Chapter Text
Ratchet carefully ignored Megatron’s last sentence. Something deep inside him was simmering angrily just hearing it.
And something about what Megatron had said made no sense.
“Why didn’t Optimus use the updated machine ? Why waste his chance with the unupgraded prototype ?”
“That is not yours to worry about.”
Megatron’s posture was strong, fierce, like all the times he’d seen him over the eons of the war. However, his frame was betraying him. Like all those years ago.
He’d never told the Autobots about those tells - someone would have been suspicious of something if he could pinpoint physical giving signs of the Decepticons’ leader.
Megatron’s servo-bundles were far too rigid, like he was focused. Like he was wisely choosing what he was doing and saying, like he was playing his cards carefully - closely comparable to when he was giving one of his public speeches. Ratchet knew him enough, even after all these years, to know he was hiding something.
Which Ratchet wasn’t really surprised by, but was still somehow hurt by it.
“What was your plan, exactly ? Take me, tell me this, then what ? Keep me prisoner here forever so that Optimus won’t be able to use our bond against you ? You do know I won’t stay still and be a good pet to play with, right ?”
Megatron’s optics narrowed sharply.
“You are no pet.” He paused. “For now, you are nor a Decepticon, nor a prisoner.”
Megatron's gaze and voice hardened to cold steel.
“However, if you try in any way to get back to the Autobots, I will have no quells to assign you that last role.”
His words confused Ratchet.
“What am I if not your prisoner?”
Megatron looked at him for some time before turning and making his way toward the door. He completely ignored the question.
“You are free to roam the Nemesis, -“ Ratchet’s stupefaction made him forget momentarily his frustration.“- but be aware that everything you do will be scrutinized.” Traduction: Soundwave will be watching you very closely. And that was without talking about his bond with Megatron - who would feel him at all times. “The only place without surveillance you will have access to is this berthroom.” Ratchet frowned. This was his berthroom? Megatron was now in front of the door. He didn’t turn around to speak. “I don’t have to tell you that outside of this berthroom I am Lord Megatron and you are an Autobot medic. We will have to act accordingly.” His helm turned halfway toward Ratchet with something...something he couldn’t quite place in his optics. He talked lowly, almost gently. “Don’t forget to look under the berth.”
Ratchet felt his intake open slightly. Megatron turned around, hit the lock and made his way out, the doors closing gently behind him.
How did he dare saying that in a moment like this ?
It had been one of their many intimate dog whistles – meaning to say ‘always check you’re safe before letting your guard down’. It had been D-16’s way of telling Ratchet to always check his aft when he was going in the underground districts and lower levels to see the then-gladiator. It was also the last thing his conjunx had told him before he’d left him alone in a dark alley before he’d started the war.
It was the last time his D-16 had spoken to him.
And it clearly still was an open wound.
One tear made its way down Ratchet’s faceplates before he frustratingly rubbed it away.
His processor, which had already been frustratingly slow before his exchange with Megatron was now begging of him to go back to recharge.
His frame was trembling slightly and he wasn’t sure he could walk yet.
Feeling depleted, he drank the energon cube left beside him.
After some thinking, he decided to go back to recharge for now.
After all, he was in a – actually, not only a, but the - Decepticon warship and his movements were to be heavily monitored.
He wasn’t getting out soon in any way.