Enemy Within: Midnight Whispers
He thought he was dreaming when he felt her hand touch his face…

Note: I do not own Power Rangers Jungle Fury or its characters. I'm just playing with them.
Prompt: First Sleepover (bigthingsinlife prompts)
Genre: General/Drama/Angst
Rating: T (Minor language, possible nudity)

I must be dreaming again. I have to be. I'm feeling Kiran's hand on my face and as my eyes open she's sitting above me. As I fully awaken, I realize that I am not. She is sitting on my bed, gently stroking my face. How long had seen been here? How did she get here? How'd she know where I lived? Questions race and she continues to stare quietly, waiting for me to ask one.

"How did you get here?"

"I walked."

"How did you know how to find me?"

"Followed your scent and energy reading. You're not that hard to find."

"How long have you been here?"

"About 10 minutes."

"How did you get in?"

"Front door." I just stare at her, and I'm not sure what to say. Instead I blink silently at her.

"I didn't break in, the key is under the mat. People think it so safe to do that…" Oh. That makes more sense.

Now I feel her energy rising, more so than before. It's so strong, stronger than I've ever seen before. I place my hand on the side of her neck, cupping the skin. The Lion is intrigued and delighted at the power resonating from her body. I don't like that he's rising within me, wanting to know what spirit animal she holds and the fact that it's her power that's drawing it.

"Why? Why here? Why to me?"

"Closest person and because I've never felt more overwhelmed with power. My spirit burst from me earlier in front of the foster parents and they freaked. You've always had the strongest animal spirit; you've coped with it. I know you're the only one I can ask about how to keep it down and away." She's so scared, its plain to see. The trust she's giving me now, showing me her real self with the walls down.

"Its really hard," I tell her as I sit up and grimace, the lion wants out. "It's a constant battle. He usually wins, I can't overpower him." She smiles at me.

"Its not about over powering him, its about taming him. Have you tried approaching it like that? I hope that works because I'm so screwed…this thing…it's so dark. So menacing. I don't like it. Why am I cursed…"

"You're not cursed, it's a gift," I tell her, she sighs, her eyes welling with tears.

"I'm not so sure…" she falls into silence and her eyes are distanced. I don't like this. I don't like seeing her depressed, I miss her light. I run my thumb back and forth over her skin, her pulse races and throbs. I lean down and press a soft kiss to her lips, and she gently kisses back.

"I will be here for you, its time to pay you back for all the help you've given me since we were kids. I don't even know how to start but I want to try," I tell her. She smiles softly, and touches my face. The Lion smells her fear, and I can see the vulnerability in her eyes. This delights him, I don't like that he's enjoying her fear. The predator begins to wake.

"I believe you." She seems so small in this moment, so fragile. I've never had anyone put so much trust in me. She's so hopeful that I can help her.

And because she believed in me, I honestly think I can do this and be there for her. I want to be. I want to be a better person, and I think with her help I can do it. So the best thing I can do to start is to help her cope.

Then it hits me. This is the first time I've had a girl in my room, in my home. Well the home of my childhood, the Academy is more home than this place. I never had sleepovers as a child; you would need friends for that. I spot her bag on the floor, it was big and full.

"How long did you plan to stay?" I ask, eyebrows arched, I figured it would be just tonight.

"As long as you'll have me," she says, her eyes are getting big like she's getting ready to beg to stay with me. Internally I'm joyful, she wants to stay with me. I can be her hero. I liked that idea. I wanted to be a hero since I was a kid, but I never seem had the chance. I just wonder, when its time for us to leave Pai Zhua, what will happen to her then. What will happen to me, I like the idea of staying wit her…I just hope she wants to stay with me.

"Don't give me the big puppy eyes, stay as long as you want." I tell her. The one thing I wouldn't tell her is that I had grown accustom to her sleeping at my side and want her to stay there. My parents will not be happy but I don't care. Just like they don't care about me. "My bathroom is through there, shower if you need. Are you hungry?"

"Uhhh through the past 7 years I've known you, you've never once cooked. You'd probably burn down the house. I'm fine, if you need to eat, use the microwave!" she says, heading for the bathroom.

"Hey!" I said in offense and she just laughs and closes the door. I head for the kitchen, and found that there's barely any food in the house. Knowing my parents they are probably never really here. I hear the shower kick on upstairs and I stop dead in my tracks when I hear her crying over the sound of the rushing water. I hurry upstairs and knock on the door. "Kiran, what's wrong?" I know she can hear me, I'm not quiet. She doesn't answer so I do the only logical thing that pops into my head and burst in.

What I did not expect was the shampoo bottle whizzing at my head. I barely had time to duck before it connects hard with the wall.

"JARROD!" She shrieks, she's shocked but does nothing to hide herself through the sheer curtain. But I do see her hand going for the next bottle-the conditioner.

"Stop throwing bottles at me! Why are you crying?!" I ask, her eyes are now longer huge but narrowing into slits.

"Because the foster family threw me out! They think I'm a demon because an animal spirit burst out of my chest without warning! Do you know how scary that is?!"

"YES!"

I have no idea why we're yelling at each other over the shower, we can hear each other perfectly fine if we spoke at normal tones. I mutter an apology and leave and I heard her sigh. I don't know if its in exasperation, frustration or disgust but I wouldn't be surprised if she left now. With a groan I sit on the edge of the bed and bury my face in my hands. The Lion is laughing; he would have taken advantage of the situation, and is laughing at my misery. That bastard. Kiran comes out of the bathroom, towel securely around her body and heads for her bag. I hear her rustling through her clothes but then instead of heading back to the bathroom immediately, she climbs on the bed. She scoots on her knees over to me and throws herself on my back and hugs me around the middle.

"I'm sorry," She says, her cheek pressed against my shoulder. "I shouldn't have yelled. You were nice enough to take me in and I went all psycho on you. I'm sorry," she apologizes again. Still hugging me close, she leans her weight into me.

"But I did burst in while you were showering," I did remind her. She laughs to my surprise; I didn't think it was funny since I was the one who had a bottle thrown at my head.

"It happens. The naked body is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, I've seen you naked." I had almost forgotten she had changed me when I had a broken leg.

"Fair enough."

"Good. Now that you've seen my naughty bits, its off to put some clothes on." She tells me then bounces off to the bathroom to dress. I shake my head and flop down onto my back. A few seconds later, she pounces onto me, completely dressed. I don't mind since she's so light and tiny. "I'm tired."

"You should be. When my spirit burst from me, I convulsed and passed out. Just sleep, I'm here to watch over you." I tell her, she smiles and we readjust for bed. We're squeezed in my small bed, but I've never been happier.

"Thank you." She whispers as she begins to drift off, I gently rub her shoulder and smile to the ceiling.

"Anything for you."