TFP: Alone

Chapter 30: Common Ground

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.

Once I laid Sideswipe down on the berth, I took a moment to admire the art in the femme's room. There were so many different colors and styles. I've never seen anything like it. None of it was perfect by any means, but this was the first time I had ever seen another's interest in art other than in a museum.

"What is all this?" I ask.

"Art." She answered simply.

"I know that," I huff. "Did you make these?" I inquire.

"No. I have some sketches, but these are some of my favorite pieces." She said.

"This doesn't look Cybertronian." I say, looking at a photograph, poor quality I might add, with there lips pressed together. It was black and white and it looked like there was a parade in the background.

"That's cause they're all from Earth." She said. I look at her.

"Why?" I cringe. Organics did these? She stiffened.

"I thought they were unique. This is one of my favorites. It's called 'Beethoven', named after a famous composer. It's by Andy Warhol and is in a style called pop art." She said proudly. I smirk.

"What about this one?" I prompt, moving to another one.

"That's 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte'. It was made by Georges Seurat. He used pointillism. It's when you use a stick and make tiny points to paint the entire picture. It took him more than two years to finish." She said in awe. "It was also said to have prostitutes in it. You see the woman with the monkey on the leash and the two women fishing. Some say that they weren't trying to hook a fish." She joked.

"You really know your art. Show me some of your sketches." I say.

::Now you like her!:: Sides said happily, watching through my eyes.

::Starting to...:: I agree.

She pulled a drawer out in her bedside table and pulled out... paper?

"Why don't you use a datapad?" I ask.

"I like to work on paper." She shrugged. She laid some out on the floor, crouching down. I stoop down next to her, looking over her work.

"I was trying to draw the second sun, rising over Iacon, but I couldn't get the shadows between the buildings right. It was hard, because there are two sources of light." She frowned.

"There's actually a trick for that." I say. "May I?" I ask, gesturing to the sketches. She nods and hands me a pen.

"If you draw lines from the corners of the buildings and angle the light according to the time of day, you can shade easier. Where the lines intersect, you shade darker and where they don't, a little lighter." I demonstrate and she nods beside me.

"Amazing... You know you're art." She smiles, showing those little white things behind her lips. I smirk at her use of my words, but we were broken away from each other when Sideswipe coughed and groaned in pain. I winced too, feeling the pain in his tanks.

::Sorry.:: He apologized.

::Stop that.:: I say firmly. He shouldn't apologize for something he can't control.

"Let me get you both some enrgon." She said. I nod, staying with my brother.

::Told you she wasn't so bad. You two seem to share some interests.:: Sides hummed.

::I guess so.:: I say thoughtfully.

:: She's not so bad huh?:: He pressed.

::Okay, she's not all bad, but you're kinda pushin' it.:: I say irritably. Sides snickers beside me and I shake my helm. Who would have thought a simple Earth painting would have given us a connection?

She came back with two cubes and handed them to me. I set one aside and I pop the seal on one.

::Hey Sides, I got some energon for ya.:: I say.

::I know. You forget I can see through your optics.:: He joked. He sat up on his elbows weakly and I put the cube to his mouth. He drank a few sips before he needed a break. I opened my own cube and drank it down.

"I can't believe you give your energon out so freely." I say.

"Just trying to be a good host." She shrugged.

"That's not being a good host. You have more... You get more rations cause your sire's an Enforcer." I growl.

"Actually no. I don't drink a whole cube. I don't need it." She says.

"Why not?" I ask curiously.

"I,uh.... I don't need all the energy because I take supplements. It's a health thing. So, why did you come to me for help? You have Kup." She asks.

"It's none of your buisness." I huff.

::Don't be offended. It's a game we played in Iacon. I'd ask her a question and she'd ask me one in return.:: Sides said.

::Kup is of no concern to her!:: I snarl.

::We're staying in her home.:: Sides counters.

"My apologies." I say through gritted teeth. "Kup is... with the Allspark." I sigh.

"I'm sorry for asking." She says, looking at Sides. We were sitting on the floor next to the berth, Sideswipe had fallen asleep and I didn't bother waking him to finish his cube.

"S'okay." I murmur. "So, where are you from? I remember Sides trying to ask you this." I change the subject. She tensed and met my optics nevously.

"I-I'm from Earth." She said. I look at her oddly.

"No way." I said. She nodded.

"Yeah. That's why I like Earth art so much. I grew up there." She said shyly.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's why you're different! You're techno-organic. There's only been stories of that happening." I said, shocked. I didn't know if I should be in awe or disgust. She nodded once again.

"So, your carrier was a human." I say, in disgust. How could any self-respecting Bot stoop to fragging a fleshy. Gross!

"Yeah." The femme said, sensing my disdain. I felt a pang of guilt in my spark.

"How'd she even give birth to you?" I ask, knowing how tiny humans were.

"It's my turn to ask a question." She changed the subject. "When did you come to Kaon?" She asked.

"When they announced the rebuilding project we signed up right away. We were running out of energon and we needed work. A lot of us moved out here after that. Was good until just recently." I sigh, thinking of the plague, Kup, and now Sides.

"He could heal with better care." She said over his roaring fans.

"I'm not gonna get my hopes up..." I hang my head.