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[ou] ironhide

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Look, uh.

[Awkward pause. Wow, maybe he should have asked someone to write this for him.]

I... ain't gonna pretend I know exactly what's goin' on with all this spooky scrap and random messages.

But I do know there's some bots who are gettin' nervous. Probably means there's organics feelin' the same way.

[Another awkward pause -- good job Ironhide, you said three sentences.]

... My name's Ironhide. If anyone's feelin' uncomfortable, or freaked out... I used to do bodyguard work.

I'll come keep an optic on you, if that'd help.

[Because he has to do something. Anything. Standing around, hiding out. It doesn't feel right, and it's sure not helping anything anymore.]

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Just...don't overdo it. Looking for purpose.

[She softens at that, wondering if what's she's saying is right.]

You know...grinding yourself down to your gears just to matter.

Even if I do, 'pparently even that don't matter any.

What are you talking about...

You're a giant red truck. People are gonna notice.

No, it...

It ain't that.

Then what is it?

You've been kind of vague the past few weeks...mind sharing with the class?

It...

[Wow, this is sort of hard to say.]

I got some bad news. 'Bout things that happen here. Scrap I... I don't want to have happen again.

Bad things?

Big guy, who's been telling you things? I want the truth.

Strongarm. He... did some digging, I guess. That and... the people in charge of this place.

...

Chromia... we don't remember this place. Or nothin' we did here.

They take our memories.

[See why that's a problem.]

[There's an awkward silence on the other end of the feed, although something like a choking sound is heard. Like if she could swallow, she'd have a hard time doing so.]

Everything?

[He's silent for a long, long beat. There's a lot of reasons why he didn't want to talk about this. Hearing her... hearing her make that sound, it's another one on the long list.]

[He almost doesn't want to keep talking.]

... Yeah.

All of it.

[His own voice gets a little thick.]

... I'm sorry.

...Don't be. It's not like you had any part to play in that.

[This is pretty awkward now. This whole conversation, everything she's done here won't mean a thing when they go back.

The feelings she's having about what she did, who she knows.

None of that matters.]

It's got to be harder on you.

I... I guess I dunno what else to say. 'Cept that.

[Maybe he should have tried to hide it better. Or pretend nothing is wrong. It's not his fault, sure. But...]

[But it still feels like he's hurt her.]

Don't worry about me. I'm... dealin'.

... It's' Strongarm, getting me worried. And... and you. Look. I -- you can yell, if you want. Or come punch me. I mean, I know there ain't anything that's gonna help. But... I... don't know.

[Her eyes widen, amazed at how much he cares about everyone else, but hardly anything for himself. Thankfully this is voice only, or Ironhide would see almost...doe-like wideness from her.]

He'll be fine. Strongarm's tougher than he looks. I'd put him up against the best Cybertronians.

...As for me...I'll deal. I'm not sure if punching you'll make it go away. You're one of the only ones I got here, for as little time as it is.

... Me an him are in the same boat. Memory-speaking. That's... what's got me worried.

[Something about what she says -- it alternately makes his spark warm and hurts at the same time. One of the only ones she has.]

[Weird, how he feels the same way. About her.]

More reason why I don't wanna lose this. Any of this.

I don't wanna lose you.

[You had her up until that last part. The quiet little confession at the end. Never was she so glad this was a voice message. Because that got a visible reaction out of her, eyes wide and...confused.

Not at what he said, but how it made her feel.

Her voice breaks, it's not as strong anymore.]

You can't just...say that.

Not like this. Over...this thing.

[Well that throws him. He's quiet for a while, trying to process that.]

[She sounds worse than he wanted her to, not better.]

Wh... hey, take it easy. It's... just words, yeah?

That wasn't supposed to make things worse.

It's not worse.

[That came out a little too quickly.]

I uhm...me too. That's just what I meant.

[Wait -- what? That's... more like her, the sudden quick retort. But for some reason, it leaves him feeling as if he's said the wrong thing.]

[Again.]

Uh. Yeah. Okay. I believe you.

[Which is true, for what it's worth.]

I...

[Why does she feel like she said the wrong thing? The words were right, at least she thought so.]

If you overwork yourself, I will come and hit you.

[Silence. Should he even... try to keep talking? What if he just makes things worse?]

I... uh.

Yes, ma'am.

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