Cliffjumper always prided himself that he feared nothing. Whether he had to fight Decepticons that were twice his size or even take up suicidal missions, he was always the first mech to step forward and do it, without hesitation. Nothing fazed him and he believed nothing ever would.
That is, until now. He shut his optics and counted up to ten, trying to ignore the light pattering sound of the rain as it kept falling on his plating. And, above all else, he tried to ignore the mist that formed all around him.
Unfortunately, that didn't work. In fact, the only thing that he managed was to earn a curious look from his companion.
Cliffjumper forced a polite smile, trying to declare in this way that there was nothing wrong, and he resumed with his guarding duty. Since they were out in the open, there was always the risk of being detected by passing Decepticons. Provided they detected them through that mist, that is, and provided they didn't get as creeped out by the swirling grey tendrils as he was.
Maybe he was paranoid. Perceptor certainly thought that anyway, if the science lecture he gave Cliffjumper about water vapourising upon contact with hot surfaces was any indication.
It's a perfectly natural reaction, he had said. There's nothing abnormal about it, and fearing it is very illogical.
Uh huh. So it was okay that Faera resembled some sort of Unicron's spawn rising from the Pit?
"Cliffjumper, are you sure you're okay?" the Sadjen asked, raising an eyebrow.
Cliffjumper looked at her for a moment, and he sorely regretted it. Rain was still falling on her, of course, and mist-like vapours swirled around her black body, which was almost invisible in the darkness of the night; while pale features contrasted violently with a shining green gaze that was locked on the minibot in an almost threatening manner.
"Positive!" he said, trying to hide that small squeak in his voice, and he looked straight ahead once more.
Well, that explained why Brawn was so eager to change shifts with him.
A/N: For those who aren't familiar with Faera's character, she's very hot... literally.