AN: I sort of got this idea from the LJ TF fic bunny community, too. I won't tell you who the sparkling is yet, but probably in the next chapter. I don't know where this fic is going, really, I'm just starting it and hoping a plot will kind of emerge. Concrit would be greatly appreciated.
Warning: Well, there's some definite illegal dealing going on and talk of gladiator fighting. And there's heavy hinting at rather horrible intentions for the sparkling. But he gets saved before anything happens, if that's any consolation.
Disclaimer: I don't own, much to my dismay.
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"So do we have a deal then?" the shady mech asked. The dim lighting made it hard to see much of anything, but that was hardly unusual for these types of deals. One didn't meet with Swindle in the nicest of areas and conditions, after all.
Sideswipe grinned and started reaching for his subspace. He paused when he heard a soft scraping. Blue sparks flashed in the corner of his optic. He turned to look, surprised to see a small shivering bundle of wires. "Swindle, what are you doing with a sparkling?" Sideswipe asked before he could help himself. The tone of his voice was low and dangerous.
Swindle swore and got to his feet. "I don't believe that's part of our business." He grabbed a tarp and threw it over the small mech.
"I'm making it part of our business now. Keep your credits and give me the sparkling."
Swindle's face split in a nasty smirk for a brief moment before he turned back to Sideswipe. "This little thing is going to get me quite a bit on the market, Sideswipe. More than that trinket you got for me. Mechs pay big for this kind of…treat."
Sideswipe swung to his feet and grabbed Swindle around the neck. He clamped his fingers tight, making wires creak with tension. He leaned over Swindle, putting more of his weight onto Swindle. "You seem to forget how I come by these 'trinkets', Swindle. I rip them from mechs with my bare hands in the pits, and I won't hesitate to do the same to you to get what I want." His optics flickered deep purple and his systems gave out a deep, harsh rumble.
Swindle's fingers scrabbled ineffectually at Sideswipe's grip. "Okay!" he managed to get out. "I'll give him to you for the credits!"
Sideswipe released him with a shove, sending Swindle crashing to the floor. "Good choice. I'll have your next toy in a few orns." Sideswipe reached into his subspace pocket and pulled out a component of a teleportation device. He threw it onto the table and walked over to the sparkling. He gently took the tarp off of the little thing and picked him up. He didn't look at him again until he was far enough out of the slums that he could relax.
The sparkling was so dirty he could barely make out the red paint. The sparks were coming from a deep gash on his head. Sideswipe cringed when he noticed the edges of the wound rusting. The sparkling looked up at Sideswipe, his optics wide with fear. Despite that, he held himself as close to Sideswipe's chassis as possible.
"We'll get you some help, little thing," Sideswipe said soothingly. He kept walking, heading back to his and Sunstreaker's apartment. "I'm gonna need some help after Sunny gets through with me too." The sparkling seemed to calm down a little bit while he spoke. Sideswipe didn't think it was so much what he said, just the tone of his voice. "But we've got a great medic 'bot that'll look at you. He's been around forever and he knows just how to fix up little mechs like you. Give you a bath too. Sunny won't want you anywhere near the apartment with all this mess on you." Sideswipe kept up a steady stream of words the whole way back to his complex.
Instead of going to his and Sunstreaker's apartment, he pressed a neighboring keypad.
"Who is it?" the mech inside snapped. The sparkling let out a quiet whine, the first noise he had made the whole trip. He buried his face in Sideswipe's chestplate.
"It's your favorite surrogate sparkling!" Sideswipe crowed. The door in front of him slid open with all the grouchiness an automatic door could manage.
The red and white medic stopped, his mouth open and ready to rant. He closed his mouth is an audible click. "What in Primus' name have you done now?" he finally asked wearily, moving aside so Sideswipe could come in.
"Nice to see you too, Ratchet."
