Sunstreaker's Charge ✔️

Ch. 41 Getting Better

Lily's P.O.V.
I finally got a text from Veronica, worried about me. At least the secret is safe.
Thanks to these nightmares, I have a last-minute scheduled appointment with Rung.
What's he going to do? Aside from telling me my nightmares are telling me to stay away from Sunstreaker. I don't want to talk, but he's going to do all he can to get me to talk.

Rung's P.O.V.
Lily doesn't want to talk to me. I sit on the chair by the bed, waiting. Sunstreaker tells me he's been able to calm Lily down when she wakes up from these nightmares. She hugs him and cries. This is proof that she's not dreaming that Sunstreaker is killing humans. I'm still not sure what she's dreaming about repeatedly. Unless she's frightened of Sunstreaker in her nightmares, but not when she wakes up.
"Lily, we want to help you. From what I've been told, you're not afraid of Sunstreaker—."
"I don't know! I'm tired of feeling this way!"
"Explain to me how you're feeling. What are the nightmares about?"
Sunstreaker opens the door but quickly closes it enough not to be seen. This wasn't planned, but this might be the only way to help these two.
"That he realizes he made a mistake falling for me. That being a hybrid isn't good enough."
"How much do you know about the twins' lives?"
"Just that their parents kept saying the twins were mistakes and endured psychological abuse. Sunstreaker got most of it."
"Ok, I need to talk to Ratchet. I'll be right back."
This wasn't a complete lie to get out of the room.

"I am not telling her anything, ever. She doesn't know everything, and look what she's dealing with," Sunstreaker argues.
"You realize that she'll likely find out eventually?" I point out, "you need to tell her before that happens. Maybe a few months from now, but that needs to happen. As for the nightmares, I don't think we can do anything. I'm not sure why you staying with her triggers the nightmares."
"Unless she only told you one nightmare, and another one is her family decides she needs to stay away from Sunstreaker?" Ratchet asks.
"Perhaps, but this is still concerning."
I regret saying the only thing we can do is wait. I know Sunstreaker has been spending time with Lily, but we can say their relationship has only been official for a week. I can tell these two love each other even if they only met two months ago. They're afraid things will fall apart for different reasons. 

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.
I don't know what to do with this information, and it's not helping that Ratchet and Rung are also uncertain. Would telling her help?
 
Lily is sketching as I walk into the room.
"Lily?" She looks at me. I can tell she's been crying while alone, "Lily, I love you. I know it's unusual for anyone — even cybertronians — to fall in love this quickly, and it'll last forever. I don't know how to explain it. You know my brother, and I never were loved by our parents, but even our friends' parents hated me. Sideswipe isn't like me because bots liked him. Sure, Autobots here say he's annoying, and it's true, but they like him better than they like me," I can't believe I'm tearing up, "don't leave me like everyone else. I love you."
I pull her close for a kiss on the lips. Lily doesn't pull away. Rather she hugs me. Knowing she's ok with this, I hug her.

Lily's P.O.V.
"I want the nightmares to stop. It makes little sense," I tell Sunstreaker as we hug.
"I know; I think the problem is you're afraid. Your family supports you. I know only time will help you believe I love you and will never leave you — unless I have to go on a mission, but I'll come home to you. I don't know about sleeping in here with you. You need rest, and I know interrupted sleep isn't good."
Rung heard what Sunstreaker said and declares the appointment over.
"...you two know what you need to work on. Though I know it will be hard until Ratchet has declared Lily has recovered from her concussion."
Rung tells us we can come to his office when we need to talk to him and leaves.
"Hmm, I have an idea. I'll be right back."
Sunstreaker leaves the room. I assume to talk to Ratchet.

Sunstreaker returns with a wheelchair.
"Don't know why, but it's the best I could do to get you out of here for a while. We're allowed to go to our art room if you're up to it after lunch."
"Wonder if we can sneak out?" I joke.
"No, I want you to recover first. Ratchet isn't sure if the lights in the cafeteria will be too bright for you. The sun definitely will be."
"Fine," I sulk and get in the wheelchair, not caring that I'm still in pajamas.

Our friends and Sideswipe are happy I'm allowed out of the medbay for a while. I wonder if Sunstreaker threatened anyone about commenting on our relationship right now? Though that threat would stick after I recover. 
"Here," Sunstreaker hands me my sketchbook and pencil box, "I have to cook lunch. Sorry, I didn't know if Ratchet would have let me bring you her, and I didn't want to leave our lunch on the counter."
He kisses my forehead before leaving.  Crosshairs, Drift, Lightning, and Sideswipe join me. I can't wait until Jamie is part of the friend group. Hopefully, the others will stop avoiding me.
"Do you have those in your pocket at all times?" Lightning asks as Crosshairs gives me his sunglasses.
"And what if I do?" Crosshairs challenges, "this was planned, and you know how we like to be prepared."
I assume 'we' means him and Drift, and by 'planned,' he means he and Drift suggested that Sunstreaker see if I can come to the cafeteria. Though I am certain, this is how they are with Jamie.
It's hard to sketch while wearing the sunglasses, but my eyes feel better wearing them. I guess I'm far from recovered. I forgot Sunstreaker and I were going to go out yesterday, but my nightmares distracted everyone.
The others are willing to try to go to the park if Ratchet allows it. I hope we can have a fun day out getting dinner and ice cream later.

Ratchet isn't certain if I'm recovered enough to leave the base. Crosshairs and Drift argue they know what to look for if going out is too much for me. I'm allowed to walk to the park, but that's as far as I'm allowed to go for now. First, I get dressed.

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.
It's a nice walk to the park holding Lily's hand. Crosshairs' sunglasses are helping her. I hope this means she's almost recovered from the concussion.
"I don't think you're getting those back," Drift jokes.
"Hopefully, Ratchet will let us take her outside for a while every day," Crosshairs comments.

We sit by the pond and feed the ducks. I knew Crosshairs and Drift would be talking about bringing Jamie here. She doesn't even know N.E.S.T. relaunched. It's obvious they miss her, but why don't they go back to her? It's hard not to worry that they're neglecting her.
"Feel like trying to sketch the ducks in the pond?" I ask Lily.
I show her my sketchbook and pencils.
"Things are darker," she tells me.
"It's fine. I'll take a picture, and we'll color later."
"No, we should come back with a canvas."
She agrees with doing a painting of a picture I take in our art room rather than bringing all the supplies to the pond. 
Lily smiles, hearing I'm saying my art room is ours. I don't think she's comfortable enough to do her own paintings without me in the room.
We both have a lot of work to do, but I love her. Even though we're not bonded, I can tell how much she loves me.