You Found Me: A Story of Sky and Syd

Disclaimer: The only thing I own remotely related to Power Rangers is a Wes action figure. And technically I stole it from my little brother.

Challenge: Friends

Timeframe: Can take place anywhere after Endings.

After finishing the S.P.D. handbook for the millionth time, Sky pushed it aside roughly and looked around at his fellow rangers.

Cruger had given them the day off, but no one had left the base. Z was reading and Bridge was watching her do so while chewing on a piece of buttered toast with a look of pure bliss on his face. Syd had set up her easel, partially hidden behind the sketch pad.

An affectionate grin crossed Sky's face. Syd looked natural, perched on the arm of a sofa, holding her pencil loosely as her brow furrowed in thought.

"You can stop drooling now," an all-too-familiar voice muttered in Sky's ear.

Jack Landors grinned down at him, a few dreadlocks escaping from behind his ear and obscuring a large tawny eye. His arm was around the waist of a pretty blond girl named Ally Samuels.

"Jack!" Z squealed, bounding across the room to her 'brother.'

Sky's face was still red from Jack's comment. He had thought no one suspected his feelings from the bubbly S.P.D. princess, except Bridge of course. But Sky did notice Syd hadn't acknowledged Jack and Ally's presence. She just kept drawing.

"So Ally and I were going fishing. Any of you guys want in?"

"Sounds fun," the blue and yellow rangers said together. Syd shook her head no.

"I want to finish this," she mumbled dreamily.

Jack waggled his eyebrows at Sky suggestively. Sky rolled his steely gaze as the group walked out.

Neither of the two remaining rangers spoke. It wasn't an awkward silence, but rather one of two companions who were completely comfortable with one another. It was nice, Sky thought as he studied Sydney.

'No stop it,' Sky ordered himself silently. They were teammates, friends. He knew he shouldn't have known the things he knew about her.

Sky knew that when Syd wanted to be alone, she huddled up with Peanuts and listened to old Kelly Clarkson songs. He knew she preferred apricot body scrub because he caught a stray whiff of it every time they were close to each other. He even noticed that her toenails were painted cotton candy pink.

Sky mentally kicked himself. He was practically stalking her. And plus, Sydney was a year and a half younger than he, which to Sky meant he was cradle robbing.

But Sydney was attractive, as anyone with eyes could tell you. Damn. Should he say something? And if so, what?

It was suddenly very hot in the common room. Sky adjusted his collar, feeling very inadequate.

"It's perfect," Syd declared, glowing with pride. Why did she have to be so cute when she was happy?

There was a loud rustle of paper as Syd closed the sketch pad. She crossed the room, the flip flopping of her sandals echoing in the nearly empty space. Sky was very aware of their proximity as she threw herself down next to him.

"Entertain me?" Syd asked sweetly. She had nothing better to do. Flirting with him might be mildly amusing.

Syd stretched herself across the angular sofa so that her head was in Sky's lap, her luxurious golden curls fanned out over his long legs. She was manipulating most of the small couch. Sky wasn't sure whether to be uncomfortable or to be turned on.

"And just what do you want me to do?"

"I dunno…" Sydney's voice trailed off.

"Look, Syd," Sky began nervously, plucking at his collar again. God she was hot.

Sydney's azure gaze scrutinized him carefully. His cheeks were tinged bright red. He was flustered and she thought it incredibly sexy, especially the way his Adam's apple was bobbing in his throat. "Yeah?" she asked, her voice low and sultry.

Without really knowing what he was doing, Sky tenderly cupped her face in his hand and lifted it so she was eye level with him.

'This is wrong!' the practical side of his brain was screaming at him. 'You're friends!'

'Get lost,' he argued back.

Slowly, their lips met. The timidity they felt at first slowly melted away, leaving nothing but the secret passion they'd kept hidden over the years.

And then Sydney pulled away, placed a gentle peck on the tip of his nose, and curled up in his lap.

They certainly weren't 'just friends' anymore.

Alrighty then…

I was really trying to be descriptive with this chapter, as was suggested by pink-green-white-4-ever. (Thank you, by the way.)

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