Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose
Disclaimer: This is getting quite boring…
Challenge: Darkness
Timeframe: Somewhere after Kick into Overdrive
Summary: "Just let me be alone. That's all I'm destined for, anyway."
She stood at the window in the den, watching as the storm raged over the grounds. She was clad in a pink bathrobe and white pajamas, and as lightning flashed, illuminating the dark room, Rose had never looked more beautiful. But this new brief source of light also showed the twin trails tears had left on her face.
"Rose?" His question came softly, so softly that he thought she hadn't heard him at first. But then she raised her hand to her face, brushing her tears away angrily, and she looked back at him with a phony smile on her face.
"Some storm we're having, huh?"
He nodded and stepped closer to her. "Are you all right? I thought I saw you…crying." Mack joined the pink ranger at the window, resting a hand on her shoulder. She didn't object to the friendly gesture. Rose heaved a sigh.
"I was brooding. Or perhaps brooding is not a strong enough word. I think mourning is a more accurate term." Mack felt her tremble. He didn't know what to do.
"Mourning?" he repeated, just so he'd have something to say.
"Over what can never be. I guess I should be used to it by now. I've always been alone, really." She shivered beneath his hand.
"That's not true. You've got me." He knew it sounded cliché, but he meant his words.
Rose turned to him, her eyes sad. Mack hated it. He wanted to do something to help her, to find some way to comfort her. "You're sweet, Mack. But please, please don't try to do this. Just let me be alone. That's all I'm destined for, anyway." Her tone was dark, hollow and dead sounding.
"No," he protested fiercely, and out of desperation to make her realize that he would always be there for her, he grabbed her face and pressed his mouth to hers in an intense kiss. "You are not destined to be lonely. Not while I'm here," Mack whispered when they pulled away for air.
Rose shot him the tiniest of smiles, feeling some of the dark hollows of her heart brighten.