A/N: Okay, Jayden might be a little OOC in the beginning of this chapter, but that's the power of Fanfiction people. Love it or hate it. And now without further ado, here's the next installment of 'So Cold By Fire'.
"Master Xandred beat us bad." We're all sitting in the darkened living room, like when we did when Jayden had left. He's with us again now, but the atmosphere is far from cheerful. Mike had just stated the obvious which brought our moods down even more.
"If the Sealing Symbol didn't work…what else can we do?" He continues. I don't answer him because I don't know. What else can we do? That was our last shot, our last hope. Our last plan to take him down…and it failed.
"He's immune to the Sealing power. He doesn't need Sanzu water." I resist the urge to snap at Mia for saying so. It's so out of character for me, but everyone's just stating what we already know. And somehow, saying it again makes it seem twice as worse than when we first found out.
"Can he even be beat?" Antonio sounds so lost, so unhopeful, that I want to go and take away his pain and tell him it's going to be alright. But it's not.
"We almost had him!" Kevin bangs his fists against the wall in frustration.
"I feel so sorry for Lauren," I say softly. She had helped me in my darkest time and when hers came, we couldn't help her. "She spent her whole life learning the Sealing symbol. And it was all for nothing."
"I know." Mike over to me and squats. "It was all for nothing. But don't let it get you down." He smiles so that means I have to smile too. I let the corners of my mouth curve but that's it. It's too bleak for even Mike to make it happy again.
"But Lauren's been a great asset to the team. So it wasn't all for nothing," Kevin points out. I look around for Jayden, knowing that he'd know just what to say and see him walk in from outside with Lauren. Her arm is in a sling, from her fall. I was offered one too, for my wrist, but refused. The team didn't need another thing to worry about, let alone something that doesn't even matter.
Jayden looks at me, his eyes dark and unreadable in the faint light. The only light is from the single burning floor lamp in the corner, making his face appear shadowed.
"Emily, can we talk?" Jayden asks me. I get up from the steps as Lauren sits down in one of the chairs around the coffee table.
"Sure." I take his hand and he doesn't pull away.
"We'll be right back," Jayden tells the room in general. They barely acknowledge us as we turn and walk out into the surprisingly cool night air. It's refreshing and sweet.
It's hard to remember that just last night, we defeated Deker. We went to sleep in the warmth of a fire. And now, so much has happened.
We sit down on the bench that I usually play my flute on. For a few moments we don't say anything, just stare into the clear, star-filled sky. It's beautiful, the tiny crystals shinning against a velvet background.
"Are you okay Em?" Jayden breaks the silence. I look at him with a little disbelief.
"I'm fine Jayden. Why do you ask?"
"You didn't get anything for your wrist." He's too observant.
"I didn't need anything for it," I defend myself. "It's fine."
"Em, I know that's not true." I sigh, knowing I'm defeated. He won't stop until he tries to ease the pain. And, it is throbbing a little bit, now that I think about it.
"Okay, maybe it's not perfectly healed, but the team has bigger things to worry about then my injuries." I look at the ground as I say this, wary of his reaction.
"That's not true Em. We have to know where you're hurting, otherwise we can't heal it," he says gently. He gets off the bench and kneels in front of me. He takes my wrist and starts to wrap it in a splint. The firm material actually does make it feel better but I don't say anything, just gaze over the top of his head into the dark night. The way he's wrapping my hand is comforting; the touch of his hand against mine is almost more healing then the actual splint.
"I'm sorry about today," he eventually says. I frown; what did he have to be sorry for?
"Why are you sorry?" I inquire. He sighs, still wrapping the cloth around my wrist.
"I let Master Xandred hurt you. I tried to protect you, but I couldn't. I tried to save you, but then…you said you didn't need saving." That moment flashes through my mind.
"Seems the Red ranger is down for the count. Who is there to save you now?" He taunts and the lava in me explodes at his words.
"I'm not some helpless little girl waiting to be rescued. I don't need saving!" I shriek and with all my strength I yank my sword from his fingers and slash him in the chest with everything I have. He staggers backwards half a step.
"And you got hurt. And for that, I am sorry." I feel…weird, somehow, that he was blaming himself for my injuries. I thought he had gotten over this stage where he blames himself for getting us hurt but I guess I was wrong. And I was a little temperamental when he thought I needed saving. I feel my cheeks heat a little at that.
"I'm sorry about that. It's not that I don't appreciate you trying to save me. I do. But Jayden, it's okay. It wasn't your fault," I try to reassure him. A breeze blows past us in the clear night and I shiver slightly, conscious of my thin clothes.
"I already knew that. I just needed to hear that from you." He finishes wrapping my hand and gets up. Now I have a perfect view of Jayden against the flawless backdrop of night and stars. And it's mesmerizing. It's mysterious and beautiful and hopeful and magnificent and I feel I could live a hundred years and never forget this moment.
He extends his hand out to me and I take it as he envelops me in a hug.
"I just don't want to lose you," he whispers into my hair. I tighten my hold on him. I don't want to lose you either. I don't want you to ever be in danger. I want you to be safe.
But instead of saying any of those things I simply tilt my head back to stare into his bottomless eyes.
"I love you," I tell him and his face lights up like one of the stars behind us. He pulls me closer and his warmth comforts me for another breeze blows past us and goose bumps skip up and down my arms once again.
"I love you too." And we just stand there in the comfortable silence, our arms around each other, just enjoying the moment. We sway slowly side-to-side, a dance only we know. It's only us, the earth, and the wide open sky. We're standing as for all the world to see, that no matter what happens, we'll always be together. And I know at that moment that I never want to leave him. Even after all this is done, I don't' want to let him go, to leave him to go back home. I don't know how it'll work out but we'll find something.
They don't call it tough love for nothing.
"We'd better go inside," I finally say. I don't really want to, but I am cold and I know we have to work on a plan to save the world. But I do want to stay out here a little longer, for this not to end.
"One thing first." Jayden nods then leans in and kisses me again. I close my eyes, enjoying the tenderness and slowness of it. It holds all the passion of longer ones and somehow I find it even better than those. It's soft and warm and soothing.
It's perfect. I still see the sparkling stars through my closed eyelids but I know they're from Jayden-not nature. And that makes them even more special, even more beautiful.
Finally we pull away and stare into each other's eyes, trying to read them. I know my eyes hide nothing; there are no hidden layers to uncover. And I can tell Jayden's eyes are becoming less guarded as well.
"Yeah, let's go." Jayden takes my hand as we walk past the bench, over the grass and inside. Out of the fresh, sweet, cold air, out of the spotlights of the stars, and back into our world ending. For a few moments I got to forget the fate of our world was hanging by a thread, forgot that we had no plan to save it, forgot that Xandred was no longer a full Nighlok. I got to just relax and enjoy myself and talk and just live.
For once.
But I did choose this life and deep inside, I know I'd never trade it for anything. When Jayden had ridden up on that white horse, I knew my fate was sealed. I could never go ack. I would be bonded to them for all eternity. I just never knew that we were going to be bonded this way…a lovers way.
We walk inside, hand in hand and see the team has assembled around the coffee table, with Lauren at the head of it. Even Ji is there, at the edge of the group. The single lamp is still shining. Alone.
I take the empty seat between Lauren and Mike. As much as it pains me, I let go of Jayden's hand as I sit down. We still haven't exactly told the team that we're together and I don't know what their reaction is going to be.
"Was it nice outside?" Lauren asks. I steal a glance at her face and by the look in her eyes…she knows. She knows about us but she seems happy about it. That Jayden's found love-especially in a teammate.
"Yeah. It was beautiful," I answer her. Of course, she had been outside before me so I think she was just trying to make conversation-and to discover what we were up to and talking about. But I think I don't want to tell. Not Mia, not Lauren. Only Jayden and I will know of our own secret dance. Only we will know the steps.
"Not as beautiful as you," Jayden whispers behind me. He's standing at Lauren's right shoulder, his hands behind his back. My heart turns warm and starts to flutter in my chest-probably trying to get to Jayden. As I look at the others, I realize he said it softly enough for only my ears to hear-though it looks like Lauren heard too. But she simply looks at the team and chooses to ignore it for now.
"Tomorrow, Master Xandred must be stopped," she begins, determined. I nod, knowing full well the truth of her words. It has to be tomorrow or this world won't have a chance at a next day. "But before then, I have something to say. As you know…the Sealing Symbol failed to stop him…I wasn't able to get the job done." Kevin leans back and looks at Mia, confused at her lack of faith. Mia tilts her head, puzzled too at her acceptance of the obvious. But we don't blame her for it. It wasn't her fault.
But there's a little twisted place inside of me, tucked away, that thinks if she had done it right, then we'd be okay. He wouldn't be back and the world would be safe.
And I'm disgusted at myself for even thinking like that.
"I'm handing the leadership of the team…back to Jayden." We all look up, excited but confused. But inside my heart swells. Jayden's going to be leading us. He's our leader again. It's all going to be okay.
But even I'm not that naïve.
"Really?" Mike pipes up, the hope he dares to have plain in his voice.
"I thought you might like that idea." Lauren inclines her head slightly at him and he ducks his, a bit abashed.
"I knew you'd like that too, Emily." My cheeks blush a little. Of course I'd rather Jayden, but I feel bad for Lauren to say that. She was a good leader, just not what I needed. What the team needed.
"No, Lauren you were a good leader," I say, smiling a little. She smiles back at me.
"Thanks, but Jayden is the best chance we have now. "She turns her head to look him in the eyes and a look of understanding and love passes between them.
"Thank you Lauren," he tells her as she relents his seat and gets up. He sits back down and it's like coming home once again after being away for a long time. It's familiar and safe and comforting. It's home.
"Alright, listen up. "His voice sounds relaxed, casual. Like his home is with us. And it is.
It's with me. "Master Xandred is more powerful than ever. It appears that he is…unbeatable." I look down as he wrings his hands once. The rest of the team stares at the floor, saddened by the thought we might not be able to beat him.
"But I have a plan." Those words make their way through my mind and I perk up. If those words, coming from Jayden's mouth don't aspire confidence and reassurance in someone, then I don't know what will.
"We're going to take him out with brute force." Wait, what? But the light on his face, inspired from the brilliance of his plan is so blinding that I almost feel bad for it not having my fullest confidence. The rest of the team gives nervous chuckles, sure he's kidding. But despite the smile on his face, you can tell he's dead serious.
"That's…that's your plan?" Mike hedges warily. "It's not much, is it?"
"Be nice," I nudge him, not wanting the light to dim from Jayden's face. But he doesn't seem to mind; in fact, it looks like he's expecting our hesitancy.
"Lauren's attempt to seal Master Xandred didn't' work. But it definitely weakened him. Dayu's human essence may have saved him but it also created a weak spot that we can exploit. Forget sealing him. If we can hit that spot with a strong enough blow, we may be able to destroy him." He leans forward and I see it coming together. It actually could work. It does sound funny, but it has some strong points that we could definitely use. It might actually work.
"Yeah, but we'll need more power. A lot more power. This is too important to be out of power," Kevin mentions. He's right; we're going to need a lot more power that we haven't discovered yet.
"And you'll have it. Thanks to this." Lauren takes out from her pocket and holds up a red disc with black markings on it. It's very large and the lamplight glints off it in a mysterious way as she hands it to Jayden.
"The Shiba fire disc," he states as we all gaze at it. I star hard at the red disc, glowing like firelight. Is this going to save us all? Will this be it?
"I'm too hurt to join you in battle…but I've used every last ounce of my strength to pack that disc with as much symbol power as I could. Hopefully, it will be enough to help you defeat Master Xandred once and for all." Lauren gives a little smile and I do wonder how much energy she had to use to fill up the disc.
"Nice!" Mike exclaims. Lauren's smile grows as she looks at him.
"But are you okay from it? It didn't drain you or anything?" Antonio inquires, concerned. "Because I know when I tried t program the Black Box, it took a lot out of me." Lauren looks a little surprised at his concern but nods.
"Well maybe I'm just tougher then you," she suggests sweetly. We all look down to hide our smiles.
"Burn!" Mike whispers at Antonio's frozen expression. But eventually he beam and winks at her.
"If that's what you want to believe." He rocks back and forth slightly, anxious it seems.
"Thanks Lauren, for everything you've done to help us," Mike breaks in. Lauren nods at him as her smile grows. I look between Mike, Lauren and Antonio, sensing a little something between all of them. A little flirting perhaps? But is now really the time for love?
And then I glance at Jayden, sheepish. We searched for love and look what happened to us. Kevin and Mia have been eyeing each other for ages and have yet to do anything about it yet, but I know it's only a matter of time before they're together. So I guess they do deserve love when this is all over.
Everyone deserves love.
"Guys, no doubt it will be a tough battle…but we're a strong team. And I believe together, we can accomplish anything." We all respond enthusiastically, nodding and smiling. I reach over and take Jayden's hand. The rest of the team looks at me strangely.
"Emily, are you and Jayden…?" Mia trails off. I nod, a little self-conscious about admitting that we're together. I had never dreamed we'd be together, that he would ever go for a girl like me. But it's like a fairytale-we have to defeat the monster before we can live happily ever after. And it's totally worth it.
"Wow! When did this happen?" she asks me. The guys and Ji are just looking at us disbelievingly as Mia gushes over us.
"Um, when we defeated Deker." I tell her, remembering that night vividly. I will forever remember it, as it was so important to me. Jayden and I finally showed our true colors to each other-and we both had liked it.
"Well that's great! You'll have to give me details later," Mia says. I nod.
"Of course." It's such a girl thing, that we want to know every detail of every second nothing left out. As for the guys, they just nod and smile uncertainly.
"Emily," Lauren says. I look up to see her tearing her eyes away from our interlocked hands. "Just know that Jayden's' my little brother and if anything happens-"
"Thank you, Lauren," Jayden interrupts her. I know he feels embarrassed that his older sister is worried about him having a girlfriend when he's so tough and strong but I understand. Serena is probably going to be the same way when I tell her.
"Don't worry Lauren. I'd ...I'd never." I don't know if she believes me, but I do mean it. I'd never do anything to hurt Jayden, ever. I'd lay my life down for him as I've done again and again. He's worth it. But she just nods and gives a faint smile.
"Guys, we can do this. We can do anything as a team. We can do anything together. Rangers together…" Jayden waits for us to join him. I smile at him as my voice twines in with the others.
"Samurai forever!"