Work Text:
The practice of mnemosurgery was known for physically and mentally exhausting its practitioners,stories of professionals who had lost their minds or even ripped them off with their own hands ran like whispers through the academy's halls,profesionals insisting that something was chasing them because of their dreams,that it was stealing their bodies,gnawing at their wires from the inside.
It was no wonder why Chromedome was so terrified of a full recharge cycle,spending every night reading datapads,pacing the corridors and chronically cleaning his needles as if they were always clogged with grime,when he was overcome with fatigue,he would sleep for about four or five cycles with a few restless interruptions.Not that Overlord minded;Phase Sixers were designed to endure on the battlefield,so the need to recharge was more of a suggestion than a necessity,not that he would complaining about having a mech that would handle boring tasks because he couldn't find any excuses to not sleep.
To absolutely no one's surprise,Chromedome is more tetchy when he's sleep retired,stuck in the medical room or staring out the window with that melancholic expression of a kicked turbo fox,that perpetual expression of anger and weariness was starting to seep into his very being,for better or for worse(not that it mattered to differentiate);the way his shoulder pads and visor drooped,how irritable he was becoming during their sessions,his needles becoming more sharper,more aggressive as they probed the brain module,yet still maintaining the professionalism of a true expert,it was quite exciting to watch him destroy the memories of such a bot,a comment that earned him a smashed audio receiver and a visit to a doctor with a legally questionable license for both of them(the fact that Chromedome couldn't handle a dislocated shoulder wasn't his problem).
He Remembers seeing him sticking a pin in some sensitive wire to avoid fainting,the phase-sixer decided he had seen enough,any way,he couldn't learn mnemosurgery properly if his instructor wasn't 100% in his capacity.
He didn't have to look far to find him cleaning the remains of dried energon on the stretcher, frowning and with an emp field that screamed "don't bother me",muttering nonsense about the quality of the disinfectant,the triple changer shortened the distance until he was a few centimeters from his back,the other mech for his part didn't bother to turn around when a giant shadow covered the entire table.
"Overlord..."-he cleared his throat-"you'd make this day a little less unbearable if you'd get out of my sight"-Obviously,he didn't heeded,closing the distance between them and hugging him from behind,Chromedome tried to ignore him, resuming his cleaning,applying circular motions with the cloth to the energon stains that were beginning to turn dark purple.Everything was going normal until the blue mech buried his faceplate against his neck,taking a moment to inhale the ex-forensic scientist's chlorine scent before planting kisses from his audio receivers to his shoulder,the menmosurgeon let out a listless sigh as he ran his thin servos along the other's neck,having learned to accept displays of affection-"as I said..." -he continued,ignoring the larger mech's caresses-"I'm busy,still have many tasks to complete"
He didn't respond,the mnemosurgeon was about to threaten to disarm both of his audios when he was lifted off the ground by the abdomen-"Overlord!"-he shouts,more out of surprise than anger,still not used to being lifted off the ground like this,he claws at his arms in an attempt to break free from the Phase Sixer's hard grip who just laughs at his useless attempts as they walk quickly through the corridors,it's not until they reach Overlord's quarters that they stop.
"Put me down!,Put me down now!"-he demands,renewing his clawing as the mech closes the door behind him and lies down on the bunk with Chromedome pressed into his grip, the huge servos wedging his chassis and hips possessively.
"Let me go"
"Sweet spark"-he ignores the former forensic scientist once again-"could you remind me of the last time you recharged your energy?"-the mnemosurgeon couldn't help but be unmoved by the affectionate nickname,the triple changer has picked up that bad habit knowing the effects it had on him-"I rested more than enough last night"-he replies dryly.
"Last night you woke up at least 3 times and none of them were to give me a kiss,Is that excuse of recharge you call resting?"-Overlord replies with a fake tone of indignation.
"Says the mech who only needs to sleep once every two decacycles"-he spits defensively, turning his visor to anywhere but the stupid face of the triple changer,at least until the taller one grabs his chin,two servos positioned at the ends of his mask,only needing to apply a little pressure to chip the paint;the touch distracts him from struggling and regaining eye contact-"Oh Chromedome,I love the way you talk like you have a chance to negotiate with me"-he whispers passionately before deforming the latches on his plate, almost ripping it off his face in the process.
After a long reprimand that the triple changer wouldn't remember after a few hours,and two attempts by the mnemosurgeon to stab his optics,they remained entwined in a prolonged, initially uncomfortable stillness,the only sounds came from the soft hum of their motors.Chromedome stared thoughtfully at the ceiling,Overlord's grip didn't loosen even when he seemed to be reloading,his thin,whitish servos now forcibly interwoven with larger,more solid ones,he closes his optics,hesitant to try to rest,knowing the effects of mnemosurgery on his processor,It struck him as bitterly ironic,how could the residues of accumulated training sessions since his first weeks at the academy,stuck like rust in his mind,prevent him more from resting than a machine designed for war that was twisting him like a pillow.
He rests his helmet against the phase-sixer's chest plate,disconnecthing his optics and lets out a tired sigh,gives the other one one last fleeting look,the closest thing to a good night he will receive from him and for the first time in many night cycles,he rests deeply,or at least enough so that Overlord's faint smile goes unnoticed.