[Visual]

[robotfightclub]

[About the same time Arcee pops on the scroll, the sound of a train can be heard in the background just leaving the station. It's not her train judging by how she's standing outside, but a part of her wishes it was. If you can't guess where she is, she probably wants nothing to do with you.]

I'm leaving.

[That's all she can manage to say at first. Truth be told, informing her friends was actually an afterthought. Arcee: A+ friend. At least she manages to think of something more to add before closing up the scroll.]

Obviously gonna have the scroll on me, so don't say I didn't try to stay in contact. Bulk, you're in charge. You know, if you're still here. Considering my luck, who even knows anymore.

I'll come back when I feel like it.

[And that's that. Mini vacation? Mini vacation.]

Comments

[kind_to_all]

S-sorry. [ She looks down. ] I just... I don't know what happened and I don't know if I can help. But you probably just need some time. But I'm still worried about you.

You'll be all by yourself and... I know you'll be fine, physically. But...

Sometimes you need friends to help you get through things. So I just wanted to let you know that... we're here.

[robotfightclub]

[Her ears fold back as she looks away, hunching over once Fluttershy finishes.]

Look, Fluttershy, I actually do a lot better when I'm by myself. Just worry about your own problems, you don't need mine.

[kind_to_all]

But I want to. I care about you.

[robotfightclub]

...

[Damn it, Fluttershy.]

I care about you, too.

[kind_to_all]

So... we're here when you want to come back, or when you want to call.

... I'm here.

[robotfightclub]

[And the confliction begins. Arcee figured she could just brush everyone off, but she finds Fluttershy surprisingly difficult to be cold to.]

...I'll keep that in mind.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nodded. She didn't know if there was anything more that she could say. ]

If you... haven't left yet, I can come say goodbye. I won't try to keep you from leaving.

[robotfightclub]

Train isn't in for awhile.

[Which is about as "come on over" she can get without saying "come on over".]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy wasn't there immediately -- she needed to prepare something. When she flew in (on wings for once, to be quicker), she was holding a brown paper bag in her mouth.

She set it down when she landed and galloped over to the cat, embracing her in a hug. ]

[robotfightclub]

[If this were anyone else, you can bet Arcee would be lashing out right about now. There was just something about Fluttershy that kept her from sinking her claws into the pegasus.]

Go ahead, get it out of your system.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy didn't let the cat go for a while. Eventually, sensing the kitty wanted to end the hug, she backed off, and nosed the bag forward. ]

There's two cans of tuna, a bag of kibble, and a cushion for long nights. I couldn't think of anything else you might need.

[robotfightclub]

[Kibble. She got her...kibble. Arcee's ears fold back again momentarily, she's getting a little tired of being fed pet food. As much as she realizes her friends are being nice, she can only tolerate "treats" so many times. Now she's getting kibble?

Taking a deep breath, she tries to let it slide. Cybertronian solider reduced to eating kibble, this is really happening. She just...has to keep telling herself it's Fluttershy.]

Thanks.

[Look, see? She can do it.]

I'll be using that cushion a lot.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy sees something's wrong, but isn't sure what. ] I could... rush back and get something else if you forgot something at home!

[ She gets all motherly when she's worried. ]

[robotfightclub]

[Which is part of the problem. She's millions of years old, she doesn't need a mother.]

Fluttershy, look, I know you're just trying to help, but for Primus's sake, you saw the real me. You're babying a giant alien robot, can you really imagine something like that eating kibble?

[So much for keeping it to herself. At least she didn't shout.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy shrinks back from the outburst. ]

Th-th-that's not fair! I'm... I'm sorry about the kibble... [ That was stupid, stupid, she should have just stuck with the fish....

She sits back on her haunches, very small. ] I'd... do this even if you weren't a cat. ... Okay, mostly. But only because you're so small now...

[ She knows she isn't being helpful, and her heart sinks. ] But I'm your fr-friend no matter what you look like.

[robotfightclub]

[Siiiiigh. Well, can't say she didn't see this coming. Time for damage control.]

Then treat me like your friend, not your pet.

[Okay, that was pretty bad damage control.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something, then swallowed and nodded. ]

O-okay.

[ Pause. ] But... the supplies are still yours if... you want them. [ She's not looking at Arcee anymore, looking away, hating herself and the stupid mistakes she made. She should have treated Arcee better. She shouldn't have let her love of cute animals blind her to who Arcee was, even a little. Her eyes watered a little but she ignored it, hoping the tears wouldn't fall. ]

[robotfightclub]

[Another sigh, this time at herself. The last thing she needed was to make Fluttershy cry. Funny how her original intention was to scare everyone off, even expect a few tears from anyone she might've mouthed off too harshly at, but somehow this crosses the line.

Without a word, she pads over to Fluttershy and rubs against her. Please no sads right now.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nuzzles Arcee back. ] You're all... in such a difficult position, being stuck in bodies that you're not used to. And I'm good at helping people changed into ponies. Even... some dragons. But I guess I've been blinded to you even though you're just the same as they are.

[ She squats down to look Arcee in the eye. ] I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?

[robotfightclub]

Just this once.

[Like she wouldn't. But so much for cutting ties, Arcee didn't want to give people a reason to miss her. Friendship is probably the biggest reason, and all she can think of while she pushes against Fluttershy is how this puts a damper on her plans.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy just holds her close. The last thing she'd want to do is drive Arcee away. She lets the cat -- her friend -- hug her for as long as she wants. ]

[robotfightclub]

[It's a pretty long hug by Arcee standards, but eventually she signals that it's time to stop.

She has a train to catch, after all.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nods and lets her go reluctantly. ]

You take care, Arcee.

[robotfightclub]

[Arcee hesitates, giving a rather long sigh. She was all for going a second ago, now she's not so sure.]

I don't know if I can.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy places a comforting wing around Arcee's back. She selfishly wants Arcee to stay behind. But she doesn't want to stand in her friend's way, either. ] Why?