These Paths We Tread (Autobot x OC)

IX. The Touch

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It wasn’t long after Catherine finished her “Adventure of Mischief” story that the three teens began to feel a little bored off by themselves. The redhead certainly felt a little out of place next to her friend while he held onto Mikaela’s hand and the dark-haired girl had her head on his shoulder. The disgust— the bile of jealousy burning her throat— that would fill Catherine at those moments didn’t help either, but she held it back and masked it with a jovial demeanor. Thankfully, that boredom had a simple solution: they joined the others.

Everyone was back now except for Simmons who was probably off doing whatever Sector Seven duties he had to do. The soldiers, Maggie, and Glenn were happy to welcome and introduce them into the latest topic: what was going to happen now. There was gossip about being kept in the base forever, but the words were jests and they laughed it off with good humor. The seriousness came next and the general assumption that they’d be there for a while was agreed upon. There was a lot of cleanup and covering up to do—Catherine wasn’t sure how they planned to do that, but she wished them luck—and then there was going to be a lot of political work. Furthermore, there was no doubt they would be debriefed about what they could and couldn’t say with the rest sworn to secrecy under government penalty. After all, they couldn’t just go blabbing about an alien war that happened in the middle of city and killed hundred now could they? They had to give the conspiracy theorists a reason to exist, too.

While it was all fun and games with other ideas, for Catherine there was a far more serious undertone. One which made her worry not only for herself, but for the dark-haired boy she sat next to. More than once she stole worried glances at him, hoping to not catch any signs of him having the same powers as hers, and yet, at the same time, she hoped for it. It was selfish, she knew, but maybe if they were somehow more alike then maybe they could be closer.

She would chastise herself for the thoughts not long after having them, and not only because they were selfish, but because this was, again, not the time for such things. While the soldiers, Maggie, Glenn, and Mikeala would be able to leave with only worrying about keeping their mouths shut and maybe some kind of trauma, Sam might have to face the same dangers she was for sure going to have to endure. She couldn’t let them or anyone know she had these powers. She had seen too many movies and read too many stories where the different person was treated as a monster and things had varying chances of going bad or good. She figured her chances for a happy ending were more likely with having comrades already, but she couldn’t be sure. Hell, she wasn’t even confident—not anymore—if Sam would stay by her side if he found out.

So what was she to do? If she kept it secret she would just return to the safety of the mundane life, but then it might accidentally act out on its own like it had with Jazz. If that happened, she would be revealed not only to her friends, but possibly to the enemy as well, and that would end badly. And yet, if she revealed it now she could face the prosecutions of her peers as they might succumb to their natural fear of the unknown, and there was also the curious minds of Sector Seven. Of course, she did have the Autobots. They wouldn’t cast her out, nor had they done so earlier, but that had its own dangers, too. If she was with the Autobots and her powers known, then the enemy would find out, too, and come for her. Surely there was some in between? Perhaps she could learn to hide her powers? They were already weak, and she had no guarantee she could refuel them.

She sighed, leaning back, and wondering why having her wildest dreams come true came with such terrifying and complicated problems.

“You okay, kid?” Lennox asked, and she glanced over at the soldier situated in the single chair placed next to the couch she was on.

“I think too much,” she grumbled.

“Uh oh—what is it this time? You only say that when you think way too hard about something,” Sam spoke up, having heard her, and she regarded him for a moment. Oh, how she wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe never.