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Lloyd was kind of lost in thought, despite that he also wasn’t thinking much, his head leaning back against the wall with his eyes on the celling, he would usually be having a whole adventure in his mind and yet right now, he was just staring upward almost unconsciously, his eyes having a mix of hot and cold to it.
he could have probably fallen asleep on the spot had it not been for her
it was just a tiny finger tap on his cheek
and a small brush of her hair against his shoulder
but it meant everything to him, waking him up back to the present moment at hand, a tiny faint smile on his face as he turned to his side
“Are you okay?, you look really tired Lloyd” Akita asked with concern “I love talking with you but if you need to rest it’s completely understandable”
“Tired??? Nooooooooooooooo.. I’m not that tired I promise” Lloyd exclaimed with a bit of an overdone humour tone, something he surprisingly hadn’t done even by accident in a little while.
Akita just stared at him with a serious expression, almost deadpan levels of gaze
Lloyd kept his expression before having a tiny chuckle “…I-… I am pretty sleepy I guess.” He confessed, immediately followed by a good giggle from Akita that broke both of their expressions into joy and confusion
“Gotcha!— did I do that right?” she posed with a smile, taking his smallest finger and holding it, a gesture that gave them both a little heart flutter.
“…Yeah actually— that was- very perfect use… nice one” he chuckled in response, he nudged just a tiny bit closer to her hoping she wouldn’t mind.
She absolutely noticed and loved it, feeling like she should be able to express it just a bit more before their Inevitable sleepiness catches up to them
She let her head rest on his shoulder, her handing moving to hold his fully as she felt his hair brush against hers
Lloyd’s heart practically melted at that heartfelt moment, his blush was very noticeable and almost embarrassing, good thing no one else in the room was awake besides each other
he couldn’t bring himself to say a word, opting to just stay silent, letting his head rest a little on hers as well just the contact alone sending shivers down his spine, and not the bad kind.
The realm, The time, the room, it all was so cold, and yet he felt warm and cozy just like this
and so did Akita.
He hadn’t ever had these sorts of moments with her, or anyone, in a pretty long time— if ever. It brought a sense of serenity in his soul he couldn’t describe outside of just.. her existence.
In a time when everything in his life is always at potential risk, having someone to remind him of the joy in life, the small heartfelt moments that mean everything to him
In itself, means a lot
Especially coming from the only one he loves this way He disliked being touched even at the slightest, let alone being so cozy with people— unless he trusted them with his life
His mind actually had something to think of again through the sleepiness
All those cold nights in the Never Realm huddled around a fire Snuggled up with his Family to stay warm
. . .
And Her.
Her Hair
Her Face
Her Eyes
Her Vibe
Her Care
Her Emotions
Her Story
Her Heart
Her Life
Her Love
Her Existence
He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her, he thought.
If she didn’t help him trust people again
If she didn’t help him love the world again in a way he didn’t know how too then
She meant everything to him, Scratch that. She means everything to him, he corrected in himself.
His eyes remained closed as they cuddled together, Akita herself just remaining still in her snuggle, only occasionally having a small adjustment in her position
She was in a halfway state between being awake and being in deep sleep. She was so in love at that moment it was hard to break away from him
She thought of all times they had spent together
All the nights they huddled for warmth and talked for hours before going to bed besides each other
All the laughs, the joy, and love they had shared
It was him who helped her no longer pursue revenge
It was him who gave her a reason to live again after what had happened
Despite not seeing him often
He.. He also meant the world to her
She didn’t see him as some ‘Legendary Green Ninja’ as the realms may know him by
Neither dose she know him by ‘Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon’, the name he’s attached to by blood for all eternity
No.
She saw him as just ‘Lloyd’
Not some protecter who has to do his job to be considered worthy of anything
Just a kind caring soul who was broken by the world they love so much
And yet carry on no matter what
Her hand tightened around his for a moment, her head shifting a little to turn just a little bit more to his— almost in tandem Lloyd in his half asleep state did the same gesture. Like their hearts spoke the same frequency in that moment no matter the physical words shared
Her cheeks blushed a light pink, it was small but noticeable, the warmth radiating on Lloyds skin in return.
She wanted to stay like this forever, to be in this blissful state for eternity.
But,
The realms have to keep spinning at some point
She opened her eyes halfway and shifted over— she kept her hand held with his but moved her other hand for support on his other shoulder, leaning across and turning a little to be able to face him. albeit it not head on, but close enough.
her thumb graced his little flustered cheek a little in an almost teasing fashion to ‘wake him up’ again
Lloyd, genuinely surprised by the motion, had a brief breath of concern before mentally connecting the dots. Having a genuinely joyful giggle leaving him til he opened his eyes halfway to look at her too.
“Whattttt? What is it?” He asked playfully, his eyes opening a fraction more and she noticed the light on her hair.. the glow on her seemed almost blinding but.. she was so beautiful.
“Didn’t you say you were sleepy? Why aren’t you asleep?” She teased back to him, her face just a fraction closer to his.
She moved the hand off his shoulder to ruffle in his hair for a moment
Lloyds face blushed up like a tomato, probably the most she had seen out of him all day.
Lloyds hand instinctually came up to lay on Akitas hand too, their other hands still holding each other even more tightly “You can’t get me twice Akita… well— in the same way at least..— in a row… I think—.” He stuttered in such a flustered way it gave them both another blush that hit them deeper.
“Are you sure?” She played with the fire again.
“. . .”
“I-“
“Akita— I”
Lloyd broke into a messier blush, combined with his sleepiness just made him so adorable even if unintentionally
He knew she was joking. But gosh did he love her humour
Akita gave a good laugh at the result of her playful nature “Soooooo am I getting better with these ‘jokes’?” She asked
Lloyd gave a small chuckle “Yeah.. 100%. I love them” “Thank you” She herself blushed faintly. She moved in a fraction closer once again
Lloyd by this point was awake enough to be aware of her smaller movements, and that for sure he did.
“So, I’m guessing you’re not getting close to me ‘just’ for ’support’ right..?” He asked with a small confident smile, he was playing the teasing game now
“Maybe? Maybe not?” She teased back
“Dose it lean more ‘Maybe’?”
“..Maybe”
“Noted..” Lloyd ended, he gently held her hand that had been in his hair and brought it between them, giving a tiny faint kiss on her knuckles. A move that brought them both an internal explosion of emotions
Akita blushed deeply and could barely process it. She didn’t expect him to be so ‘romantic’ for such a moment
Lloyd couldn’t even believe he had done it. His face all red and almost shy-like
“S-sor—“ Lloyd was cut off
“Nope, ‘Sorry’ not accepted” Akita playfully denied, leaning over to give a faint kiss in return on his cheek before parting “There, now we’re even.”
Lloyd flustered like a star, genuinely freezing up on the spot and taking a few seconds to even process what had happened.
He finally had a small laugh and a soft smile as he looked at her. He succumbed to his wants and took his now free hand behind her and pulled her in for a hug. His head resting on her shoulder, while she laid hers on his shoulder that minuets ago she had been taking a nap on.
The hug was long, tight, and silent, neither of them had words to describe this moment right now
They could have practically fallen asleep in each other’s arms with how long they stayed embraced
But, they had to accept what their physical health was asking of them
After a few minuets Akita parted from the hug and just looked at him, if she wasn’t so tired she’d probably cry out of joy but tonight wasn’t that night.
“I think now— id be okay to sleep..” Lloyd whispered with a tiny chuckle attached. A warm smile on his face as he just gazed at Akita.. the way even in tiredness she looked so pretty.
Akita gave a nod and stood up taking Lloyd up with her as they both worked together to adjust the seat they were on to be more of a bed, folding up a few things to make a flat area enough for one person to comfortably lay down.
“…You okay with being squeezed?” Akita asked him half seriously and half playfully
“If you’re okay with it then I am.” Lloyd replied with a teasing touch onto the genuine question
“Oki then!!” Akita squealed, finding a reason to use the phrase Lloyd had taught her, she grabbed a random pillow and placed it in its spot and sat on it, “Do you wanna be against the wall or on the edge?” She asked lovingly
“I’m okay either way, but thank you Akita— that means a lot.” Lloyd replied reciprocating the love back
they both laid down together, Lloyd being on the side facing the wall and Akita on the edge side, but they both were facing each other closely. Holding hands near the others hearts.
They shared the silence with a gentle gaze, cuddling together as they prepared their final moments of being awake before sleeping together
“L-Lloyd… I- I just want to say—“ Akita expressed with a sincere voice “I’ve loved talking with you today and seeing you be so much more—.. whats the word?- Lively I believe it is?.. I’ve loved that part of you, I missed that side ever since you left the Never Realm the first time.” She ended with a few tears in her eyes, inching closer to Lloyd as he teared up
Lloyd felt an overwhelming burst of love he couldn’t process, but within all that he understood the basic, that he was now loved by someone in such an amazing way.
“Thank you for- noticing that, I’ve loved talking with you too recently.. and—“ his eyes swelled up in tears, wiping them away as he continued “And— your right. You did make my world more lively.” He confessed on a quietly joyous note of love
Akita just felt In awe at his words, she couldn’t resist herself and wiped away any remaining tears he had left before moving in closer and giving small nose boop to Lloyd, a small piece of affection that flustered both of them up in a way that also made them laugh.
After some minuets, it felt like it was the time to have their sleep
They shared one more loving gaze before they both cuddled each other even more tight and closely, their faces just nuzzled into each others as they got comfortable and stayed there silently
But,
The Master of Life still had one more small surprise left in his suit.
“Love you… Goodnight.” He whispered in her ear in the most sincere voice he ever confessed in. His body almost immdiantly relaxing as he started to drift into sleep
Akita blushed up the deepest she ever had, she kind of knew what he might have said but actually hearing him confess— struck a chord in her she’d never forget ever again.
“I love you too.” She confessed back, closing her eyes blissfully as she drifted off into cozy sleep, just 2 quiet and perfect souls in love sharing a sleep together.