Sideswipe has realized he likes you, but you're terrified of him. Ironhide and Lennox try to get you two together, but is it too late?

(Y/D)'s P.O.V.
Ironhide, Dino, and Bumblebee ask me to join them playing a game. Hard to believe Ironhide took the time to create a cybertronian sized deck of cards. We can play Cybertronian games, but tonight we're playing an Earth have called rummy five-hundred. Ironhide explains the rules as we walk to the lounge room. The rules are simple, and the game sounds fun.

Ironhide opens the door, and I immediately see him.
"Y-you didn't tell me he'd be there."
I try to leave, but Ironhide stops me. Sideswipe looks worried rather than pleased that I'm terrified right now.
"You're safe," Ironhide says as he walks me to the table.
I try to relax as we play, worried Sideswipe is going to lash out at me.
We play a few rounds before we all decide to go to bed.
"Good night, (Y/D)," Sideswipe says before leaving the room.

Sideswipe's P.O.V.
I can tell this isn't going to work, even though we just started trying to get (Y/D) not to be afraid of me. I've done the damage, to the point even compliments will be lies to her.

(Y/D) continues to join us playing games and watching T.V. for the next week — even though she knows I'm with the others — but she's still terrified of me. I know a week is not long, but I still feel like there's no chance.

Ironhide still suggests increasing how often I am around (Y/N).
"You sure about this?"
"Fourteen hours a week does seem like a lot, but I think it's good to increase how often she sees you."
Ironhide and I activate our holoforms and get breakfast.

(Y/N) is with the other femme cybertronians. She looks to see who just sat at the table, not liking it's me.
"Good morning, (Y/D)," I say.
Lennox advises, for now, only to stick to this simple sentence and 'good night' unless she engages in conversation. She continues to ignore me.

One month later, I still can't say anything beyond 'good morning' and 'good night.' Ironhide and Lennox tell me not to give up, but I think I should. Why am I surprised? My parents didn't want my brother or me.

I go to the archives room to cry.

(Y/D)'s P.O.V.
Lennox asked me to put some files away in the archives room. I thought I heard crying but thought nothing of it until I see Sideswipe. I may be as shy as frag, but I hate seeing anybot cry.
"Sideswipe?" I sit next to him, aware I may be yelled at. He continues to cry as if he's been hiding the need to cry for a while, "Sideswipe, what's wrong?"
"I-I... I'm sorry," he struggles to say while crying, "I-I know you won't believe me..."
He stops himself.
"What won't I believe, Sideswipe?"
"I'm sorry for being an aft and...I have come to love you."
"You love how I'm an easy target."
"No," he says and takes my hands, "I love you. I want to be together. As the Humans say, I want to be your boyfriend."
"No, you don't even know me!"
I didn't think he'd let me go to be able to run out of the room.

I run down the hall and bump into Ironhide's holoform.
"What's wrong?"
"Sideswipe! He's trying to get me to lower my guard by claiming he loves me!"

Ironhide takes me to Lennox's office, which is odd.
"No, (Y/D), he loves you," Lennox agrees with Ironhide after he tells me the story.
"You have much to learn about the human body and our holoforms," Ironhide explains.
The two mechs explain what I'm missing. They insist I give Sideswipe a chance.

Sideswipe catches Ironhide and me walking down the hall and asks if we want to watch T.V. Ironhide looks at me, silently asking if he can leave me alone with Sideswipe. I nod but feel like I'll regret my decision.
"I have things to do," Ironhide says, "behave Sideswipe!" He threatens before walking away.
"Want to learn some common Earth snacks?" Sideswipe asks.
"S-sure."

Sideswipe shows me how humans like popcorn and some types of candy. He let me watch closely. I feel bad, he said, 'to make sure I'm not poisoning the snacks.'
I let him sit next to me as we watch the movie. He stays quiet during the movie and only thanks me when it's over. I invite him to my room — aware it could be a mistake.

"This is nicely decorated," he compliments as he sits on the bed with me.
Sideswipe nervously tries to start a conversation. I ask him how he changed his mind from thinking I'm an easy target to falling in love with me. It's creepy he's been watching me, but he quickly changed from thinking I'm a target to wanting me to be his...or is this a trick?
We end up watching T.V. in my room; Sideswipe holding me close as we sit on the couch.
"You are beautiful; both your bipedal form and holoform," Sideswipe complements.
I return the compliment, but I still struggle to relax near him — or maybe I can relax considering we watched T.V. for three hours. He's been hanging out with me for five hours now.
"Let's go get dinner," Sideswipe suggests, "can we go out, or are you not ready yet?"
"I...um..."
"It's ok if you want to stay at the base for now. I know I messed up, but I truly love you. I know it'll take time for you to be ok dating me."

One month later

I see what Sideswipe means; I've fallen for him. It's hard to believe this is the grumpy mech who was aft to me.
"Well, here you are," Sideswipe says as we reach my room after our third date out of the base, "it's been nice even though I've had to earn your —."
I interrupt him with a kiss — after I unlocked the door allowing Sideswipe to push me into the room and onto my bed.
"Sleepover?" He smiles as we end the kiss.
"My boyfriend sleeping with me sounds like a great idea."