Tiny Troubles

Part 16

Previously on Tiny Troubles...

It was quiet for a few minutes, save for a few rumbles of thunder. "Lloyd?" Cole's quiet voice suddenly piped.

"Yeah?" Lloyd asked sleepily.

"...Thank you."

Lloyd grinned before resting his head on his pillow. "Night Cole," he muttered as he shut his eyes.

Cole smiled and also closed his eyes. "Night Lloyd."

Feeling safe and secure thanks to his brother-in-all-but-blood, Cole spent the rest of the night in a dreamless sleep.

~~~~~

Part 16

When Kai woke up that morning, it was still raining outside, but it was a calm drizzle rather than a raging thunderstorm.

The red ninja slowly sat up in his bed and yawned, stretching his back. Hearing some quiet giggles, Kai peered down and blinked when he saw Jay and Zane crowded around Lloyd's bed.

"What's going on?" he asked, climbing down from the top bunk.

"Shhh!" Jay shushed him, snapping pictures on his phone. "Come look!"

Curious, Kai squeezed in between his two teammates and looked at Lloyd's bed. A big, fond smile tugged at his lips.

Lloyd was sprawled on his back, blankets tangled around him and a thin trail of drool trickling out of his mouth. Next to him, with his panda plushie under one arm while his head rested on the green ninja's chest was Cole. The little ninja had cuddled close to Lloyd, who had an arm draped almost protectively over Cole's shoulders.

"When did this happen?" Kai whispered.

Zane shrugged. "Probably sometime last night," he answered, smiling. "They were like this when I woke up."

"This is too cute!" Jay quietly squealed, taking a few more pictures.

Unfortunately, Jay was a little too loud and Lloyd woke up with a snort. His emerald green eyes blinked slowly as he slowly became aware of his surroundings. Yawning, he wiped the drool off his face and started to sit up, only to freeze when he saw his teammates staring at him. "What?" He demanded.

Kai snickered and pointed at the still-sleeping Cole. Lloyd looked at the little ninja current snuggled up against him and blushed. "We had trouble sleeping last night," he mumbled. "Cole had a nightmare...

Kai shrugged. "Figured. Nya used to always want to cuddle with me after she had a nightmare. It helped her fall back asleep."

"Did he tell you what the nightmare was about?" Zane asked.

Lloyd frowned. "It was...kinda personal. I'm not sure if he'd like it if I told you."

At that moment, Cole shifted in his sleep, cuddling closer to Lloyd. The green ninja smiled and gently poked Cole. "Rise and shine, Cole~"

Cole moaned and pulled the sheets over his head. "Five more minutes..." he whined.

Lloyd gently shook Cole's shoulder. "C'mon Cole. Time for breakfast."

Cole groaned and slid out of the bed, yawning and rubbing at his eye.

Kai laughed. "Morning, sleepyhead," he greeted.

"Morning," Cole yawned, still looking half-asleep. "What's for breakfast?"

"I can make French Toast!" Jay chirped.