In which Sky feels funny...

[spd_blue]

[For spd_red but anyone who wants to play with a loopy Sky is more then welcome. Also, feel free to change the setting if you like.]

Looking back on the fight, Sky didn't remember getting hit with anything. Sure, he got some of the alien's weird smelling smoke to the face but he thought his shields had blocked most of it to the point that he hadn't even worried.

And even later, he still didn't think anything was wrong. In fact...he felt pretty darn good. He felt loose and relaxed and he couldn't wipe the happy smile off his face.

That should have been anyone's first clue that something was wrong.

The second was the fact that he was sitting in the common room, attempting to have pleasant conversations with everyone in the room. At least those who would talk to the Blue Ranger who usually only talked to his teammates. And was still beaming.

Comments

[spd_blue]

It was actually mean a lot to Sky to know that Bridge preferred his usual self to this. He'd never admit it, but sometimes he wondered...

But now he just wanted to make Bridge happy. So he easily lets Bridge led him towards his lab. "You should show me what else you and Boom are working on. I want to see."

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge nods and smiles and tries to pretend like there's no big deal about Sky actually asking to see what he's been working on. But it's staggering, really. Sky's never cared, it's not like Sky has hobbies. He always thought they were a distraction.

He leads Sky into the lab and busies himself starting some toast. He's gotten to the point where he can do half a loaf in one go, at varied brownness.

"So this is the lab." Bridge is fairly certain Sky's never even been in here.

[spd_blue]

Sky had hobbies. They just weren't fun hobbies, like Bridge's. Well, minus the model airplanes, but that was something he got from his dad and didn't really share with anyone.

While before he was generally indifferent about the lab Bridge shared with Boom, now he looked around with genuine interest. "Wow...Bridge, you and Boom have made some amazing things in here!"

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge would probably be blushing by now, if he weren't too busy being worried about Sky. He keeps his ear cocked for the sound of his morpher, calling them back to Kat's lab, but no summons is forthcoming, so he sighs and starts gathering the toast as it starts to pop.

"Thanks, Sky." He's not used to being praised by Sky for his more mechanical inclinations, at least not to his face. He smiles over at him, then brings him some of his toast.

[spd_blue]

Sky had always been proud of Bridge's inventions, even if most of the time they annoyed him at the same time. He just didn't quite know how to say it.

"What does this one do?" He asked as crouched down next to boxy looking invention with levers all over it. When the toast was offered, he took a piece with a smile in thanks.

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge pats Sky on the shoulder, then pulls him away from the invention he'd been poking at.

"Well, it might one day be a new weapon. Or... or possibly a shrink ray. Which I guess could also technically be used as a weapon. But it's a little bulky right now, as you can see. And mostly Boom's idea."

He sets Sky down in his chair and crouches down in front of him, watching him curiously. "Are you happy, Sky?"

[spd_blue]

His eyes stay on the invention for a bit but he lets Bridge pull him away. "A shrink ray? That's a great idea. Boom is so smart."

Sky cocked his head as he finished his piece of toast, looking down at Bridge crouched in front of him. "Of course I'm happy. Why?"

[handstandsfortruth]

"Yeah, I've always thought so..." He wonders if Sky really thinks that, and just doesn't know how to say it without screwing up the careful persona he's built up for so long.

He rubs at the back of his neck, then leans forward, planting a hand on either of Sky's knees and peering up at his face. "I don't just mean right now, Sky. I mean, in general. With, you know, everything. Are you happy, being Blue ranger?"

[spd_blue]

That would be the later. Especially since Boom himself does get on Sky's nerves, smart or not.

Sky returned Bridge's intent look with a sincere one of his own. "It's a dream come true. Of course I'm happy." Then he shrugged lightly, "It would be nice to be Red but I am happy to be a ranger and being able to do something to help SPD and Earth. Plus, I get to do it with my best friends. Why wouldn't I be happy?"

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge sighs, leaning back on his heels and running his hands through his hair, leaving it standing on end and wild.

"Because you don't act happy most of the time, Sky." There, he said it. Maybe Sky won't remember this when his brain mist lobotomy wears off. Bridge isn't sure if that's a good thing. He really hates not knowing something, especially not knowing something about his best friend.

He's worried about him, damn it. "You always act angry, or frustrated, or like... Like the rest of us are beneath you for whatever reason. And that's... you know, I've known you long enough to know that's just, like, a defense mechanism, though I don't know what you think you're defending against, since it's us. Your team. Our team. But now, this, you're all... gleeful and chipper and it's weird, Sky, it's very weird." He sighs again and stands up to retrieve a piece of toast for himself. "That's all."

[spd_blue]

Not even bothering to stop himself, Sky reached over and smoothed Bridge's hair back down. Or at least he tried.

Then he frowned, even biting his lower lip, as he tried to think hard on what Bridge said. But it was difficult to concentrate on something that serious for so long. "Dru." He finally said, pushing out the name with a sigh of relief. "It's because of Dru. He left. And my dad. He left. I don't like being left." Sky was smiling, a bet sadly, happy that he'd at least found an answer for Bridge. "It's easier when people leave if they aren't so close."

[handstandsfortruth]

Oof. That hurt.

Not the hair touching, though that was tricky for a second. Sky might be out of his mind right now, in this fluffy happy way, but he was still cognitive enough of Bridge not to let their skin brush.

No, what hurt was Sky's explanation. Bridge is pretty sure Sky hasn't been this honest with him in years, and that's saying something, since Bridge has known Sky what feels like forever, shares his room, and even with all the precautions he takes, there's still some residual aura clinging to Sky's personal effects even after he leaves the room that Bridge can't help but pick up on. But this, this is real honesty.

The smile is a bit unsettling, considering what Sky'd just said.

Next thing Bridge knows, he's hugging Sky hard around the shoulders, turning his head so his hair is against Sky's cheek instead of his own cheek. He's not even entirely sure how he got there.

"You know, I'm not going anywhere, Sky. I'm really not. I mean. I have no where else to go. And no where else I'd rather be."

[spd_blue]

It was nice to know there was some proof that Sky wasn't completely out of it.

Sky was the son of a red ranger. He wanted to be a red ranger, just like his father. Weakness wasn't something he could allow himself and he saw this as a big one. Especially given how much he missed his father. But it was easier to be honest right now, when Sky didn't care about things like expectations or weaknesses.

The hug was a surprise, but he was more then happy to carefully wrap his arms around Bridge and return it tightly. "I know, Bridge. But my dad didn't mean to go anywhere either." Still being honest. "Thank you. It still means a lot to me."

[handstandsfortruth]

So much honesty from Sky in such a small space of time is rough, and Bridge is wary of continuing this conversation, he's not sure he's ready for any conclusions, logical or otherwise.

"Do you get it, though, now?" He asks finally, pulling back. "Why we're all reacting the way we are to you acting the way you are, right now?"

[spd_blue]

"No?" Sky asked with an innocent expression. He was feeling great and happy so he didn't know why everyone thought it was strange. Shouldn't they be happy too?

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge sighs again and stands up straight to pace a bit before he gives up and goes to his old stand-by, planting his hands firmly on the floor and throwing his legs into the air.

He balances like that for a moment, contemplating, then tilts his head up to keep his eyes on Sky. "Okay, you generally don't want to get close to anyone. Which is fine, if maybe not entirely the most mentally healthy choice you could make, considering the reasons. But it's your choice and you're an adult, so you generally, for the most part, usually keep yourself closed off even from people like me, who can tell what you're feeling even if you're not thinking it our saying anything out loud. And today, after the fight with the monster, suddenly you're being very open and very friendly and getting very close to me, at least, and maybe some other people, and it's different. It's not usually how you act. And it's also something you might regret, when we get you back to normal. Get it?"

[spd_blue]

Sky tried, he really did, and the struggle showed on his face. He understood, or as much as he could in his current state.

"So...you don't want me to act like this anymore?" He asked in a soft, conflicted voice. He liked the way he was feeling, it made him happy...but if it would make Bridge happy, he'd try to act 'normal'. Except normal didn't sound very good.

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge let gravity take over and toppled forward again, rolling easily to his feet.

"I just want you to be Sky." He admits finally. "If that means grumpy and sullen and refusing to spend time with the team, well, then, that's Sky and I'm used to that. But if that means chipper and happy and willingly eating my toast, that's okay too. I just don't know how you'll feel."

[spd_blue]

"Being Sky doesn't sound very fun," admitted the currently out of Sky. "Can I just be chipper and happy and willingly eating your toast Sky right now?" Frankly, he didn't care how he'd feel later, he just knew this is how he felt right now.

"I can leave you alone if it's bothering you?" He really didn't want to, he liked being around Bridge, but he would if it would make Bridge happy. Why couldn't everyone be happy?

[handstandsfortruth]

Being Sky didn't look very fun, most of the time, either.

"You can be whatever Sky you want to be whenever you want to be. You have to be some kind of Sky, and you can be the Sky you want to be."

Bridge smiled and shook his head. "I don't want you to leave me alone. I want you to do what you want to do. What do you what to do, Sky?"

[spd_blue]

"Then you are okay with being this Sky right now?" He asked, just to make sure. Bridge had been so worried so he wanted to check. "Because I really don't want to leave. I want to stay here with you. I like being with you, Bridge."

[handstandsfortruth]

"Yes, I am okay with you being this Sky." He reiterates. Then he glances around and shakes his head. "But maybe not in here. Maybe we could go back to the common room? Or to our room? There's really nothing to do in here unless you want to watch me work, but I can't really do anything without Boom and I'm really not in the mood to work anyway."

[spd_blue]

"Let's go back to our room. Little more privacy." If Bridge was so worried what people thought of him like this, Sky figured back in their room was safer. Either way, as long as he got to stay with Bridge, he was happy.

[handstandsfortruth]

"That's a good idea, Sky." Bridge grabs Sky's shoulder with a firm friendly grip, then leads him back out of the lab, grabbing a stack of toast as he goes, just in case Sky's still hungry.

Kat still hasn't called them back down to her lab, so he leads Sky right to their room and flops down on his bed.

"Do you want to talk about something? Or... I don't know, take a nap?" Usually Sky would probably balk at the mere suggestion of taking a nap while technically on active duty, but who knows today?

[spd_blue]

Sky let Bridge lead wherever he wanted, unusually docile. When they entered there room, Sky looked at his side and frowned.

"Has it always been so bare?" There were some pictures and books and training equipment, but not much else. Except the model airplane on his desk. That was cool!

But then he moved to sit on Bridge's bed, near his feet. "We can talk! What do you want to talk about?" He ignored the nap comment completely.