CHAPTER 30

At first, he hadn't believed that she would come.

As they had planned, he'd come to the Atynx Market square, located in the Crystal Cities' poorest areas. Axe had waken up early, right before the daily time of training. Dai Atlas would not scold him anyway. He was free to go wherever he wanted to go.

But more time passed, more Axe felt naïve. After all, he only knew about Esmeral's name. She owed him nothing. Maybe had she promised to give him books in order to look polite after he'd saved her.

From what he'd known, she was the kind of person to be wary of strangers.

So, why would she borrow him some books? Books had become nearly invisible here.

As soon as Axe was about to turn around to come back to the base, he caught sight of the femme from far, carrying a bag in her arms.

Then he smiled again.

"I'm sorry. I'm late" She apologized, an awkward expression.

"It's okay"

"I didn't know which kind of book you would like. So, I brought a little bit of everything."

"Everything?"

She put the bag down on the ground, trying not to dirt it. Then she grabbed a small device. She pressed a button and the bag opened itself.

She pulled out many books. Many colours, many covers…She displayed it to him with a modest pride.

"History books, Adventure books, crime novels…"

She paused.

"Books about Cybertronian religions…romance novels…"

"Ha. That's what I like the most!"

"So…Do you wish to read these two?"

"Well…I would take everything but…I wouldn't want to push my luck."

"There is nothing wrong with it."

She pulled all books back in her bag then she handed it over to him.

"Thanks for coming here" Axe bowed.

Esmeral blinked. At last, she imitated him and bowed as well.

"…Thanks for waiting for me."

"I will give them back…as soon as I'll finish them" Axe smiled.

"You can find me here. I'm at this place every day"

Esmeral turned around, ready to leave.

"Enjoy reading…"

Axe didn't know what came through his mind.

However, he couldn't let her go like this. He felt like a fool.

So, an impulse pushed him to say these words.

"I would offer you a cube…to thank you…"

Esmeral froze.

"…It's not needed."

"I would like to."

The femme remained motionless. It lasted during a few seconds before she walked away.

At first, Axe mentally slapped himself. He felt like a complete fool. An idiot. Completely stupid. Now, she thought that he was hitting on her…

He felt dumb…until he heard these words out of Esmeral's mouth.

"…Very well"

Shame turned into relief.

He held the bag close against his chassis.

Relief…with a hint of excitement.

"…What are you doing here?"

He sharply turned around.

Star Saber. Since when was he here? The red bot gave him a deep, piercing stare, arms crossed. Behind his mask, Axe could feel curiosity in his optics. After all, after all this time spent in the Circle of Light, he'd learned to translate the masked bot's body language to read his mood.

Sometimes, that's easy. Sometimes, that's…more difficult.

"…Dai Atlas ordered me to come to take you. You weren't at the training."

"…I came to take something" Axe replied.

"Really? What is it?"

Axe came closer then showed him the bag's content. Star Saber leaned over. He randomly grabbed books to read their titles.

"…Books?"

"The ones we possessed had been burnt. Remember."

"Yeah…because of Gasket."

Star Saber almost spat his name with venom. Axe twitched. The masked bot had never really liked their old comrade.

Before, he'd thought that his contempt toward him was unjustified…but now…

"…Love from Iacon…" Star Saber read.

"There is everything…Romance, adventure…"

"Many Cybertronian religions…"

While reading the title, Star Saber frowned.

Axe understood.

"…Get rid of this one."

"That's only a book"

"There is only one religion. Primus' religion."

The purple and yellow fighter clenched his fists.

Star Saber was a religious individual…just like Dai Atlas.

But unlike Star Saber, Dai Atlas accepted the existence of other religions on Cybertron. Some bots didn't believe in Primus or in Unicron…or at least, not as gods…

Star Saber remained closed to any idea that wasn't similar to his.

"I will not get rid of this book. Never. Especially because that's not mine."

"So, whom does it belong to?"

"Someone borrowed them to me! You weren't the one I planned to make them read anyway."

In a heavy yet quick step, Axe left Atynx Market square, leaving Star Saber behind.

They went into such an argument every time they discussed about this topic.

He preferred to leave before it could go worse.

Blades collided again. His spark was beating faster.

"Come on, Drift"

Drift hardly dodged a blow at his side. He was about to stand up again yet the sword was already under his throat.

"You're already dead"

"Shut up!"

The orange bot tried to tighten his grip on Wing's sword. He planned to push him away in order to stand up yet his teacher didn't leave him time. He sat up then a kick came to hit his chassis, ejecting him through the room.

"Mister Drift!"

Was it Jetstorm? Or Slipstream? Drift wouldn't guess. Both of them were witnessing that half-fight.

A fight? That thing?

Wing was waiting for him. Drift winced in pain.

"Get up!"

He stood up. He attacked again.

Then he received an uppercut right in the face. It made him fly again. However, he was lucky enough to land on the tatami this time. That's softer than the hard floor.

"Get up!"

He must…catch his breath. Wing was waiting for him to come back.

That's dumb…

He tried to lunge his sword at him.

Wing easily blocked it. The sword heavily fell by his side. He leaned over to pick it up then threw it back at him.

"No, Drift. Get up! I want you close to me!"

That's his wish?

Was it really his wish?

He grabbed his sword.

Get up.

He roared. Wing didn't move. He waited for him to come.

The next instant, Drift crashed into the wall.

Primus! He would never manage to touch him!

"Get up"

"It hurts…"

"I don't care. Get up."

He pressed his servo over his wound inflicted by Wing. It was slightly bleeding…His body screamed him to give up, to let it go…

"You can just attack me…Let's get over with it."

"No. That would be dishonourable."

He grew to irritate him with his honour…

A few days had spent since Drift's first training sessions…Or rather, his "new" first training sessions…

And since the beginning, that went up like this. Drift was unable to land him a blow. He couldn't even use his sword. His teacher just sent him fly into the stars.

"You must learn to endure pain. You have to be stronger than pain."

"I've enough!"

"You wanted me to teach you martial arts."

"But I can't even come close to you!"

Wing let out a sigh. He wasn't satisfied. He turned back to Jetstorm and Slipstream.

"Go to see Axe"

"We don't leave him alone" Jetstorm said.

"Axe will show you some technics. Then you'll join Drift" He calmly explained.

Both Minicons exchanged a look. Then they silently asked Drift for his approval.

Why would they seek his approval?

He just let out a whine in pain. He had his breath cut.

"Mister…"

"Do…what he…told you…Don't…stay…here!"

They nearly jumped. Drift growled out of annoyance.

In the end, they obeyed and ran over to Axe who practiced at the other side of the tatami.

"Get up, Drift" Wing sternly ordered him.

"What for?"

"You're fighting for an ideal! For something you view as fair! Will you let some blows be an obstacle to this ideal?"

"Get scraped! You aren't in my shoes!"

Wing nodded.

"Yes. I endured some pain myself. Gasket inflicted this pain on me. Yet I'm still alive. And you'll live as well."

"Shut up…just…shut up…"

His optics watered. Oh no! He will not display his weaknesses because of pain!

Wing lowered down then grabbed him by shoulderplates to make him stand up again.

"We'll take a break. It's useless to keep on right now…"

"I would like to…"

They walked over to a bench. Drift sat down and took his time to calm down. Nearby, Axe showed Slipstream some attacks while Jetstorm repeatedly gave him worried glances.

"I wasted my time with Shadow Raker…while I never learned anything…" Drift mumbled.

He wasn't ready to confront Wing again.

"In spite of everything, I think Shadow Raker still taught you one thing or two" Wing softly corrected him.

"Really? What?"

"You wanted to make him proud, right? Pleasuring him…it made you stubborn. You never give up."

Sheesh.

As if it changed anything…

Dai Atlas and Star Saber passed by. Drift didn't talk to them much. Most of time, they ignored him.

But this time, they stopped in front of him.

"Is everything alright, Wing?" Dai Atlas asked, almost concerned.

Wing nodded with a warm smile.

"He started. It'd took a long time, but he started."

"What do you think?" The giant questioned. "Do you think we'll praise him?"

Drift tensed up.

What were they waiting for? He'd joined them! He wanted to become part of the team!

"He has potential" Wing defended him.

"I don't care about potential. I want results." Dai Atlas retorted.

Results…

They weren't going easy on him.

They didn't want to accept him anyway! They'd despised him since the first day!

He felt Wing tense up as well. Nevertheless, his tone didn't change.

"Minicons are doing fine"

"They'll not stay here long" Star Saber answered. "Minicons shouldn't exist anyway"

It made the orange bot react. Under an impulse, Drift grabbed his training sword. Before he could even use it on Star Saber, Wing instinctively blocked it. He hadn't even needed to stand up to stop him.

Dai Atlas seemed…almost amused.

"Well…He has a talent for repartee."

"He just needs a chance" Wing answered. "Be sure. I'm not going easy on him."

Definitely not! Drift didn't want to go easy on that masked bastard either! He'd just insulted them. If he had been able to, he would have made him go for a flight just like Wing had repeatedly done to him earlier.

"He better deserves his place" Dai Atlas said before turning around. "Else, he and his Minicons will get out of here quickly."

Star Saber followed him. These two were always stuck together. Drift glared at Wing.

"Leave me alone"

"Star Saber always behaves like this, unfortunately"

"And do you approve it?"

"Of course, not"

Wing lowered his sword.

"You're angry"

"Oh yes I am. If only I could…"

"Fine. Break is over."

Oh yes.

He wasn't hurt anymore. He wasn't exhausted anymore.

Anger was on his mind now.

He took his sword and ran over to Wing.

Drift landed near Dai Atlas, crashing on the floor again.

"Get up!" The white bot shouted.

He stood up.

He crashed again.

"Get up!"

He did it again.

He fell.

No matter how long it will take, he'll make Star Saber pay for his words.

No matter how long it will take, he'll manage to touch Wing at least once.

He felt Dai Atlas's burning stare in his back.

He was watching all along.

Was it contempt? Or admiration?

He wouldn't know.