A/N: How about a little bit of fluff before we get into the tough stuff? My muse has been dead on me for the past month, and she FINALLY got me going on this. At least it's something. I think I'm finally climbing out of my funk that I've been in lately. Who knows?
Ah well, I hope you like it.
Warnings: Fluff. Little bit of angst.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own this franchise. I'm just playing with it.
Freak No Longer – Chapter 3: Simple affection
Inferno sighed as he looked out at the hubbub of central Iacon. His living room was brightly lit by the day outside, yet it was cool in his apartment. His optics were unseeing as he pondered his situation.
What was he getting himself into?
He knew it was the right thing to save Red Alert. It was more than right. In his spark, he knew that on that day, he was in the right place at the right time. He saved this life, and he felt no qualms for it.
But after talking to Ratchet, the gravity of his actions finally hit him.
He was going to be responsible for the full rehabilitation of a mech that knew next to nothing about reality. Red Alert would be dependent on him. The words he had spoken were all to true. Where would Red go if Inferno decided he wasn't worth it? A colder spark than Inferno's would have dropped the young mech off to an institution of some kind. Swirling the energon in his cube thoughtfully, Inferno knew he wouldn't do it. He could not ever give up on this young, innocent mech he had found. It would be trying, no doubt, but for a while now he felt that there was more to life than working as a firefighter, receiving a good salary, and living a fairly good life alone.
Maybe looking after Red Alert would make him see to something more.
He found it fortunate that he knew Optimus Prime. He had met the great mech when he first came to power, and they had chatted together while at a firefighter fundraiser. A charity ball. One strong thing they had in common was their dislike of formal affairs when actions needed to be taken.
When he had informed Prime of what he had seen and witnessed, he was surprised that he had lent his full support.
And it was because of that support that Inferno was given indefinite leave from the fire department to look after Red Alert.
At the thought of the little mech, Inferno rose from the couch and went to the spare room, optics gentling when his gaze fell on Red.
To put it simply, Red Alert was beautiful to Inferno's optics.
Although his paint was of cheap quality and his plating showed signs of poor maintenance, Inferno saw the innocence barely hanging by a thread, and the capacity to become a handsome mech. The larger mech had no doubt that Red Alert would clean up well when the time came.
Now, he was content to watch over the slumbering red and white mech.
On his side, curled up underneath an blanket, Red was at peace, burrowed in his own warmth. It was a sensation he had quickly gotten used to after years of recharging on cold concrete floors under threadbare coverings.
As Inferno watched, Red Alert stirred, optics fluttering open slowly.
Tensing, the larger mech waited for panic, or for disbelief. It had happened the two other times his charge had woken today, and he made sure to reassure Red as much as possible that this was real, and he meant it when he said he would care for the smaller mech.
Sitting up, Red mumbled, "Inferno."
"Right here," Inferno rumbled softly, slowly moving over to Red's side and sitting on the edge of the berth.
He was graced by a small smile. "You're still here," whispered the smaller mech.
"Yep," grinned Inferno.
Silence fell between them as Red crawled out and snuggled into his protector's side.
Safe.
He wondered if that feeling would ever abate. Every time he was near or touching Inferno, that's all he could comprehend.
Basking in the warmth, he felt more than heard the gentle giant's chuckle as he leaned towards the affection given. Once he was given these tentative touches by Inferno, he sought more. He had gone through an affection drought for too long, and so he sought it from the one who had rescued him. If he weren't feeling so protected, Red would be scolding himself for acting like a youngling. He was stronger than this.
A large hand stroked over his shoulders as a warm voice asked, "Hungry Red?"
"Mm? Oh…sure. I mean, if you want to feed me."
All at once Red Alert knew he had said the wrong thing. The hand stopped moving over his shoulders and the larger frame tensed. Looking up, something within him shrank back at the sudden blank look on Inferno's face.
"How often did ya get energon?" Inferno asked, trying hard to keep his tone even.
"Usually it was after a performance. They forgot to feed me most of the time. Moonracer…she's the one who looked after me, sometimes couldn't sneak me more than a quarter of a cube once a day," replied Red softly.
Hot rage, the same rage he had felt in that night in the circus, welled up within Inferno. Gritting his denta, he fought to keep it from coming out. He was not going to let it escape around Red Alert. He had been through enough.
No, he was going to request Optimus for the chance to leave just one mark on Ringleader's pathetic hide before he was sent to jail. Starving this mech! The cruelty of this circus continued to shock him. Inferno wondered what else had been done to the mech at his side. He dreaded having to ask.
Trembling brought him back to himself, and when he looked down, his rage flooded out of him.
Red was trembling, looking up at him uncertainly.
"I'm sorry," he whispered to Inferno. "I didn't mean to make you upset."
"Red-"
"Are you going to hit me?" the smaller mech blurted out before he could help himself.
Stunned, but expecting it, Inferno gently drew the trembling red and white form closer to him. "No. I'm not angry at ya. I'm angry at what's been done to ya. Ya've been starved and tortured through yah glitch, and not been allowed to develop as most do. I'm sorry for makin' ya scared. I'd never intentionally harm ya," he assured Red Alert, pulling him onto his lap in the same position they had took the first time Red had woken up. The slighter body was tense for a few breems before relaxing into the hold.
"Ya can't blame yaself either," Inferno mumbled, beginning to stroke over Red's shoulders once more in an attempt to give the affection his charge sought.
Nodding, Red Alert leaned into the larger mech and sighed. He could get used to this. "Yes," he said.
"Yes what?"
"Yes I'm hungry. Yes I'll try not to think like I did something that made them hate me," replied Red with a touch of audacity.
Snickering in amusement, Inferno lifted them off the berth, placed Red down and then led them to the body of his apartment to get energon.
A/N: I know it wasn't that exciting, but I wanted them to cuddle! Let me know of you liked it with some feedback!
I'd also like some suggestions as to where I should go with this. Have a general idea, but I'd like to hear what I should add.