Archive of Our Own ^beta

          “Since when do Cybertronians wear glasses?” Miko asked, perched proudly on Bulkhead’s shoulder. Another successful recovery mission complete, the pair were pretty proud of themselves. Although Miko was disappointed there hadn’t been any cool fights. 

          “They’re not glasses, not like the kind Raf wears.” Bulkhead chuckled at her. “The lenses of  Alchemist Prime are more like…I dunno, but definitely not glasses.” 

          “Then why do they look like glasses?” Miko huffed, but there was no real heart in it. In her heart, she knew she was right though. When they had dug them out of the Earth in Argentina of all places, they looked like giant, robot-sized, spectacles. The round lenses reminded her of her host dad’s if she was being honest. Even giant alien robots could be nerds. Though she already knew that, she had met Rachet after all. “How are glasses an artifact anyway? What’s cool about glasses? Do they give you x-ray vision?” Miko pitched forward, nearly losing her balance. Bulkhead flinched, ready to catch her. This happened enough that neither commented on it though. 

          “No,” Bulkhead’s warm chuckle reverberated through his body. “If I remember right, which is a fifty-fifty shot, they give whoever is wearing them the ability to see different sides to a problem, different fixes to it. I don’t know how.” He shrugged, “They just do.” 

          “Pppfffttt, lame.” Adjusting her grip, Miko changed topics, “How much farther?”

          Again, Bulkhead shrugged, “Lost signal a while ago. Soon as I find it again we’ll get Ratchet to ground bridge us back.” 

          A grin slapped itself on Miko’s face, “So, since we’re bringing back treasure to the rest of the crew, and it's stored in your chest, “She forced down a giggle. She had ridden in Bulkhead’s chest cabin many times, which is where the lenses were now. They could have that spot. The shoulder was cooler. This joke was funnier though. “Does that make us pirates?” 

          They both roared in laughter. It only got worse when they started arguing about who would look best with an eyepatch. They were so engrossed in their debate over whether Ratchet or Wheeljack would make the best one-eyes first matey they didn’t hear the jet engines above them. 

          A steady barrage of missile fire finally clued them in. Bulkhead snatched Miko off his shoulder and ran. Cupping her in his hands, he panted, “If I transform too quickly I could damage the lenses.” Miko thought there might have been an apology in there too, but the explosion from the missiles drowned out most of his words. Oh, the ‘Cons was gonna pay for this. 

          Miko braced herself for a fight. Contrary to what everyone thought, she wasn’t stupid. She just wouldn’t stand by when there was anything at all she could do to help. Right now, the best she could do was hold onto Bulk’s digits and hope he could run faster than they could aim. 

          The ground shook and Bulkhead skidded to a stop. “Stop right there, Autobot!” He still had her tightly cupped in his hands, but she could recognize that sniveling voice anywhere. Starscream. “You have two options. Option one, Tell me where the artifact is and I’ll let you live. Option two, die. Which will it be?” Miko didn’t need to see him to know he was enjoying this too much. The way his voice got slightly giddy at the prospect of killing Bulk was enough. She wanted to rip him apart herself. 

          “Don’t know what you’re talking about, Starscream.” Bulkhead spat his name. 

          A blast fired and the world titled. “Bulkhead!” Miko screamed, though his grip on her stayed consistent. 

          “Is that a human you have on you? Disgusting.” Starscream stepped closer. “That was a warning shot. Next time I aim for your spark, not your leg and the fleshie will be lost out here in the wilderness. Your choice.” Starscream inched closer to Bulkhead and practically purred the threat. 

          Miko couldn’t take this anymore. She pounded on Bulk’s digits, asking to be freed. He tightened his grip. The message was clear, no . Miko didn’t like that word. “Let me at him, Bulk!” She yelled eager to give the ‘Con a piece of her mind, and maybe her fists. 

          “Vicious little pet, isn’t it?” Starscream taunted. 

          Bulk tensed around her, and sighed. “Let me let her go, then we can settle this.” His voice was low, but stern. Miko knew that to his enemies, Bulkhead could be plenty threatening. 

          “Fine,” Screamer had the audacity to sound annoyed at the request. To be fair, Miko was pretty miffed about it, but her reasoning was valid. She wanted part of the fight. Starscream wanted her out of it. Fat chance of that. “But it's not my fault if she gets stepped on.” 

          Bulkhead lifted his hands to his mouth. “Miko, please, run. Contact the others. Get somewhere safe. For me.” Maybe he knew she would protest because he didn’t wait for her answer before setting her on the ground. Miko finally got a good look at the scene. Bulkhead’s leg was shot off. He was forced to kneel. Starscream stood over him. “Run,” Bulkhead pleaded one last time. 

          It made her blood boil. 

          “Wait!” Miko shouted feet planted firmly in the ground. There wasn’t anything in the world she wouldn’t give to fight. There wasn’t a weapon in sight though. She’d have to think fast. Fists wouldn’t solve this for her. Maybe grit still could. 

          Starscream crouched so his giant face was right in front of her. “Listen to your Autobot friend, you vile little creature, before I lose my good will.” 

          There was nothing around for miles. The area was totally secluded. Signal was still miles away. Violence couldn’t help her. Witt would have to do. If she couldn’t punch her way out, she’d have to find a different solution. “He won’t tell you where it is!” Miko yelled, “He’s too stubborn and too tough for that and you know it, Screamer!” 

          Rolling his eyes, Starscream said, “What are you on about?” 

          “And I don’t know where it is. I don’t understand how coordinates work.” Miko pressed on. 

          “Miko…” Bulkhead warned. 

          Starscream aimed a blaster at him. “Let her continue.” She had him. Now, she had to keep him. 

          “The others know though. And they’d tell you anything to protect a human.” She let the lie by omission hang in the air, begging for Bulk to understand. Let Starscream take her to make the others talk. Have them rescue her. Easier to come get her than an artifact. None of them could fall into the Decepticon hands. 

          “Miko, no…” The heartbreak was clear enough. He understood. 

          “Oh, Miko, yes. I like the way you think, fleshie.” Similar to how she might pick up a rotting carcass, Starscream used the tips of his digits to pick her up by the back of her shirt. With her dangling in the air, he turned to Bulkhead. “Go tell the other Autobots I have your human pet. She’ll be safe, as long as I get the location of the artifact within the next day. Understand?” He turned to leer at her again, “Provided she behaves herself.” 

          “Don’t count on it.” She growled and thrashed. Just because it was her plan didn’t mean she’d be safe about it. She wanted to rip him apart and if she found any opportunity she’d take it. 

          “Miko, no!” Bulk yelled, going for a swing. 

          Starscream easily dodged it. “Bulkhead!” Miko pleaded, “I got this. Get to the others. Get fixed. Get me back.” She knew he would know what she meant. He nodded and she smiled back. 

          “Wreckers look out for each other.” He said solemnly. 

          “I know.” Pumping a fist, she gave her toughest sneer. She knew she’d be okay. She needed Bulk to believe it. That was all it was. 

          “Ugh, you two make me sick. Let’s go, pet.” Starscream transformed, and she ended up in his cockpit. He flew away so fast she barely had time to take one last look at Bulkhead, still kneeling and losing energon. 

          They’d get her. They’d keep the artifact safe. 

          She’d be just fine. 

          She was a wrecker after all.