Black eye (L. Garmadon x Reader)

n i n e

A/N- GUYS NEARLY 400 READS HOLY SHIT! TYSM❤️ So sorry about the long break! :( 
ANYWAYS ENJOY!

Lloyd stood in front of the mirror, his brows furrowed as he tugged at the hem of his hoodie for the hundredth time. He leaned closer, inspecting his reflection like it held all the answers to his sudden nerves. His hair was its usual messy self—no amount of finger-combing or water could tame the stubborn strands sticking out at odd angles. He huffed in frustration, ruffling it again and hoping for the best.

Casual, he thought. Just look casual. Not too formal, not like you rolled out of bed. But no matter what he did, he felt like he was overthinking everything. Why was it so hard to get dressed for a simple hangout?

"Dude, what's taking so long? Others need to use the bathroom too." Kai's voice cut through his thoughts, the fire ninja leaning against the doorframe with his trademark smirk. His arms were crossed, his whole posture screaming smug amusement. "You're acting like you're about to walk a red carpet."

Lloyd shot him a glare. "I'm just making sure I don't look like an idiot, okay? Is that so bad?"

Kai's grin widened as he sauntered into the room. "Not bad, just hilarious. Look at you—Mr. Cool Green Ninja losing his mind over a hoodie. This must be serious."

"It's not—" Lloyd started, but before he could finish, Jay's head popped around the corner.

"Oh, it's serious alright," Jay said with a dramatic gasp, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "You're meeting her, aren't you? Oh man, this is huge! Forget the hoodie—you need something with pizzazz. I'm talking sparkle, flair, maybe even a cape!"

"A cape?" Lloyd repeated incredulously, his face heating up. "I'm not trying to look like some costume party reject, Jay!"

"Relax, it's just a suggestion," Jay said, wiggling his eyebrows. "But seriously, you should up your game. This is the girl who stood up for you and ended up with a black eye. She's a legend."

Kai burst into laughter at that, slapping his knee. "Oh man, he's got a point. You've got to impress her, dude. She's clearly not one to mess around."

"Guys, it's not a big deal," Lloyd said, his voice tinged with desperation as his blush deepened. "We're just hanging out, that's all."

"'Hanging out,' huh?" Nya said, stepping into the room with a knowing smirk, looking almost identical to her brother. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe beside Kai. "So why are you acting like you're about to meet the Emperor of Ninjago? Just admit it—it's a date."

"It's not a date!" Lloyd protested, his voice rising slightly in pitch. "I just... want to look nice, okay?"

"Ohhh, he wants to look nice," Jay said, clutching his chest and staggering back like he'd been hit. "Our little Lloyd is growing up! He's finally learning how to impress the ladies."

"Enough, you guys!" Lloyd groaned, throwing his hands up in surrender. His teammates' laughter echoed around the room, but he couldn't help the tiny smile creeping onto his face despite his exasperation. They were relentless, but in their own way, they were also rooting for him.

Cole's voice rang out from the hallway as he joined the commotion. "What's going on? Did Lloyd forget how to put on clothes or something?"

"He's getting ready to meet a girl," Kai said, smirking. "And it's taking him forever."

Cole stepped into the room, looking Lloyd up and down. "Hmm... not bad. But maybe ditch the hoodie? Go for something cooler. A leather jacket, maybe?"

Lloyd rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because nothing says casual hangout like pretending to be a biker."