Chapter 1: They meet

IronHide sat at Maccadam's Old Oil House enjoying some high-grade energon. He was enjoying a rare day off, watching the groups around him. Without him knowing it a blue femme sat next to him. She spoke to him, making him get out of bot watching, "Come here often?" she asked him. IronHide brought the edge of the energon to his lip plates, "Not often enough. I would have remembered your pretty face." She chuckled at him.

"I'm Chromia. You?" She leaned closer to him.

"IronHide."

"Well IronHide, I don't like crowded places and this is getting too crowded for me. Shall we go for a walk?" She looked at him with bright blue optics. He thought about it then stood.

"Might as well. It's dull here anyway." He led her outside. They talked about their work and friends until they came to the Hall of Records.

"I wonder what's like to work where you just sit and record very little detail," she put her arms around IronHide's waist. He looked down at her.

"It's not fun. I know a mech who works there. He wants to do more. Poor little guy," He told her. Orion Pax was probably still in there, learning from Alpha Tron. Chromia was quiet for some time and looking into space. IronHide grew with worry for her. "Chromia?" He asked voice full of concern.

"I'm sorry what were you saying?" She looked mad about something.

"What's wrong?" he asked turning to her. She looked down, kicking at the ground.

"Me and my roommate got into a fight. I don't have a place to stay," she said. IronHide's spark jumped. He smiled and said, "You're more than welcome to stay at my place for as long as you want." Chromia smiled and hugged him,"Thank you 'Hide!" IronHide's optics went wide with shock of the surprise hug. After a few clicks he hugged her back. He felt happy holding her, and when she pulled away he missed her.

"I just have to go back to my place to get a few things." She turned and transformed and waited for him. After a few confused kilks IronHide got the hint and transformed also. IronHide followed her to the outskirts of the city and waited for her outside of her apartment. Chromia looked around her apartment and was happy that she was getting out of there. Chromia's now ex-mechfriend had pretty much just kicked out while talking to IronHide. It might be risky moving in with a mech she just met but her spark told her to trust him. She grabbed what she needed and before she went to the door, "Please let me know that I'm doing the right thing, Primus." She whispered to herself. She knew somewhere in her processor that IronHide would protect her from her ex. Chromia left the apartment putting on a fake smile.

"Are you ready?" he asked her. She gave him a small nod. They started towards the road when Chromia spoke up, "Thank you for doing this. You don't know how much this means to me."

"It's no problem," he told her.

After arriving to IronHide's apartment, Chromia felt lucky where she had lived before. His place looked run down and was in a somewhat bad part of town. IronHide felt embarrassed that he lived here.

"It looks...well loved." She told him, giving a big smile. He led her inside and up the old stairs and almost ran into a pink femme.

"Sorry, 'Hide I guess I should focus who's in front of me," she said. She looked over his shoulder and saw the blue femme looking worried. "Who's your friend, 'Hide?"

"Ariel this is Chromia. Chromia, Ariel." the two femmes nodded at each other. "Chromia got kicked out of her apartment so she's staying with me."

"Maybe you can tame 'Hide," Ariel told her. Ariel looked around and realized the time. "I've got to go. See you guys later." Ariel said running out.

"Be safe!" IronHide yelled after her. He turned to Chromia who looked tired. "Come I'll show where you'll sleep." She followed, tiredly. IronHide showed her to the berth in his old, small apartment. A thought came to Chromia, she looked around.

"What's wrong?" IronHide asked her.

"Where are you going to sleep?" She asked.

"I'll sleep on the couch," he left her in the room. As soon as her helm touched the metal she was out without fear or worry, for the first time in a long time.