Prime Blood: Ironbands Chapter 2

Vacation. That's what the humans call it. A chance to take a break from battle, research, work… whatever. They jokingly call it "recharging their batteries." Truth can be stranger than fiction sometimes.

Human Ironhide quietly climbs the ladder and keys in Kicker's access code. The door unlocks and he pulls it open. He has Chromia pass him holding it open for her. Then he follows her in and takes a moment to examine her human female form. This male human side of him finds her just as desirable as his 'Bot side. The male warrior physically shutters. The femme warrior turned female human wraps her arms around her firm, toned slightly lighter colored naked body. He secures the hatch as quietly as he can then he leads the way down the corridor. This area contains the human lodgings. They follow another corridor off to the left.

She can't help it, she reaches out for his hand. She quietly needs comfort at this moment seeing how their link is silent. He gives her hand a squeeze and a gentle tug as they scurry down a third corridor. He turns back and she raises and eyebrow at him. He knows that look: do you know what you are doing?

He scowls and nods his head clearly telling her, I'm commander here, don't question my directions! They come to the next right and he leads her into the supply closet silently closing the door behind them.

"I'm so cold. These human bodies don't handle the temperatures very well," she tries not to complain.

"I know. That's why I brought us here. I'm cold too," he says looking through the clothes.

"You don't act like you do. But you never complain about your own comfort much."

Rumbling through the closet he replies, "What good would it do? Do I look prissy like Sunstreaker? There is still work to be done." he flatly states. Then he finds what he is looking for. He hands her a set of military female clothes and underwear. He grabs the male ones and begins pulling them on. She struggles a little more but finally gets them on. He is helping her turn the t-shirt around when the door is yanked open. Hastily, Ironhide shoves sunglasses on her and himself. She furrows her brow but his scowl silences her.

The entering sergeant is shocked to find two military personnel stripping each other while there is turmoil up above. He face flushes with anger very quickly, "How dare you! We have two Autobots MIA, massive repairs to be done and you two are fornicating in the supply closet?"

Ironhide does not like this man's tone with him. No one speaks to Ocean City Commander this way. He takes a deep breath and pulls his shoulders up to fire back at him. Chromia steps in front of Ironhide quickly. "It was my fault, sir. I crumbled under the pressure. It won't happen again." Such an unlike-Chromia response. Ironhide shoots her a confused look. She warns him to shut up right back.

The sergeant is not sympathetic but doesn't have time for this, "I suggest you report to your duty stations right away."

"Yes sir," Chromia manages to breath out. She exits the closet with Ironhide on her tail. He gives the sergeant a hard stare with his shielded glowing blue eyes.

Then the sergeant fires off warily, "What are your names and whose command are you under?" They stop in their tracks. This is the moment. Ironhide looks to Chromia for an answer.

"PVC Chr… Chris and PVSC Irons, sir." Chromia manages to choke out.

"Who do you report to?" the sergeant tries again.

"We are attached to Chromia's team. We got separated during the blast."

"I suggest you report to Optimus right away. She and Ironhide are MIA."

"Yes sir," is all she can come up with to answer. Chromia heads off with Ironhide down the corridor past several other military personal. But this time, he reaches for her hand. They are silent as they pass the mess that has been made of Ratchet's lab. When they finally make it to the top deck, the chaos has started to quell. The two bots-turned-human manage to find a place within ear shot of the Autobot command team. Chromia and Ironhide begin picking up the scraps and stacking them to the side while listening in.

Optimus puts a fist on his hips and turns his face to Ratchet, "What happened?"

"There was an error and a miss fire," Ratchet begins.

Optimus leans in with his full command voice, "Cut the scrap, Ratchet! Full disclosure right now." With a finger thrusted at Ratchet's peds. Even Ironhide can feel the wave of fear and hurt in the air from the lead commander.

"Not here, Optimus." Ratchet lowers his voice in warning to worse news.

"Tell that to Ironhide and Chromia!" Optimus barks back, snaps around on one ped and walks away in a huff. He is so angry with Ratchet that he better step aside or knock Ratchet's head off. Ratchet and Ironhide know that Optimus' spark is breaking. Loosing a friend in battle is one thing. Loosing a friend due to a station incompetence, unacceptable. And this station is his command, Ironhide drops his head in shame. He put another pain in Optimus' spark.

Chromia turns to Ironhide. She can see the pain on his face. His friends are in a fight over him. He can't let them grieve. She puts a hand on his arm, "If you want to tell them now, I will go with you."

He turns to her. He reads her face to see if there is hesitation. "Are you sure?" he finally asks her. "We loose our chance at a vacation."

Chromia points to Optimus and then trails her finger back to Ratchet, "Looks like their darkest hour, doesn't it?"

Ironhide looks to Ratchet softly wheezing in spark-ache carefully examining the pieces of scrap hoping to find a sign of them. He looks to Optimus standing off to the side with his arm akimbo neck stretched way back making those silent pleas he does to Primus. Probably for them.

Chromia's hand slips into his big paw squeezing tightly, "I only ask that I be allowed to stay by your side," she gives him a tender order. "Don't let them exclude me."

He squeezes back and looks up at his friend Ratchet. Ratchet is scanning the ocean looking for his friends now. Ironhide turns and watches Optimus walking back inside the command structure with his head hung low. He knows that feeling. He's been there enough times looking for Optimus. He can't put his friends through this a moment longer. "Ratchet! Optimus!" he bellows as loud as he can. The two commanders turn and face each other. "Down here!" Ratchet and Optimus come towards the voice. They kneel down. Ironhide holds Chromia's hand tightly. "It's me. Ironhide. I'm alive." The two Autobots just stare at these two black humans in military fatigues. Then each other to see if they heard correctly. Chromia follows Ironhide's lead removing the sunglasses. Optimus and Ratchet stare back to the humans with glowing blue eyes.

Ratchet is thoroughly confused. "What did you say?"

"Cut the scrap, Ratchet. You heard me. I'm Ironhide." Ratchet just shakes his head. "Do you remember what I said to you when you clothes lined yourself on the power lines? You said it tingles and I should try it? I told you, 'Yeah, looks like fun'. It was only you and I at that moment." Ratchet just continues to stare stunned. Ironhide hears a noise and turns to face Optimus. Optimus is stroking his chin chuckling ever so lightly. Then he turns to a full laugh. It's contagious. Ironhide joins him and Chromia's fear drops to see the friends laughing together.

Then Optimus waggles a finger at Ironhide, "Pay backs, my friend. Pay backs."

"Could we please not let the whole base know?" Ironhide asks still amused feigning indigence to the situation.

Optimus turns to his chief medical officer, "Ah, what you think, Doctor? Is it contagious?" He can't help but laugh heartily.

Ratchet puts a palm to his forehelm, "Holy All Spark. Okay, things have gone from bad, to horrible to flat out weird. Yeah, we should keep this on the need to know. Nothing has gone the way it was supposed to today."

Ironhide raises his hands, "That's just great! In that case, you are NOT touching me today. Not one of your crazy medical devices is coming near me. And that subordinate of yours who started his whole mess, human or not, if he comes near me I will tear him apart bolt by bolt or limb by limb. What ever he has."

"It was a human, by the way." Ratchet retorts.

"Perfect," Ironhide growls in a very Autobot tone.

"But I need medical information now. I have to find out what is happening to you. I need all the information possible to figure out what is going on. No secrets this time! I'm not going through that again. My spark still hasn't recovered from last time," he narrows his gaze at Optimus. The mech friends all nod still reeling from the loss of Primo and Rosa. Chromia figures it's from the hijacked ship, not understanding the encrypted statement from Ratchet.

"But I'm not going to be tied down to a hospital berth, either. There is plenty of work that needs to be done and I can still function. I will not be quarantined. Got it?"

"Fine! But no intimacy." Ratchet narrows his eyes between Optimus and Ironhide. Ironhide drops his gaze from Chromia to the floor.

Ratchet rolls his eyes, "It's been less than an hour! Don't tell me you've already…. What is it with you humans?"

Optimus lowers his voice and that tilt to his head, "Human emotions are very powerful, you know that." Ratchet shakes his head in disbelief.

Chromia puts her hands on her curvy hips and gives the mechs a pose that leaves no doubt to her physical appeal, "Ironhide couldn't resist me as a 'Bot. What makes you think being human would be any different?" The mechs all drop their jaws at her brazenness. They are stunned to silence. She leans into Ratchet, "Let me make this clear, you aren't keeping me from my mate, Doctor! I have needs too. I will not say no, to this!" The back of her hand swacks Ironhide in his large powerful chest where as a bot his cord was hidden away within his underarmor. Chromia has made it clear who is in command of the relationship. She turns her back on mech & male commanders and with a strut that leaves no doubt she is a female-femme (Autobot or human) heading back inside. Several other human males turn their heads to get a good look at this stunning new female specimen.

"I'm gonna kill anyone who comes near her," Ironhide growls. Optimus laughs until Ironhide glares at him. Optimus quickly puts a hand over his mouth and turns away. But he is clearly amused at the way these human emotions have turned his weapons commander into a … a… jealous husband. He signs heavily at his own emotional memories of Poco, running his thumb against the underside of his finger.

Optimus turns to Ratchet, "Prepare the lab." Ratchet takes the hint to leave them alone. He nods and does as he is ordered. Optimus turns back to Ironhide, "Come." He puts a hand down, Ironhide steps into the palm. Optimus lifts him up. "Show me your shoulder." Ironhide is very curious but lifts up the sleeve on his right arm, nothing. Then he lifts the left. Nothing. Optimus frowns. "This is different."

"Is my shell down below?" Ironhide can see what he is thinking.

"We still have the subs down there looking. We haven't found any signs of Energon emissions. But seeing how your spark isn't there, I don't know what we are looking for. How do you feel?"

Ironhide knows he is talking to his friend not his commander right now, "Over whelmed." Optimus nods. "This body is kind of exciting. But I am so unprotected. These humans are so delicate."

"Do you want body armor like Kicker?" Optimus knows Ironhide's need for plating. Ironhide turns back to the building. He sees Chromia standing at the glassed in stair well. She is watching the conversation. Optimus turns to follow Ironhide's attention. Optimus gently answers, "It won't protect your spark." Optimus wasn't speaking of his physical spark either.

"My spark has already been bared and bonded, you know that." Ironhide breathes.

"Yes, keep it that way." Optimus always supported the relationship and is reminding his best friend not to loose this.

Chromia smiles down at the two friends having a quiet conversation. Ironhide takes a shaky breath and drops the tone to the distance past, "Orion, what if…."

"Don't go there, Dion," he speaks from experience. "Take solace in the present." The silence falls and Optimus lowers Ironhide to the ground. They head inside.

Ratchet and Wheeljack are waiting for Chromia and Ironhide in the lab. He does not use their names. He labels the files in his own shorthand code. He runs so many tests that Ironhide is getting frustrated. Chromia is strong, but her resolve is beginning to fail, too. Ratchet hands out glasses similar to Primo's that will hide the blue glow.

~~~ The sergeant that Ironhide and Chromia had encountered came to Optimus in the control room. Prime has taken control of the city for the temporary time being and presently was over seeing the problem with the guns and how in the world it had fired off turning the virus into a weapon.

"Optimus, I must speak with you now," the sergeant tells him.

"I'm a little busy, sergeant," Optimus is annoyed.

"We have a security breach," he tells Optimus quietly.

Optimus turns to him. Just then Ratchet comes in with Ironhide and Chromia.

"Prime, I have what I need. I will get started right away if you want to continue here." Ratchet informs his commander.

"Those are the two I'm talking about," the human commander informs Optimus. Optimus returns his attention to the human sergeant. "They said they were PFC Chris and PSC Irons. I checked the roster. We don't have those names or their photos on record."

Optimus strokes his chin, once again in amusement. He looks between his two human-Autobot soldiers and wonders who came up with those names.

"Commander Prime, what are we going to do?" the sergeant tries to claim his attention once again. Optimus sees the seething anger on Ironhide's face when he recognizes the sergeant. Ironhide would like to tear the sergeant to pieces. Optimus would sure like to know why.

Optimus turns back to the sergeant, "Ah, actually, they are here on special request and not on the rooster on purpose." He doesn't elaborate.

"Sir? Who's request?" the sergeant pushes the issue.

"Mine. They aren't privates. They are officers. Please treat them as such." Optimus manages to portray the farce.

"What duty assignment?"

"Weapons specialty. They will be helping me here with the malfunction."

"How can you be sure they didn't cause the malfunction as saboteurs?" he tows the argument.

Optimus narrows his gaze at the sergeant, "They are personal friends of mine." The sergeant gulps back his argument. Not a good idea to ever question Optimus Prime when it comes to personal friends.

"Yes sir." He turns and starts to walk away but then adds carefully, "We should ad them to the roster so there are no more future issues." Optimus gives one curt nod.

"I will personally see to it." Optimus keeps his firm commanding stance. The sergeant retreats to update the rooster.

Then Optimus gives Ironhide a wiry smile. Ironhide shrugs. Chromia puts a hand to her stomach, "I don't feel so good. I feel strange and it feels like there is an animal in my gut."

Optimus laughs. "Take her to the cafeteria, ah… Commander Irons." Ironhide shakes his head and jesters an arm towards the human door. Ironhide and Prime need to have a long, long talk later. Chromia proceeds him through the door.

~~~ Finding their way to the cafeteria silently took a bit of time. Finally, Ironhide and Chromia pick up a tray and then walk down the line following some other humans. Ironhide hadn't really paid attention to what the humans had chosen to eat in the past but, now he sees there are a lot of choices. He goes with what his nose finds appealing.

By the time they find a table, he has a pile of green beans, grilled chicken, potato salad and a large glass of milk. She has chosen noodles, with those strangle little pink sea creatures (shrimp) and some kind of white goop on it. But she finds it appetizing. As does he find his meal. They eat in silence across from each other with secret smiles. They are also studying each other. It's not like they didn't know each other. Just not like this. There are others who are curious about the new recruits to the base. Even the sergeant. Chromia tries not to notice the others. She can see that Ironhide is on full alert constantly scanning, with his other senses since he can like he used to.

She has always tried to support him and be his place of rest. Maybe now he can relax. She reaches a foot out and grazes it across his ankle. His head snaps back to her unnerved. The expression on her face says it all, Look at me. He sighs in pent up tension and finishes his meal. Chromia doesn't move her ankle keeping it pressed against his. Like she would if they were standing side by side at the command deck not wanting anyone to see them touching on purpose.

As they finish their meal, they stand to clear their table. Ironhide takes a stern gaze at the sergeant who is watching them closely from a couple tables over. Chromia puts a hand on his Ironhide's arm and he sees the tattooed band on her human finger for the first time, "Please don't. I need to rest." He looks down to his own hand with a slightly different but similar mark. Then he looks up to her fearfully pained expression, "I won't be able to rest if you are in the brig and I am in a room to myself." He looks deeply at her. "You promised me," her hands grips his shirt and bites her lower lip trying to keep her guard up, but she rarely could alone with him. This is the one he loves. His mate. All he does is nod. He had made her a promise to always be there for her. They walk away and deposit their trays in the wash bin. He leads the way out of the room slipping his hand into hers.

In the hall, when no one is within ear shot, she asks, "Where are we going now?"

"Follow me," he says quietly. She does.

Normally this floor is inaccessible to most humans. Most certainly, this corridor. It took a whole lot longer by human feet than by Cybertronian peds, but finally, by emergency coded stairways, the couple is now on the private corridor of Prime, City Medical Officer, and Base City Commander quarters.

"Scrap!" he swears as they round the corner. She can't help but smile at his disgust. The entrance to his quarters were sealed by Prime's orders. Sentries are posted as well.

"I'm not returning to Ratchet's lab," she makes it clear. "I can't handle being probed any more."

"Yeah, and I'm sure he did it that way so we would have to," Ironhide growls.

She gives him one of her I got an idea looks. He shares her smirk. "I listen carefully to the human's whispers. You never know when someone is a saboteur."

He laughs bitterly at the irony and she joins him. Then she takes his hand and leads him away. They make their way to the west tower supply closet. They check the hall ways carefully, then slip in. She hands him blankets and pillows.

"What are we going to do with these?" he asks. She puts a hand on her hips and give him that don't be stupid look. He scowls back at her. Ignoring his response, grabs a lantern and an inflatable mattress. "Now what?" he questions her.

She shakes her head, "You are hopeless as a human."

"Hey!" he retorts. Then he blocks her path, "I didn't ask for this!"

"Neither did I!" she bites her lip in fear. He is instantly sorry he barked at her. She tries to give him a confident smile seeing the guilt on his face, "But I will make the best of the situation." He nods in agreement stepping aside for her to lead the way.

Darkness has come to the base now. She pushes the hatch open to the ladder of a roof top access point. Normally only maintenance crews come up here. They stop for a moment and gaze at the stars. She smiles to him in broad triumph finally getting her windows. He nods his approval of a quiet place, closing the hatch. She has taken him to the roof of the west cafeteria, outside among the stars. Vast openness. She spreads her arms wide breathing in the salty tang of the air and space.

He beams back at her glee and delight. "Got your windows now?"

She smirks back, "You aren't going to rust." He huffs in mock disgust.

They take a look around and then find a quiet spot away from the compressors for the refrigeration units and not easily spotted from the access point either. He sets the bundles down. She works on getting the mattress inflated. Neither wants to set up the lantern, no point in giving away their location yet. Besides, there's enough stars to light their path.

Chromia points to something, "Ironhide, can you move that bucket or rock or something out of the way." She gestures to a dark thing in the way. He goes over to it and picks it up. He freezes just staring at it. When he doesn't move out of her way, she's about to order him to move, but she notices something is wrong with him and comes to his side. He is slowly tracing the insignia on the box. It's almost like he is in a trance. She's afraid for him.

"Ironhide, what is it?" she says concerned. Something that can freeze tough Ironhide must be something either very dangerous or very deep. He doesn't lift his head. Just keeps tracing the insignia on the black box with a rose colored ribbon on it. When he does finally speak, his voice cracks, "Orion knows we are here."

"Who is Orion and what does this mean?" she ask softly seeing her loved one turning very soft and closing her off again.

He lifts his head to her with a tear in his eye, "You know very well, Chromia. The only one who has known me better than you." She now turns soft slipping her arms around his waist. He slips an arm around her shoulder and holds her just as close. Chromia had been imprisoned during Poco's time in Optimus' life. He never told her about Poco, it was just to painful even to him. She puts a hand on his on the box.

"What is this message?" she can barely speak.

He smiles, "It says, Poco's Energon."

She is very confused, "I don't understand."

He strokes her face tenderly. He remembers the soft look on his friend's face every time Poco's name was mentioned. And that kiss he gave Poco in his human form. Optimus hadn't seemed that passionate about anything since… Elita. Poco had reached a piece of Optimus that even this friend couldn't. And every time her name was mentioned, there was that look. Even before the attack that introduced the virus changing Prime physically.

Ironhide continues to stroke Chromia's face. He just can't bare the thought of going through his friend's pain. He never should have let Chromia be left behind. Soldier or not. He should have argued with Prime about splitting the mates. He should have stolen Chromia away… His spark has been aching for her. He fought every battle for her. In revenge for what he thought was her death. Only to find she had been captured and tortured. And all the time that had been torn away from them.

But now she is in his arms. Right now. He doesn't have to hide his emotions. There is no one to call on him. Tonight, unfortunately, someone else will have to keep Optimus in check, he smirks internally. A tough job. He should follow his friend's orders: solace in the present.

Ironhide lifts the glasses from their faces and set them on the wall. "I love you," he manages to breathe pressing his forehead to her looking directly into the optics he knows so well.. His other arm comes around to hold her even tighter against his solid chest. "I should have bonded with you sooner."

She reaches her other hand up to cup the back of his head, "I was always yours."

"Let me show you now you always will be," he leans over. He kisses her tenderly but possessively. Her palms hold him against her lips, she responds greedily to his kisses.

Then, too soon he has to lift for air. His human lungs are weak with passionate emotions. "Help me," he tenderly orders nearly shaking.

They get the mattress set up with the blankets and pillows and lay back. He carefully opens the box and breaks off a piece of the fudge. Tenderly he lays a piece in her hand then cuddles her close looking up to the stars. They seem so far away tonight. A beauty he had almost forgotten. Remembering the time Chromia just wanted to lie in his arms in the past ton the roof of their Iacon bunker.

"What is this, again?" she asks him warily looking at the candy.

He smiles and takes a bite himself. "Love." She shoots him a curious look. Laughing lightly, he finally tells her a little about Poco. Ironhide reveals that Optimus was in love with a human who gave him fudge, AKA Poco's Energon. But he did not tell her about Optimus becoming human. Or the children. He didn't want to upset her or scare himself. To push aside Ratchet's orders about interfacing, he just watches her enjoy the fudge instead.

"Should we be expecting Optimus to show up?" she asks amused.

He lays back and rest his arms behind his head, "Oh, I certainly hope not." Chromia is surprised to hear him say that about his dear friend.

"You don't want his advise about humans?" she asks.

He props himself up on one elbow and looks down on her, "No. I want to experience humanness on my own. No let me rephrase that," he leans even closer, "With you. Alone."

She swallows the last small bite of fudge just before his lips meet hers again, letting her hands slip around his waist. She catches them under his shirt like trying to dig between the armor and underarmor. He arches his back and she understands instantly, pulling his shirt off like she would remove his armor in similar moods. He watches her hands as they explore this human chest of his. Her touches are so light making him lean into her hands, just as she would explore his underarmor those first few times alone. She presses her finger nails into his skin. He inhales sharply with a smile.

The night is left to exploration under the stars. They spend hours experiencing taste, texture, sensations and the sounds of ecstasy in their new bodies. Only once, they thought they heard a noise below on the cafeteria patio, which caused their voices to stay soft and low for the rest of the experience. Almost giggling.

Since they already knew the "mechanics of human copulation" and the hotspots of their Cybertronian mate, this experience only heightened their interaction. The chest mounds with deep dark now pointed tips were much more sensitive than her rounded proto-form port guardians. It made her squeal in a new pitch when he touched them with his human teeth.

For him, when she reached down by his cord, both were quite curious about the rounded bobbles underneath. And she gripped until he began to squeak in pain. Last time she heard a sound like that from him was when she accidentally struck her knee into his un-armored pelvic tank area in a frisky-'facing. Removing her claws, she hit that same hotspot in the leg crevice and he shuttered like normal.

And then, he found her port. "What's it doing there?" He was very curious.

But she was panting at his light exploration of the opening, "I don't frag'n care! Just, AH!, oh… nuuuuuhhh….. Give me more."

He removed his finger and positioned his human-cord to the opening of her port. Suddenly he stopped, "Chromia… what if it's just like… last time?"

Chromia lifts her head, dazed in desire for her mate. His face is wary of hurting her, again. Instead her fingers grip tighter into his hips, "I survived last time to my joy. I will again." With that, drew his hips to complete the connection in blissful delight. The feel of his flesh filling her wanton hot one made her cry out his name in their home tongue. And he knows her so well, just held there while her body spasmodicly squeezed tightly around his own. Her fingers tightened likewise and she knew these nails were drawing blood, when his lips curled in a snarl of pain but yet delight. Ironhide knew better than to move while Chromia was overloading. It would be safer for a Con to try interrupting them. She cried out again grinding her hips tighter and harder. Bone against bone now and he roared unable to stop himself from moving and thrusting in a brand new way than he ever had before. Her eyes rolled back, chest lifted from the mat exposing her neck that needed to be bitten. Soon it was, while continuing to join their bodies in a new delightful friction.

This time his roar was deeper and more primal, throwing his head back and emitting a sound which called to Chromia's own heart felt cry to join him. She did. And their bodies reacted in combined overload.

Panting these human bodies finally had to collapse in a exhaustion from release of passion. Ironhide was with it enough to collapse to her side, drawing her against his chest as they rolled. They curled their arms tightly around each other staying joined at the hips the way she likes. He tucks her lays across him, legs draped on either side of his hips with her head upon his very broad chest just like he likes her. Feminine warrior hands are tucked beneath his thick neck, slipping the rest of her body towards unconsciousness. She is a little afraid, "What is happening to me? I'm afraid, My Spark."

He holds her head to his chest with his big paw, thumbs comforting against the nape of her neck, "I've got you, my love. I won't let go of you. Just like the water, I won't let you fall."

"What happened to us?" She yawns finally talking about the accident in a way they didn't tell Ratchet. "When did you notice the change?"

His thumb strokes it's soothing strums against her relaxing neck muscles trying to easy his own sorrow in not protecting her, "I'm so sorry. It happened so fast. I couldn't turn us and you took the blast like my shield. You went limp, I managed to hold you to me as we hit the water. It took everything I had to hold you to me. The waves wanted to rip you from my arms… again. I wouldn't let them."

"Never again," she whispers and she's asleep. He isn't far behind her.

Next chapter coming as soon as it gets a touch up and spell check.