8th Transmission

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Things have died down. And now there's nothing going on but pounding, pouring rain.]

[While the old timer should probably have gone to refuel, he opts instead to go out in the wet. Why? He can't really say. Maybe he's disappointed he let his charges down -- after checking everywhere, it's become obvious Zuko is no longer among the Keep's guests. Maybe he feels he failed them some other way -- he should have been the one to put an end to Riku, not Xanth.]

[... He should still be on the Shore.]

[Try as he might these few weeks, he can't shake that feeling. There's something missing. And it's painful. Like he's missing a vital internal component.]

[Ironhide winds up near the lake, in the middle of the downpour, just staring out at the water. The water pings off his armor. He never thought he'd admit it, but the sound and motion of the waves is... well.]

[It's familiar.]

[And therefore, it's comforting.]

Comments

[idkmybffcyclops]

[It doesn't take Logan's super speshul senses to notice when he's being stared at. He turns to look at the old bot and gives him a cursory size up. Can this tin can speak?]

What you staring at, bub?

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide stares at him for a few moments longer after Logan speaks. Just to be irritating.]

You.

[And only then does he look away.]

[idkmybffcyclops]

Might wanna find yourself a safer hobby.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[He snorts, scoffing. Right. Because the stranger is totally a threat to him.]

[idkmybffcyclops]

[Yeah. Logan's not the type to show off. He's not exactly normal where he comes from. So.]

Just a suggestion.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Noted. It is unnecessary.

[Because Ironhide's real hobbies are a lot more dangerous than sizing up mutants.]

[idkmybffcyclops]

[I hope Magneto pins you to a wall. Yeah well, so does Logan.

Still, he's not going to reply to Ironhide's comment. So long as the 'bot doesn't keep staring, Logan's got nothing else to say.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Honestly, the water is a lot more interesting and memory-provoking than the mutant human.]

[If Logan has nothing further to say, neither does Ironhide.]

[... Strong silent type, these two.]

[idkmybffcyclops]

...

[Okay. This is just sad.]

What're you supposed to be anyway?

[heavyweaponsbot]

Autobot.

What are you supposed to be?

[It's a rhetorical question, honestly.]

[idkmybffcyclops]

[Heh.]

You don't wanna know the answer to that question.

[heavyweaponsbot]

... Would I have asked, if I did not want to know?

[idkmybffcyclops]

Just cause you asked don't mean I have to answer.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Neither did I. Did it anyway.

[idkmybffcyclops]

Your mistake, not mine.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Unless you are a Decepticon, I see no mistake.

[idkmybffcyclops]

Let me explain it better, since it seems your ears have rusted shut.

[What the hell is a decepticon?]

I don't have to answer your question just cause you answered mine.

[If you wanna know bad enough, 'Hide, he'll show you. It's easier than telling.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Or perhaps you are just bad with explanations.

[He snorts, then folds his arms and stubbornly looks back at the water.]

[idkmybffcyclops]

[Shrug.]

Or maybe you're just an idiot.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Snort.]

If that makes you feel better.

[idkmybffcyclops]

Call it an observation.

[heavyweaponsbot]

I call it an assumption.