Fic: Winter Coat (2/?)
Title: Winter Coat
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Hound, Mirage, Trailbreaker, some unnamed gossipers
Summary: Hound can see underneath the cold exterior that Mirage uses to protect himself. Knowing what's wrong doesn't make helping him any easier, however.
Warnings: None
Hound saw the twitch of Mirage's mouth as he joined him at his table the morning after their talk. It seemed that despite the connection he'd made with the noble, Mirage still didn't trust him too much. Hound chose to assume it had less to do with him and more to do with Mirage.
"Don't you have friends you'd rather sit with?" Mirage asked as he tapped his finger rhythmically against the side of his energon cube.
Hound shrugged. "I get to talk to them all the time. I thought you might want some company."
"And if I don't? I appreciate the concern you inexplicably have for me, but I'm fine by myself, thank you." Mirage's tone was curt and blunt, and Hound might have taken offense if Mirage wasn't just being matter-of-fact about his feelings. Hound couldn't fault him for being honest.
"Everyone needs a friend. Keep to yourself for too long and you might start making them up to compensate," Hound turned to the empty chair beside him, gesturing like there was someone there, "Isn't that right, Rusty?" Hound looked back to Mirage, satisfied to see his lips pressed tight together to suppress a smile. It was a small victory at least.
"I find it hard to believe that you could ever be alone. You appear to be quite popular among the base, if the glowers I'm receiving from the other tables are any indication."
Hound nodded in agreement, resisting the urge to look around the room and see if Mirage was right. "You just have to have the right attitude, it's easy to make friends."
"If you want them, that is. I can do just as well without friends."
"Maybe if you lived away from all intelligent life, sure. But here in a base full of mechs who're friends and always there for each other? You're gonna see what you don't have and want some of that for yourself. It won't hurt you to keep a few options for friendship open, would it?"
Mirage's expression soured. "I've had enough of keeping an open spark to last myself all eternity. I don't need friends whose ideas of camaraderie is talking about me behind my back, and I don't just speak of yesterday either."
"Has that been happening a lot?" Hound asked, concerned. He sometimes heard complaints about 'that noble's' attitude, but he always figured they were at least justified in that the 'bot complaining was honestly offended by Mirage's behavior.
Mirage shrugged, still looking annoyed. "It's amazing what you can hear if you keep your audios tuned and your attention focused. I don't have to sneak up on the mechs around here if I want to know something. They're all too happy to spill their entire thought processes in front of the base's security cameras or in places anyone could hear them. They never think anyone is. Or perhaps they don't care where I'm concerned."
Hound made a mental note to remember that advice in the future. "If you have a problem with it, you can always go to one of the officers."
"Because of gossip?" Mirage scoffed. "The best they'll do is give those involved a stern lecture. I doubt they'll do anything unless I'm being harassed in some way or if the rumors are slanderous and false. Besides, I don't need to hide behind anyone for protection."
"Well, as long as you can handle it," Hound conceded. There wasn't much he could do, although he was going to pay more attention to what others said now. Mirage may think he didn't need anyone's help, but Hound couldn't just let it go. One of the reasons he joined the Autobots was because they watched out for each other regardless, not whoever they got along with. "But you don't have to be alone in this, even if the officers can't do much, they'll still listen to your troubles. You can also come to me if you want."
"Thank you, Hound," Mirage said out of obligation for the kind offer. "It's unnecessary, however. Despite my resentment I'm fine. If the other Autobots can only find satisfaction in jesting or complaining of my existence, than they are free to continue. Now I have to leave, Jazz has called me in for something."
"Sure thing, I'll see you later."
"Yes, perhaps," Mirage said, turning his back so Hound wouldn't see the uneasy expression settling across his features.
---
"So, how's Mirage?"
It had been hours since Hound had seen Mirage, but it figured that word would have spread about his attempts at friendship with the noble. It was even less surprising that Trailbreaker would want to speak with him about it. They were brothers in all but spark and always butted into each others' affairs.
Hound looked up from his report at Trailbreaker standing in the doorway and put it aside. "Cautious is the best way to describe him. I think he still suspects something ulterior of me; though considering he hasn't been getting the friendliest of welcomes, I don't blame him."
Trailbreaker sighed in resignation, knowing what the hard look in Hound's optics meant. "I'm guessing I'm on the list of mechs you blame, huh?"
"You weren't stopping the sludge slinging yesterday."
"Stopping it wasn't having much effect if you'll recall. I was hoping to redirect it with mentioning Sunstreaker, honestly. I thought Sideswipe would rise to the bait. I shouldn't have laughed at Cliffjumper's comment, but I did recognize that Sideswipe and Gears were definitely out of line."
"I think that's only a small piece of the picture, though. Talking with Mirage, I think he's having a lot more problems than he's letting on."
Trailbreaker frowned. "Do you think he's being harassed?"
"I don't know, but everyone's very candid with their opinions of Mirage when they think no one is listening, and it does seem to be bothering him even if he denies it. If he isn't being harassed yet, I think he will be. I don't think he feels all that safe here. Is there anything you or one of the other officers can do?"
"Unless Mirage asks for help, or is under immediate danger there's not much we can do to intervene. That's how the regulations are." Trailbreaker frowned when a new thought occurred to him. "Hound, does Mirage even want help? Has he asked for it, or at least strongly implied he needs or will accept help?"
Hound tensed and grimaced. "Not exactly. I mean, he needs it, but he hasn't said anything about getting it."
"Hound, I know you. You find someone you see damage in and you want to fix them. You put your whole spark into it, and usually end up having it broken. Not everyone can be saved, and sometimes they don't even want to be."
"But it's worth it when I do help them," Hound said with a somewhat sad smile.
---
"Did you see Hound talking with Mirage this morning?"
"Yeah, I would've figured Mirage to tell him to leave. Mech's not all that social, you know?"
Mirage stilled, listening in on the pair. Were 'bots really that interested in such a small thing as who talked to one another? Either his social avoidance was that noticeable, or everyone was lacking in a real source of entertainment.
"Uh huh, only thing going for him besides that invisibility trick is his looks. That "I'm too good to speak with any of you" attitude really grinds my gears."
The other speaker chuckled. "I know what you mean. Why do you think they were even talking to each other?"
"Knowing Hound, he just can't help making friends. Why Mirage talked to him is a mystery. Maybe he's just bored."
"Could be, or he's leading Hound on. You heard how stuck up nobles are, I bet Mirage wants someone who'll acknowledge that he isn't just polished scrap. Hound's probably the only mech who'll stand him. Well, Hound and some of the Special Ops mechs, but they're always sticking together, so no surprises there."
"He'd better not be, I don't give a slag about Special Ops, I'll be there to back Hound up and take care of that snobby glitch if he takes advantage of him."
Mirage slipped away before he could hear more. That was enough to satisfy his curiosity. Perhaps it wasn't very 'Autobot' to eavesdrop like that, but there also wasn't anything to justify talking about him as though he were the built up gunk in a joint.
What did any of these mechs know? Mirage may not be the pinnacle of social nicetiearound the other soldiers and he may keep to himself, but that didn't justify all of the assumptions made about him. It seemed like the more the base talked about him, the lower in standing he descended. What consequence was it to him, however? Hardly anyone liked him, but that shouldn't matter. The officers and his teammates on Special Ops seemed to respect him well enough, he didn't require anything else. He certainly didn't need friends, including Hound. Accepting a friendship from the mech would bring far more trouble than it was worth and Mirage would have to do more to deter Hound from any thoughts to the contrary.
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Hound, Mirage, Trailbreaker, some unnamed gossipers
Summary: Hound can see underneath the cold exterior that Mirage uses to protect himself. Knowing what's wrong doesn't make helping him any easier, however.
Warnings: None
Hound saw the twitch of Mirage's mouth as he joined him at his table the morning after their talk. It seemed that despite the connection he'd made with the noble, Mirage still didn't trust him too much. Hound chose to assume it had less to do with him and more to do with Mirage.
"Don't you have friends you'd rather sit with?" Mirage asked as he tapped his finger rhythmically against the side of his energon cube.
Hound shrugged. "I get to talk to them all the time. I thought you might want some company."
"And if I don't? I appreciate the concern you inexplicably have for me, but I'm fine by myself, thank you." Mirage's tone was curt and blunt, and Hound might have taken offense if Mirage wasn't just being matter-of-fact about his feelings. Hound couldn't fault him for being honest.
"Everyone needs a friend. Keep to yourself for too long and you might start making them up to compensate," Hound turned to the empty chair beside him, gesturing like there was someone there, "Isn't that right, Rusty?" Hound looked back to Mirage, satisfied to see his lips pressed tight together to suppress a smile. It was a small victory at least.
"I find it hard to believe that you could ever be alone. You appear to be quite popular among the base, if the glowers I'm receiving from the other tables are any indication."
Hound nodded in agreement, resisting the urge to look around the room and see if Mirage was right. "You just have to have the right attitude, it's easy to make friends."
"If you want them, that is. I can do just as well without friends."
"Maybe if you lived away from all intelligent life, sure. But here in a base full of mechs who're friends and always there for each other? You're gonna see what you don't have and want some of that for yourself. It won't hurt you to keep a few options for friendship open, would it?"
Mirage's expression soured. "I've had enough of keeping an open spark to last myself all eternity. I don't need friends whose ideas of camaraderie is talking about me behind my back, and I don't just speak of yesterday either."
"Has that been happening a lot?" Hound asked, concerned. He sometimes heard complaints about 'that noble's' attitude, but he always figured they were at least justified in that the 'bot complaining was honestly offended by Mirage's behavior.
Mirage shrugged, still looking annoyed. "It's amazing what you can hear if you keep your audios tuned and your attention focused. I don't have to sneak up on the mechs around here if I want to know something. They're all too happy to spill their entire thought processes in front of the base's security cameras or in places anyone could hear them. They never think anyone is. Or perhaps they don't care where I'm concerned."
Hound made a mental note to remember that advice in the future. "If you have a problem with it, you can always go to one of the officers."
"Because of gossip?" Mirage scoffed. "The best they'll do is give those involved a stern lecture. I doubt they'll do anything unless I'm being harassed in some way or if the rumors are slanderous and false. Besides, I don't need to hide behind anyone for protection."
"Well, as long as you can handle it," Hound conceded. There wasn't much he could do, although he was going to pay more attention to what others said now. Mirage may think he didn't need anyone's help, but Hound couldn't just let it go. One of the reasons he joined the Autobots was because they watched out for each other regardless, not whoever they got along with. "But you don't have to be alone in this, even if the officers can't do much, they'll still listen to your troubles. You can also come to me if you want."
"Thank you, Hound," Mirage said out of obligation for the kind offer. "It's unnecessary, however. Despite my resentment I'm fine. If the other Autobots can only find satisfaction in jesting or complaining of my existence, than they are free to continue. Now I have to leave, Jazz has called me in for something."
"Sure thing, I'll see you later."
"Yes, perhaps," Mirage said, turning his back so Hound wouldn't see the uneasy expression settling across his features.
---
"So, how's Mirage?"
It had been hours since Hound had seen Mirage, but it figured that word would have spread about his attempts at friendship with the noble. It was even less surprising that Trailbreaker would want to speak with him about it. They were brothers in all but spark and always butted into each others' affairs.
Hound looked up from his report at Trailbreaker standing in the doorway and put it aside. "Cautious is the best way to describe him. I think he still suspects something ulterior of me; though considering he hasn't been getting the friendliest of welcomes, I don't blame him."
Trailbreaker sighed in resignation, knowing what the hard look in Hound's optics meant. "I'm guessing I'm on the list of mechs you blame, huh?"
"You weren't stopping the sludge slinging yesterday."
"Stopping it wasn't having much effect if you'll recall. I was hoping to redirect it with mentioning Sunstreaker, honestly. I thought Sideswipe would rise to the bait. I shouldn't have laughed at Cliffjumper's comment, but I did recognize that Sideswipe and Gears were definitely out of line."
"I think that's only a small piece of the picture, though. Talking with Mirage, I think he's having a lot more problems than he's letting on."
Trailbreaker frowned. "Do you think he's being harassed?"
"I don't know, but everyone's very candid with their opinions of Mirage when they think no one is listening, and it does seem to be bothering him even if he denies it. If he isn't being harassed yet, I think he will be. I don't think he feels all that safe here. Is there anything you or one of the other officers can do?"
"Unless Mirage asks for help, or is under immediate danger there's not much we can do to intervene. That's how the regulations are." Trailbreaker frowned when a new thought occurred to him. "Hound, does Mirage even want help? Has he asked for it, or at least strongly implied he needs or will accept help?"
Hound tensed and grimaced. "Not exactly. I mean, he needs it, but he hasn't said anything about getting it."
"Hound, I know you. You find someone you see damage in and you want to fix them. You put your whole spark into it, and usually end up having it broken. Not everyone can be saved, and sometimes they don't even want to be."
"But it's worth it when I do help them," Hound said with a somewhat sad smile.
---
"Did you see Hound talking with Mirage this morning?"
"Yeah, I would've figured Mirage to tell him to leave. Mech's not all that social, you know?"
Mirage stilled, listening in on the pair. Were 'bots really that interested in such a small thing as who talked to one another? Either his social avoidance was that noticeable, or everyone was lacking in a real source of entertainment.
"Uh huh, only thing going for him besides that invisibility trick is his looks. That "I'm too good to speak with any of you" attitude really grinds my gears."
The other speaker chuckled. "I know what you mean. Why do you think they were even talking to each other?"
"Knowing Hound, he just can't help making friends. Why Mirage talked to him is a mystery. Maybe he's just bored."
"Could be, or he's leading Hound on. You heard how stuck up nobles are, I bet Mirage wants someone who'll acknowledge that he isn't just polished scrap. Hound's probably the only mech who'll stand him. Well, Hound and some of the Special Ops mechs, but they're always sticking together, so no surprises there."
"He'd better not be, I don't give a slag about Special Ops, I'll be there to back Hound up and take care of that snobby glitch if he takes advantage of him."
Mirage slipped away before he could hear more. That was enough to satisfy his curiosity. Perhaps it wasn't very 'Autobot' to eavesdrop like that, but there also wasn't anything to justify talking about him as though he were the built up gunk in a joint.
What did any of these mechs know? Mirage may not be the pinnacle of social nicetiearound the other soldiers and he may keep to himself, but that didn't justify all of the assumptions made about him. It seemed like the more the base talked about him, the lower in standing he descended. What consequence was it to him, however? Hardly anyone liked him, but that shouldn't matter. The officers and his teammates on Special Ops seemed to respect him well enough, he didn't require anything else. He certainly didn't need friends, including Hound. Accepting a friendship from the mech would bring far more trouble than it was worth and Mirage would have to do more to deter Hound from any thoughts to the contrary.