Blowing Bubbles
It was unusual, Jack noted, for Syd to go anywhere looking less than perfect, so when she walked into the rec. room that evening, hair slightly dishevelled and with smudges of paint on her forehead, it came as something of a shock. What was almost as surprising was that she didn't seem to care.
"What happened to you?" The words were blurted out before he realised it and he winced inwardly, ready for a sharp comeback. What he got was a giggle and that was not what he'd been expecting. "I take it your afternoon off went okay?" he finished cautiously and she dropped into a chair with a tired laugh.
"You could say that," she agreed. "My nephew was there and I don't get to see him that often."
"Nephew?" He hadn't realised Syd had a brother or sister. She never talked about them.
"Well, technically he's more of a second cousin," she said with a shrug. "His mom's my cousin but it's just easier to call him a nephew."
Jack nodded. "Makes sense I guess. What's that?" he asked, jerking his chin at the brightly coloured bottle she was holding, taking it off her when she handed it over. Unscrewing the lid it was to find there was a plastic stick on the end with a hole in it. He looked at her in confusion.
"You never blew bubbles as a kid?" she asked, her forehead creasing as she seemed almost as confused as he was.
"No."
"Okay, here. Pass it back." He handed it over with a shrug and she dipped the wand back into the bottle before pulling it out again. He had one moment to take in the bubbles floating towards his face before one burst on his cheek. He blinked, then, as he noticed Syd's delighted grin, another popped on his nose. As the pink ranger giggled at his bemusement he lunged forward in an attempt to get hold of the bottle again. He could easily have some fun with this.
Syd jerked back with a shriek before she dodged out of his way, holding the bottle behind her back. Jack gave her a wicked grin, then feinted to the left and grabbed to the right when she tried to evade him. It turned out, unfortunately for him, that Syd was remarkably good at staying out of his reach and she was faster than she looked, which he really should have learned by now. In the end, having chased her around the rec. room and having no luck, he decided that the all out attack strategy hadn't worked and he'd have to try something more sneaky. Dropping into a roll he knocked her feet out from under her and promptly sat on her, easily snatching the bottle as her arms flailed in the air.
"Get off," she protested, shoving at him with both hands. "You're heavy."
He ignored her and casually unscrewed the bottle lid. Her eyes widened in shock and he smirked down at her. "How did this work again?"