Understood
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Chapter 29
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"Chase hasn't stopped asking about you since the other night after you left." Swerve cuddled a little closer. "At least until we told him we'd start calling him a stalker, or obsessed."
"I guess he was really taken with me." And then Tailgate sighed sadly. "If... if things were different, maybe I'd date him. Maybe more." Suddenly he stiffened. "You didn't tell him?"
"Of course not. Better for him not to know. And once you find a factory job, everything will change. They're now talking about expanding departments nine through fourteen, you know." Swerve planted a kiss on the side of Tailgate's facemask.
"They're always talking about expanding. They're always talking about opening more munitions plants. And yet..."
Swerve silenced his friend with another kiss. "Shhhh... don't get yourself worked up. This is the first chance I've had in ages to hold you in bed."
Tailgate sighed again. "Only because I couldn't find any customers last night and came home early."
"Their loss. My win." Swerve's hand came up and pushed at Tailgate's mask. It slid away almost automatically, and Swerve's fingers traced the pretty silver lips hidden beneath.
"My loss, is more like it." He looked up at Swerve guiltily. "Swerve, I'm still short nine hundred credit's for this deca-cycle's rent." And as he said it, he wondered if perhaps it would have been better if Chase had found out he was a prostitute. Maybe then the blue mech would have hired him and he'd have the money.
"You'll get it. I'm not worried."
"I have one more night before rent's due."
"I'll cover for you. You know I will," Swerve purred, fingers moving on from his lips to his cheeks.
"You cover for me far too much."
"You're my best friend. Why shouldn't I?"
"I'm just not as good out there without you. We were such a good partnership. A pair of minibots is so much better than one. And you were always so good at bargaining and setting up the deals."
"I know. But you're doing okay. And we all know things haven't been the same out there for a while now."
Suddenly Tailgate sobbed. "Swerve, I'm worried. I keep hoping the economy will get better, but all the backlash against Kaon after the destruction of Praxus three meta-cycles ago... People haven't been spending as much lately. I don't know how much longer I can keep trying to come up with the money. And what if something were to happen to you? Or to me?"
Swerve pressed his fingertips to Tailgate's mouth. "Shhh... Don't worry. Live for today. If we ever have to go back to the work camp, at least we will have known this. A beautiful apartment. Repairs when needed. Enough fuel and even high-grade."
Tailgate allowed Swerve to continue stroking and soothing him. "I suppose. We came to Kaon with nothing, and maybe we'll leave it with nothing."
"We'll be okay, Tailgate. We've got each other, right?"
"I suppose that's most important."
Swerve smiled. "We'll take care of each other."
"Of course."
Swerve made long strokes over the blue and white mech's frame. "Would you let me 'face you? Keep me from getting out of practice? Just in case I have to go back out on the streets someday again."
Tailgate giggled, pushing his fears aside. "If you really want to. We haven't since we came to Kaon, have we?"
"No, and I miss it."
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"Understood" continues in Chapter 30
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