Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/11092467.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/F
  Fandom:
      Power_Rangers_(2017), Power_Rangers
  Relationship:
      Kimberly_Hart/Trini, Kimberly_Hart/Trini_Kwan, Kimberly_Hart/Trini_(Power
      Rangers_2017)
  Character:
      Kimberly_Hart, Trini_(Power_Rangers_2017), Zack_Taylor, Jason_Lee_Scott,
      Billy_Cranston
  Additional Tags:
      Mutual_Pining, The_thirst_is_strong_in_this_one, Zack_is_the_ultimate
      wingman, Both_of_our_girls_are_completely_oblivious, PTSD
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-06-04 Updated: 2017-07-15 Chapters: 4/? Words: 17786
****** Tell Me How (To Feel About You Now) ******
by DossierArchangel
Summary
     It's a month after Rita has attacked Angel Grove, and for some of the
     Rangers, the wounds are still there. Trini has been struggling with
     nightmares and panic attacks and the Rangers are worried. Kim and
     Trini have grown closer and are both are completely oblivious. Can
     the group pull together as new danger looms closer? Can Kim and Trini
     figure out their feelings?
Notes
     Hey everyone. This is my first fic ever, so comments and criticisms
     are appreciated. I don't have a beta, so I apologize for all and any
     grammatical mistakes or weird wordings. The POV is third person
     omniscient, so it'll shift between Rangers frequently. Mostly Trini,
     Kim, and Zack. Title comes from Tell Me How from Paramore's new After
     Laughter album.
See the end of the work for more notes
***** Chapter 1 *****
It’s been a month since Rita Repulsa attacked Angel Grove, and though the
physical remnants of injury have long since mended, some wounds remained.
Trini Rodriguez awoke with a jolt, hand clutching at her neck. Her throat felt
raw; her lungs burned. The whole of her insides felt singed, as though the
blood in her veins had turned molten. A cold sweat had broken out on her body.
It felt like needles pricking at her overheated skin. She was thankful that her
parents had taken her little brothers to her abuela’s for Winter Break; there
was no way to explain why she had awoken screaming for the third time. They had
given up on trying to get her to go with them.
It was the same dream, or nightmare, really. She was back in her room with
Rita’s hand around her throat, slammed into the back wall of her room, hanging
in the air. The grip around her neck tightened. She can hardly breathe. The
first time she had the dream, Rita thanked her for leading her to the Rangers,
and suddenly they were no longer in her room, but back at the shipyard. Except
this time, it wasn’t just Billy that was dead. It was all of them. Trini
standing by Rita’s side as she stared at the lifeless bodies of the four other
Rangers. She woke up sobbing that time.
The second played out in a similar fashion. It started in her room, and then
the docks. But this time, Kimberly was still alive and she glared at her with
such contempt; Trini had never felt so cold. There were no tears that time.
Just rage, rage and self-hatred.
This time, however, they never made it to the shipyard. She refused Rita.
Refused to give the other Rangers her little message. Trini felt as the life
drained from her body, as she struggled and gasped, trying to pull air into her
lungs to no avail.
Her breathing would not calm, coming in short, sharp gulps. Her heartbeat was
erratic, pounding against her rib cage like a hammer. It hurt, chest tightening
like a vice grip. She heard a crash at her window followed by a soft groan.
“Trini,” Kimberly Hart called out, “Open your window.” Of course Kim would show
up, the shorter girl thought. She slowly tried to make her way to the window,
though her vision was blurring as she hyperventilated.
“I, I c-can’t,” she managed to get out, her voice sounded strained, ragged.
Trini couldn’t focus, she felt hot despite the cooler temperature. She needed
to run. Her body was tense, on edge, like an attack was coming at any minute.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not take in steady breaths.
“Trin, hey Trin, listen to my voice, okay,” Kim soothed, “You hear me? If you
hear me, tap the window.” Trini dropped her body next to the window sill and
knocked back on the glass.
“Okay, good. I need you to breath with me, okay?” Kim started taking slow deep
breaths. In and out. Trini tried to count in her head to copy the breathing.
Three seconds of inhale, four seconds of exhale. She whimpered, still heaving.
“Hey, it’s okay Trin, we’ll take this slowly.” Kim’s voice was coming out more
gentle than Trini had ever heard her. Kimberly Hart’s voice was normally brash,
sarcastic, confident, and always slightly husky in that “I just woke up” way.
But the smaller girl had never heard this level of tenderness from the former-
cheerleader before. Not at all to say that she was cold or distant, just that
she didn’t usually do the caretaking for the group. That was usually Jason, who
had basically taken on the mantle of “dad friend”.
Trini wasn’t sure how long she sat there listening to the pink Ranger’s slow,
rhythmic breathing and gentle reassurances, but after a while, it finally felt
as though she could breathe again. With her composure at least partially
regained, Trini stood on shaky legs and with hesitant hands pulled back the
curtain of her window.
A face popped up from the bottom of the glass, startling Trini. Her footing
faltered and she had to catch herself on the wall.
“Ay dios mio Kimberly Hart!” Trini managed to get out from clenched teeth, “Are
you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Kimberly looked up at Trini through fluttering eyelashes, a sheepish grin
plastered on her face.
“Are you going to let me in, or leave me out here to freeze?”
Trini could see that Kim was shivering on the other side of the glass, now
feeling bad that she had left her best friend out in the cold. She narrowed her
eyes at Kim before opening her window. Kim tumbled in, nearly taking Trini down
with her.
“What’s going on?” Kim asked, eyes full of concern.
“You’re the one who showed up here, Princesa.” Trini mumbled, her hand
absentmindedly rubbing the back of her neck.
The taller girl crossed her arms over her chest and leveled Trini with that
trademark no nonsense Kimberly Hart look before softening her gaze as she took
in Trini’s appearance.
“I felt something wrong. I woke up and my chest just felt like it had caved in
and somehow I knew you weren’t okay. Does that sound crazy?” Nothing had
sounded crazy since they found those power coins. I’d be surprised if anything
surprises me again after everything, Trini thought.
“I’m fine, just a bad dream is all. No need to come all the way over here.” Kim
wasn’t buying it.
“I just sat outside you window for almost an hour trying to calm you down,” the
taller girl murmured, “That’s not nothing. It’s Rita, isn’t it?”
Trini inhaled sharply, her eyes dropping to the floor, anything to avoid
looking at Kim’s worried brown eyes.
In the distance Trini could hear her phone vibrating like crazy. One rumble
after the other as it pulsated against the hardwood of her nightstand. Trini
could already guess that it was the boys. Stupid Ranger senses, she grumbled in
the back of her mind.
Trini managed to pull her eyes back up to Kim, not prepared for the intensity
of the worry radiating out from her.
“I’ll be fine, really Kim, this ain’t my first rodeo,” Trini muttered.
Kim moved around her. Trini turned around confused to see Kim on her bed
pulling off her sweater. Trini averted her eyes as she took in that Kim only
had on a sports bra underneath. Heat rose to her cheeks. It really was no
wonder Kim was so cold if that was all she had on under her sweater. She looked
down at her own appearance. She really wasn’t much more covered, wearing a
simple yellow tank top that rose high enough on her abdomen to tease a sliver
of skin and tiny black boy shorts. Trini tugged at the bottom of her tank top
self-consciously.
Kim cleared her throat. When Trini finally brought her gaze back towards the
girl on her bed, she was looking at her expectantly holding her arms out. Kim
had shed more layers, where sweat pants used to be were a pair of Kim’s old
cheer shorts.
Trini felt like she was on fire, a different kind of burn from earlier. A
pleasant heat pooled in her belly.
“You don’t have to talk to me, but I’m at least staying here,” Kim murmured in
a soft voice, “You’re my best friend, Trin, let me take care of you.”
Trini made her way over to her bed as Kim pulled the covers back and patted the
spot in front of her. The shorter girl climbed in with no argument. There
wasn’t really anything she could say; she knew once Kim’s mind was set on
something there was no changing it. And if Trini was being honest with herself,
she felt absolutely spent and wouldn’t mind the comfort.
Kim wound an arm around Trini’s waist and pulled her close, resting her chin on
the smaller girl’s shoulder. Trini felt wound tight. The neurons in her brain
firing at an alarming frequency as her mind raced. It wasn’t her fault Kimberly
Hart was perhaps the most beautiful girl Trini has ever laid eyes on. She was
practically a freak of nature with her stupid perfect full lips, and stupid
perfect radiant smile, and her stupid perfect dark brown eyes that you could
just drown in. Trini would have to be blind not to be attracted to Kimberly.
“Trin, are you sure you’re okay,” Kim questioned, “Your heart is racing.”
“Mmm hmm,” Trini managed to get out as she felt lips pressed against her
temple. Her eyes clenched shut. This was torture, but despite her raging
hormones, Trini felt safe for the first time all night. She’s not sure when it
happened, but she was finally able to drift off to sleep to the feeling of
puffs of even breath tickling her neck.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Harsh, stabbing beams of sunlight pierced through the glass of Trini’s bedroom
window. She blinked her eyes in fervor trying to adjust to the brightness of
the sun. She was acutely aware of two things. One, she was tightly pressed up
against another body, legs intertwined, her head on their chest. Memories of
last night flooded her mind and she remembered that Kim appeared at her window
after her nightmare and stayed to comfort her. Two, she was truly and royally
fucked. She peered up at Kim who appeared still in a peaceful sleep, her
shoulder length hair fanned around her head at all angles. Trini’s heart
swelled. Yep, she was definitely fucked.
She doesn’t know how everything happened so quickly. A month and a half ago,
they didn’t even know each other. None of them did. And now she couldn’t
imagine her life without the four other Rangers who had become like a second
family to her. They had managed to form a tight-knit bond in such a short time,
but out of all of the Rangers, Trini bonded more closely to the pink Ranger.
The girls were pretty much attached at the hip. The whole group was, but Trini
and Kim slightly more. In a month and a half Kimberly Hart managed to become
the best friend Trini has ever had. Not that it was an incredibly difficult
feat with how often the Rodriguez family moved, though with her father’s
promotion last year and the move to Angel Grove, they were finally permanently
in one place. She was glad that Mateo and Tomas would have a more stable
upbringing than she did. They’d actually be able to make friends that they
could grow up with.
The body underneath her started stirring. Trini looked up to see Kim’s eyes
fluttering open, her dark irises appearing glassy as she yawned.
“Morning Trin,” Kim said with a smile. She looked down at their position; if
she thought anything strange about it, her face didn’t reveal anything. Trini
gave a small nod in response. She wasn’t sure if she could speak at the moment
even if she wanted to. She made a move to get up and Kim pulled her back down.
“No, wait. Five more minutes,” Kim pouted. Trini didn’t try to fight it. They
weren’t even together and she was whipped. Kim had her wrapped around her
little finger and probably didn’t even know that she could get Trini to do
pretty much anything she asked.
Kim sighed contently and started running her fingers through Trini’s hair. The
shorter girl immediately relaxed. She loved having her hair played with; she
just found it to be very soothing.
It was an hour and a half later when Trini finds her eyes opening again, not
even aware that she had fallen back asleep. She felt eyes boring into her head.
“It’s creepy to watch people sleep you know,” Trini stated matter of factly.
She felt Kim’s laughter vibrate throughout her chest.
“I’m being serious, have you been awake this whole time? What time is it even?”
Trini really did try to appear serious, but the grin on her face betrayed her
words.
Kim appeared contemplative before whispering, “You looked so peaceful. I just
didn’t want to wake you after last night, you know?”
The smaller girl was hit with a wave of affection and couldn’t help the smile
that spread across her face.
“I texted the boys and told them you were fine, but I’m sure they’d want to
hear from you,” Kim informed her.
Trini picked up her phone to see that she had twelve unread texts from the
boys. She felt bad that they were so worried about her. She shot out a quick
text, I’m fine guys, just a bad dream. Her phone lit up again within seconds.
It was Zack. Glad to hear you’re okay Crazy Girl.
Trini put her phone back on the nightstand and tried to pull herself out of
Kim’s embrace. It was a little more difficult than she thought. A gasp sounded
from below her and she looked down to see that in trying to untangle their
limbs, she had accidentally pressed her leg up between Kim’s legs.
Trini’s face went beet red as she attempted to splutter out an apology. Kim
just waved her off like it was nothing, though her face didn’t have the same
calm from moments ago. If Trini didn’t know better she’d think that Kim looked
a bit flustered. She did know better, however, and assumed Kim was just
embarrassed, even if that was a rare occurrence for the other girl.
Kimberly Hart was a mess of hormones as she tried to keep her cool, not wanting
the smaller girl to know how much she was affected by her. How much she wanted
to pull Trini back down and pin her to the bed. She shook her head. She would
not take advantage of Trini, especially after how much of a mess the other girl
was last night.
“So,” Kim asked, clearing her throat, “Breakfast?”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
By the time the girls made it to the pit for training, the boys were already
there. Trini held her breath, not really wanting to deal with them fussing over
her.
“I, uh, I need to change,” she mumbles, making a generic motion to her still
very wet clothing. They really did need to find another way to get into the
ship. Having to bring multiple changes of clothes to practice every day was
starting to get very inconvenient.
Trini feels awkward. She knows that they’re all looking at her, can feel their
eyes. She lifts her eyes and glares at hard as she can at the boys, making sure
to meet their eyes until they look down. That’s more like it she thinks
smirking.
Kim grabs her arm and starts dragging her off. The shorter girl can swear she
can see Zack wink at her from the corner of her eye. The tips of her ears heat
up, and she knows they’re bright red. She flicks him off behind her back and
can hear his boisterous laughter as they exit the pit towards the ship.
The two girls made their way into one of the rooms on the ship, Kim pulling
Trini the entire way. The tiny Latina made her way over the the yellow duffle
bag sitting on a chair in the room. After they defeated Rita, Jason had bought
them all a duffle bag corresponding to their Ranger color to leave on the ship
for training. Traveling to the ship through the water required a lot of plastic
sealable bags to transport clothing.
Trini pulled on a yellow tanktop and short black basketball shorts and put her
hair up in a messy bun. She doesn’t know what it is, but all of the Rangers
always find some way to incorporate their colors into their wardrobe and
normally train in them.
By the time Trini turned around, Kim was dressed as well. She had on gray and
pink leggings with a black razor-back tank top that showed off her defined
shoulder muscles. Her hair fell messily over her shoulders in a way that was
wildly sexy in a bad girl sort of way, which Trini might believe if she didn’t
know Kim was a complete and total dork; a sexy dork, but still. Kim levelled at
her with a devilish look in her eyes and smirked before sauntering over to
Trini. She was dangerously close. So close in fact, that Trini could feel the
other Ranger’s breath on her cheek.
“See something you like?” The taller girl whispered in her ear, voice low and
throaty. The tiny Ranger shivered.
“Just thinking about how I’m going to kick your ass in sparring today
Princesa,” Trini shot back after her momentarily lapse, “But good job trying to
throw me off my game.”
Trini tossed her shoulders back and strolled out of the roll with Kim trailing
behind, arms crossed over her chest as she rolled her dark brown eyes.
Jason jumped up when the girls walked into the room; he was ready to spring
into action.
“Good, you’re back,” Jason said, his voice already in leader mode, “We’re going
to be working on attack and defense today. Trini, you and Zack team up. Trini,
you’re defense, Zack, you’re attack. Billy, you’re with me. Try to take me
down. Kim, just warm up until we can sub you in for someone.”
“I bet you Crazy Girl wouldn’t mind subbing in for Kim,” Zack whispered just
loud enough for everyone but Kim to hear. Jason choked back a laugh as he tried
to remain serious, and Billy looked like he was about to ask a question. Jason
leaned over to whisper something in his ear. Trini could see him nodding, eyes
lighting up like he was understanding something. Zack let out a loud guffaw
next to her. She was determined to bring him down.
Trini got into position, fists raised and feet set apart , one in front of the
other. Zack wasted no time and immediately charged her. She dodged almost
effortlessly with a graceful step to the side. He threw a punch her way and she
ducked under his arm while her elbow connected with his side. The tall boy let
out a little screech.
“Trying to impress your girl,” he teased as she dodged yet another one of his
attacks. She growled and slammed her fist into his shoulder.
“If that’s what helps you sleep at night,” Trini shot back, “But we both know
I’ll beat you every time.” The tall boy just nodded and laughed. There was no
denying that Trini was their most skilled fighter. He just needed the leverage
to take her down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kim doing stretches. She
was bent at the waist facing away from them, shirt riding high on her waist,
shoulders flexed as she rolled them. He just needed Trini to maneuver them in
that direction. He twisted his body, bringing his leg up in a roundhouse kick
to her mid-section. Just as he predicted, Trini turned them in her effort to
dodge his attack. She sucked in a breath as her gaze landed somewhere behind
him. Her face immediately flushed, and jaw dropped open. Bingo, Zack thought.
He may be reckless, and he may not be the quickest or the strongest in their
little group, but despite everything, Zack was a brilliant tactician.
He took her momentary lapse of attention and body slammed her to the ground.
Trini looked up at him shocked and he shot her a wink. Trini may be the best
fighter, or at the very least, the most aggressive fighter, of the Rangers, but
he could always count on her being way too gay to function around one Kimberly
Hart.
“Zack, awesome man,” Jason called out, “Trini, good effort.” Trini groaned.
Zack had never beaten her before. Kim is actually the only one who has yet
taken her down. The taller girl’s athleticism from being a cheerleader led to
her being very versatile in her movements and able to pull off acrobatic feats
the often left the others bewildered.
“You cheated,” Trini growled, jabbing her finger into his shoulder, her eyes
brimming with intensity. Zack rubbed at the spot on his shoulder.
He made his way over to Kim, nudging her shoulder.
“I’m going to need you to wrangle in our little residential firecracker over
there,” he stated motioning over to Trini who was dousing herself slightly with
her water bottle. Kim followed his gaze. Her bottom lip disappeared between her
teeth as her eyes followed the paths of the droplets of water. Her cheeks were
tinged with the slightest amount of color. Zack studied her face, his eyes
widened slightly.
Kimberly Hart was a flirt. She flirted with all of them. It was just who she
was and he had always just accepted that. I mean, sure, she always flirted with
Trini a little more and took it a little further, but Zack just always chalked
that up to how much more Trini reacted than the rest of them. Billy usually
didn’t grasp onto the fact that Kim was attempting to flirt with him and just
took what she said as a compliment and would throw back a thank you her way.
Jason would always just shake his head and grumble, not really paying the pink
Ranger any mind. There may have been a time when something could have happened
between the two, maybe in another life before they became Rangers. Now they
just liked to irk each other. And Kimberly gets a kick out of how annoyed Jason
gets when she throws suggestive comments his way. Zack himself just always
tries to one up her. They usually take it way too far until someone has to beg
them to stop, usually Jason.
Trini, however, was a completely different story. Kim took almost every
opportunity she had to flirt with the smaller girl. At first Zack was
protective of her. It was obvious to him that Trini was crushing hard on their
pink Ranger and he didn’t want Kim to play with her feelings. It became very
clear to him not soon after the flirting started, that the taller girl was
absolutely oblivious to any and all Kimberly Hart shaped feelings radiating off
of the other girl, and it was clear that Kim absolutely adored Trini and would
never do anything that would hurt her. He still always took it as Kim just
enjoying embarrassing the other girl, but judging by the look on Kim’s face, he
may have been way off the mark on this one.
***** Chapter Two *****
Chapter Notes
     Hey everyone, the new chapter is here. Once again, it is un-betaed,
     so I apologize for any grammatical errors and such. Hope you enjoy
     another chapter of our oblivious girls being oblivious.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It was midnight. Trini was exhausted and her back was killing her from sparring
with Zack, But despite everything, she couldn’t let herself fall asleep. Sleep
meant the likelihood of more nightmares, and she wasn’t sure she could relive
those moments again. It was breaking her little by little. They won. They beat
Rita. Trini herself sent the woman flying into space. Sure, some remnants of
Rita’s magic remained, but it was weakening with every day, with every putty
the Rangers took down. So why was Trini still such a mess?
She pulled on a pair of skinny jeans and her olive bomber jacket. Her yellow
beanie was quickly pulled atop her head. It felt weird to not at least have one
thing with her color on it.
Trini pulled her window open and dropped out of it. It didn’t cross her mind
until her feet hit the ground that her family wasn’t even in the same state as
her and that she could have just used the front door like a normal person. Old
habits die hard.
Puffs of breath formed in front of her face through the chill in the air. She
rubbed her hands together wishing she had brought gloves and a scarf as a
shiver ran through her. A buzz ran through her side and Trini pulled her phone
from her jacket pocket. Her screen lit up with a text from Kimberly that read
“In need of a cuddle buddy tonight?” Trini’s body heated up almost instantly
despite the immense cold.
She took the familiar route she had gotten used to within the last month when
she couldn’t sleep. There was a park near the edge of her side of town and she
could always count on it to be empty between the hours of eleven and six. Trini
wasn’t certain of any time before or after that.
It was a small park. There were a few benches scattered throughout and a modest
jungle gym in the center. It had swings and that was all she cared about. The
familiar motions of the swing relaxed her, allowed her to feel carefree, if
only for a few stolen moments.
As she approached the back end of the park, Trini noticed something different,
or someone rather. Sitting upon one of the benches was a boy with a blue puff
jacket that she would recognize anywhere.
“Billy?” Trini called out as she approached the bench. She didn’t want to
startle him. As she stood in front of him, she noticed his fingers continuously
drumming on his thigh in sets of threes. She’s learned in the time that she’s
known him that it is something Billy does when he’s nervous. He babbles if
someone is there or he fidgets. Sometimes both. She has an immediate need to
comfort him and reaches out one of her hands before shoving it back into her
pocket remembering that Billy doesn’t like to be touched minus the rare
occasions that he initiates it himself.
“Billy,” she repeats again. He finally looks up at her, eyes unfocused. He’s
distracted by something. Their eyes meet for a brief second before Billy averts
his.
“Oh hey, Trini,” Billy greets, “Did you know that the cold front was coming
through tonight? I saw it on the tv tonight while my mom was watching the news.
It’s supposed to be one of the coldest nights so far.” He turns his gaze back
ahead of him.
“I probably should have worn an extra jacket,” he continued, “Mom always likes
it when I leave the house in layers. You can always take off a layer if you
need to, but only if you have it.” Billy started to stammer a bit in his
rambling. Trini took the seat next to him, making sure to leave enough space
between them to keep Billy comfortable.
“What are you doing out here,” Trini asks, directing her attention to the blue
Ranger. Billy half turns his face in her direction still avoiding eye contact.
“Couldn’t sleep. Or haven’t been sleeping,” he monotoned while shrugging, “I
read somewhere that taking walks can relax you. I just ended up stopping here.
It’s quiet here. I like the quiet.” His hand continues it’s pattern on his leg.
Taptaptap. Taptaptap. Trini actually takes comfort in the rhythm and how very
Billy it is.
Billy starts rambling about the weather and the science behind the changing of
seasons and temperatures. Trini nods along, paying more attention to the
excitable way that Billy’s voice continues on rather than the individual words
themselves. Her eyes drift closed as she listens along.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
It’s still dark when Trini wakes to an incessant poking on her shoulder. Her
entire body jolts awake and she jumps off the bench into a fighting stance,
fists raised and legs a shoulder's length apart, her eyes wild and searching.
She relaxes at the sound of a familiar giggle.
Trini’s eyes dart to the bench. Billy is still there, curled up in the spot
next to where she just was. He was still fast asleep. When did we fall asleep,
Trini wondered.
“Why are you and Billy asleep on a park bench?” Trini turns to the incredulous
voice of Kimberly Hart. The taller girl had her arms crossed over her chest,
her right eyebrow raised. Trini matched her stance challengingly.
“I guess we both had the same idea for a walk,” Trini revealed cautiously, “I
guess we fell asleep talking.” Trini shrugged her shoulders like it was the
most natural thing in the world. She pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket
and checked the time. Her eyes widened as she took in the 4:17 am glaring up at
her from the screen.
When Trini brought her eyes back to Kim, the other girl was a few feet away and
on her phone. She could only make out a bit of what the taller girl was saying
due to her hushed tone, but she got the gist that she was talking to Jason. The
call was short and by the time Kim turned back around the small girl was
looking at her expectantly.
“I uh,” Kim coughed, clearing her throat, “We were worried about you guys.
After you didn’t answer my text I went to your place. Your window was opened,
but you weren’t there. I went to Zack’s place first. When you weren’t there we
called Jason. He went to Billy’s and then Billy was gone. We kind of all
freaked out, feared the worst. We weren’t picking up anything with the whole
Ranger sense thing since that’s still really new…”
Kim turned her eyes down towards the ground, her shoe drawing patterns in the
dirt. Her shoulders slumped forward. She looked exhausted. Exhausted but
relieved.
“We’ve been out looking for you guys for almost two hours.” Kim mumbled.
Trini’s heart broke at the sight of the other girl. She should have just texted
her back instead of ignoring it. She should have let the others know that she
ran into Billy at the park. She just didn’t think. The shorter girl was still
getting used to having people other than her immediate family really care about
her.
Trini rushed forward and pulled Kim into her arms in a tight hug. The pink
Ranger slid her arms around the tiny girl’s waist, gripping her like she was
trying to make sure the other girl was really there. Trini felt the other girl
sigh deeply into her hair, chin resting against her temple. She breathed in
deeply against Kim’s shoulder. The smell of toasted coconut and vanilla invaded
her senses and for a moment she was overwhelmed by it all.
The sound of a car pulling up pulled Trini out of her reverie. She could hear
two car doors slam shut and approaching footsteps. Trini tried to pull herself
from Kim’s embrace, but the other girl let out a tiny growl and pulled her even
closer.
“Hey Kim, Billy’s safe over there on the bench too if you didn’t know,” Trini
heard Zack joke. She could just imagine that stupid little look on his face.
“Well, Billy doesn’t like to be touched,” Kim retorted, “So Trini will just
have to deal with twice the amount of affection.”
Trini grumbled incoherently against the taller girl’s shoulder, and Kim just
patted her head in response. The shorter girl turned her head towards the
bench. Jason was leaning down next to Billy, his hand gently rapping on the
wood to wake the other boy. Billy stirred and glanced up at Jason with a
megawatt smile before turning his gaze towards where the others were standing.
“Oh, hey Jason,” he said yawning, “What time is it?”
“It’s just passed 4:30,” Jason replied, “Come on, we’re going to take you home.
I can even stay over if you want.” Jason shrugged his shoulders at the
suggestion. Trini had the feeling that thinking something bad had happened to
her and Billy had taken its toll on their leader. He seemed tired, frown
present on his face and forehead crinkled. Trini glanced over at Zack and he
was looking down, his hands shoved in his pockets and shoulders hunched
forward. She needed to talk to them. Billy did as well. She sees that now, sees
that trying to keep their struggles to themselves has done nothing but leave
them feeling isolated and worry their teammates. Scratch that, their family.
Kim had finally let Trini go, but she was only free for a moment before she was
wrapped up in another Ranger’s arms, her head resting against a strong, muscled
chest. Trini didn’t even need the overabundance of Old Spice filling her
nostrils to know that it’s Zack.
“Don’t scare us like that again Crazy Girl,” he whispered against her hair
before kissing the crest of her head. He let her go and she looked up at him.
This boy, this crazy boy that followed her across a chasm when they first met.
The crazy boy from the train who had someone become like an older brother. He
was someone who annoyed her to no end, but she knew he would go to the ends of
the Earth for her and vice versa. His face looked strained as he looked at her
and then over to Billy.
“You too Blue,” Zack shouted, “We lost you once already; you’re not allowed to
let us think it happened again!” Billy looked down at his lap, probably feeling
about the same level of shame as Trini does for worrying their friends.
“No more late night walks,” Billy said nodding and looking up, “Right Trin?”
She nodded her head at him in solidarity.
“Right,” she agreed with a timid nod. And she meant it. She thought she
understands a little better. They were all so used to being alone, even Jason
and Kimberly, the ex Angel Grove royalty, alone at the top surrounded by people
who’d drop them the minute things went South. Zack had only really had his mom,
and Billy felt like no one got him after his dad was gone. And while Trini knew
her parents loved her, they never really got her and it has always felt
conditional. They were misfits. A group that for all intents and purposes
shouldn’t fit, but they just did, like mismatched pieces from different puzzles
somehow fitting together.
“You good dropping me back at the trailer,” Zack directed at Jason, his voice
pulling Trini from her thoughts.
“Kim, you can take Crazy Girl home,” he grinned lecherously at them, wiggling
his eyebrows. It takes everything in Trini not to punch him in the chest so she
settles for giving him an epic eye roll to cover up the blush on her cheeks.
Zack started heading for Jason’s truck; the other two boys following behind.
Jason stopped to give Trini a tight hug and kiss on the forehead. Billy gave a
small wave and a smile. As the boys reached the truck Zack turned around and
gave them a little smirk.
“Alright ladies, be safe! Use protection! And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
Zack yelled with a wink. Trini’s jaw dropped open. She was speechless. Zack
made her speechless. There was no witty response or veiled threat. She just
stood there, mouth agape and beet red. She looked like a fish, her mouth
opening and closing as she tried to come up with
something, anything to respond with. She was going to murder him when she got
the chance.
“That really wouldn’t rule anything out Taylor,” Kim hollered back with a sense
of mirth in her voice. The pink Ranger shook her head with a small grin. She
looked down at Trini and shrugged her shoulders and winked.
“Give you a piggyback ride munchkin?” Kim asked tilting her head.
“Did you just call me munchkin?” Trini huffed in response, her arms crossing
over her chest as she raised an eyebrow at the taller girl.
Kim tilted her head to the side and wet her lips. There was a mischievous smirk
gracing her lips.
“Please Trin, I could practically fit you in my pocket.”
“Yeah, well hopefully you remember that comment when I kick your ass at
training tomorrow.”
Kim stepped forward, her body inches away from the smaller girl. She puffed out
her chest in an effort to tower over Trini even more than she already does.
With lightning fast speed, Kim rushed forward and picked Trini up, effortlessly
throwing Trini over her shoulder.
“Kim!” Trini squealed, “Kim, I swear to God! Put me down!” Kim just laughed as
she ran, carrying Trini like she was nothing more than a sack of potatoes. The
taller girl was enjoying making Trini squirm, She didn’t often get to see the
other girl so carefree, and this was worth it just to hear Trini finally give
in and start giggling.
“Fine! I concede!” Trini surrendered, “You can give me a piggyback ride.”
Kim plopped the yellow Ranger back on the ground and immediately kneeled
allowing the other girl to climb on her back. Trini’s hands were on her
shoulders and her legs were securely tightened around Kim’s waist.
“You tell the boys about this and I will end you,” Trini growled in Kim’s ear.
Kim, for her part, just chuckled in response.
“Not a word Thumbelina.”
“Kimmmmm,” Trini groaned at the nickname. She may be small, but she was feisty
and she’d be damned if anyone discounted her because she was short. It wasn’t
her fault she stopped growing in the fifth grade. She never quite gained that
inch to hit five feet and the other Rangers would not let her forget it. Trini
knew that they just liked to tease her and that when it actually came down to
it they knew she could handle her own. They all knew that she was their most
aggressive fighter and a formidable opponent when sparring. And not that she
would ever admit it to any of the others, but she sometimes enjoyed the
teasing. It made her feel like she had a home.
______________________________________________________________________________
They made it back to Trini’s house in record time, both of them clamoring up
the side of the house and into the open bedroom window. Trini was suddenly
quiet as they tumbled inside, the taller girl landing with a heavy thud next to
her. Suddenly aware of how close in proximity that Kim was to her own body,
Trini’s skin felt hot. Kim adjusted her head to rest comfortably against
Trini’s chest.
“Are you okay,” she asked Trini worriedly, “Your heart is going crazy. You’d
tell me if you were about to have another panic attack, right?”
“Yeah, of course, I’m fine, just climbing a building, you know?” Trini replied,
her voice a lot huskier than normal. She cleared her throat and tilted her face
to look at Kim. There was something in the other girl’s eyes that she couldn’t
quite read. Something akin to affection blossomed in her chest and for a second
she couldn’t breathe, but the first time in a while, the feeling wasn’t
unpleasant. She felt warm, and not in a flushed sort of way. It was like
sitting next to a fireplace on a cold winter night, safe and comfortable. Trini
swears she saw Kim inch forward.
“Thanks for getting me back home,” Trini says as she sits up, breaking from the
trance both of them seemed to be in.
“Any time Trin,” Kim replied, “You know I’m always here for you.”
She sat up and brought herself to a standing position before reaching down to
help Trini up as well.
“Let’s get you to bed, yeah?” Kim suggests. Trini gulps. Her mind briefly
flashing to less than friendly thoughts of the things she wanted to do to
Kimberly Hart in her bed. She blamed Zack, with his stupid suggestive comments
obviously her brain would go there.
“Don’t you need to get home?” Trini asked. Kim just shook her head playfully.
“And miss a chance to sleep next to my favorite koala? Not a chance.” Kim
joked, “Why, you trying to get rid of me Rodriquez?” Trini shook her head
furiously.
She turned her back to Kim to attempt to compose herself and heard the rustling
of clothing hitting her floor. She took in a shaky breath before starting to
strip out of her extra layers as well until she was left in a sports bra and a
pair of basketball shorts she picked up from the floor, Without looking back at
Kim, she slid into her bed and under the covers. A few minutes later, she felt
Kim do the same thing.
All the smaller girl’s mind could process was the feeling of warm skin against
hers. It crossed her mind that neither girl was really wearing much. She could
feel almost the entire expanse of Kim’s torso pressed tightly against her back,
A kiss was pressed into her shoulder and Trini couldn’t contain the shiver that
ran through her body. The lips pressed a little higher landing at the juncture
between her shoulder and neck. A gasp.
“You okay Crazy Girl,” Kim whispered against her neck, “You’re shaking. Don’t
worry, I’m right here. She can’t get you. We bitch-slapped her to space. You’re
safe.”
Kim’s fingers started tracing patterns on Trini’s hip bone, trying to comfort
her. The smaller girl wondered how Kim didn’t know that she was the reason for
her body’s reaction.
“I’m right here,” Kim whispered again, planting a quick succession of kisses on
the yellow Ranger’s shoulder blade. Her arm tightened around Trini and she
pulled her impossibly close.
Trini knew it. This was how she was going to die. Not Rita. Not any random
monster of the week. It was Kim. Kim was going to kill her due to sheer hormone
overload. She now understood the phrase too gay to function, because she was
very gay and very unable to function at the moment. Not with Kimberly fucking
Hart half naked and pressed against her, peppering kisses on her, running her
hands along her skin. Trini knows that the other girl is just trying to comfort
her, just trying to be a friend, a teammate. The thought breaks her heart.
Trini tries to relax, but it’s no use. With every press of Kim’s lips, every
dip of her fingers, every time they accidentally slipped a little lower to the
dip where her shorts were raised a little away from her hip, Trini was slowly
losing her mind. There was no way Kim wasn’t intentionally trying to kill her.
______________________________________________________________________________
The sun had just started coming up, slowly illuminating the dark room. Kimberly
Hart was wide awake. Despite what the other girl thought, Kim was very much
affected by the press of Trini’s body against hers, the feel of the smaller
girl’s soft skin against her lips and fingertips.
It had taken a little bit of time, but the smaller girl had finally drifted off
to sleep. Her head was resting comfortably in the crook of Kimberly’s arm. The
taller girl brushed a piece of hair back from Trini’s face pushing it behind
the girl’s ear. She saw the telltale fluttering of eyes as Trini yawned. Kim’s
hand was still gently resting against the side of the tiny girl's face, thumb
sweeping over her cheekbone. Trini moved into her touch, moved into the warm
palm.
Sleepy eyes peered up at Kim, blinking against the morning light. In that
moment, Kim couldn’t tell you what came over her, but she surged forward and
pressed her lips against Trini’s. The younger girl stilled, and at that Kim
paused and pulled back ready to apologize, but before she could, a hand griped
the back of her neck and slammed their mouths back together. Her body was half
on top of Trini’s as their mouths worked furiously against each other. Kim bit
back a gasp as a tongue slid along the seam of her lips. She slid her arms
down, gripping at the tiny girl’s small waist, pulling her further into her
body.
Trini’s hands grasped at her back, nails finding purchase as Kim moved her lips
down the other girl’s jaw and neck landing on her pulse point and giving an
experimental suck. Trini whined, soft and high pitch and Kim wanted nothing
more than to have her make those sounds again. She glided her hand up the front
of Trini’s torso; they rested right under where the other girl’s sports bra
started. She pulled back and searched out for eyes. The sight she was met with
was breath-takingly beautiful. Trini’s hair was splayed out on her pillow, eyes
clenched shut, and lower lip pulled between her teeth. Kim leaned forward and
kissed it gently. The yellow Ranger’s eyes opened, and they looked black, her
pupils were so blown out. Kim wiggled the fingers that were pressed against the
fabric of the other girls bra. She glanced at Trini, asking for permission, not
wanting to pressure the other girl or push her farther than she wanted to go.
Trini nodded. Her head moving so quickly in assurance that Kim let out a quick
laugh.
Her fingers slid up, and her palm kneaded a clothed breast. Trini squirmed
under her, hands moving from Kim’s back to grip the bed sheets under them. The
taller girl felt the other Ranger’s nipple pebble beneath the fabric and moved
her hand so she could roll her thumb over it. The girl underneath her moaned,
loudly. So Kim did it again, a little harder. That got a whine.
Trini’s face and chest were completely flushed and she was rolling her hips up
into Kim trying to find any bit of relief. Kim moved her head down to the
breast that she wasn’t currently giving attention to and lower her mouth. She
looked up at Trini through her eyelashes and sucked.
“Kim,” Trini gasped out reverently, almost like a prayer. Kim kept working her
mouth and the other girl kept stringing together her name. It kept getting
louder and louder.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking her. Wait, what?
Kim bolted forward. Her breath was coming out labored and heavy. Her underwear
were sticking to her with the clear signs of arousal. Her head flopped back on
the pillow under her with a groan.
“Hey, are you okay?” Trini asked, worry evident in her voice, “You were
starting to get really restless. I wanted to let you sleep, but it looked like
you were having a nightmare, and I know how bad those can be.”
Kim lifted her gaze to the other girl and her face went impossibly red. Of
course, Kim thought, of course I was dreaming. She groaned.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Kim mumbled, “I didn’t wake you did I?”
“I was already awake Princesa,” Trini replied, “I wanted to make you breakfast
as a thank you for taking care of me.”
Kim looked over at Trini and saw the girl was holding a plate. Her heart
expanded in her chest. There were pancakes, blueberry pancakes, which were
Kim’s favorite. Beside them were two strips of bacon and a fried egg.
“Trin, you didn’t have to,” Kim started.
“I know,” Trini quickly interrupted, “I wanted to. You’ve been the most amazing
friend. I just wanted to do something nice for you.” Trini shrugged her
shoulders.
Kim tried her best not to physically react when the word friend slipped out
from Trini’s lips, but she cringed internally. Right, my friend who I
apparently have wet dreams about while they’re right next to me, Kim thought.
Instead of reacting, she grabbed the plate from the other girl’s hands and shot
her a wide, thankful smile.
“You really are the best, Trin,” she stated affectionately. First things first,
breakfast, then a very very cold shower, and then training. She could do it.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kim saw Trini looking at her and she could have
swore she noticed the girl blush.
Chapter End Notes
     There you have it folks, proof that Kim is just as ridiculous as our
     favorite little gay Ranger. Like, comment, and such. Constructive
     criticism is always welcome. Thank you for reading. =)
***** Chapter Three *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm sorry! I know it's really late, but it's also a little bit longer
     than normal. So, plus side? The next chapter should still be up on
     either Sunday or Monday.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The sky was a dark gray. Severe looking stratus clouds blocked out any light
from the sun, creating an appearance of denseness across the troposphere. A
thick fog covered the ground with only about ten or so feet of visibility.
There was no denying the dreary day that had fallen upon Angel Grove. The
morning had started out nice. It had been cool out, and though it had been
fairly cloudy, it had not been enough to dull the sun. By mid afternoon, the
fog had rolled out and the clouds had blanketed the sky in gray.
As Trini got into the passenger side of Kim’s Jeep, she decided that she’d
rather be anywhere than practice today. It was the kind of day that she would
prefer to curl up with a warm blanket, a book, and a cup of her abuela’s
champurrado. All she wanted to do was crawl back under the covers and relax for
the rest of the day away from this weather.
“You look deep in thought there Polly Pocket,” Kim teased as she revved up the
engine. Her shoulder length hair was still damp from the shower she took
earlier and some of it was sticking to neck.
Trini had a nagging urge to swipe it back for the other girl, not even reacting
to the jab at her height. She was used to it by now and didn’t want to give Kim
that satisfaction of getting under her skin. Or at the very least not giving
Kim the satisfaction of knowing that she got under her skin.
“I don’t want to go to practice,” she whined instead, “This is blanket
weather.”
Kim looked at the shorter girl out of the corner of her eye, her lips quirked
up in amusement, painting over her features all the way up to the shine in her
dark brown eyes.
“Try explaining that to our oh so fearless leader,” Kim shot back with a shrug
of her shoulders. If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t really want
to go to practice much either. She would have been content to hang out with
Trini all day. Well, that coupled with the fact that it had become increasingly
difficult to stay focused at practice.
Trini was an aggressive fighter. She took on enemies with such vigor and
ferociousness. All of the Rangers may have teased the yellow Ranger about her
stature, but when it really came down to it, she was the first person any of
them would want by their side in a brawl. She always dove head first into
battle and typically took down the most enemies. Kim could spend hours just
watching the other girl in the training pit, the way her muscles flexed as she
slammed into the putties, sweat dripping down her scrunched brow, her intense
eyes drawn in the utmost focus. Her mind would often drift to what the girl
would look like during much more pleasurable activities. The thought brought
heat to the pink Ranger’s cheeks.
“Now who’s lost in thought, Princesa?” Trini questioned, breaking the silence.
She had been studying the other girl as she drove, watched her eyebrows draw
together as she appeared to be deep in thought.
“You’re not the only one who’d rather be in your bed right now,” Kimberly
responded. It was only when Trini looked at her with wide eyes and the telltale
signs of a blush working its way across her cheeks that Kim understood how what
she had said came out.
“Shit, I mean bed. A bed. Not just your bed. But you know my bed. Not that
there’s anything wrong with your bed. But I meant that in a ‘it’d be fun to
hang out with you NOT at training’ sort of way. It doesn’t have to be in your
bed though. I mean, I’d be fine with hanging out there too I guess. But
just...yeah…” Kim floundered in an attempt to explain her words. Her face was
impossibly crimson and she was worried her previous thought train had led to
the flub.
Tini broke out into hearty laughter, the kind that rolls through your entire
body in waves. Her eyes were alight with mirth. She felt impossibly light for
one of the first times in a while.
“Jesus Kim, your face right now,” Trini got out in between fits of laughter, “I
just, you should see yourself.” Trini was laughing so hard that she couldn’t
hold back the little snort that appeared towards the end of her fit.
“Did you just snort?” Kim asked with a teasing glint in her eyes.
“No!” the smaller girl responded as quickly as Kim finished speaking.
“You did,” Kim teased, “Our broody little yellow Ranger, with all the scowls
and heavy metal yoga sessions on a mountain top snorts when she giggles.”
Trini, true to what Kim said, scowled in response, her arms crossing over her
chest. Her eyes formed slits as she took in the other girl, weighing her
options. She could let it slide, she was trying to do that now, trying to be
the bigger person, to not let everything get under her skin. She had gotten
good at it for the most part. She could ignore the kids at school. She had even
gotten good at not letting her mother see how much her constant nagging
bothered her. She was calm and collected. She had mastered the art of
nonchalance. That was until the other Rangers entered her life. Zack was
basically like an annoying older brother. She would never admit that he was her
best friend. He always knew just what to do or say to push her buttons. With
Billy, he just had a way of getting her guard to slip, of getting her to show
how much she truly cared about her ragtag group of friends. Jason was that
protective older brother that had the best of intentions, but that she kind of
wanted to deck in the face sometimes, because she was small, but she could
handle herself. And then there was Kim. Kimberly Hart. Zack may be her best
friend, but Kimberly was her something. She honestly didn’t even have a word to
describe just how much the other girl meant or how close to her heart she was.
Kim was the one that she could break around, as much as she hated it. The
others could get under her skin, sure. They could break through to see the
cracks of the real Trini underneath. But Kim could break through her facade and
see the real her without even trying. Trini would constantly reveal little
pieces of herself around the pink Ranger without even thinking about it. She
wasn’t as closed off. Wasn’t as hidden. It was unsettling to say the least.
“First of all, I don’t giggle,” Trini cut in, “Second of all, it’s Tai Chi, not
yoga. And third of all, you must be hearing things because I. Did. Not. Snort.”
She let out a little huff as Kim just smirked at her in response. She had a bad
feeling about this.
______________________________________________________________________________
For once, when the girls made their way to the pit, they were the first ones
there. Usually Jason and Billy were at the pit first. Occasionally Zack made it
there before them, but it was always equally likely that he would stroll in
last as it was that the girls would. Trini took the chance to wrap her hands in
boxing tape and get some stretches in.
Kim, for all intents and purposes, tried to get herself ready as well. That all
went out the window the minute she caught Trini bent over in front of her. She
was so out of it that she didn’t even hear the approach of another Ranger.
“Thank God laser eyes aren’t one of our powers or I’d fear for the state of
Crazy Girl’s ass,” Zack snarked in a whisper as he walked up to Kim. She
jumped, her heart racing.
“You can’t just sneak up on people like that,” she growled smacking his arm. He
just laughed in response.
“I came in just as loudly as I always do. No need for me to be stealthy. Maybe
if you weren’t so focused on Littlebit over there you would have heard me,” the
black Ranger pestered with a goofy grin on his face. His eyes softened when he
took in how nervous Kim was at being caught checking out Trini.
“You should just tell her,” the tall boy advised, “Lord knows Trin is too
stunted to ever say something first, but she’s obviously crazy for you. Look,
Kim, she looks at you like you hung the moon yourself. So, if you’re serious
about what you feel, which I think you are. Tell her.” He nudged her with his
shoulder and wiggled his eyebrows at her. Kim wanted to punch him in his stupid
handsome face.
“I do have to warn you though,” Zack continued, his face turning serious for a
moment, “You do anything to hurt my girl and I will end you, Ranger or not.”
With that said, the other Ranger’s face went back to normal as he ran behind
Trini and tossed the smaller girl over his shoulder with ease. She watched on
as Trini flipped over him and punched his side. Zack held his hands up in
surrender before rubbing his side laughing.
Jason and Billy showed up soon after. The other three Rangers were sat on a
large rock towards the side of the cave chatting animatedly about Star Wars
theories. Well, Zack and Trini were. Kim was just relaxing and shaking her head
at her friends. Billy clapped his hands excitedly as he heard Trini mention the
names Ezra and Snoke before joining in on the discussion. Jason and Kim just
shared a look, both wide eyed and not really understanding what was going on.
“Alright guys,” Jason interrupted, “I hate to end your nerdy Star Trek…”
“Star Wars,” Billy corrected before Jason could continue.
“Right,” Jason nodded, “Star Wars. But we’re already running behind because of
the fog so we really need to get on with it. Kim, you and Trini face off. Trin,
you may be our most combative fighter, but Kim is our most agile and she’s
quick on her feet. I want to see how you’ll do against fast and tactical. We
already know you can take down brute strength. Zack, you, me, and Billy are
going to be taking down some putties. I want to work on some team combo moves.
We’ll see how it all goes and maybe switch things up if we have time. Everyone
good with this plan?”
The other Rangers nodded along. The boys headed to the other side of the pit as
Alpha brought up some putties for them to fight. In no time they were working
in tandem to take them down, Jason yelling out commands and maneuvers for the
three of them to try. Trini and Kim had to admit that Jason and Zack throwing
Billy into a back flip onto a putty looked really badass.
While the boys were running their drills, the girls were squaring up to spar.
Alpha 5 was watching to report everything back to Jason and Zordon.
Trini was rocking back and forth on her feet like a boxer in the ring. It
looked like she was psyching herself up, her fists pulled up in front of her
face to block any hits to her head. She knew she had to play this one smart.
She couldn’t just charge forward like with Zack or Jason where she knew she had
them on speed. Kim can easily dodge her more aggressive style of fighting. She
had to wait the taller girl out. If she could get Kim to come to her, she knew
she’d have the advantage.
Kim had a similar plan running through her head. She was counting on Trini to
get impatient and make a first strike. She knew they were fairly evenly
matched. Trini had the tenacity and raw natural skill with fighting, whereas
Kim had the flexibility and dexterity from all her time on the cheer squad.
They continued on in a sort of dance, halfheartedly circling each other and
making attempts to grab one another. When they got close enough, Trini saw her
opening and dashed forward taking Kim by surprise as her head slammed into the
taller girl’s abdomen taking her down with relative ease. Or so she thought. As
they fell back towards the cave floor, Kim’s hands flung backwards, catching
her and flinging her back towards the other girl. She was able to flip their
positions effortlessly.
Trini’s takedown had backfired tremendously. She thought she had Kim. Thought
she had the girl surprised enough to get her down. She was wrong. I should have
just stuck to my plan she thought bitterly.
It took her a minute to take in their position. She was on the ground, Kim on
top of her, strong thighs pressed on either side of her hips. She tried to move
her hands, but they were pinned above her head. Kim had one of her wrists in
each hand, holding them down tightly. They were both breathing heavy,
erratically. It looked as Kim was just realizing their situation as well. Her
mouth went dry as she realized that she had Trini’s arms restrained above the
shorter girl’s head. She was also increasingly aware that her lower half was
tightly pressed against Trini’s abs. Her eyes felt wild and unfocused.
Trini looked up at Kim, the other girl’s face now incredibly close, their
chests pressed together. The pink Ranger’s eyes looked black, almost like she
was possessed. Her pupils were completely blown out, the brown irises that
Trini loved so much were nowhere to be seen, though she was certain that she
could get used to the unrestrained intensity storming behind those eyes.
Trini let out a quiet whimper as she felt Kim adjust her hips and grip the
smaller girl’s wrists tighter. Her face immediately flushed and she hoped that
Kim hadn’t heard. Kim had heard the smaller girl and heat coiled low in her
belly, tight and persistent. The taller girl dropped her head in the dip
between Trini’s neck and shoulder groaning. She couldn’t help but press a
feather light kiss against the soft, smooth skin there. She delighted in the
gasp that erupted from the girl below her. Kim decided to push her luck. She
pressed her lips down more purposefully, her mouth slightly open and leaving
heat against skin. She moved her lips slightly up onto the bottom of the other
girl’s neck. She felt intoxicated. Her senses were filled with nothing but
Trini. The way her chest rose and fell with every breath. The smell of her
skin, which was a mixture of some kind of tropical fruit and the slight musk of
sweat. The soft gasps that came every time Kim moved the placement of her lips.
She pulled back, letting go of Trini’s wrists and placing her hands on the
other side of the girl’s head as she studied her face. Trini had her eyes
closed and her bottom lip was being worked between teeth. An uncanny feeling of
deja vu clouded Kim’s mind as she recalled her dream from that morning. The
sound of Alpha 5’s excited hollering pulled her from her trance and she jumped
back landing gracefully on her feet. Trini opened her eyes to find Kim
standing, palm outstretched to help her up. She took in Kim’s face, she looked
flushed. And as Trini followed her eyes down, the flush continued all the way
down to the pink Ranger’s chest that was peeking from the top of her black v
neck. Her mind was racing. Kim was blushing, furiously. She was flushed. Her
pupils were dilated. She was kissing Trini’s neck. Well, kind of kissing, but
not really. She was placing her mouth on Trini’s neck. The smaller girl’s mind
put all of these things together in a little checklist, but for some reason,
they were not adding up.
The two turned their heads over to see what the commotion was about. Alpha 5
was not paying attention to them like the android was supposed to be. They both
sent out a silent thank you for that one. The boys were all high fiving as they
stood in the wreckage of all of the demolished putties. Kim and Trini looked at
each other, both of their faces turning red before dropping their eyes. They
turned their attention to the boys and started clapping and cheering along with
Alpha 5.
______________________________________________________________________________
She felt it before her eyes even opened, the cold sensation of wet as it hit
her cheek. A scream bubbled in the back of her throat, violent and raw. Her
eyes popped open as her heart pounded against her rib cage. She was
hyperventilating, eyes scanning the room for immediate danger, looking for
Rita. Instead they land on worried brown eyes and dripping shoulder length
hair.
“Trin, I’m right here. It’s okay,” Kim soothed, her hands hesitantly reaching
out to rub the smaller girl’s arm comfortingly. Trini is breathing heavily, her
body strung tight like a bow.
“Did you have another nightmare?” Kim asked, her voice soft as a gentle summer
breeze. Trini swiped at her cheek. She couldn’t deal with the feeling of the
cool water on her skin. She hated that she felt like this.
She used to love the rain, used to love taking cool showers after a
particularly grueling workout. The first time it rained in Angel Grove after
Rita, Trini felt like she was suffocating. The first droplet that touched her
face sent her reeling back to that moment in her bedroom, lying in bed with
Rita hovering above her. It was the same panic she felt now.
“Trini,” Kim bellowed, voice firm and concise but without any real edge,
“Trini, look at me.”
The shorter girl could faintly hear the whirring of the living room fan and the
quiet chatter from the television, but the minute her eyes met Kimberly’s
soulful brown eyes everything went silent. The world around her disappeared.
Nothing existed but the rich color of the irises in front of her. Those eyes
had a way of grounding her, and in that moment they shone bright with worry and
care.
“When she - when Rita - when she,” Trini stumbled over her words, “ I um, I
woke up to water, just dripping on my face, it was like ice. And now water
brings me back there. To that moment. To her. And I just don’t know how to
deal.”
Trini’s voice cracked. Her eyes filled with tears. She wiped at them before
they could fall not wanting to seem as weak or as broken as she felt in that
moment. She never wanted to feel as weak as Rita had made her feel ever again,
but it just kept happening. It kept happening and she couldn’t breath. She
can’t remember the last time she had a decent night’s sleep. Trini felt like
she was in a perpetual state of exhaustion. The smaller girl was constantly on
edge, and if she were being honest with herself, she had to admit that she was
really starting to run herself thin.
Kim’s eyes widened in realization. It was her fault. Her hair was wet. It
dripped onto Trini’s face. She caused the tiny girl to panic. Her heart
dropped.
“I’m so sorry Trin,” the pink Ranger clamored in apology, “I didn’t know. I can
go dry my hair or leave or-”
“Kim, you didn’t do anything,” Trini stated with a stern voice, “So don’t
apologize for something as stupid as having wet hair.”
“You just, you fell asleep on the couch and you haven’t been sleeping. I wanted
to let you sleep and I felt gross after practice, so I thought I’d grab a quick
shower and make dinner. You know, repay you for breakfast this morning. I’m so
sorry Trini,” Kim rambled shakily.
Warmth spread throughout Trini’s chest and in an act of pure impulse, the tiny
girl rushed forward, throwing her arms around Kim in a tight hug.
“Kim,” Trini whispered with unbridled affection, “Just shut up.”
Kim melted into the smaller girl’s arms, though in the back of her mind she was
worried her damp hair would trigger another panic attack. Her worries were
assuaged when Trini pressed her face into the crook of Kim’s neck where
tendrils of hair were sticking. She felt the soft exhale of breath on her skin.
Goosebumps rose where the hot air hit her neck and she shivered. She felt at
home.
______________________________________________________________________________
Kim weighed her options as she rummaged through the kitchen before deciding to
just make grilled cheese. It was quick, easy, and she could have it done by the
time Trini was done getting cleaned up.
Her original plan was to let Trini sleep in on the couch and to make a really
nice elaborate dinner for the other girl. She had gotten distracted by how
peaceful Trini looked for once and just sat and watched her sleep, fingers
itching to reach out to push back the strand of hair sitting across her face.
She leaned in and her hair brushed Trini’s cheek and it was a full blown out
panic attack after that. She couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. Trini
would probably still be sleeping if Kim hadn’t been such a bi mess.
By the time she had placed the sandwiches on plates, Trini had appeared in the
doorway. Her long hair was damp and pulled up in a messy bun. She had on a
loose black tank top with some band logo on it and a pair of khaki joggers that
fit her perfectly in all of the right places. Kim bit her bottom lip and
gestured her hands towards the table.
“Kimmy,” Trini grinned as she plopped down in a seat, immediately tearing into
her grilled cheese, “You are the absolute best.”
They sat in silence while they ate, enjoying the quiet comfort that came from
the company. Trini had practically engulfed her sandwiches. She had been
starving, always was after training, but she passed out afterwards and hadn’t
gotten a chance to eat until now.
Trini grabbed the dishes after they finished eating much to Kim’s annoyance and
protest.
“Nuh huh Princesa,” Trini said interrupting Kim’s huffing, “You cooked. I
clean.”
Kim crossed her arms over her chest and watched as Trini stood at the sink
diligently scrubbing plates. She was humming something under her breath, her
hips moving to the beat in her head. Kim was captivated. It was so rare to see
Trini look so carefree. Even before everything that happened with Rita, Trini
always seemed so closed off, a scowl affixing her face and her tone caustic. As
she got closer to the other Rangers, bits of herself would shine through, like
cracks of light pouring out.
“So, when is your family getting back?” Kim asked hesitantly, not wanting to
break the happy trance the smaller girl seemed to be in.
“Sometime New Year’s Day,” Trini responded with a tilt of her head, “Why?”
“I was thinking I could sleep here until they do,” Kim stated with ease, “Help
you try to wrangle in those nightmare by the time they get back.”
The taller girl shrugged her shoulders.
“How’d you even manage to get them to leave without you anyways,” she asked
curiously, “My parents would drag my ass kicking and screaming if I tried to
bow out of a family holiday.”
Trini was quiet for a long moment and Kim was worried that she broached a sore
spot.
“Oh, my Mami tried,” Trini said with a smirk, “But Papi talked to her, said I
was old enough to take care of myself and they couldn’t force me to go. I think
he was a little disappointed I wouldn’t be with them for Christmas, and she
only agreed once I promised I would go to Sunday Mass on Christmas morning.”
Kim busted out laughing. Of course that would be what Trini’s mother would
focus on.
“Are you actually going to go?” Kim teased in between giggles.
“Of course, my mother will know if I don’t. She has eyes and ears all over that
place,” Trini joked, “But in all seriousness, she will totally know, and that
woman is terrifying.”
“I could go with you if you want,” Kim offered. She knew how uncomfortable
Trini felt going to church. It was the one thing her mother still made her do
every Sunday. She hated it.
“As much as I appreciate the offer Kim, aren’t you Hindu? Why would you go to
Mass with me Christmas off all days,” Trini said in response.
“Oh, so just because I’m Indian I have to be Hindu,” Kim retorted with mock
outrage, a humorous glint in her eyes.
“No smartass, you grumbling about missing Diwali because of Rita made me ask,”
Trini countered, “You wouldn’t shut up about it for a week.”
Kim had forgotten about that. Not that she’d missed Diwali, her family
typically goes to her aunt and uncle’s place in San Francisco to celebrate,
that she was still annoyed about. She can’t believe Trini remembered that.
“Well, I mean,” she started, “My mom is Hindu, and my dad is Episcopalian. I
was raised with both. Though my dad is a Christmas and Easter kind of
Christian. I highly doubt they’d be put out if I ask to go with you as long as
I’m back before my dad’s family gets there.”
“Okay.” Trini agrees with a shy smile on her face as she looks down.
“And, I mean, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you wanted to come over on
Christmas either, since your family is out of town,” Kim offered with an
equally shy smile.
Trini tried to fight the beaming smile that lit up her face, she really did.
She didn’t want to admit that as much as she didn’t want to go with her family
to her Abuela’s back in Texas, she was really bummed about missing Christmas
with them. She was going to miss her little brothers tear into their gifts,
miss seeing her cousins and aunts and uncles, miss Christmas dinner. She just
couldn’t bring herself to go. Not after trying to come out. Not after how her
mom reacted. She couldn’t deal with her family asking if she had a new
boyfriend, or which one of the boy’s in the pictures on her Facebook was she
dating. Her mother would murder her if she tried to answer honestly. If she
said none of them, but that she had a crush on the girl in those pictures. She
is just so burnt out on lying to her family about who she is. She couldn’t do
it again this year. And with everything that happened with Rita, and being a
Power Ranger, it was all just added problems that she didn’t want to have to
explain. No the nightmares, or the panic attacks around loud noises. So she
opted out of going. Told them she had a huge English project to do over Winter
Break and she wouldn’t be able to if she went. Which, she wasn’t technically
lying, she did have a project do, she had just already gotten it done by day
two of break.
“I think I’d like that,” Trini said, “If your parents won’t mind that is.”
The rest of the evening was spent with the girls laughing and joking. There was
a level of lightness, like the world wasn’t on there shoulders. Even if it were
just for a night, it was nice just to be able to be teenage girls. Not
superheroes. Just Trini and Kim. And for now, it was enough.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading! Everything is going to continue to go
     relatively slow throughout Winter Break, but once that's over it
     should pick up a little more. I'm just focusing a bit on character
     dynamics a bit before moving forward. I hope that's okay and that you
     guys are enjoying it.
***** Chapter Four *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm not going to lie, this chapter is mostly just filler, fluff, and
     Becky G thirst, which I will totally not apologize for, lol. I am
     sorry for the super late post. Life has been kicking my ass lately,
     but it is a little bit longer than normal. Once again, it is un-beta-
     ed, so I apologize for any mistakes or errors. Hope everyone enjoys
     it!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
“So,” Kim starts drawing the word out, “It’s come to my attention that I’ve
slept over four night in a row and have yet to be given a proper tour of your
house. What gives Rodriguez? You hiding something, or are you just normally
this bad a host.”
Trini chanced a look up from the book she was reading. Jason decided to cancel
training for the long weekend so the Rangers could all just relax for
Christmas, well that and Billy was going to be out of town for three days and
Jason couldn’t say no to Billy. The two girls took advantage of the much needed
break and were spending the day lounging around in Trini’s room.
“First off,” Trini drawled, “Can I really be considered a host if you just
showed up and refuse to leave…”
“Hey,” Kim called out indignantly clutching her chest as if wounded.
“Secondly,” Trini continued, ignoring the taller girl’s antics, “Secondly,
you’ve already seen most of the house. We’ve watched movies in the living room.
You’ve cooked in my kitchen, used my shower, and slept in my bed. What more of
the house is there to see?”
Trini raised her eyebrow in the other girls direction, enjoying the way Kim’s
mouth opened and closed again. She could practically see the cogs in the other
girl’s mind spinning.
“Yeah, but you never let me explore,” Kim whined pitifully, “Every time I try
to look at anything you just drag me to your room!”
“You’re being ridiculous, Princesa,” Trini chuckled, shaking her head at the
other girl.
“Trini, any time I try to look around at anything, you drag me straight to your
room,” Kim grumbled in exasperation. She pushed her bottom lip out in a pout,
her eyes getting wide.
“Hey, Kim, no. You don’t get to give me that look. It’s not fair,” Trini
groaned.
Kim intensified her puppy dog look. Trini threw her book to the side in
frustration and reluctantly pulled herself from the comfort of her bed. She
crossed her arms across her chest and impatiently tapped her foot.
“Well come on, let’s give you the grand tour you apparently need so badly,”
Trini conceded.
There really was no way she was ever going to say no to anything Kim asked of
her. She knew it, and part of her thought on a subconscious level that Kim knew
it as well. That had to be the reason she constantly pushed her luck with the
shorter girl and pretty much always got her way. Hell, Trini knew from the
first time Kim asked her for water that she could never refuse her, and they
hadn’t even known each other at the time. Now that she had gotten the chance to
get to know Kimberly Hart, the real Kimberly Hart, it was even worse.
She had known of Kim from before they were Rangers. How could she not? Kim was
one of the popular girls, a cheerleader dating one of the football players. And
then there was the fall from grace; Trini had heard all about it, how Kimberly
Hart had punched out Ty Flemming’s tooth (even if they had put it back). There
was the part that Kim thought she hadn’t known, about Amanda and the picture.
Trini remembered how Kim was clearly anxious when she had sat her down to tell
her about how she really ended up in detention, what she couldn’t tell them at
the bonfire. Of course, Trini had already known. Girls talk, especially girls
in high school. Even a nobody like Trini had heard about it through the girl-
vine. The Kimberly Hart she knew wasn’t that girl though. The Kim she knew was
a complete dork who knew completely random science facts because she had been a
science nerd before the high school hierarchy got in the way. She knew Kim’s
Netflix was full of nature and astronomy documentaries. The Kim she knew
pretended to be a complete music snob, listening to a lot of indie and
alternative bands, but Trini had also caught her dancing around her room
singing along to some Disney original movie soundtrack when she climbed through
Kim’s window one night. The Kim she knew was brave and fiercely loyal and
protective. The Kim she knew was vulnerable and soft, sarcastic and witty. All
of these things are true. Kimberly Hart did a terrible thing in a moment of
pettiness, it was vicious and wrong. She betrayed the trust of one of her best
friends, a girl she had known her whole life. All of these things are also
true. Trini told Kim as much. But Trini also believed that human beings were
more complex than the black and white morality of good people versus bad. She
knew that “good” people were capable of doing monstrous things and that “bad”
people were capable of doing honorable things. She told Kim as much as well.
Kim told her that Jason had told her something similar, that she had done an
awful thing, but that it didn’t make her an awful person, that what mattered
was what Kim did now, not in the past. She knew Kim felt guilty. She also knew
that Kim should feel guilty and that was something the girl had to work
through.
A hand on her arm pulled Trini out of her thoughts as she was dragged out of
her bedroom by the overeager pink Ranger. Kim brought her down the stairs and
right to the front door before turning to face Trini.
“Alright, I want to whole tour experience. You gotta let me look at all of the
pictures of cute little Trini so I can ooo and ahhh over how adorable you were
and how little you’ve surprisingly grown,” Kim joked. The last comment pulled a
scowl from the shorter girl. The Rangers really needed to find something else
to tease her about besides her height.
“Right, well, here you have the living room,” Trini monotoned while gesturing
vaguely to the room in front of them, “It’s the place where we watch TV and my
Mami occasionally tries to grill me about my life.”
Kim took the chance to walk around and look at every photograph in the room,
taking her time to study each one that had the other girl in it. Trini shifted
uncomfortably as Kim poured over remnants of the smaller girl’s past.
“Trini, is this you in a tutu?” Kim asked with glee, her eyes widening
comically.
“My mom made me take ballet for a little bit when I was really little, it’s not
a big deal,” Trini replied, her face tinged pink.
“Trin, I’m just teasing. Plus you get to see all my embarrassing pictures over
the next two days, so really, this is just me preemptively getting even,” Kim
commented in an effort to try and get Trini to relax a little.
It worked slightly. Trini’s shoulders loosened a little bit as she followed Kim
around.
“Oh my God,” Kim beamed, “Is this what I think it is?”
Kim plucked the framed photo off of the side table beside the couch, in it was
a shot of Trini in a fluffy white dress and a tiara on the top of her head. A
handsome boy was on her arm. She was all glammed up with a face full of make
up. Kim doesn’t think she’d ever seen Trini with makeup on. No that she needed
it. Trini just always naturally looked beautiful even if the other girl didn’t
see it. They couldn’t really go anywhere without someone attempting to flirt
with the girl. Kim still didn’t know how she was able to practically make
herself invisible at school. Well, or at least did before she became friends
with fallen Angel Grove royalty Jason Scott and Kimberly Hart. Ever since then
Kim noticed the appreciative looks the smaller girl garnered from other
students, though none of them ever approached her; Trini had a glare that could
intimidate an MMA fighter if she tried.
Kim noticed the date on the bottom of the photo. November, 28, 2015.
“Wait, this is from your Quince, right? How is it from last year? And how did I
not know your birthday just passed?” Kim questioned.
“Yeah, I just turned 16. My birthday was during Thanksgiving break, so I didn’t
see the need to say anything about it.” Trini responded.
“Wait, but we have AP Bio together. You can’t take that as a sophomore,” Kim
stated, her confusion written clear across her face.
“Yeah, well, I’m not a sophomore,” Trini explained, “I skipped the first
grade.” Trini just shrugged.
“So you just turned 16?” Kim asked. Trini nodded, not quite understanding what
was so confusing.
“Oh my God, Trini, do you know what this means,” Kim questioned, her eyes
lighting up with mischief, “We were born in completely different centuries!”
Trini groaned as she covered her face with her hands. That was something she
would expect Zack to say. This was why she didn’t want the team to know stuff
like this. She was already the smallest, and now they would know she was the
youngest. Jason and Billy were both seniors and the oldest of the group. Zack,
Kim, and Trini were all juniors, though Trini was a year younger than them
since she was technically supposed to be a sophomore.
“You’re only a year older than me!” Trini groused shuffling her foot at the
floor. She went to make a halfhearted swipe at Kim’s arm, but the older girl
was easily able to step aside.
“I mean, a year and three months,” Kim replied coolly while examining her
nails, “But who’s counting really?”
Trini stomped over and tore the photo from Kim’s hands before slamming it back
onto the side table. She stood looking at Kim expectantly, tapping her foot
impatiently.
“Well, do you want to see the rest of the house or not?” Trini grumbled at the
other girl, her eyes drawn into slits.
Kim just chuckled as she followed Trini around the rest of the downstairs which
mainly consisted of the dining room and kitchen. Trini gave equally vague
descriptions to the other two rooms as she did to the living room. There wasn’t
much to see in either room, but Kim took her time if only to annoy the other
girl further. As Trini tried to pull Kim back upstairs, the taller girl noticed
a pair of double doors.
“What do those go to,” she asked, curiosity getting the best of her.
“It’s nothing, you got your tour now, so can I please go back to my book,”
Trini begged.
“No. Those go somewhere and I was promised a tour. What is it, like a weird
dungeon?” Kim teased, brown eyes shining with mirth and mouth pulled to the
side in a smirk.
Trini pulled a disgusted face at the suggestion, “What? No! What the fuck Kim?”
Before Trini could really react, Kim made beeline for the doors. The younger
girl gave chase, but Kim had a head start on her and before she could reach the
other girl, the doors were flung wide open.
Kim stood at the doors of the room. On her first scan, it just looked like an
empty room. The second time, however, she noticed the back wall was lined with
shelves that were full of trophies, and that the front wall was lined with
mirrors. It was a studio. Kim cautiously stepped into the room, as if she were
expecting Trini to leap at her at any moment in attack. She examined the
trophies. While most of them were for Latin Ballroom, a couple were for
individual styles of dance. There was one for Tango. Two for Salsa. One for
Rumba. All of them had the same name written on them, Trinity Rodriguez. The
dates ranged for a little over ten years and ending the previous year.
“Your name is Trinity?” Kim inquired with a goofy grin.
“Whatever,” Trini grumbled, “I told you my mom is really Catholic.”
“You’re a dancer,” Kim asked as her grin widened, “A ballroom dancer. A Latin
ballroom dancer.” She was practically bouncing on the spot.
“Well, I told you my Mami tried to get me to do ballet. I was three. It didn’t
stick. I never said I stopped dancing. I wanted to take hip hop, but she said
that ‘it wasn’t for little girls’ and stuck me in Latin ballroom. She wanted to
make me into her ‘little Mexican princesa’ and the compromise was that if I
stuck with it, she’d let me take hip hop classes when I got a little older. It
just so happened that I kind of fell in love with it,” Trini mumbled with her
eyes glued to the ground. Kim took pity on her.
“Look, I won’t say anything, okay? It’ll just be between us. I especially won’t
tell Zack,” Kim reassured her. Trini started to giggle.
“That’s really sweet of you Kim,” the smaller girl said with a laugh, “But Zack
already knows. Found out pretty soon after we found our power coins. He teaches
a hip hop class at the rec center where I dance Thursday nights and I help him
with his Sunday night classes sometimes now. We ran into each other there.
That’s why we rush out of practice so early on Thursdays.”
“Wait, Zack dances too?” Kim questioned with a shout. Trini just nodded in
response, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“I wanna seeeeeee,” Kim whined petulantly. This was brand new information about
her friends and she wanted to see them dance. She had to admit, Zack being a
hip hop dancer wasn’t really a surprise; the boy had moves and they had to come
from somewhere. Trini being a ballroom dancer, however, did surprise her. The
other girl was just so aggressive and combative. It was hard to picture her
doing such a refined activity. Not that Trini being a dancer is surprising,
just the style. The fact that Trini had also danced hip hop, was less of a
surprise.
“Show me,” the taller girl whispered. Trini looked up at that, her eyes locking
with the other girl.
“Come on, I just found out my best friend is apparently a crazy talented
dancer. I want to see your moves,” Kim suggested with an ample smile, small
dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth.
“Kim, I don’t have a partner,” the younger girl pointed out. Trini shook her
head, but her resolve was melting the longer she stared at Kim’s dazzling
smile.
“Fine, whatever,” Trini groaned, “I’ll do it. Just let me put on something
that’s not jeans and a hoodie.”
Kim took a seat against the back wall, her legs folded over each other. Her
head was just barely under the start of the first shelf.
“And I’m not doing ballroom!” Kim heard the other girl shout from halfway up
the stairs.
______________________________________________________________________________
 
After about a half an hour of waiting, Kim started getting impatient. She
really wouldn’t put it passed Trini to have escaped from her bedroom window.
She was about to go looking for the other girl when she saw a figure in the
doorway out of the corner of her eye.
“Finally,” Kim grumbled as she turns her attention in that direction. Her face
drops when instead of the shorter girl standing there, it is none other than
Zackary Taylor.
“Hey Kimmy,” he teased with a wink, “Expecting someone else? Don’t worry, Crazy
Girl will be down in a minute.”
The taller boy eyed Kim with his signature smirk. He was dressed in a pair of
black sweats and a gray stringer tank with the sides cut low enough to tease a
glimpse of his sculpted abs. Kim had to hand it to him, even before becoming a
Ranger, the boy obviously took care of himself. She genuinely didn’t know how
she had no idea who Zack was before. He was incredibly attractive, objectively
speaking. She couldn’t look at Zack in any way other than that of an annoying
brother now, but she knew that with his looks and apparent bad boy aesthetic
he’d be like catnip to the girls of Angel Grove if he ever actually showed up.
He put on a cocky front and swagger, but at the end of the day Zack was one of
the most caring and humble people that she had ever known.
“See something you like Kimmy,” Zack grins breaking her from her thoughts.
“Ugh,” she groaned, “That’s only cute when Trini does it.”
The taller boy breaks out into a huge goofy smile and she goes red realizing
that she had said the second part out loud.
“Don’t even start,” she growled, her eyes narrowing dangerously at the boy.
He pointed at himself in a “who me” motion and made himself appear as innocent
as possible.
Trini chose that moment to enter the room. She glanced back and forth between
her fellow Rangers with a raised eyebrow before brushing it off. Kim took in
the smaller girl’s appearance. She was no longer in her jeans and hoodie, but
had changed into a pair of gray dance joggers that clung to her frame nicely
while still maintaining that trademark jogger look. She had on a loose muscle
tank, that like Zack’s, was also cut low on the sides showing the sides of her
sports bra and taut torso. Her yellow beanie rested comfortably on the top of
her head.
“You said you wanted to see us dance, so I figured Zack and I could show you
what we’ve been working on,” Trini said with a shrug in Zack’s direction.
Trini made her way over to the sound system in the corner of the room hooking
up her iPod and scrolling through until she apparently found the song she was
looking for. Kim hadn’t even really noticed it until right then. The shorter
girl awkwardly made her way over to Zack as the music started playing through
the speakers. Kim was expecting something fast with heavy bass or hard defined
beats. What she was not expecting was the soft piano intro and R&B crooning.
The soft slow beat kicked in soon after the start of the song and it was like a
switch flipped in her fellow Rangers as they started moving in tandem to the
beat in a mixture of precise staccato-like hits and graceful fluid motions. The
lyrics were just downright raunchy, and Kim’s eyes were glued to the way
Trini’s body was able to roll, hypnotized by the almost sexual movement of her
hips. There was just something magnetic about the way she glided around the
dance floor, a glowing smile not moving from her lips. When Trini moved in
front of Zack and their bodies were moving together, hips pressed together
tightly, his arm wrapped around the short girl’s waist, Kim felt an irrational
pricking of jealousy rush through her. She had to old herself back from
growling. It was just Trini and Zack. They were just dancing together with what
looked like very practiced ease. So what if it was to an incredibly sexual
song? Trini’s eyes locked with Kim’s and she’s swears she saw the shorter girl
smirk as she ran her hands down Zack’s chest as he moved behind her. Logically
Kim knows that there is nothing going on between Trini and Zack. Sure, he may
have been into her at first, but he backed off the minute that Trini came out
and has been nothing short of the supportive best friend. They were just
dancing. And Kim had to admit that they looked amazing together. Zack was
incredibly skilled, hitting every movement just right, and Trini just pulled
you in with her presence and perfectly timed hits and rhythm. They were back to
dancing side by side, and Kim let out a breath that she didn’t even know she
was holding onto. Her eyes floated between the two other Rangers as their
dancing mirrored each other.
By the end of the song both dancers were covered in a light sheen of sweat,
grins plastered to their faces as Zack pulled Trini in for a hug. Kim was
pressed up against the wall. She felt hot; her body was flushed. She was torn
between the desire to run up to Trini and kiss her, or to run up to Zack and
punch him is his stupid smug handsome face.
“Holy hell guys,” she said clearing her throat, “That was just - that was just
- wow.” Kim settled on ignoring both of her impulses and complimented the pair
instead, her face pulling into a genuine smile as she took in how bashful the
other two Rangers got at her praise.
“Right, bet you didn’t think Crazy Girl had that in her,” Zack hollered, “I for
one feel bad for the entire male population that someone who can move their
hips like that is into chicks.”
At that comment Trini swirled around and decked him in the chest as Kim laughed
at her two friends.
“Stop. Saying Gross. Things.” Trini threatened between clenched teeth,
punctuating each word with a punch.
“Ow. How can someone so tiny pack such a fucking punch,” the taller boy
complained while rubbing his chest, “This is becoming a theme you know. Do I
have to go to Wall Dad about how you keep trying to beat me up?”
Trini just rolled her eyes before turning back to Kim, her demeanor shifting as
she became uncharacteristically shy. Their eyes locked, and Kim just beamed up
at the smaller girl from her spot on the floor.
“I don’t know why you hide this,” Kim stated in awe, “You’re incredible. You
both are.”
“I for one have no problem with my dancing,” Zack said, “But this one
threatened to castrate me if I told anyone and I quite like keeping my boys
where they are.”
“You know Trin, you keep threatening all of us without any follow through and
your threats are going to start sounding really empty,” Kim teased.
“Don’t give her any ideas Kim,” Zack shouted, “You know I’m the one she’ll go
after to prove her point.”
He backed away after his statement, palms raised in surrender. He wasn’t afraid
to admit that the smaller girl terrified him. Sure, he knew that she’d never
actually do anything to really harm him, but he wasn’t kidding when he said
that she punched hard. Trini just leveled him with a look of terrifying glee.
“Well, right, anyways,” Zack started as he backed away towards the door, “That
was fun and all, but I’m going to head out now before I die. Kimmy, always a
pleasure. Crazy Girl, I’ll talk to you later.”
With that Zack dipped out of the room and the two girls heard the front door
shut after a moment. The two girls settled into an awkward silence. Kim took
the time to study Trini as she stood in the center of the room looking
everywhere but at her. She didn’t understand how someone who was so talented
and intelligent and beautiful and wryly funny could be so withdrawn and self-
conscious. It was almost like Trini reveled in being on the outskirts, not
quite an outcast, but not really a part of any social circles, well, not until
she met the other Rangers that is.
“Why do you do that?” Kim asked breaking the silence.
“Do what?” Trini asked in response, her body tensing like it was a fight or
flight situation.
“Pull away or try to hide inside yourself when someone sees a part of you,” Kim
tossed back as she pulled herself up off of the studio floor.
Trini lifted her chin before shrugging her shoulders. In truth, the shorter
girl just wasn’t used to anyone wanting to really see any part of her, and on
the off chance she did find people who did, her family would move before it
really mattered.
“Because people don’t usually try to,” Trini said instead.
Kim’s hand was unconsciously started playing with the fabric of Trini’s top as
she stood in front of the younger girl, her knuckles barely brushing against
the skin of Trini’s hip with every pass of her fingers on the cloth.
“You don’t hide from Zack,” Kim grumbled, a slight remnant of jealousy from
earlier resurfacing.
“Zack doesn’t scare me,” Trini responded without thinking. Kim flinched at the
words drawing in a deep breath.
“And I do?” she questioned, her eyes locking with the smaller girl in front of
her.
Trini immediately cast her gaze downwards to avoid the hurt radiating in the
other girl’s dark eyes.
“Kim, you terrify me,” she said, her voice cracking slightly, “If I ever lost
you…”
Kim tilted Trini’s chin back up with her spare hand, her thumb tracing the
shorter girl’s jawline.
“And then you do things like that,” Trini whispered before taking a step back,
her chest heaving.
“If I lost the boys, it would devastate me, but if I lost you Kim. Ugh, why is
this so hard!” Trini continued, growing frustrated.
“Trin,” Kim interjected softly, “I would be lost without you. Sometimes I think
about what would have happened if we had lost you that night and I can’t
breathe. You’re my first thought when I wake up every morning and my last
thought before I fall asleep. And if I’m being completely honest with myself
sleeping next to you every night this week has been just as much about me as it
has been about comforting you. Because I’m selfish. Because I want to be the
one that makes you feel better and to ease your fears. Or how when I was
watching you and Zack dancing all I wanted to do was deck him in the face for
having his hands on you, because you moved so effortlessly together. And I know
it’s crazy and irrational and selfish, but seeing someone else put their hands
on you like that just made me insane. And I know you’re not mine. Oh God, not
like in an ownership way, because like even if by some strange miracle you even
see me like that you know, I’d respect and trust you. And -”
Trini surged forward, leaning up to press her lips against Kim’s effectively
shutting her up mid-rant. Kim, on her part, is only momentarily taken by
surprise, letting out a gasp before sinking into the kiss. The kiss is slow,
almost languid as they meld their mouths together, breaths mingling with every
new slide of lips against lips. The taller girl let out a high pitch whine when
Trini finally pulled away with a shuddering breath.
Once the shorter girl had the chance to catch her breath, Kim dove back in.
While the first kiss was slow and sensual exploration, this one was wild and
passionate. Trini’s hands grasped at the back of the taller girl’s neck,
pulling her further into her. Kim walked them backwards without breaking the
kiss pressing Trini back into the studio mirrors, hands running along the
smaller Ranger’s sides where her top was exposed, though still trying to get
her roaming as innocent as possible. Growing frustrated with the height
difference and having to crane her neck downwards, Kim hoisted Trini up,
holding her against the mirror as the other girl’s legs wrapped around her
waist, drawing an unexpected whine from the back of Trini’s throat, high
pitched and breathy. He face immediately heated up, embarrassed by the sound
she had made. Kim just dropped her head to the other girl’s neck while
cataloging the response to memory. Remembering how Trini reacting in the pit to
Kim’s lips on her neck, the taller girl pressed a hot open mouthed kiss at the
juncture between the smaller girl’s neck and shoulder, applying pressure and
swirling her tongue. She dragged her nails lightly down the exposed skin of
Trini’s sides while she kissed her neck, drawing a whimper from the girl
pressed up against her. The shorter girl subconsciously started working her
hips against Kim’s abs to find some relief for the heat between her thighs. One
of her hands found its way into the taller girl’s shoulder length and pulled,
her nails softly scratching along her scalp. Kim growled in response against
the shorter girl’s neck and started kissing higher, lips pressing against her
pulse point and sucking.
“Kim, fuck,” Trini moaned, “Oh God, Kim, we need to slow down.”
At that, Kim pressed one last sweet kiss to Trini’s neck and slowly lowered her
to the floor smiling sheepishly as the shorter girl.
“Sorry, I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” she mumbled with a tilt of
her head, smile gracing her lips.
“Me too,” Trini agreed with a soft grin that lit up her whole face.
“Oh yeah, since when?” Kim asked with a teasing smile.
“Since you asked for my water,” Trini responded, “I mean I can’t help it when
you smile at me like that! How long for you?”
“Since my locker,” Kim replied.
Trini was surprised. That was before their first Krispy Kreme outing. She was
sure it was at least after that if not a recent development for the other girl.
“Oh no,” Trini groaned, “I owe Zack twenty bucks.”
“What,” Kim laughed, “Why?”
“He’s low-key been trying to be my wing man for the passed couple days,” Trini
explained resting her face in her palm, “I told him about how you found out I
could dance and suggested we do that one. Said that if that didn’t work,
nothing would, and I quote, “pull Kimmy’s head from her ass.” His words, not
mine. I still thought he was insane to think you could ever think of me like
that. I mean, you’re not even gay. Or at least you haven’t ever said anything
about liking girls.”
“Bisexuality does exist,” Kim responded, “And I kind of thought everyone
already knew.”
“I really am oblivious,” Trini groaned hiding her face in the crook of Kim’s
arm. Kim just chuckled in response.
“We both are,” Kim agreed with a smile. She leaned down and kissed the top of
the shorter girl’s head.
“So, I think I need a very cold shower,” Kim half-joked, “And then I think we
should watch some Netflix.”
“Why I never,” Trini teased, “Are you suggesting we Netflix and chill,
Princesa?”
Kim just laughed and lightly pushed the other girl’s shoulder, “No, I’m
suggesting we Netflix and cuddle. I just want you close to me.”
“Fine, but I call shower first,” Trini called out running towards the stairs.
Kim just shook her head and pulled her phone out.
kimmyharteyes: Trini owes you twenty bucks.
zackattack: I KNEW IT!!!!
Chapter End Notes
     Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Next chapter will be Christmas
     Eve/Christmas, and then time should start moving a little faster
     within the fic. Thank you all for reading. Comments, kudos, and
     criticisms are always welcome.
End Notes
     Thank you for reading. Please feel free to leave any comments,
     questions, kudos, or criticisms. I'll try to update it once a week.,
     though I'll always try for more than that.
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