Carry On Wayward Son

Chapter Two: You're A Real Tough Cookie With A Long History

A/N: I really truly love this pairing and I hope to find more. So there you go authors! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write more Adam/Rocky fics!

I feel a sudden need to apologize to Steve Cardenas and Johnny Yong Bosch but….I'm a crazy fangirl and the idea of them just makes me go squee… Enjoy everyone!

-MMPR—

Rocky handed the morpher back to Adam.

"I just have one question." he said.

"Why me instead of Zack?"

Rocky leveled him with a look that practically screamed don't be dumb. Adam merely shrugged. It was what he had thought when he had seen it again.

Privately, Rocky thought that Adam was the right choice from the get go, however much he liked Zack. Adam was compassionate, selfless, loyal, strong, brave…that Sentinel Knight guy would have to be the dumbest guardian on the planet to not see Adam for who he really was and—

"Rocky?"

With a start Rocky realized he had drifted off and blushed slightly as he recalled the vehemence of his thoughts. Sure Adam was brave and strong and good—

"Rocky!"

Adam watched in amusement as his friend shook his head. It was a gesture so old and familiar that he felt a strange tug on his heart.

"Sorry man..." he sheepishly ran a hand through his hair. "Anyways…"

"Your question Rock?" Adam had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

"Right." Rocky muttered. "So why the Morphin powers? Why not the Zeo or Turbo powers?"

Adam raised an eyebrow. "That's two questions Rock."

Rocky rolled his eyes. "Thanks Captain Obvious, now are you gonna answer or what?"

"I don't know."

"You don't—"

"Know." Adam finished for him. "Look, it happened really fast. And I was shell shocked at seeing the Morpher, the original morpher and all I really remember is the Sentinel Knight telling me that all my questions would be answered in due time."

"Famous last words." Rocky quipped.

Adam grinned. "I know. But it can't be anything I haven't heard before. I don't think anything is as crazy as "hey you, you've been chosen to save the world from intergalactic warlocks. Here's your Morpher. Have fun."

"Amen." Rocky said.

"Rock?" You know what I don't get?"

"Hmm?"

"Why give me the Morpher at all?"

Rocky sighed. "Man, we've been over this."

Adam shook his head. "No, not why me instead of Zack. Why at all? You know about the Overdrive Rangers right?"

Rocky nodded.

"A fully functional Ranger Team, a good one too from the looks of it, so why?"

Because no matter how good they are, they can't compete with you. You're a warrior again. And I am no longer on your team.

Rocky tried to hide the way his face fell but Adam being the oft perceptive bastard he was saw.

" I knew it." Said Adam, quietly.

Rocky looked at him sharply. "Knew what?"

"You miss it. You've been missing it."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You miss being a Ranger."

"Do you remember things correctly? I stood down so that Justin could take my place. I voluntarily gave up my powers."

That had been true but Adam wasn't fully buying it.

"You were injured Rock. You didn't feel like you had much of a choice."

"Come off it Adam. I don't have the time for this. I got a class starting any minute."

Adam watched his friend launch into his usual warm up in preparation for his karate class with an unusual vigor. He couldn't count the number of times he had watched Rocky do this routine, or the times he had taught right alongside him in the space that Rocky had managed to lease for his dojo. It was small, but comforting and familiar and the students got their money's worth of instruction.

Adam sighed. Rocky had a stubborn streak a mile wide and the pride to match. He also seemed to think Adam was ten years younger than him instead of just a few months. Ever since he could remember, Rocky had been slightly overprotective of him and later on Aisha. It was something that annoyed Adam to no end. After years of trying to prove to Rocky that he could handle more than his fair share of shit, Adam decided right then and there that the time for trying was over and done with.

He waited until his friend stood up before acting. In one swift motion Adam grabbed the lapels of Rocky's gi, pushed him backward, hooked his hand in Rocky's belt, turned around flipped him neatly over his shoulder in a well-practiced move.

"ADAM!" Rocky bellowed from the mat, glaring up at his friend. Adam just smirked at him. Years' worth of Rocky bellows and glares had made Adam immune. He was not, however, immune to Rocky's lightening fast reflexes. In a movement so smooth it barely had time to register, Rocky had hooked Adam's legs with his own and sent him tumbling. What Rock hadn't counted on was Adam's trajectory and landing. The smaller man landed directly atop him.

"I hate you." Rocky grunted as Adam began to laugh.

"I'm sorry man. It's just you had it coming you stubborn shit." Adam said with a grin.

"I can't believe you used ogosh. Cheap trick." Rocky grumbled.

Adam shrugged. "Not my fault you didn't see it coming." Rocky could hear the teasing lilt in his friend's voice and huffed.

"You just had to go and learn Judo."

Adam just laughed again and was just about to get off Rocky when their eyes locked.

Adam's breath caught at the whirling emotions in Rocky's eyes. Affection, mischief, humor, all showing Rocky's general devil-may-care attitude towards life. But hidden underneath, just waiting to break the surface were sadness, longing, lonliness. Adam wanted to cry, but he reminded himself he was a man of thirty-three, not a teenage boy any longer. For a moment he didn't move. Couldn't move.

"Adam?" Real concern laced Rocky's voice as he stared up at him. Inside though something clicked into place with such profound sureness that it took his breath away.

I should have seen it sooner. I should have pushed him to tell me how he really felt after his injury. Guilt settled hard and leaden in Adam's stomach. The urge to cry grew stronger.

"Rocky I—"

A not so discreet cough followed by a chorus of giggles interrupted them and the two men looked up to find the entirety of Rocky's karate class looking at them.

Realizing how their position must look the two friends scrambled apart and stood up, Rocky blushing profusely and Adam not much better. What the hell had just happened?

"Hey guys," Rocky struggled to regain his composure in the face of his class. He could tell by the looks he was getting that he was in for it. Adam was fidgeting beside him, something he always did when he was nervous. At least he's just as uncomfortable as I am. Jerk. Rocky thought as a feeling of justice being served coursed through him. (It was Adam's fault they were in this situation to begin with.) His class greeted him and Adam and for a moment no one moved.

Adam felt like he truly hated Rocky. The jerk was probably enjoying his discomfort. Knowing him, he probably felt like Adam was getting what he deserved. Annoyance flared up in him and even though he knew he should probably help Rocky because this was one of the advanced classes and several students were due for testing soon, he decided that Rocky could do just fine on his own. Decision made, Adam grabbed his book bag.

"I'll see you later everyone." Adam said and headed towards the door, but not before the giggling started up again.

Oh yes…he really hated Rocky at this point. Especially when his friend had a class of twelve fifteen year old girls who happened to walk in on a very awkward moment. His only consolation was the fact that he didn't have to take the comments and looks and giggles that Rocky did.

-MMPR—

So….what did you guys think? I hope I kept them in character enough…constructive criticism in welcome.