[ the way drift just breaks is one of the most painful things ratchet's experienced in a long time, but he can't dwell on it. not with the revelation of what he already suspected. ratchet's an old 'bot, and his workaholic habits had begun long before the war. he's going to die, and it's not going to be particularly quick or pleasant, and he's going to leave drift alone. again.

he wishes he still had the strength to push his own drift away again, to force him to find someone younger, to just be his friend.. but he can't, even knowing what he knows now.

the whine makes his spark clench painfully, and he turns on the berth, hauling himself up further onto it and pulling drift closer, folding him in against his chest. ] Okay, [ he says once he's settled his partner where he wants him, hands cradling him close. ] Well, we have some time to figure some things out, then, right? [ he pets the other mech's backstrut, trying to be soothing while also trying to just.. deal with this information. ] We're here to undo regrets. So. Let's figure out how to keep me around a little while longer. Don't give up on me yet, dumbaft.