Series presented by: Tori Bradley
AN: Response to the Ars Amatoria's Ranger Romance Themes Challenge
Set During 'Storm Before the Calm P 2'
Closer…
Blake and Hunter carefully made their way back to Ninja Ops following the battle.
"That was close bro," Hunter said as they pushed their way through the trees.
Blake followed his older brother and breathed a sign of relief when the entrance to Ops was in sight. "Yeah," he replied softly.
He was in all truth scared to death… they had almost died… and he never got the chance to tell Tori how he felt. If he was in doubt about his feeling before the battle, they were confirmed ten fold now.
The last thing he saw before they ejected was her face… and he thought that he heard her voice calling to him…
He and Hunter landed a few miles from the sight of their zords, and trekked their way through the forest until they found what they were looking for.
Hunter carefully opened the hatch to the secret base and he and Blake both smelled smoke and heard the others talking.
"Whoa, what happened here?" Blake asked as they walked into the nearly destroyed base.
Before he could say anything else, he found that his arms were full with Tori. She nearly ran across the room and grabbed him in her arms.
Not wanting to release her and held her against him and gently kissed her temple.
"It's alright Tor. We're back," he soothed. Tori sighed with relief and backed away from him a bit, not believing that he was really safe.
The sound of someone clearing their throat caused both Blue Rangers to turn. Everyone in the room was smiling, including Sensei.
Blake reluctantly released Tori and he and Hunter finally go the chance the meet Sensei Watanabe.
After hearing that Cam had been captured, Blake immediately knew that they needed help from the captured ninja students still on Lothor's ship. He and Hunter volunteered without question to go.
Hunter walked outside to the secret holding bay for the Dragon Force vehicle with Blake following. Shane and Dustin were inside talking with Sensei, but Tori had somehow escaped Ops without anyone noticing.
As he neared the hanger, Blake felt a presence behind him. Turning immediately, he saw that Tori had followed him out.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked softly, not daring to look at him.
There were tears in her eyes as she thought about losing him again. That afternoon had been the scariest of her life. She had honestly thought that he was gone… now he was leaving again…
Blake didn't hesitate as he walked over to her and enveloped her in his arms. Tori's arms went around his neck and she hugged him tight. "I thought I lost you today."
His arms tightened around her and he let her words sink in. She was genuinely concerned about him…
And it was in that moment that they both realized that their feelings ran deeper than they even knew… they loved each other… they both knew that now.
Blake eased her away from him a bit and gently laid a kiss on her lips. Tori's eyes slid shut as she returned the kiss just as gently. After a small lifetime they broke apart and Blake cupped her face in both his hands.
"I promise I'll come back… then we can pick up from right here," he said as he kissed her again.
Tori smiled and hugged him once more.
"I'm holding you to that," she said as they let go. "Be careful."
"I will," he replied.
Tori watched him go, still feeling the warmth of his body and his kiss still on her.
The ship took off into space, and Tori knew that she and Blake were only going to get closer after this…