You were just the maintenance guy, and fixing the roof wasn't exactly riveting. Not that such things stopped Grimlock from taking a strange interest in you.

The mech would usually just transform and keep an optic on you as you hammered away at the repairs, whether they be damage to security cameras, wires, satellites, the actual roof itself, and even the transmission towers.

The mech just stood there and watched.

It was a little nerve wracking if you were honest, at least for the first few days. Grimlock normally kept quiet, only growling when any birds tried to land on him.

Nonetheless, you went up there every day for a round check of the equipment. To your surprise, Grimlock was already there when you arrived today. Quirking a smile, you approached the nearby ladder.

"Getting an early start to the day, big guy?" You called and began to ascend.

Grimlock twitched his armor a bit, letting out a small puff of air in your direction.

"Yeah, wish I could be a morning person." You shrugged and heaved yourself onto the roof.

"...tow...er."

You nearly tripped as you began to make your normal rounds. Since when could he talk? You gave a nervous chuckle and turned to the warrior.

"The tower? What about it?"

"Bro...ken."

"The tower's broken?" You raised a brow and subconsciously tightened your toolbelt. "You sure?"

Grimlock just nodded. You grumbled and shifted uneasily. You really weren't supposed to fix the transmissions tower without a lift. It was incredibly dangerous to try climbing it. Not that you hadn't done so before.

"Well, it's a bit early to be bugging anyone about the lift...especially since I can't confirm what the issue is…" You mumbled, oblivious to the curious gaze Grimlock was giving you.

Eh, it wasn't like you weren't used to these kinds of things. One quick climb up the tower to find the problem would be a cinch. "Well...thanks for letting me know Grimlock." You called as you began to climb the narrow beams supporting the tower. "I'll get right on that."

You managed to climb about three quarters of the way up before your first problem made itself known. And that problem was an alarming amount of rust, specifically on the bar you tried to use as a makeshift rung until it merely snapped off in your hand. You blinked in shock, observing the rusted metal in your hand.

"Oh...there might just be more than wiring issues here…" You mumbled, quickly deeming the tower unsafe to climb any farther.

You began to try and climb down, clinging tightly to the support beams every time the wind would gust. You hadn't even descended five beams before your next problem. The wind shouldn't have shaken the tower, it wasn't strong enough. But of course, structural integrity had decided to be a bitch today. You yelped as not only the tower began to sway, but groan as well. And as much as you didn't want to put a lot of weight onto potentially faulty support beams, you didn't have a lot of options.

"Human!"

You flinched as a booming voice called up to you, clearly belonging to Grimlock. "I-It's okay big guy! The tower's just a lot worse than I thought! I'll be awhile!"

But out of the corner of your eye you could see Grimlock shaking his head, "Jump." he barked.

You let out a harsh laugh, "No way, Grimlock! I'll be fine! I don't need to jump!"

"Jump! Now!"

"I said-!"

You shrieked as the tower gave a heavy lurch to the side, your added weight dislodging the rusted beam you'd been clinging to. You couldn't help but scream as gravity yanked you back towards the ground...for all of ten seconds.

You let out a strangled cry as you landed in a heap on...something? You managed to roll to your knees with a groan and found that Grimlock was cupping you with both hands in bipedal mode. The mech seemed to visibly sag as he ex-vented. Was he relieved for you?

"Grimlock?" You couldn't bring yourself to keep the waver out of your tone.

"Human...not careful." Grimlock let out a harsh ex-vent, "Said tow-er...is broken."

"The tower isn't broken Grimlock," you held up a hand before he could yell, "The tower is complete trash. It shouldn't be working on any level. We-I...need to make sure someone is notified. That damn thing needs to be torn down."

"Grimlock tear down pretty good."

You snorted, "Yeah, you do. But you'd probably take all the delicate wiring running inside the building with it."

Grimlock merely grumbled. A moment passed and you cleared your throat, "Eh, Grimlock?"

"Hn?"

"Are you gonna put me down anytime soon?" You asked, a slight chuckle in your tone.

Grimlock huffed, "No."

"Oka-Wait, what? Why?!" You gawked.

"Grimlock don't want to. Keep human safe." He growled and semi-gently dumped you on his shoulder. "Keep human with Grimlock."

"I have to report the tower!"

"Report tower later."

"Grimlock!"

"No!" He snapped, "You human scare, Grimlock! No danger! No more!"

You ran a hand down your face. "I appreciate the gesture big mech, I really do. But I have a dangerous job other people count on me for. I'm not worth the efficiency we'd otherwise lose."

Grimlock ex-vented harshly, glaring at you from the corner of his optics.

"No say that. No more."

"But-."

"Human worth much more." Grimlock scowled. "Don't treat Grimlock stupid for speech issues."

"Speech issues?" You balked, "What…?"

The big dinobot rolled his optics, "Issues with web. Can't learn human speak well. This as good as gets. Not dumb. Not slow. Just...stuck."

"So you just have a speech impairment?" You snorted, "up until today I just thought you weren't much of a talker."

"Grimlock talk before."

"If you did, either I wasn't around or I couldn't understand you buddy." You smiled softly. "Now will you please let me report the tower? I'll come right back. Besides, I've got a few hours of personal time to kill before I can start on other repairs." You pleaded, giving him a small smile.

Eventually, the big mech groaned and carefully knelt to place you on the ground, "Human come back fast."

"I'll be quick, back in a flash." You agreed and darted inside the building.

By the time all the reports had been filed, all the burning questions were answered, and mild health check was completed, and everything was sorted, over an hour had passed. You sprinted back to where you had left Grimlock, fearing he had gotten impatient and left.

But, low and behold, there he was. Once the door had swung shut, the big mech huffed and refused to look at you.

"Human said 'fast'. Lie."

"Hey. It's not like I wanted to be gone that long," you scowled and folded your arms, "They wanted to do an invasive search! Thankfully they gave up once I made enough racket about it."

Grimlock ex-vented, low and long, before plucking you off the ground again and cradling you in his hands.

"Human scare Grimlock, before." The big beast mech admitted, hanging his head.

"Me? How did I scare you?" You blinked.

"Human fell...near didn't catch." Grimlock lightly nudged your cheek with his finger, "Near lost human friend. Near spark-attack."

"Oh," your cheeks flamed, "So you were just worried for my safety?"

Grimlock nodded. "Come to like human company. Funny bunch of creatures."

"Gee, thanks." You snorted.

Grimlock hummed and set you on his shoulder. Silently, the mech stood and began to walk away from the huge bunker-like building.

"Eh, Grimlock? Where are we going?"

"Grimlock has shelter with brothers. Human come there now." He grumbled.

"What? I can come visit you now?" You chuckled.

"Human could come visit Grimlock before too." He mumbled.

You blushed for a second but wound up laughing, "Oh, is that so? What about your brethren?"

"Won't hurt human. Know better...know human." Grimlock ruffled some of his plates and armor as he entered the massive bunker bipedally.

"Oh, didn't know that." You murmured as Grimlock settled himself away in a warm corner of the room with you.

Grimlock deeply ex-vented as he made himself comfortable, blowing your hair askew. "What, is it nap time?" You joked.

"Yes. Sleep. Human tired." Grimlock ordered, receiving a huff and a light slap on the shoulder.

"I am not tired."

"Human lie again."

"I am not lying!"

"Human, need quiet to recharge. Safe with Grimlock. No noise. No dangerous tower. No bad people too." Grimlock watched carefully as you tensed.

"How did you...when…?"

"Could smell other human on you-human the one day." Grimlock snarled, "So jumpy that day too."

"Yeah, well…"

"Grimlock and brothers scare away. No more." He admitted.

"Oh...so that's why he won't come near me…" You murmured.

Grimlock huffed and tapped his shoulder. "Sleep now. Feel better when up later."

"Ugh, fine, fine. You've convinced me." You chuckled and lied down, "wake me up later though, okay?"

"Hm."

Grimlock smiled as you finally nodded off. Pleased with himself, he allowed himself to drift off as well, happy to have finally gotten the chance to be with you.