video;

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[The video clicks on and shows nothing but the ceiling of a room for long moments before it rattles and a hand obscures the camera. There's a scrape and a soft groan as Ratchet hauls himself as much into a sitting position as he can manage and finally manages to pick up the communicator and turn the camera towards himself.]

[He looks exhausted, his optics dim and his mouth drawn down. The hand not holding the communicator up is pressed carefully to his windscreen and his ventilations are labored as he wakes up a little more, his optics focusing in the low light of his room. His voice is soft and fuzzy with static when he speaks.]

Hey. What did I miss?




LOCKED to Spinister
I need a status update on Krok. Now, please. I can't get up to go check on him myself.

Comments

[arnhaid]

[He... really doesn't know what to say. There's a sick feeling in his chest, listening, and he's uncharacteristically quiet, the whole while.]

[I should have been there...]

[He should have been there for all of this. What was he doing while so much went wrong? Just sitting around?]

[... He'll have to thank this Drift guy. If he ever crosses paths with him again.]

Did what you had to.

[He chews it over for a minute, before reaching over, and putting a heavy hand over those others.]

Kinda sounds to me like you're right. Puttin' em to better use, I mean. [He hesitates, then looks up at him. The hand covering Ratchet's reaches around his shoulders, and squeezes, carefully.] Don't matter though, really. There's still no better bot for puttin' us back together, far as I'm concerned.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[He catches that guilty look in Ironhide's optic.]

You didn't come with us, on The Lost Light. You chose to stay on Cybertron and try to help sort things out there. Don't you dare feel guilty for not being able to punch Pharma into submission.

[He leans into Ironhide a little, making a low sound in his throat.]

M'doing my best.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Yeah, yeah. Doing my best.

[arnhaid]

[He huffs, and ducks his head at that.]

I didn't know that part... I just knew you bots all took off.

[Hence the guilt. Knowing that doesn't quite erase it. But it helps. Knowing he was probably needed somewhere else.]

[He tightens his arm around him.]

You always do. Never doubted that. You... doin' this proves me right.

[triggerhappycopter]

[The cheerfulness drains from Spin's face leaving just a blank expression.

He doesn't reply however and simply disconnects.]

[butwonderful]

I love you.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Wait--Spinister!

[Ratchet's optics widen as Spinister disconnects and he calls back hastily.]

About what you told me. Before Krok--Spinister!

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet's whole body goes stiff, his optics widening helplessly.]

Drift...

[butwonderful]

Shh. You don't have to. I just want you to know.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet squeezes his optics shut hard and ducks his head, his grip tightening slowly on Drift as he presses his lips to the top of Drift's helm and just holds him, so exhausted it nearly hurts, his spark chamber still aching.]

[butwonderful]

[ This is good. This is fine. He'll stay as long as Ratchet lets him. ]

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Well good, because Ratchet has fallen asleep.]

[triggerhappycopter]

[Spin's not left his seat. He's just curled up and silent.]

[stubbornandfrustrating]

...Spinister?

[Some of the urgency drains from Ratchet and he just looks worried.]

What's wrong?

[swivelrotors]

We're coming right over, don't you worry!

[triggerhappycopter]

I gotta tell him.

video;

[needlefingers]

You'd... Do this for a Decepticon?

[He says with utter astonishment. Though, come to think of it, it shouldn't surprise him.]

...It's not going to be enough to stop the nightmares.

video

[knightunbraided]

[Oh good. That means you can't run away.]

I'll be there in a few moments.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Well--

All right, then.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Krok.

[His voice is heavy before it sharpens just slightly, his optics intense.]

Yeah, you do. And Spinister--you need to tell him soon. This isn't the kind of thing I can keep from Magnus and Prowl, so whatever you're going to do, do it as soon as possible and let me know how it turns out. I'll keep them off your back as long as you can, but I won't lie to them for you.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Yeah. Yeah, I would. Krok is--

[Ratchet stops, his optics paling.]

...it's not? It won't?

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Not going anywhere.

[needlefingers]

I'm very good at what I do.

There's only one way to fix it.

[triggerhappycopter]

I dunno what I'm gonna do if Krok doesn't agree.

video; whoops i'm late to the party don't mind me ;-;

[indisposable]

[So Rewind is aware that he and Ratchet weren't on the best of terms the last time they interacted, but of course he figures it must have blown over by now and his temper must have cooled down at least slightly. Because all of that terrible stuff involving the Decepticons happened a while back at this point!

He, of course, had absolutely no clue that all of the trouble and heartache has been going on behind closed doors, and that this was a further result of it.]

Primus, Ratchet, are you okay?! What happened??