The Joy of Love
Disclaimer: Same as always.
A/N: Thanks for all the feedback. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 11: Rocky tells his friends everything
As soon as Zhane got back to the ship, he looked for Andros, hoping to talk to him. After not finding him anywhere, he asked DECA who told him that he was not back yet. The others, including Ashley, were already in bed, so he couldn't talk to them either.
Disappointed, he headed to his quarters to change and get ready for bed. He'd have to wait until morning to talk to Andros or the rest of the team.
When Rocky woke up the next morning, the first thing he did was call Adam.
"Hello? Park residence." The female voice on the other end said.
"Hi, Adrienne, it's Rocky," he said. "Is Adam there?"
"Hi Rocky," she replied. "Yeah he's here. Hang on, I'll get him."
"Thanks, Adrienne," Rocky told her. She put the phone down and after a few moments it was picked up again.
"Hey, Rocky!" Adam's voice exclaimed. "What's up?"
"I hope I didn't wake you up or anything," Rocky said.
"No, you didn't," Adam reassured him. "I've been up for awhile. What's up?"
"I was wondering if we could get together sometime today," Rocky replied. "There's something I need to tell you. I also need to tell the rest of the gang too."
"Rocky, is something wrong?" Adam asked, hearing the anxiety in his best friend's voice.
"I hope not," Rocky answered. "I just need to talk to you and the others."
"Well, don't worry, whatever it is, we'll work it out. I don't have anything planned for today, and even if I did, I'd still make time to talk to you. You're my best friend and I'm always going to be there for you," Adam told him.
"Thanks, Adam," Rocky replied. "That means a lot to me."
"Hey, no problem. Do you want me to come over? I can as soon as I get my chores done. We're getting ready to eat breakfast and it's my turn to clean up afterward. It should take me no more than an hour to eat and clean up and throw some clothes on," he said.
"That sounds good. While you're doing that, I'll call the others and find out if they can come too," Rocky told him. "Then after we talk, I'll fix us all something for lunch."
"Sounds good to me," Adam replied. "I'll see you in about an hour. Bye, Rocky."
"Bye, Adam," Rocky said and hung up.
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Zhane entered the galley after a restless night and went straight to the Synthetron. He had been too worried about the situation with Andros to get much sleep. He ordered a cup of coffee and a couple of doughnuts. He sighed as he took them and sat down at the table. As he began to eat, he thought about all he and Andros had shared and been through together. They were so close they were almost like brothers and he didn't want to lose that. He didn't want to lose Andros. He was his first and only best friend and he couldn't even begin to imagine life without him in it.
He sighed again and put the half-eaten doughnut back on his plate. He just didn't have much of an appetite this morning. He put his face in his hands and groaned. Why did everything have to get so complicated?
"Good morning, Zhane!" A voice exclaimed. Zhane spun around to see TJ entering the galley.
"Morning, Teej," he replied softly.
"Hey are you okay?" TJ asked, seeing how sad and upset Zhane looked.
He nodded. "I just wish Andros would talk to me," he said. "Do you know where he is?"
TJ shook his head. "No, I haven't seen him today," he replied. "But don't worry, he'll come around. Just give him time."
"But what if he doesn't?" Zhane asked. "What if I've lost my best friend forever?"
TJ put a hand on his shoulder. "You can't think like that, Zhane. You guys have been through too much. He's not just going to throw all that away," he said.
Zhane stood up. "You didn't see the way he looked at me or hear the way he spoke to me, TJ," he replied, his voice rising. "It was horrible. It was like I was a bug that needed swatted of something." He spun around and left the room, almost bumping into Cassie, who was entering with Carlos.
"Hey, Zhane," Cassie said, but he didn't answer or even look at her. He just walked away.
Cassie shook her head and looked at TJ. "What's wrong with him?" She asked.
"He's worried about Andros," TJ replied. "I told him not to worry, that'd he come around. But I don't think he believes that. I think he believes that he's lost Andros for good."
Cassie shook her head. "I don't know what's with him, but I don't like it," she said.
"I know," Carlos agreed. "He's way out of line. Can't he see what this is doing to Zhane? Does he even care what it's doing to him?
"I think he does care," TJ replied. "I just wish he could see what an asshole he's being. Where is he anyway?"
"He's working out in the Simudeck. Ashley's watching him," Cassie answered. "And that's another problem."
"Huh? What do you mean?" TJ asked.
"I mean the way she defends him. It's almost like she doesn't care if he hurts Zhane or not," Cassie explained. "All she cares about is Andros."
Carlos nodded. "I know. And it's sad, because this is not like her at all," he added.
"Well, maybe she's afraid that if she doesn't defend him and stand by him, she'll lose him too," TJ said thoughtfully.
"That's completely ridiculous!" Cassie exclaimed. "And also completely not like her."
"But I don't think she's ever been this much in love before," TJ said.
"But that's still no excuse," Cassie told him. "She still has to see that what Andros is doing to Zhane is wrong. I know Zhane lied to him, but it under very extraordinary circumstances. And yes, maybe Zhane should have told him, and all of us for that matter, but that still doesn't excuse Andros treating him like a piece of shit."
"I know," TJ replied. "And Zhane's taking this so hard. I just wish there was something we could do to help him."
"I think we just make sure that he knows we're still his friends, and that we'll always be there for him," Carlos said. The others nodded.
But they all knew that things needed to get better or the whole team could end up being split in half or ripped apart altogether. And if that happened, everyone on Earth and countless other worlds was doomed.
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Rocky had just came downstairs after his shower when the doorbell rang. He answered it and found Adam standing there. "Hi, Adam. Thanks for coming," he said, opening the door all the way and stepping aside. "Come on in."
Adam did and sat down on the couch in the living room. "The others should be here anytime," Rocky told him.
Adam nodded as Rocky sat down next to him. "I really appreciate this, Adam," he said. "Thank you."
"Hey man, it's no problem," Adam assured him, putting his arm on his shoulder. "After all, what are best friends for?"
Rocky smiled a little. Adam's words made him feel a little better. He was still very nervous, however.
"So what's going on?" Adam asked him.
Rocky started to reply but the doorbell cut him off. He jumped up. "I'll go get that," he said. "Now I can tell everyone at once." He left the room and returned a moment later with Jason, Tommy, Kat, and Tanya.
After greetings were exchanged all around, Tommy got down to business. "What's going on, Rocky?" he asked. "Is something wrong? You sounded so serious over the phone."
"I hope nothing's wrong. There's something I need to tell all of you," he said nervously.
"Rocky, it's okay," Kat told him. "If something's wrong, we'll help you fix it."
"I don't know if you'll want to," Rocky replied. Adam and Kat both started to speak but he held up his hand to silence them. "Just let me explain, okay?" They nodded and he took a deep breath. Here goes, he thought to himself.
He looked nervously at his friends. "A lot's happened to me over the past week," he began. "But the long and short of it is that I've got a boyfriend." His friends looked surprised and a little shocked at this news, but not angry or upset. Rocky was relieved and went on. "I met him last week at the fair right after the pie-eating contest. His name is Zhane Carter and I'm sorry I lied to you and didn't tell you all about him." He stopped speaking and hung his head in shame.
"I know you guys probably hate me and I don't blame you. I should have told you from the start but I was scared too. I was afraid you wouldn't like him or get mad at me for not spending all my time with you guys or something. It was stupid and I was stupid, and I should've told you instead of lying and sneaking around but I really like him and I don't want to lose him, and I know I screwed up and it's not the first time and it probably won't be the last time knowing me and he's having an awful time right now and---"
"Rocky," Adam said, interrupting his rambling. "Calm down, it's going to be all right. I don't hate you and I think I can speak for the others and say they don't hate you either."
Tommy nodded. "Adam's right, bro. We don't hate you. Sure, we're a little irked that you lied to us, but I understand why," he told him.
"Yeah," Jason spoke up. "Although why you'd think we'd be mad at you for not spending all your time with us is beyond me."
Rocky blushed. "I told you it was stupid and so am I," he replied.
"Hey, you're not stupid, Rocky!" Tanya exclaimed.
"Yeah, so don't talk like that. Don't even think it," Adam added.
"Adam's right," Kat put in. "This Zhane guy's lucky. He's got a fun-loving, loyal, trustworthy, and caring person for a boyfriend and I'm happy for you both."
Rocky gave her a small smile. "You really mean that?" He asked her. She nodded.
"That goes for me too," Jason added. The others nodded and Adam put his arm around Rocky.
"Thank you," Rocky replied, starting to get choked up. "And I'm really sorry for lying to you guys and not telling you about Zhane earlier."
"Hey, it's okay," Jason told him.
"Yeah, just don't let it happen again," Tommy added with a twinkle in his eye.
"I won't. I promise," Rocky told him, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm really lucky to have all of you and I don't want to do anything else to jeopardize that."
Adam gave him a hug. "You're stuck with us man," he said firmly.
"That's right. And don't you forget it!" Tommy added, hugging him too. The others did as well.
Rocky wiped his eyes. "Thanks guys. That means a lot to me. And I'll introduce Zhane to you as soon as I can," he told his friends.
"Cool," said Tommy. "Since you like him so much, I'm sure we will too."
Rocky grinned broadly. "I hope so. He's really great. He's a lot like me. He likes jokes and pranks and having fun. He's also caring, loyal, trustworthy, sensitive, and really nice. He can also match my appetite!" He said happily.
Jason groaned good-naturedly. "That's just what we need; two Rockys!" That comment earned him a knock upside the head from Adam.
Jason honked his nose in return and a playful shoving match ensued while everyone else cracked up. This went on until Adam sent Jason stumbling into Tommy's lap.
"Careful," Tommy said. "We don't want him broken or anything. I like him too much the way he is!" Jason blushed crimson at this as the others laughed hysterically.
Rocky suddenly remembered something he had been thinking about days ago. "Hey Tommy, you and Jason wouldn't by any chance be together, would you?" He asked with a grin.
Tommy grinned back. "So what if we are?" He said, causing Jason to blush deeper.
"Ooh, Tommy and Jason!" Kat cooed.
"Hey Kat, knock it off!" Jason cried, red faced, and looking indignant.
Kat giggled. "Hey, I was just kidding!" She exclaimed.
"I know," Jason replied, looking at the floor.
"Guys, give him a break," Rocky broke in. "Can't you see he's embarrassed?" Jason gave him a grateful look.
"Thank you, Rocky," he said. "Yes, we're together, but I'm just not used to this teasing and stuff."
Tommy took his hand. "Hey, I'm sorry man. I shouldn't have said that when you landed on my lap but I couldn't help it. I'm crazy about you," he told him.
Jason looked him in the eye and squeezed his hand. "Thanks, man. I'm crazy about you too," he replied.
Everyone congratulated them and then Tommy turned to Rocky thoughtfully. "You said something earlier about Zhane going through an awful time right now. What did you mean?" He asked.
"It's horrible, Tommy," Rocky replied, looking extremely sad. "He might've lost his best friend." Rocky knew that was a definite possibility despite all of his, TJ's, Cassie's, and Carlos's reassurances.
"What do you mean?" Adam asked gently.
"It's like this," Rocky answered and proceeded to tell them everything that had happened since he had met Zhane, including last night's battle and each finding out the other was a ranger. By the time he was finished, he was sobbing.
"It's so hard watching him suffer and not being able to stop it," he said between sobs.
"You may not be able to stop it," Adam told him. "But you're helping a lot just by being there for him and reassuring him."
"But what if I'm reassuring him for no reason?" he asked, wiping his eyes. His sobs had stopped, but his voice was still shaky. "What if Andros doesn't come around?"
"Then it's Andros's loss, not his," Jason spoke up. "If Andros really is his best friend, he will come around."
"Jason's right," Adam said. "Zhane sounds like a great guy and his other friends are sticking by him. So even if he were to lose Andros, he'd still have them and you."
"Except for Ashley," Rocky replied. "She's stuck up Andros's ass so far that all she sees is him, nothing else."
"The Ashley that I gave my Turbo Powers too?" Tanya asked incredulously. "That sure doesn't sound like her."
"Yep, that's the one," Rocky confirmed. "She's defending everything that Andros has been saying and doing."
"That's incredible!" Tanya exclaimed.
"And really sad," Kat added. "She's got to know he's the wrong, even if Zhane did lie to him."
"And I understand why Zhane lied," Jason said. "Stuff like this is really hard to talk about. It's natural to not want to say anything until you're sure; and sometimes not even then."
"I know," Tommy agreed. "Jase and I didn't say anything for awhile when we realized that we were gay."
Adam shook his head. "This Andros sounds like a real jackass," he said.
Rocky nodded. "I know. But Zhane will be utterly devastated if he does lose him. He's he best friend and had been for years. They've been through so much together including Zhane nearly dying to save his life."
"Zhane almost dies saving his life and this is how he repays him?" Kat asked incredulously. "This guy really is something else."
"You can say that again," Tanya told her.
Rocky started to reply but the sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted him.
"Who could that be?" Tommy wondered.
"I don't know, but I'll find out," Rocky replied, getting up. He left the room and walked to the door. He opened it and was surprised to find Zhane standing there.
"Hi, Zhane. What's up?" Rocky asked, stepping aside to let him in.
"I keep trying to talk to Andros, but he's avoiding me," he replied. "He was working out when I got up. I waited for him when he finished but when he saw me standing there, he went off in another direction. Then he and Ashley teleported down to Earth and I tried twice to talk to them but both times they walked away as soon as they saw me." Zhane's voice was shaky and he was blinking rapidly, trying to hold back tears.
Rocky immediately threw his arms around him and pulled him close. "Oh, Zhane, don't cry. I'm sure everything will be okay. Just give him time." He pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I mean it, baby," He said softly, stroking his cheek.
"Oh, Rocky, do you really think so?" Zhane asked hopefully.
Rocky nodded firmly. "I do," he said, rubbing Zhane's back.
"Thanks, love," Zhane replied, touching his forehead to his boyfriend's. "I'm so lucky to have you."
"I'm so lucky to have you, Zhane," Rocky told him, meaning every word from the bottom of his heart.
"Hey Rocky, what's going on?" Tommy asked, coming into the front hall with the others.
"And who is that?" Adam added.
Rocky turned around and smiled at his friends. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Zhane."
A/N: Well, what do you think? Will Andros ever come around? Will Ashley stop acting like a naive moron? Will Rocky's friends like Zhane? Stay tuned to find out! And don't forget to review!
A/N 2: Don't forget to check out my G.I. Joe story "The Return of Serpentor" and tell me what you think of that! It's my first G.I. Joe story!