Warnings: Nada, sorry.
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I've forgotten… Tracer belongs to me… as do Kicker and Rollback
Feedback makes friends. Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.
Authors Notes: Did someone mention being evil to their own characters? No? Oh dear…

Trailbreaker caught up with Tracer as she stalked down the corridor.

"Hey…"
"What?" She snapped before she turned and realised who it was. "Sorry 'Breaker." Trailbreaker shrugged, staring down at her.

"You okay?"

"Fine." She managed to squeak out, emotions crashing down on her like an avalanche.

"Just worried me when you ran out like that." That stopped Tracer in her tracks.

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to worry you, really." Trailbreaker shrugged again, both dismissing and accepting her apology.

"You sure you're okay?" At the obvious concern in his tone, Tracer paused.
"We need to talk, don't we?"

"Might be good." He agreed, placing one hand on Tracer's shoulder, guiding her down the corridor. Unbeknownst to either of them, two pairs of optics followed their movements.

"You owe me."

"Hey now, nothing shows that they're together."

"But why else would he worry?"

"Man, you've gotta lot to learn."

"Fine, but when there's proof, you'll remember tonight and I'll have been right."

"Whatever man, whatever." The soft laughter echoed down the corridor before the two made their way back to the rec. room.

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It was quiet outside on the cliff side. Trailbreaker lowered himself down to the ground, settling against the cliff face.

"You just gonna stand there?" Self-consciously, Tracer sat down, staring at Trailbreaker.

"I don't know what to say."

"Why did you run?"

"I…" She paused, expelling air deeply in a mockery of the human sigh. "I needed to escape."

"I frighten you?" Trailbreaker sounded resigned, as though he were used to it, his size greater than so many others.

"No!" She was quick to refute his question. She sat quietly for several minutes, staring at the ground, before raising her head to look Trailbreaker in the optics.

"Last time I got close to anyone we got split up. I'm scared." She admitted in a small voice.

"I'm not going to push you into anything."

"I know you're not, it's just… I don't know…" She trailed off and shrugged, not entirely sure what to say, or even how to say it.

"The last thing I want to do is jeopardise our friendship, but I won't lie, I am attracted to you." Tracer ducked her head. The warmth in his tone as he said those words was almost unbelievable. She'd heard it so many times when listening to Red Alert, Firestar or Inferno talk about the other; the warmth and affection that colored their tones when they spoke about their loved ones. She glanced up shyly once he'd finished.

"I do like you… I'd just hate for us to end up together because of that bet…" She tried to explain how she felt, not wanting to launch into something because everyone else thought they were an item. As she trailed off, Trailbreaker just nodded in understanding.

"That's something I can handle." Trailbreaker smiled at her before patting the ground next to him. "Come on, you'll be able to watch the stars easier from here."

She crawled over and settled herself against his side, smiling almost shyly as he wrapped one arm around her, pulling her slightly closer. He pointed out a few constellations, naming them both from Earth and Cybertron. Leaning against him, she let his voice wash over her, lulling her into a much needed recharge.

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"You sure you should be watchin' that Red?"

"I'm merely keeping an optic on her Inferno."

"They don't half look adorable together." Inferno rested his hands on Red Alert's shoulders, leaning forward to look at the monitors.

"Indeed."

"Aww, c'mon, ya must admit they do."

"I never said they didn't."

"Whaddya think'll happen between them?" Red Alert vented a sigh and leant back in his chair.

"I honestly have no idea Inferno. But I don't doubt that Tracer can take care of herself." He tilted his head back to stare up at the fire engine. "That means no interfering."

"Would I do something like that Red?" The grin on Inferno's faceplates could only be described as cheeky.

"Yes." Red Alert straightened in his chair, optics flicking to another monitor, noting down the time on a datapad. "The Twins and Bluestreak are back." He murmured.

"Heh, I do wonder what Sunstreaker said to Tracer. Can't imagine him being concerned 'bout anyone else aside from Sideswipe."

"And Bluestreak."
"Bluestreak? They were out… oh…" Inferno trailed off as he realised what Red Alert was talking about. "Well, good luck to him keeping up with them!" He chuckled.

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The Decepticons worked on an unusual cycle; they would have a bout of activity before seemingly vanishing and staying utterly quiet. Something that Prime, Prowl and Red Alert worried about, whilst the rest of the Ark's crew took the time to relax and recharge.

Or do other things.

Tracer lingered in the corridor. She knew she needed to talk to someone and had spent an agonising time trying to decide the best mech. to approach. Finally, she'd made her decision and was trying to convince herself that she definitely needed to talk to someone. Steeling herself, she strode up the corridor and palmed the door chime.

Belatedly, she paid more attention to her sensors as sounds of scuffling and muttered curses drifted through the closed door.

The door slid open and Hound peered out, looking a little surprised at having been disturbed.

"Tracer?"

"Hound… I… can we talk?" Hound looked even more surprised before straightening and beckoning her inside.

Mirage stood up, looking more than a little uncomfortable when she entered. She tilted her head in apology.

"It won't take long, I'm sorry."

"It's all right Trace, nothing that me and Mirage can't finish later." Hound reassured her, shooting a decidedly lecherous glance at Mirage. Looking a little mollified, Tracer stepped more into the room.

"I'll leave you two alone." Mirage nodded at Tracer, who put a hand up to stop him.

"You don't have to leave. Besides, I doubt whatever I say to Hound will stay just with him." There was no malice in her tone, just a simple understanding of the relationship Hound and Mirage shared. Mirage shrugged and retook his previous position on the berth.

"Well?" Hound prompted, leaning against the berth and indicating for Tracer to take the chair.

"I need a bit of advice…" She ignored the snort Hound gave and continued. "I need to know about relationships. And…" She paused and looked at the ground. "In particular, relationships involving officers." Mirage's cultured voice answered her, before Hound had a chance to say anything.

"The dividing line between officers and recruits really doesn't matter much here on Earth."

"So it wouldn't be frowned on?"

"Trace… if you want to get together with Trailbreaker, no one here is going to stop you." As Hound spoke, Tracer's gaze left the floor, shooting straight up to the amused optics of her former mentor.

"Hound!"

"You don't have to be quite so direct love." Mirage commented.

"That's who you're talking about though, right Trace?" A small nod was their only affirmative. Hound laughed, moving over to clap Tracer on the shoulder.

"When are you going to tell him?"

"Uh…"

"You are going to tell him, aren't you?" Mirage spoke up.

"Of course I am. It's just a matter of finding the right time."

"No time like the present!" Hound pulled her up out of the chair and turned her towards the door. "Go get him kid!"

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She stood outside the door, shocked, as Hound disappeared back inside his room, the door shutting firmly behind him. After a few moments, she gathered herself and, deciding to take Hound's advice, wandered off to find Trailbreaker.

She found him in one of the supply rooms, double-checking the inventory. She stood and watched him for a moment, noticing the fluid way he moved despite his size, the way the light reflected off his paintwork, pristine despite the color. She caught herself and shook her head. What was she now, some love-sick sparkling? Before she could say anything to get his attention, he looked over his shoulder straight at her.

"You going to stand there for the rest of the day?"

"I didn't want to disturb you…"

"Believe me, I want to be disturbed." He put down the datapad he'd been reading from and stretched before beckoning her in. "Take a seat and disturb me."

She made her way in and hopped up on a crate, settling herself down before looking up at him.

"Things have been quiet lately…" She started awkwardly.

"Sure have. That's why I'm in here finally taking inventory of this stuff."

"Means I've had a bit of a chance to think…" She continued quietly.

"Oh?"

"I want to… I mean, I'd like to…"

"To what?" Trailbreaker tilted his head, confusion flashing across his visor.

"I'd like to give us a try." She muttered, ducking her head. Large black fingers gently tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his optics.

"I'd like that too…" Trailbreaker replied softly, leaning in towards her. Almost hypnotised by the look in his visor, Tracer found that she couldn't look away.

Until the base alarm sounded, startling the both of them.

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