Nights of terror - Sideswipe & Sunstreaker

02 // Meeting //

I lifted the glass of alcohol to my lips while watching the show of flesh through the windows of the cafeteria. My shift had ended an hour ago, and I was called up here by one of my teammates, Chase Axford, – our team captain – to be part of their group activities. All I wanted was to take a hot bath and be alone for a while. The skin around my eyes tightens and I quickly gulp down the remaining liquid. I really needed to find release somewhere, or I might actually kill someone one of these days.

"... I told him he could go fuck himself..." My gaze slid to the brunette across from me. Ella. I hadn't yet decided if I would kill Chase first or her. She annoyed me, with her constant bragging about men, sex, and complaints. "He hasn't called me for five days! What does he think was going to happen?" She snorted, and so did the female beside her, Tawny. A Latina with absolutely no desire to listen to rules. At least, they shared the same mindset. Better so. Meant I didn't have to listen to them all the time. "I thought you dumped him," Chase cut in, frowning.

I forced myself to look away and take in the Main Hangar from above. It was massive, with seven levels, stairs and railings constructed from steel, and a specially designed corner for the Autobots. It was an unspoken rule to leave the Autobots alone if they were parked there. Unfortunately, humans didn't die from making that mistake. I was all in for some juicy stories, but I assume it was a Decepticon thingy. Ugh, why hadn't I changed sides? At least I would have free rein on who to kill and when.

"He was late on a date, so the least I expected was a call from him right after, but guess what? He didn't. I waited five fucking days and I got nothing until today. I hadn't dumped him; we weren't even together to begin with." I kept the frown from my face, even the confusion was hammering against my skull. I never understood the dynamic between males and females and all their drama surrounding it. Being alone is so much easier.

Chase loosened a sigh, and I found some delight that his face showed the confusion I was trying to hide. "Am I dismissed?" Their eyes shifted to me. "I am sorry, are we boring you?" Tawny snapped, her doe like eyes zeroing in on my face. "Thank you for the apologies, you are boring me," I said, getting on my feet. Her nostrils flared. She was angry now? Why the fuck was she angry? She should apologize for making me listen to this bullshit. "I was being sarcastic," she gritted out, glowering. "Pity," I replied coolly, pinning her with the same glare. She stifled uncomfortably in her chair until I averted my gaze.

"Always a delight having you with us, Kayla." I huffed. He was lying. I couldn't imagine anyone being comfortable around me, especially not people who were below me and didn't understand anything of what I was feeling or desired. They never did.

Without another word, I sauntered over to the entrance. Only now did I start to feel the terrible throb of my burning muscles. I couldn't be out of shape. Working out was what I did almost daily, but people here like to push and I had received quite some punches in my ribs, throwing me right on my ass. I might not be out of shape, but my mind had definitely wandered off again.

Despite screaming pain, I forced myself to walk evenly and took a sharp turn to the right. My eyes swept back and forth, as I weave through the throng of people suffocating me. Why was it so damned busy in these hallways? It was well past six. Shouldn't they have gotten home to their stupid little families?

I broke free and headed down a quiet and smaller hallway. Without any idea where it would lead me, I took another sharp turn and bumped straight into someone. Strong arms wrap around my waist, and my hands snag the fabric of his leather jacket in a pathetic attempt to steady myself. A part of his tanned chest was exposed, just like the hint of a tattoo that looked a lot like the Autobot insignia.

I finally look up. His black, long lashes were in total contrast with his icy eyes, now sweeping across my face. There was no emotion, not even the slight lift of a dark brow. Just nothing but a Stoic, cold expression. And so, for the first time in my life, I was actually aware of every place he was touching me. His strong arms were still tightened around my waist and with each inhale, my chest touched his. His dark hair fell in waves and was so rich in color that the lighting almost gilded the dark brown locks.

"Watch it, fleshy." His voice matched his cold exterior. "You watch it," I snapped back, my lip curling back in a snarl. His lips twitched, allowing me to glimpse his straight white teeth that seemed just a little bit too sharp for an ordinary human. There was no doubt, but he had deliberately picked them. It told me everything I needed to know about this mech. Arrogant and a huge ego, but there was also something else that made me show just a little bit more of my true colors. Something I would normally avoid. "No apology?" 

"You ran into me." I felt his finger dig into my spine. I shove him away, pinning him with a nasty glare. The mech slightly tilted his head to the side, closely observing me like a puzzle he was trying to solve. "And what is your name, Fleshy?"

"And why would I tell you? You're a waste of my time and clearly far below me." His brows rose with an inch this time, the only sign of his surprise. "Below you?" he repeated, his anger kicking in. It made his eyes nearly glowing in the dimly lit hallway. "Clearly." I edged around him.

"Pathetic." His hand snagged my arm. I had my dagger palmed in second and at his throat, – the sharp tip digging into his chin. "I'd be very careful if I were you, Autobot." His hand didn't loosen and only seemed to tighten. "Or else?" I shove him against the wall, pressing harder. Bluish blood trickled down the powerful column of his throat in thick droplets. I leaned in, my lips ghosting over his as I spoke. "Or else I might sever your head from your fucking body and pin it down on my wall as a new decoration."

His lip curled in a vicious snarl, and I felt something sharp press against my ribs. His free hand had snagged the large knife sheathed at his thigh. Cursing mentally, I held his glare, ignoring the bite and blood trickling down my skin. "I can kill you in seconds, quicker than you would need to cut through flesh, bone, and muscle." I knew that and despite it, there was no fear or concern, only the thrill of the challenge and the promise of death in his eyes. Interesting. He was like me. This was the other psychopath. Not that I needed to be a shrink to figure that out, seeing that his eyes alone could make people squirm, and he lacked overall emotion. But who knew an Alien would be another 'me' walking around the base?

With the thought of him being capable of killing me in seconds, I pressed the knife tighter against his skin, and it had more bluish blood sliding down his throat. I decided that I liked this better than Human blood. My other hand touched it, and I watched the warm, sticky substance stain my fingers with a slight burn. Beautiful. It was intriguing. I brought my blood-slick fingers to my lips and allowed my tongue to dart over his blood.

The Autobots' eyes followed my every movement with the same intensity. The taste was strange. Metallic like human blood, but it had something to it. Something I had never tasted before. I dropped my dagger and shoved his hand away. "Watch where you're walking, Autobot. I am not in a generous mood right now." Sunstreaker's knuckles turned white from how tightly he gripped his knife. "Neither am I, so I suppose you're lucky I am quite tolerant today," he snapped back, eyes narrowing. I flicked him off and sauntered down the hallway, but until I disappeared out of view, I could feel his eyes burn in my back.