These Paths We Tread (Autobot x OC)

IX. The Touch

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-O-

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“Hello, ladies and gentlemen! Anybody miss me?” the obnoxious, impossible-to-forget voice of Simmons rang out and all eyes moved to stare at the approaching figure, still clad in battle garb. He had washed up from the last time they saw him, and he had fresher gear on, too. His normal demeanor was back as well, although this time it didn’t elicit hate. Now that they knew he just wanted to save the world like everyone else it was just a humorous façade. Of course, they couldn’t let Agent Simmons know that.

“I would say yes, but then I’d be lying,” Sam called back, grinning, and earning a few chuckles.

Simmons did so sarcastically, “I see even a near-death experience doesn’t change that funny-man personality of yours. You’re lucky I like you, kid.”

“I don’t know if I’d call it ‘luck’,” the young man mumbled under his breath, making both Mikeala and Catherine smile.

“Alright, what do you want?” Lennox inquired, half-smiling, half serious.

“So glad you asked, soldier-boy,” he replied, clasping his hands together. “Well, it seems you guys are going to pay a visit to your little Autobot friends. Apparently being close to their little Cube thing when it’s being destroyed releases a lot of radiation, so they just wanna make sure nothing’s wrong with you.”

“I’m surprised you’re so trusting, Simmons,” Mikeala used with a raised brow. 

“Yeah, well, I’m not runnin’ the show here.”

“Oh, ho, ho, so Mr. Big shot isn’t so big is he? Has to follow the rules like everybody else,” Epps all but purred, much to Simmons displeasure, which appeared as a “ha-ha-you’re-so-funny” expression.

“So, wait—are we like radioactive? Like nuclear aftermath radioactive?” one of the soldiers asked wearily.

“What? B-but me and Catherine are fine and we were holding it!” Sam cried out, lurching forward with wide eyes.

“The Allspark isn’t a nuclear bomb, though—we wouldn’t know what it could do to us,” Maggie replied, and she was given unappreciative looks by more than a few of the others there. Luckily—and a little surprisingly—Simmons came to her rescue.

"Aaaand that’s why we’re gonna have their Doc take a look at ya, so if you want to wait and see if your insides will fry by all means, stay here, but the rest of you can come with me.”

There was only a slight pause as everyone looked at everyone, and then the soldiers were moving first. Maggie and Glenn remained behind, having not been exposed, and managed to give Catherine, Mikeala, and Sam sympathetic looks and good luck signs as they passed. While Sam’s and Mikeala’s thanks were genuine, Catherine’s wasn’t entirely so. Of course, the redhead knew a great deal more than they did. She was sworn not to tell, though, and so she pretended to share their worries. Her real worry, though, were more so about what they would do in regards to Jazz. How could they play that off? Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be her only worry as Simmons, having apparently directed the soldiers on where to go, he strolled up next to her.

"Y’know, for such a clean slate, you’re doing some pretty sketchy stuff, little lady. Word is you were snooping,” he spoke, eyeing her carefully, but she merely grinned innocently.

"’Snooping’ sounds so… purposeful. I was just admiring your wonderful walls aimlessly,” she replied, facing forward at first, but then turned to him with an inquiring look. “Oh, Simmons, don’t tell me you still think I’m going to take over the world! I have absolutely no intentions of doing that!”