Pairing: Bayverse Hot Rod/Bumblebee

Rating: General

Details/Themes: Comfort, hinted relationship, war for Cybertron setting

Requested by Allspark5101

"On your left, Bee!"

The yellow mech narrowly dodged a bullet flying past his helm with wide optics. "Aw damn, almost lost my head there."

Hot Rod gave a false whimper as he fired towards several incoming Decepticons. "And what a pity that would have been, I don't think I could live without hearing your voice again."

Bumblebee did a somersault and swung his cannon around just right to blast the chest of an enemy wide open. He landed with such grace that it had apparently distracted his partner for a brief nano-click. Noticing this, the scout snapped his fingers in front of his face with a slight scowl. "Hey, hey, we're in a war here, Roddy. Don't doze off now."

"I-I'm sorry, I just-take cover!" The orange and black mech pushed both of them into a bunker as a large explosion rattled the ground just where they previously stood. A wave of fire flew past them angrily while they stared in shock. The war was becoming more and more a fire fight and the Autobots were given no choice but to keep on their toes at all times, even off battle because of it. Seeing the fire so close made both mechs breathe heavily in fear. It was times like this Hot Rod was afraid that he would lose his dear comrade. He couldn't live without his companion; Bumblebee was his stability in this nightmare. He was everything to him.

"Bumblebee?" Hot Rod panted.

The scout looked over the edge of the ditch to check the surroundings before kneeling by his partner's side with an expression that turned from panic to concern. He narrowed is optics questionably, "Hot Rod?"

An unsettling gulp emitted from the sitting mech, "My processor's reeling right now. I'm thinking about how I almost got you killed by looking at you when I should have kept my optics on the Cons. The thought of losing you…it…I would never forgive myself if that happened under my watch."

Bumblebee sat beside his companion and rubbed his back gently. "We're alive, aren't we? You saved us from that firebomb, protected my aft. Seconds like those are the most crucial. Whether we survive them or not, you made the decision to make up for a small moment of hesitance. Besides, it's not like we all haven't had instances where we paused at the wrong time but you got us out regardless. That's all that counts."

"But I almost killed you. A second more and we would have been…"

"If we die, we go down together regardless if one of us hesitated to act. I wouldn't blame you for it. Primus wouldn't hold it against you either. Not many have quick enough reflexes to escape Decepticon firebombs anyway," the scout beamed, clapping Hot Rod's shoulder as he rose up from his position. "Now, how about we show those Cons what happens when they mess with us?"

Hot Rod peered at Bee's extended servo, his face brightening at the mech's sweet smile. He was right. If they were to go down even by one mistake, they were going to go down together. They wouldn't have it any other way.

A grin embedded itself on Hot Rod's faceplates as he grabbed the servo and prepared his time-disrupter gun. "Alright then, let's go make up for lost time."

Both mechs clambered out of the ditch and charged, guns blazing. They both leapt over one barricade harboring Decepticon troops and stormed the ditch with Hot Rod bubbling them. They watched each other's backs as they fought when the bubble shattered, one nailing a Con right in the gut and another swung around the former to knock down an enemy before putting a round in their head.

In the end, Decepticon bodies littered the ditch and two high-fiving Autobots stood proud for their teamwork. When a shot flew past them and hit the barrier, they both paused and slowly turned their helms towards the origin where several more Cons were beginning to run towards them. They looked at each other, then back towards the Cons with smirks and raised brows.

"You think we can take them?"

"Definitely," Hot Rod sneered.

"Another round then?"

"…Bring it on."

They clasped servos and nodded to each other. Side by side, they ran into the battlefield.

AN: This is one way love blooms. It only takes maybe someone to make you realize that you should take the chance no matter the outcome. Hot Rod cares so much that it could be the death of him or Bumblebee. Not that I would let that ever happen of course...heh.