Yes that's the title of the chapter. Yes I'm a comedic genius. Thank you. (I'm sorry that's so dumb but I really can't think of a title and I'm feeling ✨not good✨ so when I thought of this for the title I laughed for a full two mintues and don't want to change it) I hope you like this chapter. It was a real b*tch.

Remus couldn't tell what he hated more. Renette's pacing or her silence. Both were unnerving to say the least. She just walked back and forth before the Rangers-well, the ones that remained at least-her phone continued to light up and buzz and ring on the table but she didn't even hesitate. She just put her fingers to her temples and muttered to herself while she paced. As Remus watched he felt Dee's breathing against his neck and his arms tighten around Remus' waist. Remus let his own body rest on Dee's on the bean bag. His hands on top of Dee's comfortingly. He was starting to get sick while watching Renette pace so he looked around at the others.

Roman and Logan sat at the table. His brother had an arm around his friend and the two were talking about a possible plan to get Patton back, but they were so drained of energy their planning felt more like hopeful yawning than anything else. Thomas wasn't even in the basement. Remus didn't know where he was but he felt uneasy about Thomas not being there. He sensed the whole room was uneasy and on edge and more, but when Remus looked over to the bright pink inflatable couch he couldn't help but let a little smile creep onto his face. Emile and Remy laid next to each other, smushed on the couch, taking sips of Peace Tea and handfuls of popcorn as they whispered to each other and giggled.

"Hey." Remus whispered to Dee before placing a kiss in his hair. "Look over there."

"Mmm." Dee grunted but lifted his head. "Oh."

Remus looked at Dee's face. His eyes were still puffy from crying and his face was a little red but as he looked over at Remy and Emile his eyes softened. He even smiled a little. Remus liked that look. He felt Dee's arms around him tighten just a little bit and he welcomed the feeling.

"Alright." Renette finally stopped her pacing to look at the crew. "First and foremost, someone needs to go get Thomas."

Remus looked around the room and figured he might as well, so he gave Dee a smile before standing up. Dee let his arms fall against the bean bag, giving Remus an upset look.

"Thanks Remus. Just hurry, we really need to get you all home and I've gotta get through everything I need to say." Renette rushed him up the basement steps.

As Remus got to the top floor he began meandering around, searching for Thomas. He called out a few times but received no response. Remus figured he must be in his room so he walked down the hallway, turned right, and began making his way to Thomas' door. Luckily for him it was slightly open and he walked in, there he saw Thomas, sitting on the floor at the bottom of the bed, clutching a picture frame, and mumbling.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I failed. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He whispered. He was mostly apologizing, but occasionally he was lamenting his failures. Remus was having none of it.

"Thomas." He said, trying to be soft. "C'mon, Renette needs us downstairs so we can all talk."

Thomas nodded and began wiping at his face. Remus walked over to him and offered a hand to help him up. Thomas took it and stood, still on the verge of sobbing, but he held himself together. The older man placed the picture frame down on the bed and Remus decided to take a sneaking glance at it. In the picture he saw three people, one with wildly colored hair and a bright smile, another slightly taller person wearing an orange beanie, and the third, a little kid being lifted up by the second. The kid he immediately recognized as Patton. Dark brown hair, darker eyes, and most likely him unless Thomas cried over pictures of random white parents and their asian kids. That must be Joan and Talyn, Remus decided.

"Thomas," Remus wracked his brain. He couldn't say nothing. What would Patton say? What would Patton say? "You didn't fail them. I'm sure if they were here they wouldn't blame you."

Thomas gave him a very weak, very forced smile, before the two began their walk back downstairs. Remus had almost forgotten just how still and unnerving the air was down there without Patton's presence. Thomas went over to Roman and Logan and sat down with them at the table, meanwhile Remus speed walked to Dee, collapsed onto him, and held him there until Renette began speaking.

"So, to begin with some good news. Patton's not dead." Renette stated.

"How do you know?" Logan asked, he wasn't even trying to hide his hopefulness.

Renette smiled like she'd been hoping someone would ask. "When a Power Ranger dies, is no longer worthy, is too old, or injured to the point where they can never be a Ranger again, the morphers return to the Black Ranger, who then follows the instincts that their morpher gives them in order to make sure the morphers can find their perfect match. If Patton were dead or too injured to fight the pink morpher would have returned to Thomas, but seeing as how that hasn't happened yet, we can infer that Patton is both alive and well. Uh, well enough for the circumstances."

"What's the bad news?" Dee asked. "Usually if there's good news, there's also some bad news."

"Actually, more good news." Renette told him, her smile just as forced as Thomas' had been. "I know how we're going to get Patton back and have devised the perfect, though vague, plan for doing so!"

"Really?!" Emile shot up and looked at her with so much hope. Renette looked absolutely shattered.

"However, now is time for the bad news." Renette took a breath, in that time the room's attitude shifted so quickly Remus felt like he was in a reenactment of 'Hot N Cold' by Katy Perry. "The only way we would actually be able to retrieve him, is by going to space, specifically the Dragon Witch's ship which is in orbit around Mars currently. This is bad news because the only way you can get there is with your Zords and Thomas is the only one of all of you capable of summoning your Zords. Only having one Zord fly you up into space to infiltrate the Dragon Witch herself would be the dumbest plan known to man, and sadly the Pink Zord would be the best for a rescue mission considering it can turn invisible, but we'll make do."

The room was silent.

"Look, this is a lot to take in." Renette's voice softened. "And we haven't even gotten to the real reason I've kept you all here so late. It's been a terrible day and I'm not going to start shouting battle directions at you tonight. We'll begin with the plans and the training and everything in two days. You all need time to process. So finally, we're going to be discussing plans to tell your families the truths about your identities as the Power Rangers."

It was quiet for a beat before Roman, Remus, Logan, and Dee burst into conversation.

"What?!" Remus stood up.

"Absolutely not." Roman deadpanned.

"You can't be serious." Logan stated.

"My moms are gonna kill me!" Dee told Renette.

Roman and Remus continued explaining in hurried and loud tones that their parents would make them a spectacle and ruin everything. Logan started speed talking about his sisters and the stress they would feel and so on. Dee just kept saying 'My moms are gonna kill me' and variations of that over and over.

"Boys!!" Renette's voice rang out over them. The highschoolers fell silent. "I said, discussing plans. That does not mean we're telling all of your families without your consultation. Believe me this is the last thing we wanted and is certainly going to be difficult, but I at least need all of you to think about it over the next couple days."

The room was quiet again and Remus thought about his parents' faces if Roman tried to tell them. He didn't know whether to laugh or be afraid so he settled for both.

"Now, you've been here far too long already. I'm going to send you all home and urge you to try and get a good night's sleep. Please." Renette offered them another strained smile.

This had effectively ended the meeting and everyone said their goodbyes rather quickly and timidly. When Roman and Remus arrived home neither of their parents were there and without speaking the two continued their life-long tradition of Roman putting frozen garlic bread in the oven and Remus standing there and waiting because he still wasn't trusted with the oven. When the bread was done Roman silently gave two pieces to his brother and two pieces to himself before the two split off to their respective rooms to eat it.

Halfway through his second piece Remus heard his parents arriving home. His mood immediately shifted. The garlic bread tasted stale and he spit it out into a napkin from Chipotle. Remus put the half piece of garlic bread down on his dresser and waited. He heard his parents talking until that faded as they went to their room. Remus sat on his bed, practically praying they didn't leave their room for the rest of the night. Sadly, it didn't work because not long after he heard them begin walking around downstairs again.

His heart pounded as the footsteps got closer, though didn't go up the stairs. He realized they were nearing Roman's room and began to worry his brother was having the same reaction as him. Short breaths, clamped shut eyes, trying to will their parents into not opening the door. The footsteps stopped and Remus heard some voices but couldn't make out words. Finally that stopped too and the footsteps retreated. Remus' heart stopped beating so hard and he let his body relax.

Remus couldn't sleep. He knew Roman couldn't either. When Roman couldn't sleep he turned all of his lights off and played music or had a movie marathon on his laptop. Roman tried to keep the volume down but when your brother's room is right below yours, and the house you share is as hollow as bird bones, the sound seeps. Yet, Remus has never told his brother about the noise, Remus didn't know if it was because he didn't mind it or if he actually cared about his brother, but he decided to never really ask.

When Remus didn't sleep he dragged the old space heater from the basement to his room plugged it in and put it on full blast. Sure, it was the first week of November, but this was still Florida, and as Remus would put it 'Florida is hot as balls'. He never knew why the space heater comforted him, but it did, and Remus was currently in desperate need of some comfort. He sat, knees curled into his chest, right in front of the heater, ensuring the warmth hit him.

He was slightly startled when he heard buzzing and felt some vibration in the floor next to him. Remus outwardly groaned and fell down on his side, not moving until his phone buzzed again. Remus unwrapped one of his hands and lifted his phone, opening it quickly and wiping at his eyes so he could actually read it.

11:57 pm

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

are you asleep

n

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

did I wake you up

n

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

r you ok

12:02 pm

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

re neither of us like heavy talks but Im worried abt you

y tho

im fine

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

no youre not

none of us are fine rn but its different everytime

someone starts yelling you get scaredand cry and

if your psycho momismaking you like this i swear

im getting youout of there rn you arent staying there

12:09 pm

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

re pls answer me this isnt a good time for any of us

to shut up

my mom is shitty

u no this

its not imptnt

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

I think it is

seems like a u problm

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

Im coming over

dee no im fine

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

are you sure

. . .

Remus didn't know how to respond. On one hand he wanted to be alone, but on the other he knew Dee always made him feel better.

no

can u come over

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

tree house front door or window

tree house

💖🍑🍆💖Dee 💖🍆🍑💖:

b there asap

Remus put his phone back down. He didn't know how he felt. Usually Remus knew exactly what he was feeling, but now as he sat in the dark hot room, he was lost. He wondered for a moment if this was how Logan felt. Remus decided to move toward the front window and watch for Dee's car to drive by. Dee would never stop in front of their house, but he did go to the end of the street and park at the dead end. Remus grabbed the still hot to the touch heater and hauled it over to the window. He sat on the floor, heater in his lap pointed at his face, as he watched outside. Normally it wouldn't be cold enough for the glass to fog up but it was so hot in Remus' room the window did anyway.

As he watched he noticed the music from Roman's room had stopped. He assumed his brother was either about to put on a movie or was attempting to fall asleep again. Whatever the case Remus couldn't help but feel a little upset that the only noise that he could hear now was the humming of his heater and the cars passing their street. He thought maybe he could put on some music of his own-it would be a million times better than the music Roman plays-but his phone was where he had left it before and Remus didn't feel like moving again.

Finally Dee's car passed his house making Remus practically hop up from where he was and unplug his heater. As he left his room Remus made sure to grab his phone and walk as quietly as possible down stairs. He took careful and practiced steps on the hardwood, ensuring his parents wouldn't hear him. When he reached the back door Remus unlocked it swiftly and was out in the slightly humid Florida night air. Remus went around the house to meet Dee in the front and waited.

He saw his boyfriend walking down the street and couldn't help but smile. He had his face buried in his phone, probably trying to text Remus, but when he looked up and saw the taller man he shoved his phone in his pocket and started running. Dee reached Remus quickly and they embraced roughly, as if it was the first time they'd seen each other in years. Remus kissed his boyfriend's temple and held him, listening to Dee whisper into his shoulder. His words were sloppy and Remus could only really hear a few 'god I love you's and 'are you okay's. When the two pulled back Remus realized Dee wasn't wearing his makeup. He'd only seen Dee's vitiligo two times. The first was when Dee showed him in Remus' tree house, and the second when the two had gone back to Dee's house on halloween. Remus lightly traced the edge of the pale skin with his index finger, something he vaguely remembered doing Halloween night, though his memory of that night wasn't the best.

"That kinda tickles." Dee told him softly. Remus could see the tiredness in his eyes. When Dee was tired he didn't have much of a filter. Remus loved it really. "Why are your hands so soft?"

Remus chuckled but didn't really say anything. He started leading Dee to his tree house by the hand until Dee tripped over something and swore.

"What is that?" Dee asked.

"It's my space heater." Remus explained picking up the machine and presenting it for Dee to see.

"Okay." Dee nodded, though it seemed like he wanted to ask more.

The two continued their walk, though now Remus had his heater in one arm, and Dee in the other. Remus sadly had to let go of his boyfriend when they reached the latter, but he got him back once they were through the trap door and inside the dark treehouse. As he brought Dee in just to hold him, he smelled the flowery shampoo and felt more at ease.

"Remus?"

Remus practically groaned that he had to let Dee go again, but he did anyway to face whoever else was in the treehouse. Apparently his twin brother had had a similar idea and brought Logan up into the tree house. If Roman wasn't in a hilarious love-hate relationship with Virgilius and Logan wasn't a total simp for Patton, Remus would wonder why they weren't dating.

"Because, you rat, they would dance around each other for years not even acknowledging their feelings until someone else points it out to them and then after a few late-night epifanies they finally get their feelings out there and end up married within the month." Dee told him. Remus must have said that last part out loud.

"Speak for yourselves." Roman rolled his eyes and huffed.

"Hey, we're not married." Dee pointed a finger at him.

"Yet." Remus added. "I'm not eighteen yet."

As Remus and Dee started moving to sit down with the other two Remus caught a whisper of "Am I a simp?" and the reply "Yes, yes you are.". Remus and Dee took their places next to each other on the floor.

Roman shuffled around before grasping something and turning on the fairy lights that ran along the ceiling. Remus plugged in his heater to the outlet and put it in his lap, letting the heat build as it hit him. Then he heard some gasping from across him and Dee and went still.

"Dee . . . " Logan started. "W-what?"

Remus looked over to see two shocked faces before realizing what exactly they were looking at. Remus squeaked and shoved his hands over Dee's face, the heater falling into his boyfriend's lap.

"Nothing!" Remus shouted.

"Remus," Dee pried his hands away. "It's fine. I'll just explain. They should know anyway. I don't want any more secrets like this in my life."

"What even is this?" Roman asked.

"This, is vitiligo." Dee said, softly handing Remus his heater back and looked at the other two. "It's a skin condition that causes patches of my skin to lose pigment. I've been covering it up with makeup since, well since Kayley told me I wouldn't be her friend if I didn't."

"She did that?" Roman asked.

"Yeah, she's uh, she's done a lot of stuff." Dee gave a sort of sad smile. "But um, stuff's been put in perspective for me. I guess. I don't want secrets like this anymore. My vitiligo is part of me, and I don't want to hide it."

"And that's all the better for me." Remus chimed in. "I think it's hot."

Dee laughed and leaned against Remus more. A welcomed gesture.

"I hate her so much." Roman grumbled. "Her performative activism, her racism, her colorism, and the way she uses us. God I just want to punch her."

"If Pat heard you say that he'd probably scold you." Remus said without thinking.

It was quiet and Remus felt a little pit of regret in his stomach begin to form.

"Yeah," Logan broke the silence. "But he isn't here, so I say punch away. Just not on school grounds."

The four gave a few laughs and went back to silence. Remus kept his arms around Dee and his face buried in his hair. He loved that smell. He loved how familiar this position was. He loved Dee and he was happy that he'd told him.

. . .

When Remus woke up he was surprised to feel something next to him. At least, until he smelled flowers and remembered that Dee had spent the night. He figured a couple extra minutes of sleep couldn't hurt and pulled Dee closer. His boyfriend grunted and turned, facing Remus and put his head on Remus' shoulder.

"Baby." Dee mumbled, still half asleep. "School. We gotta-ugh."

"Can't we just skip?" Remus asked.

There was a buzzing from his nightstand and Remus sighed, sitting up and reaching his hand over trying to find the source. Finally he grabbed his phone and lifted it up, rubbing at his eyes and squinting at the bright screen.

UNKNOWN:

No skipping school.

Remus showed it to Dee while he looked around his room.

"Shit, did they bug my room?" Remus whispered.

Dee chuckled and kissed Remus good morning.

"You got any clean clothes I can wear?" Dee asked.

"Well I dunno about clean Jan, but I got some for ya." Remus shrugged and got out of the bed, heading to his closet to search.

"What?" Dee asked.

"What what?" Remus questioned still looking.

"You called me Jan." He said.

"Oh." Remus stopped. "Sorry. I don't know why I said that."

"No." Dee stopped him. "I liked it."

"You did?" Remus turned around.

"Yeah." Dee nodded.

"Well," Remus turned back around and continued looking. "I'll do it more often."

Dee didn't respond but Remus hoped he was smiling. After a little longer Remus found a black shirt with the Nirvana logo on it that he'd cut into a crop top a few months back. He threw it over at Janus and kept looking.

"Uhh, so I don't have any jeans or anything that'll fit you. Unless you wanna wear this tennis skirt that I stole from my cousin two years ago." Remus said. "Also, um, none of my foundation is your skin tone."

"I'll take the skirt." Dee shrugged. "And, about the foundation, maybe I just, won't wear any today."

Remus grabbed the skirt but went still before turning to make sure his boyfriend wasn't lying.

"Uhm, are you sure?" Remus asked. "Don't get me wrong, I love that, but that's a really big thing. I mean, a lot is happening right now are you sure-"

"I'm sure." Janus told him. "Patton's gone 'Mus. And me worrying about what people think of me isn't gonna bring him back. It just wastes time. If I can focus on summoning my zord, then we can get Patton back faster."

"Okay." Remus shrugged, tossing him the skirt too. "As long as you're okay with it."

"I am." Janus smiled.

Remus dug around a little bit more and found some baggy pants and a tank top. The two got dressed and snuck their way downstairs. Hoping not to run into Remus' parents. When they entered the living room Roman sat on the couch, very surprised to see them, but immediately started motioning for them to not go in the kitchen. When Remus heard the garage door close he realized that was his dad leaving for work. Roman motioned to the clock and told them they had to leave now or they'd be late for school.

Janus agreed and the three got in Roman's jeep. During the ride Roman asked Janus about his foundation, to which he gave the same answer he'd given Remus. Remus asked about breakfast and Roman agreed to go to a drive through to get something. They pulled up and parked in front of school just as Remus finished his egg and sausage sandwich. He grabbed his drink from the cup holder and shouldered his backpack, stepping out of the car and into the Florida sun. Remus was surprised when he felt Janus walk up next to him and wrap their arms together.

"Is this okay?" Janus asked.

"Is what okay?"

"I was thinking we could just be casual about it, but um, I want people to know we're together." Janus shrugged. "I probably should have talked about this with you last night."

"I want that too." Remus told him excitedly. "I want that so much!"

"Can I kiss you at lunch?" Remus loved that little twinkle in Janus' eye when he asked.

"God yes. Yes you can." Remus knew he was smiling from ear to ear, and he didn't miss the mirrored look that Janus was giving him.

"Good. I was getting a little worried that some handsome guy was gonna snatch you away from me."

"Why would I pick anyone when I've already got a ten right here." Remus got a nice chuckle from Janus with that remark.

"Even if it was Spencer Reid?" Janus asked jokingly.

"Well. . ." Remus looked away.

Janus gave him a fake gasp of surprise and rolled his eyes.

"He's hot Jan." Remus defended.

"Oh please, you're my bitch."

"I usually love romance, but this is getting gross and weird." Roman said.

"Gross and weird," Remus pondered. "Never heard myself described better."

"That should be the name of your fashion line." Janus suggested.

"Oh Honeybee that may just be the smartest thing you've ever said." Remus held his boyfriend's hand and squeezed.

"I'm truly a genius." Janus said smugly. "It also doesn't hurt that I'm absolutely dying to wear your sluttiest design."

"And that is the hottest thing you've ever said." Remus booped his boyfriend's nose.

"Ew." Roman walked faster ahead of the two.

Remus and Janus laughed together and walked into school happily holding hands. A warm feeling filled Remus. His brain was fuzzier than usual and his face was hot. He devoured the feeling. Loving the way it encompassed and consumed him. No more worrying, no more anxiety, no more of that pit in his stomach, no more bubbling in his throat. He savored that feeling. He cherished it and let it fill his senses. It was possibly the sweetest feeling he'd ever known.

Sadly however, it was short lived.

"Dee!"

Remus winced practically right away. God how he hated her voice.

"What the hell is this?" Kayley asked curtly.

Janus wasn't paying attention to her. When Remus examined Janus' face it was dreadful, but not because of Kayley, he didn't think Janus had even noticed her. No he was looking past her. Remus followed his line of sight and knew exactly why Janus looked so distraught. Megan, Patton's foster sister, was talking to Logan. Both with puffy eyes and sad expressions. Everything hit Remus once again. The stabbing pain always came in waves. And as much as Remus wanted to ignore it, run from it, he knew he couldn't. Patton was gone. It hurt. Maybe instead of getting over his hurt. He could weaponize it.

Weaponize hurt? Remus thought, I should tell the others about this? If it's not a motive then its at least a good band name. Weaponized Hurt.

"Dee!" Kayley practically shouted in his face.

Janus focused on Kayley, rather than a distraught look, he gave her one of smugness. God that's hot, Remus thought.

"Hey Baby?" Janus looked to Remus. "Can you go over and make sure Logan and Megan are okay while I deal with this?"

Remus audibly sighed. He wanted to see his boyfriend tear her to pieces, but he did as Janus asked and gave him a kiss on the head for goodbye. He got closer to Logan and Megan and motioned to let them know he was there.

"Remus." Logan looked a little surprised.

"Heya Lo." Remus gave him a nod. "Megan, how are you?"

"Oh ya know," The girl sighed. "My brother was captured by a crazy space lady and taken onto some spaceship and turns out he'd been the Pink Ranger for the past few months. Oh and I can't talk to anyone but the other Rangers about this. And I might never see him again. And everyone's going to be asking me where he is. And my mom is going batshit crazy. And I'm going batshit crazy."

"Yeah. . . " Remus looked away and back again. "I think that's reasonable."

"How would you know what reasonable is?" She scoffed a little. "You just walked into school with Dee Jareau on your arm after Kayley made it very clear she hates your guts."

"Whatever, I have an army of freshmen at my side. They're all 'down with capitalism' and 'eat the rich' she doesn't stand a chance against 'em." Remus told her.

Megan gave him a sad laugh. "I'd love to see some kids rock her shit. Anyway, I should probably go tell Naomi why her best friend isn't in school today. Talk to me though. Tell me about any and all updates. No offense to Renne or whatever her name was but I don't trust the government too much."

"I promise we will." Logan told her.

"Thank you." She gave the two a little smile and made her way over to Naomi. The two girls left for a private place and Remus turned to Logan.

"You okay?"

"I'm feeling well enough." Logan told him. "How about yourself?"

"It comes and goes." Remus said.

Logan nodded. "Have you seen Emile yet?"

"No, I just got here." Remus looked back over to Janus and Kayley who seemed to be a second away from tearing each other's eyes out. "But uh, I doubt he's coming. Can you imagine telling that kid he has to come to school? Let alone Thomas telling him he has to?"

"No, no I can not." Logan admitted. "I hope things go well for you and Dee. Just know that if the two of you and Kayley get in a physical altercation, punch for me as well. I don't ever believe I'll get to confront her over the comments she has made to me, but knowing you are able to practically do it for me, is good enough."

"You got it." Remus smirked.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say your boyfriend is about to commit a homicide." Logan told him.

"I know." Remus tilted his head as he stared at Janus. "I love him so much."