TF: Primus, Why Me?

[wildernesstales]

Rating: PG
Series: G1
Summary: Skydive’s caught a virus and is confined to the medbay.  Ratchet’s there to keep an optic on him.  But Skydive has other ideas…
Warnings: Aerialbot pile
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten…
Authors Notes: For the tf_rare_pairing  weekly challenge – Ratchet/Skydive – (Skydive) fevered advances equals annoyed team mates and bond mates.
Feedback makes friends.  Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.  

 

Ratchet hated keeping fliers grounded.  Especially young fliers who wanted to know everything. 
“Out of all the Aerialbots, why did it have to be Skydive that caught the fragging virus?”
“I dunno Ratch’.” Ironhide shrugged.  “Mebbe because he jus’ has ta know everythin’ which would be why he plugged himself inta that console without checkin’.” Ratchet sighed. 
“It would just be my luck to be the only medic who’s had the virus before.” He grumbled.  Ironhide grinned, knowing full well that even if Ratchet hadn’t had the virus, he would want to be the one in there treating Skydive.
“Whatever ya say Ratch’.”
“I should get back in there…” Ratchet jerked a thumb over his shoulder to the medbay doors.  Ironhide had just stopped by to bring some fresh energon for Ratchet.
“’Kay.  Ya take care now.” Playfully kissing the end of Ratchet’s nose, Ironhide sauntered off down the corridor.

Shaking his head, Ratchet re-entered the medbay, optics automatically finding the Aerialbot relaxing on his berth.  Ratchet had done all he could; all that remained was for Skydive’s systems to remove the virus.
“Ratchet… is that energon for me?” Skydive sounded so hopeful that Ratchet found himself handing over his cube of energon before he realised what he was doing.  He recoiled as he brushed Skydive’s plating.
“Skydive, frag; you’re burning up!” Ratchet turned to get some cooling pads from the drawer.  He didn’t notice Skydive’s optics lingering on his aft.
“Now lie back down and let’s get these on you.”
“Rather have you on me.” Skydive smirked.  Ratchet cycled his optics.
“What?”
“I’d rather have you on me.” Skydive repeated patiently, before he reached for Ratchet, tugging the medic towards him.
“Skydive, this is highly inappropriate!”
“S’not.” Skydive slurred, grabbing Ratchet in places only Ironhide was allowed to touch.  Ratchet tried his best to fend off the jet, but without hurting him it was difficult.  The first touch to his chevron made him gasp.  The second, more determined, touch had him moaning.
“Skydive!” Ratchet tried protesting again, but found himself manoeuvred onto the berth, hands on Skydive’s thighs.
“Prefer your hands on my wings.” Ratchet groaned as Skydive pulled on one hand, encouraging Ratchet.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.” Ratchet protested, emotions surging through his circuits before he could stop them.
“Shhh!” Skydive pushed forward, pinning Ratchet to the berth and silencing him with a kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Ratchet allowed himself to be drawn into the kiss, the vague sense of amusement and irritation he could feel coming from Ironhide’s half of their bond increased.  Skydive was obviously feeling something similar from his gestalt bond as he groaned and pulled Ratchet closer.

Moments before the doors to the medbay opened and four jets rushed in and hauled Ratchet away from Skydive.

Ratchet had barely enough time to squawk before he was pinned to the floor by four very angry Aerialbots.
“What the frag?” He managed, twisting to try and free himself.
“I can’t believe you would take advantage like that.” Silverbolt growled at him, energy field flaring.  Ratchet had a brief moment of fear that Silverbolt would use his lightning attack on him.
“What on Cybertron’s goin’ on here?” And there was Ironhide.  Ratchet actually wilted underneath the Aerialbots as he heard the familiar voice.
“What’s going on is your ‘bondmate’ was taking advantage of Skydive!” Slingshot said hotly, barely glancing over his wing at Ironhide.
“Now that I doubt.  Let him up.” Nobody moved except Skydive who curled up and whimpered.
“I said, let him go.” The threat was clear in Ironhide’s voice, and to Ratchet’s relief, the hands holding him down let go and he was able to sit up.  His optics immediately went to Skydive as he heard the jet whimper.  He got to his feet and pushed past the other Aerialbots to examine Skydive, one hand resting on the jet’s shoulder.  He ignored the growl from Slingshot.  He would deal with what happened after he’d made Skydive more comfortable.
“It’s all right, just lie back now.” He coaxed, helping Skydive to lie back down on the berth.  He turned to get some pain relievers and noticed all the optics on him.
“Later.” He almost growled, fetching what he needed and injecting the pain relievers into an energon line.  He only relaxed when Skydive did.

“Alright, so what exactly were you doing with our brother?” Air Raid virtually demanded when Ratchet turned back around and leant against Skydive’s berth.
“I wasn’t doing anything.  It was all him.” He heard Ironhide snort in what he hoped was amusement.
“You were kissing him.” Fireflight said, optics wide.
“He was kissing me.”
“We’re splitting hairs.” Silverbolt stepped in.  “You were both kissing.  He’s ill and you’re bonded!” The recrimination was clear in Silverbolt’s quiet voice.
“I doubt it were all Ratchet’s fault.” Ironhide drawled.  “You kids ain’t had a virus yet.  Can make ya do… strange things.” Ratchet raised an optic ridge at him and he could feel the thrum of embarrassment coming across the bond.
“Skydive’s not thinking straight at the moment.  The virus has affected his temperature regulator, which has affected his logic centers.  What he thought was a good idea at the time… obviously wasn’t.” He deliberately played down his involvement in it, but the knowing look Ironhide gave him told him he wasn’t going to escape so lightly.  Fireflight nodded as though that explained everything.  Slingshot and Air Raid didn’t look convinced and Silverbolt was obviously giving it some consideration.
“He’s right…” Skydive croaked, prompting his brothers to immediately crowd the berth, all concerns about them catching the virus gone.  Ratchet found himself pushed to one side, only to be steadied by Ironhide.
“I didn’t mean to…” Skydive sought out Ratchet in the crowd.  “I wouldn’t, I mean… I don’t.  I mean.  Frag, I’m sorry Ratchet.” Skydive ducked his head in embarrassment, his normal eloquence leaving him.
“It’s all right Skydive.  As long as your brothers now understand I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you.”
“You weren’t though!”
“Fragging looked like it.” Slingshot muttered.
“Our apologies Ratchet.” Silverbolt was earnest.
“Accepted.” Ratchet waved off the apology.  “I suppose you all might as well keep him company now you’re in here.  I’ll need to check you all for the virus.” Torn between groaning and shrugging, the four Aerialbots piled on the berth with Skydive.  Shaking his head, Ratchet headed for his office, and the questions he knew he was going to face from Ironhide.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“He touched yer chevron, didn’t he?” Ironhide asked, running his fingers over Ratchet’s chevron.  Ratchet groaned and clutched at Ironhide’s plating.
“Yes.” He managed.
“Only I’m allowed ta touch ya like that.  I could feel ya reacting…” He paused to press his hand against Ratchet’s windshield, just over his spark.  “Could feel how much ya liked it.  I’m the only one who should make ya feel like that.”
“You are the only one.” Ratchet affirmed, pressing close to Ironhide.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So what the frag happened?” Slingshot demanded as soon as Ratchet and Ironhide were out of immediate audio range.
“I kissed him.”
“I can’t believe you kissed Ratchet!” Air Raid affected a scandalised tone.
“Well at least he didn’t kiss Prime.” Fireflight pointed out.  Silverbolt burrowed a little deeper in the Aerialbot pile at the mention of Prime.
“So he didn’t force you?” He murmured.
“No.  If anything… I forced him.” Skydive sounded horrified as he remembered what he did.  “Though he didn’t seem to mind too much.”

They lapsed into silence, content with just being near each other and knowing they were all safe.  Then Fireflight piped up.
“What was it like?”

And that… is a whole other story ;)