Hope For Love

Ok guys, please don’t kill me! I tried so freaking hard to do the cute cuddly first real bath with using pretty things, and Chinese food and getting to know you conversation and I JUST COULDN’T DO IT… I might be willing to go back and do it later and edit it in or something but for now, I’m bringing you a short chapter focusing entirely on our Ninjas in hopes you won’t just lynch me for taking so freaking long to update the story.

Please review, I’d love to hear what you have to say, to get any suggestions or comments about the missing scene and any volunteers to write one or more of the characters in an rpg-ish sort of way to help me bust through my huge ass mental block!

Thank you all so, so, so much for sticking with me!

Chapter 6.1 Sorrowful Goodbyes

Two weeks later found Hunter meditating in ops, his cheek throbbing with a cut and his leg burning with the bruises after a sparring practice with Shane had gone sour. He had, had another nightmare the night before and was nearly in a fit of rage when Shane came into ops and saw him reading, the fact of which prompted teasing. It was done playfully but Hunter had readily given in to the inviting loss of control and their fight quickly escalated from teasing words to fisticuffs in a matter of moments. He was glad that Shane could take care of himself and in his own anger, made a wrong move, landing himself on the floor.

He took another deep breath, his body slowly working out the tension from the previous night and the humiliation of having to apologize to the hot headed air ninja. He knew the fight was inappropriate but he had needed it so badly. ‘Breathe’ he chastised himself, trying to relax his racing mind enough to give in to the soothing ebb of his subconscious.

He felt someone approach and tensed up searching out the presence and quickly identifying the solid quiet wall and ginger scent as Cam. He sighed, relaxing again and even further as the older boy sat across from him silently and drifted into his own meditational state.

Cam was a beautiful swordsman, a loyal friend and the one ranger besides his brother he felt completely safe to let himself go with. He trusted Cam as much as Blake, wondering at times if he didn’t actually trust the beautiful man more as he didn’t feel the need to protect him as fiercely as he did Blake.

He waited a few long moments, his mind desperately scrambling for peace and tranquility before disgustedly giving up his pursuit and opening crystal blue eyes to study his counterpart.

Cam sat before him in an outfit Hunter secretly loved. Black trousers that fit him snugly but flattered his slight build and a soft cotton shirt in black that hugged the wiry muscles of his arms and chest. He wore the typical green button-up over it, open to show the black and his amulet hung proudly around his neck. His hair was getting longer, the bangs of it brushing his eyelashes and tangling delicately in them, giving Cam a wispy look. His features were delicate and rather effeminate, red lips, just a tad too lush and suitable for a woman throwing him in the land of pretty and beautiful rather than handsome.

Cam opened warm brown eyes, their depths sparkling with hidden excitement and caution, “Hunter… I have some news,” he offered calmly as his hands fiddled with an envelope in his hands. “I don’t really know if it is good news or not, I suppose that is up to you, but I found some information for you I thought you would like to see.” He offered as he offered the envelope to Hunter with an expectant look.

Hunter took the envelope, his entire body strung out on adrenaline as his hands shook while opening it. He read the contents, his eyes closing in pain as a sob welled up in his throat. He stared at Cam in shock, lips trembling as tears gathered in his eyes and lashes. “Nowhere? I mean is there a way that it’s just in a really small plot or something?” He asked, his lifeless fingers dropping the results for the burial search for Cheyenne.

Cam shook his head sadly, “No, I’m really sorry Hunter but I searched every database in the US to try and find her grave, she doesn’t have one she was probably cremated.” He said softly as he hesitantly reached forward and clasped Hunter’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Hunter, I know how much you wanted to find something,” he whispered gently as he scooted closer and hugged the younger man when his tears began to fall.

Hunter’s breath shuddered as he spoke against Cam’s warm shoulder, “I just wanted to see her, visit her… even if it was only her grave…” he whispered, admitting his desires aloud to the other man as he was slowly rocked in Cam’s embrace.

Cam nodded his understanding before pulling back, “Hunter, why don’t we get out of here for a bit, I want to take you somewhere,” he begged softly, happy to receive an instant assent.

He drew the other man to his feet, holding his hand firmly as they exited ops and made their way past the entrance from the waterfall into the surrounding forest. They were about to streak away when Tori greeted them kindly, drawing their attention to the rest of their team approaching from the well marked path. “Cam, Hunter! Hey guys, what are you up to?” She called out sweetly, noticing their joined hands but not commenting on it or Hunter’s blotchy face.

Cam smiled at Tori, one of his first great friends and shook his head gently, “We’re going off for a bit, there was some unsettling news for Hunter and I wanted to take him somewhere peaceful to get his mind off things,” he explained gently.

Blake frowned, coming up to check on his brother, offering a hug that was more emotional than the winds were used to seeing from the brothers. “Hey bro is everything alright, what’s going on?” He asked softly as he dried off a new tear from Hunter’s cheek.

Hunter sighed and looked to Cam beseechingly for help to explain. “Cam… he was looking for some information on Cheyenne for me.” He finally admitted to Blake before continuing softly, “He…” Hunter stopped and swallowed thickly before turning his face away as the winds drew closer to hear and offer their support.

Cam took pity on Hunter and continued the explanation as they all sat on the rocks surrounding the pool at the entrance to the academy portal. “Do you want me to explain all of it guys?” He asked Hunter and Blake carefully, smiling gently when Blake nodded and pulled Hunter to bury his face in his shoulder.

Cam faced the winds and gave them a weary smile. “Hunter and Blake had a sister at one time, who was separated from them when they were kids and their adoptive parents died.” He said quietly, waiting for their exclamations to pass before continuing, “They received word about two…” here he glanced at Blake to get his acknowledgement and continued, “Two years later that Cheyenne had died due to complications with an illness.” He said softly, running a comforting hand over Hunter’s back as he shuddered.

“For a long time, Hunter has been trying to find peace within himself and acceptance of Cheyenne’s death; he was hoping to find closure with the situation and asked me to look for her burial site so he could visit with her.” He paused briefly his eyes apologetic to Blake as he knew he would learn of the information at the same time that the Winds did. “I pulled off the search, looked everywhere, checked every loophole and database and there just isn’t a burial plot anywhere. The most likely scenario being that she was cremated and her ashes were kept with her new guardian.” He finally spoke, causing another harsh sob to escape from Hunter.

Tori’s eyes were bright with tears as she moved forward to wrap Hunter and Blake in an affectionate hug. “Oh guys, I’m so sorry, why didn’t you tell us before?” She asked softly as she held them both and was quickly joined by Shane, Dustin and Cam. They sat huddled together for several long moments before cam cleared his throat again. “I was going to take him to a spot higher up in the mountains to try and help him out for a bit, you guys should come.” He offered quietly, gaining their eager consent before standing. “Come on, I want you to follow me ok?” He whispered to Hunter, meeting his bleary red eyes and giving him a soft understanding look.

They streaked up to the top of the mountain, the sun shining brilliantly in the distance as they looked around the view from the flat high cliff on the peak of the mountain. Shane sighed happily as he lifted his arms in greeting of the air surrounding them as Dustin quickly sat on the ground and buried his hands in the dirt. Blake stood near to Hunter and Cam, listening quietly to the whispers that the samurai ranger spoke to his brother while holding on to Tori tightly, his own tears slowly brimming forth as he processed the news.

Cam, for his part, was holding Hunter in a tight embrace, unconcerned for the moment on how intimate they looked and not caring what the others thought as he tried his hardest to comfort the crimson lightning ranger. “Hunter, you once told me you wished you could just scream, let out all of your emotions about the unfairness of your childhood go. I want you to do that, no one can here you from up here, you’re surrounded by people who love you and I promise I’ll be here the entire time, I’ll even scream with you if you want.” He offered as he hugged the other man, slowly stroking his back as Hunter shuddered against him.

Hunter pulled back to give Cam a saddened smile, the corners of his mouth slowly turning up as he tried to give the other man a sign that he was ok. “Thank you, Cam. You don’t know how much your being here helps.” He whispered gently before turning to the horizon and letting his expression harden.

He felt Tori and Blake draw close, Shane and Dustin silent guards at his back as he inhaled sharply, filling his lungs with the crisp mountain air surrounding them. He glared at the setting sun, a fitting reminder as he squeezed Cam’s hand tightly and taking another breath, screamed loud and hard, finally releasing all of his fury upon the earth.

The others watched in amazement as clouds began to appear and the air charged with the heady feeling of electricity. Bolts of lightning began to erupt around them as Hunter finally let go of every damper and hold on his emotions and raged against the sky with all of his anger and hurt and sorrow.

He heard Blake join him, wildly throwing his hand out to grasp his brother’s as Cam and then Tori began to lift their voices in the howling madness. Answering energies circled each other and combined, wrecking havoc as Shane and finally Dustin lent their own voices and powers to the mix, the lightning and rain mixed with brutal gusts of wind, thunder and the upheaval of the earth. Raw brutal power erupted around them, focusing the other elements in aerial streaks of green tinted energy as they spent themselves and their energies, lending them to the Bradleys in their time of need.

Hunter finally quieted, the others joining him at random until finally it was silent. The elements faded away and suddenly Hunter felt lighter and freer then he had in his entire life. He sobbed with bittersweet happiness as he hugged Blake and Cam to him, the last of his energy spent as he buried his face in Cam’s neck and slowly pressed a kiss to the warm skin, a silent thanks that was met with a calming pulse of acceptance and love from the other man.

He waited several long moments before finally pulling away and settling himself as he gazed around the mountain. He turned grateful eyes to the rest of the team, smiling to them each in turn as they met his gaze with steady understanding. He would always miss Cheyenne, and would never forget her but at last; he finally felt that he might be able to find a little bit of peace for himself and the strength to move on.

They sat in companionable silence for several long moments before Shane sighed and stood, “Come on guys, let’s go get something to eat.” He beckoned softly to the others, stretching as Tori, Dustin and Blake stood to join him. Shane smiled as Cam shook his head gently, “You go ahead, I’m going to stay with him for a while.” He offered softly to the others in excuse for them both before turning to watch the sunset with the elder thunder ninja.

They sat together quietly as the watched the blazing sun disappear and bring the day to a close. There was a tension there between them that hadn’t existed for many months. It was different than the ill disguised mistrust Cam had held for the thunders when they first joined the team after the debacle with Lothor. Instead it was a heavy tension, one filled with possibilities if only one would voice their acknowledgement of it.

Hunter yearned to feel Cam’s hand upon his own, his arms wrapped around his body in that embrace that promised comfort and love. He had been slowly falling for the older man for quite some time, though he was much too afraid to admit anything of the sort. It would be all too easy for Cam to destroy him if he gave him that power over his heart and soul, yet still he yearned for it.

Cam sighed, disrupting the younger man’s indecisive broodings as he leaned over and pressed wary lips to Hunters in a short sweet kiss. “I’m not promising anything, and I don’t want to rush into anything as long as Lothor is a threat, but if we survive this, and if we still have this burning inside, we’ll talk.” He whispered gently to the taller man before standing and offering his hand, accepting Hunter’s relieved expression and shy smile as his answer before he stretched. “Come on, I want more Pad Thai,” he offered abruptly before turning and streaking off towards ops.

Hunter smiled after the green streak and looked around the now dark and empty cliff. “Goodbye, Cheyenne,” he whispered softly, his hand stroking a rock softly before he followed his team home.

A/N: OK so… I want to know what you think!!! I realize I kinda went a bit fast with the touchy stuff between Cam and Hunter so I put in what I thought would be Cam’s logical response to their mutual attraction. As the coming months unravel I’m sure you’ll be amused with Hunter’s attempts to persuade Cam to other ideas. I know this is much shorter than usual, it wasn’t meant to be a full chapter. I’m going to have to figure out how to continue the Wes/Eric/Cheyenne side of things. If anyone has suggestions, or would like to help me get over my writers block with them, please feel free to pm me or review with ideas. I won’t abandon this story, not something I want to do, but I am having a bit of trouble with keeping everything flowing with that side of things so until I can get out of this writer’s block bubble I should hopefully come bursting out with more updates.

Hope you all enjoyed it!

Hugs and Kisses
Makia