cafes and collecting memorabilia.
So what did any of this mean?
Lloyd is so deep into his thoughts that he doesn't notice the red flags being waived on the side of the track, as people around him begin to scatter.
"Are you fucking crazy dude?" a bystander says, yanking Lloyd by the hood of his jacket, Lloyd yelping as his train of thought breaks, "Skeletons are here!"
"Can't the drivers just drive into them?" Lloyd asks, as he frees his hood from the grip of the man, running alongside him, "I'm sure they can't recover from a car like that."
"You're weird," the guy huffs, as he waves Lloyd away, "Sorry for trying to save your sorry butt!"
And with that, the guy takes off, leaving Lloyd behind. The stands are mostly empty now, with the drivers' pitting and trying to get out of their car as fast as possible, their team nearly excavating them all at lightning speed.
Lloyd bolts for the nearest bathroom, cursing himself internally as the crowd runs in the opposite direction, the skeletons now advancing onto the track, some beginning to climb into the stands.
In a flash of green light, the Green Ninja emerges, green dragon letting out a roar as it towers over the stands.
Brad hears his alarm clock going off, as Flora begins to slap at his face with her paws. Groaning, he slaps his alarm off, as he debates on going back to sleep. A coma would be nice, though, he wouldn't have to turn anything into Flinn tomorrow. He takes out his phone, rubbing his eyes blearily as he begins to browse around social media.
GREEN NINJA NEWS @greenninjafollow
BREAKING! Skeletons have appeared at the F1 Ninjago Grand Prix. The Green Ninja has arrived at the scene.
GREEN NINJA NEWS @greenninjafollow
Green Ninja currently helping in the cleanup. Around 75 reported injured, no casualties.
Brad bolts upright, leaping to his feet as he hurriedly shoves everything into his backpack, still in his pajamas.
Lloyd was currently at that race.
To: Lloyd Garmadon
Hey are you okay?? I just woke up and saw what happened.
To:Lloyd Garmadon
??????
To: Lloyd Garmadon
I'm coming there, I'll be there in about 30. Just stay there and I'll help you get back.
To: Lloyd Garmadon
If you're not dead, I'm gonna go kill you myself if you don't answer.
Brad finds Lloyd sitting in front of the race display, ice pack on his eye and another ice pack roughly taped to his ankle.
"What the hell happened?" Brad fusses, as he pokes the ice pack on Lloyd's eye gently, taking out some pain medicine out of his bag and handing it to the blond, who takes it silently.
"I tried to fight off a skeleton," Lloyd says, as Brad sends him a death glare, "There was a little kid locked up in fear, it's better me than her."
"You have such disregard for your own life, you know that?" Brad says, tone soft, as he dabs a cotton ball underneath Lloyd's eye.
This is a pattern that happens more so than Brad would like to admit. Lloyd going in, trying to be the hero when the man himself isn't even capable of walking straight on his own two feet. He has to commend Lloyd for his bravery, at least. But maybe it stems from trying to prove to everyone he wasn't as evil as his father. And then Brad would fuss over him trying to patch him up or giving some sort of support for his injuries. Because seriously, what would he do without his favorite photographer?
"I don't disregard it," Lloyd says, stubborn as ever, "I just thought I could take them on. And I sort of won, I think."
There's a small pause.
"I kind of want a hot dog," Lloyd says, as Brad gives a small laugh at that, "I didn't get to finish my popcorn that I bought from the race."
"I'm sure you can pick one up on the way back home," Brad says, as "
"Well, it doesn't look that bad. Though I haven't seen your ankle." Brad concludes, as Lloyd grunts a thank you. "Flinn is going to kill us."
The two sit in silence, until another voice breaks through.
"Tudabone," Blazey says, as Brad and Lloyd look in her direction, "You're a bit late if you wanted a story on all the action."
Behind Brad, Lloyd shakes his head frantically at Blazey's tactical question, though Brad doesn't notice.
"I'm not here for work," Brad says, "I'm checking in on my most important asset."
"Whatever that means," Blazey retorts, as she stands in front of them, arms crossed, "But speaking of, I have a job for you."
She doesn't wait for Brad to say yes before she continues, "I'm supposed to be hosting an event for the children at Darkley's, and heard that you're one of their alumni and idol. I was wondering if you wanted to come. The Green Ninja also agreed on coming, before he disappeared off to who knows where."
"Fine," Brad says, as he points to Lloyd, "Aren't you going to invite him?"
"In that state?" Blazey says, as Lloyd looks at her pleadingly, "Hell no."
"Then who's going to get him home, if I have to prepare for your event?" Brad says, as Lloyd shakes his head, getting up from off of the display slowly.
"I can take myself home." He says, as he looks between Blazey and Brad. Brad can tell that he's itching to get out of there, the attention of the crowd turning to the three of them. "Thanks for today, in two different ways, I guess."
Brad doesn't get a word in before the blond leaves, almost disappearing into the crowd.
The event, for what it's worth, is full of glamour and mostly geared towards child attractions, no doubt for the children at Darkley's. The Green Ninja stands against the wall for most of it, in a different gi that's mostly black with green accents, different from the notable green suit he usually wears. Brad supposes it would be ridiculous for the ninja to wear a tuxedo, but have his mask on. Before he even gets the chance to approach, a swarm of kids jump him, excitedly climbing onto his back and holding onto his pant leg, begging to play with them at the ball pit or play interview.
A few hours pass like this, before the children are called away by the teachers for bedtime. The kids had left in teary goodbyes, reluctantly clutching onto the teachers' hands while waving at Brad, the writer finds himself in the grips of sharks. Ninjago elites circle around him, all of them eager to get the writer to write about their next big business development. Blazey saves him, pulling him apart from the crowd on the grounds that she needs to discuss logistics for the next race coverage with him.
"I think I've gotten everything I need," Brad says, as Blazey claps him on the back. "You have a ride I could take back home? Think of it as a payment for the sudden requested story coverage."
"You already know," Blazey says, as she points to the exit, a limousine parked out in front, "I've already given your address to the driver, he should know how to take you there."
"How did you find that out?" Brad asks, bewildered, as Blazey laughs, putting a finger to her lips. A sign that she's never, ever going to tell him, even when they were both buried six feet underground.
What a force to be rekoned with.
The Green Ninja silently files in next to him, also taking the opportunity to say that he's also heading out. Blazey pouts at the mention of the hero leaving, but also sends him on his way, thanking him once again for saving the people at the race, including her.
"You know, Green Ninja," Brad states, as he closes the door to the limousine, "I wasn't really expecting for you to be here."
"Well," The Green Ninja says, as he scratches the back of his head. (Is that even something that's possible for someone wearing an armored hood? Brad had no idea.) "Blazey said I could, and I don't like being around that crowd as much as you do. Think of this as my getaway car, almost."
There's a small pause before the hero continues, "I also wanted to talk to you. You seemed popular, with the kids, I mean."
"Well, as an alumni, I guess it makes sense," Brad says, lips forming into a pout as he places his chin on a balled fist, crossing his legs. "I was pretty popular, even back then. Not to toot my own horn, of course."
The Green Ninja gives a small laugh, as the two look out the window at the Ninjago city lights, a comfortable silence stretching between them.
"What about you?" Brad says, as he takes out his notepad from his bag, as the Green Ninja nearly snaps his neck to look at him, eyes wide. The hero points a finger at himself.
"Me?"
"Well, yes," Brad says, as he takes out his phone to record as well, "We could start our interview right now, can't we?"
"I guess," The Green Ninja says, as he leans back, Brad leaning forward.
"Now give us the juicy deets," Brad says teasingly, as he writes down everything the Green Ninja has said so far. His tone. The way that the Green Ninja's eyes tend to glance at his sides before giving answers to anything deeper than the villains that he's fought before. "Does the Green Ninja have a lover?"
Through the mask, Brad sees that the hero turning a bright pink color.
"It's… a work in progress." The Green Ninja says, as Brad leans forward. His favorite, having someone he's interested in? What was it like to date THE hero of Ninjago? Was it someone else with elemental powers? Or was it someone that blended in with the crowd entirely?
"Care to tell more?" Brad says, as the Green Ninja's eyes wrinkle into what Brad thinks is a smile.
"Not at the moment." He says, as Brad pouts, jotting down his final notes, "But when it does happen, I'm sure you'll be the first to know."
"Do you even have a number? For future interviews. I think for now this should be enough content." Brad asks, as The Green Ninja nods.
"Can I have it?" Brad says, as the Ninja looks at him with a raised eyebrow, before shuffling to take out his phone, which matched the symbol on his gi.
They exchange numbers in relative quiet, the rest of the ride passing in relative silence, both of them looking out into the city through the window.
The limo stops in front of Brad's house.
"Dinner tomorrow?" The Green Ninja asks, as Brad gives a wide smile, giving an excited thumbs up.
That's how the beginning of their relationship started, with The Green Ninja inviting Brad to dinners, stating that it was "for interviews", with Brad treating the hero out to coffee afterwards. They meet in hole in the wall stores, ones where nobody really goes after 5pm, but the food is nice, and it's clear that the hero knows all of these low key places in the city.
Brad learns a lot about the Green Ninja, things he wouldn't have been able to know before had he not agreed to go on these dates. The Green Ninja's favorite color is blue, despite always gravitating towards green. His favorite thing to drink is the most sugar-filled monstrosities possible, with as little caffeine as possible. He's slightly allergic to cats, but not to dogs. He's been butt-dialed by some of the villains currently sitting in Ninjago Prison. His strict training regimen (which Brad figured was intense, but yeesh).
In turn, he hopes, the Green Ninja has also learned a lot about him. His cat, Flora, who he insists that the Green Ninja will love, allergies be damned. His windowsill garden, and how he hopes one day to move into a bigger place that has a proper yard. How he pursued painting before pivoting to journalism. The one time in college that he and his scientist friend, Gene, got caught up accidentally stealing a car and traveling across the city with it before they realized.
They don't meet too often, maybe once or twice a week at most. They're both busy, and it's hard to catch the Green Ninja in a relatively uninjured or recovering state. But they text each other throughout the day, scheduling the next date.
"Would you say you have a favorite kind of cuisine?" Brad says on one of these said dates, as he smiles, sliding into the booth. The Green Ninja is already there, in his gi.
"I like Japanese," The hero says, as Brad nods, "I grew up eating it. So it's familiar."
"Would you say you like things that are familiar?" Brad says, as The Green Ninja looks at him, eyes amused with something that Brad couldn't quite place.
"You could say so, I guess."
And one day, something starts to click.
He's been so engrossed in his relationship with the Green Ninja (which they weren't official, not yet, anyways) for the past few weeks, maybe he's starting to hallucinate that his photographer has some of the same mannerisms.
The way that they sit when they're eating. The way Lloyd always looks lost in something else, something heavy, when he thinks nobody is watching. The food that Lloyd brings, which when it isn't packed by his brother or sister, is all the same favorites of the green-clad hero.
The way Lloyd somehow always shows up injured after the Green Ninja has to reschedule their dates from sudden Garmadon (or other villains) appearances. But Lloyd has always been accident-prone. It doesn't get in the way of his work, so the higher ups don't push it. Brad notices how the injuries always seem to be in the same places.
He hears familiar footsteps, turning around to face the entrance of their cubicle.
Speak of the devil.
"Have you seen the article I wrote?" Brad says triumphantly, as Lloyd shuffles into their shared cubicle, grumbling a greeting before dumping his bag onto his chair, "Exclusive interview about the Green Ninja. Though I did have to publish it without Flinn knowing. So I assume I'll be called in for that at some point… unless it does well."
"I read it on the way to work," Lloyd says, as his eyes glance to his left and then his right side, hands in his pockets. He's got an eyepatch on this time, shoulders slumped more than normal.
"What happened to your eye?" Brad asks, as Lloyd covers up the eye patch with his hands quickly.
"Nasty eye infection," The blond says, as he shrugs his shoulders, taking a seat in his chair before opening a bag of chips in their shared snack drawer.
The Green Ninja had gotten injured in the same place during a Venomari attack yesterday.
During one of their meetings with the rest of the crew, Brad sends a sneaky text to the hero.
To: Green Ninja
Would you want to get lunch tomorrow? I know it's last minute, but I figured it was worth a shot to ask.
Coincidentally, Lloyd's phone rings with a notification at the same moment. Brad looks up at the meeting desk, raising an eyebrow at Lloyd from across the table. Lloyd quickly turns his phone on silent, sending an apologetic look to the writer.
"It's Kai," the blond mouths, as Brad shakes his head, giving a silent facepalm. But the back of his mind is whirring. Surely all of these couldn't be a coincidence, right?
Right?