Preface: After my character's initial debut in Sailor Moon Defenders, I tried finding out how I can expand the character's growth a bit more. It took a couple of years, but eventually, I ended up coming up with this story.
For context: This story coincides with the Defenders of the Earth series. Inspired by Marzena's story "Defenders of the Earth: This is Their Story", I created these chapters which would be set during certain points of the series, and the Defenders will be making at least one appearance during the story, hence the crossover.
Disclaimer: Some of these chapters from this point forward, as well as a few chapters previously, are a retelling of selected episodes. For all other disclaimer, see chapter one!
Plot: (Set during "Run For Your Life", during "Epitaph for Tommy", and during "The Fighter", yeah three different times) There are more than one instance where MacLeod, Joe and even Charlie suspect that Tori and Richie are becoming more than friends.
More than Friends?
Richie looked up as Tori walked in his apartment.
"Are you about ready?" she asked.
He stood up from his seat and smiled, "Of course."
They walked out of the apartment and made their way out of the building.
"So, I was talking with my mom recently," Tori spoke up.
"What did Slammin Janet have to say?" Richie asked.
"I'll tell you when we have our lunch," Tori answered, "but it's something she's looking into once Duncan informs you that you have to go out on your own, and training with him is over."
Richie sighed nervously. He wasn't exactly looking forward to the time when Duncan told him that his training was over, and when he had to go out on his own.
Suddenly, they both sensed the Buzz. The T Bird pulled up, and it was Duncan.
"Mac," Richie greeted his teacher.
"You guys going on a date?" Duncan couldn't help but to ask.
"It's not a romantic date, Mac," Tori stated, crossing her arms.
"Yeah," Richie added, "we're not boyfriend – girlfriend. What makes you think that?"
"Uh huh, sure," Duncan nodded, unconvinced, "I recognize that you look you give Tori sometimes. Tori, you show it too."
"What?!" Richie and Tori exclaimed simultaneously.
"We are fond of each other," Tori stated.
"That's right, Mac," Richie added, "We like each other, but it's not love."
"Why should I believe either of you?" Duncan retorted.
"Do you have somewhere to go?" Tori crossed her arms, annoyed.
"I have to meet Charlie at the dojo," Duncan answered, "I'll catch you love birds around."
With that he drove off.
"Come on, Mac!" Richie exclaimed, "We're not love birds!"
"Let it go, Richie," Tori gently grabbed his arm, "we should head over to the cafe."
Richie sighed, annoyed. Then he took a deep breath and nodded, "Let's get going."
He got his helmet on, and Tori did the same before they got on his motorbike and drove off.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Tori was seated in front of Richie after they got their drinks, and they were looking at the menu.
"So, what was it that your mother talked to you about?" Richie asked.
"She's noticed the work you helped me and MacLeod with lately has been quite impressive since she last saw you," Tori answered, "and after Duncan decides that your training with him is over, and it's time for you to go out on your own, she's thinking about making you a part of our agency."
Richie looked on in surprise, "How does she know..."
"Well," Tori glanced at him, "Mom has a feeling that it is a matter of time before that day comes. God forbid actually because I enjoy spending time with you guys. You, MacLeod, Charlie. You get the idea."
"Yeah," Richie nodded, "I think I get the idea."
"You two ready to place your orders?" the waitress asked as she walked over to their table.
"Yeah," Richie answered, "I believe we are."
"Of course we are," Tori added before they proceeded to place their orders.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Joe heard a knock on the door. He opened it and it was Duncan. He welcomed the Highlander into the room.
"So, what brings you here?" Joe asked.
"I'm having some issue regarding my student and another Immortal," Duncan answered, "a small one at that."
"What do you mean some issue?" Joe asked as he walked over to the couch.
"Richie and Tori seem to be closer to each other," Duncan answered, "more than just an Immortal friendship, and I think they're more than just friends, but they're obviously denying it."
"It's obvious they're going to deny it, MacLeod," Joe stated as he looked at Duncan as he was seated on the couch next to his Watcher, "Tori Gordon has been Immortal for over a year now, and Richie is a new Immortal. He's probably turning to her for some support outside of a teacher – student bonding."
"I never said they wouldn't deny it, Joe," Duncan retorted, "I also never said he was looking for support either."
"Well, what did you expect them to say?" Joe asked, annoyed, "Did you expect them to say, 'Oh, it's obvious, clear as day that we are both a couple.'"
Duncan tried to open his mouth a few times, which lead to a pause of silence.
"Listen," Joe sighed as he continued, "I don't know Richie that well, as he is a new Immortal, and I barely know Tori outside the IUA who locked up my brother in law before we first met. I am just telling you what I know what goes on through a young person's mind."
"You were young once," Duncan stated.
"So were you."
"Point taken."
"Here's what I can tell you regarding both Richie and Tori," Joe proceeded to give Duncan some advice, "For the time being, let them be. If they want to be involved with each other in a romantic relationship, then they will make it official. Just give them time."
"I will keep that in mind," Duncan nodded.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Charlie noticed Tori and Richie walking into the dojo together.
"Well," Charlie quipped, "How are the love birds doing today?"
"We're not love birds, Charlie," Richie stated.
"How come I see you guys holding hands?" Charlie asked.
Tori and Richie noticed each other holding hands before they broke apart.
"My bad," Tori stated.
"It's all right," Richie nodded.
"I see how you guys are," Charlie stated, "I even notice you two looking at each other lately too."
"Really now?" Tori glanced at him.
"You guys have that smitten look," Charlie stated, "holding hands, and MacLeod said you guys had lunch at a cafe the other day."
"I just had to talk to him about something important," Tori spoke up.
"And what's that?" Charlie asked.
"Something regarding my Mom and the IUA," Tori answered, "a possible job opportunity for Richie in the foreseeable future."
"Oh, that's great," Charlie replied, "I hope you get whatever job it is you talked about."
"Me too," Tori stated with a smile, "My mom is thinking about having him join the IUA."
"I hope it works out," Charlie said.
"Thanks," Richie replied before he announced, "Now, Tori and I are going to work out."
"Lover's Work out, huh?" Charlie stated.
"We're not lovers!" Tori exclaimed.
"Sure," Charlie muttered as they walked away from view, "not lovers yet."
Author's Commentary:
Richie looked up as Tori walked in his apartment.
"Are you about ready?" she asked.
He stood up from his seat and smiled, "Of course."
They walked out of the apartment and made their way out of the building.
"So, I was talking with my mom recently," Tori spoke up.
"What did Slammin Janet have to say?" Richie asked.
"I'll tell you when we have our lunch," Tori answered, "but it's something she's looking into once Duncan informs you that you have to go out on your own, and training with him is over."
Richie sighed nervously. He wasn't exactly looking forward to the time when Duncan told him that his training was over, and when he had to go out on his own.
Suddenly, they both sensed the Buzz. The T Bird pulled up, and it was Duncan.
"Mac," Richie greeted his teacher.
"You guys going on a date?" Duncan couldn't help but to ask.
"It's not a romantic date, Mac," Tori stated, crossing her arms.
"Yeah," Richie added, "we're not boyfriend – girlfriend. What makes you think that?"
"Uh huh, sure," Duncan nodded, unconvinced, "I recognize that you look you give Tori sometimes. Tori, you show it too."
"What?!" Richie and Tori exclaimed simultaneously.
"We are fond of each other," Tori stated.
"That's right, Mac," Richie added, "We like each other, but it's not love."
"Why should I believe either of you?" Duncan retorted.
"Do you have somewhere to go?" Tori crossed her arms, annoyed.
"I have to meet Charlie at the dojo," Duncan answered, "I'll catch you love birds around."
With that he drove off.
"Come on, Mac!" Richie exclaimed, "We're not love birds!"
"Let it go, Richie," Tori gently grabbed his arm, "we should head over to the cafe."
Richie sighed, annoyed. Then he took a deep breath and nodded, "Let's get going."
He got his helmet on, and Tori did the same before they got on his motorbike and drove off.
This scene along with the cafe scene would take place during the episode "Run For Your Life". This would also play a little foreshadowing, not only for the next few chapters after this one, but what will happen during the Season 3 arc. Oh boy, I am looking forward to putting that into full circle.
"She's noticed the work you helped me and MacLeod with lately has been quite impressive since she last saw you," Tori answered, "and after Duncan decides that your training with him is over, and it's time for you to go out on your own, she's thinking about making you a part of our agency."
Richie looked on in surprise, "How does she know..."
"Well," Tori glanced at him, "Mom has a feeling that it is a matter of time before that day comes. God forbid actually because I enjoy spending time with you guys. You, MacLeod, Charlie. You get the idea."
"Yeah," Richie nodded, "I think I get the idea."
This scene is also a foreshadowing of the next few chapters after this one. If you have watched the actual Highlander: the Series, then you should know what happens regarding Richie Ryan. Tori also has a solid friendship with MacLeod as well as being fond of Charlie.
"Richie and Tori seem to be closer to each other," Duncan answered, "more than just an Immortal friendship, and I think they're more than just friends, but they're obviously denying it."
"It's obvious they're going to deny it, MacLeod," Joe stated as he looked at Duncan as he was seated on the couch next to his Watcher, "Tori Gordon has been Immortal for over a year now, and Richie is a new Immortal. He's probably turning to her for some support outside of a teacher – student bonding."
"I never said they wouldn't deny it, Joe," Duncan retorted, "I also never said he was looking for support either."
"Well, what did you expect them to say?" Joe asked, annoyed, "Did you expect them to say, 'Oh, it's obvious, clear as day that we are both a couple.'"
Duncan tried to open his mouth a few times, which lead to a pause of silence.
"Listen," Joe sighed as he continued, "I don't know Richie that well, as he is a new Immortal, and I barely know Tori outside the IUA who locked up my brother in law before we first met. I am just telling you what I know what goes on through a young person's mind."
"You were young once," Duncan stated.
"So were you."
"Point taken."
"Here's what I can tell you regarding both Richie and Tori," Joe proceeded to give Duncan some advice, "For the time being, let them be. If they want to be involved with each other in a romantic relationship, then they will make it official. Just give them time."
"I will keep that in mind," Duncan nodded.
The entire scene here is set during the episode "Epitaph for Tommy". Joe has not fully met Richie or Tori during this time, and he is kinda annoyed to be giving out young love advice to Duncan, who is essentially a father to Richie.
Charlie noticed Tori and Richie walking into the dojo together.
"Well," Charlie quipped, "How are the love birds doing today?"
"We're not love birds, Charlie," Richie stated.
"How come I see you guys holding hands?" Charlie asked.
Tori and Richie noticed each other holding hands before they broke apart.
"My bad," Tori stated.
"It's all right," Richie nodded.
"I see how you guys are," Charlie stated, "I even notice you two looking at each other lately too."
"Really now?" Tori glanced at him.
"You guys have that smitten look," Charlie stated, "holding hands, and MacLeod said you guys had lunch at a cafe the other day."
"I just had to talk to him about something important," Tori spoke up.
"And what's that?" Charlie asked.
"Something regarding my Mom and the IUA," Tori answered, "a possible job opportunity for Richie in the foreseeable future."
"Oh, that's great," Charlie replied, "I hope you get whatever job it is you talked about."
"Me too," Tori stated with a smile, "My mom is thinking about having him join the IUA."
"I hope it works out," Charlie said.
"Thanks," Richie replied before he announced, "Now, Tori and I are going to work out."
"Lover's Work out, huh?" Charlie stated.
"We're not lovers!" Tori exclaimed.
"Sure," Charlie muttered as they walked away from view, "not lovers yet."
This scene is set during the episode "The Fighter". Even Charlie can tell there is something going on between Richie Ryan and Tori Gordon even though they are denying it. More foreshadowing is taking place here.
Stay tuned because the next chapter covers "Under Color of Authority" where Richie Ryan gets his first Quickening, and things will change for a little while afterwards and Tori and Richie will have an adventure of their own away from Duncan MacLeod.