Chapter Text
“Soundwave”
”Starscream”
The seeker opens his mouth then closes it again, baffled by what he’s looking at. For a moment he was almost sure that all those times Megatron used him as a punching bag finally caught up to him. He put his servos together as he took a deep inhale “What in Primus name is that”
He stare down at the human toddler who’s crawling on Soundwave’s shoulder plate while the bot is asking sure the creature wouldn’t just fall to its death “A human youngling” Soundwave answered in his usual monotone voice
”I know that” Starscream replied back, a bit irritated at the lack of explanation “Why is it here” He clarified
”It was followed me” the other bot answered, of course! Of course it did. That’s why Soundwave is carrying it like it’s another one of his Casseticons. This is the last time Starscream let him go ‘explore’ alone.
”And you let it follow you?” Starscream asked, massaging his helm. “Why— I quite literally can only ask why”
”It was abandoned”
“Why is Soundwave the only one who could bring in stray” Novastorm asked as she took a closer look at the barely a year old, laughing and giggling at her. It’s like the child finds her presence entertaining as if she’s not a giant robot that could crush it with ease.
”Yeah if Soundwave get to keep it, I want to keep that thing we found in the wood” Breakdown joined in
”A boar” Soundwave corrected
”No one is keeping an organic as pets” Starscream interrupted them. Since when is he the responsible one? “Will you use your processor? What do you think would happen if the Autobot found out?” He asked, absolutely hating the fact that he of all bot is worrying about what the Autobot thinks. It feel wrong the moment those words left his voice box.
”Since when do you care?” Skywarp asked the question everyone was thinking
”Since it’s keeping the peace” Starscream replied “and last I checked all of you prefer this over the war and the hiding after the whole situation with G.H.O.S.T. and Mandroid” he added which forced everyone else to agree. Even if there’s some bitterness between the Autobots and Decepticons it’s certainly better than living as runaways with barely enough energon to survive. Besides, even if no cons were willing to admit it, they grow fond of the Terrans and it just feels so nice having some bots looking up to them, it really has been awhile since they had younger bots admire them. Really helps with the ego boost.
“It was abandoned” Soundwave broke the silence. “No caretaker” he added as if that would help his case of keeping the thing— who by the way just been giving Starscream the wide, curious eyes the whole time.
“So? It’s not our problem” Starscream reasoned “Leave it somewhere in human’s town, let someone from its race take care of it” Almost like the baby know what Starscream was saying it started wailing and thrashing its arms around.
Lesson one in adopting a human for Cybertronian, by Cybertronian; Somehow the young ones’ voice box can rival Soundwave’s Sonic canon
“What is wrong with it!?” Starscream asked, raising his voice to be heard over the crying as he cover his audio receptors “Novastorm!” He shouted,assuming she did something since she was tingling with it earlier.
“Oh real mature, blaming me!” Novastorm countered, offended “I didn’t do anything! You’re the one telling it you’re going to leave it!”
“Will either of you just stop it!?” Breakdown asked. Easier said than done, they knew close to nothing about what a human need, much less its infants. Suddenly Soundwave pick the child up and grab Starscream’s servos. He put the baby in his hand and the crying subsided for a moment before it replaced with laughter and clapping hands
“That’s how it ‘followed’ me” Soundwave said as Starscream look at the baby who apparently wanted to get closer to him.
“How long do I have to hold it?” He asked, leaning away from his servo and the child
“Just keep it there— forever if you need to” Skywarp said, glad that the screaming stopped
“I am not holding this thing forever!” Starscream said in almost a panicked. He doesn’t want this— he’s the last not who wanted to keep this thing. But the small creature only giggles as it sit on Starscream’s palm like this was merely a game. “This is why we’re not keeping it!”
“What else could we do without the humans thinking we just kidnapped it?” Novastorm wondered
“I have an idea” Breakdown raised his servo as he grinned. Something tell Starscream we would not like this idea.
.
.
.
“I have so many questions”
“We don’t have the answer either, brother” Breakdown replied as ranger Malto rocked the baby to sleep which fascinated the cons. If they didn’t respect her as an enemy before they at least respect her for that superpower of hers now.
“How about we start with why?” Dot asked, the same way Starscream did earlier.
“Believe me, human. I don’t even think Primus himself knew what processes Soundwave to do what he did” Starscream replied completely done with this whole situation.
“It was abandoned” Soundwave said for the third time that evening
“So…you just…” Hashtag trailed off trying to find a way to ask her question. “You just— pick it up”
“Yes”
“Without future planning”
“Incorrect”
“What was your plan?” Skywarp asked, genuinely curious. Though Soundwave went quiet longer than he usually does which makes the cons skeptical.
“There was one” Yep, just as they all thought. He didn’t think this through at all. It has always been like this with the Cassetticons too but at least with them they know how to take care of it.
“It’s kinda wholesome actually” Jawbreaker shrugged, trying to find the silver lining as he bend down to check the small human.
Dot sighed as she look at the baby “Well she need to be care for” she said, trying to think of the way to deal with this “we can try to find her parents but considering where you found her I…doubt the parents want to be found”
Soundwave’s expression darken slightly at the thought. It was hitting too close to home. He might not care about human, and their insignificance but even then, being abandoned and left alone doesn’t feel nice to any sentient being. “What happen afterward?” He asked
“Well” Dot said as she adjusted the baby in her arms “there’s various options of putting her for adoption, letting the orphanage take care of her” Fora moment the cons were relived until Novastorm just had to ask
“What’s an orphanage?” Twitch asked, looking at her mom
“It’s a place where human child who were abandoned get send to” Bumblebee replied “For one reason or another, usually there’s enough food, water and all things needed for human to grow, and family could even adopted them as their own” He explained
“Though sometimes the orphanage have terrible caretakers or not enough funding” Alex added “so we have to make sure we choose the right one to put her in. Some place that’s not overcrowded, have any bullying or lack the necessities to raise her”
“Overcrowded, bullying, lack of necessity, sound like home before Megatron rises up” Breakdown joked which didn’t help Soundwave’s nerve. When they were working as miners they were fully grown, able to do everything themselves unlike humans. They’re more fragile, more weak and easier to put in harm way without any fail safe at all. Honestly evolution did not helped them in the slightest.
“Another way we could adopt her?” Alex suggested, looking at Dot
“As much as I would love to, we can’t afford to have another child in the house, much less a baby” Dot sighed
The cons didn’t exactly know how else to help. They kinda already did the best they could, it’s not like they could adopt the child themselves— everyone thought except Soundwave
“The child stay” he spoke up suddenly which cause everyone to look at him in shock and confusion “you shall teach us how to care for her” he added, almost like a demand as he knelt down in front of Dot
“Soundwave did you loose a screw?” Starscream asked, wondering if the baby actually broke his audio receptor “You can’t even hold her the way you’re supposed to! You’d crush it!”
“Her”
“Her— whatever that’s not the important part here!” Starscream said in response to Dot’s correction. Right now correct pronouns is not exactly his top concern
Soundwave look at Starscream, letting the Cassetticons pop out of his chest. Frenzy, almost reading Soundwave’s mind walked over to Dot and offer to take the child off her hand. Dot hesitated but she allows her to try with careful instructions and reminder to be gentle and support the neck. The other might be too big to care for her but the Cassetticons could help with that easily.
“Okay stop— paused” Bumblebee spoke up “you all are aware this is insane right?” He asked
“Why? Because we’re Decepticons?” Skywarp mocked
“No because you know nothing about taking care of a human baby— a fragile, fragile human baby”
“Oh” Skywarp exclaimed “actually yeah he got us there”
“You think?” Starscream scoffed “and why are you siding with Soundwave? He gone absolutely insane”
Skywarp shrugged as Starscream sigh and face palmed at his sister ‘reasoning’ “Well” Hashtag spoke up “We took care of Fluffyears” she point out “And We’re constantly around Robbie and Mo”
”Baby, taking care of a human child especially at this age is nothing like taking care of a calf” Dot countered “She is so much more fragile than your siblings”
”There could be a trial to prove they could do it. Like— like— oh what are those thing Robbie had to do for school?” She paused, trying to remember the name of te exercise
”The flour bag exercise?” Mo asked
”Yes!” Hashtag exclaimed “If the decepticons really want to take in the baby I think they should have the chance to prove that they could do it”
“I’m sorry, where is this ‘we’ coming from?” Starscream asked though he seem to be the only one opposing the idea
”I mean we are unbelievably free after the whole Mandroid thing” Novastorm pointed out
”If I do this can I possibly use it as a green card to get that boar” Breakdown joined in
”What’s your fixation on that boar?”
”It's tiny and it tries to headbutt me. I like that energy”
“All of you had gone insane” Starscream said in disbelief. How is he being outvoted, they couldn’t possibly be that bored to want to pick up stray from this wretched planet could they? “Why are you arguing against me?” He asked, turning to Hashtag
“Idunno, Soundwave was being wholesome, I didn’t wanna ruin that” She replied “Beside, if it were me you would’ve took me in…I hope” Starscream could only stared with narrowed optics. Cursed her logic and cursed him for having a soft spot for the young Terran. Finally Starscream gave in and hung his head, accepting his defeat
”If we would do that we have to take every precaution so this child wouldn’t just be it in harm's way” Dot said, knowing that if Starscream of all people lost the battle of will it’s likely she would have very little chance of changing everyone’s mind. “Meaning Megs and Optimus need to be in the know,” the cons saw that coming “And what we say goes. Her safety is the priority, if there’s a chance she could get hurt or her parents come looking for her, we’re pulling the plug”
Soundwave nodded as he thought it over fo a moment “You terms is acceptable”
”Okay” Dot sighed “I can’t believe I’m letting this happen” she said while Alex patted her on the back. Frenzy celebrated almost like how human child would when they found out they’re getting a baby siblings…unfortunately she forgot she was holding said sibling and ended up throwing her into the air, making everyone panicked
”I got her!” Twitch said as she swooped in just in time to catch the baby mid air. There were several sigh of relief and multiple glare at Frenzy who could only say ‘oops’
”We have a lot of work to do” Dot said, already feeling exhausted at the thought of teaching the Decepticons, with their many talents from war strategy, flight to combat and none of it belong in raising a child. But they can try, how hard could it possibly be? The con thought. They have Dot and Alex who are practically a walking guide book. They raised 2 human kids after all.
Lesson two in adopting a human for Cybertronian, by Cybertronian; It is, can and will absolutely be harder than you think. So it is highly ill advised to adopt a child without thinking it through