Of Milk and Cookies

The Little Mermaid Incident

So, it's been awhile, I admit... real life has been on a murderous rampage for a bit. But! I'm back now, and my writing should pick up a bit, now, hopefully. Anyway! Enjoy the incredibly random beach day fic that no one asked for!

"This feels... weird..." Lloyd commented absently, digging his toes into the sand. Kai gave his brother an odd look.

"The sand feels weird?"

"No. This. Being here, at the beach to relax without the threat of an evil warlord bent on world domination looming over us?" he explained, tilting his face toward the sun and enjoying its warmth. Nya slung an arm around his shoulders.

"After everything you've been through, you've earned it, Lloyd. Taking today to chill and have fun is exactly what you need! And just look how happy your dad is." she told him, watching as the former villain helped his wife spread out a picnic blanket not far away. The sound of laughter floated over to them. Lloyd grinned.

"I wasn't sure, at first. If they were gonna figure stuff out. You know?" he admitted hesitantly, "But they've both been really great about it so far."

Kai gave his hair a ruffle and said, "I'm really happy for you, green bean."

"Me too," Nya agreed, "now let's get over there and join the others before Cole completely buries Jay."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Lloyd noted with a laugh. The two ninja in question were throwing sand at each other with gusto. The buckets they had brought for sand castles had been long forgotten. He followed Kai and Nya as they approached them, ignoring his slight limp. The lingering effects of his injuries made it difficult to completely forget the events leading up to this moment, but he was happy to put the memories out of his mind for now.

"Do I even want to know what's happening right now? I thought you were gonna make a scale model of the city." asked Nya as she ducked a wayward clump of wet sand. Jay gave her a look that clearly meant save me.

"We were. But dirt clod over here decided it'd be funny to bury me instead..." he complained.

"So I know this looks bad but-" Cole began to protest before Kai interrupted him.

"Nah, I can definitely see the appeal in torturing Jay."

"Hey!" the master of lightning glared at Kai, "not helping."

"Listen. You know those pictures where people bury their legs in sand and make it look like they have mermaid tails and stuff? I was just thinking it'd be funny to take one of those and send it to Zane." Cole explained, resisting the urge to toss more sand at his best friend. They had all been a bit disappointed that their nindroid brother couldn't wouldn't be joining them til later in the day, but they understood his desire to spend as much time as possible with his father. There was no way of knowing how much longer they had. Lloyd's eyes lit up.

"Oh, that does sound like fun!"

"Okay but I don't see why I have to be the mermaid," Jay said, giving Cole a dirty look, "Nya's like, way prettier."

"Um... thank you?" she replied. Her cheeks flushed slightly at his awkward compliment.

"Well, I mean, your hair could almost pass for red in this light." Cole offered.

"And you did grow up in a junkyard. I'm sure you do have whozits and whatzits galore lying around." Nya added.

"And thingamabobs. He's definitely got at least twenty of those." Lloyd joined in with glee.