[TF] Uncharted Territory 12/28
Sep. 12th, 2019 06:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dracoqueen22Title: Uncharted Territory
Universe: Transformers AR, Flights of Fancy AU
Characters: Blurr/Starscream, Original Human Character(s), Sari Sumdac, Miko Nakadai, Ratchet, Megatron, Rodimus, Red Alert, Others
Rated: M
Enticements: Sexual Content, Harpy/Human Sexual Content
Summary: There were a lot of things Blurr knew with great certainty: his path, his future, his happiness. Then Starscream swooped into his life and turned everything upside down in the best possible way.
Chapter Twelve
Spring semester started with a whimper rather than a bang. Blurr had his senior seminar to consider, and it was a three-hour class late on Wednesday nights, of which the end result would require a twenty page paper.
He already was no good at writing papers, but he was especially untalented in writing twenty page papers that would be the entirety of his grade for the one class he needed to graduate. He wanted to tear his hair out from sheer frustration. He tried to balance it out by taking a bunch of easy classes he didn’t need, but he feared the stress would eat him alive.
If it wasn’t so late, he’d change his major. At this point, he might as well have taken a degree in Avian Studies. If his current major wasn’t so far off the mark, he’d switch and call it a good decision.
Business and Avian Studies had nothing to do with each other. He’d have to stay in the university for several more years if he switched, and he knew his scholarship wouldn’t cover the difference.
Neither would his parents.
On top of that, the spring heats would start soon, and Coach expected him to show his chops for the talent scouts that would be lurking in the stands. Blurr might be lucky and land a spot on an international team, and wouldn’t that solve more than a few problems? But he had to win for a chance at such an opportunity, and winning required practice and dedication.
It was enough to make his head swim.
So maybe. Just maybe, Blurr buried himself in Starscream more than he should have. Maybe he took solace in Starscream’s arms and his kisses, the warmth of him, his sweet scent, his laugh, his teasing. Maybe he tried to block out the confusing, convoluted world by focusing on something else, equally convoluted and confusing.
Or maybe he really didn’t want Starscream to leave his bed. Especially since they’d hauled all the blankets and pillows onto the floor so they’d have a larger space without squeezing onto the bed. It meant they had more room to maneuver.
Blurr had Starscream beneath him for once. Large, taloned hands gently cupped his ass, but Blurr had his hands buried in the pillows as he dotted Starscream’s face with kisses and nuzzled the harpy’s throat, inhaling the sweet scent of fruit and berries. His dick was a dull throb in his sweatpants, a growing swell he rocked down against Starscream’s belly, his breath coming in sharp pants.
“I don’t have time,” Starscream bemoaned, but he didn’t remove his hands, instead sliding them up, thumbs slipping Blurr’s shirt aside so he could spread his palms over Blurr’s bare back.
His hands were hot, and Blurr shivered, knees clamping harder around Starscream’s thighs. He dragged his mouth back to Starscream’s, planting a kiss on the corner of it, tasting his lips.
“Are you sure?” Blurr asked with a small laugh. He enjoyed being the one to tease for once, and the heat rising from Starscream was intoxicating. He rocked down again, dick throbbing, dampening the fabric of his sweatpants.
One of Starscream’s hands dropped back to his ass, pulling him down hard. He bucked up to meet Blurr. They ground together, and Blurr felt an answering firmness against him, not that he knew how to name it.
“I have responsibilities,” Starscream panted, but his other hand slid up Blurr’s back, the pads of his fingers tracing the line of his spine. “Why are you so tempting?”
Blurr chuckled and nosed his way back to Starscream’s mouth, stealing his lips for a hungry kiss. He dug his knees into the pillow and blanket nest, rolling his hips to ride Starscream’s body, sweat gathering over his skin.
Pleasure licked through his veins in little bursts of fireworks. He’d forgotten how good it felt, just to frot and grind against another person, bodies moving in an erotic song. At some point, sex had become all about mouths and taking, but there was something far more intimate, more racy about working to release while mostly clothed and hidden.
It felt like a secret, and that turned Blurr on more than he knew was possible.
“It’s your fault,” Blurr said against Starscream’s mouth. He bore down, grinding harder and faster against Starscream, pre-come dampening his boxers.
“I’ll gladly take the blame,” Starscream panted and abruptly turned, pinning Blurr beneath him as he devoured Blurr’s mouth, the weight of him bearing Blurr into the blankets.
He moaned, arms and legs wrapping around Starscream as he rocked up, feathers forming a curtain around his body. Lips and teeth found their way to his throat, nibbling carefully, ever conscious of marks since Miko and Sari’s holiday party. They invited too many questions.
Blurr shivered and carded his hands through Starscream’s feathers, his insides drawing tight, his dick throbbing as Starscream ground down on him. The firm press of his clava was a promise of something more, something Blurr wasn’t quite ready for, but had spent far too many nights thinking about.
“We can be quick, right?” Blurr panted as he jerked upward, thighs trembling, rutting harder against Starscream.
Starscream groaned, lips and teeth smashed against Blurr’s mouth, his eyes squeezed shut. “We have to be,” he said, and grabbed Blurr’s hips, rolling harder and faster, a mimicry of sex that made Blurr’s insides tighten with want.
He gasped and grabbed Starscream’s head, holding him in place for a kiss, bruising for its intensity. Starscream ground him down into the pillows, a perfect pressure and a perfect motion against his dick. Pleasure spasmed through Blurr’s body like a lightning strike. His heart thudded in his chest, and his fingers would have bruised anyone else, he was sure of it.
He bucked, fast and needy, and then he was coming in his pants, spilling hot and wet over his boxers. He’d lost count of the number of times he’d done this, and how much laundry he’d had to haul to the basement. But it was worth it.
Because Starscream panted over his mouth and kept thrusting, rutting against him, and when he shuddered, it was because release took him as well. Blurr felt the wet spatter of come against his bared belly, where his shirt had rucked up, and he moaned. His fingers raked through Starscream’s feathers, and if they’d had more time, he’d have rolled Starscream over and kissed him until they were both firm again.
But they didn’t have time.
The kiss softened until Starscream leaned his forehead against Blurr’s, body still trembling with aftershocks, one hand gently cupping Blurr’s hips. “Why did I have to accept that invitation?” he groaned with obvious reluctance.
Blurr gently stroked the feathers of his crest, still marveling at how soft they were, even if they covered his skin in a light, oily sheen afterward. “Because politics wait for no bird, not even a horny one.”
Starscream snorted a laugh and leaned back on his heels, whatever passed for a harpy’s genitalia once again out of sight, though a sheen of fluids glistened on his featherdown. “You are impossible,” he said, with a playful poke to Blurr’s belly. “And I am not a bird.”
"I know. I'm teasing." Blurr squirmed as the sexiness of the moment started to fade, and he was acutely aware of the damp inside his boxers, and coating the front of his pants. "I need to get cleaned up."
"We both do." Starscream glanced over at Blurr's alarm clock and visibly stiffened. "Immediately." He scrambled up and away from Blurr, only to reach down and haul him to his feet, which made Blurr's head spin. "We're going to be late."
"We?"
"Yes, we. I'm taking you with me." Starscream spun him toward the bathroom and gave him a little pat on the ass. "Go. Change."
Blurr was already wiggling out of his sweatpants and kicking them in the general direction of his laundry basket. "You're so bossy," he grumbled.
Starscream snorted as he swept past Blurr for the small window and sink, dampening a rag to tend to his own feathers. "You have no idea."
Blurr couldn't decide if that was ominous or a promise. Either way, it sent a tickle of delight down his spine, and a twitch to his dick. Which he couldn't abide right now. So he grabbed clean clothes and hopped into the bathroom for one of the quickest showers he'd ever taken. He didn't even get his hair wet.
He stepped out in a cloud of steam, and Starscream grabbed him, shoving his arms into a coat, his feet into socks and shoes, and a granola bar in his hand. Blurr's head spun at the speed of it, but he let himself be manhandled anyway. Or would it be birdhandled?
Either way, a few moments later, he stumbled out the door, Starscream shutting it firmly behind them, and rushing Blurr toward the stairs. No elevator for the harpy today. It evidently wasn't fast enough.
Blurr muffled a laugh in his granola bar and followed Starscream out of the door and into a brisk, sunny late morning, winter's air smacking him in the face to chase away the last of the heat from the shower. Starscream's gait was determined and focused, the look on his face one Blurr had come to recognize as intent.
It was adorable.
Blurr didn't meander, though he was sorely tempted to, and finished the granola bar in a couple of big bites. His stomach growled angrily at him -- it wasn't at all enough. But they didn't have time to stop for more. His boots crunched across the cold ground, and signs of life sprung around the campus like spring daises.
The science administration building loomed into view. It stretched above Blurr’s head for three stories, and was formed of solid stone. It was one of the oldest buildings on campus, and that showed. Dead vines of ivy crawled up the sides and weeds sprung from cracks in the foundation.
“Are you sure she wants me to be here?” Blurr asked as they stepped into the large administration building, which was a hustle-bustle of activity so early in the semester.
Starscream rolled his shoulders. “She didn’t say I could or couldn’t, but you know, it’s not an official meeting or anything. Just sort of a meet and greet.”
“Uh huh.” Blurr looked down at his choice of clothing and instantly felt underdressed. But he didn’t have anything in his closet more appropriate. He survived on jeans and athletic shorts. “Maybe I should wait outside.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re coming with me.” Starscream grabbed his hand as if he thought Blurr was going to escape, and tugged him up a spiraling staircase toward a second floor.
Blurr spluttered, but Starscream’s grip was like iron. Thankfully, there weren’t too many people around, and no one gave them more than a passing glance. It wasn’t like they could read the truth of their relationship in the casual touch, but still!
Starscream seemed to know exactly where he was going. He led Blurr down the hallway, to the last door on the left. He pushed it open and tugged Blurr inside, leaving Blurr to close it quietly behind him.
A young woman sat behind a desk, her fingers clicking rapidly over the keyboard as she peered at the screen through coke-bottle glasses. She looked up at them with a big grin, and swept a hand over her frizzy hair.
“Starscream, right?” she said and gestured over her shoulder with a thumb. “Dr. Morgan’s waiting for you so you can go right on in.”
“Thanks,” Starscream chirped, and held up Blurr’s hand, still clutched in his. “I can have a guest, right?”
The young woman grinned, but her eyes went back to the computer, and her fingers back to the keys. “You can bring whoever and whatever you want. Jessica’s crazy excited to see what new things she can learn.”
Starscream chuckled. “Yeah, Perceptor told me of her zeal. Thanks.” He looked over his shoulder at Blurr and winked. “Let’s go.”
“Whatever you say,” Blurr said, a little off balance from the situation. For once, he was the one uncomfortable and wrong-footed, while Starscream seemed to move forward with ease and comfort.
Starscream headed for the door just behind the young woman, translucent glass with the owner’s name printed in large, blocked letters across the front. Starscream rapped his knuckles over the glass in half-hearted announcement, and immediately pushed the door open, pulling Blurr along with him.
“Welcome!” Dr. Jessica Morgan rose from behind her desk, arms spread wide and a cheerful smile on her face. She was dressed business-casual, with a lavender button-up and a pair of dark slacks. “It’s nice to finally see you again, Starscream. Thank you for re-discovering my office.”
She came around the desk, her thick heels clomping noisily on the floor, one hand extended. Only then did Starscream let Blurr go so as to shake her hand, head dipping in a genteel bow.
“I should have come sooner,” he said, tone apologetic. “But there’s so much to see and do around here, I kept getting distracted.”
Dr. Morgan patted his hand with her other, giving him an indulgent look. “It’s quite all right. Drift was much the same when he first arrived, though I also think Perceptor had something to do with that.” Her eyes slid past Starscream and landed on Blurr. “Oh. Hello. I don’t believe we’ve met…?”
“Dae-Hyeun Song,” Blurr said as he fumbled forward, offering her a hand. “I’m sort of Starscream’s...” He glanced at the harpy, looking for a bit of guidance.
“Best friend,” Starscream supplied with a bright smile. “Blurr’s the first human friend I met, and he’s still my favorite.”
Heat colored Blurr’s cheeks.
Dr. Morgan chuckled and squeezed Blurr’s hand warmly. “That’s wonderful. Blurr…?”
“It’s a nickname.” Starscream patted Blurr’s shoulders, feathers poofing with pride. “He’s on the Track and Field team and one of the fastest members.”
Brown eyes lit up with recognition. “Oh! Yes! Now I know where I’ve seen your face.” She leaned back, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of grey-brown hair behind her ear. “Starscream’s right, you are quite quick. I’ve been to a couple of your races.”
“Thank you,” Blurr said.
Dr. Morgan clapped her hands together. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you. Why don’t you take a seat?” She circled back around her desk and paused, her hands still pressed together, and pointed the tips of her fingers toward Starscream. “Are you hungry? I can have Jeanine go grab us a fruit basket. I remember Drift was always fond of them.”
Starscream chuckled as he took the larger chair on the left. “I’m not surprised. He’s a perpetual snacker.” He settled in with a creak, getting comfortable. “No, thank you. We ate before we came.” He looked up at Blurr and winked, just out of Dr. Morgan’s view.
The blush strengthened. Blurr was going to strangle Starscream later. Instead, he bit his tongue and claimed the other chair, taking the opportunity to examine the office.
It was small, as most professors’ offices were, and the walls were nothing but bookshelves cluttered with papers and books and figurines. Dr. Morgan’s office was an organized sort of messy, where it was obvious the occupant knew where everything could be found and had a sense of organization, but one specific to them only. The blinds were drawn on the window, blocking out the bright winter sun, and what few walls were visible, were covered in frames.
“So how have you been finding our town and university?” Dr. Morgan asked as she settled into her own chair, leaning forward with elbows braced on the desk.
Starscream chuckled. “Fascinating. There’s not a moment that goes by when I’m bored. There’s too much to see and learn.”
Blurr peered at the nearest frame on the wall. It was a picture, and he recognized Dr. Morgan in the center, a younger one as she had no gray hair and a few less laugh lines. She stood between two harpies, one of whom was probably a bit smaller than Starscream, and the other who was much larger, though equally lean. Perhaps the aforementioned Perceptor and Drift? Blurr remembered Starscream mentioning they were the first to contact humans.
“You’ve access to everything you need?”
“Yes. They gave me an ID card and when I need money, I borrow Perceptor’s.”
“Well, we can certainly grant you access to the general flock funds as well. The university maintains an account for the use of your entire aerie, supported by many generous donors.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Another framed item was much larger and better resembled a legal document. It had been notarized and there were several signatures on it, but as was the case with most cursive writing, Blurr couldn’t read them. The document itself said National Park Certification and beneath it, in smaller script, ‘Official Deed of Ownership’.
The largest item on one of the walls was a massive display case, like the kind butterfly collectors use, but instead it was an array of feathers in a rainbow of colors. Reds and blues and oranges and browns and greys and whites. They were all different sizes and shapes, and each one had a name beneath. Blurr only recognized a few of them.
“I’ve never faulted Perceptor for his decision to relocate to the aerie, but I admit, we’ve missed his presence on campus. We’ve missed that direct contact. Liege Megatron is very kind and willing to work with us, but it’s… err, haphazard I suppose would be the best term.”
“You’re looking for someone to be a bit more scheduled?”
“Something like that. At the very least, we’d like someone comfortable with visiting on at least a weekly basis to help discuss terms, answer questions, help with research, that sort of thing.”
“Like an Ambassador?”
“That would be the term we’d apply, yes.”
Blurr shifted his attention back to the two discussing business. Starscream looked thoughtful while Dr. Morgan looked hopeful. Starscream rubbed his jaw, humming in his throat.
“I can think of a few harpies who might be suitable for such a duty,” he said, head tilted, eyes a bit narrowed in thought. “Though whether they’d be comfortable with leaving Kaon so often, that I do not know. I’d have to ask.”
Dr. Morgan tilted her head, a soft smile on her face. “What about you?”
Starscream blinked and his crest feathers rose up like he’d been startled. “Me?” He straightened. “I admit, I’m not really the diplomatic sort. I’m a researcher.”
“We’re not negotiating for war. What we need is a scientist, someone who’s willing to talk to other scientists.” She threaded her fingers together, elbows still braced on the desk. “If you ask me, you’re perfect for the job.”
“Perceptor is a scientist also,” Starscream said, and the small thread of doubt in his voice made Blurr’s chest ache. “There’s Brainstorm as well.”
He wanted to reach over, squeeze Starscream’s hand, reassure him. Let him know that Starscream was just as capable as both of them, and certainly capable of this.
“I haven’t met Brainstorm. But I’m familiar with Perceptor, and while he’s a great friend in smaller settings, he isn’t as social as you are.” Dr. Morgan lowered her hands and leaned back, her smile growing. One hand tapped a stack of papers on her desk. “I have pictures, e-mails, notes, comments… and all of them are observations and feedback from various members of university staff and attendees who’ve interacted with you since your arrival.”
Starscream’s face colored. His feathers twitched before sleeking down to his frame. “I apologize if I’ve done anything--”
“No, no, no.” Dr. Morgan shook her head. “Quite the opposite actually. Everyone loves you. They are impressed with you. I keep getting requests for interviews and photoshoots, and no matter how many times I tell them I don’t have the authority to arrange that, the requests keep coming.”
Starscream blinked.
Blurr blinked, too.
“Really?” Starscream asked.
"Most assuredly." Dr. Morgan's smile turned soft and fond. "You've made quite an impression, Starscream. People are delighted by your interest, and I have to admit, you do cut a stunning figure. I've always been partial to red."
If it were possible for a harpy to blush, Starscream was certainly doing so now. His crest feathers flared and fluttered. His face took on a warmer sheen. He settled back into the chair looking as stunned as Blurr had ever seen him.
"That's very kind of you to say," Starscream said after a long moment of trying to visibly gather his composure. "I would have to confer with my liege, of course, make certain this arrangement is in the flock's best interest. I can't imagine he'll protest, given Kaon's friendly relationship with our aerie."
Dr. Morgan nodded and leaned back, one hand moving to pull out a drawer and dig through it. "We've been wanting to fill this position for quite a while. No one interested or suitable has become a candidate, until you that is."
Blurr blossomed with pride for his lover. Of course Starscream was suited! He was charming when he wanted to be, gorgeous, and brilliant.
Starscream coughed over a little chirping sound in his throat. "Thank you for the offer, Dr. Morgan. If I'm allowed to, then yes, I would like to accept."
"Excellent." She whipped a folded stack of papers out of the drawer and handed them over, on a thicker paper Blurr noticed, sure to withstand sharp harpy talons. "Here are the particulars. Responsibilities. Obligations. Term limits. Pay. Everything you and your liege need to know before making a final decision."
Starscream startled. "Pay?" He took the papers, still looking a bit shell-shocked, and Blurr honestly couldn't blame him. They'd had no expectations for this meeting, and already, what little they'd guessed had been exceeded.
"Proper compensation is a matter of course." Dr. Morgan's gaze darted between Starscream and Blurr. "You'll also have a room on campus if you don't want to fly back to the aerie to sleep, or if you want to keep things here."
"I stay with Blurr," Starscream murmured, more focused on the papers in front of him, eyes devouring each word, his feathers twitching more and more with excitement.
"The dorm is not a permanent accommodation. This particular room will be." Dr. Morgan's gaze shifted to Blurr again, only this time it lingered, and Blurr tried not to squirm under the weight of it. "You are a senior, are you not, Mr. Song?"
"You can just call me Blurr. And yeah."
"What are your plans post-graduation?"
Blurr squirmed. He couldn't help it. He looked down at his hands, fingers tangled together, one thumb rubbing over the other. "I don't have any plans per se. I'm still weighing options."
Dr. Morgan folded her hands on top of the desk. "Well, if that's the case, there's a good chance we could have a place for you here. I am always looking for bright minds to build the Avian Studies program, particularly those who already have a good rapport with them."
"I'm a business major, not any of the sciences." And he's pretty dumb when it comes to science, to be honest. Pretty much the only thing Blurr is good at is running, and he's sure they didn't have any use for that.
"It's a versatile degree. I can think of more than a few ways for it to work to our advantage." Dr. Morgan loosed a happy hum, one finger rubbing against the curve of her jaw as if she was already gnawing on possibilities. "Think about it at the very least. It gives you another option."
"Options are always welcome," Blurr said, his mind spinning with the offer. He felt that it was a little contrived as though they were attempting to make him seem useful. He supposed it couldn't be helped.
He was more than a little aware of how nebulous his future remained. At some point, he would need to sit down and have a conversation with Starscream about what their future meant. Or what they could do about it. But the longer he could put it off, the better. He didn't want to face the realities of their situation. He just wanted to be happy with Starscream for a little while longer.
“You’ve considered merchandise opportunities, haven’t you?” Starscream asked, his voice thoughtful as he skimmed through the papers Dr. Morgan had given him. “I’m sure there are plenty of markets to be found.”
“For harpycraft and information? Oh, yes.” Dr. Morgan’s smile had brightened again, and she tangled her fingers together once more, resting her hands on the table. “It would be a source of income and notoriety for your flock, and for harpykind in general.”
Starscream nodded slowly, still somewhat distant. “And even more steps toward obtaining protection, personhood, and possibly even citizenship in the eyes of humans.” He looked up, lips curved in a half-smile. “You are a very, very clever person.”
“Well, I’m in clever company.” Dr. Morgan spread her hands briefly before bringing them together again. “Now, I know I’ve given you a lot to think about, so I won’t take up too much of your time. Do you have any questions for me?”
“Not at the moment. I suspect a lot of my basic questions will be answered in these.” Starscream held up the papers to demonstrate. “We should meet again in a… week? Or after the new semester begins would be better. I should have an opportunity to discuss this proposition with my liege by then.”
Dr. Morgan nodded and rose to her feet, bobbing on her heels a little as if she could barely restrain her excitement. “Yes, that would be perfect.” She tucked a stray, gray-streaked curl behind her ear. “Perhaps we can have dinner? My husband and I, you and your Blurr?”
Starscream chuckled and stood as well.
Blurr turned a very beet red.
“He’s hardly mine,” Starscream said.
“There are different kinds of ownership,” Dr. Morgan said with a wink, and some nameless conversation passed between them.
Blurr wondered if anyone would notice if he seeped right into the ugly fabric of the chair and vanished. That sensation of being out of his element persisted. He didn’t belong here, in this academic leader’s office. He didn’t deserve the offer of a position he wasn’t qualified to perform.
Starscream laughed this time, his unguarded, comfortable laugh he showed so few people. It was a laugh he reserved for friends, rather than the quiet, raspy chuckle he offered the admirers and the curious.
“This is very true indeed.” He folded up the papers and tucked them under one wing while offering a hand to Dr. Morgan.
Blurr inched out of the chair and sank back toward the door, his palms sweaty and his face steaming hot. There was a curl of unease in his belly, and the granola bar he’d gobbled hastily earlier, now sat like a heavy mass.
“I’ll take your offer, and your invitation, into consideration,” Starscream said as Dr. Morgan clasped his hand briefly, mindful of the talons.
“And I hope to hear back from you positively on both accounts.” Dr. Morgan’s gaze slid to Blurr and she dipped her head in acknowledgment. “And please, Mr. Song, consider what I’ve said as well. My department could use all the brilliant, understanding minds it can find.”
“I will,” Blurr said, somehow managing not to stutter. “Thank you for the offer.”
“My pleasure.”
They made their goodbyes and left, but Blurr didn’t feel like he could draw an unencumbered breath until they were out of the main building, and back in the crisp winter air. It smacked him in the face, helping to chase away the blush growing bright and humiliating across his cheeks.
“That woman is eerily perceptive,” Starscream said as he craned his neck to look behind them, vaguely in the direction of where Dr. Morgan’s office would be. “Do you think she suspects…?”
Blurr shoved his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders. “She’s spent her life studying harpies and harpy culture and forming connections with harpies. She probably suspected before we even showed up in her office.”
“You sound angry.” Starscream moved in front of him, eyebrows furrowed, concern narrowing his eyes. “Are you all right?”
Blurr sighed and stared down at the grass – soggy from repeated snow and ice melts, not even an increasingly warm sun could dry out just yet. “I’m not angry,” he said.
Careful harpy fingers appeared in his field of vision, adjusting the scarf around his neck with delicate motions. “Is this about what you’re going to do after graduation?”
And what we’re going to do, Blurr thought, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud. Not yet.
“Mostly.” Blurr sighed and scrubbed at his face with a gloved hand. “Never mind. It’s not important. I’m too busy being happy for you.” He managed a smile. “What about this, yeah? Isn’t it what you wanted?”
Starscream gave him a long look. “It is, in part, but--”
“No buts.” Blurr glanced around them and slipped close enough to squeeze Starscream’s hand. “If this is what you want, you should totally go for it.”
“That remains to be seen if Liege will approve it,” Starscream said.
“He will. You can be convincing when you want to be.” Blurr grinned, and it held echoes of more certainty in it. “Trust me, I know.”
Starscream rested a hand on his shoulder, giving him a squeeze he barely felt through the layers of his winter’s jacket. “Just like I know you’re going to figure out what you want eventually. It’s going to be fine, Blurr. It’s all going to work out.”
Blurr wished he had Starscream’s faith.
“I’m sure it will,” Blurr said, and he almost believed it.
He stomped his feet and shivered theatrically. “Come on. Let’s get back to my dorm. It’s fucking freezing out here.”
Starscream chuckled and slung an arm over his shoulder. “I’ll help keep you warm.”
For a few more months at least, Blurr knew.
He’d have to hold on to that.
***
Universe: Transformers AR, Flights of Fancy AU
Characters: Blurr/Starscream, Original Human Character(s), Sari Sumdac, Miko Nakadai, Ratchet, Megatron, Rodimus, Red Alert, Others
Rated: M
Enticements: Sexual Content, Harpy/Human Sexual Content
Summary: There were a lot of things Blurr knew with great certainty: his path, his future, his happiness. Then Starscream swooped into his life and turned everything upside down in the best possible way.
Spring semester started with a whimper rather than a bang. Blurr had his senior seminar to consider, and it was a three-hour class late on Wednesday nights, of which the end result would require a twenty page paper.
He already was no good at writing papers, but he was especially untalented in writing twenty page papers that would be the entirety of his grade for the one class he needed to graduate. He wanted to tear his hair out from sheer frustration. He tried to balance it out by taking a bunch of easy classes he didn’t need, but he feared the stress would eat him alive.
If it wasn’t so late, he’d change his major. At this point, he might as well have taken a degree in Avian Studies. If his current major wasn’t so far off the mark, he’d switch and call it a good decision.
Business and Avian Studies had nothing to do with each other. He’d have to stay in the university for several more years if he switched, and he knew his scholarship wouldn’t cover the difference.
Neither would his parents.
On top of that, the spring heats would start soon, and Coach expected him to show his chops for the talent scouts that would be lurking in the stands. Blurr might be lucky and land a spot on an international team, and wouldn’t that solve more than a few problems? But he had to win for a chance at such an opportunity, and winning required practice and dedication.
It was enough to make his head swim.
So maybe. Just maybe, Blurr buried himself in Starscream more than he should have. Maybe he took solace in Starscream’s arms and his kisses, the warmth of him, his sweet scent, his laugh, his teasing. Maybe he tried to block out the confusing, convoluted world by focusing on something else, equally convoluted and confusing.
Or maybe he really didn’t want Starscream to leave his bed. Especially since they’d hauled all the blankets and pillows onto the floor so they’d have a larger space without squeezing onto the bed. It meant they had more room to maneuver.
Blurr had Starscream beneath him for once. Large, taloned hands gently cupped his ass, but Blurr had his hands buried in the pillows as he dotted Starscream’s face with kisses and nuzzled the harpy’s throat, inhaling the sweet scent of fruit and berries. His dick was a dull throb in his sweatpants, a growing swell he rocked down against Starscream’s belly, his breath coming in sharp pants.
“I don’t have time,” Starscream bemoaned, but he didn’t remove his hands, instead sliding them up, thumbs slipping Blurr’s shirt aside so he could spread his palms over Blurr’s bare back.
His hands were hot, and Blurr shivered, knees clamping harder around Starscream’s thighs. He dragged his mouth back to Starscream’s, planting a kiss on the corner of it, tasting his lips.
“Are you sure?” Blurr asked with a small laugh. He enjoyed being the one to tease for once, and the heat rising from Starscream was intoxicating. He rocked down again, dick throbbing, dampening the fabric of his sweatpants.
One of Starscream’s hands dropped back to his ass, pulling him down hard. He bucked up to meet Blurr. They ground together, and Blurr felt an answering firmness against him, not that he knew how to name it.
“I have responsibilities,” Starscream panted, but his other hand slid up Blurr’s back, the pads of his fingers tracing the line of his spine. “Why are you so tempting?”
Blurr chuckled and nosed his way back to Starscream’s mouth, stealing his lips for a hungry kiss. He dug his knees into the pillow and blanket nest, rolling his hips to ride Starscream’s body, sweat gathering over his skin.
Pleasure licked through his veins in little bursts of fireworks. He’d forgotten how good it felt, just to frot and grind against another person, bodies moving in an erotic song. At some point, sex had become all about mouths and taking, but there was something far more intimate, more racy about working to release while mostly clothed and hidden.
It felt like a secret, and that turned Blurr on more than he knew was possible.
“It’s your fault,” Blurr said against Starscream’s mouth. He bore down, grinding harder and faster against Starscream, pre-come dampening his boxers.
“I’ll gladly take the blame,” Starscream panted and abruptly turned, pinning Blurr beneath him as he devoured Blurr’s mouth, the weight of him bearing Blurr into the blankets.
He moaned, arms and legs wrapping around Starscream as he rocked up, feathers forming a curtain around his body. Lips and teeth found their way to his throat, nibbling carefully, ever conscious of marks since Miko and Sari’s holiday party. They invited too many questions.
Blurr shivered and carded his hands through Starscream’s feathers, his insides drawing tight, his dick throbbing as Starscream ground down on him. The firm press of his clava was a promise of something more, something Blurr wasn’t quite ready for, but had spent far too many nights thinking about.
“We can be quick, right?” Blurr panted as he jerked upward, thighs trembling, rutting harder against Starscream.
Starscream groaned, lips and teeth smashed against Blurr’s mouth, his eyes squeezed shut. “We have to be,” he said, and grabbed Blurr’s hips, rolling harder and faster, a mimicry of sex that made Blurr’s insides tighten with want.
He gasped and grabbed Starscream’s head, holding him in place for a kiss, bruising for its intensity. Starscream ground him down into the pillows, a perfect pressure and a perfect motion against his dick. Pleasure spasmed through Blurr’s body like a lightning strike. His heart thudded in his chest, and his fingers would have bruised anyone else, he was sure of it.
He bucked, fast and needy, and then he was coming in his pants, spilling hot and wet over his boxers. He’d lost count of the number of times he’d done this, and how much laundry he’d had to haul to the basement. But it was worth it.
Because Starscream panted over his mouth and kept thrusting, rutting against him, and when he shuddered, it was because release took him as well. Blurr felt the wet spatter of come against his bared belly, where his shirt had rucked up, and he moaned. His fingers raked through Starscream’s feathers, and if they’d had more time, he’d have rolled Starscream over and kissed him until they were both firm again.
But they didn’t have time.
The kiss softened until Starscream leaned his forehead against Blurr’s, body still trembling with aftershocks, one hand gently cupping Blurr’s hips. “Why did I have to accept that invitation?” he groaned with obvious reluctance.
Blurr gently stroked the feathers of his crest, still marveling at how soft they were, even if they covered his skin in a light, oily sheen afterward. “Because politics wait for no bird, not even a horny one.”
Starscream snorted a laugh and leaned back on his heels, whatever passed for a harpy’s genitalia once again out of sight, though a sheen of fluids glistened on his featherdown. “You are impossible,” he said, with a playful poke to Blurr’s belly. “And I am not a bird.”
"I know. I'm teasing." Blurr squirmed as the sexiness of the moment started to fade, and he was acutely aware of the damp inside his boxers, and coating the front of his pants. "I need to get cleaned up."
"We both do." Starscream glanced over at Blurr's alarm clock and visibly stiffened. "Immediately." He scrambled up and away from Blurr, only to reach down and haul him to his feet, which made Blurr's head spin. "We're going to be late."
"We?"
"Yes, we. I'm taking you with me." Starscream spun him toward the bathroom and gave him a little pat on the ass. "Go. Change."
Blurr was already wiggling out of his sweatpants and kicking them in the general direction of his laundry basket. "You're so bossy," he grumbled.
Starscream snorted as he swept past Blurr for the small window and sink, dampening a rag to tend to his own feathers. "You have no idea."
Blurr couldn't decide if that was ominous or a promise. Either way, it sent a tickle of delight down his spine, and a twitch to his dick. Which he couldn't abide right now. So he grabbed clean clothes and hopped into the bathroom for one of the quickest showers he'd ever taken. He didn't even get his hair wet.
He stepped out in a cloud of steam, and Starscream grabbed him, shoving his arms into a coat, his feet into socks and shoes, and a granola bar in his hand. Blurr's head spun at the speed of it, but he let himself be manhandled anyway. Or would it be birdhandled?
Either way, a few moments later, he stumbled out the door, Starscream shutting it firmly behind them, and rushing Blurr toward the stairs. No elevator for the harpy today. It evidently wasn't fast enough.
Blurr muffled a laugh in his granola bar and followed Starscream out of the door and into a brisk, sunny late morning, winter's air smacking him in the face to chase away the last of the heat from the shower. Starscream's gait was determined and focused, the look on his face one Blurr had come to recognize as intent.
It was adorable.
Blurr didn't meander, though he was sorely tempted to, and finished the granola bar in a couple of big bites. His stomach growled angrily at him -- it wasn't at all enough. But they didn't have time to stop for more. His boots crunched across the cold ground, and signs of life sprung around the campus like spring daises.
The science administration building loomed into view. It stretched above Blurr’s head for three stories, and was formed of solid stone. It was one of the oldest buildings on campus, and that showed. Dead vines of ivy crawled up the sides and weeds sprung from cracks in the foundation.
“Are you sure she wants me to be here?” Blurr asked as they stepped into the large administration building, which was a hustle-bustle of activity so early in the semester.
Starscream rolled his shoulders. “She didn’t say I could or couldn’t, but you know, it’s not an official meeting or anything. Just sort of a meet and greet.”
“Uh huh.” Blurr looked down at his choice of clothing and instantly felt underdressed. But he didn’t have anything in his closet more appropriate. He survived on jeans and athletic shorts. “Maybe I should wait outside.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re coming with me.” Starscream grabbed his hand as if he thought Blurr was going to escape, and tugged him up a spiraling staircase toward a second floor.
Blurr spluttered, but Starscream’s grip was like iron. Thankfully, there weren’t too many people around, and no one gave them more than a passing glance. It wasn’t like they could read the truth of their relationship in the casual touch, but still!
Starscream seemed to know exactly where he was going. He led Blurr down the hallway, to the last door on the left. He pushed it open and tugged Blurr inside, leaving Blurr to close it quietly behind him.
A young woman sat behind a desk, her fingers clicking rapidly over the keyboard as she peered at the screen through coke-bottle glasses. She looked up at them with a big grin, and swept a hand over her frizzy hair.
“Starscream, right?” she said and gestured over her shoulder with a thumb. “Dr. Morgan’s waiting for you so you can go right on in.”
“Thanks,” Starscream chirped, and held up Blurr’s hand, still clutched in his. “I can have a guest, right?”
The young woman grinned, but her eyes went back to the computer, and her fingers back to the keys. “You can bring whoever and whatever you want. Jessica’s crazy excited to see what new things she can learn.”
Starscream chuckled. “Yeah, Perceptor told me of her zeal. Thanks.” He looked over his shoulder at Blurr and winked. “Let’s go.”
“Whatever you say,” Blurr said, a little off balance from the situation. For once, he was the one uncomfortable and wrong-footed, while Starscream seemed to move forward with ease and comfort.
Starscream headed for the door just behind the young woman, translucent glass with the owner’s name printed in large, blocked letters across the front. Starscream rapped his knuckles over the glass in half-hearted announcement, and immediately pushed the door open, pulling Blurr along with him.
“Welcome!” Dr. Jessica Morgan rose from behind her desk, arms spread wide and a cheerful smile on her face. She was dressed business-casual, with a lavender button-up and a pair of dark slacks. “It’s nice to finally see you again, Starscream. Thank you for re-discovering my office.”
She came around the desk, her thick heels clomping noisily on the floor, one hand extended. Only then did Starscream let Blurr go so as to shake her hand, head dipping in a genteel bow.
“I should have come sooner,” he said, tone apologetic. “But there’s so much to see and do around here, I kept getting distracted.”
Dr. Morgan patted his hand with her other, giving him an indulgent look. “It’s quite all right. Drift was much the same when he first arrived, though I also think Perceptor had something to do with that.” Her eyes slid past Starscream and landed on Blurr. “Oh. Hello. I don’t believe we’ve met…?”
“Dae-Hyeun Song,” Blurr said as he fumbled forward, offering her a hand. “I’m sort of Starscream’s...” He glanced at the harpy, looking for a bit of guidance.
“Best friend,” Starscream supplied with a bright smile. “Blurr’s the first human friend I met, and he’s still my favorite.”
Heat colored Blurr’s cheeks.
Dr. Morgan chuckled and squeezed Blurr’s hand warmly. “That’s wonderful. Blurr…?”
“It’s a nickname.” Starscream patted Blurr’s shoulders, feathers poofing with pride. “He’s on the Track and Field team and one of the fastest members.”
Brown eyes lit up with recognition. “Oh! Yes! Now I know where I’ve seen your face.” She leaned back, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of grey-brown hair behind her ear. “Starscream’s right, you are quite quick. I’ve been to a couple of your races.”
“Thank you,” Blurr said.
Dr. Morgan clapped her hands together. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you. Why don’t you take a seat?” She circled back around her desk and paused, her hands still pressed together, and pointed the tips of her fingers toward Starscream. “Are you hungry? I can have Jeanine go grab us a fruit basket. I remember Drift was always fond of them.”
Starscream chuckled as he took the larger chair on the left. “I’m not surprised. He’s a perpetual snacker.” He settled in with a creak, getting comfortable. “No, thank you. We ate before we came.” He looked up at Blurr and winked, just out of Dr. Morgan’s view.
The blush strengthened. Blurr was going to strangle Starscream later. Instead, he bit his tongue and claimed the other chair, taking the opportunity to examine the office.
It was small, as most professors’ offices were, and the walls were nothing but bookshelves cluttered with papers and books and figurines. Dr. Morgan’s office was an organized sort of messy, where it was obvious the occupant knew where everything could be found and had a sense of organization, but one specific to them only. The blinds were drawn on the window, blocking out the bright winter sun, and what few walls were visible, were covered in frames.
“So how have you been finding our town and university?” Dr. Morgan asked as she settled into her own chair, leaning forward with elbows braced on the desk.
Starscream chuckled. “Fascinating. There’s not a moment that goes by when I’m bored. There’s too much to see and learn.”
Blurr peered at the nearest frame on the wall. It was a picture, and he recognized Dr. Morgan in the center, a younger one as she had no gray hair and a few less laugh lines. She stood between two harpies, one of whom was probably a bit smaller than Starscream, and the other who was much larger, though equally lean. Perhaps the aforementioned Perceptor and Drift? Blurr remembered Starscream mentioning they were the first to contact humans.
“You’ve access to everything you need?”
“Yes. They gave me an ID card and when I need money, I borrow Perceptor’s.”
“Well, we can certainly grant you access to the general flock funds as well. The university maintains an account for the use of your entire aerie, supported by many generous donors.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Another framed item was much larger and better resembled a legal document. It had been notarized and there were several signatures on it, but as was the case with most cursive writing, Blurr couldn’t read them. The document itself said National Park Certification and beneath it, in smaller script, ‘Official Deed of Ownership’.
The largest item on one of the walls was a massive display case, like the kind butterfly collectors use, but instead it was an array of feathers in a rainbow of colors. Reds and blues and oranges and browns and greys and whites. They were all different sizes and shapes, and each one had a name beneath. Blurr only recognized a few of them.
“I’ve never faulted Perceptor for his decision to relocate to the aerie, but I admit, we’ve missed his presence on campus. We’ve missed that direct contact. Liege Megatron is very kind and willing to work with us, but it’s… err, haphazard I suppose would be the best term.”
“You’re looking for someone to be a bit more scheduled?”
“Something like that. At the very least, we’d like someone comfortable with visiting on at least a weekly basis to help discuss terms, answer questions, help with research, that sort of thing.”
“Like an Ambassador?”
“That would be the term we’d apply, yes.”
Blurr shifted his attention back to the two discussing business. Starscream looked thoughtful while Dr. Morgan looked hopeful. Starscream rubbed his jaw, humming in his throat.
“I can think of a few harpies who might be suitable for such a duty,” he said, head tilted, eyes a bit narrowed in thought. “Though whether they’d be comfortable with leaving Kaon so often, that I do not know. I’d have to ask.”
Dr. Morgan tilted her head, a soft smile on her face. “What about you?”
Starscream blinked and his crest feathers rose up like he’d been startled. “Me?” He straightened. “I admit, I’m not really the diplomatic sort. I’m a researcher.”
“We’re not negotiating for war. What we need is a scientist, someone who’s willing to talk to other scientists.” She threaded her fingers together, elbows still braced on the desk. “If you ask me, you’re perfect for the job.”
“Perceptor is a scientist also,” Starscream said, and the small thread of doubt in his voice made Blurr’s chest ache. “There’s Brainstorm as well.”
He wanted to reach over, squeeze Starscream’s hand, reassure him. Let him know that Starscream was just as capable as both of them, and certainly capable of this.
“I haven’t met Brainstorm. But I’m familiar with Perceptor, and while he’s a great friend in smaller settings, he isn’t as social as you are.” Dr. Morgan lowered her hands and leaned back, her smile growing. One hand tapped a stack of papers on her desk. “I have pictures, e-mails, notes, comments… and all of them are observations and feedback from various members of university staff and attendees who’ve interacted with you since your arrival.”
Starscream’s face colored. His feathers twitched before sleeking down to his frame. “I apologize if I’ve done anything--”
“No, no, no.” Dr. Morgan shook her head. “Quite the opposite actually. Everyone loves you. They are impressed with you. I keep getting requests for interviews and photoshoots, and no matter how many times I tell them I don’t have the authority to arrange that, the requests keep coming.”
Starscream blinked.
Blurr blinked, too.
“Really?” Starscream asked.
"Most assuredly." Dr. Morgan's smile turned soft and fond. "You've made quite an impression, Starscream. People are delighted by your interest, and I have to admit, you do cut a stunning figure. I've always been partial to red."
If it were possible for a harpy to blush, Starscream was certainly doing so now. His crest feathers flared and fluttered. His face took on a warmer sheen. He settled back into the chair looking as stunned as Blurr had ever seen him.
"That's very kind of you to say," Starscream said after a long moment of trying to visibly gather his composure. "I would have to confer with my liege, of course, make certain this arrangement is in the flock's best interest. I can't imagine he'll protest, given Kaon's friendly relationship with our aerie."
Dr. Morgan nodded and leaned back, one hand moving to pull out a drawer and dig through it. "We've been wanting to fill this position for quite a while. No one interested or suitable has become a candidate, until you that is."
Blurr blossomed with pride for his lover. Of course Starscream was suited! He was charming when he wanted to be, gorgeous, and brilliant.
Starscream coughed over a little chirping sound in his throat. "Thank you for the offer, Dr. Morgan. If I'm allowed to, then yes, I would like to accept."
"Excellent." She whipped a folded stack of papers out of the drawer and handed them over, on a thicker paper Blurr noticed, sure to withstand sharp harpy talons. "Here are the particulars. Responsibilities. Obligations. Term limits. Pay. Everything you and your liege need to know before making a final decision."
Starscream startled. "Pay?" He took the papers, still looking a bit shell-shocked, and Blurr honestly couldn't blame him. They'd had no expectations for this meeting, and already, what little they'd guessed had been exceeded.
"Proper compensation is a matter of course." Dr. Morgan's gaze darted between Starscream and Blurr. "You'll also have a room on campus if you don't want to fly back to the aerie to sleep, or if you want to keep things here."
"I stay with Blurr," Starscream murmured, more focused on the papers in front of him, eyes devouring each word, his feathers twitching more and more with excitement.
"The dorm is not a permanent accommodation. This particular room will be." Dr. Morgan's gaze shifted to Blurr again, only this time it lingered, and Blurr tried not to squirm under the weight of it. "You are a senior, are you not, Mr. Song?"
"You can just call me Blurr. And yeah."
"What are your plans post-graduation?"
Blurr squirmed. He couldn't help it. He looked down at his hands, fingers tangled together, one thumb rubbing over the other. "I don't have any plans per se. I'm still weighing options."
Dr. Morgan folded her hands on top of the desk. "Well, if that's the case, there's a good chance we could have a place for you here. I am always looking for bright minds to build the Avian Studies program, particularly those who already have a good rapport with them."
"I'm a business major, not any of the sciences." And he's pretty dumb when it comes to science, to be honest. Pretty much the only thing Blurr is good at is running, and he's sure they didn't have any use for that.
"It's a versatile degree. I can think of more than a few ways for it to work to our advantage." Dr. Morgan loosed a happy hum, one finger rubbing against the curve of her jaw as if she was already gnawing on possibilities. "Think about it at the very least. It gives you another option."
"Options are always welcome," Blurr said, his mind spinning with the offer. He felt that it was a little contrived as though they were attempting to make him seem useful. He supposed it couldn't be helped.
He was more than a little aware of how nebulous his future remained. At some point, he would need to sit down and have a conversation with Starscream about what their future meant. Or what they could do about it. But the longer he could put it off, the better. He didn't want to face the realities of their situation. He just wanted to be happy with Starscream for a little while longer.
“You’ve considered merchandise opportunities, haven’t you?” Starscream asked, his voice thoughtful as he skimmed through the papers Dr. Morgan had given him. “I’m sure there are plenty of markets to be found.”
“For harpycraft and information? Oh, yes.” Dr. Morgan’s smile had brightened again, and she tangled her fingers together once more, resting her hands on the table. “It would be a source of income and notoriety for your flock, and for harpykind in general.”
Starscream nodded slowly, still somewhat distant. “And even more steps toward obtaining protection, personhood, and possibly even citizenship in the eyes of humans.” He looked up, lips curved in a half-smile. “You are a very, very clever person.”
“Well, I’m in clever company.” Dr. Morgan spread her hands briefly before bringing them together again. “Now, I know I’ve given you a lot to think about, so I won’t take up too much of your time. Do you have any questions for me?”
“Not at the moment. I suspect a lot of my basic questions will be answered in these.” Starscream held up the papers to demonstrate. “We should meet again in a… week? Or after the new semester begins would be better. I should have an opportunity to discuss this proposition with my liege by then.”
Dr. Morgan nodded and rose to her feet, bobbing on her heels a little as if she could barely restrain her excitement. “Yes, that would be perfect.” She tucked a stray, gray-streaked curl behind her ear. “Perhaps we can have dinner? My husband and I, you and your Blurr?”
Starscream chuckled and stood as well.
Blurr turned a very beet red.
“He’s hardly mine,” Starscream said.
“There are different kinds of ownership,” Dr. Morgan said with a wink, and some nameless conversation passed between them.
Blurr wondered if anyone would notice if he seeped right into the ugly fabric of the chair and vanished. That sensation of being out of his element persisted. He didn’t belong here, in this academic leader’s office. He didn’t deserve the offer of a position he wasn’t qualified to perform.
Starscream laughed this time, his unguarded, comfortable laugh he showed so few people. It was a laugh he reserved for friends, rather than the quiet, raspy chuckle he offered the admirers and the curious.
“This is very true indeed.” He folded up the papers and tucked them under one wing while offering a hand to Dr. Morgan.
Blurr inched out of the chair and sank back toward the door, his palms sweaty and his face steaming hot. There was a curl of unease in his belly, and the granola bar he’d gobbled hastily earlier, now sat like a heavy mass.
“I’ll take your offer, and your invitation, into consideration,” Starscream said as Dr. Morgan clasped his hand briefly, mindful of the talons.
“And I hope to hear back from you positively on both accounts.” Dr. Morgan’s gaze slid to Blurr and she dipped her head in acknowledgment. “And please, Mr. Song, consider what I’ve said as well. My department could use all the brilliant, understanding minds it can find.”
“I will,” Blurr said, somehow managing not to stutter. “Thank you for the offer.”
“My pleasure.”
They made their goodbyes and left, but Blurr didn’t feel like he could draw an unencumbered breath until they were out of the main building, and back in the crisp winter air. It smacked him in the face, helping to chase away the blush growing bright and humiliating across his cheeks.
“That woman is eerily perceptive,” Starscream said as he craned his neck to look behind them, vaguely in the direction of where Dr. Morgan’s office would be. “Do you think she suspects…?”
Blurr shoved his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders. “She’s spent her life studying harpies and harpy culture and forming connections with harpies. She probably suspected before we even showed up in her office.”
“You sound angry.” Starscream moved in front of him, eyebrows furrowed, concern narrowing his eyes. “Are you all right?”
Blurr sighed and stared down at the grass – soggy from repeated snow and ice melts, not even an increasingly warm sun could dry out just yet. “I’m not angry,” he said.
Careful harpy fingers appeared in his field of vision, adjusting the scarf around his neck with delicate motions. “Is this about what you’re going to do after graduation?”
And what we’re going to do, Blurr thought, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud. Not yet.
“Mostly.” Blurr sighed and scrubbed at his face with a gloved hand. “Never mind. It’s not important. I’m too busy being happy for you.” He managed a smile. “What about this, yeah? Isn’t it what you wanted?”
Starscream gave him a long look. “It is, in part, but--”
“No buts.” Blurr glanced around them and slipped close enough to squeeze Starscream’s hand. “If this is what you want, you should totally go for it.”
“That remains to be seen if Liege will approve it,” Starscream said.
“He will. You can be convincing when you want to be.” Blurr grinned, and it held echoes of more certainty in it. “Trust me, I know.”
Starscream rested a hand on his shoulder, giving him a squeeze he barely felt through the layers of his winter’s jacket. “Just like I know you’re going to figure out what you want eventually. It’s going to be fine, Blurr. It’s all going to work out.”
Blurr wished he had Starscream’s faith.
“I’m sure it will,” Blurr said, and he almost believed it.
He stomped his feet and shivered theatrically. “Come on. Let’s get back to my dorm. It’s fucking freezing out here.”
Starscream chuckled and slung an arm over his shoulder. “I’ll help keep you warm.”
For a few more months at least, Blurr knew.
He’d have to hold on to that.
