Local Ratchet 'verse. Autobot Base. Honeymoon.

[random_xtras]

*quiet* *darkness* *softness underneath him*

hand: *holding onto his as his processor reboots and brings him online. Someone is snuggled against him. Probably the same someone who is sharing her dreams with him*

Ratchet: *Doesn't move even as he wakes, optics staying dark. There is a surge of paranoia in him, that this is a dream, that he'll wake to find himself alone. It's happened before, and as comforting as the feeling of having someone there with him is, he's not quite ready to face the lonlier waking world.*

someone: *sighs and snuzzles against his cheek, those dreams of tracking turning to dreams of snuggles and cuddles and assurances that she's right here*

Ratchet: *After a few moments without the presence at his side vanishing, the medic finally dares to online his optics and see for himself.*

Ironhide: *snuzzles more, slowly starting to wake*

Ratchet: *Can't help but smile faintly, seeing the femme tucked in with him.*

Ironhide: *lifts groggy optic shutters and cracks a slight grin* Finally awake, huh?

Ratchet: *Chuckles quietly at this* Seems like it...

Ironhide: *gentle hand on his cheek, and then stretches and groans as her aging shell creaks and pops* Good...

Ratchet: *Shifts to try and sit up, not sure how much the others had managed as far as repairs went, but wanting to see for himself.* How long were we out for?

Ironhide: *pushes him down again* You've been out for a week and a half. *nuzzle* I woke up three days after we bonded, but couldn't do anything with myself till the bond had settled.

Ratchet: *Winces as he's pushed back down, feeling the pull of fresh welds.* ...I was out that long? *Surprised... but that doesn't stop him from nuzzling back on her.*

Ironhide: Your brother says your self repair was taking all the energy your systems could spare. *puts arm around him and gently rubs his shoulder*

Ratchet: *Can't help but shift like he's going to try and sit up again.* My brother... wait, he's here?

Ironhide: Mmmhmm, and if you try to get up again I'll poke you where it hurts. *pulls the heated tarp they're covered with up around him* Both your brothers came, but then Ironhide went back after he brought this stuff for you to lay on.

Ratchet: *Forces himself to settle, still with that little wince.* They both... how? *At the mention of what they were laying on he tilts his head enough to see, and grins a bit.* Heh. He's always fussing.

Ironhide: *cuddles close again, once more pulling the tarp up around his shoulders* I gave Jazz my PINpoint.

Ratchet: *Gladly accepts those cuddlings, frowning thoughtfully* What's a PINpoint?

Ironhide: *smug old lady is smug. And he can feel that smugness* Something like Skywarp's slag, but it'll take you to other realities, too.

Ratchet: Huh... interesting. *Rests his head against her shoulder* Did they seem alright?

Ironhide: Too groggy to care. *slight snerk* I think I decked your brother when they picked us up to put the squishy thing under us.

Ratchet: *Quiet snicker* Why does that not surprise me?

Ironhide: *gently rubs his shoulder* You need any supplementary energon?

Ratchet: *Can't help the way his optics brighten in surprise at that offer.*

Ironhide: *distinct feeling of smugness and mischief as she opens her storage compartment and pulls out a metal bottle. Puts this to his mouth and tips it up so that he gets a taste of something sharp, clean, and strong. In other words, this AIN'T bot generated energon*

Ratchet: *Manages not to splutter at the sudden strong taste, something he'd nearly forgotten after so long functioning off of oil and under-refined energon.*

Ironhide: *takes the bottle back before he's had much more than a taste and helps herself to a long and satisfied pull*

Ratchet: *Grins teasingly* So, you were holding out on me, hmm?

Ironhide: Holding out nothing. I'd just got this in the Nexus when you all went running off to find Ironfist. *soft burp*

Ratchet: *Have a blank look for your troubles, femme.*

Ironhide: *more snerk and puts the bottle to his mouth again*

Ratchet: *Isn't going to complain, taking the offered drink gladly*

drink: *goes down smooth as good oil. And then cheerfully kicks him in the head*

Ratchet: *Always does like a drink with a good kick to it*

Ironhide: *lets him have half of what's left, and then takes the bottle back and rolls onto her back to chug it, transmitting satisfaction over their sparkbond*

Ratchet: *Chuckles softly, feeling content to be sprawled out there with her.*

Ironhide: *another soft burp, and then she stows the empty bottle and lays there for a moment* ...Guess we should save the last one.

Ratchet: Mhmm... probably...

Ironhide: *soft snort* You're cratered on that much.

Ratchet: It's been awhile since I had anything with a good bite to it. *Wry smirk*

Ironhide: *smirks smugly and thinks of their wedding kiss*

Ratchet: That wasn't a drink. Entirely different!

Ironhide: *teasing thought that isn't his own pokes softly through his processor, accompanied by smugness* -Still had a good bite.-

Ratchet: *Have a wave of indulgent amusement accompanying his thought.* -Never argued that.-

Ironhide: *rolls onto her side and puts an arm over his chest* Did you really sleep on this? *digs shoulder into the heavy vinyl cover of the mattress they're laying on*

Ratchet: Yep. *Rests his hands over the arm she'd laid across him.*

Ironhide: *pulls the tarp up around his shoulders again, thinking to herself that the heat will help keep the old codger from getting creaky by laying around so long* Why?

Ratchet: Well, it's more comfortable than the floor, especially where I was sleeping.

Ironhide: *snerks, and then snuzzles and shuts her optics off as she listens to talking and movement on the other side of the door to the little room they're in*

Ratchet: *Nudges in closer to the femme, relaxing a bit more*

Ironhide: *quietly* The Will Lennox of your reality is here. You should have heard what he said to Galloway.

Ratchet: Oh boy... I'll bet it was impressive.

Ironhide: Galloway tried do his slag, but then he found out Ironhide was talking to the President.

Ratchet: Oh? How'd that go?

Ironhide: Well, you know that old slagger that helped us when we first got here? That Defense Secretary Keller?

Ratchet: Yeah. Good guy that one.

Ironhide: He's got Galloway's job now.

Ratchet: Pff! *Laughs himself sore at this.*

Ironhide: Galloway got snippy enough to say something very rude to the President. And she didn't like it.

Ratchet: Uh oh. Too bad for him. *Sounds so very sincere, doesn't he?*

Ironhide: *snerk* *then frowns* Ironhide says the President's not female where you come from.

Ratchet: No, President is male there.

Ironhide: ...President Earp would make an ugly guy.

Ratchet: Yeah?

Ironhide: Yeah, for a female her age she's a cute little thing. Nearly as cute as Major Lennox's larva.

Ratchet: *Amuuused* I... think you mean child?

Ironhide: *blinks* Right. Wrong word.

Ratchet: *Chuckles quietly*

Ironhide: *grumbles softly* Stop sleepy bombing me.

Ratchet: What? What did I do?

Ironhide: *gives him a mild stink eye* You're tired again, and sharing the feeling.

Ratchet: *Smirks* And none of that is coming from you? Riiiight.

Ironhide: *pokes him in a ticklish spot*

Ratchet: *Undignified squawk*

Ironhide: *snerks, but then frowns as she thinks she catches a hint of discomfort from him* *sharply* Did you pull something?

Ratchet: *Oh lookit that evasive face there.*

Ironhide: *growls* Slaggit...

Ratchet: *Grumbles, looking sheepish*

Ironhide: *gives him the Look, and he can feel her concern and frustration over their bond* I'm going to see if your brother's around. *up onto her feet and turns toward the foot of the mattress, since it pretty well fills this end of the little room they're tucked into*

Ratchet: *Nods, settling back with a sigh.* Sure thing.

Ironhide: *frowns down at him, and then strides out of the room, leaving the door open behind her*

Ratchet: *Lays still and waits for Ironhide to return. However a few moments later, feeling restless, he shifts to try and sit up.*

gIronhide: *gruffly* Don't even think of it, glitchhead. *leans against the door frame and frowns down at his friend*

Ratchet: *Huffs up at him* Feh.

gIronhide: Feh yourself. *scowls and then comes in and shuts the door* *folds arms over his chest* So, are you feeling better?

Ratchet: *Finally settles down a bit.* Feeling a little better.

gIronhide: *snort* I don't mean your welds.

Ratchet: Yeah?

gIronhide: *shakes head* Dipstick. No more reason to be so mopey, right?

Ratchet: Yeah. *Little grin*

gIronhide: *lifts a brow plate* A female me?

Ratchet: *Nods, his expression amused*

gIronhide: ...That's kind of gross.

Ratchet: Pff, don't let her hear you say that.

gIronhide: Was it just because she's the first femme to show an interest in your ugly old plating?

Ratchet: No, that's not why. It's because she's a good femme!

gIronhide: So no hidden weird thoughts toward your best friend, eh? *is teasing now*

Ratchet: I wouldn't give your ego the pleasure.

gIronhide: *shakes his head* I'd give my own plating to save yours, but my spark is Chromia's. And she's a lot prettier than you.

Ratchet: *Chuckles* I know that. Just yanking your fuel line.

gIronhide: *gentle kick for his leg* *gruffly* She'll take good care of you.

Ratchet: *Little grunt at that kick* She's a good femme.

gIronhide: She's a cranky old glitcher, just like me. But she'll take care of you.

Ratchet: *Chuckles again at that*

gIronhide: And now maybe the local Ratchet can stop giving himself fuel line ulcers.

Ratchet: Yeah? How's he doing?

gIronhide: He looks as stupid as you do when you get giddy.

Ratchet: *Huffs* Says you.

gIronhide: I'm not the only one that thinks so. *rolls optics* But anyway. Junkheap says he owes you.

Ratchet: Yeah? What for?

gIronhide: For marrying a femme he loves like a sister, so he doesn't have to break her spark.

Ratchet: Hmph. Just glad I could make her happy.

gIronhide: *gruff mutter about glad he's happy finally* *louder* So now what?

Ratchet: I... don't rightly know.

gIronhide: Are you staying here, or coming home?

Ratchet: I... think they're going to need me here soon. The Fallen hasn't shown his ugly face yet.

gIronhide: *optics flash* Oh really...

Ratchet: *Nods* Really.

gIronhide: *ebil grin* I better suggest we dredge up Megatron and smash his spark compartment.

Ratchet: His spark compartment won't matter. It was blown to shreds by the Allspark, remember? They used parts to fix him.

gIronhide: Right. So we scrap him. *even more glee showing on his battered old mug now*

Ratchet: We might have to.

gIronhide: *starting to rub his hands together as his grin grows*

Ratchet: We'll have to suggest it to Optimus.

gIronhide: And to Secretary Keller. *dirty rotten ebil chuckle as he thinks of how fast Galloway got outed after he got snippy with the President*

Ratchet: *Smirks* Him too.

gIronhide: The President wants to come and visit sometime. Says she wants to see Iron Dust's picture.

Ratchet: *Amused* Yeah? How's Bee and that little scraplet anyways?

gIronhide: *gruff again* Bee's better, now that she knows you're alright.

Ratchet: That's good.

gIronhide: *grunts, and then looks at the door as someone kicks it and a familiar alto cusses*

Ratchet: *Looks up at that cursing*

Ironhide: *kicks the door again and demands entry*

gIronhide: *laughs*

Ratchet: Oh let her in! *Grinning*

gIronhide: *laughs more*

Ironhide: *offers to change his oil with a Sidewinder*

gIronhide: XD

Ratchet: 'Hide. Come on now.

oRatchet: *opens the door after jimmying it, then sticks his head in to give gIronhide a Look*

gIronhide: *growls at him*

Ratchet: *Well. There's something he's not gonna be getting used to anytime soon.*

gIronhide: *is immune to Looks :p*

oRatchet: *sighs and mutters about, 'And now there's slagging two of them' and comes in as gIronhide stands on the sleeping mat and more or less stuffs himself in the corner rather than leave the room to give the medic access*

Ratchet: *Will hide his discomfiture with his usual grumpy mode. Medics always make awful patients afterall.* So. What's the damage then?

oRatchet: *snarkishly* You mean what isn't the damage. I thought I knew better than to jump from that distance and land on my feet. *hunkers down to scan his alt, still grumbling*

Ratchet: *Huffs at this, shaking his head.* Like pit I jumped. I'm not stupid.

oRatchet: *huffs right back without looking up from what he's doing* You still know how to land.

Ratchet: *Craaaanky* Being buried under who knows how much rubble doesn't help.

oRatchet: Your legs and back struts would have survived that if you'd landed properly. Instead you're going to be crippled for several months, at the least.

Ratchet: *Lets out an irritated hiss of air from his vents at that*

oRatchet: *sends him the damage report* See for yourself!

Ratchet: *Crosses his arms as he reviews the file, making a face.* Well isn't that just great!

oRatchet: You were that far from stasis lock that would have either killed you or had you down for the next thousand years or so. *scowls and holds fingers an inch apart*

Ratchet: *His expression tightens briefly at this, before settling into a scowl of his own.* I noticed.

oRatchet: *scowwwwwl* What are you doing drinking high grade fuel when your systems are that low?

Ratchet: *SUCH a guilty look.*

oRatchet: *snorts* You know better.

Ratchet: Wasn't like it was that much. *Frowns*

oRatchet: But what there was of it was potent. *opens panels and works* From now on till I say differently the only high charge you're allowed to intake is from your mate.

gIronhide: *snerk*

Ironhide: *stink eyes him from where she's hunkered by Ratchet's feet supervising the checkup*

Ratchet: Tch. *Is not sulking. Nope. Not sulking at all.*

oRatchet: *fix fix, adjust. Closes the panel and stands, then pauses to look down at Ratchet with an inscrutable expression*

Ratchet: *For all of his griping he knows well enough to stay still for the other medic. However, that look just makes him uncertain.* ...What?

oRatchet: *pings his private channel*

Ratchet: *Opens a line at this, curious* //Yeah?//

oRatchet: *quietly, his optics flickering toward the femme who has now started to absently rub the sensitive areas of Ratchet's feet* //Thank you.//

Ratchet: *That touch just seems to relax him a bit, even as he looks a bit bewildered.* //What for?//

oRatchet: //Taking care of Ironhide for me. For making her happy.//

Ratchet: //I'm not doing it for you.// *Little huff.* //...But you're welcome.//

oRatchet: //I know that.// *optics darken slightly* //I wouldn't have hurt her for the world... but I... just didn't feel what she wanted me to.//

Ratchet: *Shakes his head* //Don't even worry about it. Things like that happen.//

oRatchet: *optics flick over to the femme, who is unaware of him at the moment* *slight sigh over the comm channel* //She'll make sure you get the rest you need.//

Ratchet: *Wry grin* //Whether I want it or not.//

oRatchet: *mirrors his expression* //Yup.// *then turns to go* Keep him quiet, 'Hide. Don't let him get up.

Ironhide: *without looking up, though her gruff alto holds deep affection* Teach the Allspark to suck oil.

oRatchet: *snorts and leaves*

Ratchet: *Raises a hand in a brief wave when he goes*

oRatchet: *words back from the hall* Don't strain yourself!

both Ironhides: *snorting*

Ratchet: *Takes on such a very snotty tone* Yes, sir!

both Ironhides: *chuckling, and then stink eyeing each other again*

Ratchet: *With both his mate and his best friend in the room? He's pretty sure he's doomed.*

Ironhide: And you get out now.

gIronhide: *lowers his head bullishly* I'll do no such thing.

Ratchet: *Not even a minute after getting his orders to stay still he's already trying to push himself up.* C'mon now, can't we play nice?

both Ironhides: *holding him down and growling at him*

gIronhide: Are you trying to slagging kill yourself, you brainless aft?

Ironhide: Lay still.

Ratchet: *Lets out a longsuffering sigh, but will submit*

Ironhide: *more glower for her brother* I can keep him still and get him resting if you get your slagging can out of here.

gIronhide: *starts to growl, and then stops and blinks. Wide grin as he strides out*

Ratchet: *Blinks, watching him go with a little confusion and surprise*

Ironhide: *pulls the door closed and pulls the latch cord to the inside so no one can just walk in, then comes over onto the bed and hunkers down to pull his tarp up around his shoulders after recovering his feet* *quietly* How are you feeling?

Ratchet: *Offers a faint rueful grin* Like a useless lump, actually.

Ironhide: *snorts softly* Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Ratchet: *Lifts his arms in invitation.* Well then get in here, femme.

Ironhide: *wide grin and lifts the edge of the tarp, then settles down beside him with a hand resting gently on his chest*

Ratchet: *Chuckles quietly, settling his arms around her*

Ironhide: *snuzzles and shifts her hand from his chest to his back, where she rubs a relaxing spot* *softly* Get some rest.

Ratchet: *Rumbles quietly, a sound of contentment* Mhmm...

Ironhide: *tips her head back to look into his optics, her own good one the deep blue of peaceful contentment* Need a little energy?

Ratchet: *Smiles fondly at her, optics dimmed, but still warm.* Wouldn't say no.

Ironhide: *very gentle kiss, her fingers still softly working on that spot between his shoulders*

Ratchet: *Returns the kiss gladly, with a soft little sound*

Ironhide: *quiet chuckle, and then breaks the kiss and just cuddles him close* *softly* Get some rest.

Ratchet: *Settles back with her, relaxing* Yes, dear...

Ironhide: And don't get smart. *fixes tarp and then softly plays him some of his favorite Earth music, though Ironhides usually prefer old rock and country*

Ratchet: *Chuckles softly, just nuzzling in on her and starting to doze.*

Ironhide: *will protect him while he sleeps*

((written with ohprimuswhy))