Trimberly

Fooled Myself

          Trini's tendency towards recklessness was one of the things that made her such a great Ranger. It was also one of her most frustrating aspects, even before she and Kim had gotten to be close. In their day-to-day lives, Trini was the most careful of anyone on the team. When they started fighting, whether it was a battle or training, it was a different story. They said they would die for one another and no one had meant it any more than Trini. The smallest Ranger was always the most ready to throw herself into the middle of a fight.

Kim had never expected to feel so protective about another person who wasn't related to her by blood. There was a new fire inside of her that burned constantly, somewhere deep inside of her gut. She felt those instincts there even when she wasn't anywhere near Trini. Kim had never expected to feel this way or asked for any of this, but here she was and at least she had the other Rangers around to keep her grounded.

During training, Kim found herself taking blows originally meant for Trini. She had definitely noticed, but had yet to bring it up. Kim didn't know where that feeling had come from, she didn't understand and she wasn't about to argue.

-----/////-----

"Princess, you really are going to have to learn how to keep up." Trini quipped as she jumped down into the gorge, using a perfect back flip

Panic overtook Kim temporarily and she paced quickly along the cliff's edge for several seconds. After what felt like a year, but probably wasn't even a minute, Kim made a swan dive to chase after Trini. Her body pierced the water a foot away from Trini. The Yellow Ranger laughed maniacally when Kim surfaced. Trini's expression was so absolutely joyful that Kim couldn't stay angry.

"I never thought I could be so worried about another person, but then I met you. I guess I fooled even myself." Kim said as she wrapped one arm around Trini's waist.

"I was never in any actual danger. You know that as well as any of us. I know just as well that you would never let anything bad happen to me." Trini said as she brushed some wet hair out of Kim's face.

"Yeah well, I've found it's hard to look past someone you care about jumping from that high up when you can't see what's down there. I trust you Trini, I really do but..." Kim trailed off and Trini's face clouded over with concern.

"I didn't mean to actually scare you, Kim. I've pulled that trick off when you weren't around. You know I would never scare you on purpose. I'm not used to having someone worry about me." Trini pulled herself out of the water and Kim followed suit soon after.

-----/////-----

"You know, if you're not careful, you'll piss her off." Zack said as they left the pit.

"What are you talking about?" Kim asked, scuffing her sneakers on the ground sheepishly.

"Trini is an independent free spirit. She likes to take her little risks and just do her own thing. There's a reason that I called her 'crazy girl' even before we became the Rangers." Zack spoke quietly and with confidence in a rare example of his serious voice.

"I get that about her. I really do. I'm just scared she'll get hurt. I don't think I would be able to stand her in pain. I've never really had friends like you guys before.

"But not all of us boys? What are we, chopped liver?" Zack asked with a laugh, his suspicions confirmed.

"I love you all dearly, but you always seemed much more likely to tend to one another. I'm just doing my best to help her." Kim said as they sat down at the old train car.

"You know that she won't see it that way." Zack's voice was gentle, much like the one he used with his mother. He spoke carefully, dancing around what he could see but knew that Trini and Kim couldn't.