Stormwind keeps his gaze lowered as he walks into the schoolyard three days later and glances uncertainly back at the entrance where his carrier still is standing. Thundercracker nods encouragingly to him with a reassuring smile on his lips and Stormwind tries to draw comfort from it. But his creators simply don't understand how it is to face everyone at school after the incident. Of the horror of watching himself in the news. Because―of course―someone had taken live footage of the Polyhexian Cartel showing up in the city-state with the lowest crime rate on the planet due to it housing the Joint Investigation Unit's global headquarters and sold it to all the news media, exposing him to the world.
"Stormwind!"
The yell of his name causes his wings to tense and he looks toward the voice.
Windrunner comes running at him and Stormwind mentally prepares for what is about to happen. But instead of making a lot out of it, Windrunner simply pulls him into a fierce hug, the large shuttle wings on her back vibrating with emotions as she almost chokes him.
"Are you okay?" She asks worried against his audial, pulling away and allowing him to breathe.
He looks into her optics, only seeing worry for him, and feels like breaking down again. He draws a deep breath and lets it out slowly, barely preventing tears from filling his optics. Now is not the place to have a mental breakdown, or he will be the laughingstock of the whole school for years to come.
"I guess you saw." He says, trying to sound like himself.
Windrunner scoffs, a wry smile growing on her lips. "I think the whole planet did. You are famous now: The great Stormwind facing off against the infamous Polyhexian Cartel, causing them to turn tail at his mere presence!"
His wings droop at her comment, and she cringes. "Too early to lighten it?"
That makes him feel better and smile because it is simply how Windrunner is and he needs normalcy. He couldn't bear it if those around him suddenly acted differently because of what he had experienced. It fills him with reassurance to see her be herself around him.
"No. It is just... I don't know." He tries to find the words to explain how he feels after the encounter with Nightflow and Torment, but it all still feels surreal. No words can make those around him understand his experience or the fact that the worst of it actually had been the media exposure more than his face-to-face meeting with numerous murderous criminals.
But he might be biased after his talk about Torment with his carrier. The new insight into the sire had removed the worst of the fear he had felt.
The bell rings and they hurry to find their classroom. Having every gaze follow him as he finds his seat is still unpleasant, but having Windrunner by his side and intimidating anyone about to make a comment with a glare makes it more bearable.
He finds peace in math and history, and the four hours before first recess pass in the blink of an optic. He follows Windrunner into the schoolyard during the break, and they gather their little gang of close friends at the usual spot halfway up the stairs to the entrance to the enormous school complex.
Questions get asked, and he tells his friends what he feels comfortable sharing. Mostly keeping to the information they already would have gained from the news media. It still feels too early to talk openly about it, and he purposely keeps silent about Nightflow. Some of the things he heard Torment and his new friend talk about makes him protective of the other youngling. And it is not like he ever will see him again.
The bell rings prematurely, and they all look around in confusion until the principal's voice sounds over the speakers, ordering them back to their respective classrooms and to stay there.
They rise from the steps and are about to follow the order when they hear sirens approaching, and Stormwind is momentarily sent back to the incident. Turning to the sound, he stares as five Joint Investigation Unit enforcers in two-wheeled alt-modes in procession drive into the school's parking lot, closely followed by a massive black and dark grey bearcat.
Everyone stares as the procession circles the parking lot and comes to a perfect stop at the schoolyard's entrance.
The enforcers transform out of alt-mode, scanning their surroundings and the air while the bearcat remains as it is, and Stormwind gets a strange feeling looking at it―as if he knows it.
One of the enforcers walks into the schoolyard and approaches him. "You are needed, Stormwind. Please come with us."
He looks at his friends and becomes aware of all the unwanted attention suddenly on him from everyone still in the schoolyard.
So much for normalcy.
"Why?" He asks, bewildered.
"That is confidential, but know that Prowl has approved of this. You can contact him to confirm it."
When he does so, Prowl confirms the enforcer speaks true. His god-creator sounds more tense and annoyed than usual and it puzzles him. But whatever is going on, for some inconceivable reason, they need him.
With a clueless shrug to his friends, he follows the enforcer to the bearcat. Its door opens for him as he approaches and he looks one last time back at his friends before he gets into it, the door closing.
"Stormwind!"
He whips around to stare at Nightflow in the seat behind him as the bearcat sets into motion and drives out of the school's parking lot, following the enforcers.
"What are you doing here!" He cries out in pure shock, unable to believe what he sees.
"Seeing you, of course!" Nightflow says unconcerned, smiling broadly.
"I can see that! But why?! It isn't safe! You could get hurt!"
Nightflow chuckles, patting his seat with a mischievous, knowing grin. "We couldn't be safer than where we are right now."
Stormwind fills with dread as he looks at the interior, finally realizing why the bearcat had felt familiar.
"Relax, Stormwind." Torment's voice comes from everywhere around him. "Your god-creator has sanctioned this visit. Prowl will meticulously follow every step I take while I'm here. You have nothing to fear from me."
"T-T-that is good to know, s-sir." He remarks while starting to hyperventilate―his spark pulsing so fast it feels like he can't breathe.
Torment's interior smoothly shifts around to give him more room and not have it feel so claustrophobic. "Breathe, Stormwind. Slowly in. Slowly out." He gets guided as they drive down one of Praxus's many main roads, the traffic making way for them without knowing who the bearcat is.
Finally, his spark pulse slows to a more normal rate, but he is still uncomfortable with the situation.
"Are you feeling better now?" Torment asks worriedly, sounding like any other caring creator.
"Yes, sir."
Torment laughs softly, something Stormwind would have thought impossible for a sire like him. But the sound is genuine and he feels nothing but protectiveness from the field surrounding him and Nightflow. "No need to be so formal, Stormwind. I'm only here as a safety precaution while Nightflow visits you. You can ignore me completely if it makes you feel more at ease."
"Thank you, s-err, I mean-..." He cringes when his vocalizer refuses to voice the sire's name. But Torment only lets out a sound of humor and goes silent―giving him the complete illusion of a non-sentient vehicle when the surrounding field gets pulled in taut and becomes barely detectable.
"So, what fun places do you have in Praxus?" Nightflow asks him curiously, optics looking expectantly at him.
Nightflow's energy is contagious, and it doesn't take long before Stormwind has forgotten everything about Torment's presence as he and his new friend enjoy their time together. He shows Nightflow all the most popular places Praxus has to offer and they have the best time of their life, learning more about each other and strengthening their friendship.
"It is time for us to go, Nightflow." Torment comments as the sky starts to darken and the day draws to an end. Nightflow protests loudly, but he and his creator are needed at home. Nightflow's carrier waiting for them.
When Torment stops before the Joint Investigation Unit's headquarters, Stormwind sees Prowl waiting for him in the shadow of one of the massive pillars in front of the entrance to the enormous building. He says goodbye to Nightflow, hugging his friend before stepping out of Torment's alt-mode. Torment pulls away and vanishes down the road, weaving into the evening traffic now tailed by the five enforcers as they clearly see the sire out of the city-state.
Prowl walks over to him. "Are you okay, Stormwind?"
He looks at his god-creator, his optics narrowing as he tries to understand Prowl's reasoning for doing this. Torment is a wanted criminal, one of the worst out there if he understands correctly. And yet, Prowl had allowed Torment into the city-state.
"Why?" He demands to know.
"Why did I allow it, or why didn't I tell you beforehand?" Prowl asks rhetorically.
"Both, now that you mention it."
"Torment and I have a special connection, if you will. We understand and respect each other. I didn't like it, but having Torment in our debt benefits us, and indulging the request for a friend for his creation seemed like a lesser evil, especially since you already met and seemed to get along. As for why I didn't inform you beforehand, it had to be kept strictly confidential to protect you. Torment has enemies everywhere and they have ways to get information."
Prowl crouches and puts his hands on Stormwind's shoulders, looking at him with the most severe optics Stormwind has ever seen him with.
"If I felt you were in danger, I would have stepped in. I'm sorry that I used you like this without your prior consent, but it was an opportunity I felt I couldn't let go of. And you needed to see Torment in a different situation without his people around him. To see the side of him that few gets to see. Yes, he is a dangerous criminal, but he is also a creator and would give his life to protect you without hesitation."
"Because of his history with my creators."
Prowl looks down with a sigh of frustration, then back up at him again.
"No, Stormwind. Not only because of that. You are important to Torment because of who he is to you. As your second god-creator, he always has and always will play a role in your life as someone you can rely on whenever you need help. Until now, he has kept a distance for obvious reasons, but after your run-in with Nightflow and media exposure, he contacted me to discuss this visit and his wish to become a more present presence in your life."
Stormwind stares dumbfounded at his god-creator, slowly letting the words sink in but still unable to understand what Prowl is saying.
He has Torment as his second god-creator?
Why had his creators not told him that after his run-in with the sire?!
Prowl pulls something out of subspace, and Stormwind stares bewildered at the spherical device in his god-creator's hand.
"This is a gift from Torment. It is like the device Nightflow has installed to protect him. After your unwanted media exposure and semi-confirmed relation to him, Torment thought you could need the extra protection in case some of his enemies decided to examine your connection to him closer. It is all up to you if you want it. I have had my people check it, and it is safe."
Stormwind takes the sphere, turns it around in his hand, and feels warmth in his spark. A smile spreads on his lips as things finally begin to make sense, and the remaining fear lingering from his first encounter with Torment and his people evaporates.
"I do want it." He answers, cherishing the gift and the message Torment sends with it. It is still overwhelming to learn he has a wanted criminal as his second god-creator, and there are countless questions he wants to ask the sire the next time they meet.
He looks up from the device and meets Prowl's optics. "I can see him again, right?"
There is a resigned sigh from his god-creator, Prowl rubbing his forehead in mild frustration.
"I will see what I can do. It might take some time. But yes, you can see Torment again."
