Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers
Hasbro owns Transformers
Chapter 1 Abstract
Present
Earth
Felicity spun around to face the next person who smiled and reached out for her hand. With a smile of her own she gripped it and slightly bowed her head in gratitude.
"I'm so happy to say Miss-"
"Felicity. Felicity is fine." She quickly corrected the man, her smile became more nervous and polite. And forced. She didn't care much for her last name.
"Felicity...that your work is absolutely exceptional! May I leave you with my card for future business?"
Felicity placed a long lock of black hair behind her ear, revealing her new pierced ears. Metal studs shined against the soft light of the gallery. She tilted her head and accepted the card that was now being presented to her. "Absolutely. I would love to." She bowed her head again and watched as the man walked away.
And for a split moment she let out a long exhausted exhale and stood up straighter as another admirer came to her. She took the elderly woman's friendly touches to her shoulder in good stride and manners. After all, all these people here had just participated in an auction of her artwork hanging on the crème colored walls.
All of them had been sold and the money she earned was in the few thousand.
Felicity let out a breath of laughter at the number.
Three years.
Three years it took her to get here.
Four years when Sunstreaker saved her and brought her under his wing.
Three years was long ago when she last saw him.
"Felicity!" A large, pot bellied, middle aged Italian man bellowed her name, snapping her back to reality. She faked a smile as the large man brought her close and hugged her.
"Mr. Lombardi." She said patting his back awkwardly.
The man brought her in front of himself and looked her up and down. "Do you have any idea how wonderful it is to see such wonderful art sold to such wonderful people? Oh my, my, do you have any idea how much I love to show off such works in my ristorante?" He reminded her yet again for the umpteenth time.
"No idea Mr Lombardi." She was now smiling genuinely. The Italian man took special pride in owning paintings of Italian scapes. He often had a way with his charm and his booming voice.
"How about this mio amico? A free lobster lasagna dinner on me tonight and a bottle of my finest whine to celebrate another night of success, hmn?"
Felicity smiled, and finally, gently got free of his hold. His cheap cologne and garlic breath didn't mix too well with her right now. Something was feeling off with her body including her stomach.
"I would love to, Mr. Lombardi, truly I would but..." She looked around with a sigh and then the nearby metal clock on the wall. It was well past one in the morning. The after party was taking longer than it should have. "I'm totally exhausted." She let out another sigh and placed her again loose hair behind her ear. She needed a desperate hair cut and a good night sleep.
The man tilted his head in what was a slight pout and nodded his head. "I understand. Long nights are quite restless. Another time, si?"
Felicity deflated and smiled. 'Thank you so much Mr. Lombardi."
"Please call me papa Bardi. Easier to say and more fluid." He place his hand up and spun it around to make his point across.
The woman nodded her head in good humor and made her goodbye. Seeing she had a free moment, she walked over to the bar and sat down. She looked down at her red dress and straightened out the wrinkles in it. The bartender came over and offered her a drink. "Something fruity and light." She said.
She just turned the legal age for drinking and she didn't know the alcohols all too much. That and she didn't drink. Much.
"Hey, rockstar."
Felicity slumped her shoulders without looking at the source of the voice. "That's the best pick up line you have?" She raised her one eyebrow at the young man next to her. The bartender came back with an orange and red drink in a small glass. She downed it. It was small anyway.
"Well, yeah, you sort of intimidating being so known and all."
Felicity turned to him finally taking in his appearance. She wasn't interested. "Not interested, leave me a card."
"Now don't be like that, sweetheart."
Felicity lolled her head to the side. If there was one thing that Felicity would never, ever leave behind from Sunstreaker it was his sass and clever gestures.
"Don't call me sweetheart, sweetheart." She narrowed her eyes and hummed. In the corner of her eye she saw Mr. Lombardi eying her and the hot shot.
"Papa Bardi's watching." She said causally.
The many rings around the Italian's fingers were straightened out as he cracked his knuckles.
At first the man wasn't impressed but he saw a certain tattoo, a certain Italian tattoo that meant trouble, on the man's wrist. "Okay, okay, I'll leave."
And leave he did. She looked back at the Italian man seeing him straighten out his suit jacket proudly. And like that he went back into his conversation with a loud booming laughter.
She smirked to herself and looked back down to her lap.
Despite the crazy life that came with being a forthcoming artist in San Francisco there were the ups. Such as having an ex mafia Italian for a body guard who was the reason for your popularity. Sure Sunstreaker was the one who taught her and re-birthed her art skills but he was the reason for her exposure. His Italian restaurant promptly named Papa Bardi's was a hit in the downtown section. Along with the expensive dining and atmosphere, she was noticed by the owner himself when she was painting just down the block.
He introduced himself and the rest was history. Ever since then he was a prized customer and dear friend...and father figure.
The only dear friend she had since Sunstreaker left her. Suddenly her chest felt congested and tight. She leaned on the bar with her elbows and took in the practiced deep breaths she had taught herself. Along with her over thinking and stress of her knew and fabulous life, the dormant bond had been acting up more lately.
She closed her eyes. Was Sunstreaker in trouble? Did he do something with his spark again? Was he the reason why her chest was hurting?
She fought a shaky whine and hid it with an aggravated sigh. No not after three years. Not so suddenly...
Tonight was going to be too much and it was.
Felicity felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped in fear, but soon relaxed when she felt that all too familiar hand. "Felicity, my girl, why don't you go home? You don't look so well."
"I told you Mr. Lombardi. It was a long night." She wanted to cry. Why? Why did she want to break down? She should have been so happy. She should have been so airy and welcoming all her customers, not shunned off in the corner at the bar.
"I know. Leave the guest to me."
She spun around and resisted to place her head on his pot belly, perfect for hugs and head nuzzles.
"I can't just go." She took in a shaky breath swallowing hard. Her heart was getting tighter and tighter.
"Si, you can. I will simply say you had other things to tend to, bene?" He place a hand on top of her head.
Felicity smiled and nodded despite the weight of his hand. His assuring words lifted the burden off her shoulders. "I'll definitely discount your next painting."
"Assolutamente no. No need Felicity."
She smiled once more before she stood up and nodded her head in gratitude. "I owe you."
"Until then." He said returning the bow.
Felicity turned for the door that lead to the hall and made her way to the large closet where all the people coats and other accessories hung. She dug through and got out her plain leather jacket and hung it on her arm.
With a quick "Thank you" to the doorman she was outside on the streets of downtown San Francisco. With her heels clicking against the sidewalk she raised her arm and hailed a taxi. One soon pulled up and she got in hastily. She wanted to get home as soon as possible.
She said her address to the driver and they were off.
With another sigh Felicity leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes. The street lights were a slow strobe light across her tan skin as they went and came by.
The thought of leaving her own party didn't cross her mind. Right now, Felicity was so exhausted and so tired. Her new popular life was amazing but it overwhelmed her. She had no close friends besides Mr. Lombardi and Clair. But she and her weren't so close that she would divulge her personal problems to. She had nobody to really vent to. Life was hectic without a shoulder to lean on. She swallowed a dry lump in her throat.
For months she had missed Sunstreaker being next to her. And only now was her loneliness truly creeping in. But at the same time, without Sunstreaker she had allowed her art to grow all on its own. Her hands and art style were reborn by the mech but she still sees him in her art. And that was enough to get her through the loneliness. But for how long?
She busied her troubling thoughts by looking out the window watching the streets and people go by.
Three years later she was the same quiet, humble, and life loving person. Her husky self had been sustained throughout the short years and her straight hair was now past her shoulder and beginning to have a slight curl at the tips.
Because of her new popularity and new income the woman no longer worked at the art store but was now promoting the tiny shop using her popularity among the city. Their sales have rocketed and Clair and her grandfather were doing more than fine with the flood of new and valued customers.
Felicity's art had been exhibited around galleries, auctioned as fast as she can create and even a handful of beginning artists had came to her for expertise.
All in all her life wasn't that bad but-
"Hey!" She snapped out of it and opened her eyes to an annoyed taxi driver. She rubbed her hands down her face and said a quick apology before paying the fare with a two dollar tip.
With a bit of lag Felicity stepped out of the cab and closed the door. For a moment she watched the yellow vehicle drive off before turning to face her condo.
The home Sunstreaker bought and gave to her to start her new life. Her heels quietly clicked on the pavement as she walked to her front door. With another sigh, she unlocked it and went inside. She flicked the lights on in the garage and blinked at the bright lights. A new headache was now forming and she groaned.
Littered across the empty garage floor were tarps. In the far corner empty canvases of various sizes leaned against the cold wall. In the center more than five pedestals holding works in progress glowed in the soft light.
A desk to the side was littered with used tubes of paint brushes, pallets, cups of murky paint water, books, and paper. Some supplies were neat, others were used and shown their artistic abuse. A few granola wrappers hung at the edge of the table. One fell off and softly landed on the ground.
She cringed realizing her messiness. If Sunstreaker saw this she knew he would pull a fit. She frowned.
With the demand of works becoming higher she didn't exactly have a chance to clean her supplies. As it was she didn't get enough sleep. All day she would paint and sometimes fall asleep right at the brush. Sometimes she would trudge her way to bed at three in the morning.
It was demanding but she loved it. It was a love hate relationship she couldn't help but love. Even if some of the works lacked some soul she made time for others to put said soul into them.
Felicity hummed. Tired of contemplating she turned off the lights and trudged her way up the stairs and opened the door to the living room.
It was the same as Sunstreaker left it. Black leather furniture. The walls painted a beautiful shade of crimson red and as demanded by the mech, a white diamond pattern was created by his hand on the opposite wall to break the overbearing color. She smiled sadly and dropped her leather coat on the couch and slipped her heels off. The woman made her way to the kitchen where she placed a kettle of water on the stove. A cup of chamomile tea sounded excellent.
With the kettle brewing she made her way over to her bedroom and into the master bathroom. With eager hands she stripped herself and turned on the water for a hot shower. She stepped in and relished the warm water on her tense skin. She turned around and allowed the water to trickle down her back and tired legs.
She let out a sigh of relief.
After her shower she climbed into a pair of silk pajamas and made her way into the kitchen where the kettle was whistling. She took it off and poured a cup of the soothing tea. With a deep breath she inhaled the steam that came off of the drink and smiled.
Felicity then made her way back to the living room and sat in the leather couch where it welcomed her tired body.
The smile was gone and Felicity was back to staring out into space. She didn't think about particularly much. It just felt good to stare and unfocuse a tired mind. With gentleness she placed the cup of tea to her lips and took a quiet sip. The warmth of the tea traveled throughout her body melting away any discomfort she had at the auction.
She blinked once not breaking her resting stare. She tilted her head, hair flowing down her chest.
As she quietly sat by herself the woman didn't think about just one thing. It jumped from one subject to the next. How much paint did she have? Was the one customer happy with that painting she secretly messed up on? Did she pay rent? Where was that blue dress she packed away? Is it Friday? Do I need to go to the market?
Felicity took another sip of her tea. But as she did a sudden pain in her chest rose into her throat. She abruptly leaned forward spitting out her mouthful of tea.
She set the hot beverage on the end table and steadied herself. She took in deep breaths. In and out. Just like she had taught herself when the bond acted up.
The bond was flaring again. Twice in the same night. What was going on?
Felicity leaned back, tilting her head forward. She rubbed a hand on her chest trying to lift the fist clamped around her heart.
And just like that it was gone. She exhaled and blinking away tears that had started to form in her eyes.
Sunstreaker.
This was twice that the supposedly dormant bond made itself not so dormant.
She wiped the tea off of her chin slowly before picking up the drink again.
Something was going wrong with the bond and Sunstreaker. She took another shaky sip. But that wouldn't explain the reason why it was acting up so suddenly.
Past years it was fine until now. Why now?
Felicity hated the lack of an answer.
It was about four in the morning when the woman managed to fall into restless sleep. She had been wishing for a restful sleep that was much needed and deserved. But again her wish was not granted.
A half a cup of tea was now cooled and resting on the table stand. Felicity's body was sprawled across the couch. She clutched her arms in front of her chest as if securing her delicate human heart. Her breathing was calm and steady.
Despite everything else, an expression of discomfort was on her face. She moaned quietly shifting to her side and curling into a ball.
A foreign warmth picked up on her discomfort and slowly crept over her mind. A whisper of curiosity and worry brushed her conscious. But as soon as it came it was gone.
Because she was sleeping, she would never realize that it was the bond she shared with Sunstreaker that was comforting her. That had always comforted her in her sleep whenever she was restless. That had always comforted her in secret among her dreams.
Felicity sighed, her tense expression melting into peace. Finally she drifted into a deep restful sleep. The bond withdrew and it was quiet again.
As it always was and should be.
Dormant.