Ch 7
Of Broken Hearts and Understandings
"When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide"
-Imagine Dragons "Demons"
watch?v=GFQYaoiIFh8&index=2&list=PLkA9Yk9HdNYhORBMctucudmjGJ7IH2qSC&spfreload=10
I sat at my garage desk, Sunstreaker watching me curiously from where he lay. My fingers flew over the keypad, a smirk pulling on my lips.
"What are you doing?"
"Giving your buddies a little message." I pulled back, watching my tumblr post publish.
"You know that will attract Decepticons too."
I turned back to look at him, the Cheshire grin never leaving my face. "I'm sure my wonderful Lambo of Death can protect me."
His optics narrowed as if trying to decide if my comment was an insult or not.
I chuckled. It was totally a compliment.
Now, to wait...
Dad got home not long after that. I had left just before that, making Sunstreaker promise to get some recharge. It would hopefully help him repair faster.
Dad too had gone off to bed, leaving me the soul occupant still awake.
I sat on my bed, body exhausted but mind wide away. I didn't want to sleep. I never wanted to sleep.
I held my arms close around me, a sudden chill running down my back.
Don't sleep, don't sleep, don't sleep.
But it was no use, and I succumbed to my exhaustion.
I ran through the streets of Kaon. Around me shop venders sold their goods, secretly stealing from their customers. Living in the city had thought me how to triple cross the double crossers. Kaon was built on deceit and lies.
I scampered under tables and between legs, single minded in my destination. Soon I came upon the towering building. I snuck inside using the tunnels only a sparkling would know about.
Cheers echoed throughout the massive structure. Soon I found myself in the open, looking out over hundreds of bots cheering at the spectacle below them. I snuck closer to the edge to get a better look.
The pit was forever stained blue. The sight would make most bots purge their tanks. It just made a shiver of excitement craw through me.
My wide purple optics watched in awe as the two gladiators battled for life and fame below me.
The clang of blades and screams of pain rand through the arena. My spark lurched as the grimy black mech fell. My servos gripped tightly on the railing. My body shook with anticipation for the coming kill.
I knew then, like I had know the first time I saw a bot's spark stop that I was to become a gladiator.
Just as the blue mech's sword came down a gruff hand latched into my sparkling scruff.
"Wha' yo doin' ere femme?" Snarled a voice behind me. The hand lifted me off my pedes and swing me around to see the ugly face of Scamp.
"Ya arn' su'psed ta be 'ere." He spat, smelly fluids spraying my face. It took all I could not to gag.
"I was watchn' da fight." I whispered. "I'm gunna be a gladi'tor som' day." Scamp laughed, more spit going into my face. "Ya? I lil slave femme? Be a gladiator?" He laughed louder. "I'da have be'er chances gettin inta da counc' l."
He tossed my to the ground. "Now get back i'ta the gar'ge femme." He snartled. I got to me pedes and ran off to do what he said. The first thing I did when I became a gladiator was tear out his spark.
I awoke to the blaring of my alarm. I groaned and switched it off with a clumsy hand. "School." I groaned, getting up.
Then I started about my day.
Get dresses, brush teeth, flatiron hair, eat breakfast, pack my lunch, go visit Sunstreaker. As I made my way to my garage Dad called from his room.
"Sorry love, but I won't be able to drive you to school today. Just got called in early."
I nodded, understanding. "I'll just take the bus then."
He nodded, giving my an apologetic look.
"Bye Kitty Kat." He said, kissing my forehead.
"Don't call me that." I grumbled.
He smirked. "You love it."
With that, he turned and left.
Opening my garage door, I saw Sunstreaker recharging in his alt mode.
"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty." I said, patting his hood.
He grumbled as he came back online. Then he paused. "Why didn't you leave with your mech creator? I noticed his vehicle is gone."
"He had to go to work early. Now I gotta ride the bus." I grumbled. I hated the bus. Filled with smelly, rude douche bags.
"You don't like the bus then?" He asked, catching onto my mood.
"No. Not a bit. That's usually the worst place for verbal bullying."
Sunstreaker was silent for a moment, thinking. "Why... ehm, why don't I drive you?" He sounded unsure.
My eyes widened at his offer. "That..., you sure?"
"Just say yes or no before I change my mind." He growled. "And you better not get any disgusting human fluids on me."
"Yes! Totally yes." I glanced down at what I was wearing. Sort sleeves, damn. "Wait one second, I'm gonna get a jacket." No squishy germs.
Again I bounded up my stairs and jogged into my room. Grabbing a blue jacket from my closet, I jumped down the stairs, four at a time.
Entering the garage, I smacked the garage opener and the heavy door started lifting up.
Sunstreaker popped oven his passenger door and I got in.
His holoform fizzled to life next to me, scaring me half to death. "Sunstreaker! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
He looked at me worriedly. "You'd better not offline on me."
My brow creased before realizing he thought I meant I would actually die. It made me laugh. "No, no. It's just an expression. I'm not really gonna off."
His eyes rolled in a very human manner that he had probably picked up from me without realizing it.
The his engine started with a roar and we were off at break-neck speeds.
"Oh my god! Is fast the only speed you know?!" I screamed over his engine. "We're gonna get pulled over." I warned.
"Only if they can catch me."
I laughed, feeling completely and utterly free.
My gaze slid to the window, watching as the world flashed by. We were taking the long way to the school. My body tensed. I never came this way.
The reason why flashed by in mere seconds, but I still saw it. A thin white cross, sitting lonely next to the road. A lump formed in my throat. Oh god...
"What's bothering you?" Sunstreaker asked through his holoform.
"Nothing." I mumbled.
"That's slag, and you know it."
A tear ran down my cheek. "I just miss her... my mom." I sighed, looking up at his roof. I felt Sunstreaker slow down marginally.
"Just because it doesn't look like I have feelings doesn't mean their words don't hurt." I wrapped my arms around myself, eyes closed, and leaned back into the leather seats. "I'm sick of being called a freak. I'm sick of people acting like I have no soul. I just do't know how to be... like them."
"Why would you? They're just all ignorant morons who can't see anything past their own opinions." Sunstreaker asked, voice oddly soft.
I chuckled dryly. "True. I guess it's just because it would be so much easier if I just blended in." I was quite for a while, feeling torn. Squeezing my eyes shut, my mouth started to talk on its own. "I wasn't always so emotionless to people. I used to be normal. Actually felt like a real person."
I took a breath. "My..." breath "my mother... femme creator... she was killed in an accident. It... hurt. Hurt more than anything I had ever felt before. I locked myself in my room and cried for several days. I didn't eat, didn't sleep, just laid their feeling useless. That... that's when I decided I never wanted to feel that way again. I didn't want to hurt."
I couldn't look at him. "So I closed myself off, didn't talk for almost a month. When I finally started talking again, I was changed. I no longer felt... at least not like how I used to. I could still feel hurt, sadness, anger. But love was gone. I just... couldn't. Not after momma." A sob left my throat. "She was my hero, my best friend. I can't deal with loosing someone else."
Heavy silence fell, not awkward, but not comforting. Just... quite.
"Please... don't leave me too." I whispered. I felt his gaze on me, and I almost stopped talking, but my mouth ran off without me.
"I couldn't," breath "couldn't bear it, if I lost you too." breath "You... you actually mean something, and I don't know why."
I glanced at him from the corner of my damp eye. "You make it hurt a little less..."
Sunstreaker sighed, a heavy sort of sound, full of mixed emotion. "I know... that feeling, I know it too well." He sighed. "I'm... a lot like you." There wasn't any disgust in his voice for comparing himself to a fleshie.
I smiled sadly. "So, I told you about my problems; it's only fair that, if you need it, I listen to yours."
He paused before answering. "I will... keep that in mind."
I laughed quietly, trying my best to dry my tears. Taking a deep breath, I readied myself for the event to come.
All too soon my school came into view. I sighed, but smirked as I noticed my fellow student's reaction to Sunstreaker.
Heads turned to take in the canary yellow Lamborghini. He was damn sexy.
My confidence flared as I noticed the jocks and their whores looking at Streak with longing eyes. Eat that bitches!
We pulled up by the front. Now even the teachers were staring. The windows were tinted, so they had yet to realize it was me. I giggled, imagining their faces when they saw who was in the car.
I opened the door and jumped out. I heard audible gasps behind me. Their surprise made me smirk. I reached into the tiny back seat to get my bag but long tan arms beat me to it.
"Let me." I turned to see Sunny's holoform holding the worn denim sack. I smiled, a little sheepishly, and took it. "Thanks." I blushed.
He shrugged. "No problem."
Damnit, my face felt like it was melting. Trying to distract myself from how close I was to him (though I had been sitting inside his cab just a moment ago) I glanced around and noticed all the pointing and whispers. It made me laugh. "I'm gonna be the hottest news this year." I whispered to Sunstreaker.
His brow rose in question.
"Me, a middle class girl with a single dad and no social life, suddenly coming to school with a hot guy in a gorgeous Lamborghini. People are gonna talk."
"Let them. Their options don't matter." He shrugged.
I turned to leave but paused. Turning around before I lost my courage, I pulled Sunstreaker into a tight but awkward side-hug.
"What are you doing?" He asked startled.
"I'm giving you a hug. It's something squishies do to show affection." He didn't hug back. It didn't bother me though, I hadn't expected him to. He wasn't really the hugging type. I pulled back, a smile on my face. Sunstreaker just looked at me oddly.
"Bye." I jogged to the front building, only looking back once to see him drive away in a streak of gold.
"What the hell was that?!"
I spun around to see Alex staring wide eyed where Sunstreaker was moments ago.
"Oh, hey Al." He turned to me, a look of utter disbelief on his face. "Please tell me he's single."
I laughed. "Sorry bud, but I'm pretty sure he's not into that."
He followed me into the school where and to our lockers.
I opened my locker as Alex started to pout. "So what, is he your boyfriend?"
I'm pretty sure I chocked on air. "W-what?" And of course it felt like my face could light a match it was so hot.
"Hah! He totally is!" Alex cheered. My blush deepened, if that was even possible. "No he's not!"
"So is."
It suddenly felt like every single pair of eyes in the hallway were staring at me. And let me tell you, there were a lot of eyes.
"Oh, god. Please don't do this to me." I whispered, trying to shrink into myself.
Alex pated my back. "It's okay." He seemed to just then notice how profusely I was blushing. "Hey, are you okay?"
"No! Of course I'm not okay! You just embarrassed me in front of the whole school!" Thank goodness we had made it to a much smaller hallway were no one could listen in on my outburst.
"Katt, chill." He put both hands on my shoulders and pushed me back arm's length. "What's gotten into you?" He asked worriedly. "I've teased you about guys all the time, but you've never reacted like this." He paused, his eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. "Wait, you actually do like this guy?!"
"Do not!"
"Oh my god! You really do!"
"I. do. not." I growled.
Alex shook his head, unfazed. "Katt, I've never never seen you react about anyone like this." He eyed me up and down. "and honestly, he couldn't have chosen better." He smirked. "You're stunning Katt."
My arms wrapped around myself subconsciously. "No I'm not."
Alex took me into his arms. I actually let him, possibly for the first time since we'd met. I let my head rest on his chest.
"Katt, you are beautiful, and don't let anyone tell you different. That guys, he'd be lucky to have you."
I pulled away from my best friend's embrace. "I don't think it'll work that way Al."
He cupped my cheek with one hand, grey eyes searching mine. "Why not?"
"It just won't. I don't think he sees me as anything more than a friend... if even that. I honestly don't think he could feel that way about anyone... especially not me." My voice had dwindled down to a whisper by the end of my sentence.
Alex hugged me once more, this time not letting go. "Hey, I saw the way he looked at you. He definitely feels something for you. So keep your hopes up. You are an amazing girl, and even the biggest jack ass can see that."
"Thanks Alex." I smiled and gave him a quick hug back.
"What's his name anyway?"
My mind drew a blank for a moment before spinning into action. "Oh, it's Sunny." I lied easily.
"Yah?" He snorted. "Actually kinda fits him."
Yah, it does.
A small meteor streaked over Russian farmland. NEST had gotten the hail three days prior, and a team of Autobots and humans flew to the country as swiftly as they could.
All sights were trained to the stars, be they optics or eyes.
All save for one.
A loud 'boom' signaled the landing of the meteor. Most of the bots and humans left their camp to greet the newcomer.
None noticed the two that remained behind.
Ironhide looked down at the silent mech and sighed. The weapons specialist opened his mouth but was cut off.
"He's not here." Murmured Sideswipe. The frontliner still refused to look away from the ground.
"I gathered as much." Rumbled Ironhide.
There was silence for a moment before Sideswipe finally broke. "I felt him!" He roared. "I felt him but he isn't here! Where the frag is he?!"
Ironhide gripped the younger warrior's shoulder but was met with a punch to the chin for his efforts. Usually the black mech would punch back, but this time he let Sideswipe beat out his frustrations. Ironhide understood his pain.
Sideswipe shrieked out his internal agony then turned to lash out at Ironhide again.
"He was here, I swear! Yet you," He hissed, "You can't seem to find him!" The silver twin managed to punch Ironhide hard enough to make him stagger.
The large mech had finally decided he'd had enough. With movements quicker than one would expect from his size, he gripped Sideswipe by the shoulders, lifted him up, and flung him a good fifty feet away. Ironhide stalked toward the dazed warrior.
"Get a grip Sideswipe!" Roared Ironhide, though refrained from hitting him. "You're not the only one who's other half is missing! Mech up and get on with it! And no more of this moping." He grabbed the mech by the chest plates and lifted him to his pedes. "Primus, I'd rather have you pulling pranks then seeing you like this."
Sideswipe gazed at him with empty optics. "I'm trying." They sharpened again and pushed Ironhide away. "I'm trying!"
The silver stood strait once more and looked Ironhide squarely in the optics. Ironhide nodded. "Good."
The dark mech new it was hard for the frontliner. Pit, it was hard for all of them. But it was harder for the twins. They had been together their entire lives, never once apart. Until now. And it was showing.
"I'm going to meet the new guy." Sideswipe mumbled as he skated toward the crash site. "Coming?" He called behind his shoulder.
Ironhide grunted and followed after the silver Corvette.
Arcee was the bot to arrive that night. The first femme on earth, and an unbonded one at that.
Arcee drove silently behind Optimus in her pink buell firebolt XB12R form. The bike was made with elegance and speed in mind.
With Arcee now on earth the Autobots had a force of nine. Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Skids, Mudflap, Jolt, and now Arcee.
Like all bots, Jolt and the lesser twins had chosen their alt mode based on their personality. Jolt took the form of a blue Chevy bolt. Skids chose a green Chevy beat and Mudflap a red Chevy trax. The bulky little cars went well with the immature younglings.
They were almost at base when Optimus got a rather disturbing alert on his HUD. He had set a program to constantly monitor any and all posts, photos, and/or comments made in the World Wide Web about Cybertronians.
What he got greatly concerned him.
::Autobots, we may have a problem on our hands.::
A.N. Well, shit just hit the fan. And so much angst! Pretty loaded chapter. Whoo. R&R guys!
