Chapter 13: Can You Mend the Broken

Knocking awoke Chromeburst from her slumber and called out a faint 'come in,' revealing Firespark in the doorway. The white femme's optics squinted as she smiled, "Oh, how lovely it is to see you again, my dear." As if noticing her poor posture and attitude, she asked, "What is troubling your spark?"

Firespark sat by the elder's side, "I've done something terrible, and I didn't even realize it. I've hurt the one who loves me, and I think I just drew us apart," Placing her servos over her face, the femme continued, "The more I think about it, all we've ever done is bicker and playful teasing. I want to get closer to him, but I don't know how to take the first step."

Purple optics closed in thought, and Chromeburst hummed to herself, "I thought I could sense some tension between you two. Has either of you confessed your hurt feelings?" When the femme nodded, Chromeburst smiled, "Then you've just taken the first step. Admitting your feelings lets your guard down and shows the other that you trust them enough to show your inner self." As the elder struggled to get to her pedes, Firespark helped support her weight as she tottered toward the entrance. "Being in a relationship is like a breath. You get close to each other, but then you fall away as you argue or come to a disagreement; but, always make sure you came back closer together."

The pink femme opened the door and followed her elder toward the common area, which served as a refueling station or a place to talk. Chromeburst proceed on with her lecture, "I suggest that you take that mech of yours for an outing, just the two of you." When Firespark opened her mouth to protest, Chromeburst silenced her concern, "If you're worried about your mechling, why don't you call someone you trust to watch over him while you're gone? Is there someone you have in mind?"

Firespark thought it over as they entered the large public room and settled the white elder on a bench, "There is someone who would be willing to do that. Thank you so much for the advice! I'll keep it in mind tonight."

As the pink femme was leaving, Chromeburst called, "Good luck darling, oh, by the way, that mech of yours came by for the same thing,"

Not thinking much of her comment, Firespark made her way over to the communication station. She just hoped that the bot on the other side would answer in her time of need. Quickly, her digits commed the only femme she knew that would love to spend time with a sparkling. After a few pings, the screen flicker to life, and Firespark smiled, "Hey, Uncle Ratchet. Is Arcee around?"

The sun was beginning to set as Solarflare paced back and forth outside of the medical bay doors. An arrangement of wildflowers held behind his back as he recited the lines he was going to say. He jumped in alarm when his designation sounded from behind him, Quickly the mech whipped around and saw a pink frame, "O-oh, hey Firespark. I-I was wondering if-if you'd like to go-," his speech fell short as Firespark walked closer toward him. Solarflare gulp as she looked at the flower arrangement he held out but relaxed when he saw her smile. "Of course, I'd love to go on an outing with you,"

Solarflare straighten his spinal strut and held his arm out, "Where would you like to go, my femme,"

Firespark smiled, "Where ever you take me, my warrior," She gripped his arm as he led her out of the camp toward the unknown forest.

After a few minutes of peaceful silence, Solarflare stopped suddenly and turned around to face the pink femme, "For the next part, close your optics," Firespark raised an optic ridge with a smile but followed his command.

Blindly, the femme walked closely against the mech's side as they traveled through a crisp environment. It reminded Firespark of their time in the cave. When he slowed to a stop, Solarflare gently whispered for her to open her eyes. Orange optics met a beautiful sight.

They were standing on a cliff edge, overlooking the great expanse of trees and mountains. The ocean was on the right, while the left side was the forest. In the center of it all, the refugee camp stood, proud of living in two worlds. A hazy orange and deep shades of red tinted everything the light touched.

Firespark was in awe of the view as Solarflare crept up behind her. "What do you think?" he asked.

"It's beautiful. How did you find this place?"

The mech shrugged his shoulders, "Trailblazer showed me all the borders and secret little getaway spots for a moment like this,"

Firespark faced him with a smile, "Thank you for bringing me here, and I know I already said this, but I'm sorry. For the way, I treated you and the things I've said. I should've been more considerate,"

Solarflare gently cupped her cheek, "I know, and I forgive you. There's plenty we can talk about, and you don't have to feel like you need to make it up to me,"

"But I do. Please, so that my treat doesn't go to waste," Firespark whispered into his servo. She backed away from him and removed two bright pink cubes of energon.

"Is- is that high grade?" the mech's blue optics widen in surprise at the femme. "Where did you even get that?"

Firespark smiled mischievously, "Actually, this wasn't my plan. You can thank Arcee for that, and as of where I got this, a medic has certain techniques to get their patients to sleep,"

A bright grin grew across Solarflare's face, "Ah, I see. I'll have to keep that in mind whenever I have a bad day,"

Both Cybertronians sat on the edge of the cliff, swinging their legs back and forth. Firespark reminisced on how Solarflare managed to find this gorgeous place, and a thought came to her mind. "I understand how you found this, but I don't get why he was showing you the borders. Isn't that only to a guard's knowledge?"

The mech set his cube down and placed both servos behind him, "Well, yes. Remember how I asked Trailblazer about the offer I made?" With a nod, he proceeded, "Since we're going to be staying here for a while and you'll be busy, I decided that I wanted to play a part as well. Trailblazer told me about the guard openings, and I agreed that I would take the position."

"That's great! What does a guard do?" Firespark asked, giving him her full attention.

"I would be given a post on top of the wall and do shifts in patroling the borderlines, making sure no suspicious activity is nearby. They also keep the peace within the camp. What's great is that a guard and their family members get an extra ration," Solarflare was practically beaming as he recited the information. "With an extra proportion, we don't have to worry about splitting ours to keep Thunderstrike fed."

Firespark smiled warmly at him, "I'm proud that you want to help contribute to our new home, and you're right about the extra ration. See, you are wanted and needed when you're with us. Without you, I'd still be in the cave, all alone, and Thunderstrike probably wouldn't have been found in time." Her smile dimmed when she caught a flash of sadness cross his blue optics, "There's something else bothering you, isn't there,"

Solarflare stood up from his spot and stared at the vast openness, "Ever since we left the forest, I feel like I've abandoned Skyrider," he looked at the femme, "but I then I remember that I have something to think about in the present and future."

Firespark got to her pedes and stood beside the mech, "I know how you feel, and it's a fresh wound to think about my careless mistake and coming up with different scenarios if I'd been more careful. It's my mistake that brought us here,"

Before she knew it, Solarflare wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, "Don't say that. Please don't blame yourself for it because I'm to blame as well. We're a family now, and we're all in this together, through the good and gravest. We need each other, and that's how I hope it'll stay,"

Firespark felt a rush of helplessness and a surge of warmth that left her limp. The handsome face of Solarflare was the only thing in her vision. He titled her helm across his arm and kissed her, softly at first, and then a gradual increase of intensity that made her cling to him as if he was the only solid thing in the dizzying world. The passionate kiss sent shivers down her spinal cord, and a sense of giddiness overtook her when she realized that she was kissing him back.