Kevin
I stared at the wall. I wish I were able to just go up to him and say "I fucking like you" but I just couldn't. I was very afraid. For the first time, I was afraid for reasons unrelated to being a Ranger. I thought for a moment, trying to picture how they would react. The girls would be so happy, Mike would feel awkward and probably try and make a joke, I wasn't sure how Jayden would react, he'd probably clap me on the back and say something like "good for you, Kevin," and lord only knows how Antonio would react. Ji would probably freeze up and have no idea what to do. Lauren... Lauren was a great friend. She'd be with the girls. I was so scared though. I just wanted to hide in a corner forever. I was still out of it when the Gap Sensor went off. I shook my head to clear it and looked at the map. "Rangers! Come on! That stupid Nighlok is back by the docks!" Mia, Emily, Mike, and Antonio came running into the room. They looked at the map too, and we pulled out our Samuraizers to morph. We were about to run out when I heard a noise behind me. I looked back, and there was the Red Ranger. "Jayden! Get back in bed!" I yelled. He shook his head. Shit, I thought. He'll get pummeled. He was too stubborn. I gave up. "Let's go," I said begrudgingly. We all ran out the gate. When we arrived, Jayden took charge. However, as soon as he did, I realized that it wasn't Jayden. Lauren had taken his Samuraizer. We fought and fought and fought and then, near the end of the battle, the Nighlok came up next to me and said, "I know you don't trust yourself. I know your secret!"
"Kevin, what's he talking about?" Antonio screamed. I feigned ignorance. "Don't ask me! He's a Nighlok, they're all crazy!" I pulled my spinsword back and struck him with it hard. He took a few steps backwards towards the water. Mia came up to him and attacked him, but he blocked it. Then he lost his balance and fell in. "There's something fishy going in with you, Nighlok. That should dry him out, and he'll end up back at the Sanzu." Antonio made a comment about how we seem to love our bad puns, but I didn't hear it. I was too busy dying. At least, it felt like I was dying. I fell, drained and scared, to the ground. Mia ran up to me. "Kev. Kev, are you alright? Kevin!"
"No," I groaned. "No, I'm not ok. I'm just going back to the Shiba house. Symbol power; home." I fell into my bed in my shared quarters with Jayden and Mike and looked over at Jay. "Jayden... You ok?" He looked up. "Kevin? Are you ok?" I shook my head. "Not even close."
"I hear ya." I looked up at the ceiling. "Hey, can you help me with something?" He nodded. "Anything."
"I... like someone. I need help, uh, reckoning with my feelings."
"You like this... person, you tell them. Is it a Ranger?" My turn to nod. "Yes. It's A- a Ranger." I imagined him smiling. "Yeah. Ok. Well, I've got nothing against that. Just... don't ruin my team, deal?" He turned and offered his hand to me, grinning. I took it. "Deal."
When the others returned, Lauren walked past Jayden's bed and threw him his Samuraizer without looking at him. He made a face at her. "Kevin, tell me what that Nighlok was talking about." I shook my head. "I already told you, I don't know."
"You're lying in bed, crippled. You didn't get hit or anything. All you did was use some symbol power. That shouldn't be enough to cripple you. So either what he said really affected you, or you're out of touch. Tell me which." Jayden looked at me, surprised. "You weren't hurt?" he asked incredulously. I ignored him. "Fine! It was what he said. He scared me a lot. Is that satisfactory?"
"Why did it scare you?"
"Because feelings!"
"Explain." I sighed. Fine. "He said he knew my secret. I don't want anyone to know my secret. And he said he knew that I don't trust myself. I don't. And that scares me quite a bit." Lauren nodded. "Ok. Anything else you wanted to tell me?" I shook my head, paralyzed by fear. Lauren didn't look satisfied, but gave up. "Whatever." They all left the room. I could feel Jayden's eyes on me, but I ignored it until I fell asleep.
I know it's shit. Sorry. This is what happens when I try to be creative.
I hope it's okay, though...
