The One Shot Prize for @Autobot2001  
I had a lot of fun writing this!

This takes place in the Transformer Movie-verse! A not cannon version of Drift's acceptance into the Autobots.

Please forgive any OOC actions or parts. I am not as well versed in the Transformers Movie-verse as I am other continuities. I don't think all character appearances are accurate to the timeline of when Drift enters the scene as well so please forgive me.

Hope you all enjoy it nonetheless!

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     Crosshairs grumbled as he caught sight of Optimus Prime speaking to the Decepticon known as Drift. His sensitive audio caught words like "forgiveness" and "change", the usual monologue from their glorious leader and his thoughts about Decepticons. The green and black Autobot thought it a little ridiculous, more than, actually. This 'Con had murdered many on Cybertron, and likely would murder many more. How did they know Drift wasn't just planning to cut all their helms off within the first night?

         "I say we kick him to the curb the first moment we get." Crosshairs spit out a wad of folded metal into the sand, hiding from the harsh sun behind a rocky cliff.

         "Prime seemed very eager to speak with him about joining." Hound noted, hefting up a large boulder to throw across the horizon. 

         "He'd be eager to get Megatron to join, the frag head."

     His insult toward Megatron was taken as an insult to Optimus, Hound whipping around and throwing the boulder at his comrade. The leaner bot quickly ducked and rolled from the shaded wall, missed by mere inches.

         "What the frag was that for! Trying to offline me or what?"

         "Autobots." The familiar sound of Prime's command for attention earned what was left of the motley crew's attention. "Drift has agreed to join us. As is one of my stipulations, he is to have a partner to watch over him for safety and trust purposes. Who here is willing to give that time?"

     It was unsurprisingly quiet. Bumblebee dug his pede into the sand, Hound crossed his arms with a huff, Ironhide inspected one of his ion cannons and Crosshairs just scoffed, chewing on his metal toothpick-like pipe.

         "Then I have no choice but to choose one of you." Optimus guessed as much before he had even spoken to Drift. "Crosshairs, you are to be Drift's partner until further notice."

         "I imagine your choice has been carefully considered," Drift bowed to the Autobot leader respectfully.

     Optimus left with a nod, motioning for the others to follow him. Hound mumbled something along the line of 'don't get impaled' with a muffled snicker as he left Crosshair's befuddled sights. The scottish sounding mech growled, kicking the sand before ultimately pouting in silence. Drift simply watched the short tantrum.

         "Forgiveness is key
           But one must earn it slowly
           I plan to do that."

         "What on Cybertron are you spouting on about?" Crosshairs growled at the other mech.

         "The humans call it a haiku. It's very simply, but often has meaning behind it deeply ingrained in its syllables."

         "Great, a 'Con obsessed with human cultures."

     Drift's folded arms hid his clenched fist, and he vented deeply, but slowly. The samurai-like bot hoped Optimus had made an intelligent choice, as the new Autobot knew his mental state was not exactly in the right for an Autobot quite yet. He wanted to work on it though. If anything just to be worthy of being in the presence of Optimus Prime himself.  

     It was not going well. For Crosshairs, anyway. What better way to learn self control than being paired with one of the most hot headed, arrogant, frag bound mechs on team Prime? At least, that's what Drift tried to convince himself every fragging day.

         "Get up." Crosshairs kicked Drift's side rudely, startling the red and black swordsman who nearly impaled his partner's pede into the ground. Crosshairs growled and kicked the sword away from the ex-'Con. "Primus, you been planning that all night long?"

         "I would like to note being kicked awake isn't exactly something that suggests friendlies are nearby." Drift lifted his torso from the uncomfortable ground. He wished to recharge on a berth for once, but that was a luxury he left eons ago.

         "You act like you're surrounded by said friendlies, 'Con."

         "I don't see anyone trying to offline me in my recharge, for once."

         "Well," Crosshairs huffed, turning and going elsewhere, "count your blessings, peace don't last long. Boring as frag if you ask me."

     The afterthought of a comment made the samurai chuckle as he looked up into the brightening sky. Team Prime wasn't so bad, and the human cultures were admittedly fascinating. Some of them, anyway. Drift clearly had his favorite, and used those methods to better himself. He held self doubt, but it was slowly being whittled away as he stayed in team Prime.

     Bumblebee was sparring with him at least, though the younger bot was still not quite on friendship terms with the other mech. Ironhide was wary of him but getting some insight on Decepticon weaponry broke the ice minutely. Hound was still reserved, though he took any moment to try and knock Drift off balance while he meditated, the red and black bot throwing it back most often. He felt it amused them both. Crosshairs on the other hand, remained insufferable. 

         "You coming glitch-head?" Said mech hollered, Drift getting up from the ground with a metallic sigh.

         "To spar we go on
           A never ending battle
          With no winner seen."

         "Shut up with those hack-cue things would ya? It's slagging ridiculous."

         "It's pronounced haiku." Drift corrected, but this was his only comment, despite the many profanities he was sure even Crosshairs had never heard swarming in his processor. 

     The two had separated themselves from the rest of the recharging Autobots by several miles before beginning their hand-to-hand sparring. Neither seemed to recharge well so they started a routine without even realizing it. Before the others were up, they would be sparring, or verbally accusing each other of ludicrous things and that would wake the rest of the team up (especially if such arguments resulted in a real scrap fight). Optimus would lecture them, and the day would go on with mild backlash from the others about not getting more recharge. 

         "That all ya' got this fine crisp morning?" Crosshairs taunted.

         "Simply warming up." Drift took a fist to the side, but he caught his sparring buddy of guard as he used Crosshair's weight against him and threw him over his shoulder. Drift folded his arm behind the green and black mech, locking Crosshair's joint to his back plates and ultimately pinning him to the cold sand. The taller mech squirmed for a minute before ultimately admitting defeat by slacking his struggle. The samurai took his weight off him and allowed his sparring partner to get up.

         "Sorry I asked," Crosshairs shook his gears of the sand, wiping his faceplates clear of the earthen substance.

     Drift chuckled at the statement before a comfortable quiet settled between them. The ex-'Con stared up at the stars, where he believed home would be. Despite his atrocities, he missed Cybertron.

         "It's between those two stars." Crosshairs had taken to looking in the same direction. "Not even our advanced optics can see it, but it's there."

         "We will see our home
           Be it in our future hope
           Or when our sparks fade."

         "Another one of your hooky things?"

         "Haiku," Drift nodded with a faint smile to his derma.

     Both mechs guessed the other wasn't so bad. 

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My apologies for any OOC actions or dialogue! I did my best  ^^'