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

[tilallisoverused]

( Maybe a little. )

Just because I care doesn't mean I'm going to start giving lectures. ( Theatrical shudder, just for Minimus. ) It was an order from your future prime. If it was anything.

( He's absolutely not noticing that he admitted to caring. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ that sends a warm flutter through him, which. Is something he may have to examine later. For now he hums softly, expression warming again. ]

Understood. [ and that's really all he can get out before his overtaxed system has had enough and he slips into recharge. ]

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( Rodimus spends half of the time Minimus is out poking at his shelves again, because he is insufferable and a brat. But even that gets boring, and eventually he just settles on the floor next to the couch - flicking through a few datapads and finding them so completely boring that he actually falls asleep.

Good luck with this one, Minimus. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ His system keeps him out for a while and waking up isn't the most fun thing. He'll need a few more hours before he's at a full charge and he intends to spend those in a proper berth.

Minimus pushes himself upright, a little disoriented from the forced shutdown. He's not sure what to do when his eyes finally land on Rodimus, asleep on his floor, except lean over and gently nudge his shoulder. ]

Rodimus? Rodimus, wake up.

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( Rodimus makes a sleepy motion to wave away Minimus' hand, throwing his other arm over his optics in order to try and pretend that someone isn't trying to wake him up.

When he opens his mouth to respond, it's an incomprehensible garble. Hn. Let him try that again. )

Morning?

[thesurpriseinside]

[ That would be almost endearing if Minimus let himself consider it a moment. As it is, he pats the arm covering Rodimus' face gently. ]

Nearly. Why are you sleeping on my floor?

[tilallisoverused]

Fell asleep reading. ( He holds up one of the datapads, and then raises his arm to peer at Minimus from underneath it. ) I can't believe this is what you read for fun.

( Laws. So many datapads full of laws that Rodimus thought he'd start rusting before he fell asleep. He did, in his casual nosing about the apartment, realize that Minimus has a lot of music which is weird but also something he's saving to spring on the bot later.

Because really. Music? )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He frowns at the realization that yes, he did let Rodimus have free reign of his apartment, but since a quick glance suggests he hadn't managed to break anything, Minimus doesn't mention it. ]

I don't read them for fun, Rodimus, I study them.

[ Which he enjoys, but still ] It's important to have an accurate recall and complete understanding of the laws I am upholding.

[tilallisoverused]

( He's invasive, not accident prone. )

That sounds boring. ( Wait. ) No, it is boring.

( Do you just not know how to have fun, Minimus? )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He's going to get a little huffy at that. ]

It's not boring.

[tilallisoverused]

No one reads laws in their free time, Minimus. Even officers of the law.

( He knows this because Orion doesn't. Except he thinks Orion reads police reports, and Rodimus can't tell what's worse. )

[thesurpriseinside]

Well, I read them.

[ So there. He realizes how childish he sounds a little belatedly, not at all helped by his moody slump back down onto the couch. Wasn't he supposed to be going to his proper bed? ]

[tilallisoverused]

Well, yeah. You're just ( He waves an arm in Minimus' general direction. ) you.

( As if being Minimus gets him his own special category. )

[thesurpriseinside]

Dubious praise at best.

[ He exvents and pushes himself up. ]

I still need a few more hours of rest and I'd like the get them in an actual berth. [ He looks at Rodimus. ] You're welcome to use the couch if you're going to insist on staying.

[tilallisoverused]

Yep.

( This is him, pushing himself up and onto the couch. Which is probably a perfect size for Minimus but on the small side for Rodimus. Not that he cares, he'll just wait for the other bot to fully vacate the piece of furniture to stretch out fully. )

See you in a few hours.

( Before he... leaves and doesn't see him again. That's the plan, anyway. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ he hesitates a moment, tempted to say something else, but he refrains, settling his hand briefly on Rodimus' shoulder. ]

Sleep well, Rodimus. [ And that's a bit sentimental, so he escapes to the safety of his room and berth.]

[tilallisoverused]

( He opens his mouth to respond, but Minimus is already gone. So instead he just stares after the other bot for a moment or two before leaning back on the couch. Falling asleep doesn't present much of a problem, even if he thinks this is the most he's slept in a while.

When he wakes up and Minimus isn't anywhere he blissfully ignores any part of him that might be disappointed. Because that would be stupid and pointless and why would he feel like that? )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ Minimus wakes up the way he always does after a proper and full recharge, fully prepared to dive headfirst back into work. Even more so now that he can feel the improvements made on the armor, how right it feels to be back in it.

He hesitates when he finds Rodimus asleep on his couch, considers waking him and then rejects the idea. He's not certain how much rest someone in the Primal Lineage gets, but he's feeling charitable after his own rest. He leaves an energon cube and a note on the side table, careful to stay quiet as he leaves. ]

Rodimus

Refuel properly before you leave, be sure to lock the door properly. My personal contact number is listed below, inform me ahead of time the next time you intend to stop by.

Minimus

[tilallisoverused]

( Everything about the note screams Minimus at him once he's found it, reading it over while munching on the energon cube. Honestly, be sure to lock the door properly? He writes down the number in his own list of personal contacts before he leaves - locking the door behind him.

It's at least a month before Rodimus calls - kept busy with Nova's new regimen and getting into trouble in places that aren't where Minimus patrols. But he's finally got a free moment and he realizes that he hasn't seen the other bot in what feels like forever. Which means the moment he's outside of the Basilica he's calling up the minibot. )

Minimus! I know you're working because you're never not working, but I'll see you shortly.

( He doesn't even wait for an answer, just hangs up before transforming and driving the remainder of the way to the station - brushing past the front desk to where he remembers Minimus' office being. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ His life isn't any quieter for the lack of Rodimus, because honestly things are rarely ever quiet in Minimus' sector. Still he. Notices the lack of him. Which is an odd feeling and one he chooses not to examine. The Primeling was loud, obnoxious and a trouble maker, but Minimus had to acknowledge that the effect of his personality was powerful.

If he applied himself to his work, he'd be a Prime to reckon with in time.

The call was a surprise, the delivery of it wasn't and Minimus had a frown ready and waiting for Rodimus when he strolled into his office. ]

What is it.

[tilallisoverused]

"Hi, long time no see," to you too, Minimus. ( But it's said with a grin as he throws himself into a chair as if he belonged there. ) If I knew I needed a reason to stop by I wouldn't have come.

( Don't mind Rodimus, he's going to be putting his feet up on the other chair, leaning back. It's okay, he knows you missed him. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He's still suspicious, but he relaxes slightly when Rodimus continues to be in his office and no disaster immediately presents itself. ]

Well, our relationship up to this point hasn't been the most peaceful. [ He folds his hands and leans against his elbows, studying Rodimus. ] But it has been a while. I'm glad to see you've been staying out of trouble.

[ At least in his sector. ]

[tilallisoverused]

Last time wasn't so bad. ( At least as as far as he knew. As for why he hasn't been around: ) Prime stuff. Nova's thinking of sending me off planet for a bit, something about 'making sure our colonies understand the value and importance of continued Cybertron rule and tradition'.

( He's actually excited - there's a thrilled smile threatening to break out over his face - it means doing something different than what he's used to. And sure, Cyclonus had been assigned to him as a bodyguard, but Rodimus could live with that.

No comment on the staying out of trouble. )

[thesurpriseinside]

Comparatively, yes. [ But the armor still fits him better than ever before, so he does soften a little for that. ] Last time was nice.

[ He sees that smile lurking and he's worried. Of course he's worried, who wouldn't be in his position. ] I see... And you're taking your role in that seriously.

[tilallisoverused]

Are you kidding? I get to go off planet for the first time!

( That's a 'no'. )