Rodimus's Lessons in Leadership, step one.

[niyazi-a.livejournal.com]

PG
IDW MTMTE
Drift/Rodimus
no warnings, minor spoilers for Death of Optimus Prime, and fluff
for tf_rare_pairing weekly request response: Rodimus/Drift always an adventure.

“You realize how crazy this sounds,” Drift said, settling himself on the table, drawing out one of his swords.

“You’re the one saying it,” Rodimus grinned. The Knights of Cybertron. Mysterious relics. A quest. Count him in! He was so far in he was already halfway out the other side.

“You’re the one thinking anyone will come along with it,” Drift countered. He tugged a whetstone from a storage compartment, beginning to sweep it down the blade.

“Why wouldn’t they?”  Rodimus planted his feet.  “Adventure, heroism, saving the world!”

“Some are tired of risking their lives.”  The whetting continued, a steady rhythm. Everything about Drift was steady, settled, like a foundation sunk deep. Sometimes it drove Rodimus crazy, the way all things settled and calm did.  But sometimes, like now, it was a wall to lean upon, one he knew would hold his weight.

“And some aren’t!”  Exhibit A.  He cocked his head, grinning. “Hey, look, even if no one comes along, but you, me and Ultra Frownus, it doesn’t matter. It’s not a popularity contest.”

“Good thing,” Drift said, quietly. Even he’d have a hard time choosing who was less popular: himself or the lawmech.

“Besides,” Rodimus said, propping one hip on the table next to Drift, “I’ve got charisma enough for both of you.”

Drift gave a grin, leaning over his sword, as if trying to hide the expression.  The expression did look a bit strange on Drift’s face: he was more used to Drift’s almost forced expressionlessness. It was encouraging.  And almost a challenge, to Rodimus, a clue to some mystery, or a dangling thread that, of course, he had to yank. 

“And come on.  Bumblebee.” He didn’t need to say anything more.  Bumblebee, in charge. 

A flicker of a darker expression. “He does his best,” Drift said, keeping himself forcibly neutral, the whetstone’s slide over the blade slowing off its rhythm. 

“He’s changed.” Rodimus frowned. He didn’t like talking bad about Bumblebee. But the yellow mech was no leader. He’d proven that over and over again on Earth.

Drift shook his head.  “Not as much as you think.” 

Rodimus grinned. “That’s why I try not to think.  Look at the trouble it gets you into.” He turned, boosting his other leg up onto the table, sitting beside Drift.  From here, the red scallops of the spaulder glistened under the light, partly hiding the lean face, the exotic, tilted optics.  Good for combat. Not so good for this kind of thing.  Drift never seemed unarmored o unguarded.

A quiet snort. “Don’t think any of us have changed,” Drift murmured.

“Really? Me? You?”  Rodimus reached over, playfully tapping the Autobot insignia on the other’s chassis. 

Drift shook his head, pausing, meeting Rodimus’s gaze. “External stuff. Who we are, who we really are: you , me, Bumblebee, any of us. The war didn’t make us, it just revealed us.” He held up the blade, showing a long band of fresh silver, where the whetstone had sloughed away dull metal.  “Like this.” 

Rodimus laughed, leaning over, and pulling Drift against him, the red shoulder armor pressed against his chestplate as he pulled the other into a brief, startled kiss.  Drift’s hands clung to the whetstone, the sword, suspended in midair, surprised, while his mouth parted against Rodimus’s, head tilting back into the kiss. Rodimus pulled away, slowly, almost reluctantly. Ex-Decepticon or not, Drift was a good kisser.  Or maybe that was part of why.  You know. Bad boys. Kind of hot. As Rodimus should know pretty damn well himself.

 “That’s better,” Rodimus murmured, his voice husky but light, “I see I’m going to have to stop you from overthinking everything.”  He bumped his nose against the heavy nasal armor, teasingly.

“Interesting method,” Drift said, blandly, though Rodimus could feel the aroused thrum of his EM field against his.

Refusing, Rodimus thought, to give him the satisfaction.  He winked. He’d just have to try harder. “Effective, though.”

Something seemed to twitch over Drift’s face, mouth uncertain, as though trying out a new and unusual shape, before a laugh, rich and raw, burst from his vocalizer. It was, Rodimus decided, a good sound, the sound like a plant’s first shoots breaking through the soil, full of promise.

“Going to be an interesting ride,” Drift said, ducking his head suddenly back down, over his work. 

“Stick with me,” Rodimus said, wiggling closer, tweaking one of the scabbards dangling from Drift’s hip. “Life is for living. And I live it hard."  Another cheeky wink, and this time, Drift leaned over, just enough to bump his shoulder, shyly. Oh yes.  This quest was going to be an adventure.

Comments

[kisaracrystal.livejournal.com]

Interesting and cute pairing! I love it!

[playswithworms.livejournal.com]

Oh golly. Your Rodimus. Gotta yank the dangling thread, indeed XD And he and Drift are just too much fun - loved it when Drift laughed (also reminds me, my little zinna seeds I planted under the grow light at work are sprouting already, eeeeeeeeeeeeee plant babies spring growing things yay).

Ultra Frownus *giggles unrepentantly*

[k0tja.livejournal.com]

Wow! Nice story,love them both *__*

[ladyofdragons.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love your Roddy. Just fantastic. And I have always loved your Drift. Never stop! *flails around in all the wonderful*