The Wolf-Con and the Cadet

Chapter 3

Metalsound stretched her forelegs as the sun slowly started to rise. Transforming, she headed towards the ship. Once she entered the ship she was greeted by Thunderhoof. "Morning, Metalsound."

Metalsound looked at him and smiled, "Hello, Thunderhoof."

"Did you sleep well?"

She shrugged, "I slept alright. How about you?"

"Slept pretty good."

"That's good. Want to go get some Energon with me?" I've started getting feelings for Thunderhoof lately, so since it seems that I can't have Steeljaw because he wants Strongarm, I'll go for him.

"Sure, I could use some Energon," Thunderhoof replied before heading towards the Energon storage. Metalsound followed him.

After they both grabbed an Energon cube Metalsound led him to the top of the ship where they sat down and drank their Energon. "We hardly had time to get to know each other before with everything that was going on. So, let's get to know each other."

"Alright. What do you want to know about me?"

Metalsound starts getting excited as she feels like she's getting somewhere with him. "Why are you siding with Steeljaw even though he betrayed you?"

"He promised a good way to get back at the Autobots for locking me up."

"Right," she replied not looking fully convinced. Considering that he's in love with one of the Autobots. She thought to herself.

"Quite honestly, I think I would make a better leader. I mean he's falling for a fraggin' Autobot."

"Wait, you know?" She asked looking at him in surprise.

"Yeah, I know."

"How did you find out?"

"I saw him meeting up with her yesterday."

"Are you gonna say anything to Glowstrike or Saberhorn?"

"Nah, I decided to help him."

"Oh, that's nice of you."

"Was there anything else you wanted to know about me?"

They continued talking and getting to know each other until Thunderhoof was called away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Strongarm! Are you listening!?"

"What?"

"I'm going over the procedures here, I thought at least you would be paying attention! What's going on, Cadet? You haven't been the same since your fight with Steeljaw," Bumblebee was saying looking a bit concerned for his cadet.

"Oh, sorry, sir. I just can't believe that we allowed Steeljaw to trick us as he did and that he got away when I had the time to apprehend him," she replied. She can't bring herself to tell him the real reason why she's distracted.

"Yes, well, that's past now. Let's look to the future where we will capture Steeljaw and lock him up with the others."

"Y-yeah." There was no way she could tell the lieutenant about her meeting with Steeljaw, no doubt he would be furious with her. Not to mention she would lose the trust of her fellow Autobots. She turns and starts walking off.

"Where are you going, Strongarm?"

"Just on patrol, Lieutenant. I'll call if I see any Decepticon activity," she replied as she transformed and drove off.

"She's been picking up a lot of patrols lately," Grimlock replied.

"Yes, she has," Bumblebee says as he watches her drive off. "Just shows she'll make a great officer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strongarm transformed once she was in the safety of the forest, everything seemed normal. Other than the fact she couldn't get Steeljaw off her processor, she kept thinking about what he said. Could he have really meant it? Can he really like an Autobot like herself?

She shakes it from her processor, "No way, he would never. Just another trick," her thoughts got interrupted when she heard a sound. Worrying that it could be a group of humans she transformed back into her vehicle mode.

"We meet again, Cadet Strongarm. We really should stop meeting like this."

Strongarm recognized that voice, she transformed back into bot mode and looked at the 'Con the voice came from. "Have you been watching me, Steeljaw?"

"No, we just so happened to be in the same place. I was nearby with a few others on a mission..." Steeljaw started rubbing the back of his helm "...and I came in this direction when I heard your engine, I was hoping we could continue our conversation."

"You just happen to be in the same area as me."

"Yes. Now back to the conversation we started the last time we met. I really meant what I said, Strongarm. You really impressed me with your fighting skills and outsmarting me like that. Never thought I could be outsmarted or outdone in a fight but you did both."

"Um, thanks?" Strongarm looked away when she felt her faceplates get warm. "I'm sure someone could have done a better job. After all, you did manage to get away."

"Yes, I did get away, but I doubt anyone could do any better. I mean even your lieutenant didn't do so well in a fight against me, you did better than him."

"Well, I had a little more experience at dealing with you than the lieutenant has," Strongarm stopped herself before she could continue. She couldn't believe she had just said that. There was no doubt in her mind that she would get scolded for mouthing off the lieutenant like that.

"Is everything okay?" Steeljaw asks noticing her trail off and the awkward look on her face.

"I shouldn't have said that, I shouldn't even be talking to you. If anyone finds out then they'll never trust me again!"

She turns to leave when Steeljaw grabs her servo and stops her, "Wait, I'm sorry."

She suddenly finds herself being turned around and finds him inches away from her face. She was frozen in place, suddenly feeling lost in his yellow optics. He was so close to her that she could feel the warm air circulating through his vents. Her spark felt like it was going as fast as Sideswipe's speed record.

A howl echoed through the forest causing Strongarm to jump and snapping her out of whatever trance the Decepticon had her in. "Y-you should probably head back."

Not paying any attention to the howl, Steeljaw leans in and kisses her. She finds herself pushed back against a tree as Steeljaw deepens the kiss, kissing her passionately. With a muffled yelp, Strongarm was about to push him away but somehow it felt right and -with little hesitation- she returned his kiss.

Feeling her wrap her arms around his neck to pull him in closer, Steeljaw wrapped his arms around her and pressed her body against the tree, his spark skipping with joy. Strongarm could feel the tree groaning under their weight, but she didn't care. She heard the howl again, only it was closer this time.

Strongarm suddenly gets a call over her comm. :: Strongarm, where are you? We've engaged the enemy, we need you. :: Bumblebee tells her over the comm.

Reluctantly, Strongarm broke away. :: On my way, sir. :: She looked back to Steeljaw, wondering what he was going to do next.

"Can't we just stay here and continue and let them do their fight? I don't want to have to fight you, I don't want to fight the one I just fell -" he stops himself. He couldn't believe he was gonna tell her his feelings.

"Well, you don't have to fight me. Haven't you mostly fought with the lieutenant?" She asked not hearing most of what he had said. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her spark nearly pulsing out of her chassis.

"That's true," he could tell she didn't hear that last part and was relieved.

"Then let's go," she somehow managed to get out from under him and transformed before driving off. She could still feel his lips on hers, "No! Don't get distracted now, Strongarm. The team needs you so stay focused," she told herself as she raced towards her team's location.