"You should go to our school" Raf said. Ratchet looked at him from his position in front of the main monitor in the Autobot HQ, the monitor showing Optimus sight.
He wasn't alone in there: on the perch with him there were Jack, Miko, agent Fowler and even Nurse Darby. On the ground, standing shoulder to shoulder with the docbot, there were Arcee and Smokescreen. None of them, human or cybertronian as well, was able to stay away from the screen, those day, as it was the only connection with the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime.
Ratchet thanked Primus again that Optimus has been in contact with him thought this system before the accident happened, otherwise he would have been lost to them like Bumblebee or Bulkhead.
"Rafael, we already assess that this is another reality" Optimus answered unconvinced though the comm link.
"Yes, but the Bumblebee and Bulkhead could have tried to contact the other us…" the young human answered with that self-confidence and protectiveness that he always shown when his guardian safety was involved.
"Mmm, you are right, that seem as a reasonable thing to do" Optimus agreed. It was his first day out of the hospital, and he wasn't sure of what to do anyway.
They observed though Optimus optics as he approach the school.
He was a block away from the school, when the bell rang and a herd of students swarmed out. They all spotted Jake, and Optimus paced his steps to catch up with him, when an arm slide around Prime's arm. "It's not safe that way, Sir" a soft, young voice stated, and the voice owner started to pull the Autobot leader in a close-by alley.
Ratchet was speechless, and from the surprised exclamation coming from Optimus, he deduced he wasn't the only one who recognized that voice, a voice they had believed they would never hear again.
Said voice was mumbling now "oh frag, of course they spot us, someone managed to be even more conspicuous as human than as a red and blue Peterbill…"
Ratchet heard the children surprised exclamation, echoed by Smokescreen, but he was too in awe to say anything, and to do anything else that stare at the images on the screen.
Through the comm he head Optimus automatic answer: "Language, young one", and followed Optimus sight as the leader looked down to himself. Maybe the other was right, Optimus was wearing the clothes he had before the admission to the hospital: a bright red leather jacket on top of a grey t-shirt, electric blue jeans and black leather boots.
The newcomer, on the other hand, he was just wearing a black parka on top of yellow skinny jeans tucked inside black combat boots. From under the black hood, bright blond locks surfaced, long enough to partially hide piercing blue eyes. As the other leaded Optimus between the alleys, Ratchet lazily wondered if the black and white scarf was a fashion choice or if it was covering the brutal scar on the neck.
Bumblebee, because there were no doubt in Ratchet mind that that was their young scout, pushed the older one in an hidden place in the dirty alley, and press himself against Prime body.
"Wha..." Optimus protest were silenced by Bumblebee hand on his mouth.
Just in time, as a man appeared in the alley and cursed "I lost them!" He listened to somethings, maybe an earpiece, then added "yes, the kid was there, he intercepted the target and took him between the alleys ... I lost them. That damn kid! I'd never seen anyone disappear like that... "
Ratchet stared to the screen at the younger Autobot: Bumblebee eyes were trained on the voice direction, and even from the screen the docbot could perceive the tension in the young body leaning against Optimus' builder one, his heartbeat strong against the older one ribcage and his breath hot on his superior collarbone.
"He looks so young..." Arcee whisper softly.
"He IS so young" Ratchet scolded her.
"Who is he? He looks our age!" Miko asked again.
"That's definitely Bumblebee" Arcee answered with unusual softness. "And Ratchet is right, he is very young..."
"We have rules against baby soldiers" agent Fowler growled, but Arcee scolded back: "we too, or we use to have them, before everything went to the pit..."
"Hush everyone, that man is getting closer!" Raf cried, his knuckles white for the force he was holding into the fence of the perch.
The man was indeed walking closer to the two hid Autobots were holding their breath. "Do you believe in what they say? That he is a ghost?" The man kept talking in the earpiece as he passed in front of their refuge and then walk away without spot them.
Bumblebee waited for couple of minutes more, then he let out a deep breath and dropped his head on Optimus shoulder. Well, drop maybe is a big word as the young one height barely let him reach any higher.
Sensing that the danger moment was ended, Optimus lifted his arms to gently hug the younger. Ratchet was known to be grouchy, but in the privacy of his mind he could confess that he wished to be there to hug the youngling as well.
"It's nice to see you, my scout" Optimus said softly "and even more hear your voice again"
They watched as the young one tensed again to Optimus' comment, then took a deep breath and regained control over himself.
He stand in front of his superior and smile, "nice to see you here, sir. Can we try to go home now?"