Inferno glanced at Red Alert, who had a rather confused look in his optics

Inferno glanced at Red Alert, who had a rather confused look in his optics. Inferno grinned easily as he threaded expertly through the piles of junk that he had never bothered to clean up, gently tugging Red Alert towards the hologram projector on the wall. "Prime ordered that you are to rest for the rest of the day." He said, grinning widely, "And I volunteered to keep you company."

Red Alert opened his mouth, and closed it again. "I got this brand new treat too. It's called Ice Cream." Inferno continued blithely, grinning like a loon. "And, I also convinced Sideswipe to giving me the next movie in the 'Datsun' series."

Red Alert perked up noticeably at that. He had always loved the series, since it was filled with enough intrigue to keep him guessing. Surprisingly enough, he almost always guessed the right mech too. Inferno settled him onto a chair, and soon the movie was up and running.

Then Inferno brought out the ice cream. Red Alert took his first bite unthinkingly, and nearly dropped the spoon in surprise. "Cold!" he murmured, eyeing the bowl with surprise. Inferno settled down next to him, almost touching. Red Alert took another bite to get his mind off of how close the fire truck was. "And sweet."

Red Alert took a moment to savor the different tastes that swirled around on his tongue. Inferno watched, his spark nearly breaking as smile of pleasure flickered across the bot's face. He could always remember seeing Red Alert sitting in the cafeteria, alone and lonely. Inferno, of course, had wandered over and introduced himself. From there, they had steadily built the relationship up.

Now, the fire truck was in love, and couldn't quiet figure out how or why. It seemed to go against all natural laws to fall in love with a mech who so guarded his own room so well that you had to get through two different security codes.

It should be impossible for it to happen. But it had. And Inferno wasn't about to complain.

It wasn't until late that night that Inferno finally, and reluctantly allowed Red Alert to leave. He masked this sorrow with his usual grin, and watched from his doorway as Red Alert walked down the hallway. His grin slipped and faded as he saw Disingenu slip out of another hallway, and began shadowing the other's steps.

Inferno made a snap decision. With his own, quiet footsteps, he shadowed the two.

Red Alert couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed, but he forced himself to calmness. Silently he allowed his footsteps to wander away to a more deserted area of the ship, not wanting to wake up anyone if he was wrong. No sooner had he stepped into a camera blind spot, than Disingenu's voice breathed into his auditory receptor, "now, now, you've been a bad boy haven't you?"

All of Inferno's unwitting bolstering disappeared. Red Alert trembled, stiff as a board. "Turn around and look at me." The voice hissed, it's snake-like quality further weaving the mech into his spell.

Red Alert turned slowly, his optics as wide and blank as a deer caught in a headlight. Disingenu saw this, and nodded in approval. Just a little more work, and the mech would be his. Slowly he backed Red Alert against the wall, keeping out of the camera's view. No need for the security director to see what he was about to do.

Slowly he bent over until his optics were on the same level as Red Alert's. "Now." The voice lashed into Red Alert, making his flinch. "You really should feel honored. No one else would even bother to get to know you."

Red Alert's CPU fought to work under the hypnotic voice that poured self-doubt and misery upon his life. "Inferno—" he murmured, trying to clear his thoughts.

Disingenu hissed, "--Doesn't love you. Who could? He just feels sorry for a pitiful broken down mech. He would do the same for anybody. In truth, all he wants to be is rid of you before you weigh him down any more."

In truth, Disingenu was furious. Red Alert saying the name confirmed what he had guessed. Red Alert was in love, and from the looks of it, Inferno liked him back. It had the potential to undo all of his work…

Red Alert groggily shook his head. Disingenu's hand reached up beneath the chin, forcing Red Alert to stop. "You don't believe me?" Now the tone had a pattern of hurt, oh, how Red Alert wished it would stop. He couldn't stand the hurt.

"You honestly don't believe me? I am the only one you can trust." Once again the tone had shifted, digging its way into the poor, confused CPU of Red Alert.

Red Alert could almost feel himself being torn in half. No, he realized distantly, even as he fell further underneath Disingenu's spell, no, part of me is vanishing.

Somehow the thought terrified him, making him weakly lash out. Disingenu easily caught the sluggish arm, pressing a point. With a soft cry, the arm went limp. Then, the Ebony and Aqua mech bent low, and kissed Red Alert on the lips, just as Inferno rounded the corner.

Haha! Feel the agony of Red Alert! (cackles evily while Inferno comes up with knife) (stab)

Inferno: I apologize, she hasn't been getting enough sleep, but the story will get better…RIGHT!

Me: eep!