2. [VOICE]

[warborn]

So here's a question. We've got the - 'Haven', whatever, the quadrants and temples and whatever inside of it, and other than that we've got the Badlands.

But this is Cybertron, right? That can't be it. So has anyone bothered doing any real exploring? See what's out there?

[there has to be more...right?]

---

PRIVATE; Vandal

Hey.

You still got some of your - what'd you call it, whiskey?...any of that left?

---

PRIVATE; Ultra Magnus

[attached is his 'usual' datalog - the progress report, as it were - but there something else he adds, short and curt;]

Done with Rung.

---

PRIVATE; Whirl [Text]

[he thought a long while before sending this. but. may as well just...do this, himself, before it's brought up anyway.]

Not gonna see Rung anymore.

He'll be safe from me.

Comments

[ video ] > ACTION

[warborn]

[quite the opposite to Max, who's come to appreciate privacy.

that said...it takes some time, but eventually, there's another ping sent to First Aid. guess who's come home to dinner?]

[ video ] > ACTION

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid didn't automatically assume Max would know where to find him within his new home. At the ping, he leaves the safety of his room and bustles through the temple, until he comes to greet him personally.

He looks up at him, waves a little, keeping one hand over his weld marks. ]

Max, you look--

[ Not well. What happened? Probably not a good question. ]

Ah-- probably not enough room inside. Want to go for a walk?

ACTION

[warborn]

...probably look the same as you. [he's not stupid - he can tell a few signs of damage. but...]

Yeah, sure.

ACTION

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid nods. He doesn't elaborate. Max didn't want to talk about what happened to him and First Aid didn't really want to elaborate on what happened to him either.

Instead, he motions for him and starts to walk off in a random direction. ]

So you're leaving... Are you sure it's safe?

ACTION

[warborn]

[Max follows without protest, or trying to bring the subject up. he's concerned - First Aid isn't nearly as good at taking care of himself as Maximus is, but...]

As safe as it can be, I guess. We're stocked on ammunition if we run in to anything out there.

ACTION

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid glances up at him, then takes Max's hand, curling his fingers around just one of his own. ]

Not exactly what I meant... Just, are you sure you're coming back?

ACTION

[warborn]

[...

if there's anyone he's come to trust enough to let down a few barriers...it's probably First Aid.]

...just between you and me...I don't think I want to.

[but by his tone, it's not a matter of what he wants.]

ACTION

[lifepersists]

[ That makes First Aid's spark hurt. Even if he wasn't friendly with him, he still didn't enjoy hearing that, especially from former patients. It felt very... on selfish terms, that his care wasn't wanted.

He stops, tugging on Max's hand, then reaches up and tugs on his shoulder armor. Come lean down for a hug, big man. ]

Forgive me for being selfish, but I want you to.

OH MY GOD NIE MY FEELS /FLAILS HELPLESSLY

[warborn]

[Fort Max can't possibly figure out why First Aid is trying to tug him down, but, bemused, he lets himself be pulled]

I will. It'll just be for a week or two.

ALL THE FEELS

[lifepersists]

[ That's fine since as soon as Max bends down enough, First Aid throws his arms around his shoulders and pulls him into a tight hug. ]

Okay. I'll be waiting. If you ever want to go... just let me know.

I CAN'T THIS THREAD SOB

[warborn]

[what-

oh.

that's a...hug.

Fortress Maximus stiffens a bit, but only in surprise; he awkwardly reaches up, after a moment, to give Aid a halfhearted pat on the back. 'sokay, little guy.]

I will.

[lifepersists]

[ Max is just really bad at comfort or affection, unlike First Aid who just loved it. He squeezes his shoulders, rubbing his mask against his shoulders, then slowly releases him. He takes his hand again, giving it a little squeeze. ]

Thanks. Mmn. What are you looking for exactly?

[warborn]

[it's a question a lot of people've been asking him. one he doesn't really know the answer to. have a halfhearted shrug, Aid; he knows, at least, it's more than just /looking/]

Not sure. Maybe just some space.

[he shifts in to a kneeling position, resting a hand on his knee]

May as well get something useful done in the process, right?

[lifepersists]

Ah. So you don't really know.

[ So frank. Not exactly any less cheerful. He pets Max's hand, stroking small fingers over the back. ]

That's fine. I hope you find something you need out there.

[warborn]

[affectionate, aren't you? he takes it in stride. so to speak...he shrugs again.]

Hey, if nothing else. Got at least two mechs who'll be damn good company, and two others who sound like they've got good heads.

[later he will find out that one of those first two mechs is actually a raccoon.

he will be nonplussed in both definitions, one after another]

[lifepersists]

[ He's just a very touchy feely mech. Comes with the territory of being... well, him. ]

That's good. You could use more friends.

[ He's not mocking him or anything like that. Very earnest. ]

Can you promise you'll be honest with me?

[warborn]

[...he'll just let that go, grunting in acknowledgement more than affirmation. takes getting used to, having those again.

but.]

Don't see why I wouldn't be.

[lifepersists]

[ Fortress Maximus already knew First Aid wanted to talk. He had wanted to have an easier transition from catching up to business, but he couldn't just wait any longer. He had to know. ]

There are a couple things I want to talk about. That I need to know.

[ He squeezes Max's hand, holding it tight. ]

They're probably things you don't want to talk about.

[warborn]

[well, he knew that, but...this is, to say the least, putting up what defenses he'd started to ease down. perhaps First Aid himself isn't making him feel uncomfortable, but the foreboding warning...

yes, he's stiffened up, wariness crossing his face.

no, he's not saying anything. he's just looking at First Aid, tense and waiting.]

[lifepersists]

[ Fort Max has a lot of things to be wary about. First Aid was already pretty aware of what happened to him at G-9. Not all the nitty gritty details, but when you've been wrist deep in a comatose mech's chassis, you tend to glean a couple things about how they got there.

First Aid reaches up to stroke one of the mech's audials if he'd let him. ]

I need to know what happened after I woke you up. Things that happened on Delphi and how I ended up on the Lost Light.

[warborn]

[that's slightly less disturbing a subject than he'd been suspecting, but he's still not quite in a state to accept that kind of affection. Vandal was pushing it as it is. he pushes himself up, getting to his feet]

You were there, weren't you? Something wrong with your memory banks?

[lifepersists]

[ Ah well. First Aid understands. Not everyone is quite as friendly as him. His hands drop to his sides. ]

Possibly. I don't remember much of anything after waking you up and the Genericons broke loose, so it's important.

[warborn]

...I put them down, and next thing I know, everything's going crazy. One've you docs - Pharma - turned out to be working with the 'Cons, so I headed after him but he...er.

[beat]

Went down a hole.

[A TINY HOLE, IN HIS OWN DEFENSE]

From what I heard, Ratchet took care of him, though. Took his hands, too. [heh] Synthed up an antidote for the Rust, and the three of us - you, me, Ambulon - went on the ship with 'em.

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid doesn't say anything for a moment, mainly because it felt like a frozen chill had just run through his circuits. Pharma, working for the 'Cons. It was so unlikely it was almost absurd to even accuse but-- he had suspicions.

His optics dim. ]

Why was Pharma working with the Decepticons? Any idea?

[warborn]

No reason could be good enough. [and that is a dark glint in his optics there, oh] From what I remember, might've been something about a bargain, but frankly, Aid, I don't think it matters.