Combiners [X Reader]
In which you are the romantic partner of a combiner, and it's more than a handful.
Characters ── Bruticus [IDW] | Defensor [IDW] | Devastator [IDW] | Menasor [IDW] | Superion [IDW]
Reader is ── Gender Neutral | Human Story is ── Romantic | Headcanons
Warnings ── N/A
Bruticus
✦ ── Surprisingly, one of the more nonchalant combiners when not under direct threat. Bruticus is best when combined, as opposed to just the sum of his parts.
✦ ── The only thing he lacks is the gentle parts. The kindness and the steady movements having such a small partner demands. He makes up for it with his sheer desire to prove he can take care of you just as well as his lone components.
✦ ── Not knowing where you are is an easy fix. At least one of his components is an inovator, and now you've always got a bell tied to some part of you. If you try to take it off, it will end up permanently affixed to you.
✦ ── While he may be military smart, Bruticus isn't the brightest bulb. He gets confused easily when you talk to him about anything non-war-related. Cocks his head to the side and gives you that uncertain stare. It's the cutest he'll ever look.
✦ ── Brings you to fights just to put you somewhere safe so you can watch him beat the shit out of the enemies. You might even catch Bruticus glancing back at your spot to make sure you're still watching him.
Defensor
✦ ── The gentlest of all combiners without having to put too much work into it, Defensor is well aware of your fragility and aims to protect you in any way he can. Unfortunately, this means he is the least willing to handle you.
✦ ── Holding you during a fight is out of the question. It isn't so much him he is worried about. It's whatever might be done to him. But when times are calm, he'll grab a blanket and scoop you up with it. Something soft he doesn't have to worry about pinching too tight that holds you gently for him.
✦ ── Being around you is always a moment of self-discovery for the components, who are still getting to know one another. What Defensor does know is that he loves you, as confusing as the urges to both nuzzle his cheek against you or act nonchalant are.
✦ ── A bit embarrassed about his verbal tic, how he doesn't exactly speak to you how his components and others might. Likes when you talk to him, instead. He'll rumble and whirr in response to let you know he's listening.
✦ ── Reassure him, please. He acts all capable and confident, of course. But something in him melts when you urge him to speak, when you compliment his abilities, when you say you love *him* and not just his components.
Devastator
✦ ── Honestly so sweet. He may be destructive, but his components make things. They use their servos and are gentle when needed. So he must be able to as well, right?
✦ ── More hesitant to hold you. Would rather have you somewhere high up where he can sit near you and watch what you're doing. At most, he'll reach a digit out to poke you when you aren't paying enough attention to him.
✦ ── It's difficult to ignore him, though. He has what looks like a permanent pout on his face, and he'd look adorable if he weren't so dangerous. His engines also rumble real loud when he's near you. You're not sure he's noticed.
✦ ── Why are his servos shaking? You're imagining things, sweetspark. Ignore that it's literally jostling you. He isn't nervous about handling you the first time...the first few times...every time. Not at all.
✦ ── It's clear when the big guy has lost track of you because he will completely freeze up. Too scared if he moves a single joint, you might get crushed, or if he steps back, his pede will hit you. That's the only time you see him patient, waiting to hear from you so he knows it's okay to move.
Menasor
✦ ── Extremely intimidating without trying, and it works to his advantage with you. You should be at least a bit scared of him, because that's how he knows you'll be careful around him.
✦ ── Not too scared, though. Enjoys startling you, seeing you jump when he slams a hand near you or growls a little too loudly. But he still desires your love as much as his components. Look at him, talk to him, trust him. He will fight for you.
✦ ── Struggles with words, a lot. He'd be embarrassed if he cared, but it never occurred to him until his components fell for you that he might want to use words. To talk, rather than lash out. Now he hates it.
✦ ── The most rough out of any combiner when handling you, but to Menasor, he's treating you like the most fragile thing in the entire universe. He's running out of patience, but he won't let himself snap when it comes to you. You'll get some bruises, but nothing more.
✦ ── Prefers your company directly as opposed to just with his components, which is why he hates that he mostly comes out for battles. He can't hold you while he's fighting. At least the anger from missing you and his desire to get things over with propel him towards victory.
Superion
✦ ── Total show-off. So many components in him are vying for your attention, and so long as you're looking at him, they've all got it. A lot more humble with his smack talk when you're around, because why talk when he can show?
✦ ── Not as worried as a group of bots should be about hurting you. That's mostly because Superion plans for things. He knows he won't hurt you because he is fully capable of being careful. You are capable, too. You'll let him know if he needs to be gentler.
✦ ── But...perhaps...not that he would ever ADMIT IT. He is terrified of getting lost in his own ego and hurting you because of it. There is always some level of caution behind what he does, evident in how he hesitates before moving when you're with him.
✦ ── He isn't sure why you seem so amused when he talks, but you seem to find his wording funny, and that's good enough for him. Something about dry humour, though you're not sure if it's intentional or not.
✦ ── Superion enjoys spending time with you and will display his displeasure when he doesn't see you for long periods of time. It doesn't seem like being around his components counts. HE wants to talk to you.
Author's Note ── Ignore that 2/3 of the art for Bruticus is actually from Skybound. It isn't my fault that IDW has so few appearances of Bruticus...and Skybound's covers of him are literally perfect.
A small gift for @the-body-of-water, who mentioned liking combiners and I think the combined forms deserve some extra love <3 You only mentioned the Constructicons and Aerialbots, but I hope my additions were acceptable,,,