Itâs incredible, just how ridiculously easy it is for Prowl to push his buttons, how easy he can make his circuits run hot and his vision white out from sheer anger. Rodimus bites his tongue, bites his lower lip enough that he feels it tear, clenches his hands with so much strength he can feel the metal bend underneath his fingertips. He had been listening, had a response ready in his tongue. He really did. He had planned out a four page essay, had planned out how to make Prowl stutter, butâ he striked low. And unfortunately, reached his target.
There are very few things that piss Rodimus off. Orâ maybe thatâs not true. There are many things, and itâs fairly easy to find out about themâ if youâre really looking for them, if you know him and his history well enough, if you know where to look, and above all; if you care enough to look.
However, itâs not everyone that manages to get a physical reaction out of him. Not immediately, at least. Thereâs usually a lot of verbal abuse, a lot of denialâ or a cold glance and a stupid sentence that gets people thinking heâs an idiot for enough time that they forget about it. Thereâs also usually someone around to stop him from getting his lip burst open, or getting his spoiler bent, or getting a hole through his abdomen.
However, something that Rodimus would never, ever admit, is that Prowl knows him. He knows him like he knows everyone else, knows of his crimes and his regrets and everything he has ever done as an Autobot and before that, when things had been harder, yet somehow easier. So when he talks about burning cities and cursed names and the ghost of regret, he knows what it means to Rodimus. He knows what it will do, which drives him to think heâs won.
Usually Rodimus would wait for someone to hit first, so he has a defense later when speaking to a superior. However this is Prowl weâre talking about. In many cases heâs the superior, and right now, heâs about as powerful and as important as the crumbling rock in the decaying buildings outside.
So Rodimus does exactly what Prowl has been begging him to do, and hits him.
He punches Prowl straight on the jawâ enough that it disorients, but not enough to knock him out. He has done this before. He knows how to play dirty, he knows when heâs being instigated, and he knows when time has boiled over.
âYou want Hot Rod? Câmon, then.â Rodimus raises his fists, and his left hand hurts (he bent his wrist wrong, a stupid mistake that cost him watching Prowl black out). âIâll give âim to ya.â
The bot from Nyon; who often enjoyed street fighting in the few spare hours he had between odd jobs and the few laughs and scares that cost him too much, smiles like he hasnât in millennia. He smiles like his city never burned down under his fingertips, smiles like heâd just been approved for a shift at the dock, and would manage to steal enough to last him the week. He smiles like life will get better next cycle and he wonât hold his friends burnt bodies in his hands next month.
âCome on. Hit me.â His plating feels hot (scalding, yet not unbearableâa controlled temperature in odds with his actions, with his words) and his optics burn with something bright and violent. âYou asked me to do this. Now fragginâ hit me, or âm goinâ to burn ya somewhere unpleasant enough youâll never forget the feelinâ of it.â
Rodimus rolls his optics, Prowlâs tone and accusations finally catching up to his temper. He doesnât even give theâthe cop the satisfaction of being looked at as he rants. Instead, a spot on the carpet seems much more interesting, before Prowl finally shuts up. Then itâs back on business.
âOh, fuck off. Youâre actinâ like this shitholeââ Rodimus spreads his arms, points towards the city beyond Prowlâs window. ââhas got actual workinâ laws and a jury that isnât a clown on a power trip, and- and like all this isnât runninâ on hopes and dreams right now.â
Itâs baffling, really, how easily Prowl threatens to do things he has no control over, anymore. It should be incredibly sad, if not a bit humorous, that he always falls back onto old routine and refuses to acknowledge the crumbling world outside. Continues to fall back on old habits that mean nothing, because itâs all made up. (Rodimus does not have to think about what this means to him.)
Coming here, Rodimus had expected some decency from the other. At least⊠oh, whoâs to say, half an hour of decent talk, perhaps some stupid quips, a few garbling insults? But threatening to arrest him? Prowl must be running out of threats, if thatâs what heâs come to.
When Rodimus lowers his arms, indignant and trying not to boil over the stupidest thing imaginable, the bend of his spoiler shifts just enough that the pain catches him off-guard; allowing for the briefest flinch and hissing combo that only feeds into his frustration, and therefore, his rant. âI meanâ have you been outside lately? Besides tryinâ to play your games and tryinâ to see whoâs the biggest target this season, have you walked âround and gone to the store, or-or checked on someone?â
Though Prowlâs EM field is screaming, Rodimus doesnât truly respect his request. His order, to stay away. He has no respect for white and black mecha that think themselves above everyone, has no respect for strategy experts who enjoy rubbing salt on open wounds as often as a bird enjoys singing. Heâd like to say that heâs done, that heâs over it, but the magma in his circuits is a familiar feeling he was forced to learn to enjoy, and never quite stoppedâ like the adrenaline of running from enemy fire, like the joy of winning a fight.
So itâs no wonder he canât help smiling, even though it is a smile coated in poison and blaring a threat.
âArenât you supposed to be the smart one out of both of us? Your door was unlocked, cuz otherwise youâd have known I-or someone else- was here. Youâd have noticed, âcuz youâre not an idiot, even though you love actinâ like one.â Heâs not trying to go for a compliment, but Prowl is smart. He is smart and infuriating, because he wants everyone to know at all times just how smart he is. âReally did think youâd have managed to do somethinâ âbout this shitshow. Now Starscreamâs taken over, the planet outsideâs a fragginâ mess, and youâve got slums everywhere âcuz nobody has anywhere to go, nobodyâs got shit to give. âNâ all you do is sit on your desk and write slag nobodyâll read.â
Rodimus shouldnât be getting worked up over this, but once heâd started going there really was no stopping it.
He couldnât help feeling a certain familiarity in the chaos outside, couldnât help the pain in his fuel tank, just as he couldnât help being outside for longer than a few minutes before the stark scent of smoke and burning metal reached his processor.
He chuckles, low yet clear. Like the gentle rumble of a working engine. âAstounding work, Prowl. Youâve managed to be as useless here as Optimus during the trial.â
If Cybertron, or Cybertronians, had ever a religion providing confession booths, Rodimus would confess that he hoped Prowl would hit him. Just a small nudge so he has an excuse to fight.
this isnt petty drama. i was literally just saying someone made me uncomfortable and since they actively write what makes me uncomfortable, then i'll obviously assume ppl who interact with them are fine with said content, lol. for you to read this and assume its "petty drama" when i was simply making a point is stupid asf.
I am trying 2 be the bigger person here but haaii. i dont enjoy drama. this isnt drama. im just tired
what broke the camels back (if the link doesn't work. oops. ill send it through dm)
anyway i dont give a fuck. if you genuinely follow someone who is at their grown age and act like this for some kind of internet pity points i can NOT be made to care about wether you like me or not. if you feel attacked by this? grow up literally nobody is going on your dms or telling ur friends that you suck or whatver. this victim complex will help you with nothing. god bless tho
Ok i shouldâve done this fucking ages ago but alas I am a pussy. If you associate yourself often and willingly with @/dontpetmeibite or any of their blogs you are not welcome here. I have taken a shit ton of time trying to weed everyone out but itâs Hard and I know a lot of people interact with them bc they feel obliged to.
I do not appreciate their content and for the most part have left them alone bc I cannot be fucked enough to care, but frankly I do not enjoy childish behavior, lmfao. Be mad if you want and screenshot this and send it to them I do nawt care I have more to do with my life. This goes if we have interacted often btw. Peace and love on the planet earth
Rodimus gasps, exaggerated, and puts his free hand over his chest in a most dramatic manner. Was he not already being held, he'd have tried to fall over. "Oh, the treachery of it all!" His voice is loud, echoing through the empty halls, even though he does have the decency to flinch at his own tone. His voice is quieter when he continues.
"The tragedy, the betrayal of it all! Perceptor, my most treasured friend, a quidn..quid...." he strains as hard as he can, but the word has truly escaped him now. Rodimus lowers his head, chuckles. "Fuck. I don' think I got the processor capacity to learn new words right now, Perce. I think ya gotta teach me this one again tomorrow."
His laughter dies slowly, in small doses, until silence hits again. Through the fog, Rodimus knows they are nearing his hab, and he frankly doesn't want to let go. He'd missed this-- a simple talk, stupid bits that serve no real purpose, no hidden meaning behind words or actions. A simple interaction between two bots who had been in the same side of a long war that never truly had anything to do with them. Rodimus isn't one to get sentimental, or try to get sentimental, but he knows Perceptor won't push or comment if he does make an attempt. That, and this is a rare moment where he feels content; not due to the highgrade or the loud music, but simply because it is meant to be.
As such, he rests his head on Perceptor's shoulder. "Thanks for comin', by the way. I don' think I ever told ya how happy I was that you chose the Lost Light over... whatever shit you could've gotten to with the war not bein' a thin'." A pause, a gentle nudge to Perceptor's side. " Can't be tellin' this one to the crew, though. I'd have ta throw ya off before you can finish."
He hums in response, choosing to not mention that he was going to leave much earlier than he did. The only reason he stayed so long is because he was trying to push himself a little more out of his comfort zone. It's supposed to help him with his... social ineptitude, at least that's what he's been told.
Either way, he did enjoy himself. And he still is, honestly. He enjoys Rodimus's company, even if he is incredibly inebriated. As if that wasn't enough on its own he actually dozes as they're walking which only prompts Perceptor to pull him further over his shoulder. But the moment is short before Rodimus is back to the semi-waking world.
His captain's response seems like a loaded statement that he's not particularly inclined to pick apart at the moment. So he just nods in agreement, " I am glad to hear that, then. " He pauses for a moment, a slight mischief in his eye, " I may just end up being a quidnunc and talk about how much you enjoyed yourself tomorrow. " His tone is deadpan, but there is a slightly amused lilt to the end of his statement. A joke. Not a very good one, but it is one.
Ooc. Talking abt the mutiny makes me sooo crazy because so many people use Megatron joining the lost light as a basis for the mutiny when he was just a great excuse for it that fell from the sky. Getaway had been actively trying to instigate shit to get Rodimus off ship. He was deadnaming rodimus from day ONE. Multiple times. And Rodimus only started CARING about getaway once he tried to get Tailgate killed. Rodimus had no real opinion on him besides getaway=stowaway=new crew member=good. I also MUST emphasize that maybe Getawayâs punishment after the tailgate situation was bad but he did. Like he did nearly get 3 guys killed at once, the punishment wasnât because he wanted to hurt Megatron, it was because he tried to get Tailgate killed for no reason and nearly got Cyclonus killed in the process. Like itâs this whole thing. Do I think it was harsh? Yes. Do I think Getaway 100% knew his punishment (if/when he got caught) would be harsh enough that it would be the last push the crew needed to look at Rodimus and his command team and think wow these guys are REALLY protecting megatron of all people? Also yes. He was prowls employer man he was on that manipulation game like crazyy
Ok i shouldâve done this fucking ages ago but alas I am a pussy. If you associate yourself often and willingly with @/dontpetmeibite or any of their blogs you are not welcome here. I have taken a shit ton of time trying to weed everyone out but itâs Hard and I know a lot of people interact with them bc they feel obliged to.
I do not appreciate their content and for the most part have left them alone bc I cannot be fucked enough to care, but frankly I do not enjoy childish behavior, lmfao. Be mad if you want and screenshot this and send it to them I do nawt care I have more to do with my life. This goes if we have interacted often btw. Peace and love on the planet earth
. I just think that being born and raised and being the leader to a resistance and watching people get slowly killed by the people meant to protect them would radicalize him so bad. I say this a lot in my fanfics but I think he isnât religious bc he 1. Obviously doesnât give a shit about the matrix besides putting it somewhere it has meaning (Optimus) and Yknow. 2. Being from a poor town where everyone is religious and goes to church to beg for a better life can make you reeeaaall bitter and doubtful about wether god is real. And he obviously grew up around a lot of mythos etc. and heâs watched a lot of people die. I think he should be given a break from all the Bs fandom puts him through because the LL isnât his first time as leader to a group of people. Heâs just hesitant of being committed to it bc every time it has ended in disaster
Rodimus rolls his optics, Prowlâs tone and accusations finally catching up to his temper. He doesnât even give theâthe cop the satisfaction of being looked at as he rants. Instead, a spot on the carpet seems much more interesting, before Prowl finally shuts up. Then itâs back on business.
âOh, fuck off. Youâre actinâ like this shitholeââ Rodimus spreads his arms, points towards the city beyond Prowlâs window. ââhas got actual workinâ laws and a jury that isnât a clown on a power trip, and- and like all this isnât runninâ on hopes and dreams right now.â
Itâs baffling, really, how easily Prowl threatens to do things he has no control over, anymore. It should be incredibly sad, if not a bit humorous, that he always falls back onto old routine and refuses to acknowledge the crumbling world outside. Continues to fall back on old habits that mean nothing, because itâs all made up. (Rodimus does not have to think about what this means to him.)
Coming here, Rodimus had expected some decency from the other. At least⊠oh, whoâs to say, half an hour of decent talk, perhaps some stupid quips, a few garbling insults? But threatening to arrest him? Prowl must be running out of threats, if thatâs what heâs come to.
When Rodimus lowers his arms, indignant and trying not to boil over the stupidest thing imaginable, the bend of his spoiler shifts just enough that the pain catches him off-guard; allowing for the briefest flinch and hissing combo that only feeds into his frustration, and therefore, his rant. âI meanâ have you been outside lately? Besides tryinâ to play your games and tryinâ to see whoâs the biggest target this season, have you walked âround and gone to the store, or-or checked on someone?â
Though Prowlâs EM field is screaming, Rodimus doesnât truly respect his request. His order, to stay away. He has no respect for white and black mecha that think themselves above everyone, has no respect for strategy experts who enjoy rubbing salt on open wounds as often as a bird enjoys singing. Heâd like to say that heâs done, that heâs over it, but the magma in his circuits is a familiar feeling he was forced to learn to enjoy, and never quite stoppedâ like the adrenaline of running from enemy fire, like the joy of winning a fight.
So itâs no wonder he canât help smiling, even though it is a smile coated in poison and blaring a threat.
âArenât you supposed to be the smart one out of both of us? Your door was unlocked, cuz otherwise youâd have known I-or someone else- was here. Youâd have noticed, âcuz youâre not an idiot, even though you love actinâ like one.â Heâs not trying to go for a compliment, but Prowl is smart. He is smart and infuriating, because he wants everyone to know at all times just how smart he is. âReally did think youâd have managed to do somethinâ âbout this shitshow. Now Starscreamâs taken over, the planet outsideâs a fragginâ mess, and youâve got slums everywhere âcuz nobody has anywhere to go, nobodyâs got shit to give. âNâ all you do is sit on your desk and write slag nobodyâll read.â
Rodimus shouldnât be getting worked up over this, but once heâd started going there really was no stopping it.
He couldnât help feeling a certain familiarity in the chaos outside, couldnât help the pain in his fuel tank, just as he couldnât help being outside for longer than a few minutes before the stark scent of smoke and burning metal reached his processor.
He chuckles, low yet clear. Like the gentle rumble of a working engine. âAstounding work, Prowl. Youâve managed to be as useless here as Optimus during the trial.â
If Cybertron, or Cybertronians, had ever a religion providing confession booths, Rodimus would confess that he hoped Prowl would hit him. Just a small nudge so he has an excuse to fight.
Prowl misses the first few seconds of Rodimus' spiel amongst his preoccupation with trying to avoid throttling the mech on the spot. But that would require touching him, so he sets his jaw instead, letting his processor fill him in on the spotty details when he makes an information callback, and- really? Chill out?
"Your intent does not relieve a single modicum of weight or severity from the situation. Do you know that? Are you stupid?" he snaps, watching as Rodimus put on his smirking face, a process Prowl found infinitely contemptible and disturbing to watch. Doubly so, as Rodimus goes on. The red-and-gold mech leans forward and Prowl tips back to avoid him, his EM field abruptly spiking in get away from me.
(Though- it really isn't difficult to find blackmail on Prowl nowadays, and of all mechs to know this, Prowl knew it best. He did not need an acute reminder, just as Rodimus did not need a reminder, so Prowl glosses over the point completely.)
"Just because you're a captain of a ship does not mean you are exempt from planetary border laws." Prowl's voice takes a hard left turn when being faced with the opportunity to quote laws and irrefutable fact. He leans over again. "You are on Cybertron. You are not on your ship. You are subject to warrants for arrest. In fact, since you have so kindly renounced your badge, you are also trespassing in this general building. Though- I wouldn't be surprised if you'd also jumped landing security and associated docking customs. Everything considered, you- what? My door was not unlocked. You broke in."
He squints. "And you're homeless. Brilliant plan, captain."