Chapter Text
First Aid blinked behind his visor, unsure how such a routine check-up could have taken such a turn. He felt his tanks do a flip as he looked up at his Captain, who eyed him expectantly.
“Well? Am I dying or can I go now? I have some time scheduled with Drift before Magnus hunts me down for more paperwork.”
First Aid straightened up stiffly before raising a digit and opening his intake to reply. Except he didn’t have the words. So he promptly shut it after a few moments of silence.
“Ok ‘Aid, very funny, but the jokes over. You’re actually starting to scare me now.” Rodimus said as he tried to peer down into his own chest to see what was causing all the fuss.
“Um, just one moment Rodimus, I’ll be right back with Ratchet.” First Aid said quickly, he turned and was out the door before the Captain could call him back.
First Aid didn’t like admitting when he didn’t know what to do, but in this case he didn’t feel at all bad about seeking the help of Ratchet. This was much more personal than medical as it was, so he felt almost as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have. He hoped Rodimus wouldn’t be angry with him for what he had seen–for what he now knew about the speedster.
“Is Rodimus’ check up done already?” Ratchet chimed as First Aid approached the CMO’s desk, “That was fast, he must be in a hurry–” Ratchet’s words faltered when he looked up for his work and caught the energy in First Aid’s field.
“Is something wrong?”
“Has uh,” First Aid looked around to make sure no one else was around and listening in, “Has Rodimus ever told you about his sparkmate– who it is?” First Aid asked hurriedly.
“He doesn’t have one, his spark ignited without a name on it’s casing.” Ratchet said, quirking a brow at him.
“But have you ever looked?” First Aid asked in a harsh whisper.
“What’s all this about ‘Aid?” Ratchet stood from his desk, leaning over at him.
“J-Just now, as I was checking his spark casing, I–uh… I saw a name.” First Aid shrank back a little as Ratchet’s optics narrowed.
“Though I’ve never checked myself,” Ratchet said slowly, “I’ve seen his medical files. It wasn’t ever some bluff he made, he really had no name on his casing.”
“Ratchet, I’m telling you,” First Aid said insistently, “There is a name.”
“Whose name?” Ratchet asked, still soundly incredulous.
That made First Aid pause. He didn’t even want to say it out loud. Doing so would acknowledge the very private thing he had seen.
“Whose name, ‘Aid?” Ratchet repeated, growling.
“You should probably see for yourself.” First Aid said after swallowing dryly around his words.
Rodimus flailed his arms after the medic as he left him sitting on the mediberth, his chestplates parted to the open and chilly air of the medbay.
He sat in silence, trying to keep his nerves from rising. He hadn’t had a flare up in years, now all of a sudden his casing was bothering him again. From the look on First Aid’s face, he might actually have something to worry about. He supposed his luck had to run out at some point. Perhaps breaking the Matrix meant that he had inadvertently caused himself damage? Maybe it had been keeping him alive this whole time and now that it was gone he was starting to die?
Rodimus chuckled airily to the empty room, “That would be a real bummer.”
He didn’t want to die. He still had so much he wanted to do still. He had so many things left undone, including his quest to find the Knights. He let out a shuddering breath and wondered briefly how many of those he had left in him.
He jolted in his seat as the door opened and Ratchet entered the room, First Aid in tow. He tried his best to put on a front of embarrassment.
“Ratchet! Knock first! I’m all exposed in here!” Rodimus chided, covering his spark with his hands and turning away coyly.
“Ain’t nothing I haven’t seen before.” Ratchet said as he approached. Despite his efforts, the medic definitely caught his nervousness in his field. As Ratchet projected comfort and reassurance with his own.
“So…” Rodimus looked between the medics, “Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all!” First Aid said quickly, “Nothing life-threatening, I assure you.”
“Gotta admit, that last part isn’t as reassuring as you think.” Rodimus said as he fidgeted with his hands.
“First Aid wanted me to double check something he thought he saw, Rodimus. It’s not a big deal.” Ratchet said, approaching and silently asking to see behind Rodimus’ still parted chest plates.
Rodimus narrowed his optics but allowed the medic to proceed. After all, if there was one bot he could trust with his life, it was Ratchet. He relaxed and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to vent evenly.
The medic peered inside his casing, whispering to First Aid, “Where was it that you saw it?”
“Down here, see it there?”
“That looks like a weld.”
“No, just below it, it runs along the edge there.”
There was a pause before Ratchet uttered something that made Rodimus’ want to jump out of his plating.
“What? What is it?” Rodimus demanded angrily, sitting forward suddlenly.
“Calm down Rodim–”
“I will not be calm! I just heard you swear an oath to Primus out loud!” Rodimus thrust a digit at the medic, “Tell me what’s wrong right now!”
Ratchet turned to First Aid who was cowering behind him, “I’ll handle this from here, thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
The other medic nodded and retreated from the room, which was quickly beginning to heat up from Rodimus’ outburst. Ratchet drug over a stool and sat down in front of Rodimus.
“Firstly, I have a few questions. You’ll probably be able to see where I’m going with them.” Ratchet unsubspaced a datapad, “The first thing I want to know is if you have ever faked any of your medical files.”
Rodimus was taken aback, “No? Why would I need to?”
“Your medical files confirm that you were ignited without a sparkmate’s glyphs on your casing.”
“Yes, I even looked a few times myself with a mirror… Ratchet, why?” Rodimus felt a little numb, he could see where this was going, but his processor didn’t want to jump ahead.
“Well,” Ratchet paused to scratch his chin, “Hot Rod might not have had a sparkmate… but Rodimus Prime does.”
There was a pregnant pause between the two. Rodimus almost glared in disbelief.
“How is that possible?” Rodimus asked after a long time.
“No idea. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of it.” Ratchet said.
There was an air of tension surrounding Ratchet still. Which made Rodimus hesitant to ask what he was dying to ask.
“So,” Rodimus started, “Who…?”
Ratchet’s face fell for a moment, “Just so you are reminded, me and ‘Aid are sworn to confidentiality, we won’t ever tell anyone.”
Rodimus didn’t like that answer, “Ratchet you’re kind of scaring me.”
“To be honest, I’m a little scared too kid.” Ratchet unsubspaced a mirror, “You should probably see for yourself. I’m afraid you might not believe me.”
Rodimus gently took the mirror and, with Ratchet’s guidance, found the name on his casing.
“Who is… Nortagem?” Rodimus quirked a brow ridge at the medic who gave him an exasperated look.
“Read it backwards.”