Disclaimer: Saban owns PR.
Spoilers for Episode 5: "A Fish Out Of Water", although this based on a preview clip and not the actual episode.
If there's one thing he's learned, it's that being sick is not an ideal condition to fight a nighlock in.
But, because he's Jayden and because he's the Red Ranger, he struggles to his feet, grabs his sword, and charges at the nighlock again. Adrenaline pumps through him as he strikes, and there's a split second of satisfaction as his sword impacts the nighlock. He grins and swings again, leaping around to dodge the nighlock's attack, his breath coming in gasps, power coursing through his veins, hot and burning and intense – any longer, and he might spontaneously tap into the Grid and morph and – and –
And then the satisfaction is gone and he's sprawled out on the sidewalk, gasping for breath and trying not to breathe the nighlock's toxic smell at the same time.
Jayden attempts to clamber to his feet, but he falls down again because his breath is stuck in his throat and his muscles are aching and because somebody clad in green has just leaped in front of him and jump-kicked the nighlock away.
He gasps for breath, lifting his head, and notices Mia skid to a stop on his other side, notices Mike double over, coughing profusely, feels Emily kneel down beside him, touch his shoulder, help him regain his equilibrium, and something far too close to friendship for his comfort rushes through him.
"You shouldn't be here when you're sick!" he calls to Mike in a vague attempt to scold him, trying not to focus on how Emily's hand fists in his grey shirt, warm and comforting against the toxic atmosphere surrounding the nighlock and them.
"Oh, yeah?" Mike scoffs, sending him a look out of the corner of his eyes. "And you're fit as a fiddle?"
Jayden's about to retort, but Emily suddenly spreads her hand out, her thumb brushing the bare, cool skin of his neck, and it's the best medicine for the nighlock's noxious gases he's ever felt, better than anything they'd tried yesterday, and he can practically sense her smiling behind him, so arguing with Mike kind of takes a backseat.
Kevin's there, then, and he's filled with a blaze of victory, as if the power in his veins (in his heart) is telling him that they're going to win because they're the Power Rangers.
Emily beams in delight, Mia's smile lights up her face, and Mike almost laughs.
"Kevin!" Jayden says in relief, a smile playing across his face, too, mirroring the joy of his teammates, his friends, his family.
Kevin grins and nods and turns to face the monster, determined and focused like a true samurai, and Jayden notices that Emily's warmth against his body suddenly seems so much brighter.
"We're going to win," she whispers, practically giddy with happiness, as the swordfish rain starts falling.
Jayden barely hears Mia and Mike as they delight over the healing rain. He barely notices Kevin goading the nighlock. He barely feels the poison fumes leaving his lungs, leaving him free to breathe fresh air (pineapples and lemonade and Emily).
Emily laughs, and for a moment, that's all that seems to matter.
(They defeat the nighlock.)
Author's Notes: Just a quick little drabble based on one of the preview clips that I'm quite fond of :D This will probably be completely out-of-place by the time the actual episode airs, but oh, well. I do hope you guys liked this (enough to review, hopefully?).
Don't favorite without reviewing, please and thank you :)