Chapter Text
"I deeply apologize Lord Riverclash, but we've searched the entirety of the Tower's ruins;
Neither Frostrise, nor Mirage were anywhere to be found in our desperate search."
The mood was somber, as smoke remained clouding the sky; hiding the moon and it's light; and surrounding what was once the Noble Mech's home.
Riverclash looked into the Predacon's deep Redwood colored optics, hope still lacing his own Corn yellow ones, despite how he felt his spark sink.
He lowered his head, shutting his eyes, a few more tears staining his face, and beading on the lashes.
"I see..."
The pair both lowered their heads, in silence, acknowledging what could've potentially been the two lost individuals now.
After a few minutes, the Head Guardsman caught a faint coughing like sound, before opening his eyes, and looking up a bit.
Immediately he was shocked, watching a small figure cough for a couple moments, before stopping and started walking towards them.
Upon reaching the noble mech, they almost instantly collapsed against his leg, and coughed a bit.
Riverclash noticed the sudden weight against his leg, and looked down at it, as to check what it was, depressed in nature.
His shock was clear, upon recognition of the little figure.
After a couple of seconds, familiar little yellow optics same color as his own looked up at him, quietly trying to speak, despite a clear struggle.
"...da...daddy..."
"Oh my god..."
Riverclash quickly swept the child up in his arms, concerned and anxious, yet incredibly relieved at the same time.
"Dear god, Mirage! Baby, what happened to yo-"
Riverclash was cut by the mechling's harsh coughing.
"...d-daddy... I-I- I can't breath-"
Another coughing fit erupted, before the child attempted to yelp out something, crying more than he already was, while the pair of mechs became increasingly concerned and terrified at the same time for the child's health.
"D-daddy I-I- I can't breathe- I don't wanna die- I'm scar- scared- please-"
Soot was sprayed everywhere from the child's cries, and yet another coughing fit.
"He has soot in his lungs, we have to get him medical attention immediately!"
The predacon immediately started making way for the pair, helping them through the wreckage, to a medical center.
A medical professional slightly cowered, from the intimidating Predacon Guardsman, clearly glaring at him, his smooth, semi-fluffy tail flicking back and forth now and then, left wing slightly flared out, around the Noble Mech, his redwood optics mere slits, and a shadow cast across his face, while his sharp claws glinted in the light.
'Go ahead, lie to him for money, bitch. I dare you to. I dare you to proceed to lie so I can call you the fuck out.'
After a reporting everything to the pair, the medic was dismissed, and quickly took his leave.
The Guardsman's claws retracted after a moment, and his optics returned to normal, while his tail and wing did not shift from prior.
He placed a hand on the noblemech's shoulder.
"I'll watch him, and make sure he's alright. I'll be sure to tell you if anything happens to him."
Riverclash stared for a moment before nodded, affirming his trust.
"You get some rest. It's been quite a wild night for you."
"It has, but Mirage is more important to me than my own rest."
"You can't be there for him, if you've passed out due to sleep deprivation."
Riverclash was silent, before sighing.
"Damnit, you're right."
"Of course I am. I notice these things about you 'Clash."
The Towers Mech chuckled.
"Always have."
"Mhm."
"Get some rest. I'll watch him for you."
"Tell me if he wakes up."
"We'll see."
The world started dark in his vision, faint beeping ringing through his audials.
As he opened his eyes, Mirage began to rapidly blink, attempting to adjust to the blaring cold white light.
As he adjusted, he groaned a bit, and tried to look around, though he failed due to lack of strength enough.
He stared at the half-dragon, half-wolf Predacon Guardsman at the end of the medical bed.
Mirage knew he recalled the guardsman, the Head of the Guard- also the one Mirage recalled his sire spending a lot of time with, and was rather close with.
"...Guardscale...?"
The Guard jumped a bit, not expecting it, but looked back to him. He began to take off his mask as spoke.
"Hey there Mirage. You're awake."
Mirage simply stared, and watched, as the mech's nose and mouth came into view, still remaining silent.
"Lemme get your Sire, River's gonna be all over you; he's been real concerned about you."
The guard walked to the doorway, and looked around the corner.
"Hey, Riverclash."
No response, and the guard got concerned. He looked back at Mirage, before moving out of the room a good amount, only his tail and part of his ped remained in the room, ped hooked on the doorway, with a hand holding onto the frame for further balance.
"Riverclash, wake up."
A faint sound was heard outside the room, and the tone was surprised and confused.
"Wha-? What's goin-"
"He's awake, so get up and see him."
It went silent, and after a moment quick footsteps started, while Guardscale stepped back into view and allowed the blue and gold mech into the room, shutting the door as he himself stepped in as well.
"Mirage!"
Riverclash was clearly resisting every urge he'd ever had to pick Mirage up in his arms, and hold him close, face buried in neck cabling, and spark close to his own.
"Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry..."
It was quiet for a klik, Riverclash had his face in his arms, almost ashamed, before Mirage spoke in a small voice.
"Why?"
Riverclash looked at Mirage, and so did Guardscale.
"What do you mean, Mirage?"
The Predacon was unsure, and almost concerned as he spoke, tempted to put a digit or two on the child's shoulder.
"Why? Why are you apologizing? Why are you sorry?"
Riverclash looked at him, and gently caressed his little spiro disco ball blue colored helm.
"I should've gotten you out of the fire, you shouldn't have had to be alone with only your will to survive. I should have protected you, sweetspark."
Obviously Riverclash was very very remorseful, and sad, upset with himself.
Mirage attempted to shift his body to get closer to Riverclash, however Guardscale stopped him.
"Mirage, you shouldn't be moving, you could damage your recovering internals, bitlet."
The Predacon was very unsure, but a single glance got him to let up, and remove his servo.
"C'mere sweetspark, you can curl up with Sa."
Mirage weakly tried to make his way to Riverclash, before Riverclash just ended up getting onto the medical berth with Mirage, curling him close to his chassis.
Beginning to rub his back, he assured the mechling, a certain softness in his voice he only used with Mirage.
"Shh, baby... Sa's here, Sa's right here... I'm not going anywhere..."
Guardscale simply smiled, knowing how deeply his friend loved the mechlet he had sired.
After Mirage was presumably asleep, Riverclash looked to him, now at the end of the medical berth.
"Any news on whatever had caused the fire? Or where Frostrise is?"
The Predacon guardsmech lowered and shook his helm, and looked to him again when he spoke.
"No. All anyone can figure on the fire is that it was an act of arson, therefore, intentionally set, most likely to bring the Tower Palace down, if not kill you two as well.
On matters of where Frostrise is, we remain unable to find her, and have not found any remains or bodies of any kind, thankfully, so we can safely assume she's most likely alive, and everyone got out in time. But as you can tell, that's all we have for now unfortunately.
And I got the report back post-op; Mirage's most likely going to have permanent damage to his lungs, and potentially gain asthma from results of the lack of flexibility shall we say that they had. Other than that, he should recover fine."
Riverclash nodded at his most trusted guard's report.
"We just need to find out where Frostrise is, if she is in fact alive, and who committed this arsonistic crime against us, then..."
Mirage shifted, and Riverclash to look down to him, immediately shocked.
His eyes were open, and he appeared more than a little traumatized.
"Mirage, sweetie, are you al-"
"Mom's alive. I know she is."
It was silent for a moment before Guardscale spoke.
"Well that's solved; guess you're gonna be a divorcée, rather than a widower, 'Clash."
Riverclash nodded, and looked to Mirage, while Guardscale moved back down to their side.
"Honey, do you know where your carrier is?"
"No. She left me."
Both were surprised, and concerned.
"What do you mean, Mirage?"
"She left me in the fire, under a piece of burnt debris. She stood over me, glaring at me, as I begged an pleaded for my life, for her help. She didn't care. She left. Left me behind. Left me to die. To be engulfed in the flames, alone."
Both were increasingly morbidly shocked, and terrified for the child. Riverclash held him close.
"She started the fire. She wanted me dead."
Riverclash held him close to his spark, terror struck by the further information.
"Shh, rest bitlet. Guardscale and I will make sure Frostrise never comes near you ever again, never ever, ever again."
Mirage however remained awake, simply staring blankly into his Sire's chassis, recalling all the events through the event.
After a while of half listening to the conversation between his sire and the Head Guardsmech, he fell fast asleep, silent.
"He's clearly traumatized. He's going to need a lot of help."
"I can tell. My poor bitlet..."
"Poor both of you."
"I knew there was something bad about her when I met her. I knew that she was no good. I've just never been able to do anything due to my own Sire's controlling force over me.
And now I feel terrible that I didn't do something. I regret sitting around and doing nothing but remaining too focused on Mirage to notice what she was doing in the background.
I could've prevented this."
"Or you could've accidentally triggered it to happen sooner. She could've done it the moment you adamantly turned away from her, and then Mirage's life could've been lost in that fire. His spark could've been snuffed.
Waiting may have been the best you could've done for him now that it's too late change anything.
The best thing you can do now, is support, help, and guide him through this all, loyally remaining by his side, and raise him the best you can, working both around, and through the difficulties."
Riverclash smiled, knowing his friend was right.
"You're right. And I'm fairly sure this is why we've been having a non-sexual affair together, behind her back."
"Part of it."
They both laughed to themselves.
"I'll leave you two to have some sire-mechlet bonding time while I go get you two lunch."
"Thank you Guardscale, that would be most appreciated."
"It's not a problem, I'll be back."
The Predacon left, and shut the door behind him, smiling one last time at the pair before going on his way about his task.
Riverclash quietly purred, curling Mirage a little closer.
"It's alright, baby. Sire's here. You'll always be safe and sound with me, sweetspark."
Eventually he drifted off himself, still holding the sparkling close.
Mirage would rise up just fine, he just needed a little help on the way, and River would happily provide for such.