I am sorry this took so long. And I think it is shorter too, though I admit I didn't check. But it gave me so much trouble, and even though it's not my best, it's as good as it is gonna get. Guh. Stupid college finals eating my brain. I am sorry everybody that this one is not as good. Actually, I think it is awful, but that may be just me...

I don't own any of the characters.

oOo

When Blurr had entered the target practise room, he hadn't expected anyone else to be there, and almost left, relaxing when he saw it was Arcee. He hadn't recognised her with her visor down. He liked Arcee; after Kup, she was one of the Autobots who had known him the longest. And she already knew not to touch him; not like she could have, had she wanted to. The way the practise room was set up, there were clear, glass-like walls separating where each shooter would stand. Safety precautions, he supposed.

He smiled sadly as he leaned on the laser-proof glass-like substance that separated them. It had been one of the last things Wheeljack had worked on before... well, Blurr could hardly even think about it without getting depressed. The engineer hadn't even lived long enough to name the stuff, though Perceptor did have some sort of scientific jargon that functioned as a name. Blurr could never remember it.

PTEW! PTEW! PTEW! The sound of Arcee firing knocked him from his thoughts.

"You'rereallygoodatthat," he noted.

"It's not hard," she didn't even look up as she continued firing. "Just pretend your target's your least favourite Decepticon!" She brought her gun down and retracted her visor, smiling at him. "You try."

When he brought up his gun and did so, she laughed. "Hey, not bad!"

"I'mnotasgoodasyouare. You'rethebestsharpshooterIknow!"

"How are things with Hardhead? Did you two like my gift?"

"Thingsaregreat!" Blurr couldn't help but smile as he thought of what she was asking about. "Ineverthankedyouforthesaranwrap, didI?"

"You don't have to thank me," Arcee leaned on the wall opposite Blurr. "I'm just glad that I could help - I was afraid it would melt!"

"Wellactually, itdoesifweleaveittoolong. Anditsmellsawful. Butotherthanthatitworksgreat!"

"Y'know, I don't think I've ever seen you so happy for such a long period of time. It's a nice change."

"Yeah, Hardheadisgreat!" He smiled, but then slowly the smile faded as he remembered something that'd been bothering him. "HeyArcee... howdoyouknowwhenyoulovesomeone?"

Arcee seemed surprised by the question, as she quickly straightened her back, smile dropping from her face altogether.

"I, well, Ididn'tmeanto- Imean, ifyoudon'twant- Imean- I,uh," he quickly stammered, automatically feeling remorse.

"Woah, calm down," she shook her head slightly. "I guess... I guess you just know. You know?"

"...youdon't?" Blurr was surprised. "ButyouandSpringer... Arcee, iseverythingalright?"

"Everything is fine," she smiled assuringly. "I just don't think I need to be rushing into anything serious right now. It's not what's right for me," she shrugged. "Don't worry about it, okay?"

Telling him not to worry was a surefire way to make him worry, of course, but Blurr merely nodded, and raised his gun to try again. Thankfully, her grin returned.

"That's more like it, Blurr! See, it isn't hard."

A few more rounds passed between the two before Arcee had to leave for her shift. Blurr, not really having much else to do, opted to stay behind. After all, marksmanship wasn't his strong point, and he didn't want to let the Autobots down if the Decepticons attacked again! He heard someone else enter shortly after, but didn't look up to see who until the green flooded the corner of his vision.

"You're not a gunner," was the only remark Hardhead made towards his roommate.

"Youneverknow!" the speedster replied, smacking a hand on the clear wall that separated them for effect. "Whatifsomethingterriblehappens? WhatifIneedtobeagunnerthen, huh? Huh, huh, huh? Whyareyoustaringatmelikethat?"

"Don't move," Hardhead commanded. Blurr watched, slightly confused, as, with surprising tenderness, the green mech brought his hand up to the clear wall where the blue's was currently resting on the other side.

Blurr smiled, resting his forehead on the wall. "Whyareyousogoodtome?" Hardhead merely smirked in reply.

Suddenly, without warning, the two brought their mouths together, separated only by the glass-like wall. It wasn't as good as the saran wrap, Blurr thought, as he couldn't feel the contours of his partner's face, but at least he could allow his lips to linger there and pretend that he could, as the walls had been designed to be impervious to pretty much anything - himself included. He wasn't sure how long he remained like that, optics offline and mouth pressed to the glass-like wall, only that Hardhead's face looking back at him when his optics again flickered to life was the only thing he ever wanted to look at again.

"You're still not a gunner," Hardhead finally said in a deadpan tone of voice. Well, so much for that perfect moment.

"IthinkIlikeitbetterwhenyoudon'ttalkatall," Blurr replied, though with a smirk to show he was only joking. "Besides, Arceetaughtmeatrick - justpretendthatit'stheDecepticonIhatethemost!"

The Decepticon he hated the most...? Suddenly, he stopped.

Oh, no.

He didn't want to remember. Not now.

"I, uh..." he began sheepishly. "Idon'tfeelwell... ImeanI'llbefine, but... uh..."

"I'll walk you to the room," Hardhead decided, and though his optics were already half filled with liquid, Blurr forced a smile. Hardhead wasn't asking, he was telling, he was assuring the blue mech of exactly what he needed to be assured of.

The pair walked in silence. It wasn't a new thing for the tank, of course, but Blurr was afraid to start talking for fear of what he may let slip. He already felt bad enough with all the hoops Hardhead went through for him.

When they got to the room, he sat on his own berth, not looking the other in the eye, watching as his left foot swung back and forth absentmindedly.

"Blurr," Hardhead began, and the blue mech almost did a double-take - his mate didn't call him by name often - "Stop. Let it out."

Unlike the first time Hardhead had seen him cry, Blurr did not sob like a sparkling. Instead, he sat silently, letting the fluids leak down his face. He felt so stupid when this happened, and even worse that the tank had to witness it.

"You really hate the Decepticons." Again, it wasn't a question. Hardhead rarely asked questions.

"Youhavenoidea..." Blurr commented miserably.

At that comment, the tank slowly got up to sit on Blurr's berth beside him. It was a small gesture - the green mech didn't even make eye contact - but, as with anything Hardhead did for him, it was more than enough.

Despite himself, Blurr smiled sadly. "Youdidn'thavetodothat." When silence followed, as he should have expected, he went on, "notjustthat. Anythingyou'vedoneforme, liketakingmeinandallthat. NotthatIdon'tappreciateit. Don'tthinkthat'sthecase, becauseIdefinitelydo! Butjustknowthatyoudidn'thaveto."

The tank paused, before replying, "Yes, I did."

The blue mech slowly wiped the tears from his face. Thankfully, this time it hadn't been a full-blown flashback. How embarrassing that would have been! "No, youreallydidn't."

Hardhead looked over. "Blurr, look at me." With an expression of surprise gracing his face, the speedster complied. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. Yes. I did."

Not having any better of a reply, Blurr felt his faceplates heating and optics brightening. "Thankyou, Hardhead."

It didn't matter about the Decepticons or his skills with a gun or Arcee right now. Because Blurr felt like the luckiest mech in the world.

-TBC-

Why didn't Arcee wear her red visor more often? I really liked it! (Obviously enough to give it a cameo here!)

I hope it doesn't seem like Blurr and Hardhead are moving too fast! I think I tried to mention in a previous chapter that it'd been much longer than it seems, but... yeah...

Only a couple more chappies left, as I had not intended this to be very long, but I keep having ideas for a sequel! Would you guys like that?