Work Text:
Lloyd sighed, fiddling with the corners of his textbook. He was close to graduation, only needed a few more credits to finish and finally get his highschool degree.
The final part he needed, his chemistry final.
Something about how everything worked in the class never seemed to make sense in his head.
He understood the basics, but a few questions in particular were bugging him.
You've got this, just try to focus.
Lloyd appreciated Morro's help, but was very adamant on his stance of 'you can't cheat for me'. So Morro just stuck to encouraging his friend.
"I know but… I can't remember." Lloyd ran his hand through his hair, twisting his fist up to hold the strands firmly.
Stop that Lloyd, you're gonna hurt yourself.
Lloyd paused, slowly releasing his grip. He sighed, looking away from his book, "I can't."
You can. You've done worse.
Lloyd could feel the smirk behind those words.
"What, like fighting my dad?"
Like that math final last semester.
Lloyd shivered, Morro laughed.
"Don't. The numbers were hard enough, but then they added shapes and letters…"
The wind ninja laughed harder, a loud, boisterous laugh that seemed to fill the room. Lloyd couldn't help but chuckle, it was infectious. Coiling around him like a snake.
It was then that Lloyd realized just how intertwined he and Morro had become. At first, it was a mutual agreement to share a body. Then, slowly, they started to slowly open up to each other.
It started with Morro talking about his fear of water. Lloyd also expressed his fear of the dark.
Now, almost 2 years after their original deal, Lloyd really couldn't imagine a world without Morro with him.
Lloyd~
The sing song voice filled his brain, snapping him out of his own thoughts.
"Yeah?"
You're very distracted, what's on your mind?
"It's.. nothing, we should get back to it." Lloyd turned back to his book, flipping the page.
We?
"Yes, we. You're doing this with me." He pulled his notebook closer.
Do I have a choice?
Lloyd stopped. He felt Morro shift around. The feeling wasn't something Lloyd found himself able to properly describe. It was like his soul was shifting, moving around to fit with Morro's presence.
"You always have a choice, but if you finish this with me technically, you finished high school too!" A large smile made its way into his face.
Hush.
Another chuckle.
But you're not wrong, let's get this over with.
Lloyd groaned, but picked up his pencil nonetheless.
Lloyd paced around the kitchen quickly, his computer opened on the table. The tab open was his schooling. He waited on baited breath, digging his fingernails into his arm.
Lloyd, breathe.
He took a slow, deep breath as Zane walked in.
"Llo-... Are you alright? You seem nervous."
Lloyd looked up quickly, forcing a smile on his face, "Oh yeah, I'm great."
"Are you waiting on something?" Zane looked over to the computer.
"Oh um.. yeah actually, my highschool finals results."
Breathe Lloyd.
He took a deep, calming breath.
"Wait.. are you getting your diploma?" The ice ninja tilted his head to the side.
"Hopefully actually." He chuckled weakly, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.
"You should've said something! We could've done a celebration!"
Lloyd hated to admit he was a little shocked to hear Zane would've done something. Then again, it's a lot easier to say you'll do something than actually do it.
I think he would actually do it.
Lloyd tried to ignore his co-host, not let the hopes of something be squashed again.
"Oh, yeah.."
"For your graduation we'll have a party! I'm sure we could get everyone on board." He was smiling, looking off into the distance as he started to rattle off party ideas.
Lloyd let himself smile a little, trying to silence the part of his brain telling him things that were simply lies.
Zane didn't care specifically about Lloyd, there was no way. He had plenty of other things to worry about. Like his relationship, his brothers, his job. Lloyd was probably at the end of that list. He would never have the same connection that the boys had, there was something special about it.
His own mother couldn't bother to stay with him, why would his friends?
Lloyd, you're spinning. Take a deep breath, it's all going to be okay.
He was once again snapped out of his thoughts by Morro. He honestly didn't know where he would be without him.
He slowly took a deep breath, trying not to alert Zane to anything wrong. "Yeah that sounds nice actually."
All of their attention focused solely on the computer after a loud beep.
His results were in.
He passed.
The party was a few days later, and the shock Lloyd got from it almost forced him to switch with Morro on the spot. He walked into their living room, not expecting a bunch of his friends to jump out with confetti explosions and streamers.
He felt Morro's soul press against his, smiling at both the comfort from that and from his friends.
It went on for hours, people talking and reminiscing on their school days, Lloyd talking about his own struggles and triumphs with it.
He sat off to the side, sipping on some water Zane had passed out a while ago.
You truly deserve this. You worked hard to get here.
Lloyd brought the bottle to his lips to hide his words, "You helped a lot."
A chuckle went through their mind.
You did most of it, enjoy the party.
He looked around at the decorations, a bunch of balloons and streamers littered the walls. A giant banner went across one wall saying "Congratulations". He felt a smile tug at his lips.
Everything was going well.
Until he saw an all too familiar blonde head walk through the doors.
Lloyd felt his stomach turn.
"Mom."
He felt Morro tense, ready to take over the minute Lloyd asked. Lloyd was grateful to have Morro there, always ready to step in and take over without a second thought.
Misako made her way over, eyes trained on Lloyd like a hunter looking for prey.
You'll be okay, she'll go eventually.
Lloyd wanted to nod along, she would leave.
She always did.
"Lloyd! My son, I'm so proud of you!" She went to hug him, but Lloyd took a slight step back. He wanted to glare, but he couldn't muster up the expression. She had the audacity to call him her son.
Her face turned to confusion, "Lloyd?"
"Nice of you to show up, thank you. I worked hard to finish school." His fists balled at his sides, he could feel his nails digging into the palms of his hands. He kept eye contact with her and watches as her eyes searched his.
Lloyd, take a breath.
He did as he was told.
"You're acting strange, is everything alright?"
You're acting like your father. That's what she meant to say. It's what she was always so afraid of. Why she left him at Darkly's, why she left him with the ninja, why she always left. Because he was Lord Garmadon's son.
"Everything is fine, go enjoy the party." He crossed his arms, the pain in his palms finalizing registering in his brain.
Her eyes drifted to his hands, widening in shock, "Lloyd your hands!"
He glanced downwards, only now realizing his hands were bleeding.
LLOYD!
He almost winced from Morro's shouting.
"What happened dear? Let me help you get cleaned up." She made a grab for his hands, but he once again sidestepped her.
"It's okay, I've got it." He really wanted out of this situation. Her fake concern was grating on his nerves.
Wu made his way over, seemingly noticing the commotion. "What's wrong?"
"Lloyd hurt his hands." Misako turned to him, nervously glancing back at Lloyd.
He'd seen that look in her eyes every time he did something slightly out of the line of pure morality. Like she was afraid that one little thing would turn him into a monster like his father.
Lloyd never saw his father as a monster.
At least his father acknowledged he wasn't good, knew he was never there and how much that hurt Lloyd.
His father never tried to pretend to be something he wasn't.
Wu looked at him as he always did, without the fear brimming his mother's eyes, "Are you okay?"
Lloyd nodded, "I'll take care of it." He waved them off gently, making sure not to agitate his wounds.
"Alright then, let's give him some space Misako." Wu carefully led her away. Lloyd tried to ignore how easily she was lead away, how she seemingly forgot about the concern for her son so quickly.
He hated that he saw the lovestruck look in her eyes as his uncle carted her away. The look she was supposed to have for his father.
Lloyd, let me take care of your hands.
He could hear the concern in Morro's voice. He was concerned, but it wasn't a demand. Lloyd could take care of himself and Morro knew that. He understood it.
Lloyd quickly let Morro take control of their body.
He stepped back into their head, trusting Morro to do what he needed.
Morro flexed his fingers, wincing as the cuts shifted. New blood poured out and down his hand. He quickly used his shirt to wipe up the blood, making his way to the bathroom to patch it up.
He made quick work of patching the cuts, making sure to use the bandaids with little dinosaurs on them just to annoy Lloyd later.
He chuckled to himself, looking at them with some sort of pride.
He leaned against the counter and ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath.
"You sure are a handful, Green…"
He pushed off the counter, avoiding putting pressure on his cuts, and made his way back to the party.
Morro wasn't the best at socializing, but he could imitate Lloyd to a T, and they both needed 'Lloyd' to finish out this gathering without trouble. Whether he or Lloyd finished it didn't really matter.
He caught a glimpse of Misako across the room, holding a glass of something as she talked to Sensei Wu. He had to hold back the snarl at seeing her gently grab his arm.
She didn't even glance Morro's way.
They had figured out quite some time ago that Misako was terrified of Lloyd. That she never truly cared for him, felt burdened by him, and ultimately disowned him when she left him at Darkly's School for Troubled Youth.
It was the best decision she's ever made in Morro's book.
He would play nice until she left, but he wasn't about to let her hurt Lloyd ever again.
Cole walked up beside him, opting to lean on the wall next to him, "Hey man, having fun?"
Cole knew their secret, and was one that fully intended to keep it. "Lloyd needed a minute, but he was having a blast."
The earth Ninja's smile widened slightly, "I'm glad but that didn't answer my question, are you having fun?"
"As much as I can with certain guests." He crossed his arms, glancing at Misako.
Cole got the hint rather quickly, "Ah… I don't know their full history but.. I don't think it's good, is it?"
Morro shook his head.
"Well…. I'll find a way to get her to leave, this party is for you and Lloyd and you shouldn't feel uncomfortable." Cole got off the wall, scanning the crowd.
Morro felt frozen in place, "Me?"
Cole looked at him confused, "Yeah, you graduated too, right?"
Morro nodded.
"Then this is for you both, even if only us know that. Congratulations, and tell Lloyd congratulations too. I'll get Jay or Zane to get Misako out of here… I won't tell them why, but I shouldn't have to. They'll get it." Cole set a hand on his shoulder, "We've got it. You have fun."
And with that, he disappeared back into the party.
Morro felt like he could cry.
He took a deep breath to calm himself down.
Maybe… maybe someone other than Lloyd could actually be his friend.