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Knockout made sure to step loudly on the gravel and announce his presence as he approached the edge of the rooftop. The view from the top of the Decepticon base on Chaar was amazing, and Knockout liked to sit up there and imagine what his squad’s project would look like when it was finished, silhouetted against the sky, a massive monument to Decepticon power. It was just a concrete slab and some I-beams for now, but when it was finished, it was going to be one of the greatest wonders of the universe.
Usually, he walked quietly, so he could feel the awe that filled him every time he thought about it. Lately, he’d taught himself to be a little louder so he wouldn’t scare his new friend. Breakdown was skittish and didn’t like mechs sneaking up on him. So Knockout didn’t sneak.
They had been friends ever since Breakdown had reset Knockout when he shorted out in the energon bar downstairs. Knockout had thanked him and, from what he could understand, Breakdown was attracted to the way Knockout treated him with the basic courtesy every sentient being deserved. From that time on, Knockout had let Breakdown sit on the roof with him. Knockout knew Breakdown was avoiding his team, but he didn’t ask questions. That was private stuff. Besides, he would hide from his team, too, if Hammer was like Motormaster.
“Hey. I’m here.”
Breakdown looked up and let Knockout sit next to him. “Hey. I uh… got you something.”
Knockout smiled, leaning back on his hands. “That’s sweet. What is it?”
Breakdown opened his hand to show Knockout a twisted, charred piece of metal.
“Oh. That’s…”
“Yeah. It’s from that wall you guys built. Nice work out there. I thought you might want to remember it. Saved my scrap more than once.”
Knockout pushed Breakdown’s hand away. “I don’t need it. I’m kind of over the whole remembering thing. Grit says nothing we do will last except the impact we have on the Decepticon empire. I’m okay with that.”
Breakdown looked down at the chunk of metal in his hand. He’d never thought of that. “Oh.”
“It’s fine. I’ll take it, if you want me to have it.” Knockout picked up the piece of metal. “I think I’ve made enough of an impact. And the things I’ve worked the hardest to build aren’t going away anytime soon.”
“Right. That’s you guys.” Breakdown looked out at the half-built structure just outside the boundaries of the base. “What’s it going to be when it’s done, again?”
“Not that.” Knockout looked at Breakdown. “That’s Hammer’s pet project. I’m… talking about this. About what’s happening here.”
Breakdown nodded slowly. “Here?”
“Right here.” Knockout set his hand on top of Breakdown’s. “I like building stuff, but I also like building relationships. Grit is wrong. Some things will last forever, even outside of Galvatron’s regime. Even if you switched sides or the empire was crushed tomorrow, you would still remember me. That’s what I want.”
Breakdown looked down at their hands.
For a while, they just sat there. The quiet was nice. Peaceful.
“Knockout?”
“Yeah?”
“I was going to go get some target practice later.”
“Okay?” Knockout looked at Breakdown. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Nothing. Just thought I’d tell you. If Hammer doesn’t need you for anything, I thought it’d be cool if… you know. If you came with me.”
Knockout laughed nervously. “Really? Me? You think it would be cool if I came with you? That’s… That’s great. I’d love to. Just let me―”
He started to stand up, but once his weight was off the edge of the roof, the excitement got to be too much. His optics flashed white, then went out.
Five minutes later, Knockout came online and slowly registered his surroundings. He was on the ground, looking up at the sky. He could see the rooftop where he and Breakdown had been sitting high above him. Breakdown wasn’t there. He wasn’t standing over Knockout, either. Only Hammer and Grit were there.
Grit was kneeling next to him, helping him sit up. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” His voicebox was a little crackly and his arm was twisted from the awkward way he’d landed on it, but otherwise he was in pretty good shape for the fall he’d just had.
Hammer looked up the side of the building and whistled. “Damn. We’ve gotta fix that circuit. What happened? You just worked yourself up looking at the monument?”
Knockout shook his head, a little embarrassed. “No. I was up there with Breakdown. He invited me to go shooting with him.”
Grit sighed. He rubbed his fingers against his temples. “Oh, is that all? Scrap. You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
Knockout looked between Hammer and Grit. “What? Got what bad?”
“Breakdown.” Hammer smiled down at Knockout. “You like him, don’t you?”
“How could you tell?”
Grit pointed to the sheer side of the building. “He asked you to do a totally normal thing and you couldn’t even get away from the edge before you shorted out. I’d say that’s pretty bad.”
He hauled Knockout to his feet, then he and Hammer slowly started to transport him to the repair bay. All the while, Knockout tried to protest and say that he hadn’t fallen head over heels for Breakdown. He’d just fallen off a roof for him. Nothing incriminating about that. He failed to mention the fact that his hand had been crushed shut still holding the piece of useless scrap Breakdown had given him.
He’d only accepted it because it was from Breakdown.
Maybe he did like the bigger bot. Just a little.