i learned quite the amount of things about sideswipe thanks to xin ~~ i'll do my best to incorporate them as i go along. if it isn't obvious, my sideswipe is a mix of his fanon and canon personality~ which makes me wonder how exactly the fandom diverged so much from canon but i'll take what i can get xD
a bit of a warning though, i'm implementing real situations in here, so if you're offended... well. it's unfortunately still a relevant issue even in 2016, so i guess a bit of social awareness? rip
Chapter Five
Her downfall is that she's blatantly direct and honest.
She's in her room, reading and annotating critical analyses over an author's novel for her Literature course, when her phone pings to indicate a text message. An eyebrow arches in curiosity, knowing that it has not been twenty-four hours since she had parted ways from the strange man whom she had recited her number to. The only reason she knows it's him is because she likes setting different types of notification sounds for different people. As she has not yet set one for him, his is the standard bubble sound.
Well, not that it has to be a day before he is allowed to contact her, but she didn't really expect contact from him so soon. Technically, it had been a day; after retreating into her room and taking eight hours to sleep, she had risen early to do her work, and Sideswipe had sent a message that read 'Are you free?' minutes after she had risen. His timing was impeccable.
Meixing had ignored it... but the second text message comes soon after the first one.
[ Unknown: Text received: meixinggggggg! are you free? don't ignore me! it's sideswipe! sean! sides! what do you call me again ]
The Chinese youth sighs and relents, picking up her phone and responding to his persistence after inputting his nickname as the contact title.
[ Sideswipe: Text sent: You preferred to be called by your nickname, Sideswipe, did you not? I am doing my work. Please do not bother me. ]
[ Sideswipe: Text received: what the heck your english is so much better all of a sudden
are you really meixing
nvm you promised to tell me stuff! when are you done w/ your work? ]
A small twitch of irritation follows after his exclamation. It's not her fault that writing in English comes much more faster to her mind than speaking it does. Meixing decides to wait a few minutes before responding, mostly out of pettiness than occupation of time... unfortunately.
[ Sideswipe: Text sent: I can afford a break in two hours. That will be the optimal time for lunch. We can talk over lunch then. ]
That is the normal thing to do, right? Meixing remembers her parents casually inviting their friends out to lunch all the time. Perhaps it is a bit forward of her to invite Sideswipe when this is only the second day of meeting him, but that is also the reason for meeting him over an occasion that normal human beings enjoy: food. Food is the key to every person's happiness. The meeting will be less formal, so it will be easier for them to converse over food...
She nods to herself, proud of her prospective analysis- though perhaps she's merely projecting her own desire to eat... either way, she makes to return to her work. If someone were to compare the current student to the one who had persistently pursued two other students for information, they would most likely find no similarities.
It's scary, really, to see the shift in demeanor depending on the situation.
"Meimei~"
The unfamiliar address causes the youth to jump out of her chair immediately, looking around for the offender. Only her mother is allowed to address her by that nickname, both because of its second meaning and the fact that it's a form of endearment she does not want to embrace that easily.
When Meixing had retreated from her chair, a pair of arms had wrapped around her waist from behind. Meixing stiffens, turning her head to meet the gaze of her roommate.
"Do not call me that," she states flatly, attempting to pry the other's arms from her waist. "Don't care if know Chinese. Not my sister or mama." It's more difficult to attack someone who already has a grip on her, but if she twists her body in a certain way, Meixing can effectively kick the other away.
Not that... attacking her roommate is obviously the morally correct thing to do, but these displays of physical contact are very unfamiliar to the Chinese youth.
"Got it. But you're so cute~" Green hues glimmer devilishly, and even if Meixing has rarely seen her roommate, she knows that the plotting behind those hues are never advantageous to her life. Literally.
"... Now let go of me."
"Sure," she shrugs, laughing and releasing the other from her embrace. "How long have you been here anyway? It's already two-fifty, you know?"
Meixing blinks dubiously at that. "... It is?"
"Yup. I didn't come back last night, but I'm willing to guess you've been here since the morning, right?"
"Partying again?" Meixing mutters crossly, closing her book and attempting to fish her phone out of her pocket. "Rachie, you get in trouble one day."
The aforementioned girl shrugs. "Gotta enjoy life while it lasts. Why are you trying to check the time? Don't believe me?" She watches with amusement as the other fails to respond, which is honestly either an affirmation or denial; as always, it's difficult to read the other. Even if this is one of the few times where their whims and schedules permitted them to converse like this.
"Not that don't believe..." Those are the only words Rachie hears from Meixing, because then she hears a loud knock on the door. It seems to escape Meixing's notice, so Rachie shrugs and makes her way to the doorway. "But is very hard to believe..." Meixing pauses, noticing that the other is not within her perimeters of a legitimate conversation. "Where you go?"
"Whoa~~ Meimei, a cute guy's here to see you~"
It's hard to resist... Meixing's head instantly slams into the nearby wall, groaning at both the shamelessness of her roommate and the fact that she had certainly not acceded to Meixing's request of the forbidden nickname.
"Meimei, huh? Didn't know Xiao xing was into that~?" Meixing recognizes that voice instantly.
"One day, I will personally pull that tongue of yours out from your mouth," Meixing mumbles under her breath. Whichever person she's referring to remains unclear, but in response, two voices chime: "I can understand you~"
She pinches the bridge of her nose, thoroughly exasperated as she trudges to the doorway hesitantly. Sure enough, Sideswipe's arms are crossed over his chest in amusement, whereas Rachie is switching her gaze from Sideswipe to Meixing, as if attempting to fill in the blanks purposefully left by the Chinese youth.
"Sorry. Did not see it was time," Meixing sighs. She shoots a wary glance towards Rachie, whose devious grin seems to widen more and more.
"Nah, I'm not that hungry anyway." Sideswipe waves it off, though she can tell he's seeming to preen... perhaps because of the compliment paid beforehand to his appearance. "Are you ready now?"
"Yes, I-"
"Dressed like that?" Rachie cuts in immediately, arching an eyebrow at the choice of attire Meixing is donned in. A sweatshirt and sweatpants... which seems just like the classic set of pajamas for the youth.
"We not go anywhere fancy anyway. Not resourceful enough for that." She speaks as if it's not a big deal, and Sideswipe himself doesn't seem to know, or understand, the lack of effort in terms of clothing.
Rachie snorts. "Okay. Then I guess that means I don't need to worry~"
"... About what?"
The blonde smiles. "Well, you not trying means you're not interested in him. So I can get dibs on either you or the cutie, eheh~" Before Meixing can respond, Rachie nudges the shorter girl out into the hallway. "There's a homecoming party tonight. Make sure you come back so we can go~?" She winks at both of them. "Both of you are invited. The more the merrier, plus you'd certainly bring a lot of attention at the party. Bye!"
When the door slams, Sideswipe tilts his head, puzzled as to what the other had been trying to implicate. "What did she mean... by dibs?" Well, that's one part of his question; the other parts lies on the party she had mentioned. It sounded interesting, and it wasn't like he had any particular duty to carry out on campus anyway. Replacing Bumblebee temporarily didn't mean he had to just sit back and be dormant, after all.
Meixing shrugs. "Food, maybe? Don't know much about American slang." She slips her phone into the pocket of her sweatshirt. "Where you wanna go? Best not to go far... and place with outdoor seating be safer for more secret facts."
"There's a cafe on this campus, right?" He asks. Sideswipe isn't too keen on the idea of driving, especially since the whole point of his mission is to lay low (very contradictory to his first appearance at this university...).
She nods, glancing at him before starting to walk, stuffing her hands into her pockets slowly. "It has patio, so good place." She gives him a skeptical look then. "You sure you not be student...?"
Sideswipe laughs nervously. "Just... looking around, like I said. I'm not on the active force for now, so I have a good amount of free time."
"Fortunate," she mutters crossly.
"Not really," he shrugs. "I miss fighting. I'm more happier out on the battlefield than babysitting some hu-... kids."
"What is your rank?" She questions.
"Warrior," he replies simply. The cross look that Meixing gives is lost upon him, as he genuinely believes that it is a legitimate rank in war. However, Meixing takes it as his desire to not specify- perhaps because it is because he cannot disclose information like that so easily? Well, whatever the reason is, she's keen enough to not pursue the topic, despite her curiosity. It doesn't really concern what she wants anyway, so she can make do with vague descriptions.
When she pushes forward through the crowd, she glances back to Sideswipe. "You not coming?"
He waves her away casually. "I'm not really hungry. I'll go save a table for us."
She figures it might be because he decided to eat while waiting for her. If that is the case, she's inclined to feel guilty. Purchasing fries and two coffees, the petite woman searches for the other and finds him at a table, outside as discussed earlier, surprised that he's managed to secure a spot without any nearby students.
He lifts his head when she approaches, quizzically giving the extra coffee bottle a stare when she pushes it in front of him.
"... It is least I can do for make you wait." Leaning back in the chair across from him, she begins to pick apart her sandwich, waiting for him to ask whatever he wanted to know. She isn't sure what she wants to disclose just yet, so she has to answer based on both of their discretion. Is he really trustworthy? Confiding in him is like allowing him to shoulder some of the burden she's been hoarding to herself this entire time.
It will feel liberating, but at the same time, she cannot help but wonder if this will ruin any chances of meeting the one who saved her life.
"Describe 'it' for me." His first curiosity is the matter of her savior, as expected. However, even Meixing admits that she cannot answer his question specifically, not because she doesn't want to, but because it's the very thing that she's been pursuing more knowledge on.
"Silver. Tall. Mechanical.. a robot alien, if put in Leo's terms." Meixing leans forward, absentmindedly poking at the cap of the bottled coffee. "Very bright eyes." She pauses, giving the other a wary look. "... You not laugh, okay? Or else will stop." Another pause of hesitation. "You believe me anyway? Sound very suspicious, no?"
Sideswipe clears his throat and fights the grin that threatens to tilt upon his lips. "Well, I'll decide if I believe you after you tell me your story. And I won't laugh." At least, I'll try not to. To make sure she isn't going to send any more skeptical glances towards him, he opens the cap of the coffee and gulps down some of the liquid. "Tell me about how 'it' saved you."
"... Okay," she says, reluctant but eventually deciding to keep her side of the promise. In order to give him a more concise version of the story, she takes a few moments to formulate what she's exactly going to say. With this, her choppy English won't come to light... but this is one of the few instances in which she actually will have time to process and think about what she wants to say, without worrying about face or automatic responses. Her silence is unnerving, but Sideswipe seems patient enough. He can see the gears in her head turning, and he leans back in his seat, arms crossed behind his neck casually.
"I helped my parents with deliveries back then, so I was on my way from making a delivery when a silver car began to follow me. I did not think much of it at first, but when I realized it was speeding towards me, I assumed that it would be the end of my life then." As if she's writing an essay, her speech comes out mechanically, and she looks faintly perturbed by her own robotic tone. "However, the silver being saved my life by destroying that silver car. I do not think it knew I was there before, because when it saw me, it was very surprised. It seemed to be in a hurry, because it left me alone after requesting that I keep that night a secret."
It's suffocating, speaking so formally, but for some reason she's feeling more conscious of the way she's speaking. Perhaps it's because this is a story about her savior, and she doesn't want to butcher any moment of it. It has to be perfect because it is about her savior... yes. That is the least she can do after exposing its existence to two people not involved in their encounter.
"You nervous?" Sideswipe fights back a chuckle, though it's apparent that he's amused by her anxiousness. "We've met gazes so many times, but this is the first time I've seen you so flustered." Well, judging by the rate of her heartbeat, it's similar to how humans get nervous when presenting a speech. Still, the formality isn't necessary- she needed to relax, if anything.
"Don't be arrogant," Meixing flatly replies, frowning and exhaling harshly. "You cute, but no like you that way. You point out before too. My English better over text, right?" She's back to saying the first things that come to mind- she doesn't have the time to think about what she's going to phrase now.
"It was a joke," he says harmlessly, lifting his hands up. "Speak however you want to me. I can understand you either way. But hey- did you just call me cute?" She swears his arrogance is at its highest compared to what it was a day ago. He's grinning coyly again and leaning forward, a pleasant hum escaping his lips.
She falters. "... No harm in complimenting a friend."
"Got it," he muses. "Humans are weird and irritating sometimes, but you're pretty tolerable."
"Drink your coffee," she states suddenly, grabbing his bottle and shoving it in his face. "We not come out here to compliment each other."
It seems he had been refraining before, but now, a laugh finally breaks free from the restraints he had placed on it before. Half of him wants to say it's unfair of him, to laugh so freely in times as dire as these. He had told himself he should be focusing on his work, to find his brother, and that all humans were the same; weak and small, not knowing their place...
Actually, the one before him is also small. She's not tall compared to her peers, but he suspects it's a result of being of a different race (he had googled it before when he wondered why some humans looked different than others). Intriguing, how all humans came in different shapes and sizes.
Sideswipe props his elbow on the table and places his chin on his hand, tilting his head while giving Meixing a curious look.
"... What." She had been waiting for him to stop laughing- had he been laughing for long? He doesn't seem to recall.
"Before we diverged on the topic..." he says, snorting in amusement at Meixing's huff in response. "... In any case, you kept my- er, that thing's secret, right?"
She nods, glad for the total change in conversation. "I tell you yesterday already. Never told anyone, aside from you and... in a way, Leo." She sighs. "Leo not know much though. Did not tell him specifics, he only know that the robot alien saved my life."
"I don't see why you're so persistent in finding it though," Sideswipe points out. "What if it didn't even intend to save your life? Or if it doesn't even remember you?" Certainly, Sideswipe had not recognized her at all, not until he had gotten a direct, anger-free look at her face.
Meixing smiles, a mixture of wryness and solemness. "Not matter to me. Still my savior." An exhale leaves her and she picks at a fry, absentmindedly nibbling on it. She's thinking of the best way to phrase her next sentence, fortunately that gives her the time to be more eloquent. "It... did not intend to save me. But it still did. I think the fact that it was there in Shanghai that night means that its ultimate goal... was to save any human." She remembers its words clearly. "It... is protector. Very noble of it to want to protect us. Unlike the other one that held no regard to my life and invited destruction with its path."
Sideswipe's expression is unreadable. He's regarding her with bated curiosity, brows creased in a slight frown and lips pressing together into a thin line. On one hand... he's very much taking in her words as praise, and accepting it to fuel his own ego. But on the other hand, she knows much more than she had let on before. He's sure that he hadn't been too specific with his rushed statements back then. That just means she's perceptive enough- or Primus forbid, she had access to information in another way- to pick up puzzles with missing pieces and connecting them on her own. What else does she know? He must find out, for the sake of her safety and the Autobot's security breaches-
"Ah, it is already four o clock." She had pulled her phone out after taking a small break from her story telling. "I tell myself earlier I only get an hour break before go back to work."
He blinks, as if breaking free from a trance. "Wait, Meixing-"
The Chinese girl looks slightly apologetic. If she had not lost track of time in her room, perhaps she would've had more time to share her story. "Unless you do work for me, cannot bargain on this."
He can't just let information go like this. "Yeah, I'll do your work for you. How hard can it be?" The Internet is his mind; nothing would be impossible for him.
Meixing arches an eyebrow, giving a light scoff as she rises from her seat. "... Was joke, Sideswipe. I do my own work."
"But-"
A ring interrupts him. Meixing lifts her phone to her ear, remembering that she had set the obnoxious bell ringtone to her roommate's contact information. "Hello?"
"Meimei~?"
Meixing's expression sours immediately. "Told you not to call me that."
"Wheeeree are youuu~?"
"At campus cafe," she answers without a second thought. "Why?"
There's a prompt silence following her response, and Meixing almost decides to hang up on the other. Sideswipe opens his mouth, as if aiming to warn her of something- that is, until she feels a hand prod at the small of her back.
With a loud yelp escaping, Meixing quickly whips around and jumps, throwing her leg out at the offender as she leans her body back in order to spin horizontally. In response, the offender lets out a scream of her end, collapsing on the ground immediately.
No physical contact is made; Meixing quickly lands on the foot she used to propel her kick, coming face to face with whoever had approached her.
She recognizes the green hues and freckles belonging to her roommate, in which Meixing relaxes immediately and Rachie is torn between glaring at Meixing or scooting backwards a few more feet.
"Did not hit you... but sorry for lashing," Meixing says apologetically. "But... you touch me first. Was self-defense."
"... Some self-defense that is," Rachie replies airily. She looks to Sideswipe for support. "Did you see that?! She was going to kick my head off!"
Sideswipe rubs the back of his neck almost sheepishly. "... It was kinda cool to watch though. I heard that some hum- er, some people learn special moves like that for fighting, right?"
"... best defense is strong offense," Meixing huffs. Nonetheless, she ends the call and helps her roommate to her feet, despite thinking internally that it was a well deserved warning for her roommate being a party-goer and addressing her by an unwanted nickname.
"You didn't actually hit her though," Sideswipe points out. "So you're lacking. I can show you a better and more lethal kick."
Meixing gives him a hard stare at that. "Type of kick is not meant to hit. Directing to actually kick opponent is difficult, so is more efficient as warning. Many more kicks in Chángquán that can hit." She pauses, giving him another glance before letting out a small snicker.
Sideswipe arches an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Actually, if translate to English..." She tilts her head. "That type of kick, at least the variation I perform, is called Sideswipe."
"... Seriously?"
"Mhnhm."
"... That's awesome."
The moment of admiration passes quickly. Rachie interjects by grabbing Meixing's arm.
"So sorry to interrupt, but this just gives me more leverage. C'mon, let's go to that party, Meimei!"
"How many time do I have to-"
"This is compensation for trying to kill me," Rachie raises her voice, as if pointedly ignoring Meixing's protest.
"... Was not murder attempt," she responds, though her weakness seems to have been stricken. The Chinese woman's demeanor seems to shrink visibly, as her tone takes on a self-reprimanding air to it. Despite her stubborn hardheadedness, she does genuinely regret attacking someone who had, technically, done nothing wrong. Even if her impression of her roommate still stands to be improved...
"I'll forgive you if you party with me~" Rachie sings, and Meixing isn't sure if she's more uncomfortable with that idea or with her own mistake. "You can bring cutie too, I don't mind."
Sideswipe innocently lifts a finger to point at himself, as if to say 'Who, me?' Meixing sees this and narrows her eyes, knowing that he's feigning that innocence. Just by their exchanges, she's mindful of the fact that he's all too aware of his own lethal nature... in terms of looks. Truly, the type of person that's troublesome to deal with...
"How long must I stay?" She grumbles. "Not fond of parties. Must do homework."
"Just for an hour, if you really hate it," Rachie compromises, smiling giddily as she did so. "Or maybe even less, if ya want~?"
There has to be an ulterior motive to this. Meixing is just unable to figure out what exactly- at least, for the time being. Perhaps the other's intentions will be revealed later on.
"Are... you coming?" She asks Sideswipe. If someone she knows is also there, it will feel less unfamiliar. Rachie isn't necessarily a bad person, but given the other's fleeting appearances in their shared dorm, Meixing's not too eager to put all of her trust in the other.
"Do you want me to come?"
She wants to kick that grin off of his face.
"Friends hang out with each other," she replies slowly. "Is normal, correct?"
Rachie hums and points to herself for support.
"Alright, good enough." He decides that it's the best response he'll get, considering Meixing's stubbornness. But, befriending a human like this... if just a few months ago, someone had told him this fact, he'd laugh in their face and hang them outside in the main hanger as a prank. Perhaps, what the others had said was true... not all humans were that bad?
"What is appeal of party? Do not really get it." After affirming the accompaniment of the other two, Rachie begins to drag Meixing- although it is unnecessary, given that the latter has already consented to her participation. However, that's not to say Meixing will comply with this without complaining. She'll make sure to voice every bit of her displeasure.
"Well, there's hanging out with people!"
"Do not care for people."
"... And making new friends?"
"Friends only worth if beneficial."
"Yeesh, not everything is like business, Meimei..." Rachie pouts. "Aren't I your friend?"
"You roommate. Maybe friend, if not call me by horrible nickname."
"And him?" Rachie jabs a thumb towards the trailing male.
"Light friend. Beneficial because stories." Plus, there's the fact he possibly knows more about the robot aliens that he'll admit. Him being friends with Leo confirms that.
"Gotta have a reason for everything, huh?" Rachie shrugs. "Well, whatever. I still got you to come."
Still looking uncomfortable with the idea of prolonged socializing, Meixing sighs and chooses to not speak any further. Rachie makes small talk with Sideswipe, occasionally attempting to bring Meixing into the conversation as well. But the aforementioned woman remains resilient in her silence, a feeling of dread washing over her as the sound of loud music begins to fill the previously silent evening.
"Why must everything be so loud?" She grumbles, hand twitching to show she wanted to cover her ears already. Rachie merely grins and drags the other inside the house- why was there a house just for partying on this campus again?
"It's a fraternity, actually. They just use the house of meetings for parties instead." It seemed as if Meixing had accidentally voiced her thoughts aloud, to which Rachie merely responds with mild amusement.
"So this is a human party..." Sideswipe blinks, as if mesmerized by the sight.
"Never been to a party before?" Rachie arches an eyebrow. "Hard to believe, especially with those looks."
"Looks aren't everything, femme." A pause. "And I've been to... different kinds of parties."
Rachie raises her eyebrow suggestively, as if she's interpreting his implications a different way, but the meaning is lost on him, naturally.
"I already feel tired..." Meixing grumbles as Rachie releases her arm.
"Let's dance together," she insists. "How can you feel tired if you haven't even doing anything?"
"Just the presence of people makes me tired," she retorts, rubbing her arm. Sideswipe's looking around in fascination, though he doesn't step away from the two females; his curiosity isn't enough to make him wander around humans he doesn't know, after all.
Rachie rolls her eyes. "C'mon, Meimei..."
Meixing opens her mouth to protest again, but is stopped when others in the party take notice of Rachie, most likely- Meixing isn't surprised to see that the other has friends as a result of the parties.
"Hey, Rach!" A blond man approaches them, flocked by a trio of girls. "You're late."
"Nah, you're just early," she laughs. "Hey, I brought my roommate that I've been talking about. Say hi, Meimei."
Meixing gives her a flat, unamused look. "Why do you never listen to me?"
Rachie's statement has the stranger's attention focused on her. The man's expression falters and the girls wrinkle their noses.
"What's that fob wearing?"
The disgusted remark perks Meixing's attention significantly. Rachie's grin loses its glow and Sideswipe glances towards them, his eyes glazed over as if he's searching for something in his mind.
"... Excuse me?" The Chinese youth glances over her own attire, which remained unchanged from the morning. Oh. Perhaps it is rude of her to come to a party without the proper attire, but was it really necessary to call her by that insult...?
"Her accent's pretty noticeable..." The male mutters to his companions. "Rach failed to deliver."
Meixing gives Rachie a sharp look. It isn't the first time someone has attempted at insulting her using the outdated term, however, she's more hurt by the idea that her roommate would try and set this up- they can call her whatever they want, they aren't relevant to her life anyway, but if this is the reason Rachie had been so insistent... "Did you... bring me here to try and make a show out of me?"
"What-?! No!" She shakes her head in refusal, giving the others a brief glare. "You should apologize to her. Do you even know what year we're in? Who calls Asians fobs anymore?"
"Her parents should've made sure she learned English before coming to America, then."
"You-!"
"No, I don't mind." Meixing's expression is dark and she takes a step towards the other, offering a hand. "Here, please shake my hand. Then I have an excuse."
"An excuse... for what?"
"For throwing you across the room."
That's Sideswipe cue to immediately hoist the smaller woman away, throwing her over his shoulder none-too-gently, ignoring her yelling protests and curses in Mandarin.
"Sideswipe, I throw you first if not put me down!"
"I don't doubt that," he murmurs, but brings his attention to the quartet of Rachie's companions, who seem shocked at his intervention. The girls are quickly getting glossy eyes and the blond male blinks dubiously. "Humans... can be pretty slaggy sometimes, huh?."
"Wait, you should let her leave. You can stay," one of them offers.
"Hmm... nah." His lip curls in slight disgust. "You insulted one of my friends, right? This 'fob' word is derogatory in certain contexts. So I shouldn't be friends with people who make fun of my friends. Plus, her accent's cute. Anyway, we'll excuse ourselves now."
"Sideswipe-!"
He can't tell if Meixing's flustered by his sudden compliment or still angry at his intervention, but starting a fight isn't beneficial for either of them. She's quite easy to carry out, nonetheless, and he merely laughs her anger off, the chilly evening air rushing against his face suddenly.
"Don't go around beating up other people, Xiao xing," he muses, wishing he could see her facial expression right now. "Don't get me wrong, I'm all for fights-" Especially if he's involved, but he can't go around harming humans now. "-But I'm sure your crea- er, parents wouldn't like it."
At the mention of her parents, Meixing stills her movements. She casts a wary look towards him, though all she can see now is the back of his shirt. "... Did you know?"
"That you threatened her after she mentioned your parents?" Sideswipe hums. "You're pretty transparent, y'know."
Meixing pouts, bringing her gaze to the ground. "Would you not do the same?"
He contemplates that. "I don't know my crea- er, parents. But I have a brother I would fight for... so yeah." He reaches up and pats her shoulder. "There's a time and place for everything. Fight people in war, not in peaceful places." Strangely mature of him to say, but as a soldier who's been disciplined many times by his superiors when he was younger and reckless, it somehow... stuck to him. "Although, I'm very up to the idea of playing a prank on that fraternity house if you want."
"... And here I thought you be mature for second there."
"Well~ I have my moments."
Meixing sighs. "Fair enough. Anyway, you can put me down now."
"What are you gonna do after this though?"
"My work? Is obvious."
Sideswipe pauses, then shakes his head and grins complacently. "In that case, naaah. You need a longer break, so I'll just walk around campus to clear your head."
"Huh? No, I have lot of w-"
"I'm gonna start running now~!"
"Sideswipe!"