#hand off

Popped off at this part and was thinking "THEY DID MY FAVOURITE HAND OFF!!!"

Eventually he has to sneak in and care for the bitlet because they won’t stop crying

He was about to start training with Springer when a group of Autobots came in holding a crying sparkling and looking uncomfortable. They walked over to him and held up the sparkling.

"Look who's here."

They pointed at him, as the sparkling continued to cry because they were holding him the wrong way.

He stared at the sparkling who was still crying trying to ignore his instincts. Knowing exactly what they were doing and implying.

He looked at the Autobots who were trying to make him take the sparkling.

"What is this?"

He demanded. Wanting to know why they were bringing the sparkling to him. He already had a feeling but he was hoping he was wrong.

"We found him during patrol. It looked like he'd been abandoned."

"Why are you giving him to me? You three are the one's who found him, so he's your responsibility."

"But you'd do a better job taking care of him and we want what's best for the sparkling."

Arcee crossed her arms looking angry.

"It seems you want to do what's best for you."

Springer nodded as the Autobots sputtered indignantly.

"That's not true. We just think Hot Rod would be a better... Fit."

"Why? Because I'm a carrier."

He snapped.

"We don't all love sparklings and want to constantly be sparked."

"That's not-"

One of them tried arguing. Getting defensive at being called out. He forced himself to turn away ignoring the crying sparkling. He wasn't going to prove them right. He was more than just a carrier, even if it physically hurt.

His friends chewed them out before following after him. He thought that was the end of it and that they'd take responsibility. Instead of trying to pass him off to another carrier, because they believed that was all they were good for.

When he refused to take care of the sparkling. The other Autobots decided the best course of action was to neglect the poor thing.

He overheard them talking in the mess hall complaining about the crying. When he'd tried looking for the sparkling he became concerned when he didn't see the little one in their arms. At first he thought they gave the sparkling to someone else. Until he learned they left the little one in their room, which was extremely dangerous.

Alarmed, he left the mess hall and rushed to their room. Trying not to imagine the worst. Pausing in front of it he stopped himself from entering. Refusing to give into his instincts. He planned on telling one of his superiors, when the sparkling began crying.

He flinched back as the little one sobbed and found himself rushing inside. He looked around and was shocked to find the little one about to roll off the bed.

He lundged forward ignoring his knees which hit the floor hard enough to leave a mark. Scooping the sparkling up he looked them over and noticed they seemed smaller then the last time he saw him.

He knew the sparkling was hungry and he looked around for a bottle and some sparkling energon. Instead he found none of that. Except for a partially drunk energon cube.

His spark sank as he looked it over. Hoping he was wrong.

Taking in the sparkling he became enraged when he saw vomit on the poor thing.

They'd been feeding him regular energon which had been making the sparkling sick. Then they didn't even bother to clean up and let the sparkling stay filthy.

His spark broke for the little one as they made a noise of distress. He opened his chest plating and helped him latch on.

Feeling the sparkling feed. He sighed in relief that his tanks hadn't been damaged.

What they did was horrible and he had no doubt on purpose. Everyone knows you're not supposed to feed a sparkling regular energon. It could have killed him.

Grabbing a rag he began cleaning the sparkling and felt his energon run cold when he saw marks on his body, in the shape of handprints.

Unable to take it anymore. He rushed the sparkling to the medbay. Chest plating still open for everyone to see, as he took the sparkling to Ratchet.

The medic was surprised to see him and even more surprised to see the sparkling in his arms.

When he explained the situation Ratchet threw into a rage. He began cursing at the Autobots who'd done this and carefully looked the sparkling over. Who was now asleep against his chest and would scream and cry if anyone took the little one out of his arms.

His spark broke as Ratchet listed the damage. Blaming himself for being stubborn and not taking the sparkling when they gave him the chance.

Now the sparkling had to suffer because of him. Ratchet somehow knowing what he was thinking told him that it wasn't his fault.

"The only one who's to blame are the monsters who did this."

He nodded too exhausted to argue. He pulled the sparkling close. Thinking of all the things he'd need, because he wasn't letting the sparkling go. He didn't care what anyone else said. The little one was his. He wasn't going to let him get hurt again.

Ratchet was also willing to back him up because he knew how to take care of a sparkling. He could also feed him from his pouches. Which would be important, because energon for sparklings was becoming harder to find due to the war.

The sparkling also didn't want to let him go and had chosen him. Crying if anyone else held him and desperately clinging to him. He stroked his little head as he slept and sang a Nyonian lullaby. While Ratchet filled out a report detailing the abuse he'd found.

The Autobots who'd been tasked with taking care of the sparkling must have realized he was gone, because they burst inside. One of them pointed at him in anger.

"You! How dare you try and get up in trouble after you refused to do what you were made for!?"

He flinched back pulling the sparkling closer as they took threatening steps towards him. Ratchet threw a wrench at one of them shouting at them to get out of his medbay as he called security.

They didn't listen and continue yelling at him trying to take the now crying sparkling away from him.

One of them shoved him against the wall and he curled into a ball. Protecting the crying sparkling as he was attacked.

He felt someone bend his spoiler causing him to wince, but he refused to let them have the sparkling. Those monsters would never hurt him again.

Security eventually came and ripped them away taking the still shouting Autobots to the brig. He was shaking as Ratchet helped him stand.

He soothed the sparkling in his arms. Rocking him and singing in the hopes he'd go back to sleep, while Ratchet worked on his injuries. He felt a tear fall as he put his spoiler back into place.

Later he was called to a meeting with high command where the issue was discussed. Ratchet gave them everything including his recommendation.

The Autobots were of course punished. Everyone disgusted by them hurting a sparkling. Especially with so few left.

They'd glared at him. Angry that he'd gotten them in trouble for abusing a sparkling.

The entire time he'd slept, clinging to his chest, as high command debated his future. Ratchet had continued trying to voice his opinion on the matter. There was no way off world. All the neutrals who could leave had already done so.

Those that couldn't either died or picked a side. The Autobots couldn't spare a single ship just for a sparkling. Besides there was no where for the sparkling to go. They didn't know where the neutrals had gone or if their colonies were still alive.

It made him nervous. He didn't want the sparkling growing up in a war, but it didn't look like there was a choice.

He listened as high command talked. Until the sparkling started crying hungry for food. He took him out of the room and found a hidden closet to feed him.

He'd only had him for a short time and he already loved him so much. He'd do anything to protect him.

When he went back it was silent. Looking around he realized they had made a decision and from the look on Ratchets face. He wasn't going to like it.

"We have decided that it would be best for the sparkling if they had another guardian. A couple who have strong Autobot values and can raise the sparkling right."

"I can raise the sparkling."

He argued. Spark spinning rapidly in his chest as he realized what they were saying. The very idea making him want to collapse, as he realized they wanted to take his sparkling away from him. He didn't understand why they didn't realize he was the best fit. The sparkling wanted him and he wanted him as well.

"You cannot do so alone. We want to give the sparkling the best life we can. Which means they should have two parents and they should be high in the chain of command. Since they will have more space and amenities. The sparkling won't have with you."

"You can't do this. He's safe with me."

"I'm sorry Hot Rod but this is what's best for the sparkling not you."

He begged and pleaded but they didn't listen. They ripped the sparkling out of his arms who screamed and cried in terror. He'd also begun crying as he reached for his little one. Begging them to reconsider.

He was forced to watch as he was taken away. High command then shipped him to another base, because they thought it would be better if he wasn't around. Wanting the sparkling to adapt to his new parents and forget about him.

Afterwards he was a mess. Barely sleeping or eating. Doing his job and that was it. He spent most of the day curled up in bed. Mourning the loss of his sparkling. Because his coding had activated and he was now producing milk. He was forced to pump which made it a lot harder.

His body was screaming at him to find his sparkling and bring him back but there was nothing he could do.

He was told the couple who had his sparkling could not have one of their own and he should be happy, they finally got the chance to be parents. Even during a time of war. Since they couldn't produce their own energon and it was difficult for them to find sparkling energon. Everything he pumped was given to the sparkling.

When he tried asking if he could see the sparkling. He was told the couple had refused. Wanting the sparkling to bond with him and that he was taking time to adjust. But soon the sparkling wouldn't remember him and it would only be confusing if he was around. Since he wasn't the sparklings carrier.

It felt like his spark was being ripped apart. He didn't want to live anymore.

After pumping as much as possible. To make sure the sparkling had a steady supply for a while, even after he was gone.

He snuck out of the Autobot base and planned on going somewhere. He didn't know where he just didn't want to be there anymore.

AC hand off.

Cloud: aaahhh, no, dad-in-law!

Cloud: yee haw indeed, mutherfucker

Cloud: watch the threads

Cloud: seriously? You don't know what I've stepped in

Cloud: Finally, the sensible one.