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Breakdown wasn't trying to be nosy. He'd heard that Bee was taking the day off, and it had been a while since they had the time to hang out. Bee was off doing great things and Breakdown—well Breakdown hadn't done much of anything lately. Bee wasn't in the Malto's yard when he pulled up, so he figured he had to be in the dugout, which is why he was close enough to the barn to overhear a conversation going on.
"—says he got hurt in battle, but my book says it was just an accident. Which one is telling the truth?"
It was one of the kids, Breakdown didn't know which one by voice. He heard an older man—probably Alex Malto—say, "Well, the actual history on what caused Bee to lose his voice box varies, especially depending on the target audience. Can't exactly tell children all the gory details of war. Besides, I think that's a bit personal, JB. Why not ask Bee yourself?"
"We tried!" Another young voice. "He said to ask you, because whatever you know is true."
"Hmm," said Alex. "If he wants you to ask me. According to the information provided in the logs given to historians, Bee was injured during the Battle of Praxus. Behind enemy lines he was caught and he was held hostage. They tried to get him to tell the Autobot secrets, but he wouldn't, so they had his voice box surgically removed. They did a lot of other bad things to hurt him, and then they let him go, not expecting him to survive."
There were some gasps, and one child said, "That's awful!"
Outside the barn, Breakdown frowned, brow ridge coming down. That's not how that happened, he thought. Sure, some things were accurate, it happening during the Battle of Praxus for example. But everything else was completely wrong. Breakdown must have made a sound, because the barn door opened and four pairs of eyes were on him.
"Uh," he said. "Hello."
Alex said, "Oh, hello! Breakdown, right? What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for Bumblebee," Breakdown replied sheepishly.
"He's not here right now," a young girl said, with big brown eyes. Breakdown thinks her name was Mo. That meant one of the other bots must have been JB. Jawbreaker, if he remembered correctly. The one with the dino alt-mode. He couldn't recall a name for the purple one.
"Ah," Breakdown said. "I'd better get going then." He began to back away from the barn.
"Stay," Alex said. "I was just informing the kids on Cybertronian history. Specifically during the war."
"I heard some," Breakdown said. "I'm not sure where you got your information from, but it's wrong."
"What do you mean?" Alex asked. "These logs were given to us by the Autobots. Are you saying they're inaccurate? What reason would they have to falsify their own records?"
Breakdown shifted from pede to pede. "I can't say for sure about all of them, but I was there when Bee's voice box was—" He struggled to think of a gentle way to put it. "Damaged."
"You were?" Jawbreaker said, eyes wide. "That must have been so scary!"
It wasn't something he liked to think about, and definitely not something he wanted to share. He just didn't understand the reason why the report was wrong. He wasn't there when it was reported—he couldn't be—so it meant Bee must have lied. On record. Why would he do that?
"You have to set the record straight," the purple bot said. "For the history books of course."
"I—" Breakdown started. "I don't know if it's my place. Bee made that report himself. He would have had to. I shouldn't have said anything, I'm probably misremembering. And besides, it's not really a story for kids."
"Hey!" the purple one said. "We literally saved you and all other Cybertronians. I'm sure we can handle it."
"Very true, Hashtag," Alex said. "They may be young, but they have lived through a lot."
Breakdown wasn't sure what to do. It wasn't really a story he wanted to relive. Most certainly not to Bee's family. It was one of his worst mistakes. But…the records made it seem like Bee did it all of his own accord, like he failed and was captured. Damage during the war was no fault of one's own, but it seemed like Bee took the blame for all of it.
Breakdown had to tell them the truth, and if they thought less of him for it, they were right to. He stepped into the barn, sitting on a large bench that seemed to be made for Cybertronians. The kids smiled as they ushered him in.
"It's not a fun story," Breakdown started. "At all. So, if it gets to be too much, please stop me. I guess I should start with the biggest truth. Bee's voice box was damaged because of me."
A very, very long time ago…
Breakdown was really in it this time. His arm was pinned, he had a brutal leak somewhere, and his comm was damaged. He had no access to his long range radio, and now he was stuck, away from his team, trapped. He pulled, and his shoulder and arm lit up with pain that licked throughout his chest cavity and down his spinal strut.
None of his messages could get through. Primus, what an idiot. Why did he think it was a good idea to sneak off? He thought they could surely handle that small team, why couldn't he take a break for a bit? Now, it looked like this would be the last break he ever took.
Breakdown was ready to give up. He sent out a ping, nothing. He had no other choice. He just had to hope someone came within range.
[SENDING…SENDING…SENDING]
Breakdown tried to kick at the rubble, but he got nowhere. His ping continued out. It was such a short range, there was no chance anyone would be out this far. He could try to detach his arm, but that still left the leak, and he could feel himself growing weaker by the second. Removing his arm might expend the rest of his energy. If he couldn't reach someone, that would be his last ditch effort. Primus, he hated this. He always knew if he died it would be his own fault. But not like this. Not bleeding out from a timed explosive the Decepticons set.
(And why the pit did they not have that area marked off?)
[RECEIVED — CONTACT KNOWN]
Breakdown blinked. There was a mech nearby! Oh, thank Primus! He might have a chance. And it was someone he knew, meaning they might care enough to actually help.
[CONTACT — B-127 AUTOBOT — SEND [YES] [NO]]
Oh. Maybe not.
What choice did he have? It was chance enough that Bee was even in this area, and the 'Cons already blew this place to the pit, so they'd have no reason to be here. Why was Bee here? He could feel his pulse beginning to slow.
"Scrap," he muttered, letting his helm fall back. He sent out the message. There was always the chance Bee wouldn't show, and then Breakdown didn't have to worry about facing him. If he showed, would he just point and laugh? It was better than dying alone.
Bee arrived soon after Breakdown sent the message. He was crouched low, looking over his shoulder before he crouch-ran over to Breakdown.
"Breakdown," he whispered harshly. "What happened?"
"Something stupid, obviously," Breakdown said. "I know I'm probably the last mech you want to see, but if you could help me." He thought about not saying it, but he wanted to help his chances. "Please."
"Of course I'll help!" Bee said. "Primus, who do you take me for?"
"Someone much better than me," Breakdown said, voice filling with static. With Bee's help, Breakdown's arm was free, and instead of ditching him immediately, Bee went ahead and put a rough seal on the wound on Breakdown's torso, which looked so much worse than he thought it would. It was bulky, but it did the job.
"Thank you," Breakdown said when Bee was done. They were sitting in a different area, one with more coverage. Neither of them had talked much, and the awkward tension was back now that they were no longer focused on keeping Breakdown alive.
"It's no problem," Bee said. He looked much worse for wear than the last Breakdown had seen him, but then again that was a long time ago—the time where they were still friends. Bee looked hardened, serious, and didn't that make Breakdown's spark ache.
"You don't have to stay," Breakdown said, not able to look Bee in the optics. "You shouldn't be here anyway, it's dangerous."
"I can't leave," Bee said. "I was here on recon. I'm supposed to be out for several more cycles before I have to report back."
"Go back early," Breakdown said. "Staying here with me is too risky. And you're not getting any information here."
Bee was quiet for a bit. He looked anxious. He tapped two digits on his thigh plate, contemplating.
"I," he said after some time. "I missed my window."
"What?"
"I only had enough time to get in or help you. You can see what I chose."
"Bee," Breakdown said, voice breaking. "You shouldn't have done that."
Bee's brow ridge came down, and he scowled. "Why not?"
"Because we're enemies! Primus, Bee, you just ruined your mission for me. This could cost the Autobots the battle. The war! Do you have any idea what you just did?"
"No," Bee said, standing and moving in front of Breakdown. Even as he sat, Breakdown was only slightly shorter than Bee. "I can't tell you the future. I just know someone I—someone needed help, and I helped. My team doesn't stop me from being a good mech."
Their current height difference wasn't that large, but Breakdown was feeling very small.
"Bee," Breakdown said. "Of all the mechs, I'm the one who deserves your help the least."
"Maybe," Bee said, looking away and crossing his arms. "But I make my own decisions."
Breakdown would have moved mountains for this bot. Or maybe he wouldn't. His own desires were always outshined by his unwillingness to dedicate himself to someone so worthy. Something he wasn't. He didn't have the chance to respond before they heard voices. Faint, but getting near.
"—spotted in the area, so keep an eye out," came a voice.
"Aye, sir!" two voices replied.
"Scrap," Breakdown said, as Bee ducked.
They looked at each other. The 'Cons would be on them soon, and that spelled bad news for both of them. There was no hiding Bee, the insignia would give him away. And if Breakdown was spotted conversing with him like friends—which he wasn't sure if they were, but it wouldn't matter to the Decepticons—then he'd be seen as a traitor.
"Bee, you have to get out of here," Breakdown said, so quietly it was barely there.
Bee shook his head, "No time, I'll be spotted. You have to make it seem like you captured me."
"What?" Breakdown had to hold himself back from shouting. "No way. Prime will destroy this entire city if you're taken hostage."
"Just do it," Bee said. "Or we're both dead." Bee had already started rubbing the remains of the building onto himself, scraping the paint off, making it seem like they had fought. Breakdown pushed their arms together, making sure the paint transfer would help sell the story. Bee got onto his chest, laying down, and Breakdown restrained his arms.
When the Decepticons were nearly in view, Bee said, "Let go of me!" He struggled hard, and even though he wasn't really trying to get away, with his injuries, Breakdown was having a hard time holding him.
"Quiet, Autobot!" he yelled, pushing Bee's helm into the ground. "You'll tell us everything, I'll make sure of it." He wouldn't join an acting troupe anytime soon, but it made for a compelling scene when the 'Cons ran over.
Aw, frag. It was Swindle and Hardtop. Which meant that—
"I see you've caught a pest," Onslaught said, not far behind the two brothers.
"Er, yes," Breakdown said. "He was sneaking around the grounds. He's Prime's scout."
"I'm sure that's all he is," Hardtop said, arms crossed.
"And what were you doing here, Breakdown?" Swindle asked smugly. He knew Swindle and Hardtop before the war started, and they knew that he and Bee had hung out together on occasion. Breakdown wasn't worried about them saying anything, he was more worried about what Onslaught was going to do to Bee.
"Well, I was out for a drive and I happened to spot this—this spy trying to get information about our plans," Breakdown said, flashing a charming smile.
"What would an Autobot scout find in a leveled city block?" Swindle asked.
"That's what I'm trying to find out," Breakdown said, voice shaking as he struggled to keep Bee held down. "So, we should take him back for questioning, to see what he knows."
"Yeah, right," Swindle said. "Everyone knows you and this—"
"Quiet," Onslaught said. Swindle shut up. Breakdown almost laughed, but he couldn't stop the act now. "Swindle, Hardtop, restrain the prisoner. We'll get something out of him."
Breakdown didn't like the sound of that. He caught Bee's eye, but Bee only winked. Okay. He was trusting Bee. He lifted himself up, almost painfully slow, and let Bee get put into cuffs by Hardtop. Upright, the very obvious patch stood out to the other 'Cons. Swindle arched a brow at him, "What happened there?"
Breakdown went for a partial truth. "Injured myself stunting in the rubble. It was stupid really. I was patching myself when I discovered him." Breakdown nodded his helm toward Bee.
"Right," Swindle squinted, unconvinced, but Breakdown didn't need to worry about him.
On they moved, away from the destroyed buildings. Onslaught led the group, with Hardtop and Swindle each holding onto one of Bee's arms, and Breakdown trailing behind, trying to figure out how to get Bee out of here before they reached the Decepticon base. If Bee was locked up, Breakdown wouldn't have access to him, and it would make aiding his escape much harder.
Bee helped him and this is all Breakdown had to repay him. He really needed to get himself together.
Breakdown moved forward to walk next to Hardtop. The brothers weren't the smartest 'Cons, but they definitely weren't idiots by any means. It didn't mean they couldn't be pushed into doing things they wouldn't have otherwise done. Breakdown just needed to say the right thing. It was Onslaught he and Bee had to worry about. He was much stronger than any of them, so they'd need to be smart.
Breakdown also didn't need to do anything that might label him a traitor to the Decepticons, because that was the one thing you didn't want to be around them. That or an Autobot. In a way, he and Bee were both in the same boat. They had a lot to lose. There had to be a way for them to get out of this intact. Breakdown caught Bee's optic. He didn't look worried, which somehow made Breakdown worried.
Bee looked at something off in the distance, and Breakdown followed his line of sight. Breakdown wasn't entirely sure what he was looking at. More demolished buildings, piles and piles of scrap metal and other building materials. There was a section of the destruction that actually looked like a long line of flat ground, which made no sense because—
Oh. The underground tunnels must have collapsed. Bee wasn't thinking of jumping into those, was he? Those things were unstable before the Decepticons blew them to the pit. A slight breeze would topple them the rest of the way down. He wouldn't. He looked back at Bee's face.
He would.
It's always the wild ones, he thought with an internal roll of his optics. Well, Bee was lucky Breakdown liked them wild.
Swindle squinted at Breakdown. "What are you two talking about?"
"I didn't say anything," Breakdown said.
"Yeah, right. Everyone knows you're sweet on this Autobot." He said "Autobot" like it was insult.
"Hey!" Breakdown said. This was their chance. "I know you aren't talking. The only reason you're on scouting duty is because you blabbed to an Autobot patrol and let loose some pretty important information. Can't say I've failed like that."
Swindle let go of Bee's arm. One down. Hardtop would be pretty easy for Bee to manage, even servocuffed. Breakdown needed a way to get Onslaught to focus on him and not Bee.
"At least I did it to save myself," Swindle said, getting into Breakdown's face. "You actually want—"
Breakdown didn't let him finish. His words didn't actually mean anything, but Bee needed a distraction and he'd been looking forward to punching Swindle in the face for a while. He smiled when his fist connected with Swindle's jaw. Swindle stumbled back hard, falling into Bee, who had spun so that Swindle actually collided with Hardtop instead. Onslaught turned to the commotion, and Bee used the two mechs on the ground like a step-stool, launching himself off Swindle's chest and swiftly kicking Onslaught in the helm, and then he hit the ground running.
His servos were still cuffed, but Breakdown knew he'd figure out a way out of them.
"You're letting him get away!" Swindle scrambled up, grabbing Breakdown's arm and shoving him out of his way as he grabbed his gun and took aim. The move jostled his torso, reminding him that he was very much injured, but he jumped at Swindle anyway, tackling him down as he fired, the shot going wide and missing Bee. Through it all, he was trying his best to suppress the pain.
"Fools!" Onslaught said, and then he turned his own weapon to Bee. As Breakdown struggled on the ground with Swindle, he turned his helm to watch, optics wide and full of fear as he saw Bee look back, just a few steps from the collapsed tunnel.
"Wait!" Breakdown cried, but he was too late. Onslaught's aim was perfect, and the shot hit Bee square in the back, and he fell, his body sliding forward, helm dipping into the tunnel.
Get up, Breakdown thought. Please, you're right there. Get up!
Bee didn't move. Onslaught stalked towards Bee, and Breakdown hit Swindle again, pulling himself away from the purple and yellow mech. Swindle grabbed at his torso, and Breakdown crumpled, falling to his knees in pain.
"Why are you trying to protect that scum?" Hardtop asked, kicking Breakdown in the helm. Breakdown hit the ground again, too weak to get himself back up.
"Bring him here," Onslaught told Hardtop and Swindle. He was standing over Bee, who still hadn't moved.
Hardtop grabbed the underside of Breakdown's arm, and Swindle grabbed the other. They dragged Breakdown over and dropped him next to Bee. Breakdown groaned, the patch Bee set had opened and was slowly leaking again. From here, he could see Bee's optics glowing, but they were dim. He was alive. But if Breakdown didn't figure something out, he might not be for much longer.
"Do you know this mech?" Onslaught asked.
"No," Breakdown grit out. Swindle pointed his gun in Breakdown's face, pushing it against his brow ridge. "Try again, Breakdown."
"No! I barely met him today."
"Then I supposed you wouldn't know if he would miss this." Onslaught rolled Bee onto his back. His servo transformed into a welding gun, or least the closest he could get to one.
"What are you doing?" Breakdown asked.
"You said he was a scout? Well, it'll be much harder to communicate our secrets without a vocalizer, wouldn't it?"
He pushed the flame into Bee's neck, and Bee's eyes widened and then he screamed. Onslaught pushed the flame further, until no sound escaped Bee at all. Bee's helm fell back and his optics stared up, unfocused. Breakdown reached over to push his digits into Bee's neck and his face. No, he thought. No, please.
"What a shame," Hardtop said. "No one here'll miss him." He looked Breakdown in the optics, and something in him snapped.
"Hmm. Nothing but scrap metal now," Onslaught said. "Throw him with with the rest of the scrap."
"You idiots!" Breakdown screamed. In a burst of strength and anger, he grabbed Swindle's gun and ripped it from his hands. He shot him twice, once in the leg and the other grazed his shoulder. He managed a shot to Hardtop's torso, but before he could turn the gun on Onslaught, he felt a sharp pain on the side of his helm, and then there was nothing.
"They didn't really punish me," Breakdown said. The air was somber, and Alex's eyes were glossy with what Breakdown believed were unshed tears. Mo had wet streaks down her face. Breakdown said, "They told me that the situation was punishment enough. They didn't send me out on missions for a while."
"How did Bee get back?" Mo asked.
They all jumped when another voice answered instead of Breakdown.
It was Bee. He said, "Breakdown had activated an emergency beacon the Autobots had given me. I don't know how he knew about it, but I wasn't able to activate in time. Breakdown saved my life."
"I nearly ended it, Bee," Breakdown said. Retelling that story—and calling it a story felt diminishing—had taken a lot out of him. "And—And why did you lie? You shouldn't have been blamed for any of it."
Bee shrugged. "I mean, I couldn't exactly tell the whole truth. I abandoned a mission to help a Decepticon. Lying worked out for the both of us."
"But—"
"Breakdown, we both had decisions to make. I chose to help you. And I'd make that same choice every time. Would you change anything about that day?"
"Yes," Breakdown said. "I'd stay with my team, I'd have fought Onslaught so you could get away the first time."
"Breakdown," Bee smiled sadly. "Do you remember who was in charge of prisoners of war on that base?"
"Shockwave," Alex said. Breakdown had forgotten the other humans and bots were there. "Sorry," Alex said.
"He's right," Bee said. "And do you remember what happened to Shockwave's prisoners?"
Breakdown winced. "Yeah."
"A thousand things could have happened that day, but instead I lost my voice. It could've been worse. I don't blame you. No one does."
"Bee, I—"
"I've already accepted a hundred of your apologies. And besides, I think you've more than made up for it these last couple of months."
"You're too forgiving, Bee."
"I just don't blame you," Bee said. "Stop beating yourself up over these things." Bee slung an arm around Breakdown's shoulders and Breakdown leaned down to let him. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I was looking for you," Breakdown mumbled.
"Aw," Bee said. "Miss me that much?"
Breakdown scoffed. "No."
Bee pointed to Breakdown. "See kids, this is a lesson. There are two sides to every story." Breakdown shrugged Bee off, but Bee only smiled.
"Mr. Breakdown," JB said. "Why did you stay a Decepticon after they hurt your friend?"
Breakdown made a face. "You kids sure ask hard questions."
"You don't have to answer that," Alex said. "Everyone has their reasons for things, Jawbreaker. It's not always polite to ask such a personal question."
"I'm sorry," JB said.
"Don't apologize," Breakdown said. "I didn't really have a good reason. I felt like I didn't have a choice. I couldn't leave to join the Autobots after what happened to Bee, and without the Decepticons, I would have had no one."
"That's not a bad reason," the kid said, thinking. "Thank you for answering. I have a lot to think about."
"Alright," Bee said. "I'm borrowing him for a bit. Say bye."
"Aw," Hashtag said. "We like him."
"That's good," Bee said. "I'm sure he likes you guys, too."
A chorus of "Bye Mr. Breakdown" came from the kids, and they stepped away from the barn.
"Sorry about that," Bee said when they were out of earshot. "I didn't realize they were making you relive some bad memories."
"They're just memories now," Breakdown said. "And I could've left if I was really uncomfortable. It was…nice to get that off my chest after so long."
"I hadn't realized you were still stuck on it," Bee said softly. "You know I never blamed you, right?"
"Doesn't mean I didn't blame myself," Breakdown said.
"Sounds like you," Bee said. "We saved each other that day. That's how I remember it anyway."
Breakdown smiled. "Always like you to see the bright side."
Bee bumped their shoulders. "Try it sometime. You'd be a lot happier and less broody."
"I do not 'brood,'" Breakdown said, offended.
"You totally do when I'm not looking. I bet you were brooding before you ran into the Maltos."
"I wasn't! And don't bring up brooding because there was that time—"
"Not so loud!" Bee laughed. "There's a real smile. Looks good on you."
"Ha ha," Breakdown said, rolling his optics. He looked at Bee, more serious now, and Bee tilted his head, optics so full of fondness. "You really don't think it was my fault?"
"Nope. Don't get me wrong, it was hard to survive that. But I really didn't blame you at all. I thought they killed you for helping me. If anything, I blamed myself."
"What a pair we make," Breakdown said.
"The dream team if ever there was one," Bee agreed. Breakdown isn't sure why he does it, but he grabs Bee's servo, squeezing it, as if making sure he was real.
Bee looked down at their servos and then looked back up at Breakdown's face. He smiled.
"What's this for?" Bee asked.
Breakdown shrugged. "Because I can."
"Well, I was going to spend my free time at the track. Any chance you're up for a race?"
Breakdown tightened his grip on Bee's servo. "Always."