AN:/ So this chapter was sparked by the intense similarities of Xander Bly and Chase Randall. Seriously it's uncanny. I wanted to delve into the form of distaste and inferiority within not only rangers but in family and what better way then to make two so similar people related. I do sprinkle in some Riley turmoil for you guys because I honestly think that he and Chase have potential. I imagine that while Chase is more open with his feelings he's having a hard time sorting them out for a certain friend. In my mind Chase is an aesthetic, as in his finds love in beautiful things whether that be a person's personality or attractiveness, sometimes mistaken for pansexuality... which in my mind is what Xander is but doesn't want to admit it. He's confused with what he wants and who and for so much hate to be besotted on him from the one thing that he can't come to terms with in wanting... well this happens. Again, I do not support nor deny incest but the concept of it is intriguing from a character development's pov. So, onward! Please review!
Chase has never been too fond of his cousin, Xander. Maybe it's the fact that they both weren't exactly the closest of cousins, what with his family living in New Zealand and Xander's in Australia but were forced to find familial perspective in each other. In all honesty, the only two people who got along at their little family gettogethers were their mothers and that's only because they were sisters. It was almost like they were two parts of a carbon copy of some sorts. Smooth talkers who love to charm and outwit many, both enjoying skateboarding and have the greatest of friends. Well, maybe the last part didn't come until later. Doesn't matter, to Chase Randall, he was jacked out of his own chance at individuality.
As kids, Xander was the older cousin that Chase was forced to talk to over the phone at least once a month. It was their mothers' idea, in hopes of them getting better along since their baby temper tantrum fiasco (one baby steals another's baby bottle from them and they're branded for life!)...obviously it didn't work. The conversations were either that of dull droning or of one-uping of each other. There really was no happy medium.
When Xander left to the US to pursue college, Chase finally thought he would have his own path. An opportunity to not feel like some 2.0 drone that only ever does what the original does (except he's obviously the better model of the two) and doesn't throw a fit about it. Oh how wrong he was. His plans are thrown astray when his parents hear of the magnificent things that Xander is doing in America, so it's only right of them to throw their one and only child out of their house and ship him off to California, where he'll "gain some discipline and responsibility."
Sure, he gets the best people in his life because of it and the Power is amazing. Far beyond any high that an adrenaline junky as himself could wish for but it was all because of a decision someone else made based on his not so blood related twin. And that's what irks him. It's no matter though. Xander can't possibly know the awesomeness of being a Power Ranger.
….Life sucks. A battle ensues and suddenly everyone is pulled to the front lines. Everyone. Every Ranger, of every color, from every city and time, to defeat a mass of almost every monster. When it's all ended, Chase thinks he should chat his way up at the get together party. Bet people haven't ever heard a foreign voice as smooth as his. How wrong he is. Deciding to first charm the Blue Mystic Force Ranger (he likes the whole book worm type) is a bad idea when her Red suddenly steps in and gives him a cocky smirk as he puts his arm around Maddie (the sweet girl is oblivious to the whole fact that he's glaring at Chase with those intense eyes as the guy kisses her temple), Chase thinks he'd better pursue his conquests elsewhere. It's then he notices that everyone from his team have found their people. Tyler is taking up some advice with some of the other reds as they drink by the bonfire. Koda is trying to take on Rocky DeSantos in a burger eating contest (there's money involved and Chase already put his on the Blue caveman). Ivan is telling a tale of knighthood as others gather around to hear his plight. Kendall is speaking to a blond woman who resembles her in some uncanny ways. Shelby is having her little girl spasms of geeking out and rambling about how awesome it is to be with other rangers to the pinks. That's when he sees it, Riley is laughing along to something some guy he's talking to said. Chase can't see the guy because his back is facing Chase's line of sight but whatever he's saying sure has Riley smiling and enthralled.
A spike bubbles in Chase. It's something that the young man hasn't fully come to terms with but Riley is… something different. The guy infuriates him to no end and yet he can't help thinking that he's the best kind of person out there in the world. He knows that the others feel the same way just...not on the same level. It scares Chase. A lot. He knows that it's not something to be ashamed of and while he's never openly admitted it, Chase would never deny what he wants. When it comes down to it Chase is a lover of beautiful things and honestly that's why he flirts so often. He sees the beauty in everything and everyone. Riley is a different story. The Black Dino Charge Rangers isn't exactly sure that Riley feels or just tries to deny it completely that he feels the same way. In turn, situations like this happen.
Chase comes over, drink in hand, fake smile, and bitter voice in all, ready to try and outshine whatever is making Riley happy. Or just make him mad. Any emotion that Chase can get out of the guy, other than a loathing friendship, is a step in the right direction. "What's so funny?"
Riley is still laughing and is trying to calm himself down, when he motions to the brunette standing next to Chase (just because he can, the black ranger throws his rudeness towards the other guy and refuses to get a good look at him, even if they are feet away). "Xander here, was just telling me how this one time with his strange cousin-" After that Chase blanks out the rest. He turns to face the man who he'd always lived in the shadows for with a tight smirk and his grip on the cup he's holding tightens. Xander has the audacity to give him a smug look and once over.
"Is that right?" Chase shares the inside conversation with his own cousin, who he's detested for more than a good chunk of his life.
If at all possible, Xander's shit-eating grin grows wider. "What's that American saying, Riles?" Chase clenches his teeth underneath his otherwise calm composure. Xander knows what he's doing. Xander has always known what he's doing. And Riles is something to help get under Chase's skin. "If the shoe fits?" Riley throws his head back in laughing agreement and for a moment Chase wants to punch his cousin for besting him in gaining true sincerity from someone he cares about in a matter of seconds, something that he's been trying to work with Riley for ages on but remembers that other idiom about blood being thicker than water. Really the truth is he just wants to punch Xander for making Riley laugh and smile in such a carefree way. Xander throws him another once over with a knowing smile. "Clearly, not much has changed."
Riley's laughter stops abruptly in what he just heard. "Huh?" It's at that point Chase thinks the following: screw water, let's draw blood!
Throwing his cup down, he pounds a right hook into his Aussie cousin's too perfect face. And that's where the fight starts. At first Chase is pounding away, rage that had built, stacked years upon years of being second best to him, finally boiling over. Of course Xander is the veteran ranger and magic and charming his way out of situations could only go so far sometimes in battle. Gaining the upperhand Xander pulls them up and punches Chase in his sides and ribcages, hard. Their pretty sure that there's a scene building, what with them smashing over and breaking the glass punch container and tables and chairs hitting the ground. It's not until Tommy and Adam pull them apart, that he gets a good look at his otherwise perfect cousin. He's bruised and battered and his hair's a mess and no way will anyone think that Xander's got a pretty face now! Though from the heavy breathing that Chase himself is doing and the iron he tastes on the inside of his mouth, he can't help but think that he's no worse for wear.
Adam's holding Xander back and the older kid is struggling to break free, when he yells to his cousin. "What's your problem?!"
And finally, Chase let's it out. After years of holding it in and endless family reunions, growing up in constant disdain for one another, forever being the mini follower. "You!" Chase yells and the party is dead silent. He can feel it. His cousin's teammates are standing on the other side looking like they are gearing up, getting ready to defend their green and jump in. Chase's teammates must be scared by what they just witnessed. He assumes that Koda has a fearful look on his face towards his friend, Ivan is trying to make sense of what just happened, Shelby has a hand to her mouth trying to hold back her tears as Tyler tucks her into his side trying to shield her from more pain, and then there's Riley...not sure how to handle what just went down. These are just speculations but true. "Always you." Chase almost breaks if he were the breaking type.
Tommy sends Adam a look and they agree silently. Pushing the boys out of their grasp with force, Adam gives a command. "Go clean up!"
Tommy tells them too. "And get whatever this is, under control!"
As both of them slink off to the house, they can feel the eyes of many taking in the scene. When they enter they try and steer clear of the rangers that are enjoying the party inside as they quietly make their way upstairs to the bathroom. Chase goes in first. Glancing into the mirror, yeah he does appear completely roughed up and as he rubs water on his face and pats himself dry with a towel, he can't help but think there is still some business to take care of. Opening the door, he sees a deep in thought, Xander, leaning against the wall, head down and arms crossed. Chase is about to get ready for another tussle because really all that pent up energy he built up was stopped short but is cut off when Xander grabs the back of his neck and head and pulls him in for a bruising kiss. It's searing and hurts so much that Chase thinks that the cut on his lip might have gashed more with the dried blood becoming more smoothing. Before Chase can push him off and ask what the hell, Xander flings him to the side, runs into the bathroom, and slams the door. Leaving Chase more confused and still with some repressed tension.
Xander stays in the bathroom a long time. Chase counts at least an hour until he hears the door knob turn, from his position against the wall sitting on the floor. He'd been thinking, legs sprawled out and head back, trying to remember everything about Xander, everything that Chase had missed when it was not as obvious as one would think. So he hears the door knob turn but then it moves back to it's original position and the click of the lock is pressed again. Chase waits another ten minuets, sighs and gets up from his area to trudge downstairs, hands deep in pockets and head hung low.
When Chase gets to the end of the stairs, his friends are all waiting with soft comforting smiles, ready to go home. As they walk out laughing, trying to ease the awkward elephant in the room of the fight, Chase turns his head slightly to running steps. Xander grabs him by the arm with an alarmed look on his face. "Wait, Chase-!" Xander stops short now noticing Chase's teammates surround him. The black ranger gives a small nodd to the others and they move to walk further ahead with only Riley hanging back, just a little hesitant before cautiously turning around and catching up with everyone else.
Chase gives a tired sigh. "What is it Xander?"
"About- I...when I-" Xander kept trying but failing to figure out what to say. It was then that Chase looked at his cousin. Really looked at him. In this moment, vulnerable and unsure of life, Xander seemed almost human, instead of someone larger than life. Instead of someone who dictated every move Chase himself had ever made because some loudmouth Australian made it first. He wasn't someone that Chase's parents wanted him to live up to and with what just happened he doubted that they'd welcome him as easily but maybe that was something they shared. Maybe all along it wasn't Xander that Chase was failing at being, it was Chase whom Xander failed to live up to. And that was their defining moment. Xander always had the possibility of breaking, not Chase. There lied the difference. Watching him fumble, Chase realized that he had forgiven Xander, long before he started hating him.
"You should really be careful." Chase spoke cutting off this tirade of failed apologies. Xander stopped stunned, wondering what he was talking about. "With your emotions, you should really be careful." Chase delved further. "Not everyone is as forgiving as you or I."
Xander was relieved but still tense. "Thanks." Chase nodded but Xander could tell that he still had more to say.
"We're not the same Xander." It was a statement but it spoke volumes and Xander felt himself hurting inside at such a promise. "We never were." Chase reiterated. This time Xander nodded but somberly. "I think it would be best if we stayed away from each other. For good." And as Chase said this, a part of him was screaming in agony that something wasn't right but they had to keep going. Chase felt a little part of him breaking but he'd squander it later with something else to fill the emptiness.
"Right." Was all Xander could say. They stared at one another a beat longer. Taking in the final deviation from themselves. Life was never meant for the same soul of two bodies. And with that they headed their separate ways.