touchscreens | [Voice]

I've had years and years of practice.

[And a very good teacher.]

Did he teach you to be a paranoid jerk, too? Since you have that part down so well.

[Sighs.] You read my mind, Chromedome. You had to know that I wasn't a threat. So... why did you do it? To both of us.

Would it surprise you to know that I'm not going to try to excuse my actions? I wasn't... I was a little off my rocker for a while, but what I did was... was wrong. Even to Decepticons.

[He had to force himself to say that. It hurt.]

But I had to. At the time I couldn't think of anything else. I had to inject or else I'd lose my hold on reality. You were convenient targets. I told myself that you were a threat to someone I cared about and used that as an excuse.

I'm sorry.

[Fulcrum goes quiet. He's angry, incredibly angry. In his memories, all he has is bitterness. The best things that have ever happened to him are here, in this place, and that's all because Chromedome took the good memories away.

He wants to remember, so badly.]

You lost your hold on reality anyway. Your addiction didn't help, it got worse.

[He lets out a sigh, hating how shaky it sounds.]

Look, I. Can appreciate that you're being straight forward with this. I'm not ready to forgive you, though.

Not just for me, either. I just... I think about how Prowl looked when I told him. He didn't deserve what you did to him either. He was lucky that I was the one that found him, honestly.

It's not an addiction.

[He snarls, his temper flaring briefly before he pushes it back down.]

...

Prowl? When did you talk to Prowl?

[He flinches and is super glad that Chromedome can't see it.]

I dunno what else you'd call it, then!

I, um. Not long after you got yourself murdered.

[There's a small, ominous moment of silence before he talks again, a subtle anger can be heard in his voice.]

What were you doing with Prowl?

I don't see how that's any of your business. But if you want to know so badly, talk to him.

Right.

[Paranoia threatens to grip him, whispering that other things must have happened between them. That Prowl didn't want to tell him. But he reminds himself that he's seen Fulcrum's mind. He doesn't have it in him to hurt Prowl.]

You couldn't have hurt him if you tried. You just don't have it in you.

[He sighs quietly.] Yeah. You're absolutely right. You would know that.

Look. I thought about it. I thought about hurting him, but I couldn't do it. Especially since he had nothing to do with the whole thing. When I saw how he looked when I told him what happened...

I felt awful.

[There's another silence. Everywhere he looks there's reminders of how he's hurt and betrayed the people he loves. Who love him. That isn't right.]

Ironically I put him in a coma to keep him out of danger.

He punched me, if that makes you feel any better. So did another Autobot.

I figured that was the case. There... there were a lot of needle marks, you know. Is he okay otherwise?

I honestly don't know how I feel about that. You were already killed. I'm mad at you, but I don't want you in pain. Weirdly enough.

Your memories were beautiful, but his were an entire galaxy altogether. He remembered all the times we were together. He let me in.

[The feeling's mutual.]

He's fine. Mnemosurgeons are always in more danger of dying while injecting, not the hosts. Most don't last longer than a couple of centuries.

...

And I don't hate you as much as I used to.

Golly wow, what an incredible sentiment. Thanks.

[He pauses, then offers:]

Look, Chromedome. Maybe you should start focusing more on making new memories instead of relying on the past and what's going on other people's heads. You pissed off a lot of people, but you still have others who care and think about you. And you know that.

Just do right by them. I know Prowl deserves it. He's nice.

[Humour edges into his voice despite himself.]

Ha, so what do you want me to say? "Gee Fulcrum, I think your thoughts are incredibly beautiful, let's be friends!" You'd be surprised to know that I haven't made many friends that way.

[He'll get to the other bit in a moment.]

Oh hell no. The last thing I wanna be is your friend. I'm telling you this for Prowl's sake, not because we're gonna be buddies.

I'd sooner stab your damn eyes out. [Spoken cheerfully!]

Aw you almost sounded like an actual Decepticon there. Maybe deepen your voice or something and you'll sound a little bit more threatening.

And don't worry about Prowl and them. They're not really your business.

Maybe with a bit more growling, hm?

Don't tell me how to feel or think. I'll worry about him if I wanna. [Mostly that he just still feels guilty about the hostage thing but you know.]

Yeah. For a moment it sounded like some meek librarian was threatening to stab out my eyes. Not very scary.

I'd tell you to stay away from him, but I'm pretty sure Prowl can handle himself. Mostly.

Oh, c'mon. You know I couldn't.

Most people have a physical advantage over me. I don't think you have much to worry about, even if I had plans to hurt him. Which I don't.

People change. You never know what kind of person you'll turn into. And you're not as much of a coward as you think you are.

You just need something worth protecting and you're as brave as any other bot.

Edited 2014-07-27 07:12 (UTC)

I don't know about that. In case you conveniently forgot, anything that I might have owned was taken from me. I was stripped of everything before I went to Styx.

[And sure, he likes a lot of people here, but would he ever throw himself into danger for them? He can't think of that.]

If you had grown to care about them before, you'll grow to care about them again. You hadn't actually known them for very long before you risked your life for them the first time.

One day I'll make you see that again.

Well, they-- they seem nice. Weird and strange but nice.

Wait, I did that? You're pulling my leg here.

Yooou stood up to the DJD for them.

They haven't told you this? Weird.

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