Coming home- Chapter 2

Jul 16, 2012 23:53


Coming Home Chapter 2 - Duties
A/N: Somehow practically the exact same length as the first chapter



Rodimus had his head buried under his arms on his desk when Drift walked into the quarters. Immediately, the captain jolted upright. “Yes Magnus I’m working! Oh Drift.” Rodimus relaxed, leaning on his elbows. “No trouble right?”

Drift sat down and smiled. “No, but I did have a fortunate encounter.”

“Yeah? What happened?” Rodimus was carving his desk with his knife today. Drift was pretty sure they’d need to replace the desk soon enough, with the amount Rodimus cut into it. The swordsmech leaned forward and smiled.

“I ran into a member of the Circle of Light.” He said.

Rodimus’ hand paused, and he quirked a brow. “Really? Was he a pillar of light?”

Drift snorted. “Rodimus, stop.”

“I suppose this means you’ll have to stop making up crazy theories.” The captain sat back in his chair and smirked.

Drift snorted. “Come on Rodimus, have faith in my abilities. They can take corporeal form to communicate with us, so we understand them.”

Rodimus burst out laughing. “You know eventually someone will figure out you’re not serious and call you on it.”

The swordsmech shrugged. “It’s been fun while it lasted, besides, it distracts from Red Alert.”

“True,” Rodimus smiled, “And he’s very grateful that the bots aren’t paying attention to his security measures. I can’t believe Magnus still hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“He won’t be very pleased with us once he’s figured out,” Drift rested his hands behind his head with a grin. “Anyways, the Knight I ran into was named Lance; I told him why we’re coming, but…”

Rodimus frowned. “But what?”

Drift sighed. “He’ll talk to the Circle, he said there should be an answer soon enough, but it’d be pretty big if they opened up to Cybertron again. I can’t promise they’ll even be welcoming.”

Rodimus nodded. “We have a path now, in any case. See if you can slow down our restocking process a bit to give them more time. I’ll talk to Magnus about repairing the ship here.”

“Sounds good to me,” Drift smiled. “New Crystal City is only ruled by the Knights as long as the people there let them. They will need to consult the whole population…”

“So there’s a good chance they’ll lock the doors,” Rodimus rubbed at his optics. Drift nodded.

“Yeah, they’re good people, but they want no part in the war… but…”

“Another but,” Rodimus sighed.

“This might be a good but, though,” Drift shrugged. “They have people on Cybertron already, Lance said. Apparently Prowl’s… having a lot of trouble there. If we come seeking aid, and if we’re humble… maybe.”

“I don’t do, “humble” Drift.” Rodimus rolled his optics.

“Well fake it.” Drift snorted. “I can’t convince them alone; they’ll want you to speak.”

“Well write me a good speech,” Rodimus returned to engraving his desk. “Or at least help me prepare for it.”

Drift nodded, thinking. “You’ll have to convince Dai Atlas, he’s the leader of the Order.  He will hold most of the Circle in sway, but if he’s not listening, pay attention to Axe, he’s the Order’s Second, and many Knights will base their judgement on how both leaders feel. Axe is more empathetic, but Dai Atlas can be swayed if you appeal reasonably about the good of All. But they have their City to think of First, then Cybertron now. They won’t uproot their peaceful civilization for a battling society that won’t pay them mind.”

Rodimus nodded slowly. “So what do they look like?”

“Can’t miss them, they’re the biggest mechs in the city,” Drift snickered. “Axe is a tank, Dai Atlas a jet.”

“Alright, I should write this down, or you should…” Rodimus muttered. “I’ll be disappointed if they say no after all this.” Drift slumped, nodding in agreement.

“I hope that they will welcome us, I really do,” He dimmed his optics. Rodimus finished his etching and folded his hands, thinking. Finally he shrugged.

“You’ve done a lot.  Go get some rest.”

Drift nodded gratefully and stood up. “Same to you Rodimus, before Magnus comes in.”

“Ugh, I said I’d have this report done tomorrow, but I don’t even understand it.”

“Give it to me,” Drift chuckled. “I’ll get Perceptor to decode it for you.”

“Won’t he mind?”

Drift shook his head. “Not if I ask.”

Rodimus snorted. “Ask and other things, I CAN hear you two at night sometimes.”

The swordsmech flushed faintly. “Oops.”

“Oh get out.” Rodimus waved his hands. “And I expect that datapad to be clean when I get it back!”

Drift grinned, a touch embarrassed. “Yessir.” He bolted before Rodimus could get another crack in. He did hear Rodimus laugh, though.

The swordsmech walked through the ship, pausing in medbay to give Ratchet a wave, and nearly ran into Ambulon, who was carrying a stack of crates. The medic stilled, the top crate wobbling dangerously. Drift grabbed the top two crates and held them. Ambulon nodded.

“Thank you.”

“Stowing stuff or taking it to Slag?” Drift asked.

“Incinerating medical waste, melting down what can be melted for retooling.” Ambulon replied, shifting his remaining crates.

“Would you like some help?” The swordsmech asked; Ambulon shrugged.

“You can help me carry the crates, but only medical staff are allowed to handle the stuff out of the crates.”

“Sounds fair.” Drift followed Ambulon down the hall. “So how are you and First Aid settling in with Ratchet?”

Ambulon snorted. “He’s a lot like Pharma, except nicer and more likely to listen to suggestions. It’s a marked improvement.”

Drift grinned, but Ambulon wasn’t done talking. “Though some of the crew skirts around me warily, and wait for First Aid or Ratchet to be on duty. I suppose the fact that I’m a former Decepticon got out.”

“Ah… Yes, it takes a while for people to adapt to you. Primus knows I’m still known as “the ex-Decepticon,’” Drift rolled his optics.

“I wasn’t aware of your reputation,” Ambulon glanced over his shoulder. “You still deal with it after a military service?”

“Henh, yes, though not as much. People forget, or stop caring once they know you. Though if they knew who I was before, they’d probably be out for my head…. Uh… don’t spread that around.” Drift made an awkward sound. Ambulon nodded.

“We’ll count it as doctor-patient confidentiality. Who would know who you were?”

Drift shrugged. “Ratchet, Rodimus, Magnus I don’t know… Probably not. Our pilot too, we served together for a long time.”

“I see.” Ambulon nodded. He pressed a knee against the wall next to the door to the incinerator room.  This freed a hand so he could key open the door without having to worry about tipping the crates. “Well thank you, I can handle it from here.”

“Good to see you’re managing.” Drift gave a little smile. Ambulon nodded. “I’ll see you later.”

Ambulon nodded, already immersed in his work.  Drift chuckled, and left medic to his sanitizing.

Winding his way through the ship, Drift visited most gathering centers of the crew, checking in, spreading some good cheer, even at his own expense. Chromedome and Rewind were arguing over something or other; he left them to it, Pipes greeted him cheerfully and dragged him into a short card game with Sunstreaker and a few others. Much to Drift’s misfortune, Bob took a liking to him, and rested its head on the 2iC’s lap, drooling for the entire game, when he stood up, his lap was slippery and slimy. Shrugging wryly at the others’ amusement, he detoured to the washracks before finally heading back to his quarters.

This was his favorite part of the day, coming to his room and finally, finally be able to take a break from being social, from his duties, from everything.  He gave a little smile in the direction of his roommate, who was focused on a datapad. Perceptor glanced up and gave him a quick upturning of lips, before returning to his reading.

Drift carefully set his great sword in its bracket, and then walked over to look at what Perceptor was reading, before settling on the sniper’s berth. “Busy day for you?”

Perceptor shrugged. “It was not as swamped as I thought, the repairs and calibrating that I had to do were relatively simple,” he leaned over against Drift’s shoulder, sighing contently. “How’s your day been? “

“Long, interesting,” Drift rested a hand on Perceptor’s shoulder. “We might go to New Crystal City yet.”

The sniper nodded, dropping his gaze to his lap. “You sound excited.”

“Well, I’m hopeful.” Drift dimmed his optics. “And… I’d like to visit Wing…Even though…”

“Yes,” Perceptor said. Drift gave him a little grateful smile.

“And I’ve told Rodimus that if we do get there, you’re coming with me when we first go. I want you to see it.”

“Thank you Drift…” Perceptor murmured, smiling faintly. Drift nudged him.

“Come on Perceptor, war’s over.”

“I know.”

“Stop being so serious.”

“Never,” Perceptor tilted his head, making Drift smile genuinely.

“I’ll get a smile out of you eventually Perceptor, a real one.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Drift chuckled and leaned over to give the other a kiss, startling Perceptor. Pleased, the swordsmech pulled Perceptor down against the berth. “You know me too well.”

drift/perceptor, transformers idw, perceptor, drift, mtmte, coming home

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