Though it may seem random, I would like to dedicate this chapter to one of my good friends, whose name I shan't reveal. But I must say, that she was the one who inspired me to create the character of Misery; many of Misery's experiences and hurts are based on my friend's, which she has told me. So it's pretty much 'based on true story'.
May she find happiness someday as Misery may, at least in my story.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN TRANSFORMERS. I ONLY OWN THE PLOT AND THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS OF THIS FANFIC.
First day was just the continuity of fun and games. The sun was bright, as always, and the weather was mercifully good, for their sake. Misery wouldn't have minded another torrent of rain, but she was grateful to see people having fun. The moment they arrived and left all the belongings in the lodging, everyone dashed out to play at the beach. The Autobots seemed to be fascinated with the ocean; its great salt water and borderless amplitude was something they did not have in their home planet. They'd all marveled at it when they saw it.
Misery sat on the field of white sand, away from the wet beach and the sea, watching Will and the Autobots' holo-forms play a game of beach volleyball. Sarah, May and Annabelle were just few feet away from them, making sand castles. May was laughing, with sand all over her t-shirt and shorts, but looking happy nevertheless. It brought small smile to Misery's own lips; it was good that the child was having fun. After all, Misery wasn't sure if she could have some… It felt somewhat awkward to join other people. Though it was true that her previous 'talk' with Optimus had opened her eyes somewhat, a little, she still felt stiff about letting people into her heart. She couldn't help it. It was like an old reflex, embedded into her bones and heart. And after all, some measures of security won't hurt anyone… she thought.
"You might resent me for saying this… but in my opinion, you're just very lonely. You want somebody in your life."
"I had a lover. I lost her just before I came to this planet…"
"When I found out, I was devastated. It hurt so much, I thought I'll never be able to love anyone again. Yet still, it healed, with help of my comrades and friends. It does help to allow someone into your life."
"That is life, Misery. It cannot be perfect. It may hurt more often than other times. But if you make it to the end, even the sorrows become beautiful songs."
Don't leave me.
Misery shook her head, hard. "Ugh, damn it all. Just… go away."
"Do you want to be left alone right now?" she heard a voice, and she turned to see Optimus standing there- his holo-form, to be exact. She blinked.
"No, uh…" she hesitated, "I was… just talkin' to myself." What a timing. She scolded herself inwardly for not keeping her thoughts inside herself.
"Lot of thoughts in your mind?" he asked, slightly more casual. He sat down next to her, not too close but not too far. Even in this hot, sunny weather, his holo-form was wearing the uniform-like jacket and trousers, blue in background with red flames. Even Misery, who rarely wore anything other than dark-colored, long-sleeved polo necks and jeans, was wearing something different for the occasion: a pair of shorts, a jacket and a sleeveless shirt under the jacket. The jacket was perhaps a bit too big for her, but it was her favorite item of clothing.
"Kinda," she muttered, squinting against the sun. It was stupid, she knew, to be out in the sun without any sort of protection against all the ultraviolet rays, but she couldn't be bothered. Again. The shouts from the men caught her attention. It seemed that her uncle had scored. He was high-fiving Bumblebee, while Ratchet slapped Ironhide on the back in a reprimanding manner.
"Why don't you join your sister and aunt?" asked Optimus, gesturing towards the girls who'd begun to dig a sand tunnel.
"Why don't you join the guys? They're having fun alright." She replied back, just as same.
"Then the numbers wouldn't be equal." He lifted one eyebrow, seemingly annoyed that her back-talking attitude hadn't disappeared. She stifled a grin.
"I'd say that making sand castle at my age is a little too late, don't you think so?"
"It is never late to have fun, I think." He said matter-of-factly.
"Then why don't you?" She said mockingly, as if she was trying to irritate him; which, she was. "You're contradicting yourself."
"I…" he tried, but failed. It amused her to no end to see the great leader of Autobots at a loss. She turned her head to spot Mikaela and Sam, faraway from anyone of them- they were standing at the cliff of craggy rocks over the sea, in each other's arms. Misery clicked her tongue. Teenagers…
"How about you and I both join the game?" suggested Optimus, and Misery turned her attention to him, "That way, we would both be having fun."
"I don't know," she answered hesitantly. Would she like to? The answer was, yes. There was nothing else she would like to do more than a game of beach volleyball right now. But suddenly timid and closed up, she only looked down, hugging her legs to her chest.
"Do you want to stay here?" he asked, his face concerned.
"I don't know," she repeated, her voice smaller. As she buried her face behind her crossed arms holding her legs, she saw May. She was standing up, staggering a little as the repressed blood flow suddenly began to circulate through her legs. Misery could see May wave a hand in big arcs towards her older sister, and she smiled and waved in return. The child dropped the small spade she had been using and started to jog towards Misery, the jog turning into trot and trot becoming sprint. Misery stood up, alarmed. What was…?
"Fel!" May practically charged into Misery, draping her arms around her waist and almost knocking the thin teenager flat on the sand. Misery coughed a little, laughing. She softened May's curls and pinched her cheek lightly.
"Having fun?" May gave a big nod, huge grin never leaving her face. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Misery kneeled down to May's eye level, pulling her for another hug.
"Why'd you stop building the sand castle?" asked Misery as they separated.
"I thought maybe you'd like to make one as well," said May, "You kept looking at us." Misery's pale cheeks were tinted slightly pink at that.
"I was just making sure you were enjoying yourself and not getting into any trouble." She mumbled embarrassedly. May giggled, and started to pull her hand. "Come on, Fel! Let's dig some tunnels! It'll be fun!"
"Huh?" Without realizing, Misery was being dragged to the infinite plain of sand by her sister, where her travel-companions were. She casted a backward glance towards Optimus, who was standing, watching them, bewildered. Her eyes were almost pleading, which was –though he knew he wasn't supposed to find them- very comical. Optimus stifled his chuckle, returning her look with his best 'What am I supposed to do?' eyes. Truly, he was glad that they were here, away from the remnants of the battle and old hurt. He was amazed at the subtle, yet overwhelming beauty of this beach. It was unlike any he had seen, and he had seen a lot. Nevertheless, he was pleased that everyone was enjoying themselves, especially his comrades. And Misery. Ever since the rainy night, she was trying to change herself, trying to be bright but not so successful, regretfully. Still, it was a progress, and there was time. Time to begin anew. According to his research, holidays usually reinvigorated mind and body, to enable life to go on with much less stress. Certainly it would do the same thing for them.
"Doing alright there, Optimus?" It was Bumblebee, speaking through the telepathic frequency which only they and other Autobots could hear. When Optimus turned, he could see Bumblebee's holo-form standing, looking at him.
"I'm fine, Bumblebee. What is it?" asked Optimus. Bumblebee shrugged.
"Felicity O'Neil's come to join our match. How come you haven't?"
"What?" Optimus turned his attention from Bumblebee's holo-form, just in time to see Misery staggering a little as she entered the makeshift volleyball court. She was smiling awkwardly at the Autobots and her uncle, who seemed surprised. However, he soon grinned and playfully slapped her on the back, making her almost fall over. "I thought she was going to play with her sister and aunt."
"Well, she isn't. Her little sister pushed her into joining us, seeing that she wasn't so eager of building a city out of sand," Some laughter was mixed in his voice, but he kept speaking, "The number's odd. Won't you join us, sir?"
"I don't think I-"
"Come on, Commander. You know you want to." Ironhide butted into the conversation, his tone burlesque. Optimus had to smile, albeit little.
"I think I'll pass, thank you very much, Ironhide-"
"Aw, come on, Optimus," said Bumblebee, goading, "Pretty please?"
"I don't think that's-"
"It could be your chance to get to know Miss O'Neil better, perhaps," interrupted Ratchet, whose holo-form was casually looking up at the sky. Optimus paused in the middle of whatever he was going to say. "You know, playing games together and all. It might help you get along."
Should I?
After a moment of hesitation and consideration, Optimus walked to the field of wet, hardened beach to join them. The Autobots grinned at him, and Optimus smiled awkwardly back in return. Misery stared at him, her eyebrows raised; she had not expected him to join. Well, it certainly evens the number… she thought as the team was split: Ironhide, Misery and Bumblebee were a team; Optimus, Ratchet and Will were in another.
"Don't think that I'll go easy on you just 'cause you're my niece, Felicity," smirked Will as he readied himself to serve. Misery only smiled warily.
The ball flew above the net, drawing an invisible arc through the sky and sunlight. Shouts burst out from a player to player, praising and alarming at the same time. It was Bumblebee who scored first, with a powerful backcourt attack. Will tried to reach the ball, but even as he dived to get it, it only brushed his fingertips lightly and bounced off.
"Damn!" He punched the sand lightly with his fist. As he stood up, Ironhide and Bumblebee high-fived, Misery watching Will somewhat smugly.
On the second game, Will's team redeemed itself, attacking with a new vigor. After few not-so-friendly exchanges of balls, Will's team started to play rough. Soon the roughness paid off, as the ball touched the sand on the side of Misery's team. Will congratulated his team members for scoring while Ironhide, on the other side, fumed. Misery giggled a little as she watched them, and unknown to her, Optimus raised his brows when he saw her laughing. She was, indeed, changing.
"Alright, let's go." The ball rose towards the sky, the sunlight momentarily blinding those who looked up to catch the sphere. The first attack was struck by Ironhide after few turns, who aggressively slapped the ball with a force that wasn't particularly necessary. After being flown and exchanged by the players, Ratchet hit it, and it headed towards Misery. She took a stance to catch it, and with all the force she had, she jumped up, her legs flinging her upright from where she
stood, her right arm stretched to smack the ball. She did, and she could feel the tingly, satisfying sensation as the leathery exterior made contact with the skin of her palm. The ball, in a dazzling speed, swished past the men and thudded on the ground. The silence was momentary, as Ironhide, with huge grin, slapped her on the back. She coughed and managed to smile faintly, though the pain had caused some tears to well up in her eyes. Optimus eyed her, surprised. The movement and the reflexes she showed were quite unexpected.
The match was over, with the score of 2 to 1.
Heeey. This is baaad… I'm sorry, as I am writing this, I am not exactly in a fit condition. Lack of sleep, should I say… So anyhow, if you liked it, please leave reviews!!