Ratchet and Drift Voice Test

[positiveenergy]

Drift pauses as he reaches the entrance to the medibay. He’s already put this off for too long, and he can just FEEL Ratchet’s disapproval. Still…there’s only so many days he can take with one of his hands not working properly. Not even mentioning that it was on BACKWARDS.

In retrospect, going to one of those second-rate, unnamed clinics was not one of his greatest ideas. Especially not when it was a procedure on one of his hands. All he’d wanted was a break from the constant chastising he got every time he went in for a repair. And using close combat weapons meant a LOT of repairs.

He decides that he may as well go in; he’s going to have to face Ratchet sooner or later to get this mess straightened out. The room is empty when he walks in and he stands in the center for a moment, looking around for any sign of activity. “Hello…?”

Comments

[asafepairofhands]

Ratchet looks genuinely startled for a moment before his optics narrow in irritation.

"You're the third-in-command and this is the ship's medibay. Yes, I'd 'let you come back here again.'"

[positiveenergy]

Drift isn’t sure if Ratchet was being serious or if he was dodging the question, but he can’t hide the frustration in his voice.

“Ratchet! I’m not going to use my authority like that! I’m asking if you’re okay with it!”

[asafepairofhands]

"Huh." Ratchet turns, starting to put his tools away, but he watches Drift out of the corner of one optic as the hard set of his mouth softens, just slightly.

"I didn't toss you back out of my medibay when you were half-rusted and glitched blind on circuit boosters. I'm not about to start now."

[positiveenergy]

The corner of Drift’s mouth twitches into a little smile and he feels a tension leaving that he hadn’t noticed until now. He’s surprised at how relieved he is considering the whole thing started with him going to see a different doctor. After a moment’s hesitation, he walks up to Ratchet and places a hand on his shoulder.

“I feel like you’re letting me off too easily. Why don’t you let me help you clean the place up at least?”

[asafepairofhands]

Ratchet's optics flick to Drift's hand on his shoulder, then drag slowly up to Drift's face.

"I have a lecture all prepared for you if you're really that disappointed." He doesn't shrug Drift off of him, but his optics narrow. "Though I'd settle for that explanation I asked for."

[positiveenergy]

As Ratchet’s optics narrow, Drift pulls away again. It doesn’t look like he’s going to let this one go.

“Alright, well… Honestly? It’s the constant ridicule. Every time I come, even for a checkup! It’s one thing if you don’t agree with my beliefs, but most of the time you seem to be going out of your way to pick a fight.”

[asafepairofhands]

Ratchet stills, surprise and a tiny hint of guilt flickering across his face before he looks away again, huffing air sharply out of his vents.

"I didn't think you'd be irresponsible enough to go somewhere for sub-par medical care because I'd hurt your delicate feelings," he says, but there's not nearly as much heat in his voice as usual. He pauses, his face setting. "...and I put enough work into keep you from falling apart as it is. It wouldn't kill you to actually take care of yourself every once in a while. In between me patching you up, I mean."

[positiveenergy]

Drift can’t even bring himself to be irritated at Ratchet’s comment. Some of the tension has started to ease out of the air, so he just feels good instead.

“What, when I’m fighting? It’s not like I’m trying to get hit or anything. Close combat can get kind of heated…Tell you what though, I promise I’ll be more careful if you do the same. When’s the last time you’ve had yourself checked up? Every time I’m here, you’re always busy working on something.”

[asafepairofhands]

"I'd have less work to do if you didn't take stupid risks all the time," Ratchet grouses before he jerks back a little, looking affronted.

"I'm fine," he tells Drift, sounding almost offended by the implication that he might be otherwise. "In case you haven't noticed, I work in a medibay. I can hardly get away with wearing myself down into stasis lock, who would be here to reattach your limbs back on straight?"

[positiveenergy]

A short sigh leaves his mouth. It seems like any time he and Ratchet start to get along, something like this happens. Inevitably, one of them will slip up and say the wrong thing.

“Listen, Ratchet. I’m not saying you aren’t fine! I don’t doubt that you can take care of yourself. I don’t doubt that even if you did overwork yourself, you’d be just as capable. But it doesn’t matter how capable you are. As your friend, I think I’m entitled to worry at least a little bit. Even if I know you can handle things just fine.”

He leans against the wall and tests his hand out again, flexing his fingers gently and admiring the how quickly they’ve recovered.

“Maybe you could just think of it as…doing me a favor? Either way, I’ll try to be more careful.”

[asafepairofhands]

"Good," Ratchet says, but his face eases a little as he watches Drift test the range of motion in his hand.

"That loosening up all right?"

[positiveenergy]

“It feels great, especially considering I can feel it at all now.”

His optics tilt up towards Ratchet. “Trying to change the subject?”