Chapter 11 - "Mask"

by Dream

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Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm really sorry how long it's been since the last update. Work started back up and I just have not had the chance or the energy to even look at my chapters until today. So to make up for it, I'm gonna do a DOUBLE UPLOAD! (Also because I'm not too happy with this chapter but it is what it is. Background and bonding, people. Background and bonding.)

I'll try to keep on top of uploading as I do have more chapters ready to go, I just want to try and spread them out a bit so I don't just dump it all at once and allows me to adjust things if I need. But enough about all you guy enjoy!

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My fingers twinged as I tried to get them in the correct positions.

"No no no, your pinky needs to go back to the 4th string, not the 5th!" Miko pushed my pinky back and I grunted at the uncomfortable hold.

"This does not feel natural. Like, at all." I whined, which only earnt me a flick to the forehead. "Ow." The punk-rocker just smirked at my pouting but I didn't dare take my hands off the guitar to retaliate. With a huff, I glanced back at my cramping fingers. "Why does F major have to be so awkward? And how on Earth are you meant to be able to change to and from it so quickly?"

"Practice, my padawan!" Miko chirped with a raised finger. Taking a step back to stand by her seated guardian, she waved at my right hand that was tightly grasped around the body of the guitar. "Come on then, give it a whirl! You've struggled enough to get here so better play the note before your fingers fall off." She ignored my glare and ushered me to 'hurry up'. The ridges of the strings grazed against my reddened fingertips and I slowly brought them down, listening to the individual strings ring out a couple times before giving it a few good strums. "That's it, rock on!" I let out a laugh and smiled up at her. "Now that you've got that down, let's try putting it all together."

"I don't know, Miko…"

"Nuh-uh, you can't go quitting on me now! Just take it easy to start and we'll get you going faster in no time."

I sighed. She's right, stop giving up just because it's getting tough. I can do this. Taking in a steadying breath, my hands shifted into position and I slowly strummed out the chords we'd been going over. D minor… B flat… F majoooor. I grit my teeth as I struggled to get the right placement. Face pulling in a brace for failure, I hesitantly sounded out the chord. Sounds right… I think. My eyes flicked up to Miko's and she gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up. I relaxed. And C. The final note echoed out sweetly and I beamed. Loud whooping and clapping broke out from the two in front of me and Miko bounced over to high five me.

"See? Told you you could do it! We'll be jamming out to all the greatest hits in no time." I chuckled bashfully at their praise and it turned into a wheezing laugh as the girl started to diss my poor old acoustic guitar and how she'd 'make a rockstar out of me yet'. And she kept going, quips flying out rapid fire causing me to double over. Bulkhead leaned forward in concern as I started to cough but I waved him off.

"I'm- I'm okay-" coughing interrupted me and I tried to get my giggles under control. The green bot was not convinced.

"Primus, do you need me to get Ratchet?" I went to answer but was wracked by more coughs so I shook my head no and pointed to my bag. Seeing the massive ex-wrecker gingerly lift my tiny-looking crossbody was both adorable and hilarious. I unzipped the side pouch and grabbed my inhaler, shaking it quickly before taking in a lungful. After holding it in for about 10 seconds I slowly let it out.

"Thanks." I chimed, and stored the puffer away again. I barked out a laugh. "Man, I haven't had to use my inhaler just for laughing in a long time. I mean, it wasn't even that funny!"

"Wha- why are you laughing?" Came Bulkhead's strained voice. " I don't really know what just happened but I do not want you dying on me. That… that is what just happened, right? Because I'm pretty sure if a human can't breathe it means they're dead." Bulkhead was stressing out and I realised that as a species who don't breathe air like humans do, the whole scene must have been quite the scare for him.

I held out my hands reassuringly and explained, "No, no I'm fine, really, Bulk. It's this thing called Asthma that humans get. It's a- a problem with your lungs." His optics widened fearfully and I started waving my arms. "I'm not dying though. Well, I mean, severe cases can kill you-" I shook my head at his choked cry and Miko's harsh nudge, not helping! "-but I only have mild asthma. It's mainly sporting asthma for me so I don't usually need it day to day but sometimes I get little flare ups like just now. Seriously, Bulkhead, I promise I'm fine." He gazed at me warily but nodded.

Miko was quick to bring back the playful atmosphere and thrusted my guitar at my chest, encouraging me to go over the chords again until it actually started to sound like the beginning of '21 Guns' as I got quicker at changing between notes. Loud revving suddenly filled the space as Bumblebee came swerving in and I waved as he and Raf came to join us over by the main stairs.

"What're you guys up to?"

"Well, since Carmen's the only one to take our band seriously," Miko gave Raf a pouty glare, to which he sheepishly raised his hands in defence, "I thought that, as the leader, I would take her under my wing and teach her how to play."

Bee sat down cross-legged next to Bulkhead and buzzed questioningly while pointing at the instrument in my lap. "My guitar?" He nodded and moved his finger over to Miko's. "Oh, I'm guessing you're asking why they're different?" I hedged then beamed at his own excited trilling at me getting it right. "Ha, uh, well mine's an acoustic guitar whereas Miko's is electric. They play the notes differently- well, they're the same notes but they just sound different- and, uh… yeah." Wow, you sound soooo smart. - Shut up. I rubbed at the back of my neck self-consciously as Raf translated Bee's next words to play something for them. "Oh, I don't know any songs-"

"Yeah you do!" Huh?! The girl ignored my wide eyes and turned gleefully up at the yellow bot. "We've been practicing the start of 21 Guns for ages, time to put her to the test!"

"But it's only the verse-"

"I'm sure whatever you've learnt will be great." Raf eased with ill-concealed excitement.

I simpered as Bee agreed with him and Bulkhead chucked in his two cents about hearing me practice. "Thanks guys. Uh…" Picking it up, I readjusted myself and took a moment to ghost over the chords I'd been practicing for 'ages' as Miko had so politely put it. Relax. These are your friends. Chin up. Dad's voice soothed my building nerves and I let them out with a breath. Okay. D minor… B flat… F major… C. I could hear the song overlapping in my head as I played and felt myself singing along softly.

"~Do you know what's worth fi-ighting for

When it's not worth dy-y-ing for…

Does it take your brea-eath away, and you feel yourself su-uh-fficating.~"

A familiar rich twang joined in and I looked up to see Miko had plugged her own guitar in. The electric sound mixed perfectly with the first beat of each chord.

"~Does the pain weigh out the pride?

And you look for a pla-ace to hide?

Did someone break your hea-eart inside?

You're in ruins…~"

Thinking that was it as that was all I'd learnt, I hesitantly moved my hands to rest against the wood. But I soon grinned as Miko kept going, head banging along as she went off. Her leg kicked up and landed on her amp as she wailed across the frets. The others and I cheered and I held up my hands in the 'rock on!' gesture as the chorus came to an end. Her pigtails bounced as she jumped down from her perch and I ended up rubbing a sore shoulder as she socked it in her joy. "Oops, sorry." She said half-heartedly before yanking me up to my feet. "But that was so good! See? I'm an excellent teacher." She threw haughtily at her guardian who looked chagrined. "Even your lame old acoustic guitar sounded pretty decent. Also, hello?! Your singing's rad my dude!"

I laughed abashedly and gripped my wrist as the others agreed. I've always loved singing and music - heck, I'd mess about singing with my family and friends all the time whenever we got together! - but it'd only been a couple weeks of knowing them at this point. It was definitely reassuring to know they didn't think I was embarrassing or anything. Or they're just being nice - ah-ah, stop that. Shaking the negative thoughts away with a forced smile, I thanked them.

"Do you have anything else you can play?"

"No, no more." We all turned to see Ratchet walking in with Optimus. He put his hands on his hips and cocked them out. "You've had the past 30 minutes to play and make a racket. I need as much quiet as can be managed with you lot traipsing about so no more." Tell us how you really feel… I lamented to myself. Still grumpy old Ratchet… not that I was expecting him to change but… memories of last weekend flashed through my mind: Ratchet stopping me from getting too close to the edge, lowering me into the pit of massive microchips, and the look- that look of what I swore was pride when I actually freed the chip-... He could be so wishy-washy.

As our little group made our way up to the human rec area, the corner of my mouth quirked wryly. That's Ratchet though. I looked behind me where he'd resumed his usual spot by the monitors; blue optics darting towards us then back in the blink of an eye. No one else the wiser to his glance. Emotionally constipated, grumpy old grandpa of a robot.

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Song used: "21 Guns" by Green Day