The last few days had been spent exploring the mansion. Knock Out had been both surprised and fascinated by the level of tech hidden away in the garage and the various areas. He'd also been taken aback at how much of the mansion had heavy-duty shielding built right into the construction. Most of it was buried in the foundations and the walls, hidden behind expensive wood paneling and plush carpet in the household areas, but it was certainly there.
His sensitive scanners had protested; too much interference meant that he had trouble tracking Rogue when she left his line of sight, and even his communication with the holoform was tenuous, causing it to glitch in and out of solidity from time to time when he accompanied her through the areas he couldn't fit in his native size. But with her blessing, he'd dismantled some of the technology and stripped it down to components, pursuing a vague line of thought that he might be able to re-purpose it.
For her part, Rogue had been a hard read since arriving to Xavier's. More than once he'd turned around and she was just not there, causing his spark rate to jump up in worry and send the holoform zipping through various areas until he located her again. When he'd tried to ask her what about this place was so obviously causing her stress, she hadn't wanted to answer and, uncertain how to address it, Knock Out had not pushed the topic.
Still, he worried.
But at night, Rogue hadn't wanted to be away from him, not even in as guarded as place as Xavier's was proving to be with its technology, its security, its shielding. Even the promise of a real bed could not entice her to stay in the living spaces of the grand house. Instead she'd brought a mattress down to the garage where there was a comfortable expanse of room for them, even with him in root mode.
Except she hadn't stopped at one — determinedly dragging one after another down the levels with help from the holoform, until a pile of them rested on the concrete floor.
He should be comfortable too, she said. They'd since been laid out in the middle of the garage, bunched and pushed up together to create a padded area big enough for both of them. After a week of sleeping sitting upright in an old factory, this new alternative was sublime.
Knock Out is curled loosely on his side, optics dark, biolights dimmed in slumber. In the factory they'd been at risk of being stumbled upon even on the abandoned property, so he'd never fully powered down there. Here, he feels assured that they're safer, and the difference in his recharge is plainly evident. Whereas before he'd simply gone still and quiet, like a machine going into standby, now he seems genuinely asleep and peaceful, quiet save for the muted purr of his engine behind red chestplates.
no subject
The last few days had been spent exploring the mansion. Knock Out had been both surprised and fascinated by the level of tech hidden away in the garage and the various areas. He'd also been taken aback at how much of the mansion had heavy-duty shielding built right into the construction. Most of it was buried in the foundations and the walls, hidden behind expensive wood paneling and plush carpet in the household areas, but it was certainly there.
His sensitive scanners had protested; too much interference meant that he had trouble tracking Rogue when she left his line of sight, and even his communication with the holoform was tenuous, causing it to glitch in and out of solidity from time to time when he accompanied her through the areas he couldn't fit in his native size. But with her blessing, he'd dismantled some of the technology and stripped it down to components, pursuing a vague line of thought that he might be able to re-purpose it.
For her part, Rogue had been a hard read since arriving to Xavier's. More than once he'd turned around and she was just not there, causing his spark rate to jump up in worry and send the holoform zipping through various areas until he located her again. When he'd tried to ask her what about this place was so obviously causing her stress, she hadn't wanted to answer and, uncertain how to address it, Knock Out had not pushed the topic.
Still, he worried.
But at night, Rogue hadn't wanted to be away from him, not even in as guarded as place as Xavier's was proving to be with its technology, its security, its shielding. Even the promise of a real bed could not entice her to stay in the living spaces of the grand house. Instead she'd brought a mattress down to the garage where there was a comfortable expanse of room for them, even with him in root mode.
Except she hadn't stopped at one — determinedly dragging one after another down the levels with help from the holoform, until a pile of them rested on the concrete floor.
He should be comfortable too, she said. They'd since been laid out in the middle of the garage, bunched and pushed up together to create a padded area big enough for both of them. After a week of sleeping sitting upright in an old factory, this new alternative was sublime.
Knock Out is curled loosely on his side, optics dark, biolights dimmed in slumber. In the factory they'd been at risk of being stumbled upon even on the abandoned property, so he'd never fully powered down there. Here, he feels assured that they're safer, and the difference in his recharge is plainly evident. Whereas before he'd simply gone still and quiet, like a machine going into standby, now he seems genuinely asleep and peaceful, quiet save for the muted purr of his engine behind red chestplates.