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Bumblebee knew he wouldn’t win that race.
But he frankly didn’t think that the race would even begin with how many G.H.O.S.T agents had their eyes on him and him alone during the entire thing. He was suspicious that they didn’t bother with him, but they didn’t, so he was glad of that.
The point was, Bumblebee didn’t get caught by G.H.O.S.T and he had also lost the race, which meant he owed something to Breakdown.
So, when all the agents had filtered out, Bumblebee transformed and quickly took off his energon suppressor with fumbling digits, holding it out to Breakdown as he transformed, “Here, you won. It’s yours.” Bumblebee insisted, and Breakdown took it into his servos and inspected it a few times over, then glanced up towards the stands where Dorothy and Alex stood, talking with each other with relived looks on their faces.
“A family, huh?” Breakdown said as he held the suppressor like it held the secrets to all of Cybertronian knowledge. Bumblebee looked to the Malto couple and slowly nodded, a small smile on his face plate as he was assured of their safety.
Breakdown turned the suppressor in his servos a few more times before holding it back out to Bumblebee with a smirk. Bumblebee took it with a small bit of surprise, “You’re protecting people, I’m going around the globe and racing. You need it more.” Breakdown insisted as Bumblebee held it tightly.
”You took the offer, even though we both know you wouldn’t win.” Breakdown began, and Bumblebee nodded along, “But you’re a reckless fool, and you will continue racing across the globe.” Bumblebee tightened his servo over the suppressor with an ex-vent.
”And you’re going to run off again.” Breakdown nodded solemnly, and Bumblebee hung his helm, “Maybe we can just hang out for the night? Introduce you to the family?” Bumblebee offered, a small and tired smile on his face as he extended the offer with an open servo.
Breakdown looked down at his servo before a smile broke his face plate and he took the servo, “For the night.” Bumblebee felt a warmth in his spark, looking back up at Dorothy and Alex.
The ride to the Malto family farm, was quieter than Bumblebee thought it’d be. He and Breakdown exchanged a few quips, and Dorothy and Alex remained quiet for the most part, content smiles on their faces.
Pulling into the farm, however, was hectic.
The second he transformed, Bumblebee was hit with several terrans and children, straight to the ground as they all cheered about him being okay and not being captured by G.H.O.S.T.
Bumblebee gave Breakdown a dead stare as Breakdown snickered at his predicament. That turned the Kids attention straight to Breakdown, climbing off Bumblebee as they went to greet the newcomer.
”You were racing against Bumblebee.” Mo said, sitting atop Thrash’s shoulders as Thrash hummed and nodded, “Yeah, and he beat Bumblebee.” Robby added on, looking up at Breakdown with what could only be described as a childish curiosity.
”Bee could never beat me.” Breakdown said cockily as Bumblebee glared at him, though there was a persistent smile on his face as he did.
”Because he never beats-“ Robby began, and most of the kids, along with Breakdown, repeated the time they’d all seen, “3.36.” Bumblebee dug his helm into his servos with a deep ex-vent as the kids laughed.
”Maybe one day, but not anytime soon.” Breakdown teased as Bumblebee grumbled and groaned at the teasing, “Aw, c’mon Bee, we’re just teasing.” Twitch laughed as she hovered over to Bumblebee, patting his shoulder, “You’ll always be our favourite racer.” She insisted as Bumblebee smiled.
”So, who are you?” Robby asked, and quickly followed up with, “I’m Robby.” He held out a small hand, and Breakdown shook the small hand with a smile, “Breakdown, nice to meet Bee’s family.” The kids immediately turned to Bumblebee as Bumblebee pulled a cringe.
”Aw, you do love us!” Hashtag laughed as Bumblebee nodded, rolling his optics at the kids, “And I’m Hashtag, btw!” Hashtag introduced with finger guns, a large smile on her face.
“I’m Thrash, and this is Mo.” Thrash pointed to the sleepy kid on his shoulders as she lazily waved, a smile on her face, “It’s nice to meet you.” She greeted as she rested her head against Thrash’s.
The more nervous of the Terrans stood, twiddled with his digits, looking up and down Breakdown as he got an introduction to all the other Malto kids, “My names Jawbreaker.” Breakdown looked at the nervous Terran, who looked much like a protoform.
”And I’m Nightshade. My pronouns are They/Them.” Nightshade introduced, a curious look on their face as they inspected Breakdown, eyes lingering on the Decepticon badge on Breakdown’s chassis. Nightshade hummed as they looked at it, and Breakdown got the feeling that these sparklings didn’t much care for the two sides.
Either way, best to clarify, “Ex-Decepticon, don’t follow its ideals much anymore.” Breakdown clarified to the sparkling as Nightshade nodded, their curiosity satiated as they took a few steps back, looking to Bumblebee as Twitch and Hashtag continued to tease him relentlessly.
Bumblebee had his helm buried in his servos, and Breakdown could feel an opportunity, and if he ever passed an opportunity like this, he’d never forgive himself.
”Y’know, you were probably faster when you were smaller.” Bumblebee’s helm snapped up immediately, a dead glare on his face as Breakdown smirked. The sparklings all had a smile on their faces as Breakdown walked up to Bumblebee, wrapping an arm around his friend.
”Used to be barely half my size.” “Oh I was taller than that!” Bumblebee argued, and the kids laughed as Bumblebee glared at them, causing them to scurry away from his fury and embarrassment.
”Not by much, you were maybe…” Breakdown pointed at Twitch, who he hadn’t received the name of quite yet, “Oh, I’m Twitch.“ Twitch smiled.
”About the size of Twitch.” Bumblebee stuttered and fumbled with his words as Breakdown teased him.
”Okay, the size of Thrash.” Bumblebee tilted his helm to the side before ex-venting, “That’s…closer.” The sparklings seemed to be having a field day with this information, with a few huddled around Hashtag a few feet away with small traces of laughter and small glances.
The door to the house opened up and Dorothy poked her head out, looking at her two human children as they practically slept on their feet, “It’s getting late, that’s bed time.” Most of the Sparklings tried to argue, but Mo was asleep on Thrash’s shoulders and Robby was leaning against Jawbreaker as support to keep himself from falling asleep.
Breakdown watched in amusement as the sparklings continued arguing, even as they brought their sleeping siblings into their house and then quickly retreated to the barn.
Breakdown also noticed as Bumblebee watched them all carefully, his once embarrassed but warm expression had shifted into a cold worry as he watched their every movement, as though something would pop out of the forest and take them away.
“Quite a bunch, aren’t they?” Bumblebee nodded absently, and Breakdown frowned, “Worried about them?” Bumblebee was still for a moment before nodding again.
”G.H.O.S.T let me go for some reason, they are insistent on me…and I was right there…” Bumblebee began as his door wings dropped, worry across his expression as he looked to the barn, where it was clear Nightshade occasionally peered their head out.
”They’re planning something. And they would’ve known you were there too.” Bumblebee told him, “Of course I’m worried, what would happen to them if G.H.O.S.T got their hands on me? Or on Them?” Breakdown put a comforting arm around Bumblebee as Bumblebee hung his helm.
”Like they could get through you.” Breakdown joked, but he saw and felt Bumblebee tense at those words. Bumblebee shook his head.
”They’ve taken down many stronger bots and cons alike…” Bumblebee mumbled, bringing a servo to Breakdown’s as he stared ahead, watching as Twitch pulled Nightshade back into the barn to keep them from spying.
”What if they had taken you?” Bumblebee said suddenly, looking at Breakdown, “They had energon scanners, they knew you were there.” Bumblebee told him, and Breakdown took in a deep vent before shrugging.
”As long as you were safe, I don’t think I’d care much.” Breakdown was terrified of G.H.O.S.T. He knew a few other Cybertronians on Earth that shared the same sentiment.
G.H.O.S.T was an organization everyone wanted to hide from, and no one wanted to show their faces around.
Bumblebee looked to the badge on Breakdown’s chassis, then shook his head, “I think I’d care a lot.“ Bumblebee mumbled as he leaned into Breakdown’s touch, “I care about you, Breakdown.” Bumblebee admitted, a small smile on his face as he looked up at…the other mech.
Breakdown looked over Bumblebee’s badge, placing his servo on it and hiding it away, almost hoping to hide away the millions of years that they had lost, “I care about you too, Bee.” A warmth spread through Bumblebee’s chest where Breakdown’s servo was.
Bumblebee swallowed a bit of nervousness and placed his servo over Breakdown’s badge in a similar fashion, feeling a warmth under his servo that caused him to smile as he closed his optics and bowed his head.
”I’ve been looking for you for a long time.” Bumblebee admitted, “You were always gone after the races I did see you in.” Bumblebee mumbled as Breakdown listened and nodded, “No more running then?” He questioned with a smile as Bumblebee laughed gently and shook his heads.
”As long as you say goodbye first.” Bumblebee told him, keeping his hand over the badge. Bumblebee’s door wings lifted a bit, “I…wanted to tell you something.” Bumblebee averted looking into Breakdown’s eyes.
Breakdown hummed in response, letting Bumblebee continue talking as Bumblebee looked away bashfully, “It’s been a long time…I…Breakdown…I…” Bumblebee sighed, looking Breakdown in the eyes.
”I love you.” Bumblebee admitted, and Bumblebee smirked as he seemed to finally beat Breakdown to the point at something, a small split of shock on Breakdown’s face.
Bumblebee was scared for a second that he crossed a boundary, that he had stepped too far ahead and would be thrown right back to the starting line.
Then Breakdown smirked as well, leaning down to press his forehead to Bumblebee’s, “I love you too.”
And, in that second, with that warm and fuzzy feeling, it was just them.
The Terrans weren’t spying on them with hushed whispers, G.H.O.S.T wasn’t plotting anything behind their backs, it was just them and the silent sky overhead.