hello everyone! it's been a while uvu school kicked my butt. but every time i feel nostalgic and reread my old stuff it kinda gives me motivation to write again, so here i am!
answering some smol questions: sideswipe, and all the other transformers that will be appearing soon, have solid holoforms! it's a borrowed concept i've seen in a lot of fanfictions, and although no one has really explained the science behind it... well, it's a series with giant talking robots so i'm not too concerned about that xD
thank you all for your kind words! you really don't know how much they all mean to me. honestly, your reviews are part of why i still come back and decide to update. thank you all for sticking with me through thick and thin!
for icanhascamaro though: i'd definitely read a story with the avatar concept. i love the transformers a lot so seeing them in that kind of story would be very interesting~
i also wanna draw meixing and sideswipe's holoform lol so i'll prolly post it on tumblr one of these days
anyway, reminder that italics spoken is chinese!
Chapter Nine
Things start to unravel out of her control.
With her head dangling off the edge of her bed, Meixing's gaze upon the novel before her is narrowed and full of unease. Of course, part of this may be attributed to the fact that reading upside-down isn't good for the blood in her head, but there's another pressing question that slips past her lips soon enough.
"You ever wonder how history change because of people changing things?"
Loud slurping comes from the other side of the room, to which Meixing's eye twitches at.
"Oh!" Another moment of silence for Rachie to gulp down the noodles ― wait, those are her noodles! ― before she swivels around in her chair to look at Meixing. "I know what you mean! Like, a tooon of American history does that, covering up and changing or omitting―"
"Rachie," Meixing interrupts. "Stop. We not that kind of story. Best not to bring up modern social conflicts since we're still about eight years in past."
"What?"
"Was talking about my novel." Meixing sits up, the blood slowly flowing back to the normal parts of her body. "Heard of it? Called Romance of Three Kingdoms in English. In my Chinese history class today, I learned that was not Guan Yu who killed Hua Xiong, but Sun Jian. Feel very betrayed."
Rachie props her feet back onto her chair, arching an eyebrow. "I've heard the name. I also know it's a novel. Aren't novels usually written for money? So the author of that novel must've changed some facts to make it more interesting."
A good point. Meixing's lips jut out into a pout as she closes the book. "Makes me wonder if all heroes I knew are just fake." A pause. "Well, I take that back. Know one hero that is real."
With Rachie spinning absentmindedly after finishing her lunch, Meixing doesn't expect for the other to catch onto the last part. Yet by some cursed god's ability she does and suddenly the blonde slams a foot onto the floor, harshly halting her chair and looking towards Meixing expectantly. "Who's your hero, eh? Ehhhh?" She waggles her eyebrows as if to suggest a common person they both know, but Meixing arches her own eyebrows in response.
"You no need to know."
Meixing's refusal doesn't cease Rachie's persistence. Her roommate makes quick strides and plops herself onto Meixing's bed, letting out a loud whine. "Why are you always leaving me outta the good gossip?"
"Explain."
"The past few days, you're always being stared at." Rachie crosses her arms over her chest. "So I think you've been the center of really good gossip that you don't want to share with your best friend. At least, the people who's been staring at you just make it seem like they really wanna talk to you."
"... Have not noticed." Meixing's back straightens with the new information.
Rachie grins and pulls her smartphone from her pocket. "I thought you'd deny it. Here, look at your new fans." She pulls a picture up and shows it to Meixing.
The Chinese woman takes a moment, blanches, and shoves Rachie off her bed lightly. "You imbecile. That just Sideswipe's friends. Gave me a scare for nothing."
"He has friends? And here I thought he had nothing better to do than to bother you every other hour."
"Right?" Meixing sighs heavily. "Ever since that pranking incident, I think it unlocked new side of him. He seems more childish than when we first met." She twists her brows into a frown. "Or maybe too much credit for him? He still act like a kid when we first meet actually."
"Who are these new 'friends' of his anyway?" Rachie lifts her hands to make quotation marks in the air, although the smile on her face is unmistakable; she's quite enjoying Meixing's response to this right now.
Meixing shrugs. "Don't know the pretty girl. But that one Sam and that one Leo." She points to each person respectively. "I think the girl is one that Sam mentioned before though. He mentioned wanting to pick up someone a few days ago."
"Pfft― seriously?" Rachie spits out before bursting out into laughter, holding her stomach as she attempts to continue speaking. "Oh god, this is just too rich! A campus with more than two thousand students and somehow those two, er three I guess, are always somehow in the same area as you! This is too much of a coincidence to not even be a coincidence!"
Meixing cringes. "You think?" Lifting a hand to her mouth, she bites on a thumbnail. "What you think they want? I have no money."
"Maybe they want Chinese lessons?" Rachie shrugs, to which Meixing scowls at and flings a slipper off her foot to hit her.
"Take this seriously. I could be robbed today and you never know."
"I highly doubt you'd be the one who suffered." However, as compensation, Rachie scoots closer to the edge of the bed Meixing was sitting on and slips the slipper back on. "Well, if it bothers you so much, you could just ask."
She's not entirely against that idea. In fact, normally she wouldn't be afraid of confrontation at all. There's also the past fact that Meixing has bothered the two males to the point where it should be them who's concerned about their well-being (well, that's water under the bridge now). "They... are Sideswipe's friends." She sighs. "I guess I shouldn't make it a big deal." They had a mutual friend and a previous acquaintanceship on two parts; perhaps she's just being too paranoid.
"Still, how have I not noticed?" Meixing mumbles. "My senses getting dull."
"Three people among many. You're not a superhero."
"What about that saying, where you feel someone stare at you?" Meixing rises up from her bed, sighing again as she made her way to the coat rack.
Rachie shrugs. "I heard it's just a form of anxiety and self-consciousness. The fact that you don't really feel that means you're not an anxious person." She gives two thumbs up to Meixing. "Meimei, that's a good thing, ain't it?"
"Some would call me carefree, in that case." She snorted. "No matter. What done be done. I will leave to school bookstore to buy supplies. Have a project coming up soon."
"Group or solo?" Rachie asks, watching Meixing slip her jacket on.
"Group. Why? You gonna help me?"
"Hah, you're picking up sarcasm quite quickly." Rachie waves her off. "Nah, but I hope your group is good. Good luck~"
"Good luck..." She repeats, stepping out of the door and making her way down the hallway. "Why would I need luck? We just do work and get good grade." She reaches into her pocket, pulling out her phone and checking the time. Deciding that she still had a couple minutes until the designated time she was supposed to meet her group outside the bookstore, her steps are taken at her own leisure.
It's a bit chilly today. The campus is mostly empty again; weekends tends to draw students into parties and the like, just like always. Meixing finds it hard to believe that it's only been her third weekend here ― where did the time go? Rubbing the side of her head, a smile tugs at her lips as she mulls over how productive her week has been. Only lectures and notes for the week. She had an essay for her Literature class due next week based on the novel they read the past week, and there was the group project for her Sociology class, but other than that, college life isn't as hectic as all those comics made it out to be.
Or maybe this is the calm before the storm. Meixing figures that could be the case, since one of the courses she's taking is infamous for the amount of papers that need to be written. With a determined huff to herself, she claps her hands together. And a few minutes later, she's in front of the bookstore to find―
― Not one of her group members waiting there.
Alright. She'll wait a few minutes. Although tardiness is one of her pet peeves, she'll wait. Standing there in the chilly wind, she takes frequent glances to the time on her phone. Five minutes, then ten minutes pass and there's not a single soul in sight.
Meixing heaves a frustrated sigh, turning on her heel and walking inside the bookstore. The only ones inside the store is the cashier and a few mingling students; there are no familiar faces. She sends two messages; one already complaining to Rachie and another informative message in the group text chat while scouring the store for the novels she needs for the project and a poster-board, but they're sold out for the weekend.
Wonderful. She thanks the cashier for their time before quietly walking out of the store. Meixing only takes a few steps before she lets out a screech, to which only a few passing students stop to give a concerned stare. Great, when there's no one around for miles she can be happy, but the moment she decides to let out a little frustration, now she has an audience?! Way to jinx that college life going well.
"They so read that," she begins to hiss to herself, pacing back and forth. "We planned this in class on Wednesday. How dare they ditch me like this? Two pm on a Saturday, I doubt they're asleep." Still, she wants to give them some benefit of a doubt, so she continues to pace while holding her phone in one hand. Another ten minutes pass before her phone rings and she picks up immediately ― though it's not who she wants to really hear at the moment.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Xiao xing, I heard you're in a bit of trouble~"
His voice isn't exactly unwelcome, she supposes. Still, she doesn't repress the groan that slips from her throat. "Somehow, I wish you were one of my group members instead."
"I'm flattered. I'm a busy mech, y'know?" He boasts. Meixing rolls her eyes, shoulders releasing the tension that had been built up over the past twenty minutes. "Also, switching back to English. I know you use Chinese when you're mad, so I figured I should get you to calm down a little."
"How thoughtful," she retorts. Still, it's a conditioned response in her that he seems to know rather well. Of course, being on the receiving end of her anger has probably familiarized Sideswipe in ways to deal with her at this point. "So? You heard I in trouble. I don't suppose you offer help."
"Why, since you asked so nicely!" The cheer in his voice makes it easy for Meixing to visualize that broad grin of his. "Where do you need to go?"
Meixing looks around, wondering if he's just off to the side, snickering to himself. "Any office supply store. Oh, and bookstore. Need some novels." She switches the hand holding her phone so she can wipe off the sweat building up from her previous rage. If Sideswipe will take her, then she has no reason to refuse. The thought of owing him a favor makes her hesitant to, but she figures she can pay for his coffee along the way or something. He seemed to enjoy it last time.
"Got it." A small bout of silence, which makes Meixing wonder if he already hung up. "Alright, remember the parking lot where you tried to prank me and failed?"
"How could I forget."
"We're going to head in that direction~"
"We...?" Meixing takes a step back to see if it'll give her a wider view of the area, but lets out a surprised yelp when her back comes into contact with another person. Hearing that laugh makes her tilt her head up, brown hues meeting those bright blue hues that can only belong to that irritating, reliable man.
She wrinkles her nose at him, ending the call and shoving her phone back into the pocket of her jacket. Before she takes a step away from him though, he reaches out and gives her a one-armed hug around her shoulders, pulling her back to his chest a bit roughly. Meixing shoots him a warning look but makes no move to pull away from the friendly embrace just yet.
"It's been a while, Xiao xing." His free hand reaches up to scratch at his cheek. The motion looks rather sheepish to her, and were it not for her previous impressions of Sideswipe, she'd say it made him look more boyish. "Sorry I haven't visited you in person the past few days. I figured you were busy with classes and all."
That hasn't really been a concern of his before. It's not like she had been bothered by his absence though; he had still bothered her over texts and brief calls.
"As long as you were okay," she says, deciding that because he decided to address it this time, it might be something he really does feel guilty about. "No need to visit every day though. Not like we're lovers or family." Even by that standard, she thought she'd get tired of seeing the same face every day. Lord knows the reasons she takes an hour walk every night is because she needs a break from her roommate.
Meixing lifts a hand to pat at his arm. Sideswipe laughs and releases the smaller woman from his grip, settling for ruffling her hair just for the sake of teasing her before taking one step back to give her some space.
"You're right," he muses. "I guess we aren't. Still, I graced you with my wonderful presence every day before that, so I figured I should give you some explanation." He moves a hand to his hip. "Too bad tough Meixing didn't miss me though. I could've teased you more."
She turns to him while fixing her hair, arching a brow. "Who said I didn't miss you?"
"Ah ― "
Her response flies above both their heads but returns to give Meixing a good kick in the butt. Sideswipe blinks rapidly, a bewildered expression flickering across his visage while Meixing slaps her cheeks to give an excuse for the color that's surely building on them right now.
"Nevermind, let's go before it get too dark."
"It's only half an hour past two. We have quite some time before sunset." Although Meixing is doing her best to keep a pace ahead of Sideswipe, there's only so much distance she can cover with short legs. Therefore, a few long strides is all it takes for Sideswipe to catch up, shit-eating grin plastered across his face. "So you have allll the time you need to detail just how much you missed me."
"I hate you." She presses her hands over her cheeks, scowling as the parking lot came into sight. "Why must you be the only friend I have with a car?"
"What'd I do~?" He hums. "I didn't do anything to provoke you this time. Your love warms my spark, it really does."
"Speaking in English will not make me less angry."
"You switched back."
"..." Meixing decides that speaking is only landing herself into a bigger hole. So, she turns her head amidst their fast walking and sticks her tongue out at him. Sideswipe tuts at her, lifting a finger and waving it.
"Now now, you're going down to a level lower than me. And that's saying something, especially given my, ah, notorious reputation among my peers."
She gives herself a moment to think about that. At first, she was going to retort with something more biting, such as how his reputation was probably that of an arrogant, self-centered and impulsive child who ― hm. Too harsh? Besides, after resolving a few misunderstandings, he has... been a bit different. Meixing slows down her pace, now at a normal walking speed as she gives a contemplative glance towards Sideswipe.
No... it isn't that he's different. He's still confident and boastful, never afraid to brag about himself ― those were traits that he exhibited at their first meeting. That impulsive aggression he showed her before though... now she understands.
To protect the people he's loyal to, she supposes anyone can do drastic thing. She laughs to herself, putting her hands behind her back as Sideswipe falters in his gloating of his 'reputation' to give her a puzzled glance.
"I didn't make any jokes, so why are you laughing..."
"No reason," she responds. She notices that he's matched his pace to hers again. What a strange man. Meixing beckons for Sideswipe to lower his head, acting as if she has something to tell him. Curiously, he complies, watching as she lifts a hand... and flicks his forehead.
"Hey!"
"Payback."
He gives her a pointed look, to which she returns with a steely expression of her own, but in a matter of seconds they both cannot maintain the stare-down ― they both laugh; Meixing's laugh is more reticent, one hand covering her mouth as if she had been taught to keep her expression to a minimum so as to not be a bother to others, and Sideswipe's is more forthcoming, hands on both his hips as if he's much more accustomed to sharing his happier emotions with other people.
"Thank you," she says. Her visage is lighter than her usual impassive look. "For cheering me up."
He winks at her. "Anything for my good friend. Now, let's get your novels and school whatnots?"
"School supplies," she corrects, rolling her eyes playfully. "And I'm the one who is supposed to be with language barrier."
Sideswipe spins on a heel, dramatically motioning to his car. "Just thought I'd explore some new words." He takes a few extra steps ahead of Meixing so he can open the passenger's door for her. "As the huma ― er, saying goes, ladies first."
Meixing stops a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest as she pretends to ruminate over the decision. "Let me see..."
He pouts. "You know you waaaannnt... uh?"
"Do I really want to?" She grins, not quite catching the change in tone of Sideswipe's voice. When she takes a step, however, there's a vice-like grip on her wrist and she yelps, whipping her head around to see who had just grabbed her. The hostility in her expression dissipates instantaneously when she sees the familiar face.
"Mama...?"
Her mother looks frazzled. Her normally neat black hair looks like she had run her hands through it multiple times without bothering to comb it down. In one hand is her daugher's wrist, and in the other hand is a large white cloth that's stained with scorch marks.
Meixing recognizes the cloth immediately, but in her mind swirls a storm of things she's puzzled by. She doesn't know what she wants to ask first.
"There you are," Lihua hisses out. "We need to talk."
"Mama," Meixing mutters in response. Her cheeks now flush red from frustration, sparing the man behind her one glance. "You could have called."
"No. This is not a matter for the phone." Her mother lifts up the white cloth and presses it harshly to Meixing's torso. "What is this and where did you get it?"
Meixing frowns. She loves her mother and respects her family, but even this is a breach of privacy that she should be entitled to. "This was in my room. You aren't supposed to be going through my things? How did you even find me?" Another pause. "Can we talk somewhere else? I don't want to trouble my friend."
At the mention of an audience, Lihua moves her head to fully observe Sideswipe, who stands there stiffly. His gaze is focused on the cloth as well, and it seemed like there's a thin veil of realization that dawns upon his gaze, darkening it from his earlier friendly glow.
"Fine. Let's go." Lihua doesn't give another thought to Sideswipe though. She merely turns on her heels and begins to drag Meixing along. The movement seems to startle Sideswipe and without thinking, he reaches out and grabs onto Meixing's shoulder.
Both women stop at the sudden force.
"Excuse me, ma'am." He smiles weakly at the stunned look Meixing gives him. Still, what could he say? It's not like he has any right to stop them; it's a mother-daughter discussion and he has no place in it as an outsider. However, when her mother appeared, Meixing looked just as frazzled... and he didn't like it. "You're hurting her. If you're going to talk, please lead her more gently."
Lihua looks towards the grip she has on Meixing's wrist and her stern look softens. She sighs, letting go of her daugher's arm and nodding towards Sideswipe.
"Thank you," she says. "Hopefully, it will be a short talk. Maybe you will have time later to talk."
Meixing doubts that. Still, she turns to Sideswipe for a moment and bows her head to him.
"... I, too, thank you." She murmurs, before turning back and following after her mother. He watches the two leave with bated breath, looking at the hand he used to stop Meixing. It isn't his place... but now, it's also a matter of the Autobot's security. Hopefully, with the listening bug he placed on her shoulder, he can protect the Autobots... and her from any potential harm.
Because he doubts the conversation they're about to have is one typical of a parent-child one.
"Meimei," Lihua starts, once they rest in a place where Meixing knows is not common for students to stop by. Meixing's head is bowed to her mother, lips pressed together and awaiting any instruction from her parent. "Tell me what that is."
"The remains of a parachute." Even as she speaks, she does not dare raise her head.
"Where did you get it?"
"Shanghai."
"How did you get it?"
"It fell."
"Where did it fall from?"
"The sky."
Meixing can sense her mother's exasperation. But, even if it is her mother, she cannot reveal the secret of her beloved hero so easily. Her grip tightens on the white cloth, as if it would disappear at any moment.
"Wang Meixing. I am running out of patience. Look at me."
Weakly, she does. In her mother's eyes is fear, desperation, anger.
"You need to tell me now. How much do you know?" Lihua reaches forward and grasps both of Meixing's shoulders. "I saw it. That... that symbol. That red face."
She would shrink back more where she stood, if she could. Her dedication to Héng Pào is important, of course, but her entire life is also dedicated to being a good daughter.
Meixing's breathing becomes more labored, still biting her tongue in spite of the pressure.
"Meimei, how could you be on the side of those monsters?"
No, that's not right. Meixing lifts her head and shakes her head, a frown creasing automatically in response. "Monsters? Mama, what are you talking about?" She presses forward. "No, you know about these beings?"
"Those monsters ― "
"Mama!"
"..."
"Even I will raise my voice if you insult those who saved people's lives." Despite the blaze alight in her eyes, there's an apologetic hue to them as well. "I'm sorry for raising my voice. But I also ― look out!"
She could see it coming from the peripheral of her vision. Reacting quickly, Meixing let out a shout and jumped at her mother, tumbling forwards a few feet while shielding the elder with her body. Rubble blanketed the side road and their bodies, with Meixing noticing that her leg was caught underneath it. Her mother lost consciousness below her, but relief settles in when she took note of Lihua's gentle breathing.
Looking behind her, with that white cloth nestled stubbornly in her hand, she meets gazes with a silver being donning glowing eyes similar to that day in Shanghai.
Ah... but those were not the eyes she had always looked forward to see. The eyes before her are red eyes.