Title: A Butterfly In A Thunderstorm
Genre: Friendship/Romance
Rating: T for some Cybertronian and human language, some strong violence, some crude humor and sexual content.
Summary: Thundercracker always thought he would be the only one who remained alone. He was sadly mistaken when a Cybertronian femme with a troubled past comes literately crashing into his life.
~Chapter One~
Blindsided
It was only a short time after the new outstanding peace between sentient worlds had begun on Cybertron before everyone realized that there something wrong with a certain former Decepticon pacifist.
It had not gone un-noticed by some that they had seen the lonely smile on Thundercracker's face whenever he watched Starscream and Nightbird with their sparkling, Slipstream. And it had not gone unseen when Thundercracker smiled happily but also sadly when it was announced that Nightbird was with spark with Starscream's sparkling. It also had not been missed when a new relationship, like so many others had began popping up out of nowhere between Skywarp and the tiny Cybertronian femme, Glyph.
It was quite adorable, even Thundercracker had to admit. He loved watching his brothers with their loved femmes. He loved watching Skywarp and Glyph over plots for pranks to do, which would eventually involve the twins, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker or some of Soundwave's subunits.
Though, even Thundercracker was still reeling over the idea that Ravage was actually a femme. He had not seen it coming at all. No one had. Ravage and her creator had hidden it well of her true gender. But...it was working out for her. She was now with Cheetor and happily so.
Still, seeing couples together and new relationships building was enough to put a damper on things in a pacifist's mood.
Thundercracker would not deny that it made his spark soar to see so many happy Cybertronians, and even humans being together. He was very happy that his fellow Cybertronians were happy and finding love.
It just...made him feel just a little lonely, that was all.
Thundercracker always felt like a third wheel when he was with his brothers and their new families. Or if he was around the Autobots and their mates. Or even around human couples like Sam and Mikaela or Trent and Anya. Even being around long married couples like Judy and Ron, or Roger and Shirley.
That was why, Thundercracker decided to take a break from it all.
He needed to be away from people. He needed some peace and quiet and not having to watch couples all day long as they took walks around New Iacon's shiny silver parks or Praxius' new developed Crystal Gardens. He didn't want to be anywhere near couples.
So early one morn, sometime in August for Earth, Thundercracker cleared himself from duty and took a flight towards Earth. He wanted to feel the wind on his wings, drift in silver, cool clouds. He wanted to just hear the air screaming past his audios as he flew in high speeds through Earth's sky.
As it turned out, however, things never did go his way and it seemed that Primacron loved meddling in the daily affairs of their children, no matter how little it may seem.
Thundercracker swore, at the end of the orn, that the Dual God had one strange sense of humor and he would have loved nothing more than just go right up to the twin Gods and glare right into their combined face and ask, "Really? You're going to do this to me now?!"
But that was only what he would have done if not for a sudden change in his life.
Thundercracker was flying over when it happened. He had been so preoccupied with his thoughts of peace and openly admitting of how beautiful Earth truly was when he heard a distant boom. He almost dismissed it if his Warning Hud hadn't gone off. It alerted him that something was coming at him fast.
Startled, he slowed his thrusters and took a look around to see what was coming at him. He figured it might have been an Earth plane and didn't want to collide with it.
That would definitely cause a lot of probably...
Suddenly something very hot, and clearly on fire came whizzing right by him and clipping from tail
Yelping in surprise, Thundercracker jolted forward, spinning g and twirling in the air to catch himself. He felt his altitude levels throw off as he lost his sense of balance. "Slaggit!" He cursed as he shut off his thrusters to allow a freefall while spinning in the air to upright himself.
After falling a good hundred feet in open air, Thundercracker managed to right himself and kick on his thrusters to catch his fall. He looked frantically around for what hit his tail only to see a trail of smoke and fire leading down towards the ground.
"What was that?" He murmured to himself before flying down to follow the trail.
The trail of smoke lead him down to a forest that he recalled being on the borders of the United States and Canada. He frowned as he flew over trees, finally seeing some damaged ones. "Well, looks like I am in the right place." He murmured, still scanning the area for what had fallen.
Thundercracker's hidden optics fell on a cloud of smoke just down below and seeing a damaged trail of fallen trees, he knew that had to be it.
Humming softly to himself, the Seeker kicked on his thrusters to make a swift approach to what he saw a crater. He felt his vents stall for a moment when he also saw a glittering, smoldering pod of some kind in the center.
Immediately he recognized it as a Cybertronian pod. It looked like a new Cybertronian had arrived.
Quickly approaching the crater, Thundercracker transformed in mid air and came crashing down upon the earth, shaking and thundering the entire area. He lumbered over to the crater and looked at the smoking hot pod, frowning. "Hello? Are you online? Do you need a medic?" He called.
For a moment, there was only silence.
And then, the pod began shifting and transforming. Pieces moved back and then snapped into a different place, forming a slender framed Cybertronian. Thundercracker was taken by surprise as he watched the pod transform into a Cybertronian femme.
The femme was a little smaller than Thundercracker and it looked like she was a grounder. Except, she did have wings on her back, hanging low and quite vibrant blue and black. They looked almost like...a fairy's wings, or a butterfly's wings. Her frame was silver in color, of course but her wings were vibrant blue and black and Thundercracker could see white spots were even trailed along the edges of her wings and it did look strange. What made it stranger was a pair of curled metal hovering just out of her helm. They were curled tightly into spirals, sitting there between a short chevron in between...blank optics?
Her optics...they were darkened. She didn't even have them online. But it was clear she was online. She was moving, pushing herself unsteadily to her rather thin peds.
"Hello? Are you all right?" Thundercracker called to her now stepping into the crater.
Helm jerking in Thundercracker's direction, the femme looked over at him. But...her optics was still offline. "Wh-who's there?" The femme spoke with such a soft, delicate voice. Even odder, the antenna uncurled from her helm and turned towards the Seeker, as if trying to sense him.
Thundercracker frowned, tilting his head before stepping closer. He stopped again when those antenna pointed directly at him. "My name is Thundercracker. I am a Seeker. Is there...are you in need of a medic?" He asked frowning as he looked her over.
The femme turned towards him, but still did not online her optics, which Thundercracker was finding quite peculiar. "Uh..." she paused her antenna now moving, pointing down at herself, almost searching before she shook her head with a grimace. "My wings are dented from the landing. But I think that's all."
Thundercracker frowned as he stared at her dark optics. "What about your optics? Why don't you look at me?" He asked carefully.
The femme frowned as if startled before she sighed and shook her head. "Oh, that's right. Of course you would think that." She grimaced before turning the antenna towards him. "My name is Blindside. My optics isn't damaged. Well...not exactly. They haven't worked my whole existence. Since I was sparked from the Well of All Sparks."
Surprised and bewildered, Thundercracker stared, mouth fallen. "You're blind?! Why didn't the medics repair your optics?!" He asked flabbergasted.
Blindside shrugged. "I don't rightly know. I don't really remember too well. And I am not completely blind. I may not be able to see with my optics but I can see with sound and vibrations. I can't see what you look like but I can see your outline by listening to the vibrations that your frame is making." She pointed up at her antenna on her helm. "My audio sensory is what allows me to see your outline. From what I can see on my Hud, you're kind of big." She said with a smile.
Thundercracker would have smiled if he wasn't so bewildered. He stepped closer, being careful so not to startle her. "I have never heard such a case like this. Is there no way to repair your optics?" He asked frowning.
Blindside shrugged again as she kept her head tilted towards him. "No one ever tried. The medics would always just look at my case and wave it off. They said there was no point. My optics was damaged before I even took to frame. The medics just said it was a waste of supplies and time to even try. It was during the energon shortage before..." she cut herself off looking sorrowful.
Thundercracker got it though. He slowly smiled curiously. "How did you find your way here then?" He asked.
"I don't even know where here is. I just heard a Cybertronian frequency and followed it." Blindside stated smiling softly before turning her antenna to point everywhere around them. "But...it is somewhere organic. I am sensing sounds and vibrations everywhere. The wind here...it feels wonderful. If my wings weren't damaged, I would so fly. It feels nice here. What planet is this?"
"It's called Earth." Thundercracker said smiling looking around. "It has become a second home to Cybertronians."
Blindside turned back towards Thundercracker looking curious. "So there are Cybertronians here? Neutrals? It is safe from the war, right?" She asked.
The large Seeker looked over at her, surprised. "So you are a neutral?" He received a nod and smiled. "Then you probably haven't heard then. The war is over. There is no war between Cybertronians. And I am guessing you didn't know of Cybertron's restore, have you?" He asked her, smiling.
Blindside now looked surprised. "The war is over?! Who won?! The Autobots?! The Decepticons?! And what do you mean Cybertron is restored?! You mean its back?!" She asked in between happy and terrified.
Thundercracker smiled and shook his head. He knew he had better be careful of revealing his former fraction to her. He knew most neutrals didn't like either fraction but they really didn't like Decepticons. "No one did. We all got tired of fighting over stupid reasons." He stated.
Blindside froze then cringed back. "Which fraction are you from?" She asked now nervously.
Thundercracker frowned softly, knowing he had no choice now. She had asked. "I won't hurt you, I swear. You are in no danger from me." He said and grimaced when she cringed even further from him. "Decepticon. I used to be a Decepticon. But I promise, I won't harm you. The war is over. Autobots and Decepticons are no more. Neutrals are returning home to Cybertron, which is right outside of Earth's atmosphere. We are now guardians of sentient life. We protect innocent life now." He said reassuringly.
Blindside slowly straightened, her face full of wonder. She was relaxing the Seeker could see. "Do you want to hear something crazy? I believe you. You admit you are a Decepticon but if you wanted to harm me, you would have done it already." She smiled faintly. "Cybertron is really restored of life?" She asked happily.
Thundercracker smiled and held out his servo towards her. "Yes. It is. Want to go see..." he suddenly cut off grimacing at his foolish words. He realized how asinine that sounded. "I apologize."
The femme laughed softly, shaking her head as she moved slightly closer, raising her hand, grasping for his. "It is all right. You meant no offense to a blind femme. Yes. I would love to see Cybertron. Thank you." She said softly.
Taking her hand gently, Thundercracker lightly pulled her forward, helping her from the crater. "I can also take you to the best medics. Ones who would be appalled by the very idea that the medics who refused to help you. And I assure you, they would be more than willing to see if they can't help you." He stated as he guided her carefully away from the crater.
Blindside brightened, her damaged wings fluttering merrily. "That would be appreciated. I doubt they could do anything to help my situation. I have been blind since forever." She said as she grasped his arm with both hands.
"Hmm." Thundercracker chuckled as he watched her carefully. "Don't underestimate them. I can guarantee you, Ratchet would work to exhaustion to find a solution to any medical problem."
The femme stiffened, surprised. "Ratchet? I know that name. He was an intern when my mentor tried convincing the medics to help me. He was there." She said, her voice softening.
Thundercracker frowned, carefully placing his other servo on Blindside's back to guide her. "So you know Ratchet? Did he not try...?" He was asking.
"No, he did! He tried! I remember him fighting with the medic in charge of my case! He wanted so much to help me!" Blindside said brightly. "I appreciated it! Even if he lost the fight in the end. I heard the fight had turned quite nasty."
Thundercracker smiled. "Let me guess? You heard he started throwing wrenches at the medic, didn't he?" He asked with a laugh.
"Yes! How did you know?" Blindside asked in wonder.
Again, Thundercracker laughed as he took his free servo and tapped his helm. "That is just what he does when he throws a fit. If somebot angers him out of sheer stupidity or refuses him of any medical assistance, he starts throwing things. He has a terrible bedside manner, to be honest." He said chuckling before turning his attention away from Blindside. "Thundercracker to New Iacon Space Bridge Center. Come in, Space Bridge." He called into his communications.
There was a crackle in the line before a cheerful voice came on. 'Space Bridge Center to Thundercracker! Go ahead, Big Guy?'
"Hey, Wheelie. I need a Space Bridge at my current location. And I need it directed to New Iacon Medical. I have a patient for Ratchet." Thundercracker said right back.
'Right on, right on. That is in the general area that we picked up a new Cybertronian signal. Ultra Magnus was leading a team to locate the source. Looks like I need'ta call him back before he gets there. He will be happy that he gets to stay for Rex's bachelor party then. He was pretty grumpy when he got called to duty, y'know? I can' believe those kids are getting married. I mean, I know I haven't known Rex and Elena long but still. So you found the source, huh? Who is it? Anyone we know? Was it an Autobot or a Decepticon?'
"Never mind that, Wheelie." Thundercracker growled irritated. "Just send the slagging bridge already!"
'All right, already! Sheesh! Don't your turbines in a twist! Here it comes!' The Vehicon on the other line grumbled.
Thundercracker looked down at Blindside when she giggled in amusement and he couldn't help but chuckle with her. He figured that had been a little funny, especially with Wheelie nearly being as bad as Bluestreak when he got talking.
Just then, there was a crack and a vortex of glowing green opened up right before the two. It had startled Blindside, however, making her jump and then clutch onto Thundercracker. He looked down at her in surprise before smiling faintly. "I apologize. I should have warned you about the bridge. Have you not ever traveled by Space Bridge before?" He asked her softly.
Blindside shook her head, smiling sheepishly. "No, not really. It was always space shuttles or someone leading me." She stated. "I think my mentor was always paranoid that I might stumble out of the bridge and get lost. He never let me travel Bridges."
Thundercracker chuckled before securing his arm around her and guiding her towards the bridge. "I promise, I won't let you stumble. Now let's go see Ratchet and see what he could do to help you see for the first time." He told her gently before they stepped though the bridge.