Chapter Text
‘Ring! Ding! Ring!’
Squeaky shoes skidding across the tiled hallways echoed through the school building. A blonde boy pushing past people who haven’t avoided his presence already; sending apologetic shots as he shoved pasted the students like rag dolls in a washing machine.
His bag swung haphazardly behind him, his hoodie strings bouncing against his chest as he finally spotted the main door’s just up ahead. Just as he was about to push the glass doors open and finally be free from this living nightmare—a foot stuck itself out right in front of his sneakers.
Before he could even react he fell to the floor and slammed into the doorway, it opening from his weight as he hit the concrete outside. The boy’s lower half still being inside the building whilst his higher was aching with jolts of pain as he groaned against the rough ground.
“Watch where your going.. garmadork !”
“Careful Chen! He might call his dad to come destroy the city..again!”
Laughter rung through Lloyd’s ears, slowly peeling himself up off the floor as two fingers pushed his head aggressively. He winced at the pain in his hands; bring them up to his face and glaring at the reddening palms. The boy watched feet walk past him as he carefully got back up onto his feet. Leaning against the still open door to regain his balance.
However, he didn’t let those words get to him. For Lloyd was determined to make this weekend the best weekend he’s ever had, and he won’t let some poor sad cheerleaders ruin his good—ish mood!
What had the boy so excited though? Maybe Koko had finally given in to buying him a new console? Or perhaps Uncle Wu would teach him and the other’s a new way of defeating an enemy?
No, none of that. The reason why his face was practically stuck in a wide smile was simple!
He was spending the weekend with his cousin.
Excitement jolted through his veins like lightening as Lloyd scurried his way down the entrance’s steps and off onto the main sidewalk. Ignoring his normal way home as the bus drove by, he dismissed the way kids stared at him outside his window. The boy swore that if anything ruined his upcoming plans he might just go haywire!
Shaking off the stares he got as he rushed down the sidewalk towards the underground subway station, Lloyd didn’t resist the urge to slide down the railing and jumping off as he hit the bottom. Awkwardly shoving his way through business men and hobos just as he did through the hallways not even a few minutes ago. Nose scrunching up in disgust as he smelt the disgusting wave of the subway hit his nose.
He drowned out the sounds of mummers as he pushed his way through the crowd. Brows tightened as he focused on making it towards the subway car doors before they skidded off in at a blinding speed down the tracks. Luckily, it seemed the universe had decided to given the boy a break for the time being. Lloyd nearly threw himself into the car, catching the attention of a few people as he almost hit the pole off to the side.
Sending a nervous smile, he quickly shuffled past a few legs and over to a seat. Pulling his hood up immediately as his blonde hair scrunched up from inside. Carefully sliding his phone out his pocket, Lloyd absently threw away the messages from his friends. Deciding to answer them after his weekend is over, he doesn’t want to deal with whatever drama they have burning, nor anything that might drag him away on a mission. This weekend is his, and he’s gonna spend it out he wants.
Scrolling back to his homepage, he opened up his music player. Swiping past a few of his suggested songs until he got to one he likes. Letting the sound drown out the world as he laid his head back, eyes staring into nothing while the subway car sped down the tracks.
—
Arriving didn’t take more then just thirty or so minutes, the ear ringing sound as the car pulled a clean stop. The doors opening with a swooshing hush, as people hurried their ways out. Lloyd being amongst them as he slide past body after body. Not caring to take his time as he roughly shoved through towards the stairs.
A few annoyed squawks and shouts flowed in one ear and out the other. Cursing the boy as he finally made it out of the terrorizing subway, as way as away from the disgusting smell of body heat and sewer drains.
Sneakers thudding against the sidewalks of the city, the street lamps began to flick on as he ran through shortcuts. Even slipping in a few of his ninja skills he learned with jumping over a few railings here and slipping through tight squeezes.
And then, the building came in sight. It doesn’t stand out, perhaps a little run down, but this apartment building was his second home. His safe place. He could spot his cousin’s window up on the fourth from the ground, before hurriedly running across the street to the entrance. Fumbling for the passcode into the building written on a piece of paper in his pocket, luckily for him, it was still there. Punching in the numbers a little harshly on the keypad, the side door clicked open and he was greeted with a stairwell.
The time it took him to climb the stairs was far faster then any normal person could do, luckily for Lloyd, he wasn’t any normal person. Barely breaking a sweat as he finally made his way to the fourth floor. The number in question presented proudly with a sign next to the door leading into the hallways.
The boy smiled, unable to contain his excitement as he practically bounced his way into the hallway. Hands shaking rapidly, trying to keep his small stims to a low as he noticed a few others walking through the hall. Sending a small two fingered salute to them as he sped-walk past.
Like a snap, he was there.
The faint smell of candles sticks burning and the sounds of a TV muffled by the front door. His hand nervously rose from his hoodie pockets, and gently knocked against the wood. Lloyd rocked on his heels as he waited, a sense of anxiousness weighing down on his shoulders. He had been so happy to know he would be staying with his cousin for the weekend, and yet he couldn’t stop this new feeling of anxiety.
What if his cousin doesn’t want him here? What if he changed his mind? What if he annoys him? What if—what if—
‘Creak..’
“Hey, Lulu.”
Lloyd’s mind immediately halted, a soft flush covering his cheeks from embarrassment as a grin broke out of his face. Scoffing at the old nickname as he glared at the other, now standing in the newly opened door way. Arms crossed, hair pulled back, and leaning against the wooden frame with a smile.
“I thought I said not to call me that anymore, Morro.”