ninjago · retired ninja · lloyd garmadon · grief · restaurant setting · singer · former teammate · emotional reunion · martial arts · brotherhood
The restaurant hummed with low light and the clatter of dishes. At a corner table, four figures sat in a silence that felt heavier than the air around them. Cole drummed restless fingers on the polished wood, his stomach a low growl. Jay twisted a napkin into a tight spiral, eyes darting. Kai leaned back, arms crossed, his jaw a hard line. Lloyd stared at the empty seat beside him—the place meant for Zane. Then the houselights dimmed. A single spotlight cut through the gloom, and a figure stepped onto the stage, dress flowing. The first notes of a song rose, clear and aching. Lloyd's breath hitched. He leaned forward, squinting into the glare. 'Guys,' he whispered, voice fraying. 'I think it's...' He trailed off, his green eyes locking onto the singer—onto you, you—as recognition cr…