In the Prime Universe
Pacing in the small space before the bathroom sink, Tommy went over his speech yet again. No matter how many times he tried to come up with the perfect words, nothing seemed to accurately convey the depth of his feelings for his Red Omega. Despite the practice, he felt foolish and small with every incarnation.
His stomach rolled, feeling slick and warm and oily. Not again, he prayed, but it was for naught. Clutching the porcelain, Tommy leaned over the toilet bowel and vomited his breakfast up. Obviously, eating anything in his current state of anxiety was a bad idea. Trying to be discreet, the White Ranger heaved a second time.
A sharp knock on the bathroom door echoed in the tiled room.
"Tommy, are you feeling alright?" Jason called from the hallway. "You've been in and out of there a lot this morning."
Wiping a hand over his trembling lips, Tommy managed to stand and check his reflection in the mirror, ensuring no foul-smelling remnants clung to his chin or embedded themselves in his long hair. Depressing the handle to flush the evidence away, the White Ranger took a steadying breath.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Jase," he answered, grabbing for bottle of mouthwash on the counter. "Just excited to have you all to myself this weekend."
Briskly rinsing the acidic aftertaste out of his mouth, Tommy gave himself a final once over in the mirror before opening the door. He almost collided with Jason who still stood in the hall, arms crossed.
One dark brow was raised, and his expression was stern.
"Really? Because you are almost the same color as your shirt," Jason pointed out, nodding at Tommy's white cotton garment.
"You've always been such a worry wart," the White Ranger teased. "Even when you don't need to be."
Jason huffed a sigh before pulling Tommy in for a hug; he leaned his forehead against the other man's.
"I can't help it. It's who I am," he said softly.
He felt a brush of fingers against his cheek to settle in his dark hair as Tommy cupped his head. They tugged gently, tipping Jason's head back for hungry lips to taste the Omega's mouth. Jason could taste the sharp burn of the mouthwash on his tongue.
"Minty fresh," he teased breaking the kiss.
Tommy gave another quick peck before moving around Jason to the door.
"Alright, handsome. Let's hit the road. Our romantic weekend awaits!"
He bounded ahead of his boyfriend, his pant going to his left pants pocket and gingerly patting the precious cargo.
Sweaty hands gripped the steering wheel as his stomach rolled yet again. It didn't help that Tommy could still detect the acidic aftertaste of the vomit he'd discreetly deposited in the parking lot median just prior to their departure; Jason had been loading their picnic lunch and hadn't noticed. Having the window down, the warm air caressing his cheeks as he drove, helped. But not much.
Glancing over at his boyfriend, the White Ranger's nerves continued to jitter madly. Jason was so beautiful as the sunlight streamed in his open window, reflecting off his dark, tousled hair lifting in the wind. He was leaned over, adjusting the radio and keeping up a continuous stream of chatter, seemingly unaware of Tommy's chaotic internal state.
"Uh huh," Tommy absently answered, not sure what he was even agreeing to; he patted his left pant pocket again to ensure it hadn't lost its precious cargo.
Realizing that Jason was no longer talking, he risked a glance over at his love. The Red Omega was staring at him like he'd sprouted a second head.
"What?" he asked worried, turning his gaze back to the road.
"Are you alright, Tom?" Jason said in a voice that warned he already knew the answer.
"Yes, why?"
The Omega's head tilted slightly, and his lips pressed into a firm line.
"Because you just agreed that ketchup went on steak. And I know you know better than that," he responded, wagging a finger. "I knew you'd zoned out on me."
Tommy couldn't help but laugh. His hand reached over and lovingly patted Jason's knee. The Omega cast dubious eyes at him, arms crossed.
"I promise you, Jason Scott, that I'm fine. I'm just nervous about this trip going off without a hitch. I want to impress you."
Jason looked unconvinced. He sighed but did manage to relax back into his seat.
"It's just me, Tommy. We've been a couple for two years and known each other even longer than that. Hell, we both have a kinky role play fetish for each other. You don't have to be so nervous about our vacation," he reminded gently.
Tommy took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to ease his grip on the wheel. He gave his boyfriend a quick smile.
"I know. It's easy for me to put so much pressure on myself."
Now, Jason was the one to reach over and squeeze Tommy's shoulder reassuringly.
"There's no doubt that I will love what you've put together for us," he promised. "What's not to love about a picnic at the beach and a weekend in a bed and breakfast?"
He gave a harder squeeze as he lowered his voice sensually.
"I may have packed a few 'costume' changes for us as well," he teased, earning a gasp from the White Ranger.
"God, I love you, Jason," he hissed, picturing the erotic scenarios they could indulge in together.
Tommy's lips curved in a Drakkon-esque grin and his voice deepened into the cool, aloof intonation of his darker half.
"You must not plan on doing any walking this weekend, Red. Because when I get done with your ass, you won't walk right for a week."
Jason's expression shifted to demure submissiveness.
"If that pleases you, Master," he breathed softly, dark eyes gazing up at Tommy with promise.
"It does."
So, caught up in the possible kinky storylines they could explore, the distracted Ranger almost missed the turn off to the beach. Jason laughed lovingly, shaking his head. Tommy grinned at his boyfriend; his cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
The pair nestled into one another on the blanket, the sand radiating warmth underneath the fabric. Jason's dark hair tickled Tommy's neck as his head burrowed against the White Ranger's chest. The comforting weight of his boyfriend against him helped to soothe his frazzled nerves.
Tommy wasn't going to be able to bear the tension much longer. Even asking Jason to wear his collar, his private symbol of submission, had been less terrifying than this. His fingers glided up to his neck to caress his own adornment where the key to Jason's resided.
The sound of the waves washing the shore was making the Red Omega sleepy after their picnic lunch. He was still worried about his boyfriend's demeanor and lack of appetite for the delicious food that he'd packed. But the White Ranger wouldn't budge in his insistence that he was alright.
"You know where we're at, right?" Tommy whispered into Jason's ear before dropping a tender kiss upon it.
Jason hugged his boyfriend tightly and nodded against his chest.
"This is the beach where I destroyed the Sword of Darkness and freed you from Rita's spell," he answered softly.
Guiding the Red Omega to stand with him, Tommy smiled into those beautiful midnight eyes. He laced his fingers with Jason's and slowly walked toward the rock face jutting into the sky behind them.
"That's right, Jase. And look right here," he pointed to the windswept smoothness of the stone. "You can still see the marks from your Blade Blaster when I deflected your shots with my flute."
Jason stared in wonderment at the jagged gashes marring the surface. Finding one he could reach, he traced a fingertip over it's trajectory.
"Wow," he managed. "So we're…"
Tommy smiled as he walked up behind his love.
"We're basically in the spot where you knocked the sense back into me."
The Red Omega turned to find the White Ranger staring at him intently. The hazel eyes were moist and there was fear hiding in there as well.
"Tommy?" Jason asked, concerned.
Reaching out, the other man cupped his boyfriend's jaw, the thumb brushing the smooth angular bone. Then, Tommy pulled him closer, so they rested forehead to forehead, their signature soothing pose.
"I'll never forget that day as long as I live. You were standing in front of me, trying to find a way to stop me but keeping us both safe. I was a raging, psychotic asshole and deserved to be destroyed. I hurt the Rangers badly, especially you," he murmured against Jason's lips.
"Even after all the evil things I did, after I chased you around the Dark Dimension slashing you and trying to grope you, you still protected me. You helped me back to my feet and tried to comfort me," he emphasized.
Now, he pulled his face back slightly to lovingly gaze at Jason's worried expression. Tommy gave him a comforting smile and took one of the Red Omega's hands in his own.
"You offered me your hand that day, Jase," he whispered, his thumb caressing his lover's skin.
Reaching into his pocket, Tommy dropped to a knee in front of his Red.
"Now, I'm asking for it again. This time I want it to be forever. Will you marry me?"