A laugh amongst the tears (Drift X Rodimus X Ratchet Fluff)
Rodion, the Decepticons, the energon on his servos, the screams, the pain, the hunger,... All the wounds seemed to open that night, and bleed. He thought that it was the punishment for his crimes, that he deserves it, but still, it stings. Tourments him. Haunts him. Hurts him.
Lying on his recharge slab, unable to find some quiet and peace to offline his optics, he thinks. Did he really change ? Does Deadlock remain in the past ? Or was he still here, in a different paint job ?
He looks at his servos. His modified digits, abandoning his claws for normal ones, were clean. They work pretty well even. Agile, flexible and useful. A representation of the character he tries to become. For the best of course. For the better. For the good. He hoped his crewmate saw him like that.
His spark spins slower in his chest, his brain module working more and more quietly. But the pain remains the same.
[HUD : CALL FROM RATCHET. DECLINE/ACCEPT(?)]
Ratchet :: Drift ? Are you alright?
Drift :: yes, thank you. Why the sudden call ? What's wrong? Do you need my help?
Ratchet :: no, no need for help. I simply wanted to check on you, kid. You seemed off today. I swear, if you're hiding some condition I will-
Drift :: no no, I'm fine really! I, hum... I'm fine.
Ratchet :: ... Drift, you're talking to me. I can hear something's not right.
[HUD : RODIMUS SENDS ::{Drift ? You wanna come to my habsuit ? We can play games if you want, I can feel in my spark you just need that}]
Drift smiled. Of course those two.
Drift :: Ratch', I'm okay.
Ratchet :: yeah, and I'm coming to kick your aft for you to spell the truth. Don't you dare flee to Rodimus's habsuit.
He gets up from his slab, takes his swords and runs to Rodimus, in the quiet of the night shift, in these emptied hallways.
[HUD : DRIFT RESPONDS :: {I would like to, actually. Thanks Roddy, I'm coming.}]
Walking in the ship during the night cycle was calming. No lights, no noise, and nobody to disturb the peace. The view from the windows is more appreciated, stars smiling, the multiple coloured dust clouds dancing and the void absorbing him. He wonders where Cybertron could be, in the immensity of space. Where is the place he once called home, even if it almost became his grave. Where is that one clinic where he saw hope, even if it was a lie. Where is his planet ?
Looking outside the ship was like watching his own life leaving his frame to play before his optics. He could see himself in Rodion, in Decepticons territory, in the circle of light, and by the Autobots. He could try and imagine his life if he stayed by Ratchet's side after he repaired him, if he became an Autobot from the beginning. No Deadlock, no nasty looks, no rumors, no more fight to prove himself worthy of a new start.
Drift simply wanted to live. And for that, he had been ready to do anything for it.
The slumber of sadness came back, and he didn't know if he should join Roddy for game night. Rodimus is a Prime, and sure he miraculously became Amica Endura with him, and was grateful for all the good it brought him, but in comparison, Drift was an ex-assassin/ ex-addict that never did real good. Just a stray that lost his way a long time ago.
But now, Drift really wants to do the good. Drift turned himself to spectralism, to Primus, and he was sure he was on the path of redemption towards the Balance of Life. He was going to be good. Better. He was going to help others, and hopefully, he was gonna help himself. After all, he is special.
Ratchet's words never left him. Ratchet never left his thoughts. Ratchet was his reason to be alive.
Drift jumps out of his armor, when he spots Ratchet behind him in the corridor. Drift runs, and for the first time in a while, Drift laughs. A real laugh, that makes his spark beats with less tourments. Maybe this time, Ratchet was going to chew him.
"DRIFT COME BACK HERE! I FORBID YOU TO GO TO RODIMUS!"
In Rodimus's side of habsuits, the speedster was already awaiting after him by the door.
"Dude, what could you have possibly done to make RATCHET RUN?" Laugh Rodimus, welcoming him in his habsuit in a hurry.
"Didn't follow his directions, heh. Now hide me before he finds me!"
The two Amica explode in laughter, shushing each other and finding a spot to hide Drift. Ratchet's pede steps could be heard louder and louder every seconds.
Once Drift is poorly hidden in Rodimus's storage closet, fully stored with unfinished datapads, empty energon cubes, some trinkets and more personal belongings, Rodimus waits by his door. And right this moment, Ratchet bombarded his door.
"RODIMUS I SWEAR TO ALL THE DATAPADS YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THAT IF YOU DON'T OPEN THAT DAMN DOOR, I'M GONNA TEAR YOU TO PIECES!"
"What's wrong doc'? Why the warm warning?" Asks innocently Rodimus, opening his door.
"I know Drift is in there! Let me in and I won't screw you up next time you come unannounced in my medbay because you AGAIN shove something up your aft."
"woa woa woaa, the threats already ! Primus, Ratch', I didn't know you had such a naughty vocabulary."
Ratchet doesn't answer and enters, looking everywhere. And soon enough, he drags both speedsters by the audio receptor to the sofa and scolds them both for being two idiots, that he wonders how they survived with two sticks and some tapes for brain module and why don't they just act normally. The two Amica keep silent, but the moment they make optic contact, it is done for them. They explode in laughter again, rolling to the floor, holding their tank, not able to even speak. Rodimus hits his head on the sofa and even Ratchet couldn't contain his smile. Yeah, they were two idiots, but it's his two idiots.
Once they all calmed down, they all settled down on the sofa and enjoyed each other's company. Rodimus took his fuzzy blanket Drift likes very much, and all three of them snuggled in.
Drift is in the middle, Rodimus and Ratchet cuddled against him. Everything was warm. Joyful. His worries shut down. He felt good.
Drift has known hunger, blood thirst, death, drug addiction, self-harming and so much more. Drift has suffered throughout his life and maybe, just maybe, he deserved some of that for falling deep into a lie. He had to fight to survive. He lost battles, against others or just within himself, but not the war. Drift still has a good time ahead of him before Primus would welcome him by his side, and he was determined to make the better good out of it. Because now, he knows friendship, happiness, satiation, life, and love. He will never forget the most important people of his life that died, evil or kind, but he will always make more room for new friends, and have his chosen family in his spark forever.
Drift simply wanted to live. And for that, he had been ready to do anything for it.
