Gathered up - Sideswipe & Sunstreaker fanfic -

☀️ Ch 13. Missed training

(Chapter contains smut)

"You did good." Sunstreaker patted my shoulder. "Thank you." My voice was raspy. "Let's take a shower and get some food." I hobbled beside him, aiming for the doors. "Are you on duty tonight?" I shook my head. "No, Prowl didn't want me to. So... don't tell my dad." Sunstreaker's nostrils flared. "And why would I tell that piece of shit? I'd much rather cut off his hand and push it down his throat." His gaze shifted to the bruise marring my cheek, and his eyes blazed with anger.

I averted my gaze and straightened my spine. My father walked down the hallway, his lips in a thin line, eyes raging with an inner fire. My heart thundered in my chest. It thundered so loudly that I was certain Sunny could hear it. He not so subtly angled himself between us, lip curled back from his teeth in a fierce snarl. "Skye." The way her name rolled off his tongue promised trouble. He looked her over, once, twice. "I want to talk to her."

Sunstreaker didn't move an inch. I reined in a jagged breath and steadied my nerves. "It's okay, Sunstreaker. I will talk to you later." My father's eyes flashed. "If you hit her again, I will hit you back and make sure your jaw is so badly broken that you are unrecognizable." Sunstreaker edged around him, bumping his shoulder into his before disappearing out of view.

I locked my spine. "You missed training this morning." I had. Just to avoid facing my brother and another beating session. It wasn't training in their eyes. It was for my brother's amusement. "Sunstreaker promised to train with me later, and I had some work to wrap up, so..." I waited for him to scold me, and he did. "You're getting close to him." I shrugged. "We are friends." He let out a humorless laugh. "Of course. Only you would find a friend so low. If you don't show up tomorrow, you'll regret it."

He shoved me aside and breezed past me. "He's not." My father halted. "Excuse me?" I inhaled sharply before replying. "Sunstreaker, he's not low. I'd prefer to rain with him instead." My father approached like a predator approaching prey. This could go down the road really fast.

He lashed out quickly. Slamming me against the wall and gripping the strands of my hair tight enough that I could barely move. "Say it again, Skye." My legs wobbled from the force, and fear speared through my body. "Say it!" My lip trembled. "I— prefer Sunstreaker." My voice was a little more than a whisper. My father's free hand wrapped around my throat. I went still. My body went numb, and I could do nothing but stare at him and desperately try to hold back the tears.

Slashes of burning pain coursed through me as his nails dug into my skin, cutting off the air supply. "The day you were born, I should've given you away. Why can't you be like your brother?" The words hit their mark; they sliced through every layer of my soul. "Be friends with that low-born bastard. You're not any better." I dropped to the ground when he released me.

***

My cheeks we slick with tears when I sat behind my desk, making schedule after schedule. For who? I had no idea. No one ever bothered to read them. A single tear dropped onto the paper, and I didn't bother to wipe it off my face either.

A knock on the door had me look up. I wasn't surprised to see Sunstreaker slipping in. He shut the door and studied me briefly. What was going through his mind? His gaze dropped to my neck. Rage ignited in his once-blue eyes. The ruby-red glow emanating from his eyes, was like searing embers of hellfire, casting an unholy light upon his handsome features.

With long strides, he cleared the gap between us and lifted my chin. "Don't cry." In one seamless motion, he effortlessly hoisted me up. I opened my mouth, but nothing but a sob came out. Sunstreaker pulled me into his chest. His smell and warmth enveloped me. It was intoxicating. "I hate to see you cry," he muttered, his lips brushing against the wet skin of my neck.