[Voice]

[needlefingers]

I am an Autobot. I earned my badge.

[His voice shakes a little in anger.]

I'll prove it. I'll make things better. You'll see.

[Locked to Rewind]

Look I.

I don't know. I feel like we should talk. Or something.

Comments

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

[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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

[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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

[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.]

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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!]

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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.]

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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.]

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

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.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

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

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

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

Yooou stood up to the DJD for them.

They haven't told you this? Weird.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

Well, Spinister-- he said something like that, but I. I wasn't sure I believed him.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

You did.

You felt like you found people you belonged with, and wanted to protect them.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

Why are you telling me this now?

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

I don't know. Maybe it's because I know you better now.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

...You're really strange. [And making it real hard to hate you.]

So what're you gonna do now?

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[needlefingers]

I don't know that either. Honestly, I don't have any plans beyond "I really want to fix this mess I made".

Maybe I should just. Stay out of trouble. That's a good start.

[VOICE][PRIVATE]

[forcowardice]

Probably, yeah.

...Look, I don't know when or if I can forgive you. But if you're serious about this, then knowing that you messed up is a good start. It's better than a lot of people I've known.

So, good luck. Okay?