Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
Summary: Hunter has always been the good older brother. But what happens when he falls in love with his brother's girlfriend? Twoshot.
Author's Note: It's Hunter/Tori with Blake/Tori mentioned. Post PRNS.
You're The Reason
by: Quantum Ninja
He couldn't stand watching her wait, for him. She was waiting, for his brother, to come back from his motocross races. His busy schedule had him running around all the time. One minute he was back in Blue Bay Harbor hanging out together with everyone at the beach or at Storm Chargers. But the next thing you know, he was being called in for his next motocross race which he had to take off to attend. Typical Blake for bouncing around here and there. He could never really settle down and make a final decision. He felt sorry for his brother's hectic schedule. But really, the one Hunter felt sorry for was Tori.
He never realized what he was thinking until their ranger days were over. Hunter was always the serious one. He was dedicated to his ranger work. He was dedicated to motocross. He was dedicated to his teachings at the Thunder Ninja Academy as he was now sensei. Things like friends and a social life would come second to what was really important to him. But recently, something, or rather, someone had caught his attention. She had always been around him ever since he and Blake had been at Blue Bay Harbor. But before, she was just another ranger, just like she was just another guy to hang out with. But that was just it. She wasn't just another guy, and it wasn't until she was left alone that Hunter realized what he started to feel for her.
Blake had admitted to Hunter from the start that he was attracted to Tori. He had no problem with this considering he didn't care about relationship that much. It was evident that Blake and Tori had their flirting here and there. After their ranger days, they did actually get together officially. Hunter was busy setting priorities as sensei for the academy, so he didn't pay much attention to them. It wasn't until Blake started disappearing ever so often for his races that Hunter noticed a sort of loneliness in Tori. In reality, she had Shane, Dustin, Cam, and himself as friends, but Hunter guessed the boyfriend girlfriend relationship was different.
She liked to come to the Thunder Academy often. Of course, she was a teacher at the Wind Ninja Academy, but it didn't stop her or Shane and Dustin from coming over to the Thunder Academy ever once in a while to teach some students or check on things. But when Blake was away on his races, she often came over. She liked to work with the students. Hunter welcomed her. They were just like friends hanging out. That was, until he started how distressed she sometimes got without Blake around. And that was when Hunter's feelings began to change.
Did he see what the others saw, or was it just him?
But wait, this was his brother he was talking about. Sure, they were adopted, but they were brothers through and through. These feelings, they were out of question. Hunter wasn't that kind of person. He was always supportive of Blake. They never fought over things. Hunter was the model older brother, setting examples for the younger one to follow. There was no stealing and cheating involved. This made Hunter's newly found feelings, just, wrong.
He tried to shake them off, thinking it was just some strange phase he was going through. He tried to look at it as no big deal. Blake would be back as soon has he could, and these strange feelings would go away as quickly as they had come to him. There was nothing to worry about. There was nothing wrong. He wasn't in love with her.
Damn it. He loved her.
How could he have let this happen? How could he do this to Blake? He was in love with his brother's girlfriend. Those kinds of statements never sounded good. They never were good. So Hunter tried everything in his power to detach himself. He wasn't going to let this happen. He tried to avoid her at all costs. Well, he tried to avoid being alone with her at all costs. Their once open conversations felt stiff and awkward to him now as he was cautious of how he talked and acted around her now. He knew if he spent too much time with her alone, things would just get worse. This was for Blake. This was for her. They were together. Hunter was just, someone else.
But the whole avoiding business never ever went unnoticed because it started changing Hunter. He was always a solid and ready kind of guy. But every so often now, he would be hesitant. He would be caught off his rocker. The uneasiness was sensed by the others. But Blake didn't notice because Blake was away.
"Hey," Tori said as she walked over to Hunter's side. But Hunter did not hear her or acknowledge her presence as his mind was somewhere else. "Hello?" Tori said waving a hand in front of his face. Hunter blinked a couple of times, before he realized who it was.
"Sorry," he quickly said. "Something on my mind," he covered up. Well, it was true. He just didn't have to tell her what he had on his mind.
"You've been like this a lot lately," she commented. "Something you want to talk about?" she asked him. She was always like this, somehow oddly really caring. But she was like this to everyone, so there were no playing favorites for her.
"I'm fine," Hunter replied bluntly.
"Okay," Tori automatically responded. "So, uh, have you heard from Blake?" she asked him. It was the million dollar question Hunter was waiting for. What was the point of loving this girl when she clearly had her eyes set on someone else? Hunter had told that to himself a million times and counting. He was just waiting for the day he would actually start believing and acting upon it.
"Oh, right," he replied. "He was supposed to come back tonight, but something came up so he's coming back tomorrow," Hunter said blankly.
"Yeah, he told me that too," Tori said nodding. If she knew, then why did she ask? It sent the tiniest wave of hope through Hunter thinking that she just wanted to strike up a conversation with him. "I guess his races have just kept him really busy," she added.
"I guess," Hunter answered. In all honesty, he hadn't been keeping up with motocross news. He got that all from Blake whenever they talked. Hunter was sensei of the Thunder Academy now so he had other priorities. Motocross was just something for leisure when he had time. For a few moments, they sat their in the awkward silence Hunter had loathed. Every so often, he would glance at his side, looking at her face staring straight ahead.
Hunter could tell. She felt alone. She could have only so many friends and family surrounding her, but it wouldn't change her situation because this was not how any girlfriend wanted to feel. No girlfriend wanted to see their boyfriend take off like Blake did. It all came back to circulate around Blake. Blake was the reason, for everything. Blake was the reason Tori was feeling lonely. Blake was the reason Tori was sitting here and waiting for him.
For once, Hunter wished Blake wasn't part of his life. It hurt him to see her like this. He wanted to do something about it. He wanted to say something. He wanted to make her feel better.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"For what?" Tori replied looking over at Hunter and smiling.
"For Blake," Hunter said. Okay, it sounded a bit wrong, but Tori knew what he was getting at. "I mean," he tried to recover. "You know," he said. "He's always been into motocross and it was his dream to professionally race," he explained. "It's just that, you, you," Hunter tried as he was hesitant. "You're sort of left out while he's away."
"You don't have to be sorry," Tori said honestly. "Blake says the same thing every time he comes back," she told Hunter. "But I knew this was going to happen anyways. And I agreed to be in a relationship with him. So there really isn't anyone to blame. I was the one that signed up for this," she said honestly. "I chose to be in a relationship with Blake, knowing that he would be gone for periods of time. And I accepted that. Maybe the process of waiting isn't the greatest, but I'm getting through just like I've always done before," Tori told Hunter.
"Yeah, but-" Hunter started but then stopped. He wanted to say something, something to make her feel better about her situation. But he knew if he spoke another word, his horrible secret would spill out on its own and he would be in deep trouble.
"What?" Tori asked curiously. She had a feeling that something was bothering him, but he just wouldn't say what. He was never really the kind that opened up with words. Hunter was more the strong silent type.
"Nothing," Hunter replied quickly. He couldn't say it. He just couldn't. It would ruin everything. It would ruin his relationship with their friends. It would ruin his relationship with her. It would ruin his relationship with Blake. He just couldn't say it. For the sake of everyone else around him, he just could follow through. No matter how much he wanted to, he had to hold himself back from the one person he possibly truly loved.
"Hunter," Tori said slightly smiling as she tugged on his sleeve.
And that did it for him.
He caught her hand and his lips swiftly landed on hers.
For those beautiful and precious three seconds, Hunter knew what he was living for. This was the reason he put up with everything around him. This was the reason he didn't leave Blue Bay Harbor, because he couldn't and wouldn't leave her.
Until Tori's hands were strong on his chest and shoved him away.
Now, he felt disgusted with himself. The throbbing pain throughout his body told him that he was the worst friend in the world. He was the worst brother in the world. He was the worst person in the world. He looked at Tori, and knew, everything he just said, it was all completely true. Her eyes stared at him with hurt and confusion and Hunter could feel his entire world crumble around him.
He walked. He walked out of there. He could feel Tori's eyes following him, but he couldn't face her. He couldn't face what he had done. He loved it, but he hated it. He wanted more, but he couldn't have more. It felt so right, but Hunter knew it was completely wrong.
Hunter Bradley, for the third time, had lost someone he loved.