The storm (Sideswipe)

Ch 3. High alert

— SIDESWIPE —

    I woke up. Pain spearing through almost every part of my body. I blinked and reached for my head. Something warm and slick trickled down my face and into my neck. I sat up. She stole my alt-mode? Foolish femme. Did she really think I'd be lying? Not to her, at least. I slowly got back up on my feet, my legs wobbly. From every reaction, I hadn't expected her to knock me out like that. Deserved, maybe. I reached for my thigh. And she'd stolen my gun. Of course, she did.

    I rolled my shoulders back and deactivated my holoform. She was driving on the highway. It was embarrassing. To drive around like this. My window and headlight shattered, and my hood dented. I revved my engine in annoyance. I took note of her state. She was tensed, her face tight, lips pursed in a thin line. I could smell it on her, the fear and stress.

   She took a turn to a gas station and came to a stop. Her hands shook when she bent over and opened my dashboard. She wouldn't find much money in there. Cassiphia stuffed the gun in it before sliding out. Her energy and sugar levels were low. If she didn't refuel, she'd go in a stasis lock. Not only that, but I noticed a drastic change in body temperature as well.

While she was off to find a restroom, I activated my holoform and bought some food and soda. People stared. At my black eye, at the blood coating my face, head, and neck, and bite wound. As if I had been attacked by a feral wolf. I made a mental note to proceed with caution next time. Perhaps tie her up or be better at reasoning her.

I waited for her to return. The look on her face was as humorous as I'd imagined it. Her eyes smoldered with rage, but she didn't attack me. "Fuck." I smiled mockingly. "I deserved that, didn't I?" I tapped on my roof. She said nothing and just stared at me with wary eyes. "Get in." Her jaws locked. "You're about to pass out. I have food." She snorted. "Fuck off, Sideswipe."

"We are in the middle of nowhere..." I gestured to a few parked trucks. "I'm sure some males will see you as prey. I certainly wouldn't trust the male inside the shop, though. You're barely dressed..." She looked over her shoulder. "You think I'm defenseless!" She hissed. "Yes. You left the gun in my dashboard. Mistake number one and secondly, your energy levels are low. You need to refuel and then go to recharge." She frowned.

"Humans would say sleep and eat. We call it recharge and refueling." She inhaled sharply. "I'm not your enemy." She snorted. "Nor my friend." Her voice edged. "Yet." I smiled, knowing it would make her see red. "I'm going to walk." She turned. "Through the woods? Alone? At night? Like this?" She cut me another glare. "Fine. Go ahead. Don't come crawling back to me when you get raped." She growled.

As much as I hated her anger, it reminded me of myself. I wouldn't go easy either, and I definitely wouldn't show any signs of kindness. "Where would you even go? Do you even know where you are?" She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "And where will you take me if I get in?" She snapped. "We hit the road and head north." She shook her head. "Go fuck yourself!"

"Will you watch?"

She gave me a vulgar gesture, one I had given Ironhide countless times before. I didn't know why my chest tightened at the sight of it or why my spark thundered against my rib cage, but I wanted her to come with me. Needed her to come with me. Even if it was selfish and wrong. I had stolen her from her family. Snatched away just to keep her for myself. Selfish. Selfish. Selfish. It repeated in my head over and over. "I promise, that I won't hurt you. I just want a friend, that's all."

She studied me for a long time. Something softened in her eyes at whatever she found. The wind stirred her beautiful unbound silver hair, almost like pure silver in the moonlight,, and her eyes... glowing emerald. She'd be the most beautiful creature I have ever encountered and probably will ever encounter. As if Primus himself had honed her into perfection.

My gaze slid along the delicate curve of her lean body. Her sun-kissed skin was covered in goosebumps. She'd catch a cold if she didn't hop in now. "Please, hop in." Her chin tilted an inch before she edged around my hood. "If you hurt me again, you will regret. I don't make empty threats." Her voice was as sharp as my blades. Sunstreaker would definitely like her. I followed her move and hopped in. Turning on the heater wouldn't be much of a help. She shattered my window.

I tried to hide my smile when she dug into the sandwich I had gotten her. "I need a place to fix my window..." her nostrils flared, and she muttered something like 'own fucking fault' under her breath. "So you truly are an alien, then?" I glanced sideways while speeding off. "Haven't I proved it by now?"

    "Asshole." My lip curved in a smirk. "Bitch." She raised her middle finger again. When she finished eating, she fought her tiredness. She didn't want to fall asleep. Not with a stranger, not beside me. She'd be vulnerable. Her eyes fixed on the horizon, body tensed. No doubt still loathing me. She might as well be a female version of me. This could get interesting.

The next morning, she woke up. Still in her seat. I had stopped near a shop to fix my window and get her some clothes. She stepped out of my alt-mode and leveled me a look. "Not a good morning?" She bristled. "Jerk!" Spewing fire today. I grinned and edged around my alt-mode. "I got you some clothes. No thanks needed." Her eyes flashed. "I asked that male to fix my window, but he had me waiting—"

"You're incapable of handling a female, so I doubt you're capable of handling anyone." She turned on her heels. "Wait? Where are you going, Casiphia?" I sprinted after her. She burst through the doors like she owned the place. Primus safe these humans. The male behind the counter looked up, his eyes widening. I'm not sure if it was because of the lethal, infuriated glare she gave him or the bikini she was still wearing. "Who's in charge here?"

    His mouth opened, and nothing came out. "Tell me who's in charge here." Her hands flattened on the counter. "I will ask Robert." He fled towards the door behind him. I studied Casiphia, taking in every detail of her beautiful face. "Keep looking, and I'll rebuild your face again," she snapped. I turned away. She meant it.

    A tall, slender male returned, hands and blue overall covered in oil and paint. He looked her up and down. "Miss?" Her nostrils flared. I let her deal with this on her own. She no doubt would bite my head off if I tried to help. Honestly, I wouldn't want help either. I hated it when Sunny interfered. "There's a car outside. We need it fixed. We just need the window fixed; scratches don't matter." I gave her an insulted look.

    "Miss, I told your boyfriend—"

    "Friend," she corrected sharply. "...friend, that he has to wait." Her fingers tapped. "We will pay you double if you do it right now." Something changed in the human male's eyes, and I noted it for future events. I gave her a look anyway. Where did she think I had to get this money from? "Cash," she added.

    "I will see what I can do," the male replied and walked off. "How much money do you think I have?" I snapped. "Don't get snarky. Do you get my phone?" I studied her face. "Yes..." she passed me. "Then I'll pay for the damage since I was the one who inflicted it on your... body?" I arched a brow. "They will know we are here," I growled. "That's why we wait until he finishes, and we can keep moving."

    "Why cash though?" It was merely curiosity. "Because of the taxes. If you pay them cash, some people decide not to record it for tax purposes." I ohh'ed. She peered in the bag I had given her. "I will get changed." She didn't wait for me to respond and walked off to the nearby gas station.