pullmeoutalive | log > how are these two so darn cute?

It had been an admittedly strange situation they had all been in - shopping mall, zombies, black outs - it was like a horror film gone wrong.

No one had any explanation for their sudden appearance in the mall, nor did anyone have an explanation for their sudden disappearance from the mall. Just as no one had an explanation for the blue Chevrolet Volt currently parked outside of B.A.B.E.L. headquarters.

For his own part, Jolt was doing what Autobots did best (aside from kicking Decepticon skidplate), and that was hiding in plain sight. Asphalt and sunshine, he decided, were preferable to zombie-laden carpet and the near-darkness of a mall without power. He just didn't like having to wait while Naomi was inside - no doubt trying to explain where the frag she'd been all this time. Jolt'd had a similar problem relaying his whereabouts to - of all mechs - Ratchet. (No doubt the medic thought he was glitched for insisting he'd been fighting off zombies all this time.) But, after much instance, and pleading for Optimus' permission, Jolt was allowed to stay with Naomi for the time being.

The Autobot sighed inwardly. He was still waiting, and he still hated it.

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"Maybe I do." It was obvious by his tone that he was teasing. Mostly. It was endearing.

One hand reached out to give her a playful poke in the shoulder.

Naomi evaded it with the ease born from past experiences, landing lightly on his hand. "And while you're doing that, you're getting slower," she retorted. "I'd say the victory's mine, Jolt-san."

"You may have won this time, but I'll get you yet!" He countered, optics narrowing in mock anger. It lasted only a moment, however, and then he laughed. This was so much better than watching Naomi steadily drift farther and farther away, so much better than seeing her paste on a smile for his benefit.

He had missed her, even though she'd been right there it hadn't been the same.

"I don't think you've managed to catch me yet." Her tone was light, gently teasing, and there was a deeper sense of relief that accompanied her amusement. Guilt, of course, that she was able to smile in the wake of a death she could have prevented, but also relief that the pain was starting to ease off, little by little. And it was all thanks to the Autobot. It hadn't been fair to him to act so distanced, but she honestly hadn't wanted to trouble him. And that had backfired.

"... I'm sorry." Adjusting her balance while still perched on his hand, Naomi contritely lowered her head. "I kept you waiting for awhile, didn't I?"

For someone with no mouth, Jolt was able to pull off pouting rather well, even if it was only in jest. At Naomi's apology, however, his expression quickly sobered. "Hey, I'd wait forever, if that's what it took."

"... It might have." It wasn't an easy thing to admit, but it was the truth, and she kept her eyes focused on the gleaming metal she perched on. "Every mission I went on after that, it was like I could hear his voice, accusing me, and he was right. Just stepping into B.A.B.E.L. was..." She shrugged. "Even when I sleep, he's there. I can't say for sure that the dreams will stop anytime soon. But I do know if I'd stayed, nothing would have changed. I owe you so much just for that."

Jolt smiled then, warmly, and somehow conveying the feeling quite well despite his limits when it came to facial expression. He lifted his hand easily, slowly so as not to catch her off-guard, and brought Naomi too him. With a slight dip of his head, his forehead met hers, carefully. "It's good to have you back."

At the slightest movement, Naomi instinctively adjusted her balance, glancing up uncertainly at Jolt as though she wasn't sure what he had in mind.

Then foreheads touched, one soft skin, one warm metal, and she blinked. She'd thought-- she'd hoped-- she'd cried enough to last her for years, but she had to close her eyes against the sudden stinging at the sweetness of the gesture, opting to reach up with both hands to rest her palms on his face.

"It's good to be back."

He shuttered his optics and just sat there, holding her, and- in a way- being held. It was different from when he'd held her as a hologram- sure, that form could still feel, but it wasn't the same as having Naomi's hands resting on his faceplates. Half of him wondered what this was, and half of him decided he just didn't care.

He did, however, take care not to move, because he'd be damned if he let complaining joints and squeaking gears ruin this again.

There weren't many sights stranger than the one that would have met anyone who could have stumbled across them: the gigantic robot with the slip of a girl perched on his hand like some kind of bird, both holding each other in their own ways. But there wasn't anyone around... no strangers to gawk, no supervisors to screech, nobody else.

Naomi preferred it that way, just breathing in the moment before she reluctantly spoke up, almost sleepily.

"You're going to freeze up again if you stay like this."

"Spoilsport." He was still smiling as he said it, optics flicking open, and he lowered her to the ground. She was tired, as she should be, and Jolt himself was worn out as well.

The Autobot stood, his leg servos thankfully keeping the protesting to a minimum this time, and made the transformation back into his alt. The blue Chevrolet settled onto its wheels with a quiet sigh.

In her typically affectionate manner, she gently patted the Volt's hood. He'd done a lot today, more than she could have (and would have) ever asked him to do.

"Maybe I am," she replied amiably, "but I didn't want to be sitting up there when you fell asleep."

"Fair enough," came the drowsy reply. Now that he was settled, he was finding it harder and harder to stay online. A good night of recharge- er, sleep- would probably do them both some good.

Besides, he was going to need all the energy he could muster if he was going to have to deal with Naomi's supervisor when they got back.

Curse him-- she was trying her best to keep her weariness from showing, and there he was sounding sleepy and making her feel equally drowsy.

Not-so-successfully covering a yawn, Naomi tapped politely on one of the back doors. "Do you mind if I come in?"

The door swung open obligingly. "Be my guest. Should be some blankets in one of those bags." It was likely to get cold, and he just didn't have it in him to run the heater all night.

A quick rummage revealed two blankets, thick and neatly folded. Now slightly more used to catching the occasional bit of sleep in Jolt's backseat, it didn't take the girl long to make herself comfortable, half-curled, half-sprawled, and all exhaustion. It wasn't the best condition to be in, but if being utterly drained meant a smaller risk of nightmares, she wasn't about to complain.

"Thanks, Jolt," she mumbled into the seat, precisely three seconds before she fell asleep.

Really, he should just see about converting the darn backseat into a bed somehow. (Maybe he would bring it up in his inevitable call to Ratchet.)

To his credit, he managed to stay online long enough to watch Naomi drift off. "Anything for you," he murmured to her sleeping form before his systems quietly shut down for the night.

log > how are these two so darn cute?

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