Fic: The Way
About five months ago, I wrote a story for tf_rare_pairing called The Path. It was a TFA BarricadexBluestreak story, and Bluestreak didn't talk for most of the story. Once he got going, though, he wouldn't shut up, and over the next month or so, I wrote three more parts to the story. The fourth and final part is stalled, but I thought I should let y'all see what I do have.
Title: The Way
By: mmouse15
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Snuggling mechs, suggestions of intimacy
'Verse: TFAnimated
Characters: Barricade, Bluestreak, mentions of others.
Summary: Barricade and Bluestreak make progress on their relationship, and Bluestreak faces his creator.
A/N: So the Path was pretty bland. I figured if Bluestreak was suffering from the medieval definition of sloth, aka Depression, in The Path, smexing was really out of the question and would strike the wrong note. Also, Barricade strikes me as having a code and seducing someone that lost mentally would go against that code. But Blue wanted more of his story told. Consider this a bonus.
Bluestreak accepted the cubes of energon from the barkeep, moving away from the long bar and back toward the small table against the wall. He offered the first cube to Barricade, then sat down with his cube.
"So, Blue, how are you doing?"
Bluestreak shrugged. "I'm…making progress."
Barricade sent him a small smile then took a sip. He then set the cube down, replying, "I wasn't asking about that, although I'm happy to listen. I was asking about your reposting to your unit now that you're done on that crazy organic planet."
Blue huffed out air in a short laugh. "Earth wasn't so bad. It was really good for me to be with Prowl and Smokescreen and have the chance for all of us to talk about our upbringing and messed up it was," He stared moodily into the energon, continuing, "and it was good for me to have my brothers on my side. I miss them."
Barricade nodded, reaching out and squeezing Bluestreak's hand. "I'm glad they were there for you."
The silver and grey mech nodded. Long moments of silence fell between them, but the silence was not uneasy. Rather, it was as if they were in the wilder areas of Earth again, falling into the same companionable rhythms that were so easy between them. Finally, Bluestreak stirred and answered.
"It's good. I feel productive. It's rather a shock to everyone, having the Decepticons back, but I was lucky that Prowl was there at the start of this whole thing. He shared…a lot…and it really helped me get a perspective on the situation. I'm doing better than many of the mechs in the unit, because I've seen a Decepticon, I've been to Earth, I'm not…"
"Trying to find your bearings in an uncertain world?" Barricade queried?
"Yeah. I've been to the Pit before in my life. This…as nasty as it is, this is a clean fight. It's not like…"
"You're being sabotaged by the ones that should be supporting you?"
"Yes."
They finished their energon, then Barricade paid the tab and they left, walking along the clean and bright streets. Barricade steered them towards the docks where his ship rested. Bluestreak went along, quiet and thoughtful. At the ship, Barricade invited him in and Bluestreak accepted.
"Do you need to check in somewhere?" Barricade asked as he busied himself putting away supplies he'd traded for.
"No, I checked in with the sergeant-at-arms and I'm free for the next two orns. My creator…asked to see me."
Barricade hummed, asking, "Do you want to see him?"
Bluestreak made himself comfortable on a seat. "I don't feel…no, I don't. I'm not strong enough yet, and I've made a lot of progress and I don't want to wreck it at this point. I tried to get out of taking this leave, but…"
"They can't let you not take the leave, because that would cause more paperwork and it's easier to make you take the leave than to get you out of it."
"Exactly." Blue affirmed.
"So." Barricade leaned back against the storage compartments, a wicked glint in his eyes. "How about, instead, you stay here and just be, and you can tell your glitched creator when you're back on base that your friends got you stinking drunk, so sorry, maybe never?"
Bluestreak laughed. It had a note of hysteria to it, but that soon disappeared and Bluestreak's laughter took on the tones of a youngling enjoying something for the first time. Barricade couldn't contain his grin.
Finally, Bluestreak got control of himself. He was sprawled over the small table, small chuffs of air still escaping him.
"That…would be great." He finally managed.
"Good! Consider it done! Wanna learn a new game?" Barricade moved forward.
"Sure!"
The next time they met up, Bluestreak had been injured in a battle between his unit, several other units, and a Decepticon force that was surprisingly well armed and tactically superior. Afterward, his commander had to chew on some mechs that 'being an Autobot doesn't automatically win the day! You've got to think!'
Bluestreak, having dealt with the uncertainty of organic lifeforms, was far more flexible in his thinking and had managed to lay a trap that allowed his unit to escape with no loss of mech and far fewer injuries that he expected. The worst injury was to Bluestreak himself - a shard of stone had pierced his chestplates, and it was too close to his Spark to be taken lightly. He had been evacuated to the closest military hospital and was now recovering from the long and tedious removal of the rock fragment.
"Sir?" An aide came up to him.
"Yes?" Bluestreak replied, laying down his datapad.
"Sir, there is a civilian that says he knows you and would like to visit."
"Really? What's his designation?"
"Barricade, sir."
Bluestreak grinned. "Bring him on in!"
"Yes, sir!" the aide hurried away, bringing Barricade in shortly thereafter.
"I hear you tried to get yourself killed out there, Bluestreak." Barricade clasped his hands tightly, bestowing a wide smile on the young fighter.
"Nah! Whoever you talked to greatly exaggerated my exploits, I'm sure."
"Pft. Smokescreen doesn't exaggerate much."
"Hah! He exaggerated all the time."
"Only to you, because he's your brother."
The aide, seeing that the two mechs really did know each other, left them alone. Barricade picked up the only chair in the room and moved it next to the berth where Bluestreak was being monitored, a machine strapped to his chest to watch the fluctuations of his Spark.
"Ya had me worried, Blue."
"Sorry, 'Cade. I didn't mean to worry anybody."
"I have to report to both your brothers after I've seen you. Prowl needs to sooth Optimus, because that mech worries even though you haven't worked for him in…"
"Too long, really. Optimus is a good sparked bot."
"Almost too good."
Bluestreak was amused, "Sometimes. His kind of optimism was a good salve for my mental state. He always looked to the good. I remind myself of that whenever I feel myself starting to slip backwards."
Barricade nodded, reaching out to hold Bluestreak's hands again. Blue squeezed back.
"'Cade?"
The neutral mech suddenly stood, moving away and facing the wall, his arms wrapped around himself. He stared at the wall, Bluestreak watching him carefully. After long moments, Barricade turned around, offering a small smile and sitting again. Bluestreak reached for his hand, and Barricade allowed him to clasp it.
"Sorry."
The fighter didn't answer him, studying his face instead. Finally, he replied, "It's fine, 'Cade. I'm very sorry I scared you so badly. I'll try to take better care of myself."
"Yeah. That would be good. There are mechs out there that care about you, ya know."
"Yes."
They shared a smile.
The next time Bluestreak was on leave, he arranged with Barricade to meet. This time, Bluestreak met him as the ship docked and they went together to restock Barricade's supplies. Since there were two of them, the neutral was able to get a couple of items he'd had to pass on before. They were enjoying each other's company as they walked back to Barricade's ship, when the worst thing possible happened.
"Bluestreak?" the voice was deep, measured, very cultured.
Bluestreak froze, the smile sliding off his face as if it had lost its home. He slowly turned around.
"Father."
"Why have you not come to see me? I have three ungrateful creations whom I never see anymore. Surely this…flare-up and," here the mech paused to look at Barricade, "your friends are not as important to you as your own creator?"
Bluestreak looked at him, then replied carefully, "Actually, my friends and my brothers are far more important to me than you are. Good day, sir." With that, Bluestreak executed a military about face and continued down the street.
The elder mech rocked back on his heels, looking at Barricade. "My own creation!"
Barricade gave him a tight smile. "On a planet that we both served on, they have a saying, sir."
"Indeed."
"Yes. You reap what you sow. I'd say it was nice to meet you, but I'd be lying. Good day." Barricade executed his own about face and followed Bluestreak.
He caught up to Bluestreak around the first corner, urging Blue away from the wall and to the ship. Bluestreak carefully set the supplies down and collapsed, shaking. Barricade deposited his own load of materials and wrapped Blue in his arms, holding the younger mech as he shook and sobbed. He murmured meaningless phrases to him, soothing the distraught youngster with his voice. Bluestreak finally uncurled enough to wrap himself around Barricade. They held each other for long cycles, Blue finally falling into recharge in Barricade's arms.
The next cycle start, Bluestreak woke feeling warm and comfortable and secure. He was snuggly wrapped in Barricade's arms, the mech leaning back against the supply cabinets and deeply in recharge himself. Blue worked himself free from Barricade's embrace and after stretching out the kinks in his frame, began putting away the supplies.
"You're getting awfully comfortable with my ship," came the murmur from the floor.
"Yeah, well, maybe it's just you I'm getting comfortable with, and your ship is just an extension of that comfort level."
Silence, then Barricade surged to his feet, crowding Bluestreak back against the cabinets. "Are you? Really, Bluestreak, I'm not sure I'd confess that to me." 'Cade's voice was husky, deeper than normal. Blue reached up and slid his hand along Barricade's cheek.
"I'm not ready yet, but I will be. You'd better watch yourself, 'cause I'll come after you."
"Promises, promises."
"Yes, they are." Bluestreak reached up and kissed Barricade's cheek, hearing the deep cycling of air that his action provoked in the older mech. Regretfully, Barricade pulled back. After a moment, Bluestreak continued putting the supplies away, but he took every opportunity to brush against 'Cade. Their intimacy settled into a comfortable routine, and the remainder of Bluestreak's leave was spent together, walking the city, laughing over games and recharging curled in each other's arms. When it was time for Bluestreak to catch his transport back, Barricade walked with him to the dock. Blue held his hand for longer than necessary, searching for words. Finally, Barricade lifted the burden from him.
"Take care. You're important to me and to many others. I'll miss you. Call me when you get leave again."
Blue laughed. "Ditto, 'Cade."
Barricade watched him leave, raising a hand in farewell when Bluestreak turned to wave at him.
"I love you, Blue. Don't get hurt out there." Barricade murmured it to himself, promising that the next time he saw the young fighter, he'd say those words to him.
Title: The Way
By: mmouse15
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Snuggling mechs, suggestions of intimacy
'Verse: TFAnimated
Characters: Barricade, Bluestreak, mentions of others.
Summary: Barricade and Bluestreak make progress on their relationship, and Bluestreak faces his creator.
A/N: So the Path was pretty bland. I figured if Bluestreak was suffering from the medieval definition of sloth, aka Depression, in The Path, smexing was really out of the question and would strike the wrong note. Also, Barricade strikes me as having a code and seducing someone that lost mentally would go against that code. But Blue wanted more of his story told. Consider this a bonus.
Bluestreak accepted the cubes of energon from the barkeep, moving away from the long bar and back toward the small table against the wall. He offered the first cube to Barricade, then sat down with his cube.
"So, Blue, how are you doing?"
Bluestreak shrugged. "I'm…making progress."
Barricade sent him a small smile then took a sip. He then set the cube down, replying, "I wasn't asking about that, although I'm happy to listen. I was asking about your reposting to your unit now that you're done on that crazy organic planet."
Blue huffed out air in a short laugh. "Earth wasn't so bad. It was really good for me to be with Prowl and Smokescreen and have the chance for all of us to talk about our upbringing and messed up it was," He stared moodily into the energon, continuing, "and it was good for me to have my brothers on my side. I miss them."
Barricade nodded, reaching out and squeezing Bluestreak's hand. "I'm glad they were there for you."
The silver and grey mech nodded. Long moments of silence fell between them, but the silence was not uneasy. Rather, it was as if they were in the wilder areas of Earth again, falling into the same companionable rhythms that were so easy between them. Finally, Bluestreak stirred and answered.
"It's good. I feel productive. It's rather a shock to everyone, having the Decepticons back, but I was lucky that Prowl was there at the start of this whole thing. He shared…a lot…and it really helped me get a perspective on the situation. I'm doing better than many of the mechs in the unit, because I've seen a Decepticon, I've been to Earth, I'm not…"
"Trying to find your bearings in an uncertain world?" Barricade queried?
"Yeah. I've been to the Pit before in my life. This…as nasty as it is, this is a clean fight. It's not like…"
"You're being sabotaged by the ones that should be supporting you?"
"Yes."
They finished their energon, then Barricade paid the tab and they left, walking along the clean and bright streets. Barricade steered them towards the docks where his ship rested. Bluestreak went along, quiet and thoughtful. At the ship, Barricade invited him in and Bluestreak accepted.
"Do you need to check in somewhere?" Barricade asked as he busied himself putting away supplies he'd traded for.
"No, I checked in with the sergeant-at-arms and I'm free for the next two orns. My creator…asked to see me."
Barricade hummed, asking, "Do you want to see him?"
Bluestreak made himself comfortable on a seat. "I don't feel…no, I don't. I'm not strong enough yet, and I've made a lot of progress and I don't want to wreck it at this point. I tried to get out of taking this leave, but…"
"They can't let you not take the leave, because that would cause more paperwork and it's easier to make you take the leave than to get you out of it."
"Exactly." Blue affirmed.
"So." Barricade leaned back against the storage compartments, a wicked glint in his eyes. "How about, instead, you stay here and just be, and you can tell your glitched creator when you're back on base that your friends got you stinking drunk, so sorry, maybe never?"
Bluestreak laughed. It had a note of hysteria to it, but that soon disappeared and Bluestreak's laughter took on the tones of a youngling enjoying something for the first time. Barricade couldn't contain his grin.
Finally, Bluestreak got control of himself. He was sprawled over the small table, small chuffs of air still escaping him.
"That…would be great." He finally managed.
"Good! Consider it done! Wanna learn a new game?" Barricade moved forward.
"Sure!"
The next time they met up, Bluestreak had been injured in a battle between his unit, several other units, and a Decepticon force that was surprisingly well armed and tactically superior. Afterward, his commander had to chew on some mechs that 'being an Autobot doesn't automatically win the day! You've got to think!'
Bluestreak, having dealt with the uncertainty of organic lifeforms, was far more flexible in his thinking and had managed to lay a trap that allowed his unit to escape with no loss of mech and far fewer injuries that he expected. The worst injury was to Bluestreak himself - a shard of stone had pierced his chestplates, and it was too close to his Spark to be taken lightly. He had been evacuated to the closest military hospital and was now recovering from the long and tedious removal of the rock fragment.
"Sir?" An aide came up to him.
"Yes?" Bluestreak replied, laying down his datapad.
"Sir, there is a civilian that says he knows you and would like to visit."
"Really? What's his designation?"
"Barricade, sir."
Bluestreak grinned. "Bring him on in!"
"Yes, sir!" the aide hurried away, bringing Barricade in shortly thereafter.
"I hear you tried to get yourself killed out there, Bluestreak." Barricade clasped his hands tightly, bestowing a wide smile on the young fighter.
"Nah! Whoever you talked to greatly exaggerated my exploits, I'm sure."
"Pft. Smokescreen doesn't exaggerate much."
"Hah! He exaggerated all the time."
"Only to you, because he's your brother."
The aide, seeing that the two mechs really did know each other, left them alone. Barricade picked up the only chair in the room and moved it next to the berth where Bluestreak was being monitored, a machine strapped to his chest to watch the fluctuations of his Spark.
"Ya had me worried, Blue."
"Sorry, 'Cade. I didn't mean to worry anybody."
"I have to report to both your brothers after I've seen you. Prowl needs to sooth Optimus, because that mech worries even though you haven't worked for him in…"
"Too long, really. Optimus is a good sparked bot."
"Almost too good."
Bluestreak was amused, "Sometimes. His kind of optimism was a good salve for my mental state. He always looked to the good. I remind myself of that whenever I feel myself starting to slip backwards."
Barricade nodded, reaching out to hold Bluestreak's hands again. Blue squeezed back.
"'Cade?"
The neutral mech suddenly stood, moving away and facing the wall, his arms wrapped around himself. He stared at the wall, Bluestreak watching him carefully. After long moments, Barricade turned around, offering a small smile and sitting again. Bluestreak reached for his hand, and Barricade allowed him to clasp it.
"Sorry."
The fighter didn't answer him, studying his face instead. Finally, he replied, "It's fine, 'Cade. I'm very sorry I scared you so badly. I'll try to take better care of myself."
"Yeah. That would be good. There are mechs out there that care about you, ya know."
"Yes."
They shared a smile.
The next time Bluestreak was on leave, he arranged with Barricade to meet. This time, Bluestreak met him as the ship docked and they went together to restock Barricade's supplies. Since there were two of them, the neutral was able to get a couple of items he'd had to pass on before. They were enjoying each other's company as they walked back to Barricade's ship, when the worst thing possible happened.
"Bluestreak?" the voice was deep, measured, very cultured.
Bluestreak froze, the smile sliding off his face as if it had lost its home. He slowly turned around.
"Father."
"Why have you not come to see me? I have three ungrateful creations whom I never see anymore. Surely this…flare-up and," here the mech paused to look at Barricade, "your friends are not as important to you as your own creator?"
Bluestreak looked at him, then replied carefully, "Actually, my friends and my brothers are far more important to me than you are. Good day, sir." With that, Bluestreak executed a military about face and continued down the street.
The elder mech rocked back on his heels, looking at Barricade. "My own creation!"
Barricade gave him a tight smile. "On a planet that we both served on, they have a saying, sir."
"Indeed."
"Yes. You reap what you sow. I'd say it was nice to meet you, but I'd be lying. Good day." Barricade executed his own about face and followed Bluestreak.
He caught up to Bluestreak around the first corner, urging Blue away from the wall and to the ship. Bluestreak carefully set the supplies down and collapsed, shaking. Barricade deposited his own load of materials and wrapped Blue in his arms, holding the younger mech as he shook and sobbed. He murmured meaningless phrases to him, soothing the distraught youngster with his voice. Bluestreak finally uncurled enough to wrap himself around Barricade. They held each other for long cycles, Blue finally falling into recharge in Barricade's arms.
The next cycle start, Bluestreak woke feeling warm and comfortable and secure. He was snuggly wrapped in Barricade's arms, the mech leaning back against the supply cabinets and deeply in recharge himself. Blue worked himself free from Barricade's embrace and after stretching out the kinks in his frame, began putting away the supplies.
"You're getting awfully comfortable with my ship," came the murmur from the floor.
"Yeah, well, maybe it's just you I'm getting comfortable with, and your ship is just an extension of that comfort level."
Silence, then Barricade surged to his feet, crowding Bluestreak back against the cabinets. "Are you? Really, Bluestreak, I'm not sure I'd confess that to me." 'Cade's voice was husky, deeper than normal. Blue reached up and slid his hand along Barricade's cheek.
"I'm not ready yet, but I will be. You'd better watch yourself, 'cause I'll come after you."
"Promises, promises."
"Yes, they are." Bluestreak reached up and kissed Barricade's cheek, hearing the deep cycling of air that his action provoked in the older mech. Regretfully, Barricade pulled back. After a moment, Bluestreak continued putting the supplies away, but he took every opportunity to brush against 'Cade. Their intimacy settled into a comfortable routine, and the remainder of Bluestreak's leave was spent together, walking the city, laughing over games and recharging curled in each other's arms. When it was time for Bluestreak to catch his transport back, Barricade walked with him to the dock. Blue held his hand for longer than necessary, searching for words. Finally, Barricade lifted the burden from him.
"Take care. You're important to me and to many others. I'll miss you. Call me when you get leave again."
Blue laughed. "Ditto, 'Cade."
Barricade watched him leave, raising a hand in farewell when Bluestreak turned to wave at him.
"I love you, Blue. Don't get hurt out there." Barricade murmured it to himself, promising that the next time he saw the young fighter, he'd say those words to him.