#ant!reader

Reader could be read as human or Cybertronian. I will be honest and say I had humans on the mind though.

Sugar cube as a term of endearment.

Author is a filthy casual of a Transformer fan.

Summary: You really like ants, Ratchet is not paid enough for this.

How on Primus’ shiny cybertron you had managed to get super poweras after Optimus Prime -their glorious shining example of wisdom, responsibility and foresight- allowed you to have an ant farm on base is incomprehensible and Ratchet has long sense given up trying to logic himself a solution to a logicless problem.

At least you were behaved… Initially. You just focused on your damn ants; watching them form their miniscule complex hive, watering them lightly, providing them nutrients and treats. Oh the treats. Ratchet has seen how you lovingly prepare the sugary confections for those ants, he’s almost jealous of fragging ANTS!

And that’s not touching the super powers! You got some doohicky that can manipulate the ant colony into doing your bidding with pheromones. You’ve even terrorized Bumblebee by threatening him with the dead ant spray.. Actually Ratchet can appreciate that one, the thought of smelling like dead ants has calmed Bumblebee drastically which in turn has been good for Ratchet’s energon pressure.

“Sugar cube, could you NOT have your ants in the medical bay. They aren’t exactly sterile.” Ratchet said in a sarcastic drawl. He’ll need to clean up after the nearly microscopic organisms, at least you don’t have a more aggressive variant like fire ants.

“I actually wanted to try something and I figured having the best medic around in case of disaster would make you happy.” You said with a warm smile, you’re buttering him up in advance. He doesn’t trust it one bit, but he acknowledges that you aren’t wrong per say. He wouldn’t want you to get injured because you tried some hair brain scheme without him.

“Alright, fine. Afterwards, you’ll scrub the contaminated area up good. Deal?”

“Deal!”

It wasn’t long until Ratchet’s intake fell shut in disbelief, apparently ant powers mean you can grow to the size of Optimus?! What? Sure matter shifting is common for Cybertronians, so that isn’t surprising and when he considers shrinkage is your new thing but-

Oh.. Oh you ant-brained genius.

“Sugar cube, You’d be dangerous if you liked anything besides ants.” Ratchet said as grabbed his scanner, already taking your biometric data. It seems there is some strain on your body, so this wouldn’t be a viable long-term size upgrade but for a surprise in battle? Not too shabby.

“Do you think it’d help any with the energon shortages, or would the nutrition get spread too thin?” You ask as your gaze bounces between Ratchet, his scanner, and your enlarged body. Ratchet could practically hear you come up with horrendous similes and metaphors about how your hands are the size of the largest ant colonial networks the would may never know. Well, either that or thoughts of how many ants you can keep in your pockets in case of a Decepticon attack.

Megatron versus a bunch of overgrown ants? Who knows, it might be closer than Ratchet thinks.

You lightly cough to regain Ratchet’s attention, restating your question.

“No… Actually-?” Every time Ratchet tries to reaffirm his no, he considers just how impossible and strange you are. At this point he wouldn’t be shocked if your ant obsession would give Team Prime access to more energon, however he also doesn’t want to buy into this magical ant fantasy you have.

“Likely no, but I suppose.. It wouldn’t be that much of a strain on my schedule to test it out.” Ratchet said finally, the smile he received in turn was almost as satisfying as a good glass of high-grade energon.

Ratchet begrudgingly enjoyed testing your size-shifting powers on some energon samples, he even reluctantly allowed you to grow your ants. They are admittedly much more disturbing than he expected, but they are no scraplet. Honestly, working with you and experimenting with your ants has given Ratchet a stronger appreciation of you and your obsession. Yes, its an obsession and Ratchet will take no notes, but its not nearly as bothersome as some other human behavior could be.

So, he supposes you can come back with SOME of your ants. Not the whole colony, Primus forbid- He’d never be able to get them all cleaned up without distressing you.

“Oh, shoot- I got to go Ratchet! It’s the colony’s treat time and I brought strawberries today.” You informed Ratchet seriously once you noticed the time, automatically you began to shrink things down back to proper form.

“Yeah, yeah. Go feed your pets, I’ll look over some of this data and make you a copy of our findings.” Ratchet said dismissively, not wanting to outwardly express his small desire to do this again. He’s old, give him a break.

Through the corner of his optic, he saw you pack up your stuff to leave. You even wiped down the areas the ants had been with disinfectant, good. At least someone can clean up after themselves.

“See ya later Ratchet, By the way I’m naming an ant after you!” You said brightly as you soon scamper out of the medbay doors.