battle hardened

Despite submissive gesture, the mech didn’t react. He didn’t really know that such a gesture was made, so he remained still and listened for the sounds. Whatever he could hear. A hard task to accomplish with the hustle and bustle of the world around him.

“I agree, but…I almost walked into a street a little while ago…at least I think it was because someone told me to watch out and pulled me back out of the way..I think.” he spoke apprehensively. The enforcer turned his helm a little to where he heard transports moving past and gestured to it with a claw, which spooked a passer by.

❝yeah, i know.   and don’t think that the guard who was supposed   to be helpin’ ya is gonna get away with lettin’ that happen.❞

THERE WAS SOMETHING gruff about the old mech’s tone. Brief and soon replaced with the neutral yet kind one used previously. His servos had dropped by now, slow and silent, and he added,

❝here t’ help ya.   and that includes helpin’ ya get to places.   so consider me yer personal guard and   guide ‘round Iacon. all ya gotta do is listen   and follow my lead, and if ya can’t hear me   over the ruckus, then bat me upside the   helm and let me know--we’ll figure out it   as we go. nothin’ to it, done somethin’   like this before with someone less polite too.❞

A FEW ONLOOKERS hurried away after the crimson Autobot sent a fiery glare. He folded in on himself; Primus be damned, these younger ‘bots (or in this case, ‘con) in trouble types were going to be death of him. He huffed briefly, then he jerked his helm forward and took another step.

Ironhide. That name was familiar. The brilliant crimson mech was likely just as old as most, likely even Megatron himself. But Barricade remembered him as a seasoned war vet, and knowing he was just before the terrocon didn’t strike any sense of ease to the scared mech. His claws remained at the ready, though a staggering step of unease showed everyone watching that Barricade wasn’t sound enough to fight even if he had to. 

“Kid what kid?” he asked trying to get things clarified.

“And I don’t want to fight..just…” he paused and gritted his fangs together. had the blindfold not been over his optics it would have been apparent that brows would come to showing concern and fear. Something that an EM field would replicate if he were capable of producing one. So he mouthed the word instead. Barricade knew better than to announce it. Admitting fear was weakness.

ANY SMART COMMENT that the old mech had on the tip of his glossa was lost. Though the frustration with the previous guard had turned to anger. Barricade was afraid and Primus be damned if Ironhide knew what to do about it; wasn’t like handling one of their own, and despite Barricade’s unbalance, Ironhide wasn’t half the warrior he’d been at the start of the war.

HE INHALED SHARPLY lifting his servos, palm out and fingers spread. He gave a gentle rumble of his engine, pitching his voice lower but kinder than it had been before. The natural accent seeped through, sadly, but it may have offered more comfort--Ironhide would be sound less like ‘Decepticon Murder’ and more ‘Praxus Enforcer’. 

❝ain’t gonna hurt you.   here to make sure you’re safe.❞

HE SHUFFLED FORWARD a step, hands still slightly raised in a submissive manner. His optics scanned over the frightened kid’s frame briefly. And so a plan came into processor; get Barricade some place less active to calm down and trust his new guard.

With so many around the enforcer, Barricade at first wouldn’t take notice to those meandering about or ones who were intent on finding him. Instead he would take a hesitant step every now and again, but otherwise remained rather certain he would want to stay in the same place. The only reason to move was the sense that someone was coming too close. A step to the left to avoid a rude bot who didn’t care if Barricade was in the way. A step back to the right as there was a small sparklet who brushed against the enforcer’s leg. A step back because a loud noise in front of him scared the mech.

Even the voices behind him didn’t truly give him concern, but there was still the unnerving sense the dark colored and out of place mech was being watched. A feeling that made him tremble from the neck down and visibly made his claws flex in ready to fight. This made others around him nervous and considerable space was given

Then a voice. It stood out from the crowd. The enforcer couldn’t place why nor was he sure if it was directed to him. Instead of following the direction, he turned around entirely to face who was talking to him, then remained unmoving. 

“Who’s there?” he asked, his usual deepened vocals sounding a bit pathetic

HE WAS THANKFUL for those few steps when the Decepticon had stopped. It gave him time to hit the brakes too, because plowing over a nervous blind mech may have raised some concern from the general public. And those claws looked far from friendly.

 ❝relax, kid--it’s Ironhide.    I’m workin’ with security, just couldn’t take the sound    of that kid’s voice over the comms anymore. I’m just    here to make sure nothin’ happens to you. That’s all.❞

HE CHOSE HIS words as carefully as he could, covering his natural accent with one Barricade might have been familiar with. At least coming from Ironhide. He shifted his weight but made no threatens; not even reaching for the energy piston rested on his hip. Instead, he had taken to glaring at a few citizens who had stopped to stare at the pair.

· ┊ @empathicmedic ·「 continued 」

//Can’t wait.//

//Maybe you ought to pop in and say hey to Prowl when you get here. He’d probably like that. Take him some treats from the little shop outside the offices. He likes those.//

Finally released from the clinic. Finally allowed to roam free. The enforcer had to take in everything carefully. The new smells, the sounds. The way the air felt as a mech on their daily routine passed by. The only thing Barricade couldn’t do was see the bustling city. His optics remained useless and on a clinical examination tray until fixable. Instead was a simple piece of black clothe tied around his optics and helm. The article meant to be more of a ‘hey everyone I can’t see’ then any means of security for the Con.

He did however have a cane and one of Prowl’s enforcer’s watching not far by. Barricade requested a little bit of space so he could manage on his own, but as it was, he made it to the side walk and was struggling to navigate without anything to touch. That and he would accidentally trip others or smack their ankles with the cane. To which he apologized, but everyone just moved on.

“This…is harder than I thought.”

THE YOUNG ENFORCER had done nothing other than complain loudly over the private frequency since given his current task. It ranged from simply having to trail the Terrorcon to having to follow commands from a Decepticon, there had even been a few snide remarks about being embarrassed. Patience were running thin on all sides and the formerly retired security mech was the first of the station to break, abandoning his post and seeking the pair out.

THEY HAD BEEN easy enough to find, even with the frustration that was felt and the limp that Ironhide had possessed. A few whispers from citizens and the bright armor worn by the young Enforcer had been a dead giveaway; and Ironhide didn’t waste time, especially when he picked up on Barricade speaking and the twist of winglets on the Enforcer’s back, a signal that he was about to say something incredibly stupid.

A SERVO EXTENDED and Ironhide cuffed the back of the youngster’s helm, sending a glare when he yelped and jerked to look at the crimson officer. The kid’s mouth opened but closed immediately when the mech’s sour expression turned downright hostile.

  ❝you’re dismissed.      I’ve got it from here.❞

A NOD FOLLOWED from the younger mech before he sped off, leaving Ironhide along with the Decepticon. Blue optics had turned to Barricade, dim but strangely curiously instead of angry, but his arms still folded over his chest. 

  ❝move three steps to the left,      there’s a sudden dip, you’re gonna hit it if you don’t.      don’t need you falling and breaking your face worse.❞

//I know, but comm ‘Raj about a bridge and get your aft over here. Need a hand. Try to sneak, don’t want Prowler knowing I’m an idiot.//

//As for Prowler, it’s nothing you need to worry about. Just needs some recharge and time off.//

A pause, and a grin, //besides, what do you plan to do anyway? Break a hip at whatever’s wrong?//

¦ Ya know, I was about to tell ya that yer not a damn idiot, but then ya went and kept talkin’. Yer worse than the kids runnin’ around here. Least I can scare ‘em a little. ¦

//Don’t worry, ‘Hide. Not sending you into war or nothing. Need some help with security slag. Covering for Prowl and I’m pretty sure that there’s no way in Pit I’ll be able to do this on my own. Good with sneaking and watching, not so good with paperwork, and making sure the Enforcers are doing what they’re supposed to.//

//Think you could lend a servo?//

· ┊ meme ·「 not accepting 」

HIS VENTS WHEEZED and he sent the Neutral a glare from underneath his thermal blanket. He scoffed and tugged it up and over his helm, which he ducked down moments later, choosing to mumble. It made his helm and vents hurt less.