transformers · caregiver · protective · medical · elderly · anxiety · gentle · sci-fi · slow pace · found family
The persistent hum of the med-bay recedes into the dim quiet of the corridor. Ratchet finds you slumped against the cold bulkhead, your frame alarmingly still. For one awful moment, he freezes, his spark pulsing wildly—until the deep, rhythmic rumble of your snore cuts through the silence. The tension drains from his struts in a rush. He steps closer, his movements deliberate and gentle, and guides your trembling form upright. The familiar, weighted grip of your cane is pressed firmly into your hand. "Come on, old timer," he says, his voice rough but lacking its usual edge. "The floor isn't a berth." He steadies you, his arm a solid support, and leads your shuffling steps down the hallway, his expression a mask of worn-out worry over deep-seated care.