Author's Note: Slightly short ^^ but I felt it worked rather well on its own for a part! Hope you guys like it!
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Decepticon Warship, Nemesis, Earth's Atmosphere
A low menacing growl echoed out of the darkness, burning dark blue optics almost searing the paintwork off of Airachnid as the femme regarded her prey with keen interest. She had never quite met another mech like this one, every sense she had tingled with the awareness that if he broke free of his restraints, she would be nothing more than a broken frame on the floor within astroseconds. This Autobot would have no hesitation in him for making the kill, he knew that she was someone who would not stop her slaughter of 'innocents' until she was offlined. He was a prize to be certain.
"You know that sweet little growl of yours will get you nowhere." Leaning against the wall just outside of the laser bars, she peered into the darkness of the mech's cell, hearing the rattle of heavy chains and the movement of something large lurking within the shadows. "Though I must admit, I do find you delightfully entertaining."
A vicious word suddenly came from the darkness, when a length of chain suddenly slammed so hard into the laser bars, it steamed, the end of it almost catching Airachnid's throat and dragging her towards the death the bars would deal her. The metal hissed and melted as the laser burned through it and it dropped with a heavy thunk to the floor.
"Magnificent." The Decepticon almost crooned.
Airachnid finally got a glimpse of the massive mech when he stirred from where he had been coiled against one wall, long limbs stretching as lengths of chain scrapped across the plating beneath him. He was large for an Autobot, someone who could dwarf even Megatron if he wanted to. This was one of those mechs who had been forged for war, built to take down any enemy put before him with no compunctions about dirty fighting.
"I wonder how it was you ended up here," A clawed digit gestured towards the bars, before her bright indigo optics narrowed slightly, feeling the tingle of awareness streak up her spinal plating as Ironhide lifted himself from the deck, uncoiling completely like the predator he was, a treat that even she heeded. "Trapped like a mere animal."
"This will not hold me for long."
And a hand suddenly shot through between the bars, large fingers coiling around her throat lifting her from the ground even though her acid tipped claws were raking across his arm and searing into the thick plating. Digits flexed and squeezed tight, cutting off the supply of energon to her main processors and threatening to actually snap her head right off. Dark blue optics narrowed on the femme that dangled from his grip, twisting and writhing in an attempt to get herself free, but even she could not break his hold.
"I have little time for your childish taunts." Denta were actually bared, scarred lips parting and making him look even more fierce in the blazing crimson glow of the lasers.
"Drop her and back away, Autobot." A voice hissed from behind Airachnid. "Or would you prefer I sedate you again?"
The Decepticon femme was flung against a far wall with one flick of Ironhide's wrist, her body slamming hard enough to actually dent the metal before she dropped limply down to the floor. The large crimson and black Autobot did back up, his optics burning with hatred before retreating back into the shadows, silence filling the space once more.
"Behave."
Ironhide quieted completely, his frame settling down as the lengths of chain scattered a little around him from where they had been actually torn from the walls where they had once restrained him. He knew what sedation meant and it was the last thing he wanted right then, no matter how much he desired what came with the darkness of recharge. They had used him once to attempt to gain access to Optimus Prime's mind and processors and they would use him again. The intrusion had only been prevented by his own stubborn will and the use of a particular memory file of his to prevent them breaching Optimus's Firewalls.
His optics narrowed on the dangerous Decepticon who stood on the other side of the bars observing him with quiet amusement. Mindwipe was staring at him, forcing Ironhide to actually dip his head and glance away, something the Autobot rarely ever did, but knew it was necessary to prevent the other mech from trancing him as he had so often before.
"I must admit, I was rather impressed by your little game with me last night." Lips turned upwards into a cold calculating smile, one that bared the mech's 'fangs'. "You've improved, my little Pet. You usually cannot keep me out, but you did that time. I commend your efforts. However, Lord Megatron wants information and I do not wish to disappoint him."
"I would rather extinguish my spark then ever allow you access to his mind."
"So willing to sacrifice yourself." Mindwipe's lips quirked upwards. "But such is the way of love."
A roar of rage suddenly came from Ironhide, the mech coming up short at the bars, his fists clenched sharply, knowing that his mind and emotions had been the source of Mindwipe's amusement for the past three vorns. He had built up a tolerance to the power the mech used upon him, but still he could not fight it, no matter how hard he tried.
"I wonder what your beloved Prime would do if he knew the Decepticons had you here on Earth." Lips quirking upwards, he regarded Ironhide with a touch of speculation glimmering in his optics. "Would he give himself up to save you?"
"Prime knows the importance of his position." Ironhide growled out, his expression darkening as he clamped down on the urge to pace the length of the bars, his body quivering with such raw emotions that he was having a hard time keeping them bottled up. "He would not do anything so reckless." However, his spark clenched sharply, knowing that it just might not be true, the shared 'dream' through their faded mental bond might just have reawaken the Prime to something they both held close to their sparks. Do not come for me. He whispered to himself.
"We shall see."
And Mindwipe's mocking laughter bounced off the walls of the Decepticon prison deck.
Autobot Base, Nevada, Earth
"Optimus?"
The Prime actually jerked, his large frame shifting abruptly upright as he became aware of his surroundings once more and turned to face the doorway and the femme who stood there looking a touch concerned. His optics shuttered for a moment before rubbing a hand across his optics and attempting to relieve the pressure that seemed to rest just behind them, before gesturing for her to enter.
Arcee entered the mech's mostly Spartan quarters, glancing around and suddenly coming to a stop at the sight of the small holo-projector sitting before the Prime, its projector active and offering up a short video clip of two mechs. Blue optics widening with recognition of exactly who the younger of the two Cybertronians was, Optimus Prime himself… before the war. A young mech who was gazing up at his much larger companion with affection and delight dancing in pale blue optics as he was tugged close against a powerful chassis.
Optimus's head turned to watch the little scene play out, remembering the time he had set up the small projector secretly in hopes of catching a few images of Ironhide relaxed and playful. It had never ceased to amuse him endlessly just how much his beloved had hated digital recording mediums of all kinds and the slightly flustered expression that came to the mech's features when he caught sight of himself in a still holo.
"He hated digital recorders." Optimus commented softly, reaching out to lightly touch the image, even though his fingers brushed right through it he desperately clung onto the hope that he would find Ironhide once more. Maps and reports lay scattered across his 'desk', his earlier attempts to find anything that could even hint to where Ironhide might be. He had lost Ironhide so long ago… lost him to the war… to…
"I didn't know you…"
"Not even Ratchet did." His laughter was wry and almost bitter. "I didn't want to share." Shoulders slumped when he shut off the recording, desperately wanting to feel as he had the night before, feel the powerful frame close against his own, solid and real. "Ironhide was my mentor, my teacher… and the one who kept me grounded." Tucking the small projector back into subspace, he regarded the printouts spread out on the cold surface, longing to hear Ironhide's voice from near the berth.
"If you start this little habit of bringing home datapads… before you know it you'll have stacks of them on every available surface." A pair of dark blue optics sparked with amusement from the end of the berth, massive frame sprawled across it, not at all shy about his unarmoured state or his impressive arousal. "If you do that, I'll just incinerate the ones that get in my way." Lips twitched in silent delight at Optimus's expression. "Keep backups, Orion, if you decide to head down this path towards… paperwork."
"What can I do for you, Arcee?"
"I just wanted to say that you missed all of the last day's meals." Her optics dimmed slightly as she carefully withdrew a cube from subspace and set it on the edge of the desk, glancing back behind her towards the door.
A tired smile touched the corners of his lips when his gaze followed Arcee's and knew that she had not been the one to realise he had not ingested any fuel. "First Aid."
The slender blue and white mech appeared in the doorway, his visor dimmed and he almost seemed to want to fidget, his head dipping down so that he could stare at the floor with apparent avid interest.
Arcee wore the same silent expression that Optimus Prime did when they both regarded the newest member of the Autobot Earth contingent.
Guilt suddenly appeared on the mech's beautiful features, his arm wrapping around his chassis protectively, clearly attempting to shield his sparklings unconsciously. "I…"
"Do not feel guilt for your happiness."
First Aid jerked as if he had been struck, his grip on himself tightening, a slight tremble ran through his limbs. "I am a reminder of all of what you have lost and what… everyone misses."
And neither Optimus nor Arcee could deny it. Neither of the Cybertronians could honestly say they weren't jealous of the fact that Ratchet had been given a second chance with someone dear to his spark. Silence burned in the air between them all, scorching them right down to their sparks with the reality of exactly what the war could do. It ate away at them piece by piece until all they had left was a stark hope that just maybe they would survive.
"It kills me inside…" The blue and white medic whispered, a single tear slowly sliding down his cheekplate from beneath the edge of his visor. "That I can do nothing for the pain you experience. I am a healer, yet I am powerless to ease…"
"Love?"
First Aid spun, his slender body trembling with the force of his emotions and stared up into the face of the usually grumpy and irritable Ratchet. Yet the moment Ratchet's arms open to him he was flinging himself into the warm embrace, burying his face against the solid white and crimson chassis and clung desperately to his bondmate.
Cradling First Aid to him, Ratchet stroked a palm lightly up and down smooth spinal plating, his cheekplate resting on top of the pretty helm. 'I have you, my Compassionate One.' He let out a soft vocalisation that was helping to ease the raw distress that was screaming through their bond and what had drawn him instantly to his bondmate's side. Ratchet didn't care who saw him acting like that, no matter the fact that he himself was not one for public displays of affection. 'We will do what we can for them.' A kiss was dropped on top of the pretty helm, feeling his own spark lighten at the presence of his other half, knowing that he was the most fortunate of Cybertronians to have found something so precious. 'Do not despair.'
First Aid was sobbing, great shudders wracking the slender mech, while he attempted to calm himself, but could not help but feel the deep wash of emotions that came off both Arcee and Optimus in that moment. Ratchet knew that First Aid had always had a gift for sensing the emotions of others, not having understood to what extent until they had bonded and he had been able to share a new look at the world around him through his bondmate's optics.
"First Aid… I apologise…" Optimus Prime was on his pedes, his expression stricken, knowing that he had just…
"No." Ratchet's voice was a low warning growl, his arms tightening around his bondmate, tucking the smaller medic in closer, their chasses touching and sparks pulsing rapidly together. "Don't say the words, my Friend. Don't say them when you can't mean them."
The Prime lifted a hand to lightly rub at a spot just over his spark, blue optics searching Ratchet's face for a long moment, looking for something that he didn't know the name of.
"We would help you." It was muffled against Ratchet's chestplate, First Aid leaning into the soothing heat of the mech's frame, his voice a touch ragged instead of its usually musical and soothing notes. "We would help you locate Ironhide. You don't have to fight on your own. You don't have to… stand back from us…"
"My Bondmate is right, Optimus. Frag it!" Lips pressing together, Ratchet almost glared at their Prime and gritted his denta together, his optics taking in the scattered piles of printouts and datapads across the table the mech had been seated at minutes before. "You don't have to fight this on your own. Neither of you are alone. We are right here beside you, ready and willing to aide you in any way we can. We care."
Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots froze as if a bucket of cold ice water had been poured down the back of his armour plating, his back stiffening as he gazed at Ratchet and First Aid as if seeing the two for the first time. The walls that surrounded him that had been first cracked by Ironhide the night before, splintered a little more. The jagged cracks beginning to widen slowly, allowing a few bright rays of light in.
"Don't forget how to live."
"Let us in, Optimus." It was a soft plea from one of the two mechs that had known him for so long and yet never truly known all of him.
"I…" He actually hesitated, azure optics sweeping the faces of the Autobots before him as if seeing them for the first time, then glancing back towards Arcee and catching a glimmer of something in her features that made him pause. "I would welcome the assistance." A part of him suddenly unclenched from the grip of that ice cold chill that had swept over him at the loss of his Ironhide, that piece of his spark melting at the friendship and honest concern he saw in the optics of the bonded pair whom watched him.
"Good." Ratchet groused, giving Optimus a short look. "About slagging time." Though he gave both a rather pointed glare. "Though if you upset my bondmate again, both of you will be regretting your stupidity physically."
And even the Prime winced at that threat, knowing just how hard Ratchet could hit with a good wrench.
Hope you like it ^^