Temerity
Part 35-Encumbrance
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.
Several certainties assailed Ratchet at the same time as he woke. His head ached, he was in his own quarters in his own berth and definitely not alone. Kup's impending death was the last certainty lodged in his processor as the medic tried to figure out how he ended up back in his quarters and who currently occupied the berth with him. Not Skywarp. Couldn't be Skywarp. The Seeker couldn't stand by the time Kup decided he'd had enough to drink, staggering from the rec room to his own quarters a few hours before.
As a silver and black arm draped itself over Ratchet's mid-section, the medic had the evidence needed to prove it was indeed Skywarp sharing his berth. He moved to pull away, but Skywarp moved in closer, holding him tighter.
"Skywarp, you can stay here if you want and sleep off your bender, but I have things I need to take care of," Ratchet said. "So let go."
"Not letting go," came the faint response.
"What?" Ratchet asked, annoyed.
He felt the former Decepticon shift against him.
"You don't remember?" Skywarp said, incredulous. "You told me last night that no matter how much you argued this morning, that I wasn't to let you leave your quarters until it was actually time for your shift to start." "I think it's time for my shift to start," Ratchet said. "So you can let me go."
"You're wrong," Skywarp said. "Can you tell me what time it is?"
"No," Ratchet said, suddenly running an internal diagnostic. He wasn't surprised to find his internal chronometer rendered inoperable. "Kup's doing?"
"Yup," Skywarp said. "I helped him hold you down to do it. It's an easy fix for somebody like you."
Ratchet sighed. "So what time is it?"
"0530," Skywarp said. "Shut up and go back to sleep. Or we can leave off where we did a while ago. Doesn't matter to me. You could definitely use another 'face, though."
"I what?" Ratchet asked, incredulous.
Skywarp chuckled. "You honestly don't remember? You dragged me here, shoved me down on your berth, and well, things ran their natural course," he said.
"Seriously not," Ratchet said. "I'd never lose my composure in such a manner. . ."
"Wanna bet, sparky?" Skywarp said. "'Ratch, loosen up, but for now, shut up, and if you're lucky, today, I'll help you with that prank you were planning."
"Prank?"
"Yeah, prank," Skywarp said. "If it'll help, don't think of it as a prank, but revenge against Kup."
Ratchet frowned. He was planning a prank? Skywarp was willing to help? Maybe the night hadn't been so bad after all. He sighed, offlined his optics, drifting back into recharge.
-----
"Y'know, sulking really isn't your style."
Ironhide whipped around, glaring down at the insolent silver mech grinning up at him.
"You're distracted, which means you're an easy target," Jazz said. "Be glad I wasn't a Decepticon. And you're lucky I'm in a good mood."
The smaller Autobot sat down, patting the ground beside him. "Sit down," Jazz said. "We're gonna have a little talk."
Ironhide complied. "Did Prime send you?"
"Hardly," Jazz said.
"Then why are you here?" Ironhide asked.
"Because you need some sense knocked into that thick head of yours," Jazz said, regarding the big black mech beside him.
"And you think you're mech enough to do that?" Ironhide said.
"I've kicked your aft and I can do it again," Jazz said. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ironhide said, crossing his arms, shifting away from Jazz.
He stood, facing Ironhide, reaching up, pulling the bigger mech's head down. "I'm only gonna say this once--get your head out of your aft," Jazz said. "Not just for your sake, all right? I know you're still hurting, but you're not the only one. You're driving your best friend crazy, and don't you think Prime has enough to keep him busy without you adding to it? 'Hide, he's tryin', ya know? I know you and Hot Rod don't get along, but Prime cares for you both. He's not gonna pick one over the other, so don't make him choose. That's not fair to any of you. I know you've been forced to make that choice yourself, how hard that had to be, so why would you make someone else go through that if they don't have to? Optimus isn't Magnus, 'Hide, remember that. He'd never turn his back on you. He's had plenty of reasons lately, but Prime won't. Your friendship means too much for that. And Hot Rod. . .'Hide, just try and give him a little space, all right?"
"I won't make any promises," Ironhide said.
"I'm not asking you to," Jazz said. "C'mon, 'Hide, talk to me. What's bothering you so much?"
"I've done enough talking," Ironhide said, pulling away from Jazz. He transformed, driving away.
-----
Prowl sat on the berth in his cell, arms crossed, glaring at the Autobot releasing the barrier holding him inside.
"Don't try anything stupid," Hot Rod said. "Your weapons are offlined, and I'm to pass along orders from Ratchet you're to take it easy until tomorrow."
"Where is Ratchet?" Prowl asked. "He was supposed to clear me for duty today."
"Ratchet's taking a personal day," Hot Rod said. "You should be glad he didn't clear you. Quit complaining and go spend time with Jazz. I'm pretty sure I could get Spring to take over for Blue in ops for a few hours so you three can go spend some time together. . ."
He paused, seeing the mix of confusion and incredulity on Prowl's face.
"There is no logical reason to pull Bluestreak away from his assigned duties," Prowl said.
"I never said anything about logic," Hot Rod said.
"Obviously," Prowl said. "Speaking of duty, you should return to yours."
"I am," Hot Rod said. "Just as soon as I finish running Kup's drills for him."
Prowl stopped. "Why isn't Kup attending to his own duties?"
"Don't know," Hot Rod said. "I haven't seen him all day. He left a data pad on his desk, asking me to take care of a few things for him, he'd be back later."
"Could there be a connection between Kup's absence and Ratchet's 'personal day?'" Prowl asked.
Hot Rod snorted. "Kup raided the twins' energon stash last night to help Ratchet unwind," he said. "I've been wondering all day just how unwound Ratchet got."
"I do not think I want an answer to that question," Prowl said.
"Neither do I," Hot Rod said.