rekindleme | spent my life waiting for a sight of the sea

Entry tags:

spent my life waiting for a sight of the sea

Who: Ironhide + Chromia
Where: The AQUARIUM!!
When: 8/13, evening
Summary: In all Ironhide's wandering around the city, he finds something he thinks is pretty neat. So, he decides to share it with someone he thinks is pretty neat. But it's totally not a date.
Warnings: None

[Something good, at least, had come out of all his wanderings, all his attempts to avoid other Cybertronians. He thought he should tell Nautica, but as fond as he was of her, the scientific explanations of it all would ruin it. He didn't want to bother Ratchet -- Primus knew the medic had enough to deal with.]

[So...]

[He turned up on Chromia's doorstep. She might not appreciate it as much as he hoped, but she wouldn't be adverse, he had a feeling. It meant getting out to stretch her legs, at the very least. And the chances of running into any other Cybertronian were fairly low.]

[... He totally wasn't excited. No, never. Excitement was for younger, less jaded bots than he was. Antsy. Yeah, sure. That was a better word.]

[Still. His hand practically vibrated as he knocked.]

Chromia.

You in? It's just me.

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[It doesn't even phase her when he puts that hand on hers, more just having a good time than anything.

Having FUN, for once.]

'Think and stuff'.

[That gets a short laugh out of her, softly leaning into him. Unintentionally and unnoticed, of course.]

...You can't just start it off like that. I can't promise it.

But okay. Shoot.

Yeah, you heard me.

[His weight shifts to better support hers. Unconsciously. And ever so slightly. He doesn't appear to realize he's doing it any more than she does.]

Okay...

[His fingers tighten on hers, just once. Like he's bracing himself for this.]

I'm the only one here who... really remembers Cybertron bein' all. Not normal, but... not a wasteland either. I mean, sure, they all know it. But for me -- it's like yesterday. It was all bright lights an' bright color... always movin'.

[He nods up at the rainbow cloud of fish, apparently content to stay swimming lazily around them.]

Like that.

[She notices his hesitance, although she won't bring it up. Not if he doesn't. Her hand slightly curls into his though, in some small effort to comfort.]

It's a clear memory.

[Just helping him find the right words. Her eyes cast up to the fish again, as the school finally starts to dissipate. They'd probably be back--it was a small tank area after all, and they were relatively speedy.

Her voice softens.]

Keep that vision as long as you can. Remember how vibrant it is.

Yeah... for me.

[It really does feel more recent than anything else. It was clear enough to recall, even in the ruins. When faced with nothing but monsters...]

[It was all perfectly clear.]

[His expression is a little wry and wistful, watching the fish depart. And one big arm shifts, looping gently around her shoulders. Out of habit.]

... I'm tryin'. It ain't easy... in all this scrap. Bots actin' wrong and all.

Kinda stupid how a bunch of swimmin' things can do it though. Huh?

Heh. Guess you and I are alike, then. Nautica swims, and she reminds me of home too.

[Her eyes widen, though, rethinking that wording.]

Caminus, I mean.

[Flustered a bit, she turns around, looking up at him and holding his arms. Eyes firm.]

Don't let go of it. It's what keeps you -you-, big guy. I don't know much about you guys, and until recently, I didn't want to. Kinda still don't with everything going on.

...

[A hand presses against that glass pane on his chest.]

But you're one of the only things tellin' me that Cybertron was a worthwhile place in it's prime. And if we have to look at swimming things everyday to keep that, then we'll do it.

Yeah, I get what you mean.

[But he smiles a little, though. It's sort of nice not to be the only one who's flustered, for once. Not that he'd ever say that to her.]

[He's just not prepared for what comes next. When she comes around to face him, he's suddenly keenly aware of how close she is. How this place feels like they're the only two bots in this weird city. It's quiet. And... he sort of likes it. Just standing here with someone who understands.]

[He chuckles a little, ducking his head.]

Now you're just flatterin' me... An', no. I don't blame you for not wantin' to be around us much lately. Primus, I don't wanna be around us much lately.

[Her hand is very warm. Very strong. Something in him sparks to life under it, the glass warming along with it.]

I'd like that, I think. [His voice is lower, weight shifting just the barest fraction closer.] Don't mind lookin' at these things... with company like you are.

[It doesn't occur to her just how close they are either, not til she sees that head move in a little more. Those eyes quickly soften a moment, her spark betraying what her brain module's telling her. Like Ironhide, the world seems to slow down around her, as if they're the only two in the entire city.

She bites her lip, though, eyes casting to the side.]

I don't flatter. I just say what's obvious.

[Her faceplates are definitely heated right now, and she hopes Ironhide doesn't have some weird ability that can pick up on temperature. It's stupid to think about, but you never know with Cybertronians.

That hand keeps pressed to the glass, palm gently sliding down to the red metal below it. She was perfectly able to do this. To just...look at the fish.

And then he says that, her eyes snapping to him. And boy is he close.]

You...you don't, huh. That'd be a first.

[Keep your cool, Chromia, you got this.]

Uh huh. If you say so.

[But there's a smirk in it. No teasing. Not really. He's just looking at her, then, staring down at her -- the world can do whatever it wants right now. He's enjoying this. Enjoying being with someone with a good spark right now.]

[... Not just monsters.]

[The thought seems so far away, suddenly. Overhead, the fish suddenly swirl back into view, just as lazy and brilliant as before. Yet he can't seem to pull his gaze away from hers.]

[Until her hand moves, and his optics flick down to watch. Almost without any conscious thought, one of his own hands moves, thick, scuffed fingers touching her chin lightly, to tilt it up and look at those brilliant blues again.]

What? Someone likin' being around you? I don't think that's true...

[The smile this time is definite. Genuine. Like her, really -- just saying what's obvious.]

[She didn't even notice the fish swimming by. Her eyes are too locked onto the other. Maybe it's because he's taking up most of the room in their generic standing place, but...

She's noticing how blue his eyes are. How tired they are.

Four million years that he doesn't even remember.

She doesn't move from that hold. For once, this tough bodyguard is nothing but a deer in headlights. Those rough fingers brush against her chin, and all she can do is just...stare.]

Says the guy with no memory.

[A slight...fond smile is returned.]

[He's worried, for a moment, she might pull away. After all, even he doesn't really know why he felt the need to move her chin. To look more closely at her features.]

[At how... strong she always has been. How open. Honest. They're a lot alike, aren't they? She's been someone to rely on, the entire time he's been here.]

[Someone who doesn't expect miracles out of someone as banged up and lacking memory as he is.]

[By the time he's able to speak again, rather than just staring into those optics, taking her in. Taking in everything she's offered to him. He's leaned in more than expected, their foreheads nearly touching. Her hand is still warm, still real, against his chest.]

Yeah, well... I ain't ever said I was prefect...

[There's a huff, a vent of warm air, as that smile just deepens.]

[She can't expect anything. Or rather, her expectations are vastly different--too different--to judge. And out of everyone, Ironhide's the most like her. The one she can understand the best.

Although she's failing to understand why she's so accepting of this. No one else would have gotten within a few feet without a punch to the face. Even cameramen keeping distance was 'too close'.

Here...it's almost intoxicating.]

Damn right you aren't.

[There's a hint of affection there, feeling their helms touch, feeling that warm air against her lips. That is...until that's replaces by Ironhide's own.

It's just a peck, being generous. More like a brush against them before she realizes contact was made, eyes snapping open wide. Like she'd just accidentally broke a world supply of vases.

Hello, Ironhide.]

[He's comfortable with her. He trusts her. Maybe he hasn't ever said it to her face, but maybe he also felt like he didn't need to. She'd understand. She does understand.]

[That's... probably a big part of why he feels so close to her. Why he's always felt that way.]

[It's nice. Being close to someone who just plain gets him. Someone after his own spark. He hasn't felt this way about anyone since...]

[She's.]

[Kissed him.]

[It's like a spark of fire through his sensors. That slight brush of sensation could have been an electric charge. He stares back at her, feeling his engine suddenly hum to life, warmth and vibration kindling under her hand.]

[Someone who understands...]

[He tilts his head, without thinking, his optics dim, and returns that little kiss with one of his own. It's just as he is. Awkward, rough... sincere.]

[She doesn't expect anything in return. In fact, the moment their lips touched, she realized what a mistake had been made. After all, he didn't ask, and she had no incentive to. But here she was, letting him press back into it.

And the thing of it was, she didn't stop him. Her spark surges as she feels that touch again, fingers clenching to that glass panel on his chest.

His lips are rough, rugged...and to be honest...perfect.

There's a million things running through her mind right now, but none are being voiced. They're drowned out by the first happy thing she'd experienced since her arrival.]

[All he'd expected was a look at fish. Something they could both enjoy together. Something good in this sea of scrap. The fact it's turned out better than he could have expected...]

[She doesn't pull away.]

[His spark feels like it's flaring, warmth flooding through his limbs. Her fingers are like fire. His free hand settles on her waist, tugging her in a little closer. She's warm and real and accepts the flaws in his memory, all the shortcomings...]

[She doesn't expect him to be anyone else.]

[He draws it out a little longer, his head tilting to better press his mouth to hers. He has no idea what he's doing. It just feels... right.]

[Chromia feels right.]

[Her eyes close a moment, sinking into the nice, safe and secure feeling this is giving her. Ever since she'd arrived she'd felt like a caged animal, just barely getting by with a facade of stoicism.

Here...that seems to melt away.

She presses up a little, her mouth forming a smile in the kiss. Her brain finally starting to piece things together from the initial reaction.

She was with Ironhide. She was kissing Ironhide.

Kissing. Ironhide.

Wait.

And no sooner had she pressed in, she pulls away, eyes as wide as dinner plates.]

I...

[For the first time ever, Chromia is flustered.]

[It's weird. How well they fit. How well she molds herself to him. It's easy to forget everything that's going on, when someone wraps themselves up in his grip, when he feels another's engine vibrate against his.]

[He's content to let it go on as long as it can.]

[And then he feels her pull back.]

[He feels her plating pull back from his hold, and the warmth of her fades. Something in his spark goes cold.]

[... He was kissing Chromia.]

[He'd liked it. He'd really liked it. But she -- clearly something was not all right for her. His hands snap back and he takes a step away too.]

I... Sorry. I dunno why it...

Sorry.

[So much for a good thing.]

[Deep down, she'd liked it too. More than she could ever admit. In fact, if she didn't stop, she probably wouldn't ever have. Her face plating is heated, trying to form words as she looks around, to see if anyone saw them.]

Don't be. I uh...

I had fun.

[Good. Words are good. It wasn't anything close to what she wanted to say, which was really just her cursing herself. She didn't want Ironhide to feel bad.

But her legs betray her. They want to leave, but not before she gives an arm pat.]

I'll...I'll see you around.

[QUICKLY EXITING!!]

[What.]

[No, really, what.]

[Out of all the reactions he expected, that isn't it. He just sort of stares at her. There's nothing he can say. Words just... don't come. He just watches as she touches his arm. As she turns...]

[Walks away.]

Chromia...

[Maybe he's just being sensitive. Maybe it's just things getting to him. But as she turns, as she disappears down the hall, the whole place seems to grow darker.]

[... This isn't how it's supposed to be... ]

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spent my life waiting for a sight of the sea

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