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Lloyd moved his arm up, staring at the boy in the mirror. The boy moved his hand up as well. When he tilted his head, the boy in the mirror tilted his head as well. When he held out his palms, the boy in the mirror also held out his palms.
It was him, but at the same time, it wasn't him.
Lloyd could barely recognise himself in the mirror. He was taller, lankier and his cheekbones were more visible.
He noticed the flaws where his nose looks a little lopsided and his eyes looked really dull, a stark contrast to the vibrant red he had as a child. His two canines at the sides of his front teeth were more noticeable then ever. His lips were chapped. He reached up to touch his face with one hand, grimacing when he felt a tiny bump on his skin.
Lloyd opened his mouth and let out a sound. His voice remained the same, yet it felt strange coming out from a stranger's body.
This wasn't him.
This wasn't the wide-eyed candy loving child.
This was a boy forced to fight his father because of destiny.
Lloyd's breathing was suddenly very loud, being the only sound in the entire room. He was hyper aware of how different he looked now. His whole body could barely fit in the full body mirror, unlike before.
He tore his gaze away from the reflection in the mirror to his room, various clothes strewn everywhere. The clothes the ninja had bought for him when he had first come to stay with them.
They wouldn't fit him anymore.
He wanted to scoff.
What a waste of money.
His favourite black skeleton hoodie was also too small for him now. The only thing that fit him was his gi.
Before he could think twice, Lloyd cried out in frustration and slammed his fist straight through the middle of his reflection in the mirror. The sound of glass shattering filled his ears.
Lloyd startled and looked up with frightened eyes.
The mirror now had a hole where his face was supposed to be.
He stepped away from the broken mirror and the numerous glass shards scattered on the floor around it, trying to calm his laboured breathing.
The door creaked open. He should really get the hinges oiled.
"Hey Lloyd, I heard something and just wanted to- oh," Cole paused, taking in the scene.
Lloyd whipped up his head to look at Cole, before averting his eyes elsewhere again. He didn't want to see the utter disappointment and disgust in the other's face.
"Lloyd, hey buddy, can you breathe for me? Inhale for three counts, exhale for four, remember?" Cole said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Lloyd still jerked away from the contact, and the heartbroken expression on Cole's face sent a pang of guilt through his body.
He followed what Cole said. Inhale for three counts, exhale for four counts. Despite however shaky his breathing was, it slowed down eventually, Lloyd's chest rising and falling more gently.
His voice in his head disappeared, the one that was screaming how ugly he looked and pointed out all his flaws.
Then only did he register the pain flaring in his right fist. He looked down to see his hand, bloodied with glass shards poking out from the skin. The blood was dripping onto the floor slowly.
"Good, well done. Let's go get that hand bandaged now, okay?" Cole asked softly. Lloyd looked at him again. He no longer needed to tilt his head up to look straight at Cole.
He nodded, not trusting his voice to speak.
He followed Cole out of his room a bit reluctantly. He really didn't want anyone else seeing him like this. Luckily, Cole closed the bathroom door behind them.
"Okay green bean, you're doing great. Can you hold out your hand?" Cole asked, taking the first aid kit from one of the shelves on the wall. He sterilised one of the tweezers.
Lloyd held out his hand as instructed. Cole took it in his own hand, using the tweezers to gently pluck out the few glass shards embedded in his skin. Lloyd stayed quiet, not a wince or cry of pain. He didn't understand why Cole wasn't freaked out by him, or at the very least uncomfortable around him. He was like a complete stranger.
"We got lucky. It didn't go really deep into your skin," Cole said while cleaning the wound and bandaging it.
"Sorry," Lloyd finally mumbled under his breath.
Cole looked up with a slight frown.
"For what?" He asked, visibly confused.
"For...breaking the mirror and wasting your time," Lloyd said, staring at the white tiles on the bathroom floor.
Cole didn't say anything for a few seconds, and Lloyd's heart raced anxiously, waiting for a reply, any reply.
"Lloyd...look at me. You're my little brother. I could never get mad at you," Cole said, and Lloyd could feel his eyes on him. He bit his lip.
"But I'm not little anymore," He said, and the realisation dawned on Cole. His expression became sympathetic, and Lloyd didn't like it.
"Is that what this is about? Lloyd, no matter how old you are, you'll always be a younger sibling to all of us," Cole said, placing a comforting hand on Lloyd's shoulder. Lloyd looked at Cole's hand before looking up at him again, unsure of what to say.
"No matter how different you look, you'll always be our brother," Cole continued.
"Do you really mean that..?" Lloyd asked slowly, biting the inside of his cheek.
"Of course I do," Cole said firmly, and Lloyd could tell he was being genuine.
"Okay," Lloyd simply said, but smiled softly.
Cole returned the smile.
"Now let's go, I came into your room to call you for dinner," He said, opening the door and waiting for Lloyd to walk outside.
"Remember, no matter how different you look, you're still our brother," Cole said, noticing Lloyd's hesitation.
Lloyd took in a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom, and slowly walked to the dining room. Cole followed closely behind, and it felt nice knowing that someone was with him.
"Hey, there they are! You're late," Kai said, standing up to greet them.
Then his eyes flicked over to Lloyd's bandaged hand, softening in worry.
"What happened?" Nya asked, concern dripping from her voice. Lloyd shifted uncomfortably under all their expectant stares and looked to Cole desperately.
"It's all behind us now. Hey, what do you say we go for a walk together after dinner?" Cole suggested, changing the topic. Lloyd internally sighed in relief.
The ninja paused for a second before agreeing to Cole.
"Yeah sure, it's a full moon tonight as well," Jay said, his joy infectious.
Zane still looked a bit concerned but he decided not to push it.
"We're going to show you just how much you matter to us Lloyd," Cole quietly murmured to Lloyd as the others started distributing the food.
Warmth filled Lloyd, making him nearly tear up again. He blinked back the tears, smiling.
He couldn't believe what an amazing family he had found.
"Thank you," Lloyd replied to Cole, forgetting about all his negative thoughts from just an hour ago. He felt like he finally belonged somewhere.