A/N: So, it's been a minute since I last posted, hasn't it? I'm so sorry, I just haven't had motivation to write anything Planes or Cars related. However I got this little plot bunny after reading a planes fic, and I had to write it! Hope ya'll enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own none of the recognizable characters, they belong to Disney/Pixar.
It was a known fact that Blade Ranger was protective of his team.
He may not act like it, most of the time. He preferred to stay in the shadows, unsocial and distant. It took a special type of person or horse to get by his walls and defenses, and even longer for them to gain his loyalty and trust. But once they did, once he trusted them, they had his loyalty - and therefore, under his protection - for life.
Blade was never one to spring into action upon first glance. He sat back, watchful, developing a plan and then acting it out. Always one to be tactical, professional, and having an uncaring demeanor, it came as a surprise to most exactly how protective he could be.
Cad was the first to understand how out of character Blade could be if you messed with his team. He couldn't do much when Cad was still Superintendent, but as soon as the stallion was kicked out of the position and he'd been yelling at the PPAA team about "Making me lose my job, you dirty forest-"
He hadn't been able to finish that sentence before Blade was on him. Ears pinned and teeth bared, muscles tense and nostrils flaring, Blade shoved him away from them and forced him backwards. Cad, clearly intimidated, lowered his head and tried talking his way out of it.
As always.
"Blade, buddy, listen I wasn't, I didn't mean-"
Blade didn't listen, nor did he stop advancing on him. His head held up, he crowded into Cad's personal space more and more until Cad was backed against a tree.
With Cad hunched up against the tree, Blade towering over him, Blade looked much bigger than he was. He used it to his advantage, tensing his muscle even more so Cad got the message that he could and would mess him up before growling out, "Do not ever talk to them in that way ever again. If you do, I will not hesitate to hurt you."
Blade's ice blue eyes flashed with anger as Cad met them, and he stuttered out a quiet "yes" before Blade backed off enough to let him hurry away with his tail between his legs.
Nobody had mentioned the incident, especially since Blade didn't seem all that eager to talk about it.
The second ones to have a first hand experience with Blade and his protectiveness was his friend from his childhood, James. Blade was comfortable around him, and that was obvious, so most of the others instantly trusted him as well.
Dusty, who was outgoing but still a bit timid, stayed close to Blade or Skipper during introductions. James had smiled at everybody, and had teased Blade about finally finding a family (although Blade had softly smiled before regaining his composure, everyone pretended not to see it). Before long, everyone besides a few split up to show James around the base.
Dusty stayed close to Blade, pressed against his side while he watched James with his friends, and newfound family. Blade twisted a bit to look at him, eyeing him for a moment before asking, "What's wrong?"
Dusty shrugged, glancing at his sire before continuing to watch James. He was almost as big as Blade, but his jet black coat made him look bigger and stronger than he actually was. Dusty knew this, but nonetheless was still slightly intimidated.
Blade easily picked up on his unease. Judging him lightly, Blade moved off a little to a patch of grass before dropping his head to graze. Dusty stayed in place for a moment longer before joining Cabbie and Maru by the main hangar.
Blade watched everyone and everything around him, looking for possible trouble. When James made his way over to the trio, he saw Dusty tense up as James moved a little too fast towards him, and Blade reacted.
Flinging his head up just as Dusty began to try to back away from the stallion moving towards him, he turned a bit faster than normal and trotted over to them. James was close to Dusty at that point, in his personal space even. Putting himself between them, he delivered a quick nip to James neck. It wasn't hard enough to break the skin, but paired with the pinned ears slightly bared teeth, he got the message.
Blade would do anything to keep his team safe, even if it meant he'd get hurt in the process. Take the time he saved Dusty at the mineshaft for example, and there were a few times where rouge stallions had attacked the base, or wolves or cougars have, and he'd jumped to the defense. Very few have the privilege to be under his protection, but those that are, are lucky.
A/N: I think this turned out nicely. What do you lot think?
