Tora's dreams were disturbing, even by her standards. She woke in a cold sweat, shivering, even under all the blankets.
She checked her phone, it was four in the morning. Blake had texted her ten minutes ago.
There was only one sentence, "I sent them home."
She smiled a little at this, at least he'd listened a little bit. She called him.
"Tora." He asked, his voice quiet.
"Yes. You sent them home? You promise?" she asked.
"I swear." He choked out.
"You didn't give me a choice, not really. Because what would have happened? You would have told Orion, then Orion would have had somebody with me all the time. I can't do that." She sighed. Tora focused her attention on her surroundings, feeling her senses expand, pushing the edges of the closet, then out into her room.
Blake hadn't gotten through the locks yet, not even three. And he was alone, sitting outside the door.
"But I-" he choked, but couldn't continue, she could hear him taking in quick, sharp breaths.
Tora focused on his presence outside the door of her bedroom, it was hard, and she pushed herself. His head was in his hands, sadness practically rolled off him in waves. It chilled her.
"I need you." he whispered. It was faster than he'd ever spoke before, and Tora barely made it out.
"Maybe. Maybe you can come in for a little bit. But you have to swear to me. Swear to me that you'll leave if I ask, and you won't let anybody else in. On something that matters to you more than anything else." She instructed.
"I swear on the pride and duty of the autobots." He said.
Tora rose from her blankets, "Stand up, away from the door."
She opened the door to her closet, and walked to her bedroom door. She silently undid the locks. And then opened the door just a crack.
Blake was there, leaning on the other wall, his face pale, and his eyes rimmed red.
Tora opened the door, and he walked forward, she let him in, and closed the door behind him, locking it.
He waited for her, but when she turned, Blake practically tackled her.
Tora's arms went up awkwardly, a hug? What?
Blake's head dug into her shoulder, and she realized something. He was crying. She slowly put her arms comfortably around his shoulders, weaving the fingers of one of her hands through his hair. It was black, with blue streaks, not long, but not short.
She could feel him shaking and shivering, she shuffled a little, speaking softly to him, "Come on, you're cold." Blake had a tendency to be freezing. All the time.
She made him go with her to her bed, there were always extra blankets. She ripped one off, and put it around his shoulders, bringing him close at the same time.
Tora wondered, why was he crying? Did he care that much? She felt her own eyes pricking with tears, but pushed them back.
"You can't do this to yourself! Y-you can't." Blake said, his voice distressed, he looked at her, one hand clutching the fabric of her top.
"Blake. You don't understand. There isn't anything wrong, I do what I have to. You don't know, you always have friends, somebody to talk to." She sighed, "I am alone. I always have been, this makes me feel whole, like all the pieces that are missing are really there. This world will never be what I expected, and if I don't belong, who would have guessed it?"
"Even if I say it'll be all right, still I hear you say this." He whispered, wiping his eyes.
"The world we knew won't come back, this won't be the same again." Tora looked at him, her gaze void of emotion, but her chest twisted, she felt terrible, alone again, even though Blake was right next to her.
"Forget about the life I used to know!" he protested, "I have loved you for a thousand years!"
Tora's heart twisted in agony, a choice had to be made here. Did she return the feeling, or would she have the strength to crush him?
She decided, it didn't take more than a millisecond. She kissed him, sweetly. Blake had shut his eyes tightly, ready to be rejected.
To Tora, the kiss seemed to last for only a second, yet a lifetime. And she was crying too, Blake put his arms around her, thin and pale, pulling her to his chest. She could feel his heart thrumming rapidly, and she threw her arms around Blake, sobbing into his shirt. Everything spilled out, the pain, the loneliness. Blake just held her close, eventually making Tora sit on the bed with him. She leaned into his form, maybe now, she wouldn't be alone anymore.
"I can tell them, convince them, but you have to stop… I don't care how, or the amount of time it takes, I love you too much for you to do this." Blake told her.
"I'll try. Time is what I need. Rome was not built or felled in a day." Tora lifted her face, and looked at him, pleading, "Please don't leave me."
He pulled her closer to him, tightening his embrace, "Never."