Temerity

Part 28-Resolve

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.

"Sometimes solutions aren't so simple,

Sometimes good bye's the only way."

--Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park

Temerity-Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness.

9:30 a.m. Hot Rod made his way to the rec room, hoping to find Springer. He was there, at their usual spot, sipping his morning energon.

Springer saw his friend, pulled out a chair and scooted him a container of energon.

"I was beginning to wonder where you got off to last night. You never came back after that stunt you pulled with Smokescreen. Prime was gunning for your aft after you took off, so I'm surprised to see you still in one piece," Springer said. "Mind explaining where you've been?"

"Something. . .happened last night," Hot Rod said.

Springer frowned. "What? Besides the fight?"

Hot Rod raised an optic expectantly.

"What. . .you. . .you interfaced with somebody last night, didn't you?" Springer said just a little louder than Hot Rod would have liked. He glanced around, realizing they were the only mechs in the room.

"Who? Was it Blue? No, he wasn't here. . .the twins? Was it them? Wait. . .it wasn't Perceptor was it? Please tell me it wasn't Perceptor. . .he's not your type."

Hot Rod shook his head, then stopped when he spied a certain mech standing in the entrance to the rec room, stopping to talk with Ratchet.

Feeling optics on him, Prime met Hot Rod's glance. The exchange did not go unnoticed.

"Oh for the love of little pink petrorabbits please tell me you didn't. . ." Springer's jaw dropped. But he picked it up. "You did. By the Allspark, you did."

Then the smack.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Springer hissed, watching Hot Rod rub the back of his head. "Wait. Let me guess, you weren't. . .Kup is going to kill you dead, you know that?"

"Are you done?" Hot Rod asked, arms crossed, frowning.

"Not by a long shot. I'm just getting started. . ."

-----

The briefing that morning went better than expected. Kup raised a suspicious optic. Prime seemed relaxed. That was unusual. Lately, he'd been tense. In ops that afternoon, he even smiled when Bluestreak tried to explain to Prowl reason for the the bubble wrap and duct tape he was failing to hide behind his back.

"Lad, is there something you want to tell me?" Kup asked after Prime didn't ream Blue. He was rewarded with a smile and a pat on the shoulder as his leader retreated to his office.

Kup didn't think about it again until later, when Hot Rod showed up.

"Hey Kup," Hot Rod said.

"Yeah lad, what is it?" Kup said, not looking up from the data pad in his hand.

"You haven't talked to Springer yet today, have you?" Hot Rod asked.

"No," Kup said. Oh dear, he thought.

He set down the data pad, looking up to see Hot Rod leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, the picture of innocence.

"What did he do now? Or what did you drag him into?"

Hot Rod's expression didn't change. Kup considered this. He frowned slightly. Wait. . .Springer? Was that why Prime was so relaxed today?

"Whatever you're thinking, Spring had nothing to do with it," Hot Rod said.

"What did you go and do now, lad?" Kup asked, ready to panic. Considering Hot Rod's expression, it couldn't be too bad, and no one had called him out on anything but there had been the fight the night before, and neither Smokescreen or Hot Rod was hurt, come to think of it. He relaxed. Only a little. But he waited for Hot Rod to say whatever he had to say.

"So, how's Optimus been today?" Hot Rod asked, nonchalant.

"Haven't you seen him?" Kup said.

Not since this morning, Hot Rod said to himself. "No."

"Been more relaxed than I've seen him in a long time," Kup said.

Then the light came on. Kup looked like he'd been shot.

"Oh lad. . .You? And Optimus? Finally?"

Hot Rod nodded.

"Last night. I thought you should know."

-----

Optimus was glad the long day was finally over. It had been long, but a rare good day. Better than good, actually, for many reasons, though he was afraid that things with Hot Rod had gone too far too fast. Apparently not, from the look on Hot Rod's face when he saw him driving up at the lookout. He was grinning. Not cocky, just grinning, like he was glad to see him.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, if you were at all," Hot Rod said.

Optimus came over, sat down beside him.

"I almost didn't come," he said.

"Why?" Hot Rod said.

"I. . .only hope you have no regrets about what happened last night," Optimus said. "I do not but I would understand. . ."

Hot Rod raised an optic ridge. "If you say you're sorry, I will shoot you. And believe me, I will not be sorry. No regrets, Optimus. None at all. I thought you knew me better than that," he said.

"I do, but this is very sudden," Optimus said.

"I know we kicked things into gear pretty fast, Optimus, but we both know how quickly circumstances can change. And what's wrong with what's happened between us? It's no one else's business unless we want it to be. You said you're willing to try, and if you want to walk away, I'll understand. I wasn't even hoping for this much. But it's been worth it," Hot Rod said. "You're worth it. And let me set one thing straight right now--I don't give a damn that you're Prime. Doesn't matter, never has, except it was the reason I always tried to convince myself that I didn't stand a chance. And here we are."

Optimus reached out, putting a hand on Hot Rod's shoulder. "I'm not walking away from this," Optimus said. "I'm not walking away from you."

-----

Later that night, Optimus lay tangled with Hot Rod in the younger mech's berth, listening to the slow, steady intake of air as Hot Rod lay in recharge next to him. He wasn't sure if it was sheer exhaustion from duty or the two overloads, but Hot Rod was resting better than Optimus had seen in months. For that, he was grateful, and if his presence contributed to it, he was fine with it. The Autobot leader had to admit he was a little shaken with how quickly things changed between them, how he'd let Hot Rod's trust and resolve break him so swiftly. But maybe he'd wanted to be broken, to let someone in where none had ventured in a very, very long time. And this new aspect to their relationship was another adjustment he hadn't bargained on so soon, either. Except Hot Rod was right--they both knew how quickly circumstances could change. The war wasn't over--only the playing field had changed, and Optimus knew any day it could break wide open again, and that was why they still had to remain vigilant. And maybe he wouldn't have to be so alone.