C.M.D: As with any work, sometimes I get inspired to keep exploring different characters and their lives within the same realm. Such is the result of this spin-off and the number of characters within. Every chapter title declares the characters featured within, with ratings and tags included, and though its not essential to read every chapter, do note that a lot of character stories tie in to each other. Originally posted on here, I'm reposting as a censored version, for everyone's reading pleasure. And as always, if interested in the uncensored, follow the links provided in my profile!
Life was full of mistakes.
Painful, degrading, self-destroying mistakes.
This was one of them.
Perceptor sat by himself in the darkness, subdued light from the streetlights outside peeking into the room, but breaching no further than an inch or so into the dark space; still meters away from where the Autodog sat on the berth, surrounded by shadows. Not that Perceptor really noticed- his optics were glazed over, servo distractedly stroking the bulge under his nightshirt.
"Oh, I remember you. Perceptor, right?"
A grey ear flicked at the phantasmal voice, servo falling into a pause. Beneath his resting palm there was movement, a thump that pushed against his fuel tank walls and up into his servo. The pressure made his spark tighten in his chassis; whirling and stuttering about in rapid, disjointed pulses. And again, the vocalizer returned, whispering into his ears mockingly.
"C'mon, lil' pup. It'll be good, I swear."
It was one stupid party... his first. And it was the biggest mistake of his life.
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When Wheeljack returned to his dorm room, Perceptor was crying.
He knew it as soon as he had opened the door because of how silent it was. The red and grey Autodog had a strange way of weeping: he never wailed, he never cursed, he never even made a sound. But entering his room, Wheeljack could easily see that the younger scientist was in great pain. Like every other time before, Perceptor had one servo circling his swollen middle; the other servo pressed against his glasses so hard that they would leave jagged marks on his faceplates tomorrow along with his red-rimmed optics. And with them, the waterfall of coolant pouring from his optics, and a bloody lip component as it was gnawed deeply between dental plates.
Cautiously, the white Autodog moved forward into the dark room, kneeling at his roommate's berthside. "Percy...?," Wheeljack called softly. Perceptor didn't respond, as was normal, and Wheeljack could only rest one servo on the youngling's shoulder, the other clenched uncertainly at his side.
He remembered that night well -it was one of the few that he had decided to refrain from drinking high-grade with the others, because he had invited Perceptor along. He had been crushing on the younger Autodog, and was still very much in love with him even now, and had thought that interactions between them outside of class might push their relationship forward. What Wheeljack hadn't been counting on was for Starscream -slutty, mouthy little glitch of a Kittycon- to be there as well. And for him to have his optic on Perceptor. With a flirtatious crook of his claw and some sinfully tempting words, the red and grey Autodog was led away from the rest of the party, where Starscream then interfaced with the younger student and ditched him callously afterwards. But not before making it public to the rest of the partying Autodogs and Kittycons that little Perceptor had been "deflowered" and wasn't worth anyone's time now since he was hopelessly in love with the magenta seeker.
Pointless, because everyone knew that Starscream was a moody whore with no beating spark beneath his cockpit.
But that wasn't the last of Perceptor's humiliation. Beside having shared his first interface with Starscream, his feelings were then rejected, other mechs tried to force the youngling into a one-night berth romp; his social standing fell into one of a closed-valve whore, and the really worst bit out of all this... Perceptor was pregnant.
Wheeljack had been in the room when the smaller Autodog had found out. His immediate reply had been to have the thing deleted before it could get to protoform stage. Perceptor only stared at him incredulously, before all emotion was wiped from the student's faceplates.
"No," was all Perceptor had said, and Wheeljack could not fight with that. It was more than arguing with a mech whose beliefs lied in giving every life a chance; it was the fact that if he forced Perceptor to do this, then Wheeljack knew he'd be crushing the last of the other Autodog's spark. And already the youngling seemed so dead to him... So, despite his protests, Perceptor had kept the budding spark; suffering further ridicule and abuse from their classmates.
"...why...?"
The quiet, little whimper -so quiet it could easily be mistaken for the slightest of intakes- escaped the red and grey Autodog, drawing Wheeljack's attention. His worried blue optics focused on his roommate's, watching spark-brokenly as the younger mech repeated the desperate, perplexed question to himself, over and over again. This... this had been becoming more and more common during Perceptor's crying fits, but entirely new compared to his usual routine. Wheeljack was afraid of what it all meant... because as these tiny noises started to slip from Perceptor as he cried, the rest of the time found the shy, introverted scientist becoming more and more withdrawn from the rest of the world.
Would he lose Perceptor forever then?
"It's alright, Percy," the big Autodog said, inching closer. He pulled the crying youngling into a loose embrace, chin nuzzling against droopy ears in what he hoped was a reassuring touch. He could never be sure though. "It'll be fine, okay? One day... you'll see... And I promise I won't leave your side until that time comes."
Perceptor's muttering had quieted once again. Wheeljack held the younger Autodog close, feeling coolant splash against his chassis still, and more than certain that it wasn't him that was in the other mech's thoughts right now. But that would be okay too... Because he meant every word he said; he would stay with Perceptor forever, as long as the Autodog allowed it. And he would love and protect him; shelter and care for him, where other mechs would and could not.
And when Perceptor gave birth to Starscream's selfish little spawn, well... he'd be there still.
He loved him too much.
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Pulsing against his ears, the unknown spark pushed out waves of love and concern; weaving promises of home and devotion, if only it would be allowed in. But he couldn't let it in. It wasn't safe. He had to cover up all the jagged holes he bore; fill them with mortar and tar, remove the coding of his own spark, simply out of fear.
Fear of others. Fear of pain. Fear of himself.
Because he couldn't bear to be torn apart like that again; to feel his whole life slip away through his servos. But still, despite how much he was afraid, and how often he denied this presence that stood by -protecting him, it seemed- he could not quell the waves of love and courage that pulsed deeper inside of him.
Signals from a budding spark nestled right against his own.