Fluff. Ironhide fluff.... is weird.

[quidamling]

Apologies, this rolled around in brain a lot and had to make it get out.

Jumped off of SC's 50 sentence fic.
http://community.livejournal.com/4_cubic_metres/7627.html#cutid1

"#19 - Soul - When the last phrase ends, he finds himself staring stupidly at the Topkick - and here he thought the old lugnut couldn't tell A# from the aft-end of a camshaft."

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…all that I am

As Ratchet walked by the room, the sound leaking out made him pause.  It was deep and surprisingly rich melody.  As he slipped through the slightly open door and froze, his jaw dropped; unable to grasp exactly what he was seeing.  Actually, it was a combination of what he was seeing and hearing that threw him.  Standing there, back to the door, quietly to himself and completely lacking self-conscious hesitancy - Ironhide was singing.

I am the white dove for a soldier, ever marching as to war
I would give my life to save you, I stand guarding at your door
I give you all that I am

The weapons specialist paused, and Ratchet tensed, thinking he was caught.  But the mech didn’t turn, and his movements followed a certain rhythm, leading the Hummer to guess that ‘Hide was simply singing along with a song he was playing to himself through the comms.  During the interlude between lyrics the only activity in the armory was the sound of a weapon being disassembled, calibrated and reassembled.  The medic practically jumped when the mech resumed singing, he didn’t think he could remember a time ever hearing that mech utter a single musical sound.

 

I am the one-winged bird for flying, sinking quickly to the ground
I’m a blind man for a watchdog, I am prime for giving in
I’ll show you all that I am

And I breathe, so you breathe
Let me stand, so you stand
With all that I am

When the sound faded again, Ratchet crossed his arms and leaned against a pistol rack.  He’d heard better, he’d definitively heard worse.  Ironhide had changed the key and dropped it an octave or more to match his voice, it gave the song a darker, haunting quality.  The medic found himself shuttering his optics, and focusing on the notes issuing from the slightly larger mech.

And I breathe, so you breathe
Let me stand, where you stand
And I breathe, so you breathe
Let me stand, so you stand
With all that I am

There was a strange tone to the song.  When Ironhide went quiet for a while the medic moved.  He came up beside his companion and reached to place a hand on black plating of the mech’s back.

“Ratchet.”  Ironhide rumbled, and turned to the startled Hummer before contact was made. 

“You, you knew I was here?”  He dropped his hand to his side.  Somehow it seemed wrong that he was the one embarrassed in this situation.  The TopKick was simply looking at him.  Ratch resisted the urge to growl; he should know Ironhide would do whatever he did with absolute conviction, and anyone else’s opinions be fragged.  The chartreuse mech felt flustered and caught out.

“Course.”  He set down the weapon and a blunt gray digit reached and tapped Ratchet’s chest.  “Pay attention to some sigs.”  No embarrassment; he’d been singing, and the medic heard.  Statement of fact.

“I’d…” This made no sense.  The Hummer was never at a loss for words.  “I didn’t think you paid them any mind.”  Ratchet stepped in to broad black chassis, looking at Ironhide with a guardedly shocked expression.  “Or knew human music.”

Ironhide wrapped his arms around the rescue vehicle.  “I like that one.  Makes me think of you.”  He nudged his forehead against Ratchet’s sleeker helm.

The medic’s engine purred and he rested his head against Ironhide’s shoulder.  “Any others you like?”

A low roll of a chuckle rumbled through Ironhide’s chassis.  The vibration of his voice carried between their frames, touching Ratchet right to his core.