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

he's basically just gonna be snoozing for now c:

[oneshallstand]

There was a lot to do, but steady and stubborn effort can get her through it; as for Optimus, he seems minimally responsive at best. It's not the first time he's fallen in to an exhausted recharge during a medic's mercies (as Ratchet can vouch), but it's been a long time since he had any sort of such luxury.

It means he feels, at least, for the moment, safe.

Which says quite a lot.

Babbu ;3;

[illdriveyoushoot]

Mikaela worked for the rest of night. Privately, she ended up being impressed with the amount she was able to accomplish when the need for repairs was so critical. She managed to nudge her way into armor gaps with a surprising ease- Optimus wasn't awake, but he thankfully didn't seem to register her as a threat, either. In the end, it looked like she stopped the serious leaks in two other locations, ending up with a pile of shattered, energon-leaking lines and a small sense of triumph.

But there was still so much more to do…

And it was thirty minutes to opening.

"Optimus? Optimus?" Stepping back with grime on her face and arms, Mikaela stared up at Optimus' slack face, hoping for a reaction when her previous hours of work had done little.

[oneshallstand]

There were a few twitches and motions, but actual consciousness seemed absent; the great Prime remained all but pliant to Mikaela's ministrations, perhaps not aiding but not outright blocking her from doing them. And true to his state, when she called his name...

He, well. Made a bit of a face, but if it was in response to her voice or some dream-stimuli, it remained to be seen.

He may need a bit more to wake up.

[illdriveyoushoot]

Momentarily at a loss over the minimal response, Mikaela gave the nearest wall clock an anxious glance.

"Optimuuus." she drawled, voice lilting up impatiently. "You need to turn back into a truck. The store opens in thirty minutes and I need to clear up all the evidence that you were here."

Stepping up to Optimus' arm, she hesitated for only a moment before slapping a palm down twice on the nearest bit of undamaged metal, just hard enough to make the metal ring.

[oneshallstand]

Well, the sound at least seemed to stir him, if only to have his optics flicker briefly. What was...?

He turned his helm, the blue lights flickering as he tried to pull himself back to the present. He was- he couldn't keep himself down, but he was so tired, and it was far more tempting to simply ignore it all but he couldn't but

Mikaela. Garage. Repairs.

What was she talking about, thirty minutes? He started to push himself up, motions sluggish and heavy. "Hnh...?"

[illdriveyoushoot]

Even knowing it was from the damage and resulting exhaustion, seeing Optimus all groggy and grumbling was a very humanizing thing. If it weren't for the situation, it would have been almost funny, given that Optimus always seemed like such a 'morning person'.

"Optimus. Hey." Blowing out a relieved breath, Mikaela leaned up across his arm, meeting the flickering optics.

"You need to transform for me, okay? Just park next to the building out back and then you can go back sleep- recharge. Whatever. Alright?"

[oneshallstand]

Usually, he is. Usually, he's not dealing with a stifled self repair given the opportunity to work.

He blinks slowly, the words taking longer to normal to process. When they do, he grimaces slightly; there's an irrational protest at the effort that remains unspoken, because she as absolutely right. He can't stay like this...

Exventing once, he makes a vague noise of assent, gesturing for her to give him some room before he starts to fold himself in to the dinged-up semitruck.

There, he transformed.

...and is remaining in place.

[illdriveyoushoot]

Stepping back, Mikaela was relieved enough that, when he finally transformed, she was able to mostly suppress her wince at how painful his transformation still looked and sounded.

Any praise died on her lips when he remained still and unmoving, even after keying the garage door to raise up in the back.

"...Optimus? Optimus?"

Oh, not again.

[oneshallstand]

To be fair, he's not quite back asleep, yet. Not for lack of want, mind, but there's a bleary flicker of his headlights to let her know that yes, he's listening, and what did she want again?