Chapter Text
Heckyl was adjusting surprisingly easily to life as a good guy. Being a power ranger was never a part of his plan. He was pretty sure it was never apart of anyone’s plan. The scary thing was he was good at being a, well, good guy.
With him on the team it was easier to divide the group into two tasks. Protecting Earth from the string of monster-rejects that popped up to cause trouble, and a second group to hunt down the remaining energems.
Things were going splendidly. Heckyl had moved into Chase’s apartment and they were settling happily into what the human’s were calling a ‘honeymoon’ phase. Heckyl wasn’t sure what it meant, but he liked honey – he liked to lick it off of Chase’s well-sculpted body. It wasn’t quite as good as cinnamon, but it still had it’s pleasures.
Still, there was a sadness behind the smiles that Chase offered. A disconnected feeling that Chase was trying desperately to either ignore or hide. Possibly both.
His lost voice.
Heckyl remembered what Chase sounded like even though his lover could no long speak. He missed it. He remembered the conversations they had back when Chase had been his captive on his ship.
The silence was killing Chase, even if the black ranger refused to acknowledge it. Heckyl didn’t want to see such a free spirit fade away.
So he pulled his resources, which led him to a meeting with his old snake friend.
“This metal has magical properties?” Heckyl said skeptically as he eyed the metal.
“Yesssss.” Snake monster promised. “It sssshould fixxx what hasss been broken.”
“We shall see.” Heckyl said with a frown. “There isn’t going to be any kind of unfortunate side effect this time, is there?”
The snake monster chuckled. It was a truly unpleasant sound. “No, nothing else shall befall your mate.”
Heckyl nodded. “Trust that if anything else should happen to him that isn’t planned for, I will find you and I will destroy you, power ranger or not.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” The monster said and disappeared into the shadows.
With a short snort Heckyl left the abandoned building and returned to the museum. He tucked the piece of metal away and considered his options. He hadn’t created anything by hand in a long time…but he had a plan.
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Chase felt a great mixture of things. He felt happy that Heckyl was alive and healthy. He was thrilled that Heckyl had given up his life of destruction and seemed to thrive as a power ranger. Despite the somewhat sketchy start of how Heckyl’s energem came to light, it had worked out.
Yet.
It was hard to ignore the lingering feeling of watching a movie. Like Chase was a camera lens, viewing his life like an outsider, unable to really interact with the world he was watching.
There was a painful realization that no matter how good his life felt, he’d never truly be apart of it. Not like he wanted. Not like it had been before his voice had disappeared.
Chase knew he shouldn’t complain – not that he really could. His life was good, damn it.
Maybe it was time to take Kendall up on her suggestion. Maybe if he learned how to speak through sign language things wouldn’t feel so disconnected.
It still felt like giving up.
“Something wrong?”
The sound of Heckyl’s voice made Chase jump. He fixed a smile on his face before he turned to face his boyfriend. Boldly he shook his head.
“Somehow I don’t believe you.” Heckyl sighed, but cupped Chase’s face in his hands and drew him into a quick kiss. “But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that smile of yours real.”
Chase smirked at that, but he couldn’t think of a single thing that could pull him out of his current mood. He wished that he were better at pretending everything was okay. He wished he could believe that everything would be okay.
Maybe he just needed a little more time.
It was hard, so hard to try and pull himself out of his head when his head was the place his voice lived.
“Perhaps I can do something to brighten your spirit.” Heckyl offered and nibbled playfully on Chase’s ear. Chase giggled silently and pulled back to look into his boyfriend’s eyes. Although he was as gloomy as he could get, he had to admit that his life was far better with Heckyl alive and well.
“Ah, I see I have your attention.” Heckyl grinned wickedly. “I propose a date, tonight. I have something special planned.”
Chase tipped his head to the side in confusing. They had ‘dates’ most every night, even if the date mostly consisted of them watching a movie on Chase’s coach and eating mostly burnt popcorn.
“No, not our usual affairs, I promise.” Heckyl leaned in for a kiss. “Trust me.”
Several months ago and Chase would have openly laughed at the very idea of trusting Heckyl, but now Chase couldn’t help but trust the alien. He trusted him with his life.
Deciding guiltily that he was being completely unfair to Heckyl, Chase smiled and stole a quick kiss from Heckyl. It was his best attempt at telling his boyfriend non-verbally that he was looking forward to the mystery date. Heckyl grinned in response and handed Chase a piece of paper. “This is the address and time. Don’t be late – also, don’t be too early.” Heckyl winked and left the room and Chase behind without another word.
It was definitely strange to have Heckyl not vanish into thin air any time he wanted to make an exit. It was also nice knowing that Chase could go after Heckyl if he wanted and or needed to.
With a sigh Chase looked at the address written on the piece of paper. It was obviously Riley’s handwriting, given that Heckyl was still avoiding learning how to write in a human language.
If Chase wanted to he figured he could hunt the green ranger down and demand to know what Heckyl had planned…
No. For the first time in a long time Chase was feeling spontaneous. He missed it.
Perhaps the date would break the feeling of hopelessness Chase had allowed to fill his soul.
Maybe Heckyl was just the remedy Chase needed to feel whole again.
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Chase was surprised how nervous he felt nervous that night. He glanced at his phone as he reached the boardwalk and smiled brightly when he spotted Heckyl. Chase had tagged along when Shelby had insisted on taking the alien shopping for more ‘normal’ clothes.
Heckyl looked good in blue jeans and a graphic tee of some band that was thankfully not an awful boy band.
“Is that coffee?” Chase lipped mutely as Heckyl turned and noticed him.
“I thought you’d like this more than flowers.” Heckyl chuckled, undeterred by the fact that he probably had no idea what Chase had been trying to say. That was one of the great things about Heckyl. It was easy to pretend that everything was okay with him.
Mostly okay.
Stupid brain, Chase thought as he took a sip of the coffee. He gave Heckyl a slow kiss to show his thanks.
“Don’t distract me.” Heckyl chuckled again. “We are on a time schedule.”
Chase screwed up his face in question, but Heckyl only laughed again and linked their hands together as the started to walk down the beach towards a few well-known hiking trails.
“This of course wouldn’t be a problem if I still had my previous abilities,” Heckyl said conversationally. “I don’t miss them as much as I thought I would.”
Chase blinked and looked at Heckyl as they walked together. Heckyl had never talked about this particular subject before. Chase wished he could say something to help, but Heckyl smiled.
“I miss the dramatic flare,” Heckyl admitted, “But there’s something nice about walking place to place. There is something strangely satisfying about slowing things down and enjoying the world. You know, instead of wanting to destroy it.” Heckyl winked and Chase laughed silently in return. Few people appreciated Heckyl’s dark humor.
They walked down the beach and up one of the cliffs to a remote place that overlooked the ocean. The sun hung low in the sky as the water slowly swallowed it up. It was beautiful.
“This is where my impatience is trying.” Heckyl said wistfully. “I was going to wait until the meteor shower started, but I – I can’t wait a second longer.”
A meteor shower? Chase smiled, he hadn’t even realized that one was scheduled to take place that night. Not that he kept track of such events. He was glad that Heckyl somehow knew.
“Chase,” Heckyl turned and faced Chase. “I guess I should, um, Riley suggested I get on one knee, but if it’s alright with you I’d rather stand.”
Wait, on his knee?
“Chase,” Heckyl said and pulled out a ring made of a dark metal etched with intricate designs that were breathtaking to say the least. “I wish for nothing more than the pleasure of spending the remainder of our lives together.”
Without waiting for a response Heckyl slipped the ring onto Chase’s finger. Chase stared at the little band and met Heckyl’s eyes with excitement and joy too great to be bottled up.
“What do you say?” Heckyl asked in a very shy way.
“Yes.” Chase said. The sound of his own voice filling up his ears had him startled. His fingers went to his throat as he wondered if he had finally snapped and gone insane. “Holy crap.” He whispered – he whispered. He had spoken!
“It worked.” Heckyl grinned.
Chase’s eyes widened. “What did you do?” He asked, still shocked and overwhelmed that he was able to speak again.
“I paid a friend a visit.” Heckyl smiled. “I knew that he would be able to find something that might reverse your affliction. I made Kendall a ring as well – not as pretty as yours, mind you. She is also healed.”
Chase crashed Heckyl’s lips with his own and laughed – truly laughed.
“Even if I could never speak again,” Chase told Heckyl as the starts started to fall from the sky. “I would have found a way to show you how much I love you.”
“You already have.” Heckyl said and kissed his fiancé.