18. …as encouragement with Billy & Av?
A/N: Took me long enough to answer this one, lol, according to tumblr you sent it in 2021. But we're here now so here you go! Lol Also, I immediately thought of a lighter piece of this ages ago, but when writing it now a bit more of a somber yet peaceful note took it's place. So it's a bit unorthodox of the usual thought of "encouragement" is.
A/N: I also didn't tag anyone in this because I'm going to tag them when I reblog it from my PR tumblr account.
-
Avalon reached out and gently stroked her fingers across Billy’s cheek. Tender and affectionate. All the while she studied his relaxed face, relaxed after finally finally falling asleep. The worry had eased from between his eyebrows, the hashness of his jaw had lessened.
He breathed softly as he lay next to her, cheek pressed into the rolled back sleeve of his dress shirt. His tie had been discarded the moment he hit the front door after the service, immediately breaking away from his father’s grief to combat his own.
She’d simply followed Billy to his room, stretching out on the bed next to him, tucking her black dress around her knees. Briefly having the thought that it was strange to see herself and her brightly colored friends in the monochromatic dress code. As if Rita had finally found a way to pull the plug on their happiness and watch it swirl down the drain with glee.
Avalon tucked her body closer to Billy’s, watching as his eyelashes fluttered, eyes twitching beneath the lids. Something about REM sleep, Billy’d rattled off on a tangent about it once before, side-stepping their almost daily bickering of him drinking coffee as a breakfast and her staying up all night.
All at once, his eyes flew open and he sucked in a sharp breath, startling Avalon so badly in the moment that she nearly put her fist through his nose. Surprised to find her hand extended, Billy looked at her, working to take in deep, calming breaths.
Slowly, the blue ranger grasped her hand and pulled it forward, placing it against the fabric of his dress shirt, against his chest where his heart thudded; sprinting as fast as his wolf zord could pound the pavement.
Avalon looked at him expectantly, for once not having a smart thing to say to lighten the mood. Didn’t have a snarky remark that would make him roll his eyes and laugh. It wouldn’t have been the right time for it. Instead, she watched him, watched his dilated pupils shine with the tears that worked its way up as the seconds passed.
He pressed his larger hand over hers, holding it firmly against his chest.
She could feel him shaking.
He was scared, she realized.
The orange ranger moved closer to him, her breath over his face, his over hers. She leaned in. Her lips met his and his world was okay again, she could feel his heartbeat slow as his shoulders relaxed.
She pulled away and looked him in the eye, voice soothing and reassuring as she said, “I’m right here.”
