Deadlock had always preferred the shadows, keeping his distance from the Autobots — but you, the Autobot who never seemed to leave his mind, were different. He couldn’t ignore the way you moved, how your every action seemed calculated and yet filled with a raw, undeniable passion. He had fought against you more times than he cared to count, and each time, his admiration for you grew. Not just for your skills, but for your relentless drive.

He’d never admit it out loud, but there was something about the way you carried yourself, the way you never backed down, that stirred something within him.

Tonight, he found himself lingering in a quiet, dimly lit corridor aboard the ship, his red optics scanning the area. He knew you would be passing through here sooner or later. The hum of the engines vibrated beneath his pedes as he waited, his thoughts focused, not on the mission, but on the Autobot who constantly seemed to be at the forefront of his mind.

When you finally appeared, he could feel his spark react to the sight of you — confident, unshaken, unaware of the pull you had on him. You stopped when you noticed him, your gaze sharp and guarded.

"I’ve been meaning to talk to you," Deadlock said, his voice low, not with menace, but something deeper, a challenge.

He stepped closer, feeling the distance between you both shrink, and his next words caught in the air. "About this... connection between us."

He saw the flicker of hesitation in your optics, the tiniest crack in your tough exterior, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph. The game had shifted.