Theme Challenge: Bridge and Z
From the Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Themes Challenge
Challenge #34: Fight
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
A/N: This story is an AU (Alternate Universe). Meaning that Z and Jack never became Rangers, never met the other three. I think that's all you need to know about this one...It's a little different than what I've been doing, but I hope you like it!
Fight
She lies in the alleyway, nothing more than a broken body, her left arm twisted at an impossible angle and her stomach leaking blood from a gunshot wound. Jack is a few feet away from her, face down on the pavement. He got lucky, in a way; died instantly from a point-blank shot to the head.
Gangfight. A freaking gangfight. All these years living on the streets, with strange mutant powers, no less,and she's going to die from a gangfight…it doesn't seem fair. She and Jack just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, looting some bodega that was on the outskirts of known Hearts territory. It also turned out that the alley behind the bodega, while perfect for sneaking away after lifting some minor food items, was also perfect for an all-out war between the Hearts and the Snakes.
God. This wasn't how she wanted to die! She was supposed to find her something bigger, get out of this business, find a place in the world…she wasn't supposed to die at seventeen, faceless and nameless in a dark alley! It wasn't…she wasn't…
A pain erupts in her stomach and the world goes hazy and suddenly she hears sirens; she knows it's not long now. The police would be there soon, before or after her death, she doesn't know. Most likely after, and they'll name her Jane Doe, shaking their heads sadly.
The sirens get louder, her arm throbs and she fights to keep her eyes open.
She's fading in and out of consciousness when she realizes that there are more people around her now. She can hear their voices echo off the concrete walls.
"Oh, my God…"
"Holy…Commander? This is Cadet Tate. Multiple bodies at the corner of State and East 145th. We need paramedics. Bridge, what are you—?"
Suddenly there is a face above her, a face surrounded in a golden haze. He's blurry around the edges, but God, is he beautiful; his eyes are gray-blue and warm and for some reason, she thinks she knows him from somewhere, though she knows that's impossible...The pain in her stomach lessens a bit and she tries to smile but all that comes out is a twitch at the corner of her mouth. His eyes widen and something inside her crumbles.
"Guys! Over here—she's alive!"
One of his companions comes up next to him; she can't see him, but rather, she feels his presence.
"Not for long," the new man says grimly.
"God, Sky. Have some compassion or something," a distinctly female voice says. Z doesn't care about the coldness of his comment, though; she knows it's true and she silently thanks the one called Sky for his honesty, brutal or no. Her golden boy looks at her again.
"Can you tell me your name? What happened?" The two questions are directed to her, but she finds that attempting to speak is sort of painful and makes a coppery taste flood her mouth.
A pressure on the wound in her stomach; her face contorts with the pain.
"We have to stop the bleeding, guys. Here, Syd. We have to put pressure on the wound or she'll bleed to death."
The sadness in Syd's response is almost palpable.
"Bridge, I think it's too late. She's lost too much blood, and it looks like the bullet hit a lung. I know it's sad, but she'll probably be gone before the medics get here."
"We have to try," her beautiful golden boy says, forcefully, and she almost weeps for the incredible irony of it all…she's finally found what she's been looking for. She's found her something bigger. On her death-bed, no less.
She feels Sky's presence leave and faintly hears him start police reports on the bodies.
"I can't find any kind of ID…John Doe. About…18? 19? African American. Cause of death…gunshot wound to the head."
Something within her surges, and she jerks up as far as her injured body will let her. She has to let them know…
"Jack," she manages to choke out. A dribble of red red blood slips down her chin. " 'Sname…sJack." She coughs. More blood on her skin. "Landors….not…John Doe."
Bridge locks her gaze, even as he speaks to Sky. "She says that his name is Jack Landors."
"How does she know?"
She tries to speak, but it's painful and Bridge beats her to it. "She just does, Sky. Don't make her talk anymore. I'll take care of it."
She opens her mouth, regardless, and hears the ripping sound of Velcro being separated. A hand closes around hers and a soothing green aura mixes with the golden haze from before. She forgets about the pain in her stomach, her arm…all she can feel is the sensation of getting lighter…she feels the vibrations as he speaks.
"Her name is Elizabeth…Z. Z Delgado. That's her brother, sort of. It's hard to explain…" His eyes take on a more grayish color. "They got caught in the middle of a gangfight…they weren't doing anything wrong. It's not fair." His eyes glisten and she wonders how he knows.
"I'm kind of a psychic." He whispers to her, and she's inclined to believe him.
"Oh," her parted lips whisper. "I…jus'…wanted…"
"Yeah," he says simply. He knows.
A siren wails. The blood drips between her lips and breath doesn't come as easy. She's getting lighter and lighter and the golden fog intensifies.
"Hang on, Z," she hears a soft voice telling her, but it sounds far away. "You're going to be all right."
"'Kay," she rasps, but even as she says it, she feels herself slipping. His eyes, the color of rainclouds, are the last thing she sees. "Thank you…" she whispers as her eyes close.
The one they called Bridge held her as the world faded away.
...Sad, I know. But it just came out of me...LOL anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Much love to all who reviewed last chapter, and I hope you review this one, too! See you next chapter!