#feel like half the responses are going to be soundwave BUT PLEASE we would all bring him back if we could so who else lol

[lilyofthesword-writes]

Robotic Friendshp - Chapter 12

Summary: The Autobots get a super virus on their computer system. Raf's oldest sister is brought in to help.

Pairing: Ratchet x OC (platonic), Soundwave x OC (platonic)

Word Count: 1211

Warnings/Disclaimers: Soundwave being not so nice to Nikki but then attempting to make up for it.

Masterlist

A tendril swept out and slammed Nikki into the wall. A throbbing pain shot down from her head all the way down her spine. "I'm sorry!" she cried out.

Soundwave held her datapad in another tendril. Nikki had been working for almost twenty-four hours now. She was exhausted, but apparently that did not excuse the few mistakes she made in the last set of assigned code.

"Please!" Tears welled up in her eyes.

He squished her into the wall more, his blank faceplate staring at her intensely. She cringed even more. I don't want to die… Not like this!

Soundwave swung her back gently to the panel she sat on before, not giving her back the datapad. She looked up at him meekly, wondering what his next move was going to be. He held her gaze silently before lifting up a servo and softly pushing her to lie down.

She watched him with wide eyes. Does he…want me to go to sleep? She did not fuss once she was lying on her side. It felt nice to relax like that. Within moments, her lack of sleep overcame her.

-

Ratchet tapped his pede on the ground. He had sent a transmission out to WheelJack and had not received a reply. Raf was asleep on the couch. While everyone else had gone home to rest, Raf stayed. He wanted to be there when they found Nikki. In his hand, he held the Energon shard he had found. For some reason, he felt better with it near.

A quick beep startled Raf awake. Ratchet made a b-line to the computer. "This is Ratchet."

"Yo, Doc."

"It's about time you responded!"

"Whoa! Calm down, Doc! What's with the urgency?"

Raf sat there, fiddling with the shard.

"You didn't even listen to the transmission?" Ratchet's servos were up in the air. "One of our human allies has been kidnapped!"

"And this is Autobot concern beca—"

"—By the Decepticons."

Silence.

"What? Are they trying to use it has bait?"

Ratchet shook his helm. "We are not sure yet."

"…Send over a Ground Bridge?"

He was anxiously waiting for that response. He pulled the lever to the bridge and WheelJack dissolved through. He waved to Raf. "Sup?"

Raf shrugged and kept fidgeting.

Ratchet proceeded to explain what had happened. "We need extra scouts. Have you seen the Nemesis recently?"

WheelJack shook his helm. "No. But if the Boss Bot is that concerned, I'll help ya out."

Ratchet nodded. "Thank you. Optimus and the others went out searching. They will be regrouping here soon."

WheelJack began to pace. "Soon" meant nothing at this point. He took notice of Raf and leaned his faceplate over the railing. "Whatcha got there?"

Raf jumped. "I-It's…" He held out the shard in his palm. "I found it earlier…"

Ratchet made his way over for a look. "Where in the Allspark did you find that?"

"Mmm… By the couch."

"What? Are you feeding humans Energon now?" WheelJack joked.

"Wait…this…" Ratchet held out his servo.

Raf placed it in the medic's palm.

Ratchet studied it closely. "This was…the shard that cut her…"

-

Nikki's hand burned when she woke up to the feeling of a breeze. Her eyes opened and she saw the walls moving. What in the… She sat up groggily. She nearly jumped out of her skin, finding she was sitting on Soundwave's shoulder.

Realizing her awakened state, a tendril wrapped its prongs around her and pulled her off. They reached an automatic door the whizzed open. A short distance away, Megatron stood in front of gigantic screens with his back to the two of them. Nikki held her bandaged hand, which made a crunching noise. Though startled by this discovery, she was still more worried about Megatron.

"Soundwave, report."

He handed Megatron a datapad.

"…Good. Now fix the navigation and flight."

Soundwave answered with one solid nod.

-

"What are you going on about, Doc?"

Ratchet waved a servo, shrugging WheelJack off. He brought the shard to his workstation. Raf looked to WheelJack who glanced back and raised his servos meaning, "I don't know." Frowning, the tiny human went to the other side of the platform. "Ratchet, what are you doing?"

Waving them off again, he replied, "I'm working." He put the shard into a test tube and began melting it down. He mumbled to himself, "This is insane, but it might just work."

-

Soundwave brought Nikki back to the workroom and placed on the panel she was at before, setting the datapad in front of her. He pointed to it. Nikki re-situated herself and reviewed the code. Oh boy… This is starting to get out of my league… She glanced up at Soundwave who was staring down at her. Sighing, she starts typing. What am I going to do if I hit something I don't know?

The lanky, voiceless robot turned to his own work. He was going through the navigation system. That required so much data that a mere human could not possibly fathom it. Every now and then, he glanced over at Nikki. Her pace was much slower than it had been. After an hour, he suspected she might be stalling in some futile hope that the Autobots might triumphantly appear and save her. He paused. She looked…frustrated. She was running a hand through her hair and clenching it. Then, she typed a few more lines of code. As she reviewed the next lines, she pulled her low ponytail over her shoulder, twirling it into knots. Soundwave stared down. She would only write a tiny amount of code and then replace it while sighing heavily.

He picked up the datapad. Nikki spun around and cringed. What did I do wrong? Her eyes widened, for fear that he might throw her into a wall again. Her back still hurt if she moved too quickly. Soundwave tapped the screen rapidly before placing it back. She checked it and scrolled down. Everything she had just worked on had been fixed in some slight way. At the bottom was a relatively large set of code but it was much easier than what she had been doing. She looked up at Soundwave confused. He had already turned away to finish his own project.

-

Raf and WheelJack sat around, impatiently waiting for Ratchet to say something. Optimus called for a Ground bridge about half an hour in, to which Ratchet switched on in a huff. The Autobots rolled in and transformed. Bulkhead, normally excited to see his old buddy, only said, "Hey, Jackie," and bumped knuckles with him. Ratchet walked away before shutting off the bridge. Optimus looked to Arcee who was the closest to the lever now. She shrugged and pulled it, the glow of the portal dissipating.

"Ratchet?" Optimus walked up behind the normally grumpy medic.

He waved his servo. "Just a moment. Almost have it…"

Optimus glanced to Raf and WheelJack who had no answers for him.

"Ha-hah!" Ratchet yelped triumphantly.

The monitor in front of him bleeped and ran through the command code. It then displayed a map of Earth and began scanning.

WheelJack vented harshly, "You gonna tell us now, Doc?"

Ratchet spun around with a grin on his faceplate. "I have, theoretically, found Nikki!"

#fanfiction #tfp soundwave #tfp ratchet #tfp fanfic #tfp #soundwave x oc #transformers #transformers prime #transformers fanfiction #ratchet x oc

[bnhainsert]

Sound Out

Chapter 8: Aria Di Sorbetto

Hado woke up to a text from Jiro. She was asking if Hado wanted to see a new movie that had come out recently.

Jiro: Yeah there’s this new comedy movie we’ve been wanting to see

Hado: We?

Jiro: Ochako, Asui, Midoriya, and Shoji

Hado: Who’s Shoji?

Jiro: You know pro hero tentacole?

Hado: THAT’S HIM?! HELL YEAH I’D LOVE TO MEET ANOTHER PRO HERO

Jiro: Alright lay off the caps please. I’ll meet you at the movie around 4pm

           Hado put away her phone and decided to train a bit before she would have to get ready to leave. She managed to get some quirk training in as well as strength training. She took a shower to clean up a bit. She dug through her duffle bag looking for something cute to wear out to the movies. She unfortunately didn’t pack any of her cute casual clothes when she left home 3 weeks ago. She opened up her wallet and did some mental math. Because the cottage she had been living in was stocked, she hadn’t spent any money recently. She made the bold decision to go out and buy a new outfit to treat herself. She had been working so hard recently that she told herself she deserved it. The movie theater she would be meeting them at was in the shopping district anyway.

           Hado arrived in the shopping district looking for a nice shop to get a new outfit from. She settled on a AC Quarter’s because the clothes were moderately priced and wouldn’t break the bank. She double checked the time to make sure she had enough time to try the clothes on and leave. She had about an hour and a half before the set meeting time with Jiro.

           Browsing through the clothes she decided she would buy herself a dress. She didn’t have very many so, what the hell, why not? She sorted through a lot of different styles, almost always turning down something with a floral pattern on it. Hado had nothing against flowers, they were just too busy of a design on the cloth. “Too short…. too long….too formal….too….risqué” She thought sorting through all of the dresses. She stopped at a cute blue dress that was a little bit past knee-length. It had a cinched waist, a squared off neckline, and cute little buttons going down the middle. The best part of it was that it had thin wavy lines on it that reminded her of her hero costume. She found the dress in her size and went to check out. She looked down at her feet on the way to the counter and realized she was wearing the same sneakers she had worn for almost 5 years now. They looked very beaten up. “maybe I should get a new pair of shoes too…”

           Hado refused to wear heals. They sucked to walk in and they sucked to sing in. She looked at the variety of flats they had instead. She really liked the way the Tod’s shoes looked. Tod brand shoes were normally a little too pricey for her but she had the money to spare and purchase a pair of black ones.

On her way up to the counter she spotted a cute black choker and grabbed it boldly. Yeah, sure, chokers hadn’t been in style in a while, but she liked them and thought it would look cute with her dress. The cashier rang her up and gave her her total. “Is it like date night or something?” The woman behind the counter asked. “Oh no. I’m going to a movie with some friends. I just want to look cute for me and me along” Hado confidently responded. “Wish I had that same boldness” The lady replied. “Oh but you could! I bet you would look great in purple! Find a nice purple blouse, throw on some casual jeans and maybe some heels and you’ve got it made!” Hado threw out. She wasn’t sure where this advice was coming from, but the lady at the counter seemed to take it to heart. She smiled at Hado and thanked her. Hado waved back to the cashier as she walked out of the store. Hey, being a hero didn’t always mean catching villains or rescuing people.

           Hado changed in a nearby bathroom and put her old clothes in the shopping bag she was given. She made her way to the movie theater. She had managed to arrive 5 minutes early surprisingly. She sat down on a bench right outside waiting for her friends. “You’re here too?” She heard a familiar voice from behind. She turned around to see Bakugo in casual clothing. “Oh yeah um Jiro invited me out to this movie. I think it’s going to be real stupid so I’m looking forward to it” Hado said. “Yeah, whatever” Bakugo responded.

           About 2 minutes later, the others began to arrive. Jiro walked up with Ochako, Tsu, Midoriya, and the person Hado assumed was Shoji. He looked even cooler in person! Behind them she saw Ashido, Kaminari, Kirishima, and Sero. Ashido casually greeted Jiro. “Oh what a coincidence! We’re all here at the same time! Are you guys going to see the same movie too?” She asked innocently. Jiro mentioned the movie they were seeing, and it matched up. The whole group of pro heroes entered the theater.

           “Well this is fucking weird”  Hado thought to herself. She was very suspicious of Ashido who she had learned had a penchant for causing a stir. It wasn’t ever harmful trouble; it was just a little exhausting. The groups of pro heroes chatted with each other as they looked for seats in the theater. Before they could pick Bakugo marched his way up all the way to the top. He glared at everyone, almost daring them to sit near him. They were used to this by now so they followed him up, but instead of sitting on his row, they sat in the row in front of him. They managed to all get there before Hado had a chance to make it up the stairs. She looked and noticed that most of the seats were already taken. She sighed and made her way all the way up to the top and sat by Bakugo. Bakugo looked over at her, noticing her exhausted look.

“Hey if you don’t want to sit next to me, there’s plenty of other chairs here” he snarled.

Hado laughed in response which made a few of the pro heroes turn their heads, surprised. “Please I think I can handle sitting by you. Besides, who else am I going to annoy all move with my color commentary” Hado teased. Bakugo shot back a smirk. The few that had looked back were so shocked they didn’t realize they were staring. The only one who didn’t bother looking back was Midoriya.

“Hey mind your own business you damn extras” Bakugo snapped and they all immediately turned their head back to the screen and continued their conversations. Hado snickered in response. “Will that ever get old?” She asked aloud. “I hope not” Bakugo replied.

           Everything was going according to plan. Midoriya relaxed in his chair, a feeling of relief filling his body. He hoped this wasn’t too obvious of a set-up, but he knew his best friend would never have taken the initiative to ask Hado out. Midoriya remembered worrying about his friend and how he would even manage to make this happen. Luckily, he knew some of the smoothest people in town. Calling Mina, Denki, and Eijirou was a great idea. They had all brainstormed some ways of making this happen, throwing out the ideas that Bakugo would never go for, which was most of them. They all agreed that they had to trick him into a date because he was too much of an idiot to really act on those feelings. Hell the only person he really fully opened up to was Midoriya and he still didn’t mention how he felt about Hado to him. Midoriya knew though. Midoriya at least knew what a crush felt like.

           The lights went down, and the previews started. “Oh shit I forgot to buy the popcorn!” Kaminari said loudly and jumped out of his seat. “Get a big one for us to share” Mina shouted to him as he left the theater. He gave a nod of understanding before disappearing out of view. “Idiot” Bakugo said under his breath. He looked over at Hado suppressing a laugh. “He just wants to make the movie experience a little more fun. It just feels a little more complete with popcorn you know?” She explained. “If you wanted some goddamn popcorn all you had to do was ask” Bakugo shot back and stood up to leave his seat. Hado looked shocked at Bakugo as he stomped out of the theater. He was still surprising her even after all the time they had been spending together. A warm smile found its place onto her face.

           “Ooooo how are the love birds doing?” Ashido teased, looking back at Hado. Hado was thankful the lights had gone out so Ashido couldn’t see how red her face got. “Shut up. It’s not like that. This is just how Bakugo is” Hado replied. “I can’t remember the last time Bakugo got me popcorn at a movie” Kirishima stated. “Oh, you mean that time that never happened?” Sero added. The pro heroes started giggling. A few other people who were in the theater turned around and shushed them. “Oh come on it’s just the previews, don’t be so uptight” Hado replied. One of the people who had turned around started glaring at her. “Ugh I promise you won’t hear them again okay?” Hado said in an attempt to make peace. The person turned back around with a huff. “Not sure how you’re going to do that. We happen to be a very noisy bunch” Ashido said loudly. Luckily Hado was expecting it and stopped the soundwaves from reaching the people in front of them. Midoriya was the one to laugh this time. “She’s a sound hero Ashido. And she’s very good at what she does. That’s probably why Bakugo has taken a liking to her” Midoriya said turning around to smile at Hado. Her face turned beet red again. “There’s no way he’s interested in me as more than just like…. a training partner, or like a pro hero to work with. Yeah I’m just basically a coworker to him” Hado rambled in her head, making sense of everything the others were implying. Kaminari came back with a big bucket of popcorn and took his place. “What’d I miss?” He whispered to Jiro. “Just us picking on Hado” She responded. “Aww man I miss out on all the fun” he said upset but pushed a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

           Bakugo came back with a relatively normal sized bag of popcorn, stomping the whole way back up to his seat. “I better not have missed anything good loser” He said without taking his eyes off of the screen. “I thought you weren’t interested in a movie like this” Hado threw right back at him. “I’m not. I’m just here to tear down this shitty movie. I don’t want to miss a good chance to fucking annihilate whoever this dumb director is” Bakugo answered. Hado shrugged and faced the screen while every once in a while, grabbing some popcorn. “Thank you” she whispered to Bakugo as the movie started

           Hado didn’t get to fully enjoy the movie because she was so busy trying to keep her friends’ soundwaves from reaching the other people in the theater. That was incredibly hard to do considering other soundwaves were bouncing around. She did manage to keep Bakugo’s voice and her voice away from everyone in the theater. They shredded that movie, taking cracks at all of the cheesy lines and terribly designed sets.

           The credits began to roll and most everyone started to get up and leave. “Hey I’ve got some paperwork I forgot to finish up” Midoriya spoke up shooting out of his seat. “Let me know if we can do this again sometime” he said and shot out of the room before anyone could even blink. “Yeah I have some work still left for me at my agency. Ochako, would you mind helping out?” Tsu said as the two left the theater. Slowly each of the other heroes managed to find something they had to go do and left Hado and Bakugo alone in the theater. “Don’t tell me you have something else you have to do too” Hado sighed, sounding upset. “I already finished up all of my hero work unlike those losers” Bakugo replied. Hado smiled. “Hey what do you like to do for fun that doesn’t deal with hero work?” She asked curious. She had only ever seen Bakugo do hero work and everything that’s related to hero work.

“I’ll show you. Keep up nerd”

The two of them ended up at batting cages near the outskirts of the shopping district. They were nice batting cages too. Each booth was given a ton of room both to move and for the ball to fly through. “These batting cages were made specifically with quirks in mind” Bakugo explained slipping on a pair of gloves to help with the grip on the bat. “This is where I go on days when it’s raining and the training ground gets soaked” He continued. Hado looked at him very intensely, watching his every move. She watched him get ready for the machine to throw the pitches. He had set the frequency at which the machine shoots the ball higher than normal. Balls started flying out about every second and Bakugo was able to cool hit every single one of them. He wasn’t just strong, he was quick and strong, able to pull back fast enough again to put even more power in each new swing. How could someone make baseball look so goddamn cool.

“I know I’m awesome, but you can pick your jaw up off the floor you nerd” Bakugo’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. Hado shook her head. He started to put up the gloves and bat. “Are you done already?” Hado asked. He had only spent about 5 minutes hitting the baseballs back across the way. “No, I’m not done dumbass. A bat has its limitations” Bakugo replies. Hado put two and two together. “You’re going to use your quirk to propel it” Hado stated. Bakugo didn’t even reply. He just rolled his shoulders and focused. The balls came flying out at an even higher rate but each one was met by a very precisely placed explosion. It was incredible to watch. Not only did he hit every single ball, but he also sent them flying so fast and so far away.

Hado noticed sweat starting to glisten on Bakugo’s forehead. She couldn’t speak because she was so impressed by the display of prowess. These are skills she knew he had but it was different seeing those skills being used on something else. When they sparred, she never really had time to think about how much accuracy he had in his movements. She was always kept on her toes making sure she didn’t get hit. “If you don’t stop staring, I’ll start to think you have a crush on me” Bakugo said uncharacteristically. She turned away and blushed a light shade of pink. Something about it made her feel uneasy. “Is he making fun of me? I know I’m not up to his standards, but does he really have to tease me about that” Hado grappled with her inner monologue.

Bakugo must have notice something was wrong because he looked at Hado confused. “You look like you’re gonna’ vomit. You need to go home?” He asked. Hado didn’t like the feelings she was grappling with, but she also still wanted to spend more time with Bakugo. It was selfish of her, but when was the last time she got to enjoy herself so much? Hado shook off the awful feeling of nausea in her stomach. “No no I’m fine!” She told Bakugo. “Hey since you used your quirk on the ball, can I give it a try?” She changed the subject. “Yeah go ahead but you’re not going to break my record or anything” He teased.

Hado lowered the timing of how often the balls were thrown. She had to concentrate really hard. She had to figure out how strong to make the soundwaves to at least make the ball have backwards motion, then she had to figure out how powerful she could make the soundwaves to see how far and fast she could repel the balls. The first ball shot out. She calculated where it was headed and amplified a test soundwave. She made the ball stop in midair and drop to the ground. “Alright now I know the minimum output I need to send the ball backwards”. The next ball came flying out and this time her soundwave pushed the ball backwards, but it didn’t fly very far or very fast. The 3rd ball flew farther, faster. Each time the ball went a little bit farther and a little bit faster. By the last one, she had been shooting them back as far and as fast as Bakugo had with the bat. She felt slightly accomplished because Bakugo’s hits with the bat were still way over what a normal human could do.

“Not bad. You’ve still got some got some work to do but you’ve shown a lot of improvement over a short amount of time” Bakugo praised. It made Hado feel warm and happy. The compliment made her want to work even harder just to hear Bakugo say something nice about her again. Then she had a thought. There was something she could do that he most likely couldn’t.

“Hey if we’re done here, I have another place I’d like to go. You got to show off here so it’s my turn to show you what I can really do”

“Oh?” Bakugo said, raising one eyebrow. He had no idea where they were going to go, but he’d be lying to himself if he said he wasn’t a least a little bit excited to see what Hado meant.

The two of them ended up at a bar that did Karaoke every night of the week. He sighed heavily. Of course, it was singing. She’s a goddamn sound hero. Singing wasn’t quite his speed, but he would go along with it because…. well because it was Hado. She seemed so excited too. Seeing her smile made him feel like nothing else mattered in the world, as long as he could see that smile. They took a seat at the bar and Hado immediately asked for a shot of whiskey. “Eh? What are you doing dumbass?” Bakugo asked. “Taking one shot gives me just a little more courage to sing sincerely” She said giving him a wink. That was surprising. She normally isn’t this bold. Was she flirting with him? Bakugo was kind of confused. “Did you want anything? I’m paying” She offered. “I’m not much of a drinker” Bakugo replied and asked for a glass of water. She shrugged and walked off to check out the songs on the Karaoke machine. She seemed to find a song she liked and grabbed the microphone ready to sing on the stage.

Things were pretty slow in the bar so it almost felt like a little private performance for him. He threw that thought out into the garbage. He didn’t deserve things like that. He stared intently at Hado as she started to sing. She surprisingly picked an alternative rock song. Bakugo took her for more a pop girl.

“Please don’t mind what I’m trying to say ‘cause I,

I’m being honest when I tell you that you,

You’re part of the reasons I’m set on the rest of my life

Being a part of you

And tell me what you think about

Being open

About being honest with yourself

‘Cause things will never be the sa-aame”

Her voice rang out beautifully. Her eyes were lighting up. She was looking straight at Bakugo with those bright happy eyes. It was so…. Enchanting. Bakugo wondered if maybe she had two quirks considering she had told him that her mother sang like an angel. Hado looked like she was having so much fun even though there were maybe a total of 3 people watching her. It felt like she was only singing for Bakugo. He felt his face heat up ever so slightly, thinking about the words of the song. Surely, they didn’t mean anything. It might have just been one of her favorite songs.

She finished the song but asked the owner if she could keep going considering how slow business was. The owner smiled happily and encouraged her to keep going. He’s probably heard all types of voices, most of them being drunk and not well tuned. Bakugo bet that Hado’s voice was like a breath of fresh air for this guy. And he would have to agree.

She picked a slow song this time with a slightly country twang. Bakugo wasn’t the biggest fan of country but he would give it a try because…. Well, again it was Hado singing it.

“Dear God the only thing I ask of you is

To hold her when I'm not around

When I'm much too far away

We all need that person who can be true to you

But I left her when I found her

And now I wish I'd stayed

'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired

I'm missing you again oh no

Once again”

The slight tinge of sadness struck a chord in Bakugo. She honestly looked like she was going to cry. He felt the emotions of the song through her voice and her expression. Then something even more amazing happened. Another voice layered on top of hers to create a harmony. She was using her quirk to create her own harmonies. Knowing what Bakugo knew about her quirk, that would take a lot of concentration and control to do something like that. She had already thrown back 3 shots so some of her concentration had to be off.

As Bakugo was stuck in his thoughts, people started to trickle in from outside. They seemed to hear Hado singing and were drawn in. Hado finished up her song and looked around nervously. The owner encouraged her to sing one more song because no one else had signed up yet. Bakugo figured they would probably want to throw back a few drinks before getting up there to sing. It was called liquid courage for a reason.

Hado picked one more song to sing for the now growing crowd. As she began her song Bakugo overheard the conversation between two guys near him. “Oh man her voice is awesome. And she’s pretty cute too. Think she’s taken?”. Something inside of Bakugo threatened to snap. The conversation made his blood boil. “Fucking jerks” he said under his breath. Hado finished up her song and was about to walk off the stage to give someone else a chance. The two men Bakugo heard earlier were talking again. “Oh, dude there she goes. I’m going to see if I can get her number” one guy said and gave his drink to his buddy.

Hado quickly made her way to Bakugo who was grinding his teeth to keep himself from physically hurting the man who spoke earlier. Before she could make it all the way back to her seat, the man who wanted her number tapped her on the shoulder. Bakugo felt like he was going to explode. “Hey, you have an incredible singing voice” The guy complimented her. “Oh thanks… I get it from my mom” She shyly replied. Bakugo could tell she was uncomfortable. He arms were folded in front of her and her eyes were focused on the floor. “Well your mom has one hell of a daughter. Would you mind if I-” the man stopped mid-sentence seeing Bakugo walk up behind Hado and put his arm around her waist. “Mind if you what” Bakugo growled. “Oh uh… um… nothing nevermind. Just wanted to say you were great… um have a good night” he said nervously as he quickly shuffled his way back over to his friend. Hado sighed, relieved. She looked up to Bakugo. She then looked down at his hand still around her waist. Bakugo noticed her staring at his hand and he suddenly let go feeling….self-concious?

“Hey, thank you for that. I have trouble politely telling people to fuck off. Not sure why” Hado admitted. Bakugo had a small thought form in the back of his mind. “What if she’s just hanging out with me because she doesn’t know how to tell me to fuck off?”.

“Hey earth to Bakugo. Let’s get out of here. There’s too many people” Hado said. Bakugo snapped back to reality and walked out of the bar with her, giving those men one last hard glare.

“Was there anything else you wanted to do tonight?” Hado asked sweetly. Bakugo just shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe it’s time for us to just head home” He suggested bitterly. He looked back at Hado and she looked so upset. A pang of guilt hit him right in the chest. Did she still really want to spend more time with someone like him?

“I…. I was really enjoying out time together. We’ve never hung out outside of hero work or training. I haven’t had this much fun with anyone else ever” She bravely admitted. Any doubt he had before quickly left his mind after her confession. “Well…. It’s still getting late. If you want…. I could let you crash at my place” he quietly offered. Hado’s face lit up. There was that smile again, and it felt like all was right with the world again.

The two made it back to Bakugo’s place. He unlocked the door and let her in. It’s a pretty normal looking place. He did have a wall where he hung up articles of him being praised as a pro hero. They sat down on the couch in the front room and talked for hours. They talked to each other about villain busts, and old high school stories. They talked about each other’s goals and dreams. They learned about their favorite colors and music and weather. Bakugo looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s getting pretty late. We should probably rest up. You can sleep in my bed and I’ll take the couch” Bakugo offered. Thinking about Hado sleeping in his bed made him embarrassed but he wasn’t sure why.

“Oh no I can sleep on the couch. I think I’d feel just a little weird sleeping in your bed. No offense to you! Your wonderful and I like being around you and stuff. I just think I’d be more comfortable on the couch” Hado admitted. A small part of Bakugo felt rejected, but he pushed that feeling aside and shrugged. He stood up and started to walk off to his bedroom. “Just let me know if you need anything” he said not looking back. “Oh, hey just one thing!” Hado called. He turned around and she planted a kiss directly on his cheek. His face got hot and his heart thumped hard in his chest. He wasn’t moving, just standing completely still in the middle of the room.

“Oh god did I break you? I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have-” Hado was cut off mid-sentence. Bakugo had quickly grabbed her to pull her close and put his lips on hers. His heart thumped even more loudly in his chest. Every ounce of passion he had been feeling was poured into that kiss. He broke the kiss first and looked at Hado’s blushing face. He smirked realizing that he had caused her to blush like this. She wasn’t moving. “Hey earth to sound girl” Bakugo mocked. She let out a small giggle.

“There’s more where that came from, so you better be careful” Bakugo managed to both tease and threaten. He walked back off to his bedroom. Hado couldn’t believe what just happened, but it was incredible, and she felt like she was on cloud nine. She tucked herself in for the night on the couch. She wondered about what tomorrow would hold.

Chapter 7   Chapter 9

#mha #bnha #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #midoriya izuku #katsuki bakugo #kyoka jiro #ashido mina #tsuyu asui #ochako uraraka #sero hanta #kaminari denki #kirishima eijirou #shoji mezo #OC #Vocaller #Hado Hibiki #fluff #fluffy fluffy fluff #cute #mutual pining #Had to do this before the big stuff happens #needed a bit of a break

[cheesecaketyrant]

Hello all! I would like to take the time to say; Thank you to: (Unfortunately I can't tag them! But they are known as shockwavefan and as well Soundwave - I'm not sure if I do have them on Tumbler or not!) @artsy-archangel @zen-drift! Y'all are amazing!

Now, I tried to clean it as best to my abilities in the form of RP format.

I did realize that for the cover is not quite accurate. But that's okay! (There were few mistakes in the last post; Shockwave was the one who killed Megatron, not Optimus Prime)

I'll be posting these as Chapters and Parts. Anywho I'm sure some of y'all been waiting for the next post- so.. here!

Oh boy, this starting to look quite interesting!

Chapter:1- All Hail Shockwave

(Part:1-2)

--------

Shockwave saw that his people were cheering, he looked at his experiment, no one could read Shockwaves mind. Not even those who have worked closely with him for years know. He walked down the steps, his metallic feet hitting the ground with each step.

After a few hours since he had left the stage, he was underground. Shockwave was once again his old self, the senator long ago was gone; the leader they know now is fake. He became leader as a way to have access to more tools. On the table lied a Cybertronian, a Decepticon, he screamed in agony but they never reached their destination. After enough energon had leaked the victim stopped screaming. Behind Shockwave were multiple dripping bodies of Decepticons hanging upside down. Shockwave, the terror which spread through the Autobot army was back, only he wasn't affiliated with anyone but logic.

--------

Today wasn't the best of all days as a sudden riot began however this wasn't the first that has happened. Prowl has come to an assumption that someone is starting the mods on purpose therefore he's been sending in the authorites to investigate. Later, situations got worse when Decepticons came Archangel's office reporting missing friends that haven't returned to their homes for awhile. He assured them he'll handle the investigation and they left in high hopes they'll have their friends back.

Archangel sighed as he laid back againts his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his optics. Everything seemed to be getting worse however some events were to be expected but not missing bots.

A knock on his door interrupted Archangel's thoughts. "Come in." He responded as he fixed his serious composer.

Prowl entered with a datapad in his servo. "My team has discovered the culprit behind the sudden riots." Prowl told him. "Ratbat has been planning a scheme however its unknown what his intentions are."

"Ratbat was a Decepticon..."

"Of course you would know that given your past. Was isn't the right word for it: he " is" a Decepticon. He's proven to still be loyal to the dead cause." Prowl interrupted him and handed Archangel the datapad. "While I deal with Ratbat, I need you to inform Shockwave about the energon supplies. We've been getting reports of cannibalism in the streets and the percentage of casualties is high."

Archangel straighten and his servo tightened against the datapad in reaction to what Prowl wanted him to do. Was he testing him again?

"I'll... Be sure he's aware of the problems." He said in a serious tone, hiding his sudden dread.

"Good. Send me a report when you are finish." Prowl said as he left.

Archangel slumped in his seat more and groaned from stress. "Primus give me strength." He whispered.

Through that whole conversation, Prowl didn't give Archangel a moment to speak. Yes he knew how much the mech disliked him but this was peculiar. Also asking him to deal with Shockwave was definitely really low since Prowl was aware of his past. He was planning something and Archangel wasn't sure he wanted to play his game.

-----------

Drift gazed at the datapad in his servo, optics ridges scrunched together in a frown as the latest census showed that instead of an increase in their clients in the housing, some area were showing a drop in numbers. Odd. He placed that datapad aside and pulled up the records for the previous counts. The decrease was there but very marginal. Enough to be explained away by miscount or simply some bots just up and leaving their designated housing, moving in with others or goodness knows what else. He had had to deal with a fair number of strange reasons that bots just didn't stay put. But this was beginning to look like a pattern or maybe his war-wired brain module was trying to put a more sinister twist to what could just be perfectly normal situation. Yet his tanks gave that curious twist that he always trust and he simple knew that something was up.

But who could he turn to? He could try his Senior Officer but he also didn't want to come across as being paranoid. Primus knew his religious habits already earned his strange looks despite most bots being really good natured about it, some even being interested. his old friends were...dispersed. At one time he felt he could trust Ratchet above all, but the mech had thrown in his lot and time with Shockwave now. And it made sense, The CMO was always aligned with a leader.

Drift rubbed his helf crest and stared at the numbers again. He didn't know anything beyond them and a tank feeling. It wasn't enough to go on. He needed to start doing some ground work. Subtly of course, since he didn't need to start a panic. He was no Jazz but he was a fairly decent interrogator. Maybe he could start with the Police Reports. See if there were any notices for missing bots and if those names matched the ones in his register.

He vented out and picked up the datapad again. He had really hoped things would be different this time around but it seemed that it wasn't going to happy crystals. A mech poked his head in. "Drift, we got another riot happening, this time a bit closer to the recent bot settlement. Some of them are demanding relocation. Boss wants you on it!" Drift nodded, out of his chair even before the mech finished speaking. "I got it," he said, shiting to bot mode and heading to the scene of the now dispersed riot. A tall blue Seeker frame caught his optic as he arrived. "Archangel?" he mouthed to himself but the Seeker was swallowed up by the crowd work and his duties and Drift had his own to attend to. He made a mental note to check and see if that was indeed the Seeker he knew. The frightened group of mech and femmes huddled together as he approached.

"Hello, my name is Drift. Im from the Immigration Center. I'm here to attend to your issues," he began giving them a smile. "We need to get away from this!" a femme blurted out in a high pitch whine of her vocalizer, "We didn't come back to be in more war!" Drift shifted to modulate his vocalizer to soothing but firm tone. "I understand that and unfortunately I cannot relocate you to another sector. However, lets go inside and I can let you know how to make this place a bit safer for all of you. The Police as you see also got this under control. Trust us to do our jobs. We will make this better." The group huffed but led the way into their housing, Drift following behind them, hoping he was right.

-----------

The war was over. Cyberton was in an odd state. Shockwave was leader, the Decepticons and Autobots were scattered. You could even say they were shattered factions. (Roll credits.) The two factions in the war now needed to find a way to co-exist somehow. Putting that dreadful war behind would not be easy. The Decepticons' leader, Megatron, had unfortunately ceased functioning. Killed by that traitor, Shockwave. Soundwave would rip out that traitor's spark if he had the chance. But the Decepticons were not fully lost. They were nowhere near their previous power, however. They had much fewer numbers, not as strong a fighting force, and they had a leader who could not even hope to amount to what Megatron did.

Soundwave was only there because he had nowhere else to go. He would almost certainly be executed for the things he had done during the war. So he stayed with the army that the previous Second In Command of the faction had gathered. Starscream. It would certainly take getting used to. Starscream is not the leader Megatron was. But perhaps that could change with time. Soundwave would have to stick around to see that happen, and stick around he would.

----------

He was fuming, any bot that was an inch from him got shoved out of the way, and others, well they got thrown. It was very typical of Starscream when he threw a tantrum, to flick pain on others.

Being treated like the under dog for so long, he had picked up habits, and mold them.

But, this time was different- his attacks were more brutal then the normal. Starscream wasn't sure who gave the cadet the go to scout energon, with out a group. Something was off, Starscream couldn't put a digit on what.

Turning on the communication, the channel had been switched to private- just in case any was listening in. Had pinged in Soundwave, :'Find out who on Primus gave authority for a one bot solo mission, on finding energon!' Starscream said, almost half shouting, leaving his comm open for Soundwave response.

Takeing a sharp left turn, the Seeker stomped with each step. Dearing anyone to stop him, behind him was the sound of petter patter steps from small peds that came from none other then Rattrap, "Sir! Please slow down!" Stopping in his tracks, Starscream spun around, his servos now propped onto his his. "Did you already taken care of that mess?" The new Warlord said, in a demanding tone, rushing the mechanic vermin.

"Yes, Mord! I did what you've asked of me-" without giving him any further ado, Starscream turned back around and started to walk again in big strides. However it didn't seem like Rattrap was finished, "I need to talk to you! About Cybertron-" with this Starscream stopped in his tracks.

"Speak, and make it fast." The once Second in command command, not giving any room for small chit chat. "Well, uh. There's been reports- about disappearing bots back on home." Rattrap paused, in order for Starscream to react. "Witch fractions?"

"If my calculation and resources are correct- both." Rattrap held a datapad in his servos, clutching onto it as if it was his life line.

"Is that so, Then tell me, whose your resources, and how did you found about this?" Rattrap began to shift his pedes looking nervous. "The mech you killled-"

"Finish your report, then once your done leave the data in my quarters. Once done, bring up the dead bots profile- see what's all on his background history!" Starscream shouted, by now- he was more mad at himself to act upon reckless thoughts and actions, which made his mood even more sour.

Rattrap better prayed to the all spark, that this was just some miscalculation- rumors no less. If not- Starscream had more on his servos then that a war he was sure he was going to lose.

---------------

Drip, drip, drip. That was all that could be heard in the lab, Shockwave was collecting it; it's unknown for what reason but it seemed important. To the side was a whole diagram of the standard Cybertronian anatomy, there were beakers everywhere. To his right was a list of Decepticons and their pictures, most were all crossed out except three, Soundwave, Starscream, and Archangel. His experiment betrayed him, now was the perfect time to strike. At the bottom of the list was Megatron, his first victim, this was all part of the plan to save Cybertron. After a few hours had passed underneath the lab, he walked out into the barren wasteland which was Kaon.

|The Office|

Shockwave made sure he didn't have any energon on him, he didn't want to arouse suspicion to his actions. He landed, waving to his secretary, his fake persona was just to be clear. He walked up to his office, he sat down in his chair. Moments after, his secretary called. "Mr. Shockwave, you have a visitor from the Police Department, someone called Archangel." Shockwave was surprised, why would he want to see him? "Bring him up, we'll have a talk."

----------

Archangel was waiting in the lobby as the secretary contacted Shockwave of his arrival. He scowled as he wished the bot would call him by his rank as he introduced himself before but it seemed to have slipped their processor.

"He's waiting for you now, Archangel. He's at the top floor." She told him.

Archangel bowed his helm respectfully as he hid his sudden dread. "Thank you." He said before he walked past the counter and entered the lift. He pressed the top floor option on the lift's console and the hatch slid shut in response and began to ascend.

Archangel's servos clenched tightly as he grew tense and tried the venting technique Rung taught him to calm him down, however his emotions were overwhelming which deterred his efforts to relax. Despite his failure, he hid how he felt rather well as he remained stern as soon as the lift came to a stop. The hatch opened into Shockwave's office. The large purple mech was sitting at his desk and seeing him again made Archangel feel sick in his fuel tank.

"Commander Archangel of Iacon's Police Department. I have dire reports that acquire your attention." He said seriously as he placed the datapad on his desk. "We've been having multiple cases involving cannibalism in the streets due to lack of energon supplies. The public wants actions regarding the issues before they manifest into more riots."

#starscream #drift #soundwave #shockwave #megatron #rattrap #prowl #bumblebee #laserbeak #optimus prime #Transformers: Shattered Fractions #idw transformers #transformers #roleplay #transformers roleplay

[diceforanaltmode]

Team Ice: Adventure 3, or The One Where They Make Prowl Flip A Table (And Cry)

Team Ice continues their adventures and we’re bringing you the summary!

The Cast - TEAM ICE

Skids by Soundwave (human rogue) Tailgate by Butter (dwarven barbarian) Cyclonus by Ren (tiefling paladin) Nautica by Robophelia (half-elf wizard) Velocity by Cee (high elf cleric) Brainstorm by Bex (air genasi wizard)

First Session | Second Session

First, we have a check in with the party members. Skids is having a rough time - the memories aren’t too bad when he’s out and about doing stuff, but downtime at the Inn is hard. Brainstorm is working on finding his footing with all the changes that have come to his surroundings and his personal life in the last few days, but despite all the upheaval he’s enjoying being part of a group for the first time in a while. Lotty is thinking about Luna. Tailgate is still adjusting to being out of the hole. Cyclonus is adjusting to being around a group of people, but quietly happy about it.

The party reviews the papers that they’ve recovered from Zeta’s lab. Skids makes paper airplanes. Based on the letter they found about the Functionists trying to seek an alliance with Caminus, they all decide to go to Caminus.

Tailgate: “How’s the political situation in Caminus?”

Lotty: “Uh… can you sing or dance? Like… if you can sing or dance, they’re still going to look down on you because you’re a foreigner, but at least not as badly as they would if you can’t do anything.”

Tailgate: “I’m short. Everyone looks down on me.”

Lotty: “Oh, well, you can sit on my shoulders and look down on everyone. I’m tall enough for that. You could also intimidate them.”

Cyclonus reveals that he can, in fact, sing.

Lotty suggests Nautica talks to Firestar - who is supposed to be Important because of her fire thing -in order to find out more about what is happening in Caminus and get a way ‘in’ to try and stop whatever the Functionists are supposed to be doing. Nautica isn’t happy, but since it’s probably is a good thing, she agrees to do it.

Shopping trip!

Skids, Tailgate, and Cyclonus go to buy some armor. Tailgate gets so frustrated with the options that he goes to buy food from a nearby food stand before making a decision. Cyclonus buys some armor with aplomb.

Lotty goes to buy a harness for Luna. “If she gets lost, I want to get lost with her,” she says, while describing the gear she wants, which would allow Lotty to be dragged where Luna goes if Luna decides to run off. Nautica is extremely concerned.

Meanwhile, Brainstorm goes to talk to Perceptor at his lab.

He walks in and tells Perceptor that he has some papers he’d like to leave here because the group is going travelling, and also he stole one of Perceptor’s spellbooks to level up and now he’s giving it back. He’s here right now because the rest of the group is out shopping and Brainstorm does not know how shopping or, more generally, money works.

Perceptor is baffled by all that but focuses on the papers Brainstorm brought - Zeta’s planar research, which refers to something called the Lunar Plane and another plane that Brainstorm has never heard of. Perceptor spends 15 minutes looking through the papers - completely focusing on them and ignoring Brainstorm, which doesn’t phase Brainstorm - and then asks Brainstorm “Where did you get this?”

Brainstorm blurts out “Zeta’s secret underground lab.”

Perceptor asks for details because “The AVL needs to know about this.” Brainstorm hesitates and tries to backtrack, but Perceptor sees through it. (Brainstorm gets advantage on the deception role because Perceptor is distracted by the papers, but Brainstorm is so bad at deception). “What aren’t you telling me?” Perceptor asks.

“Look,” Brainstorm says. “Some information has come up that has us...hesitating to trust some members of the AVL. And I can’t talk about it because it’s personal to another party member. I want to tell you, but...it’s been a long time since I’ve had friends. I’m trying my best.”

Perceptor is flustered at Brainstorm’s use of the friend word and goes to wash some lab glassware at the sink. He urges Brainstorm to tell the AVL about the lab he mentioned, but doesn’t press too hard. “I’m glad you’re my friend,” he says, almost too fast and quiet for Brainstorm to hear.

“I came here because I want you to start looking into this stuff, and when I come back, I want to study it too,” Brainstorm says. “I haven’t forgotten what you said, and when all of this is over – if all of this ever ends – this is where I want to end up.”

Perceptor is silent for a beat, and Brainstorm turns to leave.

“Wait!” Perceptor calls. Brainstorm turns back to him. “Where are you going?”

“I’ll be back soon,” Brainstorm says, and he yeets himself out the door.

Lotty talks to First Aid. Lotty tells First Aid that she’s heading to Caminus because there’s a situation. First Aid assumes something happened to Lotty’s family.

Skids gets worried about Scrappy. He goes to check up on them, and one of Scrappy’s moms, Ekalu, offers him snacks. He gets to see that Scrappy has drawn art of him and the rest of the party. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*✲ﾟ*｡⋆

Tailgate and Prowl Discussion:

Prowl arrives that the Inn. Brainstorm, Nautica, Cyclonus, Tailgate are there. Prowl knocks on the door and Tailgate responds “Please, go away people are sleeping.” Brainstorm snores loudly to convince Prowl (surprisingly, it works. Prowl is Very Tired.). Then Tailgate proceeds to step out and talk to Prowl.

Prowl asks where the lab is.

Tailgate doesn’t respond to his question, and then proceeds to ask Prowl if he’s gotten any sleep.

He repeats the question, but slowly. TG: Are you assuming I’m stupid? That Sir, is very offensive and you need to leave.

Prowl: I assume everyone’s stupid. Don’t take it personally.

TG: I am taking it personally.

Prowl: Is Skids here?

TG: He isn’t. Come back in three weeks.

Prowl proceeds to sigh. Tailgate then becomes concerned about his health because he looks really tired. Tailgate begins to lecture Prowl over efficiency and how it is affecting his ability to rebuild Adaptica.

Prowl: Are you going to answer my questions or not?

Cyclonus proceeds to exit the room, and intimidates Prowl into leaving them alone. Prowl gives them voter registration forms and then leaves in a hurry.

Prowl heads to Swerve’s and encounters Lotty (who is eating with First Aid), after a long and not very successful chat with Tailgate. Lotty and Prowl talk, Prowl still trying to find out this underground lab is. “Look, I’m just the cleric!”

Prowl proceeds to get frustrated with Lotty’s roundabout answer, and he begins to notice that First Aid is turning red throughout the conversation. Lotty continues to affirm that she just followed the group to provide aid.

First Aid leaves at some point. The chair is empty.

Prowl takes out a map and asks Lotty to point out the location of the lab. Lotty begins to point out that Prowl looks tired. She offers him First Aid’s food.

Prowl gets to the point of no return and flips the table. Lotty manages to save her meal.

He’s crying.

There are tears on the map.

People are staring.

Someone made a bet and is passing some gold to the winner.

“...do you want some cake? I think they sell some over here.”

“I don’t want cake I just want you to tell me where the lab is in case there’s something dangerous that might destroy the city. Why are you being so difficult?”

Lotty explains that she is very tired after her training with First Aid, and that Prowl has interrupted her meal.

Prowl is still crying. But he puts the table back and puts the map on top of it.

“Please just tell me where the lab is.”

Anode and Lug and some of the AVL come up to see what the commotion is about. Prowl is crying over his map. Lotty has begun to eat her meal again.

Anode and Lug make their way to the table, and Prowl gets tugged away by Lug. This is a common occurrence it seems, as Prowl doesn’t struggle when he gets pulled away by the arm.

Anode sits down and talks to Lotty. She reiterates what Prowl said, only more… bluntly. Lotty proceeds to say the same thing she says to Prowl: she followed them in case someone was hurt, since it is her duty as a cleric to help people, and she’s just a cleric. A regular cleric that was trying to help out. Anode proceeds to laugh at that response for a few minutes. Lotty finishes here meal.

Then shit gets serious for a second.

“Ok. Now tell me the truth.”

“That is the truth.”

Anode tries to get Lotty to tell her where the lab is, but because she works with Prowl, Lotty doesn’t. Anode then proceeds to accuse Lotty of protecting someone, and then proceeds to say that she isn’t being very Cleric-like, given that there are people potentially in danger. She proceeds to say that it is very messed up that Lotty isn’t telling the AVL where the lab is, as she agreed to help them before, and that they may have to talk to Scrappy about where the lab is, as Whirl isn’t sober enough to be reached for comment.

Lotty takes offense to that.

“If you wish to speak to someone else, then talk to Skids, because when I don’t feel comfortable answering questions about someone else when they’re not here.”

Lotty leaves Swerve’s and heads back to the Inn. Anode leaves too.

Skids is still at Scrappy’s family’s house when Anode knocks on the door. One of Scrappy’s moms, Ekalu, answers, and Skids is baffled as to how Anode found him here (she didn’t expect to - she came to talk to Ekalu about Scrappy).

Anode explains the situation like she did to Velocity. Skids also refuses to tell her where the lab is.  Anode reiterates that the city could be in danger, and the only other person outside of the party who knows the location of the lab is Scrappy, and she’d rather not talk to them about this - but she will - with Rung - if necessary.

Skids is offended that Anode would consider re-traumatizing the child, but Ekalu is mostly baffled that Skids is refusing to help Anode - a long time friend of hers - further investigate the lab that her child was kept in. This finally persuades Skids.

Skids writes down the location of the lab, but says that he doesn’t trust Prowl and doesn’t want him involved. Anode says she knows that Prowl is a shady bastard, but swears to take Prowl off the investigation if that’s what will get Skids to cooperate.

Skids hands Anode the paper, and then tells her, “You don’t know what Prowl did.”

He then leaves quickly, and rushes towards the Inn.

The team regroups and recaps what’s happened to each other over the course of the evening, and decides to leave for Caminus straightaway in the morning, to avoid any further encounters with Prowl.

Nautica spends that evening reviewing her spellbooks because she’s very worried about Lotty’s proclaimed intention to be dragged off into the woods by Luna in the event that Luna does not stay with the group.

Adventure 4!

#game recap #team ice

[verdigrisprowl]

July 11 Blurr’s Horror Stream - ASOUE: The Ersatz Elevator

Neither Prowl nor the Constructicons were here.

Whirl was, though! He has returned to Cybertron. And of course, his first priority was horror movie night.

Blurr 9:11 pm ( okay. It sEEMS like I have good one. I think. ) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm ((\o/)) Blurr 9:13 pm ( just let me know if it's really bad. I have to leave one headphone off because my roommate demands attention 24/7 ) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:14 pm ((didn't you move to get AWAY from that)) Blurr 9:14 pm yeah but she's 'sad ' right now ] somethin' about her friend with benefits not wanting to be an item ??? ) I'm too cynical for this >>;;; ) Whirl 9:17 pm aight let me know when y'all are ready cos i need to paint A Word Picture for y'all)) Blurr 9:17 pm (I'm waitin' for everyone to be ready, too !) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm ((i'm ready to pop in and go whenever)) VProwl 9:18 pm ((idek if im gonna bring someone ic, go get started)) Blurr 9:20 pm /any. way. Here he is, horrific upgrades and all. Welcome to the pARTY / Whirl 9:20 pm ((ACK, WOULD IT BE easier for you to be IC if i stayed ooc?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm *Soundwave and Rumble drop in, though not before looking into the room with a feeler. It's been a long time. Who knows where certain medics might be roaming by now?* *Coast looks clear-ish. They'll take their seats.* Blurr 9:27 pm / wiggles claws at. He doesn't seem to have many people lingering on the ship this time- the crew is very busy doing their usual business./ VProwl 9:27 pm ((my IC or OOC ness is completely unrelated to anything Whirl does)) Blurr 9:27 pm / though who KNOWS where Ratchet is. Dude is a mystery / Whirl 9:27 pm ((okee dokee, i just wasn't sure, i didn't wanna throw a wrench in the works, sorry)) VProwl 9:27 pm ((prowl stopped coming ages ago. now i can only take constructicons and i don't feel like taking constructicons.)) ((they only come to SOUE to record it for prowl and right now prowl is in full Ask For Nothing At All Ever From The Constructicons mode)) ((so yeah unless i change my mind at the last second im probably only here to watch for myself)) Blurr 9:28 pm (( whenever y'all are ready, I'll start, btw. )) VProwl 9:29 pm ((ready)) Whirl 9:29 pm AIGHT, well, i'm sorry blurr and soundwave & co but there are less people to distract whirl you're going to get Full Force Whirl Presence)) I'm ready, just bout to drag me boy in)) Blurr 9:29 pm (( Do it. )) Whirl 9:29 pm *is just suddenly there in the doorway, blinking slowly. Whirl looks like he’s been dragged backward through a particularly dirty chimney, with most of his plating covered in soot and scorchmarks. Aside from a few superficial scratches and a cracked optic, he actually doesn’t seem to be wounded. The entire weapons array that used to be under his cockpit is just flat-out gone, replaced by a bevy of new accoutrements: a thick collar with the broken end of a restraining pole still dangling from it, two long serial numbers that have been enameled into his stabilizer fins, a handful of broken devices (which seem to be stasis locks and other neutralizing contraptions) cold welded to various parts of his anatomy, and finally, most noticeably, a partially-functioning mode-lock clamped onto his back* Whirl deep breath 9:29 pm Whirl 9:30 pm Any chance I could get one of you to do me a favor? ((A Word Picture is now complete)) Blurr 9:30 pm / snort / I DO owe you one, don't I? What happened to you, hnnh? Get stuck in a jail or something? Whirl 9:31 pm Got it in one. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm *Rumble's up on his feet in an instant.* //What the FRAG-- What favor?// Whirl bobs his head in tired greeting 9:31 pm Whirl 9:31 pm Could someone please get this fragging MODE-LOCK off of me because it's DRIVING ME CRAZY. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm *Soundwave lifts up both feelers. Come over, if Blurr doesn't go over there first.* Whirl 9:34 pm *will trot on over and hunker down a bit so Soundwave can reach it easier. ...not that he probably needs to because Endless Spaghetti Arms but still* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:36 pm [[Don't move. He'd rather not lose his tendrils.]] *They're going to poke around and beneath the mode lock to try to figure out how it comes off. Might be a little wiggly in there.* Whirl is now making the exact face that his avatar is making 9:36 pm ItsyBitsySpyers 9:37 pm *In about a minute he'll have it deactivated and pulled off.* [[Hmm. Do you want this?]] Whirl 9:39 pm No. God, no, by all means, just. Obliterate it. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:39 pm [[As you wish.]] *Soundwave hands it to Rumble, who is more than happy to punch it to pieces with a couple hits from a piledriver.* *...The ground might shake a little in the process. Sorry bout that, Blurr.* Whirl 9:40 pm *the VERY FIRST thing he tries to do is transform, but there's too many things stuck to him at the moment and he just kind of. Falls over. Lays there for a moment* *caught somewhere between modes* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:41 pm *...Soundwave snaps a pic, silently.*??//Uh. You - you alive?// Whirl 9:43 pm I can't be sure, but I THINK so. *shifts back, and with great dignity, makes his slow way over to the hammock and clambers inside. After a moment he just pokes his head over the side of the hammock* So. How you guys been? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm *Rumble kicks the junked mode lock bits side and sits wher ehe is.* //Pretty good, I guess. Been lookin' into the writin' classes we got on planet. Boss moved to Intelligence insteada the Security Forces. 'N he--// ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm *Soundwave pings him a warning. Rumble resets his vocalizer.* //'N he been doin' good on business. Plus, we found them barnacles. Stickin' themselves to space slugs. Weird scrap.// //But that ain't important. HOW THE FRAG'D THEY CATCH -YOU?-// Blurr 9:48 pm / anyway pretend he zoned out because like I was gone / Whirl 9:49 pm *nods very slowly* Y'know what? Good. Damn good. I--*okay he deserves this yelling* I think someone was tailing me last time I got stuck. Went out to get some stuff for my ship and wham. ...okay it's actually a lot more complicated that "wham" but I got back about... maybe. Six hours ago. I'm a little out of it. Whirl in a sort of permanently half-zoned state, Blurr's in good company 9:50 pm ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm *They both shake their head. They never thought they'd see the day.* Whirl 9:50 pm Hey, Teach? If you got any liquid snacks I'm starving. And I'm gonna eat them all. Blurr 9:51 pm Oh, there's plenty. /motions to table/ We just harvested an entire freighter Whirl 9:52 pm I should've called YOU to come get me. *peers resentfully at the snack table. How dare it be so far away. He'll get it in a second* So. I might... *trails off* Blurr 9:52 pm I can get it. I just invested in a new set of legs. Whirl 9:53 pm ((oh my god the sheer amount of innuendo in this is staggering)) Blurr 9:53 pm /smirks/ Oh, me? I would have ADORED to slaughter an entire jail. Whirl 9:53 pm Again? Damn, Teach, you don't waste time. So. *looks to Soundwave and Rumble* I might... be. In a little trouble. My official story is: I fell down a flight of stairs. Blurr 9:54 pm Waste time doing what? Investing in new legs? Whirl 9:55 pm Yep. Blurr 9:56 pm Well, these ones are more suited for me. The speed upgrades work better with these ones. Less burn in the legs, less broken gears. Whirl 9:56 pm BRB!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm //Musta been some damn important stairs.// ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm [[What is it you require?]] Blurr 9:57 pm Stairs are unnecessary... Blurr 9:59 pm (( Olaf would be one amazing cosplayer )) Whirl 10:01 pm Just don't rat me out to the... I dunno. The space police, or whatever. God, the world changed since I was gone. Blurr? Being... RESPONSIBLE? I mgiht not be in the right dimension, after all. Blurr 10:01 pm / snort / Whirl 10:02 pm *he isn't ENTIRELY flippant about this, as much as he likes to pretend he is, and he's also not so oblivious that he doesn't know what he should do next* Hey, Rumble? Could I get you over here a second? Comm's out. ((time to do everything in my power to get salmonella)) Windchill 10:02 pm (( WHY you do this. Are you eating raw eggs. )) Blurr 10:03 pm My profession is literally stealing and piracy. Windchill 10:04 pm (( Oh. )) Blurr 10:04 pm Police are the last mechs on my speed dial list. K-Kyeheeheh. Well, except that one I bribed... / taps chinplate / Think I might have eaten that one, though. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm [[No mech will hear that you have returned unless you explicitly give him permission to tell them. At least, not from his work unit.]] Blurr 10:05 pm (( the fan. I can't )) VProwl 10:05 pm ((the water aside, i would kill for some salmon rn)) Blurr 10:05 pm (( mood )) Whirl 10:05 pm i bequeath my cosmic allowance of salmon to y'all)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm //Yeah! Sure.// *Rumble wasn't sure if he ought to ask about the hammock, but now that he's been invited over, he'll trot that way - and up, if permitted.* Whirl 10:06 pm *just nods to Blurr and Soundwave, closing his optic. Please enjoy his genuine gratitude* Thanks. VProwl 10:08 pm ((eyyyy bob)) Whirl 10:08 pm *will absolutely help Rumble up and shift so he can get comfortable. He speaks very softly, garnering as much privacy as he can without comms* Sorry for not calling. I wasn't able to get a message out. Blurr 10:08 pm (( I would wear this costume for years ) Whirl 10:08 pm this would be a fantastic cosplay)) Blurr 10:08 pm ( the eyes bobble. I'm screaming ) VProwl 10:09 pm ((every time he says sallmun)) Blurr 10:10 pm ((( I can't. )) Whirl 10:10 pm kdl;de)) u right)) Windchill 10:11 pm *Appears to ruin the evening, sorry y'all.* Blurr 10:12 pm / wiggles claws in a wave. / Windchill 10:12 pm ((Plunger...harpoons? )) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:13 pm *Good thing it's Rumble and not Frenzy, or else there'd be no privacy whatsoever. Rumble whispers just fine, and Soundwave pretends not to still be able to hear it.* //Hey, nah. Nah. 'S okay. Jus' - glad ya ain't there no more, y'know? 'N anybody's sorry, it's me, on account of we wasn't no help to ya.// ((this food is so vile)) Blurr 10:13 pm ( blegh ) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm *Soundwave bobs his helm at Windchill.* Windchill 10:14 pm *Waves dramatically.* Blurr 10:16 pm Honestly, he's terrible at assassinating people. Honestly. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm ((those teeth are creeping me out)) Blurr 10:17 pm (( they're like way too white )) Whirl 10:17 pm So'm I. *shakes his head a little* Nothing you could've done. Nothing anybody could've done, except me. And I did it. *shifts a little--he might be curling up around Rumble just a little. Just a little* I gotta say, though, Teach--advice for life. Whirl raises his head when he senses Windchill, and gives a very nonchalant nod. "Sup?" 10:17 pm Blurr 10:17 pm Advice for life? You're giving /me/ advice? I suppose I'll listen to yours. VProwl 10:18 pm ((im remembering that post about how tfp starscream's human form would definitely be count olaf)) ((i can absolutely see him performing this song)) ((exactly this way)) Whirl 10:18 pm No, I was saying, the song is advice for life. I might be a little rattled but I'm well aware what it would look like if I gave you advice. Right now. SHINT)) Blurr 10:19 pm Aw, come on. Advice from you is probably the most logical advice I ever hear. Aside from... well. Drift's. His advice is pretty great. Windchill 10:19 pm *Squints at the crispy weirdo that looks like it might have once been...a Whirl.* Whirl 10:20 pm You can never tell him I said this--ANY of you--but... you're not completely wrong, Teach. Blurr 10:20 pm / smirks and wiggles claws in the air slightly / Of course not. I'm an educator, not usually wrong. /is wrong a lot tbh/ ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm *Rumble notices and oh-so-slowly-and-carefully readjusts a leg so it's bumped up against Whirl a little more.* //Listen - Frenzy's still learnin' medic stuff. If y'need help gettin' all that slag off, we maybe could try.// ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm //Welp, they're gonna die.// Whirl 10:25 pm Yeah, I might take you up on that. Most of it's not dug in, it's slapped on. Like... glued. But with metal. Except for the thing-- *wiggles one of his fins irritably* Looks worse'n it is. Blurr 10:25 pm You know, Whirl... I'm just saying. I've got a medic that really likes your anatomical makeup. He'd be willing to put you back together and then some. / Piston misses you / Whirl 10:26 pm Oh, PLEASE send Piston after me. I've got half a year's worth of pent-up frustration and I'd LOVE to get it out of my system. Blurr 10:27 pm Oye... no hurting my mortician. Despite his usually... eh. /shrugs/ weird? personality, he's actually quite useful. Windchill 10:28 pm *Sits his giant BUTT on the floor, finally.* Whirl 10:28 pm I'm sure to SOME folks. *peers peevishly at Blurr* Piston just better keep his distance. But in all seriousness, I'm not really hurt. Blurr 10:29 pm Yes, but Piston COULD help fix... everything else. Whirl 10:29 pm Oh shit, was that an earthquake? Oh, wait. No. It was just YOU. *zoops his head out of the hammock to stare accustingly at Windchill* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:29 pm //Maybe I oughta stick a pair of Windchill afts where my piledrivers go.// Blurr 10:29 pm K-Kyeheheh. Windchill 10:29 pm *Would retract his head sheepishly, but his collar doesn't allow it. He just bobs his head stupidly instead.* Don't be mean to me. Blurr 10:30 pm You know, it was an offer of absolute honesty. I wouldn't let Piston do anything... odd. He's a bit in a good mood- you're way off his radar. Whirl 10:30 pm You'd be too POWERFUL, Rumble. Windchill 10:30 pm ...This is true. Whirl 10:31 pm Being mean is just how I show affection. Blurr 10:31 pm It's the best way, honestly. Whirl 10:31 pm And... thanks, Teach. I think I'll let Frenzy handle that bit. But, if you're in the mood to hand out favors... mind if I crash here tonight? Windchill 10:31 pm *Shrugs.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm //Yer right. Can't get too strong. Don't want Devastator gettin' jealous of my strength.// Windchill 10:32 pm ...Why not? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *Soundwave just huffs. Good thing the Constructicons weren't here to hear that.* Whirl 10:32 pm Well now we know what we need to do if we ever got to defeat Devastator. Blurr 10:32 pm /hums and drums claws together/ Well, I suppose we could spare a room. /snort/ Joking. K-Kyeheheheh. Of course you can! You can stay in one of the more suited rooms- furthest from Piston. Windchill 10:33 pm *We need to duplicate his butt and weld them to Rumble's hands?* Whirl 10:33 pm In all seriousness, though... *bobs his head at Windchill again; please enjoy a moment of sincerity* Good to see you. Windchill 10:33 pm Oh yeah? You look like poo. Whirl nods 10:34 pm Whirl 10:34 pm I fell down a flight of stairs. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm ((I FINALLY JUST FIGURED OUT WHO ESME'S ACTRESS IS)) ((that's been bothering me all night)) Whirl 10:35 pm she's been in a lot of stuff! Ella Enchanted, The 10th Kingdom)) Windchill 10:35 pm *Kind of just...looks Whirl up and down with his good eye. The other one is watching the show.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:35 pm ((yeah, Sally Peep, heh)) Windchill 10:35 pm Must have been hella stairs. I believe it. Whirl 10:35 pm ((she's such a patoot)) Whirl nods gravely. "It was." 10:35 pm Whirl 10:36 pm Actually I got caught. And had to bust my way out. Which, as you can see... did. But the stairs is my official story. If you don't mind, Teach, I was just going to. Not leave this hammock until tomorrow. VProwl 10:37 pm ((that baby is such a great actor)) Windchill 10:37 pm Ah. Blurr 10:37 pm I suppose. You could do that, too. Windchill 10:37 pm Well. Whirl 10:37 pm she really is, tbh)) Whirl is now going to reach over to those drinks Blurr brought near and start drinking. Just tossing his head back again and again. Like some kind of bobbing bird. LIKE A MACHINE. These snacks don't stand a chance. 10:39 pm Windchill 10:40 pm *Gasps with sudden realization.* Whirl...LIED to me about hella stairs. To my very face. Whirl 10:41 pm *doesn't stop drinking, even while he answers* NO. Surely not. Doesn't sound like WHIRL. Windchill 10:41 pm Yes it does. *Points accusingly.* Whirl pauses just long enough to look innocent. And then goes back to drinking 10:42 pm Windchill 10:43 pm *Slowly lowers his claw.* I'll forgive it...this time. Blurr 10:44 pm how merciful. Windchill 10:46 pm But ONLY, *he lifts his claw imperiously* because I missed the perpetrator of these foul untruths. Whirl finally finishes his marathon run on these snacks 10:46 pm Whirl 10:46 pm Yeah. You just missed him, too. Windchill 10:46 pm Shut up, butthole. Whirl 10:47 pm What's it saying? Windchill 10:48 pm Pure LIES. And hot air. Whirl 10:49 pm Hmm. I believe it. Windchill 10:49 pm Good, you can trust me. *Maybe.* Windchill 10:51 pm *But probably not.* Whirl 10:51 pm *DOUBTFUL* Windchill 10:51 pm *Smiles and flutters his lashes innocently.* Whirl *he un-zoops and retreats back to the sanctity of the hammock* How's the little wriggler doing? 10:51 pm Whirl 10:51 pm ...welp)) Windchill 10:52 pm Little? Whirl 10:53 pm Okay, fair, how's your gargantuan offspring doing? Windchill 10:54 pm That's more like it. She's fat. Whirl 10:54 pm Once I take care of my... whole. Everything, I'll try and swing by. Windchill 10:55 pm Eh, she'd probably recognize you, even looking like that. Whirl 10:55 pm Sadly, I didn't pick up any new and exciting foul language in prison. As unlikely as that sounds. Windchill 10:55 pm I'm shocked. Whirl 10:57 pm Yeah. Apparently I'm *huge claw air-quotes* "Too unruly" and "a danger to myself and others" so I spent a good amount of time out of it. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm //Puh. Jus' means they were big cowards.// *Mutter mutter.* Whirl 10:58 pm *snorts* More or less. ...but if you get locked up, I mean. Worse ways to spend it than unconscious. Windchill 10:59 pm I...guess? I mean, I can vouch for that. *Shrugs helplessly.* Whirl 10:59 pm *one-armed shrug in return* And speaking of unconscious I'm... probably not gonna make it through whatever you guys decide to watch next, so. If I fall asleep don't wake me up. Blurr 11:00 pm Piston might. IF you're lucky. Windchill 11:00 pm Good night, sweet prince. I'll knock you out right now if you want. Whirl 11:01 pm Yeah, well, it'll be unlucky for HIM. *hunkers down in the hammock* Thank you, sweet princess, but I think I'm good. And, yeah. I said it, and yeah, I'm gonna say it again, and if any of you guys give me slag about it I'll make you regret it but--good to see you all again. All of you. *Rumble gets an additional nudge* Windchill 11:02 pm You say that now. Blurr 11:03 pm / smirks and wiggles claws at Whirl / Good to see you, too. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm //No slag, promise. Not about that, anyhow. Gotta pick somethin' better.// *Snickers and nudges back.* Whirl 11:05 pm *snorts at Windchill--it's a genuine laugh. You earned it, big guy* I come back, Rumble, and already you're threatening me. *shakes head mock-dramatically* It's good to be... well. Not home. But whatever this is. Windchill 11:06 pm *More LIES.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:06 pm *Looks around.* //A ship, I think. Either that or a big ol' rusty bucket.// Whirl 11:07 pm Well I was referring to this dimension's Cybertron and surrounding affiliated areas but that works. Blurr 11:07 pm Excuse me? Windchill 11:07 pm *Rolls onto his knees. Turns out his giant butt offers little to no cushioning on floors.* Blurr 11:07 pm It's a /great/ ship. And right now, we're not very far from a quadrant that is radiating a power source that I simply /must/ have. Windchill 11:10 pm *Okay, hands and knees. Getting up is hard.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm //You 'n them treasures, pffff. Somebody's gonna trap ya with a fake one day.// *Whispering again:* //Psss. Whirl. Y'want the hammock all to your own self, or's it okay I maybe don't go?// ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm [[Do you need help, Windchill?]] Whirl 11:11 pm Someone, please help Old Man Windchill over here. Windchill 11:11 pm Do NOT. Whirl 11:11 pm DO. Windchill 11:11 pm If I want help I'll ask. I'm a big boy. Whirl 11:11 pm Well OBVIOUSLY. Windchill 11:11 pm But it's funnier this way. Blurr 11:11 pm K-Kyeheheheh. Someone already TRIED to. They missed me, obviously. /wiggles claws/ Besides, this is the real deal. Something genuinely powerful and strong. Whirl 11:11 pm *and lowers his head to whisper back* I'd... like it, if you stayed. Blurr 11:11 pm It radiates across the wavelengths with extremely strong waves... plus, I think it might be something unique. Windchill 11:13 pm *Grunts and deliberately makes a spectacle of getting up, employing as many ungodly creaks as possible since he's been CALLED OUT.* *You must all suffer for it.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Soundwave just turns his audio receptors down. It's easier.* Whirl 11:14 pm Gnight, loser. I'll call you up when my comms are working again. Windchill 11:14 pm Who...me? Whirl 11:14 pm Yes, you. Blurr 11:14 pm /cackling at Windchill because wow how obnoxious, he loves it / Windchill 11:14 pm Fuck you, Whirl. But okay. Blurr 11:14 pm You know, Whirl, Blaster could get your comms working. You just have to deal with his ... idiocy. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm *He'll trust Rumble with Whirl on this ship for one night. May any wayward "doctors" be crab-pinched to pieces if they come creeping up with laser scalpels in hand.* Whirl 11:15 pm Not likely, you oversized antique. Windchill 11:15 pm *Gasps and clutches imaginary pearls.* Blurr 11:15 pm / Blurr will ensure none of them die overnight / Blurr 11:16 pm You know, you could all stay over , if you'd like. We won't reach the site until late tomorrow. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm *Rumble just nods and settles back in. He's not tired, himself, but it's kinda - nice. Been forever.* Whirl 11:16 pm Mmmmaybe. I'll come bug you about it in the morning. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm [[Ah, no. He has work. It piles up quickly as of late.]] *Up Soundwave gets, with less creaking and clanking than Windchill. He'll be on his way in seconds.* Blurr 11:17 pm Ah. I see. Well, whenever you want to visit. Windchill 11:17 pm *Appears to be thinking really hard if the sudden appearance of stress lines around his optics are any indication.* Blurr 11:17 pm ... You good? / he can't have a lift one eyebrow expression, but he can try. It just looks like murderous staring / Whirl 11:18 pm god bless blurr for trying omfg)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:18 pm ((LOL BLURR)) Blurr 11:18 pm (( hE HAS ONE EYE OKAY )) ( GSDNBFKDAFN )) (( He just. He can't lift an optic ridge- he's missing that piece on the other side. So it just looks. So bad bfkjdsfbadsj ) Whirl bobs his head in farewell to Soundwave, Windchill, and Blurr. and hunkers back down. Whirl is sleep. 11:19 pm Whirl 11:19 pm that's why we lovim)) Windchill 11:19 pm I'm leaving. Blurr 11:19 pm (( I feel like Whirl gets his expressions )) Whirl raises a claw but doesn't open his optic. Clicks it like a castanet. 11:19 pm Blurr 11:19 pm ... Pity. Well, next time you'd like to visit, I'll clear the bridge for you. And if you're good at tearing mechs apart, maybe you'll get lucky and find us on a good day. Whirl 11:20 pm if anyone would, I feel like it'd be Whirl)) Blurr 11:20 pm (( Whirl and Drift for sure )) Windchill 11:20 pm *Shrugs.* I have worms. Whirl 11:20 pm he knows a thing or two about making do with limited facial expression capabilities)) Blurr 11:20 pm (( I feel like Drift kinda "I THINK he's confused but he might just be angry. Or both.' )) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:20 pm ((OF ALL THE RECORDINGS SOUNDWAVE COULD MISS IT WAS "I HAVE WORMS")) Blurr 11:21 pm ... That's... nice? Whirl 11:21 pm ((HAHAHAH)) Blurr 11:21 pm (( LMAOOO ) / squinting. Drums claws together / Well, have... fun with that? Windchill 11:21 pm (( I'm sorry it was spontaneous. )) I have ONE WORM, *this clarification requires yelling and the puffing out of chest armour.* *And it doesn't make it any better.* Blurr 11:22 pm Why are you yelling? I have one optic, not one audial. Windchill 11:22 pm Because I can and no-one can really stop me. Blurr 11:22 pm ... Bet? Whirl 11:23 pm *still doesn't open his optic, but calls out, muffled* I taught his worm to cuss. Windchill 11:23 pm I only gamble with my life. Blurr 11:23 pm W-what else are you supposed to gamble with? Windchill 11:23 pm ...Most folks settle for money or material goods. Pride, maybe. Blurr 11:23 pm ... Ew. Where's the fun in that? Windchill 11:23 pm *He has none of those so life it is.* Blurr 11:23 pm / glances at Whirl/ You what the who now? Blurr 11:24 pm We /motions to self and adjacent space around him/ are confused. Whirl 11:24 pm I taught his worm to cuss. She beeps. Zori was my accomplice. Blurr 11:24 pm Ah... much better. Windchill 11:24 pm Yeah. Only words she knows are cuss words. And "wub." Blurr 11:24 pm ..Huh. Whirl 11:24 pm *now DOES lift his head, briefly* I'm wub. Blurr 11:24 pm I don't think I've taught Oberyn anything new lately... except not to bite 'Buster. Whirl conks it back down and curls up a little more 11:24 pm Blurr 11:25 pm Well, I wouldn't want to keep you from your... worm. Windchill 11:25 pm Anyway. I'm gonna pretend to not know what tearing mechs apart on good days means, because it's convenient in the short term. My worm, yes. I must return to my worm. Blurr 11:26 pm Well... go on. / waves claws / I have relics to steal. Windchill 11:26 pm *Well, she'd be fine with Chill's better half for an evening, but MORE importantly:* Yeah. Whirl's not gonna get any rest with me here. I must go. *Have another dramatic wave.* Whirl 11:27 pm Joke's on you, I'm already asleep. *muffled* Windchill 11:28 pm You say that now, I'm leaving before I get REALLY obnoxious. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:28 pm //Somehow I ain't even tryin' to sleep 'n I been the quietest one outta all you.// *Muffled laugh into his arm.* Windchill 11:28 pm *It's for your own good, Whirl. Easier to avoid embarrassing you with physical contact if Chill's not there.* Whirl 11:29 pm Well, it's not hard to be the quietest one when I'm in the room. ...but I'm still asleep. Windchill 11:29 pm *He is thinking of u, it's just hard to tell.* I'm sick and tired of your lies. *Turns to leave for real, but blows a kiss over his shoulder.* Bye, suckers. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm //Seeya.// Whirl 11:30 pm Later, loser. Blurr 11:30 pm / wiggles claws/ See you Blurr 11:31 pm (( lemme know when I can close chat. )) Windchill 11:31 pm *Just for that you get a loud raspberry sound before he vanishes. His final revenge.* Whirl 11:32 pm I'm done! o7)) Windchill 11:32 pm (( same lol )) Blurr 11:33 pm ( kay i close room now ) Windchill 11:33 pm (( o7 )) Blurr 11:33 pm ( unless somoene is logging ) VProwl 11:33 pm ((i can stop logging when y'all stop making last-minute comments))

#chat

[nike-ravus]

1. Kalex please?

Thank you for requesting a classic!

When people touched Alex, they never left a mark. In the first two and a half decades of her life, Alex had three marks and three marks only. Her dad, a smear of emerald green so deep that the intensity made up for its small size, her mom, fierce yellow spiderwebs, marking over a large part of her body, and Kara.

Kara was blue. Alex had found it after the first time she’d put her arms around the sad alien, and Kara had leaned back into her.

The mark stretched from her right hip to her left shoulder. It was dark, and too big. It was the kind people told stories about, what they said meant destiny. It was terrifying and humiliating. Alex hid it under her clothes, wore wetsuits and tight undershirts. She had sex with the lights out, fumbling by feel and nothing else.

The one guy she’d actually liked saw it. He’d seen the part on her neck that peeked up from her collars, and then he saw the part on her hip. He slowly pulled up her undershirt. Then he’d sat back on his heels, erection deflated, and cupped the back of his own neck.

He hadn’t said anything, but she’d known what he was thinking.

“It’s not romantic,” she’d mumbled.

It was just pain: the guilt of her dad’s death, the stupid helplessness she felt, because Kara was a super strong, invulnerable alien, and nothing Alex did could protect her. She was unnecessary, she could not mean anything to Kara in return. It all just hurt her more.

“But neither are we,” Brian said, “not really.”

He ordered pizza, and they spent the night watching Enterprise.

Alex wondered, sometimes, if Brian would have left a mark on her, if Kara hadn’t been taking up too much space.

#

Kara left marks on everyone she touched. If she hadn’t been an alien, Alex was sure her skin would be confetti sparkled, a rainbow jackson pollock. She loved so much, so easily and so well. But neither she nor Clark took marks on their skin.

Kara had marks, three large and two small, and one middling. She’d shown them to Alex once, late in the evening. My mom, my dad, my aunt Astra. The smaller ones were Uncle Jor and Aunt Lara. The middling one was Clark.

She should have known, she said. It should have been bigger.

#

J'onn’s martian green spread in a warm blotch across Alex’s skin. She didn’t tell him about Kara’s mark, didn’t show him, but he was a telepath. He knew.

Alex was glad she couldn’t leave a mark on Kara’s body. She didn’t want to see it. When she was young, she had been so afraid that she would leave no trace, that she would mean nothing to Kara. But now she knew it would be a dark mark, growing larger with each cruelty and each betrayal.

It would be the ugly kind of mark, dull and muted, the one that spoke of pain outweighing love.

#

When Kara solar flared she started getting marks. A warm purple from James, scattered pink and dusky rose from Cat Grant, a soft powder blue from Winn. Alex didn’t touch her, couldn’t touch her. Kara was so happy, eyes bright with the new ability to show the people she loved the physical evidence of how she loved them. Alex couldn’t face that truth made visible.

Only when Kara got her powers back did Alex let herself sink into her arms and hold on, breathing the scent of her hair and clinging. Every part of her that wasn’t marked in blue was extraneous. She would cut it off, and all she was would be what Kara had touched and transformed.

Kara held her and traced her finger along the blue mark that peeked out of her collar. She looked as if she was about to ask to see it, to see the whole thing. Alex had forbidden her from X-raying through her clothes as a teenager. She didn’t want her to know just how much of a mark she’d left. Alex had already given her life, her blood-innocence, and her honor for Kara, she didn’t want to give her pride also.

But Kara didn’t ask. She looked away and fidgeted with her sleeve where James’s purple blotch lingered, barely the size of a handprint, nothing like the mark he’d left on Lucy.

#

Lucy had a desaturated navy blue mark from her dad. It was dark, but the grayish cast to it made Alex sick. That was what it looked like when you did more damage than healing. That was why she never wanted to leave a mark on Kara.

#

Then Kara fell from the sky.

Alex didn’t think, she ran to her, she grasped her. Kara inhaled, her arm going around Alex’s shoulders, slumping limply into Alex’s clasp of her waist. Her suit was torn, and blood–a crimson stain–swirled over her skin, streaking up her neck and across her face.

Not blood.

The DEO medical team came in, they took Kara away.

Alex sat in the rubble until Vasquez helped her up and took her home.

#

Someone got it on camera.

Supergirl Has A Soulmate

It was too bright, too vibrant to deny. ‘Soulmate’ was what they thought it was, what they thought it meant.

Alex knew better. She’d always known her bloody hands would leave their mark. But the fact that it crossed her face, it marred her, it was visible to everyone and undeniable, it made her crimes seem so much worse.

#

“It’s not dull, Alex,” Lucy said.

But it was dark, dark like her dad’s with loss and sorrow. Kara loved everyone more than they deserved.

#

Alex found Kara in her supersuit sitting on the roof of a building, feet swinging over the edge.

Kara looked over, and Alex flinched away from the mark on her face, the violence of it. How was she supposed to have a secret identity now?

Kara deflated, looking guilty and sick and shifted away as Alex lowered herself down beside her. They looked out over the city.

“I’m sorry,” Alex said.

“For what?”

Alex swallowed the lump in her throat. She looked away, down at the lights, buildings and moving cars, full of people who were far easier to love than Alex, far more worthy of it.

“For this?” Kara’s voice was sharp.

When Alex looked up, Kara was pointing to the mark on her cheek. Her eyes flashed. “You can’t apologize for this. You aren’t responsible for how I feel.”

There was a defensiveness in her tone. Hope lost. Grit your teeth and face your fate.

“Do you think it would be so dark if I hadn’t hurt you?” Alex reached out, her fingertips hesitating just before the smear of red on Kara’s cheek. “Over and over again, I hurt you. This is just evidence of how much.”

“I don’t know,” Kara said. “But it would be this big.”

Alex went still, the words shapeless soundwaves in her head, contentless. Finally her brain received the information her ears had heard so long ago. “It would?” Her voice cracked.

Kara watched her for a moment. “You never showed me all of yours.”

Alex shook her head. “It–It was embarrassing, when you– When I’d never know what I looked like on you.”

Kara let out a small breathy sound that was neither a laugh nor not a laugh. “Well now you do.”

Alex swallowed, and then she slowly unbuttoned her shirt. She peeled off the undershirt, and sat there, in her bra, as Kara looked.

She looked for a long time, and then she reached out and her fingertips brushed across Alex’s belly. Her eyes glistened in the starlight.

“On Krypton, they called this written in the stars.”

Alex nodded, swallowing. “The stories make it sound simple, don’t they? It’s supposed– it’s supposed to be simple.”

Kara spread her palm against the blue on Alex’s skin, cool against the flush of her torso’s heat “No,” she said. “It’s not.”

###

#kalex #soulmate AU #au prompts list

[black-strike-otp]

part 76

This took far more time to write than it should have but at least it’s done! Haza!

I have a feeling someone’s gonna kick my ass for this, hmm...

Whatever it was Blackout was searching for, she never could figure out. There was better ways to waste time she imagined instead of waiting for his room to be available by walking around the Nemesis without reason. She hoped he was considering how to get out of this mess, but something in her spark felt deadened with dismay. What if he didn’t want to leave? This had been his home. Maybe it was all just her; her fears, her unease, her cowardice at play here. She should be more considerate of how he felt about a place that meant something to him, and still might.

The thought process didn’t put at ease her panicked thoughts. Starscream had been muttering to Nighthawk something about Megatron wanting to speak to him after bringing up the fact that the medic had went missing with tools owned by the Decepticon cause. What would that crazy tyrant do to him if he realized the devices Nighthawk may have on servo were that of the Malevolence property?

Keeping a close trot to Blackout’s pace, Nova followed the mech to his room in a nearly desolate hallway. Judging by the three or so Eradicon walking around, they had just finished up cleaning out his old room. It seemed a low-traffic route on the ship as the floors and walls weren’t scuffed up and discolored from pedes like high traffic zones.

If she’d thought the captain’s quarters on board the Rising Star had been an achievement of luxury, as Blackout identified his personal signal to the door and it opened, she was soon mistaken.

It may have lacked any personal touch just as the Rising Star’s room had, but it was far, far larger in size. Aside from a berth, there was a large wall to wall set of storage cabinets, cupboards, and an area to lay out items, trinkets, trophies, knickknacks, weapons, you name it across the same span of distance. There were an obvious hidden closet built into the wall for further storage, shelves, and a virtual command console with a massive chair clearly meant to hold a large bot.

With a nook mini fridge and a curious door that lead to who knew what, it was practically a mansion in its own right. Sadly, the room seemed to lack the beauty of an open window to view out in the stars which she found one of the best attributes to their room, but this was a warship, not a transporter turned space vessel. Having such a window would jeopardize the health of the bot in the room as anyone could take a shot at them just doing a fly by.

“This was your room?” Nova stated with shock, looking around as Blackout moved further into the room.

For the first time since they’d entered the room, the obsidian mech actually bothered to respond to her. He moved his helm just enough to look over his shoulder so that his scarlet optics could gaze upon her.

“It was,” he admitted. “Perks of being a top tier Decepticon officer.”

“You must have thought the Rising Star was pitiful in comparison,” she whispered faintly, walking around the room with astonishment. This room was larger than some of the rooms bots had grouped up to recharge in on the Rising Star, and this was for one; albeit large, but one mech.

Rumbling quietly in his chassis, the reinstated Decepticon Hound glanced away, and back down at her with a look of momentary hurt.

“I didn’t think such a thing,” he whispered quietly.

Cringing at her own thoughtless remark, Nova went to open her big stupid trap and speak up, when she was cut off.

“That door there leads to a private shower rack,” Blackout softly stated. “Its been a while since we’ve had a proper cleaning. Why don’t you take first shower? I’ve got somewhere to be, but I’ll leave Scorponok in here so you don’t come out alone. If you have trouble figuring out how it works, Scorp can offer you some assistance.”

Private shower rack? Primus, the mech had been living a life of opulence. She’d never heard of a private shower rack before; and the fact he had to vaguely mention that the controls may be complicated probably suggested it was over the top with a hundred crazy settings.

After finally absorbing this information, it seemed like the rest of the mech’s words finally came to her.

“You’re leaving?” she managed to squeak breathlessly.

“Only for a little while, dear, I promise,” he rumbled quietly, turning his body to look down at her fully with a tender smile.

Frustrated, she threw her arms down, looking to the floor. “I don’t understand, you were being so weird and distant when the seekers surrounded us and you were just acting so insensitive right outside the door and through the halls, where is this coming from why are you acting this way-?”

“Novastrike I’m so sorry,” Blackout cut in, baring his servos in submission as he stepped closer to kneel down towards her. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He reached out, gently pressing his digit to her chin. There was no pressure to it; he waited patiently for her to raise her helm to him of her own accord. A small smile formed on his faceplate, a melancholy light to his expression as she finally elevated her helm.

“Soundwave is a lot more than he appears, and I know he appears... eerie,” he said gently. “But I have learned, there is nothing that mech can not hear. The only reason I say this now is because this room; all officer rooms, and debugged and fortified specifically for privacy. They’re made for this security; part of our privilege. Love, it is far safer if bots on this ship speculate you are only, my apologies, but another bot under my services. I can not offer you the kindness and cherishing you deserve in front of others, it is too risky, and I’m so sorry for that.”

“Nova,” he continued softly. “I do not want to offend you. I am doing what I can to keep you safe. I value you, I love you, I care about you, but these mechs, they will not hesitate to hold things against anyone else if they think it’s a weak spot.”

“So, you’re saying I’m your weak spot?” Nova murmured, offering a nervous, unsure smile.

Blackout gave a light chuckle at that. “One of my weakest,” he admitted. “I’m sorry, I didn’t feel comfortable alerting you earlier to my behavior as precaution to prying audios and I wasn’t sure how to try getting the idea across otherwise without rousing suspicion. Please just... trust me. I’m doing my best. I don’t want to jeopardize you in any way.”

“I can take care of myself,” she hissed playfully, yanking her helm away from him to nip at his digit. Before he could retract his servo at her ‘cruelty’, she pressed a kiss to the spot she had bit as apology.

“I’m sure we could both give these bots a run for their credits,” he agreed with a grin, “but there are a lot of powerful bots here. Coming out in one piece, well...”

“I understand,” she whispered quietly, audio stacks falling back.

Giving a half-sparked smile, the ebony mech brushed his digit over the top of her helm with gentleness. It brought a warm smile to her faceplate once again. Novastrike glanced up to him, rubbing her cheek against his servo as he brought his digits around to rub her backstrut.

“I like it better when you have a smile on your face,” he murmured quietly.

Giving a slight huff, she stuck her glossia out at him teasingly.

Raising an optic ridge, the colossal mech brought back his servo and tapped her very gingerly upon her faceplate.

“Will you be alright if I leave you with Scorponok?” Blackout persisted calmly.

There was a slight hesitation. For a moment, she considered asking him to stay. Scorponok was a wonderful mech; a good friend, a good fighter, but she didn’t know this ship. She didn’t know what to expect. And Blackout, well, he gave a certain kind of well-known ‘big and scary’ projection that kept all the other monsters and demons at bay...

But that was selfish. She didn’t know what it was he wanted to go check on so badly. There may be friends on this ship he hadn’t seen in a long time. Frag, for all she knew, maybe he wanted to get a rundown on things so he could get back to work.

Offering a lopsided smile, the little femme gave a slight nod in response. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ll check out that shower rack you mentioned. Just don’t... don’t take forever?”

Primus, she sounded like an anxious sparkling.

Fortunately, he seemed to understand, bless his spark. Giving a nod, he positioned his pedes to stand as he offered a sweet, small, sensitive smile.

“I’ll try to be fast,” he echoed in a quiet rumble. The rotors on his backside peeled on either side as he spoke, and after a sequence of metallic shifting noises, Scorponok’s figure peeked up and climbed upon Blackout’s shoulder.

Turning two optics to his master and two to Novastrike, the bug gave a chirp. Blackout gave him a nod, and the scorpion scaled part of the way down before dropping near her as she jumped back with surprise.

Chattering, the bug took a few steps in her direction. She let out a slight giggle, reaching out to scratch along his helm.

“Behave yourselves,” growled the massive bot.

“No promises,” Scorponok clicked with a taunting, mischievous tone.

While Novastrike gave a laugh, Blackout gave him his partner a serious glance.

“Come on, Scorp,” she snickered. “You can give me a debriefing about this shower stall.”

“No bathe me,” the bug cautiously stated.

“No,” she agreed with a smile. “For myself only, I vow it.”

Giving an agreeing nod, the minicon began to pitter-patter his pronged pede tips across the floor in a hurry. Nova turned slowly to follow the bug to the bathing room. She came to a pause at the door as it opened for her insect-like companion and glanced back to Blackout as he watched her, pressing a kiss to her palm and blowing it towards him.

Truthfully, she didn’t expect the cheesy response she got in return. He pretended to catch the kiss, and went to place his servos over his spark.

Ears burning with a blushing light, she turned rigidly and hurried into the bathroom, with Blackout’s melted dark chocolate playful laughter following her as her spark rang a few notes of joy.

~

Once Novastrike was in the shower rack, Blackout took a swift exit from the room. He had to make sure she was somewhere secure before he would feel at ease leaving her. Even with Scorponok by her side, leaving her alone on this ship filled to the brim with mechs who’d have half a mind to squash her, probe her, and who knew what else, he simply didn’t like the idea of dropping her just anywhere. His room would be safe. His scanners and light EMP before entering the room ensured that if something had been left behind, it had been overcharged but it seemed free of spy equipment.

He wasn’t just on edge, he was paranoid.

Quickly moving down the hall, he hurried back in the direction of the bridge. A sharp cry of pain captured his attention and he redirected his attention, wishing that he would just be wrong this time.

Coming down the hall that would have usually directed him to the command room, he went to turn and saw the tyrant standing over a red armored mech.

“My Lord-”

The tyrant slammed his pede into the mech’s backside, eliciting a sharp cry from the seeker. His wings were angled sharply downward. Blackout could hear from the distance he was at the soft noises escaping the seams where his wings met his backstrut daring to crack.

“Lord Megatorn,” Blackout gruffly spoke up, his voice level and loud.

Turning his helm to the side, the Decepticon leader released a malicious snarl at him.

“What do you want, Blackout?”

“Apologies for the disruption, my Lord,” he humbly grumbled, inclining his helm. “I had overheard that you had summoned Nighthawk. I came on behalf of the mech-”

“On behalf of this gutless spawn?” the tyrant growled furiously. The vicious light in his optics grew darker as he removed his pede from the medic, knocking him into the wall with a sharp kick.

Although he knew it unwise to turn his optics away from his ruler, Blackout flickered a glance towards the smaller mech. He cringed as he got a good look at the front of the vermilion and white section of his chassis now scorched blacker than the charcoal accent armor trim and sections of underarmor. There was energon beading up from the hole near his upper chassis, welling and having left streams of blue over his chassis. His left cheek appeared dented in slightly and energon dripped from his mouth.

Nighthawk grimaced as he realized Blackout was staring at him. His entire frame was riddled with smaller dents and scratches; claw marks and gashes.

As he brought his optics back towards Megatron, he felt surprised how quickly the big mech had approached upon him.

“Explain why  you are delaying due punishment,” the tyrant all but raged. “Enlighten me, as I am inconceivably curious why you would defend an AWOL medic. Deserted his post, swiped cargo from the Malevolence that we have discovered on board his ship.”

Biting back his question as to where the dragon was although he became acutely aware he was not present, the giant mech bowed his helm as he growled, “My Lord, I apologize for not being straightforward previously. But my wounds... Had been rather grave, sir. Although I had been getting by after the war, I keep a distress signal active for some time. It eventually drew in Autobots, my Lord, and so I had to turn it off. However, Nighthawk had caught a cycled loop of my signal and had taken it upon himself to go after me.”

“Considering I was deemed offline, my Lord, he did not bring up his findings to his command for certainty that they would fine him to be mad. So instead of asking for help, he thought it best to take it upon himself to follow my distress signal. It would be of my fault that he would even consider stealing the property of the Malevolence. His assistant is bound both by loyalty and servitude my Lord. I ask you to consider sparing them-”

It all happened so fast; he didn’t even see it coming. Suddenly his oldest friend had his helm in his servo and forcibly shoved his weight into Blackout. Under normal circumstances, the mech at least 10 feet shorter than himself, he may have been able to throw off but he was taken so aback that he slammed into the wall and slid part of the way down.

“Do you take me for a fool?!” the tyrant roared into his audio receptor.

“Never, my Lord,” he rasped.

“That mech is a traitor, and should be dealt with accordingly,” he pledged, pushing Blackout’s helm firmly into the wall. “You are lying to me; I can smell it on you, see it in your optics. But why would you lie to me on behalf of this runaway coward?”

Moving his optics towards Nighthawk, Blackout could see the medic trying to sit up. His servo appeared to be ghosting at his side, trying to find something.

“I owe this mech my life, sir,” Blackout grunted, huffing as the warlord shoved his weight into his side; knee joint digging into his side. “He has saved my life. He’s skilled at what he does, sir, he’s not expendable.”

“You think I’m going to let him live because he saved your life?” Megatron jeered furiously.

“I’m requesting you let him live because he can and will save the lives of your crew, given the opportunity, my liege.”

With a sudden jerk, the Decepticon Leader tore his servo away from Blackout’s helm. He flinched as pain burned in his helm as small sections of his kibble armor and smaller chunks of metal snapped off with the mech’s servo.

Nighthawk quickly had his servo upon the floor and away from his thigh. He looked around hopelessly as he tried to scoot back, bringing up one arm in self defense.

“My Lord, please-”

Pushing himself off the wall, Blackout winced with sympathy as the tyrant picked up the poor seeker by his deformed chassis armor and rammed him bodily into the wall. Nighthawk gave a sharp intake of pain, his optics flashing. The moment his frame was released, Megatron’s servo came up in a swift uppercut and plowed into the hole of his chassis.

The medic was sent to the ceiling of the hallway, letting out a yelp as his helm collided with the roof. He fell to the floor as the Decepticon Lord stepped back, with the hole now widened and deeper. Metal was crushed inward from his chassis and energon was flowing out at an alarming rate.

As Megatron reached down as if to haul up his toy once more, Blackout took the lengthy strides of distance between them and reached out, grabbing him by the arm.

It proved to be a terrible mistake.

The warlord’s fist came hurtling around and slugged him right in the forehead. His processor scrambled with the pain with flashing light emitting randomly from his optics as they glitched. With his loosened grip, the silver-toned mech ripped his other arm free and raised his fusion cannon.

The hum of it warming up caught Blackout’s attention, and just before it went off in direct blank range of his chassis, he swung quite literally blindly, knocking his master’s arm away.

Infuriated, Megatron slid out his blade, resting it against Blackout’s neck cables as his optics finally were capable of taking in the sights around him once more.

“Tell me right now, why I shouldn’t just behead you both for such incompetence?”

“Because the only medic you have available to you is Knock Out,” he growled quietly, tasting energon in his mouth. “And his ‘assistant’ is offline, Breakdown I believe his designation was. Sir, I may have been gone, but I am not stupid. I can scan occupations with ease on this ship. Knock Out is a field medic; young, trained solely by his own curiosities and examinations of other bots performances over the years.”

“Nighthawk went to an academy, my lord. His supplies may have been taken, but unless you plan on returning it, consider it more materials for the Nemesis, where it would matter more anyway. Offlining him is just losing a valuable aid to your empire.”

A slow, lazy, ominous grating laugh escaped the mech. “You may yet convince me to spare Nighthawk’s spark, but what of your own?”

The blade moved, ghosting against Blackout’s neck threateningly.

He spoke as frankly as he possibly could, praying it was the right choice. “Sir, I can not tell you why I should be online. You already thought that I was offline. I have clearly disgraced you and your order. It would only make sense for you to make a lesson of me.”

“That almost sounds like you want to offline, Blackout; you’re not convincing me.”

“I have no valuable excuses, my liege. The choice is yours, as is my life.”

The thick air of tension lingered. Blackout kept his optics placed on his master’s. Primus, this is not how he expected a stand off to go in his life where he truly had no say in the matter. To try to even act as if he was going to defend himself would start a battle he didn’t want to face. To sit here and wait for death was to put his femme in the servos of these mechs, and taking Scorponok to an early grave or at bare minimum, giving that poor scorpion a horrible pain-ridden remainder of his life as the bond broke and his spark was engulfed in the worst pain he’d ever experienced in his life.

Gradually, Megatron pulled his sword away from his throat. Blackout didn’t allow himself even a fraction of relief or a breath. He knew how quickly the tides could turn on this mech.

“You’ve clearly forgotten your place,” the mighty leader stated with clear fury. “Know this: I am only allowing you to live because I we could use more firepower. That... and consider this your one and only second-chance. One I never thought I would have to use on you, of all mechs, Blackout.”

“I understand, my Lord,” he stated calmly.

Flicking his optics, Megatron moved his helm and then pivoted his frame so that his shoulders nearly skimmed Blackout’s armor. He turned to look at the slumped over Nighthawk, who was weakly coughing up energon.

“Thank Blackout for having your life spared today, medic,” taunted the warlord with a sadistic sneer. “The instant you disappoint me, I’m ripping your body apart, piece by piece, while you scream for mercy.”

Cycling the energon back in his vents, Nighthawk gagged as he lifted his helm up, optics flickering and helm rolling slightly on his shoulders.

“My assistant?” he gurgled past the energon dripping from his mouth.

“I’ll return him to you,” Megatron agreed, offering a spark-chilling laughter as he added on, “What’s left of him, anyway.”

Nighthawk’s optics darkened dramatically and he tried to lunge forward, falling flat on his chassis with a cry of agony.

Giving a more hearty laughter that was still similarly haunting, the tyrant seemed to thrive on the seeker’s fear; beaming wide. Nearly each sharp, pointy section of derma lined in his mouth was showing from his hideously gleeful expression.

“Be grateful that I leave it online at all,” he taunted nastily. Turning a final angry look towards Blackout that spoke volumes on how much he distrusted him now, the big mech walked past the seeker. Not without, perhaps purposefully, allowing his pede to step upon Nighthawk’s arm as he passed so that the seeker gave a weak and feeble whine.

Blackout waited until the Decepticon Leader was at least a good thirty paces down the corridor before he stepped over to Nighthawk. The medic was clawing at the floor, trying to push himself up on his knees and servos despite how drained he had to be feeling.

Reaching out, he went to pick the seeker up.

“Don’t help me!” Nighthawk all but shrieked. “I can help myself!”

Narrowing his optics, Blackout gave a quiet snarl and grabbed the medic by his waist and hauled him up to tuck him under his arm.

“What are you doing?!” the medic demanded, trying to wriggle himself free. “Put me down this instant!”

“Sorry, Nighthawk, no can do,” Blackout grumbled. “I would have carried you in a slightly more dignified way, but you insist on being hard-helmed.”

“Where are you taking me?” he growled as he struggled, trying to shove himself out of the arm curled around him.

“To the med-bay.”

“So that psychopath Knock Out can work on me? I think not! Release me, I have to go find Infiltrator this instant!”

“Relax, old mech,” hushed the much larger obsidian mech in a growly voice. “I’m going to set your slagging aft on a berth, hand you whatever junk you ask me to, and leave. You can enjoy some quality time with that slagging grounder.”

“Infiltrator is my priority-” Nighthawk heatedly argued.

“I’ll go see if I can’t find wherever Lord Megatron had him dragged off to, but you certainly aren’t getting anywhere in that shape. I don’t care how pissed off you are running on adrenaline, you’d hit the ground and be dead trying to haul aft or knowing your furious aft, trying to rip it from Megatron’s vocal cords.”

“If they hurt him, I’ll never forgive myself,” Nighthawk said quietly; his voice pained and much, much more tired now. He actually sounded old for once; frayed, tattered, exhausted to the last nanoite in his frame.

In that moment, Blackout felt he truly, totally, completely understood the crimson seeker’s pain and fears but on his own accomplices.

“He can’t be any worse off than you,” he offered, trying to lighten the mood.

Nighthawk didn’t appear to be having any of it. Either that, or the energon loss was starting to really kick in. He did seem to be going a bit limper in his grip.

Blackout picked up the pace towards the medics office. Maybe he was wrong about one thing; there was a pretty good chance he might pass out and just have to wake up and deal with the fact Knock Out had gotten his digits all over him. He could complain and have Blackout’s aft over it later.

~

“You expect me to take care of this?” Knock Out demanded, staring at Nighthawk’s slack frame as Blackout laid him out as carefully as he could upon the first berth he saw.

“You are a medic, are you not?” Blackout demanded in a wrathful growl of thunder.

Faltering, the glossy-framed mech opened and closed his mouth. He gave what was probably seen by most as being the most attractive smile in the multiverse to Blackout.

“I certainly am, but this is a bit uh, messy-”

“You’re a Decepticon, on a Decepticon ship, surrounded by Decepticons who come to you injured all the time, including Lord Megatron himself,” Blackout impatiently reminded him, standing over the short mech so that his shadow cascaded over him. “Fix him. Now. Or I’ll have to resort to punching you repeatedly in the helm until you can suddenly recall how to seal of energon lines and patch a bot up.”

The color drained from Knock Out’s optics as they suddenly went pale. “Yes, of course, it should be no problem whatsoever!”

“Good,” Blackout jeered. “Because if he offlines, I’ll have to kill you.”

The grounder medic seemed to shrink even smaller beneath Blackout’s large frame.

“Sorry,” he added in a tone that definitely suggested he would not be sorry to perform an act of homicide.

As Knock Out began to slink off to fetch his medical kit, Blackout let out an exaggerated vent. He glanced down at Nighthawk’s frame for a moment, scanning over his wounds. Not good shape, but he didn’t honestly believe the old mech would die, unless Knock Out was truly that stupid and careless.

He reached up, lightly brushing his digits against his helm. A slight shudder went over him from the tender, throbbing spot near his temple. Grumbling, Blackout looked to where he saw Knock Out assembling equipment. He’d have to come back later and see about a patch and adjustments to his helm.

Removing himself from being in the way, Blackout was out of the remove before the grounder could even return to the seeker’s side. He looked up and down the hall for a nanoklik, trying to determine where his master could possibly send that drake Infiltrator at. If he wasn’t at the medic’s for dissection, then where could he be? Having him sent to the sparring room didn’t make much sense. There were no logged labs in the database, no bot who was a professional scientist.

Except, maybe one.

Rolling his optics Blackout headed down the hallway.

After a multitude of twists and turns, he followed a nearly empty hall down to the room he never visited and despised the idea of being near. Raising his fist, he rapped against the locked door.

“What is it?” Starscream’s raspy voice came from the inside.

“Room service,” Blackout offered with a vexed tone. Hardly one that you would expect from a housekeeper.

He counted the nanokliks in his helm. When the door didn’t open, he shifted as if to try prying it open with his servos and found himself surprised when the sealed dual doors hissed open just before him.

Straightening his posture and placing his arms at his side, Blackout looked the small irritating seeker in the optics.

“What do you want?” the SIC whined. “You better have a damn good reason, bothering me like this and in my own private quarters, no less.”

Trying to look around the mech’s wings, Blackout let out a grunt. “I’m searching for a missing predacon looking dragon beast. Designation: Infiltrator.”

The seeker stepped to the side slightly to shield his room. “And you thought I would be holding such a foul creature?”

“You are acting rather suspiciously.”

“Just because I do not want a dog ogling my room? You’re absolutely insane. Go away, before I report you to Lord Megatron.”

“Just step aside for a nanoklik and I’ll be on my way,” Blackout muttered with annoyance.

“I shall not! These are my private quarters, and I am your superior! How dare you-”

Giving a scream of alarm, Starscream fell to the side as the much larger, stronger bot swatted him like a fly with his arm. He didn’t so much as pass him a glance as he tried to scramble to his pedes whilst Blackout made himself at home by stepping in.

Little to his surprise, he spotted Infiltrator, completely intact but bound, on an examination table.

“You’ve no class Starscream I mean really. Doing this kind of stuff in your berth room?”

“Get out of my room you filthy scrapheap!” the seeker howled in response.

Pointing at his damaged helm, Blackout gave a shrug as though he couldn’t comprehend or hear the seeker. He walked past him as he jumped excitedly around, waving his arms and screaming about how this was intrusion, how he was going to have his aft for this, how Lord Megatron was going to beat him to slag.

Honestly, he just tuned his audios down to a bare minimum level and ignored the squealing.

The wvyren’s tail tip slapped the table lightly with encouragement as Blackout approached, his gaze pleading. Knowing he was surely going to get court marshaled or bare minimum, his aft yet again handed to him for interfering with Lord Megatron’s orders, the stubborn dark armored bot reached out and crushed his restraints. Smashing the others, flicking aside pieces of metal and twisted lengths of thin chain.

Infiltrator flapped out his wings and gave himself a mighty shake like that of a dog.

“Thank you, Blackout,” he responded with elation.

“Are you alright?” Blackout grunted.

“Oh yes, nothing more than abrasions and nicks. I was told that if I conducted myself accordingly, they would not bring harm to Nighthawk. Although, from the noise I heard while I was dragged off, I don’t believe they kept their end of the bargain...”

“No, they didn’t. I think the resident medic Knock Out could use your assistance. Are you able to walk?”

With wide-optics, the dragon let out a strangled sound. “Boss bot’s hurt that bad? We should hurry.”

Opening his mouth to ask again if the dragon could walk, Blackout was nearly knocked over as Infiltrator suddenly leaped off the examination table. He swung past Starscream, his tail swiping outward and knocking the seeker off his pedes and on his aft.

Blackout wasn’t sure if that was on purpose or not, but he took a moment to laugh and appreciate it anyway.

Fuming, the second-in-command began to claw his way to his pedes, stomping after Blackout as he growled: “I’ll have your helm for this-”

Turning to glance over his shoulder at the approaching seeker, Blackout offered a sinister grin as he replied, “I don’t think so.”

He shot an EMP burst over Starscream so that he fell flat on his back, and then proceeded to EMP the locking mechanism on the door. That should keep him down for a while.

With no sight of Infiltrator, he shrugged and headed down the passageway back in the direction that would take him to the med-bay. He was probably going to be in a frag ton of trouble later, but at the moment, he couldn’t stop to consider the consequences too greatly otherwise he had a sinking suspicion he might actually regret standing up against the universe’s well known most murderous bot and leader of the Decepticon army. No matter how daunting the task had been however, it had to be done. After all, that stupid medic had went above and beyond to help him and to help Novastrike. He owed the mech; even if it meant risking his very spark at the moment.

#quid pro quo au #OTP AU #OTP Lit #Badass OTP #Cute OTP #OTP Friends

[zenxenophilia]

Okayokayokay, listen... Yandere Rumble and Frenzy deadset of making Spike theirs. So they orchester some sheame to take out his dad and bumblebee, and takes Spike with them as they lay there presumly dead. But Bee and Sparkplug survives, since the twins are too stubborn to actually check if they died. They are too busy with manhandling Jack into a tight embrace and taking turns making out with him.

“Quit hoggin’ the human, bro!  I saw ‘im first!”

The harsh voice cut through the haze of Spike’saddled brain like firecrackers going off inside his head.  He groaned in protest against the unwantednoise and squeezed his eyes shut even tighter, causing his head to throb.

“Yeah, well, the energy trap was my idea in thefirst place!”

“Some trap! You nearly killed him, you dumbaft!”

“Hey! Don’t call me a dumbaft!  Youdumbaft!”

It took Spike several seconds to realize thatthe cacophonous noises were in fact coming from outside his head, and evenlonger to recognize them as actual speech. He struggled to remember where he was, but the answers refused to cometo him.  He shifted slightly - vaguelyaware that he was propped up against something - feeling sore and worryinglyunresponsive.  Spike let his eyes flutterweakly open, squinting against the harsh glare of the sun beating down onhim.  He let out another weak groan.

“Looks like someone’s finally awake,” asmug voice sounded from just above his head. Spike squinted against the glare. He was sure he recognized that voice from somewhere, but he couldn’t forthe life of him remember.

“Wha-?” Spike muttered weakly.

“Not the sharpest drone in the assembly line,are you?” came another voice from somewhere in front of him.  “It’s a good thing you’re so pretty.”

Spike’s brow furrowed in confusion as hisvision began to clear slightly, focusing on the vague, boxy outline of a figureleaning over him.  “Bumblebee?” hequestioned.

There was a sound of two identical snickersthat followed.  The unidentified mechleaned in closer, blocking the glare from the sun and allowing Spike to see hisface clearly for the first time.  “Guessagain, pipsqueak,” the black and red Decepticon purred menacingly.

“Frenzy!” Spike gasped, scrambling backwards along the ground in panic, only to collide with something hard and metallic justbehind him.

“So you do remember us,” jeered the secondcassette twin, wrapping both arms around Spike’s middle to keep him frommoving.  Spike’s eyes widened as hestruggled vainly against Rumble’s hold on him. He glanced wildly around looking for an escape route.  

It was then that he caught the little yellowbug out of the corner of him eye, still sparking from whatever force hadknocked them out.  It all came rushingback to Spike in a flash.  Wanting to gofor a drive in the woods.  The suddenblast of electricity shooting through Bee’s cab and causing him to swerveviolently off the road.  His dadstruggling to take control of the wheel- His dad!  Spike scanned wildlyaround, letting out a sharp cry of alarm as he caught sight of his fatherlaying faced down and spread eagle on the ground about ten yards away.

“Good to know,” Frenzy teased as he crawledtowards Spike, effectively pinning him between the two metal frames.  “You’ll be wanting to scream them out loudsoon enough.”

“What did you fraggers do to my dad andBumblebee?!” Spike screamed, thrashing in Rumble’s hold and glaring daggers atFrenzy.

Frenzy rolled his optics as if talking aboutlife and death situations bored him immensely. “Relax, squirt.  They’re fine –for now, anyway.  Your precious littleAutobot simply ran afoul of one of our energy traps, just like we planned.  They’ll both be unconscious for awhile, butthey’ll live – provided you do exactly as we say of course,” he addedmenacingly.

Spike glared at the minicon in front of him,refusing to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing him afraid.  “What the frag do you ‘cons want?” hesnapped, hoping that he sounded much braver than he felt.  

Frenzy merely smirked in response, casting aknowing look at his brother who slowly began trailing a finger down Spike’schest.  Spike froze, feeling his bloodrun cold as the metal digit snaked towards his waistline.

“Relax, cutie,” Frenzy purred, taking note ofSpike’s terrified expression.  He leanedforward to place a finger under Spike’s chin, lifting it towards him.  “It aint like that.  We just wanna play with you a bit, that’s all.  Then you can go back with your loserfriends.  We’ll even keep it all abovethe waist for you.  Deal?”

Spike didn’t get a chance to respond beforeFrenzy’s mouth collided harshly with his own, crashing into his nose in theprocess and causing Spike to cry out in pain. Taking a cue from his brother, Rumble bent his head towards Spike’s neckand began sucking forcefully at the tender skin, while the hands holding Spikein place moved to roam over his chest.  Spikegrunted in protest against the violent assault of the Frenzy’s mouth on his,clenching his teeth to bar access to the offending glossa.

“Open up,” Frenzy growled in between harsh,messy kisses.  “Open up, or I’ll blastboth of those two dorks right now.”

Spike let out a whimper of fear, allowingFrenzy just enough of a opening to slip his glossa inside.  The strange metal appendage snaked throughSpike’s open mouth like a earthworm tunneling through the earth.  The thought of it made Spike want tovomit.  All the times he and Bumblebeehad kissed had been sweet and gentle, if a little sloppy.  But the cassetticon was acting like he wastrying to declare war on Spike’s mouth for some reason.  Rumble wasn’t much better, as he continued tonip and suck along the exposed skin of Spike’s collar, leaving what Spike wassure to be very noticeable bruises as he went. The whole situation was so absurdly un-arousing, that Spike would havefound it funny if he hadn’t been so disgusted and terrified.

“Quit hoggin’ his lips, Frenzy!  It’s my turn,” Rumbled whined, after deliveringa particularly sloppy love bite to  Spike’sshoulder.

“Fine,” Frenzy rolled his optics.  “I want to see what the rest of him tasteslike anyway,” he added with a devilish grin as he proceeded to trail his mouthlower towards Spike’s collarbone.  Hepaused when he reached the cotton neckline of his tee-shirt, giving it a disapprovingglance.  With one swift motion, Frenzy hookedhis finger along the opening and pulled straight down, ripping the shirt inhalf like it was paper.

“Hey!” Spike cried out in alarm as Frenzyproceeded to pull the scraps of the shirt away from his exposed chest.

“Oh would you relax?” Frenzy grumbled in exasperation.  He moved his head down towards Spike’s torso,placing small, open-mouthed kisses along his abdomen.  Seizing his opening, Rumble forced himselfagainst Spike’s mouth, causing him to let out a cry of surprise.  Rumble’s exploration of his mouth was moregentle than his brother’s, but not any less clumsy.  Spike grunted as one of Rumble’s hands movedto pin both of his arms above his head, while the other buried itself in hismess of brown curls.

“Primus, he’s so soft!” Rumble cooedapprovingly, carding his fingers lovingly through Spike’s hair and causing himto give out a spontaneous shudder.

“Mmm, and sweet, too,” Frenzy grinned againsthis skin.  With a smirk, he took one ofSpike’s pert nipples into his mouth and began laving it with his glossa.  Spike arched his back as a cry of involuntarypleasure ripped from his throat.

“Aww, you make such cute little noises!”Rumble said, nuzzling his cheek.

“Yeah, I wonder if Soundwave will let us keephim when we get home,” Frenzy added, running his hands along Spike’s torso.

Spike jolted in alarm.  “But you said you only wanted to play!” hecried, the panic rising in his voice.  “Yousaid if I did what you wanted that you’d let me go!”

“We didn’t say when though, cutie,” Rumble snickeredmaliciously as he trailed a digit along Spike’s jawline.  Spike felt his stomachdrop.

“Yeah, what’s the rush,” Frenzy grinned,looming over him possessively.  “By thetime we’re finished, you won’t want to leave us anyway.”

Spike thrashed in their holds, but the gripholding his arms and torso only tightened. “No!  Please!  Stop!  Letme go,” he screamed, as he felt himself being lifted into the air.  “Help! Somebody please help me!  Please!”

“Shut up, you little glitch,” Frenzy snarled,forcing a hand over Spike’s mouth, “or I’ll rip out that human vocalizer of yoursand shove it up your-“  

The words were cut off as a shot was fired justover the cassetticon’s head.  All threeof them turned to see the little yellow Autobot picking himself off the ground,and glaring at the twins with a look the would have cowered Megatron.

“Bee!” Spike practically sobbed with relief.

“Scrap,” hissed Rumble and Frenzy, beforeunceremoniously dropping Spike to the ground. Spike landed with a dull thud as he heard the twins scramble away intothe bushes.

Bumblebee was at his side in an instant,crouching down and extending a hand out towards him.  His expression was one of both immense reliefand concern, not at all like it had been moments before.  He smiled softly as spike took his hand andwas lifted onto his feet.  He put a handon either of Spike’s forearms and squeezed affectionately.

“Are you alright?” Bumblebee asked, scanningover Spike’s body and taking note of his missing shirt.  His optics widened at the many red marks litteringhis chest and neck.  “Did they hurt you?”he swallowed, struggling to keep the anger and panic out of his voice.  

“No,” Spike said hurriedly, waving his hands infront of him defensively.  “I’m fine,really!  I’m okay!  Nothing happened!”  Bumblebee cast a poignant look over Spike’sexposed torso.  “Almost nothing,” Spikecorrected, averting his eyes as a scarlet flush of shame crept over his face.

Bumblebee gently cupped his cheek, and gave hima soft, adoring smile before placing a tender kiss to his forehead.  Spike grinned lopsidedly before suddenly joltingwith realization.  “My dad!  Where’s my dad?  Is he okay?”

“He’s fine,” Bumblebee assured himquickly.  He must have just passed outwhen we hit that tree earlier.  I madesure to put him out of harm’s way before approaching those two glitches.

Spike sighed in relief, letting his shouldersslump into the yellow mech’s hold.  “Weshould head back to base – all of us,” he said wearily.  “I’m really tired all of a sudden.”

“I’ll bet,” Bumblebee saidsympathetically.  He reached behind Spike’sknees and lifted him into the air bridal style as he began walking over towhere Sparkplug sat on the ground rubbing the back of his head in confusion.  “Are you sure you’re alright?” Bumblebeerepeated worriedly.  “Maybe we ought tohave Ratchet check you and Sparkplug over for injuries.”

“Um, yeah, okay.  That’s probably a good idea,” Spikemumbled.  “And Bee?” he added with a shysmile, “Thanks for coming to rescue me.”

Bumblebee’s frame buzzed with a faint, tinglyburst of static as he smiled down at him. “Anytime,” he said softly.

#the great correspondence #maccadam #G1 #Rumble #Frenzy #Spike #Bumblebee #this one goes out to robotsandromance #I know how you love your xeno love rectangles! XD #<3 <3 <3 #creepy robots #(man this took fragging forever! XD) #scenarios

[sfw-imagines]

Help a Fella Out (Knockout/Breakdown)

This is a commissioned fic, commissioned by the lovely @massacremichell! She wanted a fluffy fic of Knockout getting his back buffed/rubbed by Breakdown.

Final word count: 2230 Warnings: None Fandom: Transformers: Prime Pairing: Knockout/Breakdown

Read it on Google Docs

Commission Info

Knockout had been trying to reach the middle of his back for the past twenty minutes. He had FINALLY gotten enough of his work done to really buff and shine himself- the first time in a good few months, too- and he’s being hindered by his stupid nubby arms. He’s ready to detach one and use it as a back-scratcher. But, that’d require ruining his finish, and it’d hurt like a bitch, so, he has to find a new plan.

Maybe he can duct-tape the buffer to a wall, and go at it like Earth bears and trees. He briefly considered asking one of the Vehicons for help, before realizing that they can’t even walk right half the time. If anyone was going to fuck up his finish, it’d be those thoughtless zombies. He swears, would it KILL Megatron to take on more competent people? At least then Knockout would stop mixing everyone up.

While he was pondering a solution to this dilemma, Knockout almost didn’t hear the door to his “office” open. He glanced over with a slight glare, half expecting a Vehicon, or worse, Starscream to be barging in here- but, thankfully, it was just his assistant, Breakdown. The glare lessened, to a certain degree, as he turned to face the tank of a bot.

“What part of ‘Do not disturb’ do bots not get?” He asked, turning back to his table of tools, while Breakdown went over to his own station. “I put that sign up for good reason- and it isn’t so you can keep barging in here whenever you feel like it.”

“Yeah yeah,” Breakdown said, dismissively. “I work here too, you know- your signs don’t apply to me. Besides, Megatron wanted me to run some tests, and Starscream’s too busy hogging the main computer.”

“When isn’t he?” Knockout asked sarcastically, trying to find a long stick of some kind. Maybe he can make his own back-rubber.

A quiet snort from his conjunx endura was all he got in reply, before the quiet click click click of servos tapping at the keyboard filled the quiet. Knockout paid barely any attention to him afterwards, too wrapped up in his little problem. He’d be willing to just let it go, but then there’d be one matte spot in the MIDDLE of his back, and honestly, he’d rather die than deal with that.

And then, a thought occurred to him. Breakdown was a trusted individual...most of the time. Surely he can handle this simple task, right? Sure, he’s built for breaking things, and the more...delicate tasks usually go to Knockout for a reason. But, he trusts Breakdown. Besides, he knows he can always tear Breakdown apart if he smudges anything.

“Say,” Knockout started, stroking his chin a little. “Since you’re not doing anything important-”

“These are direct orders from Megatron, Knockout. He considers everything important, and I’d rather keep my head on my shoulders.”

“Oh, forget it. He can wait just a few minutes, can’t he? Besides, this is much more dire.” Knockout said, sauntering over to Breakdown, who was trying his best to ignore the smaller bot. “Don’t you want to help your partner, Breakdown?”

“Not particularly.”

“Wrong answer. Anyways, I need you to buff my back.” Knockout said, gesturing with his thumb to the buffer on the table.

“Knockout, please, there’s sparklings present-”

A very firm glare silenced Breakdown, until he erupted into laughter, which just made Knockout even more annoyed.

“If you’re done shoving your head in the gutter,” Knockout huffed, crossing his arms, “I’d appreciate this being done today. I have to deal with Starscream later, and I don’t want to be in a worse mood than I am already.”

“I wasn’t aware you had a good mood.” Breakdown joked, idling the computer, and going to the buffer. “But, fine, if you insist. Not like I enjoyed typing logs into the database, anyways.”

“Just be sure you don’t scratch anything, while you’re back there,” Knockout said, right as Breakdown got to work with the buffer. “It’s hard to replace paint on your back, and we all know only I can actually apply paint.”

Neanderthals.

“Yeah yeah, just be quiet and be still. I may accidentally scratch your entire backside if you keep moving.” Breakdown said, already preparing for the yelling and cursing. It was always so easy to rile Knockout up, it was almost like a game.

“You wouldn’t DARE-”

“Oh relax! It’s a joke- I wouldn’t do that to you.” Breakdown promised, kissing the side of Knockout’s head. “Besides, Megatron would kill me too if I made our only doctor angry.”

“And you keep that in mind, next time you decide it’s time to practice your sparring.” Knockout huffed, crossing his arms. He swears, Breakdown doesn’t know the difference between a friendly punch, and a full on swing. He’s sent more than a couple ‘cons to the Medbay from his ‘friendly sparring’.

The two fell into silence afterwards, the only sound being a dull, almost hypnotizing buzz from the buffer. Knockout almost fell for it- after all, Breakdown, while normally a wrecker, was rubbing in just the right spots- not being too rough, but not being too gentle. Knockout wondered if this was why humans enjoyed back rubs so much. Maybe they’re just weird little insects. The world may never know.

It wasn’t until Breakdown started talking- asking him if he was plotting his death already- that Knockout realized how in a trance he was. It honestly startled him- and Breakdown, due to Knockout’s jump.

“Easy slick- no need to get so in a tizzy, it’s just me.” Breakdown said, putting the buffer down, and putting a hand on Knockout’s shoulder.

“I know- you just. Startled me is all, alright?”

It took a moment, but Breakdown broke out into a grin. “Oh? So you were enjoying yourself, hm? And you thought I’d chip your chassis.”

“I still have authority to kick you out, you know.” Knockout huffed, crossing his arms. As much as he hates to admit it, Breakdown can be quite the charmer- even if he’s a dunce half the time. But he just gets so smug whenever he knows he caught Knockout with his pants down- so to speak.

“Relax, relax,” Breakdown said, patting Knockout’s shoulders. “You don’t have to yell at me- Primus knows how we all hate it when you yell. Why don’t we just go back to what we were doing, hm?”

All he got in response was a huff, an eye squint, and a quiet, but angry ‘fine’. At that, he picked the buffer up again, switching it on.

….Only to be met with the sound of nothing happening.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Knockout groaned. Of COURSE it’d run out of batteries- why wouldn’t it? He was halfway done with the buffing, and now he has to deal with this. They don’t even MAKE batteries for this buffer anymore- they’re all on Cybertron. “I might as well crawl into a hole and die.” He said, dragging his hands down his face.

Breakdown, however, was thinking sensibly- as is often the case. He was already searching for the wax rag Knockout keeps in case of emergencies. “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic. Don’t you have a rag for this exact scenario?” He asked, rolling his optics.

“I did- but then Soundwave decided it was a liability, with it lying around and whatnot. He made me get rid of it- and NOW look at what happened! I’m telling you, Breakdown- this is fate telling me my time has come.” He declared, draping himself across the examining berth.

Luckily, he had a backup. After all, what good doctor doesn’t have backups for everything? After Breakdown gave him a long, unimpressed look, Knockout straightened up, rolling his optics. “Check the bottom drawer. There’s a stack in there.”

With a slight snort, Breakdown managed to locate the missing rags- and the wax. Guess it wasn’t such a dire emergency after all- despite what Knockout wanted him to think.

“Just hurry up and get this over with. I don’t want someone walking in on me, dare I say, undressed.” Knockout said, turning around for Breakdown again. “Think of the rumors! The shame of it all. Why, I’d go into spark-arrest!”

“Will you just shut up for once!” Breakdown laughed, having to make sure he didn’t scuff anything on Knockout. He loves how dramatic his partner is- honestly! He thinks it’s cute, and it adds some spice to the otherwise boring and drab life on the Nemesis. Knockout was a breath of fresh air, in Breakdown’s eyes, and he didn’t hesitate to let his conjunx endura know that.

“Fine,” Knockout huffed, already melting into Breakdown’s rubbing. “But if you mess up one thing, Primus as my witness, I’ll-” Oh. Oh that’s a nice spot. As soon as Breakdown started kneading into a spot on Knockout’s back, he practically melted. He forgot how strong and firm Breakdown’s hands were, and Primus knows he missed this. He almost didn’t catch onto Breakdown’s little laugh- which, honestly, he doesn’t care about right now.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Breakdown teased, narrowly avoiding Knockout’s elbow trying to collide with his side. “Oh relax- I’m just yanking your chain, Doc!” He laughed, before giving a quick kiss to Knockout’s cheek. “Just relax- I’m almost done, anyways.”

Well, that was a tad disappointing. Knockout was already enjoying himself- why did it have to end so soon? Sure, Knockout liked to gripe and complain about everything, but the one time he finally enjoys something, and poof! It’s gone. He debated telling Breakdown to ‘make sure’ everything was actually buffed back there, but, that’d require him telling Breakdown he enjoyed this. And Primus KNOWS how insufferable Breakdown can get when he knows Knockout enjoys something- especially with said something is caused by Breakdown.

“You know,” Knockout started, leaning against the wall. “You don’t have anything better to do, right? And I’m not even sure I got my entire back, and-”

“Oh hush,” Breakdown said, applying more wax to the rag. “You don’t have to hide it. Besides, whoever did this last time did a really shitty-”

“You know. I don’t want you in here anymore.” Knockout said, turning to push Breakdown out. “I don’t need any hateful comments on my BEAUTIFUL work.”

Breakdown laughed- holding up his hands. “Alright, alright! I’ll keep it to myself, geez! No need to get so red in the face, Doc,” He said, leaning down, so that he and Knockout were face to face. “You’d just look like a giant tomato, otherwise.”

The indignant huff he got was all Breakdown got in response, making him snicker to himself. Of course, this only pissed Knockout off even more.

“I swear- it’s like I’m the only sane one in this ship!” Knockout exclaimed, snatching the rag out of his partner’s hand. “You all just love to rile me up, and frankly, I’m sick of it-”

Knowing his partner, Breakdown could tell this tirade would go on for an hour, at least. So, he leaned down again, and planted one of those big, gross kisses right on Knockout’s mouth. The split second it took Knockout to go from shocked, to annoyed, to angry, was long enough for Breakdown to get out of arm’s length away from Knockout- just in case.

“Well! If you’re just going to be a child about all of this, perhaps you’d better go.” Knockout insisted, turning away from Breakdown. Even if he enjoyed sharing kisses with him, he has standards, and if Breakdown’s mouth is wetter than the Earth’s oceans? Well,  he was just shit out of luck.

“Aw- Doc, honey, c’mon. It was just a kiss.”

“More like a tsunami.”

That got a snort out of Breakdown, causing him to cover his mouth at Knockout’s glare. “Okay, okay, fine- what about a do-over? I promise I won’t drown you, you sparkling.”

With another huff from Knockout, he took that as a yes, giving him another quick kiss. At least this one didn’t end up with a broken face plate.

“Now will you leave me alone, and get back to work.” Knockout suggested, more than asked. Of course, by ‘work’, he meant finish his backside, but the audio logs didn’t have to know.

“Fine, fine, just try to not blow a gasket this time.” Breakdown joked, narrowly avoiding Knockout’s tires as he turned around.

As soon as he started up again, Knockout forgot why he was annoyed at him in the first place. If only they could avoid any more distractions- he thinks he can just drift away, and stay like this. These quiet moments were nice, after all. Not a lot of time to spend alone- let alone spend it with a special bot.

Of course, like everything, all good things must come to an end. After a few more blissful minutes, Breakdown started putting everything back up. It almost made Knockout sad- after all, he was sure Breakdown worked out a few knots in his chassis in the process.

“Say,” Knockout started, rolling his shoulders a bit to get used to the feeling. “You’re not….doing anything later, right?”

It took Breakdown a moment, but when he realized Knockout meant he wanted some alone time, he broke into a grin. “Well, now I ain’t doing anything later.”

Knockout was extremely glad to hear that.

#tfp #breakdown #knockout #ko/bd #fic #commission #mine

[juju-on-that-yeet]

When Evil Rears its Head: Chapter 8 - Sacrifice

Oh dear...

Read below or on AO3!

In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best idea for Yandereplier to take the elevator.

He’s aware of that even before it lurches to a stop too soon, trapping him between floors. But he’s always been too impulsive for his own good, launching into things without a second thought. He hadn’t had a clue where Peevils would go next, and the elevator had seemed like a good place to start. And it had been: Finding Silver there, and recalling Ed Edgar in the doorway of the control room, Yandere could guess where Peevils planned to go next. But then, of course, the elevator had broken, and Yandere is sure that Peevils was the cause.

At first, he can’t do much but scream and curse, venomous thoughts of what he plans for Peevils once he gets his hands on her swirling through his mind. He kicks and bangs on the elevator doors in his anger, like he can break them open with brute strength alone. But they refuse to open, no matter how hard he hits, and he gets nothing but sore fists for his trouble. It’s then that he’s forced to take a moment to breathe, let the red fade from his vision.

He remembers something that happened a long time ago, when he’d gotten himself killed trying to stop a group of humans from hurting Dark. While Dark had gotten out alive, he’d still been injured, and Yandere had felt like a failure after he’d woken up in the clinic. But it was while he was still recovering, laying half-asleep there and kept half-awake by his self-deprecating thoughts, that he felt he heard something. He didn’t see Dark, or even feel him there, but he remembers his voice, whispering something to him:

“If you’re going to be reckless, then at least be strong enough to get yourself out of trouble.”

Yandere, impulsive as he is, has tried to abide by that ever since. He thinks. Obviously, beating on the elevator doors is useless; he’ll have to open them some other way. He looks at the elevator’s ceiling, but he can’t tell how to remove the lights by sight alone. He could try it, maybe use his katana to pry the panel off, but who knows what would happen? He could electrocute himself, and if he breaks the light before he’s finished, he’ll be in total darkness. That option’s no good. Perhaps his katana can pry the doors open? Yandere isn’t certain. He loves his sword, and he couldn’t ask for a better weapon, but this is certainly not what his katana was designed for. He takes it out, looks up the length of the blade, turns it around, watching it glint in the elevator lights. He tests it out, pressing the katana into the crack between the doors. There’s the slightest bit of give, and Yandere knows that if he works at it, he can open the doors with this sword. But he has to go slow and be careful, or else his sword could snap from the pressure.

If there are two things Yandere cannot do, they are “slow” and “careful.” But he has to try. For Dark. For Wilford. For Chrome.

He’s barely gotten the doors a centimeter apart when a high-pitched ringing pierces the air, like the sound Dark’s aura makes but louder, sharper. Yandere drops his katana to cover his ears. His brain feels as if it’s being skewered by the soundwaves coming through his fingers into both ears, but he can hear something even worse beneath them: The creaking of the elevator. When the sound finally ends, the elevator continues to make strange sound for several moments before lurching down about a foot.

Yandere curses. He has to be even more careful now; whatever that sound was clearly caused further damage to the elevator. He’s more frustrated than ever before, but he forces himself to take a breath, pick up his katana from the ground, and continue the slow work of opening the elevator doors.

~~~

Peevils is in the second-floor kitchen and still looking for King of the Squirrels when the strange, keening sound rings out, and she’s forced to stop and cover her ears against it. She hears other sounds, though, just beneath it: The sound of Mark crying out from inside his mind, the frightened chattering of dozens of squirrels, and someone else shouting in pain, unable to keep quiet.

Once the painful sound ends, she grins. She looks around herself in the kitchen, but already King seems to have scurried off somewhere else. This has been his infuriating game; she’s looked in every room by now, but he doesn’t stay in one place for long. Several times Peevils has narrowly avoided something heavy falling on her head; a coffee-maker, a thick book, a glass bottle from the shooting range. But every time she looks up, King’s already gone. How he can stay on the ceiling like that is a mystery to her (and to Mark, as she discovers from prying into his memories of the ego). No doubt King wants to knock her out, perhaps to be able to imprison her somewhere until someone else can get her to leave Mark’s body.

But the game seems to have changed now, as the squirrels, disoriented and likely in pain from the strange noise, all dart in a single direction. Peevils is certain that they’re seeking King out, either to comfort him or be comforted. How amusing that the subjects he wishes so dearly to protect will be his undoing. She follows the creatures out of the kitchen and into the hallway, and she decides to act while she knows he’s in earshot.

“I know you’re here, King,” she says, walking behind a group of squirrels, “You can’t hide from me forever.”

No response, and even when Peevils finds the spot where the squirrels are congregating, in the hallway next to a stairwell, she still cannot find him. Perhaps he’s in the stairwell? Peevils knows that he’ll bolt the instant he hears her put a hand on the door, and quite frankly, she’s tired of this game. But she knows just how to get a rise out of him, and now that she knows where he is and that he can hear her, she’s going to do it.

“You know, King,” she says casually, “I came to your room when I first got here. I just so happened to look in your dresser. I admit, those babies are pretty cute.” She cocks her revolver, letting the sound hang in the air. “It sure would be a shame if they got hurt.”

“Wait!”

Just like that, the door to the stairwell opens, and there’s King, face drawn with panic. Peevils smiles as she feels Mark’s jolt of fear, his wave of horrid nostalgia looking at his own much younger face and knowing what’s about to become of it.

“Don’t hurt them,” King is saying, bravely stepping forward, feet expertly avoiding the tails of the squirrels clamoring around him, “Whatever happens to me, don’t hurt the babies. Please.”

Peevils raises an eyebrow, surprised at how well he’s keeping his cool. He’s afraid, she can see it in his sweaty brow and dilated pupils, but he speaks evenly, and he levels a calm stare at Peevils. Perhaps he’s putting on a brave face for his subjects, who chitter nervously around him, no doubt sensing that something bad is brewing.

“You’ll give yourself up? Just like that?” Peevils asks. She knows she shouldn’t be looking a gift horse in the mouth, but she can’t help it. King purses his lips, showing his nerves, but lifts his chin with regality at the same time.

“For my subjects, I’d do anything.” There’s something like pride, but softer, in his tone. “Besides, even if I can’t stop you, someone will. If you kill me, I’ll come back. My squirrels won’t.”

“That’s optimistic of you,” Peevils replies wryly, “Assuming someone will stop me. And assuming that there’s an “if” I’m going to kill you. There is no “if.”” She raises the gun. “And, even further, assuming I’m going to leave those stupid animals alone just because you asked nicely.” King flinches but doesn’t break.

“Why would you?” He asks, with only the slightest tremor in his voice. “No one cares about them but me. If I’m gone, killing them doesn’t get you anything.”

Well, he has a point. And Peevils was only able to take so much ammunition with her from Wilford’s room, she doesn’t wish to waste too many bullets. She shrugs.

“Fair enough,” she says, “It’s just too bad there’ll be no one to take care of them anymore.”

“Someone’s going to stop you,” King insists, even as tears fill his eyes, “You won’t get away with this.”

Peevils recalls how Mark had said the same thing earlier today, and so does Mark. He recognizes so well that endless optimism in the face of certain failure, that refusal to lay down and give in to sadness. It’s strange seeing it from the other side, seeing the same feelings that sustained him when he was young and new to YouTube in another version of himself, one locked in another time.

“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” Peevils laughs.

She fires into King’s forehead and he drops, nearly crushing a few unwary squirrels. The creatures panic, crawling over King’s back and rubbing along the side of his face even as blood pools around his head. Mark dry heaves inside his own mind. Peevils rolls her eyes at him.

“So sentimental,” she mutters, “Just because he looks like you when you were younger doesn’t make him special.”

Mark is too shaken to argue with her, and instead cries silently, trying to shut out her words.

All at once, Peevils sees the squirrels surrounding King’s body turn towards her, casting the stare of a hundred beady eyes onto her own. It seems they’re smart enough to put two and two together, and realize why their beloved king won’t respond to their nudges and chatters. Several squirrels run towards Peevils, ready to attack.

“Seriously?” she mutters, firing at one, then another, then another. The force of the bullets is so strong that their tiny bodies practically explode, their upper halves rendered into lumps of gore that spray towards the squirrels hanging back. Were it possible for Mark to vomit where he is, locked inside his mind, he would be doing so now. The other squirrels, some of which were preparing to charge Peevils, shrink back and cower before scattering. They have to go past Peevils to get anywhere else, of course, since the stairwell door is shut, so they scramble up the wall, scuttling past Peevils before dropping back to the floor to dash away. Peevils doesn’t bother chasing them, instead reloading her gun as they scurry past in a wave of fluffy brown.

“How troublesome,” she sighs as she finishes reloading the weapon, “Thank god that’s over with.”

Now, of course, she has to decide who’s next, but it doesn’t take her long to remember that the Host isn’t the only person who rooms on the first floor. It’ll be easy, she thinks, much easier than chasing after King just now. And she’s already right next to the stairwell. She steps over King’s body and begins her descent, closing the door behind her.

(But the building is wide, not just tall, so of course there are two stairwells, each on opposite sides. Peevils goes down the east stair as Dr. Iplier, Bim, and Google go up the west one. Dr. Iplier’s body has recovered from the jolt of pain, but he wonders who it was that was killed this time, as do Bim and Google. The three find themselves moving a little faster.)

~~~

After they were left alone, Bing and Bop went to Bop’s recording studio like they said they would. The room is attached to Bop’s bedroom, which Bop already locked. He and Bing are sitting inside the recording booth, hoping to conceal themselves further. They’re trying to keep their moods light; Bing plays music, and Bop sings along when he can. Both are afraid, Bop especially, but as seconds tick past the two begin to feel more and more secure.

(But Peevils knows that any half-intelligent person would hide in a soundproof room.)

It’s Bing who hears the hole shot into the door, but only barely, through the studio and recording booth walls.

“Shit,” he mutters, “She’s here.” Bop goes white.

“A-are you sure?” he asks. Bing listens again, and is able to hear footsteps approaching the studio. The room may be big, but he knows they don’t have long before they’re found.

“I’m sure, dude,” he answers Bop, voice quiet. He bites his lip. He has a plan, he’s had it for a while, but he knows Bop won’t like it.

“What now?” Bop asks, voice thick with fear.

“I do what I said I would earlier,” Bing says, keeping his voice as steady as possible, “I go and beat her up.” He pauses. “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll convince her you’re somewhere else.”

“Bing,” Bop gasps, “You can’t. You can’t just confront her, she’s armed, she’ll hurt you, she’ll kill you—”

“Bop, easy,” Bing murmurs, reaching over to squeeze Bop’s shoulder. “I know it’s scary, but there’s not much else to do. I can beat her, I just gotta take her by surprise. And if we stay in here she’ll just get us both.” He pauses a moment before taking off Bop’s cap with one hand and ruffling his hair with the other. “I mean, one of us has to make it, right?” He tries to grin.

Bop is terrified, but he sees in Bing a fear that surpasses his own. Maybe his eyes are shaded, and maybe he’s putting on a brave face (like always, he’s always swallowing his own nerves or panic for Bop), but Bop can’t miss the tightness in his expression, the way his brows furrow, the slight tremble in his body that he can feel from Bing’s hand in his hair.

“Bing, you don’t have to do this,” Bop whispers, “Maybe if we stay in here, and stay quiet—”

“Bop, dude, you know that won’t work,” Bing replies, and he’s right, but Bop can’t let this happen, he can’t let Bing just go out and—

“Bing, please.” Bop takes Bing’s hand, the one still holding his cap, in both of his own. He stares at Bing with wide, watery eyes. “Don’t go. Stay here with me.”

“You’ll be golden, bro.” That’s all Bing says as he pulls his hand out of Bop’s grip and places his cap back on his head.

“Bing, please…” Bop is crying now, and feels frozen in place.

“You’ll be golden,” Bing repeats before getting up and leaving the booth, shutting the door behind him.

Bop whimpers, completely at a loss. Should he stay put like Bing wants? Should he follow? What good would that do? He can hear Peevils too, now, hear her footsteps coming into the studio. Bop’s fear wins out and he cowers into the back corner of the booth, hoping, praying, wishing. He hears words being exchanged, but his mind is so wrought with anxiety and terror that he can’t focus enough to comprehend them. He tries to keep quiet even as tears roll down his cheeks. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for the tornado to touch down, caught in the split-second when a singer falls backwards into the crowd and it’s anyone’s guess whether they’ll be crowd-surfing or hitting the floor.

When he hears the gunshot, he throws both hands over his mouth to muffle his scream. It’s not the same painful and powerful scream he made when Google grabbed him, but a low and anguished wail. At the back of his mind, Bop wonders if he could replicate that high-pitched screech now, but again, what good would that do? It might let the other egos know he’s in trouble (he should’ve gone with them, he should’ve gone with them, if he had gone with them Bing wouldn’t be—), but how long would it take them to get to him? How long would he be able to keep it up? All it would do is burst Mark’s eardrums and slow Peevils down but not stop her, merely delaying the inevitable.

Speaking of Peevils, she quickly finds the recording booth and kicks the door open, and Bop finally sees what he’s been so afraid of. Even looking at Mark, it’s impossible not to see Peevils there, in the way Mark’s shoulders roll after the kick to the door, the way his eyes peer at Bop, the way his face twists into an evil grin.

“I knew I’d find you here,” Peevils says, stepping forward towards Bop. If her body language hadn’t already tipped Bop off, her voice certainly would’ve: It’s too high, and there’s a layer of hissing just beneath it. He tries to scoot backwards, but he’s already up against the wall. Peevils laughs at his attempt to get away from her.

“God, you’re a coward,” she giggles as she approaches Bop, squatting down in front of him. “Not a very smart one either. But I guess you’re smarter than your friend there.” Peevils points vaguely over her shoulder. “He tried to convince me you weren’t here. Imagine,” she cackles, “You, MarkBop, not in your sound-proof studio during a time of crisis. And even if I didn’t know a thing about you, Bing is still a really bad liar.” She tilts her head. “Or, was a really bad liar.”

Bop wants to say something, anything, or even scream or cry out, but he can’t get a sound past his lips. He already knows he’s too shaken to speak English, and no doubt Peevils will laugh off any Simlish he manages to spit out. Tears are still running fast down his cheeks, but he’s so paralyzed with fear that he can hardly even sob. He tries to reign himself back, get his breathing under control. He tries to remember the song Bing sang to him earlier. How did it go? They were sitting, they were sitting on the strawberry swing…

“This is really too easy,” Peevils says with a wide, manic grin, “The only one who really put up a fight was Wilford. I’m glad I got him first, because the rest of you are a nice break.”

Every moment was so precious…

There’s the click of the gun, and Bop feels cold steel on his temple. All he can do is whimper and shrink away, but he can’t go far backed into the corner.

They were sitting, they were talking on the strawberry swing…

“No last words from the singing ego?” Peevils mocks. “Too bad.” Bop whimpers again and squeezes his eyes shut.

Everybody was for fighting, wouldn’t wanna waste a thi—

Bang!

The bullet goes through Bop’s head and lodges itself in the wall. He slumps back into the corner as blood leaks from his temples. Peevils looks inside herself for Mark, and finds him in tears yet again. She’d already known he was a crier, but she’s surprised he still has any tears left in his body at all. He’s quiet again as well, not wanting to speak to her and not knowing what to say. Peevils grins to herself as she stands up and moves to leave the studio.

~~~

Google, Dr. Iplier, and Bim reach the second floor as Peevils is traveling down the east staircase. Though they’re on the opposite end of the floor from where King of the Squirrels lies, they immediately sense something is amiss from the squirrels congregating aimlessly throughout the hallway. None of them have paid much mind to King’s squirrels in the past, but they’ve never known the creatures to gather so haphazardly; sitting in random clumps and tittering nervously. All three of them are immediately worried, and they walk quickly through the hallway—as quickly as they can, that is, without stepping on any squirrels. It only takes a few minutes for them to find King, and even from a distance Dr. Iplier can see the line of red zeroes above his head, and knows it’s too late to help him. Bim, though, cannot see those zeros, and runs ahead to King.

“Bim—” Dr. Iplier begins, but Bim either doesn’t hear or doesn’t care to. The doctor shakes his head as he and Google pick up their pace to catch up with Bim.

As they approach, Bim sees something on the ground, yelps, and recoils. Dr. Iplier watches his face turn green as he staggers backwards. He goes into doctor mode like the flip of a switch, and thus doesn’t notice what Bim has seen right away.

“Hey, Bim, easy,” Dr. Iplier says gently, grabbing Bim’s shoulders to keep him upright, “What’s—”

Ah, now he sees. Not only has Peevils killed King, but she’s killed several of his squirrels as well. There’s not much left of them but clumps of bloody fur and red pulp. Dr. Iplier feels a bit sick himself. He only hopes that Peevils killed the poor creatures after she killed King, so he didn’t have to see what became of his subjects.

Bim still looks like he might vomit (or cry, tears for King welling up in his eyes), so Dr. Iplier turns him away from the dead squirrels, keeping a steady arm around his shoulders. There’s nowhere for him to sit aside from the floor, so Dr. Iplier lowers him down, and a few squirrels approach him curiously. Google, meanwhile, can’t tear his eyes away from the grisly scene. At the very least he doesn’t feel physically ill (such a sensation is nearly impossible for him to experience), but the sight of King, older than himself but so much younger physically, and his poor squirrels bloody and dead on the floor doesn’t exactly make him feel good, either. He finally manages to look away and see Dr. Iplier trying to comfort Bim.

“Deep breaths,” Dr. Iplier is saying, “In through your nose, out through your mouth. Slowly, now.”

Bim obeys, and his skin color returns to normal as the sounds of his long breaths fill the hallway. The squirrels around him, while clearly unhappy from what’s happened, stay where they are and sit up against Bim, calming him further. He reaches out a tentative hand to the squirrel nearest him. It sniffs his hand but otherwise doesn’t react, so Bim gently pets the tiny creature, feeling the slinky way it moves beneath his hand. He manages a smile.

“I hate to interrupt,” Google says, “But it’s likely that Peevils is using this stairwell.” He gestures in front of him, past King to the stairwell’s door. “Or she’s just exited it. Either way, we can catch her if we leave now and go quickly.”

At that moment, Dr. Iplier’s heart twists and pain fills his chest. He jumps up from the ground, grabbing the front of his shirt.

“Google’s right,” he gasps, “We have to go, now.” Bim scrambles to his feet, and the three move past King and his squirrels to enter the stairwell.

“Which way do we go?” asks Bim.

“She’s already killed most of the inhabitants of the third floor,” Google says, voice lowering without him meaning it to, “So it’s more likely she went to the first floor.”

“Dammit,” Dr. Iplier mutters before taking off down the stairs.

“Doctor, wait!” Bim cries, dashing after him.

Google feels an I-told-you-so lurking in his chest, but says nothing as he follows the others. Part of him hopes he’s wrong.

Especially when Dr. Iplier stops dead in his tracks.

“Fuck,” he gasps, before running off again. Bim and Google follow close behind, trying not to let anxiety slow their steps.

The group finally makes it to the first floor, and no one needs to ask where they’re going. They reach their destination and find that the exact thing they all feared has come to pass: Bop’s bedroom door is wide open, with a messy hole above the doorknob.

“I’m going to look for Peevils,” Google says, voice hard and cold, “She can’t have gotten far.” He moves away to look before Dr. Iplier can remind him that they ought to stay together. He and Bim have no choice but to step into Bop’s room, and into the adjacent studio.

They find Bing first, laying on the floor with deep black oil around his head. There might have been a struggle, or perhaps the force of the gunshot that killed him was exceedingly strong, because his sunglasses have fallen from his face and sit beside him, covered in oil. They can see Bing’s eyes, those strange orangey things, half-open and lightless. Dr. Iplier bends down to close Bing’s eyes as Bim ventures further into the studio. He sees the open door to the recording booth, and takes a deep breath in before he approaches it and steps through the threshold. He’s not surprised to find Bop’s body in the corner of the room, but the sight brings him to tears nonetheless. He’s fond of Bop, and Bop is so young, was so young…

Dr. Iplier hears Bim’s sobs and joins him in the recording booth. He grits his teeth at the sight of Bop. He knows he should be staying calm and comforting Bim, but he can’t stop the anger and despair and regret and guilt that well up in his chest. He shouldn’t have given up so easily. He shouldn’t have counted on their times not being set. He should’ve tried harder to get them to come along. He should’ve ordered, demanded them to come. He shouldn’t have left them. He shouldn’t have left them, what kind of doctor just leaves people to die?

“Dammit,” Dr. Iplier sighs, suddenly very tired.

“Are…” Bim begins, taking a shuddering breath, “Are we sure they’re the ones who were just killed?”

“It has to be them,” Dr. Iplier answers, voice quiet, “The blood is fresh, and Bing isn’t…cold yet.”

Indeed, the blood pooled around Bop is bright red and shiny, not the deep rusty maroon that surrounded the Host. And Bing, despite being an android, has the same warmth of a human from his whirring internal machinery. Dr. Iplier felt that warmth, not yet faded, on Bing’s face when he closed his eyes. The doctor is sure that they just missed their murders, just missed Peevils. As if on cue, he hears Google enter the studio.

“Peevils isn’t here,” he growls. Dr. Iplier and Bim turn away from Bop to meet him, and find him staring down at Bing, hands balled into fists.

“She must be in a stairwell,” Dr. Iplier says, “We have to check—”

“I did,” Google interrupts, voice hissing, “Both. I couldn’t see or hear anything in either one.” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t make sense. She’d have to be incredibly fast to get away like that, and even then, I should’ve heard her footsteps echoing. It’s like she’s disappeared.” He looks up at Dr. Iplier and Bim, eyes glowing blue. “Were the hell could she have gone??”

(Peevils hadn’t known about the other elevator, secretly tucked behind a wall on the first floor, until she’d possessed Darkiplier and saw into his mind. Apparently even he gets tired of teleporting everywhere, or occasionally finds himself in situations when he cannot teleport at all, so he made himself a private elevator with his reality-bending magic. No one knows about it, not even the Googles, and not only is it hidden and password-protected, it goes straight to Dark’s office. Of course, having seen into Dark’s mind, Peevils already knows the password. As Dr. Iplier, Bim, and Google puzzle over where she could be, she steps out of the elevator and into Dark’s office. There aren’t many egos left to kill, but there’s a certain pair of them that she knows will be exactly where she expects. So she walks out of Dark’s office to the stairwell, so she can travel down one floor.)

~~~

Yandere has nearly opened the elevator doors enough to stick a hand between them when another groan rises from the elevator.

“Ugh, what now??” he mutters, unable to keep his frustration internal any longer. His patience was exhausted what feels like hours ago to him, as he mindlessly wiggled his katana back and forth between the elevator doors. He’s so close now; once he can fit a hand comfortably through he can push the doors open himself. But the creaky sounds the elevator is making don’t bode well, and Yandere is forced to stop moving and wait for the sounds to pass.

Every movement Yandere makes minutely jostles the damaged machine. As he pries the doors apart, millimeter by millimeter, the elevator loosens just a little more. But he’s been careful, his movements have been quick and small and purposeful, and the elevator is holding steady enough for Yandere to escape if he keeps up that carefulness. That is, until, Dark’s elevator begins to move, and the shared system adds more movement and jostling to the main elevator.

So the elevator doesn’t quiet, but continues to creak, and then it lurches down. Yandere stumbles and falls, landing on the floor alongside Silver. He hisses in annoyance. The blood doesn’t bother him, but with the way the elevator is acting, he wonders if he’ll even be able to stand back up. At least he managed to hold onto his katana, which he decides to sheath until the noise stops. But it only continues, becoming a scraping, and the elevator lurches again, tilting to the side. Yandere is half-afraid the doors are going to slide back shut, but they seem stuck in the positions Yandere has pushed them to.

It suddenly occurs to him that perhaps he ought not to wait at all. He’s so close to getting a gap in the door big enough for his hand, and once that happens, he can escape the elevator in a minute, maybe less. The elevator is still making noise, still screeching at him, but who knows when it’ll stop? Maybe it’s a bad idea, but Yandere is tired of waiting, sick of being careful. He has to get out of here, he’s wasted enough time as it is. Every second he’s stuck in the elevator is another second Peevils is walking around, another second Peevils is getting away with what she’s done to the people Yandere loves, another second Dark, Wilford, and Chrome are going unavenged.

Yandere grits his teeth. To hell with not being reckless, reckless is what he does best.

But he’s not stupid. He doesn’t scramble to his feet, and instead crawls back towards the elevator doors. He unsheathes his katana again and begins to work at the doors again, more quickly than before. The elevator screeches on, and Yandere growls. Just a little more. The elevator falls an inch, and Yandere almost tumbles backwards, but he steadies himself and keeps going. Almost there, almost there. He can imagine it now, imagine finding Peevils, imagine grabbing her by the hair, imagine throwing her down, imagine slicing through her legs to keep her from running, imagine wrapping hands around her throat and choking her until she turns blue, imagine cutting out her tongue when she can no longer scream, imagine prying open her ribs the same way he’s prying open the elevator doors—

The sounds finally cease, and for a long moment, Yandere believes the danger has passed.

Then the elevator drops.

#peevils #king of the squirrels #bingiplier #markbop #yandereplier #when evil rears its head #my writing #kristin says stuff #curse tumblr for only using the first five tags on posts #this fic has too many people #peevils can fix that

[cybertronianlovenest]

Kiss of betrayal: Part 8

Jazz POV: I sighed as Prowl batted at my aft lightly. 'We should see about meeting up with Sounders and Samantha. The sooner the better.' He nodded his consent, letting me stand and stretch my over worked frame. A hand caught me, turning me before he knelt to wipe away the remains of our interface. Out of all my partners over the vorns I could count on one hand the number I'd had more than a passing fling with. Prowl was different though, not just because he loved me. I knew that was part of it, but I had grown far more attached to him than anyone before him. The gentle sweeps of the rag helped in some small part to soothe my rather scrambled thoughts. There's was still some part of me that couldn't believe he really loved me. I knew that it was true though, he'd given me complete access to his spark and it was impossible to lie during that. "Turn." My thoughts were cut, bringing me back to reality where Prowl had finished my front durning my lasp in attention. A vent was cycled as I did as instructed, letting him finish with me before I took the rag to return the favor... Soundwave POV: My optics swept over the lake as I watched and waited to see if Jazz would come. It had been a few cycles since I'd seen him and I hoped that he would show soon. I didn't want him to stress over being my Sparkmate. The crunch of leaves under ped broke the stillness and I let out a vent, waiting for him to make his way to me. I had thought it would have taken him longer, but I was glad it hadn't. It seemed to take a long time for the sound to reach me and I was a little confused that there were more than one set. Someone sighed before they plopped down next to me revealing Jazz's thoughtful looking face. "Prowl I assume..." A low hum sounded behind me, keeping several yards between us. "Jazz is feeling better?" He leaned into my side lightly. "Yeah. Much better." I glanced towards him but he wasn't looking at me. "Melody will be arriving shortly to release her newest catch of fish. Jazz would like to meet with her?" He nodded, finally giving me his optics. "Yeah. Do ya think she would be willing to meet with Optimus? It could change things, now that Megatron is offline. Ahm sorry it had to happen..." A small laugh escaped and I shook my helm. "The sentiment is appreciated, though unnecessary. Megatron had lost sight of our goals many vorns ago. Melody did everyone a favor." Jazz looked quite surprised but I just shrugged. A light noise caught my attention across from us and I glanced over to see Melody had arrived. She growled low, plodding several steps forward until I held my hand out. "Everything is well. Calm." Jazz shifted slightly but I caught his arm. "Jazz, stay." I stood up, moving between them and her growl gutered out. "This is Jazz." For a moment Samantha just looked between us before shifting from her wolf form. "What about him?" She jerked her helm towards Prowl. "He is a good friends of Jazz's. Melody needs to relax." Her optics darted around our company before she huffed and began pulling bags from her subspace. "So this is the mech that's got you so wrapped around his finger huh? He's cute. I can see why you're chasing him." The bags were set in the water, letting them float as she turned her attention back to us. "So why are they here?" She cocked her helm to the side, stepping towards Prowl, doors canting to the side. His doors took up the same position and he knelt, sitting next to a fallen log as she plopped down as well. At least she calmed down pretty quick. "So that's her huh? She's pretty small." "Do not let Melody's size fool you. She is more than capable of taking any one that possess a threat." Jazz nodded softly, moving towards Melody as I followed... Jazz hummed against my neck as I held him against me. It had taken much less time than I'd feared for him to come around and I was glad. I hadn't expected to be at odds with Prowl over him. He didn't appear to be too concerned right now, but he was good at hiding. Watching them the other day I knew Prowl was quite fond of my Sparkmate. I suspected Jazz cared more deeply than even he knew, but that was for them to figure out. As for myself, I had always found Prowl to be rather attractive and would be hard pressed to think of a reason why I shouldn't keep him around. It would help Jazz a lot and I surely wouldn't be opposed to having them both. Melody seemed to like them OK thankfully. I'd had some concerns over that because of Megatron's treatment of her and the application of the Autobot symbol durning such. He had hoped to program a hate into her that would ensure her to fight, and I guess he got his wish. Just not how he'd hoped. Even through all that her desire to protect and defend over rode the hate he wanted and I was glad. In the end, when she'd offlined him and most of the mechs on base it had been because of my interference. I had attempted to help her and Megatron had caught me. You can imagine how well that went over. Myself and Barricade had been appointed to look after her so she would form a bond to us. That worked far better than Megatron took into account and when he gave the order to have me offlined that's when he found out just how well his project worked. I had even been surprised and I'd spent the last 3 deca-cycle's tending her. She was a force I wouldn't wish to be at odds with should she ever choose to fight. That was something she avoided when possible though. My optics flicked toward her to watch as she dabbled her fingers in the water, letting the fish nibble at her. Her doors swished happily before she finally sat up to look at me smiling. For a moment she just watched Jazz before shifting to wolf form. Her frame lowered into a crouch and she wiggled her but like a cat before pouncing on him. Denta attacked his shoulder lightly as he squirmed away letting her curl up in his spot, tail waging as she watched him from the corner of her optic. I couldn't help but laugh ah her, roughing up her helm lightly. "Melody jealous." Jazz huffed from where he had escaped as she continued to bask in her victory. "Perhaps we should get back. We've put off informing Optimus of Megatron's destruction too long already. He will want to know about her anyhow." Melody's tail slowed to a stop against my leg and she whined. "Apologies Melody. It would be benificial for you to go with them though." She looked up art me and finally shifted back, giving me a look. "You should know better than to think you can hide from me. You're worried that their leader will attempt to have them offlined for meeting with you." I sighed, climbing to my peds to rub her helm. "Such an act could be viewed as treason even though it was never intended as such. Melody's protection would be much appreciated." Her hands fell to her hips. "You could have just said that was what you wanted. Didn't have to make excuses. You're my friend and I don't let bad things happen to those I care about when I could stop it. I'll make sure that the other mech knows not to mess with them." I nodded curtly, giving a few more rubs before letting her join them. "One more thing. Melody plays host to the Allspark. It's energy was absorbed into her from a shard she found. No one else knew that." They both looked at me in shock for several seconds before I stepped by to make my way back to the house... Jazz POV: I'd be the first to admit I was more than a little nervous over finally telling Optimus what we'd been up to, putting it off at this point could only worsen things though. Samantha had chosen to fall back on her human form to avoid a lot of fuse which I was glad for. A deep vent was cycled as Prowl pinged for admission. The door slid open and I stepped in, hoping onto his desk as Prowl took the chair. Samantha was set down as she looked around at everything. "Please lock the door. We need to talk in private Sir." Optimus looked unsure as he hit the button to engage the locks. "So private you bring a human I've never met before into our meeting?" Sam snorted, turning her attention to him which I wasn't so sure was a good thing. "For the last half a deca-cycle we have been meeting with Soundwave." Optimus sat up more straight at his desk, optics narrowing on us and I knew we had his full attention now. "The first time wasn't intentional, that's when ah thought he might have hacked. Wasn't completely honest with ya though Bossbot. He told men that Megatron had been offlined and that transfluid was able to cyberform organic tissue. Ah just figured he was lying so ah didn't bother bringing it up. Know it wasn't meh call but ah made it anyhow. Didn't want anyone walking into a trap on bad information. The second time ah saw him it was when ah was sparkcalling. After that ah went looking." "Jazz was suffering from severe sparksickness and it was clouding his judgment." Prowl interceded on my behalf when Optimus gave me a reprimanding look. "The fourth time we met, meh and Prowl had a spat and ah was blowing off steam by the lake when he showed up..." I trailed off, optics flickering anywhere but his as Prowl caught my hand, continuing where I hear left off. "Soundwave is Jazz's Sparkmate." Optimus straightened even more, looking between us as if waiting for the punch line of a joke. "We just came from meeting him again. This it Samantha, she is responsible for offining Megatron." For several kliks he just stared between us before setting his hands on the table. A low growl sounded from Samantha but he may not have heard. "You have both been sneaking off base to meet with a Decepticon. You do realize what the punishment for treason is..." This time he heard the growl as Sam shifted into a femme. "I fucking dare you to say anything but cookies." "Excuse me?" Her optics tacked him in a way I knew meant trouble if things weren't descalated quickly. "Easy now lil lady. It's alright." I pulled her back a little but she was completely focused on Optimus. "I don't think you understand what's going on here. They turned me into this so I could kill you. He wore your symbol while beating me so I would hate you. The only reason you're still online is because of Soundwave. It was his interference at risk of deactivation that saved every one of you from being offlined. And it so happens were pretty close. Now, having said that, I go the extra mile to keep those I love happy and from what I saw there's two are pretty important to him. So. I dare you to say anything but cookies, because I will ripe your throat out and drink your energon while you twitch on the fucking floor!" She snarled, newly formed tail coiling around itself to reveal a stinger as I held her back. Optimus for his part looked quite unnerved until she sat back, a wide grin spread over her face like nothing ever happened. "OK?" He nodded slowly after a few kliks, glancing toward me as Prowl watched Samantha. "Sorry about that. That was my symibot, Bianari. I wouldn't drink your energon, I'd just take over your frame, make your blow your spark out and repurpose it for more material for my symibots. Being cyberformed, the metal doesn't stabilize and it can destabilize other forms of metal and absorb them. Like you, and the rest of those bastards that thought it was funny to play games with me." "OK, you've made your point." Prowl carefully pulled her over and she went willingly with him to cuddle up in his lap much to my surprise. "Don't make me kill you, it's my day off." Optimus glanced to me and I sighed. "Ah know things could have been handled better, but ah really believe it's over this time. Ah just didn't want to get everyone's hopes up until an knew for sure Bossbot. Things have been bad for a while and that would have only made it worse." For a long moment silence stretched between us before Optimus lowered his helm. "That I'll concede to, but what you did was very foolish and had you both not served as long under me as you had things would mostly likely be much different. As things stand now I'm calling a meeting to announce to everyone that Megatron is offline." Sam chirped softly, turning from her attention to Optimus once more. "You should tell them the Allspark is safe was well. She uses my frame as a vessel since hers was destroyed. I can give her another but she is content with me for now." His optics brightened and I knew he was just as surprised as we had been. After a klik a small smile formed on his face before he reached for her only to be left with several bites for his efforts. She growled low at him, curling close to Prowl as he rubbed her doors. "Its OK. Calm down." I frowned, watching them until Prowl sighed. "Her spark is not yet fully formed even though her frame is. Also Praxian's share some of our coding with seekers so having her separated from me would not be advised." It took a second to process that before I burst laughter making Prowl's door bristle in indignation. "I do not know what you find so funny. The coding demands we find a mate to help raise the youngling and it isn't in the habit of talking no for an answer." I shook my helm, watching him was he glared at me. "Right. Not sure how Sounders is gonna feel bout ya trying to steal away his sparkling. He was doing a fine job at raising her before now Prowler. She's not abondoned, ya need to get a hand on yer coding." He cast me a withering look and I drew back in surprise before rubbing the edge of a door. "We're gonna take care of that eventually, but things got settle down first." Optimus looked confused but I didn't bother to elaborate. Prowl would tell him if and when he was ready. For now, there was a lot we needed to do...

#transformers #Jazz #Prowl #Soundwave #kiss of betrayal