Subi: Muahaha! My root beer source is back! n-n Root beer...
Optimus: Someone save us.
Hot Shot: I thought you were the hero, Optimus.
Optimus: Great. Care to take on my job for a few weeks? (Subi cackles evilly and without warning)
Hot Shot: (pauses) ... No thanks, I'll pass... oo;
21. One of Those Days
Sentinel was a very busy Autobot. And though he didn't really want to admit it, he'd gotten used to seeing Optronix up and just finishing making breakfast for the three of them in the morning as he went down the stairs. He was used to hearing Optronix call up the stairs to Magnus to get out of bed now, or by the Allspark, Optronix was going to go up there and find some way to humorously 'torture' him. He was used to trying to sneak out of the house without eating, and getting called back by a stubborn Optronix or an insistent Magnus to eat breakfast with them. He was used to standing in the front doorway, realize he was missing something, and turning to find Optronix there with what he'd almost forgotten...
Sentinel stood in the middle of the entryway, wondering what felt so off this morning. He frowned, trying to figure out what was wrong... Optronix, he realized. That was what was wrong. The red, blue, and silver mech wasn't in the kitchen; Wasn't standing in front of him with his arms crossed and demanding to know where Sentinel was going; Wasn't right behind him with any forgotten file, book, data pad, or anything else... Optronix was, simply put, not there.
"Optronix?" Sentinel called softly, turning toward the second floor balcony, expecting to see him there. But no, the mech wasn't there either. Sentinel's frown deepened; He knew Optronix hated sleeping in, weekend or not, and the red, blue, and silver bot would never pass up on the opportunity to tell him off for not spending some time with them. Sentinel hesitated for a moment, then started up the stairs. If the mech wasn't upstairs in his room, Sentinel wasn't sure he knew where Optronix would be. He opened Optronix's door, stepped inside...
And stopped short.
"Oh my... Primus!" Sentinel breathed, staring as he hesitantly stepped over to Optronix's side. Granted, he found it a little odd that Optronix had only taken the upper half of his armor off, but what shocked him the most was the black, deep cut that ran from Optronix's right shoulder to the left side of his waist. Sentinel may not have gotten the best grade in circuitology or mechanics, but he knew that Optronix's wound could very well be fatal...
"Optronix?" Sentinel asked in alarm, and cautiously put his hand on the mech's other shoulder and gently pressed on it to wake him.
"Kimaa yu zrii ajunta," Optronix muttered, his optics flickering on. "What Sentinel? Am I not allowed to mourn my old death in peace?"
"Optronix, I'm far more concerned about-"
"My back is unrepairable."
"... Pardon?"
"It is a wound of the soul, Sentinel. Any medic will bring his tools to see what would be needed to fix it and the instruments will say it is not there."
"I... Didn't know spark wounds were visible..."
"They usually aren't."
"Why is yours, then?"
"I don't know, Sentinel. Perhaps it is Ryynn's reminder to me of what I promised."
" 'Ryynn'?"
"The Dragon of Death." Sentinel flinched, "You've seen the Dragon of Death?"
"Once. There are many songs on Urnsat Major that speak of him and Shii."
"Shii is life, right?"
"You catch on fast," He noted dryly, pulling himself back onto his heels on the recharge bed and facing Sentinel.
"I have to, it's my job."
"I suppose you want breakfast then?"
"I'll be fine. I guess I've just gotten so used to you calling me back for it that I ended up calling myself when you weren't down there." Optronix laughed weakly, then jumping to his feet, chased Sentinel out of his room.
"I'll be right down..." ... ...
No peace! I fumed silently to myself as I gripped the handle on the cooking pan. No time alone, no remembering, no second breath, no anything!
"Optronix?"
"What?" I snapped, and my optics flashed, and everything took on a gold tint. Magnus recoiled, even though he was on the other side of the counter.
"I was just wondering what you were going to do today..."
"Someone got up on the wrong side of bed, apparently..." Sentinel noted quietly to himself. I shot him a glare, then turned back to the stove. "If I can get a hold of Prowl, Nuponic, Wavestream, and Jetfire, we were going to go over a few last minute notes before the exams start tomorrow."
"You're studying again? Optronix, you work too much!" Magnus groaned. "So much for getting you to take a weekend off."
"Just set the table," I growled. Magnus ran around the counter to get some empty cubes down.
"Are you feeling alright, Optronix?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sentinel."
"Right. I'm going to go get my files together, let me know when it's ready," Sentinel turned and walked out into the hallway. Magnus put the cubes on the table, then ran into the hallway.
"Sentinel, you said you were getting your files, not that you were leaving!"
"Why do I even bother?"
"I dunno... you're asking me?" Magnus sent back. I ignored their argument in the hallway as I filled the cubes, focusing on not spilling the heated, flavored Energon everywhere. Sentinel and Magnus came back into the kitchen, still arguing, just as I put the pan in the sink under cold running water.
"One of these days I'm going to get both of you to take an entire day off," Magnus sighed.
"And compromise the safety of the city while you're at it?" Sentinel didn't look happy.
"Well, no, but... Oh forget it. I'll find a way."
"Sometimes we need a break from everyone," I said flatly as I came around the counter and picked up one of the cubes.
"But then you'll be all alone and you wont come back and-"
"Sometimes we need time to ourselves, Magnus."
"Oh Optronix... Don't start this again..."
"If you don't want to get into this, then you shouldn't chase after us every scathing minute of our lives!"
"I'm not chasing after you! Primus! You're as paranoid as Red Alert getting an answer wrong in Circuitology!"
"I AM NOT PARANOID!"
"ARE TOO!"
"YOU WANT PARANOID; THEN YOU GO WATCH A CITY FALL AS YOU HELPLESSLY LAY ON THE GROUND DYING, MAGNUS!" I roared, and I flung my Energon cube to the ground, where it shattered as I vanished into the hallway and up the stairs to my room. Some part of me wished that the doors could slam shut behind me so I could express how I felt right then. Instead, I found myself seizing my drawing pad and a handful of my drawing tools, stashing them in my subspace pocket with my flute before turning, storming back downstairs, and out the front door.
"Optronix!" I heard one of them call after me, but I ignored him, transforming and taking off, leaving my trailer behind to let them know I'd be coming back sooner or later after I'd calmed myself... ... ...
Subi: Yes, I'm in a 'evil' mood. Deal with it. At least you got your chapter update thingy back... Cause of root beer returnage. n-n
Optimus: We're done for.
Hot Shot: Hey, your name is Optimus, you're supposed to be optimistic!
Optimus: (growls slightly) Not you too.
Hot Shot: Huh? oo?