I only own my OC's
Sparked Couple
two weeks later, 5:00 am
I start awake at a familiar sound, and sit up quickly before groaning and resting a hand on my head. "Damnit."
"Shey?"
"'M fine, Graham. Just dizzy. Who's puking this time?"
"Excuse me?"
I hear the sound again. "That." I turn in the direction, and have to hold back an actual swear. "Frag!"
"Wha—"
I jump out of bed and tie on my robe quickly, barely noticing the dizziness anymore. "It's one of the bots! I need to get next door!" I stop and the door and turn to Graham. "Make sure that Silva's taken care of if I'm not back in time. I may be a while."
"What's going on?"
I turn at the groggy voice. "Go back to sleep, Blue. I'm just going to the Autobots' berth room. Someone's purging, and I'm going to see if there's anything I can do to help."
"You're sure…"
"I'll be fine, Blue. I'll be careful."
"You're okay?"
"Dizzy, but not too bad off, compared to where Graham was at this point."
"Good. Let me know if it's Prowl?"
"Of course, Blue." I hug the mech's leg before darting out the door and into the one next door. "Yipes!"
"Careful!"
"Aid actually raised his voice…"
"Keep your helm down, Blades."
I run my hands over my face and sigh heavily. "Okay, nearly getting myself killed beside the point, what the heck is going on over here?"
"Blades woke up sick, and he's been purging since."
"Aid's trying to find out why, but then you ran in and…"
"And I almost got myself trampled. Got it, Streets." I sigh heavily. "Aid, step back." I fly up to the mech's leg—no sense in hiding my ability to fly now—and land on it gently. "Hey. You okay, Big Guy?"
"I feel worse than I do when Dani's piloting."
"Awww…poor thing…" I give him a hug before covering my hands in the blue inferno and using them as a scanner. "It's gonna be okay, Blades…"
"What do you see?"
"It's a bit early to be certain, but I think you're carrying." We share a look, and both start laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Earlier comment, Spot." I giggle. "Blades and I were walking down the hall after we took out that kaiju together, talking and laughing like we used to do in Griffin Rock, and this exact predicament came up."
"I had mentioned that Ratchet would be in trouble, and she pointed that you guys and the rescue bots would be in more trouble because I'd be grounded. I'm still able to be part of Defensor for now, but…"
"But air support and solo combat is out of the question."
I look up to Hot Spot. "Don't think he'll mind the air support part, but the combat…"
"I'm not that mech anymore."
I have giggle at that, because he is so that mech again. "But you're half-way back to being that mech, Blades. You did kill a kaiju with me."
"I let you get in on the action, didn't I?"
"Well, yeah, but you let me in on the action back in Diego Garcia."
"When it wasn't too dangerous."
"Good point." I sigh heavily. "Well, we're gonna be screwed if we can't have Defensor. We need you guys in the kaiju war!"
"Can't you guys quiet down over there!? I'm trying to recharge!"
"Sorry, Heatwave!"
"And no, we can't."
Heatwave storms over and pokes Hot Spot angrily in the chest. "Just because you're a higher rank than me doesn't mean you can just avoid my orders. Star said you had to answer to me."
"Actually, yes it does." I cross my arms. "I'm part of them…sort of."
"We were her teachers, Heatwave. She was a Protectobot before she was a Rescue Bot, and so was Blades."
He kneels to me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I close my eyes and look down before looking up at him with tears in my eyes. "Because they had been dead for years, and… My breakdown in the bunker wasn't just over Ratchet's death, Wave. It's just what started it…Losing 'Fensor started my plummet into "blood knight" territory, and you and Blades pulled me back after I realized what I had been doing."
"What?" They all look down at me with shocked and hurt looks on their faces.
I sigh heavily, and look at my feet. "I form family bonds really easily…I-I thought you all knew that…I-I joined up with Heatwave after I met the jaeger teams, because I'd realized with Lockdown's death that senseless killing wouldn't solve a damn thing, and that I had to step back and see the big picture before taking down a possibly innocent mech or femme."
"Did you realize that before or after you took him out?"
I scoff and roll my eyes. "Optimus had that honor, Aid. As much as I wanted to kill the mech that took my father from me, Optimus did it. You can be certain that I took out a number of drones, though!" I shrug. "No life…at least, not real life. AI." I rub the back of my neck at his disappointed look. "Look. I felt like I had to do something. If you must know, I hate myself for what I became after we lost you guys. I went to Griffin Rock to get away from everything."
"And instead you found us."
I look up when I hear the fire-bot's tone. "Oh, Heatwave…d-don't think about it like that…" I lay a hand on his foot. "Finding you saved me, remember that. I'd probably be dead right now if it weren't for you…" I sigh softly. "Either you die a hero, or you live to see yourself become the villain, and I was well on my way to dying before I found you guys…and finding Blades with you…even though I didn't know who he was at the time…that was the best day of my life thus far."
"You really mean that?"
"Yep. I was able to get back to myself again…the old, peaceful version, not the new ready-for-a-fight version."
"Oh…"
"That's a good thing, Heatwave." I sigh heavily. "Even though I still feel like I did when I was just learning, I'd rather have that stress than the battlefield form. At least, if I stay away from combat, I won't lose my head and maybe kill someone. Being placed in a position of command has prevented me from going overboard in the field."
"But not from running off when you get upset."
"Aw, come on!"
"Star… You ran off…and you were upset."
"Blades, I "ran off" because I had to fly, and I "was upset" because I was talking to Clark and remembering the not-so-good days. I did not "run off" because I "was upset", I "was upset" because I "ran off" to fly, and was away from everyone. I got the time to let it out, and I kind of lost it on the poor guy. I hate it when people I'm over see my weaknesses."
Blades lays a hand on my knee. "Crying doesn't make you seem weak."
First Aid nods. "It's because you've been too strong for too long."
I huff. "Or, it's a meltdown, which is a weakness, one I need to overcome." I sigh heavily. "And either way, I'm embarrassed to have people see me cry, which is a weakness in itself. It was bad enough Heatwave saw me that day…"
"You didn't need to be alone."
"And thank Primus you were there. If it had been anyone else—even if it had been Blades at first—it would have made things worse."
"How would I have made it worse?"
"Because I'd have started thinking more about your brothers in addition to Ratchet, and then I'd be worse off because I missed them—especially you, Spot, and Aid—the ones I was with the most—so much. Maybe even more than you did."
"He hit the wall." I jerk my head up to meet Heatwave's optics. "That night, after we left your room… I-I never knew he was that strong… He must have been even stronger before we met…told me several years ago that he was dealing with spark break, but I never knew how severe…he told me about them, after a while, but I just…I guess it hadn't sunk in until that night…that the two bots I cared about most could die on me at any moment…H-he sounded so…heartbroken…and Star…" Heatwave looks up to Hot Spot. "Star out-right said she wanted to die without Ratchet. I never knew you four had a connection to her…before you told me, Spot…she never said a word…just worked harder than I'd seen anyone work…not even Blades had done as much as she did…insisting on going on calls, facing worse than I'd allow the Burns to face… And Blades. H-he—"
He stalls off, and I can tell he's fallen lower than I'd ever seen him go, just because of Blades and I. "H-Heatwave… D-don't—"
"He t-told me, he was only hanging on for her…T-that he was going to let go once she had started to heal… Just for h-her…"
I sigh softly and shift forms before pulling the almost sobbing fire bot close. "I wouldn't have let him, 'Wave. Trust me, I'd have made sure he kept going—I did, as a matter of fact, when it happened here. I wouldn't have let him leave us, 'Wave, and I'm a fighter. I hold on, Heatwave, and I'm sure you've learned that much about me, but in case you don't know how deeply…" I let out a shaky sigh. I'm close to tears just from his confession. "I didn't stay in the bunker for a week after you guys almost died because I'm a medic. I did it because I was scared to lose you all—because I already had those family bonds—my spark even recognized you as family."
Hot Spot stops me with a hand on my shoulder. "Hold up. Your spark recognized him as family?"
I nod. "Secondary guardian bond…must have started forming after that first night in the bunker…"
"The one where you broke down on them?"
I nod before turning back to Heatwave. "I cried on Charlie before I went to save them—just because I hadn't known Blades was the same mech I'd known on Diego Garcia—the same mech who'd fight in the rec room just to fight." I shake my head. "I couldn't even stand, Wave, and I know you've seen me like that before, but that was usually because of losing control, not just emotion."
"Just because I didn't want you to know?"
I nod weakly, and lower Heatwave to sit beside Blades before sitting between the two of them. "Just because I hadn't been able to do anything for you sooner. Because you had to almost die—I mean, I know I saved you, but… Hell, Blades… I had to save you! I hadn't gotten a call like that from Ratchet since the day that damned Alpha crashed! I was just…scared, Blades. So damned scared that I was gonna lose you. I lost fragging everyone before I found the four of you, and…and I wasn't ready to lose you too. Then I had to face that with the Island being teleported, and… DAMNIT, I COULDN'T DO IT AGAIN, BLADES! I COULDN'T FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE AGAIN!" They blink, staring at me, while the other bots in the room start and stare at us. "I almost lost you three times, Blades." I wipe tears off my faceplates before turning to Heatwave. "Why the hell do you think I left that day, Wave?! I couldn't watch him die! Not again, and not like that."
"Star, I—"
"It was hard enough back on Griffin Rock, knowing it would only be me, and Bee until Prime got back. But now…it—it doesn't get any easier, Heatwave. At least on Griffin Rock the two of you would have been together…" I sigh heavily. "Primus…it never gets any easier. I don't even know how the hell Aid manages to watch mechs die day in and day out, and never…never have this problem?"
"I do, Star…more than you know…"
"He just never shows it. Wanders off in the middle of the night when the memories wake him up. Scares the pit out of us."
"Aid…I don't run off…well, I guess I do, sort of, but still."
"You never ran off on us when we were in Griffin Rock."
"I hid. You just found me fast." I scoff. "Still, pretty predictable if I always hide in my berthroom."
"Star…"
"That night…when I had the breakdown… I didn't want him to see me. I'm their commander, Spot. I couldn't let them see me break down like that…Heatwave needed me at my best, and…"
"They always need us at our best, and…we can't always be at our best."
"Aid… We try for them. I failed…Wave saw me at my weakest…"
"I never thought of you as weak. You kept us together, almost more than the Burns' did."
"Heatwave…I'm not all that…"
"Yes you are." Hot Spot lays a hand on my shoulder. "You brought us hope."
I scoff. "And here I thought I was just some normal femme." I sigh, shaking my head in annoyance. "I know I'm special, Spot. You always make me feel like I'm some precious gift, when I'd rather just be normal."
"You can still be "normal", Star. You're not any different than the rest of us—same as Optimus."
"I'm all but an official Protectobot, Spot…and I'm the Star Healer."
Hot Spot smiles down at me. "You always were official to the five of us—we trained you, Star."
"And being the Star Healer doesn't mean anything different than being a Prime does, and Optimus is still just another mech at the end of the day, and you're still just another femme."
"Thanks, Streets…" I turn to Hot Spot. "I was never able to feel you guys…like the rest of you could feel each other—as it is, I can barely feel Blades now, but that's just barely, and because of the secondary bond with Heatwave."
"Do you want it to be "official"?"
I nod. "I'm just not sure it's a good idea…with my going out in Star Warrior…and having the ghost drifts with Mako…and Raleigh…and Yancy…and Gipsy…and Silverwing…and Blue through Silvy…"
"Primus…" Hot Spot looks down at me, laughter sparkling in his red optics. "You've formed your own little gestalt, haven't you?"
I laugh. "Not exactly. I have Mako, Raleigh, and Yancy's memories, and Gipsy's, because of Mako—she drifted in Gipsy with Raleigh before I met the Rescue Bots, and after Yancy died when they were connected—we're all compatible, Spot. I could take Raleigh, or Yancy, or Mako, could go with any of them—in either Jaeger!" I shrug. "Then Blue and I drifted in Silver… So we could form her parental bonds… I just…don't know how that all would affect a ready-made gestalt bond…"
"It wouldn't do anything more than make us all a team of…" He trails off, more than likely to check his addition.
"Twelve, Spot."
"Thanks, Street. A team of twelve. Half the time, we were a group of ten because of the Aerials, so I have no problem having an official group of twelve."
"I'd have to consult Mako at the very least…and the Becket's…Gipsy…Blue…" I rub the back of my neck. "Sheesh. Is this really going to be worth all the confusion it's going to cause?"
"When we're all three—Star, Gipsy, and Defensor—out there facing a kaiju, wouldn't you like to have an instant connection with us, just in case something went wrong?"
'It has happened before, Sheyenne. Raleigh had to get Gipsy back to shore on his own.'
"Mako!? What the frag!?"
"What?"
"Huh?"
I roll my eyes. "Darned ghost drift just played gestalt bond on me." I shake my head. "Apparently Mako's getting this from the other side of the shatterdome, just because I'm thinking about what you're saying." I huff. 'I'll take that you're in, then?'
'I am, but I would have to ask Raleigh, and he would want to ask Yancy and Gipsy. I will have your answer at Breakfast.'
'Thanks, Mako.'
'I have never had a sister before… I was an only child before Onibaba…'
"Shit."
"Starlight!?"
I shake my head. "I'm fine. There's a lot of trauma on my end, Spot…with Knifehead and Onibaba… The first killed Yancy, and the second killed Mako's family…"
"We've been through war, Mari. We're all traumatized. Blades officially has PTSD after our ship crashed—"
"And you're the one who diagnosed him!"
"Really?"
Heatwave nods. "She didn't know why, but she knew he had it. Then…he told her, a couple months ago, and…"
"I've made sure I was there for him ever since. I know how hard I had it after we lost you. I can only imagine how bad Blades had it…" I tap my comm. "Bluestreak?"
"Was it Prowl?"
"Blades. Everything's okay, but…Spot wants to add me…add us…to Defensor…"
"But…my PTSD…"
"Your PTSD, my PTSD, Blades' PTSD…Mako's…Raleigh's…Gipsy's… We've all got it, Blue."
"The humans too?"
"Blue, a jaeger's drift…that forms an organic gestalt bond. They're going to be in on it if I do this, so I have to know their decisions too."
"Well, I like the idea, but I'm not sure they'd want me… They're a rescue team, and I'm a sniper."
"And Blades is a dirty street fighter!" Blades and I share a look. "Or at least he was. They won't deny a part of me because he's a warrior."
"Right. If you want to join us with Star, then you're with us—end of story."
"Thanks, Spot…"
"Don't mention it."
"Okay, then… I'm in."
"We'll get Mako's answers—from Gipsy's pilots—at breakfast. See you then, Big Guy."
"You too, Star!"
