Chapter Text
Lloyd Garmadon was one of the most famous people in Ninjago.
Next to his five siblings, they were known as The Ninja; Weapon-wielding superheroes that have saved Ninjago more times than years they’ve been alive. It was bizarre when the ninja appeared seemingly out of thin air. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the colorful bunch of teenagers, especially when danger kept threatening the city and causing expensive damage. Brad could remember being in school when he found out about them. Cole Brookstone, Jay Walker, Zane Julian, the sibling duo Kai and Nya Smith—Nya became a ninja later than her teammates—it was the coolest thing he had ever witnessed that seemed right out of a superhero movie. Even though the ninja have stated several times in interviews that they don't consider themselves superheroes, it doesn't stop part of the public from considering them as such.
But even before the ninja became popular celebrities and Nya Smith became known as the Water Ninja over her other alter ago "The Samurai X," it didn't take long for Brad to find out about the team's youngest member and eventual team leader. To say Brad's mind was blown was an understatement.
Lloyd was tough, and his grit and perseverance were completely unmatched. From an abandoned child to a walking legend, it was no shocker that Brad lost touch with him. After Lloyd left Darkley’s Boarding School for Bad Boys, the walking blond magnet of chaos rose to an entirely different level, one Brad could only dream of climbing to. Being the Green Ninja wasn’t easy. News of the ninja’s battles, skills, and injuries were usually covered by Gale Gossip and other media sources. Brad remembered the especially terrifying moment of white-knuckling through Lloyd’s battle with Former Emperor Garmadon at Kryptarium Prison live on television.
Even though Brad hadn’t seen or talked to Lloyd in over a decade, the goofy kid he used to be best friends with never slipped from his mind. Lloyd had most likely forgotten about him, fame and fortune tended to do that to people, but Brad never forgot. He couldn’t. Even though Brad was twelve when Lloyd went away, he could never shake how he felt about the infamous Son of Garmadon.
He never meant to, but Brad occasionally kept tabs on Lloyd to see what he was up to. Not to his surprise, Lloyd was always being a hero. Eventually, Brad checked up on Lloyd less and less as his life went on. Brad left Darkleys soon after it was rebranded by the ninja and went to a real high school where he dated a few guys, got a job at a local flower shop, and got his life going right out of graduation by signing up to become a police officer.
Now, Brad had his dream job as a detective working for the Ninjago City Police Department. To his amusement, the Ninja were a sensitive topic in his precinct.
“They’re disaster magnets! Do you know how much we’ve had to clean up after them? And yet, people love them!”
Brad sipped coffee from his mug. He was relaxed in his chair and had his legs up on his desk. “Yeah, they make a lot of messes, but the Ninja have saved our asses more times than I can count on both of my hands.”
Adam Wessen, Brad’s detective partner for the last six months, gave him a deadpan expression. “Seriously, Tudabone? You’re really defending them when they threaten our very jobs?"
“I think you’re being a little dramatic there.”
“Oh, am I, Tudabone? Our recent case about the triple homicide was completely taken out of our hands because Jay Walker caught our guy trying to kill his fourth and last target. We had that case in the bag and were just about to go into the field until the lightning ninja stepped in and ruined it! You were just as livid as I was!”
Brad finished his coffee and set the mug down. It was true, Brad was a fresh detective and Wessen invited him on the case because they had been getting to know each other pretty well. His excitement was cut short when Jay Walker caught the murderer and promptly put him in prison. The precinct was sour for weeks. Even Brad was distasteful towards the ninja for a brief period of time.
Well, for the most part.
“Face it, Tudabone, the ninja are screwing us over. Why have detectives do their jobs when you can have a 'magical ninja' on the case!” Wessen said with fake delight. He pushed his roller chair back and stood up, grabbing a stack of papers in one hand and a half-filled coffee cup in the other. “Get your jacket, we’re going out.”
Brad dropped his feet onto the floor, his relaxed aura gone. “We are?”
“Yep,” Wessen dropped the papers onto a neighboring desk. “I’ve got a lead on the drug dealing case we’re working on. Captain gave us the clear to investigate this morning.”
Brad hastily stood up. Excitement buzzed in his chest. “Nice! I mean, yes, okay, let’s go.”
Wessen chuckled as Brad passed him. “Careful now, rookie, don’t want anyone thinking you’re inexperienced.”
༻✧༺
“This is where witnesses say the main drug deals have been going on,” Wessen looked out on the sea of people dining across the restaurant. Brad smoothed down his button-up shirt. It was borrowed from another cop at the precinct since they didn’t have a lot of time to change for the occasion.
“Table for two, please,” Wessen winked at the hostess, who smiled in return as she grabbed two menus.
“This way, gentlemen,” she gestured for them to follow her. Brad observed the kitchen from afar. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but Brad knew better. Once he and Wessen were seated, they pretended to make small talk as they watched the kitchen staff like hawks. They knew the drug deals were happening in the kitchen, they just didn’t know who was doing it.
After a while, the sous chef caught Brad’s attention. He left the kitchen and slid into a backroom followed by a customer a minute later. Brad leaned forward and whispered to Wessen, “Got him, let’s move,”
The two got up and quietly made their way towards the back room. They paused before it, reaching for their guns and taking a few seconds to ready themselves. On Wessen’s count, they busted the door open and aimed their guns at the two men.
“N.C.P.D, get on the ground!” Wessen shouted at the buyer, leaving Brad to chase the sous chef who decided to take an exit through the back alley.
“N.C.P.D, stop where you are!” Brad shouted as he ran. The sous chef took a tight turn around a corner and disappeared from sight, only to reappear seconds later after being blasted backward. Brad skidded to a halt as green light faded from behind the corner. The sous chef’s back hit the wall of the building and he was slumped to the ground with a pained grunt. Brad quickly ran over to him and brought out his cuffs. “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You–”
His sentence was stopped short then he turned his head down the alleyway to see a man dressed in green. Brad’s breathing faltered as he registered who was standing in front of him. In turn, it seemed like the man was also frozen in place. Neither one spoke.
Finally, Brad felt his voice return.
“Lloyd?” His tone was barely above a whisper, but he knew the man heard him. He always had better hearing.
Wessen emerged from the back door, leading the cuffed buyer with him. Upon seeing Brad, his face brightened. “Nice work Detective Tudabone! I’ve gotta say, you’re one hella good rookie. Once we drop these guys off I’ll buy you a beer. Then we can–”
Wessen’s smile dropped at the sight of the ninja.
With the appearance of an unfamiliar face, Lloyd seemed to shake from his daze and became more animated. “Hey there,” he awkwardly greeted Wessen. “Just passing through.”
Wessen narrowed his eyes. “Make it quick, this is official police business.”
“Sure, sure,” he said quietly, shifting his gaze over to Brad again. He lingered for a moment, seeming unsure. His eyes never left Brad’s.
Wessen, impatient, handed his perp to Brad. “Is there a problem, Green Ninja?”
“No, no, not at all.” His voice returned, any trace of distraction gone. Once again, Lloyd was in Green-Ninja mode. “I’ll be on my way.”
Brad watched silently as Lloyd turned on his heel and walked out of the alleyway, vanishing from sight. Wessen huffed. “I am not letting another ninja ruin my case,” he mumbled, taking back his perp. He gestured to the sous chef. “What happened to him?”
Brad helped the man onto his feet. “He slammed into the wall.”
The sous chef grunted. “Damn Green Ninja blasted me!”
Wessen faltered. “He did what?”
“Okay, let’s just get to the car, yeah? I don’t think this guy can stand much longer.” Brad half carried the man around the building to the car. After securing the two men in the back, Brad started the car and drove off. Any attempts Wessen made to bring up the Green Ninja Brad shut down immediately. Eventually, Wessen decided to go on a tangent about a criminal he had caught a few years ago, and Brad tuned it out. His mind wandered back to the alley. Brad wanted to say something, he really, really wanted to, but he couldn’t muster the courage. Lloyd was–well, he was a celebrity. A hero, a legend. Brad was just a guy he used to know when he was a kid. Did Lloyd even recognize him? Would he care if he did? Did they even have anything in common anymore?
Brad felt his stomach churn. Did Lloyd recognise him?
“Hm, Brad? I might know a Brad. I know a lot of people so you’ll have to be more specific.”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel. He didn’t think his pride could handle an interaction like that.
“Hey, Tudabone,”
Brad snapped from his daze. Wessen was looking at him expectantly outside of the car. He had been zoned out for most of the trip and had driven back to the precinct completely by muscle memory. He unbuckled his seatbelt and hopped out of the car. “Right, let’s get the perps in the holding cell.”
He was stopped by a hand on his chest. “Woah, rookie, what is up with you? We caught a drug dealer and his buyer. You should be stoked!”
“I am, it’s just been a long day. I have a…headache.”
“Okay then,” Wessen looked suspicious but didn’t push. “You’re still down for the bar tonight, right?”
“If the migraine isn’t too bad then I’ll be there.”
“Alright!” Wessen clapped his back. “Let’s get these guys to jail, huh?”
Brad nodded. “Yeah, definitely.”
༻✧༺
Brad Tudabone was a charming but clever guy.
From the moment Lloyd met him, Brad’s mind was always working. Although the fire ant stunt Brad pulled on Lloyd his first night at Darkley’s Boarding School for Bad Boys has left his skin crawling every time he sees an ant hill, Lloyd could admit Brad had some serious dedication to his plans. Lloyd was saddened that he never managed to reconnect with Brad after he left Darkley’s, especially since he was Lloyd’s best friend for his entire enrollment.
Lloyd was always fascinated by how Brad could come up with a plan on the spot. Whether it was to avoid bullies or prank an unsuspecting teacher, Brad could think up a foolproof plan within minutes and execute it to perfection. He would only second guess himself if he saw a potential fault in the design. It was one of the very first things Lloyd admired about him. When Lloyd began to take the reins as The Green Ninja, he actually used Brad as inspiration for his own planning.
Lloyd was always busy, so he only found himself slipping into his memories of his former best friend on occasion. When he did, he felt a sense of bittersweetness. Even though Lloyd was ten when he left, he could never shake the sense of longing to see his friend again, even if it was quick and nothing ever came of it. Without Brad, Lloyd probably would have lost himself to the bullies or the anxiety that Darkley’s plagued him with a long time ago.
With this in mind, one could only imagine his shock when the exact same person he parted ways with a little over a decade ago was face-to-face with him a mere few hours prior.
Lloyd returned from his patrol distracted, and the ninja immediately noticed.
“What’s up with you?” Jay spoke with his mouth full of yogurt.
Lloyd, knowing the lengths his family would go to pester him if he said the truth, feigned a stretch. “Just tired. I’ve had trouble sleeping lately.”
“Have you gone to Master Wu about it?” Cole chimed in.
Lloyd shrugged and opened the fridge, pulling out some leftovers from the night before. “We’re ninja. We’re overworked, haven’t known a day of peace in two years, and traumatized. It’s in the job description. Lack of sleep is a guarantee.” He shut the fridge and set the food down on the counter.
“Monotone, sarcastic remarks from our usually calm and level-headed leader? Oh, something is definitely bothering you.” Jay stood up and sauntered over to Lloyd. His demeanor turned serious once he positioned himself in front of the blond. “Did something happen on patrol?”
“No,” he answered a little too quickly. Jay took notice immediately and Lloyd backtracked to salvage whatever chance of peace he had left. “I’m just tired, Jay, please.”
“Yeah, you fumbled, buddy.” Cole smiled.
“Cole,” Lloyd groaned. Jay patted him on the back.
“Spill it, Green Man, what’s bothering you?”
Lloyd breathed in through his nose and shoveled food into his mouth. Curse my grandfather, I really need to take acting classes. “Fine,” he swallowed the food. “I saw someone I used to know.”
Jay leaned against the counter. “What, like a criminal?”
“No, he was my best friend from Darkley’s.”
"What?" Jay shouted. “Darkley’s, as in your childhood abusive and toxic boarding school?”
Cole looked skeptical. “Did you say best friend?”
No point in lying. Lloyd set down his food and moved to open the cupboard, grabbing a glass and filling it up with tap water. “He’s the one that put fire ants in my bed.”
Cole, invested in the conversation now, moved to the sink to be closer to Lloyd. “So, how did that go? Was it awkward?”
“I don’t know,” Lloyd sighed. “I didn’t really know what to say. I haven’t seen him since the whole fake party thing. Plus, he was on duty and his superior was there. He probably doesn’t even remember me.”
"Oh duty?" Cole inquired. "Is he a cop?"
"I think he is. He was trying to take down a guy when I saw him. I may of, well, blasted the guy to stop him from running."
"Ohh," Jay drawled out. "Yeah, that must have been awkward."
Cole shot him a look. "Jay."
"Hey, I'm just saying. The commissioner was always down to help us when we needed it, but survey says, 'cops don't like ninjas.'"
"Not all cops. We work with the police all the time. It's only a few of them."
"Yes, I know it's only a few, but still."
"Why don't we just talk about something else," Lloyd suggested.
Jay and Cole exchanged a look but didn’t press any further. Lloyd mentally patted himself on the back. His siblings were incredibly nosey and Lloyd didn’t want to explain it further. He finished his food and washed the dishes. The conversation about Brad was long forgotten and Lloyd was ready to wind down for the night when Kai announced his arrival by banding the doorframe and loudly exclaiming, “Bar time tonight!”
Lloyd cocked an eyebrow at the fire ninja. “Excuse me?”
Kai clapped his hands onto Lloyd’s shoulders. “Didn’t Jay tell you? We’re finally taking a break tonight! Zane and Pixal said they would cover for us so we could go bar hopping. Y'know, since they’re nindroids and alcohol doesn’t really affect them.”
Lloyd turned his head to Jay and Cole. "You guys knew about this?"
"We may or may not have planned it." Jay shrugged carelessly with a smile. "Sorry, we forgot to tell you."
Lloyd looked back at Kai. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Every time we take a break of any kind, some new villain appears threatening destruction and doom.”
“I’m positive. C’mon, I know you’re craving a break just as much as we are.”
“We really shouldn’t–”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Kai put a finger to Lloyd’s lips and shushed him, making Lloyd attempt to shrink away from the invasion of personal space. With Kai's grip on his shoulder, he was unsuccessful. “Master Wu gave us the okay already. Even he thinks we need a break. Come on, it’ll be fun!”
Lloyd sighed in defeat. Taking a break did sound enticing. “Fine.”
Kai whooped and turned to Jay and Cole. “Alright! Get ready, we’re going to go until they won’t let us in anymore!”
Lloyd smiled and followed Kai out of the kitchen. One night wouldn’t hurt, right?
༻✧༺
“To Adam and Brad for busting the drug operation!”
Cheers erupted from everyone in the bar. Brad grinned widely as Wessen clinked beer bottles with him in a toast. The bar was buzzing with energy. Brad nursed his beer as his coworkers congratulated him. Captain Daughtler caught Brad’s attention and he lingered towards her.
“Captain, thank you for the toast,” he nodded his head politely. She returned the gesture.
“Good work today, Tudabone. You’ve made a pretty impressive impact on this precinct since you joined. I know you’ll continue to be a fantastic detective.”
“I appreciate that a lot, thank you, Captain.”
She nodded again and returned to her conversation. Brad felt like he was walking on air. This bust was exactly the case he needed to boost his reputation in the precinct. Being a rookie was never easy among superiors, but Brad was coasting now. His arrest numbers were good, he was working his way up to the more serious cases, and he was in good with his coworkers. Brad felt like nothing could ever bring him down.
He finished his beer and returned to the bar to order another one. As he sat waiting on the barstool, a figure sat right next to him, laughing joyfully at a conversation he was having. As the man got the tender’s attention Brad glanced at him. He nearly choked on his gasp, making a somewhat strangled noise that got the man’s attention.
When green eyes met his brown ones, he almost fell off of the stool. The man’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Brad?”