Okay, so everyone knows I don't own Mystic Force or anything related to it, so if I have to keep reminding you, you might be just a liiiittle too slow to read this. So yeah, here's chapter 2…on the same day as chapter 1.

Broken Together

Chapter 2Wait and See When the Smoke Clears

"So…you're a hypocrite?" Xander asked somewhat harshly.

"I am not a hypocrite. I was young, I was confused, and I didn't—"

"Know what you were doing, yeah, yeah, I've heard that one a million different times. Look man, you're just gonna have to face it head on."

"There's nothing to face."

"Oh really? So if I say the word g—"

"STOP!"

"Oh…so…I can't say the word without bunching your boxers, but you say there's nothing to face?"

It was obvious Nick's last comments about his homophobia had struck a nerve with Xander. Maybe it was just that Xander didn't like hypocrites? Or maybe it was because he didn't like people feeling sorry for themselves? Or maybe he was gay?

"Why do you care so much?" Nick asked, his tone faltering.

"Why not? You're a teammate. We need to be able to trust each other, and quite frankly Nick, I don't trust you right now."

The look on Nick's face was something of being flabbergasted, or complete and utter hurt, either one, Xander didn't care.

"How can you not trust me? I saved your ass from Koragg; doesn't that give me some kind of credit?"

"See…maybe that's your problem Nick. When you do something for someone, you don't do it with the idea that they're going to pay you back, you do it for them because you want to and it's out of common decency."

"I don't want to be repaid. I want to be trusted! I want to belong somewhere. Do you have any idea how it feels to not know where your permanent home was? How long you were gonna be somewhere?"

"Not the slightest clue," Xander said simply, "But then again, I'm not the one looking for sympathy here Nick, you are. You tell me you want to be trusted, and then when I give you the chance to be trusted, you blow it up. I don't understand you."

"Why would you want to understand me?" the red ranger asked stupidly.

"Because you interest me."

Now…it could have just been Nick's imagination or over-thinking process, but it seemed like Xander was…flirting with him.

"Ha-ha, very funny Xander, but I'm not laughing. You seem to be thoroughly enjoying yourself!" Nick retorted.

"I'm somewhat enjoying myself, but I'm mainly piqued by your self-loathing. Was that instilled in you when you were living with family?" Xander asked, his tone now not so smug, but concerned.

Nick was caught of guard by Xander's quick thinking, "Um…uh…wait, what?"

Xander couldn't help but laugh, "Oy, man, you're making this harder than it has to be. Why do you hate yourself, what you are, so much?"

"I don't…hate myself," Nick said, his voice again faltering.

"But you hate everything gay."

Nick's eyes shot a lethal glare at Xander. He said the word, he did it on purpose, but it didn't sting when he said it.

Nick's voice got caught in his throat before he finally managed to say "I…I don't…I'm not" without pausing, he cleared his throat and finished, "gay."

He finally said the word after 3 long years of verbal and physical abuse. It was just too much to put up with when you had to live up to your parents standards. Too much to put up with when you were supposed to succeed. Too much to put up with when everyone expected you to land the hottest girl possible. Too much to put up with when you're only 14 years old.

"You just like guys?" Xander asked, though his sarcasm was somewhat masked, the simplicity of the question should have struck Nick as odd.

"Yeah."

"Oh, well that explains everything!" Xander exclaimed, "You're just horny!"

That caught Nick off guard. In fact, Nick was quite the opposite, never a very sexual person, and for years he thought something was wrong with him, aside from the fact that he was in question of sexuality.

"No, it's not that."

"Nick, I'm being sarcastic. What you are is in denial. You're gay, face it."

"I am NOT!" he growled, starting toward Xander.

The Minotaur ranger merely stayed in his position; resting his head against a wall while his body was slightly stretched across a ledge.

"Listen to yourself Nick. I mean, you can't expect to like only guys and be straight, or anything other than gay."

"Can you stop with the word? And how do you know I only like guys?"

"Because this entire time you've never once mention being attracted to girls as well, and that's always a guy-in-denial's main excuse. Why do you think being gay is so wrong?"

"It just is. Why are you so for it."

"I'm up front about myself. I don't wear it on my sleeve, but if someone openly asks me, I'll tell them the truth. Yes, I am gay. Now, do you hate me?"

Nick staggered on his way toward Xander on nothing in particular. Xander had just confirmed he was in fact gay. Did that mean Nick could make an outreach for a relationship? Could he possibly be interested in Xander? What kind of question was that? Of course he was!

"W-wait, what?"

"Oh c'mon, you heard me loud and clear. I-am-gay. You make it seem like it's the apocalypse or something."

"But I thought…you…I…" Nick searched his vocabulary but kept drawing blanks. There was no way to describe how he felt at that moment.

"So tell me, why is it so wrong? Xander asked calmly.

"I…um…I'm sorry…" Nick said in a rush, turning away.

"Sorry that you made an ass of yourself or sorry that you can't answer?"

"Both, okay? You got me, I'm gay. Okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? Did you want this big confession where I start crying because it's not happening," Nick shot back, his face already hinting too much emotion.

The water works were definitely about to begin.

"No, Nick, I think that's what you've wanted for a very long time," Xander said soothingly, as he was at the Phoenix ranger's side in no time.

Nick looked up slightly, his watery eyes not wanting to meet the taller ranger's eyes, but at the same time, dying to just hug someone. Xander happened to be that someone.

Okay, so, even though this is the second chapter on the same day of publication, this idea is bombarding me and I knew I couldn't leave it at what it was. So, that was chapter 2…I really could continue, and I probably will, no matter how many people dis/like it.

Oh…and yes, Nick and Xander are totally HOTT! Haha. Later days.