this is how it feels

The gray and red mechling huddled lower, blue optics dimmed, though previously lax doors twitched as he was spoken to, armor rattling faintly.

He didn’t offer more of a response, just let his doors droop in a vague sort of negative.

“Ah.  Well, then I would be honored to accept your offer, Ironhide.”  And he meant every word, lifting his drink to the other mech, “To your kindness.”

Ironhide…being kind.  Even with their past interactions, the notion wasn’t so farfetched.  He reiterated that yes, Ironhide never displayed a pleasure for being cruel, but at the same time, it hadn’t been often- if at all, that he went out of his way for the comfort of another.

“It’s a good look for you.”  Because perhaps peace does change everyone after all.

      He raised his own glass, smile tight and nervous, and took a steadying gulp. Mirage had... actually agreed to stay with him. Against all odds and despite Ironhide’s disposition, Mirage had agreed. Above anything else, Ironhide felt relieved. It couldn’t have been that easy, of course--- he was under no illusions that their past was water under the bridge ---but with this he could at least start to make it better. He could make up for himself. 

im making ironhide ocd because i like to PROJECT...

this is a good post and all I can think about is hide having to have his guns all neat and clean

❝     I’LL  HAVE  YOU  KNOW ,  PAL  - i  bought  this  with  my  own  fair  trade !     ❞          she  hadn’t .  but  how  many  of  these  situations  do  you  think  a  thief  has  gotten  themselves  into ?  primus ,  by  now ,  anode  could  -  WOULD  - SHOULD  -  call  herself  a  professional  in  the  arts  of  saving  her  own  bacon  from  anybody  who’d  bychance  spotted  her  roaming  servos ,          ❝     forgive  me  for  my  off - world  trades  :  i  may  not  be  such  a  familiar  face  in  these  parts ,  but  what  i’m NOT ,  sir ,  is  a  scoundrel .     ❞

      Ironhide raised his hands in a placating gesture, optics quirking up as he forced a smile. He could play along, and maybe he could get this bot to see reason. She could still admit herself and put it back, and nobody needed to know. “’Course not, friend, but I couldn’t help but notice you’re carrying yourself mighty confidently for a bot with a hand behind her back.” 

You ought’a have a home…

Were Mirage a lesser mech, that phrase alone would have left him clutching at his chest with pure, spark crushing emotion.  It was just so…kind.  Instead he shook his head, wishing to put Ironhide at ease.

“Not at all, Ironhide, no!  It is a very generous offer, more than I deserve.”  He paused, at war with himself over what to do next.  Before, in his old life, Mirage had scoffed at the idea of accepting charity.  He had never needed it, written it off completely.  Now, however…

“I… I trust I wouldn’t be imposing on you?”

      Ironhide couldn’t help but shake his head. Mirage was more deserving of a home than he realized, certainly more than Ironhide, himself. How he didn’t see it was... well, it probably had to do with Ironhide’s own actions, and it was that guilt that led him to make the offer. He would offer and offer until he’d paid back what he owed. 

      And it seemed that Mirage was open to receive him. 

      It wasn’t uncommon these days to see a strange face in a crowd, not with all of these colonists milling about, but after so long surrounded by the same small clutch of bots it still felt strange. Ironhide did a bit of a doubletake when he caught sight of this particular newcomer. She looked a bit... well, what was she doing? 

      “’Right, boss,” Ironhide shouldered his way through the door, optics shut to prepare himself for whatever Starscream would have to say, “Here are the updates on the team, reports on the patrols--- Oh, an’ I stopped by some’a the departments on my floor to check in, got the resource reports, too.”