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In the afternoon, on the outskirts of Ninjago, at a chill, foggy, gray, and rocky, isolated peak, Misako softly fixed the pale blonde hair of her 6-year-old son. Lloyd adjusted the backpack he was carrying. He wore a slightly too-big black hoodie and a sad smile.
They both looked up from the metal gate where they stood, to a stone and tall, stretched-out pyramid-shaped building, with many eaves and a xieshan roof that was currently nesting a few dead brown leaves while other, more lively ones, continued flying about with random gusts of wind. The schoolhouse had a large door, small windows near the top of the first level, and an old clock on the face of the second story.
Lloyd looked back to his mother, “So that’s where I’m staying?” He asked in a concerned and disappointed tone that suggested he would rather walk all those hours back just to stay in an empty house alone.
Misako crouched down with a soft huff, putting her hands on her knees.
“Yes. Only until I’m finished with my travel and studies. They’re very important.”
She waited for Lloyd to nod and confirm he was following.
She eyed the sign at the gate, ‘Darkley’s boarding School for Bad Boys’, and turned back to her son with a more serious look. “You’ve been a bit of a troublemaker lately, too, so while I can’t take you with me, I expect you to behave here.”
He nodded again, inhaling like he wanted to argue something but knew better. He saw the sign too, well, heard his mother read the name under her breath. It sounded like the place they talked about, the one meant to set him straight or something. Not that there was much a kindergartener could get away with, but here he would supposedly be taught “proper behaviour.”
It felt like something more should be said, but Misako stood, taking Lloyd's hand, and walked towards the entrance.
At the end of a few lofty steps, she raised a fist and gave 3 firm knocks. A bit of shuffled walking could be heard, and then the door creaked open wide enough to reveal Mr. Darkley himself.
He looked between the two guests and nodded, speaking gruffly even after clearing his throat, “You’ve come to register your son.”
Misako nodded in return, “Yes, I’ll have to be away for a while with work- I’m not sure how long yet, but I’ll be able to pay in advance now for the first year, and send more while I'm gone.”
The gray-haired man stepped aside. “Why don’t you come in, and we can talk about the rest? The forms are simple and we’ll get him settled.”
She did, pulling Lloyd by his sleeve with her. “That's good, I can’t let this take long.”
Lloyd watched the whole interaction. It seemed to go by too simply, too casually; as if this deal isn't going to change his life forever- or at least, however long he was supposed to be trapped here.
It felt more like buying some groceries than handing your son off to total strangers. Go in, run your errand, and get on with your day. This errand in particular was being done in quite a rush.
The boy followed as his mother paced down the hall behind the mildly friendly man. Yes, he was only mildly friendly, and that was when he was clearly forcing it. Lloyd felt he must not be friendly at all. Something about him gave off a familiar feeling as to the last time Lloyd saw his father. That was a while ago now.
Misako was only ready to get in the office and do what needed to be done. Failing to take in any surroundings… not that there were many to take in.
The inside was just bare beige walls and halls, all the wood classroom doors shut, and all the posters or flyers carefully tucked into nonexistence.
Misako sat Lloyd down at a chair outside the office.
She faced him and patted his shoulders, “Just wait here,” she smiled and ducked inside.
Lloyd was slightly disappointed he couldn’t go in the room to look around at the various objects an office should usually have. Even a bookshelf or degree frame would have been more entertaining than empty halls.
He sighed and kicked his legs. Back and forth, back and forth. One forward, one backward. Kick. Kick. Kick. together forward and back. Kick. kick. Kick. separate side to side. Kick. Kick. Kick. He looked around, hoping to see another kid. It was getting boring in the hallway, not to mention lonely.
It was going to get lonelier once his mother was gone.
Lloyd couldn’t tell yet if it exactly bothered him that Misako was going to leave.
Anytime she had left him somewhere, she had come back to get him. He would always find a way to preoccupy himself until then.
Then again…he thought to himself. I’ve never had to stay the night anywhere but home…I think I'll miss her then.
And at the thought, he slowly stopped kicking his legs.
The tight feeling was shooed away when the door finally opened, and his mother stepped out.
She crouched down once again, holding his arms at his sides “Alright Lloyd, I’m going now.”
His small hands desperately reach out to hug her. “You’ll be back soon?”
A frown tugged at the side of her mouth as she pulled back, “I…hope so.”
She glanced up at the principal and informed Lloyd, “Mr. Darkley here is going to show you around and give me lots of updates.”
Then she looked back at his soft and helpless green eyes, “So you’ll take care, stay safe, and behave, right?”
Lloyd looked down. “..ok” he muttered.
Misako lifted his head so their eyes met again.
He leaned into the feel of her hand. She spoke in a more caring way now, “You’ll be fine. Better than that, great actually…you’re going to be great.”
She sounded so determined on that last part that Lloyd was able to give her a real smile. Mouth still closed, but he looked happy enough now. At least that's how he hoped to look.
She pulled him into a final hug, and he returned it.
After a breath, she let go, stood, shook hands with Mr. Darkley, and walked down the hall, waving one more time before going out the door.
Lloyd looked up at his new guardian, and the guardian glared back. “Alright then, follow me. I’ll show you where things are and where you’re meant to be.”
The man started walking without confirmation, but Lloyd trailed behind, sticking his hands in his pockets, searching the walls for an awaited piece of personality.
Mr. Darkley strictly explained that this floor contained the entrance, staff room, food hall, a couple classrooms and library.
He pointed and gestured while they walked towards a set of stairs and didn't bother to speak while going up.
Lloyd tried to make some conversation, at least to find out if he was allowed to do so.
He picked up his pace to match the principal, “So are all the other kids in class?”
The principal didn't bother to respond out loud to a question with an answer that should be so obvious, but he did give a small gruff nod over his shoulder.
And the answer to whether Lloyd should be chatty or not was no.
On the second level, the principal walked forward past a few more classrooms and opened a door. “This is one of the bedrooms. You will come back here at 8:30 pm and not come out until breakfast, which starts at 6:30 am.”
It was just as dull as the rest. Dark gray brown walls, wood floor, a long line of beds with dark brown wood frames, and beige sheets. The only thing giving the room more life than the rest was the small belongings of other students poking out from matching drawers between the beds, and bags that lay at the sides or hung on the posts.
Mr. Darkley pointed to the end of the room, “The bed there is vacant. Go set your things down. If you have anything that is going to end up distracting you we’ll take it away, so don't let that happen.”
Lloyd walked over to set down his backpack. It was almost only filled with distractions, but Lloyd promised himself to keep them safe. Mr. Darkely explained further, “The bathrooms are right over there, easy enough to find.”
The principal walked ahead out of the room and noticed Lloyd looking over to another set of stairs. Before the boy could ask, Darkley sighed, “I won’t bother showing you that way, you aren't allowed up there, it’s only rooms you don't come near unless we say so. The staff also have their rooms on the next level. So, if you need someone, you don't. Figure it out.”
Lloyd frowned and scrunched his eyebrows at that, but flattened the expression when Mr. Darkley checked over his shoulder once more while they continued to walk. They stopped at a classroom door.
Mr. Darkley pointed to its label. “This is going to be your main class, #5. The teacher here will explain anything else you must know.”
Lloyd smiled as Mr. Darkley opened the door, and he glared down at Lloyd, letting out a low sharp “quit that.”
Caught off guard, he did in fact quit smiling.
Still he couldn’t help but let his eyes light up as he stepped into the class and was relieved to finally see other children and a teacher.
Every face in the room turned to the door, but looked unimpressed. Almost annoyed. Still, not bothered fully. Until Lloyd was introduced.
“This is your new classmate. Lloyd Garmadon"
The room creaked in uncomfortable silence.
Lloyd sighed, understanding they of course now knew his father was a man who went crazy, supposedly possessed by an uncontrollable need for destruction, and became such a monster that he wreaked havoc on Ninjago to the point everyone's only solution was to have him banished.
After a beat, the other children began to murmur on that topic exactly.
Lloyd also knew they must be afraid and weary of him, so he looked to the ground.
But then out of the corner of his eye noticed that was not the look they were giving him.
They were almost disgusted.
Some scrunched their noses, some scoffed and some started to make quiet jokes to snicker at.
As confusing as this was, he realized whatever was going on was worse than them being afraid.
Rather he was the one starting to feel that way.
He tried to take a step back but bumped into Mr. Darkley. In that moment he realized how fast his heart was beating and he searched the room again, frantic to find one face that wasn't ready to punch his own. That was not found so he looked down again.
The teacher of class #5 gave Mr. Darkely an eyebrow raise that said “woof this one’s in for it,” as he shut the door on his exit, the principal gave back a shrug that said “good luck with that.”
The teacher puffed a breath and pointed Lloyd to an extra seat against the wall. “We will get a desk for you later. For now, sit down.”
He raised his voice, “Everyone else shut up- you can tease our new chum, after class.”
One kid was still giggling to himself. He started to lean over and whisper another joke to the boy at the desk next to his.
“QUIET!” the teacher slammed his fist down. “Next time my hand isn't hitting the desk.”
Lloyd pulled back in his seat, fearing for the other child. Not that he wasn't used to raised voices or yelling. He’s had his fair share by now to tune it out as background noise, but he didn’t imagine this happened at school. He was wrong in that assumption. He concluded it would be noted and he would adjust.
After a moment of dead silence. Mr. Short temper cleared his throat.
He glowered at Lloyd,
“I’m. Mr. Nadir, you call me either that or sir.”
“...Yes.”
“What was that? Didn't hear you.”
“Yes sir.”
“Ok now the rest of you. Let's get back to the lesson. Pay attention Lloyd, I'm not starting from the beginning.”
Mr. Nadir coughed again. His voice must already be sore, that was clearly not the first time he had yelled today. He wasn't old. He was much younger than Mr. Darkley but the thinning hair was still visible from where Lloyd was sitting.
Lloyd scanned the board in an attempt to catch up. He still hadn't fully learned how to read. He loved comics, but was not yet much of a book reader.
On the blackboard, Lloyd could see an idea web. Since he’d never been to school before though, it took some time to figure out what was going on, and from his angle, stuck against the wall, he had to tilt his head past the teacher to see.
Luckily, even though Mr. Nadir promised not to recap, he refocused on the lesson by reading the contents of the web aloud.
“Ok here’s what we've got so far in key tools and qualities for villainy:
-knowledge
-power; strength, control, fear
-deception; manipulation, fear(again)
-adaptability
-hate”
What kind of lesson was that supposed to be? What subject was this? …Maybe English. Maybe we’re writing stories about bad guys.
He finished clearing his throat, “Can anyone guess one more?”
A second or two passed and only a couple hands were raised.
“Cass, go on.”
“uh..like when you only…Like when you go by yourself, Um I forgot what it's called bu-”
“Ok you don't know. Never do that again. Harlow you try. lets see if you at least have a working mouth.”
“... Independence”
“Mhm. Let's connect that to…” he waved the chalk between adaptability & power “let's put that at power too..”
“Now, how can we explain Independence? Why is that important?”
This is getting pretty detailed…
A few more hands raise for this question.
“Neven.”
“Because you can’t need other people if you want to be in charge, if you can't do anything on your own and if you always need the other people to help you then yeah, you can't be in charge.”
“That was a messy explanation but yes. Did we all get that?”
A few weary nods wave through the room.
“Ok before I give you your assignment, let me add one more.” He scratched the chalk against the board to jot down “L-E-G-A-C-Y” drawing a line between that and fear, and power.
“So what is a legacy? Yes, Gene.”
“It’s how everyone knows about you by what you did and what you leave behind.”
“Exactly. It makes you more than a myth, it makes you a legend~ now I also want you to notice something here…” he raised the chalk and pointed with it. “Where does it look like almost all our lines lead to?” L
loyd still didn't fully understand the lesson yet, but he wanted to participate like the others so they’d stop looking at him weird. As he was still trying to sound out the word, another kid’s hand was picked.
“Yep, Brad.”
“They point to power.”
“That's right.” Mr. Nadir noded. “So here’s what you all have to do. You’re all going to take the paper on your desk and a pencil, and you’re going to write out all these words you see on the board here. Then you’re going to explain how each of them works and how each of them helps you to be a better villain. Simply, in a sentence or two. And then explain why all of them connect to power, because that's not a coincidence. Ok? Got it? Hope so- because I'm not taking any more questions, I’m taking a bathroom break.”
Mr. Nadir started to slide out of his chair and Lloyd raised his hand. “You heard me didn't you?”
“..yes but I don’t have a paper or pencil..or desk.”
“Find them. We’re in a school for crap’s sake, it's not like I said everyone needed a unicorn to get the assignment done. Tch.”
With that, Mr. Nadir was out the door and all the other students besides Lloyd were scribbling away, except for the ones who were still side-eyeing and snorting at him.
Lloyd noted it would never be a good time to mention he also did not have something that he couldn't just come across. He still didn't have the full ability to write. It seemed he would just have to figure that out himself.
First things first, he needed paper and a pencil, he saw some supplies on a shelf on the opposite wall.
As he stood his chair scraped backwards loud enough for a few heads to pop up. Lloyd avoided eye contact and locked in on his target. He awkwardly took a few slow steps forward, holding his hands behind his back. When he made it to the stack of paper and pencil cup, he picked one item from each and then looked back to his chair.
There was no empty desk in the class, but the room looked like it could fit one more in a row of students.
One black-haired and blue-eyed boy sat up noticing Lloyd trying to figure out his next move.
“What are you doing?” he asked out loud towards Lloyd. And as if he had asked the question for every other boy there, they all peeped up towards the fear-frozen child.
“...I don't know.”
“You don't know??”
“Well I’m only standing here…”
“...Ok?”
That rough cough from earlier could be heard on the other side of the door and Lloyd's feet moved quickly but unfortunately disagreed on where to go, one stepped forward then back while the handle turned.
Mr. Nadir blinked unamused when he saw Lloyd frozen and wide-eyed, gripping the pencil and wrinkling the lined paper.
He was so unamused he rolled his eyes for fun, “Just write against the floor.”
Lloyd exhaled and sat down in front of his chair at the wall. He got on his elbows and picked up his pencil, fiddling with the grip for a moment. He found it. Good. Now…what was the assignment again?
He revised the board. Right. Write. Yes, he could copy down those words. And he began to do so.
Meanwhile, the other students were starting to finish their own papers and take them to the front, leaving them on the teacher's desk. Lloyd felt his heart sink deeper as they, one by one, got up to deliver their work. After each delivery was made, Lloyd would look down at his own page.
Still not even halfway through.
The finished students were expected to sit in silence as Mr. Nadir looked over their papers.
The black-haired boy from earlier got tired of sitting in silence, and he squinted at the clock. “Dinners at 5 right?”
Mr. Nadir lowered the paper in his hand, upset that the mute music to his ears was interrupted.
“Don’t worry about that. You’re not going.”
He scowled at the child’s tightening lips, then got back to his own business.
Lloyd shifted on his stomach a little and tightened his legs around each other.
I’m not gonna have time to finish…
All the others finished handing in their work and waited for the final bell of the day to ring. Lloyd dreaded to be told his time was up, but also wondered what it would sound like. That would be the first school bell he had heard today. He didn't have time to imagine how he’d react when it rang and all he could do was blink his eyes wide and jerk his head back.
Mr. Nadir stood, tucked his chair in with one hand, and pointed with the other to stop Brad from sneaking into the line of students forming at the door.
“Brad, you go to your room. Lloyd, you will stay writing until you are finished.”
Not as bad as I thought..
Lloyd nodded. He was probably the hungriest in the room, but who could say being left in peace to figure out your work was such a horrible thing?
On the other hand, Brad did not like the idea of no dinner. He much less liked the idea of going to bed. But he also had questions about this blond kid.
“..can I stay in class instead?”
“If you want to clean it.”
“Uh- no, never mind.”
“Too bad, now you’re going to wipe down the board and tables, then go to bed when you’re done.”
He left no room for argument and marched the other boys out to the hall. leaving two grumbling stomachs behind.
Grumbling stomach number 2 gained a matching grumbling expression and was opening the classroom's back cabinet to find a cloth. He started wiping down the tables at the back, brushing little eraser bits and dust off each.
Lloyd watched him quietly.
… Is he going to say something?
Brad's eyes flicked over to Lloyd’s.
“So you have the same name as Garmadon right?”
Lloyd stopped watching and pretended to be focused on his paper.
The cloth stopped wiping.
“Did you hear?”
Lloyd sighed, surrendering his defense instantly.
“Um..yeah, that’s my dad. Or he was, I guess.”
“You don't look like him.”
“…He looked different before.”
“Like what?”
“Like me.”
…
“Why’s he like that now?”
“I don't know. No one will tell me.”
“But he's evil, right?”
“That's the only thing they do tell me.”
“You don't seem evil like him either. You look kinda sad down there.”
Lloyd huffed, “...I’m not.”
After that little, einiy meine miny mo between looking at Brad and something in front of himself on the floor, Lloyd chose the floor. It was becoming the only familiar friendly face here. But he didn't seal his decision before looking up at the other boy one more time, annoyed now. He didn't get annoyed easily, but this kid was a little more judgy than Lloyd was used to.
Lloyd was ready to actually focus on the paper and get out of there. He had finished copying down the words. Now he had to explain each of them. But he barely knew how to say some of these. How could he find the next words he wanted and then know they should be spelled?
He took a breath and found the courage to face Brad once more and ask a question himself.
“Will you help me?”
“Pft–no.”
Ok then..
Brad decided he wasn't going to volunteer to do Lloyd's homework. He didn't need more work. And speaking seemed to really be getting him in trouble today so he kept his lips zipped for the rest of his time there.
Lloyd promised himself two things: number one, no matter what, he would learn to write and read. Number two was, by the way his elbows were aching, he really needed to find a desk by the end of the day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brad had left more than an hour ago.
The sound of voices and dishes could be heard from downstairs.
Lloyd was still on the floor. But he had finally. FINALLY. Finished.
The page looked terrible.
It had gray marks across it, from words written and rewritten countless times. Some spots were so dark you couldn't make out the letters.There was a hole on the top right from where he erased too hard. And a couple of very suspicious tiny circular stains.
He knew Mr. Nadir would not like it.
He knew it was not good enough.
But he did not know how to make it better.
Or at least he did not know where to find the energy.
He had finished his first task, and the sun was setting. He had until 8:30 to find a desk. But after all, as his teacher had said, this was a school, How hard could that be?
Lloyd took the pitiful page of inadequacy and set it on top of the pile, where he knew if the teacher were to rearrange the papers by grade, it would be on the bottom instead.
He breathed in the not-so-fresh, but fresher than the classroom's air- hallway air, and noticed two women coming down the steps.
A small pair of boots swung by its laces in the tall one's grasp. Lloyd dragged his fingers along the wall, slowing down at the sight of them.
The one with free hands and tied-up brown hair crouched down and spoke warmly. “You’re new here, aren't you?”
Lloyd nodded and almost whispered. “Yes, it's my first day.”
The lady smiled, “Welcome, this is Ms. Kiri,” she gestured behind her to the white-haired but young woman standing quietly. “And I'm Mrs. Veil.”
“I'm Lloyd,” he replied, still sounding shy to speak.
“And what are you doing all alone in the hall, Lloyd?”
“...I need to get a desk.”
Mrs. Veil grinned and turned to her companion, “Hara, we could grab one from the library, couldn't we?”
Ms. Kiri nodded once, “Yes, go ahead, I’ve got a bit of work to catch up on.”
“Ok, I'll be back with you in not too long,” She reassured as she took Lloyd's hand and stood. “I'm going to help Lloyd.”
He looked up at her, hopeful and grateful to finally have someone who’d willingly go along with him.
Mrs. Veil started leading him down the stairs towards the library. “So how has your first day been so far?” she asked.
He relaxed a bit, “good,” he quietly cheered, walking along.
“And how come you’re not eating with the others?” Mrs. Veil asked slyly curious.
Lloyd slowed down a bit, but she kept walking with his hand in hers, so he spoke.
“Uh…I needed to finish my work…how come you aren't eating dinner either?”
“Well, just the same as you, I had work to finish. I think they’re all just cleaning up now anyway.” She explained and opened the library door.
The dim, lamp-lit room was about the same size as the first dormitory. Its tall shelves that lined the walls were crammed with worn books and scrolls. There were no windows, and it was clean but smelt dusty anyway. Straight ahead, just in front of the only plain wall was a group of tables and desks.
Mrs. Veil walked over and patted one of the desks, “Here you go Lloyd.”
He nodded and waited.
Mrs. Veil tilted her head smiling, “well go on…”
He realized she wanted him to carry it first. “Oh ok-”
He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around the desk- shifting them in awkward ways, trying to figure out how to pick it up.
The desk was wood on top with heavy metal legs and one slot for papers.
He got his hold and started to scoot the desk forward with his face pressed against the top. “Oo this is heavy-”
Mrs. Veil giggled, leaning against the wall.
He changed his position to try and make it better, but instead had to catch the whole thing from tipping over. Which made her chuckle harder. “Oh no Lloyd, not like that…”
He stood and sighed, looking up at her, “How?” he begged.
She shook her head, still smiling “Oh come on you’re a big strong boy, you can carry it. Just try.”
He inhaled and tried again, harder. His arms wobbled trying to hold it up. “Mrs. Veil its too heavy-”
She didn't move. “No Lloyd, you can do it. Keep going.”
As he tried hopping the desk up in his arms to keep it from slipping, he dropped the whole thing on his foot.
“AH!!-” The desk crashed to the ground, and the bang echoed into the rest of the room.
He crouched down to his foot with tears already welling in his eyes and looked up at her again, “Please Mrs. Veil, I need help.”
Mrs. Veil stopped smiling and pulled away from the wall. “alright you take the chair then,” she huffed. “Keep your voice down, will you?”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, hobbling towards the chair.
She spoke calmly again, even with the audible annoyance in her tone.
And the side glance while she picked up the desk.
“Well I’m going to take it up for you now, so don't worry about that, just focus on trying harder in doing as I say from now on, ok?”
He nodded, limping to follow her out of the library and up the steps with the chair.
It was getting weightier by each step, and the cold metal legs got in the way of his own.
He just wanted to forget it, but his mother had asked him to behave here. That meant listening to orders.
Even ones he didn't fully understand. It already felt like he was failing.
Mrs. Veil placed the desk in Mr. Nadir’s classroom and at the door she crouched down to Lloyd, holding his shoulder. “Ok, off to your room now. Good night.”
He smiled slightly but pointed to his foot, hopping on one to lift the other and show her, “It hurts,” he whined.
She looked unimpressed, “because you dropped a desk on it.”
“But-” he huffed and shook his head, of course he knew why, he-
“Are you saying you didn't?” she accused.
He panicked, “No!- I- just don't want it to hurt-” he squeezed his shoe. S
he leaned over towards Lloyd, “You want me to help you again?”
He nodded, scooting closer, “Mhm.”
Mrs. Veil tilted her head “Well, say please.”
Lloyd held onto her arm. “Please help me so that my foot won't hurt anymore.”
She pulled Lloyd off and stood him up straight. “Alright, I’ll tell you what you need to do; just go to sleep, Lloyd.” She stood. “Goodnight,” and walked away.
So after standing in the empty hall for a second or two, he found his way back to the dull dark room from this morning. Now filled with students moving from bed to bed, and in and out of the washroom, all making the quietest ruckus Lloyd had ever observed.
They paid no attention to him as he entered and shuffled to the end of the room.
Coming back to his bed, he saw two outfits folded next to the pillow: a uniform and a pair of pajamas.
As he started to change into the pajamas, he saw that next to the bed was his backpack, turned upside down with the books, pencils, and toys scattered around.
He frowned, pulling his shirt on and started shoving his items back inside.
But he realized something was missing: the picture of his parents.
He looked around and under the bed.
Gene noticed Lloyd becoming more agitated and walked over to contribute, “What are you looking for?”
“A picture- have you seen it?” Lloyd replied, looking under the pillow.
“A picture of what?” Gene asked, swinging around the bedpost happily.
“My mom and dad.”
“Does your dad have brown hair?”
Lloyd looked back from opening a drawer to see Gene inspecting the picture. “Oh you found it!”
Gene grinned, “and I’m going to throw it in the toilet.”
Lloyd blinked. “What.”
Gene whiped around and started dodging between classmates towards the washroom.
Lloyd ran after him but stumbled over his foot and bumped into Neven. “Sorry-” he called back, ignoring the fact that his foot still felt like a balloon being blown up with pain.
Once Lloyd got to the bathroom he was grabbed and held back from behind.
Gene grinned wider seeing Neven hold Lloyd’s arms behind his back, and he wiggled the photo over the water “bye mommy and daddy~”
Lloyd struggled against Neven’s grip, “Hey no- don't!”
Gene pulled the photo away from the water and held it carefully. “You really love them, huh?”
Lloyd noded panicked.
Gene smirked pointing at the figures, “News flash; this one’s a monster, and this one doesn't care about you- find something else to love.”
He practically plunged it in the water and flushed the toilet several times with a malicious beaming look on his face.
Neven let go of Lloyd and walked off snorting with Gene.
Lloyd picked himself up. Foot still throbbing. Wobbled out of the bathroom and over to his bed. Got in just as the lights to the room turned off. Tucked the blanket over himself. And cried.
He went to sleep that way, and similarly followed the rest of the year.