Transformers ( Bayverse ) - I Bleed Into Darkness

27 - Boundaries

        Tears began to slip down Fay’s cheeks as she burrowed herself ever closer to IronHide’s holoform, Harvey, the man who’d been her only true father. “B-But y-you’re . . . D-dead, Dad . . . You can’t be real . . .”

        His arms wrapped tighter around her, breathing against her. “I promise you I’m real, Fair. I have always been real . . .”

        “But i-it’s im-possible . . . Dad . . .” She paused for a second, as a few sobs wracked her chest. “D-did the st-stars . . . Did they s-save yo-you, D-ad?”

        “No, Sweetheart . . .” He sighed gently, refusing to let go of her. “The stars . . . Didn’t save me . . . I have always been here . . . I just haven’t been able to show you . . . For fear that you would react adversely . . . I’m so sorry you were alone, Fair . . . I’m so, so sorry.”

        “B-but I-I mi-ssed you, s-so, muc-ch . . . Wh-why didn’t you . . .”

        Harvey nearly winced, frowning, knowing where Fay’s train of thought was going with this, knowing full well that within a matter of seconds, she would be feeling utterly betrayed. “Someone else would like to see you as well, Fair . . . I believe he’s waiting outside your door now, actually . . . Would you like to see him?” He gave her a moment to answer, but she didn’t even so much as nod her head. All she knew was that she still felt the pain inside her spark, pounding harder and harder at her. “Fair . . . ?”

        Carefully, slowly, the door clicked open and Jazz’s holoform, Jaxson, slid his head in, gazing around the small space. “Am I too late for the party?”

        In utter disbelief, Fay opened her eyes, looking at the blonde boy in her bedroom doorway, staring at him for a moment before it fully registered. “Jax!” She exclaimed, leaving her father for the moment to rush over and embrace her brother, a gesture he promptly returned, a smile crossing his face.

        “I thought I heard my cue. I figured better late than never, eh Fay?”

        ~~~

        It was quite some time before the three were calmed down, sitting on Fay’s bed in an encompassing silence. It was comfortable, really. Questions played out in Fay’s mind, in Harvey’s mind, in Jaxson’s mind, but none of them voiced any for a while. It had been too long since they’d actually known each other and truly seen each other to nitpick the situation. It was a blissful absence of words at this point.

        “Don’t ever leave me again,” Fay murmured, her head resting against Harvey’s shoulder. “You won’t, right . . . ?”

        “Never again, at least not like that, Fair,” Harvey assured her, rubbing her arm gently. “We’re here. We’re not leaving. I’m sorry you’re stuck in this place right now, Fair . . . I really am. I wish I could make it better for you. If there’s anything you need help with, we’re here for you. I promise.”

        “And you’re . . . You’re really real?” Fay asked, looking up at his face, searching for any sign of deceit or false claims. That prospect still scared her; that she would wake up from a magnificent dream and she would never see them again, only to be left with the lingering images of their living forms in the present day.

        “Really real,” Harvey murmured, kissing her temple. “I’m sorry we were gone for so long . . . I’m sorry it’s so complicated, but we’re back, Fair. I promise.”

        She gave a nod, shuddering slightly against his embrace. “I just don’t want to be alone again, Dad . . .”

        “I promise you won’t be, Fair . . . I promise.”