A Ninjago Oneshots Collection

Preparing For An Interview (small)TW

TW: (mention of) SELF-HATE
Includes: movieverse, greenflame, comfort/wholesomeness/fluff hehehe

Kai tapped away on his phone as he lay on his stomach on Lloyd's bed, waiting for him as he listened to the sound of shuffling behind the bathroom door. He was over at Lloyd's place as emotional support for him getting ready for an interview with Good Morning Ninjago. Unlike Kai, he was far more nervous and stressed about the interview, it was his first solo one as all the other times he had been accompanied by the others. This time though, it would just be him. Kai heard Lloyd sigh and he looked up, ready for the door to open. Lloyd stepped out with a slightly nervous and disappointed expression, he wasn't quite sure about the outfit his mum had chosen for him and he had absolutely no idea of what to do with his hair.

Lloyd had on a more formal version of their ninja attire, completed with a green trim along the edges on the gi, embroidery of Lloyd's symbol with gold thread on the sleeves, and a fancier, less practical, belt. Lloyd had brushed his hair to look like a neater version of his usual hair but other than that, he was just the same greenbean in fancy clothes. That didn't stop the blush on Kai's face though. His lips parted as he stared at Lloyd with total fixation. Eventually, Lloyd cleared his throat and made a gesture asking Kai for a verbal opinion. A wide smile grew on Kai's lips as he sat up on Lloyd's bed.

"You look incredible," was all that Kai could manage to express through words, though his brain was thinking far more things about him. Lloyd blushed and turned away with an embarrassed smile.

"Yeah right, this gi is a total joke, very impractical. I think people would prefer to see me in the real deal anyway," Lloyd complained, adjusting the fabric on his waist. Kai rolled his eyes and got up off of the bed; he walked up to Lloyd and started to nitpick a few creases in the gi as well as correcting the fabric around Lloyd's neck.

"I think that they're going to be more interested in your answers to the questions rather than what you're wearing. Besides, if it makes Koko happy, why not?" Kai grinned but Lloyd just gave him a small smile. A part of him wanted this to be the segway into the conversation he had wanted to have with Kai for years, but he knew now wasn't the time at all. "Can I do your hair?" Kai suggested as he started to move parts of Lloyd's hair already. Lloyd's smile grew wider.

"Yes, please do it, I have no idea what else to do with it other than brush it," Lloyd whined and Kai chuckled.

"Well then, you better take a seat, we're about to play hairdresser." Kai winked at Lloyd and walked backwards to Lloyd's desk to pull out his spinny chair. He rolled it out in front of Lloyd's standing mirror and gestured to Lloyd to sit down while he walked into the bathroom to find the tools he needed. Lloyd sat down and looked himself in the mirror as he waited. Slowly his smile fell as memories seemed to resurface, connected to the mirror. Countless mornings and evenings he'd spent in front of this mirror, berating himself with insults, nitpicking each and every thing about himself, crying and begging to be someone other than Lloyd Garmadon. Lloyd gulped and looked away and out of the window. He needed to buy a new mirror.

"Alright so, I've got some hair spray, I have your hairbrush, and I always carry extra hair gel on me. I'm not gonna do anything drastic but like, do you have any requests?" Kai came back into Lloyd's room carrying his hairbrush and the hairspray. He set them down on the dresser next to the mirror and then went and rummaged through his bag until he dragged out a container of hair gel. Lloyd giggled as he imagined himself with Kai's spiky hair.

"Uh well, try to keep it looking like my usual hair, I guess." Kai scoffed.

"Dumbass, that's what we're trying to avoid." Kai rolled his eyes as he started to brush Lloyd's hair, but then the both of them couldn't help but laugh. "I know what you mean, don't worry," Kai grinned at Lloyd in the mirror and Lloyd smiled back.

"No, to be honest, you can do anything you think suits me, just don't take too long because we've only got an hour and a half left before I have to be on set," Lloyd pointed out as he glanced at the clock on his wall.

"Only an hour and a half!?" Kai exclaimed playfully, making Lloyd laugh again. Lloyd would have much rathered to just hang out with Kai all day instead of doing the interview, but Good Morning Ninjago was offering him a lot of money and Lloyd couldn't help but feel just slightly in debt to his Mum for all the jobs she had had to work just to keep their apartment in the past. Thinking of hanging out with Kai all day reminded Lloyd of something he had wanted to ask him about.

"Kai?"

"Hm?"

"If they ask, what am I allowed to say about our relationship?" Lloyd asked. Kai froze for a second, thinking about it before meeting Lloyd's eyes in the mirror.

"Uhm, well, whatever you want I suppose, I don't really mind." Kai shrugged and Lloyd gave him a look. He of all people knew about how the internet worked and what school would be like for the both of them if Kai and Lloyd confirmed their relationship.

Over the last few months they'd been together, they had kept the affection in public to just hand-holding, but that wasn't anything new to their relationship anyway— which to be honest should've been a sign to the both of them back then that they liked each other, but they were oblivious idiots. They hadn't announced anything and the others had even pointed out a lot that though they were 'finally' dating, the way they acted with each other had barely changed; and yet, over the few months of being together, they had spotted an increase in posts and articles speculating about whether or not they were in a relationship. If they confirmed those theories, the city was sure to go crazy.

"You're not at all worried about what that would change? How people are gonna view you? All the weird questions? The hate?" Lloyd listed the things on the top of his mind, which also happened to be the things he was most afraid of, and Kai caught on. His expression dropped a little and he glanced at Lloyd, drawing his breath.

"You need to stop worrying about what people think of you," Kai said flatly as he continued to gently work Lloyd's hair. Lloyd's shoulders dropped and he looked down at the ground instead. He opened his mouth to say something but decided against it and just sighed, hugging himself as he looked to the side. "Besides, it'll only be bad for the first month or so, and after that, it'll become part of the norm. We just gotta get it over and done with, y'know?" Kai caught Lloyd's eyes in the mirror with a reassuring smile and Lloyd couldn't help but catch his breath. He gulped and leaned back in the chair.

"Yeah... You're right." Lloyd closed his eyes as he decided to think about what exactly he would reveal if the question popped up.