Work Text:
It was one in the morning on a Monday in the middle of June. Brad Tudabone was slowly walking around back behind Darkley's Boarding School for Bad Boys while carrying a heavy load. He carried a large bag of fertilizer, a full watering can, pruners, and two weighty ceramic plant pots. The boy grunted under the weight, but trudged on, not putting any of his equipment down before reaching his desired destination. He heaved a sigh, wiping a slight sweat off his brow with a small handkerchief after setting the items down.
The boy looked around hastily to make sure no others were around before relaxing. Brad was rather tall for his age. He was about ten years old and 5 and half feet tall. The boy was wearing his school uniform with a daisy clipped over his heart and gardening gloves on his hands. He had silky black locks and navy-blue eyes that shined in the moonlight.
At least, they seemed to shine in the moonlight from where Lloyd was sitting. Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, son of the well know Lord Garmadon, was sitting on one of the branches high up in a nearby Sakura tree. He was watching the older, studying his every move. Lloyd was on the shorter side, standing at 3 feet and a month away from being ten years old. He had wavy blonde hair, pale skin, pointy ears and heterochromia. His left eye was blood red like his father's, while the right one was emerald green like his mother's. Instead of wearing uniform like the other, he wore black jeans with a black hoodie that had graphics that mimicked a rib cage and a green number five.
Lloyd had been-as creepy as it sounds-watching Brad work on his hidden garden since the day he arrived. The two boys were roommates and every night, the older would go behind the school to take care of his flowers. The blonde quickly realized just how much the other truly adored the plants, taking care of each one with such delicacy.
He shuffled a little bit, trying to get more comfortable, but only managed to shake the pink flowers, causing a few to fall and ultimately giving away his presence. Lloyd stilled, waiting for Brad to react, only to see he wasn't there anymore.
"What-" He was cut off by a pair of hands yanking his hood back, choking him suddenly. Lloyd instantly moved his hands to his collar, trying to pull it back down. Relief washed over him once Brad loosened his grip, but terror returned once the other spun him around.
Brad's eyes were stormy, and his expression was dark. If there was one thing he didn't like, it was being watched. Oh, and how much the public lacked basic flower caring knowledge.
"Hello Lloyd," he growled. "Lovely night tonight. Wouldn't you agree?" Brad's hands were now clasping onto Lloyd's collar tightly.
Said boy gulped and just continued to stare back with fear in his eyes. "H-hi Brad..." The blond waved a hand weakly, before putting it down quickly and looking away. "Soo..." He turned back to the other slowly. "Y-you come here often?"
Brad huffed. "Don't think I don't know what you've been doing Lloyd. I know you've been watching me." He yanked the smaller male closer, the two just inches away.
Lloyd whimpered quietly, shrinking in on himself. "I-I'm sorry, okay? P-please don't hurt me!"
Brad's gazed danced across the others face before he finally let go of Lloyd's collar. He sighed; the dark expression now being replaced by a calmer one. "Forgive me, for I get a bit defensive over matters I dislike."
"A bit is an understatement" Lloyd muttered. He crossed his arms defensively. "Still don't see why you choked me and nearly made me fall out of the tree..."
The taller smiled darkly. "Oh, but you, see? My whole plan was to push you out of tree" and with that, Lloyd was falling.
He cried out when he hit the ground, quickly biting his lip to try not to alert any others of his presence. The blonde sat up slowly, clutching tightly to his left arm, his breath coming out in short puffs. A quick glance upward told him Brad was already climbing down the tree.
The ravenette's feet landed on the ground with a thud as he hopped off of the tree from a safe height. "Well then, as it is much too late to begin gardening now, I'm off to bed. Good night, Lloyd. Don't let the bugs bite."
Lloyd sat there, tears pricking his eyes. He slowly got up, hissing in pain when he moved his forearm the wrong way. Staring at Brad who was walking away, he grinned evilly. All the kids at Darkley's said Lloyd was good, but if Brad wanted him to be evil, he could. This was war.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next night at the same time, Brad was walking to the back of the school. He planned to check on his flowers and inspect the blank brick wall his flowers grew near. Instead of gardening supplies, the ravenette carried two paint buckets, a paint brush and a pencil. He hummed, while he walked along, stopping when he arrived, only to be horrified.
The flowers that were once in nice, neat rows in rainbow order, were knocked down, plucked and altogether ruined. Brad dropped his supplies and ran towards his pride and joy. He sat on his knees near a pale blue tulip that had managed to escape the horrors.
A small giggle from behind him caught his attention. In one swift motion, Brad grabbed a dagger from inside his left boot and threw it at the noisemaker.
Lloyd shrieked as the dagger landed centimeters away from his fingers. He had one hand on the tree as he peeked out from behind it. The look on Brad's face made him smirk with satisfaction. The older's eyes were rimmed with tears and his expression screamed murder.
"Well goodnight Brad. Hope you like your flowers. They were looking a bit overgrown, so I decided to give them a trim." Lloyd walked off confidently and was so ready to brag about this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lloyd watched from a bush, his left arm in a cast and staying away from trees. It was night three of war and Brad hadn't struck back, but instead sat down where his flowers once grew. The ravenette had a glass box full of dirt and small pathways, which he studied contently.
Lloyd just sighed, already bored of the rivalry, but perked up one he heard movement.
Brad picked up the container and walked back the way he came, Lloyd assumed to go back to their shared room. Once the older was out of sight, Lloyd snuck out of the bushes and decided to retire to bed as well.
Once he arrived, he took note of his surroundings. No booby traps, no cameras, no murder, no nothing. The blonde lied down in bed, feeling confident he had won the war, but he thought too soon
Lloyd screamed in pain as something bit him. He shot out of bed, itching furiously. "W-what the heck?! Brad what?"
Brad chuckled. "I thought my warning was clear enough the other night when I told you not to let the bugs bite."
"B-but what bugs did you put in my bed?"
"Oh, just fire ants."
"WHAT?"
"Don't worry Lloyd. The bites aren't deadly. Only painful."
Lloyd sighed. "Well great..." The blonde slowly laid on his side on the floor, grumbling in discomfort. "Well good night, Brad."
Said boy was quiet. He just stared at the other laying on the floor. Brad wasn't really that bad of a guy, just misunderstood. He didn't truly want to be evil, but unfortunately for him, he was forced into it. No room for argument, his parents sent him to stop being so kind and caring and start being truly wicked.
The ravenette's emotions got the best of him. He sighed, "Lloyd, I suppose you can sleep in my bed tonight."
Lloyd shot up. "But what about you? I-I don't wanna take your bed just for you to sleep on the floor. Even if you did put fire ants in my bed and push me out of a tree."
Brad got off his bed, putting one hand on Lloyd's shoulder and the other gesturing to the bed. "It's all yours."
The blonde's eyes widened as he took in the fact the Brad was one-hundred percent serious with no tricks this time. He sat down on the edge of the other's bed, still slightly uncomfortable. "I. Thank you Brad."
A soft smile appeared on the ravenette's face as he watched the smaller settle into the bed. Lloyd was asleep in minutes leaving Brad to sleep on the floor. With a small sigh, he positioned himself to be as comfortable as possible but failed to sleep. The tossing and turning became tiring and he soon gave up, deciding to share the bed with Lloyd.
Brad slowly lifted the covers, waiting for a reaction, before sliding Lloyd over and slipping into bed. It was a bit cramped considering how small the beds were, but it was much better than being on the floor, that's for sure.
The two slept back to back and just before Brad drifted off to dreamland, he felt something clinging onto his back. He turned his head slightly to see Lloyd grabbing onto him and snuggling his face into him. Brad quietly sucked in a breath before turning his body to face the blonde's. He wrapped his arms protectively around Lloyd's smaller figure, feeling sadness swell up inside him.
Lloyd was abandoned here by his parents, and Brad was just putting him through even more pain. And for what? To prove to those bullies he wasn't such a goody two shoes? It was pointless.
Brad let out his breath slowly, resting his head atop of Lloyd's. He finally let sleep claim him, feeling warm, safe and content.