Summary – Zordon explains just what he's gone through for Tommy.

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My Ranger

Zordon

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(Next morning…)

Leaning against the doorframe of the master bedroom I watch the two people who are most valuable to me finally sleeping peacefully. My ranger and my friend both wrapped up in each other arms, both snoring softly, both drooling just a bit on one another.

Shaking my head and stifling a laugh at the sight I move slowly and quietly to them, knowing the instant my hand comes to rest on Tommy's arm that he's been given the gem. "Finally."

Shaking the human gently and shushing him quickly as he bolts up eyes flying open in panic I press my finger to his lips indicating that he keep silent as I definitely do not need Zedd involved in this particular morning chat.

Studying me intently for a moment perhaps still deciding if he'll obey the silent command or play it safe and wake Zedd after all, he in the end does as asked tilting his head quizzically at me.

Carefully removing Zedd's arm from around his waist I gesture for him to follow me out of the room, watching with what I hope is an encouraging smile as he again does so without rousing his black haired, egotistical, pain in my ass guard dog.

Closing the door after him and leading him downstairs to the kitchen I allow myself a small chuckle as his astonished voice finally meets my ears.

"Zordon?" I knew Zedd would inform him of my presence. If anything to at least complain about it.

"Hello Tommy." Allowing him another few moments to study me carefully, and doing the same to him in return I find myself rather surprised by his own appearance, forgetting I suppose how fast humans age and mature. "You've grown up."

"You've…got a body."

"Technically I always had one, just the image portrayed on the viewing tube at the Command Center, well let's just say it was my father's idea of a suitable punishment for allowing myself to be trapped in the grid to begin with." Giving a dismissive gesture not in the mood discuss hostile family relations right now I turn to the kitchen cabinets removing a few choice pans. "Would you like some breakfast? Neither you nor Zedd came back down last night to eat so I'll assume you're rather hungry."

As his stomach suddenly gives a demanding growl he flushes lightly before giving a nod. "I think we were both just too tired after everything."

"Yes I imagine you would be." Moving to the fridge and bringing out a cartoon of eggs and package of bacon I feel a stab of still fresh guilt as I see his eyes lower and body tense just a bit. Smooth Zordon, very smooth. "You just can't keep yourself out of trouble can you. I swear you must have some sort of target painted on you with how often you get kidnapped."

Relieved to see a small smile form at my attempt to interject a touch of humor into the too serious situation I start on his and Zedd's breakfast knowing as soon as it's done the once evil sorcerer will be down here demanding his portion.

"Speaking of trouble how are you and Zedd getting along? Is everything going well?"

"Yeah, it's good. He said he helped you. After you were freed from the tube or grid or whatever it was." Helped drive me in sane you mean, why yes then he certainly did.

"Yes well we both have our own definition of the word 'helped'. If you're asking did he keep me safe while I recovered and regained my strength, then yes he did help. But if you're asking if he did that without giving me a continuing migraine with his constant barrage of insults and childish behavior then no."

Laughing and shaking his head, he takes a seat at the kitchen table relaxing just a bit more. "Yeah sounds like Zedd alright. But he does have his good points too."

Smiling and knowing all too well that he's right I nevertheless urge him to continue talking hoping to get him into enough of a comfortable state to begin the all too serious conversation I have planned for this morning. "Do tell."

"Well he's very selfless when it comes to people he cares about, even if he won't admit it he shows it. He cares about people even if I think that scares him a little bit. He's charming, attractive-" Smiling happily at the last one and clearly having thoughts that I most likely do not need to know about he continues after only a brief pause. "-caring, helpful, aside from the evil thing he's pretty amazing."

"Yes he is. I'm pleased to see I was wrong about your infatuation with each other. It would seem you've given him a reason to pull himself out of the darkness he so willingly surrounded himself with so long ago." To a degree at least. "Though I do wish he'd stop coloring his hair as I know he's only doing it to distance himself from who he was." Why he insists on keeping it black is still beyond me.

"Wait what? You mean his hair's not naturally black?"

A bit surprised by his question as I had expected Zedd to at least inform him of matters concerning Eltar or at least eltarians in general I shake my head. "He hasn't told you? Thomas all eltarians have extremely light colored hair and eyes. Zedd's hair is the same blonde color as my own, his eyes a glassy purple, he uses his sorcery to keep it black and eyes dark." Or has it been so long that it's actually beyond his control now? I suppose I'll have to ask him. If it's actually gotten to that point it means the darkness really has melded with him.

"So all eltarians look like you? Isn't that kind of…boring? I mean if everyone looks the same."

"Features are different. Height, weight, figure, facial characteristics. It's just the eye and hair color really that signify if one is eltarian or another species that might be on our planet at the time. Though…there are other ways. You would most likely be recognized as a human very quickly there."

Looking very interested now, he raises a brow curiously. "How?"

"Well you wouldn't have the correct feel. Eltarians have a heightened sense of hearing, smell, sight, and as I'm sure you've noticed with Zedd strength. You don't…" Making a slightly lost gesture uncertain of exactly how to describe it to the human I go with the most basic description I can find. "You don't sound or smell quite right. You're a bit shorter then most eltarians even though I'm aware you're average height for a human male, you don't have the correct natural scent that all eltarians have, your voice while soothing and powerful lacks the fluid smoothness ours has, and of course your hair and eyes are far too dark. This of course doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you I'm sure the majority of the population would find you very attractive and a rare find, but they would know you were human or another species closely related to one almost instantly." Thinking it over and slightly amused, I don't stop myself from allowing one more comment to follow. "Most likely everyone that saw you would wish to take you home as a pet."

"A pet?" Looking less surprised then I had expected he simply interjects a bit of logic into my theory. "Zedd told me it was illegal for eltarians to have humans as pets anymore." Ah so Zedd has informed about certain things from our home world.

"It is. Has been for several thousand years now. However there is always the black market and despite the fact that you wouldn't be there for the purpose of being a pet if you ever did wish to see our world chances are the younger generation would still wish to take you home and treat you as such if they got hold of you."

"Hm, kids." The absent comment catching me by surprise, I'm once more reminded that he is in fact not a child himself anymore. Not a child I should have to coddle or speak softly too about his mistakes.

"Indeed. But I seem to have gotten off topic." That in mind I get down to business. "Tommy has Zedd told you why I've come here?"

"He said it involved the gem, but that that was taken care of. Beyond that he said he didn't know." While it's true I've yet to inform Zedd of my plans to speak with the human about his own latest scandal, I however am very certain he had a feeling it would occur.

"You're not a child anymore Tommy, you have very good deductive skills. Why do you think I'm here?" Voice just a bit harder then it was a moment ago I continue to fix his breakfast, my back held to him.

Squirming just enough to be noticeable, his answer comes with brief hesitation. "Mesagog?" Close.

"And?"

Clearing his throat and knowing exactly where this is headed, he taps his finger on the table nervously. "What I did?"

Despite the fact he is no longer a child it would seem that he is determined to draw this out as if he was. "Do you have any idea what it is you did?"

"I do, but I have a feeling that it's a lot worse from your point of view then my own." I suppose that would all depend on how bad you think it is.

"You're an intelligent adult Tommy how bad do you think it is?" When he mutters out a very soft 'very' in response, I continue wearily. "To put in perspective for you, what you did, giving that unstable human eltarian grid technology, and what then resulted from it, it's punishable by imprisonment and permanent mutilation if the Council got their way."

"W-what?" Voice wavering and looking certain he's misheard, I only wish that was true.

"Imprisonment and mutilation. Traitors to the Council of Light normally end up branded, literally as such and then imprisoned for a predetermined amount of time." Sometimes I honestly think we're worse than Evil Alliance. They simply kill or banish their traitors, but no with my father on the Council you better believe any punishment will be painfully drawn out and over dramatic. Asshole.

Going to say more I'm beaten to it as I suddenly hear his heart beat increase drastically. Turning to try and settle him realizing too late just how I've presented this information I see him open his mouth doing the one thing I'd really hoped to avoid. "Zedd!" Nice Zordon, very nice.

Moving to him and sighing as he's up from the table and backing away much like a caged animal, I hold up a peaceable hand. "Number one please don't do that, as I do not want to listen to that hot tempered idiot go on another half hour ranting streak. And number two I did not say I was going to harm you, so kindly calm yourself before you have a stroke."

"You work for the Council, Zedd may have skewed views on things but something we both agree on as we've both seen it first hand is that you are firstly a tool for them." Ouch. Though I do suppose I deserve that after all I put him through. Still though that does sting just a bit.

"That's harsh Tommy." Even if not wholly undeserved. "Especially after I just spent the last two months threatening said Council with death if they did not agree to leave you alone as you are now under my protection."

"What?"

"As I was trying to say before you panicked, while the Council wishes for you to pay for your crimes despite the good intentions of them I however have just spent the majority of my recovered time stopping them from it." I probably should have said that first, yes?

Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, he's not wholly convinced. "How do you know I had good intentions when I gave him the technology?"

"Because I told him. Just like I told him to leave you the hell alone about it." Great. As we're joined by the clearly angry and still half asleep Zedd I know whatever else I have to say is now going to be lost due to his interruptions and unnecessary protectiveness. "Do you just not listen when I talk or does your brain just filter out anything not centered around you?" Running a hand through his sleep mussed hair he moves to stand just ever so slightly in front of the human.

"Go back to bed Zeddic, this conversation does not concern you."

As a sudden bout of snickering occurs from his mate along with the repeating of his name, "Zeddic?" Zedd scowls heavily in my direction. Ah he never told you that was his fully name huh. Thought as much.

"That's right Zeddic Dereke." Smiling as this only gets the evil one in even more of a twist I barely duct in time as a plastic cup that had been sitting on the counter is thrown at my head.

"I told you never to call me that!"

"Zeddic?" Still laughing and looking back at his now fuming mate Tommy is too amused by this new bit of information.

"Yes, Zeddic." Teeth clenched and fists balled at his sides he fixes the human with a withering glare. "Now never call me that again. Ever."

Holding his hands up but yet still unable to fully wipe the smile from his face Tommy gives a reassuring nod. "Fine fine, won't call you Zeddic. Pfft Zeddic"

"Thomas…"

"As amusing as this little drama is, I'm going to have to ask you to continue it after I finish talking to Tommy." Checking on their breakfast just to make certain it's cooking alright, I turn back to give Zedd a pointed look. "So if you'd excuse yourself Zedd."

"Not going to happen." Arms crossed and apparently still untrusting of anyone when it comes to the safety of his mate, he refuses to budge much to both my and Tommy's annoyance.

"Go." The one word spoken sternly, Tommy directs him to the livingroom. "I'll be fine Zedd."

Not about to be swayed so easily, he shakes his head. "That why you called for me?"

"I panicked." Shrugging as if it's not a big matter the human gives him a firm nudge. "If it happens again you can rush back in and save the day, but for right now it's under control so please go watch TV while I finish talking to Zordon. Okay?"

Looking between the two of us and clearly struggling with his protective nature and desire to not end up sleeping alone, he finally, reluctantly relents. "Fine but if he so much as says one bad thing about you I'm wrapping his head in tinfoil and putting it in the microwave." Micro-what now?

"Deal."

"I'm watching you." Giving me a parting scowl, he turns and leaves us to our own devices once more, no doubt planning to listen in from the other room.

Smiling smally after him, Tommy shakes his head absently before refocusing back on me. "He means well."

"So did Barbra Bush's mother but look what she released upon your world." Shaking my head at his raised eyebrow, I remind him I've been on Earth for a good bit of time, if not just recently then certainly before I was released from my glass prison. "I watch a lot of CNN."

"Loser!"

Scowling at the shout from the other room, Tommy's response to his immature other is amusing to say the least. "This from someone who watches 'My Little Pony'! Now stop eavesdropping before I tell him where your dolls are hidden!"

"They're action figures!"

"Yes, that's what he called his stuffed animals when we were in school." Rolling my eyes and trying my best not to get caught up in old memories of the very cute, very kind little boy that he used to be I force myself to refocus back on the task at hand. "But we'll talk about that later. We still need to get business out of the way."

"I'm not really sure what you want to get out of the way. It sounds like you know everything that happened involving Mercer and my stupidity. You said you're not going to hurt me or throw me in prison right? I mean aside all that I'm doing my best to fix it with the help of Zedd and my new tea..." Trailing off and rubbing his neck in uncertainty he's unwittingly hit upon the next issue.

"Your new team. Seems Zedd put those gems to good use."

"You knew he took them."

Giving him what I believe he'd call a 'duh' look, I turn off the stove and begin fixing their plates. "Did you honestly think I didn't?" As he gives a shrug in response I continue calmly. "As I said I'm very well aware of what's been going on here. I know what you did and why you did it. Even if I wasn't clear on all the details when Zedd originally ran off with the gems I knew him and you well enough to know he would most likely give them to you to help with the situation."

"So if you're okay with that…"

"Then why am I bringing it all up?" At his nod I set the food onto the table before having a seat and gesturing for him to do the same. "Because you've placed both of us in a very bad situation. As I said I'm now responsible for you and I do mean that literally. Anything you do from here on out I will have to defend to the Council. It's not enough I threatened them into leaving you unharmed the same as I had to do for Zedd, if anything were to happen to me or I was forced to go somewhere far away enough that I wouldn't be able to watch over you they would most likely act very swiftly to carry out their own brand of justice. In other words you're life is still in danger and mine is now put on hold."

Swallowing hard and looking to be a mix of fearful and shamed his reply isn't exactly what I had expected. "What about Zedd? You said you had to do the same for him? Will they go after him too if something happens to you?"

Uncertain if I should be touched by his passion to protect the other idiot, or furious at his lack of comprehension I answer as calmly as I can. "Zedd is hardly my top concern Thomas. He has managed to elude the Council for several thousand years. He knows how to keep himself safe with or without me. You however are human. You're easily harmed and even more so easily captured."

"Which is why I agreed to let him have the gem." Not what I need right now, Zedd. Reentering the kitchen and taking his place at the free plate of food, he begins stuffing his mouth apparently having enough of me lecturing the human. "He'll be fine you windbag, stop scaring him already."

"I'm not trying to scare him I'm trying to keep him alive." Fist clenched I am getting more then fed up with his interruptions.

"You're trying to be a jerk. The Council has him on the hit list, big whoop. In case you didn't know we pretty much already figured that. Don't really need to tell him detail by detail what they could, but never will get the chance, to do to him." Ignoring the food in his mouth he raises his fork like a dagger in a dramatic gesture. "Besides they ever try I'll gut them like the Trloian pigs." What a charming visual to go with breakfast.

Placing my head in my hands and trying my best to figure out just where I went wrong with these two I not for the first time thing that perhaps I should have just stayed in the tube. It was nice in there. Nice and quiet at least.

"You know what would be helpful, if of course you're THAT concerned for his well-being. Let me bond with him."

Head snapping up at such a suggestion I'm now certain he's lost his mind. "Not on your life."

To be continued…..

Geez that was a long winded part.

Okay now you know Tommy isn't loving this talking about him in front of him thing. Nope s'gonna be baaad when he finally gets a chance to speak up again. And what's 'bonding'? Is it like marriage? Something concerning power? Guess you'll have to wait till next week to find out. 'evil laugh'.