As much as Knock Out had teased Wheeljack with plans for some grand, epic 'wedding,' in the end it was just a handful of them crowded in Ultra Magnus' office to witness the signing of the documents.
Bulkhead and Arcee, the senior-most officers next to the Commander himself, and Ratchet the CMO were there. They offered quiet congratulations, though Bulkhead's sounded a little nervous and Ratchet's very terse, then it was done.
They went back to Knock Out's room, where Wheeljack had moved a few of his things for the sake of ceremony. When the door closed behind the medic, they stood in silence and stared at one another.
"S'official." Wheeljack said, his field giving off a distinctly nervous feeling.
"Yes, it is." Knock Out smiled at him fondly. "We are officially bond mates. At least on paper."
Wheeljack gave a jerk of his head and looked away, finding the wall where Knock Out displayed his credentials fascinating if his staring was any indication. The red grounder approached him, laying a hand on his shoulder and frowning as he flinched.
"Now what's gotten into you? You're not actually nervous about us being bonded, are you?" Knock Out asked, Wheeljack giving him a pained look.
"It's not the being bonded thing that's botherin' me." He said in a low voice. "It's the whole… spark bonding thing. I've never done it."
"It's the same as merging, just more meaningful." Knock Out assured him, and Wheeljack's field didn't smooth out a bit. "... wait… Wheeljack…"
"KO." There was a hint of warning in the Wrecker's voice, but Knock Out pressed forward.
"You've never merged before?" He blurted, Wheeljack's shoulders and door wings slumping.
"You remember me sayin' that you were the first person I've been in a real relationship with?" Wheeljack snapped. "What part of that made you think I've been in the position to merge with anyone?"
"W-well I-" Knock Out spluttered, optics wide. "I just assumed you would have! I guess it's something I took for granted!"
"No one's touched my spark but me." Wheeljack said firmly. "And I've only touched one spark 'sides my own! That was yours! When I saved you!"
"Which I am grateful for." Knock Out tried to reign in his EM field, venting long and slow. "Alright. There's honestly nothing at all to be nervous about. It doesn't hurt, it's actually very pleasant."
"But I ain't done it before." Wheeljack said, now looking embarrassed on top of nervous. "You said I can't keep lettin' you call all the shots, but you gotta keep callin' the shots cause I don't know what I'm doin'."
Knock Out took Wheeljack's hands and pulled him over to the berth. He sat down, tugging the Wrecker down beside him and giving him a long, searching look. "Are you having second thoughts now?" He asked gently, Wheeljack rolling his optics. It was the one gesture the Wrecker frequently made that Knock Out had trouble deciphering. Either it meant he thought you were being stupid, he was so done with a conversation, or he was trying to avoid a subject aggressively.
"I'm not. I just don't like not knowin' what's goin' on and you very often make me feel that way." Wheeljack grumbled. "I got a reputation to keep, Red… you're always makin' me look bad."
"As your bond mate, that's my job now." Knock Out smirked, leaning forward and kissing him. "As beautiful and young as I may look, I think I might actually be a bit older than you. That means I have more accumulative experiences to pass on."
Wheeljack just kept grumbling, and Knock Out let out a laugh as he cupped the Wrecker's face in his hands and silenced him with more kisses. He let things start getting heated on their own, waited until Wheeljack's hands were on him and pressing into his plates with intent before leaning backwards and drawing the Wrecker down with him.
"Your paint." Wheeljack said against his mouth as he settled atop the red grounder.
"Mm. Don't care. Not when it's with you." Knock Out said with a chuckle. "Just means you'll have to fix it after."
"That might take hours." Wheeljack leaned down and seized a neck cable between his denta.
"Gee, darn, hours wasted in your fumbling but capable company." Knock Out said, a little breathless.
They touched each other, hands roaming over frames that neither had gotten to know very well. Their interfacing was always hurried and heated, so they took their time now.
Wheeljack had discovered almost by accident earlier that Knock Out liked his legs being touched, especially when fingers got under plating to massage the protoform beneath. He kept one hand busy doing this while the other traced fingers over a pale, pointed finial on the side of the medic's helm.
Knock Out knew Wheeljack liked a bit of a firmer touch and dug his claws in lightly as he moved his hands over the Wrecker's chassis. He stroked Wheeljack's chest plate, nuzzling his face into his bond mate's shoulder. "Open for me. I promise I won't hurt you." He said, without all the playful, teasing, devious tones he normally used when uttering such a promise.
Wheeljack hesitated for longer than Knock Out expected, but his chest plates eventually slid apart to reveal his spark. It was the same color as his optics and pulsing swiftly, Knock Out pushing reassurance into his field as he reached his hand past the parted plates.
Wheeljack tensed when Knock Out's claws brushed against his spark, his hands closing into fists. He let out a shaky vent when claws dragged over the surface, charge flickering over him.
"You're so beautiful." Wheeljack said, Knock Out looking up at him in surprise. "You've got this look of reverence on your face. Still can't believe it's for me."
"I would have liked a little less of a whirlwind, but I don't regret this." Knock Out said, still stroking the Wrecker's spark. "I don't regret you."
"Guess we'll have ta thank Bumblebee for gettin' us into this mess." Wheeljack gave him a crooked smile that only trembled a little. "If it weren't for him goin' off on that mission, I woulda never walked into the med-bay that day."
"I'd like to think you would have found the time to flirt with me on a different occasion." Knock Out said playfully, reaching in his other hand and doubling his efforts.
Conversation ceased. Wheeljack was too overcome with unfamiliar but pleasant sensations to focus on speaking, and Knock Out was trying to keep his chest plates from opening too soon. He didn't want to make the Wrecker even more nervous than he already was, and he didn't want him to feel like he was obligated.
Wheeljack's vents heaved, hot air rushing over Knock Out's frame. He wasn't quite writhing, but his shifting and squirming was leaving plenty of paint transfer that Knock Out looked forward to him fixing later on. The charge that rippled through and over his frame kept leaping to the red one he lay atop and Knock Out appreciated the jolts of pleasure that resulted.
"Knock Out." Wheeljack's voice had a sense of urgency. "Please… wanna see it."
"This will be the point of no return." Knock Out said gently, his hands growing still. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Love you. Wanna be one with you." Wheeljack looked at him with dim optics, pressing a hand to Knock Out's chest plates and tracing fingers over his headlights. "Please."
Venting slowly, Knock Out took Wheeljack's hands in his own and folded back his chest plates. Almost immediately, the cyan spark above him reached towards his own orange spark and a look of awe settled over Wheeljack's face plates.
"Pretty." Wheeljack said, hesitantly reaching out but settling on curling his hands around Knock Out's waist. He pulled the medic up until they were sitting facing one another, Knock Out straddling his hips and giving him a burning look. "I'm ready. I'm ready for this."
"Once the bond happens, our sparks belong to only each other." Knock Out said, Wheeljack giving him an exasperated look.
"I know, KO. I'm yours, you're mine." He paused, looking back down at Knock Out's spark. "Will I see… y'know… everything?"
"The whole 'partner's life flashing before your optics' thing is just a hopelessly romantic myth. You will feel my emotions, my thoughts, but you shouldn't be subjected to a rapid slide show of my life." Knock Out explained.
Wheeljack nodded slowly, still staring down at his spark. His spark chamber cycled open, Knock Out mirroring his actions and waiting for him to instigate. There was less hesitation, and Wheeljack leaned to press their sparks together.
It was intense. It had been a great deal of time since Knock Out's last merge, and he heard himself shouting as he reached over Wheeljack's shoulders and dug claws into his back. The Wrecker went rigid in his arms, and everything was swallowed up in a rush of panic and bliss.
Wheeljack felt scared, like a caged animal cornered by a large predator. He felt overwhelmed, ready to lay down and embrace whatever fate befell him. There was a glimmer of regret that he was tying himself down, that he couldn't just drift off the way he always had. And there was love. So much of it that Knock Out felt as if he were smothering in a warm embrace.
He felt tendrils of Wheeljack reach into him, and he lowered his defenses to let them in. He folded them into himself, let them become a part of himself, and suddenly he was caught in the white, blinding rage of overload.
When it passed, Wheeljack's spark pulsed hard around his, the feeling of love and joy and of being wanted and protected swelling impossibly. Knock Out drew these feelings in, pushed his own love and need back and the emotions Wheeljack returned to him after were indescribable.
They crashed into him like the waves of Earth's oceans, and this time they overloaded together. Knock Out wasn't sure which one of them was screaming, or if it was both of them, and he could feel Wheeljack's hands tightening on his frame.
The intensity of Wheeljack's presence in him diminished, their sparks pulling apart and their chambers spiralling closed. Knock Out's voice box was full of raw static, but Wheeljack was sobbing into his shoulder, and it still could have been either one of them that was screaming at the end.
"M'here." Wheeljack said hoarsely, clinging to him as though he had no intention of ever letting go. "I've got you, Knock Out."
It seemed strange, the overcome Autobot reassuring him when he was falling to pieces himself. Knock Out pressed his face into Wheeljack's neck, feeling the flickers of amazement and shock through their bond. He shuddered and offlined his optics.
I love you, he whispered through the bond, Wheeljack now practically crushing him against his chest.
"How's it comin'?" The question echoed off the bare walls of the half collapsed building, and the only answer the speaker got was an irritated scoff. "That good, huh?"
"Thought you were supposed to be an engineer." Another voice muttered, followed by the sound of rubble shifting.
"I will get it working in time, but if you keep asking me stupid questions and distracting me-" The words, spoken with a lilting accent, were cut short by the sound of a weapon charging up outside. "... I thought you were supposed to be keeping watch, Springer."
"I was." Springer said, bringing out his blasters and ducking under cover. "Must be around the other side. Kup? You give the kid a weapon?"
"He's a pacifist." Kup grunted, ex-venting smoke from his cygar and moving towards the back door. "Keep at it, Percy. Springer, you cover him. I'll find the-"
Rapid footsteps moved towards them and a small red and white figure burst through hall leading from the back door. "Decepticons!"
"Figured as much." Springer said, smirking over his shoulder. "Hunker down near Perceptor, Aid."
"And what am I supposed to do with him?" Perceptor glanced up from where he was attempting to fix a long range communicator they had found in the rubble. "If you want me to fix this, I can't protect First Aid."
"If we do our jobs right, you won't have to!" Springer said brightly, standing and slipping out of their makeshift shelter. Kup made a noise of agreement and headed out the back.
There were two of them that Kup could see. He watched them through a gap in the door and narrowed his optics. Both were armed, both seemed to be frightened, and both were looking off in the direction they had presumably come from.
They also had their backs turned.
He may have been an old dog, but he was still spry enough to get through the door without alerting them. Keeping his field tucked in tight and moving as silently as he could and as slowly as he dared, he levelled his weapons at the two 'Cons.
"Evenin' boys." He growled, both of them jumping to face him. "Nice night."
"Autobot!" The smaller of the two hissed, charging his blaster. There was a sharp whine behind Kup, then the Decepticon flew backwards with a hole in his chest.
"Carcass." Kup sucked on his cygar and gave the other 'Con a searching look. "What brings you boys to this neck of the woods?"
"You killed him!" The Decepticon blurted, eyes wide with disbelief. "The war is over! We are not your enemies!"
"He had his weapon pointed at my friend." Springer said as he moved to stand next to Kup. "He had it coming. Pretty good shot, too, he never knew what hit him."
"Th-the Autobot had his weapon pointed at us! We were just defending ourselves!" The 'Con bleated, lowering his own weapons and raising his empty hands in surrender.
"Look, we're nothing if not merciful. You can take your friend and go." Kup said with a shrug. "That is, if you can tell us what's got you so spooked."
:Kup, the transmitter is working.: Perceptor informed him over the comm.
:Good. Call us some help, we might have bigger problems than a couple 'Cons on our doorstep.: Kup waited for the Decepticon to come up with an answer.
"There's a Swarm!" The Decepticon said, shuffling a little closer to his now dead friend. "Insecticons! Something's got the hive riled up and they're headed this way! We were just trying to find shelter!"
"What's your name, kid?" Kup asked, weapon still trained on the Decepticon.
"Flatline." The 'Con glanced at Springer, who seemed at ease and was smirking in a smug fashion.
"You say the war's over?"
"Y-yes. From the mouth of our Lord. He said there are no more Decepticons. Optimus Prime is dead. Life is returned to Cybertron thanks to his sacrifice." Flatline sounded bitter, though Kup wasn't sure about which part.
"Damn." Springer said just under his breath, Kup giving him a brief nod of agreement.
"I'm… I'm a medic. You can take me prisoner. I'll help you." Flatline's hands trembled and he looked down at the body of his friend. "I have no way to defend myself out here. I won't put up a fight."
"How typical. A Decepticon coward." Springer said, tilting his helm to the side.
"We've already got a medic with us, we don't need your help." Kup said, watching Flatline's face fall. "You've got two choices right now. You keep moving, or Springer here sends you to join your friend."
"What is this? I thought you Autobots said you were merciful!" Flatline began to back away.
"We're not just Autobots." Springer said with a grin. His weapon began to whine again, Flatline's optics widening. "We're Wreckers."
Flatline fled. Kup and Springer watched him go. Cygar smoke curled around Kup's head and he glanced up at Springer through its haze.
"I had it. You didn't need to kill that 'Con." He said gruffly, Springer shrugging one shoulder in response. "I wonder if Flatline's tellin' the truth about the war."
"Doesn't matter. A 'Con's a 'Con." Springer said, turning to head back inside. "They would have done the same if our roles were reversed. They probably would have done worse."
"Wish I could say that wasn't the truth." Kup shook his helm and ex-vented deeply. "But we've been at this long enough to know it is."
:Kup.: Perceptor said over the comm. :I've got someone on the transmitter you'll want to speak to.:
:On my way.: Moving back into the shelter, Kup scanned the horizon over his shoulder for any sign of the Swarm before heading for Perceptor. "We have to get moving. Apparently there are bugs on their way here."
"Bugs?" First Aid asked nervously, visor bright.
Perceptor looked up from the transmitter, moving out the way so Kup could settle down in front of it.
"This is General Kup." He said conversationally, a brief silent pause on the other end before a voice that held both amusement and disbelief began to speak.
"This is Commander Ultra Magnus. Good to hear your voice, General."
"Magnus? Hah! So you survived too, good to hear it." Kup grinned. "Look Magnus, we're in a bit of a bind. Not sure of our coords, but there's a Swarm on its way."
"We'll try to get a fix on your location and send a bridge. It will be good to see you, old friend." Ultra Magnus sounded tired, relieved. Kup wondered how many the 'Commander' was overseeing at the moment.
"Gotta ask if the news is true." Kup said softly. "Is the Prime dead?"
"I'm afraid so." Ultra Magnus replied. "We'll fully debrief you when we bring you in. Stand by for ground bridge."
They heard the bridge open outside at the same time they heard the shrill, warbling cry of an Insecticon. The bug slammed through what was left of the roof, landing heavily on First Aid. Springer brought both his blasters to bear and opened up, the Insecticon turning to him with mandibles spread.
"Percy! Grab Aid and get to the bridge!" Kup shouted, also opening fire at the Insecticon.
"This is just a scout, but we gotta get moving before the rest of them find us!" Springer shouted. Perceptor managed to get First Aid up and helped him to the door, Springer moving to cover their retreat.
The Insecticon roared, transforming and powering up its weapons, and Kup spat his cygar on the ground.
"Run! Get to the bridge!" He said, turning and making a break for it. "Ultra Magnus, if you can hear us, we are taking fire! I repeat, we are taking fire! We're coming in hot!"
Bumblebee was already in the bridge room when the call came in, and he and Ultra Magnus exchanged a glance when Kup's voice shouted through the transmitter. Reaching up, Bumblebee opened the comm.
:I need all available officers in the bridge room right away.: He said, trying to sound calm. :We've got a situation.:
:On it.: Bulkhead said immediately.
:On my way.: Arcee responded.
Ultra Magnus moved to stand in front of the open ground bridge, weapons at the ready. Bumblebee stepped up beside him, stingers drawn. When Bulkhead and Arcee arrived, they both moved to flank the others, and all of them waited.
The first people through the ground bridge were a tall teal and red mech with a sniper rifle slung over one shoulder. He was supporting a smaller red and white mech with a face mask and visor. "Medic!" The taller mech shouted, moving the red and white mech out of the way and laying him gently on the ground.
:Knock Out, hate to cut your honeymoon short, but we need you.: Bumblebee said over the comm, hearing an over dramatic exclamation in response.
A rather ragged looking older mech burst through with his back to them, accompanied by a bright green and orange one about half again his size, both of them firing back through the bridge.
"Close it!" The older mech shouted, the Vehicon on the bridge controls doing so without any hesitation.
They heard the Insecticon screaming, the ground bridge slamming closed on it and cutting off all sound.
"Is that Kup?" Bulkhead asked in a low voice, optics wide with awe. "I haven't seen him in years! I thought he died in the war!"
"Percy?" Kup called out.
"Doing all I can." Perceptor said in a monotone voice, his hands moving over the small red and white frame he crouched over. "Where is your medic, Commander?"
"On his way." Ultra Magnus replied, moving to shake hands with Kup. "General."
"Commander, huh? Guess there really couldn't be anyone better to take over for a Prime." Kup said with a smirk.
"Why are there Vehicons in here?" Springer hissed, eyeing the soldiers on the comm and bridge controls.
"They joined us after the war. They were subjected to oppression at the hands of Megatron and were rigorously screened before joining our ranks. They won't pose any problems for you or any of the other Autobots on base." Ultra Magnus urged.
"Alright alright, I'm here. What exactly seems to be the problem?" Knock Out's voice called across the bridge room, all eyes turning to him. He was scuffed and his field was full of irritation, Bumblebee hiding a smirk by looking towards First Aid.
"Your patient's over there." He said, Springer holding up a hand.
"So, I get the 'rigorous screening' thing, but I fail to see how this butcher made it through." The large mech snarled.
"Yeah, gotta say, I'm really beginning to question your standards, Magnus." Kup's optics were narrowed. "You do realize who this is, right?"
"I'm well aware of it, but right now you don't have a choice. Our CMO is on Earth, while Knock Out is here. The Doctor was also officially pardoned by Optimus Prime himself." Ultra Magnus said.
Knock Out had stopped and was staring at the group with a frown. Bumblebee recognized the expression on the medic's face, that hurt, shamed look he got when his past deeds came to confront him.
"I do not care who or what he is, I need his help." Perceptor snapped. "If you would kindly assist me, Doctor, our young companion is going to die if we don't get him stabilized."
Glancing over, Knock Out looked inquisitively at both Kup and Ultra Magnus. The former frowned and made a noise of discontent, the latter nodded encouragingly, and Knock Out stepped past the group of mechs to help Perceptor.
"Come with me. I'll debrief you, General." Ultra Magnus said, gesturing. Kup nodded and followed him from the room, Springer remaining where he was.
"I'll come by later. I wanna make sure the 'Con doesn't try anything." Springer said.
"He's not a 'Con anymore." Bumblebee said in Knock Out's defense. "He was a part of Team Prime just like the rest of us."
"Even if it was just at the end." Bulkhead supplied.
"Not helping, Bulk." Arcee said, rolling her optics.
"So he went turn-coat to save his own aft and you all just fell for it?" Springer said, glaring over at Knock Out. "The war must have robbed 'Team Prime' of its senses."
"At least Team Prime had some to begin with, unlike you, Springer." Another voice called out, Springer turning swiftly to look in the direction of the speaker. "If someone had told me that 'we have a situation' meant 'there are Wreckers on our doorstep,' I woulda gotten here faster."
"Jackie?" Springer sounded bewildered. "Jackie! How the Pit are ya?"
"In a punchin' mood, as per fraggin' usual." Wheeljack grumbled, moving to punch Springer in the arm. "Glad to see you're still standin'."
"And so are you, for the time being." Springer said, returning the gesture.
"You implyin' that's gonna change sometime soon?" Wheeljack arched a brow and Springer jerked his head in the direction of Knock Out.
Perceptor was standing. Perceptor was staring at Wheeljack. Perceptor was wearing a rather murderous expression on his face.
Wheeljack's optics widened to the point where it looked like they were going to fall out of his head. "Oh slag." He said weakly.