A/N:

Okay, so I decided to change the rating from "T" to "M", due to some mature themes that this story will be exploring, such as child abuse and sexual abuse. This is definitely a more grounded Power Rangers type story. There will be warning at the beginning to chapters including these more graphic details. It's going to be considerably darker and not what one would typically expect to see from Power Rangers.

This chapter here is an introduction to Miles - the Red Ranger

Chapter 2: Miles Robins

The intense aroma of various spices filled the Robins household.

For nine-year-old Bella Robins, it was a scent that she did not find comforting in the least.

"Seriously, Dad?" asked Bella in her typical sassy tone. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in two pigtails, and her blue eyes were narrowed as her father, Greg Robins, leaned over the stove, preparing a huge pot of his famous chili while cornbread baked in the oven.

"What? You're not in the mood for Dad's world-famous chili recipe?" Greg asked his daughter with a teasing grin on his face. He'd already thrown in two habanero peppers, dark chocolate, a jalapeno, a whole can of tomatoes, tomato paste, and cans of black and brown pinto beans. While Greg Robins wasn't much of a "cook", one of the many things that he was good at was making a huge pot of chili. He'd had to adapt especially after the passing of his wife, Emelia.

Two years ago, his wife, Emelia, had passed away from ovarian cancer. It had hit the entire family hard, but no one more so than his son, Miles.

Miles was his oldest child and his pride and joy. It got to a point where Greg was truly pushing Miles to be the best athlete he could be, so every day after school, he'd train Miles in kickboxing and wrestling. His son was proving to excel at the sports, to the point where he was bringing home gold medals and trophies and awards.

"No, actually, I'm not," said Bella, bringing her dad back to think about what was being made for dinner at that moment. "All you ever know how to make is chili! Why can't we order pizza?! Besides, why do you always have to put chocolate in your chili?"

"That's called mole. That's the Robins family secret to good chili," Greg said, winking at his youngest.

Before Bella could say anything else to her father, her older brother Miles came into the house. His long blond hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he was drenched in sweat from having gotten through his second round of cardio of the day. He was wearing a red tank top and a pair of black shorts, as well as black Nikes.

"Hey, son. Did you get all your cardio in?" asked Greg to his son.

"Yes, Dad," said Miles, sighing heavily, while internally rolling his eyes before quickly making his way up to catch a hot shower.

Once in his bathroom, he stripped himself free of his sweaty workout clothes and stepped into the steaming hot water of the shower. The fourteen-year-old closed his eyes as he allowed his sore muscles to relax under the steam, reaching over to grab shampoo to wash his hair.

If it were up to Miles, he wouldn't be involved in kickboxing at all.

Half the reason why he did it was to make his dad happy.

The other half of the reason was to prove his rival, Paul Hadlock, wrong.

For years, he'd taken nothing but abuse from the likes of Paul Hadlock, who would spend much of his time harassing Miles because he acted like a big-shot. So, for Miles, competing against Paul brought him an odd sense of satisfaction that he could at least beat him at something.

But it wouldn't be his first choice.

All his dad could ever talk about after his mom passed away two years ago was kickboxing and wrestling. His dad obsessed over it and wanted his son to be the best.

But the pressures of pleasing his father were at times too much for the fourteen-year-old to bear.

Once he rinsed his body off, he dried off and changed into sweats and a t-shirt. However, as he entered his bedroom, he could hear a shouting match going on next door to him.

It did not surprise him, though.

It was common to hear Dell and Kori Cambridge going at each other's throats. The entire block could hear them screaming and cursing each other.

"I FUCKING HATE YOU! ALL YOU DO IS SIT ON YOUR LAZY, FAT ASS DRINKING! HOW'S ABOUT YOU TRY WORKING TO HELP PAY FOR SOME CHILD SUPPORT?!" screamed Kori.

"SHUT UP YOU WHORE BITCH! DON'T FUCKING TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!" screamed Dell.

"BOTH OF YOU, STOP IT PLEASE!" cried their daughter, Chloe. Her voice sounded like a shriek.

"STAY THE FUCK OUTTA THIS, CHLOE! GO TO YOUR ROOM, WORTHLESS LITTLE SHIT!"

"DON'T TALK TO HER LIKE THAT, DELL! LOOK IN MY EYES!"

Soon enough, Miles saw his next-door neighbor and classmate, Chloe Cambridge, coming into view through her white, lace curtains. His window giving him a clear view of Chloe's bedroom, he could see her pink-and-white striped wallpaper, her black and pink lacy bedding dressed with teddy bears, and her espresso-colored furnishings. Miles saw Chloe slamming her door shut, tears dripping down her face and sobs escaping her. Her strawberry-blond hair was in her face, and her hazel eyes were filling with tears as her body shook. She was wearing heavy black bracelets, the hot pink plaid shirt, black shorts with tights underneath, and black Doc Martins she'd worn to school that day.

Chloe was opening her bedroom window to step onto her balcony. He could see her climbing up to her roof, just sitting there and crying.

He knew Chloe . . . or at least he knew who she was. She was on the yearbook committee and was also in the school's art club. She was talented with photography and wrote amazing articles. She was often seen wearing feather hair extensions in her hair, and wore a punk style of clothing. She was also known for being in a rock band, as well, and played the electric guitar.

From afar, Miles thought that she was one of the coolest girls in school. She got along with everybody, or so it seemed. The exception would be Paul Hadlock and his best friend Brandon Munroe. Those two always seemed to get pleasure out of harassing everyone, and a girl as cool as Chloe was no exception to it, either.

Looking at her from his window, Miles couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the girl. Almost everyone knew how badly her parents fought. Everyone in town knew.

Miles knew all too well, because he was her next-door neighbor. His father had come to Chloe's house multiple times telling Chloe's parents to quiet down.

Miles breathed out a sigh as he turned away from his window, knowing if he stayed too long, Chloe would know that he'd spent a good amount of his time just staring at her.

Walking downstairs, he could smell the intense aromas of his father's chili, which was ready to be served. He took a healthy portion of it and sat at the table, eating dinner with his father and sister as the shouting matching between Kori and Dell Cambridge continued.

"Are they kidding me? They know I've got a nine-year-old, right?" asked Greg, incredulously.

"I don't think they care, Dad," Miles said with a heavy sigh, eating a spoonful of his chili.

The longer they sat there, the shouting match between the Cambridges continued, until finally, Greg had enough.

"I'm calling the police, for God's sake!" he grumbled, grabbing the phone to call Crystal Cove police.

"Crystal Cove PD how may I help you?" asked Chief Sterling on the other end.

"Yes, I'm calling to report a disturbance coming from the Cambridge household, sir," Greg said.

"I figured. At this point, you're practically one of our regular callers calling to complain against them," said Chief Logan Sterling. "I'll be there in five minutes."

"Thank you," said Greg.

And before they knew it, the police were showing up at the Cambridge household, silencing the argument.

It was becoming quite the routine that followed.

And Miles more than anything was sick of it.

He couldn't begin to imagine how Chloe must have felt.