Okay, so, even though I haven't seen "Code Breakers" yet and thought it was on today, I promised you a chapter so I'm delivering. Sorry if this chapter seems a little…out of place.
Chapter 4: A Stranger to the Concept of Reciprocity
Shocking would be an understatement. The kiss Nick received from his green partner was something even Xander's endless vocabulary would have been able to describe. It wasn't like it was something special or intense; it was just that it was so…appropriately done and so fulfilling. It could have been that Nick finally was trusted by Xander not only on the friend or team member levels, but on the relationship level too. But this was all too soon…wasn't it?
When they parted after three short seconds, there was a tense air between the two.
"That was…new…" Xander commented.
Nick nodded slowly, "What does that…mean…exactly?"
Xander looked confused at first, then responded, "I'm not…sure really. I guess whatever we want it to mean…I think."
Nick looked at him. He seemed…well, flustered, and that was a new look for Xander. Something Nick had never seen, though he'd only known him for less than a day.
"Are you embarrassed?" Nick asked, his amusement obvious.
Xander hesitated, "Well, yes…a little. I guess that was rather brash of me. I totally came on to you without even knowing your interests…sorry," Xander apologized.
"No harm done," Nick dismissed.
Another silence settled over the two. It was becoming quite hard for them to look around the room without seeing each other. Finally, Nick said; "You know…Xander…I uh, I do um…Gah…how do I say this? Um…I do like you…I'm just not good at saying how I feel."
Xander looked at the blushing male. No more than 5'9", Nick was barely audible or visible in the shadow of the room he was in. They had yet to turn on the main lights, as they'd been talking when the sun set. Still, the darkness gave them both a little more confidence, as they didn't have to stare at the object of each others fixations while talking.
"Oh…" Xander started, "Well, that helps actually, at least now I don't feel completely stupid."
"Why would you feel stupid? You've done more than enough for me, Xander, and I don't really know how I can repay you, but I know I'll try. I mean…I'm not really good at a lot of things, except maybe pissing Koragg off, but other than that, I'm not much of a captain. I can try something…maybe I can teach you to ride a bike or something."
Xander couldn't help but grin devilishly at Nick's babbling. It wasn't really like him to speak more than necessary, but it was obvious he was nervous. Having wandered off to different sides of the shop after the kiss, the two had yet to be close enough to make out each other's faces. Xander could still almost visualize Nick's eyes, darting around or either glued to the ground. It was amazing how close they'd become after less than a day, but it seemed like forever.
"That would be interesting," Xander laughed.
"Hey, it's a lot harder than it looks," Nick replied lightly.
"I bet…but that doesn't mean it's not funny."
And yet another silence. Finally, fed up with the dark, Nick moved for the light switch, but didn't know Xander had already made a move for it. In the darkness they couldn't see each other, and after a quick stumble over a chair, the two mystic rangers were entangled within each other.
"Uh…Xander…" Nick said after a few seconds of quiet.
"Yeah," he breathed.
"You're knee…is between my legs…" Nick replied cautiously.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Xander responded, "That's not my knee."
"What?" Nick asked, a hint of fear in his voice.
"I'm just kidding," laughed Xander.
"Oh…" Nick breathed a sigh of relief.
"So…are you gonna move that knee?" Nick asked.
At least a minute had passed since they'd toppled onto one another, and the lights were still off. It was a very…risqué scene, and if one of the others were to walk in at that point, they would surely know what was going on.
"Um…actually, I'm quite comfortable," Xander said coyly.
It was always amusing to him to see how people reacted. He doubted Nick would stay calm.
"Um…okay…" Nick said oddly.
That was not the reaction Xander was expecting. He was expecting Nick to panic, or maybe even push him off. But…he just agreed.
"So…what do you think about the whole "I believe in magic" thing?" Nick asked.
"It's really quite interesting actually…I never really gave much thought towards the idea, I'm more of a logical person in case you can't tell, but now I have a wider respect for it."
Nick nodded from under Xander. Their position was getting a little less awkward and a little more…natural.
"And you, Mr. 'I guess I believe too?'"
"It's awesome…but I mean…c'mon, you have to admit, at first, you didn't believe, you just wanted to talk to them."
"Well…someone had to try and reason first," Xander explained, "And besides, I'm not that great of a fighter."
"None of us were against those things," Nick commented.
Yet another silence fell, but unlike the other two, this one was a more comfortable silence. It seemed to be several hours before either of them spoke, but both knew in reality it was only several minutes.
"What time is it?" Nick wondered aloud.
He should probably have been getting back to his sister's. She would be worried as she didn't even know if had made it town yet, let alone if he was alive or not. She never did like the idea of her brother riding a deathly crotch rocket.
"Um…about half past 8, we should be able to go at 9," Xander revealed.
"Mind if I use your phone to call my sister, she doesn't even know if I'm in town yet," Nick said.
"Oh, so you have a sister? If she's anything like you, I might just have to check her out," Xander joked.
Nick pushed Xander lightly as he reached for the green ranger's cell phone.
"Whoa buddy! That's no cell phone!" Xander yelled as he recoiled.
Instantly, Nick's cheeks flushed as he quickly pulled his hand back, "You're joking right?"
"Not that time I wasn't…" Xander said slowly as he pulled out his cell phone.
"Oh wow…um…sorry," Nick said as he shyly scooted form under Xander to call his sister.
After ten rings he hung up, and returned the phone to its owner.
"Well…since she's not home, wanna grab a bite to eat after work?" Xander asked.
Nick thought for several moments, "Um…I really don't have any extra money and…"
"No problem, I'll pay," the other boy said with a charming smile.
"Uh…sure," Nick responded.
His day hadn't gone as he'd expected in Briarwood, and if it hadn't been for his meeting Xander, he probably would've left. After getting tricked into a magical wand, chosen as a power ranger, getting jumped by goblin-like creatures, and fighting a seriously evil knight, Nick was happy he was getting to something normal…until the whole conversation with Xander that forced him to face his unnerving past. Still, the best thing that happened that day was ending up with Xander, in whatever situation they'd created. And he hoped to whatever God that rest above that there would be so many more days like this one.
Okay, so like I said, this chapter seems a little out of place. Either way, I promised and I delivered. The one tomorrow or Tuesday will be much better. Later days.