A/N : A rewrite of the scene at the end of episode 3 cause I feel like Rattrap was too mean and it bothered me that there was no proper resolution to the conversation. Also, this has been sitting around in my drafts for almost 2 months now just taunting me so I'm finally just biting the bullet and writing it so I have no more drafts in this book
"From now on, this cat is a team player!" Cheetor reassured. Optimus, Rhinox, and Dinobot all seemed skeptical, but there were more important matters at hand. "I'm glad to hear it" Optimus finally responded, turning his back to Cheetor and Rattrap, who had just advocated for the cat in a way that he never expected.
Rattrap turned and walked into the hall, to which Cheetor hastily turned to follow. They walked in momentary silence until Cheetor finally decided to say something. "Hey, uh..." the cheetah started slightly nervously, turning to the other Maximal with a crooked smile. "Thanks for not telling him about-"
"Save it, kiddo" Rattrap cut him off, and Cheetor could already sense the impending lecture. He bit his tongue and bore it. "If I told Optimus about your little play date with Tarantulas, he'd kick my sweet pink butt too!" the rat tried to justify helping out the cheetah. "It wasn't a 'play date'" Cheetor objected, slightly offended at that word being used to describe Tarantulas' weird, kinky death trap.
"Get outta my way" Rattrap said, voice slightly cold as he waved a dismissive hand. "I got garbage to munch" he began to walk away, but was stopped by a small "Wait"
He turned back to the cheetah. "What do you want?" he asked, irritable as ever. Cheetor offered a kind smile. "Thanks for saving my life, pal" the cheetah said softly. Rattrap couldn't help but return a small smile to the Maximal, a sight which Cheetor wasn't sure he had even seen before. Rattrap wasn't exactly a super smiley guy.
"Yeah, well" Rattrap sighed. "Don't run off like that again"