Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers

Hasbro owns Transformers

Chapter Eleven Brushes

It was only an hour ago that Ratchet, Ironhide, and Optimus had arrived at the nearby military base. A day trip to the west coast was smooth and trouble free. When the N.E.S.T. team arrived they were transported by the Autobots. Staying in vehicle mode would provide cover from any curious eyes and protection for their human comrades if anything would arise.

Now, after local military and personnel were cleared and transferred from their new temporary base, they were allowed to roam freely in their bipedal modes.

An N.E.S.T. officer led them to a restricted hanger. The human below them held a tablet filled with information he was reading off. "We kept the Decepticon in this hanger in case the evidence would come in handy." The hanger's gates were open and the smell of old energon burned the Autobot's senses.

"The energon is still decomposing so suits are advised for humans." He said stopping at a rack with silver suits. Lennox raised an eyebrow and placed the suit on with no arguments.

The Autobots however, were looking at a mangled, once white, now grayed, Decepticon carcass. "Primus…would you look at that." Ironhide murmured.

Optimus narrowed his optics at the carnage in front of himself. On a large metal gurney was the still bleeding and offline Decepticon. He didn't know if he detected appreciation or horror in his weapon's specialist voice. He, however, was feeling neither. War had made him numb to the sights he had seen.

Nothing compared to this.

"As you can see, extensive spark damage was inflicted on the mech."

Ratchet stepped forward as the humans did. He scanned the still frame and let out a long tired vent.

Everyone was waiting on his analysis. "Well, let's start out with the obvious damage." He stepped forward transforming his finger into a flashlight sort of tool and leaned over the mech's inner workings.

"Dislocated left arm, lacerations in exterior armor and underlying protoform, energon leakage." He paused looking at the mechs' chest where there was once was white plating. "Spark pierced and mangled beyond repair. Cause of death: Spark extraction."

He looked down upon the frame seeing that there was an exit wound. Ironhide walked forward with a hum. "Defiantly a blade." Ironhide said tapping the outside of the wound. He noted the permanent smug smirk on the mechs faceplates and huffed.

"Bastard." The hulking Autobot mumbled in Cybertronain.

Optimus looked down at Lennox seeing his doubt. "An Autobot couldn't be that...violent? Could they?"

Ratchet shrugged. "Depends if feral instincts or defensive protocols took over. Cybertronians are more predatory than you think."

Ironhide's breath of laughter broke through. "Look at the spark though. The exterior ridge is smooth but then it's shredded to pieces through the back. If it were a quick strike it would be smooth."

"Someone was enjoying this and knew where to hit." The medic concluded.

Optimus's vent hitched at the realization. Only a few mechs that were Autobots wielded swords or melee weapon as their primary source of defense. A handful were so deadly. And only a few could be this violent.

Ironhide looked up to his leader upon the sound of his vent hitching. "Well I'll be damned, Prime."

Ratchet crossed his arms and bowed his helm. "So...all this time...he is really alive."

"There is only one mech in my ranks that has been known to discharge Decepticons with such taboo methods."

"Sunstreaker." Ironhide said with a nod of his helm turning to Ratchet "He's survived all those years without his brother."

"Should be impossible but if it is true that it is him, the evidence in this body supports it." Ratchet's words were heavy.

Lennox shook his head. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You mean to tell me that an Autobot did this?" He said indicating the Decepticon with a stern hand.

The Prime looked down at the human and nodded his helm. "Sunstreaker and his offlined twin were part of the gladiatorial pits in Kaon before the war. There, is where they learned their violent battle skills and were awarded with the deadliest weapons on Cybertron.

"Twin-Cybertonian blades." Ironhide said with a smirk. "Lovely, but deadly. Only a few can master such weapons. They are just as rare as the twins were."

"Are." Ratchet grumbled. His correction was on deaf ears and audios.

"Why did you keep them if they themselves were against the Autobot rules? What you guys stand for?"

Too many times had he answered this very question. It was almost routine and it brought back a bad taste on his glossa. "They were loyal, trustworthy, and fine warriors among my ranks. Without them we would have not lived to see another day in some battles."

"Okay..." He started carefully. "So they did your dirty work is what you're telling me?"

"In so many words, yes, Major." Ratchet answered for Prime. A look was pointed in the direction of the Prime. An unreadable one that held some sort of unresolved distaste.

The major was quick to move the conversation forward. "You said his brother was offlined?"

Ratchet stepped in once more. "Because they were twins they shared one spark. After Sideswipe was offlined, Sunstreaker turned for the worse. His violence stirred again. With only a half spark he is bound to fade away."

"Christ." Lennox bowed his head. "So, so where do we find him?"

"If he has not contacted or detected us by now it would be a wise guess that his communications and location beacons are offline." Ratchet said.

"Our best guess is to wait until he comes to us." Ironhide said crossing his arms. "And judging by this sorry aft here, that won't be long. He's hungry for blood."

Lennox swallowed harshly. "The hell kind of mech you got here, Prime?" He murmured.

No one answered the human. Perhaps they themselves didn't know...or did not wish to touch such a topic. Ratchet turned away from the body.

"What do you want to do with the body, Major?" The man next to him spoke, timidly keeping quiet until now. "Do you want to put him in cryostasis to preserve the remains for future experimentation?"

Lennox sagged his shoulders in disappointment. Optimus stepped in immediately. "Absolutely not." His tone was quiet yet strict.. Both Ironhide and Ratchet nodded their helms, agreeing with their leader

"While the Decepticons are our enemies, we are of the same race. We do not wish for this mech to be used as experimentation or any sort of advantage to your race."

"Humans are not to be trusted with our technology." Ironhide said with a huff.

The man next to Lennox was shaking at the knees. "It will be done." He said shakily.

Nobody dared to disobey Optimus's decisions.

Four days later

Sunstreaker was happy to bring Felicity to her first day of work. Felicity on the other hand wasn't as thrilled. It had been a very long while since she had had a decent and steady job. A job that didn't require her to look over her shoulder every now and then or stay close to a bouncer.

She swallowed harshly once more. Sunstreaker tilted his head in her direction.

"You will be fine." He said with a charming smile.

She looked at him. She appreciated his genuine words. She really did. So, she matched that smile and hummed. "What made you think I wouldn't?"

"Well, you're stiffer than a rock and you haven't stopped gulping since we left. So, maybe fake that smirk until you make it." He opened the passenger side door for her.

A seething glare was pointed at him as she got out of the Lamborghini and made her way across the parking lot. Despite it all she could feel Sunstreaker's protective glare on her back. She combed her fingers through her hair and looked behind her. He flashed his headlights before turning his engine and rumbling out of the parking lot.

As she entered the store he opened his engine up allowing a rev to rumble down the street. She rolled her eyes, this is why he told him not to drive up to the front of the store. "Showoff."She mumbled.

"Felicity!" She heard her name being called out by Claire, the woman that gave her the application the first day they came to the art store.

She was currently waving her over to the cash register. "I'm glad you could make it today."

"Yeah," She smiled with a laugh but then shrugged. "Well, I'm not really busy so..."

The blonde haired woman smiled in return. "So, let's get started on your training."

For the whole day Felicity was taught how to stock, work the register, and how to take orders over the phone for certain items. Of course it was all the simple stuff. Since Claire's father, an old man that owned the store and took a specialty in restoring and framing art pieces, couldn't lift heavy items because of severe arthritis and age, it was a job for Felicity and her.

Among conversation Felicity had learned that the art store wasn't getting the attention or business it used to. Ever since a newer and bigger outlet opened not too many blocks away, customers were a rarity. They sought the cheaper supplies without the customer service and personal level of business, it seemed.

"So that's why I hope you don't mind minimum wage for now." She explained.

Felicity placed another bottle of paint on the shelf. "I don't mind. I enjoy this actually. It's sad that not a lot of people come here though. I think this place is great."

"Really?" She said hope in her voice.

"Sure." Felicity tilted her head this way and that. "It's not too small or big but just right. There are many selections and verities of supplies. Good for advanced artists or those who want to dip their toes into the water. I bet if someone were to just get you guys out there you would do great."

A growing smile was on the woman's face as she listed to Felicity. "Thank you for that. We don't get those sort of compliments here. Since we struggle with this place and all, it's good to know we're still doing well in some way."

Felicity paused, lowering the bottle in her hand that was ready to be put on the shelf. She was surprised at her appreciation. It was really nothing but to her it was everything. She smiled with a nod. How simple kindness was, and how it changed someone greatly.

"Never a problem, Claire." Was her reply as she placed another bottle on the shelf

Two days later

"No, like this. You are doing the same mistake over and over again." Felicity blinked as Sunstreaker leaned in close from behind. Despite the frustration that took over, she felt his amazingly realistic hair flow over his shoulder onto hers. And despite the frustration, she paused not knowing what to make of their close proximity. She was still getting used to his random signs of affection, well his definition of affection. Like a simple touch of her hand or a small smile that only curled that little bit of his mouth. Or just a gentle discipline just as this.

She took in an unsteady breath as he rested his chin on her shoulder and then took his hand onto hers. Gently he pushed the hand farther back on the handle of the brush and swept the paint on the canvas. "You want the brushstrokes to be visible. It's up to the viewer to see what they're supposed to. Loosen your wrist."

Her chest felt tight and her legs became lead. What was this?

He backed away and observed her once again. "Relax. You're too stiff."

Of course she was! Didn't he see what he did to her? Just with simple touches and being so close her heart felt like fire, lightning. Felicity let out an aggravated huff. "I know, I know."

"Clearly, you need to-."

"Sunstreaker." She turned around and faced him with strict eyes.

He flinched and it was too late for Felicity to push back the tantrum he was going to put on. He was like a loaded gun. Bang. And just like that he was off. He was an untamed flame ready to burn down the forest. A ripple that could create waves. He was something else... "I'm just trying to help! You want me to teach you or not?"

"You need to relax." She insisted gently. "Something is bothering you. Ever since you woke up."

Whatever was bothering him, he wouldn't; open up that easy. Not outright. That would be too easy. She bit her lip nibbling a bit of loose skin. She had to be brave. The human placed her paint pallet and brush down on the nearby desk. Hesitantly she gripped his forearms. He jumped from the contact. Never really did she ever touch him outright. It was a shoulder bump here, and maybe a quick whack of her hand there. And maybe just a tap on his shoulder but this...her grip slid upward holding his shoulders with a firm and steady grip.

He looked away from her, pouting. She smiled at his immaturity. Felicity forced herself into his line of vision. Anger and annoyance were forgotten. Her words were gentle. "Tell me." She soothed not noticing she was brushing her fingers through his so realistic hair.

"It's nothing. I need to recharge. That's all."

She noticed how truly tired he was then. It was heavy and his holoform felt lighter and not as solid as it used to. "Then why didn't you say something? I don't mind if we stop. We have plenty of time before the art is due."

"No, we need to continue." He said pushing against her. His words were holding something from her. She was almost in reach. These game she played with him were so exhausting but so very necessary.

"No. You deserve to rest after everything we went through…" She found her voice drifting out and silencing. When was the last time he had a decent amount of recharge since he basically reset her life? "Sunny..." Her voice cracked. The woman felt guilt. Heavy and bearing down.

He turned back to her, looking down at her in concern. "What?"

"I need you to go recharge right now." Why was he sacrificing so much for her? He was injured and he needed rest despite it all he was building her home, teaching her art, and most importantly staying by her side.

"Why? I'm fine. I told you I'm just tired. I'll recharge tonight. There's no worry."

"I am though. I am worried." She held his neck in her hands bowing her head.

She felt him freeze upon the contact. His hands were by his sides in shock. It was an assuring grip, one that was more intimate than she would admit but it felt right.

Slowly he lifted his hands and placed them atop of hers. She looked up as he tilted his head brushing a cheek against her hand. Dark hair fell atop his shoulder. He was something beautiful.

"My wounds will heal. And I will rest tonight. But you are my priority. I promise I will be fine."

Her eyes were stinging as she watched him. His eyes were half lidded looking down to his hand holding him. It was such a gentle expression. Tired and heavy. But his words were a promise and she held that to him.

She released her gentle yet intimate hold on him and bowed her head.

"Can we continue?"

"Yeah..." She murmured.

He recharged that night.

Five days later

It was true. He was indeed having a hard time recharging at night. He 'slept in' as Felicity said more and more. He didn't lie when he said his wounds would heal. But it took too much time. His arm only hurt the slightest and his frame held a dull ache. The lack of nannites in his frame were the culprit. Without them, systems were bound to lag. So recharge was the compensation. His recharge was anything but restful. It was strained. His systems lagged too much to be able to fully shut down. A sort of stasis licked at his consciousnesses when he fell into a rare too deep recharge. He would snap out of it and then lay awake for hours on end, observing Felicity's vitals as she slept soundly to pass the time.

A drive would only consume energon he didn't have. So they were kept to a minimal. Transforming sounded pleasant but then again he couldn't have that luxury. Sunstreaker kept Felicity in his forefront. His own needs would come later.

His selfishness was almost foreign to him now. Taking care of her was something too rewarding. Her happiness was the gauze upon old wounds. And no matter how many times he mulled over these thoughts in the waking hours of the night he couldn't figure it out. Couldn't crack that specific code.

He was brought back from his thoughts when Felicity dabbed her brush into the red and then the orange paint awfully violently.

He tilted his head toward her. "Hey, easy."

He was ignored and he pouted. She diluted it with a dab of water and then quickly and forcefully stroked the paintbrush across the canvas causing paint to splatter on the canvas holder. Sunstreaker raised an eyebrow at her unusual temper and harshness.

He sighed in exasperation and decided to take the bait. He uncrossed his arms and pushed himself from the wall he had been leaning against. "You're mad."

"Yes."

"Should I guess why or should you just outright confess?"

She stopped turning to him with that fiery glare that could match his.

Ah, femmes were emotional creatures weren't they? "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I don't like beating around the bush." He shrugged.

"Well, then wish I could say the same for you. God that's all I ever do with you. Emotional emo bastard."

Again he bowed his head with an exasperated sigh. "You just want an excuse to beat me up verbally."

"Maybe." She tossed the brush into a cup of water. He glanced up and watched the water bleed with an orange-red. He flicked his optics to the woman and waited. And waited.

And soon enough her fire was put out in a puff of smoke. Her shoulders sagged and her face relaxed in too easy of defeat. She was something predictable now. She had every delicate fire that couldn't last for very long. It was something fierce when it wanted to be though.

She took in a deep breath and sighed it out, long and steady. She sat heavily on her bed and Sunstreaker walked to stand in front of her. His hands were in his pockets casually as he waited.

"I think you're going to leave." She said in a low voice that broke his spark. "It's selfish, I know, but after I submit my art I feel like you'll pack up and leave me."

He remained silent for a long time and she made no fuss about it. He shifted his weight looking out to the bay below. It was sunny today. So many humans took advantage of this.

"It's not selfish." He murmured quietly.

She didn't move or make any motion to speak. Sunstreaker was about to move forward and truly make sure she was alright but stopped upon her too tiny voice.

"You didn't deny it. Why would you? God, deep down I knew. I know you will. You have your duties I suppose and you're in war. I'm just a pesky human...and-."

"Yeah, you are." He scoffed rudely, cutting her off but upon her surprised expression he smirked. "But you have helped me a lot, 'city. In so many ways that I can't tick off right now."

Her eyes glistened and they flicked over his expression searching for whatever it was she was making sure of. "Really?"

"Yes."

"So you won't leave?" She hoped.

Sunstreaker left the question unanswered.

And because of that question was left untouched for so long, it haunted him that night. On top of the lack of being able to recharge correctly he mulled over that desperate question she asked. Their time would come to a close eventually. When it came would it be just as torturous and difficult as he predicted?

And along with this torture his frame was denying him decent rest. His systems were straining now. His nannites count was critically low, used to repair the plasma wound in his side, which, without medical attention, healed incorrectly.

Nannites in a Cybertronian were the equivalent to white blood cells in a human. Except in a Cybertronian, the nannites had to be replaced once used. If he ever found the Autobots, their medic would have a time with him. Fixing his sorry aft was always a fun time.

His mind would not stop racing. Lack of rest. The troubling thoughts of leaving. He was his own enemy when it came to his thoughts. No longer strong enough to box them up and put them away he activated his holoform, stepping into living room in annoyance. He brushed his fingers through his hair holding clutching his head for moment before letting his hands fall. He made his way into the kitchen. For some reason he settled on trying to find Felicity to get his mind off of his inner musings. He didn't find her there.

It wasn't that late. Usually she stayed up to read or watch her mind numbing soap operas.

He hummed making his way into the bedroom. He stopped dead in his tracks seeing Felicity lazily and diagonally sleeping in the bed. On the floor was a book she once hand in hand. Sunstreaker sighed. How she ended up in this odd position, Primus only knew.

He walked to her side and carefully straightened out her legs and then her upper body. Perhaps to a normal human she would have been heavy but to his holoform she was light as ever. He pulled the blanket over her body.

She mumbled in her sleep causing him to freeze. He didn't want to wake her from her well deserved rest. Once he knew she fell back into a slumber he continued to pull the blanket towards her chest.

The holoform backed away and studied her resting form. She was peaceful, her face was relaxed and her breathing was steady. In this state she was mesmerizing. A smile pulled at his lips. At least she was getting some rest.

He turned to walk away and noticed her painting towards the windows. He grumbled upon seeing the open paints and brushes in the water cup. He glared over at Felicity hoping she would feel it in her sleep. He sighed wearily and began to clean up the paints and brushes.

A few trips to and from the kitchen sink cleaned the brushes. He made sure with precision that they were sculpted back into their original form. He placed them in a cup upwards and sighed at his efforts. The paints were lined up neatly on a nearby shelf and the used paint was discarded.

He was now studying her work of art. His eyes scanned over each stroke and each color used. Each paintbrush and each object in the painting. It was half finished but it was her best work yet.

"Sunny…"

The holoform flicked his eyes over to the human. She was currently still and quiet, sleeping. Sunstreaker turned toward her and watched her for a moment longer. Was she dreaming? She suddenly shifted uncomfortably, face scrunching up in pain. The woman called out his name again.

He made his way over to her and sat on the side of the bed.

Sunstreaker was hesitant to reach his hand out like he did that night so long ago. He didn't understand why he paused. She had touched him willingly that day. So what made it different if he touched her? He finally reached out and gripped her hand in his, intertwining his fingers in hers.

Sunstreaker had done this so many times before when he was painting with her but the emotions behind the gesture were so different now. He brushed a thumb over her hand and in return she gripped it gently. He held his breath. He was about to let go and pull back but she gripped it more. "Don't go. Stay here."

Sunstreaker watched as she opened her eyes and wearily looked up to him, tears had formed. A nightmare. About what he could only guess, but seeing her this way made his spark ache in a way he hadn't felt in a long while.

She looked down at her hand in his. Her voice was garbled but he understood her all too clearly. "You protected me…gave me a home. You gave me so much but please just one more thing, Sunny. I want to be selfish. Just thisonce." She whispered.

"Just, don't go."

Sunstreaker's spark felt like it was suffocating. He set his jaw. His eyes burned but he willed his emotions away. Reluctantly he released her hand and stood for a long moment contemplating to leave.

She sucked in a breath of fear and sat up.

Their eyes met and for a moment the world was quieter than it was. Hazel blues met crystal blues that seemed to glow in the dark.

He moved against his will climbing onto the bed. She turned towards him wrapping her arms around his body and he brought his holoform close to hers. Chest to chest they intertwined and lay. A sound so desperate left her as she bowed her head under his own. She couldn't have clung any harder but to him it felt more securing that anything he had felt in a long while. With it came a song that rang through his spark and frame. With it came the peace of the moment. Nothing else mattered. Not the fear of leaving behind his human or the Decepticons or his spark giving out one day.

A sound just as desperate left his throat as he willed his eyes closed.

Just for now they would lay and be together. Just for now could they both rest and not fear the coming days. Just for now could they lay.