Learning Curve Chapter Six
Sorry for the wait. University classes and moving do not agree with my writing schedules
Disclaimers: Still own nothing
Warnings: Cursing of the Transformers kind and this chapter has never seen a beta.
The next morning, after Ratchet kicked everyone out of the med bay with the guarantee that the other Aerialbots would live to fly another day, Silverbolt once again left with Prime and Prowl. The Concorde was reluctant to leave Fireflight for a second time but Red Alert was quick to promise him that he would look after the younger mech. Only after Fireflight assured his leader that yes it would be okay did Silverbolt allow himself to be led away.
The first thing Red did was take Fireflight to the break room to get some energon. After that, he planned to drag Fireflight off to the washracks to get the remaining dirt and grime from the fight off the jet. The security director pointedly ignored the murmurs that ran through the room when he led Fireflight to his customary table and pushed him into a seat before heading toward the dispenser. He knew the others were just surprised to see him with someone that wasn’t one of the twins or Prowl.
After Red returned they sat for several minutes in silence. Red could tell that Fireflight wanted to say or ask something, but he wasn‘t going to pry it out of the jet. He could wait.
“Why did they need to see Silverbolt again?” Fireflight asked rewarding Red’s patience. “Is he in trouble?”
“They probably just had some loose ends. It’s nothing to worry about,” Red soothed. In truth, he didn’t know exactly why the Prime and Prowl needed to talk to Silverbolt again, but he doubted the Aerialbot leader was in trouble. As he had told Fireflight before, it could have happened to anyone.
"How long do you think they will be?" Fireflight knew he sounded like a sparkling, but he didn't care. He had other things weighing on him. Despite Ratchet's reassurance, he was still concerned about the three in med bay. And despite Red's words, he was worried Silverbolt was indeed in trouble.
"Silverbolt and the others?" Red asked. "Probably not even a few hours."
"When are you due in the Security Room?"
"Not until noon," Red glanced at Fireflight. Something in the younger's tone was nagging at him. He just couldn't figure out what.
"Oh. You think they'll be done by then?" Fireflight somehow sounded both hopeful and desolate at the same time.
The childlike tone wasn't lost on Red. He knew that Fireflight really was asking if he was going to be left by himself. "If they're not you're welcome to come with me. The twins are on their best behavior so I can't promise it'll be exciting though." Red was relieved when Fireflight offered him a smile. It was a small smile but genuine.
After Fireflight was reassured he wouldn't be left to his own devises he started to cheerfully talk about any subject that crossed his processor. If he was as aware as Red that they were the center of attention he didn't let it show.
"What do you make of that?" Sideswipe asked his twin from the threshold of the break room door. They had noticed their brother wasn't alone at his table the second they walked in.
"Don't know," Sunstreaker responded as he pushed the red mech toward the dispenser. "Let's get some energon and go find out." He didn't hide the note of suspicion in his voice.
Sideswipe scoffed at his brother's tone. "Really, Sunny? You're getting paranoid if you think 'Flight...."
"You said the same thing about that idiot fire truck," Sunstreaker cut off his brother. He handed him a full cube and shoved him toward the duo.
Sideswipe was getting tired of the shoving, but wisely said nothing. He knew that Sunstreaker took it very personally whenever anyone messed with one of his brothers. The red twin had decided long ago that it had something to do with him being the oldest.
Red saw his brothers before Fireflight and just managed to stifle a groan at the look Sunstreaker was sporting. The last thing Fireflight needed after his less than stellar night was a Lambo on a territorial power trip.
: Sunny, I am only going to tell you this once. Be nice to 'Flight: Red sent over the bond he shared with his brothers. It wasn't as strong as the one between the twins, but it was effective.
Sunstreaker faltered mid-step before recovering. :Don't worry. I'll be nice to 'Flight:
Red didn't like the emphasis his oldest brother put on Fireflight's name, but knew there was precious little he could do except hope Sunstreaker behaved himself.
Luckily, Sideswipe caught the exchange between his brothers. :We heard about the Aerialbots. We'll be good: Sideswipe simultaneously reassured his younger brother and his reminded his oldest brother about what had happened.
:Fine: Sunstreaker agreed although he sounded petulant.
Fireflight took the interruption by the twins in stride and didn't even falter in his conversation except to greet them. Living with four others had taught him not to be surprised if someone suddenly sat next to him.
Ten minutes later the twins were marveling at Fireflight's ability to single-handily carry on a conversation with minimum impute. It was almost Bluestreakesque. They were also amazed that Red was actively participating in the conversation when Fireflight left an opening. Then again, the security director had practically been an older brother to the gunner when Prowl had all but adopted him so it was somewhat of a second nature for him.
Fireflight knew he was babbling, but couldn't help it. The twins were making him nervous. He never interacted with them off the battlefield. And on the battlefield, they were truly terrifying. At least Sideswipe was occasionally saying something. Sunstreaker was just staring at him with a look the younger 'bot couldn't place. He almost cried in relief when Red announced it was time to go and stood up.
"So soon? We just sat down," Sideswipe was concerned they were leaving because Sunstreaker was being even more anti-social than usual.
"Be that as it may, 'Flight still needs to get cleaned.” :It’s not you two. He does need to hit the washracks: Red sent over the bond. He knew what his brother was thinking. "I'll see you two after your shifts." With that he herded the Aerialbot out of the room.
"Five times," Sunstreaker spoke as soon as they left.
"What?" his twin was startled by the nonsequitor.
"He referred to Fireflight as 'Flight no less than five times," Sunstreaker clarified. At Sideswipe's confused look he continued. "Red never shortens anyone's designation but ours and occasionally Bluestreak's."
"Oh," was the only thing Sideswipe could think to say. Thinking back he couldn't deny it. "We'll have to keep an optic on this." The red twin still felt guilty about encouraging their younger brother in his relationship with Inferno. That whole incident blew up in a rather spectacular fashion.
Red led Fireflight to the last stall in the washroom and turned on the water. "I'll just be over there," he indicated the benches that lined the wall a few feet away. "Just shout if you need anything."
Fireflight nodded and stepped into the stall. For a few moments he just let the water wash over him. He didn't realized how tense he had been and the water was incredibly soothing. He pressed a button to activate the cleanser and grabbed a cloth.
Red shuttered his optics, leaned his helm against the wall, and took the opportunity to rest. It had been a long night and it promised to be an even longer day. He was startled out of his light recharge when Fireflight called his name. "What's wrong?" he asked already standing up.
"I need help. I can't reach my back," the jet sounded embarrassed. "Sorry," he added as he handed a brush to Red. "One of my brothers usually takes care of it for me."
"I would imagine your wings make it difficult for any of you to reach," Red started scrubbing the dirt out of the seams in Fireflight's armor. He tried to be gentle when he came across the burn marks from what he guessed was laser fire. "Sorry," he apologized when Fireflight hissed in discomfort as he hit what he thought was particularly sore spot. "Did you have Ratchet look at these?"
"S'okay," Fireflight mumbled. "First Aid checked them out. There wasn't anything he could do that my self-repair system can't handle." In truth, Fireflight was much more interested in how awesome it felt to have someone that wasn't an Aerialbot work on his back. He realized Red was probably one of those mechs, a majority it seemed, that thought that only wings on an aerial trooper were the real "hot spots." That wasn't true at all. His brothers knew how to avoid those areas on him just as he avoided those areas on his brothers. Fireflight also thought he should tell Red, but couldn't form the words to do so.
Red didn't comment. He just continued his work, but he made sure to be even more careful. Unfortunately, his careful touches translated into teasing caresses to Fireflight's sensors.
Fireflight was finding it very hard to concentrate as the cleaning continued. It felt even better than the running water had. Leaning into the touches, he felt the small crush he had been nursing for Red flare up. So did his energy field. It wasn't quite an open invitation, but it was close.
Red paused in his cleaning duties when he felt Fireflight's energy field brush against his. Well that was...unexpected to say the very least. He wouldn't even have felt it if his own sensor net wasn't so fine-tuned.
"Red? Is everything okay?" Fireflight sounded worried. He started to turn around but Red resumed his cleaning.
"Everything's fine. Just wanted to make sure I didn't cause anymore paint damage," Red voice was slightly strained as he sputtered out the first plausible thing that crossed his processor. He was desperate to dismiss the incident. It wasn't unusual for younger and inexperienced mechs to have their energy fields flare at odd times and beyond their control. That's why he was doing his best to avoid the wings. There is no way Fireflight could think of me like that. Could he? No, he couldn't. As soon as he thought that however, Fireflight leaned further into his touch and his field flared further.
Well, slag.
Red was at a loss as to what to say or do. Even if it had been a very long time since he had any form of interfacing, he was not about to take advantage of the younger mech. For all the security director knew this whole thing could simply be a response to the trauma from earlier. Sure, Fireflight is sweet, funny, interested in what I have to say, and cute...Red's thoughts trailed off as to his growing horror he felt his own field flare slightly.
This time Fireflight did turn around. "Red?" his voice sounded light years away and next to the Lambo's audios at the same time.
"'Flight, I...."again all coherent thought fled from Red's CPU. Fireflight leaned in only to stop a few inches from his faceplates. He found himself wanting to close the distance at the same time he wanted to take several hundred steps back. This was wrong on so many levels. He's so young.
He's an adult, another part of Red's CPU piped up.
He's been through a lot these past few joors.
He's an adult.
I don't think he's ever had a relationship.
He's an adult.
Stop saying that!
Then kiss him, the second voice sounded smug
Fine! Red found himself leaning in the remaining few inches. Right before they made contact, however things went askew.
"What's going on?" a voice caused them to jump apart. They both turned their attention to the entrance of the washracks and the large mech whose frame filled the doorway.
"Hi, 'Bolt," Fireflight managed to squeak out. His leader did not look happy.
Double slag, Red thought.
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