Chapter Text
The early morning sun spilled in, bathing the messy room in a soft glow, highlighting the green ninja alarm clock as it buzzed and vibrated.
Slapping it silent, Nelson sat up and stretched in bed, practically flailing the duvet off his legs and jumping up to get ready for the day.
After washing and then clothing himself, he leapt down the stairs, skidding around the doorframe into the kitchen: grabbing an apple and his backpack as he made steps to the front door.
“Hang on there, little man.” The playful, soft voice chuckled.
Nelson swiveled around to meet eyes with his mom.
She had a smile just about anyone could find instant comfort in. Holding out a plastic wrapped sandwich, Roise pecked Nelson on his forehead as he took the bag.
“Sorry, sorry mom.” Nelson mumbled, an unavoidable smile growing on his face, “I just don’t wanna be late. Sammy asked me to be the guide for the new kid who’s starting today!”
Roise nodded gently, widening her eyes slightly as Nelson dived in for a hug, but it didn’t take her long to sink into his arms as he did hers.
“You’re going to do great, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, mom.”
“Just be sure to be careful. Okay? I don’t want another one of your infamous boo-boo’s.” Roise pulled back, holding Nelson at arms length: making sure she had his eye contact.
Nelson rolled his eyes playfully with a smirk dancing on his lips, “I will, I will. Plus, you know how safe it is; riding a bike around the streets of Ninjago—“
Nelson shoved the sandwich in his bag, reaching out for the door handle and slipping out the front door, smiling bye to his mom.
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Letting out a small sigh, his fingers glided across the soft rubber of his bike handles, before plopping on his sky blue helmet and clipping it around his chin.
Nelson hated lying to his mom. She never knew how many conflicts he had witnessed head on, let alone been a part of. Then again, he knew he had to keep her from worrying.
Clambering his leg over the bike, he quickly began to pedal, sliding down the roads and skidding round each turn until he made it to the newspaper warehouse.
“Alright. Knuckles, Skids, and Leroy: you’re all on the west streets.” Nelson slowly emerged into the small crowd of paper boys as Sammy started the morning call-outs, “Ace, Whiplash, and Spokes: you take the east streets—“
The muffled voices of chatter dissipated as Nelson looked around for a new face, before furrowing his brows and turning back to Sammy.
“Ten-speed and Jonesy: south. Then, uhm, finally, Antonia, Nelson. You two are on the North streets with the new kid.” Sammy’s half open eyes weighed down by his carefree nature looked up, catching Nelson’s confused eyes.
“Where… is the new kid?” Antonia rolled forwards next to Nelson on her bike slowly as the crowd around them slowly emerged onto the streets of Ninjago.
Dropping his arm by his side, Sammy put his other hand on his hip and opened his mouth to speak. Though, almost within a second, a kid on a bike went flying past the three of them, straight into a dumpster bin, his bike falling weakly to its side.
Dropping his own bike, Nelson quickly ran over to the bin, pulling out the kicking legs in the air.
Falling back on the floor, Nelson held a boy, smaller in size, but couldn't be much younger than him. He had long white hair, pulled back in a tight ponytail, nesting a yellow helmet, and a vibrant red and yellow shirt.
“Ow…” the kid rubbed his helmeted head, crawling to the side so Nelson could get up.
Antonia chuckled, offering a hand to the kid, “Well ain’t that a memorable first entrance,” she smiled, pulling him up, “I’m Antonia, what ‘bout you, kid?”
“Unagami.”
Nelson sprang up,
“The Unagami?” He stood next to Antonia, looking at Unagami in awe, “As in the evil video game virus?”
“I may still still be made of 1’s and 0’s, but I’m no longer a virus, nor evil.” Unagami spoke delicately, looking between the two standing in front of him.
“What are you doing becoming a paperboy then?” Antonia shrugged, a nervous smirk plastered on her face.
Unagami paused, his eyes wandering as he avoided eye contact,
“My dad said I need to go and make some friends.”