Ironhide's POV
Chapter Four – Carwashes and secret conversations
Ironhide's vents expelled air slowly in an Autobot equivalent of a sigh, something he had unknowingly copied from his young charge. It was 7.48am exactly and he had slowly been waking up from his recharge for the past ten minutes.
Zoe it seemed was probably running late but Ironhide didn't mind, he hated driving right after recharge; his old parts needed time to warm up these days. He shook himself softly, rocking back and forth on his wheels and began scanning Zoe's house. Daniel had left the house and Claire was still in bed. To begin with, the Weapon Specialist had been appalled at the seemingly lack of care directed at their offspring, even more so when Zoe had called them by their first name not the usual 'Mum and 'Dad'. But after a few days he had realized – thanks to his DNA scans and hacking into government files – that Zoe was an orphan and that Claire and Daniel were merely foster parents. Both were successful, Daniel being a lawyer and Claire an interior designer.
Although he didn't like it, Ironhide had begun to relate to the youngling; she was also in a strange foreign place, surrounded by people she knew nothing about and trying to make the most of it.
He felt the soft patter of feet on stairs and the door of the garage opening. He felt a small tug on his handle and allowed his door to open silently. He scanned Zoe as she hopped into his seat and snap the seatbelt into place; although still tired she was in good health. Clicking a button on her key ring, Zoe started the engine as the garage door opened.
Despite her age, Zoe was a surprisingly good driver; observant and cautious but still tolerably reckless at times.
He felt the teen settle in his seat and proceeded to cool it. He hated how much Zoe had already started to worm her way into his spark. Caring even tolerating sparklings was a thing of the past for the Weapon Specialist and yet here he was, worrying about her like a... well, father.
Houses fell behind them as they made their way through the streets. The trees either side were slowly turning orange and their leaves fell to the sidewalk, cluttering up the concrete. Zoe yawned and Ironhide felt her stretch and say "Thank god it's Friday..."
Sometimes he envied Bumblebee; being able to communicate through the radio with snippets from specific songs or quotes. He on the other hand could only talk through it and that had been severely forbidden by Prime. They pulled into the school gates and Ironhide growled as he saw several of the males nudge each other and grin, staring at both himself and Zoe with either awe or hungry expressions.
Zoe parked in the shade of a tree and pulled the keys from the steering wheel. After un-clicking the seatbelt she reached across and grabbed her school bag from the floor of the passenger seat. Swinging it over her shoulder she reached for the door handle. Pulling it she gasped when not only did it not open the door, but it didn't budge; it may have well been made of stone.
Ironhide felt Zoe jiggle it in annoyance but refused to open it. He had a strange feeling about the males he had picked up and didn't want her to leave him. Inwardly he cursed himself, why should he care for her? But deep in his spark he knew he would break if anything happened to Zoe.
"Ironhide!" Zoe whined angrily, slapping the dashboard. "Let me out!"
When the truck didn't respond Zoe tried a different tack, "If you don't let me out I won't clean you tonight. I'll leave you covered in mud..." She threatened, arms folding over her chest.
Ironhide heard her laugh in triumph when the door swung open and she patted the seat happily. "You love me really you big baby." She giggled, shutting the door with a snap.
Ironhide rumbled the engine is response but Zoe only laughed again, hitched the bag higher over her shoulder and walked off, clicking the key. Obligingly he made a mechanical sound that confirmed to her that the doors were locked.
"Optimus to Ironhide." The Autobot leader's voice woke Ironhide from his recharge five hours later.
"Ironhide here, what is it Prime?" The Weapon Specialist replied, stifling a human like yawn.
"Just checking up on you, my old friend. Making sure you haven't driven your charge mad yet." Optimus chuckled back.
"Everything is going well sir," Ironhide countered, stiffly. Checking the time, Ironhide realized that Zoe would be out in a few minutes.
"I was wondering if I could meet the youngling Ironhide." Optimus' request startled Ironhide but he answered calmly.
"Yes sir, may I be present also?"
Optimus sounded surprised but somewhat happy when he said "Of course, can you arrange a meeting?"
"Yes sir, I will send you the time and location within the next few hours."
"Very well, Optimus out."
Zoe was several minutes late but when she came into his sight she was talking to Miranda and another. It was a boy, taller than she was with short blonde hair and his eyes were fixed on her face as if hypnotised.
Thankfully both walked away and left his charges side when she got a few metres from Ironhide. Waving goodbye, Zoe clicked her keys in his direction and jumped into the seat. Slumping into it, she gave a satisfied sigh saying aloud, "No homework, no gymnastics and no test on Monday... life is good."
Ironhide purred quietly as she stared the engine, letting her know he agreed. Zoe heard and laughed, stroking his steering wheel fondly, "Ready for your wash now?"
Although he felt like a too eager sparkling, Ironhide revved his engine and bounced softly on his wheels as they left the parking lot and headed down the road. Zoe laughed again and the Weapon Specialist grinned inwardly, loving the sound.
"You are so alive; I don't care how mad that sounds." He heard her mutter as she pulled into the carwash.
Half an hour later a spoilt and extremely pampered feeling Topkick pulled out, looking so glossy and polished it glinted brightly in the slowly dipping sun. Ironhide had been washed, buffed and cleaned inside and out so thoroughly he felt ten vorns younger. His charge on the other hand was dripping wet and irritated.
They had had a small fight with the hose.
Zoe had sprayed the water onto his door too early, not giving it enough time to warm up. Shocked and feeling impish, Ironhide had responded by opening the door, redirecting the spray onto the shocked teen. Although he had felt sorry, he had also laughed his bumper off at the glare he had received in return.
He blew warm air out of his vents and warmed up the seat considerably in a feeble attempt to make Zoe forgive him but she had been adamant and had ignored his apology completely.
When she tried to release the seatbelt after she had parked in her spacious garage Zoe growled when it held fast. Not wanting her to be unhappy with him after he had been so royally treated, Ironhide gave a tiny whine, ignoring his pride as it yelled at him to stop being such a child.
No matter how hard she tried she could not stay mad at her favourite truck and smiled "Fine, I forgive you. But in return you have to be nice to Miranda this weekend; we're going out into town and I've offered her a lift."
The whine turned into a soft groan but the seatbelt unhooked letting her know that he agreed to the terms. Although she felt extremely foolish she kissed the steering wheel and hopped out of the Topkick. "Thanks Ironhide."
Opening the door to the stair case leading to the kitchen, Ironhide heard his charge walking up the stairs, her bag swinging from her shoulder, bumping into her legs.
"Ironhide to Prime, meet us tomorrow at 2.30pm inside the Cafe on the corner of Mild Street."