Author's Note: In a meek attempt to write something other than Korra-related stuff, my strange mind pumped this angsty Dustin-centric drabble out. Obviously, when Dustin gets angsty, he gets OOC. But enjoy!


In the Shadows
516 words


He had watched them with jealousy (not that he'd ever admit it), the blonde woman and the dark-haired man, for everything they shared between them; for the chemistry they had; for their undying love, and he wondered whether or not he'd ever be able to claim that for himself.

They just looked so...happy together, Dustin noticed, and yeah, he's happy for them too, but something deep inside of him sank.

He knew he was the happy-go-lucky guy, the "comic book geek". He knew he was that bright, never-fading ray of sunshine in their little Ranger group, the goofy one. They were family.

But the thing that separated Dustin and the others was that everyone else had a love interest. There was Tori and Blake, obviously; Shane had gotten himself a girl that the Dino Rangers had introduced him to—Krista, Crystal, Kristine, something-or-the-other—Cam and Leanne apparently had this thing going on, and even Hunter had a girlfriend who he was currently with at New York City.

Dustin had no one. He had no one to confide to, no one to talk to when he was at his lowest points, no one to really love.

There was Marah, who had broken his heart ten times over when she betrayed him to Lothor, and while Dustin forgave her for that, he knew that Tori and Shane still hadn't completely. And he didn't want to disappoint anyone.

Dustin had always been giving and friendly. He was Shane's best buddy from the very beginning, and he was the one to whom Shane went to with trivial issues and mechanical issues. He and Tori were something akin to brother and sister, and he always offered his shoulder to her for crying if she ever needed it. He, Blake, and Hunter were on amicable terms; Blake more so than Hunter, but even the older thunder ninja began to warm up a great deal to him eventually. Cam had always been rather indifferent, so, you know, whatever.

They all took him for granted, though. They all assumed that he would always be there for them, and Dustin was so anxious to please them that he never really gave a shit about himself.

It wasn't good for his health and well-being at all. There was a gaping void in him, a thirst for that special someone, a hunger for love that wasn't there.

But even though he was always giving, no one ever really gave him anything in return. Yeah, Shane would always be there for bro talk; Blake and Hunter for motocross; Cam for...well, Dustin didn't really know what Cam would do for him; Tori for some daily problems.

But even as he did so, the hole inside of him grew larger and larger, and he found that he simply couldn't fill it.

Unfortunately, as time passed on, the glaring fact remained that he didn't have a soul mate. No one clicked with him. Every one of his friends viewed him as that—a friend.

Yes, they always assumed that Dustin would be there, unquestionably there for them; always.

Until he wasn't.


End Notes: You can take the ending whichever way you want...