Title: Hydrophobia
Rating: K
Continuity: G1
Characters: Ironhide, Optimus Prime
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Prompt: #3. Scenario: Someone being scared of something others don't mind
Ironhide didn't like water. It was just a fact of life. He didn't mind other liquids – oil, energon, mercury, whatever – but water, that was something he could not stand.
The others didn't care either way. Sure, if you weren't careful, you'd rust, but that was only if you got lax and lazy. So they didn't mind. Some even enjoyed it; Jazz would drag Prowl out for long drives in the rain. Sideswipe absolutely adored playing in the mud – his Twin hated that, of course, and most of the Arc figured that was probably a deciding factor in Sideswipe's enjoyment.
But Ironhide... he hated it. Hated the rain, hated the snow, hated the standing pools of it, hated it frozen, liquid, or vaporized.
There was a reason; he had been infected with a bad case of rust once in his long history, on a small organic planet long, long before. But he wasn't telling anyone. He wasn't telling that he had almost died, the rust invading his processors and spark chamber.
So most mechs just figured he had an illogical fear of water. Hydrophobia, Jazz had called it, grinning all the while.
Ironhide had just grunted and left the Rec Room.
Because he knew he wouldn't ever be able to convince them. It wasn't fear. He could go out in it, did go out in it, when he had to. He just didn't like it. At all.
It wasn't fear, he told himself over and over, every time he saw the water that covered this planet. It was dislike, and that was that. Dislike, hate. He wasn't scared. He wasn't some little weakling, quivering in his armor at the first hint of a storm.
"Hello, Ironhide," a deep voice rumbled, and he jumped, whirling away from where he was staring out the entrance of the Arc, watching the rain spatter on the ground. "I will admit, I never thought I would find you watching the rain."
"Yeah, well," the red mech rumbled back, reaching up and running one hand along his helm crest. "I've been doin' some thinkin'."
"I see," the Prime said, and Ironhide could hear the smile in his voice. "You know, Old Friend, fear is nothing to be ashamed of."
Ironhide cursed the Matrix. Why did it have to give Optimus telepathy? Or maybe that's just how he had always been, and the Matrix had nothing to do with it? "I ain't afraid."
Optimus just blinked at him, that indulgent smile still hidden behind the mask. "Ironhide, fear is fine. Fear is natural. It helps us survive. The mark of a true mech, of true bravery, is facing the fear and not letting it overcome you."
"I ain't afraid, Prime."
"Of what, Ironhide?"
The red mech shifted, grinding the gears in his jaw. "I'm... I ain't..."
"Ironhide..." the Prime said, exasperation coloring his voice. There was a quiet chuckle hidden in the words too.
Ironhide frowned. Optimus clasped a hand on his shoulder plating, then turned and walked away, heavy pedesteps echoing down the hall.
Once more, dark blue optics turned back to the rain. Ironhide debated going out in it, just to prove that he could. That he could face this... obstacle... and overcome it.
Ah, frag. Maybe he did fear it...