Revel

• A cute enough story, but one he’s not quite buying. Watching you leave your apartment building, he waits until you’re up the street before sitting up on the bench. You always go for a jog alone in the mornings. Knows because he’s been tailing you for a week and you’re predictable. You’re also nervous, watchful like you’re afraid all the time. “Alright, lads. Divide and conquer,” he murmurs, coming apart and hurrying toward your house. This early, there’s no one about to see as he picks the lock, his constituent parts scampering inside. “Look for the goods,” he murmurs to himself as a couple of his lads head up the stairs. The whole space scents of you, but no one else and it doesn’t look like the sort of place someone who just came by a stolen windfall would rent. Had hacked into your finances and that had been another empty lead. You’re pretty much broke. If you did steal something worth money, you’ve still got it.

• Except they’re not finding anything as they comb through your space. If anything, it looks like you’re ready to bug out. There’s a backpack of clothes by the door like you thought you might need to run at any minute. “Oi,” he growls, turning and catching one of the others producing a vase front subspace and sliding a slightly wilted rose inside. “What is that, then? We’re going a job here, not decorating.” The other him gestures weakly at the vase. ‘What’s wrong with it? Little pop of color.’ Venting in exasperation, he shakes his head. “Pop of color,” he repeats. Because, alright, maybe he likes what he’s seen from you, maybe he’s getting a bit attached to you. But this is still a job.

• Jogging back to your apartment, you’d forgotten your water bottle. Every day you spend here makes you more paranoid that your ex is going to find you. Which is ridiculous. Why would they bother to hunt you down when they can just move on to the next person foolish enough to believe their lies? But you know how weirdly obsessive they can be. Had learned that first hand dealing with them. Digging your keys out, you try to ignore that prickling sense of being watched. Know it’s just your imagination. You’re safe.

• The sound of your laughter sinks into him as he sweeps you closer so his chassis brushes your chest. “Where do you see this night going?” You ask and he rumbles, turning with you. ‘Well, dancing obviously,’ he says, grinning. ‘Then I thought I’d wine and dine you,’ he adds and your brows lift. “You remember that I can’t drink energon, right?” Now he’s laughing as he spins you. ‘I know this place on the Cybertronian side of town. They have their mixed species license. The owners are actually a mixed species couple,’ he says and you hum.

• “And after dinner?” You ask, unsure why you’re flirting with him when you’re pretty sure this can’t really go anywhere. That he’s only interested because you’ve turned him down so many times. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll move on to the next conquest. The worst part is that he won’t even mean to break your heart. Everything’s just a game to him. No consequences or worries. ‘Maybe a cup of coffee at your place?’ He asks, still smiling. And the look on his face makes you feel like he’s inviting you in on a secret. Makes you want to play along even though you know better.

• “You can’t drink coffee,” you whisper and he rumbles, moving with you to the thump of the bass, feeling that hunger lift through him. For your smiles, your laughter, for you. ‘I’d bravely try some for you,’ he teases and you snort. “Because nothing says romance like a trip to the emergency room.” And he’s laughing, flashing his denta as his hand slides against the small of your back and you wish you didn’t like him. Because he’s going to destroy you once he gets bored of this game.

• “Though, honestly, I’d thought coffee was a euphemism,” he teases, enjoying watching you get flustered but you still meet his optics like you’re refusing to let him embarrass you. ‘It is. But there’s coffee and then there’s coffee. And you haven’t earned any of the latter, yet,’ you counter. Humming as he dips you, one of his thighs slides between yours and your scent shifts ever so slightly into something needy that spins him tight. Because for all your denials, he’s pretty sure you’d love to take him home. So what’s stopping you?

• Reaching to take her as she puffs out her cheeks, she doesn’t try to put up a fight as you settle her in the blankets by Rez and you realize that pretty soon you won’t be able to pick her up anymore. That she and Rez are already fairly heavy. Leaning to tuck the blanket around her and offer her one of her favorite stuffed animals, you feel Rez roll over, servos fisting in your sleep pants. “Little animals,” Megatron growls, slapping his palms on the berth as he leans in and all four kids startle, the twins immediately hissing. Rolling your eyes as he bares his own denta at Pax and Tron, before reaching to drag them closer, Rez and Astra both look up. ‘Megatron,’ you groan, watching Pax play-biting his servos. What happened to helping you get them down for a nap?

• Chuckling as his sons hiss and swat at his hand, he glances at you, his smile faltering at your unamused look. “Recharge,” he reluctantly says as you blow out a breath. Hears you muttering that that’s not happening now as he stretches out on his side and his little seeker immediately drags her stuffed animal closer, the nubs of her wings tucking against her back. ‘Story,’ Resonance says and he hesitates, because the youngling rarely says anything at all. Can see the sparkling peeking at him from around you, little servos hanging onto your clothes.

• “Right. I think we’d just met Captain Hook,” you mumble, grabbing the book and flipping it open and you can feel Megatron frowning at you as you try to find your place. ‘What human nonsense are you teaching them?’ He asks, pulling the book out of your hands and watching the pages fan. Can he even read your language? You’d never bothered to ask. “It’s just a story,” you say, reaching and he holds the book over his head, his smirk a challenge.

• Shuddering as you cocoon yourself in your blanket and scoot closer to the big mech, you hug your pillow. Embarrassed to be afraid of a storm, but when you hear thunder that close, it just sparks panic through you. Know it’s silly, but there’s no reasoning with the fear. “The storm?” He asks, no longer trying to catch you and you flinch at a crack of thunder. How big is the storm that you can hear it in here? Heart hammering, you press your face against the pillow.

• Can feel you trembling uncontrollably and he’s carefully mass shifting, gathering you close. Letting you press your face against the mesh of his neck as you exhale shakily. Arms wrapping around you, he smooths a hand up your spine. “There’s nothing to fear,” he murmurs, as your legs slide against his. “I’ve got you.” Ducking to brush a kiss against your forehead, you meet his optics. And arch up, your soft mouth pressing against his. Shocking him. ‘Distract me. Please,’ you whisper as he reaches to cup your cheek.

• Lying back as he leans over you, his body settles against yours. And you’re aware that he’s keeping his weight braced off of you, his optics brighter as he stares down at you. “Have I ever denied you anything?” He asks, genteel voice roughening to make your breath come faster before his mouth covers yours. Hands smoothing against his shoulders before clinging to him, you can hear the rumble of his internal systems, the hum of his fans cycling on. Your world narrowing down to the feel of the hard lines of his heated frame against your body until the storm doesn’t matter. Until you don’t notice anything but him as his body rocks against yours and heat spreads through you in answer.

• Turning slowly, he studies the street. Noting the skid marks on the asphalt. Had assumed it was young humans playing. Doing so called donuts in the street. But now he studies the markings. Imagining the vehicle speeding down the street, turning sharply. Slamming into the mech right as he’d been standing in front of the alley. Driving him between the buildings. Meaning there’d be- right. Staring at the lines of broken and gouged brick on either side of the inside of the alley. His shoulder plating had scraped as he’d been driven in. Wedging him where he couldn’t move easily. Rocking back a step as his servos flex, he studies the alley. Where did they go from there? Turning to study the road again, he examines the skid marks. What if there were two vehicles? One to drive the target into an enclosed space and another to load him up when they were done incapacitating him somehow? Catching movement, his head turns. Seeing blinds shift in a window. An apartment.

• Heart racing because there’s one of them outside your building, you see the shadow moving on the other side of the blind and you back away from the glass. Skin prickling when the mech taps on the window, you fumble for your phone. “I just want to ask a question,” he says, low voice shockingly soft as your fingers tighten on your phone. “I’m looking for someone.” The other one. You’d seen him, been accustomed to him. The mech had never bothered to mass shift, so you’d seen his shadow passing almost every day. Is this guy a friend of his? “I’m being nice right now, but I could break the glass if I wanted to. Easily,” he adds.

• Rocking back when the blinds get pulled up and the window shoved open, you stare up at him, expression wary. Not a terrible instinct. Sees your eyes flick past him toward the alley and a grim certainty that you saw something sinks into him. “I don’t want any trouble,” you say and he inclines his head. ‘And I don’t want to cause you any. But a friend of mine is missing. They live near here. Would have walked this way to go home,’ he coaxes and your shoulders hunch. ‘I’m just worried about them. That’s all,’ he says and your eyes flick to his visored optics and away. ‘If you saw anything, it could help me find him.’

• Using a servo to push the brim of his hat up, he studies you. “We good or do I need to burn everything to the ground?” He drawls and you smile even as you wince. “They didn’t fix it?” He demands, voice roughening as he sits up and you lay a hand on his ped. ‘They’re having to formulate a sedative first that won’t kill me,’ you say and he rumbles irritably. “They’re going to drug you?” Optics flicking to the building, the urge to cause some heavy, collateral damage is growing.

• Keeping your hands on him as he growls and aliens move to get clear of the big Cybertronian, you frown up at him. “I asked them for a sedative,” you tell him. Because no one’s messing with your teeth while you’re alert and aware of it. “No shooting up the town.” And he’s frowning down at you, before glancing at the building you’d come out of. Then he’s mass shifting to startle you, pushing to his peds and striding for the door as you jog after him. “What are you going to do?”

• “Relax. I won’t maim anyone,” he growls, shoving open the door and smirking when he accidentally pops it loose, embedding it in the wall. Well, that’s just shoddy craftsmanship. Hardly his fault. The organic behind the waiting area desk stares at him, their mutifaceted eyes wide and wet as they hunch slightly like they’re trying to hide behind the desk. “Afternoon,” he says, tipping his hat and baring his denta before hooking an arm around you to drag you up against his side. “Now, I’m not telling you how to do your job, but this little human here? They’re important to me. But I know you’re going to do your best to take care of them and make sure everything goes off without a hitch.”

• Relaxing marginally when you shake your head, he rubs a servo against your cheek, ignoring when you try to push him away. Likes how small you are, how soft. That you’re quiet. Can’t hurt him. Though he’d had an unsettling nightmare about you crawling inside his chassis to chew on his wiring, but he’d come online afraid and aroused. Very confused, too. “I didn’t even do anything wrong,” he mutters, trying to not remember that nightmare. Pacing restlessly with you, he vents against you and a soft hand lands on his face. “Everyone always picks on me.”

• Tensing as his mouth brushes your body, you give up fighting him and just accept that this is your life now. Though you’re not exactly sure if you’re his stress toy, his safety blanket, or a stray kitten. Just like you have no idea what to make of a giant alien that’s afraid of his own shadow. Literally. He’d scared you one time by catching movement from the corner of his optic and flinching with a scream only to realize it was the shadow of his wing. “They’re always plotting against me. You’re not plotting, are you?” He asks, holding you up so you cling to his servos.

• Watching you quickly shake your head, he nods and cuddles your warmth against the mesh of his neck again. “We could fly away somewhere quiet,” he mutters, though he knows he won’t actually do it. Because that’s even scarier than dealing with everything here. Too many unknowns. Risks. It’s safer here because he knows what to expect. Has his routine. You bring him energon and wash him. Court him. Knows to expect those things. “You’re on my side, aren’t you?” He asks, holding you up again as you cling to his hand. “I can count on you.” Isn’t entirely sure he really believes that, though. Because where do you go when you’re not with him? Who do you talk to? Maybe you laugh at him. Mock him.

• Hears your bare feet padding across his berth and he rumbles a warning, his good wing lifting. Isn’t in the mood to be teased. Hurts too much and his self healing systems are struggling to deal with the damage. Needs to go to the medic, but doesn’t really trust Knockout. Though being grounded and unable to escape might be worse than anything the medic could do to him on Megatron’s orders. Because the problem with trying for more, with maneuvering himself into a place where he has the most opportunities, is that it also means making himself singularly vulnerable. “Why aren’t you in Medbay?” You ask, a small hand touching his damaged wing to make his whole frame shudder violently.

• You don’t flinch when his head turns and his lip lifts to flash his denta at you. Know his wings are sensitive and this one is barely still attached. Has to be excruciating. “I’m fine,” he growls and your brows lift. ‘Stop being a baby and go to the medbay,’ you insist, pushing at his arm even though you know you’re not moving him unless he wants to be moved. ‘You’re bleeding everywhere. Was it the Autobots?’ You ask and he makes a rough noise that takes you a minute to understand is pained laughter. There’s something desperately afraid and angry in the sound and you hesitate. Knowing it wasn’t the Autobots. You’ve seen him get roughed up by Megatron in fits of temper before, but never like this. Swearing softly, you duck under his arm to touch his cheek.

• Turning his head away, he can still sense you right there even before you touch the mesh of his neck. “We could leave,” you whisper and he laughs bitterly again even though it hurts. Where do you think he could go where he wouldn’t be found by one side or the other? And leaving means giving up on his aspirations. On relegating himself to obscurity when he’s meant for more. Meant to lead. ‘And where would we go? Would you hide me from Optimus, Megatron, and your own people?’ He snarls angrily and you ease down to sit against him. ‘I refuse to hide in some hole.’

• Running a servo around the top of his glass as the little organic he’d been trying to flirt with turns their back toward him, he leans back against the bar hearing his stool creak under his weight as he scans for a new prospect. On TV, humans seem so friendly. The reality isn’t lining up with his expectations so far. And if he wants to stay here, he needs a human. Though, truthfully he’d come to this world because he’d fallen in love with human media. With humans. So why not take one as a conjunx? Except, none of them want him even though he’d studied them. Memorized his favorite pickup lines from movies and shows he’d seen.

• He’s kind of cute, you decide as you dry the glass and drift to the other side of the bar to take an order. Grabbing a chilled glass and a beer, you drop it off and glance back at the alien. And at the very obvious way everyone else is doing their best to ignore him. Because the mistrust of his people is high here, but apparently he didn’t get the memo. The people that show up here wanting to tell you all their problems are the same ones that sneer at your hair color and clothes during the day, because they can’t feel good about themselves unless they can feel superior to someone. Or maybe it’s because they’re scared of all the secrets they let slip to you while drunk. It’s hard to like someone that knows every awful thing about you. Pouring another engex and grabbing a modelo, you slide the luminous, alien stuff toward him and his head lifts as you open the beer. “I didn’t order another,” he says.

• “I know. Cheers,” you say, tipping your human drink up as he clears his vents and sips his own engex. ‘I’m not feeling that cheery,’ he mutters and you smile, a shoulder lifting in a shrug. ‘I think maybe I shouldn’t have come here,’ he adds, servos wrapping around the second glass as the burn of the first one spreads through his lines. “Could be that you’re trying to flirt with the wrong sort,” you reply, your eyes scanning the bar. “Or could be your lines. Why don’t you try me? Let me hear your best pickup line.” Embarrassed, he toys with the glass.

• Rocking back a step when you open the sliding glass door, he stares at the messy chaos of your hair, servos twitching with the urge to reach out and smooth it down. “Is everything okay?” He asks as you puff out your cheeks to distract him from your hair before you exhale. Had waited for you to show up for joors and had gotten worried. Had been afraid something was wrong and had needed to check on you. ‘I’m so sorry I stood you up,’ you hurriedly say, looking mortified.

• “You don’t owe me all of your time and attention,” he says so seriously that you feel even guiltier about forgetting him because he’s always so understanding. Stepping outside on the balcony, you rest your palms on the railing and he reaches for you, servos stopping just short. Like he still thinks he needs permission. Reaching up, you grip his big servo and he lets you tug his hand your way. ‘Do you still want your wash? You’re probably hungry, right?’ You ask as he studies you.

• “I wouldn’t complain about sharing a meal,” he says, turning his hand over and he still can’t understand how easily you trust as you slide yourself into his palm. Lifting you to cradle against his chassis, he gives in to the temptation to smooth a servo against your hair and you smile up at him. ‘I’d love that,’ you say as he offers you a smile in return. Feels your weak field washing into him with your frustration and stress.

• Leaning over into the warmth of his frame, you can hear and feel the thrum of his internal systems and that alien sound is so familiar after being around him so much now. And after spending hours stressing and trying to figure out a solution, you just want to forget the problem for a little bit. To relax and sit with him. Listen to his deep, rumbling voice. Ask him about his day. Maybe try to explain the problem you’re having to him, though you’re pretty sure he won’t really understand. But you know him. Know he won’t mind you venting to him.

• Venting deeply as you stare at him and he catches the shift in your scent, his lips twitch behind his mask. “Come here,” he growls, letting his voice dip to a low rumble and the flustered way you meet his optics has hunger spreading through him. Crooking a servo at you, he watches you slowly come closer across the top of his desk. “Sit. Be my muse,” he murmurs, gesturing at his datapad and you give him a bemused look before sitting cross legged on the edge. ‘You mean, distract you?’ You tease and he smiles indulgently behind his mask.

• Watching him jot a note in his strange glyphs on the screen, you study the image on the datapad. “Who is he?” You ask, gesturing with your bottle before drinking. ‘A deserter,’ he says, optics studying you, not the screen. ‘He renounced the Decepticon cause and paid for Autobot protection with privileged secrets. I intend to let the others take out his guards first while he watches. Then I’ll have a little talk with him.’ Skin prickling, you know the way his voice dips with the promise of violence shouldn’t be a turn on. Flustered, your eyes drop as you peel the label on your water.

• “Do you disapprove?” He asks and you exhale, eyes lifting to meet his optics. ‘He’s a traitor to the cause, right?’ You counter and he reaches to lift your chin with the tip of a servo, venting and scenting your need. “Treachery must be ripped out at the source,” he murmurs, setting aside his stylus as he splays his hands on the desk on either side of his datapad. Hauling himself up and mass shifting. And you look up at him as he walks closer. “It can’t be suffered to exist,” he adds, reaching out a hand.

• “It would spread like a poison,” you agree, laying a hand in his palm and his servos grip you, tugging you to your feet. Stepping closer as his other arm hooks around you and pins you against his chassis, you trace your fingertips over the lines of his mask as his baleful, red optics watch you. ‘Just so,’ he purrs, head lowering to rest his masked face against yours so you can feel the warm air when he vents against you. Shivering as he brushes the hard edges of his mask against your jaw and neck, you know he’s going to leave it on this time. Watch you from behind his mask as he claims you so he can stay in character. So he can do the hard, necessary things like dealing with traitors.

• It’s like Orion doesn’t understand that what they do is vital. That they’re an integral cog in the Cybertronian machine as miners. Exploring exotic, alien worlds? That’s the domain of other bots. Not them. And even worse, Orion wants to find a human conjunx so that they can’t be forced back to Cybertron. Wants to keep playing space explorer. “I mean, that is an option, but you know as well as I do that we’re meant for more,” Orion insists and D rolls his optics, clearing his vents noisily. ‘We’re meant to be miners. You know, to do our job?’ He growls and Orion throws an arm across his shoulders. “There’s one. I’m going over. Try to look less angry. Maybe smile,” Orion says and D grabs for the other mech, but he’s already striding for the organic coming out of the lawn and garden store. ‘Pax,’ he hisses angrily.

• Looking up when you see one of the alien refugees heading your way with a wide smile, your shoulders hunch. Walking a little faster with your cart of plants, you hope you’re wrong. That he’s not about to hassle you as his buddy throws up his hands and turns away. “Hi,” he says moving to intercept you and you’re forced to stop or run into him with your cart. And he’s smiling charmingly as he catches the front of your cart like he knows you’re trying to find a way around him. “Me and my shy friend over there, we’re pretty new here. We were hoping you might be able to show us around?” Glancing at his surly looking buddy when he gestures at him, the other mech awkwardly sort of lifts a hand. But mostly he just looks really uncomfortable and you know the feeling. ‘Sorry, I’m not looking for a husband,’ you mutter. Especially not husbands plural.

• Keeping his smile in place, Orion shrugs. “Who said anything about husbands?” He counters as he puzzles over the word. Is that your people’s term for a conjunx, maybe? “D, I mean he’s too embarrassed to admit it, but he can’t read your human language,” he adds, gesturing at the writing on the front of the nearest building. “Makes it a little hard to figure out what places are Cybertronian friendly. Where to find energon.” And your brow furrows, but you’re not trying to run. Or screaming at him to go away. “We’re just lost. Hungry.” Which isn’t exactly a lie.

• Writing up an inventory receipt and handing it off to the crew, you smile. Going through the motions of your new job on autopilot. Keep telling yourself that it’s a fresh start. New town, new job. Without the shadow of a bad relationship hanging over you. All those regrets, the what ifs. The hurt. And you can move on. Meet someone new. Hate that a part of you keeps wondering what he’s doing right now. Where he is. Shouldn’t still care. Not after how badly he’d hurt you, but you do. Why can’t you just move on? Forget him? What’s wrong with you?

• Wings trembling in outrage, he hangs there against the backdrop of the sky. After the little man had insisted he didn’t know where you’d gone, it had taken all of his self control to not raze the small airport to the ground. Had ‘accidentally’ stepped on the chain link fence as he’d walked away, but otherwise he’d reined in the urge to destroy everything. Hates that you’ve obviously moved on. And knows that he should let it go. That he’d hurt you out of fear. Chosen his own aspirations and goals over you. Of course you’d left him. Everyone always turns on him eventually anyway.

• Except, he’d been the one to turn on you. Had been too worried about what others might think if he was seen with you. That he might be judged for being in an interspecies relationship. Why had he cared what everyone else might think? Servos curling into a fist, his wings tremble faintly. Remembering the warmth of you stretched out against his side while he’d been mass shifted, the sound of your voice telling him about your day and asking about his. You were supposed to be here. Supposed to be where he could find you, check on you. See you. Running a hand over his face, it’s a shock when his servos come away damp. Staring at his hand, he snarls.

• Why can’t you move on? He’s like a ghost haunting you, catching you off guard over and over. You see something and think about what he’ll say when you tell him about it. And then remember that you won’t. It’s been months since the two of you broke up. Since he told you that there could never be anything serious between you and him. That you were too human, too alien for anything more than a casual relationship. Eyes burning, you huff out a bitter laugh. So why does a part of you still love him? Shouldn’t you hate him for that?

Previous

• Giving you a pointed look to back him up, you lift a shoulder in a shrug. And he’s turning when Drift wanders into the kitchen area to see what’s going on. “Your son’s been sneaking out. With Swindle’s little hoodlums,” Ratchet says and Drift almost smiles. ‘Hoodlums?’ The other bot repeats and you laugh. “I know. It’s adorable, right?” You say as he scowls at both of you, aware of his son hurriedly cleaning out the bowl and wolfing down energon batter.

• “You don’t even know them,” his son mutters, licking the spoon clean and leaning to bump you with his head in thanks before hurrying away. ‘I know their sire,’ Ratchet snarls before rounding on Drift. ‘You two are okay with this? They’ll have him stealing anything that’s not tied down.’ Smiling at how annoyed the Ratchet is, Drift draws him into a hug. “He’s not a thief,” Drift soothes and Ratchet’s plating slowly settles. ‘I’m not saying he is. But those younglings are a bad influence.’

• Sighing when Drift gives you a questioning look, you shrug. “They like to play Grand Theft Auto. The video game,” you say and Drift hums as Ratchet pulls away to lean on the counter. Before reaching for one of your molds and the spoon your son left in the bowl. “Those aren’t ready,” you mutter watching him eat the energon batter anyway, gesturing with the spoon. ‘Next thing you know, it’ll be some stupid internet challenge. He’ll be eating tide pods,’ Ratchet grumbles and you watch him stress eating. Just like your son.

• “Okay, nope. Give me that,” you say, trying to take the bowl as he backs up into Drift and the other mech takes it away from him. You two always ganging up on him. “Remember what First Aid said about your tank and over processed energon?” You ask as he rumbles in annoyance. ‘What does that kid even know?’ He grumbles, venting and leaning down when you pull on his arm so you can press a kiss against his chin. ‘I’m perfectly healthy,’ he adds, eyeing the silicone mold of energon batter in Drift’s hands. “And I’d like to keep you that way,” you say as he vents in aggravation.

• “Are you okay?” He asks and you try to focus on the question when you feel oddly confused. What were you doing? Staring at him, you stumble back another step. He’s soapy. You were going to rinse him, right? Had unzipped the top half of your coveralls to let it hang around your waist, but you’re still overheating in the sun. The concrete floor and walls of the stall baking you. Why do you feel so weird? What were you about to do? You’d lost the thought again. The hose?

• “Hey, talk to me,” he says, frowning as you take another wobbly step. And you’re breathing strangely, trembling. Saying your name, he watches you list and he’s lunging, knees smacking against the concrete as he mass shifts and reaches for you. Catching you as you just collapse, going eerily limp. “Hey,” he growls as he cradles you against his frame, feeling the rapid, shallow way you’re breathing and frantic beat of your heart.

• Startling when you get soaked in cold water, you’re sputtering and turning your face away from the spray. Muddled as you realize Hound is clutching you against his chassis and standing under the emergency, chemical shower head with you. “What happened?” You ask, hearing the way your words slurr. And why do you feel so confused? ‘You tell me. You just collapsed,’ he growls, shifting you in the spray as you shiver at the cold water. ‘Medics are coming,’ he adds as you take a shuddering breath.

• She’s softer looking than the big mechs, no hard lines or pointy edges at all, yet. As you watch, she yawns with a chirp and wiggles to hide her face against her human parent. And that ache inside you spreads as you see Starscream come over to cup his hands and let his partner scoot into his palm with their hybrid baby. Turning to look at Flatline busying himself cleaning up, you wonder what his sparking would look like. It’s not like you haven’t thought about kids, but with your existing medical issues, you’ve known it wasn’t happening. Had told yourself you were okay with that. You’d accepted it.

• Turning to raid the tiny chest of human food on a counter after washing up, he grabs energon for himself and turns. “I want a sparkling,” you blurt and he hears the seeker snort as he carries his conjunx and sparkling out of the medbay. ‘What?’ He asks, staring at you as your shoulders hunch. “You heard me,” You mumble, looking embarrassed but determined as your chin lifts. And he has no idea what to say since he’s never really thought about it. ‘Sparklings require spark bonding. Fully spark bonding,’ he murmurs.

• “I know,” you say, meeting his optics as his plating flares then settles. Had already decided on him anyway. Wanted to spend your life with the quiet medic, but if you can have this, too? Everything you were certain you couldn’t have? “I still want it. If you do?” You add uncertainly, because it’s not like you’ve ever talked about it with him. Maybe he doesn’t want kids? Chest aching, you know you’d still choose him regardless, but seeing the little seeker had made you want more. Made you want kids.