Distraction
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Distraction takes place during Sing Song.
"I have to do what?" he demanded.
"Play your flute for the deer zord while I sing. The zord will help us if we sing for him," Shayla said.
He remembered their performances. Back then it had been two people deeply in love. They had been a pair of young fools and he had been a different person.
Still the plan could work. The others were in danger and what choice did he have? He had to do something.
He tried to play the flute alone but of course the deer hadn't responded. He would try this crazy plan. What did he have to loose?
He would never have believed that this plan would've worked. He just figured it was another of Shayla's fancies.
It wasn't that he had forgotten. Her voice was still as beautiful as he remembered. She was still what he remembered.
He could remember being a young boy falling in love with her. He had been in an innocent boy with a smile and laughter. He had followed her everywhere in hopes of catching her eye. He had done that and had even been appointed one of her protectors. He had loved her but he didn't feel the same now.
His hear didn't beat a frantic pattern whenever he saw Shayla. His thoughts didn't race when she came in the room. He didn't feel empty when he wasn't near her or lonely when he didn't hear her voice for days. She didn't invoke those feelings in him.
Don't you dare admit, he thought to himself.
The battle ended thanks to the zord and the others came to be near them. He could see the smiling faces and was relieved that Alyssa was alright. Relieved wasn't even the right word. He felt at peace seeing her standing there with a big smile.
He hadn't talked to her since her father's visit. They had gone back to being around each other only as teammates. The rift between them was open and he didn't know how to close it. He just wanted things to go back to how they had been before.
Shayla's voice brought him out his own musings.
"I promised to sing to the deer zord every morning after sunrise. You have to come with me so you can play your flute," Shayla said smiling at Merrick.
He didn't want to do this.
"But princess it's not proper for us to—"
"You have to. I promised Animus not to mention the deer," she said smiling.
If Animus was involved he really didn't have much of a choice. What had given Shayla the right to promise this for him?
"Don't forget to wake up early tomorrow," she said as she skipped away.
The others laughed and teased him about the princess's obvious flirting.
She was still the same person she had always been. While he had changed and so had his heart. His eyes sought for Alyssa but he didn't see her anywhere.
The others didn't notice Alyssa walking away from them. She had a small sad smile on her face. She was glad that Merrick and the princess were getting along better. Yet she could see that Shayla wanted Merrick back in the old relationship they had.
"What are you doing walking in the woods alone?" Merrick asked.
He had been slightly worried but was relieved to find her fine.
"I thought you'd be with the others," she said.
"They went home. What's wrong?" he asked sensing her sandess.
"Nothing it's just I'm a distraction. You have better things to do than hang around me. I'm sure you want to go see the princess."
Slightly confused he took a step towards her. Did she...He wasn't allowed to entertain that thought.
"I'll see her tomorrow and every other morning from now on. I can't believe she promised Animus for me," he replied slightly surprised at the bitterness in his tone.
She shook her head bewildered.
"You mean you don't want to go?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter what I want. I'll keep Shayla's promise to Animus and the deer."
He moved closer to her and pulled her gently to his chest. She stood shocked. He had never hugged her before.
He had just wanted to make her feel better. He wanted her to know he cared about her. That was all the hug was. It was just a friendly gesture.
Keep telling yourself that idoit, his mind berated.
"Don't you ever think so lowly of yourself again because if you are anything it is definitely not a distraction," he said as she moved closer into him.
To be continued…..