Author's Note: TADA! I finally managed to get this chapter out, it wanted to be stubborn, but here it is! I really REALLY hope you guys like it! Finally see our favourite Prime lose his cool!
Disclaimer: Own nothing!
Autobot Bunker 10, Ruins Of Iacon, Cybertron [Past]
Optics drifted open, his cheekplate rubbing lightly against the broad shoulder just beneath it. Inhaling deeply, the heady scent of his lover's frame filled his senses and he almost groaned in need in response. He had never experienced anything like it, the disarming and delicious sensation of being utterly complete and all the worries chased from his processors. Optimus Prime's lips twitched upwards at the corners, tipping his head enough that he could brush his lips across the battle scarred metal and up against the side of the mech's jaw.
A hand slipped upwards across the length of the Prime's spinal plating, lazily stroking and tracing every seam along the way to cup the back of the mech's helm and draw his head up enough to kiss him. It was a gentle action, soothing and tender, their mouths meshing together easily, glossas tangling.
"What am I going to do without you…?" His voice was soft, but it held the note of despair and desperate longing that bubbled up from within his spark. "You've always been…" Swallowing slightly, he turned his head and pressed it against the curve of his lover's throat, his arms sliding beneath the massive chassis he was sprawled across, allowing the heat of Ironhide's frame to soak up into his own.
"Orion Pax." The deep rumble vibrated up through the Prime, dark blue optics flickering open and remaining half shuttered, the colour so dark it was almost black. "It will be no more than a few deca-orns."
Yet, the Prime couldn't help but feel that… it would be longer than that. He desperately didn't want to release this mech from his grasp, knowing that Ironhide might just slip out of his reach if he did so. However, the war needed Ironhide, he was an experienced fighter and one that could lead the troops on the front lines where he was needed. Personal reasons, he knew, couldn't interfere with the Autobot cause, but still… his spark rebelled at the idea of being without the strength of Ironhide behind him.
"You'll have Jazz and Prowl. Apparently you'll also have a medic by the name of Ratchet joining up and I've heard quite a bit about him from some sources, though I hear you once knew him."
"I did… briefly" Pushing himself upwards, forearms resting across the black and crimson chassis, his fingertips trailed down along a scar unaware of the movement. "They. Aren't. You." Vibrant blue optics narrowed sharply on his lover, the mech who was his other half. "You always underestimate your importance to me. You are the reason I'm even here still. You are the reason I am a Prime. The reason I have the strength to fight."
"Nuts and bolts, Orion. I am not…"
"You are!" Both fists thumped against the thick plating, his head dropping forwards so that his forehead touched against the warm metal, hearing the pulsations of that treasured spark. "Don't you fragging say otherwise, Ironhide. You are my happiness, my spark… my reason for being."
Gathering the Prime up in his arms, he sat up, just resting his back against the cramped wall on one side of the makeshift berth they occupied together in the hastily patched up base they occupied. Cradling the mech to him, he rocked him slowly, dropping his cheekplate against the top of the Cybertronian's blue helm. Allowing his optics to shutter, he allowed the Autobot to slowly calm himself down, to experience all the raging emotions that were usually so bottled up within him in the privacy and shelter of his grip.
"Thick plated aft." Optimus muttered, but buried himself further into that embrace, grateful that Ironhide always knew exactly what he needed and wanted. "Don't feel good about this, 'Hide."
"Hey, I'll be fine. Nothin' can kill me. I'm built to outlast basically everything."
"You aren't old." Lips twitched slightly, melting into the slow soothing movements of his lover, feeling all the strain seep right out of him, unable to resist the lure of Ironhide's touch. "I would know you definitely aren't from your performance last night."
"I live to please."
"Definitely." Blue optics flashed with delight, a hand lifting to brush over one scarred cheekplate, caressing the warm metal and feeling his lover nuzzle into it affectionately. "You better come back in one piece, Ironhide or…"
A smirk curled one edge of his lips, giving Optimus a rather playful look, nipping at the fingertips that came close to his lips. Capturing one, he sucked on it, glossa stroking the sensitive pad of it, dark optics turning stormy with desire and an every present hunger that neither could ever truly sate. "Or what? You'll punish me? I would love to see you attempt to."
Lifting his chin slightly in stubborn defiance, he was grateful that Ironhide had eased his anxiety, reassuring him in all the ways he needed. "I have a way."
"I think I will enjoy seeing that when I return."
Decepticon Warship, Nemesis, Earth's Atmosphere
The entire Decepticon ship was suddenly echoing with a roar that made ever Vehicon flinch, the sound deep and filled with the promise of death to anyone that attempted to see its source.
"Isn't smart." Knock Out grumbled, the medic actually rubbing one arm lightly, a shiver flickering up his spinal plates at the second deafening bellow of rage that unnerved even Breakdown. "One shot… and poof." He gestured slightly, staring back down the corridor towards the locked down section of the ship that currently kept the Autobot contained. Starvation had only added to the Autobot's natural strength and willingness to practically tear the entire place apart with his bare servos. "No more nasty little Autobot."
Another rather loud grind of metal against metal filled the air.
"Not so little." Airachnid smiled deviously, a finger rubbing lightly up across her own throat remembering exactly how that large servo had closed around it. She had to admit it was definitely something she admired silently about the mech, he had the brutality of a Decepticon in there. "Definitely not little at all…"
"You have poor taste." Breakdown scoffed, golden optics narrowing on her before massive shoulders shrugged and he dropped into one of the seats before the bank of screens and control panels.
A finger tapped a button and all optics turned to the image that flashed up on the display panel, the massive black form of Ironhide was prowling the corridor, every piece of machinery and every wall had been literally torn apart in his rampage to escape. There was nothing that had been left whole except it seemed several hidden cameras.
"About time he dealt with him." Someone muttered as Mindwipe finally came into view of the camera, facing down the rampaging Autobot with the foolishness of a newly sparked bot facing down Megatron.
There was a sickening crack as spinal plating squealed in protest and the main sensor column was literally twisted in two, the Vehicon's head was pulled right off like the cork from a bottle of the finest beverage. The body dropped to the ground, the head trailing wires and fluid, the mech baring his denta in an expression that would have frightened even the most stalwart of soldiers. "You think these toys of yours will stop me?" A red hot rage burned within the dark blue optics making them almost glint an eerie violet in the dark corridor of the ship.
Mindwipe stood down the length of the corridor from him, wings twitching, the Decepticon regarding the Autobot with no hint of fear. He had faced off against Ironhide for vorns, keeping the Autobot caged and trapped. However, Mindwipe could almost feel a tickle of something in the back of his mouth, a shimmering doubt that had settled there as his steady optics met those burning ones. Mind reaching for Ironhide's using the optical connection as he had so many times, he froze the moment he came up against a mental barrier… one that resisted his first probing touches. A flicker of annoyance crossed his features at the resistance.
The mental raping of his mind and memories had tugged some more of Ironhide's control from him, shredding some small part of him that had prevented him from becoming far more like the Decepticons then he had ever allowed himself to be. Yet, somehow now he had finally found something to protect his mind with, something strong and unyielding that wouldn't snap under the mental probe. Optimus's coding. The bond had fed him subroutine after subroutine of new firewall data and a pile of new things his systems had been desperate for. As a Prime, Optimus's coding was the best there was, built to withstand practically anything and his lover had given it to him.
'Ironhide.'
Dark blue optics widened at the tickle of that voice against the sensitive parts of his processors, his expression softening as his spark pulsed rapidly in response. Optimus Prime was close.
Mindwipe hissed immediately at the fact that someone else was inside of Ironhide's processors, while he was barred. Those optics narrowed on him sharply, clearly not at all pleased by what had occurred. This Autobot belonged to him, had belonged to him for so long, his toy… his prize.
A slight smile tugged at Ironhide's lips as he straightened, his frame actually relaxing and the anger beginning to fade the moment he felt the bond tingle again and warmth spill across his spark and mind. Like those vivid dreams he had shared with his Prime, the warmth was whole that of his beloved's spark and presence, there was nothing else that ever gave him such peace.
"Do not think to dismiss me." Mindwipe snarled, features twisting into a dangerous mask of fury. Those optics burned with such emotion that it would have startled any other to witness it. His mental probes were becoming claws, scratching and digging gouges in his mental shields but they weren't about to shatter this time. "Do not think for a moment that…"
Suddenly there was a roar of laughter from Ironhide, his fists slowly unclenching, broad shoulders straightening as strength soaked into his exhausted and starved frame. "I have never belonged to you." A palm thumped against his chassis over his spark, his lips twitching slightly again. "I will not be a victim any longer." And that was what he had been reduced to, an animal caged and controlled. "This spark belongs to my Prime. This frame is his. All that I am, all that you have sort to touch was freely given to him."
That rankled Mindwipe, the mech's expression went from calculating to outraged within one contraction of his fuelpump.
For the first time in a very long time, Ironhide felt that he had actually won a victory against the enemy, even though it might be small, to him it was larger than the physical victory in battle.
A tingle shot through every sensor relay he possessed, spark rejoicing as a presence suddenly bloomed fully within his awareness. His Orion Pax had come after him.
Alarms that had fallen silent with his own stillness suddenly came alive, cannon fire echoed just behind several of the heavily barricaded doorways along the corridor. However that was not what had his attention, his senses burned with the familiar presence and his shoulders straightened, jaw clenching.
Mindwipe's small frame was suddenly knocked aside as if it were nothing more than garbage, the bot slamming hard against the wall stunned by the force of the blow and slid down to crumple against it. Mindwipe recoiled, the telepathic mech jerking back from the demons that screamed around within Megatron's processors, knowing that there was some Cybertronians that should never be probed.
"You have failed me for the last time, Mindwipe." It was a snarl, burning optics not even sparing the Decepticon a single glance, before two Vehicons were abruptly rushing forwards, claiming an arm each and beginning to drag the screaming mech away down the corridor. "You will be an example for the others of what happens when I am disappointed." Razor sharp denta flashed in the flickering light, though his optics narrowed on Ironhide, taking in the mech before him. "To think that that pathetic little virus has held you prisoner for so long."
Ironhide could feel the words tearing at the open wounds that ran across his mind, slicing into them and prodding at the animal that had been caged and tormented for far too long. What peace Optimus's presence had been providing him with was beginning to fade, his fragmented sense of sanity crumbling a little.
"Optimus Prime has always had two distinct weaknesses." A low mocking laugh escaped Megatron, his lips pulling upwards into a smile that would have made any lesser bot drop to their knee joints and literally beg for their spark. "His soft spark and you." Megatron was practically cackling, his optics sparked with gleeful pleasure over the fact that he knew that this was one thing that could so easily strike down even Ironhide. "He has suffered without you, Autobot, it has been such a pleasure to watch him slowly begin to fade away without you. It has pleased me to no end."
Fingers curled into fists, Ironhide taking a step forwards, quite intent on tearing out Megatron's vocal components for those words spoken. He had always had a dislike for this Cybertronian, ever since he had first met him when Optimus had travelled to Kaon, he had never quite felt that this mech would do as he had once claimed. "Do you remember what I promised you, Megatron, the first time we met?"
"Ah yes." It even seemed to please Megatron, a dark amusement flaring in those optics. "You promised that if I betrayed your precious Orion Pax I would find myself torn limb from limb. A most pleasant thought."
Ironhide's optics were so dark they were black, the faintest trace of blue glimmering around the very edges. Knuckle joints cracked, the massive Autobot quite willing to take up the challenge no matter how starved he was, he was not about to let this Decepticon go for mocking his Prime. "You will regret your treachery."
"Come then." Megatron's arms opened and offered himself up like some sort of prize and Ironhide charged with a roar of pure fury and vorns of hatred.
He couldn't hear anything other than the pained roar of his beloved, nothing else could break into the spark wrenching desperation that consumed him so completely. Optimus Prime couldn't see the faces of his team, couldn't hear their comm calls to him… nothing mattered but Ironhide.
Blades sliced through body after body as he ploughed through the Decepticon ship at a dead run, not slowing down even when plasma bolts slammed into his chassis and shoulders. Senses were screaming so loud that Ironhide was here, that finally… finally the mech who had so stolen his spark was solid once more. His processors were filled with thoughts, a wash of so much that it almost choked him, the vibrant presence sweeping through the strengthening bond between them. It flooded him with such a love that he felt tears sliding down his cheekplates at the sensation. It was love for him, one that had been forged through both trial and tribulation for both of them.
His cannons were pumping bursts of blue fire into the solid hatch before him, the heat slowly melting the metal. He continued pouring energy into it, weakening it enough that when his shoulder struck it at full force it fractured and parted, spilling him into the dark hallway beyond.
"IRONHIDE!" His scream of the mech's name echoed through the space.
Optimus's spark clenching with fear at the pain and raw wounds that filled all the other thoughts that had slipped into his mind. A rage like one he had never known filled him. He instantly attacked Megatron, slamming into the mech's back, arms and legs coiling around his once and long ago trusted friend. A razor sharp blade bit sharply into it, everything within him screaming that this mech had hurt his other half, had touched what was his.
All his self-control had evaporated at the sight of his beloved swaying on his pedes no more than an arm length away, long burn marks crossed the black and red frame, scars marking out the lines of torture and battles that this mech had endured. Dark blue optics were dull in the stark grey face, the lines of starvation and constant low fuel intake were clear on the massive frame. The brutality that Ironhide had endured he knew would have crushed any other mech, but Ironhide had held on, waiting for him to come for him.
And in that moment the Prime promised he would never again allow this mech out of his sight, out of his reach. Ironhide belonged with him and the entire universe could burn down around him for all he cared. None of it meant anything if this brilliant spark was extinguished.
Optimus actually managed to cut deep enough into one energon line to feel a hot gush of fluid across his wrist, before he was slammed back against the corridor wall so hard that his helm snapped back against it. The movement stunned him, his limbs loosening and he was flying through the air, when something solid thumped into him, powerful arms coiling about him, his frame being shielded from the impact by Ironhide.
There was a searing burst of heat and Ironhide jerked, grip tightening even more, fingers almost denting Optimus's armour. They both rolled and sprawled out against the cold floor, his frame being clutched tightly against Ironhide's broad chassis, protected.
'Groundbridge, my coordinates, now! Retreat!'
Optimus felt the stickiness of energon coating his chassis, just as Ironhide's blue optics stared at him for one long moment, love filling their pain-filled depths before shuttering. Massive limps dropped limply around the Prime, the mech's black armour smoking from where he had taken a direct blast from Megatron's cannon to the back, protecting Optimus from what would have more than likely severely wounded him at this range.
A whirl of green light appeared only feet away and his arms hooked beneath his lover's shoulders, dragging the dead weight of the mech backwards, cover fire being provided to drive Megatron back before he could come after them. Bulkhead was surging forwards, helping to hook Ironhide's body up and slide him backwards and into the safety of the Autobot base just as the first Vehicon troopers appeared at the other end, returning fire and covering Megatron.
Dropping back onto his aft, Ironhide's head and shoulders rested against his chassis and lap, head hanging limply as thick energon pooled beneath his still frame. Both of Optimus's arms coiled around the mech, cradling him desperately against him, his face buried against the dark black and red helm. Tears were streaking down his cheekplates, hot and stinging as they dripped down onto the dark metal. "Don't you dare leave me." He demanded of his Ironhide, his emotional shields cracked and shredded with Ironhide in his arms so gravely wounded.
Ratchet and First Aid were hurrying forwards, both medics attempting to get to the wounded Autobot, but Optimus practically snarled at them, hurling the most foulest insults imaginable as he fought to protect Ironhide from anyone and everyone. He had a death grip on his beloved's mind, clinging to it and not willing to release it for any reason.
"Optimus! We need to get to him…"
Blue optics blazed with rage and hatred, fighting them until he was suddenly bear hugged from behind by Bulkhead, the massive green arms coiling around his chassis, pinning his own to his sides, dragging him away from Ironhide so that First Aid could start work on staunching the flow of leaking energon. Optimus Prime was practically howling, limbs twisting and fighting that it took all of the green Autobot's strength to keep him still enough that he didn't damage himself.
No one had ever seen the Prime like that, consumed with such a determination that nothing would keep him from Ironhide.
"Forgive me, my Friend." Ratchet whispered, before something hissed against the Prime's shoulder, his struggles slowly beginning to grow more sluggish and slowly… slowly he dropped limply into Bulkhead's arms sedated.
There are several ideas floating around in my head one for each of the Autobots of Transformers Prime.
Flame Ever Burning - Arcee and Firestar
Voice In The Wilderness- Bumblebee and maybe Silverbolt?
Hard Rock- Bulkhead and Breakdown
Experimental Phases - Wheeljack and ?
Critical Fracture- Cliffjumper and ?
Suggestions for pairings are welcome and I want to know if people would like to see a pairing of Bumblebee and Silverbolt, I think it would be fun to actually give them a story for it! Arcee is definitely next in line *smile*