Power Rangers Jungle Fury: Rise of the Dragon

Chapter 7: A New Connection & A New Ride

Damian sat inside a Starbucks, enjoying the slight bitterness of his iced coffee as he leaned back in his chair. He wasn't usually one for coffee, but today, he felt like trying something different. It was a rare moment of peace, away from the constant training and battles against Dai Shi's forces.

Just as he was about to take another sip, someone caught his attention—a young woman with auburn hair and striking green eyes stepped into the café, scanning the menu. She had an air of confidence about her, but there was also something casual and down-to-earth in the way she moved.

He wasn't one to initiate conversation, but fate had other plans. As she turned to walk toward a nearby table, she accidentally bumped into him.

"Oh—sorry about that," she said with a small laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear.

Damian simply shrugged, his usual cool demeanor intact. "No problem."

She glanced at his drink. "Iced coffee, huh? Not bad. But you seem more like an espresso guy."

That made him smirk slightly. "And what makes you say that?"

She leaned against the counter, tilting her head as if analyzing him. "You've got this whole brooding, lone wolf thing going on. Espresso just seems more your style."

He chuckled softly. "Guess I'll have to try it next time."

She extended her hand. "Thea. Thea Queen."

He hesitated for just a moment before shaking her hand. "Damian. Damian Wayne."

"Well, Damian Wayne, maybe I'll see you around. If you ever want a coffee recommendation, I'll be happy to assist." She winked before grabbing her drink and heading toward the door.

He watched her leave, a small smirk still lingering. It wasn't much, but it had been a refreshing interaction—something normal for once.

Hitting the Track

Later that day, Damian was at the motocross track, the sound of roaring engines filling the air as he sped around the dirt course. His black and gold bike handled each jump and turn with precision. It felt exhilarating—something about the freedom of the ride, the control, the adrenaline—it was different from battle, but just as thrilling.

As the sun began to set, Damian pulled into the pit area, parking his bike and pulling off his helmet. He wiped the sweat from his brow, still high off the rush of the race.

"Yo, Damian!" called Zeke, the track's manager. He was a burly man in his forties with a love for extreme sports and a keen eye for talent. "You ever think about racing competitively? We're holding a competition in a few weeks—$2,000 prize for the winner."

Damian thought about it for a moment. He hadn't considered racing seriously before, but something about it intrigued him. "I'll think about it."

Zeke clapped him on the back. "You've got skill, kid. If you enter, you've got a real shot."

Damian nodded before packing up his gear and changing back into his civilian clothes. With his bag slung over his shoulder, he hopped onto his bike and made his way back to Jungle Karma Pizza.

A New Idea

As Damian pulled up to Jungle Karma Pizza, he noticed Theo and Lily returning from their evening run. They stopped as soon as they saw his bike, eyes widening in surprise.

"Whoa, since when do you ride?" Theo asked, stepping closer to admire the sleek black and gold design.

Damian casually swung off the bike, removing his helmet with his usual cool indifference. "Always have."

Lily crossed her arms, an amused smile forming. "And you never thought to mention that?"

He shrugged. "Didn't think it was important."

Lily chuckled, shaking her head. "You really do have that whole 'mysterious loner' thing down, huh?"

Theo frowned slightly, crossing his arms. "Yeah, real cool."

Lily glanced at Theo's reaction and giggled. "Jealous much?"

Damian smirked at Theo's growing frustration, further annoying him. Lily's laughter grew louder, and Theo huffed, turning toward the entrance. "Whatever."

Still smirking, Damian made his way upstairs to RJ's loft. He found their mentor sitting cross-legged on the couch, eyes half-closed as he balanced a slice of pizza on his index finger.

"RJ, got a question for you."

RJ opened one eye. "Shoot."

"Think you can help me build a powered motorbike for Ranger duties? Figured I could use the extra mobility in a fight, and I've taken a real liking to riding. Thought it'd be a cool addition."

RJ grinned. "Funny you should mention that. I was already working on one for Casey. If you don't mind helping, we could build both."

Damian raised an eyebrow. "Deal."

RJ tossed him a wrench. "Then let's get to work."

As Damian caught the wrench, he felt a sense of excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. Between meeting Thea, the thrill of racing, and now working on a Ranger-powered bike, things were starting to get even more interesting.