Steeljaw and Ramulus have yet to speak, instead savoring the relative peace and quiet between them in the near-empty med-bay. Steeljaw's leg is fixed, and his self-repair system is working on minor injuries, but the more sensitive points and cosmetics would have to be overseen by Moonracer and Knockout later. He didn't mind, though, as Dead End promised to make sure everyone stayed away for a while. Which turned out perfectly, as he didn't want anyone barging in on him and Ramulus. Speaking of…
Ramulus had dragged a chair over and sat beside the berth. He reached out and laid his servo atop Steeljaw's, digits curling around and giving a gentle, comforting squeeze.
"So, how ya feeling?" Ramulus asked.
"A lot of things, honestly," Steeljaw answered wistfully. "I don't know where to begin, or how."
"Too bad ya can't do what you normally do to express yourself. Not while you're berth ridden, anyway."
"Thanks for the reminder."
Ramulus chuckled.
"Glad to know you haven't lost your spark after all this time, Steel. Too stubborn for your own good, I swear."
"Look who's talking! Says the mech who'll pick a fight with almost anyone over literally any little thing that sets him off!"
"Eh, I've gotten better!"
Steeljaw laughed. Ramulus lightly punched his arm.
"Hey, watch it! I'm in med-bay for a reason, you know!"
"Yeah, I know."
Ramulus' smile turned grim. Steeljaw regretted upsetting him.
"Sorry," Steeljaw apologized, tightening his grip on Ramulus' servo. He turned onto his side so that he was fully facing the Predacon. "I didn't think about how you might've felt when…"
Steeljaw looked up into darkened optics. In an instant, it occurred to him.
"How long were you there?"
Silence.
"Ramulus, how much did you see before you could do anything?" Steeljaw demanded. With some strain, he managed a sitting position and placed his free servo on the other's shoulder plate.
"I…"
Ramulus circulated his vents and raised his free servo to meet with Steeljaw's.
"Enough. I saw enough."
Suddenly, Ramulus holds Steeljaw at arm's length and presses an accusing digit against his chassis, expression having turned serious in point-two seconds.
"Don't you dare think that makes you any less of a mech! You didn't have control of the situation, but you still hung-on and fought! And that mother-fragger had what was coming to him, and I delivered! He messed with the wrong mechs, and that's all on him! At least, it would be, if I didn't blow him into non-existence. I doubt anything's on him now!"
The Predacon laughed at his own words.
No matter how far Ramulus went, he always knew how to make Steeljaw feel better.
How to make the Lupicon happy.
Happiness, companionship, familiarity, safety, love…
Thoughts, feelings, emotions, and more…
All culminating to form a special bond between the two.
One that is unbreakable.
One that will be shared between their very sparks.
"Steel?"
"Hm?"
Steeljaw didn't realize he had drifted off into space until Ramulus brought him back to reality.
"Is somethin' the matter?"
"No! No, everything is fine! It's just…"
"Thinking of me?"
"I… I, uh…"
Ramulus burst out laughing.
"Who would've thought? The infamous revolutionary, struck speechless by his own second-in-command!"
"Shut up!"
Ignoring doctor's orders to stay in the berth, resting, Steeljaw pounced on Ramulus, sending both to the floor, the latter pinned beneath the former.
"What's the matter, Steel?" Ramulus teased. "You appear to be quite flustered. Can't be because of me, can it?"
"You are insufferable!" Steeljaw growled, yet his tone was far from aggressive.
Ramulus scoffed and rolled his optics. Steeljaw smiled and lowered his helm. He gave his mate a loving lick.
"Steel, what are you doing?"
"Something I've been waiting a very long time for."
Steeljaw, with utmost care, grabbed Ramulus and pulled him close. The pair returned to berth, and soon found themselves lying chassis-to-chassis.
"Okay, you've got my attention," Ramulus admitted. "What's up?"
"I need to confess something, and I need you to be quiet and listen to me throughout the whole thing," Steeljaw explained, feeling extremely nervous. Ramulus nodded in understanding.
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew there was something special about you. I had to know more about you, so one day, I approached you. Of course, your first instinct was to try and kill me, but after a while, we started to get along. Maybe not friends per-se, but we were cordial with each other. Then one day you came to me, of all mechs, for advice, and a proposition to join a rebellion. I can't remember exactly how you convinced me. At first, I thought we made a big mistake, but we gradually rose through the ranks. I became the leader of the Pack, and chose you as my second-in-command. My most trusted. During those times, we grew close. More than friends. More than brothers-in-arms. I believed that it would be you and me, unrivaled by any other, for all of our functions, but then, everything fell apart.
I was gravely injured, unsure of whether I would live to finish our work. To see you again. I don't know whether it was coincidence or good fortune, and I don't care. You found me, and carried me away. You wanted to protect me from everyone, enemies and allies alike. I remember when you told me that you had to leave to protect me. I almost forced you to stay, but I knew you. Once you make a decision, nothing anybody can say or do will change a damn thing.
You always know what you want. You always have an answer, even if it isn't the best. You are strong, and loyal to those who treat you as an equal, with unrivaled respect, even if that respect is for brutality of any kind on any level. You are clever, bold, and ambitious. You have always been by my side, no matter what, and even though we haven't seen each other since we separated, my feelings for you have not been swayed."
Steeljaw felt tears pricking his optics and lifted a claw to clear them.
"Ramulus…"
The Lupicon gently grabbed his mate's servo and guided it to rest atop his spark chamber.
"I love you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my conjunx-endura?"
Ramulus knew all along what his answer would be. Now if only he could get his vocalizer to work. Noticing his mate needed a quick restart, Steeljaw gave him another lick, this time slow and rough.
"GAH! STEEL!" Ramulus spluttered, jerking his helm away from the weird feeling.
Steeljaw chuckled and looked at his mate fondly.
"Apologies, but you were a little tongue-tied, so I thought I might help."
Ramulus raised an optical ridge.
"Oh, right, you wouldn't know," Steeljaw started getting off-topic. "It's one of the many sayings from an organic planet called Earth. Spent some time there. I actually kind of like it. More than Cybertron, anyway. I can show you it…"
"Yes."
Steeljaw stopped and had to do a double-take.
"Yes? For the Earth trip, or…"
Ramulus chuckled and nuzzled Steeljaw's neck.
"Both, but primarily for becoming your conjunx."
Steeljaw's spark skipped a beat. He couldn't believe this was happening. It's been so long, he was afraid Ramulus wouldn't reciprocate his feelings, but he did.
"Eh, Steel, why'd you…" Ramulus never got to finish as Steeljaw caught him in a kiss.
Deep, loving, passionate, and full of care. Arms wrapped around adjoining frames, holding each other, comforting each other, protecting each other. The pair melted into the sensation, becoming lost in their own desires, their individual worlds crashing into each other and forming a new one.
The intensity of the moment causes sparks to fly, literally. Their frames rise in temperature until they reach a united, systemic climax. They collapse on the berth, panting.
"I love you, Steel," Ramulus confessed, barely online as he slipped into recharge.
"I love you, too, Ram," Steeljaw reciprocated, curling protectively around his conjunx-endura. "Forever and always."