Prime Blood: Dropping Bombs Chapter 2
a/n Did you read One Human, One Spark by Whatayamacholit. {eye roll} Go do that. It's in my favs to make it easier for you!
{Present En route to Nevada somewhere near Nova Scotia.}
Dangling beneath Wheeljack's Jackhammer in a tractor beam was two thirds of Seastar-Shrapnel's Icepick. The other third was barely hanging on by a high tension cable. Trying not to be banged around by the swinging wreckage was Wheeljack impaled by a grapple in the shoulder panel clutching near stasis-locked Seastar (as he would always see her.)
Miko turns to Raff, "We got a lot of miles to go, he can't hang on to her like that. Look, these look like life lines bars. Neither one looks good. We need Ratchet."
Raff sighs thinking hard, "No, they need Ratchet. Hold on." A few punches and Raff gets a hold of the silo via com. "Ratchet, I need you to open a ground bridge, but it needs to be in the air, you know…. I'm going to drop Wheeljack and Shrapnel into you."
"You're WHAT?!" The medic balked.
"They aren't going to make it. Miko and I can bring Jackhammer in, that's the easy part. But they are in bad shape. Can you have Bee meet us at the glen when we get there?"
"Okay, I'm ready Rafael. But you better be precise."
"I know. Miko, bring us to hover." She does, ignoring Wheeljack's mumbled rebuke through the other comline. Then he sees the bridge open up directly below him. "Okay Miko, ten degrees…. And hold. Here they come Ratchet!" Raff releases the cable and watches the loose piece of ship and both bots fall through the open worm hole. "Ooops. Uh, piece of ship coming in too."
"I got them. Be careful. Hit the cloak if you can."
"Can't do it with the tractor beam on, but we'll be careful. Out."
~~00~~
Back on the base, Optimus leaps back as the engine pod crashes through and two bots land on top of it. Ratchet races forward, "What happened? You're wet!" The white mech is shivering uncontrollably and now his optics are angry.
"Whaaa, the fragggg, just, happened?"
Optimus kneels down taking Shrapnel from his arms, "Raff dropped you into base saying that both of your vitals were dropping."
"Iiii'm fiiiiine."
"Arrogant mech!" Ratchet flings and heads to the med bay following Optimus. Arcee reaches into the locker and pulls out a large thermal blanket. As she goes to drape it around Wheeljack's shoulder, she sees the grapple. Softly she asks, "'Jack, what happened?"
His optics look up to hers and pleas, "Something is really wrong with her. We almost lost her to the depths."
Arcee's gaze drops to compassion and he yanks his optics away. "I can't yank this out spike out. You will have to remove the panel-"
"It's into my protoform and structural plate. It's going to take the Doc to get it out, but I want him on her first, okay?"
"Let me clip the cable at least." He nods. Swiftly as she can, she cuts the line and drapes the blanket over his shoulders to warm him and hide the impalement.
Ratchet bellow from the med bay, "WHEELJACK!" Arcee helps the half frozen mech to his peds and leads him over the fuming medic. "Why didn't you tell me she was suffering from radiation poisoning? She went through that Nebula, didn't she. She had no business being in the icy waters with this kind of damage to her core systems and you know-"
Wheeljack leans in and snarls, "I DIDN'T know. You're the doc, why didn't YOU know. I thought YOU gave her a physical."
"She was your-"
"I haven't seen her in eons!"
"You just had to-"
"Doctor, heal thy self!" Wheeljack fires back
"Engineer stop rerouting the problem!"
"BOTH OF YOU!" The elevated volume of Prime cut through the retorts. "Wheeljack, come with me. Bumblebee, meet Raff and Miko at the landing sight. Arcee assist Ratchet."
Wheeljack slumps pulling away, "I don't need you Prime."
A gentle hand touches the grapple, "You need that chip of your shoulder." Picking up a few tools, Prime leads Wheeljack away by a fierce grip to the bicep.
Down in Wheeljack's rarely used quarters, a firm hand forces the white mech to sit. No one says anything. Prying the shoulder panel hole a little wider, Optimus then unclips the back piece of armor. Ever so slowly and carefully he pulls the panel off and sets it on the floor. He vents seeing how deep the grapple sank into the proto-and sub layer. He knows it's got to hurt like pit being bored into the frame structure.
Wheeljack grimaces and groans as Optimus tests around the star point of the grapple to see how deep it really is. "I am in no mood for your soft sparked lectures or pick me up words of wisdom." Optimus says nothing. Instead he clamps the pliers onto the shaft of the grapple. Pressing his hand down around the wound prepping for direct pressure, Wheeljack tenses. "Just do it. I can take it."
"A wound this deep really should be treated by a friend who knows this type of wound." Optimus slowly rocks the grapple out of the substructural frame (ie shoulder blade).
Wheeljack bites down on his knuckle as Prime is as careful as possible. He knows the bigger mech is being gentle in his work and his words. He sags when the words sink in. Optimus knows exactly what it's like to love and loose…. Only it was a traitor who took his mate, not that his mate was a traitor. And yet (as far as Wheeljack knew) Optimus had never dared to love again. If only he knew….
A final yank, (and howl) and the star was loose. Swiftly as he could, Optimus cauterized the bleeding skin. "Thank you," Wheeljack weakly muttered.
Optimus lays the star and medical equipment into his hands, "No need to thank me. I do what I can. Ratchet really should look at that."
Wheeljack looks up, "Only after Seastar is alright."
"You know what will make her alright."
Now the lips pull taught, "Don't start with me."
"My scar isn't the same. I wouldn't understand, right?" To that, Optimus let the truth lie and walked away.
Wheeljack rolls his optics, "Not funny Primus… not even close." And passed out.
~~00~~~
When Wheeljack was sure Ratchet was dosing in the corner, he softly walked to Seastar's berth side. Hesitantly, reached out to stroked her face tenderly. He didn't hear Arcee walk up behind him. "How is she?"
Wheeljack only shakes his head, "I don't know."
Arcee saw Ratchet wake up but remain still. He was waiting and watching. She continues, "Jackhammer is secured. Bee is standing guard right now. I came to see how you both were doing to decide if I should relieve him."
He doesn't stop stroking the femme's face. Nor does he say anything. What could he say? He was terrified to admit he was desperately madly in love with her. How could he tell her he didn't deserve her, that he was afraid he could never fully trust her… himself? No… no she was better of with ….him.
"She's safer with Ratchet. He…can do…" Sighing heavily, stepped back. "I'm going to see to the ships." With that, shrugged the blanket off and draped it over the sleeping femme. "He'll take better care of you than I ever could." He pressed his lips to her brow and turned.
Dropping to his wheels, quietly left the base. Arcee looked up to Ratchet who heard everything. He shakes his head in sorrow for the couple. The femme on the table began to sob. Curling to her side, she clutched the new thermal blanket closer. Arcee dropped her head and walked away. None of her words could undo the un known damage.
Ratchet came to Seastar and kneels to her level, "Are you alright?" Her head shakes slowly. He reaches out and clutches her hand softly. What could he say? His friend was in love, but grieving. The femme before him was in love, but grieving. As for himself… he felt it was all his fault and there was nothing he could do. He hated not being able to fix something. Most certainly not something created by his own hands.
~~00~~
Arcee raced after Wheeljack. Coming to the glen, Wheeljack met up with Bee, "Hey, Bee. I got it from here. Why don't you head back and get some rest."
Bee nods knowing the burly mech wouldn't reveal anything personal. He so missed his jovial creative mentor. But time and wars were not kind to the sparks. That much he was well aware of. But maybe some day, the right femme would come to his life and change things.
As Bee turned aside, Wheeljack patted his shoulder, "Thanks for helping the kids. They really are great." Bee smiles and nods again. Without thinking, Bee grabs Wheeljack in a tight hug and then just as quickly, dashes away.
The white mech smiles and then turns back to his ship. She looks fine. Icepick, on the other hand is a disaster. Grabbing the second third of the ship he tries to drag it closer to the main. Searing pain shoots through his shoulder and down his arm. Snarling and grunting he keeps tugging. Eventually the arm refuses to comply, and he has to admit defeat.
"No, I will not give up!"
"That's funny, you could have fooled me."
Wheeljack whirls around and faces Arcee. "Go away."
"Now is that any way to talk to your new femme?" She just has to jab the pain in further.
Instead he ignores her and heads to his ship. Grabbing a few tools, slides his way under the belly of his ship. Grunting to the pain of pressing his shoulder to the rocky ground gives her the ammunition she needs.
"Maybe while Ratchet's looking at your shoulder he can see if there's any logic circuits left in your head."
"I don't need your help, so please go away." The recalibration the tractor beam emitters is nothing new, but certainly doesn't help with a nagging femme and deep deep wound to the shoulder of his own making.
"You're a fool."
"I've been call worse." clang bang.
"Egotistical, arrogant, cold sparked, -"
"Please, you're wasting your breath. You've got to do better than that." With that, the tractor beam kicks on. Sliding and grunting his way out, grabs the remote from the wing. Adjusting the tractor beam, it picks up Arcee and turn her around.
"How about I tell Ratchet and Seastar of your little plan?" He turns her back around with her arms crossed over her chest.
"And why would you do that?"
"Because you are a fool."
"Maybe, but still. She will not be stuck with this fool. Better she be stuck to a hero than a wrecked fool." He cuts the beam releasing her none too friendly. "Now please, go away. I have work to do." He turns the tractor beam to the smaller damaged piece of the ship.
Arcee walks right up to him and rips the remote control from his hands. He scowls and lunges. She throws it over her shoulder, lost into the bushes. He groans and heads towards it, she blocks his path. "I'll help you find it, but you have to tell me what is REALLY going on. No more of this slag about one of you dying. 'Jack, she risked her life to find you. And you, well look at you… You can barely function. What made you decide you can't be in love? Was it really all that bad?"
Leaning in his helm tips turned violent red, "YES!" He shoved her aside. But she was relentless, and it was dark out. He was never going to find that remote without help and she wasn't going to leave with out hearing it out. Finally he had to admit defeat, again. Glaring he snarked, "You want to know the ugly truth as to what happened to everyone's favorite fool. You want to know what happened to the aft of everyone's exploding jokes and pranks. Well, get ready. Now you'll have it.:
A shutter raced down her central rod. As he began.
{vorns upon eons ago…}
G1 Ark: Oregon:
The music was pumping in the engineer's lab. One thing he had to agree with a few of the younger "party animals" of the Autobot faction (Hot Rod, Jazz, Blaster and buddies), Earth Rock'n Roll had a good beat.
*Pshew,* Oh baby, you dropped a bomb on me. Baby!
One of Wheeljack's favorites. He smirks, Percy's favorite was Weird Science, even if he won't admit it to anyone. [Ping] Speaking of the bot-
Wheeljack mutes the song and activates the long distance comlink. "Hey there, Percy! How's-"
"Sit down, Wheeljack." The sniper and genius snaps at his long time friend. This drew the white mech's face to look intently at the black helmed one. There as a dead serious look on his face. Pained. He had bad news to deliver. The voice was softer this time, "'Jack, please… sit down."
Wheeljack sits down pushing his current project to the side. "What is it, Perceptor? Something I can help you with? You know I'll be there in a nanoklik."
Perceptor found it hard to look his friend in the face for a moment. Taking a deep vent, he turns back, "Wheeljack, you know we have been investigating the source of the information leak. Searching for our mole, right?" The white helm nods slowly. "There are several officers who were being… investigated."
Officers? his brow cocks in the seriousness to the accusation. Autobot officers were carefully chosen, to accuse one of treason ! Unheard of!
Percy rubs his brow, "I was handed some information today. It should not have come into my possession, but out of kindness, it was. As we speak, the original is being reviewed by Prowl and Prime."
Now Wheeljack is confused, "Why are you tell-"
"Be quiet 'Jack, this is hard enough… just…." he vents heavily. Finally he turns to the device before him and whispers, "Watch and listen… And 'Jack….I'm sorry." The vid screen changes confusing the white mech even further.
Lushun System Nightclub recorded by a hidden device by someone at another table. The table at the center of focus is also currently the center of attention by at least three mechs with one thing on their processor by the scantily armored femme.
She curls a finger under one chin while toying with the final of another, the third is not so aroused. He has a different thought on his processor, watching the femme closely. The buxom beauty coyly asks, "So, what's your pleasure mechlings?" A few inappropriate idea are voiced. She giggles and kisses them each leadingly.
The third mech slams his shot and asks, "I thought you were in love with that Autobot engineer? What's his faceplate… Wheeljerk?"
She pulls back and cackles meanly, "Oh pleeeeease! That geek!"
Wheeljack thought his spark had stilled. He is-was so in love with that beautiful and charming femme. And not just physically. She was The One.
The femme continues her insults, "I mean seriously, that garish white? Elk, so drab. Green and red stripes, ugh so clashing!, and those hideous glowing helm protrusions." With that her smirk broadens and her voice cackles with pure ugliness, "Did you know they glow violet during-"
Wheeljack was sure he was going to be sick, purging directly from his spark. But after the insults on their private intimate time came the worst blow of all.
The non-aroused mech asks the next question: "So if he is so despicable, then what are you doing with him? Why did you accept his proposal to bond?"
Her optics gape at the ridiculous question. Dropping her attention from the other two toys, she rubs her thumb and forefinger together, "The creds of course. Have you any idea how much the 'Cons and Pirates are paying me for the list of contacts I can give them? Every time he takes me shopping, I see who he gets bits of this and parts of that from. They are so easily to manipulate into passing on inferior products and get paid? Ha! And he wonders why his experiments keep blowing up in his face!" They all roar in hysterical laughter to the duped-mech's fate.
The she leans in, "And they say femmes are weak sparked fools to believe in all that mush of happily ever after. You mechs are even worse. Look at this hideously ugly trinket!" She holds up a pulsing blue-gold gem in a hand carved facet on an expensive gold chain which cost the purchaser a near half vorn's pay and a few favors.
The mech asking the question chuckles tossing back another drink, "Not all of us have sparks to manipulate. Some of us are cold cored beasts."
She leans in and kisses him quite leadingly and openly, "Let's finish this conversation elsewhere. I do so love a good pet."
He smirks, "No, finish it now."
"Here?" She cocks a brow. He nods. Quite provocatively, she strides towards his lap, while the sound of panels retracting are heard.
The rise and "Ooooh," sets the other two mech's ogling confirms her seating. "Oh yes, so much more than I ever could have engineered…" The mech chuckles at the jab to her intended's appendage while he continues using his.
This time, Wheeljack does purge into his waste can. Oh his spark hurt so bad. He had bought her the most expensive jewel in exchange for her promise to bond with him come next furlough: only a matter of days away. He heaved again, sure that his spark now was disposed like this morning's breakfast. The file-vid cuts off.
"'Jack, you know you will be exonerated." Perceptor tries softly. "-"
Instead, 'Jack slams a hand down cutting the connection to his best friend. One of the few friends he has left. Clutching his chest once more, he was beginning to wonder if he was having a spark-attack. But no, you can't have a spark-attack if it was just jettisoned from your very being. Panting and trying process all he just heard through the fog… No, no this just can't be happening. Betrayal. Toyed with. Tricked. Manipulated. Anger and cold fury begins to rise taking the place of his failed spark.
Percy tries calling back in. Jack doesn't respond. Instead, turns his back to the vid screen and heads to a closet. Inside he sees a project he had pondered a long, long time ago, about the time Perceptor had began sharpening his sniper skills. Shoving other scrap and crap aside, Jack finds his prize. Two swords in the beginning stages and their sheaths.
Beaming, he brings them to his grinder and wet stone. In no time flat, the skilled engineer has two kantana razor sharp, ready to remove lies from any glossa or tongue.
Setting his blaster on the table, he touches his private comline, "Drift, meet me in the sparing range."
The sword master curiously asks his sniper-partner's science-partner, "Whhhy?"
Sheathing both kantana's to his back he snarls, "Teach me to use these swords so I can slice lies before they reach another audio receptor."
Drift gulps. A tone like this never comes from Percy's dear friend. No, Wheeljack is positive, hopeful, happy... Maybe an explosive expert, but something else was definitely boiling under this armor. Festering. Drift knew Wheeljack was going to need more than training. He was going to need council. "Alright. On my way." Been there, done that himself.
The line was cut. One last project on his desk is set for a final task. Wheeljack picks up the blaster and heads out the door. Sealed behind him, a final explosion comes from his lab. He doesn't turn back. He ignores the smoke and flames trying to lick through the seams.
Let it burn. Let it all burn. For I have no spark left to care . Love is a fallacy. It does not exist for me. I do not need it.
Wheeljack passes by the officer's rec room. Setting the blaster on the table, he tells Blaster, "Anyone want it, it's their's." His voice was cold and sparkless.
Blaster gapes, ""Jack? You alright?"
"I will be." He turns on his heal and leaves.
Hand to sword combat room, Wheeljack enters. Drift is already there accessing the entering brooding white mech. "Maybe this isn't the right time," the fellow white mech tries.
The glowing helm tips turn red in focused fury, "I'm more focused than ever, Drift. Come at me."
Drift was terrified. Wheeljack was wild in his flaying of sword, ped and full body assault. Nothing was in control. Everything was out of control. There was no reasoning with him, he couldn't hear over the hollowness of his spark. The trained swordsman was on his toes dodging the wild attack and trying not to kill the other with his vagrant openings. It really put his skill to the test. Never had he had to defend and not kill his opponent so aggressively.
Drift finally had to call time. He was panting and legs trembling, mind reeling. Wheeljack on the other hand was getting his second wind. It took a lot for Drift to convince 'Jack to trade the deadly weapons for the blunt ones. Finally the new aggressive warrior understood, Drift was going to show him the errors in his battling. And 'Jack listened. He was right on that aspect, he was completely focused. And learned.
Drift had to remember, this one was a genius as well. Much like Perceptor, (hence being best friends) the mind latched onto new information and did not let it go. Not one word was spoken about the sudden change from the fun loving mech into the fury of muscled cables and rage.
~~~ Many hours later~~~~
Drift stops, suddenly getting a call on his private com. He listens then turns to in shock to relay the information to his new student. Now the white and daffodil mech understood the snow white & striped mech's change of domineer. It didn't make this any easier to relay.
"Wheeljack, They have arrested your intended." He gulps, "Treason."
Sheathing his kantanas he nods curtly, "Good."
Drift is beginning to put more together. "Uhh, you shut off your com link, didn't you?" The glowing mech curtly nods taking a shot of Energon. "They've been trying to contact you for hours. Uhhh…" he tries to tell him about the punishment…. The only one.
Jack looks right into Drifts optics with his cold dead ones and orders high command, "Do it." With that he heads to the door. "I have new duty to train for and a new supply chain to find. Excuse me, Drift." With that, the mech with the dead spark leaves the room, leaving the one who thought he had a dead spark in awe.
~~00~~
Heading straight for Red Alert, he had his ship checked from stem to stern for bugs and other tracking devices. Three being Autobot espionage that only Red & Prowl knew about (never telling Wheeljack they had been placed.) But the pirate and 'Con ones were shown to Jack and destroyed. Swiftly Jack resupplied his ship.
Red Alter stood by his side helping him while inside it was announced that Wheeljack's intended was to be executed for treason immediately. Red reached out, "Is… there anything you want from… before…" He just wasn't sure what to say.
Wheeljack couldn't blame the poor mech. He was only doing his job (keeping Jack from taking anything he shouldn't and keeping the base secured) while at the same time trying to be compassionate. Finally Jack faces him, "No. I need nothing. I need…. No one."
Red clamps his hand down on Jack's wrist. He would not let the engineer responsible for all their incredible inventions think everyone had abandoned him. Wheeljack understands that look in the other mech's optics.
Giving him a weak smile, "I need to go, Red. I have to find us a new supply of plutonium, Selenium and tungsten that doesn't contain bugs." Red doesn't let go. "I will contact you and I'm not abandoning the Autobots. I just need to breathe." Now Red does release the wrist.
As Jackhammer broke the first gate, the femme's spark chamber was shattered as well as the precious jewel still hanging around her neck. Promised shattered like greedy sparks.
~~~~~~~000~~~~~~~ {back to present, Nevada, Jackhammer's hidden location}
Arcee could only gape. She just learned the spark shattering truth herself to the rumors she had heard eons ago. A dramatically and tragically different story. Reaching a hand out, Jackie turns away before her touch reaches him. "I'm-"
"Save it!" Jackie snaps back as if the pain was all fresh again. Arcee knew better, it had never really gone away, just buried. True her own spark troubles did not include treason nor even betrayal, but still…
She tries again reaching to the past, "Perceptor, Ratchet, …."
Jackie whirls around punctuating her statement, "The mech who had been best friends with Ratchet died that day." Pounding his fingers at his chest, "I turned into an empty evil vile mech he never knew. I turned to the Wreckers after a drinking binge. They took me in and asked nothing in return."
Pacing and stomping he sighs, "Ratchet tried to contact me, but I …" Wheeljack was actually ashamed to admit and his voice hitched, "I blamed Ratchet for introducing me. I vowed to never speak to him again." Once again, turns away. Arcee moans for the rift that torn a tight friendship to shreds. Best friends who can barely tolerate each other now.
Wheeljack slams his fist repeatedly into the canyon wall. Then unleashes his fury with his ped, "He never forgave me for siding with Perceptor in joining the Wreckers." He vents heavily, "But he continued to speak to Perceptor, and I refused..." A final jab and the tone drops real soft, "I think he never forgave himself for introducing me to that -thing-. I ruined our friendship…"
She can feel the guilt Wheeljack has. He never let Ratchet forgive him. Arcee stands and comes to his side, again tries to touch him, but he flinches away.
"I did not intend to ever meet a femme again. Never trusted them. While the others went to the bars and made their hook-ups, I stayed behind and guarded the ships, or made my grenades or whatever." Now he does turn to Arcee and actually gives her a warm smile, "She hates mechs too. Nothing but horney bots with two things on their processors: bombs and bimbos." Arcee laughs with him.
Now he shrugs, "Seaspray knew she was safe with me because neither of us had sparks. Both of us had been damaged beyond even Primus' help." This time he does allow her palm to lay lightly on his gauntlet, "Primus sure has a wicked sense of humor, doesn't he?"
Arcee smiles warmly, "What is your grief with Prime, and don't give me that cockamamie story again."
Wheeljack drops his helm, "I destroyed a perfectly good team he had." Her blue helm tips into his line of sight. He rolls his just ever so slightly catching her optics, "Oh come on, you weren't that busy dodging Springer and Hot Rod advances, were you?" She flushed and he smirks, "Well, to reinform you, Perceptor, Ratchet and I were quite the science team. Always coming up with amazing inventions, saving lives and getting us out of jams." His head rises with pride, "We really had the 'Cons on the run with some crazy things that worked. Man, the Autobots ruled the roost… and then…" His fingers push away like fireworks.
Her optics go wide, "You don't seriously blame the turn of events fully on yourself, do you?"
He huffs and strides away, "Yeah right, how arrogant do I look? Do I look like Starscream?" She scowls at that. He continues, "I am to blame for part of it! That can not be denied." Stopping and rotating his shoulder painfully, trying to shake off the emotional spill, "That's why I dove that much harder into smashing a breaking 'Cons in two. The more I destroyed the stronger I was and the more my armor built up over this hollowed chamber."
"Until…"
Wheeljack shrugs, "Until…yeah. Look, we were great stress relievers for each other. Safe bets. Nothing expected, not permanent ties… and then… well…"
"You are an idiot." Arcee tells him bluntly.
He rushes her pressing her to the canyon wall with one hand to her throat and one to her hip. She gasps in his surprise and aggressive move. He snarls with disgust, "There is nothing in here to bond to but an empty chamber. There is nothing left to give."
Arcee grips his face with her palms now understanding the pain he buries behind this brusk façade. Her words try to match her warm touch, "Wheeljack, she wants to fill your chamber. She wants to give it all to you. She doesn't want anything, she wants to give."
"No," he tries to shake his head. "No, I have nothing to offer her. And I want nothing."
Arcee's thumbs stretch over to caress the glowing helm points, "Jack, you have always be loyal to the cause. You have never given up your faith in Primus. You would never betray any one. You defend twice as hard as you engage…" Her words are relaxing his grip on her neck, "You are very handsome in chassis and soul." He blushes and lets his hand curl around to the back of her neck. "Do you know how many femmes would kill to be here right now?" Slowly his head shakes.
Leaning up, she pulls by his glowing tips, "'Jackie, don't you know how many sparks you have broken over the vorns by walking into a room and ignoring them all?" He shutters, just now realizing his palm had curled around to her back drawing them even closer, thumb unconsciously caressing the hollow of her back.
Now becomes that very intense moment. The chemistry is there. The forbidden moment. He knows he should just walk away. Desperately in love with another femme he is abandoning in selfish protection is no reason to...
Arcee knows if she pushes, it won't be her he is kissing, but another love. But she also knows, if she gives him a taste of what he needs and aching for, it just may be the catalyst to send him down the right road, back to Seastar. One little kiss won't hurt… will it?
She tugs and presses her comforting lips to his lying ones. Wheeljack presses back taking over his friend. A comfort. A taste that won't lead to anything… right? A forgotten pleasure. Her lips move under his opening the kiss further. His muscular warm body pressing her lithe one tighter into the embrace, curling finger tips to her other hip. And then she can taste his truth on her tongue. Oh it feels so wrong and so good. She moans. He groans trying to make himself accept her gift and make them both forget anyone else. Distracting himself with the taste of a forbidden fruit on his lips shouldn't….
Just this once… "That's what happened last time Jackie-boy"… No, I can just kiss her and nothing more. Just one more moment and then I'll walk away.
Arcee forgot her plan as well and rose her sensitive chest against his firm comforting broad one. The kiss goes even deeper than she planned as he tries to purge Seastar from his thoughts by trying to make Arcee his only thought. He groans and his hips begin their dance.
I'm going to take her.
I'm going to let him.
"I should have know, WHEELJACK!"
Wheeljack won't let his past friend's voice distract him from his current mission. Arcee was too far under his spell to quit now. Stroking and caressing those helm tips to blend from light blue into deep violet she didn't hear the CMO's bellow. And then she was instantly cold feeling the heat source wrenched away.
Thrusting Ratchet's hand from his shoulder, "What the FRAG is your problem, Ratchet!" the fuming white mech turns fully to the other white fuming one while Arcee regains her composure.
Fists planted firmly on his red trimmed hips, the older one snarls, "Just who the PIT do you think you are?"
Wheeljack strides two steps forward, "Like you really care!" Ratchet's optics flared with pain. Even 'Jackie knew that one was out of line, and drops his helm.
Arcee decides to jump in, "Ratchet, it was nothing."
His optics never left the other mech and huffs disgusted, "I can see that."
Wheeljack turns away, "You will never understand."
Ratchet snaps back, "Yes, I do."
Wheeljack whirls around, "Really? Do you have any idea how it feels to be that close to bonding?" Ratchet opens his mouth and then quickly clamps it shut. Wheeljack leans in, "Thought so." Then strides away again.
Arcee calls back, "No, we're going to solve this now."
Both mechs retort, "NO!" Which surprises them both shooting a confusing smile back and forth. For just once in a millennia, they were in agreement.
Now it's her turn to huff at them, crossing her arms over her chest. "And why not?"
Ratchet flings a hand at him, "All he lives for is revenge and grief!"
Wheeljack flings one back, "Old Docbot can't handle loosing a patient!"
Ratchet stomps forward, "It wasn't your fault!"
Wheeljack throws back, "You can't save us all!" And he relieves Ratchet of his duty.
"You don't want to be saved!"
"You won't let go." They both know where that one was directed.
"You can't let it stop you from living." he tries softly.
"I AM LIVING!" the growling mech stomps forward.
"Empty, alone?" reminding him others have lost mates and keep going on.
The damaged mech sneers with a cruel smile, "I like it better this way!"
"You're no better than Megatron!" Softer hearted Ratchet finally lays out an underhanded statement.
Stripped fist strikes the red cheek. A red fist replies with a right cross beside the fury colored fin.
"And you are no different than Prime!" The engineer staggers back from the blow. That was both a compliment and a curse they both know.
"TAKE. THAT. BACK." The devoted Autobot barks.
The Wrecker raises both fists. "No." Simple and short. He meant every piece of that.
"You will not use Prime's dut-"
This time the heavier warrior roars and throws his left. The older one ducks under and throws his own into the gut. It had been a long time in the coming and here it all came. All the grief and all pain to each other and their selves.
The fist fight quickly turns into an all out brawl. Arcee wonders if she should stop them, but she can see the frustration that had been eons in the making is finally coming to the surface like a pressurized volcano.
Yes the scientists turned heavy Wrecker had forceful broad and powerful punches that pushed the older less active mech back. But he wasn't old for no reason. His punches were fewer but more calculating. Boxing both the helm fins making the other holler in pain and recoil. Twin fingers jab straight into sensitive seams to chest and belly armor. Ped toe strikes into the unguarded area behind the knees.
Dents and curses were exchanged. A few wires are pulled and a few more choice statements. Just as Arcee was getting worried she would have call Optimus to pull them apart, one sank to his knees the other to his aft. Both panting and dripping with wounds, and broken panels.
"Primus, I forgot how well you fight," the younger one smiles.
"I swear you have gotten better," he chuckles, "I used to be able to whip you."
Wheeljack rolls back onto his aft leaning back against an oak tree, "You could never beat me."
The chipped chevroned helm tips sideways, "Ahh, I think you need to get that processor of yours checked. Oh yes, I could."
"You confuse me with Percy." He pounds on a greave trying to get it back into place.
"No, he was the one thin and sharp as screwdriver while you were as dense as a mallet." Ratchet pinches and seals off a torn line in his own shoulder, "Yesh, that hurt."
"Try a grapple to your shoulder plate!"
Arcee comes to both of them seeing the situation calmed. Ratchet leans into Wheeljack seeing a piece that really has to be popped back into place before he can transform. Wheeljack allows him. Arcee asks carefully, "You two okay?"
Ratchet examines the glowing helm fins seeing the color returning to a calm tone. "Sorry about that one."
Wheeljack pushes the hand away. "I'm fine. Had worse." Ratchet scowls at Wheeljack for pushing the real issue aside. So he huffs and grips Ratchet's wrist, "I never really blamed you. I know it wasn't your fault."
Ratchet pulls his science brother into his embrace, "I never stopped caring. I never stopped loving you. I was always afraid and hurt how you did this to yourself."
"How could you compare me to Megatron?" Wheeljack leans into the embrace.
"'Jack, you only seemed to live for the injustice. Too blind to see to your blessings. It felt like…. You turned your back on all your friends. Your best friend who was trying to save you."
Jack clings tighter, "I didn't want saving."
Ratchet holds him near as tight, "I know. But I couldn't stop trying."
"Like Prime. Just like Prime who won't make the final blow to Megatron."
"They were brothers to the cause."
"Like us." The tips begin to glow to a very soft calming blue. The chipped chevron presses to it's brother's fore helm.
"Yeah, just like us."
