Authors Notes:
Hey guys, this chapter is a bit shorter! But I hope I make up for it by posting both an animatic and artwork with it!
You can find the animatic either by going to my YouTube "Raevo_Draws" or by simply looking up "Two Danny Phantom Animation Meme" and it will be right there!
The animation meme is not connected to this chapter, so you can watch it without spoilers! But it is my biggest animation yet! I worked together with an amazing creator named HybridLlily (Tumblr) on it. She also did the cover for Burning Rubber, and we both worked together to create the artwork at the end of this chapter as well!
If you watch it, please like, subscribe, and comment because I am trying to grow that channel, too, so I can make more DP content. XD
Danny stood on Optimus' servo as he carried him through the corridors of the base. Danny's gaze kept flicking back toward the medbay doors until they disappeared from sight. Even then, he could still picture Starscream lying motionless on the berth, hooked up to machines that beeped softly as Ratchet worked to keep him stabilized.
His chest tightened. What if something happened while he was gone? What if Ratchet couldn't handle the damage? What if…
No. Stop. Danny took a shaky breath, forcing himself to focus on the sensation of Optimus's servo beneath his feet. Starscream wasn't alone. Ratchet had promised to keep him stable, and despite everything, Danny believed him.
Optimus gently set him down outside one of the human quarters, one with a door far too small for a mech to fit through. Danny muttered a quick thanks and slipped inside without looking back.
The room was small. A cot rested in one corner, and a modest bathroom with a shower was tucked away at the back. Danny made a beeline for it, peeling his filthy, energon-soaked shirt off as he walked. It hit the floor with a wet slap, leaving behind streaks of blue smeared across the ground. He winced at it before continuing.
He turned the water on, cranking the dial to as hot as it could go, and stepped under the spray. For a moment, all he could do was stand there, head bowed, letting the water cascade over him. The blue stains began to streak, swirling down the drain in faint trails. Danny scrubbed at his arms, his chest, his face—anywhere the energon had touched. But no matter how hard he scrubbed, he could still feel it.
The energon.
Starscream's energon.
Danny squeezed his eyes shut. The water continued to pound against him, drowning out everything but the rapid thrum of his heartbeat.
He's not dead, Danny told himself firmly. He's still alive. Ratchet got to him in time.
But what if the Autobots didn't randomly come across them? What if Danny couldn't hold him together long enough? What if…
Danny shook his head. The faster he could get this stupid shower over with, the faster he could get back to -protect- Starscream. With trembling hands, Danny washed the last of the energon off his skin. The exhaustion hit him like a freight train, making his limbs feel heavier with each passing second.
By the time he shut off the water, his movements were sluggish. He stumbled out of the shower, reaching for a towel to dry himself off. As he wiped the steam from the mirror, his reflection came into focus.
For a moment, he barely recognized the person staring back at him. His skin was pale. His eyes had dark circles beneath them. Scars from old battles crisscrossed his chest and arms, one very obvious one stretching from shoulder to shoulder down his torso — stark reminders of everything he'd been through.
But it was his left arm that drew his attention. He turned it towards the reflective surface, frowning as he studied the burn Megatron's fusion cannon had left behind. At first, it looked like a normal burn Danny would get from an ecto-blaster… But the edges were darkened, and the inside shimmered faintly with an unnatural glowing purple hue.
Danny flexed his fingers experimentally, wincing as pain shot through his arm. He frowned, turning his arm over to look closer. His mind then snapped back to the reason he was here. He pushed himself away from the mirror. He had to deal with this later. Right now, Starscream needed him more.
Danny snatched up what seemed to be the clean clothes Optimus had mentioned: a pair of camo pants and some black shirts. Danny stared at his options. There was a simple black T-shirt and a loose, long-sleeved black shirt. Danny hesitated, holding both in his hands.
His gaze flicked down to the purple-tinged burn on his arm. A pang of unease ran through him. He tossed the black t-shirt to the ground and easily slipped the long-sleeved one over his head, darting for the door.
It was just a few minutes, he reminded himself. That's all it was. He's still alive. He's still there.
As soon as he hit the hallway, he nearly collided with something solid. A startled noise escaped him as he skidded to a halt, staring directly at Optimus' massive leg. Danny tilted his head back, meeting the mech's gaze.
"You're still here?" Danny blurted out, confused.
Optimus straightened, his optics softening. "I wished to ensure your safety." His voice resonated with an edge of concern. "I understand your urgency, but I must remind you—Starscream is a dangerous individual. You should proceed with caution."
Danny's jaw clenched, his protective instincts flaring. "I don't care what you think about him. He's hurt, and he needs me."
Optimus shifted slightly, his massive frame blocking part of the corridor. "If you allow me to assist—"
But Danny was already darting around the mech and running in the direction of the medbay. Optimus held his servo out as if ready to stop him but didn't. Danny rushed down the hall without looking back.
Optimus watched him go, his field tinged with unease. Starscream had proven himself untrustworthy more times than he could count, and while Optimus respected Danny's compassion, he feared for the human's safety.
As Danny ran, his mind raced faster than his feet. He didn't know how long he'd been away from Starscream, but every second felt like an eternity. He had to get back. He had to make sure Starscream was okay. Nothing else mattered.
Bursting into the medbay, Danny's gaze immediately zeroed in on the berth. Relief flooded him when he saw Starscream was still there, Ratchet working steadily beside him. Danny let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He was back. And Starscream was still alive.
He ran to the berth and scaled it with practiced ease from his times in Knockout's medbay, ignoring the slight wobble in his legs from exhaustion. Ratchet moved around to the side Danny climbed about to hold his servo out to assist Danny or make sure he didn't fall, but Danny reached the top before the medic had the chance.
Danny studied Starscream's frame. Ratchet had cleaned off the energon that was smeared on Starscream, revealing the number of dents and scratches marring his plating. Danny pulled himself up onto the Seeker's chest plate, swinging his legs up and over with him. Ignoring the faint hum of Ratchet's field—an odd mix of disapproval and curiosity—Danny laid on his side, curling up on the Seeker.
The steady thrum of Starscream's spark pulsing beneath the plating was oddly comforting, grounding Danny in a way nothing else could. Ratchet tilted his helm, clearly unconvinced. "That cannot possibly be comfortable," he muttered, and Danny wasn't sure if he was meant to hear that or not.
Danny's body ached, his mind was a foggy mess, but for the first time since this whole ordeal began, he felt they were… safe. He let his eyes drift shut, and before he knew it, he'd fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep.
x
In the doorway, Optimus silently observed, his optics dimming slightly as he exchanged a glance with Ratchet.
The medic crossed his arms, his expression torn between skepticism and worry.
"His loyalty to Starscream… it is both commendable and troubling," Optimus said.
Ratchet sighed, his optics flicking back to the sleeping boy. "For now, we let him rest. He'll need his strength… They both do."
Optimus lingered a moment longer, his expression unreadable. Then, with a quiet hum of his engine, he turned and stepped away, leaving Ratchet to monitor the medbay and the two unlikely companions.
Authors notes:
Beta read by Arvensia:
Bro's protection obsession is going crazy! Poor boy.
I also did an artwork for Danny looking in the mirror, so if you want to see what that scar looks like you can find it on my Tumblr "Playedcrowd5610"
Thanks again everyone I hope you have a great week :D