Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started as a casual observation, something Theo offhandedly mentioned to Lily one afternoon as he watched Casey and RJ spar in the training room.

“Is it just me, or does RJ look at Casey like he’s about to write him a love song?” Theo muttered, eyebrow raised as he watched RJ toss Casey across the mat—though with suspiciously gentle hands.

Lily’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she caught RJ flashing a rare, genuine smile at Casey as he helped him up. “Oh, definitely. And Casey’s got it just as bad, even if he doesn’t realize it. Look at him—he’s blushing.”

Casey was indeed blushing, his cheeks bright red as he brushed himself off and grinned at RJ, totally oblivious to what that look meant.

That was the moment an idea began to form in Lily’s mind. She glanced at Theo, raising an eyebrow. “How long do you think until one of them figures it out?”

Theo smirked. “Not any time soon. Casey thinks he’s straight, remember?”

Lily snorted. “Oh, that’s not stopping him from looking at RJ like he’s a piece of pie.”

Dominic walked over, catching the end of the conversation. “Wait, are we talking about RJ and Casey?” He followed their gazes, watching as RJ casually draped an arm over Casey’s shoulder, pulling him close as he demonstrated some new move. Casey’s eyes went wide, practically melting under the contact, though he tried to play it cool. “Yep. They’re oblivious,” Dominic said, chuckling.

Lily grinned, eyes twinkling. “Wanna make a bet on how long it’ll take?”

Within minutes, a full-fledged betting pool was underway.

As part of their bet, everyone took on “roles” to subtly (or not-so-subtly) nudge RJ and Casey toward realizing their feelings. Lily had taken it upon herself to be Casey’s “relationship counselor,” giving him constant hints.

“So, Casey,” Lily said innocently as they cleaned tables together, “have you ever thought about… you know, dating someone unexpected?”

Casey glanced at her, frowning. “Unexpected? Like who?”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Lily shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Maybe someone close to you? Someone you see every day?”

Casey furrowed his brows, thinking hard. “Like… Theo?”

From across the room, Theo made a face. “Absolutely not.”

“Casey, you’re completely missing the point!” Lily sighed, barely able to keep her patience. “Maybe someone with… a wolf spirit?”

Casey blinked, clearly bewildered. “You think I should date a wolf?”

“Oh, my gosh,” Lily muttered under her breath. “Forget it.”

Meanwhile, Dominic and Fran were doing their best to drop hints to RJ. Dominic, in particular, had become quite invested in his mission, taking every opportunity to bring up Casey.

“Hey, RJ,” Dominic said as he handed RJ a towel after a long workout, “you ever notice how… good Casey’s hair looks? Like, all the time?”

RJ paused, giving him a confused look. “His hair?”

“Yeah,” Dominic continued, not missing a beat. “It’s, like, really nice. Soft-looking. Bet it’d be fun to, I dunno, ruffle or something.”

RJ chuckled, rolling his eyes. “You’re weird, man.”

“Or… I dunno,” Dominic said, shrugging as he tossed out his final, desperate attempt. “Ever think about how, I dunno, he’s got a cute smile?”

RJ laughed again, though he looked away, clearly a little embarrassed. “Dom, you’re losing it.”

Fran, overhearing, covered her mouth to hide her giggles. “We’re getting close,” she whispered to Dominic as RJ walked off.

The whole team had gathered around the counter, discussing their progress.

“I’m telling you,” Dominic whispered to the group, “it’s only a matter of time. RJ is definitely catching on.”

Theo scoffed. “RJ? No way. Casey’s actually been the one blushing every time they talk lately.”

“Oh, please,” Lily interjected. “I give it another day before Casey finally cracks and realizes he’s been in love this whole time.”

Just then, RJ walked out from the back, moving over to Casey, who was tidying up by the tables. “Hey, Case,” RJ said, his voice softer than usual, “you got a minute?”

Casey looked up, blinking, and nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

The team watched intently as RJ led Casey to a quieter corner of the restaurant, an intense but unreadable expression on his face.

Casey felt his heart racing as RJ leaned against the wall beside him, crossing his arms as he gave Casey a curious look.

“So… everyone’s been acting a little strange lately,” RJ began, a slight smirk on his face. “Especially when it comes to you and me.”

Casey laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah… I noticed that too. It’s like they’re… waiting for something.”

RJ raised an eyebrow, glancing around to make sure they weren’t overheard. “Well, maybe we should give them something to talk about.”

Casey’s eyes went wide. “Wait… what?”

RJ’s smirk grew, his gaze warm and intense as he took a small step closer. “I’m saying, maybe we don’t have to wait to figure out what this is between us.”

Casey’s heart skipped a beat. “RJ, are you saying… you…?”

RJ chuckled, reaching up to ruffle Casey’s hair. “Took you long enough, Tiger.”

As realization dawned, Casey felt his face heat up. And before he knew it, he was grinning, a spark of confidence in his eyes. “Well, if everyone’s expecting something…” he murmured, stepping a little closer to RJ, “then maybe we should give them what they want.”

And with that, Casey leaned in, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips to RJ’s in a quick, soft kiss.

The rest of the team erupted in cheers and groans, the bets immediately being tallied up as Theo handed Lily a few dollars, Dominic celebrated, and Fran clapped excitedly.

“Finally!” Dominic said, pumping his fist. “Took them long enough.”

Lily grinned, nudging Theo. “I told you Casey would be the first to crack.”

As RJ and Casey pulled apart, glancing over and realizing their friends had been watching, they both laughed, Casey’s cheeks bright red but his smile wide.

“Well,” RJ said with a shrug, “guess the secret’s out.”

With laughter and playful ribbing from their friends echoing around them, RJ and Casey shared a look—both realizing that this was only the beginning of something amazing.

Chapter Text

Jungle Karma Pizza was buzzing with its usual energy. Casey was at the counter, stacking menus, while Lily and Theo served customers. Fran managed the orders, and Dominic entertained a group of kids at one of the tables with some impromptu magic tricks.

RJ lounged in his usual corner, barefoot, sipping tea. It was one of those rare calm afternoons that allowed the team to catch their breath.

The calm, however, was short-lived.

The bell above the door jingled, and a group of oddly familiar faces strolled in.

The first pair was a light blonde in a pink blouse and a man with short, tousled brown hair, both smiling as they scanned the place. Behind them were a rugged guy with wild hair and a gentle-looking woman in a white blouse. Bringing up the rear was a sharply dressed couple, the man in a red vest, the woman in sleek black and pink.

Leo and Kendrix, Cole and Alyssa, Wes and Jen.

Casey blinked, his brain short-circuiting for a moment. Red Rangers?

RJ looked up and gave his signature grin. “Well, this is unexpected. Looks like we’ve got some VIPs today.”

“Hey there,” the first one, Leo said. “This must be Jungle Karma Pizza. Heard about it from a mutual acquaintance.”

“Dr. K?” RJ guessed.

Wes chuckled. “Close enough. So, you must be RJ.”

“That’s me.” RJ leaned on the counter, gesturing to Casey. “And this is my boyfriend and your Red counterpart, Casey.”

Casey managed a polite nod. “Hi. Uh, welcome. Can I take your order?”

Kendrix, Leo’s partner, smiled warmly. “We’ll take a large veggie pizza, please.”

“I’ll have a meat lover’s,” Cole said, putting an arm around Alyssa, who giggled.

Wes, ever the gentleman, turned to Jen. “Ladies first.”

Jen smirked. “Large pepperoni. Extra spicy.”

As the group settled in, chatting amiably with the Jungle Fury team.

“This is wild,” Dominic whispered to Theo. “It’s like a Red Ranger convention.”

Fran nodded, wide-eyed. “And their girlfriends are just as impressive. Look at Jen—she’s like a general or something.”

The conversation quickly turned into a chaotic mix of banter, teasing, and friendly rivalry.

“So, Casey,” Leo began, leaning forward. “How’s it feel being the youngest Red here?”

Casey straightened, trying to look confident. “It’s fine. I mean, I’ve got a great team and RJ’s always there to back me up. Besides, I’m not that much younger than you guys.”

RJ smiles proudly.

Wes grinned. “Don’t worry, Case. We’ve all been the newbie before.”

Jen raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes darting between Casey and RJ. “So, Boyfriend, huh? Nice.”

“You have excellent taste,” Kendrix added with a wink.

RJ’s arm instinctively slid around Casey’s waist. “What can I say? I’m a lucky guy.”

Casey groaned under his breath, trying not to look like a tomato.

After a while,

RJ, ever the instigator, decided to propose a pizza-eating contest. “Let’s see which Red has the biggest appetite.”

Cole immediately perked up. “You’re on.”

Minutes later, the table was piled with pizzas, and the Reds were diving in with gusto. The girlfriends and the Jungle Fury team watched in amusement, while RJ leaned casually against the counter, offering running commentary.

“My money’s on Cole,” Dominic said.

“I’m betting on Leo,” Lily countered.

Theo shook his head. “I think Wes might surprise us.”

In the end, it was Cole who emerged victorious, much to RJ’s chagrin.

“Beginner’s luck,” RJ muttered.

Cole laughed. “Or maybe I’m just better with food.”

As everyone recovered from the pizza overload, Alyssa clapped her hands together. “We were planning to explore the city a bit. Any recommendations?”

Lily’s eyes lit up. “You should check out the shopping district! It’s got everything—clothes, souvenirs, cool knick-knacks.”

Theo added. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice. We could show you around if you want.”

Jen exchanged a look with Wes. “That sounds fun. What do you think?”

Leo grinned. “Let’s do it. It’ll be nice to walk off all this pizza.”

RJ raised a brow. “Sounds like an adventure. Casey, you up for being their guide?”

Casey nodded. “Sure. You coming?”

RJ smirked. “Of course. Can’t let you have all the fun without me.”

The shopping district at Ocean Bluff was bustling, the streets lined with colorful stalls, boutiques, and food vendors.

“I love markets like these!” Alyssa exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she admired the vibrant displays of fruit and handmade crafts. The group split up, pairing off to explore different shops.

Leo and Kendrix immediately dove into the clothing section, where Kendrix spotted a cute summer dress. “This would look great on you,” Leo said, holding it up.

Kendrix laughed. “And this would look great on you,” she countered, holding up a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt.

“Deal,” Leo said with a grin, buying both.

Cole and Alyssa were sampling everything from fresh fruit to homemade pastries. “Try this!” Alyssa said, handing Cole a bite of a sweet pastry.

Cole’s eyes lit up. “That’s amazing!”

They walked away with a bag full of goodies, both looking like kids in a candy store.

Wes and Jen found themselves in front of a game stall. “Think you can beat me?” Wes teased, eyeing the dart-throwing game.

Jen smirked. “You’re on.”

After a fierce competition, Jen emerged victorious, holding up a giant stuffed animal. “Better luck next time, Red,” she said, planting a kiss on Wes’s cheek.

Meanwhile, Casey stuck close to RJ, who seemed oddly possessive, keeping a hand on Casey’s shoulder or waist at all times.

“You’re hovering,” Casey whispered as they browsed through a rack of jackets.

“Just keeping an eye on my tiger,” RJ replied casually.

As Casey admired a leather jacket, a sales assistant—a young woman with a bright smile—approached him.

“That would look amazing on you,” she said, her gaze lingering a little too long.

RJ’s hand immediately tightened on Casey’s waist. “He’s taken,” he said, his tone light but unmistakably firm.

Casey’s eyes widened. “RJ!”

“What?” RJ replied innocently, though his grip didn’t loosen.

Lily, who was nearby, stifled a laugh. “You’re going to scare people off, RJ.”

After an hour of exploring, the group regrouped at a clothing store, and got into the spirit of trying on clothes, with everyone picking out outfits for each other.

“Casey, try this!” Lily called, holding up a red shirt with intricate designs.

Casey emerged from the dressing room wearing the shirt, and the room erupted in compliments.

“You look great!” Kendrix said.

“Very heroic,” Alyssa added.

RJ, however, was uncharacteristically quiet. He was too busy admiring Casey, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary.

Jen elbowed him. “Careful, you’re drooling.”

By the end of the trip, the group was weighed down with bags and laughing at their shared antics.

“You Jungle Fury guys are fun,” Leo said as they walked back to the restaurant.

“You’re not so bad yourselves,” Dominic replied.

As they reached Jungle Karma Pizza, Leo clapped Casey on the shoulder, “Thanks for showing us around. You’re doing a great job holding down the fort here.”

“Yeah,” Wes agreed. “You’ve got a great team also. If you ever need advice, you’ve got three Reds right here.”

“Thanks,” Casey said, smiling.

“And if RJ gives you any trouble,” Cole added, smirking, “you let us know.”

RJ raised an eyebrow. “Trouble? Me?”

“You’re trouble incarnate,” Lily said from behind the counter, earning another round of laughter.

As the group said their goodbyes and left, Lily turned to Casey. “Well, that was a fun day.”

“Fun for you,” Casey muttered. “I spent half the day being RJ’s armrest.”

RJ leaned down, brushing a kiss to Casey’s temple.

After the chaotic day,

The restaurant quieted down with only the regulars left to enjoy their meals. The team had retreated to the back, cleaning up while Casey wiped down tables. RJ was sitting at his usual spot, tea in hand, his gaze flickering between Casey and the door.

Casey finally noticed how unusually quiet RJ had been since the Red Rangers and their girlfriends had left. Normally, RJ would be cracking jokes, tossing a few philosophical tidbits into the mix, or doing anything but sitting silently.

Casey approached him, wiping his hands on a rag. “Hey, you okay? You’ve been… I don’t know, glue-like all day.”

RJ raised a brow. “Glue-like? That’s a new one.”

Casey plopped down across from him. “Don’t dodge the question. You’ve been hovering, throwing territorial vibes left and right.” He leaned forward, eyes narrowing playfully. “What’s going on?”

RJ hesitated, twirling his tea mug between his hands. Finally, he let out a long sigh. “It’s nothing. Just… seeing those guys with their girlfriends, you know? They looked so… in sync. So picture-perfect.”

Casey blinked, confused. “Okay? And?”

RJ set his mug down and gave Casey a small, sheepish smile. “You’re a Red Ranger, Casey. A leader. Someone amazing. And all those Reds today had incredible women by their side. It just… made me wonder if—”

“Wait.” Casey interrupted, his jaw dropping. “You think I’d want a girlfriend just because they have one?”

RJ didn’t answer right away, but the way he rubbed the back of his neck said everything.

“Oh my God,” Casey groaned, leaning back in his chair. “RJ, are you serious? You think I’d trade you for some random girl?”

RJ chuckled softly. “Not trade, per se. Just… I don’t know. I’m not exactly conventional boyfriend material.” He gestured vaguely at himself. “I’m a little… different.”

Casey stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.

RJ frowned. “You’re laughing? That’s cruel.”

“No, it’s not that.” Casey leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand as he smiled warmly. “RJ, you’re not ‘different.’ You’re you. You’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met.”

RJ raised a brow. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“I’m serious,” Casey said, his tone softening. “Just because I’m a Red Ranger doesn’t mean I have to follow some rulebook. I don’t need a picture-perfect couple dynamic or a girlfriend to be happy. I’ve got you. And you’re all I need.”

RJ blinked, his usual confidence faltering for a split second. “You mean that?”

Casey rolled his eyes and got up, walking around the table to stand in front of RJ. “Of course, I mean it, you big doofus.”

Before RJ could reply, Casey leaned down and kissed him, his hands resting on RJ’s shoulders. The kiss was soft but firm, a silent reassurance that RJ didn’t need to doubt him.

When they pulled apart, RJ smirked. “Well, that was convincing.”

“Good.” Casey straightened, crossing his arms. “Because if you act all insecure again, I’ll tell Fran to cut off your pizza privileges.”

RJ gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” Casey shot back, his smile teasing.

The next day, the team could immediately tell that the mood between Casey and RJ had shifted. Lily noticed how RJ seemed more relaxed, his usual carefree vibe fully restored.

As they prepped for the day, Fran approached Casey, grinning. “So, what happened last night? RJ seems… happier than usual.”

Casey shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Nothing big. Just reminded him how amazing he is.”

Dominic leaned against the counter, smirking. “You mean you kissed him senseless until he stopped sulking?”

Casey turned bright red. “Dominic!”

Theo, as usual, shook his head. “You two are exhausting. I don’t know how you have the energy to deal with all this relationship drama.”

Lily chuckled, nudging Theo. “Admit it. They’re cute together.”

Theo sighed but didn’t deny it.

And if RJ occasionally pulled Casey into his lap just to remind everyone who he belonged to, well, no one was surprised.

Chapter Text

It was a quiet evening at Jungle Karma Pizza. The last of the customers had left, and the team was winding down, cleaning up and prepping for the next day. Casey was scrubbing the counters a little too hard, his mind elsewhere as he tried to work through the tangled mess of feelings that had been eating at him for weeks.

Or, more accurately, one specific feeling. About one specific person.

RJ.

Casey had always considered himself a straightforward kind of guy. Girls were cute. He liked girls. He dated girls. That’s how it was. Simple. No question about it. Except now… there was a question about it, and it was all RJ’s fault.

“Casey, you’ve been scrubbing that spot for ten minutes,” Lily’s voice broke through his thoughts, her tone amused.

Casey blinked, realizing he had wiped the same circle of counter until it was practically shining. “Oh. Uh, just… making sure it’s clean,” he muttered, trying to play it cool.

Lily raised an eyebrow, smirking as she leaned against the counter. “Right. And this sudden dedication to cleaning has nothing to do with you spacing out for the last half hour?”

“I’m not spacing out,” Casey insisted, though his ears turned red, betraying him.

From across the room, Theo chimed in, “You’ve been weird all day, man. If you have something on your mind, just say it. Preferably so we can stop hearing Lily’s conspiracy theories.”

“I don’t have conspiracy theories,” Lily said, feigning offense. Then she added under her breath, “But I do have theories.”

Casey sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. It’s… complicated.”

Lily perked up, clearly intrigued. “Complicated? Oh, we love complicated. Spill it.”

Casey hesitated, glancing around the room. Theo and Lily were watching him expectantly, and Fran had wandered out of the kitchen, looking equally curious. Dominic was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, grinning like he was ready for drama. And worst of all, RJ was sitting on one of the stools, completely relaxed, watching Casey with his usual calm curiosity.

This wasn’t how Casey wanted to have this conversation.

“It’s nothing,” Casey said quickly, grabbing a dish towel as if that would help him escape. “I’m just… figuring some stuff out. That’s all.”

“Stuff?” Lily pressed, her eyes narrowing. “Is this about someone?”

“Maybe,” Casey mumbled, feeling the heat rise to his face.

There was a beat of silence, and then Dominic burst out laughing. “Oh, this is good. This is real good. Who’s the lucky—”

“Nope!” Casey cut him off, holding up a hand. “We’re not doing this.”

RJ tilted his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You sure, Casey? Sometimes talking helps.”

That was the problem, wasn’t it? Talking would help. But how was he supposed to say, “Hey, RJ, I think I might have a thing for you, and it’s making me question everything I thought I knew about myself”?

He couldn’t.

So instead, he just stood there, flustered and defensive. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll figure it out.”

Lily exchanged a glance with Fran, and they both smiled in that knowing way that made Casey want to crawl under the counter.

“Oh,” Fran said softly. “I think I know what this is.”

“No, you don’t,” Casey said quickly.

“Yes, we do,” Lily said confidently. “And if I’m right, it’s about—”

“Lily.” RJ’s voice was calm but firm, cutting through the chaos. Everyone turned to look at him. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and met Casey’s gaze. “Give the guy some space.”

For a moment, Casey thought RJ might actually understand what he was going through. But then RJ smiled, and it was the kind of smile that made Casey’s heart race in a way he wasn’t ready to admit.

Lily sighed dramatically. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”

The others eventually dispersed, leaving Casey and RJ alone in the quiet restaurant.

“You okay?” RJ asked, his voice softer now.

Casey hesitated, then shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe?”

RJ nodded, leaning back in his chair. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now, you know. Sometimes it takes time to figure out what you want.”

Casey looked down at the dish towel in his hands, his mind racing. “Have you always known? About… you know.”

RJ smiled, a small, knowing smile. “That I like guys? Yeah. Pretty much always. But it didn’t make things easier at first. Took me a while to get comfortable with it.”

Casey nodded, chewing on his bottom lip. “I’ve only ever liked girls before. And now… I don’t know. It’s confusing.”

RJ tilted his head, studying Casey carefully. “Does this have anything to do with me?”

Casey’s head snapped up, his eyes wide. “What? No! I mean—” He groaned, covering his face with his hands. “Maybe.”

RJ chuckled softly, standing up and walking over to him. He placed a hand on Casey’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay, Casey. You don’t have to figure it all out tonight.”

Casey peeked out from between his fingers, his cheeks burning. “You’re taking this a lot better than I thought you would.”

RJ shrugged, his smile warm and genuine. “Why wouldn’t I? I like you, Casey. And I’m not going anywhere, no matter how long it takes you to figure out what you want.”

For the first time that night, Casey felt himself relax. Maybe he didn’t have all the answers yet, but RJ was right—he didn’t have to figure everything out all at once.

And if RJ was willing to wait, maybe it was okay to take things one step at a time.

Chapter Text

Casey stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, his hand hovering over the purple mark on his neck. He winced, lightly dabbing at it with foundation, trying to blend it into his skin. “Come on…” he muttered to himself, hoping it would be enough.

RJ had been in a… let’s just say “enthusiastic” mood the night before. And now Casey was left with a rather obvious reminder. He’d been so flustered when he saw it that he’d grabbed Lily’s makeup stash, hoping to cover it up. But no matter how much he tried, it still peeked through.

After a few more attempts, he gave up, hoping that maybe, just maybe, no one would notice.

As soon as Casey stepped out to start his shift, he noticed Lily watching him with a suspiciously amused smile.

“Good morning, Casey,” she sang, her gaze lingering on his neck. “Anything new going on with you?”

Casey’s face flushed, and he quickly adjusted his collar, trying to cover the mark. “Nothing… just a regular morning.”

But Lily wasn’t buying it. She leaned in, smirking. “Uh-huh. And that’s why you’re trying to cover that little… accessory?” She pointed at the barely concealed hickey with a grin.

Casey’s hand flew to his neck, his face turning beet red. “I—uh… it’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like,” she teased, crossing her arms. “Let me guess. RJ?”

Theo and Dominic, who were busy setting up the tables, overheard and came over, both curious and amused. Dominic’s grin widened as he noticed Casey’s failed makeup attempt.

“Dude, that’s… wow. Did RJ lose control or something?” Dominic laughed, earning a glare from Casey.

Theo just sighed, trying (and failing) to hide his smile. “RJ really couldn’t hold back, could he?”

Casey groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Please stop.”

RJ finally emerged from the kitchen, looking perfectly relaxed and, as usual, a little oblivious—until he spotted Casey’s attempt at covering the mark. A knowing smirk played on his lips as he sauntered over, leaning casually against the counter next to Casey.

“Good morning, Tiger,” RJ said smoothly, his voice warm. “Did you sleep well?”

Casey shot him a look, a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. “RJ, you know exactly how I slept. And now everyone else does too!”

RJ chuckled, clearly enjoying Casey’s reaction. “Ah, so they noticed?”

“Of course they noticed,” Casey muttered, casting a glare toward Lily, who was doing her best to stifle a laugh.

RJ shrugged, looking unbothered. “Well, maybe it’s not such a bad thing. They’ll know you’re taken.”

Casey’s eyes widened as he felt a rush of heat spread across his face. “RJ!”

RJ just grinned, his gaze warm and steady. “Relax, Casey. You look cute.”

Dominic snorted, giving RJ a mock salute. “Mission accomplished, boss. We all know who the hickey king is now.”

Casey covered his face, absolutely mortified, while RJ just laughed, clearly having no regrets.

Despite the teasing, Casey couldn’t help but feel a small thrill at RJ’s possessiveness. And as the day went on, he noticed RJ staying close to him, giving the occasional affectionate touch or reassuring squeeze on his shoulder.

By the end of the shift, Casey’s embarrassment had faded into something softer. He and RJ were cleaning up together when RJ leaned down, brushing his lips close to Casey’s ear.

“Next time, just skip the makeup, okay?” RJ whispered with a grin. “I kind of like the idea of people knowing you’re mine.”

Casey felt his cheeks heat up all over again, but he couldn’t hide his smile as he looked up at RJ. “Fine. But only if you keep it subtle.”

RJ chuckled, pressing a light kiss to his forehead. “No promises.”

Chapter Text

At a shared martial arts seminar in California, two unlikely figures found themselves on the same panel of instructors: Johnny Lawrence, the perpetually gruff sensei of Eagle Fang Karate, and Robert James (RJ), the laid-back yet sharp mentor of the Jungle Fury Rangers.

While the students mingled, practicing techniques under different masters, Johnny and RJ sat off to the side, sipping their respective drinks—Johnny with a can of Coors Light, and RJ with a health smoothie that Johnny eyed suspiciously.

“Your students look soft,” Johnny said, nodding toward Casey, who was casually laughing with Miguel as they practiced a sparring technique.

RJ raised an eyebrow. “Soft? You mean agile, adaptable, and, oh, I don’t know… not obsessed with punching first and asking questions never?”

Johnny scoffed. “You can say what you want, smoothie guy. But my students don’t need animal spirits to kick butt. They’re tough. Real grit. Miguel? Top-notch.”

RJ gave him a lazy grin. “Sounds like you’ve got a favorite.”

Johnny bristled. “I don’t play favorites.”

“Sure you don’t.” RJ leaned back, sipping his drink. “Neither do I. Every student is equally… challenging.” He shot a glance at Casey, who was now balancing on one leg while demonstrating a complex spin kick to Miguel.

The two mentors shared a silent look.

“…Okay, maybe one favorite,” they admitted simultaneously, before both glaring at each other.

The seminar ended with a surprise announcement: each dojo would exchange a student for a week to train under a new master.

Casey was assigned to Johnny. Miguel? To RJ.

The announcement was met with mixed reactions:

Casey: “This guy doesn’t even believe in chi. What am I supposed to learn?!”
Miguel: “Does this mean I get to learn how to summon a tiger or something?”
Johnny: “This is dumb. My methods are flawless.”
RJ: “A week of Johnny’s… techniques? Should be interesting.”

Casey and Johnny

Day 1 at Eagle Fang Karate was rough for Casey. Johnny’s teaching style was… chaotic, to say the least.

“Alright, Rhodes,” Johnny barked, tossing Casey a headband. “First lesson: intimidation. You see that kid over there?” He pointed to a scrawny teenager struggling with a heavy bag.

Casey blinked. “Uh, yeah?”

“Call him a loser.”

“What? No!”

Johnny crossed his arms. “Come on, it’s a test. Build confidence by tearing someone else down a peg.”

Casey sighed. “That’s not how we do things at Jungle …”

Johnny rolled his eyes. “No wonder your kicks are so soft. Fine. Let’s spar.”

The sparring session ended with Casey pinning Johnny to the mat, much to the latter’s irritation.

“Alright, maybe you’re not totally useless,” Johnny grumbled. “But you’re still weird. ‘Chi’ and all that crap. Whatever.”

Miguel and RJ

Meanwhile, Miguel’s introduction to RJ’s methods was equally baffling.

“Okay,” Miguel said, watching as RJ poured him a cup of herbal tea. “So… when do we start the training?”

“This is training,” RJ replied, sitting cross-legged on the mat.

Miguel stared at the tea. “What does tea have to do with martial arts?”

“Everything,” RJ said cryptically. “Now, drink it and tell me what animal spirit you feel.”

Miguel hesitated but took a sip. “Um… a hummingbird?”

RJ smiled. “Interesting. Let’s work on your agility.”

By the end of the session, Miguel was drenched in sweat from an obstacle course that required him to dodge swinging logs while balancing on a narrow beam.

“I thought this was about animals!” Miguel panted.

“It is,” RJ replied. “You’re the hummingbird. Quick, precise, and—” He leaned closer. “—a little too chatty. Focus more on your breathing next time.”

The Reunion

At the end of the week, the two students returned to their respective masters.

Miguel practically ran back to Johnny. “Sensei, RJ is… weird.”

Johnny snorted. “Tell me about it. That Casey kid? Total show-off.”

Casey, however, had a newfound appreciation for his own master. “RJ, can you believe Johnny made me call someone a loser?!”

RJ raised an eyebrow. “Did you?”

“No!” Casey crossed his arms. “But still. He’s… intense.”

“And yet,” RJ said with a knowing smile, “you survived.”

GP Chat Chaos

Later that evening, the two teams gathered for a shared group chat:

Miguel: Can’t believe I had to drink tea to “find my animal spirit.”
Casey: Can’t believe I had to call someone a loser to “find my confidence.”
Theo: Did you guys learn anything?
Johnny: Yeah, did they? ‘Cause Casey still hits like a kitten.
RJ: Miguel doesn’t breathe enough when he dodges. Very hummingbird-like.
Johnny: …Seriously?
Fran: Can we all just agree that none of you should teach kids about chi OR insults?
RJ: Disagree. Chi is universal.
Johnny: Disagree harder. Insults build character.

Meanwhile, Casey and Miguel exchanged a private message:

Casey: Your sensei’s intense.
Miguel: Yours is… strange.
Casey: Want to trade again?
Miguel: Nope.