Why you Remind Me.
Chapter 1: Dislike.
"Kira? Your homework?" Tommy asks as he gives the light caramel blonde teenager a hard stare. He didn't understand what about her he disliked at first. When he'd first saw her sitting in the classroom obviously board and writing in her notebook the name Kira Hart popped into his head but he didn't know anyone named Kira but Hart was something he knew well. After she acquired the Yellow Pterodactyl Dino Gem he understood. In front of him with a different name and some different habits was the teenage embodiment of the woman who broke his heart. Sometimes though that didn't feel right. Kat had called once in the month the rangers had been active and asked him about the team, though she seemed unusually interested in Kira.
He had expected the blonde Australian woman to grip about him not having a pink on the team, not about how Kira was handling being a ranger or if she was doing well period. She almost acted like they knew each other but that was impossible. Right? Tommy felt his heart whimper in his chest for a second as the large doe brown eyes stared up into his with confusion and hurt. He knew the girl had realized how much he distanced himself from her or how hard he cracked down on her compared to the boys. Hell, he couldn't watch her fight in battles she fought so much like Kimberly, not identical but so close it hurt. He went against his very nature and hoped she wouldn't get hurt because of his stubborn acts and relying on Connor or Ethan to always protect her.
Something in him though, while connecting Kira to Kim was yelling at him to think harder that his feeling had nothing to do with his ex-girlfriend he hadn't heard from in seven years. Jason said she had married the guy from Florida, Preston something or other and living there teaching kids gymnastics now. That was four years ago.
"Yes, here Dr. O," Kira said, smiling softly but she didn't get a smile or much more then a nod back. She watched as he moved on to take Conner's homework and sighed. She didn't understand why Dr. O didn't like her. She hadn't been rude or anything to him. She was a Ranger for gods sake, what could she had possibly done. The thoughts alone made her angry with him. She didn't understand why she cared why she cared what Tommy...Dr. O thought of her. She began to draw little birds over the margins of her notes and only realized after she had finished the third it was a Pterodactyl. She smiled, the best thing about being a Ranger was the zord and she loved hers; she'd always wanted to fly.
"Okay guys, homework for tonight is simple. Read chapters 15-17 before class tomorrow." The groaned at Dr. O's words and Kira looked up. He was looked at them all but she noticed his eyes didn't connect with her except maybe indirectly.
"It's not that bad, I could be giving you all worksheets as well." Dr. O looked at the clock over Kira's head and Kira wished his hazel colored eyes would meet hers but they didn't even do more then stare blankly at her like she wasn't even there. She sighed and leaned back against her chair and squeezed her pencil until her knuckles turned white. She needed to know why Dr. O seemed to hate her so much!
"Your dismissed," Tommy said nodding at his students and sitting behind her desk looking over his papers. Kira trailed behind, being sure to be the last one out but stopped in front of his desk, clutching her books to her chest. He looked up and bit his tongue. She had a completely different style to Kim he couldn't help but notice but the way she stood in front of him with her books clutched to her chest like it was her lifeline reminded him instantly of the caramel haired pink ranger who caramel locks was about five shades darker then Kira's but so similar.
"Yes Kira?" he asked.
"Can we talk?" she asked, her voice soft. It was so familiar to Tommy, like a angelic bell yet nothing like he remembered Kim's voice to be. He hated this, he remembering, he hated how Kira reminded him.
"Kira, you should get to class. Your going to be late if you wait any longer," he said, changing the subject and deliberately ignoring her question. Kira bit her lip and felt wetness in her eyes though she didn't know why. Why would his blatant wish not to talk to her make her fill like she was the size of a slug.
"Of course, you right Dr. O. I'll see you around," she answered and Dr. O sighed as she left and took off his glasses to clean them before putting them back on. It was a habit he had all but kicked over the last year until he met Kira.
"I'm sorry Kira," he muttered into the wind and went back to grading his papers.
Tommy's house:
Kira couldn't help but wonder if she was going about this the wrong way. A week latter and she was at her last nerve. She couldn't handle this, she couldn't focus with him around always being so cold and unfeeling to her. Even when they fought side by side in battles he was always feet away from her in the emotional department. He seemed to be somewhere else all together, his body on autopilot. She squared her shoulders and clinched her teeth. She was going to get answers today if it killed her! She went to grab the door handle but stopped and repositioned her hand to knock. It was only polite considering this might get ugly sooner or latter.
She waited for what felt like forever but was more like a minute and thirty seconds before going and pushing the door open. She rolled her eyes, he should really lock his doors. Not locking his doors and making sure sink holes didn't lead into the lab was how this all started. Breathing in she looked around the house, checking the living room and kitchen for Dr. O before going to the entrance of the lab. She hesitated for only a moment before opening it and walking down with her natural grace.
"Dr. O?" Kira called as she reached bottom. She saw him instantly, he was dressed in a dark green sleeveless shirt and white baggy pants. She had never seen him so laid back as he moved in complex spins, kicks and punches. She hadn't seen him in that color scheme either, she noticed a black belt around his waist and wrist warmers which were red. She found it amusing, he was wearing all his ranger colors in one way or another and surprisingly in ways that did not clash.
Tommy stopped after the tornado kick and breathed in, closing his eyes for a breath second. Why was his name, even if it was simply his tittle coming from her lips effecting him so much? He didn't say anything or turn around for over a minute after hearing her call his name but he did curse her for showing up. Didn't she understand he didn't want to talk to her. She was an ugly reminder of a past he wished to forget. He was doing so well at it as well until she came along. Hell, it was why he made sure the Pterodactyl Dino Gem was not Pink. He made sure it became any color other then Pink.
"Kira, what are you doing here?" he asked as he walked over to the computer and sat in the black leather chair. Kira sighed and narrowed her eyes at his retreating back before walking so she stood behind him.
"We need to talk. I want to know why you don't like me?" Tommy shook his head, so she had noticed. He felt a pain in his heart, he didn't like hurting anyone but he couldn't talk to her or work with her. He just couldn't.
"I don't know what your talking about Kira..." he didn't get to finish though as her angry voice interrupted him.
"Bullshit! It's been over a month Dr. O. Even when we firs became Rangers you could hardly look at me!" Tommy gritted his teeth and twirled around in the chair and Kira gasped and took a step back as she witnessed the anger in his eyes which glowed green for about thirty seconds before he blinked and shook his head. He felt bad for that, he hadn't realized until he had turned to stare at her his eyes had begun to glow his first ranger color.
"Kira my reason is personal and frankly it is none of your business. Now leave," he said, not able to hide his anger from his voice yet he wasn't yelling. Kira stared at him in shock for what seemed like a minute not moving but she glared and clenched her hands into fist as not to hit him.
"Not my business! I think it is, I don't understand why you hate me! I didn't do anything wrong, and I'll be damned if I don't get an answer!" she yelled her eyes dark with anger. Tommy stood up and grabbed her upper arms and shook her twice and Kira simply glared up at him. She felt how tight his grip was, and she bruised easily so she knew she'd have two matching hand prints there before the day was out.
"It has nothing to do with you!" he yelled and pushed her away from him and she stumbled and caught herself against the wall before she could fall. Tommy felt his eyes soften just slightly at the hurt look in the Yellow Rangers eyes and then she was angry again and before he could do anything he felt the harsh slap across his cheek. His head jerked to the side and Kira glared at him.
"Your a jackass," she said, harshly and Tommy turned to glare down at the petite 5'2 ranger.
"Get out Kimberly!" he yelled and turned back to the computer before he realized his mistake. Kira had gasped and her eyes widened. He turned back to see her eyes wide and tears were forming in her eyes. He knew Kira didn't really know who Kimberly was, but she knew the woman was the first Pink Ranger and her predecessor in zord at least. Tommy couldn't say anything as she ran out and he sighed and collapsed back into his chair. He buried his head in his hands and shook his head.
"Great going Oliver, real good," he muttered sarcastically to himself.