On Fire (Power Rangers Samurai)

2.3 - Understudy / Bias

"I told you not to come." When the last person Emily wanted to see arrived, she immediately turned away and ducked under her blanket, silently cursing whoever let him into the Watanabe House.

"I was expecting a warmer welcome." He dropped his things in the nearest corner, then awkwardly folded his long legs to sit on the floor by her bed.

Once he settled down, he took notice of Emily's blonde locks peeping out from under the covers. She wasn't exactly subtle about hiding from him.

With a closer look, he noticed the blankets tremble with her breathing. She didn't mean to show how easily she became tired.

"I brought a whole thing of cider with me." He couldn't see her ears perk. "It's pear. I don't know if that's still your favorite."

Emily's silence filled the room.

"Emi—"

"You really didn't have to come." Emily asserted once again, trying (and failing) to hide the rawness in her voice.

"I wanted to be here, Emily..." His voice shook slightly. "You knew I wanted to do this years ago too. But they didn't let me."

"That's because I'm stronger than you Liam." Emily shot upright, her covers falling to the side. The quick motion made her vision blur, but she willed herself to stay up.

Their blue eyes locked, hers burning with anger, his steady with concern and determination.

"Why would Mentor do this?" Emily pushed off the bed, focusing on her balance toward the window. "Just go back to Sweden before you get yourself killed."

Liam took a deep breath, shifting to sit on the side of her bed, watching her stare outside the window at the lush gardens.

He didn't take her harshness to heart. In fact, he expected an even more intense reaction from her.

Liam knew he could never understand what it felt like to be Emily; losing her immediate family, losing her health, and now potentially losing more.

"Emily, I'm not here to replace you." Liam said to the back of her head.

"Yes the fuck you are." Emily spat, tightening her fists. "You should go take yourself to the Shiba House and let them know that you will not be taking my samuraizer."

"Emily, I know you're angry." He stepped closer, lightly placing his hand on her shoulder, noticing the slight wobble in her balance before she steadied herself.

He frowned.

When she didn't pull away, he turned her toward him and took her hands, hoping to ease her burden. His fingers closed around her clenched fists.

"Just.. please hear me out." Liam asked, trying his best to soften his deep voice. "Will you?"

"..." She refused to look at him.

"Please just listen, then you can yell at me all you want." Liam bargained.

"I'm listening..." Emily sighed, still refusing to meet his eyes.

"When Serena got sick, we both started training." Liam began, gauging her reaction to the mention of Serena. "Even after you were chosen, I never stopped."

"I felt this strong sense of duty, like I was certain I'd end up here someday.." Liam knew his words weren't making Emily any happier, but he knew he needed to speak his truth.

"To someone like me, the fact that I was called here is huge." He continued, hoping she would understand.

"I'm not here to replace you, but I'll be more like an understudy you know. They're never as good as the real lead." Liam rested his hands on her shoulders, giving her a friendly little shake. "I still have a lot to learn.. I was hoping we could work together?"

Only then he realized, after she looked up at him, that her eyes were filled with tears.

"Liam... I can't lose being the yellow ranger too." Emily cried, admitting defeat to the circumstance. "My mom and Serena... they were both..."

"I know." One after the other, Liam put his arms around her, pulling her toward his chest.

"I want them to be proud of me." Emily cried against his chest, letting him pat her back.

"She's the reason why I wanted to become strong.. Serena.." Liam patted her head, still standing much taller than her. "I grew up with her always there."

"I'm scared." Emily whispered, immediately wishing he didn't hear her.

"It'll be okay. I know it." Liam assured her, tightening his arms around her, as if to say he would make sure there would be a brighter future.

~~~

"Jayden's not going to like it." Lauren noticed what Antonio brought along with him. "In fact, I don't think anyone would be open to it."

"Well, you know how these samurai things go. No one likes anything until they see it work." Antonio shrugged with a lopsided grin, not worrying too much about it. "They always come around."

"..." It was true. Lauren was interested in things that worked, just like how she didn't mind the existence of the gold ranger when she met him.

Only this time, Lauren truly wasn't sure if anyone would come around.

She found herself biased, hoping the hard work Antonio put in over the past few months would prove itself worthy.

~~~

a/n

hi, just randomly back after a couple years loll