#but he’s ok

[lloydlings]

LIABILITY

by me (flyingdutchman on AO3)

When Arin accompanies Lloyd on a solo mission, and things go wrong; Arin blames himself for it. POST SEASON ONE.

TW: descriptions of injury, but non graphic. violence. please be warned.

"Now, I'm going to need you to follow me." Lloyd says, warning in his voice, as he fidgets with the scarf-half mask around his neck.

The boy next to him, clad in a bright sunshine yellow robe nods quickly. Own fingers wrapped tightly around his belt and his weapon. The boy looks around warily. There had been a group in his former home of the crosswords, and they'd since been warned about the threat. But when he and Lloyd, his teacher, arrived, they had been unable to find any sign, at least at the very moment. Lloyd had responded to an anonymous distress call, and earlier today, Arin had found his mentor convincing both Kai and Nya to let him do a solo training mission.

But maybe this trust was displaced, Arin thinks.

"Arin?"

The boy is brought quickly back to the present by Lloyd, vibrant green eyes searching him.

There's a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" Lloyd breathes out. Arin nods quickly.

He and Lloyd turn the corner, spotting several townsfolk in the wake, walking slowly and carefully. "Here's the plan-- we're going to get over there-- alley to the right, used to be a noodle shop my friend used to own."

Arin can hear the distaste in the usage of 'used to.", but Arin does not waver in his fear. He is scared. I mean, trying to become a ninja is much different than watching something from the sidelines. He'd never felt fear on this stage before, because he soon realized after the adventure of the dragon cores, that being a ninja was comitting to a life full of danger, that there was always a risk.

He'd admired Lloyd very much. The bravery, especially in his decision to harness power that could destroy him.

Arin didn't think he was as powerful to be able to do that -- I mean yes, he didn't have power and that was another thing that would probably up his chances of getting hurt but -- the distress call.

This was the Estrangers. A small group smuggling ancient artifacts. For Arin and Sora, they had been very knowledgable about the types of groups that wandered the crossroads. But this group had managed to source at least some vengestone after the Crystal King's fall.

Arin shakes his head, back to the present. "I'm not sure, --m, Lloyd. I've heard of the Estrangers, we sure we shouldn't call, Nya, Sora--Zane for backup?"

Lloyd turns to Arin after they find a spot behind the alley. Behind a trash bin. "I wouldn't of brought you on if this was something you couldn't handle."

A renewed sense of pride fills Arin as he sees Lloyd's trust in him, but he can't help but feel as though it's misplaced. When they'd all grouped to find the Dragon Cores it had felt as though he was the last choice, given his lack of elemental powers, and object Spinjitzu, and maybe that's why Lloyd had grouped up with him, given the green ninja powers were far different than anyone elses on the team, maybe more--powerful?

Well, Arin knew of Lloyd's past.

But recently, everyone was progressing. Wyldfire was far more controlled with Kai's teaching. Sora had grown stronger in her elemental power, and Arin couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy rush over him. But beyond this, in a distress call, Lloyd had chosen him, the legendary green ninja had asked him.

He had to have believed in him.

"They've sourced some Vengestone--" Arin says.

"It won't affect us, Arin." He says a peering eye. "It won't affect us. You don't need to have powers to be a great ninja--" Lloyd's attention is briefly halted, gesturing Arin to duck even more behind him.

Beyond the valley, they can see two men. One with a balaclava over his eyes, the other with a glowing object, shoved hastily but peeking through a bag. Judging from the yells and frantic speech they seemed mad, or at least distressed. Bright yellow daggers line their belts.

"They say it's from a perso-ordana--we can't."

The burlier man steps. "Those pesky ninja-- stopped us-- we can do it"

Their voices were cut off, Arin and Lloyd only being able to hear a few of their words.

Lloyd returns his gaze to Arin, who looks very much scared. Worry lining his features, his forehead leading his coiled bangs to stick there with sweat. The teacher brings his wrist to his ear, a whisper.

"Can we get a reading on the Estrangers?"

The com link on Arin's wrist lights up, as Lloyd instructs him how to use it.

"Copy." says Zane's voice on the line. "Estrangers, Location: Crossroads. Disrupted and destroyed multiple businesses to find Dragon items, items from Ninjago's history, scrolls, old Imperium software. Over seven victims."

Arin's worry grows, mouthing. "Are they...okay?"

"Can I get a toll"

"Seven fatalities, Lloyd."

Something in Arin breaks at the number. For he knows that being a ninja is a hard job, he knows it from the scars newly from the recent fights, from even training. To seeing Lloyd lost in his own thoughts, alone, in the library late at night.

"Keeping you on the line." Lloyd answers.

A pause. 'Always."

Lloyd reaches behind his back, clicking off the comm link radio as he does. He returns his gaze back to Arin, who is fearful.

"You're going to be fine, Arin. I've got you, we've got Zane; we can call a mech for backup, We have a plan."

Lloyd points to one of the men. "That man has a vial, most likely belonging to Lord Ras. We need to destroy it, and detain or question the Estrangers. You've learned return flight on objects, You can definitely knock it off, and I'll just proceed and destroy it."

Arin nods. "The Estrangers threatened Mr. Frohicky once, and the next morning his assistant went missing."

Lloyd watches as Arin looks at him, an anger hidden in the boy's expression but one that's there.

He puts a hand on Arin's shoulder, “Then we make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else."

A reassuring smile spreads on Lloyd's face. Arin nods.

"Let me lead, and you'll follow." Lloyd steps forward instructing Arin to put on his mask. Lloyd does the same. "We're good?"

A nod from the boy who's mask has dragon horns sewn into them.

And Lloyd is off, whisping past the trash bin as he follows to an edge. He instructs for Arin to follow, until they reach an alley end, two men fully in view, but a young woman now visible, crouched low, with her hands up.

"Where did you get this, girl?"

The girl shivers, as a sharp Imperium dagger is pointed.

"I-- I found it at the library-- the one at Domu -- My mom likes it the --"

One of the men laugh. "Speak clearer, or you meet your end--"

"Hey, hey, it's only a scroll." says a young man's voice. "Get away.." Lloyd points his katana. "from her."

The burly man scoffs, pointing the dagger over to him. "One of those cocky little ninja, wants.. to play a game?"

"If it were a game, it'd be fun." Lloyd says tilting his head.

His signal meets Arin, behind him, and Lloyd throws green; a burst of green as the man ducks, and lets go of the young woman beside him. Arin zips in fast, Lloyd leads the men off for a second.

"No game, when some person who thinks they're better than us wants to mess with Ras."

A large crack is heard as Arin takes hold of the girl, instructing her to hold onto his grappling hook. And the two zoom out of sight, probably over a building or two.

Lloyd grins. "I don't want to mess with Ras. I need to know what you are doing."

The other, shorter, balaclava wearing man brings up his own sword, pointing it at Lloyd's chest.

"Isn't he the connector.. to the source dragons, she says don't kill him." The burlier man steps forward. "But get his sword."

The other man jumps as Lloyd backs up twisting his sword, showing off like a swordsman. "You know I'm still here, right?" Lloyd says.

The man shoves his hand into his knapsack, and clicks something, lunging toward Lloyd, as the clash against his sword throws him off. He is thrown into a wall, as his back lights up in sparky, hot pain. Something is wrong, he can't quite pin it down, or pin what it is but something is wrong. Before trying to get up, he looks down at his hand, trying to light a signal, to reunite Arin with him, but it refuses to call.

He grips his sword, breathing hard, perhaps his only strength-- but the big man comes up again, pinning his other arm to the brick wall behind him.

"Such a loser, Green Ninja. And to think you're teaching that poor kid."

He attempts to call his comm, but it is smashed, erupting in a large spark. The blonde eyes the box behind the two men, glowing. He stares into the mans eyes, as he is unmasked hastily and it is thrown to the floor. Lloyd's face masked with sweat, his blonde hair sticking over his eyes, eyes darkened and emboldened.

"Would rather lose.. than be like dear old dad."

Lloyd looks up.

"You're from Imperium."

Lloyd is shoved hard, as they attempt to take his weapon. He gasps, holding his side, and the men step back a bit. It's almost mockingly, they have little to no fear in their eyes at all.

"Are we, hmm." The mask wearing man says. "You don't know us like you Ninja says you do. You don't know any of us. But Ras does, they're doing great things Lloyd Garmadon they're doing great things and idiots like you can't see it."

"Your sword is a great dragon product-- I mean Ras says you are one too” -- Lloyd winces, being referred to as an object. "But Jade interior, forged gold melted near the Golden Peaks, ibscirbes by one of the sons, what's his name -- Wu? is it. Thank the gods he's dead." He looks to the masked man beside him. "She needs good things to power her invention, doesn't she, Ko?”

"Yes she does."

"Don't hurt him!" Arin cries, distracting the men; as he throws the vial.

Lloyd rolls on the floor, throwing his sword previously locked on the floor. It collides with the vial, in a boom, of cloud and smoke. The men stumble back coughing, but Lloyd feels an arm lock around his neck. He attempts to breathe, but his effort is wasted as he struggles. His head is cloudy, as the tempting call to sleep fills him, his own effort waning.

Arin's own anger hit's a peek, as he takes a piece of the broken glass, holds a backup weapon from his belt. He throws the glass, spinjitzu, spinning with a golden swirl, colliding with the man holding Lloyd's neck. It hits the man's ankle, as he screams in pain, letting go of Lloyd, who coughs sharply as he hits the floor. His strength is still there as Lloyd gets into spinjitzu and rams the man into a wall.

"Oh you kid, you've got what's coming to you." The burlier of the two steps forward, as he swipes a dagger from his belt, Arin being cornered with no escape. Arin crawls, grabbing for his gun, anything to shield him, as the other.

The man raises the dagger, and suddenly there's a flash of green, elbow and hand holding the dagger away with extreme effort, away from Arin, a crouched kid, helpless behind him. Fear paralyzing him as he watches Lloyd.

"No you don't." Lloyd grunts, the green tinged with anger in his eyes. He's using all his strength to shield the dagger from Arin, eyes glazen with fear.

'Yes..' The man smiles, as he kicks at Lloyd's leg, which breaks him out of his focus, only to be caught on-- "I do.."

There's a ragged gasp, a cry of pain in front of Arin, as his teacher in front of him stumbles.

He doesn't see what's happening, but from where Lloyd was, and what he's hearing it's as though he knows it. Arin can hear Lloyd gasp for breath, struggling against the dagger, but the man smiles, as he maneuvers it. And whatever he did, Lloyd cries out, short, the hot, defining burn agonizing.

He has to be strong for Arin, he just has to--

And as soon as it's twisted, the fiery, hot pain, the weapon is yanked hastily, and Lloyd collapses to the floor, trying to stand up from his own two hands, as he moves one instincly going to the red, blossoming on his gi.

"Some ninja, huh?"

The man chuckles, kicking him in the wound, making the blonde keel onto the floor, hitting his head hard. Lloyd breathes raggedly again, his body shaking.

The burly man moves over to the one on the wall, hoisting the man over his shoulder, laughing at Lloyd, laughing at the child in the corner watching in horror. Watching in fear and trepidation, watching not because he wants to but the only person who's ever believed in him.

Is dying.

Oh god, Lloyd is dying.

The man laughs, taking the golden katana from the floor, stuffing it into the knapsack with all the items and the scrolls and -- They laugh louder and louder, it's never-ending. - and as soon as they laugh, it's gone, they're gone... And..

Arin crawls over to Lloyd.

He's shaking, blond hair over his eyes, only elbows holding him up.

The comm on Arin's own wrist crackles. 'Lloyd?" says the vaguely robotic voice. Arin looks to his wrist. "Zane--Zane”

Lloyd tries to turn at the sound, to respond, but he stumbles back on the ground.

"Calling-- suit breach, upper right quadrant." Zane says solemnly, but there's a quickness."Is this correct.. Arin?"

Lloyd looks over the Arin, as Arin comes and turns Lloyd over onto his back.

"Positive." Lloyd is able to grab Arin's wrist and respond. "We got--" Lloyd erupts into coughs.

Arin holds down the comm.

"Please refrain him from speaking, Arin." Arin looks over to Lloyd who nods, his head, pain swirling in his eyes.

"I'm fine." Lloyd says. "I usually can--", he starts coughing again, and Arin, feels frozen in time, trying to not believe what's going on in front of him. Because it's all so trivial, it's all so weird, and all of a sudden.

There is a pause. "We are on our way, but they have set up back up, and you might have to escort to a survival base, to a hospital."

There's a tinge of anger in Lloyd's voice. "I am not going to a hospital."

Maybe what feels so out of place is how young Lloyd sounds. For he knows Lloyd is young, at least far younger than some of his teammates, but all of the guard up, the solemness is gone, it's almost as if Lloyd doesn't remember what happened earlier, but he knows he has.

But he feels far more like a child, than his teacher, someone who's been acting sensei.

"Arin, he's suffering blood loss." Zane says, and Lloyd frowns, bringing his hand to the wound. "You need to stabilize, him, and move him, the quickest hospital is less than a mile, it's private but it's emergency, if not we risk---"

He leaves it off at silence. "It's not letting me-" Lloyd coughs. "I can't stabilize myself."

"Lloyd, it was a vengestone blade." Arin says.

The silence is cut off by Zane, responding with even more concern. "Vengestone?" Arin nods, as though Zane can see him. "Arin you need to get him to the nearest hospital, this is worse than I feared... They knew you were coming. It was a trap."

"Of course it was." Lloyd breathes, a scoff, only interrupted at he winces sharply pressing his own hand to the wound.

"Ras knows about Lloyd." Arin says, while Lloyd shakes his head. "He knows about his powers."

Zane responds. "We have your scan up right now, but the vengestone.. vengestone hasn't been used as a weapon before, other than shock bullets, but as a dagger, it's as though an infection. Elemental masters have some sort of healing process by the dragon power given to them, but vengestone stops that, which is why Lloyd is not stabilizing, and we have little supplies to address that injury. We cannot stabilize you in the time you have left Lloyd."

Lloyd curses under his shaky breath.

Arin pauses, taking the mask he finds from the floor, and pressing it over the wound, as it darkens instantly. He winces at the sight, noticing red on Lloyd's lips. Lloyd looks pale, he looks lifeless, although he is very sure he is alive, if not by the loud breathing beside him or the fight he can very well see.

There's no way to get Lloyd to a hospital unless he carries him there. And it's the only thing he will be able to do, at this point.

Lloyd grabs Arin's wrist, clicking the comm on an all-point setting, so they don't need to manually do it. It seems as though he's starting to accept his fate of being-- somewhat rescued if that's what's hurting him so much at this moment.

Arin has never seen Lloyd as a prideful person, though.

The boy moves to his teacher, placing one arm behind his back, the other under his knees. Arin lifts him with a bit of struggle. Lloyd is not exactly the shortest on the team, and it's not like he isn't heavy at all Lloyd is an adult, Arin is a teenager. But he's practiced weight training with Kai, and it's hard to carry a person, but he has to get to the hospital. He can't let his teacher die on him.

Lloyd doesn't tell him his own past, but Arin is familiar with a lot, with living in Ninjago City during Emperor Garmadon's reign, when Lloyd was only Arin's age, perhaps.

They walk, and walk, and Lloyd is not himself, that's for certain. There's a lot of pained muttering under him as he carries, a man far larger than him, and one that's bleeding out--

"He's crashing." says a voice, minutes into Arin carrying his own master down the dark streets. "Arin?"

Arin doesn't notice it, but tears are rushing down his face.

"Buddy, he can do it, he'll be able to be okay." Kai says. "Zane says we have a 10 minute ETA, you are at 2 minutes of St. Geraldine's Hospital." There is static on the other line for a moment, as he's rushing through the street. At this point he's not even sure Lloyd is alive or not. He has to be, they have sensors on the old suits that were redesigned.

"Crashing?" Arin says, Lloyd stirring in pain, Arin can now see he's unconscious.

There's a murmur on the other line. "Do your Spinjitzu, Arin. We have a minute until -- arrest, that's the fastest way."

Arin wails, defensively. "I can't do Spinjitzu, holding a person."

"You can, it's the only way you can save him." Kai says solemnly. "Do your Spinjitzu, Arin."

Arin curses under his breath, strikingly similar to the way his master does.

He looks down at the pale figure, struggling to hold, takes a deep breath as they dissolve into a yellow blur.

It's been hours.

He had been able to carry Lloyd into the hospital, collapsing with him as hospital worker, and at least four doctors whirred off as they carried him on a stretcher, his own gi, covered with red as though he'd been the one murdered. He stood in the middle of the waiting room, tears running down his face, until five minutes later when Kai and Zane had approached him and enveloped him into a hug.

It's been hours.

Nya had brought him a fresh change of clothes, including his golden hand stitched hoodie. He had walked into the bathroom and cried, until Kai ended up coming over and helping him replace the tainted fabric.

"He's going to be okay, Arin." Kai says, sitting on the bench in the waiting room, alongside Arin. Now dressed, clean of any remnants of battle. The floor, once dripping with--- covered with two slipping signs and cleaned over, smelling of bleach.

Arin looks away.

"If it wasn't for you, he would of--" Kai stops his sentence. "He knew what he was doing when he asked you along."

Arin winces at the statement. Knowing, his own master had gotten stabbed for what, for protecting him, it was almost like he couldn't protect himself, like he couldn't do anything, like he was worthless. If he wasn't so weak, he wouldn't need protecting.

He wouldn't of nearly killed the Green Ninja.

Perhaps if he brought anyone else Lloyd would be back at the Monastery by now, with a serene smile locking those items away so the Estrangers couldn't find them. Instead, and because of him, and only because of him, the green ninja had gone through surgery, because he'd nearly been stabbed to death.

"He pities me." Arin says, abruptly, before he is able to stop it.

"I'm.. I'm not a -- ninja, I'm just Arin, there's no way to get rid of me, because I have no place to go back to. I'm a charity case."

"He doesn't pity you." Kai says.

"I don't have powers, I'm clumsy, I trip over my own feet. I-- if you only had Sora, out of us two, you'd be better off. Lloyd chose me for the mission because everyone has been getting so much better, and -- I'm just me, I can do Spinjitzu, but even Lloyd makes fun of it.. "

"Before you go there, he does not make fun of it." Kai is firm now. "He was so amazed that you were able to transfer the energy to objects. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't of found any of these dragons, Sora, Wyldfire-- it was because one day, he was on patrol, he saw Spinjitzu. He thought it was one of us, because you can't teach yourself it, it's a thing of learning, we spent so much time."

Arin looks at him. "He wants me to feel better for being awful. He says he struggled with Spinjitzu, but I know that's a lie."

"Arin." Kai says calmly. "You gave him hope."

"And almost killed him." Arin says under his breath.

Arin stands up, but is interrupted when he feels Kai's hands on his shoulder.

"You did not do anything. The Estrangers made a choice. They made that choice, they've made that choice before. You didn't almost kill Lloyd. You're not the first one to feel that way either, believe me. But blaming yourself for what happens during battle, during attacks, is worthless. It doesn't get you anywhere. It certainly didn't get me anywhere, and I've done far more things and blamed myself for far more things that have happened to Lloyd than you."

Arin looks up.

"They were going to kill me."

Kai nods. "And he needed to protect you, that's what keeps that kid going, that's what gets him through the day, he'd never put it against you, and you know he wouldn't. Because he values you as a student, and as a friend, and -- that's the type of person Lloyd is."

"He won't remember it." They hear a familiar robotic voice, as Zane walks from the hallway. "At least from what happened, when Arin carried him here. It's remarkable how the human brain works." Zane looks to Kai. "Now I don't suggest mentioning what happened unless he talks about it himself, which is not what I expect as he heals.”

The fire ninja nods;

"The surgery was efficient, and he is stable. His healing processes are back to normal." Zane turns to look at Arin, who feels very small. "You were very resilient during this mission, I can see why Lloyd chose you in such a dangerous one, no matter how reckless that could be."

"Zane." Kai says warningly.

"I do not mean his choice in student." Zane says. "The choice to answer that call with two ninja in general, no matter if it was one of us or not, could be explained as reckless."

Kai nods, biting his lip. As he looks to Arin, who certainly seems very haunted by the situation. Kai re-assists his hand on his shoulder, but before he does, Arin collapses into a hug, holding onto him tightly, and he can't help but see the similarity between Arin and his mentor, how similar Arin is to Lloyd in some ways, their differences. but Arin doesn't let go.

"If you ever need to talk about this." Kai breathes. "Let us know, let me know."

Arin looks up:

"I will."

[butchfalin]

the funniest meltdown ive ever had was in college when i got so overstimulated that i could Not speak, including over text. one of my friends was trying to talk me through it but i was solely using emojis because they were easier than trying to come up with words so he started using primarily emojis as well just to make things feel balanced. this was not the Most effective strategy... until. he tried to ask me "you okay?" but the way he chose to do that was by sending "👉🏼👌🏼❓" and i was so shocked by suddenly being asked if i was dtf that i was like WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?????????? and thus was verbal again

[shesmore-shoebill]

"I had choice paralysis :(" is a KILLER line.

He's such a comedic powerhouse, I'm glad more people are getting exposed to him :'D

[astronomical-bagel]

[brown-spider]

Hey remember how Noir is an anti-fascist from 1933

[punnifullife]

Based off this post. funny doodles i took too seriously.

[desertendroad]

literally wake up some nights in a cold sweat thinking about this

[andy-dandy]

love seeing the beginnings of perseus "pay your fucking child support" jackson's crusade against the gods' parental negligence problem in ep 1 & 2 of the pjo show. the absolute KING of "my daddy gave me issues so HE'S about to HAVE issues"

[miss-jaye]

cw: slightly suggestive when nanami kento saw his wife about to leave the house in a stunning, tight sundress, he swore his whole world stopped for a moment.

“honey?”

“hm?” you glanced at him, then looked back at the mirror, trying not to stab yourself with your earring. nanami cleared his throat. “where are you going?” he asked as he walked over, standing behind you and sliding his hands around your waist.

“i’m having lunch with my friends, sweetie. i told you that this morning, remember?” you raised a brow, confused. your husband nodded dazedly, his eyes glued to your figure.

“right.” he swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “where are you going to have lunch?” he asked, his hands gently roaming over your body, feeling the fabric of the dress he so badly wanted to tear off you.

“that cafe we always go to…” you trailed off, finally securing your earring. “are you okay?” you met his gaze through the mirror. “i do this once a month—same place, same people.”

he nodded, humming in acknowledgment. you stayed silent for a moment, trying to figure out what had him so distracted. now that your earring was in place, you became hyper-aware of his hands, their slow, deliberate movements over your hips, squeezing in that familiar way that told you he was restraining himself from acting on his desires.

oh.

a blush crept up your cheeks as you realized nanami hadn’t seen this dress on you yet. you’d just bought it last week and forgot to show him. “kento?”

you called out to him, but he seemed too entranced by the way the dress clung to your curves. he leaned in closer, burying his nose in your neck, his hands trailing down to squeeze your thighs.

you let out a startled moan, hastily covering your mouth. he inhaled deeply, the scent of your perfume overwhelming his senses.

“your friends won’t mind if you’re a few minutes late, right?”

[steelsartcorner]

nobody took my pen away so the hades-crossover-fever continues. i’m ill

others: the dark urge (OC); minthara (bg3), karlach (bg3), shadowheart (bg3), gale (bg3), halsin (bg3), lae'zel (bg3), astarion (bg3), kotallo (horizon)

[crumplstiltskin]

[froggieetmblr]

Hi fnaf movie dump but it’s mostly bonnie and abby

[roninkairi]

You can only reblog this today.*

*PLEASE READ THE TAGS

[cubbyhole-for-flea-bee]

Macaque spent the whole season Big-Damn-Hero-ing and was NOT happy about it xD

[nicecrumbart]

Keep thinking about that one scene in secret life

[yourangle-yuordevil]

That time in ancient Greece when Aziraphale needed a speedy horse and accidentally invented the pegasus

VS.

Whatever Crowley had going on in medieval times