DON'T COUNT MISTAKES I LOST TRACK OF THEM

[tilallisoverused]

( He's in trouble. He's Rodimus, the younger of Nova's two candidates for Prime, and he is absolutely in trouble. It's not his fault. He just happened to be somewhere where trouble results, although okay - that part isn't new.

And he knows exactly how he got here in the first place, it's the same as it always is.

Orion frowns at him every time he leaves the Primal Basilica dressed in a cloak - knowing full well that he's going to go to those places that Nova finds unlawful and unruly. Sure, the other Prime in training had attempted to stop him before, to no avail. That makes something twinge in Rodimus because he likes Orion, he really does.

Then again, most people like Orion 'Super Cop, Future Prime' Pax. Because apparently some people like having a career that's pointless once you know you'll carry the Matrix. He guesses that has to do with Orion having spent some of his life from out of Nova's influence - maybe that made you like police work.

Not that Rodimus would know what that's like - Nova snatched him up two days after he was forged, as if he knew exactly where to find him. Must be a 'wisdom of the Matrix' thing. Find your replacements before someone else does and what not. But it boiled down to the fact that he'd never really got to know or experience life outside the basilica walls and for every time Nova told him he shouldn't or couldn't go out - he did.

Which is how he ends up standing over someone he punched into a wall - thanks Galvatron and Cyclonus for teaching him that one - inadvertently starting a bar fight that he is determined to win. Rodimus is pretty sure that as a mysterious cloaked and hooded figure, he definitely looks awesome which negates the trouble.

Mostly. )

Comments

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He's half surprised to find Rodimus beside him. Granted, Minimus should have known he was the sort of bot who wouldn't say no to a fight. ]

One of the old gang leaders. Disappeared a couple months back during a murder investigation he was the main suspect in. [ He strides towards Hammerfist. ] Nice of you to come back and save me the trouble of hunting you down. Why don't you save both of us a little time and come along quietly?

[ This doesn't seem to go over well with Hammerfist, who lifts his arm where the hulking canon is mounted. ] Hell with that! I'm going to kill you!

[ Minimus will have a moment to regret housing his own weapons in the crush compartment along his side before Hammerfist starts firing. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( This is Rodimus. This is Rodimus about to do something really stupid which involves tearing off his cape and throwing it at Hammerfist's face in an attempt to obstruct his vision right as he begins firing, followed up with a swift round of shots into the gun arm. )

Why don't you pick on someone your own size, huh?

( He thinks of all his sparring rounds with Cyclonus and training with Galvatron and then just casually throws all their advice and training to the wind. He's got this, he's totally got this. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ The ridiculous thing about it is it works. Almost. The gun backfires, tearing a hole up Hammerfist's arm and searing the side of his helm as he tries to rip the cloak away. ] You slagger! I'll kill you!

[ It gives Minimus enough of a chance to slip in close again, putting the full and deceptively powerful weight of his fist into Hammerfist. ] No, you won't.

[ Hammerfist staggers back, but doesn't go down, one flailing hand wrapping around Minimus' fist. There's a sickening crunch of metal and a bitten of cry from Minimus before he manages to grab the hand that's holding him and use it to plant a kick to Hammerfist's face, which finally takes him down.

Minimus will need a moment to focus before he's able to offline the nerves in his crushed hand before standing, forcing open one of the dented compartments in his side to retrieve the cuffs. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( He's actually really bummed that he didn't get a better chance to show off - optics trained on Hammerfist rather than Minimus for a few seconds. Rodimus knew Minimus was strong thanks to having been easily lifted over one shoulder and hauled back to his station, but. That was different than seeing him punch someone like Hammerfist and watch the bigger bot stagger back.

Not that he'd ever tell Minimus, but it might have kind of cool. )

So there.

( Such comeback. So witty. Much required. Wow.

He watches Minimus handcuff Hammerfist and then catches a glimpse of the mangled hand. Which makes him wince in a very untactful manner. )

Oh, right. That looks like it hurt.

( He is so good at this. )

[thesurpriseinside]

It's fine.

[ It's not, but it's something he can ignore in favor of getting done what needs to be done. Restraining Hammerfist with one hand is a chore, but he manages and then turns to Rodimus. ]

Are you all right?

[ He has no doubt that the young primeling would tell him and at length if he wasn't, but still. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( That gets a skeptical eyebrow raise. Because that hand looks pretty mangled, buddy, but if he says so. )

Me? ( A gesture at his chassis and a grin. ) Spotless. Going to have to get a new cloak, though.

( He picks it up off the ground and gives it a shake. It's not in that bad of shape, just a bit torn and dirty. But primeling - he's used to a certain standard. )

[thesurpriseinside]

Good.

[ He doesn't give Hammerfist the courtesy of lifting him off the ground. He just gets a good grip on a convenient groove on his collar and starts hauling. ]

Come on then, let's get this over with.

[ If you thought you were out of trouble, Rodimus, you were wrong.]

[tilallisoverused]

( Oh hell no. Rodimus lowers the cape to stare at Minimus incredulously. )

He just destroyed your cruiser and you're still taking me in?

( What did he do to deserve this? )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He pauses to look back at Rodimus, his frown deepening. ]

Of course.

[tilallisoverused]

You're ridiculous.

( He has never, ever met anyone quite like you, Minimus. And that's not really a complement. )

[thesurpriseinside]

You can't expect me just to send you on your way. Especially not now, at the very least I need to take a statement from you regarding this.

[ He gestures slightly, as if to encompass his destroyed cruiser, the unconscious Hammerfist and his own dented body. ]

[tilallisoverused]

"Someone tried to kill Ambus, but I shot him and then he got his hand squished." See? Statement made.

( He's got this. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He resists the urge to sigh by main force. ]

Fine. I still need to question you about the gambling ring.

[ Can they get back to dragging Hammerfist to jail now, please? ]

[tilallisoverused]

I can give you a sentence about that too right now, if you want.

( Fine he'll start walking but don't expect him to help actually drag the other bot.

Sorry Minimus. )

[thesurpriseinside]

I'm going to need more than a sentence, Rodimus. Those gambling rings are part of an ongoing investigation.

[ Like he would ask for the help anyway. It's difficult to do this with one hand, but not impossible. Getting into the station might prove difficult tho. He is actually considering using his busted hand to open the door. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( Luckily for Minimus, Rodimus was at least taught how to open the door for others - reaching over Minimus to slam his hand against the panel that operates to door. )

Into what? How people make a few extra shanix?

[thesurpriseinside]

[ The unexpected helpfulness gets a small, surprised glance before Minimus goes back to dragging Hammerfist into the station and down the hall, towards the sturdier cells. ]

The disappearances of several bots and a rise in gang related violence in the areas surrounding known locations of these underground casinos.

[ He opens a cell and shoves Hammerfist in, shutting and sealing the door. ]

Aside from the fact that gambling is against the law.

[tilallisoverused]

So's most things that are fun. And I live with the guy who makes 'em.

( It's the worst. But Rodimus leans up against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. )

No one's said anything about missing bots. And people talk - I mean most of the time I don't listen because I'm too busy beating them - but I haven't heard anything.

( A shrug. )

[thesurpriseinside]

I don't imagine they would encourage that kind of talk inside the rings themselves.

[ Turning back to frown at Rodimus. ] Unless you've been elsewhere tonight.

[ And he's not convinced this incident is limited to just tonight. ]

[tilallisoverused]

What makes you say that?

( He absolutely has and it absolutely isn't. )

Look, why would I know anything about who runs them? I'm just there to win and enjoy doing so.

[thesurpriseinside]

Call it a hunch.

[ He might not know Rodimus well, but he knows his type. The second bit catches his attention. ]

How much were you winning?

[tilallisoverused]

You're going to arrest me if I say anything.

( He's not going to fall for that trick, damn it. )

Hmm? ( How much was he winning... ) 10,000 shanix? I was hitting a nice stride before you burst in.

[thesurpriseinside]

I'd only arrest you if you were doing something wrong.

[ His permanent frown turns grim. ]

Don't go back there.

[tilallisoverused]

We've established that what you think of as wrong and what I think of as wrong are two entirely different things.

( Cheeky grin, before his face falls. )

What, why?

[thesurpriseinside]

[ Ignoring that first little dig because this is actually important. ]

There are two types of bots that go missing in there. Those that can't pay their debts and those with one too many lucky streaks. We can't risk a member of the Prime lineage falling into one of those brackets.