AN: Yay, more reviews! THANK YOU ALL.
The Result of Squffie: I don't think they hate Miles, it's just that he had like five minutes of being in the sidelines and that was it. Not many pay attention to that, haha. Over Barricade being attacked, we all know Ironhide's more than ready to shoot anything. Especially a 'con. Barricade's no innocent in the Cybertronian war, and Ironhide knows it. You don't exactly just look a perceived threat in the eye that could kill you and do nothing, especially when you're Ironhide.
Autobot Firekat: I plan to!
Cartastic: Thank you.
XDarkestAngelX: Third person to tell me that it's "To punish and enslave" not "to punish and enforce". I changed it after the second person told me, but thanks anyway.
Bookworm Gal: Itty bitty teenage boy with no weapons vs. Ironhide? Yeah, itty bitty teenage boy knows that battle doesn't even need started! Just toss roses in his face and hope it shocks him long enough to yell at him.
If anyone has any ideas for Miles new hairstyle then please send me a picture or drawing! I thought getting rid of his hippie hair would be a refreshing change. I looked at the actor that played him, but I couldn't find a hair style I liked.
Also, I'm putting he's basically had the same type of hair style because most of the hair styles I could find for John Robinson, his actor in the movie, looked similar.
"So… You threw roses at him? What exactly were you hoping to achieve, young Miles?" Optimus asked, face mask down to hide the amused expression on his faceplates as he stared down at the teen on his desk.
Miles sighed, glancing around the room. He didn't understand why he had to debrief the Prime, much less on his own. The others had been with him for a bit, but after Ironhide had taken Barricade's weapons away, the Weapons Specialist had left. Ratchet, the Medic, had taken Barricade to work out the dents and scratches in his armor. Bumblebee had left with Sam so that Sam could call his parents and say he wouldn't be returning for the night.
Glancing back up at Optimus, he shrugged. "I dunno, I guess I just wanted to distract him. It worked. On all of them, actually."
Optimus cycled air through his vents, the Cybertronian equivalent of a sigh. He stayed quiet for a moment as he studied Miles. Miles spent the time under his gaze trying not to twitch.
"Your race has always amazed me by how…brave you can be despite your tiny size and short life span." Optimus finally said, glancing away from the fidgety teenager.
Miles laughed, "Tiny little teenage me with no weapons going against Ironhide. I don't think anyone's brave enough to think that'll work out, much less me. The bigger they are the easier they are to shock into stunned silence."
Optimus allowed himself to chuckle, just a little bit. His amused smile was hid firmly behind his facemask. He watched as Miles stood up.
"Look, I know and you know that Barry's not going to be trusted just because a human vouches for him. I'm just going to assume that he's probably not even exactly welcome, except maybe to be grilled by Ironhide if he made me crazy. Both sides have done damage to the other side. I'm going to guess that every Autobot here has done some sort of damage to a Decepticon?" he waited until Optimus nodded to continue. "And Barricade has done his own fair share of damage to Autobots, I'm sure. I'm not going to ask you to trust him, or even be welcoming towards him. Just…"
"Put up with him?" Optimus offered, more than surprised that the human actually seemed to care for Barricade.
Miles nodded, "Yes. Put up with him. Barry's stubborn so I don't know if he'll even accept staying here, and if he does I don't know if he'll offer anything in return. We have talked before about him becoming a Neutral. I know it's not polite to ask for something when the other may get nothing in return, but…"
Optimus carefully picked Miles up, bringing him closer to his face. "You care for Barricade." It was more of a statement then a question.
"Yeah. He grows on you, I guess. And I keep imagining him as a bear. Grizzly on the outside, but a teddy on the inside. Which is why I like to call him Barry, it's close to Bear. But that's just between you and me, big guy." Miles said, grinning.
Optimus laughed, "I believe I would enjoy seeing you say that to him, but I will not tell him you said that, young friend. If Barricade does become a Neutral then he will be welcome at the Autobot base. His weapons will remain with us, however, until further notice."
"I'll just get him a bunch of flowers to throw, that works pretty well in surprising you Autobots. May I suggest that you have someone do that in a training session? Gotta be prepared for anything in the heat of battle." Miles climbed out of Optimus' hand, and started to climb down his desk.
"I'll talk to Ironhide about it. I'm sure he'll appreciate your suggestion, having been taking out by those deadly plants himself." Optimus replied, a smirk hidden behind his face mask. "If worse comes to worse I will ask you to act as a liaison between Barricade and ourselves."
Miles laughed, "Designate me as Flower Power and I'm your guy, big man!"
He quickly left Optimus' office through the human door, nearly running right into Sam. Bumblebee was standing in bipedal form near to his charge. He realized they both had been listening in by the way Sam grinned at him.
"Soooo, Flower Power and Bear, huh? Best dynamic duo I've heard of yet. 'Kaela will love it. Flower Power definitely suits you, you look like a frikkin' hippie, dude." Sam smirked at him.
Miles huffed, "Leave my hair out of this, Witwacky!"
Sam laughed, "Original, Flower Power, very original!"
The two playfully threw insults at each other back and forth as Bumblebee picked them up and put them on his shoulders. The young Autobot carried them to the hangar that Barricade was currently staying in. When he entered he saw that the Decepticon was in his alt form.
Barricade growled, rolling forward. "Leave me and Miles alone for a moment."
Despite the slightly nervous look that Miles had, Bumblebee set the young human down. He left the hangar with Sam quickly, stationing himself and his charge far enough away that Sam couldn't hear that easily, but Bumblebee could still hear perfectly.
Sam looked at his watch, then at Bumblebee with wide eyes. "It's been an hour and they're still fighting?"
He had moved closer despite Bumblebee's protests. He was close enough that he could just make out the yelling that had been almost happening nonstop. He didn't know Barricade, and didn't like him, but he was more than willing to put up with him if Miles was okay with him. He was happy he couldn't hear what was being said if it was making his friend scream like that.
Bumblebee was about to reply when they were startled by Miles suddenly appearing through the door for the humans, slamming it shut behind him. He stormed over to the yellow Autobot and the human, hands clenched into fists. All three were silent as Miles calmed himself down.
Miles finally broke the silence, "I need to contact my parents. What do I tell them?"
"Optimus and I can take care of that. I'll drop you and Sam off at the human sleep station." Bumblebee replied, picking up the still irate human and his charge. "Most of the NEST members are on vacation, or are in the rec-room. I have comm'd Ironhide and he has said that Captain Lennox and Sergeant Epps will be there to get to see you."
Miles just nodded. Sam looked hard at his friend until Miles finally mouthed 'Later' at him. Bumblebee carried them all the way to where the humans slept, setting the two down in front of the door. Sam led Miles inside, where they could see Captain Lennox and Sergeant Epps.
Epps walked over to Miles with a huge grin on his face, hugging him. "I barely know you, and I already love you. You are amazing for technically taking down Ironhide with flowers."
Miles laughed awkwardly, "All I did was distract him. I didn't technically take him down." He wasn't sure whether to return the hug or just pat the African-American on the back.
Will chuckled, "If it had been a real battle that distraction could have gotten him killed, so you technically took him down. At least according to Ironhide, so he's pretty pissed off. I'm Captain William Lennox, but you can call me Will. This is Sergeant Robert Epps."
"I prefer Epps, though." Epps said, the wide grin still in place.
Miles shook both of their hands, "I'm Miles Lancaster, but I'd prefer just Miles. If it makes Ironhide feel any better you could tell him that I'm pretty sure if he flicked me hard enough I'd be a goner."
"It won't, but I will suggest not going too close to him for another hour or two." Will said, smiling. He led Miles to a room with two beds in it. "This is where you and Sam will be staying."
"Alright, guys night!" Miles yelled, pumping a fist in the air.
Sam laughed, playfully shoving his friend into the room. When it turned into a wrestling match Will and Epps placed bets on the winner. Miles finally won after he attacked Sam's ticklish arm pits, leaving him begging for mercy underneath his friend. Will had to give Epps twenty dollars, cussing Sam out gently.
No one had seen Miles since that morning after he and Sam had woke up. After Will and Epps had left the two young boys alone, Sam had nearly had to beat his friend to get him to say all that had happened between him and Barricade. He could tell his friend had left some stuff out, but never said anything about it.
When Miles finally appeared in the human rec-room, Sam's mouth had nearly hit the floor. He had been friends with Miles for practically forever, and he had always had about the same hair style. He often used to get teased about it in school, being called a hippie or a skater-wanna-be. But gone was the shoulder length hair that Sam had become so used to, the hair that had given Miles his peace loving vibe.
Miles gave his friend a small smile, "I went and saw Will's wife after we woke up, and let her have at me." He fingered a strand of dirty blonde hair. "Do you like it?"
"But, your hair…" Sam said, staring at his friend with wide eyes.
Epps leaned over the side of the couch and smacked Sam over the head. He grinned at Miles.
"Let Sarah have a go at ya, huh? Smart move there. She's pretty good at making hair styles that look decent or flattering, or even just giving you whatever you want." Epps said, letting his voice turn deadly serious. "But you sold your soul to the devil, I'm afraid. Now she'll never stop trying to cut your hair."
Will hissed at Epps, "Don't call my wife the devil if you want to live."
Miles laughed at the two, "I figured she might be a good bet from the way y'all talked about her. Very mothering, and beautiful. Thought it was time for a change of pace, and I think she did a good job.
Epps whistled, "Boys smart. Knows not to insult a woman in anyone's hearing, especially not her own, or around a lackey of hers."
"I prefer to sleep in the bed, not on the couch, thank you very much." Will glared at Epps, locking the African-American in a head lock and giving him a noogie.
Sam laughed, grabbing Miles and leading his friend out of the rec-room. "C'mon, I have inside information on a prank that's about to be pulled, all because of you and your roses. We need to get there quick or we'll miss out on the good seats."