Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose
Disclaimer: I have a red Time Force action figure and a Time Force morpher, but that's it.
Challenge: Pride
Timeframe: Post Follow the Ranger
Summary: She's proud of him.
Mack ran out of his father's office, knowing that Andrew was following him closely. And who did he run into in the hall but his pink ranger, who looked at him as if he had grown another head.
"Mack, what on earth are you doing?" asked Rose, but instead of an answer Mack seized one of her hands and pulled her down the corridor, glancing over his shoulder for his father.
"Come on," he whispered urgently, "He'll find us, and then I'll be in trouble."
Rose's confusion showed on her face. "Who are you running from?"
"My dad."
"And you're scared of him because…?"
"Just come on," Mack replied impatiently. "I'll tell you once we're safe."
"Oh really, you're ridiculous," scoffed Rose, but she didn't pull away from his grip. In fact, she was rather enjoying holding his hand.
Mack pulled his pink ranger into the library and flopped onto the couch, taking her with him. She started to climb off of him, but he would have none of that. "Don't move, you'll make noise and he'll find us."
"Honestly," muttered Rose, but she didn't move again. Mack casually draped an arm across her shoulders. She snuggled in a little closer to him.
They heard Andrew's footsteps pass, and Mack breathed a sigh of relief. "Anyway, I was running from my dad because he couldn't stand a little bit of teasing," the red ranger explained. "His pride got the better of him."
Rose closed her eyes and thought for a moment. She opened them again and looked up at him. "I think yours did too. You got all bent out of shape as soon as your father said he still worried about you."
"I know I did," Mack replied softly.
"And I know that you know you're a great ranger and you shouldn't have been insulted."
"I know," Mack repeated. "My dad and I already talked about it."
"Good," said Rose, and she closed her eyes again. "Mack," she added, "I'm proud of you."
And Mack thought that his compliment couldn't mean any more to him. He closed his bright blue eyes and rested his head atop hers, berthing in the strawberry scent of her dark hair. He tightened his hold on her, thinking that whatever happened, he'd always have Rose.