Authors Notes- Here I am back again with yet another chapter of Getting Under Her Armor. As you can gather by now I don't own Transformers. That belongs to Hasbro. And that's all I have to say on that. So here we go onward to Chapter Seven I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Seven: Restless Nights.
She knew she was supposed to be resting. And she tried to rest. But recharge seemed to allude poor Arcee, as she sat on the medical table, looking down at her hands. Her thoughts going a mile a minute. And that aside the unbearable silence didn't really help much. Perhaps some fresh air would do her some good, looking around the medbay Arcee could see that the others were in a deep recharge, as she got to her feet. Casting one final glance at the others Arcee left the medbay. Stepping onto the elevator that would take her to the roof, and to where Cliffjumper's grave was. She leaned against the wall, until the doors slid open, revealing a calm Nevada night. Arcee sighed as she stepped out and peered up at the clear night sky, and the countless stars before her.
Before looking to where Cliffjumper's grave sat, a soft smile forming on her lips. "Hey, partner." She greeted, easing herself down beside the grave, optics staring ahead, arms wrapped around her knees as she did so. "How have you been?" She knew this was silly, Cliffjumper was one with the Allspark. And if anyone saw her like this they would think that she was crazy.
But Arcee liked to come out here to think, and sometimes get things off her chest. And she often wondered what Cliffjumper would think of some of the things they witnessed. Then again, if Cliffjumper were still around then she wouldn't be in this predicament. And when Wheeljack had kissed her she would no doubt respond by punching the wrecker square in the faceplate. Something she really should have done when he had first kissed her, that would have wiped that cocky smirk off of his faceplate.
But she had been so surprised by his actions that she froze. And now that she sat here, the cool night air brushing over her chassis. And now, she didn't know what to think. Looking to Cliffjumper's grave she heaved another sigh.
"I've got to say that things have been rather crazy, the 'Cons nearly took us out during the last mission. Bee and Bulk are hurt...and..." Arcee trailed off, brow furrowed. "Well, if you were alive you would no doubt see right through me. And tell me to, as the humans put so eloquently to stop pussyfooting around the subject and get to the point. To just come right out and say it." Arcee chewed on her bottom lip once more. "Cliff, I've been..." She trailed off once more, looking down at her hands, a frustrated growl escaping her lips.
She had always had such a hard time talking about her feelings. It wasn't something she did, she would rather bottle up her feelings and let her fists or blasters do the talking. Sure, she wasn't completely closed off from people. She had no problem talking with Bumblebee or Jack, and sometimes she would talk with Ratchet. But otherwise it was difficult. And now, even talking to someone who was no longer with her she was having a hard time.
"That's just like you to have a hard time when it came to talking about your feelings. Especially when you were trying to tell me how you felt." A voice whispered in her head. Cliffjumper's voice. A voice she so loved. "In fact, don't you remember? It was me that made the first move." The voice continued.
Arcee blinked, her memories going to back years ago.
On a night just like this one, Arcee taking in a rare moment of peace between battles and searching for whatever energon they could find on this mudball. Arcee took a moment to take a break from all the activity inside the base. The Autobots had been doing well as of late, and the others had decided to celebrate their good luck with a little party. And wouldn't you know it? Somehow Cliffjumper had got his grabby little hands on some high grade. Arcee sat on the ledge, a cube in her hands as she gazed up at the stars. Things had gotten a little rowdy with Bulkhead and Cliffjumper tossing the lob ball along with Bumblebee, and were causing a bit of a racket. Much to poor Ratchet's dismay as the old medic tried to get some work done. And she needed some fresh air, hence why she was out here, taking in the silence.
Or it had been silent until her audios picked up the sound of someone coming up behind her. Looking over her shoulder she saw Cliffjumper coming out of the elevator.
"I was wondering where you went, Cee." Cliffjumper said, moving to sit beside, optics glued on her.
"Needed some fresh air." Arcee said, looking down at the untouched cube in her hands.
"You okay?" He asked, arching an optic brow at her. "Of course, why?" she asked.
Cliffjumper shrugged his shoulders. "You just seem kind of...I dunno off, I guess." He told her. "I've also noticed that whenever we have missions together you seem kind of distant." He added.
Arcee's optics widened slightly, glancing briefly in his direction, before quickly looking away. She had thought he wouldn't notice, but as of late she had been feeling certain way about the red Autobot beside her. She hadn't intended things to be this way. She was a soldier, on a strange new planet fighting the Decepticons along side Optimus Prime. That was why she was here on Earth, to fight a war...Not to...to...Arcee looked away. She couldn't even think of it. It was stupid, it was wrong there was no place in her life, or spark for-
"And I'm going to venture a guess as to why you've been acting odd." Boy, Cliffjumper certainly did love the sound of his own voice, didn't he? "And that is you're hopelessly in love with me." He finished, a grin on his faceplate as those words left his mouth.
And was greeted by silence, as that cocky smile, a smile Arcee found herself to love, one that made her spark skip a beat. A smile that soon disappeared from Cliffjumper's faceplate as Arcee didn't bother to say anything. "Uh, 'Cee?" Cliffjumper spoke, looking to her once more.
Arcee looked away until Cliffjumper moved in front of her, gripping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Cliff, I..." Arcee trailed off again, somehow Cliffjumper had managed to get under her armor, and find out what she had worked so hard to hide. Placing a hand on his wrist she forced herself to meet his steady gaze evenly. "I-"
"Shhhh." Cliffjumper hushed her, his thumb brushing against her bottom lip, before leaning in, his lips pressing against hers ever so slightly.
A kiss that deepened as she wrapped her arms around her neck, pulling him closer.
Arcee remembered that kiss all too well, a faint smile on her lips as she looked to where Cliffjumper lay. Maybe he would want her to move on, as hard as it was, and maybe just maybe Wheeljack would be the one to fill that gap. Sighing Arcee got to her feet and retreated back inside, the doors slid shut as she did. After what seemed like forever she stepped out, and moved to the medbay. Her optics settling on where Wheeljack lay in a deep recharge. Without another thought she moved to stand by his side, taking in the various scars he had obtained through years of battles.
The most noticeable were the ones of his lips. Without much of a thought she reached up, her fingers brushing against his lips. Lips she remembered pressing against hers, a kiss far rougher than Cliffjumper's. Arcee smiled down at him. Funny how things managed to change in a few short hours. Somehow Wheeljack had managed to worm his way into Arcee's spark despite her best efforts, much in the same way Cliffjumper did.
Her fingers trailed down his cheek before she moved away from him, she wondered if Wheeljack felt the same way as she did, perhaps when it was over she would find out. Casting one final glance at him Arcee lay down on her own berth, and soon drifted off into a deep recharge.
Authors Notes- And thus concludes Chapter Seven of Getting Under Her Armor. Sorry this chapter is kind meh but I'm proud of it. And I hope you enjoyed it none the less.