Theme Challenge: Syd and Sky
Series presented by: BloomingViolets and Pink-Green-White-4ever
Challenge: Why? – written by BloomingViolets
Last Revised: October 2, 2005

Summary: Why was she avoiding him?
Disclaimer: We don't own 'em, wish we did.
Ship: Syd/Sky

AN: Done in response to the Ars Amatoria's Ranger Romance Themes Challenge.

Set a few days after "Recognition."

xxx

She was avoiding him.

And for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.

Everything had finally returned back to normal. Well, almost. Wootox had been captured three days ago and everything had more or less calmed down. He was back in his own body, his bruises were fading, the pain was going away and best of all, everyone had forgiven him for making a mess when he had been in Wootox's body. Everything had more or less returned to normal.

Almost.

At first he hadn't noticed that Sydney was avoiding him. He had been too caught up in a state of happiness being returned to his body, that he didn't see the wary glances being shot his way by the pink ranger.

But over the last two days, he began noticing the little odd things. She would stand up and leave whenever he entered a room or she would be conveniently the first one done eating at breakfast. Usually, she would be sitting next to him when they were relaxing in the common room or standing on his right when the Commander briefed them on a situation, now she kept her distance.

And Sky couldn't figure out why.

It was as if she was suddenly afraid of him.

Another two days passed and Sky grew even more frustrated. It was clear that Sydney was avoiding him and he was tired of wondering what he had done to have made her feel like she had to hide from him. He was going to confront her.

It was easier said than done. Over the next few days, Sydney must've caught onto the fact that he was looking for her because she seemed to make herself scarce even more.

Finally, Sky spotted the pink ranger heading up the stairs that led to the rooftop of the Academy one late afternoon. He knew it was one of her favorite places and he seized his chance. Quietly, Sky followed her and was relieved when she didn't notice him.

It was time to find out what he had done.

The sun was beginning to set when he made it up tot eh top. Sydney's back was facing him as she quietly shut the door behind him.

"Why are you avoiding me?" The words were suddenly blurted out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

The pink ranger jumped and whirled around. Her eyes held a look of surprise as she faced him. Sky stared at her with a look of worry, his eyes pleading her to forgive whatever he had done.

"Sky…" she trailed off.

"Was it something I did?" he asked, taking a step toward her. "Cause if it was, then I'm really sorry."

There was an awkward silence as they stood staring at one another. Finally, Syd sighed. "I'm sorry, Sky," her voice was soft and laced with guilt. "I didn't mean to avoid you at all. It wasn't your fault. I guess I'm just being a bit paranoid."

"Why?" Sky stood still, feeling a bit hurt. "What did I do?"

"Not you," she paused. "Wootox."

He breathed in sharply. "What about him? Did he do something to you when he was in my body?" He felt a strong urge to run down to the containment unit and pound the life out of that monster.

Syd looked startled at his tone. "Well," she said hesitantly. "Sort of, not really."

The blue ranger looked confused. "What kind of an answer is that?"

"It's kinda hard to explain."

"Please tell me Syd," he pleaded.

The pink ranger hesitated. "Okay," she said slowly.

Sky took a deep breath as Syd contemplated where to start.

"I was just in my room, minding my own business, when out of no where you burst into the room. Now, normally, I wouldn't mind, but for some reason, when you came in, the room suddenly felt a lot colder," the pink ranger paused and looked at him. "It unnerved me a bit, but I didn't think it was a big deal. What puzzled me was that you came in without asking. You always had before."

Sky nodded, prompting her to continue.

"The next think I realized was your eyes."

He was startled. "My eyes?"

Syd nodded. "Usually, you'd look at me with exasperation or with amusement. But the way you were looking at me…" she trailed off, shivering a bit. "It was like you were undressing me with your eyes."

"What?"

Syd shuddered as she relived the memory. "It was like you wanted to pin me to the bed and rip all my clothes off."

"But… I would never…" he protested weakly.

She took a few steps toward him until she was standing directly in front of him. She laid a hand on his arm. "I know, Sky," she said softly. "It wasn't your fault at all. It's Wootox's. I know that you would never look at me that way. You would never treat me as if I was some property."

"I wouldn't…"

"I know Sky, I know." His arms fell to his side and Syd stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around his waist. Startled, Sky wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tight. "If anything, I should've known something was up, you were acting so out of character."

"I'm really sorry, Syd," he murmured into her hair.

"I'm sorry too," Syd whispered back. "I don't know why I tried to avoid you. I know you'd never hurt me."

Sky hugged her tighter. "Never."

xxx