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Spitfire hovered over Aftermath's shoulder, rotors whirring. He huffed softly, optics flicking over to her as they walked- well, walked and flew- through the woods together. Not wanting to risk snagging her rotors and wings on all the gross plant stuff around, she flitted down to perch on his shoulder.
"We don't have anywhere to go." Her brother growled. "Fuckin- maybe we could stake out a reservoir of magic water?"
As long as none of those uppity, stupid, loser Maltos bothered them, she didn't care. "Better than nothing." She shrugged. "Once we get there we can maybe make a more long-term plan."
"Yeah." He was uncharacteristically silent for the next few moments, and Spitfire was getting ready to quip at him about it when he said, "I hate Breakdown."
She was a little taken aback. She agreed, but she was under the impression Aftermath liked him at least a little bit. "He sucks. Like, he was sooo sentimental and gross."
"NO HE WASN'T!" Aftermath roared, suddenly freezing in his tracks, causing Spitfire to jolt and cling to his shoulder spikes. "He left us. Everyone left us, except Starscream, cuz she killed us. He didn't give a fuck! He's just like everyone else!"
She flicked her wings, mildly annoyed and angry and nervous for some stupid reason. "Well, duh. Why would anyone stick around? We're us, and besides, we don't need parents or adults!" Maybe she was mad about Breakdown letting them die, just a little bit. That didn't mean she was going to- gag- talk about it. Aftermath was the only bot she needed, why couldn't she be that for him?
Aftermath glowered at her, then turned his head back to the forest. "Where d'you think the water is?"
"No idea." She sighed dramatically. "We've just fucked around in the woods before, can't be that different now, right?"
"I guess." He conceded. "Keep an eye out for a reservoir."
Spitfire nodded. If nothing else, looking around for water would keep her busy. It might be boring, but it was better than Aftermath crying about some stupid grownup who left them. Seriously, what was he thinking? That any adult would stick around? Sometimes it felt like she was the older one, he was so immature and dumb! No matter how nice adults seemed, they couldn't be trusted, and would just betray you for their own bullshit. She knew this already. Why didn't he?
Stupid. Stupid, stupid forest, full of stupid organic life, with that stupid water they needed. Maybe she was missing some details of the environment around her because of her brooding, but she didn't care. They'd find something eventually.
Gentle light shone through leaves, casting the world in a gold-green hue as she glared out, looking for a place for her and her brother to hide and get a drink. She knew her useless anger would just distract and upset Aftermath, but she kind of wanted him to feel bad. If she had to suffer, so did he!
Aftermath stopped again, less roughly this time. "D'you sense anything here?"
Pausing in her moping, Spitfire let her senses sprawl out around her. A familiar energy tugged at the edge of her field. "Yeah, I think so. That way?" She pointed to their left.
"Same vibe." He trekked off again in that direction. Spitfire decided it was in her best interest to play navigator, taking it upon herself to smack Aftermath and yell at him whenever he went the wrong way. He of course, would retaliate in kind, they'd argue for a few moments, and then continue on.
— — —
Fucking finally. Aftermath stood in front of a large hole, one he'd made with his own two hands- and Spitfire's. She'd helped too, she was crazy efficient for someone who was so tiny. She was, y'know, cool like that.
Stepping into the cavern, he went straight for the glowy, green pool of water. His sister hovered just above him, rotors whirring. He could feel her field twinging with relief.
Laying down so he could slurp the water, he caught a glimpse of his reflection. He… didn't look all that different from before. For some reason, he expected to look different after getting brought back.
He frowned at himself before shrugging it off. The cool water was soothing. It didn't feel like he was gonna fall over at any moment, finally.
Spitfire fully plunged into the water, laying face down in the pool. Sitting up, he laughed- she looked so silly!
His sister turned her head to half-glare at him through the water. He stuck his tongue out. She growled, making the water bubble around her mouth.
Playfully, he poked her face, causing her to bite his finger.
"Ow!" He shook her off, then splashed her.
"Don't fuck with me." She stood, the water just slightly above her waist, and glared- it was kinda cute, given how tiny she was and how big her eyes were.
"Don't fuck with me!"He snapped back, baring his teeth.
Spitfire grinned. "Unfuckable duo. That'd be a funny band name."
"SHUT UP!" He splashed her again, hitting the water with more force this time. "You're not funny."
Rolling her eyes, she used her rotors to help her get out of the pool. "Neither are you." She landed next to him and leaned against his leg.
Grumbling dramatically, he patted her. "Obnoxious little gnat."
"Ugly bastard."
"You think we could set up camp here? 'S not too small for me, or too deep for you, and we won't starve." He could feel his sister flaring up at the mention of her size.
"It doesn't matter if it's too deep!" It did. "But sure. This cave is… decent." She sniffed pretentiously.
"Cool. I wanna recharge."
She shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
He stood up, wandering deeper into the cave to find a good place to curl up. It was dark but he and Spitfire could see just fine, given their glowy eyes. Something like that, at least. He didn't really remember how Shockwave explained it. He'd been really annoying about it.
Soon enough, he found a decent patch of ground to flop on. And flop he did, smacking into the dirt hard.
Behind him, Spitfire cheered. "Woo! Crater!!"
"Shut up and go to sleep."
She scoffed in response, but did curl up against his side. Her frame was tiny but warm. He… appreciated her presence. He appreciated it a lot.
Carefully, he shifted to give her a kiss on her forehead.
"Sappy loser." She huffed, before kissing his cheek. "Just go to bed, dumbass."
"Whatever you say, princess." He replied mockingly, settling into a comfortable position. Spitfire followed suit, tucking herself against him.