A/N: Another Bridge/Sky fic. I was completely amazed and flattered at the responses I got to Redundant and so here's another gift for all the Bridge/Sky fans. This fic in particular I'm dedicating to Terrific Tina; you're so awesome! I hope you all enjoy!
Keep Your Eyes on the Sky
Sky wasn't about to admit that he was in love. It was simple infatuation, that was all. He was merely going stir-crazy from being locked up at S.P.D. headquarters. All he needed was to get off of base for a little while and hang out with some of his old friends. Because being in love with Bridge was damn inconvenient. That is, it would have been if Sky were in love, which he wasn't.
"There you are! We were beginning to give up hope on you." J.D. grinned. Sky rolled his eyes.
"Yeah well, sneaking out of S.P.D. isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world."
"Why would you even have to sneak out?" she asked incredulously. "Come on, Aaron, Matt, and AJ are already inside," she continued as they entered the club, circumnavigating the line. They were well known here.
"You know, believe it or not, they don't actually know me. I kind of keep them at arms length, so if I told them I was going clubbing, they might have heart attacks." AJ laughed upon hearing the end of the conversation.
"So what did you tell them?" he asked, curious. Sky smirked.
"I told them that I had to buy new hangers because Bridge bent the old ones." Matt laughed; pushing blonde bangs out of his face.
"Guess you'll be a long time buying those hangers," he grinned. Sky laughed, giving a shrug.
"Less talking, more dancing," J.D. admonished, grabbing Sky as the next song started playing.
"This club is amazing! How'd you find it?" Syd exclaimed. Jack merely shrugged.
"I don't know, you guys. I still feel bad about sneaking out while Sky's gone. Don't you think we should have at least invited him?" Z asked.
"Z, he left to buy hangers. That doesn't exactly sound like someone who enjoys going clubbing."
"So I take it that I'm not actually seeing that then," Bridge pointed. The other three followed his gaze across the floor to where Sky was dancing with his group of friends.
"So much for the hangers," Z muttered, pissed that Sky had lied.
"He's dancing awfully close to those four. Think he knows them?" Syd asked.
"Why do I get the feeling that Sky's been playing us?" Jack mused. "Guys, for the good of our team, we're going to follow Sky," he announced.
"You want us to stalk Sky?" Bridge asked, clearly shocked.
"No, no, not stalk," the red ranger assured. "We're just going to follow him, see what he's up to. I think it's the only way we're ever going to learn anything about him." The others nodded their agreement and set about the task of stalking – er, following – Sky.
Syd and Bridge edged closer to where Sky was dancing.
"Damn, he's a good dancer," Syd muttered. "I never would have guessed he could hold a beat."
"Sh," Bridge whispered, keeping his eyes forward. Slowly, the group dispersed and began talking amongst themselves.
"Let's get out of here," J.D. yelled over the noise and the others nodded their agreement, rushing for the door.
"Man it was hot in there," Aaron gasped, wiping sweat off his face and pushing curly brown hair out of his eyes.
"Well, it is a dance club," J.D. replied. Sky chuckled as Aaron stuck out his tongue.
"It's times like these that I know you two are related…" Sky said, starting to walk in no particular direction. "Now let's see if I still remember how we all met. You two," he said, pointing to J.D. and Aaron, "are twins, and you lived across the street from me. AJ," he said, pointing to the man with short brown hair, "lived the next block over from us, same age, same school. And Matt," he finished on the blonde, "moved in from out of town and you skipped a grade, placing you in our grade."
"See, Sky, you do remember," AJ said graciously, causing the group to split into peals of laughter. "Seriously man, it's good to see you hanging with us again, even if we did practically drag you here." Sky shrugged.
"I didn't want to be a fifth wheel. Still, just because I don't have as much time to hang out with all you guys doesn't mean that I'm going to just up and forget about you."
"Sky, you're always welcome to hang out with us. What's all this talk about being a fifth wheel?" Matt asked. Sky raised an eyebrow, looking pointedly at AJ's arm around J.D. and Aaron and Matt's clasped hands. Matt glanced down at the intertwined fingers, then back up to Sky's face. "Oh."
"That's it, we're going to get you a boyfriend, tonight!" J.D. exclaimed, excitedly.
"Yeah, how about no?" Sky asked. J.D. gave him a dismayed look. "They don't know I'm gay," he elaborated.
"What do your teammates know about you?" she cried, throwing up her hands in defeat. Sky paused, pretending to ponder the thought.
"My name," he answered shortly.
"Yeah, but we're learning more," Z whispered from her hiding spot as she watched them walk away.
"Z, this bush is really itchy," Jack complained. Z glanced at where her friend was hiding nearby.
"That's because you're kneeling in poison ivy…"
"Man, I can't believe that tomorrow's Christmas eve," AJ sighed, flopping down on the grass. They were now sitting in an empty park. The self-titled private investigators were hiding in the trees.
"Did you get the lists from Mother Abigail?" Sky asked. Four heads nodded. "Good. You guys get the presents for the orphans, I'll get the presents for Jack, Syd, Bridge, Z, and Mother Abigail and the food."
"I thought you didn't exchange gifts at S.P.D.?" Matt asked, shifting to snuggle closer to Aaron's warmth.
"We don't, but I think it'll be fun to get them each a present. It'll be a pleasant surprise…and then confusion will set in over who sent them and it'll be really funny for me." J.D. laughed at the calm manner Sky said it in.
"Yeah, but you pay for everything out of your own pocket. And," she continued, "You cook the entire Christmas dinner by yourself." Sky shrugged.
"Hey, it's not like I'm ever going to spend all that money by myself. That's why I put you guys on the account in the first place. And I'm the one with the most cooking experience and the only one who hasn't burned down a kitchen." Their faces split into grins at the memory of their last cooking fiasco.
"Good point," AJ grinned. Sky sighed in amusement, shaking his head.
"Besides, I've been cooking more lately, seeing as how there's been more and more parties going on at base." Aaron raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I thought you said you didn't go to those?"
"I don't. I'm not invited. However, someone keeps foolishly asking Boom to cook, and he automatically runs to me, so I've been cooking instead."
"But why don't they invite you. Don't they know you're great amusement at parties?" AJ asked in amusement, remembering the last time they had gotten Sky drunk. Even though they'd been busted for underage drinking, it was still a good memory. Sky glared at him.
"Bite me. I told you, they don't know anything about me before S.P.D., so they think that since I actually respect the rules that I'd try and shut down the parties or something."
Syd almost fell out of her tree after hearing that, knowing full well that Jack would be pissed with her about being so careless. And while Sky might have shrugged with indifference, Bridge could tell that it still hurt him to be excluded from the festivities. Sky's sorrow was enough to make Bridge want to climb down the tree and comfort the blue ranger, except that his weight had shifted and he was hanging onto a branch to keep from falling to the ground, but hey…minor details, right?
"Hey." Matt's eyes lit up with an idea. "Let's go shopping tonight! They'd keep the mall open for you, and that way, we wouldn't have to wait in atrociously long lines. Besides, all the gifts are easy to find, just basic stuff that most kids already have." J.D. nodded in agreement.
"It'd be nice to skip all that last minute rush. Holidays might bring out the best in people, but they also bring out the worst in them, too."
"Sure, why not? It'd give me time to get the presents, hide them and get the thought out of my head."
"Don't forget about them!" Matt scolded. Sky just chuckled.
"I don't mean forget, dork. Ever tried rooming with an empathic who can read your thoughts?" Matt stared at him blankly until AJ mouthed the name 'Bridge' over Sky's shoulder.
"Oh…" he sighed, realization lighting his eyes. Sky grinned at him in amusement.
"Come on," he said, standing. "Let's go to the mall."
From her perch in the tree, Syd beamed. She loved going to the mall, even if she couldn't shop.
"Where are they going?" Jack asked, scratching himself as he jumped to the ground.
"To the mall," she grinned.
"Hey guys?" Z asked, jumping lightly onto the grass. "Where's Bridge?" The three rangers turned as the heard a 'crack' echoed by a 'thunk'. Bridge landed on his back, staring blankly at the stars before splitting into a grin.
"Hey, look! I fell for Sky!" Jack stared down at the green ranger.
"Bridge, that's the corniest thing I've ever heard." Bridge shrugged as he stood up. Z playfully punched Jack's arm.
"Don't make fun of Bridge! That was sweet!" Syd nodded her agreement.
"I know, right? No one can resist Bridge," she added, picking a dried leaf out of his hair. "We should wrap a ribbon around you and give you to Sky for Christmas. But for now…to the mall!" Syd ran off dramatically, Z following close behind her, leaving the red and green rangers by themselves.
"Uh, what just happened?" Bridge asked. Jack turned slowly towards his friend.
"I think you're being gifted to Sky."
"Oh, okay," he said, shrugging his shoulders and walking away.
"This is getting to be an interesting evening," Jack muttered, scratching himself. "Damn, I need lotion and an oatmeal bath."
"Ready?" Sky asked. Four heads nodded. The mall had been opened at Sky's request, and Matt, Aaron, J.D., and AJ each stood with a gigantic list of gifts in need of purchasing. "Scatter!" Sky shouted and each took off in different directions, making the shopping into a scavenger hunt.
As they raced through the various stores on the different levels of the mall, Sky walked at his own leisure, stopping every now and again to look at something that had caught his eye. The other four rangers trailed behind him, hiding behind planters.
Walking into a jewelry store, Sky browsed among the crosses.
"What's he doing?" Bridge whispered to Syd, since she was the closest.
"He's looking at crosses," she murmured back. She watched as he stopped at one of interest, asking if he could see it. "I think he found the one he wants," she said, describing the scene as Sky asked questions about the history of the necklace.
"Why would he want a cross?" Z asked.
"I'll take it," Sky decided.
"Very good, sir. May I inquire whom this is for?" The clerk asked, ringing Sky up.
"It's for a very special woman. She used to collect crosses, but stopped. Instead, she decided to use the money to start an orphanage. For the last couple of years, I've been buying Christmas presents for the kids there, and looking for the last cross to complete her collection. This is it," Sky finished, motioning to the necklace being placed and wrapped in a box.
"Indeed? I'm happy we could help then," the man replied warmly, handing the box to Sky.
"Me too," Sky replied, giving the man a more than generous tip. "Have a Merry Christmas," he continued before returning to his shopping. Mother Abigail was out of the way, but he still had four more presents and a truckload of food to obtain.
He had an idea for Z. Growing up on the streets, she never had a stuffed animal and she seemed rather fond of Bridge's dinosaur, not that Bridge would ever relinquish it. But Bridge was another problem. What does one get the man they're in lo – infatuated with? Sky grinned, realizing that Bridge was as easy as Z. Toast. Lots and lots of buttery toast (he mentally did the wiggly fingers, not wanting to look stupid). Syd would want something pretty, and Sky decided to get J.D. to help him pick out an entirely new outfit. Jack he needed to think about, and he decided to save the red ranger for last.
Setting off at a brisk pace, Syd hurried to keep up with him. Hearing the footsteps behind him, Sky turned, leaving Syd to all but dive out of his line of sight. Seeing nothing, Sky shrugged it off as an overactive imagination manifesting itself into auditory illusions and continued shopping.
Syd sighed, moving to stand next to the planter. Instead, she slipped and fell into the fountain. Jack, Z, and Bridge raced to help her, fighting back their fits of laughter as she floundered in the water.
"Guys, it's not funny!" she whined. Bridge shook his head, still grinning.
"I feel like I should welcome you to the club or something…" Syd glared at him.
"Ok, look, I really need to get something for this poison ivy, so Syd and I are going back to base. Bridge, you and Z keep trailing Sky, okay?" They nodded their agreement, watching the red and pink rangers leave before running (quietly this time) to catch up to the blue ranger.
As they watched the small group leave the mall, Bridge grinned wickedly at Z before saying, "And then there was one."
Sky was more than relieved to get back to S.P.D. and even happier that his teammates were nowhere to be seen. He had dropped all the presents off at the church, all except for four, as well as the food. Then he had said goodnight and snuck back into S.P.D. and hid the remaining presents before taking a shower and going to bed. Tomorrow he could make the food for S.P.D.'s Christmas party and then go sort and wrap presents at the church. Then on Christmas he'd be at the orphanage all day cooking. But first he needed sleep. Before drifting off, however, he briefly wondered where his roommate was.
Watching from the door, Bridge quietly shut it so as not to wake Sky before tiptoeing back to the kitchen. Letting out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, he grinned widely.
"Ok, he's asleep." A less itchy Jack grinned, as did a now dry Syd. Z was showering; upon following Sky to the church, Z had gotten stuck in a ventilation shaft and Bridge had greased her up in order to pull her out. But back to more recent events.
"Good. Now tomorrow, we'll all act normal, but Bridge, that night, casually invite Sky to the party that 'he knows nothing about.' We're going to let everyone know who's really been cooking the food." He glared at Syd, still upset about her mistake. "Then, on Christmas, we'll act surprised over the presents, which we will be since we don't know what he got us." The other two rangers nodded. Bridge and Z had adamantly refused to spy on what gifts Sky had bought for them, insisting that it wouldn't be fair and it would take all the fun out of the 'secret Santa' gifts. "Later, we'll pop by the church and surprise him with his present," Jack finished, patting Bridge on the back. Bridge grinned nervously, blushing.
"But what if he doesn't like me like that?" Syd smiled.
"Oh, he does," she assured. "Jack and I got busted leaving the mall. J.D. saw us and we started talking and explaining. She spilled that Sky's in love with you but completely in denial about it 'cause he doesn't want to ruin your friendship. So stop all this needless worrying; everything's set to go."
Sky woke up to the sound of Bridge's grunting as he tried to get out of bed.
"You okay there, Bridge?" he asked, pulling the younger ranger up. Bridge stumbled and Sky struggled to keep him standing.
"Just a little sore," Bridge answered, finding his balance. "I, uh, fell out of a tree. Landed on my back," he explained more fully. Sky looked sympathetically at him.
"Sorry. Try and take it easy today, ok?"
"Can you help me out today?" he asked, giving his best puppy-dog eyes. Sky avoided his gaze.
"Sorry Bridge, there's stuff I got to do today. I'll send Syd in, ok?" Bridge pouted but gave a nod, knowing that by tomorrow night he would be able to spend as much time with Sky as he wanted to. "How about I send you some buttery toast?" Sky continued, not liking the pout on Bridge's face.
"You didn't say it right…" he sulked, liking when Sky indulged him. Sky sighed, but acquiesced.
"Do you want me to send you buttery toast," he wiggled his fingers," or not?" Bridge grinned and nodded, climbing back into bed. "Find, I'll send it with Syd," he called as he walked out the door.
"Oh, you will be mine," Bridge whispered with a grin.
Sky sighed, trudging back to his room. It had been a long day in the kitchen; the amount of food they had wanted was ludicrous, yet Sky hated to let people down and so he had made everything that was requested, plus some extra. He smiled, knowing they'd be happy, but couldn't help the slight pang of hurt, knowing that he wasn't invited, wasn't supposed to know about it. Keeping his head down, he almost ran into Bridge.
"Hey, you're supposed to be in bed. Where are you heading?" he asked half-heartedly, waiting to hear a lie.
"Christmas party," Bridge responded, bouncing on his feet. "I put your outfit on the bed," he continued, beginning to walk away. Sky stood frozen for a second before realizing just exactly what Bridge had said.
"Bridge wait!" he called, stopping him. "I'm really beat, I think I'm just going to go to bed." Bridge put on his puppy-dog pout again, only this time Sky didn't look away fast enough.
"Please, Sky? We really want you there…" he pleaded. Sky sighed but before he could answer, Bridge was rounding the corner shouting a reminder that his outfit was laid out on his bed. The words echoed once through his head before a new rush of energy seized him and he ran back to his room and changed.
Retracing the path Bridge had taken, Sky followed the noise into the academy's lounge area, where he was received with much cheer. Among the crowd, Sky practically glowed in the outfit Bridge had picked out. While most of the people there were either in black tuxedoes or dresses of dark greens and reds, Bridge had Sky dressed in a plain, pressed white shirt and black slacks. It was a simple outfit, yet stood out as extremely elegant and eye-catching.
Leaning against one of the walls, Sky surveyed the room. He didn't know who had done the decorations, but he mentally approved.
Red, green, blue, and white lights hung from the ceilings, giving off a soft glow to the room and its inhabitants. Wreaths hung on the wall, mistletoe in the doorways, and an evergreen, neatly decorated with beads and balls, stood in a corner. At the far side of the room, blocking almost the entire bottom half of the wall, stood a long table, painstakingly set with the food Sky had spent the entire morning cooking.
Sky walked along the wall, content on just being at the party and watching his friends enjoy a good time. Smiling softly, he watched as Bridge and Z ganged up on Boom.
"Come on Boom, we know you can't cook this good. Who really cooked all this food?" Z teased, prodding the stuttering boy as he turned bright red. Locking eyes with him, Sky raised an eyebrow. Following the orange-haired boys gaze, both sets of eyes fell onto the blue ranger.
"Sky cooked the food?" A circle had formed around the four rangers, disbelief written on the faces. Again, Boom did nothing but stutter. Sky rolled his eyes.
"It's fine, Boom," he told the ranger, turning to Bridge and Z. "I cooked the food." Z and Bridge looked shocked.
"You?" Z asked. "You cooked the food for this party?" Sky sighed, beginning to regret his decision to come.
"I've been cooking the food for all of your parties." Shame replaced the look of disbelief, and murmured apologies for the exclusion came forth from the disgraced rangers. "Look, it really doesn't matter know, okay? I'm just glad I got invited to this one," Sky said, cutting off the admissions of guilt.
The clock struck midnight before anyone could say anything else, and every ranger knew that it was time to go to bed. Cruger might let them have their parties but he had tight guidelines for the parties and that meant that no matter how much fun they might be having, it ended at midnight.
Trudging resignedly back to his room, Sky was grateful for Bridge's help. Collapsing onto his bed, Sky couldn't even manage to help Bridge in the fight to get him under his covers.
"Man, you weren't kidding when you said you were beat…" Bridge laughed, but Sky was already dead to the world. Staring down at the blue ranger, Bridge smiled softly. "Merry Christmas, Sky."
Hearing the alarm buzzing, Sky quickly turned it off and bit back a groan as he got out of bed. The last thing he wanted to do was get up, but he had to put the presents where they'd be found and get the dinner ready for the kids.
Placing Bridge's present on the nightstand next to the bed, Sky quietly snuck out of the room. After placing the other presents in the appropriate places, he quickly disappeared into the bitter cold of the early morning air. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes watched his progress as he made his way towards the orphanage.
Bridge turned away from the window, sighing as he wished he could go as well. He'd always liked Sky and now he really wanted to know him better. But he pushed those thoughts away for the moment, instead settling for waking the other rangers up as instructed. He always woke up when Sky did, and Jack had wanted to get up as soon as Sky had left.
As the three rangers woke up to Bridge banging on the door, they were overjoyed to see the boxes that Sky had left for them. Following Bridge back into the lounge, they sat in silence, each staring at their own present in an awkward, yet somehow comfortable silence.
"So," Bridge asked, fidgeting. "Who wants to open their present first?"
"Me!" Syd shouted, what little bit of spoiled child was left showing through. As quickly as she could, she tore through the wrapping paper and flung the box's lid onto the floor. The three rangers waited for her reaction, but Syd just sat there frozen before a gasp was torn from her lips. "Oh…my gods, you guys, open yours! Open yours now!" she shrieked, running quickly into her room and slamming the door shut only to reemerge fully dressed in what must have been Sky's gift.
Z carefully unwrapped her present next. The lightness of the box had not gone unnoticed but upon seeing how perfect Sky's gift to Syd was, Z held no doubts that she would love her present as well. Lifting the lid, Z smiled softly as she blinked back the tears. Her admiration of Bridge's dinosaur had been duly noted, and Z cradled the stuffed dog closely, knowing that she would never sleep without it.
Jack smiled at his friend, knowing full well why Sky had chosen a dog, and began to unwrap his present. Lifting the lid, he too froze at the site of what lay inside. Inside lay a letter, and a card. Reading the letter, Jack smiled at Sky's 'Robin Hood' allegory, and carefully slipped the new card into his wallet. Sky had added him to his account, fully trusting that Jack would put the money to good use, and his trust was something that Jack treasured having feared he might never win it.
Bridge had watched in silence as his friends opened their presents, but now it was his turn. Opening his gift, Bridge's mouth dropped open at the sight. The three other rangers gathered round and smiled at what Sky had given to Bridge. Several loaves of bread and sticks of butter were stacked inside as well as a brand new toaster, seeing as how Bridge has destroyed his last one in an experiment.
"Guys," Jack said, fingering his wallet, "I think…" He paused, not quite sure how to continue, but the others understood.
"Yeah," Syd nodded. "We should." Z just smiled and held her dog closer.
"I want to share my buttery toast," he wiggled his fingers, "with him. I don't even think he ate any breakfast and he's off making Christmas dinner."
"We'll go help him," Syd stated, nodding her head as if she were agreeing with herself.
Sky sighed as he moved from one task to the next. His stomach was growling and he already had a headache but he knew he had to get the dinner ready. The kids didn't get a feast that often, and Sky hated to disappoint. Still, the job wasn't getting any easier.
"Need some help?" Sky turned at the voice, surprised to find Bridge in the doorway and utterly shocked to see Jack, Syd, and Z behind him.
"What are you guys doing here?" he asked, allowing himself to lean against the counter.
"Well, we got these really awesome gifts from a secret Santa," Syd explained. "But then we realized that, the spirit of Christmas meant that you give gifts as well. It's all about the giving. Our one friend in particular seems to embody that. He never told us that he was filthy rich, we never knew 'cause he never flaunted it, but he's always giving and giving and giving, and then we realized," she continued dramatically. "No one ever gave anything to him."
"So we thought," Z cut in, and Sky smiled as he noticed she had the stuffed dog with her. "That maybe, as a Christmas gift, we could give him a chance to sit down and relax?" she asked tentatively.
"Maybe even eat some buttery toast?" Bridge asked, trying to wiggle his fingers and butter toast for Sky at the same time. Sky smiled at his friends before letting out a sigh.
"You guys followed me, didn't you?" he asked.
"Are you mad?" Jack asked. Sky shook his head.
"No, I should have told you when I first met you guys. I just hated to be seen for my money."
"Well, now you're seen for your complete stubbornness and your utter kindness," Bridge said, holding out a piece of toast for Sky. Sky looked at him, shocked. "Hey man, I don't share my toast that often so you better take advantage while you can." Sky laughed and took the offered piece of toast.
"Oh, by the way, J.D. dropped of some more Advil for you Bridge and Caladryl for you Jack."
"Oh, I love that girl…" Jack sighed, taking the bottle from Sky.
"Now you and Bridge scoot your butts out of the kitchen," Z shooed as Syd and Jack shoved them out the door.
"Hey, why can't I help?" Bridge pouted.
"Because you'll get toast crumbs and butter on everything you touch, now get!"
A comfortable silence pervaded between the two men. They were sitting outside on the steps of the church looking at the collage of colors splayed down the block.
"So…" Bridge interrupted. Sky looked quizzically down at the younger ranger. "If you could have any gift you wanted for Christmas, regardless of monetary value, what would it be?" Sky gave a soft laugh, emitting a puff of smoke as his warm breath hit the cold air.
"Ah, Bridge, I don't know," Sky answered as he stood and stretched.
"Oh, come on, Sky," Bridge pouted, nibbling on another piece of toast. "Everyone's got something that they want. I promise not to laugh," Bridge swore. Sky smiled, shaking his head.
"Why the sudden interest, Bridge?" he asked, turning to reenter the church and check on their other teammates.
"Maybe it's something I can help you get," Bridge answered, bounding up the steps after his friend. Sky stopped just inside the door, blocking the green ranger in the doorway.
"You really want to help me out?" he asked. Bridge nodded, and Sky leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Mistletoe," he explained softly, glancing up at the hanging plant. Bridge followed his gaze, a smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah," he nodded. "Mistletoe." Sky grinned again, placing another kiss on Bridge's lips. Wrapping his arms around Sky's neck, Bridge pulled away slightly, murmuring, "Merry Christmas, Sky." Sky smiled.
"It is indeed."