[Open] The worst is over now...?

[shutupndrive]

WHO: Smokescreen and whoever finds him
WHERE: Near the lake in Alpha Trion's quadrant
WHEN After the events with him and Bulkhead having to kill Optimus.
WHAT: A certain rookie is overcome with grief.
WARNINGS: N/A


Smokescreen had fled.

He probably should have stayed near Bulkhead, stayed with his teammate and helped him with..well..everything but the rookie couldn't handle it. Having to offline Optimus, having to be there when it happened, it wasn't something that sat well with him.

At all.

His spark felt heavy and his mind was a mess, the young Autobot not knowing what else to do but flee. So he did, making a break for the only place he really felt safe on this odd version of Cybertron: Alpha Trion's quadrant. For what seemed like forever he just drove, going in circles and just trying to forget everything that had gone on but things were never that easy. The death of someone he admired, looked up to..it wasn't something easy to just shake off, no matter what war had taught him and eventually he'd worn himself out to the point that he barely managed to transform, sinking down to sit by the edge of the lake.

Smokescreen's doorwings were heavy on his back, hanging almost completely limp as he drew his legs up and wrapped his arms around them tightly. It was childish--he was acting like a sparkling doing this but he just couldn't help it.

Primus did it hurt.

He felt like an absolutely failure, a disgrace to the Autobots because he hadn't been able to do anything to help. Their Prime had needed them--needed him--and in the end, Optimus had died because they couldn't help him. A large part of Smokescreen wished that it had been him, wished that he could have just traded places and been the one to die. Optimus Prime..he was everything to them. He was their hope for the future really and now he was gone.

A shudder coursed through him and Smokescreen dropped his head, optics offlining as he hugged his legs closer to his chest. The same word kept repeating itself over and over in his head, drowning him in the unanswered question...

Why?

Comments

[shutupndrive]

Smokescreen winced some, unable to look at Perceptor before he really was starting to hate the fact that he was a lot younger than all the others. He was inexperienced and just..not on par with his comrades.

And it sucked.

"Yeah...guess so. Unfortunately," he murmured, feeling the urge to just go hide somewhere now and just..he didn't even know what. He was feeling more and more inadequate as of late. And Smokescreen knew it wasn't going to do him any good to wallow it was just hard. Really hard sometimes.

He glanced up at the other, feeling like he was getting a lecture all of a sudden and he wasn't really sure how to take it. What Perceptor was saying was very true but...that didn't mean he wanted to hear it at the moment.

"You don't think I've been growing up? I'm just not--I haven't had the experiences others have had, and I know that's no excuse but I have no idea what I'm doing or how to handle any of this!"

[sciencetank]

"How is it unfortunate? As I understand it, 'young' Autobots are rare to find in... many universes."

Apparently, it doesn't occur to the tank that what he said could have been misconstrued. Though, when Smokescreen spoke again, the thought did occur to him.

His head tilted.

"I didn't say that."

Perceptor went silent for a moment, studying Smokescreen as if the younger Autobot were some new, interesting, bit of data. One hand tapped his chin.

"Perhaps you don't now," he said. "But you've quite a lot of time to learn, don't you?" Yellow optics glittered, as he smirked, ever so slightly. "Likely... that would be the reason Optimus suggested Commander Magnus and I look out for you. The, ah... wisdom of experience."

[shutupndrive]

"Because the likelihood of me doing stupid things is a lot higher. I have this think about making a fool of myself sometimes," Smokescreen admitted, doorwings sagging even more now because he knew that he was still very 'green', as Arcee had always said.

It just sucked.

His optics flickered as Perceptor spoke, thinking what the other said over for a moment. Maybe that was the reasoning; maybe Optimus was looking for someone to teach him in his absence. Though why hadn't he asked Bulkhead?--though maybe that was just a given. (Which, he really did need to go check on his teammate.) Smokescreen's optics flickered again as he snapped out of his thoughts, focusing on Perceptor again and nodding just a bit, the faintest of grins appearing, though there wasn't a whole lot behind it; not yet at least.

"Yeah..maybe...you think you've got things to teach me then, Percy?"

[sciencetank]

"Yes, well, that's a given, however..." He held up a finger. "The same can be said of many 'elder' Autobots as well. No one is immune to foolishness."

Except for those with vast amounts of intelligence, such as himself, of course. Even if it seemed that Magnus thought otherwise about him. He looked away, back over the lake, for a time, until Smokescreen spoke again.

"I have many things to teach," he said, noting that slight grin. Good. An improvement. "Though I'm not terribly certain if molecular fusion is of any use to one such as yourself."

A beat, and he scowled, faintly.

"Perceptor, thank you."

[shutupndrive]

An amused sound escaped Smokescreen before he could stop himself.

"Yeah..I guess that's pretty true," he agreed, his grin staying in place--possibly even growing just a touch more--when the other bot scowled at the shortened name that had been used. "Right, sorry. I'll try and remember that, sir," Smokescreen said sincerely, or maybe it wasn't all that sincere. It was hard to tell.

Either way, there was still a look on thanks in his optics.

"Molecular fusion probably isn't but in general, I think you've got a lot of wisdom and stuff to pass on...so I guess it won't be so bad having you looking out for me if I need it."

[sciencetank]

If Perceptor had eyebrows to raise, he would have done so just then. Sir. Now, that sounded good. Not that he intended to let it go to his head, but, respect was nice to have, every now and again. "I'll accept that," he said, brightly.

Regardless of the sincerity of the remark.

He inclined his head slightly, in acknowledgment.

"Of course it won't be. You'll learn much, I'm certain."

[shutupndrive]

"I'll keep that in mind then," Smokescreen mused softly, figuring respect was something he could give the other since Perceptor did honestly seem to be trying to help him.

The other was kind of interesting, amusing even, so it wouldn't be all bad. He wasn't Optimus Prime but few were..so Smokescreen would make the best of what he did have.

"I hope so. I look forward to it."