Chapter Text
Lloyd watches Jay carry in the pizza boxes. The group has once again, avoided disaster by kicking butt. The others are prepping for a relaxing evening in after their success, but Lloyd is having issues concentrating on what's going on around him.
Whilst this isn't new, it's still an issue. In fact, it's starting to solidify itself as just that - an issue. Nya turns up the volume of the tv. Kai's laughing about... Something? It's noisy in here. Lloyd rubs his eyes, feeling spaced out. Is that the right term for it? Lost? His head isn't really, well, in the room. He isn't in the room.
"Lloyd, you better take some of this or it's gonna disappear before you get the chance." Jay advises, observing as Cole devours two slices of pizza simultaneously. Lloyd brushes his hair out of his face, and rubs his eyes again. Is he even hungry? He can't tell.
"Mhm, yeah." He mutters, yet doesn't move to grab a slice. His pale, sage eyes wander around the room.
"Sheesh, did you even hear me, Lloyd?" Jay's voice interjects again. He turns to Nya, placing a hand on her thigh affectionately. "Is the kid alright?" He murmurs, just loud enough for Lloyd to hear. Now Kai's staring at him too. This is beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Lloyd, eat something, dude." Kai adds. His long standing presence as Lloyd's closest big brother always shines through in times like these. But if Kai over does it, it feels strange. Not necessarily embarrassing, strange. Like Lloyd can feel himself become safe. Too safe. Dropping food on himself, and bursting into tears, and sleeping on the floor type of safe. So... Just silly. Childish, actually. And Lloyd would rather let incompetent Jay cut his hair for him than admit he's any type of childish. Because ninja aren't childish.
"I'm not hungry." Lloyd replies, leaning back in his chair. His eyes flitter between Nya, to Cole, and to Jay.
"Not hungry? Dude, we just completed a mission and you're telling me you're not hungry?" Kai's eyes narrow. He's got his full big brother look plastered on his face now. Great. Lloyd shrugs. He doesn't like arguing with any of the group, but particularly with Kai. It feels extra wrong.
Sensei Wu staggers in, his eyes adjusting to the bright light of the tv. Pixal follows, eyes bright as always, and her tools strapped to her belt. Wu thwacks his chest, coughing. "I'd say today was a success, but as usual, you still have things to learn, and– Cole, will you pay attention?" He scowls, the ninja tearing his gaze from the screen, and smiling awkwardly.
"Total ipad kid." Nya muses, raising an eyebrow, and taking a slice of pizza. Cole smirks, putting an arm around Zane.
"Sensei, we're always training, and we're always winning." He says.
"Well, according to my statistics, most of our starting plans fail, and we only truly succeed at the last possible moment we have to avoid an eminent crisis." Zane adds smoothly, leaving Jay to groan.
Lloyd fidgets with his hands. Zane isn't wrong. It takes them a good few tries to solve the problems they face as ninja. Maybe if Lloyd was a better leader, they'd fix their tragic efficiency issue. It'd be nice if Uncle Wu expressed his pride in him specially, more often but it's not like he deserves it. Why did he have to be the green ninja anyway…
"Lloyd, how many times do we have to tell you to eat?" Kai asks, voice lowering. The others are talking, and eating, and no one's paying much attention to Lloyd anymore. "Do you feel sick, kid?" Lloyd shrugs, and stares down at his lap.
"Bed." He utters. Kai ponders this briefly.
"You're tired?" His hand lands on Lloyd's shoulder, and he squeezes. It's nice. Kai is nice. "Lloyd, are you feeling a bit… Well, you know…" And he says it. Lloyd instantly feels his insides go all small inside of him, and he figures it out.
It's weird, but Lloyd doesn't always act his age. The first few times it started revealing itself, everyone chalked it up to his brain just trying to readjust to his body. That "Oh, Lloyd will grow up soon enough." That "Oh, give him a break, he's suddenly all big now. How strange would that feel?" But after more time passed, it became obvious that this was more a staple of Lloyd's personality now. That he could slip into bouts of childishness comparable to that of only a real child.
Sometimes he could still talk in full sentences, though his vocabulary would be skewerd. Sometimes he'd want to play pirates, or colour or watch tv. But other times, he'd have nightmares, and speak in single words, or not speak at all. And the crying. So much crying, and whimpering, and mess, and crayons on the floor and… Just, shit. Sometimes everything was just a bit shit.
"I'm…" Lloyd bites his lip. Why does Kai have to say it like this? Lloyd had tried to hide all of it, but of course it'd got out eventually when you have Jay barging in looking for his missing sock every five minutes, and simply, the chaos of the bounty itself. Lloyd nods because he can't finish the sentence, or rather he doesn't want to. He's feeling all floaty, and funny, and sleepy, and like he wants a cuddle.
Jay leans over, running a hand through his fluffy, ginger hair, eyebrows cocked up with interest.
"I still can't tell. I don't know how you figure it out, Kai. He just looks spaced out to me." He says. Nya unties her hair, and thickly rolls her eyes.
"You wouldn't see a bus until it ran you over, Jay. You can't just wait for him to suck his thumb to have your astounding realisation." She says, before returning her attention to her food. Kai chuckles at his sister's comment, and shoots a smug look at Jay. He's always felt proud of his more close, personal relationship with Lloyd, and he loves to rub it in everyone - mostly Jay's - face.
"You want to eat somewhere quieter?" Kai prompts, piling a few slices of pizza onto a plate, and standing up. Lloyd nods again, and stands, following his big brother into another room. It's Lloyd's room, and the moment he takes a step inside, the tension in his shoulders dissipates. Kai sits on the floor, and puts the plate down. After returning from the battle, he changed into his usual tank top, and red shorts. Kai doesn't wear many hoodies, since - like Zane - he can regulate his body heat. Lloyd sits down opposite him, and takes a slice of pizza. It's quieter in here, and he can hear his thoughts better.
"This is better, huh?" Kai smiles as Lloyd eats his pizza. The boy makes a muffled noise of agreement, and rocks back and forth. "You look tired." Kai continues. "I hope you haven't been pushing yourself too much. I know sensei Wu wants us to stay fit and ready, but I don't want you to push yourself past your limits."
Lloyd listens the best he can, although the heavy weight of sleep is only getting stronger. He finished a slice and a half, before shuffling around to lean against Kai. Really, Cole is the best for cuddles, but Kai is the only one available right now, and Lloyd doesn't mind. He rests against his arm, breathing deeply.
"Guess I was right. You're one sleepy dragon." Kai laughs softly, combing his fingers through Lloyd's bleach blonde hair. Any resentment Kai previously had for Lloyd around the whole green ninja debacle, or any other event, is nonexistent. Because how could Kai hate such an adorable boy?
"Lloyd? Are you awake?" He whispers, after Lloyd's figure sank further into his arms. The boy remains still, only his chest moving. Ultimately, Kai isn't surprised that he knocked out so fast. Those dark circles under Lloyd's eyes weren't giving him any good ideas.