Title: Basium

Relationship: Jack/Sky

Rating: PG-13? Language

Warning: Missing scene from "Endings Part 2," because that close-up of Sky when Cruger announced Jack was gone demanded fic. Spoilers for the whole series.

Basium—Latin, a passionate kiss

10 kissing in the rain

He didn't wait to hear the rest of Z's update on Jack's shiny new life. He wasn't even thinking really. The warehouse she described was easy to find and he wasn't on duty even though he was in uniform, so he retrieved his upgraded motorcycle from the parking garage and headed out.

He didn't realize he was angry until he was halfway there.

All that talk about team work and bonding and being there for each other, and Jack just left. No goodbyes. No "Hey, I'm dissatisfied with my current job and want to do other things." Just—Nothing. Not a word.

Rain spattered against his helmet, but it wasn't enough to make the roads slick yet so he had time. Time enough to hunt down an arrogant, pig-headed jerk—

He swerved around a van and turned towards the docks. The warehouse Z had described was one that had been newly renovated after the last round of attacks on the city. It certainly wasn't in a new area of the city.

Driving past dilapidated factories and boarded windows, he slowed once he spotted a white truck being loaded under a wide awning. There were a few workers carrying boxes through an open bay door. Parking his bike out of the way but under the awning, Sky removed his helmet. The workers had stopped what they were doing, staring at his uniform nervously as he approached, until Jack's voice roused them

"Hey, hey! We've got a schedule to keep, guys!" He was smiling until he stepped outside and saw Sky coming. His subdued and impatient expression just made Sky walk faster.

"Jack." He said once he was close enough.

"Sky. Funny seeing you here." Jack's tone was wary, but he handed his clipboard to one of the workers.

"I was in the area," Sky said dryly. "Thought I'd drop in and see how you were doing."

"Well, why don't we go into the office?" Jack turned to lead the way without checking to see if Sky was following, and wasn't that how it always went?

"I was wondering if you'd show up," the former ranger said quietly once they were ensconced in the small office. Sky didn't respond. The silence dragged out, punctuated by shouts from the warehouse floor and the sound of equipment moving pallets.

"So, you're the Red Ranger now," Jack announced, breaking the tension with a genuine grin. "You must be happy."

"I'd be happier if I knew why the position was open in the first place," Sky stated plainly, crossing his arms.

Jack's grin faded and he shrugged, looking away. "It was time to move on. Grumm was defeated, the threat of intergalactic war was eliminated… I wanted to do something new."

Frustrated, Sky sneered. "You're saying that you got tired of being a ranger?"

Jack shrugged. "Yeah, basically."

"I don't believe you," Sky snorted incredulously. "After everything we've been through—the team's been through-- you just drop it all and walk out. You go from saving the planet to handing out clothes on the street."

"That's what I want to do, Sky." Jack's casual façade finally broke, the words coming out sharp and defensive. "Being a ranger was important, but my life is on these streets, man. This is where I come from, these are my people. There's always gonna be a Red Ranger looking out for the planet, but what about the people who don't have anywhere to go? How can I be a hero when I know no one's helping them?"

"You have power," Sky retorted, ticking the items off on his fingers. "You're a good leader, you had a great team, and you're one of the best rangers out there. Why isn't that enough?"

Jack made a frustrated gesture, losing the last of his calm. "It may be enough for you, but it's not for me. That's not who I am. Yeah, I can do it, but I can't imagine spending the rest of my life at the SPD. The thought makes me want to run screaming. I like what I'm doing now and no one's shooting at me on a daily basis."

"So that's it? You just left?" Sky demanded, feeling like he was in quicksand and just digging in deeper.

"We both knew I wasn't going to be at SPD forever, Sky. For one thing, there were too many rules for my liking," Jack said pointedly through clenched teeth, a sharp barb on a subject they both hadn't wanted to acknowledge. This thing between them—Sky looked away, but Jack continued doggedly, "Was there any reason for me to stay?"

And that put Sky right in his place. If Jack had to ask—

It wasn't anger that had brought him here, he realized. It was hurt. He didn't want it to, but it did, and he ducked his head because he felt like he was about to fucking cry and he wasn't going to make a fool out of himself. Any more than he already had by coming there.

"No," he finally said hoarsely. "You're right. I guess there wasn't."

He needed to leave. Turning sharply on his heel, he marched out of the office and flicked his sunglasses on even though the sky was getting darker under the increasingly heavy rain. The bay doors of the warehouse were still open for loading, so he ducked out around the workers and headed for his cycle.

Revving the engine, he realized the roads were in no condition for driving a motorcycle, no matter how advanced the technology. Kat would kill him if he messed up the new paint job. Staring down at the red accents of the bike, he laughed hollowly.

He was finally the Red Ranger, but how much had he lost getting there?

Debating with himself, Jack was staring grimly at the empty doorway when Ally appeared. Sauntering in, she perched on the edge of the desk and stared with him.

"He the reason you took so long to leave SPD?" She asked bluntly.

"No," Jack snapped, turning away from the door and grabbing a random stack of papers off the desk. He shuffled through them furiously until she plucked the pile deftly from his hands.

"He didn't seem very happy…"

"Sky's never happy," he muttered, fidgeting with his shirt hem. Sighing, he let his hands drop to his side. "Dammit."

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off?" Ally casually suggested, carefully rearranging the paper stack to its previous order. "Maybe check to make sure your buddy got home okay, since his bike's still out there."

Jack's head snapped up at that, but he quickly turned away when she gave him a knowing smile.

"I think he headed towards the pier…" She called after him as he left.

The rain was pouring down outside the warehouse awning, but Sky's red accented bike was still parked next to the building. The truck was nearly loaded and they'd be able to make a run that afternoon, but Piggy was off doing Something Very Important, ie: probably gambling or eating, so Jack felt a twinge of guilt at leaving Ally on her own for the day. But he had something important to do, too, if he could just find the stubborn, pig-headed jerk…

The rain was warm enough, but it was still a shock to be drenched within a few minutes of jogging down the street towards the waterfront. Luckily, Sky was easy to find. He was the only person too obstinate to come in out of the downpour, hunched over his elbows at the railing of the dock.

Slowing down to a walk, Jack caught his breath and futilely tried to mop the rain out of his eyes. Sky didn't acknowledge his approach, instead keeping his face turned towards the sea. Jack couldn't see his eyes behind his sunglasses anyway.

Leaning on the railing next to him, Jack sighed into the silence.

"You were supposed to say yes," he declared, watching the rain trickle over his hands.

Sky's head canted to the side, but he still didn't turn to face Jack. "You shouldn't have had to ask."

The same hoarseness was there as in the office, those last lines uttered with such finality. Jack too a deep breath, braced himself.

"I think you know that I've never really had a place to call home." He cupped his hands, trying to catch the rain drops. "But you guys… You guys made me see that being on your own wasn't necessarily a good thing, and I get that…. SPD isn't my life, Sky. But you guys—You're my family. I left like I did, mostly because I didn't know how to say goodbye. I didn't want to. Plus, I was afraid you would try to talk me out of going."

Bowing his head, Sky pulled off his sunglasses and pressed his fingers to his eyes.

"Jack…If you're honestly happier here than being a ranger—" He swallowed tightly, letting his hand drop and meeting Jack's gaze. "—Then no one could be happier for you than me. I just—"

Sky cut himself off abruptly, but Jack felt something in his chest loosen. Suddenly, this was the easiest thing in the world to do.

"What I'm trying to say is that I left my badge with Cruger, Sky, but I didn't leave you."

The other man snorted. "Right. That's why you didn't tell us where you were going."

Jack shrugged. "I planned to tell you once I got settled, but Z hunted me down first."

Instead of replying, Sky just tilted his head back, letting the rain hit his face. His eyes were red around the edges. Abandonment issues, Bridge had once said, and Jack stepped closer.

"Look, I'm not SPD anymore," he said simply.

Glancing at him dryly, Sky smirked. "Yeah, I kinda picked up on that, Mr. Landors."

"So," Jack drawled, edging closer still. "You're stupid regulations don't apply to ex-rangers, do they?"

Sky's shoulders visibly relaxed and his smirk was now more like a smile. He stared at Jack like he was wondering whether to believe him. "Just what exactly are you getting at?"

"And they call you a detective." Rolling his eyes, Jack closed the gap between them. "How about you just shut up and kiss me, Officer?"

"Yes, sir," Sky laughed against his lips.

Jack had expected it to be a hesitant kiss, reserved like the man pressing against him, but Sky pulled their hips together with a strong grip and plundered Jack's mouth like he needed him to breathe. Returning the embrace with equal fervor, Jack didn't care that they were soaked to the bone and the weather was getting colder as the sun set. The warmth radiating between them was enough. Being there was enough.

They broke apart gasping, resting their foreheads together as the rain streamed across their faces.

"Promise me," Sky whispered. "Promise me that you'll tell me when you're leaving again."

Closing his eyes, Jack threaded his fingers through Sky's. "I'm not going anywhere without you. Just promise me that you'll always be there."

"I will."

An oath he'd never asked of anyone before. One that he'd never been willing to give, even to Z. But—Walking away had been different this time. He'd never been so tempted to stay before.

Stepping back, Sky wiped the rain from his eyes and looked over at the streetlights that had flickered on. "We should head indoors before it gets too cold."

Jack gave him a wry look and plucked at his sodden shirt, shivering. "Little late for that."

Smiling down at him, eyes crinkled at the edges and shining in the darkening light, Sky cupped the back of Jack's neck and leaned in for another kiss, this time soft and gentle.

"C'mon," he said over the sound of the rain hitting the water. "I'll buy you dinner. But this time I get to pick the restaurant."

"Fair enough," Jack laughed.