Of Assumptions, Misconceptions, and the Holes We Dig Ourselves Into

[schrodingersbot]

WHO: SWORDOFPEACE and SCHRODINGERSBOT
WHAT: The Knight and the Nerd need to have a Talk.
WHERE: Their apartment
WHEN: After having visited Magnum to "discuss" the terms of Wing's punishment
WARNINGS/NOTES: Schmoopy, angsty robots.

Comments

[swordofpeace]

Wing had felt this building, like an updraft against his wings, a sense of magnetic pressure. But he'd never run away from challenge. Especially not one of his own making.

His wings flicked, the only sign of the tight tension in his frame--he'd been whipsawed between the two of them in the Arena: Megatron consciously toying with him, to distress Perceptor. Perceptor, unconscious of manipulation, but that didn't make the tugging of his affections any less real.

"My safety doesn't matter, Perceptor. It's about Cybertron. Saving my world." At least, he thought that's what it was about.

[schrodingersbot]

Perceptor flinched; of course it wasn't personal. It was about Cybertron, a future, peace. He felt terribly selfish and self-centered suddenly, for allowing himself to feel hurt by Wing's choice. It never should have been about anything but Cybertron. He was such a fool. A terrible, selfish fool.

Still, at least that offered some slim sliver of absolution, selfish as it was to even want that. Wing would still need the Portal to return to his own past to effect any alteration in the history of His Cybertron, regardless of Magnum's wishes. Or Perceptor's. Perceptor could still at least give him that, some dream of hope, as reparations for his presumption.

He nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor, refusing to risk seeing censure or disappointment in Wing's optics by the simple expedient of not allowing himself to look at the jet.

"Magnum promised me his notes. I will reconstruct his Portal so that you may both..." He shrugged as his voice trailed off. "So that you may save your world."

[swordofpeace]

Wing would argue it wasn't about reparations or presumptions. Or if it was, that he was more at fault than the Autobot. He hadn't had a great track record of anticipating consequences: Drift had slipped from Crystal City because Wing had simply...not believed the other mech would even try.

"Perceptor, you don't owe him any obedience, or loyalty. And not for my sake. He twisted the bargain he made with you to his own ends--do the same." Regardless of the cost to Wing.

[schrodingersbot]

"I am not constructing the Portal for him," Perceptor replied softly. "My ends..." he paused to offer that minuscule shrug again, "...are to keep you safe."

Or at least offer Wing some sort of future.

"Besides, I struck a bargain. I will fulfill my promise."