#flier bumblebee

[lets-try-some-writing]

ty in advance for reading this. there’s a v small number of autobot fliers. the maths doesn’t add up??? no way 99% fliers are cons. Bee esp could’ve been great: he’s a scout! and he’s named after a flying insect so ya know. can i req Bee who for whatever becomes a flier and some Dadimus Prime having a heart attack cause he’s not used to his sparkling being so high up?? pls get down???

To my knowledge the number difference is just because the entirety of Vos (save for an odd few) joined the Decepticons alongside Starscream. Now I love this concept, so don't mind me while I go nuts writing for it :)

A Bee with Wings

It is not too common, but sometimes for whatever reason, flier sparklings can be forged without their wings at first. This is often chalked up to frame type differences and base coding making it so that the sparkling in question won't have any glaring weaknesses upon creation. But whatever the case, such sparklings are quickly identified and offered to the appropriate caretakers through simple examinations of their code and frame structure.

Bumblebee went through every examination with little issue upon being found and taken in. He was malnourished and most certainly too small for his age, but he had the bulky build of a grounder and the disposition of one as well. He preferred the ground and showed no interest in performing feats in the air as others of his age group who had wings might. He was perfectly average and showed nothing that could possibly pertain to him wanting to take to the skies all throughout his sparklinghood. In fact Bee seemed more inclined toward remaining on the ground with Optimus, often huddling around his pedes nervously when out in the open.

That desire to stay on the ground never really faded as he edged into younglinghood. By that point if he was a surprise flier he would have shown signs, and looking back, he had. He merely hid them well amidst the chaos of war and the ravages of time.

His growth was delayed by increasing shortages of energon, and thus his frame all but ceased development around halfway into his younglinghood. This was concerning, but unavoidable. However his delayed growth often lead Bee to come to Optimus and Ratchet with aches and pains in his back that neither could identify. Bee also couldn't transform, a fact that left both the Prime and medic worried and conflicted. By the time one entered younglinghood they should be able to transform, and yet Bee couldn't. They had nothing else to go on, and so blamed the inability to transform on his stunted growth.

Many long cycles were spent reassuring Bumblebee that just because he couldn't transform, that didn't make him unworthy. It saddened Optimus greatly to see his dear sparkling so upset with himself for something that was out of his control.

Bee also showed an increasing awareness for the sky, although his interest in it beyond searching for enemy units was all but non-existent. There were also a few odd incidents of him standing atop tall structures and gazing down as if contemplating, however those were few and far between. Aside from those strange events and his inability to transform, Bumblebee was a perfectly normal grounder... up until a year into their stay on earth.

It was sudden and frightening, but one cycle late at night Bumblebee began to scream. Optimus was up with Ratchet in a mere Klik and they quickly began trying to hold Bee down as he was ferried into the medical bay. For hours they labored trying to understand what was wrong when the issue finally revealed itself. Bursting from his back were two long awaited wings many vorns overdue. They were frail and still very new, but over the course of three agonizingly long days were no one got anything done, the wings finished developing and settled enough to be of use.

It was a shock for everyone, Bee most of all. For his entire life it had been assumed that he was a grounder merely dealing with stunted growth. And while the second half of that belief was true, the first was most certainly not.

It was an interesting year or so after that. Bee needed lots of training to learn to use his wings, something Optimus and the team were not the best at assisting in. Ratchet knew how wings worked, but he did not know how to get Bumblebee to know that. Arcee was small enough to give Bee tips on how to not immediately crash due to her long vorns of leaping off things that likely shouldn't have been leapt off from. Cliffjumper was not much help, but he did do his best as moral support. Bulkhead took to catching Bumblebee when he did make attempts to fly and failed. And Optimus busied himself with trying to teach Bee to transform properly now that his sparkling finally had the capacity for it.

Bee scared the entire team as he struggled to learn to use his newfound wings. They made him more sensitive to changes in the air, often leading him to jump away from threats that were not there. Not to mention he had to learn to be careful with his wings, taking great caution to ensure they weren't damaged due to how sensitive they were. He didn't actually take to the skies for over three months, too used to the ground and afraid of falling to make the attempt. However his flier coding, no longer suppressed by the lack of wings quickly had him getting into the air weather he wanted to or not.

He quickly ended up jumping around base since it was considered safe. Then he swiftly ended up attaching himself to the team as he would with a flock, even looking back at them when they failed to join him in the skies in confusion before recalling their ground based alt-modes. Wing communication long left dormant in his codes came to the surface and old seeker methods started to show themselves within Bee.

All Optimus could do was scramble to keep up and try to teach Bee as much as he could considering his inability to fly. He showed Bee the history of fliers and offered what wisdom the Matrix had. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Of course it didn't stop Optimus from nearly having a spark attack every time Bee jumped off a cliff or threw himself into some ravine only to emerge just fine. And it still didn't stop Optimus from worrying when Bee eventually took the human children for flights after taking the under the team's wing.

Flight frames...

[scatterpatter]

I cannot get enough of these fucking guys

[grimxark]

some more designs for my mlp/tf au!

Ironhide, Elita 1, whirl and Bee

[zsocca55]

TFP Alexis AU

So some of you asked for my TFP Alexis AU’s concept notes and I typed it up for you guys. This one will be long, but my notes tend to be just as long as my chapters usually are. 😅

Concept for Starscream and Alexis history:

-Optimus arrives on Earth at first with a different team (Hot Shot, Red Alert, Jetfire, Bumblebee)

-the team hides from sight in the mountains somewhere in Nebraska and began stocking up energon supplies

-the kids, Alexis, Rad and Carlos discover their hideout while touring the mountains -> they have maybe a month of bonding time with the group until the US government spots the issue and a small conflict happens between the ‘aliens’ and the military and Optimus signs a pact (they are allowed to stay but hidden)

-the main focus is how Autobots slowly adapt to their new environment and humans in general

-meanwhile on a devastated Cybertron Starscream is tasked to scout this alien planet after the Prime team with a group of Decepticons before the main fleet would decide to move to Earth (Demolisher and Cyclonus go with him perhaps?)

-the Autobot team stays hidden and the military shoots Starscream out of the sky when he least expects it - the rest of the Decepticons abandon him to his fate and soon leave the planet because they can’t find any Autobots (and blame Starscream for leading them astray)

-Starscream is injured and hides away from humans (since he realizes these organics shouldn’t be underestimated)

-the Autobots search for him (but it will be the kids who find him first - accidentally of course)

-Alexis convinces the others and Starscream that he won’t be hurt if he surrenders and so Starscream figures it’s time to play the part

-the Autobots are not happy by Optimus’ decision to offer a helping hand to the Decepticon if he switches sides but Starscream is alone so he has no choice

-Starscream gets fixed but his comm-link is disabled to keep him from calling other Decepticons - he stays with the Autobots for a while, plotting  how to get away

-everybody is suspicious of him and are mean/wary except Alexis of course who makes a genuine attempt to befriend him

-Starscream slowly warms up to her but keeps his grumpy attitude

-he takes her for flights while on energon seeking missions

-he has a rivalry thing with Jetfire about who is the better flier and it escalates to the point where they make a race to Mars to see who gets there faster (the kids ask for a present and Starscream brings them a shiny rock like in Armada)

-Soundwave and a search team shows up on Earth -> he sends a transmission through Laserbeak when Starscream is out and the seekee realizes that the Decepticons have finally returned for him

-he feels slightly guilty but doesn’t think much about going back and Soundwave tests his loyalty by forcing him to tell where the Autobots hide

-Starscream tells him and thus the Decepticon team goes to raid the place

-Starscream sends a secret message to Alexis’ phone to warn her of the coming danger

-Optimus decides the Autobot team needs to split up and hide and they send the kids into the care of the military

-everybody is devastated by the betrayal 

-the Decepticons hunt for the Autobots while also confronting the US military units protecting them and come out winning (Starscream’s advice)

-the Decepticons manage to kill the team except Bumblebee and Optimus (the latter gets away only because Jetfire sacrifices himself for him)

-the Decepticons leave the planet after they fail to find the Prime and Starscream resigns to the fact that he did what he did and he would never meet the kids or Alexis ever again (and thinks she probably hates him for sure now)

Notes: the Autobots have no proper base or ground-bridge yet 

Concept for the events during the TFP timeline:

-Optimus sends out a message in hope some Autobots remained and some begin arriving: Ratchet, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper and Arcee

-the US military gives Optimus a base in Nevada to stay in and Optimus tells the government to stay out of the war between the factions to avoid the pointless human deaths (Fowler is assigned as their handler)

-Ratchet makes a ground-bridge

-Decepticons return a little more than a decade later with Megatron who then shortly after getting to know the planet leaves for three years and leaves Starscream in charge

-things kind of happen the same way they did in TFP until Starscream gets betrayed by Airachnid and chooses to side with the Autobots (and wisely shuts his damn mouth for once, not prattling about how he killed Cliffjumper)

-the team is not happy with Starscream at all, least of all Arcee and Ratchet

-Optimus is more wary of Starscream this time (he is kept in the base and his wings are cuffed) but he believes the seeker can be changed so he summons Alexis (who is an adult now and works for the government/politician)

-Alexis agrees and has mixed feelings when seeing Starscream again (but she is happy nevertheless - she was the only one who actually forgave him since she thinks he was forced to betray them due to the warning he sent her)

-Starscream is shocked to reunite with her and feels guilty/awkward in her presence

-the kids (Jack, Miko, Raf) are surprised to learn that Starscream was already an Autobot once and that Alexis was his ‘assigned human companion’

-Alexis entertains the kids with a few old stories and becomes a regular visitor

-Starscream acts more defensive and snappy until she forces him to face their fallout and make up (he is shocked by her forgiveness)

-later on he grows very protective of her (determined not to fail her for a second time) and Alexis makes an attempt to teach him to care about the others too

-and the main focus is on how Starscream goes from a cowardly traitor to a more honorable person like he was in Armada

This is all that I have! I hope you enjoyed it! If anyone feels inclined to write this story, then by all means go ahead! I merely take credit for the idea itself. 🥰

[cozzzynook]

TFA idea

Bumblebee returns to base holding one large sparkling of course he quickly explains to both Ratchet and Optimus that it's not his but he found them abandoned in a old building while on patrol. After a quick check up the bittie is given a clean bit of health and Bee decides since he found them he has to take care of them, much to Optimus being worried that Bee might not be ready for the responsibility.

However a couple of weeks later the large sparkling is thriving as they let out cheerful giggles when ever Bumblebee pulls a silly face or tickles their pedes and tanks, it makes everyone smile and Optimus can't be anymore proud.

:>

Bee making everyone proud by being able to take care of a sparkling he found and he’s happy to do this since it feels so natural and familiar to him. But not for the reasons the others might guess.

I like to headcanon tfa bee with angst and make him older. It adds ✨ flavor✨ to his character.

- Bee is so good with sparkling’s because he used to live in a sparkling center on the ruined sides of cybertron.

- bee came from the low class of bots who roamed the wreckage of Cybertron because they were not allowed among the populated cities due to being a mix of sub cybertronians.

- autobots do not take kindly to decepticons, seekers, jets, those with outliers, insecticons and beastformers.

- bee is half insecticon but he keeps his wings hidden. He’s able to keep Ratchet from going anywhere near them during private medical exams since the doc bot is not an expert on insecticon cna and therefore would cause more damage than good should he take a look at them.

- really, its just against insecticon culture to have a non-flying mech take a look at ones wings so closely, even if they were a medic.

- Bee is so good with sparklings because he helped raise so many during his sparklinghood to the days he became a young mech and left the sparkling center.

- bee’s creators were long offline and he couldn’t remember what they looked or sounded like. All he knew was that he inherited his carriers wings and insecticon traits and his sires ability to transform into a car.

- bee lets his wings free during this very patrol and thats how he was able to find the little sparkling.

- they were left in the high tops in hopes of a flier spotting them.

- he flew towards the bitty and the sound of his wings humming was able to lull them to recharge after calming them down.

- he knows what its like to have no creators and he knows what its like to take care of a bitty and focus all his attention on their needs instead of his own.

- he acted childish because he wanted to enjoy the childhood he never had. He just didn’t tell the others any of this since he’s actually very private. The only one who knows is Bulkhead and Bee knows his best friend won’t say anything.

- bee is excellent at taking care of the sparkling. Having a recharge and fueling schedule that impresses everyone along with being able to wake up a few nano-kliks before the sparkling does late at night so he can keep the night cries to a minimum.

- bee can already smell and see the signs the bitty is a seeker and he looks in the first places where color comes in to see if the bitty is one of the cons on Earth but to his findings they aren’t.

- to make sure he’s right he does a thorough scent test and shows the bitty freeze frame video clips of the cons stationed here and gets no reaction.

- bee wonders what a stray seeker was doing here so far out from cybertron or one of their other colonies but he soon gets his answer when Sentinel shows up bragging about shooting down two seekers who tried to flee.

- bee figures out pretty quickly what happened and just snaps.

- sentinel is left on the floor leaking energon with his chin broken off and his frame twitching by the time Bee is done with him.

- none of the others can say anything and they just stand there in shock as Ultra Magnus just gives bee a warning on learning to control his anger while Ratchet grimaces because he doesn’t want to help Sentinel but he has to.

- Ultra Magnus understands very well that Bee is by old law still in his rights to do such a thing since Ultra Magnus knows Bee is older than perceived. He also knows Bee came from the harsher outsides and that both outlanders and the cons held endangering sparklings as one of the worst sins a bot could make.

- Personally, Ultra Magnus feels the same and is not happy with his subordinate not following protocol and detaining the seekers so all this could be avoided.

- Bee meanwhile just carefully picks up his fussing sparkling and goes off to his room where he stays for the rest of the evening.

- Optimus tries to talk with him but Ratchet stops him telling the prime to give him a few joors of alone time with his bitty.

“Its not just you whose the carrier hen around here now Prime.”

“If I’m the carrier hen, doesn’t that make you the grand carrier, Ratchet?”

“Slaggin kids and there smart dermas,” Ratchet grouses as they both walk away.

Prowl doesn’t take the hint, he was listening in from the ceiling, and goes inside to talk to Bee.

Its not really talked about but Bee and Prowl are close. Bulkhead is Bee’s best friend but Prowl is his brother and the feeling is mutual.

—

I want to incorporate the decepticons and blitzwing specifically but i’m not thinking that hard right now lol

[novafire-is-thinking]

So I was wondering for a long time what would canonically happen if a human stayed inside a Cybertronian while they transformed. I came across two pages in IDW comics that mostly answered my question:

However, would this apply to all other Transformers or does it only apply to those with the same body type as Bumblebee or only Bumblebee? Does the alt mode have anything to do with this? Would the transforming noise be louder or muffled from the inside?

It definitely depends on the bot’s body type and alt mode. It probably depends on the show and continuity too.

Prime

In the second episode of Prime, Miko forgets to grab her guitar before hopping out of Bulkhead. It ends up somewhere in his “subspace”:

Notice how she says “back seat.”

In the IDW panels you sent, Bumblebee shifts his passengers to his back seat before transforming.

This tells me that, when a Cybertronian with a car mode is transforming from alt mode to root mode, people and items are probably safer and/or more comfortable if they’re in the back seat.

A couple of episodes later, it’s discovered that Miko tagged along without Bulkhead realizing it. Twice:

In the moments leading up to this part, Bulkhead is seen launching from the ground in alt mode and transforming to his root mode midair to grab onto a rocky cliff side. Miko was inside the entire time and survived, although she definitely suffered for it.

What about root mode to alt mode transformation? What would happen then?

Well, in season 3, Miko does what she does and ends up inside of Wheeljack’s subspace:

It’s never shown whether WJ first transformed to alt mode to let her hop in or if he just opened up his chest and dropped her in. My guess is the latter since, on the way out of the hangar to the ship, Magnus and Bulkhead weren’t far ahead of him when she asked if she could come. They probably would have noticed him switch to his alt mode, which neither Wheeljack nor Miko wanted.

The thing is, did he think before dropping Miko inside?

I doubt that he did, but these are the questions I would have:

Since combat might require split-second transformation, did he drop her in knowing she would survive an emergency transformation to his alt mode? (Unknown)

Did he tell her in which part of his subspace she’d be most comfortable in case he had to transform to his alt mode? (Probably not)

Was his plan to let her out in Magnus’ ship before going outside? (Maybe)

So, in TFP, The safety and comfort of a human inside a bot going from car mode to root mode is unknown.

Unfortunately, I have nothing I can go off of for fliers.

Rescue Bots

Several times throughout the series, the human members of the rescue team ride inside their partners’ chests when they switch to and from their alt modes. It’s safe and comfortable. They even get nice seats. lol

Barring the fact that this is a kids show which requires this feature, I wonder if the bots were able to choose this for their human partners or if they just made sure to scan alt modes with that particular type of subspace.

It would definitely be interesting to know if Cybertronians have the ability to choose which insides and kibble go where when first scanning an alt mode…

Anyway—

Rise of the Beasts + Bayverse films

RotB gave us a golden glimpse of Cybertronian transformation abilities.

Behold…one of my favorite parts of the movie:

Originally, I was going to use the AoE clip of Optimus scanning his new alt mode and transforming around his human passengers, but this clip works better. It’s an excellent display of what a Cybertronian body is capable of.

With more than a handful of distinct alt modes, Mirage appears to be a special case. I mean, the guy can literally separate pieces of his body to give to others and become an armored suit for a human.

Can all Cybertronians do that? I have no idea. When’s it my turn to be lovingly wrapped in living metal armor? Hm?

Looking at both AoE and RotB, Cybertronians appear to have the ability to move individual parts (within limits).

It would make sense if all bots could at least do what Mirage does in the above clip, if nothing more than that.

This is incredibly useful when transforming with human passengers.

Now, to answer your last question (finally):

The noise level inside a bot during transformation would depend on which parts are being moved and how much shifting is taking place. Cosmetic shifts would be muffled since they’re happening outside, but if parts surrounding the human(s) are being shifted, it’s going to be loud and clear to the passenger(s).

Movies are almost never a good way of determining realistic noise levels, but in the clip with Mirage and Noah, things don’t sound muffled at all.

[redyarns]

caught in the undertow

Chapter: 6/?

Part: 1/5

Rating: E

Relationship(s): Orion Pax/Megatron, Optimus Prime/Megatron, Sentinel Prime/Bumblebee

Summary:

When Megatron, leader of the rebellion, escaped from prison, everybot knew one thing, and one thing only: he stole an innocent with him.

---

"I'm not a sheep, how dare you!" Orion hissed, bristling at the insult.

"Oh, really?" Megatron drawled. His red optics glanced up again, and Orion's glossa went dry.

Scrap.

Who knew the cruel and ruthless leader of the blasphemous rebellion was so... handsome?

Special note: This is a ROUGH DRAFT. It will go through some changes before it is officially posted on AO3. The majority of the themes will remain the same, but please don't be alarmed if the final draft on AO3 reads differently.

Scene: START!

Act I, Scene XIV: Atropa belladonna

It took Sentinel several kliks of lying completely still in unfamiliar sheets before his processor began to urge him to at least open his optics. He groaned lightly, his voicebox hoarse and crackling with static. He winced at both the sound and the sensation of his throat clicking in pain, and he tried to raise a servo to rub at it, wondering why the hell he was so - 

His servo caught on something. He froze, feeling a bit dumbfounded when he realized that the prickling sensation of his arm wasn’t because of some residual injury from training, but instead because it had spent the last - he checked his chronometer - four joors tucked tightly underneath Elita’s frame. 

The aristocratic femme was recharging silently beside him, her spinal strut curled slightly inwards with her facial plates towards him. If he listened carefully, he could pick up on the soft, whirling pattern of her slow vents. She was snuggled close so that her nose was pressed to his chassis as his servo curled up and over her dorsal plate to touch her hip. 

The light of Helios streamed in gently through the two windows of the room, and Sentinel felt his helm hit the pillow again as he sniffed the air and his cheeks burned at the lingering scent of ozone and transfluid. The lune cycle had certainly been… something, his processor provided meekly, flashes of last night (the way she arched on top of him, his frantic servos scrabbling uselessly at her sides, his spike throbbing as he choked) running across his vision in a decidedly unhelpful manner. 

That had been - uh - good. Very good. A bit too good, actually, and he felt shame as well as guilt burn through his frame as he thought about the way he had gripped her waist so desperately that bruises had almost instantly bloomed. As if to prove his dreadful thoughts right, he hesitantly lifted his helm again, his gaze roaming her figure. 

His optics lingered on her midsection, where, just like he suspected, there was a distinct pattern of five, circular bruises that lined up too easily with the length and spread of his digits. He almost brushed his servo against them, his guilt gnawing at him as he let his helm fall with no small amount of regret. 

Slag. He shouldn’t have been so rough; he was always too unaware of himself and his extremities, especially since he hit fifteen vorns and practically shot up in height, frightening his carrier into thinking he was going to end up being a roller rather than a flier. 

He lifted a servo and stared at it, clenching and unclenching his digits. These digits hurt Elita, he thought to himself. He had gotten carried away, too enthralled by her and the scent of charge, his olfactory sensors tingling with her smell of jubiline, and in his naivety and eagerness, he had allowed himself to slip out of his careful control. 

It felt awful, the more he thought about it. He hadn’t lost control like that since the first time he attempted to fly with both Bee and Orion and ended up gripping them so tightly that they both had bruises around their waists for cycles. It had horrified him to the point he refused to fly with them for vorns after that. 

Keeping control was important. Crucial. Essential. 

“Control yourself. You’re unsightly, Sentinel,” Ultra Magnus had once said to him. When was that? Sentinel’s processor whirled, and he blinked slowly as he recalled the way energon had dripped slowly down from his forehelm and how he’d tried hastily to wipe it away with a shaky wrist. 

Ultra had taken one look at his shallow breaths, cracked plating, and had made an expression of such disgust that even now, Sentinel’s processor had a hard time bringing up that particular memory file. It was distorted and filled with static, almost like he couldn’t remember properly, which was ridiculous since it only happened a sol ago. 

As if on cue, something twinged smartly in his shoulder, and he couldn’t stop himself from flinching as his neural subsystem practically shouted at him that he was pinching something. He grunted, his entire frame jolting, and his pain bled into guilt as Elita shuffled from her position on top of his arm. 

“My Prime?” She muttered, her spinal strut arching slightly as she stretched, an effortlessly seductive look on her as she slowly onlined her optics. She blinked them several times before she smiled up at him. “What are you doing?” 

He gave her a hesitant smile, feeling rather defeated as the pain reluctantly subsided and instead left him with nothing but a sense of embarrassment. His cheeks were warm and no doubt blue with energon, and he mentally groaned as he struggled to provide an answer. 

He was as eager to tell her the truth as much as he wanted to stick his bare aft over an open flame, so not at all. Instead, his sluggish processor (something he found was common around her and her beauty… urgh) simply made him smile stupidly again, and he said, “uh�� good morning.” 

She laughed, a light and airy sound that made his spark jolt as she rolled over, the top half of her now draping across his chassis as she winded her arms around his neck. Like this, the top of her helm brushed alarmingly close to his dermas, and he swallowed as she smirked and said, “good morning, my Prime. Did you recharge well?” 

Sentinel shifted his gaze to the side, clearing his throat as he muttered, “of course. It was - fine. What about you?” 

Elita tilted her helm and didn’t answer as he prayed she wouldn’t see through his lie. 

Though that hadn’t been the worst sleep he had ever gotten, it still hadn’t been good. He always had trouble recharging even before Ultra took over the majority of his training, and now, well… He considered himself lucky if he only had the one nightmare or two. 

“You seem distracted,” Elita said, staring up at him with her large optics as he hastily began to try and distract himself by going through the notifications he had missed last lune. When he didn’t reply right away, she pouted, a subtle push of her full dermas as she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his chin. “Busy already? We’ve been awake for less than ten kliks, my Prime.” 

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely, already feeling like he was messing up as he hesitantly reached down to peck her forehelm. It was apparently the right move, since she smiled widely up at him and giggled as he chuckled quietly. “There’s just a lot that I have to sort through. But as soon as I’m done then maybe we can spend the… spend the… uh…” 

He mumbled something incoherent as his processor pulled up the notification that had been bothering him up until now. He had made a note a long time ago that any message from Orion or Bee was to be marked as urgent, and he felt his spark lurch as he realized that this was the first time in vorns that he hadn’t managed to write back right away. 

He sat up, leaning against the headboard and mumbling a sorry to Elita when she protested, claiming she wanted to lie on him some more.

He felt dread gnaw at him from the inside out as he quickly began to slide through Orion’s messages, which started off well enough, but quickly devolved into frustration after Sentinel completely glossed over them. 

Private Comm Link (ID: #628317): Sentinel Prime? No, Sentinel Prick

Incoming message… 

DES: Orion Pax - ID: OP-001628

:: Sentinel! :: 

:: Look, Sen, I really need your help. I'm assuming you're still at the party, so could you get me Hot Rod's private comm line if you can? ::

:: I know it's a lot to ask but I seriously need to talk to him. :: 

:: … Sentinel? :: 

:: Sen, come on. Whatever happened between you and Bee, we can fix it. Don't be too upset. I seriously need you right now, buddy. :: 

:: Sen. :: 

:: Sentinel!!! ::

“Slag.” Sentinel swore quietly, running a servo down his face, his wings stiffening as they fluttered with his anxiety before he forcefully stopped them from moving so much. Primus, would he ever learn how to control them?

“What happened?” Elita asked.

“Nothing,” he said automatically. When she continued to stare at him in an unimpressed manner, he ex-vented slowly, and tried to think of what to say. “It’s - nothing. I promise. I guess I just forgot to reply to my friend last night, and… that hasn’t happened before.” 

Elita hummed. There was a glimmer to her optics as she leaned up and kissed him, the touch soft and coaxing, and he shuddered as he parted his dermas a little too eagerly and held her close when she traced the tip of her glossa against his bottom dentae. 

“Is this the same friend that Hot Rod reminded you of?” Elita muttered curiously, her small and nimble servos cradling his helm gently, like he was the most precious thing she had ever held. It melted him, and he felt his engine start to purr quietly in his chassis as Elita smiled into their kiss. 

“Hm?” He said dreamily, feeling rather off kilter as he tried to chase her when she broke contact and gently pushed him back, her legs swinging so that she was now straddling his lap as he fell onto the pillow again with a soft oof. It took him a few micro-kliks to try and remember what she was talking about, since, oh, Primus, she was a vision. “Oh, yes, that one. He’s very close to me, and I feel bad for not being able to respond right away.” 

“There’s no need to feel bad,” she said sympathetically, her digits fluttering across his collar plates and causing him to tremble slightly. His wings in particular were practically vibrating, and he gave up any pretense of controlling them when she stroked a particularly sensitive spot. “Your friend sounds like he’s difficult, don’t you think?” 

“I wouldn’t say that,” Sentinel said rather hoarsely, his optics squeezing shut when she leaned down and bit gently at his neck cables. “Ah - he’s a great friend, he’s been there for me for vorns - oh, frag - “ 

Elita clicked her glossa gently, the sound both fond and exasperated. “If he’s really that precious of a friend, then shouldn’t he be understanding that you have your own life to live?” 

“Well… I mean…” he said, trailing off weakly as she stared at him pointedly and settled more in his lap, her wiggle pressing her interface panel right up against his as energon pumped wildly in his veins. 

It was difficult to think through the haze of charge that ran through him, though his processor did pause to whirl on what she said. It wasn’t like he was lying; Orion really was a great friend, and he and Bee had been the biggest pillars for Sentinel ever since they met as sparklings. There was very little Sentinel wouldn’t do for either of them, stuff that he wouldn’t do even for Ultra. 

But it did bother him, just the slightest bit, how Elita’s words resonated with him. Though he knew that Orion always had his reasons, sometimes those reasons were just so ridiculous that it caused him more stress or trouble than it was worth. He couldn’t think of one decent answer as to why Orion needed to speak with the newest to-be-named trailblazer, though some part of Sentinel dreaded the thought that he had an idea as to why. 

Megatron. These sols, every single thing that Orion did led to that blasted mech, and Sentinel honestly didn’t understand. Initially, he had indulged his friend because a tiny part of Sentinel had been curious, too. The names Megatron and his rebels had been more of a myth than reality at that point, and he’d feebly wondered what the real mech was like. 

After finding out, he had simply categorized Megatron as the criminal as he was. So when Orion had insisted on feeding the damn bot, and even worse, began to extend sympathy… Sentinel feared for his friend, he really did. There was only so much someone could play with a line before they fully crossed over. 

And Orion asking for the personal comm link of a mech who was about to climb the ranks and become an elite was definitely hopping over that line. Obliterating it, even. 

“I should text back, shouldn’t I?” Sentinel said in a small voice, now feeling more unsure than ever as Elita paused on top of him. 

She tilted her helm, and for a fleeting moment, her gaze sharpened. It was razor-thin and so quick that he began to doubt if it ever even happened, and when she spoke, it was still as sweet and soothing as ever. “If you want. Just tell him you were busy. He doesn’t need more than that.” 

Right. 

Right, because - because Sentinel had other things to do than just lounge around for Orion like some messed up pet waiting on its master. (Don’t you already do that? No, he didn’t. Really? Ultra only likes complete obedience from you. Because he was Sentinel’s mentor. Because you don’t deserve decency? Because you don’t deserve dignity? Fine, then. You're pathetic. Stop it. Why? Because you're ashamed? Some future Prime you are. You can't even protect yourself. How are you going to protect the world? Enough! So shameless. So selfish, stupid, nothing's ever enough - )

Private Comm Link (ID: #628317): Sentinel Prime? No, Sentinel Prick

Outgoing message… 

DES: Sentinel - ID: SN-402021

:: Sorry, I was… occupied.:: 

Almost immediately, Sentinel's communication chip pinged him that a call was coming through, and of course it was Orion. But before he even had a chance to acknowledge it properly, Elita was pressing down on him more insistently, and he felt like he was floating as she kissed him again. 

The call rang at the back of his mind, mixing into a hazy mix with the amount of notifications his charge was sending through his interface subsystem. He flailed slightly, still unused to any of this even after joors last night learning how to touch and be touched, but he had already ignored Orion for too long, he should at least pick this call up. 

… Right? 

“H - Hold on - “ Sentinel mumbled in between kisses, feeling rather disoriented and overwhelmed as Elita simply hummed and pressed closer. Already, her servo was dragging down his chassis, and he shivered at the touch, unable to stop himself from ignoring the hot, sweet sensation of her dermas, but also unable to completely snuff the comm call line, which was ringing insistently. “E-Elita, just - just one micro-klik, okay?” 

“I’m doing a bad job at this if you’re still thinking of taking that call.” Elita huffed, but her swollen intake was pulled into a smile as she let out a small, exasperated sigh and then fully draped herself over him, her arms crossed across his chassis as she tilted her helm and smirked. “Fine, then. Answer it, my Prime.” 

He gave her a shaky, nervous smile, his servos flexing with uncertainty on her warm hips as he cleared his throat, accepted the annoyingly insistent call, and hesitantly said out loud, “hello?”

“Sentinel!” Orion’s voice blasted through his processor at a decibel so high that he immediately flinched. He turned down the volume hastily, grateful that at the very least, Elita wouldn’t be able to hear Orion’s side of the conversation regardless of the noise. “Dude, why the hell didn’t you respond to my comms last lune?” 

“I do actually have a life outside of you, you know,” Sentinel said in exasperation, darting his gaze down and trying not to gulp when he saw and felt the way Elita began to trace loop shapes on his paint. Holy shit, he needed to wrap this call up yesterday. “Get on with it, O - “ 

He barely managed to bite back Orion’s name in time as Elita pressed a small, fleeting kiss to his collar. It was hard enough to keep his focus with her in the same room as him, but with her entire frame firmly on top of his, and worst of all, with her flirting… She was a temptress and knew just how weak he was for her. 

He needed to be careful. It was already a risk to accept Orion’s comm and have Elita listen to Sentinel’s part of the conversation. If he slipped up and revealed too much about who Orion actually was, then there was no doubt to Sentinel that Elita wouldn’t approve. 

Him, a high caste bot, but more than that, the future Prime, talking to a miner? And addressing him so kindly at that, as well? Dire consequences would surely follow. Sentinel still bore the marks and sting of the last time he had made that mistake in front of Ultra. His wrist twinged slightly as it rested against Elita’s waist. 

“I told you, I needed to speak with Hot Rod,” Orion said impatiently. Sentinel could practically see the way he must have looked at that moment; tilting his helm and rolling his optics because he was just that obnoxious when it came to getting what he wanted. “Please don’t tell me he’s already left.” 

“Why do you need to talk to him?” Sentinel forced out, placing a servo on the back of Elita’s helm in some poor attempt to both stop and encourage her as she began to nip at his neck cables. He coughed, a small amount of static running through his hoarse voice as he said, “you can’t just ask me for something and not tell me why. That’s not how this works. And I already told him good luck for you.” 

“Well, I was wrong. Luck has no place within the ceremony,” Orion said tightly. He sounded different, tense, and it was enough of a change that it made Sentinel frown, smile apologetically at Elita, and then sit up, gently wrapping his arm around her waist so she wouldn’t fall. 

Her optics narrowed and she was definitely displeased, but she still hooked her elbows around his shoulder plates and leaned her cheek onto one of them as he said, “what are you talking about?” 

There was no answer. 

Sentinel's face pinched as he went through a quick systems check with his processor, but everything was fine. It was already hard enough to shut Orion up over text comms, but verbal comms were a whole thing altogether. And Sentinel had known Orion since they were sparklings; maybe Sentinel even knew Orion more than he knew himself, so it was easy to pick up on the uneasiness of his tone. 

Something was wrong. 

“Hey,” Sentinel said more gently this time, allowing his previous annoyance to soften into empathy. Though he couldn't deny that maybe Elita had been right in that Orion could be pushy, that didn't take away from the fact that he was still one of Sentinel's closest friends. “Come on, talk to me. What's going on?” 

“There's more to the ceremony than we know,” Orion finally said, his voice strained. It was gruffer than usual and there was a small shuffling noise on his end, like he was climbing something. What the hell? “Just - look. Is he still there or not?” 

Sentinel squinted up at the ceiling as he tried to make sense of whatever Orion was rambling about. His weird insistence to talk to Hot Rod was already a bit strange, but the ceremony on top of that… As far as Sentinel was aware, Orion had never been that interested in the Iacon 5000 or the subsequent trailblazer ceremony that followed. 

Why was he suddenly expressing such blatant regard for it now? 

“You mean Hot Rod?” Sentinel said after a klik of silence. Elita moved slightly on top of him, and when he glanced down at her, she gave him a look of what's going on? He tried to reassure her with a smile, but she simply nudged him, which he tried to brush off. “Of course not. I don't know where he is, he and Ultra left together last night I think.” 

“Fuck.” Orion swore. “He was my only chance! Shit. Okay, it's… okay. That's fine, it just means I have to go see Megatron sooner than I thought I would.” 

Okay. That was definitely not what Sentinel had expected nor wanted to hear. 

He practically leapt up from the berth, mouthing apologies to Elita, who was left sprawled on the sheets with an indignant expression twisting her pretty face. She huffed and draped herself more elegantly across the mesh as he hissed way too urgently, “what the frag are you talking about, you bucket of bolts? No! It's been less than a sol since you last saw him, are you fragging kidding me?” 

“He has the answers that I need, Sen!” Orion pushed back. “He's the only one who can help me figure out what's actually going on!” 

Sentinel felt like ripping the paint off his helm as he buried his face into his servos and tried to vent steadily. He couldn’t fucking believe this. All this trouble and flack for, what, Megatron? Again? Why was Orion like this? Why was he so obsessed with a mech like him? What could Megatron have possibly said to sway one of the best bots Sentinel knew? 

“You promised me that you weren’t compromised,” Sentinel said, his voice edging into something sharper, more dangerous. He paced steadily on the rug beside the berth, occasionally sparing Elita a glance whenever she made a small noise of inquiry, but he shoved away any distracting thought about her as he was mortified instead by the way Orion remained silent. “Answer me. Tell me that you aren’t actually starting to care for that - that - “ 

He couldn’t even say it. Not even because uttering it out loud would reveal too much to Elita, who continued to observe him with wide optics, but because Sentinel honestly felt sick as he realized that something had shifted. Whatever change had occurred, it started last night, when he was too occupied to be a proper friend and dissuade Orion from getting involved in something he very well could never get out of. 

“What’re you implying?” Orion snapped. He sounded agitated, on edge, and there was a muffled noise from his end of the comm, like he had just slammed a door shut. His words were tense and Sentinel didn’t understand. “Why’re you interrogating me, Sen? You know I never do anything without reason! Why’re you acting like this?”

Sentinel was floored, and he sat down abruptly on the edge of the berth, the force of him doing as much so impactful that it lightly bounced Elita on the sheets. His wings drooped on top of the mesh out of his shock, and he knew that he was staring directly at the bland painting hung on the wall across from him, but he couldn’t even begin to comprehend it as he tried to digest what Orion had just said to him. 

“What?” Sentinel said, his voice almost hysterical as he gripped his servos into fists and his wings began to tighten so much that they were practically flat against his spinal strut. “Why am I acting like this? Why the hell are you acting like this, you afthole? Are you trying to spin this and pin this onto me when I’m not the one who’s compromised? Huh? Don’t you fucking dare - “

“Primus, Sen! You’re seriously getting mad over something that isn’t a big deal - “

“It actually is a big deal, you’re literally asking me for another favor, again, and you won’t even - “ 

“It’s not a favor! Oh, for - it’s a freaking solid, and you and I always - “ 

“Always what?” Sentinel spat, and by this point he was shouting, his voice hoarse and crackling with static as he gripped his own patellas so hard that it was a wonder the armor didn’t crack. His helm was spinning and he couldn’t vent properly; had he ever yelled at Orion before? “Go on, say it! It’s always you and me, except it’s me getting dragged into another one of your master plans that ends up getting us in trouble in more ways than one!” 

“This is bigger than just you holding a petty grudge!” Orion hissed. It occurred to Sentinel just then that Orion was shouting, too. He had never heard it before, honestly, and it was jarring. Maybe a little scary. Not because Orion himself was a particularly menacing mech, but because they had never done this before. They had never… fought, and Sentinel felt sick. “Can’t you see that? I’m sorry that you have such a busy life, I’m sorry that you’re doing all your fucking aristocratic bullshit - “ 

“Aristocratic bullshit?” Sentinel cried out. He couldn’t tell if his vocalizer was cracking from the anger that boiled inside of him like magma, threatening to spill over and eagerly burn every part of this conversation, or worse, because of the tears that were starting to well up in his rapidly blinking optics. “You know it’s not like that! I’m working my fragging aft off so I can be a good Prime! So I can be a good Prime for you!” 

“For fuck’s sake, Sentinel, I never asked you to be Prime!” Orion shouted. 

Silence. 

Sentinel’s ragged venting filled the room, his breathing off and inconsistent as he stared dizzily at that damn painting, unable to make sense of its swirls and colors. He sat there, lost, hurt, angry, everything he had never felt for Orion, his dearest friend. Orion, his biggest supporter. Orion, his brother. 

Orion… 

Who had just told him he never wanted Sentinel to be Prime. Sentinel had never known anything but how to be one. He had been raised on this, told that this was his path, and that nothing could lead him astray. For a long time, he had believed Ultra who told him that everything, including friends, could be a distraction. But Sentinel had told himself that just this once, he could ignore Ultra. 

Just this once, he could pretend that he was a miner like Orion and Bee, who weren’t miserable even despite their ranks, and seemed happier than Sentinel, who felt like he was often carrying the weight of the world on just his shoulders alone. 

Just this once, he had allowed Orion liberties, taken him places he couldn’t, and let him do things that Sentinel would never allow anyone else because Orion had never once not told Sentinel with the uttermost confidence: “you’ll be a better Prime than any of the Thirteen were.” 

The tears fell. 

They were warm and soft on his cheekplates, and his hardly functional processor told him that he was running low on tear solvent. Of course he was running low on tear solvent. These weren’t the normal kind of tears he usually cried during moments of pain or frustration or even dramatic manipulation for when he needed one of the staff to do something for him and he wanted to appear extra pitiful. 

These were tears of hurt. 

A servo draped gently over his own. He watched blankly, his vision swimming and watery, as slowly, digits smaller than his own curled in between his and held them in a way they had never been held before. 

“Sentinel,” Elita said. He could barely focus on her. Her voice was like a phantom to him. “Enough.” 

Enough, Sentinel repeated. Enough of this. 

“Aren’t you tired?” 

I am. 

“Don’t you deserve better?” 

Do I?

“He isn’t worth anything.” 

That’s not right… 

“He’s nothing.” 

No, that’s… 

“Let it end.” 

But… 

“Stop.” 

“Stop,” Sentinel muttered. 

“You’re right,” Orion said after a brief pause. His voice was thicker, and he cleared his vocalizer. Almost like he was sorry. Was he, though? Was he sorry? Was he sorry for implying that Sentinel was only that, an aristocrat? Was he sorry for taking back all his support as Sentinel strived harder and harder to be a good Prime? What was he sorry for? Was he sorry at all? When did he and Sentinel stop talking? When had they been reduced to this? “I should have stopped. That - that was low of me. I’m - “ 

“Figure it out, Orion.” Sentinel interrupted. He stared at the painting. His voice was hard and cool, and there was no more room for argument. “I’m done saving you.” 

He ended the call with a soft click. He immediately blocked the notification of Orion trying to reconnect, and instead found himself blinking through his tears as Elita practically leapt into his lap, her engine purring something fierce in her chassis as she leaned up and began to smother him in kisses. 

“You did so well, my Prime.” Elita practically purred, her optics gleaming and her touch purposeful as she stroked his audials, then his cheeks, and rubbing away any of his tears with a surprisingly firm nudge. “You don’t need the likes of Orion. You’re the next Prime. You’re the most intelligent. The strongest. The best. You don’t need anyone.” 

Oh, Sentinel thought to himself dully, slowly leaning down to press a kiss to Elita’s eagerly waiting dermas, though for the life of him, he couldn’t stop looking over her shoulder, right at that framed painting that he had been staring at the entire time. Except it wasn’t a painting. 

It’s a mirror, he realized. 

For a moment, he thought he saw Ultra in his place. 

Just for a moment.

Scene: END!

Next scene: coming soon!

[imadeitworseyourwelcome]

The Dead Don't Heal

Previous

Part 2- you are here

Returning to the nemesis Starscream felt like he was in a haze. Skyfire slowly trudged behind Megatron.

He didn't so much as look his way. He wasn't looking at anyone. His eyes were hollow, empty. There was no emotion on his face.

The only sign of life was the unnatural purple glow of his optics.

The centuries of frost had left chips and small fissures in his armor. Sections of paint had been stripped away by shifting ice and his less than graceful extraction.

Starscream finally snatched his gaze away from Skyfire as the main screen flickered to life. Soundwave called up a recording- no a live feed of the autobots battling vechicons in an energon mine.

Megatron let out an annoyed snarl, but after a moment his scowl shifted to an evil grin, "Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to test out my new warrior," he gestured to Skyfire.

Starscream felt his spark drop and he immediately blurted, "No!" 

Though the glare Megatron fixed on him made him realize he had acted rashly. Speaking without thinking.

"You continue to question my judgment?!" Megatron snapped, prompting Skyfire to take a menacing step forward.

"No, no! Of course not." He bowed his head, unable to bare looking at Skyfire being used as a weapon. "What I meant was, the drones can easily fight off the autobots." He explained quickly, "Why waste such an element of surprise on a spent energon mine?"

He chose his words carefully, Megatron was more than eager to throw Skyfire into battle.

He'd do anything to keep Skyfire out of harms way.

Megatron took a moment, resting his hand on his chin as he thought.

"Hmm... perhaps." He finally nodded, "Starscream, take a squad to defend the energon mine."

"As you command, Lord Megatron," He turned on his heel and quickly walked out of the room. As soon as the doors closed behind him he took off running towards the deck of the nemesis. He didn't dare give Megatron time to change his mind.

.

.

.

He and the squad quickly made their way to the energon mine.

By the time they arrived, the autobots had exited the mine, pursued by what was left of the vechicons already on site.

Starscream led the fliers on a pass over the autobots, sending them diving for cover.

The autobots now split up, returned fire. It felt like they were shooting from all angles.

Being in the sky was supposed to be an advantage.

He broke away from the rest of the fliers and swooped low, weaving among the abandoned mining equipment and rubble.

Starscream transformed, skidding across the ground. He aimed a rocket as he stopped, shooting it at Arcee and Bumblebee, who were breaking off and moving to flank them.

Forcing them back behind their cover.

The vechicons moved up to support him. If they kept the pressure on them, they would overwhelm them in no time.

A familiar noise caught his attention, it was barely audible over the gunfire. The rumble of a large engine coming closer.

"No-" he gasped as he turned to see

Skyfire's alt mode approaching, flying right towards the autobots.

Skyfire transformed, landing hard and sending up a cloud of dust. He stalked towards the autobots, who were caught off guard by an unknown bot joining the fight.

They quickly realized he was no ally, and split their attention between the vechicons and him.

Starscream swore under his breath. They had been used as a distraction.

Skyfire's movements were uncoordinated but strong. His heavy strikes swung wide, easy to predict, and easy to dodge. But with the decepticons long range and Skyfire up close, they were starting to lose ground.

The autobots' blasters peppered Skyfire's thick armor, but he continued to advance, undeterred.

Starscream prayed that he wasn't able to feel the pain...

It felt like a dagger to the spark, seeing his conjunx reduced to a mindless husk. Forced to fight a war he never knew.

Starscream transformed and took the the sky, doing his best to lay down cover fire for Skyfire.

Forcing the autobots away from him. At this point he didn't care if they escaped with the energon or not, he just wanted them to stop shooting Skyfire.

Finally, pinned down, the autobots called for a groundbrige and soon retreated through it with their spoils.

As soon as they were gone Skyfire stopped moving. Returning to standing still, staring blankly to where the portal had dissapeared.

The decepticons dispursed, leaving Starscream and Skyfire alone on the battlefield, among the whisps of smoke and blasterburns.

Starscream walked to stand infront of Skyfire. His gaze looked through him, still watching where the autobots had escaped.

Was this truly all that was left of Skyfire? Of his conjunx endura? Long dead and reduced to a puppet. Another pawn for Megatron to throw around.

Having Skyfire here, just out of reach. Stung more than when he was missing, lost somewhere on this wretched planet.

If he hadn't given up, if he'd just kept searching... maybe it wouldn't have come to this.

Starscream bit back tears as he snatched his gaze away. Everytime he looked at him, it was like he was losing him all over again.

He knew Megatron was doing this to be cruel. Parading him around just to torture him. As long as he showed that it bothered him, he would keep going.

He had to let go, know that his conjunx was dead. He died a long, long time ago.

The bot that stood before him isn't Skyfire. Not anymore. They were a stranger.

He steeled himself, looking up to bid his conjunx a final goodbye.

Only to find Skyfire looking back at him. Not through him, at him.

Starscream froze. There was still a haze to Skyfire's eyes, but Starscream swore they were a hint more blue than before.

Skyfire looked scared. His conjunx was there. And Starscream had almost given up on him...

But as quick as it had happened, his eyes went dull again. And he was gone.

"..Skyfire..?" Starscream choked on his words, a flicker of hope. That's what he had lived on for years. That's all he needed.

He had found Skyfire, he was still within his reach... now he needed to figure out how to get him back.

(Contrubutions by @sirtrashfire )

[mychlapci]

On 🎳-anon's sparkling bowling headcanon

What if Optimus and co bowled the big baby and accidentally sent him veering off into the streets of Detroit

i can't believe i haven't considered this... big baby would be such a good fucking bowling ball. it just rolls and rolls and rolls... of course Optimus makes sure there'd always something padded for it to hit, it's still a little too small for full blown bowling. once it is old enough, though, Optimus finally begrudgingly lets the team have their hand at helping out the baby with its equilibrium stabilizers. after all, if it's a flier like Megatron, it'll need the bowling. and obviously Bumblebee would get overexcited and push the baby a little too hard just to prove that he can, and it ends up rolling out of the doors and down the road... Optimus has a heart attack, sirens on, speeding at every corner. he finds his baby after it bumped into a building, giggling and babbling happily.

[eight-cats-in-a-box]

Hi hi! Can you do TFA Bumblebee x gn! cybertronian reader where they're just having a silly wrestling competition? Bee boasted bout him being the best at it and reader wanted to put that to a test so they sparred, with Sari on the sideline cheering them on when Bee tripped over something or with his pedes that he missteps. He fell down onto reader and ended in an awkward position. Both become a blushing mess after Sari snapped a picture to show to others 🎀

SCREAMING SCREAMING SCREAMING THIS IS SO FUCKING CUTE OMG

One order of tiny little bastard man, coming right up!

TFA Bumblebee x Minibot! Flier! Reader

"I could totally beat you in a fight!" Bumblebee grinned, smug confidence in his tone.

You raised a browplate, doubtful. You knew Bee was no weakling, but neither were you. "Really now? Well then, we'll just have to see."

That was all you could get out before the little yellow bot tackled you to the floor, pulling an audial-piercing shriek from you as your wings scraped across the concrete.

"You're helping me buff that out later, you aft!" You cried, swiping at him with sharp claws and managing to flip the two of you over when Bee tried to dodge. He yelped, looking quite nervous all of a sudden as you managed to pin his servos above his head.

"I'll, uh... I'll come back later, then." Oh, slag. You whipped your helm around, furious at the interruption to your sparring match, only to see Optimus at the doorway, looking rather…embarrassed.

Whatever. You turned your attention back to Bumblebee, crowing delightedly. "Guess that means I win, Bee!" He made a noise that sounded like grinding gears as you heard the telltale click of a camera shutter, and Sari hollering about how she had won the bet.

Wait a minute.

"What bet?" You scrambled off of Bee, your faceplates feeling abnormally warm, to chase after her. "SARIIIIIIII! WHAT BET ARE YOU ON ABOUT?!"

Bumblebee groaned. "That was humiliating." Optimus just chuckled, helping Bee to his pedes. "I'm never doing that again."

Masterlist

[robot-rarepairs-dotcom]

so, regarding IDW whirl / TFA bumblebee...

similarities: both are smartasses. both are 100% ready to throw down at any time. both have an impaired sense of self-preservation.

differences: one's a grounder, one's a flier. bumblebee still has (some) innocence, whirl doesn't have an innocent circuit in his body.

bumblebee thinks whirl is wicked cool-looking (he's probably never even heard of empurata, which suits whirl just fine). he wouldn't bat an optic at whirl's attempts at clockmaking, since his BFF bulkhead is a big clunky bot who loves painting.

whirl thinks bumblebee is too damn cute for his own good, and he enjoys the company of someone who hasn't been emotionally scraped raw by millenia of war. he admires bumblebee's bravery when faced with bots several times his size.

as for a ship name, i propose "IDWTFA whirlbee"

thank you all for coming to my ted talk 😊

Bro im lowkey super on board with this like im sailing this rn like

[lets-try-some-writing]

I wanted to ask, in the kids turned sparkling au, Starscream was teaching Miko how to be the next winglord. Assuming he lived after Predacons Rising, or died and came back like Optimus, would she still treat him like a secondary parent, and eventually become winglord?

Ah yes Starscream.

Previous part here.

━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙ ━━━━━━━━━━━━

The matter of Starscream was one Tari did not like to consider. She had memories of Starscream trying to kill her when she was still Miko, but she also had recollections of a time when things were better. She remembered Starscream carrying her through the skies, letting her small wings flutter with the currents before she had learned to fly. She could still recall when he'd held her in his arms, telling her tales of Vos and the glory of the city he proclaimed would one day be hers. She had listened with such intent that even as a fully framed adult, she couldn't help but sometimes wonder if he was still out there, and if he still cared.

She was happy being a Wrecker, and she was happy being away from her family, even if she missed them at times. But as she aged, she felt a void within her, one that was for once, not caused by the loss of her Sire. She remembered stories of the great city that even after Cybertron's restoration, was not again floating in the sky. Starscream had always said that it was the duty of all fliers to watch over their city, to protect it, and to ensure that all who followed after them would have a place to call home.

Tari remembered, and so she decided to act.

Before Optimus's return, she set out on a journey across the stars. Her goal was simple: Find Starscream and get him to help her restore Vos. Sure, he might have been a Decepticon, but her memory painted him as a far more reasonable mech than some of the Autobots she dealt with on a regular basis. And without her Sire? Well... maybe digging up a few old memories would do something good for her aching spark.

It was far easier than she expected to find Starscream, although it hurt to track him down. He was hidden on Earth, her world of origin (a fact she will only begrudgingly admit). When she found him, he was wrapped up in his plans to get back at everyone and everything. She took him by total surprise, and their first meeting was by no means the one she had been hoping for. Starscream didn't recognize her, all he saw was her Wrecker badge.

Tari: Starscream! Hold your fire! I come in peace!

Starscream: An Autobot comes in peace? HA! As if I would believe that!

Tari: My designation is Sagittarius, Tari for short. Don't you remember me?

Starscream: A flier named after this mudball's constellations? How the mighty have fallen.

Tari and Starscream shot at each other for a while, and in the end, Tari had to hunt him down several times over the course of a few months. It was due to this hunt that she ended up with Bumblebee and his team on Earth for a time. She needed the extra guns to get into the Decepticon base on Earth where Starscream was supposedly hiding out. Her adventures with Bumblebee and his team were a whole other series of shenanigans. But in the end, she got her prize.

"Well Autobot? You've caught me. Are you going to kill me now?"

"No, I want you to talk to me. Please, just take a moment and remember me Starscream. I've already lost Optimus, I don't want to lose the only other bot that came even close to being my Sire."

"..."

"..."

"Mistress of the Terran skies. That was your full designation... wasn't it?"

Silence reigned over the duo for a time as Tari led Starscream out in cuffs. He would still need to answer for his crimes... but she would do all she could to lessen the sentence. For once, he went along without argument and allowed Tari to take him back to Cybertron to face justice. Seeing her reminded him of what he had been hoping for all those years ago when the war still raged. He had all but forgotten the precious sparkling he'd been so keen to raise once Megatron died. Predacons, Vehions, Terrorcons... it had all kept him distracted, especially as he sought out his old frame once more.

He would need to make things better.

Tari returned him to Cybertron and worked with anyone willing to side with Starscream during his court case. With a lot of effort, she was able to convince the Council that keeping Starscream alive was not only beneficial, but in the best interest of all of Cybertron. How did she do this? Why, she simply made it clear that Starscream had named her the heir of Vos... on live television. What was the Council to do? If they claimed Tari was lying, they would be disregarding the words of the Prime's sparkling. If they claimed her station was irrelevant, then they would earn the collective ire of every flier on Cybertron. There was almost no choice but to let Starscream out on parole and give Tari the funds needed to begin preparing to rebuild Vos.

Tari and Starscream were still rather tense, but working together on a common goal eased a lot of the pain that had developed over the years. Starscream guided Tari in her efforts and covered for her when she returned to the Wreckers. He laid low when she wasn't around and taught her as much of the old culture of fliers as possible. Over time, the wounds healed, and Starscream was able to proudly call himself Tari's mentor. Optimus was not made aware of Starscream's station in Tari's life until Vos rose into the skies once more and Starscream was there to announce Tari is official heir. It was a shock to say the least, but Tari relished in the companionship of her old secondary caretaker.

"Thank you for coming back with me."

"Thank you for giving me a second chance. To see Vos rise once more is a far greater accomplishment than anything I ever did during the war."

"You aren't so bad Starscream."

"HA! Lord Megatron would have a thing or two to say about that!"

[cityzenshark]

Nightshade: 🫣 I... uh.... I-I...uhm... I--

Kites: 🤭 I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P

😊😊 Proceeds to sing ABC, hold hands and skydive together.

Bumblebee from far on the ground, having no clue about flier instinct: 😱

[cf8wrk4u-us]

Across Space and Prime Chapter 3 (Part 2): Of Masters, Students, and New Guests.

The passage was much shorter than Optimus and his companions' departure from the Decepticons Energon Mine. In the end he was on physical ground in a matter of seconds. Transforming out of his altmode Optimus saw he was in a canyon on earth. The rock cliff sides towering over him as blue sky showed brightly above.

He looked around for his fellow wayward Prime.

“Sentinel”! He called out, before taking notice of some impressions in the sandy dirt that looked like footprints. Sighing he trailed after them and like a recording scene he once again found Sentinel crouched by a portion of wall looking over a portion of rock.

Without even waiting Optimus roughly grasped his orange shoulder blades and pulled him backwards.

“Are you insane”! He hissed into the other Primes audial “Did you forget what they told you-”

He was caught off guard as Sentinel whispered back “Lower your voice! Are you trying to get us caught”

“What-” Optimus tried only for Sentinel to silence him with his servo before nodding behind him. Taking the hint, Optimus cautiously stepped forward and looked over the rock.

There he noticed the back of the other Bumblebee seemingly pacing back and fourth.

“Wait” he said “Where's the other one”

“The supersized version of you”? Said Sentinel “Yeah he walked off-”

He was caught off guard when a series of angry buzzing came out from behind them.

<What are you two doing here>!!!

It was Bumblebee, with surprising speed that even Optimus couldn’t detect the scout had not only figured out their presence but also snuck up on them.

Optimus raised his hands in a pacifying manner “We’re sorry, honestly, we weren’t trying to do anything”!

“Just here to help rookie” Sentinel said easily summoning his lance “I’m a trained Prime, I’m meant to be out here in the field, not entertaining some pet organics”

Optimus saw Bumblebee standing their, his optics seemingly twitching as he let the audacious words settle into him.

<First of all, thos humans aren’t pets> he finally buzzed out < And second I know what I’m walking into, do you>

Sentinel opened his mouth trying to come up with a remark but Bumblebee had already began to walk off, he looked over his shoulder with optics narrowed dangerously at the both of them.

<Stay close and no matter what happens listen to what we say>!

Then like scolded protoforms the two mechs trailed silently behind the scout, though Sentinel did give a few grumbles.

When the scout crouched again they finally saw were the alternate Optimus was. The large mech was walking steadily to a pair of bots who Optimus startled as he saw their red optics.

Decepticons.

And they were just as large as the ones from his world, or even larger as even the one green and gray flier seemed as big as Lugnut.

"It has been a while, Skyquake," they suddenly heard the other Optimus say.

The mech called Skyquake easily pushed his smaller companion "Optimus Prime, I haven't seen you since the battle of Technar” he replied, before adding “Megatron ordered me to annihilate you”

Optimus shivered at the quiet malice that came from the mech using his name, he knew it wasn’t a threat made to him personally but still it made him dizzy that Megatron had high ranking mechs personally try to assassinate him. He had more than one occasion had delt in hand to hand combat with the Decepticons and even Megatron. But those were only eleventh hour attempts at stopping the Decepticons, whether keeping the All-Spark out of there reach, defending Detroit from their attacks, or even preventing an invasion on Cybertron. The had somehow been successful, somehow managed to beat the Cons, but up until his later victory he wasn’t sure that Megatron had even taken him seriously. Not even when he was kidnapped by that bounty hunter, it was Megatron's soldiers who wanted revenge, not the warlord himself.

But to think in this world, Megatron not only knew his name but actually made his death a priority was astounding. What his other half that infamous? To know Megatron? To have even beaten him?!

"That was a long time ago," the other Optimus spoke, his voice so strong yet somehow so light.

"That may be, Prime, but my orders still stand”! The bot named Skyquake growled.

"Is this ancient war still worth fighting, when so many comrades have been lost and worlds destroyed”? His alternate self argued, he then turned to the smaller silvery mech "If you want to be a true leader, Starscream, then stray from Megatron's path and lead the Decepticons toward peace”!

“Starscream”?!! Optimus whispered in shock.

The Starscream he knew of was a much bulkier mech made up of purple and black metals, the being here was more slim and gray with sharper angles. Coming here he knew their would be differences in appearance, but not so dramatic. What other mechs would he fail to recognize despite knowing their counterpart so intimately.

"I would be willing to consider a truce…" Starscream said with an oily purr "If you would be willing to bow before me, Optimus Prime”

“Uh, is he really trying to negotiate with a Con” muttered Sentinel

"Again”?! Skyquake yelled at Starscream with surprising outrage before raising a fist to him "Bow to this”!

He then backhanded him into the canyon wall, groaning Starscream transformed as soon as he got up and flew away. The force of hit making both Optimus and Sentinel stiffen

"Skyquake,this is a new era on another world," the other Prime said, "Side with the Autobots, and help me end this conflict forever”

"I will never side with a Prime”! roared Skyquake before charging right at the other Optimus, slamming him at a wall and then grabbing him the Decepticon threw the other mech to the side.

Coming to his senses the other Prime stood tall, raising his hand before turning it into a blaster before firing shots at the Decepticon. With Skyquake returning fire as he grabbed a weapon from his back that expanded into a gatling missile launcher. Optimus and Sentinel gasped in horror as some of them pelleted into the bigger Autobot, but the former relieved to see that somehow the other was still standing if barely.

<We have to help him>! Bumblebee cried rushing forward

Seeing the scout running towards the Decepticon, the other Optimus cried “No Bumblebee”!

But the scout was already up in the air, shooting his own retaliation at Skyquake from behind. The blast hit the mech square on, but did nothing to debilitate him as he turned around with a ragefull expression and aiming his weapon at the scout.

To Optimus' amazement Bumblebee managed to dodge every blast , jumping between the canyon walls to evade them. But unfortunately as he tried to get close to attack the mech, Skyquake grabbed him and slammed the scout into the wall. He made to shoot at the downed bot till the other Optimus grabbed his weapon and forced him to shoot up instead of his companion.

Unable to take sitting on the sidelines, Optimus rushed over, joining Bumblebee as the both attempted to tackle the mech. But just as easily as before Skyquake threw the pair off of him.

The bigger Prime was back though, throwing his own punches at the Decepticon. But Skyquake was quick to counter with his own strikes, but just as he moved to give another blow his arm was tangled in metal wire. Optimus strained as he tugged the wire from his grappler trying to knock the Decepticon over, but strained under his heavy weight. He had some relief as Bumblebee gripped his arms to help him.

Then something unexpected happen.

“You owe me big time for this Optimus”!

Sentinel in his vehicle mode rushed in and plowed into Skyquake, finally sending the heavy flier over. The scene almost seemed impossible given the strength of this Decepticon even more so when transforming back the blue and orange plow truck Sentinel stood over the downed Skyquake

“Hah, Decepticon scum”! He snarked pointing his summoned lance at the large mechs head “Let it be know that I, Sentinel Prime, have brought down this might war machine”!

Optimus saw Skyquake head twitch and tried to warn his friend “Sentinel”!

Sentinel yelped in panic as his lance was grabbed, he was tugged forward as Skyquake grabbed him by the neck in a tight choke hold that had the other Prime gasping.

“You call yourself “Sentinel Prime”? asked Skyquake a quite rage in his voice as he gripped Sentinel tighter, he looked to Optimus other self in outrage “You let this one call himself that, are you that desperate for supporters you welcome delusional and sacrilegious fools”!

“He knows not what he’s saying” said the other Optimus, leveling an angry fist at Skyquake “Let the bot go”!

Skyquake growled as he lifted Sentinel up “We don’t need anymore false Primes, especially by that name”!

Bumblebee jumped forward, trying to get at the Decepticon before he did anything to Sentinel only for Skyquake to viciously toss his captive away at the yellow bot. The pair nearly tumbled down before Optimus moved in to catch them.

“Are you all right”? the smaller Prime asked, which in hindsight was a pretty stupid question given the glare Sentinel shot his way.

<Been better> Bumblebee whirled as he helped the other blue and orange bot up <Could be a lot worse though, wonder why Sky-Head hasn’t kicked up for an aerial attack>

“Skyquake has not yet acquired a vehicle mode” whispered the other Optimus

“What does that matter”?!! Hissed Sentinel “Any minute he could just transform into his Cybertronian altmode”!

“From what I gathered Skyquake has been in deep sleep on Earth, it could take awhile for him to fully stabilize his systems without given a vehicle” explained the bigger Optimus

“Well, that's convenient” said Sentinel

Skyquake gave another battle cry as he rushed forward, weapons at the ready.

“Not enough to disregard the obvious danger”! Said Optimus “Fall back, everyone”!!

Instinctively the smaller Prime and his companion shifted into their altmodes with the other two, back peddling in hard gear before steering straight ahead.

Behind them Skyquake fired more shots screaming into their dust “HAS TIME MADE YOU A COWARD PRIME”??!!!

“So what's the plan”?! Sentinel said in a panic “Keep driving till we reach somewhere safe”?

“It would be far better to call the others for back up wouldn’t it”? Optimus stressed

“I concur”! His other half agreed “But we should find a secluded location to call a ground bridge, we can’t risk the children's safety should a warrior as deadly as Skyquake force his way into the base”

“Alright lets-” but before Optimus could finish thundering footsteps followed close behind them, getting closer and closer.

“Are you kidding me”?! Sentinel screamed over the com “Is that con really chasing after us on foot! He’ll catch up to us in no time”!

<How maybe just one of us>? Buzzed Bumblebee <I have a plan>!

“Can anyone tell me what he just said”? Asked Sentinel

Optimus crouched in a corner of the chasm with Sentinel, still in vehicle mode, tensing as they watched Skyquake pass by chasing a lone Bumblebee into what they knew was a dead end.

He heard Skyquake chuckle "It will be a shame to crush you here, bug, but it is my duty,"

Just then a loud horn sounded off, signaling the attack. The bigger Optimus was up first, plowing down the Decepticon before giving a sharp turn to let the other two Primes to follow. Before Skyquake could get up though, Optimus himself ran over the con, Sentinel coming up behind him to join in the final attack.

Skyquake was finally thrown to the wall, crumbling it as he fell to the ground.

The group were all in their bipedal modes looking over the groaning Decepticon.

“Is it done? Did we do it”? Asked Sentinel

The answer was clear though as Skyquakes molten red eyes snapped open and he swung his clawed servos, scratching at the bigger Optimus chassis. The others backed away, weapons out and gripped tightly.

“Skyquake” Optimus otherself said steadily, “Stay Down”.

Before giving a mighty punch that sent fragments of metal flying off of Skyquakes face.

Optimus tried to take a moment to breathe, but his mind couldn’t help but capture just the strength of the larger Prime before him. The echoes of the punch still resonated in his mind.

That is till a new sound hummed through the air, the group looked to the sky to find the source. Optimus worried it had been the new Starscream, there to pick up where Skyquake left off. But the jet didn’t look like the one Starscream turned into.

“Fowler”? Optimus breathed

“Who”? Said Sentinel

But no questions could be answered as a blinding green light erupted from Skyquakes eyes, along with a triumphant smile.

“Agent Fowler, fall back” cried the bigger Optimus touching his comm.

It was too late though as no sooner did the green lights hit the flighter jet, Skyquake rushed past them and transformed into that very aerial vehicle.

“Air Superiority Achieved”! Yelled Skyquake as he angled his new altmode down and began to fly towards the group of Autobots.

“Run”! Said Optimus, his other self, Sentinel, and Bumblebee following after.

The tides have turned and once again the Decepticon was on the chase, now not only did he have both his strength and his weapons but aerial distance that made his weapons even more deadly.

The four of them drove through the canyon, narrowly dodging the blast that launched after them.

“Oh, great! How are we getting out of this now”? Begged Sentinel “Does anyone else have any bright ideas”

“Yeah, don’t get hit” Optimus growled to his fellow Prime.

Surprisingly more large blast came out, only instead of being aimed at them it instead hit at Skyquake. It forced the DEcepticon to veer off, following the jet.

“Who is that”? asked Optimus

<Agent Fowler!> said Bumblebee <You can trust him to come in clutch>

The shots returned though, forcing the group to drive faster.

<For the most part>

The gunfire came faster and harder, Optimus and Sentinel were nearly taken out by a large missile only for the Primes other self to jump in. Using his larger body to shield them, going so far as to grab the missile and throwing it away. But Skyquake continued his onslaught, once again aiming for Bumblebee who still continued driving.

To Optimus surprise, the scout turned towards the direction of a road towards the top of the canyon. The Prime had no idea what he was doing, that is till he saw Bumblebee change from his vehicle mode and run across the edge of the canyon.

Before jumping from his vantage point to land right on Skyquakes vehicle mode. The scout clung to the wing, staying on even as he was scrapped into the canyon wall creating a comm splitting scratch of metal.

“What on earth is he thinking”?! Yelled Sentinel “He doesn't have an aerial vehicle, or even a jet pack? How does he expect to get down”?!!

Optimus mind was reeling at the fact that the scout performed such a daring stunt, it took him a second to answer Sentinels question.

“Fowler…”

His other self sent him a confirming nod before touching his comm link again “Agent Fowler, we acquire immediate assistance”

Optimus could only watch from the ground, he felt helpless as he saw Bumblebee hang from the Decepticons wing. His spark racing further as he saw Bumblebee begin to hit the fighter jets wings, punching into Skyquakes engines and pulling out vital wiring. As evident when the jet began plummeting down.

Sentinel's question echoed through his head, wondering if his fellow Prime was right. That what Bumblebee had just leaped into was a suicide mission.

But like mercy from Primus himself, the other jet belonging to Agent Fowler dipped by besides the falling Decepticon. Getting closer and closer, before finally breaking enough space for Bumblebee to jump on.

Skyquake was falling on his own now, a smoking trail tailing his arrival as he met the ground floor with a heavy crash.

Once Bumblebee was lowered close to the canyon's edge, the scout made another daring leap before throwing the group below a thumbs up.

With a shaky smile Optimus returned it.

It was a little while later that the group walked to where Skyquake had crashed. All of them on guard, but as they made their way their Optimus felt his tank twist at the state of the mech.

His hulking form was twisted in a crooked position, metal smelted to a black scorch marks, and one optic dimly lit.

Optimus tensed as the red optic landed on him, but soon enough it fluttered once and blacked out. Never to open again.

“Is he…is he…”? He heard Sentinel mumble.

“He is” Optimus answered quietly

He wasn’t a stranger to death, he and his team had brushed by it more than once, Prowl and Bumblebee almost offlining. And he himself had been an offlined mech for a nano-second. Even as early as his cadet days with the supposed death of Elita-One.

But somehow this death felt more…brutal…

It seemed to have an effect on Sentinel who couldn’t stare at the body any longer.

But his other self and Bumblebee, they were oddly solemn, almost numb to the sight before them.

“Had Skyquake had chosen to stray from his masters path…perhaps we might not be burying him this day” the other Optimus said solemnly before he turned to the two of them “Now, lets return to the base…and see how we proceed on what is to become of you two”

“What”? Asked Sentinel

“I believe we had rules instated to your group, both regarding the use of the Groundbridge and that of leaving the base without supervision”

“But we helped”! Sentinel insisted “That has too count-”!

“We can discuss this later” said the other Optimus, his voice didn’t sound angry but the level look he gave them was a serious thing.

“Hey-”!

“Sentinel”! Optimus begged his friend “Let it go”!!!

His friend looked at his definitely, but then looked to his hands that were shaking unsteadily. Finally he slumped his shoulders coinciding.

Little was said as Optimus other self called on a ground bridge and the pair, in their bruised and scuffed glory, entered through it.

“Sooo…” Sentinel tried to ask from where he was sitting “How long do you think we'll be here”?

“I don’t know, ask the angry medic who tossed us in” said Blackarachnia, standing on the wall.

“I’m not talking to you, you techno-organic freak” huffed Sentinel “Right Optimus”

“I’m not talking to ether of you” Optimus gritted out from the otherside of the room.

“Oh, touchy”~ chuckled Blackarachnia

Optimus resented how oddly calm the pair of them acted after the trouble they were in, after returning to the base Optimus and Sentinel were presented with a group of scowling Autobots, kids nowhere in sight, and Blackarachnia standing nonchalantly with her servos up as Arcee pointed a blaster at her.

Then came the onslaught of screaming from Ratchet at the two mechs, of how they broke the rules, potentially put their hideout endanger, almost got their own remembers killed, and left Ratchet no time to finish up the kids science projects.

The later not as serious, but still there responses were reasonable if expected. Especially when it came to rounding them all up and forcing them into a room together before locking the door. In the very least both Optimus and Sentinel were provided with first aid and reluctantly all three of them were given a cube of the blue energon each.

The group were in silence for hours, only interrupted with Sentinel and Blackarachnia bickering. Now the sound was filled with the femme bots soft pacing over the ceiling and Sentinels soft humming.

Somehow though it was enough to make Optimus explode “YOU KNOW WHAT?! WE ARE SO FRAGGED”!!!

“I thought you weren’t talking to us” Sentinel smirked.

“Shove it”! Yelled Optimus “Seriously! All you both had to do was wait at the base and touch nothing! It was that simple”!

“Hey! I wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing while we're stuck here”!

“And how did that work out”?! Spat Optimus, nodding to the dented metal on his fellow primes chassis. Not life threatening but as Optimus knew, it would ache.

Sentinel grumbled but before he could give a retort the door to their room opened.

“I swear nothing has changed since-”!

Just then Ratchet walked in with the other Optimus behind him “Follow us” the medic grumbled.

Hesitantly Optimus got up and proceeded with Sentinel and Blackarachnia following behind him. They walked briskly through the halls till they made it to what was deemed as the medical corner. The rest of the team stood by, all but one sent a glare their way.

Inside a large glass hatch, Bumblebee stood. It looked like a energon therapy pod, made to expose bots to high levels of energon to help revitalize them. The last time Optimus had seen the scout he had all but collapsed into a medical berth. Now he looked well rested and buffed out from his battle the previous day, greeting Optimus with a cheerful whirl.

<Hey, guys!> he said <Glad to see your okay!>

“You too” said Optimus, letting a smile slip onto his face.

Sentinel who was still unable to understand the scout but judged by his joyful whirl that he was being greeted gave a nod to Bumblebee.

“Nice to see your doing better, scout” he mumbled.

“So you have been in our base for less than a day but your little trio has somehow broken the majority of rules we placed for you” said Ratchet

Optimus gulped “I-I understand sir”

“Oh do you now”? Says Ratchet “Our war, the war you apparently won somehow in your world, is a very real thing” he paced back and forth “We’ve fought in it for centuries, longer than I imagine you;ve been online! And even with Megatron gone, our one advantage, the Decepticons as you see are a very real and persistent threat”

“We don’t have time to be babysitting a couple of insubordinate mechs who don’t have the processors to realize how serious this situation is for us” said Arcee

“Insubordinate”! Sentinel said outraged but was silenced by a growl from Bulkhead.

“The fate of this planet, this very galaxy, rest on on us keeping Earth from Decepticon control” said Optimus “Can you understand what is at stake and the gravity of stepping into the battlefield, we are the final defense”

“I can” Optimus said simply, his gaze steady at his alternate self.

Earth being endangered by Decepticons was nothing new, fighting an impossible battle, none of that was new to him. But with Cybertron now gone and the Decepticons running wild under Starscream, the stakes were all the more higher.

“We are a dangerous part of the war, needing to stop the Decepticons and maintain our cover on earth” said the other Optimus once more “So though we feel for your plight, I don’t believe we can provide as much support in returning you three home”

He could feel Sentinel growing agitated besides him, so Optimus quickly said “But you do believe us”?

The silence was enough of an answer as the group looked between each other nervously, the only one match his gaze was his other self.

“...yes”

This grew wide eyes from the larger Primes team.

“Sir, once more I want to apologize for our actions the other day” Optimus spoke once more for his group, in a way that felt similar to their academy days “I like to think with what happened with Skyquake we all finally understand our position here and the importance of your mission”

Sentinel crossed his arms “Pretty convinced”

Blackarachnia said nothing.

“And because of that I don’t see us being able to leave back to our own dimension without finding ourselves involved in your war…so I want to officially join your mission in defeating the Decepticons”

The other Optimus opened a fraction while besides him Ratchet huffed “And your companions”

“I still think returning home should take precedence, we have our own war too think about” Sentinel grumbled “But I doubt we can really get anything down with those warmachines running amuck on this planet”

Optics than shifted to Blackarachnia.

“Uh, Optimus, are we seriously going to let a Con join our team”? snapped Arcee looking to her leader.

“Yeah, seriously, Optimus”? Said Sentinel looking the opposite direction to his companion.

Confused stares flickered all around.

Optimus sighed before looking to Blackarachnia.

“Blackarachnia, once again, can I trust you too fully cooperate with this team and their fight against these Decepticons”?

“You not giving a girl much of a choice here” muttered Blackarachnia “Ether join your little crusade underlock and key or join up with whatever nearly offline the pair of you”

“So is that a yes”

Blackarachnia gave a nasty stare “It's a “I don’t have a better option” at the moment”

Optimus gave a weary look before looking to the rest of the suspicious bots “I promise to keep an eye on her, no matter what, consider me fully responsible for her”

“Ugh, don't do this lover-bot” grumbled Blackarachnia “I’ll stay”

“Then we’ve come to an agreement at the moment” said the other Optimus “With hope you’ll abide by our rules more closely” he held out his large servo to the smaller version of himself.

Optimus hesitantly took it, his small blue servo all but disappeared in the larger Primes black servo.

“I also hope you’ll refrain yourselves from putting yourself endanger necessarily” said his other half, before looking at Sentinel “Though you performed admirably”

The younger Primes face-plate seemed to flush under the large mechs face.

<Alright, you guys are part of the team> buzzed Bumblebee finally stepping out of the pod.

“Hmm, no bad” said Bulkhead stepping forward and clapping a large hand on Sentinels shoulder “For a fake Prime”

Sentinel sputtered and shoved his servo off “Fake! I’ll have you know I’m one of the most official Primes here, so you better refer to me as such"!

Bulkhead just cocked a brow before shaking his head “Not likely”

“What did you say”!

“And you”! Bulkhead said pointing to Optimus “This is getting kind of confusing that you have the same name as our leader, is there anything else we can call you”?

Sentinel chuckled “Maintenance Prime could be a choice”

Optimus threw him a glare before rolling his eyes, he sighed before thinking. He never really had a nickname per se, perhaps his serial number OP2607, but that was a bit degrading and a mouthful. He really did like his designation, the one Kup gave him, but understood the unneeded confusion it brought.

Then he remembered something Jazz said to him.

“You can call me…Op” said Optimus

Sentinel gave him a look but Bulkhead nodded “Sounds like a pretty good name, now I got to go pick up the kids, I’m already late as it is”

“Can I go out too”? Asked Sentinel

Optimus was quick to intervene, remembering his friends' less than ready earth road skills“You really want to be surrounded by organics”?

Sentinel cringed before shaking his head.

At least one crisis was averted, now to face a whole new world of problems.

[anony-man]

Hooray for unofficially reaching 50 drabbles! Hope you all enjoy this one!

Chubformers drabble #50!

Character: Starscream (and Windblade - IDW)

Word count: 641

“I’m starting to get worried, Starscream.”

The door had been locked (emphasis on had) prior to Starscream settling in for his lunch break. By some miracle, Windblade had somehow managed to break her way inside. Now, with her arms crossed over her chest and her expression twisted in that irritating, worried stare, Starscream was left to sit in his office chair and take her scrutiny.

Really, who was she to judge? Now that the war was almost over, things were different. Starscream may have found himself falling back into old habits, sure, but that was his business… and Bumblebee’s, of course. Windblade of all bots didn’t deserve to know every detail of his private life, so why the hell was she so adamant about trying?

“That’s a new one,” Starscream said with a roll of his optics before reaching for the cube on his desk.

Before he could even blink, Windblade’s servo was there, blocking the path. Starscream was ready to protest, scathing remarks on the tip of his tongue, but she merely slid the cube further and further out of reach while keeping that awful, judgy stare.

“I’m serious,” she said, speaking louder this time, more urgently. It was as if Starscream were on his deathbed… but he wasn’t. “Ever since Meg—“

“Don’t,” Starscream snapped, earning him a startled gasp from Windblade. Good, he thought. She should be scared of him. “Don’t… say his name. Please. I’d much rather sit in peace on my lunch break.”

“With a cube this size?” Windblade asked, lifting up the container. “There’s no point in lying. I know you’re not well.”

Well, that was a first. Starscream could count on one servo the amount of times anyone had been concerned for his wellbeing—and that included the two shocking statements Windblade had already dropped.

In a way, she was right. Starscream had gained quite a bit, he supposed. But Windblade had, too. It was to be expected, of course; their choice of occupation was known to be awful on the system.

Unlike Windblade, however, Starscream’s rapid increase in mass wasn’t just rooted in the stressors of the job. His troubles stemmed from cracks that ran far beneath the surface. Unlike Windblade, Starscream’s issue wasn’t a problem easily uprooted by a simple solution. In his case, a whole factory reset would probably have been a lot more successful.

While Windblade may have grown a little chubby around the edges, Starscream was utterly massive in comparison.

“Holding my meals hostage isn’t going to do much, you know,” Starscream said, scooting his chair closer to the desk. The mound of fat that spilled from his belly onto his lap barred him from getting very close, and he did his best to pretend he didn’t hear the pitiful groans of the poor chair beneath him. “I’m afraid it’ll just make me that much less cooperative.”

Windblade was silent for a moment, visibly contemplating the statement. Whereas Starscream was spitballing every snarky statement that came to mind, the fellow flier seemed intent on picking it apart piece by piece in search of any hidden meaning. In the end, she merely sighed, setting the cube back down within arm’s reach.

“Why am I not surprised?” was the muttered response she gave before turning and storming out of the office, her frame narrowly missing getting caught by the slim doorway.

Starscream watched her go, waiting until he could no longer see her silhouette before leaning back in his chair and cracking open the cube with a sigh. He drank slowly, savoring the taste of rich, bubbly energon on his tongue.

Really, why was she not surprised? It was Starscream, after all. Why expect him to let down his guard when he could instead bury eons of troubles under the weight of a flabby belly and big glass of fuel?

[cozzzynook]

A little Cyberverse idea

Bumblebee and Hot Rod goes out racing one night. While out racing down a long dusty road Bee suddenly stops and transforms back into his root mode before hunching down in pain. Roddy stops and rushes to Bee's side asking if he hit something while he carefully soothes his brother before helping him off the road.

While they wait for Ratchet to arrive, Bee quietly whimpers while holding his tanks meanwhile Hot Rod carefully pets his helm quietly trying to sooth as he also checks Bee over to see what's causing the pain with little luck. Some time later Ratchet arrives and immediately gets to work checking the yellow bot over while also asking if they hit any speed bumps or rocks while racing. Hot Rod on the other hand steps away for a short while unsure what he should say anything to Optimus.

Just as Roddy is about to call Optimus he suddenly hears Bee cry out in pain, he quickly rushes over only to see Ratchet carefully wrapping a tiny sparkling blanket. Hot Rod helps Bumblebee sit up so he could hold his bitty while also starring in shock as he didn't know his brother was sparked in the first place, judging by the vey confused look on Bee's face also tells him that he didn't know he was sparked as well. Ratchet quietly scolds the brothers about the importance of regular check ups and protection while he helps the new carrier to his peds before heading back to the base so he can give Bee and his sparkling a proper check up.

Couple hours later Bumblebee is smiling softly as he watches his sparkling nap in their little cradle, with a gentle servo he carefully pets their tiny helm while humming a lullaby. He knows he is going to have a long chat with Optimus later on as well worrying about the sire who currently is sitting in the brig complaining loudly to anyone who passes his cell. But for now Bee can enjoy the peace and quiet as he bonds with his sparkling promising that he will protect them no matter what.

Kfkdogkdo AHHHHHHHH I LOVE THIS!!!!! Poor bee! He’s gonna have to deal with overprotective optimus who Hot rod will have to tell to chill out.

I just know once they see little flier wings on the sparkling Optimus is going to strangle Starscream who is looking awe struck and in love with Bee and their bitty