The Valentine's Day Optiratch. This time we have Marvel happy endings as I went back to reread it. This is just a blend of HTTYD3 and .DotHack//Roots cause those scenes have rotted my brain.
Panel 1; Optimus Prime: You're as beautiful as the day I lost you...
HELLO TRANSFORMERS FANDOM i’ve been craving the motivation to make more transformers drawings so I thought why not make a prompt list of my own!!
introducing ~transformuary~, a daily prompt list that runs the entire month of february. only 28 drawings to do, phew 💨 (though feel free to use for writing or anything else as well!)
like I said, I made this for my own personal use (and the prompts are a bit biased because of that) but I thought I might as well share if others would like to participate! feel free to do as many or as little as you like and make adjustments at will (especially slot #27. I expect many to skip or change it HAHA) this is for fun!
here’s the full prompt list:
Favorite Autobot
2nd in Command
Favorite Female Bot
Science
Beastformer
Transformers One
Character of Choice
Alt Mode
Transformers Prime
Favorite Decepticon
Cross Faction
More Than Meets the Eye
Amica Endura
Conjunx Endura
OC Slot
Medic
Empurata
Favorite Continuity/Series
Combiner
Leader
Tragedy
Earthspark
Seeker(s)
Humans/Holoforms
Character of Choice
Minibot
Bayverse
Free Space!
I’ll be tagging all posts as #transformuary . go forth and create! (or don’t! I’ll do it either way…)
The after math of their reunion, Deadlock is stuck patching Ratchet up. They use this time to decide whether or not they get back together.
"You really are worst than I am." Waking up to see Drift's face so close to him... it feels so natural. And if he currently couldn't tast the after burn of purging all his fuel, Ratchet thought he was dreaming.
"Most things are." After passing out in Deadlock's arm, the mech was stuck trying to patch him up as best he could. It was only now that he could help patch up anything Drift wasn't comfortable with. "Especially since you took the time to repair me." He greatly appreciates that and lets his em field express that.
"Of course..." Drift let's himself relax, although he can see heat form around his face. "I still care about you."
Stopping the patch work, Ratchet moves his face around so he his looking up directly at Drift. He wants to see his reaction when he says, "That's good to hear. You don't have to answer me now, but Drift. Being away from you has made me understand what exactly it was you did for me." Moves his hand to hold his again. "How much I didn't value your effort to keep our old relationship. And all I did was roll over when things were too hard."
"Ratchet- Sorry if you ever felt forced to do something for me."
"And I'm sorry that I made you feel worthless. I want to make it up to you." He moves his other hand to brush Drift's face. "Because I love you."
"Oh Ratch..." Drift is tries to stop himself from crying. "Oh Ratchet still, after all this time? Now you tell me?"
"Sorry it took me to long to realize." He moves their lips closer, but never moving to kiss him. "Now it's mine turn to wait for you, and I will wait, no matter how long it takes." He plays with his fingers, preparing himself for any answer. "And if you don't want to go back to what we were. I'll take that too."
"Of course I don't want what we had." Drift moves to kiss his hand. "We were destroying each other, and I want something better."
"Equal." The way his eyes light up at that declaration, there was true hope there.
"Yeah, equals." Now, mutually they move ein for a kiss. Drift tries to deepen his but pulled out immediately and hacks out his vents.
All he can do is laugh. "Sorry, I guess I should have mentioned that I'll probably taste like blood for a while."
"It's not so much the taste." He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. "Just a chunk of junk hit the back of my intake."
Both of them are smiling. Broken glass, armor and covered in dried up blood, they've never looked worse. However, it's been a long time since both of them have been this happy. "I wish I could take you out to eat. Just my luck the world ended before I could ask you out."
"Well I still have some fuel left we can share that instead." Here at the end of the world, with all the blood stains shattered around them. Nothing to see but gray dust the glow from their drinks. They both see something worth rebuilding.
---
I feel like I rushed the ending but also when I added more parts the fic started to waffle about. So sorry if I disappointed after waiting for so long.
DRAtchet week 2022 Day 13: Reunion/Blood from the Mouth.
(First Day)||(Day 12)||(Last Day)
There's a rumor that Deadlock is around the area. Ratchet uses this as his chance to talk to him.
Deserter, traitor and coward. None of those words matter.
All that matters is finally being able to go back out on the trail. To find and heal the downtrodden mechs. Giving hope is an Autobot concept, but preserving life. That was something that Ratchet learned ment more than just fixing bots.
It was understanding their joy, fears, and anger. The injustices, dreams, passions and guilt; it was knowing a mech beyond function. He also learned that his own wants and needs matter too, not because it would make him happy. It was to show other mechs an example of what he says means something.
So when he hears a rumor that Deadlock was in the area, he makes a beline towards them. Even as Decepticons or Autobots shoot at him. Even as the the miss fire hits his frame slowing him down.
He makes his way towards open space. If anyone was here they would immediately come to investigate. He should start repairing the open wond that is opening up on the side of his chassis. And he will.
Just as soon as he finds Drift...
A distance gun shot is fired. His sensors can pick maybe three or four mechs heading in that direction. If Deadlock really was here that would be as good as spot as any.
He puts his hand above the wound to love faster. Dragging his feet to location. It would have been faster to transform, but there was a high chance that parts would get caught in the wound locking him mid form. Something is coming up his intake, he'll deal with that later...
Around the corner and past the slabs of fallen metal. There! On the third floor he can see gun shot color the room. More gun fire, good a place as any.
With the last of his strength, he pulls himself forward. Every step weighs more and more. Not before long he has to enough force to crush the debris with no resistance. Some of the walls cave inward, creating a ramp bringing closer to the open door.
A clear trap, but it doesn't matter. He has to have faith that Deadlock will be there. No, he knows that mech will be there, and this time he will fight for him. For them...
Whatever battle had happen had quiet down. One more step. One more and his feet reach the entrance. The taste of blood has now dried up in his mouth. At least his chassis stopped bleeding.
Another step closer, and finally he entered the room. He sees the barrel of a gun pointed directly between the eyes.
"Ratchet?!" Ahh he knew it.
"Drift... I finally found you." He lets his wound go to move the gun out of the way. "I'm sorry it took me so long..." More blood came back, spilling over his lips. The unprocessed fuel leaving as chunks of energon.
"Ratchet!" He pulls their frame together. He's hugging him. Primus, this is what he was looking for. "Ratchet, stay with me!"
"Always." Ratchet moved his hand to hold Drift's, places above his wound. "I'm sorry for always making you fight..." he let the hand go and moves to finally repair the damage. "Now it's my turn to fight for us. For love."
DRAtchet week 2022 Day 12: Something Long Forgotten.
(First Day)||(Day 11)||(Day 13)||(Last Day)
As Ratchet lies in bed is mind wanders through the history his had with Drift.
Sorry it's taken my like two years to finish this my life just spiraled out of control and I was burnt out on writing this AU specifically. Anyways here's the rest.
It has been a long time since Ratchet has had someone to sleep next to him. Not just for facing, but just being bumper to bumper asleep on the same berth. For the first time since joining the Autobots his senses pings healthy.
Something about that felt familiar. The low blue light from his manual clock. The indistinguishable colors of white, grey and black. If it wasn't for the large audio lights against his helm, he might have been able to convince himself it was Drift.
Why was it that he wants Drift. It been so many years since they've been together. Longer since the last time they shared touches. The yearning hurts as much as when his hand was broken, unbalanced and almost impossible to bare.
But he had deserved it. It was his inability to help him. Ratchet's humiliation is branded with the bright red Autobots Symbol. With all the work of fixing ground bridges, never being allowed to patch bots up. The social scolding when one of the real medics had asked him if he had any active spare parts on him.
The feeling of a cold new cog placed inside his frame like storage. Going back to fulfilling his built purpose. It wasn't until they practically threw him out of the Medbay and locked the door behind him did Ratchet really understand.
A feeling he'd long forgotten. The dissatisfaction of the class system. It made him realize how much of his life he built up. How much that time in Dead End matters. That they took everything from him.
Anger. They almost claimed that too. Now that he has it back, he is going to show command exactly why he survived.
Because the bots needed him. And Primus damn him, but Ratchet is going to do his best to be there.
Fuck. They gottem. He was distracted by the stupid firing squad here to kill him. He had it under control. Sure, he almost lost an arm. His leg shouldn't have been bent like that, and scrap, his coughing blood. However, that all pales in comparison to being rescued by some Autobots.
Said bots saying that Ratchet sent them over. That they had him in their base. Had offered both of them sanctuary. All in exchange for Ratchet's continued work. When the fuck did that happen.
"Ratchet is making his way here." Reverb or whatever his name was, tells him.
"I'm not going anywhere." Simple. The faster Ratchet is here they faster they can leave. Waiting around and his weak frame is starting to give out. His eyes are harder to keep open, his vents are clogged.
Why does it feel like there's dirt in his cogs?
"Deadlock..." ahh. There's Ratchet's gentle touch. Opening his eyes he sees that wonderful, caring, his Ratchet's face. "Look at you..." and a bright blue light hits his face. He swears he just saw a peak the well.
Or maybe it was the pit. As now all that stares back at him is the bright red Autobot Symbol. "What the fuck." His gears are sticking together.
"Deadlock?"
"What the fuck!" He makes an attempt to grab his hand. "They told me that you were going to help em wit ground bridges." Ratchet takes the hand that missed and uses his other hand to steady himself. "They said you we're going to help."
He can feel his checks flush. "I made this deal to protect you." He's very mean to make a jab at his open wond. "And clearly I made the right decision." No wait, Ratchet is patching him up. "Look at you. What shape would you have if I hadn't."
"So what? Are you gonna go wit teh Autobot?" There he got the worst question out. He may still be bleeding out, and yeah his processor is freezing up, but he has to know.
"That was the deal." His soft, gentle touch, so why wasn't it soothing him like it always does? "Just have to repair some ground bridges for them." He touches the planting and still only anger, betrayal. "They promised just a vorn." He said it so easily, so normal.
"What about me?"
"I'm sorry?"
"What about me?" For the first time since he felt it. He grabs Ratchet's hand to pushes it away from him. "What in your grand plan did ya have for me?"
"I-" why did he want to let go. "I didn't..." one finger unclip.
"If you joined them for me. You should have something. Anything."
Ratchet looks down, he faces away from him. Like always when things get to hard for him he rolls over and let's it happen. "I don't. All that ran through my head was finding help." His voice so soft, scared. This time he can't help him. Ratchet can't keep doing this to him.
"You didn't expect me to follow you?"
"No." He let go. The phantom touch of thier hands stung more than the open wond.
"Did you expect me to stay here? To wait for you to come back?"
"No."
"So you really didn't think about me at all."
"That's not true." Ratchet's reaches out to him. Before he could really think he slaps the arm back towards his side. "Drift..." Ratchet's field blooms in shame. "I just need to make sure that you would get out there alive. If you joined the Autobots or if you ran it didn't matter to me. I just needed a way to make sure you were safe."
And that was their relationship. For a few moments of perfect bliss. Then Ratchet would make some dangerous decisions that Deadlock would have to try to dig them out of. And he's just tired. Maybe they do love each other, it was hard to tell some times. It probably just the wrong time for them, they both need to grow.
The idea of letting him go hurts. Hurts a lot and, Primus he's scared that Ratchet might move on from him. However, he just can't keep fighting anymore.
"I understand..." Ratchet pulls away. When had he patch him up. More importantly when he moves his hand to place over his mouth. Seeing his blood stain both his hands and his mouth. It really makes this final. "For what's it's worth. I really do love you."
One more kiss, a final goodbye. Taking the last moment to remember what he taste like...
More Dratchrod month panel. This is Drift origins. He broke into Rodimus' farewell party to steal some fuel and is chased out. Ratchet follows him out and heals him and that is something that he never forgets.
More art for Dratchrod Month. Here Young Hot Rod is going to be sent to a tour and they throw a ball for his departure. He spends this last chance to dance with the new medic Optimus brought back from his.
Apparently there's a Dratchrod month, so I shall unveil one of my Au's. In this one Ratchet is deemed a spinster by the rest of high class society but somehow finds himself pursued by two mechs of good status. Rodimus is one of the bots next in line for the Primeius and is upsetting the system by bringing in a new count. Finally Drift, Rodimus' mysterious new friend and a count with no known title. Slightly based on Monty Crustio, where his wealth is from dark money, he wants to change the class system but also wants to court Ratchet.
Wil they be rivals? Will Ratchet even let them woo him? And how much political intrigue is in here anyways. Big Rose of Versailles, Bridgertton, romantic vibes
As Ratchet rests and recovers, he is reminded of a mech who stands in the alley. Said mech has an interesting proposal.
It had been a long day. The clinc has been getting more injuries as of late. More mecha have been roughed up by recruiters. The Decepticons have been much more active, making more vocal movements against the government. They have been making waves with the general public, influencing more people here to join the cause. Even Knockout has joined them, he engraves the insignia on the front of his grill. The point always looking forward at him.
Ratchet did his best to ignore bots who wanted him to join. He managed to change subject matters or just read their follow ups. Hell, he even asked about the weather or make up any exsuse to leave. As much as he hated the current policies, as much as it wronged him. Ratchet could never fight. All he was ever good at doing is running away.
That and he still is suspicious that they had forced Deadlock back into their ranks. For all that he cares about him, Ratchet has to worry about himself first.
"Well fancy meeting you here, doc." Walking out of the shop and making his usual turn. Another con had his hands behind his back, acting as if he wasn't waiting for Ratchet. It would be the same act.
"My answer stays the same." He's met this con before. He hangs out in this dark alley almost every day. Either to pick up bots for the night or get more cons for the cause. As of late, he's been making pass at him. His gotten more bold now that Drift isn't around, and especially right now Ratchet doesn't want to deal with it.
"You sure." He gets up from the wall, makes an attempt to get closer to Ratchet. "I heard that they sent your mech offsite for a little while." Ratchet puts one arm up blocking his path. "He won't know unless you want him to."
"No." He makes his way towards the thrid route to go home. Thats should have been that until...
"Hey. You didn't hear it from me." Mech makes his way back to the alley way. "But in a couple of days some high ranking con is going to make a vist to your place. Apparently, your mech did something that really pissed them off." He turns to face him again. "They're gonna use you to teach him a lesson and I like ya to much."
---
It took three days for his system to purge all of the rust out. Having been confined to his home with Deadlock pacing around made his head spin.
Deadlock hasn't left the house since the incident. He rarely leaves his side and has been coddling him like some kind of new build. He managed to convince Deadlock to escort him to the clinc, and for the first time since, Ratchet can actually think.
Or he could have, until both of them spot a very familiar looking bot at the last chair at the front row. The one right underneath the broken light that makes all mech dark and brooding. This time Ratchet notices the bright red Autobot Symbol.
"Hey doc." Breakdown is somehow in front of him. "I can take you here. Chop Shop and Knockout are going to be a while."
"Thank you." He gets up from the chair. Then Deadlock kept his hand hovering over his frame. He's still scared to let him go. "It'll be okay." He gives the hand a soothing touch.
"Just make sure that nothing happens to him while he's back there." Going to the room was uneventful. Getting his energon pumped out and refilled was uneventful. Breakdown tried to make small talk, but his mind was elsewhere. Knockout had taken the Autobot, he repaired the other's back. He was worried a fight would break out but nothing happened. It was only when Ratchet gets up from the room to make his way to the front that the Autobot makes his way towards him.
"I see you made it out alright."
"Yeah..." Ratchet didn't want to admit that he didn't listen to his warning.
"Good." He gives Ratchet the look over. "Good..."
"So you switched to an Autobot?" Ratchet figured he might as well get whatever this is over with.
"Yeah..." the bot kept his head down but still returned that cocky grin from before. "They had better security for me. I needed it for what I had done." He tried to reach for him, Ratchet still stopped it. "They can give you and Deadlock the same deal. I could put in a good word for ya."
That was a loaded question. He does want to protect Drift, and if the Autobots could give him that security then Ratchet would do it. However, this could also be a trap. Afterall, Deadlock would be high on their list of bounty. This mech could using him like the cons were. "What would I have to do?"
"You used to work for a space bridge repair team right?" They make it close to the door, a clear sign to end the conversation. "If you do join, tell em Jazz is your recruiter."
--
He wakes up in the middle of the night. He can hear gun fire. The smoke of the artillery fills the air and theres a slam against the wall. "Ratchet!" That was Deadlock's voice. "I need you to run."
"What about you?"
"I can handle this." Another bang of his gun rings out. "But not wit ya here."
Right. He tries to open the front door but Deadlock changed the password. The physical locks have been melted together and there was no way he could get out that way. He was always going to be a liability.
He transformers into his alt mode. Crashing the window hitting the street. He keeps making turns, not caring where he went. He needs to be safe. Deadlock needs to be safe, but he can't help him. Better to be out of the way than collateral damage. Better than being useless.
"Where ya running doc" the Autobot, Jazz.
"Is that deal still open?"
"What's happening?"
"If you can get some Autobots to help." The next words are like lead. "I'll... join."
After Drift leaves his jailers on they floor. The rest of the team retaliates by drugging Ratchet.
Tw: for horror stories amount of blood. Nightmare sequence to represent a mass killing. Also Dream Drift hurts Ratchet.
"Paging Doctor Ratchet. Doctor Ratchet please come to the front desk." Strange, the hospital is even brighter than it usually is today. The once black garnet flooring, now a soft, polished marble. His feet clicks as he makes his way towards the call.
He has a hard time keeping his eyes open. A long shift with no breaks would make him sleepy. Ratchet is hoping that this summon will just be a thankful patient coming to thank him. He just wants to clock off and head home. Take a deep soak and recharge, not that he doesn't like work. It's fulfilling and he can't imagine doing anything else, but sometimes it wears a mech down.
When he makes it to the end of the hall he presses the button to get on the elevator. With good luck he manages to get one with no one else on so it will be much faster. Making his way out the door and towards the front desk, he takes the time to look around. The sun comes through the big glass windows. The heat fills especially good on his plating. They are not that many patients who will have to stay in the hospital, leaving the floor mostly empty.
By a blink of his eye he is now in front of the room. Walking up to meet the reception towards their side as he greets them. Strange, they've worked here for a while now, about as much time as Ratchet has. He can't remember what their name is or even what they look like. They have red eyes right? That is compounding with the sun seemingly covering their face that Ratchet can't get a good look. Their voice is gone too, just white noise echos against his mics as they try to greet him.
"Drift?" Ratchet looks forward. How odd. He like Ratchet has a very important but busy job. Their schedules never match up for them to meet up at this hour. "Huh?" He looks back at the receptionist. They're teasing him and Drift. He guesses that Drift isn't usually this public with his affections, but he normally does romantic gestures like this.
"Ratchet." He can feel Drift's hand underneath his chin, using it as leverage to guid his focus back to him. "I asked if you wanted join me on a day on my day off."
"Right." Ratchet pulls away and composes himself. "Yes Drift." Ratchet leaves his hand out so Drift can take it. "I would love nothing more."
"Great." He bends down to kiss the back of Ratchet's hand. His left hand moves from his back to the front. Drift presents him with rose quart flowers wrap up as a bouquet. "I wouldn't know what to do with these of you said no." His voice is shy, golden eyes look around and try to focus away from him. In stark contrast to his bright white and glittering sliver paint job becoming of his lenient position in Prime's Vanguard.
"You could always give it to some young couples." Ratchet takes the gems, running them with his fingers to admire the craftsmanship.
"Yeah and I could have easily not bought them." Ratchet gives him a sympathetic smile. It isn't that Drift is cheap, far from it as he would buy anything and everything he so much as acknowledge. It always overwhelms him as he never likes spending so much. However, each gem has a nice hum he can feel when he touches them. A nice smell too...
Or it should be. Instead a strange, overwhelming stench of something burning fills his nasal senses. A splash of liquid hits against his ped, dripping off his hands. Ratchet looks down to see a stream of energon spilling out of his shattered hand. All of it making a raising tide rapidly filling the hospital. In just a few seconds it will reach his lower lips and drown him.
When did he hurt his hand. How could something like this happen. More importantly... "Drift!" Looking back up he sees his dear conjunx looking back at his. Black voids were his eyes should be. More blood gushing from his mouth with he turns his head back. Why can't he move his body. What is happening...
"This is what you get for not cooperating." Drift speaks, both hands move to take Ratchet's arm. Deep, sharp claws tear through his frame like water as he drags his arms out.
"Drift." The blood is still rising.
"I warned you what will happen."
"Ngh-" Ratchet can't respond. His voice box feels like lead. Frame hurling over as he can feel the gritted up dirt moves to expel out of his mouth. Eyes captured by a shining light as Drift takes his claw out of his arms and raises it up.
"This is what you get." The claw inches slowly to the top. The reflecting of his fingers as they go higher in the air blinds him. "This is what you get. Playing hero will always leave you dead in the ditch." Drift then swips his claw. Ramming it straight through the front of his core until his whole hand makes it to the other side.
He can't scream. He can't move. Worse is that Ratchet can't remember what it is that he's done. Why is this happening, how is it happening. Where is he and what happened to the picture perfect hospital he was just in. The blood has now risen so high that Ratchet's head hovers above the ceiling. Swaying at a wind rate so fast that it matches the strongest of hurricanes. His feet don't touch the ground while Drift keeps him against the wall, as he takes out the other hand and gets ready to strike.
Then he slashes him and flashes of a different life play around him.
Of waking up in the harvest spot facility. Being told a run down of his function. Slash.
Of being assigned to a medic and holding onto the spare parts his frame is equipped with. Slash.
Of being towed around by a chain around his throat. Slash.
Of watching his mentor opening his compartments and yanking out the peice he needs. Never waiting for Ratchet to brace himself. Slash.
Of the sensation of fingers shoving away new parts to keep running. An unbearable weight of seeing dead mech being salvaged for parts. Slash.
Being sold to engineers not five years later as his mentor upgrades to a newer unit. Being scolded in front of his office like an invalid being. "You were the worst thing I ever spent any money on." Slash.
Ratchet didn't know that life. He swears that he never has, but it all feels familiar to him. He finally has the strength to cover his mouth and stop some bleeding.
The memories of him assisting engineers repair a space bridge. Then resold to a construction company. Of the owner hassling him to a back room. Forcing his panels open. Being scared and overwhelmed. Overreacting and pushing off his frame.
There was blood. Something happened. Malpractice on his medical record, even though he wasn't even a real medic. Another bot sponsored him. They put him into school. Difficult years of studies and dancing in social working.
Another new debter. Then another. He remembers only recieving his medical license as Oilslick walks into the room along with his sponsorship. A miserable life. His miserable life. That's why Ratchet is okay with running away. He has nothing to stay for. No one waiting for him.
"Ratchet." Drift's voice rings out. Slash. "Please wake up." Sla-
---
Here on the cold hard floor, Deadlock has put Ratchet down on. Those rat bastards have found and captured Ratchet. They overdose him and left him tripping badly on the floor.
The one good thing about his past is that pumping out a bot's engine is nothing new. He can do that on himself even at the climax of his high. Not that it makes him feel better about this. The last thing he would never want to see is Ratchet's frame thrashing on the tile.
His mouth is foaming and he's still not listening to him. Twitching his hands while his legs almost hit him. Whatever stuff they put in him is definitely the worst kind of drug. Probably laced it with the worm.
He can't stand being so helpless. Of being useless, failing Ratchet. They tell you not to try to wake up a mech on a bad trip, but he ain't got time. Their buddies are gonna come back in to see if he takes their offer. They have to be long gone before those lackeys see all the dead mechs on the floor and the mess of blood in the room. Deadlock told him that this would happen.
He also knows that a scene like this will make Ratchet real upset. "C'mon Ratchet." He tries a softer touch. "Please wake up."
Ratchet stops struggling, okay better. He can work with this. He puts one arm underneath Ratchet legs, the other guides his frame to cradle over his chest. Gentle, gotta be real gentle. Opening the door of the basement, getting to the ground floor and shattering the first window he sees, he takes Ratchet through. Holding him close. Letting his aura wrap around them.
Using it as a shield as he takes walks them back home.
He was too careless. He should have never let this happen. Now Deadlock has a new target and he hopes Ratchet will turn his eyes away from this job too.
In which Deadlock is out on a mission and thinks about the state of his life. Warning for minor character death.
Another damn summon. Another cryptic data pad with coordinates for some poor sucker to be snipped. Worse part is that they set the thing to explode so he can't even give them away to someone who needs them.
He's stuck here. The weather is awful. Pouring down rain, the wind, with a shit gun that makes it harder to see his target. The nesting nook is damp and the mud is going to get deep into his armor.
While he rather be home or at least warm. The truth is when Ratchet discovered that he got roped back into this job they haven't talked much. He would come home, Ratchet would give his gun a disgusted look and they would just sit quietly in the kitchen. It was a cold even worse than this hell hole.
For the first time since trying to sober, he longs for the high of boosters. At least then he would have any sense of warmth. Even if that warmth would be a cheap alternative compared to the bliss Ratchet used to give him. The kind words, the few stolen kiss as he would hold his hand as they went to sleep. The jolt of love that electrocuted his spark the few times Ratchet gave him a real smile.
In all honesty, he should have told Ratchet that he is being blackmailed. Then maybe he wouldn't feel so awful being behind this gun. It would make it easier for the doc to stomach his presence and maybe even forgive him. It could, but it was more likely that if he told the truth, Ratchet would leave him completely while trying to make it a noble decision. He would be in the right, but Deadlock's life so far as been to hold onto the things you love. They only have a chance to stay alive if he hoards them.
Driving to the new meet up location is such a drag. They always choose the worst off roads on any planet. With ridiculous amounts of turns, roundabouts, and backtracking, it almost makes him with he was a jet. Almost.
"Here." He drops the broken box full of shattered glass, what used to be the data pads that they gave him for the missions. It's a petty move, but honestly they should be glad that he cleaned off the photon liquids that make the screen light up. It takes hours stop glowing completely. "Every bot on the list is delt with."
"Good." Tch- smug bot grin gets bigger. "Now we can have you start on the next assignment."
"Hold on." He slides the box down the table to make sure his jailer sees it. "The deal was I get everyone on the list. You guys leave me and Ratchet the fuck alone."
"Keyword is 'was'. Now the list is longer." Then he has the nerve to mock beg by putting his hands together. "And we do need your skills to aid us. You understand, right?"
Another pointed threat and he knows all too well. They were never going to get out of this. No matter how many people he kills, there will always be too many for him to truly get out of. Well if his going to always be their enemy then he might as well have it be on his own terms.
Yeah money was good but this. He pulls out the gun and aims for the messenger. Being behind the gun was better. He never really liked the sound of the blaster when it fires off. Hated the crunching of hard metal and wires being torn in half.
However, watch as the smoke clouds clear and the pest drop down. This makes for a better signal. He can't wait to tell Ratchet that he no longer has to be behind the gun.
Switching around the prompts to make a more cohesive story. So I'm skipping the free space and went straight to the next set of days.
It started with fuel. Deadlock came home with large amounts of fancy fuel. Even more pricey than the Fountain shop they went to for a second date, hell it was way more expensive than anything he had back when he worked in the city. He started paying for Knockout and Breakdown's dates, and even getting the shop new equipment.
Soon a fancy new couch appeared in his appartment. With a recliner function and air compressors for his joints. Something he knows they can't afford it. That and the triple sized wireless charging system berth, something is up. When Ratchet asked if Deadlock had another job he would get a middle of the road answer of "I just did an odd job. I'm still looking."
Then a particular gloomy night Deadlock walks into the room. His field swirls with agitation and anxiety. He makes no attempts to contact Ratchet, instead puts credits on the nightstand and just rest on his side of the berth. He shouldn't have asked, Deadlock gave him a look that signal to not ask about it. Curiosity pressed him anyways, and he gets an empty berth.
There has been a lot of those lately. Even the times Deadlock is with him, he never seemed so far away. Touching his fingers and feels wear down on the trigger finger. His joints have been locking up and the few scans he does let him do his t-cog is stiff from under use.
So when the cold air comes into the room. Heavy smells of smoke and grit. Ratchet wakes up, engine running hard. The heavy thump as something enters the home. Turning on the lights he catches Deadlock walking in. One hand on the door. The other holding a rifle. With a quick scan he could see the gun is still hot. It had been recently used.
When their eyes lock, he didn't know what to say. A wordless look between them, as Deadlock drops the gun on the counter. "Are you low on fuel." He makes sure not to acknowledge it. "I can prep something real quick." Just get get up, make the way to the kitchen and-
Deadlock gives a deep vent. "Yeah..." he follows behind. The distract from the lack of touches. This is the most they will speak with each other.