c h a p t e r f i v e
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a / n : Sorry for not posting for a while. Y'all probably need something to read because of the coronavirus sitch.
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The sky was a gorgeous gradient of dark violet, rose, and golden yellow, clouds were pink and sparse. The only people on the flight deck were you and your sparkling. The only others that had been there were the routine seeker squads coming in and out for patrol. There was always at least a few who awed openly at Vega.
Vega fell into your arms with a cry. You'd been teaching him how to fly the whole day.
It had been a rather lax day, and so Megatron had not needed you. All you had to do was night shift patrols for a while. You knew Dreadwing would be available for the night, but you weren't quite sure about the next week or so.
You would have your little one attempt to transform, which was quite the workout for someone whose t-cog wasn't fully matured. That's all you were having him do so he could get used to the experience. You took breaks for energon every so often.
"Are we done yet?" Your son begged to know, his wings drooping. "My wings huuuurrt."
"Yes. I've worked you for far too long, my dear," you answered in your ever kind and quiet tone. Your wings were drooping too. You were just as glad as your son that this was ending; while he was physically exhausted, you were emotionally exhausted.
Vega was too fatigued to hop onto the tips of his pedes to ask for you to pick him up. He simply raised his arms expectantly and looked at you with tired optics.
"Use your words," you had to remind him.
"Up, please." He gave you puppy eyes for extra measure. You couldn't say no to him now, not that you'd been planning on it.
"Alright, alright." You dropped to a crouch and took him into your arms. You entered the Nemesis and headed to your quarters. You made sure to tell Vega as you walked, before he dozed off, "I'm gonna be taking you to our room, and Dreadwing is gonna come by and make sure you sleep tight. Okay? I gotta do patrol for the night."
"Mmhm," came the half-hearted reply. His face was snuggled into the crook of your neck. You weren't sure if he had heard you.
You contactes Dreadwing.
.::Yes?::. Came a gruff voice from the other end.
.::Dreadwing, I am in need of your assistance for the night. I have patrol, but I'd rather not leave Vega alone.::.
He sighed. You wondered if you had interrupted something. The lieutenant answered, .::Of course. Now?::.
.::If its no trouble.::. You arrived at your door as you said so. Dreadwing gave a grunt of acknowledgement before you dropped the line.
You maneuvered Vega to one arm to input your password before stepping inside. The door shut while you walked over to the left, to the berth in the middle of the wall, with scattered datapads on the dirty, silver floor at either side. You gently set the mechling down on the cold berth. He moaned a little, curling up into a ball, and then yawned. You
You bit your derma, toying with it as you made a note to not work him so hard next time. You . . . You just didn't understand.
Your door pinged.
You quietly jogged over and let it open. You also dimmed the lights for Vega, until you were only just able to make out the walls and furniture in the room. The door slid to the side, revealing Dreadwing's tall and intimidating figure.
You noticed again what you'd noticed long before; he was an attractive mech, similar in build to your old lover. But, Megatron's new SIC had a spark that your late lover never had. Oh, if only a bot like Dreadwing had come into your life earlier--not that you wanted to make love with Dreadwing.
"Y/N," he said in greeting.
"Dreadwing." You nodded, leaning against the wall. You stepped aside to let him in.
"Dreadwing . . . !" Vega moaned tiredly. He let out a long, adorable yawn.
"Good evening, little one," the lieutenant said to the sparkling. He was quiet, as to not wake him. A small smile appeared on his derma when he saw the sleepy child.
"Sorry I didn't call ahead," you apologized. "It slipped my mind."
Dreadwing waved his servo dismissively. "It is of no consequence." He got a better look of your tired expression, and the concern buried in your optics. "Something is bothering you."
"It's nothing."
Vega yawned again, and his wings fluttered. The soldier beside your son's berth noticed your gaze dart to your son.
"It is not nothing," he said, turning to you. His voice was husky when quiet. It was a tone you couldn't help but take a liking to quickly.
You sighed, leaning against the wall beside the door again, suddenly finding the floor more interesting. You crossed your arms. Your wings fell.
Dreadwing came closer, and stood just a few steps away from you. His arms were crossed too. And, though it was hard to see in the dark light, deep within his optics was worry for you and Vega.
"He's been having trouble flying," you finally admitted. "We worked on it all day. His cog barely worked. His thrusters gave out too easy. Most seeker sparklings get it almost right away! Even I did, and I'm the worst flyer in upper command. I-I'm just worried . . . about . . . what if he can't? You know how seekers feel about defective flyers! He'd grow up, he'd be unwanted, outcasted by others. That's hardly what I want from my beautiful son!" You'd gotten so worked up in your worries that you'd raised your voice. Vega stirring in his sleep made you shut up.
Dreadwing was surprised. You never raised your voice.
"He may simply be a late bloomer."
"Oh, maybe," you moaned, leaning off the wall. His comment eased your parental mind, but only a little. You began pacing, from the door to a few paces left, and then a few paces right. Your wings rose a bit, twitching every now and then, showing off your your ever present concern.
"Maybe he is," you continued, "but what if there's something wrong with his t-cog? He can transform, but something's wrong with it. Something that won't let him fly, and enjoy the skies like every other perfectly functioning seeker-"
"If it worries you so much," Dreadwing interrupted, suddenly closer than before, "you can take him to Knock Out. We can have him checked out to make sure his t-cog and thrusters are within functioning parameters. But," he paused, resting a servo on your shoulder, his optics growing kinder, "you mustn't dwell on it. Your son is a wonderful, young mech. When he grows up, he will be strong, thanks to his creator, and whatever might happen to him, he will live through it and live a great, long onlining."
The two of you stared at each other for a moment.
"I . . ." Your wings rose in surprise. You uncrossed your arms. Snapping out of your stupor, you swiftly said, "Erm! Thank you, Dreadwing." You glanced away for a moment before meeting his gaze. With one servo curled close and resting over your spark, you lay your other over his on your shoulder, leaning your helm towards it. You spoke timidly, but truthfully. "You are a good mech. I hope my little one will grow to be as honorable, and strong-willed as you."
Dreadwing was taken aback. A warm feeling flourished in his chassis. It spread over his golden faceplates as energon blue flush.
"You are too kind, Y/N. Thank you, and you are quite welcome."
He didn't smile, but there was one in his rose red optics. You retured the smile on your derma.
You checked your internal chronometer.
"Oh stars! I'm going to be late for patrol. Oh thank you Dreadwing, oh thank you! I need to go! Oh Primus! Thank you!" You'd been thrown into quite the panic. Once you began speaking frantically, you'd done several things in rapid succession: jumped three feet in the air, thrown your arms around the lieutenant and hugged him tight, shocking him even more, run over and kissed your recharging son on the forehelm. Then you dashed out of the room in a flash, leaving Dreadwing and Vega in the dust.
Dreadwing stood stunned where you left him. He wasn't used to being hugged. His optics were still set on the closed door you'd escaped through.
He shook his helm, and got out of his stupor.
"Dreadwin'?" Vega spoke softly, having been woken slightly from your outburst and departure.
"Get your rest, Vega. You've had a long day."
"Where's . . . ?"
"Your creator will be back when you wake. Sleep tight, little one."
Vega yawned and rolled over. Dreadwing smiled again.