Author's Note: This is officially the last chapter in this little story XD Though I might post additional chapters along the way like I did with 'A Wrench In The Works'. Next story will definitely be Arcee's. I definitely feel like having fun with her, Cliffjumper, Tailgate and Firestar.
Disclaimer: Own nothing?
The Autobot Base, Nevada, Earth
Warmth quite literally seared him. The solid presence heating the berth and the entire length of his body, the heat seemed to seep into his mind, trickling along the bond that pulsed quietly inside of him. His entire frame rolled, pressing up against the massive frame sprawled out on the berth beside him, his cheekplate dropping to rest on a broad shoulder, the scent of the mech filling every inch of his mind.
Ironhide.
Now that brought a smile to his lips, his optics flickering, before shuttering tightly again, too happy that his lover was finally back to worry about anything else. However, it was that thought that had him jolting sharply into consciousness, systems engaging so quickly, error messages flared through his core processors. Blue optics opened and he stared down at the large frame that filled the other half of his berth, black and crimson frame still wearing all of his armour, new scars ran across it and slashed across the mech's lips and cheekplates. Large servos were resting over his tanks, chassis rising and falling with the steady rhythm of a surprisingly calm recharge.
Head twisted, he took in his familiar quarters, the sparseness of any kind of personal item. His spark fluttered, worry and fear seeping into him like the cold of the Arctic once had. What if Ironhide would no longer want him seeing him as he was now? Had he…
"You keep that up and you will end up forcing me to convince you just how much I still want you."
Optimus almost gasped, his head whipping around to stare down into the pair of dark navy blue optics that sparkled back up at him with amusement.
"Though… I wouldn't actually mind doing that… however in the state I'm in I doubt I can do your beautiful frame justice."
He found his lips quirking upwards at the response, unable to help himself, he pounced. His smaller frame coiling tightly around Ironhide, nuzzling his face up against the warm throat, pressing kisses against the underside of the mech's jaw as strong arms coiled around his body and held him in place sprawled across him in a rather intimate fashion.
A soft 'oof' escaped the large Autobot's lips as he had the air knocked right out of him, but decided he didn't mind what so ever, his arms coiling around his Prime tightly, knowing that both of them needed it, spark to spark.
A roar of delighted laughter filled the base, a rich sound that made every single head and helm turn in the direction it had come from, the source of it not being visible from the main control room.
"Was that… who I thought it was?" Jack's eyebrows shot skyward, his body leaning against the back of the couch, head leaning over the edge of the railing and clearly attempting to see if he could make out the form of their Prime. All of them had been deeply concerned for the mech and also for the newest member of their team, the massive Ironhide who made Bulkhead look short in comparison.
"I think so." Miko's brown eyes sparkled in delight. "I've never heard him laugh before."
And most of the mechs there could actually agree with that. Not even Ratchet or First Aid had seen their Prime anything other than stoically calm with exception for when Ironhide had been brought back from the Decepticon ship. All of them had seen just how fiercely protective the Prime was of his other half and what it would literally take to stop him.
"Head room." Came a deep rumble, a Cybertronian curse that had even Bulkhead wincing escaping before the mech continued in English. "How fragging difficult is it to have ceilings high enough for a mech to walk upright?"
"This is built for humans…"
"How short are these organics?"
And finally the pair entered the main room of the base, Ironhide actually having to duck beneath the 'lintel' of the doorway, his massive frame towering a good two or three heads over Optimus, broad shoulders taking up much of the space of the doorway. Dark blue optics flickered around the faces of the Autobots present, clearly taking each and every one of them in with a calculating glance that left none questioning this mech's intelligence.
Optimus leaned against the broad chassis, his body brushing against the mech as he shifted, the two of them clearly not wanting to lose physical contact even for a moment. A smile tugged at the corners of the Prime's lips, his palm smoothing against scarred chestplates, his blue optics bright and filled with so much emotion that he looked like another bot entirely. Maybe it was the fact that the Prime now looked alive, his features animated and hopeful.
One optical ridge lifted at the sight of Jack, Miko and Rafael, dark blue optics flickering over their faces, attempting to judge everything and anything about them.
"Cool!" Miko gave Ironhide two thumbs up, grinning up at the mech and then glancing towards Bulkhead in curiosity. "In an all out smash down who would win, Bulky?"
For once Bulkhead looked over the length of the massive warrior's frame and knew that this mech was not one to challenge unless you wanted your aft practically handed to you. The name alone had been enough for the former Wrecker to know that challenging this mech would not be for the faint sparked.
"Yes, 'Bulky', who do you think would win?" Ironhide smirked slightly, his dark optics sparked, never one to back down from a challenge no matter what form it took.
"Ironhide." Azure optics gazed up at him, Optimus Prime's features showing his distress at the thought of Ironhide injured again so soon after he had finally regenerated.
"But that can wait." One broad shoulder shrugged slightly, clearly willing to drop it the moment Optimus's emotions and concern flashed across his processors. "This place needs decoration." The topic was instantly changed, his head twisting to glance around at their surroundings and take it all in, before scanning over the readouts on the screens Ratchet and First Aid monitored. "And a better security system, a junk heap could blast its way in here with its optics rewired."
Ratchet bristled at that, clearly taking the words as insult to his skills. However, some part of him was glad that they now had someone with far more training in that area to upgrade what they did have.
"No offense, Medic." Ironhide rolled his shoulders, joints cracking and sliding back into place, large fingers spread and clearly looked like he was ready to take on the world if it had been asked of him. "I thank you and your Bondmate for the repairs done to me, but when it comes to weaponry and security…"
A smile came to Optimus's face again, bursting into life at the sound of Ironhide's rumblings and the mech's immediate positioning as his second. How long had it been since he had last heard Ironhide talk down anyone that thought they could act as his second in command? "No one will deny you your place at my side, Ironhide."
One fist slammed into his other palm, showing all his physical strength and determination. His gaze burning into each and every one of the humans and Autobots around him, telling them silently that if any dared to betray this Prime he would not hesitate to tear out their spark and extinguish in the name of his protection. "Right." Nodding slightly, clearly accepting those around them, the tension seemed to seep out of the place before the large mech dropped onto his aft on one of the crates, his long legs stretching out as his back was propped up against the wall, arms crossed.
"Just… don't blow up the planet, 'Hide, I would not be able to explain it to any survivors…"
Now that made everyone freeze and stare at him. And he grinned back, utterly unrepentant.
"You blew up a planet?" Miko had already come down the stairs and was standing by one of Ironhide's large pedes, staring up at Ironhide with something close to awe.
"Three last count." Broad shoulders shrugged slightly.
"Four." Optimus added as he was coming to look over several of the newest scans, taking in all that he had missed.
"Which did I forget, Orion?"
"Temus IV."
A bemused little snort escaped him, his dark blue optics shuttering in remembrance. "Ah yes… quite a pleasing little boom."
"Little?" Laughing, the Prime couldn't honestly prevent himself from smiling, his hip leaning against the consol. "You took out half of the asteroid belt in the process."
"I thought you liked that… you admired my work." One shutter half lifted, a relaxed smile tugging at his mouth. "It was quite spectacular."
He felt three pairs of eyes on him, the humans watching him with wrapt attention and clearly wanted to hear more of exactly what he had done to blow up several planets. Grinning, he straightened and propped himself back a little more comfortably in place, before he began one of his favourite battles beside Optimus, leaving out nothing and the Prime even adding in details, the mech hovering close and clearly thriving on the sound of Ironhide's voice. He had to admit this was what he had desired all those dark vorns spent trapped… to return to some sort of peace, to hear the silky whisper of his beloved's voice, their playful banter and the ease of so much between them.
Looking into the faces of his fellow Autobots, he found a sense of home that had been missing all those vorns ago, the sense of family that had been lacking. Knowing that he had so easily been accepted by them warmed his spark, even though his personality sometimes rubbed some mechs the wrong way, Optimus always knew how to smooth out his rougher edges.
Love sung bright and warm in his spark through the bond they shared, even though it wasn't a full spark-bond neither having been quite willing to risk it. It still brought him more joy than he could ever express.
With a roar, Ironhide charged the holographic enemy, his massive frame moving with surprising agility, his body slamming hard and fast into the imagine, his massive servos repeating his almost signature 'head pop'. The motion would have wrenched the enemy's helm right off if it hadn't been a hologram, he continued what he was doing, despite several of his systems screaming at him for charging into a training session even if it was just against a holoform. The safeties had been removed, the program set at its maximum level. He was just as deadly as he had ever been before… maybe even more so, having lost some part of him to the savage mind rapes he had suffered at the hands of Mindwipe.
Without his cannons, he took out the enemy with his bare servos, tearing them apart and leaving flickering carnage in his wake. Only when he had removed every single enemy that stood before him did the program still and the large mech rocked back from the physical exertions, his optics shuttering tightly after a long moment. His knee joints dropped him, his entire frame shaking with the force of his emotions.
A howling cry of spark deep pain streamed out of him, optics burning with the emotional pain that assaulted him, his fingers curling into fists as they slammed down into the concrete which immediately spider-webbed with cracks.
"Ironhide." It was a soft whisper, familiar and welcome. "I can help." First Aid was on his knees before the warrior, his expression gentle and understanding, those pale blue optics reflecting the deep sorrow and compassion that had so drawn Ratchet to him.
"Make it stop." His helm dropped, his palms spreading against the fragmented concrete, his processors swimming with pain that he was trying to prevent Optimus from seeing. A plea actually escaped the mech. "Please… I can't… I can't stop the images…" Hand curling around First Aid's wrist, he was shuddering, the length of his frame trembling. "Your gift…"
First Aid swallowed, optics shuttering, but he nodded once.
Ironhide had seen the medic use it on others before, had seen the compassionate bot heal another's mind with a simple touch, the medic's abilities the positive version of what Mindwipe possessed, but he had also known that this medic had stopped using it. Empath.
"It will be alright, Ratchet is with me." A hand lightly touched over where his spark rested within his chassis, his optics dimming slightly, before both servos stretched out to press against Ironhide's helm. The tentative connection between medic and patient being made, systems slowly beginning to sync together…
There was a sudden sound, wordless scream of Cybertronian. A flutter of images and then… hands were no longer on Ironhide's helm.
Ironhide's helm lifted, dark blue optics gazing into First Aid's face and seeing the horror in those vivid pale blue optics half hidden by his visor. The mech rolled, entire body seizing and shaking as he purged his last meal all over the training room floor, retching and gagging. Tears were streaking down the mech's cheekplates, his entire frame trembling all over, his hands quivering so hard that they could barely holding up.
"Aid!" Ironhide was immediately beside the mech, reaching out to carefully hook his hands beneath the small medic's shoulders and draw him upright, drawing a rag from subspace he cleaned the medic's mouth lightly. "Slag…! Are you…?"
"What… they did to you…" One hand covered the mech's mouth, his optics staring up at Ironhide, tears shimmering across those pale white and blue cheekplates. "I thought what they did to Ratchet…" The dissection of his bondmate's frame still haunted both of them, but what they had done to Ironhide and others… the faces… so many faces… Some… he recognised. "When… when was that?"
"A dozen orns ago." Optical ridges pressed together in confusion. "It was where I was held for several vorns…"
"I know that place." He might not have been there, but for a while his older brother Streetwise had been, held and tortured… he had been lucky that the mech had come out even partially whole afterwards. That reality where things were always dark… where the cries of pain filled every inch of the space. "Sheriki." The word was spat out, the medic barely able to get his vocals around the complex sounds that were a mix of English and Cybertronian, and sounded more like a squeal than a name. "You were imprisoned in Sheriki…" Vorns there… no wonder the mech was as scarred inside as he was on the outside.
"Sheriki?" Arcee stood in the doorway, her blue optics glancing between the two mechs, worried and confused. "But that is a myth… it is truly nothing more than…"
"Like I was?" Ironhide knew that his disappearance had left legends in his wake, something he wasn't exactly fond of considering. "Trust me. The Pits do exist. The Decepticons always did have a habit of being able to find their way to what amounts to the first level of Hell." Though his large hands caught First Aid's shoulders, preventing the medic from escaping him. "What did you see that has you so shaken, First Aid?"
"Cliffjumper." His pale blue optics were wide and staring at Arcee with apology and confusion in them. "I saw Cliffjumper amongst the prisoners, he was functional… badly damaged but functional. I would know his voice anywhere, Arcee."
"He's…" Arcee staggered backwards, her back hitting the wall as she gazed at the two mechs before her, optics wide and shocked. "… He's alive?"
"From what I saw… yes. I don't know how… but he was there… Ironhide saw him."
It was clear from what memory files First Aid had accessed that the Decepticons on Earth had gotten access to one of the subspace gateways that lead into that hellish prison the Decepticons had built in that other dimension their people used so frequently. Sheriki was a place that few ever survived for very long.
And somehow Ironhide had.
"I don't like sharing."
Both of Ironhide's optical ridges lifted sharply, surprised by the words that came out of the mech's mouth. Though he had to admit seeing Optimus Prime standing completely bare of armour in the middle of what had become their quarters, hands on slender hips and almost glaring at Ironhide reminded him that he had not yet physically had this particular mech if far, far too long.
"Share? Share what exactly?"
"You." Fine lips pressed into a firm line, jaw lifting, a clear flicker of stubbornness in every line.
How he had missed this, seeing those blue optics blazing at him with such defiance and determination. It had been those very same optics that had won his spark that first time they had met. His Prime was beautiful, each detail a work of art, every inch intoxicating to the warrior's sensors. "Now what has brought this on, Orion?" His lips wanted to twitch at the dark flicker of indignation in those optics.
"You turned to First Aid." Servos clenched by his sides, bright blue optics wavering, expression troubled. "Am I… am I not enough?" Doubt crept into those bright optics, the first flickers of those unspoken emotions making the beautiful blue depths swirl with the grey of pain and a flicker of fear.
"I did not want to burden you, my Orion." Shifting on the edge of the berth, he straightened, his hands reaching out towards the gloriously naked Prime who stood before him just out of reach looking so tempting like that. "What lurks in my mind…" He tried not to let the other mech see the mental wounds… see the horrors that stalked the corridors of his mind.
"You have always been my strength, even over the last orn… in my dreams… in my thoughts… you have stood as my shield as you did against Megatron's cannon to protect me. For once, Ironhide, let me be what you need." Blue optics were imploring as the mech slowly moved forwards, hips swaying slowly, body already beginning to heat with the closeness of his beloved. Any touch of those large servos on his frame was like a brand, marking him, claiming him and easing any lingering loneliness that attempted to cling to him. "Please."
Ironhide's head lifted as warm servos brushed down against either side of his face, trailing across his cheekplates, tracing every scar and line that marred the dark metal. That beautiful frame was pressed in close to him, standing between his spread thighs, such perfection belonging onto to him. A mouth soon dropped to his own, a glossa slipping across the scar that crossed his lips, nibbling and sucking on them, gaining a groan from him at the sheer headiness of the mech's taste. Large palms cupped the back of the mech's thighs, sliding upwards, a finger soon touching the tight entrance, circling it playfully.
"There has never been another for me. Not once since the orn we parted have I been with another."
A pleased little rumble escaped the warrior, deepening the kiss and silencing any more words that could escape. The muscle cables were almost painfully tight when his finger pressed inside that hot valve, feeling the wetness trapped within as the mech arched at the intrusion. Optimus squirmed, spike hot and hard against Ironhide's tanks, the mech's legs spreading a little. "You haven't been this tight since the first time I claimed every inch of your beautiful frame."
Back arching as the digit pressed even further into him, his legs trembled at the sensations, knowing that this time it was real. Ironhide was touching him, truly touching him and would not evaporate like he had in the dreams they had shared. "Let me give you solace… I… I want a spark bond."
Ironhide froze at that, finger curling where it was buried within his lover's body, stroking that sweetspot and making the Prime even wetter with the slow circling rub and pressure. "Orion…"
"I want everything." His arms coiled around his lover's shoulders, lifting himself upwards so that his legs could hook over his lover's spread thighs, practically presenting himself to his lover, bearing his valve completely to those hot touches.
"It is too…"
"Slag that. Slag the entire fragging universe!" The mech snapped cutting off Ironhide's protests. "I was dead inside without you. I can't spend another moment like that. I felt like I was empty, like I was before you came into my life." A shiver rippled up through him, his chassis pressing closer to that of his lover's, plating rubbing seductively against black and crimson armour, creating a delicious little friction. "You are all I have ever craved. Your touch, your voice… your servos… your body and your spark. Since the moment you told me to look into your optics, told me I belonged to you, I've only desired what you have offered me."
"Frag." Ironhide breathed, optics shuttering tightly, just listening to those words, loving them and the mech who had offered him something to fight for, someone who loved him unconditionally.
"Actually… I would love it if you did that to me, crudeness implied."
"Possession?"
"Oh yes." And soon the Prime found himself flat on his back, legs spread in the most obscene manner, ankles hooked over his lover's shoulders, having them face to face, chassis to chassis.
A low growl of appreciation escaped Ironhide as his hands trailed the length of his lover's frame, teasing the very tip of his spike as Optimus's own servos were quickly flinging every piece of armour the mech had somewhere onto the floor. His hips arched and squirmed the moment the head of that large spike pressed against his unstretched entrance, he wanted it, wanted the burn of penetration.
He didn't want something sweet… he wanted to know his lover was there. Wanted to know he was still…
A scream was torn from his vocals as he was suddenly impaled, muscle cables sending alert messages to his processors as they were forced wide and he was abruptly filled to the absolute limit. His hands clawed at Ironhide's broad back, scratching desperately at it, leaving long marks across shoulderblades and gave another shriek as all that coiled power was unleashed with deep body splitting thrusts. The burn was delicious, the feeling overwhelming and unbelievable, his back arched, offering himself up even more to the mech.
"YES!"
Plating was shifting, protecting shielding peeling back away from his spark, baring him completely to the mercy of his lover and it was only an astrosecond later before his spark too was claimed. Emotions roared into him, as clear as if they were his own, sensations and memory files playing so quickly he almost didn't comprehend them.
The angle changed, immediately pressing that spike downwards against his sweetspot before they were rocking together fiercely, bodies entangled, sparks even more so. Pleasure built amongst the waves of pain and regret… love and sorrow. Everything was new, fresh…
And Optimus Prime was crying, his chassis shaking as he held onto his beloved for dear life, feeling the merge complete, their sparks pulsing as one, swirling together, blending and blurring the lines between them. No longer were they two separate entities, they were one. Invisible threads were weaving together the two halves of the same whole, but this time, it was more than just a normal spark bond, the Matrix sang softly to them both, sending the two mechs spinning even higher.
No longer were they even aware of their physical joining, stars exploded around them, a rainbow of light and energy flaring, worlds dancing about them, time and memory spiralling down together.
Love…
Which mech said the word was immaterial.
It was what they were.
Flight amongst the stars, warmth and joy buoying them up, sweeping away the pain and anguish, washing it away in a flood of brilliant love that seared them both to the spark. It was long minutes before either became aware of the fact they were still there, that they were still physically a part of the real world. Pleasure thrummed through both, building with each slow rock of Ironhide's hips, the frantic motions having become a gentle thrust, every inch of their frames rubbing together in a delicious little friction.
"Destined." Optimus whispered, hands sliding up the length of his bondmate's back, drawing his head down, their mouths tangling together, air being exchanged between them intimately.
Before they were again swept up by pleasure, both crying out their ecstasy for the world to hear.
Outside Jasper, Nevada, Earth
Rafael blinked slightly at the sight of Bumblebee watching several planes fly overhead, engines roaring and spinning in beautiful manoeuvres that made him wonder what it was like to be able to fly. "Is everything alright, Bumblebee?" He stopped the remote control car he had been playing with and just tipped his head up to follow the yellow and black Autobot's line of sight.
'When I see them… I think of him.'
Now that had Raf curious, his hand lightly brushed against his Cybertronian friend's chin softly, patting it affectionately and smiled when he was lifted up and set on one of Bumblebee's leg, offering him a better vantage to watch the planes from. "Who?"
'Someone who meant a great deal to me and still does.' Doorwings twitched slightly, heat beginning to rise across the mech's cheekplates at the memory of the mech who had so charmed his spark. The feeling of truly flying, of having strong arms coiled about his body, carrying him after Megatron had almost torn out his vocals. 'You would like him, Raf. Silverbolt was always… looking out for me.'
"What was he like?" It was the first time Bumblebee had ever mentioned even someone like that in passing, the young Autobot scout usually keeping a little of that to himself.
'Protective. Affectionate… there was no other mech quite like him, he would do anything to protect those he cares about. He was always honest with me.' And Bumblebee hadn't been able to help himself, his spark fluttering wildly at the thought and his lips twitched upwards. 'He never saw me as a youngling… even though I am… inexperienced. He respected my suggestions and… always respected me.'
"Sounds like someone pretty special."
'He is.' A flicker of warmth settled in his tanks at the thought. 'He always turns up though, no matter what mission I'm assigned, at some point he always turns up.' A flush of heat slowly began to spread through him, his hand lightly rubbing against the back of his helm in a moment of embarrassment. The entire base had heard Ironhide and Optimus earlier that day and Bumblebee had hurriedly collected Rafael and taken him out to their favourite little spot where the human child could play with his remote control car. Thankfully Rafael hadn't been quite able to translate the rather interesting Cybertronian words that filled the base… 'Have you ever… liked someone?' Bumblebee's pretty blue optics gazed down at his human friend, gazing into the boy's dark eyes.
"Like how?"
Okay… this was awkward. For all the vorns he had been functional he had never once experienced what it was like to share something as intimate as Optimus Prime and Ironhide had shared. He wanted it. Craved the feeling of those gentle servos on his frame… even he knew the rumour about all flyers. Was Silverbolt like that? Hungry and wanting?
"Bee?"
'Never mind…' The Autobot's cheekplates burned with heat, his doorwings twitching, sensitive and craving the idea of Silverbolt caressing them. 'I… It was only a thought.'
"Okay…" Though Raf glanced back at Bumblebee he thought he would have to speak to First Aid and ask exactly what he thought Bumblebee's words had truly meant. However, he smiled slightly, pushing his glasses back a little more up his nose as he tipped his head back and both of them continued to watch the military jets perform dazzling aerobatics as if just for them to watch.
Wind slid over alt mode, her engine roaring so loud, drowning out everything as she increased her speed, pushing herself to the limit. Her holoform sat aside her frame, for once not wearing the helmet and revealing long raven black locks that were swept back behind her, vivid blue eyes closed tight as tears seeped from beneath her lids and were whipped away by the wind. Pain speared every inch of her spark, searing her from the inside out, disbelief and… so many other emotions scorched her internals.
"Arcee?" Jack's voice filled her audios, the comm link open between her communications systems and his mobile. "I thought…"
'I'm sorry, Jack.' It was barely above a whisper, her spark screaming within her, knowing that somewhere out there Cliffjumper was alive and she had failed to protect him as she had Tailgate. They had been snatched away from her, a blade to her spark, slashing it out of her chassis with a brutality she could not explain. Seeing Ironhide being returned to Optimus… hearing them… hearing the love in their voices… the joy in their optics.
She couldn't. Cliffjumper hadn't wanted her like that, no matter how much she had loved him… her feelings had never been enough to keep him close… he had only seen her as a partner and nothing more. Every time she had desperately searched for that other part of herself, she had found nothing but emptiness and death.
Faster. Systems redlined. Alarms sounded in her processors, but she ignored them all, including Jack's calls. He wouldn't understand, no matter how much he meant to her, Jack would not understand the brutal pain that seared her spark at the loss of so much. How could she find Cliffjumper? Was he even truly alive? Could they have been mistaken? Questions crowded in, screaming in her audios, buzzing around and around.
And suddenly something brilliant red filled her vision for a moment. Beautiful cherry red paint glowed in the afternoon sunshine, engine purring like a cat as the sports car accelerated along the road ahead of her. Cliffjumper? A spark of hope flared, her scanners indeed sparking a Cybertronian life sign for her. Yet the driver… sensors narrowed in and there was a holoform seated in the driver's seat, hair the colour of living fire braided back tightly against the nape of a woman's neck. In the mirror, a pair of bright impossibly green eyes glanced back at her, filled with…
Arcee's tyres screeched, brakes smoking as she suddenly came to a sliding stop, blue eyes wide as she stared at the retreating form of what appeared to be another Cybertronian, a femme. Swallowing hard, her long raven locks curled down around her leather clad body, her hand lifting to press hard against her chest, feeling her heart racing in response to the beautiful face she had glimpsed only for a moment. There was only one femme she knew who had eyes like that, a rich green that could see right through into your very spark.
Firestar.
What was the femme doing on Earth? And why was Arcee's spark quiet…?
A little taste of both BeeXSilverbolt and ArceeXFirestar. What do you think? XD Any particular episode of Prime you want me to use as a basis for the "Flame Ever Burning"?