Chapter 9
Notes:
So here it is people, at long fragging last! I'm very, very sorry it's taken me so long, I just had a major blank for the ending of this chapter. I'd got the epilogue written before the end of this... and yes that will be posted straight after this, just in case you all lynch me. Much love to my beta, as always.

-

Fifteen years wasn't all that long for a Cybertronian, though the war made the years drag by, but neither Hound nor Thundercracker minded if their time together seemed longer than it was. They were still together. There had been some close calls for the both of them, but somehow, their relationship hadn't been discovered by anyone else. The seeker still hadn't given up on the Decepticons and Hound no longer mentioned it. They both knew where the other stood.

It had been the past year or so that times had been hard on the pair of them, because it was now the earth year 2005 and the Decepticons had finally claimed Cybertron as their own. Thundercracker had barely seen Hound in all that time, only in passing in a few battles, and they were trying their best not to let their loneliness show, especially the flyer. He was supposed to be rejoicing they were winning the war, but he was aware what would happen to Hound if they truly crushed the Autobots. Thundercracker didn't want to win, so he hung back in battles, letting the others claim the fights. That way he never fired a shot when they boarded that ill-fated Autobot shuttle heading for Earth, though that didn't make him feel any better about watching the mechs he knew Hound regarded as friends fall.

The seeker knew it was his own fault for still being here, on this side, but he couldn't find it in himself to take those final hard steps away and Hound never talked about it anymore, never pushed Thundercracker into admitting he did want something different now. Hound…

-

Hound dodged fire, hunkering down behind a ruined wall, waiting for a lull in the firing before he moved on. As he paused, checking his weapon, he heard a low noise very much like a moan and a concerned frown passed over his face as he searched for the source of the noise. It came again from somewhere ahead of him to his right.

Quickly the green mech switched places so he was closer and as he ducked behind yet another ruined wall he saw a pair of pedes sticking out from behind a pile of rubble. Feet he instantly recognised.

"Thundercracker!" He was by his side in an instant. Hound pressed a quick kiss to the black helm, almost in self reassurance. "What happened?"

The seeker cracked optics open at him. "Optimus shot me. It fragging hurt."

Hound winced. "I'll bet."

Swiftly he ran a scan over Thundercracker, noting the cracked plating and damaged struts. There was a charred hole in the front of Thundercracker's cockpit but it didn't seem to have burned down to anything major inside. The light blue seeker could move if he wanted to, but he wasn't going to be transforming and flying off anywhere. He wasn't leaking much energon, thankfully, so Hound could do little but keep watch over him. The seeker remained where he was, optics shuttered as he just coped with the pain. He had been vaguely worried about another Autobot finding him, but now Hound was here he felt ridiculously safe.

Suddenly there was a loud crashing noise before Starscream's voice cackled, "How do you feel, mighty Megatron? Astrotrain! Transform and get us out of here!"

Thundercracker struggled to sit up and Hound grabbed his shoulders. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

"They're leaving, I've got to go," Thundercracker gasped.

Hound glanced across to where he could just make out the other Decepticons fleeing and abruptly decided something that would change their lives forever.

"No, you're not going with them."

"What?" The injured mech looked up at him startled. "I can't stay here!"

"You can and will. I will look after you and this stupidity between us will be over," Hound stated firmly, still refusing to let Thundercracker up. "Let them think you died here and you can join the Autobots, or just turn neutral and never fight again. I refuse to watch you go back to the Decepticons anymore."

"Hound… The others… what we've done…" Thundercracker looked around at the devastation.

"I won't let anyone hurt you. They'll have to go through me first." Hound folded his arms over his chest.

The seeker stared at him, so used to Hound being agreeable that this forceful side of him was a shock. Astrotrain suddenly blasted by overhead and Thundercracker knew he was stuck on Earth and his head dropped.

"Come on," Hound said more gently. "Let's find Ratchet and get you patched up."

Thundercracker silently let the scout help him to his feet and leaned heavily on him, feeling the pain wash through him from his chest. Recently it had been Thundercracker that had been more worried about Hound's safety than his own, since the Decepticons had pushed the Autobots from Cybertron, so the seriousness of his injury only added to his quiet. That and the sudden turnaround in the position he found himself in.

Slowly they made their way through the rubble, heading for the destroyed entrance of Autobot city. Ahead of them Hound could see movement inside and steeled himself for a confrontation, his grip tightening on Thundercracker without thought. They were barely at the ruined doors when Springer looked up abruptly, gun appearing in his hand as an automatic reaction.

"What the slag is going on?" Springer shouted, gun training on the blue seeker.

"Wait, don't shoot," Hound raised one empty hand, palm out. "It's alright, he won't do anything."

"He's a fragging Decepticon, why shouldn't I?" Springer growled, optics narrowing.

"Because I'll vouch for him," Hound replied. "Just ask Ratchet or Optimus."

"I would, if I could," Springer waved his hand back behind him. "But Optimus doesn't look like he'll make it and we've heard nothing from the shuttle Ratchet was on!"

"What?" Hound stopped dead, staring at the other green mech in horror. "Optimus is dying?"

"Megatron and he really did a number on each other. The others are with him now, doing what they can." Springer shook his head. "Wheeljack and Windcharger are gone, blown away."

"And the shuttle? Ratchet? The others?" Hound asked faintly, realising Optimus' best chance lay with their CMO.

"Bluestreak and Huffer headed over to where it crashed when the battle started, but we've still heard nothing."

"Hound," Thundercracker shook his head. "I'm sorry. They… they fought bravely…"

"No, don't tell me you…" Hound shut his optics. "This war…"

"I should go." The blue seeker looked up at Springer. "This isn't the place for me."

"You're not going anywhere." Springer stepped closer to him, gun still aimed at his head.

"Agreed," Hound echoed. "Earth isn't Decepticon friendly, and until we can replace those symbols and you're fixed up you're better off here."

"What the slag are you going on about?" Springer snapped.

"Apparently I'm changing sides." Thundercracker jerked his head at Hound in explanation.

"I've had enough of worrying about his safety every time he goes back to them," the green scout glared at Springer, daring him to try and dispute it. "I'm not letting him this time."

"Worry about him?"

"Thundercracker and I have been together for years now. No one knew apart from Ratchet, Optimus Jazz and Mirage."

"And Soundwave," Thundercracker butted in.

"Soundwave knows?" Hound frowned at him but Springer didn't let them continue.

"I can tell why no one else knew." Springer's gun transferred to Hound. "You've been interfacing with a Con all this time. You're the one that should be shot."

"Hound's never done anything to betray you." The blue seeker suddenly straightened, some of the fire back in his optics. "I'll kill you before you touch him."

The gun went back to Thundercracker. The tension rose as both Hound and Thundercracker glared at Springer, neither willing to back down.

"Guys, cool it. This ain't the time." Blaster's voice suddenly said from behind Springer just before the red mech himself appeared.

"He's a pit born Decepticon and you saw what they did to Optimus!" Springer snarled.

"What Megatron did," Blaster corrected. "Yeah I saw, but this ain't no time to be adding to the body count."

"Thank you Blaster," Hound said softly.

The taller mech tilted his head at him. "Still don't explain what you're doing bring us a Con in though."

"This traitor's been fragging around with him." Springer lowered the gun so he could jab a digit at the appropriate mech as he spoke.

"Is that right?" Blaster asked.

Both Hound and Thundercracker nodded. Blaster shrugged. "What ya do in your own time ain't up to me. Let 'em in Springer, there's work to be done and Thundercracker ain't in no state to be throwing us a curve ball now."

The triple changer snorted derisively and turned away, heading across the ruined city to go find something to do. Blaster shrugged at Hound and Thundercracker before disappearing off as well, leaving the two alone. The seeker stared at the devastated city and really didn't want to go inside, not when he had been part of its downfall.

"Come on," Hound took a step forward, urging his wounded partner to do the same. "Let's see if we can find you a room."

It took the pair awhile but Hound found Thundercracker an empty and undamaged room. It looked like it had been empty for some time and was somewhat out of the way. The seeker wasn't going to complain about that one. The green mech drew himself from the others side, saying he had to go find Perceptor for Thundercracker. That left the seeker alone and that made him uncomfortable. He couldn't bring himself to lie down, but he perched himself on the edge of the berth, head hanging down, optics shuttered. His CPU was in turmoil and he just couldn't seem to organise his thoughts.

The blue mech wasn't alone for all that long, before he shifted uneasily when he heard footsteps coming his way but relaxed when Hound appeared in the doorway. Instantly he knew something was wrong. Hound's head hung low and his whole demeanour screamed sadness and loss. The seeker slid unsteadily off the berth and crossed to Hound's side, gently wrapping an arm around his shoulders. The green mech leaned into him.

"Optimus is gone." His voice was barely audible. "Everyone on the shuttle's dead. Prowl, Ratchet, Ironhide, Brawn…"

Thundercracker didn't know what to do. A cycle ago those mechs were his enemies, but now the mech that had saved his life, his lover of many years, was in mourning for them. He had to do something but this was beyond his experience. Uncertain, he put his other arm around Hound and the green mech clung to him, silent but shaking.

"I'm sorry," Thundercracker whispered to the top of the helm beneath his chin. "Really I am. I… This…Hound I don't know what to do. What do we do?"

"We keep going," he replied, head rising so he could meet the red optics. "You always keep going."

"Who's taking charge now?"

"Ultra Magnus. Optimus passed the Matrix to him for safe keeping." Hound looked down at the cockpit chest before him. "Come on, let's get you on that berth again. Perceptor is doing the rounds on the injured. The Dinobots are slightly worse off than you but you're next after that."

"Before all the other Autobots? Won't that cause trouble?" Thundercracker let Hound lead him back to the berth.

"You're one of us now." Hound studied him. "Or do you want to turn your back on all of this? No one will blame you."

Thundercracker looked away. "I don't know."

"That's ok." Hound ran his fingers lightly down his arm.

"He's right," a voice from the doorway told them. Both mechs looked up to see a battered looking Sunstreaker in the doorway. The yellow twin had a cracked windshield and one headfin was badly torn but he didn't seem to notice. "I overheard your little conversation. It takes some fragged up bravery to turn your back on your friends like that. Fighting them? Even more of a difficult decision."

Thundercracker was scowling at the intruding mech. "I would have thought you'd be laying into me already, not playing nice."

Sunstreaker regarded him with narrowed, but calm optics. "It's good to see you notice what nice looks like from me."

"You're not attempting to stick my nose cone in my after burner, anything else is nice." Thundercracker snorted.

"What do you want, Sunstreaker?" Hound asked, arms folding under his bumper.

"You really serious about switching sides?" The yellow mech's optics never left the blue seeker. "No Hound," he raised a hand when Hound opened his mouth to speak. "From him."

The blue seeker looked away for a moment and when he spoke, his voice was low. "These past few years, things have been getting worse amongst the Decepticons and it hasn't sat right with me. There's lots of things that have never been right to me, but I chose to be there, I wasn't going to run out on my choices, but then there was Hound." His red optics met the scout's blue ones. "He made it even harder not to turn my back on them. I wanted to kill Astrotrain that day…" He abruptly shook his head. "Hound stopped me leaving, and now it's done I could start again…"

"With him," Sunstreaker added.

The seeker nodded. "There would be little point without."

"So do you want to be an Autobot or not?" Sunstreaker bluntly questioned.

Thundercracker's head dropped as he regarded his own hands before he glanced sideways at his own wing and then up at the red symbol on Hound's shoulder. "Yes."

Without another word Sunstreaker dug a couple of things out of sub-space and approached the seeker. He handed a small pot and brush to Hound so he was just left with another bottle and a cloth.

"What are they for?" Thundercracker stared at them suspiciously.

"This is a paint stripper. I'm going to take those purple blemishes off your wings and then put Autobot symbols on." Sunstreaker replied.

"Oh." Thundercracker watched the yellow mech who, over many occasions, had used those hands of his to hurt him. The same hands were now firm but careful, just removing the Decepticon symbol and not the base blue beneath it.

It didn't take Sunstreaker long to remove the purple paint of one wing, back and front. Once he was done and he'd cleaned the last remnants of paint stripper away, the twin switched sides with Hound to start on the other side. Thundercracker shifted slightly, chest aching from holding one position for this long.

"Move and I'll rip your wings off."

The seeker blinked at Twin but wisely took his advice and didn't budge an inch. Not until Perceptor appeared in the doorway.

"I had heard a rumour that an injured Decepticon was present in our midst but until I had just laid my optics on such a mech, I had not believed it."

"Perceptor," Hound began. "Will you fix him?"

"Of course," the scientist nodded. "I can see he is serious about changing his allegiances, though I would suspect that Ultra Magnus would prefer that you did not emblazon him with the Autobot symbol until he has chance to discuss your commitment to our cause."

Sunstreaker shot the red mech a closed look but stepped away to give him access to the seeker. Thundercracker hesitated briefly before lying back on the berth. It was hard to just change everything ingrained into him and trust these mechs that a cycle ago he'd been ordered to kill. It helped to have Hound staying close by, though he'd never say that. The others didn't need to know that and Hound was already well aware that the seeker took comfort in his presence.

It didn't take Perceptor long to repair the damage to Thundercracker's chest and cockpit. There wasn't much circuitry to replace, and that was the major thing cause the seeker pain. The missing glass in the cockpit was easy to replace. They held spares because of the Aerialbots and one was simply retrofitted to the blue mech. Throughout the procedure everyone was quiet, bar Perceptor, until another explosion rocked the city.

"What the frag?" Sunstreaker glanced up at the ceiling as it rained bits down on them. Thundercracker shot upright on his berth.

"Decepticons!" Blaster's voice echoed over what was left of the tannoy. "Everyone to evacuate to the shuttles, bar skeleton crew!"

The yellow warrior scowled darkly, snatched his supplies off Hound, sub-spaced the lot and was out the door in an instant. Perceptor hurriedly gathered his possessions together before heading after Sunstreaker. Another blast rocked the room, making Hound reach out to steady himself against Thundercracker.

"Shouldn't we be evacuating?" The seeker asked, catching Hound's hand.

"No," Hound shook his head. "Along with Blaster and Sunstreaker I qualify for skeleton crew and it's safer for you, not going with the others. That, and I suspect the Decepticons will chase the shuttles rather than come through here."

"What you're saying is that I'm safer if they don't see me," Thundercracker returned evenly. "Even though I'm willing to fight for you now."

"Being willing and being forced into it so soon is a different matter," the green mech told him, optics dropping to the hand Thundercracker still hadn't let go of and smiling softly. "Missed this."

"You're such a sap."

"Says the mech holding my hand," Hound grinned.

"Going to do more than that," the blue flyer tugged on said hand, drawing Hound to him. The smaller mech went willingly, sighing into the kiss. Thundercracker had no intention of keeping it chaste though and Hound hissed as fingers dug into the wires hidden under his bumper. He returned the gesture by scratching down the edge of the seeker's wings, deliberately going over the Decepticon-less patches.

Another boom made Hound wrench his mouth away. "We really shouldn't be doing this now."

"Probably," the other mech agreed. "But are you really going to stop me?"

"Probably not… slagger," Hound murmured, resting his head against Thundercracker's. "How come you, and only you, can make me neglect my duties?"

"I'm a wicked Decepticon remember?" Thundercracker teased.

"That's not going to work anymore," the scout chuckled.

"Oh I suspect it will," the seeker disagreed, fingers running down the length of his partner's back.

"Stop cheating." Hound shuttered his optics.

Another explosion had them both looking back up and Thundercracker snorted. "I suppose we should wait. We won't get any peace with that lot outside."

The green mech shook his head in exasperation. "Let's go find Blaster and work out what we're doing."

"We? I thought I was just going to sit on my aft and 'recover'."

"Yeah, good luck with that." Hound dragged him off the berth. "No slacking allowed."

"I'm only doing this so I can watch you work, make inappropriate comments and wind you up," Thundercracker told him.

"Wonderful." The green mech shot him a look before he smiled. "I'll just be thinking of all the things I've missed doing to you and with you instead."

The seeker paused in his steps before hurriedly catching Hound up who hadn't stopped walking. "I take it back. That's a much better idea."

Hound laughed, one of the first times in years, and caught Thundercracker's hand in his, making the seeker shake his head like he was disgusted with the act. The green mech knew better. The blue flyer was mostly pretence and he suspected he'd stay that way, but Hound didn't care, he'd seen under it all a long time ago and it was almost like that made Hound special. He was the only one that had seen it.

Hound did let go when they found Blaster though. The communications mech may have been indifferent about their relationship earlier, but that didn't mean now was the time to blatantly remind him of it. The red mech was busily trying to repair a station on one side of a room that was missing most of its ceiling and one wall.

"Blaster." Hound crossed to his side. "What do you want us to do?"

"I'm trying to repair communications best I can." Blaster glanced up at Hound. "Sunstreaker's working on any guns that are salvageable, which ain't many. Take ya pick which ya wanna try."

Hound was just about to open his mouth to reply when Blaster's comm blared into life.

'Bluestreak to Blaster!'

'Blue!' Blaster's head shot up. 'Been worried 'bout ya. Ya alright?'

'Taking heavy fire out here and Huffer's hurt!' The young gunner's voice was bordering on panic. 'I can't get him safe! Blaster what do I do?'

'Calm down Blue. I'm sending out someone. Gimme your co-ordinates.'

As the three of them listened to Bluestreak babble out his position the two ground mechs frowned but didn't say anything to Bluestreak other than further reassurance.

"That's too far," Hound shook his head. "It's too open. We couldn't get close enough."

"You can't maybe," Thundercracker retorted.

"What?" Blaster frowned up at him.

"Tell him not to shoot me and I can give him some aerial backup." The seeker jerked his head at the open sky they could all see. "I'll get there in a fraction of the time it'd take you and I've got the skills to match the Decepticons in the air."

Blaster glanced at Hound, seeking reassurance that Thundercracker was as good as his word. Hound nodded but turned to Thundercracker.

"You sure?" The blue flyer nodded and Hound shifted uncomfortably. "Be safe ok?"

Thundercracker placed a hand on the green chest, over Hound's spark, and met his optics. "I promise."

Then he stepped away, launching himself up through the missing ceiling and transforming as soon as he was clear. The blue seeker let out his trademark boom as an act of defiance and because he still stood by the idea of never sneaking up on a fight. Hound watched him until he disappeared and Blaster opened up his comm to Bluestreak.

'Bluestreak. Backup's on the way, but don't shoot him.'

'What? Why would I shoot him? Who are you sending?'

'It's Thundercracker. He's on our side now.' Blaster almost sounded apologetic.

'What?' Bluestreak's voice was faint in shock.

'Bluestreak, this is Hound. It's ok. I'll explain later but I promise he's trustworthy.'

'If you say so.' Bluestreak ended the comm with a dubious tone to his voice.

"Ya putting a lot of faith in him," the red mech commented with out inflection, which was enough to show his worry.

"When he gives his word he keeps it," Hound replied, optics darting between where he'd last seen Thundercracker and Blaster.

"There's a dish up top, needs repairing if this console's gonna work," Blaster jerked his thumb upwards. "Good view of the mountains too."

Hound flashed the communications officer a grateful smile. "On my way. Thanks Blaster."

With that Hound took off a sprint, moving as fast as he could down the corridor and to the upper levels of the base. Occasionally he was forced to go another route when blast away debris blocked his path, but he got out onto the roof barely three kliks later. He paused in the doorway, checking the skies for Decepticons, before he moved across to the edge of the roof, noting the dish hanging by a few wires. Hound activated a hologram that just made him look like another part of the structure as he knelt down. The scout wasn't a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but they all knew how to repair a lot of different structures and circuitry now. Necessity in the midst of war.

It took all the force of will Hound had to finish reattaching the dish before he started scanning for Thundercracker, occasionally freezing in place as a jet screamed by overhead. Summoning up his holographic projector he made an image of what his scanners could pick out, gradually narrowing down the area of his scanners. The display lit up the rooftop, detailing a mountain and then Hound found Bluestreak, hunkered down in a narrow crack in the rock face, Huffer jammed in behind him.

Thundercracker took him a little longer to find, only because tracking moving targets was harder. That he was moving was a good sign and Hound found the seeker gracefully sweeping through the air, far out manoeuvring his enemies, but apart from a few a few glancing shots across their noses he seemed like he was just drawing their fire from the Autobots on the ground. The Decepticons seemed annoyed by his presence and it was distracting them from Bluestreak who was more than willing to pick off any Decepticon who got in his sights.

Abruptly the air was filled with a rumbling sound and Hound glanced to his left to see the shuttles taking off. The larger targets drew all the Decepticons, leaving the three alone in the mountains. Thundercracker circled Bluestreak's position for a klik and Hound wondered if he was grateful he no longer had to fight the Decepticons, but then had to admit surprise when the seeker landed right next to the two ground Autobots. His sensors told him Thundercracker was helping pull Huffer from the safety of the cliff crack and then his comms flared into life.

'He's not that badly hurt, not if he can find the energy to complain like this!' Thundercracker's tone indicated his disgust.

'That's Huffer alright. Can Blue bring him back by himself then?'

'He says so, but I think I just make him nervous.'

'Come back to me then.'

'You know I will.'

Hound smiled softly, shutting down his display. He knew his friends aboard the shuttles were still in danger and that he should be mourning the loss of so many today, but the mech he loved was finally safer than he'd ever been in years and they could actually, publicly, visibly be together now. The green mech had been waiting years to be able to show the seeker it didn't matter what the others said, but had held back because of the issue over Thundercracker's safety amongst the Decepticons.

The blue jet appeared on the horizon, rapidly growing larger and he barely slowed as he transformed to land on the roof next to Hound. Rapidly the smaller mech checked him over for injuries, and finding none let go of the tension he'd been holding inside since Thundercracker had flown away from him. The seeker let Hound inspect him for a moment before pulling him flush to his chest, feeling the other mech arms wrap around him tightly.

"How long have we waited for this?" Hound whispered.

"Too slagging long and you know what?"

"What?" Hound blinked his optics questioningly.

"I missed you," Thundercracker told him before pressing his lips to Hound's, almost forcefully. Hound opened his mouth willingly to the glossa demanding entrance and didn't stop the seeker. How could he when he'd missed this more than he'd ever thought possible? The kiss continued until both could hear the others intakes increase their cycling and Thundercracker broke away with a growl, optics glowing brightly. Hound knew what was coming.

"Inside, come on."

"You really want to wait that long?" The seeker playfully nipped at one audio.

"No," Hound groaned. "But if we find a room we can lock the door and ignore everyone for at least a day."

"Hmm, I think an orn would be better." Thundercracker didn't let go of Hound when he started walking, forcing the other mech to step back, trusting him not to walk him into the nearest wall, even though that wouldn't be beyond the seeker, because he did like Hound pinned against walls…

"Room's also have walls," Hound warned, noting the wandering optics.

The seeker relented, continuing onwards into the base and the nearest room he could find. The door slid shut behind them and Hound fumbled it locked, trying to remember his code whilst Thundercracker pressed him to the wall and did things to his headlights and bumper that hadn't been done in years. His breath hitched nosily as his lover nibbled down the side of his neck cables and he closed his hands over blue shoulders as he hung on. Hound couldn't stop the frustrated little whine that escaped him when Thundercracker stopped to stare at him.

"You know, over all these years, I've had too many fantasies about this." One finger stroked a sensor cluster buried under Hound's bumper, gaining Thundercracker a moan. "I don't think you can keep up with me."

Hound unshuttered his optics then, optics blazing. "Oh shut up and frag me already. I don't think any of your fantasies or mine had you talking this much."

"Oh maybe one or two," Thundercracker smiled.

Hound growled, digging his own fingers into sensitive seams to haul Thundercracker's face in closer to his so their noseplates were pressed together. "Shut up!"

"Make me."

The green mech kissed him then, hard and desperate and Thundercracker could feel his energy field flare in impatience and desire. He let it cover him and drag him under. It had been too long and Hound was right, talking was a stupid thing to be using his mouth for right now, not now he had his lover in his arms again. He felt like he'd come home and Thundercracker didn't feel scared by that, not anymore, because if home felt this good then the rest of the universe be fragged, Thundercracker wasn't letting it get away from him any longer.