𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆 | 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨

xvi. tell him!

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍
'𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝗂𝗆'

✶ ☽ ⚔︎ ☾ ✶

. ˚✧ 𝑵𝑶𝑽𝑨 𝑷𝑶𝑰𝑵𝑻 – 𝑵𝑬𝑶 * . •

𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 win was not misplaced, but it was perhaps not the win she or him had foreseen. It was plaguing his processors the entirety of the next joor, the last cycle of the Lunar Festival dawning sooner than later.

Because of his win, he was invited to the gala at Nova Point, but he couldn't help but let his spark clench at the thought of the warning Megatronus gave him.

What did he mean?

They would face one another again... but when? In the Arena? It seemed unlikely, but he wasn't about to brush it aside.

There was a bigger plot there, but he didn't have all the pieces to put it together.

It had been Drift nudging him that drew him back into reality, nearly forgetting where he was–though, it was hard to forget.

Iacon was glorious in more ways than one, but Nova Point was quite the sight to see. It was the highest point in the city, but a single floor had walls the equivalent of if three or four Primes if they stood on each other's shoulder-plates. Every inch of the place was slick and clean, made of its usual metals except adorned in gold lining and intricate cracks that shined with white lights beneath to brighten the space.

The society was beyond futuristic-looking, but Nova Point was something else entirely–and he was only seeing the first floor.

He tried not to feel out of place amongst the elite, the femmes having helped him buff out his many imperfections from his battle after Ratchet had fixed him up and polished his finish. His white, sage green and glacier blue armor was now perfect, but it didn't help him from sinking into his shoulder-plates slightly. Despite looking perfect, he felt anything but.

He shook out his nerves, feeling his metal plates shutter before putting back on his favorite mask of confidence.

Ratchet and Drift walked beside him, servo-in-servo as they led the way into the ballroom.

The others could not attend, but Ratchet's plus one was his sparkmate as he worked in Nova Point. Because of this, the two mechs let Ratchet lead the way, as he knew the place fairly well, along with knowing many of the bots in the crowded space.

But as much as he appreciated their help, they were hovering like creators with stark contrasting advice.

"You need to be confident when she comes down."

"No, be polite and gentle. Nothing wrong with a little confidence but too much is a turn off."

"They're not sparkmates so that should not matter."

"Of course it matters, because they need to listen to their sparks without shying the other away. I know a call when I see one." Ratchet rolled his optics, praying for patience, "Just talk to her, mech. Compliment her."

"You should dance with her." Drift interrupted confidently.

"Oh, please. That only draws more attention. They don't want that."

"Well–"

Their voices argued at a lower volume so as to not draw unwanted attention at such a formal event, blurring with the light music in the background that most chatted over and few danced to.