More fic
Title: Reunion
Rating: PG
Warning: none
Summary: Sequel to In the Line of Duty and Alone. Ratchet's conscience gets the best of him.
“I’m sorry Ratchet, but I can’t allow a Decepticon to have free run of the base. Anytime he’s not under direct supervision, Frenzy will have to be secured.”
“I’m not sure why the little slagger gets out of the box at all,” muttered Ironhide.
“Because it’s cruel! Dammit Optimus, how are we supposed to make peace with the Decepticons like you’ve been going on about if we don’t take the first step? Because I’m sure Barricade would be delighted to lay down his weapons when he finds out we’ve been keeping his partner in a cage. Right after he shoots us, that is!”
“We could always put him in a cage and shoot him,” Ironhide offered helpfully.
“No, Ironhide. We can’t risk it, Ratchet. If Frenzy gained access to our computer systems-“
“I know, I know,” Ratchet grumbled. “It’s still not right, Optimus. He’s miserable locked up like that, and we’ve given him no reason to think he’s ever leaving. I - I don’t like it,” he finished uncomfortably.
“I am sorry, but it’s the best we can do.”
“I still like the ‘shoot him’ option.”
“Ironhide!
x-x-x
It had become something of a habit for Blake to take his morning coffee in the parking lot.
“The chief wants to know if you’re going to change those decals yet,” Blake said cheerfully as he perched on the hood of his patrol car.
Barricade growled.
“I’ll take that as a no.” It was the same question he’d relayed every morning, and the same answer. It’d become something of a ritual greeting.
Barricade settled on his wheels as Blake sipped his coffee and started chatting, sharing station gossip and opinions on cases. None of it was particularly important to Barricade; he could get the pertinent details directly from the reports, after all. But it was… soothing… to let the idle chatter wash over him.
Barricade was faintly disgusted with himself. They were humans. Disgusting little fleshbags! He was a Decepticon! He was…
He was lonely. Slag it all…
x-x-x
Ratchet stared guiltily at the form huddled against the side of the transparent box.
He’s a Decepticon, he reminded himself.
But that shouldn’t matter. He sighed and turned away. He could understand the need for security, but now, faced with the miserable little ‘con, he couldn’t convince himself that it was anything but wrong. The spastic hacker hadn’t taken well to being locked up, with all his communications jammed.
Ratchet had been surprised, to say the least, the night he’d returned to base to find Frenzy unconscious on an exam table. He’d shown signs of a competent, if inelegant, repair job, but the neural damage had obviously been past his partner’s abilities. Even with Ratchet’s skill, it had been nearly a month of delicate work before Frenzy showed any signs of waking.
Ironhide hadn’t been happy to find out about the hacker’s presence in the medbay. Optimus had just shook his head and left the Ratchet to his repairs.
The medic turned and crossed the room to stand in front of Frenzy’s cage. The little ‘con perked up a bit at his approach. He unlatched the lid, and scooped up the fully-repaired Frenzy.
“He cares a great deal for you, doesn’t he?”
Frenzy fixed bright blue optics on him, but didn’t respond.
“He risked his life to get you to me,” Ratchet continued thoughtfully. “And you’re lost without him, aren’t you?”
If Frenzy had any reply to that, he kept it to himself. Ratchet stared at the tiny mech in his hand for a moment longer.
Then he came to a decision.
x-x-x
Blake knew Barricade wasn’t actually listening to him. But he seemed to enjoy the company - or at least, he still showed up every morning, parked next to Blake’s cruiser. Blake took it as permission to continue. Some mornings, he even got a few words out of the interceptor.
Barricade stiffened suddenly, tension radiating off his frame, cutting Blake off mid-sentence.
“What is it?” the officer asked quietly.
“Autobot,” Barricade growled in reply.
The precinct had been briefed on the Cybertronian factions, but information was sketchy at best. Blake scanned the parking lot nervously. The last thing he wanted was to get caught in the crossfire, with his only weapon completely ineffectual against their armor.
So it was with some trepidation that he watched the search and rescue vehicle pull into the lot. Something in the way Barricade shifted told Blake that the interceptor was watching it, too.
The Autobot pulled up in front of Blake’s patrol car. None of them moved for a long moment.
Barricade broke the silence. “What do you want, Autobot?”
The Autobot blew exhaust in something that sounded very much like a sigh. Then he opened his passenger door.
Blake yelped, spilling coffee as something silver and pointy streaked out of the door and skittered over his leg. It jumped on Barricade’s hood, darting back and forth, chattering excitedly. Blake cursed, shaking coffee off his hand and watching the little silver… thing… bound onto Barricade’s roof, making happy noises. He shook his head.
x-x-x
Barricade was floored. He hadn’t expected to ever see Frenzy again, much less have the Autobots hand him over without making any sort of demand in return. But the medic did just that, releasing his partner and driving off without a word.
The human had flashed him an annoyingly knowing grin and disappeared inside for something to clean the coffee off his hand.
“Stop that,” he grumbled at Frenzy, but it lacked any heat. Frenzy just chittered at him and hopped through the open door to continue his inspection of his partner.
“That tickles, you frenetic excuse for a can opener!” But Barricade couldn’t deny the sense of well-being that overcame him as Frenzy finally settled down. “How-“ he started.
“Sentimental Autobot-t-t,” Frenzy explained. “Sucker,” he added.
Rating: PG
Warning: none
Summary: Sequel to In the Line of Duty and Alone. Ratchet's conscience gets the best of him.
“I’m sorry Ratchet, but I can’t allow a Decepticon to have free run of the base. Anytime he’s not under direct supervision, Frenzy will have to be secured.”
“I’m not sure why the little slagger gets out of the box at all,” muttered Ironhide.
“Because it’s cruel! Dammit Optimus, how are we supposed to make peace with the Decepticons like you’ve been going on about if we don’t take the first step? Because I’m sure Barricade would be delighted to lay down his weapons when he finds out we’ve been keeping his partner in a cage. Right after he shoots us, that is!”
“We could always put him in a cage and shoot him,” Ironhide offered helpfully.
“No, Ironhide. We can’t risk it, Ratchet. If Frenzy gained access to our computer systems-“
“I know, I know,” Ratchet grumbled. “It’s still not right, Optimus. He’s miserable locked up like that, and we’ve given him no reason to think he’s ever leaving. I - I don’t like it,” he finished uncomfortably.
“I am sorry, but it’s the best we can do.”
“I still like the ‘shoot him’ option.”
“Ironhide!
x-x-x
It had become something of a habit for Blake to take his morning coffee in the parking lot.
“The chief wants to know if you’re going to change those decals yet,” Blake said cheerfully as he perched on the hood of his patrol car.
Barricade growled.
“I’ll take that as a no.” It was the same question he’d relayed every morning, and the same answer. It’d become something of a ritual greeting.
Barricade settled on his wheels as Blake sipped his coffee and started chatting, sharing station gossip and opinions on cases. None of it was particularly important to Barricade; he could get the pertinent details directly from the reports, after all. But it was… soothing… to let the idle chatter wash over him.
Barricade was faintly disgusted with himself. They were humans. Disgusting little fleshbags! He was a Decepticon! He was…
He was lonely. Slag it all…
x-x-x
Ratchet stared guiltily at the form huddled against the side of the transparent box.
He’s a Decepticon, he reminded himself.
But that shouldn’t matter. He sighed and turned away. He could understand the need for security, but now, faced with the miserable little ‘con, he couldn’t convince himself that it was anything but wrong. The spastic hacker hadn’t taken well to being locked up, with all his communications jammed.
Ratchet had been surprised, to say the least, the night he’d returned to base to find Frenzy unconscious on an exam table. He’d shown signs of a competent, if inelegant, repair job, but the neural damage had obviously been past his partner’s abilities. Even with Ratchet’s skill, it had been nearly a month of delicate work before Frenzy showed any signs of waking.
Ironhide hadn’t been happy to find out about the hacker’s presence in the medbay. Optimus had just shook his head and left the Ratchet to his repairs.
The medic turned and crossed the room to stand in front of Frenzy’s cage. The little ‘con perked up a bit at his approach. He unlatched the lid, and scooped up the fully-repaired Frenzy.
“He cares a great deal for you, doesn’t he?”
Frenzy fixed bright blue optics on him, but didn’t respond.
“He risked his life to get you to me,” Ratchet continued thoughtfully. “And you’re lost without him, aren’t you?”
If Frenzy had any reply to that, he kept it to himself. Ratchet stared at the tiny mech in his hand for a moment longer.
Then he came to a decision.
x-x-x
Blake knew Barricade wasn’t actually listening to him. But he seemed to enjoy the company - or at least, he still showed up every morning, parked next to Blake’s cruiser. Blake took it as permission to continue. Some mornings, he even got a few words out of the interceptor.
Barricade stiffened suddenly, tension radiating off his frame, cutting Blake off mid-sentence.
“What is it?” the officer asked quietly.
“Autobot,” Barricade growled in reply.
The precinct had been briefed on the Cybertronian factions, but information was sketchy at best. Blake scanned the parking lot nervously. The last thing he wanted was to get caught in the crossfire, with his only weapon completely ineffectual against their armor.
So it was with some trepidation that he watched the search and rescue vehicle pull into the lot. Something in the way Barricade shifted told Blake that the interceptor was watching it, too.
The Autobot pulled up in front of Blake’s patrol car. None of them moved for a long moment.
Barricade broke the silence. “What do you want, Autobot?”
The Autobot blew exhaust in something that sounded very much like a sigh. Then he opened his passenger door.
Blake yelped, spilling coffee as something silver and pointy streaked out of the door and skittered over his leg. It jumped on Barricade’s hood, darting back and forth, chattering excitedly. Blake cursed, shaking coffee off his hand and watching the little silver… thing… bound onto Barricade’s roof, making happy noises. He shook his head.
x-x-x
Barricade was floored. He hadn’t expected to ever see Frenzy again, much less have the Autobots hand him over without making any sort of demand in return. But the medic did just that, releasing his partner and driving off without a word.
The human had flashed him an annoyingly knowing grin and disappeared inside for something to clean the coffee off his hand.
“Stop that,” he grumbled at Frenzy, but it lacked any heat. Frenzy just chittered at him and hopped through the open door to continue his inspection of his partner.
“That tickles, you frenetic excuse for a can opener!” But Barricade couldn’t deny the sense of well-being that overcame him as Frenzy finally settled down. “How-“ he started.
“Sentimental Autobot-t-t,” Frenzy explained. “Sucker,” he added.