Requested for Julien Caeg. Thanks for this idea! This was so wholesome to put together!
Also blehh things be getting hectic again here *sigh* it's just one crisis after another but I'll pull through as much as I can for you lovely beans. :3
A True Friend Never Forgets
Autobot Ratchet grazed a smile as he finished patching up his last patient. Another job well done. As he held the door for his patient, his optics lit up when he caught sight of his best friend running up and waving at him.
"Hey, Ratchet!"
Said medic smiled brightly. "Orion, so nice to see you again."
"Back at you, Ratch." Orion Pax flashed his trademark smile that seemed to brighten any room. His bright, young optics glowed as bright as ever.
Ratchet and Orion Pax were the closest of friends. Although Orion had a magnetic personality and seemed to make friends everywhere he went, no one was as close to him as Ratchet.
The two did everything together. When Ratchet wasn't busy working part time as a medic at the local Cybertronian medical center, he was out with Orion doing whatever their sparks desired that day. Usually, it was Orion who decided what activity they would do as Ratchet was often reluctant to try new things.
Ratchet normally preferred to do something laidback; his idea of a lovely evening after work was a quiet trip to the Hall of Archives to bask in the history of Cybertron.
Orion Pax, on the other hand, preferred a friendly race or competition over a book any day. Although Orion did have his nerdy side when it came to historical texts in the archives—since he was the young apprentice of Alpha Trion—he was the more outgoing Bot between him and Ratchet. He always wanted to do something fun and out of their comfort zones, even if he had to literally drag his more reluctant friend to join in.
And despite both being occupied with their own work, they still found time for each other. Orion was usually the one who had to cheer Ratchet up after a hard shift at the medical center because the medic-in-training was prone to have bad days. It was a medical center after all, so not every day was guaranteed to be a good one.
But that's what Orion was good at; making any Bot feel better no matter what they've been through. Ratchet noted that, for a youngling still, Orion Pax had a maturity unlike anyone he'd ever met. Even Ratchet found himself going to his younger friend for advice at times.
"So," Ratchet crossed his arms. "Let me guess...you came here because you need something."
Orion tried to conceal his sheepish smile. "What? Of course not! I just came because...it's the end of the week and...I thought you might need a break from the hectic week."
Ratchet couldn't stay mad at his best friend, even at his awful attempt at lying. "Well I appreciate your concern for me, but I won't need the assistance as my shift has already ended a few Astro clicks ago. However, judging by the Bot I see in front of me," he gestured to the small sparks flying off Orion's shoulder plate. "It appears my job is not yet done."
Orion followed his friend's concerning gaze. "Oh, that?" He quickly covered his injured shoulder. "Eh, it's not that big a deal. Really. But..." His gaze shifted sheepishly towards the ground. "I-I was hoping you could still take a look at it. You know, j-just in case because it's kind of starting to bother me a bit."
The young medic rolled his optics with an affectionate smile and patted the berth. "Oh, alright. Take a seat, you delinquent."
"Heeey," Orion whined in offense as he sat down. "I'm no delinquent."
"Oh, that's right. You can't be a delinquent because you act like a sparkling."
"I do not!" Orion protested. He unknowingly crossed his arms with a pout, and to anyone, it looked like the most adorable sight to see.
"Right, because I'm sure all Bots your age pout like that," Ratchet said with a smirk. He playfully booped the space where Orion's nose would be.
The younger Bot merely turned his head away with arms still crossed. He let out a huff of annoyance. "Whatever, Ratch. Can you please just see if my shoulder wiring is alright?"
"Yes, yes. Just hold still."
Ratchet got to work, carefully peeling back the cracked armor and inspecting the sparking wires. "So," he broke the silence. "What irresponsible, exhilarating danger caused this injury...this time?"
"Oh. That. Well..." Orion twiddled his thumbs. "Y-You see, it's kind of like—it's—t-the other day, I uhm..."
"You were out racing with your friend, Megatronus, again weren't you?" The medic finished for him.
"Okay, yes. B-But in my defense, we weren't actually 'racing,'" Orion quickly cut in. "We were just...taking a quick drive home after his big fight in the coliseum yesterday."
"Is that so? Hm. I never pegged you as being the 'racer type', Orion."
"Neither did I, but Megatronus said it would do me good since I never 'do anything fun' anymore," the young mech shyly admitted. "And I feel like he's right. After I became Alpha Trion's apprentice and started my study as being an archivist, I feel like I'm no fun anymore. At least, that's what Megatronus says. I'm not as outgoing and adventurous like I once was." He let out a little sigh. "I guess being an archivist has made me boring."
Ratchet couldn't believe what he was hearing. He paused his inspection to smack the mech upside on the back of his helm.
"Ow!" Orion cried. "What was that for?"
"For saying such false accusations about yourself. You are not boring, Orion. You never were." Ratchet faintly smiled, remembering their share of memories together. "Just because you don't share the same interests with Megatronus doesn't mean either one of you is 'boring'. And just because you two are friends, doesn't mean you both have to like the same things. A real friendship is stronger than that, you know."
The younger mech softly nodded in understanding. "I know. But I also don't want to stay in my comfort zone for the rest of my life, either. I like to try new things sometimes...even if I'm scared to do them at first."
Ratchet chuckled as he finished patching up the open wound. "You really are something else, Orion. You aren't transparent, that's for sure. You are...hmm, how should I say? You are like a bag of mixed bolts. Veeery unpredictable."
Orion rolled his optics. "Unpredictable? Just the other day you said you could read me like a transparent data pad."
"Yes well, transparent in some areas. For example," Ratchet tweaked the youngling's side. "I know that you are still ticklish."
The younger stuttered out a giggle before quickly covering it up with a cough. He shrunk under Ratchet's piercing gaze. "N-No I'm not," he answered as calmly as he could muster.
"Really?" Ratchet raised his optic ridges in fake surprise.
"That's right," Orion answered back with more confidence. He turned his helm, locked optics with his friend, and crossed his arms in defiance. "Only sparklings are t...ti—uhmm...t-ticklish," he forced out through squeezed optics.
Ratchet had to stifle a chuckle. He always found it so amusing how his younger friend couldn't say a simple word like ticklish, or even admit that he, in fact, was. "Of course," he said casually. "Because I'm assuming Megatronus also said young Bots like you could never be...ticklish."
He smirked when he saw Orion twitch with a muffled whine. "W-Well...he did say that strong Bots like him don't h-have um...weaknesses. E-Especially like that."
"And so you've convinced yourself that you don't have such a weakness because of your gladiator friend?"
"Well...yeah. I work alongside Alpha Trion at the Hall of Records, remember? I have to follow his example and take over his position one day. And plus, I need to have laser-focus when it comes to organizing and sorting through those data pads. Do you know how difficult it is arranging all those data pads in alphabetical order each day?"
Ratchet chuckled. "I can imagine the immense difficulty." As a Orion continued his rant about organizing data pads, Ratchet felt sneaky enough to squeeze his unsuspecting friend's sides.
"And that's why I—aaah! Ratchet!"
"Yes?" Ratchet innocently asked, biting down a grin. "Is something wrong?"
Orion glared. "You know exactly what's wrong. I know that was you."
"What was me?"
"Oh please, I'm not falling for tha—AHA! Cut it out, Ratchet!"
The medic suddenly pretended to be serious. "Orion, would you please sit still? This examination would go a whole lot faster if you weren't squirming so much." As he said that, he continued to prod and wiggle his servos against his sensitive friend's sides and neck.
"I-It's you that's—aah! Waihahait! Aah! S-Stop poking me like tha—AH! Ratchet! Nohoho!"
"Allow me to shine a light of wisdom here," Ratchet said over his friend's giggling. "Just because of your reputation of being Alpha Trion's apprentice doesn't mean you have to change anything about yourself. You? Serious? Orion, please. When you are not hanging out with Magatronus or working at the Archive, you are as playful and immature as a sparkling."
"I—hahaha—I am nohohohot!" Orion protested. He let out an uncharacteristic squeal when his evil friend dug into his stomach plating.
"Want to run that by me again?"
"OkAHahahay! Okay! I'll admit! I sometimes—heeheehee—act immahahaha! Immature!"
"That's what I thought." Ratchet smirked smugly and released his giggly friend. "Please don't change yourself just to impress others, Orion. You're you, and everyone deserves to know the real you. Not just a projection of something you want others to associate you with.
Why try to hide the real you? Just because you want the approval of somebot? A real friend accepts you for who you are, flaws and all."
"Thanks, Ratchet," Orion smiled. "I guess I was so caught up in what everyone thought of me, I forgot about my own opinion."
Ratchet patted his helm. "There's the Orion I remember. And don't ever forget that."
"I won't. Oh and hey, thanks for patching me up—again."
"Anytime. Just...please try not to get into any mischief again. For Primus' sake, Orion, next time you might actually damage something."
The younger mech rolled his optics. "Alright, alright. I won't." He smirked before saying in a sing-song voice, "But no promises~"
"Okay, that's it. C'mere!" Ratchet yanked his friend back and dug ruthlessly into his sides.
Orion yelped and fell backwards into Ratchet's arms. "Aah! Waihahahait! Wait! I'm sorryheeheehee!"
"Sorry doesn't excuse the fact that I know you're still going to act like a delinquent when I'm not looking!"
"N-No I'm nohohohot! AIIEEE! Ratchehehehet!! No! Nohoho!! Please, nohohot thehehehere!!" Orion shrieked again when Ratchet wormed his servos under his arms.
The medic chuckled. "I almost forgot; this is a bad spot for you, isn't it?"
Orion shook his helm madly as he continued squirming. His arms were glued to his sides, desperately trying to protect his sensitive underarms.
"Oh no? It's not?" Orion stubbornly shook his helm again and his laughter rose an octave. "Oh right, silly me. This is your worst spot!"
"AAAHH!" Orion threw his helm back and roared with laughter as vibrating fingers attacked his super ticklish tummy. He thrashed and wildly kicked his legs, shrieking laughs. "N-NO RATCHET! NOHOHOHO! AAAAHAHAHAHA!"
Said mech chuckled. "What, does it...tickle? I thought you said you weren't ticklish, right? So why are you laughing, huh?"
Ohh the teasing. Orion could feel his face plate heat up. And now the tingles were spreading all over his torso. He was starting to regret talking back to Ratchet in the first place.
"WAIT AAAHAHAHA! R-RATCHET NOHOHOHO! EEEEE! HEHEHEAHAHAHAHA!"
"This will teach you not to hurt yourself behind my back! And for acting like such a brat!"
"AAAAHEHEHEHE! I-I'M SORRYHEEHEEHEE! I W-WON'T EVER DO IHIHIHIHIT AHAHAHA—AGAIN! JUST PLEASE—AAAAH! PLEAHEEHEEHEEHEASE! PLEASE STAHAHAHAHAP!"
"Hmmm...no I don't think I will. I don't believe you."
"NAHAHAHAHO! RAHAHATCHEEEET!"
Present Day
Optimus Prime shifted uncomfortably as another battle wound was patched up.
"There," said his medic friend, Ratchet. "Now will you please try to be more careful when you're out there risking your life?"
"I told you, Ratchet. I'm fine. You always do an outstanding job attending to my injuries, but you don't have to hover over me all the time whenever I get mildly wounded."
"Mildly?" The medic scoffed. "Primus, Optimus, you are just as bad as your younger self sometimes."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"One: you're still as stubborn as ever when it comes to your own self care. And two: no offense, but you are the worst patient when it comes to physical exams."
Optimus felt a teeny bit offended. He knew exactly what Ratchet was referring to and he always hated how he still teased him about it.
He shifted uncomfortably again. "Not anymore. I'm not even—" He sighed. "Are you done yet, Ratchet?"
"Hmmm..." his medic friend hummed thoughtfully. Uh-oh. That can't be good. "Almost. But first..." Ratchet sneakily scribbled his servos against Prime's left side, being careful to avoid the patched wound there.
He smirked with satisfaction as Optimus jerked, huffing muffled laughs. "R-Ratchet...heh—hehehhem...s-stop doing thahahat."
Ratchet dared to tease his best friend, "Or what? Still as ticklish as you before? That's something I don't think will ever change. Especially riiiight...here was it?" He briefly dug into his underarms, making Optimus convulse for a few seconds.
"Ahhm!! R-Ratchet! Stohohop thahahat!"
"Hmm...no, I don't think I will."
"Ratchet, wait. Wahahait! AAAH! Ratchehehet!!"
Yup. Some things never changed, Ratchet noted. And these sort of things he'd always remember and use them against his stubborn friend the way it always worked.
THE END :)
