His white boots clicked against the cold stone floor of Rita's palace as he made his way toward the throne room. The whisper of silk as his muscular thighs moved softly reached his ears. A million excuses raced through his mind about why keeping the Red Ranger alive was actually a good idea. Truthfully, he was doing this with some trepidation.
The flickering dance of the fire in the wall sconces reflected in his visor as he neared the heavy wooden door.
"And just where the hell have you been?" Goldar's deep gravelly voice bellowed.
Tommy stopped walking but did not turn around as the warrior approached from behind. His helmet turned slightly over his shoulder.
"Fucking your mom, dipshit!" he hissed. "Not that I answer to you."
"More shit talking from the Green Ranger," the golden ape laughed. "Shocking."
"I don't have time for your bullshit. Piss off," Tommy snarled, flipping the finger as he started onward again.
"You've not been staying in your chambers and you blew off your training last night," Goldar pointed his armored finger at the Green Ranger's departing back. "Not to mention, your disrespect and interfering with me and the Red Ranger. His blood belongs to me!"
Again Tommy stopped, his fists clenching. With sudden fury, he spun around and began to advance menacingly on Goldar.
"Really, Green Ranger. Going to kick my ass?" the warrior taunted, pulling his sword.
Suddenly, the heavy door was cracked open and Finster appeared. The small white alien looked annoyed.
"What's going on out here? Empress Rita is having horrible migraines and is not to be disturbed!" he scolded, wagging a finger at them.
"Green Ranger's been acting suspect. Disappearing, shirking his training, and running that mouth nonstop. I'm at my wits end with him, evil Ranger or not! I will not continue to be disrespected!"
Finster hurriedly and quietly shut the door and stood with his hands on his hips.
"You two will have to deal with it yourselves. I'm not about to distress our Empress with your useless bickering." He sighed deeply. "In three more day, the Rangers will fall. Then you can quarrel like toddlers."
"Three days?" Tommy frowned.
"Rita wants them to think they're winning so their defeat will be that much more crushing. At least they will feel that way before they die." The small alien shrugged.
"Hear that, Green? You've got three days to get your head out of your ass!" Goldar snarled as he waved his broadsword.
Ignoring him for the time being, Tommy approached Finster and knelt down to the smaller creature's height.
"Finster, I really need to speak with…." He began.
"No absolutely not. I have strict orders that no one is to disturb her. When our Empress is feeling well, I will tell her you wish an audience. Now I really must get back to attending her."
Lowering his voice so Goldar couldn't hear, Tommy pressed on. "It's about the Red Ranger."
Finster sniffed. "I know all about your little dalliances with the Red Ranger."
The Green Ranger's eyes widened under his helmet.
"My advice to you, Green Ranger, is kill him yourself so it can be quick and painless. You know if Goldar gets him first he'll make the poor boy suffer as long as possible. He's too dangerous to be allowed to live."
He stared pointedly at the evil Ranger for a moment before disappearing once more into the throne room.
Jason stood under the downpour of steaming water, small rivers cascading down his back. His dark head was lowered as he braced himself against the shower wall. The heat had helped to clear his head somewhat. Oh Lord, he was in trouble.
Wiping a hand over his wet face, he winced at the small, sharp pain in his chest. He had just lied to Zack. They had been friends since they were little kids; he'd never kept a secret from his best friend. But could he possibly tell the Black Ranger that he was with their mortal enemy, showering in his bathroom after they had sex? When his communicator had beeped, he jumped like a startled animal. Zack was worried that he'd not checked in.
I can't do this anymore; I hate the person I've become. Lying, sneaking around, keeping secrets.
The Green Ranger was Rita's warrior. They weren't dating or even remotely a couple. This was a sexual conquest for Tommy; when Rita gave the order to kill him, Jason knew he would obey despite the Green Ranger's assertion that he wanted to keep him. Not that the Red Ranger would give in and allow Rita to win so he could spend the rest of his life as a sexual slave and watch his friends be executed.
His fingers trailed to his lower abdomen where the Dragon brand marred his flesh. Tommy didn't have as much control as he liked to believe. He'd never defy Rita. This ends today, he thought sadly. I hope my friends never find out about this. It never happened.
Tommy had just teleported back to his uncle's cabin when Jason emerged from the shower. The Red Ranger was dressed in jeans and a fitted t-shirt that showed off his muscular frame. Even though he had started to brood, Tommy did admire the sight. Jason poured a cup of coffee and sat down across from his lover.
The Green Ranger sopped up the last of the maple syrup with his bite of pancake. He lifted his eyes in annoyance as Jason sat staring at him.
"Spit it out, Red. You've got that look on your face again."
Sitting his cup down, Jason licked his lips nervously. This had real potential to get ugly.
"About last night. You know…." The Red Ranger finally just blurted it out. "This isn't going to end well. I think after today, we should stop this." He held his breath while he waited for Tommy's reply.
For a minute, Tommy was silent as he tapped his fork on the table top. His expression wasn't readable. Jason almost wished he'd flip his shit. This suspense was making him nauseous.
Finally he spoke, "So I have you one more day?" No emotion in his words.
Jason was slightly stunned; when he'd brought the topic up last night, the Green Ranger wouldn't hear of it. It was truthfully a little painful that he was finally seeing Jason's logic and agreeing. He blinked quickly and stood up from the table, careful to keep his face neutral. He dumped the remainder of his coffee in the sink.
"Yeah. After today, we shouldn't really be doing this anymore."
Tommy remained silent as he stared at Jason and continued to brood.
"Does Rita know?" He didn't turn from the sink.
"No, I don't think so," came the wooden answer.
As he stared at Jason's back, he felt rage rising inside. The Red Ranger belonged to him. How DARE he suggest otherwise! This was not acceptable! Both Goldar and Scorpina had their own bevy of slaves; why shouldn't he have at least one? He felt hot and anxious and rebellious. Having the Red Ranger as his own personal slave was a huge status symbol regardless if he shared his bed or not.
He needed time to think.
"Why don't we go out for the day, Red? Go out to lunch, a movie? A romantic walk on the beach?" he smirked.
Jason turned to face the Green Ranger, shock on his face. To be seen together in public? It was almost an unwritten rule that they were not seen out together; the only "dates" they had were basically sex marathons.
"You mean out as in out in public?"
Tommy shrugged. "What else would I mean?"
"We can't be seen together, Tommy. My friends…."
"So we'll go to Stone Canyon. Or Reef Side. Relax," the Green Ranger interrupted. "I get one more day with you and I want to go have fun. Before we have to get down to business again." He shot Jason a knowing look.
The Red Ranger sighed. "Alright. Let me call my parents and let them know I'm up to." He walked out onto the large wooden porch to place the call.
Tommy forced himself out of his chair and made his way to the bedroom to dress. He needed to make a decision. After all, Rita hadn't expressly forbade him from keeping Red; it was Finster who'd told him he should kill him.
Pulling on jeans and a T, he was just walking out of the bedroom when Jason came flying back into the cabin, face stunned; he was followed by an older blonde woman with a ton of make-up caked on her face.
"Tommy! Your mom's here!"