A/N: Requested by jojoinks01. Hope you enjoy.

Main pairing:

ArceexHot Rod

Warnings: fluffs, some fighting and violence, kissing, confessions, first love for Hot Rod, AU, anything else I forgot.

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Only Hasbro.

Arcee growled as she walked around the forest. There had been an Autobot signal and she was told to go investigate. With her luck, the Decepticons would come and attack as soon as they saw her. She dodged a blaster shot, hiding behind a large boulder to see a group of Vehicons firing at her. More shots came from behind her, the femme cursing as she moved.

She shot at the Vehicons, taking them out along with whoever else was firing at them. Once the last one fell, Arcee looking around for the mystery bot. She stayed on guard, tense as she could.

"Whoever you are, come out," Arcee called out. A red, orange, and yellow flamed mech jumped out from a tree, servos up. "Who are you?"

"The name's Hot Rod," the mech said. "I'm an Autobot Elite. I was looking for my partner Smokescreen."

"I'm over here Hot Rod!"

The flamed mech turned to see Smokescreen coming towards him. The two clapped on their shoulders, grinning and laughing. Arcee rolled her optics in annoyance. She commed Ratchet to open the groundbridge.

"Let's go you two," Arcee said, pointing to the swirling portal. "Optimus is waiting."

She took the two inside, heading off to the side. Optimus came up to greet the two soldiers.

"Welcome," Optimus said. "It is good to see two Elites still alive."

"Oh yeah," said Hot Rod. "The name's Hot Rod. This is Smokescreen. We were both prisoners of the Decepticons, but we escaped and crashed here."

"That's nice. You two get over here so I can fix you," said Ratchet.

Arcee looked back over. She saw the trails on energon on Hot Rod and the small cut on Smokescreen's back. How had she missed that? Her spark fluttered at seeing Hot Rod grinning as if he wasn't even injured. The two Elites obeyed though, Ratchet quickly fixing them. Arcee turned, heading away from the others and up to Cliffjumper.

~~~000

"It feels strange Cliff," Arcee said, staring out into the setting sun on the horizon. "The newbies have been here for a few months now, yet there is something about Hot Rod. I think... I'm falling in love again Cliff. But I'm scared. What if... what if I court him and then... he dies? I already lost you and Tailgate. I don't think I can lose another."

Silence answered her. She wasn't sure why she was feeling like this, feeling drawn to Hot Rod. The femme got up, heading back inside the base. She bumped into Hot Rod, the mech catching her.

"Sorry Arcee," Hot Rod said, smiling warmly down at her. Arcee blushed a bit.

"Hot Rod," she dismissed, moving to her berthroom.

"Did I do something wrong?" Hot Rod asked. Ratchet and Optimus looked over, hiding their amusement. "What? I'm so lost."

"Of course you are Roddy," Smokescreen said. "You have no idea, do you?"

"And you do?" Hot Rod asked his friend.

"Not a clue yet. Femmes are so confusing to read most the time," the white Praxian smirked.

"So young," Ratchet said, looking over at Optimus.

"As were we once. We shall let them figure it out," said Optimus.

~~~000

"Optimus, our sensors have detected an energon source," said Ratchet. "There isn't any Decepticons. If we can reach it before them, we can secure it and then mask the signal."

"Then we will go investigate," said Optimus.

"Take caution Optimus. There could still be Decepticons," Ratchet warned.

"Of course old friend. Please prepare the medibay just in case," said Optimus, turning to his troops as the groundbridge opened. "Autobots, roll out!"

~~~000

"This is a ton of energon," Hot Rod whistled, looking around the large deposit as they set up dampers around the mine. "It can last us years."

"That is if the Decepticons don't take it," Smokescreen joked.

"We got this," Hot Rod said, heading outside the deposit with his partner to scout the perimeter as the others harvested energon to take into the base.

"Sure," Smokescreen laughed.

The two walked for about two miles before Hot Rod collapsed, bleeding from his chest. Smokescreen ducked down as another shot rang out, covering Hot Rod. He reached up for his com, pinging the Autobots.

"Hey, need backup! Hot Rod is down and needs medical attention," Smokescreen said.

"Hold your position and hide. We're on our way."

"Scrap!" Smokescreen cursed, dragging Hot Rod to cover. "Hang on partner."

"Leave me here and hide yourself," Hot Rod said.

"No way," Smokescreen denied. "Not leaving you."

"Idiot," the flamed mech muttered. He kicked Smokescreen to knock him down, saving him from a stray shot.

"Come out and fight Autobots!"

Smokescreen looked out to see Dreadwing and Breakdown looking around. Hot Rod knew the danger, and pinched a nerve in Smokescreen's neck, knocking him out.

"Sorry buddy," the mech said. Hot Rod grunted as he got up, moving away from the Praxian. "Over here 'Cons!"

Hot Rod dodged as more shots were fired, two of them hitting his knee and side. The mech swore, limping away to hide behind a tree. He heard the sounds of engines approaching, sliding down to sit. Arcee found him, kneeling down and looking over the wounds as Optimus, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead engaged the enemy.

Dreadwing and Breakdown retreated after gaining damage. Bumblebee looked around, finding Smokescreen and picking him up. Optimus went to Arcee, taking Hot Rod into his arms.

"Ratchet, open the groundbridge. We are in need of medical attention," Optimus called in.

The groundbridge spiraled open, the Prime rushing through. He set the Elite soldier down on the medical berth, stepping back to allow Ratchet to take over. Arcee watched from a distance, fear gripping her spark. Why did this always happen? The world melted around her, only seeing Hot Rod. A servo resting on her shoulder startled her.

"He is fine Arcee," Ratchet said gently. "Go see for yourself."

Arcee blinked, not realizing how much time had passed. Ratchet took her arm, bringing her closer to the mech before leaving them alone. Arcee sat down next to the berth, reaching out to grab his servo. She hesitated for a bit, not sure if she should. She took his servo, rubbing it slightly.

"I… I don't know what to say. Not really," Arcee said. "After losing two... lovers, I shut myself off from feeling... those emotions. Yet with you, I feel them again. I didn't want to. When I do... they end up dead. I guess you're lucky that you aren't."

"Glad to know," Hot Rod whispered. Arcee looked up to him as he grabbed her servo tightly. "I'm fine 'Cee. Takes a lot more than a few blaster shots to take me down."

"So I can see," Arcee said, suddenly blushing and looking away. "I... didn't realize you heard me."

"Good thing I did or else I would have stayed silent," Hot Rod smirked, pulling her closer. Arcee felt her face get hot, freezing as the flamed mech gently kissed her. After a klik, he pulled back. "Give me the chance to show you that you won't lose me."

Arcee nodded, her fear seeping away. She trusted him. It would be all right. Hot Rod smiled, pulling her to lay down next to him.

Ratchet looked over, smiling at seeing the two in recharge. Optimus joined him, looking with approval.

"I believe Arcee found her match," Ratchet said.

"I do as well old friend," Optimus agreed. "We should let them rest."