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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 16:45:46 GMT -5
Ironhide regarded the gyro flail thoughtfully, a twinge of remembered pain flickering across his neural sensory systems where Barricade had hit him, on reflex he now knew. He resisted the urge to run a hand over the scar to soothe the ghost pains he felt, instead he tentatively reached out to touch it along the side away from the blades, hoping to show trust that Barricade wouldn't hurt him with it again. He smiled softly then. ~"Stealthy, understated, but effective. Just like you, 'Cade, just like I remember ya. A worthy Spark Weapon fer ya."~ he offered softly and looked to the younger mech. He could see a flicker of old feelings they once shared in Ironhide's optics for a moment, then the burly meck scowled and looked towards the door, venting in mild iritation. ~"Slaggin' paranoid glitch..."~ he muttered and opened the coms to reply. <"I'm fine, Barricade's fine, go back ta bed. I'll turn the monitors back on in a bit, had ta take care o somethin' personal, so dun go gettin' yer tail pipe all in knots."> he snapped back, then shook his head and sighed. ~"Red Alert gettin' all gitchy over the brig monitors bein' off..."~ he explained to Barricade, hoping to reassure the young mech that it wasn't him who was frustrating Ironhide this time.
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 16:53:09 GMT -5
Barricade smiled a bit at Ironhide's compliment, then frowned when Ironhide scowled and muttered, and finally chuckled a bit at his comment about Red Alert. ~"He is a bit of a glitchy one, isn't he?"~ He commented. ~"'N yeah, it is a bit understated. It wasn't complete when....when I left. I added an on-board computer, nothing fancy. Helps me adjust it's trajectory a bit. Had to add a forcefield generator to my hand as well, just so I don't loose my hand when I try to catch it."~
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Post by Red Alert on Sept 18, 2011 16:57:29 GMT -5
Red Alert pinched the sides of his olfactory ridge in frustration at Ironhide, counting to ten before continuing. <"If you didn't want me to 'get my tail pipes in a knot' in the first place, you could have at least warned me. As for me going back to bed, I don't recharge at night. Just know that you've volunteered to be in charge of Barricade's well-being until the monitors go back on."> He left it at that, having made his point.
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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 17:11:43 GMT -5
<"Red, go get fracked. Maybe gettin' interfaced'll loosen ya up a bit."> he retorted rather bluntly, stating the comment out loud so Barricade could hear it too. He then looked to Barricade and nodded, looking back at the lethal weapon he had. ~"Yeah, I can see why ya'd need ta add those."~ he offered, the smile returning a bit. ~"I remember how it felt..."~ he added softly, lowering his gaze. It had been a mistake, instinctive reflex, and in his processor he kept telling himself that. ~"S like my cannons, blunt n to the point, n when I combine em, even siege defenses ain't standin' fer long."~ he said more confidently, trying to distract himself from the past as he spun up his arm cannons, looking at them almost affectionately. Barricade had seen what those cannons could do first hand, even before the war. He knew that one hit to most mech's Barricade's size was lethal, and Ironhide was a very good shot with them too.
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 17:45:52 GMT -5
Barricade chuckled a bit at the comment Ironhide gave Red Alert. At the mentioning of Ironhide remembering how it felt, Barricade looked down a bit, his optics catching the scar on Ironhide's chest. Right where his weapon had torn into Ironhide's armor so long ago. He was pulled out of his reminiscing by Ironhide speaking proudly about his cannons. ~"Yeah. Not even Megatron wanted to be near you when you put them together."~
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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 17:46:07 GMT -5
Ironhide chuckled a bit at that. ~"Yeah, n earned every bit o' that reputation too, let me tell ya. All the way back ta before reunification these beauties earned their rep good, n so did I, as a warrior n weapons master known all over Kaon n the Badlands, Iacon, all o' Cybertron."~ he said proudly, smiling affectionately at them. ~"Only things in my life I could trust to the death, save the ones I loved..."~ his voice trailed off as he glanced at Barricade, then powered down his cannons and looked down at his hands, unsure of what he should say, or if he should say anything at all.
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 18:19:59 GMT -5
Barricade grew silent for a moment again before speaking up. ~"So, did you end up finding someone, or did you and 'The Hatchet' get back together, or..."~ He trailed off, looking down. He wasn't completely sure if Ironhide still felt the same way after all the millennium they'd spent hating each other, and now that there had been reconciliation between them, Barricade found that he still saw Ironhide as a close friend, and an older brother.
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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 18:35:47 GMT -5
Ironhide vented a sigh then and shrugged slightly. ~"A little off n on, me n Ratchet had some moments, but it was mostly just close friends relieving stress fer each other. We were lovers once, n fer a little while after the war started we tried again, but the war kinda got in the way n we decided we were better friends than lovers. Never bonded, never had much chance to really. Dunno if there is anyone fer me like that..."~ he vented softly, then looked over at Barricade, then to the floor again. ~"'Cade, when the time comes, fer the trial... I... I'll stand in front o' the others n speak fer ya, if ya want."~ he offered softly, then slowly turned his hand over, palm up in offering. While the pain remained from what had happened, the anger had finally abated, leaving only remorse and regret in his Spark, and now renewed hope for what once was and what could be, offering a silent prayer to Primus that maybe this time they could do it right.
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 18:49:44 GMT -5
Barricade listened as Ironhide spoke, looking back up at Ironhide, then at the older mech's hand. ~"I won't argue against you doing it, Ironhide."~ He replied, placing his hand on top of Ironhide's. ~"If you want to, who am I, at this point, to stop you? I'm really not in much of a position to protest if someone wanted to stand up and testify."~ Though he did smile a bit, letting Ironhide know he was grateful for the offer.
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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 19:02:48 GMT -5
Ironhide smiled at him and closed his fingers around Barricade's hand lightly. ~"Well, it ain't like any o' the others know ya like I do, nor near as good as I do either."~ he replied with a slight smirk, then his smile softened and he placed his other hand over Barricade's, giving it a gentle squeeze. ~"Maybe I can get the others ta let ya stay with me, if ya want to."~ he suggested, wondering if Barricade would even want such a thing after all this time. ~"I made a promise, 'Cade; I told ya I'd take care o' ya, n I won't abandon ya. I meant it then... n I still do..."~ he said softly, his hand twitched slightly, resisting the urge to pull the younger mech closer, though he did turn more towards Barricade and lift his hand to just touch Barricade's cheek plate, like he had done so long ago. ~"I won't let 'em hurt ya."~ he added in a whisper, meaning not just the Autobots, but the Decepticons as well.
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 19:12:56 GMT -5
~"I wouldn't mind it, Ironhide, but..."~ Barricade's hand twitched a bit when Ironhide gave it a light squeeze. ~"But, I'd feel like I wormed my way out of a punishment that I'm sure I very well deserve."~ He'd made up his mind about telling about the Combat Control project. He was sure the Autobots hadn't heard much in the way of it, and he would know a lot more than most Decepticons, seeing as he was the only Controller left. At Ironhide's last comment, Barricade smiled sadly. ~"They've already done a lot to me, Ironhide. More than you could probably begin to guess."~ He vented slowly, composing himself to speak. ~"There was a project tha-AUGHHH!"~ A sharp pain lanced through his processor, making his free hand fly up to the side of his helm, his other hand closing instinctively tightly around Ironhide's. He could feel the presence, Meta, clawing its way up, as much as Barricade fought to keep him down. ~"No...."~
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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 19:24:40 GMT -5
Ironhide listened to Barricade as he spoke, his expression warm and encouraging. ~"With all that we both suffered, I think we've both had punishment enough."~ he murmured gently, then listened to what Barricade told him next, or tried to. When the younger mech cried out in pain, Ironhide reached out to grab hold of Barricade, pulling him close, almost cradling him, worried something was seriously wrong. ~"'Cade? I gotcha 'Cade, I gotcha. What happened, what's wrong? Barricade? Stay with me, please?"~ he urged, fearful of losing Barricade again just when they had finally found each other and had reconciled, forgiven each other over what had happened and agreed to start again. ~"'Cade, what'd they do to ya?"~
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 19:36:04 GMT -5
"Ngh.....Trrr.......Grh....." Barricade thrashed slightly in Ironhide's arms, the hand that had been holding onto the side of his helm reaching over and latching onto his forearm, claws sinking in to keep himself from lashing out at Ironhide. Then, suddenly, he stopped completely and went mostly limp, the tension in his frame dissipating. The glow of his optics darkened enough to be clearly noticeable, and when he spoke, it wasn't the same, growling voice that Barricade had. ~"This would be too good to pass up if I had full control."~ The voice was sinister and calculating. ~"Just know this, Autobot. You try to have me removed, and I'll shred the inner workings of Barricade's processor so badly, Soundwave would have a hard time piecing them back together, and don't think I won't. Just try me. Now, while I'd love to stay and chat, I don't have much choice in the matter right now. Rest assured, it won't be that way for very long."~ With that, Barricade's frame went slack again, a small groan emanating from his vocalizer.
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Post by Ironhide on Sept 18, 2011 19:48:50 GMT -5
Ironhide looked at Barricade in shock, holding the younger mech close to him. But when Barricade's optics darkened, and the sinister voice spoke, Ironhide's own optics narrowed with hatred. As the dark voice threatened Barricade's very life, Ironhide started growling, though at the moment there was nothing he could do, at least not yet. ~"Ya won't get the chance, scrap frakker! Leave Barricade alone!"~ he snapped back with a snarl, then felt the younger mech go completely limp in his arms and carefully cradled him against his chest, Barricade's head resting on Ironhide's shoulder as he rocked the smaller mech in his arms. ~"Oh Primus, 'Cade, what've they done t' ya?"~ he murmured softly and closed his optics, resting his cheek plate against Barricade's head, unwilling to let him go.
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Post by Barricade on Sept 18, 2011 19:54:48 GMT -5
~"Iron....hide?"~ Barricade's optics flickered back on, back to their normal bright red. He shifted a bit, then winced in pain, noticing for the first time his claws dug into his forearm. When he removed them carefully, energon began to leak from the punctures, though it didn't appear to be anything life-threatening. ~"What hap-.....oh....that happened..."~ He closed his optics for a moment, bringing his hand over to rest gently on Ironhide's chest. ~"How much have you heard about Megatron's Combat Control project?"~
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