Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose

Disclaimer: I'll just pretend you didn't ask that.

Challenge: Yield

Timeframe: Somewhere after Kick Into Overdrive

Summary: "You really want me to let myself go?"

"Hi Rose," Mack greeted in a sing song voice as he entered the zord bay. "Watcha doin?" he could almost feel her tense up as he came closer. She looked stressed enough as it was. What a perfect opportunity to tease her into having a little bit of fun with him.

"I'm doing some zords repairs and seeing if any improvements can be made. Whatever it is you think you need to do can wait, or you can find someone else to entertain you." She turned back to the control panel. Rose saw him shake his head from the corner of her eye, and then that huge charming grin crossed Mack's handsome face. He came closer still, placing his hands on her shoulders. She instantly stiffened.

"Oh Rose," he murmured into her dark hair. "Oh my sweet, hardworking, needs-to-relax Rosie." Rose's heart skipped several beats at Mack's declaration of her being his. She took a deep breath and started to move away, but Mack would have no part of that, none at all. He pulled her closer still, hands on her shoulders, massaging them.

"Mack, what in the hell are you doing?" Rose demanded shrilly.

"Helping."

"This is not helping. Helping would be looking at the zords or leaving me alone so I can do it."

"You're boring, Rose." Mack continued on rubbing her shoulders firmly. "You need to stop working and just kick back every now and then."

"Maybe that would be easier if you just go so I can get my work done."

Mack snorted. "You know you won't relax." He pressed his cheek to her hair. "When was the last time you did something spontaneous? The last time you just let yourself yield to the miniscule fun side you have and let yourself go?" Beneath his hands Rose's shoulders slumped.

"You're not going to let this go, are you Mack?" Rose asked as she turned in his hold. Her tone was meant to sound annoyed with her red ranger, but there was an underlying sadness in her voice. Mack shook his head, grinning proudly. "You really want me to let myself go?"

"Yes I do."

"OK." She looked up at him with big brown eyes, trying to decide if he would mind what she was about to do. She came to the conclusion that he wouldn't. Rose took a deep breath to steady herself, and then stood on her tiptoes and planted a soft, chaste kiss on his mouth. It was over as soon as it had started.

"How's that for letting myself go?"