75My other story, Spinjitzu Master(?), is pretty small and only a few chapters away from completion, and so I felt like putting this up even though the other isn't completely uploaded yet, since it helps break up the monotony. :) Anyway, Kay Hau has an AMAZING story, My Dad is Bad, but Still Family!, and it's convinced me I want to give this show-movie-blended-universe thing a shot. I'm also experimenting with using present tense, so let me know how it's going. Enjoy!
Save the people. Avoid the fight. That was the mantra, running on a loop in Green's head, always there. Save the people. Protect Ninjago, his Dad told him. Avoid the fight. Save your father, his Mom said.
He could do both, just… not easily. Not with the little complication currently piloting the two-legged robotic shark that was wrecking downtown, laughing maniacally.
So what, his Dad's a supervillain. Big whoop. None of the others know, and they don't need to. That's also technically not his Dad… not the Dad he knows, anyway. Look, just because Garmadon has an ancient toxin controlling his mind doesn't mean he's not a good guy! He just… slips. Regularly, and attacks the city every time he does.
Let's see how you'd fare after being bitten by a magical world-devouring snake! That's besides the point though, Green just got distracted, and he's not supposed to get distracted. Not when Jay is panicking in the radio in his ear to "help me I've got multiple squadrons on my nine and three!"
Green is still on autopilot while saving his… associate? Coworker? Anyway, the crab-shaped jets are rubble on the pavement when Green is done, the pilots wearing dolphin and sea-urchin hats woozily untangling themselves from the wrecks, unharmed. His Dad never skimps on protective measures for his troops; after all, he knows who they're going up against.
"Thanks dude!" Jay's voice sounds in his ear, but Green doesn't respond, and they don't expect him to. The rest of the Secret Ninja Force thinks he's quiet, or shy or something, and that's alright with him.
There. Lee and some of his guys couldn't leave the Pilates Studio in time. It seems to get hit every time they rebuild, and Green's got a feeling General Number 12 is behind it; he's seen the man's resume.
Currently Lee and his coworkers are stranded in the middle of their fallen building. Green tilts one of his levers ever so slightly, and his mech, Green Dragon, banks for the studio. There are shouts of "Hurrah!" and "Thank you, Green Ninja!" It's only after the civilians have made it safely away that Green realizes he's gotten distracted again.
"Green! Green! On your six!"
"Dude he's right there! Green look out!"
"Now! Take the shot, he's wide open!"
The rest of his team have been buzzing in his ear for about two minutes, and Green only realizes it's addressed to him when he turns Green Dragon and sees his father. He's down the block, his mech looking a little worse for wear. He's seen him as well.
Green and Garmadon lock eyes. They both hold the same fear: is this it? Green recognizes the look in Garmadon's eye, the one hidden beneath the fever and madness. The one that says I love you son, the one telling him to protect Ninjago.
Save the people.
Green turns his thrusters on full, and speeds away from Garmadon and his troops.
Avoid the fight.
The others are there, they'll take care of what's left. Green ducks out of sight for a moment, turns on Dragon's camo, and silently makes his way to their secret warehouse. He ignores the panicked cries in his ear, asking where he is. Green Dragon powers down, and the radio is turned off and put away.
Green sneaks his way through the half-wrecked, upset city to his empty little apartment, where leftover pizza and his favorite games are waiting after homework. His balcony is on the top floor, facing inward on an alley. This way, nobody sees him come and go. Bonus: nobody wants a room like that, so it's cheap.
He swings under the roof onto the railing and whips out the key to his back door. Once it's safely locked behind him, the mask comes off, and suddenly Green is gone.
Lloyd Garmadon stands in his place, the green glow of power fading from his eyes until they've adjusted to his comfortable shade of red. It's a nifty trick, but difficult to keep up sometimes. The ninja gi comes off, the sweater goes on, and Lloyd flops down on the couch, exhausted.
His phone buzzes, and anxiously he whips it out, eyes scanning the text. He cracks a smile, it's from his mom.
Had to climb Torchfire Mountain to do it, but I got service. How's it been?
Lloyd chuckles, that sounds like Misako Garmadon, and types up a quick response: Okay. You wouldn't believe the rotten luck of that Pilates Studio. He spends the rest of the night like that, feet propped up while he and his mom catch up on each other's adventures.