Thanks for all the support!
Units of time as I use them:
Astrosecond= .273 seconds
Klik= 1 minute
Joor= 3 hours
Cycle= 1 day
Breem= 1 week
Groon= 1 month
Stellar cycle= year
Meta cycle= 5 years
Deca cycle= 10 years
Orn= century
Vorn= 5 centuries
:underline:- spark twnins talking
:bold:- bonded mechs talking
:italics:- comm link
Don't own Transformers!
Chapter 11
Wheeljack had been working on another one of his inventions. He had finally stopped making toys for the sparklings considering the fact that he had made more than enough to keep the sparklings occupied for a very a long time. He had chosen to go back to his inventions. He was busy working on the wiring of the latest one when he felt wild emotions slam into him through the twin bond he shared with Ratchet.
Wheeljack gasped as he dropped the tool in his hand as his hand instantly went to his chest, resting over his spark chamber. He could feel Ratchet's pain, Ratchet's sorrow, Ratchet's anger, and Ratchet's feeling of worthlessness.
Worried, Wheeljack jumped up from the table he had been at and headed out the door. He didn't bother stopping to talk to any of the mechs who he passed on his way to Ratchet's quarters nor did he pay much attention to the humans, just enough so that he didn't end up stepping on them. He made it to Ratchet's quarters in record time. He didn't bother knocking. He simply walked into the medic's quarters.
Ratchet was still sitting in front of the table with his face in his hands, sobbing. The force of the sobs made his frame shake violently.
Instantly, Wheeljack shut the door before he walked over to Ratchet at a fast pace. He knelt down by his brother before he wrapped his arms around Ratchet and pulled his brother close to him in an act of comfort.
Ratchet didn't respond much. He merely turned to face Wheeljack and held on to him.
Wheeljack held his brother as Ratchet buried his face into the crook of Wheeljack's neck and continued sobbing. :Easy, Ratchet. I'm right here. It's all right. Just let it out.: Wheeljack couldn't imagine what had happened to make Ratchet this upset, but he was going to do his best to calm the medic down.
Ratchet couldn't handle all of the grief that he had felt or the feeling of complete worthlessness that he felt, and it had just made him break down. He knew that he wasn't worth the time of the Weapon's Specialist much less the Prime. They didn't need to waste their time on someone that Ratchet knew they would find that they did not want. Ratchet's spark couldn't handle letting someone else in so that they could just end up breaking his spark, even if it wasn't their intention to start with.
Wheeljack continued to hold Ratchet while he whispered soothing words over their twin bond. He gently ran his hand up and down Ratchet's back in an attempt to calm the medic down.
Wheeljack had known his brother for a long time, and it was very rare that he had ever seen his brother break down like this. For that to have happened three times in a matter of a month scared the scientist to the core. He didn't know what had happened to make his brother break down like that, but he was determined to make Ratchet talk to him about it. He didn't like it when anything happened to upset his brother, so he definately wasn't thrilled with the fact that his brother was currently in the middle of an emotional meltdown. Wheeljack just hoped that whatever had happened wasn't too devastating.
Finally, Ratchet started to calm down. He still felt like he wasn't worth anyone's time, but at least he had had his brother to be here for him. His brother was the only one that had never hurt him. He knew that he could let his defenses down with Wheeljack and that Wheeljack would never take advantage of him in a weakened state. He knew that Wheeljack wouldn't think any less of him either. Wheeljack was the only one that Ratchet could say that he could trust his deepest, darkest secrets with. It was why he was able to break down in front of Wheeljack like this instead of exploding in a shouting fit like he would have had it been any other mech or femme that had been around him at the time.
Wheeljack continued to just hold his brother for a few moments. He hadn't felt Ratchet's urge to get away from the close contact nor had Ratchet made a move to get out of his grasp, so the scientist decided that he would continue to hold Ratchet. The only thing he could figure was that his brother needed the comfort at this moment, and Wheeljack was more than willing to give it to him.
Sometimes, Ratchet hated that his brother saw him like this. He hated throwing all of his problems off on Wheeljack. He felt like all he did was throw his problems at his brother and didn't tell his brother anything good. It made him feel horrible at times. There were others that Ratchet had been known to go to with some of his problems before, namely Optimus or Ironhide. But this wasn't one of the times that he could go to Ironhide, considering the fact that Ironhide was part of the problem, and he most certainly couldn't contact Optimus and talk about this with him.
Wheeljack had waited a few moments. He had felt Ratchet's guilt and knew that the medic didn't like throwing all of his problems off on him, not that the scientist minded. He'd rather Ratchet talk to him about his problems over Ratchet keeping everything buried and ending up keeping everything buried so much that he finally exploded and let everyone pay the price for his problems. "Ratchet, what happened?"
Ratchet hesitated a moment. Should he tell Wheeljack what happened? Should he let him know that Ironhide had kissed him? That he had kissed the black mech back? Should he tell Wheeljack that he pushed Ironhide away and his reason why? Ratchet wasn't sure that Wheeljack needed to know everything that had just happened, but he was here and the inventor knew that something had upset him.
"Ratch, don't bury it. Let it out and talk to me. Even if I can't help, it'll help you just to get it off your spark. Besides, you don't need to be too stressed out since you are carrying." Wheeljack told him.
Ratchet sighed before he pulled away from his brother and leaned back against the table. "Ironhide was here earlier."
"What did he do to make you upset?" Wheeljack asked.
Ratchet hesitated a moment before he answered. "He kissed me."
Wheeljack was shocked. He had not thought that the Weapon's Specialist would do something of that nature. Then Wheeljack remembered what Ratchet had said about learning that Optimus and Ironhide were in love with him. Maybe that was Ironhide acted on his feelings.
"I kissed him back." Ratchet added.
Wheeljack's optics widened. He had never thought that his brother would kiss Ironhide back. He had expected that Ratchet would have thrown a punch at Ironhide over kissing him back.
Ratchet shuttered his optics. "And I pushed him away once my logic circuits took back over."
Wheeljack let out a vent of air. "And you broke down why?"
Ratchet sighed as he leaned his head back. "Wheeljack, if Optimus and Ironhide want to have another bondmate that's fine, but they don't need to waste their time on me. I'm not worth it."
Wheeljack groaned. He hated how little his brother thought of himself as a mate. Wheeljack knew that Ratchet would make a good bondmate. He knew that Ratchet would be true to his mate, would make sure his mate was taken care of, and would be good to them. "Ratchet, you're worth more than you think."
"No. I'm not. Those two deserve so much better than me. I don't know why they would want to waste their time on someone like me." Ratchet said.
"Listen, Ratchet. I know how you view yourself, and you just don't give yourself enough credit. You are worth a lot more than you let yourself believe. Ratchet, I know better than anyone how good of a bondmate you would be to someone." Wheeljack informed him.
"'Jack, how could they want me? I am old, grouchy, temperamental, I spend as much time giving my patients injuries as I spend fixing injuries, I rarely control my temper, and I am not affectionate at all. What could they possibly see in me?" Ratchet asked.
"Ask them." Wheeljack told him.
Ratchet looked away. "I can't."
Wheeljack reached over and placed a hand on Ratchet's shoulder. "Ratchet, Optimus and Ironhide have known you for a long time, and I admit that you are old. So am I. We're twins, remember? But Optimus and Ironhide are not younglings, either. They're old enough to know what they want, and you are obviously what they want. Why should you question why they want you?" Wheeljack asked.
"I just do. I don't see why they should waste their time when I know that they're not going to want me for long." Ratchet said.
"You don't know that." Wheeljack countered.
"'Jack, please don't." Ratchet hardly wanted another lecture from his spark twin on his view of himself. He wouldn't change his mind on that fact, so Ratchet didn't know why he continued to try.
Wheeljack was silent a moment. "Makeshift was wrong, Ratchet. You shouldn't listen to what that lowlife said to you. Optimus and Ironhide know what they want, and it must be you. I won't say anything more on this, though."
"Thanks, 'Jack." Ratchet murmured.
Wheeljack nodded. He then moved to stand up. He was surprised when Ratchet reached out and took a hold of his wrist. "Ratchet?" Wheeljack questioned, looking at his brother.
Ratchet looked at Wheeljack. He hesitated for a moment before he spoke. "Could you stay for a little while? I-I don't want to be alone right now."
Wheeljack was more than a little shocked. He had never had his brother ask him to do this before, but he wasn't about to say no. "Of course, Ratchet." Wheeljack helped his brother to his feet before he led Ratchet over to the berth.
Ratchet knew his brother wanted him to lie down on the berth, so Ratchet did so, surprised at how tired he just realized he was.
Wheeljack then joined his brother, wrapping his arms around him. "I'm here, Ratchet."
Ratchet needed that reassurance at the moment. He reached up and held on to one of Wheeljack's hands as he slipped into recharge.
Wheeljack watched his brother for a moment. This situation just seemed to go from one problem to the next. He didn't know how he was going to deal with this, but he was going to have to do something. He hated seeing his brother in such pain, but he wasn't sure what to do. He could talk to Optimus and Ironhide about all this, but that would betray his brother's confidence, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Besides, Ratchet would take a laser welder to him and not stop until Wheeljack was nothing but nuts and bolts. He wasn't having much luck on convincing Ratchet of everything, though. Maybe talking to the Prime and Weapon's Specialist was the only way, even if it resulted in his murder.
:'Jack, are you all right?:
Wheeljack had been so lost in his thoughts and his worry over Ratchet that he hadn't even realized how long he had been gone from his lab. :Yeah. I'm fine, Sky.: Wheeljack answered.
:Where are you? It's not like you not to be in your lab, and when you aren't here, you usually put your inventions up.: Skyfire told him.
:I'm sorry, Sky. Ratchet got really upset. I could feel how bad over our bond, so I came to his quarters as fast I could.: Wheeljack explained.
:Is he all right?: Skyfire asked, a tinge of worry to his voice.
:Honestly, I don't know. In the last month, I know that Ratchet has had three emotional meltdowns, and I don't like it at all. I'm still here with him. He didn't want to be alone, so I'm staying here for a bit.: Wheeljack told him.
:Okay. Take care of him.: Skyfire said.
:I will, Sky. Don't worry about that.: Wheeljack assured him. He then cut the bond. He glanced at his recharging brother.
Something had to be done. He didn't want his brother to have to deal with all of this anymore. Wheeljack knew that Ratchet needed someone, and Wheeljack was going to have to take steps to make sure that happened. Even if it meant talking to Optimus and Ironhide about all of this.
Ironhide paced his quarters anxiously. He had considered contacting Optimus and telling him what had happened, but he scratched that plan. There was no need in upsetting Optimus while he was gone. Besides, considering the fact that Ironhide was most likely going to get yelled at for his stupidity, Ironhide figured that he might as well give his bondmate the satisfaction of staring at his face as he yelled.
Ironhide just couldn't understand Ratchet. He didn't understand why Ratchet would think that the two of them deserved someone better than him. There was no one better for them than Ratchet. Ratchet was an attractive, honest, upfront, and compassionate mech. The two had fallen for him because of the way he acted, and that was what they wanted. He was perfect for the two of them.
It bothered Ironhide that that had happened. He couldn't imagine what might have happened to make the medic think such insane thoughts. The Weapon's Specialist loved Ratchet with all his spark and nothing would change that. The medic was exactly what Optimus and Ironhide wanted, and there was nothing that was going to change their minds on that matter.
Ironhide was also worried about Ratchet. He knew that Ratchet had been terribly upset by what had happened, and he was worried about him. He hadn't meant to upset Ratchet, especially considering the fact that Ratchet was carrying.
Ironhide stopped pacing as he collapsed onto the couch in the room. All Optimus and Ironhide had wanted since shortly after they bonded was for Ratchet to be with them. The two had come to the realization together that they wanted Ratchet to be with them, not just as a lover but as a fellow bondmate. They wanted Ratchet to be with them permanently. It had been something that they had wanted for a long time, but they had not been willing to do anything about it because they feared Ratchet's reaction to anything of the sort. They hadn't been sure of Ratchet's feelings, so they had said nothing.
With the fact that Ratchet was now sparked by them, Ironhide had thought that it might be just a bit easier to get him to see how they felt about him, but he was starting to see that that just wasn't the case. Ironhide wasn't sure if the main problem was the fact that Ratchet didn't have feelings for them or if it was because of the fact that Ratchet did not think that he deserved them. That was far from the truth. Ironhide knew that. He knew that Ratchet was more than they deserved, and it was the medic that they wanted so much.
Optimus might have an idea on what to do. After he got through yelling at Ironhide for doing something so moronic. The Prime always seemed to know what to do in difficult situations, so Ironhide hoped that the Prime would have an idea of what to do this time around. Because he was coming up with nothing.
Optimus was on the carrier with Lennox and Sam as they headed back for Diego Garcia. Everything with the President had gone much better than the things that Optimus had imagined, and he was pleased with how everything had turned out. He was glad that the liaisons he would have to deal with now were Sam and Lennox, which meant that he was going to have an easier time. Neither of them would do anything that would end up hurting the Autobots in any way. It was a great relief to the Autobot leader to not have to deal with the constant processor aches he got from dealing with liaisons like Mearing and Galloway.
Now, Optimus just wanted to get back to Diego Garcia so that he could talk to Ironhide about Ratchet. He was hoping that the two could talk to Ratchet about how they feel about him before too much more time passed. It was one of the first things that the Autobot leader wanted to do.
Optimus was an older mech. The only mechs on the base that were older than him were Ratchet, Wheeljack, and Ironhide. However, despite the fact that he was an older mech, Optimus couldn't help but feel excited like a sparkling. He was hoping that everything would work out for him and Ironhide. Everything would be perfect if Ratchet would just agree to be in a relationship with them.
Trying to get his processors off of everything, Optimus turned his attention to the conversation that Lennox and Sam were having.
"I don't have a first clue where to start." Sam told the colonel.
"Well, my advice is to start by looking over everything that Mearing and Galloway had. I'll tell you that that's a lot of work. But you'll be better off for already knowing what they have in their files." Lennox told him.
"Okay. I'll start there then." Sam agreed.
"And don't act the way Mearing and Galloway did." Lennox added.
"If I tried anything that they did, I already know that Ironhide would have his cannons pointed at me with the threat of firing. Sometimes, I can't help but wonder if he really would fire." Sam stated.
"With 'Hide, you never know." Lennox replied.
Optimus had to admit that that was true. He sometimes wondered if his bondmate would follow through on his threat to fire at the humans. It was something that the Prime hoped he would never find out.
Ironhide had heard that Optimus had returned with Sam and Lennox. Normally, the Weapon's Specialist would have gone to meet his bondmate, but he knew that Optimus could read him like a datapad. The Prime would notice that something was upsetting the Weapon's Specialist, which would lead to a talk about what was on his processors, and they didn't need to get into a shouting match about this in front of others.
Ironhide was nervously pacing his quarters as he waited for the Prime to come to their quarters. He knew that what he had done was really stupid, and he knew that Optimus wasn't going to be happy with him, but the Weapon's Specialist knew that he had to tell Optimus what Ratchet had said so that he would know what they were up against where Ratchet was concerned. He just hoped that Optimus would be somewhat rational about what had happened.
The door to their quarters opened, and Ironhide knew that Optimus was returned.
Optimus walked into his quarters. He was a bit surprised at the fact that Ironhide hadn't come out to greet him the way he normally did. It made the Prime wonder if there was something wrong, but there didn't appear to be anything wrong with the black mech, and Optimus was sure that if something was going on with Ratchet, Ironhide would be there with him. "Is there something wrong, Ironhide?"
Ironhide turned to face Optimus.
Optimus immediately noticed that something was bothering the Weapon's Specialist. "Ironhide, what is it? What happened?"
"Before I tell, you please remember that I did not do anything with the intention of causing all of this." Ironhide told him.
Optimus raised an optic ridge. "Just what are you talking about, 'Hide?"
Ironhide vented air before he told started. "I was keeping an optic on Ratchet while you were gone. I had the day off, and I suppose my protectiveness of him drove me to keep a closer optic on him. Ratchet called it stalking, actually."
Optimus could see Ironhide becoming like that, and he could also see Ratchet getting annoyed by that kind of behavior.
"Well, yesterday evening, I went to check on him, and he pretty much told me that I had to have other things to do than stalk him. I stayed there and talked to him for a few moments. In any case, I got lost in the moment, and I kissed him." Ironhide told him.
Optimus was quiet for a few moments before he exploded. "Are you out of your fragging processors, Ironhide! You should have known better than to just kiss someone like Ratchet like that! It's a miracle that he didn't rip you into shreds!"
Ironhide raised a finger. "There's a bit more."
Optimus couldn't imagine that this could get any worse.
"He kissed me back."
Optimus was shocked at hearing that.
"And then he pushed me away."
That was more like the Ratchet that Optimus knew.
"And he started blabbering about how sorry he was despite the fact that I was the one who kissed him first."
That didn't make any sense to the Prime. There was no reason for Ratchet to be sorry about something that Ironhide had initiated.
"Orion, when he started babbling about that, I told him that we were both in love with him." Ironhide said.
"Ironhide, how could you!" Optimus growled. He was normally calm and composed but not with something like this. "This was something that we were going to do together! And carefully! You know how Ratchet can be!"
"I know, but I haven't even told you the worst part." Ironhide said.
Optimus groaned. "Hide, what could you have possibly done to make this any worse? You did everything that could have made this all that much harder!"
"He didn't actually say no." Ironhide said.
Now that certainly caught the Prime's attention as he looked at the Weapon's Specialist in shock. Ratchet hadn't said no? "What did he say then?" Optimus asked.
"Well, that was the part that worried. He told me that if we wanted another bondmate, we deserved someone better than him." Ironhide said.
Optimus looked shocked and then angry.
Ironhide had only seen Optimus completely enraged a few times, and it was enough to make the Weapon's Specialist take a step back away from the Prime. "Orion, those were his words, not mine. You know that I don't think that. I would never think something like that about Ratchet."
"Why does he think that?" Optimus asked, his voice a bit strained.
"I don't have a clue. After that, he asked me to leave. I could tell that he was upset, and I didn't want to leave him like that, but I was afraid that if I did stay, it would make things worse. I do know not long after I left Wheeljack went there." Ironhide said.
Optimus fought against the rising anger that he felt. He wanted nothing more than to find out who had done what to Ratchet to make Ratchet feel this way. Ratchet did deserve them. He deserved more than them. And Optimus wanted to know who had hurt Ratchet so badly that Ratchet would think something like that.
But Optimus had to think of something else at the moment. He had to think of Ratchet. He knew that this had to have upset Ratchet, but he was glad that Wheeljack had been there for him. It meant that Ratchet hadn't had to deal with this alone.
"I'm really sorry about all of this, Orion. I never meant for this to happen. I don't know what I was thinking yesterday." Ironhide said.
Optimus rubbed the back of his helm. "I know, Ironhide. This is just going to be more difficult than we originally thought it would. I thought Ratchet would try to convince us that we were wrong in the way we felt. I didn't think that Ratchet would feel that way."
"So, we're stuck." Ironhide stated.
Optimus sighed. "For now, yes."
Ratchet was sitting on his berth reading a datapad. Or he was trying to anyway. He couldn't focus on what was written on the datapad, and he had been trying to read it for the last joor. With a sigh, Ratchet set the datapad on the table by the berth, finally coming to the conclusion that his processors were not going to let him focus on the datapad any time soon.
Instead, Ratchet's processors were on what had happened with Ironhide the night before. He couldn't stop thinking about the kiss or the fact that that one simple action had aroused feelings in him that he had not felt in a long, long time.
Ratchet buried his face in his hands. What was wrong with him? He had sworn a long time ago that he would never get into another relationship. He swore that he would remain single for the rest of his existence. He could survive the loneliness. Couldn't he?
Ratchet once thought that he could handle being alone for the rest of his existence. He wasn't a very affectionate mech with anyone, so it's not like anyone would care. He didn't show affection for his friends or even his own brother. His greatest show of emotions was his anger or irritation when he worked in his medbay. He didn't show any other emotion.
So why was it he couldn't stop thinking about the kiss with Ironhide? Why couldn't he get those feelings the kiss had ignited out of his processors? Why was it that he wanted Ironhide to come back? Why was it that he wanted to feel Ironhide's arms wrapped around him again? Why was it that he was starting to wonder what it would be like to kiss Optimus? Why did he want to experience the feeling of Optimus's arms around him?
Primus! Was he considering that he might have feelings beyond those of friendship for the two? Was he actually considering breaking his own rule of no more relationships and taking a risk on Optimus and Ironhide? Was he willing to risk having his spark trampled on again for them?
Ratchet was beyond confused and had the overwhelming urge to throw something.
:You're brooding, Ratch.: Wheeljack said over their twin bond.
Ratchet sighed aloud. :Eavesdropping on my emotions again, 'Jack?:
:Well, considering how you broke down last night, I've been worried. Thought I'd keep an eye on your emotions since I'm sure that you don't want to see Ironhide right now.: Wheeljack replied.
Ratchet sighed again. :You don't have to mention that.:
:Come on, Ratch. I don't see you break down much, and you've had three breakdowns in a matter of a month. That worries me. Especially considering the emotions you're feeling.: Wheeljack stated.
Ratchet growled. :You don't see me eavesdropping on your emotions, so stop eavesdropping on mine!:
:Just worried. Besides, not sure you'd want to eavesdrop on my emotions. Especially when Skyfire and I are in the middle of interfacing.: Wheeljack teased.
:Oh, can it, 'Jack. And stop eavesdropping on my emotions!: Ratchet snarled before he forcefully shut the link between him and Wheeljack.
"Are you sure that this is a smart idea, Wheeljack?" Skyfire looked at his bondmate in concern. He could understand that Wheeljack thought this was the right course of action, and Skyfire knew that his mate just wanted to help Ratchet.
But Ratchet was not someone you wanted to piss off because he could easily mangle someone. And he just might do that to Wheeljack for this one.
Wheeljack sighed. "I know that this is going to endanger my health, Sky. You don't have to tell me that one, but I think Optimus and Ironhide need to know this so that they can understand why Ratchet reacted the way he did to Ironhide and why he's going to fight them on a relationship."
"You said yourself that Ratchet is considering it." Skyfire said.
"Not considering a relationship. Considering the fact that maybe he has deeper feelings for them. Acknowledging those feelings and considering a relationship with Ironhide and Optimus are two completely different things. With Ratchet, at least." Wheeljack said.
Skyfire sighed. "I just don't want to see you get hurt. Or see Ratchet hurt, and both of those things are very possible with what you want to do."
"I know, Sky, but I think that this is the only thing that I can do. I won't watch Ratchet throw away the chance at a good relationship with those two because of his fears. I can't let what happened in the past stop Ratchet from being happy." Wheeljack said.
"What did happen?" Skyfire asked.
"I'll tell you after I tell Optimus and Ironhide. I need to go tell them now before I chicken out from the fear of what Ratchet plans to do to me for this." Wheeljack answered before he turned and left.
Skyfire sighed and prayed to Primus that Ratchet wouldn't end up killing Wheeljack for this.
Optimus had been considering various ways that they might approach Ratchet, but he hadn't come up with any good ones. He wasn't sure what had happened to make Ratchet think these things, so he wasn't sure what he should do to alleviate those fears in Ratchet. Every possible plan he had come up with he threw out just as fast because of Ratchet's temperament. He didn't want to end up dead before he was able to see his sparkling born.
Ironhide had been watching his bondmate as patiently as he could, but Ironhide, who was not known for his patience, had finally gotten sick of it. "Oh, for Primus' sake, Orion! How long can it take to figure out how to approach one mech!"
Optimus turned his optics to his bondmate. "Think about the mech that we are trying to approach, Ironhide. This is Ratchet, and if we approach this in the wrong way, we could end up making the situation worse and end up dead."
Ironhide thought about that and grimaced. "Talk about a painful way to die. I think even Megatron would be more merciful than Ratchet would be."
"Exactly. I'm trying to think of a way to do this that won't enrage Ratchet or send him into an emotional breakdown." Optimus said.
"Right now, that's not easy." Ironhide said.
"On any level." Optimus added.
:Prime?:
Optimus was a bit surprised by the private communication with Wheeljack. :Yes, Wheeljack. What is it?:
:Sir, I want to talk to you and Ironhide about Ratchet. May I come in?: Wheeljack asked.
:Of course.: Optimus wasn't about to turn Wheeljack away when it was Ratchet he wanted to talk about. He sent out the mental command for the doors to open.
Wheeljack walked into the room and nodded to his superior officers.
"Wheeljack, you said that you wanted to talk to Ratchet." Optimus said.
"Yeah. I do." Wheeljack answered.
Ironhide had a feeling he knew what this about. He knew that Wheeljack worried about his brother all the time and that the inventor did have a protective streak over Ratchet. "Listen, Wheeljack. I'm sorry about that happened. I didn't mean to upset him."
Wheeljack waved him off. "I know that, Ironhide. I'm not here about that." Wheeljack stopped and thought about that for a moment. "Well, I suppose that it does relate to that, but I'm not here about that specifically."
Ironhide found that rather confusing, and Optimus did as well.
"Okay. Why don't I start over?" Wheeljack suggested.
"It might be a good idea." Optimus agreed. He motioned for Wheeljack to sit down in the chair that was in the room while the Prime sat down on the couch with Ironhide.
"Ironhide, before I say anything else, what did Ratchet say to you about the kiss?" Wheeljack asked.
"He apologized for it, even though I'm the one that started it. He also told me that if Optimus and I wanted another bondmate we would find someone more deserving than him." Ironhide then raised his hands. "And those were his choice of words, not mine. That is a load of slag as far as I am concerned."
Wheeljack sighed. "I know. I've been trying to convince Ratchet for I don't know how long that he's wrong about the idea that he wouldn't make a good bondmate. Obviously, it hasn't worked." Wheeljack shook his helm. "I'm not a violent mech-"
Ironhide snorted.
Wheeljack blinked. "What?"
"Not a violent mech? 'Jack, you have explosions multiple times every day. There is nothing nonviolent about that." Ironhide told him.
"Okay. As far as causing intentional harm, I am not a violent mech." Wheeljack corrected.
Optimus frowned. "Wheeljack, what is the point?"
"You two do remember when Ratchet was in a relationship with Makeshift, don't you?" Wheeljack asked.
The two nodded.
"Okay. How much about that relationship do you know?" Wheeljack asked.
"Not much, actually. I do know that Ratchet was pretty upset when the relationship ended. We both saw how upset he was at times and tried to comfort him." Optimus said.
"Yeah, well, you don't know the half of what went on in that relationship. Not to say that that wasn't the only relationship Ratchet was in that went wrong, but it was the worst one he had had by far." Wheeljack told them.
Optimus and Ironhide weren't sure that they liked the way this was sounding.
"Wheeljack, what happened?" Optimus asked. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but if it would tell him why Ratchet felt the way he did, then the Prime knew that he wanted to know what Wheeljack had to say.
Wheeljack sighed. "Well, you two already know how Ratchet is. You both know that he's not what you would call an affectionate mech."
"Everyone knows that, 'Jack." Ironhide told him.
"Yeah. Well, all of the past relationships Ratchet had had ended mostly because those mechs could not handle the fact that Ratchet wasn't affectionate. I mean, Ratchet's my spark twin, and I know that he loves me, but he doesn't show it in the conventional way. Most of them ended up breaking up with Ratchet because they couldn't handle that. Ratchet would never admit it to that it bothered him, but it did. Since that was the main reason relationships ended, Ratchet was slowing starting to think that maybe he wasn't meant to find someone. Granted, there were a few others reasons that those relationships ended." Wheeljack said.
"His temper being one of them." Ironhide suggested.
"Oh, yeah. You both know Ratchet well enough to know that his temper is just something you have to accept about him. Ratchet isn't going to reign in his temper or change for anyone." Wheeljack said.
"That's a given." Optimus remarked. He and Ironhide had known about Ratchet's temper ever since they met him. Neither had expected Ratchet to change for anyone, and neither of them wanted Ratchet to change for anyone, especially not for them.
"In any case, Ratchet already had his feelings of inadequacy as far as his worth of a mate goes. Even back then I was trying to make him see that that was not true, although I wasn't having much luck. Then Ratchet got involved with Makeshift. That relationship was the one that made Ratchet swear that he was never going to get into another relationship again." Wheeljack said.
Optimus could feel Ironhide's anger seek through their bond, :Ironhide! Calm down!:
:But he-: Ironhide started.
:I know, but we need to hear all of this. You can get angry later on.: Optimus told him. The Prime then returned his focus onto the scientist sitting cross from him. "What exactly happened with Makeshift to make Ratchet feel that way?"
Wheeljack was hesitant a moment. He had no idea how deep the Prime and Weapon's Specialists' feelings for Ratchet went, so he wasn't sure how they were going to react to the truth. Than again, he came here so they would understand why Ratchet felt the way he did toward a relationship with them. Toward any relationship, really. "The cheating or the abuse. Take your pick."
Ironhide and Optimus both froze. Abuse?
"What the slag do you mean abuse?" Ironhide growled angrily. He would hunt Makeshift down and rip him into tiny shreds!
"Okay. Before you two have a fit, it was verbal abuse, not physical." Wheeljack sighed as he slumped slightly. "Though if you want to know the honest truth, I don't think that physical abuse could have done any more damage than the verbal abuse."
Optimus could feel Ironhide's anger trickling through the bond. :Ironhide, reign in your anger. I know you're angry about this. I am, too, but there is no reason to take it out on Wheeljack.: Optimus told him.
Wheeljack had no doubt that they were both angry at what they had just learned, but decided to push on. "From what I gathered from Ratchet, Makeshift made sure Ratchet knew that he thought that Ratchet would never make a good bondmate because of his temper and his lack of affection. He also had a habit of cheating on Ratchet, only furthering his claim that the only way he can be satisfied is with others. I honestly think that constantly being told that by Makeshift made him start to believe it. Coupled with why the others before Makeshift had left, Ratchet came to the conclusion that he just wouldn't make a good mate to anyone, so he stopped trying. It was everything complied, but mostly Makeshift. He caused a lot of damage with his words alone. I don't know what Makeshift's exact wording was, but it was enough to really hurt Ratchet to the point that he feels this way. It's why he hasn't had any interaction with another bot since Makeshift beyond those of friendly interactions."
"I've just never seen Ratchet as one to care what others think." Ironhide stated.
Wheeljack gave a bitter smile, though it was hidden behind his mask. "You hear the same thing from enough different bots and you start to believe it, Ironhide. Ratchet did start to believe it. Still does, actually. That's why he reacted the way he did to that kiss, though I have to admit I'm surprised he kissed you back."
Ironhide sighed. "It was stupid on my part."
"Look. I came here to explain why Ratchet said those things. I know you two don't believe that, and I know that you would both treat Ratchet better than Makeshift or any of the others ever did. I'm just saying it's going to take a lot of work to make Ratchet believe that." Wheeljack said.
"We understand, Wheeljack. Thank you for telling us." Optimus told him.
Wheeljack nodded before he stood up. "Now, I'm going to go spend what little time I can with Sky before I die."
Ironhide blinked. "Die?"
"Yes because once Ratchet realizes I told you, he's going to take a laser welder to me. He made me swear to never tell anyone what I just told you." Wheeljack said.
"Then why did you?" Optimus asked, a bit shocked that Wheeljack would chance Ratchet's anger like that.
"Because I am tired of Ratchet believing something so ludicrous, and I am tired of seeing him alone when I know that he is tired of being alone. Something had to be done, and I think in the end that it's going to be better for Ratchet. Even if he's pissed at me for a while." Wheeljack answered before he left.
Ironhide looked over at Optimus. "Permission to kill Makeshift if I ever get my hands on that Decepticon?"
Optimus sighed. "Can we focus on Ratchet right now?"
Ironhide nodded, although he was still boiling with rage at what Wheeljack had told them about Makeshift and what he did to Ratchet.
"We're going to have to be careful with how we approach Ratchet now. And we're going to have to figure out how to make him see we want him and think he's worth it." Optimus said.
"Any ideas?" Ironhide asked.
"This one we're going to have to work on." Optimus replied. He knew that this wasn't going to be easy on any level.
Let me know what you thought.
