Someone to be Thankful For
Chapter Two: Like Cotton Candy
The trail that wound through Newtech City Park was covered in leaves. The blue and pink S.P.D rangers held hands as they wandered down it in silence.
Words weren't needed at this moment in time. Newly discovered mutual feelings had brought them here, and for once, everything was so utterly serene, neither wanted to break the golden silence.
Aforementioned blue ranger Sky Tate stopped short. He took pink ranger and new girlfriend Sydney Drew in his arms and kissed her deeply. As Syd caught her breath she burrowed deeper into Sky's strong arms. He held her possessively.
The air was crisp; a scent of warm apple cider lingered in the air. A whisper of breeze whistled through the park. Syd's luxurious blond curls were caught up be the gust, blowing them around her face.
Sky chuckled at her comical hairstyle. He tenderly put the strands back in their proper place, allowing him to gaze into her clear blue eyes.
Syd's arms coiled around his neck. Goosebumps covered her bare arms; she wore only her gray uniform pants and an ash gray S.P.D shirt. Without a word, Sky took off his jacket and covered her shoulders with it. Syd took his hand, liking the feel of his rough, callused skin against her own of silky softness.
The remaining leaves clinging bravely to tree limbs were in an explosion of color, warm tones of pumpkin orange and chocolate browns. It was hard to believe outside of this little slice of heaven lay an urban concrete jungle with robberies and murders around every corner.
"I love autumn," Syd divulged. "Everything seems so cozy."
"It is nice," he concurred. "Peaceful."
They went on in silence, occasionally stopping to exchange brief kisses.
On one such occasion (and unfortunately the last for that particular outing), they broke apart to see their friends standing a respectable distance away.
"No wonder you didn't want to come with us, Syd," Z cackled. "You wanted to get all mushy."
"Shut up Z," Jack barked. "They're in wuv," he snickered.
Sky and Syd looked increasingly embarrassed.
"Let them be; they aren't bothering anyone." Bridge said kindly.
"Thank you Bridge," Syd replied, grateful to the green ranger. Sky nodded his agreement.
The group of friends continued through the park, watching a few children, humans and aliens alike, play on the jungle gym. Bridge joined them.
"Will he ever grow up?" Sky groaned.
"Nope," the girls said together.
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Looks like we're either going home with the lovebirds or staying with Peter Pan," Z muttered.
Indeed, the 'lovebirds' were making gooey eyes at each other.
"Gross," was Jack's statement. "Get a room."
Sky and Syd left, still hand in hand.
S.P.D Emergency S.P.D Emergency S.P.D Emergency
"Well that was rude," Syd pouted, snuggling into Sky's arms on a couch in the Rec room. "Did we really deserve to be interrupted like that?"
"That's what happens when you have three nosy roommates," Sky replied. "But we're alone now…"
Syd shook her head. "You're a different person when we're together, just the two of us."
Sky regarded her thoughtfully and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I can be myself when I'm with you. And you know what they say about best friends…"
A companionable silence came over them. Outside, the wind had increased rapidly. It howled ferociously against the many windows of headquarters.
He got two mugs of coffee for them. They sipped in silence for a while. Finally Syd couldn't stand it anymore.
"Is something bothering you?" she asked gently, reaching for his hand.
Sky ran a hand through his hair, choosing his answer carefully. "I never thought when I woke up this morning I'd found out you felt the same way," Sky responded. "I thought I'd always love you from afar, silently. But now that I know…I just want to bask in the feeling. I don't want to ruin anything."
Syd took his face in her hands. "You're not going to ruin anything. As long as we both want to be together it'll work out. And we already have something of a foundation to build from, Sky. We've been friends for years."
"I do like being more than friends," Sky breathed. "I know it's fast…but I think I've loved you since I saw you at the academy orientation three years ago."
"You love me?" she whispered, hardly daring to believe it. "I love you too."
Despite the clichéd scene, Sky leaned in and captured her mouth with his own. "Don't you ever forget it, either."
Of course, Bridge, Z, and Jack chose to barge in.
"They're like cotton candy," Bridge proclaimed, wiggling his fingers.
Syd and Sky groaned. They'd always have each other to be thankful for, along with those three idiots.
No, I don't really think Jack, Z and Bridge are idiots...