Gathered up - Sideswipe & Sunstreaker fanfic -

☀️Ch 9. Comforting hug

((Skye's P.O.V))
7 AM. It's not that early for me. I've to give a training session in about ten minutes. My gaze was drawn towards my brother. Everyone loved my him. They were all over him and I just stood at the side line with my stupid schedules. I turned away. This was supposed to be my work environment. A place where I could shine instead of fading away in his shadow. Everyone was just avoiding me. Especially Prowl. I still did his paperwork and just left it for him on his desk. Like he requested it. On my way, I spotted Sideswipe. 'Hey! Sides.' I took a sprint. He sighed. 'Not now, Skye.'

'Sideswipe.'

He grunted. 'It's not about a schedule! Would you please stop walking?' He didn't listen. 'I said stop walking!' I yanked at his arm. He stopped in his tracks. 'I thought we were friends!' I snapped. 'We are...' I snorted. 'Are we? Since when do friends ignore each other!' I snapped. 'Since some friends only tend to talk about stupid schedules and I can't hear the word 'schedule' anymore! Okay? I can't and I won't. You put too much effort in your stupid schedules no one will stick too anyway!' He hissed. I crossed my arms. 'You even have them at home! Like seriously?! What is wrong with you? This is really getting out of hand,' he snapped and pushed me aside. 'But they work and they give structure.'

He waved his hand while walking off. 'They do...' I mumbled, mostly to myself. I went to the training hall, did my training session with the rookies before I had to run again. I just my work to distract myself from the reality and the pain.

'Skye? You got a second?'

I had to give Ratchet a minute. He's maybe the second mech that only wants to talk to me. I don't want to ruin it with him too. 'You've been running around all day without eating and drinking.' He gave me a bottle of water and took me a little further away. He forced me to sit down on a bench and take a break. 'You experience headaches?' He asked as he checked the wound he had stitched. 'Little bit.'

He hummed. 'Your blood pressure is too high. Are you stressed?' He asked. I slowly got up. 'No, I'm just behind on my schedule. I've to see my dad in five minutes. So, I gotta run. Is my head fine?' He nodded. I somewhere had hoped he told me it wasn't. I bet my father and brother won't go easy on me. 'You're okay?' I snapped back and nodded. 'Yeah, totally...' I turned away. 'Why didn't you show during our monthly dinner night?' I turned again.

'You mean pizza evening?' He nodded. 'Oh, I guess Sideswipe forgot to ask me. It's fine, he was busy and so was I. It gave me the opportunity to wrap up some work and Sunstreaker shared some pizza slices with me. It's totally fine!' I waved my hand. He sighed softly. 'Speaking of which... I haven't seen Sunny for a couple of days. Do you know where he is?'

'He's out for a scouting mission.' I nodded. 'It was in the board he's not available,' he added. I nodded. 'I know... I was curious if he's okay.' Ratchet nodded. 'Don't worry about it. He's fine and he'll be back soon.' I nodded again. 'You know...' I met his gaze. 'I know you're probably stuck with your patrol schedule now Sunstreaker and Jazz are out, you can schedule me in for tonight's patrol and Jolt for the midnight one.' I blinked. 'But you're the medic.'

He hummed. 'Doesn't mean I can't drive the patrol, right?' I nodded again. 'I'll drive one tonight. 7 PM?' I nodded again. 'Alright, but only if you promise me to get some sleep tonight, promise?' I smiled wryly and nodded. 'Thank you, you're saving me from a lot of trouble.' I was relieved he offered me. 'I know...' I was about to walk away but turned back towards him and pulled him in an embrace.

He and Sideswipe have always been close. There wasn't a day Ratchet didn't came when I got hurt or was sick. I was just really grateful right now. I'm not supposed to schedule medics for patrols. Or actually, I'm not allowed to do that, but he offered me, so, I guess it didn't matter.

He patted my back. I took a step back and quickly walked off to catch up with my dad and brother. The only two hours I didn't look forward too. 'There you are?' My dad slapped the papers from my hands. 'Get your ass down there, lazy pig.' He gave me a forceful push. 'You're an disgrace for our family, you know that?' He scolded behind me. 'You look fat, have you been eating again?' My brother mocked. 'No, I even lost 6 pounds this week,' I muttered under my breath. It shouldn't have happened, but I was so afraid that my father would shame me that I barely ate these weeks. I've never been the fastest, and I can't afford to lose more weight. I'm already on the verge of being underweight.

'Whatever.'

My dad past. 'Fight your brother. Show me what you got in that ugly body of yours.' He waved his hand. I looked at my brother. 'How's your head? Healed yet? Last time, she banged her head up pretty good. Haven't told you that yet...' he looked at dad standing against the wall. 'Not surprising,' was his reply. I folded my hands into fists to stop my hands from shaking. 'Are you starting of what?!' Dad yelled. I didn't want to, but I guess I had to.

Two hours later, I think they broke me. Every inch of my body hurt and I could barely breath normally without that stinging horrible pain. Dad threw a few nasty comments at me before walking off with Chase. I kept sitting on the ground, trying to catch my breath.

I grabbed my phone as it went off. 'Sunstreaker...' there was so much relief in my voice that it made him chuckle icily. 'I really think you feel for my eyes... or my hot and sexy body.' I snorted and leaned against the wall. 'You're out of breath.' I grunted. 'Yeah... just had a training session with my dad and brother. I feel broken and everything hurts. Earlier, I tried to talk to Sideswipe and he just completely ignored me. He's driving extra patrols this week and the weekend,' I scolded. I tried to out more power in my voice, but it sounded husky.

'Is it bad if I say I miss you?'

He snorted. 'I knew you adored me,' he mocked. That was an understatement. I snorted anyway. 'You know what you should do?' He asked. 'No...'
'Take a warm shower, get yourself some tea and lay in bed. Go read or watch a movie or something.' I hummed. 'I've am hour and half to do that,' I mumbled. 'Good. You will feel better, I promise you.' I smiled and It was a genuine smile.

((Sideswipe's P.O.V))

'Ratchet? Have you been scheduled in for a patrol?'

Ratchet and Jolt strode into the cafeteria together. We all glanced very at Ratchet for a response. 'Yeah—' prowl got up. 'I'm gonna murder her.' Ratchet blocked his way. 'Give her some slack.' He pushed Prowl away which surprised most of us. He's usually not physical to Prowl or other higher ranked Autobots. 'I offered it, you slaghead.' He turned towards me. 'Have you been busy lately?' I cocked my head to the side. 'Did I miss one of your appointments?' I muttered and cursed at myself. Ratchet absolutely hates it when I don't show or forget an appointment.

'No, but apparently you were busy enough that you forgot to ask Skye for our monthly evening.' I didn't reply. I knew I wouldn't do people a favor if I ask her to join. 'I thought you were her best friend. You practically raised her, but right now... I feel like Sunstreaker is her only and best friend here.'

'I'm still her friend but I can't hear the word 'schedule' anymore, okay? Most of us can't.'
I gestured at my fellow Autobots. 'You gotta admit she's obsessed with it, Ratchet.' Ironhide added. 'So what? She doesn't harm anyone with it. If it makes her happy to have these schedules, why would it bother any of you?' He snapped. No one responded. 'You know what... as long as you are acting like afts, I'll be driving patrols and filling up the gaps.' With that open in the air, he turned around and walked off.