A/N: Takes places sometimes after "Knight in Invisible Armor."

Puppy Dog Eyes

The trowel dug into the pot to pat down the new specimen in. Adding more soil, he placed the trowel down and activated the data pad to view the genus and health of the specimen. He smiled as he grabbed the water spigot and watered the plant.

"Wow, this puts our greenhouse back home to shame."

The green bot jumped in surprise and turned around to see his blue/white roommate with—

His blue optics flickered at the small red haired, tan skinned female organic with the simple short orange and yellow garment on top of Mirage's shoulder. Her own blue eyes smiled back at him as she waved.

"Hi!"

"You-your-you're-"

"Yes, yes she's an organic but she is a very special guest," said Mirage with his sophisticated dismissive tone. "This is-"

"You're Sari Sumdac!" the slightly larger green mech pointed at the girl with spots of soil all over his servos. He then smiled excitedly and moved about in a frenzied pace in front of them. "You're here-here with me-in my-and I'm-oh my-you're really here-where's my note tablet!-I have so many questions!-And oh my!-"

"Hound! Compose yourself for a klik and have at least the decency to wash yourself before properly greeting our guest!" scolded Mirage with an annoyed glare and his fisted servos on his hips and the startled Sari widely staring.

Hound froze with widened eyes and looked over at them. "Huh? Oh right." More calm and smiling sheepishly at his dirty servos. "...um…Yes…I'll do that…I'll…be right back." Then as quick as a whip he raced to the adjacent washroom.

Sari covered her giggling mouth as Mirage rolled his optics and shook his head.

"You'll have to forgive him, ever since he learned of your presence on Cybertron and the reports about your planet he was adamant about meeting you. However, with all the ethics involved and other formalities it was difficult to do so."

"His name is Hound? Heeheehee."

The blue/white bot raised an optic ridge. "Is there a problem with his name?"

"No, no I'll explain later." She then used her jetpack to look closer at the assorted varieties of plant life in the vast greenhouse.

"Wow, this place is huge and I don't recognize these plants."

"Believe it or not that is what Hound is trying to find out. You see on his orn cycles off as drill sergeant of the academy, he spends his time at the Science Division and often he brings home new specimens that the division has no time to see too. Sigh, it happens more often than not. So I forbade him from entering the main rooms or meeting guests until he completely washes himself off," he cased an amused smirk at the sounds of frantic cleaning on the other side of the washroom door then they stop. "This is a new speed record."

The room opened to a very, clean, very shiny green excited mach with a red beret with the Autobot symbol on it. He then marched and promptly halted before the blushing Sari and saluted with optics forward.

"Ma'am, I am Designation Hound, first class Drill Sergeant of the Elite Guard Academy of Cybertron. It is a true honor to meet you, Miss Sumdac! Ma'am."

"If only you were this prompt at meeting important dignitaries," muttered Mirage as he folded his arms over his torso-plate.

Sari just tried to smother her laughter and just smiled at the still bot.

"Uh at ease sir and it's nice to meet you, Hound, just call me Sari."

Easing his stance, Hound smiled brightly at her as he kneeled down to her level. "It is a real pleasure to finally meet you mi- Sari. I have so any questions to ask of you if you'll permit me. Are humans truly the dominant species and are some techonrganic like you? Does Earth have oceans and how many layers of your atmosphere exists? Your sun is close to your planet but it doesn't burn from the UV radiation how does that-"

"Shouldn't your first question be about why she's even here, Hound?" Mirage's dry suggestion had the green bot stop and shuttered his optics for a moment.

"…Oh yes, you're right of course," he sheepishly looked up rubbing the back of his head before looked back apologetically at the amused girl. "Please forgive me, but what brings you here and…" He paused then looked back up at his blue and white roommate with wide optics. "Wait a minute, Mirage, how did you meet her first?!"

"Oh now you acknowledge my presence," Mirage expressed with dramatic flourish from his spot, leaning on the nearby wall, then looked back at the irritated mech with a serious look. "I basically came across Miss Sumdac when she was being chased down by the lowlife Decepticon Lockdown."

Hound came alert at the name. "The bounty hunter?"

"The very scrapheap," the spy curled a lip plate in distaste. "Yet I was able to distract him from Miss Sari and helped her escape."

"Were either of you injured?"

"No we're okay," assured Sari. "He kidnapped me from my friends back in Iacon."

"But that's on the other side of the planet."

Sari lowered her head and moisture came to her eyes. "I know."

Hound suddenly looked panicked and tried to placate her. "Oh, I'm so sorry, uh, Sari. I didn't mean-"

"You really need to work on your blunt tact, Hound," commented Mirage and ignored the frowned reply as he left his spot to address them both. "Even so I will now contact them about her location. I'll not be long so enjoy the company." He turned to Sari and elegantly bowed. "By your leave, Miss Sumdac."

"Okay and stop doing that," she could feel her blush.

Mirage just smirked and sauntered out the room down a corridor. Hound just shook his head after him and looked back at their guest. "It's in his programming when it comes to important individuals, but at times he does it to just see others fluster. I know he will help make sure you are returned to your friends."

She smiled at him at bit sadly. "I know." She wiped her eyes and looked back up with a more genuine smile. "So you have some questions for me?"

The green mech hesitated. "Uh, you don't really have to if you don't-"

"It's okay, I could use a distraction," she said as she sat on what looked like a couch in the living room space. "Back to what you asked before: yes humans are the dominant species, but myself and… someone else is a techorganic, but I'm the only one that is human, earth has five oceans but I think there all connected as one world ocean and there are also five layers of our atmosphere, as for the UV radiation, Earth has awesome magnetic poles that form like a filter that dampens the energy."

As they continued talking, Sari felt better that she was now safe and would soon be back with her friends. For now she was content with her company with Hound and she tried really hard not the giggle as she imagined the bright eyed curious green bot with perked fluffy ears and wagging bushy tail while his questions were answered.

A/N: I'm not too familiar of what Hound was in the TFAnimated universe, but from what I see of fan-art he is a drill Sargent at the Elite academy I think, but I wanted him to be like his G1 ancestor with the organic science background. By the way, Hound is one of my favorite characters.