#random bunny

Sunstreaker had heard about the protoforms, of course. They were kept hush hush for a little while, but word gets around. Especially when Trypticon showed up in Iacon acting as the Earth Embassy. It was only a matter of days before everyone had heard about the newest Cybertronians living inside him alongside the humans.

When one of the other Badgeless told Sunstreaker that Arcee had named one of the protoforms after Sideswipe, Sunstreaker shrugged. Who cared? After all, everyone knew that all the best names were already taken, and it’s not like Sideswipe was using the name anymore. Why would Sunstreaker care that Arcee had given Sideswipe’s name to some new mech?

Of course Sunstreaker didn’t care.

Stupid.

Sideswipe was dead.

The Cybertronian Security Force was tasked with escorting the Earth delegate and her entourage to and from the Council chambers. It was on his third escort trip that Sunstreaker first saw the protoforms.

They were already full-grown, and had learned how to walk and talk. He wasn’t sure what they did all day except hang around inside the titan dinosaur, but Sunstreaker assumed they were being taught... Stuff. History? Maybe that was a good idea. Primus knew that Cybertronians had enough history that they should learn how not to repeat. Mechs who had been around for millions of years couldn’t remember it, but maybe the new ones would.

A group of protoforms young mechs was walking through the belly lobby of the embassy as Sunstreaker waited with two other officers. They all looked curiously at the officers. Sunstreaker figured they hadn’t seen many other Cybertronians, since they were sort of hiding out in Trypticon.

One of the mechs looked longer at them than the others did, then peeled off from the main group. Sunstreaker watched with growing irritation as the young mech focused on him like a laser. He walked straight up to Sunstreaker with a wide smile plastered across his face.

“Hi!” said the mech brightly. Undeterred by Sunstreaker’s glower, he continued. “I really like your colour. I think yellow’s my favourite colour, and that’s a really pretty shade.” He reached out a hand as if to stroke Sunstreaker’s arm.

Sunstreaker jerked back. “Don’t touch me,” he snapped.

“Ok, I won’t!” said the young mech, pulling back his hand. He smiled up at Sunstreaker again. “My name is Sideswipe.”

Ugh.

“Of course it is,” Sunstreaker muttered, rolling his optics.

This wasn’t Sideswipe. Now that he actually saw the mech in person, he had no idea why Arcee had named him that. He was all wrong. Aside from some superficial similarities around the shape of his helm, he looked nothing like Sideswipe. He was black where he should have been red and red where he should have been black. He was too short, his chest was too narrow, and his kibble was all wrong.

Except...

He had a familiar glint to his optics and quirk to his smile. He looked up at Sunstreaker with an expression of eagerness that brought back a deluge of memories and emotions.

...none of which Sunstreaker wanted right now.

“Sorry I’m late! I’m ready to go, Sunstreaker!”

Delegate Faireborn swept into the lobby with her assistants. As Sunstreaker nodded to the human and gestured to his officers, Sideswipe gaped up at Sunstreaker.

“You... You’re Sunstreaker?” The young mech jogged alongside Sunstreaker as the group left the lobby. “Wait! You’re Sideswipe’s brother? I need to ask you... Wait!”

Sunstreaker ignored the young mech until the door of the embassy closed behind them with a clang.

Sideswipe was dead.