Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.

A/N: This takes place during the end of 'Rock Solid' and shortly after the episode ends.

Competition

Nick Russell was ruining everything in Briarwood.

It might have been an exaggeration, albeit a slight one. Or maybe Xander was just frustrated. But he hated the way Nick always seemed to get on his nerves, even when they weren't in the same room as each other.

He slammed his skateboarding helmet on the counter as he walked through the entrance of Rock Porium, not looking forward to continuing his shift after defeating Clawbster. Exercise was supposed to relieve stress, but even after skateboarding through Briarwood for over a half hour, Xander wasn't feeling much better. And at the moment, Nick was the cause of his negative attitude.

The green ranger had had his suspicions about Nick from the start. Madison had a certain kind of look on her face, an expression of intrigued curiosity, when they first saw him sitting by the tree outside Rock Porium. But then Vida was the one who offered to follow him into the woods, so that eased his suspicion a little. Until they all returned from the woods, and Madison snuck outside to try and convince Nick to join the team.

Xander knew he was obligated to tolerate the guy. Nick was the leader, after all. But here he comes out of nowhere, all worried about fixing his bike because he needed to get to a place that he'd end up leaving two weeks later anyway, thinking he knew everything about Briarwood after being there for ten minutes. And then ten days pass. And suddenly Nick thinks he knows everything about his teammates and he could tell Madison that she needed to change her personality. Leaders were supposed to be supportive of their team, not accusatory or belittling. Besides, what did he know? He had said out loud that he didn't get close to people, so he wouldn't know the first thing about accepting people for who they were.

"I've been trying so hard to change."

It had taken a few minutes, but Xander had finally gotten into a productive mood and was hanging signs on the wall behind the front desk. His ears perked up at Madison's comment to Vida as they carried a huge garbage bag out the front door. "What Xander said to me the other day, about not worrying so much," she continued, "it really helped me realize that I need to believe in myself more. I guess I need to try harder."

No, you don't have to try harder, Maddie, Xander thought haughtily. Ugh! I knew I should have said something to Nick back at Root Core. The thought had crossed his mind, but he bit his tongue, instead giving the biker a dirty look and sparing him a second scolding in front of Clare and Udonna before Vida started playing Madison's film. Now, he definitely wasn't going to let this go without confronting Nick about it.

He didn't have to wait long to find a chance to do so. Nick appeared behind the counter just as Xander was placing one last piece of tape on a poster. Climbing down from the step ladder, he scoffed, "You know, some of us like Madison exactly the way she is. How much could you possibly know about her already?"

Nick turned, a surprised expression on his face. "What are you talking about?"

"You know it's your fault that Madison got turned into stone, right?"

"I said one thing that she took personally, and the entire thing is my fault?"

"Yes. Nothing would have ever happened to her if you didn't insult her."

"I didn't insult her!"

Madison and Vida came back in the store again, and Xander waited until they were out of earshot before he retorted, "Her feelings were obviously pretty hurt if you made her run out of the store."

Nick narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "And you just dismissed it as being a 'woman' thing."

"That was before I knew what you said to her!" Xander defended himself.

"Okay, seriously. The whole thing is over and done with. Can't you just drop it?"

"No," Xander replied in a firm voice. "It's not right for you to pass judgment on someone you don't even know."

"Guys, are you fighting over what happened before?" Madison asked, stepping between them to grab a pile of receipts from under the counter. She looked sad, Xander noticed, and even a bit disappointed, probably because she just wanted to forget the incident and she didn't want her teammates arguing about it. Before either of the guys could respond, she squeezed Xander's shoulder and said, "Xander, I appreciate you sticking up for me, but just...calm down. It's really okay. Nick apologized, I forgave him, and everything's fine now."

It was a different feeling for Xander, being told to calm down even though he was the one who liked to keep others from arguing. That wasn't to say he didn't speak his mind if he thought he was right about something. And he was, in this case, even if Madison didn't acknowledge it.

But everything wasn't fine. Especially after Ben showed up and asked Madison on a date.

Xander watched bitterly as they left together, laughing and chatting happily. He and Madison weren't an official couple, and they never said they couldn't see other people. He hadn't given up talking to girls since he started dating her. And he still enjoyed chatting up the cute girls that entered the store, although he was careful about not flirting with someone else in the presence of Madison, or even Vida. But he'd never expected Ben to come see her again, and he didn't like it.

Madison was already smitten with and way too forgiving towards Nick. And now she had a good-looking athlete taking her on a date. Xander didn't need another guy coming between his relationship with her, stealing her away from him.

But he was more than willing to participate in the competition for Madison's heart. When it came to the people he cared most about, he didn't let them out of his life without a fight. And he would find a way to win. This was one competition in which he wouldn't back down to anyone.