Chats Before Dinner AT

Title: Chats Before Dinner
Pairing(s): Cole/Karmashock; mentioned Karmashock/Cera
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: fluff(ish), G1-series, mentioned het, slash
Notes: This takes place in NiGhT-sTaLkEr13's universe, post-war.

XXX

Karmashock sat in the café, patiently waiting for Cole to arrive. It was rare that both of their schedules allowed them to be free on a weekday, much less the same weekday. However, luck seemed to find favor in them and they somehow both had the same weekday free. Of course, only after work hours.

Cole had told him to meet him at Kaon Café around seven, Of course, the therapist was early. About fifteen minutes early. That was all right though, considering it had started to get crowded shortly after he had walked in through the door. He certainly had been lucky today.

He looked over some files he had brought with him from work. It wasn’t too much, but he had gotten a new patient recently and he needed to read up on him. He figured that, while he waited, for him, he could read up on the mech. But once Cole was here, he would put it away and give his mechfriend his full attention.

They hadn’t been going out for very long. Maybe around a month, a month in a half. But Karmashock really liked the slightly younger mech for more reasons than one. While it appeared that his supposedly dormant sex drive was beginning to awake as he spent more time with Cole, Cole seemed to understand and care about him in ways other didn’t. Not to say his friends didn’t care about him or rather, but the way Cole treated him was something else.

Sure, at times, it seemed like the mech was babying him and fussing over him unnecessarily. Karmashock teased the doctor about it sometimes, but he knew it was just because he cared. The last time anyone had been so worried about him was when he was with Cera and that had been a long time ago.

He was certain that she still cared about him too, but it wasn’t the same as Cole. It was like his love for the femme. It may have not been in a romantic sense, but it was in a familial sense. He loved her like he loved his children and nothing more. With Cole… It was just different. It was sexual, emotional, mental, physical… He just liked him. He liked him very much.

He put down the new patient’s file down on the counter. He reached into his coat pocket for his mobile. But just as he did, the phone vibrated, indicating he had received a text message. He pulled out it out, seeing that the message was from Cole.

Sorry, I’m going to be late. Another doctor’s patient went critical and needs help. I shouldn’t be too long though. Again, I’m sorry and I’ll try not to make you wait too long.

Cole

Karmashock smiled as he gave a soft sigh, shaking his helm. Oh well, so much for meeting up on time. Not that he minded though. Patients came first, especially when it regarded their lives being in danger. Besides, he could wait a little longer. Primus only knew how many times he kept people waiting because he had gotten caught up with his work.

He texted the doctor back, telling him it was all right and he hoped that everything with the patient would be fine. Besides, if Cole couldn’t make it, they could always go on a date during the weekend. He gave a soft smile when he sent the text, about ready to slip the mobile back into his pocket. But he felt it vibrate in his grip, making him blink. He hadn’t expected Cole to respond so quickly, if at all. He pulled back out his phone and checked the message, eyes widening a bit at the message.

Watching you look at your phone like some love-struck teenager is making me six to my stomach. Quit it or I’ll throw up. And for Primus’s sake, you’re not working. Take off the damn coat!

Nebula

He blinked. By the contents of the message, she was obviously looking at him. Immediately, he looked up and around, trying to spot the purple femme, but to no avail.

Then he felt two arms wrap around his neck, pulling her back against his seat. He jerked his head, optic ridges arched as he saw Nebula peering down at him, giving him a smirk. “Looking for me?” she chuckled.

“Well, you did send me a text message,” he said.

She rolled her optics, taking her arms from his neck. “Yeah, because you were being all puppy-dog loving with your phone. Grossed me out.” She rounded the table and sat down across from him. “So… guessing it was from your mechfriend, huh?”

Karmashock gave a soft laugh, putting his phone away. “It might’ve been,” he said cheekily, which caused the femme to roll her optics again.

She leaned back into her seat, tapping at the metallic armrests. “So, I’m guessing you guys came here to have a dinner date here?” She looked around the little café, noting how loud and crowded it was. Though she didn’t know much about dating and had usually picked up mechs and femmes with this type of atmosphere, she knew this wasn’t the most ideal of a romantic dinner. “Kind of crowded, don’t you think?”

The therapist glanced around the coffee shop, not taking too much notice of the noise. Besides, he preferred being in more open and easy-going places. Being somewhere fancy just made him feel awkward, considering he was just an average mech. He just felt so out of place in those types of environments. Here though, he could be himself and not feel like people were looking at him strangely.

He gave a smile to the femme across from him. “It’s all right. I like this kind of atmosphere. More… homey, don’t you think?”

She shrugged. “Sure.” She picked up a menu that was off to the side, opening it up to see what they had. They had some nice stuff; relatively cheap too. She could grab something on her way home.

“So, Nebula, how are you?” Karmashock said, knowing that she probably wasn’t going to head out anytime soon, considering she was looking over the menu carefully. “I’m surprised to see you here, to be honest.”

“I’m fine,” she said, not looking up from the menu. “Work’s a bitch because Prowl’s an aft, but really, everything’s okay. Just got off a work and thought I’d grabbed something on my way home.”

Looking back up at the therapist, she gave a small smirk. “So. What I have to go by… You’re waiting for the mechfriend. Hmm… I think I’ll stick around and have a chance to meet him in person. I’ve got nowhere to be.”

He sighed, giving a soft laugh as he shook his head. “Oh Primus, don’t be scaring him off, mate.”

“I’m just gonna look him over,” she said, smirking. “Besides, there would be something fishy about him.”

Of course, she didn’t really know and she doubted Karmashock would date anyone weird, considering how normal and boring he was. Besides, the mech was a therapist. She doubted he would get some abusive punk. Still, it didn’t mean she didn’t want to tease the living shit out of him.

“I can assure you that Cole isn’t like that,” he chuckled, shaking his head. Still, he appreciated the thought of her being worried about him. Of course, he had a feeling that she was doing more than just looking out for him. It was Nebula, after all. He knew how she worked.

Nebula shrugged. “You never know. Some people are never like what they seem.” Just look at her friend, Novabomb. You wouldn’t think he had dealt with the shit he had with how happy and hyper he was. But again, she knew better than that. Karmashock wouldn’t do that to himself.  

“So,” she said, leaning back in her seat. “When do I get to meet him?”

“He’ll be late,” Karmashock said, putting his helm on the table and resting his chin in his hands. He gave a shrug as he said that. “You know how doctors are. Patients coming in and out.”

“Reminds me of a certain therapist,” she commented flatly, looking over the mech in front of her. “Primus, it was like you two were built for each other. You guys are almost the same. Except it’s obvious this mech can cook since you’re looking healthier each day.”

The therapist couldn’t help but to blush a little at the comment, rubbing the back of his neck. Primus, wouldn’t people leave him alone about that? So he couldn’t cook. It wasn’t the end of the world. He had survived just fine with eating what he had. Though he had to admit that being cooked for was a hell of lot better than cooking for himself or grubbing on crap energon.

All right, so he hadn’t been eating as properly as he should have been before Cole. But hell, he had never really eaten all that properly since his divorce from Cera. His patients were his top priority and that normally meant putting his health as second. He couldn’t help it. It was his job to help his patients and sometimes, other things were forgotten about. There was just no helping it at times.

“So,” Nebula said, smirking a bit as she watched the mech’s blush cool down. “You’ve gotta tell me about it, Karma.”

He blinked, looking up at her. “Tell you what?”

She rolled her optics. “The sex. Tell me about the sex!”

Karmashock’s optics widened as he just stared at her. She just smirked back at him as he allowed what she said to process through his mind. He couldn’t stop himself from blushing, shifting a bit in his seat. Sure, he was a sex therapist, but when he was being asked about his own sex life, he just got embarrassed.

Besides, he didn’t know if Cole would appreciate it if he talked about their sex life with a stranger. Well, not a stranger to him. He knew Nebula well enough, but Cole did not. He didn’t want to upset the doctor by giving out person details like that to outsiders. Not to mention it was unprofessional to discuss that kind of thing with a patient. He was her sex therapist, not the other way around.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t think Cole would like me telling others about what we do in berth,” he said, a bit sheepishly when he saw the look she was giving him. Clearly, he excuse didn’t impress him.

“You are a fucking grown-aft mech,” she said, pointing at him. “Do not be acting like some little school-femme. You’re a sex therapist, for Primus’s sake!”

Karmashock flapped his hand at her, telling her to keep the volume down considering people were now starting to look at them strangely. It wasn’t so much he felt embarrassed. It was just regarding a topic he didn’t necessarily want being thrown out there for the entire planet to know.

“Nebula, it’s highly unprofessional of me to discuss this with patient.”

She frowned at that. “I may be your patient, but at this exact moment, no. We are just two bots at a café and waiting for your mechfriend. Now, fucking spill.” When he still said nothing, she groaned and rolled her optics. “I tell you about my sex life and problems all the time. I think it’s only fair that you share with me some details.”

Damn. Well, it was true. He did make her share with him all her issues regarding sex, asking her why and how and all that. But it was his job! He was her therapist! Still, he couldn’t help but to be bothered by the fact she did have a point. She told him basically everything about her sexual habits. Surely he could spare a few words regarding his own sex life.

Karmashock let out a soft breath of defeat as he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s… fine,” he said softly.

She raised an optic ridge. “Just fine? Give me some details.” Then she cleared her throat, putting on her best Australian accent as she said, “Come on, mate. You gotta give me the details, or else I can’t help you much.” Not that she was trying to help him, but still; she wanted to know.

The therapist couldn’t help but to laugh at the femme’s impression of him. Though her accent was a bit off, it was rather well done. Still, he could see her point and gave a small sigh. “It’s… good,” he said, not sure on what word to use considering it was more than just “good;” fuck it, Cole made him feel alive in the berth. But he wasn’t about to say that to her or Primus knew she would never let him live it down.

“You know me, Nebula,” he chuckled, giving a shrug. “I have a low-arse sex drive. Not too much is really going on. Not to say we haven’t done it, but yeah.”

“Yes, I know just how low it is,” she said flatly. “But how is it though? He a rough lover like me or Megatron?”

“N-No,” he stammered, clearing his throat. “Cole is dominant, but not like rough like you.” For one thing, Cole was not a sadist or a former rapist. He knew the doctor could get rough, but they had only slept together about five or six times; Karmashock really didn’t know just how aggressive the other could get.

She laughed. “Dominant, huh? I figured you’d be one spreading your legs. Seeing you on top with a mech is just too hard to picture.”

“Aw, come on, mate. I’m not that weak!” Though it was true that he wasn’t the strongest mech around. Not to mention he had almost little to no muscle. Still, it wasn’t like he was a pushover or anything. Just didn’t have a lot of physical strength.

She rolled her optics. “Please. If I wanted to, I could jump over the table, grab you by the throat, throw you down on the ground, and then strangle the life out of you. Yeah, you’re pretty weak.”

Karmashock just shook his head, smiling a bit as he gave a soft laugh. Though it was an extreme example, he had heard worse and he knew it was pretty much true. He supposed that there was nothing he could do about it, unless he wanted to try and get in shape. But that required time he didn’t have and he didn’t want to waste any time when he should be helping his patients.

“All right, all right. So am I weak and yes, I am the… submissive one in this relationship.”

She nodded, smirking. “You have no idea how much that position suits you.”

The therapist gave a soft huff.

Nebula looked over her therapist for a few moments, nodding to herself. Yes, the bottom suited him. Hell, she even doubted his claim to be bisexual, despite the fact that he had been Bonded to a femme before. But she was glad to see that he and his mechfriend were getting along all right. Karmashock deserved some happiness, considering his job consisted of dealing with fucked up individuals like her and that his ex had just kicked him out because he actually went above and beyond with his job. Good bots, she assumed, deserved some good in their life.

“You happy?” she asked.

He looked up at her, surprised. It wasn’t every day the femme seemed to actually care about another’s happiness, especially a mech’s. It made him smile a little. She was certainly progressing since when he first met her. If she hadn’t have improved, she probably never would have asked. Or even cared. In a way, he found himself proud of her. She was asking about another mech’s happiness, his happiness. And as of now, yes. He was happy. Cole was good to him and was there for him. He understood him and gave him what others could not. He really like the mech and what they had. Of course he was happy.

“Yeah, I am,” he finally answered, giving her a goofy grin. “Cole’s a great guy. I enjoy his company. I really like him.”

She nodded, obviously satisfied with his answer.

Just as Karmashock was about to speak again, he felt his mobile vibrate. He reached over and looked over it, seeing that he got a message from Cole. He smirked a little as he looked up at the officer across the table, who raised an optic ridge at his smirk.

“What?”

“He’s here.”

Nebula perked up a little at that. She craned her neck and, sure enough, she could see a mech heading over to the table she was sitting at. She nodded to herself as she looked over him. He had a nice build and face, so he was good on an appearance level. And if Karmashock liked him on an emotional level, he had to have been a good mech.

Cole was shocked to see a femme sitting across from his mechfriend. But he said nothing, simply waving to Karmashock who waved back at him.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said when he reached the table.

“It’s all right, mate,” the therapist said, smiling a little. “Hope the patient’s all right?”

Cole nodded. “We got her stable now. Just a small seizure from the medicine she was given, so we switched medications to one that her body wouldn’t reject.”

Then he looked at the femme, who had her chin rested in her palm as she looked up at him with a small smirk. He wasn’t sure why she was looking at him that way and it made him a bit uncomfortable to be stared at by such an attractive and rather intimidating looking femme. He may have been gay, but he wasn’t blind; he knew a hot femme when he saw one. He simply didn’t have interest in them.

Still, he wasn’t going to be rude as she was obviously a friend of Karmashock’s or he doubted she would have been sitting there. “Hello,” he said politely. “Are you a friend of Karma’s?”

Nebula shrugged, standing up. “Sure, I guess,” she chuckled. She stretched out a hand to him, which he accepted.

Karmashock laughed. “Cole, this is Nebula,” he said, gesturing toward the femme. “She’s one of my patients… One of the ones who teased me about you.”

“Oh,” he said, taking his hand from her rather firm handshake. Primus, despite her petite size, she sure was a strong one. “Nice to meet you, Nebula.”

She regarded him with a nod. “Thanks for taking care of my therapist here,” she said, gesturing to the mech still sitting down. “Keep him healthy; his complexion’s never looked better.”

“Hey now,” Karmashock chuckled. “Really, it wasn’t that bad before!”

She rolled her optics, stepping away from them. “Well, I’ll let you guys have your date now. I gonna head home to eat and go the fuck to sleep. Bye, Karmashock. See you next time you sessions me.”

Then the police officer left the two mechs alone, leaving Cole to look down at the therapist. He sighed and gave the other a smile, sitting down across from him. “Well, she seems… interesting,” he said, rubbing his hand from her firm grip.

“Yeah… That’s Nebula for you. She’s really a good femme, once you get past her rather rough nature.”

He nodded. “I hope I didn’t make you wait too long,” he said, deciding to change the subject. “I would have come on time, but you know, patients and everything.”

Karmashock waved a hand to him. “Don’t worry, mate. I completely understand.”

Cole just smiled and nodded, pulling up the menu. He hadn’t have meant to get caught up at work, but it just happened. Besides, Karmashock understood. Primus, the same thing happened to him in regards to his own work and his patients. His understanding and honesty was something he really liked about the therapist across from him, hence why he didn’t want to miss this date.

But it was all good now. He was here and he was more than ready for their date to begin.