"Are you sure you don't want to go to the lake?" Jake nudged me, pulling me from my daze. I had been staring at Sunstreaker's alt-mode the entirety during lunch. We had dinner four days ago; four days ago was the last time I spoke or saw him. As his new obsession, I knew he was watching closely. And if that's all he did, then k could live with it. "You're not listening, are you?" I averted my gaze, smiling apologetically. "I am sorry. I was distracted. What was it you said?" He sighed. "The lake. Are you coming?" I rubbed my forehead. "I don't know... I don't feel like going." A twinge of disappointment covered his face.

"Everyone is going," he complained. Every rookie was going, and while I enjoyed parties and water, I didn't get along very well. "Look, we go there at nine, get the best beers... maybe they got the good stuff, too." He winked. I chewed on my lip. "Drugs and work? Bad combination. They will fire us if they found out, and I worked hard enough to get here." He rolled his eyes. "They won't find out, Sky. Come on." I looked at my empty cup. "We will be sober before we arrive back at the base."

"I will think about it," I repeated. He sighed. "Fine." Jake got up. "I'll see you in ten minutes. Don't be late." I sat back and rested my feet on the chair opposite me. My phone buzzed, and even without looking, I knew who it was. The bastard. I reached for my phone anyway.

Sunstreaker > You do drugs?

Mind your own damn business < Me

Sunstreaker > I didn't think you would that person

Not impressed? Just move on, then < Me

Sunstreaker > Not a change!

I closed my phone and got up, grabbing everything. My phone buzzed again, but I didn't bother looking. "Sky." I turned my head and stopped. "Sup?" Jazz smiled. I'm good." He sat with another male. He had black hair, the same electric blue eyes, and was well-built. "Signora," he got up, grabbed my hand, and kissed the back. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Mirage."

    "Pleasure to meet you, too." He studied me with curious eyes, then chuckled. "You really do stand out." I shrugged and tugged a strand behind my ear. "I suppose I do. Maybe I should dye my hair." He clicked his tongue. "That would be a pity." He sat back down. "Who do I resemble that every time I come across someone they have to do a double take?" I asked, looking between the men. Jazz sighed. "Sideswipe, he'll arrive soon. Then you will see." I gave a tight smile. "Well, as much as I would like to believe that, I doubt it. I'm not particularly a role model."

    "Neither is he," Mirage laughed. I smiled but didn't quite reach my eyes. "I have to hassle, or I'll be late." I said my goodbye and hurried away, taking the now 'clean' stairs towards the lowest level. I met Jake and the rest of my team in the Training Hall. Rachel cut me a glance, the disdain almost written on her face. Bitch. Ignoring her, I stepped beside Jake. "Make different pairings today. Variation is good," Reynolds said, giving me and Jake a pointed look.

    Rachel immediately claimed Jake, while I stuck with Pedro, a tall, bulky man who had emigrated from Brazil years ago. I followed him towards the mat and took a battle stance. We did a couple of rounds until we built up our strength and tension, kicks and battles more fiercely. I went for his face, and he dodged, slamming his fist right into my exposed ribs. I stumbled, almost losing my balance.

    A sharp pain started to blossom there. I quickly recovered, aiming with my feet for a high kick, but he was faster. He grabbed my arm, nails digging into my skin, and yanked. Hard enough that I came crashing right into him. A surprised gasp slipped from my lips. He turned me then, kicking my knee hard enough to send me towards the mat. I expected him to let go, so I could get up and prepare for another round, but he didn't; instead, the asshole twisted my arm.

    A loud pop echoed through my body before a blinding pain spread through my entire arm and shoulder. A pained scream ruptured from my throat. I fell forward, breathing hard. "Sky." Jake was at my side instantly, clawing my good shoulder. "You fucking dislocated her shoulder!" Jake leaped up. My mouth was dry. I could tell him to shut the fuck up. "Enough!" Reynold's shouted resonated through the hall. "Both of you. Enough." Pedro and Jake stiffened while I slowly managed to sit up on my knees, clutching my arm. "Go to the med-wing."

    I could only nod. With shaking legs, I got up. Glaring at Pedro before stepping off the mat. "I will take her—"
"No." I didn't stay long enough to hear the rest of Reynolds's speech. "You're hurt." The angry voice came from behind. Sunstreaker stepped beside me, inspecting my shoulder. "I'm fine. It's just dislocated," I muttered. "It's not fine," he snapped, urging me to walk. I didn't fight him. "He clearly got you. Why didn't he stop?"
    "I don't know. Ask him."
    "I will."

    Rolling my eyes. Sunstreaker led me towards the med wing and sat me down in one of the rooms. It was small but equipped well enough to treat serious trauma cases. "Sit still," he ordered me as he looked through the cabinets. "You're not a doctor." He reached for a small bottle and looked at what the label said. "No, but I have access to the internet. I am just as good as one." I frowned skeptically. "I can wait, you don't have to–" He glared at me. I raised my hands in peace. "Sure, whatever."

    Sunstreaker searched for a needle. "Fuck," scowling as he injected me, I tried to relax my muscles. "It will work," he said without looking. "As much as I appreciate your overall concern, it was my own fault, you know." Sunstreaker dumped the needle in a yellow bin. "No, it wasn't." Sunstreaker stared at me, then came closer to where I was sitting on the table. "Are you sure the human male doesn't love you?" He asked, trailing his hands up my ribs. A dark blush crept up my cheeks. "It's not your concern whether he is or not." I tried not to focus on his fingers, or his closeness. It was all a deception. This male is a psychopath. He wants me dead. It's all based on obsession and illusions.

"It is. Because I remember telling you, that I want to uncover everything about you. Which includes when and how much you fuck him." My cheeks darkened. "You're mad." He smirked. "You already knew that, sweetheart." I laid my hand on his chest. "I can handle it from here, thank you."
"Can you?" I gave him a glare. "How easy is it for me to slit your throat, now huh?" His lips brushed against my ear.

    Electricity slithered down my spine at the closeness, his touch. "I'm so much better than the human male," he added. I chewed on my lip. "I guess I have to take your word for that."
"Or I can proof it to you." I swallowed hard. "Sunstreaker, please." He sighed and took a single step back. "But you fuck him because you can," he objected. "It's complicated. I don't want to talk about it." He held my gaze. "Everything surrounding your life seems complicated," he said eventually. "And so is my life," he continued. I didn't doubt that. "I mean, am I really a bad company?" I threw him a look. "You literary tried to kill me."

"Yes, and then I found your knife on my throat. How many humans succeeded in doing that?" I looked at my shoulder. At the bone twisted in an odd angle, sticking through the thin fabric of my dark blue T-shirt. "Why do people, your people, think I look like Sideswipe?" I asked eventually. He stilled at that. "I had these odd encounters with your team. They only laugh and seem to have some sort of joke going on."

When he didn't responded I looked back. "Do you know
this mech?" He angled his head eventually. "Is that so?" Ignoring my question, he frowned. "That's what they keep telling me. It's concerning. Perhaps I should dye my hair—"

"No."

He cut me off so quick that I blinked. "I love your hair the way it is. Dye it and I will kill you." My mouth snapped shut. "I was specifically told not to interact with you for obvious reasons, but here we are. Don't give me a reason to slit your throat, Autobot." He notched his chin up. "Ah, so you confirm that I can be around you now? I knew you couldn't resist me." I rolled my eyes. "Leave." He brushed his knuckles over my cheek. "I will see you later, sweetheart." It was still a mockery. "Go." He turned and walked out, leaving me to overthink his words and my stupidity.

Ten minutes later, a male walked in. His brown hair combed back, the same electric blue eyes and also nicely built. I started to think all Autobots look this good. "Miss Banes." I gave a tight smile. "You must be Ratchet?" He shut the door. "I am."

"I'm sure there are soldiers who need your time more than I do. I can wait for a nurse," I said. "And why do you think you don't deserve my time?" He asked without looking, picking up the bottle Sunstreaker left on the countertop. "Because it's merely a dislocation," I said simply. He turned to face me then. "Dislocations can have nasty side effects if not treated properly. My patients are stable." He held up the bottle. "You're talkative. Means this is working, isn't it?" I nodded slowly, trying to find an excuse, but I had done or to tell him the truth about Sunstreaker. I already was a target. No need to make it worse.

"Sorry."

"Let's get that shoulder fixed, shall we?" He set the half empty bottle down and walked up to me, grabbing a pair of scissors from a metal table. "Wait." He frowned. "You're going to cut everything?"
"I need to your shoulder and check it for any other injuries. Don't worry, I'll get you a new T-shirt."
"Isn't there another way?" He held my gaze, then slowly retreated the scissors. "What are you afraid of? I'm a medic, you think I haven't seen everything already?" I inhaled sharply. "You wouldn't like... seeing me without this." He grabbed my chin. "I am your medic and I will fix you when something is broken. Got it? Now what is going on?"

My heart thundered. "I don't want questions." He gave a nod. "No questions," he promised, then started cutting. The pieces of fabric fell away from my torso. I saw his eyes tracking every inch of exposed skin. The nasty, brutal scars, the black veins cutting jutting from beneath my skin around my heart area. But no questions. Even I could see his inner gears working.

Ratchet focused back on my shoulder. "Relax your arm." I tried my best. "Take a deep breath." And when I did that, he pushed it back. A startled yelp slipped from my lips. "Let me check a few things. Relax." I tried to be, but I felt anything but. "It'll be sore for a couple of days. Nothing seems torn." I breathed out in relief. "Great. Thanks." I stepped back. "You know..." He began as he turned. "... if something is bothering you physically, you should find me. I might be able to help you." He opened a drawer and pulled out a white shirt. "I appreciate, but I'll be fine. Just scars." I quickly tugged the shirt back on. "Those are not just scars. You've been tortured."

    "And I'm fine." I headed for the door. "No training, Skylar. Let the swelling and pain go away. Use ice." I nodded and quickly ran out.