These Paths We Tread (Autobot x OC)

XLIII. Dark Paradise

(The song has absolutely NOTHING to do with the chapter, but the name fit, ha ha... the song is just awesome, too.)

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“Well, you’re in luck, chica,” Jorge Figueroa grinned as he clapped Catherine across the shoulders, “El Presidente is not going to consider you an enemy of the state!”

The redhead visibly relaxed against the Mexican man, and grins appeared on the faces of her other teammates, too. They had all come to give her the news, including Lennox who had been the one to round them all up. They’d also brought her daily meal and a nice surprise—soda fresh from the fridge—to “celebrate”. She’d actually already heard ahead of time from Jazz that she was “safe”, but it was good to hear it from her boys, too. Of course, she was still on suspension, and would not be able to work just yet. Morshower and Prime were still fighting for it, and it looked like they were winning, so it was assumed she could be back in action within a few weeks. Maybe. It all really depended on how much time and effort Galloway put into his offense.

“So, can I come back to the human side now, or am I still under house arrest over here?” she inquired after taking a long swig of her drink.

“Yes, but with restrictions,” Lennox replied, and she frowned. “You won’t be allowed into the Command Central or any room a normal ranking soldier couldn’t get into. You will be able to continue training now, but still no work.”

“Damn. Although I figured as much,” she snorted, folding her arms.

"Hey, it just means more time with us, am I right?” David grinned humorously at her, and she could help returning it.

Jackson waved his hand, “Yeah, don’t worry about it, ‘Cat. We’ll keep you from being bored. There’s plenty of ping pong to go around!”

“Because we all just love playing ping pong with you,” Anthony barked, and the Asian man smiled like a fox.

“Aww, you mad that I always whoop your sorry ass?” he teased, and the Italian made a false swipe at their comrade.

“It’s ‘because he’s Asian, man. It’s like their sport, y’know?” Epps spoke in an attempt to ease the man’s temper.

“That’s racist, man!” Fig laughed, and the black man just snickered in return, knowing full well what he’d said.

“Alright now, let’s calm down shall we? We came to give Catherine good news, after all,” Alexander spoke up loudly, but it was Catherine who waved him off with her laughter.

“Naw, this is great, Alex. Just how I like it with my very strange, and multi-cultural family.”

“Ugh. Great. Now they have the incentive to act this way all the time,” Lennox groaned, throwing his head back, and was promptly shoved by Epps whom was closest.

“So, how about we all go have fun, yeah? And I’m not talkin’ ping pong, either, Jackie Chan,” David suggested, shooting a quick glare at the Asian man who held up his hands in surrender. “We’ve got a tight lagoon beach now, so how about we make ourselves a volleyball net and get things rockin’ American style?”

“Y’know, that don’t sound so bad,” Fig hummed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Been dyin’ to try out those trunks mi hermano got me for my birthday…”

“Don’t tell me it’s though obnoxious palm tree ones,” the blonde-haired man scowled, and he received one back.

“Don’t be mocking mi hermano’s gift, gilipollas!”