#es knockout

(This AU has been discontinued; I apologize for any inconvenience.)

Earthspark Knockout is just a portable backhoe passenger princess wrecker!! He was freed from captivity and returned to his favorite little racer (Breakdown), how romantic~

[this continues from this post]

Jumped on the trend with my interpretation of ES! Knockout!

~original below cut~

you lost, bumblebee.

Sitting together in the Decepticon base, Knockout and Breakdown watched the dark, star-studded sky in a calming silence. The rest of the team have gone off to patrol or recharge, and Aftermath was playing with Spitfire, leaving the couple alone together for the first time in a while.

Breakdown lounged on the ground arms folded behind his helmet as Knockout sat beside him, using a small cloth to wipe away at some muddy substances on his frame…

“Breakdown, dear, may I ask you a question?”

Breakdown’s optics opened and he glanced up at his partner, a puzzled look on his face, “Uh, yeah, sure. What’s up?”

There was a pause before Knockout would reply, his golden optics oddly focused on the cloth towel in his claws.

“Do you love me or am I just familiar?”

That made Breakdown sit up. “Where is this coming from?”

“Answer the question, please.” Knockout’s optics shifted toward Breakdown, completely unreadable.

Breakdown’s lips parted, servos clenching and relaxing, “… I love you, K.O. What’s going on?”

Knockout’s optics lowered to his towel, seeing that the spots were all cleaned off. Carefully, as if trying to keep his composure, the wrecker sets aside the cloth and takes a deep breath.

“I had a run-in with that yellow bot, Bumblebee, the other day. When I was with Soundwave’s cassettes.”

Breakdown didn’t like where this was going.

“He asked about you.” Knockout continued, his claws becoming very interesting all of a sudden, “Wondered if you were alright and when you would be available for a race.”

“I told him I didn’t want to be with him!” Breakdown cut through the air, his voice a bit louder than usual. “He shouldn’t be asking you about me, or anyone. He needs to focus on his Autobot self—“

“After I was declared dead, you fell in love with him. That is the truth, isn’t it?”

Breakdown gawked at Knockout. How- why- what—

“You fell in love and you both helped each other through the war. The only reason you two were never official was because of your factions. I am telling the truth, correct?”

Knockout didn’t even sound upset.

“Bumblebee misses you, Breakdown. You didn’t break up properly, huh? He claims I took you from him.”

“You didn’t—“

“I know I didn’t. But do you understand what you have done?”

Knockout grunted as he pushed himself to his feet, the creaking and low groans of his backhoe echoing in the air.

“I am going to make an educated guess.” The wrecker stared down at Breakdown, who bore wide optics and an expression mixed between frustration and… fear.

“You and Bumblebee were going to officially become conjunx, hm? The war was over, humans were out of your oil-tanks, and there’s new life. You were, weren’t you?” Knockout rose a servo, resting his chin on his palm, his other arm crossed under. “But you found me before that. You found me, your old partner, and were so happy to continue where we left off.”

Knockout paused, letting his optics glance upward to the sky— the starry black sky.

“You left him behind for me, Breakdown.”

Breakdown tried to interject, “It wasn’t that serious, Knockout—“

“For Primus’ spark it wasn’t that serious!” Knockout whipped around, pointing a claw right at the racer, who flinched.

“You don’t get to play with feelings! Breakdown, I was dead. I would have understood that you fell in love with another. I would have supported you! War fragging sucks and I would have wanted you to be happy after I left!”

Knockout shuddered as he tried to recompose himself, his servos moving to cover his face.

“But you chose to do this.” Knockout turned an away, his back-hoe lowering before the claw hit the ground, “You chose this path and now I’m the bad guy. Whether you wanted it or not, I am the evil one in this situation. I am the one who took away a partner’s conjunx and kept him to myself!”

“Knockout—“ “Shut the frag up, Breakdown!”

Knockout forced his servos to stay at his sides, “I’m going to take Aftermath and Spitfire out of the base. You can do whatever you want, but for Primus’ sake I hope you reach out to Bumblebee and fix this slag. I don’t want anything to do with it anymore.”

they live in my head rent free.... i loved the idea of dad breakdown and was very VERY upset it never got utilized so i'm making this a thing to heal my childcare teacher heart..

Knockout, to some other bot or human: I love my son <3 he's so passionate about what he loves to do, it makes me so happy! He takes after his dad and I so well!

Other person: *is imagining a stereotypical straight A student-*

Knockout: *is actually referring to Aftermath, who is currently being trained by Breakdown, who is getting the shit beat out of him-*

close-ups for better readability below cut

just to be safe, uh, full 18+ image below cut..... minors pls don't interact...