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The bar was dingy and dim, the floor was sticky, and Ultra Magnus could see at least 6 individuals with significant bounties. He hated it here. He also couldn't just leave. More than the desire to clean up the criminal activity in this — at best dubious — outer rim supply station, Ultra Magnus had someone important to meet.
He was so focused on being irritated with the location his companion had chosen, that he almost missed their arrival entirely. The bar didn't quiet, since intimidating figures stalking in was the norm here, but the mech that had arrived wasn't being particularly quiet either.
Ultra Magnus resisted the urge to roll his optics — because that would be unprofessional — and instead simply let a long, quiet sign of air out of his vents. The stool beside him scraped loudly as is was pulled out and Sixshot sat down heavily in the seat, groaning and promptly dropping his head down on the bar top.
“Hey, Magnus. You have any trouble on your way in here?” Sixshot asked, helm still resting on the stained and dented bar top.
“No, my trip was uneventful. For a fringe station, the people on board and in the area are surprisingly tolerable. If you can ignore the staggering number of mechs with bounties trying to keep hidden out here.”
“Hnnn, yeah, that tracks. This sector really is pretty quiet, you’d never think it, such a nice, quiet area, a favourite place for criminals on the run, or the wrongly accused to disappear.”
The conversation was nothing special, but Ultra Magnus still felt like it was making his spark feel warmer. Now that he was here with a mech that was more-than-a-friend, but less-than-a-beloved, Ultra Magnus realized how crushingly lonely he’d been.
He’d come to respect Sixshot after the war started, and during it, they’d come to some mutual agreement based on that respect. They both were incredibly good at their jobs, as potentially the only mechs that could understand the feeling of being them .
“I didn’t notice,” Magnus said sarcastically, “Why did you invite me here? Our next meeting isn’t supposed to be for another couple of stellar cycles.”
Sixshot didn’t reply right away, and when Ultra Magnus glanced over at him he was glaring at the bar top. After another moment, he replied.
“I have something important I’d like to talk to you about, actually. Let’s move over to an empty table though, I don’t wanna talk about it at the bar.”
Nodding, Ultra Magnus stood up with Sixshot. They each ordered one engex, then made their way towards one of the farther tables near a wall in a corner. Magnus was curious, their visits of course sometimes turned maudlin, but for the most part they just complained about their leaders and fellow soldiers. Or had a bit of fun together, whatever mood struck them, they could indulge.
Finally seated, Sixshot took a drink of his cube and then started without preamble, “I don’t know why I’m still a Decepticon, Magnus.”
That…was not what Ultra Magnus had been expecting. Sixshot didn’t say anything more, seemingly content to let Magnus digest that for as long as he needed.
“What…What do you mean by that? You haven’t had a problem remaining a Decepticon this long, what’s changed?” The question came out a little rougher than Magnus had intended.
“There was…an incident. You know how I try to look out for the Terrorcons, because they’ve attached themselves to me and, besides you, they’re the only ones who aren’t really afraid of me. They were taken, and I went to get them back, but this enemy, they were just playing with me. Wanted me to join them, but at a price. I had to kill the Terrorcons. I couldn’t do that to those idiots...”
Sixshot trailed off, but Magnus waited for him to continue, there was more, and he also didn’t know what to say anyway. An enemy that was too much even for Sixshot? Very concerning.
“I couldn’t do it, so I left, and they let me. Ever since then though…I’ve been thinking. You know, that I haven’t enjoyed the planet sweeping in a very long time, it’s…pointless, and there’s no pride to take in it. Not that there’s been much of that lately. The war’s cooled off everywhere except the front really, and I haven’t gotten new orders in at least a few vorns. We just drift around space, engaging the odd Autobot, and driving off any known hostiles from Cybertronian rim space.”
This was…a lot to take in for Ultra Magnus. It was a little surprising he supposed, Sixshot was generally pretty content in his role. Other times they had talked though, Magnus was remembering, there had been hints of this. Something he could only see in hindsight.
“Alright, so you’re tired, and you don’t want to just keep drifting pointlessly anymore. Is there anything you want to do?” Magnus was very much out of his depth, comforting people was not his speciality. For Sixshot though, he would try. What they found in each other was too important to let it go.
“I don’t know. I could just start up being a bounty hunter, think I heard through the rumor mill that’s what Deadlock’s doing again now, but eh, it doesn’t really spark anything. I can’t defect, because no Autobot in their right mind would allow it or sponsor me. I can’t just go neutral, because then I’d probably never get to do anything interesting any more. Magnus, I don’t know what to do.”
Ultra Magnus didn’t know what to do either. So they sat there in silence, drinking their engex, and stewing in their thoughts. When they were done, Ultra Magnus had an inkling of an idea. Sixshot might not agree, but that was okay, it was just a suggestion, Magnus had nothing to lose in offering it. Plus, if Sixshot agreed…he’d be less lonely.
“If you had a sponsor, would you consider defecting? Or, even working with an Autobot long enough to see if you would stand to defect? What about the Terrorcons? Do they know what you’re thinking? Would they follow?”
Sixshot looked at Ultra Magnus assessingly, and Ultra Magnus remained firm under the scrutiny. The question was genuine, and so was the unspoken offer. Optimus was always willing to give mechs a chance if they were genuine, and Magnus thought, in this instance, Sixshot might genuinely be open to a change.
“I hadn’t thought about it seriously, who’d even sponsor me, you?” Sixshot said.
At Ultra Magnus’ silent, slight nod, Sixshot boggled.
“Wait, you’d seriously sponsor me if I wanted to turn traitor? Isn’t that like, a conflict of interest considering whatever it is we’ve got going on?”
“Sixshot, I’ve seen a lot of bad things, I lead the Wreckers. If you seriously want to become an Autobot, or even just work with me directly for a while, to see if you could stomach it, I would do that for you.” Ultra Magnus said seriously.
Sixshot was stunned.
“...Yeah. Yeah, I think…Could we do that? I think, if it’s you, I’d like to try. As for the Terrorcons…I think they know something hasn’t been right since they were taken. They keep trying to cheer me up. It’s kind of cute actually. I can ask them, they may follow me still, or they may choose to leave.”
Ultra Magnus smiled, and reached across the table to take Sixshot’s hand in his.
“Then let us finish up here, and you can go back to your ship to discuss with your followers. Comm me when you’re finished and let me know the final decision. There’s no rush, I don’t have anywhere to be, and if it’s for you, I don’t mind waiting on this filthy station for a few days.”
Sixshot squeezed Ultra Magnus’ hand back, and it felt like something new to Magnus.
“Alright, I’ll comm you when I know if they wanna tag along with me still, or if this is a bridge too far for them.” Sixshot squeezed Magnus’ hand one more time, then stood from their table. He didn’t let go right away though, first he leaned forward and rested his helm against Ultra Magnus’ for a moment before drawing away.
“Thank you, Magnus. I’m glad that I have you.” Sixshot said quietly.
Magnus smiled softly, “You’re welcome, Sixshot. You’re important to me, so if I can help, I want to.
With that, Sixshot turned and left to return to his ship and have another serious conversation. Ultra Magnus remained in the horrible bar for a while longer before returning to his own ship.
This was going to be interesting, no doubt about that. It probably wouldn’t be easy, either. The best things in life rarely were though, and Ultra Magnus was more than willing to put the effort in to make this, whatever it might become, work.