Updated - 22~01~2022

So, where to start…

This chapter took me ages. I simply blocked and I couldn't picture the scene going on smoothly, just few vague ideas which I wasn't sure I could put together. It was frustrating. Fortunately, some days ago, an idea crossed my mind and I had to give it a shot.

I focused on Hunters lately, and that's the reason why I haven't updated Snowflakes just yet. Don't worry, I'm still working on it.

Thank you for being patient all this time, and also for your encouragement.

I don't know when will I update again.

Hope you like it,

Enjoy!

The crimson mech petrified at the sight. He had barely caught a glimpse of the azure silhouette emerging from the shadows. What he had indeed clearly noticed was the bright moonlight reflected onto the deadly razor-sharp silver blades, coming down fast at him.

Knockout gasped in surprise, choking a scream back. His self preservation protocol roughly managed to kick in, making him raise his arms in vain attempt of shielding himself from the menace she represented, but he was too caught up to properly respond to the incoming danger.

The faint idea of stepping backwards immediately crossed his mind, and thus, he tried to move a pede. It was more an reflex than a thoroughly considered action, which, for his horror, turned out to be an unwise decision that got him stumbling.

The unintentional action resulted in quite a right guess to take. The mech had lost his balance just as her blade was launched towards him. He had luckily missed the attack, but he soon found himself laying on the ground, defenseless.

The azure warrior did not rush her way. Instead, she took her time to deliberately study the mech. The crimson medic followed her with his widened optics as Arcee gave a pair of calculated steps, coming to a stop barely a metron away from him. Her face remained blank, though there was a hint of something else he did not know how to interpret. He now wished more than never he could read what was going through her mind.

The only thing he was really conscious of was his position of inferiority and that she still had her weaponry engaged. Awareness spread through his frame like a cold wave as adrenergon rushed wild through his veins, getting that unpleasant feeling stinging his pulsing spark.

The little show down wasn't over yet. If he wanted to have a chance against the Autobot warrior, whose reputation preceded her wherever she went, perhaps he would have to fight for his survival.

Knockout vented tremendously, unsuccessfully trying to serene himself. The femme hadn't moved yet, what confused him further. He subtly began incorporating, never breaking optic contact with her. He was about to stand up when the femme launched towards him.

She impulsed herself with a vertiginous speed, aiming her weapon at his neck. He should have expected it. He only had time to express his shock through his expression, and tilt his frame to the side in the last click, missing the edge again by cyberinches.

Arcee's left fist met the ground, her optics fixed on where he had been not a moment before. She slowly blinked, dragging her deadly gaze to stare askance at mech beneath her. No words were needed for the medic to clearly understand her intentions. He extended his more advanced arm, turning his back to her in the motion, and sank his claws deep on the terrain in hope of getting some solid ground to help him crawl his distance.

The crimson mech did not see the silver glint flashing past him, nor even felt it the way it grazed his helm ridge, sending sparks and paint particle flying around, but he had indeed heard it loud and clear. It had been the most frightening sound he had ever heard. The high pitched whistle of the deadly sharpened blade cutting the thin air only a micron away form his audio receptor was something he would not forget in eons to come. For him, it resembled an agony scream.

Knockout shivered.

The medic managed to face her again, in an attempt of keeping an optic on her, as he kept backing off. He thought she would come at him while he still was vulnerable, but she again remained where she was. She stalked the shaking form of the defenseless mech.

Arcee kept her crouched posture, with a leg advanced over the other one, and both her fists half way up. Despite the overall situation, her frame showed no tension at all, grating him the feeling she was becoming comfortable at hunting him.

The silent sound of the wind-swayed leaves made him shudder again. Clouds cleared across the sky to reveal the natural satellite cut out over it. Yet, what actually made the mech shake from his core in real dread was the whole scene before him.

With the white and big, almost full moon at her back, the azure silhouette of the relentless warrior stood out imposingly in front of him. His dimmed crimson optics met her intense cerulean ones, and what he saw left him ventless.

Her murderous soulless gaze was fixed onto his very own spark, with a promise of a decease deep within them. The medic had fought her in many occasions, but never had he witnessed her most fearsome side before. It was in that precise moment when he understood why she was so vividly feared among the trooper ranks.

The situation drew a terrifying picture of the Autobot warrior for the already panicked Decepticon. She was a hunter, and that night, she was gonna claim him as her prey.

A fierce battlecry brought him back to the present, unaware he had just drifted into his thoughts for a click. The mech glanced at the femme as she covered the distance between them with agile strides, raising her deadly blades ready to deliver the final blow. Cornered as he was, it was his instinct what made him react.

The crimson medic dug his right forearm at his shoulder level on the grass, pressing his precious door decal onto dirt, desperately searching for some stable support. He then shoved himself up, while turning his torso to the same side. As he did so, he brought his other forearm up as a shield for the incoming blade, while he bent his right leg in an angle, positioning his pede under his left tight, his knee cap now pointing outwards. That gave him some extra ground to impulse his frame off the ground with all his strengths. The move granted him enough momentum to swing his left leg, delivering a circular kick.

Since he had covered his helm, he did not see the result of his action, but he felt his shin connecting with her hip. A surprise yelp reached his audio receptors, as his move had apparently made her lose her balance. That's what he thought.

Knockout still couldn't believe his improvised move had worked, and felt a light relief running through his frame, no longer feeling vulnerable. He immediately lowered his arm to have a peek and confirm his suspicions. His joy was short-lived, though, alarm replacing it.

Arcee had not fallen off her pedes as he had hoped. She shortly shook her helm, before her fierce energon burning optics locked with his, warning him about what was about to happen. He knew that if he didn't get up now, his effort would have worth nothing, so he lost no time standing up. His servo reached for his subspace and extracted the electro prod. This time she would't get him defenseless.

The femme's gaze followed the new element introduced into their skirmish, as he had finally reacted to her offensive. There would now be a proper fight.

She brought her guard up in preparation, and began taking few steps to one side. He hesitated at first, but then mimicked her, slowly circling around each other. His spark was pounding fast, threatening to break out of his chest. His sensed pricked, getting him ready for second round.

Tension built in as clicks went on, both opponents measuring each other.

The azure warrior was the one who pounced first. It had taken him by surprise, again, but this time, he made use of his prod, holding it with both servos. Her incoming blades met his staff, blocking the attack. The action obliged him take a step back, not expecting her to have such strength, but he didn't bail out. The crimson medic did his best to keep her at bay, grimacing due to the effort.

Both cybertronian wrestled and struggled, grunting at the cuts and thrusts, fighting to see who could cede and who would win the upper servo. Sensing his arms were becoming stiff due to tiredness, the mech gathered courage and pushed his pure white weapon forcefully, making the azure femme stagger.

Not letting her the slightest chance, he activated the electro prod and stabbed it forwards. His hopes of shocking her and causing some damage faded away the moment she reacted to his counterattack.

As if time had stopped, the Autobot warrior retrieved her blades and bent over herself, the cyan sparks of electricity illuminating her face as the prod advanced in its way. When his wrist reached her chest level, she firmly restricted it in her solid grip. With a swift swing, she turned over herself to her right, coming up from beneath and standing up. She dragged his wrist in the process, and flexed his elbow into an angled position as she did so. She lastly delivered a reverse kick to his lower back, completing her maneuver. He growled in pain.

Without letting go of his wrist, she positioned herself at his elbow level, pressing it against her back to effectively neutralize both the articulation and the weapon. She passed her right leg behind his knee and forcefully pulled from his limb to compel him to pivot around her.

The crimson mech found himself once again struggling, cramps running through his arm. The azure femme was looking to destabilize him and drive him to the ground, where he would be an easier target. His instinct screamed him he couldn't, under no circumstances, allow her to move him her way. It was time to deploy his best armament, his intelligence and his knowledge.

He perfectly knew he was times heavier than she was and, although she was a tough warrior, his biology provided him with an extra natural weight and strength he could use in his favor. Acquaintance with his frame's ability, he put them in practice.

Knockout planted his pedes on the ground and leaned forwards, displacing all his weight center over his left leg. Simultaneously, he tried to bring his painfully restricted elbow to his chest. He found resistance, since the femme was trying to undo his few progresses by pulling in her direction, but he didn't give up. The combined maneuvers were having the desired effect and, as a result of it, her grip loosen around his wrist.

Slowly gaining some terrain, the crimson mech became aware of the position in which his prod was. The handled end was held between her back and his forearm, while a shorter, yet adequate in length,m section of it projected beyond his right servo. Having physics as an ally, he reached his free servo to the free end of the staff and pulled with all his strengths, turning his frame to the left while doing so.

Arcee was dragged by the motion and, impulsed by inertia the electro prod had transferred her, she was sent flying some metrons away. She tried to land on her pedes, but she failed, and met the ground. She rolled over the grass, until she hit a rocky wall with her back. A cry escaped her vocalizer.

The Decepticon supported his weight on his staff, straightening up, and shortly rolled his articulations to ease the discomfort. He was beginning to grow tired of the situation, and he was now determined to finish it, once and for all. His expression darkened like never before, his burning crimson optics fixed onto the azure femme that laid before him.

She effortfully sat up, with her back close to the rock, while he unhurriedly walked towards her, dragging the staff along the way. He swung his prod with experienced servos, leaving an ephemeral bluish trail in the air. He came to a stop barely a metron away from her, and brought his prod in her direction, pointing it at her. He looked down at her with a mixture of disgust and hatred deep within his surly gaze.

The Autobot warrior returned a dimmed yet intense gaze of her own, panting hard. They both held a wordless stare, reading through each other for a moment. She hadn't thought he would be able to respond to her. Now instead, she could see the latent danger he had represented back then had woken up, ready to destroy her. He knelt before her, menacingly bringing himself closer to her, and rested his deactivated electro prod to her neck, raising her chin up.

"Please…" She whispered breathlessly. Her winglets were dropped, and her vents overworked to keep her stable, audibly panting. All he could read in her was defeat. She raised her servos up in yield. "No… Please…"

The mech didn't reply right away. He snorted, an evil smirk appearing in his pure white face.

"Looks like tables have just turned…" Knockout stated tauntingly. "You're the one who now lays in the dirt, while I rise victorious." He emphasized his words by pressing the weapon further against her neck. He delighted at the way she tried to back away. He chuckled amused. "Gotta be honest, though. I never thought I would hear the Autobot's most infallible warrior begging for mercy…"

"And you won't." Arcee retorted dryly, blowing her cover. Her previous murderous expression returned back to her face. "Only a fool would fall for a trick!"

In a lightning circular maneuver of her left, she diverted the prod from her neck to firmly tuck it under her armpit. Realization hit him as hard as her helmbutt, which stunned him enough not to give him the change to activate the staff. She then brought her pede up and delivered a hard knock to his chest. The white weapon was forcefully yanked out of his grip as his back met the ground.

Sore and disoriented as he was, next thing he registered was her weight on him and the pointy end of her silver knee cap pressed to his throat. Her other shin was rested over his right arm, preventing him from using it.

"Move a digit and I'll terminate you right here and right now." The void icy cold voice of the Autobot sent a shiver down his backstrut, making him feel panicked again. The Decepticon would have nodded, but aware of his current predicament, he didn't dare to move a plate. All he could do was stare up at the femme looming over him.

"You really thought an experienced warrior like me would have surrendered to a disastrous fighter like you? That I would yield without putting up a fight? That I would plead for mercy?" She spatted. "I would rather join the All Spark with proudness than humiliating myself before the enemy." She shortly paused, letting him process her words.

"I could have decease you while you breezily chitchatted, and you wouldn't even have known it. I played with you all along, I taunted you, and you let yourself carry by an illusion." She shook her helm in disappointment. "Piece of advice. You should have kept you guard up the whole time, and decease me when you had the chance."

"Are you gonna terminate me, Autobot?" He grunted low, unsuccessfully trying to hide his fear.

The azure femme didn't reply. She simply stared at him with narrowed optics, her silver face not giving the slightest hint away. A tense silence settled between them, until her words broke it, finally answering him with a somehow more serene tone.

"Airachnid would have done it."

The Autobot warrior pushed herself off him, her winglets straight up. She gave him some space to allow him to collect himself. Although he hadn't noticed it, she had strategically positioned between the medic and his prod.

With adrenergon still rushing through his veins, the mech carefully stood up and dusted his frame off, never parting his dull optics away from her.

The femme waited for him to ease, while she studied him. Defeat was something he did not like, she could tell. The rage of losing made his jaw tighten, his face remaining serious. Yet, under his scowl, all there was was uncertainty. He feared she could still pull another trick on him if he dared to lower his guard.

There was tension in air, but things looked like they'd settle. Arcee crossed her arms over her chest, and proceeded to speak.

"You came to me because you wanted to learn how to fight. You even made me promise I would consider your proposal. Well, I did for long…" She began, getting into matter. "… And I've reached a conclusion."

"What's your answer?" He murmured with his denta gritted, fulminating her with his gaze.

"Airachnid ain't going easy in you, and neither will I." She stated sternly, resting her servos on her waist. "It's your choice now. You can either remain and respect my conditions, or leave and never return back to me." She remarked her words with a penetrant look.

The mech heavily sighed.

"Which are those conditions?"

Arcee cut the distance until she was right in front of him, maintaining his gaze. Her proximity made him unconsciously take a step back, nervousness redable in his frame.

"First one. If we're getting into this, you will have to commit yourself till the end."

Knockout was no stranger to her teamwork methodology. He knew that compromising with the femme meant seriously applying oneself to it until the objective was achieved. Yet, her next term was something he was not expecting.

"Second one. My lessons do have a price…"

"A price!?" He repeated her words frowning, not letting her finish. She nodded without a blink. He couldn't believing his audio receptors. "And what would you ask for as payment?"

"Raw energon mineral." She stated. "You said you were in mining duties. It shouldn't be hard for you to get it."

"No way I'm doing that." He denied it categorically, shaking his helm a determined no. He knew well the consequences stealing energon could have, and he wasn't eager to follow Starscream's steps. "If Megatron gets to know, he will invite me to one of his 'excursions', and I can guarantee it won't be for leisure. No one ever returns." He retorted, and added another important point to his argument. "Besides, your faction will notice the increase in your reserves, for which there would be no explanation."

"You've better worry about not being discovered by your faction. I'll take care of mine." She dismissed it. Her comments turned then sarcastic. "This should help you to improve your 'Con abilities, such as thieving, lying and conning. If you're lucky enough, it might even teach you new assets, perhaps, becoming stealthier, or keeping your mouth closed instead of sharing essestial intel with the enemy."

The crimson mech huffed angered, pressing his lips to form a thing line. He was aware it had been his fault he was now in that situation. If he only had shut up… His armor puffed up for an instant, reflecting his annoyance, but kept listening to her.

"Third one. Under no circumstances shall you use what you learned against any my teammates." She sharpened her gaze, making sure he got it right. She obtained the desired reaction, as the mech folded some plates in, making himself significantly smaller.

"Lastly, the most important one." She grabbed him by his chest plate and pulled him close. His gasped, optics widening as he craned his neck backwards. Her own ones showed a wild fire within them. "You won't touch my partner." She hissed. "If anything happens to Jack, you've better pray Airachnid finds you first before I do."

The shocked mech raised his servos up and briskly nodded, accepting her terms without a second thought. After few clicks glaring at him, she let go of him, wandering towards the cliffside. Sky was tinted with purplish tones now, adverting morning rays would soon make their appearance.

Knockout vented a couple of times trying to regain his composure. Relief had spread through his frame when her servo had retrieved from his plates, and he was glad there was now some distance between the two of them. Yet, he remained unsure if he had taken the right choice. He felt like he had just made a deal with Unicron himself. At this point though, there was no way back. It would be better to indulge the Autobot, and hope she would not come after him.

"So, when do we start?" The mech dared to ask warily to the femme now standing in front of him, her back given to him.

The azure warrior's dangerous aura was once again present in her expression as she looked over her shoulder to lock gazes with him. Her lips twitched into a smile of her own, disquieting him.

"We've already done."