Ah... I can post stories again! It is heaven. Enjoy; mush and junk about Starscream.
Not who you think I am
Truth
Alexis woke Ariel as soon as she woke up, she knew that they couldn't stay with the 'bots all the time, and at least one of them needed to learn to cook. Ariel did okay, but spilled stuff a lot. Even when she did so she continued to smile, even for Ariel she was being chipper. "Are you okay Ariel? Why are you so happy?"
"I… I talked Red Alert into letting me help him make the antidote." She said cheerfully.
"When was that?"
"Last night… I kinda fell over the bunk edge, Red heard me, and we got to talking…"
A reflection nearby added in a, "And kissing." Rather smugly.
"Shush Destiny! Out here one of the others might here you!"
"You kissed him!" Alexis chirped, "Are you two dating now?"
She hung her head; blushing, "We didn't exactly talk about it… But when I was about to ask he said he had to make the antidote… and then I asked him if I could help him… and he said I could… so…"
Alexis folded her arms, "So whether you are or not, you'll be spending a lot of time together. And probably alone too…"
That scared Ariel, "A-alone? Oh Primus… I can just here the long awkward pauses now!" Alexis stared at her for a moment, neither of them saying a word, "See!"
"Now calm down. It'll be okay. If there is an awkward silence, just think of something to say that won't make it worse. And I've learned form experience; if Red is working really hard, don't even think of disturbing him."
"I know that Alexis." She mumbled.
"Morning girls! How goes it?" Hotshot was awake, and hungry.
"Is Red Alert up off his aft yet?" Ariel asked cheerily.
"Nah. I think he's sleeping still. Someone should go wake him up for breakfast. I can get used to this whole eating thing."
Alexis looked at Ariel, "Go tell him we have food and to get over here."
Ariel nodded and nervously made her way to Red's room. She opened the door, and just as she entered, he was coming out; they crashed together, both falling on the floor in opposite directions, "Ow! Oh… Hi Reddy…" Ariel couldn't help but blush.
He smiled, "What brings you here so early?"
"I-I wanted to tell you breakfast's done… I-I helped make it! Um… I… I was wondering… Uh…"
He stood up and walked over to her, holding out his hand. "Let's go get breakfast. You'll be spending plenty of time in the med bay with me, we can talk about what happened last night then. Alright Ariel?"
She took his hand and he pulled her up, "Okay Red, but you can't expect us to put off this conversation forever."
"Don't worry; we will."
"You can let go of my hand now Red." He hastily let go of her hand. "Heh-heh. Let's go eat."
—
"Will you hand me that beaker over there?"
"Oh… Here you are." Ariel handed him the instrument, silently sitting down next to him.
He glanced up, "I'm sorry if this is boring you, but you know how necessary it is. Maybe you could find something more fun to do."
"It wouldn't be boring if you'd talk. I'm soooooooo bored. I'm learning stuff and all, but really, you haven't taken a break in hours! It's almost time for lunch for Primus' sake! Haven't you figured it out yet?"
"Ariel, these things take time. One day isn't going to do it. I've got a lot of stuff to do before I can properly analyze it."
She rolled her eyes and turned away from him, "You promised me we'd talk about last night. Did that just happen because we were both tired or… or was it something more?"
"Ariel I… I'm afraid that I don't have an answer for you. But either way I want you to understand how dangerous this is. Ariel if we did… it could create compromising situations, both personally and for the Autobots in general. Please understand-"
"No Red. I do understand. Thanks for trying to let me down easy; but a simple "I don't like you like that" would've worked."
"Ariel; that isn't what I-"
"Can it." She snapped, storming away. Part of him wanted to explain to her what he'd meant, but part of him knew that she wouldn't listen.
—
Rad had no idea how, but he had convinced all three of the hu-bots to go hiking with him, Carlos, and Alexis; even Red Alert had agreed to go when Alexis talked to him. But he noticed that every time he approached Ariel she moved away, he couldn't help but roll his eyes; they were so dysfunctional.
"Wait a minute." Ariel suddenly whispered, "Does anyone else hear that?"
"Hear what?" Carlos asked as they all fell silent.
"Jet engines…" Red Alert whispered in surprise.
"Starscream then…" Hotshot whispered.
"We should stay in the tree cover. He shouldn't see us if-"
"There they are!" Starscream shouted above them, a blast being shot down toward them; making a b-line for Ariel.
"Ariel! Look out!" Red Alert tackled her, taking her out of the beam's path.
"Run!" Rad yelled; and everyone scattered, running back the way they came, Ariel and Red Alert stumbling in the rear.
Starscream was somehow able to track them down when they entered a clearing, Transforming and trapping them, weapons pointed at them. "Now let's see… you three Autobots turned human come to our headquarters with me… so Sideways can finish his little experiment."
Red Alert stepped in front of Ariel and Hotshot, "Just leave us alone Starscream; we never did anything to-"
"Ah Red Alert… I was wondering if I'd get to capture you… well now I can finish what I started with your hand!" He pulled out his swords, taking aim.
"Leave him Alone Stars!" Ariel pushed passed Red Alert, putting her arms in a defensive position.
"…Paxalon? But I thought…" She had stopped Starscream in his tracks.
"DACAW. You were one of the first 'bots to believe me and help me shut it down. Right?" Ariel snapped, biting her lip.
"I-I…"
"You owe me from that day Stars. Let us go, and tell Megatron and his lackeys that you simply couldn't find us. Go."
"Grr… Fine. But now we're even. And next time I'll destroy you and your friends."
As soon as he was gone Ariel's knees gave out and she fell; she had been deathly afraid that he wouldn't have responded. She even started to cry. Red Alert knelt at her side, brushing her hair out of her face, "Are you going to be alright Ariel?"
"I-I thought he was gonna-… he was going to…"
"It's alright Ariel. It's alright." She was trembling terribly, and the Autobot medic pulled her into his arms, trying to calm her down.
"Is she gonna be okay Red?" Hotshot asked, bending down to look her in the eye, but she had closed them.
"She's just a little shaken up. Her temperature appears to be increasing as well."
"It's because she's crying Red; that can raise a human's body temperature." Alexis murmured, then patted Ariel's head; putting her hand on her forehead.
"Ariel, you've gotta stop crying; you'll make yourself sick." Rad added.
"I-I'm okay. I-I just… I was really scared that he'd do it… and…"
"It's okay dude. You probably saved us by guilting him. You did good."
—
"Are you alright?" After what Optimus had heard he was giving Ariel a once-over.
"For the last time! I'm fine! Shesh; Red talked to me about it less than you!"
"What about that black and blue mark on your back?" Alexis pried, having seen it.
"What! You're hurt! You should've told-"
"Optimus! That didn't happen in the woods."
"Well when did it happen?"
"Last night. I fell off the berth. It's just a bruise. I'm fine. Now can I please be aloud to go into my room and away from you?" she stormed off, pissed at everything.
"Oh man… did we make her mad?" Carlos asked stupidly.
"No kidding Carlos I'd've never guessed that that would actually go as bad as it did is
—
Red didn't get out of the "lab" until about 10:00, and by then was deathly tired. Everyone else was already in their berths, and the kids had gone home. As he walked down the hall he noticed Ariel's door was open, and decided to peek in and hoped she wasn't angry with him anymore.
"I was wondering when you'd go to bed. I wanted to talk to you…" Ariel was pulling herself from Indian style position on the floor; starting to approach him timidly.
"Ariel… I hadn't meant-"
She tenderly put her finger over his lips, her eyes welling. She pulled him into a tight hug, crying into his chest, "I thought he was going to destroy you." She managed to muffle out.
He awkwardly returned her embrace. "It's alright. I'm not going anywhere; unless you count bed and the bay. I'm sorry if what I said sounded like an "I don't like you"; because I do. I just don't think-" She cut him off, kissing him head on, letting him know that she wasn't afraid. When she stopped he stared at her, mouth wide open in surprise.
"I know that it's probably a bad idea. But… Red… I-I… I don't care. I think I'm falling for you. Red… if you tell me that you feel the same though… there's something important I'd have to tell you before either of us would be able to even imagine-"
"Ariel… I do feel the same about you. But Ariel what is all this about-"
She moved her head off of his chest to look him in the eye, "We might wanna sit down. This is gonna take a while. Plus there are a few of other things I need to tell you too… it wouldn't be fair to you if I told you these things after we would-…"
To be continued…
RnR please, or ignore me entierly.
