Tommy's eyes narrowed and an icy sneer spread across his lips as he watched the blonde woman sauntering up the steps behind Jason. He noticed her eyeing the Red Ranger's ass appreciatively as she subtly licked her ruby lips. Reaching into the neckline of her low cut blouse, she adjusted her breasts to show them to their full advantage. Oh fuck no!
Jason's eyes were wide with shock at the appearance of the Green Ranger's "mom". This was unexpected. The Red Ranger was pretty naïve; he'd never seen any of his friends' moms dressed the Tommy's was. The evil Ranger didn't look happy at all to see her.
"Thought you might want these, Thomas," she chirped, tossing a pack of smokes to the teen when she entered the living room; her eyes roamed lustily over her son's new little friend. "Like I said, you finish all the shit around the house I'll keep buying your cancer sticks. Those are a filthy habit, you know."
You'd know all about filthy, he stewed but said nothing as he pocketed his cigarettes. Jason stood awkwardly to the side as the blonde made more of a show of looking him over. He imagined he could feel her mentally undressing him.
"Thomas, I was being to think you were antisocial. Why hasn't your handsome friend here ever been to the house?" she purred. Sidling up next to Jason, she wrapped her manicured hand around his arm, squeezing his bicep. "Mmmmm… He's strong too."
The Red Ranger looked like a deer in headlights as Tommy's mom started practically feeling him up.
"I'm so glad you're hanging around with Thomas. I'm sure you'll be a good influence on him. He's hardly ever home except to work around the house for those smelly cigarettes. Or some liquor," she batted her eyes girlishly as she continued to moon.
Tommy wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands around the old whore's throat and choke the shit out of her but he doubted Jason would approve. Maybe he could get by with just breaking every bone in the bitch's hand. While he mulled this over, his mom made a "playful" grab at Jason's ass.
"Get your disgusting hands off him, Linda," his icy "Green Ranger" voice slipped through.
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Thomas might scowl, glare, mutter, or take off but he usually kept his lips zipped. He'd been coming over less and less and those few times she did see him over the past month, he was cruel and vicious with his language. But she had never been scared of him like she was now.
For his part, the Red Ranger felt like a chew toy caught between two dogs. He was surprised Tommy hadn't had one of his signature psychotic rages yet. The way he was standing and the way he hissed at the blonde, Jason could practically hear a rattlesnake's tail. He could easily blow his stack. Why hadn't he though?
Linda covered her fear with a girlish pout. "Who pissed in your Wheaties?"
Her eyes peered through the doorway to the kitchen where the broken plates still covered the floor and whipped cream was smeared on the table. A knowing expression bloomed over her face.
"My apologies. Didn't realize this one was yours," she simpered, withdrawing her arm. "You've got great taste, Thomas. Like me."
"I'm nothing like you, you old whore. Now beat it," he spit, eyes flashing green.
Anger clouded over her common sense; she shouted at him, "You little shit! I should have left your ass at the adoption agency. You've been nothing but a pain in my ass. No wonder your parents threw you out!"
Swiftly, Tommy crossed the distance between them. Immediately, Linda backed up, turning to book it to the door. Just as the Green Ranger reached out to grab a handful of her hair, Jason caught his arm.
"Let her go, man," he said softly, pulling his lover close. He could feel Tommy's body shaking with rage and pain. Gently, he embraced the other teen and kissed his cheek tenderly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispered in the Green Ranger's ear. Tommy's angry face turned to Jason.
"No, you're not. You're dropping me like a hot potato too. Well, I don't care! Soon none of this will matter. When Rita defeats the Rangers, that bitch is going to get what's coming to her!" he snarled. "And that fat son of a bitch who sits on his ass drunk all day too!"
Jason backed away apprehensively. The Green Ranger was starting to come unglued; he could be unpredictable even under normal circumstances. His heart beat hard in his chest as Tommy turned to face him fully.
"Let me tell you something, Red Ranger. You're so naïve it's ridiculous. You think everyone in this world is good and kind like you. Well, the truth is that this world is nothing but a fucking cesspool! With pieces of shit like that," he pointed to the front door "getting away with whatever they like!"
Jason swallowed the lump in his throat and let the Green Ranger continue to rant.
"You're lucky, Red. You have parents that love and protect you, a nice house to live in, lots of friends, good grades, food to eat. You're a fucking Power Ranger! You don't have dirty old women trying to crawl in your bed at night or a drunk asshole who beats the shit out of you for every little thing. Well, I should say he used to." He laughed wildly. "The night I was chosen to be Rita's evil Green Ranger, I yanked that belt out of his hand and showed him how it felt. He's never spoken to me since."
"Tommy," Jason's eyes were wide at the Green Ranger's confession. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"And who'd believe me? I'd just get sent back and they'd beat the fuck out of me for telling. It doesn't matter. I learned how to keep the bitch out of my room last year. But like I said, soon it won't matter one bit."
A tear slid down Jason's cheek listening to Tommy. No wonder it was so easy for him to give in to Rita's spell. A part of him wanted the world to burn and who could blame him? For a moment, he could see past the Green Ranger's evil, icy personality and see Tommy, a hurt and frightened teenager who everyone had screwed up.
Tommy noticed Jason's tear streaked cheek. "You'd really waste tears on me, Red? I don't deserve them."
He approached the Red Ranger and wiped the tear away with his thumb.
Jason murmured, "And there's no one you care about? No one you don't want to see die? No other family or friends?"
Tommy started to answer then caught himself, his cheeks flushing.
"Enough of this bullshit. I want to enjoy my time with you while I can. After today, it's not a good idea for you to sympathize with me anyways."
Sighing, Jason nodded unhappily. "Alright."
"I was thinking we'd drive to Reefside. Spend the day there; go to lunch, hang out on the beach," he cooed.
Jason stood amazed; the Green Ranger's emotions shifted like sand so quickly. It was a little unnerving. Finally, he stammered with a small smile, "That sounds great." It was strange since every time they met up it was mostly strictly about having sex; what exactly did the evil Ranger want from him?
Tommy continued to caress Jason's cheek. "No more tears today. There will be plenty in the future."
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to the Red Ranger's and kissed him passionately. "Go out to the car; I'll be out in a minute," he ordered softly.
Wordlessly, Jason scooped his leather jacket up off the bed on his way to the door. Tommy watched him go, struggling to make a decision. Rita's headaches came and went constantly. Could he risk the Red Ranger getting killed before he had a chance to make his appeal? Anything could happen in three days. Those small little "battles" leading up to the finale could lead to an accidental injury that destroyed the Red Ranger.
Goldar was an ass too. Who was to say he wouldn't take it upon himself to take Red out early? There would more than likely be a fake battle today that would interrupt their day together. Tommy huffed. There was no way Jason could be convinced to step aside until it was over then live with the Green Ranger in his wing of Rita's palace. The Red Ranger was so bullheaded and foolishly stubborn, he'd hurl himself in the middle of Armageddon alone.
Well, I guess I will just have to take him out of the equation myself. Striding into the bathroom, he rummaged in his uncle's medicine cabinet. Where was it? He knew there was some left. Ah yes, here it is. He picked up the orange bottle and read the label: Temazepam 30 mg. The capsules made a slight rattling sound as they clicked off each turn of the bottle.
Now he just needed a place to keep Red until everything was done. Someplace that no one would know about. There was one place in Reefside that would be perfect. But first they were going to have their perfect day together.