Title: Inferno and Red Alert III
Rating: T

Red Alert left the house that morning, determined that this orn would be the one where he didn't mess up in the slightest! ...But, that confidence quickly faded after being in the school less than a klik. Having already lost Sideswipe to his own homeroom (yet not without his share of quizzical looks and questions of concern) the poor doberman was all alone as he paced awkwardly outside of his first period classroom. Students were weaving about the youngling's fretful path, some disappearing further down the hall, some into the open door that Red Alert needed to enter himself.

Why did he think he could do this?

Whimpering a little, the white mech jumped as the early alarm sounded above his helm, shoving himself in between two groups of classmates resignedly. This action only took him as far as the inside of the Home Ec class before Red Alert stumbled to another stop. Seeing that the room was already segmented into pre-assigned groups at their selected stations, the doberman found he didn't know what to do after getting to this point.

"You're the new student, correct?," asked a vocalizer behind him.

Quaking in surprise, Red Alert glanced behind him fearfully, almost collapsing with relief when he realized it was just the teacher. But that just meant he felt incredibly stupid afterwards. "Y-yes...," he squeaked out in answer, clutching his textbooks closer to his chestplates.

"Yes, I remember your... entry... last time," the older autodog vented, glancing around the room. "Well, I've got to put you somewhere. Have you had a chance to... No, probably not. How about-"

"Can...," the youngling interrupted shyly. His shoulders hunched as the teacher glanced down at him in surprise. "C-can I be paired with I-inferno?"

"Are... are you sure?" The look said that the mech thought he was crazy. Instead of retracting his request, Red Alert nodded his helm firmly, keeping his mouth clamped against his rising anxieties. "Well... Alright, sure, why not?," the teacher shrugged. "Take a seat over at that prep station there, and pull out the cutting board and knives. I'll announce our cooking assignment in a few kliks."

As soon as he was dismissed, the doberman shot across the classroom, dropping his things to the floor and pushing them safely out of the way. Red Alert was intensely aware of all the stares being sent his way, and he could feel his plating begin to crawl as he dug around the station cupboards in distraction. 'Don't freak out, don't freak out,' he silently repeated to himself, keeping the mantra going as he found the cutting board and a wrap containing three knives of different sizes. The looping words kept the autodog from physically collapsing in a weeping pile of nerves and, as the youngling found an apron and yanked it over his helm, he actually felt a little knot of excitement form in his fuel tanks.

He'd spoken up for himself. He had made a choice -not out of terror or threat- and he was actually following through with it!

The final bell rang out loudly in the classroom, just as one final body managed to tumble past the doorway. A bashful Inferno stood there as the teacher chastised him, backpack hanging onto broad shoulders by one fraying strap and clothes crumpled from his morning jog, before the german shepherd looked across the class in stunned disbelief. "'E-ey, Red...," he vented softly, coming up to the smaller youngling. "Y-ya, um... w-wanted ta be meh pa-partner...?"

"Yes," Red Alert whispered back.

It was amazing to see those deep blue optics light up like firecrackers, a broad smile nearly splitting the larger mech's face in two. "Awesome," he mumbled, setting down his own knapsack. Red Alert couldn't help but agree as he shuffled over to make room for his cooking partner; the pit of his tanks growing even warmer as Inferno reached for an apron.

xXx

Lunch time was always a strenuous affair for Red Alert. Per his usual routine, he had to slip into the cafeteria between the numerous crowds, so as not to be the last or first to enter. From there, he then had to survey the room closely (check for changes in noise level, out of place items, feasible exits in case of emergencies, etc) before he could even remotely begin to factor in the other students and their placement in the room. Often times, by the end of all his surveillance, that left little to no optimal seats for the youngling to take and Red Alert had often slipped back out of the cafeteria in the past, rather than risk taking a gamble in an unsecured seating position. Yuss' highschool did not have the same grandness of the anxious autodog's former schools, but that only meant there were less tables to chairs to allow adequate walking space in the humble room. Red Alert felt the starting itch along his sensory grid as he glanced quickly between the two walls of wide windows framing the room and the diminishing tables filling up- the tell-tale sign of an incoming panic attack. Clutching his backpack tightly, the youngling took a step back towards the cafeteria's open door, watching fretfully as students continued to casually stroll in. He would have to squeeze past another group shortly, lest risk the last of his schoolmates coming in and robbing the doberman of his chance to escape this dreadful situation; granted that another student didn't take offence to the white autodog slipping by and make a grab for them first and-

Red Alert thought he was going to pass out as his processor noted this other problematic scenario, while he was still trapped in this one, gearing his entire sensory grid up until he could of sworn it was crackling, so much so that, when a face sprung into sight around his peripheral, all the youngling could do was react.

"'Eya Red! Wha'cha do-?"

"AAAAAH!"

There was an almighty crack that sounded, breaking the echo of the shrill scream Red Alert had unleashed, as his bag connected with the side of Inferno's helm- twisting the taller youngling's face to the right abruptly and nearly sending him tumbling onto his aft. Only after contact was made, did Red Alert see who his 'assailant' was, and he nearly purged on the spot in realization while a deafening hush fell over the cafeteria.

"Uugh...'ow...," Inferno hissed, touching at his bruised olfactory sensor gently, "Aye prob'ly shoulda 'spected that..."

The german shepherd looked up with a guilty smile for his companion, but paused in his sentence as he noticed that Red Alert was currently hunching forward into a feeble ball, ears flattened and tail tucked away as his intakes cycled out shorter and shorter. Meanwhile, the white autodog was unaware of what was happening around him at that moment, or how everyone in the cafeteria was staring.

Inferno didn't even think twice before sliding an arm around the smaller youngling's shoulders and steering the complacent student towards the door. "C'mon Red, let's get outta 'ere."

As they left, the red mechling could hear the whispers start, but he said nothing to his trembling companion; walking them surely down the hall and out into the school courtyard. "'Ey, Red... Yer alright now," Inferno cautiously nudged, taking his servos off Red Alert as they approached a bench, "Ay'm sorreh that Aye scared ya. Promise Aye won't go jumpin' out from behind ya ev'r again. Scouts' honour!"

"...Red Alert?"

The doberman hadn't responded yet. Worried now, the taller youngling bent so he could see into the other student's tucked face. Red Alert gave a little start when he noticed Inferno peeking, glancing away quickly and choking his bag in a white-knuckled grip. "I-i... I can't g-go back now...," he whimpered, "E-everyone was st-staring..."

Inferno shuttered his optics for a moment, before a kindly smile spread wide across his face; standing up and ruffling the stunned autodog's ears. "Well, we don't 'ave to head back, ya know? We gotta perfectly good bench right 'ere! We could make a regular ol' picnic outta it," he suggested jovially.

Red Alert looked from the red mechling to the humble, little two-seater bench in amazement, so completely stunned that he couldn't think of a response. Backed up against the building wall and shaded by a large tree, a picnic-style lunch out in the courtyard was a great idea -not only did it tick off all of the anxious autodog's safety needs, but it also meant that Red Alert could enjoy a peaceful period with the only other person he felt safe to be alone with. Nodding his consent to the proposal, the doberman hurried to sit down, opening his backpack and pulling out his lunch tin while Inferno plopped into the space next to him. For a moment, Inferno only watched as Red Alert went about his business, not once concerned about the bizarre way that his companion had his lunch under literal lock and key, nor the obsessive manner in which the white youngling checked each individual food item and utensil before laying them out evenly across his lap and bench.

"Ya got som' mighty fine lookin' lunch 'ere, Red," the german shepherd commented, eyeing the barilium bologna sandwich with its several layers of additional veggies and cheese admiringly. "Ya momma mus' be a stellar cook!"

"O-oh!," Red Alert blushed, pausing in mid-bite, "S-she is, b-but, um... I... I make my o-own lunch. It, uh, i-it's confidence b-boosting... Yeah. S-so, what is your lunch today?"

Inferno perked up at the distracting question, reaching into his back pocket and pulling a squished, baggied peanut butter sandwich into sight. "Jus' this," he answered with a smile.

The smaller student looked at the mushed bread in astonishment. "J-just that?! But... But you're so... big!"

The red autodog laughed loudly at the statement, cutting back his chortles and apologizing when he noticed it had spooked his friend a little again. "Yeah, Aye know. Momma works, ya see, so she tol' meh Aye gotta make meh own lunches, 'cept, Aye oversleep som'times an'... well... Aye jus' slap t'gether the first thang Aye can." He shook his sandwich in demonstration. "It ain't much, true, but it'll last okay 'til Aye get 'ome later. Momma's big breakfasts help a bunch ta."

Red Alert just couldn't believe that his new companion could eat so little and still make it through the rest of the school orn without hunger pains. Glancing down at his, admittedly, more fulfilling and bountiful meal, the doberman had a thought. He unwrapped the second portion of his own sandwich, taking it out of the container and holding it out shyly toward the german shepherd. Inferno stared at the offered half for a long astrosecond, before turning his gaze up to the nervous youngling. "Y-ya... Yer sharin' yer own food wit' meh, Red?"

The white autodog just nodded rapidly, not trusting himself to speak just then.

Another beaming smile broke out on the taller mechling's face, and he took the sandwich half with a chirping 'thanks'; reciting the events of his last period class with his companion inbetween loud bites. Nibbling at his own food, Red Alert listened avidly, that ball of warmth burning brightly in his tanks again and all the way to the tips of his pedes.

xXx

When the lunch bell rang, Red Alert felt his good mood taper off rapidly; his lunch with Inferno was over but he still had one more class before school could be declared done. Ears flattened miserably, the white youngling rose and began to pack, dragging his pedes and making every action take twice as long to do. Inferno noticed the other's unwillingness to go and he grinned warmly at the adorable action.

"Aww, Red. Y'ain't gotta pout," the red autodog said, stifling a giggle as the other student flushed in embarrassment, "Ay'm sure we'll see each oth'r 'gain. The school ain't that big."

"N-no, it's not..." Red Alert trailed off, turning a brighter shade of magenta. He shoved his lunch bag into his backpack hurriedly, before taking out his period schedule. "I got... gym."

Inferno perked up. "Gym? Ay've got the same class! C'mon, we'll head on ov'r there t'gether." The german shepherd jumped to his pedes, snatching up his own bag and pulling his small companion along gleefully.

"W-wait! I-inferno!," Red Alert squeaked, practically skating as Inferno pushed them through the school at a hastened pace. He buried his face in his backpack, peeking fearfully over the handle as he was steered towards the gym locker room. "In-inferno, stop, pl-please! I don't e-even have a gym o-outfit!"

The doberman immediately came to a stop, Inferno's servos disappearing from the smaller mech's shoulders. Red Alert looked over his plating nervously, nearly falling to his aft in relief when he saw the taller autodog still standing behind him. Inferno scratched at his chin thoughtfully while the white youngling was soothing down his frazzled sensors, snapping his fingers when he came to a conclusion. "If ya don't gotcha yer gym stuff yet, then ya'v'ta see the gym teacher in his office!"

Before Red Alert knew what was happening, he was plunked down in front of the gym office door; the german shepherd heading into the change room with a hearty "See ya inside Red!", leaving the other youngling to quiver in his absence.

xXx

Red Alert shrieked as a whistle blew sharply, echoing loudly in the gym just as he was getting out of the change room. The students glanced over at him, giggling as they whispered to each other, before the coach blew the whistle again. "Twig," he yelled at the frazzled Red Alert, causing him to jump once more, "Get in the circle and I'll go over the rules... Again!"

Shaking from the fright and tense from the jeers he had garnered, the youngling hurried to the group of students, getting as close as his skittish self would allow. He listened, half-sparkedly, as the coach went over the rules of some game, his optics searching the crowd for a familiar face. The coach blowing his whistle a third time ripped him away from his task with another jolt; the students dispersing to either side of the gym, leaving the doberman trembling in place, confused and barely holding back a scream. He only had just clapped his servos over his mouth, strangling the yelp, when a vocalizer called out his name.

"'Ey! Red!"

Turning about, the white youngling perked up at the sight of his friend jogging up to him; feeling as though he could literally faint into the broad grin splitting Inferno's face. "Aye see ya got yer gym suit. Ya 'cited ta play?," he asked.

Red Alert opened his mouth, pausing, before shaking his helm with a little frown. "H-honestly... N-no," he confessed meekly, "I... I d-don't really like gym. I'm n-not very good at it."

Inferno shuttered his optics in surprise, giving the smaller autodog an encouraging smile. "There ain't nothin' ta-"

Another sharp whistle was released, the coach bellowing "Throw!" before the gym erupted into a cacophony of screams and yells, rubber balls whizzing through the air. Caught off-guard, Red Alert flew into a panic; shrieking at the top of his vocalizer while looking around frantically for an exit among the hailing missiles, but finding none. Only when he was scooped out of the way of a well-aimed ball, did Red Alert finally break out of his terrified trance; realizing queasily he was captured in Inferno's sure grip. Oh Primus, he'd actually made a scene! He knew it had all been too good and now he was hyperventilating and his antenna were sparking, he could feel, and Inferno would notice and-

"R-red... Red, ya okay?," the german shepherd asked, gazing down on the shorter autodog worriedly.

Inferno sounded miles away despite just being outside the sphere of Red Alert's anxiety attack. Was he even there still? Or maybe the small autodog was merely imagining that his friend was still by his side. "I-i-i..."

Several balls bounced aggressively off of Inferno's back, causing the red youngling to wince, while a series of 'boos' resounded from the other students. "Inferno!," the coach snapped, "You're hit! Park it on the bench!"

The normally jovial german shepherd scowled at his other classmates -most juggling a ball in their servos with wicked glee- and back to the coach, who was tapping his pede impatiently and turning a nasty shade of magenta in the process. Red Alert noticed every cruel and angry look surrounding him, and he shrunk fearfully in his companion's grasp as his panic brought a nauseating churning to his fuel tanks. This was just like every school he had ever been to; he was always singled out for his oddness and bullied brutally, worse so in gym class. He wished he had his brothers here...

Just as the coolant was beginning to well in his optics, Red Alert found himself being picked up and swung around again; the solid thump of a free-flying ball hitting the doberman's flailing pede and bouncing off across the gym floor.

"Oops!," Inferno chirped loudly, "Sorreh's, Red. Looksa like Aye accident'leh got ya hit. Guess yer gonna havta sit out wit' meh now!"

Setting Red Alert back on his pedes, but in the shadow of his frame, the taller autodog cheerfully led the both of them to the benches lined up along the gym walls; plopping down and pulling the stunned doberman along with him. Though a couple choice names were growled out under poor disguises, the game quickly returned to its previous intensity, forgetting all about the pair. Several kliks later, the white youngling had yet to fully come back into his body; feeling as though he floated just above himself, sick and dreading the return to his weak and pathetic self.

"Red...? Red? 'Ey... Red, 'ere, have a drink."

A bottle was pushed into his servos gently, pulling Red Alert back to reality with a spark-skipping jolt; the remaining loose-frame trembles and migraine that followed one of his incidents bringing fresh tears to his optics. He couldn't bring himself to look at Inferno, even going so far as to tighten his limbs to his own frame in shame. The doberman knew exactly what would happen next... It was always the same...

"Red... A-are ya... Red, som'thang's wrong. Yer not talkin'," Inferno whispered, leaning to get a better view of his companion's face. His face was crinkled with utmost concern for the other student, yet Red Alert could not trust that the sympathy was real. "Please... tell meh what's wrong. Aye wanna help."

"I-i'm...," the white autodog gasped, his intakes stalling over a sob, "I'm s-sorry, I-i-i... I di-didn't mean t-to-"

A strong arm circled his frame suddenly, pulling Red Alert deep into the german shepherd's side. "Hush, Red," the red youngling soothed, squeezing a little to enunciate his words, "Ya don't havta 'xplain nothin' ta meh... Ya may 'ave been bullied at yer oth'r schools, but Aye ain't gonna let no one bully ya 'ere. I'm yer friend, Red. Aye swear it."

He shouldn't believe him, that little vocalizer hissed deep inside, but there was just something about the solidity of Inferno that put a calming spell over Red Alert. The migraine was still there and he couldn't shake the vibrations out of his knee joints yet, all the same, the smaller youngling relaxed to the point of nearly melting into his friend's frame, the last of his tears wiped away as he was kindly encouraged to drink. This was so different from how every similar experience in the doberman's life had ever played out, and Red Alert couldn't express how ecstatic he felt that it wasn't like the other times.

Feeling better now, he sat up a little straighter, giving his best smile (however small it was) to his partner. "Th... Thank you for being my friend," he said to Inferno.

The german shepherd shuttered his optics, stunned, before he ruffled the other autodog's ears heartily, grinning at the shy squeak it produced. "Nah. Thank ya for being my friend," he returned sincerely. "Now ya get some more fluid in ya. Coach always makes us run laps after dodgeball."

The sound of laps certainly was more appealing than playing another round of this cruel game, but Red Alert was eager for the end of the period. Though the orn may not have gone at all as he'd hoped, it couldn't be said that it was without its highlights. And this -having the confident and verbal confirmation of Inferno's friendship- certainly far exceeded anything the white youngling could have imagined.

Maybe moving to Yuss had been the right thing to do after all.