Work Text:
“I want to build La-Loyds future on the ashes of this city, Koko!” Garmadon said confidently, turning over to look at his new wife, a set of arms cradling their newborn. She didn’t have the same expression, a melancholic one instead.
“He doesn’t deserve that” she muttered, reaching out to take hold of Lloyd. “What do you mean?” Garmadon questioned, taking serval steps back with a skeptical look…
“What we’re doing isn’t right…” She said, her hands shaking as she looked at her hands. “The blood on our hands, I couldn’t live with myself if he went down our path…” her lips trembling.
“Now you choose to be…what, this goody-two-shoes?” Garmadon accused, clutching Lloyd even tighter. “Give him to me!” Koko demanded, stepping closer to try and snatch their son away.
Garmadon turned away, using both of his arms to keep their baby in his hands. “If you ever mistreat him…” Koko said in a threatening voice, yet no threat was made. She dragged herself to a boat, turning back to look at her husband and son as she sailed to the city.
~
“Pleaseeee!” Lloyd begged, making his voice go all high touched as he begged his father. “No La-Loyd” Garmadon said firmly, raising a brow, crossing all 4 arms. “But it’s my 16th! I wanna actually go see the city we’re trying to conquer!” Lloyd whined.
“It’s dangerous, the lady ja-“ “Mom is there, I know…I know” Lloyd grumbled, he never understood why his father hated calling his mom, well his mom. So what if she’s on the ninjas side conspiring with uncle wu? Who said family could be easy. “I’ve never set foot off this volcano, at this point I’m jealous of your fired general 1s!” Lloyd slumped into his chair.
“No…no you’re not…” the current general 1 interrupted, Garmadon growled as he turned to look at the general. “You’re fired!” He bellowed, a distant shriek from the general as they were blasted away. “General 2, you’re now general 1!” Garmadon told general 2 before turning his attention back to Lloyd.
“As I was saying La-Loyd” Garmadon was about to continue before snapping to reality, Lloyd was just in-front of him eating brunch “La-loyd?!” Garmadon yelled as he saw his son gone from his chair.
“General 2! You’re now general 1-“ “but lord, I thought” the current general 1 interrupted “fired!!!” Garmadon interrupted the staff that interrupted him.
…
Lloyd was giggling as he stole one of the armies mechs, he never actually used any of them but he saw tons of generals use them before.
“Alright…how do I- AHHHHHH” Lloyd examined the many buttons, pressing a large red one, before being ejected from the mech. The 9462639th fired general 1 was right, he was, in-fact, not jealous.
He crash landed into some warehouse, a few gasps behind heard as he fell through the roof. He groaned, head spinning. “Isn’t that…” a freckled brunette whispered to a raven-head dude “we need to tell Koko!” A girl with a ponytail eyes were wide as she stared at Lloyd.
The next thing he know, everything went dark and he fainted.
~
Lloyd gasped, his forehead and armpits sweaty, his head aching. “Oof…” he groaned as he rested his back onto the wall that the bed was pushed against. Bed?
He took a few seconds to collect himself, taking deep breaths. He opened his eyes to check where he was, scanning the room. It looked under furnished, like the room was prepared last minute.
He tired to sit up again, but his head disagreed. “Okayyyyy” he grumbled, slouching once more. The smell of soup filled his nose, and dumplings…chicken noodle soup to be more specific.
He looked at the side table, a cup of water and fresh meal on a tray, or it seemed fresh, steam still coming out the soup. His mouth was salivating. “Might as well…” he shrugged, tentatively taking the tray, trying not to spill anything.
His stomach growled, he left at late morning and the sun was already setting, or rising? He couldn’t tell, there was a window in the room not a clock.
He heard the creack of the door as he slurped down the last of the noodles in his soup. “Oh thank…” There was a woman at the door. Her eyes wide, a few grey strands growing at her roots, green eyes like his but not as bright, hair colour ginger.
He knew that face…his father had her picture at his bed side, it was ripped from another picture and stuffed deep inside the side table. Lady Jade Dragon ( AKA his mom )! “Get away!” He screeched, throwing a empty cup at the woman, scrambling to a corner of the room.
He was so eager to meet his mother yet here he was cowering away from her when she finally met him,
Here was his fathers sworn nemesis that was getting in the way of his father claiming Ninjago. “I-I know you probably hate me Lloyd…” “It’s La-Loyd!” Lloyd corrected “The first L is silent, I’ve told him that! But noooo, he’s the one that named you” Koko let out a small angered ramble, imitating her ex-husbands voice for that final part.
“H-huh..?” Lloyd took a step closer. “Lloyd, oh my sweet boy I should’ve taken you with me” Koko sighed, looking like she was having flashbacks, taking several steps towards him. Koko cupped his cheek in a gentle manner. “W-why did you leave” Lloyd felt tears flowing down, his nose getting stuffy as he was reminded of her abandonment,
“When your father and I found Ninjago, he wanted to conquer it, I wanted to protect it. My morales got in the way…I wanted to bring you along but, he insisted on him taking custody of you…” she tried to explain.
“But now you’re here with me!” She beamed, grabbing his hand. “A-and we can catch up on all the years we’ve missed together” She stammered, her mind faster than her words.