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

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet... lets him, not that he has much of a choice.]

Mmhmm.

[butwonderful]

Are you going to be okay?

[ He asks quietly after a moment. ]

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Yeah. I am.

...promise.

[butwonderful]

I love you.

[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.]