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 vents a sigh, adjusting his stance so he can look up at Rodimus more comfortably. ]

You should have cleaned up a bit first at least. You're a mess.

[tilallisoverused]

Clinics don't have anywhere to shower. So ( Shrug. ) here I am.

( He does look down, and what he sees does make him grimace slightly. )

Maybe it's not so bad of an idea.

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He's about to continue shooing him out the door, because really, Rodimus, you're kinda gross right now.

But. He pauses. ]

Rodimus... Thank you.

[tilallisoverused]

( His smile turns a shade guilty, and Rodimus can't meet the gaze of his optics. )

Yeah. ( There's a twitch of his lips upwards. ) Guess I got to drag you to Ratchet anyway.

( How about they dance away from this topic super quick, yeah? )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He notices that and pauses, deciding if he should push the issue or not... He lets it go for now. It's been a long enough night already. ]

He does live up to his reputation. I'll be able to get right back to work thanks to him. [ What is rest. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( Rodimus exvents slightly at the fact that he isn't going to pursue it, glad for the easy out. )

Knowing Ratchet he probably told you to take it easy.

( He's heard that and ignored that too, so he can relate. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ Yeah, no, he's gonna bring it up again eventually.

For now Rodimus gets a sliiightly guilty look. ]

...He might have.

[tilallisoverused]

Fair warning? He gets upset when you have be dragged back to fix the same problem twice.

( He's just saying. )

[thesurpriseinside]

Then I'll just have to ensure that I'm not injured.

[ he looks down at his substantially smaller body and frowns, bringing a hand to toug the solid chest plating.]

If nothing else, I am a smaller target.

[tilallisoverused]

Can you still punch someone across a room?

( Asking the important questions here, although he does look curious. )

[thesurpriseinside]

I haven't tried it in a while. I think so.

[ It's been a while since he's been this small. ]

[tilallisoverused]

Then you're fine. ( A beat. ) How can you do that?

idk this is probably how it works, probably idk idk

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He hesitates visibly before answering. ]

I'm one of the point one percent.

good enough for me

[tilallisoverused]

( Okay see, Rodimus isn't a point one percenter. He knows Orion isn't either, and Nova would have told everyone if he was. Galvatron and Cyclonus definitely aren't.

He doesn't know anyone who is, which means he just sort of stares at Minimus. )

You can't be. You're tiny.

( Yes, very good Rodimus. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ That's not the first time he's heard something like that and he doubts it will be the last time. His expression turns a bit grim. ]

Yes, I know.

[tilallisoverused]

So-- ( Nope he's just going to peer closely at you, Minimus. ) Why the armor? If you can send someone through the wall.

I mean you're a point one percenter. Everyone knows what that means.

[thesurpriseinside]

Not everyone believes it. Even less than that like it. Some of them felt that someone like me, a monoformer and a minibot to boot, didn't have the right to be.

[ He's looking down, more into his memories than at anything in particular. ]

The armor... helps.

[tilallisoverused]

They start to believe it when you hand them their aft, right?

( Just a casual observation. But then he remembers the armor in pieces in the building and feels a twinge of guilt again.

Rodimus will do something about that. He has to. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ Minimus looks up to give him a stern frown. ]

Not every problem can be solved with violence, Rodimus. My physical strength doesn't do any good against people with more political weight.

[tilallisoverused]

Have you tried?

( You're talking to the kid raised by Nova and Galvatron. Violence is a perfectly good problem solver. )

[thesurpriseinside]

No, doing so would have gotten my killed in the best case scenario.

[ Seriously, Rodimus. ]

[tilallisoverused]

Oh.

( Right, some people aren't protected by the fact they're capable of bonding with the Matrix. He shifts awkwardly, looking at anywhere but Minimus for a long second or two.

Or at least until he realizes they're near the Primal Basilica. He looks down at himself and then back at the high walls with all the guards - that's gonna be a fun one to explain. )

Minimus--

[thesurpriseinside]

What's wrong?

[ He says that with equal parts wariness and concern. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( He doesn't answer whatever he was going to say, instead he just turns and spreads his arms - showing off the dried energon with a grin. )

I'm never going to hear the end of this. ( And then, more seriously: ) Thanks.

( It's the best he can do for the time being. )

[thesurpriseinside]

You're welcome, of course.

[ That frown is really not going anywhere tho. ] But you can't go back like that, you'll cause a panic.