Chapter 14: The call
Cliffjumper missed the first call.
It had come right after their battle with the Decepticons and he had been scrambling with everyone else to organize and repair and regroup. The Cons had launched three separate attacks on a refinery, a storage site and an energon mine. It was one of their larger and more brutal raids. They had gotten away with a lot of energon but they hadn't managed to actually take over any of the locations, which was as good a consolation prize as he was going to get. But now, he and every other Autobot was checking things over, doing inventory and trying to get some clear numbers on their losses.
So when his comm chimed in the middle of a briefing with Kup, he had ignored with without paying close attention to the number. It wasn't until he finally had a chance to breathe that he realized he had missed Axle 's call. Heading for his room on his break and luckily finding it empty, he called back.
:Cliffjumper?: Axle asked after the first ring.
"Hey" Cliffjumper replied, throat suddenly dry, "Sorry about missing your call, things got a bit crazy today."
:Decepticon attack right? I heard, are you alright?: Cliffjumper smiled as he heard the soft question. It felt nice to be worried about.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You and your group ok?"
: Yes: Axle returned :We're alright…:
Silence stretched between them. Cliffjumper suddenly felt very awkward, considering his new thoughts on Axle . As he was about to speak, Axle blurted out: Can we meet?: quickly, as though uncertain.
Without even thinking about it, or how he was going to get off base, or how others would see it, Cliffjumper answered "yes!"
The minibot was walking for the door as Axle said :meet you there: and clicked off.
End chapter 14