i dont think that deadlock ever leaves drift, and i think that ratchet is the one who helps him accept that and come to terms with the fact that it's 'okay' to still keep apart of deadlock with him. deadlock was created out of desperation, and an inherent desire to never be oppressed/held down again. deadlock was a promise to drift, that he would never let anyone use him or his body against his consent. deadlock was who liberated him, and when he became his own person. deadlock did awful, terrible things, but ratchet lets drift know that deadlock was a necessity. something
the idea is "we can't condone/excuse the violence you caused, but deadlock was integral to your identity, and i know you still struggle with him. it's okay to still, feel him sometimes. just as long as you don't hurt people".
and that's something that drift takes to heart. that it's okay not to forget the identity that literally saved him.
to drift, deadlock and ratchet are important because they both saved him, they both liberated him. and he can't live without either of them. so he finds a way to balance drift and deadlock, thanks to ratchet.




















