Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Blah, blah, blah.
Wow! You guys are awesome! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! So many wonderful reviews! You totally deserve this chapter.
I hope some of your questions are answered in this chapter. A few were probably curious if the Dinobots know the Autobots and all that . . . well go forth and find out.
Chapter 7
"So itty bitty." Bumblebee giggled loudly as a clawed finger poked at him. The smallest of the mechs that now stood in bi-pedal form around him was the one that had looked like the big bird type thing.
Bee liked him.
His name was Swoop, he was funny and nice, and had the weirdest voice. It was like an angry wind almost, but the mech was kind as he bounced Bee up and down in his hands his burning red optics that Bee found more beautiful than scary watching him carefully. The mech was red and grey and he had the weirdest looking wings on his back that twitched and bounced with is emotions.
Bee really wanted to play with them, but since none of these 'Dinobots' would stop bouncing him he really hadn't had a chance yet.
"Why him so itty bitty?" Swoop mumbled around his grin as he bounced the giggling little yellow thing.
"Most other bots small, but me Sludge never see bot small that much before." The tallest of the mechs, the one even bigger than Grimlock himself, was Sludge. He was the one that had been that towering brute of a creature with a really long neck and a really long tail who's voice sounded like thunder that shook the ground. He was silly.
Bee liked him too.
His deep red optics were innocent and playful and he kept snatching him away from Swoop and tumbling him around in his hands making a slide of sorts down his red, grey, black, and yellow armor.
"Small and weak." That was Slag. He and Snarl hadn't really said much beside that since Bee had come out of his hiding place.
They weren't mean, Bee liked them as well, they just didn't seem to know what to make of him. Slag was the one with the crowned head and three pointed spikes in his other form and Snarl was the one with the line of dagger like spikes all the way down him. Now that they were in their bi-pedal forms they still had the same colors; red, black, and yellow and their red optics were very dark and guarded but Bee liked them all the same. They weren't cruel. They were just kind of careful of him for some reason.
"Dinobots hate small and weak. 'Member Grimlock?" Snarl lifted an optic ridge at the king of their crew.
The massive blackish-grey mech highlighted here and there with red and yellow glared behind his dark red visor at his fellow mechs. His battle mask was pulled up firmly in place to hide every emotion behind a wall of gruff indifference as was the purpose of his visor. He was an emotionless, weakness-less king of the most powerful group of mechs that ever lived.
He was the King of the Dinobots.
He was greater than even that soft sparked Prime. He took orders from no mech and he would destroy that puny tyrant all on his own one orn. He did not tolerate weakness, small was pointless and powerless, anything less than might he had no use for and yet this little bundle of yellow that had rolled out onto his foot threw all that to the wind. He stood there quietly watching Swoop and Sludge play with the giggling mess as they all stood in the cold darkness of morning trying to figure out what to do next.
Or at least Grimlock was.
Swoop and Sludge cared nothing other than finding a way to keep the little thing laughing and Snarl and Slag were only concerned with putting him back where they found him and getting out of here. They had 'Cons to kill. Such was their purpose in life. They had no use for the tiny thing that they didn't even know what was.
Grimlock's optics narrowed behind his visor.
Stepping forward he snatched the little thing from Swoop and brought the giggling game to an end.
Bee went very still in the palm of a mech whose powerful spark and frame rivaled that of all his family. Optimus and Hide were the strongest mechs he knew. They could best anything and yet as Bee blinked up at that dark visor and emotionless battle mask he found himself thinking that this mighty mech might give them a run for their credits. His very aura screamed power and the knowledge of it. He was King of the Dinobots as Bumblebee had been told—he had no idea what that meant but that was what he had been told—and something about him demanded a level of respect Bee had only seen given to the commanders and officers of his family.
He didn't know much about this mech, but all the same his mysterious might called to Bee's curiosity. He wanted to know this spark, just like the other four. Right now though he figured his best bet would be to sit still and see what Grimlock wanted of him.
Tilting his head to the side the Dinobot lifted Bee in his hand until they were almost optic to optic than rumbled behind his mask.
"What is Itty Bitty?" He questioned.
Bee stared.
What was he? What kinda question was that?
"Me Bee."
Behind the visor his optics rolled. "Me Grimlock know that Itty Bitty. Me want know what Itty Bitty is. Why so small?"
Oh.
"Me youngling." Bee shrugged.
Swoop and Sludge bounced forward to lean around Grimlock and stare at the youngling while Snarl and Slag stepped forward a little curious as well.
Youngling?
There were no more younglings.
That wimp of a tyrant had offlined them all. Wheeljack had told them so. Prime had let it happen. That was the reason the Dinobots left the Autobots. Because that weak Prime hadn't stopped the slaughter of all those innocent lives.
The Dinobot crew might not like small weak little things that cannot defend themselves. They found them annoying after all the vorns they had spent trying to protect those foolish Autobots and then were punished for the ways they dealt with 'Cons. Younglings and Sparklings were different though. It was an instinct inside every bot—even the Dinobots—to protect them. Even Grimlock had it hardwired in him. He, the brutal king without remorse or mercy, the king that challenged Prime for his stupidity and weakness, even he had the programming.
"No more younglings left." Snarl growled out lowly as he glared at the little bundle of yellow through the darkness that was staring to fade into morning.
"Dinobots were there. Sectors fell." Slag snorted his optics narrow and angry. "Prime not save them."
Bee perked up at the mention of Optimus—or what he thought was the mention of Optimus—but he didn't have time to speak up.
"Just like old Prime." Sludge murmured sadly. "Not stop bad stuff from happening."
Grimlock snarled. "To weak to stop it."
Bee's antennas folded down.
"You not youngling, Itty Bitty. Not lie to Dinobots. Me Grimlock was there. All them gone. Forever."
"Well me not." Bee crossed his arms with a huff as he glared up into the dark visor without the slightest bit of fear. "And me Youngling."
Grimlock narrowed his gaze in return.
For a moment the pair of them glared at each other until Grimlock tilted his head thinking it over. The Itty Bitty looked like a youngling. He was tinier than any normal mech and he spoke like they did, which was like a youngling, which might mean that he actually was one. But then how was that possible? They were all gone. Because of Prime.
"If Itty Bitty is youngling where Itty Bitty come from?" Grimlock questioned.
To that Bee's gaze lowered slightly. "Don't know."
The Dinobots stalled at that.
"Itty Bitty not know where Itty Bitty from?" Swoop asked softly his own spark tensing in pain at the words.
Bee shook his head. "Don't know where me from."
It wasn't the first time Bumblebee had been asked the question. However he still didn't have an answer. Megatron had asked him once where it was he came from but he didn't know then anymore than he did now. He honestly didn't remember. Except what he saw in his dreams which most of the time didn't make any since to him he didn't know anything but a few cloudy faceplates and voices. All he knew for sure started from when Hide had found him.
"We Dinobots not know either." Sludge whispered his head bowed sadly, but Bee's attention shot up at the words.
These massive mechs didn't know where they were from either?
"Really?"
Grimlock grunted in reply as he suddenly brought Bee up and dropped him on his shoulder. Bumblebee scrambled for a hold on the jagged armor and soon found himself wrapped around Grimlock's thick neck with his little legs and arms holding tightly to the softer metal there as Grimlock started forward.
"What we doing?" Bee asked in the large audio above him.
Grimlock grumbled. "Itty Bitty can't be by Itty Bitty's self. Itty Bitty come with Dinobots."
"Really!?" Swoop and Sludge cheered.
"Really?" Slag and Snarl huffed.
"Itty Bitty might be last youngling. If is we Dinobots will protect."
"But Itty Bitty is . . . itty bitty." Slag pointed out following after his leader along with the other Dinobots.
Grimlock shrugged.
"Dinobots hunting 'Cons. Can't hunt 'Cons with tiny weak thing." Snarl growled.
"Not weak!" Bee snapped.
Grimlock spun around and pinned the two less agreeable mechs of his crew in a glare that made even their armor crawl. With the tiny mechling clutching tightly to his neck the powerful king somehow looked even more threatening than he normally did and it didn't take but a few nano-klicks of that glare to have both Slag and Snarl bowing their heads and nodding as Grimlock snarled.
"Me Grimlock say Itty Bitty come with Dinobots. So Itty Bitty is gonna come with Dinobots. You Slag or you Snarl think that Dinobots not strong enough to fight 'Cons and keep Itty Bitty safe?"
They shook their heads while Sludge and Swoop silently celebrate behind their leader's back and Bee clutched to Grimlock's neck watching with interest.
"Then mute it!" Grimlock bellowed.
"Yes, Grimlock."
Spinning on his heals Grimlock marched off toward the rising sun with Bee giggling against his neck. Mumbling softly so only Grimlock could hear Bee whispered.
"We gonna be friends?" He asked poking gently with his spark to the mysterious might that was the massive mech's life source.
Grimlock couldn't stop his chuckle as he gave a spark pulse in return to the little mechling's strange poking and words.
"Itty Bitty safe with Dinobots." Grimlock told him quietly. "Me Grimlock promise."
He didn't really know why he felt the overwhelming need to keep the strange little thing safe, but Grimlock was nothing if not a mech that trusted his spark and his instincts. Both were telling him to bring the little thing along for one reason or another and that was just what he would do. Besides it was proving to make both Swoop and Sludge pretty happy so why not roll with it a while? They all had a lot in common with the Itty Bitty if it really was true he had no idea where it was he came from.
Grimlock intended to learn more about him and how it was his spark was curiously poking at his own.
Bumblebee was having a ball.
That much was obvious.
For all of the outward appearances of Grimlock being a sparkless warrior he really wasn't. Somehow, against all odds, he along with the rest of his crew even Slag and Snarl fell head over heels for the tiny mechling that was giggling in Grimlock's audios as they marched on through the gathering morning. The mighty mech still wasn't all that sure what it was about the tiny creature that had him acting so out of the ordinary to anything but his own brothers though. He wasn't yet fully convinced of what he was because quite honestly Grimlock had never seen a youngling or a sparkling in all his life. He didn't know what they should or shouldn't be like. However, he did know something.
He liked this little Itty Bitty as he and his brothers had taken to calling him and he intended to keep him safe until they knew what to do with him.
"Grimy?"
The other four Dinobots snickered not so very quietly as Grimlock shot them a sneer behind his mask before he answered too what Itty Bitty was calling him. The little mech was having a real hard time getting the King's real name out so Grimlock was okay with the shortened version. Though when Snarl had tried to say it he punched the mech between the optics.
No other creature would ever call him that.
Itty Bitty could.
No bot else.
He grumbled a growl to answer the little mech.
"Is we gonna go home?"
Grimlock tilted his head so that he could almost see the mechling who leaned around to hold his gaze through the dark visor. "Home?"
"Yeah. You take me home?"
Grimlock paused to take the little mechling from around his neck and let him rest in his massive palm in a safe perch of curled claws as he held him up near his chest and stared down at him while the other Dinobots gathered around.
"You Itty Bitty said not know where home is." Sludge pointed out.
Bee shook his head. "No didn't."
"Yes did." Slag snorted.
"Said don't know where from. I has home though." Bee told them. "With Hide."
Grimlock tilted his head. Hide?
Why did that sound familiar?
"BUMBLEBEE!" The panicked gasp drew every one of the Dinobots' and the youngling's attention to the crest of a hill before them to where the startled, tried, very honestly panicking blue optics of Ironhide, Optimus, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Jazz, and Hound stood.
Bumblebee perked up, his little antennas flicking.
"Hide!" He squeaked happily before a low growl built up in Grimlock's and his other new friends chest and the claws around him tightened while suddenly Bee found himself pressed tightly to the King of the Dinobots chest.
The Prime.
Grimlock tightened his fingers until Itty Bitty was hidden from view as he drew the massive red energon sword from behind his back slicing it through the air while his fellow Dinobots drew their own weapons when Ironhide's optics narrowed into slits.
The powerful beast bot leveled his sword with empty air as Ironhide lifted his cannons.
"GIVE ME BACK MY FRAGGIN' YOUNGLING YOU GLITCHED FOOL!" He bellowed.
Grimlock growled.
He was no fool, and no mech called him one.
"Don't call me Grimlock stupid." He warned his own optic narrowed into slits behind his visor and his scowl hidden by his battle mask though the slit gaze never left the towering form of the Prime, the only mech that had ever come close to him in height besides Sludge yet was still smaller than him. It was just another form of proof that the Prime was weaker than him and didn't deserve to tell him what he should and shouldn't do. His fellow Dinobots snarled alongside him agreeing with the notion in his spark that they could feel as much as he could feel their own.
They would squish the puny Autobots for thinking they were fools, for letting the Sectors fall, and to protect Itty Bitty.
Cannons, as Grimlock had always referred to him as, said 'youngling' he said 'his youngling'.
Grimlock didn't believe him.
The tiny thing was their Itty Bitty. They found him and they would protect him.
Suddenly though the one mech among all the Autobots that Grimlock and his crew didn't despise with everything inside them—there was one other they didn't really hate, but he didn't like them so they offered him no kindness in return—thrust himself between the glaring Prime and his puny soldiers and the growling beast mechs.
Wheeljack.
All five of the Dinobots faltered slightly.
They couldn't hurt Wheeljack.
"Everybot just slow down for a nano-klick!" Jacky pleaded his hands held out in both directions that he stood sideways too.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker snarled.
"Move Jacky!"
Swoop hissed, leveling his rocket launcher with the pair.
No mech threatened Jacky, not while they were there.
"Calm down!" Wheeljack shot both the twins and Swoop a glare before he desperately stared at Ratchet and Optimus.
Ratchet was glaring through narrowed optics at the 'creations' he and Wheeljack had pieced back together all those vorns ago. The soldiers ordered by a dying council. The should-be fossils they found in the Sea of Rust. The mechs out of their time.
The Dinobots.
The over grown foolish brats that thought they were too good to take orders from the Prime. Or at least the mechs who blindly followed their leader who thought he was too good to follow the Prime.
He just hardened his gaze at Wheeljack shaking his head.
Jack had been protecting these idiots too long anyways. Pleading that they weren't as dangerous and stupid as they seemed. Ratchet still remembered the Decacycle Wheeljack had locked himself in his lab after the Dinobots left. He remembered how much it broke his best friend to have the five mechs walk out on him. To leave and never come back. The CMO had no plans of letting Jacky get hurt like that again by the fools he considered his younglings. Especially now that Bumblebee was trapped in that big brute's claws.
Optimus Prime though, his stance was different.
He was no fool. He knew how much Grimlock utterly hated him. How much he blamed him . . . for more than Optimus thought he'd ever truly know. This time though he was not about to go ordering Grimlock to do anything. It never worked all that well in the past and now his youngling was trapped in those lethal claws. He had no idea how or why Bumblebee was there, but he had no plans of watching him get crushed this morning.
So he lifted a hand waving Ironhide, the twins, and the snarling Jazz back. The mechs looked at him like he'd lost his processor. Even Hound who was sizing up the five mechs he'd only ever heard stories about. Just like the twins. Optimus wondered if they even knew who they were looking at.
Probably not.
All they knew was that the biggest one had their adopted little brother and that they were going to get him back.
When Optimus cut his optics too them he opened a comm link.
"Easy, all of you."
"Easy!?" Sunstreaker hissed audibly though his words were silent. "He has Bumblebee!"
"And unless you want him to get crushed you should be still." Optimus growled lowly in response.
"Optimus," Ironhide's cannons were still glowing hot and whirling with energy. "Either get my son out of Grimlock's hand right now or I will."
"Just let me talk to them." Wheeljack pleaded from where he stood still in-between the two parties. "Grimlock won't hurt him!"
"Won't hurt him!?" Jazz hissed. "He's Grimlock! Remember, Jacky? GRIMLOCK! He tried to kill Optimus!"
"He was upset!" Wheeljack defended. "He just doesn't understand!"
"None of them are your younglings, Jack." Ratchet reminded the inventor testily. However, the glare that almost burned into his armor from the mech kind of hurt his spark.
"You helped fix them too." Wheeljack mumbled darkly. "You helped me haul them back from the brink of death when that patrol found them out there in that desert. You helped me teach them. You know as well as I do they aren't sparkless killers! They're just trying to fit in where they don't think they belong!"
"They don't belong!" Ratchet snarled. "They are mindless soldiers that should be put in front of a firing squad! Grimlock tried to kill Optimus! Remember! And then they ran away! They are dangerous, they are violent, they kill because they don't know how to do anything else, they are—"
"Just like your twins." Wheeljack's pained whisper sliced into Ratchet's spark via the bond of best friends they hadn't really even touched in a long time and the agony that rolled with those words along with the blow to the spark that they really were made Ratchet actually stumble back a few steps until Optimus reached out and steadied him all the mechs besides Wheeljack looking at him confused as to why he had ended his tirade and what Jack might have said since they all knew that he did.
"Ratchet?" Optimus breathed.
The CMO blinked at him for a moment before he looked to the golden mech and the red mech that stood with their blades drawn and their dark, battle ready, optics slightly worried now as they glanced between him and the mech that had their little brother. Ratchet's spark felt like it was going to snap in two as he looked them over before turning his gaze back to Wheeljack who watched him with a look that screamed that he was right, and that he knew it.
Because he was.
He was right.
The twins were equally as violent and dangerous, they had been built and taught to kill since they were stolen in the dead of night and thrust into a life of slavery. They truly knew nothing other than war, pain, and death. They were what they were because they didn't know how to be anything else.
They were in many ways just like the Dinobots.
Oh pit . . . .
He'd done it.
He'd done just what Wheeljack did! He'd mentally adopted something that he should have let pass him by because he was trying to help fix them.
And he didn't regret a single decision of it . . . just like a part of him he refused to acknowledge felt the same way about those glitched, pour, annoying, lost sparks that were the Dinobots. The mechs that they brought back to this world to serve them as soldiers because the council wanted it.
The mechs they never even asked what it was that they wanted out of life.
They had made them slaves. Tools to use to their will.
They were . . . just like the Rings.
"Get him to give him back in two klicks or take it up with Ironhide." Ratchet turned his gaze away unable to say more. So much was going to have to be said later no matter what happened next though.
"What!?" Hide, Jazz, the twins, and Hound barked.
"Really?" Wheeljack didn't think it was going to be that easy.
"Do it now, Wheeljack." Ratchet growled. "Before I just whack him over the audios with something."
The inventor looked to Optimus.
The Prime nodded watching the King of the Dinobots closely as he kept his fist that held Bumblebee tightly to his chest with his sword between him and them.
Almost like he was protecting him.
But why in the universe would Grimlock do that?
Grimlock hated anything that he viewed as weaker than him. Including all of the Autobots. Well all of them but Wheeljack. At least that was how it had been the last time they'd seen the powerful mech. A lot could have changed.
Turning slowly Wheeljack let his bright blue optics meet the dark red visor that hid his might-as-well-be oldest son's optics from him. The other four mechs watched him closely only Swoop and Sludge showing the slightest emotion toward him.
Wary curiosity.
Wheeljack's optics darted to the curled fist at Grimlock's spark where Bumblebee was currently held and gulped before he lifted his optics back to the mighty beast mech he'd put back together from scrap.
"Hey mechs." He started softly taking a few steps forward noting that none of the weapons drawn didn't whirl or glow with anymore animosity, but they didn't lower either. Even Swoop didn't lower his rocket blaster. Those bright red optics just narrowed slightly at the tri colored mech and Wheeljack stopped knowing it was better to not push his luck. He knew for fact none of the Dinobots would ever hurt him, but the tiny yellow trouble maker they had in their grip might be another story.
Grimlock grunted to the greeting while none of his brothers made a sound otherwise.
Though the King did tilt his head ever so slightly.
What did Wheeljack want? Why after all this time was he still standing between Grim and the Prime? Why was he still trying to make the Dinobots take orders from them?
"It's . . . uh . . . been a while." Wheeljack started again weighing his words carefully. Ironhide and the twins along with Jazz growled behind him. "What you been up too?"
"Really? This is how we're going to do this?" Jazz lifted an optics ridge.
"You're the smooth talker! You got any ideas?" Wheeljack snapped.
"Uh . . . they hate me. I think. So no."
"Then mute it." Jacky growled.
"Dinobots kill 'Cons." Swoop almost chirped.
"What else Dinobots supposed to do?" Snarl huffed.
"Haven't seen you around." Wheeljack honestly shrugged. After all this time he had been curious as to where the five of them disappeared too.
"Dinobots big but not stupid." Sludge grumbled.
"Can hide when want too." Slag mumbled.
"Been chasing strange mechs." Swoop added swaying on his feet slightly his wings twitching and flicking.
And Wheeljack was about to ask him what that meant when Grimlock snapped.
"Stop treating Dinobots like foolish glitches." He sliced his blade through the open air between them and then leveled the pointed tip with Wheeljack's throat even if they were a good twenty feet apart. The inventor still felt the heat coming off that glowing red blade. "What Wheeljack want with Dinobots? Left, just like all Autobots wanted us Dinobots too. Now leave Dinobots alone!"
"Give me back my youngling." Ironhide growled low in his chest making the giant mech turn his focus to him for a moment. "Then you can do whatever the slag you want! Jump into a smelting pit for all I care!"
Grimlock snarled his blade pulsing even hotter until a slight thumping against his claws drew his attention. He blinked in surprise before turning his attention to what felt like tiny fists pounding into his tightened fingers.
A mumbled yell made its way through the thick metal of his curled digits but the mechs around heard it anyway.
"Grimy! GRIMY! Let me out!"
Itty Bitty?
Completely ignoring the stupid bots that thought they were a threat to him Grimlock parted his claws ever so slightly tilting his head toward the small creature that was sitting in palm still punching his thumb with a rather putout look on his lips.
"Stop that." Grimlock grumbled darkly the sound echoing like thunder in his thick chest the words bringing Bee's little fist to a halt but it also only made that putout glare turn full force to Grimlock's visor. The mighty beast mech actually shuddered the slightest bit under his armor. That look was cold as ice. What had he done to deserve that?
"Then let me see!" Bee snapped.
"Itty Bitty safer here." Grimlock shook his head about to close his claws again when Wheeljack's voice stopped him.
"Bumblebee?"
The tiny yellow thing spun around in Grimlock's hand and grinned widely at the tri colored mech and the ones behind him.
"Hi, Jacky." He beamed.
Grimlock tilted his head.
Itty Bitty knew Wheeljack?
Interesting.
Uncurling his claws so that the tiny thing sat very plainly in view yet was still behind the glowing sword Grimlock hoisted him up and glared at Wheeljack. "Itty Bitty know him Wheeljack?"
Bee turned back and blinked at Grimlock and the other Dinobots in surprise.
"Grimy knows Jacky?"
"Grimy?" Wheeljack tried to stop his laughter though it only really worked when Grimlock shot him a glare that could melt Ironhide's armor.
"Yeah!" Swoop grinned. "We Dinobots know him Wheeljack. Long time ago."
"Cool!" Bee bounced a little in Grimlock's palm before turning back to set his baby blue optics on Optimus and Hide who watched him carefully. He could see the tension in their frames and the worry in their optics and a part of him wondered how much trouble he was in for leaving, but really that fear paled in comparison to how happy he was to see them.
They did come looking for him.
Maybe he hadn't done anything wrong to make them mad. Maybe they weren't too busy for him to be around. Maybe they would be happy with the new friends he had made.
"Hi Hide. Hi Optimus."
"Bee," Ironhide's tone was stressed and it made Bee's spark sink a little. He didn't like the idea that he had caused that tone. "Bee, come here."
Grimlock's claws tightened instinctively once again making Bee squeak.
"We found Itty Bitty! Itty Bitty not going anywhere!"
"Like pit he isn't!" Sideswipe hissed. "He's our youngling, now give him back, whoever the slag you are!"
Grimlock's optics narrowed even more the words making his spark roll in anger. He was fully ready to slice the glitch's spark out when Itty Bitty's huff stopped him.
"Stop fighting!" Bee hollered drawing everything to a halt. Grimlock's claws uncurled again and every weapon the Dinobots had lowered. Bumblebee pouted up to Grimlock than pointed toward the Autobots. "Told you had home. That my family. That Hide! That Optimus! Stop being mean to each other!"
Grimlock snorted before all four other Dinobots took at least four quick steps back from their leader and the little thing in his hand all of them leaning away a little more the necessary. Each blinked in surprise mixed with a slight bit of fear while Grimlock's gaze went from the widened shocked at the little mech's words to a rather dark glare that made his dark visor gleam with dark purpose, but Bee didn't back down, not one inch.
Sometimes it was plainly obvious that Bumblebee really didn't have any concept of how tiny he truly was compared to everything else around him.
The lowered blade in Grimlock's free hand glowed back to bright hot life as his anger filtered through his weapon before he snarled down at Itty Bitty.
"Belong to Prime?" He hissed through his battle mask the words confusing Bee but all he could do was watch as the powerful mech's optics lifted behind his visor and cut into Optimus who tensed at the glare. For a moment the two massively powerful mechs glared each other down, sizing each other up, before Optimus shifted his glare to Wheeljack who was looking back and forth trying to figure out how to stop this from becoming an energon bath.
Optimus decided now was his best chance.
"Yes Grimlock he is ours. Mine."
The claws that held Bee twitched but didn't form a cage again.
"Don't believe you Prime." Grimlock glared.
"Why not?" Bee chirped. What was so confusing about that? He was his families. He was. Though something about all this wasn't adding up to his young processor. He was getting the feeling that his family and his new friends might not really like each other all that much. Why, he didn't know, because he liked them. So what could possibility be bad about them?
Slag rolled his optics. "Cuz Autobots said youngling and Autobots already let all the younglings die."
The Autobots recoiled a little at the words.
Bee tilted his head confused. "Huh?"
Hide's spark stilled a little in his chest as panic set in again. Bee was far too young to find out about the Sectors.
"Grimlock!" Wheeljack's snap stopped the words from rolling out of the Dinobots and they all lifted their gazes to the one mech that wasn't a part of their brotherhood that they trusted with everything inside them. Even if he was an Autobot.
Grimlock titled his head as a signal for the inventor to go on with whatever it was he had to say as the powerful mech's claws twitched around Bee.
"Please, just give Bee back."
The King of the Dinobots snorted. "No."
"Yeah!" Sludge crossed his thick arms. "Dinobots find him Itty Bitty all alone. If Itty Bitty really Autobots' why was all alone then?"
"Because he ran away." Jazz mumbled brokenly.
Bee's antennas folded down at the words and he frowned. "No didn't. Just went on a field trip."
For a moment his family blinked at him as he looked back and then very stiffly and slowly each one of them turned with glares that made the deepest circle of the Pit look like a bubble bath to the forms of the twins who were suddenly finding the ground very interesting.
"Field Trip!?" Ratchet all but snarled as he glared at the pair of frontliners.
They gulped.
"Wonder where in Primus he got that idea!?"
"Umm . . . ." Sideswipe bowed his head even lower as he and Sunstreaker cowered ever so slightly under the Medic of Doom's gaze.
"Haven't the slightest?" Sunstreaker offered.
Ironhide joined the intensity of Ratchet's glare before he grumbled out darkly. "I'm going to kill you both for this."
"No!" Bee jumped to his feet in Grimlock's palm only to sway with the effort and grasp onto the massive mech's thumb. His tanks rumbled in protest and all of a sudden the little yellow youngling realized just how hungry he was. Grimlock steadied him with a surprisingly gentle touch that Optimus and the others didn't miss. "Not their fault. I just bored. No bot . . . ." He paused. "Noticed me."
The familiar sparks that were bonded to him pulsed at the words reaching for him desperately trying to assure him that they hadn't meant to make him feel that way, but the moment was shattered when Sludge plucked him from Grimlock's palm—by an arm leaving the little mech to squeak half from pain and half form shock, he wasn't really meant to be picked up my just one arm, it pulled things—and though his slight protest sounded very much like he didn't want to be plucked up by his wrist Sludge held him before his optics.
He wiggled in protest while Ironhide had to be physically held back by Optimus and Ratchet when his youngling was dangling thirty something feet off the ground by underdeveloped plating and wires.
"So Itty Bitty really is last youngling?" Sludge murmured sounding like he really didn't believe it. Which he probably didn't since all the Dinobots were still not all that sure they weren't being lied too. The last they had known all the youth of this planet had been snuffed out yet here was one. One that belonged to Prime. One that Prime lost.
As far as Grimlock was concerned that meant the Itty Bitty was better off with the Dinobots.
"Yes!" Wheeljack's startled voice shocked the massive mechs though as his bright blue optics locked on the little yellow thing wiggling in the air squeaking as Sludge held him by his wrist. "And he is very breakable! Put him down!"
Quicker than any bot might have thought the massive mech could move Grimlock snatched the tiny mech from his brother with a snarl that had Sludge cowering slightly with his head bowed. Safely back in Grimlock's claws Bee rubbed at his arm, the wires were stretched and pulled more than they should be from all his weight on one arm, but he really wasn't hurt. It just hadn't felt all that good. He was not a toy and he did not appreciate being handled like a rag doll!
Hence the pout sitting heavy on his lips that was now being glared darkly at the towering Dinobot who was doing his best to hide behind Swoop who kind of looked like he'd rather be anywhere than between Grimlock and the bot that had managed to piss him off now.
Self preservation and all that.
Needless to say he stepped out of the way leaving Sludge standing there with his head bowed and a very angry Grimlock staring daggers into his soul.
"Idiot." Was all Grimlock muttered making Sludge twitch but keep his head lowered as Grimlock turned back to Wheeljack and the other Autobots before glancing down to the still pouting thing in his hand. Bee's pouted ended when he felt Grimlock's optics on him and he lifted his gaze back to the powerful mech that held him once again and he offered a small smile.
Grimlock's spark pulsed longingly for the warmth and joy that seemed to just bubble from the tiny youngling.
He'd made up his mind.
And Wheeljack could see it.
Those deep red optics flashed behind the visor as Grimlock held the Prime's gaze over Wheeljack's head.
"Prime lost all younglings once. Me Grimlock not lose last one. Dinobots protect Itty Bitty now. If have to beat you Prime again to prove it. So be it."
Optimus stalled for a moment his processor whirling back to the night seven orns after the last Sector fell when Grimlock had came crashing into an officers meeting and drove that wicked blade of his through the Prime's chest before anybot had time to blink. He'd missed Optimus' spark by two inches and after his sword was buried deep he'd proceeded to try and take the mech apart piece by piece. . Not even Ironhide and Ultra Magnus could stop the raging mech. Only Wheeljack had been able to end the powerful mechs temper tantrum.
All this time the Autobots just thought the pretty much resurrected solider had just finally snapped. He'd never liked taking orders and he'd never liked any of the Autobots. He viewed them as lesser than him because he thought they were weaker. Now though with those words said so calmly and ruthlessly to him everything somehow just fell into place.
It made since.
At least Optimus thought it did.
Could it be that Grimlock hadn't snapped? That he hadn't been trying to overthrow Prime? Could it be that he just blamed Optimus for letting all the younglings die?
That . . . he thought it was Optimus' fault.
The mighty Prime almost staggered at the notion.
Because in a way it was.
"Me Grimlock not as stupid as you Autobots think me is. We Dinobots know was nothing but cannon falter to you. Dinobots know that we was just science experiments. Soldiers for order. Out of our time. Dinobots not like you, but we never asked to be like you. Never asked to be saved. Me Grimlock can't remember anything from before him Wheeljack and him Ratchet fixed us. None of Dinobots can. All Dinobots know is war and you Prime's orders. Orders Prime never asked if Dinobots wanted to follow."
"We Dinobots not mindless soldiers." Swoop's gaze lowered sadly and Wheeljack thought his spark might crack in half.
"Not stupid." Slag hissed.
"Just not like you Autobots." Snarl grumbled.
"You Prime try being woken up and told that you is part of a war you bot can't even remember. You Prime try being haunted by images that don't make any sense. You Prime try being told that you as a free mech not have freedom. That have to fight some other bots war for them because they too weak to do it for self. You Prime try being no better than a slave." Grimlock growled darkly.
"We Dinobots not mindless weapons." Sludge whispered. "Not stupid. Just different. And not our bots fault. Dinobots not ask to be saved. Dinobots not ask to be here. Dinobots not ask to not remember."
"Dinobots followed you Prime's orders. Dinobots fought the battles you Prime couldn't win. Dinobots did everything Dinobots were told to do, still seen as stupid though. Just cuz Dinobots different. Well me Grimlock through being called stupid. Know more about many things than Prime does, because me Grimlock not afraid to face it. You Prime's fault the Sectors are gone. You Prime not strong enough to save them. Because you Prime won't kill your brother him Megatron. Leave Grimlock and Dinobots to take his cannon fire time and time again. Well me Grimlock made me point once. Prime let Sectors fall. Prime's fault younglings and sparklings gone. Dinobots gone with them. Dinobots no longer serve you. We no longer your mindless weapons. Dinobots are mechs. Whether Autobots believe it or not, and Dinobots found Itty Bitty when you Prime once again lost something. Well we Dinobots will protect Itty Bitty. If him Itty Bitty really is last youngling than him must be protected." Grimlock growled.
"Cybertron nothing without younglings." Snarl snorted.
"And you Prime's and him Megatron's battle for which brother get thrown is pointless." Slag added.
"It already pointless." Swoop mumbled even quieter. "What we bots fighting for now anyway? Look 'round. There nothing left. We Dinobots kept fighting 'Cons after left because 'Cons the ones that attacked the Sectors. But also because we know nothing else than fight 'Cons, but really what point? Nothing left now."
"'Cept him Itty Bitty." Sludge put in nodding toward Bee who sat there quietly in Grimlock's hand listening.
"Itty Bitty give us Dinobots something to fight for again." Swoop smiled down at the little mechling who grinned in return. "Since Dinobots know nothing but being weapons have to have something to fight for. Dinobots not lose that twice."
Grimlock's claws tightened around Bee again but they didn't hide him fully from view. "If you Prime want to change that than you Prime find out me Grimlock more than match for you. Again."
"Grimlock," Wheeljack pleaded. "The Sectors falling wasn't Optimus fault. Megatron attacked them! No mech even knew what was happening until it was too late! You can't blame him for that. Primus! Is that why you attacked him? Is that why you mechs left?"
Grimlock just glared. "Him Wheeljack not like other Autobots. Him not treat us like stupid fools. But him Wheeljack being a stupid fool if think me Grimlock believe that Prime not at fault."
"But it's not his—" Wheeljack was cut off when Optimus walked forward. The red and blue commander walked past his chief inventor and left the tri colored mech standing there looking like he was afraid they were going to kill each other. Which they might actually end up doing. However, when the Prime stopped a few feet in front of the mighty beast mech the two powerful bots held gazes while Bee glanced back and forth.
"No Wheeljack." Optimus said softly his spark hurting with the knowledge that it was true. "Grimlock is right. In a way it was my fault."
"Optimus," Ratchet warned.
"No it isn't." Ironhide huffed.
"You know that." Jazz added.
"All of this is Megatron's fault for starting but at the same time it is mine as well." Optimus ignored his friends letting his optics hold Grimlock's. "It's our sibling squabble that has destroyed a planet and possibly doomed a race. You're right Grimlock. There isn't much left we have to fight for, besides just the principle of it all. Which is a questionable thing to keep throwing lives away for. It was getting to where I believed that not long ago. When I wasn't sure what I was fighting for anymore. I don't think that anymore though. Because you're also right about Bumblebee. He's proof that there is hope that our stupidity has not doomed our own race."
Grimlock grunted in response.
Optimus lowered his gaze. "And your also right about the way we—I—treated you. You are right about all of it and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to see it."
"See what?" Snarl growled. "That you Prime the real stupid one?"
"Yes."
That answer actually shocked the Dinobots into silence for a moment and the gathered mechs stared at each other until Bee rolled his optics. He had no idea what was going on and to be honest he didn't care. He was hungry and all he wanted was to go back home.
Lifting his little hand in the air he waved it back and forth over his head. As he hoped every optic around him settled in on him and he grinned between Optimus and Grimy.
"Optimus?" He pushed himself up again thankful then Grimlock's thumb moved to help steady his wobbly feet. "Can go home now?"
Grimlock's claws tightened.
Bee turned to glance over his shoulder up to the dark red visor at the action offering a smile. He then looked back to Optimus.
"Dinobots come too? Want 'em to come."
Optimus couldn't stop the warm smile that danced up his faceplate at his younglings words. How could Bee, no matter the situation, always manage to defuse it just by speaking up, by looking up, by simply smiling? How was it that he just bubbled with so much happiness it was almost impossible to be upset around him? How did he have the battle made, ruthless, curt, and gentleness lacking king of the Dinobots carefully tending to him in his hand?
"They may come if they wish it." Optimus answered.
Wheeljack beamed, the Dinobots tilted their heads, Ratchet sighed, Ironhide growled, Jazz was mentally planning how they were going to break this to Prowl, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were still trying to figure out what was going on, and Hound was just standing there quietly unsure what to do with himself.
Bee was radiating happiness like a full blown supernova though.
"Really?"
"If they want too."
"Dinobots not be you Prime's tools again!" Grimlock snarled.
"You are free to do as you please, Grimlock." Optimus turned his back to the powerful mech. "We're going home. If you wish you come along be my guest. Wheeljack has missed you. I'd also much appreciate it if you hand Bumblebee over to Ratchet or Ironhide. He needs to be looked over."
For a moment they all blinked as Optimus walked away before a happy squeal of delight came not from Bee as expected but from Swoop and Sludge as the two mechs—one the largest of the Dinobots and the other the smallest—raced forward throwing their hands in the air their bright optics glittering with joy before crashing into Wheeljack with a frame crushing hug.
"WHEELJACK!" They cried out happily while Sludge swung the tri-colored mech around and Swoop hung on for the ride.
Oh I just want to hug them and never let them go! I love the Dinobots. They are adorable.
Add little Bumblebee to that and dang. Why did it have to take me so long to get to them!?
Oh well, there here now.
Anyway, what did you think? I'm dying to know. I love this chapter so much, so I hope you enjoyed it too. So let me know! Please :)
I'm planning on chapter 8 being up either tomorrow or Saturday. I finished the chapter I was working on, but I really want to be a little bit further ahead than what I am right now. It should be up though.
Chapter 8 is kind of hilarious if I do say so myself. Here's a hint for you guys. Jazz was really, really, really right to be worried about how they were going to break this to Prowl. Hee-hee. I enjoy torturing that bot to much.
On a side note,
Remember a while ago when I put in that little note about working on a story about one of my OCs and the twins?
Weeeeellllll, I'm kinda working on it again. It's completely changed from what I had before but I like the direction this one might be going now. Some stories just come to you and others you got to work with a while before they become what you want. Hopefully this one is finally getting its wings. Because I want to write her story. SO BAD!
We'll see what happens, I guess.
See you guys either tomorrow night or Saturday! I look forward to seeing what you thought!
Chat with ya later!
-Jaycee