Sentinel has been on base for 8 months, and Reflect still hasn't warmed up to him, not that he's had the chance.

Weird things have been happening. things he doesn't understand. Things that have to do with Deceptions.

Ratchet had done everything he could to keep the sparkling out of it, but Reflect knew. the sparkling knew the war raged on and had expressed interest in becoming a medic as well, so Ratchet had started training him.

He and Ratchet were currently on the N.E.S.T. base. the medic was teaching his sparkling a more advanced form of first aid. The sparkling would be three in human years soon, and up to Ratchets middle in height, and had shown interest in both being an inventor and a medic. So Ratchet had pulled out his old books from when he was a youngling. Wheeljack had been ecstatic and made projects for them to work on in the lab, and even built a dummy for Ratchet and Reflect to use for practice.

"Now Reflect, disarm it. You don't want to get shot trying to help a comrade." Ratchet murmurs, turning away.

"Ratchet!" Reflect yelps. Ratchet turns quickly.

"I said disarm not dearm!" Ratchet shouts.

"B-but I didn't! It fell off! All I did was touch it!" Reflect whines.

"Of course, you're friggin idiot of an inventor father doesn't know how to build anything." Ratchet snaps, taking the arm from the sparkling. "damn inventor." Ratchet growls.

"you leave Jack alone! he does his best!" Reflect grumbles. The medic pats his head gently.

"you're right little one I'm sorry." Ratchet murmurs.

They can hear a commotion outside and Ratchet frowns.

"Stay here Reflect!" Ratchet warns. Reflect watches him go, before poking out of the base.

Bots are everywhere fighting, Bumblebee desperately attempting to protect both Sam and Cade. He's not concerned until he finds Ironhide struggling with Sentinel, energon pouring from his chest. Sentinel pulls back, shooting the mech again. Ironhide collapses, trying to drag himself backwards away from the Prime. he's using one arm to drag himself backwards and is covering the wounds, leaking energon from his chest. Reflects Prime mark flashes and he growls.

"Ironhide!" Reflect shouts, teleporting from the base. He lands a few feet away from Ironhide, stumbling as he lands, still struggling with Sentinel. the mech has hold of the barrel of Sentinels gun, desperately trying to get it to point away from his head.

Ironhide grunts, trying to push Sentinel off him, the Prime was literally trying to take his head off! until a bot suddenly tackled Sentinel off the downed mech. Ironhide looks confused, holding his bleeding chest. he winces, trying to sit himself up.

"Huh?" He murmurs, looking up. There standing before him, is Reflect. Older looking and taller. his armor is still shifting and moving into position. he growls, putting his fists, punching the Prime once. he looks absolutely fuming. Ironhides never seen such an angry look on Reflects face.

"You stupid fragger! How many times do I have to tell you, he's MINE!" the mech roars, punching the Prime in the face. Sentinel roars, grabbing the smaller and throwing him aside. Reflect rolls and jumps back up, running at him. he kicks the bigger mech hard in the face, it knocks the red mech down long enough for the grey mech to mimic Ironhides cannon and blow Sentinels head off. The mech huffs steam out his nose, growling as he drops the mimic, panting. "don't fuck with my fucking bondmate!" Reflect snaps.

"h-huh...?" Ironhide asks. the mech turns and smiles at him.

"sure you don't need me to help you fight your battle?" Reflect grins, offering a servo out to him. Ironhide stares at him, unmoving, simply glancing down at his servo, then back up to his face. so the mech chuckles, crouching down. Ironhide watches him carefully, unsure if his optics are functioning properly. Reflect smiles a little, afraid to startle him and get attacked. the mech has two rather large wounds in his chest, he's probably in shock and Reflect doesn't want the mech to react badly to him and injure them both. that wouldn't be good. "hey, Ironhide, it's okay. Just me." Reflect murmurs, patting his cheek.

Ironhide doesn't move, still staring at him. Reflect chuckles, smiling, before pulling him up. His voice sounds different, almost like Wills. Ironhides stunned and confused, giving the smaller a chance to slip behind him. Reflect activates his jet pack flying up with Ironhide. He holds the mech up under his arms carefully. Ironhide looks utterly confused, tilting his head back to look up at the mech holding him confused. he's struggling to form words, CPU seemingly stalled and his vocalizer was resetting itself repeatedly. he's not even sure what to do.

"hi." Reflect chuckles softly. it seems to jumpstart the biggers CPU.

"Will?" He murmurs softly. Reflect smiles down at him.

"Hey baby, miss me?" Reflect murmurs.

"I.. don't understand... Will?" Ironhide ask.

"Yeah Hide it's me. looked like you could use a servo." Reflect murmurs, carefully sitting Ironhide down to the side. Out of the way of the raging battle. He smiled at him. "figured I'd step in and help before Sentinel offlined you." Reflect murmurs softly. Ironhide winces a little as he's set down, servo immediately coming up to hold his wounds.

"it hasn't been seven years." Ironhide murmurs, staring up at him in awe. the other smiles at him, gripping his free servo gently.

"You needed me. I wouldn't let you die." Reflect says. "I'd love to stay and chat, let you keep looking at me like that, but I'm on a time crunch Hide. Stay down. I've gotta help Ratchet. they'll find you in a minute, promise" He murmurs, reaching up to gently cup his cheek. He smiles at Ironhide, gently caressing his cheek with his thumb. Ironhide leans into the gentle gesture briefly, before watching Reflect take off into the air. Ironhide watches him go, carefully holding the hole in his chest.

"Ironhide!" Wheeljack shouts running over.

"M'kay." Ironhide assures, but he sounds odd. He's not looking at Wheeljack either staring off. He can't take his optics off Reflect. Wheeljack just assumes its the lost of energon.

Reflect races towards Ratchet, whose on the ground. Starscream is at his throat, literally.

"Ratchet! Hang on!" Reflect shouts, headbutting Starscream hard. He growls and turns to the medic smiling. He sees recognition in Ratchets optics. He remembers.

"Will...?" Ratchet ask softly. The bot smiles at him, reaching a servo out.

"Y'know as the mech who named me, you should already know my name isn't Will, not anymore." Reflect murmurs.

"You're leaking energon." Ratchet murmurs, shakily reaching up. Reflect waves him off.

"yeah well, headbutting-" Reflect cuts himself off, as a sharp blade cuts straight through his armor, straight through his chest. The only sound that escapes him is a quiet whimper and gurgling sound as the blade shoves through the other side of his chest. he pulls his servo away from Ratchet to grip at the wound in his chest. the blade is yanked out and Reflect falls forward immediately, barely managing to prop himself up.

"NO!" Ratchet shouts, getting up quickly. Reflect holds his chest, refusing to look at the medic. He's not gonna make it anyway, he doesn't want to give Ratchet that vision of him dying.

He collapses onto his side, watching the energon pool underneath him. he's bleeding out but he's fine with that. he's happy. He'd done it. He did what the Primes said he couldn't do. He'd saved Ironhide and Ratchet. Reflect gives a weak smile, before shutting down.

He's not sure what's happening, when he wakes up. He wasn't supposed to wake up. he thought he was dead. the Primes said he'd die. had he not saved them both?

"What the..." Reflect trails sitting up slowly, holding his chest and looking around. Ratchet walks into the medbay just as he does so. They stare a moment, both afraid to move. It finally clicks to Reflect, Ratchet is alive. he really had done it!

"Ironhide is outsi-" Ratchet starts.

"RATCHET! RATCHET YOU'RE ALIVE! I DID IT! I SAVED YOU!" Reflect shouts, jumping off the berth and tackling Ratchet in a hug. Ratchet catches and holds him out if instinct, ignoring the pain of hitting the floor. He wraps his arms around the bigger mech, confused.

"you almost killed yourself!" Ratchet snaps. Reflect hugs tighter.

"didn't matter if it saved you." Reflect murmurs softly. Ratchet nods a little, looking confused a moment.

"You... You gave up Ironhide for us... " Ratchet says softly. "Why would you do that?" He adds.

"I told you I was going to." Reflect grumbles. He pulls back, before getting up. "You and Jack deserved a second chance too Ratchet. You guys deserved the chance for a sparkling, even if I wasn't gonna grow up with you guys." Reflect says softly. He pulls Ratchet up gently.

"Will-" Ratchet tries.

"That's not my name Ratchet. You know that. You named me, that name doesn't go away Ratch, Will is dead. I'm Reflect. I'll always be Reflect." Reflect soothes. "I wasn't gonna reveal myself, but I didn't have a choice. You guys needed me. Ironhide was dying and you... Starscream almost killed you." Reflect murmurs. Ratchet nods, staring at home, before hugging him hard.

"Everyone knows who you are by now." Ratchet murmurs. "It's like memories were planted for us to see.... Ironhides outside." Ratchet says softly. Reflect hugs him tightly again and runs out of the room as fast as he can.

"You'll always be my caretaker!" Reflect shouts, running off.

He runs as fast as he can outside, ignoring everyone in his way.

"Ironhide. He's awake."

Ironhide perks up, putting his canon away quickly. He turns, ready to head into the medbay, but he's immediately tackled to the ground hard. his back slides against the dirt before his head hits the ground and he grunts. Ironhide shakes his head, looking slightly dazed. He lays confused a moment, shaking off the dull ache in the back of his head from hitting the ground so hard, before it dawns on him.

"Will?" He murmurs softly.

"I promised." Reflect says softly, nuzzling his chest. Ironhide laughs, squeezing the slightly smaller mech.

"I remember." Ironhide assures.

"how'd everyone take me being Reflect?" He mumbles.

"some better than others, we were given false memories of you growing up." Ironhide mutters, sitting up in the sand. "so this is it right? you're back for good?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods.

"Yeah." He murmurs. "How did everyone react?" Reflect ask, finally getting up off his bonded.

"Like I said, some better than others. Everyone is a little confused, but rolling with it." Ironhide assures gently. He gets up slowly, standing beside Reflect. "Come here." Ironhide murmurs, pulling him to his chest. Reflect hugs him as tight as he can, letting Ironhide savor the moment.

"You're all fixed up." Will murmurs, patting the spot on Ironhides chest he remembered Sentinel blowing a hole into. Ironhide opens his mouth to say something, but he's interrupted.

"WILL!" Bumblebee shouts, running over. He separates from Ironhide in time for Bumblebee to slam onto him. It's knocks them both over but the scout doesn't let go, even when they slam into the ground. Reflect yelps, but hugs the smaller.

"pay back is a bitch." Ironhide snorts.

"I've always wanted to hug you!!" Bumblebee shouts. Reflect chuckles, hugging him.

"The feeling is mutual, but I'm still Reflect, Bee. Wheeljack and Ratchet did not stress over a good name for me, just so everyone could forget it." Reflect chuckles softly. Bumblebee hugs him tightly.

"Alright, off." Ironhide growls. Bumblebee gets up, looking sheepish.

"sorry." Bumblebee murmurs. Reflect laughs, letting Ironhide help him up.

"its alright Bee... hey, where's Sam?" Reflect ask.

"Confused as hell and in your old office with Epps." Bumblebee frowns. The gray mech nods.

"go see him." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect grins and turns running off quickly.

"awww." Bumblebee grins.

"what?" Ironhide snaps.

"Just haven't seen you smile like that in a few years." Bumblebee murmurs, walking off.

Reflect bounds down the hallway, everyone is staring at him, but he doesn't care. He doesn't even knock, just opens the door. Epps and Sam look up.

"I'm dead for three years and you take my office?" Reflect teases. Epps stares at him silently.

"Will?" Sam asks.

"No, Will is dead. I'm Reflect. Have been for 3 years now, you should know this." He grins.

"How is this possible Wi-Reflect?" Epps asks, hesitantly.

"When I died I had so much Allspark energy the Primes said it'd be a waste. So I reincarnated as a sparkling, to give Ratchet and Wheeljack a second chance. It's so weird! I haven't had control of my body in almost three years!" Reflect says, flexing his fingers. "but its great to be back." he adds, smiling at them. they stare at him confused.

"so you're Reflect." Sam says.

"yes." Reflect assures.

"but you have Wills memories?" Sam ask.

"correct." He smiles.

"are you still bonded to Ironhide?" Sam ask.

"yup!" Reflect chuckles.

"how does that work?" Sam ask. Reflect opens his mouth, before pausing.

"Uh... I don't know." He frowns. "But we're still bonded." Reflect assures, patting his chest plates. He sends a soft, curious, but loving pulse across the bond to Ironhide, something he'd never been able to send before but had received several times. immediately he receives a strong, almost overwhelming, pulse back. Like Ironhide is attempting to make up for lost time.

I love you. I'm glad you're back.

Reflect blinks, confused when he hears Ironhides voice ringing from his chest into his head.

wow.. That's incredible... I didn't know we could talk over this... I love you too.

It's bond chatter Will, you didn't have a spark, so we couldn't do this before.

Reflect smiles a little shaking his head.

"Huh?" He ask.

"You alright? You were just standing there." Sam frowns.

"Uh yeah. I'm good. Just, I've never had control of this body so it's weird." Reflect says.

"It's good to see you... And know it's you." Epps says.

"Good to be alive." Reflect murmurs, walking out.

Hide?

Yes Will?

I wanna go to the farm.

Prime wants to see you first, then, we'll go.

he bounces down to Optimus' office, knocking hard twice before entering.

"holy Primus." Jazz mutters. Reflect waves at him.

"hey Ironhide said you wanted to see me." Reflect smiles.

"Will-" Optimus starts.

"Reflect." Reflect corrects gently. "Wills dead." he adds firmly. the Prime clears his throat.

"right, Reflect, its... good to see you." Optimus murmurs.

"you're just as confused as everyone else. I know. it'll be a few months. everyone'll get used to it. it's weird trust me I know. one minute I'm dead, the next I'm in a totally different body with zero control. when I finally get control it freaks everyone out. but don't worry, everyone will get used to it in no time." Will murmurs.

"we need to discuss something." Optimus says. Reflect nods a little.

"no problem, whats up?" he asks, walking in fully so the door can shut behind him.

"you, as a sparkling, had a problem with Sentinel... since the day he was brought to Earth. did you know he was going to betray us?" Optimus ask. Reflect nods.

"yeah, I kept trying to tell you guys, but.... the Primes wouldn't let me. I tried. I kept screaming every time he came in the room and I told Ratchet." Reflect huffs.

"Ratchet knew?" Optimus frowns. Reflect nods.

"yeah but he couldn't tell you." Reflect frowns.

"why not? the Primes wouldn't let him?" Jazz ask, curiously.

"no. because Ratchets too loyal of a friend. he didn't want to believe it because he knew it would upset Optimus." Reflect murmurs. he frowns a little. "I gotta go." he mutters, turning and leaving quickly.

Reflect frowns to himself and heads back towards his bonded, only to run tight into Wheeljack. The inventor stares at him so Reflect gives a nervous laugh, smiling.

"hey Jack, old habits die hard, right?" He murmurs. Wheeljack stares at him. "uh.... sorry." Reflect murmurs. Wheeljack stares a moment more before he frowns and walks around him silently. "Cool cool. Nice to know you fragging hate me for something I couldn't control, guess those three years didn't mean anything to you and Ratchet. Primus, can't wing for losing I did the best I fragging could." Reflect huffs, heading outside. Wheeljack stiffens behind him, but Reflect doesn't even notice.

"You okay?" Ironhide ask.

"Bumped into Jack." Reflect mutters.

"he's still not taking it well?" Ironhide frowns. Reflect shakes his head.

"nope." he mutters. "whatever, lets go to the farm." Reflect smiles.

"You ready for a real race baby?" Ironhide ask.

"I don't remember the way to the farm. Maybe... Maybe another time?" Reflect asks hesitantly.

"Of course." Ironhide assures, he smiles a little. . "I know you've been doing it a while, but you remember how to transform right?" Ironhide ask. He's not being rude or teasing. He's being serious. he's not sure what he remembers, if the Primes gave him the knowledge he needs or not. he's just not sure.

"I've got it." He chuckles, transforming. His alt mod is a brand new, current year model, of Ironhides alt. A dark gray Topkick. All of his lights are still there, police and ambulance. On the sides of his alt is N.E.S.T. and on his tailgate is Cap. Lennox in a gray just slightly lighter than the rest of his alt.

"I'll be damned if you're not beautiful." Ironhide murmurs, transforming.

"You saying I wasn't before?" Reflect huffs.

"Of course you were. You were a very handsome human, but, I happen to like you like this. You're always good looking, but you're more beautiful." Ironhide grumbles, shifting on his tires.

He wouldn't make the same mistakes he had before. He'd make damn well sure Will knew how he felt about him. Will chuckles a little at his words.

"Flattery will get you nowhere soldier." Reflect teases. Ironhide snorts.

"Just... Making up for lost time." He murmurs.

"I can think of better ways to do that." Reflect murmurs, carefully brushing his alt against Ironhides, before speeding off. it catches the other mech off guard a little. "Catch me if you can old man!" He shouts. Ironhdie recovers from his surprise immediately.

"Uh, hey!" Ironhide growls, speeding off after him.

Ironhide leads him to the farm and smiles. Reflect pulls up beside him, both transforming.

"Wow." Reflect murmurs. "It's gonna get dark soon right?" He asks, turning to look at Ironhide.

"Yes." He murmurs, optics refusing to leave his bonded.

"great! we're gonna have to stay here." Reflect grins, looking up at the sky. "I've missed the stars." he adds.

"yeah... Ratchet and Wheeljack were.... over protective." Ironhide grumbles.

"oh yeah? and you were any different?" Reflect chuckles. Ironhide snorts a little.

"not really." he murmurs. Reflect smiles, before looking at Ironhide.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Reflect ask.

"I just... missed you. Seeing you in my dreams wasn't enough." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect looks confused.

"In your dreams?" Reflect ask.

"Yeah. you don't remember?" Ironhide ask.

"no." Reflect frowns, looking confused.

"So you don't remember the promise made you? Or how we danced together?" Ironhide ask. His bonded looks utterly confused.

"No. I don't." He frowns.

Immediately, Ironhide frowns, using his radio to search for a song. he settles on 'Total eclipse of the heart' and grabs Reflect grently, pulling him close. Reflect looks confused.

"Then let me fix that." He murmurs, pulling the smaller as close as he can.

"What are you doing?" Reflect ask. Ironhide frowns a little.

"I always refused to dance with you because I thought it was stupid. I realized, very quickly after you died, that I was stupid." Ironhide mumbles softly, carefully swaying with his bonded. Reflect looks more confused. "I knew I was talking to you when I talked to Reflect, so I didn't hold back on anything. I just wanted you to know that, I'm sorry." Ironhide sighs.

"Sorry?" Reflect asks softly.

"Yeah.... I treated you like we had forever, despite knowing we didn't." Ironhide says. Reflect smiles at him a little.

"don't be sorry Hide." Reflect chuckles softly, pulling him down to rest their foreheads together. "you didn't know." Reflect murmurs.

"I knew you were human. That you'd die long before me, unless the war killed me first." Ironhide frowns.

"This is weird." Reflect says. Ironhide pauses, looking confused.

"What is?" Ironhide ask.

"you. this." Reflect says, motioning around them. "You being..." Reflect trails, waving his servo around. Ironhide raises an optic ridge.

"Lovey?" He ask, snorting.

"Yes! It's weird." Reflect frowns.

"Let's just say I had a lot of time to.... reflect on past decisions and attitude. I will not treat you the same careless way I did before." Ironhide frowns. Reflect looks confused.

"Careless? You weren't careless." Reflect argues.

"Yes I was. I never showed you that I did actually love you." Ironhide says. Reflect frowns, stepping back.

"Wow, you're an idiot." He mutters, rolling his optics.

"Hey!" Ironhide glares.

"don't take it the wrong way Ironhide, I love you, but you're a slagging idiot." Reflect frowns.

"I am not!" Ironhide glares.

"On that July 4th when you fell on my tree, what was it that caused that?" Reflect ask. "And don't lie to me. I remember what you told me when you didn't know Reflect was me." Reflect adds.

"I used my canons to blow up a firework because you were sad." Ironhide grumbles, refusing to look at him..

"Exactly! I was sad and you didn't like that. You wanted me happy." Reflect murmurs. "How about the time you accidentally shattered my favorite coffee cup? What happened then?" He ask.

"I drove to the next state over to get you an exact replica." Ironhide mumbles.

"yeah at 5AM." Reflect says. "oh, how about that time that big ass spide got in the house and I refused to get anywhere near that nasty fucking thing." Reflect adds.

"I laughed at you." Ironhide mutters.

"yeah you laughed at me but what else?" Reflect ask.

"I carried you out of the room, then squished the spider." Ironhide mutters. Reflect nods.

"and what happened that time we got in a wreck and I was freaking out?" Reflect ask.

"I held you." Ironhide mumbles.

"yeah, despite you being destroyed on the side of the road, you activated your holoform to make sure I was okay until the others found us." Reflect murmurs. "what about that time at the bar when that guy punched me in the face because I wouldn't leave with him?" Reflect ask. Ironhide smiles a little.

"we had to bury his body 2,000 miles away because I broke his neck punching him so hard." Ironhide snorts.

"And what about the time, I broke down sobbing when Annie died...?" Reflect ask.

"I didn't do anything then." Ironhide says confused.

"Yes you did. Holoform or not, I sat in your lap and sobbed for like, 3 weeks straight. You almost punched Optimus for trying to take me because your paperwork was so late. You held me and made sure I ate. You took care of me. you always do." Reflect explains. "You always take care of me and if that's not love then I don't know what is." Reflect murmurs.

"I did not-" Ironhide starts.

"You may not have said it all the time, but you showed me everyday, you loved me." Reflect assures.

"but was that truly enough? And if it was why do I feel so guilty about it? think about it. before you died when was the last time I told you loved you Will?" Ironhide snaps.

"I don't remember... But memories are still a little fuzzy. I do, however, remember the first time you told me you loved me." Reflect murmurs. "I was so sick I was hallucinating. You loaded me down on everything you could. Everything Ratchet said was safe for me to take together. All kinds of medicines. You made sure I was taken care of, and when I sobbed I couldn't find my dead family, you curled up with me and held me in my bed. I clung to you afraid you'd leave me or die, so you laid with me all night long." Reflect murmurs. "I remember staring at the wall, curled up with you. You running your fingers through my hair and telling me it would be okay... You got real quiet for a whole before telling me you loved me... Sick or not, felt like my heart was gonna explode." Reflect murmurs.

"I thought you were asleep." Ironhide mutters.

"I'm glad I wasn't. aren't you?" Reflect smiles. Ironhide nods after a moment.

"Yes of course I am." He grumbles. Reflect grins and hugs him tightly.

"I know you love me. Don't worry." Reflect assures.

"I do. I love you. More than you know Will." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect smiles at him. "Did you want to go into the house?" Ironhide ask. Reflect grins, nodding.

"Yeah." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide smiles a little, heading back around front.

"Meet you in the house." Ironhide murmurs, transforming. Reflect transforms beside him.

Ironhide holoform appears in the house, in the bedroom, looking around, smiling. he waits, a moment, afraid Will has forgotten how to use his holoform, but is quickly relieved to see its not true.

Reflects holoform appears in the air above the bed, landing on the mattress with a laugh. Ironhide looks over at him, but finds himself disappointed to see an older version of the sparklings holoform. Reflect meets the holoform gaze.

"You hate it don't you?" Reflect murmurs.

"Just disappointed you can't run around looking like you used to." Ironhide mutters softly. Reflect pauses, like he hadn't thought how bad it would hurt Ironhide.

"Hold on." He murmurs softly. Ironhide looks confused as the holoform disappears. It's a quiet a moment before two arms wrapped around him from behind. "Better?" He ask softly. Ironhide turns around in the arms to look.

There standing before him is Will, with some obvious customization. His once brown eyes are blue now like his own holoforms, he looks exactly the way he did before he died, except his hair is slightly longer and there are tattoos up his arms. Ironhide looks him over, smiling, until his eyes come across something on the man's neck.

"What's that?" Ironhide asks, leaning down to get a look.

"I had the Primes fix this thing up for me. You had my handprint, so that added something of yours to me. If you scan that with one of Ratchets medical scanners, it's your spark beat." Reflect murmurs, smiling. Ironhide smiles, wrapping his arms around him tightly.

"You're perfect." He murmurs, kissing him.

"This is only for you. I'm Will privately only for you." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide chuckles.

"Makin' me feel special." Ironhide teases, pulling him closer.

"You are special." Reflect murmurs.

"Nice tattoos." Ironhide murmurs, running a hand down his arms.

"I wanted to put some on both, but I don't think Ratchet and Wheeljack would appreciate that." Reflect frowns.

"Don't worry about it. Unlike human customs, you're now you're own bot. Their opinions don't matter and they won't look down on you for it." Ironhide assures. "So if Will has tattoos, and Reflect wants tattoos, no one will say anything. Do as you please." Ironhide murmurs.

"Gonna have to warm up to my other holoform. This one is for your eyes only. No one else will ever be allowed to see it." Reflect murmurs.

"Well, how about I see you in your entirety." He smirks.

"Oh yeah?" Reflect ask, wrapping his arms around his neck. The bigger presses against him.

"And I don't care what form it is. this one or your bipedal, but I'm determined to make up for lost time." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect shivers. Ironhide pauses. "Did they teach you anything about interfacing?" He murmurs, curiously. Yes. Of course they had. He'd gotten a basic sex education when he'd aged up, but he figures it'll be more fun if his bonded doesn't know that, so he shakes his head.

"Nope. Not a thing. Guess they figured I would need it, since we got on just fine with your holoform before." Reflect shrugs.

"Then it's all up to you. whatever you want." Ironhide murmurs.

"You kidding? A chance for you and to swap a little bit of paint?" Reflect smirks. He'd heard the term from Ratchet a couple of times when he and Wheeljack has absolutely swapped paint. Ironhide laughs.

"We'll swap some paint and then come rock the bed. How about that?" Ironhide smirks. Reflect laughs.

"You still remember that? I said that once!" he chuckles.

"and you looked so serious when you said it, trying to sound sexy." Ironhide snorts.

"hey I was sexy." Reflect mumbles, face going a little red. Ironhide laughs.

"Shut your holo off, I'll give you a crash course." Ironhide teases.

"Better be a good one." Reflect smirk, pressing against Ironhides holoform. Ironhide laughs.

"Baby, I'm about to show you why interfacing is better then human sex." Ironhide murmurs.

They shut their holoforms off and transform, Reflect smirking at him.

"Oh yeah? How is that?" He chuckles. Ironhide chuckles.

"Humans are sensitive but this will be much more so." Ironhide assures. "Remember that one time you were attempting to dig mud from between my plates?" Ironhide ask, leading him into the backyard.

"Yea and I brushed some wires and sent you into an enormous amount of pain?" Reflect ask. Ironhide nods. "yeah Ratchet yelled at me that I could've hurt you worse and to next time let him fix that." Reflect frowns. Ironhide chuckles softly.

"Well each individual wire has thousands of sensor nodes. So what feels like a simple brush of the hand to a human." He murmurs, brushing a hand across Reflects arm. "Feels so much better to us." Ironhide murmurs, fingers delving between the others armor. Reflect jerks back immediately, looking up at him with wide optics.

"Holy shit." He shivers quietly. Ironhide smirks.

"Mmhmm, see why shoving your fingers in places the don't belong isn't a good idea?" Ironhide smirks. Reflect huffs. "like two years ago in the medbay." he adds.

"I wasn't even in control of this body when I did that." He growls. He steps back hesitantly. "Maybe we should use the holoforms then. I have no clue what I'm doing, I don't want to hurt you, even by accident." Reflect frowns. Ironhide rolls his optics.

"I had no idea what I was doing the first time I used that damn holoform. You were covered in bruises for weeks. You were bleeding for days. I thought I was going to have to take you to a hospital." Ironhide frowns.

"And I refused because how embarrassing would that be to show up to the hospital with hand prints all over me and bleeding out the ass! They would've called the cops on you for abusing me." Reflect says. "and thats totally different! if I hurt you, you're gonna have to go to Ratchet who really isn't in the mood to fix you." Reflect adds.

"you won't hurt me Will." Ironhide assures. "pain receptors are numbed or nulled during interfacing. you'll be fine." Ironhide adds. Reflect watches him for a few minutes.

"you're sure I can't hurt you like this?" he ask. Ironhide nods.

"yes." Ironhide murmurs.

"and you're sure about your pain receptors being numbed?" Reflect ask. Ironhide snorts a little.

"yes. I believe humans refer that as 'pain is pleasure' or something like that." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect laughs.

"then I'm yours." Reflect murmurs.

"you always are. nervous?" Ironhide murmurs.

"with you? nah. you said I can't hurt you and I know you won't hurt me. so show me why this is better than sex." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide snorts but doesn't give him a chance to change his mind, delving fingers in between his lovers armor and into his seams.

"good." Ironhide smirks when Reflect jolts in surprise at the touch, then arches up into it. "also, don't get nervous if your vocalizer shorts. it happens sometimes." Ironhide adds. Reflect doesn't answer, and he hadn't been expecting one. Ironhide certainly hadn't expected a deliciously sharp and tingling feeling up his side, the smaller had decided it was safe to touch as well and had found a particularly nice sensor node in his side in a transformation seam. the bigger mech shivers a little.

he's not usually expressive, or at least as expressive as Will was, when he used his holoform for sex, it was always enjoyable but holoform senors were pretty nulled compared to his bipedal forms, so Reflect hadn't entirely expected a reaction from him.

"I see, you're holoform really wasn't all that sensitive was it?" Reflect manages, attempting recover just slightly from the incredible feeling his bonded is causing up his own side.

"mmhmm." Ironhide grunts. he chuckles a little. "did they give you any explination on interfacing Will?" Ironhide ask. Reflect shakes his head a little. it covers the back of his helm in dirt, nearly digging a small dent in the ground under him.

"no why?" he asks, trying to focus on his bondeds words.

"its similar to humans, but different." Ironhide murmurs, nipping at his audio receptor. Reflect groans quietly.

"yeah?" Reflect ask.

"mmhmm." Ironhide hums, unable to form words for a few moments when Reflects other servo comes up to the side of his chest, caressing sensitive nodes there as well. Ironhide shivers, managing to push through the feelings and trying not to sound like an utter idiot. "m'gonna pop open a panel, 'kay? you'll get a warning. it'll probably be in Cybertronian, but s'just warning you're interfacing circuitry is being opened." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect nods.

"m'kay." Reflect mutters, pulling one of his servos back, much to Ironhides displeasure. his other servo stills, watching Ironhide. the Primes had warned him about the warning, of course, and both his previous caretakers had put a lot of time in teaching him Cybertronian, so he could read the warning. Ironhide reaches down and pops both their panels open. Reflect balks a little, jerking back at the warning and alarm going off in his head. its immediately got Ironhides attention, he stops afraid he's hurt his bonded on accident.

"you alright?" Ironhide ask. Reflect shakes his head a little, trying to shake away the ringing sound. it seems to echo for a moment.

"fuck, that alarm was loud. I didn't realize there'd be an alarm." Reflect murmurs.

"right sorry, forgot about that." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect shakes his head again.

"well, the Primes didn't warn me of it either. you'd think warnings and alarms would be something they'd go over before throwing me back out here to you.." Reflect murmurs.

"we'll discuss more of those later." Ironhide murmurs.

"didn't yours go off?" Reflect asks. Ironhide shakes his head.

"no, I opened my own." Ironhide murmurs.

"didn't realize that was an option." Reflect murmurs. "but hey, if you were looking for another excuse to keep your servos on me thats fine too." Reflect smirks. Ironhide snorts, leaning up to nip at his audio receptor again, making the smaller shiver and groan quietly.

"I'll touch whenever, wherever, and however long I want." Ironhide murmurs.

"anymore warnings I should worry about." Reflect murmurs.

"a couple." he murmurs. "when I pull your cable out you'll get one, as well as when I make connection with your port." Ironhide murmurs. "no more alarms though." he assures gently. Reflect nods, watching him a moment before continuing on with running his fingers over every wire and sensor node within reach. he'd just been curious to see if he could distract the bigger mech, even if only for a moment, and is pleasantly surprised to find it works. Ironhide finds himself faltering in his actions for only a brief second, before shooting a look up at Reflect face.

"don't look at me like that. I can touch too." he grins. Ironhide chuckles softly and leans over him, carefully nipping at the wires of the smallers throat. Reflect shivers.

"just remember, its just a couple of warnings." Ironhide murmurs. theres a soft click sound, and he finds that, the warnings he's prepared for, but the actual feeling of Ironhide popping his cable from its casing is not something he was prepared for. he groans lowly, dropping his head back. Ironhide chuckles, taking the chance to gently stroke the delicate cable between two fingers. the bot beneath him shivers and squirms, desperately trying to keep himself still.

he may not know everything about interfacing, just what the Primes had told him, but there was no way in hell he wanted to start squirming with such a delicate cable being held by another bot, even if that bot was Ironhide. especially when the knowledge of the fact that if, even accidentally, something happened Ironhide would have to take him to a mech who'd been caring for him for three years as his own child.

after a moment the bigger bot takes pity on him and carefully plugs Reflects cable into his port. its been a long time since Ironhide has had another bot hard linked directly into his system like this. he hadn't done this since his previous lover Chromia had perished on Cybertron. he takes him a second to be able to push away the feeling of the other bots presence washing over him like a loop.

he'd purposefully plugged Reflect into him first, because he wasn't sure he'd even be able to register the feeling if he'd plugged into the smaller first and he wants him to feel everything he can. he watches the smaller bot a moment, head dropped back and he's silent. his fingers have stilled once again.

"its gonna feel a little weird." Ironhide warns, gently plugging himself into Reflects port. he's carefully watching Reflects face. its obvious he has no idea how to react, with Ironhides full presence washing over him and running through his system. he knows because he can feel his pleasure but also how overwhelmed he is. systems over whelmed and panting to attempt cooling off, both their systems synchronizing and presence looping together. he knows the feeling can be pretty overwhelming when hard linked into someone else, so he stops moving, attempting to keep his own feelings to himself. he gives the smaller mech a moment, or attempts to.

"fuck, Hide." Reflect groans quietly, his fingers immediately getting back to work on the bigger mechs sides. Ironhide jerks at the unexpected feeling. he lets out a soft groan, dropping his head against Reflects. Reflect is staring up at him, optics darkened with lust, watching him. Ironhide stares down at him and sends a strong pulse through their connection. Reflect moans immediately, arching up off the ground. he immediately sends a pulse back just as strong and shivers when it echos over the connection. since he was hardwired into his bondeds system he could feel everything the other could feel. everything was echoing, doubling the pleasure and quickening their overload. Ironhide keeps track of the growing overwhelming feeling over the smallers side of the bond. if the feeling gets too strong, they'll have to stop or they could risk sending Reflect into a panic attack. he keeps track but doesn't stop yet.

"open your chestplates." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect looks up at him, questioningly, panting softly. he's confused and the overwhelmed feeling grows.

"wh-what?" Reflect murmurs. Ironhide pauses a moment to give him just a few moments to calm down before speaking once more.

"open your chestplates. I have wanted to actually bond with you, the normal way, since I found out we were bonded." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect nods, popping his spark chameber open as Ironhide pops his own open. Reflect can't help but stare. its not the first time he's seen Ironhides spark, far from it actually, but it has been a while. its still beautiful and blue, but the large crack down the glowing blue orb makes his own spark hurt for a brief moment.

he doesn't have long to think on it, because their sparks move of their own accord, melding together as one. the extra boost of pleasure provided by the bond has both of them groaning, arching, pleasure looping over them and echoing, succumbing to overload.

it takes a few minutes for them both to come back into their senses. their chestplates have close of their own accord. Ironhide is collapsed on his bonded, both desperately attempting to cool their systems.

"holy... holy fuck." Reflect murmurs. "definitely better than the human version." Reflect adds. Ironhide chuckles, pushing up carefully.

"told you." he murmurs. "hang tight. m'gonna disconnect. won't hurt or nothing." Ironhide murmurs gently. Reflect nods. he lays still, letting Ironhide disconnect them both and safely tuck their cables back into their protective casings. he lays beside Reflect on the ground, pulling him to his chest.

"does that change the bond or anything?" Reflect murmurs. Ironhide shakes his head.

"nope, guess it could make it stronger, but I don't think so. we were already bonded, this just... affirms it." Ironhide murmurs.

"hope you didn't plan on going anywhere, because I intend to curl up with you here in the friggin' dirt all night and watch the stars or recharge. m'not moving no matter what." Reflect mumbles.

"I didn't intend to ask you to. I'm content to stay right here with you Will. for the rest of our lives if need be, but if all you want is for the night, we'll stay here the night." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect shifts a little, reaching over to lay his servo over the middle of Ironhides chest. the bigger mech places his own servo over his.

"I didn't realize it put an actual crack in your spark when I died." Reflect murmurs, cuddling him. Ironhide squeezes his servo gently, pulling the smaller against his side.

"yeah... its healed some though. its okay." Ironhide assures gently.

"does it hurt?" Reflect murmurs. Ironhide shakes his head a little.

"no. not anymore. not since you woke up like this." Ironhide murmurs, kissing his head. Reflect shifts and pulls him closer, he'd managed to slip his arm under Ironhide before he laid down beside him, so he holds the mechs waist gently. he buries his face into the biggers neck gently, a small smile on his face.

"did you ever think we'd get to do this again? just curl up together?" Reflect murmurs softly. Ironhide squeezes him gently.

"no, but I enjoy it." Ironhide murmurs, holding him tightly. Reflect nods curling up with him. they go quiet after a few minutes.

"you finished 'facing my fragging sparkling yet?"

Ironhide rolls his optics, pulling Reflect closer. of course Ratchet would know what they'd left to do. he's sounds pissed and annoyed, but also slightly concerned. like he still considered Reflect to be his sparkling, that was a good thing.

"yeah actually I just finished. he's my fraggin' bondmate. what do you want?"

"him back on the base now."

"nope. he wants to lay out here under the stars and just stay with me. we'll see you in the morning."

"no you'll return him to the base now. Primes orders."

"Prime can com me himself then or come and get him himself."

he kisses the other mechs head gently. Reflects already snoring, so Ironhide shifts slightly, cuddling him.

they stay out at the farm all night and only head back to the base in the early morning, sneaking in before anyone else was awake.

Ironhide lays out on his berth, watching Reflect look around the room.

"somethng wrong?" Ironhide ask.

"nope, just looks like a shrine in here." Reflect murmurs.

"it kinda was. I can take that stuff down if it bothers you." Ironhide assures gently. "I mean it was technically a shrine to your death..." he adds.

"doesn't bother me. just makes me a little sad and no I won't ask you or let you take the stuff down. it means a lot to you Hide." Reflect murmurs. "what time is it?" he asks, looking over.

"'bout 4 AM." Ironhide murmurs, stretching out.

"cool, I'll be right back." he murmurs, heading out of the room.

"where are you going?" Ironhide ask.

"medbay, I'll be back in a sec." he assures.

he wastes no time heading for the medbay quickly, he's only got a few minutes before Ratchet gets up and he doesn't want the medic to see him in there.

he walks into the medbay and stalls a moment, Ratchets asleep at his work bench, holding the old blanket Wheeljack had made for him. Reflect frowns, but carefully heads for the medics office. he grabs the box of datapads Ratchet had been letting him read, leaves a quick note, and takes off.

he slips back into his and Ironhides room.

"what the frag are those?" Ironhide ask.

"medical datapads. unfortunately, I was also not granted with the medical knowledge I would've gained over those seven years and I wasn't done learning everything I could." Reflect says, setting the box down.

"you're serious about learning that shit?" Ironhide ask, sitting up some.

"yup. its important for me to learn this." Reflect says,

"is Ratchet in danger?" Ironhide asks, worriedly.

"no, but the war continues to rage for a while. having Wheeljack helps, but Ratchet is the only certified medic on base. Wheeljack can patch others up, but Ratchet needs help. how many mechs on base are there?" Reflect ask.

"I dunno 20-30? maybe?" Ironhide shrugs.

"yeah and we have one medic. one certified medic plus Wheeljack." Reflect frowns. "having a second won't hurt plus it'll give Ratchet a break in the medbay sometimes if someone else could take a shift on call." Reflect murmurs. he looks over at Ironhide before climbing up onto the berth with him. Ironhide smirks pulling him up and onto him. Reflect huffs a little, before crossing his arms over Ironhides chest and laying his head on them. "what do you want?" Reflect murmurs.

"I've got you. I've got everything I need." Ironhide murmurs.

"you're such a sap." Reflect murmurs.

"yeah, but you love me anyway." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect laughs, but Ironhide wasn't lying. he's got Reflect, he's got Will. thats all he needs.