Ratchet straightened up and felt his joints creak. He had been leaning over a shipping container, using it as a makeshift berth as he worked on my unconscious form. It had been hours of fighting virus after firewall, but he was able to break through everything Soundwave had put in place inside the optic.
With it mostly back in his control, he could relax.
But first.
"Renegade, I need to see you," He said over his comm. "Renegade, respond." Still silence. Ratchet let out a huff and gave me a once over before stepping outside. "That Bot better not have run off…" He grumbled before stepping outside and activating his scanners. Nothing within the immediate area, but widening his scan, he got a blip off to the east. He transformed and headed in that direction.
««{{¤}}»»
Renegade heaved his flaming sword over his shoulder and brought it down, slicing a rock clean in two. The flames left behind scorched the rock black. Renegade spun around and punched the cliffside, his fist burying almost elbow deep into the rock. He yanked his arm out, transformed to his draconian form and belched out a massive white flame. Anything organic evaporated while rock was turned molten. He threw his head back and bellowed to the sky, the sound echoing back mockingly.
"Ah-hem." Renegade whirled around, baring his fangs and raising his wings, before stopping at the sight of Ratchet. The almost dismissive look in his eyes made the draconian pause. "If you're done ruining the landscape…" Renegade looked at the ground, smoke still rolling from the corners of his mouth. He transformed, his gaze still at his feet as shame filled his frame.
"I was able to regain control of the optic. The Decepticons can't track us as far as I can tell." One red eye squinted in a barely hidden flinch.
"That, is good."
"I want an explanation." Ratchet folded his arms. "Why was my patient in a panic attack when I arrived?" Renegade looked away.
"He, mentioned that, no good scrap heap, and I…"
"You scared my patient so badly I had to resort to forcing him unconscious." Renegade couldn't hide the flinch that time.
"…" The silence was louder than any roar the Mythicon could produce.
"Well, I guess that's something you're going to have to fix." Renegade's gaze met Ratchet's.
"…What?"
"You may be millennia older than even myself, but you have much to learn about humans," He turned back towards base, only to look over his shoulder, "Consider Neal's point of view." Renegade clenched his fist, feeling his own claws digging into his palm.
"I already have. After being in the hands of those…"
"I wasn't talking about that. I was referring to a guardian nearly attacking his charge." Ratchet headed back to the base. Renegade's shoulders slumped as he watched the medic walk away.
'What have I done?'
««{{¤}}»»
Ratchet vented as he gently scooped up the still unconscious human and set him on the ground. He transformed and activated his holoform, the doctor sliding out of the driver seat before loading up him into the back of the ambulance. The holoform shut the doors and leaned against it, running a hand through his graying hair.
"What are we going to do with them?" He whispered while looking at the ceiling. The holoform disappeared and Ratchet kicked into gear. He was almost to the gate when Renegade rolled up to him.
"Where are you going?" The Greyhound asked.
"Back to base. I need to run more tests on the optic and I couldn't bring everything I needed."
"Where-"
"In the back of my alt form," Ratchet said matter-of-factly. Renegade went silent as he followed Ratchet off base. Ratchet couldn't help but notice that the bus rode lower on its axels than normal. The medic commed Optimus.
"Optimus, I have met with Renegade and James."
"That is good news."
"However…" There was a pregnant pause.
"Continue."
"Renegade seems to be unstable. When I arrived, James was in the middle of a panic attack. From what Renegade said, he caused it." Ratchet knew the Prime long enough that he didn't need to guess that he was grimacing.
"What happened?"
"That I am unsure of, as whatever occurred happened just before I arrived. But Renegade seems to realize, at least in part, what he did." Ratchet paused to gather his thoughts. "After I regained control over the optic that replaced Neal's eye, I found Renegade off in the wild, destroying the landscape in a, frankly, sparkling fit."
"Where is James at the moment?"
"In the back of my alt form. He is still unconscious."
"Keep them separated for now. Say that you need to ensure the optic is fully under your control. I will speak with Renegade myself."
"Surely you will not be alone."
"I will have Bumblebee on standby, but I feel it will not be necessary."
"If you are certain."
"I am." He cut the call.
««{{¤}}»»
Ratchet and Renegade pulled into the Autobot base. Ratchet sent a silent message to Optimus, informing him they had arrived, before driving over to his office/med bay. He stopped and activated his holoform, pulling the still unconscious form out on the gurney. He turned to see Renegade rolling in.
"Renegade." The bus stopped before he transformed. Ratchet finally understood what it was like for the boy as he stared up at the behemoth. The mech had a few feet on Prime, who was already a massive bot to begin with.
"How is Neal?" Ratchet transformed as well, his holoform fizzling out, before he picked up the gurney and set it on a berth.
"As I said, I need to run more tests before I can release him. He lost a lot of weight. I am worried his little…episode…might have exasperated his condition." Renegade cringed, and his arm twitched as if he wanted to pick up the still form.
"Optimus wishes to speak with you." Renegade's eyes stayed on Neal's form until Ratchet stepped in front of him, cutting off his line of sight. "You would do well to listen to the Prime's command." Something in that phrase made Renegade frown before he turned and quietly walked out.
Ratchet leaned back against the berth. He looked over his shoulder at the unhealthy human.
He couldn't vent heavily enough.
««{{¤}}»»
Optimus stood outside, gazing at the horizon. He heard heavy footsteps and turned to see Renegade walking up to him.
"You requested to see me, Optimus?" Renegade's head was low, his shoulders slumped, and his entire demeanor spoke of feeling dragged down. Optimus nodded.
"I did. Ratchet reported what he saw when he arrived at your location. Will you explain what happened?" Renegade visibly tensed. Optimus held up a hand in a placating manner, "I am not interrogating you, Renegade. I merely wish to know what happened."
"…I snapped," He said, glaring at a spot on the ground to his right. "I snapped and scared him."
"May I ask why?" Prime was patient as Renegade gathered his thoughts.
"I wouldn't recharge after he was taken. Even after I had gotten him to safety, I refused. He grew frustrated with me." Renegade shook his head. Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent encouragement. "He, mentioned…" His gritted his denta, not able to look at the Prime. "He mentioned Soundwave and I-."
"You reacted." Optimus finished. Renegade shrugged his hand off and stepped away.
"I, scared him. I could have hurt him." His fists clenched hard enough to shake.
"But you did not." Renegade whirled around.
"But I could have! I lost control!" He shouted. They stared at each other, one calm, one venting. "…I nearly hurt him." Renegade turned away in shame. "I-I feel like my spark is in a vice."
"…You are forming a bond with him." Renegade raised his head in surprise.
"A, bond?"
"A guardian bond. Bumblebee has formed one with a human named Samuel. Arcee is forming one with young Jessica. And now you are forming one with Neal." Renegade's eyes widened. "That is part of why you feel this way."
"Part? What do you mean?"
"How long were you under the Decepticon's control?" Renegade thought about it for a minute.
"I don't know. Since the beginning of the war? My memory banks are corrupted in some places."
"And how did they threat you?"
"Like." He stopped, his optics glassing over.
"Renegade," Optimus spoke after a minute of silence. The bigger bot snapped back to reality.
"Sorry, Optimus. I was never allowed to transform out of my Mythicon in form. Time passed at an unknown pace. I was only allowed out of the cell when I was needed. At some point, I became…feral, lost to the instincts of my other form."
"They used you as a weapon," Optimus said. Renegade shook his head.
"They were too scared of my power. I was to haul energon and other materials wherever needed. When I wasn't otherwise being studied by that glitch." He growled, glaring at his fist.
"So, you were nothing more than a slave to them…" Optimus' face twisted into a grimace. How ironic it was that Megatron, the Cybertronian who originally fought to free all bots, had a slave of his own.
Renegade looked down as his open hands.
"All of this power in my claws. A flame that can melt the thickest steel. A sword that can slice any armor. Wings that can carry me across an entire celestial body. It meant nothing." Optimus placed his hand on his shoulder again.
"Take heed, Renegade, that we do not see you this way. I mourn for the time you have lost." Renegade's head bowed.
"I am not a warrior. I was nothing but a commoner in my own people's eyes. At least, that is what I believe I remember."
"If you do not wish to fight, I will never force you to." Renegade finally made eye contact with Optimus.
"I have shamefully scared him, nearly attacking him. I feel I am losing control over myself."
"We will help in whatever way we can. You have faced much darkness that would leave any being with scars. No one should bare that alone." Optimus stood resolutely. Renegade looked closer to breaking down than ever before.
"What do I do?"
"Take time away from Neal." Renegade looked up in horror. "You need to sort this out, time to heal. You cannot do that if you are focused on him. I think he may need time to himself as well."
"I need to protect him," Renegade insisted painfully.
"Your guardian bond is still developing. That, combined with your powerful instincts, will make it difficult to separate yourself the longer you wait. For now, he is safe. Go rest." Renegade's mouth opened and closed, trying to find anything to say. Eventually his head fell and he vented.
"Yes, Prime…" The larger bot turned and walked away. Optimus waited until he was out of hearing range before venting himself. He looked out to the horizon again, folding a hand behind his back.
"Ratchet, what is Neal's condition?"
"Ah, you're alive. He is stable, and there is no trace of Con influence in the optic. However, it will take a while for him to recover. He nearly starved to death." Optimus opted to ignore the first comment as he frowned.
"Keep him under your care as long as you deem necessary."
"You won't hear an argument out of me. What about that Mythicon?"
"I will take care of it. He has been through much. Were you aware of the guardian bond that is forming between them?"
"I had guessed as much." Optimus knew they were sharing a grim expression.
"We will need to assist them as it grows."
"Can we really trust him?"
"It will take time."
"The boy could have been killed! Not to mention anyone that got in the Con's way while he w-!"
"Ratchet!" Optimus barked, an unusually sharp edge on his word, "He is no longer aligned with them."
"That doesn't change the fact that he nearly killed a human! If the their government get wind of this, there is no telling what they will do." Optimus' face turned to an almost-scowl.
"That is why we will keep this event between us and those involved." There was silence on the other end. Optimus sent a databurst to Ratchet.
"What's this?"
"What Renegade went through under the foot of Megatron."
"He…" Ratchet voice shook through the coms, "He was treated like an animal."
"And that left deep wounds on his spark." Silence once again filled the void.
"…I see. But that doesn't change the fact that I will not allow him near the boy while he recovers."
"I gave him the order to rest. He needs time apart from Neal while neither of them are in danger. The bond must have grown quickly, to be that strong."
"It would make sense. If what, Renegade, says is true, then he probably latched onto Neal as a source of strength nearly right after they met. A desperate clinging, really." Optimus nodded at that, even though Ratchet couldn't see it. But he knew the medic didn't need to.
"I will trust your judgment on Neal's care, old friend. However, I advise you to caution your thoughts on Renegade. He is old, but he bares much weight because of his past."
"I will, take that into consideration." Ratchet sounded reluctant, but he was extremely protective of his patients. Neal being put into this situation made the medic's spark borderline possessiveness.
"That is all I ask," Optimus said with small smile. "Inform me when Neal is stable enough to speak with. I wish to have a word with him myself."
"Of course, Optimus. Though it may be a few days." They both cut the call and Optimus turned around.
"I asked you to watch while I discussed things with Renegade. Why did you stay after he left?" He asked Bumblebee as the scout approached. The yellow bot chirped and whirred, playing clips from the radio for emphasis. Optimus folded his arms, listening intently to the young bot.
"Are you sure? While I do not have a guardian bond myself, I know they are held with the utmost respect, if not privacy." Bumblebee looked to the side, tilting his head before nodding happily. "Very well. If you wish to share, I will not stop you." The young scout played a victory trumpet blurb before turning to chase after Renegade. A large hand landed on his shoulder.
"However." Bee looked up. "I ask that you wait a few solar cycles before speaking to him. There is much on his processor." Bee nodded with seriousness before saluting Optimus and transforming. He peeled out and Optimus could only smile at the young bot's antics. To be young again.
I groaned as my body protested my actions.
"Come on Neal, you're almost done."
"Easy for you to say!" I snapped. I leaned against the wall as I panted. "It takes 30 of my footsteps to fill one of yours!" Ratchet folded his arms.
"Yes, well, if you wish to get back to physical shape, you will finish those last few steps." I plopped onto the ground, my lungs sucking in fresh air as my legs shook.
"I'm not even that out of shape. I'm just not a runner!"
"You are, according to my studies."
"Your 'studies' also say that we shouldn't eat anything with more than a gram of sugar in it!"
"That stuff is going to put you in a hospital."
"Rather be in a hospital than under your care…" I muttered.
"What was that…?"
"Nothing!" I continued walking. I heard a grunt of unbelief from above, but ignored it. We soon got back to the med bay. Ratchet set his hand on the ground and I climbed on. He lifted me up to the berth that had been my temporary home for a good few weeks. I walked over and sat on my makeshift bed.
"Hey, Siege." I placed my hand on the minicon's head. After many days of us both nagging Ratchet, he finally made it so we were on the same berth. While Siege wasn't back to full functionality, he wasn't in any major pain thanks to Ratchet's work. A blanket covered him from his shoulders down. It made it easier to ignore the injuries to his body, for everyone involved.
[Siege:Ratchet run you into the ground yet?_]
"It feels like it," I huffed as I petted his head. He let out a low hiss that showed he appreciated the gesture before locking eyes with me. He didn't need to send me a message to relay what he was asking. I sighed, resting my hand between his ears.
"I don't know if I'm ready, Siege. I know it's been a while, but…" Siege pushed more firmly into my side.
[Siege:He lashed out. It wasn't something anyone could have expected._]
"I know, I just…"
[Siege:Take your time._] I sighed. My eyes traced over his blanket.
[Siege:Don't make me tell you again._] He messaged while shooting me a stern look.
"I know, I know. It's not my fault." I rolled my eyes. He shoved me with his head, knocking me onto my back. "Ack!"
[Siege:And don't you forget it!_] I flailed for a second before righting myself.
"Come on, let a guy feel guilty!"
[Siege:No. I refuse._] I gently flicked his ear. He shook his head before glaring at me.
[Siege:Watch it, squishy._]
"What is with you and calling me squishy?"
[Siege:That's what you'd be if I hadn't saved you._]
"Oh come on, why do you have to hold that over my head?" He rumbled in amusement before wincing. I held up a hand. "Hey, take it easy."
[Siege:I'm okay. The pain is coming back a little._]
"Should I get Ratchet?"
[Siege:I can call him if it becomes too much. But I need to feel something occasionally. It reminds me they are still there._] He looked at the floor between his front legs. I saw the blanket shift a little. His motor functions were steadily returning, but he was going to be in the med bay far longer than I was.
"Okay, but do you really need to suffer through this?"
[Siege:Consider it payment for not keeping you safe._] He flinched when I slapped him on the head.
"Don't you dare!" He looked up in surprise. "You pushed your body to the limit to keep me safe, you did everything you could!" I could almost feel the message being sent and cut him off. "You did what you could." I repeated firmly. His brow dropped as he stared hard at me for a few seconds.
[Siege:It didn't make a difference._]
"No," I agreed. I had still been taken, after all, and he was bedridden for it. "But I never expected you to take on a Con like that. You have got to be the bravest Cybertronian I know." He looked at the ground again. "Anyways…" He looked up at me without lifting his head. "I need to you get better. I hate seeing you in pain."
[Siege:Giving orders now?_]
"Only because you're stubborn."
I have no clue where to take this story from here. I'm already over 50k words, and that's before uploading this chapter, which I believe is just over 3k itself. I think I might just end it after giving Neal and Renegade a chance to fix what happened. Hopefully they can adjust to the bond.
I had to skip a few weeks between the last two scenes because I've got a really bad habit of trying to flesh out a story day by day. I try to tell too much, rather than show, so a decent length time-skip should start to set me straight!
Hope you guys enjoyed, because this might be one of the last few chapters! Only time will tell!
~Silverleone