ajremix | [fic][Transformers, Sandstorm, Air Raid, PG-13] You and I Collide: Intention Inspector

Title: You and I Collide: Intention Inspector
Fandom: Transformers
Rating: PG-13 for implications
Word Count: 2017
Characters: Sandstorm, Air Raid
Summary: Repost co-write with

ianam1983. A more civil variation of 'The Talk'.

There was nothing like spending a good two cycles just unwinding and talking not-business with others in the washracks. Sandstorm was feeling pretty damn good despite the fact they were still in stalemate. The pass that Twin Twist and Scoop were creating to get ground forces involved was being a little more difficult than originally planned and the only way to keep the Decepticons from finding out about it was to widen and dig their way through during battles.

But it was a productive day for the triplechanger. New intel compiled, battle fought, Decepticons downed and facing the rest of the day freshly cleaned, all parts fully functioning and lots of downtime before a dawn patrol- couldn’t get much better than this. Feeling immensely content with himself, Sandstorm made his way through the halls, heat and steam fluttering off his armor as he went. Idly he wondered what Fireflight was up to- maybe see if he wanted to go for a quick flight.

A blur of red, white and black passed by, so quickly and in his peripheral vision that he briefly thought it might have been Flight -- but the black wings and sharp nosecone corrected that notion as soon as he turned to look. Quickly he turned back, continuing on his way and hoping not to catch the attention of one of the other Aerialbots. Air Raid, however, must have seen him. He spun around and started following Sandstorm at a fast walk.

"Sandstorm? Hey, wait up a minute!"

It’s not that he didn’t like the other Aerialbots- really the only one he didn’t much like was Slingshot and due to recent developments Sandstorm was actually beginning to be amused at the small white jet’s flailings –and Air Raid was one of the jets the Wreckers actively liked for the most part. He was just, to put it simply, not what Sandstorm really wanted to deal with right now. Sandstorm wanted to just chill and enjoy his free time, not have to deal with logistics for a prank, possibly being hunted down and pounded on by the potential victim and then have to get lectured at about the time and place for fun and how this wasn’t either.

But Air Raid was persistent and the Wrecker couldn’t pretend he hadn’t seen or heard him. He stopped and turned to the other mech. “What’s up?” He asked amiably.

"You busy?" the black jet asked in a conversational tone as he skipped up alongside him, optics darting around in case someone should come down the corridor and bump into him -- not nervousness, just Air Raid's attention wandering everywhere like it usually did.

“Not so much, no.” Even if he knew of Air Raid’s habit, his looking around in those quick, almost skittish way always put Sandstorm on a mild alert, as if any moment something would come up that wasn’t supposed to be. “You need something?”

"Nah, just want to talk." He seemed a little uneasy, as if this wasn't something he normally did, but was trying to cover it up with a casual, carefree attitude.

This- both the request and the attitude –was a new one for Sandstorm in regards to Air Raid. Curious and a little concerned that he was being setup for some painfully humiliating (or just painful) prank, the triplechanger asked, “About what?”

"Sorry about Slingshot being such a dork." It wasn't a response; Air Raid sounded more as if he was trying to avoid answering the question directly. "I knew he'd do something stupid. Been going on for days about how much he hates Wreckers, Triplechangers, everyone but us, and how you're not good enough for Flight." He shrugged as if to say it wasn't important, then looked at Sandstorm, making an attempt at sincerity for once. "I thought you should know we don't all think that."

Cocking his head to one side, Sandstorm gave that shrug right back to him. “He hasn’t said anything I haven’t heard before.” Slingshot was not one for creativity when he was torqued. Or at least he wasn’t on the same level as some others Sandstorm knew. “But I appreciate it.”

He let the silence stretch between them for a moment, Air Raid seeming to get a little more antsy. “There something else?” It wasn’t really a question as it was an observation.

The jet looked around once more, then blew air from his vents in frustration. He skipped ahead and planted himself in Sandstorm's path to get him to stop, so they were face to face. "Fine. I just... I wanted to ask... damn..." He scratched his head; it was funny how much he sounded almost like Fireflight when he was flustered. "Why do you want him?" he blurted out of nowhere.

His optic band quirked in a mild confusion. “You mean Flight?” Sandstorm looked up thoughtfully, trying to process the question and an answer. In the end he just gave a sort of ‘dunno’ shrug. “He’s amusing and he’s easy to talk to. And it’s… refreshing. Don’t meet a lot of ‘bots like him around, it’s nice.” Frowning behind his battlemask, not exactly finding a satisfactory answer for himself, he looked Air Raid in the optic. “I just enjoy hanging out with him.”

The Aerialbot nodded, a little bit of his tension seeming to bleed out as he listened. Still, he looked a little puzzled, like he wanted to hear something else. "He's a nice guy, all right. I'll give you that. Funny, though -- you're just about the only person who seems to see that. Besides us." He tilted his head, optics direct and piercing, like he was trying to break through Sandstorm's mask and read his mind. "What made you notice him, anyway?"

That question got a hidden, wicked smirk. A quick calculation determined nothing personally detrimental was predicted for the truth so he let that smirk be reflected in battlemask. “At first? He’s easy on the optics and he can be downright sexy every now and again. But I take it you’re asking why I went after him.” Sandstorm crossed his arms just above his cockpit. “Because I really got to see just what he could do in the air and it got me hot.” He said simply. “Picked him up for a quickie, ended up getting a little fond of the guy.”

A variety of emotions crossed the open, expressive face (Air Raid had never been successful at hiding his emotions, nor had he cared to try). First he looked slightly startled, then it looked like he might be angry, his mouth opening to speak; then, as he thought over Sandstorm's words, the anger seemed to fade and was replaced with... amusement?

Sure enough, he threw his head back and laughed. "A quickie? A little fond of... oh, boy." He shook his head and managed to can the laughter, though his mouth remained distorted in a smirk. "Man, and here I was starting to think you really were a shallow bastard."

“Far be it for me to correct your impression.” Sandstorm said mildly, optics still narrowed in amusement. “Despite what the reputation says, I don’t tumble everyone I come across.” There is a standard. Granted the level of that standard tends to fluctuate with Sandstorm’s mood but it is there.

"Nah, I bet you're not that bad a guy." Tension lifted, Air Raid was suddenly at ease again. His optics twinkled with some unspoken mirth as he looked at Sandstorm, but it didn't seem particularly malicious. Then, with characteristic tactlessness, he asked out of the blue, "So'd you enjoy him?"

There was a shocked spluttered and then Sandstorm fell against the bulkhead, laughing. He shook his head at the Aerialbot, having to give him props for his aptly timed bluntness. “I wouldn’t keep coming back if I didn’t.” He snickered, optics still dancing with laughter. “I assume he wouldn’t keep welcoming me back if he didn’t. I hope not, anyway.”

Air Raid's lip twitched. "No, probably not. He gets no shortage of attention, believe me. If he wants to see you so bad, you must've done something fantastic."

He started to say something else, but let that trail off. "Anyway, you make him happy, and that's a good thing. Just as long as you leave some for us once in a while, you know, whenever he gets bored with your ass." He chuckled again, but there was a bit of an edge to it this time.

That did put Sandstorm on his guard. He didn’t lose his own grin but it did lose some of its humor. “I’m not planning on hurting Fireflight. I’m not stupid.” Aerialbots, after all, were probably the most closely-knit unit in the Autobot ranks. Even if other units were more apt to swing fists for each other, most of them didn’t have the kind of community and love the jets did. Even the Wreckers were more prone to staying out of each others business despite their own closeness and loyalty. “It’s not like I’m going to try and steal him from you or force him to do something he doesn’t want. I take care of my friends.” Not that there’s an awful lot of friends for Sandstorm to take care of, but those few he has there’s very little he wouldn’t do for them. And just because he’s just as surprised that Fireflight managed to carve himself a little niche in that category in such a short time as anyone else doesn’t mean he’d respect the red mech any less.

Once again, Air Raid was nodding. He seemed to have expected that answer. After all, he gave Sandstorm credit for having at least a little common sense. And it was hard to imagine someone deliberately hurting Fireflight. Especially knowing the team would rip them apart if they did.

"That's alright, I figured you wouldn't. Like I said, we don't all feel like Sling does -- he's just worried, is all, and so are the others. Flight likes you, though -- a LOT -- and that's good enough for me." He grinned up at Sandstorm's faceplate. "I just wanted to make sure."

The triplechanger’s stance relaxed a little. “Well, I wouldn’t blame you, really.” Sandstorm looked away, grinning ironically to himself. “I would be, too.” Even as he said the words something uncomfortable was pushing its way up his processor. He shoved it away, turning his attention back to Air Raid. “Speaking of which, where is he? Wanted to see if he was up for a quick fly around.”

The mental links that formed Superion kept the team in continuous low-intensity contact with each other. All Air Raid had to do was feel out a little along the group-bond to locate his wingmate. It took him about a second.

"He's in the hangar, talking to Dive. Yeah, I bet he'd love to get out for awhile. Dive won't care." A quick check to make sure Slingshot wasn't also present, and Air Raid gave him an encouraging smack on the shoulder. "Have fun, man. And thanks." His jocular expression softened for just a moment. "For spending time with him. He's never had a flying partner besides us before. It's made him feel really good."

See? You did this. You made him happy. Please, for the love of everything good, don't mess it up.

Something twisted a little warmly inside Sandstorm at that remark and he nodded a little awkwardly. Praise outside of anything mission related (or gambling related) always caught him in a strange position, not really knowing how to respond. So he nodded at Air Raid and gave him a little wave. “Thanks. I’ll see you around.” He moved down the hall with the jet grinning and waving back, deciding where they should head off this time. In the end Sandstorm decided to let Fireflight lead the way this time.

"Oh... Sandstorm?" When the Wrecker paused, looking back, Air Raid gave him a little wink. "Might wanna play him some music sometime. You think his flying is hot, you really ought to see him dance."