[ maybe today we can put the past away ]

[[ crow ]]

There was something about the open scene of a park that made Feuer feel like all was right in the world. Perhaps it was the way the sun shone down on his alt. mode, making him a burning comet in the midst of thousands of green beings. Or it could have been the fresh air that blew passed him with every gust the wind took. Maybe it was the people who came to visit the park each day, admiring the brilliant orange car as it sat unattended on the edge of the field.

The park was definitely his favorite place to be. Practically every day he would spend some time here, by now he was sure to have drawn some rumors with the humans who lived here. The strange orange car that was always at the park, he thought. No driver or apparent owner, just one car sitting alone.

Feuer didn’t really care about what they though, it was just fun to watch their faces as once again they saw him resting.

If only they knew his secret. That would be fun.

His engine revved at the thought, startling the group of teenaged boys who were ogling him. The humans jumped back as a driver-less car made noise, frantically looking around for a wireless remote or something that could have controlled the car. But of course, there was none. Feuer gave an inward snort as the boys looked like they wanted their moms and were about ready to wet themselves. It would be better to just get rid of them now, before his paint was scratched.

”Watchu’ lookin’ at, fleshies?” He mumbled, side view mirrors tilting to catch their priceless faces. The boys were gone in a flash half screaming half falling as they dashed across the field in a disorganized mess. If cars could grin a huge one would be plastered over Feuer’s face, but he had to settle for a few beeps of his alarm.

”Kodak moment that there was,” he chortled. ”Poor boys are gunna be cryin’ and a screamin’ to their mums about the ghostly car out at the park. Poor mums are gunna think their ‘ittle boys have gone mad, they have.”

[Slug]

Thunderstruck slowly rolled into the park, silver armor gleaming in the sunlight, catching the curves of his alt mode quite nicely. His holoform grinned behind it's tinted windows at the gawking he received; he didn't mind the attention. In fact, he couldn't get enough of it. Revving his engine is delight, Thunderstruck pulled up close to a group of organic females, who immediately began to giggle, whispering hushed words to each other.

He sat there for a moment, letting the whispers stroke his ego before moving on, urging a few "aw"s from the females. He honked, his horn giving off a happy tune, making the organics start giggling again. Oh, yes, how he loved attention. "Strolling" through the park at a leisurely pace, Thunderstruck payed no heed to the nature around him, instead focusing on the vehicle that seemed to be messing around with a few humans.

Interest rearing it's ugly little head, Thunderstruck rolled over to this strange orange car-- though he'd never say it out loud, the other vehicle was additively gorgeous looking, more so than Thunderstruck himself. The odd twists of yellow on the sides of him, adding a lot of "SHAZZAM!" to the sports car. But Thunderstruck wasn't jealous, oh no. The second he realized it was a sports car, his CPU raged at him IT'S RACE TIME! and his engine revved with excitement. Where was the driver? Perhaps he could--

”Watchu’ lookin’ at, fleshies?”

That sent the humans that were gawking at the "sports car" running, earning a few meep meeps! of happiness from Thunderstruck. No. Not possible... but it was! Even better than a driver-- it was another cybertronian for sure! Inwardly squeeing, Thunderstruck untinted his windows and shut his holoform off. He sat there, then, staring at the other car who added ”Kodak moment that there was,” The sports car chortled. ”Poor boys are gunna be cryin’ and a screamin’ to their mums about the ghostly car out at the park. Poor mums are gunna think their ‘ittle boys have gone mad, they have.”

Thunderstruck decided to add his own two cents in and his radio blared on, crying Another one bites the dust` to the other cybertronian. It was a simple, but blunt message for race me, or so Thunders' hoped, anyways.

[[ crow ]]

Maybe if he had been paying attention to his surroundings (besides the boys, of course) Feuer would have noticed the sleek silver car rolling around and showing off for the humans. Maybe if he had given a damn about the fact that another Cybertronian was nearby Feuer would have done a scan. Maybe if he wasn’t worried it was someone who was trying to recruit him Feuer would have paid attention as the car rolled up besides him, windows untinted and no fleshie to steer the wheel.

Maybe if he had done anything else Feuer would have realized that the car next to him was not some pathetic Earth vehicle who had a stupid human owner that left the radio on. That was his first thought when the tempting song hit his audio receptors. But after putting some more thought into it (which included a quick scan of the car) Feuer realized that this was no Earth car.

Even better was it seemed the car wasn’t affiliated.

His engine revved and his reply was a loud Headstrong, to take on anyone from his radio. The wheels spinning in the dirt held in place as Feuer waited for the other ‘bot to make a response and he was sure there’d be ditches in the ground if he bothered to check.

A thought dawned on him suddenly. If they were actually going to race here, a place full of fleshies, it would be better for him to look… well not like a driver-less car. There was no need for more rumors of one of those to hit the humans, especially when they could inform the nearby Autobots about it. Reluctantly Feuer put up a sloppy-job of a holoform. Anyone who stared too hard could see something wasn’t right about the thin red-haired man driving an eye-grabbing car but Feuer seriously doubted anyone would be able to get a decent glimpse of him.

He’d be going too fast.

[Slug]

Thundestruck's engine roared, radio blasting Not gonna get us! and flickered on his holoform; a blonde, teenager with green eyes, grinning from ear to ear at the redhead. Oooh, how exciting! He was going to get a race after all! Giving a finger-waggle at the other holoform, Thunderstruck turned around carefully-- making sure not to hit the other car-- and pulled a reverse, rolling next to the orange cybertronian's side, his voice giddy as he said "Race you 'round the field?"

[[ crow ]]

”Sounds good ta’ me,” Feuer spoke with a grin, tempted to lean the arm of his holoform against the open window frame for affect. It would likely screw up the frail image, though, so he settled for pulling out some shades and sliding them over his gray eyes gently. A few humans had begun to gather at the sound and site of an obvious race, the two sports cars revving at each other like a broken record. Let them have their fun, the ‘bot thought as he shifted around.

”I know I’m gonna have mine,” his voice was barely above a whisper as his foot released the brake, sending his wheels turning at an insane RPM as he tore down the field.

[Slug]

Thunderstruck took off after the sports car, and he couldn't help but laugh, engine going rah rah rah rah rah~! at the vehicle in front of him. Leaning forward, Thunderstruck manually began to mess with his radio, humming under his breath. He needed a song. A song that help him concent-- aha!

"HEY HEY YOU YOU I DON'T LIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND, NO WAY NO WAY I THINK YOU NEED A NEW ONE."

Thunderstruck, with a shit-eating grin, stomped on the gaspedal, nearly hitting the car in front of him. He kept making jerking motions forward, then slowing down, then repeating it, as if to say Move faster! and said "SLOWPOKE, I CHOOSE YOU.".

[[ crow ]]

Between the song and the (poor) insult that was thrown on him, Feuer couldn’t help but tilt his head back and laugh. Suddenly he felt a whole lot more grateful for his constant visits to the park. This was one of the best days he had in ages. In his mirth he didn’t notice the patch of trees mere meters ahead and had to swerve sharply to avoid them, ending up behind his opponent.

”Not for long,” he said to himself, shifting gears automatically and swinging around so he could pan ahead of the other ‘bot. ”Pretty boy’s not taking a victory lap today.”

[Slug]

Thunderstruck giggled as the sports car before him nearly hit a group of trees, his giggling turning into laughter as the orange vehicle ended up behind them; he was sad to say, that was a disappointment. He was really hoping that he bring more of a challenge then this, though it was somewhat of the tree's fault. On cybertron there had been no obstacles, just a smooth road to race on, while the occasional building. And on the track, it was just the same thing, but without the buildings.

Thunderstruck was actually considering slowing down for the other cybertronian when all of a sudden he was right next to him, muttering under his breath. Maybe about the trees, no doubt. Tinting his windows so the other couldn't see him practically dancing in his seat, Thunderstruck then turned off his holoform. Enough with playing around, Thunderstruck thought, shutting his music off.

It's time to get serious. With a mechanical snarl from his engine, Thunderstruck put the pedal to the metal and lurched forward, kicking up all sorts of dirt from the surprise burst of speed. He'd been doing this for solarcycles, now, there was no way this fem-bot could beat him. He had experience, the engine, and willpower to win. He didn't always win, sure, but that didn't stop him, now did it?

Suddenly, his engine began to sputter, earning a startled squawk from the concept car; he began to slow down, much to his annoyance. Flickering on his holoform on, Thunderstruck glanced at his Gas Meter and blanched. Empty? EMPTY? How could he forget to refill himself? Augh!

"EMPTY MY SWEET SHINY AFT." He cried, finally coming to a stop. He tried to urge himself forward, but nothing happened. "Oh, come on! Why do I need oil anyways? On Cybertron you didn't need to refill yourself! Outrageous! Illogical! Humans and their technology suck!" He, of course, was ranting. He didn't care if the humans heard him, didn't care that the other cybertronian was going to win; what he did care-- which pissed him off rightfully so-- was that you had. To. Slagging. Refill yourself! Of all the--! "Nevermind."

[[ crow ]]

Something about almost hitting those trees struck a nerve in Feuer. For sure that would have cost him the race; it was only luck he had managed to pull up besides the other car. But that luck seemed to have run out as the other tinted his window and the sound of music abruptly cut off. Feuer only groaned and attempted to catch speed as the car zoomed in front of him. What the hell was he doing, racing this guy? It was obvious that he was a skilled, practice driver who—

Who apparently didn’t realize that fuel didn’t last forever. Feuer erupted into laughter once more as he reached top speed, passing by the car in a flash of orange and finishing the lap in a flurry of dirt or grass.

Turning to drive back for his opponent, the ‘bot picked up on cheers from random human bystanders. To be honest he wasn’t happy with how the race had turned out, but it wasn’t like he could have done anything. His racer-friend was on empty. Feuer snickered again, pulling up next to the car after he finished ranting about human technology.

”The only way you coulda been less conspicuous is if you full out transformed for these here fleshies,” he mocked. It was true, though. Feuer wouldn’t be surprised if a human was putting two and two together as he spoke. ”I’d tell ya’ to go and rant away from fleshies but ya’ can’t now can youse?” Adding insult to injury Feuer circled the other racer.

”Hope we don’t attract no others ‘cause I ain’t risking bein’ found here and I would just hate ta’ ditch ya’ in your need.”

[Slug]

”The only way you coulda been less conspicuous is if you full out transformed for these here fleshies,”

"Maybe I will!" He hurrumphed, anger flooding his sensors. ”I’d tell ya’ to go and rant away from fleshies but ya’ can’t now can youse?” The cybertronian added, only egging on Thundestruck's rage, steam curling up from under his hood and into the open air. Don't listen to him, don't listen to him, don't listen to hi--

”Hope we don’t attract no others ‘cause I ain’t risking bein’ found here and I would just hate ta’ ditch ya’ in your need.”

"That is so it, you fragging piece of ugly looking, nasty peel-me-orange, sad excuse for a sports car!"

Thundestruck rarely transformed, if ever, but today was just one of those days for him. Metal sliding against metal, a tall-- no, behemoth sized transformer, towered over the orange vehicle with a scowl on his face, diamond-clear optics narrowed in a die-mother-fragger-die! look, glowering at the sports car. He then lifted his leg, and swung!-- and instead of full out kicking the other cybertronian, Thunderstruck stopped short and ended up just giving the slightest of nudges, but it was enough to scratch a lot of paint off.

Suddenly, as if a switch was flipped, Thundestruck was grinning again, all happy and whatnot as he twisted on heel and took off running, careful not to step on any human as he laughed his way across the field.

[[ crow ]]

Feuer just laughed at the other ‘bot, wondering only slightly if he should cut down on the mocking before the mech did some serious shit. It probably wouldn’t be good to get caught in this guy’s wrath if somehow he managed to get him angry. Feuer’s engine revved once more as he pulled back and got ready to just leave the park (and subsequently the mech) in hopes of finding something else to do.

"That is so it, you fragging piece of ugly looking, nasty peel-me-orange, sad excuse for a sports car!"

…Ok he did not just say that. Yeah, that guy was in for a world of hurt now. Feuer was astroseconds away from transforming when the (larger) bot beat him to it. His engine made soft gulping noise when he saw just how big the other mech was. It was times like this when Feuer damned his small size with all his spark.

Then all went silent and still as the other mech kicked him, foot scrapping off a helluva lotta paint. The orange ‘bot did multiple scans of his self, optics widening each time it came up with the same result. And it was not a good result either, oh no. Feuer was not a happy guy now.

”I hate everyone.”

He sped off after the other mech, ignoring the cries and screams of fleshies as he transformed and launched himself at the idiot, ignoring the differences in their sizes. All he wanted to do now was get some revenge. And hell would freeze over if Feuer said sticking a piece of explosive in the mech’s back didn’t sound like a good idea.

[Slug]

Thundestruck twisted around in time to be tackled by the smaller mech, stumbling backwards with a rather animistic snarl. He'd been in battles before, sure, but the look on the orange cybertronian's face made him want to curl up in a corner. Though he didn't fall exactly, he did lose his balance; but it was a good opportunity, while the other mech was busy, he pulled out "his" scaple from a subspace pocket and pressed a button.

The scaple expand so quickly into a staff, the end of shot past his cheek, cutting it. Ignoring the burning pain that spread across his face, Thundestruck slammed the end of his staff on the ground, balancing himself as he gave himself a good shake, trying to remove the "pest" that had attached himself.

"GET OFF, YOU CITRUS-COLOURED FREAK!" Thundestruck snapped, swiping the energon knifed end of his staff at the mech.

[[ crow ]]

Feuer wondered how many times this bot could make him laugh today, even if they were locked in battle surrounded by fleshies. He just couldn’t help it though, getting injured by your own weapon was too funny! His grip loosened a little as the other finally regained balance and Feuer really wondered if he should be doing this. Sure his paint was scratched, but a fight was not something he wanted.

"GET OFF, YOU CITRUS-COLOURED FREAK!"

Never mind, pretty boy was going to get a beating for that one. His hand snatched at the small pack of explosives on his side, reaching to activate the timer when the knifed portion of the spear swung his way, getting a good shot on his arm. Feuer cursed silently in his native language, dropping off his enemy/opponent/whatever the pit this guy was and examined the wound.

Nothing major, he decided, picking up the explosives he dropped and setting of the timer. ”For a split second I felt bad for thinking of this idea,” Feuer started, tossing the pack in the air. ”Then I realized I’d be riddin’ all worlds of a piece of scrap, worthless dumbaft.” With his uninjured arm, Feuer wacked the falling pack toward the other mech, giving a lazy wave as if to say ’I’m not really sorry.’

[Slug]

Thundestruck just grinned at the mech when he cursed,

”For a split second I felt bad for thinking of this idea,”

Thundestruck paused, then began twirling his staff, a scowl on his face. He slipped in a "You just might be right." He muttered, optics starting to glow as he warily watched as the mech tossed the-- bomb? It was a bomb, right?-- up into the air. He felt the heat behind his optics grow, and his finger twitched.

”Then I realized I’d be riddin’ all worlds of a piece of scrap, worthless dumbaft.”

"IKnowWhatYourAreButWhatAmI?" He rushed, the scowl never leaving his face as his optics glowed white as they shot out a beam when the mech hit the pack toward him, the beam just strong enough to activate the explosive before it reached him...

BOOM!

[[ crow ]]

"IKnowWhatYourAreButWhatAmI?"

Words had no meaning to Feuer though. Rain could flood down from the heavens and threaten to rust him to death and he wouldn’t care about it. All that mattered was the divine burst of light taking place in front of him. “Gorgeous,” he whispered as his optics focused on the explosion, taking in every second of the blast before it ended in smoke.

He stretched a few fingers out, as if to grab the fleeting smoke, his senses dull to anything that wasn’t the remnants of what just occurred. In his mind Feuer could still see the oranges and yellows and whites and all other colors of the blast and he savored the memory, replaying over and over and over because it would never lose its novelty.

Slowly he was brought back from his space-out time by an annoying beep from his systems check, informing him that the previous spear wound had done more damage that he first thought and that a piece of shrapnel had bedded itself in his side.

”Don’t get me wrong, I love me some shrapnel.” He prodded the silver of metal that was still smoking. ”Just ain’t the best thing ta’ have inside ya’.