Chapter 39

Jolt had never suspected that such small organics could talk so much in a single span of time. In the time it took them to go from Rex's house to the cafe, they had jumped back and forth between so many topics so many times he'd ended up blocking them out because it was making his processor hurt.
Instead, he sunk deep into his thoughts.

She was acting strange today.

He had picked up a lot of confusion and fear in her, and it was beginning to worry him...especially since she had become unresponsive at one point.

He forced the thoughts away as he pulled into the parking lot of the 'cafe'. The humans didn't exit out of his alternate until Demona rolled into the space beside him. Again, his spark shined at the sight of her, even if she was tense.

The human female designated Gears was the first one out, reaching back inside briefly to press what they called a kiss on the sparkling's forehead. When she turned to face his alternate, she nearly jumped. A small hand came up to press against her chest as she exhaled, "Damn, Jolt, you scared the hell out of me."

He blinked his holoform optics up at her, "I am sorry."

She sent him a soft smile, "It's fine. Very nice holoform...did you design it or is it all Ratchet's work?"

He lowered his false optics to his false hands, clenching them lightly. It was a wonder how his mentor had created such unique projections, ones that they could feel and even channel their strength into...he answered, "I created it under Ratchet's instruction...is it...wrong?"

"No," Demona's voice reached him, making his spark jump slightly. Her holoform walked around to stand beside Gears, facing him. She leaned against her real body and gazed down at him with impossibly dark optics, "you chose well."

"I think you look good," Gears added, "loving the eyes you chose..." She 'winked' at Demona, "Might have to watch out, babe, the high school girls are going to be all over his ass, worse than rust."

Confusion filled him. He looked to the femme for an answer, but she looked as tense and uncomfortable as he was. Gears laughed, "Are you coming inside?"

Demona shook her head as Pockets came around from the passenger's side. He wrapped an arm around Demona's shoulders, "Love ya, sister."

A small smile pulled at her lips when Critter pitched in, "Why don't you and Jolt take a nap while we're inside? Maybe you won't feel so bad on the way home..."

She bent and lifted the human child, who grinned real wide. Held him close and whispered something in his ear, something Jolt could not understand. Whatever it was, it made the child laugh and he hugged her tightly before he was passed over to his creator.

Demona watched them go inside with soft optics, and turned those same optics on him when his holoform exited his alternate. He mirrored her, leaning back against his real frame.

They simply stared back at one another, until he said softly, "You are not well."

She raised a fine eyebrow at him, "Neither are you."

He blinked back at her, and watched as she straightened and came to his side, leaning against his real body. Demona softened her expression again, "Jolt...you never had a chance to speak...please, do so now."

How the slag am I supposed to with you so close...? He vented unconsciously, turning his gaze away. He'd spent so much time trying to piece together some kind of statement, something that could explain all he felt for her...but there were no words, human or cybertronian, that could tell her how much his spark shined when she was nearby, how peaceful and whole he felt.

He tried again, processor rolling through every possible arrangement of words...it was futile, and he knew it.

So, instead, he searched for some kind of action.

Demona was obviously well learned on humans and their customs...perhaps if he found some gesture that would make her see...There it is. He researched the human act of affection a bit thoroughly before making his decision.

Demona was patient. And beautiful. He could feel her optics, real and fake, on him. He searched for any search of hostility, although he already knew there would be none. She was so gentle, and the encouragement in her gaze helped him find the strength to do this. He admitted, "I'm not...certain of the appropriate words...but..."

He lowered his hand and gently closed his fingers around her's. Her true form went rigid, and her holoform optics widened. He tensed himself, trying to send his feelings to her through his optics. He waited...and watched...

His spark nearly shattered when she pulled her hand away. He lowered his gaze immediately, trying to force down the pulse of rejection that threatened to break him in half. I'm such a fool...To think that she would ever accept me...

"Forgive me," he said out loud, trying desperately to keep the weakness out of his voice, "I did not..."

The soft, warm skin of her 'human' hand touched his again. This time, he went rigid and sent her a wide-eyed stare. Her fingers laced with his, as if she were locking him in place. She raised her dark optics to him. All pain and doubt left him in a rush, seeing the soft smile in them. She said quietly, "Is this what you have had so much trouble over?"

"I could never find the words to say..." He trailed off. She squeezed his hand, and provided, "I believe the human phase is, 'actions speak louder than words'."

His spark singing, he smiled back at her.

My Star, at last.

For my hopeless romantics...It's about damn freaking time, Jolt.

I got to watch like three old episodes of The Magic School Bus. Am I the only one that thinks Mrs. Frizzle would be the most badass teacher? I mean, COME ON, it'd be a thrill just to see what the hell she's wearing when she walks in...

Demona and her family and the story belongs to me. Transformers does not.