Reflect yawns shifting, he rolls to curl up on his side, but a servo stops him.

"nope, you need to stay on your back. you'll mess up your drip." Ratchet says softly.

"h-huh?" Reflect asks.

"don't move." Ratchet murmurs, rubbing the side of his face gently. Reflect feels a pinch in his arm and hisses quietly. "sorry, just unhooking you.." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect onlines his optics and shifts looking confused. he can't see anything.

"what the hell...?" he mumbles, jerking back. Ratchet snorts, amused.

"don't panic, its just Wheeljack." Ratchet chuckles. Reflect turns his head, looking over at Ratchet.

"whys Jack up here?" Reflect ask.

"you fell asleep holding onto him and wouldn't let go." Ratchet chuckles.

"oh." Reflect mumbles. "sorry." Reflect adds.

"don't be. he kept you happy and you kept him out of my way." Ratchet snorts. Reflect chuckles. "you sound a lot better now. your system was pretty close to shutting down from lack of energon." Ratchet frowns.

"I kept purging it back up." he mumbles.

"I know." Ratchet sighs. "we mixed the regular grade and medical grade and pumped your system full. of course by we I mean me, since Jack curled up with you and fell into recharge." Ratchet huffs. Reflect cuddles into him.

"he's warm." Reflect mumbles.

"oh yeah. always warm, what was it Sam said that one time... oh, he is so warm you could fry an egg on his armor." Ratchet says. Reflect laughs a little, letting go of Wheeljack. he sits up slowly.

"I feel a lot better." Reflect murmurs.

"you look better." Ratchet says. "you haven't been getting enough energon to your systems. keep going like that and we'll strap you to a berth in the medbay until the sparkling gets here." Ratchet frowns.

"sounds like a safe plan." Reflect mumbles. "what all did you do?" he ask.

"well, I was uploading several codes help you alone in this, but I also updated your holoform. your holoform will now breathe like everyone else's." Ratchet says.

"oh great." Reflect grumbles. "thanks." Reflect murmurs.

"you should purge less now." Ratchet murmurs.

"I do appreciate that." Reflect says, stretching. "what time is it?" Reflect asks.

"7PM. Ironhide will be getting off his shift in about an hour." Ratchet murmurs.

"I really spent all fucking day in the medbay, sleeping." Reflect mumbles.

"thats okay. you need it and you're healthy. both of you are." Ratchet says. "oh and I sent Ironhide new images of the sparklings spark." Ratch adds.

"oh I bet he loved that." Reflect chuckles softly.

"he didn't respond to me." Ratchet murmurs.

"am I good to head out?" Reflect ask.

"sure kid, but make sure you get another cube in your system later okay? and if you have any more issues, you come back to me. well get some more medical grade into your system okay?" Ratchet ask. Reflect nods a little.

"yeah okay." Reflect assures. he gets up off the berth with Ratchets help.

"go be careful." Ratchet murmurs.

"I will." he assures. "thanks." he murmurs. Ratchet nods at him smiling. Reflect heads out of the medbay feeling better than he had in a few days. he nearly bumps into Ironhide almost as soon as he leaves. "oh hey Hide, still on shift?" Reflect smiles.

"I got off early." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect smiles.

"well, good! Ratchet said he sent you a new scan of the sparkling." Reflect smiles. Ironhide nods a little.

"yeah. I got it printed. its on the wall next to the other one." Ironhide says. "you feel any better?" Ironhide ask.

"oh yeah. I feel so much better. I don't feel like purging anymore." Reflect murmurs.

"good." Ironhide smiles a little. "Cade would like to speak with you." Ironhide adds, looking over.

"sure." Reflect smiles at him.

"you must be feeling well. I don't think I've seen you smile so much these past few days." Ironhide snorts.

"I wasn't getting enough energon to keep me running. I kept purging it up so, y'know, I gave up keeping it down." Reflect frowns. "but I'm feeling a fuck ton better now. maybe I'll stop sleeping so much." Reflect adds. he cuddles up to Ironhide, smiling at him. "I've been a dick lately and I'm sorry." Reflect murmurs.

"nah, its alright. I know you can't control it Will." Ironhide murmurs, leading him to the rec room.

"hey! Reflect!" Cade calls, running over. Reflect smiles at him.

"Cade, whats up?" Reflect ask. Cade looks around the room.

"anyway I can talk to you privately?" Cade asks, hesitantly. Reflect looks a little surprised.

"uh, sure, Hide mind if I borrow our room for a few?" Reflect asks. Ironhide waves him off.

"need a cube anyway." Ironhide assures. Reflect crouches down and puts his servo down for him. Cade steps in it and lets Reflect carry him off.

he lets the man down on his and Ironhides berth, before crouching in front of him.

"so, whats up Yeager?" Reflect smiles.

"how did... you and Ironhide make it work when you were still Will?" Cade asks hesitantly. Reflect smiles at him a little.

"you and Optimus are struggling aren't you?" Reflect ask.

"h-huh? how'd you know?" Cade asks, face going bright red.

"don't worry. I knew about you two before you two knew about it. I knew the moment I met you as a sparkling Cade. the Primes told me of it. honestly I was a little afraid I'd walk in on you two in his office or your little lab or something." Reflect chuckles.

"well... how did you guys do this?" Cade frown. Reflect shakes his head a little.

"its not easy. I won't lie. Ironhide and I had a leg up that you and Prime don't. Ironhide was removed from battle duty and thrown into sole guardianship of me. we had months on end to figure things out." Reflect explains. its not going to be easy Cade. Optimus is the Prime. he has an entire base to run all by himself until he decides I'm ready to help him, but I'll do what I can to help you. I can run the base while you two get a date night now and then. take him out and give him a hand washing. I guarantee the last time he had a hand wash was long before I died. he'll enjoy it. trust me. find a way to wiggle into his office and talk to him. convince him to bring his holoform down to your lab to 'look' at some things. it might be hard, but once you get him alone, it'll be easy to get him to fuck around. he does love you, but he doesn't know how to be a lover and a soldier at the same time. took Ironhide a long time to figure it out. Bumblebee just kinda slipped straight into the role." Reflect chuckles.

"wait, Bumblebee?" Cade ask.

"oh yeah, don't you know? Sam and Bumblebee have a bond. I hear you're some kind of Knight or something. the more time you spend with him, the stronger your bond will get." Reflect assures.

"I don't understand." Cade says. Reflect smiles at him.

"I know, but you will." Reflect nods. Cade looks at him confused.

"but... how do I get him away from here? I haven't even actually seen him since the day mine and Wheeljacks project exploded." Cade frowns.

"just... go to him. let him see you're lonely and you want attention." Reflect smiles.

"tried that." Cade mutters. "I got stuck with Hound as a guardian for a while." Cade grumbles.

"well, you could always get hurt in a non obvious way." Reflect says. Cade looks at him confused. Reflect chuckles softly, getting a little closer to the man. "let me let you in on a little secret. your guardian, will drop anything and everything if you get hurt." Reflect murmurs.

"how so?" Cade ask.

"Ironhide ever tell you about me when I was human?" Reflect ask.

"sort of." Cade frowns.

"always makes me sound super clumsy outside the base right?" Reflect ask. Cade nods. Reflect chuckles. "I wasn't as clumsy as he thought. a couple of well placed trips here, a slip there, an 'oh don't worry I just fell down the stairs and bloodied my nose' occasionally, don't over do it. Ironhide thought I was really clumsy, in all reality, I purposefully tripped down the stairs at my house and broke my nose so he'd spend a little time with me. planned it perfectly for when he was supposed to leave me for a month. he flat out refused. told Optimus I had to come with because I was too clumsy to be trusted alone." Reflect chuckles. Cade looks shocked.

"wait, wait, he told me about a time you sliced your hand open cutting a box open." Cade frowns.

"accidentally on purpose." Reflect snorts.

"and the time you tripped over a rock on base and busted your face?" Cade ask.

"I never even touched that rock." Reflect snorts.

"what about the time Sam said you slipped off the roof of your house and broke your leg?" Cade ask. Reflect frowns.

"uh, no, that.... that one was real. I was an idiot." Reflect frowns. "but most of them weren't. I wanted attention and he wasn't listening." Reflect shrugs. "and if he ever figured it out, he never said anything about it." Reflect murmurs. he smiles at Cade. "just give it a shot. smash your finger with a hammer or something, Prime will carry you around until the bruise is gone." Reflect smirks. Cade nods a little.

"uh... thanks." Cade murmurs. Reflect nods, scooping him back up.

"yup, no problem." Reflect smiles, carrying him back to the rec room. "don't do anything too bad. Primes more tender sparked than Ironhide." Reflect winks, putting him down. Cade snorts.

"alright yeah thanks." Cade chuckles, walking off.

"he okay?" Ironhide ask, walking over. Reflect nods standing up.

"yeah he's fine." Reflect smiles.

he's having a hard time figuring out how to make a human and Autobot romantic relationship work with him and the Prime.

Prime? like the Prime?

yeah, duh Hide. I wasn't referencing me.

Optimus Prime? dating Cade Yeager?

did your processor crash or something?

Ironhide shakes his head, before staring at his bonded.

"I'm not Prowl, you won't take me down that easy." Ironhide grumbles. Cade pauses, looking up at them.

"what in the hell does that mean?" Cade ask.

"Prowl has one of the most impressive logistical processors, with the ability to plan and plot out every last detail in hundreds of battle plans in a single moment, the problem is, he's all logical." Ironhide grumbles.

"we were talking over bond. I said something, he repeated me, I ask if his processor crashed. thats where the Prowl comment came from." Reflect explains.

"I don't understand." Cade frowns.

"oh shit, this was my favorite game before you guys knew who I was." Reflect grins.

"you did that shit on purpose?" Ironhide frowns.

"duh." Reflect snorts. he looks around, before spotting Prowl, standing over in a corner. "Cade give me the most illogical thing you can think off, just off the top of your head." Reflect grins.

"uh, unicorns?" Cade asks,

"nah something better than that." Reflect snorts.

"uh blue cows." Cade says.

"I've used that one before. try harder." Reflect says.

uh, alligator in a vest?" Cade ask.

"something stupidly illogical, but funny." Reflect grins. Ironhide snorts and leans over whispering something to him. Reflect grins and nods. "fucking perfect." Reflect chuckles. he grins and walks over towards him.

"what did you tell him?" Cade asks, curiously.

"when Annabelle first met Prowl, she ask him every question she could, he handled all of them as sparkling are illogical, but one thing made him crash." Ironhide snorts. Reflect leans over Prowls shoulder, pretending to read his datapad.

"what are you doing?" Prowl frowns.

"just wondering why you're over here thinking about Optimus Prime in a tutu." Reflect says, casually. there's an immediately sound of Prowls processor stalling. Reflect quick to grab him before he hits the ground, laying him down gently on the floor.

"now what?" Cade asks, watching him. "did you kill him?" Cade asks, hesitantly.

"nope, I stalled his processor." Reflect snorts. "now we call Ratchet and run." Reflect grins, taking off.

"I maaaayyyyyy have caused Prowl to crash... again."

"Reflect damn it!"

"sorry!"

"no you're not. you're just damn luck you're my sparkling."

"sorry Ratchet."

Ironhide frowns, looking down at Prowl.

"Ratchet-"

"I know Ironhide. he already commed me. where is he?"

"rec room floor."

Ironhide snorts and nudges Cade out of the way.

"I wouldn't be here when Ratchet gets here if I were you." Ironhide snorts, walking off quickly. Cade runs off quickly.

Ironhide finds Reflect back in their room, giggling and laying on their berth.

"yeah ha ha. don't teach the humans that." Ironhide frowns.

"you're the one who taught Annie that." Reflect snorts.

"I know, but that was different. she was different. I don't trust Yeager." Ironhide frowns.

"I do." Reflect murmurs.

"you know something I don't again?" Ironhide frowns.

"he'll be good for Prime. just know that." Reflect assures. Ironhide rolls his optics.

"alright so Prime has a human." Ironhide murmurs.

"don't say it like that. you make him sound like... some kind of pet. you never refered to me like that right?" Reflect frowns. Ironhide huffs.

"actually I did. you were my human. you were from the moment I was assigned your guardian. you've always been my human and now you're my bondmate." Ironhide shrugs. Reflect frowns at him.

"thats gross and possessive behavior Hide." Reflect frowns. Ironhide raises an optic ridge looking confused.

"I'm sorry you see it that way, but that argument is what kept be from being replaced as your guardian after the divorce. Prime tried to give you a new guardian, didn't think I'd be able to keep you safe and healthy while you were depressed. the argument made was you were just a human, my argument was you were my human and I wasn't going anywhere." Ironhide frowns. Reflect frowns at him.

"I never knew they tried to replace you." Reflect frowns.

"the argument continued, but it was dropped when it came out you were my bonded. at that point Prime realized I would actually fight him physically on this and not just verbally." Ironhide frowns. "it was dropped immediately and I got to stay." Ironhide murmurs, climbing up beside him. he lays back on the berth with a sigh.

"tired old man?" Reflect ask.

"not everyone got to sleep all day like you." Ironhide murmurs, pulling Reflect to his chest. he wraps his arms firmly around the smaller.

"oh come on, you can't just keep me here." Reflect frowns.

"you're safer here with me." Ironhide grumbles, tightening his hold. "I feel better knowing you're here." he murmurs. Reflect rolls his optics.

"oh yeah sure. its me you want, not the sparkling." Reflect snorts.

"it can be both." Ironhide huffs, holding him tighter. Reflect chuckles and smiles.

"you can be as happy and excited as you want for this sparkling, but if you don't let me go right now, I'll bust the fuck out of you right now." Reflect warns.

"I'm not letting go." Ironhide mutters.

"than loosen your fucking holding Ironhide." Reflect growls. Ironhide does as he's asked, loosening up just slightly.

"don't get hostile." Ironhide murmurs gently.

"I'm not hostile." Reflect grumbles.

"you're getting there." Ironhide murmurs.

"you were holding me too hard." Reflect hisses, rolling over enough to glare at his partner. the other mech loosens his hold more.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, but I'm not letting go." Ironhide soothes gently. Reflect smiles a little, resting his servo over the one laying on his chestplates.

"fine just don't hold me so tight." Reflect grumbles.

"Autobot."

Ironhide shifts immediately.

"Hide?" Reflect ask.

"hang on." Ironhide mutters.

"so, silent for a year and a half then you decide to come back? what do you want Barricade?"

"I want to talk to him."

"not happening. Reflect has nothing to say to you."

"I have memories of him growing up. I want to talk to him."

"Barricade wants to talk to you." Ironhide frowns.

"why?" Reflect frowns.

"he wants to know why he has memories of you growing up." Ironhide explains. Reflect sighs.

"don't suppose you're down for a meet? I'll teleport us out the moment theres trouble." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide rolls his optics.

"you still want to talk to him?" Ironhide ask.

"not really but he has questions just like everyone else." Reflect grumbles. Ironhide grunts getting up.

"fine. meet us at the usual spot, 20 minutes from the base."

"I'd rather we meet further out."

"last time that happened you scummy 'Cons almost killed both of us."

"I don't want to be caught that close to your base."

"too bad. Reflect has medical issues. he can't drive that far."

"fine, I'll meet you there."

"usual meet up spot." Ironhide murmurs.

"good. if I need to Ratchet'll be able to get to me if I can't transform and drive." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide nods, getting up.

"I won't let him get too close to you and I won't let him hurt either of you." Ironhide assures gently. Reflect nods.

"thanks Hide." Reflect murmurs, kissing him. Ironhide nods and smiles.

they both head outside and transform, heading to the agreed location.

"you're nervous." Ironhide says, riding next to him.

"so are you." Reflect retorts. "we're both afraid of the same thing Hide. I'll stay in my holoform, I'll stay beside you. if anything happens, I'll get us both out of there. promise, none of us will get hurt." Reflect assures, sliding closer to the bigger.

"alright." Ironhide murmurs gently. "I;m just..." Ironhide trails.

"worried." Reflect murmurs softly. "I know Hide. its okay." Reflect assures gently

they pull up and park in the waiting spot, both activating their holoforms. Barricade rolls up a few mintues later.

"holoforms?" Barricade asks. Reflect hops out of his alt slowly.

"yeah." Reflect murmurs.

"you have a problem with that?" Ironhide glares.

"no. was just hoping I could see what you grew up to be." Barricade says.

"maybe later. transforming takes more energy now than it did before." Reflect mumbles. Barricade watches him.

"you... you're carrying." Barricade says. Reflect nods, Ironhide tenses beside him.

"yeah I am." Reflect says.

"creator and bondmate." Barricade says, looking at Ironhide.

"that he is." Reflect says. "you had questions." Reflect frowns.

"yeah.... how did this happen?" Barricade ask. "you were the human." Barricade says.

"yeah the one Starscream stepped on." Reflect says. "I was carrying high amounts of Allspark energy. when he stomped on me it created a spark. the past Primes, they... told me it wasn't my time. that I had more to do here. the plan was for me to be a sparkling for a year then get aged up, but Ratchet and Wheeljack needed a sparkling, a lot more than Hide and I did." Reflect snorts. "I chose to stay with them for a little while, but when Sentinel attacked I had to..... make a change of plans." Reflect frowns. he winces and shuts the holoform off, transforming quickly.

"Reflect?" Ironhide ask, transforming quickly.

"are you alright?" Barricade ask, transforming with them.

"mmhmm." he hums.

"you sure?" Barricade ask. he nods waving them off as he walks away quickly.

"stay back. he's about to start purging." Ironhide frowns, watching his bonded carefully. his optics are firmly on the other mech, but his sensors stay on Barricade.

Reflect purges into the sand, but is no where near as violently as before. Barricade and Ironhide watch him, waiting until the mech turns around.

"starting to think driving is a bad idea." Reflect mutters, walking back over. "I'm fine. I'm fine I promise. thats far less violent that it usually is." Reflect snorts.

"too bad I never got the chance to try and convince you to switch sides as a sparkling." Barricade teases. Ironhide glares but Reflect snorts, smirking at the 'Con.

"y'know, I was gonna say the same thing to you. too bad. you would've made a good Autobot. you're loyal, even if you only look out for number one. still wonder what would've happened if the Autobots had gotten to you first." Reflect murmurs. Barricade scoffs.

"as if I'd ever swap to the Auto-scum." Barricade scoffs. Reflect raises an optic ridge.

"well, I mean, being neutral is an option too. maybe not for the Decepticons, but y'know. don't get me wrong or nothing, but I don't concider myself an Autobot. my days of fighting are over. I'd rather just be neutral." Reflect snorts.

"the sparkling will be as well." Ironhide mutters.

"netural is no better." Barricade huffs.

"well, whatever." Reflect shrugs. Reflect shifts on his peds, leaning against Ironhide a little and rubbing his chest.

"will I get to see the sparkling?" Barricade ask. Reflect doesn't even wait, shaking his head.

"no." Reflect frowns.

"what?" Barricade ask.

"Reflect?" Ironhide asks, looking confused.

"look I'm glad you didn't hurt me and all, but I'm not gonna be like Ratchet, Bumblebee, and Ironhide. I'm not exposing my sparkling to a Decepticon." Reflect says. Barricade stares at him.

"you're serious?" Barricade frowns.

"Reflect, hey he's proven he won't hurt a sparkling." Ironhide frowns.

"you're really not going to let me see the sparkling if I'm still a Decepticon?" Barricade glares.

"its nothing against you, but 5 out of 6 times you showed up, Starscream showed up. I won't let him kill my sparkling the same way he killed not only me but also my exwife and child from when I was human. I refuse. it's not happening." Reflect glares. "I won't put my sparkling in danger just so you can meet them. its not going to happen, and you sounding surprised, you really thought I'd just put our sparkling in the same danger?" Reflect ask.

"its just Barricade." Ironhide frowns.

"but its not!" Reflect snaps. "its not just Barricade, its also Starscream and Soundwave and Viewfinder, its all the Decepticons! you're willing to put our sparkling in danger?" Reflect glares.

"its not dangerous. I covered my signal so they can't find me." Barricade frowns.

"Starscream tried to kill me as a sparkling. I won't let him kill mine, there's no discussion to be had here. the answer is no. I will not be bringing my sparkling to meet a Decepticon and anyone who does will be cut from the sparklings life. thats it, final decision. that means you too Ironhide. if you take my sparkling to meet a Decepticon, we'll be living in the damn medbay." Reflect warns. he winces again.

"okay. okay. its okay. don't get all worked up. its okay." Ironhide murmurs gently.

"what the hell is going on? the monitor we put on Reflect and the sparkling is going nuts."

"he got upset its alright. I've got him."

"no this is not him being upset. this probably caused him to be upset. get him to th emedbay now."

"we're not on base. we were meeting with Barricade."

"Reflect?" Ironhide ask when the mech stumbles.

"hey is he okay?" Barricade frowns.

"Reflect, hey, Will!" Ironhide shouts, when the mech collapses against him.

"he collapsed."

"Jack, Prime, and I are already on the way. lay him down gently."

Ironhide grunts, carefully laying the mech down. he glances at Barricade.

"get out of here." Ironhide murmurs.

"no, I'm not leaving until I'm sure they're okay.

"Prime is coming and you're signal isn't covered anymore, get the hell out of here before they start shooting." Ironhide snaps. Barricade frowns and turns, running off. he transforms and speeds off as fast as he can. Ironhide kneels beside Reflect. "Will, hey its okay, come on." Ironhide murmurs gently, holding him, gently.

he looks up when the three vehicles speed over. Optimus has his trailer so Ratchets not intending to allow Reflect to drive home. they transform and walk over to them.

"move." Ratchet snaps. Ironhide steps back quickly.

"what happened?" Ironhide frowns.

"he's been purging so violently I put a monitor in his spark chamber to monitor the two. I don't know exactly whats happening." Ratchet mutters. "I just know there was a spike in both sparks." he frowns. Ironhide nods, watching him. Ironhide steps back some, looking over when Optimus walks over. they watch Ratchet and Wheeljack work on the mech.

"what were you out here doing?" Optimus frowns. Ironhide frowns a little.

"he thinks he can convince Barricade to either switch sides or go neutral." Ironhide murmurs.

"I see." Optimus frowns. Ironhide shifts a little. "I know Ratchet used to bring Reflect out to see Barricade. has this been the plan the whole time?" Optimus ask.

"I don't know if it was the plan then, but it is now." Ironhide says.

"did it work?" Optimus ask. Ironhide shrugs a shoulder, looking at Reflect. he turns to look at Optimus.

"Reflects not really giving him a choice. if he wants to meet our sparkling, he has to be an Autobot or a neutral." Ironhide says. Optimus raises an optical ridge at him.