Disclaimer: I DO NOT own/take credit for the caste system. Lunar Mist put a lot of work into coming up with it and making it as detailed as it is, so I am very grateful she is letting me use it for this story. She is an amazing author, and if you haven't checked out her stuff already, you should! She's awesome!

Hey guys! I feel really bad that I haven't updated this in, what, a year now? I've been really super busy with school and drama and stuff, and it's been hard to get motivated to write. But I'm pretty sure, you don't wanna hear excuses, and would much rather find out what happens to Glyph! So, without further ado, Chapter 2!

(PS: the first sentence makes me think of that song that goes "making may way downtown, walking fast, faces pass..." song... Anyone else getting that vibe?

Glyph was hurriedly making her way down the streets, praying to every deity she knew that she'd be able to make it to her job on time. Brightlight had managed to delay her by insisting that Glyph wait with the yellow femme for her older brother to escort her home, and despite her better judgment, she had. Now, she was quickly weaving in between mechs and femmes, her short stature not helping in the least. So, when she ran into a large, golden torso, she was not happy.

"Hey, watch it!" She raised her downcast optics to glower at the taller bot, only to shrink away and turn her gaze back down to the ground when she found that the bot had red optics.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I did not realize that you were a military caste mech…" She apologized profusely, dipping her head in shame. He grunted in return, his deep voice cold.

"Whatever. At least you didn't scratch my paint." He grumbled, and she cowered slightly.

"I am glad. Once again, I am very sorry, I was not paying attention." She continued, but her ramblings were cut off by another mech.

"Don't worry about it. Sunny's just grumpy." The voice said easily, and Glyph's spark stuttered when she realized exactly who she had run into. Shame made her entire frame start to heat up. She glanced up at the golden mech's face, and immediately looked back down, the meekness of her caste taking over whatever indignation she had felt before.

"I am so very, very sorry to disturb you two. I am sure you have more important matters to attend to, so I'll just be on my way…" She rambled, optics never leaving the ground as she tried to turn away and continue on her path. However, a red servo on her shoulder stopped her. She glanced up at him, her purple optics meeting his red ones for the second time that cycle.

"Calm down, sweetspark. No harm, no foul." Sideswipe grinned easily, and Glyph's spark fluttered when he called her that. Nobot except her opiluk had called her that before. She was brought out of her thoughts when he spoke again.

"Say, you look familiar…" He cocked his helm to the side questioningly, trying to place where he had seen her before. Suddenly he snapped, grinning again.

"Oh, that's right! You were the pretty femme that was just at our match against those Kalisian slaggers, weren't you?" He asked cheerily, and she ducked her helm bashfully.

"I don't know about 'pretty,' but I did just attend your match. I wanted to bring my friend, since she had never been to one." She replied, suddenly looking at the ground like it was the most interesting thing she had ever seen. Sideswipe frowned slightly at her submissive actions, and sent Sunstreaker a concerned look that was returned by an exasperated one from his golden counterpart. After a moment of awkward silence, she shifted her weight and glanced at them one more time.

"I should really be going. I'd hate to keep you from where you need to be." She said softly and turned abruptly to continue down the road. Sideswipe blinked, and Sunstreaker turned, about to continue on his own way when Sideswipe suddenly grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the rapidly disappearing femme, catching up and walking so that he was skating backwards on his wheeled pedes in front of her.

"We don't have to be anywhere anytime soon. Besides, it wouldn't be polite to let a pretty femme like you walk around here alone. This is Kaon after all." He joked. Kaon was well known to be the least desirable city-state with more than its fair share of crime. What else would one expect in a place full of sturdy miners and military mechs? The corner of Glyph's mouth turned up slightly at that, but as quickly as it came, it was gone and she was back to walking with her eyes glued to the ground. Sideswipe almost wanted to ask what was so interesting down there that kept drawing her beautiful- beautiful? That's a new one…- violet optics to the dirty city street, but refrained. She was obviously unsure of what to do in the presence of the gladiators, so he was going try to and remedy that by making conversation.

"So, where are we headed...?" He trailed off, subtly asking for her name.

"Glyph. And I'm headed to my employer's domicile." She said quietly, so quietly that he almost couldn't hear the last part. He nodded and turned to face forward, skating alongside her. He sent Sunstreaker a glare and a jab through their bond to keep him from complaining, and turned his attention back to Glyph.

"Okay then. Lead the way, milady!" He chirped, trying to get another smile. He internally grinned when she chuckled a bit, that small smile returning for a second. That was a good sign right?

As they walked, the two gladiators had an argument over what caste the femme belonged two via their twin bond, while on the outside a calm silence settled among the trio as they hurried through the streets.

((I think tradesfemme.))

((But she has purple optics. That's servant.))

((But I've never seen a servant with that kind of purple optics. Besides, look at her paint job.))

((That's true. It's way too clean and stylish to be a servant femme. But I still don't understand why her optics would be purple.))

((Maybe her danniluk was a servant femme and her opiluk was higher up? Femmes usually get optic color from their danniluks.))

((But what self-respecting mech would bond with a servant femme?))

((Plenty. Servant castes are usually the nicest femmes.))

((And how exactly would you know that?))

((... No reason. No reason at all...))

((Whatever. We're headed to her employer anyway, so we'll find out soon enough.))

There was a period of silence over the bond. Then;

((I bet 10 credits she's a tradesfemme.))

Sunstreaker ignored him, instead electing to talk to Glyph for the first time since they had collided.

"How much farther is it?" The impatience was clear in his voice, making Sideswipe internally facepalm. Way to go, Sunny. Intimidate the meek femme even more.

"Not very. A few more blocks. You can leave if you wish, though. Far be it for me to make you come with me." She began that whole process again, and Sideswipe sighed shaking his head.

"Sweetspark, we're coming with you whether you like it or not. We're trying to be gentlemechly, so let us do our jobs." He tried to put her at ease, and she couldn't deny that he spark fluttered again when he called her that. Energon rushed to her cheeks as she blushed, and she was suddenly very grateful that the light green of her plating would hide most of it. As much as she wanted to get to know these mechs and be open with them, Master Octane would throw her on the streets as soon as he found out she was even remotely involved with any mech, let alone twin gladiators. All she could do was hope that he wouldn't lose it when he saw them escorting her.

They turned a street corner and entered the upper crust of Kaon, or as upper crust as the city could get. Sideswipe let out a low whistle of admiration as they walked past huge, ornate mansions.

"Some employer you've got, Glyph." He said nonchalantly, and she sighed.

"Indeed. He's very wealthy." She replied, leaving out the part about how he kept all the wealth for himself. Even if she looked like money was the least of her worries, that was a lie. Her appearance was only kept up because he refused to have "filthy, ugly opticsores" for servants.

Soon, his domicile loomed ahead. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker saw it as the nicest housing unit on the block. Glyph saw it as her impending doom. She turned to the two, and vented.

"Here we are. I really appreciate your company, as unnecessary as it was." She launched into her standard formal thank you, but was cut off by a certain red mech.

"It was completely necessary. We were glad you let us join you. But I do have one more question-slash-favor to ask." This took her by surprise, and she nodded, waiting for him to continue. "What's your comm. link code?" This was even more surprising, and she used all of her resolve not to widen her optics. No one had ever cast her a second glance, let alone asked for her comm. code. She smiled slightly and rattled off the 20 digit code, and Sideswipe grinned cheekily.

"Thanks, sweetspark. We'll keep in touch." He said suavely, ignoring Sunstreaker's optic roll. She giggled softly, her spark warming. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get to know them. They seemed really nice, considering their occupation. She said a farewell and turned, heading towards the domicile. The twins turned and headed the opposite way, but were still within hearing range when a foreboding and familiar figure stormed out of the domicile.

"GLYPH! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! YOU ARE 3 BREEMS LATE! WE DONT PAY YOU TO BE LATE!" Master Octane bellowed, anger radiating off of his black frame. Glyph flinched and dashed over, apologizing profusely.

"I'm sorry Master, I'm so sorry. I was delayed. It won't happen again, I swear." She rambled, and he simply glowered, shoving her inside and slamming the door shut. She continued to apologize, but he just growled, slapping her across the cheek. She spun away with a whimper, clutching her now dented cheek.

"Let that be a lesson. Next time you're late, you'll be jobless. Now get working!" He snarled, and she nodded fearfully, hurrying off to the room where she would watch his creations for the rest of the day.

So, what did y'all think? Was it worth the wait? I hope you liked it!

I just wanted to thank everyone who commented, favorited, or even added this story to their alerts. If it weren't for you guys, this fic would probably join my many other =s on the SHELF OF UNFINISHED STORIES. But you guys inspired me to write this, so I dedicate it to every single one of you guys! Y'all rock!

-Myself