Title Lick It Better
Characters Prowl, Sideswipe
Okami 'verse Dragon-verse
Summary Post battle, and Sideswipe's had another crash.
Author's Notes Written for Paleodex. Prowl/Sideswipe/Kiss it Better was the prompt. Yeah, I know, no mention of Dragon-verse, but I couldn't resist. Also, dragon-verse fics tend to be lengthy. This also should help explain Prowl and Sideswipe's relationship in this verse. Does it?
Sideswipe hissed as he pulled himself from the river. His tail twitched behind him, water burning in the gashes and scratches from his latest flight attempt. His wings ached from branches snatching at them, and Ratchet had snarled that he should thank Primus that he hadn't broken any of the delicate structures inside his wings, because he wasn't certain that he could correctly repair them.
His internal systems ached at the point where he'd slammed into one of the larger branches on the tree.
He lay on the bank of the river, unwilling to move, even though his fuel tank added to his unease with a grumble of its own. The wind cycled toward him, and he could smell the stupid beasts in the pen. But he didn't want to move so much as a limb.
Something passed over him, and landed with a thump.
Sideswipe's optics snapped open at the smell of sweet copper. Hooves dangled in front of him, and he snatched at the dainty little legs.
The creature attached to the legs fell on his long, pointed nasal ridge. He dragged it closer and tore into the soft insides, gulping down mouthfuls of flesh. He didn't need to look to know who had dropped this gift. He'd recognize the mech-beast's smell anywhere. Sideswipe lifted his snout and stretched out his neck. He whined and licked at Prowl's jaw hinge in appreciation. It didn't feel right taking this from Prowl, who was his superior.
"Eat."
Permission granted, Sideswipe made no further argument and worked over the rest of the remains. His thick hide twitched with the weight of Prowl's gaze, and he spared a few glances for the other mech-beast.
Prowl waited patiently, still standing on all four feet, and wing-things stiff on his shoulders. Only the tentacle sensors dragging on the ground gave any indication of his exhaustion. Long gashes and missing scales marred his otherwise perfect shine.
Sideswipe hadn't seen Prowl after the battle. Then again he'd been preoccupied with helping Ironhide carry Bluestreak and Jazz back. Then he had stood watch over his brother until Ratchet had a chance to get to him. Ratchet had merely ensured that Sideswipe had sustained no serious damage, before he moved to the next mech-beast with a promise to heal his scratches on the next day cycle.
Sideswipe cleaned the flesh off the bones of the creature, and licked the last taste of flesh off the white struts. He lifted his head to regard the officer. It seemed to him that Ratchet hadn't gotten to Prowl yet.
"Are you coming in?"
Sideswipe slid his thin lids open—he hadn't even realized that his optics had closed- and blinked at the officer. Prowl repeated his question. Sideswipe grunted, unwilling to move his sore body, even though the mud was cold underneath him. He didn't know if he could move, even if he wanted to. His meal weighed heavily in his torso, and he didn't know if he had the strength to drag himself so much as a megayard.
"I cannot carry you, and the others who could are already in recharge. Neither can I allow you to remain outside and exposed to potential spies. The Decepticons would welcome any chance to eliminate you."
"I want another of those horse things," Sideswipe grumbled, and his tail slapped the ground. "Don't think I could move if I wanted, anyways. I hurt too much."
"The Ark will be sealing itself, and it is best if we are on the inside."
Sideswipe slapped his tail again, stifling the grumbling whine that rumbled out of his vocalizer. "We thrashed the Con's tails, no one's gonna bother us tonight."
Prowl didn't reply for so long that Sideswipe turned his head to make sure the white mech-beast still stood there.
Prowl had moved closer, in the time since Sideswipe had last looked. His long nasal ridge hovered close to Sideswipe's shoulder and the airway openings flared wide with each loud ventilation.
Sideswipe found himself pressing against the cool mud of the riverbank, his mouth pulling back into a grimace. He fought the urge to reach up and lick at Prowl's jaw, he hated seeming like a beggar.
Prowl rumbled deep in his chest, and his tongue flicked out to swipe at Sideswipe's wet hide.
The warrior stiffened, uncertain as to the meaning of this display, as Prowl licked him again, in a different area. The officer pressed up against Sideswipe's thigh, a warm, reassuring presence, against the growing chill of the night cycle. Every lick eased some of the tension from the warrior's frame, and Sideswipe found his optic covers sliding close: first one, then the other. It occurred to him (in some part of his processor that still functioned logically) that Prowl was licking at his damage. Something he'd seen the officer do for Bluestreak, shortly after the gunner had awakened.
Whatever the reason, Sideswipe found himself relaxing under the attention; his processor lulled into something like a light recharge from the constant strokes of Prowl's tongue. It made his aches and pain fade away into only a dull throb that he could easily ignore. And for the first time in a very, very long time, Sideswipe felt completely safe, even without the presence of his brother nearby. When Prowl nudged him to get up and led him toward the Ark, Sideswipe stumbled along and curled up the first chance he got as the Ark sealed itself shut.
Prowl still didn't leave him, but draped his lithe frame over and around the warrior. He continued his caresses then, soft and soothing, a straight line of relaxation down his spinal column and between his wing shoulders.
The world drifted away, and Sideswipe slipped into recharge, cradled by Prowl's soothing presence.