Under the light of the twin moons, the water gently rolling across the lake appeared to glow incandescently. A light breeze rustled the tall grasses and crickets chirped from where they hid. After years spent in the desolate remains of Drakkon's kingdom, Skull marveled at the natural beauty surrounding him.
Billy noticed that his companion had stopped his slow stroll and now stood staring into the vast expanse of wilderness just on the other side of the lake. Giving a furrowed expression behind his glasses, the Blue Ranger returned to Skull's side. The pair was quiet for several minutes, taking in the view.
"I never really appreciated sights like this before Drakkon," the former Sentry murmured softly. "The feel of a breeze on my skin, twinkling stars in a night's sky, the smell of honeysuckle, hearing the cries of distant wildlife."
Billy curled his hand into Skull's, dangling at the older man's side. He gave it a loving squeeze.
Silver eyes closed and the man raised his face into the night air, a small smile on his lips.
"I never want to forget what I'm experiencing right now. Maybe one day, things will right itself on our world and we can have nature return to us. Little by little every day, I think I see the small things changing, but its so hard to tell."
Now, Skull gazed into Billy's deep blue eyes and he tilted his head in thought.
"All the grey, black, brown, and sickly greens in our little corner of the universe, I almost forgot how much I loved the color blue."
The young Ranger blushed to his hairline and he shyly looked away.
Skull turned to face Billy and he reached out for his other hand as they stood in the perfect setting for him to confess his feelings. If he'd learned anything from all this psychotic madness, it was that denying your emotions could lead to disastrous consequences.
Although, he strongly doubted he could ever approach Fuckface's level of insanity.
"Billy, you probably already know how I feel about you. Even though I act cool and unbothered by most things, I'm not. It's a fucked-up coping mechanism to survive this universe. Well, actually not just here but in my old life as well."
He sighed and bit his lip lightly, thumbs stroking the Blue Ranger's hands.
"You know, in this world, I saved our Blue Ranger once. From Captain Crazy before he went all power-hungry and demonic," the taller man chuckled, glancing back towards the small house.
"Really?" Billy's eyes widened.
This was another small divergence between the two dimensions. Puzzling.
"Yeah," Skull answered, smiling sadly. "It was the first time I ever really felt proud of myself, the first time I realized I could be more than just an outcast or flunky."
Gently guiding the Blue Ranger's hand, Eugene resumed their nighttime stroll.
"Somehow I got the drop on that sadistic fuck and shoved him over the railing at Angel Grove Mall before he killed our Blue. His ass landed smack in the middle of the fountain. God, I thought for sure he was going to come bounding up those stairs and end us both," he continued as they walked, silver eyes appraising Billy from his periphery.
"Fortunately, that didn't happen because back then I couldn't fight worth shit. I walked away that day with a crush on the Blue Power Ranger. Bulky gave me such grief when he found out. Not in a bad way, though."
Finding a smooth, rocky surface by the water, the pair settled to continue their private conversation.
"I can see that," Billy nodded, thinking back on their versions of the duo.
"I never cared though," Skull reassured him. "But he had a point. I didn't even know who Blue really was or if he was even a human. So, I tried to ignore it though every monster battle made me almost pass out with anxiety."
Billy leaned in closer to Eugene, nestling his blonde head on the man's shoulder.
"That must have been unbearable," he whispered.
Skull gave a pained grimace and swallowed thickly.
"I thought it was bad at the time. I never dreamed it would get so much worse. Our Billy was always around, and I never admitted it to anyone, I started to like him too. He reminded me of the Blue Ranger, which was funny for just a brief moment after I found out the truth."
He gazed down at the soft wispy hair of his love laying over his shoulder; tears made his eyes ache.
"When Drakkon killed our Blue Ranger, I beat myself up every day. EVERY day," the man admitted. "I regretted not doing something sooner. Maybe I didn't know Tommy Oliver would turn into that fucking beast Drakkon, but I knew something was seriously wrong with him. It wasn't just juvenile rebellion making him act out. He had so many screws loose."
Now his expression darkened as he sniffed, trying to tame his emotional reaction.
"Tommy was fucking MEAN, Billy. No cute and cheeky antics like me and Bulky. And goddamn was he scary. Jason might have stood up to him and challenged him when he started his bullshit, but I knew even Jase was afraid. He had this look on his face whenever Tommy popped up like some demented Jack-in-the-Box."
Skull shuddered.
Billy lifted his head and sighed at the memory.
"Our Jason had the same look but it was more frequent after their encounter in the Dark Dimension. Initially, he didn't see how obsessive Tommy had gotten with him, but once he started stalking him, I think it finally unnerved Jase," Billy explained.
"The Dark Dimension left a lasting impression. When I finally managed to locate Jason and teleport him back to the Command Center, he was in so much shock he couldn't speak. His body was covered in cuts and he had lost quite a bit of blood. We always assumed more happened in there, but Jason refused to talk about it."
Skull growled in frustration and slid a strong arm around the Blue Ranger.
"Bulk told me he wished he'd teamed up with Jason and beat Oliver's ass. I had laughed it off because anyone who had seen Tommy and Jason go at it knew that the fucker was slighter better. Only because he was trying to cause pain and injury while Jase wasn't prepared to go all out. He held back because he's a good guy. I used to daydream that me and Bulk helped Jason stomp a mud hole in him."
He gave a genuine laugh this time.
"Maybe if he'd been in the hospital, Rita would have picked someone else. Someone less off their rocker. But she made a huge mistake regardless with that one."
"Affirmative. Tommy proved darker than even she could imagine."
Skull knew the hour was getting late and they all required rest. He needed to just have out with it and let the chips fall where they may.
"It's no secret that I have a 'fondness' for you, Billy," he began. "Well, more than fondness to be honest. I realize that I'm quite a bit older than you in this timeline and it probably feels, I don't know, gross, maybe? Am I making you uncomfortable?"
He felt a smooth hand on his cheek as Billy guided his head around to look him in the face. Soft lips brushed the older man's shyly.
"I'm aware of the attraction between us, Skull. The attraction we both share," he emphasized. "It's very much reciprocated, to be clear."
Skull felt his chest swell with overwhelming love.
"I was afraid you might not want to pursue anything further with the differences in age and universe," he whispered timidly. "But considering the underlying sentiments in Drakkon's story, keeping my feelings to myself didn't sit well."
The Blue Ranger nodded in agreement.
"Drakkon had shown clear signs of danger dating back to childhood. If even one thing had happened differently, if one person could have stepped in, maybe this whole business would never have come to fruition. He blatantly stated he had strong feelings for Jason that went beyond physical and homicidal preoccupation. It seems his abusive father figure would not have approved and Drakkon had some fear of the man. Even as the Green Ranger and after Mr. Oliver disappeared, there was still this ghost hanging over Drakkon."
Billy stared off at the water.
"I think that he was the Green Ranger's first true kill."
"Most likely," Skull concurred, kissing the Blue Ranger's temple.
Billy surprised him by turning his face and again planting his lips to the other man's.
"I'm glad you and I finally cleared the air, Eugene. I don't want to hide us from the world."
"Secrets can kill, Blue. I think we've got that message loud and clear."
When the Blue Ranger and the former Sentry returned to Jamie's home, all was quiet. The kitchen had been tidied in their absence and Skull couldn't help chuckling finding Kim snoring on the old blue couch dressed in one of Jamie's t shirts and sweatpants.
"I'd say she's down for the count," he grinned. "I can't blame her at all."
Billy shook his head and returned the smile.
"It looks like Jason and Tommy are still out," he observed.
Skull gave him a sly wink.
"I think they needed a little extra alone time away from prying eyes. Speaking of, where's Jamie and Fuckface?"
A light was on under the bathroom door and water could be heard sloshing about in the tub. Muffled, angry voices hissed at each other faintly on the other side followed by an almost calamitous splash and more snarly whispers. Hollow thumps smacked loudly as someone struck the sides of the tub repeatedly.
Quick as lightning, Kimberly was bounding up and knocking on the door smartly.
"Jamie, are you alright in there? I thought I heard yelling," she called, glancing back at Skull and Billy, her face tight with worry.
She motioned to the couple that she was getting ready to break down the door. Her small frame squared up, legs crouched and prepared to charge.
There was a moment of quiet as the other two lined up behind the Slayer, preparing to help her force their way inside.
"We're good! I'm just helping David get washed up. Everyone ok out there?" an odd, strained voice answered.
Skull exchanged a look with the Slayer, his brows knit together in a frown.
"Who the hell is that? That's not Jamie," he whispered next to her ear. "I know who it sounds like though."
Kimberly's pale face proved she also knew who the voice most likely belonged to.
Billy's eyes widened in confusion.
"Red", Skull growled quietly, his hand falling to the handle of his sword. "Goddammit! I know what Jamie said, but old habits die hard. And I'm not challenging that crazy beast to save Drakkon of all people!"
"Yeah we're fine. It just sounded sort of loud in there. I hope he's behaving," she responded, trying to keep her tone light and motioning for the other two to keep silent.
Billy moved closer to Eugene, nervously.
"Why would Red be present right now?" he asked.
"Maybe he's drowning the fucker. Not that I care but I thought Jamie needed him?"
Skull looked at Kim, who was listening intently to the sounds emanating from inside the bathroom.
"Well, you know how he is. Has to play 'grab ass'. But he's done goofing off now. Right?" the same rough voice replied in a rapid fire manner.
Now the Sentry put a hand on Kim's shoulder and squeezed.
"That's fucking Red in there. I'm sure of it!" he growled.
"What do we do about it?" Billy worried. "Jason and Tommy aren't here to help if he comes out to attack."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Now go away!" David snapped suddenly, making the group jump.
Skull raised a brow and chuckled despite his anxiety about potentially coming face to face with Red.
"Fucker's alive," he smirked. "Maybe Red is dishing out some punishment? If he keeps his crazy in there, I'm not risking my neck disturbing him. Wonder what David did to bring him out?"
Kim shook her head, slowly backing away from the door.
"I don't know, but I don't trust that Red won't come barreling out anyway. You remember how he was in the containment room, Skull. Anyone and everyone were fair game if he thought he could get his hands on them."
The man nodded and glanced to Billy, who was still staring at the closed door in trepidation.
"Say, Blue, why don't you go track down Tommy and Jason really quick? Just in case things get lively," he proposed, glad to get his new boyfriend out of Red's direct trajectory.
Keeping his hand on the sword hilt, he lowered himself to sit beside the Slayer on the couch; both still straining to hear any movement or noise from the bathroom. Gulping, the Blue Ranger nodded and swiftly ducked into the kitchen and out the door.
"So, Kim, if Red's on the prowl, how do we handle him? I know we don't want to hurt Jamie, but that other one has no issue hurting US," Skull muttered softly.
The Slayer knew the other man was right. She had no gas or other means of bring Red under control without brute force. As Drakkon's pet, he'd experienced high levels of pain and most other attempts to subdue him would merely serve as an annoyance. He was scarily strong, particularly when angered or in the midst of psychosis.
"I don't hear Drakkon, err David, I mean, begging for his life or even screaming," she whispered back. "What could he be doing in there? If Red's out, there's a reason."
Scrabbling his way back over the tub's ledge, Red's face was contorted in fury. His wet clothes clung like a heavy weight to his body, outlining his muscular physique.
"You perverted fuck! You did that on purpose," he snarled harshly, pulling himself up from his hands and knees on the slippery floor.
David's eyes widened in indignation and he pointed a finger angrily.
"No, I did not! You were threatening to run that cocksucker and tell everyone things I told you in confidence! Things that don't concern them or have any bearing on what's going on now!"
He laughed mockingly now as he appreciated his pet's gorgeous body.
"You know, I'm not exactly sorry about yanking your wild ass in here. I suppose we're even now for your little frigid bitch routine the other night. What did you think would happen grinding on my cock like that?" he teased, unable to resist poking at Red's ire.
"GRINDING? Motherfucker, you have no idea how badly I want to jump back in there and hold you under!" the pet nearly screamed, his face bright red, insane grin sliding back in place.
David merely returned the look with a smug smile of his own.
"Well, you'll just have to wait, precious, or poor Jamie could end up in the hound's jaws," he cooed.
Red's eye blazed behind his water-spotted glasses as he looked around the small space, trying to decide what to do. As much as he hated to admit it, he was in no mental state to attempt to be around other people. The urge to attack and fight was just too strong.
Especially right now with this motherfucker and his bullshit antics!
The tyrant watched his pet curiously; the dumb beast was in quite the conundrum now. How was Red going to explain to Jamie what happened? He also wasn't going to be able to go out there and behave himself and the pissy pound puppy knew it.
'He's just going to have to deal with Jamie's wrath,' David smirked.
The asshole huffed and rolled his eyes dramatically, his voice condescending to the human-canine.
"Look, just get sweet little Jamie back in here. I'll tell him I was being a dick and provoked you, causing you to fall in the tub. No more, no less," he offered. "You know damn good and well you can't stay unless you want to risk ripping his friends apart. That temper of yours is pretty nasty, you know."
Red's hands griped his hair and tugged hard. This bitch was really walking a fine line right now and the bastard knew it. The pet was hot and angry and flustered, a bad combination, not that he was particularly cute and cuddly any other time.
'It's too hot in here,' he grumbled to himself. 'I don't feel too well.'
Oddly, the small space appeared to be getting clouded with steam, making it difficult to see. His vision blurred under his increasingly heavy eyelids. One hand desperately flung out to brace his weight over the sink.
A sharp, nagging pain in his leg caught his attention and he swayed slightly, attempting to loosen his pants to look at the area. Right now, he didn't give a fuck if David ogled his body. Like he hadn't already seen it many times before in a lot less clothing.
"Your leg is bleeding," the tyrant pointed out, gesturing at the top of Red's left thigh.
A quick glance at the area revealed a long smear of bright red blood rolling from the very top of his thigh down to his knee.
"What the fuck?" Red hissed, inspecting the site with his fingertips.
There was something lodged in the muscle and it burned like hell!
Suddenly, he heard David suck in a sharp breath in realization of what had most likely happened.
"Red, check your pocket! The left one!" he ordered; his voice concerned.
He frowned at the tyrant as his hand dipped inside and his fingers curled around a long, thin cylinder. Then, Red's memory was jogged.
'Oh, fuck!' Jamie had tucked the sedative for the asshole in his pocket! Red briskly pulled the medication out and discovered the needle was broken off, the cap laying uselessly in the lining of his pocket. Most alarmingly, the plunger had been depressed.
Red's eyes widened in horror. He probably only had minutes until the medication took full effect.
'Goddammit!' He'd just accidently shot himself up with a powerful sedative, alone in a room with a nude, predatory and sadistic psychopath. Heart hammering in panic, Red's legs gave out and he collapsed to his knees. There was no way he was going to be able to protect himself. Or protect Jason and Jamie.
He seethed at his stupidity, shaking his shaggy head to clear the cobwebs.
Red felt a hand on his shoulder and he nearly banged his head off the wall trying to jump backward. David had managed to haul himself out of the tub and was sitting right next to the frantic pet.
"Keep your hands off me or so help me," Red began to growl, showing his teeth.
David huffed, annoyed.
"Let me see which medication it is. I'm sure they probably told me, but I wasn't paying attention."
Plucking the syringe from Red's weak grasp, the former warlord read the label; he gave a low appreciative whistle.
"Wow, it looks like they prescribed me the big guns! This is top tier shit, Red. And you've managed to break the goddamn needle off it!" he gasped in awe. "It doesn't look like you got the full dose, luckily. But this is probably still going to knock you on your ass, darling."
His dark eye darting around the room, Red was finding himself feeling heavier and heavier.
"I can't think!" he moaned, trying to shake his shaggy head.
"Yeah, you're in the 'night-night' zone. Well, lucky for you, I'm an experienced bullshitter, Red. I guess I'll concoct a story and you'll have to deal with whatever Jamie throws your way," the tyrant grumbled.
Tenderly, he brushed a thatch of Red's damp hair back from his eyes, making the man bristle weakly. The pet could barely keep his eyes open and he was at a loss of what to do now.
"I don't trust you!" Red hissed ferally.
"What do you think I'm going to do now? I could have killed you already or I could just wait for the hound to do it. I've already gotten off. Just calm down," he whispered. "I'm not going to hurt you. As big of a pain in the ass you've become, I love you too, you ridiculous creature."
Red snorted, his head dropping forward against his chest.
Leaning over, David gently kissed the top of the man's head. Red didn't respond.
"I promise I won't hurt you," he repeated. "And I won't let anyone else do anything to you either."