Transformers Prime: Through Bad and Through Worse

Chapter Thirty Six

Another violent flinch wracked Ratchet's frame, as he winced and cringed away from Optimus, sending him a complaining look. "That feels weird!" He whined, earning a sigh from the Prime.

"I know it feels weird, but you need to hold still," Optimus instructed, doing his best to keep his annoyance from coming out in his words. He reached into Ratchet's sparkchamber again, gentle scraping the chip with a small tool slightly, examining it. When he accidentally missed the chip, Ratchet flinched away again.

"Be careful!" The medic exclaimed.

Optimus sighed again, this time not answering as he returned to working on Ratchet's spark. He had to get the chip out, but Ratchet couldn't go ten seconds without jerking away. If only they knew how to properly remove it...

"What are you doing?" Ratchet asked nervously, as Optimus gently prodded the wires keeping the chip in. "Are you being careful? That feels weird. What is that? Was that you? Optimus, be careful!"

"I am, I am. Just hold still, I think I can...." Optimus trailed off, squinting his optics as he examined the bindings. If he could find a way to unattach the wires from the chip, he could get it out. But, if he accidentally snipped any of the wires, Ratchet could offline immediately. It'd be a risky and hard job, not one Optimus completely trusted himself with. He'd have to find a safer way.

"....Well?" Ratchet asked after a minute.

There were empty slots for wires, Optimus noticed, along the outside of the chip. Why they weren't being used, he didn't know. It certainly had meaning, though. "I don't see a lot of safe ways to fix it," he replied, examining the slots. "But I think I'm on to at least something..."

Ratchet sighed. "Alright..." He waited a moment before piping up again. "So... when did we bond?" The question slightly caught Optimus off guard.

"On Cybertron, just before the war started. I wasn't a Prime yet, I was an archivist, Orion Pax. We were at your housing unit, right after I... eternally angered Megatron. Of course, he was Megatronus was his name at first." Optimus answered, counting the empty slots, doing math in his head. "It was one of the best moments in my life, bonding with you..."

"I'm... sure I enjoyed it too." Ratchet offered weakly, unsure of what else to say.

"You had been comforting me after the bad meeting with Megatronus. Then... I asked you to bond with me." The Prime smiled.

"Of course, 'yes' was my answer." Ratchet returned the smile. "I guess bonding itself is an answer..."

Bonding itself is an answer. The words echoed through Optimus's processor, clearing the way for an idea. He immediately re-counted the slots. "Ratchet, I think I know what to do." He said, withdrawing his servos.

"Really?" Ratchet perked up, optics widening. "How?"

Optimus moved closer, lowering to his level, a soft look coming to his face. Ratchet stiffened, blushing. "You said it yourself," the Prime whispered. "Bonding itself is an answer." He opened his sparkchamber, and gently reached into Ratchet's.

"I-I..." Ratchet stuttered. "Y...Your going to... re-bond with me?"

"Not exactly, but close." Optimus replied, before gently taking the attachable wires in his own spark, and gently plugging them into the slots of the chip... almost like when they bonded. "Now, when Palladium lodged the chip into your spark, you did feel... pain. Brace yourself, in case-"

"AAAAAAH!" Ratchet suddenly shrieked, as the final wire fell into place. "HOLY FRAGGING BLOOD OF UNICRON, IT FRAGGING HURTS!"

"Shhhh..." Optimus pulled him closer immediately, making sure that he didn't mess up the setup with their sparks and the chip. "It'll go away..."

Ratchet calmed down a bit, but was breathing heavily and whimpering in pain as he clung to Optimus for dear life. "I-It h-hurt-ts..."

"I know..." The Prime gently reached into his sparkchamber, and finishing the wiring job, making sure everything was connected. Ratchet suddenly went still, breath hitching. "...Ratchet?"

Something clicked, and the chip fell loose, disconnecting from both their sparks and falling to the ground; Optimus closed his chestplates and gently touched his mate's cheek, optics glittering with concern.

"Ratchet, are you-"

He was cut off by Ratchet throwing his arms around him and crashing their lips together, in a rather desperate kiss; Ratchet clung to him like there was no tomorrow. Optimus immediately returned it, and wrapped his arms around his mate, relief flooding into him and across the bond. Ratchet smiled into the kiss and deepened it, as his mate's servos slid around his hips. He flicked his glossa over Optimus's lower lip, asking for entrance, which the Prime immediately supplied, allowing the kiss to intensify. After about a minute, both of them pulled away, breathing hard, staring into each other's optics.

"R...Ratchet?" Optimus whispered hopefully. "Do you..."

"I remember... I remember everything." Ratchet smiled, sighing in relief. "Ugh... thank you... you don't know how terrified I was..." He shuddered. "I'm never approaching Palladium again..."

"I sure hope not." Optimus nuzzled him and hugged him close, engines rumbling in delight. "He was... creepily attracted to you. I'm glad your finally safe from him." He kissed Ratchet's forehelm.

Ratchet snuggled up to him. "Mhm... I know you'll keep me safe..." He stopped for a moment, and jumped to his peds. "I'm going to grab Light." Optimus smiled, and watched his mate leave the room, and return holding their giggling daughter.

"I felt bad for locking you in here," the Prime said softly as the door locked automatically after it shut. "I didn't want you to feel prisoner."

"I know... but you didn't treat me like a prisoner, so I didn't feel like one." Ratchet replied, sitting down and holding Lightswipe upright so she sat on his knee. "Everything turned out just fine."

Optimus kissed his cheek lovingly. "Sweetspark..."

"Do you think... Megatron really wants to capture me again?" Ratchet asked after a moment, looking up at him. His mate sighed.

"I'm not sure... but if he is..."

Ratchet bit his bottom lip. "I don't think I'd enjoy being his pet very much..."

"I know you wouldn't." Optimus shook his helm. "But Megatron is unpredictable and dangerous."

They had no idea how right he was.