Disclaimer: I own the characters that weren't seen on the show and a really cute pair of shoes.
This a fic starring Billy and Trini! I've mentioned other future fics in my profile. Decided to go ahead with this one first. Not enough B/T fics around. Which is a shame. (shakes head)
Other couplings: Jason/Kim, Rocky/Kat (Couldn't resist pairing these two again. Don't know why), Tommy/OC, Adam/Tanya, Zack/Aisha, TriniOC (for now) ;-)
Age: 25
Anyway, on with the fic.
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Kindred Spirits
(Trini's Apartment)
(October- 1st week)
Trini Kwan sighed in relief after putting away the last of her groceries on Friday evening. She'd gone to the supermarket directly after leaving Angel Grove Gazette- where she had a job as a writer, of course. Anyway, her refrigerator had been looking quite pitiful, so, a trip to the store had been absolutely necessary.
The lovely, dark-haired, Asian-American woman placed her hands on her hips and looked around the well-lit kitchen. Now... what would she do for dinner? Cook? Takeout? TV dinner? Or maybe she'd call up twenty-five-year-old Detective Steven Knight- the guy she'd been seeing for the last six months- and see if he wanted to get together for dinner.
'Hmm. I think I like the last option best,' she thought with a smile as she picked up the phone. Just as she was about to make the call, the phone decided to ring. The name Jason L. Scott flashed across the caller ID screen. "Hello?"
"Hey, Tri!" came Kimberly Scott's voice. Kim and Jason'd been married a year. As for occupations, Kim was a personal shopper and Jason ran a dojo with Adam.
"Hey, Kim. What's up?" Trini asked her lifelong best friend, leaning against the counter.
"Not much. I was calling 'cause I haven't heard from ya in awhile. How are you? And Steve? And things at work?" Kim asked, that familiar bubbliness creeping into her voice.
Trini couldn't help grinning at that. She and Kim were almost total opposites, but, they'd always been closer than blood-related sisters. "Fine to all your questions. How've you and Jase been?"
"Actually, that's the other reason I was calling," Kim replied.
Trini quirked an eyebrow. "Is everything okay with you guys?" she asked in concern.
"Oh, we're not having any problems! Everything's fine," Kim assured the original yellow ranger. "I just wanted to tell you that we've planned a little romantic getaway for next weekend."
"Oh, that's fantastic, Kim. Where are you guys heading?" Trini asked with genuine interest.
"Well, nowhere very far. We're going to this bed and breakfast in Sacramento," Kim said.
"That sounds great, but, the idea of Jason at a bed and breakfast is more than a little funny for some reason," Trini said with a chuckle.
"Yeah," Kim agreed with a laugh. "Aisha and Zack said the same thing." Zack and Aisha'd gotten married six months earlier. Zack was, naturally, a dance instructor and Aisha was manager of an animal shelter.
Kim and Trini continued to chat for the next half-hour. After saying goodbye to her friend, Trini began dialing one of the many numbers she knew by heart. Insistent knocking at the door stopped her in mid-dial.
"Huh.Who could that be?" she muttered as she exited the kitchen and headed for the door. The knocking quickly became more insistent. "I'm coming!" Honestly! She opened the door to find none other than Steve himself there. A grin lit her face. "Hi. I was just about to call you. Come on in."
He sighed deeply and entered the apartment. Then, he began pacing back and forth. Trini frowned after closing and locking the door.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
He stopped pacing and looked at her. "Trini, I've been thinking."
"About?" she asked, walking over to him.
"Well... look, I'm gonna get right to the point, okay? No beating around the bush. I'll just come right out and say it," he said.
"Go ahead," she urged gently.
"I mean, there's no point in babbling. It's always best to just say what's on your mind, right? Why dance around things? People should really-" he was saying.
Trini held up her hand. "Steve, you're doing an excellent job of beating around the bush right now," she said with a laugh. "Just tell me what you've been thinking."
"Okay. Well, Trini... I think we should move in together," he said, looking into her eyes.
Trini's jaw dropped. Whoa! Unexpected wasn't even the word. Move in together? That was what he'd been thinking? That they should live together?
"I mean, think about it! You can't say it isn't a great idea. You can't say it doesn't make sense," he said.
Trini just gaped at her boyfriend. Move in together? Really?
Steve took her hand and led her over to the couch and they both sat. "Tri, it'll be fantastic. I love knowing that you'll be there every night when I come home. There's nobody I'd rather come home to. What do ya say?"
Trini finally rediscovered her voice. "Steve, I... I think it's too soon."
His eyebrows shot up. "Too soon?"
"Yeah. I mean... we haven't even been together a year," she said. Move in together? Not long ago, her biggest problem had been what to do for dinner!
"I know it's kinda fast, but, life moves. Besides, we love each other, don't we?" he said.
"That doesn't mean we should be living together right now. That's a huge step," she said. Love each other. Okay. But they'd told each other that barely a month ago!
"It's a step we're ready to take! Tri, if you know it's right, why wait?" he said.
"We both have to think it's right, Steve," she said.
His green eyes darkened. "So you're saying you're not sure about me and our future?"
"Future? Steve, we've barely been together six months. What's wrong with wanting to take time with things? Usually, that's how you get the best results. There are still things we don't even know about each other," she said. Was he really serious here?
"I know all I need to. I know that you're it for me. Why wait years to find out something I know already?" he said, throwing his hands up.
"There you go again. What you know. How you feel. Steve, there're two people in this relationship. Living together is a very serious matter. If we do this now, we'll find out that we made a tremendous mistake," she said.
"How can you possibly be so sure of that?" he asked.
"Because, like I said, we haven't even been together long enough-" she was saying.
"Dammit, Trini!" he exploded. Her eyebrows shot up. "This is frigging ridiculous! I can't believe you're saying no. I can't, I can't do this anymore."
"What are you saying?" she asked warily. She couldn't believe he couldn't see her point.
"I'm saying that... if you don't wanna take this step, then, there's no way we can go on," he said.
"You're joking, right? You have to be. You aren't really gonna break up with me over something like this. That would be crazy, Steve," she said.
"Not to me. Trini, I want an adult relationship. If you don't, then, what's the point in staying together?" he said, standing.
"Steve, wait a minute. All I said was that we should take things slow. That doesn't mean I don't want-" she was saying.
"I thought we were on the same page. I was wrong," he said.
"You want me to prove my feelings by doing something I don't feel ready to do. That's really unfair, Steve. Why can't you respect my wishes? What's wrong with you?" she asked, standing. There was more than a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Why can't you respect mine?" he shot back.
"Because they're outrageous. We've only known each other a few months and you-" she was saying.
"You're not onboard!" he yelled. "I need to find someone who is."
"You mean a brainless windup doll who'll do whatever you want whenever you want. Good luck with that. Get out," Trini said, pointing to the door. She no longer wanted to look at him. If this was really who he was, she wanted him to be on his merry way.
"Happy to oblige," he snapped. "Guess I don't have to say we're finished."
"Right you are," she said coolly, still pointing to the door.
He glared at her for several moments, muttered a curse and stormed towards the door.
Me and those unlikable OCs. If ya read it, hope ya liked it. If so, show a little love by reviewing. Don't be stingy now. ;-)
