After Muranthias
Jason sighed, opening the front door and heading into the house. He'd been trying to distract himself all afternoon, but it hadn't been working. Even karate hadn't been helping. Kicking off his shoes into the front closet, he headed down the hall toward the stairs.
"Mom, I'm home!" he called toward the kitchen as he walked.
He had intended to head straight up to his room, but a familiar voice in the kitchen made him freeze. His mother wasn't the only one in there. Poking his head inside, he grimaced when he saw Tommy sitting at the kitchen counter laughing. Madison and Vida were nowhere in sight, but he was sure they were around somewhere. Mrs. Rocca and Tommy both glanced around to see Jason standing in the doorway.
"Hi, sweetheart," Mrs. Rocca smiled. "Why don't you come on in?"
Jason just shook his head, looking at Tommy.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, frowning.
"Waiting for you," Tommy answered, standing up. "I decided to help your mom make cookies while I waited. Want one?"
He held out a cookie, but Jason didn't budge.
"Great," he said. "Well, I'm here, so you can leave now."
"Jason!" Mrs. Rocca exclaimed. "Don't be rude. Tommy has been waiting for you for hours."
"Sorry," he muttered.
Mrs. Rocca glared at him.
"Now why don't you two head on up to your room until dinner is ready?" she said to Jason. "I'm sure you haven't had nearly enough time to catch up since you came home again, Jason."
Taking a deep breath, Jason spun and stalked toward the stairs. Tommy shrugged and followed after him. After giving up the gold ranger powers, Jason had left to return to the peace conference for a while. But the conference was over now and Jason, Trini, and Zach were all back in Angel Grove. They'd only been back for a couple of weeks though. Tommy hadn't even known they were coming back until he and the other rangers found out that Divatox had kidnapped Jason and Kim, both of whom had been coming to surprise the rangers with a visit. And it was the whole Island of Muranthias thing that had Jason all on edge. Up in Jason's room, Jason tossed his bag on his bed and spun to face Tommy as he followed him inside.
"Why are you here?" he demanded.
Tommy rolled his eyes, shutting the door behind him.
"Looking for you," he said. "You've been avoiding me since Muranthias. Why?"
"Because I almost killed you!" Jason exclaimed. "That's not supposed to have happened."
Tommy sighed, shaking his head.
"Jase, it's been happening for as long as we've known each other," he pointed out. "Look at how we met."
"It doesn't matter," Jason retorted. "I'm not even a ranger anymore. It never should have happened."
"You're always going to be a ranger, Rex," Tommy said. "Whether you're fighting as one or not. We heard what happened while you guys were on that ship. You got Bulk, Skull, and Kim out."
"Yeah, but I couldn't get myself out," Jason snapped back. "And look where that went. They put me under a spell and I almost killed you."
"And everyone keeps saying the so-called 'Oliver guilt complex' is bad," Tommy muttered, shaking his head. "Listen to yourself, bro. You're just as bad. Would you let it go? I had a couple of bruises. So what? They're gone now and I'm fine."
"And if Kim hadn't snapped me out of it we both would have fallen in that lava," Jason growled.
"You know, you're just as bad as Kim," Tommy muttered. "And once I'm done dealing with you, I'm going to corner her, too."
Jason snorted.
"Good luck with that," he said. "She took off as soon as we got back from the island. Kim is gone."
Tommy groaned.
"Great," he said. "Just great. How am I supposed to talk to her if she's not even in the same state?"
"You aren't," said Jason, crossing his arms. "And you shouldn't be talking to me. Tommy, I nearly killed you!"
"But the point is you didn't," Tommy said. "We're all fine. Except you. It's been two weeks, Jase. You can't avoid me forever."
"Wanna bet?" Jason growled. "Kim is managing it."
"Jason—" Tommy said.
"No!" Jason exclaimed. "Tommy, I almost—"
The door to Jason's room burst open and Madison and Vida came bouncing in.
"Time for dinner," Madison announced.
Tommy and Jason had both frozen, turning to look at the girls. The twins were looking at them in surprise.
"Guess it's time for me to go then," Tommy said, looking at Jason. "See you around."
He spun, heading for the door.
"You are not leaving!" Jason shouted, stalking after him. "We are not done talking about this yet. You know I'm right about what happened."
"Bye, Jason!" they heard Tommy call back.
"No!" Jason exclaimed, disappearing out his door. "You are staying for dinner and then we are continuing this conversation. You do not just get to blow off me almost killing you!"
Madison and Vida exchanged confused looks as the two boys disappeared.
"What are they talking about this time?" Madison said.
"Who knows?" Vida shrugged as they headed toward the stairs themselves. "They're weird. Always have been, always will be. I will never understand their cryptic conversations."
"Neither will I," Madison sighed. "I hope we're never like that when we're their age…"
Vida laughed, nodding in agreement as they headed down to dinner.