PINA - A FEW HOURS LATER
Tommy was right. Hanging out with the former Rangers is a lot of fun, especially when we're not having to battle them for our or their lives. We've had dinner, went for a swim - which was entertaining as you'd think by their reactions the young male power holders had never seen a female in a bikini before -and now we're gathered in the room where the reunion will be tomorrow. I'm sitting at the bar, eyeing my mate and Zedd wearily. They're playing cards with several others as I had anticipated they would - and the others are losing badly, also as I had anticipated.
Swiftly, my eyes search the room for the missing member of our little family, returning to the game once I find him. He's talking to a small group that I don't really recognize and seems at the moment oblivious to our mates' bad behavior. Well I suppose so long as they don't take things much further or the other males have enough sense to quit before losing any more - I sigh as Zedd has apparently won another hand at the table and one of the boys demands another round to win it back. Males. When Dar and Zedd get up from the table chuckling about humans and not knowing when to quit as they head down the bar to retrieve new drinks, I decide to inform the clueless humans about what's going on before they decide to kill the two morons in their sleep.
Once they're far enough away, I cross over and slide into my mate's seat, picking up the discarded deck and shuffling it absently as Wes comments, "I'm not going to be able to play much longer if this keeps up, guys. They've won so much, I'm about to have to dip into my mortgage payment to keep playing."
"I can't figure out how they're doing it" Carter says, shaking his head.
I step in, smiling as I present them with a few trick shuffles my mate has taught me over the years. "Because you don't know that much about Eltarians." They all turn to me. "Goldar and Zedd have been playing and cheating at cards since before you boys were born. They have a system. Sometimes it's with power, sometimes clever distractions, and sometimes by just using what they're born with."
"What do you mean?" Wes questions curiously as I show him how easily it is to hide a card and retrieve it without breaking stride in my explanation. "The easiest way for Zedd to cheat is to use his power to simply change the cards." Using a bit of my own power as again Dar has taught me over time, I with some effort turn a two of spades into an ace right before their eyes.
"Seriously?" TJ growls looking rather annoyed now as the others seem torn between impressed and aggravated.
"Seriously" I agree. "However, while easy for Zedd, that way is rather difficult for Goldar as he doesn't hold the power Zedd does, neither do I, not to mention it's easily felt by other power holders as I'm certain you felt my effort and the spark of power I used when I did it."
"We did" Eric agrees.
"Which is why even Zedd typically can't or won't use his powers to cheat power holders - plus he promised Tommy he wouldn't – not that it matters though as he's found ways around it."
"How?" Wes presses gently, but seriously.
"It's very simple actually. Whenever you get a good hand, your heart rate increases and he can hear it." They all groan but I grin already knowing the solution.
"You know we're going to have to kill him right?" Cole questions with a raised brow.
"You could" I agree. "But that might upset Tommy, and I would really hate to see him sad as I'm rather fond of him as I would assume you all are as well. However…there is another way."
"Which is?" Wes asks, all of their interests peaked now.
"Beat them."
"How are we supposed to do that when they can check us as well as a lie detector?" Oh, TJ, TJ, TJ, so young, so easy.
"Simple, use something to distract them. As I recall the last time Zedd actually lost consistently was because he was distracted by his mate."
Eric growls, "Well get him over here then. At this point I don't care if we have to sit Tommy on his lap, but I'm tired of losing to a cheating, supposedly former, lord of evil."
"I'll get him" I agree as I slip away just before Zedd and Dar return and head over to speak to Tommy. I tap his shoulder lightly.
He smiles at me. "Hey Pina. Having a good time?"
"I was until I realized that we need to get our mates under control."
He glances over at the card game that's just starting up again with a frown. "Why? What are they doing?" With a sigh, I fill him in. "Well, how badly are they cheating?"
I glance back at the game just as the hand ends. "Well, Eric has just lost his hat to Zedd. Literally."
He sighs. "They're going to kill him, aren't they?" I repeat what the Quantum Ranger had said about sitting Tommy on Zedd's lap and he shakes his head with a sigh. "Well on the plus side I suppose I should be happy they're so accepting of my relationship with him. On the other, I'm half tempted to just let them kill him right now." Trust me I know the feeling. "All right let's go handle this." He turns his attention to the group he's been talking with. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. I have to go teach someone a lesson."
He and I head for our mates, planning as we go. While the cards are being dealt once more, I slide into Dar's lap and wrap my arms around his neck. He kisses me quickly and settles his arms around my waist. There's been many times in the past that I've helped them cheat some jerks who were trying to play us, so this is familiar to Dar - so far. I'm watching Tommy out of the corner of my eye.
Zedd's picked up his cards and is rearranging them as his mate comes up and slides his arms around Zedd's shoulders, resting his chin lightly on Zedd's shoulder. "Hey, mate. How's it going?"
Smiling and already turning his eyes from his hand, he presses a kiss to Tommy's own hand nearest to his mouth, "Not bad, love. Having fun?"
"Mmm hmm." Tommy brushes his cheek against Zedd's. "Just missed you."
Zedd smiles, concentration briefly broken by his mate. "Missed you too."
Lightly gesturing to the pile of winnings in front of Zedd, topped by Eric's hat, the Ranger makes a rather thoughtful noise. "Really? Seems like you might have been too busy to miss me."
"Of course not" Zedd protests. As I expected, more of his attention is focused on reassuring Tommy than the game now. "I just didn't want to interfere while you conversed with your friends that's all."
"Hmm, I guess." Sounding slightly longing now and giving a soft sigh, Tommy is indeed quite the actor when he wishes to be. "I'm pretty well done conversing though, would rather spend some time with you, even if just watching you play a bit. That is, unless you don't want me to." Clever.
Frowning slightly, own attention on Tommy now, I can feel Dar's own curiosity through our bond. "He's being a bit needy tonight, isn't he?" he questions me softly, making me simply smile and shrug, responding just loudly enough for Zedd to catch.
"I think he's just lonely. A lot of his friends are by their mates tonight and while I know you and Zedd are 'working', he doesn't understand and I think feels left out."
Knowing he's heard me by the look of concern that crosses his face, Zedd momentarily forgets about his cards to study his mate carefully. "You know I'd rather have you by my side than not, no matter what I'm doing. Why don't you pull a chair up next to me, love, if you don't mind watching for a bit."
Lazily, Tommy responds, "In a few minutes, Zedd. I'm surprisingly comfortable right here for now." He brushes his cheek against Zedd's once more, taking his mate by slight surprise I'm sure with how openly affectionate he's being in front of his fellow Rangers. No, Zedd doesn't stand a chance. As the game continues, Tommy appears to be oblivious to the goings on in front of him, instead lightly rubbing his fingers in small circles on Zedd's chest, giving him little hugs, a quick peck now and then. However, I see that the former human is as sharp eyed as his spirit animal. Plus, his hearing is almost as advanced as ours now and he's using the same input to very subtly break Zedd's concentration at crucial times.
Of course, I'm having to occasionally distract my own mate so that he doesn't call Tommy on what he's doing. Not quite as easy of a task, given the fact Goldar is a bit more suspicious of me behaving in such a flirty and distracting manner towards him while he's working a table.
At some point, Tommy does fetch a chair, though he makes certain to pull it completely against Zedd's own, leaning right up against his mate as he finally sits. Any closer and he might as well be in Zedd's lap like I'm in Dar's. I barely hold back a laugh, however, when I see Tommy casually set his hand on Zedd's thigh and Zedd grit his teeth in return - apparently trying not to jump his mate right here at the table in front of his friends.
Still, to Zedd's credit he does continue to do better than I anticipated. Two hands lost, one more won, I give the former Ranger a discrete look, signaling for him to up his efforts just a bit more.
Catching my look and smiling slightly, apparently the half breed was more than prepared for this, due to what comes out of his mouth next. "So, Zedd, I meant to ask you, I was going through your movies right before we left home and there was one that I couldn't quite understand the title of, it didn't translate well into Eltarian."
"Oh?" Trying to appear casual, but failing as Goldar again growls at him that it's his turn to bet, Zedd does so, while doing his best not to look directly at his mate now. "What movie would that be, love?"
"I'm not sure, as I said I didn't quite understand the title, it only just sort of occurred to me again, what with Pina's bathing suit being red and gold and the picture on the cover being a fox hybrid I think she was -" Oh this will be good. "So tell me, what does desacta mean?"
Free hand suddenly grasping the edge of the table hard enough for his fingers to leave indentations, Zedd turns slowly to look at his mate in disbelief. "W-what now?"
"He did not just ask that now of all times" Goldar mutters, as I do my best to appear unfazed, knowing he knows exactly what that word means, as do our mates.
"Desacta? I'm pretty sure I'm pronouncing it right. I am pronouncing it right, aren't I, mate?"
"You are" Zedd says slowly as the other males at the table, while not knowing what the word means, very likely understand that by Zedd's reaction to Tommy saying it, will easily be winning this hand.
"However now is not really the time to explain it" Dar growls slightly, Zedd again having little to no focus on the other men now as they exchange cards and raise the wager.
"No? Why not?" Seeming nothing but interested now, Tommy lays his head against Zedd's arm, giving him a very wanting look. "Come on, tell me. If you tell me, I'll make it worth your while." Hand trailing up his thigh just slightly, Tommy however makes his point clear.
"Uh, it, well, it doesn't translate well into English either, love, however if you actually watched the movie I'd say you should have a fairly good idea of what it means" Zedd explains, before finally giving Dar his attention as my mate barks at him once more. "What?!"
"Do you fold or not Zedd?" Giving his friend a look as he himself wasn't focused enough to know what the others have either, I know he's counting on Zedd's decision to determine what he should do as well.
"I…um, damn it, I'm in." Deciding to take a chance and knowing it's the wrong one, I give Tommy a brief glance, knowing he's aware of what the outcome will be as well.
Both of our mates cursing as Eric wins easily, Zedd heaves a sigh before wrapping an arm around Tommy's shoulders, grumbling at Goldar as my own mate snaps at him in Eltarian to focus.
Replying in our native language as well, Zedd is apparently not having it as his partner in crime isn't exactly doing them any favors either now thanks to where my own hands are currently located. "I know what I'm doing."
"Could have fooled me" Dar snaps back.
"Just deal the cards" Zedd demands, his pile of winnings slowly but surely dwindling.
Watching as Dar deals the next hand, Tommy waits until everyone begins picking up their cards before removing his hand from Zedd's leg and in one fluid motion raising it to his back, nails running in a slow and deliberate manner down his mate's spine.
Shuddering abruptly and almost dropping his cards, Zedd gives Tommy a surprised and questioning look, only to get a flirty smile and shrug in response.
"Okay that's it, what the hell are you two doing?" Dar hisses at me under his breath.
I give him an innocent look. "What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about. The brat has done everything he can to work Zedd up but climb on the table and perform a striptease. You have done nothing to distract the humans, but rather been working on me since you sat down. The only time we've ever lost like this before tonight was when Zedd thought Tommy was flirting with Trey and - oh hell, you aren't."
"Aren't what?" I ask, still doing my best to appear clueless to his accusations.
Narrowing his eyes and not about to buy it, his hushed words are definitely not very happy ones. "You know what. Now the boy I can understand, fine, he's one of them, but you? Why are you doing this?"
Rather than answer, I nuzzle his ear before whispering into it other things we could be doing right now, most of which I know he hasn't done in a while, and will make whatever slim bit of interest he still has in the card game be completely forgotten.
Shaking his head slowly once I finish my proposition, and knowing he's been defeated, at least in a manner of speaking, his next words don't really surprise me. "Evil, evil female."
"That is why you love me" I remind him calmly. "Well that and what I can do with my tongue when we-"
Suddenly, he throws his cards on the table and slides the chair back. "I'm out." He stands me and then himself up, practically tosses me over his shoulder and heads for the door.
Giggling, I wave at the amused onlookers and catcallers. "See you in the morning!"
"Don't bet on it" Dar growls.
Well, one down, one to go. I give Tommy a wink, knowing he has his mate under control - whether Zedd knows it or not.
