Wandering Connections Chapter 1: Smooth Sailing
The day seemed to go just as normal as one would think in a given world - the usual barking of dogs and tv's airing some nonsense people watch now these days. That's how Aero felt at least. Some people had called him crazy for thinking that. And... they wouldn't be wrong. He *did* have two sentient alien robots living in his home. But that was just how it was now. Cybertron had fallen, and the war between Autobots and Decepticons had moved to Earth. Humans... just happened to be caught in the middle of it. So, that was something, at least! Humans were none the wiser, actually, since they never really paid attention to anything outside of their own personal lives. So, they just carried on, not knowing they were now at risk of being killed by otherworldly beings from another planet.
Right now, the war seemed to be at a bit of an impasse from both factions, granting them temporary relief from the constant fighting and stress the Cybertronians had endured. It certainly gave both Megatron and Starscream enough time to acquaint themselves with Aero, a human mechanic who seemed quite fascinated by the concept of Cybertronian lifestyle. The man was more welcoming than most humans would be to extraterrestrial life, that's for sure! A pure soul with a heart of gold holding his arms out open to complete strangers seems... almost too good to be true. And yet... the two Decepticons trusted him. Bizarre, given their... less than pleasant initial outlook on humanity. Most Decepticons viewed humans as insignificant and worthless to be around. But over time, Aero had helped them get more familiar to human society, assisting them in how to stay low profile to avoid being called by the authorities, and making sure their tempers were in check. Normal things, surely. But it seemed to be working out in their favors thanks to their human companion. They seemed a lot calmer around most humans, albeit reluctantly. People tended to act stupid when given the chance, which was all the time. Especially when it revolved around Aero and his prosthetic arm. Let's just say... it tested both of their patience a lot.
On this day, the three were all just enjoying the day go by as usual; Megatron sitting in the recliner reading a book, Starscream watching the TV, and Aero making himself something to eat in the kitchen. The atmosphere was certainly cozy and warm on a chilly day in December. The house smelled of fresh cinnamon and vanilla from the candles around the place. The fireplace flickered with a bright energy that gave the living room a sense of comfort and safety. And the lights were dimmed enough for the three to experience a sense of pleasant familiarity. It all seemed all well and dandy for the trio for the time being. At least for now...
"Hm... I'm running out of butter." Aero muttered to himself thoughtfully, using the last bit of butter to add to his toast, and taking a bite out of the food, smiling to himself at his handiwork.
He looked around the kitchen, noticing that he was running out of some other groceries as well. He took out his phone and pulled up the notes app, making a list of the stuff he was running out of. He nodded to himself, before looking over at Starscream and Megatron with a soft smile of innocence. "Hey guys, I gotta head to the grocery store to get some more groceries. You guys wanna come with?" Aero asked, his tone gentle and sweet.
Megatron looked up from his book for a moment to look at Aero with a curious look, taking his glasses off and placing them on the coffee table. He grabbed his bookmark before placing it in between the pages he was reading, setting the now closed book on the table as well. "I don't see why not." he said, his gruff as it normally would. His expression was stern but held no aggression. It was his resting bitch face. "Besides, I don't trust most of these humans to keep their hands to themselves. With how overly kind-hearted you are, I don't want them to take advantage of you." He added, standing up from the recliner with a soft groan, the seat creaking a bit from the movement.
Starscream looked up from the TV screen, seeming curious about the conversation. He contemplated for a few moments before making up his mind and getting up from the couch, stretching a bit and adjusting the cuffs on his wrists. "I might as well go too. He said, sounding slightly bored with staring at the TV. "It's been a while since I've done something that has been productively worthwhile."
Aero smiled softly at the confirmation from the two before grabbing his wallet, keys, and coat, heading for the front door. " Great! Let's go!" He said enthusiastically.
The three were now out and about, walking through the snow-covered sidewalks of Jasper, Nevada, their footsteps leaving prints in the cold flake piles as they headed to the grocery store. Cars beeped in traffic as they waited for pedestrians to walk across the crosswalks, and folks stood by in small groups asking for charity for the holidays. The crisp December air blew around in a calm, even flow, sending a chill up everyone's spines.
Aero smiled as he witnessed everything around him, walking with a bit of a pep in his step, his hands in his pockets or, well... hand, to be specific. he had his prosthetic arm out freely, swaying a bit with each step he took. The metal covering glistened in the sun's rays like a newly polished car, creating a little prism effect on nearby windows. Megatron seemed unfazed by everyone around him, focused more so on Aero like some sort of guardian. The cold didn't really bother him since he was wearing layers like Aero was. Starscream shivered as he walked alongside, grumbling about the weather that he deemed unbearable for him. Though, to be honest, he was wearing mostly tight things like a compression long-sleeved shirt and tight pants to match his figure, and what not.
"Ugh... this weather is a bit too... brisk for my preference." Starscream grumbled, his body trembling a bit from the cold.
"Eh, it's like this every Winter. I keep forgetting that you're not used to it like we are." Aero chimed in, trying to be positive as always. " Maybe when we get to the store, I can pick up some coffee and hot cocoa to warm us up."
Megatron chuckled a bit at Starscream's distaste for the chilly weather, a smirk growing on his face.
"Perhaps you should invest in some more clothing options for that disguise, dear Starscream. That outfit doesn't seem to be doing you any favors in terms of insulation."
"Oh, quiet you. This outfit is what makes me stand out from the rest of these fleshlings. It gives me a sense of superiority." Starscream hissed, before a gust of cold air made him shiver again.
"Indeed, because these humans need to immediately bow down to you wherever you go." Megatron teased.
Starscream glared at Megatron with an irritated look before sighing.
"But... I might.. browse the clothing aisle for better protection against this incessant weather." He relented.
The three finally managed to reach the grocery store's double doors, entering the warm facility's cozy, festive atmosphere. Starscream sighed with relief at the temporary warmth of the building, shaking himself off a bit before looking around the place. It was definitely a stark contrast from Cybertron's more bleak idea of holidays. Even though he and Megatron have been living with Aero for quite some time, he was still getting acclimated to humans portray of things.
"So... This is what humans do to commemorate special occasions..." Starscream commented, seeming a bit put off by the vibe.
"Yep! Decorations, limited stuff, and music to match!" Aero said with a smile.
"It's getting to be about Christmas time, so you'll be seeing a lot of this throughout this month!
Starscream looked a bit opposed to the idea, but he kept it to himself for now.
Megatron gazed around, taking in everything in sight. As a warlord himself, the concept of holidays was almost foreign to him. He was too busy fighting against the Autobots, not really worried about all the hoot and holler that came with special days.
"Mm... It's certainly not what I'm used to." He commented.
The trio walked around the store, shopping cart in tow as they browsed the aisles, grabbing whatever they needed and putting it in the cart. The hustle of customers and cash registers created an odd melody that played in the background, with the occasional conversations adding in on top.
Aero was grabbing some groceries from the dairy aisle, checking the prices before putting them in the cart. A decisive look was plastered on his face as he compared the items.
"Hm. This is a few dollars short. But this is healthier." He muttered to himself.
After a few minutes, he put one of the items back before putting the latter in the cart. He smiled as he pushed it along, humming a soft tune to himself.
Megatron and Starscream trailed behind the man, their expressions neutral, if not a bit on guard. They never really cared much for human discrepancies, but when it came to Aero... that was different. They'd glare at anyone who stared for too long, or who whispered to their peers about the man's prosthetic arm and his scars. Megatron especially, was the worse of the two. He'd become a sort of father figure to Aero ever since they first met, and it had amplified ever since the incident. Safe to say, if you messed with Aero, you messed with the big Con himself. And he didn't like being messed with.
The three made it through their trip with little to no issue. Well... sorta. Megatron had to stand in front of Aero to block someone's view, barely holding back his temper. Starscream wasn't faring much better, glaring at the humans who were snickering. Aero, being the soft boi he was, didn't think much of it. He just smiled at the two, completely oblivious.
Ash was at the self-checkout, scanning everything and putting the items in bags. Megatron and Starscream helped him since he was having a bit of trouble with his shoulders.
"Phew! Thanks, guys! My shoulders are acting up again!" Aero said with a chuckle
"Of course." Megatron said respectfully, giving Aero an almost fatherly smile.
"It would be unwise to help you, dear Aero. We don't wish to see you struggle." Starscream added, his tone less cocky than normal when speaking to the man.
The trio had left the store shortly after, feeling the cold air return to them in a sharp familiarity. Starscream grumbled, crossing his arms tightly his breath visible in front of him.
Aero looked over at the Seeker with a soft smile, rummaging through one of the bags and pulling out a coat, handing it to the Con.
"Here, Star! This should help!" He said
Starscream instantly took the coat from Aero's hand, putting it on without hesitation. His whole body relaxed at the comfort of the garment.
"Ahh... Thank you." He said.
Aero nodded and kept on walking.
As they passed a nearby alleyway, a flicker of smoke arrived just as the footsteps moved on. It floated close to the ground, almost curious at the presences. A wisp-like echo followed its sway as it trickled to follow the trio, keeping its existence hidden.
It finally caught up with Aero, seeming to take interest in the boy. It clung itself to his leg, almost imprinting itself on him before dissipating.
Something told it that this was the perfect target...