No Goldstrike in this chapter, and refers to characters from Light meets Dark, which isn't posted yet... but this chapter is still cute, and sets up the NEXT chapter. Follower by Loki until Loki shows up, then Shadow played him. Shadow also played himself, and Loki played HERself. And we don't own Transformers.
Follower twitched in slight fear as he carefully walked through the halls around him. He hated being called to different ships, it was almost as bad as when Goldstrike cornered him… and at that moment he wanted to get the low-grade energon and scrap he needed for his pets and then hide in his quarters until Lifter got off duty… yeah, that sounded really good.
Shadowsinger wasn't very fond of letting all these people wander around. Not that he distrusted the supply corps, not hardly... well, okay, knowing Goldstrike was on his ship right now didn't really make him happy, and he was having to resist the urge to go find her and settle their long ago argument... but that wouldn't achieve much. He was so deep in thought that he almost didn't notice the twitchy mech practically slinking down the halls. Almost. He looked familiar, but Shadowsinger couldn't remember who he was quite off-hand. "Y'lost? Need help?"
Squeaking in surprise, Follower barely looked up, shaking his head. "No, no I'm okay, sir…" He locked optics with the mech who'd spoke and froze. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't recognize you sir, Shadowsinger sir," Follower babbled, panicking slightly for some reason he couldn't put his finger on.
Oh, sweet Primus on a human's pogo stick! It was that terrified mech that he and Havok had guarded against Long Haul! What had his name been... His creator must have hated him, giving him the designation... "Follower?" Noticing the Autobot symbol on the panicking mech, and putting two and two together, Shadowsinger grinned. "Part of Tiyem's crew? And please, I never got used to being called sir, and I can't say I particularly like it. Use my name, or even just 'Shadow' if y'want."
"Yes sir. I mean Shadowsinger. I mean Shadow, sir… sorry," Follower stuttered out. "I was on my way to get stuff for the petrol-rabbits, sorry if I'm in your way, I'll go," he said quickly, already shrinking back and looking for an escape route.
Follower was SO lucky he'd been sent out with Killgazer that orn... and lucky Starscream had been such a fool. "Y'know, just call me whatever makes you comfortable, I'll deal. You're not in my way, I wasn't going... petrol-rabbits? You still have them, they're still alive? Whaddya want for 'em, I could show y'where it is..." With an embarrassed grin, Shadowsinger looked up at the still-frightened mech. "Um... if y'wouldn't mind... y'think I could see 'em?"
"Yessir!" Follower said, speaking rapidly. "I, um, need low-grade energon and soft scrap and, um, yeah they're still alive I, um, take care of them and, um, Lifter, Lifter helps sometimes." He was still babbling and he knew it but couldn't stop, shrinking back and waiting for a blow or a snap of annoyance as most mechs gave when fed up with him. True, he'd missed Shadowsinger, Shadow had been so nice but… he was still scared and unsure of the small mech, afraid of what he could do when provoked.
"Low-grade and soft scrap, right-o. Thissaway," Shadowsinger motioned, heading for the rec room. "Lifter's with ya too? Good t'know. How y'been?" He sighed suddenly as Follower flinched. "Goldstrike's in your crew, isn't she? Has she been causing you problems?"
"She's evil…" Follower muttered, following Shadowsinger carefully as he led the way. His lip trembled when the memory of the bronze femme humiliating him and… he didn't want to think about what else she did… The small mech looked down, "I'm… okay, how are you?"
"She is... she's actually the reason I suggested y'didn't mention my name..." Shadowsinger shrugged a little, willing enough to change the topic. He couldn't help everyone, and Follower would be gone long before Shadowsinger's words would even start to help. "Glad you're doin' okay. I'm, eh... well enough. CSO for what might be the most 'eccentric' crew ever... Holdin' up well enough." Reaching the recreation room, Shadowsinger gave a wave to Wei and directed Follower to the lowest grade of energon they had.
"Oh… well… thank you…" Quickly, Follower got what he needed, not wanting to waste Shadowsinger's time. He was happy to be near some one but was also still worried- no terrified to make the light colored mech angry, especially after seeing him in battle.
Still afraid... was that just Follower's... well, yes, most likely, and being around Goldstrike wouldn't have helped that... And this mech had twice seen him beserking at nearly the worst point in his life. "I'm not gonna hurt ya, Follower. Y'know... I think you're one of the only mechs who actually does fear me... I don't quite know how t'deal with it... Anyway, y'need help carrying anything? I'd still like t'see the rabbits, if I may, it's been..."
"You… you're not? But…" Returning to fidgeting silence the mech frowned before speaking, shaking his head. "I have it, and of course sir- I mean Shadowsin- I mean Shadow." The small mech looked away in embarrassment and surprise, why weren't more afraid of Shadowsinger? Had they not seen him fight...?
"That... was a bad time for me. The Cube had just gotten sent away, my lover was in danger and being hurt... Maybe I've just been on the Hyrde so long I forgot how normal crews viewed me," Shadowsinger answered the obvious question, even though it hadn't been asked. "And you'll have t'lead now, I dunno where they are."
"Yessir." Well that explained things so clearly… "Is… is he okay?" Follower asked hesitantly, coming up to the door of the temporary quarters they'd been given. "I'm sorry if its personal, I'll be quiet now Si-Shadow," He added quickly, returning to silence.
"I haven't seen him for a very long time," Shadowsinger answered, shaking his head a little. "It's okay, I don't object to you asking questions, long as y'don't mind if I don't answer. Y'know, if y'didn't act so afraid, bullies wouldn't pick on ya so." The pale mech shrugged and changed the subject. "Lifter helps ya with your pets? Does that mean he and you...?" he smirked, trying to get Follower to relax a little. He'd leave if this didn't work, even if he barely got to see the petro-rabbits. Hum, what would Wei say about them... Probably agree with Follower that they were cute. Well... they WERE.
Follower looked away quickly and nodded, biting his lower lip. "We… yes…" The rest of his words were a stuttered mess of unintelligible mumblings about high-grade… Leading the way to his set of petrol-rabbit cages, the small mech opened the first one and picked up the rabbit inside. "Here's Shadow… he's the nice one…"
"Well, congratulations," Shadowsinger replied, taking the offered critter. "So, you're my namesake? Hello there," he muttered to the bunny. The petro-rabbit twitched its nose in reply, and the mech laughed. "Looks like y'been keepin' good care of 'em."
"Thank you," said Follower quietly, he took the other out of its cage and started petting it. "Goldstrike tried to steal them… said I needed to give them to some one who could handle it… but I wouldn't let her…" The small mech looked almost ready to cry at the thought of his little pets gone, petting 'Vok absently.
"Slagging glitch," Shadowsinger snarled, feeling immediately guilty when Follower jumped. Instead of apologizing to the mech, though, he spoke to the rabbit, "Like anyone but Follower could take such lovely care of you! Isn't that just the silliest thing you've heard, oh namesake mine?" Bunny-Shadowsinger only wiggled his nose again, but the mech looked up at Follower happily. "Good for you."
Follower smiled slightly, "Thank you. I… I just couldn't let… let that monster hurt them…" He trailed off with a frown, remembering the argument and the use of force when Goldstrike wouldn't stop trying to take his precious petrol-rabbits…. Biting her and running had been one of the bravest things he'd ever done… well, minus the running part.
Figured, he'd fight for the rabbits but not himself. "No... these might be some of the last petro-rabbits in existence, figures she'd try to hurt them for her own petty..." With a hard cycle of vents, Shadowsinger forced away his anger at the absent femme. "Sorry, y'don't need me ranting. I just... yeah, really don't like her. I was actually wandering around trying to avoid her..."
Nodding in understanding Follower shivered, loosening up slightly. "It's okay, Lifter does it all the time, he hates her…" he said, finally relaxing around Shadowsinger more. The mech was so calm when not in the thick of battle and distress…
"He's likely got a lot more reason to than I do..." Shadowsinger muttered, petting the rabbit he still held. "All the more reason y'don't need me ranting. How about you, you wanna do any ranting?" He grinned, noticing that Follower was, finally, seeming to relax.
"No… I mean I don't think so…" Shifting the small mech held his own rabbit close, petting it carefully. He was a little surprised that Shadowsinger cared for his pets but refused to let it show, instead he smiled and grabbed the feeding dish of his pets, filling it carefully.
The petro-rabbit gave an interesting little wuff of air as it smelt the food, and Shadowsinger chuckled at it. "Nothin'? Well, if y'find ya do, rant away, I won't stop ya." The rabbit started given almost silent little squeaks, and the mech chuckled, trying to figure out what, exactly, he was supposed to do with the thing.
Setting the petro-rabbit in his hands down in its cage, Follower smiled as it started eating, holding out his hands to take the other from Shadowsinger. "Yessir," he said, adding the soft-metal treats to another dish and setting it inside. He was unsure of what to say, or even if he should speak and it was much too obvious for his tastes…
Handing the rabbit to the larger mech, Shadowsinger went to watch Havok's namesake drink some of the energon. Follower didn't know what to say to him, that was fine, he understood. Follower never knew him that well, was still afraid of him. "They really are cute... You do a wonderful job with them, thanks for letting me see 'em."
"I'm-I'm glad you like them! And no… thank you for letting me keep them, before…" Trailing off Follower stowed the small portion of left over supplies away while Shadowsinger watched his pets eat. Coming to stand next the cages again he started petting 'Vok, who'd finished eating and was cleaning his paws and ears. "They are cute… I wish I could see some of earth's animals though, Lifter says that it's amazing how some of them are made…"
"Aye tha's true, 'specially th' cool ones." Head popping into the room Loki grinned, "Sorry fo' interuptin' ya' guys an' fo' listenin', A' jus' din' wanna interrupt… Shadow, A' been lookin' fo' ya' an' Wei tol' meh ya' was with a newcomer." Looking at the small mech Loki knelt slightly. "'Lo, A'm Loki, wha's ya' name?"
Much to Shadowsinger's amusement, Follower chose to hide behind him. He was mildly annoyed that Follower was back to hiding, but considering how HE had felt about Loki at first... he hardly blamed the cowardly mech. "Hi, Loki. The mech behind me is Follower, I knew him before I joined. The petro-rabbits are Shadowsinger and Havok, and they've moved so I'm not sure which is which any more."
Follower was glad he was small... it meant he could effectively hide from the biggest, scariest femme he had EVER seen. Even Goldstrike didn't look as scary! Shadowsinger didn't seem afraid though... but he already knew Shadowsinger was brave.
"Awwww, cute!!" Cooing and giggling, Loki instantly crouched next to the cages, only to wince when she noticed how scared the small mech was. "A'm sorry… A'll leave ya' 'lone if ya' want…" Pulling back the dinobot looked down, hating when she scared people. "Ah jus' wanted ta' talk ta' Shadow, if ya' want A'll leave, its ya' quarters an' Ah shouldn't of barged in."
"N-no, sir... ah, Loki? Shadow... um, sirs? You don't, um, I mean..." Scary femme thought... the rabbits were cute...? "You really... um, think they're cute..." Well, Shadowsinger didn't seem to mind him using him as a shield... come to think of it, the smaller mech was probably used to it... "Oh! But if you need to talk, I-I don't mean to keep you, I mean, I've taken up enough of your time, I'm sure," he was babbling again.
"Oi' lil' guy, relax…" Giving Shadowsinger a look of curiosity, Loki leaned back down, "O' course A' think they're cute, who wouldn'?" She asked, "An' A' doubt tha' ya' taken up too much time…" Why was this guy so… terrified? Sure Loki was used to fear, but not terror… and after hurting a fellow Autobot… she felt her spark sink at the memory.
"Uh... most, I mean, a lot of people... well, they just... they say they're pests, and... and should..." Follower was shaking, and surprised when Shadowsinger rubbed a comforting hand against his arm.
Shadowsinger looked up at Loki sorrowfully. He knew she didn't like scaring people, and she already seemed to be troubled by something... "Follower's part of Tiyem's crew. Remember that femme I told y'bout, Goldstrike, the one I attacked that once? She's part of the crew too, been giving Follower some... ah, troubles about his pets. And he doesn't seem to quite believe that I'm happy to stay here and avoid... Loki? What's wrong?" The 2iC couldn't keep anything hidden, and he'd noticed the guilt that washed over her face when he mentioned the bronze femme.
"Well uh… A', uh… kinda… beat th' slag outa Goldstrike." Looking away quickly, the dinobot frowned, afraid that the admission would make Follower even more scared of her… maybe she could go hide out in her office, no one would think to look there…
Follower... wasn't quite sure what to make of that. For a moment, his confused processor thought this unknown femme had beaten the slag out of Goldstrike because of his petro-rabbits, but no, that didn't make any sense... She hadn't even known about the rabbits! He settled for looking up at Loki in wonderment while staying safe behind Shadowsinger.
"Good," Shadowsinger said deliberately. "But... ah, why? ...do I actually have to do work now?"
"She said some stuff 'bout ya' an' A' snapped… an'… don' go near Wish fo' awhile…" Loki said, studying the floor as if it was actually interesting. "Naw… A' 'pologized an' stuff but… ya' know meh…"
"Right..." Shadowsinger really doubted that had been the whole of it, but ah well. "Avoid Wish, right. And you ARE going to talk to me once the crew's gone. ...I want to hear this..." his voice went from stern to gleeful.
Follower whimpered a little and moved over to pet his rabbits. Goldstrike was going to be mad now, she always was the few times someone fought back. He just hoped she didn't come after his pets again... But he'd protect them, even Shadowsinger agreed he was taking good care of them, and that they were precious!
"Aye… but she won' be causin' trouble fo' 'while… A' kinda… yeah…" Fidgeting Loki studied Follower's petro-rabbits again, taking comfort in the fact that the weren't scared of her at least. "Ya' owner takes good care o' ya' don' he? Ah bet so… ya' two ah so cute 'n cuddly…"
"S-shadow just said, I mean, the real one, not the rabbit, of course, rabbits don't talk, he just... said the same... Um... they're still eating or I'd... um... let you hold... one..." As he spoke, Follower realized how silly that sounded. Oh, he was sure that the femme could hold one... but he was afraid the poor bunny would bolt and get lost! No, no, no, couldn't have that!
"Tha's okay, A' don' need ta' hold 'em…" Loki said, maybe it was a bad idea to try and find her friend… maybe she should've just hid in her office and done the stupid fragging paperwork that'd been piling up instead… and amazingly, that sounded like a good idea…
"Oh, ah, okay..." Follower looked lost, and Shadowsinger noticed.
Smiling, as always, the small mech looked up at the other. "Thanks for letting me see them, Follower. I enjoyed meeting you again. Tell Lifter I said hello, okay?"
"I will!" Follower agreed eagerly. "He'll, ah, I think he'll like to hear that... And what you said about Shadow and Havok... um..." He realized how weird that sounded, and flinched a little.
"Aw ya' named 'em that? That's so cute!..." Depression momentarily forgotten Loki smiled, "A'll be sure ta' tease ya' 'bout this Shadow!" she said happily, allowing Shadowsinger to lead her out of the room but not without yelling back to Follower. "See ya'! A'll be sure ta' visit an' see the rabbits some time!"
To his own surprise, Follower found himself nodding, eagerly accepting the scary femme's promise. "Ah, sure, I'll... um, look forward to it! It was, ah, nice seeing you again, Shadow, and meeting... ah, Loki?" He waved as the two left before going back and watching his pets eat with a smile. For once, he didn't feel like he was hiding in his room as he waited for Lifter to return.
:D Please review!