Prime Blood Ironbands Chapter 4
authors note: . Warning, Chromia will see his under-armor and Ironhide will feel her racing spark.
Prime Blood Interfacing 101: for those of you who haven't read Infernal Fire or Prime's Bloodline, quick anatomy lesson:
*Heavy armor aka kibble, under that: I have made the under-armor a Kevlar like skin/lining. Occasionally some wires, or circuits will be exposed, but for the most part, no. Beneath the underarmor/skin would be the "bones and guts" wires, struts, tube lines…ect.
*Femme have chest "bumps" on their chest. Sensitive and act almost like "guards for the port."
*Center of upper chest cavity: spark inside a spark chamber casing under the underarmor. The spark emerges from a slit/fold of underarmor in bonding.
* Tank, you could think of it like testicules, in the pelvic region which produces the transmech fluid containing the code. During sexual interfacing a pump pushes some of it up to the cord.
*The cord is located in another slit just below the spark slit. A fiber optic like cord will glow and harden during arousal. The femme port is located in the same region. Yes that limits positions, but eh. It certainly heightens if both sparks and cord/ports merge at the same times, and not they don't always.
If I missed something, let me know. _
{flashback} Laying back in his bunk, face down, chin resting on his folded arms, he slowly slides one thigh up so now the flat of his ped nearly pressed into the opposite knee. (standing it would like ballet move) A moan of eased comfort escaped him relaxing the pain in a bent strut of his back. His cheek now lay on his arms and the processor began to drift.
Ironhide couldn't get that sparkling blue femme cadet off his mind. She had advanced so quickly. Not only was she an excellent shot with anything they handed her, but she could switch swiftly and she had agility that rivaled his own. And with a blink she could fix a jam on a fellow cadet's weapon and then keep going. He even stole glances at her tactical exams. She was command material. Both Elita and Prime knew as well. He had over heard them say they planed to put her in place if she passed his course. She didn't pass his course, she aced it.
Currently, he was a mess after sending her off the range today day. He turned the rest of the training over to Sideswipe and Scatter Shot. He needed to take a break before his tough side revealed his soft side. Besides, that pea shooter really zinged him in the chink. This position ton the berth allowed the underarmor to breathe as well as relax the back.
What was that? He cut the lights instantly. There should be nobody at this end of the barracks. There it was again. Someone was attempt to enter his personal quarters. Like Ravage, he leaped from the bunk before the door was fully opened and slammed the intruder against the wall and slapped the level one lock on his door. Even if the intruder took him down, they weren't getting out.
But the intruder didn't struggle. He was lucky enough to catch the intruder by the wrist and press his knee into the center of the pelvis. "Who are you?" he growls ferociously.
The voice is soft but he would know it anywhere, "Elita sent me. I think there's been a mistake." Chromia.
He swears. "Lights!" Ironhide calls. The lights come up full. Chromia's gasp is deep and panting trying to hide her shock. Ironhide face is only inches from hers He pulls his torso back but doesn't release her wrists. Her gaze drifts down his unarmored neck and torso. His under-armor skin is royal red. The red spot she saw was a naked part of him. Her breathing changes quickly from shock and fear to -
"Oh Primus," she softly begs, "Kill me now." The sight and scent of his naked torso is fritzing and finds her self closing her eyes but her chest heaving harder than before. She can't catch her breath. Her temperature is flaming hot. The scent of him is intoxicating and forbidden. A mewl escapes.
He asks again a little less aggressively hearing the soft sound, "What did she say?"
Chromia tries to slow her breathing down and focus on his words, but it doesn't help when he is close enough for her to taste him. Close enough to examine the tough warrior at his most delectable vulnerability. She can see every scar on his face and shoulders. Some are very painful and must have taken a long time to heal. She can see some were quickly welded on the battlefield while others were more precisely done in a lab. She wants to touch them, sooth him. She softly, quietly swears, but it comes out more of a plea than a curse. And to finish her off, he lets his leg slide down hers releasing her hip but turning her belly to molten slag. She softly prays again. He can feel it too. He says his own prayer. She smells so good. She's no floozy. This isn't her fault.
"Elita gave me a note with this door number and a pass code. She said there would be a surprise for me." Now she lifts her eyes to meet his, now mad at being tricked. "I didn't come here to- Can you let me go?" She takes a deep breath to get tough.
But he finds his eyes locked with hers now. She is now mad and he is turning soft. He doesn't want to let go. His hands loosen their tight grip on her wrist and she lets her arms slide down, but he doesn't remove them from embracing her hands. Her palms slide against his bare ones. "Don't," he whispers a plea. The soft touch is too much for him, and he knows he's loosing control. Her palms stop perfectly aligned under his and then her fingers begin to, "Please don't do it," to entwine with his. "Fight me. Argue with me," he begs her to save herself from him. He finds himself leaning into her.
She can see how close his lips are to hers, "Let me go," she lies.
"I can't." His mouth comes crashing down on hers. This is just like she expected of him, commanding, demanding, penetrating. But so unlike her, she gives it back, arching into him, tightening her grip on his hands. And when she pushes against his hands, rolling him back against the same wall, he lets her pin his hands to the wall and doesn't fight back either. Her knee lifts to return the favor and presses her knee into his pelvis. But his lower armor is removed too and the pressing of a femme against his aroused tank, he growls. He is completely naked and she is alone with him in his quarters!
She jumps back and puts the back of a hand to her mouth. She forces herself to look at him only above the shoulders. But still that is dangerous. His body armor might be a little built up, but not by much. He didn't remove his helmet, but she knows it's because all the communication equipment in it and he is third in command. The rest of him is stripped bare. Exposed… before her. He is panting as bad as she. There is a slight glow to his chest, and not from his spark chamber. A white hot glow…
She had felt his spark racing against her own armor. Could he feel hers reaching out for his? "I need to leave, right now." Her eyes and voice clearly want him bad.
Ironhide still panting wanting her too, "I'm going to kill her."
"Not if I get to her first." Chromia also growls.
Ironhide takes a step forward to release the door, but Chromia also takes a step towards the door. Her hands are now flat against his bare chest. She can feel his spark pulsing at a wild rate under the glossy red armor. And the burning white hot spot. He cups the back of her neck and takes her mouth again. She tries to pull away with her body, but her mouth is refusing to follow. It is encouraging and delving deeper and closer to him. His other hand comes around her waist holding her tight against his naked body. Her hands slip up his chest and around his neck fusing them tighter. He can feel her temperature begin to rise even higher. His hands pan across her aft tucking her even closer. Her leg slips between his naked ones and then she groans, lifting another to curl around his hip. His mouth breaks loose and moves lower to an exposed part of her neck.
Finally her head wins even while rolling to give him better access, "I can't Commander. I'm still a cadet."
He drops his forehead to her shoulder panting. "Right. I'm glad someone has a level head." His head turns ever so slightly to taste her neck again, "Graduation night, you and me."
Some how, she understands his words. A wave of fear crosses over her sanity. What was it Elita said about egos? She pulls away from him quickly afraid for her spark, "What number will I be?" She scowls at the naked panting, yet highly sexy commander. "How many other cadets-"
He pushes her up against the wall again. But this time his hands are tenderly on her hips and he pierces her with his narrow blue eyes, "I'm not like that." She narrows her gaze at him in disbelief. "I don't date. That's why Elita set me up." Sincerity emanates through his frustration . She knows there's a long conversation they will need to have soon. If this is to continue. But should it?
"Set you up? What about me?" It takes shear will not to touch him even lightly.
He sighs and tells her very softly, "Her mate is my best friend. That's the only way she could get my access code." He strokes her face tenderly, "I asked Optimus advice on how to get you off my mind." Now her gaze turns soft at seeing the another chink in tough Ironhide's armor.
"And what did he say?" Now she reaches out to touch his own cheek tenderly. There's a very soft spark within that royal red armor. Her fingers are itching to stroke it.
Ironhide smiles, "He said I was doomed." Then he leans in and ever so lightly kisses her forehelm. "I promise, I won't move this fast. I'll take it slow."
She shoves away from him still not sure if she should trust him, "We'll see."
He stood back and released the door. She strode away and now he could watch her aft this time. He couldn't help but smirk. He touches his com, "Elita, you will pay for this."
Elita laughs, "Ironhide, paybacks my friend, paybacks." Then she turns tender, "Chromia will be good for you."
"Only if she will talk to me again," he scoffs.
~~ Graduation night there was no party. There was a battle. Side by side, Chromia and Ironhide fought defending the Energon stores. It was not an easy battle. They watched three of the graduates perish and two more hauled off as POW's. It was a long hot battle. Powerglide came streaking in and nearly hit them. Ironhide threw himself over her, but she reached her weapon around his waist and hit the Seeker on Powerglide's tail, bringing him down. Ironhide lifted his head and took out two more on the ridge above them. She taps his aft and he chuckles moving so she can get out and lay by his side on her front joining him shoulder to shoulder picking off the ridge intruders. Then he points out the 'Con transport ship coming in with reinforcements.
"Can you hit it, Sniper?"
She shoots him a cocky smirk and then looks at her advantages. Right between the horns on his helmet she lays her barrel. "Don't move." He continues to fire but doesn't move his head. She takes three shots and hits the transport through the pilot, and two in the engine causing it to backwash and explode. Then she turns her attention back to the ridge. He only takes his eyes off the ridge once to give her a charming smile. Oh yeah, she had him hooked bad. She blushes and continues to fire.
When the skirmish finally passed and the damages assessed, Chromia with a big black smear across her face smiled up at him, "Well, if this is a first date with you, can't wait for tomorrow night." Ironhide turned from lifting a tank off an injured comrade and gave her a look that made her know, tonight wasn't over.
Unfortunately, Prime called a Commander's meeting. Their date was over. The recently graduated cadets were put on guard and clean up duty. It was two days before Ironhide found Chromia and then, it was only long enough for a stolen passionate kiss in the weapons store before he was dragged off in one direction by Scatter Shot while Elita took Chromia another direction for Teletran training. The new couple were being thwarted. War was hell on relationships. {end flashback}
~~Chromia sighed remembering their "first date." Then she took the feed back from the submarines. He processed the footage from the video cameras. He crossed them with the inferred. He was waiting for the information Bee would return with. He went through the sonar readings second by millisecond. His brain was throbbing. His eyes were hurting. He felt he was going crazy and all he could see were wavy line read outs.
Optimus finally came back to check on them, "How is it going?"
Both Chromia and Ironhide are beat and frustrated.
Ironhide looks at the clock, "That late, already? Argh!"
"Any closer?" Optimus tries to encourage them.
"We are coming up with something. But now we have to translate what it actually means. Yes, something happened. But I can't put my finger on it."
"Show me," Optimus nods to the shoulder. Ironhide lifts the sleeve. No change.
"Is that a good sign?" Chromia asks.
"You still have time. But I don't know how long." Optimus responds lightly.
"How long did it take?" He deliberately leaves off with you. But Optimus knows.
"The first time was about eight hours. The second about the same. The third time the transformation was forced to revert. A few more about the same. The last time was a struggle to maintain for six." He keeps it factual. No emotions.
"But all potent to the end?" Ironhide tries to get a clear picture of Optimus' strength and abilities as a human.
But Optimus was reflecting back to Ratchet's warning to Ironhide. He grumbles wanting those hours back, "Don't remind me."
The cat was out of the bag and Chromia looks between her mate and his best friend. She suddenly gets it. Optimus was where Ironhide was now. She silently covers her mouth to keep from saying anything.
Optimus sees her change in domineer, but deflects the moment. "Food. You don't run on Energon these days. You need food and rest. Get to it. That's an order," but he says it ever so softly.
"Yes sir," Ironhide softly responds to his friend. He wonders if he has crossed the line by asking those delicate questions. But certainly Optimus went over all this with Ratchet. Wouldn't he? Maybe that explains Ratchet's remark. Yet, Ratchet acts like doesn't have all the information. Maybe Optimus didn't tell Ratchet a few things.
Ironhide follows Optimus' orders. He puts a hand on Chromia's back and leads her towards the quarter doors. Optimus just sighs and watches them leave. He is glad that Ironhide at least has someone he is walking the this journey with.
Ironhide and Chromia return to the cafeteria. Tonight must have been pizza night. But there were only slim pickings left. They pick up a few slices. Ironhide seems to be light years away, not at all interested in the pizza. He barely touches it. His mind seems to be wandering to the time he had to leave an exploding base not knowing for sure if Chromia was dead or alive. But he had to do his duty. He knew she would never blame him. She never has. He carries the guilt and burden alone. She just shows him love. She reminds him constantly that part of what she loves about him is his devotion to duty and honor. He did that when he had to leave her behind. And yet when he couldn't return for several years, he had kept up his duties here on Earth. But always with an eye to those stars.
Chromia stays silent, but finds herself very hungry. She ends up eating her portion and going for more slices. When she returns, she can see he is watching her come back across the room.
There's only a few of the night shift crew in the cafeteria. It's got to be at least 2 A.M. The men watch Chromia cross the room. Ironhide is not jealous this time because she has no eyes for anyone but him. She gives Ironhide a truly wicked smile as she crosses in front of the other men. She leaves no doubt to anyone in the room where her sights are locked. She makes sure she is sitting right next to him. He drapes his arm around the back of her chair, kisses her temple sweetly.
As an Autobot Commander, he would never made an affectionate move in public. Close friends, yes, but not like this in front of the humans. She smiles up at him, knowing he can do it now because they are under cover. No one knows who he really is right now. In the past he has had to be in command. He couldn't let anyone try to take advantage of the relationship. His jealousy and protectiveness towards her were the chink in his armor. Only his core friends knew that. They would never abuse the knowledge. He smiles to her.
She finishes the last of her dinner. He takes her tray and they leave the cafeteria.
"She is hot! That is one lucky officer," Ironhide over hears as they leave. He reaches over and slips an arm around her waist tugging her closer. She is truly surprised at how open he is being.
"Where to now?" she asks him. She doesn't have to wait long. He takes her back to the roof. This time he is not afraid to show all his passion to her. She's over come with tears of love and his tender slow passion. He tells her all those things he should have said a long, long time ago. She clings to him. She doesn't want to sleep. But what her spark wants and what this body wants are in conflict.
"Ironhide, I don't want to sleep," she yawns with him curled up behind her. He tucks her under his chin and holds her tightly.
"I won't let go of you, my spark. I don't mind if you sleep. I'll stay on guard all night for you," he gives her his soft protective tone.
"I can't imagine going through this with out you." She tries to hold her eyes open.
He can feel her breathing start to slow.
"We are mates. Now matter what, we would be going through this together," he whispers it so close in her ear. The words go straight to her spark. She pulls his arms tighter around her chest. She weaves her fingers with his.
"Mates," she whispers, "until all are one."
"We are one," the tear slips to the top of her head. His eyes drop at the sound of her sleeping. With a smirk to his lips, yes maybe they are one more than he thought.
~~~ He awakens in the morning to his shoulder beginning to burn again. He glances down, silently curses as he sees it is just starting to turn silver. He doesn't want to waken her to grief or fear. He has tried to hard to protect her. As she turns in his arms, she faces him, awaken on her own.
"Hi," she says softly stroking his face.
He smiles back to her, "Hi." He knows she is a tough soldier. That's one of the many things that had attracted him to her. Her strength. Her honor. Her duty. His spark is going to crack if he remains in his true form and she doesn't change. He carefully looks down at her shoulder. Nothing. Not even a hint. Why it this happening? Primus, please don't separate us again. Please, I beg of you.
But before he can argue any further, she is pulling him into other duties. He has no desire to argue with her. No, his desire is to join hers. And he does.
~~ When they finally return to their bot quarters, they may still be tired, but their batteries have absolutely been recharged. They are more than determined than ever to figure this out. After another couple hours, he pulls her over to his computer screen. "What do you see?"
She focuses and adjust, "Only one object was blasted out of the beam. Where is the other shell? Did it leave at a separate time?"
He shakes his head. "We should be searching over in this area."
"I'll inform Optimus. You figure out what kind of radiation it is giving off. Ratchet's labs have better equipment for that. I'll stay here and help with the sub's grid search. I've already forwarded the info to his lab with your security code." She says this all on task, completely focused. There is nothing left for him to say. She is right. He nods and leaves.
She already has the intercom paged, "Optimus, focus on sector six."
"Acknowledged." the commander responds.
Ironhide makes it to Ratchet's labs. Ratchet sees him walk in and comes to his side, "What did you find?"
Ironhide pulls up the screen and the types in his security code. "We need to search sector six. We think we have narrowed down a specific radiation signature. But Ratchet, I'm afraid it was only one object. Also, she is not changing like me."
"What do you mean?" Ratchet is stunned by the developments. Ironhide pulls up his sleeve. Ratchet is concerned by the change.
"She still has no mark. Nothing." Ironhide reports.
"Could it be because she is female?" Ratchet ponders.
"That is your problem. Mine is to find the shells before…" He turns back to the screen. He can't complete the sentence. He delves into the information. Ratchet silently walks away and returns to his own research. He knows all too well. He and Perceptor were the ones helping Chromia recover from Mindwipe procedures while Ironhide was in ignorant hell.
The hours pass. The heat is increasing on his shoulder. He glances down. More of it is turning silver. He pulls the sleeve down tight when she walks into the room with a flash drive. She silently hands him the drive.
Optimus reports in, "Ratchet, the sub is returning with something. North pier."
Everyone rushes out to the pier. The crane lifts out a hunk of junk. She slips her hand into his quietly. The mass of twisted metal is undistinguishable. It's a mass of black, blue, some streaks of red and silver metal. As the crane carefully lowers it to the dock under Jolt's direction, the seaweed and fish slide off of it.
She smirks at him, "You look bad. How long is it going to take you to clean up for inspection?"
He smiles back at her, "Look who is talking, completely out of uniform."
She leans in, "You certainly don't mind my stripped down appearance." He has to tuck his tongue into his cheek. She just laughs at him.
They get serious when Ratchet turns back to them with a paled worried look. He shakes his head, its bad. Ironhide steps closer when the crane swings out of the way. They all come closer to the pile of junk. There's only piece that identifies this mass of junk as Ironhide. Chromia touches the Autobot insignia that he proudly wears. It falls off in her hand. Ironhide looks down at it in her hand.
"It's very unnerving seeing you like this," she finally says.
Optimus steps beside the mass. "Ratchet, how long before you can repair him?" Ratchet shakes his head. He is totally lost for a time frame. He has never seen this much of a mess.
"Can you repair it with out a spark?" Optimus asks again.
Ratchet shakes his head again, "I don't know. I've never dealt with this before." He turns to Ironhide, "Even if I can get this body somewhat working. I don't know if I could repair it completely. There might still be some damaged systems. There could be a lot. My biggest fear is getting the spark back into it and nothing works. What would be the point? You know how Ironhide is with a dented cannon." The four of them are hit with the next reality of the situation. Even his hint at humor can't cover the severity of the statement.
Jolt comes over, "Sir, this was all the sub could find. There was nothing else." They all are hit with silence again. Chromia's shell is missing. Lost. Ironhide holds her hand silently.
Jetfire calls, "Optimus, Bumble Bee is returning."
The space bridge opens as they all stand aside to let Bee and Prowl land. Bee stands before Optimus. Silently he opens his hands. Optimus puts his own out. Bee carefully lays an object into Optimus large hands. Optimus' face turns very soft and tender. He holds it close to his chest, somewhere between crushed and grateful, "Oh Primus… guide us." Then he closes his eyes, as human would say, in deep prayer.
"What is it, Optimus?" Chromia asks. Optimus can't speak. He knows he has to tell them, but he can't do it right here. He goes to the end of the dock. Ratchet, Bumble Bee, Chromia, Ironhide all follow him. Optimus kneels down on one knee. Ratchet stands guard over him, warning the other humans and Autobots back.
Then Optimus opens his hands in front of Ironhide and Chromia. Ratchet gasps when he sees it. "Optimus, do you know how long it has been since we have seen one of these?"
"And we wouldn't have found it except for the accident." Chromia says.
Bee finally asks, "Optimus, what is it?"
Ratchet strokes the black streak on the pod and then the blue streak going the other direction tenderly, almost reverently. Optimus pulls it close to his chest again. He is deeply moved, his optics actually moisten. He smiles down at his Weapon's Officer and his mate. Ratchet finally speaks seeing that no one else can, "Bee, it's a new life."
I was going to add more, but this is a good cliff hanger. Besides, I wrote Ironbands before I wrote O& E aka Courtship or Infernal Fire &n Perceived. So this rewrite/ upgrade story now needs to deal more with Optimus' own spark and loss, Firestar… and so more integration.
If you want to read the Payback Elita is talking about, Go read Prime's Bloodline I think is was in chapter 3: Courting Prime. Sticky. Infernal Fire has lots of sticky + mush for Firstar and Moonracer…