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In most cases, Optimus assigned Dinobot and Rattrap on different patrol units to keep them from squabbling and causing problems. Occasionally he would send them together with one other person. So when Optimus told Rattrap and Dinobot to go on patrol together they both instantly protested the idea. Optimus ignored their complaints and sent them off despite their bickering already starting before they even left.
Rattrap walked a little behind Dinobot, huffing as he struggled to keep up. It wasn't his fault his beast mode had such short legs compared to Dinobot's.
Rattrap said sharply, "Mind slow'n down a bit, brontobrain?"
Dinobot looked over his shoulder shooting Rattrap a look as he snarled, "Perhaps it is you who needs to speed up."
Rattrap scoffed, "Well ex-CUSE-me for not meetn' yer speedy standards chopperface."
"Quit making excuses and stay alert vermin."
"I am alert you overgrown lizard!"
Dinobot lashed his tail in annoyance and Rattrap let out a little squeak of surprise, having to duck to avoid being hit. Rattrap bristled and accused, "You did that on purpose ya filthy saurian!"
Dinobot glanced back at him and said coldly, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about rodent."
Dinobot glanced back ahead with an air of smugness and Rattrap muttered, "Alright, I've had it."
Rattrap transformed into robot mode and reached out, grabbing Dinobot's tail firmly, giving it a tug and making Dinobot tense as his head whipped around and he growled fiercely.
Rattrap said, narrowing his optics, "You wanna dance lizard breath, then let's dance."
Dinobot let out a snarl, turning sharply and yanking his tail from Rattrap. Dinobot transformed into his robot mode quickly, towering over Rattrap and glowering. Rattrap bristled, his anger only slightly wavered by Dinobot's intimidating stature. He'd gotten pretty used to it by now.
Dinobot snarled, "Foolish rodent! We are meant to be looking for enemies rather than fighting amongst ourselves!"
"Oh yeah? Well I'm looking right at one."
Dinobot's optics flashed with rage and the last of his patience was worn. With a roar he charged Rattrap, sheathing his sword and swinging at him. Rattrap dodged forwards, rolling below the swipe and grabbing his gun. He turned quickly and shot at Dinobot's shoulder, making Dinobot stumble slightly and whirl around to face him, even more enraged. Though granted, it was a weak shot not intended to really harm Dinobot.
Dinobot charged again full force, and before Rattrap could pull the trigger on his gun again he felt his ped get caught in something and the next thing he knew he was falling backwards with Dinobot lunging at him.
Rattrap landed on his back painfully with a grunt, losing his grip on the gun from the fall and Dinobot was quickly pinned over him, optics bright with anger as he gripped Rattrap's throat holding him still and his other arm was reeled back, sword no where to be found and his servo curled in a fist. Rattrap's servos were tightly digging at Dinobot's wrist at a failed attempt to free himself as he struggled. Dinobot moved his arm back slightly more, and just as he was about to swing forwards both of their comms went off and Dinobot winced, startled and not going through with the punch to Rattrap's relief.
"Dinobot, Rattrap, report in." Optimus said.
Dinobot and Rattrap locked optics, a sort of silent dare to who might answer first. The tension started to die away, both torn away from their fight by the distraction. Dinobot's face twisted in disgust as he glared at Rattrap and he pulled Rattrap up, releasing him so his helm fell back into the ground.
"Oof!"
Dinobot got up and backed off raising a digit to his audio receptor as he said eyeing Rattrap, "Sector 14 is quiet, we are experiencing no... Predacon difficulties."
Rattrap rubbed at his sore neck and snapped at him as he got up, "Up yours."
There was an audible sigh from Optimus' end.
"Well... I'm glad to hear you both still functioning. Keep it that way. Once you get to the turn around and start heading back comm me again for a final report."
Dinobot growled shortly, ending the comm, "Will do."
Rattrap glanced around the ground, searching for his gun. It only took a second to spot and he picked it up, brushing off dirt.
Dinobot narrowed his optics watching Rattrap as he warned, "Next time I'll be sure to let Optimus know you were disrupting the misson."
Rattrap straightened up and said, "Me? You attacked me first bozo-brain!"
Dinobot rolled his optics and growled, "Delusional rodent."
Rattrap grumbled, bristling, "I'll show you delusional."
Dinobot bristled as well looking ready for a round two but he managed to relax as he said, "I am going to do my job, so if you rather keep arguing and distracting me, I suggest you go elsewhere."
Rattrap put his servos on his hips and cocked his helm as he sneered, "Maybe I will chopperface!"
Dinobot snarled softly, glancing off and stomping- or maybe just walking- away.
Rattrap made a rude gesture at him, grumbling under his breath as he walked off, splitting away from Dinobot.
Optimus didn't have to know they weren't patrolling together. They were still in the same sector, so it was close enough. Rattrap headed into the more wooded area, feeling more easy at the growth and trees providing cover. He was starting to regret not going with Dinobot, but it was a bit late for that now. It woulda been fun to piss him off a tad more, maybe not as much though since Rattrap didn't fancy having his face fragged up.
Energon levels high. Suggested course of action: transform back to beast mode.
Rattrap cursed with a sigh, having forgotten that this sector was closer to an energon deposit meaning he only had limited use of his robot mode.
Rattrap transformed back into beast mode, continuing his trek through the woods. For whatever reason he started to feel like he was being watched. He glanced around a little nervously, chuckling to himself, "Relax Rattrap, it's just an organic dirtball planet, nothin' ta worry about."
He still couldn't shake the feeling, blaming it on his paranoia.
Rattrap froze midstep, the sound of a branch cracking startling him. His ears pressed forwards and he stared ahead, nose twitching a little. Something was there. He wasn't imagining it.
Then Rattrap noticed the yellow eyes, staring at him directly ahead. He tensed, breath hitching as his eyes tried to study the shadowy figure. Very slowly, the shadow moved, eyes still pinned on him as it rose a leg carefully, taking a small step forward, setting it's talon back down carefully.
Rattrap sighed in relief, recognizing the shape, "Chopperface, ya startled me you slagging saurian."
The yellow eyes narrowed slightly and a quiet growl escaped 'Dinobot'.
Rattrap felt himself grow weary again and he asked, "...Dinobutt?"
Suddenly the yellow eyes turned to slits and the shadow's tense figure released and launched from the darkness towards him, letting out a terrifying cry.
Rattrap shrieked in alarm, jumping back just barley in time as the large raptor landed on where he was just standing. Now he could see it clearly.
It looked like Dinobot's beast mode, but the feral look in it's eyes and the organicness of it was clear now.
Rattrap's fur bristled, eyes wide. He squeaked fearfully, "Thought you were somebody else!"
The raptor's gaze locked back on him and his openned it's jaws, roaring.
Rattrap's spark was racing in his chest and he did the only thing that his mind would let him.
Run.
The only thing he could think of was getting the slag outa there. Admittedly, with the adrenaline rush and imminent threat he almost completely forgot the fact that he was made of metal whereas the raptor was organic. Rattrap remembered this fact and stopped running to glance back, wondering what in the world he was doing running away. But then he caught a look of the raptor's sharp talons and teeth and remembered his robot mode was currently exhausted and continued to book it, the raptor snapping at his tail as it gained on him.
"Slag! Slag! SLAG!"
The raptor was on his heels, snapping close enough at him that he could feel the raptor's breath. He glanced back at it wideyed. Was this really how it was going to go out? Torn up by an organic on some random stupid planet in the middle of nowhere? Rattrap turned his head back forwards, gasping in alarm as he tried to slow down and nearly ran face first into another raptor.
Whether it was luck or Primus, this second raptor leaped over him and lunged, colliding with the first in a ball of fury and ferocious snarls. Rattrap turned and watched, backing off and hesitating to run, a little intrigued to see how this would play out. One of the raptors hissed and reared back it's head, striking forwards with a firm bite to the other's back. The raptor shrieked and wriggled, and the victor roared, letting go. The loser hissed and limped away.
Suddenly the victor's attention snapped to him and it started to walk towards him. Rattrap stumbled back and yelped, his back fur bristling, "Back off ya organic load of scrap!"
The raptor stopped, it's lips pulling back to bare it's teeth and it opened it's mouth. Rattrap expected a snarl or roar but instead it growled sarcastically, "And leave you to fend for yourself again? You were doing so well too."
"Chopperface!" Rattrap exclaimed in relief, relaxing and not even angry about Dinobot's tone.
"Why didn't you transform back into your robot mode to scare it off, or were you too stupid to remember that is something you can do?"
Rattrap's relief was quickly overcame by annoyance.
He snapped, "The energon levels are too high n' I already used my robot mode too much ya moron! What's your slagging excuse?"
Dinobot snarled, "I was not expecting to be attacked, and besides it would dishonorable to fight an organic in robot mode."
Rattrap scoffed sarcastically, "Oh yeah, because it's more important you don't hurt the poor little organic than yer pal Rattrap get slagged."
"Idiotic rodent, if you hadn't gone off to sulk on your own-"
"I wasn't sulking brontobrain!"
Dinobot openned his mouth to continue arguing but tensed as there was distant rustling leaves and a soft growl. Rattrap tensed, also gazing ahead worriedly.
The same raptors Dinobot originally faced off had returned already. It growled lowly and Dinobot snarled at it in warning. Rattrap jumped slightly, hearing another growl behind him. He stifled a gasp as a second raptor came from behind them and Rattrap scurried below Dinobot. He pressed against Dinobot's legs as he tried to keep himself out of the other raptor's ranges and watched the second one. Dinobot growled in annoyance and shifted his stance, glancing back and forth from the two raptor, growling and lashing his tail. Dinobot's head was moving constantly, glancing from the raptor behind him, in front, and down at the cowering nuisance below him.
With a loud growl a third arrived, and the three raptors all growled, starting to circle Dinobot and Rattrap. Dinobot growled, snapping his jaws at one of the raptors when it got too close. The raptor hissed but backed off a little, still eyeing Rattrap.
Rattrap muttered nervously, "Maybe 'bout time you transform and spook em off?"
Dinobot didn't answer, only growling and shifting a little to make sure the ones behind him weren't trying anything.
Rattrap tried again a little desperately, "Dinobutt? Now maybe?"
Dinobot grumbled, sounding a little reluctant, "...I cannot. As you mentioned earlier the energon levels are high..."
"Aw slag" Rattrap cursed with a stressed sigh.
Suddenly one of the raptors moved too close, snapping at Rattrap. Rattrap winced away letting out a small squeak, pressing against Dinobot's leg fearfully. Dinobot snarled and turned his head quickly, snapping back and making it give up it's attack half way.
Rattrap groaned, "Stupid slagging saurians. I can't believe I'm gunna get killed by slaggin' overgrown organic reptiles."
Dinobot growled, "Shut up rodent, I'm thinking."
"Think all you want, that won't exactly chase off the raptors genius!"
Dinobot ignored him and lashed his tail, glaring down the larger of the raptors.
No words were spoke for a long minute, just growling, hissing, and snarling filling the silence.
Dinobot finally said lowly, tone hushed as though the raptors might hear (which they couldn't), "I have an idea. I'm going to pretend to kill you, and you play dead."
Rattrap hissed in disbelief, panicking slightly, "What?? You're jus' gunna actually slag me!"
Dinobot hissed back impatiently, "If I wanted you slagged would I be protecting you right now?"
He paused then added, tone a little difficult to decipher, "Trust me this once vermin."
Rattrap's jaw tensed and he glanced around at the hungry raptors, still circling and eyeing him terrifyingly.
Rattrap grit out, "Fine. But if this doesn't work I'm gunna turn you to slag chopperface."
"Noted."
Dinobot suddenly snarled, loud and fierce as his head swooped down, actually startling Rattrap as his mouth opened and teeth came flying at him. It took everything in Rattrap not to flinch away and to let it happen.
Teeth dug into Rattrap's fur. Dinobot got a tight hold on his neck while snarling, his breath hot and his teeth were definently going to leave a little bit of denting.
Rattrap felt almost sick from fear at how easily Dinobot could snap his head off with just a bit more pressure. He forced himself to relax and go limp as much as he could, closing his eyes.
Dinobot gave him a shake, still softly growling. Dinobot's jaws released finally to Rattrap's relief, gently placing him flat on the ground. Rattrap stayed playing dead, despite how badly he wanted to get up and run. His anxiety was heightened knowing that three predators were still very very close and he wouldn't be able to stop them if them suddenly chose to attack. He really was putting his entire life in Dinobot's servos here.
Rattrap felt foots growing closer and a soft grow from one of the raptors. He felt warm breath on his side as one of the raptors must of approached and was sniffing him to determine if he was truly deceased. Dinobot turned and snarled warningly at the raptor, making them back off after them got a good sniff.
If Dinobot was right, because Rattrap was actually Cybertronian they would think that because he was cold he was dead.
One of the raptors let out a short roared, the other two then letting out chirp-like cries. The large raptor turned away, only hesitating slightly then running off. The other two raptors followed after, making their leave as well.
Rattrap felt his spark racing with anticipation, remaining stiff and still playing dead. Dinobot exhaled, watching them disappear back into the forest. Dinobot relaxed after a minute went by, growling softly, "They're gone."
Rattrap wearily openned his optics, glancing around and not getting up from the ground yet. He sighed in relief, tension slowly leaving his frame. Rattrap tilted his head and glanced up at Dinobot, seeing Dinobot looking down at him.
Rattrap said, embarrassed with being saved by the slagger and unwilling to admit Dinobot's plan worked, "Ehh, we jus' got lucky s'all."
Dinobot scoffed and moved off Rattrap as he snarled, "Cowardly trash-eater. I should have let them tear into you."
Rattrap shuttered slightly, not having a single doubt that Dinobot considered it at one point. Rattrap asked, both challengingly and genuinely, "And why didn't ya?"
Dinobot's face relaxed, no longer baring his teeth and he looked thoughtful. His almost soft expression changed, looking more guarded again as he sneered, half jokingly, "I'm saving that honor for myself, vermin."
Rattrap chuckled, unbothered, "Whatever you say lizard lips."
Dinobot and Rattrap started back to base, both of them forgetting about the second report Optimus had requested, distracted with the whole fight that went down. Meanwhile Optimus was sure that the two slagged eachother by now, and when he didn't get the comm that pretty much confirmed it to him. Optimus groaned, cursing himself for thinking that the two would ever get along.
It was Rattrap and Dinobot.
Peace between them would never be possible.