v.v I've no excuse... So I apologize for the lateness of this chapter... And I hope it's up to par with the other ones...
I finally made it to both a hundred reviews and I finally paid attention to the hits and noticed its sitting at 14,274 Holy cannoli! Thanks everyone! The Rest of the thank yous are at the bottom of the page since the list is VERY long.
However I must thank my awesome beta Khalthar for helping me when my muse is being decisively difficult. You are the best!
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers... Unless you count my action figures... I found a Combiner Wars Blades! EEE!
Word Count: ~2444
Chapter 18: Idle Chatter
~x~
~Sideswipe~
~x~
~Tuesday afternoon~
Sideswipe vented as he pulled into the parking lot of the school. It was only the fifth time in the last four hours that he had gone on patrol, boredom creeping in his circuits more and more by the klick. He needed a good race to get all the pent up energy and irritation from being confined in the med bay for two cycles with nothing but Ratchet's jibes and wrench to keep him occupied... Oooh he was so going to get the medic back...
He just had to make sure he had an air tight alibi for when his revenge would be unleashed... His mood darkened as his processor reminded him of his Primus damned punishment.
:Getting stir crazy?: Bumblebee asked as the corvette slinked into a spot before stilling his engine.
:How the pit can you stand doing this every day?: Sideswipe groaned. :I wish Barricade would reveal his fragging aft already...:
:If you're that bored you could just join us in here.:
:And go through having the human mechs stare at my aft all day like you do? No thanks.:
Bee snickered. :It isn't all that bad. The girls stare too...:
:Not from Cassie was telling me.:
:...:
:So it's true?:
:...:
:Bee?:
:...:
:Hey I can't help it that they like your cute little-:
:Not another word Sides. Not another word.:
Sideswipe just laughed at Bee's mortification. He onlined his holoform as he noticed the slow trickle of students trailing out of the buildings. Bee shot him a dirty glare as his way over to lean against his alt, Sideswipe noted the stares the Camaro was receiving.
Sideswipe was too busy smirking at the sulking Bee as to notice Cassie until her knuckles rapped sharply on his window.
"You gonna let me in or not?"
"You actually want to take a ride with me?" Sideswipe asked as he popped open his door.
"Sam and Kae are going on a date. I'd rather not intrude on that... I'll just humiliate Sam later tonight."
"So where to?"
"Home. I need to meditate." she said as she sunk into his seat. He shut the door before she could enciting a low hiss from the girl.
He blinked over at her, eyeing her with his holoform's optics only, Her body was almost ramrod stif in his seat, her eyes closed as she breathed slowly as if she was trying not to do so deeply... "Cassie?"
"Yes?"
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Never better. Now drive." she bit out a little on the harsh side. Sideswipe stared at her for several minutes, more than half tempted to run a scan over his charge. He could tell she was lying. but if she didn't want to tell him then why should he push his luck...
~x~
~x~
~Wednesday~
Sideswipe online as the first rays of light crept over his altmode, warming the metal. Three more days... He mentally checked off the time till they could return to the base. He hated being limited to his holoform... He hated having his senses dulled, hated having to try to pretend that he was human with the elder Witwicky's.
He shuddered at the thought of Sam's femme creator. She was giving him pointed glares every time she caught his holoform in the same vicinity as Cassie. Cassie's door had to remain open when he was sitting with the girl listening to music... and Judy really glared at him as he provided Cassie a physical opponent for her metalikato practice. She had also made it a point to practice swinging that damnable bat of hers in the yard whenever his holoform was deactivated... In clear view of his altmode.. It had been barely a week and he was on the top of her dislike list...
Judy was a force to be reckoned with in that household. And he knew that she was one that should be mistake for anything other than she was. A carrier, a mother. If he didn't know any better... he'd swear that she knew the truth about them...
Cassie stepped out into the crisp autumn air and his train of thoughts stopped as his sensors picked up on her condition. Cassie was riddled with circular bruises on the visible parts of her arms and legs. She move stiffly as she began her warm ups. He onlined his holoform as she began to get into full swing of her forms.
"Nice bruises."
"Good morning to you too, Sideswipe."
"What are they from?"
"Volleyball."
"Interesting... I didn't realize it was such a violent sport."
"Any sport can be violent if enough force is used."
"... And that hand print?"
"..." Cassie just ignored his second question as she moved into a move difficult set of moves. Sideswipe frowned at her.
~x~
~Cassie~
~x~
~Thursday~
"Excuse me. But may I talk with you for a second?" Cassie hissed in barely contained rage as she dug her nails into the flesh of Sideswipe's holoform as she dragged him out of the office. "What the hell are you thinking?!" she growled lowly as soon as she had him out of ear shot of the principal and secretary. "A probation officer?" she hissed.
Sideswipe smiled innocently down at her as he noted the irritated look in her gaze. "I do get bored sitting out in the parking lot doing nothing in between patrols so I figured I'd hang with you."
"As my probation officer?!" Cassie reiterated. "God lord if my father heard those words and my name mentioned in the same sentence he'd..." Cassie shuddered. "No.. he probably is spinning in his grave. Why couldn't you have just altered the age of your holoform?"
"Because I didn't want to be put through the same homework nightmare that Bee goes through."
"...You guys got computers for freaking brains! It's not like you'd actually have to put any effort into it like the rest of us-" Cassie was cut off by the sudden emergence of the Principal who glanced between the two of them before glaring down at her.
"Miss Cooper I do believe you are going to be late for your fifth period. As for you Scott, I have talked with your boss and your credentials have checked out you may accompany your little trouble maker if you wish. Here is your pass." Principal Ivings said with a nod before retreating into the office.
Sideswipe smirked as Cassie gaped at the man's swift retreat before turning and glaring at him. "Don't think that this conversation is over." she said as she spun on her heels and stalked down the hall.
"Oh come on what did you expect me to do? Thanks to you going postal on Sam I can't really get caught pranking anyone on the base, and there is only so many times I can go on patrol before I start going out of my processor with boredom..." Sides whined as he followed her up the stairs.
"You could have taken up playing video games or watching porn for all I care. You do realize that school is the epitome of boredom?"
"Yeah well this way I get to experience it first hand without being expected to really be a participant." Sides said as he stopped at the desk where the teacher raise a brow. He smiled a charming smile at the woman who raised a no nonsense brow at him. "Hello. My name is Scott..."
~x~
~Cassie~
~x~
I wonder if he'll bleed if I stab his holoform with my pen... Cassie tried her hardest not to glare at him as he leaned over the kitchen counter as she worked on her homework.
"While I would call it a scientific endeavor if he decides to ask why you stabbed him, I don't want to think about how he'll retaliate." Crescent pointed out.
Jazz raised a brow. "Aw ease up on him he's only bein' a pest afta he got punished for prankin' ya this past weekend."
"If I stabbed you what color would you bleed?" Cassie asked as she looked up into his blue gaze.
"... Look I know you're mad at me but it also let's me know why you've been coming out of the school with more bruises than you had before you went to school." He said glancing down at a particularly dark green and purple one that graced her arm.
Cassie pulled her sleeve down to cover the bruise. She did not want to get into this topic. She had spent the better part of the last four days being berated about the minor scuffles that she'd been finding herself in since Monday. The group of Jocks hadn't taken lightly to their new punishment (courtesy of her aunt pitching a good old fit), and they had began to 'accidentally' roughing her up. Slamming her into lockers and walls in the somewhat crowded halls; she had walked into several doors as they were slammed in her face; and let's not comment on the volleyball incident in P.E.
The whole thing had both Crescent and Jazz growling and Crescent had more than once tried to take over and repay them on more than one occasion, leaving her tired and antsy on top of being sore and aching. She had taken to wearing a special salt crystal necklace to keep her twin out... much to Crescent's ire.
"No. No we weren't talking about me. We were talking about you." Cassie said as she tapped her pen on the paper hard.
Sideswipe frowned at the textbook. "That isn't the chapter that you were assigned today."
"I already turned that in." Cassie muttered. "I'm just keeping ahead of the game."
"Isn't that kind of redundant? From what I can figure you won't finish the entire text book within this semester."
Cassie sighed in irritation. "Tell me, you are in the top of your game right? You've honed your fighting skills over thousands of years to be the best that you can possibly be. So are you just going to forget about practicing every chance you get?"
"When I offline maybe."
"Then why would I pass up the only chance I'll get to further my education? After all after high school there's only college if I achieve and maintain high enough grades. Sure I have my father's pension that I can use for some of the tuition, but I'd rather save that for other things like getting an apartment, maybe a good car, a golden statue for Crescent..."
"Really?!"
"No. I was just checking to see how in tune with reality you were." Cassie smirked.
Jazz burst out laughing as Crescent let out an indignant, "Hey!"
Sideswipe chuckled and he shook his head. "I take it she didn't like that."
"Nope."
The door opened and Judy and Ron marched in to the kitchen, the later laden down with grocery sacks. "Hi kids." Judy said smiling cheerfully at Cassie while her eyes glared at Sideswipe. "Ronnie's cooking out tonight. I hope you're up for veggie burgers."
Cassie grinned. "Sweet!"
"Oh shoot... I forgot the soda for my cake..." Judy cursed as she frowned into the bags. "Say Cassie you wanna tag along with me to go get some 7up?"
"Um... Sure."
"Here take my car." Sideswipe held out his keys.
Judy's eyes narrowed on him before she shook her head. "Oh nonsense. We're only walking down to the party shop. It's like a block away." Judy waved her hand dismissively.
"Honestly it's no problem Mrs. Witwicky-"
"Thanks but a little fresh air is good and me and Cassie could use a nice powerwalk. You can stay here and help Ron with the grill. Come on Cassie."
"Yes ma'am." Cassie replied as she grabbed her sweater. Judy was definitely in some sort of warpath mode, as she stomped away from the house at a rapid pace. Cassie actually had to jog to catch up with her.
When she had caught up with her aunt she finally noticed that Judy had grabbed Excalibur. "Do you make it a habit of taking your bat with you to the store?"
"Bats hurt more than pepper spray and they're not illegal like mace." Judy grinned. "Now... that I've got you out and away from the house you want to tell me what's up between you and that Scott kid?"
Cassie blinked at Judy. "W-what? What do you mean what's going on with me and Scott?! He's my bodyguard!"
Judy smirked. "And he doesn't look at you like he does for no reason..."
"What are you-no, no I'm not even having this conversation with you."
"Oh come on, you can't tell me that you haven't noticed the envious and adoring gazes he's been shooting you... And especially the worried one he's been wearing here lately... Please tell me that you are not knocked up."
"AUNT JUDY!" Cassie gaped in admonition at her aunt as she turned a deep shade of crimson. She wanted nothing more than to strangle Crescent and Jazz who were laughing loudly earning a deeper blush from Cassie... She was so glad that there was no one else around.
"I'll take that as a no... So out of my parental concern please tell me that you have been using protect-" Cassie's hand slapped over her aunt's mouth successfully cutting her off
"Aunt Judy I'm not his type by longshot!" Cassie hissed as she let Judy go.
Judy blinked. "Oh... I didn't realize he was gay..."
The noise from the peanut gallery grew as Cassie fought the urge to face palm. Yep we'll go with that... Though he'll probably squish me if and when he finds out about this. "I think he's a closet case, Aunt Judy.. so please don't say anything..." Jazz's laughter grew even more...
"So then the worried looks he's been giving you..."
"He understands what I've been going through with being a twin and an orphan." Cassie supplied as they reached the store. Judy waited for the girl to run in for a 20 oz, Cassie hurried through the little shop, half dreading what her Uncle Ron could be saying to Sideswipe...
"With any luck Ron will just ask him if he was doing the horizontal tango with you or not..."
God I hope not...
"Trust meh, Sider's can easily take whateva ya uncle dishes out 'n stride... however, he might make sure ta tease the pit outta ya for it..."
Just shoot me now... Cassie thought as she darted out of the shop with a ring of the little bell. Judy smiled as she slung her arm around her niece's shoulders. "Look about what I said earlier.. you know I have to worry..."
"Aunt Judy... Please never mention it ever again."
"Only if you promise me that you never have kids until you're out of college."
"Deal." Cassie said with a slight shudder.
As they rounded the corner a person bumped into Cassie knocking the bottle of soda out of her hands. She scrambled to pick up the soda.
"Oh I'm sorry I was busy looking for a kid.." The man said brushing his hair out of his burgundy eyes.. Just before there was a zapping noise, a jolt of pain and then everything went dark.
The Fav/follow list has grown more! Add your name to the ever growing list! XD
Many mnay many thanks to Catgoddess92, Katanna Cain, Princess Of The Sea555, TFAN Override, imjaysong, liv cahill, HeartsGuardianSol, koekiemonster (guest), Khalthar, Alice Gone Madd, Bat Girl 22200,Defender 54, .Royalty, Shadow Night Prime, Skyress98, Vodid, Heather Taft3, meangirl8, raven-saber, Dances in the Twilight, Fandom Jumping Expert, Whitelily Prime, arakmellon, jessica541991, wordgeek1000, Alumniea, AnimeQueen99, Forestfirekid, GveryThinGGoesRACER, MiniAjax, NilliaWafersP, Soundtrack-Fanatic, angelic-muse-of-nature, , hadrianlopez1, WhiteWolfWoman, Blue-Black Flames, Cutie Kyuubi, Hamato Sakura, darkhuntress621, kellyhorse, valeries26, The Writer Akayla, 1, BrokenScarlet, Enigmatic Daydream, FreyaHawthorne, Leader of the Wolves, Littlebirdd, Mango-sama, TF angel, TatteredAngel 42, HeartStarryNights, Croonsgirl, UndeadHatter, SarahGayle, HappehKitsune, Kate555, EmeraldStar8273, FluffyPizzaPie, Rumbling Frenzy, Kiesha is a darkest mind's fan, Maria Prime, Reader103,Shady Kitsune, SilverMistLove9898, YepNopeMaybe, dancertoria, truethings, ruler of the ice dragons, Agnew-san, Lauz-millz, SasshriaRayu, Vampirbite801, arakmellon, lillithwolfshadow, scaryeyes101, Dakota or bigcat night Prime, Kokerret , twizzlers24, FredWeasly,99, Jimmy 144, Patches9812, emc2fantasyfan, Emily Thacker (guest), E-Man-Dys (guest), Fangirl01music, CarsCars2Fanatic, Derra, .Mini-Fan, Marfo Fuara, Muirgen79, Nessamir, ShiroOokami44, Sky65, SomeoneThatExists, chained2love, night prince, predalien1425, MercenaryBunny, Candlestic, EmeraldDagger, Gotta Dance 88, Nox rcanna The Nerconomicon, sarielgrace, Jasmine SiMing, Rayna17, mezzieb1, Rockubyebaby, ShadowScroll, arealnative, canikostar99, Melanyrose, The Ghost129, Zeng Xiao Long Sunstar Crystal, Loveatdonnie, CrazyKitteh007, technoWriter15, VineAuror, Tbkitty00 (guest), trat199816, Bluehelixx CarlssonElyy Falcon's Hyperdrive, FlowerForTheDead, Hero-100, Shadow Noir Wing, Pyromaniac Demon, Valavare, Kyubbi lover 98,Soaring Hawk1, TwiggRules, Yuki420, firespark15, Jennybot19, Kyriafox, Waterfront, Wingstrike, darkling98zouless,DisneyCraze, OrbofImagination, Morgageb, DoctorHarleyPrime, Penny The Queen Of Imagination, jetstorm1959, cbrown0925, MaddySan5926, SAMCRO1864, StormMonStarLight, TerrorTwinEpicness, Kira The Dead Ninja, MidnightStar64, golden-priestess, StarGazer360 , AND Lovina Rossie-Vargas,9 tailed vixen, AyanoZonurai, Crystal Blue Butterfly, GothicEmoGirl95, MiserysNightmare, Nova-girl703, ShizukaRen-Hime, alannasanderson101,girlsugarskull48654, meeep15, Jazzilynn Hall, Lee163, M00n Shadow, Rurikuro, Skydreamer1990, SKyelisia Stormbreaker, brezzetwilight, psychicgirl32, rainbowfiredrake, Amanda. cardoza .520, for fave/follow/reviewing... Eee ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou! Y'all inspire me to write!