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It’s not a noise that wakes Ratchet from his recharge, but quiet. It’s too quiet, and immediately, his suspicions are roused.
He slides off of his berth and makes his way immediately to Optimus’s room. After a few customary knocks, which receive no answer, he uses his medic override code to enter.
It’s empty. Of course.
“Old fool,” he grumbles, making his way to the command center in search of his wayward comrade. “Can’t sit still even for one night.”
Of course, Ratchet isn’t one to talk, but at least he’d been making a worthy attempt at rest.
He’s about halfway to his intended destination when he hears a noise from the washracks. He quirks a brow and makes a detour, where he spots the mech he’s looking for leaned against a wall, attempting to scrub himself.
“I thought I ordered you to bedrest.”
Optimus jumps, which gives Ratchet some satisfaction despite himself. You may be Prime, but you’re right to be intimidated. No one messes with the medic.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he confesses sheepishly, like a sparkling who’s been caught. “And what of you, Ratchet? You promised me you’d get a full night’s rest as well. You were performing surgery for most of the day.”
“And may I remind you who I was performing surgery on,” Ratchet counters. “My sixth sense told me to check on you. You shouldn’t be straining yourself after the injuries you sustained.”
“I’m sorry. I got restless, but I thought a wash would constitute a self-care activity.”
Ratchet sighs and approaches, won over by those pitiful blue optics. Optimus does need a wash. His armor is still caked in mud and filth from the battle. Ratchet had done his best to wipe down what he could while he was tending to the wounds, but he hadn’t been as thorough as he would have liked.
“Here, let me.” He takes the bottle of solvent from Optimus, gesturing to a nearby bench. “Sit down. You look like you’re about to fall over.”
Optimus does as he’s told, face still flushed with guilt. “You don’t have to do this, Old Friend.”
“I know. But I want to.”
Optimus’s mouth curls into a slight smile, and damn if that doesn’t tug at Ratchet’s spark. He pours some solvent into his hand and begins to scrub, starting at the plating on Optimus’s back, where the large mech would no doubt have difficulty reaching.
“You were reckless today,” he says.
“I was,” Optimus agrees.
It’s not so much an argument, but an acknowledgement. An unstoppable force against an immovable object. Optimus won’t stop putting himself at risk, and Ratchet won’t stop worrying about him. But at the very least, the medic can be there to take care of him in the aftermath.
He continues to work in silence, taking his time to scrub away every fleck of dirt or splash of energon from his leader’s plating until it shines. Ratchet takes advantage of his medic’s hands, digging into stiff joints and massaging strained cables. Optimus makes a soft noise of pleasure, engine rumbling in a low purr.
“There,” Ratchet says at last. “You’re clean. Now, please get some rest.”
“I will,” Optimus promises. “Thank you… for everything. I know it must not be easy for you to see me like this.”
It’s true. Though it’s Ratchet’s job, a part of him still aches every time one of his comrades comes back injured. He wishes he could do more to protect them, but instead, he’s left to pick up the pieces.
“I’ll be here to take care of you for as long as we both function,” he murmurs, cupping Optimus’s face in his hands. He hesitates, then leans forward to press a gentle kiss to his leader’s forehead.
Optimus practically glows with adoration, and Ratchet gives a small laugh. Primus, he’s cute like this.
“I have one more request for my medic, should he be able to carry it out.”
“Oh?”
“Would you like to recharge next to me tonight? It gets rather lonely in my room.”
Ratchet makes a show of pausing to think, but they both already know what the answer will be.
“Hmm, I suppose I can indulge you.” He grins, letting Optimus lean against him as they make their way back to the Prime’s room.
As they curl up together beneath the warm mesh blankets, Ratchet thinks that perhaps there are perks to being the team’s medic after all.