Chapter Twenty-Two – The Unnoted
Adonis III, Two Hours Later
Bumblebee's Point of View
I walked into the Recreation Room, my eyes noting a human Ratchet sitting at a greatly-oversized metal couch with my Darren in his arms. I slowly made my way over to them, arching an eyebrow skeptically as they didn't look over at me.
I smiled, noticing that their eyes were closed, the holoscreen before them muted to a low volume, murmurs and quiet chatter coming from it. I hopped up onto the metal couch and slid over to them, smiling wider. I reached over Darren and tapped Ratchet's shoulder. The medical officer lifted his head and looked at me, grinning.
"Hello, Bumblebee," he said, still sleepy. He looked me over. "So, this is your human form? My, Optimus was right. You look rather different than you did as a teenager."
I chuckled softly. "Yes, that's true," I said in return. I looked down at Darren. "What have you two been up to?"
Ratchet yawned, stroking Darren's side as the human moved in his sleep. "I cleaned his wounds. They aren't bothering him as much anymore," he told me, blinking to sharpen his vision. "…Had some breakfast with him, talked for a bit, and he insisted on visiting Optimus, so I let him."
I nodded. "What did you talk to him about?"
Ratchet hesitated, and sighed. "He's a bit down, actually."
I leaned forward. "What? About what?"
"Arcee and you, Bumblebee. He's afraid he's going to lose the closeness he has with you…"
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Darren's Point of View
So, I wasn't technically sleeping. Not fully conscious, not fully asleep. That little level in between. I could hear them talking about me…
"Arcee and you, Bumblebee. He's afraid he's going to lose the closeness he has with you…"
Bumblebee stuttered out a sound. He was shocked, but it was true.
"H-How could he think that?" Dad sounded hurt.
"He fears that if you do become in love with Arcee, the 'Father and Son' relationship will disappear, Bumblebee. He doesn't want that to happen."
Bumblebee didn't answer.
"Bumblebee?" Ratchet's voice asked softly.
Dad sniffled. "I-I'm sorry, Ratchet. I have a lot on my processor."
The medical officer shifted. I think he wrapped an arm around Bumblebee. "You can tell me, Bumblebee," he cooed. "What is it?"
"I really don't want to."
Silence thereafter, then departing footsteps. I heard Ratchet sigh.
I shifted against him, letting him pull me closer, even though I really wanted to be in Bumblebee's arms. I opened my eyes and felt Ratchet's fingers stroke my forehead. I didn't smile.
"You awake?" He asked.
"Yeah," I answered sort of blankly.
I watched Bumblebee leave for his last few steps. I looked up at Ratchet.
"Is he okay, Sir?" I asked.
The officer twisted his lip as he looked down at me, then back at Dad.
"Just give him some time alone," he told me. "Let him have his space."
I looked away.
"I hope I didn't upset him," I murmured.
"You did nothing wrong, Darren," he told me firmly.
Yeah, he said that. But I didn't believe him.