how could the world have turned so ugly

[arnhaid]

Who: Ironhide + Chromia
Where: The apartments.
When: October 19th
Summary: It's way past time for them to talk. And Chromia's been alone in this place for way too long. Ironhide is trying his best to fix both those problems.
Warnings: sad robots

[Talk to her, Ratchet said.]

[He trusts his friend. He trusts him more than almost anyone, short of Prime. So... he's probably right. And he hasn't seen a whisper out of the blue bot since they failed to find Nautica together. He can only reason she's been alone. And that can't be healthy. Not by any stretch of his limited imagination. This is for her own good, if nothing else.]

[So here he is. At her doorstep again. The same place he was when they started this whole mess together.]

[The day she'd kissed him.]

[The only difference is the pack of cubes in his grip. A peace offering. Just in case. His lips press together, firmly. And then he lifts a hand, knocking solidly. Stubbornly.]

Chromia. C'mon. Lemme in.

Comments

[toughtalk]

[She was so used to being so tough. Being unshakable. And she still was, in some aspects. But here, she seems to pour into his hands, relishing in just being touched. Maybe it was the lack of contact making her hungry for it in this place, but she liked to think that Ironhide had a little more to do with it than just that.

A soft laugh escapes her.]

We're not very good at this, are we.

[But she adjusts herself against him, feeling a bit tired and a little drunk on feeling again.]

Yeah...we're more than okay.

[arnhaid]

[He sees someone almost identical to himself, in her. To him, she is tough, unshakeable. This incident, this and losing Nautica, won't change his opinion. He's as stubborn as they come. It would take a lot do dampen his view of her.]

[Something he doesn't see happening any time soon.]

Nope. Good thing we got bots like Ratchet around... he told me to do this.

[His hands absently run along her back, adjusting so that he can rest his head on hers.]

Good. I like bein' more than okay.

[toughtalk]

[Ahaha well funny story about that--that's going to be saved for much, much later. Right now all she wants to think about is the possibility of having something solid here, before it's potentially taken away.

But what he says gets a laugh out of her.]

He told me the same thing. Guess we both owe it to him.

[arnhaid]

[Something solid... it has a really good ring to it. He'd agree, if they'd been speaking out loud. As it is now, he just holds her a little tighter -- not doubting for a second she could break away if she wanted to.]

[That makes him snort, and peer down at her.]

You actually asked him for advice? About us?

[Because he totally did.]

[toughtalk]

[Thankfully, it doesn't even cross her mind. The contact practically warms her, after a period of no contact at all, becoming a hermit inside her own room.

She gives a soft chuckle in return.]

No. He figured it out. I guess someone gave him the heads up.

[arnhaid]

[It might be a literal warming. Either that or he's just that glad to see her. Glad that things are okay. His hands splay wider over her back.]

Wasn't me. He told me he talked to you first.

[Not that he sounds at all upset by the prospect. Not after all this turned out right.]

[toughtalk]

[Her head tilts up at that touch, just kind of enjoying all of the contact. Really, how could she be upset after all this? Despite the flops, despite the awkwardness...

At least one thing turned out right.]

I think he's just one of those bots who knows. Everything.

[arnhaid]

[At least one thing turned out right...]

[How true that is. Surrounded by bots who aren't what they should be, others who are estranged, more who've been through things he hasn't experienced. Bots he feels like he's failed...]

[But he hasn't failed her.]

[His head is still pressed against hers, and when she tilts it up, he's all but murmuring into her lips again.]

Yeah. He's a good bot... like someone else I know.

[toughtalk]

[Its impossible to hide a smile on her own as she feels his brush against.]

Optimus Prime, yeah. I heard he's pretty great.

[She knows that's not what he meant, but its probably more accurate.]

[arnhaid]

[He can't help the little rumble of laughter in his chest.]

[And then he only pauses a moment to speak --]

Now you're just tryin' to get on my good side.

[-- before he leans in to kiss her again.]