Shadowfire

Chapter 19

"Hey Shad" I looked up, Ironhide "I finished the new canon, I was wondering if you wanted to try it"
"Yeah sure, I'll come with" he snorted
"I mean to install it on you"
"I thought this was for the Autobots?"
"It is, I'm going to install it on everyone eventually"
"So why give it to me first?" He refused to meet my eyes as he murmured
"Just wanted to" he met my gaze and said, somewhat defensively "I'm the weapons specialist, I can give upgrades to who I want when I want, besides, aside from Optimus- who really doesn't need it, I can't think of anyone better suited to have a new canon first" I was taken aback, surely anyone of the more senior 'bots would've been better qualified, surely they outranked me even. But I didn't voice any of these objections, sensing Ironhide's uncharacteristic sincerity.
"You meant if it was going to blow up you can't think of anyone else you wouldn't mind losing a servo?" I asked, making it clear that I was joking. He laughed, elbowing me in the side of the chest plate gently.
"Oh I don't know, either one of the twins really, they're terrors"

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"Optimus, I would like to ask your permission to court Shadowfire" I bit back a gasp, freezing in place before quickly hiding myself behind the door, any intention of entering the room after 'Hide immediately discounted.
"I wondered if you were beginning to consider courting her, why come to me?"
"You're the brother of her carrier, her closest relative, it's only right I come to you"
"Cybertron is gone Ironhide, I don't know many who still hold to the old traditions"
"Still" 'Hide said, sounding miffed "I would like to do things properly"
"In that case you have my permission to proceed" there was a scraping noise and then Optimus spoke again, a warning in his voice
"Be careful Ironhide; you may be my Second and my trusted friend but if you hurt her there will be Primus to pay"
"Don't worry. I won't"

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I'd been covertly avoiding Ironhide until I could figure out what to do, and had even snuck off the base to talk to Screamer about it.

::I was wondering about Cybertronian courting rituals::
::There's a mech you have your optic on?::
::Not exactly::
::Oh so you've got a suitor have you?:: he asked, a hint of the old Starscream reappearing ::anyone I've fought:: I laughed
::Ironhide::
::The Autobot's weapon specialist right? He's a good mech, not that I know much about him, other than how stubborn he is- honestly any other 'bot just goes down when I shoot them- he's strong, a good fighter::
::I heard him talking to Optimus-::
::Hence the interest in courting rituals:: Starscream surmised
::I don't know much about how things work with the Autobots but with the 'Cons there's a lot of fighting involved. Mechs ask the permission of the femme's sire, impress her with gifts- usually of weapons or energon, and then he'd have to beat, or at least hold off, all her relatives in individual or group fights::
::Somehow I don't think the 'bot's would be too pleased with that:: Starscream laughed
::No, I don't think so either. You should talk to Optimus about it::

And as per his advice had cornered my carrier's brother and gotten an explanation of Autobot courting rituals, though he was keen to stress that many of the practices had fallen into disuse since the fall of Cybertron. Basically I could expect 'Hide to shower me in gifts and affection, there was an aspect of ritualistic fighting in the original traditions- where both the mech and femme fought together against their relatives, testing their and their families' abilities to fight together; but that this hadn't been performed in decades so I shouldn't worry about it.

"Jazz. Bee" I whined a greeting
"Uh oh" Jazz laughed "we should run" he said to Bee
"Come on guys help me out" I pleaded
"Nope" Jazz shook his head
"There's no way I'm getting involved in this" despite my wheedling both mech's were adamant that I not drag them into this.

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"So, I hear you've been talking about me" I jerked, Ironhide smirked at me from the doorway to my berth room.
"You heard about that?"
"You didn't think Optimus would tell me? Even if Bee didn't?"
"Well..." In truth I should've expected it but hadn't really thought things through.
"You should've asked me" Ironhide continued "what were you afraid of? I wouldn't push you into anything, you know that"
"I know it's just... I'm sorry 'Hide I panicked, I didn't think"
"I know you didn't"

'Hide came and sat down on the berth beside me, we discussed the logistics of our courtship. I assured him that while I was surprised I didn't intend to reject his suit, I had always liked and respected him and while he was one of my closest friends we weren't so close that moving from friendship to a possible romance would be impossible. I resolved to try this relationship developing between us, who knows it could be just the change I needed.