Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After an endless age of conflict that had nearly brought their race to extinction, the remaining Cybertronians had finally achieved the impossible. They had not only ended the war but came to a peace agreement between Autobots and Decepticons with successful peace talks, formally absolving the Decepticons of their exile. Mediation had proved an unexpectedly successful tactic, and members on both sides wondered why they had not tried talking it out sooner over tearing each other’s frames apart. 

Some had their doubts about how long this peace would last, given the deceitful nature of Decepticons. Yet some Cybertronians had realized much earlier that the divide between Autobots and Cons could easily be bridged on an interpersonal level.

Ratchet had found out about that, rather seen it firsthand not too long ago. Despite his initial doubts, he knew in his spark that when mechs truly sat down and talked to one another, even a Decepticon and an Autobot could become friends or even more. Although it depended on the 'Cons in question, he supposed. Some of them were always going to be worse than others; yet looking back at the times of the prewar senate, the same could be said about Autobots.

Despite this conclusion, Ratchet knew that not everyone was as open to this new era of peaceful coexistence and the new possibilities that came with it, no matter how 'open‘ they believed themselves. Things often seemed to look different once someone in one’s immediate circle was the one breaking traditions founded in ancient hostilities.

It was for that reason, that he felt unable to relax when he sat down with his former teammates turned friends in their energon bar of choice after their respective shifts. 

Bulkhead had nearly tipped their entire table over earlier in his attempt to sit down but was now heartily laughing with Optimus and even Prowl, who showed a rare display of emotions whenever they sat down like this: like oldtimers reminiscing bygone times, which was quite accurate in Ratchet’s case.

Only one of them was still missing, and Ratchet somewhat dreaded Bumblebee’s inevitable arrival and the minibot’s revelation that would come with it. This entire meeting had been Ratchet’s idea, but as time moved forward he began to wonder if this was the right time and the right way to break the 'news‘. But there would never be a right time, given the situation Bumblebee had created for himself. 

Ratchet nearly dropped his energon cube when Optimus brought up the question of just what their friend could want to announce in such an official setting given that it was Bumblebee, and he could barely keep anything to himself for a long time. Although unbeknownst to them, for once he had been able to hide something - and had hidden it well at that. 

Ratchet sighed into his energon cube before he downed the entire thing in an attempt to stay calm. This was not his mess, and it was going to go one way or the other. The entire situation was out of his servos entirely. Yet he could not imagine how well each of his friends was going to react to the news. 

In retrospect, he certainly could have handled this news better himself. But in true Bumblebee fashion, the minibot had decided to push none other than Ratchet into icy waters without giving a warning first. 

He still felt somewhat flattered that despite their previous differences, Bumblebee had felt most comfortable confiding in Ratchet out of all bots - but of course, there had been the simple reason that he was a medic. No one in their right mind would have come to Bulkhead for a secret emergency checkup on a former political prisoner and war criminal…

Chapter Text

Many Deca-cycles prior...

Ratchet had been the first to find out. Somehow Ratchet always was the first to find out. It didn’t matter what, but no one could fool the seasoned medic for too long without him catching on or his intuition kicking in. 

Although some bots made it too easy. Subtlety had never been Bumblebee’s strong suit, and there was nothing subtle in bringing a supposed 'situationship‘ to Ratchet’s clinic for a health check-up out of the blue. 

"Just what did you do?“ Ratchet was aware he should have greeted his friend with warmer words after not seeing him for quite some time. But Bumblebee had brought this upon himself by bursting in without so much as a Hello, long time no see. The urgency and dubious nature of the request had taken Ratchet’s mind to the worst assumptions. Bumblebee was desperate to keep this private, which could mean a lot of things, but none of them boded well. Ratchet’s processor had instantly gone to illegal substances, but he doubted that the younger bot would be that stupid.

Bumblebee ground his denta together, looking mildly uncomfortable. "Please just bear with me, Ratch. I’ll explain everything- just run the test. You’re the only one I can trust with this.“

Ratchet shook his head but motioned the minibot to bring in the unfortunate mech Bumblebee had dragged here at the break of dawn before the clinic even opened. 

"Primus grant me strength.“ he muttered and turned around to watch Bumblebee drag in an all too familiar frame, which instantly brought back bad memories. Memories, such as one of Ratchet’s arms partially being torn off, amongst other things.

"Blitzwing? How the pit did you two get involved?“ The question sounded much harsher than Ratchet had intended. Judging from Bumblebee’s expression, it had been the wrong way to address the Decepticon in the room. 

"What?“ The triple changer’s face had been calm, but immediately spun into the red mask of fury as he yanked his servo from Bumblebee’s grip. The booming shout that followed would have been enough to blow the windows out of a human-built structure entirely. "You still haven’t told him?!“

"It was never really the right time-" Bumblebee tried to calm the Decepticon down in vain since he was cut off before he could even begin to explain himself.

"You had all the time in the world! If you tell me that after everything that happened between us, you’re still embarrassed to talk about me, to be seen with me-" Blitzwing paused, which only seemed to fuel his anger. "Is that why you wouldn’t let me go to a medic during normal business hours? So you could drag me here in secret? Well don’t just stand there, answer! And I better like your answer or I’m leaving!“

"Blitzy, please, you’ve got it all wrong.“ Bumblebee attempted and failed to calm the fiery triple changer, but the more Ratchet watched them, the more he was under the impression that his teammate had hidden a big part of his life since the peace talks had finished. Although it hadn’t been that long - certainly not long enough for a mech like Bumblebee to talk a Decepticon into his berth anyway, even if it was the craziest one. 

Ratchet cleared his vocalizer and decided there was no point in holding old grudges, even if Blitzwing had made their lives harder. This situation called for the best bedside manners the medic could muster, and if only to keep the Decepticon from biting Bumblebee’s head off, judging from the way their argument was progressing. 

"Yelling at each other has never solved anything. If you could please explain what this is all about, I’d be happy to… help.“ He added but somewhat doubted he actually could help at all with the situation Bumblebee had gotten himself into. 

One had to be truly insane to get involved with an emotionally volatile lunatic like Blitzwing, and this had not been Bumblebee’s brightest moment. But Ratchet’s assumptions were about to be proven wrong.

Bumblebee sighed in defeat but did not attempt to explain the situation himself, perhaps to avoid angering the colossal, deadly mech in his company any further. 

Meanwhile, Blitzwing sighed before his face spun back to blue. He stared Ratchet down with a calm but no less deadly glint in his optics. "You Autobots remain as presumptuous as ever. I just found out that this-" he paused while glaring down at Bumblebee and miraculously suppressing his anger enough not to insult the minibot or send his faceplates spinning again. "- bug has kept me a secret for who knows how long, and you’re asking me not to make a scene? We’re conjunxed.“

"What? Since when?“ Ratchet blurted out as his expression instantly dropped and Bumblebee flinched under the visible storm that began to rise beneath the medic’s faceplate. 

Before Bumblebee could answer, Blitzwing took the liberty to clear the air about the mysteriously private life the minibot suddenly had taken on since the Autobot team had parted ways after the declaration of peace. "Shortly after your fellow Autobots released their political prisoners, which happened to include me.“

Ratchet ground his denta together and huffed. That meant Bumblebee and Blitzwing had been closer than they had let on, way before they all had returned to Cybertron, which would have meant both of them had betrayed their respective factions to some extent. 

In the depth of Ratchet’s self-proclaimed cold, old spark, he thought for a brief moment that something was endearing about two star-crossed lovers - but the implication of the past 'betrayal‘ stung, although it explained why Bumblebee had kept the relationship hidden this entire time.

"Unbelievable.“ Ratchet shook his head in disbelief.

"I was going to tell you eventually, I swear-" Bumblebee shrunk even further under the stares of the two larger frames before lowering his head. "I’m sorry. But I am trying to make things right. That’s why I came here. Ratch, I don’t trust anyone else with this, so please- I mean, better late than never, right?“

Before the minibot could talk himself into more trouble with his already angered conjunx, Ratchet lifted a servo to shut him up for good. "If that is true, you can start making things right by getting fuel for your betrothed and me. I don’t work for free, at least not for secretive, traitorous little bots such as yourself. Go, I’ll run the health check in the meantime.“ 

Bumblebee gave a silent nod before slipping toward the door while mouthing an inaudible, yet obvious I love you to the former Decepticon, who only rolled his optics. Clearly, that conversation was far from over, but Ratchet appreciated that their argument would continue far away from his audials.

Given their shared history, the silence that settled between Ratchet and his involuntary patient was about to become awkward quickly. But Ratchet decided to keep things professional and motioned the triple changer to sit down on the examination slab. "Let's see what this is all about.“

While he focused on his work, he wondered why Blitzwing’s third face had not made an appearance yet. Either the mech had somehow mastered a more grounded emotional state, or he felt too serious about whatever was wrong with his frame that prompted this visit, and the gravity of the situation kept his faceplates from spinning out of control for some reason.

It was unprofessional to pry, but given how personal the situation was to Ratchet, he was almost dying to ask how any of this had come to be. Who wouldn’t want to hear how a blabbering kid like Bumblebee got involved with a member of Megatron’s entourage? But apparently, Blitzwing had chosen to remain silent during the examination, which was how Ratchet preferred to work under normal circumstances anyway. 

"I didn’t expect to start my shift running a checkup on the 'Con who tore my arm off once upon a time, but stranger things have happened.“ Ratchet muttered, unable to stop himself from making at least one comment regarding the fact that he had one of the Decepticons‘ most notorious killing machines sitting in his examination room.

Without meeting his optics, Blitzwing replied dryly, "You were hardly my first choice, medic. Although I doubt any medic on Cybertron would be willing to see a Decepticon.“

Ratchet hummed and fidgeted with the cables required to connect to Blitzwing’s internal database. "What makes you say that? We all took an oath, and a patient is a patient - especially now that we have found some kind of peace agreement, wouldn’t you agree?“

The Decepticon merely frowned. "Of course. Surely, a mere document will solve lightyears of hostility. I’m surprised you’re willing to see me at all. Most of your fellow 'Bots will cross the street rather than walk past me, or refuse to address me directly. Not that it’s unexpected.“

After establishing a connection between his patient and his scanner, Ratchet fell silent and pondered over the 'Con’s words. He could not blame his fellow Cybertronians for remaining suspicious or outright fearful of any frame that had Decepticon written over it, yet this did pose a serious obstacle to any chance at peaceful coexistence. For a moment he wondered if he had merely imagined the hint of defeat in the triple changer’s voice.

Instead of attempting to console his patient, Ratchet nodded quietly to himself and muttered, "Well, as the humans say, change doesn’t happen overnight.“ He cleared his vocalizer to get on with the scan that Bumblebee had been so insistent on. 

At first glance, everything seemed to be in perfect working order. No pop-ups indicating any viruses or injuries in the triple changer’s system, except for one tiny line of text that almost sent Ratchet into an automatic shutdown.

Unless there was an error with the scanner, this only meant one thing, and Ratchet was not sure how he felt about the implications that came with it. For the moment, he decided to handle the subject as delicately as possible.

"None of you mentioned that something was bothering you, but I assume you wouldn’t come to a medic for no reason.“ Ratchet muttered and tried to make optical contact with his patient, who still refused to look at him directly. Almost as though… "Perhaps you already have the answer and are just looking for confirmation?“

Finally Blitzwing slowly turned his faceplate to face Ratchet, and seemed like a shell of the once fearsome flying terror he had been as a Decepticon warrior. He seemed dejected, although he had no faceplate for that emotion, it was the dimmed optics and lack of haughtiness characteristic for a 'Con that gave him away.

"So it is true? Of course, I knew.“ Blitzwing muttered and covered his optics with his servos more dramatically than Ratchet would have expected from a 'Con. "They were not lying when they said a carrier can feel a newspark the moment it is formed.“

Ratchet cleared his vocalizer again, still cautious to step lightly around the subject. "Were you aware that you’re… able to carry?“ No halfway honorable mech would have allowed a carrier to fight in the war, let alone alter their frame by turning them into a triple-changer. 

"Obviously. I was not that high up on the social ladder before the war, but I did have enough medical resources available to know that much.“ 

Ratchet had to bite his glossa to keep himself from asking if Megatron had known as well. Deep down, he did not want to know. It would make the entire situation much worse and harder to bear, to know for certain that the warlord had not protected a carrier and used them for experiments instead. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order. The newspark seems healthy.“

"Hm, I suppose.“ Blitzwing looked far from being in the mood to celebrate. "It’s not quite so festive when the poor thing’s sire can’t pry his denta open to claim it as his own.“ The triple changer muttered and turned away from the medic. "He’s gotten too used to keeping secrets. Not a bad record for a bot who likes to brag too much for his own good.“

A weary smile crept onto Ratchet’s faceplate and he nodded in quiet agreement. "True. The kid never could keep his mouth shut, but when he actually has something to brag about he’s too self-conscious. Try not to take it personally. Eventually, those proud sire protocols will kick in. I’m sure he’ll come around. From what I understand, he is serious about your relationship.“

Blitzwing hummed lightly, which only resolved the awkward atmosphere a little. But he did seem to warm up slightly to Ratchet. Finally, he cleared his vocalizer to respond. "I should apologize about the arm, Autobot-…I mean, Ratchet. And for everything else, I suppose.“ 

The triple changer had never sounded less intimidating, and Ratchet blamed it on carrier protocols already overriding the 'Con’s natural predisposition for deceit and hostility. Although perhaps these preconceived notions were nothing but Autobot propaganda after all if a 'Bot like Bumblebee had found his spark-mate in their enemy long before the peace agreement.

Ratchet quietly grumbled something before he managed to reply properly to the awkward personal offering of peace from Blitzwing. This was as good as it was going to get, and since he valued Bumblebee not only as his former teammate but also as his friend, he figured trying to form an amicable relationship with the carrier of the minibot’s offspring was the best course of action. Besides, it was hard to hold a grudge against a mech willing to not only bear the brute force of Bumblebee’s nonstop talking for the rest of their existence but to value and truly care for him as well.

"Thank you. It doesn’t undo what has happened, but maybe we can all move forward from here on out.“ He muttered before unplugging the cables from Blitzwing and glancing over into a pair of optics that now glowed much brighter than they had earlier. "Let’s wait for the sire to break the news to him. What is taking him so long anyway?“

"Probably got distracted by something on the way.“ Blitzwing noted, and Ratchet swore there was a visible hint of affection reflected in the 'Cons optics. 

Those two definitely were made for each other. If Bumblebee was insane for falling for a lunatic like Blitzwing, then the former Decepticon was just as insane to find the minibot’s most annoying habits endearing. He had to be since he lacked the general patience that was otherwise required for dealing with the yellow minibot. 

Although given their rather 'normal’ interaction, Ratchet wondered if Blitzwing played up the crazy just for the fun of it. Nonetheless, it was not his place to judge, and he had no intention of analyzing the enigma of the triple changer’s inner workings any further.

If the newspark shared the coding of his creators, they would be an absolute menace: Impatient, loud, stubborn, and constantly talking - but hopefully caring, and brave as well. Ratchet crossed his digits that the actual sparkling would not be as ridiculously powerful and dangerous as their triple-changer carrier, but it was not unlikely. 

Ratchet’s thoughts were disrupted when the door to the examination room was swung open by an exited Bumblebee who had finally found his way back. "Heyo, I’m back. Did you miss me?“ His excitement visibly diminished when two equally intimidating pairs of optics fell onto him without returning the upbeat greeting.

 "Uhm,“ he cleared his vocalizer and lowered his voice while approaching the two bots in the room. "So… how is everything? Fine, I hope. Did the scanner pick up anything regarding that pressure behind your chest plates, Blitzy?“

The triple changer seemed to shrink under the nickname so casually thrown out publically and glanced over to Ratchet, seemingly hoping the medic would be the one to break the news to Bumblebee. 

Seeing that the once so haughty Decepticon had apparently lost his voice altogether, Ratchet sighed deeply and took one of the energon cubes Bumblebee had brought with him. "Well, everything’s in working order. Although the scanner did pick up something.“

"What is it? Is it serious?“ Bumblebee nearly dropped the energon cube and grasped one of Blitzwing’s servos.

Blitzwing’s face spun and a row of sharp teeth formed into a grin. "Oh, it’s very serious!“ the cackling vocalizer echoed through the examination room before the face spun back to an icy blue faceplate that merely wore a faint smile that could have been mistaken for a frown by those who did not know the triple changer well enough. "It’s nothing I won’t survive. Unless you decide to run out that door once you hear what it is.“

Bumblebee frowned and tightened his grip on the triple changer’s servo. "I didn’t leave you when you were imprisoned, and I certainly won’t leave now! But stop being so secretive. What is going on, Ratchet?“

Ratchet, amused by the scene unfolding before him, shook his head and showed his friend the readings from the earlier scan. "Read it yourself. And congratulations, kid. Maybe just think about sharing your spark more sparingly in the future - unless you want it to happen again.“

"You both really seem to enjoy keeping me in the dark, huh? Glad you’re bonding over something at least.“ Bumblebee muttered as his optics traced over the readings before he froze. His jaw dropped and he stared up at Blitzwing in what could only be described as utter horror. "Your spark was contaminated? Is that dangerous?“

Following a frustrated groan, Blitzwing’s face spun to red and he nearly left a dent in the examination slab when he hit it. "It means I’m carrying your newspark! Clearly, I couldn’t have picked a brighter partner. How did you even get 'contaminated‘ from that reading?!“

"Is that even possible? I mean- that’s great!“ Bumblebee flashed a sheepish smile at the triple changer, while Ratchet despaired at the clear lack of education the minibot had received on reproduction. Hopefully the sparkling would inherit its carrier’s calculating wit rather than Bumblebee’s apparent ability to jump to conclusions before thinking at all. 

"Of course it is, you imbecile! You should be proud; few can consider themselves so lucky to find themselves with a flight frame carrier.“

"So the sparkling is going to have wings?“ Bumblebee’s optics widened in disbelief and instant adoration of his creation which had not yet emerged.

Ratchet nodded. "It’s not unlikely - although there is a chance it might be a grounder. Of course, I have not personally observed how a combination of Autobot and Decepticon coding plays out. I doubt it has ever even happened…“ 

He omitted that there had been enough occasions during which either side had taken a carrier from the enemy faction and forced unwanted offspring on them as humiliation. There was no place for the discussion of war crimes of the past on such a happy occasion. 

A sparkling with mixed coding so soon after the peace agreement gave Ratchet hope for the future. Perhaps for once things would remain peaceful between Cybertronians if they were given the chance to start over. 

Back in the present, Ratchet shook his head after he had finished his high grade and wondered if the occasion would remain as positive once Bumblebee sat his plan in motion. Part of the medic dreaded the impending reveal since he felt somewhat doubtful the minibot’s plan would work as intended.

What had he said again? Break the 'bad‘ news, then soften the blow with something sweet. Only Bee would come up with that kind of idea, but for once Ratchet had some semblance of hope that it would actually work. 

Given their friends’ sentimentality and somewhat soft-sparked nature, Bee’s ace up his metaphorical sleeve would probably win them over before they had the chance to object.

Chapter Text

"I wonder what is taking him so long.“Optimus Prime muttered as he glanced at his chrono.

Ratchet had to bite his glossa to keep himself from replying something along the lines of Bumblebee getting cold pedes and abandoning ship before he could even sink it. Instead, he hummed lightly and shook the remaining energon in his cube absentmindedly. "Probably got held up. The kid’s going to be here soon, I’m sure.“ Or he won’t show up at all. But Ratchet kept that thought to himself as well. If his friends figured out Ratchet had been in on it since the beginning, he too would have to face their disappointment and possible outrage.

As if he had spoken of Unicron, finally the door to the energon bar swung open and a bright, yellow minibot entered. One could almost have mistaken Bumblebee for someone else. He lacked his usual high energy and seemed almost calm, which could only be alluded to the fact that this was a bot who had accepted the impending doom he was walking into and had made peace with it. Ratchet still had some doubts about whether Bumblebee’s approach to the situation was ideal, but it was too late now anyway.

"Hey, buddy! Over here!“ Bulkhead rose from his seat to greet his friend, almost tipping over the table the second time, which was prevented by Optimus holding onto the metal slab. 

Meanwhile, Bulkhead nearly knocked one of the hanging lights from the ceiling as he waved to the yellow minibot. The cost of the decorative light would have been added to their tab had Prowl not jumped up and moved it out of the way just in time before disaster struck.

Ratchet suppressed his laughter since this was no real laughing matter, and their bulky friend had nearly sent their fuel flying in his attempt at a greeting. The bar was too homey to risk being banned for the rest of their lives, and he knew that the owner already stared them down in fear for their furniture and decoration whenever Bulkhead came stomping in. Ratchet quietly pulled the table a little further away from Bulkhead, just in case the big guy got a little too excited about Bumblebee’s news.

Bumblebee took his seat with an uncanny lack of excitement that was sure to draw suspicion from the others. The urge to somehow help the bumbling kid through this was overwhelming for Ratchet. But it had the unwanted side effect that it made him more talkative than usual, which was why he had to bite his glossa when he almost started off the conversation by asking Bee how the conjux and sparkling were faring. After nearly evading disaster, he reset his optics just to keep his processor occupied and his vocalizer, as the humans would say, from spilling the beans.

Somehow this mess was stressful enough to make even an experienced medic like Ratchet lose his composure, and thus he decided to keep silent entirely before his vocalizer spat out something he should have kept to himself. So he merely gave Bumblebee a nod as a greeting.

To his relief, Bee somehow kept his cool and casually asked how the others were doing rather than talking about himself or whatever else was running through his processor. "Long time no see. How have you been, guys?“

Optimus and Bulkhead seemed delighted and began to share how they had been faring during their time apart, but Prowl kept quiet. Ratchet’s spark nearly sank when he noticed the Cyber-Ninja was closely observing Bumblebee. There was little doubt that Prowl had grown suspicious already, which did not bode well.

Ratchet casually leaned into Prowl’s view and cleared his vocalizer. "Prowl, would you be so good to get us another round? I’d get up myself, but my joints aren’t what they used to be and I’ve had a rough shift.“

Polite as always, Prowl accepted the request with a courteous nod and left the group to fetch a refill of energon.

Ratchet focused on the hum of his internal engines in momentary relief. He was too old for these kinds of games and keeping secrets that should never have been secrets in the first place. Bumblebee would have to pay for roping him into this mess at some point.

Eventually, Optimus turned the focus to the bot who had arranged the meeting in the first place. "But enough about us. How have you been, Bumblebee? I understand there is something you wanted to tell us.“

Bumblebee pressed his lips together into a thin line, before staring straight ahead with his optics locked on Optimus. He had originally intended to deliver an elaborate explanation that bordered a full-on speech regarding how and why it had come to this. 

Cycle after cycle, he had recited his talking points multiple times to himself and Blitzwing as practice for the real thing. But when the triple changer had eventually threatened to kick him out of the berthroom if he didn’t stop worrying, Bumblebee had begun to doubt whether this was the right approach at all. 

Now, that the dreaded moment had come, he felt that brevity was the soul of wit, and he just wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible. 

"I got conjunxed.“

Prowl, who had just returned, almost dropped the energon cubes while the rest of their table fell into silence. Ratchet did not dare to make direct optical contact with anyone but had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen. 

Recovering much faster than expected, Optimus found his vocalizer again and began, "Congratulations, friend. I’m truly happy for you. Although I have to admit, this is surprising. Not that you found someone willing to bond with you, I mean. It just seems quite fast, even for you.“ He muttered the last part in a barely audible volume while growing increasingly embarrassed and concerned. 

His processor immediately raced to the concept of what humans called a shotgun wedding, or a regrettable decision one might make during an overcharged night in the city of Las Vegas as those characters in human motion pictures did. Optimus could not for the life of him imagine how Bumblebee had managed to land a life partner that quickly since their last outing - alarmingly so for their race anyway. 

The five of them had met sometime before the peace agreement had been finalized, and Bumblebee had seemed quite excited at the news. Feeling the light buzz of the high grade he had consumed earlier, Optimus struggled to reconstruct the timeline of the past deca-cycles and concluded that in Earth time, it had barely been six months between their current meeting and the last one. 

It was simply poor judgment to bond for life with someone within such a short time - besides it being completely obscene for any self-respecting mech as far as he was concerned. But Optimus decided to keep that thought to himself. Although it seemed he was not the only one at the table who did the math.

Prowl set the energon cubes down in front of each of them before returning to his seat. "This must have come about quite recently if you did not bother to introduce your partner to us before making such an important decision.“

Bumblebee fidgeted in his seat and began playing around with the straw in his energon cube. "You could say that it was somewhat spontaneous.“

Not quite as concerned, Bulkhead leaned forward with a curious glint in his optics. "Well, are you going to tell us who the lucky bot is? Wait, do we already know them? You know what? Don’t say anything, I want to guess!“

Bumblebee continued fidgeting with his digits and let out a low hum. "I mean, you do kinda know them…“

Optimus allowed himself a quiet sigh of relief. So Bumblebee had not simply run off with the next best bot that had crossed his path and, at the very least, considered his options for much longer than previously assumed.

Ratchet did not like where the conversation was headed and hummed lightly. "I'm getting too old for games like this. I’m sure they’re a fine bot, and we’ll meet them on their own time-" Unfortunately, his attempt to intercept the conversation went largely ignored.

"Do you know how little 'you already know them‘ narrows it down?“ Bulkhead frowned and tried to recount every single encounter with Cybertronians they had had in the past, which would keep him occupied for a while.

Prowl seemed just as interested in the guessing game and joined in before Bulkhead could fry his processor with overthinking. "If all of us know them… don’t tell me we have met them during our time on Earth?“ The disbelief in his voice was impossible to miss.

Before Bumblebee could answer, Bulkhead had snapped back to reality at the previous question and leaned forward, dangerously tilting the table while doing so. "Don’t tell me it’s anyone from the Elite Guard! I can’t see you with any of them, to be honest.“

The minibot seemed to shrink under the suggestion and pulled a face that screamed aversion. "What? No way, where did you even get that idea? It's no one from the Elite Guard, but you have met them during our time on Earth.“ He quietly admitted, still unwilling to end the speculations. 

A message on his comm popped up. It was from Ratchet and in all caps read 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?‘ followed by  'Don’t tell me this is that brilliant plan you came up with.’

Both Bulkhead and Optimus seemed to carefully consider the possible options when Prowl came to a conclusion with daunting implications. "Surely it is not a Decepticon?“ he asked, which he followed up with a tense chuckle.

When Bumblebee froze instead of denying the possibility outright - which should have been easy enough - the metaphorical wheels finally began to turn in Optimus’ processor. Dread washed over him when the words left his vocalizer. "It isn’t a Decepticon, right Bumblebee?“

Bumblebee stared at Ratchet, who stared back at the minibot with a barren faceplate as the silence at their table grew unbearable. A silence that said more than words could have.

Prowl’s previously neutral faceplate had warped into a menacingly intense glare despite his visor, with which he stared down Bumblebee. "Primus. Your conjux endura is a Decepticon.“

Again, the table fell into an uncomfortable silence. Bumblebee’s previous confidence had evaporated entirely, and he merely pressed his lips together in a failed attempt to fill his EM field with indifference and calm. Finally, someone spoke, and Bumblebee was surprised when he recognized the voice as his own as his vocalizer seemed to have gained a mind of its own. "So what if they are?“

"What?“ Optimus nearly lept from his seat as he gripped the table dramatically. His optics looked as though they were about to explode from the sheer pressure he put into his glare. "How long has this been going on?“

Lacking the utter horror of his leader, Bulkhead noted, "Well, if we met them on Earth, then… there’s your answer.“

Optimus buried his face in his servos, while Bulkhead’s curiosity seemed to outweigh the dread of the information revealed. "It better not be Lugnut or Megatron! Or even worse, Starscream.“

Bumblebee frowned. "Ew, now! It’s neither of them. Besides, is Screamer even alive?“

Ratchet shrugged but felt somewhat hopeful since the minibot’s actual conjux had not been named and sorted into the 'appalling‘ category yet.

"Who is it then?“ Prowl asked, now more curious than offended as well. 

Meanwhile, Optimus merely huffed. "What does it matter? They’re all horrible.“

"That is big coming from one of the bigshots involved with the peace agreement!“ Bumblebee’s frown turned into the signature pout he carried when upset. "If you must know, it’s Blitzwing. He’s my conjux endura. There, are you satisfied? And you might want to watch your glossa because like it or not - that is my bonded partner you’re talking about. Besides, we are at peace now. I don’t see how this is such a big deal.“

Ratchet quietly sipped on his energon cube, and he had to somewhat agree with the minibot. The way he saw it, that relationship was the perfect example of why a peace agreement had been desperately needed after an age of war. However, he was biased since he had seen that relationship play out in real life and had mentally given his blessing already.

Meanwhile, Prowl shook his head, his EM field heavy with disapproval. "You know that retrospectively your relationship may still be seen as treason, Bumblebee. Perhaps not by us-" He stressed the words while glancing at Optimus to make sure they were on the same page. "However, if the word gets out that it began that long ago before any agreement was in place, certain parties may take… offense.“

Bumblebee gritted his denta. "If you want to start nitpicking the details, by that logic, Blitzwing did betray Megatron as well.  That evens it out, right?“

"I'm not sure it works like that.“ Bulkhead noted.

"Enough.“ Optimus gripped the corners of the table a little too hard as he found his voice again, risking a dent in the metal. "Bumblebee. What could possibly possess you to share your spark with a deranged war criminal who was set loose only due to a very frail peace agreement?“

"Always so quick to judge! You’re not seeing the full picture, Prime.“ Bumblebee flashed his friend a defensive frown.

"- which is what, Bumblebee?“

"I love him.“

Before Optimus could even recover from that statement, his mask malfunctioned from the shock and shot up over his mouth right before he could respond, effectively forcing him into silence. 

However, the involuntary break gave him a moment to reflect. Was there even a point in arguing against something already set in stone? Bumblebee would never be able to undo what had happened, even if he tried - not that he wanted to, that much was obvious. 

A sparkbond was more or less for life, and there was no backing out of it. Not unless the bond somehow withered over time, which rarely happened since the experience was said to be quite painful for both parties involved. 

Optimus sighed. To him, bonding with a Decepticon sounded like a nightmare. In certain circles, it meant social death. Upper-class frames would not be seen dead with an inadequate partner, let alone one from the enemy faction. Yet there was no arguing this. It was final. 

A creeping shame settled in Optimus’ spark chamber for holding onto old prejudices, as well as his own hypocrisy. He had after all been heavily involved in establishing the peace agreement, chasing after Megatron, and trying to convince the warlord. Even now, Optimus was not quite sure what had come over him then, or why Megatron had agreed at all.

"I never knew…“ he muttered, while he tried to meet the optics of Bumblebee who still peered at him cautiously, possibly waiting for another unwanted blast of opinions.

"Well, duh.“ Bumblebee pressed his lips together but had no further interest in arguing. 

This had been the exact reaction he had been expecting and dreading the entirety of his secret relationship. Although he was far from surprised, it still stung to be confronted by his friend and leader like this. 

Maybe what he had done was wrong, but it had never felt like a mistake. As far as Bumblebee was concerned, he had navigated everything as well as he could have- and he had paid dearly, watching the bot most dear to his spark rust in prison for what had felt like an eternity. 

After a working arrangement that had blossomed into a very real friendship over time, old resentments now bubbled up inside Bumblebee, and he rolled his optics at Optimus’ lack of understanding. How the bot was still so uptight was beyond him. Although maybe that was just how Primes were made to operate, to stick to the rules no matter what. 

Prowl had quietly placed a servo in front of his lips while bearing an expression that could only be interpreted as utter shock. For Prowl’s somewhat limited range of emotion, it appeared severe.

Meanwhile, a goofy smile appeared on Bulkhead’s faceplate. "Aw, that’s kinda sweet. I mean fighting that 'Con used to be a nightmare. But if you’re that happy together, I won’t judge.“ 

Optimus sighed once more and glanced over at their green friend, who didn’t seem to grasp the horrific implications of Bumblebee’s relationship with one of their former worst enemies.

As the team’s leader, he was left speechless. Beyond the title of Prime, as a mere mech, he could somewhat understand why Bumblebee would seek out a Decepticon from an aesthetic standpoint. Flight frames were often streamlined with sharp facial features that had been considered rather attractive given their exotic nature way before the war. 

But too many of them had fought on the wrong side and had proved to be quite deadly. Judging from old records, Blitzwing had changed from a lithe but deadly flight frame with a talent for assassinating members of the senate into an even more horrific killing machine while losing his mind somewhere in the process. Not the ideal partner Optimus would have imagined for Bumblebee.

Optimus did not have the spark to bring up the sad fact that remained: The current peace agreement was not as stable as many thought it was and another conflict could break out in the not-too-distant future. The moment Megatron grew tired of playing nice, there was the very real risk that Cybertron would descend into chaos once more.

Prowl gave a low hum before he broke the tension by asking the question Bee had yet to answer. "How come you never told us? If the two of you truly felt that close, we could have figured something out - as a team.“

Bumblebee shrunk under the scrutinizing stares of his friends. He averted his optics and cleared his vocalizer. "It’s not that I didn’t trust you. You’re my friends.“ He muttered while he began to trace the pattern engraved in the table absentmindedly. "And I mean that even if we have our differences. You guys are important to me.“ 

He had not been excited about the judgment of his friends, but that was not the main reason he had kept silent. It was of course this very reason he always presented to Blitzwing on why still keeping their relationship a secret was better. It was easier than being completely honest and facing fears worse than having an Autobot like Optimus yell at him. Since he had withheld vital information from his friends, he felt he owed it to them to at least let them in on the one thought in his processor he did not dare share with his conjux endura.

 "After the peace agreement, I was afraid that you wouldn’t accept that relationship. And clearly, that wasn’t completely unfounded-" He peeked at Optimus who crossed his arms, but kept quiet to let Bee speak. "Even if you had accepted us back on Earth somehow, that was not even my main concern. I decided to keep it a secret because I was afraid of what might happen to Blitzwing. The Elite Guard would have imprisoned him, which still happened in the end. But Megatron would have offlined him - maybe - or done much worse. Even now, I’m still worried about the moment the old bucket head inevitably finds out, or any other fanatic 'Con for that matter, and decides to do the only thing Decepticons usually do with traitors.“

Bumblebee sighed sharply before lifting his gaze and pressing his mouth together into a stern, thin line. "And that is why it took me so long to tell you. I only really had your judgment to fear, but the same can hardly be said about Blitzwing. He doesn’t seem too concerned. Maybe he just knows Megatron better than we do. I don’t know. But it’s on my processor all the time. If you know now, eventually the remaining Decepticons are going to find out as well. It’s not like you can hide a sparkbond.“

Optimus’ stern expression had changed to a somber look, and he uncrossed his arms. "I suppose I hadn’t thought of it that way. And I apologize for jumping to conclusions. But you did not have to bear those concerns alone all this time.“ He looked off to the side with a faint pout. "I would not have had a problem with lying to Sentinel to keep your secret safe, you know…“

Ratchet shot their leader a sideglance with a faint smile. "Neither would I, but we could hardly have hidden a giant frame like Blitzwing. Besides, most Autobots are poor liars by nature.“ He noted but kept himself from giving Bulkhead and Optimus a meaningful look. Those two were naturally predisposed to be honest.

Bumblebee shrugged before pushing the empty energon cube away from him. "Well, it is what it is. I told you, and now you can do with that information as you please. Judge me, shun me, just maybe don’t go around gossiping.“ He muttered before his comm pinged again, and a bright smile replaced the tense expression he had been carrying. "To be honest, I did not come here just to tell you that one thing. There’s actually more.“

Optimus’s faceplate settled into worry again, and he sighed. "Oh no, what else is there?“ His processor raced as he began to come up with scenarios that could be as serious as forming a sparkbond with a Decepticon. Surely Bumblebee had not somehow managed to offline anyone on his way here? No, that didn’t seem like him, but the minibot had already surprised them once today.

"It’s nothing bad, Prime.“ Bumblebee’s optics lit up and a wide grin appeared on his faceplate. "Come on, there’s someone I want you to meet.“

Chapter Text

He had never expected to miss the cold nightly air of Earth and the scenic views of mountains, lush forests, and those endless oceans of accursed sodium-heavy water that ate itself into one’s armor. But during his mid-orbital-cycle flight, Blitzwing found himself looking back on the time he had spent on the humid and muddy organic planet rather fondly. 

Gazing down at the architecture of Cybertron, he realized his home planet now felt almost more alien to him than Earth. He had only seen glimpses of it after the war - and while he technically had been at 'home‘ for quite some time now, Blitzwing had spent the majority of it locked away in a Cybertronian high-security prison cell. Not that he felt remorse, or the urge for vengeance - if the roles of Autobots and Decepticons had been reversed, he would have happily watched 'Bot prisoners rust away in their cells as well. 

Blitzwing had joked with Bumblebee that they would have to get a ship to pick up his stashed spoils of war at one point in the future, but the urge to get away from the planet grew stronger every time Blitzwing was reminded that this was not the same planet that had once been his home. Times had changed, the minds of mechs had changed, and Cybertron had changed with them. No matter how well things went with Bumblebee, other Autobots were still eager to remind the triple changer that despite the peace agreement he was not quite welcome. It had not bothered him initially, because no self-respecting Decepticon cared about the opinions of Autobots - but the idea of raising a sparkling in such an environment turned his tanks. 

In typical Decepticon fashion, Blitzwing’s first instinct was to smash any obnoxious 'Bot who had something to say about him into scrap - but due to the peace agreement, that would only cause trouble on a larger scale. For the first time in his existence, it made him feel strangely powerless;  to 'behave‘ and tolerate cowardly Autobots who naturally should have groveled at his pedes just felt wrong. 

Of course, Blitzwing would bear it. He was not a sniveling Autobot but remained a greatly feared former lieutenant of the Decepticon army, but he also wanted Bumblebee to be happy. Playing nice with imbeciles drove Blitzwing up the wall at times, but the minibot had actual friends whom he cared about - much unlike Blitzwing who had lost the few mechs he had been close to in the fires or war. Therefore, he was willing to do anything to preserve his partner’s friendships, and if it was the last thing he did. Besides, at least the medic seemed agreeable enough to converse with. As for the rest of the group, only time would tell. Although Blitzwing was curious how the current cycle would continue to progress, and how the minibot’s team would take in the information he had withheld up until right this moment.

Bumblebee had not sent him the all-clear via comm yet, so he was likely still fighting for his life and trying to justify his secret relationship turned conjux endura to his friends. An amused smile appeared on the triple changer’s lips at the thought of Bumblebee arguing with Optimus Prime. It was undeniably endearing that Autobots would argue with their superiors in the first place. 

Something stirred inside his cockpit, and Blitzwing realized it was time to head back. The flight had been an attempt to cool off his racing processor, and while many things remained uncertain, he no longer felt as restless as he had cooped up in his and Bumblebee’s shared apartment.

Despite his heavier, modified frame, Blitzwing landed as gracefully as a non-modified seeker would have, close to the spot Bumblebee had asked him to wait. There was no trace of the minibot yet, and given there had been no new transmissions on his comm either, Blitzwing figured it would take a while for his partner to get here. Perhaps it was for the better since it would give the restless little ball of energy safely tucked away in his cockpit some time to tire itself out.

Blitzwing’s sensors were too sharp to not pick up on the pair of optics that shot him a particularly nasty glare from the side. Naturally, some 'Bots took offense that he dared to land on their now shared public space. 

"Can I help you?“ He hissed and glared right back at the rude mech who had frowned at him long enough that the triple changer’s canons had involuntarily begun to warm up.  But once addressed directly, the mech seemed to visibly shrink and took off without saying anything. Unsurprisingly, every Autobot on Cybertron seemed too cowardly to confront a former Decepticon lieutenant, which was fortunate since Blitzwing had no intention of going to jail over some imbecile picking a fight with him. 

The place that could be considered a 'park' in human terms was empty for the most part, save for a few other Cybertronians who hung around a not-yet-functioning fountain or relaxed on the benches. As a young mech, Blitzwing had not seen too much of the nicer parts of Cybertron - after all, he had never been part of the high caste, even in Vos. Now he had to admit that the planet had come a long way, and the newly rebuilt public spaces were more open and inviting for everyone - not just those who could afford to enter.

The tiny passenger inside his cockpit banged against the glass as though to remind him to get on with it faster. Blitzwing gently pinged a digit against the glass from outside and was instantly met with a pair of furious little optics.

"Out!“ the little brat whined as small servos pressed against the glass as though their strength could push open the cockpit.

"Fine. For someone who can’t quite talk yet, you sure are demanding.“ Blitzwing muttered and opened his cockpit. He had to reach inside swiftly before his passenger could escape on their own. 

The sparkling wriggled in an attempt to escape her creator’s servos but eventually gave up when she was lifted into two strong arms and leaned against a familiar frame. As if the previous display of protest inside the cockpit had just been for dramatic effect, the little head clacked against Blitzwing’s chest armor and the sparkling mumbled something with sleepy optics.

"No, you’re not going back into recharge just to keep me awake later.“ Blitzwing gently lifted the sparkling and tapped a digit against her olfactory. Unimpressed, the comically oversized optics widened before sharp little denta shot forward to bite down. Where an Autobot would likely have been horrified at their ill-behaved creation, Blitzwing’s spark chamber nearly swelled over with pride. The sparkling was energetic, stubborn, and a natural fighter -  although she liked to chew on her creators, and unfortunately Ratchet as well, a bit too much. 

Despite the medic’s grimace when his arm had ended up in the jaws of the sparkling, he had seemed quite proud to announce the little one was proving to be quite bright. Her speech had developed much faster than was common for a sparkling, although Blitzwing partially blamed that on Bumblebee talking every waking moment. Naturally, their creation would pick up the same habit.

Impulsivity was another one of the sparkling’s quirks, which meant that after her desperate struggle to be freed of her cozy, warm glass prison, she was now eager to crawl back into the very same. She never quite knew what she wanted, but she always insisted on getting her way.

Blitzwing sighed. "You can stay out until your sire comes, or you wait in there-" he pointed at his cockpit, "But I’m not playing in or out until Bumblebee is here, understood?“

The sparkling’s optics dimmed and she yawned before giving a slight nod and muttered one of the rare full phrases she liked to reserve for her carrier alone it seemed, much to her sire’s dismay. "Yes, Blitzy.“

The triple changer’s face spun in an attempt to hide his visible pride and suppress the urge to just eat up his darling little creation. In the end, he had to indulge said urge a little just for peace of mind and gently squeezed her against his frame. "Aw, aren’t you a good little sparkling. And that medic says you aren’t well-behaved. What does he know, right?“ he cooed and flashed a sharp-toothed grin at his creation.

Always quick to agree with her carrier even without fully understanding the message, the sparkling nodded eagerly. "Right.“

Blitzwing’s face spun back to blue before he lifted the small mechanism back into his cockpit. A faint smile crept up icy blue lips, and he gently placed a servo on the glass. "Sometimes I wonder if you even know what I’m saying. Blindly agreeing with everything your creators say is not the way forward. But you should try to learn your sire’s name soon. If you play favorites, he’ll be upset.“

Tiny servos pressed against the glass from within, and Blitwing sent a low rumble through his frame to calm the unruly passenger before she could get too excited again. "Well, no matter now. We’ll have to be patient and wait for your sire.“

Finally, his comm pinged and the long-awaited message from Bumblebee came in. Blitzwing shook his head and remembered an old joke from the times of war along the lines of how many Autobots it took to win a battle. The punchline had been that it did not matter because they would waste their time discussing instead of fighting- which even he had to admit was in typical Decepticon fashion wildly uninspired. Most of his comrades had lacked in the wit department but he had not held it against them then and he did not hold it against them now. 

Above all, he was glad that Bumblebee had finally worked up the courage to 'come clean’ to his team. Not that Blitzwing was particularly worried about how his partner’s friends were going to react. But it had occupied the minibot’s mind for a long time and while the triple changer loved him dearly, Bumblebee’s antsy state sometimes bordered on being contagious. As someone who was somewhat unstable to begin with, feeling Bumblebee’s emotional turmoil via their new spark bond had almost driven Blitzwing insane - at least more 'insane‘ than usual.

While waiting for Bumblebee to arrive, Blitzwing thought back on their seemingly endless conversations about this moment. The minibot had at some point asked if Blitzwing intended to tell his fellow Decepticons about his spark bond and creation. Bumblebee had avoided the term friends because he knew there was no friendship among Decepticon ranks.

Blitzwing had shut that notion down faster than he could reset his optics. "They would not care.“ It was the truth, and he had no delusions about where he stood with Megatron and the rest of what remained of Decepticon high command, but Bumblebee had seemed quite upset on his behalf. 

"That’s kinda sad. I know you guys are… different, but shouldn’t you kind of care about each other? How long have you known these guys anyway? As if no Decepticon cares for anyone but themselves.“

"That’s just how it is.“ Blitzwing had replied and that had been the end of it. But it had made him contemplate his partner’s words. Of course, he had cared for mechs other than himself. But anyone he might have told about his conjux and sparkling was long gone. He never brought that up to Bumblebee. He was too young and would not understand - besides, Blitzwing hated the idea of being pitied, even by the one mech around whom he was willing to let his guard down.

As he looked through the glass canopy at his creation, who had cycled into recharge, he vented deeply and thought back on times he had hidden away in the depths of his processor. Faces of creators, friends, and his trine flashed before his inner optics. 

He placed a servo on the glass of his cockpit in a protective manner and muttered quietly, "They would have loved to meet you.“ 

The sparkling stirred lightly but did not wake.

Chapter Text

Optimus had not quite recovered from the second announcement Bumblebee had dropped on them after leaving the bar. He continued to shake his head, while Bulkhead looked dejected. "Hiding your Decepticon conjux endura from us is one thing, but a sparkling? I can’t believe you didn’t tell us.“ 

Initially, Optimus had calmed down. But once Bee had let it slip that there was also a sparkling born from his sparkbond, Optimus ended up even more furious than before. 

Sparklings were rare; almost every Cybertronian was eager to coddle a sparkling when they met one. At least Bee believed that had to be why Optimus continued to pout for the entirety of their walk.

The Prime was not the only member of their team unhappy about being excluded from the emergence of Bee’s offspring. Meanwhile, Bumblebee imagined that his darling conjux would have threatened to shoot anyone in the delivery room who had no business being there. To bring both parties’ interests together would simply have been impossible, so he had prioritized Blitzwing's wellbeing.

He rubbed the back of his neck with a guilty conscience. "Well, the sparkling was kind of connected to the entire I bonded with a Decepticon situation. We already went over why I didn’t tell you about that sooner.“

"Maybe, but sparklings don’t take any sides. It would have been different.“ Bulkhead muttered, inconsolable that he had not met the tiny newspark right after it had emerged.

"True.“ Prowl interjected, less offended than the other two members of their team who had been kept in the dark, but disappointed nonetheless. "Given the state of Cybertronians after an age of war, one might even consider sparklings and their carriers sacred. Although I don’t quite understand why Megatron allowed a carrier to serve as one of his lieutenants in the war.“

Ratchet felt inclined to agree. "Perhaps he didn’t know.“ He added with a low hum. It was the only explanation he currently felt comfortable with. If Megatron truly had known and still chosen to experiment on one of his own… Ratchet shook the thought instantly to preserve his sanity.

Bumblebee glanced up at both of his teammates with a contemplative look. "I don’t think the old Buckethead knew. But even if he had known, why would that be so weird?“

Ratchet rolled his optics into the sky and cursed the Autobot Academy which had not taught its students anything of use. Given that Bumblebee was young and had never lived through the war, he did not want to disturb the minibot. But since Bee was concerned for his conjux, Ratchet felt he should at least know why it would be weird and what implications came with it. "With war comes excessive violence, kid, and it often affects the most vulnerable.“ Such as carriers, but he omitted that information.

"Huh, I wouldn’t call Blitzy vulnerable though. Didn’t you tell me he even killed a bunch of senators a long time ago? And that was before he was upgraded.“ Bumblebee noted, and Ratchet couldn’t argue with that logic. Even if the triple changer was a carrier, he had also been an absolute terror right from the beginning of the war.

Optimus scrunched his olfactory at the fact that Bumblebee seemed almost impressed by the war crimes committed by his betrothed, and gritted his denta. How anyone could find that attractive was beyond him, although he had to admit that many of the remaining Cybertronians who had survived the war had probably committed an atrocity or two of their own. 

Bumblebee took a look at his comm after he had sent a final message to his partner.

We’re almost there. This is your last chance to fly off if you’ve changed your mind about meeting the guys.

Lost your nerve? Or should I expect to be greeted with stasis cuffs and loaded guns?

The minibot shook his head at Blitzwing’s reply. Of course, the triple changer wasn’t worried - he was not the one introducing his friends to a former enemy. However, the thought of their roles being reversed and Blitzwing showing up with an entourage of Decepticons to meet Bumblebee was much more unsettling. 

Neither of them had anything to fear from his Autobot team. Meanwhile, Megatron would likely have Bumblebee picked apart for scraps if he found him inappropriate as a partner for one of his lieutenants. 

They were approaching the park Bee picked to re-introduce his friends to his betrothed, and just when he was about to activate his vocalizer, he heard his partner’s angered shout from not too far away.

"Stop! Where do you think you’re going?“ 

Bumblebee recognized Blitzwing’s hotheaded persona even from a distance and feared for the worst. Before he had time to react properly, something small and grey bolted toward him and launched itself at him to cling to one of his legs.

"Come back here right now, or so help me-" The triple changer stopped his pursuit immediately at the sight of Bumblebee and his very bewildered-looking teammates. His face spun back to blue and displayed visible relief.

"Oh, it’s you. I was wondering why she took off suddenly.“

Bumblebee gently lifted the grey little lifeform from the ground into his arms. "Aw, did you miss me that much? Did you miss your sire?“ he asked in a goofy voice that drew a giggle out of the miniature mechanism in his arms. 

Without much ceremony, he turned around to his friends and presented them with the small runner, while he wore the proud smile of a fresh creator.

They were met with a tiny sparkling with big bright baby blue optics and a curious look on her faceplate. Only at a second glance did the little wing-nubs that would not yet carry the miniature frame, and tiny thrusters that would not yet ignite, come into view. There was no doubt that the newspark was a seeker - although a very small, adorable seeker.

Bumblebee’s EM field nearly swelled over with pride as he lifted his little creation even closer to his friends and flashed a big grin. "Ta-da! Everyone, meet Astra - who has the same big beautiful optics as her sire.“ The sparkling cooed and giggled, seemingly unaware of her surroundings and just happy to be lifted through the air by one of her creators. 

Although still grey and round in her protoform, the little seeker showed some traces of Decepticon coding in her angular facial features and height.  If her current state was any indication, her full size would eventually match that of any other seeker that remained online. But that was easily forgotten after one look into the baby blue Autobot optics that blinked up at her creator’s former teammates.

Bulkhead carefully extended a digit and gasped when the little seeker grabbed it firmly with her tiny servos. 

"Look! I think she likes me!“

Ratchet shook his head and patted the sparkling’s head in turn. "She’s still too young to fully comprehend what is going on around her. And careful, some sparklings like to bite - from what I’ve heard.“

Astra stared up at the medic with an empty look, and as though to spite him she did not deliver.

Ratchet frowned and remembered how much the little devil had squirmed and tried to chew on his arm during her first examination. Of course now of all times, she would behave just to prove him wrong. Rather she seemed to have very different plans entirely.

"Ratchet!“ 

Bee’s jaw dropped and Blitzwing covered his lips with his digits in disbelief. Ratchet had to reset his optics to fully grasp that the little hellspawn of a sparkling had just ratted him out to all his friends... and things had been going so well. 

Astra pointed directly at him with her little index digit and a bright smile like some bot who had just recognized an old friend in a crowd. Part of him felt almost giddy that she was progressing so fast in the acquisition of speech and cognition. She already showed clear signs of being especially bright and gifted. But at the same time, he was mortified.

"Little snitch.“ He muttered, already unable to stay angry at the little brat.

Optimus’ optics dimmed as he cast an uncharacteristically menacing glare at his friend. "How does the little one already know your name, Ratchet?“

Bumblebee quietly handed his offspring back to her carrier but cast her a look of mild disappointment before releasing her. "So you’re able to say Blitzy and Ratchet, but not the name of your sire, huh?“

Blitzwing suppressed the urge to let his conjux know that in fact, their sparkling was capable of saying a lot more, but didn’t want to add salt to the wound.

"Bumblebee, what is the meaning of this?“ Optimus’ optics flashed at the minibot and his disappointed frown deepened. "Don’t tell me you two were in cahoots the entire time. Ratchet!“ he huffed at the medic who pretended to be distracted by the sky above them.

Blitzwing absentmindedly patted the sparkling’s head, before noting nonchalantly, "Well this is about as awkward as I imagined. Perhaps it is time for honesty. You Autobots excel in that, right? More so than deception, given how this entire situation has played out. Leave lying to those who are good at it in the future, hm?“ he suggested and shot Bumblebee a look that made it clear it was not a suggestion at all, but a command.

Ratchet shook his head, and could not believe he was about to agree with a Decepticon, but the triple changer was right. The emergence of a sparkling should have been a joyous event, not one tainted by lies, half-truths, and secrecy. 

"Fine. I ran the first check-up after she had emerged, and before you ask, yes I knew about the entire thing, and no I did not tell you because I didn’t feel like it was my place to share. But we already had the discussion earlier about why Bumblebee’s concerns weren’t entirely unfounded, so perhaps we can all move on and focus on what is important: Namely, the little snitch over there.“

Optimus frowned while Prowl remained silent, although he did seem to agree with Ratchet judging from his expression. 

"Sure, let’s move on. I mean, I’m a bit sad that you didn’t tell me earlier. But I’ll get over it. The safety of sparkling and carrier comes first. Besides, look at her, she’s adorable.“ Bulkhead hummed before he wandered right over to Blitzwing and the sparkling, wiggling a digit at the little one who tried to reach for it again. 

 "You may hold her if you wish. Just don’t drop her.“ Blitzwing offered nonchalantly, clearly unfamiliar enough with Bulkhead’s affinity for crushing small things. Bumblebee shot him a panicked look, but the giant green bot gratefully accepted the invitation with near watery optics and watched the tiny sparkling, which he cradled carefully in his servos. 

Blitzwing shrugged at the minibot. "What? Sparklings are sturdy, she’ll be fine. You wanted her to meet your friends.“

"Maybe… but, uh-" Bumblebee muttered before creeping up to his bulky friend with a smile that barely masked his concern. "I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her earlier. Would you mind handing her to me, buddy?“

"Aw, sure. There, let’s get you back to your sire, little lady.“

The minibot sighed in relief once his creation had been transferred back into his arms and squeezed her against his frame. "Your carrier might think he knows what he’s doing, but you’re not getting squished while I’m around.“ He whispered into her audials.

Ratchet crossed his arms and cleared his vocalizer."Aren’t you forgetting something, kid?“

"Huh, what?“ Bumblebee gave the medic a blank stare before realizing what he had forgotten were good manners. 

"Oh right. Guys, this is my darling conjux endura, Blitzwing. I mean technically you’ve all met already…“ Bumblebee added while casting an awkward glance from his friends to his partner, who seemed far from impressed.

"True, although I never quite got any of your names. Those aren’t important when you’re shooting at someone, I suppose.“ Blitzwing replied, faceplate unchanging but the line could have easily sprung from his random persona. At least that would have stung less than the stone-cold delivery.

"Blitzy, come on.“ Bumblebee whisper-shouted, offended at the lack of goodwill, but at the same time could not argue with the triple changer’s logic. 

Technically Blitzwing had introduced himself before shooting at them during their first encounter. Even though they had been mortal enemies, the triple changer had been polite, by Decepticon standards anyway. 

Optimus pressed his lips together into a thin line, but his expression softened after the large optics of the sparkling caught his own. With a deep sigh, he took a decisive step forward. As one of the few bots who had actively worked on the peace agreement, he would be a hypocrite to let old prejudices get the better of him. This was their one shot at peace, and Optimus would not go back on his word.

"You’re not wrong. But since we are at peace, perhaps we can afford the luxury of remembering each other’s designations properly.“ He extended a servo in an attempted display of hospitality and acceptance.

The triple changer reluctantly took the servo offered to him before giving it a light squeeze. 

"I would like that.“

Chapter Text

"Ratchet said to contact him the moment you start feeling strange.“ Bumblebee called from across the hallway before he knocked over something that clunked onto the floor. "Slag.“

Blitzwing pretended he hadn’t heard the mishap that had occurred in the room which they were currently sparkling-proofing - although he made a mental note to further make sure the room was Bumblebee-proof as well. 

Bee was not necessarily clumsy, but often so fast that he overlooked smaller objects that were caught in his whirlwind of movements, which was exactly why they kept flimsy decorations to a minimum in their apartment. Not that Blitzwing cared for kitschy Autobot interior design anyway, too many bright colors and useless decorations were a waste of resources.

Blitzwing waited with his reply until he was sure Bumblebee had gotten whatever situation he had caused in the sparkling’s room under control. "Define strange. I have been feeling nothing but strange lately.“ - and that was coming from him. 

Carrier protocols were notorious for being overwhelming, but Blitzwing had not anticipated anything like the flood of emotions and mood swings that had come with carrying a newspark. He was used to his usual 'mood swings‘ of a steady calm, a fiery temper, or the occasional moments which his comrades had always so lovingly referred to as either a completely fried processor or fits of insanity. 

The freshly activated carrier protocols had introduced moments of humiliating soft-sparkedness, and uncharacteristic neediness into the mix that may have felt natural for Autobots, but for a Decepticon it was unbecoming.

Bumblebee finally appeared in their living space, wiping the last traces of paint from his armor before quickly stowing the rag in his subspace as if nothing had happened. "Well, I guess it’s supposed to hurt a little? Ratchet said you’d be able to tell when it’s time.“

"Hm, I figured as much.“ Blitzwing muttered and kept his optics straight ahead to not meet Bumblebee’s gaze which felt unavoidable. He cared deeply for the minibot but felt increasingly uncomfortable with how much Bumblebee fretted over his condition. The last thing he needed was to be coddled and looked after like a big fragile egg.

Initially, Blitzwing hadn’t been worried. He felt confident in his strength and resourcefulness. After he had lived in exile for what felt like a lifetime, there were only a few things he could not overcome. In true Decepticon fashion, he did not fear anything - well, most things. 

There was the ever-present fear that Megatron would find out about his conjux and the corresponding betrayal which would be repaid with furious retribution. But aside from that, he certainly had not feared something as ordinary as carrying a newspark.

But Bumblebee’s concern was beginning to get to Blitzwing. It made him anxious that perhaps he should be more worried about the newspark emerging. Although there was no indication that the little one would emerge in anything less than perfect health.

"Blitzy, you can’t keep ignoring me just because you don’t want to talk about something. We live together. You are my conjux. I can physically feel when something is bothering you. And something is definitely bothering you right now.“ Bumblebee noted and forced himself into Blitzwing’s vision, who could not bring himself to face away from the baby-blue optics staring up at him. 

The triple changer pressed his lips into a thin line. "Fine. If you must know, I am not used to feeling this lethargic and it is beginning to bother me.“ 

His face clicked to a more pronounced sharp-toothed frown on a deep black canvas. "I’m literally getting the fun sucked out of me-“ before it finally switched to a visor glinting with frustration. "- by our sparkling! If this phase of the cycle doesn’t end soon I’m going to shoot something! I hate this!“

Blitzwing’s face switched back to blue and he let his helmet clack back against the headrest of the sofa with a sigh. "As you can see, I cannot even afford to get frustrated at this point. It’s too exhausting… takes too much energy…“ His voice grew more quiet and his optics dimmed, as though he was about to drift into recharge again.

Bumblebee climbed onto Blitzwing’s lap and gently patted his cheek. "Hey, you can’t just go into recharge to get out of a conversation.“

It took the triple changer almost too long to adjust his optics again and look down at Bumblebee with a low hum. "You think I have any control over this?“

"I guess not. You’re usually more alert than me, and looking at you now… But Ratchet said lethargic episodes are to be expected.“ The minibot leaned against his conjux’s chassis to listen for an additional spark beat. "Almost makes you miss the early phase of the cycle when you threatened to bite my head off for not coming to the berthroom fast enough, huh?“

Bitzwing rolled his optics. "You better memorize those times well. After this one rolls out, I’m not doing this again anytime soon.“

A sly smirk appeared on the Bumblebee’s faceplate. "So what I’m hearing is that there’s a chance you want another-"

He was met with a bright red angry visor. "-not anytime soon! You might want to check your audials. The moment the sparkling is here, I’m not letting you anywhere near my panels again.“

 "Of course not. I will not even look at you like a good, chaste bot. We can shake servos before recharging in separate berths.“ Bumblebee noted which earned him an annoyed hum from the triple changer.

"Joke all you want, but I mean it, bug.“ That nickname used in that particular tone was a clear indication that Blitzwing was serious and not interested in continuing the discussion. Experience had taught Bumblebee the hard way that trying to sway the triple changer when he was already irritated was not a good idea.

"Fine then.“ He feigned a pout but turned his head to hide the devious glint in his optics. A part of him was already yearning for their sparkling to get some company in the future. But now was not a good time to break that to Blitzwing.

Some research on his own time had taught him that carrier protocols never truly went dormant again once activated. That likely meant that even if Blitzwing had no interest in interfacing now, said interest would eventually come back as powerful as before. He might even be open to carrying another newspark. The potential threat that Bumblebee’s neck cables would end up between razor-sharp denta in the process sent an excited shiver down his frame. 

On Earth, they had had their fun. But ever since they reunited on Cybertron, it was as if a switch had flicked inside the triple changer’s processor and he had grown much more ferocious. Initially, Bumblebee had found that charming and exciting, although after asking Ratchet about the potential side effects of carrying a newspark, he had become more cautious. 

While an uptick in interfacing habits was common in sparked mechs, almost cannibalistic urges to bite a partner were not common in most carriers. It was probably unique to Blitzwing, but his random persona had always been more of a wildcard that was best treated with caution, so in the end, it was not that surprising.

Instead of a sarcastic retort, Bumblebee received only a low hum from the triple changer whose optics had dimmed again.

The only obvious side-effect of carrying a newspark proved to be a lack of energy since the newspark consumed a lot of their creator’s fuel and left them worn out even after properly refueling. But otherwise, Blitzwing’s frame gave no further indication that a protoform was developing somewhere inside the forge.

Bumblebee moved onto the cushion next to his partner and leaned against the triple changer’s arm before looking up to make sure he was still awake. "Are you recharging?“

"No.“ Blitzwing muttered but appeared too tired to add a sarcastic remark.  

"Have you thought about names? I know you didn’t like my idea, but I still think Starlight is kind of cute.“

Despite the visible lack of energy, Blitzwing’s faceplate spun to red fury. "No offspring of mine is going to have Star-anything as their designation! If Starscream somehow comes back to life he’ll think this is me honoring him, and if he stays offline it’ll only remind me of that glitch. I don’t want any of that attached to our sparkling.“

"Okay fine, I get it. No need to yell. That wasn’t my only suggestion if you still remember-"

"No weird human names either.“ The triple changer cut him off before he could even finish the sentence.

Bumblebee looked up to be met with cold and disapproving optics. "But human names aren’t too bad. Some of them don’t sound alien at all and have great meanings. Besides, there are only so many strictly Cybertronian names you can pick from - I liked Firefly, but there is already someone I know with that name. The same goes for Sunbeam.“

Blitzwing’s optics flickered as he seemed to contemplate the point Bee was trying to make. "That is true. Many of the mechs with names we come up with may not even be online at this point. In the end, it wouldn’t make a difference if we choose the same designation for our offspring.“

"I guess. But a more unique designation for the sparkling would be better than something common.“

"As long as it is spelled correctly and a real name…Are there even common designations with you Autobots? I have never met two Decepticons with the same name.“  Blitzwing had delivered the last statement with full confidence but began to wonder if it was actually true. Maybe there was some poor sod left on New Kaon or another colony whose designation was Shawkwaeve or Lahgnaht since the correct spelling had already been taken. He had never given it much thought, but this was the kind of nonsense a conversation with Bumblebee elicited from his processor.

Bumblebee seemed to have a similar thought process and returned the triple changer’s blank stare with a shrug. "I guess I never thought about that. We’ll just figure something out when the little bitlet is here.“

Blitzwing only gave a nod in response. As he shifted and felt the uncomfortable strain on his seams and joints, he thought that the little bitlet couldn’t come soon enough.

The noise of the bustling streets far below the high-rise building only reached the apartment as a soft background hum. In the darkness of their berthroom, Bumblebee shifted on the berth, unable to find a comfortable position. 

He was always highly energetic but had insisted he’d recharge with his conjux, which now backfired since he could not drift into recharge for the life of him. Finally, he gave up and flicked on his optics to look up to the triple changer.

"Blitzwing?“

A low hum came from the triple changer’s vocalizer. "What is it now? Unlike you, I actually need to recharge.“

"I know.“ Bumblebee muttered quietly and rolled closer against the warm, larger frame before placing one of his arms against where he assumed the triple changer’s forge was. He listened for the low purr of Blitzwing’s engines in hopes of picking up on the additional spark beat. "I was just wondering… are you really alright? Uh, comfortable, I mean. I’m just asking because I want to be supportive. You don’t have to bottle up your feelings around me.“

Blitzwing stayed quiet for a long time; long enough for Bumblebee to wonder if he had fallen into recharge. Finally, he let out a barely audible sigh. "No, I’m fine.“

Bumblebee glanced up to study the triple changer’s faceplate which seemed as unimpressed as usual, but he was less than convinced that statement had been honest. "Really? You once told me that you not only hid those carrier protocols all your life but that being found out was a huge concern for you. But now that you have a protoform growing in your forge, you’re not in pain or concerned at all?“

He heard Blitzwing’s face switch and already knew which face would be the one to respond before it even happened. "Bumblebee, I’m trying to recharge! I’ve never been more exhausted in my life, and you keep bugging me about why I’m not more anxious! Of course, I’m uncomfortable! I’m turning into a heavy, lethargic, bumbling heap of scrap and-“ Blitzwing stopped mid-sentence and sighed deeply.

After a moment of silence, the face clicked again in the dark; this time, weary optics came online and gazed down at the minibot. "I... I apologize. I know you mean well.“ He extended his arm to draw Bumblebee closer to this side gently. " But you fretting over me like this; it makes me feel weak. And I’m already struggling with these changes.“ He hissed and motioned down to his heavier chassis. "But that is my problem and I should be grateful for your concern. You deserve better than being yelled at.“

Bumblebee scrambled up the triple changer’s chassis to look into his optics directly and was surprised to see an unfamiliar expression on his conjux’s icy faceplate. For someone who didn’t have a face for that particular emotion, Blitzwing looked visibly upset.

"I know I was unstable to begin with, but I never felt less like myself… and never more pathetic. I’m supposed to be a warrior, but now I’m closer to a jittery old frame about to spring an optical leak whenever something doesn’t go right.“

"Aw, Blitzy. You still seem very much like yourself to me.“ Bumblebee leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the triple changer’s neck. "And you’re not weak. You could probably crush me with one servo if you tried hard enough.“

Blitzwing’s voice cracked at the implication. "But I don’t want to crush you! You’d be dead. Why would you even say something so horrible?“

Trying to suppress a smile because he didn’t want to upset his already emotional conjux further, Bee gently patted the triple changer’s cheek. "Hey, I was just joking. No one is going to crush me. I’m way too fast, you know that. But you’re not weak, and everything is going to be fine.“

Blitzwing’s vocalizer produced a sound that sounded like a hiccup and he turned his helmet to hide his expression. "These damned carrier protocols. This is exactly what I never wanted to experience. I used to strike fear in the sparks of my enemies. Now look at me… I’m a pitiful sight.“

Bumblebee hummed lightly and placed a small peck on the triple changer’s lips that remained pressed together tightly. "You’re still scary if you get angry enough. And all of this will pass, remember? I bet you’re just tired… things will look better after you get some rest.“

"No kidding. Resting is all I have done lately! And I still come back online as exhausted as before.“

"Ugh, I don’t even want to imagine what that feels like. You know, I can call off my next work shift and stay with you. Maybe you’ll recharge better if I’m with you. Like we used to whenever we snuck out to meet back on Earth…“ Bumblebee hinted with a smile.

For a brief moment, it looked as though he caught the triple changer blushing, who returned right back to his stoic self. "Hm. You don’t need to go that far.“

It was almost comical that despite how long they had been together, Blitzwing’s old habits had never really disappeared and only one of his personas seemed capable of accepting and returning direct, obvious affection. When it came to the other two faces, it took some reading between the lines to understand the triple changer’s love language - who hated that term with a passion, which was why Bumblebee never brought it up.

But after studying the triple changer’s faint pout, Bumblebee knew that he was simply too proud to accept that Bee was willing to play hooky from work for his sake. Some Decepticons had strict work ethics and Blitzwing was one of them. He probably wouldn’t have become one of Megatron’s lieutenants if he had been anything less than motivated.

"Nope, too late. I’m staying with you to cuddle and you can’t change my mind. Besides, I can’t stand overhearing Sentinel yap away whenever he drops by Optimus’ office down the hallway. I need a break from that glitchhead alone, and if I can spend that break with you, even better.“

Blitzwing stared him down with a cocked optical ridge, barely concealing his amusement. "It almost sounds like you were looking for an excuse to skip work to begin with.“ 

"Hush, we’re going with the doting, caring conjux angle instead.“

"Are you implying that you aren’t a doting and caring conjux usually?“ 

"I would never.“ He replied and cuddled up to his partner while running a digit over the seams in Blitzwing’s chassis. A comfortable warmth spread over him via their bond. "When I shared my spark with you, I meant it when I said I would always be there for you. I know that sounds sappy, but it’s true. I’m not going anywhere. You’re mine.“ He joked with a devious grin.

Blitzwing merely hummed. "A bold claim.“

"I mean it.“ Bee huffed and dramatically let his voice drop three octaves. "You belong to me alone, baby.“

"Ha! Is that line from one of those human motion pictures?“ Blitzwing’s face spun to the cheerful black void with a wide grin.

"Probably. What, you’re not into the mysterious, possessive type?“ Bee wiggled his optical ridges with a suggestive smirk.

"No, I’m into you, silly.“ Blitzwing laughed and placed a smooch on the minibot’s helmet. "And I prefer honest and kind over mysterious or possessive, my sweet little bug.“

"Heh, I’m glad that’s how you see me.“

 Bumblebee felt warm energon rise to his cheeks and watched the triple changer’s optics dimming for a while. Finally, he was certain Blitzwing had fallen into recharge.

Bumblebee let out a sigh and made himself comfortable on the triple changer’s chassis, who wrapped his arms around him. He felt a lot more tired and shuttered his optics to listen to the faint whirr of Blitzwing’s fans. They were the perfect white noise to lull him into recharge.

Chapter Text

"Blue optics. That’s a relief.“

Ratchet was handed the wriggling, grey little figure while carrying an expression that could only be described as disbelief after the triple changer had nodded in approval at his freshly emerged creation. 

His surprise did not stem from his former enemy trusting him enough to hand him the sparkling unceremoniously but from how the emergence had transpired overall. Generally, it was said to be a taxing procedure for the carrier. But Blitzwing had shrugged it off without so much as a wince and currently seemed almost indifferent, reclined on Ratchet’s examination slab.

Bumblebee, torn between doting on his conjux and checking on his newly emerged creation, kept moving around the room and seemed quite exhausted - which Ratchet thought was a more adequate reaction than Blitzwing’s casual attitude. Perhaps triple changers just operated differently, although a part of Ratchet was certain it had little to do with that and everything to do with the fact that Decepticons were used to harsh conditions and looked down on openly displaying any weakness. Triple changer or not, every carrier was expected to be completely burned out after a sparkling emerged from their frame.

"Well, your offspring is in perfect health. The little rascal’s a seeker.“ Ratched mused and gently traced a digit along little wing nubs that flicked up and down under the unfamiliar touch.

Bumblebee eagerly scooped the sparkling from Ratchet’s arms and seemed on the verge of springing an optical leak as he pressed his chunky little creation close to his chest armor. "A seeker… then she’s going to be bigger than me eventually, right?“

Ratchet hummed lightly. "Big is one word for it… she’s going to be huge compared to your frame. No offense, kid.“

Usually, bringing up size meant that the minibot would respond defensively, but Bumblebee was too focused on the sparkling to care. "She feels warm…“ He smiled and gently squeezed the sparkling. "And she’s so adorable. Look at that round little face.“

As though offended, the sparkling wrinkled her olfactory and made a disapproving noise before grabbing her sire’s digit and sticking it in her mouth. "Aw, someone’s hungry already… Wait, sparklings don’t bite, do they?“ Bumblebee asked, but before he had finished the question, his expression soured. He stared down at his creation, who had chosen to answer his question for him.

"Ouch, hey! If you want fuel, then just say that, but don’t chew on me.“ Bumblebee muttered but could not hide the endearment in his voice while he tried to wriggle his digit out of his creation’s mouth. 

Blitzwing’s blue lips curved into a weary smile. "How is she supposed to say anything if she cannot talk yet?“

Bumblebee shrugged. "I don’t know. But sparklings communicate with their creators somehow, right? In other ways than biting, I hope.“ He added and stared down his little creation, who looked up at him with the bright optics of someone entirely unfamiliar with the concept of guilt.

Ratchet shook his head and wondered what else he could get for the little hellspawn to chew on. He had not seen a sparkling in ages. But they liked to play - from what he remembered. Although none of those sparklings he had met had had Decepticon coding. Despite the seekerlet’s baby-blue optics, her instinct to use her sharp little denta right after emerging spoke for itself. Ratchet was confident both of her creators’ coding would find a healthy balance eventually, but getting a highly energetic flight frame to behave would be a challenge on its own. 

"Have you chosen a designation yet?“ He asked eventually, reminded that there was an unfortunate amount of paperwork waiting for him given that the sparkling had to be registered as a citizen of Cybertron.

Bumblebee’s optics lit up, but before he could answer, his conjux interjected with a stern expression. "Remember, we agreed you’re not naming our offspring after one of your human video game characters.“

"But think about it: no one on Cybertron is going to be named Zelda or Chun-li.“

Blitzwing’s face spun to red, and he bared his denta. "We are not having this conversation again. Absolutely not!“

Bumblebee lifted the sparkling up while observing her curious expression. "Hm, then what about Astra? You liked that one.“ He muttered and moved the now squealing sparkling around to mimic her currently still dormant flight mode with a bright smile. "Do you want to be called Astra? Or something else?“ 

The triple changer’s face returned to an expression of calm indifference, and he nodded. "Astra is fine. If she ends up hating it, she can always change it.“

Bumblebee tucked the sparkling close with a feigned frown. "She's not going to change it.“ He looked into the bright optics of his creation with a grin. "You’re going to love that name because your creators lovingly picked it for you. And you’re never going to grow up either, but stay small, chunky, and cute forever, right?“ 

Astra, who had no idea what was happening, simply cooed in response and smiled back at her sire before reaching out to touch his olfactory.

"Stop, you’re too adorable, I’m going to shut down!“ Bumblebee whined dramatically, which only earned him a giggle from his sparkling, whose chubby little servo smacked flat against his faceplate.

Ratchet shook his head before logging the little one’s designation into the datapad. A new Cybertronian who hadn’t been picked out of a catalog was an exciting rarity, but safely getting a living protoform out of a gestation tank had worn him out enough that he considered clocking out of his shift early.

He still struggled to believe the triple changer had been entirely unaffected by the entire duration of carrying the developing protoform. That reaction had to be a result of the war and experience of exile the Decepticon had endured, which probably had made his experience as a carrier seem uneventful, perhaps even relaxing by comparison. 

Ratchet was correct in assuming that Blitzwing had endured much worse. Although the triple changer had become excellent at masking fear and pain, the emergence of the sparkling had not left him unaffected.

On the way back home to their apartment, Bumblebee almost ran into other bots multiple times while he tried to keep the sparkling from wriggling out of his arms. Each time, his apology was quickly waved off with smiles and beaming optics, which immediately latched back onto the fussy little Cybertronian who still tried to pry her way out of her sire’s arms. No one seemed to mind the little one’s wings and sharp features that hinted at her heritage.

Eventually, Bumblebee realized what she wanted when she smacked a furious servo onto his arm with a whine and tried to reach for her carrier. With a sigh of resignation, Bumblebee handed Astra back to Blitzwing. He could only shake his head when the sparkling instantly cycled into peaceful recharge the moment her little head rested against the triple changer’s chest plate.

“She has barely gained consciousness but is already playing favorites. Can you believe that?” Bumblebee muttered before glancing up at Blitzwing. “Blitzwing?”

Blitzwing merely hummed, watching the resting sparkling in his arms. He had been uncharacteristically silent since they had left the clinic. While it was likely due to exhaustion, even without looking up, Bumblebee heard the distinct click as the triple changer’s faces spun through rapid cycles at times, which did not bode well. He had spent enough time around Blitzwing to recognize that it was often the only sign of visible distress the triple changer allowed himself, although he likely didn’t even notice he was doing it.

Bumblebee put the matter to rest until they had returned home and put their little creation into the crib they had prepared for her.  Only in the hallway, he found his voice again. 

“You’ve been awfully quiet up there, big guy. Is everything alright?” he asked, trying to keep the mood lighthearted, but placed a servo on Blitzwing’s lower arm.

“I’m quiet sometimes, it’s not weird,” Blitzwing mumbled without looking at the minibot directly.

“Blitzwing, you have three faces, and at least one of them is constantly talking. That’s why we work so well - we both kind of talk a lot. But you haven’t said a word since we left the clinic. Also, you’re doing that thing you usually do when you’re upset…”

Blitzwing’s lips twitched in annoyance. “What thing?”

Bumblebee tilted his head and tried to get a better look up at the Decepticon to read his expression. “The thing where your faces change so quickly, it looks like someone sent them spinning.”

“You know that they do that sometimes. I’m just tired, that’s all.” The triple changer replied, but a faint flicker of his optics was visible proof of inner turmoil.

“Of course you are. But this is more of a something-is-wrong silence than a we-just-had-a-sparkling silence.” Bumblebee noted. He always tried to be tactful but changed his approach when his conjux tried to step around him to walk away. 

“Hey, come on. How many times do we have to do this dance? I care about you, and if there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that talking about things helps!” He reached for Blitzwing’s larger servo with both of his to keep him from walking off. “Talk to me.”

Blitzwing’s faces spun in one full cycle until the icy blue mask of indifference returned to look down at Bumblebee with a sigh of defeat. “Fine, but not so close to the sparkling.” He tilted his head towards their creation’s berthroom. “I don’t want this seeping into our bond somehow.”

Bumblebee replied with a nod before moving towards their berthroom but leaving the door slightly open in case the sparkling woke up. “So, whatever is bothering you - maybe we can work through it together.”

The triple changer stared at Bumblebee for a while before resetting his optics with a sigh. He firmly held his servos in place to keep them from shaking. His frame felt sore and spent, but what had truly wrecked him were the memories that had resurfaced during the emergence. How he was supposed to relay all that to Bumblebee was beyond him.

“During the procedure…” He began slowly while his processor felt like it was about to burn up from racing to find an understandable explanation. Blitzwing couldn’t help but shudder at the memory of Ratchet working on his internal system to get the sparkling out.

He pressed his lips into a thin line and could almost feel the ghostly imprint of much sharper servos that had once rooted around his internal wiring without explicit consent. He hardly could have allowed himself to break down in front of Bee and the medic, not that he could even do it when no one was watching. 

But the pain and stress had been familiar enough to send his entire frame into a state of alert. Then, everything had turned into a blur, and it occurred to him that he barely remembered anything until the moment Ratchet had handed him the sparkling.

The little seeker’s warm frame had brought him back from a nightmarish state of dissociation and quelled the turmoil inside his processor. 

“Blitzwing?” Bumblebee’s voice rang from far away before he snapped back to reality. He found the minibot’s blue optics glinting up at him with concern.

“I remembered something I’d rather forget altogether.” Blitzwing began but crossed his arms in front of his midsection in a protective manner, almost out of instinct. “Even now, it feels impossible to put it into words.”

Bumblebee put two and two together before hopping onto the berth next to Blitzwing and placing a reassuring servo on top of the triple changer’s much bigger one. “Right, you didn’t exactly sign up to be upgraded. I don’t think I’d like anyone messing around inside of me either, so today was probably more than uncomfortable.”

Blitzwing hummed. “Uncomfortable is one way to describe it. But I’ll live - I’ve been through worse.”

“If you say so…” Bumblebee gave a nod of understanding. “Maybe I was wrong - you don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready. But if I can do anything to help or make things easier for you, let me know. “ He muttered before letting his helmet clunk against Blitzwing’s arm. 

“I appreciate it.” A faint smile appeared on the triple changer’s lips. “At least I got an adorable sparkling out of the whole ordeal. I’d rather focus on her than dwell on the past for now.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. Once you get to my age, you grow tired of reflecting on everything that’s ever gone wrong. Especially when things are finally going right.” Blitzwing replied with a reserved smile before his face spun to a grinning black void. “And it only took me over four million years to start checking off my bucket list.”

Bumblebee laughed. “Better late than never, right? But tell me about that bucket list - what else is on there other than finding a stunning conjux such as myself and creating the cutest sparkling in the universe?”

Blitzwing’s face spun back to blue, and he returned the minibot’s enthusiasm with a pout. “Well, I didn’t think I’d even get this far, so there isn’t that much left.“

“Then we can add new stuff together. But seriously, like, did you write an actual list?” Bumblebee’s optics lit up with juvenile curiosity.

“There was a physical list ages ago. It might lie around back home… I mean, at my place on New Kaon.” Blitzwing replied but got sidetracked by trying to recall where he had placed the datapad that included easily the most embarrassing milestones of his youth.

Bumblebee glanced up at Blitzwing with a grin. “Heh, that’s cute. Just one of Megatron’s big, scary war machines writing silly little bucket lists like a newbuild.”

Blitzwing frowned before his face spun to a red visor glinting with annoyance. “And what about it?”

“Nothing. It’s just the reason I liked you so much when we started seeing each other. You’re the only Decepticon I’ve ever met who has some sense of humor and knows how to have fun. Although you do have a short temper.” Bumblebee added with a teasing grin.

The triple changer’s face clicked back to an icy facade, and he shrugged. “I suppose that makes two of us. Let’s hope the little one didn’t get too much of that particular part of the code.”

“Well, she’s a sparkling. Temper tantrums are how they communicate. They’re not so different from newly hatched humans, from what I’ve seen.” Bumblebee noted.

Blitzwing pressed his lips together in disgust. “What? Humans hatch? From what, egg sacks?”

He did not get a reply. Bumblebee’s optics flashed when the realization hit him that there was someone he definitely could share the joyous news with. “I have to tell Sari! Do you think we can wake Astra for a quick video call?”

“You mean your… pet-human back on Earth?” Blitzwing asked and while he did recognize the name of the little human, he had almost forgotten her existence. They had never gotten a chance to be properly introduced to one another. 

As it turned out, Bumblebee had already let her in on the secret relationship he had begun with the triple changer, so he had probably let something slip about the sparkling at some point too.

“Not pet, my friend. Maybe even my best friend. Sari is great. Maybe now that Astra’s here, I can officially introduce you guys. Don’t pull a face- She has been very supportive of us, well at least of me dating you, and she hasn’t told anyone else - not that she ever would. Sari knows how to keep a secret.” Bumblebee began and continued on and on about just how much his human friend knew about things that should have been secret.

While he tried to listen, Blitzwing wondered if Sari had to listen to Bumblebee talk about him and the now not-so-secret relationship nonstop. She probably had to endure the same onslaught of information about someone she barely knew outside of armed combat. How she could accept Blitzwing as a partner for her friend was beyond the triple changer, but perhaps a sparkling would lead to a smoother transition.

At least she had kept their secret. It was only a matter of time until someone found out and ran with the gossip. For now, it was pleasant to know only two other individuals outside their relationship knew their sparkling existed. Blitzwing didn’t feel quite keen on sharing his creation with the rest of the world yet. She would grow up soon enough.

Chapter Text

"I told you to lose my frequency!“ Blitzwing hissed over the comm while simultaneously trying to keep Astra from climbing up the cabinet. 

"Now don’t hurt my feelings, Blitzwing - You could have just blocked my frequency if you didn’t want to talk. On the matter of talking, you are the talk of the colony - because you happen to be the only one of Megatron’s loyal lieutenants who hasn’t returned to New Kaon yet.“ Swindle’s aggravating voice crooned from the other end of the line. "And maybe I just wanted to hear the voice of one of my favorite customers.“

"That was one time, and- Listen, I don’t have time for this. What do you want? I’m not buying anything, and my private life is none of your concern-" Blitzwing spat back before he quickly had to catch his offspring as she lost her grip and fell from her climbing spot near the very top of the cabinet. "Stop it, you’re going to hurt yourself.“ He muttered and realized too late who else had been listening.

"Is that a threat? Come now, we’re old pals. You don’t have to be rude-" Swindle began but was cut off by a high-pitched squeal followed by a giggle. "Wait, what was that? Was that a sparkling?“

"No.“ Blitzwing hissed but once again was betrayed by the talkative little seekerlet in his arms.

"But I am a sparkling!“ Bright blue optics looked up at her creator without a care in the world while Blitzwing’s face dropped in despair. Unfortunately, Astra had begun to talk in full sentences but had not yet learned not to reply to everything she overheard.

"No. Way.“ Swindle sounded too giddy on the other end of the connection. "You had a sparkling. So that’s why you didn’t come back, ha! Wait, how did you find a carrier just like that? Oh well, but that’s amazing, my sincerest congratulations. Oh, the others are going to love this-" 

The connection grew weaker for a brief moment and suddenly picked up voices and rustling noises in the background. Blitzwing felt his spark drop. Of course, the little turbo-weasel would tell everyone who came his way that their great leader’s missing lieutenant would return with offspring in tow. He would run right to his gestalt mates, before spilling the news to everyone else he met on his way to the next energon bar. If the Decepticon gossip network lived up to its reputation, the information would reach Megatron himself by the end of the next solar cycle.

"This is too good! Well, I don’t want to keep you from the little bitlet. I’ll be seeing ya.“ Swindle crooned and disconnected without giving Blitzwing even a moment to threaten him into silence. But the ‚enterpreneur‘ had not disconnected the call fast enough for Blitzwing not to overhear him yell "Vortex, you’ve got to hear this-" before the connection was cut.

Blitzwing ground his denta together, furious that Swindle would find a way to trade this very private information for favors and other knick-knacks, and the triple changer would not be able to stop him. The sly smuggler was not genuinely happy about the emergence of a new Cybertronian, but merely the prospect of holding one powerful gossiping bomb in his servos. For a moment, Blitzwing was tempted to hit up Lugnut just to call for an airstrike on Swindle. 

Instead, he stared down his adorable little creation before admitting defeat. "Now all of New Kaon knows you’re here.“ He sighed and stared into the two round, curious optics glinting at him. "Well, we’re not heading back there anytime soon. If we did, I’d never hear the end of it…"

He already knew Swindle was currently spilling everything to Vortex, and if the helicopterformer got the okay from Megatron, Blitzwing would be in for the interrogation of a lifetime. Why had he chosen to have offspring with an Autobot when any Decepticon would have been the superior choice? How come he had never disclosed his ability to carry in the first place?

Suddenly, Cybertron seemed like the greatest place in the universe, even with all the Autobots, their prejudices, and obnoxious, rigid rules. At least none of them would call every single decision he had ever made into question and pester him with wanting to hear all the details - not out of genuine interest but to pass judgment or to gather future blackmail material.

Astra looked up at her carrier, not quite grasping why her creator’s mood had soured. "Have I been bad? Am I in trouble?“

Blitzwing shook his head as his face clicked back to blue. "No, but I might be. Remember what I said about talking when your sire and I are using our comms?“

Astra nodded. "The same thing you say about sneaking energon goodies! I’m not supposed to, but I do it anyway.“

"Yes… you do.“ Blitzwing sighed and had to suppress a smile since he was trying to be a responsible creator who didn’t indulge in every bad behavior of his offspring. But Astra was as sneaky as she was honest. She confessed to all her 'crimes‘ right away, which made it harder to get mad at her.

"So…“ Astra began, with the same intonation and look her sire used whenever he was about to propose something. "Can I have a treat?“

Blitzwing stared down the sparkling. "You just told on me in front of the biggest gossip of the universe, and now you want a reward for that? Give me one good reason why I would say yes after that.“

Astra had learned the power of persuasion straight from Bumblebee because she cocked her little helmet in the same way with a bright smile that could have melted armor. 

"You said I’m not in trouble. Also, you love me this much?“ she giggled and stretched her short arms as far apart as possible to show just how much her carrier was supposed to love her, which was as ridiculous as endearing since she could not reach far anyway.

Of course, the carefully calculated spiel worked on Blitzwing whose face spun into a dark void with wobbly optics. "Aw, aren’t you the sweetest little thing? But I don’t just love you that much, I love you from here all the way up to the stars.“

The tiny seeker’s optics widened. "To all the stars?“

"Every last one of them.“

"That’s so many. Then I also love you to the stars, but a little bit more!“ Astra replied but naturally could not let her carrier upstage her.

"Only a little bit? And how much is that supposed to be?“ Blitzwing’s jagged denta twisted into a wider grin. 

Astra thought for a moment before she pointed down the hallway. "Uh, from my room to the door!“

"Hm, I see,“ Blitzwing’s face spun back to blue as an idea of how to keep his sparkling distracted from the prospect of energon goodies formed in his processor. "And how much do you love your sire? We can’t forget him now, can we?“

"Right! Uh, I love Bee from Cybertron to the moon.“ The sparkling declared with endearing ignorance and Blitzwing had to bite his glossa from correcting her that Cybertron had more than one moon. 

They continued that conversation and eventually Astra had forgotten about the energon goodies the same way Blitzwing had forgotten about the unfortunate slip-up with one of the worst gossips in known space.

As time passed, Blitzwing nearly forgot about the unfortunate conversation with Swindle. He had just put Astra in her miniature berth to recharge, which had been a hard fight since she preferred her carrier’s cockpit to recharge. As much as Blitzwing loved his creation, after spending every waking moment with her, he looked forward to having some time to himself. 

For the first time in forever, he felt at peace and some semblance of joy, a feeling he thought he had long forgotten. To have a purpose other than destruction was refreshing and so much more fulfilling than anything he had done over the last millennia. Whenever he looked at the sleepy optics of his sparkling, he wondered why he had run from possibly becoming a creator all his life. The answer was simply that he had not had Bumblebee at his side back then, and the idea of ever settling for anyone else seemed absurd now. At the end of the day, the comfort and happiness Blitzwing had finally found all originated from the presence of the yellow minibot. 

Yet something was gnawing at the back of his mind, a feeling he had tried to suppress since he had begun to settle into life on Cybertron. Despite how much he loved Bumblebee and tried to warm up to the minibot’s friends, he felt as though something was missing from his life. That something came with processor-aches and many arguments that often evolved into screaming matches or outright brawls. But for the first time in his life, Blitzwing missed his fellow Decepticons. They were loud, obnoxious, violent brutes no one could depend on unless their name was Megatron. Yet they had been a huge part of his life, and all he had ever known ever since the war broke out. 

He did not like to admit it - because he was happy with Bumblebee and the life they had built - but he sometimes missed the dimwitted chattering of Lugnut. He would not go as far as to call the big oaf his friend, but he had been better company than most. The other possibility was that Blitzwing had just gotten so used to the big lug’s presence that he simply missed the familiarity of their bickering.

Of course, Lugnut was not the only thing he missed - that would have been embarrassing. There were other things, blurry at the back of his mind, he could not quite recall. But the most harrowing difference was that on Cybertron, he was no one. 

It would have been awkward to admit this to Bumblebee, but the triple changer’s pride had taken a huge hit now that he held no authority. He missed the respect he had been met with by the Decepticons’ lower ranks, scattering to make way for him - one of the few who were lucky enough to act directly in the name of Megatron, a living extension of their leader.  

Even toxicity and chaos began to feel like home if it was all one was used to, and the process of seeking what was healthy instead of what was familiar was not always easy. But Blitzwing realized that it was Bumblebee who was healthy for him, not Cybertron in itself. The stability of the planet overflowing with energon was ideal for a sparkling, but the triple changer had no intention of staying on Autobot territory for good. No matter the wealth and abundance of Cybertron, the society residing on it was far from welcoming or healthy unless one belonged to the elite. 

Despite all the hardships that came with serving under Megatron, Blitzwing had not been treated like a common mech or been on the receiving end of arbitrary orders from incapable higher-ups for a very long time, and he had no intention of getting used to it either. The universe would have to die for him to accept any leader who had not earned their position. 

He had fought too hard to become a part of Decepticon High Command to let any glitchheaded Autobot despot order him around. Especially not when said glitchhead continued to make mean-spirited jabs at his conjux, and Blitzwing couldn’t do anything about it. All he could do was imagine tearing Sentinel’s jaw off whenever Bumblebee mentioned that the current leader of Cybertron had run his mouth once again.

Blitzwing shook his head with a frown. He was not usually one to get sentimental, and certainly not about the rough life he had lived after the war. A message popped up; someone had contacted him via his comm - and it wasn’t Bumblebee. 

With tired optics, Blitzwing skimmed through the seemingly unending paragraphs and at first assumed it was spam. Until he read the final line. The most sincere congratulations on your offspring and another fine addition to the ranks of Decepticons. Praise to our glorious leader! - Lugnut

Suddenly, Blitzwing missed the big lug a lot less. He rolled his optics as another addition to the string of messages that could easily pass as a ballad in praise of Megatron popped up on his HUD. It briefly occurred to him that Strika likely had proofread all of the endless run-on sentences for her consort, and for only a blink, he sympathized with her. But then he read on to get it over with. Reading Lugnuts messages was like reading a garbled version of every single piece of Decepticon propaganda fused into one unholy amalgamation.

Decorum demands you present the sparkling to Lord Megatron posthaste, but I understand the Autobot department of security may prevent you from leaving currently. Our great leader himself has taken action to send his most sparkfelt congratulations until you are able to accept his invitation to officially welcome the sparkling among our kind.

Blitzwing felt a pit of despair opening up in his spark chamber, as the realization hit him that Swindle had been a lot faster running his mouth than expected. If the news had reached Lugnut, then everyone else likely knew as well. 

"At least I’m not being shunned…“ Blitzwing muttered and deleted most of Lugnut’s messages except the last one. 

Maybe Megatron just wanted him to return to make an example out of him. But then he could just as well add him to the list and let Tarn do the dirty work. And no one who was on the list was usually contacted by anyone of Decepticon high command once the decision had been made. Unless they wanted him to think that he was in the clear-

Blitzwing shut off his comm and shuttered his optics with a groan. He was tired of the mind games that Decepticons seemingly couldn’t function without. Finally, he had his reminder of why he had fallen for Bumblebee, and why he had been willing to risk everything every time he had snuck away to meet the minibot.

Life could be so simple and lighthearted, with no strings attached, without any trapdoors that could lead to social or actual destruction. The life he had now, with someone who had wanted to share his spark with him and their sparkling, was more than he ever had hoped for. The only reason he missed his old life was that he had become so used to the excitement of combat and a highly stressful environment that stability and normalcy felt strange, almost underwhelming to him now.

But he would use every excuse available to him to put off returning to New Kaon for as long as possible, even if it drove his Decepticon comrades insane since they were desperate for more gossip and wanted to see the proof for themselves. 

Static crackled through his frame when the sudden shriek of his creation brought him back to reality. For a sparkling, Astra had learned much too quickly how to get her creators’ attention, and the most effective method was nearly blowing out her vocalizer while screaming their names.

Blitzwing sighed and hurried to the sparkling’s room, where he found the little she-devil smiling brightly when she realized she had gotten her way. "I want to fly!“ she demanded and stretched her little arms towards the triple changer, without even trying to stand up by herself. 

They were positively in the process of raising a spoiled brat, as Ratchet had kindly put it during the last checkup, but Blitzwing couldn’t find it in his spark to deny the little bitlet any of her wishes. So he plucked her from her crib with a bright red grin and lifted her into the air in a spin. "Aw, you want to go flying? Are you sure you won’t get dizzy?“

"Never!“ Astra’s optics flickered with excitement as she tried to wriggle out of her carrier’s grasp to get into Blitzwing’s cockpit. "Hurry!“ Given her instincts as a flight frame, she had already begun to seek out heights, which meant she was likely to launch herself off furniture despite her current lack of functional wings. 

After one near-accident too many and a very long discussion filled with never-ending questions of 'why’, Astra had agreed that she would wait for Blitzwing to take her flying until she was old enough to begin proper flight training. 

Another easy fix to her demands would have been throwing her from the roof and catching her mid-fall, but that would likely send Bumblebee into an anxiety-induced shutdown. The minibot didn’t even want to hear the argument that it had been an ancient Vosian tradition because it taught sparklings how to fly and got them accustomed to the heavy g-forces that came with the maneuvers their lithe frames allowed.

Blitzwing always looked forward to any chance to take to the skies since most citizens of Cybertron were grounders, and he essentially had the airspace all to himself. He was about to open his cockpit for the impatient seekerlet, who tried to pry her way in with her little claws when they were disrupted by the door dinging and lighting up, signaling guests. 

The chance that Bumblebee had forgotten the code to their apartment was unlikely, and Blitzwing put Astra back down into her crib just to be extra safe there wasn’t an unwanted intruder trying to pry their way in. The chances of home invasions on Cybertron were essentially close to zero, but Blitzwing would be deactivated before he abandoned all caution to trust strangers, let alone on a planet swarming with former enemies.

As he carefully approached the door, he received an incoming call on his comm link. The contact information was encrypted, but he answered it anyway. Before he could even ask just who was calling him, the voice on the other end began droning on. "You are connected to the Autobot Immigration and Registration Office. Am I speaking to former Decepticon Blitzwing, inhabitant of Iacon District 8, living quarters B2H12?“

"Uhm… yes?“ Blitzwing barely remembered their address as it was. Back on New Kaon, no one had bothered putting up an elaborate system of addresses as it currently existed on Cybertron.

 Most Decepticons just knew where their comrades lived or went with vivid descriptions like 'the partially collapsed building next to the energon bar on the second street left from the Great Leader’s Palace. ‘ Blitzwing personally had lived in the domed mansion close to the Grand Square, right across the private archives of the Department of Propaganda. But he could not remember if the Cybertronian address system had been as complicated before the war as it was now.

The voice on the call did not give him enough time to think about it further, and continued, "Great, then we did register your comm frequency correctly. Usually, the guys from Primary Registration forget to do that. But on to more important matters! We have a request from off-planet visitors who registered for visitation rights under the new peace agreement and declared the intention to visit you personally. Do you approve of that? If not, we can always have the Elite Guard remove them for you.“

Blitzwing’s annoyance and confusion only increased. Why anyone on Cybertron would approve of a visitation request that was technically still pending was beyond him. It was a stupid security risk, and if he had held the same power as he did on New Kaon, he would have made an example out of everyone involved in this mess. 

"What visitors?“ 

The door signal chimed again, and he rolled his optics as he slowly approved of the access request. It was probably a delivery for one of the neighbors that he really didn’t want to accept, mainly because none of the Autobots living in the building would have done the same for him or Bumblebee.

On the other end of the line, the clerk seemed to struggle with deciphering the names on the protocol. "Hm, yes, about their names… strange, the datapad seems corrupted. But we have three designations here. Wait, let me try to reset the display-"

"Mhm.“ Blitzwing had to resist the urge to comment on the blatant unprofessionalism of the Autobot clerk, but since he had moved together with Bumblebee, the fact that Cybertron was held together by too many barely qualified individuals had become quite clear. Most of the younger bots simply didn’t know better, and he did not want to rub it in. But he did begin to wonder how the Autobots had won the war in the first place.

The apartment door unlocked as the clerk finally managed to get their datapad working. "Aha! Here we go. The individuals who have signed up for a temporary visitation visa are from the Decepticon colony of New Kaon. It says here they’re called Flamewar, Drag Strip, and Blast Off.“

The door hissed before it opened and revealed all too familiar helmets and faces with the same red optics as his own. Blitzwing’s mood and expression instantly soured. Of course, they were already here.

Without missing a beat, the clerk asked once again for confirmation. "Do you accept them as official guests or should we come to remove them?“ 

If Megatron had sent Tarn instead, Blitzwing would not have been able to reply because he would have been deactivated already. The thought alone turned his tanks as he stared back into the expectant optics of the unwanted visitors, who had the unexpected courtesy to wait with their greetings or their attack until the call would be disconnected.

While he did feel like tearing the entire Autobot Immigration Office apart, Bltzwing simply sighed deeply. He felt as though his spirit had left his frame. "No... I got it.“ He muttered and disconnected the call.

He could handle three of his comrades. Or so he thought until he saw the oversized gun Blast Off carried. Maybe he should have asked for backup.

Chapter Text

The planet’s two moons were visible from the window panels of his office, as they drifted in the dead void of space, unfeeling and indifferent.

Once he returned to his home planet, Bumblebee realized rapidly that there was a completely different kind of homesickness - not for the place of his origin, but for the place where his spark was. And part of his spark had stayed on Earth with Sari, the streets of Detroit, endless green forests, and a radiant singular moon. 

The gloomy skies of Cybertron hardly compared to the crisp blue atmosphere of Earth, now that Bumblebee thought about it. If it weren’t for his freshly formed family unit and friends, nothing else would have kept him on his boring, rigid homeworld that the personal tormentor of his youth now ruled.

Bumblebee felt his charge deplete rapidly during this particularly slow shift. He would have much rather stayed home with Blitzwing and their sparkling to compensate for lost time between him and his triple changer. 

Once again, he realized working on a repair crew was not the worst job. He missed the adventure, the endless fields of stars, but most of all, spending time with the bots he now considered his closest friends - besides Sari, of course. 

Bumblebee missed her even more and had already begun planning a trip back to Earth when their sparkling would be old enough to leave the safe confines of Cybertron. They would certainly be able to arrange something together; Sari had become the ambassador of Cybertron on her homeworld after all. A part of him hoped Blitzwing wouldn’t mind turning his back on Cybertron in the future to seek greater things in the endless outback of interstellar space, maybe even settling on Earth.

Sentinel had not cared enough to give any of the crew members any real power after their ‘heroic’ return from Earth’s barbaric, organic wilderness. Of course not; the glitchhead would self-destruct before he shared the spotlight with anyone while he ran Cybertron into the ground. 

But he had been gracious enough to grant all Earth team members a ‘promotion,’ which ended with Bumblebee being a glorified clerk in a dead-end department solely focused on sorting old, wartime files. Now that he thought about it, perhaps this wasn’t as much of a promotion as it was a punishment. 

But the peace treaty with the Decepticons remained frail, and whenever Bumblebee complained about Sentinel’s antics to Blitzwing, the triple changer’s expression grew grim. He always said something about how all weak and cowardly leaders fall while true leaders rise to take their place, and no population would endure a weakling as a leader for long.

Bumblebee liked to think Blitzwing wasn’t hinting at something as horrible as Megatron possibly violently tearing Sentinel’s frame apart one day before claiming Cybertron for himself, but that someone more fitting would eventually take his place as ruler of Cybertron. Someone like Ultra Magnus, maybe even Optimus Prime. His dear old bossbot certainly was more of a capable leader than Sentinel would ever be. 

But for the time being, Bee would have to bear the rare run-in with the arrogant glitchhead and pretend his ugly mug wasn’t plastered across the entire planet, with that insufferably smug aura mocking his subjects at every turn. 

His comm lit up with an incoming call, and Bumblebee’s mood brightened immediately. He wasn’t the only one who got bored while on the job. One quick break to catch up with a dear friend wouldn’t hurt.

"It’s been a while since you took off from New Kaon with Lugnut to search for Lord Megatron, hasn’t it?“

The silence that followed was suffocating, as tension lingered in the air one could have cut with a blade. A dreadful pair of red optics stared down Blitzwing, unmoving but always plotting, scheming. 

Flamewar’s lips twitched into a nasty smile. "Only few could ever count themselves so lucky to be personally regarded by our Great Leader. Given your deeds during the war, Lord Megatron has always given you a warmer treatment than most, even going so far as to select you as the first to undergo the triple changer upgrade. What an honor that must be.“

Blitzwing’s optics glinted dangerously. He glared back at the unwelcome visitors who invaded the living space. "I am well aware of my position.“ He began but had to hold back a spiteful comment about how the botched procedure had been far from a privilege and had left him with a shattered processor. But he had played the game long enough to know better.

Instead, he kept a watchful optic on the other two members of the entourage before he continued. "That announcement is a strange way to greet your superior officer, Flamewar. Unless you want to tell me something I don’t know yet?“ Blitzwing asked and considered taking a slow step back to find something, anything really, to use as a weapon in case things went south.

The femme remained silent for an unbearably tense moment before her cold smile faded. "Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to threaten you.“

"Is that so?“ Blitzwing asked, barely able to control his faces from spinning out of control. He could probably take on the three of them if he had to, although a fight would ruin the apartment’s interior Bumblebee had spent so much time setting up. If one of them so much scratched any of the decorations the minibot had carefully chosen for their living space, Blitzwing swore to himself that he would bite the guilty party’s head off.

Behind the motorcycle-former, Drag Strip crossed her arms with an annoyed grunt. "That’s enough! This is why I suggested we practice what we want to say. You never had a way with words, Flamewar.“ She hissed and pushed past Flamewar, who seemed ready to retaliate against her colleague for the received offense but ultimately suppressed her anger. 

"We’re not here to fight you, Blitzwing. Why would we?“ Drag Strip, tiny as she was compared to the average Decepticon, raised her arms defensively as she approached the triple changer. "Lord Megatron tasked us with presenting his gifts for the sparkling, nothing more. He seemed quite pleased you were able to stay on Cybertron legally. No other Decepticon has achieved that yet. 'Cunningly devious‘ were his exact words if I remember correctly. Now, if you would be so civilized to let us in. It was enough trouble to get past Autobot Customs, and we only want to finish the job.“ She spoke calmly, which surprised Blitzwing since he only knew her as a small but fearsome ball of rage in war and exile. 

But her next request explained why she almost seemed to be in a good enough mood to take on the role of diplomat. "Well, we’d also like to see your sparkling, if you don’t mind.“ 

Of course they did. There was always a catch when any Decepticon volunteered to do something 'nice‘, Blitzwing thought but fixed his posture into a more relaxed stance.

If he played his cards right, they would leave again soon enough - hopefully before Bumblebee returned or the Elite Guard realized they had let Decepticons with loaded arms into Autobot territory. 

"Fine.“ He finally relented and motioned them to enter. "Do come in, but don’t break anything.“

 "Can we please hang out sometime? Pretty please? You never even invited us over to your new apartment. Usually, it would be our duty as friends to throw a party for the occasion.“ Bulkhead’s voice boomed over the comm, and Bumblebee had to adjust the volume before anyone overheard him chatting with his friend while at work. "And we never even got the chance, Bee.“

"Well, there was a reason for that. Besides, I don’t think my darling conjux would be happy to entertain guests when his servos are full with caring for our sparkling.“ Bumblebee replied, trying to find other excuses than outright saying that his bulky friend might break the decorations at the apartment.

An additional voice made the minibot jump. "Won’t you also be there to help your partner, Bumblebee? As is the duty of a committed conjux?“

Bumblebee went to check the call log and realized he was not just talking to Bulkhead. "Prowl? How long have you been on?“ He stuttered as he realized his friends coming over would be inevitable now. Making excuses with Bulkhead was easy since the gentle giant was a spring running over with understanding. But Prowl saw through every excuse under the sun.

"Long enough. I understand you are busy with your offspring, but don’t you think Blitzwing might enjoy company that can hold a conversation? Don’t tell me you let him isolate himself with the sparkling whenever you’re not home? That would be far from healthy.“ The Cyber-Ninja’s voice dripped heavily with judgment.

Before Bumblebee could even attempt to argue against that point, Bulkhead chimed in. "Exactly. Stop hogging your conjux and the little bitlet. I once read a study about carriers and how they become mentally unstable if they’re isolated from other bots while caring for sparklings for a long time. With all due respect, I don’t think Blitzwing can afford any more instability. Come on, it’ll be fun. The last time we met, we got on pretty well. He’s fun when we’re not shooting each other.“ The gentle giant sounded too enthusiastic to turn down.

With a sigh, Bumblebee gave in since he did see the point his friends were trying to make. It had crossed his processor before that Blitzwing needed to socialize outside their sparkbond. At least a part of the triple changer loved to chatter and joke around - he should get the chance to socialize with someone other than Bumblebee. "Fine, it’s a party. But not right after my shift. I want to give Blitzwing at least a heads-up.“

Prowl let out a satisfied hum. "Then I will inform Ratchet and Optimus.“

 "Look at us, getting the gang back together. This is going to be great.“ Bulkhead’s voice rang over the comm while ignoring the fact that they already met up regularly.

Bumblebee shook his head but decided to indulge his friend. "Sure, Bulk. I’ll just pretend you’re not just looking for an excuse to see the sparkling…“

Bulkhead huffed on the other end of the connection. "She happens to be very cute. Not all of us are blessed to have an adorable sparkling waiting at home. When was the last time you saw a little bitlet out and about on Cybertron, huh? Just watching her discover the world is the cutest thing-“

Bumblebee couldn’t help but nod as Bulkhead recounted just about every single thing Astra had done the last time they had met. As a proud creator, he could understand his friend’s excitement about his offspring, who definitely was the most adorable sparkling that had ever existed. However, he felt somewhat unsure about how Blitzwing would react to the unexpected company coming over.

If there was one thing Bumblebee had learned about his conjux, it was that the triple changer’s 'lunacy‘ acted as a great buffer to keep interactions to a minimum and allowed him to disguise how easily annoyed he got with other bots, especially other Decepticons. It also helped to keep things lighthearted and made even the most mundane tasks more fun. 

In the end, no matter how much Bee tried to study Blitzwing’s mood swings, the element of complete unpredictability remained. There was no way to tell whether he would be delighted or disgruntled when the minibot’s friends came over. The fact that remained was that Blitzwing desperately needed to socialize outside of their bond and it was up to Bumblebee to make sure that happened.

"Alright Bulk, I’ll see you guys in a bit.“ He nodded to himself as though to reassure himself that this was the right decision and he was not at all patronizing his colossal, deadly warframe of a conjux.

Once the plans had been made, the rest of his shift went by in a blink. Bumblebee barely noticed that he had sorted through his entire batch of files for the next few shifts as he finished early. The thought of spending time with not only his sparkling and conjux, but his dear friends had breathed new life into his frame and he left the dull office with a spring in his step.

He couldn’t wait to get home.

Chapter Text

A long time ago, Sari had asked Bumblebee if Cybertronians dreamed. At the time, he hadn’t understood what she meant. What sentient beings didn’t have dreams and aspirations? Yet the current state of scholarly research suggested that Cybertronians did not dream like humans. 

But their kind processed lived experiences, hopes, and fears during recharge all the same. That had to count as a dream. It counted for Bumblebee, anyhow. He would know all about that, especially with the frequent nightmares that plagued him.

Ever since sharing his spark with Blitzwing, Bumblebee had frequent bad dreams about Megatron, who personally came after him and tore his frame apart for daring to sparkbond with one of his lieutenants. It did occur to Bee that it was odd how it was never Blitzwing who was in danger in those dreams. 

Why his processor somehow gave a warframe like Blitzwing the role of a damsel in distress guarded by a deadly beast was beyond Bumblebee’s understanding. But he attributed it to the fact that Megatron would sooner dispose of a tiny Autobot than one of his trusted right-hand bots and one of his greater investments at that.

There was no doubt Bumblebee dreaded reencountering Decepticons enough that his subconscious picked up on that fear during recharge. This new era of peace should have eased his concerns somewhat. However, the fact that Blitzwing often made ominous remarks that called the sincerity of the agreement into doubt did very little to alleviate Bumblebee’s fears.

None of that weighed on his processor when he skipped home, excited to see his conjux and sparkling again and to announce that his friends would be visiting later. The neighbor’s fearful looks he received as he entered the building should have roused some suspicion in the minibot. But with his spirits high, Bee overlooked them. 

By now, most of the neighbors knew that the yellow minibot that lived on the top floor belonged to the dangerous warframe that soared across the sky ever so often. Perhaps it was for the best Bumblebee missed their curious glances every time or failed to overhear their gossip. Multiple concerned or angry pairs of blue optics followed the tiny yellow frame disappear into the building.

"I wonder if this is it. I bet they’re going to harvest the poor kid for parts.“

"I doubt it. Did you know he bonded with that monster voluntarily? Why harm him now?“

"Maybe the bug’s a spy working for Megatron. Although those three from earlier looked dangerous. Do you think they came here to settle a score?“

"Why the Elite Guard would let any more Decepticons onto Cybertron is beyond me. Let’s hope those three don’t move in. One Decepticon in the neighborhood is enough.“

Without a care in the world, Bumblebee pressed the elevator button and checked his armor for smudges while he rode up. He knew Blitzwing did not care too much about appearances, but Bee had made a habit of polishing his armor frequently. Deep down, he knew the triple changer was charmed by the scent of a fresh polish and adored how the light caught on the shiny yellow finish.

Sometimes, he couldn’t believe his luck, that he had managed to woo a Decepticon somehow who genuinely seemed to love him for who he was: an Autobot with no titles, wealth, or extraordinary abilities. The personal failures his peers had loved to bring up frequently left the triple changer completely unfazed, as though none of it mattered. Blitzwing didn’t see him as a bumbling failure. While Bumblebee didn’t exactly know what the triple changer loved so much about him, he knew in his spark that he wouldn’t have to worry about losing that affection.

The thought of Blitzwing’s dimmed red optics lovingly looking down on him sent his spark spinning, and he couldn’t wait to barge into their apartment to jump into his triple changer’s arms. 

Before he had the chance, and he could even exit the elevator, his darling conjux practically tore open the doors and shoved himself in there to block the door, which closed behind him.

"Bumblebee, you’re home!“ 

Bee had half expected a glossa shoved into his mouth in a passionate welcome-home kiss. But the uncertain tone of Blitzwing’s voice was more than suspicious. 

The minibot had to do a double take when he realized it was Blitzwing’s black void of a face looking down at him with a queer expression. The triple changer almost looked panicked, but somehow had displayed the emotion on the wrong faceplate. This did not bode well.

"Blitzwing, did something happen? Is our sparkling okay?“

"Huh, Astra? Oh, our little bitlet couldn’t be better!“ Blitzwing’s random persona droned on in the ever-happy tone that did not match the odd expression. Nor did it explain why he would not let Bumblebee into their apartment.

"But are you alright?“ Bumblebee asked and moved closer. To his surprise, Blitzwing almost seemed to back further into the closed door behind him, unwilling to grant the minibot entrance into their home. 

"And don’t even try to lie to me. I can tell something is up. You’re acting more than strange - and not the usual fun kind of strange.“

"Ah… I-" Blitzwing struggled for words, as the red maw on black canvas settled into a sad frown. "It’s not what it looks like, I promise! This wasn’t my idea- I didn’t even want to let them in! It all happened so fast.“ he stammered before breaking into laughter. "Ahaha… What was I supposed to do? Shoot them? Eat the remains? No, hiding those would be better-“ He sounded less manic and more rattled than anything.

From inside the apartment, an unsettling voice droned, sending shivers down Bumblebee’s frame. "Blitzwing, tell your Autobot pet to bring us something to fuel while you’re out there!“

The minibot’s wide-open optics stared down the triple changer in terror. "Who the pit is in there?“

Blitzwing responded with an awkward shrug. "My coworkers? Or former coworkers…“ he muttered, sounding unsure of where he currently stood with the Decepticon forces. While they were technically his subordinates, using that term in a conversation with Bumblebee felt wrong.

With a sigh of defeat, Blitzwing shuddered before his face clicked to blue with dimmed optics. "Please just play along until I can kick them out. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. I’ll even let you do that thing I’m not really into-"

Bumblebee continued to stare at his conjux with widened optics. "Why? I mean- How did they even get here?“

Blitzwing’s lips quivered, and his optics refused to focus on Bumblebee. "Well… I suppose someone snitched on me, and the entire Decepticon empire found out about our sparkling. At least Megatron doesn’t want either of us dead for now. That’s not too bad, right?“ he tried to spin the situation into something positive but knew this was anything but uncomfortable. "They may also have misinterpreted absolutely everything about our relationship. They’re not that bright. It’ll be easier to play along until they finally leave. Those three just came here to deliver Megatron’s gifts.“

Visibly uneasy, Bumblebee ground his denta. "None of those gifts are grenades or disguised time bombs, I hope? The kind that’ll blow the entire neighborhood off the map when they go off?“

"Oh please, Lord Megatron would not think about harming a sparkling. From my understanding, he sees Astra as a Decepticon newspark.“ Blitzwing replied.

"Technically, our sparkling is neither Autobot nor Decepticon - well, or at the very least, she’s both. I don’t know how shared coding works, but she’s certainly not a Decepticon!“ Bumblebee argued, relieved that the warlord would not harm their sparkling but concerned that the old buckethead already claimed her as part of his forces. 

Blitzwing’s calm expression grew more furious, but he had to restrain himself from switching faces since his angry persona was incapable of keeping his voice down. "I know! But try explaining that to an army of overexcited violent mechs who are cognitively on the slower side. Megatron twisted this into some grand moment of Decepticons overcoming hardships and reclaiming Cybertron. Don’t even get me started on how I feel about that! But for now, we can be certain our little bitlet will be safe at least. No Decepticon with a halfway working processor would dare to lay a digit on Astra with Lord Megatron’s protection.“ He hissed, and for a moment, it looked as though his monocle was about to burst from the barely suppressed anger boiling underneath his armor.

Bumblebee shook his head and muttered to himself, "Great, so the Scourge of Kaon himself thinks he’s the godfather of our sparkling for some reason.“ 

But he knew Blitzwing had no comprehension of what a godfather was, and since Bee did not want to anger his conjux further, he just sighed and looked up at the triple changer. "So these guys think that our sparkling - with mixed coding, mind you - is essentially Decepticon royalty?“

"Not royalty. But part of high command and thus an extension of Lord Megatron to some degree.“ Blitzwing noted, before growing defensive. "Listen, I’m not saying this is great. But it beats the alternative.“

Bumblebee frowned. "Oh yeah? And what is the alternative to Megatron claiming our sparkling as part of his forces?“

Blitzwing’s icy face of indifference looked as though it was about to crack as he bared his denta while trying to keep his face from switching. "The alternative is that Megatron declares me a traitor, has me publicly executed, maybe even alongside you, and hands our sparkling to Shockwave for him to figure out what mixed coding does to a frame. Would you prefer that?!“ he hissed and exhaled sharply when he saw the minibot shrink under his glare.

Ashamed of his outburst, Blitzwing turned away and let his helmet clunk against one of the elevator walls. "I’m sorry. This is my fault, not yours…“ he sighed. "I don’t even want to know what Autobot Intelligence will make of this. Anything more than those three glitchheads would probably register as an invasion.“

Bumblebee inched closer toward the triple changer and placed a small servo on one of Blitzwing’s arms. "At least we don’t have to worry about Astra’s safety or our own for now?“ he said with a reassuring smile that dropped instantly when he remembered the other visitors he had invited into their home. "Scrap. Actually, I invited my friends over for later. I, uh, thought you would like some company, but I guess you already found some-"

"What?“ Blitzwing’s face spun wildly before returning to a visibly panicked blue faceplate. "You have to cancel immediately! If your friends see who we have in our apartment right now, this will end terribly.“

"Wouldn't that be just as suspicious? Oh, sorry, you guys can’t come over, because we totally don’t have a small Decepticon invasion on our servos or anything.“ Bumblebee flashed a sheepish grin up at the triple changer. 

When the smile was not returned, he sighed. "Should we just steal a ship and run for it? Never come back? We could build a new life on some abandoned moon. Build our own energon refinery, live off the land…“ he muttered.

"We are not leaving our sparkling behind!“ Blitzwing hissed before realizing he had left said sparkling alone with three dangerous Decepticons. "Let’s head back in. Whatever happens, remember you can’t run from a sparkbond.“ He noted with a faint smile. But the tone of his voice didn’t make it clear whether he was joking or it was a genuine threat to keep Bee from running away.

Bumblebee sighed. "I’m not going to run as long as none of your comrades try to crush me.“

Blitzwing frowned. "I believe deep down they know I’ll tear their faceplates off if they try to hurt you.“ With a final motion to head into the den of beasts, he opened the elevator doors to return to the living space where he had left their uninvited guests unattended.

With uneasiness settling into his spark chamber, Bumblebee’s optics flicked around the room to assess the threat level of the current situation. From his first impression, he gathered that Megatron had sent three of his least intimidating-looking Decepticons. Since he had no idea who they were,  they could not be ranked high enough to be considered a lethal threat by the Elite Guard. 

One looked like a flyer, though closer to a shuttle than a jet, who stared down Bumblebee in deadly silence. He did not like that one immediately. 

The other two were femme grounders, one who wore a cold smirk while oozing superiority, while the other one held her chest armor with cackling laughter. They had been joking about something. Bumblebee did not want to guess whether it had been about him or not. He decided to ignore it.

Blitzwing cast a lethal glare in the direction of Flamewar, who stopped laughing immediately but settled into a feigned cough that barely disguised her amusement. "So, this is your pet?“ she asked before snorting. "What, did those Autobots run out of taller protoforms?“

Bumblebee made a mental note that he didn’t like that particular Decepticon either but tried to keep his poker faceplate from slipping. He felt a heartfelt apology pour into his sparkbond and glanced up at Blitzwing, whose icy face was distorted into an irritated grimace. 

"He’s not my pet, but the sire of my sparkling. Now-" Blitzwing began, and Bee shuddered at the more than stern tone he had never heard from the triple changer’s icy persona until now. "You are welcome to fuel and see the sparkling. But she’ll need to recharge soon, which means you’re welcome to leave by then.“ 

The third Decepticon slammed a fist into the shoulder of Flamewar. "Will you shut up? Thanks to your big mouth, we’re getting kicked out.“ Drag Strip hissed before giving both Bitzwing and the minibot what could pass for an apologetic look. 

"Of course, we’re just here to deliver the presents for the sparkling. We won’t be bothering you for much longer.“ She announced before locking her optics on Bumblebee specifically. "Lord Megatron personally sends his best wishes to welcome your sparkling among her kind.“ 

"How generous.“ Bumblebee could only respond with an awkward nod before he averted his gaze.

He had to do a double-take when he saw the very deadly giant gun leaning against the wall of their apartment. Primus knew what else the maniacs had sent over for their sparkling. He wondered just what was happening on Decepticon colonies where weapons were considered acceptable gifts for any newbuild.

Finally, their little creation toddled back into the living space, giddy about her guests. Looking up at Bumblebee with a bright smile, she pointed at the three deadly frames occupying their furniture. "Look, they’re huge!“

"They sure are.“ Bumblebee nodded with a wry smile, trying not to rain on his sparkling’s parade. But it did not sit right with him that their sweet, naive little creation was not frightened whatsoever by the presence of the three monstrous strangers. 

The silent flyer, who Blitzwing would later identify as Blast Off after Bumblebee asked, seemed almost endeared - at least from what little clues his halfway-covered faceplate revealed. "Of course. You too shall one day grow into a formidable frame, little seeker.“

Flamewar stared at her comrade with a dull look. "Oy, Blast Off. How can you even tell she’s a seeker? Is it one of your weird flight-frame instincts? She just looks like a chubby little blob with wing nubs to me.“

Blast Off’s optics darkened in annoyance. "Hm, it is quite clear that you know nothing about sparklings. We can thank Primus that you never had to care for one either.“ He replied dryly before looking down at Astra with bright red optics. "It is more than obvious that this little lady is a seeker.  The wings, cockpit, and thrusters are already visible. Her features will only grow more prominent as she grows. Isn’t that right?“

Astra looked up at the stranger in awe with a little nod while Bumblebee watched in horror. Of course, she knew nothing about real Decepticons outside of Blitzwing and simply assumed they were all as friendly as her carrier. It did not help Bee’s peace of mind whatsoever.

Drag Strip picked up Astra, which sent alarms blaring in Bumblebee’s processor. The femme looked at the sparkling as though not quite sure what to do with her, before setting the seekerlet down on the empty space on the sofa. She awkwardly cleared her vocalizer. "Unfortunately, we were only able to deliver a fraction of the gifts, thanks to Autobot customs. But the rest will be waiting for you by your residence once you return to New Kaon, Blitzwing.“

Flamewar poked the sparkling’s miniature cockpit with a smirk as though she expected a chuckle from the chubby little frame. "That means you’ll have to come visit us and Lord Megatron if you want the rest of your presents, little one.“

Astra’s optics lit up. "I want to visit Lord Megatron! Can we go?“

Bumblebee felt a jolt of electricity coming from the sparkbond and immediately felt the crushing waves of dread rolling over his own frame. 

Meanwhile, Blitzwing looked as though he was about to shut down permanently. Dull red optics barely flickered as he forced a crooked smile onto his blue faceplate. "We can talk about that later.“ He replied with a calm tone, but it had a barely detectable edge to it that told Bee the triple changer was screaming internally.

The implication that Blitzwing was expected to return to their colony despite the peace agreement only increased the anxiety Bumblebee felt growing inside his spark chamber. Maybe the agreement really was just a ploy for Megatron to gather his forces and resources to rebuild before delivering a final, inescapable fatal strike against the Autobots. 

Despite his attempts to keep his emotions contained, Bumblebee’s fears bled into the bond but immediately were met with a projection of reassurance from the triple changer. Whatever happens, you and our sparkling are all that matter to me. Even if you find yourself unable to believe in anything else, that’s the one truth you can always rely on.

Those words stirred something in Bumblebee’s spark chamber, and he could have sprung an optical leak right then if it hadn’t been for their present company. For someone suffering from alleged random fits of insanity, Blitzwing sure had a way with words when he truly wanted to. 

You sappy old bot, Bumblebee projected back and caught the hint of a smile on Blitzwing’s otherwise unmoving faceplate.

The rest of the visit turned into a blur while Bumblebee contemplated just what else they would have to expect in the future. 

Finally, Astra had to go recharge which marked the end of the dreadful visit and the three Decepticons finally made their move to leave.

On the way out, Flamewar, the horrible motorcycle-former who Bumblebee definitely didn’t want to see again, turned her head one last time. "You really should consider returning to New Kaon, Blitzwing. We’ve really been able to upgrade the colony thanks to the 'peace agreement‘. It looks even better than during the height of Lord Megatron’s empire.“ She smiled before her mood darkened. 

"I don’t get how you can bear to live on an Autobot-run Cybertron. You’re probably getting the same dirty looks we got on the way here. Those Autobots can pretend they own Cybertron all they want, but this is our homeworld, too.“ She muttered before all three of them said their goodbyes.

While Blitzwing made sure their visitors found the exit and left for good, Bumblebee watched their sparkling as she recharged. The adorable little thing had no idea who she had just met and what kind of monstrous warlord had sent her lethal weapons as her first gift. 

Although now that he thought about it, at least Megatron had made the effort. Perhaps he wanted to remind Bitzwing of his sworn loyalty. However, the loaded guns and laser swords signaled greater support than anything they had received from Cybertronian leadership. 

Maybe it was because Bumblebee wasn’t important enough, but even if he was some lowly working bot, a sparkling was rare and precious. While his friends had been happy to spoil Astra on every occasion, neither Sentinel nor any other high-ranked official had even hinted that they knew the newspark existed. It stung to know that a monstrous warlord, who had brought war and death upon their kind, cared more about their sparkling than the self-declared leader of Cybertron.

With a frown, Bumblebee returned to their living space, where Blitzwing had flopped down onto the couch, looking positively miserable as he lay there. His blue face had switched to a black void with sad red optics and a downturned mouth of sharp denta. "What a mess. How are we going to get rid of all these weapons? Are Autobots allowed to own that many guns?“ The random persona let out a faint laugh, but it sounded more deflated than anything.

Bumblebee looked down at the sad jack-o-lantern face before patting the top of the triple changer’s head. "I don’t think there’s a limit. Probably because no one ever tried to collect that many. Autobots are boring like that, remember? There aren’t any real gun nuts on Cybertron - that I know of.“

Blitzwing frowned up at the minibot, though on this face, it looked closer to a pout. "Do you think I’m a gun nut, too?“ he asked, lacking the usual intensely amused tone of the random persona.

Bee shrugged before rolling onto the triple changer’s chassis. "Well, you once told me you preferred swords.“ He muttered. For a moment, Bee wondered why Blitzwing hadn’t fought with a blade when they met on Earth. It had probably been more economical with his old frame since the triple changer upgrade had added a lot more weight that would slow down a normal seeker. 

"But it’s a Decepticon thing to obsess over… killing tools, right? If that’s the culture over there on your colonies, then that’s how it is. Besides, you were shooting at my team and me when we first met, remember? I knew those cannons were going to be part of the deal.“ Bee admitted.

Blitzwing’s face spun to blue, but he still wore a pout and looked away from the minibot with a sigh. 

"But this isn’t really about the weapons, is it?“ Bumblebee asked carefully, trying not to trigger an angry outburst from the triple changer that would shatter his audials at this distance. The outburst never came. Instead, he was met by gloomy red optics.

"This wasn’t supposed to happen. I didn’t want any of them to know, let alone come here and manipulate my sparkling into thinking Lord Megatron is some friendly, fatherly figure we can visit like it’s a vacation!“ Blitzwing grimaced before pressing his lips together.

Bumblebee sat up on the triple changer’s chassis. "At least he doesn’t want you or our sparkling destroyed? Isn’t this the good outcome we’d hoped for? I mean, the gifts are a bit… much. But it looks like he’s happy you had her.“

"Of course, he’s happy. All he sees is another seeker who will join his forces eventually. Didn’t you hear them? They expect my loyalties to transfer over to her.“ Blitzwing muttered and leaned back his head but failed to hide the faint sparks flying from one of his optics.

"I can’t deny that I prefer Lord Megatron over that incompetent fool ruling Cybertron. I’ve spent the majority of my life following him, and proudly so. But that’s not what I want for our offspring. She should decide her path without worrying about who she’ll serve until she’s destroyed in combat. I won’t let anyone force her into that role, and if I have to kill them myself.“ Blitzwing uttered with a tone that sounded too calm to Bumblebee’s audials, considering the weight of his words.

"You know I hate it when you talk like that. I need you alive and without an entire faction trying to hunt you down because you killed their leader.“ Bumblebee grumbled. He loved the triple changer dearly, but sometimes it unsettled him how easily Blitzwing spoke of cutting someone’s life short. It was a painful reminder of how far Cybertronians had gone during the war and that Blitzwing’s past would forever cast a shadow over the present.

"Please don’t tell me you ever had to do anything like that for Megatron.“ Bumblebee muttered before he crawled closer to Blitzwing’s face, who refused to meet his optics.

"Would you hate me if I did? If I told you that I razed civilizations to the ground for Lord Megatron? You know who I am, Bumblebee. I can’t change that now.“ Blitzwing replied with a glum expression.

Bumblebee shook his head. "Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I wouldn’t hate you. Like it has never occurred to me before what you may or may not have done during a war. I knew what I signed up for.“ He replied and studied Blitzwing’s expression carefully. 

Bee was not certain whether it was shame, relief, or indifference he saw reflected in those red optics but knew that whatever had occurred in the past, Blitzwing had paid for it dearly by being forced into a different, unnatural frame and ended up with a fractured mind.

Maybe Bumblebee had been naive initially, but he had grown enough during their time apart to understand that everyone was capable of cruelty as much as they were of kindness, even love. He sometimes wondered if it was specifically Blitzwing’s state as a 'freak of nature’ that had allowed him to grow kinder, and less cruel than his Decepticon comrades.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter because he knew exactly who the triple changer was in the depth of his spark. Bee tilted his head with a smile that seemed to surprise Blitzwing who had expected more discussing his past or a full-blown argument. 

"I just think it would be good to know where you did any of that razing-down-civilizations stuff. So we’ll know which parts of known space to avoid in case anyone is out for revenge, you know?“ Bumblebee noted, half jesting, half serious about the concern.

The triple changer laughed. "You are a terrible little Autobot, did you know that?“

"Duh. That’s like the one thing I’m known for.“ Bumblebee grinned before placing his tiny servos on Blitzwing’s sharp cheeks. "But I’m glad my evil Decepticon conjux cares so much about our sparkling’s happiness. Just try not to fight anyone before talking to me about it first, maybe?“

"Oh, because you are so much more level-headed than me. But fine, you have my word. I won’t do anything rash without talking to you about it first.“ Blitzwing replied. Eventually, he sighed. "I suppose it was too much to ask for that they wouldn’t find out so soon.“

"Aw, Blitzy. It could have been so much worse, remember? It’s nice that they like her.“ Bumblebee said and poked one of the blue cheeks of the triple changer. "I’m surprised that they did, to be honest. Well, maybe not too surprised. She is pretty adorable after all.“

Blitzwing shuttered his optics with a weary sigh. "I need a three solar-cycle nap to process all of this. Where are we going to store all those gifts? Or do we just dump them somewhere outside?“

"I get why you’d want to do that, but we can’t just drop off loaded guns somewhere.“ Bumblebee replied.

"That’s what I’d do on New Kaon. Dump the weapons I didn’t want to keep somewhere, and they’d be gone by the next solar cycle.“ Blitzwing shrugged, and Bumblebee could only shake his head at the mental image of Decepticons picking up old weapons off the sidewalk like old furniture.

"That’s not going to work here, because a concerned citizen will call law enforcement instead.“ The minibot replied. "Besides, won’t the old Buckethead get upset when he finds out you got rid of his gifts?“

Blitzwing hummed as he contemplated that remark. "Well, it would be a waste. Some of the stuff is top-notch quality. I wish I could try them out before deciding what to keep… Maybe we should just shove them in some closet for now.“

"Try them out? You’d give me a show, though, right? Show me how to use those guns properly?“ Bumblebee asked, suddenly less concerned and a lot more interested in seeing the triple changer wield deadly weapons with masterful accuracy. 

A sly smile appeared on Blitzwing’s lips. "Oh, I’d show you how to use them. Maybe I’ll even show off some tricks. There’s a move called the reverse space ranger, but it’s considered too obscene to use in real combat. That giant laser rifle there is the perfect size to execute it, though.“

Bumblebee’s optics lit up and he mentally cursed Iacon for not having any shooting ranges to hold the triple changer to his claim. 

Their conversation was cut short when the light by the door lit up with a pinging sound. Bumblebee wiggled his optical ridges as he crept closer to Blitzwing. "What if we just didn’t open the door?“

The triple changer raised an optical ridge with pursed lips. "And keep your friends trapped in the elevator? Aren’t you a bad little bot today?“

"They can wait.“ Bee inched closer, hoping to steal a kiss. Unfortunately, he did not quite get the chance.

Within a fraction of a second, the door to their apartment clicked open, and Blitzwing swooped Bumblebee off his frame to put him down at a modest distance before they came into view of whoever stood inside the elevator. 

The minibot’s equilibrium was still stabilizing, when Bulkhead’s helmet popped into view. 

The gentle giant flashed an apologetic smile. "The door just opened on its own, sorry.“

Following behind him, Prowl shook his head. "I told you to not just barge in, even with the lock disabled. We didn’t mean to just let ourselves in..“ He said before giving both Bumblebee, who stood by the table, and the triple changer, who looked up from the couch, a curious look. "Were you not expecting us?“

Bumblebee’s mouth fell into a crooked half-smile. "Not so soon. We didn’t really manage to… clean up, yet.“ He replied and dreaded the moment both his friends would turn around and notice the giant gun leaning against the apartment wall or the other weapons in the other corner.

Observant as they were, Prowl only slightly turned his head, following Bee’s optics before his face dropped at the sight. 

Bumblebee could hear the Cyber-Ninja’s vocalizer already activating when he decided to shutter his optics. In the momentary darkness, he heard Bulkhead gasp before an onslaught of questions would undoubtedly follow. 

It was definitely the wrong place at the wrong time, but Bumblebee was glad to see his friends all the same. Would they yell at him? Probably. But they would understand and make it work somehow. That was another truth he could always rely on.

Chapter Text

Bumblebee’s head clunked against his desk. He was barely motivated enough to keep his optics online instead of just shuttering them for a quick nap. Once again, he longed to travel the wide-open stellar planes with his friends just like when they had been a simple repair crew. 

Unsurprisingly, sorting and updating old databanks that Autobot Intelligence couldn’t decide whether to keep or dispose of was not a fulfilling occupation. At least it wasn’t for Bumblebee. Some bots likely savored the tranquility of their desks and the privileges that came with the title Bee couldn’t even remember. 

He had only shrugged when Blitzwing asked him what position he held, which the triple changer still wouldn’t let him live down. 

"What am I supposed to answer when my comrades eventually ask what my conjux does for a living?“ Blitzwing had asked, with an expression somewhere between amusement and genuine confusion. 

He knew by now that the yellow minibot’s attention span could be flaky. However, the gaps in Bumbebee’s knowledge regarding his new position surprised the triple changer.

Bee had shrugged, "You can tell them I do something in administration.“ 

It wasn’t far from the truth and had stuck since the minibot had never found out what his official title was. Not that it mattered. Knowing Sentinel, it likely wasn’t important enough to mention anyway. No one important had to sort files all day. 

While it wasn’t the most significant job that would have been fit for a Hero of Earth and Cybertron, Bumblebee occasionally stumbled onto interesting data, mainly concerning the personal files of Decepticons that Autobot Intelligence had collected to build profiles and keep track of their enemies. 

Most files were texts or images. But rarely, video or audio data showed up in the endless folders that had to be sorted to the matching profiles. Every Decepticon profile generally contained the individual’s designation or aliases, a confirmed or estimated age, measurements, and their position within Megatron’s forces. Only the more important figures received additional descriptions detailing their crimes against Cybertron or their achievements within the Decepticon ranks - which often were the same thing.

Through these rare data finds, Bumblebee had become familiar with the Decepticon Propaganda and Agitation department. Dozens of the Decepticons whose profiles already contained audio recordings or video evidence happened to be members of Megatron’s propaganda machine, which had turned out more intricate than anticipated.

Somehow, Bumblebee had never been able to imagine Decepticons having a culture outside of beating anything into submission or antagonizing each other in their free time. He hadn’t dared to admit that in front of Blitzwing because Bee now realized how ignorant that sounded. But he hadn’t known anything about Decepticons other than what he had been taught in Autobot Academy. What he hadn’t been taught was that the mortal enemies of Autobots very much had a culture outside of senseless violence.

While Bee had only caught short glimpses of said culture through recordings of infuriatingly poor quality, he had learned that Megatron’s cult of personality was built on a foundation of a wide selection of entertainment for his soldiers. 

Much like the warlord himself, Decepticon entertainment encouraged yet disguised cruelty behind a shining, almost charming facade of decency. Radiant frames with no traces of combat on their finish sung of their compassionate, fatherly great leader, the peaceful colonies of the Decepticon empire, and the need to overcome Autobot aggression. Having met enough members of Decepticon high command in real life, Bumblebee found what he saw in those propaganda recordings laughable for how far removed from reality it was.

With a frustrated frown, Bumblebee continued to stare down the current ancient recording that was giving him a processor ache and paused it on the screen in front of him. Watching a highly polished femme flight frame with numerous casualties in her profile history on a stage with a bright smile, let alone sing with a crystal clear voice of the joy of mining energon, was more than bizarre. Her swaying wings, untouched finish, and well-maintained claws made it more than obvious that she had never been one of the poor Cons forced to mine energon for Megatron’s campaign

Not that it mattered now. The more pressing issue was that Bee had no idea how to identify her, which meant he was stuck at his desk until he was able to figure out the femme’s identity. 

The task seemed impossible - especially since after the Decepticons had been forced into exile, they had made a habit of altering, even changing frames altogether. The femme flight frame in the recording might already exist in the profile databank as a mech grounder or may even have disappeared entirely, only to resurface on Cybertron as a Decepticon spy hidden in an Autobot frame. 

Bumblebee sank deeper into his chair with an annoyed groan. Asking Blitzwing would have been the easiest solution. The triple changer had been important enough to know Megatron’s handpicked artists by name. 

He was dying to ask Blitzwing to finally move forward with his task but knew his position forbade any information leaving his work desk. Technically, any Decepticon propaganda was still outlawed and illegal to consume on Cybertron - which made no sense since they were at peace, and it was now literally part of Bee’s job to view endless recordings and assign them to the Decepticons in question. Why he even had to build these profiles with the peace agreement in place was beyond him.

Weary and fed up, he took a snapshot of the Decepticon on the screen and sent it to Optimus via comm, followed by a message. Please tell me you know who this is. 

Optimus’ answer came promptly. Don’t you have an entire system in place that’s meant to help you identify the individuals in each file?

I’m not getting any results. That Decepticon might as well not even exist. Bumblebee sighed and contemplated just deleting the recording so he could pretend he had never seen it to move on. When he was seriously considering acting on the intrusive impulse, another message from Optimus followed:

I’ll look into it. I might have seen her earlier.

Thanks. You’re the best, boss bot.

His spark swelling over with gratitude, Bumblebee leaned back with a giddy grin and decided to kick back his pedes until Optimus got back to him. There was no point in moving on now and risking losing the current recording in the endless collection of unsorted data again.

Bumblebee had dozed off some time ago when his comm pinged him awake. He had to strain his optics, which refused to focus after a nap he had never intended to take.

I found the Con you were looking for. However, you might want to come over and see this for yourself.

The minibot was unsure whether Optimus’ last statement meant that his search had been fruitful or he had been met with a concerning lack of results. But Bumblebee jumped up from his seat to race to the Prime’s office anyway at the prospect of something more interesting than his desk. 

"You called?“ Bee blasted through the door and zoomed into the office to stop right before he would have crashed into his friend’s desk.

"Careful!“ Optimus extended his arms as though that would have stopped the near collision. 

"That was close.“ He sighed before settling into a more pleasant expression. "I hope you’re not expecting too much from my message. I just thought you should see the files yourself. The photographic evidence must have been taken around the beginning of the war.“

A pondering pout appeared on the minibot’s faceplate. "Then my recording can’t be much older. Does it even make sense to keep all that data? Lotta these guys bit the dust and went back to the well of Allsparks a long time ago.“

A hint of a smile appeared on Optimus’s lips. "Well, not all of them did. Decepticon or Autobot, all sons and daughters of Cybertron deserve to be remembered, even if it’s only through our neverending databank. But take a look at these pictures.“ 

He flicked a servo against the holographic screen on his desk to project the first image against the wall panels. It was an aged picture only titled 'seekers‘, followed by a string of numbers. Those may or may not have been the date the shot had been captured. At this point, there was likely no one left to ask.

True to its title, the picture displayed a group of seekers of the Decepticon Air Force, including none other than Starscream. Bumblebee shuddered as the cold optics of the permanently offline, former Decepticon Second In Command stared back at him from the Great Beyond.

"Ugh, not this guy.“ Bumblebee muttered. For a moment, he thought he heard the Con’s clearly recognizable voice echo in his audials. 

Mildly uncomfortable, he looked over to Optimus. "Please don’t tell me you called me here just to remind me of that nightmare of a Con.“

"Of course not. Look at the femme in the back, that’s the Decepticon you were looking for. I believe that she’s actually-“ Optimus began but was cut off when the door to his office flew open and Sentinel 'Magnus‘ marched in, right past Bumblebee with an annoyed grimace. It may also just have been his usual expression. Bumblebee didn’t remember what a normal expression on Sentinel looked like.

With neither grace nor respect, the acting ruler of Cybertron threw numerous datapads onto the desk before Optimus. "More nonsense contracts that sprang from your ridiculous peace agreement. Sign these immediately; I have more important things to do than wait for you.“ Sentinel demanded, barely hiding his contempt and refusing to acknowledge Bumblebee, who he had almost run over.

Optimus simply glared back at the self-elected leader before he spoke slowly and carefully in an attempt to stay polite but firm. "My ridiculous peace agreement got the Decepticons off our backs, provided us with strong workers for the energon mines, and may help our race rebuild rather than drive us to extinction. While I am sure you must be quite busy, I will get these signatures to you once I’ve signed them on my own time. Right now, I’m working. Unless you give me a bonus or a promotion to be your personal assistant, old friend, these can wait.“

"Pff, work? Is that what you call hanging out and chatting with Primus’s favorite dropout over there?“ Sentinel asked, glancing over to Bumblebee who crossed his arms but kept his glossa in check.

"Believe it or not, I’m here on official work business to go over files under Optimus’s supervision.“ Bee replied and mentally told himself to be polite no matter what Sentinel would say. "But I'm sure you know how our branch operates since you come here so often to keep everything in check.“

Sentinel scoffed. "Please, I am the Magnus of Cybertron. I have bots who do that for me.“ He turned his head to look at the projected image on the wall panels. "Those damn flight frames all look the same. They’re not too hard on the optics though, at least once they’re not scowling like they want to harvest energon straight from your tank.“

Optimus rolled his optics and decided to continue even if Sentinel would not leave them alone. "Sure, now let’s move on to what I wanted to show you, Bumblebee. I found the next image with our missing seeker in connection to a different profile.“ He pulled up the next image, with what looked like a trine of seekers caught mid-conversation. 

Part of the trine was the brightly painted femme Bumblebee hadn’t been able to assign to any profile, wearing a bright grin that showed off two rows of artificially sharpened denta. Her smile reminded Bee of the jagged maw of Blitzwing’s random face. Although the femme’s smile was more smug than anything, directed at one of her trine mates who bared their denta in visible fury, while the third seeker glanced at the other two with a reserved, yet amused smile. 

The entire scene must have been captured in secret by Autobot Intelligence since the seekers seemed at ease. Bumblebee thought the three looked rather close and once again was reminded that Decepticons weren’t a monolith of bloodthirst and violence.

Sentinel grimaced at the femme’s jagged denta and recoiled. "Ew, what is that in her mouth? I doubt anyone would find that attractive.“

Optimus shook his head with a quiet sigh that failed to mask his annoyance. "I’m sure Decepticons do - they have always had very different beauty standards, even back then. From what we have gathered so far, that femme may have been one of the first rising stars of Megatron’s propaganda machine.“

Without visibly acknowledging his old friend had said something at all, Sentinel continued to ogle the seekers. "Huh, I don’t see it. She and the other one to the side look pretty common. The one in the middle isn’t too bad. Sleek but powerful design, nice facial symmetry, and an elegant, lustrous finish. They may even have been from the higher echelons of Vosian society. Too bad Megatron recruited all those flight frames, even the socialites and nobles, rather than just sticking to disgruntled working frames. I can’t imagine why someone of better standing would choose to follow that Buckethead willingly. Who knows what he promised them.“

Bumblebee considered noting that bots like Sentinel were likely the reason why even someone from a better social standing than a lowly miner or warframe would join a revolution. But he had to agree that the middle seeker was the prettiest of the bunch - not because Bumblebee was that superficial about appearances, but because the flightframe looked strangely familiar. Something about the look in his optics made Bee feel as though they had met somehow. It was the look of someone able to find joy and humor even as the world collapsed around them.

With an arched optical ridge and oozing curiosity, Sentinel turned to Optimus and asked nonchalantly, "Who is that? I mean, did you identify any of those Cons? Not that I care of course, but if any of them snuck onto Cybertron now, we need any photographic evidence we can get to identify them and keep those pesky Decepticon immigrants monitored.“

Optimus’s faceplate finally dropped into a frown. "You don’t need any of that information, even if any of those seekers were residing on Cybertron at the moment. In case you haven’t noticed, we are currently in the process of identifying who the femme seeker is. But unless you are an agent specifically assigned to monitor said Decepticon, even you would need to be approved to access her profile.“

"I said I didn’t care, didn’t I?“ Sentinel hissed, upset that his authority ended with Optimus in this lowly branch of Autobot Intelligence. 

"Of course you did, old friend. My answer was regarding the hypothetical scenario that you did care. Which we all know, you don’t.“ Optimus replied in a very matter-of-fact tone. He wondered if his old 'friend' also fit the old stereotype of Autobot leaders having a weakness for flight frames. What was it about wings that caused their processors to short-circuit? Someone had to study that phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee could not shake the feeling of familiarity and crept over to Optimus to check the additional information connected to the image file. One glance told him everything he needed to know before a smug smile appeared on the minibot’s faceplate. 

"Heh, but I wonder who that mysterious, radiant seeker could be. If only we knew.“ He muttered with an increasingly widening grin. Only one Decepticon in known space had such full lips and sharp, slanted optics with an indifferent, mysterious look to them. Over time, only one of said optics remained visible, but its shape continued to be quite striking.

Sentinel turned to Bumblebee with a condescending pout. "I fail to see how that would matter to you, bumbler. Even with Optimus’s little peace agreement, no flight frame with that build would look at you twice. Now for me, Sentinel Magnus, it’s a different story. Decepticons have a thing for power.“

Bumblebee wanted to remind Sentinel that Decepticons were generally attracted to raw, physical power rather than figurehead titles but knew the glitchhead would fail to grasp the difference. 

Instead, the minibot decided to take some offense to the insult hurled at him. "Oh, and why is that? I think I’d have a chance.“

"Hm, agreed.“ Optimus gave a supportive nod, which visibly annoyed Sentinel further. 

"Yeah, right. You’re tiny, you failed Autobot Bootcamp, and you never stop yapping. Most importantly, you’re a nobody.“ Sentinel huffed before crossing his arms. "Decepticons aren’t exactly known for their loyalty. If any of them ever set their pedes on Cybertronian ground, they’d never go after a dropout like you, but look to those in positions of power.“ He declared, as though the last statement was in any way a compliment.

His arrogant tone fell on def audials when Bumblebee only looked at him without flinching or backing away. "Hm, I wouldn’t be too sure about that.“

Optimus nodded again. "True. The universe works in mysterious ways, and Decepticons aren’t a monolith. You presume how they would act as agents under Megatron’s orders trying to undermine Autobot society, Sentinel. But what if they acted on their own free will? Who knows what they would do.“ he said before giving Bumblebee a knowing glance and sending him a silent message via comm. 

He has no idea.

Right? I’m the talk of my neighborhood, but our glorious leader has no idea about the one Decepticon in Iacon who’s conjuxed to an Autobot.

Well, Sentinel wasn’t invited to any of our hangouts, was he? Optimus noted and for a brief moment felt a little mean about it.

He’s not making the list anytime soon. Bumblebee responded with a faint frown but met the acting Magnus’s condescending optics.

"Ha! You two think you’re funny, don’t you?“ Sentinel, who had failed to notice their quick exchange, huffed. "Please, Bumblebee, prove me wrong. If you somehow find a flight frame willing to even socialize with you before one throws themselves into the arms of your Magnus, I’ll take back everything I’ve ever said about you. I’ll even consider letting you join the Elite Guard.“ He said before laughing. "But we both know that will never happen.“

Bumblebee stepped forward with his arms crossed while he tried not to smile. "Oh, wanna bet?“

"Careful, Sentinel. You never know the odds…“ Optimus noted while he tried to stay serious and not give the truth away too soon. 

"Oh, you have my word as the leader of Cybertron. I’ll even curtsy to you if you manage to bag any Decepticon at all!“ Sentinel laughed. "Like they would even acknowledge your existence.“

"Those are fair terms, Sentinel. We’ll hold you to your word.“ Optimus agreed before he turned to Bumblebee, looking almost giddy. "How fast do you think he can get here?“

Sentinel furrowed his optical ridges unable to follow the Prime. "What? Who?“

Bumblebee greeted him with the smuggest smile. 

"Oh, you know… the Decepticon flight frame who was willing to socialize with me.“

Chapter Text

Something seemed to be moving behind the yellow wall panels once Blitzwing stared at them long enough with unfocused optics. It marked another unremarkable discovery during his downtime after running errands and waiting for his conjux to finally return home. 

A giddy cry of victory from their sparkling snapped the triple changer back to reality.

Astra tossed one of her toys into the air with one servo and tried to hit it with another miniature bot before it hit the ground again. Her little wing nubs flicked with delight whenever she managed to strike the toy mid-air. 

Creating her own version of target practice was not a behavior usually observed in Autobot sparklings and would even have been considered concerning. But for a Decepticon, it was nothing out of the ordinary. 

Blitzwing certainly saw no problem with it. As far as he was concerned, Astra displayed excellent frame coordination and accuracy for someone her age and size.

He watched her from the couch, contemplating whether there was nothing else they could do before Bumblebee returned. But what was there to do? There were only so many walks one could take, flights to go on, or insufferable Autobot media to consume.

At first, Blitzwing had welcomed the tranquility of domesticity. However, now, he slowly began to realize that he was not built for it. He almost craved the action, danger, and chaos of his 'old‘ life. What he didn’t miss was the feeling of isolation, the dread of failing an emotionally volatile warlord and potentially losing everything he had worked for with the slightest transgression. 

There had to be a way to combine his life with Bumblebee and their sparkling with something, anything more adventurous than sitting inside a Cybertronian high-rise apartment, staring at the same skyline of a homeworld that felt alien now.

"Blitzy, look!“ Astra called before she tossed two metallic miniature bot toys into the air and tried to hit both at the same time. 

Feeling his optics shuttering from an unexplainable fatigue, Blitzwing only hummed. "You’re doing great.“

Astra furrowed her optical ridges before toddling over to her carrier. "You didn’t even look.“

"I did look. I’m just tired. Maybe that’s why my optics looked dark to you.“ He muttered before lifting the sparkling up to prop her onto the seat next to him. Before he could let go of her, Astra grabbed onto his servos and wriggled to be let down. She scrambled up onto the triple changer’s lap before she let her little head clack against his chassis.

"Why are you tired?“ she asked.

"Who knows? “ Blitzwing replied before his face spun into a black void with a cheerful grin. "Watching you play is hard work.“

"Maybe you need a nap.“ Astra replied without missing a beat.

Blitzwing’s face spun back to blue with a faint frown at having his own words thrown back at him. It was his deadpan tone he heard in the little voice of his sparkling, and he wondered if he really came off this blunt all the time. 

Knowing better than to reprimand his sparkling for sound advice he just didn’t want to hear, he shrugged. "Maybe I do.“

Deep down, he knew his weariness had nothing to do with a lack of recharge. Early on, Ratchet had assured him that it was simply his frame recovering from carrying a protoform for so long, and eventually, he had felt as good as new again. 

However, during the last few solar cycles, a strange heaviness had begun to settle within his frame, and he felt worn out from doing nothing. Whenever he lay down, it took him more strength than usual to get up again. Something was wrong, and he knew he would have to check in with Ratchet at some point. But Blitzwing hated medical checkups, even if Ratchet had turned out to be one of the more agreeable Autobots on Cybertron. 

He wasn’t afraid. At least, that was what he kept telling himself. Blitzwing feared nothing except Megatron’s ire should the triple changer ever fall out of favor. Fear was generally out of the question for any self-respecting Decepticon. But he could only lie to himself for so long. Deep down, Blitzwing knew he was afraid of what a medical checkup might reveal, to find out what was slowing down his frame again. 

With a sigh, he snapped out of his thoughts again. It wasn’t like him to worry. All this spare time alone with their sparkling gave Blitzwing too much time to overthink everything, no matter how insignificant, and he was growing increasingly tired of it. 

He looked down and was met by the weary optics of a tired sparkling. Blitzwing had to suppress a laugh, knowing that his offspring would be moody in her current state. 

He gently tapped the tip of her olfactory with a digit. "It looks like you need that nap more than I do. You’ve been so busy playing since Bee left.“

"When is Bee coming home?“ Astra asked, crawling into her creator’s open arms while completely ignoring his suggestion to go recharge.

Having played this game many times before, Blitzwing hummed. "Oh, he’s not going to be back for quite some time. If you go recharge now, he will be back right when you wake up. That way, you won’t have to wait.“ He mentioned, hoping to exploit his sparkling’s impatience.

Astra stared ahead of her with dimmed optics as though she was contemplating whether this was a trick or not. She was beginning to catch on more quickly whenever her creators tried to get her to do things.

"You can also stay awake with me and watch boring grown-up news. Maybe we’ll even watch a documentary.“ Blitzwing added quickly. He had no intention of frying his processor with mind-numbing Autobot entertainment, but Astra didn’t need to know that.

The little seeker’s optics shot wide open before she frantically shook her head. "No way! I’ll go nap.“ She raised her arms to be lifted into her carrier’s cockpit, which was still her preferred napping spot. 

It was warm, cozy, and quieter than outside. But above all, it felt familiar. Astra hated recharging because she had to be by herself while her creators went about their day, and she missed out on everything. Recharging in Blitzwing’s cockpit was a good compromise since she still felt included that way.

Once her little engine had settled into a quiet purr and Blitzwing was sure she had fallen into recharge, he was faced with the decision of how to spend the remaining time until Bumblebee came back home. 

He mentally checked off what he had done so far. Their entire apartment was likely cleaner than the rest of Cybertron at this point, so Blitzwing could not possibly clean it any further. He had arranged every datapad in their possession in alphabetical order, then by date, after getting annoyed with the initial arrangement. He had stocked up on polish, oil, cleaning detergent, and all other essentials. 

There was nothing left for him to do. His and Bumblebee’s home had become so picture-perfect that it sickened Blitzwing. It wasn’t so much the new obsession with cleanliness he had developed that frightened him, but what he had become in the process of settling on Cybertron. Blitzwing was slowly morphing into a stereotypical pre-war stay-at-home conjux. The life he had always dreaded was catching up with him fast, and the more bored he felt whenever Bumblebee was away, the greater his urge to destroy something grew. 

Blitzwing had never been above violence, but certainly held back more than his other Decepticon comrades. Even on Earth, before he had gotten to know Bumblebee more intimately, he had never fought intending to destroy the puny Autobots for good, then the fun would have been over. 

Looking back at it now, the triple changer felt glad he had never seriously harmed any of Bumblebee’s team members. They weren’t half bad, and it would have devastated the minibot, even if he would never admit how much they meant to him. 

Stubborn little bug, Blitzwing thought. 

If only they had more time together, then he wouldn’t be contemplating blowing up old ruins and abandoned factories outside of Iacon for fun whenever he went for a flight. Not that Blitzwing would actually do that; Bumblebee had made it quite clear that destroying public property was a criminal offense. 

It seemed stupid to the triple changer since those ruins only took up space anyway. But because the minibot had asked him to leave them alone, Blitzwing had to behave.

He let his head fall back and considered just settling for a nap, but that felt like resigning to boredom. "If I don’t get to shoot something soon, I’ll lose what’s left of my sanity.“ He muttered. 

A part of him almost felt giddy at the thought of hunting their nosy neighbors for sport. The more tactful part of him shot that idea down immediately, knowing it would only get him into trouble and was not even worth thinking about. 

But destroying things for fun was part of every normal Decepticon’s self-care routine, and Blitzwing was beginning to suspect the front of respectability a lot of Autobots put on only disguised repressed anger, stress, and every other negative emotion in the book that didn’t fit the happy-go-lucky Autobot way of life. That kind of passive aggression oozed from every crevice of the planet, but it was especially noticeable in its current leader. 

Maybe Autobots would be happier if they were allowed to beat the scrap out of each other every once in a while. It was how disputes were traditionally settled on Decepticon colonies. The outcome had often ended in more amicable relations between the combatants. There was a certain romance in getting to know a hated bot more closely in battle and finding new respect in the strength they put forth during the fight. After nonlethal matches, more often than not, both opponents ended up going out for high grade together. 

That dynamic was preferable to Blitzwing over dirty looks, backhanded compliments, or outright snide comments. Of course, he was not above being mean right back. But only weak and cowardly bots had to rely on words laced with venom where their physical strength ended.

"What a bunch of space barnacles.“ With a sigh, he looked out onto the skyline of Iacon. 

It wasn’t a hideous sight, but it didn’t feel like home. Blitzwing missed the dusty, red skies of New Kaon, shouting at his subordinates, and getting into fights with Lugnut… He knew fully well that if he returned, the reality would quickly set his processor straight again. But for now, far away from the Decepticon colony, a little nostalgia for his old life felt comforting.

After a while, his comm lit up with a message from Bumblebee. The minibot usually announced when he left the office, not only to let Blitzwing know but often to use the timestamp of the message to measure how fast he had made it home. Bee loved to race, even if the busy streets of Iacon weren’t the right place for that activity.

Unexpectedly, this time, Bee was not telling Blitzwing he was on the way this time.

Blitzy love, do you mind coming over to the office? I so long to see you. Optimus sends his regards.

The flowery language aroused some suspicion in Blitzwing. That did not read like a message from his cocky little minibot, but like some oldtimer on the frontline who wrote to his sweetspark back home. Bumblebee was up to something. Obviously. 

Somehow, the minibot never noticed how odd he acted when he was hiding something, even if it was apparent to everyone else. 

What did you do? Should I be worried?

It took the minibot a while to reply. If Optimus Prime was with Bumblebee, he was likely briefing him on what to write since the first message hadn’t landed. At least, that was what Blitzwing assumed. He had no way to confirm it, but was correct in his assumption.

I didn’t do anything! Let’s just say if you come by the office, I’ll most likely get my promotion, and I’m definitely taking you out to make it up to you afterward. 

Going out was not the tempting promise Bumblebee thought it was, not to Blitzwing anyway, who, for once, didn’t enjoy the odd looks he got from Autobots in fancy energon bars since he was used to private booths and boxes on New Kaon. But above all, he was tired. 

Yet he knew this meant a lot to Bumblebee, who had been desperately waiting for some kind of promotion, and Blitzwing was nothing if not willing to sacrifice his personal comfort if it meant his minibot would be happy. 

With a sigh, he sent the reply.

I’m on the way.

Blitzwing struggled but ultimately managed to get off the couch and stretched his wings before leaving. 

He had no idea what he was walking into.

After Optimus and Bumblebee had grown unbearably smug, Sentinel had grown more cautious and kept his taunts to a minimum. 

There was no way, not in Primus’s name or Unicron’s, that the minibot was telling the truth. It was utterly impossible that a Decepticon should walk around the corner and enter the office in the next few moments. Bumblebee was a blubbering fool who couldn’t seduce his own reflection. None of Megatron’s loyal followers would even look in the direction of the minibot. 

Or so he thought. 

When he was inevitably met with a pair of searing red optics, his worldview shattered. It should have been him, Sentinel Magnus, the most glorious and magnificent bot on Cybertron, to gain an exotic Decepticon lover. It never should have happened to Bumblebee. If this was Primus’s way of taunting him, Sentinel failed to understand what he had done to deserve this.

While the current leader of Cybertron internally cursed to the heavens and bemoaned the cruelty of fate, it took Blitzwing a good moment to even notice Sentinel was also in the room after he had first spotted Bumblebee and Optimus.

The triple changer’s soft smile that was reserved for the yellow minibot alone dropped instantaneously at the sight of Sentinel. He had recognized the glitchhead immediately, and his mood soured for good. Sentinel was truly unforgettable - in the worst way possible. His smug aura alone had mocked Blitzwing many times during this imprisonment whenever Sentinel had felt the need to make unwanted announcements to the rest of Cybertron. 

“Oh. It’s you.“ Blitzwing could barely contain his loathing when the remark escaped his vocalizer.

Likewise, Sentinel had recognized the triple changer immediately and felt the faintest hint of relief. Even if Bumblebee had managed to somehow score a Decepticon partner, it was no elegant, radiant Vosian seeker but the most unhinged Con of Megatron’s personal entourage. Of course, only someone with a fried processor would ever consider the yellow minibot as a lover. 

But it stung nonetheless that the triple changer had once been the pretty seeker who had caught Sentinel’s attention, and Blitzwing had somehow deemed Bumblebee more worthy of his time than the ruling leader of Cybertron. 

This all had to be part of some plot orchestrated by Megatron to slowly move more of his Cons onto the planet the legal way, before he would order them to rise up and take Cybertron apart from the inside. It had to be. Sentinel’s pride did not allow him to believe anything else. Blitzwing had simply been the first Con willing to debase himself to entertain an Autobot, and now was only following his master’s orders. Yes, that was it.

In an attempt to project indifference and superiority, Sentinel cocked his head slightly to the side to look down on the Decepticon lieutenant, which failed since Blitzwing remained taller than him, even after Sentinel had upgraded his helmet to be more fitting of his position. 

It didn’t help that the cold red optics glaring back at him lacked the respect and reverence Sentinel had gotten used to from his Cybertronian subjects. The triple changer remained not only unimpressed but projected such a scornful EM-field that it threw the unelected Autobot leader off. This was HIS planet, but the modified flight frame sure didn’t act like it. 

Determined to put the Decepticon in his place, Sentinel raised his helmet further as if that could somehow make up for their height difference. "What kind of greeting is that supposed to be? I am Sentinel Magnus, ruler of Cybertron - but I’m sure you remember me. After all, I am the one who put an end to your evil schemes and captured you. I brought you to justice.“

"Hm, my evil schemes...“ Blitzwing’s optics glinted with sinister amusement. He could have started reading the unbearable Autobot to filth right then and there, but knew he had promised Bumblebee to be polite, to avoid conflict at all costs.

Bumblebee glanced over to Optimus and no longer felt sure that this had been a great idea. Humiliating Sentinel had seemed fun, but it hadn’t occurred to him that any injury to the big-headed bot’s ego would end in an ugly reaction. 

Bee cleared his vocalizer. "Right, uh… You two have met before. But maybe we should introduce you again? To start over? We are at peace now, after all.“

Unwilling to compromise and display some humility that was required to smooth things over, Sentinel only shot the minibot a disparaging look that oozed disgust - in front of Blitzwing. That would be his greatest mistake. "That will not be necessary. This Decepticon terrorist surely knows exactly who I am. Perhaps he feels like showing more respect to his captor and the protector of Cybertron?“

Blitzwing’s optics dimmed for a moment before his face switched to his hotheaded personality, who only met Sentinel with a nasty smile. "Oh, I know who you are.“ 

Bumblebee sensed danger - for Sentinel - instantly when the usually booming voice of the triple changer’s hotheaded face remained eerily calm. Blitzwing had once hinted that Bumblebee had never seen him truly angry before. Of course, he liked beating the scrap out of enemies, shooting at them, and talking trash during fights - because, for Blitzwing, that was still considered fun. It was never personal. But the minibot was beginning to think that he had never seen the truly scary side of the Decepticon, the side that had struck fear in the spark of his enemies for ages, long before Bee had come into existence.

Blitzwing’s face cycled back to the icy blue face with an expression that would have registered as bored. His EM field made it clear that it was contempt. “You’re the Autobot 'leader‘ who blames others for his failures and claims the accomplishments of his subordinates as his own. You did not stop me, that Cyber-Ninja of yours did while you were flailing around. But you were the one who paraded me around in the end.“

Visibly agitated, Sentinel’s initial stunned expression changed into a mocking grin that barely disguised the boiling anger underneath his armor. "And how does that make you feel? Knowing that I got away with it, knowing that you failed nonetheless? I’m sure you had a lot of time to think about that in Trypticon Prison.“

Optimus clasped his servos together so hard his digits squeaked under the pressure. Surely, Blitzwing would be above physically attacking someone for running their mouth. He certainly hoped so. A part of him kind of wanted to see Sentinel getting decked, but the sensible part of him didn’t want his friend’s conjux to go to prison over that.

But Blitzwing hadn’t been forged yesterday, and Sentinel’s attempt at provoking him was met with a faint smile of genuine amusement. That kind of trash talk was almost cute by Decepticon standards. "If you must know, it makes me feel the same way it did when you shoved me around in stasis cuffs. I’ll just remember that happy little grin of yours for when you inevitably run Cybertron into the ground, and your people realize that you’re nothing but hot air before they come to eat you alive. Is that a satisfactory answer?“

Sentinel looked as though he was about to explode and replied through gritted denta. "I'd watch my glossa if I were in your position. You are a former terrorist on probation due to a very fragile peace agreement. And as the leader of Cybertron, I don’t have to take that kind of talk from some mangled old frame straight from the pit.“

"Hey, that’s just uncalled for.“ Bumblebee interjected and began to grow angry at Sentinel, too, for being so impossible to work with. He had even tried to be polite, to smooth things over for a fresh start. But Sentinel was already hard to deal with when it came to his allies. Why would it have been easier with a former enemy?

The glitchhead was a lost cause, but insulting someone’s frame was a new low. Besides, Bumblebee thought that Blitzwing looked great, so Sentinel had nothing to insult in the first place. Hopefully, the triple changer hadn’t taken it to spark.

Blitzwing continued to stare down Sentinel before he began to laugh. It was not the usual warm laughter of the random persona Bumblebee was familiar with, but one that was so cold and cruel, that it unsettled the minibot a little.

Oblivious, Sentinel huffed. "I don’t see what’s so funny. Wanna tell me what the joke is?“

Blitzwing shook his helmet as though in disbelief before settling back into a death stare. "Oh, but you are the joke. What are you, a newbuild? Do you truly believe that insulting my appearance is going to hurt my feelings? How juvenile. Who died and made you the leader of the Autobots? Oh, wait… how rude of me, “ he replied and placed his digits in front of his lips in feigned abashment. "Nonetheless, I’m sure your true leader would smack you across the helmet with his hammer for your behavior if he weren’t comatose.“

It was mean, Bumblebee thought, to drag Ultra Magnus into this, but Sentinel had set himself up for this the moment he had gotten personal. It was impossible to argue with the triple changer’s reasoning either, because no one had really asked the big-headed Autobot bully to step up and fill Ultra Magnus’s position. But it became more than apparent that this argument could not continue and somehow end well. There was no turning around this mess.

He silently mouthed to Optimus, "Please do something before they kill each other.“

Optimus shrugged before he whispered back, "I doubt Sentinel’s reputation would ever recover from hitting a carrier. Imagine the scandal.“

"First of all, he doesn’t know about that. And second of all, it’s not Blitzwing I’m concerned about. But he might tear Sentinel’s faceplate off if they keep going.“ Bumblebee replied quietly and looked at his friend with pleading optics to finally step in. At least Sentinel might listen to the Prime. He was flat-out ignoring Bumblebee, so whatever happened, at least it wouldn’t be on the minibot. 

Meanwhile, Sentinel clenched his servos into fists. "You dare insult our former leader?“

"Oh, no, I wouldn’t go that far. Ultra Magnus has always been considered a formidable adversary by Decepticon high command, myself included. Please don’t misunderstand, I was just insulting you specifically.“ Blitzwing replied in an oddly courteous tone, given the tension lingering in the air.

Before Optimus could say anything, it seemed that Blitzwing had grown bored of arguing with an overgrown newbuild, and he turned away from the ruling Magnus of Cybertron, who was more offended at being suddenly ignored than the insult he had suffered moments ago.

"Anyway, I didn’t come here to argue, and I’m in no mood to continue either. What a waste of energy.“ BBlitzwing muttered before turning to Optimus and Bumblebee. "I’m sorry, I hope I did not disturb your work.“

"No, of course not.“ Optimus replied before glancing at Sentinel, who was left speechless by how suddenly he had been ignored. "You didn’t disrupt us at all - our dearest leader is capable of that all by himself. I hope we didn’t bother you by asking you to come over. We definitely didn’t expect that-“ he shot a disappointed glare at Sentinel "- to happen. As a matter of fact, we thought it would be nice to introduce you to our Magnus. Too bad he’s having a bad solar cycle.“ It’s not like he’s ever having a good one, Optimus thought, but kept that to himself.

Bumblebee had crept up to Blitzwing and carefully placed a servo on one of the triple changer’s arms. "You seem tired, though. Are you feeling alright, Blitzy?“ he asked.

Blitzwing shrugged. "It’s nothing I can’t handle.“ He replied before his optics trailed off to the image projected onto the wall. 

A trine of seekers mid-conversation, with a shiny and pristine finish. The picture had been taken ages ago, either before or right at the beginning of the war. Judging from the seekers’ expressions, civilization had not yet descended into chaos, and the world had not fallen apart around them yet.

Red optics flickered in recognition before they dimmed in an unreadable emotion. "How did you get that picture?“

Optimus replied with an apologetic shrug, "Autobot Intelligence must have taken it back then during a stakeout of one of Megatron’s bases.“

"Hm, figures.“ Blitzwing replied, still unable to take his optics off the phantoms of the past that had reappeared before him.

"That’s you in the center, right?“ Bumblebee asked carefully, not sure how his conjux was taking it. When he tried tapping into their bond, he was met with a turbulent vortex of emotions that didn’t tell him anything. Perhaps it would be best to bring this up again at a later moment, in a quieter and private setting.

Unable to read the room, Sentinel had recovered enough to insert himself back into the conversation. "If that was you, whew - what a downgrade.“ He noted, failing or ignoring to pick up on the judgmental stares he earned from both Bumblebee and Optimus.

When Blitzwing finally turned to Sentinel, Optimus was expecting his old friend to finally get that punch to the faceplate he was constantly asking for. 

But the carrier protocols had softened the triple changer’s temper enough to see Sentinel not as an Autobot official offending him but as the juvenile bully who desperately clung to his titles to have something in life. While a part of Blitzwing still wanted to throw Sentinel across the room for the tone he always took with Bumblebee, now that he looked at the pompous brat, he saw the anger and loneliness behind those brazen blue optics and felt a surge of pity. 

Instead of responding in anger, Blitzwing only raised an optical ridge with a faint smirk on his lips. "Hm, interesting that you think I was attractive before my upgrade. You grounders and your obsession with flight frames. In that regard, not much has changed on Cybertron.“

Sentinel, who was used to others responding to his bullying with emotional outbursts he could then exploit, stared at the triple changer before he grew flustered. "I never said that.“

"There was a heavy implication, though.“ Optimus added, unable to not use the opportunity to slightly pick on his old frenemy.

"Yep, I heard that too.“ Bumblebee weighed in before crossing his arms and shaking his head with feigned disappointment. "Really, Sentinel… leering at my conjux’s past frame while I’m right here. Is that how the leader of Cybertron should act? That’s a little unprofessional.“

"I wasn’t leering! You two have been annoying me all cycle. I’m leaving.“ Sentinel huffed before quickly escaping the office before the situation could get any worse for him. Before slamming the door mechanism shut, he popped his helmet into the room one last time. "And don’t you dare tell anyone about this either!“

"I wouldn’t dream of it, Sentinel Magnus, sir.“ Optimus replied with an overly courteous nod while he was already working on the message containing the rundown of everything that had transpired in the last few moments for the rest of the old team. 

As long as no one from the Elite Guard caught wind of it, a little gossiping couldn’t hurt. What Optimus couldn’t predict was that Jazz would be snooping over Prowl’s shoulder to read along before running off to set the Autobot gossiping network into full motion. But that had yet to transpire.

"Now he still doesn’t know you not only found a conjux before him, but that Blitzwing happens to be a carrier too.“ Optimus eventually noted to Bee.

Bumblebee could only shrug. "That probably would have sent him into permanent stasis. I can always rub that in his face another time when he needs to be humbled.“ He laughed before he felt a digit tapping on his shoulder.

Behind him, Blitzwing loomed over him with a stern look. "Did you call me here just to brag to that brat?“

"Not just to brag.“ Bumblebee replied slowly with a sheepish smile. "Let’s say he didn’t believe me at first and promised a good number of things he would do if you actually existed. And I am definitely getting that promotion now - unless he wants rumors to spread that he’s secretly into Decepticon seekers.“

"Hm, extorting your leader… not bad.“ Blitzwing muttered before he crossed his arms again. "Well, I came here instead of recharging, and I had to be in the same room as that glitchhead. Next time, at least give me a warning. I can take a lot, but self-important Autobots with an inflated ego are a bit much. You owe me more than taking me out for fuel.“

"I’m sorry, Bitzy… That idea seemed better in my head. But I’ll make it up to you.“ Bumblebee nodded eagerly with a smile. "Anything you want.“

"Good.“ Blitzwing replied. 

He thought long and hard for a moment until his optics flickered as the solution to his boredom popped up in his processor.

"Actually, I would like a vacation.“

Chapter Text

Bright lights shot through his visual sensors, leaving Bumblebee blinded for a moment. The surrounding atmosphere began to stabilize, taking on a familiar weight that tethered him firmly to the ground. 

A breeze of fresh air enveloped him, and his olfactory senses picked up the smell of organic growths in bloom, rich soil turned verdant. Incomparable in its composition, it was the smell of spring. 

They had chosen the perfect time for their interplanetary voyage, with lush, verdant landscapes awaiting them, rather than a searingly hot summer that threatened to burn one’s tires on simmering asphalt, or a winter as grey as the concrete of the cities most of the planet’s inhabitants occupied.

His optics were still in the process of resetting from the bright flashes of light when his audials picked up a small commotion which steadily increased in volume over the steady hum of machinery.

"You!“ 

An angry finger suddenly pointed right into Bumblebee’s faceplate. He had barely adjusted to the brightness after stepping through the space bridge when someone began shouting at him. 

The warp had somewhat jumbled his processor, and he tried to regain control over his reeling mind, while his internal parsing program was not quite able to work with the words flung at him.

Of course, not all of it could be attributed to the warp. A lot had happened during the last few solar cycles, and Bumblebee had left in more of an anxious hurry than someone finally taking a long-awaited vacation should have been.

Everything had been set into motion when Blitzwing had finally had enough of the Autobot nonsense he was forced to live with and declared he would either get his vacation, or he would rip someone’s helmet off - most likely, Sentinel's. 

Bumblebee did not love Sentinel or his job in particular, but he figured he should keep said job by being a supportive conjux and making sure Blitzwing did not go back to prison over losing it on Sentinel.

 A trip abroad sounded excellent. But due to their sparkbond and Blitzwing’s carrier status, there was now an entire sparkling attached to them who required protection and care, all while she could easily attract the wrong kind of attention. 

She was squishy and tiny. Her world remained too small and sheltered for her to understand that danger lurked around every corner of the galaxy. It was a lesson Bumblebee hoped to postpone until Astra had fully grown into her frame and had been taught how to protect herself.

In a desperate attempt to ease his concern, Bumblebee kept repeating that everything would be fine in his processor over and over. He could always try to manifest that reality simply through delusion. Should the absolute worst-case scenario come true - one he did not even want to think of - he at least had the assurance that he was raising his very naive, vulnerable sparkling together with a giant warframe who would tear anything that threatened the safety of their offspring to shreds. 

For all he knew, there was also a homicidal Decepticon warlord who would probably destroy entire planets if 'his‘ sparkling’s health and safety were to be threatened. While Bumblebee remained unsure of just what Blitzwing was exactly to Megatron - be it a botched experiment, soldier, valued assistant, simple henchman, or something different altogether - the minibot was certain that the Decepticon leader at least cared for his lieutenant’s sparkling. 

If Bee hadn’t known anything about just who Megatron was, he would have called the old buckethead’s concern for the sparkling cute, even endearing.

Then again, since the Decepticons had no access to new protoforms and very few carriers among their ranks, any new life would likely evoke some form of excitement. Whatever programs ran through the warlord’s processor to cause that reaction remained a mystery to Bumblebee. As long as the old Buckethead wanted Astra in good health, he would spare himself the trouble of trying to understand Megatron’s intentions.

Yet he often wondered if Blitzwing understood just what was going on inside his great leader’s head, or if the triple changer had simply become so used to blindly trusting Megatron that he no longer questioned him. Something told Bumblebee it might be the latter. 

Since Blitzwing had served under the warlord directly, it was only expected that he had internalized the Decepticon propaganda deeply. He had, however, not internalized it deeply enough not to elope with the enemy rather than sacrificing his gestation tank for the Decepticon cause.

Even after he had known Blitzwing for so long, and gone so far as to bare his spark to him, there were many things that Bumblebee did not know about the triple changer, and it was hard work to pry any additional information out of him. For as often as Blitzwing let down his guard around Bumblebee, an ominously grinning void was always quick to hide anything he was not ready to share with the minibot yet.

The random persona’s 'insanity‘ was perfect for throwing others off and changing the topic, because most bots accepted that Blitzwing had lost his mind and couldn’t be reasoned with. After spending enough time with him, Bumblebee knew that the triple changer was very much capable of using his personas as a shield whenever it benefited him. He had done it when Bumblebee had gently tried to ask about Blitzwing’s trine on their way home after the unfortunate meeting with Sentinel.

"What did you think when you saw that picture? I know Sentinel was distracting everyone, but I wondered if you wanted to… uh, talk about that? Not Sentinel. Your trine.“ Bumblebee quickly corrected himself and glanced up at Blitzwing, who held their sparkling while gently patting her little helmet as they walked.

"The noise of your leader makes thinking quite impossible. I’ve been enjoying every single nanoklik away from him.“ Blitzwing replied.

Bumblebee hummed in agreement. "Hm, I bet.“ He remained quiet and waited for Blitzwing to answer the previous question. That answer never came, and he carefully tried to breach the subject again, "But, about your trine-"

Blitzwing’s face spun to a cheerful void. "Oh, have you thought about where you want to go for our vacation?“ he asked, obviously pretending he hadn’t heard the minibot. "I don’t want to head back to New Kaon yet. The moment I get back, I’ll have to endure an audience with Megatron and explain why I’m conjuxed to an Autobot - and if he likes my answer, I’ll only end up with work. That wouldn’t be much of a vacation.“

Bumblebee was a little annoyed that the triple changer changed the subject. But he had essentially forced Blitzwing into Sentinel’s presence and thus had no ground to start an argument because his conjux didn’t want to talk about something. As he thought about it, he didn’t even have the right to be annoyed after letting Blitzwing walk into that situation without giving him a warning, since Blitzwing had shown an insane amount of restraint not to lunge across the room and bite Sentinel’s head off. 

There was likely no restraint left in the triple changer, which meant that any kind of stress had to be avoided at all costs to keep Blitzwing happy and from violently attacking the next Autobot who couldn’t keep their thoughts to themselves.

With a sigh, the minibot mustered a smile and decided to let the matter rest for now. "What, since when do you not enjoy working?“

"Since I had to carry a new Cybertronian in my frame, and can still feel my internals screaming whenever I move the wrong way.“ Blitzwing replied, still wearing the jack-o-lantern grin, but there was a very real hint of fatigue in his voice.

"Well, I for one am very grateful you went through that ordeal for our little bitlet.“ Bumblebee replied with a genuine smile this time, as he looked up to the triple changer holding their offspring. He quickly cleared his vocalizer. "I’m also grateful you were so civil with Sentinel…I know I begged you to be polite no matter what, but the guy was really out of line.“

Blitzwing simply shrugged. "Unlike some, I was socialized to mind my manners. I’m always this kind.“ He replied in a happy sing-song voice before his face spun back to the icy blue persona that wore a faint smirk. "Truthfully, I was more than annoyed. Next time, I might demolish him. He has such a punchable faceplate, you start fantasizing about your fist blasting right through it.“

Bumblebee pressed his lips together. "Yeah, being around Sentinel will do that to you. I’m glad you didn’t, though.“

"It wouldn’t have satisfied me anyway. He seems like the type who starts a fight, but begins sobbing after taking one good hit to the face.“ Blitzwing sighed before his expression darkened. "But if he takes it too far, I might not be able to control myself.“

"Right, let’s hope it won’t come to that.“ Bumblebee replied but prayed to Primus that the carrier protocols were strong enough to keep Blitzwing stabilized and from making impulsive decisions they couldn’t afford. 

Of course, Blitzwing was very much still a dangerous Decepticon who took a certain pleasure in violence, even if he wouldn’t admit it now that they had a sparkling. He also had a fractured processor that often operated in unpredictable ways. 

While that unpredictability had become mostly harmless now, thanks to carrier protocols prioritizing safety and harmony while avoiding conflict, Ratchet had warned Bumblebee that too much stress could potentially shatter the iron grip the carrier protocols currently had on Blitzwing. 

Bumblebee had never minded the triple changer’s eccentricities when they had started seeing each other, but undoubtedly, Blitzwing had been what could only be categorized as 'crazy’ at times. 

Compared to then, he seemed a lot more 'normal‘ now, more stable and insightful, rather than blunt and impulsive. Of course, at least one of his personalities had always been scheming and smart. Still, it seemed as though this personality, most likely Blitzwing’s original one, now held the reins over all three faces more tightly, as though it was actively in control of them, only switching them at will.

How the processor of triple changers operated remained largely unknown. But after running the occasional health checkup on Blitzwing, Ratchet’s theory was that at this stage, the former seeker could not afford any additional mental breakdowns, as those could fully send his processor into a severe overflow that could not be patched. Therefore, it was of the utmost importance that the control of the carrier protocols stayed intact. 

So far, it turned out to be the one proven stabilizer for the infamous madness that eventually plagued all triple changers and rendered them unusable past a certain point. Thankfully, Blitzwing had never quite reached that point. However, there had been others before him who had not been so fortunate, who had ended up as useless, rambling, psychotic heaps of scrap.

Bumblebee’s face dropped at the realization that he had carelessly threatened Blitzwing’s stability just because he had wanted to get one up on Sentinel. No amount of selfish gratification was worth losing his conjux by accidentally eliciting an irreparable descent into madness.

"Where would you like to go for our vacation if Decepticon colonies are out of the question?“ He asked and gently placed a servo on Blitzwing’s thigh since he could not reach the triple changer’s servo. His smile grew into a grin when he saw Blitzwing’s expression soften the moment their optics met. What a sweet, soft-sparked conjux he had found hidden behind the armor of a deadly warframe.

Blitzwing pouted when he noticed the grin the minibot was wearing, feeling exactly what Bumblebee was thinking by tapping into their sparkbond. So what if he had a soft spot for the little Autobrat? They were conjuxed, weren’t they? Yet Bumblebee still liked to tease Blitzwing whenever he visibly showed any hint that he loved the minibot.

"Don’t grin at me like that. I’m still unhappy that you forced me into Sentinel’s presence, bug.“ Blitzwing replied and had to physically fight for his pout not to turn into a smile. Stupid, charming little minibot. It was impossible to stay mad at him, even if the triple changer felt that he had every right to be at least displeased with Bumblebee for not even giving him a warning. 

Bumblebee’s grin disappeared, and he put on the most soulful look he could muster. "I’m sorry. Like I said, I’ll make it up to you. I promised, didn’t I? I’ll go into stasis before I’d ever break my promises to you.“ 

The big, glinting optics of his conjux were as effective as those of their sparkling, and Blitzwing gave up on even feigning discontent. "Fine. Just don’t ever put me in a room with that glitchhead again.“ He muttered, shaking his head in discomfort at the memory. "But I am quite undecided when it comes to our vacation destination. I had hoped you’d come up with something.“

"You do realize I’ve gotten around known space way less than you did, right?“ Bumblebee noted but realized that due to the Decepticons’ forced exile, their choice of travel destinations had likely been limited to the places most Cybertronians wouldn’t visit voluntarily. They had built their base colonies on the frontier, the very edge of known space - that area couldn’t be very inviting if no one else who had ventured there before had bothered to stay.

"What about Earth?“ he asked without really thinking about it. It had simply been the first idea that had popped into his head. But for one, they already knew their way around and had met there, which also made it kind of romantic, even if the circumstances had been anything but.

Blitzwing didn’t seem to agree. "Do you really believe the humans would allow me back there after everything that has happened?“ he asked.

Bumblebee shrugged. "Most humans who were around when you were there for the last time probably aren’t alive anymore.“ 

Suddenly, Blitzwing stopped in his tracks and looked down at Bumblebee with genuine upset. "What about your little friend? Don’t tell me…“ It had never occurred to him that the minibot would eventually outlive the human he had grown so close to.

"Who, Sari? She’s fine - she’s not really human, remember? Her lifespan is much different from that of the average human.“ Bumblebee replied before he paused. "Wait, did you not know that?“

"How would I?“ Blitzwing looked at him without any change in his expression. "I was imprisoned, if you recall?“ he noted, and wanted to add that the minibot hadn’t bothered telling him much about his human friend back during their 'dates' on Earth either, since Bee had been too distracted trying to get under the triple changer’s panels in the short timespans they had together. But he felt relief that the minibot had been spared the grief of losing his dearest friend for now. 

"We really should visit Earth. Humans are soft and squishy, and so is a lot of their planet - it’s perfectly safe for a sparkling.“ Bumblebee suggested.

Blitzwing wanted to counter that humans also had weapons of mass destruction just like Cybertronians, and that the planet was riddled with hazardous materials everywhere that were either naturally occurring or were man-made horrors left behind to rot as they tainted everything in their vicinity. But then he might accidentally spill that Megatron had at some point considered using those same materials for warfare against his enemies and all of humanity during their time on Earth.  

Blitzwing considered for a nanoklick that maybe it had been a good thing that the brave little Autobots had stopped the warlord, at least in the regard of escalating biological warfare, but did not dare to voice that thought out loud. It was dangerous to even think such heresy, especially since there were now rumors that Megatron had added a telepath to his inner circle to curb any potential future Starscream-esque situations immediately.

Blitzwing no longer bore the Decepticon symbol, and to humans whose only point of reference was the Autobot diplomats that had occasionally been interacting with them, he would likely not arouse suspicions as long as he didn’t transform into his alt-modes. Certainly, humans would begin asking questions when, after a century of exposure to transforming aliens that took on the likeness of their beloved automobiles, one suddenly turned into a tank and a fighter jet. 

The Autobots’ generally nonthreatening appearance was what had earned them the acceptance of humanity after all. Of course, the Decepticons antagonizing any organic lifeforms and sometimes squishing them for fun hadn’t helped much in winning that popularity contest. Not that Blitzwing had ever squished an organic - it seemed way too gross to even try, and besides, there was no fun in hurting helpless lower lifeforms.

He was still undecided on whether he actually wanted to return to Earth or not, but since he could not think of a better alternative, he decided to give in. 

"Fine, Earth it is then.“

"Yes, awesome! I’ll get in contact with the space bridge operators right away.“ Bumblebee rubbed his servos together with a bright grin.

Blitzwing couldn’t help but wonder if the minibot had forgotten something.

"You! I’m talking to you, you scoundrel!“ the familiar, high-pitched voice tore Bumblebee back to reality right into the slightly uncomfortable situation he had created for himself.

He had once again gotten too excited and ahead of himself in the process. If only he had been better at multitasking. Then he wouldn’t have forgotten to inform his best friend in the entire universe that he was dropping by for a visit.

The human who had once been a teenage girl had turned into a young woman who grimaced at both Cybertronians standing on the space bridge platform, much to Blitzwing’s confusion. According to his calculations, most humans her age would have shriveled up and turned white already, yet Sari barely looked much older than the last time he had seen her. 

She looked somewhat taller, though. Perhaps the additional height came from the platforms that seemed attached to her pedes. Truly, she was an odd human. But Bumblebee held her in the highest esteem, and Blitzwing was generally fascinated by oddities of any kind, so Sari was automatically alright in his book. 

"You have a lot of nerve to show up unannounced! We’re supposed to be best friends, but you introduce me to your offspring in person only after she already learned how to talk and walk?“ Sari argued, not allowing the minibot to get one word in. 

"Unbelievable! I was going to be Auntie Sari, remember? But your baby is already taller than I am! How am I supposed to hold her or even play with her?“

Blitzwing, who cradled the 'baby‘ in question in his arms, looked down at Bumblebee and quietly muttered, "You said she would be happy to see you. Didn’t you tell her we would be visiting?“

"I was going to tell her, but then Bulkhead called and I thought I would just tell her later…“ Bumblebee, who currently felt like the worst friend in the universe, shrank under the furious gaze of Sari and the current additional glare of his conjux as he tried to reply somehow without Sari hearing him, "Well, then it kind of got away from me.“

"Great, then we showed up unannounced on Earth without having been granted visitation rights? So the humans can just send us right back since we don’t have a visa or whatever they call it. You know that, right? Besides, it’s just rude to leave your friend in the dark, Bumblebee.“ Blitzwing replied, visibly agitated. He may have been a Decepticon, but he valued order and basic manners.

"Okay, one person yelling at me is enough, I got it.“ Bumblebee hissed and frowned up at Blitzwing, not because he was mad at him, but because he knew the triple changer was right. It just didn’t feel pleasant to be reminded of the fact so bluntly.

"Thank you, Blitzwing. At least one of you two has manners.“ Sari huffed, crossing her arms while she tried to stay mad. It did not help that a distractingly adorable sparkling stared down at her with huge, curious optics.

Bumblebee cast a betrayed look up at his conjux, "You know, you’re supposed to be on my side, “before he turned to his dearest human friend. 

"Sari, I’m sorry. I should have told you, and I should have come by sooner. I’ll make up for it, I promise.“ He said, looking down at his tiny human friend who suddenly seemed ever so slightly less tiny than he remembered.

"You’ll make up for it, huh? We’ll see about that.“ Sari furrowed her brows and pressed her lips together as she tried to keep a serious demeanour. But two pairs of big blue optics on her were too much to bear. 

"Ugh, fine! I missed you, okay? You big dummy, next time at least say hi every once in a while! I don’t have that many friends, remember? You and the big guys are all I have… and it sucks without you here." She shouted before her expression dropped into a sad little smile. "I would steal you all away from Cybertron if I could.“ 

Bumblebee’s spark dropped from guilt into downright sparkbreak, and he crouched down to meet Sari on eye level. "Why didn’t you say something sooner? You know me and the guys would drop everything to see you…“

Sari crossed her arms again, barely able to meet the minibot’s optics. "Well, I didn’t want to bother you… I know you guys have important things to do now that you’re heroes of Cybertron. And I had some grown-up stuff to deal with too, I guess.“

"Bother us?!“ Bumblebee nearly lost his balance from the rising anger in his frame. "You’ll never be a bother; we like spending time with you. Honestly, even if you had contacted Ratchet to say you were feeling lonely, he would trip over himself trying to get to you. And I’ve been planning to come by for some time now - even if I forgot to tell you.“

Blitzwing had watched the two with a faint smile. Even if he couldn’t quite let his guard down around the human yet, her and Bumblebee’s friendship was endearing. With a faint cough, he cleared his vocalizer. "Bumblebee truly did mean to visit you sooner. If you must know, he never stops talking about you either.“

Sari looked up at Blitzwing, realizing once again just how gigantic Decepticons were compared to the average Autobot, and quietly thanked the heavens that the triple changer was friendly and not an enemy. "Heh, I bet he also never stops talking when it comes to other things.“ She replied with a smirk forming on her lips.

The subtle, weary expression on the triple changer’s serious faceplate nearly made her laugh out loud when he replied, "He doesn’t.“ At least some things never changed.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee realized that his friend and conjux would be teaming up against him in the foreseeable future, and let out a resigned sigh. 

He had wanted them to get along, just not so well that they would be teasing him together. Sari was already relentless. There was no reason to add someone like Blitzwing to the equation, whose verbal sparring skills bordered on fatal when he really got into it. Bee stood no chance. At least he still had the sparkling. It was a blessing that Astra couldn’t talk back yet.

"Well, now that we have moved on from me being a neglectful friend, do you think you can get us to stay here for a while? Legally, I mean.“ Bee asked, realizing that without the human’s approval this time, staying on Earth wouldn’t be as easy.

His concerns were unwarranted when Sari waved her hand in dismissal. "Please, this is Detroit. I run this city now. Seriously, you guys missed a lot since you last came here.“

"What did we miss?“ Bumblebee asked, now more than curious to catch up with what he had missed in human history during his time back home.

Sari returned an awkward shrug. As she was met by two pairs of curious optics, she sighed and motioned the two Cybertronians to follow her.

"Just walk with me. I’ll give you a rundown on the way home.“