Chapter Text
The only thing Jay felt was cold air piercing his body like little daggers littered around his skin.
FSM, I swear if that hothead opened the window again-
Jay opened his eyes. Prepared to yell at Kai for leaving the window open again, I mean seriously. How many times did he need to tell the master of fire not everyone was just magically always warm?
But instead of seeing his and Nya’s shared room, the only thing he saw was the ground. Falling face down through the air as different shades of green quickly encased Jay’s vision as the hard ground grew nearer.
And nearer.
This was it. He had a good run, really. Met people who treated him well, heck! Even proposed to the love of his life!
A curtailing scream echoed through Jay, every inch of the elemental’s body dosed in panic, and previous pain from just coming out of a battle.
And with the looks of it, straight into another.
How had he even managed to end up in this situation? Had the Tornado of Creation backfired and sent him into the air? If that was the case, why couldn’t he see the monastery?
Just as fast as those thoughts came, they were quickly replaced with pain. First to his arm, then the rest of his body as branches wrapped around his form.
Jay’s head hit something warm and soon after that he was out.
—
Lloyd kicked a small rock from the sidewalk, watching it skip from pavement onto the asphalt paved road.
He drifted his gaze to the two taller teens in front of him, even though Lloyd knew the route to Kai’s house by memory now, it wouldn’t hurt to follow behind him and Zane.
He wasn’t really paying attention to them anyway. His heavier than usual backpack was weighing on his mind.
Lloyd scoffed, no pun intended.
His science teacher–Ms. Gossip– had given him an extra textbook for an essay, and only Lloyd, he may add.
Everyone knew Ms. Gossip hated teaching, and even more so was her hate for kids. However just like for everyone else, Lloyd always stuck out in the crowd of people to pick on.
I mean how was it his fault practically everyone hated him? Including his no good teachers.
Kai had asked him to hang out after school today, already having convinced Zane the same way, he thought it would be a good idea to ask in the middle of science class.
Lloyd’s teacher whipped her head around and locked eyes with him. Her face contorted into disgust, and her tone no better.
“Lloyd. See me after class.”
Half the class was caught snickering, and Lloyd could have sworn he saw a smile on Gossip’s face as she turned back to the board.
This sucked.
He turned to Kai, the others face mirroring the complete opposite expression opposed to his classmates.
Lloyd mouthed an “It’s okay” in hopes to wipe the apologizing and worrisome expression off his face.
Kai only sighed at that.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he heard that same sigh for a second time today.
“Look dude. I really am sorry about earlier, but today’s still not over! Me and Nya just got our allowance sent over today, which means we have stuff to spend. And if you’re still bummed about that stupid essay, then I guess.. Zane can help you with it.”
Lloyd snickered at that, Kai reached over to ruffle his hair.
Zane quickly chirped in, “I did not consent to that-“
Before Zane could finish his sentence however, something caught Lloyd’s eye.
“Hey, guys wait!” The blonde pointed to the sky, and the latter looked up trying to see where. A small blue figure was falling, and fast.
A frightened gasp escaped Kai’s lips, “Is that a person?!”
Lloyd was the first to start sprinting, kicking more rocks, but this time unintentionally. He was heading straight to the forest, by some miracle Kai’s house was on the border of the city. Meaning the three ninja had an opportunity to help.
Zane and Kai were quick on his tail, all the training master Wu put them through for whenever they were without mecs somehow finally had a use. As their stamina was in incredible condition.
Concrete turned into mud as they reached the forest, the three of them slowed down just a tiny bit to check their footing and space around them.
“Does anyone see where he went?” Kai shouted out to the group. But before anyone could respond, it seemed he got the answer as a scream ripped through the air.
Kai’s head shot upwards and from the look on his face, Lloyd could tell he immediately regretted it.
As the falling figure was right above him.
The sound of snapping twigs from the two Ninja running towards him were swiftly drowned out as a loud thud could be heard.
“Ow…” was all Kai could manage.
Lloyd stepped forward, reaching his hands out, but pulling them back just in case he made things worse. “Oh my god! Are you okay Kai?!”
“Augh… yeah, just unexpected”
Lloyd turned to Zane for some potential help, but his gaze was not returned, instead locked onto the unconscious man in front of them.
“I believe the better question to ask is if he is okay.” Zane gestured to the man, as Kai laid him down beside him.
The first thing that stuck out to Lloyd was his unusual attire, well, unusual to an average person. A bright blue gi was wrapped around the stranger’s body, similar to Jay’s, however a bit duller. Along with his gi, a blue mask ordained the man’s head, with only a slit for eyes to see out of.
However his eyes were tightly clasped shut, and above his left eye was a small eyebrow slit.
The second thing that struck Lloyd was just how mangled and beat up the poor boy looked, his gi covered in mud and small cuts to match his eyebrow spread over his unconscious body. Bits of blood could be seen coming out of said cuts, some looking more recent than others.
A hum was heard coming from beside Lloyd, he swiftly turned and was met with Zane’s eyes finishing what appeared to be a scan.
“My scans indicate there are miraculously no serious injuries, the worst being only small lacerations.”
So Lloyd’s theory was correct, it was a scan.
Kai spoke this time, “yeah that’s great, but why is he wearing a gi and a mask?”
“That would most likely mean him being a ninja.”
“Okay well I could probably come to that conclusion on my own Zane-“
“Guys!” Lloyd’s louder voice cut through theirs like a knife. “Can we focus on the literal unconscious man in front of us?”
“Oh yeah,” Kai finally stood up from the ground and dusted himself off, finding a place next to his friends. “Well I say we should first figure out who he his”
Kai’s hand slowly reached out to grab the stranger’s mask, but his plan was quickly thwarted as Lloyd’s hand shot to his and smacked it away.
“Hey! What was that for?”
“We are not going to unmask an unarmed and not responsive man!”
Kai scoffed, “why not?”
“I’m with Lloyd on this one, it would be undignified. Imagine if you were in his situation, would you want your secret identity revealed when you didn’t even have I say in it?” Zane chimed in.
“Fine.” Kai shifted uncomfortably. “Then what do we do? We don’t even know if this guy is bad news or not.”
This time Lloyd was the one to answer his question.“We bring him to base.”
The others looked at their leader like he had lost his mind, but a hint of curiosity was also seen in their eyes.
“Zane, tell the others to meet us there. We’re going to get this guy talking.”