I only own Marianne! Everything else belongs to Hasbro!

~Bonds, Hot Spot~

~Bonds, Blades~

~Bonds, First Aid~

~Bonds, Groove~

~Bonds, Streetwise~

~Bonds, Marianne/Mariposa~

"Normal"

'Thoughts'

"Comms or phone, other side"

"Bumblebee, Tones"

"Bumblebee, Comms"

"Bumblebee, Radio"


(Truth is) Stranger than Fiction

4:00 pm

I glance at the gun in Ironhide's hands before looking up to the mech himself. "Hey."

"Hot Spot told me about you not wanting to fight." He sighs before setting the gun down, then lays a hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I nod. "You're not going to get upset?"

"Hide…" I sigh heavily. "I have to learn. I promised Ratchet."

"He didn't say anything."

I shrug. "We hadn't revived him yet." I sigh. "I-I had to watch Lockdown end him in the movie, and ever since…" I look down. "Cemetery Wind showed up here, last Wednesday, and I had to shoot the guy to save my brothers. I've been through a lot since I came here, but I'll be okay. I love weapons, I just don't like the idea of using them to kill. I'll use them to stop someone, if I have no other option, but I'll use non-lethal shots." I sigh heavily.

"Bumblebee told me about that."

"Yeah?" I sigh heavily. "Hardest thing I've ever had to do, but at least my brothers didn't meet the same fate as Ratchet did." I smile slightly. "You don't think about right/you don't think about wrong/you just do what you gotta do/to defend your own/and I'd do the same/for you…"

He looks down at me. "What?"

I shrug. "Sentinel hurt someone I cared about too. It isn't just Lockdown, even though I reacted worse with Ratch. It's Cade and Sounders for Que, it's Sentinel Prime with you, it's Lockdown with Ratchet, it's Megatron with Optimus and Jazz…" I sigh. "You're all the only true family I've had in a long time, and I'm not letting anyone hurt you. If that means I have to fight, then so be it. I'm a prime, Hide. I don't have a choice."

He nods, then turns to grab the gun. "Then we'll start with this, until I can get a weapon designed for you."

I take it, and look it over. "What is it?"

"Pulse rifle." He sighs. "I know you're more used to human weapons, but it's the closest thing I have."

I nod. "My brothers already told me the stories."


5:00 pm

I walk in the back door and take a cube from someone without paying much attention. I'm thinking about what Ratchet told me, and my first training session with Ironhide.

"How was weapons training?"

I look up at the voice. "Spot!?" I fumble the cube for a moment before setting it on the counter so I can hug him. "Oh, God! How long have you been up? How are you feeling? What did Ratchet say?"

"Mari…"

I step back and glance to Aid before blushing. "Oops… Guess I did it again…"

"I don't mind." He sighs. "I've been up since noon, and I'll be fine, Mari. As for what Ratchet said, that can wait until after you get back from class."

"But…"

"If I tell you now, you won't pay any attention in your class."

"And if I don't pay attention, I won't pass the test. If I don't pass the test, I'll never be an EMT. If I don't become an EMT, I can't go out with you guys when you get a call."

"Right."

~I'm worried though, Spot…~

~Don't be. I'm fine.~

"I…" I sigh heavily. ~I don't wanna find you in the bathroom like that again, Spot. I-I can't see you sick like that again.~

He sighs before hugging me. ~Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now finish your energon.~

~Who's taking me to class?~

~I am. Aid's got something to do with Ratchet, and the others are spending the evening with Superion.~

"I need to get changed first, though." I sigh heavily. ~So, everyone's feeling okay now?~

~Yep.~

~I'm good.~

~I've been fine.~

~Great.~

~Better.~

"Fixit? How are you feeling?"

"I'm all right…just tired…"

I look up to Spot before taking a drink from my cube. ~You're sure?~ I sigh heavily at the look he gives me. ~I worry. You know that.~

~I know. I'm not mad. I'm just tired of being asked.~

~Sorry…~

~Don't be. I'll explain things after your class.~

~Why don't you explain things now?~

He sighs. ~I don't want to distract you.~

~You're already flightier than Fireflight.~

I roll my eyes. ~Blades, you're lucky I'm not easily upset by being called flighty, or I'd smack you.~ I sigh through the bond. ~Yes, I'm flighty, and more so because I'm worried about Spot, but that doesn't mean I'll flunk.~ I shrug. "I was distracted through my entire EMS class back in Indiana, and I never scored lower than an eighty. This is old training, guys. I'll do fine. You're all worried about nothing."

"So are you…"

"Spot…" I sigh and drain the cube before starting for the stairs. "Until I know what's wrong, I'm gonna worry, and if it's necessary, I'll keep worrying."

"I'll stay with Fixit, so you won't have to worry about him."

"Thanks, Spot…"


I shift into human form and change, then run back down the stairs again, a pink plaid messenger bag over my shoulder. "'M ready, Street! Let's roll!" I look around to see more than one mech with an eyebrow ridge raised. "What?"

"We've never seen you so excited to take a test."

"I love EMS." I shrug. "I love rolling to the rescue. I can't if I can't be out there with you, so I'm eager to get certified." I grin. "Besides… I was this excited the last time, too—except it was tempered by nerves because I wasn't sure I could do it. Now, I know I can, so I can't wait to get out there."

"We'll be glad to have you."

"Thanks." I check the time on my phone. "We have to go, Street. I can't be late."

He sighs. "I'm coming."

"Aid?"

"Yeah?"

"If Spot starts purging again, don't try to handle it on your own. Get Ratchet, and send everyone out to the Aerialbots. You go too. Street and I will be able to pick up the emotions, so I need you to try to keep things together here."

"You're sure you can do this?"

"I'm fine, Aid. I'm just worried about Spot. I need to know you can handle it if he gets sick again."

"I'll be fine, Mari. I used to practice on my brothers. Get moving before you're late."

"I'm goin', I'm goin'."


third pov

"She took charge again, didn't she?" Aid nods. "She's got to be a commander…she just naturally falls into the leadership position if I can't. She's got all the signs of being a gestalt commander…"

"I know… Silverbolt's going to have a field day with that one, though…"

"Because she acted like a worried parent? She's always done that!"


10:00 pm

I sigh as I step into the house. Street had run in right after we got here, but I wanted to look out over the city. It's beautiful, even if it's dangerous. "Tired?"

I look up to Aid. He's got Fixit, wrapped in a blanket of course, curled in his arms with his head on Aid's shoulder. I get the feeling he'd wanted to wait up for me, but he hadn't made it. "Exhausted… Don't know why, though." I shrug. "Probably just those slaggin' dizzy spells rearing their ugly head again." I sigh when Aid gives me a look. "It's caused by my anxiety, and goes along with my PTSD. I can handle it, and I'm doing my best to keep it out of the bond."

"Don't. We can handle it."

I shrug. "Okay." I sigh as I look around. "Where is everyone?"

"Upstairs. I was waiting for you, so you wouldn't think we'd abandoned you or anything."

I follow Aid up the stairs. "You didn't have to do that, Aid."

"I wanted to."

I duck into my room and give my cats a little attention before changing into my pajamas—God, I love not having to get dressed until class—then shift back into my Cybertronian form and slip into our shared berth room.

I take the minicon from Aid and crawl into the cuddle pile carefully with Fixit in my arms, being too anxious about hurting Spot or making him sick again to move any faster.

~Mari? What are you doing? I'm not made of glass.~

~I didn't want to hurt you…~

~I'm fine. You're not heavy enough to. I was built sturdy enough to support four other frames.~

~Right. Doesn't help.~ I sigh heavily. ~So, what were you going to tell me?~

He sighs. ~Technically, I was going to tell everyone…~

~Well?~

~What is it, Spot?~

~You don't usually leave us out of the loop.~

~That's usually Aid.~

~GUYS!~ I huff. ~Give the mech a chance to talk!~ I pause. ~Figuratively speaking…~

~I'm carrying.~ I freeze for a moment before trying to shift off him. ~Mari, stop. You're fine.~

~But I'm heavier than anyone but Aid!~

~And I'd be fine if he were in your place.~ He sighs. ~You can't hurt anything. Trust me, my frame's strong enough to support everyone.~

~Right… Sorry…~ I sigh heavily. ~Do you know how far along?~

~Ratchet said about a week…~

~I'm surprised it didn't transfer when we helped with Fixit…~

~Aid?~

~Sparklings carried by a gestalt member will usually be spread around during the first stage, and it causes nausea for the entire being when they merge.~

~I think I was a bit too early in the carriage for that to happen, Aid, and…~

~And?~

~They split, while Ratchet was scanning…~

~Twins?~

~Twins.~

~Spot…~ I can't stop the smirk from forming. ~Ya went a little overboard when the Aerialbots got here, didn't you?~

~…We hadn't seen them in eons…~

I smile. ~Doesn't bother me.~ I smirk when I remember something. ~I have no problem with relationships between the two of you, but don't interface as Defensor.~

~Why would we?~

~Story I read, a few years ago. I just…don't want to see the results of that—not to mention, I'm a part of Defensor, and I don't feel that way about Superion.~

~Mostly, it's just Spot and Silver.~

~Though Aid and Flight had a fling a few years ago…~

~Streetwise! Don't corrupt her!~

~Good to know.~ I shrug. ~Besides, I told Ratchet how I feel today…~

~You did?~

~How'd it go?~

I shrug. ~I'm not sure. I'm gonna give it a few days, and see what happens.~

~He didn't tell you?~

~She caught him by surprise, Groove.~

~If she doesn't get an answer…~

~Blades… You're not fighting with Ratchet.~

~I was only going to talk with him.~ He lays a hand on my doorwing, since they're facing him right now. ~I'm not letting him hurt you, Mari.~

Aid sighs. ~Mari…~

I smile gently. ~I know, Aid. I was about to tell him.~

~Tell me what?~

~Ratchet ran a spark scan, this afternoon…~

~What's wrong, Mari?~

~Don't tell me you're carrying too!~

~NO.~ I scoff. ~I'm not that kind of girl, Blades.~ I sigh softly. ~No… He—he picked up some minor damage, deep down. He thinks it's from the abuse and neglect, but part of it could have been from loving him, and realizing it when it was just…too late…~

~Part of that could be because you and Claire are separated too…~

~He said we've done good so far, though. It would have been far worse if I had caught it before we merged with her.~

~I thought something seemed off!~

~Street? What do you mean?~

~I saw a crack…when we first merged… It took up half her spark!~

~Why didn't you tell me?~

~That's kind of important, Street… Silver and I needed to know that when we were asking Mari about being gestalt herself last week. He wouldn't have had to grill her then.~

~Sorry, Spot… I wanted to tell Mari what I found first, but we never had the chance to talk. She was always with Aid and Ratchet, or you, or Blades that one time…~

~You guys are saying he already hurt her?~

I reach around and squeeze Blades' hand. ~He hurt me only by being killed, Blades. Lockdown hurt me. Cemetery Wind hurt me.~ I sigh softly. ~Being so spacy that I didn't realize I was in love before it was too late hurt me… Ratchet didn't hurt me on purpose.~ I sigh. ~Or maybe he did, because he gave up on fighting when he saw Lockdown, but he didn't know I was out there, or that I felt that way about him…~ I sigh heavily. ~Guys… We need to get to recharge. Spot needs the rest, and we're keeping him up. Not to mention that Fixit's asleep, and he's part of our gestalt now, so we're going to wake him up if we don't quiet down.~

~He hasn't reached the bond yet, though…~

~I know he hears us, he just hasn't been able to communicate through it yet.~

~Blades, don't terrorize Mari. Mari, you're fine.~

~No. I've done research on carrying, and, while I don't have all the information, I know it won't be easy, and you need your rest.~

~Mari's right, Spot.~ Aid sighs. ~And Mari and I need to help Ratchet tomorrow, too.~

~See? We all need to get some rest.~ I shrug. ~Least I know why I'm so tired again. Thought those dizzy spells were coming back.~ I nuzzle under Spot's chin. ~Night, Guys.~

~Dizzy spells?~

~Anxiety from my PTSD was causing me to get really dizzy, and pretending I was fine was exhausting. I haven't been this tired since we met. From what Aid said earlier, I can easily assume I was getting your fatigue through the bond.~ I shrug when Streetwise pops up to give me a confused look. ~I know the symptoms of carrying, Street. He'll be tired for a while—even with his seemingly endless energy.~

~Thanks…~

~This finding out of your league?~

~Extremely. I'm an enforcer, not a medic like you and Aid.~

~And Claire in the future.~ I pause to think back. ~Brightstar…~

~Mari, they're supposed to—~

~Not if they're carried, Aid…~

~Mari and Star are in adult frames, just like we were when we on-lined.~

~That was a name she chose right before the fight—a Native American thing we were doing while playing four square with the future bitch and her sweet, loving little sister. Mine was Shining Star, but I like Mariposa better.~

~What about your combined form?~

~I don't know yet…I'd have to wait until I talk with Claire again…but I like Starlight.~

~Starlight… I like it.~

~Sounds like you…and how you've described Claire…~

I smile at the thought before going back to the subject at hand. ~I'll keep ya up to date, Street. Don't worry.~ I shrug. ~Maybe I'll pull out that laptop you guys rebuilt for me, and show you what I have on humans. Maybe that, plus what Aid can get you, will help.~ I yawn, then sigh heavily. ~I'm exhausted, so I know Spot is. Goodnight.~