Episode II

Truth and Lies

Chapter Two

Rocky hunched over the bathroom sink as still as a stone gargoyle, enveloped in a dissolving fog of hot steam, with a towel wrapped around his waist, staring at his burred reflection in the mirror.

He had always taken pride in how well he took care of his body ever since he had injured his back. "Image is everything in this day and age," he used to say. And he enjoyed being muscular, physically fit, and sexy; especially now since he had someone to be sexy for. But tonight he could have cared less if he weighed 300lbs of fat instead of 193lbs of muscle.

His back ached slightly, but he did not care nor did he acknowledge it. It was nothing compared to the abyss expanding in his chest and the confusion in his mind. Less than two hours ago, he had witnessed Jason forsake Tommy's friendship by declaring that he would murder Tommy if Tommy ever returned to the moon. How could the first red ranger on Earth ever say that to Tommy—his lifelong friend? Even Adam was struck dumb by the act. Jason … Rocky's idol … his predecessor … the man who set the standard for red rangers had made the ultimate betrayal by consciously joining Evil.

"Rocky?" Adam's voice called softly from outside.

Rocky heard the distant voice, but did not answer, oblivious to the fact that the towel wrapped around his waist was inching down his hips. The thought of tugging his eyes from the mirror never entered his mind.

After a moment, Adam came in, wearing only a pair of boxers. "You've been in here for almost an hour," he added, stepping towards the rechristened red ranger and adjusting the towel. "Talk to me." He added, massaging Rocky's shoulders.

Rocky did not answer, but continued staring into his reflection. The image of Tommy crushing Billy's windpipe blazed in his mind. A momentary spasm possessed him as he turned his head away from Adam.

"Hey," Adam whispered, cupping Rocky's chin with his thumb and index finger. "What's wrong?" he added, sliding Rocky's mouth around.

Rocky gazed at the floor.

"Rocky?" Adam said, ducking his head an inch in order to get a glimpse of the face he loved.

But Rocky shut his eyes.

Adam probed Rocky's face with his widening eyes, searching for a clue as to what was bothering Rocky.

Please, don't make me say it, Rocky pleaded. But he knew that Adam was going to keep on questioning until Rocky answered. Besides, had they just experienced the consequences of three people's secrets?

Knowing he would feel better later, Rocky pulled his eyelids open.

"Sorry, it's just everything that happened this evening," Rocky said in a voice of determined calm and clarity, returning his gaze to the mirror. "Trini freaking out like that … Tommy's fury … Jason forcing Tommy to kill Billy …" He stared at Adam with anxiety. "It's a lot to take in."

"I know," Adam said brushing Rocky's back with his hand as he processed what Rocky was saying. "What's bothering you?"

Rocky stared into the mirror once more and sighed. Slowly he peered into his lover's eyes.

"I'm scared, Adam," Rocky confessed with a shaking voice. "We faced a lot of dangers as rangers and we always turned out alright in the end – even against the Machine Empire." he added, trying to laugh.

"Zedd helped us with that, remember," Adam replied. "It's natural to be scared."

"But this time I am scared," Rocky shivered – his voice trembling.

Adam narrowed his eyes in surprise, probing Rocky's face again. There was no sign of humor or sarcasm in any of it. Yet as he scanned Rocky's face, Adam saw a deeper sorrow in Rocky that he had never seen before. Not even the destruction of the power coins or the implosion of the Command Center had caused this much sorrow within Rocky. Nor had he ever heard Rocky lose control like this.

"I don't want to die, Adam," Rocky said, his voice breaking towards a sob. "And I'm scared we may."

Adam began to smile. "We aren't gonna—"

"Plus, I'm scared of what I'll do to you," Rocky cut in.

Adam pulled back his head a few inches at these words, wiping the smile from his face. "Excuse me?" he asked after a few seconds.

"Jason controlled Tommy like it was nothing," Rocky elaborated. "I was Jason's successor; who's to say I may be next?" he added, his face screaming with anxiety.

Relieved that he finally understood, Adam immediately pulled Rocky into a tight, yet cushioning, hug, using his body as a pillow. Rocky collapsed into the Adam's arms, wrapping his own around Adam.

"Don't think about it, Rocko," Adam whispered into Rocky's ear. He kissed the side of Rocky's head. "Don't think about it."