Enemy Within: Unbreakable Bond
Sometimes bonds will not break
Note: I do not own Power Rangers Jungle Fury or its characters. I do own Kiran.
Prompt: No prompt this time
Genre: Drama
Rating: T (Minor language)
It was night, the house was silent and Kiran's entwined in my arms. I'm at peace here, if I could, I'd love to do nothing more than lay with her. The Lion is at ease, her power seeping from her is at a minimum. Her breathing and heartbeat fill my ears beginning to lull me to sleep, then two hard hands grab me and pull me from the bed. I immediately follow my instincts and attack. My moves are sloppy and are not well aimed in the dark. I miss and I hear Kiran ferociously growling at the otherside of the bed. I turn to try to fight to her when arms pull me back and force me into my clothes. Apparently she is as well.
"Get your hands off of me!" She growls with such force that I can hear her body shake.
"KIRAN!" I shout is muffled in my shirt.
"Calm down!" Wait a minute that was Swoop. When the shirt is finally tugged down I see our Masters are dressing us and shoving us towards the door.
"What are you doing you asshole!? I was almost sleeping!" Kiran snaps at him, clearly unable to hold her tongue.
"The Elders have summoned you, the both of you." Master Finn says, we exchange looks. When they lead us downstairs, RJ and Dom are sitting in the living room, both are scared.
"Dad, what's going on?" RJ asks, his voice is laced in concern.
"It's none of your business RJ." Another reason for him to hate the door is open, Master Phant is standing at the bottom of the stairs.
"Jarrod, Kiran, come with me please," Master Phant said, his voice was vacant, Kiran looks spooked. I've never seen this man so empty before. Even though I wasn't close to him as I am with Master Finn and Master Swoop but he's always had a Grandfatherly patience with everyone. Kiran's hand instant twines with mine and we follow him to the main temple where the Elders have their chamber. No student has sent their foot within these walls without a sever punishment being invoked. Other students are whispering around us, I hear vague theories being plotted out. Rumors that will circle in the days that follow. One of them says that she's pregnant; one says she's sleeping with someone that isn't me. After that, I shut it all out and focus on the small hand in mine. I guess Kiran heard one of the whispers and nearly charged someone but I refused to let go, nearly wrenching her arm out of the socket in the mean time. I don't know what was said, but it had to have been bad for her to react that way to anyone.
The building is dark except for a crackling fireplace that is in the main room. Its cold, and empty until we get to that room and all the Masters are gathered. All of them, most I haven't seen since I arrived. The Elders only come to see the new initiates. Its so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. We bow to the room and stand, waiting.
"Have a seat," One of the Elder says; I'm not even sure his name, as he gestures to the two empty seats on one side of the table.
We sit and I look down the long table. Master Finn and Swoop are on one side and Phant's on the other. In between are the 4 Elders. The power in the room is astounding and nearly unbearable. A feeling of dread washes over me and Kiran shivers at my side. I place my hand on her arm and look to the counsel, awaiting our fate.
"Jarrod, Kiran, it has come to our attention that you are now a Mated pair." It seemed like a statement but we realized they were asking for our confirmation. I'm stnned, it's one thing to tell your Master and only have your roommates knowing. We have to publically admit being with one another. That makes me unconformable, its like when my Mother found it.
"And if we are?" Kiran snaps, she is obviously taking offense to the question. I had not realized this was their business. But if they asked me, I would tell them, they are our Masters and we've been taught to respect and honor them. Kiran has never seen any man as someone that respect is due. She didn't have to tell me, I've known from the time she was young. She often was reprimanded for her attitude, but she was still well loved by most of the Masters. They understood the reason for her attitude and have tried to correct her for the past 7 years.
"You will hold your tongue Persephone." Swoop murmurs low, she glares at him, eyes going cold. Swoop isn't pleased at anyone in this room and it is clear. I don't see what we've done wrong so I state just that.
"Yes, we are. Is there something wrong?" I ask, my voice is maintained.
"Mating is discouraged with a pair so young. Especially for one of that Spirit."
"The Lion?" I ask, to my knowledge I wasn't the only Lion, just the strongest.
"No, Jarrod, not you." Master Finn says gently, I tilt my head to Kiran who is glaring at them.
"There is nothing wrong with me." She states, the Elders exchange glances.
"Jarrod, if you would please excuse us for a moment, we would like to speak to Persephone alone." A different one says, I look to her and her face twists in rage.
"He stays." She growls, I feel her power building and she's containing it so well.
"Persephone!" Master Swoop hisses at her, making it clear that it was his last warning. She shoots me a look and I do not want to leave her but I feel all eyes on me and I know I have to.
"I'll be waiting outside the door," I tell her softly and kiss her gently on the cheek, in hopes of calming her down. It gives her relief but she's still clearly angry. I leave the room and close the door behind me and sit against the door. Listening. Waiting.
Hours pass, I do not know how many. For the most part I cannot hear what's happening. I do occasionally hear Kiran yell and shouts back at her and then I felt her power surge. I know she's showed them her spirit to confirm what they wanted. Soon I hear footsteps pounding, small feet, Kiran is coming out. I stand up and she throws herself into my arms. I hold her tight and I hear someone in the room call my name.
"Go, I'll be waiting for you," she says to me and presses a quick kiss to my lips before heading back to the dorm. I watch her go and then walk into the room. They gesture for me to sit and I do so.
My stomach is in knots. They are all stoic, silent, not an ounce of warmth or sympathy. The Lion is itching to get out and attack, still riled from our surprise wake up call.
"Jarrod, we are very concerned about this and we will tell you what we told her. For your own sake, you two must end this now." I don't like that answer.
"Why?" I ask, the rage is boiling, my face is contorting, twisting in anger.
"You do not realize how mentally unstable Persephone is. We all have been struggling for years to help her. Not only does she suffer from the abuse she was subjected to but also she's starting to lose what little sanity she has left. You have obviously become blind to this and we can on longer let you go so. Since you do not have the common sense to realize this, we're going to have to do it for you." The lead Elder said. I'm insulted, hurt and angry, this won't end well for any of us. The Lion claws to the surface and my hands begin to raise, I'm not trying to control it.
"Jarrod, control yourself." Master Finn says softly, he can see I'm struggling and he wants to help.
"I love her! You cannot take her from me," I say, my words are coming out as a deep growl.
"We are aware of your feelings for Persephone and they've clouded your judgment Jarrod. From here on in, we're moving her out of your dorm and you're not to see her anymore." He continues.
"Come on, you cannot take her away from that environment it would shatter her! It took her long enough to get settled in, do you want just throw her off the deep end now?" Phant says, I'm honestly touched his defending essentially us, he's trying to keep her near, keep her safe.
"No, Leo, that is not our intention. We want her safe just as much as all of you but she cannot be while she is with him." Came the cold response. How could she not? I love her? I'd die for her? What more can I do for them? To show them that she is perfectly fine with me?
"Why? I love her? She wants to be with me." I tell them, my question and statement falls on deaf ears.
"Jarrod, from here on in, since it would be unwise to move her from the dorm, you are not allowed to have…sexual contact with her. If there is physical contact, it should only involve sparring, is that understood? You are not to seek her out and she has been told the same."
"And how did that go?" I have to ask, since she kissed me on way out and has intentions of seeing me tonight.
"She told us to fuck off," Master Swoop says with a smile, which shows he was clearly amused.
"That's my girl," I tell him and he smiles again.
"Jarrod, have we made ourselves clear?" the voice of the Elders asks again.
"Yes, sir." I tell him, though I have no intentions on letting her go.