Atonement

Chapter 7-

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

Galvatron woke, untangling himself from Starscream. He looked down at the recharging Seeker, who'd proved an ardent lover. He gently caressed Starscream's face, and he stirred, but didn't wake. Maybe he was on the verge of making yet another mistake, but it was his choice. He'd deal with the consequences. There was no more running, blaming others, or most important of all, not blaming Starscream. It would be easy to slip back into that old, familiar pattern, but he was not longer that mech. He had a planet and people to protect, and a Prime to answer to. Maybe that was his fate, and his penance, after all.

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Sunset, and Hot Rod was sitting up on the observation deck at Lookout Mountain. The place reminded him of happier times, back when he was just still Hot Rod, spending time with Daniel Witwicky, or listening to Kup talk about his potential. Still full of dreams and thinking anything was possible. He wasn't that mech anymore. Parts still remained, but becoming Matrix-bearer forced him to grow up. The weight of responsibility and duty almost crushed him, but he was too stubborn to give up. That, and in those first days after becoming Prime, Ultra Magnus wouldn't let him. Neither would Kup, but there had been friction between Magnus and his mentor over just how he needed be treated.

Magnus was the harsh voice of reason, and Kup the reassurance he needed. Springer, Blurr and Arcee were there as much as they could be, but the only one who truly understood was Magnus. Hot Rod missed him, wished Magnus could be spared from his duties on Cybertron, for just a day or two, and talk. Or spend some time with Kup, Arcee or Blurr. Again, they all had their duties. So did he. Maybe he was using it as an excuse to not leave Earth. And speaking of excuses, one was pulling up. He heard the familiar engine of Optimus Prime, who transformed, walking up to join him.

"I thought I'd find you here," Optimus said, taking a seat beside Hot Rod. "I haven't been up here in quite some time. You and Daniel used this as a hiding place, if I remember correctly."

"We weren't hiding," Hot Rod said. "Kup always knew where we were. Danny was always safe with me."

"I never suggested he wasn't," Optimus said. "He keeps asking when you're coming to visit, and I'm tired of making excuses for you."

"The kid's in school, and I'm busy here," Hot Rod said.

"He gets days off," Optimus said. "So do you."

"I'll think about it," Hot Rod answered.

"You'll do more than think about it," Optimus said. "I think Jazz and I can handle things here long enough for you to spend a day or two on Cybertron. It's only a bridge journey away."

"I'm not leaving Springer right now," Hot Rod said.

"Fine. I'll have Spike send Daniel here," Optimus said. "Problem solved."

"I would like to see Danny," Hot Rod said. "Letters and video chats aren't the same."

"You do need time off every now and then," Optimus suggested. "Ratchet won't like it if you end up as a patient."

"Yeah, I know. Speaking of that, guess you haven't heard, have you?"

"What?" Optimus asked. "I've been in meetings all day with Marissa Fairborne and some of the other EDC personnel, discussing what parts of the city expansion they can modify."

"Prowl wasn't going to budge, and I hope you didn't either," Hot Rod said.

"I didn't," Optimus said. "What's going on with Ratchet?"

"He flipped when Prowl crashed this afternoon," Hot Rod said. "I guess Prowl hasn't been recharging, so now he's a patient in the med bay. I had to call First Aid to relieve Ratchet, give him some time to cool off. It was not pleasant."

"Is Echo all right?" Optimus asked.

"She's doing all right. Springer is too, for now," Hot Rod said.

"Speaking of Ratchet, he suggested you and I talk," Optimus said. "About what happened this morning."

"There's nothing to talk about," Hot Rod answered. "Ratchet can slag off."

He was going to have a talk with the medic. Ratchet had no right to butt in like he had. It was Hot Rod's business, told in confidence to First Aid, who no doubt had discussed it with Ratchet, who as CMO, needed to be aware of the situation. And that was only if it happened again, but it hadn't, because he hadn't allowed himself to get close to anyone, except his lack of judgment where Optimus was concerned earlier that day.

"If Ratchet mentioned it, then. . ."

"Not important, it's my personal business, and if I wanted you to know, I'd tell you," Hot Rod responded, standing. He transformed, taking off, leaving Optimus alone.