Tracks: The Beginning Ch.3 Impasse
Summary: Wirecross has sparkling trouble and hopes for forgiveness
Rating: T/ PG
Tracks giggled as he splashed in his bath. The bubbles were pretty and Mama was whistling as she washed away the energon he spit up when the big gray one tossed him in the air. He clicked in agitation when he was rinsed off and taken out of the water. He was having fun! He wanted to play in the water some more.
Wirecross continued to whistle as she dried the squirming sparkling, listening to the cleanser run. Stormchaser had decided to play with Tracks before he left so while she was tidying up the kitchen her trinemate was busy playing Tracks favorite game: toss. She had come back to the main room to a giggling Tracks and an appalled Stormchaser splattered in Tracks' breakfast. The look on Stormchaser's face as he looked at the mess Tracks made was priceless. She did have to wonder how exactly Tracks got Stormchaser and himself dirty though.
With a click the spray was turned off and a pair of arms wrapped around Cross' waist. "Feeling better?" she asked, nuzzling her wingmate.
"Much." Stormchaser replied. He glanced down to see the glowering sparkling. "Someone is jealous" he chuckled.
Cross looked down and indeed saw her son giving Stormchaser what appeared to be the 'evil' look. "Tracks" Cross said. Tracks instantly turned his attention from the gray seeker to his mother cooing. Cross smiled at him cooing back. He was just precious.
Stormchaser shook his head, bemused by the pair. Wirecross was certainly made to be a mother. The sparkling was only a few cycles old and he already meant the world to her. "Come on, love you can't spend all day in the cleanser." He said gently pushing her towards the door.
"Do you need help packing?" Cross asked as she tried to set Tracks into his playpen in the main room. Tracks however decided the one place he wanted to be was with mama as he chirped angrily and clung to the femme.
"Nah I got it" Stormchaser called back.
With a sigh, Cross gave up trying to set the mechling down and brought him back to her chest. Tracks chirped happily at his victory and promptly fell into recharge. "You are a spoiled little one aren't you?" Cross whispered.
"Of course he is. How can he not be when his mother dotes on him like no other?" Stormchaser teased as he came up from behind and nuzzled Wirecross.
"Are you ready to leave?" she asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." The gray seeker answered. A frown marred his features. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay longer? It wouldn't be a lot of trouble, you know."
"I know" Cross replied. "But you need to be in Iacon. You worked hard for your internship you shouldn't throw it away cause of me."
"First of all" Stormchaser said turning Cross around to face him his voice hard. "You need me here just as much if not more than Wheeljack needs me in Iacon. I can always intern somewhere else if you need me here. And you are worth risking an internship. You're more important to me, love and I've done a poor job of showing it."
"Not your fault" Cross mumbled as she tore her gaze away from her mate's.
A sigh was her only answe. The two seekers stood, unsure of what words could break the icy chasm that opened before them. "I should leave soon." Stormchaser mumbled.
Wirecross nodded. "Are you going to take a transport or just fly?"
"Flying is faster. Besides, my 'luggage' is just a bunch of datapads over frame plans and protoforms; it all fits in my subspace. I'll refuel when I get there." Stormchaser brushed his mouth against hers. "I'll call when I get settled, okay?"
"Okay. Just be careful." Cross replied.
"I will." Stormchaser promised, pressing a chaste kiss on her lips before walking out the door. As soon as the door slid closed behind Stormchaser, the room felt colder. Just like the first time he left for Iacon.
"Well Tracks it's just us until Acidrain comes home. Ready to have a lazy day with mama?" Tracks snuggled as close to the seeker femme as he could and continued to recharge.
Wirecross sighed as Tracks continued to fuss. She knew he was hungry, but he wouldn't take the bottle. Usually she'd feed him with one of her feeding tubes, but right now she was dry. It wasn't that there was no energon in the home she had run out of mineral supplements. Without them Cross' systems would stop making the extra rich energon her sparking needed. Acidrain was supposed to bring more supplements when she came home, however thanks to complications at work, she wouldn't be home for several hours. And Tracks was still hungry.
"Please Tracks, take the bottle. I can't feed you from my systems right now. Just take the bottle." Cross begged the upset sparkling as she tried once again to bottle feed the whimpering little one.
Tracks sniffled pitifully as the nub was pressed to his mouth. He tried suckling a couple times, but it didn't feel right. Where was Mama's tube? Why wouldn't she give it to him, he was hungry. Tracks wailed again still unsatisfied.
Wirecross whimpered as she tried to soothe the mechling. She couldn't do this. She needed help, badly. Holding the crying sparkling she went to the console on the side of the main room. She quickly punched in the communication code and waited for the other line. Please pick up, please pick up. I can't do this by myself.
Skywarp's face appeared on the screen. "Hey Sparky. What's wrong? You're crying."
It was then that she realized that tears were running down her face and noticed that Tracks finally cried himself to sleep.
"Wirecross?"
"Skywarp, I can't do this!" Cross cried, not concerned about waking the sparkling. "I'mahorriblecreator! I don'tknowwhatIwasthinking! ! I should have…"
"Whoa, Cross slow down!" Skywarp said deeply concerned. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I...I" Cross said brokenly. How could she admit to her mentor that she was failing as a parent? "Tracks has been crying for joors because he's hungry. I can't use my feeding tubes because I ran out of supplements this morning. I tried to give him enriched energon with a bottle but he won't take it and he's been crying and crying." She rushed out. "I don't know what to do, I feel like I'm losing my mind. Please Warp, what do I do?"
Skywarp was silent for a few second processing all the information Cross just threw at him. "Where is Acidrain?" he asked cautiously, hoping this wouldn't make Cross break down.
"Work." She answered. "She was supposed to be home by now with more mineral supplements, but she called and said something came up and that was around the time Tracks started crying for food."
Skywarp cursed quietly. Damn that femme. She had to know that raising a sparkling was hard work and Wirecross would need help and support. "Okay Sparky. I'm gonna go get some supplement packets and be right over, alright?"
She nodded. "Alright."
"Good, now just try to stay calm until I get there so Tracks doesn't wake up while I'm out." With that the line was cut and screen went black.
Cross sat in front of the console for awhile, trying to calm her systems. Tracks had finally cried himself to sleep. The seeker decided it would be best to lay her sparkling down, while she waited for Skywarp. Looking around the room, she spied the small play pen set up, with the blankets and pillows in it; it would be just as comfortable as the crib. Wirecross somehow found the strength to move her legs to cross the room. Strange, when did they become numb?
Wirecross settled Tracks into his pen. He was having a fitful recharge, but he was recharging. What was she going to do? She couldn't feed from her lines and he wouldn't take the bottle. She didn't want to try to give Tracks regular energon since he wasn't old enough for his systems to handle it. If she did give him regular energon it could make him sick and then what? But what if Skywarp wasn't here soon? What would she do then? Cross stood watching her sparkling for several long klicks, unmoving, anxious, unsure of herself and everything around her. Her wings twitched as a pop filled the room.
Skywarp came up behind his charge and guided her to the couch. "The little one's sleeping?" Cross nodded. "Okay just wait here."Skywarp said before wandering off into the kitchen area. Cross listened to the opening and closing of cabinets with grim amusement. Here she was, a full-grown femme with a trine and a child of her own, and her caretaker was still saving her. Maybe Acidrain was right to call her pathetic.
Skywarp came back holding two cubes. "Here," he said, offering Cross a cube as he settled himself on the couch. Cross took the cube with numb fingers. Why bother, she already failed once.
With Skywarp's urging she brought the cube to her mouth and sipped. She felt revitalized as the energon slid down her throat into her systems. Heat poured through her lines as the energy warmed her. Cross didn't realize how low on fuel she was. She had been more concerned about Tracks. Tossing her head back, Cross gulped down the cube with only a few swallows. The first cube gone, Wirecross held out her hand for the second one.
"Slow down, the cube isn't going anywhere," Skywarp gently teased. Nodding, Cross drank the second cube slower than she had the first. When she was finished she leaned back to let the energon settle in her tanks.
Scooting closer Skywarp wrapped an arm around Wirecross' shoulders. "How many times do you refuel a day?" Skywarp asked.
"Two, sometimes three times," Cross answered.
"You'll need to refuel at least four times while you're feeding Tracks from your systems or you'll become under energized, mineral supplements help keep Tracks healthy, but you need to be healthy too."
As if on cue, whimpers and weak mewls came from the play pen. "You should be able to feed him now." Skywarp said to Cross, rubbing her shoulder in encouragement.
Nervous, Wirecross went to her wailing sparkling. Tracks was in hysterics, he was crying louder than ever. Trembling Cross picked him up and cradled him against her body as she extended a feeding tube. As soon as the tube was pressed against his mouth, Tracks latched onto it and began to greedily suckle the fresh energon.
Cross flinched when Tracks first bit into the tube as he ate, but after a few minutes he loosened his grip on the tube and suckled as at a more leisurely pace. Cross reached out across the weak bond she shared with Tracks, relieved that her little one was radiating contentment now that he had something in his belly.
It was late when Acidrain finally came home. She was not pleased to find Skywarp lounging on her couch flipping channels on the viewer. Her wings arched up in annoyance. How dare he?
She stood in front of the insolent mech; hand on her hips, with a scowl that promised pain. Skywarp had an indifferent look on his face, with an arched optic ridge that screamed 'really'. A gurgle interrupted the staring match between the two seekers. Acidrain flicked her gaze downward to see that, that little pit-spawn filth snuggled against Skywarp. Ice burned through her lines.
"Where is Wirecross?" she seethed.
"You don't know?" Skywarp responded. "You are bonded to her, part of that means healthy communication."
"How dare…"
~ Rainy? ~ The green femme stopped as the bond sprang to life for the first time in months.
~ I'm fine. ~ Acidrain sent back. ~Where are you? ~
~ I'm in the cleanser. I'll be out in a second. ~ Wirecross withdrew from her trinemate's mind. Acidrain felt some of the tension leave her frame. Some, not all.
"Feel better now?"
Acidrain once again focused on the black seeker. She was somewhat relieved to see that Cross' abomination was too distracted by black armor to notice her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, keeping her voice neutral.
"Wirecross had a problem with Tracks so I came by to help."
"A problem." Acidrain repeated, voice drenched with sarcasm as her mood falling deeper and deeper into a dark abyss. "I can't imagine what kind of problem taking care of a sparkling would be." She felt a small touch of satisfaction as Skywarp's optics flashed in anger.
"Listen here," Skywarp growled, standing up and clutching the squeaking sparkling to his chest. "If this sparkling is too much of an inconvenience, leave. He's Wirecross' son. Your other trinemate has accepted him. That makes him a child of your trine, if you can't even pretend to give a slag for him for Wirecross' sake then do everyone a favor and just go."
Before the green seeker could respond, Wirecross came into the room.
The young mother stopped as she saw the scene in front of the couch. Her caretaker and her trinemate facing off with wings flared. Her optics darted from one to the other, unsure of what to say to appease both of them and avoid the drama. "Skywarp?"
"I'm fine Sparky." Skywarp answered the aggressiveness evaporating as he moved away from the hostile femme to his charge. "It's starting to get late, I should probably go. Are you going to be okay without me?" he asked, handing the now awake and squirming sparkling to his mother.
"I'll be fine. Thank you for coming."Cross said, bringing her little one close to her.
"Anytime kiddo. Be sure to call." And with a loud pop Skywarp was gone.
Now that her mentor was gone, Wirecross turned her attention to her mate. Acidrain had a scowl on her face, looking at the floor, clearly lost in her own mind.
"Rainy, do you want any energon or something?"
"…What?"
"Do you want anything?" Cross repeated.
"I'll get it myself. You should probably sit down."
The red and gold femme sighed as her trinemate left the room. How long was this impasse going to last? Acidrain did answer her through the bond earlier though. That was an improvement. Maybe things were starting to look up.
The sound of metal hitting metal roused Cross from her thoughts to look at Tracks. The sparkling was slapping his palms against his carrier's chest, demanding attention. Cooing, Cross crossed the room to the couch, stopping only to pick up a toy. Once on the couch, Cross began to move the toy, enticing Tracks to giggle and reach for it.
Acidrain leaned against the doorway, listening. Probing across the bond she could tell Wirecross felt happy. When was the last time they were happy?
~ Rainy? ~
"Do you want a cube?" Acidrain asked out loud, aching for the intimacy yet dreading it, desperate not to let her inadequacies show.
"No, I had two when Skywarp was here." Cross replied, her good mood deflating a little as the bond between Acidrain and her fell into silence once more.
Wait, two? When did Wirecross drink two at one time? "Why two?"
There was a pregnant pause. Cross sighed. She seemed to do that a lot these days. "I was trying to feed Tracks, but I ran out of minerals so my feeding supply was low. I tried to give him a bottle for a joor, but he wouldn't take it. So I called Skywarp and he brought me more minerals and I re-fueled then."
"If it's so much trouble to feed him through your systems, you should wean him." the green femme replied.
"It was only so much trouble today, because I ran out of minerals." Cross said her voice uncharacteristically hard. "My feeding supply will dry up in three orns. I'll wean him then."
Acidrain flinched at the harshness from Cross. Cross was never so…so cold. Not even when she did nothing but yell and curse at her. Even when she was crying she never shut her down like this. Not even when she left to go see him. Acidrain continued to watch Cross interacting with her sparkling. She seemed happy and continued to play with the brat, but her wings were down and drawn close to her body.
The green seeker easily translated the body position. Cross was hurt. Despite her promise to Stormchaser she had hurt Cross. Again. It seemed that's all she did. Why was Cross so sensitive? If she wasn't, they wouldn't be like this now. If only things were the way they were before Stormchaser didn't have his internship, than it wouldn't be this difficult.
Deciding it'd be best to leave Cross with her sparkling, Acidrain went to their bedroom. Cross would come in later. Right now, she needed to be somewhere where she couldn't see that sparkling.
Rating: T/ PG
Tracks giggled as he splashed in his bath. The bubbles were pretty and Mama was whistling as she washed away the energon he spit up when the big gray one tossed him in the air. He clicked in agitation when he was rinsed off and taken out of the water. He was having fun! He wanted to play in the water some more.
Wirecross continued to whistle as she dried the squirming sparkling, listening to the cleanser run. Stormchaser had decided to play with Tracks before he left so while she was tidying up the kitchen her trinemate was busy playing Tracks favorite game: toss. She had come back to the main room to a giggling Tracks and an appalled Stormchaser splattered in Tracks' breakfast. The look on Stormchaser's face as he looked at the mess Tracks made was priceless. She did have to wonder how exactly Tracks got Stormchaser and himself dirty though.
With a click the spray was turned off and a pair of arms wrapped around Cross' waist. "Feeling better?" she asked, nuzzling her wingmate.
"Much." Stormchaser replied. He glanced down to see the glowering sparkling. "Someone is jealous" he chuckled.
Cross looked down and indeed saw her son giving Stormchaser what appeared to be the 'evil' look. "Tracks" Cross said. Tracks instantly turned his attention from the gray seeker to his mother cooing. Cross smiled at him cooing back. He was just precious.
Stormchaser shook his head, bemused by the pair. Wirecross was certainly made to be a mother. The sparkling was only a few cycles old and he already meant the world to her. "Come on, love you can't spend all day in the cleanser." He said gently pushing her towards the door.
"Do you need help packing?" Cross asked as she tried to set Tracks into his playpen in the main room. Tracks however decided the one place he wanted to be was with mama as he chirped angrily and clung to the femme.
"Nah I got it" Stormchaser called back.
With a sigh, Cross gave up trying to set the mechling down and brought him back to her chest. Tracks chirped happily at his victory and promptly fell into recharge. "You are a spoiled little one aren't you?" Cross whispered.
"Of course he is. How can he not be when his mother dotes on him like no other?" Stormchaser teased as he came up from behind and nuzzled Wirecross.
"Are you ready to leave?" she asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." The gray seeker answered. A frown marred his features. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay longer? It wouldn't be a lot of trouble, you know."
"I know" Cross replied. "But you need to be in Iacon. You worked hard for your internship you shouldn't throw it away cause of me."
"First of all" Stormchaser said turning Cross around to face him his voice hard. "You need me here just as much if not more than Wheeljack needs me in Iacon. I can always intern somewhere else if you need me here. And you are worth risking an internship. You're more important to me, love and I've done a poor job of showing it."
"Not your fault" Cross mumbled as she tore her gaze away from her mate's.
A sigh was her only answe. The two seekers stood, unsure of what words could break the icy chasm that opened before them. "I should leave soon." Stormchaser mumbled.
Wirecross nodded. "Are you going to take a transport or just fly?"
"Flying is faster. Besides, my 'luggage' is just a bunch of datapads over frame plans and protoforms; it all fits in my subspace. I'll refuel when I get there." Stormchaser brushed his mouth against hers. "I'll call when I get settled, okay?"
"Okay. Just be careful." Cross replied.
"I will." Stormchaser promised, pressing a chaste kiss on her lips before walking out the door. As soon as the door slid closed behind Stormchaser, the room felt colder. Just like the first time he left for Iacon.
"Well Tracks it's just us until Acidrain comes home. Ready to have a lazy day with mama?" Tracks snuggled as close to the seeker femme as he could and continued to recharge.
Wirecross sighed as Tracks continued to fuss. She knew he was hungry, but he wouldn't take the bottle. Usually she'd feed him with one of her feeding tubes, but right now she was dry. It wasn't that there was no energon in the home she had run out of mineral supplements. Without them Cross' systems would stop making the extra rich energon her sparking needed. Acidrain was supposed to bring more supplements when she came home, however thanks to complications at work, she wouldn't be home for several hours. And Tracks was still hungry.
"Please Tracks, take the bottle. I can't feed you from my systems right now. Just take the bottle." Cross begged the upset sparkling as she tried once again to bottle feed the whimpering little one.
Tracks sniffled pitifully as the nub was pressed to his mouth. He tried suckling a couple times, but it didn't feel right. Where was Mama's tube? Why wouldn't she give it to him, he was hungry. Tracks wailed again still unsatisfied.
Wirecross whimpered as she tried to soothe the mechling. She couldn't do this. She needed help, badly. Holding the crying sparkling she went to the console on the side of the main room. She quickly punched in the communication code and waited for the other line. Please pick up, please pick up. I can't do this by myself.
Skywarp's face appeared on the screen. "Hey Sparky. What's wrong? You're crying."
It was then that she realized that tears were running down her face and noticed that Tracks finally cried himself to sleep.
"Wirecross?"
"Skywarp, I can't do this!" Cross cried, not concerned about waking the sparkling. "I'mahorriblecreator! I don'tknowwhatIwasthinking! ! I should have…"
"Whoa, Cross slow down!" Skywarp said deeply concerned. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I...I" Cross said brokenly. How could she admit to her mentor that she was failing as a parent? "Tracks has been crying for joors because he's hungry. I can't use my feeding tubes because I ran out of supplements this morning. I tried to give him enriched energon with a bottle but he won't take it and he's been crying and crying." She rushed out. "I don't know what to do, I feel like I'm losing my mind. Please Warp, what do I do?"
Skywarp was silent for a few second processing all the information Cross just threw at him. "Where is Acidrain?" he asked cautiously, hoping this wouldn't make Cross break down.
"Work." She answered. "She was supposed to be home by now with more mineral supplements, but she called and said something came up and that was around the time Tracks started crying for food."
Skywarp cursed quietly. Damn that femme. She had to know that raising a sparkling was hard work and Wirecross would need help and support. "Okay Sparky. I'm gonna go get some supplement packets and be right over, alright?"
She nodded. "Alright."
"Good, now just try to stay calm until I get there so Tracks doesn't wake up while I'm out." With that the line was cut and screen went black.
Cross sat in front of the console for awhile, trying to calm her systems. Tracks had finally cried himself to sleep. The seeker decided it would be best to lay her sparkling down, while she waited for Skywarp. Looking around the room, she spied the small play pen set up, with the blankets and pillows in it; it would be just as comfortable as the crib. Wirecross somehow found the strength to move her legs to cross the room. Strange, when did they become numb?
Wirecross settled Tracks into his pen. He was having a fitful recharge, but he was recharging. What was she going to do? She couldn't feed from her lines and he wouldn't take the bottle. She didn't want to try to give Tracks regular energon since he wasn't old enough for his systems to handle it. If she did give him regular energon it could make him sick and then what? But what if Skywarp wasn't here soon? What would she do then? Cross stood watching her sparkling for several long klicks, unmoving, anxious, unsure of herself and everything around her. Her wings twitched as a pop filled the room.
Skywarp came up behind his charge and guided her to the couch. "The little one's sleeping?" Cross nodded. "Okay just wait here."Skywarp said before wandering off into the kitchen area. Cross listened to the opening and closing of cabinets with grim amusement. Here she was, a full-grown femme with a trine and a child of her own, and her caretaker was still saving her. Maybe Acidrain was right to call her pathetic.
Skywarp came back holding two cubes. "Here," he said, offering Cross a cube as he settled himself on the couch. Cross took the cube with numb fingers. Why bother, she already failed once.
With Skywarp's urging she brought the cube to her mouth and sipped. She felt revitalized as the energon slid down her throat into her systems. Heat poured through her lines as the energy warmed her. Cross didn't realize how low on fuel she was. She had been more concerned about Tracks. Tossing her head back, Cross gulped down the cube with only a few swallows. The first cube gone, Wirecross held out her hand for the second one.
"Slow down, the cube isn't going anywhere," Skywarp gently teased. Nodding, Cross drank the second cube slower than she had the first. When she was finished she leaned back to let the energon settle in her tanks.
Scooting closer Skywarp wrapped an arm around Wirecross' shoulders. "How many times do you refuel a day?" Skywarp asked.
"Two, sometimes three times," Cross answered.
"You'll need to refuel at least four times while you're feeding Tracks from your systems or you'll become under energized, mineral supplements help keep Tracks healthy, but you need to be healthy too."
As if on cue, whimpers and weak mewls came from the play pen. "You should be able to feed him now." Skywarp said to Cross, rubbing her shoulder in encouragement.
Nervous, Wirecross went to her wailing sparkling. Tracks was in hysterics, he was crying louder than ever. Trembling Cross picked him up and cradled him against her body as she extended a feeding tube. As soon as the tube was pressed against his mouth, Tracks latched onto it and began to greedily suckle the fresh energon.
Cross flinched when Tracks first bit into the tube as he ate, but after a few minutes he loosened his grip on the tube and suckled as at a more leisurely pace. Cross reached out across the weak bond she shared with Tracks, relieved that her little one was radiating contentment now that he had something in his belly.
It was late when Acidrain finally came home. She was not pleased to find Skywarp lounging on her couch flipping channels on the viewer. Her wings arched up in annoyance. How dare he?
She stood in front of the insolent mech; hand on her hips, with a scowl that promised pain. Skywarp had an indifferent look on his face, with an arched optic ridge that screamed 'really'. A gurgle interrupted the staring match between the two seekers. Acidrain flicked her gaze downward to see that, that little pit-spawn filth snuggled against Skywarp. Ice burned through her lines.
"Where is Wirecross?" she seethed.
"You don't know?" Skywarp responded. "You are bonded to her, part of that means healthy communication."
"How dare…"
~ Rainy? ~ The green femme stopped as the bond sprang to life for the first time in months.
~ I'm fine. ~ Acidrain sent back. ~Where are you? ~
~ I'm in the cleanser. I'll be out in a second. ~ Wirecross withdrew from her trinemate's mind. Acidrain felt some of the tension leave her frame. Some, not all.
"Feel better now?"
Acidrain once again focused on the black seeker. She was somewhat relieved to see that Cross' abomination was too distracted by black armor to notice her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, keeping her voice neutral.
"Wirecross had a problem with Tracks so I came by to help."
"A problem." Acidrain repeated, voice drenched with sarcasm as her mood falling deeper and deeper into a dark abyss. "I can't imagine what kind of problem taking care of a sparkling would be." She felt a small touch of satisfaction as Skywarp's optics flashed in anger.
"Listen here," Skywarp growled, standing up and clutching the squeaking sparkling to his chest. "If this sparkling is too much of an inconvenience, leave. He's Wirecross' son. Your other trinemate has accepted him. That makes him a child of your trine, if you can't even pretend to give a slag for him for Wirecross' sake then do everyone a favor and just go."
Before the green seeker could respond, Wirecross came into the room.
The young mother stopped as she saw the scene in front of the couch. Her caretaker and her trinemate facing off with wings flared. Her optics darted from one to the other, unsure of what to say to appease both of them and avoid the drama. "Skywarp?"
"I'm fine Sparky." Skywarp answered the aggressiveness evaporating as he moved away from the hostile femme to his charge. "It's starting to get late, I should probably go. Are you going to be okay without me?" he asked, handing the now awake and squirming sparkling to his mother.
"I'll be fine. Thank you for coming."Cross said, bringing her little one close to her.
"Anytime kiddo. Be sure to call." And with a loud pop Skywarp was gone.
Now that her mentor was gone, Wirecross turned her attention to her mate. Acidrain had a scowl on her face, looking at the floor, clearly lost in her own mind.
"Rainy, do you want any energon or something?"
"…What?"
"Do you want anything?" Cross repeated.
"I'll get it myself. You should probably sit down."
The red and gold femme sighed as her trinemate left the room. How long was this impasse going to last? Acidrain did answer her through the bond earlier though. That was an improvement. Maybe things were starting to look up.
The sound of metal hitting metal roused Cross from her thoughts to look at Tracks. The sparkling was slapping his palms against his carrier's chest, demanding attention. Cooing, Cross crossed the room to the couch, stopping only to pick up a toy. Once on the couch, Cross began to move the toy, enticing Tracks to giggle and reach for it.
Acidrain leaned against the doorway, listening. Probing across the bond she could tell Wirecross felt happy. When was the last time they were happy?
~ Rainy? ~
"Do you want a cube?" Acidrain asked out loud, aching for the intimacy yet dreading it, desperate not to let her inadequacies show.
"No, I had two when Skywarp was here." Cross replied, her good mood deflating a little as the bond between Acidrain and her fell into silence once more.
Wait, two? When did Wirecross drink two at one time? "Why two?"
There was a pregnant pause. Cross sighed. She seemed to do that a lot these days. "I was trying to feed Tracks, but I ran out of minerals so my feeding supply was low. I tried to give him a bottle for a joor, but he wouldn't take it. So I called Skywarp and he brought me more minerals and I re-fueled then."
"If it's so much trouble to feed him through your systems, you should wean him." the green femme replied.
"It was only so much trouble today, because I ran out of minerals." Cross said her voice uncharacteristically hard. "My feeding supply will dry up in three orns. I'll wean him then."
Acidrain flinched at the harshness from Cross. Cross was never so…so cold. Not even when she did nothing but yell and curse at her. Even when she was crying she never shut her down like this. Not even when she left to go see him. Acidrain continued to watch Cross interacting with her sparkling. She seemed happy and continued to play with the brat, but her wings were down and drawn close to her body.
The green seeker easily translated the body position. Cross was hurt. Despite her promise to Stormchaser she had hurt Cross. Again. It seemed that's all she did. Why was Cross so sensitive? If she wasn't, they wouldn't be like this now. If only things were the way they were before Stormchaser didn't have his internship, than it wouldn't be this difficult.
Deciding it'd be best to leave Cross with her sparkling, Acidrain went to their bedroom. Cross would come in later. Right now, she needed to be somewhere where she couldn't see that sparkling.