I leaned against the cold wall of some random building, staring up at the sky. The stars glimmered faintly, drowned out by the neon lights that painted the city around us, a fun view, I can't deny.
Airachnid was pressed against me, her head resting on my chest. Her weight was "light," almost comforting, and the subtle scent of her hair wafted up to me, it was amusing to think she'd started taking care of herself, even going so far as to use things like perfume. After the talk with Windblade, she'd grown quieter. It wasn't hard to figure out what was churning in that chaotic mind of hers; I'd known her far too long not to notice the gears turning behind those purple eyes.
"Are you worried about the decision I made?" I asked.
She let out a long sigh, the warm air brushing my neck.
"You literally decided the course of my life without asking me. Basically threw me to the wolves."
I smiled, sliding my hands to her waist.
"Congrats, you're learning human idioms. I take full credit for that."
"I'm serious…" Her voice lost its playful edge. "You know if I go with you, I'll just hold you back. Especially with my history with the Autobots."
There was a sadness there, not regret, but something deeper, fear, maybe, of being a burden. I rested my forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her skin.
"If I'm honest, I've gotten so used to having you around that it'd feel weird to see you disappear."
She looked up, a mischievous glint sparking in her eyes.
"So you admit you like me."
"You beat me in the race," I shot back, and she let out a short laugh.
"Careful not to fall in love," she said, mimicking Windblade's deep, serious voice. "I'm a bad influence."
I couldn't hold back the laugh. "What was that?"
"Isn't that how the idiot acts?" she replied, wearing a proud grin. Her purple eyes scanned the street. "Speaking of, where's the Autobot?"
"From what I gathered, she was cheating at the casino way too blatantly, she got carried away. I think security's giving her a bit of trouble. But relax, she'll show up soon."
"Wait a minute. She can do whatever she wants, and I'm treated like a kid?" Airachnid straightened, offended.
"You're an idiot with psychopathic tendencies," I replied without hesitation. "I had to grow a third eye just to keep tabs on you and stop you from doing something stupid."
She turned, facing me head-on, her face inches from mine.
"I thought it was because you liked the way I look."
"I'll admit, sometimes it has its perks," I murmured.
Our lips met in a quick, light kiss, followed by a shared smile. The moment was perfect, until she spoke.
"But seriously, we have to grab my stuff from the apartment."
I rolled my eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"I knew we were in a good vibe?"
"Oh, was that romantic?" She played dumb, resting her head back on my chest. Suddenly, she pulled a Spider-Man vs. Venom comic from under her dress, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Next time I'll nail the timing."
My eyes widened, my brain stalling for a second as I tried to process what I'd just seen.
"Where the hell did that come from?" I asked, caught between curiosity and mild shock.
Airachnid didn't even look up from the comic.
"You really think I left home without something to read while you were kidnapped?" she replied, flipping the page with a soft rustle. "I've got priorities in life, you know."
I blinked.
So she stopped by the apartment, grabbed the comics, then came to rescue me? For Primus's sake… this idiot.
Anger flared, but it evaporated as quickly as it came. I sighed, tilted my head onto hers, and settled in to read the comic. If there was nothing else to do, at least I'd have some entertainment.
"So, who's your favorite? Carnage or Venom?" I asked.
"Carnage has style," she said, eyes glued to the page, "but lacks elegance."
"And Venom?"
"He's the best of them all!" she replied, a fanatical gleam in her purple eyes.
Hours later, I hopped off the bus with a crack in my back. The dry desert air hit my face, thick with dust and lingering heat. Airachnid and Windblade followed right behind, stretching with nearly identical looks of relief.
"I can't believe you forced me into that sardine can again," Airachnid grumbled, raising her arms.
"That was worse than a torture chamber," Windblade complained, arching her back like an old lady. "How does anyone sit that long?"
"You wouldn't have gone through this if you'd picked vehicle mode," I shot back, crossing my arms. "But no, pride speaks louder."
Neither wanted to transform into vehicle mode and carry the other. To avoid a war in Las Vegas, we ended up on a hellish bus ride. I bribed the driver with over twenty grand just so he wouldn't freak out over the two bickering in the back seat.
I could've conjured a car from scratch. I only remembered that halfway through. And since I didn't want to admit the mistake, I kept quiet and let them distract themselves with childish arguments.
Airachnid refused to teleport Windblade. Windblade refused to fly with the spider as a passenger. Result: me, stuck in the middle of a female ego war, with no way out.
But now, here I was, in the town Windblade swore was the Autobots' secret base. I frowned, incredulous.
"Jasper…" I murmured, the name slipping out like a sigh.
I'd been here before. Eaten a killer burger. Lost my car in a chase. Still had nightmares about that day.
"Well, we're here," Windblade said, hands on her hips. "Now just head to the base."
I walked beside Windblade, Airachnid trailing behind with seven folded comics tucked under her arm.
"I have to admit," I said, looking at the rocky horizon, 'this base must be pretty damn good. It's incredible that I didn't sense the Leadership Matrix so close by."
I mentally kicked myself. Not a hint of its presence. Either the base was buried in a shielded mountain, or I was under the biggest spell in history.
Windblade answered without stopping.
"The base is inside a mountain. Thick layers of rock block Energon and any Autobot signals."
I knew it.
I thought, celebrating internally. The Matrix was so weak after millions of years separated from me that even an ordinary stone fooled me. Impressive. And disappointing.
"We're close to the Dam… what's the name again?" Airachnid started.
"Hoover," I finished. "A few dozen kilometers."
"Let's go," Windblade cut in, already fed up. "I want to find Optimus as soon as possible."
"Taxi?" I suggested.
"I'm not getting in any vehicle with that bitch," both said in unison, pointing at each other like spears.
I sighed.
They hated each other. First encounter: Windblade won. Second: Airachnid tied it. Now they were 1-1, and pride wouldn't allow a truce. They were probably looking for any excuse to beat the scrap out of each other.
"If I hear one more complaint before we reach the base," I warned, voice low, "I swear by Primus. I'll lock you both in human form for fifty years."
Windblade panicked.
"You can't punish me because of her!"
Airachnid gave a provocative little hip wiggle.
"In this form, I'm already too sexy. I'm not scared."
"Airachnid," I said coldly, "seventy-five years without sweets."
She spun so fast I heard the scrape of sole on concrete.
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME!"
"THEN BE MATURE! YOU'RE OVER TEN MILLION YEARS OLD!"
And I karate-chopped her forehead.
She froze, eyes wide, as if the world had stopped.