Flash Fiction Fills Take 63 Part Six
a/n: So many fills! But we are slowly approaching the end. Enjoy!
For: BlindDateAnon
Prompt: MegaOp, not Bayverse, blind date
Fandom: Transformers: Prime. Warnings: None
It was Jazz's idea.
Orion tried to protest. Meeting new mecha was never his strong suit. Even if he did need to get out more and stop pining for a mech he couldn't have.
Jazz's words, not his.
Anyway, Jazz insisted and he promised Orion that he'd never ask again if Orion agreed to try just this once. The prospect of being left alone afterward was enough to make Orion reluctantly agree.
A blind date it was. With whoever Jazz's matchmaking self decided would be a good fit for him. Orion didn't believe in such things, but Jazz did. He supposed he trusted his best friend.
Orion showed up at the outdoor energon cafe clutching a table number and swallowing down his anxiety. Luckily, it was early and the cafe wasn't crowded which made finding the appropriate table easy.
Orion's ventilations stalled when he saw that the table was already occupied. Wow. He was early.
Orion hesitated. His date hadn't seen him yet as his back was turned. He was large and silver, his armor recently cleaned and polished. But beneath the shine there was evidence of a harsher life, dents and scars and scratches. He was not a dataworker. Perhaps he toiled in construction?
Orion cycled a ventilation and braced himself. He circled around the table, entering the mech's line of sight.
“Um.” He held up his card. “I think I'm here to meet you?”
Bright blue optics looked up at him. “I think you are,” he said with an easy smile. He stood up and offered Orion his hand. “I'm Megatronus.”
Orion's optics rounded. His mouth fell open. “You...”
Jazz, you scoundrel, he thought. Chasing after something Orion couldn't have indeed!
Megatronus blinked and tilted his helm, the growling inflection of his vocals all at once familiar. “Or perhaps I am wrong…?”
“No!” Orion shook his helm and dialed his vocalizer back down. He clasped Megatronus' hand. “I'm sorry. I just...” He stopped and cycled a vent, squaring his shoulders. “I'm Orion. Orion Pax.”
“Well, Orion. It's a pleasure to meet you.” Megatronus smiled again. “Would you like to sit down?” he asked, gesturing to the table.
The handshake ended and Orion mourned the loss. “I would, thank you.” He took the seat opposite from Megatronus, quickly composing a message to Jazz that was both gleeful and accusatory and appreciative. “I, um… I've heard of you, Megatronus,” he added and leaned closer, quieting his vocals. “I've heard your speeches from the Pits.”
Heard but never seen. He'd fallen in love with a mech's voice and his dreams and now, apparently, his appearance. Because Megatronus was one of the most handsome mechs Orion had ever seen, and twice more than Orion imagined him to be.
“Is that so?” Megatronus optics brightened. “Then you're a fan.”
Orion's faceplate heated. “You have many fans,” he said and thank Primus, it wasn't a mumble. “You're quite the athlete.”
“Thank you, Orion.” He sat back down, lounging in his seat with a lazy grace Orion wouldn't have expected of a miner and gladiator. Megatronus tilted his helm. “You know, I only agreed to this because someone twisted my arm. I'm glad I did now.”
Orion didn't think his face could get any hotter. He was wrong. “Me, too,” he said, and he didn't bother to fight his grin. “I guess I won't kill him after all.”
Megatronus chuckled in that deep voice of his and Orion was sunk. Done. He was officially in over his helm.
It looked like he owed Jazz a thousand gift baskets plus one.
For Bat-Anon
Prompt: Penguin/Riddler. Palinoia and Recrudescence
Fandom: Batman: the Animated Series, Timm-verse. Warnings: None
“Don't you ever get bored?”
Oswald paused his counting and glanced up at the plainsclothes villain lounging in the chair across from him. “Beg pardon?”
Edward Nygma flicked a hand in a vague gesture to the entirety of the building around them. “All of this,” he said and made a disapproving face. “This legitimacy. This skirting the line of what is and is not lawful. Does it not bore you?”
Oswald went back to counting. “I suppose it depends on your goals. As mine are staying out of Arkham and turning a profit, I find this highly satisfying.”
Edward's lips curved in a grin. “But it's not fun,” he said and draped himself across the front edge of Oswald's desk. “It's not a challenge.”
“And how many times have you challenged the Batman with nothing to show for it?” Oswald countered. He didn't want to mention any of his own run-ins with the Dark Knight. They were a good portion of the reason he had switched tactics.
Edward waggled a finger at him. “Ahhh, but it was never about the money. Or the victory.”
Oswald snapped a rubberband around a bundle of twenties. “Please, do enlighten me.”
“You would never understand, my dear Oswald. You and I, we want different things.”
Edward lurched to his feet and ran a hand through his disordered, auburn hair, still bearing that infernal grin.
“That may be the case,” Oswald replied as he carefully stacked the day's earnings. “But you still haven't told me why you're here.”
“Mon cher, I am hurt.” Edward lay a palm over his heart. “I thought we had something special.”
Oswald braced his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers together if only to keep from pulling out his revolver. That was meant for self-defense, not mindless killing willy-nilly.
“Yes, well, things change,” he said. “It happens after one too many cryptic notes left on the nightstand.” The first had been amusing, the next few an intriguing challenge that left him with a smile. After that, however, they had grown from tedious to an outrage.
Edward, at least, had the grace to look apologetic. “I could not help myself. Unlike you, I can't settle for a life of perceptual constancy.”
“Then we have reached an impasse.” Oswald returned his attention to his paperwork. “Please lock the door behind you, Mr. Nygma. I don't wish to be disturbed.”
There was a long beat of silence before the Riddler responded.
“Very well. I'll darken your door step no longer. Goodbye, Oswald.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Nygma.”
At least he remembered to lock the door behind him.
Oswald told himself it didn't hurt. He went back to recording his earnings.
For Rayearthmagic
Prompt: Rescue Bots Chase attempting (again) to be funny.
Fandom: Transformers Rescue Bots. Warnings: Puns.
“Chase, what are you doing?”
That was a question that could sometimes go either way, Dani thought, but she asked it anyway. Because she'd stepped off the lift and found the police-bot standing in front of the bookcase, staring at it. He only tended to do that when some element of human interaction had baffled him and the answer wasn't coming out of a book.
Chase turned toward her with an almost eerie smile on his face. “I'm reading a book about anti-gravity, Dani,” he said. “It's impossible to put down.”
Dani squinted and drew up short. “Did you just make a pun?”
“No.” He held up a book and waggled it at her. “I actually read it.”
Dani stared at him. The cover did not at all match anything about science or gravity. Sometimes, Chase's special brand of humor left a little something to be desired.
“Well, that's good, I guess,” she said warily.
“Indeed. I'd tell you a chemistry joke, but I know I wouldn't get a reaction,” Chase added with a small, toneless laugh.
Okay. Chase was officially acting weird. Was he acting out another movie again? Had another one of Doc's inventions gone haywire? Was it some weird Cybertronian thing that Dani had never heard of?
She tilted her head. Better, maybe, to pretend it was no big deal? “Have you seen Blades around? We were supposed to go flying.”
“No, I haven't. I'm sorry.” Chase tilted forward, his eyes lighting up. “But did you hear about the astronaut who broke the law of gravity?”
Dread startled to curl in Dani's belly.
“No, but--”
“He got a suspended sentence!” Chase cackled. Or, his version of a cackle anyway. He held his belly and he laughed.
Oh, no.
Oh, God, no. She was not going to stand here all day and listen to him make terrible puns.
Dani groaned. “Chase, exactly which book are you reading?”
“This one's about mazes! I'm really getting lost in it!” He laughed again and gleefully waved one of the novels her direction. “Maybe you should send a search party.”
Dani facepalmed. “Stop. Please. Just stop.” They were hurting her. Her head was aching. “There's only two people to blame for this,” she realized aloud.
And as soon as she found which brother was to blame - Kade or Cody - she was going to make them pay.
“Very well. But make sure you take the lift,” Chase warned her, back to his usual tone.
Dani half-turned toward him. Did she dare ask? “Why?”
“Because I don't trust the stairs,” Chase informed her as he lifted a finger. “They're always up to something.”
Dani groaned and all but ran away.
She was sorry she asked.
a/n: -squints- I think I have one more collection of flash fics like this before I can call them done. The rest are standalone to be posted individually. Phew. That was the busiest I've ever been!
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated!
This entry was originally posted at http://dracoqueen22.dreamwidth.org/307679.html. Feel free to comment wherever you find most convenient.
For: BlindDateAnon
Prompt: MegaOp, not Bayverse, blind date
Fandom: Transformers: Prime. Warnings: None
It was Jazz's idea.
Orion tried to protest. Meeting new mecha was never his strong suit. Even if he did need to get out more and stop pining for a mech he couldn't have.
Jazz's words, not his.
Anyway, Jazz insisted and he promised Orion that he'd never ask again if Orion agreed to try just this once. The prospect of being left alone afterward was enough to make Orion reluctantly agree.
A blind date it was. With whoever Jazz's matchmaking self decided would be a good fit for him. Orion didn't believe in such things, but Jazz did. He supposed he trusted his best friend.
Orion showed up at the outdoor energon cafe clutching a table number and swallowing down his anxiety. Luckily, it was early and the cafe wasn't crowded which made finding the appropriate table easy.
Orion's ventilations stalled when he saw that the table was already occupied. Wow. He was early.
Orion hesitated. His date hadn't seen him yet as his back was turned. He was large and silver, his armor recently cleaned and polished. But beneath the shine there was evidence of a harsher life, dents and scars and scratches. He was not a dataworker. Perhaps he toiled in construction?
Orion cycled a ventilation and braced himself. He circled around the table, entering the mech's line of sight.
“Um.” He held up his card. “I think I'm here to meet you?”
Bright blue optics looked up at him. “I think you are,” he said with an easy smile. He stood up and offered Orion his hand. “I'm Megatronus.”
Orion's optics rounded. His mouth fell open. “You...”
Jazz, you scoundrel, he thought. Chasing after something Orion couldn't have indeed!
Megatronus blinked and tilted his helm, the growling inflection of his vocals all at once familiar. “Or perhaps I am wrong…?”
“No!” Orion shook his helm and dialed his vocalizer back down. He clasped Megatronus' hand. “I'm sorry. I just...” He stopped and cycled a vent, squaring his shoulders. “I'm Orion. Orion Pax.”
“Well, Orion. It's a pleasure to meet you.” Megatronus smiled again. “Would you like to sit down?” he asked, gesturing to the table.
The handshake ended and Orion mourned the loss. “I would, thank you.” He took the seat opposite from Megatronus, quickly composing a message to Jazz that was both gleeful and accusatory and appreciative. “I, um… I've heard of you, Megatronus,” he added and leaned closer, quieting his vocals. “I've heard your speeches from the Pits.”
Heard but never seen. He'd fallen in love with a mech's voice and his dreams and now, apparently, his appearance. Because Megatronus was one of the most handsome mechs Orion had ever seen, and twice more than Orion imagined him to be.
“Is that so?” Megatronus optics brightened. “Then you're a fan.”
Orion's faceplate heated. “You have many fans,” he said and thank Primus, it wasn't a mumble. “You're quite the athlete.”
“Thank you, Orion.” He sat back down, lounging in his seat with a lazy grace Orion wouldn't have expected of a miner and gladiator. Megatronus tilted his helm. “You know, I only agreed to this because someone twisted my arm. I'm glad I did now.”
Orion didn't think his face could get any hotter. He was wrong. “Me, too,” he said, and he didn't bother to fight his grin. “I guess I won't kill him after all.”
Megatronus chuckled in that deep voice of his and Orion was sunk. Done. He was officially in over his helm.
It looked like he owed Jazz a thousand gift baskets plus one.
For Bat-Anon
Prompt: Penguin/Riddler. Palinoia and Recrudescence
Fandom: Batman: the Animated Series, Timm-verse. Warnings: None
“Don't you ever get bored?”
Oswald paused his counting and glanced up at the plainsclothes villain lounging in the chair across from him. “Beg pardon?”
Edward Nygma flicked a hand in a vague gesture to the entirety of the building around them. “All of this,” he said and made a disapproving face. “This legitimacy. This skirting the line of what is and is not lawful. Does it not bore you?”
Oswald went back to counting. “I suppose it depends on your goals. As mine are staying out of Arkham and turning a profit, I find this highly satisfying.”
Edward's lips curved in a grin. “But it's not fun,” he said and draped himself across the front edge of Oswald's desk. “It's not a challenge.”
“And how many times have you challenged the Batman with nothing to show for it?” Oswald countered. He didn't want to mention any of his own run-ins with the Dark Knight. They were a good portion of the reason he had switched tactics.
Edward waggled a finger at him. “Ahhh, but it was never about the money. Or the victory.”
Oswald snapped a rubberband around a bundle of twenties. “Please, do enlighten me.”
“You would never understand, my dear Oswald. You and I, we want different things.”
Edward lurched to his feet and ran a hand through his disordered, auburn hair, still bearing that infernal grin.
“That may be the case,” Oswald replied as he carefully stacked the day's earnings. “But you still haven't told me why you're here.”
“Mon cher, I am hurt.” Edward lay a palm over his heart. “I thought we had something special.”
Oswald braced his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers together if only to keep from pulling out his revolver. That was meant for self-defense, not mindless killing willy-nilly.
“Yes, well, things change,” he said. “It happens after one too many cryptic notes left on the nightstand.” The first had been amusing, the next few an intriguing challenge that left him with a smile. After that, however, they had grown from tedious to an outrage.
Edward, at least, had the grace to look apologetic. “I could not help myself. Unlike you, I can't settle for a life of perceptual constancy.”
“Then we have reached an impasse.” Oswald returned his attention to his paperwork. “Please lock the door behind you, Mr. Nygma. I don't wish to be disturbed.”
There was a long beat of silence before the Riddler responded.
“Very well. I'll darken your door step no longer. Goodbye, Oswald.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Nygma.”
At least he remembered to lock the door behind him.
Oswald told himself it didn't hurt. He went back to recording his earnings.
For Rayearthmagic
Prompt: Rescue Bots Chase attempting (again) to be funny.
Fandom: Transformers Rescue Bots. Warnings: Puns.
“Chase, what are you doing?”
That was a question that could sometimes go either way, Dani thought, but she asked it anyway. Because she'd stepped off the lift and found the police-bot standing in front of the bookcase, staring at it. He only tended to do that when some element of human interaction had baffled him and the answer wasn't coming out of a book.
Chase turned toward her with an almost eerie smile on his face. “I'm reading a book about anti-gravity, Dani,” he said. “It's impossible to put down.”
Dani squinted and drew up short. “Did you just make a pun?”
“No.” He held up a book and waggled it at her. “I actually read it.”
Dani stared at him. The cover did not at all match anything about science or gravity. Sometimes, Chase's special brand of humor left a little something to be desired.
“Well, that's good, I guess,” she said warily.
“Indeed. I'd tell you a chemistry joke, but I know I wouldn't get a reaction,” Chase added with a small, toneless laugh.
Okay. Chase was officially acting weird. Was he acting out another movie again? Had another one of Doc's inventions gone haywire? Was it some weird Cybertronian thing that Dani had never heard of?
She tilted her head. Better, maybe, to pretend it was no big deal? “Have you seen Blades around? We were supposed to go flying.”
“No, I haven't. I'm sorry.” Chase tilted forward, his eyes lighting up. “But did you hear about the astronaut who broke the law of gravity?”
Dread startled to curl in Dani's belly.
“No, but--”
“He got a suspended sentence!” Chase cackled. Or, his version of a cackle anyway. He held his belly and he laughed.
Oh, no.
Oh, God, no. She was not going to stand here all day and listen to him make terrible puns.
Dani groaned. “Chase, exactly which book are you reading?”
“This one's about mazes! I'm really getting lost in it!” He laughed again and gleefully waved one of the novels her direction. “Maybe you should send a search party.”
Dani facepalmed. “Stop. Please. Just stop.” They were hurting her. Her head was aching. “There's only two people to blame for this,” she realized aloud.
And as soon as she found which brother was to blame - Kade or Cody - she was going to make them pay.
“Very well. But make sure you take the lift,” Chase warned her, back to his usual tone.
Dani half-turned toward him. Did she dare ask? “Why?”
“Because I don't trust the stairs,” Chase informed her as he lifted a finger. “They're always up to something.”
Dani groaned and all but ran away.
She was sorry she asked.
a/n: -squints- I think I have one more collection of flash fics like this before I can call them done. The rest are standalone to be posted individually. Phew. That was the busiest I've ever been!
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated!
This entry was originally posted at http://dracoqueen22.dreamwidth.org/307679.html. Feel free to comment wherever you find most convenient.