[ti]Flashback[/ti]Show Me How To Be Whole Again [ Closed | Knockout ]

[Knock Out]

It may have been merely a suggestion that came from Knock Out. The words and tone used portrayed as such. But underlying the words spoken was an order – one he hoped that Breakdown would be smart enough to listen to and follow. Knock Out was the Medic here, and therefore he knew best. Breakdown needed to rest. Well, no, he needed his processor tweaked just slightly to adjust to the missing optic. But that wasn't going to happen – not with Breakdown like this.

He had done well, though. Knock Out would give him that one. Knock Out had poked and prodded, installed an optic patch, a new weapon, cut into Breakdown's chassis and cleaned up the mess left behind by MECH, including a tracking device. And that was just what Knock Out had done on this day – there was all the trauma that Breakdown had been through at the hands of MECH on top of that.

So no wonder his patience was running a little thin.

It was all the more reason to rest, though; and bumbling around the Medical Bay trying to pick up tools, making things worse, knocking more things over? That would just frustrate Breakdown more.

And yet that's what Breakdown did. Knock Out leaned back against a bench with his arms folded. He wouldn't comment, nor would he suggest again that Breakdown should go rest – hoping he'd work it out on his own. It was painful to watch, in a way – he wanted to go help, to rush in and tell Breakdown that it was fine, that he would do it, but that would just rile up Breakdown's temper – and Knock Out didn't want him to lash out when he could barely even navigate the room. The possible damage from one wrong swing could be devastating – he'd already thrown one medical berth and bent it into a 'V' shape, and Knock Out would like the rest of the Medical Bay – and himself – to remain unscathed.

“I can do the rest, Breakdown. Please, go rest. I insist.” He finally commented after he couldn't watch any more of Breakdown picking tools up slowly. He just hoped that Breakdown would listen to him this time.

[Breakdown]

     Breakdown wanted to be angry at his partner. He wanted to yell at him, tell him to stop ordering him around and to just back off and let him do this but... he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to do any of it. He knew that, even if his partner was self-centered and egotistical and only really thought of himself most of the time, in his own way, it was only out of concern that he was telling him to stop. To go back to their quarters.

     He had went through enough of an ordeal. He needed the rest. He needed to be alone so he could find his center. Something about being in his chassis had spooked Knock Out and though he wouldn't admit it aloud? He knew it to be true.

     "... Alright..." he finally agreed. He stood up with the tools he had managed to gather and set down down as carefully- slowly- as he could. At least Knock Out wouldn't have to pick up all of them. "Hey... Knock Out? Thank you. For helping me... making me whole again. I know you would have preferred to replace my optic but- as much as I know it upsets you- thanks for at least letting me have this." Breakdown didn't look at the medic as he turned and slowly made his way to the door, sliding his pedes along the floor just to make sure he wouldn't knock himself into anything and make an even bigger mess for his partner. When he finally made it to the door he rested a servo on it and looked over his shoulder to the medic. "I'll see you in our quarters later. I'll practice adjusting to my missing optic and get better as fast as I can so I can return to being of use to you. I won't be down long- medical leave or not."

     With that he took his leave, making his way to their quarters where he would settle himself onto the berth and lay there, staring at the ceiling, until recharge finally became too much to ignore and he slipped off into it.

[Knock Out]

Knock Out also wanted to be angry at his partner. To tell him to stop being so damn stubborn about this, he wanted to get him to admit that he was beat here, to make him realize that he needed to listen - and to rest. That trying to force things wasn't going to help matters, or the situation at all. But - he also couldn't bring himself to. The gentle nags would be as far as it would go, after all – Breakdown was as stubborn as they came at times, and if he didn't want to listen? Knock Out's rank meant very little in moments like this.

Thankfully, though, it seemed Breakdown had finally had enough. Knock Out was just as stubborn, annoyingly so - and could've kept up the nagging for as long as needed; not to mention he had the tools at his disposal to switch to more, ah... underhanded means of getting to Breakdown to rest if necessary.

The first word spoken from Breakdown made him vent out softly in relief. The words that followed? Made him gently quirk a brow.

“Don't mention it, Breakdown. Just doing my job, after all – as for the patch? Ah, I'm sure I'll get used to it in time. It suits you.” He gave a genuine smile at that. While he wouldn't have ever dreamed of something like that for himself, if it helped Breakdown some? Then Knock Out wasn't going to complain or comment. At least not out loud. Right now? He hated the damn thing. It looked alright, sure, but it was a constant reminder of what'd happened at the hands of humans and the start of what would no doubt be an uphill battle with Breakdown's mental state. One step forward, two steps back... Then again, it was too early to tell just how badly it'd all affected his partner.

He kept a wary gaze on Breakdown as he began to make his way to the door. He noted at how careful and how gentle the bigger mech's steps were, and could tell that he was putting a lot of thought and effort into making sure each step was as cautious and steady as the last. At least he was going somewhere safe – and as long as he went straight from here to their quarters? He shouldn't have any issue navigating the corridors.

“Mm?” He'd stand up a little straighter as Breakdown turned to look at him once more. “Yes, I'll see you there. As for your optic? We'll do the necessary tweaks tomorrow – after you've rested, and only if you're up for it. Then, we'll go from there. No promises about getting you back in the action quickly - but we'll see.” He winked at that, and would give a quick nod as if dismissing his partner from the room.

As Breakdown left, Knock Out vented out a long, heavy sigh. Alone now in his Medical Bay with the gentle ambiance he was more than used to. Usually, he found an odd sense of calm in the familiar noises of the room and enjoyed working alone amongst them. The soft hums of machinery and computers working, the occasional beep and click from diagnostics machines and other screens. The noises and very room itself may have unnerved most on the ship, but not Knock Out.

Without Breakdown, the quiet wasn't so soothing today. He couldn't put his finger on as to why – but knew he needed to distract himself, and fast. Luckily there was much that needed to be done. Paperwork would have to be filled, detailing Breakdown's injuries in full – locked away once complete, of course, so that the big blue mech couldn't know just what MECH had done, and had almost done. Then, he would have to seek out... Shockwave? Soundwave? He wasn't sure. Probably Soundwave. That tracking device was worrisome – and if they could tinker with it to find out how it worked? Maybe they could reverse engineer the signal or something. Or maybe he could keep it – and see if MECH had the gumption to make their way up here to the Nemesis...

Oh, if he could only get his servos on some of them...

As Breakdown got some much needed recharge, Knock Out would work dutifully in the quiet of his Medical Bay – filling out log after log, meticulously detailing everything that'd been done. It was business as usual aside from that, Vehicons filed in for their checkups and routine maintenance – a few commenting and asking about the big blue mech who was strangely absent from the room, but it was rather uneventful apart from that. Hours passed, and at the end of a very long day, after the documentation had been encrypted and filed away? Knock Out would return to his shared quarters.

-End-