Summary: AU. Sometimes she wished she wasn't a princess, as glamorous as could get, there were so many downsides to being royalty. One-shot for now. Jason x Kim.
Rated: T
Genres: Romance.
Warnings: Mild Violence, Suggestive Language.
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
It's quiet. But she likes the quiet. It's a nice change of pace from the usual loudness, her mother's not-so-subtle matchmaking. All the princes her mother had introduced her to were all so pedestrian. Like they were the exact same person. The guards were all much more interesting than any prince her mother could possibly introduce her to. If only she could marry one of them, but she knows that was simply impossible. Her mother would never approve of it, and she would have to for any union to ever take place. And it was only a matter of time before her mother learned of her late night trips to their living quarters. Or of the defense lessons she had convinced them to give her. Kim sighs, ceasing with her writing.
Sometimes she wished she wasn't a princess, as glamorous as her life would often get, there were so many downsides to being royalty. She could never make her own decisions, she couldn't even pick her own clothes. Let alone who she would spend the rest of her life with. Suddenly, the lights went out, a chill running through her bedroom. She shivers, quickly lighting a few candles. There's rustling coming from outside, and she stiffens, ready for whatever was out there. Remembering that Kat had given her a lantern, Kim digs it out of her closet before making her way over to the balcony door. She sees nothing at first, only the trees, and some animals running about below. But then she hears someone groaning in pain.
When her eyes finally land on him, the lantern slips from her hand, shattering on the ground. And she's sure she screams, a deafening scream. A scream of sheer terror because who could have done this to her friend. Guards rush into the room, scrambling to free their friend and comrade from the mesh trap he was in. By the time they do get him free, tears are running down her face. But even in her state, she can't help but notice how Jason stays behind. He rests a comforting hand on her shoulder, kneeling in front of her. "He's going to be fine. Tommy's a tough guy."
"You saw him. Who would do this?" She manages to get out. He swallows, obviously not having an answer.
The next few days are hectic to say the least, but it was expected. Of course there would be panic if one of the best royal guards were found tortured. And this set about a race to find the culprit. And how exactly they figured it out would have to be a story for another time, but they would figure out that the culprits were after the princess. The queen assigns two guards to escort her everywhere, while the queen herself sits down for secret talks behind closed doors. This goes on for several weeks, until the queen calls for yet another emergency talk. This time with only Kim, and the best of the royal guards, with the exception of Tommy who's still in the infirmary. But she can't help but notice how the guards are sat much further away than usual.
The queen goes on speaking, and Kim drowns most of what she was saying, something that had become second nature. But she eyes the guards, and their uncharacteristic emotionless expressions only worries her. What was the queen planning? Then it all comes out; a fake husband to protect her, and whoever was after her had already made it clear that they meant business. An old law that even the queen had forgotten existed. And the guards don't even try to protest, but knowing them they probably already did, unsuccessfully. (The queen was always a pretty stubborn person.) The 'wedding' doesn't even feel like a wedding, it's silent, and not the kind of silence she likes. This is painfully awkward, and she just wishes it was over.
The walk back to her room is just as silent. "Let's just go to bed."
"Right. I'll take the couch."
"You, you don't have to. If this is going to be long term, you should comfortable too." It was just sharing a bed, and her bed was plenty big enough for the two of them.
"It's fine." He smiles at her, the first time she'd ever seen him smile. She tries her best to ignore the way her stomach flutters when he does.
She grabs his arm, feeling his muscles even underneath his guards uniform. "And you sharing my bed is fine with me."
It's only then that she notices just how close they had gotten. 'Kiss me.' the thought shocks her, and she lets go of his arm. She lets him go, "um I'm going to take a shower. You can get comfortable."
When she comes back out, he's already in the bed, most of his uniform is laid neatly across the room. She joins him, sleep clawing at her. "Jason?"
He mumbles a response. "How long do you think this is going to last?"
He shifts behind her. "I don't know. But I promise you we will find them."
She rolls onto her side. "You promise?"
He brushes a stray piece of hair behind her ear, but his hand remains planted on her cheek. "I promise princess."
What makes her do this, she doesn't know. But she kisses him. And what really surprises her, is the fact that he kisses her back.
There were a lot of things she wishes she could say. She wishes she could say this was a story about love conquering all, and the two lovers ride off into the sunset, and live happily ever after. But this isn't one of those stories. And her wedding isn't the best day of her life, not by any means. She didn't even know she was getting married until the very last minute. Her wedding night was mostly awkward, and whether it was the sexual tension, or just the shock, she may never know. But it was certainly better than the actual wedding, if you could even call it a wedding. With his lips pressed against hers in a soft, sensual kiss. She wishes she could say this kiss had solved all of their problems. But it hadn't. Someone out there still wanted her dead.
She wakes up the next morning, her clothes still on, even though she really wishes she could say they weren't. Jason's guard uniform is gone, and she can hear the shower running. The thought of joining him briefly enters her mind, but she pushes it away. They were probably already late for brunch, the brunch that was supposed to celebrate their marriage. Surely it was only to keep up the appearance that this was a real marriage to anyone outside of the two of them, the queen, and the royal guards' best. The bathroom door opens, and she's sure her heart stops at the sight of his shirtless and wet body. And she's almost positive he was blushing, and he quickly looks away from her.
"Sorry I thought you were still sleeping. We still have some time, you can go back to sleep if you want." He reaches for his uniform.
"I wouldn't. Wear that, if I were you."
"Why not? I am a guard after all."
"Yes. But this is a royal brunch. And you're my husband now, and you have to look the part. You're going to need a suit, I still have some of my father's, one of them is bound to fit."
He sighs, giving in. And he does eventually find one of the more casual ones. Well, as casual as it could get for royalty. But brunch does seem to go off without any problems, mostly. His lack of knowledge when it came to these things had definitely showed, and Kim was sure the queen would have to some damage control. Afterwards, they head to the guards' quarters, where she convinces him to do some sparring. (Why the hesitance? She does not know. He had never been hesitant to spar with the girls of the royal guard. But then again she wasn't part of the royal guard. She was a princess.) And it truly does seem like he was going easy on her, as he had let her get several hits in. And he lets her win, and it angers her.
"And you're supposedly one of the best guards."
"Would you believe me if I told you I get lucky a lot?"
"No. You let me win."
He sighs, the smile slipping from his face. "My job is to protect you."
"You're not just a guard. You're my husband."
"Only to protect you," he counters. That one stung, and her facial expression must change, as his does too. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. But that is why we married."
"I know I know. But what if I told you, I was falling for you."
"Kim, we've been married less than 24 hours."
"I know that! But I know I feel something for you. We can take it slow, but just give us a chance." There's a long silence. But his lips suddenly brush hers, pulling her down for a kiss.