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

Chapter 17

Wu found Lloyd coming out of Cole's room. "There you are," he said as he went over to him.

Lloyd tensed as the sensei met him at the door.

"I was just coming to tell you and Cole lunch is ready," Wu told him.

Lloyd's eyes flashed as Wu reached for the doorknob. Hurriedly, the green ninja stepped in between him and the door. "I'll tell him," he stated.

Wu eyed him suspiciously. "Okay," he murmured.

Lloyd faked a smile and turned around, creaking open the door. He dropped his face back to his monotonous expression before slipping into the room.

Through the dim-lit room, he could just make out Cole curled up in one corner of the room. "Hey!" he hissed quietly so Wu wouldn't hear. "Sensei says lunch is ready." He crossed his arms. "Do you think you have enough guts to clean yourself up and eat?"

Cole trembled as he looked up at Lloyd, the fear mounting inside of him. Groaning in pain, he dropped his head to the ground, tears swelling in his eyes.

Lloyd scoffed and stepped back. "That's what I thought," he muttered, opening the door again.

"He's not hungry," the green ninja lied when he shut the door behind him.

Wu's gaze glittered with concern. "Is he okay?"

Lloyd shrugged. "Too much breakfast." He began to lead the sensei away from the door. "Come on, the food is getting cold."

* * *

Jay looked up as Lloyd and Wu came into the dining room and sat down. "Where are the others?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Lloyd glanced around the table, realizing Kai and Garmadon weren't present.

"Not hungry," Wu said simply.

Jay shrugged and they began to eat.

Lloyd tried to hide the anger he was feeling as he stared at his father's empty chair. Those two can't take a hint, can they?

As he ate, Wu kept one eye on Lloyd. He saw the blaze in the ninja's eyes and realized his gaze was flicking from Garmadon to Kai's empty chairs. Wu frowned, spotting a short flash of hurt in Lloyd's eyes. He must know they're talking together, he thought. And he definitely feels replaced.

Wu watched as the green ninja turned his gaze to the floor. My brother made that mistake once, he thought. I'm not going to let him make it again.

* * *

Wu ducked as a sword shot at the wall beside him. He raised an eyebrow. "Having a rough day?"

Lloyd huffed in frustration and walked over to the door, tugging his sword out of the wall again. As Wu shut the door, Lloyd grunted and threw the weapon at another wall.

"I know you must be upset," Wu began, warily watching the ninja as he grabbed his sword again.

"I've seen the way you look at me," Lloyd snarled and stabbed his sword into the floor violently. "And you don't think I'd be upset?"

Wu tensed. So this is about something more than my brother.

Lloyd pulled his sword out of the ground again and tossed it across the room before heading over to the window. This is the perfect opportunity, he thought as Wu walked up beside him. To mess with Sensei's feelings. "I know you don't trust me," Lloyd murmured. "I thought you'd know by now how much that hurts me."