A/N: I have survived! Holy cow, so much scrap has happened in the last few weeks. We got the COVID-19 stuff going on, all my classes for school have gone online (which is kind of weird), and I started training for a new job since my old one kind of sucked. Lots of crazy.
Anywho...here is the next Chapter of "Strangers Like Me". About time, right? So sorry about the delay-my plot bunnies escaped their enclosure so I had to round them back up to get the Chapter done. It took a while...some of them are crazy little ninjas that took forever to get back. So, it is a few days after the last Chapter: Delta is all better from his incident with the Spider Psycho. Also, Soundwave forgives in a weird way. And...yeah...long A/N is long and now over. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers in any shape or form. I only own the story and any and all OCs in said story. If there is someone you're not familiar with, it's probably an OC.
{Blah} = Symbiote Bond
PLEASE COMMENT! I NEED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM TO MAKE MY STORIES (PRESENT, FUTURE, OR OTHERWISE) BETTER!
Delta winces as Knockout helps him to his peds. Turns out, not only did Airachnid have freaky spider legs, but she also had some pretty potent venom. So, when she got him, she also injected said venom into his system. It took almost two days to get all of it flushed out of his systems, even with the antidote on hand. Now though, Knockout deemed him worthy of leaving the MedBay, with strict orders to "take it easy, or so help me youngling, I will strap you to the fraggin' berth and have Breakdown sit on you for good measure." Yeah. Like he was going to be doing anything. He was still sore.
Walking out of the MedBay, Delta smiles when he sees his Guardian waiting outside, leaning against the wall. Dreadwing looks up, a small smile appearing. He moves away from the wall, walking the few steps over to Delta.
"Ready?"
Delta nods. The two begin the slow trek towards the quarters, stopping quickly at the Vehicon barracks. The door slides open, utter chaos greeting them.
Hundreds of Mechs are in the large room, all in various stages of drunkenness. Some are passed out in the corner, a few are brawling with others cheering them on—one large group looked to be chanting a drinking song, all swaying to the beat of the off-key bellows.
Delta steps inside, a few instantly turning to him. A small group comes over, a familiar form at their peds. Talon breaks away from the group, trotting over to his master. He weaves in between the turquoise Mech's legs, purrs echoing through his body.
Delta chuckles, kneeing down and running a servo over the panther's plating.
"Hey, bud."
{Master is alright? I was worried the whole time you were in the MedBay. Knockout would not allow me inside to be with you.}
Smiling, Delta stands back up, Talon jumping onto his back. A whir of plating and Delta feels the panther connect to his systems.
{Don't worry—I ain't dying anytime soon.}
{I will hold you to that.}
Delta turns back to Dreadwing, the Seeker waiting patiently outside the door. He steps out, leaning against Dreadwing. An arm comes up to rest around his shoulders. Though Dreadwing wasn't the most, you know…"make physical contact" Mech, he seemed to be content with touching Delta's shoulder or arm—almost as if he was reassuring himself that the younger Mech was really okay, and not still in stasis in the MedBay.
They finish the walk to the quarters, Delta collapsing onto his berth.
He groans, relaxing into the metal. There's chuckling, the edge dipping slightly from Dreadwing's weight as he sits down on the edge. Delta slides slightly, smacking into Dreadwing's hip. A servo is placed on his back plating.
"I wanna stay here forever…" he mumbles, face pressed into the berth.
"I am afraid you cannot, Kistestvér. Lord Megatron wishes to speak with you."
Delta groans again, this time louder. He tilts his helm, the corner of his visor meeting the red optics of his guardian.
"Seriously? What happened to me being grounded?"
"That is what he wishes to speak to you about."
Megatron turns at the sound of the door sliding open, letting through Dreadwing, Delta trailing behind him. He takes in the younger Mech. His plating is still somewhat dull, faint weld marks crisscrossing over his torso. He watches as Delta carefully walks behind Soundwave, the silent Mech continuing to do his duties. He could understand why the younger Mech was wary of Soundwave, having managed to get the upper hand on him a few days ago—not many could boast that.
The two Mechs come to a stop in front of him. Dreadwing bows, though Delta simply dips his helm respectfully.
"Megatron, Sir. You wished to speak with me?"
Megatron nods.
"Yes. It has come to my attention that these last few months have possibly been punishment enough, don't you agree?"
Delta tilts his helm, "Sir?"
Megatron places his servos behind his back, "Though you did attack one of my officers, you also saved another—at the risk of your own life. I believe that is grounds for lifting the probationary period."
Delta blinks.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Lord Megatron."
With a quick dip of his helm, the young Mech turns to follow Dreadwing out. The two pass Soundwave, the Mech focused on his computer terminal. Delta notices scratches still on his shoulder guard and visor, and feels shame burn in his chest. He needed to get alone with the Mech and apologize, even if he didn't accept it.
Delta stops outside of the Bridge. It's a few hours later, and after resting up, he was back at the Bridge to apologize to Soundwave for attacking him. Taking a deep vent, he steps forward, allowing the door to detect him and slide open. He steps through, slowly moving over to the silent Decepticon. He stops a few feet away from the Mech, knowing that he knew he was there the second he'd walked in.
"Soundwave?"
The silent Mechs digits pause, his helm tilting slightly in Delta's direction. Delta's helm lowers.
"I…want to apologize for what I did. I didn't want to lose Dreadwing and Breakdown and…it was the only thing I could think of in order to get to them in time. So…I'm sorry."
Delta's helm lifts, meeting Soundwave's dark visor. The dark Mech nods, before turning back to the screens. His mission now done, Delta turns to leave, only to stop as something taps his back plating. He turns back, seeing a familiar DataPad held in one of the dark cables. Delta takes the Pad, feeling the familiar weight in his servo.
Delta lifts his optics, noticing that Soundwave had shifted his position to allow him to sit. Turquoise plating shifts as Delta slowly lowers, crossing his legs and leaning against the terminal. The screen flickers on, showing him what was on the screen Soundwave was on. English translation appears, marking everything he might ask questions about.
Delta blinks.
Then, he smiles.
