Beta Read by +Mediziner+
Knockout s engines roared in the night as he traveled down the long road, he banged into other cars as his focus was off. He was upset and scared,
he didn t stop and went even faster. The red medic wanted to get as far away as he could from that fragging ship! He was afraid at any moment he would be chased, caught and brought back... He rather deactivate, than go back.
Today, he made the choice, this night he finally made a decision which plagued his dreams and hunted him during missions for some time. He chose to finally to join the Autobots. At first, it was hard... Even difficult thinking of such an idea, he wanted to stay true to what he was. A Decepticon,
a bad boy like he told his Prime but ever since Starscream had left. Megatron now took his angry and frustrations out on him, blaming him for ever failure.
Megatron beats him each time he failed, Breakdown tried to intervene but ended up in the med bay for his efforts, the former Decepticon medic could no longer take it anymore, he left, running and not looking back as panic just took over him, in his despair... He had left Breakdown behind. He wanted the Mech to come with him, then again... What if Breakdown said no? If he told what he was planning to do... He was just afraid.
He had no idea where the Autobot base was but he knew where Optimus was right now, they were meeting up in a forest this time, moving faster as his frame ached, his circuits burned and energon life force oozed out from him as he drove. His once beautiful shiny armour was cracked, scratched, torn and chipped... He couldn t bear to look at himself but he knew already guessed what he must look like: A wreck.
In their meeting place, Optimus sat with his back against a tree, waiting for Knockout to arrive. He was looking forward to being with him once more,
he got injured in the last fight and was out of action for a while so he couldn t meet up with him for a good while and that pained him so... He missed his times with Knock Out, he called him every night when he was alone.
Hearing a sound of an engine, he smiled knowing it was Knock Out, carefully standing up as he waited for him to appear before him. His handsome Knock Out.
But when he did appear, Optimus got the shock of his life, Worry filled him seeing the state of the former Decepticon Medic, Knock Out barely managed to drive over to him... Optimus ran over just as Knock Out transformed, the red medic fell into the Autobot leader s arms. Red eyes! What happened? Red eyes was a nickname he gave Knock Out since his love so likes calling him Sweet Rims he decided to call him that. No other Decepticon has optics like his, they were so beautiful.
Knock Out whimpered against the Prime as he was shaking. Energon life force spilled from his mouth when he started coughing. Shock took over Optimus,
he couldn t even move as he watched the bleeding mess in his arms, he only snapped out of it because he heard Knock Out speak.
"H... Help me, please..." He said weakily.
Optimus had no choice, this type of damage was beyond his experience... He needed Ratchet now as he knew the questions would come but he didn't care.
The only thing that mattered was his red eyed beauty who was in pain. "Ratchet! Send a ground bridge at my location now!"
His friend s voice spoke over the comm. -Optimus, what s wrong?-
"Just do it!" he shouted, obviously in no mood for questions or delays right now as the ground bridge appeared. It's green and white colours shined brightly in the darkness as Optimus looked down at his battered lover for a moment... Who now had fallen into emergency stasis lock. "Hold on Knock Out, please."
When rushing into the base with a battered Decepticon, the questions and yelling began but Optimus never answered as he ordered Ratchet to repair Knock Out, he even shouted at him. They never saw their leader lose his temper like this before... They didn't understand why he ever brought the Decepticon's Medic here.
"Optimus, you can't just expect us to stay quiet while you bring Knock Out here- in our base! I want answers as to why should I repair him!"
"Ratchet, I gave a command, once done then I will answer your questions."
The Chief Medical Officer gave a growl, not partically liking the duty he had to perform, part of him would just rather let Knock Out suffer but he was still a Medic in the end of the day, and his duty was to heal those who are suffering despite them being either Autobot... Or Decepticon.
Optimus stood back, he was sick with worry over his mate who just looked inches from death, Arcee looked up at Optimus seeing that look he had, the worry and fear.
Bulkhead was confused by Optimus' actions and even Bumblebee tried to talk to him but Optimus never answered them, he didn't move from the room as Ratchet worked on the repairs.
Many hours had gone by and the grumpy medic finally got Knock Out stable, he was pumping energon into his systems and scanning his life signs. "He's stable now and with the repairs I made, he should be okay."
"Thank Primus..." The Prime let out a sigh of relief, knowing Knock Out will be okay.
Arcee wanted answers now and marched over to Optimus. "Alright, why did you bring him here? What happened to him and why do you act as if you care about him!? Knock Out is a risk to us, even if he's in this condition!"
"Arcee is right boss, what is going on?" Bulkhead asked.
He knew this day would come but, it wasn't going to make it any easier for him... He looked back to his friends and believed now actions spoke better than words. He walked over to the unconscious Knock Out, The Prime stared at the damage on his body, anger flowed through his circuts as his hands clenched into fists, but then relaxed. He knelt down beside Knock Out and took his servo in his as he finally spoke. "Knockout... Is my mate."
Dead silence cut through the room at this revelation. His friends looked at each other unable to process the information they just heard. Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots who stands for everything good... Had a Decepticon mate!?
Ratchet approached slowly. "Optimus, I see you finally got a sense of humour... But, I don't like the joke."
"I never said I was joking, he is my mate." His metal fingers ran against Knock Out's hand gently.
Bulkhead felt he was going to pass out, no... that just can't be true! Optimus and Knock Out can't be together!
"Optimus... That s insane! You can't!" Arcee exclaimed.
"I choose who I be with Arcee. I don't have to explain myself or my reasons to you..."
"Ahh, I beg to differ Optimus!
How long as this been going on!? His old friend yelled.
Optimus looked into their optics seeing the confusion and anger in them, he knew they had a right to be... He did lie to them. "We been together since that incident we were trapped together"
Bumblebee interrupted, stating the obvious that it had been 3 months since that moment.
"Boss, you've secretly been with Knock Out all that time!?" The large green Mech said.
Optimus stood up again as he faced them, he would not shy away from what he done or make excuses, He had loved Knock Out, that was it.
"That explains where you disappeared at nights and returned tired in the morning."
"Yes." He replied.
Arcee was just fuming with anger and even slammed her fist into the wall. "How could you!? He's a fragging Decepticon! They're all evil Optimus! You of all bots should know that!"
Optimus simply turned back to Knock Out and knelt down and rubbed his cheek. "Not all of them are like that, Knock Out was the one who proved that to me."
"Optimus, listen to me! This is a trick, he is just using you to get into our base and relay our position!" Ratchet cried. His anger rising, he couldn't believe what Optimus had done.
Optimus knew Knock Out wouldn't, he trusted him and he knew his red eyed Mech needed him more than ever now.
Arcee brought out her blasters, aiming them at the damaged Medic which caused Optimus to instantly get in front of Knock Out, protecting him. "Arcee,
stand down!"
"No, you stand down! I don't know what this fragger did to you, but I'm not letting him walk around here, he is a Decepticon, Optimus! Now, stand aside!"
"Arcee, Stop! This is insane! You can't shoot Optimus! Bulkhead and Bumblebee tried reasoning with her but she wouldn't bring her weapons down, her optics glowed violently as her anger continued to rise.
Her leader refused to move aside. "If you want to deactivate him, then you will have to shoot me."
Ratchet had enough and got in front of Optimus and Arcee. "Alright, alright! Stop this, We all need time to think and this but killing isn't going to solve anything, Arcee! Back off and go get some air, that s an order!
Arcee looked towards Knock out, wanting to shoot but something had stopped her. She eventually puts her weapons away and shot her leader an angry look before storming off.
Blukhead looked back and forth, wanting to say something to both of them but he couldn't find the words. He left as well and Bumblebee followed,
thinking it was the best.
Optimus looked to Ratchet, who appeared quite angry but also disappointed in him. "Ratchet, I...
"Don't! Just... Don't, Optimus." He takes off as well, leaving the leader with his damaged mate.
Coldness seemed to fill the room once more... His friends left him, completely fuming. The days will be hard now trying to do missions with them but he doesn t regret this, even if he might lose them... Knock Out needed him...
"...Rims?" Came a weak voice, the same voice he wanted to hear had spoke to him. Turning around quickly, he found Knock Out awake, Optimus hurried over to his side and held him gently. "Knockout you're awake! I was so worried..."
His red Medic gave a smile as he spoke. You think that will end me? It will take much more than that to deactivate me." But Optimus knew he was hurting more than he was saying, his smile was a mask for his pain and he could see it.
"Knock Out, what happened? Tell me the truth, now."
His red eyed beauty shook his head a little. "I couldn't take it anymore, I'm used to Megatron's anger, but he was beating me every day... I felt like I was dying slowly inside, Breakdown tried helping, but he ended up in the med bay for it... Fighting back only made it worse. The last one was the worst of them all. You got a great shipment of energon, he was so angry at our failure of capturing it... He took it out on me, and I felt I was really going to deactivate." Tears came streaming down his cheeks, he never cried before in his life, but the thought of dying and not seeing Optimus' face one last time hurt him so much. "I'm not going back to them..." He looks up at his love. "...I came to join you."
"Shh, shh... We can talk about that later. but right now, you need rest." Optimus was happy he wanted to stay, he wanted that but not like this... Not having Knock Out running for his life and nearly being beaten to death. "I'll help you through this, okay?
"I just need you sweet rims... Just you..."
"Then you have me." He pressed his lips against his and moved his large servo against Knock Out's cheek, gently rubbing it. Right now, Optimus didn't care what his friends thought of him, he just wanted to protect his mate and make him happy once more.
They cuddled and kissed for what seemed like an eternity before Ratchet had to come back and check on his patient, he never said a word to Optimus while he checked Knock Out's repairs, Optimus kept back but felt the room suddenly get cold again. They never talked, he didn't even face Optimus. Knock Out looked at him, scars littered his face but he still smiled, once Ratchet was done he left saying he was going to recover.
Knockout looked the Medic and then up at his love. "Looks like I made things around here go sour, sorry...
"It s not your fault I guess... They were going to find out sooner or later... He sat down beside him with a sigh of despair as he held his mate's hand.
The beaten Medic gave another smile, but then his face turned to worry.
"What is it? The leader asked.
"It s just... I was so upset, in such a state when I left I forgot Breakdown... He doesn't know where I am... He will be worried, I feel bad leaving him behind but... I couldn't think straight at that moment, and I wasn't even sure if he would follow me..."
"I'm sure you two will meet again sometime in the future."
"Yeah, but I rather not have to fight him if we do meet..." He was worried, Breakdown was his best friend and partner in crime even before the war erupted. He may have fight him but... He will never kill him, no matter the costs.
Optimus kissed him again to cheer him up, it worked as Knock Out reached out, rubbing Optimus' helm gently with such care, their problems seemed to fade for the moment.
"My love, how about I take you to my quarters? I would feel much better if you were with me."
"I feel the same way too, Sweet Rims."
Optimus carefully picked up Knock Out in his arms, he was too weak to walk yet as he brought him to his room. On the way, he saw Arcee returning back inside, seeing him with that Decepticon made her circuits boil, she refused to look at him and went to her own room slamming the door shut.
"Hm, drama queen." Knock Out muttered as he rolled his optics.
As he came into Optimus' quarters, His big strong love placed him on his berth as he even got a nice warm blanket for him as he wraps it around him.
Knock Out looked around his lover s quarters. There wasn't much aside from just a berth, desk, and his own terminal... Along with a locker and that was basically it. "Gee Prime, need some personality in here... Place seems cold." He said, optics now focused on the Prime.
Optimus smiled and got in the berth with him. "Well, that s why you are here for, you brighten up my world."
"Oh, you big softy. Knock Out chuckled as he kissed his cheek.
Optimus moved closer to him as he shifted the blanket around them both.
They ended up kissing and cuddling once more, Optimus wanted Knock Out forget all that's happened to him, he knew things around here were going to be awkward but... He didn t care. He never asked for anything in his life, he was never selfish but now... He wanted to be, he wanted Knock Out with him always, no matter what. He kissed him again as he whispered sweet words to him that even made the hurt mech blush.
Their problems seemed to go away now they were wrapped up in their love... Tomorrow, problems they will have to deal with together.