Disclaimers: Still not owning Ninja Storm…never will unless I hit Powerball.

Special Projects and the Eccentric Habit of a Yellow Ranger

Dustin sat at the table in Ninja Ops, which was silent due to the fact that the place was empty.  The only sounds to be heard were the clattering of small objects on the wooden table.  The yellow Ranger had been carefully sorting the objects on the table, oblivious to the fact that he was no longer alone.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt hands grab his shoulders firmly.  After he recovered, he looked up to see someone smiling down at him. 

"Surprise," Shane said, then bent over to kiss Dustin's head.

"I thought you had some skating thing."

"I did, but it was lame so I bailed."

"How'd you know I was here?"

"When I left the park, I figured you'd be at the track with Hunter and Blake.  So when I saw you weren't there, I asked them.  They didn't know but I did see Cam.  He's the one that told me you were here.  So, why *are* you here?  Why aren't you at the track with the others?"

"I didn't feel like riding today."

"Why not?"

"'Cause I'm sick of being beaten by Blake and Hunter all the time.  That kinda takes the fun out of racing."

"Dude, you ride a 125.  Those two are on 250s."

"Still."

Shane sighed, knowing this was only going to continue with Dustin beating himself up.  He sat down behind Dustin, scooting up until he was pressed against the smaller man.  His arms went around Dustin's waist.

"You do realize we're in Ops and Sensei can come wondering in any second now?" Dustin asked, still working on what he had earlier begun.

"Fine," Shane said, standing.

"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant."

Dustin stared at Shane, who was looking at nothing in particular.  Dustin let his eyes drift back down to the table, sliding the small objects around.  He didn't hear Shane move, but knew he did when Shane's hands were on his shoulders again.  This time Shane sat next to Dustin, but still had an arm curled around Dustin's waist.

"So, what are you doing?" Shane asked.

"I gotta get 'em separated."

"Why?"

Dustin shrugged, continuing to work.  Shane leaned his head against Dustin's shoulder, watching Dustin complete the task. 

"Do you always play with your candy?" Shane asked.

"Just these."

"And why are your M&Ms separated by color?"

"So I can eat them in the right order."

Shane groaned, then buried his face in Dustin's shoulder.  "You actually do that?"

"Yup, ever since I was little."

Shane reached for a red one, but his hand was immediately smacked away.

"No one touches my red M&Ms.  No one," Dustin said seriously.

"But I'm the red Ranger, it's my color."

"Dude, I love you, but *no one* touches my red M&Ms.  That goes for the yellow ones too.  The others you can have."

Shane snorted.  "I get the leftovers."

"You don't have to have any, ya know."

Dustin took an orange one and popped it in his mouth, crunching away happily until he noticed Shane sneak a red one.  Shane was on his feet in a flash, backing away toward the door with Dustin stalking him.

"One more step and it goes in my mouth," Shane taunted.

Dustin took a careful step back, but his eyes never left the hostage-taking Shane. 

"What do you want for it?" Dustin asked.

"The yellow ones."

Dustin thought for a moment.  Was he willing to sacrifice one red in order to save his small pile of yellows? 

Dustin pounced, taking Shane by surprise.  They wrestled around for the M&M, and Dustin had yet to get it back.  And it wasn't until someone disturbed them that Dustin got his M&M back.

"Whoa dudes!  I didn't need the visual!" they heard Hunter exclaim.

"It's not what it looks like," Shane said, looking up, still pinned to the floor by Dustin.

Dustin didn't say anything, he simply used the distraction to get his M&M back.  Then he stood, smiling over a still prone Shane.

"You stay away from my M&Ms," Dustin said, then headed back to the table.

"Dude, you got your butt kicked over an M&M?" Hunter asked, following Cam over to the computer.

Shane shrugged, "He takes them very seriously."

Shane got up and sat next to Dustin, who was oblivious to the other two in the room.  He was just watching Shane, guarding his red and yellow M&Ms.

"Dude, don't worry.  I won't touch them.  I promise," Shane said, his hands in the air for added effect.

But Dustin's look didn't waver.  He simply popped a brown one in his mouth. 

"So, what colors are you particular to?" Hunter asked, standing over both of them.

"Red and yellow."

"Mind if I grab the green ones?" he asked.

"They're all yours."

"Thanks bro," Hunter said, then took the few green M&Ms.

Dustin, who was still guarding his two piles, looked from Shane over to Hunter and Cam.  Hunter had given the green ones to Cam, who ate one while feeding Hunter another.  Dustin took a cue from the other couple and looked down to his own pair of piles.  He'd always been fussy over his M&Ms, saving the reds and yellows until last. 

Maybe there was such a thing as destiny and/or fate after all?

There were only a few reds, but he slid them over to Shane.  Shane looked at him quizzically, but said nothing.  He had been watching Hunter and Cam over Dustin's shoulder.

"Red's your color," Dustin quietly explained.

But he was surprised when Shane slid a pair of reds back and took a pair of yellows.

"I like 'em both together."