#mouseyfics

The woman didn’t even flinch. She didn’t even make eye contact with him just yet. However, she did acknowledge him, completely unafraid of him.

“Oh. Hi, Thundercracker!”

The mech’s optics narrowed on her. He observed the way her soft body moved so gently, and he noticed the way her fingers curled so gracefully against the flower petals and stems below her.

Again, he spoke.

“Is something keeping you busy?”

This time, the lady finally straightened herself and turned towards him, greeting him with a warm, glistening smile across her pale face.

“This? Oh, I’m just…making a garden. It helps this place feel more like home to me. Besides, I think it represents a symbol of hope for us, don’t you think?”

Thundercracker blinked, gazing down at her.

“Hope?”

Daisy nodded.

“Yeah! I know things seem pretty bleak now, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with hoping for the better for us Notobots.”

Thundercracker made a perplexed look, and Daisy’s smile blossomed into a laugh.

“Oh, I’m sorry! A Notobot! It’s what Spike calls us now.”

Thundercracker ignored the ridiculous name to focus on something else. Carefully, he lowered himself more to her level. 

“What do you mean by…us? You are not a cybertronian.”

Daisy shrugged, her smile never once wavering.

“True, but I am affiliated with you guys, right? Me, Carly, and Spike…we all have your back.”

Thundercracker paused, thinking. She wasn’t wrong, perhaps. Although she was naive at times, he didn’t consider her to be foolish. She was merely different, and he was inclined to learn how to understand her better.

He smirked a little.

“Well, if that’s the case, then you are the most fragile Notobot I've ever met."

Daisy chuckled.

"I'm fragile, but I'm still capable of many things!" She drew her basket closer to her chest. “Hey. Do you think you can you lift me?”

Thundercracker blinked for a second. And then, he reached out his servos. Gently, the human stepped inside of his palms. The mech was careful while holding her, almost cradling her as though she were the most breakable creature in all of the cosmos. Once she was brought to his face, she retrieved a flower of sorts from her basket. It was long, thin, and connected by vines. It almost reminded him of some kind of accessory. After it was neatly set atop his helm, Daisy leaned back to smile and admire her handiwork.

“There. A bunch of daises are now on your head. I think these look great on you, TC. Don’t you agree?”

Once she set her mirror on the counter beside her, her smile started to waver. She glanced around, still noticing how small she was compared to everything else. She looked down at her tiny, bruised hands and balled them into fists, reflecting on herself. Was she truly prepared for anything? A random attack? A city in ruins? Chaos between the U.S. military and the Autobots? Despite how often she asked herself, she always arrived at the same conclusion.

She was not.

Daisy sighed, troubled. Before she could think for another moment longer, however, the large doors to the room opened. Instantly, she swung her neck to the side and found Optimus Prime stepping inside, his frame hulking but controlled. She stumbled, trying to gather herself in her heeled shoes. After a few seconds, the leader’s attention shifted down, and their eyes met in surprise.

“Oh!” The human was the first to speak. “Optimus!”

The blue in the Autobot’s optics softened.

“Daisy.” He lowered his helm more, his voice soothing. “I…thought you left with General Flagg.”

For a brief moment, the woman’s eyes darted to the floor out of embarrassment.

“Well, I was, but…I’ve decided to stay here a bit longer…just try out my new clothes.”

Optimus blinked. And then, he nodded.

“Oh. Yes, I see.”

Another smile tugged at the corner of Daisy’s gentle lips. She folded her hands behind her back so he could receive a complete view of her outfit. 

“I think it looks fine, but this material is a little itchy. I haven’t worn an outfit like this in a while.”

She laughed, shuffling and feeling her pants chafe against her legs. The Prime’s optics remained on her as he leaned down to be closer to her own level. He observed her carefully, so much so that it urged her to blush.

“Would you prefer to wear something else?”

Daisy shook her head, not wanting to seem ungrateful.

“Oh, no! I’m fine! Really.” She paused, her fingers returning to the front of her. “But I wouldn’t mind wearing something that’s more…durable.”

Daisy thought more, explaining herself. 

“Not to say that I’ll be out in the field, but I want to be more prepared.”

She didn’t know how else to word it. The cybertronian above her paused, thinking just the same as she was.

“I understand. Perhaps we can find something that suits your needs better.”

Daisy chuckled, stepping closer towards him.

“Sure, but we can still keep this one for more professional settings.”

As she walked forward, Optimus reached out a hand for her. Without hesitating, Daisy took it, allowing her palms to feel the strong, metallic warmth of his digits.

“I’m a very busy woman now, don’t you know?”

Through his mask, Daisy noticed his smile, his optics brightening and curling.

“I’ve gathered just as much.”

With that, Prime turned his hand, and Daisy crawled inside of it. Although aware of her environment, she was no longer afraid of him or his size. In fact, she craved it. Slowly, she wondered to herself, wishing to ask something more.

“Can I…stay here for the night?”

Her voice was much quieter than before. However, it carried well. Optimus lifted her near his face, the blue glow of his eyes just as calming as ever.

“You are free to stay as long as you like, but I cannot promise that you will receive a good rest.”

She shrugged, unbothered by it.

“I haven’t slept in ages, Optimus. I’ll be fine.”

She spoke the truth, even before her planet went to hell. Still, Optimus continued with his gentleness.

“Perhaps, but I will try to ensure it regardless.”

Against his servo, Daisy could feel the steady sways of his body. As he walked, the woman tried her best to remain vigilant next to his face. However, the more she spoke of slumber, the more exhausted she became.

“Can you rest with me then?”

Her eyes closed during the pause. Before long, Optimus Prime’s digits rubbed so faintly against her back.

A profound sense of amusement filled Starscream’s frame as he leaned back against the wall to the entrance, watching her closely. He hummed silently, observing her spirited nature in action without the presence of any opponents to actually battle. It was as elegant as it was mesmerizing, her body bending to the rhythm of her own core.

Just what thoughts occurred in that puny head of hers?

Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t think for too long. A bot then approached him from the side and immediately gave his position away.

“Uh. Sir?”

Starscream groaned.

“What is it now, Redwing?”

The crimson mech peered inside the human’s room.

“It’s…Penny. She hasn’t finished her training for the day.” He stepped closer, huffing. “Who does that brat think she is? Should I knock some sense into her?”

Starscream thought for a moment, now noticing her vibrant, green eyes locking on the two of them.

“No, no, there’s no need for that.” He stopped and waved the mech away. “I can take care of her from here.”

Redwing stiffened until finally deflating with a shrug.

“If you say so.”

Before long, it was just Penny and Starscream. Once he lifted a pede and passed through the entrance to her personal barrack, the woman set her hands on her hips.

“Listen, I did all that I could for today, Starman.” She pouted. “I want a break.”

For a moment, Starscream’s gaze fixed on the glistening relic of a Prime on her chest, wondering. However, he was quick to focus on her pale face once more.

“I’m aware.” He nodded at her. “You trained well today. Now, please…continue to indulge yourself.”

As he relaxed against the wall of the room, Penny lifted an eyebrow, shifting her tiny body in her makeshift suit. Her eyes glimmered through her visor before she used her hands to adjust the headphones on her ears.

“With you as my audience, hm?”

The cybertronian chuckled.

“Naturally. If you are so willing, of course.”

The human smiled, genuinely overjoyed.

“I am, Starscream.”

After a second or two of fiddling with the Walkman, music began to blast from the tiny speakers of it. Starscream frowned a bit, certainly not accustomed to the style just yet, unlike Soundwave. However, Penny just laughed at his reaction. She curled a finger towards her.

“Optics on me.”

With a graceful sway of her hips, she then started to dance to the beat, even humming and softly singing the lyrics to the song of her choice. Starscream watched her, ignoring the song itself, his calm gaze never once darting away from her. A grin drifted across his faceplate, fascinated by the odd display below him. True to herself, she moved without care and without hesitation.

Soon enough, however, she spoke quite suddenly.

“Michael Jackson.”

Starscream blinked.

“Oh?”

Penny nodded.

“He’s the guy who’s singing here. A musical genius, really.”

On the tips of her feet, she then outstretched a hand for him.

“Wanna dance?”

Starscream smirked, delighted by her boldness.

“And how do you propose we do so with our differing sizes?”

Penny giggled.

“Like this.”

With that, the human tugged on his large digit, encouraging him to lean forward. Starscream did so without trouble, allowing her body to dance. Again, she laughed, continuing her performance.

Above her, Starscream grinned more than he ever did in a long while.

“Always so full of surprises, my Live Wire.”

Stacy didn’t know what he said. Still, she understood the message he was trying to convey. With his help, she was then lifted into his hands, held carefully and warmly in his possession.

“Alright.” He beamed at her. “Is this better?”

Stacy shuffled a bit against his fingers, but once she was settled, she nodded at him, expressing her gratitude.

However, not everyone was happy. Beside him, the other bot pouted, rolling his massive shoulders.

“So, you’re just going to keep that squishy thing?”

The kind one looked back at him.

“Come on, Genvo. Be nice.” He paused. “At least get to know her first.”

But he merely scoffed.

“Get to know her? How? She can’t even talk.”

“Well, that doesn’t mean she isn't deserving of kindness. Right?”

Once the bot holding her focused his attention back onto her, Stacy’s green eyes twinkled with mirth. She held onto his finger, giving it a gentle tug to her chest. A moment later, he then parted his lips to speak.

“Primus. You’re beautiful.”

Charmed by his glimmering smile, Stacy replied to him.

“You’re beautiful, too.”

Just then, he gasped, prompting the woman to do the same as her heartbeat increased tenfold. 

How did she not catch it before? For the first time, she understood him, and he understood her!

How?

Startled, the robot next to him gawked at him.

“What?”

The winged bot began to stutter, still just as shocked as she was.

“She…She spoke!”

But his partner didn’t appear to notice.

“What? I didn’t hear anything.”

Stacy gulped. After gripping tighter onto his finger, she spoke to the sweet robot once again.

“I…I understand you.”

He blinked, his eyes wide and luminous with blue.

“Listen! She just did it again!”

Now, his friend seemed concerned. He leaned over to him and set a hand on his shoulder. 

“Ulchtar, are you malfunctioning or what? All I hear is a bunch of nonsense."

Stacy paused, thinking before shaking her head and shrugging. 

“Maybe only we understand each other.”

The robot hummed, agreeing with her. And then, he brought her closer to his face and lowered his soft voice.

“Perhaps you’re right.” 

Stacy smiled.

“What’s your name?”

The bot released a tiny laugh.

“My name is Ulchtar. And yours?”

The woman sat comfortably in his hold. For a long moment, she wondered why the stars guided her to such a strange planet, filled with strange environments and strange beings. Still, she was glad that they led her to him in particular. 

“I’m Stacy. Stacy Solace.”

But just as the two gazed at one another, that was when Ulchtar’s friend poked him in the side.

“Well, I hate to break this touching moment, but we should really get moving now. Jetfire’s waiting for us.”

Ulchtar nodded.

“Oh, right!”

His friend stood and began to leave, causing Ulchtar to curl his fingers around Stacy, shielding her as he lifted himself as well. But when she peeked through his digits, she realized that the hostile bot was squinting at her.

“Don’t tell me you’re bringing that thing along.”

Ulchtar glanced at Stacy.

“Well, this planet’s big for her, Genvo. Too big. I don’t want her to be stepped on.”

The human smiled.

Genvo frowned for a second longer. But then, with a sigh, it appeared that he caved to his friend.

“Alright, fine. Just…keep her away from me.”

Stacy couldn’t help but laugh at his expression, causing Ulchtar to chuckle as well. He touched her cheek with the tip of his finger and grinned.

“Shall we, Stacy?”

Her pale face turned pink.

Despite her obvious struggle to match his pace, her soft voice carried high enough to reach his audials. Thundercracker glanced down at her for a moment, frowning.

“No. No, I do not.”

He spoke the truth. He didn’t recognize her at all. How could he recognize a human? Still, the woman was persistent, and it made his processor ache just a tiny bit. 

And yet, somewhere beneath that ache, there was almost a sense of familiarity. 

“You saved me!” She flapped her arms. “You know…in Tacoma! You let me live! You let us escape!”

Thundercracker cocked his helm to the side.

Yes. he did recall the event in the city where he showed mercy towards the crowd. Apparently, she was one of them. Yet, even so, how could he remember her specifically?

The blue mech turned towards her just a little more.

“Many humans were underneath that building. I can’t recall a face like yours.”

After he dismissed her, he continued to stroll onward, leaving her behind. He didn’t look back, desiring some time for himself. However, before he could even take another step forward, that was when Daisy shouted at him, her voice piercing through the cool, whispering breeze.

“THUNDERCRACKER!”

His optics widened, and his marching came to an abrupt stop. Surprised by the sudden outburst from such a small organic, he shifted. With his attention now gained by her, he turned and glanced back. From his position above her, looming over her, he stared at her, long and hard, fixing on her own eyes that flickered with a dark, green hue and a sense of exhaustion.

No. Not exhaustion. Loss was a better word.

He felt like a fool. How did he not recognize her before? Back in Tacoma, after he warned the humans to escape, only one of them looked back at him instead of fleeing immediately along with the rest.

That human was her. He remembered her eyes, the color of her hair, and even the floral accessory on her head.

Thundercracker’s dermas parted slowly.

“It’s you,” he said. “Yes, I do remember you.”

Below him, Daisy smiled, a light shade of pink dusting the surface of her cheeks.

Still, the mech was confused.

“Why?” He resisted the urge to reach out a servo. “Why did you…hesitate?”

Daisy took a step forward.

“Because you showed me mercy unlike the others.” She blinked, shuffling around in her clothes. “I was…curious, and I still am. I had to see you again.”

She rubbed her arm, a saddened look crossing her pale features.

“And, honestly, there’s…nothing left for me at home anymore.”

Thundercracker fell silent. He frowned, his spark aching with sympathy for the small thing. He remembered Prime mentioning that Daisy was just recently appointed as their liaison, aiming to show her own kind that the Autobots were present to protect her planet and not to destroy it.

The light from the sun slipped through the cracks of the trees, allowing it to shine and glimmer over his new Autobot sigil.

“Come here.” He extended a servo, his wings flicking. “I think Optimus will be looking for you.”

Again, Daisy smiled and made her way over to him until she now stood at his pedes.

“Thank you for remembering me. I knew you could.”

Slowly, Stacy brushed the strands of brown hair out of her face before bowing and lifting the pet into her arms. 

“Come on, Solace.”

Stacy turned her head, noticing that Private Martin was already making his leave. He didn’t look back at her, possibly assuming that she was following him. With her decision made, however, she then stood tall and parted her lips to speak.

“No.”

That was when the man finally glanced back at her. There was a long pause with only the sound of a harsh breeze accompanying it. 

“What?” His face turned white, his eyes widening in shock. “No? What do you mean?”

Stacy paused, uncertain of how to break the news to him. Still, she remained firm in her choice, her words aching in her throat.

“No. I can’t leave.”

Martin’s expression twisted into a look of sheer horror.

“I…I don’t understand.” He approached her, hesitating ever so slightly. “Why? Let’s run before he comes back!”

Stacy slowed her fingers while stroking the cat, her eyes darting elsewhere. 

“Just go, Martin.”

The man gawked at her. And then, without warning, he lunged forward and gripped the woman’s shoulders, causing the cat to yowl and leap down from her possession. Martin’s voice cracked as he screamed, his nails burrowing into the thick material of her jacket. Panicked, his eyes flickered. 

“ARE YOU MAD?”

Stacy didn’t respond. More like she didn’t have the chance to, actually. Behind them, a large figure appeared from the trees, the vehicle attached to his bottom half hissing along with his movements. The ground shook with just his size alone, the vibrations mighty and haunting. 

“Ah-Ah-Ah!”

Martin gulped, gazing upwards at Starscream, stricken with the essence of pure terror. Stacy closed her eyes shut, continuing to shudder as the nerves returned to her body.

“Martin, I would advise against harming Miss Solace,” the mech said. “I need my new…associate to be in impeccable shape to best suit my needs.”

There was a pause, and Stacy could feel the amusement in his tone of voice.

“And the needs of my newfound forces.”

Martin shook, but he did release her shoulders.

"Your...associate?"

He backed away slowly once the realization finally dawned on him. Stacy bit her tongue, proceeding to shatter his already broken mind.

“You heard him.” She was firm. “Go. Take the cat with you, too.”

Martin stuttered, his gaze switching between her and Starscream as though he were unsure of where to focus. Every flinch and every fidget that came from him caused the woman's eye to twitch.

“But-”

Stacy glared at him, her fury rising with every word of concern that he uttered. With a snarl, she leaned forward and shoved a finger directly against his chest.

“Don’t pretend to care about me when you never helped me escape Horton’s control.”

The scientist shivered, not out of fear this time, but from the rage that she buried deep inside herself ever since she was forced to carry out the orders of such a horrible man.

“From now on, I refuse to be your slave.”

Martin paused. For a second, he stammered, at a loss for words and unable to prove his innocence. And then, before a minute passed, he stumbled away, lifting the cat and disappearing into the forest, leaving Stacy alone with the monster behind her.

“I refuse.”

Her words fell short to grumbles. With a burst of courage, Stacy then turned to Starscream with her hands resting at her sides. The mech smirked at her, gesturing with one hand while the other held the remote control to his H.I.S.S. tank. 

“Well, now that the pest is gone, why don’t we focus on more pressing matters? Like the energon you promised me.” He loomed over her, his singular, working eye gleaming as he intimidated her. “Where is it?”

Stacy struggled not to let her fear show. 

“I could only carry a handful with me, and it was just enough to give you the strength to kill my captors.” She paused to choose her words carefully. “The rest is back at my lab…if it hasn’t been destroyed yet.”

Starscream smiled darkly.

“Well, for your sake, let’s hope that it has remained untouched.” He waved his free hand. “Follow me, Stacy. There’s much to be discussed.”

The woman did so, knowing that she had no other choice. As she sulked alongside him, however, she frowned, deciding to speak her mind.

“You intend to kill me after you have your fill of energon, don’t you?”

The Decepticon laughed a little.

“And does that not terrify you?”

Stacy swallowed, her green eyes losing their grip on her dying spark.

“In this new world, I don’t care whether I live or die, Starscream.”

Apparently, her words intrigued the beast. 

“Is that so?”

Stacy didn’t have the opportunity to run. Within an instant, he grabbed her. By instinct, she squirmed in his grip, gasping. Starscream’s crimson gaze hardened, the weapon on his arm shifting. Before he spoke, he took a moment to admire her predicament. And then, he chuckled with a sense of twisted glee.

"I could crush you right now, feeling your squishy innards run down my plating while your screams end as quickly as they begin.”

The woman struggled against his fingers, but they didn’t tighten or loosen. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes while her heart pounded through her chest, a sensation that he surely felt. When he was finished, Starscream tilted his head at her.

“What do you say to this, Miss Solace?”

The trembling stopped, only for a bit. The woman blinked, thinking for a moment before her fingers rested against his own. She glared at him, managing to huff.

“Quit wasting time, Starscream.”

The Decepticon fidgeted, his only wing twitching out of annoyance.

“I can spend my time however I please.”

With that, he then lowered her to the ground with some irritated mumbling to boot. Once her shoes made contact with the dirt, she sighed and glanced upwards at the metal titan once again.

“But I am starved.” He smirked at her. “Come. Let’s not keep the others waiting. I want to know more about your…scientific expertise.”

Sol clutched her hair, her fingers gripping onto the short, brown strands. It was frustrating, but she knew that she couldn’t force a handful of her memories to return, even when she tried.

With the Predacons now fresh on her mind, however, she grunted and nodded. With a swift motion, she stood, commencing her training. She swung her body, repositioning it whenever necessary. She practiced alone, focusing solely on her own techniques. The cool breeze whipped at her pale face while the buzzing of insects flickered inside her ears. She inhaled and exhaled, attempting to find a perfect balance between might and tranquility.

Unfortunately for her, one wrong move caused her to trip and fall forward, tumbling down the cliff side and landing directly onto the cold, harsh ground below. She groaned, her clothes torn and her body throbbing with a dull, aching pain. After blinking open her eyes, she noticed the blood on her arm beneath the glimmer of moonlight. 

“Oh, no…”

And that was when she realized that she wasn’t alone.

A low, rumbling snarl emitted from the side, and she froze out of surprise. She turned her head, her green eyes fixing on the sharp gaze of a velociraptor. Sol twitched, but she didn’t dare to budge.

“You clumsy ape!” The dinosaur chose to scold her. “Did you not see the ledge right in front of you?”

He was mad. Furious, even. Sol tried to shift, but she winced from the ground, more distressed by her own embarrassment than anything else.

“Well, we can’t all be as observant as you are, Dinobot.”

The raptor approached her before transforming to his bipedal mode, now looming over her with his hefty figure.

“Nonsense. This could have been avoided if you had just analyzed your environment using only a fraction of your senses.”

Sol huffed, deciding to dismiss him for the moment.

“What are you doing out here alone?”

Dinobot’s crimson optics narrowed on her.

“I followed you when you crept out of base. Perhaps you shouldn’t dawdle as much next time.”

A tender layer of heat surfaced to Sol’s cheeks. She frowned, deeply ashamed. 

“I’ll keep that in mind. For now, let’s just head back.”

However, the moment she tried to move, she shrieked as a surge of pain fled to every corner of her body. She gritted her teeth, attempting to manage the agony that spread like fire. But Dinobot took notice to her misery, and he hummed at her, his tone of voice now softer than usual.

“Are you…capable of standing?”

Sol blinked at him for a second. And then, she shook her head.

“I don’t think so. It hurts too much.”

Dinobot growled. She didn’t know whether he growled at her weakness or at the situation itself. Before Sol even knew it, however, he lowered himself to inspect the injuries on her body. Feeling the weight and focus of his optics on her skin was enough to make her squirm, enough to make her fluster. Gently, he inched a hand forward to touch her. When he did, she noticed that some of her blood already reached his claws.

He pulled away from her almost immediately. Sol watched nervously as he eyed her blood on his hand, almost as though he were considering something. Considering on tasting it? Her heartbeat quickened, and her legs began to tremble. 

But then, after a long moment, he lowered his hand and looked at her.

“Fine. Then I will carry you back for repairs.”

Sol gawked.

“Wait. What? Carry me?”

Dinobot didn’t answer. The woman’s body went limp as he reached out for her. At first, he tried to toss her over his shoulder. After realizing that such an action could cause even more discomfort for her, however, he then shifted her into his arms. They were snug, even to her own fleshy body. As he carried her, pressing onward, Sol swallowed and allowed the heat on her face to flourish. Although she tried to avoid his chest, she soon caved to her exhaustion. 

“Thank you.”