ZEDD
Pina and I are inside the house, but have been listening through the partially open door. She sighs. "I could do another scan. The powers can only do so much, especially if his mind is working against him."
She doesn't sound encouraging. "You don't think this is physical, though, do you?"
She shakes her head as the two men come in. "No. I think Dar's right that it's all in his head. He's subconsciously been waiting for something to go wrong, gradually getting bolder until something did. He thinks that he's now found the line and crossed it would be my best guess."
Jason sighs. "Quite frankly, I think the only one who might be able to get through to him right now is Zedd. I mean, if he would talk to Dulcea, she might be able to reassure him that the powers aren't responsible, but I really don't see him telling her what's wrong."
"He is rather reserved about that sort of thing" I agree. "I thought he might get bolder and more comfortable after we had been together for a while, but he still seems rather reluctant to talk about such matters."
"It's not just that" Jason explains. "It's also because, well, Dulcea's a woman. It's a little difficult for many human males to discuss this sort of thing with a female whether she's a doctor or mate or whatever."
"That's weird" Dar says flatly.
Jason raises an eyebrow at this. "Oh, really? So it would be easy for you to talk to Pina about something like this?" Honestly I don't really see why not, and by the look on Dar's face neither does he.
Dar shrugs. "Well, she is our doctor and, as my mate, I'd want her to know that she's not the cause."
"I'd feel the same way if it was me" I agree. "The last thing I'd want is Thomas to think I'd lost interest in him." Thinking the matter over for a minute more though, I do in the end concede to at least some of what Jason is saying. "Still though, how we view such things and how they do are different" I explain to Dar slowly. "Thomas told me once that most humans aren't as open and forward as we are."
"It's not really an openly discussed subject" Jason agrees.
"In fairness this isn't really the first time he's had a problem or concern like this and refused to discuss it or ask for my help explaining things." At their curious looks I elaborate, barely holding in a laugh as while not funny, the memory still does strike a somewhat amused cord in me. "When he first changed to a half breed he was almost panicked about the internal alterations done to him to accommodate having a male mate. I basically had to pry out of him what was upsetting him and why he was afraid to become aroused when not in the privacy of our bedroom."
"And what was it?" Goldar questions.
"He was afraid he'd soak his clothing as well as the upholstery" I admit with a barely contained laugh. "Somehow he had gotten the notion in his head that he'd get wet like a female does when aroused. To be honest I thought you had told him that to mess with him, as my first question was where in the hell he'd ever gotten such an idea."
"Not from me" Goldar protests in clear surprise. "Though in fairness I only wish I could take credit for something so insane and yet deviously evil."
"Wait, what?" Looking lost Jason glances between us curiously.
"I know, he admitted it wasn't you but his own conclusion that he'd jumped to, because he'd refused to ask any of us about it." Turning to Jason I heave a sigh. "Eltarians - as well as many other species - have developed an internal gland much like you human males have a prostate, we have this and it allows for increased arousal when stroked, as well as sort of an internal lubricant so we can accommodate that sort of mating without needing extra lubrication. Thomas, like you, didn't know anything about it, until he realized he had it after the powers altered him to make him more suitable for a male Eltarian mate. When he did find out, rather then simply asking me about it or explaining his concerns over it, he took it upon himself to work himself up into a panic until I found out on my own and calmed him down."
"So in short, he's insane" Dar states calmly.
"Eccentric" I defend, though not all that well.
"Either way something needs to be done before he makes himself worse" Jason says seriously.
"So what do I do? It's not like I can change how he thinks. After all, if the powers were going to punish anyone, I'd think it would be me - not him. Not with all the good he's done."
Pina frowns. "He's said before that he feels you balance each other. Maybe there's a way for you to use that."
Jason frowns also. "Where'd he come up with that?"
I think back. "When we were ordering clothes for him, I'd pointed out that most of the things he'd chosen were in white and he mentioned that I already wore a lot of black so it balanced. He said that we were like yin and yang - opposites that balanced each other."
Suddenly, Dar chuckles - almost an evil little laugh. "What if you could convince him that his 'punishments' at the hands of the alleged powers were simply to balance his life until you came along? Your darker side balancing his lighter?"
"So what, reigning in Zedd is now his punishment?" Pina questions with a far too amused smile.
"That actually might work" Jason says slowly. "From things he's said in the past, this cycle of his seems to have started around the time he moved to Angel Grove. The whole Green Ranger thing kind of kicked it off, I think."
My eyes narrow slightly as I take this in. "When he became aware that there were powers and forces beyond what he'd known before." Dar might actually be onto something, but how to present it? Another thought presents itself. "What I can't figure out is how the hormones aren't getting out of control. He hasn't gotten any kind of relief in days now."
Pina giggles. "Then if you can break the hold his mind seems to have on his body, you'd better be prepared for one hell of a workout, Zedd."
Jason cringes slightly. "Yep, that's more than I need to be thinking about. I think I'm going to go find something else to do. Out of the house. For a few hours."
Pina and Dar nod. "We probably should too" Dar comments. "But what can we do?"
I'm about to suggest that they could take the ship and go somewhere when Jason speaks up again. "Well, I could call Hayley and the four of us could go out together. On Earth, it's called a double date - two couples having a night out together."
"That could be fun," Pina nods. "Why don't you call her and Dar and I will go change clothes?" They all disappear and I turn my thoughts back to my mate.
As they head out, Jason comments, "By the way, Zedd, it might rain a little later so he might need help covering the equipment in the yard."
Remembering the conversation Thomas and I had on Sam's front porch, I ask, "How bad will the storm be?"
"Not too bad as far as I know - if it does even rain."
They head out and I return to my plans for my mate. After they've been gone a good half an hour, I head outside to talk to him. He's returned to his workout, but without the drive he had before. I pause a minute to appreciate the view. Bare chested, a slight sheen of sweat still on him. I can't help but admit that since he's returned to his almost daily workouts, he's further trimmed down even from what the powers did to him. He could not possibly be any hotter - I don't think. Perhaps I'll have to see about moving his equipment to the castle… "Thomas, love, don't you think that you've had enough for today? You're going to hurt tomorrow if you do too much."
He pauses, apparently feeling the bond, and then shakes his head as he sets the weights down. "And you think I've been the insatiable one?"
"It's not my fault that you're so hot. I'm just grateful that you don't go out in public like this or things would get ugly when I have to beat off all the other men and women trying to get to you." I'm outright staring at him, not trying to be subtle at all.
A corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile. "Whatever, Zedd." He stands up and stretches and I swallow hard.
"Jason said that it might rain later. Perhaps we should cover your equipment now so that we're not interrupted later?"
He cocks his head at me, eyes narrowing slightly. "Where's everyone else, Zedd?"
"On a double date, apparently. Jason's idea."
He shakes his head. "Yeah, let's get this stuff covered."
It's another half hour to get everything covered and secured. As we start to head toward the house, a gentle rain starts to fall. I stop and pull him to me, kissing him gently. "You know, we're back home - well, one of them anyway - and this storm isn't very bad."
There's a low rumble of thunder and my pulse quickens, mostly at the memory of a much more severe storm. He smiles knowingly. "Want me do you?"
"You know I do. I want to take you and have you take me."
His smile disappears. "I can't, Zedd. You know that."
My voice softens. "Thomas, my love, if you take this on yourself, we're no longer balancing each other."
"This isn't by my choice, Zedd."
"Yin and yang. Do you remember when you explained karma to us?" At his nod, I continue. "This is kind of like that. Maybe the powers were just trying to keep your life in balance until we found each other. Now your light offsets my dark. We balance each other."
I press another kiss to his mouth, pulling him tighter against me as I deepen it. I'm delighted when he responds, although I'm quickly aware that all the signs of arousal are there except one. I pull back slightly and speak, my voice a husky whisper in his ear. "I am your balance now, love, just as you are mine and I'll be further damned if I'll allow any powers to say otherwise."
I work on his neck and he moans softly in my ear. "Oh god, Zedd, you don't know how much I want to believe that."
"Stop thinking about it" I demand quietly. "Don't let those thoughts have that power over you and us."
He returns my kisses hungrily, just as he has the last few days. I ease us both down to the lawn, my hands starting to wander. "Come on, Thomas" I purr in his ear. "It's just you and me and nature-" Just then, thunder rolls over our heads. "-and the storm. With your link to nature, I have no doubt you can feel its power. I bet you get a little thrill from it, don't you?"
He moans again, hands sliding under my shirt. His voice is breathy. "Please. Want you."
"Soon, love." I start working on him in earnest, hoping that if I can get him aroused enough, the hold his mind has on him will break. I work his shorts off of him, the cool, damp fabric sliding down his legs making him shiver. I quickly strip down, lying on top of him as I link my fingers with his. I kiss him firmly as I draw his hands up over his head, gently pinning him in place. "Stay still, Thomas."
"Zedd!" My name is a whine on his kiss swollen lips and I can't help but chuckle lightly as I return to teasing and arousing. When he thrusts against me reflexively, I can tell there's been some measure of success. Perfect. Now let's see if I can get him to let go the rest of the way. He whimpers softly and I can feel the strength of his need.
Slowly, I work my way in him, taking a good amount of time in spite of the desire in us both to just have at it. I make certain that I'm angled correctly to hit the pleasure inducing spot inside him. I keep the pace easy, even as my hands and mouth return to their prior tasks. I make sure that each and every stroke interacts with that spot in some way, either by hitting it or simply rubbing across it. Either way, it doesn't take really all that long before he's delirious with desire. I increase the pace. "Come on, my falcon, my love."
My control is slipping and I know I don't have much time left to reach my goal. I know he's close as well and, at this point, I'll take what I can get. Even if he doesn't take me, if he can get some kind of release, it should help him. All at once, my control is gone and I'm crying out in pleasure. I barely hear him. "No! So close!"
I'm trying to catch my breath when he pushes me up enough to wiggle out from under me. I realize that I've been successful even as he moves around behind me. "Sorry, mate, so sorry. Need you now."
The storm picks up slightly as he thrusts into me. With every powerful lunge, he's murmuring apologies under his breath, but somehow I don't think he's apologizing to me. Either way it's been too long since I've had him like this and quite honestly could care less right now as I'm just happy to once more be able to let him take me. It's not long before he's shouting his enjoyment to the skies, filling me in a way he's never done before. He collapses on the ground, panting for air. I move and take him in my arms, feathering kisses on his face as he recovers. Eventually he says, "Sorry, Zedd."
"For what, Thomas?"
"I just couldn't wait for you to recover. I had to have you before I lost the opportunity."
I can't help but smile. "You don't ever have to apologize for wanting me, Thomas."
"I always want you" he admits. "Even the last few days, I wanted you, needed you. I just - couldn't. It's like every part of my body was into it except one. If only the damned powers would leave me alone-"
"I don't think it's the powers, Thomas."
He looks surprised. "But what else could it be? Pina checked me over and said that there was nothing wrong with me physically."
"First of all, she wouldn't have been looking for something like that since she didn't know there was an issue. Second, I don't think there's anything wrong with you physically either. I think that you've just gotten so used to things going so badly wrong that your subconscious is having this effect on you. A preemptive strike if you will."
He pulls away from me, a hurt look on his face. "You think I don't want to be with you?"
"That's not what I said. I do think that in some corner of your mind you're trying to hold off anything worse, though. I think that between that and your upbringing to take care of your mate rather than yourself, it's messing with your head, love."
"Wait, what?"
"You said it yourself - the way you were raised, you're supposed to make sure that your wife or girlfriend or whatever was taken care of first. The one time that you allow yourself to indulge in fantasy play just for the fun of it and fulfill a fantasy for both of us, you started worrying about it right after that."
He thinks about this for a few minutes. Finally, he says, "Even if you're right, I would think that my hormones would eventually override that. Since you were finally able to get me up, I should be needing to mate you into the ground right now and I'm not."
This statement gives me pause. He's right as even Pina said something similar, thus the reason that the others left. "Let's go inside and I'll grab Pina's scanner. I'm not as knowledgeable as she is, but if something seems to be wrong, I'll call her and find out what to do."
He grabs his clothes as he comments dryly, "Yeah, because that won't be embarrassing at all."
Grabbing my own things, I answer, "Better embarrassed than sick, love."
Once inside, I hurry and grab the scanner off Pina's dresser. Granted, the scanner on the ship could give a more detailed scan and information, but this is closer and I'm starting to worry more than a little. He comes out of our room in a fresh, dry pair of shorts. "If you're going to make me do this, at least let me fix us something to eat."
"You act like I'm punishing you" I remark with a chuckle. "It's just a scan, love."
"Hate scans. Hate all medical stuff, though I guess it's at least better letting you play doctor than ending up back in the hospital."
"I'll gladly play doctor with you anytime love." I follow him to the kitchen. While he's contemplating the contents of the refrigerator, I run the machine over him. Checking the readout, I'm confused. According to these numbers, he shouldn't even be alive, much less up and around. "I might have to call Pina, Thomas."
"You did set it for me and not one of you, right?"
"I just assumed that since she scanned you last-"
He sighs and shakes his head, smirking. "Reset it and try again, Zedd."
Quickly, I do. Once more the numbers confuse me. If I'm reading it right this time, he should be tackling me to the floor right now - if we'd even been able to get into the house from the yard. I use my cuff to send Pina a quick message. I look up when he addresses me. "Zedd, mate, could you at least go and put some pants on? Just in case the kids or someone unexpected drops by, please?"
I shake my head. "Of course we wouldn't want to reward them for bad manners by allowing them the privilege of seeing me in all my glory." I catch his eye roll as I leave the room to do as he's asked. While I'm selecting fresh clothes, Pina responds to my message. Reading her reply, my eyes widen. This isn't good. My mind races as I try and figure out what to do. I put away the clothes I was going to wear and select something else. Once I'm dressed, I head downstairs and into the kitchen, sitting at the counter when his back is turned. I don't want him to see too soon that I'm wearing the outfit that he chose for me when he was evil.
Without turning, he says, "Sandwiches okay, kalleimat?"
"Whatever you want, love." I take a breath. "Thomas, I know that you're reluctant to discuss fantasies that you have, which is fine, but what about simple wants and needs?"
He shoots a quick look at me over his shoulder. "Like what?"
"You've said that your prior mates seem to have neglected you. In what ways?"
"Hmm. I'll have to think about that a bit." To his credit, he does seem to put quite a bit of effort into the question. He sets a plate in front of me before returning to finishing his. "I put a lot of effort into my relationships and it seemed like some of the girls didn't even really try. I remember one time I set up this whole big romantic seduction thing and, well, while she enjoyed it, she didn't seem to appreciate all the work I did. I mean, I didn't expect her to do anything big in return, but some acknowledgement of what I'd done would have been nice."
I take this in. I lean my chin on my hand as I think, food abandoned for the moment. "What would you have liked her to do? Seduce you in return?"
"Anything would have been good really, but that would have been awesome."
"Have you ever been?"
He shoots a puzzled look at me. "Been what? Seduced?" At my nod, he shrugs, "Yeah, I guess so, but not - I don't know - anything planned out, I guess. It seemed to be spur of the moment, you know? It was more like being picked up at a bar instead of being seduced by your lover." He shakes his head and sighs. "No, that's not quite right either. I'm not sure how to say what I mean."
I consider this for a minute. "More like convenience of the moment?"
"Yeah, something like that. I don't mean that spontaneity is a bad thing. That has its own benefits. It's just once in a while…"
"A little extra effort makes it better."
"I guess so." He abruptly turns away from working on his plate, looking a little bothered. "And I was not hinting that I wanted that from you. You don't need to do anything but what you've been doing, Zedd."
"Thomas, I understand what you're saying. But please keep in mind that I'm rather unfamiliar with human dating practices and mating rituals. You telling me these things will - hopefully - help me avoid any pitfalls in the future."
"All I can tell you about is my own experiences and what I know general expectations would be in a male - female relationship."
"Well, I would think that some things would transcend gender or the status of a relationship or even species. For example, on Eltar when a couple goes out, whoever invites the other would be expected to pay or provide whatever the situation requires. What about here?"
He nods. "It used to be that the guy always did the asking and paying, but not so much anymore."
"Now our situation is a little different. I'm not familiar with your town, so if I asked you to accompany me for a romantic outing, you'd have to plan it but I'd certainly be willing to pay."
"If you asked me out on a date and I accepted, that would make sense" he agrees. "But there's also the option of 'going dutch' which means that we'd split the expenses."
I frown. "I wish you'd let me spoil you just once."
He shrugs. "You have. You've supplied my lab, bought me a power staff, brought me home for a visit. You spoil me all the time Zedd, even before we were together like this. You got me a whole new wardrobe, let me move into your room when I couldn't sleep, hell even on the ship after you saved me you made sure I had anything I could have wanted or needed to feel safe."
"S'not the same."
"Why isn't it?"
"I don't know, I want to give you something not because you need it but because you'd like it. You needed me to keep you safe and feeling secure when I first rescued you and moved you into the palace. You needed the lab and a weapon, not to mention clothing. I'd like to do something for you not because you need it but because I know you'll like it. I want to spoil you, but every time I try and find a way you sort of buck me implying it makes you feel like the female of our relationship even though you're clearly no such thing."
"I'm not sure what to suggest, honestly. I...I'm not used to being spoiled, Zedd."
"I'd like to find a way to fix that."
"Maybe we can think of something. By the way, you never said - what did the scan show?"
The question reminds me that this needs to be dealt with. "You need to eat first, love."
He freezes. "Is it that bad?"
I sigh. There's no good answer to give. "It's not good."
Slowly, he turns and pins me with a look. "Tell me."
"Eat first" I answer firmly. "A few more minutes won't make that much of a difference."
"Zedd, you're making me nervous. Just tell me please."
Instead of answering him, I return to my plate, appetite gone. He stares at me for a minute and then snatches up the scanner I left on the counter. "Thomas-"
He scrolls through the information slowly before tossing it back on the counter with a curse. "Tell me what it says, Zedd."
"You can't read it?" I ask, slightly surprised.
"My Eltarian lessons haven't gotten into the medical field yet" he replies scathingly.
Realizing that he's not going to eat or relax until he knows, I reluctantly inform him, "Your hormones are way outside the normal range, Thomas. If it doesn't change - and fairly soon - you're going to get very sick."
He pales slightly but responds calmly. "Well, the usual means of relieving the problem is kind of hit or miss right now. Do we have any other options?"
"Pina can try and get them under control artificially, but it's not the best or most comfortable idea."
To my surprise, he lets out a string of curses in at least seven different languages. "That kind of pressure is not the best way to relieve performance anxieties, Zedd."
"I didn't want to tell you, Thomas. You gave me no choice."
"I know, I know." He takes a deep breath. "So - I guess we'd better go upstairs, huh?" Before I can respond, the doorbell rings. "I'll get it."
I shake my head at the interruption. We don't need this right now. If we're lucky, it's just some kind of salesman that he can get rid of quickly. My original plan of trying to seduce him won't work with his nerves as high as they are. My attention snaps to the other room at the sound of female voices - four of them, if I'm right. Another minute of listening and I think I can put names to the voices.
"We need to catch up." Aisha, I think.
"We hear that the big hero has a hero of his own." Tanya.
"And that you're dating him now." Katherine.
"And that it's pretty serious." Kimberly. And it's all I can do not to go in there and destroy her.
"How did you hear that?" Thomas asks.
"Trini, of course. Did you really think that she'd keep something this big to herself?" Kim teases him. "She also mentioned that he doesn't look the way he did back when we were fighting him all the time."
"No, he doesn't. His natural look is definitely an improvement."
"It must be to get you to change sides." There's something in Katherine's tone that I can't identify, however I do know that it's something I'm not entirely fond of.
"I haven't. Not really. It's just - him. There's very likely not another male in the universe that could affect me the way he does."
"But if you aren't attracted to women anymore-"
He sighs heavily. "I really don't want to discuss my preferences, but I know that you won't let it go. I still find women attractive, but I have no interest in dating them or anyone else anymore. If Zedd and I weren't together like we are, I still might, but we are and I'm happy with him."
Tanya speaks up. "Is he around? I, for one, would like to thank him for everything he's done for you."
"Sure. Zedd! It's for you!"
I can hear the laughter in his voice, even if they can't. I'm tempted to embarrass him by making some kind of remark about getting rid of them so we can get back to mating however given our current situation I figure that won't work in our favor in the end. Instead, I sigh and head into the other room, which falls silent at my entrance. "What did you need, love?"
One of the females breathes, "Oh my."
Belatedly, I remember the outfit I'm wearing - the one that practically screams 'fuck me now' - and it's worth it at the surge of desire I feel from my Ranger. I keep my attention on the females, not liking how close they are to him, but knowing better than to jump at them and pull him away. I raise an eyebrow at the stunned group. "Yes?"
The two former Yellows approach me. It's all I can do not to grin at the scent of lust that's coming off of them both. Tanya finally says, "Tommy's right - you do look better like this." The other one nods as she speaks again. "Thank you for everything you've done for Tommy. You didn't have to do anything, but you did."
Aisha adds, "The way Jason tells it, without you, Tommy probably wouldn't have ever recovered."
I wave this away. "Much of his physical recovery Scorpina can claim credit for as she's the one that found a way to counter the drugs the place was feeding him."
Kimberly speaks up, shaking her head as she does. "It's not just that. Jason says that when he first saw Tommy at your house, Tommy wasn't really himself. He says that you're responsible for that and for coming to get him so that he could get better."
"That's what mates do - help and care for each other." I can't help the dirty look I shoot at her and she has the grace to blush and drop her eyes.
"I was young, Zedd and stupid. It wasn't until Jason called me and chewed me out that I found out that Tommy hadn't - well, I thought that with me gone and neither of us writing much, I thought that he'd started to feel we'd drifted apart as I had. I thought that maybe he'd gotten tired of the long distance thing and I knew that Kat was interested in him, so I thought I'd get out of their way. Jason made it clear that Tommy hadn't even looked at another girl after I left until well after I sent the letter."
"And you felt it would be oh so classy to send a break up letter to a public place?" I snarl at her, not meaning to dredge such things up, but unable to help it as my previous worry for him is still making me more protective than I normally would be.
"Zedd..." The warning tone in Thomas' voice pulls me back slightly, but not before the young woman responds.
"That was the only thing that I thought was a good idea" she responds. "If I was wrong, he'd have people around to support him. If I was right, then Kat would know that he was free of me."
"Instead you embarrassed him in front of his friends."
"Seriously Zedd, we talked about this" Thomas warns again, reminding me of the promise he'd made me make to behave should I run into any of his friends I was still not overly fond of.
Heaving a sigh I give her a grudging look. "Sorry, new bond, still protective" I state trying to excuse away my hostility with the easiest excuse I can. "Just still aggravated when I know he's been hurt."
"And hurt so much that it was a long time before he even looked at me as anything other than a friend and teammate" Katherine adds. "And now he's turned to men."
"Whoa" Thomas cuts in. "That has nothing to do with Kim breaking up with me, Kat."
"Kat" Aisha says, warning in her voice.
"You promised" Tanya nods.
The blond pulls herself together. "I'm sorry. You're right. Tommy, I'm very happy that you're better and happy. Zedd, thank you for saving him from that place." She heads outside. "I need a minute."
The door closes behind her and I exchange a puzzled look with Thomas. "I didn't do it, I yelled at the other one" I state in defense, not about to be blamed for the taller female's huffy mood.
"It's not you, Zedd. At least not all of it" Aisha states calmly.
Finally, Tanya says, "She thinks that Kim breaking up with Tommy the way she did, well-"
"Damaged him to the point that he couldn't have a lasting relationship with another girl" Aisha finishes.
Kim sighs heavily. "She thinks that, because of me, that's why Tommy's with you now."
"I'll go talk to her" Thomas says. "Zedd, why don't you explain to the girls about bonding? I think that'll clear up a lot of confusion. And be nice."
As he heads for the door, I ask, "But Thomas, what about-"
"It'll keep a little longer" he answers. "She stayed my friend even after we broke up. I can't let this go."
I sigh and look at the females I've been left with. "Just so you know, you all have the worst timing imaginable." Seeing as how I'm not going to get to work on helping my mate for the moment, I gesture to the main room. "Might as well sit down."
