Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Lloyd realized he wanted to become a ninja, he was fifteen.

His whole life, Lloyd lived in the city under his father's shadow. He had long since accepted the fact he could do nothing about the chaos constantly befalling his home, and he would live his life as Garmadon's son, the second most hated person in all of Ninjago and the number one punching bag in Ninjago city.

So when he first saved someone, he relished in how good it felt.

He was himself. Not a ninja, just an inexperienced teenager, and he impulsively tackled a woman out of the way of one of the generals' mechs just before it had the chance to crush her.

She wasn't very appreciative, running away screaming instead of thanking him, but Lloyd didn't care.

That was the first time he truly proved to himself that he could be more than his reputation. And he wanted, needed, to do it again.

Now, inexperienced wasn't exactly right. His mom had been teaching him martial arts and self defense pretty much as soon as he could walk. She also worked at a dojo and had a pretty good amount of patronage, because as it turns out, a fair amount of people wanted to learn combat skills from the only woman that could keep the Dark Lord at bay.

She wanted him to be safe, he knew, but Lloyd never liked using force on any of his peers. Maybe if he didn't fight back, didn't act out, people would start to think of him differently. Surely, someone would realize he wasn't as bad as people said he was.

Still, it was a shame to put all that time and training to waste, right?

Thanks to his mom's sewing lessons and sewing machine, he was able to be on the streets just a few weeks later. On his first few outings, he was always overrun with anxieties about his identity.

Like what if people still didn't like him, even when they couldn't see his face? What if he really was just that unlikeable? He didn't even know what he would do if that were the case.

Lloyd hadn't felt hope like this in years, and he didn't know if he could handle it if it blew up in his face.

Either way, he started out slowly as a ninja. The blonde stuck to the shadows, only stopping petty crimes in the less populated areas and not fighting as much as possible. He was a quiet force, never sticking around long enough to talk to anyone.

He kept a dagger hidden on his person just in case. Though he hoped he would never need to use it, he knew some criminals were ruthless if it meant saving their hide.

He never spoke with anyone either. As the second most hated person ever, his voice was far too recognizable, even if he tried to change it. Sometimes, he would call the police, say nothing and let them track the number, and then leave a note for them once they came on the scene describing the crimes committed by the crooks he caught.

Every time, he would sign off with the name Green. It was the best he had at the time.

It didn't take long for the news of a mysterious vigilante to spread throughout Ninjago City. Lloyd was completely infatuated with the inadvertent attention. One of his favorite places to get public opinion was on a blog he found on the internet called The Whispered News.

It used to primarily document Lord Garmadon's attacks, try to predict the next one, and give updates about other types of crime. Now, all it could ever seem to talk about was the elusive Green Ninja. The blog's popularity skyrocketed, and it made Lloyd's heart feel ten times lighter.

The newspapers themselves weren't his favorite place for updates. The police and the writers took on a much more realistic approach, more concerned about the legality of a vigilante and the potential dangers in having someone running around town in a costume trying to be a hero.

Still, he liked to snag a paper from time to time. He should keep an eye on multiple avenues of the public's opinions, even if they weren't all in his favor.

One day, Lloyd admittedly bit off more than he could chew alone.

He creeped up on a group of two in a particularly large alleyway, hoping for an easy takedown. They looked like a duo of Garmadon generals, stealing seemingly random things from a shop down in the less fortunate parts of Ninjago City.

The blonde took the two of them down easily, wrapping them in rope. He was taking out his phone and preparing to call 911 when one of them yelled for help, startling the ninja from his thoughts. Before he could begin to think, the burner phone was knocked out of his hand, and two foes quickly became about a dozen.

Lloyd was unprepared to deal with them, but he still got up from the ground as fast as he could and threw up his fists. The generals formed a circle around him and scowled, daring the ninja to do something. Lloyd noticed some of them twitching erratically.

He lunged forward suddenly, punching the one in front of him as hard as he could before dropping down and kicking the feet out from the general on his left. He whirled around expecting the ones behind him to jump at him next, only to turn and see another person in red with two of the generals at his feet.

Lloyd couldn't think much beyond his initial shock before he was forced to recommence the fight.

After every one of the perps were down, the Green Ninja started gathering them and tying them together. He almost forgot about the mysterious figure when he heard footsteps approaching.

He swiftly took out his dagger and swung around on them, pointing it at them.

☆

"Woah!" Kai jumped back, holding his hands up impulsively. The Green Ninja glared, adjusting his grip on the hilt of the weapon he had at the brunette's neck.

Kai cleared his throat before speaking, deepening his voice and speaking quieter than normal. "Hey, I'm on your side, I promise!"

When the ninja gave him a disbelieving look and didn't move, Kai became visibly annoyed. "Come on, I totally saved your butt just now! The least you could do is hear me out!"

Slowly, the dagger came down from his throat, and Kai let go of a breath he didn't realized he'd been holding.

"Thank the First Master," He muttered to himself. When he looked up, the Green Ninja was still looking at him skeptically. The ninja tilted his head imploringly at him.

"Don't speak much, huh?" When there was no response, Kai huffed loudly. "Listen, you're the Green Ninja, right? I'm sure you have your own reason to want to be a ninja."

He moved to step forward, but the stranger mimicked him with a pace back. Kai stopped, slowly retracting his step. "I have my own as well."

He looked into Green's eyes, that were surprisingly expressive even without the rest of his face exposed, a determination in his own. The ninja was visibly trying to decipher what Kai meant, but Kai told him plain and simple, "I want to join you."

He watched as the other man stood straight, his shoulders slumping as he finally took all of the brunette in.

He was in a red ninja gi. A really shoddy one in comparison to what the other ninja was sporting, but a gi. He could see the exact moment when the stranger finally caught on to what Kai was saying. Green eyes flicked back to his own, and Kai smiled beneath his mask.

"So, does that mean I'm in?" He asked hopefully.

The Green Ninja put a hand to his chin in thought, then slowly approached Kai.

Kai stiffened instinctively, but slowly found himself absorbed in confusion when he started picking at the red gi from his shoulders.

Green looked up at him, eyes squinting in a way Kai could tell he was smiling humorously.

"I'm not good at sewing, okay?" Kai brushed him off indignantly, earning him a small laugh from the ninja.

The Green Ninja backed away, reaching into his pocket to grab something. He reached his hand out and Kai took the little device, analyzing it curiously. Green pulled out another phone and began typing on it, and eventually, the one in Kai's hand received a few texts.

It'll be great to have some help :o) you can use this phone to contact me, it's a disposable

Meet back in this spot around this time Saturday next week. I will have a surprise

Kai looked back up at the Green Ninja incredulously. For such a mysterious figure, his texting sure was flowery in comparison.

"This surprise won't be a surprise attack, will it?" He questioned, earning another little laugh. Green began to type again.

Promise it's not! Just preparing to make us a team :o)

As vague as that was, Kai knew he'd have to trust the Green Ninja sooner or later if they wanted to be a team. He beemed under his mask, proud and relieved that the conversation went his way.

When he went back home, he had to figure out a way back inside without waking his sister. The brunette was so eager to get out there, he didn't think for even a second about what to do when he got back.

He ended up just using the front door, internally chiding himself for not leaving a window open or something. He just tried to be as quite as possible instead, and eventually managed to get back to his room.

Kai found himself wishing his mom was here to wake him up on time as he checked to make sure his alarm for school was still on.

The whole upcoming week was spent in suspense, every moment making the teen itch for the time to finally come.

It would sour every time he crossed paths with that dreaded Lloyd Garmadon. It was a constant reminder that their parents were gone because of him and his father.

About a month ago, their parents were taken by a group of Garmadon's generals in the middle of the night. Both him and Nya woke up to a racket, and Kai told her to stay back while he checked it out. He saw them leaving, their infamous ridiculous sea creature costumes making it obvious who they were.

He couldn't do anything then, and he refused to be in a situation like that ever again.

Even helping the Green Ninja defeat those generals earlier that week, it made him feel powerful. Being able to take it up with Lloyd gave him that same feeling. Imagine what else he could do with the mysterious ninja on his side?

That Saturday, Kai finally got a ping on the burner phone he received, asking if he was still up for the meeting. He responded probably way too quickly, practically immediately, but he didn't care. He was beyond ready.

That night, down that same alleyway from the week before, Kai had been waiting for Green to show up when the man himself suddenly appeared behind him.

"First Master!" Kai jumped back when he turned around and saw him there, a hand flying up to his chest. "How did you even get there?" he asked incredulously.

The ninja gave him a cheeky little smile and pointing up, Kai's eyes following them and seeing the rooftops. The brunette shook his head to get it back on straight, focusing on the man in front of him.

He noticed a black rectangular box resting in the Green Ninja's hands. Green gestured with it, pushing him to take it, and Kai took it into his hands.

"What is this?" the brunette said, already opening it. What he was presented with was the front of what looked like a neatly folded shirt.

He looked up at the ninja in front of him, who was obviously waiting hopefully for Kai's response, and down at his gi. "You," he began, disbelievingly picking up the shirt and taking in all the details, "Made me a gi?"

Green nodded slowly, beginning to retreat into himself, but the brunette's heart felt like it was about to explode.

"This is amazing, dude! So ninja!" he exclaimed, probably too loud for an undisclosed meeting, but no one seemed to notice. Green relaxed at that, clasping his hands in front of him happily.

"Do I get to do actual ninja stuff now?" Kai asked and received a determined nod from the ninja.

The Green Ninja pulled out his phone, and Kai could already tell the hassle that would become. Still, he received a message on his own.

Get changed, I'm going to wait on the rooftop. You know how to get up there?

Kai scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh, yeah, sure do! I guess I'll just..." he watched the Green Ninja begin climbing the fire exit and made his way up to the roof, leaving him alone in the dingy alleyway, "Change here... ew."

Chapter Text

Jay Walker wasn't a particularly social person. It was hard to want conversation when the first thing out of everyone's mouth was always "Is your dad really a movie star?" or something to similar effect.

His father was Cliff Gordon, and it was a fact he couldn't avoid even at the tech club, the one place he felt he could be his true, creative self, away from home where he couldn't be creative full time. His dad didn't care for his passion, so Jay rarely ever brought it back home.

Tragically, he was forced to share the tech club with the worst person on the planet.

Zane wasn't his sworn archnemesis for nothing. He was an airheaded, pompous, and infuriatingly condescending jerk who went out of his way to butt heads with Jay near constantly. He would dunk all over the brunette's ideas and inventions, and it would make Jay reluctant to even come into the extra classroom they were allowed to use as a tech lab most days.

However, it was the only place he could really go for a creative outlet aside from his home. Then he'd have to deal with the way his mom asked stupid questions about every little thing he did, and the way his dad barely acknowledged Jay's efforts.

There was also his grandparents' home, but even that got stuffy with them always trying to assist him with his inventions. The teen was perfectly capable of hashing out his ideas himself.

"That won't work," Zane droned from where he was sitting, not even looking up from his Ninjendo Switch. Jay immediately groaned in annoyance, putting down the device he was working on prototyping to rest on the table in front of him.

"Oh, come on! You don't even know what it is," he indignantly responded after a moment to gather his temper, turning to squint at the other teen.

Zane pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and sat the Switch down next to him as he got up. Jay straightened and moved out of the way, hoping to make the blonde eat his words.

Zane had Jay explain what it was, an attempt at an infinite battery, watching his cold blue eyes search over the device with a critical glare.

The brunette was sure he wouldn't be able to find anything wrong with it, but as usual, he did. And as usual, when Jay spitefully tried out his suggestion, Zane was right. It worked perfectly with his revisions.

Jay didn't stay much longer, anger and disappointment bubbling in his throat, shame playing a part. Cole is waiting for him outside the door, leaning up against the wall by the door and listening to rock music. Jay can't hear anything through those giant headphones, but he knows his best friend well enough.

Still feeling weighted, he smiled stiffly at Cole, who gave him a much more lax grin as he pushed off the white wall. Only a nod is needed for the two of them to begin walking, Cole resting his headset around his neck. Just walking with him left the jittery brunette relaxing, including his grin.

"Make anything big yet?" Is all his friend asks, and Jay's smile tightens again.

"Ah, not yet. Soon though, I can feel it!" Jay tried pushing enthusiasm into his voice, but the look Cole gave him made him blow out a breath and deflate. They usually walked home with each other, with Cole not having much to do at home or after school and more than willing to wait. He was staying with his grandparents that day, so the walk was a bit more scenic than when they would walk to where his parents lived.

"No," the teen grumbles, gripping his backpack with annoyance. "I just want to make something that'll help people. I want to do something good, y'know?" He huffs, his eyes trailing the entrance to the school as they walk through it, "I feel like I'm stuck waiting. I want my time to come already."

They walk a little longer, Cole never responding, but he doesn't mind. An outlet is just what he needed. If there was anyone he could trust to hear him out, it's his best friend.

They walk in comfortable silence to the Walker residence doorsteps, Cole stopping prematurely before the trailer home.

Jay gets up on the steps, and before Jay reaches the door, the other teen speaks next.

"So why hasn't it?" He stared at Jay head on, his head tilted slightly downward as he stared up at him. "If you want it so bad, then you should just do it."

Jay doesn't know what to say. He thinks over Cole's words in his mind, but he doesn't have the time to respond or come to a conclusion before Cole shrugs, his hands raising as he did. "I'm just saying, why wait?"

Jay walks into the trailer home in a near catatonic state, something buzzing inside him. He acts as normal as he could with Ed and Edna before heading to the room they have reserved for him.

Jay lays sprawled out on his bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. The janky radio on the bedside table plays idly in the background, and he turns his attention towards it with nothing else to do, catching the tail end of a report about the ninja.

There was a new one. One working with the Green Ninja, that showed up just recently. Red and Green.

Envy builds up in the teen, but it settles in his chest as despair.

Jay wanted to do something that mattered. He wanted to do something that would help people.

Slowly, the teen sat up.

So why hasn't it happened yet?

Jay wanted it. So Jay had to make it happen.

Something sparks, just barely, beneath his palms. He's too busy with his new revolution to notice.

☆

"So how come you don't talk?" The Red Ninja asked him at some point.

Patrols with someone else on his side had been surprisingly smooth, much easier than it was when Lloyd was doing it alone.

His teammate wasn't as skillful in battle, but he definitely had the passion and was a quick learner. He was quickly sharpening up on Lloyd, and the two worked together well.

"Too risky," Kai read the message Lloyd sent him in response aloud.

The two stuck together for the time being, getting used to working as a team and settling their dynamic together, and the Green Ninja getting used to having someone by his side at all.

It was almost strange, having someone to look forward to after school for these past few weeks. Having someone to look forward to at all. It made him all the more eager to get out of school every day, other than the usual stuff he experienced while in the public eye.

Kai huffed in acceptance. "I guess, but this whole texting thing is getting real clunky." He kicked a rock as they walked. "If only we could just disguise our voices somehow, things would be so much easier!"

They were just about to wrap up for the night, the moon high in the sky and all the lights in the city illuminating the streets when sounds of a struggle caught their attention, and they gave a nod before taking a peek at some courtyard the sounds were coming from.

What they saw wasn't what they expected.

A man, clad in blue, was taking on another group of Garmadon's generals all by himself, except he wasn't doing it with pure hand-to-hand combat. Instead, he had a pair of nunchucks that left a string of light through the air, something he seemed almost a natural at. He used the wide space to his advantage in order to weave in and out of the enemies.

Soon enough, each of them was downed, a crackle emanating from his weapon every time they landed a hit.

All but one, one the man seemed to have missed. Lloyd watched as Red ran in, punching the crook down and intercepting the ambush, startling the fighter in the process.

"Missed one," the ninja commented, nonchalantly addressing the man when he whirled around to meet his eyes, who looked near frozen before him.

"The Red Ninja," the stranger breathed out in wonder, his voice contorted and modified through a filter. Red's brows raise in surprise at the sound. That's when he realizes this guy is wearing a Gi, one that looked almost identical to the style of the preexisting ninja's if not for a little personal flair and a cooler, more complicated looking mask.

No noise indicated the Green Ninja's arrival until he cleared his throat, the Blue Ninja jumping, turning around and staring at him. Green and Red surrounded him, Lloyd with his hands resting idly on his hip.

"The Green Ninja?" That seemed to break the Blue Ninja out of his stupor, his words tumbling from his mouth, "I mean, I wanted to get your attention but—"

"What are you gonna do now you have it?" Red inquired, his voice taking up a sharper edge. He lifts his head and eyes the rogue warily, yet keeps his more calm pose. The stranger stiffened, and Lloyd watched as he pushed his voice not to stutter.

"I want to join you," He says, shoulders slowly falling after a moment. "I mean, if that's alright with you?"

Kai shrugged, looking past him and to Lloyd. "I mean, if Green Bean says it's alright?"

With the spotlight on Lloyd, he stiffens just a little. But his eyes land on their potential new member, and he thinks about the way he fights.

The blonde steps forward, tilting his head as he looks down at the weapon resting in his hand. Lloyd's eyes flick up, regarding him with a questioning look.

"My... My nunchucks?" The blue ninja raised them up, holding them by the chain while the batons hung. "They function like a taser would," he handed them out to Lloyd, who carefully took them to analyze them more closely. He could see the blue LEDs that made them streak through the dark, plus the detailing and design. Cutely enough, they had a little smiley face sticker on the base of each baton.

They were hefty, the weight new and welcome in his hand. The ninja spoke again, "Made them myself, actually! Took like a week, and then I trained for another, so..."

Lloyd finally gave them back. Stealing another glance at the Red Ninja, he made up his mind.

He stepped back with a solid nod, reaching into his pocket and giving out another throwaway cell. The new ninja took it delicately into his hands, staring down at it with silent wonder.

"It's a burner. It means you're part of the team," Red grinned, Lloyd smiling contently alongside him.

"Cool," wonder leaked into the new ninja's voice. When he spoke again, he was less quiet. "So cool, like, way beyond ninja! I mean — when do I start?"

A text lit up on the newcomer's phone.

We should meet up somewhere to iron out details first :o)

How's Thursday for you?

The blue ninja nods quickly, "Yes! That's perfect, but uh, anywhere we should meet up?"

"Right here should do," Red spoke before he glanced around at the several unconscious generals. "We should probably clean this up though, huh?"

All three of them worked on gathering each person, tying them up and contacting the police.

Just before splitting up though, taking advantage of how long it took for police to typically come, Red turned around. "Hey, did you make that voice changer too?" He asked, "Green doesn't want to talk without something to disguise his voice."

Blue nodded slowly, not yet processing. He blurted out when it finally did, "Oh! Oh, yes, I mean, I can make more! It's fairly easy."

Lloyd stared at them, excitement settling over him.

"So ninja! How long do you think 'til you can get those done?" Red asks.

"Well," Blue thought for a second, "I have some prototypes left over, so... I should have them done in time for the meet-up if I hurry!" Determination set into his voice, and Red nodded triumphantly.

"That would be so awesome!" he throws his arm around Green, "You'll be talking in no time!"

Green grinned, nodding wildly.

Two days.

Two days, and he'll be able to be even more himself.

To say he couldn't wait was an understatement.

☆

It was like Thursday couldn't come any slower.

The last class felt like it stretched on forever, like the dismissal bell just refused to ring when Kai wanted it to. He tapped his pencil all throughout, so much so that the teacher reprimanded him enough for him to stop.

Kai shot out of his seat when the time finally came, hurrying to get his bag packed and ready.

As excited as he was, he still stopped by home first. His sister had early dismissal, being in AP classes and excelling in school.

"Do you have work again today?" Came Nya's voice as he walked down from his room where he exchanged bags, from his school backpack to a more compact pouch that held his gi. Nya knows how much he likes having a little extra storage on hand.

"Yup," Kai forced a smile, "You gonna be okay?"

Nya sat in the living room on the couch, watching whatever was on the tv while simultaneously on her phone. Their house was a relatively small one, but it served them good over the years.

"Yup," came his sister's muted reply. Kai bit his lip, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck before letting it fall. Regret tugged at him.

"Sorry, sis. This weekend, I promise, alright?"

"I don't like this," she admitted, Kai frowning hard.

"I know."

Kai left through the front door.

On the rooftops, he was considerably more relaxed.

It took him a while to get the hang of roofhopping, and even longer to be comfortable at such heights. If he was being honest, he still wasn't entirely.

Seems he was the first one there, but not for long. Green and Blue showed up relatively close to the same time, the Green Ninja making it just a bit earlier.

"You have 'em?" Kai asked eagerly, to which the Blue Ninja nodded furiously.

"Yes! You just have to slip it in under your mask, it should automatically filter any speech, no battery life or anything like that needed," he explained, sounding a bit smug, or maybe he was just proud, handing each ninja their own device.

It was a small thing, a small thing Kai didn't understand in the least, but it looked like some kind of speaker. It fit perfectly in his mask, attaching automatically to the cloth, seamlessly incorporating with his suit.

"Does it have an on switch?" He asked, jumping when the filter was already applied. The Blue Ninja jumped up, the Green Ninja watching Kai closely.

"Yes! Perfect!" came Blue's estatic response, his speaker crackling with the volume. Red and Blue looked to Green expectedly.

The ninja visibly took a breath. He lifted his mask just so, placing the device beneath the cloth, the other two watching in anticipation.

Green paused. Hesitance.

"Hello?" came his meager voice, unrecognizable and changed.

"Green!" Kai couldn't stop himself, wrapping his arms around him and lifting him up in the air, crushing him before the Blue Ninja had a chance to speak up. Green practically squeaked, unable to reciprocate even if he wanted to.

He stumbled upon release, stepping back from the brunette like he was stunned.

"What— What was that?"

"What, a hug?"

"No, I know that! But, why?"
Kai shrugged at that, listening to Green's voice. Something about it was distinct, almost a little high. It was nice to hear.

"Because now you can talk!" He slung his arm around Green's shoulder, pulling him in, "Greenie, things just got a whole lot easier."

The ninja laughed, Kai lightly pushing off of him.

Green eyes turned in Blue's direction, a gratification in them that made their new member stiffen.

"Thank you," Green said quietly, earnestly. Blue nodded.

"It was only obvious," the Blue Ninja practically muttered, appearing shell shocked.

"We should set up arrangements now," Green moved on swiftly. He was about to talk more when Kai cut in.

"Can I suggest something first?" he asked, Green looking at him with a surprised expression.

"I, uh, go ahead?" he responded, seeming mostly just uncomfortable with speaking for the time being. Kai didn't take it to heart.

"Why don't me and Bluebird over here stick by each other for now, and I can teach him the basics and all that?" he continued, proud with his idea, "Then you can split off and cover more ground!"

Green seemed to think about it, thoughtfully placing a hand on his chin, before nodding. "Alright, I trust you, Red," he smiled at Kai, "Good thinking!"

"I know, I know, I'm the best."