Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Blankets.

He needed blankets.
Lots and lots of blankets.
And pillows as well, lots and lots of pillows. Otherwise, the nest would not only be too hard but also too small.

But he didn´t know where to get all the blankets and pillows he needed. And that’s not Swoop´s only problem, he hasn´t even found a proper place for the nest.
Nowhere felt right.

If he couldn´t find the right location his own berth would have to suffice.

Swoop was starting to get annoyed. Annoyed at the programming that was forced upon him- and by extension his teammates- that forced him to build a nest. The accursed Dino-programming overrode almost all his normal code, only his base coding was left intact. He even had to relearn all his scientific breakthroughs.
Without said coding he could just have his sparkling normally, even that he was denied.

His optics were starting to sting.

Now he not only had to build a nest, but he then would also have to lay an egg and wait for it to hatch. All while making sure nothing happened to either himself or the egg, that included not letting his team find out.
They would only see his condition as a sign of weakness, seeing as Swoop would no longer be able to fight alongside them. Staying behind instead and providing only minimal support.
They would also see Swoop reaching out for help from the other Autobots as a sign of weakness. Dinobots didn´t need help. But Swoop would not be able to take care of the sparkling alone, let alone build his nest.

It was starting to get to Swoop´s processor, his rational thinking told him everything would be fine, but his stupid programming kept telling him the opposite.
His processor hurt. He was getting nowhere.

Small droplets of fluid were starting to form at the corners of his optics.

No, focus. One thing at a time.

First, he needed a place for the nest; secondly the materials, everything else will work out somehow.

Perhaps his berth really is the best place, it´s decently soft and smelled like him, surely the sparkling will enjoy that.

So far there wasn´t much to the nest, just a rough crescent shape made from his own blanket with a pillow placed in the center.

It looked terrible.
“I´m really not good at this”, Swoop mumbled to himself.

Sitting down on the pillow Swoop tucked his legs under his chin, fluid slowly dripping from his optics.
This was the first time he build a nest it didn´t need to be perfect, his programming told him otherwise. The nest was a disappointment, if he couldn´t even build a proper nest how was he supposed to be a good creator.
He was carrying for the first time as well. Yet somehow Swoop thought he should have everything figured out.

It was suffocating, his processor constantly switching from his rational side telling him everything was fine and his dino-programming telling him he should do better, be better, be strong.

The tears were running freely now.

Chapter Text

The first time Swoop really noticed Sludge staring at him was after returning from the last battle. Locking optics there was an excited sparkle in the larger one’s optics, but Swoop brushed it off as excitement over the successful fight. They were outnumbered and for a while it looked like they would lose, no doubt because of Swoop himself for abandoning his position.
Surely that was the reason for Sludge´s excitement, or perhaps he just really looked forward to refueling.

Whatever it was Swoop, instead of heading to the rec room with the rest of his team, went straight to his room. While leaving his post, for only a few kliks at most, he managed to secure more materials for his nest.
Part of him felt bad for stealing said materials, surely the Autobots needed the flag, but Swoop decided the moment he spotted it that he needed it more. And besides it´s only one flag that´s missing, no one will notice.
Conscience soothed Swoop arranged the flag around the nest, it was starting to really come into shape.
Swoop smiled to himself and decided to finally head to the rec room for his ration, Sludge´s weird staring already at the back of his processor.

A few days later while refueling Swoop again caught his teammate staring at him. The brontosaurus´ optics were large, with an excited sparkle.
“Swoop glowing”, was all the larger one said, smile on his lipplates.

What?

Swoop just stared back, then down to his servos and further down his body. Neither on which were glowing. What was Sludge talking about.
“I´m not glowing. Your optics must be damaged”, Swoop reasoned to mostly himself, it´s the only explanation it has to be. No one just starts glowing.
“No…no.” Sludge´s speech was slow, his processor having a hard time keeping up.
“Sludge optics okay. Swoop really glowing.”
“I-is anyone else glowing?”, Swoop tried, maybe this way he could find out what´s wrong.
“Only Swoop. Sludge think Swoop pretty.”, again Sludge was smiling at him.
Again Swoop was stuck silently staring at Sludge, this was starting to get weird. Looking down at himself Swoop still found himself not glowing.

“What´s all this glowing stuff about?!”, Slag´s angry voice cut through Swoop´s thoughts.
“Swoop glowing.”
“The frag! Swoop´s not!”
“Swoop is!”

“Enough!”, Grimlock´s commanding voice managed to not only silence Sludge and Slag, but also the entire rec room. All optics were suddenly locked on the Dinobot´s.
Swoop tried shrinking in on himself, slowly sliding under the table.
“Slag, Sludge no more arguing. Swoop is not glowing. Sludge get your optics checked. Swoop get out from under the table.”
Non-committal grunts were the only acknowledgement the orders received.
The optics were still locked on them.

Another blanket, another layer for his nest, it will be done in time for the egg. Swoop wondered how long he still has to wait, the swelling from the egg was starting to show, his sleek frame expanding. So far his team doesn´t know, preferably it should stay that way. However, Swoop knows he has to tell them in the near future, it wouldn´t be fair otherwise. Telling his team worries him, he has no idea how they might react.
What if the other´s no longer see Swoop as part of the team, carrying means he´s weak and there are no weak Dinobot´s?
What if they make Swoop get rid of the egg, and in turn the sparkling?

What if? What if? Whatifwhatifwhatifwhatifwha….

A knock brought Swoop back to reality. Bringing his servos down from clutching his head he looked towards the door. Who would?

Another knock. More forceful this time.

Opening the door revealed Sludge, his expression was unreadable. Swoop let him enter.

“Sludge want to apologize to Swoop.”, his optics were glued to the ground
“Apology accepted.”
“Swoop not angry?”
Swoop just shook his head.
“No I´m not. You didn´t do anything wrong”, at this Sludge´s optics lifted and his faceplates lit up.
“Sludge optics okay also. But Swoop still- What that!”, his optics landed on the nest.
Excited Sludge went to look at it slowly reaching out his servo.
“Don´t touch it!”, Swoop rarely raised his voice, so the shock was evident on the others face.
“I´m sorry, I didn´t mean to shout like that.”
“It okay. Dinobot´s loud and Swoop Dinobot, so Swoop loud.”, Sludge reasoned “But what that?”
“It´s a nest.”
“Nest?”
“Yes a nest. It´s a small kind of berth specifically build for eggs to hatch. That´s also what the blankets and pillows are for, to cushion and warm the egg and after it´s hatched the sparkling.”, Swoop explained, a lot seemingly still went over the others head.
“Swoop build nest?”
Swoop nodded.
“Swoop need pillow?”
Again he nodded.

“But no egg. Why nest? Sludge not understand.”, the bigger suddenly mentioned, confused.

Swoop didn´t know how to respond, none of his made-up scenarios prepared him for this.
Tell him, a voice in the back of his processor told him.
Sludge still looked at him. Swoop could have told him anything, made up a random story about where the egg currently is and when it would be inside the nest, maybe he should have.
This was Sludge after all, stupid Sludge who listens to whoever is strongest and doesn´t -can´t- think for himself, but also surprisingly curious and somewhat naïve Sludge who trusts Swoop down to his very spark.
But lying wouldn´t be fair, not after everything. Not after Sludge went out of his way to have his optics checked and seeking out Swoop just to apologize.
Swoop owes him at least the truth.
And part of Swoop argues that Sludge would probably be the best to find out about his condition first. Perhaps his carrier protocols make him see Sludge as another sparkling.
Or perhaps Swoop also knows that he can trust Sludge, just as Sludge trusts him.

“Promise me, that you won´t tell anyone.”
“Sludge promise.”
“Then it´s our little secret.”, Swoop smiles at the other.
Sludge smiles back, sparkles back in his large optics.
“The egg is in here.”, slowly Swoop takes Sludge´s servos and places them on his stomach.
Sludge just looks more confused.
“Egg inside Swoop?”
“Yes.”

They just stood like that, Sludge´s servos on Swoop´s stomach, comfortable silence filling the room.

“Maybe Swoop glowing because of egg.”, Sludge broke the silence, optics drawn to his own servos.

Swoop´s first instinct was to disagree, it didn´t make any logical sense, while in the current moment making plenty sense.
So Swoop just nodded, making a content noise in the process.

Chapter Text

Soon.

Swoop didn´t know when exactly, but a part of him told him it would be soon.
He certainly hoped that was the case.
For a while now the egg had started putting more strain on his body, protoform expanding to accommodate the additional weight. There was no hiding it now.

Recently Swoop requested Ratchet to take him off active duty, the old medic begrudgingly accepted mumbling about not knowing Swoop´s condition up until now.

Just a few days later Swoop stocked up on energon and locked himself in his room.

And then the waiting began.

For the first few days Swoop busied himself with some datapads, writing down his thoughts or reading about various scientific research. Everything surrounding cybertronian cna specifically caught his interest. Perhaps one day he could get back into his own research, maybe even reverse his dino-coding.
A sharp pinching pain ripped him from his daydreaming. These pinches started happening more frequently, some painful enough that Swoop would have to stop whatever he was doing just to clutch his midsection and take some deep breaths. Sometimes he´d rub circles on the extended protoform, it helped in making the pain go away.

Sometimes Swoop would take little naps to pass the time. Often his naps were interrupted by the pinching pain in his lower abdomen.
A knock on the door awoke him from his current one.
“Swoop okay?”, Sludge´s voice came from the other side.
Of course Sludge would be the first one to visit Swoop.
“Sludge bring pillow.”
Stretching Swoop uncurled from the nest and got up to open the door.
“Yes, I´m okay. Thanks for the pillow.”, Swoop didn´t bother asking where Sludge had acquired the pillow from, instead welcoming the taller into his room.

“Good, good. Swoop round.”, Sludge went straight to the point.
“Swoop look like Swoop going to explode.”
“Well the egg will come out soon, it only makes sense I´m this round.”, Swoop replied ignoring the exploding comment, even though he felt that way himself.
“When?”, Sludge looked at him expectantly.
Swoop stared back confused. Sludge stared as well.
“Oh,” it clicked in Swoop´s processor “I don´t know the exact time, but I know it will be soon.”
“So Swoop don´t know when, but Swoop know when?”, it was more like a question from Sludge rather than a statement, but Swoop could understand his friends confusion.
“Don´t worry I also don´t really understand how it works, but it´s something that I can feel.”
Sludge didn´t look fully convinced but seemed happy with the answer.
He was about to say something else, when the alarm sounded.
“Sorry, Sludge leave now. But will be back. Promise.”, he yelled back while running down the hall.
Swoop waved him goodbye, closing the door when he could no longer see the other Dinobot.

A few days later Snarl and Slag visited Swoop, asking why Swoop no longer goes on missions or interacts with them
Swoop claimed to have caught a virus, ensuring them that he rejoin them as soon as he was feeling better.
Perhaps Swoop should have told them, they deserved to know. But still Swoop couldn´t, part of him still feared rejection.
Snarl at least wished him to get better quickly, while Slag just angrily kicked his door.
“I´d still fight with a little virus, but of course the weak little……”, Slag was too far away for Swoop to hear the rest, he could do without hearing it.
He remembers why he hasn´t told them yet.

That night recharge was difficult. No matter how Swoop turned no position felt comfortable, each turn made him more awake. The few times Swoop did manage to slip into recharge the pinching in his lower stomach would wake him again.
And then there was the wetness.

Wait.

Wetness.

Jolting upright Swoop shoved his servo between his legs. His panel had opened. Transfluid freely running out, it´s blue glow slightly illuminating Swoop´s thighs.
But transfluid wasn´t blue, it´s translucent.

Panicked Swoop looked down.

Energon, his thighs were covered in energon!
Quickly he withdrew his servo from his array, it too now covered in energon.

Swoop couldn´t even ponder over the energon for long, the pinching quickly turned into sharp constrictions. He keeled over, clutching his stomach, everything hurt.

The egg was coming out.

Swoop stayed keeled over gripping the berthsheets, knees to his chest, tears running down his faceplate blurring his view of the energon running down his legs. The pain was unbearable.

The pain stopped, only a dull ache and the feeling of emptiness were left.
Legs still shaking Swoop slowly sat up, tears already dried on his faceplate, and turned around.

There it laid.

His egg.

Metallic grey shell covered in slightly translucent blue energon, it was the most beautiful sight Swoop had ever witnessed. A smile spread across his lipplates.

Exhaustion finally catching up with him, collapsing next to his egg, he fell into recharge.

Chapter Text

The day after the egg emerged Swoop immediately told Sludge, the brontosaurus seemingly teleporting to his room.
Upon entering the habsuite Sludge´s optics immediately locked onto the egg, widening at it´s sight.
He was starstruck.
"Sparkling inside egg?", the larger asked curiously.
Swoop nodded.
"When out?"
"In a few days. If everything goes well.", Swoop replied.
"Name?", Sludge inquired.
"Lately I've been thinking Stryker would be a good designation.", a soft smile appeared on Swoops lipplates.
"Stryker sound good.", with that Sludge turned his attention back to the egg.
"Hello Stryker. Me Sludge. Come out soon, Swoop miss you. And Sludge want to meet you.", Sludge spoke honesty, smile present on his lipplates.
While talking to the egg, Sludge laid his head next to it, optics soft and dimmed still on the egg.

Just the sight was enough to awake more longing within Swoop, he needed to hold his sparkling.
For now he simply soothed himself by slowly moving his servo up and down his friends back.

A few days later however the egg still hadn't hatched, not even the smallest crack was on the shell.
Worry was beginning to settle over Swoop.

What if the egg never hatched?
What if there wasn't even a sparkling inside the egg?
What if there is a sparkling, but said sparkling isn´t even online anymore?

Panic arose.

All his efforts would have been in vain.
A sound ripped him from his thoughts.
A knocking sound.
Someone was at his door.

Who?

"Swoop open!", Grimlock's deep voice came from the other side, slight anger to it.

No.
It couldn't be. Grimlock shouldn’t be here.
Not yet. Not now.

"Swoop!", the knocking intensified.
Before Swoop could even get up from the floor the door opened automatically, Grimlock must have gotten impatient and used his override code.
Stunned Swoop looked at the now open door, Grimlock almost never used the override codes.
He must be quite angry.
Grimlock, fronted by an equally annoyed looking Snarl and Slag, stared down at the small flier. Sludge stood behind the group, shoulders slumped and optics cast to the ground.
"Sludge didn't tell, Sludge no break promise.", his voice uncharacteristically quiet.
As if on autopilot Grimlock´s red optics focused on the egg, still nestled between countless pillows and blankets. Anger turned to confusion.

"Is that why you are no longer around us!?", the question was demanding, yet there was something to Grimlock´s tone. It almost sounded like he was disappointed.
Swoop shrunk in on himself. He could only nod meekly.
"Why didn't you tell us!"
By now the entire Dinobot team was inside the small room, Sludge instantly went to Swoops side, optics locked on the egg.
"Because you would think me weak!", Swoop yelled back, tears forming at the corners of his optics.
"Sludge knew. Sludge sorry.", he too was trying to appear smaller.
"Why! He the Sire?", Slag chimed in.

The reaction from Grimlock was immediate, servos balled up into fists, optics hardened and EM-field lashing out.

"He is!?", more than anger, there was jealousy dripping from the T-Rex's voice.
"N-no, he's not!", Swoop tried but to no avail.
"So you two went behind our backs! Created an egg together and then what? You just leave the Dinobots! Start a new team!?", Grimlock refused to listen to Swoop.
“N-no! It´s not like that!”, Swoop cried, tears running down his faceplate.
Grimlock just continued with his accusations.
The noise level in the room kept rising, no doubt the two Dinobot´s could be heard well into the hallway.

"Uh- Boss?", Snarl tried, raising his servo hoping to gain Grimlocks attention.

It didn't work.

"Boss!", he tried again louder, clapping his servos together aggressively.

It worked.
Both Grimlock and Swoop ceased their yelling, even Slag quieted down.
"The egg!", Snarl pointed towards the nest, where part of the eggshell already broke off.
Instantly five pairs of optics were locked onto the nest. Swoop on the ground right in front of the egg, Sludge next to him.

Quickly a tiny dark little clawed servo emerged from within the egg, a second soon joining. Both were furiously gripping at the eggshell trying to break it apart further.
All five Dinobot´s were quiet, the sounds from the shell being broken the only source of noise.
After what felt like forever, it had only been a few minutes, the sparkling was finally free. One piece of the eggshell still covered his tiny red head.
Bleary red optics opened slowly, warily they observed the room.
Once they landed on Swoop they widened in recognition. A large smile, showing off sharp denta, appeared on the sparklings face, short stubby arms reaching out.
Carefully Swoop reached forward, the sparkling fell forward trying to reach its creator as well, said creator catching the little one in time.
The smile never left either one’s faceplate.
Swoop picked up the little one, it already barely fit in his arms, and pressed the sparkling to his chest.
Trying to keep his balance Swoop got up, sparkling not once looking away from his creator. Enamored already.
The other Dinobots were still quiet, taking in the sight of the sparkling. It may have looked huge in his creator’s arm but was relatively small compared to the rest of the team.

"He's small.", at the sound of Grimlocks voice the sparkling gazed over in his direction. Red optics again went wide, the sparkling squealing in Swoops arms, short stubby arms reaching out towards the T-Rex.
Without question Swoop extended the squirming bundle towards his leader.
Grimlock didn't know what compelled him to, but with slight hesitation he reached out to take the sparkling.
Due to the small one´s squealing it took some maneuvering, but somehow Swoop managed to place the sparkling in his leaders arms.
Optics locked, red met red, the sparkling smiled again and pressed himself against the larger one’s chest.
"He' s yours. His name is Stryker.", Grimlock looked away from the sparkling towards Swoop.
"I apologize for keeping him a secret.", awkwardly Swoop rubbed at his arm.
“We will discuss this another time.”, Grimlock told Swoop.
For now Grimlock had to figure out what to do with the sparkling.
No not just a sparkling.
His own sparkling.
His son.
Stryker.