Author's Notes/Thanks – Just wanted to say thanks to all my reviewers. Last chapter got a good amount of reviews which makes me way happy and thus drives me to update faster.
And especially Caval because she pointed out a word mix up I have been doing throughout this story so I got that fixed up in these next chapters.
Summary – Zedd's depressed after what happened. Tommy feels a little badly about that.
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It's My Choice
Zedd
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This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to find out. Sinking into my throne and not even bothering to put my skinless look back in place, I really and truly just want to go to bed. I hate it when Dark Spector drops in, though I shouldn't have been surprised. Did I really think he wouldn't hear that I'd saved the boy's life? Did I really think I could hide such a thing from him?
No doubt that was Zordon's whole plan. I know it was his doing. He of course told the Council of Light that I'd taken the little Ranger knowing full well that once they found out Dark Spector would be the next to know. Tricky bastard. And you know he only did it to get at me. He doesn't give a damn about that boy. He's definitely proven that with his actions toward him and the others.
So here I sit after being scolded like one of those human children, told to either make my new pet useful to our side or get rid of him. I suppose I should just be grateful he didn't demand to see him. I doubt Thomas would have survived such an encounter.
"Lord Zedd?" Not even bothering to acknowledge the woman, I know I should yell at her for bursting into my private chambers like she did, but she was only doing what I ordered, which was to protect and hide the boy if Dark Spector came. "Goldar said that Dark Spector left, I was just curious if perhaps I should take the Green Ranger back to his room now."
"Where is he now?"
"Still in your chambers. He seemed rather…distressed by all the yelling." Great leave it to that self indulged idiot to scream loud enough for the entire palace to hear.
"Leave him there, I'll deal with him."
"Yes my lord." Remaining in place and clearly anxious to ask something else, I can already tell what it is. Still though I might as well ask.
"Was there something else?"
"Well it's just, I was just curious as to if…nothing. I'll go train now." Leaving and no doubt dying to know about my appearance, she'll probably question Goldar once she finds him. It doesn't matter though, let them speculate and talk amongst themselves, they've no one else to tell as the boy already knows the truth. The only question is, what do I do about that?
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"Hi." Sitting on the bed and not looking very surprised that I'd come back instead of Scorpina, he makes a rather interesting sight in my clothing.
Closing the door and setting my staff down in its stand, I'm far too exhausted to be intimidating and I believe by his look he knows this. "What were you doing in my chambers?"
"Stealing your clothes?" Obviously. "Is Dark Spector gone?"
"For now." Sitting down in the leather chair I keep beside the bookshelf, I study him closely. "You're very quiet. No demands for release? No attempts to get my staff? No clever observations?"
"I think you've had enough people hollering and barking at you for things today. Figured I could give it a rest for at least a few hours."
Feeling my temper flare at his sympathy, I barely resist the urge to knock him into the nearest wall. This human, this child feels sorry for me? How dare he. I'm the one that felt sorry for him. I'm the one that saved him. I'm Lord Zedd. My very name makes worlds cower in terror. Who does he think he is? Just about to tell him so, I'm brought up short by his next words.
"Thank you for keeping him from me." What? Looking down at the bedcovers, he seems to be struggling with his own nature at the moment much like myself. "I heard him yelling, heard most of what he said pretty clearly. I get it now. What you said before about being a pawn, I'm not saying I agree with you, but I think I can see where that logic was coming from. It sucks being treated like that." Was that an admittance that you have been through that with the all wonderful Zordon?
Uncertain what to say now as he's more or less cooled my temper, I suppose I could bring up Zordon. I'm sure he'd like to hear some rather interesting stories I have from before the tube. Perhaps later. "You're an odd child."
Bristling suddenly and sitting up a bit straighter his gaze is raised to meet mine. "I wish you'd stop calling me a child and boy. I know you're probably what a couple hundred years older then me, but considering all I've done and the fact I'm almost to the age where I'd be considered an adult in my species I don't think it's exactly fair." Touché.
"As you wish Thomas." Leaning back against the cool leather and closing my eyes, I really don't feel up for chatting with the boy right now, but nor do I have the energy to throw him out, especially when he's being semi-pleasant.
"You're much more relaxed when not in your disguise." Don't bet on that. "Why do you hide behind that anyways? Are you like really ugly on your planet and that skinless look is the norm?" I beg your pardon!
Sitting back up at this I fix the insolent brat with a heated glare. "I am not ugly. I'll have you know that I am the model of perfection on Eltar. Now Zordon, he was ugly."
"You're Eltarian?" Oops. "So that means you and Zordon knew each other before he was trapped in that tube. Which means…oh my god is that what this is all about? Are you jealous of him or something? Is that why you came here, to finish some old rivalry?" Okay let's derail this little thought train right here and now.
"Jealous? You believe that I Lord Zedd, who by the way is far more powerful then half of the members on the Council of Light is jealous of that pompous windbag that you call a mentor." Oh I hate that smile. "You child are touched in the head. And just for your information I'm the only reason he even got that position to begin with. If I hadn't decided that the Council of Light was full of self righteous idiots just like him I wouldn't have gone to the other side and he wouldn't have gotten the position I was up for."
Staring at me in an almost uncomfortable manner, he finally seems to think up a reply. "Wow, just wow." Oh shut up. Seeming to let go of most of what I've said, no doubt storing it in his mind for later use, he returns to his original topic. "So if you're not ugly, which I guess Eltarian standards are about the same as human ones, then what's with the full body cover-up?"
"Isn't it obvious?" At his lost look, I hold back the urge to roll my eyes. "Look how you're behaving right now Thomas."
"What? What am I doing?" Looking lost as to how he has anything to do with it, he really is too young to be doing this work.
"Nothing, that's the point. You're sitting on my bed having a conversation with me and even going so far as to test my temper with accusations of me being jealous of Zordon. And despite the absurdity of that notion, it does prove that any fear you had for me has greatly diminished." Seeing the realization dawn on him, I continue after a moment of letting it sink in. "Dark Spector didn't feel I looked threatening enough as I am. Unfortunately you just proved that he's right."
"Sorry?" You should be, I don't much like admitting that that tyrant is right.
"Doesn't matter I suppose." I'm too tired for it to matter. Besides who's he going to tell? He won't associate with the monsters, Goldar still seems to be on his hit list, there is Scorpina I suppose, but then she already saw for herself.
Scooting to the edge of the bed and giving me a curious expression, I'm certain I'm not going to like what he has to say next. "I didn't mean to make you depressed." And there it is.
Resisting the urge to yell, I give what I hope is a very calm and together expression. "I'm not depressed."
"You look depressed." Alright that's about enough of this.
Rubbing my eyes in exhaustion as well as frustration I really should have thought about what taking him in would entail before I did it. "I think it's time you went back to your own room now."
Sliding off the bed and moving for the door with surprisingly no argument, he pauses just before making it out. "I know you probably don't care or anything, but I really do appreciate you saving my life." Leaving before I can respond, I can't help but be stunned by his parting words.
"When did my life get so complicated?"
To be continued…..
