28 Fireflights - Angsty
Yay, I'm into the 28s now too. So I'm just going to post them in the order I finish them. There will be blatant Sandy/Flight references in most, possibly all.
So, prompt number four, Angsty. Thank you to the wonderful ajremix for the idea for this. I copied word for word some of her original idea, hope she doesn't mind, but if she does, I'll change it quicksharp.
Rated: T
4. Angsty
“Sandstorm?”
“Mhmm?” The triplechanger activated his optics to look at the languid jet beside him. Almost of their own volition, Sandstorm’s hands began stroking Fireflight’s hips, making the jet purr softly.
Fireflight nuzzled closer, giving his lover more room to work with, fingers digging into the planes of orange armour. “How did you join the Autobots?”
Sandstorm hesitated, sitting up, surprised, Fireflight sat up beside him, leaning on him. “Springer came too me and offered me a position in the Wreckers, I accepted.”
Fireflight let out a soft sigh, nuzzling Sandstorm’s chest, not saying anything. Sandstorm shook his head to himself and stood up, pulling Flight with him. “Alright Fireflight, I’ll tell you the whole story… But you won’t like it… Walk with me.” Fireflight smiled gratefully, hugging Sandstorm as they left the room and began walking outside.
Sandstorm knew he’d have to tell the whole story, and it really didn’t appeal to him at all, but tell it he did. He told Flight about his days running gambling rings and being a black market fence. He watched Fireflight’s optics get wider and rounder, internally berating himself for not having better avoided the question. A bit upset, he fell silent, but Fireflight kept looking at him until he continued his story.
Fireflight remained silent, listening to everything his lover said, a bit unsure what to think. He sat at a cliff and leaned on Sandstorm when he sat down, still telling his story. Fireflight didn’t flinch at a single detail until Sandstorm quietly explained what he’d done to become a triplechanger. When the Wrecker told him how he’d cheated Octane by playing on his emotions, Fireflight stood up abruptly, taking a step back. Sandstorm flinched as if Flight had hit him and rose to his feet, reaching for the jet.
Arms pulled Fireflight in- trembling, desperate -against a body that barely seemed able to stand. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"
Fireflight broke out of the triplechanger's arms; head swimming with emotion and revelation and the overwhelming hurt and fear at seeing a part of Sandstorm he never wanted to believe existed. "I can't- just... I-I need to think-"
Unable to cope with Sandstorm there, with everything he'd just experienced and witnessed threatening the shatter what he thought he always knew, Fireflight transformed and left Sandstorm behind.
“Flight! Wait!”
---
Fireflight landed in a small clearing and buried his head between his knees, shoulders shaking. He simply sat there, trembling miserably for a very long time, heedless of what went on around him. Finally, he straightened up and looked towards the heavens, a million and more questions and thoughts in his mind. Sandstorm had done bad things in his life, awful things. Sure, Fireflight had heard rumours, some even worse than what he’d learned, but to hear Sandstorm say these things… It was too much for him to understand.
The thought that Sandstorm had trusted with these secrets crossed his mind. He captured that thought and slowly examined it. Yes, Sandstorm had, he’d told Flight things that he kept secret from everyone else. Things that he never wanted to share. Fireflight wrapped his arms tightly around himself, hating that he was so unsure. Slowly he thought about everything he knew about Sandstorm, the good, the bad, and came to a decision; he still wanted the triplechanger. Sandstorm might have done these things, but he did love Fireflight. He did so much to make the jet happy, never mind the crazy things he went through just for Flight.
Fireflight couldn’t help the small smile that formed on his lips as he remembered how Sandstorm actually went with him on a Public Relations trip to a human daycare. The poor Wrecker had been pretty much molested by the horde of happy children. Sandstorm hadn’t been too thrilled, that was for sure, but he’d endured it, all because playing with children make Flight happy. His smile faded as he remembered the hurt in Sandstorm’s voice. The Wrecker trusted him, gave him what he gave no one else, and he’d just left Sandstorm behind…
He stood up. He had to find his lover.
---
Sandstorm wasn’t where he’d left him. Fireflight looked around, wishing he knew how to track someone. Rubbing his helm worriedly, he took to the air again; maybe he’d find his lover back at the base. He flew there ever quick, landing and searching around, walking aboard Xantium a bit nervously, not feeling welcome without his lover’s presence.
“Heya Fireflight.” He started and looked around to see a curiously cocked head. “You’re looking pretty upset.”
“Oh… Hi Topspin… Have you seen Sandstorm?” Fireflight looked at the medic so pleadingly, Topspin mentally winced.
“Yeah, he came in a while ago, think he’s in his quarters.”
Relief flooded the jet. “Thanks!” He hurried down the hall, ignoring the hovercraft’s thoughtful expression.
Fireflight typed in Sandstorm’s door code and stepped in as the door soundlessly opened. His optics fell on Sandstorm sitting at his desk mask and visor off, examining his reflection in a gleaming bit of metal with an air of misery. Fireflight felt his spark contract at his lover’s evident gloom and took an unsure step forward. Sandstorm’s head snapped up at the soft clatter of Fireflight’s feet, making the jet freeze. Tentatively the triplechanger stood up, looking at the jet with a mixture of fear, hope and anguish.
“Flight?”
He looked at Sandstorm, at the unmasked face so raw and afraid and thought about all the things he could say. He could say that he understood, that he forgave, that he'd always care- Fireflight could have said all those things and there wouldn't be enough time or words to make Sandstorm believe.
So he took the Wrecker's hands in his and looked up into optics as open as his and said the words that wrapped up all he meant and all he wanted to say in a promise of always: "I love you."
The words seemed to cause Sandstorm to collapse, falling into Fireflight's arms and pressing his head against the planes of red armor. "Thank you," he whispered brokenly, saying all the things there'd never be time for him to say, all the things Fireflight needed to hear, "thank you."
Fireflight only wrapped his arms more tightly around Sandstorm in reply.