Waiting for Next Time

 The moment that Hotshot ran out of the room, he headed straight for the room with the ground/space bridge. He was leaving for good. Yeah, he would miss his new friends, but it was clear that they did not need him. Hotshot was crying by the time he reached the room, barely able to see past his blurry eyes, however he was able to activate the space bridge to Cybertron. He ran through, the bridge closing behind him as he made his way to Scorch's place. Hotshot knocked on his friend's place and luckily enough, it was Scorch who opened the door. One look at him and Scorch pulled Hotshot in telling his Carrier not to bother him as he had Hotshot over. They got into Scorch's room and Hotshot broke down, sobbing and curling into a ball on the floor as Scorch comforted him.

"It's okay, your safe here, you always will," Scorch comforted the other mech as Hotshot leaned into his friend, accepting the comfort that Scorch provided him. When Hotshot calmed down enough, Scorch sighed. "What happened? What exactly caused this?"

"I'm just so fragging tired," he cried as Scorch glanced at him and sighed. "From being blamed for nearly everything that goes wrong to doing everything for everyone to being judged for something I don't even know beforehand! I'm just so sick and tired of it all."

"I'm sorry that happened to you," Scorch whispered, hugging his friend close to him. It upset Scorch to see his best friend in such a state, a state that is rarely seen on Hotshot. Scorch could count how many times that Hotshot has broke down in front of him on his own hands. Hotshot hugs Scorch tightly, glad to have the comfort from his friend.

"I'm just tired of being the fall guy in the group and the entire academy thing is just too much stress," Hotshot hiccuped as Scorch rubbed his back. Silence fell upon the two once again, give the occasional hiccup from Hotshot. Nothing more was needed to be said between the two, Scorch understood what Hotshot was feeling and Hotshot finally relaxed with his friend. "Is it okay if I stay for a few days, Scorch? I think I need to regain my bearings, and I am not sure I should be on my own right now."

"Of course, my parents wouldn't mind at all," Scorch answered immediately, not hesitating in his response. Hotshot gave him a small, but sad, smile, silently thanking him. "So are you going to go back to the academy?"

"No, I quit the academy. I'm done with that place. I'd rather be free than confined to a place that hurts me all the time," Hotshot responded as Scorch nodded.

"Well, I am going to go inform my parents. They will understand the situation. You can stay here, just, don't do anything stupid okay?" Scorch informs him as Hotshot nodded. Scorch left as Hotshot looked at the door blankly. After some time in calming down and cleaning himself up, Hotshot went into the main room with Scorch and his family, giving a nod to Scorch's carrier and sire as the two gave him a warm smile, optics full of understanding.

"It's great to see you again," Scorch's carrier smiled as Hotshot gave them a small smile. Hotshot knew for the first time in the last two years, he was safe and free.

Timeskip brought to you by Chief Burns on his fifth cup of coffee.

Hotshot spent three days at Scorch's home before deciding it was time for him to return to where he usually resided. He knew that he most likely run into Ratchet, Bee, or Optimus there, but Hotshot held no grudges against them. They were the ones he would trust the most when it came to people from the academy. He knew they recongize him just as he did to them, the three were frequent visitors to the area he lived at.

"Your going to head out tomorrow?" Scorch asked Hotshot who turned to him with a blank look before it turned to one of sadness.

"Huh, oh. Yeah, I am. I enjoy it here and all, but it is no home to me, it is yours though. I trust you Scorch, but I just want to be free once again, and I don't think I will get it here," Hotshot replied truthfully, though Scorch could hear the sadness weave through his best friend's voice. Scorch always knew that Hotshot wanted a home, a place to belong, and as much as the two were brothers, Scorch knew his home will never be Hotshot's home. It was why he was glad about Hotshot going to the academy. Even if he saw the flaws in which the others treated Hotshot, he knew that it was the first place he thought would be Hotshot's home. But that didn't last evidently. Looking out the window within his room, Scorch sighed knowingly.