Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose
Disclaimer: Only in my dreams.
Challenge: Closer
Timeframe: Post Follow the Ranger
Summary: He did the only thing that made sense to him then: he reached out and hugged her, hugged her close and tight.
There was definitely something different about the pink ranger. She was uncharacteristically cuddled up against the side of the red ranger as the team relaxed in front of a movie in the lounge, her head on his shoulder. Absently, Rose traced circles on the back of Mack's hand, and it was starting to drive him insane.
As soon as the movie had ended, the black, blue and yellow rangers headed up to their beds, stretching and yawning. Rose, however, showed no signs of wanting to move in the near future. Mack made the decision of asking what was wrong. After all, the pink ranger was not usually so affectionate, not even with him, and Mack was certain she had a soft spot for him.
"Rose? Is everything all right?"
"Oh yeah," she chirped in a completely un-Rose like manner. Mack raised an eyebrow, and the cheery fake smile that had planted itself on Rose's face with her answer vanished. He knew her entirely too well.
"You know you can talk to me about anything," Mack said softly, reaching down and moving a stray lock of silky black hair from her face. "Try me. I don't bite."
Rose looked up at him then, locking her brown gaze with his blue one. There was fear in her eyes, something Mack had no recollection of seeing there before. "I could have lost you today, Mack. I came far too close to losing you." She resumed her post at his shoulder, burying her pretty face against the sleeve of his shirt.
"Rose…come on. You know I can take care of myself. You know that with a bunch of morons like Moltor and Flurious I was never in any real danger. And besides, I'm right here, safe and sound."
"I don't like worrying about you, Mack. To be honest, you completely terrify me." Her voice was muffled, but Mack could tell she was sincere. How sweet that she cared about him so much. It just made him want her all the more.
He did the only thing that made sense to him then: he reached out and hugged her, hugged her close and tight. "Oh Rosie," he murmured into her hair. "Don't be afriad. It's all right. I'm right here."
Mack felt the pink ranger relax in his grip and he experienced a faint note of pride at the thought of being the one who she cared and worried about.
Maybe there was something to be said for being kidnapped by the two incompetent goons.