An enraged scream filled the entire base, shattering the fragile peace and silence. Both Bumblebee and Miko scrambled back in fright in response to the scream as they made a break for safety. Gasping for breath, they both huddled behind the lounge area, watching the opening of the barracks with caution.
"I think we really outdid ourselves this time," Miko whispered fearfully. Bumblebee could only nod in agreement as they watched an incensed figure stumble into the room.
"You two are dead!" Arcee growled, her optics landing on Bumblebee and Miko, easily spotting them in their pitiful hiding spot.
In that moment, Jack looked up with confusion from the couch before an amused smirk came across his face. Nope, this was way more interesting then his history homework. "New look suits you, Cee," he teased, snapping his book closed.
Miko chortled, covering her mouth with her hands as she giggled. "You should keep the new paint style Arcee. You really stand out."
"Reminds me of old times," Bumblebee agreed, smiling, pleased with their work. He and Miko fist bumped to signal their triumph.
Indeed, the new pink paint job they had given Arcee seemed to suit her much better. Though the femme did not seem to share their ideas. With a bright and bold pink pattern, Arcee stood out in the bland space of their base, though her optics glowed with the promise of revenge.
"You're a really heavy sleeper Cee," Bumblebee continued. He paused, momentarily thinking. "Though that tonic I slipped from Ratchet's medical supplies might have something to do with it."
Arcee's optics widened in realization. "You spiked my drink!" Now the spark in her optics intensified to boiling rage, her body trembling with anger. Though, with the new pink paint job, she looked less threatening than before. No, wait, Bumblebee was now rethinking that statement. Arcee was never 'less threatening.' No amount of paint could cover up her terrifying fierceness.
"Run," Jack warned the two pranksters when he saw his partner's pink servos curl into fists.
"Bulkhead!" Miko screamed, scrambling for her guardian. The large green mech transformed quickly without a word and zoomed out of the base before the former blue femme could reach them. Arcee turned her murderous gaze on Bumblebee, but the yellow mech was already plucking a startled Raf from his seat and transforming. "Gotta roll!" he shouted as he zoomed out of the base.
"Uh, Bee," Raf said with a touch of concern as he looked out the backseat window. "She's following us."
"Don't worry," Bumblebee assured him. "I'm faster."
"Yeah, but have you ever heard the saying 'hell hath no fury like a woman spurned'?" Raf asked. "I'm pretty sure that applies to female Cybertronians."
Bumblebee was silent for a moment as he speed on down the road. He switched his rearview mirror and noticed with fright that, yes, Arcee was gaining on him.
"Ratchet!" he shouted through the comm link. "I need a bridge!"
He could hear the medic sputtering at the rather loud and rude interruption. "Bumblebee, a ground bridge is not to be used as your personal getaway."
"Please Ratchet," Bumblebee begged desperately. "Arcee's brining hell literally to my doorstep! Raf said so!"
"I do not have time to argue the poor logic behind such a saying," Ratchet huffed. "I am dealing with a human military base that is currently in distress, and I do not need to waste my time with you. Make it up to Arcee and apologize."
Bumblebee swerved violently when Arcee nearly rammed into him. Raf yelped at the sudden, sharp movement, and Bumblebee fastened the seatbelt firmly around his little human. No need to splatter his precious charge's insides all over Bumblebee's own insides. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure we are way past the apologizing phase and have skipped over to the 'make your life miserable' phase."
"Your problem, not mine," Ratchet huffed. "I need to keep this line open for emergencies." The medic paused for just a brief moment. "Primus deliver you, Bumblebee."
"No! Ratchet, don't go!" Bumblebee whined. But the medic had ended the transmission.
"Um, Bee?" Raf asked with concern.
"Don't worry Raf," Bumblebee assured. "I haven't survived for all these years just to perish at the hands of my very own pink comrade." With that, he increased his speed and swerved onto the left lane that was void of vehicles at the moment. He could see the small town of Jasper Nevada fast approaching. He inwardly smirked as he drove off road and raced in between the buildings. He could hear the screech of Arcee's tires as she tried to adjust to the fast pace, but Bumblebee continued to swerve in and out between buildings, ignoring the enraged shouts of the humans he just barely avoided running over. Yeah, Optimus won't be too pleased about this.
"Raf, keep a lookout," Bumblebee said to his young human charge who was currently hiding from the windows. Raf took a small peek outside before ducking back down to avoid being seen by anyone.
"I don't see her," Raf confessed as they drove out of the town.
"See?" Bumblebee asked, smug. "I told you we'd lose her."
Raf grinned as he straightened up. Adjusting his glasses, he sat back with a sigh. "You know you will have to return to base at some point," he pointed out. "You can't avoid Arcee forever."
"Sure I can," Bumblebee said. "I'm just giving her some space to cool down...and find Miko and Bulk." He chuckled deviously at the thought of his fellow human prankster avoiding the angry female Autobot. He could just imagine Bulkhead trying reason with the femme.
His jovial mood was cut short when he caught the sight of the telltale sign of a police car's flashing blue and red lights. With an inward groan, Bumblebee increased his speed just slightly so as to avoid the persistent cop.
"Um, Bee," Raf started with uncertainty. "There's a police car right behind us."
"I know," he said, putting a bit more speed into his retreat. "But I can't have the cops coming after me. I don't have a license." Yes, he did have a decent enough holoform, but his holoform lacked a decent license. Plus, the lack of his voice would make things extremely complicated. Better to try and outrun the cop then answer difficult questions.
But the cop seemed determined to keep up with him. Bumblebee inwardly frowned and sped up a bit as well. His confusion grew as the cop nearly slammed into the back of his car.
"What is his deal?" Bumblebee demanded, enraged.
"Well," Raf said simply as he adjusted his glasses, holding onto the seats of the car as Bumblebee went faster than usual. "He is doing his job in chasing you down since you are speeding."
The cop finally pulled up right alongside Bumblebee, both cars now racing side by side. Bumblebee adjusted his rearview mirror and took in the sleek form of the cruiser. The black tinted windows prevented him from seeing anyone inside the vehicle, but he got a good look of the paint job, specifically the inscription on the car. The words flashed before him, almost in a slow manner and burning into his processor.
To punish and enslave.
His world in that very moment seemed to come to a slow halt. While he lost sight of those simple words, they stayed seared into his memory, flashing before him in a haunting manner. Disbelief filled him, one that shook him to the very core as he realized what this moment meant.
Bumblebee swore and spun off of the road rapidly, speeding into the dirt. He could distinctly hear Raf yelp in surprise at the sharp movement, but he was more focused on the cop who was now following him at a violent speed.
"Bee!" Raf yelped. "What are you doing-?"
"Ratchet!" Bumblebee yelled through the comm link. "I need a bridge-"
He was cut off when the cop finally slammed into him. Raf's startled gasp caused Bumblebee to try and put some distance between himself and the cop. "Primus Ratchet, I need a bridge now!"
"Bumblebee," Ratchet sputtered, annoyed. "What did I tell you about-"
"Decepticons!" was all Bumblebee managed to shout out as he swerved violently. In that moment as he lost control of his drive, the cruiser fell apart as pieces folded within themselves. A towering, dark mech took form, his red optics gleaming. A roar escaped his mouth as he charged at Bumblebee.
"Oh scrap," Raf squeaked as Bumblebee began to drive backward to avoid the clawed servos of the former cop car. However, a quick adjustment to his mirrors showed that he would not have much room to use. Not too far away was a cliff. Sooner or later, he would run out of racing space.
"Decepticons?" Ratchet demanded, now concerned. His tone became clipped as he snapped into business. "Who?"
But Bumblebee never got the chance to reply. In one swift moment, Bumblebee's car door was open and shoving Raf out into the dusty road. Transforming faster then he ever had before, Bumblebee collided into the Decepticon. Their bodies clashed, though Bumblebee was ready for the impact. He allowed the momentum to carry him downward as he tucked himself into a roll.
Twisting to the right and leaping to his pedes, Bumblebee swiped at the Decepticon's pedes, tripping him and causing the mech to land face first into the rough dirt. The mech was up at the same time Bumblebee was. Bumblebee ducked quickly and barely avoided the fist flying in his direction. He sidestepped to the right and ducked low, aiming for the Decepticon's mid section, a vulnerable spot that he was aware of.
His attacks were blocked, but just as quickly as his movements were counterattacked, he would strike out in a different direction. But this Decepticon was bigger then him and finally managed to fling him away. Bumblebee tucked into a roll, bringing himself right to a stop just a few feet away from a wide eyed Raf.
"Bumblebee," Raf started, a gasp escaping his mouth as he arose from his crouch, though he did not break out into a run. He knew that running in an open area with no cover around him would be dangerous and leave him vulnerable to the Decepticon's blaster fire. Raf's body was rigged and cautious as he took in the large, menacing Decepticon that was approaching them.
Bumblebees battle mask slid over his face as his optics narrowed. That particular armor was something he had rarely used, but today was the day that he knew he would need all the protection he needed. He arose swiftly, his servos curled into fists, ready to fight. He faced off his adversary, finally taking in the full view of the enemy.
His brother.
Barricade had not changed. His alt mode was adapted to that of a cops car, his form bulkier and darker. Though everything else Bumblebee recognized, everything that was his brother's own personal traits. His optics were still bright with hate, his mouth curled into a savage smirk as he regarded Bumblebee.
"Little bug," Barricade snarled, his voice rough in Cybertronian. "How convenient that I would find scum like you on this dust ball."
"How convenient that you were just taking a bite out of the dust ball," Bumblebee responded back, his native tongue coming back to him with ease.
Barricade chuckled, though there was no humor in his voice. His optics landed on Raf, and a savage understanding came into his optics. "I took more than a bite. I blew a huge chunk off. An entire base, if you get my gist."
Bumblebee went still at the message that was conveyed. A base...just like the last time hundreds of years ago when Barricade had betrayed them. Ratchet's earlier words came back to him, about the human base that had been in distress.
It was in distress no more, but now in the arms of death if Barricade had just visited the humans. His disgust and horror for Barricade only grew.
"After I am finished with you, I will take good care of your pet, little brother." The last part was spat out, like a bitter taste that he could not wait to be rid of.
Bumblebee's optics narrowed, and he positioned himself to where he was standing directly over Raf protectively, shielding him from the Decepticon's view. Barricade took immediate note of the movement.
"Hm," Barricade mused. "Not willing to share, brother?"
Bumblebee's only response was to adjust his fighting stance into the offensive.
His job was to protect Raf, and he would do that no matter what. With narrowed optics, he charged at Barricade, shoving into him. Barricade staggered back as they both fell downwards, falling off of the cliff and into the cannon below.
The impact was worse than Bumblebee had anticipated. He was sure his entire insides were jammed up in all the wrong places. But he did not have time to absorb and adjust to the pain. He rolled down and off of the sharp rocks, scrambling frantically to protect himself. Barricade was faster and was upon him with a thunderous roar.
Bumblebee barely avoided the sword that was aimed at his spark. He grappled frantically with his brother. This time, he was on the defense. He was fighting to survive. No mercy would be shown to him. He had made peace with that grim knowledge. Even now, the words of wisdom that Optimus Prime had shared with him eons ago still rang true in his audio receptors.
"Take great care to ensure that your spark continues beating in order to give to those who deserve your compassion."
And he would. He had no intention of dying today, and least of all, by his own brother's hand.
Barricade snarled as Bumblebee pushed on, managing to slip through his sharp grasps.
He turned sharply, twisting around.
He was inches away from his opponent, close enough to identify the new scars on his face.
He rushed forward, servo curled into a fist.
He launched upward, slamming his fist into Barricade's face.
Barricade snarled as he fell back, clutching at his face as energon dripped down it. Wide red optics met narrowed blue as they both faced off.
A harsh laugh escaped Barricade, though it was muffled from where his servo was covering his injured face. "You never hold back, do you?" he sneered.
Bumblebee held his position, not answering him.
"Well," Barricade said, spitting out a bit of energon. "I have no intention of holding back either."
Bumblebee's blasters were out in an instant to stall the attack he knew that was coming. He fired at his elusive brother who took shelter behind a large outcropping of rocks. Bumblebee did not hesitate to shoot at the loose cannon rocks around him, scattering dirt and debris, creating a cloud of thick dirt that left him shielded from Barricade. Though he was briefly robbed of his sight, his other senses still worked, including his hearing.
Which meant that he could hear the taunts of his brother echo through the cannon.
"Tell me, Bumblebee," he heard Barricade shout, and Bumblebee whirled in the direction of the voice. "Do you still love me?"
Bumblebee hesitated only briefly, but sharp movement above caused him to curse his hesitation as he caught sight of the bomb sailing through the air. He scrambled away, right as the bomb exploded and shattered everything around him. Bumblebee yelped as he was flung forward, his back exploding in pain from the touch of the heat.
He hit the ground, the sharp rocks piercing into his unprotected body. He struggled to stand, looking around wildly to make sense of it all.
"Or perhaps you hate me," he heard Barricade say. Bumblebee did not hesitate to shoot in the direction of Barricade's voice. Aside from the sound of many rocks falling, the air was silent, and Bumblebee's wariness grew.
It was then, in that moment of vulnerability, that he felt another presence draw up behind him. Strong arms encircled him, pinning his arms to his sides. Bumblebee lurched forward, struggling as his brother held him captive in a dangerous embrace.
"Because I hate you," Barricade hissed in his audio receptor.
Bumblebee threw his helm back, smashing into Barricade's already damaged face. He then lurched forward, flipping Barricade over and onto the ground. Barricade's sword was drawn, poised and ready.
"I hate you, and this wretched planet!" Barricade screamed, his words more pronounced with each jab he delivered. "I hate these humans who you are so devoted to! Do you know how weak they are? How easy it is to destroy them? Even the self proclaimed soldiers I killed were just as fragile as the rest of them!"
Bumblebee stumbled back and blocked the sword in one quick movement, yet his arm was sliced with barely a touch of the sword, yet it was still sharp enough to draw energon. He hissed in pain, but he did not cry out.
"Nothing to say about that?" Barricade sneered. "No tuants? No pleas for my salvation? No promises of revenge for those humans I mercilessly killed?"
Bumblebee kicked at Barricade's chest. This fight was over. He wanted it to end.
"Say something!" Barricade screamed, lunging forward with his sword, rage sparking in his optics.
"Get away from him!" another voice screamed, and a pink blur raced by, slamming into Barricade. Bumblebee blinked as he took in Arcee's small form fighting relentlessly against the bigger Decepticon. In that moment, a ground bridge opened up right next to him, startling the scout momentarily.
Arcee looked up. "Bee! It's ours! Let's go!"
Barricade let out a howl of frustration as another ground bridge opened up; his own. In that moment, his optics connected with Bumblebee's. Neither broke the intense stare, memories both old and new resurfacing. Their connection was only broken off by the ground bridge that swallowed Barricade, taking him away from Bumblebee once more.
Arcee tugged on Bumblebee's arm, trying to earn his attention. "Bee," he heard her say. "Let's go."
He nodded mutely, still staring at the space his brother had once stood before. The bitter words still echoed in his mind, just as harmful as any weapon. Despite what Barricade said, despite knowing that Barricade hated him with a passion and knowing about it for years, it still hurt. Worse yet, he did not know what he had done to deserve such hate.
You rejected him.
Yes, he supposed he had. He had rejected Barricade all those years ago, choosing to do what was right instead of following his spark and stay at his brother's side. Yet, his choice had brought him nothing but death, and the hate of his brother.
But despite that hate, Bumblebee did confess, that he did love his brother. It was a hopeless feeling, but it would not go away. He still loved Barricade, that would never change.
He just could not save him.
The news was grave. It was worse than he had thought.
Bumblebee remained silent throughout the briefing, his arms folded across his chassis. The children were present as well to witness the news that Optimus Prime had to share about the latest, most gruesome attack on a human base. However, the details were trimmed down to spare the children from the true horror of the crime. Their eyes were wide as they listened in on the brief description about the new Decepticon arrival, the attacker on the human base.
Bumblebee's brother.
That last bit of information was not mentioned by Optimus or Arcee at all, and he was grateful for that.
"Bumblebee attacked him," Raf said proudly, looking at his guardian with a wide smile. "He faced him off bravely and defended me."
Miko fist bumped in the air. "Oh yeah! That's our bots for you!"
Bumblebee was grateful for his mouth guard that hid his mouth, therefore concealing his expression. Though he gave a light hearted shrug, his spark was anything but light.
"Bumblebee could take him on again!" he heard Raf say.
Take him on again.
"You can take him on again!" Bumblebee chirped, scrambling down from the stands and scampering over to a stalking Barricade.
Barricade huffed, tossing the shattered ax away with barely a backward glance. "Yeah, whatever," he growled.
Bumblebee skipped at his side, but then stopped, as if remembering where he was, and instead tried to match his brother's fast pace. "I mean, you're big and bold, you can beat him next time!"
"There will be no next time," Barricade said, finally stopping for a moment in an alleyway to check his weapons, the ones he always wore at his side. Never again would he rely on the weapons given to him by just anyone. Like that ax, they would shatter.
Bumblebee blinked his large blue optics. "What? Of course there will be!" In all his time, he never knew Barricade to just simply let things go. He always had to have the upper hand. Even in their tussles, Barricade always came out on top with Bumblebee at the bottom.
But Barricade always dragged Bumblebee back up.
Barricade shook his helm. "Not this time," he said, his optics focused on his gun. "That fight was rigged."
Bumblebee blinked once more, startled. "Rigged?" he echoed. He gasped. "You mean," here, he tugged on Barricade's arm. "You lost on purpose?" He had watched the fight, as he had watched all of Barricade's fights. He cheered for his brother, knowing that for him to lose most likely meant death. Winning meant everything to them, as it meant that they could eat, they could survive until the next fight.
Bumblebee had never been allowed into the fighting ring, but he had been involved in many fights. Barricade had understood that he could not always protect Bumblebee, and the yellow youngling had to learn how to fight without weapons. He had to learn to think on his pedes in a tough situation. He had to learn how to take on multiple opponents, sometimes without a dagger or a blaster at his side. Most often, Bumblebee would find himself alone in the dark with menacing Cybertronians half his side. It was at times like this that Barricade would withdraw from the situation, forcing Bumblebee to defend himself.
The fact that he was alive meant he had to leave bodies behind.
Barricade pulled his arm out of Bumblebee's hold. "No, I was supposed to lose." His optics narrowed. "The winner of the match was decided long before I stepped into the ring."
Now Bumblebee was blinking rather rapidly, his confusion swirling. "You're just going to let this go? You won't get your revenge!"
Barricade withdrew a dagger, testing its sharp tip. "No, I will not." He passed the dagger over to Bumblebee. "You will."
"Right Bee?" a voice asked.
Bumblebee blinked, noticing where he was. He was not on Cybertron anymore. He was not in the slums of Kaon, nor holding a small, study dagger. Instead, he was back at the base surrounded by his fellow Autobots and human companions.
He gave Raf an apologetic look. "What?" he asked.
Raf smiled. "You'll take him on again when given the chance, right?"
Right. He'll have to fight his brother. He will have to face him once more. His spark filled with a heavy dread at the thought. "Yeah, right," he said in response to Raf's optimistic question. He ignored Optimus's knowing look and Arcee's worried gaze.
"Do you still love me?"
His optic flickered at the very memory as his brother's words came back to haunt him. Yes, he did. He still loved Barricade. But how could he love someone when he was preparing to kill that very same person?
He had not said a word. Not a sound had been uttered by Bumblebee. Yet Barricade had been able to read everything in those optics. The hurt, the rage, the determination.
His face still hurt from the blows he had received from his brother, but he welcomed the pain. It meant that he was alive.
Bumblebee might not have been if that pink femme hadn't shown up when she did. Huh, he could have sworn that she had been blue before. Seeing her in such a familiar form with his brother brought back memories that he did not care to dwell on.
The Decepticon warship was a welcome distraction. Missions were performed, sometimes with success, sometimes with failure. Yet for all the times he was sent out, he had yet to come across Bumblebee.
It irked him to no end. He wanted to see that yellow scout. He wanted to be the one to drive his sword through Bumblebee spark. He wanted to crush him underneath his pede, much like he had with those humans at that human base.
Somewhere, in the back of his processor, he would ask himself when he had started to hate his own brother so much. How had he come to hate Bumblebee with such a passion? What had happened?
It was these thoughts that he would not dwell on for too long.
Bumblebee was growing fierce, that much he would acknowledge. It was nice to see the softness beaten out of him to display the hardened warrior. The sparkling he had grown up with, the youngling he had pushed into the fights, that Cybertronian was gone. In its place was a Autobot warrior, and Barricade would be the one to end his life.
A small part of him had always wondered what had befallen his brother. Was he alive? Was he dead? And if so, then who had been the one to kill the yellow mech and deny Barricade the place of killing Bumblebee?
It was not that he obsessed over killing Bumblebee. He would just rather know for sure what had ended him. It was his final way of seeing his younger sibling slip out of this world and into the Well. He would not deny himself of that. He had been with Bumblebee since birth, he had been the one to save him so many countless times. It was only fitting that he would be the one to end him.
He loathed everything Bumblebee stood for.
But did he really hate Bumblebee?
He observed the small ring below him, his expression stoic. His optics trailed after the body that was being dragged out of the area, the roars of the crowd dying down somewhat. It was not much of a crowd to begin with. It was more like a cluster of Cybertronians that were gathered together at the last minute to witness some entertainment.
But the credits were flowing as bets were placed.
Barricade leaned back slightly, his gaze taking in the competition that had just entered the ring.
"Heard that one hasn't been beaten yet," one large mech beside Barricade said. "Ain't no Cybertronian who's ever come close to defeating him!"
I did, Barricade thought silently. He would have come close to defeating the contender. But he hadn't. He had been set up, and because he had been too weak to realize it, he and his brother had gone hungry for the last three days.
He was lucky that Frenzy was in contact with Megatron, or Bumblebee would not have survived without the small energon cubes.
"Who's the little wimp that's going to get mopped today?" the silver mech demanded with a loud chuckle.
Barricade nodded to the lone youngling just entering the ring. "That one."
Bumblebee was easy to pick out as he stood with his back straight, his dim, yellow armor a fading bright spot in the grim area.
The mech beside Barricade sputtered. "That one? He's no more then a bug! He'll be squashed!"
"A bug with a bite," Barricade answered simply.
Apparently, many had already decided Bumblebee's fate as credits went flying. Barricade watched with mild interest before looking back at Bumblebee. His brother did not look at him, but merely kept his gaze on his opponent.
Barricade barely noticed when the signal to start was given. But he did watch how his brother crouched down to avoid his opponents fists.
The crowd was watching with anticipation, their hoots and hollers filling the small space. The scuffle between the two fighters was lost as the noise of the crowd grew.
Barricade watched as the dagger in Bumblebee's possion flashed out, twirling until Bumblebee got a firm grasp on the weapon. The dagger was a different weapon, not one that was supplied for the fight. Instead, Barricade had supplied Bumblebee with a weapon that they both could be assured had not been tampered with.
This time, it would not falter.
Bumblebee's small form rushed at the larger beast of a mech. In that moment, Barricade saw the cold flash of determination in Bumblebee's optics.
He also saw the sword carving towards his sibling.
The choked warning gathering within him died in his mouth when Bumblebee attempted to avoid it, but he was not fast enough. The sword skimmed his shoulder, earning a choked cry coming from Bumblebee. The crowd roared, but Bumblebee reacted instantly as energon leaked from his shoulders.
Bumblebee turned sharply, twisting around.
He was inches away from his opponent, and Barricade could tell that Bumblebee saw everything in his opponents face.
He rushed forward, servo curled into a fist.
He launched upward, slamming his fist into his enemies face.
Barricade could not help but smirk as Bumblebee used the move he had taught him, the same move he had grilled into him.
The mech stumbled back, clenching his bleeding face. But Bumblebee did not give him time to recover as he plunged the dagger into the mech's shoulder. He pressed on, forcing the mech to stumble down to the ground with Bumblebee up on top.
There was silence until the ringmaster announced the victor, giving the title to Bumblebee.
Barricade remembered how the silence had rung in the area. He also remembered the feeling of satisfaction as all the bets were given to him. Yes, Bumblebee had done well.
"You should have killed him," Barricade had said when Bumblebee approached him.
He had not seen the look of despair on his brother's face. "I couldn't."
He shrugged. "Whatever. That's got to change." Pocketing the remaining credits: he knew it would serve them for weeks, he looked at Bumblebee with a nod. "Let's go and get you patched up."
No, he did not hate his brother. At least, not as much as he should. It still hurt him, like a dull, aching pain, when Bumblebee had refused to join him. They had chosen different sides, and he could respect that.
But he did have to end him.
The abandoned town was much like the one Bulkhead had been in when MECH and taken Breakdown. Not a soul lived in the area as rusted buildings stretched upward to the sky. Yet, unknowest to those who loved two thousand miles aways, beings they would only know as 'metal titans' were waging a war. The already damaged town was turning into a wreck as the two leaders of opposing sides fought, their comrades also fighting for victory.
The shattered glass fell on top of Bumblebee as the windows of the building above him exploded. He was separated from everyone else, but he had faith in their abilities. Bumblebee raised his one arm to protect his face as he ran from his crouched position. In that moment, he was out in the open and vulnerable to enemy fire. Even now, several Vehicons tried to shoot at him, but their aims had yet to improve.
Bumblebee's shots, however, remained straight and true.
Unfortunately, so did Barricade's.
Bumblebee let out a pained shout as a blaster bolt tore through his armor and pierced his shoulder. He clutched his injured wound, looking up just in time as Barricade charged at him. Bumblebee did the only thing he could do in that moment.
He collapsed.
Barricade stumbled, obviously not expecting such a weak move from his brother. To be honest, Bumblebee was surprised at his own display of weakness, but it worked as his brother's sword just flashed over his helm. The silver glint of the weapon caught Bumblebee's optics, and he leaped upward, blaster out and pointed at Barricade's unprotected back.
"Cade-"
"Don't call me that."
"...I love you."
"I love you too. Now go to sleep, and stop fiddling with that gun. You're going to shoot me with how you're handling it."
He faltered in that moment, even as the memory faded, but Barricade did not.
The impact of the ground hurt as much as Barricade's fists that were slamming into him. Bumblebee tried in vain to block the blows coming toward him. But Barricade held firm, his fists landing harder on Bumblebee with every strike.
Bumblebee suddenly gasped in agony as his chassis exploded in waves of pain.
"Because you're my brother, that's why!"
"And you're my brother too!"
A choked sob escaped him, both filled with pain from the beatings and pain from the memories. He could feel his chassis, his very spark, recoil as the severed bond frayed once more. He did not know that the bond would still be active. He did not know that it would hurt him this much.
After all these years, he was still in pain.
"I'm coming, I'm coming for you."
"I know. You'll never leave me."
"Shut up!" Barricade screamed as his fist slammed once more into Bumblebee's face, his optics alight with rage.
Apparently, Barricade was suffering from the same painful ghosts of the past. He raised his fists once more, desperate to sever the connection once more.
Bumblebee raised his servos, grasping Barricade's fists and stopping them just inches from his face. He drew his knees upward, kicking Barricade hard and forcing the Decepticon off of him. He rolled over and scrambled to his pedes, grabbing onto a toppled slab of concrete. He armed himself with a toppled light pole and launched it like a lance at Barricade. Barricade in turn used a rusted car as a shield, the light pole piercing through it, but otherwise unharming him
Creative. That was all Bumblebee would give him.
Barricade ran forward with a scream, his face contorted with such hate and anger, that he was almost unrecognizable. He ceased shooting at Bumblebee and instead chose to slash at him with the damaged sword. Bumblebee spun out of the way, a small dagger in hand as he plunged the weapon into Barricade's shoulder. Barricade did not seem fazed by it at all, his sword connecting with Bumblebee's leg. His face twisted once more with such pleasure as Bumblebee crumbled beneath the pain.
His brother took pleasure in his pain. Bumblebee's optics narrowed at the thought.
Then his brother was already lost to him if he took great delight in torturing his own kin.
"I never wanted things to be this way!" Bumblebee shouted, energon dripping down his face from his wounds.
"You made your choice," Barricade snarled, rushing toward him.
"Cade! Don't leave me! Please! Don't leave me!"
He hadn't. Even when he was on the other side of the war, Barricade had never truly left Bumblebee. They had both tormented each other with lost memories. Both had been haunted with what was lost. Even the severed bond could not close off everything.
Bumblebee lurched forward, his fist connecting with Barricade's face. Barricade snarled as they both collided, each grappling for the upper hand.
"I-I don't want to kill you," Bumblebee choked out. He grunted when he was shoved to the ground once more, pinned beneath his brother.
Surprisingly, there was no mad delight in Barricade's gaze. His expression was almost unreadable as he finally wrenched his servo free from Bumblebee's desperate grasp.
"Me neither," he admitted, his voice a low growl. He leveled his gun at Bumblebee. "But I will."
Bumblebee gripped the gun and pointed it away from his helm, right as the blaster went off.
"I am your brother. We are in this together."
Barricade withdrew another blaster, shooting at Bumblebee despite the fact that the yellow Autobot still maintained a firm hold on his servo and prevented the blaster shots from hitting his helm. The ground became scorched from the blaster shots as Barricade's relentless assaults continued. "Die," he snarled, his servos covered with energon; Bumblebee's energon. "Die!" he screamed.
"You come here to scold me?"
"Still the job of the oldest."
Barricade's face contorted in pain, even as Bumblebee grunted from the strain and the searing heat growing closer towards his helm.
"You said you were with me. Are you really?"
"Always. But at times, you truly scare me."
"Get out of my head," Barricade snarled. He let out a scream of frustration. "Why won't you die? Why can't you just die? Die!" He finally leveled his blaster one final time at Bumblebee, red optics aglow with an unknown emotion. "Die," he choked out.
Bumblebee brought himself up closer to the weapon, pulling his brother closer to him as well. In one, final, desperate act, he let go of his brother's arm and plunged his servo into Barricade's chassis and directly over his beating spark, his gun activating. He could still feel the familiar warmth it brought, and at once, he felt like a sparkling again that was seeking for his brother in the dark world.
"I love you."
"I love you," Bumblebee whispered.
Then Barricade's spark shattered.
Silence reigned in the base. Raf leaned forward, listening intently for anything that would cue him in on the battle that was going on. Jack and Miko were beside him, both equally nervous for their guardians.
Finally, Bulkhead's tired voice came over the intercom. "Bee did it. He killed him."
Raf swallowed, a feeling of relief coming over him. Bumblebee was alive, and the Deception was dead. But something in Bulkhead's reserved voice made him withhold his cheers.
Ratchet sighed, unfolding his arms as he strode towards the ground bridge. His optics were heavy with a grim shadow, and Raf could not figure out what was the cause of it. "Then let's bring him home."
They found Bumblebee cradling Barricade's lifeless body. Though no one would say it, they had witnessed the final, death blow that had befallen Barricade. Arcee was the only one to move forward as she placed a gentle servo on Bumblebee's shaking shoulders. The yellow scout said nothing else to them as he rocked back and forth, his helm touching Barricade's forehead, his optics closed. His spark still reached out to Barricade's even as his brother's own lifeforce was shattered into untraceable pieces.
"I won't leave you," he whispered, clinging to Barricade. "I'm here now. I promise." He sobbed. "I promise."