Precipitous
Part 10-Declaration
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Hot Rod walked down the corridor to his quarters, hoping he could make it without any interruptions, like Arcee. Or at the moment, the big green mountain of metal coming his way.
"I hear you rearranged some of the geology out there," Springer said.
"I had help," Hot Rod said, shouldering past Springer's bigger bulk.
"Yeah, I know," Springer said, keeping pace with Hot Rod. "What is Prime gonna do with dumb and dumber?"
"Keep them here and turn them over to Ironhide," Hot Rod said.
"I wonder if he'll let me help?" Springer said, suddenly grinning.
"If it involves those two and a live fire exercise, count me in," Hot Rod said. "But for now, I'd settle for some recharge."
"Didn't rest on the flight?" Springer asked.
"Hardly," Hot Rod said.
"Why not? A long flight is a good way to catch up on recharge," Springer said.
Hot Rod frowned up at his friend.
"For you maybe, but I had to listen to Lennox talk about how much trouble we're in for knocking down a rock, and once he fell asleep, Optimus started in on me," Hot Rod said.
"Not a good trip home then," Springer said. "Well, I'll leave you to it then. Think I'm gonna go see Ironhide."
Springer clapped him on the shoulder, started in the direction of Ironhide's quarters. Hot Rod watched him go. At least someone was happy.
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Hot Rod ignored his internal comm exactly 15 minutes before the door to his quarters chimed. He rolled off the berth, walked over, hit the door release. In walked Optimus Prime.
"I've been trying to. . ."
"I know you've been trying to reach me. What do you want?" Hot Rod asked.
"You should have been at the morning teleconference," Optimus said.
"Seems to me you always do just fine on your own," Hot Rod snapped. "You woke me up just to tell me that?"
"I'm in no mood this morning for your insolence," Optimus said. "Why can't you just. . ."
Hot Rod frowned.
"What, be more like you?" he asked.
"That's not what I was going to say," Optimus said.
"But you were thinking it, weren't you?" Hot Rod said.
"I would never presume. . ." Optimus said.
"Stow it," Hot Rod said. "I don't want an apology."
"Then what do you want?" Optimus said.
"A few hours of uninterrupted recharge would be nice for a change," Hot Rod said. "But even that's been impossible the past few months."
Optimus sighed.
"The offer to use my quarters still stands," he said.
"Doesn't make a difference," Hot Rod said. "There's always an interruption of some kind, something needing the attention of a Prime."
"Welcome to my world," Optimus said, giving Hot Rod a wry smile.
Some of the fight went out of Rodimus, Optimus noticed.
"How do you deal with it?" Hot Rod asked, sitting down on the edge of his berth. Optimus joined him.
"By never forgetting that others depend on me, look to me for guidance, that I must set the best example I possibly can," Optimus said.
"That's not an answer," Hot Rod said. "Because you're not perfect. No one is."
"How well I know," Optimus said. "Truthfully, I seek out the company of those I care for most, like Ironhide, or Ratchet or Jazz. Or I take solace in the rare moments I have to myself."
"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Hot Rod asked.
"No, it wasn't," Optimus said, placing a hand on Hot Rod's shoulder.
Hot Rod flinched, pulling away.
"What is it?" Optimus said.
"Sore is all," Hot Rod said. "Skids got in a lucky shot or two last night, and I decided I'd wait to have Ratchet take a look."
"That wasn't very wise," Optimus said. "May I have a look?"
Hot Rod nodded, tried to not pull away as gentle hands probed at his injured shoulder.
"Relax," Optimus said. "Being tense is only going to make it worse, but it doesn't appear the damage is severe."
Hot Rod didn't get a chance to say more as Optimus' hands moved from his shoulder to his back, rubbing his back struts, deft fingers caressing seams in his armor. The younger Prime was suddenly very aware of how close he was to initiating very inappropriate behavior with the Autobot leader.
"I think you should go," Hot Rod finally managed. "I'm sure you have things you need to do, and I need to get my shoulder looked at. . ."
Optimus stopped.
"I only thought to offer a measure of comfort and companionship," Optimus said. "You have been tense lately, and I apologize for 'riding you so hard,' as Ironhide put it. I thought you might be open to. . ."
"To what?" Hot Rod asked.
"Ironhide has been rather insistent that you've shown an interest. . .but I believe he was mistaken," Optimus said. "And for that, I also apologize."
"Don't," Hot Rod said. "Don't apologize. Because Ironhide isn't wrong."
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