Chapter Text
The Autobots were so astonished the first time they met a human sparkling. You were so tiny, tinier than Spike and were always smiling and laughing at them from Sparkplug or Spike’s arms. Too small to run around and too fragile to touch, you were always carried around the base or let down to walk with support from your brother or father. The Autobots watched you grow quickly until you were grown enough to walk and talk on your own. It wasn’t until you were out of your toddler stages before Sparkplug finally had the confidence to let you roam around under careful supervision. When walking around crowded spaces the Autobots would scoop you up into their palms and carry you. Optimus even lets you sit on his shoulders much to Sparkplug’s poor heart.
Other times the mini bots would bend down and let you hold their digit to make sure you didn’t get lost in the shuffle of traffic in the halls. Bumblebee was your usual designated watcher since he was the smallest of the bunch and was great with keeping you entertained and being like a second older brother.
You were lying on the rec room floor drawing on a large drawing pad with Bee lying across from you drawing on the other side of the previous paper. Well you had crayons, he had washable markers to make them a little easier to hold in his digits. Usually you had a smile on your face but it was clear you were very bored by the pout on your lips and your chin propped up on your arm scribbling disinterestedly. Bee could feel the frustration and boredom leaking into his own EM field.
“Whatcha drawing over there?” Bee asked, peeking over.
You answered with stubborn silence.
“What’s wrong?” Bee frowned.
You sighed and let the crayon drop from your hand, “Bee, I’m so bored. I wanna go outside and play please.”
“Sparklplug said no; if we go out in the rain you’ll get sick and we’ll get covered in mud and no one likes mud around the Ark.” Bee answered.
“I won’t get sick, Daddy just says that because he doesn’t like mud inside. We can clean up before they see.”
Bee gave you a sincere smile, “Sorry, I don’t think it works that way, bitty. Why don’t we-“
The door to the rec room opened and Sideswipe and Sunstreaker stepped in with a rumble of anger from their engines, their EM fields sharp enough to cut.
“I told you that he’d be mad.” Sideswipe snapped.
“That ancient slagger totally overreacted!” Sunstreaker defended.
Bee frowned at the foul language. If any of the older mech’s were here they’d have their afts handed to them for speaking that way in front of you. You didn’t seem to care, only looking their way for a moment before digging through your plastic tub of crayons. The two marched over to the energon distributor continuing to cuss at whoever had made them so mad. Their fans were working overtime to cool down their grumbling engines making it nearly impossible to eavesdrop.
“What’s going on with you two? You know that language isn’t allowed around young ears!” Bumblebee scolded as he stood from the floor. He mimicked Optimus, putting his fists on his hips and giving the two a firm look.
The twins whipped around, genuinely surprised as if they had been so incensed they didn’t notice him there. It was rather hard to see him on the floor behind the recreation tables, even harder to see you unless they were looking closely.
“Sorry, Bee.” Sides sighed.
“I’m not! We got two Earth weeks of extra chores, all because Ratchet couldn’t take a fragging joke!” Sun growled, clutching his cube of energon.
“Watch your language!” Bee warned. "What did you two do?"
"We snuck into Wheeljack's lab to let the Dinobots loose as a harmless prank and in the chaos he fell into a box of scrap metal." Sideswipe explained sounding at least remorseful.
"Dinobots?" You perked up.
Dinobots sounded a lot like a nickname for dinosaur robots. Ever since Sparkplug took you to the dinosaur zoo exhibit you were obsessed with the ancient creatures. Your room was filled with dinosaur toys, pajamas, and even bed sheets.
“Bee, Bee, I wanna see the Dinobots please?" You excitedly said.
The minibot didn't hear you as the golden mech's engine started growling again, “Sunny, I get your really mad but-“
“My fresh new paint job I worked so hard on is going to be ruined! I’m going to be stuck in the refreshers for hours cleaning all the fragging ash and dirt out of my vents.”
Fine, you'll look for them yourself. With a roll of your eyes you got up and slipped off undetected well the three mechs bickered.
Wheeljack’s lab was left wide open and empty. Everyone, even Spike, was adamant for you to keep out since he often had dangerous machinery and equipment in there. It was kind of like how your grandmother warned you not to go into her sewing room and you found out why when you stepped on a stray pin. You certainly learned your lesson there.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had once been in charge of watching over you and had tried to sneak into Wheeljack’s lab using you to trespass through the vents and unlock the door from the inside. They were caught after you got lost in the vents and their babysitter privileges were swiftly revoked.
As much as you knew it was better to walk away this was probably your only chance to actually see these dinosaur robots. Turns out there wasn't much to see in the lab, everything was high up on the counters and computer screens displaying mathematics you couldn’t possibly understand. The only thing you could see was a pile of scrap metal in a corner and a wall of large tools hanging on hooks that reminded you of your father's tool wall. Wires hung off the side of one of the work counters but it was too high up for you to see what they were connected to. Your father often placed sweets and sharp objects just out of your reach on the counter top so you would push a chair over to climb up onto the counters. Unfortunately there were no giant climbable chairs nearby to push onto the counters here but your curiosity of what the mad scientist’s lab looked like was satisfied, if even it was a bit anticlimactic.
You heard the thud of pedes but when you turned around there was a robotic triceratops across the room. A smile broke out across your face as your eyes sparkled with joy.
Slag had came out of stasis to see the hangar door was left open and decided to leave.
According to your dinosaur book the triceratops were friendliest of the dinosaurs being a plant eater so it only made sense in your inexperienced mind to say hello. You ran across the room and latched onto Slag’s leg. When Sparkplug had taken you to the dinosaur zoo—your brother kept calling it a museum but you insisted he was wrong—you weren’t allowed to touch the big dinosaurs behind the wall of glass, you could touch the baby ones the nice lady working at the zoo let you pet. Their skin felt like leather and was wrinkly and dull but this dino was smooth and shiny.
“Hi Mr.Dino!” You squealed.
Slag turned to look down at you surprised to see a human child of all things making those strange noises.
“Slag no Mr. Dino, Slag is Slag.” He slowly said in a raspy growl, “Who are you?”
On the other side you were surprised the dinosaur actually spoke to you in almost fluent English. The dinosaurs at the zoo didn’t speak. They only let out loud moans and groans and mighty roars like in the Jurassic Park movie.
Once the shock passed you introduced yourself, “It’s nice to meet you Slag. Are you a dinosaur or a robot?”
“Slag is Dinobot.”
“So you’re an autobot dinosaur?”
“What is a dinosaur? Little human confuse Slag.” The triceratops shook his horned head.
Grimlock came stomping from around the corner and another shrill squeal of excitement startled the Dinobots. It had to have been your lucky day as Snarl, Sludge, and Swoop also left the Dinobot room. Even louder screaming and squeals of excitement came from your tiny lungs.
Grimlock whined, trying and failing with his tiny little arms to cover his audio receptors, “Little human make painful noise stop!”
“You’re a Tyrannosaurus rex!” You shrieked, pointing at him.
“No Tyrannosaurus rex! Grimlock is Grimlock!” The dinosaur boomed.
“Do you have names too?” You asked the others.
“Snarl is Snarl.” The stegosaurus snarled.
“Swoop is swoop.” The pterodactyl hissed.
“Sludge is Sludge.” The brontosaurus growled
They all had names like how humans named their pets so therefore they must’ve been pets for the Autobot’s. Why did they hide them from you?
“Why is little human here?” Grimlock asked, lowering his head to get a good look at you.
You giggled and reached up to pet his metal snout. “I wanted someone to play with. Will you play with me, please?”
The Dinobots glanced at each other with confusion before Grimlock spoke up, “What is play?”
In the medical bay Wheeljack was laying on the berth as Ratchet welded the gashes in his arm. Energon smeared on his chassis, arms, and even one of his audial fins. The prank by the lambo twins went terribly wrong and thankfully only his arm sustained most of the damage from the trip. Ratchet sent them to Prowl after giving them a harsh glossa-lashing himself to sentence them to a well-earned punishment.
“There, that should do it.” Ratchet pulled the welder away from the freshly sealed wound.
“Thanks Ratch,” Wheeljack sighed.
“I sure hope those two think twice before pulling another one of those pranks—especially with the little one running around now.” Ratchet growled.
Wheeljack chuckled, “With the way you scolded them? I’d be scared straight, but knowing those two they’ll be back to their usual ways in a few mega cycles, if even that.”
Ratchet handed him a rag to at least help somewhat with wiping off the stray energon around his windshield.
“I just wish the younglings would stop being so reckless.” The chief medical officer lamented.
The door slid open and Bumblebee stepped into the medical bay looking around nervously.
“What’s wrong, Bumblebee?” Ratchet asked.
“Sorry Ratchet, have you seen bitty? I can’t find her.” Bumblebee sheepishly scratched the side of his helm.
“You lost her?!” The medic pinched the bridge of his nasal ridge, “Younglings. Even human ones somehow find trouble.”
/Red Alert to Wheeljack/ The Autobot security officer commed /The Dinobots are missing/
“Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling I know where she is,” The scientist turned his helm to Ratchet, “along with the Dinobots.”
You led them out of the laboratory to the exit door. At first they hesitated seeing the rain coming down in sheets but you paid no mind and ran out in your galoshes and rain coat. A big puddle was perfect for jumping and did just that, splashing the water all around.
“C’mon dinosaurs. It’s just water, see?” For emphasis you scooped up a handful of murky water, “Nothing to be scared of.”
“Me Grimlock, not scared of water!” The Dinobot took a large step out onto the mud only to slide and tumble down on his side.
Giggles erupted from you as he tried to get back up using his snout only to end up sliding again, this time belly down in the mud. Swoop flew over to a nearby tree and settled himself onto a heavy branch. Snarl, Sludge, and Slag stomped out around the mud puddle to join you. Grimlock growled but finally got himself up.
“Grimlock don’t like rain!” He declared standing in the entrance way. His little hand shook in a fist at the sky.
“It’s okay Grimlock, you can watch us play.” You reassured him.
Hidden among the brush was a large box full of toys and sports equipment that were sized for a human and any ‘bot you or Spike managed to drag into a game. You picked up a large inflatable ball that was as tall as you, “This game is fun, it’s called ‘Keep Up Ball’ because you keep the ball from touching the ground. If it touches the ground closest to you, you lose.”
“Grimlock never lose!” The dinosaur declared, crossing his tiny arms.
“If you wanna play Grimlock, you have to come outside.” The Dinobot grumbled but carefully stepped outside around the puddle and joined the circle.
You threw it up in the air and it floated for a bit before coming back down almost like a big balloon. With a good whack it went flying through the air again towards Snarl. He swatted it with his tail and it zoomed towards Slag who tried to head butt it but missed.
“You lost Slag, now you’ll have to start the game.” You explained.
“Slag not lose again!” The bot growled.
Metal chinked and clinked until the once robot dinosaur turned into just a robot. He looked just like any other Autobot only his body was more rounded than the others. He served the ball at Sludge but it hit his pudgy body and didn’t bounce back.
“Not fair! Slag have hands!” Sludge transformed too and the others joined in a chorus of moving metal parts.
You awed. “You can be dinosaurs or robots?! That's so awesome! Why don’t Optimus and the others turn into dinosaurs too?”
“Grimlock superior to little Autobots!” The mech roared.
“Yeah you guys are a lot cooler!”
Grimlock’s engine purred happily at the praise.
“Me Grimlock like tiny human.”
“Tiny human is dinobots favorite human. Human teach Snarl fun game.” Snarl nodded.
Sludge hit the ball towards you and you jumped up to help the ball bounce over to Swoop. He hit it with his wing and it went straight up until the wind led it to Grimlock's area. The Dinobot wasn't quick enough and the ball landed on the mud.
"No! Grimlock no lose!" The Dinobot cried.
"It's okay to lose in the game, Grimlock. That's what makes it fun—you get another chance to win!" You encouraged.
"Mmm, Grimlock do like winning…" He started the match and the ball bounced around until you couldn't keep up and it landed in your area after Snarl bumped it off his helm. You rushed to get to it but slipped and fell from the puddle.
A whimper of pain cane from your lungs as your knee was scraped red, but not bleeding.
"Tiny human okay?" Swoop who was the closest helped you up holding out his servo as an anchor for you to hold onto.
"I'm okay, just a little boo boo." You reassured the Dinobots.
"What's a boo boo?" Slag asked.
"It's from when you get hurt. Like if you fall down or bump your head."
The Dinobots let out a chorus of growls that sounded like they understood what you meant. It wasn't a really bad boo boo so you kept playing on. The game continued but this time it was much easier with the use of hands. Only the dinosaurs weren’t exactly playing easy, especially with Grimlock’s competitive nature. After the first dozen rounds they were growing more and more reckless about how hard they were hitting the ball.
It went rouge after being swatted by Grimlock and headed straight towards you. You put your arms up to protect your head but the full force of a giant bubble ball hit by a robot dinosaur flew you off your feet. Your back slammed into the ground several feet away knocking you out. The Dinobots froze expecting you to get back up and play again but you laid still. They circled around you unsure what to do. Swoop gently nudged your limp body with a digit but you didn’t react. Suddenly a wheezing inhale came from your lungs. You thought you were dying, clutching your chest as you felt your body panic.
Once you had enough air back in your lungs you let out a terrified wail. This was a different kind of audial receptor crashing noise that didn’t sound as happy as before.
“Why little human making bad noise?” Grimlock asked.
You could only lay there and wail and cry, hoping you weren’t actually dying or dead already. Was the burning blood filling your lungs? It hurt worse than the time Spike accidentally kicked a soccer ball right into your face. They grumbled and whined, unsure what to do to get you to stop that painful noise. It wasn’t like you could communicate how since every wail and sob only made the pain worse and as a result the panic too.
“DINOBOTS! INSIDE. NOW!” Ratchet boomed.
They all felt a spark of fear, never hearing their carrier so mad before. They had hurt Autobots and escaped several times before and never had heard that tone of voice. The CMO rushed over accompanied by Wheeljack and Bumblebee. Ratchet pushed through the gap between Sludge and Snarl to get to you. To his slight relief it didn’t look like you broke anything but there was some blood dripping down your face from a cut on your temple and you were still wheezing between wails. Ratchet transformed into his ambulance mode and Wheeljack placed you inside with Bee to keep you awake. The scientist turned back to the Dinobots with an unusually sourness and unhappiness bleeding from his field.
“What happened?!”
The Dinobots made not a peep as Wheeljack marched them back into the laboratory room. Once they were secured into their room Wheeljack sighed and rubbed his aching processor. What a day. First he gets his arm torn up in a prank gone wrong. Then he leaves the lab door wide open and unsupervised in his rush to get medical attention allowing the Dinobots to escape. The sour cherry on top was finding you screaming bloody murder on the ground with his creations surrounding you. He wasn’t sure what happened or the extent of your injuries but your audial piercing wails stirred his gastric chamber unpleasantly.
Ratchet had commed him to get their creations inside and wait until he was done examining you to lecture them. Wheeljack paced nervously with his servos tucked behind his back.
He could only hope your injuries weren’t too serious.
You groaned in pain as Ratchet shined the bright light into your face. Bumblebee had to be your emotional support as he kept you tucked in his lap while Ratchet thoroughly went through several tests. You were stuck in a daze, struggling to stay awake and complaining about feeling sick to your stomach. A bucket was kept on the medical berth right beside Bee in case you threw up—mostly for the minibot's relief since he really didn’t want another repeat from the M&Ms incident. The yellow bot gently rubbed your back when you mumbled about the light hurting your eyes. All signs unfortunately led to a concussion.
You had explained once you had calmed down (and realized you weren’t greeting the reaper) that you had just been playing with the Dinobots and woke up on the ground unable to breathe. Red Alert commed Ratchet confirming from the security cameras outside the Ark that it was just an accident—an accident that had injured you no less.
There was a little bruising on your chest and back along with some scrapes but the concussion was the only serious injury.
“Can I leave now please?” You piqued up as he finally turned off the lighting.
“No you may not.” Ratchet crossed his arms and Bee felt his spark slump knowing that it meant you were in for a lecture, “Both of you are in big trouble.”
The yellow minibot looked around the empty room in confusion. “Yes, that means you too Bumblebee. While I am leaving the proper lecture for Sparkplug, I am still obligated to remind you of the mistakes you made.”
“C’mon Ratchet, is that really necessary? I mean the kid has a brain injury.” Bee whined.
The mech narrowed his optics at the scout using you as a shield from his usual long-winded lectures. Thankfully your subtle nod of agreement went unnoticed to the medic.
“May I remind you, Bumblebee, you were trusted with their safety. That means you keep an optic on her at all times under your care. How long did it take for you to notice you lost her? Why didn’t you comm everyone or anyone to help find her sooner? She could’ve gotten hurt far worse than she did.”
Ratchet’s EM field was full of disappointment and frustration making Bumblebee’s guilt feel heavier.
“That’s not fair to Bee!” You boldly snapped.
Bumblebee tried to shush you but you continued onwards, “Don’t yell at him! I was bored and I saw Jackie’s cool lab was open! And I know Daddy and Optimus told me not to go in but I went in anyway because I’ve never been in. And I saw the dinos and they are really cool and they are friendly and I asked them to play games with me. It was an accident! They aren’t bad! Bee isn’t bad too!”
Ratchet’s joints creaked as he crouched down until he was optic to eyes with you. He could feel the determination and anger as well as the general feeling of unwellness radiating off of you from that uncontrollable human EM field.
“I appreciate you care for them enough to defend them kiddo. And you’re right. Bumblebee and the Dinobots aren’t bad, but what you and they did isbad and we have to make sure that you know not to do it again.”
“I won’t.”
Ratchet shook his helm, “I know you won’t. But you still need to be lectured about it to really understand that what you did was not okay. You were in a dangerous situation-“
“I wasn’t!” You interrupted.
Ratchet frowned, “That’s not nice to interrupt.”
“Your face is not nice!” Bumblebee choked back his laugh, pressing his fist to his intake to keep it down but his engine still chortled.
“You’re gonna be in worse trouble for that if you’re not careful, little one. Optimus nor your father will be very pleased.” The old mech shook his pointer digit at you.
You opened your mouth to shoot another spit-fire at him but Bee covered your mouth before you could get in any more trouble. Ratchet decided it was best to just let your father handle your lecture later since you were far too stressed out now and could potentially worsen your brain injury.
“You two sit here and think about what you should’ve done instead until Sparkplug and Optimus arrive.” The medic ordered.
While waiting you ended up falling asleep in Bee’s lap while he kept you warm with his fans in the cold medical bay. Ratchet kept himself busy pulling out dirty tools and a task list the twins and now Bumblebee would have to finish as punishment. When Sparkplug and Optimus walked in together Ratchet met them at the entrance and quietly discussed something but judging how short it was, he probably already informed them ahead of time via comm.
Bumblebee carefully transferred you into your Father’s arms. He tried not to wake you up but you still stirred, no longer feeling the hot air blowing on your face.
“Are you okay?” Sparkplug asked, brushing aside your hair and gently kissing your face. Ratchet had already gotten most of the mud off your face but your raincoat would need a good wash.
“I’m fine, Daddy.” You assured him.
He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, “You are grounded while you recover. That means no video games, no going outside to play, and no visiting the Autobots.”
You whined.
“No whining young lady, you know better than to wander off by yourself or go into Wheeljack’s lab. And didn’t I tell you not to go outside in the rain? Your coat is covered in mud now.” He shook his head.
You pouted into his shoulder but he wasn’t wrong.
“Now, say goodbye to everyone. We’re going home.” Sparkplug said.
“Can I say goodbye to my new Dino friends?” You asked.
“I’m afraid they’re busy at the moment.” Ratchet shook his helm.
You frowned, lowering your head in sadness, “Okay…tell them I said goodbye and I will miss them please?”
“I will make sure your message is received, little one.” Optimus assured you.
You sadly waved everyone goodbye before leaving. You fell back to sleep before you even made it out of the base.
The door to the Dinobot’s room opened revealing Ratchet and Wheeljack.
“Where little human? Little human not hurt?” Grimlock demanded.
“Easy, Grimlock,” Wheeljack said in a gentle voice, “She’s fine.”
A collective exvent came across the Dinobots as their anxious and curious fields wound tight and clashing eased into relief.
“Snarl want to see tiny human again!” The triceratops demanded.
“That won’t be happening.” Ratchet scolded, “You five are too dangerous to be around her. Humans, especially the smaller ones, are more susceptible to being fatally injured.” At their blank stares Ratchet explained, “If you had thrown that ball any harder she could’ve died.”
“Little human not die!” Grimlock roared, whipping his tail.
“No, she isn’t dead, Grimlock, but she could be with how reckless you all are. That’s why you’re not allowed to see her”
A cacophony of roars and clicks that sounded like a metal train being thrown off its tracks echoed in the large room. Pedes were stomped and tails were whipped violently. Wheeljack’s frame shifted low as a version of a frown.
“Settle down! Settle down!” Ratchet ordered.
“Tiny human friend…” Sludge whined, his long neck deflating to the floor.
The two Autobots shared a look. They hadn’t expected the Dinobots to get so attached to you so easily. Their processers were the equivalent of human children so perhaps playing with a child of the same “age” quickly formed an attachment.
/Ratchet…/ Wheeljack sighed through the comms.
The medic shook his head, /We’ll put them in stasis for now. I’m afraid we cannot let them near her. She was nearly killed Wheeljack!/
With a push of a button lasers in the corner of the rooms blasted at the rowdy Dinobots freezing them solid. Their optics dimmed as stasis lock took over