We Both Felt this Pain

Chapter 3: Runny Noses and Full Moons

Lloyd's POV
I moaned deeply. Ever since I woke up this morning, I've been feeling like absolute crap. My nose would not stop running and I was sneezing and coughing like crazy. I was laying on the couch, a pillow on top of my face. "God, why today?" I thought to himself. "It was probably from being out in the cold yesterday".
"Lloyd, are you okay?" a voice said. I let out about moan. Suddenly, the figure lifted the pillow off my head. I looked and saw Zane above my head.
"I-I think I-I'm coming down with something" I rasped, as I then let out another sneeze. Then Zane suddenly placed his hand on my forehead. The coldness of his palm made me feel slightly better.
"Indeed you are. Your forehead is on fire" Zane replied. Then, Kai, Jay, Cole, Nya and Skylor came into the room. They were all dressed up in fancy traditional clothing. Then I remembered that today was the Half Year Full Moon festival, where the people of Ninjago celebrate getting through half the year of harvest. I had only been to one festival, and that was with my dad.
"Lloyd, you okay? You don't look so good" Cole asked.
"He's a little sick this morning" Zane answered for me. "I don't think he should be going anywhere today"
"Awww! This stinks! I wanted to show Lloyd how I'm so awesome at fair games!" Jay exclaimed.
"But he can't stay here alone. Someone's gonna have to stay here with him, with Wu and Misako away and all" Kai said.
"I can stay with him if you want" Zane said quietly.
"Z-Zane, I d-don't want you t-to miss the festival b-because of me" I said.
"It's alright, Lloyd. Besides, I'm the only one who can't get sick if I look after you" Zane said.
"Hmm. You have a point, Zane" Cole said, scratching his chin.
"Well, we better get going. The festival starts in an hour" Nya said.
"Hope you feel better, Lloyd!" Skylor said, waving. Then the rest of the ninja waved goodbye and walked out the door.
"S-So, what n-now?" I asked, sneezing right after.
"Now it's time for you to rest. Just relax and let me do everything" Zane said, smiling. The he pushed me down deeper into the couch, slowly. He walked over and grabbed a white blanket and put it over top of me. Then he grabbed a nearby pillow, lifted up the bottom of my head and placed it in the pillow. The blanket and pillow were soft and warm, which made me feel relaxed.
"I'm going to go whip something up for you. Just relax and I'll be right back" Zane instructed. I nodded, wiping my running nose with my hand.
A few minutes passed and I started to smell something from the kitchen. I could barely smell it through, because of my plugged nose. Then I saw Zane walk back into the living room, with a bowl in his hands. He sat down next to me on the couch.
"W-What's that?" I asked, wrapping the blanket myself.
"Just a little something to make you feel better. Open up" Zane directed, moving a spoon of the stuff closer to my mouth. I swallowed the liquid, licking some of it off the spoon. It tasted beefy and salty.
"W-What is this stuff? I asked again, enjoy whatever was in my mouth.
"Beef stew. Plus, I added a little bit of your mothers medicine to it" Zane said.
"Eww! You know I hate that stuff!" I exclaimed, making a disgusted face. Zane laughed.
"Well, someone is certainly feeling better. I knew you wouldn't have the medicine on its own, so that's why I added it to the stew" he replied.
"Well, I am feeling a bit better. Thanks" I said, him then putting another spoonful in my mouth. Zane then kept feeding me until I finally had it all.
"Mmm.....that was good...." I trailed off. I actually did feel quite better then I was this morning. Zane placed the bowl on a nearby table and suddenly put his hand on my forehead again.
"Hmmmm...you're still quite warm" he said. Then he made the face he makes when he has an idea. Then, he unexpectedly wrapped his arms around me pulled me in closer.
"Uh, Zane?" I asked.
"Yes, Lloyd?" he replied, smiling down at me.
"What are you doing?"
"Your body temperature is still quite warm. Mine on the other hand is not. I thought this would help" he said. I said nothing, but I snuggled deeper into his chest.
"It is kinda helping. Thank you" I said, smiling. Zane smiled back. A few moments passed and I was still snuggled in Zane's chest. Then, without thinking, I placed my hand onto his strong, titanium chest. Without looking, I could tell that he was blushing.
"Hey, Lloyd. Look over there" Zane said, pointing towards the window. I hadn't realized how much time had passed, because the sun was already down and the full moon was shining bright in the darkness of the night.
"Wow. When they said there'd be a full moon tonight, they weren't kidding" I said. Zane let out a deep chuckle, which sent a shiver of delight up my spine.
"Zane?" I said quietly.
"Hmm?"
"I'm not trying to make this sound weird, but, the way you're taking care of me....makes me feel like you're an older brother, so, y'know, thanks for watching over me" I said. Zane grinned at me.
"Of course, Lloyd. And, to add to what you said, you make me feel like I have a younger brother" Zane said, scratching the back of his neck. I smiled warmly at him.
I then wrapped the white blanket around me more and went deeper into the Titanium ninja's chest. My eyes started to move up and down and they finally couldn't stay open. Then I fell asleep.

Zane's POV
I looked down at Lloyd, who had now fully fallen asleep in my arms. The cute little face he made when he slept always made me grin. Even though he was the Green Ninja, the leader of the team, he still looked like the little boy we took in so long ago. Man, that seemed like a thousand years ago, when Lloyd was still a small kid who loved candy. And when I still had my old body. I shook my head, trying to get the thought out of my head. I know Sensei always tells us to hold on to our past, but I'm stuck in the moment of today. And to me, that's all that matters.