A/N: Yeah, read All Hail Megatron Coda, and 'Lost and Found' was completely awesome and solidified my new DriftxPerceptor obsession. Then I was cruising the LJ comm driftxperceptor and there's a challenge! First kiss challenge, even! So this story takes place almost immediately after the events in 'Lost and Found', aka AHM #15.
Drift came into the room. Perceptor was standing over his workbench, tinkering with his rifle.
"Thank you."
Perceptor looked at him, "You're welcome."
Drift looked at the rifle, uneasy with meeting Perceptor's new optic. "We didn't expect…"
He trailed off, uncertain what he meant to say.
"No, I know you didn't. No one expected me to help. I've been a burden."
"You've been a scientist," Drift shot back, "not a burden."
Perceptor simply shook his head and turned back to his tinkering. Drift fidgeted, uneasy in Perceptor's company in a way he'd never been before. He'd been charmed by Perceptor's instant fascination with his reformatted body, then the orns spent playing Go with Blurr under the CR chamber where Perceptor was being healed had made him feel a connection to the scientist. He'd even sided with Perceptor about feeling a debt, which he completely understood, feeling the same obligation himself – to use his second chance at life in a manner that honoured those who had given him that new life.
But seeing how Perceptor had changed his body to be able to be a warrior, to fight with Kup's team as an equal, had made Drift aware of his new body and his recent dedication to saving lives if at all possible, and he was feeling the itch of overthinking his new ideals. He ran through some of the mental exercises that are now part of his regime and felt his processor calm, his systems quiet and his spark settle.
"Your systems are now 41% more efficient according to my calculations. Would you teach me that process?" Perceptor said quietly.
Drift on-lined his optics and smiled down at the science-bot. "Yes, I would be happy to teach the process to you." He stepped forward and clasped Perceptor's hands, pulling him gently around so they were facing each other.
"Close your optics." Drift directed. "Now, focus on your processor. Feel the synapses, all the connections, each circuit. Got it?"
"Yes," murmured Perceptor.
"Good, now slow it down. Smooth the hitches, slow the data streams down, let them complete their routes efficiently."
"Slowing them down seems counterindicated." Perceptor remarked.
Drift grinned briefly, "Trust me, slowing down is the correct method."
Perceptor worked on that idea before shuttering his optics again and attempting to follow Drift's directions. As his systems quieted, Drift continued.
"Now, let that reduction in speed spread. Follow it down to your spark, let the easiness spread." Drift said quietly.
Perceptor stood for a long time, following Drift's directions. Finally, he on-lined his optics and looked at the white mech.
"An 11% increase. Hardly comparable to your increase."
Drift grinned at him, "My first time trying this I achieved a 2% increase. You just kicked my aft."
Perceptor sputtered, "But, but, you're so good at this!"
Drift leaned forward and kissed him, stopping the incoherent stammering. Perceptor almost swallowed his vocalizer.
"I practiced. I'm still practicing. You'll get better." Drift purred at him, and Perceptor couldn't help himself, leaning forward and returning the kiss.
"And this?" Perceptor asked, his lips moving against Drift's as he pulled away only enough to voice his question.
"Slower is always better." Drift told him.
The End!
