I did not expect to be snatched up by a giant metal hand the second I exited my door, dressed in a Navy blouse and tan trousers with my hair in a ponytail, prepared to go to a meeting. But here I am, being carried into the air by- Ironhide?
"'Hide, what are you doing?" I said, propping myself up on my elbows and looking at the big mech.
"Optimus canceled all your meetings for today, we have things to do," Ironhide said.
""Hide, could I grab my gun?" I frowned at him. He let me down and I ran back into my room. I grabbed my handgun, holstered it, and ran back over to him hopping up into his hand. He made his way out of the hangar and onto the waiting plane. Setting me down on the floor as the door closed, he transformed into his alt mode. I went to strap myself into a seat when Optimus's passenger side door flared open and his headlights flashed.
"In. now." Optimus said, uncharacteristically grouchy. I backtracked and jumped into the cab, mildly afraid.
"Is everything okay Optimus?" I asked, buckling my seatbelt. Optimus's holoform formed up next to me and I jumped a bit.
"No, but it is not your fault," he said. I relaxed minutely, sinking into the seat and taking a breath in. Angry Autobots are never a good thing. I felt a touch on my left shoulder and looked at him, and then he pulled me into a one armed hug. Okay...weird. Optimus didn't really hug often.
Optimus closed the door and looked at me, while i shrank into the seats trying to make myself invisible.
"I talked to Mix about what this 'Ordered Mindset' entails. And I am very sorry that you had to go through that-"
"Optimus, I had a choice. And I chose to go through that training, it sucked, it hurt but i consented the whole way through. Mom and Dad weren't getting along and spending the night in the barracks was...preferable.
"It was painful, but it came with a lot of stuff. I was seven when I learned to use a gun, I had combat training that saved my life at the Battle Bridge, and I know how to save someone's life if they get really really hurt...not that i used it," I said, swallowing the bitter taste of guilt in my mouth.
"You were a sparkling Iren," Optimus objected.