August Contest Entry #3
Title: The Need to Fly
Rating: PG-13
Universe: G1
Author: __wilderness__
Pairing: Thundercracker/Skywarp
Word Count: 1447
It was something that was entirely natural to them. As natural to them as taking in energon (or not as the case might be in the Decepticon army).
Flying.
They did it whenever they could, always the first to volunteer for patrols because it meant getting out of the underwater base and into the sky. Not that the others minded. Anything to get out of patrol and using energy they didn’t need to. But for the fliers, it was an inborn need. They would fly down to their reserves just to be able to fly.
-@-
“Patrol! Skywarp called out in a singsong voice, practically dancing down the corridor towards the docking tower.
“Only you could be so happy about patrolling ‘Warp.” Thundercracker muttered, not quite able to keep the affectionate amusement out of his voice.
“Ah, just think of it TC, out there, the wind soaring past your wings.”
“The rain hitting every sensor.”
“Yeah, but at least it’s not that acidic here.” Thundercracker inclined his head and conceded the point. The rains on Earth were nowhere near as acidic as those on Cybertron. He gave a small shudder, remembering being out in some of the storms back on their home planet.
“TC?” Skywarp’s hand on his wing brought him out of his memories, and he gave his trinemate a small smile.
“Besides, I like the rain here. Nothing better than being able to feel every drop on your frame.”
“Only you would get turned on by acid rain.” Thundercracker snorted.
“It’s not acidic.” Skywarp pointed out.
“Fine fine, but you’re still getting turned on by it.”
“And?” Skywarp just grinned. “Haven’t heard you complaining.” That certainly made Thundercracker shut up, but it did earn Skywarp a swat to his wingtip.
As the docking tower raised, Skywarp bounced impatiently by the door. As soon as the door opened, he transformed, thrusters firing as he soared into the sky. Shaking his head at the whoop of glee Skywarp let out, Thundercracker followed him, as happy to be out flying as his trinemate, even if he didn’t show it as openly.
The feeling of cutting through the air was something Skywarp knew he would never get tired of. There were more sensations here on Earth than there were on Cybertron; more moisture in the air to tease his sensors and bead on his wing flaps. And clouds. The sheer pleasure of flying through a bank of clouds he just couldn’t begin to explain.
“You’re heading in the wrong direction.” Thundercracker’s voice came over his comms.
“Oh…” Belatedly, Skywarp realised he’d been heading towards the bank of gray clouds on the horizon and banked towards Thundercracker, coming up alongside the blue jet, wingtips barely brushing one another.
“That’s better. You really must pay attention when you’re flying ‘Warp.”
“You sound like Starscream.”
“Just concerned about your safety.”
“Okay, now you don’t sound like Screamer. He’d be more concerned about how it made us look in front of Megatron.”
“Thank you.” Thundercracker’s tone was dry, but he waggled his wings before banking away from Skywarp, the invitation clear. Skywarp laughed and followed Thundercracker, swooping down below him.
“Now isn’t this just nice?” He asked, manoeuvring so he could feel the downdraft from Thundercracker’s wings wafting across his plating.
“It’s patrol ‘Warp.”
“Yeah, but you and me, just flying. That’s good, right?”
“Of course it is.”
-@-
Hours into their patrol and the storm hit, coming on fiercely and suddenly. The clouds moved in, darkening the afternoon sky and rain lashed down, warm and wet.
“Gah!” Thundercracker could feel the rain seeping into his joints and he shook himself to try and get rid of the water. All it served to do was disorientate himself.
“We’re heading back.” He muttered, turning and heading back towards the Decepticon base.
“But TC…” Skywarp was enjoying the rain, even though it was heavier than he preferred. Up until now, he’d only seen light rain. Not this sort - the sort that seemed to get every part of you wet instantly. But still, the feel of it dancing across his wings as he soared through the sky was something he savored. He could never do this back on Cybertron, not where the rain would eat through your plating. So he was revelling in the soft caresses of the water.
And then lightning struck and thunder rumbled through the air.
“TC… was that you?”
“No.”
“Right…”
“Like I said, let’s get out of here.” Thundercracker put on a burst of speed, anxious now to get back to base. The readings his sensors were picking up from the air were not good. And certainly not conducive to good flying.
“Agreed!” Skywarp chased after Thundercracker, dancing in the rain now long forgotten in the haste to get back to the relative safety of the Decepticon base.
The rain still hit his plating, sending pleasurable tingles across his sensor grid, but that pleasure was underlain with fear, worry that the lightning could cause them serious damage if it hit. Much like the lightning back on Cybertron. Skywarp never thought he’d actually be able to compare the two planets in that way.
The lightning that hit his tailfin sent pain lancing through his systems, frying them instantly. Yelping, he lost control, spiralling down to the ground trailing black smoke. Thundercracker winced as he heard the crash, trees splintering and metal buckling.
When he landed, he was relieved to see Skywarp had managed to transform, but dismayed that the Seeker was still sprawled on his back in the crater he’d made.
“I don’t think I like flying in the rain anymore TC.”
“No, I doubt you do…” Thundercracker answered distractedly, while he commed the Constructicons for help.
-@-
“Patrol! Skywarp called out in a singsong voice, almost skipping down the corridor towards the docking tower.
“And here I was thinking after that incident last summer that you’d hate patrolling in the rain again.” Thundercracker muttered.
“That was a one-off.” Skywarp retorted. “Even Soundwave said the odds of being hit by lightning were low. And besides, it’s not raining now.” And Skywarp was right. The last three days it had rained, forcing them to stay inside and their mood had got worse as the days dragged on. Skywarp had been on the verge of picking a fight with Frenzy and Rumble just for something to do.
“Let’s just hope the rain holds off.” Skywarp nudged Thundercracker’s wing with his own.
“Don’t be such a sourpuss. It’ll stay dry, you wait and see.”
The skies were dark and heavy with cloud, but there was no rain, something which they were both glad about. The cold was bad enough to have to contend with, the breeze slipping in between their armor plates, almost freezing the wires beneath.
“Well it might be cold, but at least we’re flying.” Skywarp tried to look on the bright side. It was true; after several days of enforced captivity, it was refreshing to be able to stretch their wings once more.
“Let’s just make this as quick as we can.” Thundercracker said. They’d both looked at the weather reports, all citing little chance of rain in their patrol area, but the time they’d spent on Earth so far had made them wary of the planet’s unpredictable weather systems.
“All right.” Skywarp agreed reluctantly. He’d gotten so bored on the base and was thoroughly enjoying being outside again, soaring through the air. Even if it was cold.
-@-
Huddled under the largest tree they could find, Thundercracker couldn’t fight the sense of irony. The first time they’d managed to get out to fly and it rained. Cold piercing rain that permeated their systems, freezing and water-logging them.
“TC,,,” Skywarp shivered. He’d taken the worst damage, the rain and cold freezing his air flaps causing him to literally drop out of the sky. Thundercracker had followed him down, landing near his crashed trinemate. They’d decided there and then that it was better to wait out the rainstorm, taking shelter where they could.
“It’s all right ‘Warp.” Pulling the injured seeker as close to him as he could, they shared their warmth, both willing the rain to stop.
“Don’t think I like flying in the rain anymore Thundercracker.” The use of his full name had Thundercracker realising that Skywarp was serious.
“No ‘oh but it caresses every sensor?’” He couldn’t help but tease.
“My sensors don’t feel caressed at the moment.” Skywarp complained, shifting and snuggling closer to Thundercracker.
“Sure I can do something about that when we get back.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
And so they waiting, a forlorn sight; two bedraggled seekers sheltering under a tree waiting for the winter rain to stop.
Rating: PG-13
Universe: G1
Author: __wilderness__
Pairing: Thundercracker/Skywarp
Word Count: 1447
It was something that was entirely natural to them. As natural to them as taking in energon (or not as the case might be in the Decepticon army).
Flying.
They did it whenever they could, always the first to volunteer for patrols because it meant getting out of the underwater base and into the sky. Not that the others minded. Anything to get out of patrol and using energy they didn’t need to. But for the fliers, it was an inborn need. They would fly down to their reserves just to be able to fly.
-@-
“Patrol! Skywarp called out in a singsong voice, practically dancing down the corridor towards the docking tower.
“Only you could be so happy about patrolling ‘Warp.” Thundercracker muttered, not quite able to keep the affectionate amusement out of his voice.
“Ah, just think of it TC, out there, the wind soaring past your wings.”
“The rain hitting every sensor.”
“Yeah, but at least it’s not that acidic here.” Thundercracker inclined his head and conceded the point. The rains on Earth were nowhere near as acidic as those on Cybertron. He gave a small shudder, remembering being out in some of the storms back on their home planet.
“TC?” Skywarp’s hand on his wing brought him out of his memories, and he gave his trinemate a small smile.
“Besides, I like the rain here. Nothing better than being able to feel every drop on your frame.”
“Only you would get turned on by acid rain.” Thundercracker snorted.
“It’s not acidic.” Skywarp pointed out.
“Fine fine, but you’re still getting turned on by it.”
“And?” Skywarp just grinned. “Haven’t heard you complaining.” That certainly made Thundercracker shut up, but it did earn Skywarp a swat to his wingtip.
As the docking tower raised, Skywarp bounced impatiently by the door. As soon as the door opened, he transformed, thrusters firing as he soared into the sky. Shaking his head at the whoop of glee Skywarp let out, Thundercracker followed him, as happy to be out flying as his trinemate, even if he didn’t show it as openly.
The feeling of cutting through the air was something Skywarp knew he would never get tired of. There were more sensations here on Earth than there were on Cybertron; more moisture in the air to tease his sensors and bead on his wing flaps. And clouds. The sheer pleasure of flying through a bank of clouds he just couldn’t begin to explain.
“You’re heading in the wrong direction.” Thundercracker’s voice came over his comms.
“Oh…” Belatedly, Skywarp realised he’d been heading towards the bank of gray clouds on the horizon and banked towards Thundercracker, coming up alongside the blue jet, wingtips barely brushing one another.
“That’s better. You really must pay attention when you’re flying ‘Warp.”
“You sound like Starscream.”
“Just concerned about your safety.”
“Okay, now you don’t sound like Screamer. He’d be more concerned about how it made us look in front of Megatron.”
“Thank you.” Thundercracker’s tone was dry, but he waggled his wings before banking away from Skywarp, the invitation clear. Skywarp laughed and followed Thundercracker, swooping down below him.
“Now isn’t this just nice?” He asked, manoeuvring so he could feel the downdraft from Thundercracker’s wings wafting across his plating.
“It’s patrol ‘Warp.”
“Yeah, but you and me, just flying. That’s good, right?”
“Of course it is.”
-@-
Hours into their patrol and the storm hit, coming on fiercely and suddenly. The clouds moved in, darkening the afternoon sky and rain lashed down, warm and wet.
“Gah!” Thundercracker could feel the rain seeping into his joints and he shook himself to try and get rid of the water. All it served to do was disorientate himself.
“We’re heading back.” He muttered, turning and heading back towards the Decepticon base.
“But TC…” Skywarp was enjoying the rain, even though it was heavier than he preferred. Up until now, he’d only seen light rain. Not this sort - the sort that seemed to get every part of you wet instantly. But still, the feel of it dancing across his wings as he soared through the sky was something he savored. He could never do this back on Cybertron, not where the rain would eat through your plating. So he was revelling in the soft caresses of the water.
And then lightning struck and thunder rumbled through the air.
“TC… was that you?”
“No.”
“Right…”
“Like I said, let’s get out of here.” Thundercracker put on a burst of speed, anxious now to get back to base. The readings his sensors were picking up from the air were not good. And certainly not conducive to good flying.
“Agreed!” Skywarp chased after Thundercracker, dancing in the rain now long forgotten in the haste to get back to the relative safety of the Decepticon base.
The rain still hit his plating, sending pleasurable tingles across his sensor grid, but that pleasure was underlain with fear, worry that the lightning could cause them serious damage if it hit. Much like the lightning back on Cybertron. Skywarp never thought he’d actually be able to compare the two planets in that way.
The lightning that hit his tailfin sent pain lancing through his systems, frying them instantly. Yelping, he lost control, spiralling down to the ground trailing black smoke. Thundercracker winced as he heard the crash, trees splintering and metal buckling.
When he landed, he was relieved to see Skywarp had managed to transform, but dismayed that the Seeker was still sprawled on his back in the crater he’d made.
“I don’t think I like flying in the rain anymore TC.”
“No, I doubt you do…” Thundercracker answered distractedly, while he commed the Constructicons for help.
-@-
“Patrol! Skywarp called out in a singsong voice, almost skipping down the corridor towards the docking tower.
“And here I was thinking after that incident last summer that you’d hate patrolling in the rain again.” Thundercracker muttered.
“That was a one-off.” Skywarp retorted. “Even Soundwave said the odds of being hit by lightning were low. And besides, it’s not raining now.” And Skywarp was right. The last three days it had rained, forcing them to stay inside and their mood had got worse as the days dragged on. Skywarp had been on the verge of picking a fight with Frenzy and Rumble just for something to do.
“Let’s just hope the rain holds off.” Skywarp nudged Thundercracker’s wing with his own.
“Don’t be such a sourpuss. It’ll stay dry, you wait and see.”
The skies were dark and heavy with cloud, but there was no rain, something which they were both glad about. The cold was bad enough to have to contend with, the breeze slipping in between their armor plates, almost freezing the wires beneath.
“Well it might be cold, but at least we’re flying.” Skywarp tried to look on the bright side. It was true; after several days of enforced captivity, it was refreshing to be able to stretch their wings once more.
“Let’s just make this as quick as we can.” Thundercracker said. They’d both looked at the weather reports, all citing little chance of rain in their patrol area, but the time they’d spent on Earth so far had made them wary of the planet’s unpredictable weather systems.
“All right.” Skywarp agreed reluctantly. He’d gotten so bored on the base and was thoroughly enjoying being outside again, soaring through the air. Even if it was cold.
-@-
Huddled under the largest tree they could find, Thundercracker couldn’t fight the sense of irony. The first time they’d managed to get out to fly and it rained. Cold piercing rain that permeated their systems, freezing and water-logging them.
“TC,,,” Skywarp shivered. He’d taken the worst damage, the rain and cold freezing his air flaps causing him to literally drop out of the sky. Thundercracker had followed him down, landing near his crashed trinemate. They’d decided there and then that it was better to wait out the rainstorm, taking shelter where they could.
“It’s all right ‘Warp.” Pulling the injured seeker as close to him as he could, they shared their warmth, both willing the rain to stop.
“Don’t think I like flying in the rain anymore Thundercracker.” The use of his full name had Thundercracker realising that Skywarp was serious.
“No ‘oh but it caresses every sensor?’” He couldn’t help but tease.
“My sensors don’t feel caressed at the moment.” Skywarp complained, shifting and snuggling closer to Thundercracker.
“Sure I can do something about that when we get back.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
And so they waiting, a forlorn sight; two bedraggled seekers sheltering under a tree waiting for the winter rain to stop.