Chapter Text
(“So first batch of recruits; you excited?”
To be honest, Trevor was terrified. He had literally never been good at public speaking, or speeches in general. So the thought of being there when Lennox introduced the new recruits to well… The Autobots!? Needless to say he had hoped they’d take a step back and reconsider the choice.
Yet here they were waiting for their cue in one wing of Omega-One’s hangar. And Bumblebee was making jokes (or at least he assumed), great. “Oh yeah, I’m jumping for joy,” Trevor replied nervously. Though he could see the look on his guardians face. “Hey! Don’t get me wrong, I want to help. But I am so bad at public speaking man.”
“Lennox is doing the talking -.”
“They’re gonna ask questions.”
Bumblebee rolled his optics and leaned against the nearby wall. “Relax, Trev. You’re gonna do fine. You literally stared down Megatron,” Ok. Point taken. “Just pretend everyone’s in their underwear. I once heard that was a thing.”
Trevor might have laughed if he wasn’t trying to stay serious and in the right mindset. It ended up being a good thing too as no more than a minute later, Will’s voice rang out. Great, Trevor took a deep breath and stepped out onto a platform in front of a dozen soldiers.
None of them moved an inch, but all of them looked confused. “I’m confused,” Point made. One of the soldiers raised a hand. “You said this was about Mission City. What does some civilian teenager got to do with anything?”
Will nodded his head, and Trevor suddenly felt very small again. Taking a deep breath, he decided to just stick to what he’d rehearsed briefly: “I know, I’m sure this all seems a little weird. The secret base, the NDA’s?” He looked to Will to ensure he’d said that right as his friend nodded. “Before I introduce you to the reason you’re all here. Just know that I am like - the world’s worst public speaker. So I’m going to let them do most of the talking.”
“Oi, on with it,” Someone shouted in the back. “I’m bored.”
Trevor didn’t like that guy, even if everyone else was seemingly respectful. For a moment he gathered his thoughts before explaining: “Well, you heard the man, guys. Just… One at a time maybe?” He threw up a hand toward where he’d been told everyone would be entering. “Ladies and gentlemen, these are the Autobots.”
The reaction to Bumblebee stepping out was nearly instant. Some fell over in their chairs, a few shouted curses, or muttered prayers. But by the time that Optimus had rolled out last? They’d all pretty much shut up and sat there dumbstruck.
Will continued his explanation then: about Mission City, the Autobots, the Decepticons, and everything in-between. “That’s why we formed NEST. Because now that these guys are sticking around. They need Ally’s,” he explained. “The Decepticons won’t leave well enough alone. This isn’t incoming war boys, and we need help.”
“You needed a kid to introduce us?” one of the soldiers asked shakily. “Should he even be near these things?”
Trevor had to laugh about that, though he probably shouldn’t have. Will answered for him though. “Trevor is actually here as part of the Autobot team. He’s under the legal guardianship of the ‘Bots,” He pointed out. “He’s also going to help us with connecting each other - learning their customs, their ticks.”
“I’m out.” A man in the back stood up and walked out. “Too weird for me.”
Well, at least it was just one person, right? But Trevor could see the look in a few soldier’s eyes: they weren’t going to be far behind. “Look, I get that this seems weird. But just hear Optimus out, OK?” He nodded toward the leader quietly. “He can be very… Persuasive.”
“Thank you, Trevor,” Optimus stepped forward and took that as his cue. “And hello, members of Earth’s armed forces. My name, is Optimus Prime…”
Trevor took a seat on Bumblebee’s foot and scanned the crowd as Optimus gave his speech. For the most part, the remaining soldiers had stayed - thankfully. But he could feel the tension in the room. After all, they were sitting in front of giant aliens!
“I understand that this may be… Jarring for many of you. What we ask is no small favor - to aid us in a war you never asked for,” He explained calmly, standing straight. “But like it or not, our battle is now yours too. The Decepticons will not leave your planet - even if we do. They are ruthless, and power hungry.”
He turned to Trevor and Will as he spoke his next words. “In Mission City, with the help of humans like Trevor and Major Lennox we were able to do something incredible. As one we put a large dent in their ranks, we sent them running,” He told them very honestly. “And I believe together - we can bring this war to an end. Bring us, and perhaps your planet peace “
In conclusion, he crouched low enough to address the soldiers directly. “If you choose not to join us, we will understand. But if you will fight alongside us - you honor us with your bravery.”
There was a long, deafening silence that followed his words. But eventually, a young man stood at attention and finally spoke up: “Alright. I dig it,” he pointed out. “Where do I sign up?”
—————
“Three recruits? That was rough.”
“It was just our first batch.”
Trevor couldn’t help but feel discouraged by the number none-the-less. Still as he and Bumblebee got out of the base for a little TLC, Trevor tried not to dwell on it too much. After all, NEST was still new and there would be more, right? There had to be more.
Instead he focused on where Bumblebee was taking him. Which he hadn’t exactly said. Other than to say it was “a surprise”. Trevor tried to remind him he wasn’t the biggest fan of surprises but apparently Bumblebee was nothing if not stubborn.
“You going to tell me where we’re going yet?”
“No need, we’re already here.”
Trevor was confused to say the least - they were at the airport? He felt like Bumblebee was losing his mind a bit as the door popped open. What was he getting at? “Uh, Bee. Are we going on a trip or something?” He asked. “Can your avatar even go on a trip?”
Bumblebee didn’t reply, because he didn’t have to. Trevor saw Memo before he even said a single word. The Dominican-American man hadn’t changed much in the time since they’d parted. But Trevor felt his heart skip a beat as his surrogate uncle stepped out of his gate.
He didn’t waste ten seconds running to the man, who wrapped him in a tight hug. How was this happening? How did Bee know? “I don’t… What, how?” He breathed. “… No one -.”
“Bee and I go way back,” Memo told him as he held him tightly. “Government can’t say much when I pretty much was an OG ally.”
Trevor should have figured, hadn’t his mom mentioned she met Memo that summer too? Still, he let the man hold him there tightly and didn’t dare let go. When he’d been cut off from his contacts back home he’d figured Memo had forgotten him.
But he was here.
“Look at you, man. You’ve grown at least two inches,” Memo added cheerfully as he let him go and held him at arms length. “God, I tried to call so many times, I’m so sorry. But your cousin was weird - and no one would tell me where you went after. I wasn’t family and just -.”
“It’s OK,” Trevor breathed out. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
Memo smirked as he rolled his singular suitcase toward the waiting Autobot. “Well, when Bee tracked me down and said he had you? I couldn’t book a flight fast enough,” He admitted. “I’ve been worried sick, especially with the rumors about Mission City.”
“It helps that one of the openings is for more tech support,” Bumblebee pointed out. “And with a good word put in by yours truly…”
“I won’t be living here. But I’ll be around,” Memo patted his hood in response. “It’s good to see you, Bee.”
“You too, man.”
They drove for a while and Trevor didn’t know what to say. He was just kind of shocked if anything that Bumblebee had gotten out of the way to find Memo like that. He went over it in his head until they’d arrived back at base and Memo was busy getting his clearance.
He looked up at the now transformed Bot and had just one question: “I don’t understand,” His guardian peered down at him. “You… Brought Memo? That must have taken you a while.”
Bumblebee crossed his arms. “It did, since I only knew his nickname. But when you told me how alone you felt out here,” He watched as Bee’s doorwings drooped a little. “I wanted you to have that support system back.”
Trevor couldn’t help but be touched by that. He was right, it was like he had told him before. Memo and his mom hadn’t lasted long, but they had gone off to college together (where she’d met his bio dad later). And Memo had been there through it all.
He’d helped Charlie run away from his abusive dad and let her live with him. He’d been his earliest babysitter outside of his grandparents, and even introduced her to his stepdad. He had fond memories of Memo, he was family.
He was sure that Memo would tell Bee about all of that though, if he hadn’t already.
“Thanks Bee,” Trevor finally voiced when he’d gathered his thoughts. “And don’t worry, just because he’s back… He’s not going to replace you.”
He noticed as Bumblebee relaxed a little more. No doubt he’d be worried that he may want to go with Memo. And maybe before everything that happened? That was exactly what he’d have wanted. But now? He was happy to have the support back. But Bee and him were growing something special.
Bumblebee was honest though: “I’d understand if you changed your mind. I saw the hug you gave him,” He admitted. “He could probably give you a normal life.”
It was true, Memo absolutely could. But as he leaned against Bumblebee’s foot, he knew one thing: “But Memo’s always been my fun uncle, Bee.”
His next words stumbled out before he had time to think about what he was saying. And he was almost glad he didn’t have time to think it over as he said it over his shoulder. Headed to help Memo get set up on- base.
“I feel like you’ve been my dad since you took me from Carly’s.”
He wouldn’t see the way Bumblebee’s optics twinkled at that, but he didn’t need to.
———
“Charlie would be so happy you guys were together.”
Bumblebee was still going over the fact Trevor had called him “dad” later that night when Memo approached him. It was late, but no doubt they’d spent a lot of time catching up and he’d given them their space.
Still he smiled at his old friend and seated himself in a corner of the Autobot side of Omega-One so they could no doubt talk too. “Really? Sometimes I’m worried she’d be mad,” Bumblebee finally replied after a minute. “The last thing I wanted was to drag her kid into the war too.”
Memo nodded as he had a seat on a nearby crate. “Trevor told me how it went down though. Bro, you saved him,” He guessed that was a good point. “If it weren’t for you he’d be wasting away with that creep, still.”
Plus: “Besides, if that dude Barricade really was hunting them? Let’s be real…” He explained. “He’d have gotten dragged into this one way or another.”
Bumblebee hated that last fact, the fact Barricade had hunted the Watson family. Would he have really eventually hunted Trevor? He felt a shiver as he thought about it, deciding to push those thoughts to the side. “I’m just glad I found him first,” He decided to make it clear. “That kid… Frag, I’d do pretty much anything for him.”
“I think it’s pretty mutual. I asked him what you wanted me to,” Memo replied honestly. “He told me he wanted to stay with you.”
Bumblebee was still surprised by that, in all honesty. He’d thought bringing Memo into the fold might end in Trevor wanting to go with him. After all, he was having a tough adjustment to this world. And Memo represented an easier, more normal life.
He thought through his words carefully: “I’m kind of surprised. I figured with everything he’s going through he’d have jumped for an out,” Bumblebee replied honestly. “Not that I wanted him gone. I was just… Worried about him. The nightmares, the trauma…”
“He said you’re doing a good job getting him through it,” Memo patted his leg plate. “Give yourself more credit. I heard him call you his dad earlier.”
Right. “Dad”. He hadn’t even begun to see that coming but it had made his spark skip a beat. Had he really earned that yet? He didn’t know honestly, but Memo seemed to read his thoughts. “Look Trevor doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean, you’re doing good Bee.” He pointed out. “I just think what you did today put things into perspective for him.”
“What do you mean?”
The young man ran a hand through his hair and thought for a minute. “I mean, you knew he was hurting. You knew that he needed me, so you went out to find me,” Memo pointed out. “Not a lot of people would do that, man. Especially when your relationship with him is so new.”
Bumblebee didn’t argue like he did with Optimus, because Memo was right. He hadn’t cared if Trevor decided Memo was what he needed. Hadn’t thought twice about what NEST would think when he explained the situation.
He just wanted to see that big smile on Trevor’s face when he saw Memo, a piece of his old life again.
Bumblebee nodded his head and stood to his feet. “Well, speaking of being a dad, I’m gonna make sure he’s getting to bed. Kid’s stubborn as pit,” he explained. “Would probably sleep through his first three classes too if it wasn’t for me.”
“Yeah, I should get to my hotel too,” Memo pointed out. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Still more paperwork to fill out. How many NDA’s does this place have?”
Bumblebee chuckled before heading off toward Trevor’s bedroom. To his surprise, the teen actually wasn’t up trying to pull a gaming all-nighter. Probably exhaustion between the recruit introduction, and Memo he figured. But he found him lying half-lazily from his bed, sound asleep.
He just smirked and carefully used a finger to move him, then pull the blankets carefully over his body. And then, Bumblebee just stood there, and watched. Primus, he hoped he lived up to that name. He hoped he made Charlie proud.
But as he turned to leave Trevor said it again, muffled and quiet as it may be: “Goodnight, dad.”
And Bumblebee couldn’t help but get that twinkle in his optics and say: “Goodnight, kiddo.”
Yeah, “dad” would suit him just fine.