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randomplaces2008-10-26 01:40 pm
random_xtras) wrote in randomplaces2008-10-26 01:40 pm
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Cybertron-'verse. Red Alert and Belladonna's lab on Cybertron. Busy quiet interval.
"He's going to pull through." Red Alert didn't look up from the array of data scrolling across the screen in front of him. "There's already been an improvement in his condition."
Belladonna turned her head from where she'd been doing the delicate, tricky task of programming disposable pain override modules. "Good. Override'll be glad to hear that."
"There are others who will, as well." He closed that screen and opened another, doing his usual scan for booby traps before settling to read.
"Red, it's time to take a break."
"I really do need to get some work done, Bella. I'm not being paid just for looking pretty, you know," he said absently, the old, rout reply coming out without thought.
"Red...." His mate's rich voice held laughter and affection. "You haven't slept in two days. I don't think they're going to dock your pay for shirking your duty."
He paused and looked at his chrono, visor flickering with surprise. "Oh... it has been that long, hasn't it?"
"Mmmhmmm. You've been so focused on keeping Scourge online after he had that short, and trying to figure out how to repair Landmine... I really think you need some downtime."
Red Alert turned his head to look at her, feeling the familiar urge to smile at sight of her small, sleek, dark purple form. She was as beautiful as she could be difficult and frustrating; the greatest challenge he'd ever come up against. It had taken him years to understand the veiled compliment under her random small attacks; to realize that she was telling him that she felt him her match, a warrior worthy of her attention. She was busy with the overrides again, her mouth drawn into her customary pout of concentration as her brow furrowed slightly.
"Do you think you could find information about Old Snake's machine in the Nexus?" she asked without looking up, her own hard drive returned to their largest problem.
"I've searched the data on the Nexus screens." He tilted his head, mouth curving upward at the corners as he watched her work. "It may be that I just don't know the tags that I should be using, but most of the references I've found were only obscure mentions in the midst of other information. And 'Old Snake' calls up data that I'd really rather not process."
Belladonna frowned, still intent on her work. "We could ask a question."
She's so pleasant to be with when she's not teasing me, he thought, his smile growing. Of course, even her teasing has its pleasant aspects. "I suppose we could. But what if Old Snake has agents in the Nexus?"
"He probably does. We'll deal with them as we come to them." She flicked one finger upward, reminding him of her poison darts.
"I really don't like killing humans." He frowned.
"You don't like killing anyone." Her own smile bloomed. "Even though you carry that gorgeous cannon."
"As I've said before, the cannon is for self-defense." He got up and walked over to put his hands on her shoulders.
She started slightly, then wiped out the data she'd inputted onto the module in her hand and began again, smile widening with delight that he'd managed to sneak up on her. "I still say it's for catching the girl's attention."
He blushed, fingers rubbing gently as he watched her work. Mistress of code that she was, it didn't take long to redo what she'd spoiled with her surprise. "You've been awake as long as I have, love."
"No. I had a nap while you had that political speech on the holoscreen."
"Political speech." He laughed softly and waited till she'd finished with the module before scooping her up and holding her close, his cheek resting on her helm. "That wasn't a political speech."
"It was a politician talking." She shrugged and tilted her head so that she could rest her cheek against his, her arm going up and encircling his neck. "I love you."
The words gave him the usual little rush of giddy joy, and his arms tightened. "And I you, my love. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Be saner?" She tipped her head back and smiled up at him, green optics dancing with teasing mischief.
He kissed her on the cheek, then set her down and let her slip her small, quick hand into his larger one. "Let's go home."
"I like that idea." She nestled against his side, face still uplifted to his.
So beautiful. He leaned down and placed another kiss on her forehead, then led her toward the door, his weary hard drive wandering toward thoughts of sleep and comfort.
Belladonna turned her head from where she'd been doing the delicate, tricky task of programming disposable pain override modules. "Good. Override'll be glad to hear that."
"There are others who will, as well." He closed that screen and opened another, doing his usual scan for booby traps before settling to read.
"Red, it's time to take a break."
"I really do need to get some work done, Bella. I'm not being paid just for looking pretty, you know," he said absently, the old, rout reply coming out without thought.
"Red...." His mate's rich voice held laughter and affection. "You haven't slept in two days. I don't think they're going to dock your pay for shirking your duty."
He paused and looked at his chrono, visor flickering with surprise. "Oh... it has been that long, hasn't it?"
"Mmmhmmm. You've been so focused on keeping Scourge online after he had that short, and trying to figure out how to repair Landmine... I really think you need some downtime."
Red Alert turned his head to look at her, feeling the familiar urge to smile at sight of her small, sleek, dark purple form. She was as beautiful as she could be difficult and frustrating; the greatest challenge he'd ever come up against. It had taken him years to understand the veiled compliment under her random small attacks; to realize that she was telling him that she felt him her match, a warrior worthy of her attention. She was busy with the overrides again, her mouth drawn into her customary pout of concentration as her brow furrowed slightly.
"Do you think you could find information about Old Snake's machine in the Nexus?" she asked without looking up, her own hard drive returned to their largest problem.
"I've searched the data on the Nexus screens." He tilted his head, mouth curving upward at the corners as he watched her work. "It may be that I just don't know the tags that I should be using, but most of the references I've found were only obscure mentions in the midst of other information. And 'Old Snake' calls up data that I'd really rather not process."
Belladonna frowned, still intent on her work. "We could ask a question."
She's so pleasant to be with when she's not teasing me, he thought, his smile growing. Of course, even her teasing has its pleasant aspects. "I suppose we could. But what if Old Snake has agents in the Nexus?"
"He probably does. We'll deal with them as we come to them." She flicked one finger upward, reminding him of her poison darts.
"I really don't like killing humans." He frowned.
"You don't like killing anyone." Her own smile bloomed. "Even though you carry that gorgeous cannon."
"As I've said before, the cannon is for self-defense." He got up and walked over to put his hands on her shoulders.
She started slightly, then wiped out the data she'd inputted onto the module in her hand and began again, smile widening with delight that he'd managed to sneak up on her. "I still say it's for catching the girl's attention."
He blushed, fingers rubbing gently as he watched her work. Mistress of code that she was, it didn't take long to redo what she'd spoiled with her surprise. "You've been awake as long as I have, love."
"No. I had a nap while you had that political speech on the holoscreen."
"Political speech." He laughed softly and waited till she'd finished with the module before scooping her up and holding her close, his cheek resting on her helm. "That wasn't a political speech."
"It was a politician talking." She shrugged and tilted her head so that she could rest her cheek against his, her arm going up and encircling his neck. "I love you."
The words gave him the usual little rush of giddy joy, and his arms tightened. "And I you, my love. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Be saner?" She tipped her head back and smiled up at him, green optics dancing with teasing mischief.
He kissed her on the cheek, then set her down and let her slip her small, quick hand into his larger one. "Let's go home."
"I like that idea." She nestled against his side, face still uplifted to his.
So beautiful. He leaned down and placed another kiss on her forehead, then led her toward the door, his weary hard drive wandering toward thoughts of sleep and comfort.