28 Steeljaw/Zauru - In the Rain
Yes, I'm doing the 28s challenge again, so please head over and make your claim here for Steeljaw and Zauru.
This one claimed by huntingospray who wanted Steeljaw and Zauru in their human forms. Angsty-fluffy and rated pg for boy/boy smoochies.
In the Rain
Steeljaw listened to the mission plan, his face growing ever darker as details unfolded. One week, in Peru, slogging through mud and debris alone, searching for humans who’d been unwittingly buried in a Decepticon-induced landslide up in the mountains. One week… alone…
“I’m not doing it,” he announced to the room at large.
All eyes and optics turned on him, but he stood his ground.
“I’m not going.” He crossed his arms. “You have other trackers - Hound and Groove - send one of them.”
Prowl, still in his robot form, looked down at him unwaveringly. “I’m afraid the matter is not open for discussion. This is not a request, Steeljaw, it is an order, on which you have no grounds to decline.”
“There’s mud.”
“Which should not trouble you or make you sick in human form. I have already double-checked that with both Ratchet and First Aid.” Prowl’s voice brooked no argument.
Steeljaw wasn’t giving up so easily. “I’m not even in my lion form.”
Prowl’s optics brightened a little, a sign he was starting to get a little miffed at the former-Cassette’s insubordination. “You still retain your extra-sensitive sense of smell, something Hound and Groove do not possess in human form.”
“You’re sending me alone.”
“Negative. Grapple and Hoist will be accompanying you, and there will be human crews on site to assist with the actual removal of debris.” Prowl explained patiently.
“I hardly know them!” the young man protested.
“Steeljaw! Cease this immature behaviour immediately.” Prowl wasn’t feeling it one bit. “This is an order direct from Prime himself. There are people dying in that village, and you are the only one who can help find them. Like it or not, you will be on that flight to Peru tomorrow, and you will be assisting the search and rescue teams until every man, woman and child is accounted for. Do I make myself clear?”
Narrowing his very blue eyes, the blond saluted. “Yes, sir,” he muttered, before turning and walking out of the room.
Blaster, who had been sitting and watching silently, now stood. “Sorry ‘bout that, Prowl. It’s just… he ain’t used t’workin’ disaster sites, y’know?”
“There is no need to make excuses for him, Blaster,” Prowl replied. “He has to learn how to put his own discomfort aside and help others.”
“Yeah, I know.” Blaster sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Let me talk t’him.” He nodded to Prowl and set off down the hallway after his wayward charge. “Wait up, ‘Jaw.”
+++++
Steeljaw strode down the hall towards the exit. He knew Blaster was probably rushing after him to try and talk things out, but he was not in the mood to chat at the moment. He could hear the rain beating down outside, and for once, it didn’t deter him. Rain couldn’t harm him in this form.
He walked out into the downpour without a second thought. Water drenched him instantly, but he didn’t really care. Instead he walked over to the small ‘garage’ that housed regular Earth vehicles that the Autobots-turned-humans used for transport. Among these was a small motorcycle.
The young man went over to it and slowly ran a hand over its length, touching the smooth metal and curves. It reminded him a little of his lion form and how he could run freely for hours on end without tiring. He still had some of his endurance in this form, but he missed the freedom that the feline shape gave him.
Looking out into the rain again, Steeljaw reached for the helmet and put it on - brushing blond hair out of his eyes - along with the leather gloves someone had left hanging on one of the handle bars. Grabbing the keys off the shelf, he straddled the seat, turned the ignition and kicked it into start.
It roared to life, much to the young man’s satisfaction, and Steeljaw revved the engine a few times. “Oh, you are a cat at heart,” he purred, kicking up the prop and riding out into the rain.
He shot past the entrance of the Ark, barely registering Blaster’s shout, and turned the bike down the path, kicking up mud and water as he headed for the highway. Let them try and catch him now; force him to go away, and be alone without his friends and family.
And Zauru...
The bike jerked under him, and he wobbled. An image of the young dino-cassettebot filled his mind, and he slowed, thinking of his lover. No… not just his lover…. The former little Apatosaurus had become so much more to him and vice versa. They were partners, mates, perhaps bonded in the future. There was no way in the Pit he was going to leave that sweet young man behind and go slogging through mud for days.
And yet, he was here, running… away from home… from him…
He doesn’t know I’m out here… what am I doing?!
It wasn’t too late, he wasn’t even on the highway yet, just a narrow stretch of lonely road through the meadows. If he turned back now, he could get home before Zauru even realized he was gone. Instinctively, he swung the bike around, intending to turn a sharp 180 and head back.
The tyres slipped from under him, unable to find traction for such a maneuver on the rain-slicked road, and slid a few feet down the road, trapping Steeljaw’s leg under it and dragging him along with it.
When bike and rider finally came to a stop, Steeljaw lifted his head slowly and sat up, thanking Primus he’d decided to wear the helmet. Pushing the bike away with his free right leg, he slowly tried to drag his left from under the fallen vehicle and winced when a throb of pain shot from his knee. Great. He must have pulled or torn something when he was dragged. Just great.
“Be careful what you wish for, ‘Jaw,” he muttered to himself.
Biting his lower lip against the pain, he pushed himself to his feet, then hobbled over to the bike and picked it up, using it for support as he wheeled it over to the nearest tree and sat down under it. Walking back with a busted knee was out of the question, and he certainly wasn’t going to try riding a bike with one.
Zauru will come…
+++++
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there under the tree, but somewhere in time he realized he must have dozed off because the next thing he knew was that he was being shaken, and he was no longer being rained on.
Opening his eyes, he looked up into a young face, with bright blue eyes, that was framed by dark blue-black hair and was currently etched with worry. Behind it was a background of cherry red and it seemed to be shielding him from the raindrops. An umbrella…
“Zauru…?”
“Oh, thank Primus! ‘Jaw!” A strong arm embraced him in a gentle hug, and Steeljaw leaned gratefully into the warm, firm body. “I was so worried. When Blaster said you ran off….”
The young blond pressed his face into the other’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright.” Zauru caressed his lover’s face softly. “Are you alright?”
“Yes… no… I don’t know.” Steeljaw wrapped his arms around the other man and hugged him tight. “They want me to go away. I don’t want to leave you.”
“The Peru mission?” The former dino’sette ran his fingers through Steeljaw’s damp blond locks. “Beloved, I don’t want you to leave either, but it would be selfish of me to keep you when there are others who need you more than I do.”
“I want to be selfish for once, I need you.” The former lion nuzzled his mate’s neck. “I cant let you go.”
“Yes you can. And you know you will, because selfish is not the kind of person you are.”
“I’ll be alone.”
Zauru kissed below his ear. “No, you wont, because you know I’m always in your spark.” He pulled back a little and brushed some strands of hair out of Steeljaw’s eyes. “And yes, I know that sounds very corny, but it’s the truth. I’ll always be there.”
Blue eyes met blue eyes and Steeljaw reached up and touched the other’s cheek. Zauru placed his hand over his mate’s hand and entwined their fingers before placing a light kiss on his palm. Steeljaw touched the other’s lips with his thumb, then leaned in and kissed him softly on the mouth. Zauru returned it, wrapping his arms around Steeljaw and holding him close.
Steeljaw pulled way first, face slightly flushed in spite of the wet and the cold. “I’ll miss you.”
“And I’ll miss you, but we’ll manage somehow. Just know that I love you.”
“I’ll remember if you will.”
“I will… and when you get back, I’m going to stick to you so bad.” He nuzzled the former lion fondly.
“How bad?” There was a hint of mischief in Steeljaw’s tone, and a glint in his eyes that made Zauru smirk.
“Let me get you home and into our nice warm bed, and I’ll give you a preview,” he murmured huskily. “Come back with me?”
Steeljaw nodded, and holding onto Zauru’s strong frame, pulled himself to his feet. His knee still hurt him a little so he put weight on it gingerly, leaning on his mate as they went over to the bike. The umbrella still sheltered them - barely - but neither noticed.
“You walked all the way here?” the blond asked.
Zauru looked sheepish. “I didn’t want to risk driving on wet roads, and you took the only bike, so…” He shrugged. “How’s your knee?”
“Getting better, but I don’t think I can ride at the moment. Can’t put much weight on it.”
“Then I give you the honor of holding the umbrella.”
The former dino grinned and climbed onto the bike, kick-starting it to life and patting the seat behind him as he hung the helmet on one of the handlebars. “All aboard?”
Steeljaw smiled and climbed up behind him, wrapping one arm around his lover and pressing close, holding the umbrella over them with his other hand. He rested his chin on Zauru’s shoulder and kissed an ear, purring softly and smiling when Zauru reached down and squeezed his forearm before placing his hand back on the handlebar.
“Let’s go home.”
~END.
Enjoy! Comments greatly appreciated XD... they feed the bunnies after all.