Random Name: Yay! Random Blitzwing! He's my absolute favorite! I love the craziness! I've got to admit, at first I only clicked on this story because it had Knock Out and Breakdown as a pairing but now I just love this story in general.

But now I just love this story in general.

But now I just love this story in general.

Guys...you don't know how hard I cried with joy when I read this review! The last time I cried that hard was when I got excepted into my new high school and was overjoyed because I would be getting away from all the people who were responsible for my high level of depression. I am still going through said depression (have been for the past five years) and this review...I...it...it helped a little. THANK YOU FELLOW KO/BD SHIPPER! *curls up in a corner and weeps with joy* you love the ACTUAL PLOT!

(Trigger warnings for the end of the chapter, nothing too graphic, but enough so that I feel obliged to warn you.)

Tip toe carefully with your words
For any one of them could hurt
You could snap me back unintentionally
Back to a time best left in the past
A time that made these internal scars

~Knock Out's POV~

"Ow!"

"Sorry sis, but we've gotta stretch your wires, or you'll hurt yourself while we're training," Solarflare leans back to avoid the unrestrained leg that's lashing out at her, then continues to help Moonbeam stretch her mended hip, "Red, be a dear and hold that down will ya!"

"Glitch!" the eldest femme shrieks as her SIC stretches her leg a little too far, she snarls and tries to kick again, but her brother's grip on her good leg is too strong.

"Now, now sis," Nebula chuckles as she scrolls through a data pad, "no need for that."

I chuckle and make my way over to where Lord Megatron, Breakdown, Starscream and White Dwarf are sitting in the stands. The white Seeker sits on the ground, watching his siblings preparing themselves for an orbital of training and sparing in the Arena. It was only two orbitals ago that it was fixed, took the Worker-Drones about an orn and a half to do it, Breakdown was in here most of the time helping them. I guess that, while he doesn't miss being a Wrecker, he still misses the time he worked in construction. Speaking of which...

"Here you are," I dump the tool kit along with a few broken, spare Vehicon parts next to White Dwarf.

He yelps, flinching at the sudden, loud clatter and the other mechs turn to stare at me questioningly.

"Knock Out...why do you have those here?" My mate frowns with confusion.

"Rehabilitation," I say with the simplest tone possible, the ex-Wrecker's optic widens in realisation while everyone else continues to stare at me with blank expressions. Primus, I have to spell out everything to these warriors! "I've noticed that White Dwarf's not moving right. Just last orbital I saw that he had to get Nebula to help him drink his Energon because he couldn't hold the cube. I asked why, he told me that only one-quarter of his processor was aware of his surroundings and the rest was always fighting for control over his frame with the virus. That's why violence gave that beast the reins, the unexpected hit shook a lot of his receptors, which in turn broke his concentration and thereby his control."

"...That still doesn't explain why you've got broken Vehicon parts here," Starscream growls.

I rub my brow in frustration, oh why? Just why me? "White Dwarf needs to regain his motor control skills, all he has to do is sit here and fix the spare parts so that I can use them later. Raid Season is coming up any orn now and that means I'll need them soon anyway. He needs the rehab, I need the parts, everyone wins."

"What's this?" I turn around to see that White Dwarf has found the tool kit and has proceeded to tip the contents out during my rambling, he's now holding up a very dented, very old, very familiar wrench.

"Oh..." How'd that get in there? "That...um...that's...just give it here!" I snap, Spark aching from the old memories that are surfacing, that's all he is to me now, a bunch of simple memories.

"Sorry," the Seeker whimpers, handing me the tool with a shaky servo.

"No it's...it's just that it belongs to an old work colleague of mine, an old friend," I stare at the tool-turned-weapon, sighing at the many fond experiences that it brings back.

"Who?" He looks up at me with adoring, inquisitive optics.

I smile at the curious mech, he wore that very same expression on the orbital he was born, "Ratchet, his name was Ratchet."

I shake my helm, brushing the old memories of my mentor and previous boss away, returning myself to the present. White Dwarf continues to stare up at me patiently, with a sigh I subspace the old memory-trigger and sit on the ground beside him.

"Can't catch me Moon!" Starhopper laughs as she races her sister around the perimeter of the Arena.

They're both using their skates to do laps of the training grounds, I watch as Solarflare counts Moonbeam's laps while Nebula keeps track of Star's. The hexad leader wears a determined expression as she tries to keep up with her speedy little sister, but her lame leg slows her down. I bite back a laugh as she tries to balance on her good leg, yet the lack of movement results in a loss of speed and the Seeker wobbles on her skate, then growls angrily as she's forced to used both pedes once more. Shaking my helm again I bring myself back to the task at servo.

"Right," I sigh, clapping my servos together, "let's get started."

"Knock Out," White Dwarf mutters, looking at me with a lost expression, "why do you bother?"

"What do you mean?" I chuckle, trying so very hard to keep at least a faint smile on my face.

Please Dwarf, please don't start going down this path. I know from personal experience that no good can come from falling deeper into the darkness, that allowing yourself to fall is just plain cowardly. Because in the end, it'll consume you and every little hint of light that enters your life will be snuffed out.

"The virus is going to come back," he whimpers, staring at his servos, optics void of any hint of hope, "Why waste your time with me if it's gonna come back in the end?"

"White Dwarf, look at me," I grab his shoulder and he stares at me with a startled expression, "Confidence beats this bastard back, the more you accomplish, the more of it you get and the more time I have to decode that fragger. I need you to work with me on this, because I can't help you if you don't help me. Understand?"

"O-...okay."

I smile, "Good, then let's get started," I pick up a Vehicon part and show it to him, "Know what this is?"

"A T-Cog?" He mutters, more to himself than to me.

I nod, giving him an encouraging look, "Do you know what it does?"

"Allows a Cybertronian to transform," there's a glint of hope in his optics.

I latch onto that glint and exploit it for all its worth, "Straight A's kid! Can you see what's wrong with it?"

"Um..." he frowns, expression blank as he stares at the part, "...It's...uh..."

"Hold it," the ex-hacker cups his shaking servos and I place the T-Cog in them, "take your time."

I watch, Spark swelling with pride and hope as he stares intensely at the part, turning it over on his twitching servos. I made sure that I brought the easy stuff with me, all these spare, broken parts have obvious malfunctions. Some of them I even tinkered with just so that they'd need fixing. This T-Cog is the easiest one, even Steve saw what was wrong with it.

"It's...it's...um...ah!" With a loud clatter the part slips out of his shaking grasp and rolls till it bumps my left pede, White Dwarf bites his claws as he whimpers, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"No, no, stop," I grab his wrists and pull his digits out of his mouth, "it's okay, just take it easy."

"I-I can't see w-what's wrong," he whines, optics wide with fright.

"Here, let me show you," I pick up the T-Cog and point to a small hole, "it's got a bolt missing."

A dumbfounded expression stares at me, "...Oh," he blinks and frowns at the part, "can't it work without the bolt?"

"Yes," I chuckle, "for half a klik, then the other bolts will slowly come lose and it'll fall apart."

You say that I'm messin' with your head

All 'cause I was making out with your friend

His helm snaps up and he stares down at his siblings. I watch as Nebula sets her data pad down against the wall and grins.

Love hurts whether it's right or wrong

I can't stop, 'cause I'm having too much fun

"Now for some motivation!" She shrieks with delight and does a spontaneous backflip.

You're on your knees, beggin' please "stay with me"

But honestly, I just need to be a little crazy

The femme laughs and stands on one spot, crossing her ankles then immediately switching them around, repeating the move several times before doing a cartwheel. The Seeker darts about, flipping and kicking to the beat of the music in an amazing display of flexibility.

All my life I've been good but now

Ooohhh

I'm thinking "What the hell?"

All I want is to mess around, and I don't really care about

Megatron smirks and chuckles as he nudges Starscream's side, "How come you're not that flexible?"

"...Shut up."

Clang

"Ow! Don't do that!"

"Then don't tell me to shut up," the warlord huffs.

If you love me, if you hate me

You can't save me, baby, baby

All my life I've been good but now whoa "What the hell?"

White Dwarf grins, bouncing up and down as he watches his sisters dance about the Arena.

What, What, What, What the hell?

I notice Red Giant leaning on the wall, arms crossed as he frowns at them. Probably thinks he's too cool for all this, although it's quite odd. It's instinctive for Seekers to dance together, since they're very expressive creatures. Then again, he was raised by grounders. I roll my optics and sigh.

So what if I go out on a million dates?

You never call or listen to me anyway

The little mech suddenly does something astonishing. He leaps up and onto the wall, jumps onto one of the wall spikes and uses it to bound onto the Arena floor.

I'd rather rage than sit around and wait all day

Don't get me wrong, I just need some time to play

Moonbeam and Starhopper shriek with delight, they rush over to him and grab one servo each, he grins back while giggling with glee. They laugh in a way that's nothing short of pure joy as they help him to do a front-flip.

You're on your knees, beggin' please "stay with me"

But honestly, I just need to be a little crazy

"C'mon Screamy," Solarflare coos and shakes her aft in the Prince's direction, "dance like a good little Seeker!"

"No," Starscream huffs and turns away, "it's a sparkling thing."

"Aww, is the little sparkling having a temper tantrum?" Nebula laughs.

All my life I've been good but now

Ooohhh

I'm thinking "What the hell?"

Moonbeam runs towards the wall, leaping at it pedes first and kicks off the curved surface, doing a backflip. She lands on her servos, pushes up and lands on her pedes, then proceeds to keep on going back.

All I want is to mess around, and I don't really care about

If you love me, if you hate me

You can't save me, baby, baby

All my life I've been good but now whoa "What the hell?"

The eldest Seeker finally stops on her pedes in the middle of the Arena and falls back with her arms outstretched. Solarflare catches one servo and Nebula catches the other, they pull her up so that she does a servostand on their palms.

La la la la la la la la whoa whoa

The hexad-leader pushes off her sisters and twists around, landing on their palms again so that she's facing the others and me.

"Get your afts over here!" Solarflare calls to her youngest brother and sister.

You say that I'm messing with your head

Boy, I like messing in your bed

Yeah, I am messing with your head

When I'm messing with you in

Moonbeam puts her pedes firmly together as Starhopper runs at Nebula, who grabs her wrist and hauls her up, the youngest aims to stand on her eldest sister's pedes. But the angle isn't right. Oh sweet Primus, they're gonna crash!

All my life I've been good but now

Ooohhh

I'm thinking "What the hell?"

All I want is to mess around, and I don't really care about

With a bright, white flash of light Starhopper vanishes and immediately reappears, standing on Moonbeam's pedes. The white spotted femme flings her arms in the air and laughs triumphantly.

All my life I've been good but now

Ooohhh

I'm thinking "What the hell?"

All I want is to mess around, and I don't really care about

White Dwarf runs at them then skids to a stop in front of the bottom Seekers. He reaches up with his data cables and Starhopper grabs them. The young mech then retracts them so that they act like winches. He comes face to face with Star and climbs onto her shoulder while she holds the data cables.

If you love me, if you hate me

You can't save me, baby, baby

All my life I've been good but now whoa "What the hell?"

Star pulls the cables behind her and crosses them over, Dwarf twists around and grins as his sister brings the data cables, now uncrossed because their owner turned around, back in front of herself.

La la lalalalala la la lalalalala la la

I leap up and laugh, "Bravo! Bravo!"

Now I know what he needs to speed up his rehabilitation. Music.

White Dwarf cries out as the music stops and he loses his concentration, his arms pinwheel back in a frantic attempt to regain his balanced. He slips, accidentally kicking Starhopper's helm in the process. She yelps and let's go of his data cables to clutch her aching wound. I can do nothing but watch in horror as the ex-hacker begins his twenty espe fall to the ground.

With a bellowed roar and a monumental feat of speed, for a mech his size, Red Giant rockets forward on his skates. Instead of kissing the ground, White Dwarf lands in his brother's arms with a loud thunk. The large Seeker snarls as his wheels slip, not used to the burst of speed, and the sudden additional weight doesn't help his predicament.

Knowing that he can't save himself from falling, but that he can save White Dwarf, the crimson mech twists his frame around and lands on his shoulder then rolls onto his back. Red snarls again, his wings scraping on the ground as he skids back two espe. But his grip on his brother never relaxes for a moment.

"Red!" the younger mech immediately pushes the arms clutching him to the ground, he sits up and grabs his brother's shoulders, "Red, are you ok?!"

I run towards the staircase that leads to the Arena floor, "Slag it all!"

I dash out just in time to see Starhopper teleport off her siblings. Moonbeam flips back and her two other sisters follow her to their brothers.

"Red?" White Dwarf whines, shaking his brother's shoulders, "Please, say something!"

The red Seeker stares up at the ceiling, blue optics burning in an odd display of rage as his chassis heaves. Dwarf shakes him again and Red flinches, growling as his gaze snaps down to meet the little Seeker's.

"Dislocated. Shoulder," he pants out through clenched denta.

"Sorry!" The white mech yelps and nearly falls off his brother from the force of pulling his servos away.

"Get off," I snap at Dwarf and kneel down beside the injured Seeker.

The little mech does as I say and scrambles off, "I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean t-to f-fall. I'm s-so sorry Red."

"I am fine brother," the fire in Red Giant's optics vanishes as his tone changes to a much softer one, "I have endured far worse."

Before I can even think about helping him sit up he does it himself. Keeping his injured, right arm close to his side with the servo clutching the left side of his waist. He doesn't even growl as he slowly sits up, then using his good servo to keep his right arm still, he stands.

I get up and look at his height, frowning in annoyance, "Kneel, I can't reach your shoulder properly."

He just glares at me, grabs his dislocated shoulder, then with a grunt along with a light flinch snaps it back into its socket.

"Well then...frag," I mutter, blinking like an complete glitch-helmed-idiot.

Red huffs, rolls his neck and shoulder, then walks very calmly towards the exit.

~Hey, Knock Out~

I pause in the middle of the hallway, ~Yea Breaky?~

~I found out where Red Giant is, one of the Vehicons told me he's in the rec. room~

~Thanks love~ I turn on my heels and head straight for the Seeker's location.

~You sure you want me to come, he really doesn't like company~ Breakdown mutters through our Bond, sounding very suspicious.

~I'm sure, I have some idea of why he's so antisocial and you're the perfect shield if he gets mad at me for asking~ I laugh at the unimpressed feelings I get from him.

As I walk into the room I immediately have to sidestep to avoid the three dozen Vehicons leaving to start their shift. Good timing I guess, with less mechs in the room Red Giant will probably be more relaxed and cooperative. It's not hard to spot him, since his red finish sticks out from the black to dark grey room like a flame in a cave. The bomb-specialist doesn't look up from his data pad as I approach his table, but he does give a low growl of warning when I pull up a chair beside him.

"Do not dare to ask if I mind you sitting there," he mutters, optics sharper than his tone as he closes whatever he was looking at on the data pad, "because my answer shall be a firm 'no', followed by a possible punch, depending on how fast you can run away."

Alright then...not relaxed in the slightest, "Well...you see...I just wanted to ask how your-"

"My shoulder is fine," he huffs, glaring at me from the corner of his optic.

"...Ok, I'm out of icebreakers then," I sigh and slump back in my chair as I cross my arms in annoyance.

"...What is...ice?"

I open my mouth to answer, but I'm saved from the awkward conversation by the arrival of my mate, "Ah, Breakdown!" I grin, beckoning him over with a pleading look in my optics, "Come over and pull up a chair love!"

Red growls as Breakdown sits beside me, "This is clearly an intervention of sorts."

Smart slagger, "Actually, yes."

He frowns and subspaces his data pad, "What is it then?"

"I just wanted to help with your...um..." Hmm...how to say this without getting punched in the face? Why do I never think these things through?

"My lack of emotions," he finally turns his helm to look right at my optics, "it is not a medical condition, if that is what you are implying."

I start to do what I always do when I'm working while nervous, I use my servos to gesture, using one to indicate to him first of all, "Well actually medical conditions, as you put it, aren't just physical. They can be mental and emotio-"

I flinch at the sudden sting that I get from biting my lip to stop myself, but it only makes the situation even worse.

Piercing blue optics narrow, glaring into my very Spark as he growls, "You should do a wise thing and be extremely careful, medic. While I am in the presence of my Commander I am able to tolerate you, but I shall make it very clear here and now: I do not like you. The only reason you are still sitting there is because you are helping my brother, who is the closest member of my family that I have. However, there are other medics on this ship, and so that means that you are expendable."

Breakdown lets out a deep, rumbling growl as he goes to stand, he's half way there when I quickly spin around and grab his arm, ~Easy there Breaky, I think I see where the problem is~

~Then get to it before I slag him~ the ex-Wrecker growls and grinds his denta as he sits back down.

"Why don't you dance?" I turn back to smirk at Red Giant and cross my arms, "It's part of Seeker custom to dance with members of the family, or even just their friends, dancing alone is acceptable too. It's to create a stronger bond in a family and let out their emotions. Yet you don't, even though you have so much anger built up inside."

The rage vanishes from his face, leaving it blank as he looks away, facial features twitching as he tries to show his undecided emotion, "...I do not...it is not in my programming to partake in such activities of leisure."

My mate growls again, this time in confusion, ~Programming? So he's a drone?~

~No~ I place my elbows on the table, link my digits together and rest my chin on them, ~Think genetics~

~...One-Third? He could've got it from Magnus~

I bite back my laughter, ~Primus no! You've seen me dance silly, I don't give a damn about what anyone watching thinks of me, yet clearly he does. But you're close, think more about his Sire~

~...Gladiator code!~

~We have a winner!~

"If you are finished with your Bond conversation, can we continue with our verbal one so that I may leave?" The Seeker huffs.

"Do you have a Master, oh great and beginner gladiator?" I chuckle as his helm snaps around and he stares at me with wide optics.

"How?"

I sigh, Primus I hate listing symptoms, it's so tedious. Why can't patients just look them up or medics could simply pass them a data pad with a previously made list? "You've got anger issues and you're also a perfect solider. Then there's the fact that you don't have any opinions, you never question your superiors and, well frankly, the broad frame is a real give away since you're a Seeker."

"...And you did a scan."

"No," I raise an optic ridge, trying to hide the dread that's building up in my Spark, "why would you say that?"

"I do not mean that you scanned me for the code during my first orbital on the Nemesis," the red Seeker mutters, "it is compulsory to scan the processor of a newborn sparkling," he growls at my startled expression, "You claim that I have no opinions, medic. Then allow me challenge your claim with this: my opinion is that your performance as a doctor that orbital could have been better, much better."

I bite my lip as regret wells up in my Spark and sits itself beside the dread, "...I'm sorry, I...I tried t-"

"You did not try hard enough!" He snaps, slamming a fist on the table as he glares at me like Lord Megatron would glare at a disrespectful underling, right before punching them across the room, "Even though you only just got your full certificate, you are a One-Third, so you should have known that the first feeding creates the foundation of a Carrier-Creation Bond! Without it, there can be no Bond between them! Thereby, it is obvious that a newborn sparkling should not feed from a wet nurse!"

"I know," I clench my fists against my knees and shudder, "and I'm trying really hard to make it up to-"

"To White Dwarf," Red Giant hisses, "well, he may forgive you, my sisters may forgive you, but you shall have to work extremely hard for my forgiveness!"

He hauls himself to his pedes and storms towards the exit. My Spark leaps with horror at the familiar sound of a pair of vocalisers coming from the hallway the Seeker is heading towards. In his fury Red Giant doesn't pay attention to where he's going and bangs his forehelm against a large, blue chassis.

"Watch where you're going young one," Dreadwing growls at the young gladiator.

"Move aside," Skyquake snarls.

~Oh frag~ I look at Breakdown and he looks back at me with the same horrified expression.

~Not good~ his optics dart back to the three large Seekers, ~Don't you dare try and get between them, I'll handle it~

"Move," Red Giant hisses at the twins.

They puff out their chassises and growl down at him, both of the Elite Seekers are at least an espe and a half taller than Red. But even though he's used to looking down on his five siblings, he doesn't seem at all intimidated by the older, larger mechs. Yet another symptom of the Gladiator code: you never back down from a fight, especially when your opponent is bigger than you.

"No," Skyquake pushes forward, making an attempt at using his elbow to shove Red onto his aft.

Quicker than lightening the crimson Seeker grabs the offending arm in an iron grip, he clenches his other servo into a fist and delivers an uppercut to the green mech's exposed side. Red removes his servo, the knuckles of his digits dripping with Energon. Skyquake cries out and doubles over, clutching his side as he falls to his knees.

"You insignificant little worm!" Dreadwing roars, claws streaching back to grab his gun.

But the younger mech is too fast, he lunges at the Elite Seeker with his servos outstretched and pushes him to the ground, their helms narrowly missing the edge of a table.

"We shall see who is insignificant after I have sent you to the scrapyard!" Red Giant hisses as he slams a fist into the side of the blue mech's face.

Do something Knock Out! Stop staring, stop staring, stop st- Oh Primus this is hot! Damn you, you big, strong, masculine Seekers!

Skyquake manages to push himself up and kick Red off his twin, before clutching his shallow wound once more. The younger mech goes to pin Dreadwing once more. Breakdown dives into the fray, coming up behind the red mech and wrapping his arms around the bomb-specialist's waist, then hauling him off his pedes.

"Easy there!" my mate snarls as the Seeker screeches with rage at the surprise attack.

Red Giant kicks back with both pedes, his heels press against Breakdown's shins and pushes his upper frame forward slightly. Then he slams back into the blue bruiser's chassis and they both topple backwards in the struggle. It's not hot anymore, it's terrifying. The twins are the strongest warriors from Starscream's army and if Red can toss them aside so easily, what's stopping him from going on a warpath? Apparently Breakdown, one of the original three Wreckers, can't stop him.

Get some fragging help already!

::Lord Megatron:: wait, no, why him? Idiot!

::Knock Out, it had better be an emergency:: the warlord growls in reply.

::I...um...::

::Spit. It. Out!::

::You're needed in the rec. room my Lord:: the words fall out of my mouth on their own accord as I watch Red Giant almost succeed in tearing Skyquake's wings off.

::What's the problem?::

Optics, oh Primus, Red's optics!

::Red Giant is taking after his Sire, my liege!:: his optics, they're no longer blue; they're the deep crimson of an Energon thirsty gladiator, out to get the Sparks of his opponents by any means necessary.

::What?::

::Gladiator code!::

::Scrap::

With a roar that could rival that of a Predacon, the enraged Seeker snaps. He spins around and kicks Breakdown in the jaw. He keeps spinning till his fist connects with Skyquake's helm. Red doesn't even pause, immediately leaping at Dreadwing so that they both crash to the floor, then proceeding to try and punch him through the ground.

Clang

My audials ring with the sound of my mate's hammer connecting with the red mech's helm. The Seeker staggers off of Dreadwing, shaking his helm as his optics flicker from red to blue and back again. He falls to his knees, clutching his helm as he hisses, frame rattling as he shudders and growls. After several deep breaths the Seeker stops shivering. Red's entire frame twitches all over in small spasms, he grits his denta and snarls at the ground as his wings slowly lower into a more relaxed position.

"You wish to know why I do not mingle like a common Seeker, Knock Out?" he growls, but doesn't look up at me, "This is why."

He slowly gets up and his pedes drag him to the exit, the Seeker keeps his helm down and pushes past a very confused Lord Megatron on his way out.

"Knocks?" Breakdown mutters as he looks at my quivering frame with a great amount of concern, "You alright?"

"I...I...y-yea," no, not alright in the slightest.

Hook noticed my twiches and shudders, he said that after the fight I wasn't fit for duty, that he was worried I'd have another one of my "episodes". So now I'm stuck in my own medical bay while the old wind-bag is in his, fixing the twin Elite Seekers while the rest of the Constructicons are hunting for Red Giant. The crane didn't say anything about research though.

I frown as I stare at the screen, the code that makes up the Spawn of Unicron is ancient, made from the glyphs that Unicron littered over the surface of Cybertron during his battle with Primus. There's only two glyphs that I know and altogether the Constructicons know three, Soundwave doesn't know any of the ones that us medics do. He's too busy keeping the ship running smoothly to help anyway. I sigh and click my claws on the console, what I have now is a start I guess.

"This is why."

With a growl I clutch my helm and lean back in my chair. Is it Red? Is that the only reason? Or am I just thinking too deeply on this one?

I need to recharge, that's what's wrong, my processor keeps on wandering because I'm tired. It's not because Red's condition bothers me, nope, nor did his outburst freak me out for that matter. With a soft yawn I turn the console off and cross my arms over it, nuzzling into the crook of my arms as I lean forward in my chair. Just gonna offline my optics for a breem or two, I hum wearily as my frame slowly gives in to the need to recharge.

...

Servos pressing and prodding everywhere, clawing at my precious finish.

"Stupid, little piece of slag!"

"Such a pretty finish, shame it's all scratched now."

"Worthless pleasure drone!"

Knock...

No! Not there! That's only for my mate to see! No, you can't touch! Please! Only he's allowed to touch me there!

"C'mon my lovely little cherry, open those gorgeous legs."

"What a sweet slut, already nice and wet for us."

"That's it you damn glitch, suck it like the whore you are!"

Knock Out...

Breakdown, I'm so sorry...I...I just can't...my frame...it's a traitor to my Spark...

"Oh, what lovely moans you make, you like it there don't you?"

"There now little fragger, just a bit more and maybe we'll let you overload."

"We'll never stop, no matter how loud you cry, no matter how much you beg!"

Something touches my shoulder, "Knock Out!"

With an audial splitting scream I bolt upright, whatever was touching my shoulder stops me from falling out of my chair. I whine and shiver, frame shaking with terror as tears that were welling up in my optics slowly begin their decent. Soft whimpers and sobs fall from my lips as I curl my arms around myself.

"Shh, it's okay love," strong, protective arms wrap around me and pull me to the broad, comforting frame, "it was just a nightmare, they're not here, it's okay."

My entire frame trembles against Breakdown's, with a pitiful sob I cling to him as he holds me close. He carries me to one of the medical berths and sits on it, gripping me in a tender hold, gently pulsing loving emotions through our Bond as his comforting EM field brushes against mine.

"Everywhere," I finally sob against his chassis after a few kliks, he shifts his grip so that he can offer me a servo, I only hesitate for a moment before taking it with both of mine, "they had me...they were...I was...I could feel...everywhere."

"I know," Breakdown whispers and nuzzles my helm fin as he sighs, there's a flash of anger in his field, but it vanishes quicker than it appeared.

"I-I'm so, so sorry," his anger is aimed at me, I just know it is, "I couldn't st-stop them, I tried to-to fight but-"

"No," he mummers, tone gentle yet firm at the same time, he continues, but the firm edge leaves his vocaliser, "no, no, no, Knock Out. No. Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault, and don't ever think that I blame you for what happened," he sighs, "Somehow, I knew that the scuffle in the rec. room would get you worked up like this, I just didn't think it'd happen so fast."

"I'm weak, that's why-"

"No," he growls, clinging to me as if my attackers are right in front of us, holding me, pressing his arms against my frame in a way that it seems like I'll fade into nothing at any moment. The ex-Wrecker shivers with a mixture of rage and anguish for a bit, then relaxes as he places a soft kiss on my forehelm, "Where'd they touch?"

"...Everywhere..." I whine, clutching his servo and pressing my helm against his lips, "Please...make it go away..."

"You sure?"

"Please."

With a gentle hum he rearranges me so that I'm sitting on his lap, he lies back on the berth to bring my optics level with his, I sigh and drape my arms over my mate's shoulders.

I let out a shuddered gasp as a servo runs down my back, "Door?"

"Locked it when you-" he bites his lip, but forces a smile, "when you were recharging."

"...Thank you."

"Anytime love," he mummers, "Everywhere?"

I whimper and try to press my thighs together, but he stops me with a light touch to my knee. I look at him, at his optic, reminding myself that who I'm with won't hurt me. Can't hurt me, because his love for me isn't some sick and twisted need, it's real. It always has been.

"Just the waist and above?"

I nod.

I quiver and curl up on my mate's chassis. His gentle servo runs down my back and stops just at my waist before repeating the motion; eradicating the last of the pasts ghost-like touches. My breath is shaky, but at least it's not thick and laboured like before, the tears have stopped too. The ex-Wrecker gives a deep, rumbling purr, a noise that he saves for our times alone, and nuzzles up to my fin. I lift my helm and can't stop the faint smile from crossing my lips at the sight of the tender expression looking at me.

"You okay now?" Breakdown mummers, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"Yea," I sigh, pressing myself closer to him as I shake with repressed whimpers.

I'm not okay, not in any sense of the word, I just can't say it out loud. Because if I do, it'll all come crashing down on me again.

But he knows, even though he doesn't hear me say it and even though he doesn't feel it in my taunt field or rejecting Spark, he just knows. He doesn't have to look through our Bond, even though its an Intended one and thereby can't be closed off, my mate just knows. The large mech smiles, pulling me into a tight embrace and brushing his lips against mine. He knows that I'll never truly be okay, but he tries so very hard to get me through each orbital; and I know that as long as his Spark is shining, he'll never stop trying.