Avoidance
"…if you hate bright colors so much, why do you use them all the time?"
"So other people will hate them as well."
Fixit had attached himself to Knock Out. Again. Currently, the irritated doctor was stalking around the perimeter of the mine, with his Apprentice so close behind him he could feel the Eradicon's vents.
Normally, KO would've cussed him out long ago and sent him elsewhere. But with Breakdown gone, he…didn't really want to let Fixit out of his sight. He didn't want to lose Fixit, too.
But that didn't mean the fragging mech had to cling to him like a bad case of rust!
"Fraggit Fixit, stop doing that!" he exclaimed, rounding on the Eradicon. Fixit flinched back, wings dropping defensively. He looked like a kicked puppy, causing Knock Out to wince.
"Sorry…" he muttered, turning to leave, wings drooping in dejection.
KO groaned. "No, wait…fine, you can stay-"
"Really!?" Wings went right back up hopefully.
"-but you have to stay at least five meters away from me. Got it!?"
"Sir yes sir!" Fixit saluted happily, bouncing after the grumbling medic.
"Back to work!" Knock Out snapped at the snickering miners, vainly trying to ignore his sudden bubbly shadow. If he just ignored him long enough, eventually he'd go back to being all depressed again. And then he'd slink closer and closer, until Knock Out snapped at him again and the entire cycle would repeat itself. Again. For the fifteenth time. Fragging Eradicon…
Fixit was hiding from Soundwave.
She peered around the corner warily, using the other Vehicons to hide herself from view. Knock Out was talking to the TIC as he gave his report, ignoring the fact that the host mecha's attention clearly was not on him. As soon as Soundwave had landed, he deployed Ravage and Lazerbeak to sweep the mine for her. But while Fixit wasn't quite as stealthy as Soundwave, she was definitely good enough to prank the entirety of the Nemesis without getting caught, and just barely good enough to evade Ravage and Lazerbeak going full-out. She had to stay far away from Soundwave, though, because there was no way she could sneak past him without getting caught. He had already seen her once, and only the fact that he had to uphold a professional image in front of the troops prevented him from catching her.
She just hoped she could avoid them until it was time for them to return to the Nemesis…
Fixit swore.
Soundwave and Ravage had returned to the Nemesis. Lazerbeak had not.
The little femme was currently following Knock Out around, knowing that Fixit would stay near him. Sneaky little hairdryer that knew her too well…
Fixit was currently plastered to a ledge high above the mine floor. She peered over the edge, noting Knock Out was getting anxious again. She had been out of his sight too long for his comfort.
She swore again, resigned to getting caught as she started climbing down. She couldn't blame KO for wanting her to stay in his sight- she had been keeping him in hers, as well. Fixit just hoped Lazerbeak would hold off hurting her until KO went to recharge. She didn't want him to see.
Lazerbeak trilled in relief and happiness as Fixit walked up beside Knock Out. He leapt over to land on his- her- shoulder, only to miss as the Eradicon flinched and darted behind KO. The femme landed on a rock, turning to look quizzically at his friend. Knock Out was staring at him too.
"Fixit?" KO asked in concern. He frowned as Fixit shrugged shakily, obviously searching for an acceptable lie.
Lazerbeak trilled and leapt. He missed once more as Fixit dodged again. He stared in distress at the Eradicon, who was carefully keeping Knock Out between the two of them. By now, all the miners nearby had stopped to stare.
"…oookay. Um, Lazerbeak, I don't suppose you'd be willing to leave Fixit alone for now? He's been…well, he's still upset by Breakdown's death, so…" Knock Out said, obviously trying to diffuse the sudden tension.
Lazerbeak stared unhappily at the almost cowering Eradicon, but reluctantly nodded his helm in agreement. Soundwave had specifically told him not to push Fixit too hard- her mental state was incredibly fragile right now.
That didn't keep him from being hurt by his friend's sudden fear of him, though.
Fixit stared blankly at KO, temporarily ignoring Lazerbeak as he cautiously edged closer to her.
Knock Out looked back at her with a raised brow.
"…Starscream cloned himself and sent the clones to assassinate Lord Megatron," she said slowly.
"Yep."
"…okay, discounting where exactly he got the clones from in the first place…I have a new worst nightmare."
Both KO and Lazerbeak looked at her quizzically.
"Four Starscreams. Think about it."
It dawned on both of them at the same moment.
"By the Allspark…" Knock Out breathed in horror. "The screeching would never stop!"
Lazerbeak shuddered, looking like he desperately wanted to burrow into Fixit for comfort. He was thwarted by her moving to the other side of KO again.
Fixit whined, clinging onto Knock Out's arm. He had been ordered back to the Nemesis, which would leave her alone with Lazerbeak.
"You'll be fine, Fixit," KO vented, patting her helm where it was gingerly leaning against his shoulder. She was being very careful not to scratch his paint, because then he would just shove her off and never let her cling again.
Fixit just whined, tightening her grip cautiously.
Fixit flattened herself against wall, praying that Lazerbeak wouldn't come over here- frag! She threw herself away from the wall and sprinted, the little femme hot on her heels. Fixit skidded around a corner, dodging Vehicons left and right, fleeing towards the entrance to the mine.
Lazerbeak was pleading with her over the comm to stop. He knew that if Fixit got outside, he'd never be able to catch her.
:Fixit, please! Why are you so scared!?:
She laughed bitterly over the comm as she vaulted a drill. :So what, I should just go quietly and let you hurt me? Not a chance!:
Lazerbeak faltered. :Wha- you think I'm going to hurt you?:
:You know what I used to be! I don't think, I know!: she cried, very close to hysterics. :So frag off!:
:Fixit-! Please, wait! Please! Fraggit Fixit, please don't make me lose you too!:
That last sentence caught her attention. She slowed briefly, before picking up speed again. Lazerbeak, realizing that got through to her, continued talking.
:Please Fixit, I've already lost my brothers! My twin! Please don't run away, don't make me lose you too!:
This time, Fixit stumbled, glancing back in shock. She quickly remembered she was running and picked up speed again.
:You- you had a twin too?: She asked haltingly, unable to stop herself.
:…y-yes. And I miss him every day.:
:…:
:His name was Buzzsaw,: Lazerbeak continued at Fixit's silence, recognizing he was getting through to her. :I-I miss him so much. Him and all of my other fallen brothers…Frenzy, Rumble, and-:
:Ratbat…: Fixit sounded subdued, slowly coming to a stop right outside the entrance to the mine. Lazerbeak finally caught up to her, hesitantly moving to perch on her shoulder. The Eradicon flinched, but didn't try to move away, even though she clearly wanted to.
:I…yeah. How did you-?:
She glanced at the little femme on her shoulder nervously. :S-Soundwave didn't t-tell y-you?:
:…no. He just told us you…you used to be human. And…and why you were so terrified of Airachnid.:
:…oh.: Carefully, slowly, Fixit hesitantly reached up to stroke Lazerbeak's wings. :…did he mention my incredibly fragile mental state, at least?: She added with dark humor.
Lazerbeak winced. :Ah…yeah. He- he did mention that. He was very clear that we weren't to push you too hard. He didn't want to hurt or drive you away.:
:…drive me-? Oh. He just didn't want to lose a potential resource, okay. Got it.:
:What-!?: Lazerbeak sputtered. :I mean, yeah, a little, but mostly he just didn't want to lose you! None of us want to lose you!:
Fixit turned her helm to stare at the symbiont in confusion. :…what? But…I mean, I thought he only tolerated me because I was useful, and now that he knows…:
Lazerbeak gaped at her before glomping the side of her helm in a hug and refusing to let go. :We don't hate you, Fixit. You would never do anything that could possibly make us hate you. And we will never reject you. I promise.:
Fixit's vents hitched as she flinched back. She curled up in a shaking ball next to the entrance, keening ever so softly. Lazerbeak's words had hit home, and hit home hard. The little femme himself burrowed into his friend, clinging and murmuring reassurances over the comm.
:We won't leave you, Fixit. Not ever. We won't ever abandon you, I promise…I promise.:
A/N: What, you thought Fixit would be just fine with Soundwave finding out about her past? Yeeeeah, no.