Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The immediate aftermath of Dinobot’s failed attempt was filled with anxieties across the board. Optimus forced Cheetor out on patrol after it became apparent the younger Maximal was unwilling to give Dinobot the space he needed. Silverbolt was sent out as well, although he was to remain a few grids closer to the base, to ensure Cheetor did follow the orders he was given. Rhinox didn’t say anything, just lingering in the hall, while Optimus came in to speak with Dinobot directly.

“You realize, what you intended on doing is not the Maximal way?”

“A great number of the actions I end up taking… are not fit for a Maximal warrior.”

“What I mean is, that’s not how we handle our mistakes.” Optimus knelt down to speak at his level. “I’m not going to tell you your actions haven’t cost us. They have, severely.” Dinobot let his optics close in shame. “But what’s going to make up for that isn’t having a spark go offline. It’s the protection of this planet, and these people. If we can prevent Megatron from whatever plans he has with that golden disc, that’s all I care about. Understand?”

Dinobot let out a low hum. “I cannot say I… understand. But I will contemplate your position, even if it differs from my own.”

Optimus gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “We’ll talk more later. For now, I’m going to ask Rattrap to stick with you. You’re not on lockdown, but I’m not leaving you alone. And no missions for at least a couple megacycles – not until we can trust you with your own weapons. Do I make myself clear?”

Dinobot grunted, clearly dissatisfied. “I suppose.”

“Good. Rattrap, suffice it to say, this is your top priority. Enjoy having a break from scouting duty for a while. You get me or Rhinox immediately if something comes up.”

“Yes sir!” Rattrap said with an enthusiastic salute. Optimus shared a look with Rhinox, and then the two of them exited the room. Rattrap hummed distractedly as he sat down with his legs crossed in a comfortable position. “Yo, Choppuhface, got any games in here?”

Dinobot growled. “I do not waste my time with games , vermin.”

“Not even poker? You gotta be kiddin’ me. You call yerself a warrior and you don’t even know how ta sharpen yer mind!”

“What in the inferno are you talking about?”

“Ey, Optimus!” Rattrap screamed. Dinobot let out a low growl as he reached out to cover his audio receptors. In two seconds Optimus hurried back into the room.

“What, what is it?” he asked, concern written all over his face.

“Get us a monitor, stat! No, two! I gotta show Dino-noob how it’s done!”

“How what’s done?”

“Gaming!”

Optimus had never looked so disappointed in his life. Dinobot couldn’t help but snicker at the sight. The little pleased grin Rattrap made went unnoticed.

***

Dinobot had hardly begun to comprehend the rules of the board game Rattrap was trying to teach him when his patience ran out. He stood up and growled out, “No more of this nonsense!”

“C’mon, you’re not even tryin’!” Rattrap complained, picking up a small white piece. I told ya, the pawn can only move forward twice on the first turn! It attacks one space on the forward diagonal, and look, we can wait for your baby brain to catch up before we do en passant, that’s fine–”

“ No ! You idiot! I don’t care about the rules of this primitive game! How can you stand to sit around and occupy your mind with false realities when the real battle is out there?!” Dinobot gestured out the window. “We should be out there with Cheetor and that mindless fuzor, reclaiming the golden disc, not here, where we are of no use to anyone!”

“Hey hey hey, settle your feathers there, lizard brain. We’re under strict orders to –”

“Curse your ‘orders’! It is because of me that Megatron has succeeded in doing what he has, that he can accomplish what he may in the future!” Dinobot turned away, facing the window instead of his fellow Maximal. “You see, Rattrap… Destiny has one great test in store for us all. I fear that mine has already come… and if so, that I have failed it.”

“All this destiny nonsense is boloney!” Rattrap snapped, tapping his own chestplate. “You’re here , Dinobot, whether you like it or not! What matters is what you do now!”

“Indeed… What I do now.” Dinobot reached for his sword, and Rattrap hopped to his feet as panic shot through his processors.

“Whoa… Look, I don’t mean this very nano click now–”

“A deed once done cannot be undone,” Dinobot continued calmly. “But perhaps it may yet be mitigated. And to that end, I must go presently.”

“Look, the big monkey said, no missions!”

“This is not a mission. This is simply… exercise.”

“Nuh-uh. We’re not goin’ on a suicide mission just because you feel like a piece of slag right now. No matter what you choose to call it.”

Dinobot grumbled and held out his weapon. “Regardless… take my sword if you must. But I will leave this horrid base. These walls confine me, Rattrap. Only the natural world will offer me what little peace I can find now.”

Rattrap considered his argument with heavy skepticism, but took the sword offered to him. “Ehhhh, fine. But just a walk. Remember, if you make a run for it, you’ve got at least three Maximals comin’ to knock the slag out of ya!”

Dinobot sighed. “I suppose I deserve no less.”

“Hey, don’t make this too easy. It’s no fun roastin’ ya when you agree to everything I say.”

“I don’t agree to everything you say, rodent. I hardly agree with any of it.”

“Good!” Rattrap felt like he was going to regret this decision sorely. “Well, then, let’s get goin’ before the others start wonderin’ why we ain’t squabblin’. If we run into Rhinox or our fearless leader on our way out there, we’re gonna need one heck of an excuse.”

***

Okay, Rattrap had to admit, they’d strayed quite a bit further from the base than he intended. And maybe it’d be a good idea to usher him back now. But, you know what, Dinobot looked almost content for once, especially when he stared out toward the horizon or let his optics shut as a gentle wind passed, and Rattrap wasn’t about to break the peace.

But then the dumb feline did instead, and he brought trouble with him. A lot of trouble.

“Cheetor to anybody, come in!”

Dinobot and Rattrap exchanged glances; Dinobot ended up activating his device. “This is Dinobot. Speak, feline.”

“I’m teaching a solo lesson to Megatron and Rampage. Trouble is, they’re slow learners and – aaah!” The sound of an explosion crackled through the intercom.

Dinobot would deny the worry that washed through him. “Cheetor! Are you injured?”

“Yeah… I’ll survive. But somebody’s got to follow up on Megatron, find out what he’s up to.”

“Fear not.” Dinobot transformed out of beast mode. “Someone most assuredly will.”

“Hold up there Choppuhface! You can’t fight the Predacons! Optimus already said so!” Rattrap cried. “And besides, who knows how many of ‘em you’ll have to fight to get to Megastink? You’re insane!”

“This is not up for negotiation, vermin. I have to do this.”

“Yer not going alone,” Rattrap said firmly. “Wherever yer goin’, I’m goin’ too.”

“This is my wrong to right, you insufferable rodent. I intend on taking what consequences come on my own, be what they may. It is all I can do to shape my destiny after my mistakes have led to this.”

“I don’t give a slag what your honor-infested code has to say, either I’m comin’ with you, or you ain’t steppin’ a toe further! I’m not losing ya to yer stupid pride, Choppuhface, no way.”

“Ughhh… Fine, pest. You can tag along if that’s what you desire oh so much. But be warned – the golden disc takes priority over our lives. If you threaten the success of this mission–”

“What’re you gonna do, kill me?” Rattrap teased.

Dinobot pretended to consider the option. “Hmm, well, I can certainly put you out of commission until I have things done.”

“Ha. You just go on and try, lizard lips.”

***

They discovered Tarantulas’ secret base rather quickly on their journey. Rattrap helped him dig a hole in front of one of Tarantulas’ webs which had caught a deer. It didn’t take long for the spider to show himself and for them to blast him into pieces – not before finding out, of course, that the golden disc was kept with Megatron, no further copies in existence.

With Tarantulas scrapped, Dinobot rode Rattrap’s beast mode across the mountainous terrain toward the coordinates Cheetor had last seen the Predacons. They stopped in their tracks when they witnessed Rampage blow up the top portions of a mountain in the distance.

“Whoa! What in tarnation are they up to?!”

“Hmm. An experiment.” Dinobot zoomed in to their location, frowning at Megatron’s examination of the disc, and his celebratory reaction. “He’s discovered something. When reality alters, the future alters with it.” He grimaced and grabbed at his head. “With the golden disc, Megatron’s power is limitless!”

“No slaggin’ way…” Rattrap stared down at the scene, then up at Dinobot, at the horror followed by shame in his expression. All progress they seemed to have made was now swept away. And now they were walking blind right into Megatron’s hands. Dear primus, what were they getting themselves into.

***

They’d gotten close enough to listen to Megatron’s dramatic monologue.

“Now, according to this Disc, the human race is destined to emerge from this valley. Hmm. Humans. Thanks to their interference, the Autobots defeated the Decepticons, and thus, it is the Maximals which rule us. But no longer. No. Destiny is about to undergo an improvement.”

“This doesn’t look goooood…” Rattrap said worriedly, his ears down and tail curled beneath him. Dinobot growled and activated his comm link.

“Dinobot to Optimus Primal.”

“Optimus here. What is it, Dinobot? And where have you been?! Is Rattrap with you?”

Rattrap chuckled nervously. “Heh heh… Here and accounted for, fearless leader.”

“You have a lot to explain.”

“No time at the present. Code Red. Situation… extreme.” Dinobot glanced over to see the Predacons all looming over the valley from above, firepower at the ready.

“Destroy this valley, and everything in it! The human race will never have existed!” Megatron shouted triumphantly. Rattrap let out a little squeak as they jumped down to the forest floor and started shooting at all the anthropoids in sight, stepping on butterflies and tromping through the greenery simply for fun.

“Oh no. Oh no no no, this is REALLY bad.”

“Care to state the obvious again, vermin?”

“We’ll be there as soon as we can!” Optimus replied. “In the meantime, fall back and wait for us!”

“Negative!” Dinobot responded.

“Excuse me?” Rattrap asked, already searching for cover.

“The question that once haunted my being has been answered… The future is not fixed. My choices are my own.”

“Uh, yeah, destiny’s a sham. What else is new? Now, c’mon.” Rattrap grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back, but Dinobot pulled his arm away with nearly enough force to knock him over.

Dinobot peered down at the valley, where one of the ancestors of the humans was dragging one of its own to safety as shots fired all around them, their home turning into a battlefield they had no hope of protecting.

“And yet… how ironic. For I now find I have no choice at all.” Dinobot closed his eyes, seeming to gather himself with a sigh of acceptance, and Rattrap felt himself panicking.

“D-Dinobot? What are you doin’, let’s get movin’ over here!” It was time to get behind cover and save their own hides before a Pred came and blasted them to smithereens.

“Rattrap, I cannot.” Dinobot gave him what could almost be called a smile. “I am a warrior.” He held out his hand, gesturing for his sword. Rattrap held it close to his chest, turning it away from him, but Dinobot didn’t seem bothered, only turning back to the valley determinedly. He took a step, and Rattrap realized, no matter what he did, no matter if the blasted dino had a weapon or not, he was going to fight.

“H-Hey, wait!” Dinobot paused and turned around. Rattrap hesitantly handed him his sword. “F-Fine, if yer gonna be all high and mighty, you… better have all the help you can get.” He took out his gun and nodded. “And that includes me.”

Dinobot nodded respectfully, then returned his gaze to the warzone below them. Rattrap gulped and made sure his weapon was loaded before positioning himself at the ready beside him. Whatever happened, humans or no humans, he was getting Dinobot out alive. That was all he could focus on right now.

Especially since Dinobot could not. The stupid saurian looked perfectly at peace, raising his sword to the sky, as if speaking to the Matrix itself.

“Let the battle be joined.”

***

The Maximals hurried at top speed to reach the valley Dinobot and Rattrap were in, but it seemed like a losing battle.

“Can’t we go any faster?!” Cheetor complained.

“We’re doing the best we can!” Optimus replied.

“Why did they have to go out on their own like that?” Silverbolt lamented. “And why didn’t I notice them leaving the security of our base?”

“You didn’t see them because they didn’t want you to,” Optimus replied. “And we’ll have a long talk about that when we get back.”

‘ If we all make it back,’ no one wanted to add.

***

The battle was rough, but it wasn't as one-sided as Rattrap expected. He watched from behind cover as Dinobot waited for Blackarachnia to move ahead, then took the chance to slice his sword straight down Inferno's chestplate, while his screams were nearly drowned out in the chaos of gunfire from every direction. The widow, however, spun around in time to start spitting fire back at him, and Rattrap almost blew his cover by leaping out to help when Dinobot grabbed Inferno's body and used it as a shield. He then shot Inferno's head clean off his shoulders and knocked out Blackarachnia with two good shots.

Rattrap hesitantly stepped out from behind the rock, feeling useless. He wished he could just use his bombs instead of direct combat, it wasn't his style, but he couldn't risk the lives of any of the anthropoids that might still be around. He wished the rest of the team would hurry their tail feathers because he didn't think Dinobot would be able to take on so many Preds on his own, even with Rattrap's cover fire, even with a sneak attack.

"You okay, Choppuhface?"

"Well enough to fight, cheese brain,” Dinobot replied. His metal was somewhat dented from Blackarachnia’s attack, but he didn’t seem like he was struggling to stand or anything – yet .

"Look, don't overdo it, alright? We got the others on the way."

"I am not overdoing anything," Dinobot denied, taking a step forward but Rattrap was squeezing his arm. Dinobot glanced down and realized the rodent was visibly trembling – from what, he could not discern. "You are not bred for this level of combat," he noted.

"I'm the best spy in the business. War machine on an open field, not so much." Rattrap flinched as another wild shot hit the tree next to him. "Ugh, we're all gonna die…"

"Stay in hiding. Keep track of where the Predacons are, and provide cover fire when needed. I will handle the rest… this massacre is my burden to carry."

"I'm not some slagging powerless princess over here. Find me an opening and I’ll blow Mega-stink to smithereens," Rattrap complained, but he listened for once. Rattrap may have been a skilled spy, but Dinobot was a warrior . When there wasn't a team to organize, when the plan was just fight and win , Dinobot was a force to be reckoned with.

After figuring out where Rampage and Waspinator were, Dinobot ran and jumped off the cliff behind them, using his rotate blade as a propeller to glide down while he shot at Rampage. Waspinator managed to sneak a shot at his hand and his sword fell to the ground, filling Rattrap with dread. He started shooting at Waspinator, who had no idea where this new enemy was coming from and was easily taken out. Dinobot took the injured Waspinator and stuffed him into Rampage's cannons right before he fired, the impact sending Dinobot flying into the cliffside, but putting both the Predacons out of commission. With great effort, he picked himself himself up, just in time for Quickstrike to hop down and greet him with a, “Yee-haw!” and a blast that knocked him down and made him struggle just to sit back up.

Dinobot snarled. "Excellent. The final Predacon standing between me and Megatron delivers himself so carelessly into my presence."

Quickstrike just laughed. “Don’t bother gettin’ up. I’ll just kick ya while you’re down.” Dinobot activated his green laser eyes, but they only pushed Quickstrike back by a few steps before malfunctioning. Dinobot pushed himself up with a pained grunt.

“Warning – systems failing.”

Quickstrike smirked. “So, what’s a warrior without weapons, eh?”

Dinobot met his eyes with a sharp glare. “A warrior still.”

Unexpectedly, instead of seeking a weapon, he used his fists to wham Quickstrike on the head multiple times, before picking him up and throwing him against a boulder headfirst. He didn’t move again, and Dinobot made a satisfied grunt as he prepared to move on to his final target.

“Warning – power reserves 70% depleted. Stasis lock commencing.”

“Override,” he grumbled.

The alert shut down, and Dinobot looked up to the sight of movement. Megatron stepped out from behind a boulder, but he wasn't alone. Dinobot felt a prick of rage run through him at the sight of Rattrap’s feet dangling in the air, reaching for his throat which Megatron was raising him into the air by.

"Megatron."

“You were foolish to come here with so little protection, Dinobot. Especially with only this worthless pest for backup.” Megatron crunched Rattrap’s throat between his claws, the jagged metal cutting deep, causing the latter to cry out in pain as sparks shot out from his exposed circuits. Dinobot growled.

“Let the rodent go, Megatron.”

“Why would I?” the Predacon leader asked simply. “I’ve learned in the past that you are far too willing to put a stop to any conquest for the sake of your fellow Maximals. Even if it means giving up your chance to participate in my path to unimaginable glory. Or… will you step forward, if it means his demise?” Megatron took a step backward. “Your decision, Dinobot.”

“G-Give him a taste of what’s what, Dino– gyaaaaaaah!” Sharp teeth once again chowed down on his throat. His optics went offline for a moment as pain coursed through him, and across the field, Dinobot could hear Rattrap’s sensors flashing, the warning that immediate repairs were necessary. That infernal rodent! He'd told him, the golden disc was worth more than their lives!

But now that he was in the same position he'd found himself in several moons ago, the golden disc in Megatron's clutches and Rattrap as well, and the decision of life or death his to make, Dinobot knew just as he had then, that his choice had been made for him.

He would so easily give up his own life for the disc, for the valley, without a second thought. But he would never trade Rattrap's, not in a million megacycles. And unfortunately, Megatron knew it.

“What are your demands?!” Dinobot snapped. Rattrap shot him a look of disbelief.

“My demands? Oh, Dinobot, why would you think there's any reason to keep you alive? My demand is that you stand there, and let me execute you for the traitor that you are. Yes.”

Rattrap shook his head, hands reaching up to claw out of Megatron's grasp, but there was no budging. Dinobot growled and stood his ground. "As you wish."

"H-Hey!" Rattrap shouted, eyes flickering with rage. "Don't you dare do this, you – you – wretched raptor, you – you Pit-fueled piece of slag –"

"Silence, rodent, and put yourself in stasis lock."

"You’re twisting my wires if you think for one second–"

Megatron pointed his gun at the velociraptor with a smug grin, and Rattrap’s words died in his throat. "How positively Maximal of you. You were weakened before you started, Dinobot – weakened by compassion."

"No. My weakness… was the question of my loyalty." Dinobot met Rattrap's eye, and gave him a rare smile. "And now, I will redeem my honor with the only offering I have left to give."

"Choppuhface, you sorry slice of slag, remember what boss monkey said? That ain't the Maximal way!"

"Silence!" Megatron snapped, and the next time he squeezed his claws around Rattrap's throat, they left holes that started to leak energon. The rat shuddered, his body beginning to spasm as the wires inside him tore open.

" Rattrap !" Dinobot screeched.

"Warning – stasis lock imminent.”

Rattrap was the one to smile then, the look oddly out of place, and putting Dinobot even further on edge. "Ya know, Dinoboob, I gotta admit it at this point – pal, you are one true Maximal." He let out a low chuckle. Dinobot wasn't quite sure why, until Megatron frowned.

"What is that incessant beeping?"

Dinobot realized it the moment Rattrap's warm eyes met his. He was charging forward before he could stop himself, thinking, no, no, no! This can't be happening, what a blasted fool !

The beeping of the bomb Rattrap had somehow planted on Megatron sped up, until finally the Predacon leader realized what had been done. He squeezed Rattrap's windpipes once more for good measure, then tossed him out of his way so he could frantically search for the bomb before it detonated. He screamed in frustration when he found it had been planted on the golden disc.

Rattrap was offline before Dinobot could scoop him up. He lifted the small bot off the ground as gently as he could, putting a hand over his neck to contain the energon that was still leaking out, and comforted himself in the realization that Rattrap had just entered stasis lock. He would survive, as long as he received medical attention as soon as possible. Now all Dinobot had to do was get them to safety.

He took a single step before the explosion rocked his world. He held Rattrap close to his chest, shielding him from the impact as golden shards shattered all around him, and just as the sound of Optimus’s voice shouted off in the distance, Dinobot’s world faded to black.

Chapter Text

When Dinobot felt himself come back online to the sound of gentle distant voices and the familiar low hum of the Maximal’s ER chamber, he felt content to remain there for a while longer, indulging in the security of the Maximal base. Only a few times prior had he ever found himself waking up in this chamber, and each time, there was a matter of necessity forcing him out as soon as possible. However, his victory lay at the forefront of his mind. His honor had been restored; the golden disc had been destroyed, and the predecessors of the human race had been protected. Each of the Predacons was far too damaged to launch any attack in the near future, and his own life had clearly been spared, thanks to the quick reinforcements from the other Maximals. There was nothing to fear, nothing to regret, and for the first time since he could remember, Dinobot felt truly at peace.

It took him a while to notice that the voices had stopped. When he opened his eyes, the only Maximal he saw in the room was Cheetor, sitting on one of the spinning chairs and staring at a monitor with his head in his hands. Dinobot could imagine the pout upon the young cat’s face, and let out an unconscious snort. Cheetor glanced over his shoulder, meeting his eye, and the youngest Maximal’s face lit up with glee. He came over and opened the door to the chamber.

“Dinobot, you’re back! Good to see ya back in gear, lizard face. What’s shakin’ bacon?”

Ah. Cheetor and his strange linguistics. A strangely soothing feeling surrounded his spark upon hearing the younger bot’s voice, so light-hearted and yet so dense.

“I see Primal is not here to express his gratitude or frustration for my actions.”

“Nah, big bot and Rhinox wanted some fresh air, and they figured we wouldn’t be under attack for a while, so they told us to trust Sentinel and take a cat nap.” Cheetor didn’t look too pleased about that. He was always itching for action, almost more so than Dinobot himself. “Optimus is going to go check on the humans and make sure Megatron didn’t leave them any other surprises since the last time, and Rhinox is doing the perimeter for once.”

“Well, it is the least likely time for an attack,” Dinobot supposed. “And so, why aren’t you in recharge right now?”

“Oh…” Cheetor scratched the back of his head. “I, uh… I just remembered how freaked out you were when you came out of the ER chamber the first time–"

Dinobot growled. "Do not bring it up again, Cheetor."

"Okay, okay, sorry!" Cheetor paused, giving him a sheepish smile. “But anyway, I – I thought you’d feel better if you woke up to someone who’s really not capable of – you know –” Capable of torture. Dinobot felt anger flicker at the idea of someone like Cheetor wasting his pity on him, but dialed it back with a careful exhale. He still didn’t feel quite even with the Maximals just yet, regardless of how the battle over the golden disc concluded. He’d still made far too many shameful errors, and he still didn’t know what was to come next for him, whether Optimus was going to punish him after all; he didn’t want to lose his temper so soon after his attempt at redemption, especially when the young Maximal clearly meant no ill will.

“Thank you, Cheetor. Now, would you give me space to leave this chamber?”

“Oh! Right! Sorry!” Cheetor backed away, letting Dinobot exit the chamber. He stretched out his limbs; everything felt connected and flexible, and not a piece of scorched metal to be seen. The ER chamber did certainly work wonders.

“... So, uh, how are you doing?” the young cheetah asked. Dinobot was already growing weary of this conversation.

“I am restored to full health, as is the purpose of the chamber. For what purpose are you asking me these silly questions?”

“I mean, mentally, too.” Dinobot scowled, and Cheetor lowered his eyes. “I… really look up to you, ya know. I just wanna make sure you’re okay.”

Dinobot sighed, closing his eyes. He knew where this praise was coming from – his own weakness. He resolved himself neither to accept it nor to appear agitated over it; it would not be honorable. "You have better Maximals to look up to."

Cheetor laughed. "What, like Rattrap ?"

Dinobot tensed, suddenly wanting to hit his head against a stone slab for his pure idiocy. How could he have forgotten ? “Rattrap. Where is he?” he demanded. Rattrap had also been injured out in the field with him, with wounds which Dinobot did not think were mortal at the time, but which he could not be sure of, since anything could have happened after the putrid rat’s explosives detonated. If anything had happened to Rattrap– because of him –

“Aww, you worried ‘bout me, Dino-boob?”

Dinobot glowered at the rat leaning against the corner wall intersecting the central command room and the hallway. His body looked good as new, not the slightest scrape to be seen. The smug look on his face made him regret feeling any sort of concern for the rodent.

“What a shame. I’d gotten up my hopes that you’d been scooped up by a spider for suppertime,” he sneered.

“Ain’t no way. Ask the kid; Tarantulas ain’t got nothin’ on me!”

Cheetor perked up. “That’s true! Rattrap was like a superspy that one time, when he saved me from –”

“I seem to recall a different story, in which a certain rat needed outside forces to prevent him from becoming food on the spot.” Dinobot didn’t spare Cheetor even a glance anymore, his head arched downward to meet Rattrap’s confrontational stare, the rat’s neck tilted back and grin unrestrained. It was as if Cheetor wasn’t even in the room. Just another typical Dinobot-Rattrap battle, but lacking the hostility of long ago. There was much more beneath the surface now, far more fond feelings than any of them could have predicted before.

“You wish! I coulda handled that on my own.”

“Oh, naturally. Which is why you weren’t calling for my assistance.”

Rattrap scoffed. “Oh, shuddup, scalebelly, who was it who woulda gotten himself slagged without this guy’s help last night?”

“Better one of us go than I have to deal with your horrendous scent another cycle.”

“Nah, you love it, chopperface!” Rattrap replied, jabbing his pointer up at his face. Dinobot growled, reaching down to pull the rat’s servo down.

“Drop dead, vermin,” he snarled, but he hadn’t let go. Cheetor, who turned back to the monitors for a nano click, was oblivious to the odd behavior between his teammates. Rattrap’s fingers squeezed Dinobot’s briefly, and when Cheetor turned around again, Rattrap’s hands were planted on his own waist as he let loose another insult, while Dinobot was pretending to reach for his sword out of rage.

Cheetor just smiled as he listened to Dinobot and Rattrap’s never-ending back-and-forth, the once-insults now a sort of playful banter, signaling that all was well. Cheetor didn’t mind not getting any of their attention, at least for now. He was just happy they were all okay.

Chapter Text

The rest of the day passed as normal, with Dinobot and Cheetor observing the monitors while Rattrap played some virtual card game and made fun of Dinobot’s lack of education. (“Even Cheetor knows what a jack is!” “Yet does Cheetor know of Shakespeare?” he’d retaliated.)

By the time Optimus and Rhinox returned from patrol, Dinobot and Rattrap had sunk deep into their usual banter and forgotten all the danger they’d just been in. Rattrap turned to greet Optimus when he walked in the room, but his grin quickly fell as he caught the stern glare both maximals were giving him.

“Big bot! You’re back!” Cheetor greeted cheerfully. He was ignored.

“Dinobot. Rattrap. I’m glad to see you two are doing well.” Optimus raised an eyebrow. “And I suppose you had a good reason for heading off on your own?”

Rattrap looked sheepish. “Well – you never said it’d be wrong to go for a little stroll.”

Optimus pinned him with a knowing glare. “Four sectors away from base is not ‘just a little stroll’.” Rattrap wilted. “And don’t think I don’t know what you were planning, Dinobot. I’m very disappointed in both of you. You both know full well you could have died, and had you just waited–”

“Had we waited, history may have been altered, and all would be lost,” Dinobot growled.

Optimus’s eyes flashed. “So you say. Dinobot, I’d like to speak with you alone.”

Dinobot sighed. He knew what this conversation was going to be, and his body felt exhausted at just the thought of it.

Cheetor looked between the two of them. “Maybe you could do it tomorrow instead?” he said sheepishly.

Both bots looked startled by the suggestion. To Dinobot’s surprise, Optimus didn’t berate Cheetor for his presumptuous interruption, but rather, he nodded in agreement. “Very well. We’ll talk tomorrow, then. Rest up. The Predacons are up to something.”

“Sheesh, when are they not? Schemin’ insufferables, all of ‘em,” Rattrap complained.

“I know a guy like that,” Cheetor joked.

***

Rhinox settled into monitor duty soon after his return, and with nothing more commanded of him, Dinobot knew he was expected to head back to his room to recharge. He didn't feel like he deserved rest, but that was non-negotiable, apparently. Rhinox kept glancing back at him and huffing every few minutes, to the point that even Rattrap was getting fidgety.

“Alright, alright, I will leave!” Dinobot snapped when Rhinox finally crossed his arms and spun around in his chair to stare at him. Rhinox nodded satisfactorily, returning his attention to the monitors as Dinobot stormed down the hall to his room.

Rattrap followed him – either planning to retreat to his own room, or to make sure Dinobot made it to his. But when he activated the door to his room, Rattrap made a hesitant squeak.

“Speak up, vermin.”

“I, uh…”

Dinobot closed his eyes with a snarl. “I assure you I am not going offline tonight. Allow me to recharge properly or I will not be able to make the same promise tomorrow.”

“Yeah, but I–”

“Rattrap!” came Optimus's voice from further down the hall, and the rat hesitated before seeming to give up on whatever he meant to communicate.

“Well, whatever. Sleep tight, choppuhface.” Rattrap followed his leader’s call, but Dinobot caught him glancing back a couple times. He was still on edge, and Dinobot wondered how long it would be before Rattrap acted like himself again.

Dinobot sighed to himself. Because of his mistake, these maximals were sure to be terribly mushy and overly cautious with him for a long time. He despised it, but he had to accept it as part of his punishment.

***

Apparently, plenty of action occurred while Dinobot was in recharge. He reactivated once at the sound of the base's alarms going off, and hurried out of his room and down the hall toward the sound of the chaos. He met up with the other maximals underneath a new hole in the ceiling.

“Yet another hole we have to fix,” Rhinox complained. “Which means another hole I have to fix.”

“Silverbolt can take care of this one when he gets back,” Optimus replied, his face darkening. “This one is his fault, after all.”

Dinobot glanced between them. “What in the Inferno is going on here?!”

“Dinobot.” He could practically see the calculations happening within the Maximal leader's helm. “... You stay here. You need to recharge in peace, and I think the base will be secure now.”

“Secure? You call this secure?” He gestured toward the hole in the ceiling. “How did this even occur? And how am I to recharge with all this noise?!”

“Turn off your audial sensors,” Rhinox suggested. “I'll go override the alarm. But Optimus, that protoform shouldn’t be left on its own.”

“Yes, I'm aware. Cheetor, with me.” Optimus turned to point a finger in Dinobot's face. “And you. Recharge. That's an order .”

Oh how he hated those three words.

***

When Dinobot supposed he'd finally gotten the proper amount of recharge for Primal's ridiculous standards, he risked leaving his room and went to the monitors. He noticed Silverbolt in the ER chamber and both Optimus and Rattrap sifting around the monitors.

Optimus looked up at the sound of his pedes. “Dinobot. You are well-rested?”

“As much as I suppose I can be.”

“Good.” He stood up. “Rattrap, keep an eye on the monitors. Comm me if you need anything.” He ignored Rattrap's worried look and nodded to Dinobot. “Let's go for a walk.”

***

Optimus didn’t seem concerned about the two of them taking a walk alone outside of the base, despite the concerning damage done to it earlier, for reasons no one had explained to him quite yet, but Dinobot wouldn’t question him. He couldn’t stand being confined to the base any longer, and the quiet wilderness had always been appealing to him – not in the same way it had appealed to Tigatron and Optimus, with their soft sparks, but in its inherent cruelty and chaos. He enjoyed the warm strength of the sunshine over his scales, and the way the wind forced trees and flowers to bend to its will. It was peaceful, yes, but not because of some notion of purity – its beauty was a feral one, and it was out here that he felt no question as to his place.

“I was worried about you,” Optimus admitted, only breaking the silence once they were miles away from the base. “I know things have been difficult for you here. I know you’ve had to adapt to our ways, and I know we haven’t given you the easiest time doing it. But I hope you know that when we say we care about you, we’re not just saying empty platitudes. We’ve gotten to know you over the past few decacycles, and you’ve become like family to us. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve earned your place here, and you shouldn’t have to feel like this isn’t your home, and that we can’t be trusted to carry your burdens. You don’t need to suffer alone here.”

Family. That word was too kind to apply to him, after all his betrayals.

As if Optimus could hear his inner thoughts, he continued on. “Remember, Dinobot, I am the leader of the Maximals. I determine the consequences for your transgressions. You don’t need to keep punishing yourself over something that’s over and done with. It’s time to move on.”

Dinobot cast his eyes toward the setting sun in the distance. “I… do not believe it is that simple, Primal.”

Optimus chuckled. “I thought you would say that. Here. Look.”

Dinobot glanced down and realized they were approaching a familiar garden. “A nature trip again? Is my true punishment to be attacked by primitive flora?”

“That depends on your behavior,” Optimus joked. They stopped in front of the plants. Dinobot side-eyed one of the ones that had attacked him in the past, but Optimus smiled down at one of the harmless breeds.

“You helped save life like this,” Optimus said, cupping the purple flower petals. “Megatron would have allowed the Predacons to burn down the forests, eliminating life as fragile and beautiful as these. Not just the humans, but the entire ecosystem of this planet has you to thank. And every day, we continue to fight not only for our lives and values, but also for that of this world, which does not deserve to suffer from our warfare. Every day you remain here, Dinobot, is another day you can preserve what makes life worthwhile.”

“... I suppose, that is a task worth honoring.”

“It is indeed.” Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder. “You did well, my friend. But please, don't make it a habit. And don't leave us too soon. Remember, I'm always here for you.”

“You Maximals are pitifully soft,” Dinobot grumbled.

“ We Maximals, Dinobot.” He squeezed his shoulder with a smile. “ We .”

Chapter Text

There was apparently far more to the story of that hole through the ceiling of the Axalon, and Silverbolt’s involvement in it, than Dinobot had expected. Apparently, one of the Maximal stasis pods had crash landed and the protoform inside was deformed. Silverbolt – and apparently Rampage as well – had been protective over the new transformer, but it had only lasted a day before being destroyed trying to prevent conflict between the two.

Dinobot had to admit, he didn’t know much about the new fuzor who had joined them only a few days ago. Nor did he have much particular interest in learning more – he seemed rather idiotic, possibly even more so than Cheetor , a literal child . He wouldn’t have ever approached him for idle conversation, nor would he have gone to comfort him, preferring to give him respectful space to grieve.

So, with all of this in mind, he was quite surprised to hear Silverbolt knocking for entry into his quarters, not even a full 24 hours following Transmutate’s demise.

“You may enter.”

The door opened. The fuzor’s wings curled inwards so he could fit in the doorway. “Er… Dinobot. I… apologize for the sudden intrusion.”

“You may move beyond the door frame and get straight to your point.”

Silverbolt awkwardly entered, his optics curiously tracing the room, though Dinobot hadn’t done much decorating. He cleared his throat, and Silverbolt’s ears dropped.

“I… wanted to speak with you, about Transmutate.”

Dinobot gave him a curious look. “That would not be a very long conversation. I did not even know of its existence until… afterwards.”

“Yes… They did not get the chance to truly experience the joys this world has to offer.” He wilted, lost in his thoughts for a moment. “But… I thought that, of everyone here, you would have understood them the most.”

“Oh?” From what little Dinobot had heard about the creature’s time at the Maximal base, it did not seem a very flattering comparison.

“Transmutate was constantly being pulled in two directions. I believe Rampage and I both meant well in… helping them feel the bonds of friendship. Alas, we were the ones that, in making them choose, literally tore them to pieces.”

“If you mean this to be an analogy, it is a flawed one. Unless you are claiming there is no difference between the Maximals and the Predacons?”

“That is not what I mean.” Silverbolt sighed. “You have been pulled in too many directions, and treated poorly on both sides. We are responsible for making you feel as though you had no other choice. I do not want the conflicts between your past and present to… make you go down the same path as Transmutate.”

“You are not responsible for my actions. Not any of you are, and certainly not you , for as little as you’ve been here.”

“I don’t need to have been here long to know right and wrong,” Silverbolt replied, but it was the wrong choice of words, and he knew it as soon as he spoke them. He winced. “I – I mean –”

“No, you are correct. It should not have been as difficult a journey as it was for me to find my place.”

“No. That is not what I meant.” Silverbolt’s words were fierce and with startling conviction. “I know what it is like to not know where you belong. Granted, it took me less time to figure it out, but that is because I don’t have the long history you do with them. And it is not like I do not feel… a kinship with the Predacons.”

Dinobot rolled his eyes. He’d certainly been made aware of this one detail of the fuzor’s intimate life. Rattrap never shut up about it. “Yes, of course, we’ve all noticed that the female spider seems to have caught your attention.”

“... I meant Quickstrike.” Dinobot’s confusion was anticipated, and Silverbolt sighed.  “I was, in a way, created alongside him. His morals are inexcusable, his language deplorable, and yet, part of me wishes he could have come here with me. Perhaps we could have helped him… perhaps he would have turned out different. I find it difficult to face him in combat without any hesitation. And I admire your ability to face your former comrades as easily as you do.”

“A warrior must steel themselves against such feelings; a single moment’s weakness could be the end in a combat situation. But, I suppose the other Maximals would not feel the same way… as long as you are willing to defend your team over your opponents.”

“I will,” Silverbolt said seriously.

“Even in the case of the spider?”

He flinched. “Why do you keep bringing her up?”

“You mention Quickstrike, but I have seen you fight against him. Your weakness does not lie in him. Your weakness lies in that treacherous widow, and whether she will make you question your loyalties.”

“I will never question my loyalty to the Maximals,” Silverbolt said with determination Dinobot wished he could share. “I could never be a Predacon, and I will never become one for any reason. … However, I think Lady Blackarachnia would make a fine Maximal someday.”

Dinobot snorted. “You may continue dreaming.”

“Anyway – that’s not what I wanted to talk with you about. I just want you to know, I trust you, and I think you should trust in your own decision-making, because in my opinion, you’ve proven yourself to be a Maximal through and through.”

“I… appreciate the thought in your coming here.” He had no doubt Silverbolt meant well, and he could almost see where the fuzor was coming from, but there was just so much he could never understand. Still. The fuzor was grieving, and for him to come to Dinobot bearing an olive branch during this time… he had an emotional strength that Dinobot could only respect. “I will reflect on your words. But I ask that you leave. You should still be in recharge, and I am sure Optimus will not be pleased that you are here instead of in your berth.”

“Ahh… yes. Good point.” Silverbolt took a bow before backing towards the door. “Then I will take my leave. I will see you tomorrow, Dinobot.”

‘And we will see what new challenges tomorrow brings,’ Dinobot thought to himself. Lately, every new obstacle seemed to have greater risks than before, every failure far more devastating, the war turned darker and more desperate. He had no idea how many tomorrows he had left in him. But he hoped to live up to the expectations and trust of his comrades for as many as he remained active.

Chapter Text

Dinobot was a proud, courageous warrior of honor, and he did not fidget. He did not fear much in his life, and he was not one to appear nervous in front of others.

However, being completely alone in the base with Rhinox seemed a valid excuse.

Dinobot never spoke much to Rhinox. If he were being completely honest with himself, he was… mildly intimidated by the other Maximal. Though, in his defense, even Megatron himself could be intimidated by Rhinox. It wasn’t just his size and strength, or the fact that his weapon had seemingly unlimited ammo and wasted no time firing, or his undeniable intellect and usefulness to his team – quite simply, his glare alone was enough to make you freeze in your tracks. Rhinox was a force to be reckoned with, and Dinobot did his best to avoid him rather than get on his bad side.

That being said, Rhinox had every right to be frustrated with him after nearly getting his best friend Rattrap killed twice . (Rattrap didn’t have to follow him that second time, but still, he couldn’t deny it was his fault the rat had gotten so close to permanent loss of spark.) He knew he could only avoid Rhinox for so long, and today his luck finally ran out. Dinobot had been commanded to remain in the monitoring room with him until the others got back to base, so he had no choice but to sit there silently, his servos trembling lightly in dread of the moment he was spoken to.

And, unfortunately, he was spoken to, after cycles of silence.

“You know, from what Rattrap told me, Megatron ordered you to deactivate him.”

“... He did.” Dinobot wondered warily where he was going with this.

“You would have stayed a Predacon if he hadn’t given you that order?”

“... Yes. It… was not a price I was willing to pay,” he admitted to the floor. Rhinox watched his reaction with narrowed eyes.

“If you’d gone through with it, there would have been no forgiveness for you. You wouldn’t be here right now, and I’d be the one taking you down. You understand that?”

“I do.” He wouldn’t have forgiven himself, either.

“But…” Dinobot looked up, and he noticed Rhinox had a gleam in his eyes. “... since you didn’t, there’s all the forgiveness in the world.” Dinobot must’ve looked confused, because he continued. “That choice, or the fact that it wasn’t even a choice, is what makes you a true Maximal. No matter what you might think.”

He spoke so matter-of-factly, it was hard to argue with him. Dinobot still didn’t entirely believe himself to belong with them, but…

Perhaps he would never be as soft as them, but if what Rhinox was saying was true, if the core of being a Maximal was as simple as the value of a team member… perhaps he was fit to be one after all.

“I will consider your perspective,” he finally said; it was all he was willing to promise.

“View it not as my perspective, but as a fact,” Rhinox suggested, and Dinobot chuckled, though it sounded more like a snarl.

“As you wish.”

If he made a wrong move, a single wrong step, Rhinox could and would crush him. He found himself comforted by that knowledge rather than threatened.

“As much as I despise the rat… I will not allow any harm to come unto him,” Dinobot promised. “The same applies for the rest of this team, be it under my control.”

“As long as you are under control the next time Megatron offers you a second chance–”

“I will offer him my life before I offer him my service,” Dinobot sneered.

“We don’t want you to offer your life,” Rhinox replied.

“... I have come to see that.”

Rhinox chuckled and turned back to the monitors. “Good. Optimus and Cheetor were thinking of staging an intervention if you hadn’t. Full of flowers and balloons–”

“The worst invention to have come of humans,” Dinobot grumbled. “What use are those weak helium ovals.”

“I wouldn’t mind the flowers,” Rhinox mused.

Dinobot froze. “Wait. They are not out there right now gathering flowers , are they?”

“Who knows?” From the reflection on the monitor, Dinobot could see him smirking, and he did not like that one bit.

“Great,” Dinobot hissed. “I would like permission to retreat to my quarters, then, to barricade myself in before they return.”

“Eh, you can go,” Rhinox replied, returning his view to the monitors and waving him off. “As long as you’re in the base and supervised, Optimus won’t care. Besides, I’ve already got sensors in place if you decide to do anything stupid again. So, don’t .”

Dinobot wanted to ask what sort of sensors he meant, and how Rhinox intended to supervise him while he was in his quarters, but decided against it. He would take this as an odd form of unwarranted kindness from the rhinoceros and think no deeper into it.

As Dinobot hurried down the hall, unsure of how much time he had left to lock himself in, Rhinox huffed in amusement, and sent Optimus a comm requesting daisies on his way back.

***

The next time the Maximals and the Predacons faced off against one another, it was an all-out battle. Every Predacon had charged the Maximal base intending to unleash as much destruction as possible, so every Maximal was outside with guns blazing to defend their home. Even Sentinel was online, shooting at the pesky fliers who tried to attack from behind.

Dinobot noticed Tarantulas’s aim shift from Cheetor to something above him. He looked up and caught sight of the tipping boulder. His body moved instantly.

“Cheetor! Move!” he snapped, charging forward, his eyes glowing green. Tarantulas fired, and the boulder dropped. Cheetor began to leap out of the way; Dinobot fired at the boulder, splitting it into smaller chunks that rained down. Cheetor managed to dodge all but one, which only knocked him off his feet for a few moments. He shook himself off, then looked gratefully toward Dinobot.

“Thanks, Dino–!”

“We are still in battle, Cheetor!” he snapped.

“Right! Sorry!” Cheetor hid behind cover and started gauging the positions of the other Predacons again. Dinobot glared at Tarantulas’s hiding spot, but the spider was no longer there – or, at least, no longer in plain sight. Dinobot ducked behind cover and started searching for blind spots, or weaknesses in his team’s position. That was where the crafty spider would be most likely to plant himself.

“Looking for someone?” came a voice by his ear, and suddenly his arms were locked to his sides, squeezed in close. He lost his grip on his weapons as he felt himself dragged backward. He fought to move his arms but they could not break free. A rugged chuckle reached his audio receptors and he realized Tarantulas was not alone.

“I see you’ve brought me a snack,” Rampage said, his voice one of murderous glee.

“Feast quick. This one is cunning, and we have more Maximals to destroy!” Tarantulas laughed before sneaking off again. Dinobot focused his energy into his eye lasers, but then Rampage was throwing him around like a ragdoll, slamming his body into the dirt and then the rock formation they were taking cover behind. He didn’t have the time to focus his blast, and the energy was taking too much out of his body. Dinobot felt the crackle of his spark as Rampage took his arm and started to twist–

“Alright you sicko, let go of my pal.” The click of a gun to the back of Rampage’s head, the crab-like monster kneeling beside Dinobot’s short-circuiting body. Rampage put his hands over Dinobot’s spark.

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that, rodent. It’ll take a lot more than a few blasts to take me out, and only two right hits to dislodge his spark department. Maybe I can cut out a chunk of his and replace it with mine, how about that?”

Rattrap’s eyes narrowed, but his finger didn’t move from the trigger. Suddenly two feet landed right beside Dinobot’s head, and both he and Rampage looked up at the looming figure of Rhinox. “You were saying?” Rhinox asked, his voice dangerously light. Rampage hardly had time to move before a rock was slammed onto his head. His grip on Dinobot loosened as he collapsed onto the ground.

Dinobot sat up and rolled his shoulder back, before trying to move his arm. It seemed to function fine, despite the searing pain that had suggested a worse injury. He met Rhinox’s optics and grunted, a silent thanks. Rhinox nodded, then disappeared around the rocks to continue firing on the Predacons.

Dinobot watched him go, briefly wondering why they both bothered coming to his aid, when there were plenty of other Predacons to fight. Then he reminded himself that this was just what they did. It was the key component that differentiated themselves from the Predacons – that showed that he was not a Predacon anymore.

Rattrap was now looking at him strangely.

“You hit your head or somethin’, Choppuhface? We’re in the middle of a battle here!” He leaned out from behind the cover to shoot toward Inferno, then turned back. “No time for dilly-dallying.” He extended a hand, and for once, Dinobot took it gratefully.

***

“Bzzzzzzz… izzz there something different about theezze Maximalzzz?” Waspinator asked curiously, just a click before Cheetor managed to shoot him right in the face.

“Like what? Those darn bots look just as pitiful as ever!” Quickstrike laughed.

“Who cares?” Blackarachnia asked, with a dignified ‘hmph’ as she fired toward Dinobot while he was distracted by Inferno. “We’ll put them offline!”

“Not today, Madam,” Silverbolt declared boldly, gliding down between them before she could land a solid hit. Dinobot watched her face contort with rage and couldn’t help chuckling, before he returned his focus to protecting Optimus from Inferno’s attempts to shoot his way into his and Megatron’s aerial showdown.

‘I will protect them, and they will protect me,’ Dinobot thought to himself.

This was what it meant to be a Maximal.