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

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.

[tilallisoverused]

I'm walking and I'm talking. They'll know I'm not injured.

( He can imagine the fit they might throw, but he's fine. They'll get over it. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He doesn't look entierly convinced. He pauses then offers: ] There's a decent enough shower in my apartment. If you wanted to avoid the fuss.

[ He'll realize how that sounds in a moment or two. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( He actually has to a double take before he realizes that there's no way that Minimus could have possibly meant how that sounded. But that just makes him smile and he can't just let it go. Because. )

What makes you think you're my type? ( Still grinning, and then he shrugs. ) I can handle the fuss. And we're already here.

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He looks up at Rodimus, not getting it for a moment before realization hits and he looks genuinely horrified. ]

No, I- Of course not, I would never presume... I didn't mean it that way. [ He looks down and coughs static to clear is vocalizer. ] If you're sure, then. I should get back an start filing the report on the incident.

[ Smooth. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( Well he wasn't expecting a horrified response at the idea because he is one good looking bot, okay. So he very obviously doesn't look at Minimus and instead focuses back on the wall.

That's definitely a pout, but he'll never admit to it. )

You can take a break from work for one night. You nearly died.

( But he's sure - starting to walk towards the entrance. Although he does shoot Minimus a look over one shoulder. )

Don't make me drag you back to Ratchet.

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He might get to see Minimus' stern and still slightly flustered expression warm slightly if he times that over the shoulder look right. That almost sounded like concern. ]

I'll take it into consideration if you try to stay out of trouble in the meantime.

[tilallisoverused]

( He does, and his own smile softens slightly - but not by much. )

I won't make any promises.

( It's the last thing he manages to get out before the guard at the gate sees him and he's suddenly swarmed by other bots - all asking various questions in panicking voices while Rodimus does his best to calm them down and make his way back inside.

Over the next few days he mostly keeps out of trouble, too busy bothering both Orion and Ratchet to find himself in over his head. There's a goal in mind, however, and even if both of the older bots don't say anything he knows they're wondering what's gotten into him. But he can't just leave things as they are, he has to do something to make up for Minimus getting shot in his stead.

Which is why, a week and a half later, Rodimus finds himself back at the station. This time of his own free will with a fairly large box in his arms. Only Minimus isn't sitting at the front desk and he's not sure how to proceed from there. He's left the cloak back in the Basilica so the mech at the desk is only giving him a confused stare as to why one of the Primelings is there asking for Minimus. )

I don't have an appointment -- I don't need an appointment.

( He's Rodimus, why would he make an appointment?

He also doesn't know how. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ The deputy is at a loss for what to do. It's not as though he can just tell Rodimus (Rodimus of the Primal Lineage) to leave and come back when Minimus is working.

This is not for lack of trying because while it goes against every understanding of the law to defy someone like Rodimus, the deputy is even less likely to defy the strict edict of letting their officers rest on their days off. Finally he gives up and gives Rodimus the address and hopes to Primus that Minimus will be pleased to see him.

For his part, Minimus is asleep. It's been several days since he got a full recharge and he's making up for lost time, curled up on the berth built for a bot twice his size. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( Well he's not going to be asleep for long, not with the way Rodimus is pounding on his door. )

Minimus? Minimus!

( Rodimus is obviously not thinking about what Minimus' neighbors are going to think about the fact that Rodimus is yelling for him in the middle of the day. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ That's a very surreal thing to wake up to. If it wasn't Rodimus' voice, he might not have even bothered getting up, but as it sounded serious and he couldn't imagine what would bring the other bot around to his personal residence, Minimus dragged himself off of the recharge slab and ambled over to the door. ]

Rodimus. What.

[tilallisoverused]

Hey!

( He attempts to look down, but finds that he can't. Minimus is far too tiny for that, and he can't really see around the box he's holding. So he's just going to casually invite himself in, like one does. )

Are you actually taking a day off? I didn't really believe it when they told me at the station.

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He sidesteps, letting Rodimus pass because really what else can he do? He shuts the door and trails after him, his systems rapidly idling now that the first burst of energy is gone. ]

I need to recharge at some point, I can't if there's work to be done. [ Minimus is going to have to rethink that if things like this are going to start happening. He crawls up onto the slightly too big for Minimus couch and leans back. ] What are you even doing here?

[tilallisoverused]

They gave me your address when I told them I needed to see you.

( That's what he's doing there instead of at the station. Rodimus thinks that's explanation enough and stares at Minimus on his slightly too big couch. Which reminds him a few seconds later of the box in his hands. Right.

He places it on the ground, in front of where Minimus is sitting. )

This is yours, and I think that kind of makes us even? Ratchet did some upgrades - he said it should integrate with your system better? Something like that. ( They weren't monosyllabic so Rodimus didn't pay them much attention. ) And he also says that next time you're injured you should just come to him.