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

Chapter 22

Kai halted at Lloyd's bedroom door. He took a deep breath and glanced over his shoulder at Cole, who nodded to him. Straightening up and trying his best to hide his nerves, Kai creaked open the door.

"L-L-Lloyd?" he called weakly as he stepped into the room.

Lloyd spun around, glaring at the red ninja. "Ever heard of knocking?" he growled.

Kai's breath quickened. "S-sorry," he whimpered. "I-I just..." His voice trailed off as the anxiety inside of him grew at the sight of Lloyd's blazing gaze.

"Surely you must have a reason to randomly barge into my room," Lloyd hissed. He raised an eyebrow. "Orphan."

Kai began to tremble. Should I have really come in here? he wondered anxiously. "I... I..." He drew in a shaky breath to try and calm himself. "C-Cole said you wanted to talk?"

Lloyd blinked slowly, eyes blank. "Did he now?" he murmured. "Interesting..."

Kai shifted his feet as the two fell into silence, both waiting for the other to say something.

"Lloyd," Kai sighed, breaking the silence. "About this whole situation... I think I owe you an apology." He took a deep breath, pushing down his emotions. "I know how it feels to lose someone you love," he murmured. "And I was trying to take that away from you. I never should've interfered with you and Sensei Garmadon's relationship. But I'll stay out of it from now on."

His confession was followed by silence.

He didn't shift his gaze from the floor as he spun around. "I'll go now," he mumbled.

"Wait, Kai," Lloyd called him back.

Kai froze and turned back around warily. "Y-yes?" he said quietly.

Lloyd looked at the ground. "The things I said to you and Nya..."

Kai stared at him. "Yes?" he pressed hopefully.

"I didn't... really... mean everything I said," Lloyd admitted. "I regretted what I said to you about being jealous and I... didn't know how to handle it."

Kai was speechless. "R-r-really?"

Lloyd nodded. "I thought that if I continued to hurt you, the pain wouldn't bother you anymore." He shifted his feet. "Then you wouldn't be so vulnerable."

Kai's eyes were round. "Wow," he breathed. "I never thought about it like that."

"I know that sounds dumb," Lloyd huffed. "I'm not really good at this kind of stuff ever since I... you know..."

Kai rubbed his head. "No, that actually kinda makes sense," he murmured. "You'd do that for me?"

"I didn't want you to get so emotional every time someone brings up your parents," Lloyd said.

Kai suddenly felt alarmed. He eyed Lloyd suspiciously. "What do you mean, 'whenever someone brings up my parents'?" he inquired. "It's not like that's something we usually bring up."

Lloyd went silent and drifted his gaze to the floor.

Kai furrowed his eyebrows. "What?" he pressed. "What's going on?"

Lloyd hesitated a moment longer before replying. "I don't know if I should tell you this," he muttered.

"Tell me what?" Kai was beginning to grow anxious.

Lloyd let out a sigh. "The other guys they..." he stammered. "I tried to tell them to stop but..."

"What are they doing that I don't know about?" Kai demanded, breath quickening.