Disclaimer: No-one, no-place, nothing. I own none except for what is mine and L.M. Dodger's. Have fun and enjoy.

000000000000000000

Chapter 10

Shadowhawk stared at the floor and gave a frustrated sigh. "Primus!" That little monster is right. She is not a Decepticon. We don't show affection the same way. But how am I supposed to be close to her?

"I don't know anything about relationships," he said aloud. Maybe . . . by observing the couples here, I can learn! But . . . is Leah willing to court me? I shouldn't ask her yet . . . I will wait until I am completely ready. A knock on the door distracted him.

"Come."

Tasha came in. "Well?"

Shade sighed again and stood. "I will change for her, not you and your insufficient threats."

Tasha grinned. "Well, I never was that good with threats. If you wanna see scary, look at my mom when she wakes up—you'll piss your pants! Now hurry up rinse your hair. I want your hair dark before Leah gets here so she can see."

A few minutes passed and Leah popped her head in the room. Tasha was just walking out of the bathroom. Leah looked down, pulling her headscarf down to hang around her neck with her goggles.

"I got the patch, so where is the sewin—"

"Leah, check him out."

Leah raised her head and gasped. It was still Shade's face, but he looked like Carlos! Her spirit soared as she looked him up and down. "I knew you fit his design! I knew it!" She jumped over and gave him a prideful, loving hug. It caught the two off-guard. Leah pulled away, coughing embarrassedly. "We just need to sew this on and it's done."

Tasha was calm and quiet. "Here, Leah."

Tasha handed the black thread and a needle to Leah. She smiled, motioning for Shadowhawk to sit in the chair. He was trying to regain his composure, and sat stiff as a board in the chair.

Leah walked over, smiling. She placed a hand on his shoulder and gently shook him. "You are so stiff! Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."

Never before in his long, long life had he heard those words. His eyes rose to consider her face—it shone so brightly there was no doubting her sincerity. For the first time in eons he relaxed, and she began the task of sewing the patch onto a corner of his vest's collar. He watched her sew, her fingers moving the needle swiftly. She could be an asset for more delicate procedures as a part of the Decepticon army. The thought made him scowl.

She noticed. "What are you scowling about this time?"

Slag . . . "I do not . . . like needles. What is done in this costume contest?" he asked, changing the subject.

Tasha grinned. "You hoping to get some action?"

Shade glared at the mechanic. "I do not believe that is any of your concern. I was merely curious. I have never done this before—it is my first con, remember?"

Leah smiled. "It's not much. Just stand there and look pretty!"

Shade raised an eyebrow. "Pretty? You think I'm pretty?" he said sarcastically.

Leah shoved him, grinning mischievously. "Not when you act like that!" She ruffled his hair.

He sat up, rubbing his hair back into place. "Well, how am I supposed to act?"

Tasha was right there. "Just be a little nicer—no smirking, no scowling."

He glared at her. "Come any closer, and I will scowl."

Leah covered her eyes as the two began their typical bickering. "What am I going to do with you two?" She looked at the clock—and realized the time. "Gah! We're going to be late!" she yelled, sprinting out the door. Shade followed on her heels.

Tasha bounced along behind, trying to put her boots on as she ran. "I'm coming! I'm coming! Don't wait up!"

Leah roared at her. "TASHA! THOSE BOOTS ARE NOT LACE-UPS! HURRY UP!"

Tasha's face lit. "Ohhh!" With a final shove she yanked her boots on. She couldn't catch the taller cosplayers. "DAMN YOU GIANTS!"

Leah laughed out loud—the sound was muffled by her scarf. She did a last check of her outfit. "Shade, you got your weapons?"

Shade glances down at his empty holster—a gun materialized there. "Yes."

"Good." They turned a corner, and Leah slid dangerously on the now-linoleum floor. Shade barely saved her from falling and pulled them both into line. Tasha wasn't so lucky.

"WAH!!!" she slammed into another cosplayer, and stumbled into the decorative trees. She stood quickly and mumbled her apologies before slipping back into line. She shoved her hat back into place with mock dignity as her friends laughed. Leah began picking at fake moss that had somehow gotten in Tasha's hair.

Tasha went stiff. "Dear . . . BOB! Is it a spider??" Her voice was high-pitched and squeaky.

"If it were, would I be touching it?" Tasha's eyes were still wide as dinner plates behind her sunglasses. She was about to jump into Leah's arms when Leah threw the moss away. "Ok, it's gone."

Tasha instantly clung to Leah, "OH, THANK YOU LI-LI!" Leah tried to push the leech off of her. "Yeah, yeah, now let go! I like to breath."

Shade pulled her off, seeing she wasn't going to let go.

"Nooooo . . . my LI-LI!!"

Suddenly, the announcer was on. "All right, ladies and gents! The costume contest is now starting! First up: Naruto from Shippuden!"

Characters from dozens of animes and games came and went, and Tasha was growing nervous. Soon, they were next.

"Li-li! How are we going to pose?!"

Leah snorted. "Like we just killed a bunch of zombies. Try to look tough. It'll be fine."

The announcer took the next card. "Next: Alice, Claire, and Carlos from Resident Evil: Extinction!"

The crowd went wild—finally, something besides Naruto and Bleach! Leah stood confident and weary—just like a soldier should, Shade thought. He stood as he would normally before a fight. Tasha became a drained soldier, weary from too much fighting . . . or too much thinking.

"I think that her brain imploded," he whispered to Leah.

Leah could barely stay serious; she struggled to hide a bout of laughter. "Don't make me laugh! It's not part of my character," she whispered back.

Tasha glared at Shade and stood tall, nearly matching Leah's height. Shade quirked an eyebrow and straightened, completely putting Tasha to shame. "And next up is: Orochimaru, from Naruto!" Tasha led them off the stage, mock sobbing.

Leah sighed and walked over to Tasha, motioning for Shade to follow. He was surprised, but came closer. Leah wrapped one arm around Tasha's shoulder and the other around Shade's back. "No matter what happens, we did incredible, we look incredible, and we are the best-dressed in this whole place."

Tasha looked up from behind her hands. "You suck at lying, you know that?" Leah's face seemed to crack. "You're as nervous as I am, aren't you?" Leah hung her head.

Shade rubbed her back. "We are certain to do well. We are different from the others, and seem to have garnered approval from the audience."

Leah began to laugh, then raised her head to stare at him. "It seems like you are getting the hang of the anime con."

Shade scratched his chin. "Perhaps."

One thing to say, SHADOWHAWK IS BECOMING HUMAN!

Review

*Runs off as Shadowhawk chases her*