Consequences

Part 1-Bound

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.

"I've taken my beating, I've shared what I made

I'm strong on the surface, not all the way through

I've never been perfect, but neither have you"

--Leave Out All the Rest, Linkin Park

"My life is in your hands."

A simple statement of fact. It rocked him to his core, his very being. The meaning behind those words held more gravity than anything he'd ever heard in his life. They still echoed in his audios, as his connection with the other resonated within his spark. They each had their motives for what they did, but for him, it was a means to an end--he had what *he* wanted.

-----

Ratchet wiggled the stylus between his fingers as he sat at his desk. His chin was resting in his other hand as he considered the mech sitting across the desk from him. Hardly reckless or rash, his recent actions were. Hardly characteristic of Optimus Prime. And that was why he had his leader in his office for a little talk.

The medic finally set down the stylus, deciding it was time to get things rolling.

"So, just what were you thinking?"

"About?" Optimus answered, trying to deflect the question.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Ratchet said, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I knew something was going on, but not with who, or how serious it was getting."

Prime sighed.

"I didn't think it necessary to broadcast my personal life," he said.

"That's the thing Optimus, you haven't had a 'personal life' in so long, everyone, including me was bound to notice," Ratchet said. "But that's not what we're here to discuss."

Optimus fought back the urge to sigh again, resigning himself to a conversation he did not want to have. He had his own reasons for what he did, selfish though they might be. But he would never, ever admit it to anyone why he had done it. It was personal, his own business. Ratchet would have to respect that, but the Autobot leader figured the medic probably wouldn't respect his privacy, at least not on this matter.

"You're bonded," Ratchet said.

"How did you know?"

"So it's true, isn't it?"

"You didn't know?"

"Well, I do now, because you confirmed my suspicions," Ratchet said. "You do realize this is permanent, irrevocable, can't be undone."

"I realize full well the seriousness of the circumstances," Prime said, staring at the floor.

"But did you stop to consider the consequences? If he dies, you die. And vice versa. Do you really want that? At least if you had kept the relationship casual, there would be less chance. . ."

At that, Optimus' gaze snapped up to meet Ratchet's, optics blazing.

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone, at least not where this is concerned," Prime said, standing. "This conversation is over."

He turned to go.

"You must be really afraid of losing him, eh?" Ratchet said.

Optimus looked back over his shoulder, sighed. As usual, Ratchet's observations were astute.

"This won't change things, nor will it change him. He's wild and foolhardy. If he wasn't, he would't be. . ."

"I know," Optimus said. "But maybe now he'll think before he leaps."