fireside
transformers ;; ratchlock ;; wc: 482 ;; fantasy au, same verse as the other fantasy au. fluffyish.
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"Why didn't you kill me?" Ratchet had asked him, and Deadlock wasn't sure what to say for himself. He'd killed hybrids before- wore their pelts as though they were normal animals. It made little difference to him, already an assassin, if they were partially human or not. "It can't be because we're protected by the Guard. I know you don't care about the Guard. So why? I'm not..." Ratchet trailed off, looking down at the ground below them. It was a dirt patch, so no stray embers would set any grass alight. "I'm not the man you met in the kingdom. You know that."
And yes, Deadlock did know that, and he knew exactly why he hadn't killed Ratchet. "You're you," he figured, hoping it would be enough, because that was truly the reason. Despite there being a mark on his head, despite him being free food, despite, despite, despite, he'd kept Ratchet alive, refused to hurt him. He'd ignored all of it because it was Ratchet. "Same as back then or not."
That response seemed to appease the boar-hybrid for a while, who curled into Deadlock's side. The fire was beginning to die down, and Deadlock carefully shifted the wood a bit to try and keep it burning. They sat together like that for a while, just listening to each other's breath. "I think if someone tried to kill you," Deadlock added gently, his voice barely loud enough to be heard, "they would need to get through me, doc." The words felt natural, instinctual. It did not change how true they felt.
Deadlock looked down to see Ratchet's response, only to instead find that the boar-hybrid had fallen into rest, leaning against the hunter's improvised and fur-stuffed armour. It was interesting, Deadlock thought, to be trusted like this, with such obvious blood on his hands. He took one of his larger pelts from his carrier- that of a bear- and wrapped it around Ratchet's shoulders, to give the boar an extra bit of warmth as the fire truly began to die.
He cast a hesitant glance at the sky. Not full just yet, but tomorrow, tomorrow would be the day. No matter. Deadlock could leave before the sun rose, and undoubtedly before Ratchet woke up. It would be one night, and then he would return, and it would be as if nothing had happened at all and Deadlock had never left. Everything would be alright. He would not hurt Ratchet when he was human, he would not hurt Ratchet at all. He would be gone before Ratchet woke.
For now, though. For now, he would like to stay and savour the huddling warmth of the boar for just a bit longer.
When Ratchet woke up the next day to find Deadlock gone and a hefty pelt wrapped around him, he did not panic. Ratchet knew he'd be back. He always was.