THOSE NIGHTS
DISCLAIMER
Tommy/Jason friendship fic inspired by the Skillet song "Those Nights" and takes place after "King For A Day Pt 2". Power Rangers belongs to Saban Entertainment and Disney. I only own the plot.
It was two nights after the incident in Prince Gaskett's arena that Tommy ended up outside Jason's window. Hearing the soft knock, the Gold Ranger looked up from the textbook he had been reading. Then, he got up, unlocked the window, and then opened it, allowing his friend to come in.
"Thanks," Tommy said as Jason pulled an old green sleeping bag out from under his bed. Tommy smiled briefly seeing his former color.
"Any time," Jason responded. "You wanna talk about it?" Tommy shook his head. "Okay, man," Jason agreed and settled back under his covers.
"I could've killed you." Jason sighed and propped himself up with an elbow. He had been waiting for something like this.
"It wasn't your fault, Tommy. You had been brainwashed."
"But if you guys hadn't---"
"Tommy…it's okay." Tommy blew out a breath.
"I just---I had sworn that I would never be used against you guys again. And then this happens. It was like being the Green Ranger again." Jason fell silent. He wasn't going to mention that their fight had almost felt like the time that he had been trapped in Rita's dark dimension with him. Only that time, Tommy had been trying to destroy him so that Rita could take over the world.
"Gaskett tricked you. He made you believe things that weren't true. We all understand that."
"Do you? I mean, I know you and Billy do, but the others…they've never really faced me like that…I mean, other than that clone Zedd and Rita made." Jason leaned over the bed to look at Tommy.
"Bro, you can't keep blaming yourself for that. She had you mind-warped," he reminded.
"But I did so much damage," the other boy said.
"We all have under spells. You're not the only one they turned into a puppet. For example, the Shark Monster," the first boy responded. Tommy sighed.
"I know, but…it's still hard, man."
"I can't even imagine." And just like old times, Tommy and Jason talked late into the night, Tommy pouring out his guilt and frustration at being used, while Jason either listened or tried to offer comforting words, reminding the former leader of all the nights they had done this previously. It was a ritual they had started soon after Rita's spell had been broken and had continued when necessary until Jason had left for Switzerland. That wasn't to say that Jason hadn't still been an ear for Tommy, but it wasn't really the same as talking to his friend face-to-face. As they talked, Tommy felt a sense of relief to let out his feelings. He, like Jason, remembered all the times they had stayed up late talking. He had never told his friend this, but it was the nights that they had spent talking that had kept him going. In fact, those nights had kept him alive.
THE END
