Shattered Glass Tarn

Flywheels fled down a woodland path, glad for the density of the trees, and finally dove into a fairly huge bush. Clambering into the very centre, leaves and twigs pricking at his armour, the scavenger tried to settle down and catch his vent. There was now a reassuringly large distance between him and the Helex that had spotted him. That one was certainly not his friend.

But the flier was almost certain that the path was too small and the wood too thick for the titan to easily get through. Even if that version of the DJD knew his location, the triple-changer thought he was safe for the moment. He just had to make a plan to get off the planet, maybe see if he could leave this universe altogether…

After a few deep breaths, the flier peered out, servos parting a small hole in the bush…

A large, dark figure stood over him, and Flywheels thought he felt his spark stop.

The figure got out of the triple-changer’s line of sight as it walked behind a big tree. A long moment of suspense followed as the pede-steps stopped. The birds and other fauna became silent all of a sudden. Was the mech still there? Where did he go?

Unexpectedly, a large servo fell upon Flywheel’s shoulder, at the same time that a velvety, unmistakable voice spoke his name.

The medic opened his mouth, as though to protest, but words wouldn’t come out. What if… what if the nightmares came back? What if he panicked in his sleep and injured Tarn? Worry began to creep back into his EM field and his wings twitched nervously. But the dark circles under his dimmed, glossy optics were not exaggerating his fatigue. His HUD was actually giving him low energy warnings, and his vision growing dark at the sides. Still, he stubbornly attempted to cling onto consciousness./ B-but… 

/He trailed off into a wheezy yawn. Pharma’s mind wanted to stay awake more than anything else but his body had other ideas. His EM field reacted to Tarn’s, sending a soothing signal to his processor. 

You’ll be protected… He won’t leave. 

“Recharge.” The phase-sixer ordered softly one last time when Pharma attempted a half-sparked protest. One of his big, warm servos came to rest on the flyer’s back, rubbing slow circles with a thumb as Pharma finally relented, curling against his side.

/Pharma wordlessly buried his face in the tank’s chestplate, small, hiccuping sobs still escaping his vents. His EM field was a wild mess of emotions, and his frame felt hot and achy from all the strain he’d put on it. His shoulder was especially still sore, but he wasn’t about to point that out. The gentle embrace of his friend was more than enough distraction.

Tarn’s voice was soft, and reassuring. Pharma had detected a hint of anger in his EM field, but it disappeared quickly. The tank was likely angry that Pharma had kept all these harmful thoughts and emotions trapped inside of him instead of seeking help./ I… I didn’t think I deserved to be helped… Thought I should keep these things to myself, so no one else shared my pain. /He mumbled, not moving from his position curled up in the phase-sixer’s lap./ … I’m sorry. I can’t exactly be of any help as a medic if I, myself am suffering.

… thank you. /Pharma looked up at Tarn again this time, making sure the tank could hear him. His wings twitched a little, and his EM field began to calm down. This was okay… he was going to be okay. After a moment, the medi-jet returned to his previous position with his head tucked into Tarn’s chest. Were all phase-sixers this comfortable?/

Pharma’s words came out muffled against Tarn’s chest, and the tank had to pay close attention to hear him. “Pharma, we are a team. You don’t have to be alone, ever again.” He replied, gently caressing the flier’s back.

“Things will improve. I promise.” Tarn added solemnly, meeting Pharma’s optics when the jet lifted his gaze momentarily. He shifted a bit, getting more comfortable on the berth, one arm firmly wrapped around the smaller mech to keep him tucked against him. Had Pharma voiced aloud his thoughts, Tarn would have had to agree. There had to be a reason people tended to gravitate towards him after all. Perhaps it had to be with the big and warm factors.

/In the aftermath of the battle with those creatures, he’d slipped away before the dust cleared. Suddenly, like a wave crashing into him, he filled with guilt and remorse. Not only for leaving, but for everything. Everything he’d done. All the lives he’d taken. All that time he’d spent believing that what he was doing was right. All that energon on his servos. The medic’s EM field clamped tight around him again, and his venting restricted in a desperate attempt to keep his dignity and not cry again. That attempt failed miserably./ 

On one servo, Tarn was upset that Pharma had been keeping that huge amount of harmful and self-destructive thoughts inside him during such a long time. On the other servo, he was glad the medic had finally decided to let them out. That was the first step towards recovery.

“Oh..that was.. haha.”

He burst out laughing at the memory of how a broken elevator had led to an amazing frag. The other memory of how it had also almost broken their friendship nearly sobered him, but as he saw Tarn was clearly over it, he felt safe lightly slapping his side.

“Can’t say that one wasn’t good! Not gonna repeat it, but that was good!”