Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers or anything else you may recognize.

Author's Note: This is my first Syd/Sky story or, rather, collection of drabbles. I would really appreciate feedback. Try to be nice with your criticism, though:) And I just want to let you guys (readers and reviewers) know that I really appreciate all the comments you've given me so far.

Written in response to the Ars Amatoria Romance Themes Challenge.

This is a rather long chapter, compared to the others. Hope you guys enjoy it! Companion piece to "Competition", "Green Eyed Monster" and "Secrets". Set just a week or two after Jack leaves in "Endings Part 2" (this is definitely not linked to "Chance").

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Dare

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"Hey, Syd, do you wanna play a game?" Bridge asked me, entering my bedroom (the door was open) and grinning at me. "We're all playing—Jack came over with Ally, and I even managed to rope Sky in as well. I told them I'd come get you to the rec. room. We'll have it all to ourselves, the other cadets have gone out to celebrate."

I looked at him interestedly, and saw a flash of humour in Bridge's face. I knew what he was trying to do—he wanted me to come and play so that I could spend some downtime with Sky. Bridge was the only one, after all, who knew that I have this… thing… for our new Red Ranger.

And who am I to say no to such a tempting offer?

"Oooh, yes," I said eagerly, hopping off my bed and throwing the mascara stick I'd been examining back onto the counter (perfect aim!), "What are we playing?"

"Truth or Dare," came the pat response.

I missed a step, and stopped to stare at Bridge a little suspiciously. Now I may be a girly-girl and all that, but people are seriously mistaken if they think I'm stupid. Truth or Dare? I knew for a fact that it was downright dangerous to play such a game with someone you've got a massive crush on… someone you even love… oh, sweet merciful stars, I was doomed if anything awkward got asked or dared.

"Um… Bridge…" I said hesitantly.

"Don't worry, Syd," he said cheerfully, as I followed him out of my room and towards the rec. room, "It'll be lots of fun! We can embarrass Jack and Ally with all kinds of evil questions!"

I relaxed immediately. That did sound that like fun, and besides, I knew I could rely on Bridge to get me out of a sticky spot if something did go… awry. So I quite cheerfully followed Bridge into the rec. room. The others were there, and they greeted me enthusiastically (which the exception of Sky, of course, who looked like he'd been blackmailed into such frivolity, and only flashed me a faint half-smile). They'd pushed the couches and armchairs together, so that everyone was sitting close—the perfect atmosphere for Truth or Dare. Jack and Ally were cuddled in one armchair (I rolled my eyes at them, but actually thought it was rather cute!), Bridge joined Z on one of the couches, and I curled up next to Sky on the other couch (no accident how that happened). Boom, who came scurrying in last, took a spot in the last armchair, completing the circle.

"So let's get this over with," Sky said, looking distinctly out of his depth in a cosy atmosphere of people determined to have fun.

Z and I rolled our eyes at each other and I smacked Sky lightly on the chest. "Brighten up, scowl boy," I said brightly, "This is going to be fun. Think about it—we can expose your darkest secrets for all the world to see—well, okay, just us."

"Is this supposed to be incentive for me to play?" he asked with ironic amusement, pulling one of my curls.

Jack cleared his throat. "Okay, you guys, let's start. I'll go first—it's the privilege of a former Red Ranger and everything! Hmm… so we'll take the circle this way? I'll ask Ally and then she asks Bridge and we go on? Okay, okay, I got it! Ally! Truth or Dare?"

"Truth."

"Who is the most charming male you have ever have the privilege of meeting?"

We all laughed as Jack preened, waiting for a response he obviously expected. Ally looked thoughtful for a minute and then, her eyes sparkling mischievously, said, "Boom."

"BOOM?" Jack nearly yelled. "Hey! No offence, buddy—" he said to a grinning Boom, "But—hello? Ally? What am I, invisible?"

"You asked the question and you got your answer, Jack," Ally teased, "And the rules are that it's only one question each until the next round. Now it's my turn! Oooh, this ought to be interesting. Bridge, Truth or Dare?"

Bridge seemed to debate the issue for a moment and then said, "Truth."

"If you had to be stranded on a desert island for a month with just one other person, which person in this room would you pick?"

Bridge stared at Ally for a second and then seemed to go slightly pink. I bit my lip and exchanged a look with Sky, who looked just as secretly amused as I felt. We both knew about Bridge's rather obvious… um… interest in a certain fellow Ranger. I almost forgot about the question as I stared into Sky's dark blue eyes, but fortunately, Bridge's voice jerked me away and kept me from looking like a complete fool.

"Um… that would be Z," Bridge said finally, fidgeting.

Z beamed. "Really, Bridge?"

"Yeah, 'cause no offence to the rest of you, but Boom and I would survive a month together only if we had access to cool gadgets and mechanics, Sky would drive me to the brink of suicide if I had to see his surly expression every morning, Jack would be painfully upbeat and definitely drive me to the brink of suicide, I don't really know Ally all that well, and Syd would be virtually intolerable without her make-up and hair-care products nearby." I wasn't offended by this; I knew Bridge was just teasing. "Plus," he added awkwardly, "I… I like spending time with you, Z."

"I like spending time with you too, Bridge!" Z said, looking very happy all of a sudden. I fiercely resisted the impulse to giggle, and the even more overwhelming impulse to exchange another meaningful look with the blue-eyed Ranger sitting next to me.

Jack cleared his throat again, eyes dancing with unholy amusement. Z seemed to rip her stare from Bridge, who was staring fixedly at the floor, and then looked at me. I tensed, waiting for something really penetrating from Z, who knew more about me than I would care to admit. But I smiled inwardly, because I knew Z would never, ever make me talk about something really painful.

"Can you guys, like, just come back to me?" Z asked, her mouth twitching, "I can't seem to think of a good anything for Syd yet."

I was relieved, but I really wondered why Jack, Bridge and Z kept exchanging these… looks. What was that all about?

"Okay," I said, looking at Sky, suddenly nervous. "Sky… um… Truth or Dare?"

"I'll probably regret this," he said dryly, "But Truth."

Damn. What was I supposed to ask him?

I really shouldn't have. I should have restrained myself. But I had to know. "Um… okay… Sky, do you like anyone right now? I mean, is there a special somebody you… um… think of? Romantically, I mean?"

Z and Jack seemed terribly amused by my fumbling, and I tried not to stare at Sky. He watched me for a minute, as if he was trying to think about whether or not to refuse to answer. But then he sighed and said shortly, "Yeah. There's someone."

There was an instant uproar.

"You sneaky devil!"

"Who?"

"Way to go, buddy!"

I didn't say anything. I was too frozen. So he liked someone? I could feel my insides just turn into a painful puddle around me. He liked someone. That meant… that meant my chances were pretty much nil. I tried to paste a convincing smile on my face, but I'm pretty sure Z and Bridge caught the flicker of pain in my face because they were watching me with something like sympathy and… was that amusement? How dare they!

"Who, Blue boy?" Jack pressed eagerly, eyes sparkling at Sky.

"One question, remember?" Sky said stiffly, shaking his head. "My turn to ask Boom. Okay, Boom. Truth or Dare?"

"Um… Dare?" said our official gadget tester.

Sky grinned—actually grinned—and my heart almost melted. Or it would have if it hadn't already been this withered branch on a dying tree. I watched Boom instead, as Sky said, "Okay, well, Boom, you've got to tell Kat about your massive crush on her."

Boom gasped and nearly fell off his chair. "What crush?" he squeaked rather shrilly.

We all laughed. "Nice try," I said.

"I can't tell her!" Boom protested piteously, "She's my boss! It would violate everything—she would never speak to me again—"

"You might be surprised, man," said Jack, grinning, "Kat cares about you more than you think."

"It's a dare, Boom, and you've got to do it. Next time you two are alone. We'll be watching in secret, so don't try to weasel out of it," Sky added good-naturedly. Boom sighed in resignation, looking both flushed and horrified at the same time, and then, apparently relaxing because he wasn't expected to enact the dare right away, he turned to Jack.

"Truth or Dare, Jack?"

"Heck, let's be crazy… Truth!"

Boom looked puzzled. "Damn, I can't think of a question!"

"I can, I can!" I said eagerly, grinning at Jack. "Need some help?"

"Sure!"

I crawled across Sky, my body pressed against his thigh—yes, I'll admit it, I needed the physical contact even though I knew I was just making matters worse for myself—and I tried to ignore the heat that spread through my body from the warm contact of his legs, or the way he twitched slightly. I leaned over and whispered in Boom's ear.

Boom looked baffled, but also curious. "Okay, um, Jack… the question is, what do you think of Ally's… um… backside?"

Sky, Bridge, Z and I all burst out laughing. Ally looked startled, but her sense of humour won out and she turned to her new boyfriend and waited expectantly. Jack just looked horrified at the thought of having to say those words out loud.

"You are so dead, Drew," he swore to me, but good-naturedly. I just smiled sweetly back.

Sighing, Jack turned to Ally and, his smooth ebony skin turning maroon, said uneasily, "Um, well, your… um… backside… is the—the sweetest thing I've ever seen in my whole friggin' life!"

Ally blushed. "Why, thank you, Jack."

"Charming, isn't he?" I teased, satisfied with myself. Bridge and Z were still howling with laughter.

Jack shook his finger. "Uh, uh, uh, you guys! Remember, it's our little Sydney's turn to answer a question or perform a dare now! Come on, Z, I sure hope you've thought of something good by now!"

Z grinned at me and I felt a sudden flash of foreboding. "Truth or Dare, Syd?"

"Um… Dare?" I squeaked, determined not to have to answer something bound to be horribly revealing or horribly embarrassing… like the classic 'who do you like' sort of question. I knew I had made a mistake the instant Z's eyes lit up and she said:

"I was hopin' you'd say that, pinkie. Here we go… I dare you to bring that special pink sketchbook you have under your bed, and bring it here so that we can all see what you've been working on. And I'm going to come with you, so that you don't rip up any pages." Z's eyes twinkled. I was horrified. She knew what was on that video! How did she know? Only Bridge had seen it…

I turned to face Bridge, and stared at him accusingly. He had the grace to look rather ashamed of himself. So he had told Z about the sketchbook.

"Et tu, Bridge?" I said, wounded.

"Is that Shakespeare?" Boom wondered.

Sky prodded me. "Go on, Syd. Let's see these fascinating sketchbook you've got."

Aware that my entire life was about to crash into smattering pieces all around me, I got up and walked on rather wobbly legs back to my room. Z followed. I didn't say a word to her—I just pulled the sketchbook out and walked back unsteadily to the rec. room. I dropped it onto the table in the middle of our tiny circle of chairs, and everyone bent over it as Z resumed her seat. Bridge watched me with something like sympathy and apology and an everything's-going-to-be-okay look, but I refused to meet his eyes. I just stared at the floor, not even sitting back down, as they turned to the first page of the book.

I knew what was in there, and I even knew what the order was. The first sketch was one of Bridge and Sky working on a mechanical mini-SWAT flyer toy they'd built together. The second, on the opposite page, was of Bridge, Z, Jack and Sky playing a video game just minutes before we got the call to go and investigate the crashed aircraft that had carried the A-squad.

"These are awesome, Syd!" Ally told me.

"Seriously," Jack agreed.

I heard pages flipping. Silence. Flipping. Silence. I knew what they were looking at. The remaining twenty or so sketches in the book were of Sky. Sky reading the manual. Sky climbing out of his SWAT flyer. Sky standing beside the window and staring out at the rain, brooding. Sky laughing at something Bridge was saying (there was a speech bubble with Bridge-speak in it). Sky staring right at the 'camera' (in other words, he had been staring at her when she'd looked up to capture his expression that one time) with a curiously tender expression in his eyes. She treasured that sketch because of that expression. It reminded her of the time he'd taken her up in his zord. She'd never mentioned that to anyone. It was their special, secret moment, and now, since he liked somebody else, it was never going to happen again.

Silence.

Damn. Why didn't somebody just say something and put me out of my misery?

"Um, Syd?" Typical. It was Boom. "These are all of…"

"Let it go, Boom," Bridge said, obviously sensing my extreme turmoil.

I decided to play it cool, so I looked at them. Sky was staring at the tender-expression sketch. The others were staring at me. "Well, he's a good subject," I said, forcing a light, fluffy tone into my voice and trying to sound like it was no big deal. "He stays still a lot of the time, if you've noticed."

"Very true," said Boom, clearly oblivious to the heightened atmosphere in the room. I wanted to roll over and drown myself.

Then Sky got up and looked at me. "They're really good," he said, and he sounded slightly strained, as if he was physically forcing himself not to say something. "I had no idea you were this talented, Syd."

"Thanks," I said softly, not sure what else to say.

Sky headed towards the door of the rec. room, casually, hands in pockets, obviously feeling that since we'd all had a turn, the game was over. I wondered if he was angry. But he turned back at the door and said, a rather strange expression in his blue eyes, "Hey, Jack? Do you want to ask that question again, maybe?"

"Which ques…" Jack trailed off, and he suddenly grinned in comprehension and delight. "So, um, who's the special someone you like, Sky?"

"Syd," he said, and walked out.

I think I may have passed out from the stress and shock and disbelief, or at least stumbled rather alarmingly, because the next thing I knew, I was being held up by Bridge and Z, while Jack thrust a cold smoothie at me and Ally waved a magazine to fan me and Boom just hovered, looking utterly out of his depth.

"Sorry about all that, pinkie," Z said, though she was grinning, "And don't be mad at Bridge either. We just wanted the two of you to get with the picture and be happy."

"I love dares," I said dreamily.

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