Chapter Text
This was pointless. There was absolutely no reason that this should realistically be happening. At least, according to Lloyd that is. See, everything had finally gone back to normal-ish- his dad was still evil but at least he was decent currently? He was making up with Harumi, the monastery was rebuilt and everything was back on track! At least until Zane had brought up this blasted topic.
“Look, there is no reason for me to have to go back to school!” Lloyd huffed in indignation crossing his arms and glaring at his uncle who he was sat across from, the steam from the tea between them drifting lazily into the air.
Uncle Wu merely sighed, shaking his head in exasperation, this conversation already having dragged on for longer than he would have preferred.
“Nephew, you must understand. The Tomorrow’s Tea incident skipped a majority of your life, while I have attempted to catch you up to the current curriculum. I believe it would be best for you to go back to school, at least for your final year of highschool.” He and Wu had already been having this conversation for a good ten minutes now, both were tiring of arguing.
“But why?! The other ninja don’t have to go back to school! Why is it just me? And don’t act like this was your idea. We both know you only brought this up because Zane mentioned it.” Lloyd continued to argue indignantly, sticking to his opinion.
Wu blinked kindly at his nephew, a small smile hidden by his moustache. “I will concede, this was Zane’s idea. But all of the other Ninja are already 18, and they have some teaching experience on their resume. It would benefit you greatly in this peaceful time to get a diploma so you may lead a normal life with a job in the future.”
Lloyd chewed on the inside of his cheek as he furrowed his brows in thought.
On one hand, he obviously didn’t want to go back to school. If Darkly’s had taught him anything it was that school sucked. On the other hand, his uncle was right. If he ever wanted to live a normal life he probably would want a diploma. Plus, he could also brag to the rest of the ninja that he was the only one of them to ever have technically graduated highschool. With that in mind he focused back on his uncle with a hesitant nod.
“Okay, but I have the conditions, got it?” Lloyd conceded with narrowed eyes. Wu merely nodded for his nephew to continue, “I’m only doing my last year of highschool, and if anything that concerns ninja duties comes up, it comes before any school work.”
“I can agree to those terms,” consented Wu with a nod, picking up the still-steaming teapot and pouring himself a cup “See Pixal about enlisting in a school, she will help you find a good one. And do not put off what can be done today, the school year is beginning soon.”
“Understood Uncle,” Lloyd stood with a nod “My apologies for arguing before-” he awkwardly apologised glancing at the floor. Wu merely chuckled and shook his head before taking a sip of his tea. Lloyd took this as his cue to leave and slid out of the room.
Sighing as he closed the door behind himself, Lloyd stuck his hands in the pockets of the green hoodie he was sporting and blew a tuft of blonde hair out of his face. He really should cut it soon. Making his way down the hallway he stopped outside the living room hearing voices from within.
Sliding the door open he stepped inside. Cole and Kai were furiously grappling with their controllers, extremely focused on the game they were playing, eyes laser focused on the TV whilst Jay cheered them on and Nya looked on in disappointment as Kai inched towards the losing score. Zane was nowhere to be seen- sadly. Lloyd had been hoping to ask him where he could hope to find Pixal, though now that he thought about it they were probably both down in the tech lab.
Even though it was incredibly obvious Kai was losing he still made his way into the room with a small question of “Who's winning?”. She merely levelled him with the most bored gaze he had seen in the world, eyes slowly flicking to Kai with a blink then back to Lloyd. He snickered and settled himself on the free couch of the three in the room, Jay and Nya taking up the one to the left of the TV, whilst Kai and Cole took up the one directly opposite the TV.
Jay, noticing he came in, gave him a friendly smile before going back to jeering at Kai for his inevitable loss as Kai continued to look more frustrated by the second.
“What did Master Wu say?” Nya asked, looking mildly interested as she looked away from the TV to instead engage in conversation with Lloyd.
Lloyd grimaced before answering with a sigh “Looks like I’m going to high school at the start of next term.” He merely shook his head as Nya exploded into laughs, grimacing more if that was even possible. Jay also took a break from his jeering to comment.
“Woah! I can’t even imagine, it kinda sucks to be you right now, yeah?” Jay said with a smirk, his eyebrows hiking up his forehead.
“Shut it Jay.” he merely replied, leaning back into the couch and covering his eyes with an arm.
It was blissfully quiet for a few seconds before a final note played on the TV, Jay erupting into cheers with Cole and Kai groaned in defeat. He hoped they would go back to playing the game- but no such luck.
“So you’re going to high school green bean? Wow, how did Wu get you to agree to that?” Kai whistled, seemingly already over his defeat moments prior.
“At least I’m going to graduate highschool unlike multiple someones in this house Kai.” he immediately bit back with a glare in his direction as he shifted his arm for this purpose specifically.
“Going straight for the head huh,” Cole snickered. “But seriously don’t worry about it, Wu tutored you most of your life, highschool will be a breeze for you.”
“I hope,” he merely replied with a grumble, “Anyways, has anyone seen Pixal? Uncle told me to see her about enrolling in school at all.”
“Mm, she's in the courtyard with Harumi,” Nya supplied, huh so his original guess of the tech lab was incorrect.
“Thanks Nya,” he groused, getting up from the couch and making his way out of the living room with little fanfare. Behind him he heard another game begin to be started up.
He may as well get going to Pixal right away. Plus Harumi was with her. Harumi had been staying with the ninja since the conclusion of the last battle, the ninjas acting as a way to make sure she doesn't step out of line while Wu could simultaneously teach her how to be ‘good’ for lack of a better term. Well- no more delaying this now, he mentally sighed once again- he had been sighing a lot today huh- and pushed open the door to the courtyard.