Inevitable (Megatron x FEM/OC)

Chapter 37 - Idyllic

Three more days passed since the lake and that file she'd been so graciously gifted remained with what few things she owned, sandwiched between two folded shirts. In the meantime, both Lauren and Cade were knee deep in work. He was mechanical, she found. It took one to know one after all.

Much to her delight, the older male did have a collection of disarrayed tools on hand. Where he got them, she didn't know and didn't ask. She was just thankful she wouldn't have to be leaving the cathedral again anytime soon. The young woman felt safe under the stained glass glow and with Megatron only a call away. Now, if everyone would stop casting her glances and side eyeing her, she'd be perfect. Peachy-keen.

What was the big deal anyway? They were bonded, so what? Hardly a reason to stare. She'd be lying if she said that their optics didn't make her feel insecure. 

"Hey, Tessa, make yourself useful. Boys, they're nothing, but trouble. I'd know. C'mon, hand me the Allen wrench." Cade beckoned his daughter as he worked upon Optimus.

Shane gave the blonde's hand a squeeze as he rose to his feet to retrieve the tool.

"No, no, not you Romeo. Tessa, now. Your old man's not getting any younger."

With a huff, the teen stormed off the couch and over to the battered tool box with a stomp in her step. Snatching up a tool, she was quick to approach her father, thrusting the wrench up at him with sass.

Cade wiped some grime onto his shirt hem. "Tess, I said a Allen wrench, not pipe. You're better than that now."

She stomped her foot again, arm growing tired. "I got you a wrench, just take it. There's not even that much of a difference."

"Yeah? And daisy-dukes and booty shorts aren't the same, right? Just get me the wrench Tess." The father used a rag to wiped away some petrolex on Optimus's chest plating. "Kids, am I right?"

The Prime vented a dry laugh. "I went through that with Bumblebee."

The child in question rummaged through the assortment of tools as she muttered he objections under her breath. "Ugh, it's not here! You're Allen thing."

Lauren turned her head over her shoulder just as she finished securing a piece of plating to Barricade. "I've got it!" She waved said tool in show.

The scout in her expert care growled out with a jerk. "Watch your appendages fleshbag." He hissed through his denta. Lauren didn't so much as flinch at his irritated insult a she bat some hair from her moist skin. Summer may have been ending, but she sure as shit could work up a sweat and the decepticons all seemed to run hot.

"Great, go grab it Tess, I got my hands full of what-nots and thingamabobs." Cade called out to his daughter with his arms elbow deep in a blast hole.

"Dad." She whined. "I'm not going over there." The blonde gestured wildly at the decepticons 'side'.

Barricade and Nitrozeus snickered among themselves. "Where'd those claws go, kitten?" The single optic mech jabbed.

The cruiser ground out. "Your fear wreaks, insect." The disgust was evident I'm his tone.

Lauren climbed down from her standing atop the scout's knee servo, wrench in hand. The brunette closed the gap between her and the teen with a few quick strides. "They're assholes, don't listen to them. I don't."

"Hey, don't leave a brotha out of the chick-talk." Nitrozeus quipped with a snicker.

"Seriously, don't listen to it." Lauren dropped the Allen wrench into the hands of Tessa before glancing up to Cade. "Hey, do you have a soldering iron?"