NaNoWriMo 2013 Chapter 8

[dens_extra_pups]

Chapter Eight: A Matter of Trust

Bulkhead found WakeJumper in the training room, either attempting to knock a punching bag through the nearest wall, or trying to break the seams on it by punching it repeatedly with a force that surprised even the seasoned Wrecker. "WakeJumper?"

WakeJumper startled, looking over his shoulder at the older mech with an almost feral look that vanished so swiftly that Bulkhead thought he might have imagined it. "Hey, Bulkhead. Did you need me for anything?"

"I came to see how you were doing. I know Special Agent Fowler can be a real pain in the crank case, but he did not mean anything bad." Bulkhead reassured the younger mech, reaching with one grasper to carefully touch a shoulder.

WakeJumper sighed, shrugging the opposite shoulder before answering. "Maybe, Bulk, but it would not be the first time extra security measures were put in place because I showed up somewhere. You know what they say about Quads. If you ever get into an argument with a Quad..."

"You let him win. I know. I know." Bulkhead finished with a slight frown. He had only heard rumors regarding the strength and ferocity of Quadriate sparked mechs, including how they could go 'aggro' and would tear apart teammates and enemies alike until they were either out of energy or killed by a stronger mech. It had frightened him, at first, when the young medic had admitted that he hailed from Quadriate, but WakeJumper had quickly proven that he was about as dangerous as Bulkhead himself.

Yeah, the guy had some quirks, but at this point, there was not a bot who did not. Whether it was an almost obsessive need to organize the supplies, or a distinct preference for not being touched, no Autobot or Decepticon had gone through the war unscathed. Even Bulkhead himself had some scars to his name, though most of his were physical, as opposed to mental. It was the nature of the job. Being a Wrecker, then being a member of Team Prime, Bulkhead had seen more than his fare share of battles, and had survived to the next day.

"Say, I have an idea, Wake. How about you and me go a few rounds in the ring? Hand to hand, no holds barred." Bulkhead gave the young Quadriate medic a cheerful grin, hoping to break the younger mech out of the funk he was in. WakeJumper blinked a bit, considering, before nodding.

"Alright, but no whining if I kick your aft, Bulk." With that, WakeJumper was moving to head for the ring.

"Yeah, right." Bulkhead said with a chuckle. To be perfectly honest, the former Wrecker did not have much faith that the Quadriate sparked medic would be able to last very long, probably no more than two or three rounds at most, even in a friendly spar. Certainly not four or five rounds, as Bulkhead was often fond of doing. "What do you say we make this into a betting game? If you win, I give you part of my candy stash. If I win, you give me part of your candy stash?"

WakeJumper nodded. "That sounds like a fair bet." With that, the younger mech was moving to get into a fighting stance, legs spread shoulder width apart, balance on the pivot points of his pedes, and both hands up, one ready to block, one ready to punch. Bulkhead adopted a similar stance, rolling his shoulders a bit as he waited for WakeJumper to make the first move, knowing the Quadriate medic was waiting on him to do the same.

For several moments, neither mech moved, each waiting for the other to initiate the sparring match. Then Bulkhead smirked. "Marco."

WakeJumper blinked, confusion crossing his face "Er... Pol-ACK!" He only had astroseconds to react before Bulkhead was tackling him, and then the two were grappling on the floor of the ring. Bulkhead had the weight advantage and experience, but WakeJumper was quickly proving that he was far from a pushover, despite being caught off guard momentarily.

Bulkhead had to hand it to the medic. Even with nearly being pinned several times, WakeJumper still managed to get at least an arm free each time and would fight back enough to nearly pin the former Wrecker. Though as the fight continued on, it seemed Bulkhead was in danger of being pinned more often, and in more and more painful ways than before. After a particularly painful near pin, Bulkhead decided to put a stop to the match, before he or WakeJumper got hurt. "Alright, Wake, we should stop before one of us gets hurt."

WakeJumper growled, seeming not to have heard the older mech. It was then that Bulkhead caught sight of the strange glow of optics and even stranger expression on the face of the medic. Reacting instinctively, Bulkhead gave the younger mech a good, solid whack on the back of the head, earning a startled sound, and confused blinking from WakeJumper. "What was that for, Bulkhead?"

"You were acting really weird. And you did not hear me when I told you to call it quits." Bulkhead stated, frowning with concern as he watched a look of panic cross the face of the young medic. "Wanna tell me what is up?"

"I... I am so sorry. I did not hurt you, did I?" WakeJumper sounded frightened, and very worried, even as he moved to scan the former Wrecker.

"I am fine, WakeJumper. You did not do any damage that I would not have gotten sparring with Wheeljack or any other Wrecker." With that, Bulkhead was helping WakeJumper to his pedes and giving the young mech a solid clap on the back that had the medic stumbling slightly.

"Easy! Just because I can handle a lot of punishment..." WakeJumper said, teasingly. "I wonder how loud Ratchet will yell if we show up with scratched paint and dented afts?"

Bulkhead took a bit longer to answer than normal due to laughing hard enough to rattle armor.