You boredly tap your finger on the seat beneath you as you stare out the window. 

It has been a month since you were introduced to the Autobots, and by now they all accepted you as a friend (some more so than others). Miko had always been considered a friend, but you originally doubted that any of the Autobots would welcome someone who had stayed with their enemy for so long. That was obviously not the case. Bulkhead and Miko invited you to be part of the little band of wreckers with open arms!

You and Bulkhead were currently on patrol and pick up duty. What did this require of you? Sitting and waiting for your fellow friend. 

This was the fourth time you went with Bulkhead to wait for Miko. Of course the Japanese girl had to go to detention every week, so instead of letting Bulkhead wait alone, you offered to tag along and keep the wrecker company. At this moment, however, both of you were silent- your conversation having died down after two hours of non-stop chatting.

It was a beautiful day out. The school was quiet with most of the pupils at home or taking part in after school activities. It was nice to get out like this. The only thing you needed now was...

"Hey, Bulk? Do you think we can turn on some music?" 

"Sorry (Y/N), but I don't think it would be such a good idea. Ratch just let me know that there's another Cybertronian in the area. We don't want to draw any unnecessary attention." The green bot suddenly seemed uncharacteristically somber. 

You move to the edge of the seat. "Another Cybertronian? Who?" 

But Bulkhead didn't answer. Instead, he takes the subject in a different direction. "We used to be really good friends, ya know? Breakdown and me. We used to hang out together; going to bars, building and constructing things, taking on big projects. We even joined the Wreckers together." For a split moment the cheerfulness returned to his voice, but soon vanished once again. 

"But then, one day, it changed. He changed. All of a sudden, our missions weren't a good enough cause. Breakdown started believing the lies, just like all the other Cons." Anger started to bubble up. "One night, he left. I caught him sneaking out. I tried to stop him; I tried to talk him out of it, but he just apologised and walked for the door. I...We fought. I didn't expect him to fight dirty and...I lost..." 

You reached out and touched his dashboard. Breakdown never really spoke with you about this topic. 

"To think I actually thought he changed after I saved him from M.E.C.H..." He sighs. "Sometimes...Sometimes I wish he stayed. I wish he'd just let go of that stupid idea of joining the Decepticons and came back," Bulkhead lets out a little laugh, "but I guess we both know he's too stubborn."

You smile at both Bulkhead and the thought of Breakdown. "I'm sorry Bulk." 

-------------------------------------------------

Breakdown was out on patrol. He had to clear his processor.

After an entire Earth month without you, he was starting to become really anxious. You'd think that he would've found you by now. 

He was so busy looking out for Autobot activity and thinking back at all the fun times the two of you (and Steve) had shared, that he didn't realise that he was entering a town. The memories of you made the blue soldier's fists itch to punch something. And to his luck, he found it.

Bulkhead.

Breakdown, a happy smirk of relief on his non-showing face, drove closer to his old foe.

...And suddenly slammed on the breaks. 

There, sitting in Bulkhead, was a (h/c), (s/c) girl. A sudden surge of relief, joy, worry and malice raced through him. 

'He found you.'

He knew he couldn't just charge in and take you. Could he? He would risk hurting you while he and Bulkhead fought... 

Deciding that it was probably a bad idea, he rather decides to listen in. 

Setting his radio to a certain frequency, he manges to amplify all the sounds close by, including your and Bulkhead's conversation.

"...Breakdown and me...hang together...bars...constructing.......joined the Wreckers..." 

Bulkhead was discussing their past with you...?

Breakdown turns it up further.

"But then, one day, it changed. He changed. All of a sudden, our missions weren't a good enough cause....One night, he left... I caught him...tried to stop him.....but he just...fought. I didn't expect him to fight dirty." 

The anger was starting to become unbearable. Breakdown could not believe what he was hearing. Bulkhead was making him sound like some kind of monster...

"...I actually thought he changed...I saved him... M.E.C.H..........stupid...joining the Decepticons.......he's too stubborn."

And then came your voice. "I'm sorry Bulk."

That was it. Hearing you sympathise with his old enemy was a blow to his already fading humour.

Breakdown approaches the Autobot, his engine rumbling in rage. He didn't care about how safe it was anymore. The green bot seems to notice, as he pulls out the parking lot. A silent agreement that this wasn't the place to fight is made and they both drive out of town. 

'Afraid is he?'

Once far enough from civilization, both the automatons transform, Bulkhead holding you protectively. 

Breakdown didn't like it. 

"Hey Bulk​​​​​. How've you been?" Breakdown sneers.

"You better stay away from the femme-"

"The femme...?" Breakdown's want to fight skyrockets, "She's my femme and she has a designation! You already have your own human, so why don't you run along and spend some time with it instead of kidnapping mine!"

Bulkhead scoffs, "You're the one who kidnapped her first! You one-opticed Decepticon scum!"

"Why you-" Breakdown cuts himself off as he turns his servo into a hammer and charges the Wrecker. Bulkhead transforms his servo the same and holds his wrecking ball up. They both get ready to collide...

"Stop!" You interject. Hammer and wrecking ball skim past one another. "Bulkhead...please put me down." 

"B-but...Kid?" 

You almost whisper the words, "Please Bulk. I don't want either of you to get hurt..." 

"(Y/N), no. I'm not letting you do this." The green bot pleads with you to stay.

"Bulkhead please. I'll be okay. I promise." You clutch his armour as a way of reassurance. Breakdown stands and watches as his rival gently (and very reluctantly) places you down. You pat Bulkhead's servo,"Tell Miko I said goodbye, okay?"       

You then head to Breakdown. "Let's go home." 

Breakdown doesn't trust himself to say anything in response at this time; he simply nods and takes you up. 

Bulkhead watches sadly as the blue Decepticon transforms around you and takes you away, fearing Miko's reaction once she finds out that you were taken yet again- this time by choice.

-----------------------------------------

"(Y/N)! You're okay! Thank Primus!" Steve joyfully held you to his face. You swear he would've cried if he could... "We were so wor-r-ried!" he hiccups.

"Yeah. Real worried." Breakdown says sarcastically and grabs you out of Steve's hold. "We better get her things ready, Steve." 

"Right! I'll be right back!" The vehicon scurries off, but stops at the door, "Welcome home (Y/N)." He then rushes off the get your belongings.

Meanwhile, you were starting to feel quite uncomfortable in Breakdown's grasp. The soldier notices, and for some reason, it makes him feel angry once again. Without thinking, he harshly half-throws you down on a table, making you yelp as you hit the surface. 

"Breakdown!? What's gotten into you!?" You rub the forming bruise on your arm.

The mech gives you a look, "You were getting real friendly with Bulk, weren't you?"

"B-Breakdown...We're friends. He...He told me about when you were still friends too, and how he misses you." He doesn't say anything as he turns his back to you. "Breakdown...?"

He walks out.