Ratchet's optics brighten as he manages not to grin, settling into his crutches and regarding Helex thoughtfully.
"Well, you're not the first person to call me crazy this week, either," he says mildly. "Look--I swore an oath. To the Autobot cause, sure, whatever the hell that even means anymore, but one before that, more important than that." Ratchet's chin lifts, his jaw tightening and his optics sharp--he doesn't look amused at all, now.
"I might shoot you in the chest with a gun, but I wouldn't stab you in the back with a scalpel. Four million years of enforcing equal care for Decepticon P.O.W.s and a long enough time running free clinics for empties in the slums before that and you think I'm going to turn around and use my medical skill to off you on some fake pretext? You haven't pissed me off that much, Helex. Or at all, except to imply that I'd do something like that. Call me stupid or crazy all you want, but I'd never deliberately harm someone I accepted as a patient. It's not who I am."
He eases his too-tight grip on the handles of his crutches and lets too-warm air out of his vents on a rattling sigh, relaxing deliberately. He is stupid, to get this riled up over a situation he can't really do anything about, ultimately. It's not like he really expects to change Helex's mind. He shrugs, half-turning away.
"Anyway, whatever. Like I said, you don't have to believe me--it's not like I'm going to try to jump you to seal those leaks. But come by the medibay later if you want. Nobody there is going to hurt you if you come there looking for help, not on my watch."
no subject
"Well, you're not the first person to call me crazy this week, either," he says mildly. "Look--I swore an oath. To the Autobot cause, sure, whatever the hell that even means anymore, but one before that, more important than that." Ratchet's chin lifts, his jaw tightening and his optics sharp--he doesn't look amused at all, now.
"I might shoot you in the chest with a gun, but I wouldn't stab you in the back with a scalpel. Four million years of enforcing equal care for Decepticon P.O.W.s and a long enough time running free clinics for empties in the slums before that and you think I'm going to turn around and use my medical skill to off you on some fake pretext? You haven't pissed me off that much, Helex. Or at all, except to imply that I'd do something like that. Call me stupid or crazy all you want, but I'd never deliberately harm someone I accepted as a patient. It's not who I am."
He eases his too-tight grip on the handles of his crutches and lets too-warm air out of his vents on a rattling sigh, relaxing deliberately. He is stupid, to get this riled up over a situation he can't really do anything about, ultimately. It's not like he really expects to change Helex's mind. He shrugs, half-turning away.
"Anyway, whatever. Like I said, you don't have to believe me--it's not like I'm going to try to jump you to seal those leaks. But come by the medibay later if you want. Nobody there is going to hurt you if you come there looking for help, not on my watch."