"CYBERTRONIAN"

"ENGLISH"

...

CHAPTER 14

Carter wasn't sure about Hound the first few days, but it took little time for him to enjoy the mech's presence. It had taken time for the entire datapad to be processed to officials, for everything to be approved, and the like, but within a week or two, Hound was legally the Father of Carter McHale. Carter had a rather large room right next to Hound's, a nice berth with colorful characters on the sheets and comforter, toys, games, and the like around. The clothes they'd received when Carter came to the base had been transferred into the room as well, allowing him all his necessities. If Hound was anything, it was a loving mech that treated Carter as if he was his own son. And Carter, in return, had started to see Hound as the closest thing to his parents he now had.

Being with Rodimus had been nice and safe, but there was something different in being with Hound. The scout was the type that acted more like a regular, old-fashioned parent. He told stories before bed, of the war, Cybertronian fairy tales, or the like. He tucked him in at night, and woke up to change the sheets whenever Carter happened to have an accident. Being he was only seven that still happened on occasion, though the phase was quickly fading. When Hound had to be out on missions, Rodimus or Top Spin would watch him, both of whom Carter felt the most comfortable around. He still shared a strong bond with Rodimus, but even so, his bond with Hound was, in many ways, stronger with each passing day.

For Hound, he had known this boy was something special from the moment he met him. Though the first few days had tended to be awkward for him, he'd slowly grown more and more comfortable around the child. Referring to him as his son, and informing the boy often of his love for him. Carter had yet to say he loved him as well, or even call him 'Dad', but he knew that would be a slower process. He had just gotten his full trust, the process of getting his newfound adopted son to consider him to be his Father would be a slower process, and he knew it. Then of course, there were the moments like that morning.

The sound of glass shattering woke Hound from recharge instantly. Canon firmly in his hand, prepared for a Decepitcon he charged out, cannon at the ready. But only found Carter, a broken glass bowl shattered along the ground, milk, and cereal all around as well. Primus, Hound really needed to start child-proofing his quarters. "Carter, I've said this to you before. Wake me up if I'm not up when you awaken." Hound noted, his voice calm and gentle as he scrapped the shards into his palm, and turned to him "You could have really hurt yourself that time son, you do know that?" Carter nodded slightly, and Hound took a deep breath "But no use crying over spilled Energon. That was only a bowl, a cheap one at that." The Autobot assured him.

"I thought most of your bowls were metal?"

"This is a bowl meant for Energon, Carter. Therefore it is clear, and glass." Hound did a scan over his son's body, noting his arm was bleeding slightly, he sighed a bit "Primus, are you alright?" He questioned, moving forward in his crouched form, he looked over the bloody cut, it didn't appear deep thankfully "With the glass we use, you're lucky that didn't hit an ARTERY Carter. This is why I've told you time and time again, come and get me if I'm not up and you're hungry." Carter's face went a tomato red "It's not too deep, but I can't handle this myself." Hound scooped hm up and took a deep breath "First Aid is going to have my aft for this one." He noted quietly.

Leaving his holoform to clean the mess they had left, he carefully carried Carter out of the room. Fully prepared for First Aid to not be the least bit happy.

...

First Aid was a naturally calm mech, and therefore, only barked a little at Hound. Of course, Hound knew it was irresponsible to leave something that dangerous out within his son's reach. Of course, Carter still felt bad, so the medic had at least stuck to yelling in Cybertronian, thankfully. First Aid took great ease with his holoform in treating Carter's wound, being sure that there was no loose Energon in his open wound first. Since, after all, Energon in the blood system of a human was not a good thing, it could kill him if not treated. Luckily he found no traces, and simply settled for cleaning the wound off and wrapping his arm up carefully.

"You got lucky this time Hound, but you REALLY need to child-proof your quarters." First Aid looked up at Hound calmly "Next time, it might be a bowl or cube full of Energon. And if that got into his blood system... You'd probably have less then ten minutes to get him to me. Otherwise he'd be dead." He noted, Hound's optics fell upon hearing this "Don't worry too much though, it should be easy, and once he gets older, should be easier to handle that stuff." First Aid patted Carter's leg a bit and the boy smiled at the medic in response "You're gonna be okay kid, just listen to your Dad and get him next time, got it?" He questioned.

"Yeah, I'll listen to Hound next time." Carter promised with a nod.

Hound smiled a bit at this, for the first few times they referred to his 'Dad', he had not realized they meant Hound. Now, or at least it seemed that now, he had started to take that as meaning Hound. It wasn't calling him 'Dad' himself, but it was without a doubt, a start. In Hound's mind, this proved that Carter was slowly starting to accept Hound to be his Father. "Though the first thing I'm doing once we're back is child-proofing the quarters. Primus forbid I get my son killed before I really got to know him." Hound winked down at Carter, who actually chuckled a bit "I think I'm too fond of him for that." He noted with a look in First Aid's direction, his real form's direction anyway.

"So how are things ACTUALLY going between you and the sparkling?" First Aid finally questioned as his holoform began a brief chat with the boy to keep him occupied.

"It's nowhere near as easy as I expected, I won't lie." Hound crossed his arms a bit, and leaned against the wall "I've done everything First Aid. Given him his own room, gotten him everything a human could possibly need. I tell him I love him at least twice a day." He leaned his head back against the wall, and watched Carter calmly "But he hasn't called me 'Dad', he rarely returns affection. And when referring to me. I'm only ever his caretaker." His optics dropped "I know I'm not Rodimus, or his parents. But I'm really, honestly trying to be a substitute for the latter. And clearly failing." He added.

First Aid could only smile a bit, which confused Hound greatly. Did he actually find this amusing? He was upset, hurt even about the whole thing and he needed actual comfort at the moment. "Hound, he's been here two months. He spent his entire life up until then raised by his creators, and his parents were murdered by our race. Given, they were Decepitcons, but even so, it was still one of our species." First Aid told his friend calmly, Hound nodded a bit in understanding "Give him more time then a month of being in your care Hound. He'll warm up to you. But for the moment, he's still grieving. After all, we adopt our kind rather swiftly. We made no exception with Carter, you two are still getting to know one-another." First Aid explained "I bet in a few more months, maybe sooner, maybe later. He'll be calling you 'Dad'." He assured him.

Hound's optics turned and gazed at First Aid, noting the seriousness in his tone and voice. Perhaps he was right, he expected a traumatized boy to accept this far too quickly. He remembered often refusing any affection his own adopted parents had given him for upwards to four months of Cybertronian time. But when he was affectionate with Carter, whether it was a hug from his holoform, or a kiss from night from both forms, a stroke of his back from his robot form, or anything else. The boy had even slowly started to return the hugs his holoform had given him, given the return hugs were given awkwardly but he was still not quite used to them.

"You're right, thanks Aid, I needed the reassurance." Hound nodded his head a bit, then turned to Carter "Alright kiddo, I need to get food in ye before you go hungry." He held out a a hand, allowing Carter to get on himself as he often insisted on doing "He's due for his check-up in three solar cycles, isn't he?" He looked at First Aid, who nodded slightly "Good, then we'll see you come three solar cycles. Take it easy Aid." He told him.

He carried Carter back to his quarters with a newfound confidence. He set the boy down on the counter in the kitchen at once before setting to getting him his usual breakfast. It was just a bowl of cereal, mostly the only breakfast food they had left on-base. It was a quiet thing, breakfast, Hound had an Energon Cube, Carter ate his cereal. Every so often they would have a conversation or two, but it was normally a quiet event. Once it was done, and Hound set to cleaning off their 'dishes' however, Carter spoke. "Hey Hound?" The mech turned his head slightly, blinking "Does me not calling you my 'Dad' upset you?" Primus, Hound realized the boy was far too smart for his own good.

"No, I wouldn't put it that way at least. I'd love to be called 'Dad'. But I understand the position you're in." Hound looked upon his son quietly, pursing his lips a bit, he looked down upon him "Our kind adopts much more readily then yours used to. As we do not see the need for lengthy adoption processes. We like to get kids in loving homes as soon as possible." He then took a deep breath "But of course, you just lost your parents so recently. I wouldn't expect you to be ready to refer to me as your Father Creator yet. It wouldn't be fair to you." He noted, at this point, he finally meant that "Do what is comfortable for you, Carter, not what I want, alright?" He commented.

"But... If I wanted to, I could call you Dad?"

"If that is what you wished to call me, yes. But I'm fine with you calling me Hound." Hound nodded, and looked at Carter for a moment "When you're ready, whenever that day may be. I would be happy to be called Dad, Father, Pappa, whatever you want to call me." He told him with a bright smile "Any time." He noted.

Carter nodded, and Hound half-expected him to call him Dad in response. Yet he accepted the silent response, Carter wasn't ready to call him 'Dad' yet. But he knew by that comment, the day would come when, someday, he'd be ready for that. Whether it would be a day from now, or ten years from now, he'd be ready to be Carter's Dad. He just hoped that when the day came, he could truly live up to the title.