'Hey Bee,
This is Raf. Miko mentioned she was writing Bulkhead a letter, and that Ratchet was going to take them to cybertron for us. So I hope you get this. Maybe you could write back. Anyways how are you? What is cybertron like? Is it how you all remember it? What are you and the other autobots doing now? I have a hundred questions for you when you get back. If you come back to visit that is.' Raf stops and looks over the letter. He didn't want to sound sad. His eyes look over to the overflowing wastebin in the corner of the empty classroom. All the others he had thrown away had sounded sad.
'Oh Miko is helping me with my music classes. It is fun. She really is good with the drums, but we are learning how to play the recorder. It's a simple instrument, but I forget the fingerings a lot. I'm getting better now with her help so I can almost play a full song without messing up. Oh and Ratchet is letting me help him with the new tech Agent Fowler has agreed to give him. He is teaching me just as much as I am helping him. It is nice to have him around. Even if he sometimes disappears and doesn't tell any of us where he goes or what he's doing. Miko worries, but I know Ratchet will be okay.'
"Raf? What are you still doing here?" He looks up to see his teacher Ms. Klein.
"Oh I was studying." Raf quickly lies burying his letter deep within his bag.
"Well the school is closing. You should be heading home now. The buses are already gone, do I need to call your parents to come pick you up?"
"No. I have a ride waiting for me outside. They've been there for a little bit now but I wanted to finish a paper before going home."
"Would that be the ambulance outside?" The teacher asks showing concern. "It's been sitting outside for awhile." She adds with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah that would be him. He is on his lunch break right now, but he has to go soon so he is dropping me off before going back to work." Raf continues to bluff as his mind conjures up reasons as to why Ratchet was outside. "Later Ms. Klein!" Raf calls back as he throws on his backpack. Running through the school Raf looks around as he makes his way outside. Leaping down the steps Raf lands with a loud oomph. Just as his teacher had said Ratchet was right in the first parking space.
"Hey Ratchet."
"Rafael, Miko mentioned you were still here. I was curious if you would want to help me out with some technology Agent Fowler just had installed in my lab."
"Sure Ratchet." Raf complies as he pulls out a pencil and his paper.
'Bumblebee I hope you don't worry about us. I also hope you are happy and doing well on cybertron. We all miss you but we are also proud.
Sincerely, Your friend,.
Rafael
"What are you writing? Homework?" Ratchet asks as Raf puts away his pencil.
"No. I just finished that letter I was writing to Bumblebee. Any news from them yet, Ratchet?"
Ratchet is silent as he drives. A sign Rafael took to mean they were still radio silent. Nothing from Cybertron. Ratchet had told them it was to be expected, but even Ratchet could not quell all of the children's worries. "I am sure they are fine."
"Yeah. You're probably right." The young boy was slow to share in the autobot's assurances. "Will you really take the letters to them?" As Ratchet rolls into the base he shifts shapes. Carefully Ratchet places his human friend down.
"As soon as I can young Rafael. As soon as I can." He promises patting Raf's head gently with one digit. "I am just waiting for something of note from Optimus before I go or send for one of theirs returns."
"Alright. Is that the newest computer?"
"Yes."
The two work fast as they discover the limits and uses of the new technology. It was more complicated than anything Rafael knew, but was so simplistic compared to what Ratchet was use to that it read as ancient texts. It was always fun for the young human to work with his friend, and he knew that deep down, Ratchet appreciated the company.
"Hey Ratchet?"
"Yes?" The autobot does not divert his gaze from what the screen.
"I miss them too."
"I-i know." Ratchet hesitates. Talking about such things was nothing either of them were use to, but it was nice to know someone else understood. Even if only with few words.
I felt like out of all of the characters Rafael would be the most formal in his writing hence why it looks a little different in this chapter.