A/N: Ratbat would like it to be known that he is an equal-opportunities bat when it comes to accepting snuggles. Make of that what you will.
Disclaimer: I own Nightraider, poor femme. Everything else is property of TakaraTomy and Hasbro. The Snowman is the property of Raymond Briggs; The Great Escape (which is always on at Christmas and which I have probably ripped to shreds) is the property of United Artists.
Italics denote telepathy.
Presents: Part 4
Skywarp couldn't tell whether the look on his fellow jet's face-plates was caused by irritation, or the bundle of squalling bat in her arms, or possibly a combination of both.
The one thing he did know?
Nightraider was torqued off.
Mostly at him.
This was a cause for bad things to happen, most likely to him. Or bits of him.
''A Christmas classic', you said. ''They'll love it, trust me!' you said.'
In the red-and-black jet's arms, Ratbat doubled his wails, optical fluid streaming down his face.
The purple F-15 gave the femme his most adorable 'I've-been-your-friend-since-younglinghood-so-please-don't-kill-me' look.
Nightraider just glared and cuddled the little bat to her cockpit.
Skywarp started to whine in his defence. 'Aw, 'Raider, c'mooooon! I didn't know RB was gonna react like that to 'The Snowman'!'
Soundwave was currently unable to comfort his youngest creation while Hook made the necessary repairs to his left arm and fitted his replacement right arm. All he was capable of doing was projecting as much comfort as possible into his telepathic link with Ratbat and shooting his filthiest glare at Skywarp.
'Ratbat: sensitive to death not caused through warfare.'
The F-15 groaned. 'Yeah, see, no-one let me in on that bit.'
Nightraider shook her head and turned her attention to the distraught little bat in her arms.
'Oh sweetspark, it's just a human story, it's not real, ok?'
Ratbat sniffled and stared up at the jet with watery optics. Bu-but h-h-h-he m-m-m-mel-t-t-ted a-ll a-awa-a-y and t-t-th-th-a-a-t m-a-ade th-th-e sq-u-squishy a-ll s-a-a-d!
'But the human still got to visit Santa, and he got a present from him, so he'll have that memory to make him less sad, won't he?'
Y-ye-es…
'And he'll be able to make another snowman and maybe even visit Santa again, won't he?'
The little bat snuggled further into the red jet's embrace. Y-yes…
'So he's sad right now, but soon he'll be happy again, ok?'
Ratbat nodded slowly and hiccupped. O-k-kay.
Nightraider smiled down at her patient and gently rubbed the top of his cranial unit.
'There. Now, are you going to go back in with your brothers and Laserbeak?'
Skywarp perked up immediately. 'It's 'The Great Escape' next. RB, you'll love it, trust meee…'
He trailed off after seeing the looks on Nightraider's and Soundwave's faces.
'I'll…just…be…in there, 'kay?'
And he teleported out before the femme jet could cause harm to any critical bits of his chassis.
Frenzy glanced up from his carton of oil-covered puffed energon goodies as he heard the sound of Skywarp's teleportation warp.
'So how's Squeaky?'
The jet tried not to look too sheepish as he started loading The Great Escape into the VCR.
'I escaped with my interfacing leads intact, that's all I'm worried about.'
Ravage fixed the purple Seeker with a glare that could melt the hide of Unicron and let out a single guttural growl.
Pardon?
Skywarp squeaked like a new-built femme and backed up a few paces.
'I mean, um, RB's fine, seriously! 'Raider's looking after him; he'll be cool when he gets back in and watches a few explosions!'
The feline Cassette narrowed his optics and started grooming his paws. He had better be.
The F-15 pointed at his face-plates and grinned. 'Hey. Is this the face of a jet who'd lie to you?'
Laserbeak raised an optic ridge. No comment.
Frenzy smirked. 'Or no repeatable comment, at least.'
'I'll second that one.' Nightraider marched into the bay, Ratbat cuddled under one arm and sucking happily on a Santa-shaped energon-lolly.
She cuffed Skywarp over the head, eliciting a yelp of pain and a wounded expression from the purple jet before setting Ratbat down on his berth and wrapping his Bo-bo around his wings.
'That better, sweetspark?'
The little bat chirruped. Lots. Can I have another lolly?
The red and black jet chuckled and patted his head. 'Don't push your luck.'
Ratbat giggled and busied himself with getting comfortable in front of the TV.
Skywarp rubbed his head and pouted at his fellow jet. 'What'd I ever do to you?'
Nightraider sighed. 'I'd give you a list, but I have a condor Cassette in pre-op. Keep the explosions down.'
With that, she marched out. Skywarp sighed and started winding the video through to the start of the film. Ravage and Frenzy opted to watch out of shared boredom, while Laserbeak resumed her nervous study of the side ward doorway.
The red condor had every faith in Nightraider to repair her twin. It still didn't stop her constant fear that, one day, her brother might not be able to be repaired.
Buzzsaw had been wheeled into the operating bay shortly before the TV went on. While Ravage and Frenzy had been engrossed in the setting up of the monitor and videos, Ratbat had been the one to fly shakily across to Laserbeak's berth and simply snuggled in next to her, chittering softly and cuddling closer whenever she let out a sob of fear.
The roles had been quickly reversed as soon as Ratbat had seen the end of the cartoon and spotted the melted puddle of snow which had comprised the titular Snowman.
Ravage glanced over at the red condor, scarlet optics softening as he took in his sister's hunched posture.
All will be well, Laserbeak. Buzzsaw will be healed, and he will soon be back at your side.
Laserbeak looked away from the door, her optics miserable. I know. But…
Her feline brother offered a rare smile. Nightraider would never forgive herself if anything happened to us. And besides our well-being, she does have other interests that relate to ensuring the unity of our family…especially regarding our creator.
The red condor frowned. Regarding Soundwave? What are you…?
Her optics suddenly brightened. Oh.
An almost mischievous expression lit up her face.
I was beginning to wonder whether anyone else had noticed that.
Ravage shut his optics smugly and carefully ran his glossa over his battered claws.
We share Soundwave's spark. Nightraider does hide it well, but if her spark is calling to ours, and ours to hers, picture if you will what Soundwave's spark is doing right now.
His sister went silent for a moment as she processed the concept.
…Oh my.
Indeed.
Laserbeak tucked her feet under her body as she settled down onto her berth, casting one last concerned look at the doorway as Skywarp concluded his battle with the VCR remote.
This could prove to be quite interesting.
The Communications officer felt his spark twist as he glanced at the bolted door of the operating theatre.
Buzzsaw and Nightraider had been in theatre for over an hour, with Hook acting as supervising surgeon. Bonecrusher had taken over from his crane brother and was in the process of hammering Thundercracker's wings back into shape.
A chorus of laughter erupted from the side ward, dragging Soundwave's attention back to his conscious creations.
The Great Escape seemed to be more of a popular choice than The Snowman. As for the other videos…if they kept his Cassettes content, then he would be content.
It gave him a period of reflection while Scrapper was repairing the internal wiring in his chest compartment to evaluate his feelings towards the red and black jet.
He was fully aware of Nightraider's feelings towards him, and how his spark reacted when she was near. It had called out in kind to hers for over seven million years, and it wasn't likely to stop any time soon.
But the chances of either of them admitting their feelings to each other…
The Decepticons by nature did not do fidelity. Emotion was a sign of weakness, and weakness could be exploited. Relationships or bonding were almost unheard of in the ranks, and certainly none for the past few thousand years.
Soundwave had been one of the rare exceptions from the start, purely via the single-sparked creation of the Cassettes. His telepathic and mental control had been invaluable in hiding just exactly how much his creations, and his role as a creator, meant to him.
Of course, it was still known throughout the 'Con ranks that if anyone tried to harm the Cassettes, the wrath of Soundwave would be unleashed, and no-one had tried to provoke the telepath since that one incident in Kolkular. The one unfortunate mech who had simply thought about striking Ravage had been found in a barely functioning pile of parts, some still hot from being melted into slag. Ravage still had the victim's head as a chew-toy.
And Nightraider herself was hardly a weak and wilting femme, especially when it came to protecting herself and those she cared for. She was a crack shot with a sedative gun, and it wasn't just because of her programming.
Add to this that neither of them were particularly good at showing their feelings in general and the situation was destined to get slagged up.
Soundwave let out an inaudible sigh.
This had not been part of his studies on how Christmas was meant to progress.
Frenzy was perched at the foot of his berth, an expectant grin plastered across his faceplates.
'Awww, no way! He's gonna try an' jump that fence, ain't he?'
His feline brother narrowed his optics as he watched Steve McQueen riding his battered motorbike up and down the German side of the barbed wire border with Switzerland.
I believe he will certainly try. This could go either very well, or very badly.
Ratbat squeaked and clutched his Bo-bo in his claws.
Do you think he'll make it?
Skywarp, who had taken over Buzzsaw's currently empty berth, smirked and rested his hands behind his head.
'Squishies ain't exactly what you'd call aerodynamic, RB. But you never know, he could make it-'
His optics bugged as said squishy made the jump over the first fence.
'WHOA!'
Frenzy whooped. 'Awesome!'
Laserbeak cawed from her perch at the foot of Ravage's berth. Impressive, for a squishy.
Her little brother let out a delighted squeal. He's only got one more fence to jump!
Ravage added his note of caution. But that one fence is considerably larger and…what on Cybertron is he doing?
His siblings and the reclining jet stared at the screen in bewilderment. The red Cassette's jaw dropped open and remained somewhere in the region of his knees as he spotted the hordes of enemy troops coming out of the army jeeps.
'OK, what the slag's he playin' at? Ya don't drive towards the Nazis!'
The F-15 made a few quick calculations. 'Unless he needs the run-up, and even then he's fragged in the processors if he thinks he'll make it!'
Ratbat wailed and looked away, covering his optics with his wings. I can't watch, tell me what happens!
Laserbeak took over. Alright, alright, he's making the run-up, and the Nazis are after him…he's made a good burst of speed…he's going to make the jump!
The sudden bang of a shotgun made the group wince.
Ratbat cautiously peered out from under one battered wing.
…Did he make it?
Skywarp's faceplates were screwed up in disappointment. 'Er…no.'
Is he dead?
'Again, no…but climbing outta that barbed wire's gonna hurt like the Pit.'
The little bat looked downcast for a moment, and then suddenly brightened up. Maybe he'll make it next time.
Laserbeak shrugged. Perhaps. As long as he gets cut out of that wire first.
The feline Cassette had heard that the score to 'The Great Escape' was highly regarded by the humans as an example of a high-quality motion picture soundtrack.
Having listened to the soundtrack courtesy of Soundwave, he was forced to admit that it was remarkably pleasant on the audios, in particular Elmer Bernstein's marching theme tune.
He had a distinct feeling however, that the composer had never been forced to listen a group of Decepticons loudly and tunelessly 'singing' along to said theme tune.
Lucky slagger.
Ravage buried his face in the berth mattress, placed his paws over his audio receivers and groaned.
Laserbeak?
The red condor glanced over, having disconnected her own audio receivers out of a long held self-preservation instinct. No, I don't think they'll be finishing any time soon, and yes, we will be hearing them singing this for the next six months.
Her brother growled. I never believed I would ever think this, but I am actually jealous of Rumble. At least he gets to miss this travesty of a sing-along.
As does Buzzsaw.
Laserbeak's wings and head drooped once again, resulting in her completely missing Ravage's double-take, and the smirk that lit up his elegant faceplates.
Perhaps not, dear sister.
The scarlet Cassette looked up and frowned for a second at her feline brother's almost gleeful expression. Ravage glanced at a point somewhere behind Laserbeak's back and midway between the floor and ceiling, and nodded.
A well-known and very welcome voice entered the conversation. I believe I have a reservation here. Look under Buzzsaw.
Laserbeak's optics widened as she whipped her head round and felt her spark expand within her chest as she saw the mech she loved above all others perched on Nightraider's shoulder.
The femme jet reached up to her shoulder and gently patted the golden condor on the head. Buzzsaw let out a trill of contentment, immediately catching the attention of the assembled mechs sprawled out over the berths.
Frenzy's faceplates lit up in glee. 'Yo, 'Saw! Nice t' have ya back, lil' bro!'
Skywarp waved a lazy hand at his fellow flyer. 'Hey Buzzy, what he said!'
Ravage purred. Welcome back, my brother. It has not been the same without you.
Ratbat squealed with delight through the link. Buzzsaw! I missed you!
Laserbeak remained silent as she watched the red and black jet place her fully repaired twin on the berth next to her. Nightraider fondly ran a hand over the younger femme's battered cranium and stroked her thumb down her beak.
'You make sure he doesn't fly for the next orn. I'm not having those wings of his getting stressed. And make sure you both get some recharge, alright?'
The red condor nodded weakly, her optics staring to glaze over with lubricant. She managed to tear her gaze away from Buzzsaw long enough to stare up at the femme jet, unable to think or speak the words she wanted to.
Nightraider simply shook her head and smiled. 'You're welcome.'
She glanced over at Rumble's berth and sighed. 'Now we'll find out what'll happen once this one returns to the land of the conscious.'
Ravage shrugged and stretched his claws out as he yawned. I estimate fifteen minutes of gratitude will be given freely. Then we will no doubt realise that him being online and fully limbed is the antithesis of all things good and pure.
Skywarp stretched his arms, tried to crack his spinal column, overbalanced, and keeled over the side of the berth. Sparing a moment to rub his aft, he started scrounging through the videos for some of his prized boxsets.
'I didn't think we did good and pure. Ain't those the kinda things the Auto-dolts keep preachin'?'
I was being facetious.
Frenzy raised an eye-ridge. 'Yeouch. Think 'Raider's got a cream for that.'
Nightraider groaned as she connected various leads to the trolley's back up generator and disconnected the main power supply for Rumble's spark monitor. 'Primus, grant me the wisdom to understand what I cannot change, give me the strength to guide me in my work, and enlighten me as to the reason why I agreed to repair these little slaggers in the first place.'
Ratbat chirruped from his bundle of Bo-bo. Because you love us?
'...Fraggit. Found out at last.'
The F-15 turned slightly, two boxsets in his grip and a grin on his faceplates as he watched Nightraider wheel Rumble out of the ward. 'Does that mean you love me?'
The jet's words floated through the doorway as her wings vanished out of sight. 'I refuse to answer that on the grounds of dignity.'
'Awwww.'
He turned and held out the videos to Ratbat, Ravage and Frenzy. 'Okay, so 'Lethal Weapon' or 'Die Hard'?'
Frenzy emptied the last of his puffed energon goodies into his mouth and belched. 'Which one d'you think we'll like better?'
'No, I mean, which set d'you wanna watch first?'
Entertainment took second place in Laserbeak's list of requirements as she stared at her twin, optics glistening dangerously.
...You nearly went away.
Buzzsaw fidgeted, his spark twisting as he took in his sister's expression and sensed the old fear in her thoughts.
His spark wrenched in pain that the thought of what Laserbeak had gone through. No-one was allowed to hurt his sister, especially not him.
The golden condor let out a small caw of sorrow and shuffled closer to his twin.
'Beak...Sis. Hey. I know it looked bad, but I'm not going anywhere that's away from you or the others or Soundwave. Okay?
A flash of scarlet, and Buzzsaw's immediate vision was filled with his twin burrowing into his chest, her head buried against his neck and shaking from silent tears. He wrapped his wings around his sister and closed his optics.
...I wouldn't want to go to the Matrix without you anyway. I'd get lonely.
Laserbeak let out a little twitter of reluctant mirth and simply curled closer in her brother's embrace.
'Buzzsaw: fully repaired?'
'He'll need to rest and let his wings recover from surgery, but otherwise I'm happy to sign him off as fully functional.'
Soundwave nodded and flexed the fingers in his newly-fitted right hand. 'Your work: much appreciated.'
'Well, it's my job...but thanks.'
Nightraider flashed the Communications officer a quick smile as she kept an optic on the blue Cassette's read-outs. 'However, will you still be saying that once Rumble regains the power of speech?'
'Rumble: vital to wellbeing of Frenzy and other Cassettes. Wellbeing of Cassettes: vital to myself.'
'And then your wellbeing would be vital to...who?' Nightraider pasted a fake smirk on her faceplates. 'Have you got a mech or femme tucked away somewhere that I've never met?'
She looked away and hoped that he hadn't picked up the flicker of jealousy that idea had produced. At the foot of the repair berth, Scrapper kept his optics firmly on the repairs to the tape deck 'Con's left leg and filed the exchange away for further analysis.
Naturally he sent his initial findings to the rest of the Constructicons first.
The navy mech remained silent, calculating his next words as he watched the femme jet and Hook finish their surgery prep. Nightraider's brisk actions made a sharp contrast to the Constructicon's smoother, more assured movements.
'Bondmate: none. Feelings of desire from crew of Nemesis: non-existent and unwanted if present.'
The crane surgeon was keeping his faceplates in a carefully schooled neutral expression, but there was more than a flicker of interest in his CPU with regards to the proceedings. Especially as the jet's movements became more fluid at Soundwave's words...and factoring in Scrapper's hypothesis...
Oh. Oh, now this was intriguing.
Not to mention amusing.
He transmitted the additional findings and conclusion to his brothers in less than a second.
Christmas was about to get a lot more interesting.
In the neighbouring berth, a bleary-opticed Thundercracker watched the exchange with no small amount of amusement and glanced up at a visibly entertained Bonecrusher.
'...You know that rule about no mistletoe or plant-life in repairs?'
The bulldozer nodded and smirked. 'I think that policy might be getting rescinded pretty slagging quickly.'
'Even if it means giving the Cassettes a Christmas tree in the ward?'
'Picking pine needles out of various joints for two weeks is immediately outweighed by the bribery possibilities and the amusement potential.'
The blue F-15 gave the Constructicon a deadpan look. 'You are a sick, twisted, masochistic dirt-dumper with no spark.'
Bonecrusher sniggered and punched the Seeker's arm. 'Awwww, TC. I never knew you cared.'
TBC