Prime Blood Drift Chapter 7

Sparklink Internal thoughts /comlink/

{present}

Narc recalled that memory as well. Looking down to her sleeping son, a product of her intense passion for her mate and a bit of help from a good friend, "Oh our sweet spark, I do not hate your sire. I love him intensely, maybe too much." Narc lays her head closer to her precious gift feeling his soft breaths against her cheek.

Just like now, that memory the pair share, had overwhelming emotions that gripped and nearly crushed the breath from her systems. Frozen. It hurt to breath. A thought was crippling. Narc felt the tears streaming down her face. She knows, she just may have pushed Drift too far this time.

He was no fool. He is highly skilled and extremely devoted, there had to be a reason to his actions. He didn't do anything without a reason. Try as she might, she just could not figure out what it was. It was very apparent, the mech was holding something back from her. Something about her. Something about them. What could it be?

She opened her side to their bond fully. What she found was pain. Intense pain to their link. Like someone was trying to stretch or cut a tendon cable with a very dull rusty blade. Saddest of all, it was them. Both of them sawing away at the bond.

She felt him sigh. He felt her reach out and caress his spark. She felt him accept her touch. He didn't reach back, afraid to taint her and their innocent son. Instead, of arguing or pushing, he pulsed a moment of time. One near forgotten….

{flashback}

It had a been silent long time since Narc sat on the hospital bench waiting for Coco and watching her spark mate run for his life from her father. She fell into her spark-aching silent routine. The first few days were horrific. The silence was deafening, crushing, agonizing… The normal jovial and fun Narc was replaced by near silent solemn business owner. Efficient, organized, compassionate as usual, but not out going.

Even her sire coming by with a bear-hug, warm smile and her favorite Energ-fudge wasn't enough. CHiP cups his daughter's face when she only stares at the fudge and tenderly makes her face him, "Hey, did that escort of yours break your spark? I can make a few calls." The warm smirk to the very real threat was enough to bring out a reaction.

"That won't be necessary, Daddy." She hugs him back. "Tell Mother thank you for the fudge."

"It didn't come from her. Some mech named Seaspray dropped it off from his sister's tanker-stop diner."

A smile beams, "Oh Conch and Kelp sent it." She did so miss her friends, and that night on the cliff with…

CHiP now narrows his gaze with a leading tone, "Yes, they did." Narc picked up on there being more to his visit. She pays attention. "Seaspray said something about an incident at the conference. Are you alright?"

Narc furrows her brow, "What, that merchant arrested for selling stolen goods? I never did business with him."

CHiP watches her carefully holding her a bit tighter, "No, not that. I'm talking about the attempted murder of another mech. You, Conch and Kelp were with his mate on the beach during the attack. Do you have any idea why he would have been targeted?"

Narc began to shake a little, for once nervous that all her parents' warnings could actually been fact, "Daddy, what are you talking about?"

CHiP knew his daughter well enough to know she didn't know anything about the attack but the new news was upsetting her. He knew he had to tread very carefully now. Narc could snap in several different reactions. Taking a sigh, he cupped her face again, giving her a warm smile, "Well, I guess I'm just glad you did take our advice and take a body guard. Hum?"

Narc was no dummy, she knew he was hiding something, "Even if you don't approve of him?"

He chuckles, "Present company excepted, your choice of mech friends has been questionable in the past."

A slap of the spatula on the pass-through window snapped the Chief Enforcer's attention up, " 'Scuse me sir, but I resent that remark!"

CHiP could only laugh to the burly rough cook who would never hurt a fly and yet kill to protect his boss. "My apologies, Coco." With that, CHiP's com went off. He listened intently on the closed-com incoming messaged. With a heavy sigh, he sent a reply that he would be joining his team. With a warm stroke to his only heir's cheek he sighs, "Please, Narc, be careful. I know you think I'm only worried about your safety, but that isn't the case at all." With a knuckle, he taps her covered spark, "The most valuable item in the universe is my daughter's spark. And I just can't bare the thought of it being abused, hurt or taken advantage of."

Narc covers his hand seeing the deepest truth in his words, "Maybe you need another sparkling."

A sad smile crosses his face, "Believe me, it wasn't from lack of trying. But Primus just didn't grant us that. I guess we were deemed worthy of only one, and I will protect her every way possible." Narc leans in closer to her sire. It has been so so long since she was a sparkling curling up into his big burly arms for a story or snuggles. But here he was, knowing she was seeing someone serious and frightened she will make the worst mistake of her life, forever domed to disappointment and sorrow. "Please, before you bond, let me meet the mech who will take you away from me."

"Daddy, if any mech thinks he will come between me and my sire, he is not for me."

CHiP kisses her forehelm, "That's the smart femme I raised. Please, come to dinner this week. Please?" How could she say no to that? So she just nods. With that, he was gone, but not the words or the warmth.

~~00~~

It was two seasons later before Narc saw Drift again. (This was the memory he wanted her to remember.) Narc dashed up the stairs to her loft, laughing with Fila on her heals. Tossing open the door, she froze instantly. Something was wrong. Fila slammed into her stilled back.

"What is it, Narc?" The head waitress sounded concerned.

Narc scanned the room swiftly. There was a warmth she hadn't felt in so long, it was almost forgotten. More than that, the room was dark. Very dark. She always liked the windows open and lit by celestial light. Yet her mate…

There! She saw the lump in the berth. Her spark skipped a few pulses. And yet, the waitress asked again, "Narc?"

Swiftly Narc stumbled over a reply, "Scrap, power's out again. Must be that fuse again. They told me not to plug so much in. Um, why don't you get us a couple glasses in the main room. I'll just grab the data pads and meet you."

"You sure that's all?" Fila was sure Narc was lying.

"Yeah, what else could it be?"

"Oh, a mech."

Narc turned her scowl to her trusted employee, "If it was a mech then why the Pit would I still be going to a meeting with you? Go get the glasses. Jeeeze! Mech, pleeeease!" With that she shut and locked the door in Fila's face.

With hurried steps, she tripped her way across her messy room only to crash to her knees at the berth side. "Drift? Are you really here?"

The slumbering mech only mumbles her name. Pushing through their bond, she can feel he is deeply asleep and really needs it. Medicated. Rising to her peds, kisses his temple and heads back to the door. Let him sleep while she plans that graduation party, and then come back to his arms. What a wonderful way to celebrate!

Fila knew something was up when Narc was swift in her planning of the meal, music, and events to the enforcement academy graduation party. Like she just pulled up the one from last year and only adjusted the numbers. Copy, paste, DONE! Fila tried all kinds of new ideas, but Narc disregarded them all. Downing the last of her glass, gathering up the items off the table, she all but shoved Fila out the door.

"Narc, what is wrong with you?" Fila tried again.

Narc giggled nervously, "Oh, alright, I have a date. But NO he's not upstairs. I just kind of forgot." Fila narrowed her gaze. Now the business owner did shove the employee out the door. "Tomorrow, at your regular shift, good night!" Slam, lock, and she was out of the room dashing through the kitchen, dumping the items on the counter, curling around the corner up the stairs and locking the door to her private loft.

Leaning softly against the door, she gave her optics a few moments to adjust to the very dark room. Normally she doesn't have to worry about where she has scattered her paraphernalia because star or moonlight always filtered through one of the three large windows illuminating the landmines of spare armor, accessories or projects. Yet, her mate did not want to be seen and therefore had closed all the blinds that she rarely closed making the room near pitch dark.

Narc takes a couple steps forward and finds her emergency light. Like candlelight, a low very soft glow. Activating it, she made her way across the room to her berth and her sleeping mate. During her absence, he had rolled to his back, wrist draped across his optics. Narc sets the light onto the cluttered stack of empty crates (turned into a makeshift nightstand). Curling her peds under her, she just looked down on the handsome white mech with her warm berth covering pulled up to his throat. Even with most of the face covered, she could still see the bruising and fresh welds. He's recovering, no wonder he was so tired. Ever so carefully, she leans over and kisses the lips healing a painful split. His chin lifts into the soft touch, wanting more and then wincing.

"Hey there handsome," she whispers. He just groans letting the wrist roll to grip the optics with the palm instead. Narc kisses his nose tip and pulls back. There's a nasty healing wound to the upper un-armored arm as well. Looking carefully, she knows he is naked under the covering, but she is sure it's not for intimacy, but more likely from healing from his wounds. When his other arm rises to lay on the pillow above his helm with another mutter in his sleep, Narc takes advantage to see how badly her mate is damaged. Making her movements as slow and unobtrusive as possible, she pulls the covering down from his body, and softly gasps.

A huge weld runs from his shoulder, across his center chest to the ribs. Whatever had sliced, had gone through his heavy armor and cut deep into the soft underarmor. Right across the narrow line between the spark and cord slits damaging the lips to both. Narc knows that was an extremely painful strike, probably dropping him to his knees. There's a nasty burn mark to his neck, the thigh has a brace… he probably should be in a med bay.

"You should see Speck," the voice is gravely and dry. She nearly didn't recognize it. Only because it rumble from beside her, did she know to came from her mate. Swiftly, Narc brought him fresh Energon from an unopened cube she kept in her upstairs pantry.

With a groan, and a wince, did he rise to a slight sitting position. Keeping his optics closed, she helped him hold the cube and drink it. He couldn't take much and pushed her hand away. Carefully he eased himself back down to his side, making room for her as well. She sets the unfinished cube on the floor, and pulls the coverings back over him. He reaches for her hand tugging it asking her to lay beside him. "I… I need you…" Afraid her light armor will hurt his healing wounds, she swiftly discards it adding to the mess on the floor. His chuckle is weak, "You know, someone could get killed breaking into this place."

Still worried for him, she tries to keep the moment just as light, "Why do think I leave it this way?" With a few more pitches, she is ever so carefully lining her length beside his.

"Come closer, Narc. I won't break." She whimpers for him. Knowing her hesitation, he drapes a wrist over her hip, cupping the aft, and pulling her to touch his body. Curling an elbow under a pillow, he lays his thumping helm down and sighs, "Oh, so much better." Ever so carefully, she presses her head just under his chin and places an open kiss to his throat. He hums his approval. "Even better."

Maybe the room was silent of audio sound. But the bond was singing a ballad that could rock the walls. And the warmth radiating from the sparks so close together again, was enough to burn the building to the ground… again. Drift pressed his own lips to her helm top. Ever so lightly, she found a piece of his body not beat, bruised or broken and caressed it, "Shh, just sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

"M'kay," is mumbled.

It took longer for her to fall asleep than him. Silent tears slipped out. She knew his life was dangerous and knew he was a soldier, but his life had never crossed hers before. Now, here he was battered and bruised in her arms. Easily, she could have lost him. Who knew and Autobot body was so fragile? {end flashback}

Narc reached through their bond. His spark feels as bruised, cut and battered as his body looked that night. Only this time, she had beaten him up.

No, you didn't. I did this to us… to you. He tries to let her know.

Come to me Drift. Come home. She pleas.

Not yet, I need you to remember something.

{return to flashback}

In the morning, Narc awoke to someone purging. Swiftly she launched from her berth into the wash room. Sure enough, it was her mate. "Drift?" her voice wavered with worry.

Even though he was paler than his normal snow white underarmor, he lit her a smile. "Anti-infection meds always do this to me. I'll be fine." And then dry-purges once more. Narc moves to him and wraps an arm around his waist in support. He rinses out his mouth at the sink and then lets her lead him back to bed. She fussed the sheet around his fevered battered body. But he grips her hand, "Sit with me, Narc." She does and mewls a soft sound stroking his brow. This brings a soft smile to him and he hums into the touch. "Sweetspark, believe it or not, I have been much worse in the past." To which he moves her hands down to his hips and the scars she knows were from his lower half being replace. "This is nothing, but all the better with you."

"You escaped the med-bay, didn't you?" she carefully asks.

"Heh, yeah. Topspin is royally pissed. I really don't care. He said R&R, so here I am." He rubs her palm warmly, "Don't let me keep you from your life. I'm probably going to sleep most of the time anyways. I really don't want to take those pain killers, but if you want, I will so I can-" he gives her a rather seductively wicked kiss. They both know that with fresh welds over the lips of the cord's port, it would be excruciatingly painful. Probably would not end with pleasure. Besides, he hasn't the strength for that activity.

"How did you get here if Speck is a mess?"

"Seaspray dropped me off headed off to see his sister. He knows nothing, don't worry. In fact said there was a great little diner here where I could pick up some good grub." Narc joins his laugh. Then the moment slips silent. "I have to go meet my parents for brunch today."

"That's fine. Go, enjoy."

She huffs heavily, "That's two different statements. Mom has been hounding me about dating. She even has one lined up for me."

"It's not that cop is it?"

"I don't think so. Daddy understand my clear dislike for him and won't push me, but mother… well she just moved onto the next poor mech."

Ever so weakly, Drift's limbs droop and so does his voice, "Want me to kill him?"

Narc smiles brushing his brow again, "You can't even kill a fly right now. Besides, I'm taking my serving tray for protection."

Drift chuckles heavily until he starts coughing, "Oh Primus, that hurts." She lays down at his side letting him place her palm in a safe place. "Oh Primus, that feels so good."

"Drift, I never want to leave this. Will we ever have…." But he has slipped back to snoring sleep. Narc lay with her mate a little while longer until she knew it was time to go.

Dressing as conservatively as possible, and carefully moving obstacles out of the way to the waste/washroom, she reluctantly made ready to leave. With a last soft kiss to her mate's bruised lips, left her loft.

At her parents' door, CHiP answers the door. Once again, he can see his daughter's agitation to being set up on a blind date, mixed with something else. Something deep. Without a word, Narc slips her arms around her sire's waist silently begging him to hold her. Instinctive parental intuition, holds her to him and places a kiss to her helm top. A few minutes later, Saffron bustles in and huffs, "Oh please, it's not that bad! Quit acting like a sparkling and come on. We are dining in the garden." Saffron twirls away with a swish of her fabric attire. Narc lifts her head and they exchange the "prisoners death walk" expression, which only sends them into a fit of giggles.

CHiP taps her nose, "At least you get to go home after this. I get to listen to why you turned this one down again and the post interrogation. Thank you very much."

Narc reaches up and kisses her sire's cheek. "I love you daddy."

"Slagg'n well better!" he snarks tucking her hand to his elbow and escorts her to the garden.

~~~ Narc was actually a bit cheerful heading back to her loft. Drift awakens at her return and shuffles himself to a sitting position. "Well, you look better than when you left."

Narc pecks his lips, "So do you."

Drift laughs back, "So tell me, who was this mech who so captured your interest."

Narc gleefully plops down next to him and begins chucking off her accessories. "Well, actually, Daddy and I had such a good time watching Mother talking to Horis. Our own joke was that Horis was actually courting Mother rather than me. It was so much fun. While they huddled in the corner talking business forgetting all about us, we got a chance to catch up and just have a good time again." Her chin nearly waivers, "I should send Mother a thank you note for letting see my Daddy again."

Drift leans forward stroking her face, "You really did have a good time today, didn't you?" Narc tearfully smiles. "I'm very happy for you."

"Well, the day isn't over yet, and I'm free. So, up for a game?"

He smirks, "You do know I spend more than half my life in the Lushun System, right?"

"And you do know undercover cops were my babysitters, right?"

Drift rubs his palms together, "Oh yeah, bring it on."

"And just what do you have to bet with, buddy?"

"Look under my armor, I brought you a gift." Narc buries through it and pulls out a fabric bag or something jingling. She peers in confused, "Copper taffies." he responds Her eyes go wide. "I heard you had a soft spot for them." Now her eyes narrow, "Conch talks, a lot."

"Hence not telling them about you." He waggles a finger at her, "Fine, fine, I'm getting the cards."

~~~~ Two days later, Perceptor came into town with a pink and yellow femme at his side. Perceptor paged Drift (figuring him to be at a hotel) telling him to meet him at the dinner. His timing couldn't have been any worse: the weld on his chest had healed just enough for them to attempt more intimate contact. Both groaned and put on their armor.

Carefully, Drift made his way to the front door. Narc pretended to not know him when he enters. Perceptor waves, Drift juts his chin in acceptance and carefully makes his way to the table escorted by the hostess-Narc.

Laroura is all smiles as Drift carefully lowers himself into the chair. Perceptor scowls at his friend when he winces at Laroura planting a kiss on his cheek. "Narc, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Drift. Drift, Narc is the owner of this diner and always helped us at the abbey whenever we asked. Never turned us down."

Narc quirks a brow at Laroura yet blushing to the compliment and the honest gaze of adoration Drift gives her. Narc had never mentioned this to him. Narc pulls her optics from her mate fixing them back to her long lost friend "You look very different. No robe, no sisters? And I haven't seen you in vorns and now you show up with two mechs? You have some serious explaining to do." Drift picks up his cube curious to the banter.

Laroura smiles to Percy, "I left the convent, with their blessing. I went searching for the song behind my spark." Entwining her fingers with Percy's, it was a silent answer to finding it. Then Laroura reaches over and entwines her other hand with Drift's with that certain leading look, "So, Narc are you seeing anyone currently?"

Drift starts coughing violently to the Energon going down the wrong pipe. Laroura whacks him on the injured back making him cry out and yet still coughing. Perceptor's worry for his friend just increased three fold. Drift waves off all the hands of well meaning and excusing himself from the table heading towards the rest room. Laroura heads to the kitchen, around the other side meeting Drift by the storage room. He pulls her into his arms and they continue giggling.

"Are you alright, Drift?" She strokes his chest tenderly.

He nuzzles her fore helm, "I'll be fine. Although, I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through lunch without being set up on a date with you."

Narc walks her fingers to his nape, "Oh, I don't know, I could do worse."

He leans in backing her into the open storage closet with very lecherous movements, "Yes, but can you do any better?" She guides his lips to her neck.

"Let's find out." The door closes.

~~ 00~~

A few shameful moments later, the door squeaks open and Narc pokes her head out, "Coast is clear." She steps out, his hands still on her hips, follows her. Turning in his soft grip, she tries to push him back. "We should get back to work."

He leans in pressing his fore helm to hers, "When lunch is over, I will be leaving with Percy and Laroura." She nods slowly knowing that their time is coming to a close again.

Her finger traces his insignia this time, "I'm sorry you were healing, but I enjoyed every moment. You know, like a real bonded couple with a normal life."

He can't help but smirk. Softly he trails one finger down the side of her face. "Yeah, I know." He knows what he is going to ask next could get him punched, but his spark just goes for it, "We have room in the shuttle for one more. We're headed home. Laroura could-"

A single finger tip presses to his lips silencing the sweet thought without hurting his feelings. His optics plead. The bond begs. She leans in and presses her lips to his pinning the finger in between. His hands draw their hips closer, aching for that last contact to never end.

I love you. She sends with an overwhelming push.

My spark is yours forever.

Then I go everywhere with you.

And I rest with you every night.

"Excuse me, is the restroom this way?"

Drift and Narc jump back from each other. To Narc's horror, it's Horis. Drift feels the groan in the bond. Horis smirks but says nothing as Narc points to the door for mechs.

Drift sighs as the other mech leaves, "Well, guess that's it." She nods. Like the last days of summer camp, they are both reluctant to move. He smiles a bit broader, "One, two…"

"Three," she breathes and they both turn away.

The rest of the meal was torture for Drift watching Narc go about her business and loving every moment, but not getting her to come with him that night. Narc had a very hard time not pulling up a chair and holding his hand under the table joining in with his friends. Instead, she buried her head in the kitchen.

As the meal finally closed and the bill paid, Drift, Laroura and Perceptor made their way to the front door. Drift's walk was still a bit hitched by the brace on his thigh. Narc watched her mate walk out of her view actually wishing maybe she had gone with them.

Shortly after, Horis came to the counter to pay his bill, "So, is that the reason you didn't go out with me?"

"Um?" Narc tries to feign confusion.

Horis leans in with a sleazy look and a finger hooked to her collar, "I want whatever you were giving him in the supply closet, or else."

"Or else what?" Narc picks up the spike used to skewer daily receipts bringing it dangerously close to his neck tubing. Horis feels the prick and slowly backs up. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Horis sneers, "You have crossed the wrong mech, Narc."

That night, while Narc was at a dinner party for her mother, her diner burned down again. But this time, Coco and Fila had been inside prepping a marinade for a party. They didn't make it. Narc was devastated. CHiP carried his sobbing daughter back to her old room.

Over the next couple days, Saffron tried to gloss it over telling her to let Horis take her mind off things. That only seemed to push Narc further into depression to the point of not moving from her bed. CHiP was getting extremely worried.

When Conch finally got a hold of her, having heard the rumor from a fellow supplier, Narc spilled her spark (still saying nothing about Drift).

A few nights later, Seaspray and Perceptor kidnapped Narc from her parents home.

Hammerhead arrive at Haven with knocked out Narc in the berth.

When Narc awoke, she found herself on a very comfortable berth in a strange home. A pink and lemon yellow femme was sitting in the chair beside her reading a holo-book.

Groggy and dry mouthed she managed to get out, "Laroura?"

"Hey, good morning sleepy head. Welcome to my planet. How are you feeling?"

DRIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFT! The anger and pure fury raged down their bondlink like an out of control freight train.

Drift had been sparing with Perceptor. That burst earned him a crack across the back of the helm with a training pole.

{present}

Of course I remember that day. I day of pain and anger, but also a day that began our new life. She pulsed her confusion to him bringing up that moment.

Horis. He was the one who burned down the restaurant. He was the one who killed your friends… under orders.

Drift, I'm not surprised if it was done under orders. I am surprised it was someone my mother was trying to get me to date.

Not date, bond. Think about it Narc, think about it. It would bind a contract.

The business and analytical side of her was putting it together but her spark just wouldn't let her complete the connection. No, no… your intel was wrong.

"Narc…," her head whips around. There is her mate standing in the doorway to her loft apartment. "I had to eliminate the head of the Foxsome Mafia responsible for poisoning the Autobot supply line. The one who had active contracts out for information about Haven. The biggest mistake I ever made was bringing you here. You were right."

Narc rolls to sit up and begins violently shaking her head, "No, please, no… Ask my father. Ask his contacts, it's-"Drift somehow stands firm even though his hand is shaking. "I did. He was there when I confronted her."

Narc comes to him slowly, "NO!"

"I didn't know you were incubating when I left, but I did know what I had to do."

"NO! Drift, NO!" She shakes her head harder.

"She used your sire. She was the daughter of the Foxsome Master. CHiP never knew, until you went missing."

Narc slams her fists into his chest, "No, no, no…" but the voice is becoming weaker as the truth was coming to light.

His chin trembles, "They had pictures of Mercy and Autoclave asleep in their berths." Narc has nothing to say loving her nieces as well. "They had a picture of you and I sound asleep together. Here."

Narc gapes, "She was here just-"Drift winces knowing what he has to tell her next, "She took the pictures. When she came to visit you, she placed the hidden cameras."

Narc's fists now clenched his armor, "No, please Drift, no…."

His voice completely trembles, "I thought she was lying to me about the sparkling. Her lie was cut off before she finished - We executed her." Narc's optics go wide.

"Wha-what do you mean we executed her?" It was her turn to tremble.

Drift holds her wrist tightly to his chest. Tears drip down his face, "I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to know. I didn't abandon you… I was just trying to find-" His voice hitches, "I had no idea she was telling me the truth. Please forgive me Narc. Please my love, my life please forgive me."

"Drift, you can't run any more. You better tell me everything. What do you mean WE?"

"CHiP's team and mine met at the same location. I was just faster and tore the robe away. I had her on her knees, blade to her throat when CHiP's team arrived. He completed the interrogation. I… drew the blade, CHiP the pistol."

Narc's scream pierces his soul crumbling her to his knees. He crumbles beside her gathering her to his sobbing arms.

One final chapter coming. I promise, it will have a happy ending. I promise.