#robert james x reader

[amberbeach]

'AFTERMATH'

gif belongs to me

The chill of the space beside him alerted RJ that you were no longer sleeping beside him and had been gone for at least ten minutes. He sat up, looking around the room, the moon outside peeking in through the curtains granting enough light that he could see you weren't in your bedroom. He glanced at the clock as he got out of bed and quietly made his way to the living space, finding it was encased in darkness.

He looked around in confusion until he heard a noise from downstairs in the pizza parlour. A smile formed on his lips as he headed downstairs to the kitchen where he found you spreading sauce on the pizza dough you had made.

RJ chuckled, startling you, and you looked at your husband when he approached you. "Let me guess, midnight snack?"

"What? I'm eating for two now." You placed a hand on your bump, and RJ smiled as he stood behind you, placing his hands on your arms while kissing your cheek.

"Here." He took over the cooking, and you helped add toppings, looking over at him.

"Did I wake you?"

He shook his head, "The bed was cold."

He didn't have to elaborate for you to realize why he had started looking for you. It had been months since the incident, but the look in his eyes told you that it was still very much on his mind. RJ could never shake the fear that overcame him when he found you were gone. It took him back again and again and revisited him in his sleep. The night you were taken by Dai Shi, who stole your animal spirit to make himself stronger, haunted him every day since.

You frowned, observing your husband, whom you had met at the academy. You got married weeks after graduation and have been together ever since, and there was no greater test than helping him mentor three teenagers who could save the world.

You couldn't imagine how it must've been while you were gone. RJ had spoken about it after a nightmare, and you discussed his need to be closer to you once you returned. You knew that if the roles were reversed, you would've lost your mind with worry. And since your pregnancy, RJ was more protective than ever.

You approached the Purple Ranger, wrapping your arms around his waist, pressing a kiss to his shoulder after he placed the pizza in the oven. He smiled softly as he turned to you, and you rested your head on his chest as you stood in the lit kitchen, in his warm embrace.

"I'm sorry. I never thought - "

RJ shook his head, "I know. It seems silly now, months on, but I can't shake that feeling." He pressed a kiss to your head, meeting your gaze when you lifted your head to look up at him. "I thought I'd lost you. And I couldn't survive that." He placed a hand on your cheek, and you sent him a small smile.

"Do you remember what I told you at our wedding?"

"No matter what happens, we'll always have each other."

"Which means when - if - something happens to me, I'll haunt you forever."

RJ cracked a smile, and you smiled when he began to chuckle. He kissed you tenderly before walking to the oven to check on the cooking pizza. You placed your hand on your stomach in surprise, a smile forming on your lips.

"RJ," You called softly, gaining his attention.

He met your gaze, glancing at your hands. "What's wrong?"

"They're kicking." You told him.

He approached you, and you held his hand on your stomach. Moments later, he felt pressure against his hand, and he smiled brighter than you had seen in a while.

You met his gaze when he placed his hands on your cheeks and kissed you tenderly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

That night before time ticked by into the early hours of the morning, you headed upstairs and back to bed. RJ laid on his side while you sat with your back against the headboard, sharing the pizza you made as you added to the list of names you liked for both genders.

After the pizza was finished, RJ shifted until his head rested on your lap, and you smiled softly, combing your fingers through his hair, leaning over to turn off the lamp to allow your husband to succumb to sleep, knowing it didn't come easy to him lately.

While you still felt the void left by the absence of your animal spirit, it was nothing compared to the prospect of losing each other. And you were thankful that he and the Rangers had found you when Dai Shi went to extraordinary lengths to hide you away. He was growing stronger, but you knew the final confrontation between him and the Rangers was coming soon. And as you looked down at your husband you silently wished for him not to come to harm, and the Rangers.

Right now, you were still healing through the aftermath.

[amberbeach]

"YOUR PATH IS MY PATH."

gif belongs to me

When RJ returned to Jungle Karma after being captured by Dai Shi, you were upstairs above the pizza parlour, training to keep your mind occupied while hatching a plan to rescue him. You were startled when he stumbled in. The first thing you noticed was his torn clothes and how exhausted he looked.

Despite the pain and exhaustion weighing him down, seeing you again gave him the strength to smile. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."

"Oh my god, Robbie." You rushed to his side, hands hovering, afraid of touching any injuries.

You wrapped an arm around his waist and walked with him to the bedroom as you asked him about what happened during his capture. RJ left out some details, knowing how worried you would have been the past few days, and he didn't want to worry you further by mentioning his shattered connection to his wolf spirit.

After a shower to freshen up, and an examination for any injuries, you joined the team in the living area. RJ knew you were acutely watching him for any signs he was lying about any pain he was in, so he acted as he did before, and after a few hours when you were listening to his heartbeat as you spoke in bed about what he'd missed, RJ sensed your worries leaving you for the moment, granting you peace to sleep.

While you slept peacefully, his night was more eventful. In the morning he caught a news reporter detailing a supposed animal attack that left people injured and from the claw marks, RJ suspected he was the cause. He had arrived in the early hours of the morning before you had woken, slipping into bed without you noticing, and while the events were cloudy in his mind, RJ wasn't willing to put you or the Rangers at risk.

The parlour was busy that afternoon and Fran had enlisted your help to cook in the kitchen whilst the three Rangers took orders and got customers their drinks and take out their food, keeping the service running smoothly. In the few hours you were gone RJ began to pack a backpack with essentials, believing he could sneak out undetected. However, he had not expected you to come upstairs where you caught him closing the carved box containing his morpher and he quickly replaced the box on the shelf inside the red cupboard, closing the doors. He turned when you spoke and his chest rose and fell with a silent sigh when he saw your expression.

"What are you doing?"

RJ glanced away when he noticed your eyes squint, knowing you could read him better than anyone.

"Were you going to say goodbye?" You continued softly, moving closer. "Of course not." His eyes lifted to meet your gaze when you scoffed and you tilted your head. "I knew something was wrong. I could feel it, but I chose to ignore it because I didn't want to overwhelm you with questions on your first night back." You paused when he sighed. "I can't help if I don't know what's wrong."

"It's my animal spirit. Ever since Dai Shi attacked me," He held his shoulder, his features portraying the pain he was experiencing since the attack, before continuing, "I can't control my animal form."

"Why didn't you tell me?" You asked quietly, glancing at the wooden floors.

"I didn't want you to worry. And I didn't tell the Rangers because they would lose focus on Dai Shi."

"So you were going to - what? Sneak out when everyone was downstairs?" Your gaze lifted to meet his apologetic stare which only intensified when he saw your tears. "How could you do that? After everything we've gone through - you were just gonna leave?"

"It wouldn't be forever. Just until I learned to control it." RJ explained.

"I can help you."

RJ shook his head, "The Rangers need you now. To be their mentor in my absence."

"If you think I'm letting you go through this alone, then you're wrong." You stepped forward and when he glanced away briefly you knew he was faltering, unable to leave while you were looking at him with nothing but understanding and love that showed through everything you did. "Remember what I told you when I diverted from the path the Masters planned for me?"

"Your path is my path." RJ recited.

"And I meant it." You placed a hand on his chest, tilting your head up to hold his gaze. "Let me help you."

RJ lowered his head, slowly nodding as he met your gaze. "I don't want them to know." You nodded in agreement, the Rangers had enough to worry about with Dai Shi who was growing more powerful every day, and their worry for RJ would be a distraction.

You smiled softly at the man you had risked everything for. While the Masters voiced their opinions about your relationship, you and RJ knew you were stronger together than apart and so you left your position at the academy to join him in preparing the Rangers to defeat Dai Shi and you hadn't looked back since.

RJ lowered his shoulder, letting the backpack fall down his arm before allowing it to drop on the floor, and wrapping his arms around you. He closed his eyes when you kissed his cheek, promising that everything would be okay.

And he knew that it would be because he had you by his side.

[amberbeach]

'SLOW DANCING'

gif belongs to me

You were cooking as music played from the radio, waiting for RJ to close Jungle Karma, starting to sway to the music. RJ came upstairs, pausing when he saw you twirling around the basketball court. A smile formed on his lips as he descended the stairs, walking over to you, clearing his throat.

You jumped, surprised to find an amused RJ looking back at you. You glanced at his outstretched hand and smiled as you took it. RJ twirled you under his arm, placing his hand on your waist.

You placed a hand on the nape of his neck, smiling up at him as he quietly sang along to the song on the radio. You swayed to the music, slowly turning in a circle.

You rested your head on his shoulder, about to close your eyes when an alarm rang out. You sighed as you pulled away, knowing he had to leave.

RJ glanced between you and the other Rangers as they ran out, calling out goodbye as they went. "Go."

He smiled faintly, before walking away, turning back to kiss your forehead before running to catch up to the others.

Hours passed before he returned and when RJ found you curled up in his armchair, a blanket around you as you slept, he hushed the enthusiastic teenagers as they talked about their latest victory. As he approached the armchair, RJ turned on the radio, causing you to stir as the three Rangers left.

You looked around in confusion, smiling when you saw RJ, removing the blanket. "Hey, you're back. Is everyone okay?"

"They're fine." He held out his hands and you took them, letting him pull you to his chest. He held your hand, placing another on your waist as he swayed, leading you to the basketball court.

You smiled, resting your head on his shoulder, closing your eyes. "I thought we could pick up where we left off." He whispered in your ear.

You hummed, nuzzling your head into his neck and RJ wrapped his arms around you, as you placed your arms around his neck. You lifted your head, kissing him briefly before laying your head on his shoulder.

In a world where Dai Shi was always growing stronger, things could become a little chaotic and you loved a moment like this where you didn't have to think of the next battle, worry he was going to run off at a second's notice. And RJ silently vowed that once Dai Shi was defeated, there would be many moments like this.

[amberbeach]

'THE RHINO, THE WOLF AND THE FOX'

gif belongs to operationoverdrive

“He’s back?”

“He came in not long after you left.”

You dated Dominic during your days at the academy before he left on a path of self-discovery. You, Dom, and RJ were quite the trio back then. When he left, he made a hole in your lives appear. He wrote letters every week until he moved around so much that you only received a phone call once a month - if you were lucky. Then the calls eventually stopped.

The only good thing to come of his absence was your relationship with RJ. He knew he couldn’t fill the void and didn’t try to. He understood that you needed time, and during the late-night talks, training, and shenanigans, you fell for him. Since Dominic never broke up with you, you were reluctant to start a relationship with RJ. But then the phone calls stopped, and you assumed Dominic had forgotten about you while he was traveling. So you focused on becoming a master of your fox animal spirit.

And when RJ asked you out, you gave him a chance. You met through Dominic when you first began dating when he introduced you to his best friend, RJ. After two years, it was clear that Dominic wasn’t coming back, and you and RJ were closer than ever.

You joined him at the pizza parlor and helped him with the Power Rangers, giving motherly advice and strategic plans that had helped them win battles.

Everything was great. Until Dominic came back. You hadn’t officially broken up, so you wondered what he would think when he found out about you and RJ - who, of course, appeared very mellow about the situation, but you knew he was internally freaking out.

You walked down the steps to the kitchen, greeting Casey and Lily, who were on cooking duty. You went to the door and looked through the window at Dominic, taking orders.

“You okay?” Lily asked.

You turned, nodding when the door opened. Dominic caught you before you fell, and you quickly stood up and fixed your shirt. “Hey, Y/N! RJ told me that you were here.” He hugged you tightly, and you placed your hands on his back. “You haven’t changed.”

“Neither have you.”

RJ came down the stairs, and you excused yourself, going upstairs. You avoided the parlor for two hours, but RJ came upstairs, looking for you.

“What did you tell him?” You asked.

RJ leaned his arm on the back of the armchair you were reading on. “That we opened up a pizza parlor together. I thought the rest would be better coming from you.”

“Meaning…” You got to your feet, closing your book and turning to him. “You’re a scaredy wolf.”

RJ chuckled, moving around the armchair. “If anyone should tell Dominic -”

“Tell me what?” You turned around, and RJ quickly put his hands on your shoulders to stop you from falling.

“That…we would love for you to stay with us until you find your own place.” You smiled tightly.

RJ looked at you with disbelief, before nodding in agreement.

“Wow, thanks, guys!” He put an arm around you both. “It’ll be just like old times!” He kissed your head before going back downstairs.

RJ put his hands on his hips. “You have to tell him.”

You groaned. “Why can’t you?”

“I don’t want to.” RJ smiled at you when you wrapped your arms around his waist.

“Please…” You looked up at him, and he shook his head. You stepped back, sighing. “Alright. Fine. I’ll do it…” You ran across the room and got your jacket. “right after I get groceries!”

RJ shook his head when you ran out the door.

For the next week, you used any excuse to leave the house. You couldn’t be in a room with Dominic for more than two minutes. RJ had tried to give you time, but after three weeks, he decided that he would have to tell Dominic himself.

You carried the bags into the pizza parlor, and Dominic approached you, resting the brush against a table. He helped you carry bags upstairs. You smiled tightly as you placed the bags on the kitchen countertop.

“Thank you.”

Dominic smiled softly, placing the bags down. “I’m happy for you.”

You looked at him, and he chuckled. “RJ told me.”

“Look -” You began.

“It’s okay. Really. I didn’t expect you to wait for me. But you did, and that means a lot. I’m just glad that you're happy.”

Your shoulders slowly released tension, and you smiled faintly. “Really?”

“Yeah!” He smiled. “I just don’t want things to be weird between us. I know you’ve been avoiding me.”

You nodded sheepishly, and Dominic opened his arms. You accepted the hug, and RJ walked in.

“Everything okay?” He asked slowly, glancing between the two of you.

You nodded, smiling as Dominic placed his arm around your shoulders. “Everything’s fine.” He walked away, “I’ll get back to work.”

RJ looked at him before turning to you. “You’re not mad, are you?”

You shook your head and wrapped your arms around his waist. “No. I guess you’ve got that courage after all.”

RJ smiled as he placed his arms around you. “I asked you out, didn’t I?” He kissed your head, "my little scaredy fox."

You lifted your head to meet his gaze with a glare that lacked any ire and made him chuckle.