ajremix | [fic][Transformers, Sandstorm, Fireflight, Topspin, G] Road and the Sky

So I had to balance out the kinda dark thing I wrote with something much fluffier. And also I've been wanting to write something with these two for a while so we're all winners here. Except for the title. I'm apparently out of practice with them.

(just realize i'm putting this up on valentine's day talk about serendipity)

Title: Road and the Sky
Fandom: Transformers
Rating: G
Word Count: 1208
Characters: Sandstorm, Fireflight, Topspin
Summary: An injury keeps Fireflight grounded. Sandstorm helps make it better.

It was amazing how much two simple words like, "Hey, Fireflight," could dump two horrible days overboard simply by virtue of who said it.

"Sandstorm!" The jet ran into him hard enough to make the larger mech step back. "I can't believe you're back already! Not that I don't like having you here early, I just wasn't expecting it!"

He felt Sandstorm's chuckle run through his chestplate, a hand rubbing affectionate circles along his sides. "I know. We managed to wrap our mission up ahead of schedule and I figured, since I suddenly have all this free time on my hands, I'd ask if you wanted to do a fly around."

Fireflight suddenly drooped so low Sandstorm thought he was going to puddle onto the floor. "I'm grounded."

"Grounded? For what?"

"Yesterday I... crashed. Badly." Even though he knew the Wrecker wouldn't laugh at him about that- or let anyone else do so while he was around -it was still a difficult thing for Fireflight to admit. "Ratchet has to replace one of my turbofans but we had injured coming in from another base and one of the patrols got into a skirmish. I have to wait until he has the time to fabricate and install the new parts."

He nuzzled into Sandstorm's chest bitterly- not at Ratchet, Primus no. But the fact that his own absent mindedness had caused this. He'd spent the last two days, when not being distracted by his teammates, wallowing in depression and self-hate, all the old demons coming back 'everyone's right, I'm just a hazard, I'm useless, I can't do anything right'.

"Hey," a light nudge to his helmet made Fireflight look up, "let's go out for a bit."

"I can't fly."

"So we won't fly." Sandstorm's optic band glowed warmly. "C'mon, you look like you need some fresh air. You trust me, right?"

"Of course!"

Black battlemask curving in a smile, Sandstorm tugged the Aerialbot toward the doors leading out. Once there he transformed into his ground mode, engine giving a welcoming rev, "Hop on." When Fireflight hesitated he teased, "I can cart Twin Twist's heavy chassis around, you won't be much of a strain."

Despite himself, Fireflight's lips twitched. "You sure I won't be too much for you?"

"If I can carry 20 tons of gear into a fight, I can carry you."

"Alright. But say something if I'm hurting you, okay? We don't need Ratchet getting mad at both of us hurting ourselves."

"Promise."

It took a while for Fireflight to figure out the best way to sit on Sandstorm's ground mode, the slope and breadth made it difficult to find a handhold- which was good in battle situations, he supposed, but not so much right now. But they got it to work and Sandstorm drove off. Carefully at first, but picking up speed as both adapted to the set-up. Fireflight soon ended up laying down, legs tucked beneath him, so the wind moved over his wings instead of pushing them back. He sighed happily. It wasn't flying but it was good enough for now.

"Hey, Flight- check out on the left."

The jet gaped. On the left was a lake and from it a huge flock of birds- thousands, according to his sensors -were taking off in a rustle of wings and cries. He'd never seen those birds before, huge flocks of them were migrating through but every time he went on patrol, his partner always deviated their flight path away from them.

"Oh, Sandstorm!" He tapped at the roof. "In a moment you should see a path move off to two o'clock that goes down beneath the treeline. Can we head down it? I always wanted to see where it led but I keep forgetting to."

Under him the triplechanger chuckled, "Your wish is my command."

And so it went for the day: Fireflight gazing at everything with wonder and pointing Sandstorm toward whatever direction his whimsy had taken to and Sandstorm complied with no complaints or grumbling. They found caves, watched various creatures, let the sun warm their plating as they saw what small fraction of the world they could. They had to return to base when Sandstorm's fuel levels were starting to get low but by that time Fireflight had forgotten all about his depression, too wrapped up in seeing the wonders he'd marveled at dozens of times in the air from a new angle.

They walked through the halls as Fireflight flipped through the hundreds of caps he took, pausing on the good ones and gushing over every moment while Sandstorm nodded along. He kept one hand on the Aerialbot's waist to guide him and an optic on his sensors for possible collisions, engrossed in how animated Fireflight's stories were even though he'd been there with him. They were interrupted by a cheery, "Yo, Flight!"

"Oh, Topspin! You should've been out there! Me and Sandstorm saw all these amazing creatures and there were these ones with hands for a tail-"

The jumpstarter waved Fireflight quiet. "Love a good adventure as much as anyone but I'm on my way to the manufacturing labs. Since medical is still wrapping up dealing with the wounded, Ratchet's asked me to start fabricating parts for the low-priority patients and- surprise! You're first on the list!"

"Really?" Fireflight beamed, looking like he was about to start jumping up and down and hugging people at the thought of being able to fly again so soon. "Thank you! It's really kind of you to help out on your break!"

"Ah, you know me, I like keeping busy." Topspin's grin took a mischievous edge, optics flickering briefly at his teammate from under his visor. "Besides, Sandstorm's the one that suggested I see if Ratchet could use a hand."

"You-" Sandstorm took a step forward but Topspin was all but running down the hall saying, "I should have your new turbofan in about a joor, so don't take too long thanking him!" He turned the corner cackling, leaving the triplechanger to fume.

A hand linked in with his. "Did you really?"

Sandstorm shrugged, deliberately not looking at Fireflight's tender expression. "You just seemed really depressed about it. I know how much you love to fly."

"Thank you. But you know, being on the ground is also kind of amazing." He tugged at Sandstorm's hand until the larger mech looked at him. "Thank you for that, too."

"I like making you smile."

Fireflight's wings flexed in surprise at that and when Sandstorm realized what he let slip, his internal temperature shot up and he looked away again, pretending that he wasn't panicking. "Uh, I mean..." he stuttered out excuses but none of them were intelligible.

He didn't know why Sandstorm always got so embarrassed whenever it was pointed out how much he cared about Fireflight- or his team, to a lesser extent -but Fireflight supposed it didn't really matter. All that mattered was the fact that Sandstorm did care and Fireflight knew it. He squeezed Sandstorm's hand and said warmly, "I know, I get it." Then, with a wicked gleam in his optics, tugged the Wrecker toward his quarters. "Now, I do believe I have just under a joor to thank you for all this."