I have honestly no clue where this even came from. I was wracking my brain for something else to write for 2017 Power Rangers and this little thing popped into my head after seeing Descendants 2 was out.
I've always had a fascination for triad relationships, so I figured eh, why not. There's some for Trini/Kimberly shippers, some for Jason/Kimberly, some for the freakishly rare Jason/Trini, and lastly, Jason/Trini/Kimberly too.
Enjoy.
If Trini had learned anything since coming to Angel Grove, it was that life was just full of surprises. Yes, the line was cliché as all hell, but clichés were called such for a reason.
Where would Trini be now if she hadn't stumbled across the coins alongside the others?
Most likely, Trini would be sitting at home, alone. Headphones on and blasting her favorite heavy metal to drown out her thoughts after another argument with her mom about her life choices.
Except now, Trini wasn't even at home. She was sitting on Jason's couch where the group decided to have one of their movie nights. Sitting here among… friends, was something Trini would never have imagined not so long ago.
They rotated houses regularly, the only one they never used was Trini's. She had made it clear they would never use it, and the other's respected her word. Billy's mom didn't mind her son's company and Zack's mom was nothing if not welcoming. Kimberly and Jason's families were often out though, not that it mattered that much.
Jason, seeing as how it was his house this time, got the main couch with Kimberly at his side, arm around his girlfriend's shoulders. The pair snuggling together but not so close as to repulse the rest of them.
Trini was on the opposite side of Kimberly, but was growing steadily more and more sleepy. Not her fault somebody outvoted her for a sappy, boring movie. It was a good thing the film was nearing its end, otherwise Kimberly was about to become a human pillow for Trini's weary head.
Billy, being Billy, was all but told to take the comfy armchair nearby. With Billy using the only other seat, Zack was left having to sit on the floor. Not that the black ranger would ever complain, his spot just meant he got to be closer to the screen.
"Boo!" Zack, once again, chucked popcorn at the screen where two people were making out. Honestly, Trini didn't really even remember what they were watching or what was going on. Her mind was on… other things.
"Hey, that's just wasteful." Kimberly scolded the ranger on the floor. "Besides, it's a great movie. Don't be dissing on it."
Zack tilted his head back, said "boo" again, and threw another piece of popcorn up to nail Kimberly perfectly in the nose.
"You are so lucky I'm too comfy to move." Kimberly's eyes narrowed dangerously, but Zack's shameless grin all but screamed 'yeah I know, that's why I did it'.
"Movie's almost over." Trini let her head fall onto Kimberly's shoulder. The look of betrayal on Zack's face was almost as funny as the mental image of Kimberly chasing the black ranger down.
"That's right!" Kimberly's smile turned predatory. "Hope you run fast, Taylor."
"Little backup here, Jason?" Zack turned to the red ranger for support. "Bros before…"
"Nope." Jason held up his hand not around Kimberly. "Sorry, pal. Hands are tied, gotta side with the girlfriend."
Kimberly's simply stuck her tongue out at Zack.
"Huh, I have been rubbing off on you." Zack turned back to the movie with a look of smug satisfaction etched onto his features. "I shall take my punishment knowing the student has learned well."
Kimberly may have been too comfy to move, but she was not too comfy to whack the black ranger in the back with a well-placed kick. Zack just scooted further away and out of her reach before she could do it again.
Kimberly didn't stop trying until she realized to reach Zack, she was going to have to move from Jason's hold. Something she had to intention of doing. With a defeated huff, she pulled herself back to cuddle closer into Jason's side.
Not long later, the movie came to its close and it was time for everyone to leave. Billy was always first to go, ever worried about being caught out after dark. Zack would immediately leave next, sometimes accompanying Billy at least part of the way back to his place. On a normal night, Trini would be next, while Kimberly would stay god knows how much longer after everyone else was gone.
Zack liked to say that 'it was their lovey-dovey time', something the pink and red rangers never bothered denying.
Tonight, Trini found herself staying longer than normal, even going so far to help Jason put away the popcorn bowl and their used soda cans. His eyes filled with poorly contained suspicion the whole while.
Trini never stayed this long, and Jason knew it. It was only a matter of time before he or his girlfriend called her out on it.
She did have her reasons, but Trini was struggling with heavy doubts. Part of her was desperately searching for an escape, she could still walk right out the door now. Another part was forcing Trini to stay put and go through with this stupid, really bad, idea. The two conflicting sides preventing her feet from carrying her to safety, but also stopping her from getting any words out about her intentions.
Helping with the cleanup distracted Trini's worried nerves, but that only lasted as long as there was junk to collect and there wasn't that much in the way of trash. It took a whole two minutes before Trini found herself sitting on a stool at the kitchen island, Jason and Kimberly both nearby on separate chairs of their own.
"Everything okay, Trini?" Oddly enough, it was Kimberly, not Jason, who asked first. Jason looked every bit as concerned as the pink ranger, but he let his girlfriend take the lead usually when it came to Trini.
"Yup!" Trini squeaked in a way too high-pitched voice that made her cringe internally. "Perfectly fine."
No, not fine at all.
"You sure?" Jason rested his arms on the island.
"Yeah, totally." Trini giggled while her mind screamed for her to cut the crap and stop digging a deeper pit. "Totally okay. Yeah, nothing wrong at all."
Jason and Kimberly each wore matching skeptical looks before they both spoke in perfect unison. "Bull."
"Seriously? You're speaking together like the Shining now?" Trini was deflecting and not only did she know it, her fellow rangers probably did too. If she did it hard enough, maybe Trini could still escape with a little dignity. "That's like mega creepy."
"Hey, don't be mocking a great movie." Kimberly's eyes narrowed much like they did when she faced Zack. "And don't change the subject."
Son of a…
"Come on, Trini." Jason's voice took on a softer tone. "You trust us, right?"
"Yes." Trini's reply was instant, automatic. Her certainty warranted no hesitation. She wouldn't be here if she didn't trust these two with her life and beyond. Neither would she be here with an insane request, crazy by her standards even.
"Then trust us now." Kimberly reached over the island to take Trini's hand. The yellow ranger wanted to violently jerk from the contact, but found she couldn't.
As the rangers grew closer, they became more adept at noticing each other's tells. Such as Billy being a little weary of being touched. The rangers were the only ones he allowed within his physical bubble but even that had limits.
Much like Billy, Trini was not the fondest of the sense of touch either. She allowed it sometimes, but would subconsciously pull away from contact, every once in a while, violently. Only there were times when Trini badly wanted just a little physical affection. Such times made Trini seek out that feeling of contact, like how she was now gripping Kimberly's hand. This act turned Trini's denial into swiss cheese.
So much for a way out.
"Talk to us, Trini." Kimberly squeezed softly, ever weary of whenever Trini wanted to be released. "Please."
Trini groaned before letting her head slam into the counter in front of her. Everyone winced at the muffled cracking sound that came from the surface. Trini mumbled something, but nobody was able to hear it.
"What was that?" Jason laid his chin down on his folded arms so that he was closer to Trini's level. "We can't hear you."
"I said…" Trini tried to talk, but her throat repeatedly closed up and choked off the words. Instead, they came out as an impossible to understand jumble. God, and here Trini thought she had a little bravery.
"Trini." Kimberly took Trini's other hand into her spare so she could hold both of Trini's in hers. "Take your time, we're not going anywhere."
"I wanted to ask you about something." Trini's voice came out far too meek for her tastes, but at least the other two were able to hear it.
"There we go, some progress." Trini could hear the smile in Kimberly's voice. "What did you want to ask about?"
"I was wondering if…" Trini swallowed hard. Try as she might, she couldn't get the words out. The twisting and turning in her stomach not helping. She couldn't even manage the courage to actually look at her friends.
Why the hell did she decide to do this while they were both here at once? It would have been way easier to talk to Kimberly one on one about this. It wasn't even about Kimberly, but she was the person Trini really needed permission from.
"I want to kiss your boyfriend!" Trini shot up, slamming her palms on the counter, definitely breaking it this time. "There, I said it!"
Trini could have sworn that she had broken time itself with her words, everything seemed to freeze in place. If it wasn't for their breathing, Trini would have thought Kimberly and Jason were dead they were so still.
"What?" Kimberly wasn't angry, at least on the outside. In place of anger was a sense of utter bewilderment. It was awfully similar to the look she wore when Trini ripped her locker door off its hinges.
"You lost me, Trini." Poor Jason looked like somebody had hit him upside the head with a chunk of wood. "You want to what?"
Trini groaned and let her head drop to the counter again with a heavy thunk. She was abusing the poor innocent counter, but it was dying for a noble cause. Namely, hiding Trini's blush and mortification.
This was getting ridiculous! Since when was she such a chicken? Trini was a Power Ranger and a superhero for crying out loud! She helped save the world, she could handle a little bit of embarrassment.
Yeah… Trini so couldn't handle it.
"Why would you want to kiss Jason?" Kimberly had released Trini's hands. Not a good sign. "I thought you weren't into guys?"
"I'm not." Trini mumbled from her hiding place.
"Then why?" Still no negativity from Kimberly, much to Trini's astonishment.
"Look…" Trini forced herself to sit up, but compromised with herself by using her hands to cover her scarlet face seeing as how she still couldn't bring herself to look at her friends. "I've kissed girls before, a few times. But I've never actually kissed a guy and…"
"You're curious." Kimberly finished.
"Yeah." Trini rubbed her temples but kept her gaze down. "I wouldn't in a million years ask Billy or Zack, but Jason isn't exactly available."
"You want my permission." Kimberly sounded almost… something. Trini couldn't quite put her finger on it. Touched maybe? That made all kinds of no sense.
"Yeah." Trini repeated. "It was a really stupid idea and I'm so sorry for even bringing it up and I never should have asked and…"
"Okay." Kimberly said simply.
"Excuse me?" Now it was Trini's turn to look like she'd been hit upside the head.
"Uh yeah, excuse me?" Jason looked at his girlfriend, every bit as floored as Trini.
"I'm perfectly fine with it." Good thing Kimberly spelled it out because Trini wasn't sure she could have comprehended what she was hearing otherwise. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"What kind of girlfriend are you?" Trini regretted the words the moment they left her mouth.
Kimberly laughed, unfazed by Trini's outburst. "I prefer to think one of the best. I'm not so insecure that I'm paranoid about every girl in town being after Jason. I trust him completely, and I trust you completely. If it were anybody else asking, I'd already be telling them to screw off with my fist."
"Uh… okay." Trini still couldn't believe they were even having this conversation. She was certainly moved by Kimberly's words, but… wow. This was really not going the way she imagined. "What about Jason? What's he got to say about it?"
"Jason?" Kimberly turned her eyes onto the boy beside her.
"You guys are my best friends, and I'm always willing to help but umm… I'm not sure." Jason hesitated. "This isn't some trap, is it? Like some kind of secret girlfriend test?"
"No, Jason." Kimberly smiled in such a way that would have made even Trini cave. That look was dangerous, good thing she was Jason's and not Trini's girlfriend. "Nothing like that, I'm really alright with it. I can understand where she's coming from."
"I don't know, Kim." Jason remained skeptical. "No offense, Trini."
"None taken." Trini waved a hand, returning her gaze to the very interesting busted countertop.
"Jason, she's one of my closest friends, and she had the guts to come to us about this rather than go out looking for some nobody. If you're not okay with it, then fine. But I don't have an issue with it."
Kimberly and Jason continued to go back and forth, all the while Trini tuned out the conversation and stewed in her own embarrassment. Now would be a perfect time for the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
Any minute now…
Yeah, that wasn't going to happen any time soon.
"Guys, I think I'm going to head home." It was time for Trini to cut her losses and hope after tonight she would be able to look the red and pink rangers in the eye. "Sorry about all this, it was a bad idea from the…"
"Hold up." Jason stopped Trini just as she stood. "We've agreed you can."
"We don't need to…"
"If, you kiss Kimberly first." Just when Trini thought the evening couldn't get any weirder, Jason had to go and say that! What the hell was with today?
"I'll admit to a little curiosity too." Kimberly admitted, a faint tinge of red covering her cheeks. "And to make sure Jason knows I'm not trying to trick him, you kiss me, then him. That way it's even and fair."
"You two are the weirdest couple ever." Trini could feel her eye twitching. Kimberly never expressed any interest in the same sex. This whole thing sounded crazier than Rita showing in a frilly skirt for a tea party. No, scratch that, this was way crazier.
"Nah." Jason waved a hand. "We're superheroes."
"And defenders of the planet." Kimberly added.
"Weird, is the new normal."
"For us, at least."
"Seriously, stop that." Trini hissed. "The finishing each other's sentences thing is getting freaky."
"Sorry, not like we're trying to." Kimberly circled around the table and relocated to the stool beside Trini. "You still want to do this?"
"Umm." Trini contemplated bashing her head on the counter again, but she's already broken it a bit too much. They would need a cover story about how that happened, but it was on the bottom of Trini's priority list.
"If you don't want to, that alright." Kimberly reassured the yellow ranger. "But, I doubt it's all that different. And if it is, you said you've made out with girls before, right? Pretty sure you have more experience than me."
"Sure." Trini forced the tiniest of smiles. Experience? That's one way to put it. If you counted quick quarter of a second contact of the mouth as 'making out'. Not to mention, said other girls were always fellow outcasts or nobody all that special.
They sure as hell were not beautiful and popular Kimberly Hart!
Now Kimberly was looking at Trini with an expectant look, and Trini's brain was going completely blank.
"If you want me to stop." Kimberly leaned forward so slowly, that Trini almost didn't realize she was even moving. "Just say so."
Trini couldn't answer. Even if she had been able to form a response, she was too distracted by the fact that Kimberly was less than inch away and getting close and…
Trini felt her brain short-circuit when Kimberly's lips found hers. They were every bit as soft and feminine as Trini imagined, and… oh lord, when did Kimberly put on strawberry flavored chapstick?
How long were they connected? A few seconds, half a minute? Trini honestly couldn't tell, she'd lost all sense of time the moment Kimberly had made contact. The only things Trini could still feel were the lips on hers, the fingertips on her jaw, and the fact that she was probably about as stiff as a board.
Trini only managed to regan some semblance of awareness when Kimberly pulled back.
"You okay, Trini?" Kimberly was flushed, but nowhere near as bad as Trini. The Latina was still struggling in vain to get her heartrate under control.
"Y… yeah." Trini's face felt like it was back in the Zeo Crystal pit, only hotter. "Just peachy."
Kimberly smiled, seemingly unaware of the effect she was having on the other girl. "Catch your breath. You still need to kiss my boyfriend if you're up to it."
Oh, terrific. Now Trini had to do it. Not that she didn't want to, but bailing now would be a little unfair. Trini was just a little worried her body might go into shock if she didn't recover first.
"Sure you're alright?" Jason was suddenly asking. "You look like you're going to faint."
"I don't faint." Trini grumbled, looking up to find Jason sitting where Kimberly had been a second ago. They must have swapped places while Trini was distracted. "I pass out."
"Whatever you say." Jason chuckled as he leaned against the counter with one elbow. "Hey, we don't have to..."
"I know." Trini sucked in a deep breath to steady her nerves once more. "You're not forcing me into anything. Just… let's get this over with."
Hopefully, Jason wouldn't be as intense as Kimberly had been. If it was, Trini might end up hyperventilating and actually passing out this time. Then again, passing out might be a bit of divine mercy.
Jason, being taller than Kimberly, had to lean down so the shorter Trini could reach him. Unlike Kimberly, Jason didn't reach out to touch Trini as he leaned in.
The kiss was not quite what Trini expected. It wasn't repulsive, it was almost… pleasant. Whereas Kimberly had been like flame, intense and frying Trini's brain, Jason was more like ice, cool and soothing.
Both managed to screw with Trini's head, just in different ways.
"See?" Kimberly spoke from across the counter. "Not so bad, right?"
"Right." Trini cleared her throat nervously, her already blazing cheeks growing redder by the second. "I probably… umm… should get going."
"Don't worry about the counter." Jason motioned to the kitchen island they sat around. "I'll take care of it."
Confused, Trini followed Jason's direction. Much to her horror, the wooden surface was marred by heavy cracks and splits. She was surprised the thing was even still intact. Surprised, right up until it split apart into pieces a second later.
"Wow." Kimberly leaned over to stare into the huge hole that was formed. "Nice one."
"And on that note, I'm outta here." Trini snatched up her bad made a beeline for the exit, not even bothering to look behind her. Was she retreating in complete shame? Yes, she definitely was, but it wasn't something she was about to admit.
Jason and Kimberly made no move to stop her, but Trini could feel them waving goodbye to her retreating form. Not that she was looking over her shoulder or anything.
Trini didn't stop until she was a fair distance from the Scott household. Now that she was finally away from the couple, Trini could breathe easier.
"What the hell was I thinking!" Trini growled at herself, kicking a random rock so hard it lodged into a nearby tree. "Stupid, stupid, Trini. Okay, just be cool. It is not a big deal, so you just made out with your only girl friend and her boyfriend, yeah, this totally isn't a big deal." It was absolutely a big deal, but that's not what Trini repeatedly told herself. "Just pretend it never happened, yeah. Easy."
Pretend it never happened, seemed like a good enough plan.
At least it was, until Trini found herself subconsciously licking her lips. The taste of that strawberry chapstick and something else undeniably Jason still in her mouth. Trini found she rather liked combination.
Good thing the other rangers were not present, because the string of Spanish expletives Trini let loose would scarred even Zack.
That was actually easier to write than I expected, and also longer than I expected. I have at least one more chapter planned and maybe more after that. All depends on reviews/reception.
