From his first days in the science academies, fumbling his way through so many academic partnerships, only for the other mechs to quickly drift away - some more rapidly than others as Perceptor's intellect outstripped them - to his days with the Wreckers, the brief, achingly perfect time of Kup's high regard, and Drift's affection, he'd only ever wanted this. Acceptance. Approval. Connection.
Touch.
Kup hadn't really appreciated him, but that hadn't truly mattered once the veteran had taken Perceptor under his metaphorical wing after his upgrades. Once Kup had seen how useful Perceptor really could be and had slung his arm over Perceptor's shoulders and adopted him into his personal fold.
Drift, Perceptor was coming to realize with Rung's help, had merely seen him as a success. A life saved, a notch on his sword, a debt owed. It hadn't mattered, though, when Drift would sidle up to him, lean shoulder to shoulder with him. It had been worth it, then. It still was worth it, as Perceptor looked back on those memories, for the comfort that touch had brought.
He'd wanted it so much, for so long, only to be held at arms length by everyone.
But no longer.
He shivered as Rung's lips ghosted across his own. The softly purred words washed through him, and he slowly folded down to his knees before Rung. His hand trembled as, greatly daring, he lifted it to hesitantly rest his fingertips against the back of Rung's knee.
"None of the others care for me at all, here. Just you," he admitted in a slow, almost silent whisper. "Brainstorm just doesn't bother with lying about it like they do."
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From his first days in the science academies, fumbling his way through so many academic partnerships, only for the other mechs to quickly drift away - some more rapidly than others as Perceptor's intellect outstripped them - to his days with the Wreckers, the brief, achingly perfect time of Kup's high regard, and Drift's affection, he'd only ever wanted this. Acceptance. Approval. Connection.
Touch.
Kup hadn't really appreciated him, but that hadn't truly mattered once the veteran had taken Perceptor under his metaphorical wing after his upgrades. Once Kup had seen how useful Perceptor really could be and had slung his arm over Perceptor's shoulders and adopted him into his personal fold.
Drift, Perceptor was coming to realize with Rung's help, had merely seen him as a success. A life saved, a notch on his sword, a debt owed. It hadn't mattered, though, when Drift would sidle up to him, lean shoulder to shoulder with him. It had been worth it, then. It still was worth it, as Perceptor looked back on those memories, for the comfort that touch had brought.
He'd wanted it so much, for so long, only to be held at arms length by everyone.
But no longer.
He shivered as Rung's lips ghosted across his own. The softly purred words washed through him, and he slowly folded down to his knees before Rung. His hand trembled as, greatly daring, he lifted it to hesitantly rest his fingertips against the back of Rung's knee.
"None of the others care for me at all, here. Just you," he admitted in a slow, almost silent whisper. "Brainstorm just doesn't bother with lying about it like they do."