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Orion, despite several places to sulk available to him, found himself slouching forward, elbows against his knees, on the broken bench near the Senate building.
The bench creaked under his weight whenever he shifted, adjusting for the horrible slant at the one end. Someone “cleaning up” must have removed the slab of metal he and Shockwave had slid underneath it to make it even.
After the trouble he had caused in that one session, he was still surprised that he was even allowed this close to the building.
Then again, Shockwave had been the one to order his release and repair. It was probably his influence that had allowed Orion to remain relatively free to go where he pleased.
Orion hadn’t meant to wander here, after another day of struggling with his current role in the Rodion police. Ever since standing up for Megatron in front of the Senate, his days had turned into an endless slog of more aggressive red-tape and bureaucracy than he could have ever imagined beforehand.
He had walked into the Senate that one day, fully expecting to lose his job and be arrested.
Only one of those happened, at least immediately.
As for his position in Rodion, it appeared the brass couldn’t afford to publicly fire him. He was too well-regarded, but they could make his professional life a living hell. It seemed they were content to slowly push him into a corner where he would quit of his own volition, leaving their hands clean as far at the public was concerned.
Today, Orion had been handed an unfounded reprimand for “not following standard protocol” and piles and piles of busywork. Just like every other day this week. He was increasingly tied to his desk, unable to get anything useful done.
As tempting as it was to simply quit, especially since he had banked on his dramatic verbal resignation in front of the senators sticking, Orion hadn’t wanted to let the brass win, not like this.
Worse, he had no idea where to go once that final tie was severed.
A weight sat down on the other end of the bench, the structure creaking as it tilted in the opposite direction.
“Orion, the floor will eventually win the staring contest.”
Shockwave laughed, a little dryly.
Of course, having wandered in his stupor to sulk somewhere, Orion had picked the one place he would almost certainly summon his friend.
“Unlike you, the floor will never blink.”
Despite himself, Orion couldn’t help chuckling at the dumb joke, the weak smile hidden by his mask.
“I was just thinking,” he started, turning his head to see Shockwave grinning warmly at him, “maybe I should finally quit pretending I’m doing anything helpful.”
The bench groaned and shuddered as Shockwave scooted closer, resting a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“I told you they would make it harder and harder on you.”
“I know, I know, you did,” he conceded, gesturing vaguely with his hands as he continued to lean forward on his knees. “But… I don’t know what else I can do.”
“When you accused the Senate of high crimes against the people, you didn’t seem too concerned about that.”
No, no, he hadn’t been concerned at the time.
Orion had just been angry. He had let his emotions, his outrage, get the better of him.
He just silently shook his head.
“But remember, Orion,” Shockwave said, “you were right.”
“Sure, I was, yes, but—“
Shockwave tsked at him.
“No ‘buts,’ Orion, you were right.”
“B—“ No, he wasn’t going to give Shockwave the ammunition by saying “but” again. “I just don’t know where to go from here. If I quit then… then what would I do?”
Shockwave was silent for awhile, but the calm look on his face told Orion he knew something, had a suggestion on tap. The delay was simply to figure out how to best phrase it, he was sure. Senators, no matter how inflammatory their politics nor how “no nonsense” their public persona, were careful with their words as a matter of professional habit.
“Have you ever considered teaching?”
Orion scoffed, shaking his head before reaching up and gently patting Shockwave’s hand in apology.
He left his hand there, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his dear friend’s presence. It was a shame they were so often busy, that he longed for even these fleeting contacts.
“No, no, that’s not for me.” Attempting to wrangle police officers was one thing, but he was no teacher. “I—“
“Hold on, there’s more. You see, I have a number of students who could benefit from your experience.”
Ah, yes, Shockwave’s outliers, the students he had taken in that the precepts of the Functionist Council would have otherwise excluded from so much of public and civil life.
“I don’t know about that, Shockwave. I don’t know that I’m really the right kind of influence—“
“No, Orion, I’m quite sure that you are. Besides, I’m also sure they may be just the inspiration you need going forward.”
When Shockwave smiled like that, Orion found that he didn’t have the willpower to refuse, especially not with their hands touching like that.
“Alright, I’ll spend some time with them.” And with Shockwave.