Title: Breaking the Cage

Author: ontuva

Beta: unbetaed, because it's been like, what, 2,5 years (?)

Warnings: You know the drill by now

Disclaimer: Don't own anything except my OC's, Transformers are not mine

Word count: 6,211

A/N: Oh wow. I mean. Last chapter was like. Aug 9, 2016. *coughs* I'm sorry. But you deserve at least something! I hope I'm still up to your standards and you'll still like what I've made here. I can't promise when the next chapter will air, because I'm not really sure about anything anymore. :'D Loooots of things happened during these years, not all good, but I'm still here! I'm not sure whether I answered to every review, but I did read every single one of them and they meant a lot to me! So keep 'em coming, they really helped when I was feeling low. :) 3

o O o

Chapter 13: Rebel Queen

Aurora felt like she was in a dream. So much had happened in the mere span of two hours that she just couldn't wrap her head around it. First she found out that her body was being experimented on, then the incident with Sunstreaker, well, double incident and then the seemingly innocent question from the teen.

Not to mention that apparently Mikaela knew about the resident aliens too.

Sometimes Aurora wondered whether she was actually having the most fucked up psychosis ever. But she was quite sure even her mind couldn't conjure up something like this. This was real and she would just have to learn to live with it.

She knew Ratchet had noticed something was not right. The moment she had heard the question from Mikaela's boyfriend, she had sought Ratchet out, because she hoped he would get it. Her fears had probably been in vain when she heard the explanation Ratchet gave to everyone, but still - she was not ready to be anyone's parent or "guardian". Not now. Maybe not ever.

Ratchet would probably have questions later on, but this was a subject Aurora didn't want to speak about. Maybe someday, but not today.

She had been left alone in the med-bay when everyone else filed out to meet Optimus, the one bot she was yet to meet. Ratchet had told her to get some rest while they were out, but she couldn't. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Sunstreaker's unimpressed face tell her she was worthless scum.

"I'm not worthless scum," she whispered to herself. "Am I?" She had a creeping feeling she was more a hindrance than help. She wasn't a real Cybertronian, she was a human in a Cybertronian's body.

Hell, she couldn't even run properly.

But that didn't mean she was worthless, right? She'd learn. She'd learn to live with this body, she'd help the best she could and if that wasn't enough for Sunstreaker, he could go straight to hell.

Her momentary determination was blown to bits when the doors opened. She was so on edge she actually jumped until she realized it wasn't actually the mech from hell, but Sideswipe. Aurora couldn't resist a small sigh of relief. Even though she wanted to be brave, she couldn't help but to be afraid of Sunstreaker.

"Are you alright?" Sideswipe asked, worry clear on his faceplates. "I didn't scare you, did I?"

"No, no!" she quickly answered. "You just startled me, that's all." Aurora glanced subtly behind Sideswipe to see if the twin was lurking nearby and felt herself relax, when he was nowhere to be seen.

Sideswipe glanced around the med-bay, a look of irritation settling in.

"I missed the sparkling again, didn't I?" he sighed.

"They went to meet with Optimus," Aurora explained. "You weren't invited?"

The look Sideswipe sent her was unimpressed.

"Ah, I guess… not…" she muttered. She could understand why they would want to keep Mocha away from Sunstreaker, but Sideswipe was a different matter. To her he had always been kind, so Aurora just couldn't fathom why he couldn't at least meet with the little one.

"It's okay, I'll meet her later," Sideswipe shrugged nonchalantly, but Aurora could tell it bothered him. "And actually, I came to meet you," he continued.

"Me?"

"I promised you I'd see you later, didn't I?" he grinned, his sour mood suddenly disappearing. "I actually got an idea earlier I wanted to try. If you are not too tired that is."

Aurora raised her optic ridges. Well, that didn't sound suspicious at all… But Sideswipe's grin was infectious and Aurora knew she wouldn't be able to rest, not with so much happening lately. She didn't have anything better to do. So, why not?

"Is this something that will make me regret it later?" she asked with a small smile.

"Probably," he shrugged, still grinning. "But it will take care of one your problems." With that he started to rummage through Ratchet's closets, finding different sets of tools and setting them on the operating table.

Aurora wasn't sure she liked where this was going.

"What problem?" she asked, suddenly nervous again. There were tools! Why would they need tools?!

"Well, you said you disliked hurting others and that's quite a problem when you take part in a war."

Aurora was about to point out that she was perfectly content in staying in the med-bay and helping Ratchet there. She could continue being a nurse, right? She wasn't very good at it yet, but…

"Let me finish before you discard my idea completely," Sideswipe sighed and fixed his gaze on her.

"How did you know I was discarding it?" Sometimes it was disturbing how well others could read her. She was sure it was partly because she was still new to this body and couldn't mask its reactions as well.

"You tensed," he explained like it was the most natural explanation. "But listen, I get it. You don't like to fight. And you don't have to like it, but you'll have to learn to defend yourself. And maybe hand-to-hand combat isn't your style, but you'll need to learn it eventually."

"So, you'll magically imprint this knowledge in my brain, I mean processors, now?" she asked, eyeing the tools warily. Sideswipe stopped in mid-motion and then glanced at tools. And then at her. He blinked.

"What?" Sideswipe seemed perplexed.

"That's what the tools are for, right?" Aurora concluded. "I mean, why else would you be rummaging through Ratchet's closets?"

"That's… That's not how it works. I just can't insert a magic chip in you," he explained. "I mean, it would be awesome if we could do that, but no." Sideswipe looked at the assortment of tools he had collected on the table. "Do you where Ratchet keeps his data cables?"

"Oh. They should be on the drawer to the right." Aurora glanced nervously at the different sets of screwdrivers and wrenches. There was even a small saw on the table.

Nervousness bubbled in somewhere inside her. She had no idea what was going on and those tools… didn't look good.

"Ah… I'm not so sure about-" she started to say when Sideswipe let out a victorious holler and held up a data cable.

"Found it!"

Her apprehension must have shown, because Sideswipe's grin faded away and was replaced with confusion. Then he glanced at the operation table and realization dawned on him.

"I probably should have explained before I started to collect these?"

Aurora nodded slowly, still eyeing the things with suspicion.

"I'm putting your weapons back online," he stated and beckoned for her to come to the table.

Aurora blinked.

He - what?

"Are you glitching?" he asked after a while and cocked his head to the side. "Aurora?"

"You… What? My weapons?" she repeated. She couldn't have heard correctly.

"Yes. I'm putting your weapons back online. You have a basic hand cannon which you can use. I'm going to teach you how to use it." And he said it so nonchalantly, like it was no big deal at all.

"But… but…" she stammered.

"You'll also be starting sparring lessons."

Aurora had to blink again.

"What?"

"I already have a permission from Optimus," Sideswipe said with a triumphant look.

"For the gun?" Somehow Aurora suspected he hadn't asked a permission for that.

"For the sparring lessons."

"And the gun?"

The cocky grin she received was the only answer she needed. Definitely no permission for the weapon.

"So, shall we begin?"

"I… I don't think I want to," she said. What if she shot somebody by accident? She wouldn't be able to live with herself. There was a reason why Ratchet had disabled them in the first place.

Suddenly Sideswipe was right in front of her. She couldn't resist a small wince even though a part of her knew he wouldn't hurt her. It was just so sudden. And suddenly her own feet became the most interesting thing in the world.

"Hey," Sideswipe begun gently and used his hand to lift Aurora's gaze to meet his own. "You are not going to shoot anyone by accident." His gaze was unwavering and so full of trust. Aurora didn't know what she had done to warrant that kind of trust.

"How did you know what I was thinking? And how do you know? I mean, I still trip on my own feet sometimes and smack myself on the head!" she argued.

"Because I know," he stated and gave her another cocky grin.

"I don't share your confidence," she muttered. How on Earth could he be so sure? She would be a hazard to everyone coming near her if she had a weapon on her!

Abruptly Sideswipe's head shot up and he seemed to listen for something. Aurora only had a second to react, before the tools on the table disappeared, the med-bay lights were turned off and she found herself pulled towards the med-bay area that was deemed hers.

"What the-" she managed to start, until Sideswipe's hand clamped over her mouth, shutting her off. She could hear the curtain being placed to obscure them and a warm body pin her against the wall.

"Ratchet," Sideswipe whispered near her ear. "He'll leave if he thinks you're recharging."

Aurora was quite sure Ratchet wouldn't be that stupid. Besides, didn't the Autobots sense each other? She made a muffled protest against his hand until he lifted it enough for Aurora to actually voice her opinion.

"Won't he know you're here?"

"Dampener. Shh!" And the hand was back. She snorted.

Aurora could hear the med-bay doors opening and Ratchet walking in. She couldn't see anything thanks to a wide chestplate being in the way of her vision.

"I guess she really went to recharge…" they could hear him mutter. Aurora was ready to point out that she was in fact still quite awake and being pinned against the wall by a red mech, when she actually realized that she actually, for real, was being pinned against the wall by the red mech. And suddenly she felt very, very hot.

She could feel her breath quicken. Or rather her fans gaining speed. Or whatever she now had. She saw Sideswipe offer her a questioning glance. Oh god, he had noticed. She quickly tried to calm herself down, but apparently instead made a noise.

"Eh?" Ratchet mused out loud.

Aurora's breath stopped altogether. She could not let Ratchet find her and Sideswipe like this. She wasn't sure how Autobot relationships worked, but if this was a human situation, this would be considered one of those situations you didn't want to be found in. They were in a darkened med-bay, hidden behind a curtain and Sideswipe was pressing her against a wall.

Talk about looking suspicious.

Aurora waited anxiously for something to happen. Sideswipe didn't move either.

A moment passed.

"Guess my mind is playing tricks on me…" With that Aurora could hear Ratchet take one of the datapads with him and exit the room while mumbling something incoherent about 'those stupid idiots'.

The coast was now clear, but Sideswipe made no motion to move away. Aurora could feel herself be as stiff as a board. She did not know what to think about this situation. And why the hell was it so hot in here?

She felt herself flinch when she felt a tentative touch on her head.

"You are missing one of your antennas," Sideswipe mused while caressing the one she still had. She dared not to move. But it felt… nice. Like caressing one's hair. She hadn't been touched like that in a very long, long time. She found herself closing her eyes and leaning into the touch.

Suddenly the touch was gone and the mech was stepping away. Aurora felt like pulling him back to her, but stopped herself. What was going on? Why was she acting like this?! This made no sense to her.

"We should get started, we probably only have a couple of hours before Ratchet returns," Sideswipe said. He rubbed his hands together. "Show time."

It wasn't long before Aurora found herself sitting on one of the operating tables, multiple wires hanging from her right arm. In her confusion she hadn't even realized to voice her apprehension. But this was happening. She was getting her weapon back.

But more than that, her earlier reactions worried her. It had been long since she had felt that way, but she recognized the feeling when she put her mind to it. Attraction. She was attracted to a over 20 feet or so robot like alien.

She must really be going crazy.

Or maybe her dry season was affecting her worse than was possible. She was a woman in her mid-twenties, it was just normal that she had urges. She just didn't think her urges would be towards… a non-human. But then again, she wasn't human anymore either, right? Maybe it was because of this new body. It must have hormones on it's own? Or something similar?

Who the hell could she even ask about these sort of things?!

"Alright, now I just need to insert the data cable and reboot it," Sideswipe interrupted her thoughts. "Then we'll be ready to go."

Last time she had been connected to with a data cable Ratchet had ruffled through her memories. Would this be the same situation? Aurora's eyes widened in horror. Then he'd definitely see how she had reacted and what she had been thinking!

She quickly snatched her hand away before Sideswipe could pluck the cord in.

"Just tell me what to do and I'll do it myself!" she quickly said. Sideswipe offered her a sceptical look. "Or at least I could try…"

"I'm sorry, but I don't think you can," Sideswipe sighed. "I mean, in the end you might succeed, but that would take too much time and I want to get this done by tonight."

Aurora glanced back at the cord he was holding. Sideswipe cocked his head to the side and then seemed to get why she was so on the edge.

"You're afraid I'll see something I shouldn't see," he grinned. "Why, are you having impure thoughts about the handsome mech in the room?"

Aurora's eyes widened to the size of saucers and her mouth hung open. What? What? WHAT? If she had felt hot before, now she felt like she was on fire. Her face probably looked like a tomato. Could Cybertronians even blush? She hoped not.

How had he known? How could she ever live this down? Oh god.

"By the Primus, you are too easy to tease," Sideswipe laughed and pulled her hand back towards the cord. "Don't worry, I know you are into Ratchet, and besides, I can't see into your memory units with this." And with that he plugged it in.

Wait, what? Ratchet? She was into Ratchet?

What was going on? She wasn't into Ratchet! She was into nobody! Absolutely nobody!

She could feel another presence in her body, but this time they weren't rummaging through her memories. She could see, no, rather, feel or think, Cybertronian info flashing through her head and could hear something clicking into place.

"He's into mechs, by the way," he said nonchalantly.

Ratchet was into mechs. Aurora blinked. Was this how glitching felt like? Or maybe she had a virus. Maybe Sideswipe had put a virus in her. Or maybe she had gotten a virus from somewhere else.

"I… what? I'm not into Ratchet," she stammered.

"Good, because he's not actually into mechs," Sideswipe answered without a pause and then slammed his hands on the operating table, effectively trapping her between them. His face was grinning right next to hers and she could only the describe the grin as predatory. "Then you were thinking of me."

Aurora's mind was blank. She could think of nothing to say. She could only stare.

"Did I make you glitch again?"

She had no idea what she could answer to him. She had no idea what was going on. She had no idea why she had been feeling like she had. Aurora knew she liked Sideswipe. She liked most of the bots she lived with. Sunstreaker being the only exception to the rule.

But attraction? Her being attracted to him? That was just…

Absurd.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you before your processors fry completely. Come on, let's go shoot some imaginary Decepticons!" he laughed enthusiastically. "I know you haven't been outside for Primus knows for how long, so you should at least be happy about that!" He stood up eagerly and started to put the tools back.

It took a while for Aurora to understand what had actually been said to her.

"What? You are going to take me outside?" she had to verify. Because clearly she had understood wrong. She couldn't go outside. She wasn't allowed to go outside! Not yet.

"Ratchet will kill me if I let you shoot his things here," he answered. "Even though it would be funny to see his reaction to charred walls and doors."

"But… Outside? Like out out? Like with the sky and…"

"Yes, with the sky and everything. You've been cooped up here for way too long. It's not healthy. It's actually amazing Ratchet hasn't kicked you out yet," Sideswipe mused.

"Am I allowed?" Aurora just had to ask. Because she wanted. She wanted so badly, she hadn't even realized it.

"I'm offering you a chance to actually go outside. Do you actually give a frag whether you have Ratchet's permission or not?" He offered her a sceptical look, like he knew the answer already.

Aurora shook her head almost immediately. Of course she felt a bit bad that she was breaking the rules that had been set up for her, but… She missed being outside. She missed the sun. She missed the wind. Even freezing rain would feel good now! She had been inside the med-bay for way too long.

She hadn't even realized how much she had wanted to go outside until now, when it was offered to her.

"I knew there was a rebel inside you!" Sideswipe offered her a wink and then made a ridiculous bow near the med-bay door, beckoning for her to step out. "You first, my rebel queen!"

Aurora just had to snort at that.

"You are ridiculous! And I have been called a lot of things, but not a rebel," Aurora admitted while taking a step out of med-bay. She actually had butterflies in her stomach. What if somebody saw them?

"What? You always follow rules?" Sideswipe asked and took the lead ahead of her. "You've never broken a single rule in your life? I find that hard to believe."

"Well…" she started to ponder. There had been that one time...

"Well…?" Sideswipe prompted her to continue.

"I once stole a bottle of liquor from my father and drank it with my brother," she told him. It had actually been her brother's fault, because he had been too scared to do it by himself, so he had recruited her too. It had been a grave mistake. The hangover. Oh, the hangover…

Sideswipe was staring at her.

"What?" Aurora asked. Sideswipe was having a weird look on his face. Like he was pitying her.

"That's it?" He sounded disappointed.

"What do you mean by 'that's it'? I was grounded for a whole month after that!" Aurora huffed. His brother had also gotten his ass kicked by their father and had been grounded for two months, because their father had realized he had been the 'evil mastermind'. Aurora still felt bad about that.

"I take it back, you are not a rebel queen!" Sideswipe laughed. "You are the queen of rule following!"

"I am not!" Aurora argued. She was just obedient! And she didn't like to make other people worry, so usually she did like she was told!

"You are!"

"I'm following you right now, aren't I?" she shot back. She was breaking the rules right now. She was going outside. And she was going to shoot things! If that wasn't rebelling, she didn't know what was.

Ratchet would be so mad if he knew. For some reason that thought didn't worry her as much as it should've. Maybe Sideswipe was corrupting her?

"Maybe there's hope for you yet," he grinned again.

"You are impossible!" she exclaimed. He really was! But she did like his company. He made it seem like she could do things. That there were actually things she were capable of. That she was something. He made her smile again.

"Ready?" he asked when they reached a set of double doors. "Freedom awaits!"

Aurora just couldn't resist a grin. She had been in the base for about a week and hadn't been outside once. There weren't even windows!

"Yes!" she answered and couldn't help but to bounce on her feet a bit. "I can't wait to see sunshine again!"

Sideswipe grimaced at that.

"Uhm, well, about that," he began and started to open the doors. "The sun isn't currently visible, but," the doors opened, "I hope you like rain."

"I'm fine with anything," Aurora admitted while glancing outside. The pouring rain hit her in the face instantly, but she found that she didn't mind. It was rain and it was the best feeling she had had in a long time. She took a step outside and just stood there, her hands spread out, just feeling it. Feeling the rain.

It felt damn good.

"That good, huh?"

Aurora just nodded, closing her eyes. She could feel Sideswipe coming to stand next to her.

"I used to hate rain," he said after a while.

"Why is that?"

"Made the arena slippery and made fighting difficult," he explained. "But after we joined with Optimus it didn't really matter whether it rained or not. I think I was just happy to be alive."

Aurora could understand that. She hadn't wanted to die. And she didn't die. She was standing there, right now, enjoying the rain. She was alive. And she was glad to be alive. Lately she had begun to understand that maybe this second chance or whatever this was, wasn't a bad thing. It wasn't optimal, but… She'd survive. She had survived Dave.

This would be her new life. Her new home.

"Sideswipe?" she started to ask after a while.

"Call me Sides. No one calls me Sideswipe," he pointed out. Well, that was true. She had heard both Bumblebee and Ratchet call him that. Well, it would be only cordial to for him to return the favor then. It had been a while since she had heard her own nickname, but she had always liked it.

"Only if you call me Rora," she said.

"Rora?"

"That's what my brother called me," she explained. She had always been Rora, only Dave had started to call her by her full name. It had stuck after that. But she had always missed being called just 'Rora'.

"Alright, Rora it is. What did you want to ask?"

"Do you ever miss your home?" She knew it was a loaded question, but she wanted to know. She had read about Cybertron, but she had no idea what it had actually been like. Did the Autobots want to return there someday? Was Earth just a stop along the way?

"Home? You mean Cybertron?" She nodded at him, now looking at his reactions. He seemed to ponder the question for a while, before sighing. "I don't know. I mean, life wasn't the easiest there. And I don't think I ever considered Cybertron as my home. My home has always been where Sunny is." He took a pause, before his gaze met hers. "Do you miss your home?"

She should have known he would ask that. Some part of her had actually waited for it, so it didn't come as complete shock. And he had been honest with her, so she would be honest with him.

"I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I thought I did, but..." But she had never been truly happy. She understood that. Maybe if she hadn't been with Dave she would have been. But even that was a big but. Her friends after high school had all gone their own ways. Even her friends at work were only that - work friends.

"You are falling into our charms, I see!" Sides winked at her. She couldn't help a small laugh. How did he always know the right words that would cheer her up?

Maybe everything would be alright in the end.

"So, want to go shoot some things?" Sides suggested. "Before Ratchet actually realizes I'm playing an old security loop."

"I never wanted to go shoot," Aurora pointed out. "You wanted that." She still didn't want to do it. She realized that it would be good to know how to defend herself if the situation ever came to it, but she just didn't know if she was ready. What if she really shot someone by accident? She had hit Sunstreaker today by accident! Imagine the damage if it had been her weapon that had hit!

"And you got out because of it," he replied.

"In the rain."

"You liked it." He was grinning again. It was clear this was an argument she just wouldn't win. Not against Sides. But what if she did suck at shooting? Then what?

"Alright. I'll try it. But-" she begun, but was interrupted.

"No buts!"

She couldn't help but to roll her optics. At least let her finish her sentence first!

"But if it seems like it's too dangerous for me to have a weapon online, you'll offline them, right?" She just had to be sure. If there was even a slightest chance she could hurt the other bots by accident...

"You need confidence, Rora. You won't shoot anyone by accident. And after my teaching you can shoot every con that even glances at you wrong. But I will promise you - if you are too dangerous with a weapon, I'll offline them."

"Thank you!"

"Come on, now. I told everyone I'll be doing some practicing, so they won't be wondering about the sounds."

Aurora glanced around her. She couldn't see much because of the rain, but there seemed to be a lot of large airplane hall like buildings and some smaller bunkers. It looked a bit like a clichéd military complex actually.

Well, she was in a military complex, so what had she expected?

"Where are all the people?" she asked after a while. She knew they had human allies and she knew they were staying nearby. So why was it just him and her outside? It was only afternoon, there should have been people.

"It's Sunday, it's raining like hell and Lennox is holding a theory class. It's a perfect opportunity for us to do some training actually. No one is going to know you are here."

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"I've been doing this for a quite long time," Sides reminded her and started to lead her towards a small clearing. "And getting caught is never fun. Besides, it's pretty easy to do things without anyone noticing when there's so few of us here."

Aurora could understand that very well. Everyone was always busy and more often than not Ratchet pulled all nighters. Aurora was pretty sure that was the case with rest of the Autobots too. She was also pretty sure Ratchet's attention had been on her and Prowl lately, which meant less attention towards the twins.

Even with the rain she could fairly well see some sort of contraption on the other side of the clearing they arrived at. After a while she realized it somewhat resembled a very mangled Autobot. And it had no head.

"Why is it headless?" she mused out loud. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the head also? Or did they run out of material...

"It used to have a head. Sunny decided to draw Megatron's face on it and Ironhide just couldn't handle himself. But it was very therapeutic for him! Nevertheless, it will be easier for you to start by aiming to the torso. Heads are usually harder to hit, even if it does more damage."

"Wait, just what did Ironhide do?" Aurora couldn't help but ask.

"He charged it, ripped the head off and then blew it up. He also gathered the remains and blew them up again. It was actually pretty damn impressive, since Ironhide doesn't usually go all in during practice if he can avoid it."

"He blew it up twice?!" she exclaimed. "I mean, I know he likes explosives, but…" Aurora gestured at the headless deformity. Sideswipe just grinned at her.

"What can I say, 'Hide hates Megatron," Sides shrugged. "You can imagine whoever you want there. Decepticons, rivals - oh I know! - maybe old flames!" He grinned at her direction and poked her with his elbow.

Aurora just stared at him. She didn't know any Decepticons. She didn't have any rivals. Except maybe in high school and that was ages ago. And for some reason she couldn't hate perfect little Annie Jones with her perfect white teeth when she hadn't seen her in over ten years!

Old flames… Oh for Christ's sake. Dave had been her first. First in everything.

"Oh, for the love of Primus, you have ex-boyfriends? Girlfriends?" Sideswipe suddenly asked, sounding somewhat perplexed. "I mean, humans have experience in your age, am I correct? You are not…" He seemed unable to complete his sentence. And Aurora couldn't stop staring at him.

What the hell?

"Are you seriously asking whether am I virgin?" she blurted and couldn't quite believe that this was happening. Why was that any of his business?! Did she look like one? Hello, she was married!

"I, well, I, uhm. Yes?" He scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish.

Aurora felt her mouth fall open and stay that way. He managed to make her speechless. What the hell did he need that info for? What did that have to do with anything?! She could feel the telltale signs of blush creeping on her face again. You just didn't casually ask these things! There was a certain protocol! That involved dinner and candles and… stuff! And it was none of his business! Her sexual experience status had nothing to do with shooting pieces of scrap metal!

Sideswipe gradually started looking more and more alarmed when she didn't say anything. But all her brain activity seemed to have died. Processor activity. She had processors now. But still. She just couldn't figure out what to say.

"Of frag, you are! I'm so fragging sorry, that's actually none of my business! And here I've been mercilessly flirting with you and I should've been thinking with my processors instead of, well," Sides babbled nervously. "I mean, I just thought that since, oh frag, I'm just making this worse…"

"I'm not a virgin, you idiot! I was married, you know! I mean, I am married!" she finally seethed when she regained her ability to speak. For some reason she felt slightly insulted.

"I don't think your government currently recognizes marriage between a Cybertronian and a human," he pointed out and failed to suppress a grin when she poked at his chestplate.

"That's not the point! My point is I'm a grown woman! And I'm very, very much able to do grown woman things!" Aurora only felt slightly stupid after proclaiming that.

"Good! Then it means I don't need to feel bad when I do this!"

Aurora only managed a small yelp before the mech was kissing her. Suddenly it felt like there was too many things and yet not enough happening at the same time. There was warmth at her lips, a steady hand behind her head and a very, very male presence all around her. The feeling of rain pattering against her body, the feeling of him pressing against her, his breath against her own.

She. Was. Being. Kissed.

And she loved it.

For a moment she didn't care about anything else in the world. Only about that there was something her brain had labelled safe and good and that it wanted her. The feeling of his lips was soft and alien and still familiar enough for her to answer. She was soaring and he was with her. For a moment she was whole and not something broken, unwanted, unclean, unworthy.

He broke the kiss softly, like he didn't want it to end either. His thumb slowly caressed Aurora's cheek and she could only look at him, bewildered. For a moment they just stared at each other and Aurora couldn't help but notice that Sides looked very, very pleased with himself.

"Still got it, eh?" Sides grinned. "Best kisser in Cybertron."

She just couldn't stop herself from bursting into laughter. Of all the things to say, that's what he went with? The whole situation was just absurd. She had just kissed with a frigging alien robot, while being an alien robot herself, enjoyed herself way too much and it was just too much for her to process.

"Hey," Sides said with mock offence, "it wasn't that bad!" Aurora just couldn't stop and tried to muffle her laughter into his chestplate without much success. "I didn't break you did I? Was this the final straw?"

"Do you have a trophy somewhere that says that? An award?" she managed to giggle out. For some reason the idea was funny and sweet at the same time. A Cybertronian high school with high school awards: Best kisser - Sideswipe.

"I don't need awards to know I'm the best," he answered. Aurora rolled her eyes. So modest.

"Careful, you're beginning to sound like your brother," she muttered, because that was something she would've expected from Sunstreaker not from Sides. Which made her sober up a little. Here she was, kissing with someone she had known only for a little while and an alien at that. What the hell was she thinking?! What was her body thinking?!

"Ouch, that one hurt," Sides complained, while Aurora took a step back, thinking. This was way too fast for her. Way, way, too fast. But she did like him. She was attracted to him. Kissing him had been nice. Better than nice. If they were both human, this would be so much simpler. But they weren't. She was way out of her depth.

Oh shit, they had kissed. Her eyes widened. Flirting was one thing. Getting physical was on another level.

But she wanted it.

"Rora, are you ok?" he asked, worried, clearly realizing she was sorting out an internal conflict.

"Yes," she quickly blurted out and grimaced when Sideswipe just cocked his head, unimpressed. "I mean, I…" She wrung her hands nervously. "I liked that, a lot."

"And?" he prompted, clearly puzzled.

"A little over a week ago I was still a human. I'm not still used to all," she gestured around her, "this. You. Aliens. I had a job and a marriage and a house and altogether a different life. A different me. I…" Aurora tried to find the right words. How to explain something like this?

"Too much in too short time span?" Sides finished for her.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, relieved and then felt trepidation closing in on her. "You're not mad, are you?" She was the only female of their species currently on Earth as far as she knew. A sudden worry started to gnaw at her.

"Shouldn't you be the one mad one? And at me?" he asked. "I'm a big mech, I can handle rejection. You don't need to worry about that."

"No, what, I, no! I like you! I really do. I think you are nice and safe and warm and funny and for some reason kinda hot and it's making me really confused, because I'm really not into robots. I wasn't into robots? I have no idea what I'm saying right now," Aurora babbled. Oh god, she was probably looking like a total ditz right now.

"It's okay, Rora! It really is!" Sides laughed and not the mean laugh Dave would've done. It was a comforting one. She would've continued her babble, but Sides was pressing a finger on her lips and she shut her mouth before she embarrassed herself even more. "Kiss was nice, but you need time. I can understand that. You don't need to explain more. So, friends?" He grinned and offered a hand to shake.

Aurora felt tension leave her body. He was not mad. She hadn't fucked up. And she wasn't being forced to do anything she didn't feel ready for. Well, except shooting things, but she could actually understand the reasoning behind that.

"Friends," she answered with a small smile of her own and shook the mech's hand. "Let's go shoot some, I don't know, cons?"

She wasn't sure whether she had imagined it, but for a moment she thought Sideswipe's grin turned to predatory.

"Nah, that'll be hard for you to imagine one before you actually meet them. Just think that it is Sunny."

And Aurora couldn't help the laugh that escaped her at that and with it also the final lingering tension eased into comfort.