Fandom: Transformers G1
Author: gatekat, ultrarodimus on LJ
Pairing: Axe/Dai Atlas
Rating: R
Codes: Slash, Historical Setting, Knights of Light, Spark, Violence, Death
Summary:
Disclaimer: The authors are only playing with their own twisted muses. Transformers belong to Hasbro. Fandom-side, check the inspirations page (gatekat-fics .livejournal 290 .html). We draw from a ton of amazing stories and authors you should read.
Kneeling to the Sword 11: Broken Skies
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~Do you think you'll want to train one?~ Dai Atlas asked as he and Axe watched Wing torment his new Initiate, taken on less than a vorn before, with endless repetitions of how to center his balance in any stance.
~Eventually,~ Axe replied. ~I do want to reach Master rank. It's a huge investment though, taking a Supplicant from Initiate to Senior Knight.~ He smiled slightly as Wing danced easily around the lightly built and very elegant mech that now went by Dagger, correcting the former-noble Praxian's footing with a swat to one leg.
~It is,~ Dai Atlas agreed. ~Seeing it from the end, it amazes me the risk Wing took in taking me on so fast. I hope he has the same success with Dagger.~
~Wing got through to you,~ Axe pointed out, teasing the bigger mech. ~He'll get through to Dagger. Might go about it differently, though. It'll certainly be interesting to watch.~
~That it will,~ Dai Atlas suppressed a chuckle as the young mech's sensor wings flapped wildly as he lost his balance. ~I'm glad we didn't really go through that training.~
Axe somehow managed to keep his chuckle strictly through their bond as the pair watched their jetling tug his Initiate back to his pedes, then put him through his paces for the umpteenth time. Wing was being fairly slow and thorough about it, though the endless repetitions were probably going to drive Dagger right up the wall and back down the other side in fairly short order.
~Our Daoshies ended up making us look like klutzes more than once as it was,~ the black and gold triple changer pointed out with a chuckle. ~And we already knew our frames extremely well.~
~That they did, though Wing needed your help more often than not,~ Dai Atlas smirked at his mate.
Suddenly all three Knights paused and Wing flashed a grin at his creators. ::Talon's back, with news,:: he purred. "That's enough for now," he told Dagger. "I'm going to introduce you to a friend just back from their walkabout."
The young Praxian looked entirely too relieved for the reprieve, no matter how temporary.
~Messing with you was so much fun, though,~ Axe replied, poking Dai Atlas in the side. ~And they'd even let you get me back later.~ He sauntered over to Wing, nodding a greeting to Dagger before running an affectionate hand over Wing's helm crest. "Then let's go find out what news Talon brought back with him."
"And hope he's more entertaining than usual," Dai Atlas gave a teasing grin as the four of them left the training room and headed for the common room that would hold the social gathering that was a Knight's return from a walkabout.
Wing grinned up at both the larger mechs, matching his pace to theirs, though it meant jogging to keep up with the giants' long strides. "We'll see when we get there." He noted other Knights gathering, all of them speculating on what Talon's news might be.
Dagger wasn't nearly as used to keeping pace with the giants, much less conversing while jogging, so he remained silent. Not that it was unusual for him at this point. His entire upbringing had been ingraining in him the value of being seen only if looked for and not heard at all. It went against his very spark nature, but it was effective when backed by the forcefully installed programming to shut him up.
As such he didn't make a sound when he saw the other Praxian, a powerful Combat Aerial from the House of the Shining Sun, the premiere warrior House of Praxus. His field spoke volumes, however, as he made an effort to become invisible and escape.
Wing turned to face Dagger, his own field reaching out to wrap around Dagger as the Initiate tried to retreat, radiating reassurance. "Talon won't bite you," the white jet told the young Praxian firmly. "No one's background matters here. Ranks in the outside world are left behind at the gates when someone joins the Citadel community, and especially when a mech joins the Order." Taking Dagger's arm, he gently tugged the white and deep blue mech forward.
Faint trembling was a strong reminder both of Dagger's youth among them and what he'd faced before Atl had brought him back. The older Knight had taken great teasing over his continual finding and adopting of 'strays', but no one doubted his talent for spotting a good potential Knight once Dart was half way trained.
Talon, his white plating splashed with red, green, dark blue and royal purple, turned unusual purple-pink optics towards Wing as he approached and flicked his wings in a polite greeting.
"Welcome back, Talon," Wing greeted, all but bouncing over. He riffled his own wings in response, grinning brightly. "This is Dagger, my Initiate."
"Welcome, Dagger," Talon said politely, though without the warmth most Knights gave. "I am sure Wing will train you well."
"Thank you ... Knight Talon," Dagger stumbled over the rank as he stopped himself from reflexively using the Aerial's rank and House from before he was a Knight.
Wing grinned brightly, patting Dagger's arm before turning back to Talon. "Bring back any interesting bits of news with you?"
"A great deal, but one piece that will be of particular interest to your first Initiate." Talon looked at to Dai Atlas and Axe, who were now giving him their full focus. "Sentinel Prime has accepted all pending buyouts and pardoned the charges related to leaving early."
"Sentinel Prime?" Axe repeated, plating flaring out in surprise. One dark hand groped for his mate's, seizing Dai Atlas' hand and holding it tightly. "Nova Prime is dead?"
"Yes, Nova has joined the Matrix and Sentinel now bears it and the status of Prime," Talon repeated with new wording. "You are no longer criminals and you are free of your contracts as well."
Dai Atlas squeezed Axe's hand hard enough to cause metal to creak. His wings quivered, an outward display of just how torturous the last six hundred and some vorns had been on him. ~We're free,~ he whispered to his mate, barely able to believe it. ~We can fly again.~
Axe trembled all over, his grip on Dai Atlas' hand just as tight. ~We haven't really flown in far too long.~
Wing trilled, managing to refrain from jumping up and down as he turned bright gold optics and a nearly blinding grin on the two giant triple changers. "You're finally free of his madness. The sky is yours again!" White wings fluttered eagerly.
Dai Atlas nodded, his wings trembling even more violently. "How long ago was the pardon?"
"Sixteen vorns, two metacycles, seven decaorn and ten orns ago," Talon said evenly. "It was his first proclamation as Prime."
Other Knights discreetly eased out of the way, opening a path to the door. With the bulk of the Citadel's population being fliers of one type or another, everyone knew not to get between two flight-deprived mecha and the open sky.
~There are times when the Citadel's lack of touch with the outside world aside from what Knights on walkabout bring back is more than a little frustrating,~ Axe noted privately. He was beginning to fidget, shifting from pede to pede.
"Thank you for the news," Dai Atlas inclined his helm to Talon before turning on one heel and all but yanking a very willing Axe to the door. ~On the up side, after that long, everyone will have gotten the news that the bounty is gone.~
~You do have a point. We won't have to worry about any would-be bounty hunters.~ Axe was almost stepping on his mate's heelplates in his eagerness to get out the door. His turbines were already warming up, the rumble of large jet engines echoing through the common room.
Other Knights flowed out after them, watching the pair. Wing was one of them, his own wings partly spread, optics bright as the two giants headed for the sky.
Dai Atlas transformed first, giving most of the gathering their first look at his enormous flying alt. Powerful engines roared, pushing the heavy frame vertical with a spin that left a double helix of white contrails behind him in the beginning of a skydance.
Axe was nanokliks behind his mate, engines howling. He matched Dai Atlas' maneuvers, dancing with his mate, the assembling crowd below nearly forgotten already. Other Knights and civilians were appearing on balconies and pausing in the courtyards, looking up toward the sound of powerful engines, wondering what was going on.
Wing's wings quivered, but he forced them to fold. While he did want to fly with Axe and Dai Atlas, for now he would give them the sky all to themselves. This was their first free flight in a very long time. He had to admit, they were magnificent too. They weren't taking quite the level of chances as Dai Atlas had during his courting dance, but it was close.
The pair commanded the sky in a way few mecha could. Despite their size, they were both fast and agile and had generations' worth of experience in their frames and making the most of their advantages.
In short order most of the population of the Citadel was out and watching, murmuring about the skill of the two big fliers. The news of Nova Prime's death was still spreading, so not everyone had heard yet, but those who hadn't were suspecting something of the sort just from seeing Dai Atlas and Axe in the sky. The fact that the pair didn't dare fly for the price on their helms was well known in the small community.
Wing was chirring happily without even noticing, his spark swelling with joy at seeing his creators in the air. Though they both had natural ground alts as well and weren't quiet as tormented as pure flight frames would have been, they had still spent a very long time ignoring base coding.
Across the bond between Dai Atlas and Axe the desire to culminate the flight with a merge, much like the time Dai Atlas had first skydanced for Axe, made itself known.
~Why not?~ Axe purred, waggling his wings at his mate. He sidled closer, wingtip almost brushing Dai Atlas', purring through the bond. ~We haven't merged in the air for longer than we've been grounded by that fragging bounty.~
A full-frame shudder slid down Dai Atlas' larger frame as he angled upwards, into low orbit, before transforming and opening his arms for his mate. Axe followed eagerly, transforming and flying into Dai Atlas' arms. The black mech captured the blue's lips in an intense kiss, hooking one heel around Dai Atlas' shin for extra stability. Both frames vibrated from the revving of powerful flight engines.
~Primus I'd forgotten how good it feels to hold you in the sky,~ Dai Atlas shivered, his systems revving hot and fast as he took advantage of Axe's embrace to run his own hands along the powerful black frame that he loved so much.
~It's been far too long.~ Axe's dark plating rubbed against Dai Atlas' as Axe writhed ever so slightly in his mate's arms, nipping at the blue armor framing his mate's face, working his way back to Dai Atlas' lips. His fingers brushed briefly against the Great Sword residing on his mate's back before feathering lightly over blue armor.
~Please...~ Dai Atlas could only beg as he kissed his mate passionately and unlocked his chest plates. His rich red spark roiled in his chest, reaching out for Axe's.
Blue light flared between Axe's parting chest armor, his spark casing already opening. Threads of blue energy reached out eagerly, twining with red. Axe returned the kiss, purring into it.
Pleasure exploded across their frames from their sparks outward, everything enhanced by flight protocols and the danger crashing represented when that pleasure crested.
~Yesss,~ Dai Atlas hissed, his optics off and helm thrown back as he gave over everything but stabilization control to the merge.
Axe's arms tightened, pressing his chest against Dai Atlas', the black mech letting out a long, low moan. His engines revved high, his whole frame vibrating, oblivious to everything but the merge and staying in the air. This was a bliss as pure as anything in existence for airframes.
With both sparks so eager there was no subtlety, no restraint, simply the crush of two essences in a rush to become one.
Axe's optics turned off, his whole essence intent on the merge. His spark twined with his mate's, forming a rich purple orb as two merged into one. For a few brief kliks, the entire universe shrank down to that purple glow. The rush of air over their falling frames didn't register, nor did the gradually increasing pull of their homeworld's gravity well. For that brief, glorious moment they were whole as only Primus could make them.
Then everything went black as the overload crashed through their systems.
Far below, those with the best optic zoom saw something that was wrong. A flash of light of the wrong color, then fire.
Shock rippled through the crowd as realization began to set in. Wing practically exploded into the air, racing upward, shrieking in alarm. Other fliers took off behind him as grounders scattered, some making a beeline for the medical wing, others just getting out of the way. In short order the Citadel resembled a roused cyber-wasp nest.
Well over a hundred airframes had taken wing, racing upward. The largest and strongest headed for the falling pair on an intercept course, aiming to catch the two. Others fanned out, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.
::Shot was fired.:: A burst of coordinates was spat over the comm in an entirely too-calm voice shortly after half a dozen large fliers managed to get the unconscious mechs, their chestplates jammed open and smoldering, separated and under control for the decent to Hardwing, Redline and the surgery.
Over a hundred Knights, all angry at the sneaky attack, turned toward the coordinates. Some were in mech form, others in alt mode, all intent on tracking the source of that shot and bringing down whoever had taken it.
One of the leading Knights announced a sensor lock. The group surged forward, tracking on it. With a target lock Wing's speed pushed him to the front and to quickly pick up the trail of a mid-sized groundframe just before it transformed and dove into an access port to the lower levels.
The white jet let out a cry of anger and frustration, diving toward the access port. Behind him followed the others, groundframes from the Citadel converging on their position to join the hunt. Another airframe, this one on his way back to the Citadel, changed course to join the swarm and pinged for a databurst on the situation.
::Transform and you'll fit,:: a familiar voice commed him. ::I can track him. It's what I did for a long time.::
Wing jolted in surprise. ::Demeter?:: Then he focused on what she'd said. ::Okay. Let's get him.::
The newcomer, now recognizable as Shogun, eased forward to pace Wing. ::I can help on the surface. If the quarry breaks for the surface, we'll get him up here.::
::Good,:: Demeter nodded, then transformed to her turbofox alt, dropped her nose to the ground and drew in a steady intake, venting it through a special system that allowed her continual intake. With a gleeful yip to signal any who would follow, she bolted into the opening.
Wing was immediately after her, along with a couple of groundframe Knights small enough to fit into the tunnels. The other Knights remained in the air.
Shogun checked his maps of the area, then began setting up search grids. Knowing he'd been a police mecha and this had been his job for longer than most of them had been functioning, most of the other Knights chose to listen. There would be no way for their quarry to slip past them.
No one took down two of their own in such a cowardly way and escaped.
In the tunnels Wing was trailed by Dart and Snapshot, all following Demeter's olfactory sensors as she tracked the shooter.
Slender wings twitched against Wing's back, the jet shifting his Great Sword to keep the hilt from hitting against anything. Dark hands gripped the hilts of his plasma swords as he followed Demeter, optics probing the shadows. As a flier it was not often he was underground, but this time he shoved the claustrophobia aside, focusing on finding the mecha who had shot his creators out of the sky.
The tunnels wound around, twisting and turning every which way as Demeter ran full on, her nose now in the air and her red optics glowing brightly. Tiny sounds of excitement escaped her vocalizer as the hunt drew close to its quarry.
Wing's hands tightened on the hilts of his plasma blades, hoping that Demeter had a better sense of direction than he did. Left to his own devices he would probably become thoroughly lost in these twisting tunnels.
::We're getting close, I think,:: he told Dart and Snapshot, flattening his pinions to his nacelles after scraping one against the tunnel ceiling.
Flickers of acknowledgement and increasing tension in the other two answered as they prepared to fight, not knowing what they were up against but confident in their training.
A growled yip of victory as Demeter turned a corner spoke of the target in her sights as she transformed and ran with both her swords drawn.
The glow of Wing's plasma swords cast a bright blue shine on the tunnel walls as the jet darted forward, following Demeter. His sensors pinged, registering something up ahead. Their quarry was close. It didn't take long for the white jet to spot a groundframe ahead of the four Knights. Optics narrowing, Wing pinged the target lock to Snapshot and Dart, following close behind Demeter.
The grounder turned, red optics glowing as he raised his rifle and locked onto Demeter. A bolt of energy erupted towards them. Demeter leapt to the side, bouncing from wall to ceiling to wall as she charged forward.
::I think this is right up your alley, Dart,:: Wing noted to the acrobatic red and white cycle-former. The white jet twisted to the side to avoid the shot, using his nacelles to avoid losing speed.
The younger Knight grinned and bolted forward, joining Demeter in the assault from the opposite side. Plasma blades slashed, but the grounder leapt back and angled the rifle for a point blank shot at Dart.
Wing's nacelles revved high, sending him racing forward. Spotting a small chunk of debris on the tunnel floor, he scooped it up, hurling it at the grounder's helm to throw off his aim. In the same moment Dart twisted up and around, sliding over the grounder's shoulder to land behind him while Demeter darted in to slash at his legs.
Snapshot was right behind Wing, the only one who couldn't see the grounder twist around as he fired to blow Dart's shoulder completely apart. Wing cried out, seeing bits of red and white metal raining from the wound. His pinions flared wide, nacelles firing. The jet hurtled down the tunnel, lashing out with his own swords. One crackling blue blade sliced deep into the grounder's arm, the other scoring painfully over the strange mech's hip.
Over the crumpling form of the shooter they all saw Dart collapse into an unmoving heap, the upper right side of his chassis missing, sparking and dripping around the edges of the missing frame.
Crying out in fury and pain, Wing drove his swords into whatever part of the shooter he could reach. Energon began to stain the walls and floor of the tunnel. This unknown mech had taken his creators from him, and now had seriously wounded, possibly deactivated, one of his best friends. He would not allow this mech to hurt anyone else.
He was only vaguely aware of Demeter joining him with a yipping series of barks and Snapshot moving to grab Dart and haul him away from the carnage.
Everything narrowed down to the grounder's frame and the blue flare of Wing's active plasma blades as he struck again and again. It wasn't until he registered that frame starting to change color that Wing finally snapped back to himself. He stilled as it began to sink in that the shooter had deactivated, the frame fading to gray.
For a long moment he just stared before Demeter's voice got his attention once more.
"Your first kill?" she asked, her tone understanding.
Wing nodded, beginning to tremble. He had never taken a life before. His swords fell from his hands as he stumbled backward away from the graying frame until his back struck the tunnel wall.
She glanced at Snapshot, who was staring in shock from where she hovered over Dart's shattered frame. "Wing, remain here," she ordered firmly. "I will return to show you out when Dart is with the medics. Understand?"
Wing nodded again, still staring in mute shock at the deactivated frame. He didn't seem to notice as Snapshot carried Dart out of the tunnels, lead by Demeter. He had done little more than quiver and twitch as he stared at his kill when she returned with Marwir and Mist some time later. Without so much as a word Marwir collected Wing's plasma swords and stashed them in her subspace before collecting him to hold him gently. Her field and hum was soothing as they watched Demeter and Mist collect all the pieces of the shooter in one bag, while the pieces they could find of Dart went in another.
"Come," Marwir said firmly when Demeter began to trot the way they'd come on four paws.
Wing was still trembling all over, but he obediently followed Marwir and Demeter back to the surface. "I've never killed anyone before," he murmured unsteadily. "I didn't even know what I was doing..."
"Pray it remains that difficult, my Initiate," Marwir told him gently. "Let killing never come easily for you. A binding penance will help you understand what has happened. It will be all right."
"I don't want that to become easy," the white jet replied, his plating rattling. He glanced once at the bag containing the remains of the shooter. "Who was he, and why did he shoot down my creators?"
"I got an ID ping from him, so they might know if they wake up," Demeter said from the lead. "He has military glyphs in it, discharged. That's a disgrace. He didn't buy out, he was banished. It not anyone I recognize, but I have enough to pull up a lot from the databases next time I go out."
White armor flared and flattened, rattling slightly. "Are they going to be okay?" Wing seized on the comment about Dai Atlas and Axe. "Discharged? Maybe an old enemy..."
"It's likely. They would have had many," she chatted agreeably, willing to be a distraction while they returned to the Citadel. "They were still functional when we got Dart to medical, but Hardwing and Redline were silent."
Wing keened very softly. It was never a good sign when the medics were silent. "I hope no more of their old enemies come crawling out of the scrap piles..."
"I do as well," she agreed, her long fluffy tail swishing in agitation. "I'm surprised this one found them. Yet they are survivors. They have outlived more Primes than anyone I know of. They will not be caught off guard again."
"They are survivors. I hope they survive this." Wing shivered. "They have to."
"They have reasons to survive," Marwir added as they reached the surface and a couple dozen Knights waiting for them. "Not just each other, but for your too. Are you steady enough to fly?"
"As long as there's someone close enough to catch me if I falter." Wing stretched out wings still trembling ever so faintly at the tips.
"No one will let you fall," Marwir promised as the grounders and their burden were divided up among the gathered fliers and the group took off, making sure to keep Wing in the middle of the loose flock.
The largest of the group eased into the lower layers of the middle of the group, so Wing could land on his back if he had to. Red wings flicked in gentle encouragement.
Wing didn't say anything as he flew, though the continued trembling of his wingtips hinted that his thoughts were still circling around the mech he had killed.
Marwir remained close to him, silent in her support in a way that Wing always imagined a loving creator did with a fledgling. Thorn was on his other flank, just as silent as the Knights made their way to the Citadel and landed. Two angled off to the medical spire to deliver the parts. The rest quietly dispersed.
There would be many, many binding meditations in the coming orns.
Wing looked up at the medical spire, wanting to go see how his creators were doing. He fidgeted in place, wings twitching against his back, not sure what to do next.
Thorn glanced at Marwir, who nodded. The tall black Knight slid his fingers between Wing's. "Come on. I'll distract you until the medics are done."
"Thank you," Wing whispered, following the black Knight inside. He badly wanted to forget, at least for a little while.
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Joors after returning to the Citadel, Wing stirred, warming up his optics. The jet shifted slightly, making a mumbling sound as he booted up. He was on a berth, pressed against someone's frame. The familiar EM field told him it was Thorn. It took the white jet a few kliks to work up the desire to move. It was remembering that his creators were in the medical bay in critical condition that finally got him moving, wiggling slightly as he extracted himself from Thorn's arms.
"The medics don't have any news yet," Thorn murmured as he looked up at Wing. "I'll wake you as soon as I have news."
"I want to see them." Wing shifted again, looking toward the door.
A low sigh escaped Thorn as he rolled to his pedes. "Then let's get you at least somewhat presentable before you try to sneak in."
The white jet looked down at himself, noting the black, red and gold streaks in his white finish, as well as the transfluid and lubricants staining his thighs. His slender wings twitched. "You have a point." He trailed Thorn to the washrack and did his best to help clean himself up along with Thorn, then returned the favor in getting the white and red off his friend.
"No news is good news, after this long," Thorn commented. "If they lasted this long, they didn't take a spark chamber hit."
"Always a very good thing," Wing agreed. "But still, not hearing anything either way makes me nervous. I want to know what's going on." He scrubbed at a particularly stubborn white streak on Thorn's chestplate.
"I know," Thorn said softly, holding still for Wing's efforts, then nudging his friend around to work on his back. "They've both spent far too much time in the medical bay."
"Far, far too much time," Wing agreed, his plating flaring slightly. The young jet was slowly relaxing at least a little bit, though he was still tense. He was both relieved and reluctant when the shower ended and Thorn took the lead to tug Wing along to medical.
"Dagger," Wing cycled his optics in surprise at seeing his normally shy Initiate puttering around the medical bay.
The Praxian all but jumped out of his white and blue plating as he spun around, his ruby optics widening under the wide, thick chevron of matching red. "Daoshi. I ... um ... when you didn't return to your quarters, I hoped you'd turn up here eventually."
"I needed a distraction, very badly. Yesterday was... an exceptionally bad orn in more ways than one." Wing ran a hand over his face. "Dai Atlas and Axe are my creators; they adopted me while I was still training Dai. Not even Hardwing in a full-blown fit could keep me away."
Dagger nodded, his small sensor wings twitching in distress. "That's what Master Marwir said. She said you would come here eventually, and you would not be fit to resume my training until after your penance."
A faint smile appeared on Wing's face. "I won't be fit for very much of anything until after my penance. There's too much for me to work through. How long it'll take me to work through, I don't know."
"I understand," Dagger dipped his wings. "I will make myself useful until then."
Wing smiled again, patting the young Praxian on the shoulder before turning to face the surgery, where his creators were. White wings twitched as the jet steeled himself for what he was going to see when he went inside. In the very back of his processors, he was aware that Thorn had remained with Dagger and was speaking quietly with the young mech.
Long familiar with the surgery, Wing opened the door and took in the energon-stained nightmare that was the surgery in action. Dai Atlas, his chest plates still wide open and his color reasonably good, was hooked up to several machines but was otherwise unattended. Both medics and their aid were fixated on Axe, who was graying around the edges.
The little jet forcefully suppressed a keen of distress, his plating clamping tightly to his frame. Being as stealthy as a mech armored in bright and shining white could be, Wing crept across the floor toward Dai Atlas. One dark hand sneaked out to curl around the larger white hand resting limp on the edge of the med berth. Distressed golden optics took in the damage to the blue giant's frame, Wing suppressing another keen as he looked away from the mauled chest of his creator. Reaching up, his hand trembling, Wing lightly touched Dai Atlas' cheek, fingertips tracing one of the jagged black markings that ran under the darkened red optics.
There was no response, and Wing expected none. His creator's field spoke of medical stasis, though a reasonably stable stasis. A glance at the machines hooked up to him said the same thing. Dai Atlas was damaged, but he was in no real danger any more. At least as long as Axe pulled through.
Gold optics turned toward Axe, worriedly taking in the amount of gray showing on black plating, and how dull the usually sleek and glossy ebony looked. The medics were all gathered around the black triple changer; as badly as Wing wanted to go to Axe he was not about to disturb or distract the medics. Wings twitching once against his back plating, Wing settled where he was, Dai Atlas' hand gripped in his own.
He remained there, tucked against Dai Atlas, his field meshed with the stasis-locked giant, and did his best to avoid drawing notice to himself. The last thing he wanted was to be bodily evicted, and he knew from experience that neither medic had any issue doing so if he got in their way.
Now and then Dagger would glide in silently, push a cube of energon into his hand, and slip away without a word. Other times it was Thorn or Marwir, or even Vanguard or Shogun, but no one tried to talk to him.
If he didn't check his chronometer he'd have no clue that three full orns had passed before Hardwing finally trudged his way out of the surgery. Redline gave Wing a dim-opticked look and simply motioned to Axe before following his mentor.
Slowly, Wing peeled himself away from Dai Atlas, walking over to Axe. A very soft sound finally escaped as Wing took in the amount of damage the black and gold mech had taken. Dark fingers brushed lightly over Axe's golden crest, then ran down over his shoulder to curl around an equally dark hand. There was still a distressing amount of gray showing around the edges of Axe's armor plates, but he was finally in stable condition.
Axe's field spoke of his spark still going strong despite the blast that had missed his chamber by only a hand, Wing's hand. The pain was there too, despite stasis and blockers, Wing could feel the aching of Axe's frame.
This time the sound Wing made was a sound of relief that Axe's spark was strong. His hand tightened on the black mech's as tightly clamped white plating began to loosen. The amount of pain the jet could feel despite the stasis and the heavy painkillers told him that Axe's recovery would not be quick. But he would recover.
And that meant Dai Atlas would recover.
His creators would recover.
Wing began to tremble all over again, but this time it was in relief.
"Daoshi?" Dagger's voice was soft, uncertain. "I saw the medics leave."
"Axe is stable," Wing murmured, looking over at the Praxian. "He will recover. Both of them will recover." He stroked along Axe's arm with his free hand, his field radiating his relief.
"Good," Dagger smiled and came closer to put a hand on Wing's shoulder. "Come recharge in your own berth? Or at least Thorn's?"
Wing wavered for a moment. He'd been recharging on his feet off and on, or curling as close to Dai Atlas as he could get without disturbing repairs or support machinery. The young jet needed to lay down and get a full recharge.
Finally, heaving a sigh, Wing released Axe's hand, leaning down to press a light kiss to the golden crest before withdrawing. Padding over to where Dai Atlas lay, he gently brushed his lips against the blue helm before straightening and reluctantly leaving the room. His Initiate obediently padded along, silent and attentive.
Thorn met him silently at the door to Thorn's quarters and the three entered after Thorn motioned Dagger to join them. The black jet's berth was familiar to Wing and he eagerly curled up with his friend as a fresh wave of grief-relief-shock hit him.
Then another warmth pressed against Wing's back as two fields, one long familiar and the other simply wanting to comfort, caressed him.
Wing let out a soft mew, his field flowing into the two brushing against it, accepting the comfort they offered. Gold optics powered down as exhaustion began to creep up on the jet, preparing to pounce. The fields meshing with his encouraged it, encouraged Wing to recharge and recover for the penance to come. In less than a klik Wing submitted to his systems and his companions to sink into a full oblivion.
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Wing was hurrying to the medical bay as fast as he could without running into anyone. He'd been woken up by Hardwing informing him that his creators were stable enough to be let out of stasis long enough for him to talk to them. Wing had scrambled out of the berth suddenly enough to startle Thorn nearly out of his armor and did tumble Dagger out of the berth to blink up at him in confusion.
Other Knights got out of the way as they saw him coming, watching him pass. No one tried to stop him, though. By now that all had a very good idea why he was in such a rush and that it was good news.
Redline greeted Wing at the door to medical. "You won't be able to talk long," the junior medic told him. "They are both still weak. Axe is still in some pain. They will, however, be able to move and speak for a breem or so."
Wing nodded, wings fluttering, almost dancing in place. "I understand." He tried to peer around the taller medic into the treatment room where his creators were being kept.
Redline shook his helm and chuckled before motioning Wing into the room where Hardwing was preparing to bring Dai Atlas out of stasis. Both mechs looked whole once more, their armor a healthy color and their chest plates closed.
While Wing bounced in place, out of the way, a glow of red became visible in Dai Atlas' optics.
A trill of pure relief came from the white jet. Anyone who really looked at him would note that his pedes were actually several inches off the floor, the jet bobbing in mid-air as his engines revved. Not even waiting for Hardwing's signal that he could approach, Wing scooted over, reaching out to place one hand on Dai Atlas' larger hand. "Dai?"
"Wing," he took a moment to focus on his creation, then his surroundings. "What?"
"You and Axe were shot down by someone while you were merged. Both of you were very badly injured." Wing rested his other hand on Dai Atlas' chestplate, lightly rubbing the smooth metal. "The shot barely missed Axe's spark chamber."
"He's going to be fine," Hardwing stalled Dai Atlas' attempt to jerk to his pedes with a firm hand and most of his weight on the giant's chest. "Listen to your spark. I'm going to bring him out of stasis now long enough for you to get to your quarters to rest. I know you'll recover better there."
"Thank you," Dai Atlas recovered before looking at Wing. "Was the shooter caught?"
"Almost all of the Knights went after him... Demeter, myself, Dart and Snapshot followed him underground. We were trying to take him alive, but then he shot Dart..." Wing's armor clamped tight to his frame. "Demeter said she got an ex-military ID ping, one she didn't know. He'd been discharged." The jet looked away. "We brought what was left of the shooter back with us."
Huge fingers reached up to slide down Wing's cheek. "And you haven't processed it yet. First kill?"
Wing leaned into the large white hand. "Yeah... I've never taken a life before." He trembled briefly. "I have a penance binding later."
"I'm sure," Dai Atlas murmured. "If you wish to talk about it, Axe and I have helped many young warriors through this. A first kill, that first time you see a mecha go gray and know you are the reason a spark returned to Primus early, it traumatic for nearly everyone, even sparked warriors."
Wing nodded. "After the binding, I'll find you. If you're recharging at the time, I'll curl up with you." Tilting his helm, he watched as Axe was slowly brought out of stasis. It took longer and was done with more care, but soon the glow of blue appeared in his optics.
Dai Atlas was carefully on his pedes in a moment and at his mate's side. ~It seems we gave everyone quite the scare.~
Wing appeared on Axe's other side, gently running a hand down Axe's arm. "Axe."
~Did we?~ Axe twitched. ~Ow... Primus, what hit me?~ Groaning softly at the throbbing aching of his frame, he turned toward Wing's voice, seeing relief clearly in the gold optics. "Wing."
~Sniper rifle, I'm guessing from the feel of it. Long range and powerful enough to go through your back, all the systems, my systems and out my back. Our creation has grown up,~ Dai Atlas explained.
~Don't suppose we know who shot us?~ Axe wanted to know. Groaning softly, he reached up to tug Wing down for a brief embrace. Trilling very softly, Wing rested his helm on Axe's chest, listening to the reassuring pulse of his spark. ~First kill, hm? How badly in shock is he from it?~
~Snapjaw got an ID ping, but it's not anyone the Knights know,~ Dai Atlas purred as his fingers twined with his mate's. ~Fairly bad, though I have no idea how long we've been out. Chronometer hasn't reset itself yet. He's going to join us to talk or snuggle after his penance.~
"Can you sit up?" Hardwing's voice held concern.
Wing reluctantly pulled out of the embrace, wings twitching as Axe slowly levered himself up to a sitting position. The black mech hissed under his breath as the repaired damage protested, but he ignored it.
~Perhaps someone we knew? We'll ask Snapjaw later.~ Axe shifted so that he was sitting on the edge of the berth, taking a moment before he tried to stand. He wobbled briefly on his pedes before getting his balance back, then looked at Hardwing. "How long were we out?"
"Nine orns," the medic said grimly. "The shot missed your spark chamber by less than a hand," he held up his own, one much smaller than Axe's. "It wasn't much further off of his," he nodded to Dai Atlas. "Though your systems took much more critical damage from the fire. You were graying out on us for more than an orn."
Black armor flattened, then flared as Axe digested that. Wing trembled. Axe reached over to rub the young jet's red crest reassuringly. "I'm still here, jetling, and not planning on going anywhere anytime soon."
"Just to your berth, to recharge and rest until you are no longer receiving errors or pain," Hardwing said firmly. "So no interfacing, no exertion, no getting up until the pain signals are gone or you're going to spend the rest of your recovery here. Understood?"
"Understood," Dai Atlas said firmly.
Axe nodded. "I understand." The black mech grimaced. "The way I feel right now, I'm not at all interested in anything but energon and recharge anyway." He looked at Wing. "We'll see you after your penance, jetling."
Wing nodded, very carefully leaning against Axe, letting out a soft purr.
There was a discreet tap on the door, and a large red mech with an elaborate silver crest poked his helm in. "Sorry to interrupt. I volunteered to walk with Axe and Dai Atlas, to make sure they get to their quarters without stumbling or falling."
"Thank you, Shogun," Dai Atlas inclined his helm slightly. He reached out to stroke Wing's shoulder nacelle. "We will see you later, Wing."
Wing leaned into the touch, smiling up at the large blue mech. "I'll see you later." He hugged whatever bit of Dai Atlas he could reach briefly; he knew Hardwing would get him if he tried to pounce on the big blue triple changer as Wing usually did. "I'm so glad both of you are all right."
Shogun came all the way into the room, keeping discreetly out of the way and allowing the trio their moment. He waited patiently, idly examining an old dent in the wall.
Finally, reluctantly, Wing peeled himself away from blue armor. It was time for him to report for his penance ... still, he could see his creators to their room, at least, couldn't he?
Quietly Wing followed the three out of medical and along the halls. Axe managed to look like he was all right, even his field spoke of being fine. It was very different from the view and feel of him in the relative privacy of medical. Internally, though, the black triple changer was wincing from the pain in his frame. His chest was a constant throb of deep aches, but fortunately he didn't detect any of the damages that resulted from an impact. The other Knights had caught him and Dai Atlas right out of the air.
Shogun maintained a slight distance, looking as if he were merely walking with the pair, not escorting them in case one or both couldn't quite make it to their quarters. He knew how important appearance was, especially to a pair long used to high rank in an aggressive subculture. Other Knights they encountered in the corridors looked at Dai Atlas and Axe with clear relief. The entire Citadel had been worried about them, Knights and civilians. Everyone was glad to see them up and around. They returned the nods and greetings, but were privately grateful when they finally reached the sanctuary of their quarters.
Dai Atlas turned his helm to nod his thanks to the pair, and quietly shoo Wing to his duty, before the door closed behind them. "Oil bath soak, or the berth?"
Axe thought for a moment. "Soak first, I think... You might have to haul me out, but it would be worth it." He followed his taller mate across the common room, not bothering to hide the pain he was in anymore.
"I am strong enough for that," Dai Atlas promised, signaling the pool to begin heating. "It will feel good, the oil and holding you."
"Being held by my mate trumps how good the hot oil will feel, though," Axe replied, leaning against Dai Atlas and letting his optics dim slightly. "Though the hot oil will still feel very good."
"Agreed," Dai Atlas smiled and gently guided Axe into the quickly warming pool.
The black mech groaned softly as the warming oil lapped at his plating, flaring his armor to let the welcome heat at his aching internals. "That does feel good." He sank in to his chin, bracing his shoulder armor against the rim on the pool to keep from sliding under entirely. Then Dai Atlas was next to him, nudging him to settle onto the larger mech's lap so Axe didn't requite any effort to remain where he was.
"Yes, it does," Dai Atlas flared his armor widely and shivered at the rush of liquid heat. "Oh, Primus it does. Worth every credit we saved up for this."
Axe shifted over, leaning against his mate. Purring softly, he settled into the oil, flaring his armor wider. The heat felt very good, dulling the ache of fresh repairs and extensive damage. "Definitely worth every credit." He tilted his helm to sneak a kiss from his mate, resting his helm against a blue shoulder.
"Agreed," Dai Atlas kissed him back and noted both the lack of arousal as a mark to how much work autorepair still had to do on them both. "It's good to feel your spark this close, even if we can't merge for a time yet."
"It is." Axe shifted on Dai Atlas' lap, resting his helm against the black chestplate and listening to the pulse of his mate's spark through the thick plating. The black mech was drowsing in the welcome heat, his purr rising in volume as the heat dulled the pain.
Slowly, strong white hands stroked Axe's back. The field enveloping him had long meant safety no matter his state. So did the spark pulsing in rhythm to his own.
~Relax, recharge,~ Dai Atlas crooned across the bond. ~I'll be here when you boot.~
Axe nuzzled against Dai Atlas' armor, settling himself comfortably, leaning against his mate's strong frame, letting that comforting field wrap around him like a blanket. It wasn't long before the black mech was deep in recharge, helm tucked under Dai Atlas' chin.
SXSXSXSXSXSXSXSX S===================S SXSXSXSXSXSXSXS
Just over an orn after his penance had begun, Wing was finally released from the medical bay. He'd spent close to an entire orn in the binding, wrestling with what had happened while hunting the mech who had shot down his creators. It had not been an easy binding. Hardwing had kept him in the medical bay for a couple of joors after the penance had ended before kicking him out again.
Wing made his way through the corridors to Dai Atlas and Axe's quarters, coding the door open. He had an open invitation to their quarters, so he had the code for their door, and they for his. Crossing the main room, he peeked into the berthroom. Dai Atlas was sprawled on his back with Axe curled against his side, half on top of him and wrapped in the larger mech's arms. The slow ventilations and dark optics spoke of recharge.
Wing smiled, padding across the room and slipping onto the berth. He extended his field to brush against and merge with theirs, carefully crawling onto Dai Atlas' chest and cuddling up against both of the older mechs. After a couple of failed attempts at wriggling under Dai Atlas' arm, Wing gave up, curling against it instead. He slipped into an easy recharge soon after, only rousing briefly when Dai Atlas moved his arm to hold Wing.
It was joors later when an insistent nudging roused him for real and he looked up blearily at Dai Atlas' ruby optics.
"Axe needs to get back in the oil," the giant explain calmly. "Join us?"
Wing chirped an affirmative, all but oozing off Dai Atlas' chest and stretching as he watched the two big mechs climb to their pedes. The jet followed the two to the hot oil bath, waiting for them to settle themselves before sliding in to join them.
Axe again settled onto his mate's lap, leaning against Dai Atlas' frame. The black mech reached out to collect Wing, tugging the white mech into Axe's lap. "Rough penance?"
"Definitely not an easy one." Wing leaned into the embrace.
"No matter how accepting it is handled, it's never easy," Dai Atlas said soothingly as the hot oil oozed and slid into their frames to spread its comforting warmth and support. "It is the final test as to whether a mecha can be a warrior or not. It is hard for you, but many civilians can never cope with it."
White armor trembled. "I hate it, and I hope I never have to do that again."
Axe stroked Wing's back until white armor loosened and slender wings began to extend. "It's good that you hate it."
"I too hope you never have to kill again," Dai Atlas said softly, even if he had personal doubts. Still, he stroked slender wings to comfort and sent a small prayer to Primus to protect this last creation of his from harm.
The petting was beginning to relax the young jet, tension finally leaving the white frame. Wing settled against their plating. "With any luck, no more trigger-happy, cranky mecha will come crawling out of the scrap piles."
"That would be a blessing," Dai Atlas agreed, his voice a low rumble as he relaxed with the purring of his mate and creation. "How is Dagger doing?"
"I haven't been in any condition to continue his training since you two were shot down," Wing replied. "He's been very understanding... The other night he shared a berth with Thorn and myself." He sank to his chin in the hot oil, loosening his armor to let more of it into his internals. A soft blissful mew escaped as welcome heat spread through his frame.
"Lover or warmth?" Axe asked curiously.
"Warmth," was the reply. Wing shifted, resting his helm against Axe's shoulder. "That was the first time I have shared a berth with Dagger."
"Good sign he cares about you," Dai Atlas smiled at the sight. "I'm sure you'll be more than ready to pick up again in the morning."
Wing chuckled. "Late morning to early afternoon. Dagger isn't quite the night turbo-owl that Axe is, but he does prefer the later joors."
"Nice of you not to torment him with dawn then," Dai Atlas smirked and rubbed Wing's crest. "Are you getting enough recharge, staying up that late?"
Wing grinned, leaning into the touch. "We Knights are fairly good about tailoring our training schedules to the needs and preferences of our Initiates. I drop into recharge after the evening meditation; I'm in my berth before he is sometimes. So I am getting enough recharge."
"Like Atl did for me." Axe nodded, recalling how his schedule had been arranged.
"Yeah, like that, though Atl isn't nearly the morning mecha I am," Wing chuckled. "I admit I would have had a hard time giving you my all on your joors. But Dagger's aren't bad. Midnight isn't that late as long as you don't get up with the sun."
Axe chuckled. "Good for you, then, that my beloved is much more of an early cyber-bird than I am." Unable to resist, he slid his fingers behind a white audial flare, watching as Wing all but melted.
Both triple changers grinned and watched their creation lose all interest in movement or control of his frame.
~I don't think I'll ever tire of watching him do that,~ Dai Atlas mused.
~He does "strutless" very well,~ Axe chuckled. ~And I know I won't tire of seeing this.~ His smile widened as Wing settled closer to black plating, all but sinking completely under the surface of the oil, his frame vibrating from his purr. ~It's adorable.~
~It is. And his size ... it's what I imagine having a real sparkling from one of our frames would be like,~ Dai Atlas thought wistfully as their was a ping requesting admittance to their quarters from Demeter. He pinged her back and sent the remote unlock signal for the door.
~Though I can't really see either of us producing a sparkling who is almost entirely white,~ Axe noted. ~But yes, he is just about sparkling-size for us. And he doesn't at all mind being cuddled like a sparkling.~
Hearing the door open, Axe looked up, turning blue optics in that direction as the femme who wore a mecha-animal alt even here walked in.
~Speaking of sparkling-sized,~ Dai Atlas couldn't help but chuckle as he nodded a greeting to the Knight that wasn't as tall as his hand was wide.
"I had heard you were feeling better," she smiled at the pair.
~She'd be one tiny sparkling,~ Axe replied with a purely internal chuckle. "Relatively speaking. Much better than we felt when we were brought in, but still not up to full yet." The black Knight shifted Wing slightly on his lap, continuing to pet spread wings.
"He's adorable like that," she smiled warmly at the scene as she flopped down into her turbofox alt mode at the side of the pool. "I got an ID code off the shooter. He was discharged. Thought you might have crossed paths."
~I doubt she was one any more than we were,~ Dai Atlas replied. "Yes, he is," he glanced down at the puddle of white mech in Axe's lap.
~Probably.~ The black mech teased the tip of a white wing, causing it to flutter rapidly for a moment, then turned his attention back to Demeter. "What was the designation of the shooter?"
"Road Whip," she repeated it carefully and pinged them both with exactly what she'd received.
Axe rumbled, careful not to tighten his grip on slender white wings. "We knew him," the black mech told her, his voice flat.
"Right," she nodded, the black tip of her long fluffy brown tail twitching. She hesitated before curiosity got the better of her. "What happened with him?"
"Nothing good," Axe replied, looking down as Wing's helm poked up above the surface of the oil. Even as blissed out as Wing was from the petting, he could tell something was up even if his processors were flatly refusing to pay attention as long as the petting continued.
Dai Atlas gave a grumbling huff. "He couldn't follow orders when it came to controlling himself. Good at killing, but if you wanted him to stop, or Primus forbid, not indulge himself with anyone who couldn't stop him, he wasn't about to comply. He got sent to me because of my reputation for turning unbreakable trouble into good soldiers. He was one I couldn't break."
"That lack of control was what got him discharged," Axe added. He glanced at his mate. "It makes me wonder if he's been actually hunting us."
"Perhaps," Dai Atlas hummed. "Fortunately now that we have been pardoned and released from our contracts, it does not matter if he told anyone else where we are."
"It would explain why he shot us, though," Axe pointed out. "Personal revenge for getting him kicked out of the military?" The black mech shrugged, then winced as the motion sent a dull ache through his chest.
"Is he likely to have any allies we should keep an optic out for?" Demeter glanced between the pair.
"Possible but most unlikely," Dai Atlas shook his helm even as he reached up to rub Axe along the ache. "He was not the social type."
With a quick dip of her slender muzzle she hopped to her feet and trotted out, leaving the family to their private time.
Axe leaned into his mate's touch, continuing to pet Wing. "If he was actually hunting us, I certainly hope he had no allies. That was not an experience I'd care to repeat anytime soon."
"Nor I," Dai Atlas leaned into their mutual contact. "Nor the very real damage you took in the battle before we were Knighted. Yet for all that it is a much more peaceful existence here."
"Much more peaceful," Axe agreed. He looked down at Wing, smiling as he discovered that the white mech had fallen into recharge in his lap, helm resting right over Axe's spark. "I much prefer our existence here to what it was before." Leaning back against Dai Atlas, Axe settled himself comfortably and allowed his systems to focus on the micro repairs needed to integrate his new parts.