Work Text:
When a cogless bot isn’t very good at anything, they can easily slip through the cracks until they wind up doing the simple tasks where mistakes don't matter. But when a cogged bot fumbles every job they’re given, people notice. B-127 had bounced between jobs for a while before the Prime himself got involved. He was equally mortified and relieved when Sentinel Prime graciously offered to find the purpose of the poor, useless mech who couldn’t even pass out energon without messing it up.
Turns out, B-127 was made to fight. With laser knives, plasma guns, and a battle mask, how could he be made for anything else? He was apprehensive at first, but he quickly found that not only was he good at fighting, but he liked it. He soon learned that the only thing better than the satisfaction of clearing a drill without a single hit, was doing so in front of his prime.
B-127 zipped around the training room. He had finished off the tracker guards; now he just needed to reach the two laser-mounted drones. He could just use his blasters, but Sentinel Prime was watching, and B wanted to impress. He rolled behind a short wall for cover, and the drones followed to get a better shooting angle. He waited until they were close enough before leaping off the ground, using the wall as a step, and plunging his blades into both drones at once, thoroughly frying everything inside. He landed and let the remains of the drones slide off the plasma.
He nearly let his shoulders droop in exhaustion before he saw a flash of blue and gold in the corner of his vision. Sentinel was already leaving the observation booth to come out into the training room, and B-127 had to be at the door when he made it. Quickly, he picked his way through the bodies to stand in front of the Prime and Airachnid, awaiting judgment.
Sentinel took a moment to observe the carnage B-127 left in his wake. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed. You’re much faster than last time. Good job.”
While he was already running hot from the exertion of the spar, nothing filled him with warmth the way Sentinel’s praise did. “Thank you, sir.”
“He may be ready,” Airachnid offered.
Sentinel smiled. “I think you’re right. B-127, I think you’re just about ready for deployment as my bodyguard.”
“What?! Really?! You really think I’m ready?!” He couldn’t stop himself from beaming. He’d hoped this day was coming soon, and it was here! The day he proved to the Prime how good he was; that he was worth it. He would be the best, he promised himself, for Sentinel.
“There’s just one problem.”
“Yes?” A problem was no good, but he’d gladly fix anything to be of service to the only mech who saw worth in him.
“B, you’re a very chatty mech.” Sentinel smiled sympathetically. “However, being my bodyguard means you will see things you can’t share with other people.”
“I wouldn’t dream of telling others your secrets,” B-127 promised.
“Of course you wouldn’t,” Sentinel soothed, placing a hand on B’s shoulder. “You’re very loyal. But I think it would be best to remove your voice box.” B-127 nearly pulled out of Sentinel’s grip in shock.
“Oh, don’t be like that,” the prime chided. His hand moved from his shoulder to cup his cheek. “It’s partly for your own protection, after all. We can’t have people think they can bribe you or force you to spill secrets, right?”
“I guess. But what if-” Sentinel moved his thumb over B’s mouth, silencing him.
“You will have a personal comm frequency to both Airachnid and me if you spot danger or otherwise need to communicate. You're so good at what you do, I think you’ll find this doesn’t impede your work at all.”
That was a relief, but B still liked to talk to people, even if Sentinel and Airachnid were the only ones he saw often enough to have a conversation with. Still, the idea of no longer being able to speak to anyone scared him.
Sentinel must have seen the apprehension on his face. “Don’t worry.” He drew back his hand. “I will have my best surgeons take care of it. You’re so quick to adapt, soon it’ll be like nothing ever changed.”
B hesitated, but shoved his anxiety down. Now wasn’t the time to be selfish. Sentinel had done so much to help him. The least he could do was this one small thing. “… Okay. I’ll do it.”
Sentinel Prime smiled, bright and proud. “See? I knew I could count on you.” His hand moved once more to gently pet B on the head and rest there as he ordered Airachnid to begin the arrangements.
B stood still and let the warmth from the touch drown out everything else.