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Dot often spotted the Terrans training in the yard when she returned from work, just outside of the barn. It was a sight that she had gotten accustomed to since moving to Witwicky. There were so many things she had come across during the move that she never expected- being inducted into G.H.O.S.T, adopting two new mechanoid beings- sometimes she was surprised by how quickly she had adapted.
She parked the car next to the house, and walked over to watch them train. Today, Bumblebee had set up an obstacle course for them to complete. Dot noted a frustration growing within Twitch as her brother outpaced her. The course seemed built specifically for on-foot traversal- Bumblebee likely did it to prepare them both for whatever situations they’d run into- and naturally Thrash had an easier time running through it.
Twitch was always eager to crush the competition, so it made sense to Dot that falling short would frustrate her like this.
Thrash inevitably won the race, circling around the whole setup and gloating about his achievement. Bumblebee went over to congratulate him, giving Twitch space to crawl away from the tires set up at the end of the course. Dot watched in alarm as Twitch’s fists trembled, she gritted her teeth and…
“MOTHERFUCKER!”
The words echoed across the whole farm- honestly, it felt like they echoed across the whole city. Thrash and Bumblebee looked at her in shock.
Dot, however, looked at her with anger.
She marched over, her arms crossed. Twitch looked over at her, wincing, realizing she was in trouble.
“Twitch Malto!” Dot grumbled. “That language is not appropriate! It’s especially not appropriate to say it to your brother!”
Twitch’s shoulders slumped. “Sorry, Mom…”
“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”
Twitch looked over at Thrash with a grimace. “Sorry, Thrash…”
Thrash lifted his arms up in defense. “Hey, it’s cool. I’m not mad.”
Dot set her hands on her hips, frowning at the scene. “Honestly, young lady, where did you learn that kind of language?”
Twitch looked back at her, shrugging meekly. “From you, kinda…”
It was about a week ago. When Twitch was getting back from looking after Fluffy Ears, she spotted Dot and Alex moving some busted-looking furniture out back. Before she had a chance to volunteer and help them, the furniture slipped in Dot’s grasp, hitting her leg near her prosthetic. The pair managed to control it so the furniture didn’t slip and hurt someone’s foot, but Dot still knelt on the ground in pain.
“Urgh, motherfucker!” It had come out as a kind of hiss.
Twitch didn’t remark on it at the time. She was more concerned that her mom was hurt. She hurried over just as Alex took to her side.
“Are you alright, Dottie?” Alex asked.
“I’ll be fine,” Dot winced. “I just need a few minutes.”
“Do you need me to do anything?” Twitch asked. “I can take that old piece of furniture for you if you want.”
Alex helped Dot up. “I’ll take care of Mom. But it would be a great help if you took that old couch for us, yes.”
Twitch took the old couch out back where they directed it. Certain that her mom would be okay, she now had space to mull over the word that Dot had said. She wasn’t sure why that word seemed so strong and harsh when most other words didn’t.
It also sounded kind of cool. Like something you say when you really need everyone to know how mad you are.
It was definitely something Twitch would keep in her back pocket. (Or what counted as her back pocket, anyway.)
Dot lowered her arms, wincing. She remembered the incident, but she didn’t remember saying that word. “You heard that, huh?”
Twitch nodded.
Swearing was a bad habit that Dot had developed back in her army days. After retiring and starting her family, she’d done her best to curb the habit. At the very least, she made sure not to swear in front of her children. That Twitch had heard her…
Bumblebee shrugged. “I honestly don’t know what the problem is. It’s just a word.”
Dot shook her head. “Words have meaning. They can be used to hurt other people. And there are some words meant specifically to do that.”
She hurried up to Twitch and Thrash, grabbing each of their hands. “Listen to me. I don’t want either of you using that kind of language ever again. Got that?”
Twitch and Thrash nodded.
“Alright. I’m glad you understand.”
Twitch suddenly lit up. “Can we make our own swears?”
“Huh?”
“Mo- That word you used before- that was how you described how angry you were. I want to use words like that- but not ‘like’ like that, you know?”
Dot grimaced. “Twitch, you can just say ‘I’m angry’, and people will understand you.”
“Yeah, but I feel like just saying ‘I’m angry’ doesn’t always cut it. I need something stronger.”
Thrash clapped his hands together. “Oh! Oh! How about ‘Gramblegrom’!”
Twitch snapped her fingers at him. “Yeah! That’s great!”
Dot sighed. “Just keep that between yourselves, alright? Don’t use it on other people unless they’re in on it, too.”
“You’ve got it, Mom!” Twitch cheered. “Come on Thrash, let’s go come up with more special swear words!”
Dot and Bumblebee watched them race off together, the animosity from the training course already forgotten. She couldn’t help but smile at it.
Bumblebee gave her a glance. “I still don’t understand the big deal.”
“Bumblebee…”
“I mean, there are worse words for them to use than ‘motherfucker’.”
“And I don’t want them to use those words.”
“...So I guess that means I can’t teach them any Cybertronian swear words, then.”
Dot glared at him.
“...Guess not…”