HARSH WORDS

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Takes place in the same reality as "Bad Dream" and Protective Magna" and is set after directly after "Stolen Beauty". I don't really like Kai, but I tried not to let that influence my writing, and I apologize if it did.

Kai angrily stomped after Leo.

"I can't believe you! You never listen!" he shouted.

"It worked!" Leo defended.

"Yeah, and it nearly cost us our zords!" Kai shot back.

"Guys, stop it," Kendrix pleaded.

"Yeah, we won, we should celebrate," Maya added.

"But we nearly lost! And all because of him!" Kai told them, pointing to Leo.

"Kai, you better watch it," Mike warned.

"Hey, guys, why don't you just chill out?" Damon suggested.

"I told you exactly how to destroy Crunchinator and you ignored me!" Kai shouted.

"In case you forgot, I'm the leader! It was my decision to make!" Leo shot back.

"Oh, yeah. Some leader. You can't even listen to other people's ideas!" Kai yelled.

"Kai, stop it," Mike snapped.

"You're so dumb, Leo! Deaf and dumb!" Kai exclaimed, ignoring the other boy. Before he knew what was happening, Leo had grabbed his shirt and slammed him against the wall. Kai cried out in pain.

"Don't you call me that! Don't you ever call me that!" Leo told him, repeating his actions.

"Leo, stop it!" Kendrix exclaimed.

"Man, you're crazy. I don't know why the Saber even accepted you," Kai commented.

"That's enough, Kai," Mike growled. "Leo, come on, Little Brother. Let him go," he continued, his voice softening. Leo let out a labored breath, but did as he was told. "Come on, let's get out of here." Leo nodded and let Mike lead him away.

"Can you believe him?" Kai asked. To his surprise, Maya punched him in the shoulder…hard. "Hey! What was that for?" he wondered.

"You were so mean! You had no right to be so mean!" she snapped, and then ran off.

"She's right, man. You were really harsh," Damon agreed. Then, he was beeped and he took off.

"Kendrix, you see my point here, don't you? I mean, Leo was completely reckless and-" Kai began.

"And you were a total jerk, Kai," Kendrix interrupted. "I know that for some reason, you don't get along with him, but you need to follow his lead while we're in battle," she continued.

"But he was wrong!"

"And so were you! Maybe his idea was a bit reckless, but being condescending and undermining him while we're doing our jobs doesn't help!" Kai stared in shock as Kendrix stomped off. Meanwhile, Mike had taken Leo to his room, where the younger boy had immediately started throwing things.

"I can't believe he called me that! Where'd he even hear that phrase?" he seethed.

"I think it was just a bad coincidence, Little Brother," the older boy said.

"It was just like being back at home! I half expected to be dragged to the shed," Leo stated. Mike blew out a breath and tried not to wince at the thought of their father's backyard shed.

"Leo, come on. He's in jail, Little Brother. He can't hurt us ever again," he reminded. The Red Ranger turned around and looked at his older brother worriedly.

"Mike, is he right? Did I do something really stupid back there?" the younger boy asked timidly.

"It was a little reckless, Little Brother, but not as bad as Kai made it sound," came the answer. Leo nodded, but he didn't look convinced. Mike grabbed Leo's chin and forced him to look at him. "You are not dumb. Do not let that kind of thinking back in." It had taken him years to undo their father's brainwashing, and he wasn't going to let Kai's stupidity undo his work. Leo grinned at him softly.

"Thanks, Mike."

"Anytime, Little Brother."