wildernesstales | TF: Custom: Denial and Pretence (Reply)

Rating: NC-17
Series: G1
Pairings: Grapple/Red Alert
Summary: Inferno and Red Alert look as though they should be a perfect couple. But something seems to be stopping them, and Grapple is determined to find out why.
Warnings: Sticky
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten…
Authors Notes: For the tf_rare_pairing weekly prompt – Grapple/Red Alert – "pretending it’s him". I love you flarn_fanfic. You enable me so wonderfully. Also part of the Custom ‘verse.
Feedback makes friends. Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.

“Finished.” Grapple said with a flourish, stepping back to admire the building.
“I think you’ve truly outdone yourself this time Grapple.”
“Thank you, Hoist.”
“Now all I have to do is get the security grid up and running.” Red Alert muttered, stalking into the brand new building and completely ignoring the architect and his friend.
“Red…” Grapple started to say something, but Hoist’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“Let him be. Once he’s done what he needs to do, he’ll be back to congratulate you.”

Hoist was right, and once Red Alert was sure that the security grid was running to his satisfaction, he allowed himself to be pulled out of his new security office to celebrate. Contrary to popular belief, he was a social mech, it just had to be with the right mechs, in the right circumstances. And the mechs on this base were definitely the right mechs. Well, it would be better if there was one more there, but he was away on another mission. Much to Red Alert’s disappointment.

“Missing Inferno?” Smokescreen teased, handing Red Alert a cube of high grade. He hadn’t missed the way the security mech had glanced around the room as he entered. Red Alert just glared at the tactician, ignoring him and taking the cube. He moved to sit next to Hoist and Grapple, smiling at them both.
“Well?” Grapple waited for Red Alert to take a sip of his high grade before he asked.
“You did a good job.” Red Alert tilted his head in acknowledgement, barely tasting the high grade.
“I always do a good job.” Grapple wasn’t being smug, just truthful. He had been the best architect on Cybertron before the war broke out. And he was still the best architect on Cybertron; he just turned his talents to building impenetrable bases rather than beautiful buildings.
“Yes, you do.” Red Alert nodded, taking another sip of his drink, and looking around again. He missed Inferno, even if he wouldn’t admit it to Smokescreen. The large red mech made him feel at ease in a way few other mechs did. Of course, the few other mechs were also on this base. And were sitting drinking high grade with him. Red Alert placed his trust in few mechs, but this team he trusted. They were always the first mechs on a base, making sure the final touches were in place before the rest of the Autobot army was moved.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Grapple had been surprised to find that Inferno was part of the Autobots; and had in fact, joined up at the start of the war, wanting to help where he could. That didn’t surprise Grapple once he’d found out the reasons for the younger mech’s choice; he always had been headstrong and reckless. Grapple had spent more time considering his options. He’d already lost good friends to the Decepticons; whether it be to deactivation or disappearance, or them joining Megatron’s army. Grapple had joined the Autobots when it became clear he no longer had a choice. Neutrals were persecuted by the Decepticons simply because they didn’t want to choose sides.

Inferno and Grapple found time to meet up. And interface. Which hadn’t initially been on the cards, but neither of them were opposed to it. They caught one another up on what had been happening in between sessions. Both of them somehow managed to make it to their shifts the next morning. They were assigned to the same team, and although they interfaced casually, both of them knew it was nothing serious, just a relief of tension.

When Red Alert was introduced to their team, Grapple watched the way Inferno reacted. He knew the younger mech was immediately attracted to their new security mech, and he wondered how long it would be until Inferno made some sort of move.

Surprisingly though, Inferno didn’t make a move, and Grapple watched as the two of them grew closer. Yet, not as close as he thought Inferno wanted. It was almost as though Inferno was afraid to take that step. Even talking to Inferno, Grapple couldn’t convince him to do anything more than he already was.

So Grapple had decided to take matters into his own hands.

He’d asked Red Alert outright what his feelings for Inferno were. And had promptly been rebuffed with an ‘it’s none of your business’ and a glare from the security mech. That didn’t deter him. He cared for Inferno, and was determined to do what he could to help the younger mech. Even if it meant getting Red Alert overcharged enough to admit his feelings.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So when was the last time you interfaced?” Grapple grinned as he asked the question. Hoist tipped his head back, thinking.
“Last orn. Nice mech. Transferred to another base now though.” He finished, voice tinged with regret and Grapple felt his spark go out to the medic.
“What about you, Red?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” Red Alert sniffed and stared at the contents of his cube.
“Oh, don’t mind him, Grapple. He’s just pining because Inferno isn’t here.” Smokescreen nudged Red Alert, earning himself a glare.
“I am not!”
“Yeah you are.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Am… shut up.” Red Alert slouched in his seat, throwing back the contents of his cube in one gulp.
“It’s all right to admit you care for him, Red. You’re with friends.” Grapple prompted, shooting a grin at Smokescreen.
“Besides, we all know you’re waiting for Inferno to ‘face you through the security console.” Smokescreen laughed. Red Alert glared again.
“I have better things to do than be the subject of rumors.” He announced, standing up and making his way (a little unsteadily) out of the room.
“Well that didn’t go down well.” Hoist pointed out, reaching for another cube.
“I’ll go after him…” Smokescreen sighed and stood up. Grapple held out a hand to push him back down in to his seat.
“I’ll go after him.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You’ve done this before, right?”
“Of course I have. Just… not with a mech In… your size.” Grapple couldn’t help but smile at that telling slip. He’d known that Red Alert wanted to take things further with Inferno, but this was just confirmation.
“Is that what you’ve been worried about?” Red Alert squirmed and moved away from Grapple, sitting up on the berth.
“And if it is? I suppose you’re going to tell me I’m being stupid about it.”
“Perhaps. But not unkindly. It is possible. With the right preparation. And Inferno knows how to prepare mechs.”
“And just how would you know?” It hadn’t escaped Red Alert’s attention that Inferno and Grapple were interfacing on a semi-regular basis, but he doubted that Grapple would need as much preparation as he himself would.
“Ah, Red.” Grapple reached for the smaller mech, tugging him closer. “I was his instructor when he reached his majority. I can assure you; I taught him everything I know.” Red Alert let himself be pulled back to Grapple’s side, stunned by the revelation. So stunned that he didn’t actually think his next question through.
“And just how much do you know?”
“Oh, I can show you just how much I know…”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Red Alert shuddered in pleasure as Grapple ran his finger around the rim of his valve. He was sitting in the larger mech’s lap; spoiler to his windscreen, legs spread either side of Grapple’s as the architect fingered his valve. Even just one finger slipping into his valve was enough to make him squirm in pleasure. He could only imagine what Grapple’s spike would feel like.

“Please…” He arched, trying to drive Grapple’s finger deeper into his valve. “Please, Inf… Grapple, more.” A combination of high-grade and pleasure he hadn’t allowed himself for a long time was quickly driving him close to overload. Which he would later say was the reason for his slip. Though, Grapple didn’t seem to mind, thrusting his finger in and out of Red Alert’s valve as he dipped his head down to nuzzle at Red Alert’s neck.
“I don’t mind you pretending I’m him.” Red Alert moaned; whether in denial or agreement, he wasn’t quite sure. Either way, the thought that it was Inferno doing this to him was enough to bring him to overload.

Grapple held him as he shuddered through his overload. He kept his finger in Red Alert’s valve, feeling the walls clench around his finger as the pleasure pulsed through the smaller mech.
“I…” Red Alert opened his mouth to apologise, but Grapple hushed him.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Well, yes… but…”
“Then you have nothing to apologise for.” Red Alert slumped back against Grapple’s chestplating.
“Thank you.” He whispered softly.
“Oh, don’t thank me yet. We’ve still got the rest of the night for fun.”