Hindsight
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Earth. What was left of Autobot City. Springer stood outside the med bay, didn't want to walk inside. Hot Rod, no. . .Rodimus was there. The name. Springer already hated it, hated what it meant. But he steeled himself for what was to come, pushing aside his own feelings, knowing that at the moment, his friend needed him, no matter what his name now was.
Rodimus Prime stood, staring down at the broken body of Optimus Prime. The look on his friend's face made Springer look away. So much pain. . .and something else, something he'd never seen before now. But Rodimus didn't see Springer. He fell to his knees, an anguished cry issuing from him. Springer knelt beside him, placed his arms around Rodimus.
"It's all right, Rodi. . ." Springer said.
He didn't move as the new Prime wilted against him, just held his friend until dawn.
-----
Three days later
The funeral was over and the business of rebuilding the city was finally at hand, although Springer had other ideas. He felt like he wasn't needed anymore. He hadn't had a chance to talk to Hot Rod. . .Rodimus since before the funeral for Prime and the others. Ultra Magnus had seen to it that the new Prime had the space he needed. At least that was the line the city commander was feeding them all.
Springer knew Rodi was hurting. They all were, and none more than his friend. They'd all lost friends, comrades. And he suspected now Hot Rod had lost more than that with the death of Optimus Prime. And with Prime's passing, he, Springer, had also lost something--his best friend. But he would never admit it to anyone he'd lost more than that. Because to even think about it made his spark ache in ways he'd never imagined.
Mercifully, even Arcee had the sense to avoid him, choosing instead to spend her time with Kup and comforting Daniel.
Now, the normally jovial triple changer found himself alone in the rec room. Well, almost alone. It was late and Jazz was the only other mech in the room, passed out alone at his own table, empty energon cubes surrounding the Autobot third in command. Except now, he wasn't even that.
Springer snorted at the thought, taking a sip of his own energon. He wanted nothing more than to sink to the bottom and stay there.
--
"You should be ashamed of yourself."
Springer onlined his optics a few times. The light in the room was too bright. Who'd turned up the lights in his quarters. Oh wait. Face down on table. Not my quarters, he thought, recognizing the rec room, the taste of stale high grade in his mouth and the fuzzy feeling in his processor.
"Are you even listening to a word I've said?" Ultra Magnus said.
Springer sat up, mustering the energy to glare back.
"Ashamed of myself. Right. Completely," Springer said.
"Don't be flippant with me," Ultra Magnus said. "You're supposed to be on patrol in 10 minutes, or haven't you bothered to check the duty roster?"
"I could give a damn less about the duty roster," Springer said.
Ultra Magnus frowned. He wasn't expecting that response.
"Go get some rest, all right? I don't think it would be good for Rodimus to see you in this condition," he said.
Springer raised an optic ridge. "This condition? He's seen me in this condition a thousand times because he's usually been right beside me, if you haven't forgotten," Springer said. "Just because he's Prime doesn't mean a damn thing, Magnus. He's still the same mech he always was. . .:
Magnus didn't answer.
"Springer. . .just go, all right?"
The green mech stood, shoved past Magnus. The nerve. . .
-----
Ops. Wasn't the same anymore. It was a mess, but they were still trying to work there anyway. Kup sighed. At least Rodimus had had the sense to get away. Not that he could blame the lad. . .too many memories, although he was sure he knew where he'd gotten off to. The last place anyone would look. The Ark.
:Kup:
The ancient mech ignored the comm.
:Kup, tell me where he is or I will go find him myself and drag him back. We can do this the easy way or you can make it difficult for all of us:
Difficult, my aft, Kup thought.
:Try his quarters. I'll check the mountain:
:Thank you: Ultra Magnus said.
Kup transformed, headed out and away from the city.
--
Rodimus ran his fingers over Teletran I's console. The screen was dark as the computer lay dormant for much-needed repairs. The Ark was quiet, almost empty. Some of her old crew still lived there and the ones that did avoided Rodimus like a human plague, for their own reasons as well as the grief and hostility resonating off his frame.
There was really no place else he could think of to go. He needed a little peace and quiet, although quiet he was getting but no peace. Rodimus figured he'd never have that again, not as long as he was Prime. He'd heard the whispers. . .that he was the reason Optimus was dead. Kup had assured him otherwise, but he knew his brashness hadn't helped during Prime's last desperate battle against Megatron.
And even though he had Kup's reassurance, he still blamed himself and would until his dying day.
"Lovely piece of technology, ain't it?"
Rodimus' head snapped up. He saw Jazz standing behind him.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna shoot you or anything violent," Jazz said. "Just wanted to see how you are."
Rodimus gave him a wry smile. "I think you're the only one around here who hasn't thought about it," he said.
Jazz shrugged. "What's done is done," he said "Won't bring any of 'em back, no matter how much we miss 'em."
"I know," Rodimus said.
"Just remember the good times," Jazz said. "Even the bad ones. Seems like me an' Prowler had our share of both. I wouldn't trade any of it. All I have left now. Look, I know it's probably not a good time, but if you need to talk, I'll listen. I know what the others have been sayin' and they're wrong. I just wanted you to know. You know where to find me."
Rodimus watched Jazz walk away, lost in memories.