Theme Challenge: Bridge and Z
For the Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Themes Challenge
Challenge # 3:Secrets
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
A/N: I wrote this in conjunction with the September challenge on livejournal (spdrangers). I'm hoping that's okay, lol. But anyway, if you know what the challenge is, you can probably guess what this is about. :) Also, this is a two-parter; the second part is (obviously) the next chapter, Reaction.
Secrets
She wakes up to dawn slowly lighting on her face and makes a small noise of contentment as she moves in closer to the other person in her bed. He wakes at the movement, smiling faintly.
"Hi," he says. She giggles softly.
"Hi," she replies, kissing his nose in a moment of playfulness. He smiles and kisses her properly, making her shudder and press herself into him further.
"Good morning," she manages to say. He laughs.
"Good morning." He tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and lets his hand linger there, staring at her for a few moments. She blushes under his gaze.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just…I could get used to this."
"Used to what?"
"This. You. Here, in the morning…here, all the time."
"Yeah…but Sky's not going to be on night duty every day, you know."
"I know…but I wish you could be here every morning."
"Bridge. As much as I'd like that, too, do you know how much trouble we'd be in if we got caught? Rule 340-C. Cadets of the opposite sex may not stay in each other's rooms overnight, unless one or more of the following is true: i. They are married and therefore living in a specifically designated dorm, ii. Special permission from the Commander, iii. Certain cases of extreme emergency. Violators of this rule will face severe consequences. And last time I checked, this wasn't an emergency, we definitely don't have permission from Cruger, and we're not married." She sighs. "So, unfortunately for the both of us, this isn't going to be a regular thing." He kisses the top of her head and she buries herself into his shoulder.
"Your knowledge of the handbook is kind of terrifying sometimes, Z."
"I hate you," she mumbles into his shoulder, and he laughs.
"No, you love me. That's why we're in this situation in the first place." She doesn't respond, and he brings her face up to look into her eyes. "I love you, Z." he tells her seriously. Her eyes shine.
"I love you, Bridge." Her eyes cloud over, and she pauses, looking away. "I just…I wish we could actually say that in public, you know? I hate keeping this a secret. All this sneaking around…it was fun at first, but now…I want people to know that I love you, Bridge. I want to…I mean, I—I don't know. I guess I don't know what I want." She laughs quietly. "Listen to me. I'm starting to ramble like you. We've been spending too much time together." Instead of responding, though, Bridge gets up, rather suddenly, in fact, and pulls on a pair of pajama pants. "Hey. What's up? I was joking." He doesn't say anything; rather, he goes to the top drawer of his dresser and rummages around determinedly for a few seconds.
"Bridge, what are you--?"
At that moment, he turns around and she sees the little object in the palm of his hand. Gasping, she brings her hand to her mouth. It's a small, black velvet jewelry box.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God."
"You said you wanted people to know that you loved me, Z. Well, I want people to know that I love you, too. Only you, forever you. And that I want you here with me in the morning until the end of time…" He walks slowly toward the side of the bed, and she sits up, gathering the sheets around herself, crying softly with her hand to her mouth.
"Z, I love you—I said that already, but I just want to make sure you know—and I know this is really sudden and kind of unexpected, but I…I wanted to ask you," he continues, kneeling at the side of the bed. Then he opens the small box, revealing a small but beautiful diamond ring. Her tears fall faster, and he finally says the magic words. "Will you marry me?"
She sobs, and kisses him fiercely.
The taste of yes is a slow golden taste on his tongue.
When they break apart, he grins at her broadly, tears shining in his own eyes. "Is that a yes? Because I didn't actually hear any—"
"Just put the damn ring on my finger, Bridge! Of course it's a yes. Yes! Yes yes yes yes—"
The ring shimmers on her finger; his mouth tastes like forever.
"Yes," she whispers against his lips. "Yes."
Hours later, afterglow settles around them and Z stares at the ceiling, deep in thought. Bridge dozes, delirious and spent, under her arm. He begins to fall into sleep again, when suddenly he hears her voice.
"Tomorrow."
"Hmm?"
"Tomorrow," she repeats, looking down at him. "Let's get married tomorrow."
"What?" he repeats, not sure he heard her right.
"I said, let's get married tomorrow. We can get the license today, pick out wedding bands, I'll buy a dress. I don't think blood work will be a problem; we can just submit our SPD medical records and that should be good enough. You call your parents—I know you'll want them to be there, and I'll call the courthouse, unless you want to—"
"You really are starting to talk like me," Bridge interrupts, propping himself up on his elbow. But he continues in a serious tone, "Are you sure about this? I mean, everyone's going to freak out. They don't even know we're dating. How are they going to react if we tell them we're getting married tomorrow?"
"I don't care, Bridge. I just want to marry you. I never wanted a huge ceremony. Do you?"
He admits that he doesn't, and she places a soft hand on his cheek.
"Then let's do it. I don't want a long engagement. I've been hiding this for so long that I want to tell people, now." She laughs quietly and kisses him. "Do you understand?"
"Do I understand? Z, if I had known that, I would have proposed months ago."
The room fills with the sound of their laughter, and when they fall silent, Z sighs joyfully into his shoulder.
"Tomorrow," she whispers. He grins widely.
"Tomorrow."
Tomorrow.
grins widely Yay! Okay, well, I hope you enjoyed this--now review and go and read the next chapter!