Something I just want to try out and see what kind of feedback I'd get.. Tell me what you think, please.
The stars were bright that particular night, but there was something that broke the silence in a painful way. A house stood not too far away, every single light off except the kitchen, and inside, stood Sarah Lennox and Will Lennox; both red in the face from anger.
"I don't know what you want me to do!" Will yelled, gripping the edge of the table. "This is our life now, and you knew it would be this way for the rest of it!"
"That was before I realized how much of an impact this will be on Annie's future!" Sarah screamed back. "For Christ's sake, Will, she's being tossed into this unwillingly!"
"She's eight months old, Sarah," Will replied through gritted teeth. "Everything we do with her is against her own will."
"That isn't the point," Sarah's tone was full of warning and her eyes had slightly opened wider. "I don't want her to grow up as Ironhide's apprentice. I want her to grow up with real human friends!"
"And, pray tell Sarah, why she still can't do that?" Sarah's husband folded his arms with a careless shrug; something he had been doing a lot lately.
She closed her eyes, feeling a tear forming, but she tried her best to prevent it. It was no use. "I want people to like her for who she is, not who she is friends with."
"You're the one who married a military guy," Will told her sternly. "You walked into the mess that was waiting for you-"
"Will, I never said this was a mess-"
But he ignored her. "And now you're finally realizing the consequences. Sarah," he shut his eyes and released a deep breath that sounded more like a growl. "I'm a Colonel. I mean something to my country, and if you can't live with that, then you should have never gotten with me in the first place. We knew this was coming."
"And I did know what was coming," Sarah barked back. "And excuse me for not realizing at the time I first met you that an alien race would soon be a part of it!" A sudden crying from upstairs stopped both adults mid-rant, and they both looked towards the stairs. Finally, making eye contact again, Sarah walked closer to him so her face was in front of his. "If you want the divorce, Will, then you can get the papers ready. I have a daughter to take care of."
Brushing his shoulder lightly, Sarah walked past her husband and headed up the steps, leaving Will in a dead silence.
The next day..
"So, are things any better?" Epps asked his good friend as they walked side by side. "Anything new?"
"Nope," Will released his intake of air in annoyance. "No, she's still trying to fight with me all the time. She doesn't want Annie around the 'Bots anymore."
"Does Ironhide know this?" Rob raised an eyebrow, knowing how much Ironhide adored Annabelle.
"Not yet," Will sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "I'm kinda afraid to. Knowing him, he'll come unglued on Sarah."
"Ironhide is your family guardian," Rob folded his arms. "He deserves to know more than anybody else."
Will looked away, ashamed at what was happening with his life. Ashamed at how fast one thing can lead to another and before you know it, everything you worked so hard to get is slowly falling away from you. "I know he does."
As if on cue, Ironhide stopped before them, readying his cannon. "Firing range, Lennox?"
"Uh," Looking to Epps, Will sighed when his friend nodded back at him before walking away. Will then directed his attention back to the tall Cybertronian. "Sure, 'Hide. I actually have something to talk to you about."
Ironhide noticed Will's discomfort as they walked, and he shot him a curious look. "What about?"
"Sarah and I are fighting," Will got straight to the point. "Um, she.. Ironhide," he sighed, not able to say what he wanted to say. Ironhide's look on his face was enough to urge will on. "She doesn't want Annie involved with the Autobots."
Ironhide slowed down a bit, passing Will another concerned look. "But.. she is married to you.. and I am your guardian. Annabelle will always be involved with us-"
"I know."
Will looked as if he would cry and that was when Ironhide finally caught what he was saying. "You two are not going to be together for long, then." It wasn't a question, more like stating a fact.
Will caught his breath and avoided eye contact with his guardian. "That's the way it looks, bud."
"May I throw in my two cents, Lennox?" Ironhide suddenly asked without seeming to give it a second through. Will nodded silently and watched the mech bend down to meet his eyes. "Move on. Find somebody who will accept us." Will had to admit that he thought his eyes were going to fall out, they were so wide, but Ironhide continued anyway. "Sarah does not understand that we are part of your life now; part of Earth's history and we cannot be removed so easily. Find somebody who knows this."
"Ironhide," Will sputtered, still shocked. "It's not that easy-"
"I was not saying it would be," Ironhide chuckled. "But I have always wondered how you two remain together. The arguments got worse each week. Eventually the branch will break if you hold on for too long. I have learned from this, as well, and I am only helping you so that you do not end up like me; forever alone."
"You're not forever alone," Will told him, pointing a finger at Ironhide's scarred face. "You don't need a femme to love you for you."
"You're right, Will," Ironhide smiled gently. "I have my cannons, and they are the only ones for me."
At that, Will laughed; full-heartedly. He shook his head, still grinning. "What are we gonna do with you, Ironhide?"
"The real question is, what would you do without me?" Ironhide raised an eye ridge. "And we all know the answer to that question."
"And that is..?" Will shrugged.
Ironhide smirked. "Suffer. Be captured by the 'Cons. Do their bidding, etcetera.. etcetera."
"That's okay, Ironhide," Will patted the mech's armor. "We already suffer with you. Well," he gave that a second thought. "At least Sideswipe and Sunstreaker do."
"Ah, you reminded me," Ironhide groaned, standing up to full height. "I was supposed to unlock the scraplets from the brig two hours ago."
"I'm sure they're thrilled," Will smiled. "Anyway, thanks for the chat, Ironhide. It's always nice to get this shit off your chest. And.. I'll consider what you said, but it's not going to be easy."
"I know," Ironhide nodded. "But I believe.. truly.. that it is the best plan for you right now. You are still young and it is our greatest challenges and how we deal with them that define us as a person. Live your life while you still can."
Will nodded a final time. "Will do. Thank you, Ironhide." and with a final wave, Will spun on his heel and walked the opposite direction; off to think about what Ironhide had told him.
Leena Schiffer groaned, wiping the sweat off of her forehead as she stared at the targets in the distance. Four shots; two misses. Ironhide wouldn't be too pleased with her lack of attention recently. She sighed, preparing for another round of firing her gun, but it was the heavy footsteps heard behind her that stopped her dead in her tracks.
"What's wrong?" Ironhide's voice made some hairs stand on her neck, despite the heat. "You missed. Twice."
She flinched. "I know. I'm not sure why, really." She sighed, turning around to finally face him. She gasped when she nearly ran her face into his metal one. "Christ! Don't do that!"
He chuckled, standing tall. "Perhaps a little scare will get you back on track."
"Or give me a heart attack," she breathed, calming herself down. Then, she shot him a cheeky grin. "And you know Ratchet wouldn't like that."
Ironhide chuckled, the sound of his voice rumbling through the silent air. Then, he stopped and slowly bent back down to her level. He stared at her for a few seconds, and she was about to ask him if something was wrong, but he finally broke the silence for her. "What do you think of Will Lennox?"
Leena had to admit, she was a bit startled at his sudden question. She blinked. "The Colonel?" When Ironhide nodded, she shrugged. "He is very nice. A great leader.. why?"
"He is going through a rough time," Ironhide told her, not seeming to think twice before he spoke. "Perhaps you would.. be a friend to him?"
"That would be prying into his business," Leena replied, shaking her head. "I couldn't do that, Ironhide."
"I'm not asking you to be in his business," Ironhide chuckled. "Just.. chat with him. I'm sure he'd appreciate the company."
"You're very kind all of a sudden," Leena laughed. "Why is this?"
"Am I not to begin with?" Ironhide frowned, folding his heavy arms against his chest as he glared down at her. "I'm offended, femme."
She sighed after giving it a second thought. "Alright, old mech. Help me take down these targets, and I'll talk to Colonel Lennox. Sound like a deal?"
Ironhide nodded, holding a finger up to her. She shook it. "Deal," he nodded.
