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thebrokenmechanicalpencil · 16 days ago

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Canyons, Pt. 2

(Hehehe I did it, probably gonna need a part 3 now, still not on the scene I wanted. This has all been build up for like one moment. I just needed everyone in the right spot. Maybe this isn't a let down at all, I tried. I almost scrapped my original idea but eh. Here we are, enjoy.)

@quibble-auk

Cometeater froze.

His plating hiked and tail snapped as he reared himself to the side as the first shot leapt, the smells washed over him as the soft thunk of the blast hissed past his head, silencer on the nose of the barrel keeping its scream quiet. Comet snarled, catching himself on the entrance of the cave. Fangs drawn, eyes dilating as his head screamed with danger.

He was met with a large dark bot, hunched in the cave-like structure and single eye glowing dangerously. It was wide with fear.

Comet almost sagged, he didn't get time to get far before he was snatched back from the deathly drop behind him. The gladiator moving faster than his large size would give away.

“Damn it Ino, did I hit you?” His voice was gruff and sharp with worry as that icy optic scanned Comet, large hands moving him so Dropmix could find the source of the yellow blood clinging to his hide.

“No-no I’m ok- What are you do-” He was interrupted by rocks crumbling as a white mech scrambled into view, his breaths loud and panting. “I heard a gunshot! I know what you said but,” The mech coated in dirt and grime paused, optics brightening in surprise. “Comet?”

Cometeater laughed a relieved choke, it was rough and dry. His voice scoured from the sand and dust but a laugh all the same. Limp and suddenly brimming with worry, he leaned into the hands holding him. Dropmix still had a firm grip on him, optic narrowing but not cruelly.

“I said to stay put for a reason,” it was a grumble that was closer to warm, but edged with a cool tone that spoke of Dropmix trying to keep himself together. Nerves fraying under his mask of calm, shaken from almost dealing a death blow to his own. Dropmix’s eye snapped back to the small organic in his hold, who smiled up at him. “and you are not fine, you're burnt to slag.” It was a rough growl as Dropmix checked the organic over once more, a solid scowl on his mouth.

“Happens when you wander in the midday sun, what are you doing this close to the front?” Comet winced as he spoke, throat dry from his quiet hours in the cybertronian high noon. Jeopardy, his orange decals faded and dingy quickly joined the larger medic in looking at Comet’s many burns and scorches, frowning in concern.

“These aren't sunburns Comet, primus you hit your head didn’t you?! The armor is cracked, you shouldn’t be out in the field!” His voice was sharp with nerves as he cupped Comet’s still energon stained face and stared wide eyed at the sizable crack in the pretender’s helm. Comet without any cross stitch of dignity pressed into the touch, eyes watering as he did so.

Their scents drowned out the smell of blood and heat, Cometeater relaxed, Dropmix slipping an arm to support him easier as he did so. “Don’t fraggin pass out Cometeater, you're covered in blood.” Rough concern was laced with a tender affection as Dropmix cradled the limp teen to his chest. Jeopardy moved closer with him, optics ticking off the multitude of cracks and burns. Scorches on his friend’s organic armor making a sickening pattern of blacks on the pale soft green.

A low content noise still rumbled in Comet’s chest, making Jeopardy soften even as his hands shook. Dropmix let out a deep chuff in response, tugging the small organic and medic closer to him. His other hand landed softly on Jeopardy, grounding him and providing comfort as Comet curled close to them.

The three sat for a moment, the untold stresses forgotten for just a moment, they were together again.

Comet’s scarf, much like himself was ratty and drenched, but they held him all the same. The absence had hurt all three of them, the worry like a pitted disease in their sparks. But they had him in their arms once more, those long nights and terrified seconds of seeing green armor on the battlefield. Bunched amongst the dead, every flash of gold had Dropmix and Jeopardy close to bolting. Never knowing where their smallest was, did not help their panicked screams when a shadow moved too slickly to be cybertronian.

Dropmix more than once had snatched Jeopardy out of shellfire, because he saw a splash of gold and rushed. Jeopardy himself would never admit it, those painful dark thoughts had been shoved deep. But he had been relieved everytime he found the dead soldiers not to be his dearest friend. Guilt still ate at his spark, clenching his stomach. He should never be thankful for another’s suffering, or death.

But he had been so overwhelmed with joy, that shaky sobbed joy that his worst fears were not true.

The youngest medic cradled his burnt wounded friend close, yes he was hurt and in pain. Worse for wear, but alive.

Not some body in a ditch for them to never find.

The gladiator above them, holding them both in strong armor clad arms, chuffed as Cometeater snuggled close. Dropmix, as he had so many times, anchored them as the younger creatures caught their thudding hearts and footing.

Eventually, Comet, ignoring the warm tears sliding down his cheeks, rubbed a bloody hand across his face and sniffed. Jeopardy caught the hand and let out a worried whirr at the sight of mangled flesh and claws. His own dull hands cradling the wounded paw, “Oh Comet, primus what happened to you?” His voice was chalky with worry, the absolute need to fix.

Cometeater was never one to explain his wounds, an old bone deep habit, chirped and bucked his striped helm under the other’s chin. “Nothin Jep, ‘m good.”

Dropmix releases a noise, a cross between a possessive growl and an annoyed grumble. Jeopardy let out an affronted string of clicks as he caught Comet’s other paw, which was just as shredded and abused.

“Let me- Nope let me see, you have dirt all in this.” His voice hit a kilter of medical professionalism, one he pulled out when trying to keep his stable ground. “You need to sit down, let me work on this. Primus Comet I can see your bones.”

The gladiator above them however had no want to release either of them here, he led what was his with a solid hand to their backs. “Before you pin him down Junior, lets get somewhere a bit safer.” Cometeater leaned into the rough knuckles that pressed comfortingly into his shoulders. It was a touch he had missed so badly. Dropmix noticed it with a tender chuff, letting his thumb trace a comforting circle.

Jeopardy nodded in agreement as his optics glanced back toward the entrance in which Comet had entered, nerves shining in the glass. Dropmix pressed him further, ushering them deeper into the tunnel.

Cometeater tiredly surveyed the rather large cave, Dropmix only having to lower his head slightly as they went. “Is this place some sort of safe house? I noticed it on my way in, the path got wider.”

Jeopardy, who had one of Comet’s injured hands still in his as they were herded deeper, glanced back up at Dropmix curiously.

Optic flashing, pistol within reach and searching every nook of the cave with every step, the midnight towering mech huffed and nodded. “Old places for medics to stowaway their patients, it's listed for all the caravan heads who make their way through the area. It's old as slag,” They passed a wider gaping mouth leading deeper into the canyon face, Jeopardy let out a nervous click at the sight of it. His lights clicked on, as Dropmix prodded him forward. Keeping the two youngsters firmly in front.

“But well hidden.”

Soon they reached a slight widening of the cave path, almost dome like. Comet stumbled then, his tired limbs begging to be given respite. Both medics snapped forward, the stumble hardly a bad step before their hands steadied him.

“Ok no more walking.” Jeopardy without a hint of hesitance slipped his small friend into his arms, while Dropmix perked back up to look around the dome.

Jeopardy settled Comet with as much gentleness as possible against one of the walls, said organic was still too giddy to be seeing the medic to even complain. The soft green male moved so he was closer, grinning brightly, Jeopardy returned the smile though it was shaky. Comet coated in blood and dust, was just as worrying with or without the fanged smile.

The medic tried to ignore the energon sticking to his friend’s mouth and jaw, no fear entered his mind, but the mental image was not pleasant. Dropmix’s optic scanned over them as he loomed, having returned from a round of the room. Cometeater gave him a soft smile, eyes lighting up. Dropmix only chuffed softly, lips twitching. “Happy fragger.” A blue bag plopped from his thick hands onto Jeopardy’s lap, “Make sure to disinfect those cracks in his shell Jeopardy..” His voice was even as he spoke, Jep nodding as that cold lit gaze swept over them fondly. Before Dropmix wandered off once more.

Comet eyed the bag, “Special something in there?” Jeopardy rolled his optics slightly, a fondness in the movement. Opening the bag he spoke almost bashfully, “Dropmix and I have tried to keep a medical kit for you with us, while we were out. Just in case.”

“Awe I get my own cute blue bag.” Touched, Comet tried to make himself sound teasing, though his eyes burned at the thought of them worrying for him. He tried another smile but it didn’t get far.

His past few weeks were catching up to him. Bone deep exhaustion was nibbling at his already smudged mind. Dropmix glanced back at the slightly odd tone, optic catching every labored movement and twitch. He frowned at the shine in the organic’s eyes.

Jeopardy noticed as well, optics locking onto the slight tremble of his voice and limbs. They widened at the glaze of tears.

“Yeah, couldn’t..not.” His own voice clicked, the sight of his friend so exhausted and hurt putting a lump in his throat. It never got easier, seeing him like this. Dropmix waited silently, standing guard to see how the older teen handled himself.

With well placed tenderness Jeopardy unpacked the bag and gestured for Comet’s torn hands. “Lemme see your hands, just hold still, this will sting.”

Jeopardy got to work with practiced movements, his medical coolness cinching the greife sharply in his throat. Cometeater did as he was told, leaning his back to rest on the cool wall.

Dropmix meandered through the hollow in the canyon’s cave walls, hand firmly on his pistol as he went. Comet watched with keen eyes as the mech inspected the entrance they had come from, searching for danger with every step and flick of that cold optic.

“Are you going to answer me?” Jep looked up from where he now worked on Comet’s helm, the needed medical supplies for the organic in Comet’s lap. “What?”

“Why are you and Dropmix so far from the outpost? This is way south of the front anway.”

His voice was concerned, but the organic’s eyes took on a protective tone. Wet and pitch between the gold irises, they flicked to where Dropmix watched his sons carefully. That blue optic catching him, snagging the deep gnawing worry before Comet avoided the gaze. A black pustule worry.

“We were called from the other front when most of the medics on the southern battles were summoned farther north, they had suffered heavy casualties. We came to help the aid stations who would be sending off wounded there, or going farther north. Emergency surgeries because they...Comet?”

Dropmix narrowed that cold eye, watching as the pretender frowned. His mouth in a cold set, blocking off what he did not want to float to the surface. Then he smiled, tail flicking with distress. “You shouldn’t go any farther north to assist..It's a death trap.”

Jeopardy froze and stared at his friend, slowly clenching his fists. “..What why not?” Dropmix said not a word as he struggled for a moment to read the organic, past his mask of ease.

“Its not a good idea. Thats all. I can’t tell you, but it would be better if you didn’t.” His tone was like steel, hard and cold. Not enough to hurt, enough to press and leave a mark. Cometeater couldn’t say why he didn’t want the last of his family wandering that far back to the blood bath. The plan might have been delayed, or have even more layers than he knew of. High ranking targets were among those forces Comet burned out of the dead city.

Jazz wanted that army dead.

Cometeater wasn’t going to lose his heart again. Not when it had almost killed him before.

Dropmix let out a low growl, one of thought and dislike. His optic flashed and locked with Comet’s. Like a hard grip that cold eye held his own, not painful, but protective and prying. Cometeater couldn't bear to lower his gaze this time, and allowed his claws to clench and tail to flick showing his anxiety.

Dropmix tilted his helm, as Jeopardy murmured worriedly not knowing or understanding the silent conversation. Cool and edging on anger the eye narrowed.

Comet’s response to the tilt was a twitch, his left claw tapping an affirmative. He was given a frown, one that spoke of distaste and disgust, but not directed at the organic. No, Dropmix slunk forward in answer to Comet’s anxious frown as Jeopardy continued to mumble about why it wouldn’t be right for them to just ignore the summons.

“We were called because people could be getting hurt, it's our job to help them! We can't, we can't just ignore it because it's dangerous..”

Dropmix loomed now, in that comforting way he always seemed to. He landed on the rock ground beside them with a puff and a creak, which had Jeopardy’s overall and atmospheric concern doubling.

The gladiator gave a soft noise to defend against the worry, a titan in comparison to the youngest of the three, who watched his guardian with a slight hope in his chest.

“Right Dropmix? We can't just abandon them!” Dropmix glanced over the wounds now bandaged and sewn on the organic beside him as Jeopardy watched anxiously. Wherever Comet had come from hadn’t been safe, not that it ever is. Dropmix blinked and allowed the wash of music to drown his rage once more.

“It would be better if we tried to get back to the outpost, or find an aid station farther back. Going to the front to get ourselves blown to bits won't save anyone,” Dropmix caught the slight downturn of Comet’s practiced resting face, and moved a large hand to gently pull him to his side, “large batches of wounded will need more than quick fixes that they get at the front, it's no use if no one is at the aid stations or operating rooms to receive them.” Metered in a gentle grounded tone reserved for those in that cave alone, the statement rang and bounced in the cool air.

Jeopardy being the only creature in that cave with more heart, gawked. “ If the higher ups sent for us that means they need us, that means- Jep please.”

The younger medic paused at the murmur, his protective instincts clicking onto the broken scratchy voice of the younger teen. Comet had curled into Dropmix’s side, one of the gladiator’s large arms supporting the exhausted organic.

Dropmix glanced down, shifting so Comet would lean into him more, maybe coax him to relax. The stiffness in his green frame was obvious and painful to them all.

Jeopardy caught the steel in his friend’s eyes, the worry. Deep within those pools of pitch sat that twinge of pain he had seen for years now. That fear of loss. It was stitched into Comet’s muscles and branded into his bones, Jeopardy had seen the fear go away for a while. Peter out and be replaced by a trust that warmed him to his core.

But it would rear its head again and again. Now Comet looked at him as though he was willing to drag him back away from the frontlines, that fear forged by gas leaks and burning cargo planes.

Jep leaned back with a click, his guilt at the very idea making him tap the thin plating of his thighs in thought. He could save so many, he knows he could. What was the point of being what he was if he didn’t help them? Innocent mechs would die, yet he hesitated to argue.

Beyond the fear in Comet’s face was a knowing look, haunted and tired. He knew what would hit those forces. Comet himself, from the way those bandaged claws clenched, had probably played a part in it.

Cometeater saw the moment it clicked, those wet eyes lowered to stare down at his hands.

Which made something in Jeopardy twist.

Choices like this he didn't like making, ever. Then the idea of Comet, sweet grinning Cometeater, being a cog in a blood bath made him wince. He knew he was, he knew Comet was violent and vicious by nature. But it didn’t hurt him any less.

The idea of hurting Comet by going to that front though, stung more.

Dropmix didn’t try to smooth the emotions with a well oiled smile, he instead offered his other arm without much thought. The mech also held Cometeater closer, forcing him to catch his eye once more. Jeopardy still flooded with a strange cocktail of worry and guilt slid to tuck himself into the heavily armored mech’s side.

Baby blue optics glanced at Comet, at the ratcheted fear and slumped guilt. He reached a hand and gently took Cometeater’s, across Dropmix’s chest he offered a tender reassurance that he loved him. He was there, all the same.

Cometeater squeezed his hand and rested his face on their guardian’s chest, eyes glimmering with soft apologies.

Jeopardy softened and ran a thumb along the bandages, mind turning the injuries over and over again. The cracked helm, deep burns and tear stains. Dropmix moved to gently cradle Comet’s injured head, supporting the smaller and subtly easing the tension. Cometeater melted into the touches and his eyes flickered with exhaustion.

The sight of his friend in such a state had Jeopardy whirring quietly, the very notion of heading back towards the front now the last thing the medic wanted to do. Jeopardy needed to get Comet somewhere safe. Within the smaller medic something steeled, it clicked and hung.

His internal comms clicked as Dropmix guided Jeopardy’s helm to rest on his shoulder.

: How bad was his head?

Jeopardy winced and cuddled closer, allowing himself to be cradled.

: He has a concussion, that outer shell is cracked and he’s lucky to not have an infection by now. That and all his other lacerations.

He kept his tone neutral, or tried to. Dropmix stayed silent, glancing around the cave once more for threats before looking down at the now sleeping Cometeater.

:Comet doesn't need to be out on the field Jeopardy, he will never say it. But he can’t stand more heat like this.

It wasn't an accusation, or a belittling of Jeopardy’s intelligence. A push at most. Dropmix working on not just carrying his two charges back to safety, giving Jeopardy the illusion of choice even. Though snakey, he was right.

:I know…. How big of a part do you..Think he played? Those casualty counts were massive.

Dropmix shifted to listen for a moment, before shrugging. Feigning calm when within his anger had begun to boil at the mention of Comet’s dangerous flesh burning trade.

: Who knows, it was big enough that his whole fragging body got singed.

Dropmix clenched his jaw tightly at the thought, his blunt teeth grinding.

Jeopardy frowned and sighed, his large hand still holding Comet’s.

:We are going back towards home aren't we?

Dropmix dropped his gaze down at the younger dirt coated medic, and nodded. A slow nod dripping with beaten down rage.

:Go to sleep Jeopardy, I’ll take care of it.

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