Even after the confrontation with Sunstreaker and herself, Alexis found she rather liked it on the Autobot base. It took a couple of days to adjust and become familiar as she got to know the place. Spending time with her brother, he introduced her to some of the residents. Timothy tagged along but made no effort to interact.
Since their arrival, her brother had eased up on Tim, something Alexis was glad for. Her friend was such a strong individual. Not daunted by either of the Autobots even as Sunstreaker made a show that he had not forgotten what had taken place. A silent vow there that one day it would most certainly be brought up again.
The base was large and roomy, yet the Autobots had to stay on the upper levels, only able to come down as their human counterparts due to the lack of room. They wandered around the base like they owned it, which Alexis supposed they did.
Sitting down and eating lunch, she was all alone at one of the tables. Alexis was trying to eat the macaroni and cheese, but was put off by its bitter taste and soft noodles. Pushing her tray away, she grabbed an apple. Alexis was delighted to find its flavor sweet and tangy and so fresh tasting, that for a moment, as she took another bite, she delighted in the small blessing.
Someone sat down in front of her. Eyes lifting, she found Sideswipe there. Murmuring began in the small cafeteria, the few people that were there very interested in the Autobot's appearance. The red-head stared at Alexis momentarily before pushing the tray father away from them both.
"You do not look like Joshua," he stated with curiosity.
Smiling from the realization that he didn't seem as horrible as his brother, she eased into the conversation. "I share his nose." She tapped it. "And others have said we look alike, even sound alike."
"They lied," he said.
She chuckled at that, an action that made the Autobot's back straighten as he narrowed his eyes. Taking the moment of silence, she bit into the apple. Swallowing the small morsel, Alexis sighed with content.
"Do you plan to stay?" he suddenly asked. "Your brother seemed to believe you would."
"Yes, he wants me to. We belong together."
He readily understood that. "And your companion?"
"Timothy?" She couldn't stop the smile that tugged at her mouth. "He's staying as well."
He stood. Sideswipe's chair screeched lightly against the smooth floor from his sudden movement. "Your friend is rather daring for a human. I will give him that. But you may do well to tell him that his actions will never be repeated."
Alexis nodded her head, not wanting to cause contention.
The Autobot continued, pleased that she didn't argue, "Joshua informs me you shall be joining our training sessions. I look forward to seeing what you are capable of."
With that the Autobot walked off. Silence engulfed the area as the curious humans watched the humanized alien exit.
Alexis never expected training with the Autobots to be so strenuous. More often then not, she would find herself returning to her quarters bruised and sore, and too worn out to even contemplate the fact that she rather despised it. Or that continuing with the training was making her miserable. Probably, because Sunstreaker was brutal, Sideswipe was stern and when they both trained the humans together, it took the exercises to a whole new level of torture. The two were skilled, but their ability to teach it to others was lacking. And their capability of interacting on a personal level, or perhaps with humans, was devoid of patience and much-needed tact.
Over the next couple of weeks, Alexis considered giving it up, but continued out of will alone. But then, after one rather long day, Sideswipe decided to single her out this time as he forced her to train alone with him. He pushed her and pushed her some more. Forcing her to run a couple of miles and then, her breathless and barely able to breathe, made her spar with him as her legs wobbled from exhaustion, the fight turning one-sided as she found herself flat out on the mat with the Autobot hovering above. She decided that was it.
The following morning she slept in, content in her decision. An acute relief was there that she could have cried, but laughed instead. Every couple of hours she would stir, her body now accustomed to being up at that time. But her mind was not willing. She still glanced at her clock here and there as the period during the training session passed relatively quickly until finally it was over.
Alexis stayed in bed the whole time just because she could. But with the training period over with, she got up and hummed a familiar tune that she couldn't quite place. She was interrupted when a rather jarring knock collided against the door. Opening it, she found Sideswipe standing there. His eyes slowly fell down her body, taking in her sleeping attire and tousled state of being.
"You missed training today," Sideswipe uttered in a low, deliberate tone.
Alexis bristled. It had taken her some time to get over the appearance of the Autobot's human selves, for there was no denying how truly beautiful the brothers were. Once upon a time, their over the top good looks would have served to daunt her. The twins had striking greenish blue eyes. Sunstreaker had blond hair while Sideswipe had blackish red. Both wore their hair perfectly spiked up and parted, with the bangs hovering and dipping over the tips of their eyebrows, adding to their appeal.
"I did." Alexis nodded her head and narrowed her eyes. She stared at the guy. There was no denying the tension he was making her feel. She reminded herself yet again, he wasn't exactly as he appeared. And it was foolish to allow someone's looks, no matter how stunning, to twist her tongue with nervousness.
"Get dressed. You can make up what you missed with me," he offered rather graciously while staring at her once more as the corner of his mouth curled up.
She shook her head. "No."
He took a step closer, his eyes latching willfully onto hers. "You still have much to learn," the Autobot asserted.
"Yes, but nothing you two have taught so far would ever be of any use, not to me, or anyone else facing a Decepticon."
Sideswipe blinked hard at that, astonishment swimming along the rigid frame of his shoulders. "You are quite correct," he finally admitted. A small smile showed up as he took in her startled expression. "Do you want to down a 'Con? To terminate one?" Another step was taken, his arms brushing against her elbows as he leaned against the door frame. "All you have to do is ask." Sideswipe's eyes darkened. "And I will teach you," he whispered. His hand came forward, fingers lingering down the round of her shoulder and lifting away, a gesture of familiarity that had Alexis' body recoiling backwards.
He flinched at her reaction, but went on, "Your brother has informed me about what happened while you were on the Decepticon base. Above most, I know you would appreciate more decisive methods that would prove beneficial when meeting your adversary again."
"I don't think so," Alexis heard herself responding. He seemed eager for her to accept, and that alone was enough to object. A quick flash of disappointment appeared in his eyes before the slits of his lids covered them. "Honestly, I thought I was ready, but this is all too much, too soon," she told him. Alexis left off the fact that compared to their teaching methods, one would have found any military boot camp training, a holiday, and the drill Sergeants, a welcome substitution. Perhaps, they just needed to know how to handle humans, especially ones who were not familiar with battle, or their enemy. Idly, she considered talking to her brother about that.
Josh was disappointed in her decision to quit the training, but Timothy, Alexis saw, was pleased. Somehow, his reaction came as no surprise. Left with more free time than ever, Alexis took to doing inventory, a pleasing task that even as she counted large weaponry and dangerous looking equipment, gave Alexis a satisfaction of accomplishment that she hadn't had the opportunity to experience in some time.
"Alexis?"
Dropping the data pad, she nearly lost her grip on the ladder she had been on. She stepped down and found Sideswipe waiting for her.
He frowned, tilting his head to the side as he examined her. "You have done enough work for today." Sideswipe looked down at her small tablet he had caught. Biting his mouth, he scrolled through some of the recently added data.
"I'm almost done," she let him know. "I just want to do this last shelf." She pointed at the top row where large books and manuals rested. Alexis reached out for the tablet, expecting him to hand to hand it to her so that she could finish up. The Autobot pulled back though, mildly irritated.
"Have you been using this thing the whole time you have worked here?" he asked her, his tone filled with some sort of blame.
Alexis nodded her head. Not understanding his frustration, her hand fell away with his next comment.
"It's outdated and slow," he commented with dissatisfaction.
Alexis smiled lightly. Acclimating to the electronic device had taken her a good hour, but she had been proud when she finally figured out its little idiosyncrasies. "Seemed to be working fine to me, although the scrolling does freeze here and there and changes pages can lag a little."
He lifted up his gaze and continued to stare at her. Alexis stepped forward, trying to take the tablet from him again. But her fingernails only grazed Sideswipe's fingers as he stepped away.
"I will get you a different one," Sideswipe told her firmly as he tensed, his words slowly articulated. He left the room before she could argue.
Left with no way to continue, she sat on the lower rung of the ladder and waited patiently for Sideswipe's return. Alexis closed her eyes and leaned back. The storage rooms were quiet, separated and set off from the rest of the base. While the Autobot's sanctuary wasn't exactly a bustle of activity, getting away and finding solitude was not unpleasant. She relaxed while her thoughts drifted away and beyond.
"Alexis?"
Alexis found herself startled again. This time she jerked forward and bumped against Timothy's chest where he was positioned on the floor.
"Where do you guys come from? Some inter dimensional gateway?" Standing up, she pushed the ladder away. "Is this the latest trend? Sneaking up on the defenseless girl?"
For once he didn't seem amused by her levity. In fact, stepping forward and studying him more, she saw Timothy didn't hear her at all.
"We need to converse, Alexis."
"What's on your mind?"
"On my... mind?" he repeated while looking confused. That was lost when his determination came back. "I... come with me." Tim gripped to her arm and pulled her along, away from the front and deep into the back of the storage room, cushioning them between two of the giant metal shelves. Shadows fell over Timothy, muting his features as he kept his grip firm. They stayed like that for several short minutes. Timothy listened closely as if waiting for someone to appear. No one came and he backed away.
"There is something I need to tell you, Alexis," he began.
She could barely make out his face anymore, but she heard the conflict in his words. Her stomach knotted, a strange dark premonition tightening her lungs as she inhaled sharply.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me," Alexis whispered. Moving back toward him, she gently touched his shoulder. He didn't allow it. Pushing her forcefully back, he took both her hands in his left and placed them above her head against the shelf. His other hand brushed against her forehead and down past her cheek. His eyes were becoming hazy, a strangeness overtaking him that proved to confuse. "Alexis..." he whispered her name, the soft warmth from his breath tingled along her neck as his fingers strayed downwards. Just when a curling tension was causing her legs to weaken, she heard someone enter the room and call her name.
Alexis almost forgot about Sideswipe. Hand griping firm to hers, Tim lowered her own and pulled Alexis along again. He led her to the back corner of the room, pushing them both behind another shelf, the space smaller than the last.
"Say nothing. I will not..."
But she already heard steps being taken and before Alexis could say anything in return, Sideswipe appeared, or so she imagined. Timothy had blocked her against the bookcase with his body, pressing so tight against her that to breathe was to breathe along with him. Her head angled away and back.
"What do you want, Autobot?" Timothy asked, his voice beyond friendly. The hostility in his tone made her whole body bristle, a glint of something hard lining the sharp edges of his clipped words.
"What are you doing to Alexis?"
"Nothing that is any of your concern."
"Then why is her heart racing?"
"Leave us," Timothy commanded, his order so absolute that for a moment, Alexis was lost in her memories. Lost in the world as a slave, ordered and forced to obey. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe, hard to think. Mildly panicking, she tried to push Tim off. Distracted in his argument with Sideswipe, he didn't allow her to move.
"No," Sideswipe responded with equally placed belligerence.
There was a shuffle. Light shifted and moved. Weight lifted and moved away. Alexis' hand was grabbed yet again, pulled forward and away as she was led behind Sideswipe.
"Take one step closer to this human and you will regret it," the Autobot threatened.
Managing to lift her head, she found Timothy's gaze. A dominating, possessive darkness shaded his eyes, making her take a step back. The emotions disappeared quickly, replaced with an impeccable calmness that she was more familiar with.
Alexis grabbed the tablet out of Sideswipe's hand and forced a smile on her face. "We were just talking, Sideswipe. Everything is okay."
The red-headed Autobot analyzed her for a moment. Huffing with frustration, he left them alone. Somehow, Alexis knew he was waiting outside the room, prepared to battle once more with Tim. Just what had her brother been telling the Autobot to make him so aggressive? Or did it still have to do with what Timothy did to his brother? And was that same remembered confrontation why Timothy had been so rude? Or was it something else?
"Alexis, why are you trembling? I did not mean to frighten you."
Alexis lifted up her eyes, warmed by Timothy's concern. "You didn't frighten me."
"Then tell me what is going on."
Shifting her body down to the floor, Timothy followed, settling his body on his knees. How could she tell him that suddenly she felt like she was back on the Decepticon base, that it was his unexpected display of pugnacity that had her seeing Thundercracker behind her, Starscream from above? That even still she felt their presence lingering around the edges of her consciousness, making her feel caged in and wrestling for control?
She tried to tell him, somehow feeling vulnerable. He listened to her words. When Alexis saw the rising of conflict in the depths of his gray eyes, he unexpectedly pulled her forward, strong arms wrapping her an embrace.
"You are now with me, Alexis. Nothing is going to happen to you," Tim assured her. One of his hands brushed through her hair and traveled down her back. "I won't let it."
"You had something you wanted to tell me," Alexis pushed forth out of nervousness, trying to ignore where his fingers were resting. An odd tingling sensation climbed up her spine.
"It was nothing," Timothy said. Alexis heard anguish in his tone, a bitterness as well, one that had his arms tighten around her. "Nothing at all. Just stay with me for a little while."
She nodded her head and relaxed against her friend, wondering when he became her safe haven. The thoughts of the Decepticon base and all she had endured, slipped away as contentment and a stirring calm enveloped them both.