Red with Passion, Green With Envy
By Silvered
A/N- Here we go, the next chapter of my newest story, which on my computer is know as RG. Wes finally get's his proper introduction and poor Hunter is getting bowled over by the Collins charm. Enjoy ya'll!
Disclaimer- I DO NOT own Power Rangers or thier respective characters. They belong to the Mouse who graciously lets this poor author use them royalty free (though I'm not so sure they really wanna know what I'm doing with them...if you know what I mean...)
Hunter rambled into the hotel lobby, looking all around with his hands in the pockets of his jumpsuit that covered his normal clothes. It was a rusty color, covered in dirt and grease and he still had some of it on his face from before. Smirking inwardly at the stares he was getting from the patrons, Hunter approached the front desk. "Hi, I'm the mechanic from Storm Chargers here for a Commander Wesley Collins." He'd memorized the name back at the shop so as not to look foolish and just like Dustin, he thought he recognized the name but couldn't place it.
The receptionist looked up with a condescending glare at Hunter's attire, as he smiled brighter to taunt her. Sniffing her nose and pushing a lock of auburn hair out of her eyes, she spoke in a reedy voice. "He's waiting for you in the parking lot on the south side of the building." She pointed to a hallway across the lobby. "Go down there the exit through the door at the end. Commander Collins should be out there as we speak."
"Thank you miss. Been wonderful talking to you." With a playful wink, Hunter turned and walked off, whistling happily with a smirk on his face, just picturing the glare that was centered on his back. He loved taunting women; it was part of his charm and fun to boot. And Blake thought he was flirt…
Hunter was still whistling when he exited through the indicated door and was pulled from his happy place at a call of, "You the mechanic from Storm Chargers?" The whistling stopped when Hunter caught sight of the man who had called out to him, for Hunter was quite speechless. The man was standing by a beautiful red and black Honda motorcycle that would normally have been what caught the teenager's attention; instead it was solely on the young man. Dirty blonde hair, a few shades darker then Hunter's own fell above clear blue eyes and the one of the brightest smiles he'd ever seen. He couldn't have been more then a few years older the Hunter maybe 24, 25 and well built Hunter could tell, even hidden under a red shirt and leather jacket. Sure, all the other Rangers thought he was flirt…what they didn't know was that he did it to hide what he was really looking at. Boys.
"Hey…you okay?" Hunter shook his head as the face he'd just been admiring was closer now, a concerned look creasing the features, breaking him free of his thoughts. Dumbly, Hunter nodded with a small blush. 'Great first impression knuckle head.' The other man smiled that brilliant smile again and moved back a bit, holding out a friendly hand. "I'm sure you got my name from your friend, put please, just call me Wes. I just used the title and last name so the hotel would actually give me some service. I hate throwing it around, but this is an emergency. I need to get home as soon as possible." They stood there for a few moments, Hunter staring at the man still in silent awe and Wes raised an eyebrow, his hand still out stretched. "You come with name? And you sure you're okay?"
Hunter really shook his head this time and took the outstretched hand with a smile. "Hunter Bradley. Sorry I was just admiring y…the bike." He blushed again and Wes raised a playful eyebrow. "Shall we get started if you're in such a hurry?" He brushed past the man so as to hide his embarrassment and knelt by the bike. "So what happened?" He began fiddling with random things just to keep his hands busy and stop them from shaking. Hunter had never been this instantly attracted to someone like this and personally it was scaring the day lights out of him. Wes came over and knelt next to him, 'Breath Bradley, just breath' and opened his mouth to explain the problem with the bike, but he was beaten to it.
"Come out; come out, where ever you are Collins!" Hunter eyes widened as both he and Wes stood up and spun around. He knew the voice and indeed, standing in the middle of the parking lot was Marah and Kapri, complete with a group of Kelzaks. Hunter fell into a defensive stance and much to his surprise, and as a turn on, so did Wes. Kapri wrinkled her nose when she spotted Hunter but she continued on, ignoring his presence. "You, rich boy! You're coming with us!"
Wes had a cocky grin on his face. "And why would I be inclined to do that, mutant?" Hunter was confused by the 'mutant' but he was distracted when Wes reached into his jacket and pulled out a badge. "Silver Guardian, you're under arrest."
Marah pretended to be afraid. "Oh I'm shaking. A Commander with out his command, so how do you plan on arresting us? Your coming with us so we can get a sweet ransom from your rich daddy, plus some of those weapons left over from the mutant attack in Silver Hills." Kapri elbowed her in the ribs as he sister revealed way too much. Hunter rolled his eyes, it was so like Marah.
"This is how I plan on it!" Wes turned to Hunter quickly. "Look I can deal with this, get out of here while you still can." He pushed Hunter away a bit before he could protest. Hunter nodded, not wanting to reveal his identity to the other, in fact he was surprised Marah and Kapri hadn't said a thing to him. He moved to the side and hid behind some cars, hoping for them to get distracted so he could morph, but his head shot up to look up from his hiding place when he heard Wes shout, "TIME FOR TIME FORCE!" And in a flash of red, there stood the Red Time Force Power Ranger.
Hunter's eyes were wide. Now he knew where he knew Wes' name from. Commander Wesley Collins, heir to the fortune of Alan Collins and Bio Lab, co-commander of the Silver Guardians and one of the few Power Rangers who had made their identities public. No wonder Hunter thought he was hot.
Grinning to himself, Hunter stepped from his hiding place, moving his sleeve to reveal his own morpher. "THUNDER STORM, NINJA FORM" and the Crimson Thunder Ranger joined the Red Time Force Ranger in front of the aliens, smirking to himself as he knew there was a shocked look behind that red helmet. But then they both turned their attention back to task at hand.
Kapri and Marah exchanged a wide eyed look. Apparently they had not planned on being faced with one power ranger, much less two. Quickly they backed up. "This isn't over Rangers! I promise you!" Then they and their Kelzacks disappeared in flash of light.
Hunter turned to his fellow ranger as they both powered down and was pleased to see a shocked look on Wes' pretty face. Then Wes burst out laughing. "Well that certainly wasn't expected but thanks." He extended a warm hand again, though in thanks this time.
Hunter shrugged. "I could say the same though I will say it was a pleasant surprise. It's nice to meet a veteran ranger." He shook Wes' hand gladly, but Wes' face had changed when Hunter had mentioned "veteran ranger."
"Look Hunter, I hate to do this, but can I take a rain check on fixing the bike? I need to contact my partner, Erik Myers, The Quantum Ranger," Wes added with a small smirk. "He needs to know what just happened because it sounds like Bio Lab might be one of their targets soon." It was clear he was lost before the statement was out of mouth and Hunter couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. He'd wanted to spend a while longer with the older ranger, but it seemed Wes had work to do now. Hunter could kill Marah and Kapri right now for ruining his chances with Wes.
Hunter nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. "Yeah, sure. Just call the store and arrange with Kelly another time you can have us come out." He turned away, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped. With his luck, it would be Dustin who got to come out to fix Wes' bike and Hunter wouldn't have a prayer, not that he did in the first place since Wes was trying to get out of town quick, but Hunter liked to believe he did. Hell, he didn't even know Wesley Collins swung that way.
"Hey Hunter, wanna grab something to eat tonight? I'd love to hear about the new team…" Hunter looked over his shoulder and thought he saw an almost flirtatious look on Wes' face. A grin spread on Hunter's face as he nodded.
"Sure, I'd really like that actually."
Wes gave him a wink. "Meet me in the lobby about 7?" Hunter nodded again, because it was fine, he'd have enough time to take a shower and get ready after training at Ninja Ops. He didn't care if they talked about Rangering the whole time, the bottom line was, he was going to dinner with Wes, the most gorgeous man he'd ever met, who was not to forget, a ranger as well. Plus he had an excuse to tell the others. It was perfect.