10. In which Thundercracker gets some
(Warnings for cross-faction slash, groping and very dubious consent.)
Thundercracker could not believe this.
Rather, he didn't want to be believe it. When it came to Skywarp, he'd learned long ago to be prepared for anything. But this...
"You could at least try to pretend you're not enjoying it!" he harassed his wingmate over their comm.
The response was static, broken intermittently by bursts of exclamations that didn't quite form words, though their meaning was unmistakable. Thundercracker could only make out, "But he's-- I can't-- Oh, Primus!--"
A missile blossomed on his left and forced Thundercracker's attention back to the battle. He had to swerve sharply to avoid a pincer attack from Fireflight and Skydive, which unfortunately put him into Silverbolt's sights. A shot just grazed the tip of his wing as the Seeker executed a fantastic evasive maneuver that would probably have the Aerialbots gushing later. Throughout it all, he was inwardly cursing Skywarp.
It was supposed to be a routine patrol, said the voice in the back of his processor that never shut up, even when his life was on the line. Why does this have to happen to me every time? Why couldn't I have been graced with smarter allies -- or saner enemies?
He was very, very glad Starscream wasn't here to see this. Although, the red Seeker's aim and uncanny flying ability would have been welcome company right now.
"Listen to me, Skywarp! You are a Decepticon warrior! That Aerialbot is an enemy, and you will defeat him!"
"But TC-- EEEP! Stop that!" came the desperate cry, the last part not directed at Thundercracker.
Damn, Skydive was dogging him. The Seeker commenced to weaving and wobbling like mad. "I'm gonna get fragged up here, Warp, and if I do I'm coming back to haunt you! While you're playing with one of these monsters, the others are doing a pretty good job turning me into-- HEY! What the SLAG?"
The gray F-16 was doing more than dogging him now -- he was flying behind and just a little above, barely out of Thundercracker's exhaust trail, matching him turn for turn with eerie accuracy. The Seeker felt on the verge of panic.
As if that wasn't enough, he heard a wail over his wingmate's comm that didn't sound like static... and it didn't sound like a cry of pain, either.
He caught just a glimpse of him as he turned, trying to shake Skydive. The familiar black and purple jet was careering across the sky on a haphazard course, while a black and white Aerialbot clung determinedly to his frame in robot mode. It might look to an outside observer that Skywarp was being attacked, but that wasn't the case exactly. Granted, this was supposed to be combat, and it could be registered as an attack...
If so, it was a novel one, involving neither weapons nor blows, but the determined and shameless application of touches in just the right places to produce... well, the effect was impressive, to say the least. Skywarp was as incapable of combat as if someone had nailed him down to a runway. It was all he could do to keep from stalling and dropping out of the sky like a stone. And even if he could manage to shake off the persistent Aerialbot, the question remained of whether he really wanted to.
Curse you to the pit, Skywarp. Only his idiot wingmate could be put out of commission by something as simple as that. Any real warrior would--
A transformation noise was the only warning before a solid weight dropped onto Thundercracker's back, causing him to lose altitude sharply. As he managed to pull level again, he felt arms and legs latching securely onto his fuselage, and then a hand began to make its way along the rim of his cockpit...
PRIMUS! He bucked, pitched and yawed in a startled attempt to escape, but it did no good. The hand slipped back and went to fondle the joint of his wing meeting his body. To his horror, an indecent shudder wracked his body, and his vocalizer spat out a mewling sound.
"... TC? You okay?" Skywarp sounded weak and frazzled.
"... Fine. Everything's just... fine." Frag it, at least the bastards weren't shooting at them... for now. They'd definitely get a good laugh out of it later at the Seekers' expense. Thundercracker, however, was rapidly losing his ability to care about a thing like that.
"The minute you stop, Aerialbot," he transmitted to the one on his back, "I'm going to kill you."
A chuckle in response. "You just keep thinking that." Fingers slipped into the hinge joint of his wing, stroking wires that really didn't need to be stroked in mid-flight. Thundercracker had to stop taunting and concentrate on remaining airborne, because he'd be slagged if he was going to crash before it was over.
Besides, what Starscream didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
- - - - -
Sorry if that seemed a little weird. Still suffering writer's block, and I kind of had to force this chapter to come out. The idea, though, has been floating in my head for days. (In case you couldn't tell, Air Raid grabbed Skywarp first, and then it's Skydive who jumps on Thundercracker. It's from the Seekers' point of view, so it might not have been clear.)
Virgo1: Told you I'd do it. Sorry it didn't come out better.
Elariel: Nice to be getting reviews from you again. I promise more cuddling and groping in future chapters, because I'm losing the battle with the horny plot bunnies anyway.
Lady Ohina: Glad to have you on board! Hopefully you won't have to wait long.
Veg1ma and Crimson: Superion does indeed kick aft.
Artemis-chan: They rely on each other in battle, so it's only fair they'd stick up for one another in their personal lives.
tomorrow4eva: I think Superion's coldness has more to do with his combat programming, but Silverbolt's seriousness definitely gives him an edge. I also think that being addressed in the Aerialbots' voices was actually the scariest part for Powerglide.
Silveriss: They cracked up and toasted Powerglide's stupidity, I'd imagine. Nothing too special, and I didn't want to wander too far from the focus of my story (the Aerials), but I might edit that chapter later to include their reaction. Otherwise I leave it to your imagination.
Hearts to my readers. Give me your thoughts!