themainframe | 004

[Oh hey, look, it's Wheeljack. And for once, he's not eating. Actually, he's sitting in his apartment, on the couch near the coffee table, working on...something. From the looks of it, it's an empty plastic bottle, some scraps of wire, batteries, and other knick knacks. In his teeth is a knife, probably taken from the kitchen, occasionally removing it as he needs it. What's even more strange is You can't be anywhere to be seen. Her usual spot of on his shoulder seems to be empty today.

He slowly starts piecing this mess together carefully, when a small whine is heard from under the couch.]

Do you HAVE to do this?

[With a roll of his eyes, he looks down at the ground, where You was obviously hiding underneath.]

I ain't sittin' around next time while you take all the heat. I want in on the action.

But a GRENADE? You know only I can hurt them!

[He pauses a minute, to look over his work again, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He doesn't exactly pay You his full attention, but he doesn't ignore her either.]

It's a flash grenade. Doesn't do damage, but distracts. Figured you could use it. And next time, we'll be ready when anything attacks us.

You're going to hurt yourself.

You, I've done this for centuries. I know what I'm doin-

[And just then, the grenade seems to almost -spark-. Wheeljack, please don't blow the place up. Your roommates need to live SOMEWHERE.]

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[She can do this all day, Wheeljack. Better listen to your Digimon.]

[Yeah well so can he. That stare goes on for an awkward couple of minutes, eyes narrowing slightly.

...But Arcee isn't caving. Most really would have by now. Even Ratchet would have just told him to not make a mess if he exploded.]

...

Fine.

[Leaving the door momentarily, he heads over to the coffee table, picking it up.]

[There's a small sigh of relief when Wheeljack finally says that, an almost tired look on her face as she watches him go grab the grenade. Yes, tired. It may have been just a few minutes, but that was more emotionally draining than he'll ever know.]

Thank you.

[As he's retrieving it, he snatches up the knife too, placing the blade under the wires and severing them. Now at least, if he gave it to her, it wouldn't blow in her face. It was as good as dead.]

Here.

[He places it in her hand, looking a bit out of sorts from it, but not overly angry.]

Arcee, you're the best. Really.

[Arcee gives a small smile at You as she takes the grenade from Wheeljack, looking back up at him with a stern look. Not actually angry, however. Just...stern.]

Look, I got nothing against grenades, but I don't think the apartment is a good place to play with them. Come on, we'll go find an open place in the city and you can continue doing your thing.

[She really hopes he didn't break it...]

But I have to be there. The whole time. Until I know it's finished and stable.

[And in turn, You gives a smile back. It's like a huge relief was lifted from her tiny shoulders. The last thing she wanted was the apartment to catch on fire.

Wheeljack on the other hand, just tried to avoid that stern gaze. He's gotten it way too many times in his life. Best to not even address it.]

...

[But then his head turns, a surprised look on his face. You'd think you just smacked him or something. Arcee...didn't mind the grenade? Granted, he could have picked a better place to toy with them, but still. Slight indifference was better than a scolding.

And thankfully, not broken, just inactive. He'd need to replace the wires, but it was much safer than carrying a bomb all the way out into the city.]

...Wait, really?

Edited 2013-07-08 01:39 (UTC)

[Same, You. Same.

Arcee's turn to be surprised now. What? Did she look like some kind of liar? She got the Crest of Sincerity, come on.]

Yes. Really.

[Oh. Look at that. Is that a smile on his face?

IT IS.]

Well, what are we waiting for.

[He turns his head to look at You, tilting his head out the door.]

Field Trip.

[And with that, Arcee and Sprocket begin to head out. However, there's something she needs to make clear.]

Don't think this means I'm not angry anymore.

Edited 2013-07-10 23:36 (UTC)

[To that, he holds his hands up in defense.]

Hey, I didn't even do anythin'. You got the evidence to prove it.

[And at THAT, she stops and turns around, looking him straight in the eyes.]

It's not what you did, it's what you said.

[As angry as she is, though, she can't seem to keep eye contact, breaking it with a sigh as she looks off to the side.]

There's no such thing as a good luck streak. You're not invincible just because you haven't blown up yet.

[It was surprising how fast those eyes diverted themselves. He was never good at eye contact when he wasn't in control of the situation.]

Yeah. Painfully aware of how fragile the line between life and death is.

...

Confidence goes a long way. Too long, sometimes, yannow?

The last bot I knew who talked like that died on me, Wheeljack. I just don't want the same to happen to you. Especially not by...this.

[She holds up the grenade weakly.]

Now let's go. I wasted enough time.

[Okay, going for real now. She doesn't say a single word the whole way to the door.]

[Oh. That's enough to silence the Wrecker. At least...for the moment. He'd remembered a memorial on top of the base. For...someone, but he didn't know if or who that was for. Never stuck around long enough to find out.

For some reason, he thinks the two are pretty connected.]

Hey.

[His voice is quieter as they walk, thinking it over while adjusting his coat idly. Just...something to keep the eye contact at minimum.]

Okay. I'm sorry about...this. Just not used to being, you know...having others worry about me. My own fault on that, I know.

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