25-Strangers
AN: Sigh. This chapter has given me trouble from the start, and to be honest I'm not truly content with it. It may leave a lot of you thinking, "Wha!?" I'm using it as a catalyst for the next few chapters. These chapters will explain just how Mirage and Sides got together, and the drama behind it. The Rite of Oneness is borrowed from the early Marvel comics.
Desperately he tried to push thoughts of him from his mind. Bringing up thoughts or memories of him would only remind him of the severity of what he was doing. If Mirage wondered, even for a moment what Sideswipe might think of him, his cold demeanor would break, and his spark with it.
Now he felt no joy, content, or mirth like he did with him. He repeated one simple phrase to himself to keep him from feeling anything at all, "This can't be real."
But the patronizing touch to his cheek reaffirmed that it was all too real. Mirage slowly powered on his optics to look at the hand that willed the touch. His optics traced an invisible line from black wrist, to purple arm, helm, to the face of a mech he barely even knew.
He knew the mech's name: Ratbat. He was a senator, but his processors were geared solely toward business. He knew that he was hand picked by his creator to be his partner. And Mirage knew that whenever Ratbat looked at him, all he saw was a profit.
"Why him? I don't love him; I don't even know him."
Ratbat was chosen because of one simple fact: his financial success. His creator believed that a comfortable life, and someone to take care of him was all that Mirage needed. Love, affection, and a reckless red merchant were only frivolities.
He knelt across from the senator under the cathedral's dim lighting. The cushion he knelt on felt foreign underneath his knees. His optics darted from the alter, to the vaulted ceiling, to the door. His optics settled on anything but the strange mech that insisted on touching him.
"Frightened?" Ratbat asked through his radio.
Mirage hesitated to answer. He didn't want to at the mech let alone talk to him. "Terribly," he finally answered.
"Don't be afraid." A dry chuckle crackled over the radio, and a cold hand slipped into Mirage's. "I'll take care of you."
Mirage's fuel tank churned at the very thought. The far off voice of a priest droned on and on about unity between a pair of mechs. The blue mech turned down the volume on his audios.
He turned looking at the only other mech in the chapel, his creator. At least he was allowed to bear this humiliation without an audience.
Mirage felt a nudge at his side. It was time; this was it. No turning back. Nervously he raised a decorated container that contained his own fuel. His hands shook so badly he dropped the container causing energon to spill to the floor and his hands.
He heard his creator groan in annoyance as he tried to pick up the ceremonial vase.
The Rite of Oneness was an ancient Cybertronian tradition. It was used to seal promises, transactions, and business deals. And, if a pair of mechs wished to show their affection for one another without bonding, they could perform the rite. Once the rite was performed couldn't be broken; unless one wanted to be shunned from society.
He listened as Ratbat spoke hollow vows of love, honor, and to stay by one another's side. Mirage repeated them deftly.
Mirage raised his canister once more and poured it in unison with Ratbat. The intermingling fluids represented the trust the two mechs were thought to share.
With a puff of smoke from the mixing fluids, Mirage was forever bound to Ratbat under oath. His own dreams, aspirations, and affection, perhaps love for Sideswipe pushed aside in the name of profit. One thought ran continuously through his processors, "I should be with Sideswipe."