#shade ninjago | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

katsumatsu4 · 4 months

Text

Speedrunning

It's a secret santa gift for @fandomsareforlife. Happy holidays!

A couple missing scenes, drabbles and possible interactions between Griffin Turner and other Elemental Masters. This is a little all over the place, but I hope you'll enjoy it :)

Also on Ao3

Being around other people for a long amount of time could get really annoying when all the conversations seemed to drag on for far longer than Griffin logically knew they had. Talking with his Ma was an exception, at least growing up; nowdays, even she began to slow down.

But there was something worse than getting a little annoyed, and that was being bored of course. So when one fateful day Griffin received an invitation to competition for elemental masters, for people just like him, he didn't need to think twice. Or even once, for the matter. More like half, the other half too thrilled for upcoming event to think properly.

With a ticket to Ninjago City in hand, the master of speed suddenly felt like his life was going to change forever. He shrived excitingly.

The room was pretty spacious, bigger than any he ever had. And it was amazing! He could zoom around without bumping into furniture, watch anything he wanted on the big flat-screen on the wall, bathe in the ridiculously oversized bathtub or eat all the snacks prepared on the table.

It even got posters of his favourite band on the wall!

Okay. That was a tad concerning.

He was chilling on the bed when suddenly an intercom on the wall sprung to life with Chen's voice.

A little confused, Griffin looked at the device. Right now? Just like that? Maybe if he was lucky there is already one in this room... Nah, that would be too convenient.

Not wasting more time, he jumped straight into the corridor leading to staircases. Right in the middle of a brawl between three other masters. Urgh.

He threw his punches blindly until he heard satisfying growl of pain. Stepping back, he finally took in his opponents. Gravity, mind, light, sound; not the most offensive powers but it didn't matter if he couldn't locate a blade in time. He threw his eyes around, cursing his poor eyesight. These four had to be fighting for something!

There! Someone in dark clothes was walking down the stairs, barely shuffling forward, where just a floor below- A jade blade in the vase!

Grinning, he threw his opponent away and rushed downstairs before - What was his name again? Eh, nevermind. - earth guy made a grab for it.

"Ha! Too slow, rocky boy!" Griffin giggled, easily outrunning him. The ninja looked so pissed of! Serves him right for not taking the competition seriously!

He raced toward the main lobby and put his jade blade in assigned place on the central statue. Looking around, Griffin noticed with satisfaction that he seemed to be the first. Hell yeah, baby!

With time other masters filled the room. Orange one, gravity, Jacob, shadow, purple one, lightning, Garmadon brat, Ash, Tox, shadow, mind, nature...

One blade appeared out of thin air, startling him. So Mr. Pale passed as well. No surprise here.

He couldn't help but whistle when earth master staggered inside, clutching his stomach with one hand but with a blade raised in the other. Honestly, he didn't know what that said about the other contestants that that guy wasn't last.

Just one remaining.

And then, when he thought he was going to die from boredom already, the doors opened and metal master proudly strode in. Finally! He joined in the cheers that quickly turned to confusion when one of big guy's gauntlets suddenly fell on the floor, the last jade blade falling with it. Unseen until this point, fire ninja jump out from behind Karloff's back, grabbed the blade and run towards the statue with a self-satisfied smirk. And a screwdriver.

Well, he'll be damned! Griffin didn't expect dirty tricks this early in the game, but he could respect the drive. At least until it wasn't directed at him.

Karloff, who retrieved his weapon already, slumped and whined something about fairness.

Fairness? Come on! They were there to show of, not to philosophize. Really, some people...

Griffin yelped when the floor opened under Karloff, who ended up falling in with a scream. What was that?

"As you can see, lose and you are out. Break any rule, you are out. Never bite the hand that feeds you Master Chen delicious noodle!" Chen announced. "Now rest up. Tomorrow the tournament will recommence."

On the way to his room Griffin had time to recollect himself. Looking with a clear mind, leaving the competition via trapdoor shouldn't have been as shocking. Everything Chen did so far was flashy and almost theatrical; it's only logical that he had something special prepared for the loser.

What happened to him after though?

He shrugged it off. Most likely it was nothing to worry about; probably the worst that awaited Karloff was being a little battered from the fall, getting laughed at by the stuff and being thrown of the island in a shitty boat. Chen was a pretty influential man, but even he couldn't get away with disappearing over a dozen people.

Besides, he thought as he settled under the bedsheets, today was the most fun he had in a while!

Well that kind of sucked.

Griffin turned on his bed. If you could even call that stiff board with a shoddy blanket thrown on a bed. He sighed, thinking back to the nice, warm, soft pillows in his room.

Stupid bed, stupid Chen, stupid competition and, most of all, stupid ninja! If they didn't want to fight against each other, why did they enter Crush Everybody Else And Win Tournament! It's not like they were forced to be here!

And now they were all paying for their stupidity and bleeding hearts. Sure, it was Chen who changed the matches at the last moment, but they should have expected something like this would happen sooner or later. Were they this stupid?

(He needed to stay angry. Staying angry was easier than thinking back about how desperate earth and lightning ninja looked during the battle. How much Chen controlled everything like it was his own private playground. How devastated the winner was, as if losing meant something more than dropping out of a competition. It was easier than remembering their screams of anguish.)

He turned over. Stupid ninja.

"I can't believe you actually fell for their bullshit. You don't look all that smart, but that's just another low."

Griffin felt his hand itching to punch Shade in the face. He took a calming breath.

"You heard what the ninja were talking, it all kind of makes sense. Chen clearly has it out for them; maybe they are telling the truth and they did discover something he doesn't want anyone to know!"

Shade rolled his eyes.

"Sure, and they conveniently didn't tell us that until one of them was in a major trouble during the competition."

The worst part was, Griffin did agree a little. The timing was suspicious; it was clear ninja would have held their distance even longer if the deck wasn't so stacked against them. But even then...

("We don't have to keep fighting each other," Green ninja said with an unprecedented confidence. "We can all win.")

The brat really has a way of making me want to proof him right.

"Why can't you just believe that there is something stinky going on here? It reeks!"

"'Kind of makes sense', 'maybe', 'just believe it', do you even hear yourself? Their story has more holes than a plate full of cheese!" Shade looked almost angry at this point. "If anything reeks here, it's them; from the beginning they acted like they were better than us and now suddenly they want to team up? For me it just looks like they realized Chen wasn't going to let them play their way so now they are trying to make the rest of us give up."

"Neuro confirmed that they were telling the truth about the spell. Doesn't that mean anything?"

"Ah yeah, the spell. The one that he learned about from Clause's mind but, again very conveniently, doesn't know what it's for." Shade crossed his arms. "If you are fine with being strung along and getting tied up in someone's scheme, be my guest. But keep me out of it." He turned around and gave Griffin a nasty side-eye on his way off. "I came here to win. I'm not going to give that up just because the rest of you lack any common sense."

Griffin stood there even after the other disappeared behind closed doors, fists clenched in anger. He wasn't a fool for believing ninja, Shade just... couldn't see a full picture. That's all.

With a sigh he finally relaxed his grip and let his hands fall to the sides. He probably should get going, the next meeting would be in a few minutes.

When will all this shitshow be over?

For the record, Griffin hated asking people for favours. Which was exactly why he was still standing outside the shop for longer than it took him to get there in the first place.

It was stupid idea anyway. Nobody spotted him yet, there was still time to turn back and leave. Yeah, he could just...

He groaned and hid his face in his hands. What was he doing? He was an adult, that's some middle school level thinking. Just ring a damn bell!

Griffin sighed and finally pressed the button. Then waited. Then pressed again and again, until he heard an annoyed voice from inside the building.

"Coming, coming, jeez! Don't you see the sign, we're closed- Oh, it's you." It seemed Cole was the one send to open the door. "Uh, hi?"

"Hey man, it's been a while! I would have called buuut, turns out we didn't actually swapped numbers after the Chen thing? And I heard you had quite an uproar recently."

Cole made a face.

"Don't even remind me. Lloyd's still has trouble sleeping..." He shook his head. "Anyway, come in I guess? Want something? Coffee, tea? Something to eat?"

"Thanks but I won't be long. Is Jay around? I actually came to talk with him."

"With Jay? Yeah, he's upstairs. Sit here, I'll come get him."

Griffin plopped down on the sofa Cole pointed and waited, eyes wandering over inside decorations. Not bad, but why did they had to have so many snakes?

He looked up upon hearing a patter of footsteps on wooden floor and was met with annoyed look on the lighting ninja face. He was probably pulled away from something.

"What do you want?" he started unceremoniously.

Griffin rolled his eyes and patted empty space next to him.

"Don't look at me like that, it's going to be quick, I promise."

Jay took a seat. "So?"

"Okay, here's a thing. Remember those anacondrai warriors? How they totally beat all of us, powers or not?"

"Well, they were hard to forget." Jay shivered. "But what does it have to do with anything?"

Griffin played with his thumbs for a few moments, silence slowly growing awkward.

"It's embarrassing," he finally said. "I know i could do better. They weren't as fast as me, just really really fast. I've never fought someone like that so I just... kind of froze when one managed to grab me. Like, no one ever did before! I didn't know what to do! So... yeah." He stepped from side to side. "I have an idea how to work on that. Will you help me?"

Jay winced, no doubt also remembering how close that fight was.

"I get it man, I do. But what do you want from me? You don't even like me! Why would ask me for help?"

"I think you're pretty annoying and obnoxious, that's not the same!" The ninja puffed up like an angry bird. Kind of cute. "Besides, you guys and your spinning stuff is like, the closest thing to my speed I can find that won't kill me! Probably." He pointed finger guns at Jay, who looked more red by a second. "Aaaand, you can throw lighting at me! So I can learn to dodge at high speed." Damn, he looks mad. Urgh, he didn't plan to vex him, that's no good. "And you can train with somebody who doesn't need to run in circles to keep up with your kicks, it's a win-win!"

"Ex-cuse me? Like I would need training to deal with someone like you! But fine, I guess I can make some space in my extremely busy schedule." Jay pulled out a notebook from one of his many pockets and skimmed through it. For what Griffin could see from here, all pages were completely blank. "Thursdays after 15 sounds good?"

"Sure does! Thanks dude!" He pumped his fist up in the air. "See you then!"

And before Jay could say another thing, he sped out, giggling slightly. Mission accomplished!

“And that’s why I don’t use coriander anymore.”

Griffin almost spitted out the drink. He snapped his head around, looking for the source of the scandalous declaration. Finally, his eyes landed on Zane, in the middle of some casual talk with Neuro, Tox and Pale.

He chugged the rest of his soda and run towards them.

"Hey hey, what's going on here? I was summoned by the heresy of the highest order."

They all looked at him confused. Griffin let out a big sigh. Humanity truly was doomed.

"What do you mean you don't use coriander? That's like, the coolest spice!"

Zane eyed him incredulously.

"It does have interesting taste, I'll give you that, but you can't be serious. It goes well with almost nothing, not to mention that the aroma is so intense it can ruin entire meal!"

"You can't be serious!" Griffin started gesticulating. "It goes well with so many things, like soups or cooked vegetables or cheese-"

The argument went on, Zane shooting down most of his arguments, but Griffin found out he hardly minded. It quickly became clear the other was almost as passionate about cooking as he was. It was fun!

"I can't imagine not adding a couple of leaves to dinner."

“If you can’t even phantom enjoying a nice meal with a balanced taste palette then I really don’t see how that’s my problem.”

"Listen, I don't care how much you don't like coriander, there is no good curry without-"

"Guys? Guys! Can you slow down a little?!"

He blinked a few times before the comically slow sentence made sense in his head.

"What are you talking about?"

"That's my line!" Tox gestured between Griffin and Zane. " You were blabbering so fast my ears started bleeding." What?"I think even Jay wouldn't keep up!"

Zane let out a short chuckle.

"Ah, we must have gotten ahead of ourselves. I'm sorry, I didn't want to make your all feel excluded from the conservation."

Ah. So that's what happened, no wonder talking seemed more fluid than normal. Oooops.

"Yeah, sorry guys. But," He turned to Zane. "we have to hang out more. That was the funniest talk I had in ages! Even if your taste in spices is goddamn awful."

White ninja smiled at him

"Sure, I also enjoyed this. But if you are trying to tell me my spices are atrocious when yours-"

Griffin felt the grin forming as all people around them groaned.

"Bullshit."

"I'm just saying; your powers are kinda redundant. I could get anywhere at least as fast as you."

Griffin stuffed the desire to just go and punch Shade through the wall, if only to wipe off his shit-eating smirk.

"That's not the same, you can't even interact with stuff on the way!"

Shade let out exaggerated regretful sigh.

"Ah, you're right. I just can appear practically anywhere I want to without anything stopping me on the way." He looked up at Griffin. "I guess running pretty fast is so much cooler."

Aurgh, you little-

"Race me then jackass."

Shade raised his brow.

"Excuse me?"

"You, me, right here and now. Let's see how 'redundant' my powers are after I kick your butt!" He leaned over the other man. "Or are you all bark and no bite?"

Shade's eyes sparked.

"Bring it on."

Of course it couldn't be exactly right here and now, but nevertheless it didn't take long to organize the race track and some cheerleaders- I mean, spectators and objective judges.

With a few minor setbacks.

("Hey, will you be our referee?"

Jacob turned to him with an expression of pure disbelief. Shade facepalmed.)

But otherwise everything was ready.

Griffin was stretching on the start line, eyeing Shade by his right. Noticing the staring, master of shadows send him another shitty grin.

"Good luck, speedy."

"Eat my dust."

"Guys, everything's ready!" Ash shouted from the side. "Remember, the first one on the finish line wins! No tech, only powers allowed!

Ready!

Set!

Go!"

The last sound didn't even end and Griffin was already rushing forward. Of course he would win, but no point in giving Shade extra time at the start!

Speaking of the man... He glanced around before spotting him.

Griffin gritted his teeth. His opponent was off to the great start too, but unlike him, he didn't need to worry about uneven terrain and sidelining obstacles on the way. So while Griffin had to more or less follow the beaten path, the other could pretty much ignore twists and turns of the road and just jump from shadow to shadow.

He gritted his teeth and picked up the speed. He's not going to lose at his own special thing!

Left, right, jump, jump, right, higher, faster, go go go!

Shifting between rocks and trees, they finally arrived at the last part: the finish line was on the other side of a lake surrounded by rocky hills. Griffin tried to spot the other man again.

Shade waved at him from the top of the mountain.

That little-

Wait, the lake! Maybe instead of running around it, he could run through it!

With that in mind, he braced himself and took a sudden turn. With a side-eye he barely managed to catch Shade's surprised face but it boosted him enough that even when cold water uncomfortably surrounded his ankles, he sped forward, cackling on the wind.

He began to regret it about ten seconds later; his sneakers were not waterproof. His heart skipped a bit when he almost tripped on a floating branch. But even after he managed to compose himself, before water remembered people were not supposed to be running on it, he could already feel his strength sapping away. There was a reason why he usually didn't try that trick.

The finish line was so close! Just a few more seconds!

He slipped.

Griffin took a sharp breath when his foot broke the surface, landing on a muddy bottom and staggered a few more steps before picking up the speed again. Water was slowing him down but he still rushed forward.

With the last burst of power he hurried on the shore and arrived at the finish line a few feet away. Distantly, Griffin registered muted cheers coming from the sides.

Panting and wheezing, he looked back. Shade just crossed the line, significantly more red than gray this time. Despite the air barely making its way to his lungs, Griffin couldn't help but laugh at the face he was making.

"Who's redundant now?"

Shade puffed further and shuffled closer.

Then pushed him in the water.

Griffin, very pointedly, did not screech and did not scramble around and shudder like a wet cat. Did not.

Hunched over, he heard a strange sound, something between choking and gargling. But when he looked up, his eyes widened. Shade was laughing. He... hadn't heard him laugh before. Griffin was so dumbfounded that for a moment he didn't notice the outstretched hand before him. He grabbed it and let Shade help him up. Still choking a little, master of shadows finally answered.

"Yeah, you were right, whatever. I'm not going to apologize for pushing you in, you looked like you needed a cooldown." He shook his head. "But I take back what I said earlier. You beat my butt alright."

"Well, that was one hell of a show! And both of you look like shit now."

Griffin turned around as Skylor and a few others made their way closer. She smiled at them.

"I bet you burned a lot of energy. If you're hungry we can get something to eat."

He suddenly realized that yeah, he was starving.

"I vote pizza!" Jacob shouted.

"Karloff says barbecue."

"Sushi!" screamed Ash.

"Well, does anyone have cash on them? I think you forgot where we can eat for free-"

"Sky-gal, I love you, but we can't just eat noodles every-freaking-time we meet," Tox argued. "We need some diversity!"

Shade raised his hand.

"Two for pizza!"

Griffin laughed and joined him.