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It must have been around two in the morning when Wu awoke with a start to the sound of Morro clearing his throat.
“Wow. Didn’t even take you a minute that time,” the ghost smirked.
“What is it, Morro? Are you alright?” Wu asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Oh. Uh, yeah - he’s crying again.”
Wu didn’t even bother putting on his slippers as he quickly got out of bed, hurrying down the hallway to the kitchen. Morro trailed behind for a bit, before turning into the living room, where the TV was already on, volume low.
Soon, Wu was hurrying back up the hallway, past his room, holding a big mug of hot chocolate. Sure enough, when he reached Lloyd’s bedroom, he heard his young nephew trying to be silent while sobbing. Heart aching, Wu knocked quietly on the door.
“Lloyd? May I come in?” he asked softly. There was a pause, and the young boy was obviously trying to be even more quiet. “I know you’re awake…”
“Okay, Uncle Wu…” he muttered.
He entered the room, turning on the light and sitting at the end of Lloyd’s bed. The seven-year-old had wrapped himself up in his blankets, hiding beneath them. He was sniffling, letting out the occasional sob.
“You’re missing them again, aren’t you?” Wu asked, keeping his tone soft.
“Mhm,” Lloyd whimpered. “When are they coming back?”
“...I still don’t know, Lloyd; I’m sorry.”
“I just want Mama and Papa back…”
His parents had been missing for about a year now. Wu hadn’t been able to find any trace of his brother and his wife. They’d seemingly vanished without a trace. It was extremely odd; if they had gone somewhere, they would have taken their beloved son with them. But after a week without hearing from his closest friends, Wu had visited their house to check up on them - only to find Lloyd alone, afraid and hungry. He’d been living with his uncle ever since.
“Here, this might help you feel better for now.”
Lloyd poked his head out of the blanket, staring at the mug. It was his favourite - yellow with blue stripes, and cartoony dinosaurs across it. “Is that…?”
Wu nodded, holding it out to him.
Instead of staying where he was and taking it, Lloyd scooted over so he was beside his uncle before grabbing the mug and taking a big drink.
“Slow down, you don’t want to get an upset stomach,” Wu chuckled, putting an arm around his nephew’s shoulders. Lloyd leaned into the hug, still sniffling occasionally.
“Thank you Uncle Wu,” he said quietly.
“It’s alright; is there anything I can do to help?”
“Tell Papa to come home. Even though he’s your big brother and should boss you around…”
“When has he ever listened to me? Don’t you listen to my stories? Like when he sunk into the snow hill he built?”
Lloyd giggled a bit. “And he got all wet and Grandpa was scared he’d get sick and he had to wear biiiiig clothes so he was warm?”
“Ah, you do listen!” Wu said with a smile. “Yes, like that time.”
“Seeing him fall into the snow must have been funny.”
“It was, but I was also scared he’d hurt himself. But he was fine.”
“Do you think he’s fine now?”
“I’m sure of it. Wherever he is, he has his powers to keep himself and your mother safe.”
“I wish I had powers…”
“You might! You’re still young.”
Lloyd sighed and drank more of his hot chocolate. “I would make something to find them.”
Wu nodded, hugging him close. He didn’t have the heart to tell Lloyd he’d already tried that countless times. “You will do great things, I’m sure of it. What else would you make?”
Lloyd thought for a moment. “Infinity lollies.”
“What are infi- oh! Infinite. Right.”
“Yeah! Um… and a spaceship! And a laser sword!”
“To be like Fritz Donnegan?”
“Mhm! Just like him! ...But…” He trailed off, staring into his mug.
“Hm?”
“I… I’d have to be braver…”
“I think you’re pretty brave.”
“I’m still scared of things…”
“That’s alright. Everyone is scared of things. Morro is, I am, even your father is.”
“What’s Papa scared of?”
“One thing is snakes-”
“But they’re so cool!” Lloyd interrupted, shocked. Wu chuckled.
“And another,” he continued. “Is anything bad happening to you. Because he loves you very much. Just like your mother.”
“...I know…”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds being Lloyd drinking and occasionally sniffling. He’d stopped crying, which was Wu’s main goal. He’d even been laughing, which was excellent. Lloyd had finished his drink and was fidgeting with the handle of the mug.
“Um… U-Uncle Wu…? Can… can you please make them so I can hug them goodnight…? Like you did when I first came here…?”
“...You know it isn’t really them, right?”
“Yes. It just…”
“I know. It can help you feel better. It’s like a photograph, but better. Of course, Lloyd.” He sat up straight, closing his eyes and focusing. He knew the figures were there when Lloyd placed the cup into his hands, but he couldn’t bear the thought of opening his eyes to see Garmadon and Misako, not while doing this for Lloyd. They’d disappear because he would lose his focus.
He heard small footsteps across the wooden floor as Lloyd walked towards the smiling figures of his parents. The boy paused, before hugging ‘Garmadon’ tightly. He didn’t move, but he was warm.
“Goodnight Papa… I love you… I’ve been eating good like you told me to… mostly…”
Wu was trying to block out the conversation, holding in a shaky breath. He could hear the sadness in Lloyd’s voice. Lloyd approached the figure of his mother and hugged ‘her’ too.
“Goodnight Mama… I love you too… and I’ve been brushing my teeth like you told me to… and brushing m-my hair, like you used to do…”
Silence filled the room again, before the sound of quick footsteps, and suddenly Lloyd was in his uncle’s arms, hugging him tight. Wu set down the mug and returned the hug, pulling Lloyd into his lap. He watched as the figures disappeared.
“Thank you Uncle Wu,” Lloyd said quietly. “I love you too, you’re always nice to me.”
“I love you too, Lloyd… are you feeling any better?” The boy nodded. “Let’s get you back to bed, okay?”
“Okay…” Lloyd muttered, trying to stifle a yawn as he crawled out of his uncle’s lap and along the bed to his pillow.
Wu stood up, picking up the mug as he did so and placing it on the bedside table. He tucked Lloyd in for the second time that night, and noticed something was missing. “Ah - your teddy bear is on the floor,” he said, picking up the fallen stuffed animal.
“Ah! Mr. Candy!!” Lloyd exclaimed, taking the fluffy bear and hugging it close.
“”I thought his name was Cuddles?”
Lloyd shook his head slowly. “That was before. Now he’s Mr. Candy.” Lloyd liked to change its name every so often. Wu smiled.
“I see.”
Lloyd was obviously tired, despite waking up emotional earlier. He could barely keep his eyes open.
“Goodnight, Lloyd.”
“Goodnight, Uncle Wu…”
Wu picked up the mug, starting to head back to the kitchen. He stopped at the bedroom door and looked back to the nearly asleep child.
“We will find them, Lloyd. I promise,” he said quietly, turning off the light and quietly shutting the door.