Author's Note: Glad you guys are liking the story. Here's a nice long chapter for you. I was going to wait to post but I decided to be nice. Keep the reviews coming - they keep me motivated. :) Let me know what you think! Hope y'all like it! And as a precaution, this chapter is rated M for a reason. Graphic sexual content below (thanks Bahamut Slayer for the review. Totally slipped my mind). Translations are in parentheses at the end of the sentence/section.
Command Center
Angel Grove, CA
Next Day, 7:27 AM
Aisha held her mug of tea in her hand, sitting down in the recreation room of the Command Center. She needed something to get rid of the mix of saltwater and the coppery taste of blood in her mouth from the battle the day before. Her muscles were still sore, and she closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the green tea.
Her ears perked up at the sound of a shirtless Rocky entering the room. She looked at her friend, noticing the blue bruises across his torso, abdomen, and back. The markings on his hips confirmed more bruises on the lower half of his body, covered by his gray sweatpants.
"You look like shit," she muttered with a half smile. Rocky looked at her before giving a small laugh.
"Alpha gave me some of that liquid…" he trailed off, forgetting the name of the substance. "That green shit that accelerates healing?" Aisha nodded, needing to go to Alpha for some herself. "I should be good by tomorrow morning. Just in time for class." He sat down carefully in the chair next to her.
"How's everyone else?"
Rocky sighed. "Billy's the best of us, only has a few minor scratches. He's all bandaged up." He scratched the back of his neck. "Tommy's leg and stomach had to be wrapped up, along with a big cup of the healing stuff." He shook his head. "Kim healed him while we were battling. It's a good thing she did… otherwise…" He didn't need to finish.
Aisha finished her drink, standing once she emptied her mug. "Rocky… how the fuck are you going to explain your bruises to your mom?"
He winced, knowing it wouldn't take long for his mom or his siblings to notice him walking funny. "No idea, 'Sha. Hopefully they'll be gone by the time I get home. Right now, I'm just concerned about Adam staying awake." The rangers had to wait for Adam to regain full consciousness before using their Ninjetti powers to heal him. The boy's fluctuating mental state made it difficult to heal him for quite a while.
Aisha rubbed her hands together in anxiety. "This is driving me insane," she said, pacing. "I want to check on them." Rocky looked at his longtime friend. The battle had freaked her out – they were very close to losing Tommy, Adam, and Kimberly in this last battle. He knew the thought of two of her best friends barely conscious in the Medical Bay was only increasing Aisha's anxiety.
Rocky got up, moving as quickly as he could to his best friend. Slowly, he grabbed her hands, holding them in his own as he rubbed the back of them gently with his thumbs. "They're going to be fine, Aisha."
She nodded, finding comfort in his touch. "I know that intellectually, Rocky… but I just…" She shook her head as he smiled at her.
"You need to see for yourself?" She nodded quickly.
"So go to them."
The two both jumped slightly at the new voice in the room. Tommy stood in the doorway, a white bandage covering his abdomen as well as one wrapped securely around his leg. The yellow and red rangers looked at him curiously. He gave a shrug. "Billy stitched me up. Wrapped me up good so I can't fuck it up."
He sighed, moving into the room to stand next to Aisha, moving an arm around her shoulder. "Go see them, 'Sha. I'm sure they'd be happy to see you. They're wide awake."
She looked at Rocky briefly before heading off to see their friends.
Rocky raised an eyebrow once Aisha left the room. "You left Kim's side?" It was made obvious by Tommy's presence before him, but it was still hard to believe.
Tommy moved to sit down. "I was doing more harm than good. Billy kicked me out." He looked sheepishly at Rocky. "Something about slowing down progress by hovering. They had me call my parents, let them know we were all okay over at my uncle's cabin." That was the cover the boys used for their time away. 'Spending time at the cabin' was code for 'Ranger mission.' The girls were 'staying at each other's house for the weekend,' knowing neither of their mothers would actually check, given how often they slept over at the other's home.
Rocky grunted. "You? Being in the way? Imagine that."
Tommy shot him a glare as Rocky lifted his hands in self-defense. Rocky stared at his friend for a moment, noticing the slant in his shoulders. His eyes were drooped, body language letting him know exactly how their leader was feeling.
"They're okay, Tommy." He saw his friend's jaw tighten. "Bro, this wasn't your fault."
Tommy shook his head. "I'm the leader, Rocky. Zordon put me in charge of you guys and I failed."
Rocky looked at his friend incredulously. "Last I checked, we're all alive; we kicked major ass yesterday in Greece, and we got the shard. If that's your definition of fail, you got issues, buddy."
Tommy turned to look at his friend, shaking his head. "Okay, Rocky," he said in a tone that screamed the exact opposite.
Rocky rolled his eyes. "Come on, Oliver, look at the bigger pic – "
Tommy snapped. "I said okay!"
Rocky flinched as if hit, nodding solemnly. "I'm going to check on Adam and Kimberly." He stood up, shoving his chair roughly under the table.
Tommy cursed himself, knowing he shouldn't have snapped at Rocky but not willing to apologize to his friend just yet.
"Dammit," he muttered, resting his elbows on the table, hands supporting his head. He closed his eyes.
He could see Goldar standing over him, crazed, bloody. He could make out the long sword in the creature's hand as he fought Tommy. Tommy could still feel the chill of the blade against his skin, tearing the flesh across his stomach open. The coldness of the sword was strange in comparison to the warm blood that flowed from his wounds. He could feel the same tremor that went through his body as he screamed when Goldar slashed his leg open, pressing down on it forcefully and increasing the pain tenfold.
Tommy ran a shaky hand through his hair. He almost died today. He could've died at Goldar's hands if it hadn't been for her. Kimberly.
Tommy let out a ragged breath as he remembered the sickening crack he heard when Kimberly fell to the ground after catching the shard. Even in the midst of the battle, the sound of her skull slamming against that stone was the loudest noise he'd ever heard in his life. He could still see the intent in Goldar's eyes, the sheer delight on his face at the prospect of running the pink ranger through with his sword. He remembered the panic that gripped his heart, the sudden flood of coldness in his veins.
He shook his head, trying to remove the image from his mind's eye.
He then remembered Adam. The silent member of the team, and one of the best fighters he had ever seen. Seeing his friend's body flung across the cavern like a ragdoll, slamming into the wall with such force, made Tommy's chest hurt. Adam was always so strong, so capable, despite his shyness. So to see his body crumpled up, almost into a small ball… to see him lay there, lifeless, no sign of breathing or consciousness…
Tommy's eyes snapped open, his heart heavy. He removed his hands from his face, arms lowering to the table as he continued to think about the day's events. The more he thought on it, the heavier the invisible weight on his shoulders became.
He was so consumed in his thoughts that he almost jumped out of his skin at the feel of hands on his shoulders. He tensed briefly before relaxing, feeling strong yet soft fingers running through his long hair.
"Hey handsome," he heard softly from behind him. Tommy reached up, grabbing the hand that rested on his shoulder. He intertwined their fingers, brushing the knuckles against his lips. Her hands felt soothing against his flesh, and he turned into her caress.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered against her hand.
Kimberly smiled sadly; her boyfriend was radiating guilt in waves. She grabbed the back of his chair, swinging him around on its wheels so that Tommy had to face her. He kept his head down, avoiding her gaze.
"Tommy," she said softly. He didn't respond. "Baby, look at me… please?" she asked.
Tommy slowly looked up at her, and the pain she saw in his brown eyes nearly floored her. She cupped his face in her hands, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
This was Tommy's undoing; he let out a choked sob, wrapping his large arms around her petite waist. He buried his face into her stomach, holding her tightly. He didn't cry, and she honestly didn't expect him to. Instead, he pressed himself as close to her as possible. He kept her stomach pressed against the side of his face, his eyes filled with unshed tears. She rubbed his back soothingly, making small circles between his shoulder blades.
They remained like this for a while, Tommy never once shedding a tear. When Kimberly felt his hold begin to loosen, she reached behind her, grabbing his hands. Gently, she tugged him out of his seat, pulling him to stand up so that he was once again towering over her.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he slowly did the same to her. She buried her face into his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head.
"I love you," she breathed into his chest. He placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"I love you, too. I was so scared when you took that fall. I couldn't handle it if something had happened to you."
She leaned back a bit, looking up into his face. Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands. Kim stared into his eyes for a several seconds before pulling him down to meet her in a sweet kiss.
The contact between their lips ignited a fire in their bellies. The two generally longed for one another, but this fire… this one was different. It was more intense, stronger, overpowering. What was meant to be an innocent kiss between two teens quickly escalated into something more.
Tommy groaned as his mouth was invaded by Kimberly's tongue. He reached up, hands on her neck as he kissed her with more fervor. Kimberly gave a slight whimper, pressing her body closer into Tommy's. Her hands were splayed on his back, and she threw her head back as Tommy's lips trailed a kiss down her neck. She sighed his name as he suckled on a particularly sensitive spot.
Kimberly felt strange. She felt hot and cold at the same time, like icy fire was running through her veins. Tommy felt a similar sensation flooding his system. He pulled back from Kimberly's neck, once again attacking her lips. She whimpered softly before snaking her tongue into his mouth, dueling with his. Tommy grunted, feeling a searing fire in his head. Tommy felt himself losing control, his hands skimming down Kimberly's back, grabbing her ass and lifting her onto the table. Kimberly gasped into his mouth, pulling him closer as he pressed himself against her. She felt a hot fire deep in her belly, but not the one she was used to when kissing her boyfriend. This kiss was different than their other kisses. There was a roughness to this, a hunger that was never present before.
Tommy moved to Kimberly's neck, his teeth scraping against her pulse. Her hands felt hot all over his body, scorching his skin, and he groaned from the sensation. Tommy's attention to her neck was increasing the fire in her belly, and she was beginning to panic from the intensity.
Tommy moved to Kimberly's earlobe, taking it gently in his mouth. His hands reached down, grabbing her by the back of her knees and pressing her closer to him. Tommy felt a tightening in his chest, and the feeling was quickly going from pleasure to pain. Tommy could feel his body shaking, the intensity of the feeling overcoming him quickly. He moved to stop himself, but the more he fought against it, the more painful the sensation became. Kimberly was feeling a similar pain as she fought against the urge to go further with her boyfriend. Feeling his head moving down her body, she quickly grabbed his head, pressing his lips against her own. The contact caused a searing white light to shine behind their eyelids, shaking them from its intensity.
Kimberly could see the two of them in her mind's eye: Tommy sitting down in his chair, her straddling him. She could feel his large hands running over her bare skin, his fingers dancing across her breasts. She could feel the firm grip of his hand on the ass, kneading it gently.
Tommy could feel Kimberly grinding against his pelvis, his cock jumping in his pants. He could feel her short nails across his chest, scraping against his nipples. They could both feel his hand in hers, trailing down her body between her breasts, over her navel, under the waistband of her panties. They could feel his fingers sliding over her damp curls, spreading her open as his middle finger gave a hard flick against her –
Kimberly's eyes snapped open as she pushed herself away from Tommy forcefully. He stood wide-eyed, staring wildly at his girlfriend. She was breathing just as hard as him, chests heaving to take in some much-needed oxygen. Kimberly placed a hand to her lips as Tommy stared down at his hands in disbelief, blinking rapidly.
They both were confused and highly aroused. Nothing happened beyond kissing, but in their minds… they went a lot further. Tommy could tell from the expression on Kimberly's face that she had the same vision he had a few moments ago… and was equally baffled.
"Kim," he began, licking his lips, "what just–" He was interrupted by the familiar six beep chime. Annoyed, Tommy answered. "We read you."
"Come to the main control room," responded Billy. Tommy looked at Kim, noticing the slightly glazed expression in her eyes. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen. He was sure he had a similar disheveled appearance.
Quickly, Kimberly turned, heading to the control room. Tommy waited a few seconds to compose himself before taking off after her.
Main Control Room
Command Center
Angel Grove, CA
Tommy entered the room, mindful that Kimberly stood on the other side of the room between Aisha and Billy. He opted to stand next to Adam on the end.
"You all right, bro?" he asked his friend.
Adam gave a small smile. "Yeah. My arm's good thanks to you guys." He moved his arm around in circles, showing it was healed. "My head is getting better. Got a big bump on the back, so it's a little tender." Tommy nodded. "How are you?"
Tommy shrugged. "I'm pretty good. Had a huge gash on my stomach and my leg. Kim tried to heal it in the cave but we didn't have time to fully heal it." He placed a hand on his abdomen. "Couldn't use the Ninjetti on my body a second time. My body couldn't handle the strain of so much power twice in such a short time frame. Billy had to stitch it up when we got back."
Adam grimaced at the idea of stitches. "I'm glad you're okay, man."
Tommy threw a smile at his friend. "You, too. We need our black ranger just as much as we need anyone else."
Adam's eyes held his genuine surprise at Tommy's words. "Thanks," he murmured. Tommy nodded, clapping him on the back.
"RANGERS." The teens looked up at their mentor in his energy tube.
"I WOULD ONCE AGAIN LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ON A JOB WELL DONE YESTERDAY ON YOUR MISSION. YOUR RETRIEVAL OF THE SHARD BRINGS US A STEP CLOSER TO ACHIEVING PEACE IN THE UNIVERSE."
He paused. "WE HAVE LOCATED ANOTHER SHARD. IT IS THE LAST REMAINING SHARD TO FIND IN THE GALAXY."
Tommy looked up at Zordon in confusion. "But Zordon, I thought you said there were two left to retrieve."
The Eltarian nodded. "THIS IS TRUE, WHITE RANGER. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE SHARDS WAS TAKEN TODAY BY GOLDAR."
The rangers gasped in surprise. Tommy's jaw clenched at the mention of Goldar's name. "Why didn't you tell us, Zordon? We could have gotten the shard before Goldar. That now puts three shards in Rita and Zedd's possession." He was trying to control his anger.
"YOU ALL WENT THROUGH A DIFFICULT BATTLE YESTERDAY, TOMMY. I WOULD RATHER YOU REST AND RECOVER YOUR STRENGTH INSTEAD OF FIGHTING."
Tommy growled lowly, conceding to Zordon's logic. The rangers were in no condition to fight anyone.
"THE LAST SHARD IS ON THE DISTANT PLANET OF PHAEDOS. I RECEIVED WORD FROM AN OLD FRIEND, DULCEA, MASTER WARRIOR OF THE PLANET. A BEING BY THE NAME OF GOLDGOYLE FOUND THE SHARD, RETRIEVING IT IN THE NAME OF HIS MASTER, DIVATOX. HOWEVER, UPON FINDING THE SHARD, HE HAS KEPT IT FOR HIMSELF AND IS NOW TERRORIZING THE CITIZENS OF PHAEDOS."
The rangers groaned.
"DULCEA HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRIORS OF PHAEDOS CAN HOLD OFF GOLDGOYLE IN THE COMING DAYS. HE HAS A SIZEABLE ARMY, BUT THE PHAEDOSIAN WARRIORS ARE CONFIDENT HE CAN BE CONTAINED."
The teens perked up at the thought of not having to battle for a shard. If the warriors of Phaedos could defeat Goldgoyle, the mission would be a simple matter of retrieval.
"WHEN THE WARRIORS HAVE DEFEATED GOLDGOYLE, YOU WILL GO TO PHAEDOS AND RETRIEVE THE LAST SHARD. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WILL BE TRAVELING."
The rangers nodded, happy at the thought of having a few days off.
"Zordon," began Tommy, "is there any chance that the Phaedosian warriors can lose the battle?"
The being pondered the teen's question. "GOLDGOYLE IS KNOWN FOR BEING SOMEWHAT RUTHLESS, A MASTER STRATEGIST AND TACTICIAN. GIVEN THAT HIS ARMY WILL MOST LIKELY CONSIST OF PIRANHATRONS, HE SHOULD LOSE THIS FIGHT AS THE PHAEDOSIAN WARRIORS ARE SUPERIOR FIGHTERS. HE WOULD ONLY WIN IF HE RESORTS TO UNDERHANDED TRICKS. I DOUBT HE WILL, AS HE IS A TRUE WARRIOR AND HAS A CODE. HE WILL NOT DISHONOR HIMSELF BY FIGHTING DIRTY, DESPITE FIGHTING FOR THE SIDE OF EVIL."
Tommy nodded, reassured by his mentor's words.
"So I guess we have a break until further notice?" asked Rocky. Zordon nodded. "Cool. I'm heading to the kitchen. Wanna fix me a sandwich, 'Sha?" He threw his most charming smile at her.
Aisha cocked an eyebrow at the red ranger. "Last I checked you were bruised, not broken. Fix your own food, boy." She walked past him, ignoring his puppy dog look as he followed behind her.
Kim laughed. "Good to see some things never change." She looked at Tommy, who she could tell was purposefully ignoring her gaze. This would bother her normally, but this time she was somewhat relieved. She couldn't avoid him forever, but right now she just wanted to hold off on their impending conversation.
"Adam." He looked over at her. "Wanna play me in a game of pool?"
Adam grinned. "You think because my arm was broken that my skills somehow disappeared?"
Kim laughed. "If you're so sure you can still play, let's go for a few rounds." Adam shook his head, following the petite girl to the rec room.
Billy stood at the console, working with Alpha on the computer's mainframe.
"You all right, Tommy?" he asked, eyes never leaving the computer screen.
Tommy shrugged. "Not sure."
"IS SOMETHING WRONG, WHITE RANGER?" Tommy slightly jumped, forgetting his mentor's presence.
Tommy leaned against a pillar, saying nothing for a while. "What mystical powers do these shards have?"
Billy looked up at his friend's question before turning to look at their mentor.
"THE SHARDS COME FROM AN ANCIENT POWER, THE VERY FIRST SOURCE OF POWER IN THE UNIVERSE KNOWN AS THE IMANYD. THE IMANYD WAS SHATTERED CENTURIES AGO, AND THE SHARDS ARE THE REMAINS."
Tommy nodded, although Billy noticed Zordon did not really answer Tommy's question. "So whoever has the shard has the power?"
Zordon nodded.
"THE SHARDS ARE WHAT SERVE AS THE ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE RANGERS AND THE COMMAND CENTER. THE SHARDS ARE ALSO WHAT ALLOWED RITA, LORD ZEDD, KING MONDO, AND NOW GOLDGOYLE TO COME TO POWER."
Billy turned to Zordon. "Is that why we can't touch the shards?"
Zordon nodded again.
"But didn't you touch them to create the rangers, Zordon?"
He stared at the blue ranger before nodding. "WHOEVER TOUCHES THE SHARD IS EMPOWERED."
"So why can't we touch it?" Billy wondered.
"NOT ALL POWER IS GOOD." He left it at that.
"Tommy and Kim touched the shard we grabbed from Greece," said Billy softly. "They aren't running off trying to dominate the world."
"THE POWER WITHIN THE SHARD DOES NOT MAKE ONE GOOD OR EVIL. IT ONLY STRENGTHENS AN EXISTING QUALITY. TOMMY AND KIMBERLY WERE NOT IN DANGER OF BEING OF EVIL, SO EXPOSURE TO THE SHARD WOULD NOT PUSH THEM IN THAT DIRECTION."
Billy considered this, looking at his friend. "I understand. But it could have another effect?"
Zordon nodded hesitantly. "THIS IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY."
Tommy grew tired of hearing them talk about him as if he wasn't there. Rolling his eyes, he left the room, heading to the rec room… before changing his mind and turning to enter his quarters. He needed to sleep.
Billy pondered Zordon's words, mindful of Tommy's exit. "Should we be concerned of the possible effects of the shard on Kim and Tommy?" He didn't want to think about the possibility of fighting his friends in battle.
"THE EFFECTS OF THE SHARD ARE USUALLY IMMEDIATE. IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BEHAVING ABNORMALLY THUS FAR, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE SHARD ONLY ENHANCED A QUALITY THEY ALREADY POSSESSED."
Billy nodded. "I see." He turned back to the console, missing the look that was exchanged between Alpha and Zordon.
Zordon had been paying close attention to his white and pink rangers. Tommy and Kimberly did not appear to be on the verge of a murderous rampage, meaning the shard they touched did not possess brutality. That left two options: deceit or lust.
Men's Quarters
Tommy's Room
Command Center
Tommy lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. He could not for the life of him go to sleep. His thoughts kept going back to her.
Kimberly.
Tommy loved his girlfriend of nearly three years. He and Kim had been going strong since freshman year, when she saw him competing in a martial arts competition at the Youth Center. He had been so nervous – the most beautiful girl he had ever seen was staring at him; it was a wonder he hadn't pissed himself out of nervousness.
He remembered the day she walked up to him at school, introducing herself. He already knew her name… every guy knew the name Kimberly Hart at Angel Grove High School. She was the most popular girl in school, the girl every guy wanted but knew they couldn't have. He wasn't expecting her to walk up to him, flash him an adorable smile, and invite him to hang out with her and her friends that afternoon. He could see the other guys in the Youth Center glaring at him, knowing it tore them up inside that she was touching his arm gently, smiling just at him.
Tommy had never had someone pay any attention to him. He was used to being left alone. No one bothered him and he never bothered anyone else. His routine was simple: eat, sleep, school, and practice. He had no friends, and he was okay with that. As long as he could practice his martial arts, Tommy was content.
It wasn't until he met Kim that he realized there was more to life than being content – he could be happy. Over their freshman year, Tommy grew to really like Kim. He realized that she was very sweet, giving, excitable… she had a wicked sense of humor and was fiercely loyal. She spoke her mind and was extremely intelligent, one of the smartest people he knew. She was very outgoing, doing everything from gymnastics to cheerleading to student government. It was no wonder people loved her.
Including him.
He thought back on the day when he realized he wanted to be more than just friends with Kimberly. They were walking along the lake, Tommy having just come back from spending Spring Break up at his uncle's cabin.
His grandfather had died, and Tommy had taken it very hard. His grandfather was very close to him, similar to each other in many ways. His grandfather was the one who put him on the path to study martial arts, having learned himself as a young man. Tommy had a bit of a bad boy streak as a child, and his grandfather knew that martial arts would give Tommy the discipline he needed. The loss of his grandfather shattered something deep within Tommy. He lost himself, cutting off ties with his friends as he chose to isolate himself from the world. Kimberly understood his pain, having a similar experience when she lost her aunt, and gave him the space he desired.
It was during his time away from Kim that he realized just how much she meant to him. The support she gave him throughout school as well as during the loss of his grandfather was invaluable, and it forced him to reflect on all that she meant to him. Being alone, Tommy was finally able to admit that his feelings for Kimberly were, in fact, real and very strong.
So he took a chance, asking her out to the spring dance. He almost swallowed his tongue in shock when she said yes, and in his happiness, he exuberantly kissed a pleasantly surprised Kimberly.
He smiled, thinking of the first time he kissed his girlfriend. Kissing Kimberly definitely ranked high on his list of favorite activities.
His smile shifted into a frown as he thought back on the kiss he shared with her in the rec room. He rubbed a hand against his chest.
Tommy usually felt a warm, happy feeling when he kissed Kimberly. It was the same rush he got from morphing, only more exhilarating. Holding her, feeling her lips against his, always made him feel like he was floating.
But that kiss… Tommy ran a hand over his face. That kiss left them both reeling. It started out innocent enough. He and Kimberly had had passionate kisses, but none had ever felt so… overpowering. Tommy could remember the feeling of losing his self-control as their kiss became more and more passionate. He remembered the pain he felt in his chest as he attempted to reel himself in. It was a searing pain, like being burned from the inside. The more he tried to gain control over himself, the more painful it became; it was like his body was forcing him to give into his desires.
And that vision.
Tommy closed his eyes. He could still remember it vividly, the images racing across his mind. He and Kimberly had not had sex yet, though they had tried a few things in recent months. They both wanted to wait, flirting dangerously with the line every now and then before composing themselves. The vision he had, they had, was a shock… to say the least. He dreamt of being with Kim, and he was sure she had done the same, but nothing felt as real as that vision. Tommy swore he could feel her hands along his chest, nails scraping his skin. He could feel his hand touching her damp curls as his finger stroked her clit. From the look on Kim's face, he knew she could feel it as well.
Tommy shuddered, rolling over to sit upright on the edge of his bed. He ran a hand through his hair before locking his fingers together, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Fuck."
Recreation Room
Command Center
Billy walked into the rec room, sliding onto the couch next to Aisha. He let out a deep sigh, feeling much older than his seventeen years.
Rocky was relaying a story to Aisha, something about his younger siblings.
"So my mom grabs Antonio, right?" Rocky stood up, mimicking his mother grabbing his younger brother by the arm. "Lisa tries to run past her, but mom's too quick." He grabbed quickly at the air, as if catching something.
"She starts screaming at them in Spanish. And you know how my mom is…once you get her going…" He shook his head as Aisha laughed.
"She got those two good, I take it?"
Rocky grinned. "Hell, yeah. Those little punks always get away with crap around the house. Me and Xavier always get blamed since we're the oldest. But not this time!" He rubbed his hands with an evil grin. "They got what was coming to them."
"I would imagine. Flooding a house is a pretty serious thing to do." Aisha shook her head, amused by the DeSantos siblings. "They're going to get you back one day."
Rocky sighed, sitting back down. "Yeah, I know," he murmured worriedly. "And I've been gone all weekend. Who knows what those cabróns have been up to since I left?" He shuddered at the thought. (bastards)
Aisha laughed before turning to her silent friend beside her. "Billy? You okay?" she asked, placing a comforting hand on his thigh.
Billy gave an involuntary jerk, not anticipating Aisha's touch. "Sorry," he blushed. "I'm good guys… just a little distracted." Aisha and Rocky shared a look.
"Yesterday was just… intense." Billy stared at his hands. He was never truly comfortable with taking a life. Given that Billy's older brother had been robbed and brutally murdered when Billy was a child; Billy never wanted to be responsible for another person's death. Being a ranger, however, he was constantly put in a position where he had to kill to defend himself.
All of the rangers had issues with taking a life, and they all rationalized it in one way or another in order to cope. It's in self-defense… the state of the universe is at stake… their enemies are not truly human… Whatever worked to allow them to fulfill their duty, they continued to believe in to make it day by day. During battle, the killing was easy; everything happened so fast. The adrenaline, the rush… it didn't even register at the time. But after… Billy shuddered.
He and the others practiced with their weapons routinely, learning new techniques and sharpening their skills should the need arise. When they first were recruited, the rangers always opted to use martial arts and other hand-to-hand techniques in battle, as the thought of killing someone was too much for them to handle. They were shocked at the weapons given to them, and the seriousness of being a ranger began to hit them more and more.
Billy was sixteen when he first killed someone in battle. He and the others had been rangers for several months, and they managed to get by without having to kill anyone. They would fight the monsters, weakening them so that they had to regroup. It was an established cycle: fight the enemy, weaken the enemy, live another day. Wash, rinse, repeat. It wasn't until the day they encountered Rita and Zedd did things change.
Billy could still remember the battle vividly. The rangers were fighting Goldar for the first time, along with the Tengu warriors. They had never encountered an enemy as strong as Goldar, and the Tengu warriors possessed boundless energy. Attacking them with punches and kicks did not work; it only seemed to make them more aggressive. The Tengu were armed with swords. The teens were used to fighting putties, annoying little clay creatures that only required hitting them in the chest to defeat them. The Tengu were skilled and deadly.
He remembered the Tengu that swung at him, nearly decapitating the teen in a deadly swipe. Billy had been evading the Tengu for quite some time, and his strength was beginning to dissipate from the many flips and splits. Billy called on his broadswords… not to hurt the Tengu, but to help him deflect the blows. The sight of the blades seemed to excite the Tengu, and its fighting became more furious, wilder. Billy attempted to keep him away, but the Tengu kept coming at him, faster and faster.
At one point, Billy was sure he was going to die. The Tengu was winding back for a blow to Billy's stomach, intent on gutting him. A surge of energy, a need to survive, shot through Billy like lightning. He remembered yelling "no" loudly as the Tengu came near. He blinked rapidly when he saw the end of his sword staring him in the face. The Tengu was stumbling back, eyes blinking in confusion at the blade in its body. It fell to the ground slowly on its side, staring Billy in the face. Billy remembered shaking, the adrenaline still in his veins, but now coupled with the feeling of overwhelming dread. He sat there, watching as the Tengu's breath got shallower and shallower, its eyes never leaving his face. He didn't realize when it had finally stopped breathing or when he started crying.
Aisha shook Billy hard, snapping him out of his reverie. She gave him a questioning look.
"I apologize. It appears my mind began to wander in the middle of our conversation."
Rocky only looked at him. Billy gave a small smile before his look became serious. He looked over to the other side of the rec room, watching as Kim and Adam played pool.
"I talked to Zordon." He paused. "I think he's keeping something from us."
Rocky perked up at this. "What do you mean?"
Billy watched Kim closely. "He said the shards we're collecting contain power, right?" They nodded. "And we've been getting these shards so that those who fight for Evil can't have that power."
He looked at them. "Zordon said that the shards somehow enhance existing qualities in whoever holds them." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Both Tommy and Kim were holding the shard we picked up in Greece."
Rocky looked over at the pink ranger. "You think she and Tommy are going to try and kill us now?"
Billy shook his head. "No, Zordon said the effect of the shard is immediate. If they were trying to kill us, they would have done it by now. Especially when everyone has their guard down."
Aisha nodded. "So this shard has enhanced something that Kim and Tommy already are?"
Billy nodded. "Affirmative."
Rocky made a face. "Well, what is it then?"
Billy paused before speaking. "I'm not sure. Neither has been acting unusual, but then again, it's only been a day since the battle."
Aisha sat back, running a hand over her face. "So basically, you're saying we should keep an eye on them?"
Billy nodded. "I don't think Kim and Tommy will become evil, but I am concerned about the possible effects this shard may have on them. It could possibly affect their duties as rangers or them personally." He gave a sigh. "Just keep a look out for anything… weird."
Rocky nodded. "All right, Billy. I'll tell Adam about this when he's free."
On the other side of the room, Adam grinned as he sank another striped ball into the side pocket.
Kimberly rolled her eyes. "You know, I like you better when you're all shy and sweet. Cockiness is not becoming, Adam."
He laughed, walking around her to line up another shot. He leaned over, positioning himself to hit the ball into the corner pocket.
"And green is not your color, Kim. Don't be jealous I have skills," he stated before sinking another ball in. Adam moved back to look at the table. Two balls left and then the eight ball. The shot would be tricky.
She scowled at him before rolling her eyes. "How's your head?"
He gave a shrug, followed by a wince as he barely missed the shot - just by a few centimeters. "It'll heal." Kim nodded, bumping Adam out of the way with her hip as she ran to take her shot. Adam shook his head.
Kimberly flashed him a grin as she sank in not one, but three balls in one shot. She gave a loud whoop and Adam laughed, "Don't get cocky, Kimmie."
She grinned. Kimberly and Adam were very good friends, very much like siblings. They made an unlikely pair, but the two got along great. Kimberly was very outspoken, loving, and feisty. Adam was more reserved, only speaking when he felt absolutely necessary, and extremely sarcastic.
The two bonded during their Spring Break freshman year when Tommy took off to his uncle's cabin. Kim figured it was because initially Adam reminded her so much of Tommy that she gravitated towards him; both were quiet and strong. It was in spending time with him did Kimberly realize how different they were. Adam was gentle where Tommy was rough. Adam was shy whereas Tommy just preferred solitude, often misinterpreted as being shy. Tommy could be very hot-tempered and impulsive, whereas Adam was normally stoic and thought things through.
By spending time with him, she learned that she and Adam had a lot in common. Both came from broken families. Her parents were divorced, whereas Adam's dad was on his third wife. Both were estranged from a parent – for Kim, her father; for Adam, his mother. Both loved strawberry kiwi smoothies and played guitar. Both of them had fears of disappointing those that loved them, in failing to achieve their goals. Kimberly learned that Adam had been studying martial arts as long as she had been practicing gymnastics. She learned he had a wicked sense of humor, and he learned she was not nearly as confident as she appeared to others; she had her insecurities as well.
They considered each other family; he jokingly referred to her as his little big sister. She was fiercely protective of him, quick to defend him against those like Bulk and Skull at school. She gave him advice about girls, helping to calm his nerves when he would nearly lose it in front of a crush. Adam was always right after Tommy in line to pound some guy's face in who didn't understand to leave Kimberly alone when she didn't want to go out with him or that she was spoken for.
She smiled to herself thinking of her personal bodyguards. Even though she was more than capable of protecting herself, Tommy and Adam were adamant about protecting her. Rocky, Aisha and Billy were the same, but they were not nearly as overprotective as the white and black rangers. Tommy alone was enough to strike fear in anyone that even thought to bother her.
She sank another solid ball. Tommy.
A smirk played on her lips as she thought about her long-haired, muscular boyfriend.
Tommy Oliver was one of the best things to happen to the pink ranger. A certified hottie amongst the AGHS female population, Tommy was the definition of man. He was all things she could want in a best friend and a boyfriend – patient, brave, caring, modest, protective, understanding, respectful, loyal…passionate. Kimberly knew he wasn't perfect though. Tommy was impulsive, controlling, quick to anger, arrogant, opinionated...
Kim laughed to herself, lining up another shot.
From her description, it would seem Tommy was either two different people or suffered from bipolar disorder. But she knew her boyfriend, he possessed all those qualities. Tommy was like a storm. Beautiful, dangerous and exciting all at once. She loved everything about him, from the way he would hold her hand in public just to know she was near him to the cocky way he smiled at her when he knew he was about to defeat an opponent sparring. She loved the way he loved her – so intensely and with more passion than she would think an 18-year-old capable of. His feelings for her ran deep, and it scared her that she loved him just as strongly.
When they were recruited to be rangers, their innocent teenage relationship progressed much further than they had anticipated. Kim remembered the fear and exhilaration she felt at being selected by Zordon to be a ranger, and the ease she felt when she knew not only her friends, but her boyfriend as well, would be by her side.
Being a ranger made them closer than they had been before. It was one thing to go to school together, taking classes and hanging out after school. It was another to know your boyfriend saved your life by taking a knife wound meant for you; to know your boyfriend almost died in battle and that any given day could be your last time with him. It pushed them together, forcing them to share all of themselves with each other.
Well, not all of themselves. There was one line Kim and Tommy had yet to cross.
Kimberly bit her lip, thinking back on that morning.
She and Tommy had discussed sex before. Although both truly desired each other, they just didn't feel they were ready for that yet. She couldn't lie, though. The thought of making love to Tommy had crossed her mind a few hundred times. Kim was aware that Tommy was all male – all six feet, 180 pounds of him. She was aware of his toned physique, having been privy to every part of Tommy's body. The two had not taken the big leap yet, but they definitely had played around.
She clearly remembered the day her relationship with Tommy went from innocent to something more.
Kimberly wiped away the sweat that had gathered on her forehead. She could feel the wetness on the back of her neck, her ponytail only supplying mild relief.
She and Tommy were in his basement, practicing with their weapons. She wanted to improve her attacks with her sais, and Tommy was happy to help.
Kimberly stood in pink sweatpants and a white sports bra. She had changed out of her day clothes, not wanting to feel gross later with them drenched in sweat. She watched as Tommy twirled her sais, watching as his mind worked to come up with different combinations for her to try. Her hands rested on her hips, covering the crane tattoo she got a month earlier. Along her hipline, the wings of the crane were slightly visible, the rest hidden by her pants.
Tommy stood shirtless, gray sweatpants on as he attacked a nonexistent enemy. The falcon tattoo on his back contorted as he moved his arms, its wings flexing with his shoulder blades. Tommy did a series of quick punches and kicks, smiling when it came out how he envisioned. He repeated it a few times before turning to Kim. Handing her the sais, he stood beside her.
"Okay, try this one." He repeated the move slowly, allowing her to copy his movements. Once Kim got it down, she repeated it at a faster pace. Tommy smiled when she executed it perfectly.
"Nicely done, Beautiful." She blushed slightly at her boyfriend's praise.
She motioned towards his bo staff resting against the wall. "Spar?"
Tommy raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Sure. You sure you're ready to get whooped?" Kim scoffed.
"Just get the damn staff, flyboy."
Tommy grabbed the metal staff, twirling it around his body a few times.
Kimberly let out a bored yawn. "You done?"
Rolling his eyes, he stood before her.
The pair bowed to each other before beginning. Tommy began swinging his bo staff at Kimberly furiously, putting her on the defensive. She blocked his blows, keeping him from making contact with her body.
Tommy growled. "Why are you letting me control the fight?" He took a swing at her which she ducked. "You're being forced to defend yourself. Take control of the fight, Kim."
She rolled her body around him, moving to kick him in the back. He stopped her kick with his staff, turning to strike her in the chest. She blocked again, taking a shot at his head which he evaded.
"God dammit, stop trying to hit me and HIT ME!" he swung at her, hitting her with the staff in the ribs. Kimberly glared at him. Tommy moved in, swinging his bo staff low and making contact several times. Kim began to get irritated, and in her frustration, swung wildly at him.
Tommy grabbed her arm, using her momentum to swirl her around, locking her to him with his staff.
"Kim," he began, "don't let the enemy piss you off. Once you show you're angry, you've already lost." Her anger began to ebb as she listened to him. "You're short. That puts you at a disadvantage. You have to get closer to the enemy to strike because your limbs are shorter." He released her, turning her to face him. "They're going to underestimate you because of that. What you need to do is use that to your advantage."
He walked around her. "You're fast, Kim. Really fast. When you fight, concentrate on quick strikes." He began to move around her rapidly. "Use your feet. Run around them." He pointed to the back of her knee.
"For most people, this is a point of weakness. Strike them hard here, and you can bring them down. The back of the thighs as well." He moved his hand to the small of her back, running his hand up and down her spine. "The spine is also a point of attack. Strike here."
Tommy moved to stand in front of her. "Because they're bigger, when they turn to grab or hit you, their momentum carries them further, knocks them off their balance." He demonstrated. "They'll use their full weight when they swing, and that makes it hard for them to slow down. Hit them while they're in the motion. Use their own body against them." She nodded in understanding.
He stood before her. "Again."
Twenty minutes later, Tommy Oliver was flat on his back, staring up into the face of his girlfriend. She had her sais to his throat as she crouched over him, a sign that she won this round. Tommy dropped his bo staff, lifting his hands in surrender. Kimberly smiled, removing her weapons and placing them on the floor. She smiled happily.
Tommy breathed heavily, looking at her strangely. "Good job, Kim." She grinned before placing her hands on his chest, preparing to get up. Tommy was quicker, grabbing her hands and yanking her down. Kim fell unceremoniously on top of her boyfriend, and before she knew it, he had grabbed the sides of her face, kissing her for all he was worth.
Kimberly let out a moan as Tommy's tongue snaked into her mouth, dueling with her own. He rolled them over, resting his larger frame over hers, her thighs on either side of his abdomen. Tommy pulled her hair out of its ponytail, kissing her thoroughly and grinding himself against her. Kimberly arched into him, loving the delicious friction between their bodies. Normally, it would gross her out being sweaty and having her sweaty boyfriend on top of her, but today, she just really didn't give a damn.
Kimberly's hand drifted down Tommy's chest, running across his six-pack before reaching the waistband of his sweatpants. She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach. He pulled back from her, his eyes hooded, eyes nearly black from desire. He looked down at her hand before looking back at her.
"It's your call." Kimberly bit her lip. They've been in the situation many times, and she always backed out, scared of going further. But today…she felt a surge of boldness as she slipped her hand down, underneath the waistband of his boxers.
Tommy's eyes nearly bugged out as he felt Kim's small hands grasp his cock. He blinked rapidly, the shock quickly wearing off as he felt pleasure as she firmly stroked him. Kimberly sat up, rolling them over so that Tommy was back on his back. She sat next to him, watching his face closely as she pumped him. Kim had no idea what the hell she was doing, but if her boyfriend's face was any indication, she must be doing something right.
Tommy's eyes were fluttering closed, his mouth open partially as every nerve in his body was on fire. He felt hot all over, and without thinking, quickly lifted his butt up, pulling his pants and boxers down to mid-thigh. Kimberly's eyes widened significantly at seeing her boyfriend's penis. Tommy was a big boy, a really big boy. She moved closer, taking a closer look at his cock. It was thick and long, reddish with veins protruding. He shot out a hand, grabbing hers to direct her on how to stroke – base to tip.
His face looked pained when she began to follow his motions. "Are you okay?" He managed to look at her. Tommy nodded vigorously, a groan escaping him.
"Fuck, that's amazing." He began to thrust his hips against her hand, increasing the speed of her strokes. Getting the idea, Kimberly pumped him faster, watching as he clenched his fist tightly, the knuckles turning. She now realized the look of pain on his face was one of indescribable pleasure.
"Kim…" He was out of breath. "Fuck! I'm gonna… ughhh…" Tommy's body convulsed as his orgasm rushed over him. Kimberly watched as Tommy's cum spilled forth, the white liquid spurting out in sudden bursts. She pumped him until his hips stopped moving, removing her hand as she watched him catch his breath. Watching her boyfriend orgasm had to be the sexiest thing Kimberly had ever seen in her life. And the fact that she was responsible for him having the orgasm…
Tommy finally looked over at Kim once his breathing slowed. She looked nervous… and aroused. Tommy sat up slowly, pulling his pants and underwear back up to his hips. He leaned over to her, kissing her briefly. "Thank you." Kimberly nodded.
Tommy eyed her for a few seconds. "I'd like to return the favor." Why did his voice sound extremely sexy to her?
Before losing her nerve, Kimberly nodded her head. "Lie down."
Kimberly lay back on the floor, not sure what would be happening next. Tommy got up, grabbing some paper towels off the nearby table to clean up the mess. He moved over to Kimberly once he was done.
Straddling her he kissed her softly, running his hands over her stomach. Kimberly moaned, barely noticing him rubbing her breasts through her bra. Tommy moved down her body, kissing her stomach. He kissed his way up, rolling her bra over her breasts. Kimberly let out a shuddering breath as she felt his hands kneading her breasts, tugging firmly at her nipples. He rolled her bra up her body, and she lifted up, allowing him to take it off entirely. Tommy leaned back, looking at her with a smile before he moved quickly, latching onto her right nipple.
Kimberly jerked at the feel of his mouth on her. She gave a loud sigh as he suckled on her breast, using his left hand to massage the other. Kimberly closed her eyes, loving the attention Tommy paid to her chest. It was strange to have him touch her breasts with no barrier. They had done some heavy petting before with clothes on, and this was a welcome change. Tommy moved to her left breast, massaging the right as he paid special attention to her nipple. She moaned softly as she felt a pressure building at the base of her stomach.
While Tommy's mouth paid attention to Kim's breast, his right hand skimmed down her body to the waistband of her clothes. Tommy pulled away from her breast, checking if she still wanted to go through with it. She bit her lip, nodding before closing her eyes as his hand went lower.
Tommy was nervous as hell. He was going half on instinct, half on what he had seen from the pornos Rocky let him borrow. His hand skimmed between her thighs, brushing over damp curls. Tommy's fingers slipped, rubbing against her clit. Kimberly gave a startled moan, thighs widening on their own.
Seeing her response, Tommy repeated the motion, and Kim gave another low moan in response. Tommy smiled, knowing he'd found her clit. With purpose, Tommy began to rub her in earnest, causing Kimberly to cry out loudly. Her hips began to jerk in earnest, and Tommy was having difficulty maintaining contact with the small bud. At one point, Kimberly jerked so hard his hand slipped lower, and slightly slipped inside of her.
"Ohhh," she moaned softly. Tommy froze, unsure of what to do. Curiously, he pushed his finger in further, groaning at the tightness and heat surrounding his middle finger. Kim bit her lip, her body growing accustom to the finger inside of her. Seeing her relax, Tommy began to move his finger slowly in and out. Kim let out a low groan, moving her hips to ride his finger. Feeling her loosen up, Tommy slipped his ring finger inside as well. He moved his hand faster, spurred on by the increased wetness he felt around his fingers.
Tommy used his other hand to pull her pants and underwear down. "Oh wow," he breathed. Kimberly was dripping wet, and it was hot as hell to watch her ride his hand in earnest. Tommy guessed from her movements she was close to orgasm. Using his thumb, Tommy began to rub her clit in hard circles.
Kim arched off the floor, she felt as if she would explode. Tommy kept on, loving the breathy moans and now whimpers coming from his girlfriend. He saw the look of pure pleasure on her face, and his chest swelled knowing he was responsible for it.
"T-Tommy," she groaned, hips jerking wildly, "it's too much." Her face was scrunched up.
"No, baby, you're so close," he responded, fingering her faster. He flicked her clit harder, and she arched her back sharply.
Kim let out a scream, so loud it made Tommy grateful that his parents were not home. She clenched around his fingers tightly, sobbing his name as she rode out a powerful orgasm. He kept fingering her, not letting up until her convulsions finally stopped.
Pulling his fingers out, Tommy brushed his finger against her tender clit quickly. She moaned in response, shaking her head lazily. Tommy grinned, leaning forward to kiss her softly on the lips.
"You enjoy yourself?" Kim nodded, her chest still heaving. She wouldn't attempt to speak anytime soon.
"Good."
Kimberly smiled wickedly to herself as the memory faded. Tommy always said he was skilled with his hands.
A frown graced her face as she then thought back on their encounter today.
While Kimberly normally enjoyed any opportunity she had to kiss her boyfriend, this morning scared the shit out of her. It started out normal as usual. She and Tommy could get extremely passionate in their kissing.
But this was different.
She couldn't control herself, literally. And when she did try, she felt such a burning pain. Kimberly had been almost certain that she was in the process of dying. She had never experienced anything like it.
And that vision.
Kim stood back as she watched Adam take his shot, not focused on the game at all. She could feel Tommy on her in that vision. His breath, his hands… everything was too real.
"Kim?" She jumped slightly at Adam's hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, confused.
"It's your shot, pinkie," he said, giving her a look of concern. Kim put on her brightest smile, moving to the table.
Leaning over the table, Kimberly lined up her shot. She pulled back on the stick, preparing to strike when a blinding light struck in her head.
Kimberly was bent over the pool table, Tommy standing behind her. His hands were running up and down her spine. She felt his hands tuck into the corner of her sweatpants before he yanked them over her hips, down her slim thighs. He grabbed at her round ass, and she moaned at the sensation. Tommy leaned over her, kissing her neck softly as he yanked down his own sweatpants in earnest. He pulled his boxers down far enough for his cock to slip out. Leaning back, Tommy stroked his cock a few times in anticipation, and Kimberly widened her stance. Stepping closer, Tommy guided himself inside her, pushing the tip in before sinking in balls deep. They both groaned at the sensation, loving the feel of him inside her. Pulling back, Tommy pulled out until only the tip was inside. He grabbed her hips before snapping his hips forward roughly, pulling a loud cry from Kim's throat.
Kimberly's body lurched forward, her momentum throwing off her shot as she scratched the table with the stick. Adam looked at her strangely. The others in the room looked over at the noise.
Adam moved to his friend. "Kim, what's wrong?" She stared at him, confused. "You just screamed and made that horrible shot just now after you jumped." Kimberly's eyes widened.
"Oh God," she whispered, putting the stick down. She stared at the table for a while before running a hand through her hair.
"I-I gotta go," she mumbled quickly before running off and out of the rec room.
Rocky, Aisha, and Billy looked at each other.
That definitely qualified as weird.