"I know I haven't treated you very well these past few weeks, and I know I've shown anything but love, but I do still love you. none of this was your fault. m'just an idiot I was confused and stupid, I shouldn't have made it your problem." Wheeljack says softly. Reflect curls up more and Wheeljack frowns. "I'm not going anywhere, little one." Wheeljack adds, sitting down on the floor in front of him. its quiet for a few minutes between them. "I'm sorry, I know that doesn't change anything, but I am sorry. I'm sorry Reflect, or Will, whichever it is you prefer. I didn't understand and instead of trying, I made it your problem." Wheeljack murmurs. Reflect doesn't move away from him, but doesn't look at him either. the inventor considers it progress.

"Wheeljack."

"Prime? I'm a little busy right now."

"unless its about to explode I need your help."

"whats wrong?"

"Ratchet is about to tear Hot Rods arm from his frame, can you please tell me whats going on?"

"not sure what he said, but whatever it was it set Reflect off. something about the sparkling I gather."

"can you please attempt to get him off Hot Rod?"

"uh, sorry to inform you Prime, but Ratchet and I aren't on the best of terms right about now. I wouldn't be able to stop him, only Reflect could and right now he's not in the state to do that, considering he's curled up sobbing right now."

"understood. I will attempt again."

"be careful. he's pissed."

Wheeljack watches the mech in front of him carefully.

"wanna tell me what he said?" Wheeljack ask.

"he threatened to take the sparkling." Reflect mumbles quietly. Wheeljack frowns.

"I would also watch out for Ironhide. apparently Hot Rod threatened to take the sparkling once its sparked."

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you Wheeljack."

"we won't let that happen." Wheeljack murmurs softly. "you know Ironhide would never allow anything like that to happen and if someone managed to get past Ironhide, Ratchet and I would be right there. we wouldn't let that happen. we may fight, but we'll always be a united front for anyone intending harm to you." Wheeljack assures. Reflect curls up more. Wheeljack frowns and scoots himself up under the berth beside Reflect. "you did tell Ironhide right?" Wheeljack ask.

"he's not on base. it doesn't matter." Reflect mutters.

"it really does." Wheeljack assures.

"no." Reflect mumbles softly, wiping at his face.

you should've told me immediately, I would've put an end to it.

sorry. I tried but you couldn't understand...

don't be sorry Will. none of this is your fault. but next time, please let me know. if I don't understand you keep telling me until I do. I don't care what I'm doing. I never care, okay? you tell me and I'll beat their ass.

okay. m'sorry.

I will never let anyone take the sparkling. you know that, we've discussed this before. no harm will come to you or that sparkling while I'm still here. I don't care who it is that threatens you two, I'll end them. I promise you that. so, don't worry about it, alright? I love you.

Reflect curls up more.

"you okay?" Wheeljack ask.

"you told Ironhide." Reflect mutters.

"no, but I did tell Optimus. he's trying to pry Ratchet off Hot Rod, so I told him to be careful." Wheeljack murmurs softly. he looks at the mech beside him. "I won't lie to you, I didn't tell Ironhide. I told Optimus, I assumed you had already told Ironhide." Wheeljack murmurs.

"I tried, but he couldn't understand me either." Reflect mumbles.

"I didn't mean for it to get to him before you told him." Wheeljack assures gently.

"it doesn't matter." Reflect mumbles.

"it does matter." Wheeljack assures. "can I hold you?" Wheeljack ask. Reflect nods a little, letting the inventor put an arm around him.

thats how Ratchet finds them as soon as Optimus pries him off Hot Rod. he storms into the room intent on comforting the mech hiding in his room, but pauses. once his optics adjust, he can see Reflect curled against his bondeds side, snoring quietly, Wheeljack sitting beside him silently, just looking around.

"how'd it go?" Wheeljack ask.

"Prime separated us so he could discuss with Hot Rod, there won't be much discussing when Ironhide gets back to base and I promised I wasn't going to help fix Hot Rod up." Ratchet grumbles. he looks over Reflect. "I see you got him to calm down." Ratchet says, walking over.

"yup. wore himself out and fell asleep.'" Wheeljack says, rubbing the biggers side gently. Reflect shifts, but doesn't wake. "tried to convince him to get on the berth, but he wouldn't budge." Wheeljack frowns.

"hmm." Ratchet frowns.

"wanna turn on the lights?" Wheeljack ask. Ratchet frowns and looks up at the lights.

"oh yeah, by the way, the lights are broken." Ratchet frowns. he looks back down at Wheeljack, who looks confused.

"I just fixed the switch." Wheeljack says, confused.

"not the switch. the lights themselves." Ratchet says, turning his headlights on. he adjusts so Wheeljack can see the broken light above. the inventor looks shocked.

"oh." Wheeljack frowns.

"my guess the light came on when he came in and he shot it to turn it off." Ratchet frowns, shutting his lights off.

"I take it Ironhides just as pissed as you?" Wheeljack ask.

"worse. but thats what happens when you threaten to throw his bonded and sparkling to the Decepticons because they're 'not real Autobots'." Ratchet mutters.

"what? he just said Hot Rod threatened to take the sparkling." Wheeljack frowns.

"well, I got the truth out of Hot Rod. I wasn't very nice about it." Ratchet mutters. he frowns, checking his clock. "Ironhide will be back shortly, probably about an hour. he'll be with us until after Ironhide gets his rage out. lets see if we can't get him up onto the berth, thats just going to hurt his back." Ratchet says.

"we can try." Wheeljack mutters. Ratchet crouches down and grabs the bigger mechs legs.

"don't let his head hit the floor when I drag him out from under there." Ratchet frowns. Wheeljack nods. it takes them a few minutes to get Reflect out from under the berth, but together they get him onto the berth pretty quickly. Reflect sleeps through the whole thing. "I don't think Hot Rod will mess with him again, but I won't be surprised if he does." Ratchet frowns.

"me either... I don't think he should be alone. someone should stay with him..." Wheeljack frowns.

"you want to stay with him?" Ratchet ask. Wheeljack nods a little.

"I was here when he went to sleep... I don't want to just vanish while he's in recharge. I wanna fix things with him." Wheeljack murmurs. Ratchet nods a little.

"alright. well, you know where I am if you guys need me. I'm gonna go grab some cubes. I'll bring them back." Ratchet murmurs. Wheeljack nods and climbs himself up onto the berth.

Reflect shifts, before jerking up. Wheeljack immediately jerks awake beside him, he must've dozed off while waiting for Reflect to wake.

"you okay?" Wheeljack ask. Reflect winces, holding his chest a little.

"Ironhide's back." Reflect mutters, rubbing his head a little.

"is he?" Wheeljack ask. Reflect nods. there's an explosive rage on the other side of the bond, he must've found Hot Rod.

"yeah and I think he found Hot Rod." Reflect mumbles. he shifts a little on the berth, frowning. "how'd I get up here?" he mumbles.

"same way you always do kid." Wheeljack murmurs. Reflect stretches a little, wincing. "stiff joints happen when you curl up like that, but they're more common when carrying." Wheeljack says.

"I know." Reflect mutters, getting down. Wheeljack gets up with him and watches him.

"I'm really sorry Reflect, I've been an idiot... I guess I lost track of the fact that you're still... Reflect." Wheeljack murmurs. "still our little Reflect, just bigger than before." Wheeljack murmurs, smiling a little.

"I get it, its confusing. you're not the only one to act like that, I'm just grateful Ratchet was a little more willing to roll with it. I've needed his support." Reflect mumbles.

"if you'd let me. I'd really like to be there for you too... give you some support, maybe some advice..." Wheeljack trails. Reflect nods a little.

"yeah, that sounds good." Reflect murmurs, heading for the door.

"are... are we good?" Wheeljack asks, hesitantly. Reflect pauses.

"not yet, but we're getting there." he assures, back to the inventor still. Reflect gives a half smile to him though, before he heads out of the room and into the medbay. Ratchet looks up from Perceptors leg, glancing at the mech.

"there's cube on that counter for you." Ratchet says, turning back to his work.

"thanks." Reflect mutters. "whats up with you, rust back?" Reflect asks, looking at Perceptor. he walks over some, curious. Perceptor shakes his head a little.

"not quiet." Perceptor frowns.

"nothing bad I hope. you get too close to Jacks lab?" Reflect winces. Ratchet shakes his head.

"the rust caused some wires in his knee joint to melt, he collapsed in the rec room. I've just gotta replace them he'll be fine." Ratchet assures. Reflect nods a little.

"well, glad to see you're alright, for the most part." Reflect nods.

"yes." Perceptor smiles. Reflect sips his cube and plops down on one of the medical berths. Ratchet doesn't shoo him out.

"whats Hot Rods problem?" Reflect ask. Ratchet shakes his head.

"he was sparked to creators who taught him sparked sparklings were better than Allsparked sparklings, plus he's jealous." Ratchet says.

"jealous? what he had a crush on Ironhide or something?" Reflect ask. Perceptor snorts. Ratchet shakes his head, laughing at the idea. Reflect raises an optic ridge.

"no, pretty sure you're the only one in the universe who could fall for him. hot headed, trigger happy, fragger." Ratchet snorts.

"watch it thats my bondmate." Reflect warns.

"no, he's been bound and determined to be the next Prime since he was sparked. used to look up to Optimus when he became the Prime. he never got a Prime mark and everyone assumed Optimus was the last Prime, then you came along and you've got that nice shiny mark on your forehead that allows you to communicate with the Primes and now he's jealous. can't believe someone who was once human, could make Prime before him." Ratchet explains. Reflect nods, setting his empty cube aside.

"alright." he murmurs.

"take it Ironhides back." Ratchet said.

"how could you tell?" Reflect frowns.

"his anger is leaking over to your side of the bond. you probably don't even realize you sound pissed right now." Ratchet says. Reflect pauses.

"oh, sorry." he mumbles.

"not worried about it. Ironhide has a lot of rage, i'm not surprised you can feel it." Ratchet says.

"hey you said I was the only one in the universe who'd ever feel like this for Ironhide right?" Reflect ask.

"the only one crazy enough, yes." Ratchet snorts. Reflect rolls his optics.

"well if thats true... then who was Chromia?" Reflect ask. the medic stills a moment, Perceptor does the same. "what? I didn't mean anything by it. should I not ask about her...." Reflect says hesitantly.

"Ironhide told you about her?" Ratchet ask, turning to look at him.

"he mentioned her name a couple of times. not much about her. something about his time on Cybertron... he never said much, just mentioned her name a couple of times." Reflect frowns. Ratchet nods, turning back to Perceptors leg.

"she was a partner, not sure if she was a bonded of his or not. she and Elita-1 were both killed when Cybertron fell." Ratchet says.

"Elita-1? the bot Optimus has an old photo of in his office." Reflect says. Ratchet nods.

"she was his bonded. Decepticons grabbed both her and Chromia in an attempt to find Optimus. they were tortured for days, but when they still refused to talk, they were killed." Ratchet says. Reflect nods a little. he gets up.

"thanks." Reflect says, heading out of the medbay. he's almost immediately bowled into by Ironhide. the mechs raging, but he's careful the moment he realizes who he's slammed into, quickly grabbing hold of the mech to keep him from falling.

"sorry. was just coming to get you. they said you were in recharge." Ironhide mutters, wrapping his arms around the smaller tightly.

"I was." Reflect mumbles, face pressed into the mechs chestplates. "have fun beating Hot Rod?" Reflect ask.

"Prime got in the way, but he won't next time." Ironhide assures. Reflect nods and lets the bigger hold him for a few minutes.

"m'good Hide. promise. just had a melt down." Reflect mumbles quietly. Ironhide nods and lets him go.

"right, sorry." Ironhide frowns.

"no he waited until after you left. he had it planned. probably wanted me to hit him so he could hit back or something. I wouldn't have risked the sparkling like that though." Reflect mutters.

"well, next time do it." Ironhide says. "hit him. beat his ass. if it comes down to it, you know Ratchet and I will defend your actions to Optimus." Ironhide adds. Reflect nods.

"I will. absolutely. he played on a fear. I won't let it happen again." Reflect assures. he smiles up at the other mech.

"good. because I'll kill him next time if you don't." Ironhide assures. he turns, throwing an arm over the mechs shoulders, and heads down the hall with him. "if Ratchet doesn't first that is. beat his face in pretty good from what I saw." Ironhide snorts.

"Optimus wouldn't let you hit him at all?" Reflect glares.

"I got a couple of hits in before Optimus came running. he'd been waiting for me I guess. Red was watching on his little cameras." Ironhide says, motioning to one of the cameras in the hall. Reflect waves at the camera.

"oh yeah. those stupid cameras. how could I forget them?" Reflect mutters.

"are you still bitter about the paint bomb?" Ironhide grins. Reflect glares.

"the would be paint bomb. damn it. Sides and I worked on those for three days and the paint would've been incredible all over Hot Rod had Red not alerted Optimus and Ratchet what we were doing." Reflect glares. Sideswipe had spent the night in the brig and Reflect had spent the night in time out, not that it worked.

"it still exploded on Optimus when he grabbed it." Ironhide grins. Reflect smirks.

"in my defense I told him not to. if he'd had Wheeljack disarm it, then he wouldn't have ended up bright pink and covered in glitter. it was his own fault." Reflect smirks. "and you are the one who gave me the idea." Reflect smirks. Ironhide had gotten repremanded for causing the incident.

"yeah, thanks for that by the way. I got stuck on patrol for three days." Ironhide mutters. Reflect snorts. "Wheeljack got in so much trouble for teaching you how to build a bomb with a timer." Ironhide laughs. Reflect grins.

"well, what can I say, they were a team effort, but don't forget I spent three years learning from those pranksters, my reign of terror isn't over yet, just because I'm an adult." Reflect grins.

"you're gonna get in trouble with Prime if you're caught." Ironhide snorts.

"so I won't get caught." Reflect chuckles. Ironhide glances over as they enter their room. "what? if I get caught whats going to happen hmm? Ratchet would have a fit if I was thrown into the brig while carrying. he'd tear Prime a new one and he can't put me on patrol or clean up duty, I'm offically on medical leave until the sparkling gets here and if he yells at me I'll cry and he'll stop." Reflect shrugs. Ironhide scoffs, rolling his optics. "I want revenge Hide." Reflect frowns, staring at him.

"what do you need?" Ironhide ask. Reflect grins.

"you're gonna help?" he ask.

"I will help provide what you need. no one will be able to prove I knew what I was helping with." Ironhide says.

"awww you do love me." Reflect grins.

"of course. I don't let you sleep in my berth, 'face with you, and tell you I love you for no reason." Ironhide assures. "hell we're bonded and having a sparkling. of course I fragging love you." Ironhide snorts. Reflect laughs and leans up, kissing him happily. Ironhide chuckles softly, wrapping his arms around the smaller tightly.

"keep going and you're gonna want to 'face." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect scoffs and pushes him away.

"forgive me for trying to love on you." Reflect snorts.

"you're just trying to butter me up so I'll get the supplies you need." Ironhide snorts.

"hmm." Reflect grins. "paint and glitter. the rest I can get from Cade and Wheeljack." Reflect grins. Ironhide rolls his optics.

"what color and how much?" Ironhide ask.

"pick your poison and, judging by his size and how much it covered Optimus, three gallons wasn't enough. I say we triple it. nine cans and I'd say 5 pounds of glitter. I'd ask Sunny and Sides for it but they won't talk to me." Reflect says. "but, they'll talk to you." he grins.

"they'll have questions." Ironhide snorts.

"I doubt they'll help if you tell them ifs for me." Reflect frowns.

"they'll probably know." Ironhide frowns.

"the fewer who know about this the better." Reflect frowns.

"I'll get it myself." Ironhide assures. "will you be able to get what you need from Wheeljack?" Ironhide frowns.

"I think so. we talked a bit earlier. I should just be able to ask him for help." Reflect says. Ironhide nods.

"I'll go after that stuff when I go on patrol tonight." Ironhide assures.

"yeah shouldn't you be sleeping?" Reflect frowns. Ironhide shrugs.

"I'll be fine." he assures.

"yeah right. I'm gonna go talk to Wheeljack about the parts I need, you better get some rest." Reflect says. Ironhide huffs, grabbing his arm gently.

"it'll be lonely." he teases. "laying in this berth by myself." Ironhide adds. Reflect chuckles, turning to face him.

"aww, thats cute." Reflect smiles. "you'll get over it." he adds. Ironhide huffs.

"rude." Ironhide mutters. "I'd rather you didn't go out there by yourself right now. I don't want Hot Rod taking the chance to go after you while I'm in recharge." Ironhide frowns. Reflect pauses a moment.

"yeah, would you rather him try to come after me when you're not on base because I'm trying to get the parts?" Reflect ask. Ironhide lets him go.

"point taken. be careful and let me know if you have any trouble." Ironhide murmurs, kissing his head.

"I will. don't worry. I'll be fine." Reflect assures, heading out of the room.

"Jack."

"Reflect? are you okay?"

"are you in the lab?"

"no. I was talking with Ratchet, you alright?"

"can you just meet me in the lab real quick? I need to snag a couple of things. I can't explain more. I don't need you getting into trouble with me."

"I'll be right there."

Reflect chuckles and heads for the lab. he surprised to walk in and find both Ratchet and Wheeljack.

"what trouble have you gotten into?" Ratchet frowns.

"none yet." Reflect smirks at them. "I need one of your smoke bombs with a timer, a couple of tools, and do you have anything to temportarily disable the cameras?" Reflect ask. Wheeljack lights up.

"paint bomb." he grins. Reflect nods.

"I don't think so. if that bomb goes off on you it'll hurt you and the sparkling." Ratchet frowns.

"thats why I ask for a smoke bomb. I thinking of safety." Reflect assures.

"I don't have anything for the cameras yet, but I can get something fixed up." Wheeljack assures.

"Jack!" Ratchet glares. he turns back to Reflect. "no." he warns. Reflect huffs at him.

"oh come on. you can't stop me Ratchet. I'm not going to hurt anyone." Reflect frowns.

"who?" Ratchet ask.

"who else?" Reflect ask.

"Hot Rod? are you serious?" Ratchet ask.

"Optimus stopped Ironhide from beating the hell out of him and I wouldn't put the sparkling in danger to beat his ass. so, I'm just going to paint bomb him." Reflect assures.

"oh, have you thought of adding anything to the paint?" Wheeljack ask. "because I have left over screws you could-" Wheeljack starts.

"no!" Ratchet snaps.

"glitter. I will be throwing glitter in with the paint. I'm ont going to risk hurting me or Ironhide or worse the sparkling. a glittered paint bomb won't hurt him, or me should it accidentally prematurely explode." Reflect assures.

"and where are you getting the paint and glitter required?" Ratchet frowns. "it better not be the twins because-" Ratchet starts.

"Ironhide. Ironhide is going to go get it for me before he goes on patrol tonight. the twins won't even talk to me. don't worry. I'm going about this on the safest route." Reflect assures. "and if it comes down to it, I stole the bomb from you and did it myself so no one but me gets yelled at." Reflect assures.

"you're going to end up in the brig." Ratchet frowns. Reflect rolls his optics.

"lets not forget I spent three years learning the puppy dog eyes from Bumblebee, and I'm carrying. Optimus wouldn't risk putting me in the brig because if anything happened with the sparkling and I couldn't get to you, or you couldn't get to me it wouldn't end well. plus, whats he gonna do? put me on patrol? I'm not on active duty. he might yell at me and lecture me, but like I told Ironhide, if he yells at me I'll cry. he'll stop." Reflect shrugs.

"you've really thought this out." Wheeljack grins.

"and if this all backfires on you and Ironhide ends up on patrol for your punishment?" Ratchet ask. Reflect paused a moment to think.

"I'll figure it out. I'm not worried about it. no one is going to figure out that anyone else is involved." Reflect assures.

"I'm down to help." Wheeljack grins. he looks over at Ratchet. "c'mon Ratch, if you're so worried about it, you can help. it'll keep them both safe." Wheeljack smiles. Reflect grins at Ratchet.

"you could help. I'll take all the blame if we're caught." Reflect grins. Ratchet looks at both of them annoyed.

"didn't you learn your lesson last time?" Ratchet frowns at him. "Spending all day in time out." Ratchet adds.

"yeah, I learned I need more paint and glitter and not to get caught." Reflect snorts. Ratchet sighs at him. "you can't tell me it wouldn't be satisfying to see that bastard covered in some kind of neon paint and slathered in glitter." Reflect frowns. Ratchet rolls his optics again.

"okay, okay. I'm in, stop hanging out with Bumblebee and stop looking at me like that." Ratchet grumbles. Reflect immediately perks up.

"yes! woo! Ratchets in. alright." Reflect grins. the medic rolls his optics, but smirks at him.

"so how much paint are we looking at?" Wheeljack ask.

"about 9 gallons and a couple pounds of glitter. I'm not risking him not getting covered. those three gallons were no where near enough. last time." Reflect grins.

"you're really going all out." Ratchet snorts.

"yep! and I know he has important things to him in his room, so my plan is to set it off in the hallway." Reflect adds.

"someone is going to have to clean that up and its not gonna be me." Ratchet frowns.

"I might end up on clean up duty, but it'll be totally worth it." Reflect grins. Ratchet nods a little.

"alright. alright. what do you need us to do?" Ratchet grumbles. Reflect grins at him.