TPF. Autobot Outpost Omega One, C&D Car Wash and Dallas MacKenzie's House. Wash and Wear?

[dens_extra_pups]

Denver: *leafing through a 'Car and Driver' magazine idly* *stops, STARES. Shows the magazine page she's boggling at to Jack*

Jack: *glance, GLANCE. Facepalm*

Denver: Ain't so bad wh'n 't ain't a *BLEEEP*in' 'Con.

Jack: ...I think I'll stick with motorcycles.

Denver: *chuckle, back to thumbing through the magazine* Oooo, th't's nahce...


Elsewhere


Knockout: *so blissed out that he's nearly falling out of alt mode. There is a tall, husky redhead in a tied up T shirt just adding the finishing touches to a GLEAMING shine*

Dallas: *finishes polishing the fancy car, and moves to start shining the hubcaps. She's getting paid to make this car look good, and darnit, she's gonna be thorough!*

Knockout: *can't contain a shudder of delight at the operation*

Dallas: *blinks a bit, shakes her head* Must be imaginin' things... *back to work!*

Knockout: *quickly... approaching... delirium...*

Cat: *over in another wash bay, working on the big, very muddy pickup truck that's parked there* *looks over her shoulder* Hey, Dal, where'd you put the scrubbing sponge?

Dallas: *as she works on making the hubcaps of the car GLEAM* It's in the same place it always is, Cat.

Knockout: *and then he remembers that he paid for interior cleaning too. Bliiissss*

Cat: *mutters about unhelpful co-workers, goes to get the scrubbing sponge*

Knockout: *unfavourable glance for the copper haired partner in her platform flipflops, who has no idea of the proper treatment of a being like himself. Then once more turns his attention to the shapely auburn haired beauty who is taking such tender care of his rims* *inaudible sigh*

Dallas: *absently humming something she heard on the radio earlier as she works*

Knockout: *studies the bare toes that are curling beneath her as she hunkers, noting that she's wearing a darker red finish on them than she usually does. Thinks it looks alright- it's not too different from his own red. Then contemplates the hazel eyes and is surprised to find himself thinking how pretty they look*

Dallas: *double-checks that she got every visible surface on the rims shined to her satisfaction*

Cat: *back to work on the muddy pickup truck that's in her bay... And as she works, more and more of the tan and navy finish on it is revealed, including an interesting looking hood ornament...*

Knockout: *is pleased to have gotten his redhead's work schedule. Now he'll be able to buy tickets only for days when she's working*

Cat: *as she works* So how many times has that fancy car's owner dropped it off now, Dal? Six times? Seven?

Dallas: *as she moves to get the interior detailing items* You know, I could ask you the same thing with that truck, kitty-cat.

Cat: Yeah, yeah... At least this truck's owner pays me well.... One time, Mr. Fancypants stopped by when you were grocery shopping, and he didn't even leave a tip... Then, the day you were sick, he didn't even bother stopping when he realized you weren't here. And besides, this truck doesn't blow me outta the bay with ninja death metal like that green SUV did that time. Which was pretty awesome now that I think about it. *cackle*

Knockout: *freezes as he hears 'ninja death metal'. Cautious scan of his neighbour in the next bay*

Dallas: You deserved the butt-kicking I gave you for the noise. *back with all the good interior cleaning and detailing stuff*

Autobot signature: *right there in the bay next door.... Doesn't seem to have noticed you yet, Knockout.... and as more dirt and grime get washed off the front of the truck, not only is an Autobot insignia hood ornament visible, there's also a logo that looks almost like what a certain pair of femmes was wearing....*

Knockout: *mental shuttering of optics and exasperated bowing of head. Then mutes his energy readings as much as he can*

Cat: You're just jealous that the truckers and SUV drivers like me best. *razz*

Dallas: *as she carefully moves to start interior detailing* As if.

Knockout: *so not here. So not here. So not here... Does NOT want this wonderfully pleasant time interrupted*

Dallas: *mutters to herself* At least this car's owner keeps his car clean.... *armor-all wipe out and starting with the dash*

truck in the next bay: *might've just squeaked as Cat started scrubbing under their wheel wells*

Knockout: *so not here, so not here!*

Dallas: *more humming as she works, getting into all the nooks and crannies*

Knockout: *mentally gritting his teeth. Wants to enjoy this! Then he perks and sends a message*

something: *blows up out on the edge of the industrial part of town*

truck: *groan of protest is drowned out by the sound of a high-power hose being used*

something else: *explodes*

Cat: *looks up* What the %$#%#$%$# was that?

Dallas: .... *frowning muchly now* Cat, you've got first aid training, right?

Cat: *nods, understanding what her friend means* I'll be back soon.... but if I'm not... *moves to stick a note in the glovebox of the truck, along with a coupon for a free wash* *heads to grab the first aid kit before hopping onto her scooter and heading off*

something else: *BOOM!*

Breakdown: //Hey, Autobot, did you slaggin' go to sleep?//

Knockout: *mental face palm at his friend*

Torque: *low growl that almost sounds like his engine revving* //Go take a long walk off a cliff, Breakdown!//

Dallas: *frowning to herself as she checks under the floor mats out of habit*

Torque: *and gone!*

Knockout: *relaxes, and then winces and shivers as Dallas finds that pebble that's been evading him for the past five days*

Dallas: .... *slowly sitting up, live baby turtle in hand* Okay, now I know I'm not imagenin' things...

baby turtle: *wiggling legs and trying to get away from the big thing holding him*

Knockout: *can't contain a startled and squeamish squawk as he spots the thing in his redhead's hand*

Dallas: *startled curse as she topples out of the car backwards*

baby turtle: *freedom! Making a break for it now*

Knockout: *transforms without thinking and catches the woman. Scans her for damage, then stares at her with utter startlement for several moments before setting her down, running from the bay, transforming, and roaring away*

Dallas: ..... *stare*

baby turtle: *under her leg*

Cat: *pulling up on her scooter a few minutes later* %$#%$#%#$% Police wouldn't let me get cl.... Aw, for crying out loud. I wasn't done washing the truck!

Dallas: .... *blink blink blink* Er.... Cat.... I'm gonna go home early....

Cat: Alright. *scowl* I was just trying to help out, but the stupid police had sectioned off the road....

Dallas: *moving to get her motorcycle going, and her helmet on* *still trying to figure out what the heck just happened*

baby turtle: *toddles out where Cat can see him*

Cat: .... Awww! *moves to scoop the little turtle up* Look at you! Aren't you just the cutest little turtle ever?

baby turtle: ... *pee*

Cat: *moves to wash up, and to find a temporary container for the baby turtle to hang out in till she can get him a proper terrarium*

Dallas: *shakes her head at her friend's crazy zoo antics and drives off*


That evening


Dallas: *sitting on what passes for the front porch of her tiny adobe house, watching the sun set. A breeze has made the cheap cotton curtains over one open window flutter inwards, and has sent a large amount of cottonwood seeds flying everywhere. As the light over the roof of the tiny porch flickers, the redhead continues to stare out into the distance*

Knockout: *is a soft whisper of engine as he very carefully creeps up the rutted and slightly winding two trail track that serves as a driveway here. Has found that he can't get the look on his redhead's face out of his mind and so he's coming to check on her*

Dallas: *looks toward the engine sounds, moving to get to her feet* *nobody ever comes this way for anything good, so the redhead is now on high alert as she moves to get her baseball bat* *looking out over the dead and dying grass and scrub that makes up her front yard*

Knockout: *going so slowly as he comes into sight. Then notices the little house and shuts off his engine and lights as he looks at it from the edge of the overgrown open space that surrounds it*

Dallas: .... *squinting and trying to see into the growing darkness*

Knockout: *...she looks alright. That's good. He feels relief... till a flash of spring lightening shoots across the sky and is followed by a crack of thunder* Black!

Dallas: *startled shriek at the lightening and thunder, stumbles and trips over her own feet*

Knockout: *is the two large, warm hands that just caught her before she could land* *quietly* It's alright. You're safe. It can't hit you with these trees around us. *is shaking a bit himself. He's been hit by lightening. And once it wasn't even because some Autobot had tied him to a flag pole*

Dallas: *shaking and hunkering down. Is starting to hyperventilate and work herself up to a perfect mess of fright at the idea of being outside in a storm*

Knockout: *surprised to feel distress at her actions* *quietly and a bit desperately* You're not afraid of me, are you?

Dallas: *manages to lift her head enough to peek* *is just a bit pale* *flinches as another flash of lightening, followed shortly by a loud rumble of thunder, happens*

Knockout: *shelters her from the drops, even though he knows what it will do to his beautiful finish* Shhh. You're safe. You're safe.

Dallas: *taking comfort in being held, will carefully rest her head against the armor and listen to the sounds of the being holding her*

Knockout: *firming his chin at the strange sensations that holding this little trusting being is bringing up in him. There is no disgust, no fear of icky squishes, only a fierce protectiveness and the knowledge that he would punch Bulkhead in the face to defend her*

Dallas: *flinches during particularly loud rumbles of thunder, though she doesn't try to get away from Knockout. It's not him that frightens her, instead, he makes her feel safe, and as the storm passes, she relaxes*

Knockout: *lets out a deep whoosh of air as he realizes that the thunder and lightening have moved away* There, now we're really safe. *peers down at her to check on her*

Dallas: *quietly* Good.... I can't stand storms.... *is moving to wipe down where her head was resting*

Knockout: I've been hit by lightening too many times to like even the weak little storms of this world. *lifts his head and looks around, then sighs* I'm filthy again.

Dallas: ... Well, the roads will be clear, and Cat will be at home by now...

Knockout: *perks* Isn't it the time that you humans need to lay down and shut off? I don't want to cause you any damage.

Dallas: *chuckle* It's only seven thirty. *bit of a saucy smirk* My curfew's not till eleven.

Knockout: ... *stares down at her with a slightly brain broken expression. Is she flirting with him???*

Dallas: The sooner we get you cleaned up, the better. And I seem to recall that I didn't even get halfway done with detailing your interior.

Knockout: *winces and looks away slightly* I still can't believe I blew my cover like that. Er... *looks back* What happened to that disgusting bug?

Dallas: ...Bug? It was a turtle... and Cat took it home with her.

Knockout: *shudders and gently sets her down on the driest patch of ground he can see* I thought it was a pebble from my latest forced visit to a ditch.

Dallas: ... Someone forced you into a ditch? *scowling now*

Knockout: Oh yes. It's become a hobby for certain people. *stands and brushes at himself, frowning as he realizes that wet poplar fluff STICKS*

Dallas: *so much scowl* They'd better hope I never find out who they are, or where they're parked.

Knockout: *looks down at her with slight alarm* No. Dallas, don't go near them.

Dallas: ... *hands on hips* And why not? I'm a big girl, I can handle myself in a fight.

Knockout: *shakes his head* Oh no. You don't want to get near those people.

Dallas: *small frown* Alright. I promise I won't go near 'em. *looks up to the being's face* So how do I tell who they are? And what do I call you?

Knockout: *quirks an eyebrow and smirks down at her* Me? I'm Knockout.

Dallas: *can totally see the swagger behind his words, and the flippant humor* Knockout, huh? Suits ya.

Knockout: *smirk grows* I know. *and then he's serious again as he bends down and scratches two symbols into the bare ground by her back doorstep* The people you need to avoid are wearing these badges. Sometimes one or the other, and in at least one case, both.

Dallas: *studying the symbols and frowning* The truck that comes in sometimes... I've seen both of those symbols on it...

Knockout: *dramatic sigh* I know. But if you're willing to tend to my cleaning and detailing here, I won't need to visit the carwash anymore. And as long as you never mention me, you'll be perfectly safe around them.

Dallas: Well, I've been meaning to get someone out here to put a concrete driveway in.... Just never got around to it.... *slight quirk of a grin* But now I have a better reason than convenience.

Knockout: *can't conceal his thrilled expression, though the bragging snark is still there too* You'd do that for me? I'm flattered!

Dallas: Hey, it benefits both of us. During monsoon season, I have to either stay in town with Cat... *pulls a face* Or I have to call in favors to get a ride with someone who has 4-wheel drive.

Knockout: *surprises himself by crouching down and very carefully touching her little face with one finger* Both fates worse than death. You deserve a much more classy mode of transportation.

Dallas: *can't help the blush that comes to her face at Knockout's touch* *teasing light in her eyes now* Is that an offer then?

Knockout: *thinks about it, but then nods* Though I do have a day job. I have to run around at my boss's beck and call till he's moved on to something more creative, like shooting at the Steves.

Dallas: ...Steves?

Knockout: *airy wave with his free hand* Oh you know. The rank and file that are so uninspiring that it's nearly impossible to tell them apart. *even after Breakdown started painting numbers on them* And who come and go so quickly that it's really not worth your time to bother trying.

Dallas: Gotcha. The stupid grunts. *nod* One of my cousins used to tell stories about what some of those types would do when he was on active duty.

Knockout: *takes his hand away from her face as he becomes distracted by the itch of a sticky tree bud that's landed on his shoulder* *absently* Active duty?

Dallas: Yeah.... He was in the Air Force, last I knew.... But that was almost eight years ago, and the last I heard from him, he was living out east... *shrug*

Knockout: Ah. *scowl for that bud* What the scrap is this?

Dallas: Cottonwood bud. Which is part of why we should get you cleaned up ASAP.

Knockout: *tries to flick the bud. Optics widen as it sticks to every finger he tries to flick with*

Dallas: ... And that's the other part. *trying not to be amused*

Knockout: *flailahand!*

Dallas: Hang on... *goes to what passes for a garage but is really just a tiny tin shed* *is going to retrieve cleaning supplies*

Knockout: Whatever you do, don't record this. *wipe finger on ground and sigh with relief as the bud stays there*

Dallas: *back with cleaning wipes* ... What would I record it with?

Knockout: *turns head toward her and opens mouth, then quirks brow* ...I have no idea. I just know that if that had happened where I work I would have been bombarded on all sides by captures of it.

Dallas: .... The people you work with are $#%$#%$#%#%.

Knockout: *slight smirk* So am I.

Dallas: *dirty rotten grin* Good thing I'm a %$#%$%#$%.

Knockout: *smirk becomes a lazy smile* So, where do you want me?

Dallas: Well, if I wash you here, you'll get grimey heading back to the road....

Knockout: *frowns and looks toward the road* Hmmmm.

Dallas: The shop's closed.... To everyone who doesn't have a key..... Luckily, I happen to have a key.

Knockout: *slight smile returns as he looks down at her* Private service. Niiiice.

Dallas: Let's get going then. *moves to go get her shoes on*

Knockout: *walks out to the front and transforms, then leans to one side on his tires as a deer comes tiptoeing over to sniff him* Shoo.

Dallas: *back out, snerks as the deer scampers* Ah, the joys of dodging suicide Bambi....

Knockout: *eloquent shudder* Er... I understand some humans keep... "pets". Do you...?

Dallas: No. For one, I don't have room for that, for another, I'm not insane like Cat.

Knockout: *opens the driver door for her* Aw yes, she took that bug.

Dallas: *carefully getting in* Yeah.... She's also taken in stray cats.... At least she takes 'em to get spayed and neutered.... so she is a responsible pet owner.

Knockout: *she'll be able to feel his wince...*

Dallas: *dryly* It'd be so much worse if she didn't. Kittens everywhere.

Knockout: Yes. I was just reminded of a promise made by the bond brother of a former girlfriend. *shuts door and slowly turns and starts down the driveway, his mind flashing back unpleasantly to the last time he'd seen Lockdown*

Dallas: Bond brother?

Knockout: Yes, it's when you decide that you like someone so much that you simply have to be related to them. *snort*

Dallas: .... And I thought my relatives were nuts.

Knockout: They aren't Decepticons or bounty hunters, are they? *reaches the end of the driveway and turns toward town*

Dallas: ... Probably worse. Most of 'em are rednecks.

Knockout: *dry amusement* I wouldn't count on it.


Half an hour later


Knockout: *as they come into town* Do you need fuel?

Dallas: I ate dinner if that's what you mean....

Knockout: Alright. *driving along at a leisurely speed, though he slows as he notices the blue motorcycle in the lot of the drive through up ahead, and then turns off onto a side street*

Dallas: *not paying attention to any of the other vehicles on the road or in parking lots, though she does notice the slowing* Something wrong?

Knockout: No. I just feel like going this way.

Breakdown: *dings Knockout's comm from where he's parked in the parking lot across the road from the human fuel depot*

Knockout: *teeth gritted tone* //What do you want? I'm busy.//

Breakdown: *snort* //Yeah, right. Did ya see how ticked off ol' Torky got?// *sounds far too amused for his own good*

Knockout: //No. I have better things to do than watch mudpuppies curse, or oogle bonded female Autobots.//

Breakdown: //...I'm not oogling her. I'm doing recon. What's got your gears in a grind?//

Knockout: //Yeah right. I heard you bragging to Steve about 'tapping that' the other day.// *snort* //I told you. I'm busy. Doing something important.//

Breakdown: //Whatever.... You know the wash bay's closed, right?//

Knockout: *so much smugness* //Not to me.//

Breakdown: //...How the scrap did you manage that?//

Knockout: //Because, Breakdown. I'm Batman.// *hangs up*

Dallas: *absently watching the sky now*

Knockout: *shivers* Are you already polishing my steering wheel?

Dallas: *blink blink, looks down. Soft snerk as she realizes that while her eyes were on the skies, she was absently rubbing her thumb on Knockout's steering wheel* Sorry, didn't mean to distract you...

Knockout: *slightly sheepish tone to his voice along with the swagger* Ah, it was a pleasant distraction, at least.

Dallas: Oh, really? *bit of a stinker grin as she moves to find where else he might be ticklish*

Knockout: *amusement in his voice* Now what do you think you're doing?

Dallas: *teasing tone to her voice* You'll see.... *starting with the top of the dashboard, she'll lightly brush her fingers over every surface she can reach*

Knockout: *amusement increases* That's not going to work...

Dallas: *moves to underneath the steering wheel then!*

Knockout: *laughing* Nope.

Dallas: *light of challenge in her eyes now, will slooooowwwly brush her fingertips over the steering wheel*

Knockout: *shivers and sighs* That just feels good.

Dallas: I figured.... *chuckle, will reach down to brush her fingers along the gear shift*

Knockout: Nope.

Dallas: *snerk*

Knockout: *airy smugness* I don't think I'm ticklish.

Dallas: Spoilsport.

Knockout: Let's think of happy things. Like music. *starts his stereo up*

Dallas: *offers up a few suggestions. Her tastes, thankfully, do not include any form of death metal*

Knockout: *shows her his favourites. Doesn't notice that her keys just slipped out of her pocket and into his seat*

Dallas: *does notice that, will carefully go fishing for her keys, being mindful not to scratch the leather*

Knockout: *jumps right off the street with a yelp and then heads blindly toward a fire hydrant!*

Dallas: *startled shriek* *both hands on the wheel and frantically steering Knockout away from the fire hydrant*

Knockout: *stops his startled rush and just sits there by the curb and shivers*

Dallas: *pale and shaky. Has poor Knockout's steering wheel in a near deathgrip*

Knockout: *throat clearing sound* Ah... well, I guess I am ticklish. *sounds embarrassed and shaken*

Dallas: *quietly, her voice a bit high from fright* No touchy while driving.

Knockout: *kneads her back with the seat without thinking* At least not the cracks between seat sections. Are you damaged?

Dallas: *shakily* N-No, I-I don't think so....

Knockout: *scans her* I don't know much about humans but... oh. You're leaking from your skin?

Dallas: *heart rate is also elevated, as is her rate of respiration* *hand to forehead* *quietly* That.... was scary.

Knockout: *feels genuine remorse at stressing her so* *quietly* Let's get to the carwash.

Dallas: Y-Yeah....

Knockout: *pulls away from the curb and drives carefully toward their destination* You're sure you're not damaged?

Dallas: *deep breaths for a few moments, then she nods* Yeah, I'll be fine.

Knockout: But the leaking? *mental frown*

Dallas: Humans sweat sometimes if they're scared.

Knockout: Ahhhh. *more gentle kneading of back*

Dallas: *more deep breaths*

Knockout: *arrives shortly at the carwash, only to stop with dismay as he sees a light on in the office*

Dallas: *frowns as she sees the light*

Knockout: *finds himself in a stare down with a large, fluffy orange cat that is tied to the pipe by the office door* ...

Dallas: .... That might be Steeljaw.

Knockout: *stiffens* What?

Dallas: Cat named him. He wasn't very friendly when she rescued him from the drainage pipe, and she's still got the scars from him sinking his fangs into her hand.

Knockout: ...And she kept the thing around. *is now regarding the creature with wariness*

Dallas: Cat's insane. She's just not a crazy cat lady yet.

Knockout: *interior shudders delicately* So now what do we do?

Dallas: Let me out, and I'll send Cat home.

Knockout: *quietly pops door and opens it*

Dallas: *carefully gets out and heads for the office* *and a few minutes later, Cat's emerging from the office, untying Steeljaw from the pipe and heading off into the night*

Knockout: *watches the copper-haired woman and her hair-shedding minion with disfavour*

Cat: *is soon out of sight*

Knockout: *low growl*

Dallas: *emerges from the office and moves to get her bay set up with everything she needs to give Knockout a thorough washing*

Knockout: *coasts smoothly and silently toward the bay, though he won't go in till she's ready*

Dallas: *absent 'hmm' as she double-checks the temperature of the water from the sprayer*

Knockout: I think something just hissed in the scrap container.

Dallas: ... It's probably a raccoon. Again. *absent glance toward the dumpster*

Knockout: *blares horn*

Dallas: *as the terrified raccoon makes itself scarce* Nice.

Knockout: *wicked chuckle* Thank you.

Dallas: Okay. Temperature of the water's good, and I've got everything ready.

Knockout: That's my cue. *drives in and parks*

Dallas: *starts by carefully spraying down Knockout with comfortably warm water*

Knockout: *deep sigh* So what do you do in your free time? -Wait, am I flirting again? Aww, but she so adorable when she's making me shiny!-

Dallas: *as she sprays warm water over Knockout's chassis* Depends on the day.... I usually cook on Sundays, so I can have lunch and dinner throughout the week.... I also work on my motorcycle, so I can get it nice enough to sell....

Knockout: *mild surprise* You're selling it?

Dallas: Yeah... Getting kinda sick of having to pick bugs out of my teeth, even with a helmet.... I'm not selling my leathers though.

Knockout: Leathers? Isn't that an upholstery material?

Dallas: In cars and on motorcycles, it is. I've got pants, gloves, boots, and a jacket made from leather, which is my riding gear. Keeps me from getting too scraped up when I wipe out.

Knockout: *winces* Oh, yes. Good idea.

Dallas: Which is part of why I'm selling the bike. *sprays along quarterpanels*

Knockout: You'll need something for while I'm at work. *frown in his voice*

Dallas: *chuckle* I've already had really good offers for the bike. Upwards of eight thousand.

Knockout: Seriously? Humans want to spread themselves over the pavement that badly?

Dallas: *as she moves to Knockout's back bumper* Some people have more money than brains.

Knockout: Ah yes. Like your friend.

Dallas: Cat's insane, but she's not that insane. She rides a freaking Vespa, for crying out loud.

Knockout: Yes, quaint little thing. Errrr. Yes, please scrub there.

Dallas: *directs a more concentrated stream to where she just went over*

Knockout: *deep sigh* Those 'tree buds' itch.

Dallas: I bet.... *moving around to the grill*

Knockout: *coyly* Have I many bugs in my teeth?

Dallas: *snerk* *spray right up the grill*

Knockout: *sputter! Cough! SNEEZE! HORN BLARE* BLRRRGLE!

Dallas: *moving to shut the water off for the moment, will start scrubbing using the high-quality soap*

Knockout: *ejects water from his radiator and sputters*

Dallas: *scrubbing tree buds and bug guts off of Knockout's grill*

Knockout: *deep sigh* I think I'll keep you.

Dallas: *blink blink, looks up as she scrubs* Er.... Thank you?

Knockout: Err. *embarrassed silence* I mean thank you. *blinking at self inwardly and feeling flustered, which he isn't used to doing if Megatron's not shooting at him*

Dallas: ... *back to work on scrubbing*

Knockout: So... no hobbies?

Dallas: Not really.... *shrug, scrub scrub scrub*

Knockout: *bites off an offer to be her hobby and goes o.0 at himself*

Dallas: *once she's gotten the gunk off, she's switching to the soft side of the sponge*

Knockout: *absently plays some music of one of the types she mentioned earlier*

Dallas: *small smile as she works*

Knockout: So how long have you lived here?

Dallas: About ten years.... After I left home to see the world.

Knockout: Really? How old are you?

Dallas: I'll be twenty-six in a few weeks....

Knockout: ...Is that a mature age for your species?

Dallas: Pfffft! As if!

Knockout: *starts* You're still a... er... larva?

Dallas: .... I'm not a kid, but I'm not even close to being ready for retirement...

Knockout: ...And what's 'retirement'?

Dallas: It's when someone who's been working for a long time, usually to age sixty-five or thereabouts, no longer works for a living, and lives off of the money they've saved up.

Knockout: ...So you are mature. Not a 'kid' anymore.

Dallas: Physically, yes. I'm an adult. There're times when I feel like I'm still sixteen though.... *chuckle* *looks up* Since you know my age now, how old are you?

Knockout: Err... I stopped counting at six million.

Dallas: 0_0 Six.... Million....

Knockout: We're built to last.

Dallas: ... Wow....

Knockout: But I dare say that I'm in about the same age level as you.

Dallas: ... Heh.... I can live with that. *scrubs and cleans the headlights*

Knockout: Scrap that feels good.

Dallas: Heh.... *scrub scrub scrub*


Later, after Dallas has finished cleaning and detailing Knockout...


Knockout: *can't purr, but he's sitting there making a very contented engine rumble*

Dallas: *curled up in Knockout's front seat, has kicked her shoes off again, and is just enjoying the satisfaction of sitting in a freshly cleaned and detailed car*

Knockout: *slowly returns to a state more resembling consciousness instead of happy zonked* *sigh*

Dallas: *starting to nod off a bit*

Knockout: *considers his options. Makes a little nestling motion with his driver seat*

Dallas: *soft, absent sound, snuggle*

Knockout: Well I don't have anywhere to go.

Dallas: *sleepily* Gotta get pajamas on 'n sleep....

Knockout: Hmmm? Oh? Where do you get those? *still half asleep himself*

Dallas: *mumble* Back home....

Knockout: *sigh* Oh, yes. Right. Home. *unfolds an arm and pushes the door up, then drives out of the bay*

Dallas: *snuggles down into the seat*

Knockout: *checks for human presence, and then pulls the door back down* Does this need to be secured?

Dallas: *sleepily* Hm?

Knockout: The door. To keep unwanted visitors out?

Dallas: *blink blink* Prolly... *moving to get out*

Knockout: *opens the door slowly so that she can support herself on it if she needs to* *is quite used to start of shift Breakdown unsteadiness*

Dallas: *moves to lock up shop, is only slightly unsteady as she double-checks everything*

Knockout: *watching her protectively, his engine idling as he holds his door open for her*

Breakdown: *from the nearby shadows* ...You let a human sit inside you?

Knockout: *suddenly crouching in root mode with a gun aimed right at his best friend's grill*

Breakdown: *in root mode before Dallas has even had time to turn around fully, weapon at the ready*

Dallas: 0_0 *flattens herself against the bay door*

Knockout: *optics flash with ire* Now what do you want, Breakdown?

Breakdown: *scowl* Lord Megatron wants us to report back to base.

Knockout: *folds gun up* What?

Breakdown: He said something about proving loyalties. *scowling towards the human now*

Dallas: *just went a bit pale from fright*

Knockout: *sudden dangerous look* Breakdown, did you say anything about my being here?

Breakdown: *gives his friend a bit of an "Are you nuts?" look* Scrap, no.

Knockout: Then what triggered this bout of insecurity?

Breakdown: Starscream's signal's close by. And rumor is Airachnid's starting to lose favor with Megatron.

Knockout: Only starting? *sigh* The amazing intelligence of our leader always stuns me.

Breakdown: ... What are you talking about?

Knockout: *rolls optics* Just go home, Breakdown. You never found me.

Breakdown: ... *doing a bit of fast thinking* Right.... All I saw was that stupid Wrecker, Torqued-off. *snickers at his own joke and moves to head off into the night*

Knockout: *turns and bends to gently offer his hands to Dallas* //Lord Megatron, I just heard your summons. What's happened?//

Dallas: *moving to hide in Knockout's hands, willing her heart rate to slow*

Megatron: //That is a matter best left for private discussion, Knockout.// *sounds just a bit more agitated than normal*

Knockout: //Well I'm afraid it will have to wait, my lord. I've just gotten over an attack from an unpleasant native life form, I'm exhausted, and I need rest. I'm sorry, but I have no choice.//

Megatron: *can you just hear the grinding of dentae, Knockout?*

Knockout: *coughs and grumbles about it to himself even as he gently rubs Dallas' back with one thumb and brings her close to his chest plating where she can be warmed by his own body heat*

Dallas: *deep breaths, deep breaths, the scary stuff's over*

Megatron: *frustrated* //Very well. But I anticipate your return to the ship at the earliest possible moment, Knockout.//

Knockout: *fiddles with his reply so that it sounds like he's having voice trouble due to low energy* //Of... of course, my lord. It... grieves... me to... be... unable... to....//*fizzzzz*

Megatron: *bit of a growl before he signs off*

Knockout: *slight smirk as he shuts off his communicator and looks down at the woman in his hands*

Dallas: *snuggled as close to Knockout's chest as she can get* *still a bit pale, but not nearly as much as she was when Breakdown was scowling at her*

Knockout: *softly, as his hand goes from back rub to shelter* Breakdown is relatively harmless.

Dallas: *quietly* Still scary as ^%$$%$#%#$^ when you're not expecting someone to be there besides you, Knockout....

Knockout: Yes. I think this is the first time he's ever gotten the jump on me. I'll have to talk to him about it later. Like when it's time for his next routine maintenance check.

Dallas: *small nod*

Knockout: *surprisingly gentle voice* I'd better get you home. My boss has called an emergency meeting, and there's only so long I can drag my feet.

Dallas: *quietly* Alright....

Knockout: *also quiet* Are you still alright with my coming again?

Dallas: *nod*

Knockout: *one finger curls around and touches her cheek* Are you sure?

Dallas: *nod* Yeah.... Just put a bell collar or something on your friend, so he can't ninja around.

Knockout: *snort* More like a rhinotaur in a crystal garden. He won't do that again.

Dallas: Good.

Knockout: *very gently sets her down and then transforms and opens his driver side door*

Dallas: *moves to get in* *gently brushes her fingers across Knockout's steering wheel*

Knockout: *slight shiver and a chuckle as he folds out an arm and offers her keys to her*

Dallas: Thanks... *drops her keys into her bra, so they won't fall out of a pocket again*

Knockout: *returns arm to door mode and shuts it* Do you want any music?

Dallas: Sure.... *small smile* And a seatbelt.

Knockout: ...Seat... belt?

Dallas: Yeah... It helps keep people in their seats when they're in a moving vehicle.

Knockout: *sits and thinks for a moment, looks at the internet, and then suddenly a five point harness is snaking out from the edges of the seat and clicking into place around Dallas* How's that?

Dallas: That works. *grin*

Knockout: *turns on the stereo and switches between stations till he finds a song about a biker girl. Music softly playing, he heads toward Dallas' house*

Dallas: *chuckles softly as she hears the song, gently holds onto the steering wheel to make it look like she's the one driving, so no cops pull Knockout over*

Knockout: *sees a late night drive through and pulls through the driveway, popping a credit card out of a space on his dash* How about... *reads the menu* Milk shake?

Dallas: ... *just a bit derp now* If you play that, you're not gettin' detailed next time.

Knockout: ... *sounds puzzled* It's on the fuel list.

Dallas: ... *blink blink* *looks* .... Wow. I really am zonked.

Knockout: *reading* Double chocolate soda? Rootbeer float?

Dallas: Double chocolate soda sounds good....

Knockout: *rolls down the window so that she can press the button that says "Press here to order."*

Dallas: *unbuckles and leans to push the button*

female voice: What would you like?

Dallas: What sizes do y'all's double chocolate sodas come in?

female voice: *laughs* Disappointing, sane, insane, and suicidal.

Dallas: .... Disappointing then. *doesn't trust herself with anything bigger*

female voice: You sure? That's less than twelve ounces.

Dallas: I'm sure.

voice: Alright. That'll be a dollar fifty, pickup at the window. You can pay by credit card or debit here at the sign. *light blinks by a card slot*

Dallas: *will pay for the drink with Knockout's credit card*

Knockout: *idling softly and playing quiet music as he watches the transaction*

sign: *spits out receipt and beeps*

Dallas: *grabs the receipt and the card*

Knockout: *pulls forward to the window, where a dark skinned, tired-faced woman with grey hair is leaning her elbows and holding the covered tray with Dallas' order in it.

Dallas: *as she moves to accept the tray* Thanks....

woman: *wan but cheerful grin* You're welcome, hon. Have a good night.

Dallas: You too. *moves to buckle back up with one hand*

Knockout: *rolls up the window and waits till the woman turns away before strapping Dallas in and pulling forward*

Dallas: *quick glance around, then she's carefully sipping at her soda with the straw that came with it* *soft, pleased sound as she discovers a little packet of chocolate animal crackers tucked into the tray*

Knockout: *perks at the sound* What is it?

Dallas: Chocolate animal crackers. Haven't had those in awhile...

Knockout: ... *puzzled and curious* That's not the fuel you ordered, though, is it?

Dallas: I guess the lady must'a tucked it in as a bonus....

Knockout: Bonus?

Dallas: *nod* Yeah....

Knockout: I hate to admit it, but I don't understand. *cruising at the speed limit toward the outskirts of town*

Dallas: I'll explain it when I'm not zonked.

Knockout: Ah. Yes. You'll be back at base soon. *kneads her back*

Dallas: *careful as she drinks her soda. Will save the crackers for when she's not riding in Knockout*


Another half hour later


Knockout: *slowing to turn onto Dallas' driveway, and then slowing further as the deer bounds away in front of him in the glow of his lights*

Dallas: *snerk* Suicidal deer.... That one is not.

Knockout: I think it's eating the smallest trees. *sounds a bit bemused as he checks the driveway for those disgusting messes that animals often leave. Reassured at seeing nothing, he proceeds a little more quickly*

Dallas: Doesn't surprise me...

Knockout: Is that their natural fuel? *up to the house and around the back, then opens his door and retracts the safety straps*

Dallas: *as she moves to get up* Plants? Yeah.... Deer are herbivores, but they also like salt licks....

Knockout: Hmmm. Maybe it's a good thing to have around then.

Dallas: *soft snerk* Yeah, but they also eat darn near everything I tried planting in the garden.....

Knockout: Planting in the garden? *transforms and looks down at her*

Dallas: Yeah.... I went through a phase where I was trying to grow as much of my own food as I could.... The deer ate all the baby veggies before I could save 'em....

Knockout: I see. *turns his head and pops out his gun*

Dallas: It was years ago.... Just easier to buy stuff in town.... *doesn't sound too bothered by that*

Knockout: They'd be very easy to eradicate. Ah hah! There you are. *aims into the shadows under the trees*

Dallas: *frown* Wouldn't doing that cause the people you're trying to avoid to notice you?

Knockout: *blinks and looks down* These things aren't people are they?

Dallas: They're animals... *small frown as she looks towards the road* Plus, I think there's a cop that likes to camp out near here to try and catch speeders.... *doesn't want Knockout to put himself at risk, even if he's trying to do her a favor*

Knockout: *frowns, but then perks and folds away the gun as he pulls a small device out of his pocket* Now lets see... if this drove Starscream insane, it probably won't be too popular with things that have ears that big...

Dallas: *curious* What's that?

Knockout: *sets device up on her eaves trough* A sonic emitter, patched together from Earth parts so that no one could ever prove who had planted it in a certain... person's... quarters. *that smirk holds so much evil and smug mirth*

Dallas: ... *snerk* That's evil. I love it.

Knockout: *gives her a grin that's pleased that she's pleased and also very pleased with himself*

Dallas: *quietly, almost reluctantly* I'll see you when you get a chance, I'm guessing?

Knockout: *sobers* Tomorrow night?

Dallas: *nod* That works for me.

Knockout: I'll call if I can't make it. *sigh* And I'll likely need some finish repairs, if not worse.

Dallas: *concerned* I'll look in town to see if I can find the right colors....

Knockout: We have them. I can bring some. *frowns, but then smiles and hunkers down to hold his hand out to her* Enjoy your pyjamas and sleep.

Dallas: *expression softens as she moves to put her hand on his* *gently* Get some rest....

Knockout: *optics gentle as he looks at the adorable and useful little being* You too. *takes his hand back and stands, then steps back and transforms before turning to start picking his way down the drive*

Dallas: *will head to the front porch and watch him depart* *then, once he's out of sight and hearing, she's moving to head into the house and go to bed. Though it's likely she won't go to sleep right away, since her mind's too full with what she's learned today*

((Written with random_xtras))