Chapter Text
90's Jennifer by Vestron Vulture was being blasted out from the radio of the hurtling yellow Camaro through the leafy streets of Witwicky, disturbing the sleep of the birds nestled in the trees. The car accelerated following the beat of the song, going faster and faster towards an undefined destination.
Where was he heading?
He didn't know, he didn't care much; the only thing that mattered at the moment was to distract himself, free his mind and appease his disturbed soul by abandoning himself to the driving and the music of the radio. Nothing worked better than a good race and the mountainous half-deserted streets of Witwiky served as the perfect trail. The sun's rays passed through the branches of the trees illuminating the leaves with a bright green and created spots of light on the asphalt which, alternating with the shadows, made the atmosphere perfect, like that of a film. The cool breeze tickled him without succeeding in making him stop or slow down.
After his excuse of an escape from the conversation with Hashtag, Bumblebee had rushed out and transformed, ignoring whatever Alex was asking him and shouting a very fast “goingforaraceprobablywillcomebackintwohoursokbye” as an answer. And now here he was: racing.
It had always helped him relax, during the past years it had been one of the few forms of entertainment (besides spending days watching movie marathons, but he didn’t want to think about that) that helped him distract from everything. But now? Well, now it wasn’t working at all. Didn’t matter how much he was pushing on the accelerator, how dangerously fast he was going, how he almost lost control on that last curve, it still wasn’t enough to send away whatever nasty emotion was graving on his spark like if it was a whole mountain. A wave of irritation washed over him. He didn’t even know why he was getting so upset for nothing, there was a time where his emotions used to be less volatile.
Bumblebee braked.
Maybe he should’ve went back, racing wasn’t working as he thought it would have; it was doing the complete opposite actually, filling his head with even more thoughts. The Camaro transformed, took in a deep vent and let it out slowly in the hope it would have helped calm his mind. It was like his body was being crossed by an electric discharge.
He needed to find somewhere to sit down.
Bumblebee dived in the underwood paying attention to not trip over the roots, avoiding the branches, getting lost more and more into the song of the forest at every step he made as his optics started losing focus. All he could hear was the gentle, but energetic, chirping of the birds seemingly engaged in a heated discussion going back and forth about whatever matter was worrying them- or maybe they were just singing (Bumblebee didn't really speak 'bird' and wasn’t interested in learning it). They were the only thing breaking the lulling silence of the mountains, they and the wind blowing through the trees. It was like being asleep and at the same time awake. It all made it easier for his mind to drift apart, for him to fall in the trail of his thoughts.
Suddenly, as he made another calculated step, in his mind popped out the image of Breakdown followed by a strange need to comm him. It was the same desire he used to have so much long ago, when he needed someone to confide his thoughts and be comforted; when he didn’t hesitate to show how he truly felt and still believed in "till we stick together everything will be all right", but things had changed and what used to exist between them...didn’t anymore, it wasn’t the same. It was difficult. And yet that part of him that had pushed him to participate in every race around the world only in the microscopic hope to catch just a glance of a white Pontiac Firebird, was now making him linger on the idea of reaching out for his old friend, ask him if he wanted to catch up and act like nothing between them had happened: like they were still on Cybertron and were having one of their usual hang ups; like they were still young and naive and hadn't spent most of their lifetime shooting at each other teammates. Back when they were 'only kids' and not soldiers.
His wandering took him to a glade where a majestic oak stood in the middle. Bumblebee took a moment to admire his surroundings before sitting cross-legged under the tree’s shadow, leaning against the hard bark, venting in, again, the fresh and pungent air. The birds were still chirping, whatever they were telling each other was still a mystery to the yellow bot, one he didn't care to solve. Suddenly another sound caught his audio receptors, completely different from the melodic one of the birds above him or the rustle of the wind: it was the soft buzzing of a bee. He tilted his helm up, searching for the small insect, and after a while his optics finally caught its bright yellow twirling around before settling on the cheerful pink petals of a small flower, that his HUD informed him was called Silene dioica. Another one joined it on the neighboring plant and together they bathed in the pollen collecting the nectar. Their life must have been so easy and peaceful - kind of boring, he thought -, and bees were never alone, this was one of the pros of living in a hive he supposed: never being alone, always having someone there to protect you.
There was in him this necessity to feel safe, but safe from what? It wasn’t like he couldn’t defend himself, so why did he feel this need of safety? Why did he feel like a sailor that has spent most of his life travelling the sea in search of a safe harbor, in search of a place he could finally call home, but is surrendered by blinding blue water, with no sight of land?
Bumblebee took another deep breath. He did really need to stop thinking this much, the only thing it achieved was a migraine and he wasn’t a fan of those. He took his face in his servos and closed his optics. Another sigh shocked his body. Just breath and stop thinking, empty your mind of unnecessary thoughts, listen and concentrate on what surrenders you.
It was just starting to work (his mind already feeling a bit less heavy), when on his HUD popped the notification of a comm incoming and, startled, without realizing he opened it.
:: Bumblebee, do you copy? ::
He got up so fast he almost hit one of the branches with his helm, scarring a squirrel away.
:: Elita! Wh- I mean, yeah, I copy. :: He cleared his voice. :: Are the Decepticons giving you problems? ::
A chuckle was heard from the others side of the comm, and Bumblebee was happy Elita couldn’t see the look on his face.
:: Nah, nothing we can’t deal with. ::
:: Oh, ok…so why-::
:: I wanted to inform you the negotiations are finally ended, come to G.H.O.S.T. HQ , I assure you, you want to hear the news in person. ::
Bumblebee caught a note of excitement in her voice - whatever this was about he surely didn’t want to miss it – and as he heard his destination his expression morphed with surprise. Please don’t make it be a “looting mission” again, I’m not part of a moving agency.
A caught from the other side of the comm reminded him it was still open.
:: Oh, sorry! – he said with a little laugh - I’m on my way :: Then ended the comm.
He gave a last look at the glade and then went back to the road, transforming the moment his pedes touched the asphalt.
‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵
The moment he arrived at G.H.O.S.T.’s ex HQ, he’s audial receptors got welcomed by the - not at all ear tearing – melodic sound of Starscream’s voice. What a beautiful blessing.
“-If you wish this to work, Megatron better not show up is stupid face around. I’m serious Prime, I don’t care if this will slow the project, I won’t bare buckethead’s presence more than the minimum needed!”
Bumblebee observed Optimus trying to reassure the seeker, until he caught with the corner of his optics Wheeljack on the other side of the room near a security panel, waving at him and motioning to come closer.
He quickly joined him.
“Hey,” he almost whispered “what is all this fuss about? I thought you had found some sort of agreement.”
“Oh, we did!” Wheeljack started telling, throwing a quick glance towards the decepticon commander. “ Starscream just a tad paranoid about going to work at the project back at Megatron side, not that I blame him, we all know how their relationship was-”
“Wait, Jakie, wait a moment, what do you mean with ‘going to work at the project at Megatron side’?”
“Nonono, their not gonna work together, those two would be at each other throats in less than a second, not the best thing to happe-“
“Wheeljack I don’t mean that, what project are you talking about?”
The scientist gave him a confused look.
“Don’t you know yet? Has nobody told you? Bee we’re going t-“
But, before Wheeljack could finally reveal this mystery, he got interrupted by a very enthusiastic voice.
“Bumblebee, here you are!” And while saying it she gave him one of her characteristic greetings: a punch right to his left shoulder.
“Arcee…you’re here too!“ He massaged where she had hit him. Why does she have to this all the time?
“Obviously I’m! How could I miss all of this?” She widened her harms, motioning at the room with a smile splattered on her face. (Bumblebee felt a little lost at it). “So, who are you paired with?” She asked, voiced filled with curiosity, her servos now firmly holding Bumblebee in place from his shoulders. It was kind of discomfortable to him.
He was really confused now.
“Paired…with? Wha-“
Arcee narrowed her eyes, not letting him finish. “Yeah, you know, who you’re going to work with.” She scowled crossing her harms. “I can’t believe I got assigned Swindle! Can you believe that!?”
“Well, at least you don’t have to work in the same lab with a mad scientist!” Wheeljack lamented, looking at the ceiling as if waiting for a blessing from the sky (or maybe a lightning to strike him, it was out for interpretation).
A moment of silence followed. Two pair of optics exchanged a side eye and then fixed on the scientist.
“What!? Guys c’mon I’m not a mad scientist – one who tends to explosions maybe, and I admit that sometimes I let myself get carried away –.“ He stopped a moment, reflecting. “No. I’m not a crazy scientist!”
More silence followed. A defeated sigh came out from Wheeljack’s mouth.
“Whaaaatever, guys I miss an important part of all of this. What is going on? What is this project about? Why do we have to work with decepticons now?” And why am I always the last one getting informed?
Now the one to get stared at was him.
“You know nothing about the project?” Arcee asked.
“No. Not a single thing.”
“Uh, well,” She huffed. “Prepare yourself, ‘cause – drum roll – we’re going to repair the space bridge!” Arcee shouted, making a little energetic jump and throwing her harms up.
Bumblebee jaw dropped open. How could this be possible? They were going to get back home?
He couldn’t believe this. Was he dreaming? Was this really happening?
“We’re…we’re going home?” He muttered and searched in Wheeljack’s eyes for a confirmation.
“Weeeeeeeeel, not exactly.” He corrected with an acute voice before stopping and clearing his throat. “The space bridge is not in great conditions and even if we repair it, I won’t really trust in it being a hundred percent safe for a living being- Not that we won’t be able to reach Cybertron!” He was quick to add as Bumblebee expression lose part of the hope it was illuminated with seconds before. “Our plan is to use the space bridge to send a transmitter in a space region near Cybertron and contact whoever receives the signal. It might sound a bit of a hazard, but at the moment it’s our best option.”
This was really happening. A ‘wow’ escaped his mouth and in less than one second he found himself surrendered in a tight embrace.
“Exactly! We are going home Bee!” Arcee voice was full of happiness, one that he hadn’t heard in a long time.
“Maybe, maybe we’re going home. There’s no certain thing.” Wheeljack specified.
Arcee shoot him a frowning stare. Meanwhile Bumblebee was trying to extricate from the vice her hug was.
“What? It’s the truth, we have no certainty it will work! We don’t even know if someone is going to answer us!”
Arcee frown deepened. “Thank you for your daily dose of positivity.”
“I was just stating the facts.” He answered, turning his head and crossing his harms. “Don’t won’t to have you get so excited for something we’re not sure will work”
Arcee rolled her optics, letting Bee finally free. The yellow bot took the chance to silently leave the two to their bickering, and went searching for Elita. He was this close to exiting the room when a deep voice called after him, he sighed and quickly turned towards where now Optimus, Starscream and Soundwave at his side, stood.
“I didn’t notice you arriving, come” The prime invited him to get near, giving him a friendly smile.
“I’m a scout after all, not being noticed is part of my job; besides, I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.”
“Oh, I assure you’re interrupting nothing, we had just finished.” Starscream said without minding to hide his irritation in his voice and shooting a glare at Optimus, then he turned to the blue bot behind him. “Come on Soundwave, we have no time to loose around.” And headed towards the exit, without dignifying Bumblebee of a glance. The communication officer gave an acknowledging nod at the two autoboots before falling back behind the seeker march.
A loud huff left Bumblebee mouth the moment the two decepticons were out of hearing. “That guy should really learn to relax.” Optimus let out a heavy sigh next him, making Bumblebee turn immediately towards him. “It’s true! He always acts like he has a stick stucked up his-“
“It’s not that.” Optimus stopped him, and Bumblebee would have bet it was tiredness what sipped in his voice if he didn’t know the Prime so well.
“Turbulent negotiations?” Bee offered him a smile.
Optimus servos went to his hips as his stance morphed in one less tensed. “It’s a good way to describe them, but are there ever easy negotiations?” He left out a little chuckle.
“I guess not.” He answered, thinking about how he himself needed to get through ‘negotiations’ of his own with the kids sometimes to be able to teach them.
“Anyway, have you been informed on the news?”
“Yess, Arcee told me we might have a chance to reach Cybertron.”
Optimus nodded. “Exactly, we’re currently concentrating on gathering the necessary materials while Wheeljack, Shockwave and Tarantulas will work on fixing the space bridge. I convinced Starscream to join forces and accept a temporary peace treaty, that I hope will become permanent once we’ll have finished.”
Oh, now I get it.
He crossed his harms. “So, this is why you decided to pair up us with the decepticons. Don’t tell me your plan is to make us work together in the hope we will become friends!” The last word was pronounced like it was a sacrilegious.
Optimus held a servo out. “Not to become friends, not necessarily at least, I just want everyone to put aside their haste for each other and understand that the war is over, that we need to stay united if we want to achieve our common goal.”
Bumblebee had to suppress a sarcastic sneaker at it. “It doesn’t feel like it’s over most of the times.” His mumbling went unheard by Optimus, too busy talking about the plan and explaining what was Bee part in it.
Apparently even if the fight with Mandroid had damaged the space bridge, it was still fixable. In order to do so, they needed to find some of the blueprints that mad scientist had left in the various hidden labs of his, furthermore they needed to find the right materials (presumably situated also in the labs) to build it. A “looting mission” then, how fantastic.
“But there’s more, we have come to believe that most of Mandroid’s arachnobots are still active, they surely won’t be much of a problem, but keep your optics open in any case and don’t let your guard down. How that human saying goes? ‘Better safe than sorry’.”
Arachnobots, uh? Well at least this is not going to be completely boring. Now I just have to convince Optimus to let me going on solo, I don’t want a decepticon to slow me down. The faster I’m done with this, the better. Not that Bumblebee had anything more important to do.
“You know me Optimus, I’m the best in this type of missions. Just give me the coordinates to the first lab and I’ll be done with it in a jiffy.” He smiled impatiently.
Optimus gave him a look he couldn’t quite pinpoint. “I’m glad to see your enthusiasm about it, but you should better wait for your partner; he’s going to be her in le-.” Bumblebee cut him off.
“C’mon Optimus! I can do this perfectly alone, you know that, another person will only slow me down; and you know how decepticons are!”
The second he finished the sentence he felt someone coughing behind him. Not even the time to completely turn, that the other already started talking, annoyance and a hint of sarcasm flooding his voice.
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Would you like to enlighten me?”
Bumblebee found himself facing a purple badge on a white and red plating. Slag.
He raised his optics, immediately meeting two burning yellow ones. He froze, pinned down by the other’s gaze. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. He was petrified.
After what to him felt like forever (but actually only a few seconds had passed), the heavy optics let him go, moving their attention to the floor.
“Besides, between the two of us, the slow one is you, Bee.” His tone now emptied of sarcasm, but full with playfulness. And, again, Bumblebee found himself immobilised by those optics. It took a moment for him to realise that-
“Wait,” he shrugged. “You’re my partner!?” This gained him a smug grin from the other, now standing with his harms crossed and his helm leaned towards his gray face.
“An honor, I know. You’ve been lucky.” Breakdown teased, his grin got even more bigger, their faces more closer and Bumblebee, for a moment, feared his cheeks would tint of red.
Fortunately Optimus came to his rescue, distracting the Pontiac’s gaze from him. He started explaining them some points of their mission, but most of it went unregistered from Bumblebee’s audio receptors. The yellow bot was too occupied thinking about what had just happened. Why had he reacted that way?
His optics kept falling back on the taller mech besides him. He couldn’t believe this.
After all this time.
After everything.
He was going to work with Breakdown.
‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵