Heart of Crimson

Summary: What if Hunter wasn't the first Ranger to wear Crimson. AU for MMPR Season 2. Dairanger powers, sorta. TommyKim, JasonOC slash.

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I intend/desire to make any money off the Power Rangers/Super Sentai concepts and characters presented in this story. They are fully the property of their respective owners and are used with loving respect. Furthermore, this story utilizes concepts borrowed/adapted from Chris Claremont's run on X-Men. Certain aspects of the story are also due to my current obsession: Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger.

Warning: Implied adolescent sexuality

Chapter 9: Beloved

The titanic Shadow creature loomed over the bodies of the fallen Rangers. They had fought bravely, but in the end they were no match for the creature. A bird, or was it a human voice, or was it both together as one, screamed in rage and defiance. Just as massive as the Shadow the great bird of flame slammed into the creature and . . .

Brandon Loksen shot upright in bed, his amber eyes flying open, shocked back to the waking world. He was grateful for the wake up, having held Jason, cold and unmoving, just a few hours ago made the dream, the same one Brandon had every night these last few months since he first morphed, hit a little too close to home. However, Brandon was also curious what had woke him up, and then he heard it again, an odd six tone chime. It took his sleep fogged mind a few moments to place it as the same chime he had heard Jason's watch make. A moment more and then it hit him . . . the communicator! Brandon reached blindly in the dark for the device on his nightstand, the sign of his acceptance, as it chimed again. Praying to whatever gods were listening that he was about to hit the button that would activate the communicator, and not the one that would teleport him to the Command Center in nothing but his underwear, Brandon pressed one.

When there was no flash of light, he let out the breath he was holding and said, "This is Brandon."

Zordon's voice, sounding startlingly loud in the silence of the night, issued from the device, "Brandon, I would like you to come to the Command Center. There are some things we should discuss."

Brandon's hand went reflexively to the Phoenix amulet resting against his chest. He paused for a moment before replying, "I think you're right."

Brandon threw on some clothes and then pressed the second button on the communicator, vanishing in a burst of gold-tinged crimson light.

Jason rang the doorbell for a third time. Ten AM on a Saturday may have been a little early for most teenagers, but Brandon had a habit of getting up ridiculously early, even on the weekends. Even if he wasn't, his parents should be up. Jason supposed he could have called, but he needed to see Brandon, make sure he was okay after everything that had happened the previous night. He was about to head around the house and see if Brandon was doing a waza in the backyard when he finally opened the door.

Jason took one look at Brandon, his hair was a mess, there were hints of dark circles under his eyes, and said, "You look like hell."

Brandon's expression darkened further, "One near death experience and you completely forget how to flirt."

Jason blushed, "Sorry. But, you don't look like you're doing too well."

"I didn't really sleep last night," Brandon replied, his expression softening.

"Yesterday a little too much? I've had nights like that."

Brandon paused for a moment before responding, "Yeah. And, there is a drawback to accelerated healing."

"A week or so of discomfort and vague itching crammed into a few hours?" Jason asked with a chuckle.

"That would be the one," Brandon gave a rueful smile.

Jason gave a smile and moved closer, crossing the threshold and putting a hand on Brandon's arm, "Actually, scruffy's kinda a hot look on you." He leaned in for a kiss which Brandon eagerly returned . . . although in the middle he muttered, "This doesn't get you off the hook for the looking like hell comment." Jason laughed into the kiss.

When they broke Brandon asked, "So, do you want to come all the way in so I can shut the door?"

Jason nodded and moved into the entry, Brandon shutting the door behind him, "So, where are your folks?"

Brandon headed for the kitchen, motioning for Jason to follow as he answered, "Dad's stuck at a symposium all day . . . although, he didn't use the word stuck. That's a physicist for you. Mom got a call from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. The state finally got off its butt and did her background check, so she's doing orientation today."

They entered the kitchen and Brandon fetched them both sodas. Once they had them they stood at counter drinking them, Brandon standing very close to Jason. Jason put down his soda and looked at his boyfriend, "Not that I'm complaining, but you're being more touchy than usual. You sure you're okay?"

Brandon sighed and put down his own drink, not quite looking at Jason, he replied, "Yesterday really freaked me out."

Jason pulled Brandon too him, "Hey, it's okay, I'm okay."

"I know. It's just . . . if I hadn't been so focused on what I thought I was supposed to do about Dreaveus, if I had joined you guys earlier, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Jason gently took hold of Brandon's chin and turned the other boy's face so that he was looking at him, "Hon, we get hurt. It's part of being a Ranger. And you haven't had a Zordon to guide you. Yeah, your Master gave you the amulet and some information on your powers, but you've had to figure this out on your own. I don't blame you."

"Really?" there was the glimmer of unshed tears at the corners of Brandon's eyes. In response, Jason leaned in and kissed him.

The kiss went on for quite some time and began to deepen. Hands slipped under t-shirts and began to explore bare skin. The kiss became hungrier and both young men could feel the effect they were having on each other. By seeming unspoken agreement, they broke the kiss and rested their foreheads against each other. Jason was the first to find his voice, "Is this . . . is this going somewhere?"

Brandon replied quietly, "If you want it to."

Jason pulled his head back so he could look at Brandon, "I've never . . . never um . . ."

Brandon's eyes met Jason's, and what Jason saw there made his pulse pound even harder. "Neither have I," Brandon replied, "but we could, um, figure it out together?"

Jason responded by pulling Brandon more tightly to him and renewing their kiss.

Jason had dozed off, but Brandon found that he couldn't. Instead he lay there in his bed, propped up on one arm, looking down at the face of his dark-haired lover. There was a nagging voice in the back of the Crimson Ranger's mind that wanted him to feel guilty about what they had done, knowing what he knew, but the bigger part of him, the part that loved Jason with everything he had knew nothing but contentment over what they had just shared.

Lost in his own thoughts, Brandon didn't notice Jason's eyes open. The deep chocolate pools regarded him for a moment, before Jason spoke with a smile, "Hey."

Brandon looked into those eyes and responded, "Hey, beloved."

Jason's expression went questioning, "Beloved?"

Brandon blushed furiously, "Oh god, I said that out loud, didn't I? I'm sorry, I . . ." He began to pull away.

Jason sat up quickly and reached out and stopped Brandon, "Wait, it's okay." Now Jason blushed, "If it means what I think it means."

Their eyes met, "It does. I love you. I know it's crazy, we've only known each other a few months, but I do. I love you with all my heart. I don't expect you to feel like I . . ." Brandon started to babble.

Jason cut him off with a quick kiss, and then said, "I love you, too."