Code of Honor (A Drift x OC Fanfic)

Chapter 37 - The Next Step

Hina slowly opened her eyes the next morning, curled up in the blanket Drift had given her.

A tender hand stroked the side of her head, and anyone would be able to hear the smile on his face as Drift spoke. "Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Pretty well. Thanks again for the blanket." Hina thanked.

He didn't even miss a beat. "No more sub-freezing temperatures try to get you?"

She shook her head. "Nope, thanks to you. To be honest, it's getting a little warm now."

Drift stood up to his feet, giving the girl room to push the blanket off her and stretched her arms out with a quiet yawn. "How the heck do you guys sleep on this thing?"

"Dunno." He said honestly, struggling to come up with a good reason as to why they actually did recharge on what were essentially metal slabs. "It's not like we have any soft cotton fields growing on Cybertron."

"Good point." Hina nodded while brushing her hair out of her face. She flinched a little, feeling HER metal finger touch HER metal forehead.

His optic ridge raised with alarm, noticing her reaction. "Still not used to it?" He asked warily, knowing that an upgrade was unnerving, and gong from human, to techno-organic, to almost fully Cybertronian was definitely worse. She would have to learn so much, and go through far too many trials as a converted Cybertronian through no fault of her own. 

And he felt like all he could do were the small insignificant things, that just seemed to backfire. It wasn't fair.

"I could always pull some strings, maybe get you a giant cotton mattress, you never know." He offered, knowing that a piece of home was always helpful. 

"Thanks Drift, that's sweet of you." Hina smiled. "I just need to adjust. That's all."

His gaze was soft, searching for anything out of place. But he found nothing. "Alright." He said finally. "But again, like with the techno organic transfer, I'll help you with this."

"I know you will. And I appreciate it."

Drift almost sighed. There was only so much he could help with, and being with Hina during the operation was not something that could happen. "You'll be fine." He said, reassuring her and himself without realizing it. "Ratchet's the best of the best, an Autobot version of Shockwave. He's very good at what he does."

The holoform placed a hand on the girl's shoulder as she nodded, leaning into his touch.

"Alright," he began, kissing the girl's forehead before his holoform disappeared. "I'm going to take a drive around town, meet a friend."

"You can't stay?" Hina asked.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry Hina. Doctor's orders. Ratchet needs all the peace and quiet he can get to concentrate on finishing your surgery. It's a very delicate process. Ratchet hasn't done anything like this before."

"You got that right." Ratchet entered his medical lab through the main doors, holding a box of medical tools with him. "In fact, no one has ever done something like this." 

"Then you'll be the first." Drift replied as Ratchet set the box down on a nearby table. 

"How did you sleep Hina?" Ratchet asked the girl.

"Alright I guess." Hina shurgged. 

"Good. Now hurry along Drift," Ratchet waved the samurai off. "I need to get started. Besides, I already saw Rodimus waiting for you at Maccadams."

"He's already there?!" Drift asked with shock. 

Drift glanced at the time on Ratchet's monitor, cursing under his breath. "Scrap." He shook his head, running for the door. "I'll pop by later to check on you Hina!"