Black eye (L. Garmadon x Reader)

e i g h t

Lloyd sat on the edge of the training mat, his brow furrowed in concentration as he stretched out a sore shoulder, the dull ache a reminder of his relentless training session. The air in the dojo was thick with the scent of sweat and the faint aroma of wood polish, a familiar environment that usually grounded him. Yet today, his mind was a whirlwind, fixated on his phone screen, which glowed enticingly in front of him. He had been scrolling through his contacts for what felt like an eternity, wrestling with the idea of reaching out to (Y/N). It shouldn't be this hard, right? Just a quick check-in to see how she was holding up after yesterday's chaos.

He couldn't shake the image of her taking that elbow to the face—he felt a wave of guilt wash over him. How could I let that happen?

"What's up with you?" Kai's voice pierced through his reverie, snapping Lloyd back to reality. He quickly flipped his phone face-down on the mat, a desperate attempt to appear casual, but Kai's knowing eyes saw right through him. He narrowed his gaze, a playful smirk forming as he glanced between Lloyd and the phone. "Oookay... who are you so intensely not texting?"

Lloyd let out a frustrated sigh, a flush creeping up his neck. Just as he was about to deflect Kai's questions, Nya and Jay perked up, their attention shifting like a spotlight illuminating a stage. Nya approached with an air of mischief, her arms crossed over her chest and a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Spill it, Lloyd. We're all ears."

Jay leaned in closer, practically bouncing with anticipation, his wide eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Is it a girl? It's definitely a girl, isn't it?" His enthusiasm radiated off him like the sun. "Oh man, this is going to be so good!"

Heat flushed through Lloyd's cheeks as he rolled his eyes, the embarrassment palpable. "Okay, it's... not like that! She just—well, she got a little roughed up yesterday, and I feel kind of responsible. I was just thinking about checking in on her, that's all."

"Just thinking?" Nya pressed, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

With an exasperated sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture that had become second nature whenever he felt flustered. "She... defended me, okay? Some guys were causing trouble at her work because I was there, and she stepped in."

Nya's eyes widened in shock, and Jay gasped dramatically, almost stumbling backward in surprise. "Wait, she did what? She defended you?"

Lloyd nodded, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment surge within him. "Yeah, she took a hit for me, and I—" He hesitated, his throat tightening with emotion. "I don't know... she didn't have to do that, you know? I didn't even get a chance to say thanks properly."

"Dude, that's insane!" Kai exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief, a smile spreading across his face. "What kind of girl stands up to bullies for a guy she just met?"

Jay's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. "The good kind! You need to tell her you appreciate what she did!"

Lloyd opened his phone and pulled up (Y/N)'s number, his fingers hovering hesitantly over the screen. "And... what do I even say?" he muttered, anxiety creeping into his voice.

Nya rolled her eyes, snatching the phone from his grasp before he could react. "Just let me—" She typed a few words with deft fingers, holding the phone just out of reach as he tried to grab it back, laughing despite his frustration.

"Nya, give it back!" he protested, a grin breaking through his nervousness.

She ducked under his arm with agility, her triumphant smile brightening the room. "Relax, I'm just drafting something." With a playful glint in her eyes, she handed the phone back to him.