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Knockout would currently find himself racing against humans, the Earth's moon rising behind him.
It was his way of getting away from the Nemesis’ chaotic nature, but also his way of remembering his and Breakdown's home planet, Velocitron.
All of those memories before they were plagued by the war on Cybertron. He'd only been visiting but got caught in the crossfire.
“Knockout?”
A familiar rumbling voice echoed through his comm line.
“Hm?” Knockout replied with a hum.
“Screamer’s lookin’ for you again.” The bruiser stated bluntly.
“Where’d you go? Out racing again?” Breakdown asked, domestic affection seeping into his tone.
Knockout didn’t have to reply. His Conjux already knew him well enough.
“Heh… Reminds me of home..” Breakdown said, nostalgia evident in his tone.
Knockout gave a chuckle in reply.
“You coming back soon?” The bruiser asked, unable to hide the impatience in his voice.
“Mhm, I’ll head back after I win this race.” Knockout replied as he neared the end of the final lap.
“You’ll win, you always did.” Breakdown said softly.
“I still do.” The racer replied confident, slowing to a stop as he finished the final lap, watching the small humans storm out of their vehicles as they arrived after him.
Knockout revved his engines loudly to tick them off as he left, eager to get back to his dear conjux.
Knockout stepped onto the Nemesis, greeted by the unfriendly expression on Starscream’s face.
“Knockout! Where have you been?!” Starscream seethed, clenching his servos at his sides.
“Calm down, Starscream, I was just out for a little drive, that’s all.” Knockout returned with a shrug, placing a servo on his hip.
“Lord Megatron expects the best of us! You can’t just disappear like that to Primus knows where! A true Decepticon doesn’t abandon his duties to go drive around with organics!” Starscream roared.
Starscream took a moment to yell a bit more, rambling on and on about Knockout’s racing tendencies and how he didn’t understand why he wouldn’t pick flight over remaining grounded.
Knockout had learned to ignore the Seeker’s incessant chatter, taking the time to brush some dirt off of his chassis.
Primus, how does anyone on this ship deal with such an annoying mech?…
Knockout wondered if Breakdown was waiting for him in their recharge quarters… He’d probably get Breakdown to buff up his finish a bit more once he got there. He wondered if-
“Knockout! Are you even listening?!” Starscream barked, breaking through Knockout’s thoughts.
“Hm?” Knockout hummed in confusion.
“Did you hear a single thing I just said?!” Starscream repeated.
“Ohh!” Knockout looked up at him, seemingly just now starting to listen.
“No.” He said bluntly.
Before Starscream could process his words, Knockout walked away, leaving the Seeker practically fuming and yelling to himself in the corridor.
Knockout headed down the corridor, instinctively heading to the medbay instead of his quarters.
“Breakdown!~” The medic called out as he stepped into the repair bay, assuming to check there first.
“Knockout! Finally, you’re back.” Breakdown greeted, looking over at Knockout.
“Didn’t want to keep you waiting.” Knockout grinned, watching the other mech walk up to him.
“How was your race?” Breakdown asked, stepping out of the repair bay and waiting for Knockout to follow.
“Fine. I won, as always.” The racer said with renewed cockiness.
“Though I have a dent or two. One of those pesky fleshlings had the audacity to try and bump me off of the road. I returned the favor of course.” He growled as they both entered their personal recharge quarters.
“Serves it right for messing with you.” Breakdown said, matching his partners disdain as sat on the edge of the berth, watching as Knockout reached for the buffer.
“Of course it does! Do those things know how much time and effort I put into looking this polished?!” Knockout scoffed, lifting his arm to buff out a dent.
Breakdown snickered slightly at his partners ramble as he fixed up his already pristine finish.
“Don’t get too worked up over it, Knocks, you still look as perfect as ever.” Breakdown said with a smirk.
“Of course I am, what else would I be?” Knockout shot back.
Breakdown shook his helm, sighing deeply with a smile.
“How was your day?” Knockout returned the question.
“Ran into Bulkhead on duty today.” Breakdown hissed the name out like it was a slur, annoyance evident in his tone.
“How’d it go with that brute?” Knockout asked, he knew the two had a long history of hatred towards one another.
“Good, I guess, got a few hits in before the rest of those Autobots showed.” The bruiser shrugged.
“Hm…” Knockout hummed in reply. He could have sworn he’d heard Breakdown say all of this before… Maybe it was just déjà vu…
The silence was off. Uncanny even. Usually Breakdown would have offered to help him at this point or something.
“Hmph. Could you help me with this instead of just sitting there doing nothing?” The racer huffed, glaring at his conjux.
“I’m sure you can manage.” Breakdown said with another shrug.
“Breakdown, please.” Knockout scoffed, lowering the buffer and putting his servos on his waist.
Breakdown just shrugged again and remained seated, silently shifting his servos into his lap.
Knockout frowned, lowering his servos completely and looking at Breakdown directly in the optics, something irked at the back of his processor but he couldn’t pinpoint it. He brushed it off for now.
“Breakdown, what’s the matter with you?” Knockout asked, masking his concern with annoyance.
Breakdown didn’t reply, he just met Knockouts gaze silently, looking unnervingly stoic.
“Breakdown, answer me.” Knockout said, taking a step closer.
“Knockout, what are you doing?” Breakdown asked. But it didn’t sound like Breakdown. It sounded like… Himself?
Was his processor messing with him? What was going on?
“What am I-? What are you talking about?” Knockout asked, baffled.
“Get over it already.”
Knockout came to a realization as he sat down on the berth where Breakdown usually did, the berth creaking slightly under his weight.
“He’s gone.” The voice in his helm echoed.
Knockout looked down at his servos which were now shaking slightly, the next words coming out in barely a whisper.
“I’m just… Talking to myself…”