Author's Notes - Big thanks to Chylea3784 who got me unstuck on this part.

Summary - Things don't seem to be going very smoothly for Tommy and Zedd.

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From Partner to Pet?

Zedd

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Sitting on the couch, Tommy's feet propped up on my lap, mad lib book I had brought along in his hand, he continues to rattle off the instructions needed to make the absurd story worse. "Noun?"

"Staff."

"Noun?"

"Porn."

"Adverb?"

"Green."

"Adjective?"

"Orgasmic." Smiling brightly and rubbing his calve in a less than innocent manager, I give him a playful leer.

"No." Damn it. "Adjective?"

Sighing and leaning my head back I give him the final word. "Bored." And am I truly ever. We've been here for two days, two long, uneventful, sexless days. I haven't gone two hours without getting something from him since I relocated to Earth, and now two days. I think I may explode. "So what's it say?"

Tossing his pen down onto the coffee table he looks over the page he'd been filling out before giving a slight groan. "Old Mother Hubbard went to the incident to get her terrible Zordon a bone. When she got there, the coin was ratty and so her evil dog had none." Giving me a look as he moves onto the next one on the page knowing this one will be even worse, he goes on regardless. "Jack and Jill went up the monster to fetch a trashcan of water. Jack fell down and broke his staff, and Jill came tumbling after."

Cracking up at that one, mainly the Jack breaking his 'staff' part I make an encouraging gesture. "Do the last one, pet."

Sighing and continuing he cringes as this one is no doubt even worse. "There was a little girl and she had a little curl right in the middle of her porn and when she was green she was very, very orgasmic, and when she was bad, she was bored."

Tossing the book behind himself not in the mood to play this particular game any longer it would seem, he gives my leg a little kick to bring my focus away from my chuckling and back to him. "This is dull Zedd. Why don't we go out somewhere, do something? Don't you want to show me your world? Hell I'll even settle for whatever your equivalent of a mall is, anything to just get out."

Looking over at Zordon who has thus far been quietly working at his desk in the far corner of the room, I manage to meet his eyes as he knowingly looks up at my mate's request to leave the penthouse. We had both been waiting for it, anticipating it, but we'd hoped it could be stalled at least for a bit longer. Should have known better, the boy does not like being locked up and despite the size of this place it is in it's own right a cage of sorts.

Clearing his throat casually Zordon lowers his eyes back to his work, but not before I'm certain Thomas has seen the exchange. "I don't think that would be such a good idea Tommy."

"Why not?" Yes Zordon do tell him why, because there is no way in hell I'm doing it, especially not when you're the one who had the bright idea to bring us both back here.

"Well for one thing I have a lot of work that needs to get done and Zedd going out without some form of a leash just wouldn't go over entirely too well with the citizens here." Oh bring me into it, nice.

"Well I'd be with him, I'm a power holder and they can feel that right? See it on me, you told me that the last time you came to Earth." Yes he did, and I'm fairly certain he also told you exactly what the current problem really entails as power is in fact not the only thing they will see and sense on you.

"Tommy...It's just not a very good time to venture out. Why don't you watch something on the viewing screen, alright?" Nice try Zordon, but I don't think TV is going to be enough to detour him from this particular idea.

"We've done nothing but watch TV and play cards since we got here." Sitting up and giving the mentor a look, Thomas shakes his head having none of it. "I want to go out, to see what there is to see here both for enjoyment purposes and for strategy. If this Zarek is so determined to get his hands on Zedd that he might come here it would be good for me to know the layout of at least this city." Who says I don't pick smart ones.

Setting his papers down and heaving a sigh as it has become apparent that my mate is not one to be pushed over, Zordon launches into the explanation we'd both wanted to avoid for as long as possible but yet are apparently unable to. "Zedd is only the first problem Tommy. Yes they will be able to tell you are a power holder, but they will also sense that you are now a halfbreed and Zedd's mate as they will smell him on you." Taking a tantive whiff of him as Zordon continues talking I note that even after two days of no intimate connection that he still has a faint trace of my scent on him; sex and rage, I love that smell. "It is not something that I wish to tell you to cause you distress or make you angry, however it is important as both matters unfortunately mean that you will be treated like a second class citizen or worse."

"Worse?"

Rubbing his leg in a grounding manner, I pick up with a bit more bluntness than my counterpart, not wanting to upset him, but knowing he has to get the message as plainly as possible if we want to avoid a rather heated back and forth argument. "Thomas as far as purebred eltarians are concerned you are a mutt, a pet to be used for labor or pleasure; a view which- while wrong and not one I myself hold -makes it extremely dangerous for you to go out without identification tags and some sort of none homicidal escort."

Looking torn between hurt and anger it takes the Ranger a moment to decide which to settle on, before surprising us both by taking a slow, deep breath, and responding coolly but also calmly and logically. "So I cannot go out alone or with only Zedd for company."

"It would not be wise, no."

"Fine, so you can go with us." Turning to Zordon he really has learned to gain control of his temper very well over the past few months as if I was in his position I believe I might very well have beaten both of us senseless and stormed out safe or not. "I know you have a lot of work that needs to be done, but the fact remains that I do need to know the layout of the city if there is even a hint of a chance that a battle will occur in the near future. Also I don't think it'd hurt for you leave your papers for an hour or so, especially if you insist on the fact that I need an escort so as not to be picked up by the pound and Zedd for the same reason only with police."

Well now, let's see you argue with that bit of mature logic blondie. "Even with my presence Thomas you still wouldn't be allowed to go into certain establishments. And as for the layout of the city this is not the best time to learn it. Too many people are out and about which would interfere with noting landmarks and direction." The lie coming much too smoothly, he however meets my eyes before I can call him on it, the message to keep my mouth shut for the moment clear. What is he up to? Halfbreeds are allowed nearly everywhere so long as their owners are present. And with the pull Zordon has on this planet not to mention what a menacing figure I am no one would question him being in any shops or dining establishments. That's not to say they wouldn't attempt to pet him on the head or give him treats but protesting wise it would most likely not happen.

Suddenly struck by a rather good idea I lean over and with smooth grace snatch up the glass dish of said treats which we have sitting on the coffee table. True they are nothing Zordon or myself would ever eat as they are in fact designed for lesser breeds with more sensitive digestive systems, but leaving them out in this manner where they are not displayed in a pet food type bag makes it much easier for us to get Thomas to accept them. The same as with most of the food we've given him over the past two days, not wanting to shock his system by feeding him straight heavily seasoned eltarian food in large quantities all at once.

"Have a piece of candy." Tossing one of the colorful treats to him before he can rebuttal Zordon's latest argument and watching with a smile as he catches it easily though still wearing a slight scowl, I make an encouraging gesture. "Come on you like this kind." Though that may very well be because he has no clue it's specifically for pets, but who's being picky at this point and time. "Come on it will give you energy with which to kill Zordon."

"Candy does not make the situation better Zedd." Tone hard, but desire for the apparently sweet and addictive tasting treat still there he pops it into his mouth chewing angrily.

"It makes it a little better."

"No it doesn't. I want to go out Zedd."

"And we will, just not quite yet." At least not until I get an explanation from our host as to why he's fabricating certain details of what an outing would entail. "Have another piece of candy."

Continuing to scowl but holding out his hand for another, he catches the second tossed piece in the same manner as the first, watching as I set the bowl back down on the table without taking one for myself. "Why don't you ever eat any?"

"Because I'm not a pe-" Mouth running far fast than my brain which is still trying to decipher Zordon's reasoning, I catch myself a fraction of a second too late my attempt at a save falling far too short for comfort. "-passionate lover of treats such as yourself."

Groaning and placing his head in his hand Zordon is clearly about as convinced as my now glaring mate. "Smooth Zedd, real smooth." Shut up, it's your fault I'm distracted now.

"That is not what you were about to say." Eyes narrowing at the piece of treat still in his hand he examines it closely before looking back at me in a manner much more befitting of an evil lord than Ranger. "What are you feeding me? What is this?"

"I already told you what it is. Candy. A treat. One which you seem to like very much." Attempting to look as nonchalant as possible I barely miss the catch as he throws the remaining piece back at me.

"Than you eat it." Me?!

Looking at the pet food in my hand and blanching silently I look between the arms crossed halfbreed and Zordon, one of which is still glaring death and the other, the other which is doing absolutely nothing what so ever to help me.

"I- Thomas I can't eat this. It's, well it's not…" Struggling for the right words, I snarl as a small snicker comes from Zordon's part of the room. "It's Zordon's favorite sort of treat so therefore I believe it would be highly unfair to not allow him to eat it instead." Throwing it to the blonde I give him a smirk or my own.

Catching it before it can strike him in the head he rolls his eyes at this rather annoying game of sorts. "Oh for crying out…" Dropping it onto his desk he shakes his head. "Thomas it's a treat just as Zedd told you. It bares a good resemblance both in flavor and structure to that of the candy you eat on Earth."

"Than why won't either of you eat any?"

"Because we're eltarian. It's designed for halfbreeds, which we are not. It's bland compared to the food we eat and while it will not cause us any harm it's designed more specifically for your sort of digestive system. The same as the food we've been giving you since you got here. This is also why you really can't be taken out to eating establishments as they will not know what to feed you in both drink and meal. I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner but we thought it better to try and adjust you to our food slowly and gradually, assuming you'd be a bit upset about not being allowed to eat all of what we do."

Jaw on the ground, honestly too stunned to hide or kill him, I continue to stare at Zordon in shock over how he could so easily turn us both in, especially when he one knows what a delicate matter this is and two is fully aware of the temper and power Thomas now holds.

"You've been giving me pet treats." Tone far too calm and filled with deadly intent, he divides his attention between the two of us, making me wondering briefly if this will be a repeat of the fight I'd had with him right after our bonding.

"Tommy you have to understand they're not 'pet treats' they're just treats designed for the species which is closest to yours. Plus you seem to like them very much, correct? So should it really matter all that much where we get them from or what they're called?"

"I am not a pet." Teeth clenched and eyes blazing with barely held anger, the Ranger is quickly reaching his snapping point.

Reaching out a gentle hand and rubbing his arm in a soothing manner, I give him what I hope he takes as a peaceably playful smile. "It's all just words Thomas. Meaningless labels. Nothing more. You know who you are, as do we."

"If you know who I am than you should trust me to be able to take care of myself. To know when I'm in a situation that is dangerous, and to make the calls I need to make to keep myself and others around me safe." This s really going to be a very long visit isn't it.

Cutting in before I can make an effort to appease him once more Zordon much like Thomas is having none of it. "I don't wish to be harsh with you Tommy but you must understand that you are not on Earth anymore. The rules change here and you can't go out alone, you must be careful about what you eat, and being a power holder does not unfortunately grant you any real privileges or assure your safety. Mind you none of this means you're a lesser species, or that you aren't fully capable of thinking, acting, and standing up for yourself, but it does mean that you will be treated differently by people here as situations will be different."

Taking in what's been said he stands slowly before striding off towards our room, his parting comment coming in one swift strike. "Be that as it may I shouldn't have to expect to be treated that way by you two."

"Thomas-" Moving to go after him, I'm stopped by the idiot who in my view is mostly responsible for my mate's now wounded pride.

"Let him be."

"Let him be?"

"He needs time to deal with this. It's a shock to think of yourself as a strong individual, almost indestructible on one planet and then find out that you're not much more than a pet on another."

"Except that he is more. He's a power holder, a warrior, and most of all my mate. He's is far more than a pet, Zordon. And how dare you talk to and treat him as one." Fists clenched and knowing Thomas can most likely feel my rage as well as I can his, I am past the point of caring. Let him know just how furious I am with the idiot before me. Let him feel me defending him. "Why did you do that? Why did you say that to him?"

"Because you weren't going to. He has to know that there are dangers here, ones that are far different than he is used to."

"Ones that we can protect him from! Geez if you'd just let him go out-"

"He can't go out Zedd, at least not yet."

"Why? You tell me right now why he has to be locked up and punished because of something he has no control over. He didn't ask to come here youmade him. You pushed and probed and worried him with talk of my safety until he agreed and now you're making him suffer for it. Well fuck that. If you can't give me one good reason why he has to stay caged up then I am taking him back home where I will deal with Zarek on my own one way or another."

"He needs to go to the vet."

"And another thing I really don't-" Pausing as his words register with my mind mid-rant I frown and try to convince myself I've misheard. "Wait, what?"

Heaving a sigh and placing his head in his hand Zordon repeats himself slowly and with great displeasure. "He has to go to the vet. When I called Kerch the other day he informed me that my father and the other Council members insist that if he is to stay on this planet he must go to the vet to get a physical evaluation as well as vaccinations. He's never been here before Zedd, he's not immune to our illnesses and in a more off chance we're not immune to his. He could acquire a disease here or give one if not vaccinated properly before being allowed to venture out."

While all of this is in a way understandable and even acceptable as I would not want him to get ill due to exposure to a virus he is not immune to, I however cannot get past the one word which has stuck out so greatly in the explanation. "Vet?"

"Apparently no eltarian physician will see him."

"Did you even try?" Tone accusing as I know he all too often has a way of being sideswiped by his moronic asshole of a father, I narrow my eyes fully intending to go through the directory to find a healer myself who will do what is needed for him.

"I called every healer in the area and even twenty more outside of it. None will see a halfbreed, even one who is a reputable power holder. He has to go to a vet Zedd, there's no choice in the matter."

Shifting unhappily I wrack my brain for any other option, but in the end come up with none aside ignoring the Council's demands, something that this time around could actually get him hurt. "I knew we should have gone to Triforia."

"Trey would have bludgeoned you to death with his staff."

To be continued……