Should sleep but the mind never stops thinking about Megop so here’s another one
(Iacon and Kaon are in diff time zones)
It’s late, even the buzz of Iacon night life has long quieted. Orion hasn’t moved from his desk in so long his joints are stiff. He’s been waiting, comms open, tuned to a secure channel, no message yet.
He stretches after finishing another datapad, and checks the time. Megatron’s match should’ve ended ages ago. The pit’s rarely on time, but there shouldn’t be this much of a delay. He refreshes the line, even though it won’t make it ring any sooner.
When the call finally comes through, it’s grainy like always, and Megatron’s voice is low and tired.
“Hey.”
Orion doesn’t scold him, even though he really wants to. Wants to ask what happened, if he’s hurt, how bad was it this time. But instead he says, “You’re late.” Then after a beat, “Are you okay?”
Megatron doesn’t answer right away, but the delay is answer enough.
“I won,” he says eventually.
That’s it. No follow up. No rundown of the fight. No snide remark about his opponent. Orion sits up straighter.
“That’s not what I asked.”
Megatron exhales through his vents, “It was nothing.”
Which, coming from Megatron, tells Orion everything.
“You called late,” Orion says, not accusing, just stating a fact. “I thought maybe…” He doesn’t finish the sentence.
Megatron picks up on it anyway, “I’m in one piece,” he says. “You don’t have to worry.”
“I do anyway.”
There’s a long pause, not tense or uncomfortable, just quiet, it stretched on until Orion yawns.
This time Megatron’s voice held a tinge of amusement, “What time is it over there?”
“Late.”
“That’s not a time.”
Orion glances toward the window. The city is peaceful and quiet at this time. Orion doesn’t feel peaceful, he just feels tired.
“Early morning.”
“You stayed up?”
“Mhm.”
“Even though I didn’t call?”
“Of course.”
Megatron exhales again, softer this time.
“You should’ve gone to recharge.”
Orion hummed noncommittally in response.
“Orion.”
It’s just his name, but it’s said with that particular gravity Megatron has when he’s soft but stern, like a warning.
Orion leans his head back, staring at the ceiling before closing his optics. “You just got out of a fight, you’re the one who should be resting.”
“I will.”
“You always say that.”
“And you always ignore your recharge cycle.”
That gets a tired smile out of Orion. Touché.
“I’ll go recharge if you do,” he bargains, knowing full well Megatron probably won’t.
“I’m not in a berth yet.”
“Then we’re at an impasse.”
Another silence. Megatron sighs, “Just go lie down, keep the line open if you want to.”
“Fine,” Orion says, “If I go quiet, don’t hang up.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Even if I stop answering.”
“I said I wouldn’t.”
“Okay,” Orion says eventually. “Then I’ll try.”