A/N Disclaimer, I suck at introducing new characters, Ironically this is my longest chapter and didn't plan on making it this long *facepalm* please forgive me I was having too much fun writing this character and I hope you'll like them too. I was planning this, well except for the word length, remember although some chapters take place during some episodes I won't necessarily be following the episode plot or accuracy, so there might be a few episode skips or two.
Cartoons wielding machetes, Rated R
It was early morning just as the sun was rising, Bee was taking in the scenery as he stretched, "Earth is such a beautiful world." He said in the peace and quiet. A time for reflection.
"B-wa-yk. Bawk, Bawk."
And the sound of...chickens?
He looked to the far side of the scrap yard, hundreds and hundreds of chickens just chilling, pecking and talking amongst each other were somehow occupying the yard.
"Chickens?! How did they? Did Denny get some for pets?" he asked, he shooed a chicken away that was too close to his foot.
Then came the sound of nasally snorting.
He looked over to Denny's living quarters, nope not him (shockingly). He followed the sound to a large pile of cars stacked in rows, "What in the name of Primus." He spoke slowly as he noted a young human woman, with hardened and indelicate facial features, sprawled out and basking on the hood of a van very care free, despite teetering on the edge. She appeared to be in deep sleep as drool ran down her chin.
She wore a black beanie resembling the comic book character, 'The Punisher' iconic skull symbol, her hair grew past her shoulder blades, was straight, dirty blonde with split ends, her hair was so unkempt the tips looked jagged. She wore a short sleeved v-neck that was a dark grey color with a hint of the color named 'purple thistle', to the side of her was her black jacket.
"How on Cybertron did she get in?" Bee wondered unsure what to do. "Has she seen us?"
"Excuse me, brother?" He looked down, "I understand some people can only think out loud but, I have insomnia and this is the first bit of sleep I've managed in the past few days so I'm a little on edge, so if you don't mind?" Her light brown eyes were sharp and the most noticeable feature in her appearance, second to her build and height, her iris was focused. The way she spoke to Bee was so convincing and charismatic that he replied apologetically without thinking.
"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to-"
"No worries, we all think out loud. Or like me, straight up talk to yourself." She lay her head back down, her accent was hard to define, an English speaking accent but nothing particularly distinctive, more like a jumble of various accents but sounding quite boorish.
Bee scratched his head, "Wait what? Did I just get manipulated?" he then gave her a brief wary poke, making her shoot up like she had been hit with static "A-hem excuse me but, I know you haven't been recharging well but you are technically trespassing so-"
"Really? You're moving me on? I just wanna sleep dude. You got something against the homeless is that it?" she snapped and spun her body around so her legs were daggling off the edge, "A firm believer in the loitering law huh?!"
He placed spread out hands out in front to show his statue of goodwill and that he was non-hostile."You don't have anywhere to go?" he said calmly.
She shrugged going back to a calm persona with a flat expression, a poker face expression that Bee couldn't read at all or tell what she was thinking. Her flip between moods was so animated and sudden. "I go wherever. Oh and please, don't touch me again." She said it lightly but looked at Bee like she was going to rip out his t-cog and eat it.
"Um, sorry how are you, not in shock, awe? Anything?" he gestured to his entire being.
She stretched, "I was. You just missed it, I already know about you, plus the 'S.S seen some pretty fucked up shit already' ship has sailed. I'm a bit vacant in the eyes if ya know what I mean? Things that make trauma victims see their own experiences as dreams in comparison. Lucky fuckers. I'm sure you can emphasise growing up in war and all that."
He looked her over frowning to the bizarre body language; one time Ellen quoted 'you know that cat that looks all chill but you can't tell what its thinking in its idle state? But then you find out it's the really angry cat that hisses, scratches and hates your guts for no reason that no one wants in the animal shelter? Then you find out that now and then they like to screw around with you by rubbing up against your leg, jumping into your lap, let you pet them and becomes a little more affectionate to you. Getting you to let your guard down, then before you find out it's just a trap, it's too late and the cat is now biting and scratching even harder and then they do this as part of a vicious cycle.'
"You must be Brook." Bee assessed bluntly.
"Must I be?" she stretched again yawning, "I can't get any sleep around here to save my life." She stood up all of a sudden as the car wobbled atop of several other cars making Bee step forward, she then dropped down landing on her knees as she made a sharp hissing sound through her teeth, then a slight chuckle at the end. "Should have done that better but ah fuck it, it's just my knee caps right?"
Bee raised an eyebrow confused as all pit, she would now and then tilt her posture, then lean back slightly, she never stood up straight or still. "What are you doing here?" he said not going to ask what that was about.
She spun around roughly, aloof to his question and she scratched her chin like a dog with fleas, "where's El? She hasn't called me in a while." She suspiciously looked at Bee saying that. "I know she's staying in the city but people tend to give me funny looks, I think I make them a little uncomfortable hell if I know why, maybe it's my repelling personality, my taste in music...or maybe it's the fact I'm 6ft 7 with an Olympian build wearing a punisher beanie? But that would mean nothing to you. Bet you could easily kill me if you wanted." Bee frowned to such an odd statement. She lifted her feet, "You see these biker boots? El gave me these. Original prop item from a terminator movie or something she's really into that shit. It's hard to get cheap shoes my size so." She shrugged. "I don't have many possessions to brag about." She snorted a chuckle.
Bee relaxed his shoulders, "I've known her most of her life. She keeps her 'collection' close to her heart so to give you something like that is a big deal." he replied.
She pointed a 'winner' finger at him, "Correct answer. Now I know you're the real deal."
Bee was intrigued at this point. "You've known her for years too, right?"
"Yes." Was all she said in an over enthusiastic manner.
"She only ever mentioned you recently, she said you're a private person-"
"Then that should be enough right? If she has shared information with me about you guys then it means she trusts me, and you trust her. Being private shouldn't mean suspicious."
"I'm just concerned for her. We both know her, but we don't know each other." His optics narrowed.
She smiled lightly. "You're wary of me?"
"I don't mean to offend, just looking out for her. As you say, I've seen War. I've also lived on Earth, seen what certain kind of humans can do."
She shook her head lightly, "That's good that you're not immediately trusting, it means you have been doing your job right in keeping El safe. Plus me yelling before wasn't exactly making a good impression."
He nodded slowly.
She folded her arms pressing her full weight up against a car hood. "To be honest I thought you guys were a bunch of pussies being shit on by assholes and fucked by dicks. Just by how Ellen has described you're 'Adventures'. Hey what ever happen to that apex predator spider anyway? She sounded like one sick psycho bitch."
Bee twitched a little to her vocabulary. "One moment please." He pressed a finger up against his helm.
"Calling El? I'm the 'come collect your drunken dad from the bar' scenario."
"Hello Ellen? Are you up? Good. You er, have a visitor? No. Looks like- That's right...she does a little yeah. What do you mean? No one is dead no?! Are these real questions? Oh your joking...No I didn't take you seriously! U-huh...right...okay see you in five...don't make-Why is th- huh...she hung up."
"Ha-Ha, little dramatic aint she?" she laughed wholeheartedly but held onto the laugh a little too long.
"Ha, yeah you've seen it too huh? I mean it's funny she sounded serious but, your human. You are human right?"
"Right." She rolled her eyes, "No seriously I am just human no weird gimmicks, no mystical robotic arm, No mutations, no unexplained superpowers, I'm just at the peak of fitness, high stamina, little eccentric, bit of an adrenaline nut and a straight up savage both in banter and street fights." She saluted him then offered a hand. Bee looked the gesture over. "Too formal or a little cautious still?"
"Oh a handshake." Bee said surprised.
"Is it my mannerisms? I come from a different kind of town, where everyone treats each other like threats, constantly having to watch your back and just generally unpleasant from flipping the bird to 'hey give me back my kidney'." She said, her 'joke' falling short.
"Right, ha...ha."
She awkwardly grinned, "Oh wait that's just society in general. Not your kind of humour huh? Y'know what just take my hand yellow-fellow." She presented her hand, "Just a regular hand shake."
Bee leant over and reached out his hand as they shook, Brook had cupped her hand around two digits, Bee felt her grip through to his deep wiring, they retracted as Bee twiddled his digits curiously. "You keep yourself in shape." He noted.
"I sure do." She replied lightly.
"Brook!" came Ellen's voice. "Brook! Where are you?!" her voice echoed.
Brook whistled out their location, turning a corner Ellen latched her glaring eyes at her.
Brook threw up her arms in a welcoming manner, grinning smugly like she had just been proven right in a long debated question. "Hello there my lovely! Wow, look at you. You look like a Rhino who got its horn chopped off, you look stressed as always!" She cried jogging up to her.
Ellen stepped back to Brooks nonchalant attitude, "W-What are you even doing here? Wait. Did you just up and leave my dogs unsupervised?"
"Nice to see you too, what kind of fucking animal do you take me for? Of course I didn't leave them alone, I've left them in capable hands trust me. You have a lot of names on speed dial."
Ellen pinched the bridge of her nose, "You can't just enter places like these whenever you like!"
She nudged Bee in the leg with her elbow, "In my defence it just means I've given them a chance to check their security. I could have robbed you blind and sorted out your shit stained underwear and would still have time for a nap even before you noticed I was here."
She pinched the bridge of her forehead this time as though suffering a migraine. "That's because the security is set for Cybertronian signatures." She tried to patiently say.
"Well then, that should teach them." Brook justified proudly.
Ellen blanked her response and she walked up to Bumblebee with praying hands, "Bee I am so sorry, I'll pay for any damages." She pleaded.
"Damages?" Bee questioned.
"Why do you always assume I'm waltzing in destroying shit?" Brook piped up.
Ellen sighed, "Main issue is, it doesn't matter what argument you have about you going, and I quote 'wherever the fuck you like' that isn't the way things work around here."
"Then the world is the problem and society is fucked up, it's all about control of the masses and that's it." She stopped herself before going into a rant, "Man fuck this. You almost made me start preaching, that doesn't break the ice it just makes it freeze over twice as hard."
Ellen pointed a sharp finger at her raising her voice, "No! No! don't play the victim here. Bee's family you can't just trespass like this. My-mmm." She suddenly clutched her chest. "You j-just...a-hhh."
"Oh shit." Brook hissed her face paling, she suddenly walked straight up to El, Bee was on the defensive as her body language seemed hostile, but no, she gently placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her over with fearful eyes, "You a'right? What's hurting?"
"I-I'm fine. Just stress." She lightly said patting Brooks arm in reassurance, "Calm down. Listen to what I'm telling you, please." She added firmly.
"Right." Brook exhaled hot air, "Look, shit dude I'm sorry I don't mean to make you worry and stress like this and show you up. I get impulses you know? I never think these things through, it's just a if it feels good I'll just fucking go for it...But I said If I do dumb shit like that. I do it alone and not bring others into it, that's on me."
Ellen bore a small smile, "No. You were scared. You could have just called."
Brooks expression melted, a throbbing vein climbing to the surface of her neck, "I called. So many times I lost count, went straight to voice mail and why is that?" she tilted her head to lower some of her height as she got up in her face like a parent to a small child.
Ellen looked embarrassed as she realised her own mistake, "Oh." She said awkwardly.
"Oh..." Brook exhaled. "Oh? Oh?!"
Ellen bit her lip as she mumbled under her breathe, "My bad, sorry."
Brook held a hand up, "Can I give you shit now?"
"Really? Trespassing vs. switching my phone off?" Ellen argued.
"Well if you had it on in the first place." Brook muttered teasingly.
"You're twisting it again." Ellen said unimpressed.
Brook scoffed, "I love it...anyway this guy doesn't seem too bad, he's patient enough. Doesn't jabber on too much." She looked up at Bumblebee who awkwardly just tapped his feet with his hands at his side.
"Haven't really had a chance to." He quietly said.
"Oh right Bee! Sorry we were just having our own thing here." Ellen apologetically pleaded shoving Brook lightly as she saw her lip syncing in a mocking manner.
Bee blinked his optics a few times before focusing, "Ellen." He started slowly, "I have several questions. You told her about us?"
She scrunched her lips up like she was sucking on a lemon, "I have, mentioned a few things."
"How much is a few things?"
"Um... everything?"
Before Bee could reply Brook immediately jumped in, "All the details, to start with it didn't really faze me that much but when she told me about the robot devil? Hail Satan I guess imma' right? Ha! It just makes existence that little bit more pointless, but you just look for the simple things to live for. Knowing that whatever you do is as pointless and useless as a chocolate teapot...but at least you get to eat the chocolate."
Bee absorbed the fact that there was another human to add to the list, "And the chickens?" he pointed to the far side.
Ellen spun around and nearly stumbled when she saw them, "Holy Hera, where did they come from?!"
Brook pulled a 'dull surprise '. "Y-eah...sorry, short notice but had to put them somewhere for now." Brook scratched her head saying that.
"For now?" Ellen brought up clasped hands to her nose as she processed this, "So, adding 'Chicken heist' to trespassing, do you trump my turned off phone now?"
Brook looked at Ellen like she had just spoken an offensive slang term, "These aren't just any chickens." She argued picking one up and cradled them, they had balding patches and short feathers. "These are victims, battery hens. On the way here I did a little 'activist' work. I didn't think that far ahead after I freed hundreds of them."
Bumblebee frowned confused, but Ellen merely took it in as typical behaviour, "Brook..." she started.
"What you think I'd just pass on by one of these things and not act upon it?" she stroked the chickens head noticing Bee's expression, "I have a soft spot for anything that has gone through a time of suffering." She explained to him.
Bee smiled crookedly but he nodded seemingly understanding.
"Besides the fact that your irresponsible behaviour has possibly endangered these poor creatures...what about the truck? And the person driving it. The police? The news?" Ellen pointed out.
"Hey look, I've done allot of stuff I'm not proud of 'willingly' that is, double parking, public property damage, being that guy who has to hold up a line just to wait for an answer to a very random question, yep that's me I'm that guy-but! Nobody got hurt...well maybe some fucker got hurt but nobody I knew." She raised her hands up to her shoulders like this was a strong argument on her part.
Ellen folded her arms, "Quit going around in circles just to dodge a question."
"I'll do one better; can these chickens stay here until I can find permanent homes?"
Ellen chocked on her own saliva, "W-What!? I don't own this place someone else does! Besides that what if the owners come looking for their property?!"
"Property?!" Brook exclaimed putting her hand over the chickens 'ears'. "This one is named Joan, because of her plumage; you will not use that word in front of them."
Ellen gripped her hair in frustration, "I was just being technical, not personal." She sighed stroking the chickens head and whispering 'I didn't mean it that way Joan', "There's no point in reasoning with you, I've tried for years but when you set your mind on something your way too stubborn to pull back." She started pacing, thinking. Then she turned to Bee for help with pleading eyes.
"Listen." He started. "Why don't I inform Denny about his knew 'residents' and you two can catch up? Clear the air, as humans say."
"Bee-"
"Gotta go!" Bee bolted.
Ellen watched him turn a corner round a hill of metal as she held her position, her back facing Brook. She shook her head then turned to meet her eyes, "Aw come on don't give me that look." Brook said, "You hadn't called in a while I thought something had happened and-"
"Just. Just stop. Cut the crap Brook, even if I did miss those calls."
Brook put her hands on her hips, "I was worried, honestly. But yeah, I thought things might be interesting on this side. Just wanted in on it this time." She looked around hesitating, "And yes for my own enjoyment."
"When you know that I'm on the job being out here?"
"I'm just a harmless civilian who happened to wander into your sights." She put her hands up surrendering. "I didn't know what else to do. I don't know any of your friends, I don't trust anyone else." She said solemnly.
Ellen glared at her hard, Brooks eyes wandered. "Pfft harmless." Ellen finally said rolled her eyes smiling forgivingly. "Well, you're here now." She said throwing a hug in her direction, as well as being surprised Brook towered her making it look awkward and an uncomfortable position for her. Ellen? Not so much, being used to even taller beings.
"El can- can you not?" Brook said. "Fuck me you know I don't want to give these strangers a bad impression."
Ellen spun in a 360 degree, noting that they were not in the line of sight. "Good grief really? You afraid the chickens are going to challenge you or something? Snipers at the ready?"
"I am always on guard El, people get hurt when my guards down I am not letting it down for anything or anyone, even you, my one and only acceptable friend of the nerd kind. Who I didn't even know was a nerd for a good few years."
Ellen looked over her shoulder as Bee was briefing his team; they looked over now and then. "Okay some quick rules."
"Fuck me. Twice." Brook groaned.
"Look, just try not to swear so much, try not to be so hostile and no heckling,"
She merely grinned, wavering it off. "Fuck off." She added childishly.
"Really?" Ellen replied taking point towards Bee and his team, Denny and Russell too. "Well come on then."
Brook looked at her cautiously. "What are we doing?"
"Introductions."
Brook frowned, "A sharing circle? Do we break into song now?"
Ellen ignored her making herself known to the group, "Um, everyone, this is Brook. A long time friend of mine. Brook this is everyone." She announced.
Brook gave her a dirty look to how she just forced this on her, "Hey." She flatly said. They merely stared at her, no one really knew what to say oddly enough. "I did not know that man, and you have no evidence to back that up?" Brook added for a little light humour.
"Are you for real?" Ellen hissed at her.
"No one's fucking saying anything! I'm trying to make some god damn conversation." Brook argued looking at them all and waving a hand. "Hello? Do I have spinach in my teeth? You guys mutes? Vow of silence what?!" she frustrated.
Bee looked at them all. "Autobots."
They all gestured a greeting to her, Sideswipe acted like it was a chore, Strongarm was wary because she fit the profile of a criminal by first impressions, Drift was unimpressed by how uncouth she is, Grimlock somehow misunderstood and thought she was here to shut down Denny's business and was visibly upset by her presence.
Denny then walked up to her, "Tough crowd guys." He said offering her a hand. "Hi I'm the owner of this gold mine, beautiful isn't it?"
Brook looked him up and down, seemingly checking for an ulterior motive. "Denny? Right?" she glanced at Ellen who gave a brisk nod. She flashed a smile, "Hey man, sorry about trespassing on your territory just that your cars looked comfy. One thing led to another, I'll accept whatever consequence is coming my way. Kick me out, kick my ass, go nuts."
Denny looked around, "This isn't the execution block why so sour? I accept your apology; nothings broke far as I can tell." He looked over at the chickens, "Those guys however...If they can't pay the rent."
"Brooks looking into relocating them. Before the trail leads here." Ellen said. "But for now, can they stay just for a few more days until that happens? Please Denny, I'll 'pay the rent'. We'll take care of them, make sure they don't damage anything and clean up any mess."
Denny stroked his beard, "Well. I do think chickens are cute."
Ellen sighed relieved, "Thank you." She gave Brook a light punch in the side to comply and then shook her hand off as she just ended up hurting herself.
"Very grateful bud." Brook added. "Now." She rubbed her hands together, "how about a tour?"
Sideswipe cocked an eyebrow.
Brook continued, "Maybe we can star-"
"What's there to see? Trash is over that side, Scrap is over this side, okay tour over." Sideswipe voiced.
Brook narrowed her eyes to being cut off, she looked at him smiling lightly, "Good. To know. Anyway." She slowly said. "You know there's allot of reusable material in here." She looked him up and down then nodded, "So er, what kind of metals are you carrying sunshine?"
"Uhh, what?" Sideswipe blurted putting hands on his chassis.
"Brook!" Ellen scolded.
She shrugged, "What? I'm just sayin' for future reference Red, just in case you're on a mission of which you may never return and no one's around bar me, I call dibs. You're metal mortal coil might come in handy for someone in the future, you never know."
Ellen face palmed, she might find bruises on her face in the morning from too many of those, "Brook, it's not very impressionable to go up to someone demanding they become an organ donor?"
"How am I demanding?!"
"You're yelling you dope!"
"I aint fucking yelling!"
"Yes you are! Denny cover Russell's ears!"
"Guys?"
"I call dibs on his shit! Same for Yellow!"
"You ain't getting shit!"
"Waster!"
"Guys!" Cried Bee.
"You're not having Bumblebee! Their dead go to Cybertron! Quit forcing your logic onto them!"
Brook huffed, "Fine keep his lumbering ass."
"Hey!" Bee cried again.
"What!?" they said unison.
"Let's not fight okay?" He gestured to the group who just stared, kicked up dirt or looked to the sky trying to mind their own.
Ellen and Brook exchanged confused glances, "We're having a topical debate here man, you can't just stop this."Brook informed.
"Maybe you should sit down Bee, leading a unit has clearly put stress on you." Ellen added.
Bee shrugged accepting the chaos, "When did I lose control here?" he said in Drifts direction.
"You had control?" Sideswipe added.
Later into the day, Brook was getting herself used to the place, she watched the Autobots work, she watched Fixit work. She watched the Decepticon prisoners in their stasis pods. She watched everyone. Observed everything. She somehow found herself talking to Russell as he seemed to take an interest to her in approaching her first, though the other bots didn't understand why. "So then, he got up all my face and was trippin' so I said leave your tame banter for the 3-4 year old audience you cater for, people came here for actual risk not fake choreographer shit- oh pardon my François don't repeat what I say you know that right? When you're at least 16 swear like a bitch go nuts...don't say bitch either."
"So what did he do?" Russell asked, "Did he start something? Did you two fight?"
Brook scoffed, "Nah, he's a little bitch, only takes it never gives and is always flapping his gums like a goldfish. He was salty as fuck though flashing daggers, like it meant something."
"How come you're not on TV?"
She met his eyes noting how engaged he was in this conversation, she itched her arm forgetting the immaturity of his age, "I'm live audience only, alongside others. Not for someone of your age either Russell. Broadcasted is not great, but live is definitely worse."
"I'd see that."He said lightly.
"No you don't." she said firmly but with a tinge of fear in her voice. "I better not catch you in my neck of the woods either. It's not safe you get me?"
His lip hesitated in answering, "I-I won't. Its over a hundred miles to get there I think I'll be fine. But it's just a show right?"
She looked him over with searching eyes, "How did you come across it anyway? It airs in the early hours on one of the least viewed channels, heck with everything being streamed now."
"Have you seen where we are? I was up late, wanted to find some horror movies they show after midnight, It was an accident finding it."
"Well, you need to stop watching a'right? It's not for kids to see. It's not scripted, its real." She told him. She then put a fist out in front of her, knowing what to do Russell extended his fist to meet with hers, "Only bump it if you mean it."
He bumped, "I'll stop watching."
"Good boy." She uttered relieved.
A little distance away, "I don't get it." Sideswipe said. "She's been here a couple of hours and the kids more focused then anything else. Who is she Ellen?"
Ellen lent against a crate, typing up a report. "You heard how many times I yelled her name right?" She said bluntly. "What Russell has been watching is public TV that comes on late at night. Anyone can pay for air time. Brooks a part of it, but she doesn't show face."
"Do what?" Sideswipe persisted.
"Whatever pays? Get paid, you live."
"But what does she do to get paid?" Bumblebee added in.
"Hm. I guess you could say entertainment? Bit of rough housing that kind of thing. People can get hurt, bleed, get really hurt. No one dies but-mm it's a bit of controversial subject."
Bumblebee's optics flashed understanding, "She's a fighter." He declared, slight excitement to his voice got him a round of looks as he turned his head.
Ellen stared at him intensely; the word was so vague yet so accurate in a sense, depending on the perspective. She then looked to the floor, "Yeah. I guess you could call her that." She said tiredly as though being technical would just take too much time. "But not a wrestler, that's what you saw me and the other kids watching."
"H-Ha ha, I never, er..." Bee uttered.
"We all saw you trying to hide behind a corner don't try and hide it." She replied.
"Is that really considered entertainment here?" Strongarm said.
"It used to be on Cybertron. Beating the scrap out of each other, cheering the guy that always won, great pass time." Bee said raising his fist to the sky, only to drop it immediately and wipe it on his chassis. "I uh...thought I saw an Insecticon."
"Sounds entertaining." Sideswipe put out a suspicious foot out in front; "especially if I do this!" he curled around Strongarms ankle making her fall forward onto her knees, "See? Fixit showed me that on this show he recorded. That wrestling thing you mentioned? Said It was a dirty move!" he laughed.
Strongarm got to her feet letting out a sound of frustration as she tackled him, "I looked this up somewhere too, let me practice it on your dumb helm!" They started rolling around, crashing into things and kicking up dust.
Letting a loud sigh, "Oh Primus, Sideswipe! Strongarm! Stop this fighting now!" Bee commanded.
Ellen sighed, "Again?"
"Again. Two to three times a day is the minimum. I think Strongarms trying out a new style." Bee added as he tried to separate the two.
"Yellow-feller looks a bit stressed out." Brook said standing behind Ellen.
"I told you. He's preparing for 'the great evil'." She shuddered. "How are you so quiet on your feet with a mouth like yours?"
"Did I make you poop?" she snickered, watching the scene in front of her, "Huh, poor guy." She strolled over watching the two latch on to each other like strong magnets. "Strongarm? That your name?"
She froze to the sound of her name being announced right in her audio receptors with Sideswipe struggling in her grip. "It is. You're a little too close civilian."
"What are you doing?" she asked disappointingly, "This is embarrassing. Your superiors watching, friends? Is this how you present yourself? Just another corrupt cop?"
Strongarm looked around; she felt a rush of shame over herself, as everything calmed. Ellen smiled lightly seeing Brook calm a situation. Maybe Bee will finally get a good impression of her.
"That is not how you get someone in a choke-hold!" She announced vigorously, she rubbed her hands together flashing a toothy grin of excitement, "Give me your hands sister let me guide you!"
"I should have known." Ellen groaned.
Bee watched Strongarm put flat palms out in front of her as Brook showed her something, "I really thought she was coming to a peaceful resolve." He said.
"Guess we're both still naive as ever." Ellen snorted embarrassed, "Instead of dispelling conflict, Brooks more like 'sort it out amongst yourselves they'll tire themselves out eventually' no matter what gets destroyed in the process."
"You knew this and you still believed she was dispelling the situation?" Bee mocked.
Ellen muttered, "She's very convincing."
Bee raised an eyebrow, "Enough to fool you."
"Sure. She's good at it, she had to be good at it." She lightly said ignoring the tone Bee used. "She's a good person. You'll see it...e-eventually...I-I hope." In saying that she watched Strongarm almost choke the life out of Sideswipe, Brook gave her a brisk thumbs up and Strongarm smiled.
"Lieutenant! Look! Brook said if I put more pressure on I can have him in power down in five seconds!" she said pleased with herself.
"In seven seconds you could turn his lights out for good." Brook added grinning at Sideswipe making him question his life expectancy. "Pfft. I like fucking with you people. Seriously though Strongarm count those seconds accurately or this will be your last memory with him."
Strongarm nodded and if Sideswipe could sweat, he'd be dripping as he tried pulling a poker face.
Bee turned his head slowly to Ellen with a disgruntled expression, Ellen awkwardly chuckled, grinning at her feet. "I-Isn't she h-hilariously dark?" She laughed.
Bee held his expression and hard stare.
Brook had been there the whole day and with no reason to leave or to go explore around the area, since Ellen didn't go anywhere she stuck to hanging around the scrap yard and like an animal in a small enclosure, she paced, she jumped on cars, she sat on the roof of the diner, when Sideswipe tried to mock her, she would come back twice as personal, when Drift criticized her, she was twice as petty. When Bee told her how they did things, she nodded, did her best but would still do the opposite. When attempting to mean well, it would come off as worse to the others, like how she found a dead bear on the road and dragged it all the way back to the yard to show it to Bumblebee, her version of 'when I was out I picked you some flowers' plus bloodied hands.
Grimlock had no issue since he could barely pick up on sarcasm, criticism and being built like a brick house, no amount of noise or destruction could phase him, the two even had a physical contest or two. Strongarm adopted some techniques from her which were more excessive means of force than what she was trained but she would only use it if there was no alternative.
2 out of 9 friendly made acquaintances was an A+++ for Brook, especially in a day.
But as the day furthered, some were getting a little frustrated with her.
"El. Listen we need to talk about your friend." Bee said.
"Has she hurt anyone?"
"Just Sideswipes pride."
"Any damages?"
"Things that were scrap anyway."
"Any unethical way of thinking or acting?"
"Nothing yet, but Ellen you saw that bear."
"Grimlock brings road kill all the time, remember the racoon? He thought it was a stuffed toy. This time it just happened to be Brook and a bear, you've heard of taxidermist right? Museums? All legal. Know what Brooks going to do with that bear? Take it back to the forest away from the roads so other predators and scavengers can live off it and live another day." She took a breather. "This is just her normal behavior. It's like when you're in a fancy restaurant and everyone at the table stares at you because you didn't pick up the right fork for shrimp!"
Bee raised an eyebrow, "That was-"
"Me. yeah. I hate Christmas work parties." She crossed her arms. "But you can see it from that perspective right?"
Bee tapped his foot impatiently, "Ellen, she's temperamental, she seems to topple everything that crosses her path, and she doesn't seem to think before she speaks. She has such a vulgar way of thinking it's rubbing off on a few."
"So you're saying everyone should be grouped with the same type of person?"
"Don't do that. Don't get all moody because I'm criticizing your friend." Bee teased.
"She hasn't been here for a whole day, you told me Grimlock was a prisoner bearing a Decepticon symbol I'm sure you didn't fully understand him in less than a day." She put her tablet down, "But in saying that, I also know she can be very overbearing, no pun intended. Maybe I can get her out in the city with me, try and convince her to show some restraint and self control while here. But I can't promise anything, I mean don't you think I've tried before? It's really embedded."
"Maybe if you gave me some insight? Where she lives? Does she have family?"
"I told her I wouldn't in confidence, Besides you can find even the smallest of details about someone with a quick online search." She gave a quivered smile, "Give me a moment to gather some things and we'll be out of your hair...and I wasn't moody!"
Bee shrugged, she gave his leg a whack as she passed him.
She went to sit down, packing something into a backpack as she looked over at Brook, she smiled. She was not very good at many things, but the few things she was good at, was immense. Like a friend or fighting. She was street smart and had a good sense of people. She was a good liar and a good lie detector, she was a certified psychiatrist too, but she never brought that up as most of Earth seemed to be one too. She was also good at spotting weaknesses in people, the environment, building structures, it was out of habit but still something she was good at. She was very self aware of how the world worked, where she lived, people talked of how better other places were. But when she saw other places it was no different, she said. "Shit with sprinkles." It made her skeptical.
One intriguing weakness or strength depending on the situation is, although she was no good at socializing having little exposure to it, she would mimic what good socializing looked like. From groups of friends, couples, family. She uses what she's observed from other people to benefit herself or others, despite having no idea of the meaning behind it, to try and at least sound like the vast majority.
In a post apocalyptic world, she would thrive, survive. But she struggled in large cities, the constant movement of people was hive like, the loud noise of vehicles in gridlock, this rat race system made her feel trapped.
Ellen sighed, she pondered to herself, hypothetically going over what she might have said to Bee, She didn't want to worsen the atmosphere of the scrap yard given what was to come.
"Ever heard of lawless land?" she started over in her head as if she were having a conversation with him.
"Full of people from all walks of life, the homeless, the addicts, the people who were once on top now with few possessions, the broken people. Any type of person you can think of that would be frowned upon in civilized society or barely given a sideways glance. Either because their terrible people or terrible things have happened to these people."
"It was just a few miles outside of where I lived, Remember? L.A? It is desolate, its treacherous it's hostile. Allot of desert for miles around it would remind you of Jasper a little."
"It's what allot refer to as 'true freedom'."
"Some things you have to realize about Brook, like me, she's been isolated from social norms but in a more extreme manner, unlike me, who had you guys to protect me, the only people she knew were full grown adults that would try to harm her or kill her, and the only kids she knew were the ones that never saw their teenage years. This was the only thing she knew, the time she met me...no amount of therapy would help, the damage was done."
"She rarely sleeps...when she does, she gets terrible night terrors, she attacks in her sleep. I've heard her sometimes, when she sleeps far away."
"You don't have to understand or try to understand. I don't know why I always seem to make friends with the broken ones, maybe its empathy, maybe I think I can fix things-I don't know, I've never really gravitated towards someone with everything than someone with nothing."
"On a re-con trip with Dad one day, they had to go into the little acre of land. I met her, when she was seven. She started throwing stones at me! Ha-Ha! Its funny now trust me, not then obviously because she nearly broke the cartilage in my nose. I had a half full pot of Ben and Jerry's that I offered her. Cookie dough's her favorite."
"Sorry I know this all sounds like some gory medieval fantasy drama, but things like these do happen, we just choose not to see them."
After realizing she had been creepily daydreaming for five minutes while thinking that through her head, She packed her bag. Standing up she walked towards Brook who was watching a large bird of prey fly above them intently. "Brook?"
"Salutations and all that good bullshit El." She greeted looking at her bag. "You heading out somewhere?"
"To the city and you're coming."
She puffed a laugh, "Am I getting too much?"
"Maybe a little. Things are getting a little tense anyway. Bee hasn't had a single clue about the reckoning for a while now. He's getting a little untrusting." She gestured with her head for her to follow, "we'll take my bike so long as you don't give me a flat tyre ya big oath."
"We'll walk." She said roughly, already getting ahead of Ellen.
"Walk?" Ellen suddenly whined. "It's like a five mile hike."
Brook mimicked her obnoxiously, "A FiVe mILe HikE!? If only I didn't sit at home for hours on end dusting my resin made figures and playing my RAPG fantasy games as my muscle mass eventually disintegrated turning me lazy and dull."
"RPG."
"I ain't telling you what the A stands for."
"At least I don't have the default facial expression of a serial killer." Ellen joked attempting to shoulder shove her only to rebound off her.
"I can't help having resting bitch face a'right? Jesus." She shrugged her shoulder, "And what was that? Trying to shoulder check me? Pfft." she grinned snickering, "Seriously though I like how you try your hardest, despite the odds. Unlike me, I'd peace the fuck out."
"That's the nicest thing you've said to me since you got here."
"Yeah well, there's none of your bot friends are hovering around. I can ease up on the 'role of asshole' shtick." She then shoved her a little in a playful manner, "Look how's this? You start getting tired about five steps in and I'll carry you there?"
Ellen folded her arms, "On your shoulders, I want to see the view from up there on your high horse." she smugly demanded.
Brook scoffed, "Huh, whatever." They started walking passed the entrance as the doors closed behind them.
"Where are they going? Did they get clearance to leave?" Strongarm said.
"Good riddance, she said my alt form was too pretentious and some other word I don't think I should say in front of Russ and she looks at me like I'm not even there-let go of me already!" Most had forgotten that Strongarm still had him pinned all this time.
"The criticism might do you good Sideswipe, teach you to maybe let it go over your head?" Bee said.
"Does everything have to be a lesson with you Bee? Get shot? It's a lesson. Fall off a cliff? It's a lesson." Sideswipe rubbed his shoulders.
The two young woman got about two miles down the road before Brook ended up carrying her the rest of the way under her arm, "Fuck me sitting in a office has made you unfit, you know I was joking around before right? I kind of had a little more faith in you, two miles in and you're puffing like a fat guy at a Chinese buffet."
"To be honest I just wanted to be carried." Ellen replied lazily.
Brook cackled, "You asshole. Do you have any idea where we're going?"
"Whatever keeps you quiet."
"Nothing keeps me quiet."
"Then we are lost."
Brook looked off into the distance, "Let's see. Every crappy city has to have something to pull the tourists in, besides coffee shops and night clubs." Her eyes squinted, muttering 'nope' to every building she saw, until she made a 'hah' sound. "This place has a stadium how convenient, wonder what's showing right now? Tupperware show, baking convention...ooh river dance? I love river dance."
"River dance rarely shows in these parts, sorry Brook." Ellen scrunched her face, "Sounds loud. Maybe there are some competitive bakers. Either way, are you okay with-"
"I can handle it." She wavered off.
"Only checking. I don't want you freaking out over a hang nail or a gust of wind" Ellen then tried to hide her smile. "Might be a stunt show."
"Dude get out of my head." Brook muttered suddenly letting go of her grip on Ellen. "You were blessed with legs use them you fat fuck." She paced on ahead. "For real though I was getting worried when you weren't calling."
"Oh wow not the bitter type are we?" she rolled her eyes, "Come on I said I was sorry, don't guilt me you know how easy that is. I'll be up all night for the whole week worrying."
"Did you mention to yellow that I'm also a certified psychologist?"
Ellen looked suspiciously at her, "His name is Bumblebee and have you been eavesdropping?"
"You were telling them about me. Was that your best way to represent me? 'Yo Brook kicks everyone's ass but she's fine really'."
Ellen rolled her head, "Y-eah I don't re-call mentioning you kicking anyone's ass."
"Harsh." She nudged her, "Anymore word about, Y'know? Mecha Jesus?"
"Some."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Did he descend from the heavens with shiny fucking metallic wings bearing ACDC bumper stickers?"
"Don't joke."
"Sorry. I try but, I can't do 'consoling'." She proceeded to rub her nose then wipe the lose contents onto her pants.
"I saw him, Bee saw him, he says it's true, I'm starting to believe him, especially since I have hope that Ratchet is out there. He didn't leave me Brook."
"Well I could have told you that ya silly bitch, gotta let go of that shit and accept that people just don't up and leave you, people like you. Besides, who the fuck would abandon this baby face?" she grabbed her cheek like it was belly flab and yanked it hard as Ellen swore her skin was being torn from her skull. "Plus you have like a, 'confusing' body type you know what I'm saying'? Like you would confuse the hell out of either sex."
"P-rreash S-htop." She garbled.
Brook let go, "Probably confuse a priest too."
"Again...please stop."
"Hey, d'ya reckons I'll meet this Ratchet? Fuck all the others, I'm pretty stoked to hear some infamous shit fall outta his mouth. Break me, I'm ready. Insult my already destroyed spirit, I don't need it."
Ellen laughed, "I hope you do and you'll be happy to know that on top of not liking many things, I don't think he'll be especially impressed with a feral human such as yourself."
She rubbed her hands together, "Bring on the old fucker."
At the booth Brook shoved popcorn in Ellen's face like she was trying to smash her face in, Ellen tried gripping the box. "Here."
"Popcorn?" Ellen questioned her intentions for a 'sweet gift'.
"You sound like I just gave you road kill...again, yes popcorn do you want diahrea sauce to go with it?"
"Stop snapping for every question I ask." She teased walking to their seats.
"If I was patient and softly spoken I'd be a boring old cun-"
"Brook." Ellen scolded.
She grinned, "Nobody swears like the British. Or is as hated."
"If you haven't noticed the company I keep is 'family friendly' for a better word. You're like, if Disney characters wielded machetes and rolled around in the entrails of their enemies."
"That is what Disney is like. Fucking ruthless business, have you seen those old cartoons? Of course you have because you showed me them, most of the fairy tale movies were based on German stories which themselves were dark and gruesome."
"Ten points to Gryffindor." She joked.
"I don't know what that fucking means." Brook replied annoyed.
They both got to the stands, it was busy but there were still plenty of seats and it was a first come first serve system as they sat at the front, well Ellen sat, Brook stood behind the railings firmly twisting her cupped hand around the metal frame. They didn't even know what they paid to see but figured it out quick enough. "So they drive animalistic machines and bash each other? The concepts pretty hype but you can tell it's staged and by the sound of the announcer this is the current storyline." Brook said. "Something about the Triceramoped cheating on Stegatruck with Brachiatractor? Juice from my anus, I hate love triangle stories, there lame as fuck but people still love it."
"As long as the acting good, you can still get into it right?" Ellen added putting a handful of popcorn into her mouth.
"Right, hype up the crowd a little, a little heckling a little bit of show boating from the current holder, and it's the perfect formula. Dude don't talk with your mouth full." Brook then felt the presence of someone sitting nearby; she glanced over and looked like she was starting to get really bad chest pains.
"Brook? What is it? You having another heart attack? I told you that your BMI is way too low."
"N-No, and even if it was I've had three already I can go for a fourth." She gestured her head to the person two people lengths away. "The. Sc-scarf." She mumbled through tight lips.
Ellen glanced over at the fluffiest softest looking scarf, shaped like a small canine, a fox maybe? All white. "Its...fake right? Just because it looks like one." Ellen falsely hoped, but she knew better.
Brook shook her head wildly. "Nope. I can see the skin, it's definitely real." She struggled.
"Brook...calm down." Ellen said slowly. A tinge of fear lingering in her voice, but not for Brook, but for the person wearing the scarf.
Brook started itching her hands, "S-Sorry I'm just a little confused." She said vindictively. "The weathers nice, it's not like it's the ice age or anything." She continued out loud. "Oh I seem to have noticed the skinned pelt of an arctic fox draped on your 'layered' neck. Was there a ten percent discount if you purchased their tiny pups for matching mittens as well? Or were they offered the mercy of a quick death?" She puffed out a passive aggressive laugh. "God I hate people! Sorry! Most people, I don't want to generalise here."
"Brook." Ellen repeated conflicted, as she shared her disgust.
"Do you know what kind of torment and suffering they have to go through? How they are treated like objects for their sense of fashion instead of something even practical?!" Brook raised her voice louder and uncomfortably turned her head to said person she was aiming at.
"Come on Brook, shows starting. Please don't handle it like this." Ellen patted the seat next to her.
Brook spun her head back, her face mere inches away from hers, "Can you believe that fucker?" she hissed.
"You think screaming loud enough for them to hear is going to change them as a person? You tell someone not to do something it makes them do the opposite; You have to be smart about this. It's illegal so let's just report them alright?" Ellen replied whispering.
"Pfft those city kitties? You can throw Molotov's at them and they don't do shit, they'd rather burn to death then enforce anything." She sighed. "You think certain things would stay in the past, that we live in better times but it's coming back like it's some trendy shit, people must be that fucking bored or lazy." She huffed. "After this show I'm stealing that fucking pelt and burying it."
"And lose any evidence?"
"Fuck the police." She huffed slouching into the bench as she propped her legs onto the metal frame.
Ellen seeing how oddly comfortable that looked reacted by trying to prop her legs up and failed miserably, "O-Oh right, I-I'm shorter." she puffed out an awkward laugh, "When you meet my Dad, don't let that be your opening line alright? He's a pretty firm believer in the law."
Brook snapped her head around, "When?" she said lightly making Ellen shuffle.
"You heard me." She added.
Brooks's voice lowered and looked seemingly ashamed all of a sudden, "What if...what if I, I mean he- I'm fucking garbage El." Before Ellen could argue a point a roar of cheer suddenly drowned out them out.
Most of the machines they saw looked like dinosaurs or something close anyway; this one who was the source of cheering had neither wheels or a distinct ancestry of bird look about them. Unlike the others who had visible drivers, this one's was nowhere to be seen. They started yelling and demanding for an opponent, wailing on their chest like a gorilla. "Yo, who's the loudmouth?" Brook inquired as Ellen raised an eyebrow at her. "And yes I see the irony."
"I'm guessing from the crowd that it's a er, surprise guest?" Ellen put a flat palm above her eyes to hypothetically see well.
"Nice. A love square, Now it feels authentic." Brook said slapping her knee.
"Hmm?"
"What?"
Ellen squinted, "I can't see any specific markings on him from here. But they are definitely not some scrap yard build or an origin of Earth."
"You think he's a...what was it? Decepticon? Seriously might as well of called yourselves 'we're the obvious pricks.'"
"Says you." Ellen hinted pulling the front of her beanie over her eyes. "There's a reason not many team up with The Punisher dude. And the skull isn't exactly friendly looking."
She straightened her beanie up in a no nonsense fashion, "You want me to get closer have a look for any symbols?"
"No wait." She grabbed her shirt before she started moving and hit a number on her phone, "Fixit? We're at the stadium- Oh-you know already? Then he is- alright, we'll observe for now."
"What did he say?"
"Well...they know and Um...His name is Groundpounder?"
"PFFFFFT!" Brook fell back off her seat howling. "Who the fuck names these guys?! Their god is cruel! Ha!"
"Brook this is serious. This guy was a pit fighter in Kaon."
"Okay?"
"You forgot."
"Pretty much everything after robot devil, my concentration numbed, Don't worry so much these type of guys are usually the first to die, or get so much of an ego that they eventually die. Either way."
"You've gone by the law of never underestimating an opponent, no matter how silly a name is."
"Yeah but you forgot the law that outrank all of my other laws, I'm a huge contradicting bitch that just goes with whatever suits my situation at the time. Keeps a person guessing?"
Ellen held her face in her hands defeated and exhausted, "Just pick a lane Brook! I can't keep up with you when you're doing one-twenty!"
"I hope it's not the lane where this guy pounds my ground-"
"Brook for the love of-!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I was set up! I took the shot El! His names Groundp-fftt!" she fell back again howling.
Ellen rested her chin in her hands, "It's not that funny."
"You're just mad because you're smiling." Brook laughed.
"Your laugh is maniacal." Ellen huffed.
"Cyber city suplex!"
Ellen jumped nearly falling off her seat with Brook, "Who cries out their moves?! Isn't that just warning your opponent?"
"That was a suplex? It's barely half a one." Brook noted.
"He still leapt like sixty feet in the air." Ellen noted impressed.
"There's a difference between hopping and skipping doesn't matter how high you go." She bit a nail looking around the area as her eye narrowed dangerously, "Well now."
"What?"
"Check it out the big idiot has a, MANAGER." She started chewing on her nails. "Fuck managers, pieces of shit treat ya like garbage and maybe on a good day an item." If she had hackles they'd be standing tall right now. "Pfft, they are all the same, sneaky, soulless, money grubbing bastards. But hey I'm not bitter, so we going in or what?"
"W-Whoa, quit flip-flopping! Fixit has said to hang back and observe, besides our meddling might cause more harm than good."
"You take orders from him now huh?" She sat down crossing her legs, "Still not a suplex just sayin'. The atmosphere is giving me a euphoric high here how could we not interfere."
"You don't sound charming saying that." The match continued, Brook grew impatient with how slow the minutes and seconds felt. At one point he produced flames, the heat could be felt by all those at the back, then Groundpounders opponent seemed to be having trouble keeping control of their machine, they spun around so that its back was facing him, Groundpounder came charging with a satisfying grin on his face, he flipped the machine over making the person scream sounding concerned for their life, "Did you see that?! He took them out from behind with that shitty grin on his face, that's cowardly! Oi host guy you ass why are you letting this carry on! Get your medics!"
Ellen stood up looking at the damages, "can't see how bad it is from here, but could be really serious."
"No shit and this guys fine with it, I'm booing this fuckwit Boo! Boo him!"
As most cheered thinking this was still all part of the show, Brooks loud heckling cries caught Groundpounders attention as his smug expression faded into an annoyed look. "W-Who dares!" he said trying to find the culprit.
"Boo! Boo! Look this way you blind prick!" despite no body language indicating her intentions, she suddenly leapt over the barrier.
"Brook! What are you- Good grief!" she said attempting to follow after Brook but tripped and fell flat on her face below her.
"Nice entrance dude" she said genuinely, giving her an encouraging slap on the back that literally did more damage than the fall did.
"Yeah sure, I totally did that for the yucks." Ellen replied winded, "I hope those weren't my ribs..."
"So what we tag teaming this?"
Ellen's eyes wandered fast trying to think, to Groundpounder, to Brook, then the flipped over machine and noticed it leaking fuel, she shut her eyes briefly satisfied with her decision, "Brook. Keep him distracted, I'm going to get that guy out. Dodge any melee attacks he throws at you but if he starts with projectiles you get away alright? No stubbornness, no showboating, just use that mouth and reflexes of yours okay?"
Brooks lips rolled back like she was sucking on a lemon as she looked Groundpounder up and down, she didn't want to protest because that would just prove Ellen right. So she merely gave her a brisk nod in compliance.
"Okay." Ellen breathed running to the edge of the stadium to maneuver around better. Groundpounder watched the moving target.
"Oi. You dirty cheater my eyes are here." Brook said.
Groundpounders optics flared, "What did you call me?"
"Hey what are you doing you can't be down here!" the host called at Ellen.
"I re-call you can't employ someone without the correct documents and declaration forms either!" she ran to the machine, hoisting herself up into the passenger window and seeing the person inside with their knees up to their face, "Can you move?"
"Seats stuck all the way back!" They cried.
Ellen lent in grabbing the seat lever and ripping it off; she then grabbed the front of the seat and pulled it forward, "There. Can you move now?"
"Just enough."
"Alright, put your arm around me." She said helping the man out, when they both hit the floor a familiar face was running up to her, "Russell?"
He stopped, catching his breath. "We got this, Grimlocks up next."
"You shouldn't be out here, this thing can explode anytime." She said.
"I thought you might need the help?"
"...This man needs a medic." She sighed lightly. "Their stationed there, grab his other arm for me."
"I'm on it."
As they both helped the man reach the arenas entrance, another familiar face was waiting for them, "Fixit?" Ellen said noting his human disguise?
"Oh. You recognized me?" Fixit pondered, "I understand, you are able to tell the difference through experience."
"I-Sure? Is this...is this the plan?"
"Yes. Denny is our driver, Grimlock is our challenger. Don't worry; the statistics are in our favor so long as Grimlocks heeds my advice."
"Are you...sure?" Ellen said looking around, "Where are the others?"
"We'll be fine from here." Fixit assured, "You and your fiend-friend! Can go about your business. Unless you'd rather stay? I know I'd rather stay." He said with giddy glee.
"If Brook wasn't here, I would have." She said parting with a nod and went straight up to Brook who had been arguing with the show host. "We're leaving."
"Pussypounder fucking snubbed me." She complained.
"Only because he has another opponent to tend to." She said pointing at a badly modified Grimlock with Denny.
"Oh...uh...Grimlock. Right?" Brook said.
"Which means their here to take care of things." She said gripping and pulling at Brooks arm with two hands.
"B-But-But we were about to have an action scene! What was the point of this?! We came for a show and now we're just going to leave? This is bullshit! I wanted to roast his shitty name!"
"Brook, we're leaving." Ellen repeated.
She made a frustrated sound as she kicked up dirt, "Well that was kinda pointless."
"You were expecting to kick ass or something? You kept him distracted, I got that person out, the others came, we did our bit."
"I wanted at least a drunken member of the audience to come at me...I'm pretty butt hurt now."
"We can still do stuff, this is just hanging out, and a day off for me." Ellen spun around, "Seriously, this is nice."
"Huh, well alright then...still I'd really would have like to got you one of that guys fingers."
"And I would have to politely reject said gift I'm afraid, I've seen enough Cybertronian parts to build a civilisation."
"So. Now that the shows been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, what now?
Ellen shyly smirked, "I have a place in mind."
Wherever they went, they stayed a good three hours, Brook threatened to take Ellens hands if they didn't leave soon, only because Ellen was too obsessed with something particular.
"satisfied?" Ellen said leaving the building as she rubbed her wrists.
"You were lucky there was an arcade nearby."
"I suggested it and you immediately whined." Ellen argued.
"That was after I rigged that claw machine." She pointed at Ellen's arm full of stuffed toys, "Your welcome by the way."
"What about those rounds of immortal martial's?"
"You mean the rounds you won?" Brook huffed.
"Don't be grumpy."
"I'm not. Those combos were cool."
"I'm okay when it comes to video games I guess." Ellen shrugged.
"Seriously though that combo? That's called a young girl who spent most of her money to learn those as she waited for her Dad to come pick her up after school, tell me I'm wrong." she smirked.
"I hate when you try and guess peoples childhoods."
"Try? Bitch I don't recall you saying 'you're wrong'." Ellen mumbled something inaudible leaving Brook fairly satisfied. "Kind of feel bad for breaking the whack a mole though."
"It looked over 20 years old, when you don't look after the vintage stuff properly this happens. Anyway, you coming back to the scrap yard? You have many chicken children now or I can book you a separate room at my hotel?" Ellen said noting how dark it was in the city now.
"Nah, might roam for a while see what this city brings out after dark." She looked up. "Huh. It's rare you have a city where you can see the whole sky of stars." She walked away.
"You sure?"
"Mm-hmm." Waving the back of her hand, but she stopped re-thinking her approach, "This shit...ended at a good time." She said, translation; I'm glad I was able to spend time with you, good health to you.
"I'll see you at the scrap yard? Tomorrow?"
"Sure, whatever."
Later into the night, she stopped at a few bars, bowling alleys, under bridges, when people were desperate on the street they attempted to rob her a few times and failed. She expected that much, "the people aren't so desperate here as some places. Statistically I bet these people don't even exist to them." She pondered.
"Nice hat."
She sighed but put on a casual smile turning around to three men in their late 20's, "I'm just passing through. A'right? Medical care is getting more expensive so let's not do this."
"Boots look better. Take them off, kick em over." He looked her up and down. "You got cash, card? Throw it over as well."
She glared at them, "Now I know you didn't just suggest that you were going to take my boots? Now look I'll-"
*squ-elch*
...
...
Brook looked down; turns out, one of them had a Swiss blade and acting on adrenaline, stuck it into her. She looked at the knife, it was stuck in at an angle she guessed he wasn't planning on getting it stuck as he was having trouble pulling it back out and gave up half way as he kept a grip on the handle.
He looked slightly shaken to his own actions and panic rose in his stuttering voice.
"The hell did you do?" one of them breathed out.
Brooks eyes widened, her breathing sped up, and even made 'gurgling' sounds as though she were choking on her own blood. This continued for a long, slow while as she raised shaky hands hovering over her wound.
What they didn't know is that Brook was just messing around with a false facade and wanted to continue this drama a little longer, just until their faces turned a little paler and the consequences stuck with them.
Suddenly, she dropped the persona, took a stride step forward impaling the knife in deeper and forced the man back like he was sliding on ice. "Try it now, it should come loose." She said calmly leaning her head in.
"The hell is wrong with you?" He hissed.
"She's numb on something." The other said.
"Another junkie? Great." The apparent 'leader' of the three noted.
With a blade in her hip, she nodded in a friendly manner to the last spoken man, "I'm sober, pretty alert actually. I have a high pain tolerance, some places are numb actually. My hip for example." She took a grab for the knife handle as he still hesitated in taking it out. "Your childish act was funny for a moment; I mean to go from a light threat straight to a knife? Your shit at this. But now if you don't mind take this fucking tooth pick from my side."
He yanked it hard pulling back. "T-There's something wrong with you, aren't you afraid of dying? You just got fucking stabbed."
"In the hip? Oh shit that's it for me I guess!" she scoffed, "Look you guys aren't killers...well, amateur ones anyway." She reached over plucking his knife away. "If this weren't me, it would have been someone else." She muttered to herself angrily thinking of the possible victims. "A kid. A vulnerable person. People who meant something to someone, worked hard all there life just to scrape by and you were ready to ruin their lives huh? Wasters." In one swoop making the man flinch she flicked off the blood on the knife. Then politely handed it back to him. "You choose to steal from those in the same boat and background as you instead of a bigger richer fatter fish? CEO's? Politicians?"
They looked at each other cautiously, "Its, easier to go for the slim pickings."
"Easier?" she stomped over to him placing both hands on either side of his shoulder locking him in place, "Of course it's easier, It's also lazier and motherfucker, do I look easier to you?!"
"There's three of us, you ain't shit." He stated confidently.
She cocked her head, "I just drove your knife deeper into my hip without giving two shits and you still want to play the confident ass? Look here's my offer I'm going to give to you, right now and I'm hoping you'll take it for all your sakes, just leave, with your health and a chance at tomorrow a'right? You lot should be protecting the weaker ones not dominating them."
He looked to one of his 'friends' as he did a quick nod to him.
Brook sighed. "For ass sake."
Later on into the early hours of the morning Brook continued her walk through the city, unfazed and untouched except for her knife wound that was now patched up crudely by herself which involved a lighter and the knife that caused it. "I think I'll stay out a little longer, trouble seems to gravitate in my direction might as well face it. Its better I attract it." She looked in the direction of commotion, and started musing to herself.
"It would be easier to just be an asshole but-Shit I'm not perfect, I don't wanna know anyone who claims to be. Eh, first law of being me, My friends are my family who I would do anything to keep safe in this shitstained world, second rule, Only people are fair game, keep animals out of it, third rule, trust is a gamble, fourth rule, ah fuck it. And lastly, I contradict everything, so much I can't even remember most of them." She noted a cat sitting idly looking at her. "Yeah I just talked to myself, don't fucking judge me, you kill for sport." She walked forward then stepped back, "For real though you're adorable cat, see ya."
A/N Hoo boy, did I shove a lot of stuff about her into one chapter, Apologize for the lack of Transformers and how random and out of place this chapter feels, (yay symbolism?) :P I am giving Brook her own side story right alongside Ellen but won't overshadow, one of those back and forth things, I just love the comedy duo, the straight man and eccentric Brook and Ellen have going, I think they bounce off each other well, but that's just me ^^; BUT FEAR NOT FOR THOSE WHO MAY POSSIBLY HAVE HATED THIS CHAPTER AND myself? No pitchforks please? for we are nearing the 'THING' you know, THAT thing. the reason you came here, the feels, grab those sleeves, the reason for all this unnecessary tension in the authors notes, the glory of! anyway on to the next chapter! :D P.S please be gentle with those reviews :3