Chapter Text
Eddie's voice had started to grow hoarse, he had been shouting for Buck and Christopher for only the gods know how long. They had checked the triage places- well, Eddie did. Bumblebee was in his car mode just outside. But alas, not one had Buck or Christopher in their care.
Bumblebee and him started walking once he couldn’t drive any longer due to all the debris. Eddie’s legs had been aching like crazy. But he couldn’t help but think Buck was probably in much worse shape. Knowing him he’s probably saved half the people in those triage tents and hasn't let go of Chris once.
Unless he couldn’t hold onto Chris during the wave’s resurgence..
He didn’t even want to entertain that possibility, so he looked over at Bumblebee who was pulling a large piece of debris off the ground to see if they had been pinned under it. He caught Bumblebee's expression when he realized they were not under there, and felt a pang in his chest. Although his eyes resembled lightbulbs you’d use for a bedside lamp, they held so much emotion and worry. Eddie made his way over and looked up at the towering Cybertronian. He might barely know him, but he could tell that Bee cares about those boys almost as much as he did.
“How did you even meet Buck?” He asked as they started walking again.
“Well… long story short, he got caught up in a little scuffle with some Decepticons. I got him out of there, but he refused to leave me alone.” Bumblebee explained, looking into buildings for any sign. “So, now I'm stuck with him. Can’t be too mad though, he's entertaining.”
Eddie heard him, but had no idea what he meant by “a little scuffle with some decepticons.” What the hell is a Decepticon and what is this alien robot's definition of a little scuffle? Frankly, he was just too tired to even bother asking. He’ll ask Buck later when he interrogates him over not telling him his car is a sentient robot.
“Yeah, that he is. He has fun animal facts for days.” Eddie said, managing a small, quiet laugh. He loved him, to his very core. But he would never admit that out loud, he could barely admit it to himself.
Eddie looked over at Bumblebee, after breaking free from his thoughts again, to see a very suspicious look on his face. “What?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Nothing.” Bumblebee said with a wave of his hand, with a snicker he didn’t think Eddie noticed, and continued to walk. There was debris everywhere and varying in size. Bumblebee had to really pay attention to where he was stepping so he didn’t break everything in his path. After a moment of silence, Bumblebee spoke again. “What about you? How’d you meet?”
“Oh, we met about a year ago. He actually hated me at first.” Eddie recalled how Buck nearly threw down with him in the middle of the fire house. “But he came around after we nearly got blown up together.” He smiled, looking at the strip of buildings to his left. “He’s my best friend. And my son's best friend.”
“Chris?” Bumblebee asked gently, glancing back at Eddie.
“Yeah.” He said, rubbing his chin anxiously. But then he had a thought, something that would be crazy, but likely. “Does he know about you? The whole robot thing.”
Bumblebee peered into a building on his right, the sound of metal clanking sounding as he rested his hands against the window. “Uh.. yes. Buck felt bad about not telling him.”
“Oh but he didn’t feel bad about not telling me?”
“Don't shoot the messenger.” He replied with a smile, glancing at Eddie quickly.
Bumblebee looked back at the building and knocked on the window a couple of times, hoping to get a response or something, any sign of he and Eddie's friends. After a moment, he was about to step back and keep on going down the strip when a sudden thud slammed against the window. Bumblebee yelped and stumbled back in surprise. He looked back at the window to see a man leaning against it with his hands, a muffled “get me out of here!” coming from him.
“Get me up there!” Eddie said, running over to Bumblebee. The mech picked him up in a single servo and moved him towards the window. “Stand back!” He said, gesturing his hand towards the man. As soon as he ducked behind the wall again, Eddie reached into his pocket and took his pocket knife out. He used the butt-end of it and smashed it into the corner of the window, effectively shattering it.
He climbed through the window, careful to avoid the shards sticking out the windowsill around him. A part of him wondered what this dude must be thinking. first a tsunami, getting trapped in a building, then some massive yellow robot in his window. Maybe this was all just a crazy dream. He hoped it was.
The building was eerily quiet, and dark. The ambiance sent chills down Eddie's back. The elevator door across the room was open, but there was no elevator. Papers were scattered across the floor and a table was sitting somewhere clearly out of place. The room looked abandoned.
There were no lights on, only a small flashlight in the victim's hand. But he focused on getting this guy out of there and getting him some medicine attention. “Are you injured?” He said, giving the man a quick look over.
“No, just angry. I've been here for hours! Took long enough.” He grumbled, then glanced out the window. “What the fuck is that?”
Eddie looked out the window and saw Bumblebee waving at them with a grin.
“Don’t worry about him,” Eddie said as he looked back at the patient and stepped towards him. “We need to get you out of here. I’m Eddie,” He held out his hand to help him over and out of the window.
“Jack.” He said, shaking his hand but then disregarding his help and walking towards the windowsill. “You a firefighter?”
“I am, yeah. Got separated during the wave’s resurgence.” Eddie said, staying close behind him as Jack moved to the window. He didn’t seem injured at all, but Eddie knew sometimes injuries didn’t make themselves known for a while, so he made sure to keep an eye on him.
Jack paused as he reached the window, looking at Bumblebee with a hesitant expression. “I hope your team’s alright.” He said, a look of understanding crossing his face.
“Yeah, me too. All of them.” Eddie mumbled, spotting Jack as he climbed into the window and onto Bumblebee's servo. He also took note of how Jack seemed to become a lot more relaxed after learning Eddie was a firefighter. And not in the average civilian way, Jack was definitely a firefighter, or at least was one at some point.
As Bumblebee got the two men out of the window, Jack visibly in awe at the mech, distant chattering became audible nearby. There were people around. Maybe Christopher and Buck were with them. Bumblebee set them both on the ground and he and Eddie exchanged a hopeful look.
The chatter started growing louder as it came closer and Bumblebee transformed back into the camaro, the car's wheel splashing up some water from a puddle. Eddie didn’t think he would ever get over that, he wondered if it still amazed Buck too. He heard a quiet “what the fuck?” from Jack.
But before Eddie could even begin to explain, the group appeared from a corner. He rushed over alongside Jack. “Anyone hurt?” Eddie asked, to which the whole group shook their heads and there were a couple of mumbled no’s. “Good..” He whispered. “Have any of you seen a guy, six’ two, curly dirty blond hair, a birthmark on his left eye? He would've had a little boy with him, big glasses.” Eddie said, tone full of worry.
“Yes, actually.” A woman spoke softly as she stepped out of the crowd. Eddie had never felt more relieved in his life. “He was back that way, and told us the way to get help. He said he’d catch up with us.” She paused. “He didn’t have any boy with him, though. Sorry.”
And that right there, Eddie swore his heart stopped. He stumbled back a bit with a nod, looking at her but not really seeing her. Maybe it was the tunnel vision. As the group started to leave, Eddie felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to see Jack with a confused expression.
“You alright?” He asked, looking him over just like Eddie did to him. He thought he was injured. And he was, maybe not physically, but he felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest.
If Chris was missing, then his heart really was ripped from his chest.
“I, uh.” Eddie tried to speak, but he literally couldn’t get any words out. He glanced behind Jack at the yellow camaro. Please, to any divine being, let this be all a dream, he thought.
The sound of metal scraping and shifting could be heard as the car turned back into a robot. Bumblebee strided over and kneeled down next to the two men, leaning against his fist that landed on the ground.
“His son and best friend, that's who he was asking about.” Bumblebee explained, his tone gentle, which was a little unexpected from something his size. He looked over at Eddie. “We need to go get Buck.”
That took Eddie out of his doom spiraling. Buck was still alive, and functioning, which made Eddie feel a bit better. He couldn’t imagine losing both of his boys in one night..
Jack just nodded. “I'm gonna go, I can help at the triage center. I'm sure they’re okay, Eddie.” He said, clasping a hand on Eddie's shoulder assuringly. Eddie nodded at him as a thanks, then started walking the opposite direction. As Eddie started speed-walking down the road, Bumblebee not too far behind, he heard some ruckus from a small alleyway a little ways ahead.
He started to run, his heart was pounding from the amount of anxiety coursing through him. Eddie practically skidded around the corner of the alley and looked around the place, then his eyes fell on a man who was sitting up against a wall, clutching his abdomen and breathing heavily.
It was Buck.
“Buck!” Eddie collapsed to his knees next to him, feeling an immense weight lift from his shoulders, and immediately assessing him for any injuries.
“Eddie?!” Buck said hoarsely, his hand landing on Eddie's bicep. As if he were trying to confirm he was actually real. “How did you find me?”
“We've been looking for you for hours, a group of survivors told us you were over here. Where's Chris?” Eddie said as he moved Bucks hand from his abdomen, checking for any visible injuries there.
“At the triage camp nearby, with Bosko from the 133. I had to go help that group-“ Buck choked, he almost sounded guilty. Eddie knew he was feeling bad for leaving Christopher, but Eddie trusted him with everything he had.
This was Buck after all, he would use every ounce of strength he had to help others. Which clearly, he had.
“I know, it's okay- Jesus, you're bleeding like crazy.” Eddie noticed Buck's right arm that was covered in blood. He started unbuttoning his outer shirt to use as a makeshift tourniquet, swiftly pulling it off and beginning to tie it around Bucks arm, just above the injury.
He tied it just above the injury, then looked into Buck's tired eyes. “Can you walk?” Buck nodded, and shifted to get up, tossing his uninjured arm over the shorter man’s shoulder to support himself. Eddie hoisted him off the ground, catching himself as Buck practically collapsed against him. He wrapped an arm around Bucks waist, only so he could help him walk, of course. No other reason.
It was obvious Buck had lost a lot of blood, and was pushing himself way past his limits. Eddie was just happy they found him in time before he inevitably collapsed somewhere without anyone around.
As he brought him from the alleyway, Eddie was a little startled by the massive yellow robot standing just outside. He had almost forgotten about him. Bumblebee was too big to fit in the alleyway, but when his optics landed on Buck he visibly relaxed.
However when Buck noticed Bumblebee…
“What are you doing here?!” He quietly yelled, as if Eddie didn’t see the mech standing there.
“Looking for you!” Bumblee took a step closer. His tone suggested he was upset, like an older brother getting his younger brother out of trouble. But his optics held genuine concern, they also glanced at the arm around Bucks waist, and narrowed slightly. Eddie was just gonna pretend he didn’t notice the suspicious glance.
“We can argue later, let’s get you some help.” Eddie sighed. It was more of a relieved sigh, though. The fact that Buck was coherent enough to bicker was a good sign.
It was quiet for a moment as they walked down the road, albeit slow, Bumblebee following right behind them. Eventually the silence was broken by Buck. “So… you’ve met Bee.”
“I have. I'm a little insulted that you felt bad about not telling Chris, but not me.” Eddie joked, glancing at Buck who huffed a laugh.
As they got closer to the triage center, Buck stopped. Eddie was about to ask if he was okay but then Buck looked behind them at Bumblebee. “I don't think you’re allowed in there, sorry.” He said, his tone lighthearted with a goofy-tired smile that made Eddie's heart skip a beat.
The mech just rolled his optics, at least the equivalent of that, and transformed back into the camaro. The hood slamming shut with a little more sass than necessary. Then it sped off down the road. Eddie felt a bit bad, Buck seemed to care a lot about the mech and vice versa. Eddie's grip on Bucks' side tightened slightly as they started walking again.
The pair reached the table to check themselves in, and immediately Eddie asked for Christopher. The nurse there pointed him in the direction, but before he could even begin to walk he heard “Dad?”
He turned quickly to see Christopher sitting with a blonde woman whose hair was in a ponytail, and was wearing a firefighter uniform. This must be Bosko from the 133. Eddies feet moved faster than his mind could and he bounded over, scooping Chris into his arms in a very tight hug.
“Chris! Thank god.” He said breathlessly, he saw with his own eyes that his boys were okay. That's all he needed at the moment.
“Daad!” Chris groaned as Eddie kissed his hair.
Eddie laughed softly at his complaining, which just solidified that Chris was unharmed. Physically, at least. He moved Chris onto his side and looked at Bosko, who was smiling.
“Lena Bosko, I'm with the 133.” She said, holding out a hand which Eddie took, shaking it firmly.
“Thank you.” Was really all he could get out. He turned to look back at Buck who was watching their reunion with the softest expression. There was a nurse standing next to him with a slightly frustrated expression, Buck had definitely waved her off and said he was fine so he could stay. Which clearly the nurse didn’t believe.
Once Eddie got his composure mostly together he waved Buck over, and once he got close enough he pulled him into the hug with Chris. It was a quick hug, as Eddie wanted to get Buck some medical attention as soon as possible, but he couldn’t not. He was beyond relieved that they were worse off.
Eventually the nurse that had been standing there dragged Buck off to one of the stations so she could treat the injury on his arm properly. Eddie and Chris followed him after Lena told him to take care and that she needed to go check on her captain, who had lost an arm because of the tsunami, which yeah Eddie understood.
About a day had passed, and Buck was still in the hospital. They wanted to keep him to make sure nothing went wrong with the blood thinners and all. He was also pretty dehydrated.
Eddie was sitting next to the bed, just scrolling on his phone. His head leaning against his hand. Buck was awake, and actually doing great, he didn’t really need someone there to help or anything. Eddie just wanted to be there.
Also there was an alien robot outside.
The sound of metal shifting and clanking could be heard outside, then a knock on the window. They looked towards the window that was on Bucks left, right in between them, to see Bumblebees face right in it.
He blinked a couple of times, the antenna like things on his helm perking up when he saw Buck was awake. He waved excitedly with a bright smile.
“So… when were you gonna tell me your car was actually a robot from outer space?” Eddie said, glancing back at Buck. His face contorted into a look of a kid getting busted getting caught with something.
“I was! I swear, I was gonna tell you.” He glanced at Bumblebee in the window who was watching them intently. “I just uh… didn't know when the right time was.”
“I think as soon as you found out would've worked.” Eddie said, his tone light hearted as he turned off his phone and crossed his arms over his chest.
Buck just rolled his eyes and smiled.
“Seriously though, how did you keep him a secret so well?” Eddie leaned forward slightly. Buck could keep a secret, but not about something so cool.
“He did most of the work, something about ‘they cant let humans know of their existence’ or something.” Buck shrugged, as if that sentence wasn’t absolutely insane. Wait, did he say they?
“They?”
A furious knock on the window, Bumblebee gesturing with his servo and mouthing “Really?!”
“Whoops.” Buck said sheepishly.
A couple hours passed, and the hospital staff concluded Buck was going to be fine and discharged him from the hospital. Eddie was relieved, but now he wanted to know every single detail of these… Transformers, as Buck called them. Buck offered to go on a ride as he explained, which Eddie was happy to of course.
Buck laughed in his face when Eddie asked Bumblebee, who was in his alt mode, if it was okay to get inside.
As Buck rambled on about how there's a whole planetary war happening, and how the Transformers had to take refuge on Earth, Eddie couldn't help but worry about them bringing the war here. But his thoughts were interrupted by the car's radio volume turning up, and the song What I Like About You by The Romantics started playing.
Eddie turned to Buck whose eyes widened slightly, like his brain just short-circuited. Buck glanced at Eddie and cleared his throat, and laughed. “He likes that song, sorry.” To which Bumblebee switched the radio briefly to a quote from a movie that went, “You can’t handle the truth!”
Buck promptly turned the radio down all the way.