A Bet's A Bet
Chapter 25
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Hot Rod walked into his quarters, finding Springer lounging on his berth.
"Where've you been?" Springer asked.
"With Optimus," Hot Rod said. "Talking and playing Go. What about you?"
"Took a drive to the lake with Arcee," Springer said. "Raced a little."
"Have a good time?" Hot Rod said.
"Yeah," Springer said. "You know, I wish this stupid bet was over. Maybe I should just come clean and tell Arcee the truth. I really do like her, and Primus, I can't believe I'm saying this, I can accept you've got it pretty bad for Optimus."
Huh. This was an interesting turn of events, Hot Rod reflected. Maybe they could end it and he wouldn't have to tell Springer he knew Magnus had already lost, therefore implicating himself. There was only one thing to do.
"Tell her tomorrow then," he said.
"I think I will," Springer said.
88888
Sunday morning. Just before 1000, when he was supposed to meet Arcee. And frag it all, Ultra Magnus was bearing down on him with a look in his optics.
"Don't you have patrol later?" Magnus asked.
"Yeah, what's that got to do with anything?" Springer said.
"Meeting someone?"
"If I am, it's none of your business," Springer said. "Besides, don't you think this damn bet has gone on long enough? I've behaved myself, and you can't. . ."
"Bet? What bet?"
Both mechs whipped around, seeing Elita-1 standing behind them.
"It's nothing," Magnus said.
"What did you wager?" Elita asked, Arcee walking up beside her. Slag. Figured. They were good friends.
"You had a bet going? What, who could get a femme into their berth first?" Arcee asked.
"'Cee, it's nothing like that," Springer said. "I can explain."
"You better," she said, dragging him away, leaving Magnus and Elita alone.
"Well?" Elita said, hands on hips, tapping one foot. A very universal female reaction, Magnus noted.
"Elita, love, really, it's nothing," he said. "I was just. . ."
"Proving what a big mech you are?" Elita said.
Locking himself in his quarter was a show of cowardice. Leaving was not an option. He would stand his ground. He was not in the wrong.
"No," he said.
"Was fragging me part of some bet?" she asked.
"It had nothing to do with. . ."
"You have to the count of three," she said, onlining her weapons.
Ultra Magnus did what only a wise mech could—he ran.
88888
Hot Rod sat at his post in ops, not noticing the mech who entered, optics focused on him. Nor did he hear the quiet exchange between Kup and said mech, who then made his way over to his station, grabbed him by the arm, dragging him out into the corridor.
"Did you know Springer attempted to end our wager today?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"I did," Hot Rod said. "It's about time. We've both behaved ourselves, so lesson learned. I can't say the same for you, however. . ."
"What?"
"Nothing," Hot Rod said. "I have to get back."
He started walking toward the entrance to ops, but turned at the last second, transforming, screaming down the corridor at full speed.
88888
The comm was simple. Two words—he knows. Enough to make his energon freeze. Optimus Prime was going to have a long discussion with Hot Rod regarding tact when he had a chance. But he wasn't going anywhere at the moment. Elita was curled on the berth beside him, finally in recharge. He sat by the femme, holding her hand. That she came to him and not Chromia showed how much she trusted him. Frag. He was going to his ass handed to him if he told the truth. Maybe in this one instance he could maintain his silence? No. Can't happen. He'd have to come clean. Complicit, and getting his ass kicked. Or not. She'd have his head when she found out he didn't tell her.
More pressing was Ultra Magnus' cowardice for not telling her the truth himself. His friend was holed up in his quarters on the Xantium and wasn't responding to comms. Good thing, too. Ironhide, Ratchet and an angry Springer were gunning for his aft. That Springer still functioned was a miracle after how he botched his explanation about the wager, and only by the good timing of his Prime, the grace of Primus' and Arcee's pleas to her parents was the green mech still alive. Ironhide and Ratchet were annoyed with Springer, but the fact he'd apologized and Optimus vouched for his sincerity in his desire to court their daughter helped quell their anger. Magnus, on the other hand, was not going to be so fortunate. Ratchet and Ironhide were furious Magnus had upset their daughter so much, and were going to do something about it. Optimus was going to help because of the pain the slagger was causing Elita. Hot Rod volunteered to assist, mainly to help make up for his lack of tact.
Ratchet was still trying to talk a hormonal Ironhide out of storming the Xantium. The medic was also in a rage over the fact the situation was distressing Ironhide, and in turn, their developing sparkling. Magnus was going to learn a very valuable lesson about not meddling with a bonded, carrying pair. Maybe he needed to go help calm Ironhide. He let go of Elita's hand, standing to go. And of course, with his current luck, she came out of recharge.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To keep one of my friends from killing the other," Optimus said.
"What are you talking about?" Elita said.
"Ironhide wants to reduce Magnus to slag for upsetting Arcee," Magnus said. "Ratchet is trying to talk him out of it, as much as he'd like to help."
"Why would they be so angry with Magnus when it was Springer who was trying to get to Arcee," Elita said. "If anyone should be angry at Magnus, it's me."
"Magnus should have come clean and admitted the true nature of the bet," Optimus said.
"And you know about its 'true nature?'" Elita asked, optics narrowing in suspicion.
"Elita, it's not what you think." Optimus said, hands up in supplication. "Today has been one misunderstanding after another over a wager that was mostly innocent."
"How do I know you're not lying to cover Magnus' aft? You might be Prime, but you're still a mech," Elita said.
"I've never lied to you," Optimus said. "Our relationship has always been based on truth and honesty. That has not changed even though the nature of our relationship has."
"If it's the truth, then why don't you tell me?"
"Because Magnus fragged up and it's his place to tell you," Optimus said. "If he doesn't, I'll rip out his spark."