Author's Note

I am so sorry I'm a day late! Yesterday was crazy busy for me (including a blood draw which is just ick) and I didn't have enough time to do this. It takes at least an hour to make the final edits, respond to reviews, and then get it posted. I just didn't have a solid hour of time to dedicate.

But it's here now, a bit longer than my average chapter even. And we got some action, a bit of Sides/Ari fluff, and Bucky waking up! That's worth the wait, right?

So go onward and enjoy!


Not a Damsel

By the time they wake up the next morning, Jazz has a location for them. He cracked into the flash drive while they slept, breaking the encryption easily. There's not much on it, though, for something so heavily protected. Just a set of coordinates in Chicago. It doesn't even say what's there, but considering it's in the same city that was nearly destroyed a few years ago by Decepticons, it can't be anything good.

And if Hydra went to such lengths to hide it, then it must be important to them.

They hit the road at dawn. Steve stays with Bucky in the back of Ratchet's alt mode, who still hasn't woken up yet. Ratchet's monitoring his condition, which is stable, but his comatose state is worrying the med bot the longer it lasts.

What if what Loki did wasn't enough? What if this is something he just can't recover from?

Steve refuses to believe it, though, and stays vigilant at his friend's side during the entire ride, promising to let them know if there are any changes. No one's even sure what to do if/when he wakes up. Will he remember? What do they tell him if he doesn't? What if he wakes up still brainwashed?

But that's a bridge they'll cross when they come to it, so they keep going.

It's a long drive to Chicago from middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania, taking at least eight hours. The Autobots could probably do it in half the time considering their love for speeding, and normally that wouldn't be a problem. Normally, they're official government operatives allowed to get away with stuff like speeding since what they're doing is so important.

Except now they're all wanted fugitives of the world. Officially.

John hears it on the radio, tuning everyone else in so they can hear the news coverage. Everyone, including the Avengers, is considered armed and extremely dangerous. The Autobots are colored in a horrible light, like they're the ones betraying mankind. There's a lot of speculation on that, especially since most of mankind has been on the Autobots' side with staying on Earth and protecting it. Ari fought long and hard to get the public on their side.

But now it's ruined, because most people will just go along with whatever officials tell them. They just believe as they're told so long as it's by someone with a badge or title, taking for granted that they're being told the truth.

It makes Ari wonder how far Hydra has spread. In order for them to do this, their reach has to be farther than just S.H.I.E.L.D., or even the U.S. government. They must have infiltrated every major government around the world. It sends them into a somber silence, feeling more betrayed and helpless than they ever have before.

Then, somewhere near the border between Indiana and Illinois, Ratchet announces over the comm link, ::He's awake. Bucky is awake.::

"How is he?" Ari asks nervously, wanting to be happy but not knowing what to expect.

::Disoriented, understandably. Steve is talking with him now, helping him put the pieces together. But he seems normal. At least, he's not trying to kill anyone. Whatever Loki did must have worked.::

::We should find a place to pull over,:: Loki says. ::He is sure to have questions and we could all use a break from traveling.::

::I second that,:: Trent adds, his stomach probably growling just as much as Ari's. They drove right through lunch, too afraid to stop for anything longer than a bathroom break. They ate the food they took from Natasha's safehouse, but Natasha and Clint didn't exactly stock the place with so many people in mind. And she definitely didn't keep the metabolism of a super soldier and alien gods in mind. ::I'm starving.::

There's a dense wooded area off to their right and Optimus leads them down the next side road they find, winding through the trees until they come across something resembling a dirt road. Or, at least, it used to be some kind of road. It looks like no one has traveled this way in quite some time, the path almost completely reclaimed by the forest. They drive down it a while, trying to become as truly lost as possible so no one can stumble upon them.

After a good fifteen minutes with no sign of houses or life of any kind outside woodland animals, Optimus stops and transforms, making a path through the woods with his sword for them to drive down. He stops after a hundred feet, thick foliage all around them to obscure them from sight with a clear area large enough for all of them.

And then he returns to his alt mode. Because Bucky is probably struggling enough as it is. They're not even sure Hydra told him about Cybertronians when the Autobots revealed themselves to the world.

Everyone piles out of the vehicles and stretch, holoforms activating among them as they all turn towards the back of Ratchet's alt mode.

Steve slowly pushes open the door, climbing down with a tired smile, but there's a lightness to him that Ari's never seen before. With his feet on the ground, he turns and holds out a hand, helping Bucky clamber out of the alt mode.

Bucky looks tired. And worn and devastated and more than a bit broken. Overwhelmed. But there are feelings in his eyes—real emotions burning inside of him instead of the cold blankness of before.

He's back. He's free.

Dark circles hang under blue eyes that widen in trepidation, his flesh hand clinging to Steve's forearm. "Who are all these people?" he asks, voice gravely from disuse.

"They're friends, Buck," Steve reassures, gently removing Bucky's vice-like grip and clasping him on the shoulder. "No one here's gonna hurt you."

He jerks his head in a nod, showing just how much he trusts his best friend by not running away from all of these strangers.

He's been surrounded by strangers for so long. Now, Steve's the only one he actually knows.

"Hello, Sergeant Barnes," Ratchet says, stepping closer while still allowing Bucky plenty of personal space. He keeps a smile on his face, projecting as much calmness as he can. "My name is Ratchet. I'm a doctor."

Bucky backs up a step at that, eyes narrowing suspiciously before darting back to Steve. Steve gives him an encouraging nod and Bucky forces himself to relax, shoulders visibly drooping. "What kinda name's Ratchet?" he asks gruffly.

"Uh...," Ratchet flounders for a moment, looking to Optimus for guidance.

"That may be a long story," Optimus answers for him, stepping up to the mech's rescue. "It depends on how much you remember. We will answer all the questions you have, as much as we can, but first we want to make sure you are alright."

Bucky grimaces. "I don't think 'not alright' quite covers it."

"Are you in any pain?" Ratchet clarifies.

"I'm fine." His metal arms whirrs softly as his fingers open and close. He looks down at his hand, jaw clenching, and his fingers stop. "Physically, I'm fine."

"Good. Now, what do you remember?"

"Most of it. I think. It feels kinda weird." He runs his flesh hand along his face, moving it up through his scraggly hair. "Like it's playing through my head like a movie. Like it didn't really happen to me."

"That would be my doing," Loki answers.

Bucky's eyes narrow at him in consideration, like he's trying to remember a dream. "I know your voice."

Loki nods, holding out a hand to him. "I am Loki, of Asgard. Steve gave me permission to use my magic to enter your mind and undo the damage that Hydra wrought. As I did, I put up a barrier between you and the memories of your time with them. You will remember as if you witnessed those things happening to someone else until you are able to cope with them. Then the barrier will disintegrate and you will remember as you should."

Bucky looks at Loki's hand incredulously before taking it for a shake. "Magic? Seriously?"

"Please tell me you know about aliens being out of the closet now," Darcy practically groans, "or else this is going to take a lot longer."

Bucky's eyes sparkle in appreciation as they meander across Darcy's curves, his brazenness causing her to blush. "I don't know what aliens were doing in a closet, doll, but I wouldn't mind being in one with you for a while."

He blinks in surprise at himself, that those words came out of his mouth. But, if the history books are anywhere close to the truth, that's just like something Bucky Barnes would say. The old Bucky, before the war.

Steve barks out a laugh, equal parts humor and relief. "It's good to have you back, yah jerk."

Bucky smirks, a spark of happiness breaking through the cracks. "It's good to see you, too, punk."

Darcy coughs awkwardly, the redness of her face spreading down her neck. "Right. Okay. So I'm gonna go get us some food. Any requests?"

"Whoa, hold on a minute," Will says, catching her lightly by the arm before she can go stalking off towards an alt mode. "No one is going anywhere."

She rolls her eyes. "We need food. We can't just keep going like this without heading into a town for supplies. What we've got isn't nearly enough. Not for this many people and their insane appetites."

"But, Darcy," Jane says placatingly, "we're all being hunted right now. As soon as we head into town, someone is bound to recognize us."

"You mean, recognize you." Darcy's mouth twists up in a semblance of a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Unlike the rest of you, I wasn't listed as a wanted fugitive."

Ari runs the broadcast back through her head and, sure enough, there was no mention of a Darcy Lewis. How had they missed that?

Jane's brow furrows, voice small like a child who's just been told Santa Clause isn't real, "Well, why would they do that?"

"It's fine," Darcy chuckle, the sound as plastic as her smile. "They probably figured I wasn't important enough for them to worry about, and they're right. I'm just a college intern. What am I going to do, stab at them with my mechanical pencil and unfinished degree?"

"But you are a fine warrior," Thor boasts proudly. "You felled me when we first met and I am proud to call you my lightning sister."

"Sorry, big guy, but I highly doubt they're intimidated by my taser, even if it did take down a Norse god." She slides a hair tie off from around her wrist, using it to pull her hair up from its usually down position. "But, seriously, it's fine. It means I can go out in public without worrying about cameras or cops or people recognizing me. I can get us food, maybe some more clothes, and be back in a few hours."

"You still shouldn't go by yourself," Steve says with a frown. "Hydra could still change their minds if they get tired of trying to find us."

"Jazz will go with me, won't you, Jazz?" She tosses her brightest smile at Jazz's holoform who shakes his head with a laugh.

"'Course I will, Darce," he replies, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. "You ain't getting snatched by no Hydra thugs."

Will shakes his head. "You're too well known, too. S.H.I.E.L.D. has pictures of what all of your holoforms look like."

Jazz slumps. "Oh. Yeah."

Really, if this goes on for too much longer, all of the Autobots will have to get different alt modes as well. S.H.I.E.L.D. knows what all of them look like, too. Her chest tightens, already mourning Sideswipe's sleek, silver Stingray, but that's a problem for later. Finding appropriate alt modes to fit everybody is a pain in the aft they don't have time to deal with right now.

"I'll go with her," Ari offers.

Will crosses his arms in front of his chest, the stern father coming out. "And how is that any better?"

"Just wait, just wait," she insists, holding out a hand to Natasha. "Do you have one of those mask thingies you like to use on missions?"

"You mean a photostatic veil?" Natasha asks in amusement, digging around in the pocket of her leather jacket.

"Yeah, that."

"Here." She tosses it and Ari catches the small case in her hands, opening it up.

Inside rests a thin, see-through sheet that almost looks like plastic wrap but is actually thinner and softer to the touch. Ari presses it to her face, rubbing her fingers along it so that it sticks snuggly to the surface of her skin. There's a slight tingling sensation as it turns on, the holographic cells in the veil flickering to life to project a different face onto her head.

Natasha holds up a compact mirror for Ari to see, revealing a woman in her early thirties with the same skin tone but larger eyes, fuller lips, and a larger nose. Ari tilts her head this way and that, watching as the veil perfectly projects the contours of a different face, looking so real no one will be able to tell she's wearing thousands of nano-sized screens all over her face.

It's a little freaky, seeing someone else's face in the mirror. Especially the brown eyes, so different than Ari's light blue. But she looks completely different and that's the point.

Natasha hums in approval, putting the compact away. "That'll do nicely. And you look similar enough now, with the brown hair and eyes, that you and Darcy could easily pass off as cousins or even sisters if you have to."

"Perfect," Ari replies, her voice coming out completely foreign to her ears. A different person's voice. "Oh, well, that's weird."

Sideswipe grabs her hand, squeezing to reassure himself that she's still her. "Yeah, tell me about it."

"It's still too risky," Bucky grumbles, rubbing at his forehead. Ari narrows her eyes, wondering if he's really as fine as he said. "Someone with more experience in espionage should go."

"My red hair stands out too much for me to go," Natasha says, "and a wig wasn't as easy to pack as the veil. I've trained Ari myself. She can do this."

"I wasn't talking about you."

"What, you mean you?" Ari asks with a skeptical brow, knowing the same expression is being projected on the veil.

He straightens his shoulders defiantly but the small wince he fails to hid ruins the look. "Yeah, maybe."

"Dude, you're in no condition to be going anywhere," Darcy admonishes.

"I'm fine," he replies at the same time Steve says, "He's fine."

Bucky is obviously lying, so Ari isn't sure if it's just wishful thinking on Steve's part or what.

"You've got an intense headache," Loki cuts in, arching a brow at him like he's just daring Bucky to deny it.

"Maybe," Bucky grumbles, not looking at anyone.

"Is he okay?" Steve asks, worried now. Bucky lets out a long-suffering sigh. "Don't give me that, Buck. You'd be doing the same thing if it were me. Already did lots of times when I was sick as a kid."

"Sergeant Barnes will be fine," Loki reassures. "It's simply aftereffects from what was done to him. I undid the worst of it, but he's still got a lot of healing to do."

Bucky growls in frustration. "How much?"

"I can help you with it, if you'll let me." Loki holds out his hands, palms up, like a supplicant. "But I will need to go into your mind again to do it."

Bucky hesitates, probably not liking the idea of someone going into his head now that he's got his own mind back again, so Steve asks for him, "You'll be able to fix him? So he can fight again?"

Loki nods confidently. "I can."

Darcy tenses, shifting on her feet restlessly. "What if he doesn't want to fight?"

Steve blanches. "What are you talking about?"

"He's been freaking tortured for the past several decades. Don't you think he's fought enough? What if he wants to quit?"

"You don't know Buck like I do. He's always fought with me." He turns to his best friend, waiting for him to back him up just like he probably always has.

Except Bucky doesn't answer right away. He glances at Darcy wistfully, so fast you'd almost miss it unless you were looking for it. Steve obviously doesn't see it, but Ari and Darcy do.

He's gone through so much already and he's tired.

"Right, Bucky?" Steve prompts, eyes wide and earnest and hopeful. He probably doesn't know how effective those big blue eyes of his are, or maybe he does, because they are almost impossible to say no to.

Bucky certainly can't, even after knowing Steve for so long. His shoulders droop a little, almost like in defeat, and he covers it up with a smirk. "Yeah. 'Course I'll fight."

"See?" Steve says brightly. "Bucky'll be fine. After a little healing from Loki, he'll be back to his old self and ready to go."

Darcy's mouth twists into an ugly grimace. Ari presses her lips together to keep from doing the same. They're both thinking it.

Bucky is never going to be the same again. Not after what happened to him.

"There's no shame in staying back with the rest of us civvies," is all Darcy says, keeping her eyes on Bucky. "Just, you know, remember that. In case you change your mind."

He gives a jerky nod. "Yeah. Sure." He then jabs his thumb at Ari. "She still shouldn't be the one to go."

Ari grinds her teeth together in an effort not to snap, any sympathy she was feeling for him getting shoved to the backburner. She's not some little girl with no experience. Not like she was during Mission City. She can fight just as good as any of them. She is a soldier. A fighter. He's making assumptions that are just plain untrue.

She may have failed a lot lately, but this is something she can do.

"I can take care of myself. Like Natasha said, I'm trained."

"Doesn't matter how much training you have. I know the way Hydra thinks. They'll get the drop on you."

"I held my own against you, didn't I?" Ari challenges, reminding him of their fight before he was knocked out.

His brow furrows in confusion and Ari wonders if it's not just a headache bothering him, but his memories as well. How many blank spots does he have? How much of recent history does he even know? Loki helped, but it's a lot he has to work through.

He shakes her question away. "Doesn't matter how many people you've fought before. A full Hydra team is going to be on your tail."

"They can't be any worse than a team of Decepticons."

He pulls up short at that. "What's a Decepticon?"

Yeah, that's what she was afraid of. Did Hydra even see it as worth it to keep him up to date on all the alien things going on with the world? Does he just not remember being told, or was he never told in the first place?

She sighs deeply, having almost forgotten what it was like to explain this before everyone knew the truth. "How much do you know about aliens?"

"I know they're aliens," he nods towards Loki and Thor. "I was briefed on all of the Avengers."

"So they told you about Asgardians but not Cybertronians?" That's a bit insulting for some reason.

"…Yes?" he says, more question than answer and looking completely lost.

"Ooo! Ooo!" Tony raises his hand excitedly, eyes darting to Ironhide with glee. "Can Ironhide do the introductions? Do the thing with the cannon!"

A grin spreads across Ironhide's face but Ari cuts him off, "No! We need to ease him into all of this, not traumatize him."

She remembers when Ironhide mock threatened her with his cannon when they first met. It's not so funny to be on the receiving end of that.

Natasha slaps them both on the back of the head, eliciting an echoing, "Ow!"

"Thanks, Nat," Ari smiles. "Will you make sure they take care of this gently? We should get going."

"Of course, kotyonok." Her eyes sparkle with laughter. "I will watch the children while you are away."

There's more than one indignant "Hey!" at that.

"This still isn't a good idea," Bucky grumbles, confused but not willing to back down from their original argument.

"We'll be fine," Ari insists, trying to pour comfort into her smile. Even though her smile isn't really hers. "They'll make you understand just what we've faced before, and then maybe you'll see how capable we all really are."

Or is this more to prove how capable she is? The thought creeps up on her, sending a cold shiver down her spine that she struggles to ignore.

"Alright, let's hit it!" Darcy jumps in, grabbing Ari by the arm and spinning her towards Sideswipe's alt mode before anyone can stop them. Ari climbs behind the wheel, Darcy taking the passenger seat, and Sideswipe takes off, heading back the way they came.

Ari tilts the rear-view mirror down, taking a good look at herself again. The only thing familiar is her hair and her ears. Her face is different, her voice is different. The clothes she's wearing aren't even hers, just a purple t-shirt a size too big and a pair of baggy jeans.

It all makes her feel not like herself right now.

"Hey," Darcy says, pulling her out of her musings. "Do you think Bucky'll be okay?"

"I hope so," Ari sighs. "But you're right. I get the feeling we're pushing him to do more than he's capable of right now. To do more than he wants to do right now."

Darcy nods solemnly. "Yeah. I mean, he just got himself back, but he's still not really making decisions for himself. Just going along with what he thinks everyone wants and expects from him."

"Well, we'll just have to make sure he knows he can still say no if he wants to. He doesn't have to do everything he's told anymore."

"Not even for Steve," Darcy huffs, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat. "I get they're best friends and all, but Steve is being a bit pushy for someone who wants to help his friend."

"He just wants to see Bucky get back to normal. He misses his best friend."

"And if his best friend isn't there anymore?" Darcy arches a brow. "It may not have been his fault, but Bucky went through a lot of slag that still affected him. He might find that he's changed now, and that's not a bad thing."

Ari places her elbow against Sideswipe's door, leaning her head against her hand with a tired sigh. She feels for Steve—really, she does—but Bucky seems just this side of being a soldier who doesn't want to go to war. She doesn't want to force that on him. Not after everything he's been through. "I'm not sure what's going to happen. But we'll be there for them both. Whatever the fallout is."


The nearest city is only a couple miles away from where they're hiding out. The big, bustling kind where no one pays attention to anyone else. They find a supermarket, grabbing a shopping cart at the front of the store and weaving down the aisles one by one.

It's tempting to split up and rush through everything but they force themselves to take their time. To not draw attention to themselves and stick together.

Ari wishes she had the feel of Sideswipe's holoform at her back, comforting with the knowledge he's watching her back. But Will's right, the holoforms are just as recognizable as her face right now and they can't risk it. But his alt mode is right outside in the parking lot, keeping an eye on the front of the store and ready to pick them up when they're done.

Or drive right through the storefront.

Darcy seems unaffected, pushing the cart with a bounce in her step and humming a tune. Like it's just any other day.

Ari wishes she had that kind of confidence. Right now, it feels like she's waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The feeling only grows as they move through the store, picking up anything they can think up. They grab hot dogs and skewers for today, something to fill them up for a while, and canned food for later that'll last them for two weeks. Hopefully they can end all this in just a day or two but optimism doesn't fill empty stomachs.

They're just starting to look through clothes for the others when that feeling intensifies at the back of her head. That shoe, sitting right on the table ledge. Just about to fall.

It suddenly dawns on her what it is. Eyes, trained right at her.

"You alright, Ari?" Sideswipe asks, feeling her spike of anxiety.

"I think someone's watching me," she says, continuing to act casual while surreptitiously looking around.

He tries to remain calm but his fear still trickles down to her, made worse because he's not right with her when they both want him to be. "Can you tell who?"

She glances around, acting like she's looking for something on the racks of clothes around her while trying to take a look at the people as well. All she can see are a mom looking through dresses while rocking a baby stroller back and forth, the infant munching on cereal in his seat, and a man with dark hair trimmed close to his head looking through shirts.

He's muscular with a strong build that could definitely be military, but what really sells it for her—besides the fact that he's not actually looking at any of the clothes he's leafing through—is the bulge under his jacket that she's pretty sure is a gun.

And if there's one, there's bound to be more.

Ari leans in close to Darcy, slinging an arm across her shoulders in a show of friendliness. "We're leaving," she whispers in her ear, barely moving her lips.

Darcy nods without a word, still humming a tune like nothing's wrong. They leave the clothes racks behind, pushing their cart to the front of the store.

"Sides, we've got company. Get ready for a quick exit."

"What about the food?"

"We're in line to pay for it right now," she says, pulling out her wad of cash from one of the supply caches so she's ready when they reach the register. The guy from earlier followed them in line a few people back, a random shirt in his hand. "I don't think they've realized they've been made yet and they won't want to make a scene here, not if they can help it. They're probably waiting to snatch us in the parking lot."

Sideswipe growls. "Not if I can help it."

Once they've paid, Ari and Darcy grab three bags each, making a beeline for the front door. The automatic doors slide open and Sideswipe sits right outside, waiting for them with the trunk popped open already.

The man follows close behind them, without having made a purchase.

Ari shoves her bags into Darcy's hands and then spins on her heels, activating her blades to slide one poised under the man's chin.

His Adam's-apple bobs, hand frozen beneath his jacket where she can now clearly see a gun strapped to his belt.

She smiles darkly, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

People scream around them as they panic, running away. Except for a few. A few men push forward against the flow of people to stalk closer, all six of them with deadly focus.

The guy at the end of her blade grins like a hungry shark. "Oh, but I think I will, sweetheart."

Anger boils under her skin, thick and hot. But it's not hers.

It distracts her for a moment, enough for the guy's arm to come up and shove her blade away. She stumbles, barely regaining her footing in time to block the fist aiming for her gut.

Natasha would be horrified. She can do better than this.

Gritting her teeth, she fights back, kicking out at his side which he sidesteps easily, retaliating with a kick of his own. She catches his ankle, spinning on her heel and using the momentum to toss him to the sidewalk at the feet of his pals.

"Go, Darcy," Ari orders, not needing to look over her shoulder at the girl to know Darcy stands frozen watching them, bags dangling uselessly from her hands. "Get the stuff put away. I've got this."

The guy wipes the back of his fist against his chin, smirking as he gets to his feet again. "That's what you think."

"Well, come on then, sweetheart," Ari retorts, throwing the word back at him. She hears crinkling plastic behind her as Darcy gets moving. "Hit me with your best shot."

His next punch is sloppy as he growls in anger, making it easy to block and shove him back again. Another guy comes up to her right, angling to make a grab at Darcy, and Ari moves quickly with a sharp kick, jab, roundhouse that sends him to his aft with a groan.

They're not getting past her.

The first guy uses her distraction to get in a lucky hit to her ribs, making her stumble but not cry out. She's felt worse than that from Ron. Like maybe he's holding back? It'll be his mistake, because even though it didn't hurt that much, it was enough to make Sideswipe's engine roar.

His holoform blinks on next to her, his entire frame drawn taunt like a bow string pulled back, about to fire an arrow into the heart of the man who hit her. Absolute fury turns his eyes dark blue and the shear amount of protectiveness and possessiveness coming across the bond makes Ari's knees go weak.

The whole thing is oddly sexy.

The idiot who hit her either doesn't notice the danger or doesn't care, because he takes another swing at Ari despite Sideswipe standing right next to her. Sideswipe steps in his way, catching the man's fist effortlessly in his hand and squeezing until there's a sickening crack.

A scream of pain tears out of the man's clenched teeth as he bends his knees, trying to get relief but Sideswipe doesn't give it to him. Instead, he kicks the man squarely in the chest hard enough to knock the hair from his lungs and probably fracture his sternum.

The man goes flying backwards from the hit, landing on the ground without getting back up.

The other Hydra agents blink in surprise but recover quickly, spreading out to try to enclose them against Sideswipe's alt mode. Sideswipe moves to stand in front of her protectively, pulling her up short.

That may have been hot bus she does not need to be protected, fraggit.

She coughs pointedly until Sideswipe glances at her over his shoulder. Arching a brow at him, she says, "You are not pulling this crap on me. I know you know better."

He grimaces. "But," she coughs again and he lets out a short sigh, "Fine. Together?"

She smiles brightly. "Much better."

She steps up next to him this time, facing the remaining agents in the kind of solidarity that only sparkmates can exude. This is how it's supposed to be. Both of them together, watching each other's backs.

The sidelines are no place for her.

They work together in smooth precision, leaving the agents either unconscious or in too much pain to get back up. Still, Sideswipe won't untense, though. His shoulders rise and fall as he breathes heavily, even though breathing isn't even necessary for his holoform. Ari steps up behind him, placing a soothing hand on his shoulder.

"Sideswipe..."

He rounds on her, that dark fury still brimming in his eyes but it doesn't scare her. He never scares her, because even though he just showed such violence, it's never directed at her.

He raises a shaking hand to gently brush along her side, the side that got hit, like he's checking for anything broken. She lets him lift up her shirt, making sure there's no bruising, but of course there isn't. She heals so fast now because of the AllSpark that, even if she had been bruised, it would be long since faded by now.

"I'm fine, Sideswipe," she tells him over the bond, knowing he's not going to hear her any other way right now. "I'm okay. Seriously, I could have taken care of them myself with one hand tied behind my back. What's with the overreaction?"

He growls low in his throat, slipping the photostatic veil off her face so he can surge forward to claim her mouth with his. The kiss is rough and wild, leaving Ari with no choice but to hang onto his shoulders as his arms form bands around her waist.

She's not entirely sure what brought this on—though she has an idea—but she still thoroughly enjoys the moment, giving as good as she gets as her tongue tangles with his.

His presence surges around her just as hard, enveloping her in an overwhelming feeling of mine. The combination is heady and exhilarating, leaving her whimpering when he finally pulls back.

She pants against his mouth, still only inches from hers, and asks, "He shouldn't have called me sweetheart, huh?"

"No," he rumbles, voice lower than she's ever heard it before. "He shouldn't have."

"Thought so." His jealous fits aren't something she's unaware of, they happened a lot before she and Trent became friends, but they usually aren't this bad. So bad that he feels the need to reclaim her. Hitting her was the breaking point, but what really set him off was the guy's close imitation of sweetspark, Sideswipe's pet name for her.

She'll have to watch out for that. And see if she can bring this side of him out again because that...that was fun.

Darcy sticks her head out of the window of Sideswipe's alt mode. "Guys, as hot as that was—because, seriously, you two are hot together—we really need to get out of here."

That's when they notice the sirens building in the distance and remember just where they are. Ari presses one last, lingering kiss to Sideswipe's lips, sending him another bubble of reassurance and love. When they pull back this time, the darkness has faded from his eyes. "Come on," she whispers breathlessly, "let's get out of here."

He nods, his holoform blinking out and finally releasing her. She sways for a moment, sad for the loss of his touch, and then pulls herself together to climb behind the wheel of his alt mode. He tears it out of the parking lot, heading for the highway and starting a winding trail that will help them lose any tails they may have before heading back to rejoin the others.

Guilt starts to trickle down the bond, Sideswipe asking hesitantly, "I…I'm sorry I acted that way. I was out of line. I know you can take care of yourself."

"It's alright," she reassures him, wishing she could curl up on his holoform's lap but Darcy's here. "You didn't force me to sit it out. You realized your mistake and let me fight beside you. Besides, you more than made up for your momentary lapse in sanity."

"Oh, yeah? How's that?"

She rolls her eyes at him. "Sides, if you're not feeling just how totally okay I was with what came after, then you're not paying very much attention to our bond right now. You are definitely allowed to get all protective and mine again."

"So long as I don't treat you like a damsel?" he teases.

"So long as you don't treat me like a damsel."

He chuckles, a different kind of darkness in his voice, one that makes her toes curl pleasantly in her boots. "I'll keep that in mind."


Author's Note

Yay, Bucky's awake! Still not doing great cause healing takes time, even with magic involved, but he's getting there. He won't ever be the same though, which is something I think Steve would really struggle with. Even in the MCU, he expects Bucky to fight at his side without ever asking if he still wants to. T'Challa does it, too, handing him that arm in Infinity Wars when Bucky was perfectly content living a simple life. I know it was the end of the world and all but...you could tell it hurt him a little to get asked to do that again.

But Bucky the ladies man is still in there. ;)

And then Ari struggles to prove herself again, both to others and to herself. Sideswipe can get all protective as much as he wants (and, let's face it, we want him to, too) but Ari can still take care of herself. She's still capable. And she needs to see that for herself after all her failures.

The next chapter will be up on July 6th, and I'll try to actually do it on the day this time. We'll get a bit of action, a bit of fluff, and a bit of soul searching. And a lot of questions.

Hope you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW, and see you all next time!