A/N: KayDeeBlu and I have decided to take on the ’28 Prompt Challenge’ with our favorite Seekers. We’ve both found that the short prompts do wonders for coaxing our muses back to the keyboard.

Caring

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Today’s battle did not turn out as planned – the Autobot forces that had wrested the Neutral area free of Decepticon hold were stronger and more entrenched than their intel had initially reported. There were few casualties on their side, mostly dented armor and damaged egos, but Megatron would not be pleased with the outcome and loss of what he considered valuable territory. In the end, they had taken Neutral prisoners and used them as shields to make a hasty retreat. The lucky few were mercifully shot in the back before they were dropped from the air.

Skywarp helped Thundercracker limp to the Constructicons lair; he had tangled with one of the few Autobot fliers and came away missing his tailfins and bent ailerons, but it was the splattered energon from one of the ‘live’ Neutrals that had done the most damage.

“I can’t do this anymore, ‘Warp.” The midnight blue Seeker muttered low for only Skywarp’s audios, “Those Neutrals… We executed them for what? A couple of parsecs of wasteland?”

Skywarp tried to pat his friend’s wings, but came away with a sticky handful of dead mech fluids. He grimaced and shook his hand fervently to rid it of the goo; now was not the time to be worried about what might dry in his joints and be difficult to clean later. He needed to be here for Thundercracker. “Sounds like you need a drink, TC. Why don’t we go get some high grade and get overcharged?”

Thundercracker stopped in the middle of the violet titanium hallway and gaped at Skywarp. “You don’t get it, do you ‘Warp? Here we are with a few scrapes and dents and those Neutrals… Those people, they died for NOTHING. We didn’t even need the area! Megatron was only ticked that the Autobots took it!”

“Shut UP, TC!” Skywarp hissed at him and furtively glanced up and down the hallway. “You say that any louder and we’ll be lucky to see the shot that will send us to the Matrix!”

The midnight blue Seeker threw his arms out to his sides, “Let them shoot me. Maybe I don’t care anymore, ‘Warp! Maybe-”

He did not get to finish his statement as Skywarp grabbed his arms and teleported out of the hallway quickly. They reappeared inside an immaculate set of quarters where Skywarp let go of Thundercracker and headed toward a portable energon dispenser. “Sit down and I’ll get the high grade.”

Disoriented, Thundercracker glanced around the room and stumbled towards the nearest object that seemed to stay in one place - a spotless and obsessively cleaned desk. “What are we doing in ‘Screamer’s room?”

“Hanging out in a unmonitored room and getting the good high grade.” He brought over two full cubes of the glowing fuchsia liquid and pushed one into Thundercracker’s hands. “Sit down and drink it. Then we’ll talk.”

The midnight blue Seeker looked stupidly at Skywarp, “Huh?”

“Drink it. All of it.” Skywarp pulled up a chair next to him and took a long draught from his cube. “Don’t make me force feed you, TC.”

Thundercracker obliged him and drank his cube in silence. Neither mech said anything until Skywarp retrieved a second set of cubes and Starscream’s personal repair kit. “Drink this one, too.”

“’Warp…”

Skywarp sat down next to him and grabbed one of his broken ailerons, “Drink it while I fix your wings.”

The midnight blue Seeker set the cube to the side with an annoyed sigh, “I’m not in the mood for celebrating.”

“Who said we’re celebrating?” He carefully straightened the delicate piece of his wing before reattaching it. “Drink it or I’ll won’t be gentle with the repairs.”

“You’re not even listening to me, ‘Warp! I can’t – OUCH!”

Adept fingers tweaked a twisted aileron, “Pick that cube up, and start drinking or else this will be very painful.”

“Fine. Fine.” The fuchsia cube was lifted and Thundercracker took a long sip. “Why didn’t we go see Hook?”

“Because you need to vent. Plus Hook won’t let you drink in his chop-shop and you’ll feel better with a few cubes in you.” Skywarp cleaned off the wiring that barely held the twisted aileron to Thundercracker's wing. “I know you don’t like the war, TC. But what would you do if you didn’t fight? Try to be a Neutral and hide in the shadows?

Thundercracker stared into his cube and silently frowned. “I- I don ‘t know…”

Silence filled the room as Skywarp carefully reattached the repaired aileron. He stopped long enough to take a gulp out of his cube before moving on to the midnight blue Seeker’s left wing. He was unusually quiet while he worked, and the lack of communication between them was disconcerting to Thundercracker. “’Warp?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you…” He stared at the wall in front of him hollowly, “like fighting the Autobots?”

“No.” Skywarp put the spanner he had been using between his denta as he worked on the delicate wiring in Thundercracker’s wing.

“Then why do you fight?”

“Because I don’t have a choice.” He took the spanner out of his mouth, “Plus I can’t leave you and ‘Screamer here alone.”

Thundercracker turned to look at Skywarp, “What do you mean you can’t leave us alone?”

The purple and black Seeker grumbled as the wing he had been working on was pulled from his grasp. “What kind of friend would I be if I left you alone? I know the war is slowly destroying you and ‘Screamer from the inside, but if I wasn’t here to keep you somewhat sane I know you’d eat your rifle and ‘Screamer would completely snap and end up dead by Megatron’s hands. I don’t fight because I want to. I fight because I have to. I fight so I can stay with you two.”

The silence in the room returned as Thundercracker mulled Skywarp’s words over. The completely selfless act of fighting just to stay with him and Starscream seemed completely foreign coming from Skywarp. He had always assumed that the purple and black Seeker fought because he enjoyed the battle and wanton destruction allowed by Decepticon standards - not that he felt the need to stay by his trinemates out of loyalty to their friendship. A pat on his back drew him out of his thoughts.

“I think I got all the damage fixed.” Skywarp stood up and put the medical kit away. “How does it feel?”

Thundercracker flexed his wings experimentally as Skywarp retrieved another set of cubes and sat down next to him. “Feels sore, but everything is working. Thanks.”

“Not a problem.” The purple and black Seeker took a long drink from his cube. “So… ready to talk?”

Thundercracker stared at the wall in front of them, “I wish the war would end.”

“Me too.”

He turned to look at Skywarp. “And I’m glad you’re my friend.”

“I’m glad I’m your friend too.”

The midnight blue Seeker snorted and shoved his laughing friend. “You’re an aft.”

Skywarp threw his arm over Thundercracker’s shoulders and took a drink from his cube, “I know I am, but you and ‘Screamer wouldn’t have me any other way.”