Poisoned Rose (Heatwave x Quickshadow)

6. I Promise

Cleaning solvent was promptly splashed in Quickshadow's face for the umpteenth time as the sponge in her hand touched another sensitive spot on Rose's back. The sparkling was wriggling in her iron grasp, screaming in protest as the femme forced her back into the metal bin she was using as a tub.

Quickshadow groaned in exhaustion, surveying the scene around her. Water and solvent covered the floor, soap and bubbles were scattered everywhere, and several towels were thrown to random corners of the room. She sighed. That was going to take a hell of a long time to clean up later.

Rose kicked her legs angrily, spilling even more water onto the floor. There was barely any cleaning solution in the bucket at this point, and Quickshadow was balanced dangerously on the line between her sanity and a total mental breakdown.

Quickshadow wrestled the small femme as she attempted to clamber out of the tub for the twelfth time in two minutes, finally snapping when Rose's pede connected with her cheek. She scooped the sparkling up and marched out of the room, Rose still thrashing and shrieking angrily in her arms.

At this point Quickshadow didn't care if she woke anyone up. Rose had picked a bad time to be an obstinate little glitch. The conversation with Heatwave had put her in a sour mood, mixed with the afterglow of their almost-kiss, was enough to send her over the edge much, much faster than usual.

"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU!!!" Quickshadow yelled, grappling with the writhing sparkling in her arms. "I don't have the slightest idea what's wrong with you, Rose, but there is no reason you should be taking it out on me! No, Rose--ROSE!! STOP THRASHING THIS INSTANT, YOUNG LADY!!"

It was almost embarrassing to be yelling at Rose like this, especially for a usually well-composed femme such as herself, and Quickshadow immediately found herself regretting it as the sparkling's lower lip began to tremble.

"Oh, Rose...sweetie, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to yell..." Quickshadow gasped, stroking Rose's back in an attempt to calm the sparkling. She wiggled in Quickshadow's grasp, her huge blue optics wet with tears.

Suddenly Quickshadow felt a hand on her shoulder, and she whirled around to find a certain crimson firebot smiling down at her. "Lemme take her for a minute."

Quickshadow was more than happy to oblige, handing Rose over to Heatwave gratefully. She settled down almost instantly, cuddling into Heatwave's broad chest. Her optics slowly shuttered as the firebot rocked gently back and forth on his pedes, hummed quietly to himself.

Quickshadow politely left them to their bonding time. If Heatwave was ever going to consider filling in as Rose's sire, which he seemed to be, they needed to get to know each other.

Besides, Rose clearly favored the firebot--and she wasn't the only one. Quickshadow sighed heavily and collapsed on the first berth she came across. Here she was again, mulling over that dense, hard-headed, arrogant, aggressive, ambiverted, strong, i perfect mech. How in the name of Primus could one measly little bot make her so fragged up?!

Quickshadow flipped on her stomach, burying her face into the pillows and letting out a long, exasperated groan. There was too much going on in her life. The training center was opening, and she had direct orders from Optimus to supervise its first transformation. Then there was her duty to the rescue team on Griffin Rock, again, an assignment from Optimus himself. And now, she was supposed to take up the job of a creator? Who did they think she was, Solus Prime?!

Quickshadow was so deep in thought that she didn't hear the berthroom door slide open. Heatwave padded in, a rosy pink sparkling recharging peacefully in his arms. The firebot stopped by the edge of his berth, staring at the bot who currently occupied it.