(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; just Anwen)
(Authors Note: Hello again dear readers, fellow fangirls/boys, nerds, gamers and fleshies (LOL). I'm so glad you're enjoying this story so far because I am having so much fun writing it and uploading new chapters for all of you. I love the positive feedback from your comments and take most of my inspiration from them. So, thanks for the good vibes and showing your support for this story. Also, I'll try to upload some more content soon, but I can't guarantee it'll be as quickly as you may wish it to be. I do still have my other FF's to work on and update soon, but honestly, I've dedicated a lot of my time to this particular story because of how much positive feedback it's been getting. I blame you guys LOL But that's okay because I enjoy writing this story as much as you all enjoy reading it...more so because I am the mistress of my mind and know exactly how things will play out ;) But I'm still glad you're lovin' it. So from the depths of my spark, thank you so much for the inspiration and the likes. Until we meet again, stay safe, stay warm, stay sane and stay awesome!)
"English/French"
'Mental thoughts'
"Flashbacks" (and sometimes sarcasm)
{Cybertronian}
::Sparkbonds::
:Speaker talk:
::Comm. Link::
*:Phone calls:*
Chapter 10
Shortly after 0800 Sunstreaker's Comm. link notified him that his brother was calling. With a sigh, he answered, ::What is it, Sideswipe?::
::Hey Sunny, I've got some amazing news to share with you.::
::You better not be calling to tell me you've tampered with Ironhide's cannons again.::
::Not this time. Although, it has been a while since I've pranked him... But that's not why I'm calling. I actually wanted to talk to you about Anwen.::
At the mention of the redheaded femme in question, Sunstreaker slowed in his pace as he continued on his route, ::What about her? Is she okay?::
::Oh yea, she's fine. Why do you ask?::
::Because she informed me earlier that she's been getting muscular aches in her chest.::
::Primus, has she spoken to Ratchet about it?::
::Yes. Apparently he assured her that it's nothing to be concerned about.::
There was a pause before he asked, ::Do you think it's spark related?::
::Humans don't have sparks.::
::I know that. I'm just wondering if it's because of us.::
He vented a sigh, ::It would seem so. Ratchet informed me that apparently the two of us are in the process of forming a sparkbond with her.::
::Really,:: he asked in a surprised, yet excited tone. ::I guess that explains the tugging sensations in our sparks whenever she's present or thought of. I wonder if it's the same with her.::
::I don't know. None of this should even be possible. She's human and we're Cybertronian. We shouldn't be compatible in that sort of sense.::
::And yet, here we are,:: there was an obvious smile in his voice, to which Sunstreaker mentally rolled his optics.
::Yes; but you do realize that sooner or later Anwen is going to have to know about all this.::
::I know. I don't want to scare her away, but I also don't want to push her into something she might not be ready for. I mean, she's only 19 in human years.::
::That may be so; but if we wait too long, she may wish to be with someone of her own kind and that could be fatal to all of us.::
::What do you mean,:: Sideswipe asked in a concerned tone.
*sigh* ::Ratchet informed me that if a potential sparkbond is rejected or abruptly severed, it could be fatal. So not only would we likely offline, but Anwen would also perish as a result.::
::...No...Not Ani. I don't think my spark could handle it if she offlined.::
::If it was any other human I would disagree, but since it's not, I'm inclined to agree with you.::
::So, what should we do?::
::I don't know. But I think we need to speak to Ratchet about this. He's the only one who would have any sort of advice relating to matters of the spark.::
::True. Do you want me to speak to him now or wait until you finish your patrol?::
::I would prefer to hear what he has to say, so hold off on that until I return to base.::
::Can do. By the way, I almost forgot to tell you that the reason why I contacted you is because I invited Anwen to hang out with us this weekend, and she said yes.::
At that, Sunstreaker stopped in his tracks. Was he surprised? Of course! He mentally composed himself and continued on his way as Sideswipe's voice broke the silence. ::You still there, Sunny?::
While he wanted to be annoyed at the use of that Pit forsaken nickname, he couldn't bring himself to be pissy at the moment. ::Yea. I'm just thinking about what you said.::
::I figured as much,:: again with that knowing smirk in his tone. ::Now the question is: what sort of things does she like?::
::How the frag should I know? You've spent more time with her than I have.::
::True. Oh, I'll ask Maggie. She hangs out with Anwen more than any other human on base. Surely she'd know what sorts of things she likes.::
*sigh* ::Alright, but leave out the whole sparkbonding thing. She doesn't need to know about it, nor is it a good idea to inform any of the humans of our current situation. They're quick to judge and discriminate against things that are beyond their understanding and comprehension.::
::Don't worry, Sunny. I'm not gonna tell anyone about our situation with Ani.::
::Good. The last thing we need is for all the humans to voice their opinions on the matter or remove Anwen from base.::
At that, Sideswipe felt his spark sink within its casing. No. He didn't want Anwen to be taken away. He'd sooner let Ironhide use him for target practice than allow the humans to separate him and his brother from their chosen mate. After a few moments of silence, Sunstreaker asked ::You still there, Sideswipe?::
::Yea, I'm still here. Sorry about that...I was lost in thought.::
::Why am I not surprised,:: he grunted. ::Look, don't get yourself all worked up over this situation. Just focus on getting the information you need and I'll see you when I return.::
::Alright. Talk to you later, Sunny.::
::Don't call me Sunny!:: There was a chuckle on Sideswipe's end of the Comm. link before their conversation ended, leaving Sunstreaker to his thoughts once more.
XXXXX
-1200-
Maggie was on her way towards the chow hall for lunch when her cellphone rang and Sideswipe's name appeared across the screen, "This is Maggie speaking. How can I help you, Sideswipe?"
*:Hey, Maggie. I'm calling you because I have a couple questions that I'm hoping you could answer for me.:*
"I'm guessing they pertain to a certain redhead?"
There was a pause before he responded, *:How did you know?:*
"Oh please, I'm not as dense as you might think. You and your brother are practically all she talks about nowadays...at least when she's around me. It's obvious that she likes you, but whether that's just on friendly terms or not is still a mystery to me."
*:Are you going to chastise her or tell your coworkers?:*
She frowned at the idea, "Absolutely not! It's not my place to judge who she likes or dislikes, nor is it my place to gossip about her personal life. She's her own woman and can make her own decisions. So you and your brother can rest easy knowing that I have no intentions on interfering with whatever is going on between the three of you. However, if either of you hurt her in any sort of way, I will not hesitate to take a screwdriver to your frames and slash your tires while you recharge. Got it?"
Primus, she was scary when provoked. Yes, Sunstreaker brought unnecessary harm to Anwen the other day, but he did apologize and express his deepest regrets and remorse. Now, he had learned his lesson and was working hard to stay in her good graces and prove that underneath his rough (shiny) exterior lies a gentle, caring and devoted mech. It would take time for her to fully trust him and see him in a different light, but Sunstreaker was willing to do whatever it took to earn her trust.
*:On my oath as an Autobot, you have my word that neither myself or my brother will harm Anwen.:*
"Good. Now, what is it that you wanted to ask me?" She sat on a bench outside of the chow hall, deciding to wait on her lunch until after their conversation ended. Whenever that might be.
*:Well, what sort of things does Ani like?:*
She smiled and answered in a casual tone, "I may need you to be a bit more specific because she likes a lot of things."
*:Okay then: What kind of movies does she prefer?:*
"Well, she usually prefers to watch sci-fi or fantasy films, but she also enjoys a good adventure, comedy or animated film here and there. Of course, she hates chick flicks with a passion. However, there is one that she tolerates and adores. Have you ever heard of Pride and Prejudice, by chance?"
There was a pause before he finally answered, *:I just looked it up. With her dislike for films targeted towards femme's, I wonder why that's her only exception.:*
"When I asked her about it, she said it was because she used to watch the BBC mini series with her Mum when she was still alive. She's also a fan of Jane Austen's writings, so perhaps that's another reason for liking the film so much. Now, don't tell her that I told you all this."
*:Don't worry; as far as anyone is concerned, this conversation is classified.:*
"Good to hear. Now, what else would you like to know?"
*:Well, aside from watching movies, swimming and rollerblading, what else does she like to do for fun in her spare time?:*
"Oh, she loves to read, draw in her sketchbook, loom knit and play video games. She doesn't really like spending too much time outdoors when it's overly sunny outside. Because of her fair skin, she's more susceptible to sunburns, so her commute back and forth to work is about the extent of time she's willing to spend outdoors unless she applies plenty of sunblock beforehand."
*:Noted,:* he stored that bit of information in the back of his processor. He certainly didn't want to plan a midday outdoor activity that would result in Anwen's flesh burning. He'd seen the damage sunburns could do to a human's skin and wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone Ani. No. His mind was set: any outdoor activity with her would have to be carefully planned out in advance.
*:So, what kind of things does she like to consume? I know from her file that she doesn't have any food-related allergies, but is there anything in particular that she prefers over other forms of sustenance?:*
"Well, that's a tough question because she's not very picky when it comes to her meals. Although, I've noticed that she becomes rather nauseous whenever she smells chicken noodle soup or sees cans of it on the store shelf. I didn't want to ask her about it, but I have a gut feeling that it has something to do with her time spent in foster care. Again, that's just my theory. It's not something that needs to be brought up, but if she wants to talk about it, that's up to her."
*:I see. I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thank you for sharing this information with me.:*
"Of course. Now, if you have any other questions, feel free to call."
*:Noted. Thanks again, Maggie.:*
"No worries, Sides," With that, she hung up her cellphone and got up from the bench to head inside the chow hall for lunch.
XXXXX
Anwen was sitting off in the corner, eating a bowl of pozole and a slice of freshly baked jalapeno cornbread when she spotted the Aussie woman approaching her. "Bonjour, Maggie. I was wondering when you'd leave the office. Has Prowl increased your workload or something?"
She shook her head and gave the young ginger a smile as she set her tray down and took a seat, "Not recently, no. I was actually delayed because I had to take a phone call. You know how those can sometimes drag on."
"Oui, I know. But it can't be helped. I remember all the times my brother would call me and we'd talk for almost an hour or longer if he was able to do so," she got quiet for a moment and took a small bite of her pozole before speaking once more, "Anyways, I hope your morning started off better than mine did."
Maggie knew she was just changing the topic because she was on the verge of crying. She hated seeing her like this, for she knew Anwen adored and looked up to her brother. This whole ordeal with not hearing from him or his team was taking its toll on the speckled redhead, and she could see how much she hated being left in the dark. Not wanting to cause further turmoil, Maggie simply shook her head at the statement, "Not really. I accidentally forgot to switch the toaster dial back to my preferred setting. I had increased the temperature the other day because I was toasting up a bagel, so as a result of my forgetfulness, I had burnt toast and jam this morning as opposed to my non-burnt wheat bread."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Eh, no worries. Spread enough jam on something and you can hardly tell that it tastes like charcoal," she smirked as she sipped her cranberry juice.
That got a laugh out of Anwen, which was then followed by a slight groan as a sudden cramp struck her, "Merde (Fuck)..."
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry that I made you laugh. I forgot about...you know…"
She shook her head and waved it off, "C'est bon (It's fine). I've been this way off and on all day. Besides, I don't like not being able to laugh." Anwen took a sip of her water and smiled, "But that aside, you want to hear something amazing?"
"Of course; what is it?"
A speck of pink dusted her cheeks as she whispered, "Sunstreaker offered me a ride to work this morning and I said yes."
Maggie nearly spat out her juice in shock, "WHAT?!" Lowering her voice, she then asked, "How the flying fuck did that happen?!"
She shrugged, "I honestly don't know. I'm still amazed that I've been able to have civil conversations with him, but as to why he offered me a ride: I don't know why he made an exception with me."
"I can't believe he actually did that! He hates humans and the thought of any of us even being permitted to ride in his alternative form is incomprehensible. Truly, I am in awe of you, Anwen Bleu. You've accomplished something no human ever has and likely never will again."
At that, she fully blushed at the gravity of that feat. Maggie was right: No human had ever ridden inside Sunstreaker's alt form because of his strong dislike and distrust of humans in general. As her mind drifted off, she then heard her ask, "So, what's he like on the inside?"
Anwen could see that she was on the edge of her seat as her eyes were wide with curiosity and her attention was completely focused on what she had to say. "Umm, well, he's much like his brother in terms of interior design, but there's several differences between the two." A small smile crossed her lips as she thought about how utterly sexy he smelled. "He's almost as golden on the inside as he is on the outside, and his seats have a luxurious feel to them. Oh, and his scent...mon Dieu (my God), I can't quite put it into words. Of course, Sideswipe also has an amazing smell to his interior as well…"
"You don't say," she smirked.
"Pardon (Sorry) for rambling...I got a little carried away," she took a bite of her cornbread while she felt the familiar tugging sensation in her chest. However, instead of the achy, cramping feeling she was accustomed to, it was now gentle and warm...if that was even possible. She mentally shrugged it off and returned to her lunch with Maggie.
XXXXX
-Later-
Even though the clock read 1600, Anwen wasn't in a rush to head home for the night. Sure, she had already logged off her computer and donned her rollerblades, but because of the cramping in her uterus, she opted to take her commute slower than usual. Upon entering the hangar, she spotted Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet casually conversing with Lennox, Epps and several other male soldiers. Instead of their cargo pants and t-shirts, all the soldiers were now in workout clothes (grey tank tops, black shorts and tennis shoes), to which she figured they were either preparing for a run, or about to head over to the gym.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Epps waved her over, "Bleu, you headin' over to the pool for some laps?"
She rolled over to the group and shook her head, "Not today, unfortunately."
"Why's that," Will asked, a bit surprised. He knew Anwen was a religious swimmer/skater and made a point to do both activities on a daily basis. To hear her turn down the opportunity to swim was almost unthinkable.
Before Ratchet could point out the obvious (damn his heightened senses), Anwen opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Marcus Delaine's annoying voice: "What's up my dudes! You guys ready to hit up the gym? Oh, hey there, Bleu cheese; you gonna join us for an afternoon workout?"
She frowned and shook her curly, red head, "No, not today. I'm not in the mood to do much of anything at the moment."
"Aw, why not? Are you on your period or something?"
Everyone else present saw the young ginger suddenly tense up at that statement before they noticed her hands had balled into fists while her face turned completely red. She turned her head to face him and answered in a sarcastic tone, "Why yes, Delaine, I AM in fact on my period. Thank you so much for asking that completely unnecessary and inappropriate question. Really, I don't mind being publicly embarrassed or reminded of the fact that my uterus has decided to punish me once more for not bearing offspring. By the way, have you ever felt like your insides were slowly tearing themselves apart; or have had uncontrollable bleeding for several days on end? No? Then do me a favor and shut your putain de bouche (goddamn mouth) before I tear it off your face!"
Everyone else stood there stunned while Marcus held up his hands in surrender. "Damn, Bleu cheese, you need to chill."
"She has every right to be pissed at you," Jazz replied in a serious tone.
"Agreed," Ratchet stated as he crossed his arms and bore holes into the man's skull with his optics, while Ironhide narrowed his own optics at him and growled:
"I think it would be in your best interest if you left the vicinity."
"Tch, whatever. See ya guys at the gym. Later, Bleu cheese." He then headed out of the hangar, to which everyone present turned their attention back to the young ginger.
"Before anyone asks: Yes, I'll be fine." While the humans remained skeptical, the Autobots knew otherwise: Anwen was so physically upset that her whole body was tense and trembling with rage. Her heart rate had increased (but not in a good way like when she was around the twins) and was practically thundering in her chest.
Sensing her immediate distress, Jazz ushered the other humans away from her while Ratchet and Ironhide remained nearby. "You wanna blow off some steam, ginger squishy? You look like you could stand to shoot something."
She nodded and looked up at him with glassy amber eyes, "Oui…"
"Before you take her over to the shooting range, Ironhide, I must ask that she remain here until she calms down and her heart rate returns to normal. She's showing symptoms of a panic attack and I don't want her to overexert herself. I'll stay with her while you set up some targets out back."
With a nod, he headed out of the hangar, to which Ratchet transformed and activated his holoform, "Anwen, I must ask that you sit in my cab for a few minutes and do some deep breathing exercises. Your heart rate is rather high at the moment and I cannot allow you to leave while in this state of panic until your at optimal function and your nerves are calm. Alright?"
With a nod, she approached his vehicle form and climbed into the front seat where she leaned back, closed her eyes, and deeply inhaled and exhaled. As she did this, Ratchet monitored her pulse and sent a private message to the twins, informing them to come over to the hangar asap. He knew they were likely feeling some irregular spark pulses due to the bond that was developing between them and the young redhead.
Not even a minute later, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe appeared and transformed. "What's going on, Ratchet?"
His holoform looked up at the silver frontliner from where he stood beside his passenger door, "Anwen is recovering from a minor panic attack."
"Is she okay," Sunstreaker asked, concerned.
Before he could answer, Anwen's voice chimed in, "Oui, I'll be fine. Merci for your inquiry."
He gave a nod before Ratchet sent him and his brother a PM asking if he could scan their chests for any irregular spark fluctuations, to which they agreed. Pulling out a replica of his laser from his pocket, the Autobot CMO aimed it at the younger mechs and thoroughly scanned over their chests where their sparks resided underneath the layers of armor, their protoforms and their protective casings. Aside from their spark rates being slightly higher than normal, they were stable. Thank Primus.
While calming herself down, Anwen opened her eyes and focused on the twins, "I'm sorry for worrying you both."
Sideswipe shook his helm and knelt beside Ratchet's alt form where he then gently ran the back of his index digit across her cheek, "Ani, you have nothing to apologize for. Sunny and I are just glad you're okay." His brother gave a nod of agreement despite wanting to hunt down whoever it was that put her in this current state of emotional turmoil. "Hey, would you like to go for a drive around the island?"
"I'd love to," she replied with a faint smile. "But I'd like to meet Ironhide at the shooting range for a bit of target practice first; if that's alright?"
"Fine by us," stated Sunstreaker. "Do you mind if we joined you or would you prefer that we wait here?"
"You're welcomed to join me." She then looked over at Ratchet's holoform, "I'm feeling much better now. Merci for offering to let me sit in your alt form while I calmed my nerves."
"Of course, young one," he then helped her down from the seat and dismissed the holoform before transforming once more.
