Chapter Text
Music was thundering over the plains outside of Iacon. Technically, the impromptu, massive raves started off seemingly at random weren’t illegal, but Sentinel was worried that the raves were covers for sedition and rebellious meetings, so Orion ended up there in a different, temporary paintjob.
Some mech had the brilliant idea to spread what seemed to be several metric tons of glitterdust around and the gyrating bodies and feet were throwing it up into the air in clouds. Everyone was a little shimmery from it.
It wasn't his usual kind of thing, if he was being honest. Yet here he was, and he wished he wasn't.
He passed by a hidden subwoofer and his audials were almost blown out when the music changed and the base dropped. He wished he could turn off his temperance chip, it might make things a little easier if he could fade into that haze of high grade everyone around him seemed to be high on. He made his way further towards the center to get away from the speakers.
So far the only rebellion he saw was young mechs rebelling against their creators, judging by some of the younger looking ones.
Several dancing praxians kicked a cloud of the glitterdust up into his face and Orion coughed briefly. Primus, he needed a drink.
The song changed, the beat going from frantic to deep and sensual. Most of the mechs left the dance floor to congregate around the engex dispensers or to grind, pressed up behind a speaker. Those who stayed out were mostly in couples, but there were a few dancing on their own. The swinging couples parted like the Jordan in a wave and Orion spotted him.
He had to be one of the most beautiful mechs Orion ever saw. Of course, everyone thought Seekers were beautiful – as beautiful as they were rare – but this one… Even by Seeker standards, he was lovely. Orion couldn’t help a long stare.
Shimmering, red-gold optics met his own and Orion briefly froze. Something lazy and predatory filled those optics. The Seeker deliberately turned away from the dance floor and began making his way over towards the police officer. Stiffening, Orion considered trying to flee, but he neither wanted to look like a coward nor did he want to return to his aimless wandering through the rave. If any of his officers questioned what he was doing, he could always say the Seeker looked like one of the rabble rousers they were looking for.
The Seeker reached Orion and cocked out a hip with one, light blue servo braced on it. “Well? Are you going to ask me to dance or just stare?”
Orion cracked a smile. “You seemed like you were managing fine on your own.” Nevertheless, he offered a servo. “I’m afraid I don’t dance as well.”
“Good thing it’s a slow song. I can go easy on you.” The Seeker accepted his servo and lightly pulled him back into the mass of mechs moving about. They reached the center together and the Seeker encouraged him to slide a servo to his shoulder and spin the elegant mech gently.
Orion began to feel like a balancing block. The Seeker used whatever Orion did to cut flashy movements and show off the capabilities of his own sleek frame. The detective began to sense, however, that if he just let him lead, he’d become bored quickly.
To that end, Orion took a risk and, the next time the Seeker was on the ground, threw out an arm to catch him around the waist and drag him in a circle, thrusters kicking the dust around them into a cloud that extended over their heads. The glitterdust covered Orion and he knew he’d be spending cycles discovering shimmering flakes in his seams. The Seeker was in no better shape – his vents hitching slightly at the unexpected movement.
Orion let a challenge fill his optics and saw the Seeker’s own challenging spirit rise in response. “Well, if that’s how it’s going to be…” The Seeker gripped his servo and threw himself back, pulling Orion along with him. Orion braced himself and pulled backwards, forcing Starscream’s motion into a flung-out spin.
Shimmerdust flew around them from all sides, practically blinding Orion. The Seeker released Orion’s servo and he thought, briefly, that he was being left behind, but the dust parted just long enough for Orion to realize he was just catching his vents as the music changed again – becoming a similar, jazzed up, fast-paced beat to before.
The challenge gleamed in the Seeker’s eyes. “Think you can keep up?” He leaned back slightly, wings flicking invitingly.
Orion revved his engine for effect and they dove back into the clouds of shimmering dust. Every move of their pedes kicked the dust up all around them.