Work Text:
“Irohide, what–?”
Optimus’ confused question was enough to make both twins turn, just in time to see Ironhide fall to the ground one hand groping toward the knife in his neck. They looked up from their mentor’s frame in unison and locked optics on the new threat, a slender mech called Discerner who had just been elected to the senate and who had wheedled the Prime into attending the opera with him tonight.
Discerner was lifting a pistol to fire at one of them as the twins lunged toward him. Sunstreaker charged into the slender mech, shoulder slamming into his abdomen and sending his arm up and blaster bolt into the ceiling. Sideswipe slammed a fist into the mech’s face hard enough to break optic glass and crack cheek plating.
Discerner was offline on the floor before Sideswipe had even pulled his fist away. Sunstreaker left his twin to secure him, and turned his attention to the Prime.
“Are you injured, sir?” He couldn’t help glancing down at Ironhide, even as he asked. The old mech was bleeding out on the floor, but his optics were still online and his plating bright red.
“No.” Optimus sounded rattled. “But Ironhide…”
“He was doing his job, sir.” Sunstreaker stepped toward them and crouched down next to his mentor. Ironhide grabbed his hand when he reached down to check the injury, and Sunstreaker let himself feel relief. If Hide was about to die, he wouldn’t be trying to reassure him.
“I’ve called for a medic and a prisoner transport,” Sideswipe broke in. “How’s Hide?”
“Still kicking.”
“Good.” Sunstreaker heard his brother stand and approach the Prime. “The assassin isn’t going anywhere, but we should get you to a more secure location, sir.”
“No.” Optimus’ voice was firm, all of his previous shock shoved down somewhere inside. “Not until Ironhide is on a transport headed for Iacon Regional.”
Sideswipe sighed, a sound that Sunstreaker echoed. There were some times that their Prime just would not be swayed, and they had both learned not to bother fighting the battle. “All right, sir, but will you at least step back enough that Sunny can do some first aid?”
Sunstreaker smirked to himself as Sidewipe pushed until the Prime stepped back a bit. Then he reached into his subspace and pulled out a first aid kit. He could, maybe, get the bleeding slowed before the emergency medics arrived.
”Good job, kiddos,” Ironhide commed a moment later. ”Don’t worry ‘bout me, I’ve had worse in training.”
“The frag you have, old mech,” Sunstreaker replied. Then he applied a container of coagulant around the injury and sat back on his heels to wait.