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

[thehardway]

I know, we can't take away what was done.

All I can do is take this to Chromedome. [Yet another thing. Damn it.]

But I'm glad you're in one piece. Just never do it again.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

You know me better than to think I can promise you something like that.

[His voice is very soft.]

[thehardway]

Then I mean it when I say that I don't think I could manage without you right now, Ratchet. Exercise more caution. Please.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet's grip tightens on Magnus' small frame, curling him closer almost protectively despite being too weak to stand.]

...all right. That I can promise.

[thehardway]

Thank you. That's all I'll ask.

Can I bring you anything?

[stubbornandfrustrating]

No. M'all right.

...this is nice.

[thehardway]

...It is.

[He does enjoy it. It's difficult, but he knows he can't selfishly just have this for himself. That would be impossible.]

I'm sorry for yelling. I just. [Care more than he ought to.] You're important to so many people, Ratchet.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet snorts a soft noise, almost a laugh as one broad hand strokes absently up and down Magnus' back.]

You don't have to apologize. It was a stupid thing to do, and I know it. ...that just doesn't mean I wouldn't do it again if I had to.

[thehardway]

I know. I... mm.

[He should do the proper thing and ask him to stop, but he doesn't. He can't bring himself to. It's a pleasant feeling. It's almost r-wording.]

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet hums quietly and just... eases against Magnus' much slighter weight, all the tension draining out of him. His hand slows against Magnus' back but doesn't stop as his optics dim.]

Thanks. [His voice is low and soft with static.] For coming over.

[thehardway]

How could I not? Regardless of what's done, I wouldn't turn my back on you, Ratchet.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Yeah. Likewise. [Ratchet's grip tightens, just slightly.]

I don't know what I'd do without you here either, y'know.

[thehardway]

I'm sure you would manage just fine, Ratchet. Drift cares about you. As does Wing. Even the Decepticons seem to trust you.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[That response wakes Ratchet up a little and he turns, optics brightening again as he looks down into Magnus' face, suddenly intent.]

Hey. We care about you too, you know. And I trust you. ...more than anybody else here, I think. We need you. You're important to people here too.

[thehardway]

I appreciate that. I don't know that I've made much of a difference. I was too late to help Krok and the others. I feel that the best I've done was check on Misfire and make sure he wasn't... alone.

Everyone else, I haven't done a thing. I thought I could help Chromedome, but all he's done is lie. I couldn't protect Prowl, or anyone.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Magnus, you can't be held responsible for helping someone who doesn't want to be helped. Nobody knew what Chromedome was doing--I think Chromedome barely knows what Chromedome is doing. You're handling the situation the best you can. Nobody can ask more of you.

[thehardway]

I can, when I see the damage done to those who didn't deserve it. I know I can't hold myself accountable for someone else's actions, but I know I deliberately gave Chromedome space initially because I thought it was enough.

Before you arrived here, Chromedome beat Krok. I told him to never do something like that again. I did nothing else, because at the time I didn't think I had to. It was wrong of him to do and I recognized that, but at the time-- at the time it was just another Decepticon.

I can't take that back, or what followed. This is my mess too.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Magnus...

[Ratchet should probably be more reserved, but he's tired and he hurts everywhere and he can't fix any of the larger problems they're having right now but he can't bear to see Magnus like this either. He reaches out with both arms and pulls Magnus in against his chest, curling closer in against him as one hand settles at the center of Magnus' back and the other cups the back of his helm.]

Nobody knew what Chromedome was going to do. I could have taken the needles out earlier, I could have assisted you more, I could have--something. But I didn't, and I can't go back and fix that now. But it's not your fault any more than it is anyone else's, and beating yourself up won't help fix the problem now. You did what you thought was right, and in my experience, that's usually pretty spot-on.

[His fingers stroke slowly at the nape of Magnus' neck, his touch gentle.]

I don't think I'd 'manage just fine.' I don't even want to think about what this would look like if you weren't here. We do need you, and I think you're doing a good job, considering... everything that's happening. All right?

[thehardway]

[He should resist. Close and getting closer is dangerous. He probably wouldn't be thinking about this so much if it wasn't for what happened with Rewind, Prowl, and then Wing. But...

The comfort is so nice. The reassuring words. Ratchet's probably the only one who ever does this for him. Even before when Ratchet helped me for the first time in putting the armor back on, he reassured him about his stance. That he is Ultra Magnus. Ratchet insisted he take over as captain while Rodimus was away.

Ratchet, for all of the things he's had to put up with, has always supported him. He would not be insincere with Magnus.

Carefully, he places his arms in a way to embrace Ratchet a bit more tightly, letting himself have this. Just for a moment longer.]

Thank you.

[He huffs a little.] You shouldn't have to give me a pep talk while you just woke up from a coma. I have ill timing.

But I'm still grateful.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Hey, you know me. I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't want to. Or if I didn't mean it.

[He goes limp under Magnus' slighter weight, warm and relaxed and almost drowsy, his optics dimming again as he strokes up and down Magnus' back.]

[thehardway]

I know that very well.

[He can bear the weight easily, and he gently braces a hand to Ratchet's chest. Magnus considers, then leans his head against him slightly.]

You should sleep.

[asafepairofhands]

Mmh. Thanks.

[His optics flare briefly, one side of his mouth tugging up in something that's almost a smile before he slips into recharge, his arms still curled around Magnus, keeping him close.]