The next day, Lloyd watched Cole leave the room. He couldn't help but notice how the black ninja's muscles relaxed as he headed down the hall. Everyone always seemed so tense around him, as if they expected him to do something. But what? Lloyd wondered. What do they think I'm going to do?
He shrugged the question out of his mind as Garmadon entered the room. Seeing his father always put a smile on his face.
But Garmadon froze for a minute. Something flashed in his eyes and he turned his head away.
Confused, Lloyd called, "Dad? Are you okay?"
When Garmadon turned back toward him, his face was warm again, as if nothing ever happened. "Of course, Lloyd," he answered. "How about you?"
Lloyd slipped off the bed onto his feet. He wobbled a bit, but with the help of his father he steadied himself. "I'll feel better once I can walk on my own two feet," he muttered.
They walked over to the window together.
Garmadon glanced at his son lovingly. "I'm just glad you're alive."
Lloyd tilted his head. "Why wouldn't I be?"
The sensei hesitated. "Well... when we found you in the fire, I wasn't sure you'd make it," he murmured honestly. "You just seemed so weak... so out of sorts..."
Lloyd threw his arms around Garmadon, letting the protected feeling his father gave him fill him. "I'd pull through anything to see you again, Dad."
Garmadon allowed Lloyd's love toward him to soothe his nerves. The truth was, he had seen his son's puzzled gaze when Cole left the room, and the expression seemed so similar to the one Lloyd had given him in the trance. His heart had broken when his son hadn't recognized him, and that horrid feeling had almost crept up on him again.
"Thank you," Lloyd's voice breathed in his ear.
"For what?" Garmadon asked as they drew apart again.
Lloyd shuffled his feet. "For not giving up to find me," he answered honestly. "After I was taken hostage to a place you had no idea where it was located, I thought you would give up on me."
Garmadon stared into his son's eyes. "I would never give up on you."
Lloyd looked at his feet. "Thank you... for caring," he murmured. His face suddenly fell. "When I feel like no one else does."
Garmadon felt a jolt of surprise. "What are you talking about?" he exclaimed. "Everyone is overjoyed to have you back!"
"I don't know," Lloyd sighed. "Everyone just seems so... wary around me."
Garmadon forced his panic down. "The relief that you're alive is just too much for them to bear."
Lloyd nodded slowly. "I guess."
Garmadon opened up his arms, chuckling. "Come here."
Lloyd once again threw his arms around his father. "I love you, Dad," he whispered.
"I love you, too, Lloyd." But as soon as Lloyd couldn't see his expression anymore, Garmadon's face dropped.
Lloyd was noticing the tension between him and the others, and that could only mean trouble was down the road.
* * *
The ninja were seated around the table, munching dinner away. There was nothing uncomfortable like last time holding them back.
Lloyd was already fast asleep in his bed upstairs, and that gave Garmadon the comfort that he could say what he needed to.
"Everyone, we have a bit of a situation," he addressed the group. They all turned to him and went silent. "Lloyd is picking up on the tension we have around him, and we all know that's not good."
Everyone murmured uneasily to each other.
"What do we do?" Jay asked.
Garmadon shrugged. "Just relax when you're with him," he replied. "Although Lloyd's physically weak, it doesn't mean he's stupid."
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"Then it's settled," Wu spoke up. "There's no reason to be wary around Lloyd anymore, and to protect him we have to show that we trust him. Now let's continue our meal."
* * *
Kai took a deep breath. He hadn't visited Lloyd since he woke up, and he was forcing himself to. Sensei said that he has to know that we trust him, he told himself as he walked down the hall. But do I trust him?
It had been five days since the green ninja was conscious. He would be wondering where Kai was if he hadn't seen him for any longer than he already hadn't.
Kai halted when he reached the hospital room. He felt like he would explode with anxiety. He knew how much power Lloyd held in his veins. He was the green ninja!
Taking a few deep breaths to calm his nerves, Kai pushed open the door and entered the room.
Lloyd was across the room and he turned as the door creaked open. His eyes lit up when he spotted Kai and he raced across the floor.
Kai tried to let out a happy laugh, but it came out more like a nervous chuckle. "You... you..." It took a huge effort to talk somewhat calmly. "You s-seem strong on your feet."
"I haven't felt this good in days!" Lloyd exclaimed. "Pixal says I can move out of the hospital room tomorrow!"
"Already?" Kai blurted out before he could stop himself. "I-I mean—that's great!" he added hastily.
Confusion glittered in Lloyd's eyes. "You don't sound too excited," he murmured. "Aren't you glad I'm recovering?"
Panic welled up inside Kai. I'm supposed to be here to let him know I trust him, not the other way around! "Of course I am!" he gasped, hoping Lloyd couldn't hear his heart pounding in his chest. "I just don't want you to move too fast," he added. "Your strength only lasts for so long."
Lloyd tensed and looked at his feet. "Believe me, I know," he sniffed, trembling a bit.
Kai gritted his teeth. You said the wrong thing again, Kai! he scolded himself. Talking about Lloyd's strength must've brought back dark memories. "Wait... I-I didn't..." Kai struggled for words. "I mean... I... I-I can't think of anything golden to say..."
Lloyd looked up again, horror plastered on his face.
Kai resisted a facepalm. Why do I have to mess everything up? "Uh..." he stammered. "Lloyd, I... I..."
"Maybe you should just go," Lloyd murmured sadly.
"Yeah," Kai chuckled nervously. "I am getting cold feet." He slapped his hand over his mouth. "I mean—I-I... I uh... I'm not really on fire right now—wait!" Kai stumbled backward. "Uh... uh..." Before he could mess anything else up, he turned and fled out the door. So much for that!
He nearly rammed into Nya in the hallway.
"Whoa!" Nya exclaimed. "What's the hurry?"
Kai pointed to the hospital room. "Do something!" he gasped desperately before racing past her.
Frowning, Nya shook her head and entered the hospital room. Lloyd was sitting at the edge of his bed, looking at his feet. She sat beside him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Lloyd murmured. "I just... There's a lot on my mind... Dark memories. I've been through a lot, you know?"
Nya smiled sympathetically. "Don't worry, Lloyd," she comforted, laying her hand on his shoulder. "Everything will get better, you'll see."
He only shrugged.
Nya went on. "A lot of things happened while you were asleep," she said. "Let me catch you up on everything."
Lloyd looked up at her. "I'd like that," he affirmed. "Then I'll make some new memories."