Disclaimer: Buena Vista owns the Power Rangers. "Things I'll Never Say" is by Avril Lavigne from her album, Let Go.
Timeline: shortly after "Sensei Switcheroo".
Author's Note: deadlines suck. self-imposed deadlines are worse. why put undue stress upon yourself like that? says she who has done exactly that. rolls eyes many thanks to Red for pic and music help, TJ for helping to get everyone confused, Sugarplum for her inspiring enthusiasm, and Starhawk for everything else. :)
by Adrienne Sekitou
I'm tuggin' at my hair, I'm pulling at my clothes
I'm trying to keep my cool, I know it shows
I'm starin' at my feet, my cheeks are turning red
I'm searching for the words inside my head
I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
'Cause I know you're worth it
You're worth it
He put the bag on the shelf quietly. It was a lot lighter than it had been when he had picked it up. If they noticed how much he had eaten, Cam would send him to the pet store for more.
Who knew guinea pig food tasted that good?
Well, other than Sensei.
Blake was busy teasing Shane. Dustin half-expected Hunter to join in, but he just stood smirking behind Cam.
Shane hadn't taken the whole being a guinea pig thing very well at first. Dustin didn't know why. Seriously, if he read comic books more often, then he would know that things like that happen all the time. And the smart guy always fixed it.
Maybe that's why Dustin had adjusted so well. Because he knew the comic book rules, and he knew Cam would fix it. It had actually been fun. Kinda. 'Cept for the fleas. Not something he'd want to do everyday, but still.
Or maybe he had just looked calm in comparison to Shane, who was still freaking over missing his skate demo. Dustin didn't know what his problem was though. Tori said she had made excuses with Kelly, and Shane obviously hadn't been himself.
When Shane decided he had had enough of the jokes, he started heading toward the exit. If he meant it as an escape, it didn't work 'cause everyone followed him. Dustin however didn't get every far.
"Dustin."
He turned, already figuring out how to bribe Tori to stop at the pet store on the way home.
"May I see you a moment?" Sensei asked.
Dustin turned to the others for support.
Shane, just happy not to be the center of attention anymore, grinned and waved as he left up the stairs.
Tori and Blake followed Shane out. Blake gave Dustin a "you're gonna get it" look, that Dustin bet Tori was going to hit him for later.
Hunter and Cam were the last up the stairs, talking about something he didn't really feel up to following.
Wait, Cam was leaving NinjaOps. Okay, he really was in trouble.
Sensei did one of his neat flips, for once not bouncing off Dustin's head, and landed on the table. Dustin moved back to the center of the room, and sat on his yellow pillow when Sensei nodded.
He had no idea what to expect. Sensei was twitching his nose, and Dustin couldn't tell if it was twitching the bad way or not.
Sensei was way scary for a guinea pig.
"Today has been full of deception, has it not?"
Uh oh. This wasn't starting out well. "Uh yes, Sensei. That's for sure."
Sensei walked the length of the table before he spoke again. "My niece was unusually friendly during the battle with Footzilla."
Dustin remained silent. He had no idea what he was supposed to say.
"Unless I am mistaken, Marah waved at me."
Well, that was well, wow. "Why would she do that? I mean, Sensei, you don't get out that much so -- oh. I was you, and you were me. Yeah."
Sensei was twitching his nose again. "Is there something you would like to tell me, Dustin?"
"No. I mean, not really. Uh, maybe?" Dustin had been playing with his belt, rolling up the end. Now he let it fall in frustration. "Could you ask something easier please, Sensei?"
"The ease of the answer depends upon what you have to tell me."
Dustin actually glanced behind him. He'd missed something for sure. Seriously. "Is this a riddle, Sensei? 'Cause I'm not sure I'm following."
More nose twitching. Faster now. This couldn't be good. "Are you still in contact with Marah?"
He understood that question at least. "No, Sensei." He hadn't planned on telling anyone about his post-Beevil conversation with Marah. He couldn't lie to his Sensei, but this wasn't exactly a lie. Was it?
He hadn't talked to Marah in a week. Not since she had shown up at the track. And he had no clue how to call her. Or if there were even phones on an evil space ninja spaceship that could be called.
So he wasn't actually still in contact with her. Kinda. Mostly. So he was telling the truth, right?
Sensei's stare and twitching nose made him nervous enough to try to remember everything he had learned about ninja mind powers. He even wondered a little about Jedi and the Force. Yeah, he was screwed.
Sensei went on. "So her greeting was not motivated by actions on your part?"
He shrugged. "Maybe she just feels guilty about what she did." Aha, that was the truth too. Maybe he'd make it through this after all. Unfortunately, Sensei was not as enthusiastic.
"Is that what you truly believe, Dustin?"
"Yes, Sensei. I mean, even after everything I just can't believe Marah's all bad."
"It is unfortunate then that my niece's actions have done nothing to support your beliefs."
Okay, harsh. And suddenly he found himself defending… what? Her? He didn't know. He was just sure he was right. That he needed to say it. That things weren't always cut and dry, clear and easy. That sometimes you just had to take a chance. And that she was worth it.
"Sensei, how many times were Blake and Hunter trying to take us out?" He ran his hand through his hair. "Okay, so most of those times weren't their fault. But they were really good, things turned out good, so that makes it all, well, good. See? Thing work out, you know?"
Sensei didn't answer at first. He tapped his staff though, and Dustin could only be happy his nose was no longer twitching.
"Your instincts have proven correct in the past, Dustin. And your faith is plentiful. One can only hope that it is not misplaced in this case."
So like, was that approval? He kinda doubted it. Because he hadn't really admitted to anything. And even if he had, he really didn't think Sensei would be all that happy about him talking to a 'bad guy' who had already turned on him once.
He was pretty sure it was a dismissal though. Because Sensei jumped over to his mechanized habit thing, before turning to nod at his student.
Dustin didn't waste any time in leaving. He stood and bowed, and tried to be respectful while moving quickly toward the stairs. He thought he'd been pretty lucky to get out of the conversation that easily. And he didn't want to give Sensei a chance to change his mind.
Halfway up the stairs, he remembered he was alone. He hoped Tori had bullied the others into waiting for him. Otherwise getting home would be fun.
He snagged his backpack from where he had dumped it on the landing, then ran the rest of the way. He stopped when he saw there was still someone on this side of the waterfall. Hunter and Cam were talking near the holographic entryway. He slowed as he got closer. Their conversation stopped when they saw him approaching.
"Don't worry," Cam assured, correctly guessing the reason for Dustin's concern. "They didn't leave you."
"Yeah," Hunter added. "You think we'd leave without finding out what you did wrong to rate a private talk?"
Okay, hadn't thought of that. How was he going to explain this? He hadn't told Sensei about Marah, and he didn't want to tell the others either. And he really didn't want to hear another round of, "she's evil."
Fortunately, Cam came to his rescue. "If I had to guess, I'd say it was about punctuality."
"Yeah, dude. That was totally it." Whew. He didn't think Sensei would tell Cam what he'd talked to Dustin about, but he could never be sure. Either way Dustin was grateful to Cam for the cover story. Hunter looked disappointed that it wasn't something more mock-worthy, but he also didn't look motivated enough to pursue it.
So Dustin just laughed it off, and waved his good-byes as he moved toward the entryway. Hunter called after him, saying he would be there in a sec.
He walked through the illusion, knowing Tori's bus would be waiting on the other side. Knowing he would have to make the excuses and listen to the jokes. Take the ribbing and smile.
But he didn't care. 'Cause he knew he was doing the right thing -- giving her a chance.
She was worth it.
What use is it to you what's on my mind
If it ain't comin' out we're not going anywhere
So why can't I just tell you that I care
'Cause I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
'Cause I know you're worth it
You're worth it
TBC