Untouchable

Chapter 8

The next few days were a mess.

Smokescreen walked up to the High Council building, trying to summon what was left of his courage to speak. Knockout had argued, saying that they weren't trustworthy, but in the end, they agreed that this could provide useful information on who to trust.

I can do this.

Smokescreen went inside, hoping that this will turn it out okay. It didn't.

Smokescreen saw the newest high council member, Shadowchaser. He's taken an instant disliking to the bot. He smiled at Smokescreen when he saw him, yet his optics shown that he couldn't care less about. Something about him just seemed fake. 

"What do you want?"

Smokescreen took a deep breath. He didn't know how to explain the kidnapping and what happened.

Originally, Knockout would be doing this, but then he argued that they were far more likely to listen to Smokescreen than him. If they listened at all. He's lucky he had an excuse. He remembered their earlier argument. It seemed so stupid now, yet Smokescreen couldn't help but wondered what it was like for Knockout. To save the world, only to be hated by it. To have to pretend, lie about how he really felt.

In a way, Smokescreen knew how it felt.

How it felt to be untouchable.

Only no one can be untouchable. We all have a weak point. Everyone, at one point, will be hurt. At one point, people won't be able to hide the softness beneath the hardened feelings.

So all you can do is pretend. Pretend and lie, and hope tomorrow when say that you're fine, you're telling the truth. That if we keep on saying it'll be okay, one day it will be.

Smokescreen looked down, exhaled. 

"So yesterday, I kinda um got kid-"

"I have to go"

"But this is really important!", Smokescreen said, confused on his sudden leaving. Shadowchaser didn't look answer back and was already hurrying away. He swore he saw his optics widen in surprise, meaning he believed Smokescreen.

Smokescreen now knew at least one person he couldn't trust.

But if he looked closer, Smokescreen would have seen Shadowchaser's optics turn green for a moment. But he didn't.

Smokescreen sighed, feeling defeated, somehow. Over the last week, no work got done. This was getting pointless. Ever since the kidnapping, there had been no trace of Darkrun and Raindrowner.

________________

"Nothing?"

"I told you he just walked away-"

"Seems suspicious though"

"That's what I've been trying to say!"

Knockout didn't say anything back. If he was going to help Smokescreen, he probably should argue less. Oh well. Too late now.

Smokescreen seemed frustrated, but he didn't give up.

"Is there anything we can do now?"

"Nope, but what we can do is stop arguing. Maybe have a little more patience while working on it. And work on manners too, you need more of those"

Smokescreen glared but calmed down enough for Knockout to think.

We really are going nowhere with this. How the Primes are we supposed to anyways?  An ex-con and a bot who can't shut up. Yup life is so great.

Knockout scrolled through daily news looking for something that might help. He almost passed the video. But then he realized what he just saw. The color. Immediately, he went back, checking to see if it was true. Zooming in to confirm it, he realized he was right.

" By the All- Spark!".

"What happened", Smokescreen asked, inching closer, wanting to get a look. Knockout could tell he was trying to keep that hopefulness out of his voice, but it wasn't working as usual. Knockout wondered how he could hold onto hope after all his fails. Knockout knew he couldn't, not after Breakdown died.

But this time was different. This time, Smokescreen wouldn't have built all that hope and anticipation for it all to crumble down after the truth came out. Knockout smiled.

They were finally getting somewhere.

He just hoped it would take him to the right place.

_____________________

"Wait what???"

"How many times do I have to show you? First, it's your memory files, now it's your optics? Look at that optic on that vehicon. Or ex-vehicon. Wait what would we call them n- nevermind. Anyways, their optics, it's green."

Smokescreen didn't know how to respond. Finally, finally, something good happened. He looked again, just to make sure.

"So what's the thing about?", he asked.

"So the vehi- the- can we just stick with vehicon?", Knockout asked.

He rolled an optic at him. "We just made a major discovery, and THAT'S what you worry about?". Which brought back memories of being on Prime's team. Specifically the time with the Unicron-is-back-oh-no-and-so-is-Megatron.

"Anyways they're at an Energon mine. Everyone thinks they're finding Energon or whatever. But it turns out that sketchy Council member? Yup, he's going to the scene to stop them. Oh and here's a picture of him with green optics", Knockout explained.

"But why Energon? Shadowchaser could probably access it without you know."

"That's a good point", Knockout said pausing. "My guess would be that there is something else there that they want and the Energon thing is a cover. But either way, we need to head over there. Now".

"Alright chill, cherry-brain. No need for the dramatic effect"

"Excuse me! What's wrong with just simple human theatrics?"

"Nothing", Smokescreen muttered.

____________________

Darkrun smiled. Stupid Autobots, falling right for their trap. He looked over at Raindrowner, who hadn't spoken the entire time. Despite the rivalry and competition between them, he couldn't help but feel worried about her.

"You okay?"

Raindrowner jumped, the water-blue and blood-red bot looking startled by his sudden question, which broke the silence. She looked straight at him, the bright-emerald green optics, full of anger and something else, something he didn't recognize, scaring him. If looks could kill, he would be already with the Allspark.

"Why do you ask?", She said, continuing to look at him. 

"Just concerned that's all"

She looked down, shielding those emerald optics from him so he couldn't tell if she was lying or not. 

"Fine, I'm fine"

Darkrun though of pressing on, looking for an answer. He decided not to. Let Raindrowner have her space. It would be the only thing he could do really, besides just being there for her. He looked at Raindrowner once more, not expecting those big-optics to be staring at him too.

Both looked away, the questions both of them had been wanting to ask unanswered in their head.