Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cybertron. Hi, my name is Bumblebee. Not the Bumblebee, I was named after him. Probably because I'm so great. Anyway, I'm a officer and I keep the peace around here. Trying to anyway.

"We have a criminal on the loose.", radioed a police officer. A yellow car dashed through the many dull coloured ones. Another car followed him close behind but this one was a jeep coloured white and dark blue. Police colours. They drove off the bridge they were driving on then transformed into their bot forms. Bumblebee's yellow paint shone in the light. He had made sure to glaze it. He said firmly, "Get in gear Cadet Strongarm." He pulled out his blaster then ran forwards.

Strongarm said enthusiastically, "Whatever it is we're doing...I'm honoured Sir!" She ran after him like some crazed fangirl. She called back admiringly, "I heard about your first mission: defeated a Energon Eater...All by yourself!" Bumblebee rolled his eyes as they went behind a wall. Don't misunderstand. He loved the attention but sometimes fangirls like Strongarm were too much. Bumblebee poked his head out to see a red futuristic car doing donuts around each of the statues. The states of Optimus Prime's team including...Bumblebee's statue.

"Clear disturbance!", he said angrily. Bumblebee and Strongarm ran into the memorial area. His eyes stopped at the floating car who paused...Then flashed it's left light and did donuts in front of...of...

"Right in front of the Optimus Prime statue!", Strongarm gasped disgusted. The great statue was made of sliver where Optimus was standing before them, looming over them. His eyes looking down at them...

Bumblebee yelled furiously, "That's it that punk is going down!" He pointed his gun at the blur of red.

Strongarm butted in, "Uh...Sir?..."

"What?!"

"You don't point a gun at a speeder..."

"Huh? Oh yeah I knew that.", Bumblebee said quickly. He smiled and his teeth glinted brightly. "Just radio-", he stopped. His smile faded. In the energon pool was a distorted reflection of himself which made him look like a soulless Bumblebee. The Bumblebee. His mouth hanged wide open. He looked at the Bumblebee statue again, still in it's position.

"Sir?"

Bumblebee jumped at Strongarm's voice. She looked at him with sympathetically. She asked concerned, "Is everything okay?" He shook his head.

He lied roughly, "Everything's fine Cadet. Now arrest that delinquent!"

Strongarm answered, "Yes Sir!" She ran towards the delinquent. Bumblebee smirked. That was almost too easy. He looked again into the water but...the reflection was gone.

...

Strongarm dashed after the red car, halfway she transformed into her vehicle form; her wheels screeching against the metal road. She was finally neck to neck with the punk. She yelled out, "Stop! In the name of the law-" The red car pushed her roughly causing her get off road.

"You mean in the name of eating my exhaust? Woo!", the voice was brash loud. everything a punk should be. Strongarm transformed back into her bot form, clenching her fist. She really felt like punching the guy right now but she knew she couldn't. She took a deep breath then transformed back into a jeep. She sped forward seeing the delinquent in sight, her eyes widened as she realised where the punk was going. She cried out, "Look out!"

The voice answered back, "Nice try Miss Police Officer but I ain't-"

"NO! LOOK OUT!" A red car crashed into Bumblebee as they were both thrown in the Energon pool. Luckily, it was shallow so they didn't need to swim back up. The red car finally transformed back into his robot form: he looked like a teenager only more scruffier and messier. He spluttered out Energon as Strongarm walked towards him. She looked down and asked, "You alright?"

He coughed, "Could- Could've been better." When he had recovered, Strongarm pulled out Stasis Lock cuffs.

"Good. Because you are under custody of the police." She rolled him on his stomach, put his hands near each other then slapped the cuffs around his wrists. Bumblebee walked towards Strongarm, clapping his hands together.

"Well done Cadet. Perhaps I should consider making you my partner."

Strongarm's eyes gleamed, "Really?" Of course not, he wanted to say but he knew he had to keep up his…good demeanour. Besides, their job was done. She started flustered, “I-I’m honoured Sir-“, her optics widened and she cried out, “Sir look!” Bumblebee turned, a bot that looked like a porcupine busted into the Museum. A Decepticon. Standing next to it silently was….Bumblebee…

Bumblebee cried out, “Well what are you waiting for? Get him!”

”Sir what about-“

”Just take him with you!” Strong arm looked at the punk.

”Well looks like you’re coming with us.”, she shrugged.

"Wha- H-hey!", the punk cried out as Strongarm followed Bee to the museum, cars honked and wheels skidded against the road as the trio traversed through them.

...

The doors flung away as the porcupine robot menacingly stomped in, not saying a word. He cocked his head. A female robot was at the reception table. She asked monotone, "Welcome to the Cybertron History Museum. Do you need a map?"

He looked at her then said, "I can find my own way thank you very much." He walked passed her, not even sparing her a glance. Civilians screamed and ran as he came into view giving him the advantage to come close enough to a panel. He pressed on it but it beeped in denial. He yelled annoyed, "Curses!"

"Quillfire." Quillfire turned to see Bumblebee pointing his gun at him. He smiled cunningly.

He greeted his old adversary, "Why hello there dear Bumble missed me?"

Bumblebee growled, "Not even for a second." Quillfire rolled his eyes.

"Well I suppose there's no reason for you to be here then." two other people came in, a red male and a blue female.

The female put the male to the side and instructed, "Stay here." The red groaned.

"Actually there is...Getting you back in the Stockade!" Bumblebee charged at Quill fire who stepped out of the way then, when he was close enough, grabbed Bumblebee by the arms.

"Sir!", Strongarm cried out.

"I-I'm okay Cadet!", Bumblebee struggled to get out. Quill fire twisted Bumblebee's arm and he screamed.

Quill fire taunted, "My my~ Did I hit a nerve?~", he watched Bumblebee scream out in pain, "You know Bumble...my fingerprints really don't match this little wittle panel..." Like a puppeteer, he raised Bumblebee's right hand up.

"But yours is a perfect MATCH!" He pushed Bumblebee's hand down on the panel and the doors connected to it opened up. Quill fire tossed Bumblebee to the ground then transformed into an off-road SUV driving off. Strongarm ran to Bumblebee.

"Sir are you okay?!", she asked worryingly.

The punk butted in, "Does he look okay to you?" Bumblebee pushed Strongarm away.

"Never mind that now! Put that delinquent in jail!"

"Sir what about-"

"I'LL DEAL WITH HIM MYSLEF OKAY?!" Strongarm took a step back. All was silent then it was broken by the punk.

"He soooo has a screw loose.", he mumbled.

Strongarm sighed, "Yes sir..." Bumblebee ran in after Quill fire into the room leaving Strongarm with the delinquent. "Come on...", she mumbled defeatedly. She led the punk back to the station for interrogation. Quill fire's wheels screeched as he halted towards the portal. Stasis fields stood between him and his escape. He transformed back into his bot mode.

"Rats!", he screeched. He took a deep breath. No, no...He could figure this out. He was a criminal. He could figure this out; he had dealt with far worse than this. He tapped some codes on to the panels and stepped back as a spark came out of one. There was a WHOOSH as mint light emitted from the portal. It was open. He rejoiced, "So long Cybertron!"

"Not so fast!" Quill fire scoffed. Really? Bumblebee transformed then pointed his gun at him. "Put your hands up and don't move Decepticon!" Quill fire quickly tapped coordinates and finished moments before Bumblebee shot at the panels.

He transformed back into his alt mode then drove in, the mint light blinding him. Bumblebee yelled, "NOOOO!" He transformed then sped after Quill fire. His wheels screeched as Quill fire traversed through trees and rocks. Bumblebee was right on his tail when he suddenly tripped over something hard and jagged. Quill fire honked in delight as he drove off mocking Bumblebee. Bumblebee transformed back as he found that one of his tyres had been punctured. He groaned...then noticed that everything was green. He looked around taking in what had happened and suddenly realising where he was.

He was on Earth.

Chapter Text

Hey guys, so I'm doing these as one-shots now since I can't write full episodes. Please understand, I want this to be a good rewrite but I can't do full episodes.

Chapter Text

Quillfire was scouting the forest, mostly because he liked snooping around but also because the forest was where he had set his base. He had torn the tracker out of his 'Decepticon' symbol. (He scoffed every time he was called that) it had been quite painful but then again Quillfire had gone through worse. He sighed, now that he was off Cybertron he could start anew. A clean slate- as heard some human tourists say. He wouldn't be classified as a criminal here and he could live out the rest of his days in the forest. Maybe...he could even...blend in with the humans.

A rustle snapped him out of his thoughts. Quillfire turned his head abruptly to where the sound had came from.

A bush.

A green, ordinary bush.

One would have assumed that it was merely an Earth creature or such but Quillfire was no fool. This wasn't just some rabbit (or whatever you call those fluffy creatures) no. This was a walking, talking creature. Quillfire got into a defensive stance immediately, pulling out a quill from his back and holding it like a sword. He placed his feet apart and stood his ground. Ready to fight.

He yelled, "Come out whoever you are! I know you're there!"

The source of the noise seemed to hesitate for a while then it came out.

'It' was a mechanical frog.

Or that's how Quillfire could describe it. It was painted with shades of green and some sapphire blue to it, it's optics were bright red (kinda like Quillfire's) and it had sharp teeth. Very, very sharp teeth.

But it didn't seem prone to attack, instead it stared at quizzically at Quillfire as if examining him like some form of art. Quillfire's guard was lowered and he put the quill back into his back. Silence went on between the two for- what felt like hours. Quillfire finally spoke hesitantly, "Hello?..."

The frog just kept staring at him until it blurted out, "Do you know where Doradus is?"

"What?"

The other Cybertronian stepped- hopped- closer to him.

"H-hey stay back-"

"Do you know where Doradus is?", it repeated.

He responded, "I- Um- Uh..."

He had heard the word 'Doradus' before and the many legends surrounding it.

Doradus was a mythical realm that was lost to time and history. The legends usually talked about how cybertronians were blinded by their journeys to find it, how people fought to get there first, how people had died for others to get there first. It was really a series of macabre legends but the most prominent one of all was the one about the Fountain of Energon. This fountain was not only an endless amount of Energon but also granted whoever found it with immense power. It was a silly thing, really. Since there were much more powerful artefacts, like the Matrix of Leadership. Once wielded by Optimus Prime, now kept safe in Autobot hands.

Quillfire questioned softly, "Why do you...ask?"

The frog simply responded, "The spirits." Quillfire cocked his head.

"The spirits?"

It elaborated, "The spirits of Doradus! They have chosen me to find the lost city! Me! Someone taken out of the gutter and be the new Prophet!"

Ah.

It was part of the cult of the Golden Eye.

The Golden Eye cult was a cult put together by Cannibal Baron, rival of Sentinel EnN. Cannibal Baron was not a bot to be trusted, as he preyed on the weak and vulnerable and- as the name suggests- was a cannibal too. The Golden Eye used the legends of Doradus and twisted them into something else. Something darker.

It seems whatever happened to this poor fellow, it ended up in the clutches of The Golden Eye.

Honestly, Quillfire felt...bad for it. Was it even an it? The only reason he had given it those pronouns was because he hadn't known whether it was a she or a he but judging by it's voice, it seemed to be a he.

Quillfire assessed his options, if he were to tell the truth and say 'I don't know' then perhaps the cultist would leave him alone. However...

There was a 40% chance of the frog attacking him and accuse that he was lying. And the last thing Quillfire wanted was a fight.

If he lied, however, there was a 50% of the frog doing whatever he wanted and basically licking his feet. While Quillfire didn't want to lie to the poor thing (and knew it was bad morale) he didn't have much choice in the matter.

It was about survival.

Quillfire asked composed, "What's your name?"

The frog responded enthusiastically, "Springload!"

Well that name made a lot of sense.

"I see...", Quillfire mumbled to himself. His gaze met Springload and he smiled at him. "Well Springload my name is Quillfire and I'm your...guide." Springload tilted his head.

"My guide?"

He explained, "A helper to guide you to the Lost City of Doradus. Ca- The spirits decided that you might need you for your benevolent journey." Springload looked away for a while then grinned a toothy smile at this. He leaped over to Quillfire and grabbed his hand. Quillfire blushed at this but then shook his head and growled. Affection. Such a trivial thing.

"Well then let us go my benevolent guide! Lead us to Doradus and I will assure you that you will be given the utmost amazing rewards for your efforts!", Springload declared. Quillfire mentally smiled at the frog's innocence then felt the warmth disappear. Replaced with...sadness. This poor cybertronian, this poor being, was being manipulated for someone else's use. It hurt Quillifre to see such trust be abused. What could he do about it though? Nothing.

Unless...

Quillfire could take him back to Cybertron, to one of those mental hospitals that the Alchemor was sending 'Decepticon' prisoners to. But what about him? What would happen to him? What would the Autobots do when they found out that one of their most wanted criminals had admitted a victim of a cult to a mental hospital.

Logic told him that it was a stupid plan but something else told him to go through with it. To...help the frog.

Quillfire looked at Springload who was now smiling at him, a glint of happiness in his optics and suddenly Quillfire smiled back. All of a sudden, he doesn't care if he gets thrown in the Stockades again. If it means helping Springload, he's willing to take that illogical risk.

Chapter Text

Bumblebee really needed Fixit to make tracking blockers.

It was just a normal day, just taking a stroll with Fixit while Sideswipe, Strongarm and Grimlock stayed in their new base. It was meant to be a basic holiday for them...Had Quillfire not tracked down their Autobot signals.

Now, here he was. Paralysed and tied up for good measure with Fixit being Primus knows where.

Bee would've shrugged if he could. "Oh well at least Fixit's safe.", he thought to himself.

Quillfire stared down at him. Bumblebee heard him mutter to himself, "Still paralysed? Primus the drug in that spike must've been potent."

Just then, Clampdown scuttled in. "Hey! Hey Quillfire! Guess what I brought in!" Bee dragged his optics up to see-

Strongarm's hunter weapon?!

Bee's breaths quickened. What happened? Why did Clampdown of all people have Strongarm's weapon? What happened to her? What happened to his team?!

Bee took a deep breath and reassured himself, "No- no. They're alright. They're a strong bunch they can handle it." The thoughts soothed his processor a bit but not for long as Quillfire started speaking again.

"Well~ You should see the kind of prize I brought in."

Clampdown looked behind the porcupine and gasped, "The one and only Bumblebee?!" Bumblebee cringed at the emphasis on his name. Long ago, his old self might have enjoyed it but now it was just implying that he was just an accessory.

Yet Bumblebee forced himself to yell, "Where's Strongarm Clampdown?" Clampdown smiled wickedly.

"Gone.", he answered simply.

Bumblebee could've cried right there and then. As the full weight of Clampdown's answer hit him, he felt a lump in his throat and his stomach drop.

Gone

No- no, they couldn't be! Right?...

Gone

But then where were they then?

Gone

The word repeated in his processor over and over again and Bee so desperately wanted to cry.

But he couldn't.

So instead, he just glued his optics shut.

This couldn't get worse, could it?

He would regret asking that question.

"Fine work brothers."

Bumblebee growled lowly; he'd recognise that voice from anywhere...

Steeljaw stalked in looking rather pleased. He toothily grinned as purred, "So Bumblebee enjoying your stay?~"

Bumblebee snorted, the drug wearing off a bit. Steeljaw merely stared at him with an apathetic expression. "Guess not." He kneeled down to the yellow bot and bore his eyes into his spark.  Those yellow, glowing eyes...Bee tried not to shudder as he spotted an emotion in them he couldn't describe. "So not only have I repaid my partners in crime but have also captured you. I could torture you or even snuff out your spark but I'm feeling...quite generous today so I'll give you two choices. One: you can either tell me where the Autobot base is or two you be a resistant little thorn in my side and I'll have to do things...the difficult way." Steeljaw leaned in close to his audio receptor.

"So what's it going to be?"

Bee gritted his teeth and whispered, "Go...to Unicron." Steeljaw smiled.

"I was hoping you'd say that." He stood up and looked at Clampdown. "Clampdown leave us. Quillfire stay." Clampdown gave a salute before walking off leaving Quillfire. Steeljaw urged the other Decepticon to come closer and the latter complied. After that Steeljaw ordered, "Give me a quill that contains aphrodisiac."

Bee and Quillfire were both confused by this. Quillfire blurted out, "I'm sorry you want me to- Excuse me?"

The Beastformer merely ignored his question. "Do it now or I'm going to have to pull it out of your back."

Sadness overtook Quillfire's expression as he realised what the Decepticon was going to do. He gave a look to Bee that read 'I'm sorry' before pulling a bright blue quill out. He placed it in the wolf's hand quickly retreating. Bee however was still confused, sorry for wha-

Agh!

Bee hissed as Steeljaw pushed the sharp quill into his back causing-

Not...pain?

Instead of a searing pain, Bumblebee felt a wave of electricity crackle through him. He was so busy focusing on the weird sensations, he didn't even register clawed servos pulling him and-

Mph!

Suddenly, Bee found himself wrestling glossas with the criminal, lips pressed together.

Steeljaw was...kissing him...

After what felt like ages, Steeljaw finally pulled away licking his lips. "Delicious.", he purred, "You're quite a good kisser Lieutenant if I say so myself." He soon began pressing kisses on to Bee's stomach, chasis etc. Meanwhile, Bee found himself wanting more, needing more. Did it have to do with that drug? What was happening?!"

He mumbled weakly, "What...did you do to me?" Steeljaw ceased his bombarding of kisses and smiled up at Bumblebee.

"Oh Lieutenant haven't you figured it out yet? That drug 'aphrodisiac' makes your need for sexual pleasure irresistible. Every kiss, lick, bite I place on that lovely body of yours is absolutely intoxicating." He turned Bee over and examined him as if he was some object. He gave a small 'hmmm' before deciding to-

Bee shuddered as he felt something long and slimy slide over his back.

W-was Steeljaw licking him?!

Bee felt like fainting but he decided to stay strong despite the drug making him want to moan. "Mhmm~", he heard Steeljaw moan, "Your frame is just as delicious as your saliva Lieutenant. Or should I call you Honeybee? After all you taste so sweet and you're so adorable when you're beneath me." Bee hid his face as he felt it burn up. He would die from embarrassment if Steeljaw saw his face when he called him those nicknames. The kissing was bad enough but the nicknames were enough to drive him mad with lust.

"No! It's not lust!", he thought desperately, "It's just the damn drug that's making me feel this way or else I wouldn't enjoy this! I mean- I don't enjoy it now!"

"Your optics are dazzlingly beautiful little bee~"

Bee put his servos down to see a predatory grin on Steeljaw's face. The Autobot cringed as he felt hot breath trail down his neck.

"Your adorable looks just makes me want to-"

His voice was interrupted by a screaming Clampdown.

"Boss! Boss! They're here! The Autobots are here!"

Steeljaw sighed and stood up but not before whispering seductively, "I'll be back my sweet Honeybee." Steeljaw then went away allowing Bumblebee to pass out.

-----

They failed to save him. They failed to get him back.

Bumblebee thought that they were done with him but apparently Primus wanted to punish him. So, here he was. Tied up by cable.

"Well it's better than paralysis." Try to look on the positive side of things, Bee. Your team will come for you, your friends will come for you, just be patient, just be pati-

Steeljaw came in. He waltzed right towards Bee who only glared at him. He purred, "Hello Lieutenant~ What a wonderful pleasure it is to see you."

Bee growled, "Afraid I can't say the same thing about you creep!"

Steeljaw only chuckled, "My~ You're just so cute when you're feisty." Bee blushed to Steeljaw's delight. He looked away in shame. "No! I am not liking the compliments! I am not-" His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a stabbing pain on his hip. He found a sharp object attached to it.

A quill.

The aphrodisiac.

Bee didn't even notice Steeljaw lean in before he felt more pain at his shoulder. Steeljaw's teeth had clung on to the metal, Energon pouring out before licking it profusely. Bee tried to quiet his whimpers as Steeljaw went down and began licking his stomach then sucking it while his tail swished. Bee wanted to moan.

"No! No stop it! You don't like this!"

"You do not like this!"

Steeljaw gently nuzzled his head on Bumblebee's neck. He whispered gently, "Are you enjoying this Lieutenant?"

Bee snapped, "Not on your sorry life!" Out of impulse, he grabbed one of Steeljaw's claws then slashed the cable with it. Thinking fast, he transformed into vehicle mode then sped off. Bee didn't know where the spark he was going but he knew it was better than back there. Besides, it seemed to be an ordinary factory. He could find the exit to a factory right?

His thoughts were interrupted by pain in one of his wheels and soon found himself crashing.

His wheel had been punctured.

Bee transformed back and tried to crawl away but screamed out when he felt a pede stomp on his injured wheel. Cruel claws grabbed Bumblebee's face as he was forced to look into those golden optics again. "You really shouldn't have done that Lieutenant." Bee cried out when the claws shifted to his head and dug in harshly. "Now listen closely Lieutenant, as much as I admire that fiery sprit of yours I will not stand for resistance so you either comply or I'm going to have remind you of your place as a prisoner here. Understand?" Bee tried to not let tears fall down his face. Steeljaw growled.

"Understand?!"

Bee croaked, "Fine..." Steeljaw's predatory grin returned and he carried Bee bridal style.

"Good boy. Now," He nuzzled his head into the crook of the poor autobot's neck.

"Shall we continue our session?"

-----

Bumblebee sobbed alone in his prison. After their third session, Steeljaw had been this close, this close, to raping him. Luckily, Primus had granted some mercy and Steeljaw had left him be.

Leaving him alone.

Bee was so happy and yet- so- so alone at the same time. He knew it was the aphrodisiac talking but he missed those affectionate touches, those kisses, Steeljaw.

No he didn't miss Steeljaw, he missed comfort. He wanted Grimlock, he wanted Strongarm, he wanted Sideswipe.

He wanted safety.

-----

Bee doesn't know how long he's been here but he knows his friends aren't coming.

Bee had hope in them but it seems they aren't coming.

After the realisation hit him, he cried and cried like never before. Steeljaw noted that there were now bags under his eyes.

Everyday was the same: wake up, refuel, session and recharge. Rinse, wash and repeat.

It was so long since Steeljaw stole his first kiss but that wasn't all he stole....

"My freedom..my happiness...my life...Destroyed....by the one mech I thought I was never going to see again...Who- for some reason...wants me. Who- who hurts innocents and caused so much harm to others...So why..."

"WHY DOES IT FEEL SO GOOD? WHY DO I WANT TO BE WITH HIM? WHY DO I LEAN INTO HIS TOUCH?! WHY? WHY?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! WHAT WAS IT IN MY PROCESSOR THAT'S BEEN BROKEN?!"

the next day, Bee found his blanket was wet.

-----

A long line of saliva connected both Bee's and Steeljaw's mouths as Steeljaw found himself flushed. "Goodness Lieutenant! You are a magnificent kisser. Makes me just want to ravage you." He shrugged. "Mhm oh well. Our session is over now so and I have important matter to attend to so until next time my little Honeybee~" He stood up and began to leave when he heard a whisper.

"W-wait...M-more..."

Steeljaw looked over his shoulder.

"What was that Lieutenant? I didn't quite hear that."

Finally, Bee couldn't take it anymore. He screamed, "MORE! KISS LICK BITE ME MORE! RAVGE ME! FRAG ME! TASTE EVERY PART OF MY FRAME! EVERY! USE ME! ENJOY ME! REVEL IN MY MOANS! PLEASE! MAKE ME FEEL GOOD!"

Steeljaw was taken aback by Bee's confession but then smiled. "Oh Lieutenant~", he replied flirtatiously, "I knew you would break." Without warning, Steeljaw bashed his lips onto Bee's causing the latter to moan. Soon, Steeljaw's Glossa began massaging with Bumblebee's. Steeljaw, now free to carry out his more sexual desires, started grinding his hips against the Autobot's causing the moans to become louder. "Oh Lieutenant~ Mhm~ Your moans are a luxury. Such beautiful noises. Let me hear some more."

Steeljaw's licked Bee's shoulder and Bumblebee shuddered at the contact. Steeljaw pinned Bee down on the bed then pulled him into another kiss. While the two were Glossa massaging, Steeljaw messed with Bumblebee's cod piece.

Come on...

An explosion could be heard.

Steeljaw pulled away and growled. For Primus' sake-

He diverted his gaze to his flushed Autobot, hazy from all the pleasure. Steeljaw cupped his cheek. "Be a good bot and stay here for me Honeybee." Bumblebee dumbly nodded and Steeljaw quickly pecked him before leaving.

-----

Bumblebee doesn't know what's happening but he knows that most of it had felt so good. After Steeljaw left, he had collapsed into a recharge; needing some rest after everything.

...

"Bee? Bee!"

"Sweet Primus what did they do to him?!"

"Come on we got to get him back to base!"

"Babe come on you're strong. I know you are. Please get up...please..."

Huh, weird. Those voices sounded familiar...

...

Grimlock was pi56ed to say the least.

After weeks of searching, they had finally found Bumblebee. They had been worried sick for him after he had been kidnapped by Steeljaw's pack. Grimlock had wanted to punch those decepticons right there and then.

And the state Bumblebee was in was not helping.

He was covered in bites, his berth was wet with Energon and there were bags under his eyes.

Grimlock growled as he clenched his servos. He hadn't known who had done this to Bumblebee but one thing was clear.

He was going to tear some Decepticon from limb to limb.

Chapter Text

When Grimlock first emerged, he was greeted by his carrier, Nightswipe. He had told him that his sire, Windstrike, had been sent back to the Well of the Allspark and it was up to Grimlock to take his legacy. From then on, Grimlock was trained to be the fiercest dinobot anyone had ever known but Grimlock had a bug in his programming. He wasn't ruthless or cunning or vile as his sire was.

He was compassionate, sweet and kind.

Sure he was still a dinobot but a nice one at that. He was basically the equivalent of a gentle giant.

His carrier...did not like that.

He had been called many things by him like 'piece of scrap' or 'glitch' but the insults that hurt the most were the ones that involved his sire.

The ones where his carrier told him that his sire would be disappointed in him.

And Grimlock hated that more than anything; he didn't want to make his sire disappointed in him. He hated disappointment.

But the mafia just wasn't for him.

So, one fateful dark cycle, Grimlock ran away from home. He hadn't been one for stealth but he knew the basics.

Keep quiet, don't make a sound and don't draw too much attention to yourself.

A few stellar cycles later, Grimlock grew into his adult years. He had covered his past up, made sure no one knew who he was but he still wore the Decepticon insignia. Despite no longer taking in criminal activities, Grimlock still sided with the Decepticons. They weren't perfect but at least they didn't hide their flaws like the Autobots did, despite their name.

Grimlock still remembers the roughness of the Enforcer's hands on him, the tight grasp on his shoulders as he was carried off to the police station over and over again.

All for nothing.

Grimlock didn't think it couldn't get worse.

But it did.

One day, Grimlock had been taking a walk to clear his thoughts when he had been roughly shoved causing a building to be toppled over but there were many other things that could've been damaged.

Or many other bots.

A sparkling had been near the building and as the crumbling metal was about to crush them, Grimlock had grabbed them just in time preventing them from getting hurt. Sure, it had meant- more accidental property damage but it was still an accident! Unfortunately, the witnesses said otherwise.

"I swear it was just an acciden-"

"Silence you filthy Decepticreep! You're coming with us!"

"No- Wait- Please-"

Grimlock feared that he would be put in the Stockades, where he would be locked up and would never see the light of day again, but what the Council had planned for him was so much worse.

They gave him to a sentence to the Asylum for the Glitched.

Grimlock wanted to cry right there and then. The Stockades were awful but the Asylum was Unicron. It was said that anyone who went in that awful place was never brought back out again or that was what the rumours said anyway. He found himself on the Alchemor soon enough and the Minicons- they were...nice enough. Sure they had really terrifying weapons but overall they were great company. He almost forgot that he was being sent to basic Unicron. Almost.

Then a miracle happened.

The Alchemor crashed.

Onto Earth.

Grimlock had heard of Earth before. He knew that Optimus Prime and his team had lived there and that it was also where the Decepticons had lost the war but that was about it. All Grimlock knew was that he and his fellow cellmates would be stuck there until further notice.

Or so he thought.

Soon, he had been released by a Minicon named Fixit and an organic known as Russell (what a strange name). That was when he fought with Underbite. He didn't know why, but something about the Decepticon made him want to punch that literal big mouth of his. Fighting had always been one of Grimlock's coping mechanisms so he had no problem wrestling with the big Chompticon.

That was only the start of his time on Earth.

Soon, he found himself in a team, in a family, people who saw him for who he was not what he was. People who didn't see him as a big scary monster or a evil Decepticon dinobot. He had also found...love. The moment he had sailed on that boat with Bee, something clicked in his spark.

He can't believe how far he's come.

Yet he can.

Chapter Text

He never thought his worst nightmare would become a reality.

In all of his bounty hunting life, Drift never thought that he would return.

In all of his bad dreams, he had come up with horrible scenarios but now that it was actually happening he wasn't prepared for it.

Prepared for ShadowRaker.

His fangs twisted in a cruel smile, ShadowRaker shifted comfortably on the chair. "Well Deadlock, your turn."

Drift's optics narrowed, sending a clear message: My designation is not Deadlock. He then looked down on the chessboard.

Knight at 3, knight at 6. First move by Drift, second by ShadowRaker. Drift felt his stress levels rising, panic threatening to take over but he hadn't been trained as a bounty hunter for nothing. ShadowRaker tapped his pede, a sign that he was impatient. A sign Drift knew far too well. "Well?" Drift didn't answer. Big mistake.

ShadowRaker drawled, "Well then I suppose it's time to say bye bye to your precious MiniCons then." A screen flashed up showing his MiniCons, his students, his sons, trying to break out of the room to no avail.

-----

Jetstorm slashed at the door with all his might, desperate to get out of here. He didn't want to be locked away again. Slipstream put a hand tentatively on his shoulder. "Jetstorm stop. Slashing and wasting our energy like this isn't going to get us anywhere." His brother looked at him with frantic optics.

"But Slipstream! We cannot just sit here while he has our master in his clutches!" Jetstorm had always been the more emotional of the two but Slipstream knew how to deal with the flood of emotions that were slowly coming out of the MiniCon.

"I know Jetstorm I know but we will find another way.", he said assuringly. Out of the corner of his optic, he noticed-

A camera.

Watching them, recording them, filming them. Slipstream ran to the Cybertronian technology. He shouted, "Master Drift! Whatever sick game ShadowRaker has forced you to play do not comply! We'll be fine!" After he had finished, he prayed to Primus.

-----

Drift looked at his Minicons, optics widening in distress.

Not good not good not good-

Drift took a shaky breath.

The centre of the storm is always still.

"You can do this Drift. You can do this...", thought Drift as he moved his next piece. He should've been more careful, he should've payed attention more. He should have-

"Checkmate."

Chapter Text

Starflyer taps his claws on the console, his optics narrowing at the sight of the Minicons.

Damn little pests thought they could run away to this mud ball of a planet and stay hidden?

Well, they were about to learn just what happens when you piss off a Decepticon.

Grateeeeee

What was that?

Starflyer's wings perk up, his instincts are like a hawk and they're never wrong.

"What was that?", he asks indignantly; clearly upset at his work being interrupted by some prisoner thinking they could escape.

The porcupine named Quillfire coughs loudly. Starflyer turns to him, scarlet optics on him in a second. "Sorry.", he coughs out, "Just seeds. Recently ate this delicious organic fruit called-"

"Cybertronians can't eat organic fruit idiot.", the seeker hissed.

"Oh sorry my bad-"

"I KNEW IT!" Starflyer bangs his fists on to the console, the glass nearly breaking from the impact. "I FRAGGING KNEW YOU WERE-"

Starflyer's instincts flare up again.

He growls, damn it. The little rodent must've scuttled away while he was occupied.

Wait.

This was his plan, wasn't it? This was the porcupine's plan. To distract him long enough so that his devious little friend could hide away somewhere.

He sighs in annoyance, he'll deal with it later.

He always does.

He turns back to the console hoping to get some peace and quiet.

But of course, the porcupine hasn't shut up yet.

"Starflyer! You don't have to do this!"

He huffs ticked off. Another of those sappy 'turn to the good side' spee-

"I know how you feel."

He freezes in place. He slowly turns to face Quillfire. There's no hesitation in that voice, in those optics.

Those optics belonging to a traitor.

"Y- You couldn't possibly understand!", he objects. There's no way. There's no way he can-

Quillfire confesses, "When I wasn't a fugitive I was an archivist in Iacon: one of the most wealthiest cities in all of Cybertron but I saw how others saw me. I saw the way they'd look at me I saw the way they whispered I saw the way they treated other Decepticons. So I became a...civil rights activist of some sorts. I started making speeches, protests; people began saying that I was a 'second Megatron' but I didn't intend to start a second Great War. No, I intended to prevent it. I recognised, should Autobots keep treating Decepticons with disgust and contempt, history would only repeat itself. Soon, I found myself in front of the High Council. Instead of listening to my point of view though, they labelled me as a dangerous rebel that needed to be put in the Stockades. I was panicked, I was scared, I was frightened so I did the one thing I vowed I would never do: I opened fire. After that, I fled. Fled and ran as fast as I could and became a criminal."

Quillfire's optics bore into Starflyer's. "But then I ended up on Earth and a very special...mech opened my heart up again and showed me that revenge would lead down a path of darkness and misery and things changed for the better."

"And it can for you as well. If you just let go of the searing pain in your spark."

Starflyer grits his derma. "B-But- BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE!" He stomps over to Quillfire. The porcupine hisses in pain as Starflyer grabs him by the helm. "YOU DIDN'T SEE HIM! YOU DIDN'T SEE HIS BROKEN CORPSE! YOU DIDN'T SEE HOW HE SMILED AT ME WHILE THEY KICKED AND NUDGED HIS BODY! YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY OF IT!"

His claws are coloured in a bright blue as he slashes at Quillfire's face over and over again.

"I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF THOSE WRETCHED AUTOBOTS! I LOST MY SIRE! I LOST MY SURROGATE CARRIER- I LOST- I LOST-"

He feels himself breaking down, he feels his facaded crumbling, he feels-

He feels himself buckling on his knees.

"I- I lost him.", he chokes out sobbing. His face is wet and he can tell he's leaking energon.

Pathetic.

He doesn't feel anything, he's in a trance. He can only hear his pathetic sobbing as he releases Quillfire from his stasis cuffs, the porcupine looking at him with pity.

Pathetic .

He feels a hand rubbing circles on his wings and, for once, Starflyer doesn't pull away.

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay Starflyer I'm here."

"Please, please hug me here." That can't be his voice, right?

"As you wish." He feels himself being pulled into an embrace and accepts the warmth.

Starflyer glues his eyes shut.

Chapter Text

"Dad? Dad?! What was that?"

"..."

"Julie...get the blasters."

-----

"You wanna follow rules with a bad guy?"

"On Cybertron, we did just that."

In the distance, a woman with binoculars watched the three Cybertronians. She radioed to her husband.

-----

"Filch: compulsive thief. Known for simple robberies such as energon, oil and more.", read Fix-It.

"And a new punching bag for me.", threatened Grimlock.

"And what seems even stranger is that she's barely been stealing at all. She's just been flying everywhere as if she's-"

"Doesn't matter. She's revealing Cybertronians and we've got to stop her."

"Before you go, there's something you need to know-"

"She'd probably be in custody right now if Sideswipe hadn't broken Rule-"

"You have been a freak about rules lately!", yelled Sideswipe.

"We won't get anything done if we don't follow by the book!", snapped Strongarm. She stomped away, leaving the team behind her. Sideswipe waved his hands as a sign of peace.

"I didn't start it this time! You're all my witness!" Bumblebee sighed, scrap; where did he get such a nightmarish team from?

-----

Filch cackled cruelly as Strongarm pointed her blaster at her. "Silly silly femme. You really don't know anything outside Autobot propaganda do you?" Strongarm's grip on her blaster tightened.

"What are you talking about fugitive?"

Filch made a 'tsk' before asking, "Have you ever thought that maybe- just maybe- I'm not doing this just for me? That I'm doing this for someone else? Someone important to me?"

The police car gasped, "What?"

Filch looked down at the ground sadly. "No of course you don't. I should've known." Filch spread her wings. "I pity you Strongarm. I truly do." Then she flew off. Storngarm was left gaping as the bird flew away. What had Filch meant? What had she been talking about?

"Have you ever thought that maybe- just maybe- I'm not doing this just for me? That I'm doing this for someone else? Someone important to me?"

"Tom! I see one of them!"

"Good job babe! Now let's get it."

Strongarm gritted her teeth, she'll deal with these questions later. Right now, she had some humans to deal with. As the jeep drew closer, Filch's words rang in Strongarm's audials.

"I pity you Strongarm. I truly do."

Chapter Text

"Bee...Bee!"

Bumblebee jolted awake. His optics darted over to the computer in front of him. Computer? Computer...Computer! Team!

"Ahem."

Bee turned his head to see his team staring at him, expressions stern.

Oh slag.

"Uh...Hey guys, how's it been hanging?" Bee hated how awkward his voice sounded.

"'How's it been hanging' is that we nearly died!", Sideswipe hissed.

Strongarm joined in, "And that there are three Autobots in need of our help!"

"And usually I'm the one doing this kinda slag.", the red Autobot muttered under his breath. Bee groaned, burying his face in his hands as it sunk in what he had just done. Primus, he was so stupid.

"Sir...are you okay?", Strongarm asked. She placed a hand on her Lieutenant's shoulder. Bee tensed, too close, tooclose-

The blue and white femme noticed and drew her hand back. "S-sorry.", he said (as if it could fix anything), "I-I'll try harder next time. I promise."

Why did he sound so childish?

-----

Windblade nimbly dodged the Chompticon heading her way, not stumbling one bit. Blurr, Blurr was not so lucky.

"Oh slag!", he swore as his servo was suddenly in the Decepticon's mouth.

"Blurr!", Windblade cried out as she ran towards Blurr; her sword raised.

THAWCK!

Strongarm kicked UnderBite straight in the jaw and he coughed up some Energon as she bounced off him. Windblade quickly recovered from her shock and grinned.

"Nice aft-kicking."

"Guys! A little help here?!", a voice called out. Sideswipe was wrestling with Thunderhoof and he was losing the battle.

"I got him don't worry." Blurr sped off leaving the two femmes.

-----

Bee searched the hole with desperation.

Where was-

He yelped as his legs were grabbed and he was dragged down.

-screamed out when he felt a pede stomp on his injured wheel. Cruel claws grabbed Bumblebee's face-

Pain hit his receptors as he he was thrown to the rocky ground but that didn't compare to-

him.

"Miss me Lieutenant?", Steeljaw purred.

Bee wanted to cry.

"Clampdown!", the wolf called, "Ready the nuclear waste for transport to Crown City."

"R-right Boss.", Clampdown answered.

Bee straightened up even when there was a drill pointed to his chassis. "You can't bring radioactive material to a populated area!" He tried to be strong but Steeljaw seemed unfazed. In fact, he pushed him back down with the sharp point of the drill.

"I would say 'watch me' but you won't even get an opportunity." The wolf smiled, all his white fangs showing.

-teeth clung on to the metal, Energon pouring out before-

Bee felt his spark clench, cleaner fluid filling his optics.

"You know; I could do so many things with this Lieutenant.", the wolf mused- gold optics glinting, "Shove it up your valve and use it as a vibrator; open you up and see what makes you tick..."

Bee was shaking now, Primus why was he so afraid? Had Steeljaw become scarier?

Or had he just become weaker?

"Hey!"

Bee looked through bleary optics and saw a black and green shape coming his way. He heard a grunt before the weight on him had lessened.

Grimlock growled, "Get your claws off my boyfriend."

Bee blocked everything else out.

-----

"Are you still mad at me?"

Grimlock looked at Bee in confusion. "What?"

"I-I messed up and- Are you- are you mad at me?" The last sentence was in a whisper and Grimlock's spark shattered.

"Bee if this is about the fight at the deserted area-"

"No! It's about everything that's happened today! I've been nothing but a burden to you all! I-", Bee hiccupped, "I couldn't even monitor a damn computer." Hearing Bee degrade himself was torture to the dinobot and he longed to find out what was wrong.

"Bee you are not a burden. Whoever told you that should stick that up their aft."

"But that's the thing. That's not what they told me."

What?

Grim growled lowly, "Bee tell me who they were and what they said and I'll-"

"Everyone put your game faces on! We're close to the cons!"

Grim sighed, pushing his anger down. He'd take it out on the enemy once they got there.

-----

Bee couldn't breathe.

He couldn't breathe.

Was this what the humans called a 'panic attack'? It sure felt like that.

He felt his spark clench, his shell too tight for his body and his optics watered.

 He felt hands on his cod piece. Part of him knew that he should be worried but everything just felt so good as of the moment.

Oh Primus, what had he become?

A traitor most definitely. A dirty, disgusting, whore-

Claws touched his shoulders and he writhed. He writhed like a rabbit caught in a wolf's den-

"Bee! Calm down. It's me!"

Bee stilled as he slowly registered the voice. Grimlock. He was here?

"Deep breaths Bee. Deep breaths..."

Bee felt his shell loosen as his breathing slowed. His vision finally cleared and he saw Grimlock looking at him with those purple optics. He looked at Bee as if the car was glass.

Had he made him that worried?

Grimlock asked very simply, "What's the matter sweetspark?"

"I- I can't-"

"Bumblebee."

The mention of his full name made him look up and his spark mate was looking at him with concerned optics. "I'm not gonna judge ya Bee." His optics softened. "But I can tell something's eating you up from the inside and I need to know what."

"I- I-", Bee faltered, "I- You'd...hate me if I told you."

His optics hardened. "What did I just say about judging babe? I'm not going to judge you. You don't have to worry about that with me."

Bee's lips pursed. It felt like he was offering his spark to Grimlock. It made him feel so...

You don't have to worry about that with me.

"O- Okay fine", he confessed, "It- it's about Steeljaw." Bee risked a glance in Grimlock's direction and-

Grimlock was frozen.

-----

"It- it's about Steeljaw."

It clicked in Grimlock's processor when the wolf was mentioned, the pieces all coming together.

That slagger.

"What. Did. He. Do." Grimlock was surprised at the growl in his voice.

Bee seemed a bit spooked up before he continued, "He...kissed me. On the lips....and licked me and...injected aphrodisiacs into me. And..." Bee dug his blunt digits into his shoulder plating as he trailed off. He looked up at his mate with optics filled with emotion. "I enjoyed it Grim. I enjoyed it. And- Grim. He tried to rape me."

Horror was evident on Grimlock's face. He knew that, if he was human, he'd be pale as those 'ghosts' right now. "Bee...why didn't you say anything?"

"I- I knew I deserved it. I had it coming. I was too pathetic to-"

"Don't you say that.", the dinobot said deathly quiet, "Bumblebee. What happened wasn't your fault. Steeljaw being a fragging creep wasn't your fault. You being kidnapped wasn't your fault."

"But I-"

"No. You were given drugs and that wasn't your fault. Your body reacted in a normal way. That's not your fault. Bee the team and I still care for you- no matter what that wolf did to you." Grim spat out the word 'wolf'. In contrast, he gently grasped the yellow bot's servos in his.

Bee sounded like he was close to sobbing, "You- You mean it?"

"Of course babe."

Bee sniffled again, "Can I- Can I hug you?" He asked it like a little sparkling to his carrier and Grim nodded. Bee, finally letting the tears spill, embraced his mate. Sobbing into his shoulder while Grim rubbed circles on his back. 

Chapter Text

Okay so here are some facts about my AU:

-S1 EP2 and EP3 will be the same but instead of Optimus saving Team Bee, it's ghost Bumblebee.

-In the episodes involving Optimus Prime's 'training', he'll be replaced with Windblade since I want to give her character development.

-Megatronus will be much more threatening and will have a more important role. ;)

-I'm going to expand on the Decepticons and how Autobots aren't the saints they pretend to be.

-I'll also expand on Sideswipe's backstory.

-Bee and Grimlock are a couple. So if you don't like that, you can leave now.

-Drift will be much less of a bitch. Same with Bee.

-As I mentioned before, Bumblebee won't be the same Bee from Prime because this won't be a sequel from Prime. (Oh God no).

-Grimlock will have purple optics instead of blue considering how he's a Decepticon but one that isn't evil.

-Denny will be less involved in the story since he's....well I don't wanna spoil it.

-Russel will be more likeable (hopefully) and Hank will be joining the crew too! :)

And that's it. Hope this cleared things up.

Chapter Text

Fixit hated his stuttering. He hated it with a burning passion in his spark. Well...it wasn't like it hurt him or anything it was just.... It just attracted trouble.

I'm my own enemy and everyone agrees

His wheels dragged him to the command centre, optics dimmer than normal. No, frag that; it was normal. Everyone had such bright optics but him, everyone had such shiny plating but him...

Everyone had such bright futures but him.

He tripped, a dust cloud filling his sensors.

If I wasn't in my way my life would be a breeze

Frag, he could do this. He could do this.

-----

The Decepticons were getting away. They were getting away and-

A servo knocked his head.

He blinked, optics coming online. Wha-

"Oh oh! Sideswipe!", he greeted, "...What are you doing in the forest?"

"The question is what were you doing out here?", Sideswipe...questioned? He was pretty sure it was a question.

Oh!

This was a test! A test he could handle!

Fixit chuckled, "I give up. Why?"

"I don't know okay?" Sideswipe sounded...angry? He was never angry. "That's what I'm trying to find out from you."

If I could go one day without tripping on my  pedes

He sighed, "Never mind. We'll talk about it back at the base."

-----

I'd have done great things by now

They were talking about him

They were talking about him.

Despite how he was laughing, Fixit was reeling on the inside. They were going to go inside his head again. They were going to mess with his processor and they were going to-!

That word Bumblebee had used. Damaged. He was not damaged. He was perfectly functional thank you very much!

He. Was. Not. Damaged.

"Shoo", he said to the pestering human children, "I'm fine shoo!" He hated how whiny he sounded.

"You're not fine Fixit. You never were. You need repairs."

as it stands, I'm so unsure of where my future leads

"I assure you Lieutenant that I am perfectly functional. Sure I've had some tips- hiccups- here and there but erased memories are completely normal for a Minicon such as myself!" Frag, he was stuttering. Not now, not now. "I may be-"

"Fixit; you're getting fixed and that's final." There was a tone of both authority and finality in the yellow bot's tone much like-

"You are a guard Fixit. It is not your place to ask such things.", the Captain said as they stared at the Decepticon in the cell. Beaten and bleeding Energon everywhere, a bright flash of their optics were the only sign they were in pain.

"I- I know Captain but..." Fixit was fighting with himself. His caretaker programming wanted to wrap his tiny arms around the huge war frame's body. What was wrong with him?! Wanting to hug a Decepticon?

"I learnt that the hard way Fixit."

Fixit looked down at his wheels. Despite reliving a- relatively fractured- memory, he had still responded like usual. (He had always been good at multitasking).

that I'd give my parts if it meant I could be free

from the pit I dug myself in and left myself to bleed

He still smiled however. At least he could trust Russel to do his diagnostic.

...Right?

but I've spiralled far too down.

-----

FUGITIVE CHOPCROP HAS DISOBEYED ORDERS AND MUST BE PUNISHED

Fixit was back again. He was back at the lab where they had prodded inside his processor and toyed with his mind like an organic predator does with an organic prey but he would not be so weak. Not this time.

I'm my joker, lex luthor, my emperor  palpatine

There was a voice but he didn't quite register it. It was unimportant. Irrelevant.

A blob of yellow grabbed one of his cannons but he quickly dealt with them and now-

"Stop!"

...

..That voice...

Fixit's optic scanners locked on to see-

FUGITIVE QUILLFIRE IS OUT OF HIS CELL AND MUST BE DIRECTED BACK TO CELL OR FACE PUNISHMENT

I'm the dagger in my chest that everyone can see

I'm a mess, I'm a martyr, I'm a narcissistic king

High on vanity and dopamine

The fugitive was restraining him but he would not yield. Not without a fight.

He's not going back there.

FUGITIVE QUILLFIRE HAS DISOBEYED ORDERS AND MUST BE PUNISHED

It was ironic, really. His name was Fixit and yet he was the one who needed fixing. It was ironic and utterly cruel-

"Slag it Minicon you're not back there!", Quillfire screamed at him. Fixit froze and blinked a few times before the hazy background melted before him. It was like a wet painting under rain and when he looked around-

Oh Primus.

His team, they were- they were- he had-

I burn my candles at both ends until the wick's complete

"Oh- Oh Primus, I..." His servos shook and he felt coolant leaking his optics. On instinct, he hugged the porcupine. "I'm so sorry! I-"

"Sh...it's alright...you were reliving a bad memory file that's all. You didn't know..." A hand stroked his helm and Fixit sniffled.

I think I'd give the world more value as a cut of meat

I haven't lived with guilt since I was thirteen

cause I've always done something wrong

Fixit's optics turned off as he powered off.

-----

It looked to be sunset when Fixit awoke. His teammates were all staring at him and-

Quillfire was still here.

The human femme, Hank, ran over to hug him. "Fixit! You're alright!" Blue optics blinked as they stared down at the young child.

Russel sighed, "I'm just glad I didn't break you- again."

Fixit shook his head. "You didn't break me at all Russel. I was always a broken machine-"

"Don't call yourself that!", Hank hissed angrily. Fixit flinched and her eyes softened. "You're not a broken machine Fixit. You're you and a sentient being. Does mean someone has a flaw doesn't make them any less human." For some reason, Fixit's spark clenched at the words.

"...Even..if there's a flaw in my programming?"

"Even then." Russel wrapped his fleshy arms around Fixit and he felt coolant come to his optics.

"S-stop it you two. You're making me emotional.", he sniffled. Strongarm walked over to him, an unreadable expression on her face.

"Fixit....I would like to...apologise for the way I've been treating you. You're an Autobot like us and...you deserved more respect than we gave you."

Drift spoke up, "We all own you an apology little one."

"Yeah; and I gotta apologise for being such an aft hole to you. Sorry", Sideswipe butted in; adding the last sentence as a quick whisper.

Lieutenant Bumblebee wasn't looking at him, he was staring elsewhere. He seemed...distracted. "Yeah what they said."

The con with them huffed, "Nice to know you Autobots know the meaning of sorry." Grimlock had a pleading expression on his face.

Bumblebee said quickly, "No Grimlock you can't punch him." Grimlock looked down in response. Fixit didn't know what to say. Him being surrounded by people who expressed care for him...made him feel something.

I wake up in the morning and it makes me want to cry

that I live another day when many young potentials die

but life is for no one to live but I

so I gotta give it one more try

-----

Bumblebee stared at his descendant's ghost in horror and awe. The ghost did nothing; just whispered three little words,

"He is coming."

Chapter Text

The grip on her Stormblade was tight as she got into the right stance.

"Very good- my student- very good.", her mentor- Dai Atlas admitted, "But you are still not ready."

Blue young optics looked into much older ones. "But Sensei, I have been training for vorns for my mission sent to me by Primus."

The older bot sighed, "Trust me Windblade your training sessions are nothing compared to the great evil that you'll face on Earth."

She tried to keep her voice even. "So you keep saying yet you haven't told me anything about this mission. You haven't even told me what this is for." She raised up the magenta blade she carried. A servo was placed on her shoulder.

"My child- when the time comes- the answers will be given to you.", Dai Atlas assured her.

She finally sighed in defeat, "Fine." She slipped into her fighting stance and the simulation began.

-----

The Skunkticon pointed his digit at the Bee Team. "We may not be built for speed Autoscum but we were made to take out the enemy. FIRE!" Simultaneously, the Skunkticons raised their tails up and fired lime spray.

"Scr-" But before Bumblebee could finish his sentence, the toxins hit them. Their vision became dizzy, they were scrambling everywhere and Bumblebee couldn't have thought of a more glitchy team.

-----

Windblade's wing was nearly scratched before she dodged out of the way, running towards the hostages before another Minicon blocked her way. Slashing through it, she transformed into plane mode- more desperate than ever. No, no no-

"Handling a new weapon; protecting innocent lives; fighting foes...", Dai Atlas said as if he had just read Windblade's whirling thoughts, "Quite a lot to handle isn't it little one?" Windblade swore she saw a smirk on his lip plates.

-----

Sweet Primus, why-

"BEE!", Grimlock was yelling, "CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU SEE ME?!" A few poor Skunkticons were being knocked down by the dinobot's tail and Sideswipe and Strongarm quickly rushed in.

Bee breathed in, then out. "What's the plan? There is no plan!", he snapped. He followed them anyway. He tackled a Skunkticon then Grimlock crashed against the wall and then-

An alarm buzzed.

Oh slag.

Strongarm and Sideswipe had been hit and were tossed aside like dolls. One of the Skunkticons said something but Bumblebee was too transfixed on his team to listen. For the first time, it occurred to him that maybe he wasn't cut out to be a leader.

-----

Blasts rung through the air, and Windblade was gritting her derma. "Sensei! How do I unlock the Stormblade's full potential?" No answer. She felt tears of frustration come to her optics. "Sensei! I can't do this! Do something please!", she yelled again- louder this time. No answer. Windblade could feel cold optics trained on her. She tried another tactic. "Get out of here, find a safe place and don't stop running." The humans obeyed, running away but-

A servo grabbed her wrist, engulfing it entirely and- before she knew it- she was thrown over the helm-less body. She grunted as she slid on the floor and she saw-

"NO!", she yelled but it was too late. Her blue optics widened as red lights tinted her face. Tears came to her optics. While those three humans hadn't been real, the jet still felt like a complete; utter failure.

-----

There was yelling, a computer-generated voice and other sounds Bumblebee couldn't identify. Ohslagohslagohslagohslag-

"The centre of the storm is always still, and it is always easiest to find a solution from there."

It was barely a whisper, but it was a voice Bumblebee recognised.

His descendant, the real Bumblebee. Bee stood up straight. In, out. He steadied his emotions like a pilot and thought.

Right, the cons weren't fast so they could be stopped later. The dam floodgates have a countdown so there's time to stop that too but the team could fall at any nano-click, so that was Bee's first priority. Bee ran to his teammates, quickly and gently nudging them away from the window before working on the controls. He commed Fixit. :Fixit, I'm at the dam control console. I need instructions for shutting down the dam's lock release.:

:Understood, Lieutenant.:

Slag, five minutes.

:NOW FIXIT!:

:Well a little 'please' never hurt anyone. Sending instructions now.: Digits went to work as soon as possible and Bee sagged in relief as the lock release was stopped.

He turned to his team. "Everyone back to normal?" Three 'yes's were his answer.

-----

"Think Windblade. When you started this test you were focused on your mission on Earth. During this test, you have been focused on the protecting the innocent- but Windblade. What is the test?"

Windblade bit her lip. She looked around for answers until her optics fell on the Stormblade. It shined with a knowing glint, and the jet knew what she had to do. Transforming to jet mode, she flew up to the sky. Ignoring the fake cons- for now. Harsh winds slapped at her but she remained focused.

The centre of the storm is always still, and it is always easiest to find a solution from there. In, out, in, out. She found the massive hill and flew down, transforming into bot mode and clutching the sword tightly in her hands. She stood before a intricate carved stone and- with a cry- plunged the sword in it. Storm clouds gathered and Windblade had to shy away from the  lights the lightning emitted. The three cons were blasted with strong volts of electricity and the slim femme's shoulders slumped with relief. The human stopped cowering and smiled at Windblade widely. She smiled back. Pixels disappeared as the simulation faded. They were like curtains pulled away revealing Dai Atlas smiling at her and nodding his head approvingly. Like a knight; Windblade lowered her head and whispered, "The centre of the storm is always still and it's easier to find a solution from there."

-----

Sideswipe kicked the con straight in the jaw, knocking the last one out cold. Out of character, Bumblebee had a (genuine) smile on his face. "That's how we do it team. If we just keep our focus we can do anything."

"MAYDAY! DINOBOT DOWN! DINOBOT DOWN! HELPPPPP!"

"..I'll say it again for Grimlock when the toxin wears off." Both the grounder and flier shared a smile, as if knowing the other was out there.

Chapter Text

"Hey Rusty?..."

"Hm?", Russell asked. He never did like being called 'Rusty' but when it came to Sideswipe things were....different. A lot of things in his life were different. For starters, he was no longer around his delusional dad and then he had met a bunch of robots. Then he had helped them stop a second civil war then he had ended up nearly losing them in an explosion. Now he was living in some dank cave with them. (To be honest he didn't mind very much). "Do...you remember how we first met?", Sideswipe questioned.

Russel raised an eyebrow. "Yeah why?"

"Well..."

-----

Russel was hiding behind a rock when he met Sideswipe. They were in a ditch of some sorts (a really big ditch) and that was when the two teenagers met. They screamed at the same time but as panic began of fade curiosity took hold. They stared at each other for a while as if one was a wild animal and the other an explorer.

"You just seemed so...apathetic about me as if I wasn't a giant alien that was dangerous to you."

"You seemed just as curious as me."

"What are you?", Russel asked.

"What are you?", Sideswipe repeated. Russel opened his mouth but a groan interrupted him. He and Sideswipe both turned their heads and-

"What is that?!", they both screeched.

"Heh, yeah just how I remembered. Then we got chased by Underbite and we met the rest of the crew."

"You mean when Grimlock seemed like a feral beast, Bee was arrogant and Strongarm was- well- Strongarm?"

One memory triggers the next. It was the time when Steeljaw had come into the picture and when they had successfully captured their first Decepticon. Russel smiled at Sideswipe's dumbfounded look. "That first step, we talked about in the woods, I think it's been taken."

"I guess that was the start of mine and Strongarm's friendship."

"Honestly, I thought you two were gonna become a couple."

Then the memories turned darker: Nightstrike's attack, the base being burnt up in flames, Sideswipe being left behind...

"Come back PLEASE!", Sideswipe screamed. Oh spark, not again, not again-

A grunt then, the next thing Sideswipe knew, he was being led to the others by Bumblebee. The rest was a blur, him zoning in and out, trying not to purge. He tried to stay near the others but they didn't seem to like that very much. It was a twisted paradox of sorts and Sideswipe knew he was doomed to repeat it.

"But you didn't repeat it, did you?"

"No, but that's what I thought at the time."

"But what if you need me in there? What if something goes wrong and I'm- the only one left...", His voice faltered but Bumblebee looked at him with glowing blue optics. How could a stare be so hard yet so soft at the same time?

"We'll come back to help Sideswipe.", Bumblebee assured him, "We're not going to leave you Sideswipe." He left, leaving the red bot to ponder on those words.

We're not going to leave you Sideswipe.

He let them sink in, really sink in.

We're not going to leave you.

His despaired face turned into one of determination, climbing up the dam to stop it from flooding.

-----

"And you also kicked Steeljaw's aft. That's not something you see everyday."

Sideswipe chuckled but then his mouth thinned into a line. "Hey Russel?"

"Mhm?"

"Do you...", he carefully worded, "Do you think I'll be left behind again?" Russel stood up at that.

"No way! You're part of the team Sideswipe and no one's being left behind again!" He walked over to the mech and hugged him. "And even if you are we'll get you back every time.", he promised. Sideswipe knew the possibility of abandonment was still there but here, with Russel hugging him in this surprisingly warm cave, he could rest for a moment.

Chapter Text

Bee turned and tossed in his stasis, grumbling with his stomach tanks churning...

Blue Energon spilled out of Grimlock's stab wound. He gasped before collapsing to the stony floor. "Pathetic.", his attacker sneered. It was a voice Bee swore he heard before.

"Grimlock!", Strongarm shouted before firing on his assailant. His attacker charged towards the police bot...

"NO!"

-----

"Now would you mind telling me what happened?", Sideswipe asked with an optical ridge up.

Bee panted, "It- it was horrible Sideswipe. S- something happened to Grimlock. He- he died Sideswipe. He was stabbed. Strongarm was there- she attacked and that's when I woke up."

"Bee...are you sure this isn't just a crazy dream you've been having from all the stress that's been on you recently?"

He shook his helm. "No Sideswipe- it was real. I know it was real."

"No I think Bee's right.", Hank butted in, "Bee you said your descendant- Bumblebee- warned you about something when we were attacked by Underbite?" Bee nodded. "Well what if this is it? What if Grimlock's death is what's he been warning you about?"

"That's a good theory you have there Hank.", he tried to say calmly (but failed), "I think we should raise up our defences. I don't want to be caught off guard."

"Got it. I'll go wake Russel up then.", she joked- trying to lighten the mood. Sideswipe gave a reassuring pat on Bee's shoulder before walking away. Now that he was alone, he put his face in his servos and groaned. Primus, who would've thought he'd be getting himself into this?...

-----

:Is the space bridge ready yet Steeljaw?:

Steeljaw smirked, even though his caller couldn't see that. :Why yes my dear. Preparations are almost ready and you'll be on Earth in no time.:

He heard a growl in the femme's voice. :'Almost' isn't enough wolf. I need it open and I need it open now."

Steeljaw's grin was all teeth. :Why of course my dear.:

-----

The impact was huge. Everyone was knocked by it and Bee inhaled dust. He grunted, standing up to see a figure with yellow optics. The figure was slim, sleek, almost like-

The figure stepped forward, out of the shadows, and-

He gasped, "Windblade?!"

The Windblade before him did not look like his old friend but rather some twisted echo: she was painted teal and shades of grey with golden accents matching her shining optics. The top of her helm had a dark blue however and the hovers on her wings whirred as her pedes left the ground.

"Hello Bumblebee.", she snarked as she pulled out a sword- orange and not bright blue.

Bee's blue optics widened as Bumblebee's warning rang in his processor. He now realised that he wasn't talking about Grimlock's death...

He was talking about this. 

Chapter Text

"How is sitting on a child meant to help anyone?!"

Strongarm was taken aback by Russel's suggestion. Weren't children like sparklings: small, defenceless and vulnerable? Russel airily waved a hand. "No, babysitting means watching over a child or toddler."

She tilted her helm. "Like...looking after a sparkling?" Russel nodded.

To put it simply, Quillfire's latest invention had...done something to Bumblebee. By 'something', Strongarm meant it had reduced him to a small sparkling. Now he was the height of Russel and Hank, he couldn't talk properly and he always clung to Strongarm like she was his carrier. Right now, he was doing just that.

"Cwarrier...", he said then proceeded to squish his face into Strongarm's pede.

"Don't worry," Hank said, "My older sister works as a babysitter. I can give you some of her tips." She winked.

----

"Uh...sir...something's broken the door to the elephant enclosure...and they're all gone."

----

"Bee-", Strongarm started, "Bee-"

Bee was, surprisingly, strong for a sparkling and right now he was holding Strongarm's pede tight. He made a sad noise around the pacifier (Strongarm had no idea organics had pacifiers that big) as she hissed in frustration. "Bee- Carrier needs to go somewhere very important so please- let- go!" This only resulted in him to look at Strongarm with a pleading look, making puppy optics- Oh spark why did those optics make her spark melt?

She sighed, letting her fight die down. She couldn't just- leave him here but Quillfire needed to be caught and caught fast. She needed someone to watch over the lieutenant. Someone responsible, someone trustworthy, someone good with kids...

----

She deposited the little Bee in Sideswipe's servos.

"Keep him out of trouble don't let him out of your sight and keep him safe." Her cold glare made Sideswipe think twice about giving Bee something to do and just leave.

"Yes ma'am."

----

Bee was no longer at the place- in front of the TV- where they had left him. The little yellow bot was gone.

Sideswipe and Russel both said, "Crud."

----

"Crud."

Strongarm looked at the police cars as a sign of bad omens. Surely this cycle couldn't get worse could it?

:Uhm- ma'am. Russel and Sideswipe have just informed me that Bee might've felt- belt- left the Scrapyard.:

She left her spark sink and boil with anger at the same time.

:Tell them 'nice job' in a very sarcastic way.: she hissed.

:They said might've-:

:Shut up!: she yelled frustrated.

"Woah woah let's calm down here." Grimlock placed a servo on Strongarm's shoulder. "Playing the blame game isn't gonna get us anywhere Strong."

She took a deep breath, allowing all the wires inside her to stop sparking. "You're right. I'm sorry I just-"

He nodded. "I know. You're worried about Bee and I am too."

----

Quillfire observed the black material closely, his red optics narrowed as he stared it. "Rubber...", he noted giving it a prod (not too much so that it would pop). Must be one of those human attractions. Hm...

A little 'eh' noise interrupted his thoughts. He growled, turning to see his opponent-

Which was a little sparkling.

A very familiar looking bot but where had he seen it before? The little bot put a stop to his musing by looking up at him with blue optics filled with wonder and awe. His gaze fell on the older mech's quills, servos reaching out for them...

"Quilly...", he said through the pacifier.

"No no don't touch those!", he warned half-defensive half-worried. He gently pushed the child's hand away earning a sad look. His lips pursed into a thin line. Oh Primus why?...

"BUMBLEBEE!", a really vexing voice said. A blue and white femme pulled back the curtain, blue optics darting panicked. "ARE YOU HERE?! CARRIER-" Her voice died in her voice box, staring at him and the little one.

----

Bee giggled as he played with the washing machines. A happy look, which was contagious, was plastered on his adorable little face. Quillfire was being put in stasis (after Strongarm gave him a good beating of course).

Chapter Text

"The young ones are always the best."

Those are the first words that Sideswipe hears when he wakes up. At first, he thinks it's some sort of cruel joke but the messy lab-like room tells him otherwise.

His captor is a reptile-like being with yellow optics and three servos (with one of them protruding from his chest). He has the colour scheme of orange and grey with some yellow thrown in to match his surveying optics.

He tries to plead reason to be let go but the mech merely laughs in his face, spittle hitting him harshly.

Then the tests begin.

"This is truly nothing personal. You are merely the poor spark that's ran into my servos. Do not be offended.", he says before they start. Sideswipe opens his derma then all he felt was pain.

It feels like hours- his chronometer broke a long time ago- before Vertebreak (that was his designation. Sideswipe never wants to hear that designation again.) had to leave. "To deal with intruders.", he says in that monotone voice he always uses. He slithers away leaving Sideswipe strapped to the table. Confused, shaken and breathless.

Later, Bumblebee and Fixit come along and their reactions are...understandable. Bumblebee slaps his servo over his derma and says Primus' designation and Fixit's voice box glitches more than ever.

He can focus on none of that, however, all he can think of are those words:

The young ones are always the best.

-----

"His name was Vertebreak. He was a scientist in the Science Council...."

Bumblebee is deaf to Fixit's voice as he thought about the state Sideswipe was in: covered in Energon, joints busted, his whole frame twitching yet so still-

"...Studied the practices of other worlds." Bumblebee's snapped out of his thoughts by Fixit's voice who continues, "Including..." His optics widen. "Unauthorised cyber grafting." Bumblebee's optics widen too and he's in shock for a moment before he composes himself.

"Fixit," he whispers deadly quiet, "make sure that no-bot mentions the name Vertebreak again. At least not to Sideswipe."

The mini-con gulps, "Yes sir."

Chapter Text

Strongarm huffed as she reached the the top of the tower. There was what appeared to be a nest made of metal and trash. This must be Filch's nest, made sense since she was a bird and all. Strongarm powered up her crossbow, she would be sure to bring this villainess to justice! She treaded cautiously, eyeing the evil lair warily, she had to keep her guard up. This was the fiend's hideout after all-

A little chirp caught her attention and she aimed her crossbow at...whatever was making that noise. She walked over, while holding her crossbow, to the area where the sound was coming from and-

Saw nothing.

That was until she looked down. Her optics widened and she had to hold back a gasp.

About five sparklings, with the same plating and optics as Filch, were all huddled together like little organics. One of them- the one who had made the sound- looked at Strongarm with big, innocent optics.

The police bot made the connection completely.

These sparklings were Filch's sparklings, they were the reason why Filch had been stealing- or trying to at least. She was looking for food, food for her sparklings, had Strongarm arrested her-

The sound of feet hitting the ground bought Strongarm out of her spiral and she turned around to see Filch staring at her. She grunted, "So...you figured it out?"

Strongarm tried to open her derma but nothing came out. After all, what was one to say after they found out they were about to leave children as orphans? A silence hung between them until a blast broke it. They both turned and saw the same thing: two humans. A female with brown hair and sliver eyes and male with black hair and brown eyes. The one thing they had in common, however, was the inferno of hate in their eyes as the male of the group charged up his blaster again.

"Oh slag.", Strongarm said.

-----

Fighting ensued, two humans against two Cyertronians. Filch swooped down like the natural predator she was and tried to slash at the female human but she swiftly dodged. Strongarm was fighting off the male one, their blasts hitting each other causing sparks in the air. Meanwhile, the sparklings were minding their own business. Completely unaware of what was happening to them. Unfortunately, the female was not minding her own business.

"They created more vermin.", she sneered aiming her blaster at the younglings.

Filch snapped her helm towards the female and her tips widened. "My sparklings!" She dove to the female but Strongarm was faster. She, gently, swatted the human away causing her to drop her blaster. She ran over to the bird femme.

"Filch! Let's work together! We both want to protect the innocent after all." She gestured to the sparklings. Filch looked shocked for a moment before giving a nod with a grin. Together, they charged at the humans.

-----

"YOU LET HER GO?!"

Bumblebee was steaming from the gaps in his armour, absolutely slag-pitting furious-

"Woah Bee chill.", Grimlock soothed placing a servo on his shoulder. Bumblebee stood up straight, took a deep breath then looked at Strongarm calmly.

Strongarm smiled in turn. "Don't worry she won't be bothering anyone. We..came to a agreement." She looked up. Bumblebee, Grimlock, Sideswipe and Fix-it looked up. Hank and Russel looked up.

They all saw the same thing: a massive bird flying over them like those human jets.

Chapter Text

Windblade- that was what Bee had called her- stood up and pointed her sword at their chassis. "Although I am always up for a good duel."

"Alright Grimlock you- GRIMLOCK!" Bee's voice escalated to a panicked crescendo as the dinobot charged forward. Strongarm felt her spark drop to her stomach. This was it. This was when-

Windblade pushed her blade forward-

And Grimlock ducked before kicking the slim femme in the face.

Strongarm let go of the breath she had been holding....before charging forward. "Oh please.", the flier scoffed. She pushed Grimlock out of the way before heading towards Strongarm's way. Energy blasts came out of the police bot's crossbow while Bumblebee checked for any scratches on his spark-mate's body.

The orange sabre came down on Strongarm and she had to use the crossbow to deflect the blow. With a bit of effort, she managed to get back into a standing position before pushing Windblade away. "Impressive...", Windblade murmured before she transformed into jet mode and flew up and up into the sky. Strongarm transformed too and her wheels screeched as they rolled across the rocky terrain.

-----

"I'll draw her attention, you two surprise her."

"No!", Bee hissed, "I won't let her go anywhere near you Grimlock!"

Grimlock shrugged. "But it's not her going near me. It's me going near her." Strongarm felt the same fear gripping her spark, she knew they had already stopped the premonition but...

"Grimlock. A- are you sure?", Strongarm whimpered quietly. She got a massive claw on her shoulder in response.

"I'm sure Strongarm."

-----

Windblade snarled under her breath as the dinobot evaded her missiles. Her optics narrowed, sooner or later she'd find his weakness-

A blue blur caught her optic and she smiled.

Ah.

There it was.

Chapter Text

"Bee who was that bot?!"

"How come she knew who you were?!"

"Is she like- your ex or something? Because if she's your ex-"

"I think it'll be wise to-"

"ENOUGH!"

All bots silenced down as their leader tried to put himself together. Bumblebee sighed, rubbing his optics together before looking at them. "Yes Windblade knew me and I knew her."

"Okay but that still doesn't explain what she's got against you.", Sideswipe argued.

"That's the thing: she shouldn't have anything against me.", Bee clarified, "As far as my memory banks serve; we've been friends for millions of years."

"How did you come to meet this Fiend- Windblade?", Fixit asked.

Bee took a deep breath before his optics whirred as nostalgia filled them. "It all started back when we were sparklings...."

-----

Little Bumblebee was playing with a cube, it seemed to dance between his pedes as it glowed with energy. Bee gave one kick with extreme vigour and it flew over a wall...until it was caught in the hands of a little fighter jet. "I think you shouldn't kick the cube so hard Mr Grounder.", a little Windblade advised as her hovers glowed excitedly.

Bee looked in awe at the flying transformer. He had never seen a fighter jet before! Gaining some composure he asked meekly, "Uhm...can I have my Cube back please?" Windblade landed in front of Bumblebee but she still kept the cube in her hands, optics sparkling like stars as she examined it.

"Oh wow! I've never seen a cube before!", she chattered enthusiastically, "I've heard of them but we don't have stuff like this back at the dojo!" She looked up at Bumblebee and her jet wings fluttered. "Can I play with you? Please please please?"

Bee couldn't help but oblige. "Okay."

-----

Hank chuckled, "That sounds like me and Russel. I remember us meeting in a similar way." Russel blushed as they both remembered how they first met at that sports ground.

"Heh..yeah...it does...but then she had to go away..." Bee's pleasant mood faded as quickly as it had appeared when he remembered the day Windblade had to leave.

-----

Bee and Windblade were about the same age as Strongarm and Sideswipe when Windblade had to leave for her training.

Bee felt hurt by this, thinking about how unfair all of this was, why did Windblade have to leave for her training? Was it really that extreme?

They were standing face to face now, silence a barrier for them. Bee, as always, was the first to break the silence. "Do you...really have to go?" It was almost a whisper but Windblade heard it loud and clear. She smiled sadly at Bumblebee.

"I have to Bee. This is part of my training and...I have to do this." A small smile touched her derma. "I will be back though and- when I am- I promise we'll celebrate my return and the  completion of my training over as many drinks of oil as you want. How about that?"

Tears filled up Bee's optics. "You know me too well sometimes." The two shared one final hug together before Windblade transformed and flew off into the sky.

-----

"And...that was the last time I saw her", Bee sorrowfully concluded, "until now."

Everyone was silent after Bee finished his story before Strongarm finally broke the silence. "So...what now Sir?", she asked in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.

"I...I don't know."

Chapter Text

Overload is an actor. He's given a role, he plays it and things go in his favour because of it. Being an actor has always been in his bones, he just hadn't realised it until he ended up on this pathetic mud ball known as Earth while escaping eternal imprisonment.

He had landed in a country known as Romania. There, he had met two Mini cons: Green and Blue. They had been hiding in a dumpster when Overload found them, sneaky little things, and after some scuffling he had given them their respective names because...because...because screw it- what else was he meant to call them?! The little cretans couldn't talk! Only mutter and chatter like those strange underdeveloped humans he had found in zoos! They could comm, sure, but they never really spoke of themselves or their history.

Still, they didn't seem to mind the names Overload had given them. Instead, they seemed to like them- and him too for some unknown apparent reason. Maybe it was the bouts of destruction they caused, maybe it was the fact all three of them didn't belong on this planet, whatever the reason he and the mini cons travelled around Romania causing agony and pain.

Then Overload found Odeon Theatre and that's when he found his true calling.

The 'theatre' (metaphorically) towered over him, its' imposing stature bringing a shiver down his back plate but not in...fear. :Blue, what is a theatre?: Overload asked the con on his left. The mini cons had been here longer than him, they knew what this was.

:It's where people act!: Blue answered excitedly.

:That's not pacific enough you dolt!:

:Specific, Green.: Overload corrected through their comms.

:Well, I was nearly right.:

:Was not.:

:Was too.:

:Was not.:

:Was too!:

:Was not times infinity!:

:...I hate you so much -----.: While the two were bickering, Overload stepped forward towards the building. Feeling brave (and a tad bit nervous) he turned back to the mini cons who were still sending spam messages over the comms. Overload raised his servos up and the mini cons- getting the message- disengaged.

They- somehow- were able to watch the play that took place in the theatre. It was a story about love, betrayal, and friendship- all things the cons usually weren't fans of and, yet, Overload's optics remained glued to the stage the whole time. "Esteban!", cried 'Corella'- he had learnt her real name later- as she held her 'dead' lover close.

Overload shed a real tear there and then.

He came out of that theatre a changed bot. He wanted to make people feel what he did when he had watched that play, he wanted to wear a million different faces and roles and be an inspiring thespian (he had learnt that term from one of the extras) but- most of all- he wanted to be an actor.

So an actor he became and he was hired by the best. A very lovely femme named Windblade had him posted in here, in Romania, where he and his supporting cast could deal with annoying autobots.

Yes, Overload is an actor and he senses stardom is coming for him.

-----

Screw this mission, Sideswipe decided.

Not only has a crazy hermit had been screaming about some terrible evil that's going to kill them all was now in their junkyard but now they had sent them on this crazy mission saying they needed to collect the primes' 'ancient artefacts'.

So, now they were in Romania, they had to fight off against a con and his two mini cons, Jetstorm and Slipstream were trying to hold Drift up and now he had to hold off this Overload guy.

Great, just great.

Chapter Text

Russell didn't have a mom. Well, he did have a mom. He just...can't remember what she looks like. He's not sure he wants to remember.

He doesn't know how she died- actually he does. It was through a ruptured appendix, gotten through some- freak accident. Denny doesn't talk about her much. He doesn't talk to anyone, at least- he doesn't talk to Russell.

Denny. The name leaves a bitter taste on his mouth. He doesn't prefer to call his dad by Dad. Maybe he did, a long time ago, but...that was a distant memory.

After mom's death, Denny Clay just...changed. He began obsessing over the junk he'd collected as a fun, little, secondary hobby- they even moved into a junkyard because of it! Looking back on it, it was no doubt Denny's way of coping. That didn't make it hurt any less.

After weeks of starvation and neglect, the authorities had finally decided to look into things when Russell had been caught stealing food from a store. CPS had gotten involved and...well...

The rest was history as some people would say.

Despite everything, Russell still remained in the scrapyard because...it was still his home.

Which is how he got in this bizarre situation: becoming friends with two metallic aliens who were the same size as him and yet still acted younger than him. When Jetstorm had requested Russell to be his mentor, it led to a lot of things: Quillfire and Springload working together, Hank becoming friends with Slipstream but- most prominent of all- it led to Russell learning about Drift's strict parenting. When he saw mentor and students embracing, Russell felt many emotions but anger was the biggest.

Why couldn't he have a dad like that? Why couldn't he have a dad who- who cared? To the point where he'd travel across the galaxy to find him?

It wasn't fair. It. Just. Wasn't. Fair.

So, as he played video games with his friends, Russell stared at the twins and thought how lucky they were.

Chapter Text

Cyan optics were glued to a blue screen. They followed the swerve of a police car before it did another one- and another one- then it raced past cars (cars with innocent civilians in them...) causing them to spin in circles.

Five car crashes and seven casualties happened that night.

Because of Strongarm.

"Playback, stop." Strongarm commanded. The video paused. Strongarm's optics scanned every detail before saying, "Playback, rewind." The holo-video went back to the beginning before Strongarm's greatest failure played once more again. She had repeated this action...how many times exactly? She didn't know but-

"You do know watching holo-videos in the middle of the dark-cycle is bad for your optics, right?"

Strongarm jumped at the sound of the voice before her shoulders slumped in relief when she looked over her shoulder. "Oh...it's just you..." The old bot that had been found banging on the doors of the junkyard. Acid Storm, he had said his designation was? She could've sworn she had heard that name before somewhere...

He was shrouded in a brown cloak and all that were visible were his purple optics. Kinda like...

Acid Storm merely hummed in response before sitting down next to Strongarm. "So...going on administrative leave, are we?" His optics twinkled with mischief as he said this but Strongarm merely groaned and put her face in her servos. He reminded her so much of Sideswipe.

Sideswipe. Her spark clenched. He, Drift, Jetstorm and Slipstream were off searching for the artefacts in other countries while Strongarm was here being a burden.

"I should've done something different! I would've done something different if I had known."

"But you didn't know.", Acid Storm pointed out, "And when finding the artefacts, we'll need all servos on deck. That includes you Strongarm." His voice held a tone of sternness in it but Strongarm still didn't get up. She merely put the holo-video away and stared out into the sky. What was Cybertron like without her? Was her commanding officer doing a good- or better- job without her?

After some silence, Acid Storm sighed and stood up. "Look, if you don't want to be on duty, that's fine, but the team still needs your support somehow. Since you're going on administrative leave..." He held out his servo. "How about we do some administrative duties?" Strongarm hesitated...before taking the black-coloured servo.

-----

She had failed. She had failed again.

She had accidentally activated the defence systems and had nearly killed them all.

Strongarm felt her breathing quicken, her shoulder shook and she let out a quivering "I'm sorry-"

Acid Storm grabbed her shoulders to ground her before speaking in a soothing voice, "Hey, hey, you didn't know. Administrative clearly isn't for you, I get that now. That's fine."

Fine. That was a word Acid Storm used often. Her old instructor despised those words. To him, there wasn't 'fine'. There was only success- or failure and he hated failure. If Strongarm made even the slightest of fumbles, he was quick to whip her back into shape. Even when she made that mistake again, and again, and again.

Acid Storm- Acid Storm wasn't like that. He was patient, and explained to Strongarm gently about what mistakes she had made. He even pointed out that the computer's keyboard was made for Fixit's digits, not her own.

That still didn't excuse her actions though.

She shrunk under Bumblebee's glare and tried to shut him out. She felt like a cadet all over again. "I'll go.", Acid Storm volunteered softly, "I can be air support." Bumblebee frowned.

"Are you sure? Because you're kind of..."

Old. Strongarm finished Bumblebee's sentence for him in her processor. That sounded like more of a Sideswipe thing to say.

But he was gone, and maybe that was her fault too.

Maybe everything was her fault.

-----

Flames were surrounding them. The trio watched miserably as the fire Windblade had started was now closing on them. They didn't have much time left so Acid Storm knew what he had to do. :Put Strongarm on the line.: ,He instructed Fixit.

:Strongarm here. Wouldn't you rather talk to someone more-:

:Cadet, I need you to listen to me and listen to me very closely.: Acid Storm took a deep breath before continuing. :Soon the flames will be hot enough to burn through our armour and- when it does we'll...:

:Die?!: ,Bumblebee interrupted hysterically.

:...As this is the last time we'll be talking to each other...I'd like to apologise.:

:What?!: ,Strongarm blurted in shock, :What are you apologising for?!:

:I knew Windblade.:

Strongarm's spark froze.

Bee's optics bulged. :Wait, you knew-:

:I worked at the dojo she was at. I- I saw what they were doing to her. I saw what they were turning into and I did nothing.: Acid Storm's optics clouded over as he recalled, :Even when it was right in front of my optics, I was too cowardly to say anything. Maybe it was the shunning or the pure craziness of the idea of the one of the most prestigious dojos on Cybertron being evil- I don't know. What I do know is that I'm the reason Windblade is now.: He let out a mournful sigh. :Maybe this is my punishment in a way. The thing I created will now be the thing to destroy me.:

:Acid Storm-:

:That is not true!: ,Strongarm protested, :Everyone makes mistakes! What matters is how we respond to those mistakes!: She stared at her servos as they curled in on themselves. :So what if you were a coward? You're trying to fix things now, aren't you?: When Acid Storm's voice crackled on the comms again, Strongarm could hear the hint of a smile in his voice.

:Thank you, Strongarm, but if it's so easy to forgive me, then why won't you forgive yourself?: Strongarm opened her derma to retort...but no words came out. :Cadet, the only way we'll get out of here is if you grab as many buckets of water as you can and douse this fire out. Can you do it?: Strongarm took a deep breath...then rolled out.