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The fight was finally over. The Overlord had been defeated (again), the repairs on the Monastery were looking promising, and the evening sun was bathing the courtyard in a soothing warmth. It should have been the perfect ending to a battle well fought, but, per usual, Lloyd couldn't enjoy any of it. And this time it had nothing to do with the persistent blacks, whites, and grays that he’d known his entire life dulling what soulmated-others described as a colorful sky.
No matter how many times he tried to distract himself with courtyard clean-up or conversations with the volunteers that had shown up to help, he just couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in his gut that he was missing something. It wasn’t until the police showed up at the end of the day to collect the prisoners that, as their last act of service before being returned to Kryptarium Prison, had chosen to help with the clean-up as well, that he realized what it was.
It wasn’t until he saw Harumi being led away in handcuffs that he realized he couldn’t let her go without doing something about it.
Kai must have seen it in his face, noticed the way his hands fidgeted as they always did before he did something stupid, because he took a break from his lame attempts at flirting with Skylor and started walking towards him, big brother mode fully activated.
“Lloyd, don't even think-”
Too late. He had already darted away from the table filled with blueprints and renovation plans and was making a beeline for the doors the train of criminals had just disappeared behind.
“Wait!” He called after them. “Commissioner, hold on a minute!”
The procession stopped and he met them just outside the entrance and addressed the two officers at the rear.
“Could I speak with Harumi please?”
The officers looked at each other, then at the Commissioner at the front. He nodded and they stepped aside to let the young woman through to meet the green ninja. The two officers then backed away several steps to give the illusion of privacy.
Harumi must have seen his intention in his face too, because before he even said anything, she was already shaking her head. “Lloyd…”
“Please, Harumi.” He tried not to make it sound like he was begging. He failed. “I need to know. And I know you want to know too.”
Harumi bit her lip and looked away. He could see the conflict behind her eyes, her curiosity to know once and for all and the knowledge that, no matter what the outcome was, it was going to end badly warring within herself. Finally, it seemed her curiosity had won out, and she looked at him and nodded.
Swallowing his nerves, he stepped closer, and she followed his lead. He reached up and cupped the sides of her face, leaning in and tilting his head slightly to let his mouth hover over hers, hardly an inch between him. Her eyes fluttered closed, breath hitching in a soft gasp when he closed the distance.
The kiss started slow, almost hesitant, like both of them were afraid of what they’d find if they pushed too far. But those fears were quickly forgotten, delicate, gentle movements becoming hurried and desperate. Lloyd buried one of his hands in her hair and deepened the kiss, her lips intoxicatingly soft under his touch. Harumi lifted her cuffed hands to trail over his chest and grip the collar of his gi, eagerly tugging him closer.
It was forever in a minute. A first time and a last goodbye. It was a confession of all the words he never said and an apology for all the ones she did. Lloyd poured all of his feelings, all his love, all his heartbreak, all his regrets, and all his abandoned and rejected hopes and dreams into it, until he was sure he’d drained himself completely of every part of his heart that still held onto her.
They broke apart with heaving breaths, hearts beating wildly in time. Their eyes met. For a long moment, neither of them said a word, until Harumi muttered with a remorseful expression,
“I’m sorry.”
He ran his thumb over the smooth skin of her cheekbone. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”
They released each other and Lloyd stepped away. He looked at the two officers who had at some point lowered their heads.
“Thank-” his voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
They nodded and moved forward to take Harumi back into their custody. She glanced over her shoulder at him one last time before she and the other criminals were ushered down the mountain. Lloyd watched them go, eyes darting over them and across the skyline, taking in the view as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. He felt a presence behind him before Kai appeared at his side. Lloyd looked at him, and the red ninja raised his eyebrows in an unspoken question. Lloyd just shook his head.
Kai smiled sympathetically and wrapped his arm around him in a side hug. “I’m sorry, buddy. But hey, that’s a good thing, right? There’s hope for you yet,” he said with a wink.
Lloyd laughed, though it lacked the usual gusto. Then Kai steered them both back into the Monastery, where everyone was still working and politely pretending they hadn’t noticed what had occurred on the front steps.
Nya was the first to speak to him when he returned to the blueprint table.
“Hey, you okay?” she inquired, nudging his arm.
Lloyd breathed deeply and looked up towards the sky that was starting to fill with glittering stars. “I will be.”
***
Lloyd laid in bed that night staring at the ceiling, a million thoughts running through his head. He raised his arm to observe his sleeve like he’d done probably a dozen times already. Tears pricked at his eyes and he chuckled quietly to himself.
So that’s what green looks like.