We Hope Your Rules And Wisdom Choke You

Chapter 4: Before all hell breaks loose

[ for some special context, please read this note].

[Staynes is pronounced stay-niss, while Stayness is pronounced stay-ness]

[This is kind of important to remember]

Enjoy!

-

Sometimes, Lloyd thinks back to all of his and Harumi's adventures. Or, adventure isn't the word for it. The time he spent with her didn't feel like an adventure, more like a stunt, or an act. It was all for a greater purpose, something bigger than the two of them.

Yes, stunt was a better word.

Sometimes, Lloyd can't help but think of all their little stunts. Like when they first met, they fed the homeless and misfortunate, not before Lloyd accidentally called her a slob. That was funny.

Or, the time they fell out of the sky in the samurai-X mech. Lloyd had shoved her into the cockpit, while he floated down with a blanket.

And the time the rebellion kidnapped her and tied her to a chair in a warehouse? It wasn't that funny, especially not for Harumi, but desperate times had called for desperate measures.

In fact, now that he was really wracking his brain, he'd noticed that the bad significantly outweighed the good. In fact, Harumi had trapped and kidnapped him more times than she'd helped him. A strange comparison.

Lloyd clicks the buckles on his boots. His shoes had three buckles on each, covering a metal zip. It was necessary to keep the boots on during combat, but still incredibly annoying to put on.

Then he promptly sits back down.

If I go out there, I'll have to talk to Master Wu! Lloyd internally panics. He buries his head in his hands, groaning, frustrated.

It'll be so awkward! I disobeyed him, how will we go back to normal?

He shoots up from his bead, wobbling in the vertigo for just a second, before he paces the room in thought. He mostly circles the table.

Lloyd knows he can't avoid confrontation with his Master for long, but he can darn well try.

Knock knock!

A knocking at the door pulls Lloyd from his pacing. He prays that it's not his uncle behind that door.

He nervously steps toward the door, each step feeling heavier and heavier.

A patient voice calls to him on the other side.

He sighs a breath of relief.

"Lloyd?"

It's his father.

He opens the door swiftly, with a small smile on his face. Knowing now that his father was on his side, Lloyd was at ease.

"Yeah?"

"Wu is calling a meeting in the hull, something about a plan?" Garmadon shuffles and clears his throat. "He, uh, sent me to get you."

Lloyds sighs a breath of 'spoke too soon'.

He mimics his father's shuffle. Just as he was thinking he was in the all-clear, he's summoned to a meeting. Lloyd is starting to feel more and more unlucky every day. The cloud kingdom must hate him.

With a huff, he nods at his father. "Okay, let's go."

Garmadon swivels to exit the doorway and quickly makes his way down the hallway. Not wanting to walk alone, Lloyd matches his speed. They pass a few doors before they reach the stairs, quietly stepping up them.