[All he can do is laugh. And not the deep chuckle he usually has, but an honest, clear, bright laughter.
Maybe it was the drink finally sinking in. But he just...loved this. It was so small, Sideswipe's mocking of his accent. But it was his own private 'jab'. Sideswipe could only make this kind of joke at him.
In some odd, twisted way, he liked that. It meant he was truly back. They were truly back. And he was going to enjoy it before he had to crush it.]
[He stares at him, surprised. It's... been a while since he'd heard Mirage laugh like that. Almost never, actually.]
[It's sort of nice.]
[And it makes something in his spark feel lighter, warmer. While it threatens to send his engine humming. He has to look away before it happens, and he... what. He gives something away?]
[What is there to even "give away"?]
You and your stupid nicknames...
[But there's no anger or unhappiness in the words. He sounds flattered and flustered.]
[Sideswipe was one of the few things Mirage could hold onto in this world. And Unicron would have to tear that feeling from his dead body first. He's got something stable--Sideswipe was one Autobot who'd lasted the longest.
Those fingers trail along that metal again, nestling his head into that neck cavity.]
[And despite himself, he ends up leaning his head against Mirage's. He doesn't have the loss the other bot does. He doesn't... know what's all happened to him here.]
[But he knows he can almost bring back the bot he'd seen on Earth. And that has to be good enough, right? Helpful?]
[... though, why it suddenly matters so much, he can't say.]
[It was comforting, feeling Sideswipe press back. He knew that the silver bot was doing it strictly for him. It helped ease the pain more than he could ever admit.
[There's a part of him relishing in the touch. In the weight and feeling of mirage against his plating. He's always liked contact, always liked touch. He has no idea if there's something better he could be doing, but...]
Action;
Do I have to do it more often?
Action;
... you're going to do it no matter what I say.
Action;
[He's teasing too. He knows how much Sideswipe hates the accent, but it's relieving. It makes things easier.
Simpler.]
True. But it's nice to run it by you.
Action;
[He just looks more flustered. Mirage should know he's messing up. Right? It should be obvious.]
Right?
Action;
Maybe it was the drink finally sinking in. But he just...loved this. It was so small, Sideswipe's mocking of his accent. But it was his own private 'jab'. Sideswipe could only make this kind of joke at him.
In some odd, twisted way, he liked that. It meant he was truly back. They were truly back. And he was going to enjoy it before he had to crush it.]
I am aware, mio amore~
Action;
[It's sort of nice.]
[And it makes something in his spark feel lighter, warmer. While it threatens to send his engine humming. He has to look away before it happens, and he... what. He gives something away?]
[What is there to even "give away"?]
You and your stupid nicknames...
[But there's no anger or unhappiness in the words. He sounds flattered and flustered.]
Action;
Those fingers trail along that metal again, nestling his head into that neck cavity.]
You don't even know what it means.
Action;
[But he knows he can almost bring back the bot he'd seen on Earth. And that has to be good enough, right? Helpful?]
[... though, why it suddenly matters so much, he can't say.]
Nope. I don't. Is that bad?
Action;
He was broken. A lot had happened to him.
But this...makes it easier.]
Not at all. It's nothing bad by far.
Action;
[If this is working...]
Well, that's good. I think.