Can't Run Away Forever

[illdriveyoushoot]

She takes the bus now, more often than not.

She'd sold her old bike, dragged her dad off for a 'new start'; pretty much vanished off the grid for a while. Mikaela had done as much as she'd been allowed to do, to get away and keep from being found.

Keep from being found by her friends, at least.

A part of her - the bitter part - is sometimes upset that they never did. That they never tried, never suspected. But then again, the way she had broken up with Sam, real and so very angry...

That same bitter part, while upset, isn't surprised she'd been so easily forgotten.

And then Chicago had happened, freedom had come with a price for everyone, and...

Well. Being left alone was more understandable, after that.

So now Mikaela takes the bus, to and from her little backwoods, podunk gas station/convenience store/one-car garage quick-e-mart, the best she can get on just a highschool degree in this economy, expunged record or not. She does register and occasional garage work, and she has a good shot at making manager in the spring. Her dad has his own place, finally, moving in with a woman with little patience and no tolerance for his crap.

She's too good for him, and Mikaela is happy for them.

But being on her own leaves her with too much time to think, and despite no lack of offers, hints, and the same old innuendos, she's had no one since Sam. She's lonely, and alone in a world where no one remembers or cares who she is or what she's given up.

In short, it sucks, and playing at 'normal' isn't at all what it's cracked up to be.

Comments

[illdriveyoushoot]

Her grin widens at the sounds of scrap rattling down the hose - yes, she knew it!

"This is gonna be so much easier."

Repositioning herself a bit higher up, so she can better see where she is pointing the nozzle, she slides it down further, directly under the torn lines and shattered parts. She doesn't want to hurt him, but most of the broken bits have settled right under the blast site.

"Let me know if it's painful or anything!" she calls out over the dull roar.

[oneshallstand]

No more than expected, he wants to say, but he nods through his grimace to at least let her know she's heard him. Having lived through a war so long, he thinks he understands the difference between pain-as-result-of-helping as opposed to pain-as-result-of-helping-actually-harming; the former isn't worth bringing up.

The problem is they're pretty close to one another, and sometimes you can mistake all for one. Which, combined with his 'be quiet and take it' attitude, which Ratchet considers both a blessing and a curse...

His hands slowly clench on the ground, the mixture of pain and simple discomfort a rather unpleasant combination. Which makes it all the more surprising when Mikaela nudges the nozzle, and it briefly manages to catch one of the smaller lines, bringing it in to suck-

Optimus Prime full on jerks in surprise at that, a brief, staticky sound escaping him. That was not pain.

[illdriveyoushoot]

Mikaela yelps as Optimus' giant frame jerks under her, and she immediately pulls the hose back to it's previous spot.

"Sorry! Sorry! You okay?"

Wincing, she pats his side without active thought. She wouldn't treat a human any differently, after all.

[oneshallstand]

"It's-"

Surprising? Shocking. And then done, and Optimus exvents once before forcing himself to relax.

"-nothing. It is nothing." He shakes his helm, trying to reassure her. "I am fine, and- I apologize for alarming you."

She didn't do it on purpose, after all. He makes a long blink as he half-reaches for the metal near her vacuum- not to pull it away, mind. Only to reassure himself.

"One of the inner wires was caught, I think."

[illdriveyoushoot]

"Right... Sorry."

Levering herself up a bit higher, Mikaela peers inside the wound, looking for said possible wires or anything else that might have caused him pain like that. She didn't see much, just a lot of the smaller scrap bits lying all over mildly damaged and undamaged internals. She'd probably bumped one of the damaged bits hanging down or something...

Because she didn't doubt for a second that Optimus was trying to be his stubborn, stoic self, even through pain that made him jerk around like that.

"Okay. Going back in slowly, and aiming right for the scrap. Tell me to stop if you need to, okay?" Glancing up to catch his gaze for a moment, Mikaela carefully reached back in right toward the debris, hands as steady as she could manage.

[oneshallstand]

"I'm fine," Optimus said again, trying to reassure her. Maybe needlessly, but just in case she worried. He met that gaze and nodded, lowering his hand once more to settle himself and trying not to tense-

-the wire didn't catch again, and at least for the moment, he was able to avoid another...mishap. His fans, which he'd been keeping still, slowly whirred back on as he...well, didn't so much relax as ease the subtle tension.

[illdriveyoushoot]

"Uh huh-" she muttered, concentrating; only half-believing the claim at all. She really didn't want to hurt Optimus...but getting his wounds tended and cleaned out was more important than a few twinges. So she wasn't going to actively argue about the Big Bot being stubborn, even if it was bad behavior that would have had Ratchet swearing up a storm at him.

The vacuum rattles as she sucks up more debris, sliding the nozzle further back inside as she stays tense and waiting for any further reaction.

"Almost...done..."

Peering in, she's forced to angle it down to get the bits that have fallen between intact bits of Optimus' internal anatomy. ...It still makes her wince, despite knowing what she's doing really shouldn't hurt unless she jostles wounded parts.

[oneshallstand]

Ratchet knows better to expect any different. (But that wouldn't keep the medic from scolding him.)

There's a few more reactions, but only in terms of grimaces; they're better than other faces he can make. And he's clenching his jaw tightly as she pushes it in further- yes, there's discomfort, but more, the rush of air through all those parts, sucking up the loose debris?

He'll be glad when this is over.

[illdriveyoushoot]

Ratchet hasd the size and attitude to smack Prime upside the head if necessary, too. One advantage Mikaela obviously lacked.

But that particular spot only took a few more minutes. A couple of tense readjustments later, and the vacuum was mostly silent - but the sheer amount of scrap picked up by the nozzle was disconcerting. Mikaela made a face when she finally pulled out of the open wound, hitting the switch.

"Optimus... At this rate, we're going to have to clean every single one like this. That. Wasn't good." She winced, reaching down to jingle the vacuum container, which rattled noisily.

[oneshallstand]

A heavy rattle of his fans is the first answer she gets. A moment later, Optimus reaches up to rub at his face; his hand covers his shifts of expression. "...I believe that may have been the worst one," he notes, doing some quick system scans. "The others - given time and fuel - should be able to handle themselves if necessary."

It's a way out, if she's uncomfortable; Allspark knows Optimus knows better than to outright refuse further aid. But either way, he will need some fuel sooner or later, he notes with a frown. There's only so much heavy recharge can help with; new energy will have to come from somewhere.

[illdriveyoushoot]

"I hope so-" She starts, only to make a face at Optimus' suggestion.

"Whoa, what? That would take ages!"

Mikaela stares up at him for a long moment, dumbfounded, before shaking her head as she begins the climb back down to empty the vacuum. Pausing over a storage bin, she frowns back up at him, biting her lip.

"...I mean, if it's hurting you too much to clean them out this way, we can try something else? I don't just want to leave them like that."

Uncomfortable or not, given her shock and ire, getting out of helping him is the last thing she is thinking of.

[oneshallstand]

Optimus meets her gaze silently, but only speaks after she's done. He's continuing to mull over it all, torn between reason and stubbornness.

Ratchet would have likely hit him by now, he thinks, for even suggesting such a thing. He exvents, dimming his optics as he leans back again.

"I can bear it," he answers, to what is unclear. "I will not say no to your aid, but I will not ask more than you are willing to give."

[illdriveyoushoot]

Ratchet wouldn't be the only person hitting him, if they could.

"Oh my god, Optimus. Drop the stoic bullshit!"

Mikaela drops the vacuum down next to the trashcan with a crash, the metal inside rattling noisily. Hands splaying out in exasperated confusion, Mikaela glares up at the prone 'bot.

"I'm here, you're here, and I said I'm going to help you. Unless you actively want me to stop; unless this is doing more damage than it's fixing, stop trying to get me to duck out on you!"

[oneshallstand]

Well, there's something to be said about verbal blows.

Optimus blinks at both the harshness in her voice and the clanging of the vac, turning to face her properly. He presses his mouth together in a thin, displeased line; what can he say to it?

He finally settles on remaining quiet and just nodding, once, as he resettles. Message received, 'doctor'.

[illdriveyoushoot]

Mikaela stares at him for a moment, expecting a more verbal response or objection. She colors a bit, slightly embarrassed by the outburst - but she doesn't regret the words.

"God, thank you. It's like you want to be stuck like that or something."

She stoops and picks the vacuum back up, playing with the catches before emptying the accumulated debris into another bin. She grimaces, glancing back up at him.

"...I'm not trying to be an ass, but it kind of worries me, Optimus."

[oneshallstand]

There's another stretch of silence. It's not so much Optimus is giving her the silent treatment, as he's trying to decide how to express his thoughts in words. It isn't easy, and he's distinctly aware it may be because Mikaela is human. Certainly, she is a friend, but his latest experiences with them have colored...

He exvents again, rubbing his face. Awareness of a bias can not always remove the bias, but it can help.

"Nor am I attempting to be difficult. I am still trying to sort out recent events and those which are occurring now. Forgive me," he adds, looking down at her. "It is not any fault of yours."

His bad, and he is trying.

[illdriveyoushoot]

Reluctantly, Mikaela nods. She doesn't really understand it, but given how much she's missed...

She shrugs, capping the vacuum and regathering her supplies.

"Just so long as you aren't really trying to to get rid of me or leave yourself like this, we're good."

Giving him a tentative smile, Mikaela moves to climb back up as long as he doesn't decide to object.

[oneshallstand]

"I am in no condition to move for some time," Optimus wryly notes, raising a hand to once again spot her. "Regardless of what is done at this point, it will do only so good without that rest."

And there's so few opportunities to take it for long periods of time.

[illdriveyoushoot]

"Right. Well, hopefully you actually can rest for a while. You should be left alone easy enough in here or out back."

If none of his mysterious enemies had chased Optimus down and blown the town apart by now, he might have actually escaped for the time being. Grateful for the supporting hand, Mikaela made her way up quickly enough; standing up on the huge mech's thigh, she was able to glance over his frame with a critical eye.

"So. Now that I've got all the crap out of that bullet hole, you want me to try and fix it up some more, or stick with cleaning out the others?"

She gestures over the larger wound that she had been vacuuming before.

"That one is still leaking a bit." Though noticeably not as bad as it was.

[oneshallstand]

Optimus considers this. He's probably just as 'safe' as he was in the junkyard; the only one who knows he's here is Mikaela, assuming that his holomatter didn't flicker and cause notice while en route. And while there's a part of him that screams wariness at any human at this point-

-Mikaela has done nothing but reaffirm her status as an ally. And if she were not, then it's already far, far too late to act on such.

"I think tending to the leaks will be best," he notes. He's lost too much material as-is to allow such to continue. "If this is taking some time, it may be best for me to remain here, in hiding, if possible."

While in alt, obviously.

[illdriveyoushoot]

"Gotcha."

Trading out the vacuum for pliers, wire crimps, and a roll of electrical tape, among other things, Mikaela starts the climb up his torso.

"...And yeah. Like I said, I'll do all I can, but I'm only going to physically be able to do so much so quickly." She half-shrugs, gesturing down at herself and the very fact that she's stuck climbing him in the first place.

"Even the bare minimum is gonna take a bit, and I would prefer to do a lot more than that."

[oneshallstand]

That sure is a wry almost-smile Optimus gives Mikaela. He's well aware of the difficulties presented. "So long as you are willing to try, I will appreciate your help. Until I can once again meet up with Ratchet and those Autobots still on Earth, I do not think there are many better options available."

So he's resigning himself - or trying to - staying here as long as she'll let him. Well, as long as he can, as well.

"And so long as you are aware that there is a danger," he adds, growing a bit serious. He wants - needs her to understand this.

[illdriveyoushoot]

"No offence Optimus, but it's kinda hard to forget."

She peers up at him for a moment, returning the expression with wry lips of her own.

"I'm perfectly aware that Decepticons or your mystery not-Sector Seven people could come exploding through here at any time." She gestures toward the blanked out garage doors idly.

"I haven't exactly forgotten Mission City and Egypt that quickly."

She can't hide the shiver at the memory entirely, but she forces it back down with a heavy sigh, giving the nearest intact part of Optimus' armor a pat.

"But I'm helping you anyway. Okay?"

[oneshallstand]

"Mmm."

That's an 'okay' in Primespeak, if the accompanying nod wasn't enough. He'd almost prefer Sector Seven, in that they weren't trying to outright kill his people.

Almost prefer. Given the choice, he'd take none of the above.

"I will do my best to not draw attention," he concludes, reaching up with a finger to - lightly - rub her back. Yes, he caught that shiver. No, he won't bring it up. He's concerned, but to push any further would be insulting.

[illdriveyoushoot]

"Hm. Good." Her grin turns a little watery at the delicately attempted comfort, and she reaches around to rest a palm on a giant joint. It's always been so amazing how gentle they can be.

"...At least you're looking the part of a nondescript hunk of junk right now. Blue and red flames aren't exactly subtle," she teased with a wink, determined to break the mood. She was not going to cry in front of him again.