Kindred

There were certain idiosyncrasies that prevented Red Alert from taking a mate. For the most part, it was a series of little things, little quirks that made it impossible for him to render himself vulnerable enough to spark bond. While any potential mates seemed to respect his unwillingness to open his chest plates even in the height of intimacy, their frustration with his disruptive paranoia usually drove them away. The effort it took for Red Alert just to ease himself into the intimate proximity to a potential partner was too much to bear, most of the time. It left him shaken and frustrated, and he could only wonder how it might feel to have a mate as Ironhide or Prime did. What it would be like to trust someone so entirely, to be understood on some fundamental level. However, the likelihood the he would find someone willing enough to be a mate was slim, at best – and it made it that much more perplexing when Breakdown became an integral part of his existence.

It clearly wasn't something that Red Alert could have planned for, but it seemed he could not escape the Decepticon’s company so easily. After Starscream, Red Alert was convinced he would never talk to a Decepticon again in a situation other than the thick of battle. He did not account that as a security officer, he would inevitably have to help interrogate any prisoners for potential information. This, coupled with the fact that Prime didn't seem convinced than any other could talk to Breakdown effectively, was the primary cause of their unique kinship.

When one is forced into a situation of extreme stress, such as interrogation – nonviolent or otherwise – they tended to succumb to their most basic phobias and complexes. Red Alert felt empowered in this manner, knowing every quirk of his prisoner, and feeling a little less like the only glitch in the universe. In some disturbing way, scaring the Stunticons was therapeutic. He approached this task with a sense of glee inordinate of a goody-goody Autobot. Red Alert truly never quite fit in with the Autobots – it was difficult not to feel a tad burdensome when the others seemed to believe everything he said was the product of his paranoia rather than a genuine source for concern.

At first, Red Alert assumed Breakdown's extreme paranoia was only his stress manifesting into a glitch in his logic processors. Just because Red Alert himself was a glitch did not take away his ability to recognize the psychological glitches of other mechs – but it could make it hard to recognize. But after a day of questioning the other Stunticons – all of whom reacted with aggressive reluctance – it became abundantly clear that Breakdown was not of the norm among his peers.

Breakdown was paranoid beyond what might be considered a normal level, and agitated to the point of panic. The others were tense in anger, perhaps, but Breakdown seemed to be caught at the height of an almost animalistic fear, coiled and just waiting for Red Alert to drift close enough to go in for a strike. Needless to say, Red Alert was never calm enough to move anywhere near the bound Decepticon. He knew he would find his antennas ripped off if he was too complacent and let himself wander close enough to Breakdown to be caught.

Unfortunately, despite Red Alert’s almost sadistic enjoyment of watching the Stunticons wind themselves up into a state of utter paranoia and fear, he knew his job was to eventually calm them down well enough to talk. After a harsh reminder from Optimus, Red Alert finally relented and began to find ways to relax the Decepticons. Time was usually of the essence, and the Stunticons had clearly been a distraction from whatever mad scheme Megatron had, but they seemed no more in the know than the Autobots were. And, as the hours flew by, it became clear that whatever Megatron had planned had likely fallen by the wayside. Red Alert could postulate that somehow their own domestic disputes ruined whatever well-thought out plans they did have for their next attack.

Being so in tune to glitches, Red Alert was also very sensitive to what particular things caused the others to feel paranoia or fear. ‘Normal’ mechs were boringly easy to read, always tending to follow the same set of rules. He was able to interrogate the other Decepticons with ease. Breakdown, understandably, was a much trickier to calm. Red Alert tried his usual tactics, but nothing seemed to be effective. Breakdown was tense, joints tight, his face drawn into a grimace. However, every time Red Alert stared him down fully, the tension only seemed to increase.

It took some time before Red Alert began to realize the source of Breakdown's fear. When it finally occurred to him, it was such a simple answer that it was almost embarrassing that he had not realized it earlier. Breakdown, quite simply, had a phobia of being stared at. Red Alert had to give himself some credit – how could he anticipate such a phobia of astunt car? Everything about him was meant to be looked at!

Red Alert had to put himself into a rare state of vulnerability, but it was his job and he wasn't about to go whining to Prime about being too scared. He would only get a motivational speech and a pat on the shoulder, and he would end up doing this anyway. So, Red Alert sat himself down in front of Breakdown – as a safe distance – and put on a blindfold. Just offlining his optics would not have been enough – how would Breakdown know for sure that he couldn't see?

Despite this concession, the change in Breakdown's demeanor wasn't exactly immediate. It took a good half-hour of assurance to convince him that the blindfold was effective, and he wouldn't wholly believe Red Alert until his optics were offline as well. Even then, he seemed skeptical that Red Alert was telling the truth, but he was growing noticeably calmer. Red Alert finally managed to relax the mech enough to begin gently inquiring as to Megatron's plans.

Breakdown was so quick to speak now that it was clear that Red Alert had gained the paranoid Stunticon's trust, despite all odds. Just as Inferno somehow managed to calm Red Alert when no others could, Red Alert had likewise relaxed Breakdown.

It was… surprisingly satisfying. It was also surprising that his concentration on making Breakdown speak had somewhat displaced his own phobias, and he almost forgot to panic about the situation. Almost.

It only took a few minutes for Breakdown to relay everything he knew. Hours upon hours of interrogation for a ten minute explanation of Megatron’s sporadic orders for attack. A few minutes complaining of his subsequent capture. There was no useful information here, but Red Alert could at least rest easy knowing that Megatron didn’t have yet another weapon of imminent doom.

Unfortunately for Red Alert’s nerves, he had not accounted for just how tense Breakdown had been when they had tied him up. Thus, when Breakdown calmed himself, the restraints loosened exponentially. Red Alert had not anticipated this outcome – hadn’t even considered it – so when he heard a sudden clang of chains being rustled around, he found himself going from forced calm to absolute panic in a fraction of a second.

By then, it was already too late.

Breakdown grabbed Red Alert and dragged him close, their metal giving a resounding clang from the abrupt motion. The action was fast, and Red Alert was too stunned to react fast enough – and he certainly could not fight effectively while blinded. He intended to take off the blindfold and fight the Decepticon for all it was worth, but that plan fell by the wayside when Breakdown’s mouth suddenly pressed against his.

Red Alert froze for a grand total of three seconds, and then came damn near tearing off Breakdown’s arm in his frantic attempt to get him off and away. Red Alert was not going to be overwhelmed by some naïve new spark, and he managed to flip Breakdown onto his back and pin him to the ground beneath him. Even blindfolded, he was able to keep Breakdown restrained, his hands holding the Stunticon’s wrists flat against the ground.

Red Alert managed to calm himself – as long as he knew where Breakdown’s hands were, he was fine. However, even though he had managed to shake off his panic and fury, the shock was still palpable, and it was extraordinarily unhelpful to his state when Breakdown leaned up and began to press gentle bites against Red Alert’s neck. The Autobot’s best guess was that the Stunticons were naïve in the same manner that the Aerialbots were, and Breakdown just didn’t know any better.

From the sudden and overwhelming need that Red Alert experienced, it became evident that he didn’t seen to know any better either.

Breakdown grabbed Red Alert’s hands, letting him feel them fully, making it clear that he wasn’t going to grab a weapon. However, Red Alert felt a stronger rush of paranoia, his head inclining slight as he stared blindly at where the chains were located. If Breakdown grabbed them, he could easily use them as a weapon. They were heavy set, and with a hard enough swing, it could even dent Red Alert’s chassis. If it hit just right, it could dent his chest plates into his spark chamber, and –

Breakdown growled gently against Red Alert’s neck, telling him to relax. His hands squeezed firmly to again remind Red Alert that he had no weapons, nor any intention of gaining any. Red Alert relaxed minutely, but he was still wary of the Decepticon’s true intentions.

However, it was becoming less and less likely that Breakdown had any intentions beyond what was presented. The heat that was emitting from Breakdown’s chest plates was proof enough of his interest. The heat was returned tenfold, as Red Alert hadn’t had a decent spark bonding in too long, and the years of stress and suppression were beginning to rapidly unravel. Red Alert’s mouth found Breakdown’s, and he felt a vibration run through the Decepticon’s body in response. His engine was purring.

Red Alert’s engine returned the rumble unconsciously. He’d bonded with Inferno – or tried to, for the sake of mutual relief – but that particular reaction was new to him. The engine’s vibration jolted his sensitized spark in a way that was very pleasant, and Red Alert wasn’t used to something being pleasant. He pressed his chest flush with Breakdown, any and all remaining logic falling apart as his spark was jolted in a harsher manner.

Red Alert made an undignified sound, a wanton groan.

Breakdown nudged Red Alert’s face aside and began to again lavish attention on his neck. This time, instead of just placing superficial nips and kisses against his frame, the Decepticon opted to instead use his glossa. The first nudge of the slim metal against his wiring sense a delicious jolt of pleasure through Red Alert’s circuitry, and he forgot briefly to maintain his grip on Breakdown’s wrists. The Stunticon wasted no time in sliding his fingers down the length of Red Alert’s arms, his shoulders, feeling him out with the curiosity of a sparkling – which wasn’t entirely inaccurate. Red Alert quickly deduced that Breakdown hadn’t done this before, which was both a relief and a reason for alarm. It meant that Red Alert did not have to live up to the expectations of others who were less psychotic while bonding, but it also meant that Breakdown didn’t have the slightest clue what he was doing. He could damage something in his excitement and then Prime would find out and then Red Alert would be tossed out and then–

Red Alert tensed, but Breakdown’s touch never wavered, never withdrew. After a few moments, Red Alert could do nothing more prudent than clutch at Breakdown and try to increase that wonderful vibration that was rattling his insides. He wasn’t going to open his chest plates for anyone, and he could only hope that the vibration would be enough to urge him to overload.

Red Alert had forgotten that Breakdown was a Stunticon – a sports car. Suddenly, Breakdown’s engine revved hard, and extremely loudly, rattling Red Alert’s spark powerfully. Red Alert vaguely wondered how the Stunticon could drive without overloading himself – the only likely answer was that when in alt form, his engine was far enough from his spark to prevent the stimulation. However, when in his natural mode, the engine became part of his torso.

Another harsh rev tore through Red Alert’s systems, and he cried out, wrapping his arms around Breakdown, trying to cogently encourage him. The only words he could manage weren’t actually words – at least, not in any language he knew – but rather a series of encouraging whimpers and growls. The perfection of it was astounding, the way they seemed to fit together, the fact that Breakdown could stimulate him without Red Alert having to reveal his spark…

The overload was nearly simultaneous, and the two mechs clutched at each other helplessly. Red Alert hadn’t overloaded in… he couldn’t remember when. He couldn’t recall it ever feeling this good, the heat pulsing through his systems, electrifying every single little circuit until his entire body tingled pleasantly. The energy rush was good, andrelaxing. Red Alert never relaxed, and yet he found himself slumping against Breakdown, his engine sputtering uselessly as he began to cycle down from the intense high.

For a few moments, both of them were calm in a way neither were accustomed to. A casual nuzzle was exchanged between them, a few moments of intimacy before the gravity of the situation with spur them both into a panic. And, it was still true that Breakdown was a Decepticon. Red Alert knew he shouldn’t be surprised when he suddenly found himself knocked off of the other, followed by the sound of a transformation and rapid retreat. By the time Red Alert tore off his blindfold and onlined his optics, the Stunticon had disappeared and was likely halfway out of the base.

Brilliant. And alarming. Red Alert had no idea how to break this news to Optimus Prime.

He had somehow managed to stumble through an explanation. Luckily, Optimus saw no point in holding the Stunticons hostage now, and all were released against Red Alert’s urgings. But, Optimus was known for his mercy, and Red Alert was just the paranoid old bat. He didn’t really have much say in the situation.

Red Alert did not see Breakdown again for several weeks, not until he was on patrol around the base and heard the familiar rev of an engine. The Stunticon tore through the valley, driving along harsh inclines and circling Red Alert rapidly. For someone who didn’t like being looked at, he was certainly a showoff.

Surprisingly, Red Alert didn’t feel any real panic at the situation – this in itself was a significant improvement from his usual disposition. Breakdown slowed to a stop and transformed in front of Red Alert. Immediately, he held up his hands, indicating that he had no weapons with him. Red Alert found himself warily stepping towards the Decepticon despite his reservations. Breakdown stepped forward as well.

His hands reached out to grasp onto Breakdown’s before he offlined his optics. Breakdown did not hesitate, pulling Red Alert closer by his hands, his engine revving enticingly before him. Breakdown hand guided Red Alert closer, their lips pressing together in a manner that was almost chaste.

To his credit, Red Alert didn’t again try to tear off any limbs in his panic.

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Author's Note: This was a request from jigsaws231 on LJ. Ignore the lack of dialogue in this fic. I just thought the speech of two paranoid psychopaths might take away from the secks.