PAIRINGS: We have added a new pairing as of this chapter. I decided to throw a mention of my OTP SideswipexArcee in here. So that's officially a "mentioned" couple in the fic.
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CHAPTER 38
Brotherly Help
Coulton had made a good effort to avoid Mark after that day with Grimlock. Even in the hallways, Coulton would make a point to turn around and head down another way. It made Mark feel much more comfortable, especially given he was still getting over his near-abduction. More than once, Mark had woken up from sleep in a deep sweat and Hound's holoform over him assuring him he was okay. It was hard not to relive every second of that battle and chase, after all, he was only a kid, and it had been exceptionally terrifying.
Lucky for him, Hound didn't seem to mind waking from recharge to comfort him. Telling him very politely that they all had nightmares about one battle or another. It was comforting most nights to have Hound beside him. Especially when he'd stroke his back and hum him to sleep in a pleasant, melodic fashion. Luckily for him, however, things seemed to be calming down slowly and he hoped soon, the nightmares would cease entirely. Even if Hound had told him that chances were, these nightmares would be reoccurring for life, as were his of the war.
For the most part, life returned to normal at base as well. Though the news still reported of the Autobots good deeds, and even a few reports on him and Hound. Mark still didn't know what it was like to be a "star", but it felt dang near close to it. Or at least, it did in his fourteen year old mind. "So," Mark turned his head as Sideswipe rolled up beside him in the in the main hangar. "You called for a ride?"
Mark took a deep breath, straightening his t-shirt a little in response. He had asked for a ride, though he didn't want anyone else on base to know it yet. Though Maria and him were just going out as friends that day, he didn't want anyone prying. He knew questions would be asked. Questions that would probably end in overprotectiveness, and he didn't need that right now. "Keep it down, will you," Mark insisted quietly. "If dad, Lennox, or Epps hear you, they're going to ask questions."
"About you wanting a ride?" Sideswipe asked, quirking an eyebrow. "I'm your guardian, kid. I'm supposed to drive you places," Mark seemed to blush a bit, and fiddle around with his hair. "Wait a minute, I know that look. I used to have it whenever I pulled a fast one on Red Alert," Sideswipe tilted his head with a grin on his face. "You're going on a date with that femme from school, aren't you?"
"It's not a date," Mark shouted. "She just asked me to go see that new Doctor Strange movie. As friends," Mark insisted, though Sideswipe's grin told him he wasn't buying it. "Sides, if you blow this for me, I swear to God," Mark was getting frustrated now. "I really like this girl, but it's not a date. We're just friends, nothing more, nothing less."
Sideswipe carefully began to tap Mark on the side, his grin widening. It was clear that he was enjoying this, especially as he spun around the boy on his wheels. "You like her, you like her," Sideswipe chided childishly. "Oh boy, if you start dating she's going to have to go through so much interrogation," Mark's eye twitched ever so slightly at the notion. "Does she even know who your family is?"
"Sides, if you don't stop talking so loud," Mark began with a hint of extreme frustration. "I swear, I am going to find someone willing to paint you hot pink. And there will be unicorns involved," Sideswipe's optics looked as though Mark had just served him a death sentence. "Now, will you give me a ride to the theater? Or are you going to be immature about this?"
Sideswipe hung his arms slightly in disappointment, clearly he had been enjoying himself. He rubbed the back of his helm and sighed before transforming down into his Corvette form. The door popped open and his holform appeared in the driver's seat with a crackle of electricity. "Finnneeeee," Sideswipe whined as Mark climbed in. "You're hanging around Hound too much. You're getting touchy."
"I'm just nervous," Mark muttered as the door closed and Sideswipe began to drive. "I do like this girl, Sides. But I'm not sure I like her THAT way yet," He explained as the holoform looked at him in confusion. "I've got so much going on that I'm just not sure I'm ready for a relationship. Y'know?" He asked, his eyes moving to look out the passengers seat window.
Sideswipe shrugged his shoulders and leaned back as he drove. "When I was your age, I didn't care much about that stuff either," Mark looked over at him, surprised. "Most I cared about was interfacing and having fun. But now I wish I had had more relationships," Mark chuckled a bit at that. "No seriously, I'd like to have a bondmate and sparklings someday."
"I agree with Mirage when you were all drunk," Mark admitted in jest. "The world isn't ready to meet your kids yet, Sides."
Sideswipe slugged Mark slightly for that one, though he smirked. Of course Mark was right, Sideswipe was still too young for that probably. But it didn't change the fact he had learned how much he liked spending time with kids. "Yeah, well, someday you will," Sideswipe replied. "And if Arcee were still functioning, you might have met them sooner than you thought you would."
"You had a girlfriend?"
"Yeah, we lost her and her sisters in Egypt, though," Sideswipe explained as he pulled to a stop in front of the local theater. "I don't talk about it much. I was going to ask her to bond with me afterward, and well... Yeah," The mech shifted uncomfortably and the door swung open for Mark to climb out. "A word of advice kid? If you like this girl, there's no time like the present to tell her."
"Right..." Mark nodded.
"And just be yourself," Sideswipe told him "If it ends up being a date, I expect details."
Mark only gulped as he stepped out of the car, and let Sideswipe drive to a spot in the parking lot. What was the worst that could happen? Today would be fun, he told himself. He'd have a good time. If the nerves didn't kill him first.
...
"Well I'll give that movie one thing," Maria commented as they came out of the theater. "It definitely was "strange"."
Mark laughed a little, even if he did enjoy the movie. He understood that most people weren't into the more obscure superheroes even so. Yet, as a comic book fan, he couldn't help but love it. "You're not really into superheroes, are you?" Mark questioned, as Maria shook her head. "Why did you ask me to go then? I could have seen something different with you."
Maria shrugged at him, but gave a smile. "After what happened the other day," Maria began to admit. "I figured you could use a little time out of the base. I mean when you talked about it on the phone," She shuddered a little. "The whole thing sounded like something out of a nightmare."
Mark couldn't help but blush at that. The fact that she had even thought about it made his heart swell, even just a little. He put his hands in his pockets and nodded his head. "Well, I definitely had fun tonight," He finally replied. "I mean the movie was kinda what I was expecting. Considering what the other Phase Three movies have been like." Maria raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I forgot. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about."
"To be honest, tonight you last me after "Thor"," Maria giggled. "And you only had me there because Chris Hemsworth is HOT."
"I should get you the complete Marvel Encylcopedia."
"That was the first and last Marvel movie I'm seeing," Maria teased. "I think that I'm okay with just sticking to who looks the hottest," Mark burst out laughing at that. "What? Like you don't think Scarlet Johansen is hot? I bet that's the only thing you think whenever she comes on-screen."
Well, she definitely had Mark there, given he was a teenage boy. Instead of answering however, he simply whistled a little. Quickly noticing that Sideswipe had come a little closer in the parking lot, clearly to eavesdrop. "Is that your guardian?" Maria questioned as she pointed at him. "Wow, that corvette is hot," Mark began to reply when she walked over "I bet you can break the sound barrier in this baby, eh?"
Sideswipe seemed to chuckle, moving back a bit. Clearly, Maria knew the way into Sideswipe's spark. "You know it," Sideswipe replied proudly. "We can break the sound barrier in just about any sports car form, actually," He explained. "You must be Maria, the name's Sideswipe."
"Yeah, I know. Mark talks about you all the time," Maria nodded in response. "Tells me you can pull the best pranks around," Mark watched them curiously. "One time, I painted my dad's monster truck pink and blamed my brother. That's my big call to "pranking fame"," Sideswipe laughed a little at the mental image. "He threw a conniption too. I was grounded for like a month."
"Okay Mark, she's cool, I approve," Mark nearly chucked a nearby rock at him for that comment. "What? Now what did I do?" Mark started to approach Sideswipe, glaring daggers. "All I'm saying is, she's hot, she knows cars and pranks, and she's single..."
Mark kicked him slightly against the grill. "Shut up," Mark hissed. "She's going to think I'm some crazy nutso freak if she hears that." He added with a scowl. "Now's not exactly the time to be telling her I like her."
"So you do like her!"
"Boys," Sideswipe's holoform and Mark both turned to Maria. "You do know I can hear you from all the way over here, right?" She stated, motioning the fact they were only a few inches away. "And for the record, I don't think you're a crazy, nutso freak."
Mark rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous laugh before taking a big gulp. He looked at Sideswipe with narrowed eyes, but the mech seemed to only hum innocently. "I swear Sides, I love you like a brother. But you're going to be the death of me," Mark muttered under his breath before turning back to Maria. "So, now that I'm done being completely humiliated by this bucket of bolts," He began. "Do you want to maybe go grab some dinner, or something?"
Mark almost died of embarrassment as the tune "Take Me Home Tonight" played from Sideswipe's speakers. Maria, for her part, laughed and approached him casually with a wide smile. "Sure, why not," She replied smoothly. "I'm not about to turn down the offer of getting to ride in a top-of-the-line corvette." She added rather cooly. "Just let me call my parents and let them know I'm going to be a little late."
As Maria walked off, Mark turned to Sideswipe, who had turned off the song. "So now you're stealing Bumblebee's thing?" Mark asked with a groan.
"Kid, you're getting time alone with her," Sideswipe replied. "It's not a date, sure. But this is a start, isn't it?" Mark blushed a little, still not quite sure. "So, by the end of the night, you can ask her out," He stated flatly. "Put the moves on her, get a date."
"You really think I stand a chance?"
"A kid like you," Sideswipe replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "Is going to make some lucky femme happy," The blush that filled Mark's face only grew redder. "So, what are you waiting for? She's headed this way," Sideswipe drove forward, and nudged him gently. "Get the door for her, Romeo," Mark moved for the passengers side. "You're not a designated driver. Back seat, so you two are closer."
For emphasis, Sideswipe popped open one door as Mark rushed to grab the next one. Maria looked at him with a grin, and climbed in, allowing him to close the door. He stepped forward, putting his hand on Sideswipe's hood. "I swear, Sides, no more funny business," Mark told him firmly. "If I suddenly find myself with romantic reservations at some nice resteraunt-."
"I'm your guardian, not your fairy godmother," Sideswipe snorted. "Now get in and stop your whining."
As Mark finally did as he was told, Sideswipe's holoform only smirked. The kid had a lot to learn if he was going to hope to get beyond the first "real date" with this girl. But at least for now, he felt a certain satisfaction knowing he had at least gotten Mark out of his cold feet.