A GreenFlame Twist

Dragons Rising Episode 6, Return to Imperium

A/N: I try to use as much of the actual dialogue and character actions from the episodes as I can. I'm sorry if I get anything wrong, it is purely unintentional. Also, I do not own Ninjago and credit for all show dialogue and characters goes to their owners.

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Sora walks into her room and grabs her cat eared headphones off her bed in an angry huff.

Turning around she runs into Arin.

"Sora, I can't let you go-" He starts to say, but she cuts him off saying, "Excuse me?"

Without skipping a beat Arin continues, "-alone, we're a team. Ever since the merge it's been you and me."

Riyu bounds into the room and jumps onto Arin's back, making a small squeak in protest.

Laughing, Arin amends his statement. "And Riyu. We stick together. We're coming to Imperium with you."

"I do not feel good about this." Lloyd says, walking into the room.

"You're both still training. And who knows who you're going to run into in Imperium."

"We can do this Lloyd." Arin says with confidence.

With a straight face Lloyd replies, "You punched yourself in the face this morning."

"Eh heh, you saw that?" Arin says, scratching the back of his head, his face turning red from embarrassment.

"But we've come so far in our training!" Came a protest.

"And remember what you told us Master Wu always said?"

Kai - who walked in just in time to hear this - leans over Lloyd's shoulder and says in his best impersonation of Master Wu, "Uh, 'Stop playing video games and go clean your room?'"

Lloyd rolls his eyes and grones at the stupidity of his husband.

Arin correctly quotes Master Wu, saying, "'Ninja sharpens Ninja.' We're stronger when we work together."

Lloyd seems surprised that Arin remembered this, but Kai just laughs saying, "Oh, you just got Master Wu'd! Hard!" With a little fist pump at the end.

"Point taken, Arin." Lloyd says with a sigh, "You can go," Arin and Sora look at each other excitedly upon hearing this, "but I'm coming with you." Lloyd finishes.

"Nice! Group trip! Packing my bags." Kai says, turning to leave, but a hand on his shoulder stops him.

Turning around, Kai looks over to see Lloyd shaking his head at him.

"No, we need you to protect the Monastery and Ninjago. What if there are more Mergequakes?"

Kai can tell that this isn't the only reason Lloyd is keeping him back, but he stays silent, only grumbling out, "Fine. You go have all the fun." before turning away and walking out.

He can hear the others still talking and manages to catch a few more sentences before walking out of earshot.

"So we're going?"

"Against my better judgment, we're going."

"Yeah! Go wanna be- Ow!"

Kai chuckles slightly as he hears the 'ow' come from Arin, knowing that the kid had somehow managed to punch himself in the face for a second time today.

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Kai finds Lloyd in their room in the Monastery, packing.

Quietly sneaking up behind the green clad ninja, Kai snakes his arms around Lloyd's waist and rests his head on top of Lloyd's. The smaller boy jumps slightly beneath him before realizing that it was Kai.

"Kai, don't do that to me, you almost gave me a heart attack." Lloyd says, turning around to face his husband.

"What's up?" He asks.

"Why won't you let me come with you guys?" Kai asks, letting go of Lloyd and flopping onto the bed.

"I already told you, because I need someone to handle any Mergequakes that might happen while we're gone." Lloyd replies, sitting down next to Kai.

"Mergequake my ass, cut the bullshit and just tell me already." Kai says, propping himself up on one elbow to glare at his husband.

Lloyd sighs and runs a hand through his golden locks before replying, "Ok fine, I don't just want you to stay behind because of Mergequakes, but that is still a reason. I really want you to stay because you're still injured from getting hit and thrown across a mountain from a boulder." Lloyd pauses for a second before continuing, "You've got at least three cracked ribs Kai, and we don't have Zane with us to fully scan you to see just how bad it is, or if there is anything else wrong. You already pushed yourself enough by going and trying to rescue that dragon with us this morning. I would love to take you to a hospital but you've already refused that. So now I'm forcing you to stay here."

Kai knew that Lloyd wanted to protect him and make sure that he stayed safe, but he also wanted to do the same for Lloyd. Like Lloyd said, who knows who they will run into while in Imperium.

"But Lloyd-" Kai starts, but Lloyd cuts him off. "No butts, this is not up for discussion, I am telling you as not only your husband, but also your leader that you are sitting this mission out. And that is final." Lloyd speaks in a harsh tone, daring Kai to argue with him.

It is times like these that Kai really remembers how much power the young leader truly has, and what he will do to keep those he loves safe.

"Alright," Kai says, "but you have to promise me you won't take any unnecessary risks or detours. Just go deactivate the Photac and come straight back. Or else I swear on the FSM I will break into Imperium, drag you out, and never let you leave my sight again."

"Hey! That's my grandfather you're swearing on." Lloyd says in protest before giving Kai a playful punch on the shoulder.

Kai retaliates by grabbing Lloyd and putting him in a headlock while giving the younger ninja a series of noogies until he says with a shout, "Ok! Ok! I get it! I'll be careful!"

Kai releases Lloyd's head, and instead grabs Lloyd's wrists, pinning him onto the bed.

"Just one more thing, Greenie." He whispers into Lloyd's ear while straddling his waist, "When you do get back I want some alone time with you." He then nibbles Lloyd's ear, just to get his point across.

With a soft moan Lloyd whispers back, "Kai... stop it, you're going to make me not want to leave."

"That's the point, my love." Kai purrs.

He starts to say something else but is interrupted when he hears Arin's voice coming from down the hall.

"Lloyd! Are you almost ready? Sora and I are ready to go." There is a grunt and an 'ow', before Arin's voice continues, "And Riyu."

With a sigh Kai lets go of Lloyd's wrists and gets off of him, allowing his husband to get up.

"Don't worry hottie, we'll finish when I get back." Lloyd says with a wink before whisking out of the room to meet Arin.

Kai grones and flops back onto the bed, it was going to be a long wait now.

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A/N: If you have any ideas for alterations to a scene from an episode that I haven't altered yet, and you think it would make for a good short I would be happy to hear about it.