Warning: Spoilers for Transformers: Prime episode Crossfire!
Knockout waited anxiously for his partner, and sparkmate, to return from his mission with Dreadwing and Airachnid. He knew this was a very dangerous mission; one that included the assassination of Airachnid. He begged Breakdown not to go but he couldn't refuse Megatron. Knockout paced around the med bay as he waited for his return. The doors opened and he turned hoping to see Breakdown, but it was only a drone. It walked up to him and spoke the words Knockout never wanted to hear.
"Breakdown's spark signal has disappeared." It said then left. Knockout stood there stunned. His spark sunk and his stomach churned. His optics widened and he felt energon tears welling up. He eventually started to lose his balance and had to sit on a nearby medical berth so he wouldn't fall over. He stared at his hands as the sorrow sunk in even more. He knew he'd never see Breakdown again. Sure he was a clumsy giant that wasn't too useful as a doc but he was special to Knockout. He felt the tears rolling down his faceplate but made no gesture to wipe them away. After a while he sighed and wiped them away. He stood up and rubbed his neck as he walked to the door.
"Where do ya think you're going?" he heard someone behind him ask. Knockout groaned and turned frustrated towards whoever it was to stop dead cold in his tracks. In front of him was Breakdown, well a blurry vision of him. Knockout's optics widened as he stared at him.
"B-Breakdown?" Knockout stuttered. Breakdown laughed and stepped forward.
"Yeah babe, it's me." Knockout felt more tears stinging his optics as he realized it must be a figment of his imagination. Knockout turned away but Breakdown appeared in front of him and lifted Knockout's chin. "Knockout look at me." Knockout reluctantly looked up at his deceased partner. "You gotta let me go and move on." Knockout's spark sunk even lower. He didn't realize that Breakdown was able to touch him.
"B-But Breakdown; I-I can't!" Knockout stammered.
"You have to; I can't come back, but I can't stand to leave without saying goodbye." Breakdown had sorrow in his optics. Knockout knew he had to move on. He tried to put a hand on him but it passed right through. He thought it was weird that Breakdown could touch him but not the other way around. Breakdown held onto Knockout with a cocky smile that Knockout had grown to love.
"Until we are one with the allspark," Knockout whispered. Breakdown kissed his helm gently and repeated the words of the ancient goodbye. Knockout watched Breakdown disappear and he had a hollow feeling in his spark. He sighed and went to his room. He looked around and saw some of Breakdown's old things. He sat on Breakdown's berth and slowly cried himself into recharge.
He not only lost a friend and a partner that day, he lost his only love.
RIP Breakdown
When I watched the episode Crossfire and I saw Breakdown dead my heart sunk. I decided that I should write a one-shot on how Knockout might've reacted to the news. Yeah I know the whole "ghost of a decepticon/autobot" thing has been used before but it's so sad how they killed him off! RIP Breakdown :(