Understood

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Chapter 8

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Gamma put her hands on her hips as the Decepticon's romantic drivel went on. "I mean it darling. You don't have to live like this. You don't have to. I'll get us an apartment and you can stay home and relax."

"No. I'm not interested. Tailgate, tell him I'm not interested."

Tailgate sighed. "She's not interested," he parroted. The young mech's offer actually sounded pretty good to him. He wasn't exactly handsome, but he was offering a life of love and leisure.

"But I love you darling. I love you like I've never loved anyone in my whole life."

"You don't even know my name," she pointed out. "And you're wanting to bond with me?"

"I don't have to know your designation to know how much I want to be with you." He took her hand from her hip and pulled it to his face and kissed it. "And when I know your name, I'm going to carve it upon my spark chamber. No! I'm going to carve it upon my spark itself!"

Gamma groaned quietly. "Tailgate, don't ever be anyone's first."

"Please, I love you and I'm not going to leave you." The mech pressed her hand to his cheek.

"Look, don't make me call an enforcer."

The olive-green Decepticon looked desperate but stepped back a bit. "Tell me what I have to do to make you love me. I'm offering you everything. My life. My spark. My love."

Tailgate sighed again. The mech was seriously smitten with the black and pink minibot. He and Swerve had been close since getting together, but never 'in love' as they say.

"Come back and ask me when you're a captain," answered Gamma.

"A captain? That's what you want?"

"I'd want a captain over a brand new rank-less recruit."

"Then that's what I'll be. Tell me your name, and I'll ask you again when I've been promoted to captain."

"I'm Gamma of Kaon Bridges, and I'll be here waiting for you," she said.

"Gamma..." he said with a smile, his processors drifting into a happy state. "Give me one kiss and I'll let you go."

Gamma obliged him. "And what's your name? So I'll know who's coming for me."

"It's Skyserpent of Vos."

"Well then Skyserpent of Vos. I'll see you when you're a captain."

"You'll see me before. I'll be back to visit you when I have money." He stole a quick kiss and then walked away, looking back at her and waving.

"That's so romantic," Tailgate gushed.

"It's only romantic in the holovids," Gamma said, unmoved by the olive-green mech's affectionate display. "He'll be dead within a vorn or two. Long before he becomes an officer. That's the reality."

"There's still a chance though."

"I suppose. Some of them do make it."

"And you'll be his if he does?"

"I would. It would be nice to be a captain's woman. Though chances are if he ends up on the promotion track he'll forget about me long before that happens."

"You think so? He really seems taken with you."

"Tailgate. Come over to reality. I'm just a passing fancy. A distraction from the misery of daily life. An available frag when you need it."

Tailgate looked up the dark street where the mech had gone. "I'll try to remember that."

"Do, or you'll end up with a broken heart or strung out on circuit boosters, or probably both."

"I will."

"Good," Gamma smiled. "You're a sweet if naive mech, Tailgate. I'd hate to see you end up like so many of us do."

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"Understood" continues in Chapter 9

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