Title: Inferno and Red Alert VI
Rating: T

There were many nights when sleep did not come easily; the day terrors just as bad as the nightmares, making shutting one's optics an impossible task, even with the room doused in light. Instead, Red Alert would busy himself with homework, and when he was done with that, he'd browse the internet for any user-free assignments. He'd learned a lot of things not even taught in school because of this; his personal studies focusing more on history, science and law. Tonight was one of such restless nights, finding the doberman sat at his berthroom desk, browsing local county webpages for land ownership policies to read, his completed homework for the next few orns sat neatly to the side. He yawned softly but did not move from his chair, antennae still flickering blue sparks periodically, showcasing the paranoia chewing up his processor.

The creature with its too many limbs shifted on the far edges of Red Alert's peripheral, making the youngling groan under his intakes. It looked like he'd be up all night at this rate.

The desk buzzed violently just then, causing Red Alert to shriek loudly, clapping his servos over his mouth immediately. The next few astroseconds were so silent, the doberman couldn't even hear his own intakes, and the lack of sound actually hurt his ears. The desk buzzed loudly again, like hammers ringing out on stone, and blazing optics focused in on the source before it could disappear. It was his cellphone, vibrating a third time in demonstration; its thin body shaking hard enough to create that Unicron-damned clatter against the desktop.

Realizing that he'd been holding his intakes this entire time in terror, Red Alert loosened his servos' grip around his mouth; panting in rapid cycles as he fought to stave off the stasis that was creeping into his vision in black and colourful bursts. Only when his visual pixels had stabilized and he'd checked that no one else had woken from his shrieking, did Red Alert tip-toe back to his desk, picking his cell up with two, trembling fingers.

Three messages were banked in his inbox, unread, and as he swiped to open the first, a fourth one came in.

"Hey, Red! How are you doing?"

"Oops, probably should have mentioned it's me. Inferno, that is. Jeez, don't I sound dumb."

"Actually, speaking of dumb, you're probably asleep right now. Like any sensible 'bot would be. I really should stop texting you now."

"So, uh, goodnight I guess. I hope you sleep well."

Blue optics shuttered in surprise, rereading the messages. They had come from Inferno? He really had texted him? The white youngling sat on the edge of his berth, gnawing at his bottom lip component quietly as he remembered his friend's words from earlier that orn. The german shepherd said they could still be friends over cellular, even if his brother forbade him from seeing Inferno physically. But would it be fair to go behind Sideswipe's back?

Fingers were moving before he could contemplate that much further.

"Hello, Inferno. I, too, am awake."

"Red? Is that really you?!"

"Shouldn't that be my line? Besides, you texted me first. And you added yourself to my contacts, might I remind you."

"Oh yeah... Sorry to have woken you."

"It's okay. I was already awake. Why are you?"

"Homework. Totally forgot about the assignment due tomorrow morning. Did you forget some homework too?"

"No. I'm ahead for the next week. I was just doing some casual reading."

"Wow! Already?! What am I talking about- you're super smart! Of course a 'bot with a brilliant processor like yours would have everything done ahead of time."

Red Alert paused, his cheekplates warming at the compliment. A part of him wanted to protest the statement, but this was Inferno... That he could think something this nice about the spastic doberman, true or not, made the youngling's spark swell with affection. Hugging his phone to his chestplates for a moment, Red Alert smiled, opening up the reply box.

"Which assignment do you need to finish for science class tomorrow? Maybe I can help," he sent, already heading back for his desk and pulling out the assigned science textbook. His cell buzzed between his fingers as Inferno's response came in.

"Really Red?! That would be tremendous! {3 Thank Primus for you, Red."

Intakes catching on the heart emoticon, the white autodog fought to focus on the next text; flipping open his textbook to the appropriate chapter. The lovesick smile remained on his face as he and Inferno swapped messages back and forth, working on his science report together as the night dragged on.

xXx

The next few weeks were probably some of the worst Inferno had ever experienced.

Every morning he caught the pair of dobermans walking to school, then walking straight home as soon as the bell rang ending the school orn, but could never get close enough before the black youngling shot him a glare and a snarl. The classes he shared with Red Alert were few and even then, the white youngling wouldn't socialize with him as he used to either.

"I'm sorry," Red Alert had whispered the first orn this happened, as they tried to prepare for Home Economics' daily culinary assignment, "I don't want my brother getting mad at you. It'd be best if we didn't talk at all during class, in case he finds out."

Inferno wanted to protest yet the smaller autodog just shut him down then, and each time after. And it hurt.

The german shepherd could only rage silently over someone isolating a family member so cruelly; controlling what they did, or who they socialized with, without providing any kindly substitutes. It was despicable! And Inferno loathed the black doberman just as much as he grieved for the white one. It wasn't hard to see that his fellow students turned on Red Alert the moment Inferno was out of the picture; presuming his absence as confirmation that the easily frazzled autodog was deserving of all their ridicule and abuse. It would have been better if they had just continued to ostracize him instead. The red autodog had reported it to the teachers, unable to step in without invoking Sideswipe's wrath, but they'd been no help, stating that things would resolve themselves in their own time. That was the largest, rankest heap of bullazoid slag if Inferno had ever heard.

So he helplessly stood by as Red Alert was bullied, watched as the doberman ate his lunches alone, and stared across the classroom as the white youngling became more withdrawn and jittery the longer this isolation continued. The only saving grace, for the both of them, seemed to lie in text conversations they secretly engaged in late at night. Sure, it meant the red autodog was a little clumsier and he sometimes dozed off in class ... but it made him inexplicably happier to know his friend was still there. That under the stars, Red Alert's attention was his alone, giving them the chance to grow their camaraderie, sharing dreams and thoughts unobstructed.

All while Inferno plotted to get Sideswipe to back down on his selfish restrictions over his brother.

xXx

"Alright, here we are," his carrier announced as they walked into the modest office. She glanced at her watch before facing the nervous doberman, smiling at the youngling encouragingly. "We've got ten kliks before your appointment; did you want me to sit in on your session?"

Red Alert looked up at the femme for a moment... before turning back to his study of the waiting room as he shook his helm. He never enjoyed his meetings with the psychiatrist but it had been many stellar cycles since he'd last had one of his creators join him in the room. It would be extremely distracting to have them start again now, especially when he was trying to gather courage to confront the new therapist about her poor judge of prescription change.

Red Alert heard, more than saw, his carrier adjust her purse in quiet disappointment, speaking again. "I-I'll just get you checked in then. Why don't you take a seat, honey?"

The doberman looked at the three leather loveseats, situated around a glass coffee table and backed by two glass windows, distrustfully, taking two pedesteps to the left of the office's entrance; his back safely against the wall, granting him full view of waiting room and its attached rooms, plus easy access to the exit in case of emergencies. Try as she might, the youngling still caught the glance of pity that flashed across his carrier's face, before she hurried to the receptionist's desk to get the smaller autodog signed in.

'She thinks I'm just as helpless as everyone else does,' Red Alert noted silently, his neck cables tightening around the sudden rock in his vocalizer. They could lie about it as much as they wanted, but the youngling knew even his own family thought of him as a burden. The last few weeks hadn't been much help with that perception either, with his mental health rapidly deteriorating now that he was without his old medication and Inferno's calming presence. He just didn't understand why they insisted on dragging him out to various clinics every weekend, when Red Alert himself was aware of how little effect they'd had. Everyone would just be happier if-

"Okay, the therapist is finishing with another client and will be ready to see you in a few kliks," the femme said, drawing up to her son's side. Her lip components pressed tightly into each other at the minute flinch he gave. "There's a cafe across the street; I'll stay there during the appointment -I'll send picture confirmation- and I'll come back when it's over so we can go home. Is that good?"

Red Alert couldn't bring himself to look up at his carrier as he nodded. Forcing a smile to her face, the femme quickly bent and kissed the youngling's helm, hesitating a moment as she withdrew before ultimately leaving. And then he was all alone, the doberman mused gloomily. A finger of fear pressed into his thoughts at that acknowledgement, anxious optics sweeping the waiting room once more; his spark pulsating quicker and quicker until it fluttered jerkily at the sound of a cellphone chime. One servo clutching his sore chestplates, Red Alert hurried to pull his own cell out of his pocket, confirming it as the source of the noise. If that wasn't shocking enough, he was even more surprised to see that it was Inferno texting him again.

Inferno never texted him during the orn, always wary of Sideswipe catching them.

The doberman wasted no time opening the message fully, his optics darting over the typed keys.

"Hey Red! Hope you're having an awesome morning. Mama and me headed into the city a little while ago. What are you planning to do?"

The youngling's optics lit up in surprise. Inferno was in the city today as well? White fingers tapped at the screen, careful not to stumble and misspell in his hurry.

"Good morning, Inferno. I'm visiting the city today as well. I'd much rather be home, though."

His cellphone chimed mere seconds after he sent the first message.

"You're in the city too! Awesome! Hey, I'm down at Chain Avenue, about to check out a career event at the local firehouse. Are you nearby? Are you busy? You should totally come and check it out with me!"

Red Alert shuttered his optics at the latest text. Chain Avenue was only a couple blocks away from the psychiatrist's office. Inferno was actually that close? A second message popped up on the phone's screen.

"Whatcha doing Red? Can you postpone for a bit; the event is starting in a few kliks."

The doberman jumped as a door opened across the waiting room, the soft chatter of vocalizers breaking the silence of the office. A quick glance at the clock above the receptionist desk declared that it was the start of his appointment... but what was the anxious youngling supposed to tell his friend? Spark spinning faster and faster, Red Alert cast several furtive glances between the clock and the distracted receptionist, before slipping out of the office and hurrying for the building stairwell.

xXx

True to the german shepherd's word, Inferno was found standing on the lawn outside one of the city's firehouses. He was chatting to a couple of older autodogs as Red Alert sprinted down the street, pausing as he caught sight of the smaller youngling. "Red!," he barked excitedly, bouncing forward a few pedesteps to meet with the slowing doberman, "Ya made it! That's great! Ya weren't busy wit' anythin', were ya?"

"N... N-no," Red Alert wheezed, sending a small smile his friend's way, even as he shook with sudden exertion. He didn't think anyone had crossed the same amount of distance through a crowded city as quickly as he had just now. "U-um, th-this... y-you said this w-was a career event?," he added, straightening up and checking out the nearby 'bots uncertainly.

Inferno looked about as well; the smile on his face broadening. "Oh, yeah! There's a bunch of oth'r grown-ups 'ere ta do the exam an' obstacle course, but it's okay that Aye ain't as nearly old as 'em. The tour is open ta ev'ryone interest'd in pursuin' a career in fire rescue an' they 'specially suggest highschool'rs like ourselves give it a gand'r."

The momentary peace that Red Alert felt upon reaching the larger youngling began to dissipate. "E-exam?," he stuttered in alarm, "O-obstacle course?! I-inferno, I di-didn't think-"

"They're calling everyone in now, honey," a second vocalizer spoke up behind them.

Whirling about on the spot, the white doberman found himself staring up as an autodog femme with sea-foam green plating and deep blue optics -the same shade as Inferno's- came to a stop right at their heels. Optics which honed in on the shorter mechling with a guarded scowl. "Inferno, who is this?"

The german shepherd slapped a servo onto Red Alert's shoulders, drawing the timid doberman into his side merrily. "This 'ere is meh friend from school, Mama. Rememb'r, the one Aye told ya 'bout? He's the greatest 'bot Aye know! Red Alert, meet meh mama, Moonracer. Mama, meet Red Alert!"

Red Alert cast a quick, loving look up at the red youngling at the kind praise, before his tanks fell to his pedes at the other's introductions; his gaze following suit. "H-hello... M-ma'am," he managed to whisper out politely, feeling his vocalizer start to seize up in panic. He'd already made such a gamble abandoning his therapy session and running out here to meet Inferno, unbeknownst to his own carrier, but then to also run into the german shepherd's creators?! The anxiety-ridden autodog knew he was setting a poor representation of himself and the knowledge of that just further dissolved his feeble public persona. He should have just gone to his appointment. What was the youngling thinking?! He was horrible with crowds, and he'd never, ever, be able to-

"Inferno, hun, you an' your... friend," Red Alert flinched at the way the word was pronounced disbelievingly from the femme, "Need to hurry inside now. The guide wants your names for the event. Otherwise, you'll be sitting in the back with me. Not participating."

"Oh!," Inferno yelped in alarm, turning and sprinting for the open firehouse door. He remembered belatedly his companion; racing back and gently grabbing Red Alert's servo. "'Ey, Red... Yer okay sittin' wit' meh, right?," the taller youngling asked softly, his optics staring kindly down on the doberman. "Aye know the obstacle course may be a bit out of yer comfort zone but ya'll sit wit' meh durin' the questionnaire, yeah?"

His fuel tanks still roiled nauseatingly, but Red Alert could feel his worry lessen the longer he stared up into his friend's smiling face. "O... okay," he conceded, spark fluttering when he felt Inferno give his servo a warm squeeze.

"Awesome," the red autodog beamed, servos still clasped as he led his white companion towards the firehouse.

Red Alert was aware of Moonracer's optics locked firmly on his back struts, and even though it sent a terrified tremble down his tail, the smaller autodog would gladly follow the german shepherd anywhere he went.

xXx

"So, for this part of the tour, we've constructed a little obstacle course for your enjoyment. It replicates some of the triathlon events we partake in annually, focusing on key skills a firefighter needs in orn to orn situations..."

The event organizer's vocalizer droned on in the back of Red Alert's helm as he silently took in the large firehouse backyard: hurdles and climbing structures, prop rooms and a dozen other curious oddities aligned in a two-person challenge, timed course. Given his smaller stature, the doberman knew he'd have no chance completing a race like this one; even some of the other attendees had left or were sitting this portion out. Not Inferno though. He was standing first and center, nodding his helm every time the organizer finished a sentence. Despite his nervousness, Red Alert smiled. The 'exam' had been little more than a lecture and a series of free-for-all questions to the audience about the information relayed, something that the youngling was well knowledgeable in. Granted, he whispered his answers to his larger companion, instead of speaking up himself, to which Inferno repeated then aloud for their instructor, but he found he was actually having fun by the end of it all. The german shepherd also demonstrated how much he knew about fire rescue himself, and his pride and enjoyment spilled over onto Red Alert.

Here was another chance for Inferno to show everyone how certain he was that this job was the right path for him and the doberman was eager to watch. Which is why the mechling stood several pedesteps away from the visitor seats, ignoring the few strangers surrounding him on all sides and the loud echo of the city behind the firehouse shrubbery with every shred of his self-control; optics focused solely on his friend now taking his position at the obstacle course starting line. A smile bloomed shyly as the red autodog looked back over his shoulder plating, a servo raising to-

Red Alert hit the ground with a scream, tripping over his own pedes in his haste to escape the cracking bang of a gun. The tiny antennae above his brow sparkled bright, panicked optics flashing around the strange and indistinct shapes as the youngling scrambled desperately along the grass. Where was he?! Who was here?! Primus, save him from his torme-

"Red!"

The sound of his nickname being called from a familiar vocalizer broke through the doberman's spell; quaking, he turned to see Inferno staring at him in shock, the german shepherd gearing up to jog towards his fallen friend.

"N... N-no!," Red Alert choked, finding his own words through the fear clutching his throat, "No! Go, Inferno! T-this is your time; sh-show everyone wh-what you c-can do!"

The other autodog paused, torn, before he slowly nodded, turning back to the obstacle course with a grin. It was a momentary relief to see Inferno return to the obstacle course, jogging through the tire traps and jumping for the jungle bars- a relief that was quick to fade again as Red Alert realized the devastating slip-up he had made. A couple 'bots tried to approach the trembling doberman even now, stopping when he rushed several steps away from their outstretched servos, the rest looking at the white youngling as if he were something unnatural. And he was, Red Alert thought, sinking to his pedes when it looked like no one was going to come closer. He dropped his face into his knees with a horrified sob, shaking hard again as the paranoia grew tenfold. All of their optics...

All those 'bots, watching, studying him; sneering at all his failures and recording all his weaknesses...

Why did he have to suffer every orn?!

Red Alert lifted his helm jerkily when he heard Inferno's name called out excitedly; glancing up across the field where the red autodog vaulted down from the tall, plank climbing wall. Inferno was the only good thing that had ever happened in Red Alert's life... The clutching claws of anxiety were beginning to withdraw from the doberman's chest as his optics stayed glued to each of his friend's movements. It was because of Inferno that the smaller youngling was even here... It was the german shepherd who alone believed that Red Alert was more than his illness. That tender flicker of hope was blooming within him again; wiping at his face messily, Red Alert clambered back up on weak legs. He had to get through the rest of this orn for Inferno.

The rest of the trembles were beginning to ease when reality started slowing down: across the field, Inferno was breaking through the doorway of a prop kitchen, the stove top suddenly sparking-

"Woah!," the german shepherd yelped, his pedes catching on the tile before he was flung into the flames roaring out from the stove's top burners. The sudden combustion roared to twice its size while the youngling was still trying to catch his balance, the heat of its unforgiving mouth reaching for unprotected plating.

"Look out!," a firm vocalizer warned sharply, a solid mass shoving Inferno a couple pedesteps out of the danger zone.

"R-red Alert!," the taller mechling coughed, shuttering his optics in surprise at his friend's unexpected presence.

The doberman didn't reply, his servos cradling a fire extinguisher as he sprayed retardant foam all over the stove surely. "Get the fire blanket," he ordered.

Hurriedly, Inferno looked about the prop kitchen, finding the aforementioned blanket in an open cupboard and slapping it against the remaining flames. "Let's go," Red Alert shouted, grabbing the red youngling's servo as he dropped the fire extinguisher. The pair rushed into the next room of the obstacle course, Inferno ducking at his companion's lead as they crawled through a heavy fog pretending to be smoke.

"Red! W-what are ya doin' 'ere? Aye thought ya didn't want ta do the course," the german shepherd said.

The doberman turned about as they hit the next wall, scooping up a firefighter's oxygen mask and turning it on with deft fingers. "Here. Put this on," he instructed firmly. "Can you break this door down?"

Confusion faded quickly as the red autodog took the proffered mask. It looked like his friend really did want to help after all. "Yeah, Aye can do it. Got the em'rgency method memorized!," he confirmed proudly, slipping the mask on and standing up.

Palms checking the door over quickly, Inferno took a couple pedesteps back, charging at the wood. It gave with one good slam, the lock breaking cleanly as the larger autodog nearly tumbled into the following prop berthroom. Red Alert was hot on the other autodog's heels, helm snapping around the final room in hurried surveillance, skidding to a dummy doll's side -a represented victim to rescue. The pair reached the dummy at the same time; Inferno reaching to grab the practice doll under its arms.

"Wait!," Red Alert shouted, his optics assessing the scene quickly.

Inferno paused, looking at the white mechling questioningly.

"The victim is positioned all akimbo," the doberman muttered, pointing at the doll, "Hint of possible spinal injury. Moving someone in this condition means a risk of paralysis or snapping their neck entirely. Not worth the risk. We need to stabilize the spine and quickly..."

"Ah! Aye gotcha, Red," Inferno said, grabbing a chair that decorated the prop room. With a couple, heavy kicks and one, strong heave, the german shepherd managed to separate the seat from the base, bringing the larger piece to the dummy. Meanwhile, Red Alert ripped the sheets off the display berth, rolling it up tightly in one large roll and sliding it carefully under the doll's neck.

"I need your belt. Shoelaces too," the smaller autodog ordered, his own fingers pulling his own belt free from his pants. The red autodog did so and together they braced the dummy's neck with the collaboration of items.

"Uh... Red Alert?," Inferno coughed, as they were just strapping the practice doll to the makeshift gurney. "We got a problem..."

Red Alert didn't pause in his work, glancing over his shoulder plating for less than an astrosecond, taking note of the paper flames starting to blow out from under the edge of the exit door. "Given that this is a test, it would stand to reason that heading out the way we came is prohibited," the white youngling state calmly. "Therefore-"

"We gotta find an alternative exit. On it," the german shepherd barked immediately. He leapt to his pedes, sweeping the room before his optics landed on a window high up on the prop room's wall. "Got our exit!," he shouted back, opening up the window to its fullest before running back to his friend's side. "C'mon, Red. Yer up first."

The doberman squawked a little when he was yanked away from the dummy; Inferno grabbing him by the hips and lifting him up to the window. "W-wait! Inferno!"

"No 'xcuses now, Red," Inferno interjected, refusing to listen. "Clamb'r up 'ere. Yer not that tall ta climb it, plus ya can help me hoist the victim up!"

Red Alert grabbed the frame, swinging a leg on either side of the opening as he watched the taller autodog run back to the dummy; the paper flames blowing faster out from the door now. It took no effort for Inferno the drag the stretcher back to the window, lifting it up and only letting go when his companion was holding it tight from his position in the window. The practice doll was heavier than Red Alert would have thought and he struggled to hold on to it; grunting as Inferno grabbed the bottom of the sill and hauled his own frame up into the window.

"G...g-go, Inferno," he urged. "I-i'll be fine."

The german shepherd shook his helm with a smile, one servo grabbing the makeshift gurney, the other clutching the smaller autodog's forearm. "Not happenin'," he said, deep blue optics locking with the anxious mechling's own baby blues, "Not 'til Aye know yer safe. Sides, this guy's a lil' heavy for ya right now."

Red Alert wanted to argue but couldn't find the words under that piercing gaze. Conceding with a jerky nod of his own, he allowed himself to be lifted down to the ground outside the prop room; arms outstretched to grasp the top of the stretcher as Inferno lowered it down to him safely. Leaping down himself, the red autodog took over once more; the pair jogging to the finish line of the obstacle course, the dummy dragging safely behind them.

"Yahoo!," Inferno crowed, dropping the dummy and pumping a fist into the air excitedly. "We did it, Red! That was-"

"Mr. Inferno!," the organizer interrupted, drawing up to the younglings. The german shepherd quieted down instantly, facing the firefighter with a sheepish look. Red Alert tensed, the calm and clarity of his processor over the last few kliks beginning to cloud again with fear and paranoia. The older mech did not look the doberman's way though as he came to a stop before Inferno, his fingers tapping at his tablet. "Well, though we don't really condone tag-teaming the practice course, I must admit your own scores and time are quite exceptional for your age. I would-"

Slowly, the white youngling took a step away from his friend, then a couple more, and kept doing so until he was safely withdrawing from the organizer and Inferno unnoticed; heading back to the firehouse and relative isolation. The remaining tour 'bots were already leaving or taking one final chance at the obstacle course, meaning that Red Alert could secure himself a defensive advantage before any more surprises snuck up on him.

Or so he thought.

"I wanted to talk to you, pup," a vocalizer announced, an older firefighter stepping out from the firehouse just as the youngling neared the back door. The doberman yelped in terror, intakes hitching into overdrive and coolant filling his optics at once.

"N...n-no... please," he gasped brokenly, stumbling as he tried to back away in a hurry. Today had been too much! Why did he ever leave the office and come out here to these vicious thugs?!

"I mean no harm," the old mech was saying. He took no further steps, instead looking over the field instead as he addressed the smaller autodog, unmindful of his shuffling about in a confused panic. "You're the tag-along to the young Inferno over there. I know it sounds bad but I've been watching you during the tour..."

He ignored the frightful whimper that escaped Red Alert.

"You may not be the most physically fittest of the pups that have ever come around here," the firefighter continued, scratching at his chin, "But you are by far the most knowledgeable. And there is something to be said about your amazingly quick reaction time and crisis assessment."

The way the stranger spoke made it sound almost as if he was... praising... the trembling youngling. "N... no, y-you...," Red Alert swallowed sharply, finding his glossa through the terror. He couldn't accept any kind comments on his actions; the stranger didn't know the truth about the doberman. After all, he thought with a shrivelling spark, he wasn't capable of doing anything right. "Y-you've got it wrong... I-I'm not..."

"Not 'normal'?"

The question stunned Red Alert; glancing up he shook again as he saw the old mech staring at him, little antennae sparking brightly in reaction.

"Yes, I did notice you have some unusual quirks... but why would that matter?," the firefighter asked, optic ridge lifted curiously. "I won't lie: this type of job is not for the faint of spark. Every day is a battle; the stress alone does more of my 'bots in than any other dangers. Yet, you were in your element out there... Did you not feel it?"

Tearful optics shuttered stupidly, staring down at his own pedes. His 'element'...?

"That wasn't some fluke; you were prepared. You knew. Out there in the real world... You may plan and worry every day, only for nothing to ever happen. Here, you can take action. It seems to me that a mind like yours could heal a lot better when there's an outlet for the fears to go to."

Would that really be the case? Could he be 'normal', here, if every orn his anxieties were justified and dealt with on a physical plane? Red Alert couldn't fully believe that such a thing was possible. Yet, he planned and simulated all sorts of horrors, for nothing to happen, only to know that something might one orn... Oh, the doberman realized sadly, even if he hoped that the stranger's words were true, there was no way that the youngling could ever join the fire rescue team. He wasn't big and strong like Inferno...

"Well, give it a thought," the firefighter spoke up softly. "I believe you'd excel here like you would nowhere else... And there's a lot more positions available at the firehouse than just being a field firefighter like most."

At that, Red Alert snapped him helm up, optics wide in shock. The older autodog was already making his way back inside though, Inferno calling out his name behind him, before the doberman could find his own vocalizer to ask the questions suddenly buzzing in his helm. Frazzled -because he'd made such an ugly scene twice now in his friend's presence, jeopardizing the relationship they had- Red Alert turned toward the approaching german shepherd, forcing a tired smile to his faceplates. "Did you score well?," he asked kindly as the red autodog jogged over.

Inferno refrained from answering, his long arms opening up and scooping the white youngling towards his chestplates in a monstrous hug. A squeak of embarrassment escaped Red Alert, his face flushing as his lip components practically brushed his companion's collar struts. "This has been the best orn ev'r! Primus- Aye had so much fun wit' ya, Red! Aye jus' wish'd this cycle hadn't pass'd so quickly..."

"W-wait! A c-cycle?!," the doberman paled, squirming wildly until his friend set him back down on the ground. One look at his wristwatch and the youngling nearly fainted at its face. True to Inferno's statement, a full cycle had passed while they'd been at the firehouse; his appointment with the therapist was ending now and no doubt his creator would be heading back to the office as they spoke.

"Red, is ev'rythin' a'right?," the german shepherd asked, concerned.

"I-i'm sorry! I h-have to head back. I-i've been away too long!," was all the doberman supplied, before turning and sprinting from the firehouse.

Inferno blinked in surprise as Red Alert practically vanished from sight, his carrier walking up to the youngling's side, her face twisted in puzzlement. "Where is he racing off to?," Moonracer asked.

"He... uh... Guess he's late gittin' back ta somethin'," the red autodog replied. The femme hummed in response, nudging her son. Turning, Inferno saw her servo held out towards him: belts and shoelaces in her fingers.

"You left these tied to the dummy," she added as the german shepherd took the items from her.

His optics flared brightly as he realized the count was uneven. "Oh no! Red Alert forgot his belt!"

xXx

Warm air seeped into the old frame of the farmhouse, making every joint and floorboard moan and creak as the humidity swelled and dipped. Pointlessly, a window was open, begging for some sort of breeze to waft inside. Of course, none did. Grumbling irritably, Sideswipe leaned forward in his chair, adjusting the small desk fan in hopes of getting it to run colder. Seeing that too was a dud, the doberman fell back into his seat, an arm thrown over his optics as he growled this time.

"Dad, please say you got some sort of tall, cold glass of liquid," he muttered as he heard the door creak open from behind him.

The black autodog bolted upright when he heard a different vocalizer chuckle in response; nearly giving himself whiplash as his helm snapped to look at the slender youngling standing in the open doorway. "Well, I don't have any drinks but I'm sure I can offer you something better," Cheetor grinned, his optics bright with his usual mischief.

"W-wha? How?," Sideswipe stammered dumbly, his optics following the dalmation's path further into his room. He finally managed to get control of his glossa again as the yellow youngling threw a dufflebag onto his berth, still walking up to the doberman.

"Are you planning on sticking around?"

Cheetor tried to pout mockingly, but couldn't fully suppress his smile. "Um, duh! It's spring break this upcoming week- Did you honestly forget? Jeez, way to show that you care about me," he teased.

Sideswipe frowned, swatting away the servo that tried to yank at his ears playfully. "You know I do. I was just... busy...," he replied, turning and glancing at the papers and textbooks strewn out all over his desk. The other autodog looked as well, his optics dimming for a moment.

"You're still going over Sunstreaker's case files? What do you expect to find, Si? The police investigated thoroughly; the evidence was solid enough for a conviction...," he reminded softly.

Sideswipe slammed a fist against the desk. "Yeah, well they were wrong!," he snapped. "I know Sunny -he might have had a temper, but he was no fragging killer! There was no way he was responsible for the gang member's death and I'll prove it!"

Cheetor jumped a little at the sudden violence, venting loudly as the black youngling continued to hunch over his desktop, snarling under his intakes. "Okay, okay, Mr. Detective," he said, pulling his friend -chair and all- away from the desk a little. "I really don't think the 'rents would want you spending all your time buried in legal documents."

Sideswipe rolled his optics, crossing his arms as his chair was turned around to face the smirking dalmation. "Dad is a clueless moron most orns, and mom is currently in the city with Red Alert for the usual."

"Ah," Cheetor hummed, leaning in slowly, his tail wagging as he licked lightly at the other's olfactory sensor. "That's why it's so quiet. If everyone is as busy as you say, then we should definitely take advantage of this opportunity." As he spoke, he sank lower and lower to the ground, until the yellow youngling was kneeling between Sideswipe's open legs; optics dimmed hungrily as slender fingers slid to the crotch of the black autodog's pants.

"...you're really insufferable sometimes, you know that?," Sideswipe rumbled, his servos flashing forward and gripping the back of Cheetor's helm tightly. His companion only whimpered wantonly, the sound drawing another appreciative rumble from the doberman as he pulled the dalmation's face down into his lap.

"D-don't be so mean," the yellow youngling panted with need; his fangs nipping at the zipper, bringing another impish grin to his lip components when the other mech flinched. "We haven't seen each other in five months. I'm allowed to be extra horny when I finally get to be with my mechfriend."

Sideswipe paused, looking out the open berthroom door, ears perked attentively for a klik. Finally he pulled Cheetor up and away, ignoring the offended look his partner gave at the action. "We've got an old barn on the corner of the property -blue, a little run-down, and unused by us. Meet me there in a few kliks," he instructed secretively.

Optics sparkling with devious delight, the yellow autodog sprang to his pedes and rushed out the house, shouting a weak excuse to Sideswipe's creator in regards to his quick departure. Waiting until he heard the kitchen door slam shut behind the dalmation, the black youngling turned and tidied up the papers on his desk; hiding them out of sight once again before he too headed out of his berthroom and down the stairs, smiling.