Darkness from Within #5: Uneasy Trust (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

Lloyd's gaze locked on the plate of food Wu placed on the table. It was dinnertime, and the ninja were gathered around the table, quietly chattering to each other. But all Lloyd could think about was how delicious that food looked. The fluffy rolls, the juicy meat, the sparkling water...

Without another moment's hesitation, Lloyd lunged forward to fill his plate. He was aware of the others staring at him in alarm, but he was too hungry to care. When he took enough to satisfy himself, he drew back again and began gulping down the meal on his plate.

Garmadon, who was sitting beside his son, noticed how hungrily Lloyd was devouring his food. Lloyd never ate like that. Concern for the ninja rained down on the sensei. How much food was there up in the mountains? he wondered.

Lloyd suddenly froze. "I know you're looking at me," he muttered to his father. "Are you going to say something?"

Garmadon snapped his gaze away, not realizing he had been staring at the ninja. "Sorry," he murmured. He wanted to say something about his son's appetite, but he didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, so he held his tongue.

Lloyd made a face before continuing his meal.

But when Garmadon glanced around the table, he saw some of the others staring at Lloyd as well, as if they had noticed his behavior, too. Lloyd looked up from his plate and raked his gaze across everyone looking at him. "Look, if you guys have a fight to pick with me—"

"Oh, no, Lloyd," Wu hurriedly cut him off. "No one is looking for a fight right now."

Lloyd scoffed. "Whatever," he grumbled.

The others glanced at each other uneasily before returning to their dinner, now not daring to look at Lloyd once.

But Garmadon turned his head toward his son and saw Lloyd's eyes were blazing. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

Lloyd didn't look at him. "Why do you care?" he retorted.

Garmadon began to feel a bit frustrated at his son's attitude. "One, I'm your father, and two, you seem quite angry and... hungry."

Lloyd suddenly let out a snort of laughter, ignoring the reply.

Garmadon furrowed his eyebrows. "What's so funny?" he questioned.

"Oh, nothing," Lloyd chuckled. "It just sounded like you were actually concerned about me."

Garmadon stared at him. "Lloyd," he murmured. "I am."

Lloyd froze and stared at his father as if he had grown two heads. "Oh." He turned his head away again and went on eating, not bothering to respond.

Garmadon blinked and turned back to his own meal. He tapped his fingers on the table, wondering how that conversation had gone so wrong. Definitely wasn't expecting that, he thought. He waited for a reply, but Lloyd said nothing more. Suppressing a sigh, Garmadon continued his dinner. I guess we can talk another time.

* * *

Lloyd waited in his bedroom until darkness fell over the monastery. It was time he took some action in his plan. If I'm ever going to steal Kai's sword, I first have to figure out where the ninja are hiding it.

He peered out of his room and found no one in the hallway. He slipped out the door and closed it behind him. Quietly, he crept down the hall, senses alert for anything. First, he decided to check the painting the sword was behind before. When he reached it, he gave one more look around before quickly taking the painting off the wall.

The sword wasn't there.

Giving a huff of frustration, Lloyd placed the painting back on the wall. He rubbed his chin as he walked down the hall again. Where else could it be? he wondered. It wouldn't be in the floorboards again. That's too obvious.