Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize though I wish I owned Jason and Tommy. The things I would do if I did! *drool*
Author's notes: Thank you Pam for reviewing. There are no NC-17 scenes that go with this chapter. Maybe in the next one okay? PLEASE REVIEW!! I can't get enough feedback.
Chapter 1
Set Up
It was the general consensus of their former girlfriends that Jason and Tommy had always been meant for each other; they were just too boneheaded to admit it to themselves and each other. Kim had been the first to come to that conclusion, though it took her time and a fair bit of distance to realize it completely. The understanding that her white knight was secretly in love with his best friend of the same gender and not her was a bit of a shock at first.
So she did the only thing she could think to do while still coming to terms with the realization.
It would be later called the 'dreaded letter' when brought up in jest and Kim admitted it was a slightly callous way to break up with Tommy but any other way would have required a more detailed explanation. Kim wasn't sure if Tommy had admitted his feelings for Jason to himself much less anyone else so that detailed explanation as to why would have to be saved for when he was ready to hear it.
Kim found out about a month later Tommy had taken up with Kat. She couldn't blame her blonde friend, not really. After all, she knew what it was like to get caught up in Tommy's, aloof, but warm, attitude and get lost in those adorable chocolate brown eyes of his. She did however have a few choice words about men and their inability to figure anything out without first being given a swift blow to the back of the head. She contented herself with knowing that once Kat got a little closer she would see the intense attraction between the 'two blockheaded imbeciles' as Kim was now calling them.
Kat saw soon after she started dating Tommy that his heart belonged to someone else but she always thought the first Pink Ranger was the owner. On the way to Muranthias she figured out it was not Kim whom Tommy still loved. The petite gymnast's name may have been the one on his lips but, as the travelled on the Ghost Galleon, it was Jason's picture he held.
Soon after they got underway, Kat noticed that Tommy was missing from the ranks. She found him sitting on a crate near the back of the ship, smoothing a thumb over the image of Jason and trying to regain some control as tears streaked down his face. It was evident to Kat then who held Tommy's heart. You could tell by the way he stroked his fingers over the picture that he had more than brotherly feelings for Jason. She considered approaching him but decided against it. Some things you just don't intrude on, and Kat could tell this was one of those things.
The deep look of longing and pain in Jason's eyes, even under the Maligore's corruption, as Tommy tried to help Kim, did not go unnoticed by Kat either. It looked as though he too thought Kim to be the object of Tommy's affection and was clearly not happy about it. Knowing that Jason had to have some sort of feelings for Tommy eased some of Katherine's apprehension. She was too fond of Tommy to see his heart broken, which, she would later say, got her into the middle of Kim's match maker plans in the first place.
Kat spent half of the ride home watching as Tommy and Jason snuck glances when the other wasn't looking. It was quite amusing and she was having a hard time not giggling at the two of them when Kim made a comment that caught her off guard. "Caught on to it, have you?"
Kat very nearly jumped. She hadn't realized the former Pink Ranger was behind her or that she had discovered what Kat had. "You knew?"
Kim grinned and nodded her head pointedly in the direction of the door. Kat had followed, looking expectantly at her predecessor when the doors shut with a slight hiss, putting them out of hearing range, and started besieging her with questions. "Well? How long have you known? Did Tommy tell you? Are they going out secretly or something? Why in the world did he start dating me?"
"Relax, Kat. We've got a few hours to talk about this. But maybe we should find somewhere more private. I don't think it would be a very good thing if say, Justin, walked in on the conversation." Kim suggested.
"Hmm. It probably wouldn't be the best idea for him to overhear us, or for Bulk and Skull to." Kat could clearly see Kim's point. Discussing their two friends' feelings for each other in front of the new, young Blue Ranger or the two former bullies was not high on her list of priorities. However, satisfying her curiosity about the whole event was.
"The engine room!" Kat exclaimed suddenly. "It's perfect. These are new Zords and there's nothing wrong with them yet. No one has any reason to be going down there!"
Kim giggled at Kat's enthusiasm as the blond girl grabbed her hand and promptly lead her down to the Zord's large and noisy engine. It was loud enough so that if anyone did come in they wouldn't hear the girl's topic of discussion but not loud enough to keep them from chatting. Once they were there, Kat was all ears for whatever Kim had to say.
"Alright, spill it! Tell me!" Kat insisted before they had even made it fully through the door.
"What exactly would you like to know?" Kim asked. She was not above teasing her replacement a little.
"Only everything! And spare no details, please! Ever since Adam and Tanya hooked up I have had very few chances for any girl talk not to mention that this may be the juiciest piece of gossip I have ever managed to stumble upon. Well, except the fact my friends liked to wear spandex and run around fighting monsters. But that's beside the point." Kat reminded herself. It wasn't usual for her to get flustered but she had been rather lonely for another female friend since Tanya and Adam had become a couple and all but joined at the hip.
"What was the point?" Kim wondered.
"For you to tell me everything. Now." Kat replied.
"Well," Kim started. She was as ready to gossip as much as Kat was and seeing as Kat was Tommy's current girlfriend it was her right to know what Kim had deduced on her own. "I know for sure that Jason is gay and has a crush on Tommy. That is concrete. It came directly from the source."
"Directly from the source?" Kat echoed in confusion.
Kim nodded. "Jason told me. That's what the whole scuba diving thing was about. He hasn't told anyone yet but he's planning to soon. I'm the first person in the States to know. Zack and Trini only know because they were there when he was figuring it out. He had a hard time telling me. He knows he's always going to be Jason to me, no matter what, but he was nervous as hell and could hardly get the words out."
"He's certainly done a good job of hiding it from the rest of us! Oh! That must have been hard for him!" Kat commented, feeling sorry for the former Gold Ranger. "How do you know he's got a crush on Tommy? Other than the obvious reasons of course. Did he tell you?"
"I asked him and he said yes but he didn't have to. He was blushing so badly that I knew it was true. He really is quite cute when he's all frazzled. Not something you would normally see..."
Their conversation soon turned into a complete girl talk session. By the time Adam and Tanya came to find them they had covered and analysed every possible aspect they could think of to Tommy and Jason's relationship or lack thereof, the letter and the actual reasons behind it, if Kim had dated anyone since (She had been on a few dates with some guys in the facility she trained at, but nothing serious.), who she would like to be dating (Rocky), who Kat had been interested in and still was to an extend (Billy) and how they were going to get Jason and Tommy together.
When the other two Rangers entered the room, they quickly hushed up and wouldn't say anything further than they had been chatting while exchanging secret smiles. Tanya's eyes narrowed at that.
"You're hiding something." She stated calmly.
Kat sighed and said very seriously, "You're right Tanya. We should have told you sooner. I'm pregnant. Prince Gasket is the father."
"That's not biologically possible, is it?" Adam asked his eyes widening.
Kim and Kat burst out into a flood of giggles at the young man's befuddled expression. Even Tanya had to laugh as Adam flushed a deep shade of crimson that made him look rather like a curly haired tomato.
"Oh Adam, darling, you know I love you, but really you're very naive sometimes." Tanya chuckled.
"Yeah, Kermit. Look up, it says gullible." Kim teased.
Adam flushed an even brighter red but cracked a small smile. "Alright, you've had your fun." He said, waving off the good natured laughter. "We're almost home. Just thought you might like to know and by the looks you're giving me I see if I stay I'm going to be the blunt end of more jokes so if you'll excuse me."
As soon as he was out the door Tanya turned back to her friends, "Okay, spill it. What's up? It looks like you've discovered a fairly juicy piece of gossip that you know you want to share with me."
"We would, Tanya, really but it isn't our place to tell you. It's sort of private. We wouldn't keep anything about ourselves from you," Kat added quickly, "but it's not about us. And I don't think that the person whose secret we know would appreciate it if we told anyone just yet."
Tanya raised an eyebrow, "This isn't going to be a secret for long then?"
"I doubt it." Kim told her. "The person, well, they just need a little time before they're ready to tell everyone. Honestly. Kat guessed. That's the only reason she knows."
"Alright, as long as I do find out eventually I won't press for details." Tanya conceded. "But you might want to come back into the main compartment since we're going to be at the Power Chamber in about oh," Tanya quickly glanced at her watch, "five minutes."
"Wow." Kim commented quietly to Kat as the three girls climbed back up the stairs leading from the engine room. "That went quickly. And to think, I used to hate long trips in the Zords!"
Kat told Jason before the tournament began that she knew of his sexual orientation. She had watched, shocked, as he cringed as if he had been hit and seemed to wait for her to tear into him. When she had placed a gentle hand on his arm and spoken kind, instead of harsh, words all the tension seemed to melt off of him. He had hugged her warmly before he left, and thanked her for understanding, and in that moment Katherine realized that Jason wasn't just the invincible hero she had always thought him to be. He could be just as desperately afraid as she could be; though his fear stemmed from a prejudice he had experienced first hand and hadn't been able to stop.
If anything Jason's surprising reaction spurred Kat on. Kim had decided, even before Jason had revealed his orientation to her, that is was time to do something about her two former leaders. If they hadn't admitted it by now, chances were they were too stubborn or too nervous to admit it all. That is, unless they had a matchmaker friend or two to intervene. And with Kat on board to help her it would make setting them up even easier.
So, it was only natural that the two girls would take on the role cupid had been neglecting.
Their plan took action on the Saturday after the tournament, before Kim had to go back to Florida. It went off without a hitch, both young men not thinking anything of it when they were asked to meet in the quiet, usually deserted area of the park by one of their friends.
Tommy was surprised, however, when he saw Jason sitting and waiting for him on the grassy knoll in the park instead of Kat.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Tommy asked, somewhat surprised.
"Kim told me to meet her here. She wouldn't tell me why. What about you?" Jason inquired.
"Kat told me to meet here her." Tommy grinned ruefully. "Looks like we've been set up, bro."
He meant it as a joke, even though he suspected it was true, but Jason paled. "Not us, me."
"You?" Tommy echoed.
"They set me up." Jason sighed. "I need to tell you something, Tommy, something important."
"And the girls already know?" Tommy commented. That was a bit different. Usually Tommy was the first to know if he had some sort of secret.
"Yeah, I told Kim. Kat kind of figured it out by herself. I would have told you first but I was scared and I knew Kim would understand." Jason told me. "I'm not sure you will. I hope you will but I can't know for sure."
"Jase, you know I'll always understand. Or even if I don't understand I'll never abandon you." Tommy assured him.
Jason took a deep breath and forced the words out without meeting Tommy's eyes. "I'm gay."
There were a few moments of deafening silence that Jason thought he would suffocate in before Tommy sputtered out, "What?!"
Jason stiffened. He didn't need this. He wasn't sure how well he would deal if Tommy rejected their long time friendship, even after all they had been though together, simply because of his sexual orientation. He wasn't sure how he'd take more rejection. If that was what Tommy was planning to do than Jason wasn't going to make it any easier for him.
"I'm gay, Tommy." He repeated firmly.
Only it sounded more like, "I'm gammpf!" because he hadn't even gotten the words out before Tommy pounced on him.
Jason ended up flat on his back, Tommy's lips pressing tightly against his. It took his shocked mind a moment to catch up with the rest of him but when he realized what was happening he responded passionately. He poked his tongue at Tommy's lips, moaning softly when he was granted entry. Their tongues duelled, hesitantly at first, but with growing confidence as the seconds wore on. When they ended the kiss, and they only did so because air became necessary, Jason had taken control as a hungry he had long shoved aside roared back.
It took a few moments after they had broken apart for Tommy to move from his comfortable position half on top of Jason but when he did he quickly scrambled off Jason and out of the heated embrace. Flushing with embarrassment, he began to stutter out apologies. "Oh God, Jase! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have presumed you would want to...I... I didn't mean to...but when you said...I can't believe I actually did that! I..."
"Tommy!" Jason interrupted him, seeing as he wasn't going to get around to a point, or a complete sentence, any time soon. "It's okay. I don't mind. Really, I don't mind at all, but do you think you could tell me what that was about?"
Tommy blushed even further and smiled sheepishly, hesitantly meeting Jason's eyes. "I've wanted, for so long, to be able to kiss you but...but I never thought you would be interested in another guy. I always figured I had no chance with you and didn't want to take the risk because I knew I couldn't lose you as my friend. I was so scared you would hate me for...wanting you as much as I do."
Jason reached out, running a hair through Tommy's long hair before he spoke, "I would never hate you. Even if I didn't feel the same way I wouldn't hate you."
Tommy's head jerked up at that comment. "What?! You…You…"
Jason leered at him, "I've only had a thing for you since you came back as the White Ranger!"
"That long?" Tommy wondered incredulously.
Jason flushed slightly. "Yeah. When you came back I was so excited to see you but there were also a lot of other things I started to feel for you too. It was all confusing, to say the least. I didn't understand any of it until later, when I had sorted myself out."
Tommy nodded in understanding. "When you left for the Peace Conference...I never really told you how badly your leaving affected me. It was horrible. I missed you so badly. It felt like I had lost apart of myself. I had already started analyzing my feelings for Kim and for girls in general, but that was what really made me start thinking about what I felt for you." It was
Tommy's turn to blush at that. "I had some...uh...pretty interesting thoughts sometimes."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Jason asked.
Tommy shrugged. "Probably the same reason you didn't say anything. I was afraid to. I know you would never desert me or anything but I thought you might be a bit weirded out. I didn't want it to drive us apart."
"It wouldn't have. I don't think anything could." Jason said softly, taking Tommy's hand. He titled his head, studying Tommy for a moment before he went on, "Have you ever known anyone who was homophobic?"
"No." Tommy replied, shaking his head. He could see the hurt the dark eyes and knew there was more to that question than Jason was saying. "You have, haven't you?"
Jason hesitated for a moment before nodding. "There was a small, but vocal, group at the Peace Conference that was very homophobic. I never came out there except to Trini and Zack. I wasn't ready to and neither was Darrius. But I saw what it was like for the openly gay students. I've never felt so mad or helpless in my life. These were nice people, who did nothing to deserve being harassed, and nothing they, or anyone else, did could convince those...those damn bigots of that."
Jason sighed, "I never said anything. I mean, I made it clear that I disagreed with them and that I found their views disgusting but I never told anyone I was gay, I kept it a secret so only three people knew. I just...I never fit in at the Peace Conference to begin with. It was a great experience and all but being there never felt right to me. I didn't want anything else to make my life more uncomfortable."
Jason chewed his bottom lip in agitation and sadness, "And, my father...He's always been a bit homophobic. Not to the point where he would say anything to anyone who was gay but he's never been in support of same sex relationships. He didn't really take my coming out very well."
"What happened?" Tommy asked in concern and a bit of horror at the thought. He didn't know what he would do if either of his parent disapproved of him. Their love and support of him was something Tommy had always cherished.
"I would have been kicked out of the house if it wasn't for my mom. She didn't care, expected it even. After I told them my dad started yelling at me and she came to my defence. She says she's working on him, that he'll come around." Jason sighed.
"But?" Tommy prompted.
"But he hasn't spoken to me since I told them. I'm going back and forth between trying to talk to him and making myself scarce. He just ignores me completely, like I'm not even there." Jason replied miserably.
"I'm sorry." Tommy murmured.
Jason shrugged. "It could be worse. My mom is great, she's been really supportive, and my room is in the basement so I can avoid him if I have to."
The words were flat and dull. Tommy could plainly see his father's rejection hurt more than Jason cared to admit. Hesitating because he was unsure of how to proceed, Tommy scooted closer to Jason and pulled him into a close hug. It was awkward at first but after a few moments both boys began to relax slowly.
Tommy ended up with his arm around Jason's shoulders and had Jason's arm loosely around his waist. He was holding Jason's free hand, with their fingers entwined, and had to say he loved the feeling of sitting like that with him. Judging by the way Jason let his head rest on Tommy's shoulder and gave a soft sigh of contentment; the former Ranger was pleased as well.
"This is nice." Tommy murmured.
"Yeah," Jason agreed. He shifted slightly so he could look into Tommy's chocolate eyes.
"What do you think? Should we give 'us' a try? Do you want a...well, do you want to have a boyfriend kind of relationship with me?" Jason asked, blushing faintly. It would be so much easier if he knew how this kind of thing worked! His relationships numbered two. One had been initiated by another and they had kept it secret. The other "relationship", the one he had shared with Emily, had been a cover up for both parties involved.
Tommy raised his head off Jason's chest slightly, smiling at him. He pressed a short, teasing kiss to Jason's lips before answering. "What do you think?"
Jason grinned widely before leaning in for a more involved kiss that made Tommy moan softly. When they had parted at the lips he was a bit dizzy and not from lack of oxygen. He had tried to make himself love Kim, or at least like her to the extent she liked him, but he had never managed getting passed very good friends even when they were dating. Kat had been a comfort when he had been hurt by Kim, then a cover and he was ashamed of the fact he had used her a bit, though unconsciously at first.
He had never gone very far with either girl but he had kissed each of his former girlfriends, and not sparingly either. In the beginning he had tried to feel what he thought he should be feeling for both of them, but it hadn't worked and while the kisses they shared had meant something to him, he had never felt anything much during them, or even in more intimate moments.
Kissing Jason was different. It was an amazing feeling, one he didn't no how to properly put into words. He did know that he wanted to continue kissing Jason and had a hard time tearing himself away from those firm lips even when the need for air became desperate. Fortunately, it seemed like he would be able to indulge himself in the pleasant business of getting to know Jason's mouth much better.
They resumed their former loose hug with a few changes. Tommy was now sitting half in Jason's lap and facing sideways with his arms around the broad back. Jason had both his arms wrapped around Tommy's back, drawing him close enough to be able to smell the fresh scent of the shampoo he used in the long locks.
"Jase?" Tommy said softly after a few moments of simply relishing their closeness.
"Mmm?" Jason replied lazily, perfectly content to just stay sitting there in silence.
"Who's Darrius?" Tommy inquired.
Jason smiled softly in remembrance, "My now ex-boyfriend in Geneva."
"Oh." Tommy was surprised at the squeaky sort of sound he made in response to that answer.
Jason would have chuckled had it not been Tommy in his arms. "We broke up when he went back to Canada, about two months before I came home."
"You had a boyfriend." Tommy managed.
"Does that bother you?" Jason asked, keeping his voice neutral.
"No...Yes...No..." Tommy replied, unsure of why it was bothering him as much as it was. "I figured you would have been in relationships before only I always thought you'd done what I did and tried to have a girlfriend. Why should the fact you've had a boyfriend be any different?"
"Because you wish it had been you, that this was a first time thing for both of us." Jason told him. "And, in a way, I wish it had been that way as well but I'm also glad it isn't. I learned a lot from Darrius, since he was about a year and a half older and had had boyfriends before. I'm glad I got to have that experience."
Jason paused to press his lips tenderly again Tommy's temple, "But even while I was going out with him I had feelings for you. Only I never thought I had a chance to be with you so I buried them. I liked Darrius a lot, he's a great guy, but never in the time we dated did I ever feel half as much for him as I do for you."
Tommy blushed faintly and squirmed a bit, and not only because he had been a bit jealous of a person he had never met. It was rare for Jason to talk about what he was feeling, in that much detail, even to Tommy. And while Tommy was certainly not the type of person to particularly like mushy moments, he decided he definitely enjoyed hearing how deeply Jason cared for him.
Trying to play it off like the words hadn't had as much effect on him as they had, Tommy grinned. "It's a bit silly, I guess. After all, I'm the one sitting with you now, aren't I?"
"And I'm glad you are." Jason replied with a smile. "But it's not that silly. I mean, for the longest time I was jealous of Kim!"
Tommy laughed out loud at that. "Oh man! She would love to know that!"
"But you're not going to tell her, are you?" Jason tried, and failed, to sound threatening.
"I dunno Jase, that's a pretty good piece of blackmail." Tommy mentioned. "Kim would find it very interesting."
"She probably would but she won't find out." Jason said.
"No? And what's going to stop me from telling her?" Tommy teased.
"Me." Jason replied.
The friendly bantering soon turned into a tickle war. Tommy started it when he couldn't think of a reply and instead tickled Jason's ribs, which he knew were ticklish from previous experience. Jason won the fight simply because Tommy was much more ticklish than he was.
When Tommy finally called out, "Alright! You win!", and Jason stopped, satisfied, they
had managed to get into a somewhat compromising position.
Jason was straddling Tommy's hips, his hand's resting on Tommy's sides, and they were both rather flushed. It was actually very innocent. The only way Jason could keep Tommy from twisting away while he tickled his stomach was to pin him down like that and his hands had to go somewhere after he stopped the tickling attack. They were both flushed because they were laughing, although it was safe to say they had another reason for flushing when the tickling stopped.
It was a bit awkward; finding themselves like that but after a few moments where neither boy moved or spoke Jason gave into his instincts and leaned down to kiss Tommy. Tommy responded to the gentle pressure enthusiastically, parting his lips to let Jason's tongue slid inside his mouth and lifting his arms around Jason's neck as the kiss deepened. Their tongues twined together as they leisurely explored each other's mouth.
When they parted, both breathing more heavily than before, Tommy was even more embarrassed than before. He gently slid out of Jason's embrace so he could sit but when the other boy slid an arm around his waist he returned the gesture.
"What's wrong?" Jason inquired softly, hoping he hadn't done something to make his new boyfriend uncomfortable.
Tommy blushed even more, turning a shade of red that would have been humorous under other circumstances. "You and Darrius, you...well, if you dated for awhile you must have...um..."
"Fooled around a bit?" Jason filled in. Tommy nodded silently, waiting for Jason to go on. "Yeah, we did. We dated for nearly two years, Tommy."
"It doesn't bother me or anything." Tommy put in quickly. "It's just that...well, I've never been with another guy, or anyone else, before."
"You're still a virgin." Jason summarized.
Tommy nodded again. "Kim and I did a bit but not much. We were never even fully naked around each other. And Kat...I never got passed kissing her. I basically don't have any experience."
"So?" Jason had reacted in much the same way when he and Darrius had first started their relationship and knew it had helped when his former boyfriend hadn't made a big deal out of it. "Tommy, it doesn't matter to me that you're not experienced. I'm not all that experienced myself."
"Are you a virgin?" Tommy asked, and then blushed at the question. "I shouldn't ask that. Sorry."
"Don't be. And no, I'm not." Jason replied.
"Oh." Tommy managed softly.
"I really don't have that much experience." Jason told him earnestly. "I've only ever been with Darrius and we had sex twice."
Seeing that didn't do much to make Tommy feel better Jason continued. "I didn't have any experience when we started going out either and I think Darrius actually had quite a bit of fun teaching me. And you know I'm not going to push you into doing anything sooner than you want to."
Tommy smiled a bit ruefully. "Sorry. I know I'm being stupid, again, but I'm kind of new to this."
"Don't worry. I am too, really." Jason told him. "And I've got the feeling it's going to be at least fun becoming un-new, if nothing else."
"I hope it's something else too." Tommy murmured as he cuddled closer to Jason.
Jason grinned. "So do I."
Tommy sat silently for a moment before another, lighter, thought tiptoed across his mind. It made him chuckled and at Jason's questioning glance he said, "Kat and Kim set both of us up. They knew this would happen."
Jason's smile grew even broader, "I don't doubt it."
"We should...repay them somehow." Tommy suggested in mock innocence, the wheels of his mind already turning.
"Damn right." Jason agreed. "I wonder if Kim's still as scared of spiders as she used to be..."
Author's notes: Thank you Pam for reviewing. There are no NC-17 scenes that go with this chapter. Maybe in the next one okay? PLEASE REVIEW!! I can't get enough feedback.
Chapter 1
Set Up
It was the general consensus of their former girlfriends that Jason and Tommy had always been meant for each other; they were just too boneheaded to admit it to themselves and each other. Kim had been the first to come to that conclusion, though it took her time and a fair bit of distance to realize it completely. The understanding that her white knight was secretly in love with his best friend of the same gender and not her was a bit of a shock at first.
So she did the only thing she could think to do while still coming to terms with the realization.
It would be later called the 'dreaded letter' when brought up in jest and Kim admitted it was a slightly callous way to break up with Tommy but any other way would have required a more detailed explanation. Kim wasn't sure if Tommy had admitted his feelings for Jason to himself much less anyone else so that detailed explanation as to why would have to be saved for when he was ready to hear it.
Kim found out about a month later Tommy had taken up with Kat. She couldn't blame her blonde friend, not really. After all, she knew what it was like to get caught up in Tommy's, aloof, but warm, attitude and get lost in those adorable chocolate brown eyes of his. She did however have a few choice words about men and their inability to figure anything out without first being given a swift blow to the back of the head. She contented herself with knowing that once Kat got a little closer she would see the intense attraction between the 'two blockheaded imbeciles' as Kim was now calling them.
Kat saw soon after she started dating Tommy that his heart belonged to someone else but she always thought the first Pink Ranger was the owner. On the way to Muranthias she figured out it was not Kim whom Tommy still loved. The petite gymnast's name may have been the one on his lips but, as the travelled on the Ghost Galleon, it was Jason's picture he held.
Soon after they got underway, Kat noticed that Tommy was missing from the ranks. She found him sitting on a crate near the back of the ship, smoothing a thumb over the image of Jason and trying to regain some control as tears streaked down his face. It was evident to Kat then who held Tommy's heart. You could tell by the way he stroked his fingers over the picture that he had more than brotherly feelings for Jason. She considered approaching him but decided against it. Some things you just don't intrude on, and Kat could tell this was one of those things.
The deep look of longing and pain in Jason's eyes, even under the Maligore's corruption, as Tommy tried to help Kim, did not go unnoticed by Kat either. It looked as though he too thought Kim to be the object of Tommy's affection and was clearly not happy about it. Knowing that Jason had to have some sort of feelings for Tommy eased some of Katherine's apprehension. She was too fond of Tommy to see his heart broken, which, she would later say, got her into the middle of Kim's match maker plans in the first place.
Kat spent half of the ride home watching as Tommy and Jason snuck glances when the other wasn't looking. It was quite amusing and she was having a hard time not giggling at the two of them when Kim made a comment that caught her off guard. "Caught on to it, have you?"
Kat very nearly jumped. She hadn't realized the former Pink Ranger was behind her or that she had discovered what Kat had. "You knew?"
Kim grinned and nodded her head pointedly in the direction of the door. Kat had followed, looking expectantly at her predecessor when the doors shut with a slight hiss, putting them out of hearing range, and started besieging her with questions. "Well? How long have you known? Did Tommy tell you? Are they going out secretly or something? Why in the world did he start dating me?"
"Relax, Kat. We've got a few hours to talk about this. But maybe we should find somewhere more private. I don't think it would be a very good thing if say, Justin, walked in on the conversation." Kim suggested.
"Hmm. It probably wouldn't be the best idea for him to overhear us, or for Bulk and Skull to." Kat could clearly see Kim's point. Discussing their two friends' feelings for each other in front of the new, young Blue Ranger or the two former bullies was not high on her list of priorities. However, satisfying her curiosity about the whole event was.
"The engine room!" Kat exclaimed suddenly. "It's perfect. These are new Zords and there's nothing wrong with them yet. No one has any reason to be going down there!"
Kim giggled at Kat's enthusiasm as the blond girl grabbed her hand and promptly lead her down to the Zord's large and noisy engine. It was loud enough so that if anyone did come in they wouldn't hear the girl's topic of discussion but not loud enough to keep them from chatting. Once they were there, Kat was all ears for whatever Kim had to say.
"Alright, spill it! Tell me!" Kat insisted before they had even made it fully through the door.
"What exactly would you like to know?" Kim asked. She was not above teasing her replacement a little.
"Only everything! And spare no details, please! Ever since Adam and Tanya hooked up I have had very few chances for any girl talk not to mention that this may be the juiciest piece of gossip I have ever managed to stumble upon. Well, except the fact my friends liked to wear spandex and run around fighting monsters. But that's beside the point." Kat reminded herself. It wasn't usual for her to get flustered but she had been rather lonely for another female friend since Tanya and Adam had become a couple and all but joined at the hip.
"What was the point?" Kim wondered.
"For you to tell me everything. Now." Kat replied.
"Well," Kim started. She was as ready to gossip as much as Kat was and seeing as Kat was Tommy's current girlfriend it was her right to know what Kim had deduced on her own. "I know for sure that Jason is gay and has a crush on Tommy. That is concrete. It came directly from the source."
"Directly from the source?" Kat echoed in confusion.
Kim nodded. "Jason told me. That's what the whole scuba diving thing was about. He hasn't told anyone yet but he's planning to soon. I'm the first person in the States to know. Zack and Trini only know because they were there when he was figuring it out. He had a hard time telling me. He knows he's always going to be Jason to me, no matter what, but he was nervous as hell and could hardly get the words out."
"He's certainly done a good job of hiding it from the rest of us! Oh! That must have been hard for him!" Kat commented, feeling sorry for the former Gold Ranger. "How do you know he's got a crush on Tommy? Other than the obvious reasons of course. Did he tell you?"
"I asked him and he said yes but he didn't have to. He was blushing so badly that I knew it was true. He really is quite cute when he's all frazzled. Not something you would normally see..."
Their conversation soon turned into a complete girl talk session. By the time Adam and Tanya came to find them they had covered and analysed every possible aspect they could think of to Tommy and Jason's relationship or lack thereof, the letter and the actual reasons behind it, if Kim had dated anyone since (She had been on a few dates with some guys in the facility she trained at, but nothing serious.), who she would like to be dating (Rocky), who Kat had been interested in and still was to an extend (Billy) and how they were going to get Jason and Tommy together.
When the other two Rangers entered the room, they quickly hushed up and wouldn't say anything further than they had been chatting while exchanging secret smiles. Tanya's eyes narrowed at that.
"You're hiding something." She stated calmly.
Kat sighed and said very seriously, "You're right Tanya. We should have told you sooner. I'm pregnant. Prince Gasket is the father."
"That's not biologically possible, is it?" Adam asked his eyes widening.
Kim and Kat burst out into a flood of giggles at the young man's befuddled expression. Even Tanya had to laugh as Adam flushed a deep shade of crimson that made him look rather like a curly haired tomato.
"Oh Adam, darling, you know I love you, but really you're very naive sometimes." Tanya chuckled.
"Yeah, Kermit. Look up, it says gullible." Kim teased.
Adam flushed an even brighter red but cracked a small smile. "Alright, you've had your fun." He said, waving off the good natured laughter. "We're almost home. Just thought you might like to know and by the looks you're giving me I see if I stay I'm going to be the blunt end of more jokes so if you'll excuse me."
As soon as he was out the door Tanya turned back to her friends, "Okay, spill it. What's up? It looks like you've discovered a fairly juicy piece of gossip that you know you want to share with me."
"We would, Tanya, really but it isn't our place to tell you. It's sort of private. We wouldn't keep anything about ourselves from you," Kat added quickly, "but it's not about us. And I don't think that the person whose secret we know would appreciate it if we told anyone just yet."
Tanya raised an eyebrow, "This isn't going to be a secret for long then?"
"I doubt it." Kim told her. "The person, well, they just need a little time before they're ready to tell everyone. Honestly. Kat guessed. That's the only reason she knows."
"Alright, as long as I do find out eventually I won't press for details." Tanya conceded. "But you might want to come back into the main compartment since we're going to be at the Power Chamber in about oh," Tanya quickly glanced at her watch, "five minutes."
"Wow." Kim commented quietly to Kat as the three girls climbed back up the stairs leading from the engine room. "That went quickly. And to think, I used to hate long trips in the Zords!"
Kat told Jason before the tournament began that she knew of his sexual orientation. She had watched, shocked, as he cringed as if he had been hit and seemed to wait for her to tear into him. When she had placed a gentle hand on his arm and spoken kind, instead of harsh, words all the tension seemed to melt off of him. He had hugged her warmly before he left, and thanked her for understanding, and in that moment Katherine realized that Jason wasn't just the invincible hero she had always thought him to be. He could be just as desperately afraid as she could be; though his fear stemmed from a prejudice he had experienced first hand and hadn't been able to stop.
If anything Jason's surprising reaction spurred Kat on. Kim had decided, even before Jason had revealed his orientation to her, that is was time to do something about her two former leaders. If they hadn't admitted it by now, chances were they were too stubborn or too nervous to admit it all. That is, unless they had a matchmaker friend or two to intervene. And with Kat on board to help her it would make setting them up even easier.
So, it was only natural that the two girls would take on the role cupid had been neglecting.
Their plan took action on the Saturday after the tournament, before Kim had to go back to Florida. It went off without a hitch, both young men not thinking anything of it when they were asked to meet in the quiet, usually deserted area of the park by one of their friends.
Tommy was surprised, however, when he saw Jason sitting and waiting for him on the grassy knoll in the park instead of Kat.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Tommy asked, somewhat surprised.
"Kim told me to meet her here. She wouldn't tell me why. What about you?" Jason inquired.
"Kat told me to meet here her." Tommy grinned ruefully. "Looks like we've been set up, bro."
He meant it as a joke, even though he suspected it was true, but Jason paled. "Not us, me."
"You?" Tommy echoed.
"They set me up." Jason sighed. "I need to tell you something, Tommy, something important."
"And the girls already know?" Tommy commented. That was a bit different. Usually Tommy was the first to know if he had some sort of secret.
"Yeah, I told Kim. Kat kind of figured it out by herself. I would have told you first but I was scared and I knew Kim would understand." Jason told me. "I'm not sure you will. I hope you will but I can't know for sure."
"Jase, you know I'll always understand. Or even if I don't understand I'll never abandon you." Tommy assured him.
Jason took a deep breath and forced the words out without meeting Tommy's eyes. "I'm gay."
There were a few moments of deafening silence that Jason thought he would suffocate in before Tommy sputtered out, "What?!"
Jason stiffened. He didn't need this. He wasn't sure how well he would deal if Tommy rejected their long time friendship, even after all they had been though together, simply because of his sexual orientation. He wasn't sure how he'd take more rejection. If that was what Tommy was planning to do than Jason wasn't going to make it any easier for him.
"I'm gay, Tommy." He repeated firmly.
Only it sounded more like, "I'm gammpf!" because he hadn't even gotten the words out before Tommy pounced on him.
Jason ended up flat on his back, Tommy's lips pressing tightly against his. It took his shocked mind a moment to catch up with the rest of him but when he realized what was happening he responded passionately. He poked his tongue at Tommy's lips, moaning softly when he was granted entry. Their tongues duelled, hesitantly at first, but with growing confidence as the seconds wore on. When they ended the kiss, and they only did so because air became necessary, Jason had taken control as a hungry he had long shoved aside roared back.
It took a few moments after they had broken apart for Tommy to move from his comfortable position half on top of Jason but when he did he quickly scrambled off Jason and out of the heated embrace. Flushing with embarrassment, he began to stutter out apologies. "Oh God, Jase! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have presumed you would want to...I... I didn't mean to...but when you said...I can't believe I actually did that! I..."
"Tommy!" Jason interrupted him, seeing as he wasn't going to get around to a point, or a complete sentence, any time soon. "It's okay. I don't mind. Really, I don't mind at all, but do you think you could tell me what that was about?"
Tommy blushed even further and smiled sheepishly, hesitantly meeting Jason's eyes. "I've wanted, for so long, to be able to kiss you but...but I never thought you would be interested in another guy. I always figured I had no chance with you and didn't want to take the risk because I knew I couldn't lose you as my friend. I was so scared you would hate me for...wanting you as much as I do."
Jason reached out, running a hair through Tommy's long hair before he spoke, "I would never hate you. Even if I didn't feel the same way I wouldn't hate you."
Tommy's head jerked up at that comment. "What?! You…You…"
Jason leered at him, "I've only had a thing for you since you came back as the White Ranger!"
"That long?" Tommy wondered incredulously.
Jason flushed slightly. "Yeah. When you came back I was so excited to see you but there were also a lot of other things I started to feel for you too. It was all confusing, to say the least. I didn't understand any of it until later, when I had sorted myself out."
Tommy nodded in understanding. "When you left for the Peace Conference...I never really told you how badly your leaving affected me. It was horrible. I missed you so badly. It felt like I had lost apart of myself. I had already started analyzing my feelings for Kim and for girls in general, but that was what really made me start thinking about what I felt for you." It was
Tommy's turn to blush at that. "I had some...uh...pretty interesting thoughts sometimes."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Jason asked.
Tommy shrugged. "Probably the same reason you didn't say anything. I was afraid to. I know you would never desert me or anything but I thought you might be a bit weirded out. I didn't want it to drive us apart."
"It wouldn't have. I don't think anything could." Jason said softly, taking Tommy's hand. He titled his head, studying Tommy for a moment before he went on, "Have you ever known anyone who was homophobic?"
"No." Tommy replied, shaking his head. He could see the hurt the dark eyes and knew there was more to that question than Jason was saying. "You have, haven't you?"
Jason hesitated for a moment before nodding. "There was a small, but vocal, group at the Peace Conference that was very homophobic. I never came out there except to Trini and Zack. I wasn't ready to and neither was Darrius. But I saw what it was like for the openly gay students. I've never felt so mad or helpless in my life. These were nice people, who did nothing to deserve being harassed, and nothing they, or anyone else, did could convince those...those damn bigots of that."
Jason sighed, "I never said anything. I mean, I made it clear that I disagreed with them and that I found their views disgusting but I never told anyone I was gay, I kept it a secret so only three people knew. I just...I never fit in at the Peace Conference to begin with. It was a great experience and all but being there never felt right to me. I didn't want anything else to make my life more uncomfortable."
Jason chewed his bottom lip in agitation and sadness, "And, my father...He's always been a bit homophobic. Not to the point where he would say anything to anyone who was gay but he's never been in support of same sex relationships. He didn't really take my coming out very well."
"What happened?" Tommy asked in concern and a bit of horror at the thought. He didn't know what he would do if either of his parent disapproved of him. Their love and support of him was something Tommy had always cherished.
"I would have been kicked out of the house if it wasn't for my mom. She didn't care, expected it even. After I told them my dad started yelling at me and she came to my defence. She says she's working on him, that he'll come around." Jason sighed.
"But?" Tommy prompted.
"But he hasn't spoken to me since I told them. I'm going back and forth between trying to talk to him and making myself scarce. He just ignores me completely, like I'm not even there." Jason replied miserably.
"I'm sorry." Tommy murmured.
Jason shrugged. "It could be worse. My mom is great, she's been really supportive, and my room is in the basement so I can avoid him if I have to."
The words were flat and dull. Tommy could plainly see his father's rejection hurt more than Jason cared to admit. Hesitating because he was unsure of how to proceed, Tommy scooted closer to Jason and pulled him into a close hug. It was awkward at first but after a few moments both boys began to relax slowly.
Tommy ended up with his arm around Jason's shoulders and had Jason's arm loosely around his waist. He was holding Jason's free hand, with their fingers entwined, and had to say he loved the feeling of sitting like that with him. Judging by the way Jason let his head rest on Tommy's shoulder and gave a soft sigh of contentment; the former Ranger was pleased as well.
"This is nice." Tommy murmured.
"Yeah," Jason agreed. He shifted slightly so he could look into Tommy's chocolate eyes.
"What do you think? Should we give 'us' a try? Do you want a...well, do you want to have a boyfriend kind of relationship with me?" Jason asked, blushing faintly. It would be so much easier if he knew how this kind of thing worked! His relationships numbered two. One had been initiated by another and they had kept it secret. The other "relationship", the one he had shared with Emily, had been a cover up for both parties involved.
Tommy raised his head off Jason's chest slightly, smiling at him. He pressed a short, teasing kiss to Jason's lips before answering. "What do you think?"
Jason grinned widely before leaning in for a more involved kiss that made Tommy moan softly. When they had parted at the lips he was a bit dizzy and not from lack of oxygen. He had tried to make himself love Kim, or at least like her to the extent she liked him, but he had never managed getting passed very good friends even when they were dating. Kat had been a comfort when he had been hurt by Kim, then a cover and he was ashamed of the fact he had used her a bit, though unconsciously at first.
He had never gone very far with either girl but he had kissed each of his former girlfriends, and not sparingly either. In the beginning he had tried to feel what he thought he should be feeling for both of them, but it hadn't worked and while the kisses they shared had meant something to him, he had never felt anything much during them, or even in more intimate moments.
Kissing Jason was different. It was an amazing feeling, one he didn't no how to properly put into words. He did know that he wanted to continue kissing Jason and had a hard time tearing himself away from those firm lips even when the need for air became desperate. Fortunately, it seemed like he would be able to indulge himself in the pleasant business of getting to know Jason's mouth much better.
They resumed their former loose hug with a few changes. Tommy was now sitting half in Jason's lap and facing sideways with his arms around the broad back. Jason had both his arms wrapped around Tommy's back, drawing him close enough to be able to smell the fresh scent of the shampoo he used in the long locks.
"Jase?" Tommy said softly after a few moments of simply relishing their closeness.
"Mmm?" Jason replied lazily, perfectly content to just stay sitting there in silence.
"Who's Darrius?" Tommy inquired.
Jason smiled softly in remembrance, "My now ex-boyfriend in Geneva."
"Oh." Tommy was surprised at the squeaky sort of sound he made in response to that answer.
Jason would have chuckled had it not been Tommy in his arms. "We broke up when he went back to Canada, about two months before I came home."
"You had a boyfriend." Tommy managed.
"Does that bother you?" Jason asked, keeping his voice neutral.
"No...Yes...No..." Tommy replied, unsure of why it was bothering him as much as it was. "I figured you would have been in relationships before only I always thought you'd done what I did and tried to have a girlfriend. Why should the fact you've had a boyfriend be any different?"
"Because you wish it had been you, that this was a first time thing for both of us." Jason told him. "And, in a way, I wish it had been that way as well but I'm also glad it isn't. I learned a lot from Darrius, since he was about a year and a half older and had had boyfriends before. I'm glad I got to have that experience."
Jason paused to press his lips tenderly again Tommy's temple, "But even while I was going out with him I had feelings for you. Only I never thought I had a chance to be with you so I buried them. I liked Darrius a lot, he's a great guy, but never in the time we dated did I ever feel half as much for him as I do for you."
Tommy blushed faintly and squirmed a bit, and not only because he had been a bit jealous of a person he had never met. It was rare for Jason to talk about what he was feeling, in that much detail, even to Tommy. And while Tommy was certainly not the type of person to particularly like mushy moments, he decided he definitely enjoyed hearing how deeply Jason cared for him.
Trying to play it off like the words hadn't had as much effect on him as they had, Tommy grinned. "It's a bit silly, I guess. After all, I'm the one sitting with you now, aren't I?"
"And I'm glad you are." Jason replied with a smile. "But it's not that silly. I mean, for the longest time I was jealous of Kim!"
Tommy laughed out loud at that. "Oh man! She would love to know that!"
"But you're not going to tell her, are you?" Jason tried, and failed, to sound threatening.
"I dunno Jase, that's a pretty good piece of blackmail." Tommy mentioned. "Kim would find it very interesting."
"She probably would but she won't find out." Jason said.
"No? And what's going to stop me from telling her?" Tommy teased.
"Me." Jason replied.
The friendly bantering soon turned into a tickle war. Tommy started it when he couldn't think of a reply and instead tickled Jason's ribs, which he knew were ticklish from previous experience. Jason won the fight simply because Tommy was much more ticklish than he was.
When Tommy finally called out, "Alright! You win!", and Jason stopped, satisfied, they
had managed to get into a somewhat compromising position.
Jason was straddling Tommy's hips, his hand's resting on Tommy's sides, and they were both rather flushed. It was actually very innocent. The only way Jason could keep Tommy from twisting away while he tickled his stomach was to pin him down like that and his hands had to go somewhere after he stopped the tickling attack. They were both flushed because they were laughing, although it was safe to say they had another reason for flushing when the tickling stopped.
It was a bit awkward; finding themselves like that but after a few moments where neither boy moved or spoke Jason gave into his instincts and leaned down to kiss Tommy. Tommy responded to the gentle pressure enthusiastically, parting his lips to let Jason's tongue slid inside his mouth and lifting his arms around Jason's neck as the kiss deepened. Their tongues twined together as they leisurely explored each other's mouth.
When they parted, both breathing more heavily than before, Tommy was even more embarrassed than before. He gently slid out of Jason's embrace so he could sit but when the other boy slid an arm around his waist he returned the gesture.
"What's wrong?" Jason inquired softly, hoping he hadn't done something to make his new boyfriend uncomfortable.
Tommy blushed even more, turning a shade of red that would have been humorous under other circumstances. "You and Darrius, you...well, if you dated for awhile you must have...um..."
"Fooled around a bit?" Jason filled in. Tommy nodded silently, waiting for Jason to go on. "Yeah, we did. We dated for nearly two years, Tommy."
"It doesn't bother me or anything." Tommy put in quickly. "It's just that...well, I've never been with another guy, or anyone else, before."
"You're still a virgin." Jason summarized.
Tommy nodded again. "Kim and I did a bit but not much. We were never even fully naked around each other. And Kat...I never got passed kissing her. I basically don't have any experience."
"So?" Jason had reacted in much the same way when he and Darrius had first started their relationship and knew it had helped when his former boyfriend hadn't made a big deal out of it. "Tommy, it doesn't matter to me that you're not experienced. I'm not all that experienced myself."
"Are you a virgin?" Tommy asked, and then blushed at the question. "I shouldn't ask that. Sorry."
"Don't be. And no, I'm not." Jason replied.
"Oh." Tommy managed softly.
"I really don't have that much experience." Jason told him earnestly. "I've only ever been with Darrius and we had sex twice."
Seeing that didn't do much to make Tommy feel better Jason continued. "I didn't have any experience when we started going out either and I think Darrius actually had quite a bit of fun teaching me. And you know I'm not going to push you into doing anything sooner than you want to."
Tommy smiled a bit ruefully. "Sorry. I know I'm being stupid, again, but I'm kind of new to this."
"Don't worry. I am too, really." Jason told him. "And I've got the feeling it's going to be at least fun becoming un-new, if nothing else."
"I hope it's something else too." Tommy murmured as he cuddled closer to Jason.
Jason grinned. "So do I."
Tommy sat silently for a moment before another, lighter, thought tiptoed across his mind. It made him chuckled and at Jason's questioning glance he said, "Kat and Kim set both of us up. They knew this would happen."
Jason's smile grew even broader, "I don't doubt it."
"We should...repay them somehow." Tommy suggested in mock innocence, the wheels of his mind already turning.
"Damn right." Jason agreed. "I wonder if Kim's still as scared of spiders as she used to be..."