#staring at HotLock though

[eztilsolar]

@archie-sunshine this you? /lh

“these characters should be mentally healthy before they get together 😌” ummm no I actually think we should smash their mental illnesses together like clumps of play-doh and see what colors it makes

[storm-and-starlight]

welp I desperately need validation so have a passage from ghostfic (current hotlock/driftrod WIP feat. ghost! roddy) I guess? Under the cut for length.

"How the hell do you stand it?" Hot Rod asks, ten days of quiet later. He hasn't been talking quite so much since he got that memory back -- he hasn't stopped, but he spends more time watching the galaxy now.

Deadlock twists back upright and looks over his shoulder at Hot Rod, draped upside down over the base of a gun emplacement and completely ignoring the fact that he should be in microgravity and is thus completely defying every known law of physics.

Then again, he does that just by existing.

::Stand what?:: Running a full hull check by himself is irritating as hell, but it's not actually hard, and better this than spending his time among Turmoil's crew and their increasingly-hostile... everything.

"The cold."

Deadlock shrugs. ::I've felt worse.:: It's-- unpleasant, sure, and far too close for comfort to the memory of that last, disastrous fight when it's still too recent for information creep to have safely blurred out the pain, but the steady chill of vacuum doesn't really compare to the sensation of having your insides fall apart from an unchecked rust infection, or the searing burn of badly-filtered energon in a racing engine, or any of the many, many injuries he's taken over the course of the war. It's just cold, and not even the kind of cold that makes ice crystals start to form in your joints -- and as for the memories, he's had a long time learning to ignore them.

"Worse," Hot Rod says, deeply skeptical.

Deadlock shrugs again and stretches, releasing tensor cables and joints that have started to lock up. ::Worse. Why do you care? It's not like you can feel it.::

"Ha," Hot Rod says, sharp and sarcastic. "You'd think so, wouldn't you."

Deadlock actually turns around to face him at that, coming optic-to-optic with Hot Rod's upside-down face against the dark black-grey-purple of the gun stabilizer, and then Hot Rod's gaze flicks away, the motors in his jaw ratcheting tighter before releasing.

Deadlock shrugs and lets it go. Not like it's any of his business, after all -- even if he's already surveying the amount of hull he's checked today to see if it's safe to call it quits without Turmoil getting on his back and leaning back up against the slanted side of the gun mounting.

"...I already am cold," Hot Rod says, ringing sharp and striking, and slithers down from the top of the gunmount, somehow flipping mid-maneuver to land neatly on his feet. "All the time. Not just out here." There's a long pause, while the warmth of the gun's deep machinery seeps into Deadlock's back and Hot Rod is an eerie not-quite-there presence next to him, and then he feels him shudder, quick and involuntary. "It's like being buried in ice. All the time. It wasn't so bad before, and then... I think I started remembering what it was like to actually be warm again."

It's been a decacycle since they sat on the keel-ridge and Hot Rod gave up a piece of his past, and even though he's come back out onto the hull every on-shift without complaint, in retrospect he's definitely been acting... strange. Subdued.

When Deadlock glances over, he's staring blankly out at the nearest star, an ancient thing old enough and red enough that Deadlock could see it go nova within his lifetime, corona stretching out blazing arcs of plasma in one last desperate gasp at life. He's not built for this kind of silence -- Deadlock's barely known him and already there's something horribly unsettling about seeing Hot Rod quiet, enough that he finds himself reaching out without entirely meaning to.

::...You all right?:: The star, in the distance, burns on, a pattern of dark splotches crossing the surface like constellations in reverse. The medics would probably yell at him for staring directly at it for so long without appropriate optical filters, but they aren't here right now, are they?

"Yeah, fine." Hot Rod sighs, and slouches further back against the gun mounting, tipping his head back to finally look up at the overhead sweep of the galaxy like he usually does. "Sort of. Homesick. Life-sick? Is that a thing?"

::You'd know better than me.::

Hot Rod huffs one of those deeply sarcastic laughs. "Yeah, I would, wouldn't I. I barely remember Nyon and I still want to go back -- isn't being dead supposed to strip you of all worldly attachments, or something?"

::I thought that was why ghosts were ghosts,:: Deadlock says, keeping his focus on the star like it's a target he's in danger of losing. ::They can't let go.::

[choomchoom]

Hotlock Week Day 1: Teeth!

I saw “teeth” and thought “angsty vampire au? angsty vampire au!” instead of anything normal so here’s that. Warnings for canon-typical violence/gore and references to starvation. 

Not every battle smells like Nyon. 

Some of them are hand-fought, with gushes of MTOs hacking at each other and both sides depleted of heavy artillery. Those battles smell like curdled energon and the other essences of quick deaths. Other battles are fought in space, or on planets with no atmosphere. 

Every other battle smells like Nyon.

This one has smelled like Nyon for weeks and it’s been nearly unbearable the whole time. The particular scents of bombs and burned-out internals from too much strain on too little energon must cover half the planet by now. When the Autobots’ forces are bolstered and suddenly they’re winning the battle, it’s barely a relief. 

Hot Rod is scouting territory that the Decepticons have just retreated from when he sees Deadlock. More accurately, he almost trips over him. Normally, upon seeing what looks like the corpse of a Decepticon that dangerous, he would sound an alarm and summon a team to make sure of his corpse-hood and take him into custody if there’s still life in his spark. 

But he doesn’t, because there’s a familiar scent coming from Deadlock. He smells like Nyon. 

**

There had always been some disagreement, in Nyon, over whether or not the empties were dead. That their sparks had stopped once was irrefutable; the question was whether what powered their frames after was a spark at all. It was difficult to kill them again, which would have been an advantage if it wasn’t paired with a severe vulnerability: empties could no longer activate energon on their own, making regular energon useless to them, and forcing them to depend on energon that had already cycled through a frame with a living spark to survive. They’d been common in Nyon - an empty became an empty when their frame was depleted of energon so quickly that their spark shorted out, rather than gradually cycling the frame’s energy levels down until the frame went into forced stasis. All the empties Hot Rod had known in Nyon had died there, and he hasn’t noticed any since - they’re indistinguishable from other Cybertronians most of the time, except when they’ve used up all the energy in the energon they’ve been transferred and fall into their own version of stasis. They go very still, in a way more reminiscent of stasis than death, but the deactivated energon sitting in their lines has a unique scent, one that somehow reminds Hot Rod of both life and death.

He knows that not all the empties who have ever existed were in Nyon; the Autobot medical corps have a section of handbook about them, and it stands to reason that energon thieves or a particular kind of injury could have essentially the same effect as Zeta’s experiments. But Hot Rod hasn’t, to his knowledge, encountered one since Nyon. Until Deadlock. 

All at once, he decides that he’s sick of this. He’s sick of this planet and this battle and this war and everything, everything that led him here. He isn’t going to call a team. 

He uses his foot to flip Deadlock over so that he can see his face and whether or not he’s holding a gun. From the scent, he can tell that Deadlock doesn’t have enough energy to do anything like walk, but there’s a strong chance he’s perfectly capable of pulling a trigger. 

He’s unarmed, though, and instead of a gun, Hot Rod finds himself staring into barely-lit but perfectly conscious optics. 

He secures his own weapon to his side and kneels next to Deadlock. Deadlock follows the motion with his optics, moving his neck just enough to track Hot Rod. He doesn’t speak, and more interestingly, doesn’t snarl at him. His frame is littered with dents and scrapes and cracks, but it’s clean of energon; Deadlock had probably made it this far in a battle like this one by licking the energon splattered onto his frame from the Autobots he cut down. 

Hot Rod takes a careful look around, knowing full well that if anyone sees what’s about to happen he’ll be rightfully accused of treason. But even Deadlock doesn’t deserve to be left like this, helpless and paralyzed in enemy territory. Maybe it’s Deadlock’s fault for becoming a Decepticon in the first place - most of Hot Rod’s teammates would say so, at least. But Hot Rod’s teammates aren’t here right now, and Hot Rod remembers seeing lines of empties on the street, crowds of them at the Acroplex, and not having enough energon running through his own frame to help even one of them. But now, he has enough. It’s more for those long-dead than for Deadlock that Hot Rod positions his wrist over Deadlock’s intake and says, “Drink.” 

“I’m not joining the Autobots.” Deadlock’s voice is a raspy whisper barely loud enough for Hot Rod to hear. 

“I don’t expect you to join the Autobots.” 

“Then why?” 

“Because you need energon, and I have plenty.”

Hot Rod can’t tell if Deadlock has run out of arguments or if he’s used up too much energy to be able to speak anymore. Deadlock’s motions are slow as he takes Hot Rod’s wrist between his teeth and uses his fangs to make two small punctures in the energon vein that runs through it. 

“Plenty is big talk for someone with this kind of fuel pressure,” Deadlock says, his voice already sounding better, after a few seconds. 

“You complaining?” Hot Rod asks. As he says it he realizes with a pang that that’s exactly what he said to empties in Nyon, all the dozens of times they said something similar to him. 

Hot Rod glances around again to make sure no Autobots are nearby and then lets himself relax a little at having successfully gotten Deadlock to accept his help. Relaxing is a horrible idea, as it turns out, because the next motion from Deadlock is a startled twitch that Hot Rod feels both in his opened wrist, and in the hand that he’s placed on Deadlock’s finial. 

He yanks that hand away as if Deadlock’s finial had been on fire. “Sorry!” 

“You don’t have to stop,” Deadlock says, not looking anywhere near Hot Rod.

It probably can’t make things worse, Hot Rod reasons, and it feels good to stroke along Deadlock’s finial, one of the only parts of him unmarred by the battle. He keeps up the motion until Deadlock stops drinking, licking at the wounds in the vein to seal them. 

Then it’s Hot Rod’s turn to startle, because the next thing Deadlock does is kiss the inside of his wrist. It’s less intimate than drinking his energon, obviously, but it doesn’t feel that way, and Hot Rod’s spark whirs in a way that distracts him almost enough to forget where he is for a moment. It’s the best gift Deadlock could have given him. 

Deadlock steps away from Hot Rod as they both stand up.

“I hope we see each other again someday,” Hot Rod says, keeping his promise.

“You shouldn’t,” says Deadlock. He looks away, toward where the Decepticons have retreated. 

“Well, I do,” Hot Rod says. After that, he turns around, knowing that Deadlock won’t dare to turn his back on Hot Rod first. He hears Deadlock leave, and he returns to his squad.

[respirdal]

Do you have any fluffy driftrod fics recommendations?

It’s time for the “Fluffy DiftRod Fics List” of 2k19 

the *Incomplete Compendium by Res because its missing angst. 

*The following list are fics do not include sticky interactions or they are simply mentioned in passing.

 This list also features some angst but with the intentions of a happy ending or a hopeful resolution. 

There are, of course, so many more wonderful fics. Might be for another Fic Rec List because this one is…pretty long.

 MTMTE/LL

-

The Cusp of Return - antepathy

https://tf-rare-pairing.livejournal.com/370865.html

“What do you believe in?”

“Hope.  A future better than now, better than the past.” A pause. “That’s what I’ve always been fighting for.”

-

Affection - Owlix

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3524294

The first time Rodimus put an arm around Drift and tried to pull him close, Drift punched him in the face.

-

Two Patients, No Patience. - Shadow-Vector

https://shadow-vector.livejournal.com/161517.html

“I know they werereal. I know they existed. I know that’s what they believed. And they were,” asmile that looked almost painful, a cup of memories, “right about everythingelse.”

-

And Here’s Your Own Spaceship - Sophisticated Adult

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12239529

“Two outcasts! Two robots, going it alone!”

The funny thing was that Prowl said it like it was a threat.

-

Return and Return Again - hellkitty

https://archiveofourown.org/works/377747/chapters/616459

“One day,” he said, “You’re going to drop this shallow act of yours. I can see through you.”

-

Rodimus’s Lessons in Leadership - Shadow-Vector

https://shadow-vector.livejournal.com/165566.html

Rodimus grinned. “That’s why I try not to think.  Look at the trouble it gets you into.”

-

Comfort - tasteful robot loving

https://tasteful-robot-loving.tumblr.com/post/187392130416/hello-driftrod-anon-here-thinking-about-them

They will not lose each other, not today.

-

Assumptions - Owlix

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1876149

Drift has made mistakes. They’ve left marks.

Rodimus takes him as he is.

-

Apologies - dracoqueen22

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8323132

In the still and quiet before battle, Rodimus takes an opportunity to let Drift know how sorry he is.

-

Across the Valleys at Sundown - carinatae

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8124868

Self-doubt keeps you awake.

-

Someday - squireofgeekdom

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11313699

In the aftermath, Drift and Rodimus finally have a moment to talk about the impact Megatron has had on both of them, and about their own past and future.

-

Like Crystal Flowers - Sonamae

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5928772

Rodimus has to deal with so much. Amusement Parks, Awkward Tea Parties, Space Bovine, Captain Enamored, and more! At least his boyfriend is there to take some of the weight off his shoulders. 

Now if he could only get Drift to stop teasing him.

-

Summit - Choomchoom

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13939431

Drift and Rodimus take a trip to visit a temple on the other side of Troja Major during the events of LL 8 and 9. 

There’s a lot they need to talk about, and a dangerous adventure may just be the best place for it.

-

Prelude to Adventure - timelessmulder/timelessalice

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17761883

Drift and Rodimus have a carefree moment.

-

We came to dance -Owlix

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1222213

Rodimus decides to teach Drift how to dance.

-

Meet in the Middle - Squireofgeekdom

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15307938/chapters/35514627

“I’m going back for Drift, and I’m not stopping until I find him, or until whatever took him kills me.” Rodimus stares around the circle, one by one. “No one else has to come with me. You want to find the Knights? You’ll do it without me. I’m going to find Drift.”

-

AU - Rodimus but with a faceplate

Bonk means I love You- butteredbutter, frostyfallon

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16997271

When you don’t have a mouth kissing becomes a lot harder. Rodimus finds a way to work around this though because not kissing Drift is not an option.

-

AU - humanformers

-

On the drive home -choomchoom

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17046434

Rodimus and Drift first meet for real in the grad student office at eleven at night.

Sequel: https://choomchoom.tumblr.com/post/186388219002/for-stories-i-would-love-to-see-you-write-more

-

The Ferris Wheel Job - Squireofgeekdom

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16679344

In which Drift and Rodimus are shmoopy and ridiculous, their teammates are exasperated, shopping the food trucks does not count as doing a proper search, and no, neither does winning silly carnival prizes for your boyfriend, and things end up back on mission entirely by accident.

-

Sundays in Sunlight - BlueFingers

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20358916

drift and roddy make cookies together and it’s very very sweet

-

HOTLOCK

-

anyhow, have some more hotlock pining  - MarsReds

https://marsreds.tumblr.com/post/181885491094/anyhow-have-some-more-hotlock-pining

Deadlock didn’t have, couldn’t have the words for what this was.

-

Primus help him.- alyonian

https://alyonian.tumblr.com/post/185565600509/hello-have-soft-hotlock-cause-im-in-the-mood

And that’s when Hot Rod, as if he knows, begins to hum something under his breath

-

Snow - Haluwasa2

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13143696

Deadlock takes his little Autobot prisoner out to see snow for the first time.

-

The Monster in the Shadows  - Knight of Cybertron

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19835116/chapters/46967830

"Cold?”

That voice was so different. Drift never purred like that.

-

Ocean Eyes -Autobratty

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17994911

Deadlock takes an interest, and finds that the line between intrigue and attraction is thinner than he’d thought.

Hot Rod Medic AU: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1305464

-

THE ENTIRE DECEPTICON HOT ROD AU BY VETO POWER OVERCLOCK

https://archiveofourown.org/series/1189521

Special Mentions forExtra Fluff and Pinning:

Starchart - https://archiveofourown.org/works/19410514

A picnic under the stars.

  -

 PLAYLISTS

Stand by You -Squireofgeekdom

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/65angSQ9reB5en0ftPpDLg?si=ew8mg7uSTueQDkY443vwYQ

-

Circles around the moon - rhapsodaze

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UhBlYJMpWY4JUEyq5vN5R?si=oRgtLyWCRVy5U6GGNOgnvQ

-

although we are faraway - steelsuit

https://8tracks.com/steelsuit/although-we-re-far-away