Runaway

Chapter Seven - Ponderings

The two figures sat sheltered in the shadows, watching the street below them from their vantage point.

Deadly acid rain fell from the dark sky above them, the wind blowing it in slanted streaks across their view. Thunder rolled in the distance, following the lightning streaks reaching for the tallest things they could find.

The smaller figure in the window shivered, doorwings quivering with cold. He pulled his pedes closer to himself, tightening his servos around them. Every so often, he glanced to the side, looking at his companion.

Roadrage never moved. He simply stared into the storm, faceplate never showing whatever he was thinking. Keen optics scanned the street and buildings around them.

But his helm barely even turned as he did.

And he never spared Steeldust a glance.

Growing uncomfortable with the worsening storm and the silence, the youngling finally spoke up, despite himself.

"Who are we looking for?" he questioned, voice barely above a whisper.

"Mecha from the neighbouring territory," Roadrage grunted quietly. "They have been sneaking around in ours lately, causing trouble."

"Oh."

Steeldust peered out of their window, searching for any sign of movement. He saw nothing but rain.

Knowing they had traveled quite far from headquarters, the navy and black tilted his helm.

"Is this the border?"

"No. We stopped here because of the coming storm."

The youngling nodded. That made sense. Now he knew why Roadrage had suddenly stopped, frowned towards the sky, and hurried their pace. They'd reached this building not long before the rain started.

Steeldust was glad. He had been caught out in a storm before.

The memory was not a good one. Not only because of the pain he received from getting burnt by the rain, but what caused him to be unable to reach home before it came.

That had been the orn he found out his brother was still online.

"The border is still several miles away," Roadrage spoke again, drawing Steeldust back to the present. "But the intruders have been spotted farther in than this."

"But-" Steeldust hesitated. "We won't see anyone in the storm, right? Nobody would be sneaking around in the rain..."

Roadrage finally looked down, meeting the youngling's optics.

"Some mecha do insane things when they are desperate," he said quietly.

Steeldust blinked twice, then glanced away.

"How would they survive a storm like this?" he asked.

It was raining hard. And you could get struck by lighting.

"Mecha have been able to survive an acid rain storm by bringing a metal shield of some sort with them."

"To cover themselves?"

"Yes."

"But why wouldn't they just wait?"

Roadrage huffed. "Why do younglings ask so many questions? Because. Like I said, they're desperate.

"And it's a fair guess, we wouldn't expect an attack during a storm."

Steeldust's optics widened, moving to stare up at the mech.