6 Chapter 6: A Golden State of Mind

The trip to the lake changed Solarflare's attitude and lifted the cloud hanging over him. He slept peacefully through the nights and helped with whatever he could.

As much as Firespark loved his company, she knew that he would want to return to the Autobots. With a sigh, she walked over to the mech who was tinkering with a broken analyzer. He was always working on something with his servos. She extended her servo out toward him with a datapad in hand.

Solarflare's blue optics looked at the tablet and then at her, "What's that for?"

"It has the directions for the Autobot rendezvous site. You can go whenever you want," Firespark said, unable to look at him.

"Put it away. I don't need it," the mech stated, brushing the datapad aside.

Firespark looked at him, shocked, "I thought you wanted to fight for peace. To live the life your family strived to achieve. Why?"

Solarflare looked at her with an intensity that made her recoil, "I can't look at death the same way. I'd be useless on the battlefield if every time I see a fallen comrade, I see Skyrider. I refuse to relive that scenario every day." Suddenly distraught, his gaze fell to the dirt floor, "I'm a coward, aren't I? It's a pitiful excuse, I know, but things change, perspectives change."

The pink femme sat next to the mech debating on whether or not to go on. "I understand because, similarly, that's the reason why I chose to become neutral."

When the mech sitting beside her didn't speak, Firespark continued, "I never knew my parental units since they died trying to protect me by coming to this planet, to join the Autobot ranks. When I say that, I mean, they were Decepticons. They were trying to flee from the darkness that was growing every second."

Solarflare's blue optics widened but remained quiet, listening to the femme's story.

"The Decepticons were in search of the vessel they shot down, much like your's, and instead of traitors, they found me. I was taken in by Soundwave, Megatron's third in command and communications officer. He raised me and always made sure I was safe." Firespark paused, and her orange optics glossed over. "One morning, Soundwave brought me to an energon mine to oversee productions, and the Autobots arrived and blew up the mine. I was caught in the blast and separated from Soundwave. The Autobots patched me up and told me about the Decepticon cause and theirs. I was so confused about what was right, so I decided to disappear off the map." Firespark finished her narrative and wiped her optics. She was surprised by the fact that she was crying.

A servo landed softly on her shoulder, causing her optics to look at the piercing blue gaze. Ashamed, the femme glanced away, preparing for the worst; but instead, Solarflare stroked her back in a soothing way.

"I understand why you did what you did. I mean, I'm surprised that you were a Decepticon. If I were in your place, well, I'd probably do the same thing. You lived with one side your whole life and then told that it's wrong; that's a hard decision to make."

He stopped his rant when he noticed the femme staring at the ground, as if not believing a word he said. Gently, he took two digits and placed them under Firespark's chin, forcing her beautiful orange optics to look at him. "You know, I never knew you as a Decepticon. You're too kindhearted and outgoing for them. You help others instead of bringing them down or fixing them to gain something in return." A light shade of blue dusted the mech's face until he cleared his throat, "With that said, I want to stay here, with you. I've grown used to the forest and this cave and; come on, you have to admit it, you don't know what to do without me."

Firespark smirked and pretended to think, "Let's think here, I've been alone for five years, and you just appeared five days ago. I think I can handle myself; however, you, on the other hand, constantly need my guidance. So I suppose you can stay with me."

Solarflare bowed low before her, "Oh, forgive me, I've made a mistake. How can I guide the Prime who knows all things?"

Firespark grinned in amusement, "Oh stop, you dork, before I change my mind."

The mech leaned his back against the cave wall and watched as the pink femme wandered over to the ivy curtain. "How'd you do that?"

"Do what?" Firespark asked, walking toward him with two cubes of energon in hand.

Solarflare pointed toward the ivy, "Build that. Did you chisel the rock out?"

The femme handed him a cube before replying, "No, the rock was already in a rock formation when I found it, but I did have to plant the ivy. It took two years for it to look the way it is."

The red and orange mech nodded his head, taking a sip of his ration, "You've learned a lot of things over the years. I bet it got lonely in here."

Firespark sat on the berth next to the standing mech, "It did, but sometimes I would have survivors recovering with me. When they healed, I sent them on their way. I take anyone in, Autobots and Decepticons."

Solarflare smiled and gazed at his now empty cube, "That's what I like about you. You don't care about what they've done, but the person within."

Firespark blushed, "Really?" she squeaked.

The mech gave out a hearty laugh, "You sound like one of those water rats."

Offended, she gasped, "They are not water rats! Their otters and they're the cutest thing that lives in the water."

"Alright, alright, otters, and yes, really." He leaned in close to her. Maybe too close for comfort because Firespark smacked a pillow in his faceplate.

She grinned in triumph before it fell into a look of dread when she realized that it was a big mistake, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

Solarflare's blue optics held a challenging look in them as he gave a toothy grin, "So that's how you wanna play."

Firespark squealed, racing toward the opposite side with Solarflare on her heels, a pillow raised above his helm.