Bruticus x Mech!Reader
synopsis: you, a lone neutral in the middle of war, suddenly find an unconscious combiner on your doorstep. a/n: guess who my fav combiner is (◠‿◕) also mistakes are everywhere 'round here,, that's a warning
— 🪫
Being a neutral in Cybertronian war, even if it may seem mundane, is not something to be taken lightly—knowing that you have no guaranteed protection, every mech for themselves, and energon nowhere near a silver platter.
At least, that's how it is for you. Not only are you a neutral, but you also travel alone, avoiding companionship from even fellow neutrals.
— Your cycle had been going smoothly. Supplies traded, objectives met, everything functioning with ease.
That is, until you returned to homebase, and out of nowhere—a gigantic, collapsed combiner sprawled in front of the entrance. Lamely blocking your path. Face-first on the ground too.
Narrowing your optics at the strange sight, your guard rises higher and higher. You listen to the low purrs of their engines, faint enough to be dormant. There is nothing else in your surroundings to be heard but the distant hum of the fallen Iacon. Then it should be safe, you suppose? No other hidden sparks?
You can't see their symbol—but slag, Primus knows you don't give a flying klik on which fraction they came from. Autobot, Decepticon, all the same to you at this point. This isn't a neutral either; there are deep scratches and burns on their frame, the telltale signs of war.
Which is why you completely avoided the sleeping combiner, fast-walking around its frame until you reached your front door.
They will have someone coming for them soon enough. A combiner isn't something to lose so easily.
You look around your base for good measure, deeming it satisfactory in the disguise department. It blends with the structures around it—half-destroyed thanks to the combiner. Whatever. Good enough. No one should suspect a thing. Sure, you do have other bases, but it would be so annoying if they spot you—maybe it'd even the end of your spark.
...
There's a low rumble. Quickly, you turn around, powering up your weapon—
You tense at the combiner's large, red optics. His head now turned, a relentless gaze boring into you.
For a few kliks, he only stares unblinkingly, almost making you believe he’s malfunctioning.
"Don't... hurt Bruticus," he says suddenly, a raspy voice deep and slow, like it's taking everything in him to speak.
Gritting your denta, you shut the entrance close on him. Well, then, you have to start packing this base up. Not safe anymore.
Either way, they should be gone tomorrow.
— 💤
Bruticus is, in fact, not gone.
A cycle has already passed. You opened the door with all hope that he's been retrieved—but no. He's still lying there, head in the same position as when he startled you, optics presently offline. Must still be in recharge.
You bite back an irritated scream; this is nothing but a sign of trouble. Bruticus is clearly in pain, though, so something must be severely damaged to the mechs that make him up themselves. Maybe—you don't really know much about combiners.
Still, you can't afford scrap about whatever happened to them. You step around the frame again and go forward on your cycle—to gather some moving crates.
It’s a quick trip, but maybe he'll be gone once you come back.
— 📦
He's still here.
Stepping around him again, at this point, there's no point in bothering anymore. While your sensors show no one else nearby, that could change in an instant. You have to abandon this base, the sense of urgency skyrocketing in your processor.
Except you slowly take a moment to look back.
His optics are online. You jolt from surprise, your crates fumbling in your arms, suddenly feeling very exposed under his stare.
"You—"
"...Where is Bruticus?"
You pause. The question catches you off-guard. "What?"
"Bruticus can't... move," he says, followed by a long groan escaping his engine.
"I'm sure someone will come find you," you murmur, ignoring the guilt bubbling in your spark.
"I am abandoned," he grunts. "Exiled."
...
... Frag.
You drop everything and walk inside your base.
Then, you come back out, medical supplies in your servos.
— 🪫
(cut-off) bonus:
You were saving these for yourself but nevermind then. Looking up, he's still staring at you with those big old eyes. Slag it.
Slowly, you begin to take steps forward.
The conbiner vents a heavy sigh. "Go away. Bruticus don't want you here—!"
"Relax, big bot," you say calmly, holding up one free servo. "I'm here to help. I won't hurt you. This is a medkit, see?"
— it's short because i KNOW the mistakes and i dont want to expand on it rip
— L moment of me its so skill issue im sorry bruticus i love you