I had to chuckle when I found an episode recap for Perspective and realized that the thief was the "Green-Eyed Monster" It's a different tactic for this fic, but I'm trying to think outside the box.

The challenges can be found at Ars Amatoria's Ranger Romance Themes.

Challenge: Green-eyed Monster
Pair: Sky/Z
Disclaimer: Don't own the Power Rangers, not even an action figure.
Timeframe: This fic is set after Perspective.

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The B-Squad had gathered in the common room. No one was talking. Jack and Syd picked up random magazines and pretended to be reading. Bridge looked at the ceiling and occasionally ticked off something he was counting on his fingers; he never seemed to manage to get past eight. Sky and Z traded icy glares.

Sky sat in his favorite armchair with his arms folded across his chest. His jaw was set in grim lines. He refused to be the first to speak, so as he waited he replayed the other versions of the Ranger's ridiculous stories in his head. Jack saying he was jealous of his blasters was laughable, and Syd thinking he was trying to impress her was so far off the mark it wasn't even funny. But what really stuck in his craw was Z's insane story – like during a battle he'd be standing there cheering her on? Is that how she saw him – like a nonsensical cheerleader? He thought things were different than that between them. He turned his head and shot her a stony glance.

Z was about as aggravated by the day's events as Sky was. Syd thinking Z was trying to go out of her way to impress her was crazy; and Jack's assumption that she'd follow whatever he did just because he was the one who did it made her mad. But the one that really got her goat was Sky – "I'm glad Sky showed me how to battle these things." Was he crazy? Like the first day she and Jack ran into the B-Squad they hadn't kicked their butts? What was he thinking? She could handle herself in a battle and had saved his ass more than once! She returned his stony glower with a laser-sharp look of her own.

"The gold stays and you, Green-eyed Monster, you're coming with me...us…Sky." Bridge mumbled to no one in particular. He shook his head as he looked apologetically at Syd. "For a minute there I thought I had it."

Syd traded a glance with Jack. "Had what Bridge?" she asked.

"The one thing that was really said today. The thing everyone said you said. It was close, but not close enough." The Green Ranger looked extremely disappointed.

Jack looked around at the other B-Squad Rangers. "I guess a lot of things were close but not close enough today." His face was apologetic, but did have a ghost of a grin.

"Yeah," Syd chimed in, "like when you said I said 'Jack is so brave.'" She fluttered her eyelashes at him with great exaggeration and then rolled her eyes expressively; the humor in her voice and on her face was evident.

"How about that 'age before beauty' crack you made?" Jack retorted as he tossed a pillow at her. "Did you really have to throw that in there?" Syd squealed as she ducked.

Z tore her gaze away from the staring contest with Sky; the corner of her mouth was twitching up into a smile. "How about when Bridge said Jack said he got a hundred Krybots." She smiled at Bridge to temper her statement. "I didn't know you could count that high."

"Counting's not the problem, its keeping track that's the issue." Bridge explained.

Jack was warming up, "What about when Sky said I said…" he dropped his voice dramatically, "I wish I could use the DeltaMax Striker like Sky."

"Or how about when he said I said, 'Sky will lead us to victory.'" Syd responded in a high falsetto voice

The others laughed, except for Sky. He remained impassively stone-faced and angry. Syd pouted and tried to break through his facade. "C'mon Sky. All of us said some pretty silly things today."

"That's a matter of perspective." Sky grumbled as he got up angrily and stalked out of the room. Bridge made a move as though to follow his roommate, but Z was the one who got to her feet first and followed him out. Jack had seen the look on her face as she exited and motioned for Syd and Bridge to stay behind; she was mad, and it was bad enough that Sky was gonna catch it from her – the others didn't need to feel her wrath too.

"Sky!" Z called as she stalked down the hallway after Sky. "Hey!"

The Blue Ranger didn't pause or slow his pace. Angry that he was making her jog, Z picked up the pace to catch up with him. Before he could reach the end of the corridor and the safety of his room, Z caught him by the elbow and swung him around to face her.

"What's wrong with you, Sky?" she demanded, brown eyes flashing with anger. "Do you really think you're so much better than the rest of us? Can't you even laugh at yourself?"

He glared at her. "I don't have to laugh at myself; the rest of you do that enough for me."

Z planted her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. "No one was laughing at you Sky."

"You could've fooled me."

"Sky…" Z tried to soothe him.

"Look, I know we all exaggerated things today. Everyone wants to make themselves look better in front of Cruger. But hasn't it occurred to you that everything each of us said is exactly what we'd like to have said about us?"

Z was taken aback and then her anger surged again as he recalled what Sky had said about her. "Okay," she said aggressively. "So what did you mean when you said I said 'I'm glad Sky showed me how to battle these things.'? You think I can't hold my own?"

Sky looked honestly perplexed and a little wounded. "Of course not. You're a great fighter, but street fighting isn't the same as fighting on a team in a real battle. And there are those few sweet spots on a Krybot that'll take one out with one hit – I showed you those. I've seen you use moves that I know you learned from me." Suddenly he looked embarrassed and found the floor very interesting. "I guess…I don't know…I'm glad I was the one who taught you."

"And it would be nice if I showed some appreciation every once in a while…" Z muttered to herself.

Sky raised his gaze from the floor fluctuating from embarrassed to angry in a second. "How about what you said about me? What am I, your personal cheerleader?"

Z met his gaze with understanding. "Would that be so bad?"

Sky's brow creased in a frown.

"What I mean, Sky, is that it's kinda nice to know you're behind me…backing me up….believing in me. I don't have a lot of people who will do that for me."

Sky surprised Z by reaching out to lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'll always believe in you, Z."

She was touched by the sweet sincerity in his voice. She smiled, "Thanks, Sky."

Unsure of what to say next, Sky awkwardly released Z. He mumbled something about "training in the simulator" and made a break for it leaving Z standing alone in the hallway. It occurred to Z that although Sky was the most well trained and physically able of all of the Rangers, he was also the most emotionally fragile. Bringing his ego in check was one thing, but wounding his feelings was something else. Z didn't know why Sky's feelings were suddenly so important to her, but it gave her a lot to ponder as she walked slowly back to the common room.

A/N – All of the pertinent dialogue from Perspective is transcribed on under the Episode Guide for SPD.