Work Text:
Drift walks down a pathway in the woods. The woods were dark, with the trees preventing most of the daylight from getting through the trees, but the woods are darker now that it's night. The team getting separated at sundown has Drift worried this was planned. The longer he takes to find the others, the more worried he becomes.
"Drift?!" He hears Crosshairs call before seeing his light, "are you ok?"
"I'm fine, you?"
"Same, but I haven't found any of the others."
The two continue on the path.
The two walk a few miles. Only the sound of an owl can be heard as they continue to walk until they suddenly hear tree branches moving. Too loud to be an animal. They hope it's the next of the others, but they realize they're under attack. Ten Decepticons surround them. Saying nothing, the two fight their attackers.
The two Autobots struggle to fight the ten cons off and are quickly captured. Neither expected to hear clapping.
"Excellent," a mech says, "the traitor and his partner."
Drift is horrified to see Turmoil, "you betrayed me, Deadlock, and you will pay."
Drift watches, horrified, as Turmoil walks towards Crosshairs, revealing a blade as he approaches the mech. Drift knows what the con is going to do. He struggles to break free.
"Leave him alone!" Drift begs.
"It's more fun to make you watch him die and deal with the lose than if I kill you," Turmoil smiles and stabs Crosshairs in the abdomen. Enjoying Crosshairs scream in pain. Drift is horrified watching Turmoil move the blade up to Crosshairs' chassis, continuing to smile as Crosshairs screams in pain. Drift sees the life fading from Crosshairs' optics. Crosshairs is released. His body fell to the ground with a loud thud. Drift is freed, and the Deceptions quickly flea.
"Crosshairs!" Drift yells, rushing to his body. Knowing there's nothing he can do, "Crosshairs!" He yells into the sky.
"Drift?!" Drift hears his name being called but can't focus, "Drift, wake up!"
Crosshairs is terrified. This isn't the first time Drift has had a nightmare, but he's never screamed in his sleep. He tries to wake Drift up but worries he's adding to Drift's fear.
A few minutes pass until Drift's optics online.
"You're ok,* Crosshairs tries to assure him.
"No, they'll kill you," Drift panics.
Crosshairs hates hearing Drift struggle to breathe and feels Drift's servos shaking. Drift feels dizzy, and his spark beating faster.
He's in danger. They're all in danger. Drift panics.
"Drift, look at me," Drift hears Crosshairs, "we're ok."
Crosshairs knows this isn't enough to help Drift. Crosshairs tries to remember what helped the last time centuries ago quickly.
Breathing exercises while his servo is on my chassis, feeling my spark. Crosshairs remembers.
With Drift focused on him, Crosshairs puts Drift's servo on his chassis and gets him to breathe in his nose and out his mouth. Crosshairs does the same while holding Drift's servos. Which results in feeling Drift's arms tremble.
Within a few minutes, Drift is calm. Crosshairs knows Drift is likely afraid to go back to recharge. Crosshairs lies on the berth beside Drift, keeping ahold of one of his servos.
I've never been certain about whether I should encourage him to talk about his nightmare. Crosshairs thinks. Now is definitely not a good time. I'll likely cause him to have another nightmare.
Crosshairs worries this wasn't a sudden nightmare, and Drift will be dealing with them frequently again.
Drift's optics get heavy, and he gives into going into recharge. Crosshairs knew Drift would fight going into recharge for a while and isn't surprised it took him an hour. Crosshairs goes back into recharge but worries about Drift.