Author's Note: In the poll that asks who Dustin should end up with, it seems readers favor Hunter over Tobi (or any other option). I will keep the poll open for a little while longer just in case... but I respect the wishes of my readers. You have a say in how the story goes (to a degree, since sometimes I don't even know what will happen next), so PLEASE click on the Review This Chapter button at the bottom of each chapter page.I have enabled anonymous reviews too! I can take constructive criticism. Thank you in advance!
Did anyone else who writes fanfiction on here notice that you can't have a question mark and an exclamation mark side by side? This site also deletes anything with too many of the same letters, such as a scream sound. So, in case you're wondering why shouted questions do not have both marks or screams are short, that's why. Otherwise you'd just see: "!" Oh, and you can't post links. Those disappear too. Anyway!
Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm:
Tobi accidentally enters a dark closet and is kissed by Blake, who thought he was his sister Tori. Afterward, Tobi meets with the version of his sister Tori from back in his dimension and she asks him to switch her morpher (which she gives him) with that of this dimension's Tori because hers doesn't work in this dimension. Tobi agrees, but feels guilty. When he gets back to Storm Chargers, Hunter and Dustin think his secret meeting to return the morpher tomorrow is actually another makeout session with Blake. In the heat of passion, Tobi kisses Dustin. At first, he thinks Dustin is freaked out, but he seems okay with it. Dustin even lets Hunter kiss him to "see if he's any different than Tobi." Later, Tori suspects that something is going on with Blake, but thinks he's cheating with a woman because she sees him getting a ride from one (Double Edged Blake episode tie-in). Tobi asked to stay over with Tori to get his opportunity to switch morphers. When he reenters Storm Chargers, he hears a conversation between Shane and Dustin. From his hiding place, he manages to hear Dustin say that he thinks he's "turning gay"...
Parallel Realities Ninja Storm: Chapter 10 (Out Of The Closet And Into The Conflict)
Shane opened the wooden window dividing the outside counter form the back room of Storm Chargers and glared down disappointedly at Tobi.
"Uh, hi Shane," Tobi greeted, an embarrassed grin on his face as he stood up. "What's up?"
"Were you like... listening the whole time?" Dustin asked, approaching the two.
"Maybe," Tobi admitted, climbing up onto the counter and sliding into the back room.
"He's the reason you're worried you're turning gay," Shane concluded, pointing accusingly toward Tobi while looking at Dustin. "Look, dude, maybe you just like him because he reminds you of Tori and you really like Tori."
"Nah, dude," Dustin argued. "Tori's like a brother—sister," he corrected, "to me."
"What about Marah?" Shane asked.
"I thought she turned good, but she tricked me," Dustin complained.
"But you said you thought she was cute," Shane pointed out.
"As a human, yeah," Dustin admitted, "but not as an evil bitc—"
"But what about your..." Shane interrupted. "You heard about guys having sex in prison, right? They're straight tough guys, right, and then they go without sex so long that they have sex with the guy that looks the most feminine. You know, both guys and girls have lots of the same parts. An ass is an ass, man. Maybe it's just your condition."
"My condition?" Dustin asked. "He knows I'm a virgin, dude."
"Oh," Shane said, nervously eyeing Tobi.
"I'm not just getting desperate," Dustin protested.
"But you can't turn gay," Shane argued.
Tobi couldn't help but agree with Shane on that.
"It would be like me waking up one day and say, 'You know, dude, I'm sick of pussy,'" Shane continued. "I've always liked pussy."
"Come on, dude," Dustin interrupted. "You used to think girls had kooties or something."
"Okay," Shane conceded, "but I'm only counting Middle School and after."
"I liked a boy in Middle School," Dustin said slowly.
"What!" both Shane and Tobi yelled in unison.
Dustin looked down, embarrassed while both waited anxiously. "You remember Jessie?" he asked.
"Jessie Sanders, the eight grader who helped you with spelling when we were in seventh grade?" Shane asked.
"Yeah," Dustin admitted. "I thought it like started because that sixth grader was so nice to me when we were in fourth grade," he continued, lost in thought.
"Which sixth grader?" Shane asked, confused.
"You know," Dustin replied, "the one who got me into motocross after I was all depressed because you became a skater and Tori became a surfer and we like never did any of the stuff I was into."
"I remember him," Shane realized. "You never found out his name before he moved. Man, I remember how depressed you were before he came along."
"Yeah," Dustin admitted. "You stopped being into cartoons and we never read Power Rangers or played Beast Wars anymore and Tori got tired of the Power Colors."
"Power Colors?" Tobi asked.
"When we were little," Shane explained, "Tori made up the 'Primary Colors' because we wore red, blue and yellow. Dustin liked 'The Power Colors' better, so we stuck with that, but I guess we all grew out of our little club. All but Dustin."
"Yeah," Dustin mumbled. "So anyway, like this kid comes along and shows me motocross and biking and stuff and he was really nice and I really liked him and stuff. So, I thought maybe him being so nice made me like boys a little. Cause it wasn't like a lot or an obsession or anything, but then there was Jessie and then Toby..."
"Me?" Tobi asked.
"No, dude," Dustin clarified.
"He was that guy in our swimming class freshman year," Shane realized. "Didn't he beat you up?"
"Wait, two older guys and a bully?" Tobi interrupted. "You're a... bottom?"
Dustin turned as red as Shane's shirt. "No, dude. His brother beat me up. I don't like being dominated."
"Really?" Tobi asked. "You like doing the dominating?"
"I like being like equals," he explained.
"Oh," Tobi mumbled.
"You still like girls, though, right?" Shane asked.
"Course," Dustin agreed. "I like girls. I'm not like totally weird you know. But I like guys too." He lowered his head. "In some ways, I like them a lot more."
"In what ways?" Shane asked.
"You know, dude, like how I can have more in common than with a girl and we can relate and stuff," Dustin explained.
"Right," Shane said skeptically. "Didn't you notice the guys you mentioned had something in common physically?"
"I didn't even look at their packages so I wouldn't know if they were all..." Dustin defended.
Shane gave him a strange look. "I was going to say they're all blondes, and so is Tobi. This Tobi."
"Oh," Dustin realized. "Guess you're right. Hunter's a blonde too."
"Wait!" Tobi shouted. "You're attracted to Hunter? I thought you guys kissed just for fun."
"You kissed Hunter?" Shane asked, shocked.
Dustin blushed. "Tobi kissed me, so I... I was just like curious, dude. You know?"
"Curiosity killed the lion," Shane warned. "I just think you're a little confused, bro."
"So, you're completely straight?" Tobi asked Shane, turning the tables. "You've never even found a guy at all attractive?"
"Maybe a tiny bit if he was cute," Shane reluctantly admitted, "but I don't like dicks, man." He turned to Dustin. "Dude, you saw Tobi's dick. Did it do anything for you?"
Dustin became flustered.
"I can show you again, if it'll help," Tobi offered.
Shane gave him a quick, horrified look.
"Joking, joking!" Tobi assured him before turning back to Dustin. "And, Dustin, I'm sorry about spraying your face with my... juices."
"You... Oh, man," Shane muttered, shaking his head.
Dustin struggled to breathe correctly.
"Wait!" Tobi realized. "You said you like being equals, not being dominated. Hunter's older and he also definitely comes across as a top, so you must like me better than Hunter, since I'm your age and open to any position," he concluded.
Thud! Crash! The three looked over to see Hunter climbing through the window connecting to the main part of Storm Chargers. Behind him were a bunch of faces, each with shocked and/or horrified expressions. Tori, Blake, Kelly and even Cam were there. There were also a few customers gawking for some reason.
"Can I show you guys our bike display?" Kelly offered, trying to herd off the customers.
Dustin covered his face in embarrassment as Tori, Blake and Cam entered the back room.
"What are you guys doing here?" Shane asked defensively.
"Well, Cam decided to drop by since we were all here," Tori explained, taking a seat. "And we saw Hunter spying and then..." She trailed off.
"You were spying on us?" Tobi accused, looking from Hunter over to an extremely embarrassed Dustin.
"How much did you guys hear?" Dustin asked without looking up.
"Enough," Hunter replied.
"Dustin, why didn't you ever tell us you liked guys?" Tori asked in a sympathetic tone.
"I was... embarrassed," he answered. "And I tried to like… not think about it."
"We're your friends," Blake chimed in.
"He didn't have to tell anyone if he didn't want to," Cam offered. "Maybe he had a good reason for keeping his feelings to himself." He shrugged and looked from Tori to Dustin.
"I..." Dustin began. "I'm tired of always being... different, the goofy one. I guess I like didn't want to be any weirder."
"You're not weird, Dustin," Hunter said.
"Really?" Dustin asked, seemingly hopeful.
"We're still your friends no matter what you're like or who you like," Tori explained.
"You are weird," Tobi cut in, causing Dustin to frown. "And I like you that way! Who wants to be like everyone else? You're funny, intuitive, honest, trusting, helpful, friendly and the most wonderful person I've ever met."
Dustin looked at him embarrassed.
"And you're a Power Ranger!" Tobi finished. "Still want to be normal?"
Dustin smiled at Tobi.
"I also like you just the way you are," Hunter added. "And Tobi forgot how sweet you are... and cute."
Shane groaned and shook his head.
"Can we all agree that Dustin is just fine the way he is and move on?" Cam suggested.
"You're jealous," Tori realized.
"Don't be silly," Cam defended. "I'm content liking you—I mean liking girls. Liking girls," he quickly clarified.
Tori gave him a strange look while Hunter said, "Smooth," and Blake laughed.
"Don't laugh," Tori warned Blake. "And, Cam, I meant you're jealous of the attention. It's not that we like Dustin more than you."
"Really?" Cam asked skeptically.
"Some of us obviously do," Shane pointed out, gesturing to Hunter and Tobi while giving Blake a questioning glance.
Cam's face fell.
Tobi felt bad for Cam, especially after all he had done for him, so he put an arm on his shoulder. "I like you," he said. "If I weren't in love with Dustin, I'd like you the best. Not 'like like' you, as Dustin would say, but you're a great friend and we're all glad you're around."
Cam gave him a weak grin. He had probably been hoping for something more along the lines of what Tobi had said about Dustin, but Tobi didn't have it in him. He loved Dustin and Cam could never compete with that.
"So, does anyone else want to confess anything today?" Tori asked, looking at Blake.
"Oh, look at the time," Blake said.
"Yeah, I got to be going too," Shane agreed.
"Well, I better get back to Ninja Ops," Cam said.
"What, does everyone have a secret they're keeping from me?" Tori asked as the others ran off.
Tobi looked at his sister and made a serious face. "Tori, I have something to tell you."
Tori's eyes widened. "What is it, Tobi?"
Tobi fidgeted dramatically. "I'm... pregnant. I'm going to have Dustin's baby. Another cute little Dustin is on his way!"
Tori hit him, annoyed.
"You can call him Tiny Tobi," Dustin chimed in, laughing.
"Or Dust Buster!" Tobi added, also laughing.
"You two didn't... do it, did you?" Hunter asked nervously.
"No!" Dustin replied. "I'm saving myself."
"For me?" Hunter asked hopefully.
Tori fought back a laugh.
"For a girl," Dustin said.
"What!" Tobi yelled. "I thought you just came out as bi!"
"And I like want to have my first time with a girl," Dustin explained.
Both Tobi and Hunter's faces fell.
"You two are hopeless," Tori commented. "So, Dustin, do you know what's up with Blake?"
"Oh look!" Dustin said, looking at his arm as if it had a watch on it (which it didn't). "We're like off work. See you later!" He rushed out quickly.
"Wait for me!" Hunter called, following.
Tori shook her head in defeat.
"Let me just check on them and I'll be right back," Tobi told his sister.
"Yeah, sure," Tori pouted.
Tobi was about to leave, but he paused. "Blake really likes you a lot," he explained. "He would never knowingly cheat on you. I just... I thought you should know that."
She looked up at him. "You're right," She said. "Why am I moping around here? So, you still want to come over tonight because I'm thinking of staying over at Blake and Hunter's."
"You're what?" Tobi asked.
"I liked your sleepover idea," she explained.
"And you want me there?" he asked, confused as to why she wouldn't want to be alone with her boyfriend.
"I wasn't going to have sex with him," she scolded. "I think a nice friendly little get-together would be fun."
"Uh..." Tobi stuttered.
"And maybe he talks in his sleep," she added.
I sure hope not, Tobi thought. He could only imagine: "Oh, Tobi, you're such a better kisser than Tori!"
"What could possibly go wrong?" she asked.
Tobi stared at her, not believing she had actually said that. "Uh... uh..." he stuttered. "Let me just check on Dustin and Hunter real quick. I'll, uh, be right back." He then ran out of Storm Chargers.
Hunter and Dustin were standing out front, talking. When they saw him approaching, they stopped.
"Hey," Tobi greeted slowly. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Hunter says he has something he wants to tell me," Dustin explained, "so he wants to like tell me tonight."
Tobi glared at Hunter. "How convenient."
"All's fair in love and war," Hunter explained.
Tobi turned back to Dustin. "Tori wants to stay over at Hunter and Blake's Maybe—"
"That sounds perfect," Hunter interrupted. "She and Blake get a little alone time and Dustin and me..." He put an arm around Dustin's shoulder.
Dustin looked at Hunter nervously.
"Actually," Tobi said, folding his arms, "she doesn't want to be alone with him. She wants a sleepover with Hunter there too. Maybe you can join us, Dustin."
"Join you?" Dustin repeated, confused.
"She wants me to go too, of course," Tobi explained before turning to Hunter. "And, if you have something to tell Dustin, here's your opportunity."
"But, it was supposed to be—" Hunter began to protest.
"Just you two alone in Dustin's bed?" Tobi interrupted.
Dustin fidgeted nervously.
Tobi turned back to Dustin. "And, Dustin, since it's a sleepover, you can pick some movies or other activities. Oh, and snacks of course."
Dustin's face lit up. "A sleepover? That'll be so fun!"
Hunter glared at Tobi. "Yeah, fun' he said coldly.
"It will be fun," Tobi assured them. "What could possibly go wrong?" He immediately covered his mouth, instantly knowing he was going to regret saying that.
To be continued...
Author's Note: I took the liberty of giving the back room of Storm Chargers a divider because it's too open to let people have the private conversations they seem to have in the series.