"yeah, just because they were confused doesn't mean they didn't care. I think this will be the end of your cold shouldering." Ironhide murmurs softly. "these guys, these Autobots, they may not show it, but they do care about you Will. they love you," Ironhide assures gently. Reflects quiet a moment, rubbing his chest. "they won't let him hurt the sparkling either." Ironhide assures.

"I want sleep." Reflect mumbles, climbing up onto the berth. he curls up, Ironhide climbs up behind him and holds him carefully.

"okay. its okay." Ironhide murmurs gently. he kisses his bondeds head.

it takes forever for Reflect to finally get some sleep, mind racing with the events that had happened, and he wakes not feeling rested at all. Ironhide's already awake laying behind him.

"how long you been awake?" Reflect mumbles.

"bout an hour." Ironhide murmurs.

"why didn't you get up?" Reflect mumbles.

"you were still asleep and I wasn't leaving you alone." Ironhide murmurs. "besides, you were holding on to me." Ironhide adds, shifting his arm to catch Reflects attention. Reflect looks down immediately. his finers are intertwined with the bigger mechs, arm effectively pinning his down. he lets go after a moment.

"sorry." Reflect mumbles, shifting.

"I'm not worried about it. I'll always hold you." Ironhide assures gently. he only gets up when Reflect does. "you okay?" Ironhide ask.

"I'm... gonna hide in the medbay." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide nods, kissing his head gently.

"okay, go I'll bring you a cube." Ironhide assures. Reflect nods. they head out separately, Reflect doesn't stop, heading as quickly as he can to the medbay. he doesn't feel like chatting with anyone and it appears everyone can see that. no one stops Reflect, no one even tries.

he shoves his way into the medbay, nearly freezing. Wheeljack is begrudgingly repairing Hot Rod on a berth.

"you fraggin-" Hot Rod starts. a wrench comes flying from Ratchets office. Wheeljack ducks, as if he'd been expecting it, and it nails Hot Rod straight in the head.

"Ratchets in the office, go ahead." Wheeljack says, standing back up. Reflect nods and heads for the office. Ratchet smiles a little.

"have a seat." Ratchet murmurs. "Ironhide told us you were headed our way." Ratchet explains. Reflect nods a little.

"and the wrench?" Reflect ask.

"I told Wheeljack to duck." Ratchet says. Reflect smiles a little, sitting down.

"mind if I crash here for a while?" Reflect ask. Ratchet shakes his head, chuckling.

"kid the moment I say yes to that question, get Optimus because I'm probably Megatron in disguise." Ratchet snorts. Reflect laughs a little.

"I'll keep that in mind." Reflect murmurs softly.

"want a cube?" Ratchet ask.

"Ironhide said he'd bring me one." Reflect murmurs. Ratchet nods at him.

"alright." he nods.

"I thought you weren't gonna fix Hot Rod?" Reflect ask. Ratchet immediately looks annoyed and replies before Reflect can apologize.

"I'm not. I'm making Jack do it." Ratchet grumbles. "Primes orders." he adds. Reflect rolls his optics.

"y'know, as a human he didn't seem like a shit Prime, but seeing it from the other side is worse." Reflect mumbles.

"he's not so bad." Ratchet assures. "he's just been dealing with Mearing." Ratchet frowns.

"Mearing?" Reflect asks, confused.

"she's demanding to know where you've suddenly gone, since you're not a sparkling anymore. she doesn't know you changed." Ratchet frowns. Reflect stands immediately, storming out. "wh- Reflect!" Ratchet calls.

get Prime and meet me in his office now.

baby you okay?

now Hide.

Reflect marches to Optimus' office. he gets there moments after Optimus and Ironhide. both look utterly confused.

"Reflect what is this-" Optimus starts.

"Charlotte Mearing." Reflect says firmly.

"that bitch." Ironhide mutters. Optimus frowns at Ironhide, before turning to Reflect.

"what is this about?" Optimus frowns.

"she wants to see me and now I want to see her." Reflect frowns. Optimus sides.

"Ratchet." he mumbles under his breathe. "Reflect I have this handled." Optimus assures.

"I know how to get her here myself if you won't do it." Reflect frowns.

"Reflect-" Optimus tries.

"its not up for debate Prime." Reflect frowns. Optimus looks over at Ironhide for help.

"don't look at me. you've been bitching about her since he changed." Ironhide snorts, putting his servos in the hair quickly. he walks over behind Reflect, wrapping his arms around his middle gently and resting his head on Reflects shoulder to show the Prime he's on his bondmates side. the Prime shoots him a dirty look, before pinching the bridge of his nose, a habit he'd picked up from being around humans for so long. he sighs and looks at Reflect.

"you can't be serious." Optimus frowns. Reflect shrugs his free shoulder.

"fine. I'll have Epps arrange a meeting. I'm not going to do this run from her thing." Reflect frowns.

"I'm not trying to do that." Optimus says firmly. "the problem arises with the sparkling." Optimus says. Reflect looks confused, then angry.

"if that bitch-" Reflect starts.

"we told the humans you were the only sparkling possible with the Allspark destroyed." Optimus says. Reflect pauses, looking confused, before he remembers.

"Reflect is the first sparkling in thousands of millennia. it never crossed our processors to alert humans it was possible. with the Allspark destroyed we assumed it wasn't anymore."

he remembers the Prime saying that previously.

"I'll handle it, won't even bring it up. do they know I was Will?" Reflect asks.

"John Keller does, but we didn't tell him how, he'll be confused." Optimus frowns. Reflect nods.

"fine. set up a meeting or I will. its 8AM. this can be done today." Reflect says firmly.

"and why are you asking me to set this up?" Optimus frowns. Reflect smirks.

"sounds better coming from a Prime." Reflect says.

"you are a Prime." Optimus says. Reflect pauses a moment, like he'd forgotten all about that. he frowns and shakes his head.

"I forget that..." Reflect frowns. he shakes his head and grins at Optimus. "I'm a Prime, you're the Prime." Reflect smirks, pushing Ironhides arms off. the weapons specialist complies, letting go. "let me know if I need to go to Epps to have it set up." Reflect says, grabbing Ironhides servo and pulling him out. Ironhide snorts, following after him. he flashes a grin at Optimus as they walk out.

"you could be a little nicer." Ironhide snorts, letting the slightly smaller hold his servo tightly.

"and Optimus could be less obtuse." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide pulls his servo, coming to a stop in the hallway.

"hey, shhh. I know you're all riled up from Hot Rod, but you've got to relax." Ironhide murmurs.

"I can't!" Reflect snaps, pulling his servo free with an angry glare. Ironhide rolls his optics and opens his subspace, pulling a cube from it and handing it to Reflect. the slightly smaller glares at him, but snatches it. "asshole." Reflect grumbles.

"sorry Prime. he's still worked up from Hot Rod and he's bitchy 'cause he hasn't had a cube yet."

"don't worry about it old friend. its amusing to me. usually you're the one with the bad attitude towards others and he is the one apologising."

"well, turn abouts fair play, or whatever it is the humans say."

"I believe its karma."

"whatever you wanna call it."

"just try to keep him under control."

"you're too afraid of Ratchet to yell at Reflect."

"I have a maintenance appointment in a few days, I'd rather not make it harder than it has to be by making him mad."

Ironhide snorts to himself.

Reflect sips his cube silently while they stand in the hallway. Ironhide watching him carefully. Reflect huffs a sigh and looks away, before glaring at Ironhide.

"should I apologise?" he grumbles.

"nah, I already did." Ironhide assures, chuckling. he leads the mech back towards the rec room. "but I would advise talking to Epps. Optimus has a lot on his mind already. he will easily forget or purposely ignore the request and blame it on paperwork." Ironhide warns. Reflect nods.

"any idea where to find him?" Reflect asks.

"probably his office. that Galloway jerk is supposedly here today." Ironhide grumbles.

"the one who pointed a gun at you and tried to dump Optimus' body?" Reflect ask. "the guy I shoved out of a plane?" Reflect frowns. Ironhide nods.

"the very same." he grumbles. Reflect straightens and marches towards Epps office.

"wait! hey! Reflect don't you dare!" Ironhide shouts following him.

"if you keep yelling at me I'm gonna cry and then, I'm gonna beat your ass." Reflect says, walking past the rec room entry way. every Autobot and soldier in there watches him storm by. a few seconds later Ironhide walks by quickly.

"you better not go in there!" Ironhide warns. several in the rec room snicker, before returning to their business. it reminded them of previous years. watching the angry sparkling storm through the base with whichever poor caretaker following after, near begging the sparkling to cool off.

"I'm serious Hide, if you yell at me again I'm gonna beat your face in while crying. I do it, you know I will and then Ratchet would have to beat your ass for making cry. it'll be a whole mess. I suggest you stop." Reflect says, stopping outside Epps office door. Ironhide stops beside him.

"don't go in there. you're just going to get Epps in trouble." Ironhide frowns.

"no I won't." Reflect assures. he walks into Epps office. Epps looks ready to melt into the floor, Galloway is yelling at him. "hey!" Reflect calls.

"who the fuck are you? you know what, I don't care get out!" Galloway glares. Reflect shoots him a dirty look before getting in his face.

"yell at me again, I'm already in a bad mood." Reflect snaps. Epps and Ironhide both wince at his tone, but Galloway just glares. he reaches over and gently plucks Epps from his desk. "I'll take this. thanks." Reflect growls, straightening up. he storms out of the room, Galloway chasing after him.

"what are you doing?" Epps mutters.

"something I've always wanted to do." Reflect snorts. "and getting you out of a meeting." he grins.

"dude, I'm gonna get in trouble." Epps frowns.

"no you're not. I've got this trust me. I've always wanted to see Galloway wet his pants and I've got just the thing to do it." Reflect grins. Epps pauses a moment, then grins.

"Ironhide." Epps says. Reflect nods.

"since he found out I'm me and I'm carrying, he won't let anyone yell at me, other than himself." Reflect murmurs.

"you're spoiled." Epps grumbles.

"I am well loved and well taken care of. plus it doesn't hurt I learned that kicked puppy face trick from Bumblebee." Reflect grins. Epps snorts. Reflect comes to an abrupt stop when Galloway gets in front of him. "hey, watch it, I could've stepped on you." Reflect frowns a little. he wouldn't have meant to, of course, but it was strange having to watch out for his human friends.

"YOU STOP RIGHT THERE!" Galloway shouts.

"you're gonna get Ironhide in trouble." Epps frowns.

"Galloways afraid of Ironhide, Optimus is afraid of me. trust me I know what I'm doing." Reflect assures. he glares at Galloway. "do not yell at me." Reflect glares.

"LOOK HERE TIN CAN! PUT HIM DOWN! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM!? I WILL THROW YOUR ASS OFF THIS PLANET! ALONG WITH ALL YOUR SCUMMY LITTLE AUTOBOT ALIEN PALS!" Galloway shouts. there's a growls from behind the mech.

"if you would like to remain in the land of the living, I suggest you stop yelling at my bondmate right now!" Ironhide growls. Reflect winks at Epp, stepping back when Ironhide fires up his cannons.

"woah! hey! hey! do not point those anywhere near my direction! Ratchet will kill you!" Reflect says, getting out of the way quickly. he also covers Epps protectively. Ironhide shoots him an apologetic look silently, before glaring back down at Galloway.

don't kill him Hide.

you make a mess and I have to clean it up.

I love you! thank you!

you owe me asshole.

awww, extra cuddles for the greatest bonded ever.

don't be a suck up Will.

you love me.

Ironhide grunts. Reflect carries Epps off gently, putting him back down outside his office, smiling.

"you won't get in trouble. send anyone my way and while you do that call Keller and Mearing, tell them to come to the next base for a meeting, but don't tell them its with me." Reflect smiles. Epps just nods silently. heading back into his office. he's confused as hell. Relfect heads back to Ironhide.

Galloway is gone, no where to be seen, there's a scorch mark on the floor where he once stood. a mark like that generally happened when Ironhide fired up his cannon and held it too close to the floor without firing it.

"you're gonna have to explain that to Prime." Ironhide mutters.

"no worries." Reflect smiles.

"if Prime asks, I got the blame. no one likes that asshole." Sideswipe snorts, walking over. Reflect and Ironhide both look over.

"whats your gain?" Ironhide frowns. Reflect looks confused.

"why would you do that?" he asks. Sideswipe smirks at him.

"because I need your help." Sideswipe grins.

"alright, what do you want?" Reflect ask.

"don't make deals with him." Ironhide frowns. Reflect waves him off.

"shhh, I got this." Reflect assures. he flashes a smile at Ironhide, then looks back at Sideswipe. "what are your demands?" Reflect ask.

"I want a bomb like you used on Hot Rod." Sideswipe said.

"for who?" Reflect ask.

"you'll find out." SIdeswipe assures.

"absolutely not. tell me who its for." Reflect frowns.

"I'll make you a deal, name the bots you don't want me to hit and I'll hit someone other than them." Sideswipe smirks. Reflect looks him over a moment.

"a bomb like that would severally injure a human." Reflect warns. SIdeswipe nods, he'd figured it would.

"no humans on the list then." Sideswipe assures. "its a prank. I don't want to actually hurt someone." Sideswipe adds.

"Ratchet, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Bumblebee, and I stay off the hit list. especially me, no offense to everyone else. but Ratchets worried a blast like that would injure the sparkling or even extinguish its spark." Reflect warns.

"deal. again, I don't want to hurt anyone, just a prank." Sideswipe assures.

"and I'm just giving you the bomb, absolutely nothing else. you have to get your own filler." Reflect says.

"throw in a trigger or timer and you've got a deal." Sideswipe smirks.

"timers are risky, I'll throw in a remote control detonator." Reflect offers.

"deal." Sideswipe smirks. he shakes Reflects servo with a grin. "now go. better get out of here before Galloway contacts Prime." Sideswipe grins. Reflect nods and turns, pulling Ironhide off. "I expect the package to be delivered tonight." Sideswipe adds.

"tomorrow. I can't, I've got a meeting with Mearing." Reflect frowns, turning to face him.

"fine, by midnight tomorrow." Sideswipe says. Reflect nods and turns back around to keep walking with Ironhide.

"you're giving him a paint bomb?" Ironhide frowns.

"relax, you're on the list of bots not to hit. Sideswipe knows the deal, plus I know who he's going after." Reflect smirks. Ironhide looks confused as they enter the room.

"not Prime is it?" Ironhide frowns. Reflect shakes his head.

"nope, apparently there's another mech on base thats been bad mouthing me and our sparkling. Sunny and Sides have decided to take care of it before it gets to the Hot Rod incident. Sunstreaker commed be while I was talking to Sideswipe." Reflect smiles. Ironhide huffs.

"I can't believe you won them over enough as a sparkling that they still bend over backwards for you as an adult." Ironhide grumbles.

"I can." Reflect grins.

"well, who is it?" Ironhide asks, confused.

"trust me, you're better off not knowing." Reflect snorts, sitting on their berth, sipping his cube. Ironhide walks over to him, standing between the mechs legs, gripping his thighs gently.

"tell me. I need to know who to watch out for. I can't keep you two safe if I don't know whose after you." Ironhide says softly. Reflect frowns a little.

"thats not fair playing the worried bonded/creator card." Reflect frowns. Ironhide gives him a small half smile.

"you get to play the cute and innocent, beautiful little carrier card. you play it all the time. I'm not afraid to play my cards." Ironhide murmurs. "as the humans say, know when to hold them, fold them, play, and run." Ironhide says. Reflect scoffs, leaning back a little to sip his cube.

"if I tell you, you have to leave him alone. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are going to take care of it." Reflect says.

"okay, I promise." Ironhide murmurs, leaning forward to kiss his bonded. Reflect smiles and kisses him, before sitting back. he watches the bigger mech a moment, before sighing.

"its... its Crosshairs." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide straightens immediately. "don't you dare. you leave him alone okay? the twins will get him." Reflect assures gently.

"I promised you I would hold my temper." Ironhide grumbles. Reflect shifts on the berth.

"I can feel you're angry." Reflect says.

"of course I'm angry. I'm pissed! but I promised." Ironhide growls. Reflect flinches at the sudden shout, before taking a sip of his cube. "sorry. finish your cube." Ironhide says, stepping back.

"how am I gonna tell Wheeljack I need another bomb...?" Reflect asks, looking at Ironhide.

"tell him exactly what its for." Ironhide murmurs, cupping his face gently with one servo. his other remains on Reflect thigh, squeezing it gently.

"I don't want a target on Crosshairs back. he hasn't out right attacked me like Hot Rod did." Reflect frowns.

"but I wouldn't put it past him. remember when he used his holoform to knock the hell out of Sam?" Ironhide frowns.

"right. Bumblebee almost killed him." Reflect frowns. he tosses his empty cube carefully onto the desk, before hooking his leg around Ironhide, pulling him closer. "and if you ever think you can get this close to me and just, pull away, you're an idiot." Reflect growls. Ironhide chuckles, leaning forward as if to kiss the smaller.

"Mearing and Keller will be at the N.E.S.T. base in five minutes." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect groans and kisses him, before shoving him away and getting up.

"gonna join me?" he asks.

"yes. to ensure the safety of both of you, I will join." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect nods getting up. he takes the chance, as he passes Ironhide, to swipe his fingers along Ironhides panel as he walks passed. Ironhide growls, following after him. "you're such an ass." Ironhide grumbles.

"you're the one who loves me." he grins. Ironhide follows after him, annoyed.

"I'll beat your ass." Ironhide mutters.

"I'll believe that when I see it." Reflect smirks.

they walk to the N.E.S.T. base happily. when they get there Optimus is waiting with Keller and Mearing.

"what is this about?" Charlotte snaps. Reflect glares.

"Secretary Keller, Director Mearing, I present, Reflect." Optimus says, motioning to the gray mech.

"weren't you... little last time?" John frowns.

"of course if was. what the hell is going on?" Charlotte glares. Reflect rolls his optics.

"yes and I figured you guys should know." Reflect frowns, crouching down. he'll be respectful until she pushes his buttons. "I doubt anyone has been in the right mind to explain what happened." Reflect says.

"Optimus told me... you were William Lennox." John says, hesitantly. Reflect nods at the man.

"yeah, that used to be my name. let me start by explaining how this happened. we don't know everything. this has never happened before. and lady if you open your mouth and start spewing shit I will not answer any questions." Reflect warns.

"be nice Charlotte." John frowns. the woman snaps her mouth shut, glaring.

"so when Starscream stomped on me I carried so much Allspark energy that it created a sparkling body, Reflect. unfortunately, none of the Autobots knew where he came from, but thankfully took him in. there, however, was an accident when Reflect was, very little." Reflect explains.

"an accident?" John asks, confused.

"yes. he had powers he couldn't control, such as teleportation. he teleported behind a vehicle and was run over. he died and my spirit inhabited the body. I guess I had kinda been haunting it or something. I'm not really sure, but everyone has come to accept this. when Sentinel attacked, I was aged up, appropriately, into this body as the Autobots needed my help. Ironhide and Ratchet would've died had it not happened. its very very confusing to everyone involved. they didn't know until I woke up on a berth in the medbay." Reflect explains.

"so, Lennox-" Charlotte starts.

"stop right there. my name is Reflect. its has been for three years and it will continue to be even after I die. Captain William David Lennox is dead and has been for..." Reflect trails, looking behind him at Ironhide.

"3 years, 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days." Ironhide mumbles.

"just shy of four years." Reflect frowns. "my name hasn't been Will in a long time." Reflect frowns.

"Reflect, you... are just incredible." John murmurs. Reflect chuckles softly at him, smiling at the man. John gets a little closer to look him over and Reflect doesn't stop him.

"well, from that side it must be pretty cool. its pretty confusing from this side. to be honest." he snorts.

"right, so Reflect," Charlotte starts.

"watch your tone with me." Reflect warns.

"excuse you?" Charlotte snaps.

"Primus, here we go." Ironhide mutters, shifting. his canons start spinning. he's annoyed but will hold himself back. Optimus shoots him a warning look.

"no bitch, excuse you, god I've wanted to say that to you since I met you six years ago. you are a lousy little woman. god knows you only got your job because you sucked off-" Reflect starts.

"REFLECT!" Ironhide warns. Reflect snaps his mouth shut standing straight up. it makes both humans step back.

be nice.

don't you dare yell at me again.

"okay okay. everyone relax." Optimus warns gently.

"I agree with Optimus." John murmurs.

"alright I'm done, this was a bad idea." Reflect mutters, turning and storming out. it leaves Ironhide and Optimus to explain everything.

Reflect storms to the medbay. Hot Rod is gone and Ratchet is sitting on his work bench.

"oh hey. welcome back." Ratchet murmurs.

"are you busy?" Reflect ask. Ratchet looked around.

"no. not right now, just reading." Ratchet says. "whats up?" Reflect asks.

"I'm angry and Ironhides busy." Reflect glares. Ratchet grabs his datapad and stands.

"okay come on." he murmurs. he leads the other mech to his room and plops on to his berth. he leans back against the wall and pats the spot beside him, stretching his legs out over the edge of the berth. Reflect immediately climbs up and cuddles up to the medic, laying his head on the medics thigh with a grumble. Ratchet pats his side gently, before resting his servo gently on the mechs head, caressing it gently.

"is he with you?"

"yeah Ironhide, he's in the medbay."

"well, he's in trouble with Prime."

"what did he do?"

"called Mearing a bitch."

"tell Prime to bring his ass down here. he yells at my sparkling and I'll rip him a new one. she is a bitch."

Ratchet gently caresses the mechs cheek. he'd be stiff late from sitting like this, but he didn't entirely mind. he relished the fact that when things when wrong, or he was upset, Reflect still ran to him.

Wheeljack drags himself into the room about an hour later. Ratchets snoring, leaned against the wall still, with Reflects head still resting on his leg, snoring as well. Wheeljack smiles a little, looking the berth over. Reflects curled up in a ball so he's not taking up too much and Ratchets legs are crossed and folded up, no longer hanging off the edge. Wheeljacks exhausted, so he doesn't really care, climbing up onto the empty space of the berth, he lays out on his side, putting his back to Reflect. Ratchet immediately shifts.

"hmmm?" he murmurs, onlining his optics to look around.

"just me." Wheeljack mumbles. Ratchet nods, getting himself comfortable. he reaches over Reflect to stroke the side of the side of his bondeds face. Wheeljack sighs happily, settling down for recharge.

"is he still in recharge?"

"do you have some sort of alarm that lets you know when I'm awake or something?"

"no, I just randomly com you and set it to go off when you wake up. duh, I sent that 20 minutes ago. now, is my bondmate awake or is he still in recharge?"

"he's still in recharge, but you can come get him."

"I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Jack. he's coming to get Reflect, you need to move." Ratchet murmurs. Wheeljack doesn't budge and Ratchet shakes his head. he waits for Ironhide to walk into the room. the mech pauses, taking in the view before him.

"well isn't this cute." Ironhide snorts.

"my legs are cramping, any time now Ironhide." Ratchet frowns. Ironhide frowns and walks over.

"of course Wheeljack had to get in the way." Ironhide mutters.

"he's tired. leave him alone." Ratchet murmurs. Ironhide huffs and looks over the inventor. he carefully gets a grip on his bonded, hefting him up carefully. Reflect shifts immediately, burying his face in Ironhides neck. Ironhide shifts him gently, turning and leaving with him.

he carries the mech back to their room and lays him on their berth. Reflect shifts a little, curling up, but doesn't wake. Ironhide watches him, unsure what to do with his time now. unless Optimus really needed him, he was to be off duty until the sparkling arrived, for both the sparkling and Reflects safety.