Post hose-cleanup, you and Breakdown changed into some swimwear.

Yes, swimwear.

This left you to wonder what exactly the "surprise" was the man had planned.

Both of you sat in Breakdown's alt-mode. The radio played faintly and the windows were down (mostly to just get rid of the tomato smell). Your phone suddenly rang. "Hello?"

"Hey (Y/N), it's Steve. I just wanted to know if you and Breakdown survived the fight. Was it fun?"

"Frag yeah! I wish you guys were there too. We should definitely all go next year."

"Frag yeah!"

You laughed at the copycatting mech. Somewhere in the background you could hear two other voices excitingly asking questions, followed by Steve whispering for them to shut it. There were some more giggles."They haven't gone there yet!" he whisper-yelled before clearing his vocaliser. "Well, I don't want to bother any longer. Have fun~!" The call ended.

"Was that Steve?" Breakdown glanced to you then back to the road.

"Yup! He wanted to know how it was. They all acted weird though." You put your phone away again, all attention on the man driving.

"Haha! Yeah, that's the vehicons for you. A bunch of weirdos..." Breakdown said suspiciously.

You raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh..."

You took a few turns, moving off the main road and onto some much smaller ones. Each time you asked Breakdown where you were going, he would say "You'll see," or "You have to wait and find out." As the paved roads became dust paths, you decided to busy yourself with thinking up weird possibilities.

"Are we going to another carnival? The Spanish Coney Island, maybe?"

"Nope!"

"What about an aquarium? 'World's most secluded fish House'."

Breakdown snorted. "No, but good joke."

"Okay, we are going to a water park."

"Also a 'no'. That's where we're going to spend our afternoon."

You reached the crest of a large hill. This vantage point revealed your surprise: a small, secluded beach.

Small bushes and succulents verged on the edge of the winding dunes. They jutted out and wound down, becoming smaller closer to the flat terrain closest to the ocean. There, the soft ivory foreshore gave way to the waves. Mixed within the sands were shells and pebbles of every shape and colour. They reflected the bright sunstreaks, each sparkling. At one end of the beach, a cliff's edge dangled above the foam below.

Breakdown parked his alt in a spot under a tree where the ground wasn't too loose. This left a quite a stretch to walk. The man jumped out and hoisted himself up to get the items he had tied to the roof.

"Need any help?" You stood to the side and watched him struggle with a knot, enjoying the view perhaps a bit too much.

Breakdown grunted, the tie finally giving. "Uh, yeah. I'm going to lower everything down. Can you just put it down on the ground?"

"Sure. It's not too heavy, right?"

"Why? Scared the towels will crush you?" he teased.

"Just give me the fragging stuff."

----------------------------------

You throw your towel out across the sand. "There! Everything's packed out."

"Alright! Let's hit the waves!" The enthusiastic Decepticon was about to run for the waters, but you caught him by the rim of his shirt.

"Not so fast! You'll get sunburned." You take out a bottle of sunscreen and toss it to him. "Rub that on your face and shoulders." With a pout, he took off his blue shirt and did as told. Within moments the bottle was flinged back onto the discarded piece of clothing. As he prepared to dash away once again, you stopped him yet another time. "Let me get your back."

"It's fine. Now c'mon-"

A cold, cream-covered hand splats flat against the man's back, making him yelp. Grinning evilly, you smear the cold, white substance all over. The soldier growled in annoyance, but stayed still.

"Oh, would you quit being so mopey?" You poked his nose, leaving a blotch.

"I'm not mopey," he huffed and wiped his face with his wrist. "Can we go now?"

"Nope! I still have to put some sunscreen of my own-" Breakdown did not let you finish. He squirted a blob of cream into his palms and started painting you in white. You coughed as some of it came into your mouth. "Breakdown! That's way too much!"

"Then let's go wash it off!" There was no place for argument as two muscled arms picked you up, the man they belonged to running straight into the awaiting sea.

You splashed at Breakdown once your bodies were submerged. "You fragger!" you laugh.

He snorted and ducked, coming up with spiky hair. "Missed me!"

"Oh, I'll show you 'missed me' !" You lunged at him, grabbing onto his back and knocking him over. He soon retaliated by pinning you between his arms and dunking you completely. The struggle continued to escalate, only ending when a sudden,massive wave came crashing into you both. The deap engulfed you, spinning you around and spitting you out in the shallows. You coughed out some sand, eyes tearing up from the salt water.

A few very tense moments passed. Breakdown did not come up. Panic arose; your heart clenched. You stood on the beach, eyes frantically searching for him. What if he had hit his head? What if he was drowning? What if there was something dangerous in the water?

"Breakdown! Breakdown where are you!?" Tears started to mix with the salty water in your (e/c) orbs.

"Right here!" You gasped as two tanned limbs grabbed hold of your waistline. Immediately you spin to see a familiar grin- a grin you want to so badly punch. "You should've seen your face."

"What the frag you afthole!" A hit bounced off his chest, followed by several others. "I thought something happened to you! I thought you were hurt or worse! I-I thought...!"

With the next punch, your hands were caught by the wrists "Whoa, okay (Y/N). Easy... easy..." One golden brown eye looked at you- into and through you- as the man they belonged to waited for you to calm down. Your breathing slowed down, just to hitch once again when Breakdown's hands moved up your waist. They trailed up slowly, movements meant to comfort you. "Easy..." They gently ascended up and up and up until your face was being cupped in his rough palms.

"I'm sorry," a thumb stroked over your cheek to remove some sand. "I shouldn't have scared you like that." The appendage then moved its tender care to your lip, gently soothing the plump flesh which you up until that point hadn't noticed that you've been biting. "Let me make it up to you..." Your hand smoothed over his bare chest, feeling the firm muscles which gave way to soft tissue. His own lips parted and came closer. They delicately brushed over yours, not yet a kiss, but a millisecond from it.

"EEEEEEK! I KNEW IT!"

A millisecond that would not happen.

At the sudden squeal, Breakdown retracted, both your heads spinning towards the man-vehicon fangirling not too far off.

Breakdown growled, "Steve! Dude, you kinda ruined the moment!"

Steve gasped, "Oh frag! Sorry!" He clutches his head, "What have I done!?"

"It...It's okay Steve," you reassure your friend, trying not to let the displeasure show.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Breakdown released you as he walked to the other Cybertronian.

"I- Oh... Uhm... You are needed for a retrieval mission. The others and I tried our best to stall as long as possible, but our master is becoming impatient."

"... Alright. Thanks Steve." Breakdown turned back to you, the apologetic look on his face almost erased by his little smirk. "We gotta go. Get your things," he put on his shirt. "And try not to seem too disappointed," he winked.

"Haha," you laughed. "Disappointed about what?"

​​​​​​​A/N: Alrighty! Preda's will be coming soon along with another chapter. Thanks for being so patient! Remember to check out the competition!