~Roman's POV~

         "Come on (Y/N)! It's another opportunity to get the team back together! Besides, Dad's in town!"

         "I know, Roman," my sister sighed, rolling her (E/C) eyes as I asked for the fifth time, "He invited us for coffee at a cafe. He probably wants a break from all the drama."

I flopped down onto her covers, my emerald green optics adjusting so that the light from the ceiling didn't bother me.

         "Come on! It's not every day we get to see dad! Let's have some fun!"

         "Sorry, but your 16 year old mind can't tell the difference between when it's a good time for illegal racing, and when it's not. I do. So, get up 'little league'. It's almost 5."

Huffing, I made my way to the fire pole, following (Y/N) as we made our way to our vehicles, well, she went to Knockout. Switching on my improved holoform, I opened the door to the sleek Impala I call mine, hidden in a vehicon bunk room. I didn't like being so far away from her... I mean, I guess I could move in, and sleep here, but the vehicons don't like the idea of a tiny mini-con being around. I can really only blame myself for that one. I don't know how many pranks I've pulled. Who cares, I like seeing them squirm and curse as I make my get away.

     Pulling out into the hallway I made a finger gun at Megatron, making him look at me quite confused. I only laugh and kept on driving. He tolerates me more than anything, and I try not to push his buttons, though trust me, I've come close.

         "The lovebirds not here yet?" I asked Soundwave, parking by his pede. He answered with a short shake of his helm. I think Soundwave's the only one I haven't pranked... besides Megatron. Then again, I'd have to be really crafty to figure something out.

     My thoughts were interrupted as Hardshell made his appearence. I quickly drove under the console, right in front of Soundwave. No, I'm not afraid, I just don't want my car stomped on.

         "Where is the femme Wildstryke?" he asked, addressing both Soundwave and me.

         "She's out on a drive, don't know when she'll be back," I answered, stepping from the safety of my car.

         "Tell that we of the Insecticons, would like an audience with her."

This doesn't bode well...

         "Only if we both have your word that no harm will come to her." I demanded. No matter how small I am, I'm still her big brother.

Hardshell nodded, and left, leaving me to lean on Soundwave's pede as I made a huge sigh of relief.

         "How do you deal with all this tension?" I asked him exasperated, earning nothing in return, "You're right, lay low, stay out of the way."

I was further relieved when Knockout came in, (Y/N) hiding near his neck cables as he cautiously looked around the small computer room.

         "We ready?" he questioned, and I drove my car back out from under the console.

         "As I'll ever be!"

I waited for him to place (Y/N) down on the floor and transform, only to watch in horror as he started with her still on his shoulder. Covering my optics, I looked through my fingers to find my sister landing on the floor gracefully, a cheeky smile on her face as Knockout opened his passenger side, holoform materializing in the front seat.

         "You can look now ya worry-wart." (Y/N) laughed, and I huffed.

Looking around, I wondered where the second huff I had heard come from... was that Soundwave? Naw, couldn't have been... could it?

         "Come on slow poke!" She hollered at me, now in the comfort of Knockout's interior.

I rolled up beside her.

         "We're set!" Knockout called, and Soundwave opened a bridge, "Meet ya there!" the mech grinned, and took off without me, leaving me to flounder before finding my gas pedal.

I slid to a stop before I hit the busy highway, parking next to the laughing couple.

         "NOT FUNNY!" I hollered, obviously distraught.

         "Yeah it was!" (Y/N) hollered, and Knockout took off again.

I caught up this time, and wondered where it was we were going as we slid onto the highway. Finding out, I frowned as we stopped at an old dumpster sight, the air reeking of rotting trash, the area haven't been emptied in at least a year, forgotten by it's residents.

         "The frag we doing here? It stinks man!" I complained, rolling up my window before the smell stuck in the seats.

         "Dad wanted to meet here, less conspicuous, and if you can smell it, so can the other Decepticons." She shrugged as she made her way out of the safety of Knockout's alt mode, "Just know that you're not the only one suffering." All three of us wrinkled our nose as a breeze wafted the smell towards us, a combination of rotting flesh and compost.

         "How come we couldn't have met in a grave yard or something?" I wondered, and looked around.

Some movement caught my optic, and I strained to see what it was, thanking Primus as dad's pick-up came roaring through. He stopped, and rolled down his window, somehow not affected by the smell.

         "Hey, glad you guys made it! Let's get out of here before the smell sticks to us." He said hurriedly, and then drove off. We followed close behind, stopping in a parking lot.

         "Sorry guys," Dad laughed, "I didn't realize that was a forgotten dumpster sight."

         "No biggie," (Y/N) answered, giggling.

         "No biggie?" Knockout grumble, "I'm going to stink for days."

         "Oh shush ya cherry. I can wash that odor off in less then an hour."

A mental picture of him and Wildstryke in the wash rack together crossed my processor, and I shook it away, deciding to change the subject.

         "Where to from here?" I asked.

         "Well there's a nice cafe not to far from here." Dad suggested

Go figure.

         "Sounds good to me! Been awhile since I had some quality coffee," (Y/N) smiled, and Knockout had a hint of one, probably happy to see her smile like that.

         "Let's walk there," Dad stated, "We don't always have to drive."

Nodding, we all talked on the way, all mundane things really, Dad on the right, Knockout and (Y/N) in the middle, holding each other close, and me on the left, my hands in my pants pockets. This was nice. If only it was like this before. A happy family, with no worries except for when to turn, and how to turn as we tried not to bump into each other. (Y/N) giggled as she stepped on Knockout's toes, him letting out a slight curse before claiming he was alright.

         "This it?" She asked as we neared a quaint little shop.

         "Yeah, ain't it cute?" He smiled, and entered, a small bell ringing as we all filed into the space.

     The theme... was surprising at best. I expected a Starbucks homely feel, but no. I look in, and it's in my face Steampunk. The tables were large metal cogs, and the chairs made of pipes, both copper and silver. The floor was tiled with black and white squares, and the ceiling was layered with all kinds of different metals with all kinds of textures. The barista had a small top hat pinned into her long brown hair. She had on basic clothes but the apron was a type of leather, fitting the aesthetic of the shop. I was honestly quite impressed.

Once we had all ordered our drinks, our group of four sat down at one of the interestingly shaped tables.

         "I saw this place on my way here and thought it would be nice to just relax." He said with a smile.

         "Told you so." (Y/N) smirked, and I kicked her, resulting in my chair being turned over by Knockout.

         "NOT COOL!"

         "You asked for it."

         "DAD! You're supposed to be on my side!"

Before he could answer, the barista had called our order, and he left to pick it up. That's when Knockout turned to (Y/N) and asked something quite absurd.

         "Hey, can you go get my wallet? I think I left on the driver's seat."

         "Yeah sure." She said with a smile, and went off, back the way we had entered.

         "Wait... you don't have a wallet." I noted, Knockout sending me a knowing smirk as his red eyes sparkled with their natural Decepticon mischief.

         "Where's (Y/N)?" Dad asked as he set a small tray down. 

         "I asked her to get something... but that was a cover up so I could ask you a very important question..." I looked to Knockout as I touched my holoformic tongue to my ordered beverage, the dark liquid to hot to even taste the pumpkin spice, so I set it down.

         "Well, hurry up, cause she won't be fooled for long..." Dad seemed to instantly know about Knockout's tom-foolery.

I watched as Knockout seemed to fail for words, dragging a hand over his face as he sighed, that's when I heard our last name once again, and the missing fourth coffee.

         "Could you get that Roman?" Dad asked, and I nodded, trying to go as fast as I could to hear what it was Knockout was going to ask him. I came back just as (Y/N) was coming back through the door, looking quite ticked. I tripped her, making her fall to the floor, and skipped to my seat, finding that their conversation had already ended, and I was about to receive the wrath of my sister for tripping her...

         "Okay," She started, sitting in the seat next to Knockout once again, "First off: You don't have a fragging wallet." She glared at him, "And second: Your aft is going to find itself on one of Knockout's dissection tables." The angered woman pointed a finger at me, and I couldn't help but shrink down into my seat.

         Other than that introduction to a soon-to-be near death experience, our time together was mellow for once, and frankly, we had fun either way as Dad popped jokes... though Knockout tipped my seat over again. Karma's a glitch man, I hope you know! We had talked for over two hours when Dad finally announced that he had to go.

         "I have a client that I need to meet in a couple minutes, it's not that far of a drive with that new engine." He smiled as he slowly made his way up from the seat. The rest of us followed suit.

         "Client?" (Y/N) questioned, "You a form of business man?"

Dad chuckled.

         "Dangerous business. Once a 'Con, always a 'Con, though I will admit, I help some major crime facilities around the world, FBI, CIA-"

         "You help the CIA?" (Y/N) scoffed in disbelief.

         "More like they help me. It's a mutual relationship. I don't bug them, they don't bug me."

         "So you're like a double agent?" Knockout smirked at the idea.

         "Yeah, only I know all the secrets there are, because I run the entire opperation."

I couldn't help but notice the slight amount of pride he held in his voice as he straightened the simple dark green shirt. We all followed each other out, and waved our 'good-byes', calling for a ground bridge once we were out of range of any civilization... though it came quite late.

         "(Y/N) get down..." I heard Knockout say as we went through, and his holoform fizzled out.

         "What's going o-"

I was shushed by the red mech as we stopped in the main control room.

         "WHERE WERE YOU?!"

I jumped at the bellowing cry from the war lord, honking the car horn in the process, scaring just about everyone in the room, and angering Megatron even more...

         "Apologies my liege..." Knockout transformed, and (Y/N) hid on his back, "I was... not aware there was a problem."

         "Oh you didn't, did you?" he sneered, and I started to roll away, ever, so, slowly, "Does the STAR SABER ring any bells?!"

Scrap... 

(Ever closer to Darkmount and Shockwave! I can't wait to bring him and Predaking into the picture! I'll let you all wonder what it was Knockout talked to Scythe about. Tis a secret until further notice! XP Thank you for hanging on! Watch that rear-view mirror! More chapters just behind! Love ya'll!)