Into the Woods Chapter 8: Ride, a power rangers fanfic

Chapter 8

Ride

The long awaited installment that didn't quite take a year to come into existence!

I'm considering this one a win.

-:-:-:-:-:-

So…things had gone somewhat differently than Shane had anticipated they would.

He assumed this entire self defense program would simply end up being a resume padder or something for the colleges to appreciate when looking over his applications (not that the bar was going to be set very high for where he planned to go) so the whole "surprise, it's a secret ninja school" thing was actually a very nice turn of events. At least, as far as he was concerned.

The clothes though…yeah, they could suck less. As soon as everyone's participation was guaranteed (they weren't stupid, who passed up a chance to learn wind magic or whatever?) they were herded into separate dojos based on gender and given these not-so-wonderful tan robe things. Victor informed them that they had to work their way up to the ninja gear for they were far too "incompetently stupid" to receive them now. The other guy, Ian, some kid said, stepped in after that, patting their egos and compensating for Victor's lack of social skills.

Until they were proficient with at least the basics of manipulating their element they would have to be stuck in the ugly pajamas.

Well, at least they got pants. So there was a plus. Shane probably wouldn't have stuck around if they weren't allowed to have pants. Magic powers or not, that kind of thing was only the preamble to what was assuredly unhappiness.

Awkward clothes aside, it was a pretty good beginning. It was followed by some less-than-fabulous training montages of the teachers whipping them into basic shape (they needed a "solid jumping off point" before they could start learning the fun stuff) that led to many an exhausted night, limbs sore, heavy, and abused.

Yet somehow, Shane couldn't be happier.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Dustin had yet to decide if he was a happy camper or not. This was mostly because he was too exhausted to give it much thought (five mile training runs were becoming an early morning staple, along with what Victor lovingly referred to as light PT which was anything but light) but even if he had the energy, he still wouldn't be sure if he was satisfied with the happenings of his world.

The nice thing about ninja school (yeah, he got to say that now, his life was that awesome) was that he was actually sort of good at it. Sure, all the students were in pretty good shape to begin with, but Teagan and the other senseis were pushing them to like, ridiculous extents. It would be more scary, or intimidating maybe, but instead of freaking out every time they threw some outrageous demand his way (like one hundred push ups or no lunch for you) Dustin would just, like, do it. Which was the point, but still. He would think about it for the first few so he could do them the best he could, but then he'd zone out and before he knew it, bam, one hundred push ups, like nothing. It helped that Teagan paired them up to be counters for each other, otherwise Dustin probably would have had to start over at least ten times because he never kept track.

Not that he was the best at everything. Ninja History (which sounded interesting but was about as boring as normal history was) took great pleasure in kicking his butt almost every day. They were even supposed to write essays in class (because it wasn't like they had access to this information at home) and he was pretty sure he failed just about all of them at this point. He also had a nasty habit of falling asleep during the classes on meditation (because five mile runs and all that) and Teagan always chose to wake him up by asking him some question he never knew the answer to. In her defense, it could have been about something he actually knew and he still would have frozen up on the spot.

Yeah, he and public speaking still weren't the best of friends.

Despite his efforts, Dustin hadn't gotten a chance to see Tori or Shane again because of their different groupings (Tori with the water students and Shane with the air). They wouldn't get beyond the small groups until July, and that was only a maybe, so the odds of him seeing them again were low. Teagan had informed them that eventually they would be broken down into teams of three, with one student from each element group, and Dustin had no idea what the selection process was for that but he hoped beyond hope that he'd get put with Shane and Tori. Or just one of them, he wasn't picky. He just wanted to talk to them again.

The patheticness of this hope was something he had decided to ignore.

Outside of class, he only knew where Shane liked to hang out, and he wasn't sure about them, but Dustin was always too tired after classes were over to even think about doing anything else. He hadn't been to the track in weeks and Kelly kept having to wake him up during his shifts at Storm Chargers. She was always understanding, even supportive, but it was hard to think about other stuff while becoming accustomed to ninja training.

Even important stuff, like remembering to put gas in your bike, which was something Dustin discovered he hadn't done until he was driving home down a certain cliff-side road and his bike rolled to a stop and refused to get going again.

Gas, right, he had written it down on his hand to remember, and but then he spilled oil at the shop and he must have washed it off in that mess and-nertz, he was going to have to start pushing.

At least he wouldn't forget to fill up again in the near future.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

Okay, so there was a chance it would happen again. But he wouldn't forget three times.

Dustin was in the middle of trying to figure out how long it would take to get home when a van pulled up beside him (stranger danger immediately going off in his mind because he had paid attention during those presentations in middle school) and he looked up in time to see Tori, still as bright and cheerful as ever, happily wave at him.

He had forgotten how pretty she was.

"Out of gas?"

Breathe Dustin, you petrified klutz. Just because fate decided to deal you a nice hand doesn't mean you should do something stupid.

Right.

Not being stupid would be totally easy.

It wasn't until a few seconds later that the brunette had actually processed what she said, with being so busy trying not to stare, but doing it anyway, and then going for eye contact, and then remembering he sucked at that so he quickly put his eyes to the ground and gave a jerked nod. Nods were good, nods he could handle.

Despite his spazzitude, Tori didn't seem all that affected by his minor dilemma, and giggled, amused but not vindictive. It was the nice kind of amused (because sadly there was an unpleasant amused that Dustin was familiar with), the one that the mechanic didn't see all that often that didn't take cruel pleasure in life's misfortunes. More specifically, his misfortunes.

He hoped he wasn't imagining it, or conjuring it up out of pathetic neediness, but Tori somehow got him. She understood, sort of, or at least recognized Dustin had some problems socializing (maybe, or maybe he was just reading into this too much, and he could be because it was like, him). And instead of picking him apart about it, or rubbing his face in it, she just sort of… went with the flow.

Saying that he liked that about her would be such a ridiculous understatement that it physically pained him to think it, and then he knew he was a special kind of doomed, seeing as he had come to this conclusion after only two interactions with her, one of which consisted of one question.

He had rules for a reason; he had kept to those rules for a reason, but with Tori…

He could hope, one more time right? He could manage that.

Having probably expected more of an answer, Tori tried again, tapping her fingers idly against the edge of the window. "Need a lift?"

Well, yes, but he hadn't expected to get one.

Before he could reply, Tori was already getting out of her van, walking around and throwing open the back doors. She leaned in, tossed some towels onto the middle seat and pushed a surfboard to the side (surfer chick, yeah, he could see that,) to make room for his bike. Cleaning done, she paused, looking over her shoulder with eyebrows raised, as though she were wondering why he hadn't caught up with her yet (and he knew why, disbelief was still coursing through his veins). Thankfully Dustin's body went on auto pilot and pushed his bike forward. Between the two of them they got it loaded into the van, along with the rest of Dustin's gear.

His mind was trying to remind him of that one time he thought she could be a psycho killer (that one time being the only other time), that he shouldn't really put his bike into stranger's vans and be held at their mercy, but they were both in secret ninja school together so he figured there was a little bit of kinship there right? They were bonded by silence and five mile runs and boring history lessons, so she probably didn't want bad things to happen to him. Ian (that was the water guy, Dustin may or may not have been dropping some eaves) wouldn't have picked her if she were secretly crazy right? Crazy people probably wouldn't be a good choice for passing on traditions/protecting the innocent.

It was time to trust his gut; Tori was fine, he would be fine, this car ride was nothing to worry about.

Everything would be okay.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Tori did most of the talking, which was good, because Tori was much better at talking than Dustin and didn't seem too upset with holding a one-sided conversation. It wasn't that she wouldn't listen, because she did, the few times that Dustin did talk, but it was that…that "getting him" thing in action. She filled in the space he couldn't, and when he was ready, she gave him the floor.

It was depressing to think that this behavior was unique and new to him, maybe this was how all people acted and he had just gotten stuck with the upchuck of civilization or something. Or maybe she was just rare. He had always thought those other girls seeking out pity cases were nice too, but they weren't, they weren't genuine like Tori. They were plastic, fake. Dustin almost felt bad for comparing her to Barbie, because that wasn't really Tori's style.

Then again, he was basing this off of basically nothing, so he didn't have a lot of background information to make assumptions like that. People (decent people) helped each other out all the time. They smiled when they said good morning and complimented people's bikes and remembered their names. There wasn't anything special about it, it wasn't as monumental as he thought it was, it was just, basic interactions and stuff.

When Tori dropped him off Dustin tried not to feel bitter about it, tried to remind himself it wasn't special. He wasn't special.

Nothing out of the ordinary about this, it was just an average exercise in human decency. He shouldn't focus on it.

That didn't mean he wouldn't; he just, shouldn't.

Because Tori probably wouldn't.

-:-:-:-:-:-

It turned out that Dustin did forget a second time. Apparently his run-in with Tori hadn't improved his memory that much, or maybe it had, and he was just hoping subconsciously that if he ran out of gas again she would show up. Which didn't really make any sense, but in the end it didn't really matter, because he still ended up pushing.

Well, he probably wouldn't forget a fourth time. Ninja training couldn't leave him that tired. Or stupid. He couldn't be getting dumber, right?

Pff, it was him, there was always room for improvement in that particular department. Pushing his bike home would teach him a lesson.

Okay… maybe these classes were making him be a little bit harder on himself. It was just- his group was so…smiley, and he just wasn't. He knew it and they knew it and they kept sending him these questioning looks like, if he was so un-them why was he there? And if he couldn't talk why was he there? And if he sucked at essays and-

His pushups won him some points back, but it wasn't doing a lot for his peace of mind.

Maybe he should quit.

He didn't hear the van roll up, so it wasn't until Tori honked the horn that he noticed her, smiling as pleasantly as she always was. At least, the two times he'd seen her.

"You really need to remember to refill your tank."

Which was true, but still-

It riled him. As much as he could be riled while talking to someone he was a little obsessed over, and still be shy, and tired and-

"I didn't mean to forget," he said, defensive. "It's just," he motioned in the direction of the school, trying to het his point across. "It's hard."

He rubbed the side of his head, looking down as he added in a lower voice, "I get tired."

When he looked up again the driver seat was empty, which freaked him out (because holy crap what if evil ninjas stole her or something?) until she appeared beside him, having gotten out of the van in the silence he had used to pity himself.

Oh. Well, at least someone was using their time wisely.

He wondered why she was still there.

Tori reached over and pat his arm, one hand rested against the handle of his bike.

"Yeah," she said, not affected by his tone. "I know what you mean."

She gave a wry smile. "Guess I can't really rag on you, seeing as I keep falling asleep when I'm taking a bath."

What was she…?

Oh, being tired. Yes.

Dustin cringed, realizing what she said. "Eh, baths."

Baths were boring. And also, stupid.

It was Tori's turn to be defensive, but she only did it lightly, crossing her arms across her chest in mock anger. "There's nothing wrong with baths."

Apparently his mouth decided to get a bit proactive anyway, and he surprised himself by scoffing.

"Says the water ninja."

Whatever panic he had was kept under wraps, waiting at the result of his spontaneous comment, and Tori, after a moment of surprise, gave a pleased smile.

"Not yet." She said, pointing a finger at him. "But soon."

He couldn't find any fault with that logic.

He was pretty sure that wasn't the entire reason she offered him a lift home, but he thought that it helped.

-:-:-:-:-:-

The drive home was about as pleasant as the first time, maybe a little more because Dustin was freaking out slightly less. It was nice though. Tori kept up the conversation, complaining about being outnumbered by guys and their foolish behavior, and Dustin totally knew what she meant because he didn't understand what most of the girls in his group were talking about ever. It was like a foreign language was going on over there, and foreign priorities and complaints and jokes and-

He didn't know what was going on half the time.

When the van pulled up to his house, Tori turned to face him, thoughtful look in place. "You know what we should do?"

No, he had no idea, but he hoped it wasn't something that involved killing people. He would really hate to be wrong about the not-psycho killer thing. Especially after she had given him two rides. Then he would be like, indebted, or something. He would have to take part in the psycho killing.

Curse his forgetfulness.

It must have been a retrical…retotopical…oh, rhetorical - that was it - question, because Tori didn't wait for his response. "We should carpool."

That sounded much better than going off to do some psycho killing.

Then again, maybe that was something you asked for after the third ride.

Okay subconscious, you are not helping.

Dustin blinked, opting to ignore the voices in the back of his head. "I only have one helmet."

He could probably get one for her too, so he guessed it wasn't that much of a problem, but…

Tori gave him a confused blink in return (check it, they were bonding), then shook her head. "No, I mean you're on my way to the academy, why don't I just drive you there? Then you wouldn't have to worry about forgetting to gas up your bike."

Because she remembered to gas up her van. But he couldn't remember to gas up his bike, because he was stupid.

Stop it.

It made sense, it was a reasonable (and very generous and ridiculously kind) idea, but he was scared to take her up on her offer. He had been enticed by generous and reasonable ideas before.

Dustin didn't want to say that Tori noticed his dilemma, even if she did, because it was scary someone knew him that well, even if he hadn't really spoken to her.

"Come on," she said. "I don't bite." She put on a mostly-serious face, suppressing a smile like she was sharing a joke with him. "I promise I'll keep my hands to myself."

Unless the urge to psycho-kill strikes.

Seriously.

Are. Not. Helping.

Dustin wanted to say yes, he needed to say yes, yes should be the next word out of his mouth, but instead he asked, "Why?"

Which kind of surprised both of them.

The smile dropped off Tori's face. "What?"

She was confused he didn't immediately jump at her offer. Well, the brunette was too. But that wasn't going to stop him.

Dustin managed to buck up and find a little more courage, because he needed to know.

"Why are you so nice?" He paused, because that wasn't exactly right. "Well, to me, specifically."

It wasn't like he'd done anything to deserve it.

"You're different than the others," she explained, smiling fondly.

His immediate reaction was to agree, because yeah, he was different, but different in a sucky way so why would that be a plus?

The gist of this must read across his face because she laughed.

"No, like-" She smiled, and he felt a little wierded out on how much she was focusing on him. "You look me in the eye when I'm talking."

Yeah, that was debatable. He gave her a disbelieving face, because he always tried to look her in the eye when he was talking, but only managed that like, forty percent of the time. So his success rate was less than half of the time, which meant her 'eye contact' reason was not really supported.

In other words, he called bs.

Tori laughed again, amused by his silent communications, and explained herself. "You don't stare at my chest."

Was he supposed to?

He asked before he thought about it. "Why would I want to…?"

She laughed again, and he totally didn't pout because she knew these things and saw these things that he didn't.

"See," she said. "This is what I mean." And then she made up for all her makes-no-sense-laughter with a fond smile that made him feel more accomplished than it really should.

"You're different," she repeated. "But good-different."

So his quiet and not-staring and spazzing and not-understanding…that was a plus in her book? It was actually working in his favor?

If he had to describe the feeling bubbling up in his chest, Dustin would have to say it was an odd combination of hope and victory.

He tried not to get too excited, and worked it out so they would both be on the same page. "So if I don't look at your chest…you'll keep being nice to me?"

Those were probably the best rules ever.

The look on her face gave him the feeling he might have missed the point a bit, but instead of arguing with him she just shrugged, accepting his proposal.

"Sure."

That hope and victory mixed in a new wave of excitement, and Dustin had to fight not to start bouncing in his seat with all the excess energy building up.

"I can do that," he declared, smiling brightly. "Okay," he said, and reached forward to shake her hand. "I'll carpool with you."

If his antisocial, awkwardness made Tori happy, him smiling sent her over the freaking moon, and she returned his shake enthusiastically.

"Alright!" she said, smiling. "See you bright and early okay? Tomorrow morning, eight thirty."

Dustin nodded and got out of the car, giving her another smile before he shut the door. "I'll be there."

He could handle that.

He could handle that awesomely.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Preparation for Tori's arrival received the same attention the first day of classes had been given; extra alarm clocks, clothes already set out, bag packed, the works. He even figured out how to use the coffee maker, using two of those cardboard to-go cups Liv was so fond of to prepare a kind of gesture of goodwill. Or something. He wasn't sure how you were supposed to fix coffee though, he had never liked it, so he just dumped a bunch of milk and sugar into them and hoped for the best.

Tori pulled up at 8:28, and Dustin slung on his backpack and grabbed the cups, making his way towards her van.

Early was good. Early meant she wasn't late and late meant-

Late could mean that she had forgotten him. But it was Tori, the one who remembered to put gas in her van and didn't treat him like a freak, and she did remember him.

It was a nice way to start the morning.

Dustin felt good enough to take the initiative to actually start a conversation, smiling as the climbed in the van. "I brought coffee."

The smell pretty much explained itself, but he wasn't going to let something like that kill his buzz.

She smiled, but her brows were crooked in- was she disappointed? Had he done something wrong? It had only been like two seconds, how could he have-?

"Thanks Dustin. But I-" she motioned to the cups. "I don't really like coffee." But then she smiled, to let him know she was okay. "I'm more of a tea girl myself. With lots of honey."

She shifted the van into drive and pulled away from the curb, drumming her fingers against the wheel. "You can have mine if you want."

Oh…well, that was where things got awkward. He had only brought his so she wouldn't feel alone. You know, so they could bond some more. He had planned to just fake-sip his.

He probably could have done that anyway, which was an idea he wouldn't figure out until later, but for the moment he went with the first thing that came to mind.

"I don't like coffee either."

Because honesty was a good policy.

This confession happened to coincide with a red light, and Tori took that time to send him a confused look because then, hey, why the two coffees?

Right.

He shrugged, trying not to freak out.

"It's what they do on all the shows right? At least, the cop ones. They meet up and drink coffee and get ready for a hard days work and I figured, you know, we're ninjas, so that's kind've close right?"

Oh god, that sounded stupider out loud.

Why did he bring coffee?

Dustin wondered if he was going to have to walk home.

After a thoughtful silence (that Dustin hadn't known was thoughtful, his mind was busy with other things), Tori nodded her head and laughed. "I guess that works."

She smiled and risked a look at him, taking her eyes off the road. "But we're not ninjas yet, remember?"

Yeah, yeah, he remembered.

And he was really glad she was choosing to focus on that part.

"Yeah," he said. "You're right."

Bullet dodged.

Victory granted.

Two in a row, things were really looking up for him.

-:-:-:-:-:-

The next day he brought her tea with lots of honey. He stuck to hot chocolate though. Hey, when you've got a good horse you've got to ride it right?

And- oh yeah, he didn't have to walk home either.

He also didn't have to worry about gas anymore.

Which was all kinds of cool.

On top of that, decent-human-being-who-willingly-spends-time-with- him thing.

Yeah, all kinds of cool.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Endnotes:

So…nine months, really? Well, it could have taken longer. Sorry guys, but thanks for bugging me enough to post again. Got me to remember where I had left off.

Shane's part was written during the summer, everything else was recent (as in the Dustin angsty/spazzy/what's-going-on-y goodness).

I'll try not to let this story slide off my radar again.

I make no promises, but at least I have a fair amount of ideas that you guys inspired. Yeah, that was one Marketing class I didn't take notes for.

Alright my lovelies, thanks to Rogue, RayneLover101, Valkyrie, KrazeeeeeeeKatieeeeeeeee, and SoraAbarai for reviewing last chapter! I hope this one lived up to the nine month build of anticipation. I'm sorry it was there. Again.

Sorry.

Oh, also, did not mean to infer that teenage boys are horndogs, it just seemed like a funny line.

Until next time.