Because You Are Here

Title: Because You Are Here

Genre: Friendship/Romance

Summary: PRLG - "You always did know how to make me smile." - Leo, Kendrix and the road not taken. Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Themes response.

Author: Sakura123 (weber_dubois22)

Rating: T

Characters: Leo Corbett, Kendrix Morgan; Others

Chapters: 60

Written: 9/22/2011

Completed: Undetermined

Disclaimer: Power Rangers/Lost Galaxy and all things related are property of Saban and Toei (and some other guys I'm probably forgetting but can't care to remember). I own nothing except the ideas tumbling through my head.

Author's Note: This is my first go at the legendary Ars Amatoria/Vespera's "Ranger Romance Themes" with my OTP Ranger couple, Leo Corbett and Kendrix Morgan of "Lost Galaxy". The primary inspiration for this drabble series, aside from the obvious, was largely from Sayuri Sugawara's "Kimi ga iru kara" (which, depending on where you go, is actually translated "Because you're Here"), a song that is largely about a friendship, depending on how you view it (many could argue it's romantic despite its use of "my dear friend(s)"). Long story short, it seemed like the perfect theme for Leo/Kendrix, a unrealized "romantic" relationship whose basis is a strong friendship, unlike most of the romances in PRU. Prompts are split up into "books", thirteen or fourteen afforded to each one, all prompts are done primarily in order but from each set corresponding alongside each other, up until the 20TH prompts (just visit her website to see what I mean). Expect at least four to two updates every other week (if I can remember). Read and Review, constructive criticism is welcome and if you don't like, don't read.

Title: Checking in

Summary: Kendrix gets an unexpected visit from Leo during the shoot of "Star Crossed Lovers".

Prompt: "Friends"

Series: Book One

Timeline: "Lights of Orion" arc. A "Double Duty"-tag.

Tired did not begin to describe the exhaustion that Kendrix Morgan was feeling. Held up inside the trailer shared by herself and Carolyn Pickets, Kendrix stared down at the script bound by a loose leaf notebook in the vain hopes of memorizing her lines for the upcoming scene between herself and her co-star love interest, "Bobby". It wasn't hard, the maximum amount of words spoken for the scene exactly was only ten, yet her mind did very little to commit them to memory. Each time she spoke aloud to the refection in the mirror the words would fumble across her tongue and over her lips, exposing her for the novice she was.

In retrospect she couldn't even begin to fathom why she agreed to cover for the "injured" actress. Aside from looks, they were as different as two people could be and acting, she realized, was not the cakewalk she thought it would be (especially with this director). She was missing the sterilize environment of her desk at the Science Division, she missed her glasses and hanging out with her friends. She hadn't seen the others in days. What's more, they were hardly ever allowed to visit the set despite her protests.

The isolation was driving her mad.

A knock on the door drew her attention away from the printed text on the paper before her. Casting a lazy glance past her shoulder she muttered a quiet, "Come in," before focusing her attentions on the script again. The door opened, illuminating the grim corner across from threshold of the trailer, Kendrix set up a little straighter and squinted a litter harder at the script, hoping it would make her seem more attentive than normal.

"I see your hard at work," The amusement and the tone of voice took all but a second to process, the image of smiling green eyes came to mind immediately as she turned in her seat. "Leo, hey!" She exclaimed with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

Leo shut the thin door behind him, grinning at the sight of his dolled up friend. Closing the distance between them, he made himself comfortable at the dining table across from her counter turned vanity. "Not much," He said. "I was just lookin' around set, thought I'd come see how you were doing." There was something about his expression, the way his eyes would shift from her to the door that let her know this wasn't an official visit by any means. Choosing not to comment on his obvious illegality, she decided to maintain the path of conversation. "I'm doin' alright, thanks. How are things on your end? Any leads on the Lights of Orion or Wisewizard?"

Leo fiddled with the frayed ends of his Terra Venture-issued jacket, a frown on his face, an obvious sign that things were progressing anywhere for the team. "No, nothing solid," He said. "He hasn't shown up since you've taken Carolyn's place in the movie. Kai figures that he's biding his time, so we've sticking pretty close to the sets just in case."

"Are you sure that's smart, though?" She asked. "They could attack the colony elsewhere, maybe that's why haven't shown up."

"Nah, Furio's not that smart," Leo remarked offhandedly. "Besides, by close I meant we're someplace we can see you, not hiding behind trees and stuff. We've got everything under control, you'll see." Kendrix nodded solemnly, commending Kai for his usual quick thinking. Leo's tongue clicked in obvious frustration, his fingers traced the ends the hardwood table in idle reflection. "I wish Maya knew something, this feels like something right up her alley."

"Right up her alley?" Kendrix grinned. "Leo, we've only known her for two weeks, I think it's a bit presumptuous to believe she knows everything about anything besides what she's been taught on Mirinoi."

Leo seemed to think on her words for a moment before nodding. "I guess so," He murmured, looking almost beside himself with embarrassment. A moment of silence passed between them, Kendrix studied the distant expression on his face, wondered what he as thinking about, if he was thinking at all. A hurried knock on the screen door startled the two of them to attention, Leo moved faster than she could process, ducking directly behind her chair and under counter. Carolyn's assistant stepped into view, Kendrix placed a hand on the script sitting on the counter, doing her best to look calm as the young woman glanced around the confined space. "Was there someone in here just now?" She asked.

"N-No, it's just me," Kendrix replied hastily. "I'm role playing." Yes, that didn't sound at all untrue, she thought to herself. The assistant continued to stare at her, her expression unreadable. "Well, your on in fifteen, so-"

Kendrix gave the assistant a thumbs up. "You betcha, I'll be out in a second."

"Okay," The assistant retreated from the trailer, door clattering shut behind her. Leo emerged a moment later, hands clasped around the back of Kendrix's seat. She turned ever so slightly, suddenly aware of the lack of space between their lips; Leo seemed to acknowledge this with a careful look, coupled with his trademark smile. Knowing better than search for something in nothing, she smiled back at him. "I think you better go," Kendrix breathed.

"I think I better, too," He laughed.