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The sun barely kissed the mountain’s peak in its rise, the sky still a delicate cerulean blue as it slowly greets morning come. Under close attention, you could hear the chirping of faraway birds and the occasional chatter of wandering squirrels, scurrying up and down trees.
Despite the morning’s biting chill, it was rare for the monastery to be devoid of active life. Years worth of training had disciplined the Ninja to be awake bright and early, even if the time didn’t necessarily call for it.
Today was a rare treat for everyone when Master Wu had dismissed them from training, allowing them a day off from their usual busy routine. Kai, Jay and Cole had immediately raced for the living room before making a beeline for the gaming console, claiming they finally wanted to beat that ridiculously hard level they’ve been stuck on for weeks. Nya had taken to the garage, wanting to make some adjustments to her Samurai X suit; muttering something along the lines of “-need to rearticulate the rocket jet-”. Zane had also made good with his spare time, busying himself in the to attempt a new recipe he had found ‘quite exquisite’ for lunch.
And Lloyd-
Well-
He was honestly stuck on what to do really. Had it been before the incident of him defeating the Overlord and purifying his father from evil, he would’ve been training to hone his power for the sake of destiny. He probably could’ve re-read his old comic collection but perhaps his sudden growth spurt from the Tomorrow’s Tea had done something to his childlike interests, dulling them to a sort of matured taste.
While he did like playing video games alongside his brothers, his head spun at the idea of blinding colourful lights and comical sound effects from the video game so early in the morning. He doubt he would be much help to Nya; his knowledge in engineering only going as far to naming some tools inside a toolbox and Zane much preferred to cook by himself, claiming it was his way of relaxing. Training just seemed to contradict the scarce holiday altogether.
A part of him was mournfully aware that he didn’t particularly have any hobbies, having to dedicate most of his time since he had become the Green Ninja in training and protecting the citizens of Ninjago from catastrophic dangers.
Had he regret any of it? No, not when it meant to keep innocent lives and the family that he had out of harms way. But now as he sat alone in the monastery’s hallway, he almost wished some kind of emergency would emerge just so he could give a reason for his body to move. Almost.
With a bored sigh, he pushes himself off the wooden floor before walking down the hallway, no particular idea of where we has going in mind. The monastery was respectfully large, he’ll find something worth doing surely.
Passing door by door, his steps were as light as a feather, both out of habit and to avoid bothering the occupants inside. Occasionally, he can hear muffled sounds of pop music and digital sound effects or the distant footsteps he’s learned to distinguish as his brothers’ behind the door’s thin lining. However, passing a particular room everyone’s declared as the guest room, Lloyd noticed the door was slid slightly ajar; revealing a tuft of silver hair.
Curiosity eats him as he pushes the door aside to reveal both his mother and father kneeling across from each other, two pieces of parchment paper in between them. Neither had noticed the younger come in, a serene look adorning their faces. Admittedly, he still surprises himself when he sees his parents together, happy. Destiny hadn’t been kind to any of them so the newly found peace between them was still odd to warp his head around.
He makes his presence known with a knock and both Misako and Garmadon look over to see their son looking back at them, a shy smile on his face.
“Hey, am I bothering you guys ? I can leave if you want.” Lloyd murmurs, anxious that he might’ve ruined whatever serenity there was between his parents.
“Not at all Lloyd, we were just passing the time.” Garmadon speaks up, his voice low and gentle that matched his stern but kind facial features. He puts down what Lloyd quickly realised was a paintbrush on a small palette of paint. The sleeves of his yukata were folded to his elbows, revealing strong arms that didn’t match a man his age.
“Why don’t you come join us son? The more, the merrier.” Misako adds with a gentle smile. Instead of her usual work attire, Misako was adorning an elegant green kimono, much like Garmadon, her long sleeves were pushed above her elbows to avoid from getting ink on her dress. Instead of the braid she usually adorned, her greying hair was tied into a neat bun, giving her the impression of a much younger youth.
The ninja was quick to join her invitation, kneeling beside both of them to get a better look at the paper between them. To Lloyd’s amazement, his father’s paper had a gorgeous ink painting of Misako, the brush strokes clean and precise. Even with the portrait having yet to be complete, the boy could clearly tell the woman in the painting was his mother.
“I didn’t know you painted ?”
“Ah, just an old hobby, figured I might as well give it a go again after all these years.” His father cheeks were bashful red, still unused to shows of praise.
“Your just being humble, had our son known any less, he would’ve thought your work belonged in a museum.” The woman teases, giving her husband a cheeky smirk whom looks back at her with an unimpressed stare.
Their son couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. A few weeks ago, he wouldn’t have imagined such a dream was possible; together with his parents, simply enjoying one another’s presence. He vaguely remembers a young Lloyd Garmadon alone in a Darkley’s dormitory, praying to unseeing gods for a morsel of what he had now.
“Lloyd ? Is everything alright?” Misako asks, reaching forward to tuck away a strand of hair behind his ear. It was only now he had realised he was spacing out, both his parents looking at him warm smiles laced with thin worry.
He sighs easily, enjoying his mother’s soft touch on his cheek and meeting her gaze. Despite the thin crinkles surrounding her amber eyes, they still glimmered with love and a thirst of knowledge. “I’m fine mom, just spaced out for a second.”
“That’s quite alright son.” His father replies, his posture relaxed as he goes back to finishing to his portrait. In turn, Lloyd goes to look at his mother’s sheet. Unlike his father, Misako’s paper was partially filled with some kind of writing in blank ink. The blond recognised the characters from his uncle’s many scrolls, a language from Old Ninjago that he wasn’t too familiar with. The characters weren’t commonly used anymore and Darkley’s couldn’t bother in teaching young delinquents about traditional calligraphy.
The ink was still wet but the ninja could only focus on its languid strokes as if the ink’s messiness had been intentional. The strokes started off big and splotchy before tapering into thinner ends. Much like a snake. All in all, for something he couldn’t read, Lloyd thought it was beautiful.
“Wow, this looks amazing.”
“Thank you dear, I’m still a little rusty but I’m glad you think so.”
Garmadon notices his son watch Misako write with earnest, eyes shining with unrepressed awe and he found himself smiling warmly. People may say that besides the blond hair, the similarities between him and his son were uncanny but it was clear that Lloyd’s smile and focus belonged to his beloved wife. Aglow with something hopeful and passionate.
“How about giving it a go son?” He finds himself offering without thinking and the boy looks up to meet his father’s gaze with wide eyes, his face quickly turning a dusty pink. Lloyd turns his face away, suddenly finding interest in the floor’s wooden pattern.
Misako was quick to notice her son’s timidness, putting her brush down and turn to her son. “That sounds like a great idea. We have plenty parchment to spare.”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Then ? You were looking interested not too long ago.”
“I don’t even know what it says. No one’s ever taught me to write in the old writing.” The ninja’s shoulder were pulled upwards awkwardly, as if to hide his reddening ears, his gaze still fixed onto the floor.
Misako’s eyes flash in surprise for a mere second before turning sweet, her hand coming to rest on her son’s shoulder.
“Oh, Lloyd that’s perfectly fine. It’s never too late to learn. Here, how about you copy what I’m doing ? I’ll teach you how to read it in the as we go.” she consoles, handing the boy a roll of parchment and a calligraphy brush.
Garmadon watches the other hesitate for a few more seconds before grabbing the brush and unrolling the paper in front of him. Together, Misako instructs how to place the strokes, Lloyd following her orders diligently; his brows strewn together in focus. His strokes were slow and unsteady but eventually he ends with a mostly finished calligraphy work. The ink pooled and bled out more than it should’ve and his sleeves were sure to have ink stains but Lloyd was oddly proud of his work, looking over it once more.
It felt good to focus on something that wasn’t his powers or training. Freeing almost. As if he could pour his frustrations into the blank sheet and decorate it in graceful ink and stylish brushstrokes. He eyes his father’s painting, a gracious portrait of his mother. Maybe he should try his hand painting next-
“I’m impressed. You did well for his first try.” Misako suddenly chirps, looking over her son’s craftmanship with interest.
The ninja could only fondly role his eyes, knowing that compared to his mother’s work, his writing were practically chicken scratches. “Thanks mom. Dad’s painting looks miles better though.”
Garmadon lets out a gruff laugh as he picks up it his artwork and places it on a table by the window so it could dry. “We all start somewhere son. A decade ago, I could barely paint a smiley face.” The older man perks with a cringed smile and picks the other two pieces to hang too.
His son giggles alongside his wife and not for the first time today, he finds himself laughing along. Had you told the Lord Garmadon corrupted by the Overlord’s power that he would be joking alongside his beloveds in a time of peace and freedom he would’ve barked in offense and then some.
But he was not that Garmadon. Not anymore. Lloyd had made sure of it.
Perhaps he’s yet to find an interest that was properly his own but as the three stand to leave, overhearing Zane call everyone for lunch, he reckons that’s alright for now. Now when his mother’s hand is warm against his shoulder and his father affectionately ruffling his hair, hearts still gleeful from laughing. He’ll find something for himself, when the time calls for it.
For now ? He’s alright.