Temerity
Part 32-Commotion
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.
Optimus sat at his desk, trying to focus on the report in front of him, but he couldn't concentrate. His fight with Ironhide the day before and subsequent night in the brig still had him tense. He'd spent part of the night arguing with Ironhide, then faced with the silent treatment from his friend after Jazz made a particularly violent threat at both of them. But before being scared silent, Ironhide had brought up Hot Rod's name more than once, which had only further served to further provoke Prime. Ironhide had no right. . . and as far as Optimus was concerned, he didn't have to explain himself. It was his right as leader, although Ironhide was right from a certain point of view. He had a responsibility to all the Autobots on base, and their human allies, and not just one Autobot in particular.
He unconsciously started to rub the knuckle servos of his right hand. They still smarted from the blow that had knocked Ironhide to his aft.
"You should probably get that looked at."
Optimus looked up, seeing Hot Rod standing in front of his desk, hands on hips.
"The damage is insignificant," Optimus said. "And the pain isn't that bad."
"It'll be more than your hand that hurts after Ratchet's through with you. Or you could let me take a look at it. I'm no slouch when it comes to basic repairs," Hot Rod said. "Not as fancy as Ratchet, but I can patch you up."
"I might take you up on that offer, but not right now," Optimus said. "I have reports to finish. . ."
"You should have been off duty more than two hours ago. And I know you didn't take a break," Hot Rod said. "Do I need to keep making threats?"
"Tell Ratchet and you'll be in the brig," Optimus said.
"C'mon," Hot Rod said.
--
He'd actually raced with Hot Rod. He, Optimus Prime, Autobot leader, protector of life, had raced. Like a sparkling. With reckless abandon. Not on the main roads, of course--Hot Rod proved adept at finding routes well off the beaten path. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done something like it. And that was the point. Hot Rod was also proving adept at getting him off his aft and thinking about his own well-being. They'd later ended up at the lookout, where Hot Rod fixed his hand and after. . .
Now they were in Hot Rod's berth, cramped, as usual, but Optimus didn't mind.
"I'm sorry about the fight," Hot Rod said.
"Not your fault," Optimus said, pulling Hot Rod tighter.
"I feel like it's my fault. . ."
"I know, but Ironhide needs to understand that you won't be pushed, and I'm sorry I tried to push you also," Optimus said. "I need to learn to respect your boundaries."
"As I will try to do the same for you," Hot Rod said.
Hot Rod felt the now-familiar rumble of Optimus' laughter, heard it in his right audio. "All either of us can do is try," Optimus said. "I can't ask for anything more."
Hot Rod turned over, facing Optimus. "You've been more than patient with me," Hot Rod said. "And for that, I haven't said thank you."
"You don't need to," Optimus said, caressing Hot Rod's jaw. "Do I need to show you again?"
-----
Past lunch time, and by the time Lennox actually stopped long enough to acknowledge his growling stomach, Epps had already rolled into town with Ironhide for something to eat. Now he needed a ride and figured he'd use it to his full advantage. Lennox walked into ops, found Hot Rod standing by Springer's station.
"C'mon hot shot," Lennox said. "You're taking me to get some lunch."
Hot Rod didn't respond, simply followed the young captain down the corridor and outside, where he transformed. He opened the driver side door, allowing Lennox to climb in.
"Thanks for the ride," Lennox said. "But that's not all I wanted. I wanted to talk to you, to see how you're doing.""Better," Hot Rod said.
"That's good, I mean, I can see it, too. Kup's really happy with you lately, and Prowl's even commented on it," Lennox said. "But there's something else lately that's been bothering me. What's Ironhide got against you?"
"Besides the obvious?" Hot Rod said.
"Arrogant pain in the ass who has authority problems?" Lennox offered.
"Among other things," Hot Rod said. "But it goes back further than that. You've seen the scar over his right optic--the first time we met, I shot him in the face."
"You did that? No wonder he's pissed at you. I know he can hold a grudge. . ." Lennox said. "But I know that's not all, is it?"
"Just the first in a very long list," Hot Rod said.
Lennox decided to dig a little deeper, and there was no easy way around it so he decided to dive right in.
"What was this Ultra Magnus like?"
"A good soldier," Hot Rod said. "And Ironhide's polar opposite, as you humans would say."
"They were. . .uh. . .involved?" Lennox asked, surprised Hot Rod would volunteer the information so readily.
"If you mean together, yes, but not bonded," Hot Rod said.
The long-standing argument between Ironhide and Ultra Magnus was well known among the Autobot ranks, but Hot Rod didn't mention that.
"What does 'bonded' mean?" Lennox asked.
"The joining of two sparks," Hot Rod said.
Lennox knew what sparks were. He'd asked Ironhide, who had explained it in his own terms, then further plied Ratchet for information. The medic had gotten the message across more effectively than Ironhide.
"So kind of like the Cybertronian version of a commitment," Lennox said.
"Yes," Hot Rod said. "Except it's permanent."
"Why weren't they bonded then if they were together?" Lennox asked.
"I think you should ask Ironhide that," Hot Rod said.
"I'd like to live to see my daughter's first birthday," Lennox said. He didn't ask anymore questions, choosing to ride in silence. And he wasn't going to be the one to volunteer another reason Ironhide was always angry with the young Autobot, besides his reluctance to talk about what happened with the ship. Ironhide had let slip he thought the two were involved, but it was a ridiculous prospect.
-----
It was early evening when Optimus Prime came into the rec room. His presence did not go unnoticed for two reasons--it was early in the evening, a time when he was usually still working. The second was the place was full with almost every Autobot and former Decepticon on base, along with Sam and Mikaela.
The two humans exchanged a look, interested. And Sam noticed Sideswipe had a particularly feral smile on his face.
Optimus looked around the room at the now silent occupants.
"I have an announcement I would like to make," he said. "I know there's been some scuttlebutt going around the base, and in this case, it is true. Springer is indeed the new Autobot air commander. Congratulations."
Hot Rod, who was sitting at the same table as Springer, just grinned at his friend.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" Springer hissed.
"Yeah, but I didn't know when he was going to do it," Hot Rod said. "Don't be so angry. I know 'Sides told you about it when you were still in the med bay."
"'.." Springer said.
Hot Rod's grin got bigger. "Think of it as a reward for your good behavior," Hot Rod said. "Besides, it's a chance for everyone to blow off some steam, and are you going to deny them that?"
Springer glared, but he knew Hot Rod was right.
--
Sideswipe stood, leaning against the wall. Sunny was on his left, Blue on his right. He grabbed the young gunner by the arm, pulled him close. "If I were you, I would not come by our quarters tonight," Sideswipe said.
"Huh?" Bluestreak said, not quite getting it. Then he followed his friend's gaze, which was locked firmly on Springer. "Oh. . ."
"Yeah," Sideswipe said. "Speaking of, I'm sick of you moping around all the time. Why don't you just go over and do something about Prowl and Jazz tonight?'
Blue frowned.
"'Sides, leave him alone," Sunstreaker said. "It'll happen in its own good time, I hope. C'mon."
Blue watched his friends head toward Springer's table, glad they were finally going to do something about it.
--
Mikaela rolled her eyes at Sam. He was so off-base. . .Hot Rod was doing OK. As well as anyone could expect. She couldn't believe Sam had the audacity over the weekend to suggest that Hot Rod would hurt her. She'd even gotten Sam to apologize, and Hot Rod had accepted, mirth in his optics, which was a relief, considering how he could have reacted. And she knew now something was going on between Hot Rod and Optimus Prime. The scene she'd witnessed Saturday morning in the Autobot leader's office proved that.
After she'd gotten over the initial shock and had time to think about it, it all made sense. Sort of. The two were spending a lot of time together from what she'd managed to wheedle out of Kup. And Springer just glared and hadn't said a word when she casually asked him about it.
Now, she, Sam and Bumblebee were sitting with Frenzy, Rumble, Barricade, Hot Rod, Thundercracker and Skywarp in a loose circle around Kup, who had just finished telling one of his stories.
"What's truth or dare?" Skywarp suddenly asked.
"It's a human game that will end with you getting your aft handed to you," Kup said. "If I were you, I'd go play hide and seek."
"What's that?"
"You go hide and someone comes and looks for you," Kup said.
Skywarp and Thundercracker grinned, looking at each other.
"Oh no. . ." Kup said.
--
1 a.m. It was a week night, which meant school for the two humans and various duties the next day for all of the base occupants. But hide and seek was going full tilt and Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had finally managed to drag, coerce and generally threaten Springer to their quarters. Springer looked like he was going to bolt but Sideswipe blocked his exit and Sunstreaker was sitting on the edge of his berth, sipping energon and watching his brother with mirth in his optics.
Oh hell, Springer thought. Why did Hot Rod have to be right about *this?* Sideswipe was one thing, but Sunstreaker was nuts. Crazy. Temperamental on top of it. But there he was, perfectly relaxed and it was 'Sides looking like he was the crazy one.
:Relax:
Springer's head snapped around, glaring at Sunstreaker.
The yellow twin had an optic ridge cocked, a slight smile gracing his features as he took a sip of energon.
'Sides, stop. You're making *him* nervous. Back off. He isn't going anywhere. And honestly, you're making MY head hurt.
Sideswipe glared at his twin. Him. Nervous? By the Allspark, why should he be nervous? He commanded the Wreckers. And he's friends with Hot Rod so you'd think he'd be used to crazy by now. . .
Yeah, but I don't think he ever seriously considered us, Sunstreaker said.
Then let's show him, Sideswipe said.
--
Springer came out of recharge unable to move. He was sandwiched between the twins, Sideswipe facing him, Sunstreaker spooned against him, one arm thrown across his middle. He grinned. He was tired as hell, as the humans said, but happy. He felt Sideswipe stir, watched the red twin sit up.
"Hafta be on duty in five minutes. . ." he muttered, leaned in, kissed Springer before sliding off the berth.
:Scoot over before I fall off the berth and need a new paint job: Sunstreaker said. :Stupid pain in the aft. He could have moved to his own berth but no. . .:
:Sunny, shut up: Springer said, but scooted over.
:Thanks:
:You're welcome. Wait--am I crazy or do you remember Prowl singing something about 'sexy back' over the comm system last night?:
:Not crazy. And remind me to kill him later: Sunstreaker said, snuggling against Springer. Springer frowned. Sunstreaker. Snuggling. Against him.
-----
The brig was the last place Hot Rod wanted to be, but he was thankful he wasn't actually occupying one of the cells. No, that was reserved for the Autobot second in command who'd had a little too much fun the night before. Hot Rod stood, arms crossed, one optic ridge raised, watching Prowl sleep off his bender, one that was already on its way to becoming legendary.
"Think he'll remember any of it?" Hot Rod asked.
Kup hmphed. "Does he ever?"
"No," Hot Rod said.
"Must be that battle computer of his. . ." Kup said. "Did I thank you for the help last night?"
"No thanks needed," Hot Rod said. He grinned at Kup. "That was one of the wildest chases. Ever."
"How's Optimus?" Kup asked.
"Still cursing Prowl all the way back to the Allspark," Hot Rod said. "And I think Ratchet wants to kill them both. Jazz is laughing about it finally and Blue. . ."
"Scared silent?"
"Yeah," Hot Rod said.
"Don't think we'll ever know what made Prowl decide to play chicken with Optimus," Kup said. "So much for logic. . ."
Hot Rod watched his friend shake his head in exasperation. Prowl had indeed lead them on a wild chase, starting with singing a song that was now banned on base--"Sexy Back" by a human called Justin Timberlake. Except he hadn't just sang the song, he'd done it over the base intercom system. That was followed by a public display of affection directed at Jazz and Blue--busting moves in the rec room to the very song he'd been singing. Jazz had merely smiled drunkenly at his friend's antics while Blue had the decency to be mortified before collapsing face first to the floor from too much energon. Then the second in command had whipped out a pair of stasis cuffs and tried to capture Jazz, which lead to Jazz transforming and speeding away from the base, followed by Prowl, with sirens blazing.
The game of hide and seek quickly broke apart at the sound of sirens, and the few still sober mechs or otherwise unoccupied mechs on base took out after the two drunken officers. Those included Smokescreen, Hot Rod, Kup, Optimus, Ironhide, Skywarp and Barricade. The chase ended in town, of all places, when Prowl somehow managed to slam almost head-on into Optimus, who'd had the presence of mind to stop when he realized what his second in command was doing.
Hoist had to be called out to tow Prowl back, and once he was repaired, he was shoved into a cell.
"Good thing he wasn't going very fast," Kup said.
"Tell that to Optimus. Prowl scared him senseless," Hot Rod said.
"Glad something good came out of this. He needed it," Kup said. "Speaking of stupid behavior, has he even apologized to Ironhide?"
"Optimus hasn't said anything to me," Hot Rod said.
"If he doesn't, I will. All this damn moping. . ."
"I dare you to call Ironhide 'mopy' to his face," Hot Rod said.
"Lad, I'm not that stupid," Kup said. "Hey--where's Springer? I never got to congratulate him last night."
Hot Rod grinned, bigger this time. "Don't you know?"
"Know what?" Kup said, frowning.
"Ask him yourself," Hot Rod said. "C'mon. Let's leave sleeping beauty here to his rest."
-----
"So you managed to slide to an angle before he hit you?" Ratchet asked.
"For the millionth time, yes," Optimus said, annoyed.
"Good thing you did, because he could be dead," Ratchet said.
"I think I know that," Prime said. "Are you finished?"
"Almost. Take it easy on that leg for a couple of days, will you?" Ratchet said.
Prime glared back.
"That's what I thought. . ." Ratchet said. "Get out of here."
--
Optimus found Ironhide in ops, on monitor duty.
"Come with me," Optimus said.
Ironhide glared up at his leader.
"That is an order," Prime said.
Ironhide stood, followed him out of ops, to the rec room. The black mech watched Prime pull out a chair, followed suit.
"I'm sorry I hit you the other day," Optimus said. "But this is becoming a regular occurrence between us. . ."
"You shouldn't apologize," Ironhide said. "Not when you were provoked."
"Then you're sorry?"
"Yes," Ironhide said. "But. . ."
"But what?" Optimus asked.
"I think you've been much too lenient with Hot Rod regarding what happened with the Vector," Ironhide said. "And his earlier behavior. And your conduct toward him."
"My conduct where Hot Rod is concerned is none of your business," Prime said. "Are we clear on that? I would never presume to butt into your personal relationships. . ."
"But what if yours intersects with mine?" Ironhide asked.
"What?" Optimus asked, frowning.
"Forget I said anything," Ironhide said. "Are we finished?"
Optimus nodded, watching Ironhide stand and walk away. Sometimes. . .