Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The ballroom was lit up with four large chandeliers. Each one with their original designs crafted by hand from gold. Fancy ornaments followed the chandeliers down on the wall, disappearing behind the huge red curtains around the windows that showed the beautiful garden of the palace. Harumi wasn't really focused on this magnificent sight though, she'd gotten used to it after all the balls and galas that were hosted here.

But she still kept her gaze on the many people of different places filling the balroom, not paying much attention to the conversation her adoptive parents were having with King Vangelis of Shintaro. But some words still did make their way to her ears.

"–With Ninjago in a way better condition, we will be looking forward to do business with your kingdom, King Vangelis. We are honored to have you as our guest for the celebration of our economy being fixed, thanks to the support you and other kingdoms have provided."

Fixed my ass, Harumi thought. —Her adoptive parents didn't like her using inappropriate language, but at least her thoughts were something they didn't have control over.— She remembered those hungry people in need of help living near the canals. The few food she snuck out of the castle once in a while were the only proper source of food they had, and their emperor was now celebrating the economy getting better when it was only better for those who never struggled because of the economy to begin with.

She brushed her fingers on her green silk kimono to fix the wrinkles. Her white hair was tightly put up in a bun and her face was completely covered in traditional make up. She never liked being in this situation. Between all this "important" people, smiling and posting as the perfect jade princess by her adoptive father's side like an extra accessory. This was a really important event, there were kings, nobles, high-class members from all around Ninjago. She was expected to be extra perfect tonight, though she wasn't really trying as hard as she was supposed to. Her eyes continuously searched the ballroom, looking for the only good thing about events like this.

After searching for a few more seconds, her eyes finally landed on a boy in a green classy robe with golden patterns on it. He had lively green eyes and perfectly done blonde hair with two dragon horns coming out through it. He was standing next to an old man with long white beard and a large hat, who was wearing a white and gold, noble looking robe. The boy was examining the ballroom without paying attention to the old man and that random noble he was talking to. For the first time since she stepped into the ballroom, Harumi's smile finally turned into a genuine one.

She turned to her father and waited for him to say goodbye to King Vangelis, then spoke in her softest, most polite voice.

"Father, I've spotted the Firsts. May I go and interact with them, to keep up our social interactions of course."

Her adoptive father looked over at her with a raised eyebrow, clearly displeased by Harumi's suggestion. "Do you think I've forgotten what happened in the Spring Gala already, Harumi?"

Harumi bit inside her cheek and looked away. "Uhh, maybe?"

He stared at her for a while with judgment, until her adoptive mother placed her hand on his shoulder with a warm smile. After making a brief eye contact with her, the emperor sighed. "Very well, but don't try anything."

"Of course." She bowed him and turned around to walk towards the boy. When he looked down and noticed her, his eyes lit up as much as hers did. The old man beside him noticed her as well, then gave him a nod of approval, a permission. With that, the boy walked towards her as well and they stood right in front of each other.

"Jade Princess Harumi." He said in a calm, steady voice and bowed. Harumi bowed back and spoke with equal respect and seriousness.

"Green Ninja Lloyd."

They looked up from their bows and made eye contact, and with that single contact, they started laughing. Harumi quickly fixed her demeanor to not draw much attention, but even this amount of loosening up was enough of a refreshment for her.

"This might be one of the biggest events you've hosted." Lloyd said, straightening up and looking around. "I mean, the emperor doesn't choose to use this balroom that often."

"Yes, he invited pretty much everyone in the realm." She looked around as well.

"Well it is a big celebration, isn't it?"

"It's rather like an advertisement, if you ask me. This is his way of showing other kingdoms and empires we're no longer economically struggling, and that we're open to business anytime. That's what the showoff's for." 

"My uncle said it's important that we show our faces here, I suppose that is also a display of power."

"Probably." Her gaze drifted to the large windows behind the curtains as a smirk appeared on her face. "Since we've already shown our faces, there's no more need to stay here, right?"

Lloyd raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Are you suggesting..."

"I mean, the windows here are quite close the the trees outside. It won't be hard."

"Rumi, don't you remember what happened in the Spring Gala? We can't keep doing this, we get in trouble each time."

Harumi rolled her eyes. "Come on, this place is suffocating me. Nothing crazy, i just want some fresh air."

Lloyd squinted his eyes and considered it. Then finally gave up and started walking towards the window on the corner of the ballroom. "Fine, a little."

Harumi followed him, trying her best to not make it obvious. Lloyd was really good at sneaking into places with his ninja training, but it was quite hard for Harumi to move around in the ballroom without drawing too much attention on herself. Once they reached the window, Lloyd pulled the curtain to hide them. Then he carefully opened the window and jumped on the branch of the tree outside.

Once Harumi stepped out, she pulled the window to hide their tracks and lifted her kimono's skirt to jump. She grabbed Lloyd's outstretched hand and held on the tree's trunk. When they were both on the tree, they started climbing up a little bit until they were on the top branches. Harumi felt her kimono being poked, thorn and stretched. Lloyd's robe was getting dirty too, but neither of them thought much about it.

Lloyd took out a small, portable grappling hook and aimed it on the palace's roof. Harumi scoffed.

"And you were pretending you didn't want to ditch the ball?"

Lloyd didn't answer, he only gave her a small smile before throwing the grappling hook. He pulled at it to secure, then they both let go of the branches and started climbing up the rope. Lloyd got on the roof first, then he helped Harumi up and picked the hook back up. He put it back into his pocket and they both sat down on the tiles.

This was one of Harumi's favorite places in the palace. It was far away from the noises and lights, just silence and the stars glimmering above. And she loved these peaceful moments especially when she shared it with Lloyd.

They had known each other for years. It was the first event her adoptive parents had arranged after she was crowned as the jade princess. Even though she was a messy kid that didn't know how to fit in the high society, Lloyd was somehow worse. His hair always messy, the classy clothes he wore always wrinkled. If he wasn't standing next to Wu of the First, Harumi would've thought he was some stray boy that snuck in.

She was skeptical about him at first, she believed he was responsible with her real parents disappearing, since him and the ninja failed to protect them. But as they grew, she started realizing that was meaningless. After all, he was as much of a kid as she was. Taking her anger out on him wasn't going to bring them back.

Eventually Lloyd, something she thought she'd need to avoid in this new life, became her biggest escape whenever things got unbearable. They grew up playing together, talking, laughing, sharing secrets and getting in trouble. She loved causing annoyance to her adoptive parents, and even though Lloyd was more responsible most of the time, she knew he enjoyed these escapes as much as she did.

Being the green ninja and a descendant of the First Spinjitzu Master put a lot of pressure on his shoulders, just like being the perfect jade princess that everyone loved put on hers.

Lloyd understood her, and she understood him. There was nothing she appreciated in this world more than him.

"What're you thinking?"

The question dragged Harumi out of her thoughts and back into the real world. She cleared her throat and looked up to the stars. "Nothing, just random stuff."

They kept watching the stars in silence, until Harumi spoke up.

"Thank you, Lloyd."

"Hey, I'm sure you could've pulled sneaking out by yourself as well."

"No I mean, thank you for always being there for me."

Lloyd smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course I will, you're my best friend. Thank you for being there for me too."

Harumi smiled back and they kept watching the stars.

Chapter Text

"Hmm... Jay?" Lloyd said thoughtfully, taking a sip from his milkshake.

Harumi, who had her two index fingers under her nose, raised an eyebrow. "Jay? Since when does Jay have a mustache?"

"That was a mustache?!" Lloyd's eyebrows shoot up. "I thought you were pretending to eat noodles."

"No, it was Master Wu." Harumi took her milkshake that was placed on the wooden railings. They were standing on a bridge above the canal, a place they had grown to enjoy and come to often even when they're not giving out food.

"Huh, the high pitched voice really made it sound like Jay."

"Okay then, let's see you do a better one."

Lloyd thought for a moment, then covered his right eye with his hand. He put on a grumpy face and spoke in a deep voice.

"You're pushing your luck, Green Ninja. If I see you putting the princess's life in danger ever again, I will...drown you in milkshake!"

His voice turned back to normal in the last part as he squeezed his milkshake cup towards Harumi, sending the drink flying right on her face from the straw.

"Lloyd!" Harumi squealed and stepped back, immediately wiping off the strawberry milkshake that was already dripping all over her green shirt. Meanwhile Lloyd was dying of laughter. Harumi frowned at him, annoyed but not really mad. "My shirt is soaked now!"

"So? You were dripping all of yours on it anyway. There's not much difference."

She groaned and punched his arm. Even though she was acting angry, she didn't really mind this stuff. Back in the castle, everything was always meant to be perfect. Her clothes, her room, her food, her life. Everything was already decided, no bumps were ever allowed.

But out here, in civilian clothes, with Lloyd, she was allowed to get as messy as she wanted. Even enjoyed these experiences a little. It made her feel like a real person.

After his laughter died down, Harumi leaned on the railings and looked back at him. "Was that Hutchins?"

"Yup." Lloyd sipped at his milkshake, leaning on the railings on his back.

"Did he really tell you that?" Harumi asked with slight concern.

"Yeah, minus the milkshake part."

Harumi rolled her eyes. "Why's it his concern who I hang out with? And how is going out for a damn milkshake risking my life?!"

"Language, princess." Lloyd said in a faked mature voice.

Harumi raised her eyebrows and gave him a middle finger. Her adoptive parents might've killed her if they saw this.

"I would agree with them, if I didn't know how capable you are." Lloyd said as he turned around to face the canal like Harumi. "The Ninja were familiar to that when I was younger. Except it wasn't my safety they were concerned with, it was rather that they saw any time I spent not training as a waste. Even trying to read comics was a problem back then." He looked into the distance. "They're more chill now, but it still feels like it's the same sometimes."

Harumi drank some more from her milkshake and then rested her chin on the railings. "That's why I try sneaking out as much as I can."

Lloyd chuckled. "I feel like you just like the thrill."

"Maybe. You're a ninja, you get to go to crazy missions all the time. So these escapes are the only way I could get some adrenaline."

"Didn't know there was adrenaline in milkshake."

Harumi stood up and dramatically put her hand on her forhead. "Oh no, it's poison! This must be an assult on the princess, whatevet shall I do?"

"You should've never left the castle from the begging." Lloyd said mockingly.

Harumi rolled her eyes. "I'd rather die from a milkshake than die in that castle."

The ringing of Lloyd's phone interrupted their talk. Lloyd took it out and gestured Harumi to wait for a minute, then answered it. "Hey Nya?"

"Lloyd, where's Harumi?" Harumi could hear Nya's voice from the phone. She sounded irritated and completely done.

Lloyd pushed off the railing and looked away. "I have no idea what you mean?"

"Lloyd, the princess has been missing for over an hour. We know you two snuck out. Just bring her back before you get in trouble."

"I still don't know what you mean." Lloyd slowly pulled the phone away from his mouth, then shouted. "Oh no, a seagull is stealing my phone! Nooooo!"

"LLOYD I SWEAR TO GO-" beep

Harumi stared at Lloyd for a second, then burst out laughing. "Lloyd, you're crazy."

"You're crazier." Lloyd turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket.

"You're gonna get in trouble because of me." Harumi said once she was done laughing.

"Meh." He shrugged. "Not the first time."

Chapter Text

"Here, the entrance."

Lloyd gestured around the room as he stepped in with Harumi following him. She examined the hall filled with countless boxes that were waiting to be unpacked. She spun around to look at every wall and stair. "Wow, this place is huge."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "Rumi, this whole temple is smaller than your bedroom."

"Maybe." She shrugged. "But it's still big compared to the old monastery."

"Is that Harumi?" A voice came from behind the boxes, followed by Kai coming forward with his arms crossed. "Lloyd, did you sneak her out again?"

Lloyd put his hands up. "I don't sneak her out Kai, she does it herself. She just randomly called me and told me to pick her up from the city square."

"I wanted to see the new temple you guys were staying at." Harumi kept looking around.

Kai shook his head. "Still, she shouldn't be here without her parents knowing."

Jay jumped from behind the boxes as well, setting down the one he was holding. "Hi Harumi! You gotta see the new awsome gaming room that I set up. It's got the best gears for a Lava Zombies."

Kai glared at him. "Can you not jeopardize my authority?"

Jay stretched without a care in the world. "Come on, take it easy. They're kids, let them have fun. Besides, she's literally the safest she'll ever be with us."

Kai glared back at Lloyd and Harumi, then sighed and picked up a box. "Don't cause trouble."

Lloyd grinned and pulled Harumi ustairs. "Let me show you other rooms."

They ran upstairs. Harumi kept looking at the walls as they walked. "This place is so clean, it's hard to believe it used to be a haunted house."

Lloyd paused. He didn't want to think too much about that. The idea of ghosts had been disturbing him ever since Morro. He didn't like living here, but if even Cole was comfortable with this temple then who was Lloyd to complain?

"You okay?" Harumi asked. She always knew when something was wrong with Lloyd. Only one second of reaction was enough for her to read him. She knew him way too well. She stepped closer to him. "Is it about... Morro?"

Lloyd smiled weakly. "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

Harumi didn't seem satisfied with that. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Lloyd, you know I'm always open and honest with you, and I really wish you were with me too. You know you can trust me."

"It's not that..." Lloyd turned away. He trusted Harumi, definitely. As much as he trusted his family. He just didn't want to bother her with his unreasonable worries all the time. Stixx was a whole year ago, damn it. Why would he bring it up again? It wasn't that important.

Harumi put a hand on his shoulder. "It's fine if you don't wanna talk about it. Just know that I'm here if you ever do."

"Thanks." Lloyd smiled at her and they kept walking.

Zane was in the kitchen, stirring something in a pot that radiated an appetizing smell. Lloyd looked over his shoulder. "Hey Zane, what's for dinner?"

"Meat stew, with vegetables." Zane announced proudly. Lloyd absolutely loved it whenever it was Zane's turn for dinner. There was not another person on this world who could make vegetables taste good.

Zane sensed another person's presence and turned to see Harumi. "Oh, welcome Harumi. Will you be staying for dinner?"

"Better not miss out, Rumi." Lloyd chimed in, leaning on the counter with his elbow.

"I'd love to." Harumi smiled. Despite having her own personal chef in the castle, she seemed to enjoy having dinner with the Ninja more than anything.

"Our rebellious princess is back at it I see."

Both Lloyd and Harumi turned at Cole's voice. Harumi's eyes lit up at the sight of him in his human form. She rushed forward and hugged him. "Cole, your body!"

"Woah, easy kid." Cole winced at the contact, but still pushed Harumi off as gently as possible. "Having a skin is hard to get used to."

"Right, sorry." Harumi stepped back. "It's just- I heard you got your body back and, now seeing you... I'm so happy for you."

Cole smiled sincerely. "Thanks."

Getting used to his new body had been hard for Cole. Even simple things like eating and sleeping was harder for him. His skin was also hypersensitive now. But despite all that, he still looked happy to have a living body again. If he was willing to endure these difficulties, then all there was left to do for them was to help him as much as they can as his family.

"You know you shouldn't be here." Cole raised an eyebrow skeptically, but he was still half smiling.

Harumi rolled her eyes. "You guys act like you don't want me here."

Cole kept his adult face for a few more seconds, then sighed. "I can go convince Master Wu to let you stay for dinner, but you're going straight back to the castle after that.

Harumi let out an exaggerated groan. "Fiiiiiiine."

Cole nodded, then approached the counter. "Zane, you need any help?"

Lloyd and Harumi stepped back to the corridor and kept looking around.

"And, this is my bedroom." Lloyd opened the door to reveal a normal sized bedroom with some belongings placed in their spots when some boxes are still waiting in the corner.

Harumi let her eyes wander on the furniture. "You didn't have your own rooms in the Bounty."

"Yeah, I'm personally grateful for finally having my own space. I needed to beat Jay in rock paper scissors to win this room."

Harumi looked at the decorations and stuff cattered around. Finally, her eyes landed on picture hanging on the wall. She approached it, but even the glimpse was probably enough for her to be able to tell which picture it was.

Lloyd and Garmadon standing together, smiling at each other as Garmadon had his hand on Lloyd's shoulder. Lloyd saw what Harumi was looking at and fell silent. He stood beside her and looked at it. Her expression was unreadable. She didn't bring up Lloyd's father often to not hurt him, but Lloyd knew she was mourning him as well. Wu and others didn't want Harumi to join their trainings or even basic lessons, but Garmadon always shared his wisdom with her. If Lloyd wasn't her favorite in the ninja team, it was definitely Garmadon.

"One of the few picturesI have of him." Lloyd finally broke the silence. "Really wish I had taken more."

"I'm sorry for, you know..." She looked away from the picture nervously.

"It's fine. I know you liked him a lot as well."

"...Do you think he'd be proud of where we are now?"

Lloyd smiled. "I'm sure he would."

Harumi smiled back, then looked around the room a little longer until she decided to approach the wooden box with swords in it. "You have so many swords."

"Yeah." Lloyd shook off the vulnerability and put a hand on his waist. "During missions swords get vaporized by a lazer, melted in a volcano or fall into a bottomless pit easily. So keeping as many as possible is always good. Kai made some of those."

"I didn't know he was still doing blacksmithing." She took one of the swords out and held it up.

"Woah, careful!" Lloyd raised his hands in front in a stopping testure. "That's dangerous, put it down."

Harumi rolled her eyes. "You sound like Zane. What gives, you used to always let me hold your weapons."

"Yeah, and it was irresponsible. You don't know how to hold it, you can hurt yourself easily."

Lloyd didn't want to seem like he was babying Harumi, he knew how capable she was when she knew what she was doing. He was speaking out of experience, he had risked cutting off his fingers many times before during trainings. It was true he was more reckless back then, and he was now seeing how wrong that was. He needed to be more responsible as the team's leader.

Harumi pouted, but then smirked. "Teach me how to hold it then.

"Rumi." Lloyd had warning in his tone.

"Come on, shouldn't I be able to defend myself as the Jade Princess in case someone tries to assassinate me?"

"You're just gonna mess with Hutchins."

She shrugged. "Better safe than sorry."

Lloyd felt like it was a bad idea to teach Harumi how to fight, specifically because she was chaotic enough without sword skills already. But he decided to let her win. He stepped forward to help her with her stance.

Chapter Text

Harumi rested her head on her hand, pressing all of her body on the side of the throne. This seat was quite comfy, it was annoying that she was only allowed to sit in it when there were visitors expected.

"Sit up, Harumi." The emperor warned.

Harumi fixed her stance and sat straight on her throne.

The Empress smiled at him soothingly. "Don't be uptight with her, love. She's still getting used to this life."

"The eariler she learns the palace manner, the easier it will be to make it into a habit." He tapped his finger on his throne's armrest. "You admire the guests we're having, don't you? You should be more willing to show them respect."

Harumi stared at the door on the other side of the hall. The Ninja were coming. It was extremely rare for the royal family to allow anyone outside of the society. The Ninja were one of the exceptions, not counting Wu of the First and his nephew, of course.

Harumi had mixed feelings about this. She was already sick of this new life. She missed her parents so much. The empress and emperor were nothing like them. They were strict, cold, distant. Even though the empress was a bit kinder, she still felt alone in this huge place. She was being given so many responsibilities, when she wasn't even done mourning her family.

And these wouldn't have happened if the Ninja had saved them. They saved so many people, right? Why not her family? Now the city was celebrating as if no one gor harmed, when she had lost her everything that day.

The Ninja had used to be her heroes, and despite her anger towards them, a part of her was still excited to see them.

A guard stepped inside and announced. "Wu of the First and his students, the Ninja."

All three of them stood up from their thrones as the Ninja team entered the room. Four teen boys entered the room, each in color coded robes. Their clothes were different from their ninja gis, but she supposed that made sense. They weren't going to walk around in gis all the time just because they were ninja.

A young girl with short hair, who Harumi guessed was the Samurai X, followed the Ninja in. After her, Master Wu came in with a golden patterned robe with a little blonde boy with him.

Harumi fixer her eyes on him. He looked about ten years old, around her age. His hair was messy with two small horns sticking out through it. His robe was a bit oversized and undone in some parts. He was holding onto Wu's robe tightly, looking around with skeptical green eyes.

That must be the green ninja. She thought. He was way different than she had imagined. Looked way more powerless in person. He looked nervous, smaller. Why was someone this young a ninja to begin with?

"Welcome, our dear heroes. Thank you for accepting our dinner invitation, Wu of the First." The emperor bowed, followed by the empress and Harumi. "We appreciate all the efforts you've given to protect Ninjago and defeat that monster last month. We're sorry we couldn't invite you sooner."

The Ninja bowed back. Master Wu spoke up for everyone. "Thank you for having us. We know you were way too busy with putting Ninjago back together. For that, we are very thankful." He then looked at Hrumi and smiled. "I've heard of the child that was adopted by the emperor and empress. It's an honor to finally meet in person, Jade Princess Harumi."

Harumi bowed again. "The honor is all mine, Master Wu."

"We've also heard a lot about the green ninja." The empress chimed in and looked at the green ninja. "Thank you for your efforts to save us as well, young one."

He shrugged without even looking at her. "The others kept the snake in place and my dad killed it. I didn't do much."

An awkward silence filled the room. The empress cleared her throat to break it. "Well still, thank you for all the effort you put in your training. Now, shall we move to the dining room?"

The Ninja followed the guards outside the door, nudging and bickering with each other quietly as they passed. Empress and emperor followed right after them.

Harumi decided to take this chance. The emperor and empress barely noticed anything when they were busy with guests. She could have gone to her room and read a book or something. She still had mixed feelings about the Ninja, and she didn't feel like she actually wanted to meet them today.

She walked from behind and stopped behind the door. She only needed to wait in the throne room for about a minute, then she could go upstairs. But unexpectedly, she wasn't the only one who chose to stay behind.

The green ninja was standing by the door, also waiting for them to pass. After the door closed and room went quiet, they stared at each other.

The boy finally shook it off and shoved his hands in this robe's pocket. "You sneaking out too?"

Harumi blinked. "Sneaking out?"

"Yeah, those colorpants won't notice anybody's absence when there's food in front of them. Do you know a high window we can see over the wall from? I can come up with a way out."

Harumi blinked again. Was the green ninja, the supposed protector and great hero of Ninjago, suggesting to her to sneak out? Her opinion on this boy was changing at light speed.

She was a bit nervous. She had never snuck out before, hoping that if she behaved well she'd be allowed outside sometime and not have to break rules. But this boy's confidence made her feel like it wasn't that bad of an idea.

"Yeah, I am. My room's window is pretty high."

"Awsome, let's go." He looked at Harumi for a few seconds until she realized he was waiting for her to lead the way. The stepped out of the throne room and looked around, then walked through the hall to the stairs and her room with Lloyd tailing her. Once they got in, she went to her bathroom and cleaned the makeup off from her face quickly. It was so itchy, it always felt satisfying to take it off. As she was cleaning up, she could hear Lloyd through the closed door.

"Sick! You can see half of the city from here. Okay, there's a gap between those two guards that must be their blind spot. I'm sure we can make it to the wall from there."

Harumi wiped her face and took off her kimono to put on her old sweater. It would have been harder to go unnoticed with her royalty dress.

She opened the door and saw Lloyd pushing his robe off of himself, revealing a black hoodie underneath.

She couldn't help but snort. "You wore a hoodie under your robe?"

"Yeah, so? I've been planning on sneaking out since morning anyway. Outfit is important while sneaking out when you have golden noble-pants family."

Harumi found the choice of words funny, but she also knew what he meant.

Lloyd took out a rope from his hoodie's pocket and tied it around Harumi's bed's leg. He pulled at it hard to make sure it's secure, then held it while slipping out of the window. "Follow me."

They made it out of the palace walls in a breeze. Once they were far enough, Harumi held onto her knees and panted. After catching her breath, she started laughing. Was this her first time laughing ever since the Great Devourer?

"I can't believe it!" She squealed. "I snuck out. I've never snuck out before. I haven't been outside for a whole month. That was amazing."

"You're welcome." Lloyd puffed out his chest with pride.

Harumi looked around at the quiet streets of the city. "So, what now?"

"You can go do whatever you want, I don't mind." He shrugged, then spoke with an underlying expectation. "And, I wouldn't mind if you tag along with me either."

"Where are you going?"

"To get the newest Starfarer comic." He exclaimed. Then looked away. "The Ninja don't allow me to read comics, because they say it's distracting me from my training. But I still want to read them... They say I don't have time for childish stuff. But, I am a child aren't I?"

Harumi fiddled with her sweater. She really was seeing the green ninja in a whole new light. The grudge she had against him was untangling and disappearing. She didn't think much before bluring out. "The emperor doesn't let me read some books I want because apparently I 'stand for a political position now and my interests can influence this country's course.' It's unfair."

Lloyd's eyes lit up. He nodded. "It is."

Harumi knew that he felt like they were alike too. She smiled. "So we're not allowed to be kids with adults. But we can be kids without them, right?"

"Hell yeah!" He put his hands up in excitement. "Nobody can stop us when we're outside! Without them, we can kid out!"

Harumi chuckled. "'Kid out?' Is that even a real word?"

Lloyd put his hands on his hips. "It is now, got a problem with that?"

"No." Harumi put her hands up as well. "Let's kid out!"

"Yeah!"

They both yelled as they ran into the street. Lloyd slowed down and looked over at Harumi. "You don't want me to call you 'your highness' of something, right?"

"No, Harumi is enough."

Lloyd frowned. "That name sounds really serious too though."

Harumi thought for a second. "Just call me Rumi then."

Chapter Text

They were sitting by the stone steps of an old building in an alley. Harumi looked at the wrapped street food Lloyd had bought and handed her. He was already halfway through his.

"How did you buy this? Did you have money?" She asked skeptically.

"No, but Jay did." Lloyd swallowed his food.

Harumi's eyebrows shoot up. "What? You stole? Isn't that bad?"

"Depends on your perspective. Jay steals my candy all the time."

Harumi looked between Lloyd and the food in her hand, but she was too hungry to argue. She unwrapped it and took a bite from the phyllo dough wrapped roll, it tasted like chicken and lettuce, with some sort of sauce in it.

Lloyd kept looking at the artwork of the comic book he set on the stairs next to him. Then he looked over at Harumi. "So, you only recently got in the royal family?"

"Yeah." She swallowed and looked away. "I lost my real parents after the Great Devourer."

Lloyd lowered his food from his mouth. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." That statement was complete opposite of what Harumi had believed in for several months. She wasn't sure if she was genuine about it or not.

"I'm the Green Ninja, I'm the strongest. At least I should be." He fiddled with the wrapping of his food. "I just sat and watched that day, couldn't even do anything. There were a lot of people I couldn't save."

"Well, you're too young to be fighting people, aren't you? Why did you start training this early?"

Lloyd swallowed, his gaze distant. "My uncle says I will have to fight my dad in the future, so I need to be prepared when that day comes."

"Lord Garmadon." Harumi stated. She knew she had to be mad at him for all the bad things he had done, but he was the reason the remaining people in the city were still alive. She blurted out without thinking. "He saved us."

"He was a bad person, but not at heart." He shut his eyes. "It would make me a bad green ninja if I didn't want to fight him, right?"

"Not really." Harumi shrugged. "He is your dad either way. Sometimes destiny just gives you things without a good reason." Her voice lowered. "Or takes things."

Lloyd turned back at her, his eyes soft. "It took from you too, didn't it?"

Harumi grimaced. She shut her eyes. She was feeling overly emotional about her parents all of a sudden. She hadn't shed a single tear fot them since the Devourer. She was scared a bit, scared that she didn't love them enough to weep for them. But it was crashing down to her now, all at once. She didn't feel the need to stand tall and strong in that moment. She felt afraid, lonely, small, helpless. Like a kid.

Lloyd put a hand on her shoulder, providing nothing more than a little comfort. But thay was enough for Harumi.

She started crying.

Lloyd didn't say anything, he just kept his hand on her shoulder. Harumi wasn't sure if he did this on purpose to relax her, or if he didn't know how to react in this situation. She only cried.

She didn't want this. She didn't want to be here, the Jade Princess, taking responsibility and acting like an adult. She wanted her parents back. She had always dismissed these thoughts, since they were unrealistic and childish. But she didn't care this time. She didn't care if it sounded immature or impossible. She wanted them back. She wanted to go back home.

She kept weeping for a while, and Lloyd didn't move until her shoulders stopped shaking. He then spoke as if he knew what she was thinking.

"I can't bring a loved one you lost back into your life. But I can add a new one in it, as a friend." He held his hand in front of her and smiled.

Harumi wiped away her tears. The thought made her smile too. She felt bad for her assumptions about Lloyd.

She reached and held his hand.