Disclaimer: I own nothing, as per usual.

Author Notes: To my two reviewers mysterious-muse and Sreym, it means a lot that some people like it! I hope this chapter satisfies. Enjoy!!

Blues

"It's open!" Blake yelled at the knock at the door.

He was just retrieving a carton of ice cream from the freezer when Tori walked in. He smiled at her over his shoulder. As usual, she looked pretty and perfect in a white knee-length skirt and a bright blue vest top, some of her fair hair clipped back with a blue stone-studded clasp. He himself wore dark blue pants and a white t-shirt with a blue shirt unbuttoned over the top. It always made him smile as unintentionally they always matched. Being former Blue rangers (well he was a Navy Ranger but it was near enough) they seemed to think almost identically too. Cam had told Tori she should be honoured as she was the only female Blue Ranger in Power Ranger history so far. She was unique alright, regardless of her Ranger status.

"Hey, how's your day been?" he asked as he finally turned around with the carton in hand.

"Pretty good," she replied, all smiles as he found some spoons. "Dustin finally stated the obvious today and told me and Shane he's gay."

"Really? Finally? Bet he's glad he's through with that," laughed Blake, kissing Tori briefly on the forehead as he handed her a spoon. "Maybe we should have a coming-out party for him?"

"Somehow I don't think he'd appreciate it," said Tori. "It's taken him this long to tell his best friends about his sexuality, I doubt a party celebrating it would be too high on his list of things to do."

Blake nodded at the truth in her words and there was thoughtful silence as the two Blue Rangers dug into the ice cream together. It was a relaxing comfortable feeling and Blake was once again reminded of how much he cared for Tori as he watched her take a seat at their kitchen table. Through fighting by her side he'd grown to greatly care for her as a friend before it blossomed into something more. Thanks to their friends' constant prodding and their own hearts, they'd eventually got together. It had been up and down but happy ever since.

"Hey where's Hunter?" asked Tori suddenly as she looked around.

"Oh he's gone out but the whole silence thing here could mean he's still in, he's been totally silent almost all day," sighed Blake. "I know he's big on the dark and brooding but since joining up with you guys he's changed. Its like now he's taken a massive step back."

"Weird," said Tori, scrunching up her face. "Sounds like he's going through what Dustin did, total personality change only he's doing it after coming out."

Blake laughed. Hunter had been honest about his sexuality from the start. He'd known for a few years that he was gay and had made sure to tell Blake as soon as he felt ready and then the Wind Rangers when he felt they were his friends. They'd all supported him completely with little fuss which was why Dustin's hesitant attitude about coming out had surprised Tori. They already accepted that one of their good friends was gay, what was so hard about accepting another?

"I still don't understand why Dustin couldn't tell us sooner. I mean we didn't freak about Hunter, why would we freak about him?" complained Tori with a frown.

"Hey it's hard for the guy to talk about it probably, even with you and Shane," said Blake gently. "I mean its part of what makes him him and maybe he thought you guys would see him differently if you knew that about him, maybe he thought you'd be weird around him but now he knows you won't be so it's all good."

Tori smiled and drew Blake towards her to give him a simple sweet kiss on the lips.

"You're a smart guy Blake Bradley," she said softly. "Thanks."

"No problem," Blake smiled back. "Now we just need to work out what's eating my brother."

Tori laughed and scooped out one last bite of ice cream before replying.

"He's your brother; you can figure that one out."

Blake smiled, thoughts beginning to form in his head as he connected ideas up.

"Maybe I will," he replied before asking casually. "You up for a hunt tonight?"

There was a silence at the dirt tracks after dark which calmed Hunter and his internal rattling. There had always been something about motocross which had helped him let rip his suppressed emotions twinned with his ninja training which had helped him keep in control. Now, at a time when everything seemed so up in the air, it was motocross which he revelled in to help him keep everything in check. He'd spent the day before sparring with first Shane and then with Blake for a while and eventually some considerable time in meditation with Sensei Orino who had told him to look inwards for his answers.

"As helpful as a fortune cookie," thought Hunter wryly.

He was running out of things to do on his bike to keep him occupied. Soon he'd have to come clean to Blake about what was on his mind before Blake started asking questions himself which could turn awkward. He was glad he'd come clean to Blake about his sexuality early on because now, when he found himself in love, at least he wouldn't shock his brother by telling him it was with another guy.

"Oh no, I'm not going there tonight," he muttered to himself, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

Quickly he pushed off and began circling the track again with a spurt of exhaust. No matter how hard he tried, that person, that guy, that friend, was still in his head. He wouldn't leave no matter how hard Hunter tried to block him out. After some hard thinking and hours spent in meditation, he came to the conclusion that he was in love and soon he would have to confess the identity of his love to his friends.

Kinda difficult when he was in love with one of them.

How did life get so complicated? He thought he knew life. When he worked for Lother, life was simply black and white. Sensei Watanabe had killed his and Blake's parents. His mission was easy; to destroy the Wind Rangers and their Sensei. He hadn't counted on becoming friends with them in real life, the way their friendship would infiltrate them and then the final surprise; the spirits of his parents revealing the real identity of their killer; Lother. Would he go back to that simple vengeful way of thinking?

No.

Although life was now shades of grey, it was much better too. After his Thunder Ranger Powers had been spent locking Lother up, he was still a Ninja and had accepted his Sensei's offer to teach at the Thunder Ninja Academy. When he had time he travelled with Blake as he conquered the motocross circuits courtesy of Factory Blue. They visited meets all around the state and Blake even taught motocross as well to help pay bills. Combining both sides of his life took up a lot of satisfying time, doing the two things he loved the most. The rest of the time he spent staying in trim ninja condition and working on his bike.

And not thinking about him.

Damn.

He skidded to a halt and pounded a gloved hand onto the handlebar. He'd done it again. That guy was not gonna stay out of his head. With a growl he tore his helmet off and began walking the bike along the trackside path. He'd been with other guys before but he'd never had one that stuck in his head this much, making it hard to even breathe without thinking about him. It was getting beyond a joke.

A fuzzy voice entered his consciousness.

"Hunter! Hey dude wait up!! Can you even hear me?"

It seemed to be getting closer. Hunter frowned. Where was it coming from? Then suddenly a blast of exhaust and a motocross bike picked out in yellow flew out over his head and landed in a skid of muddy crazy eights. Hunter found himself breathless even though he'd seen tricks more complicated carried off with more finesse. It was the driver on the bike that took his breath away, especially since he knew the passionate nature which fuelled the careless driving. The driver turned off his engine and pulled off his helmet.

"Hunter, dude are you ok? Looking kinda spaced out there."

Hunter swallowed and took a deep steadying breath.

"Hi Dustin."