If there's one thing you hate, it would be noisy neighbors. You groan and pull your pillow over your head as the high pitched shrieking of the next door six-year-old fiend destroys your peaceful sleep.

"Oh my god, shut up." You mutter, trying to pull the pillow tighter around your head. As if out of spite, the noise gets even louder, joined by the screaming of the five-year-old sister.

"That's it! I'm done!" You shout frustratedly, launching yourself up out of bed, throwing the blankets off and stomping over to the windows, yanking the shades down as if they'd do something to block out the incessant squealing.

When make your way to the bathroom you growl at your hair that more closely resembles a bird's nest than anything else. You quickly brush it out, and since you're already up, decide to get dressed, pulling on some shorts and one of your favorite graphic tees. It's only seven in the morning and already warm, but you shrug on your favorite army green jacket anyway. You don't know why, but right now it just feels right.

Going over to your kitchen to grab some breakfast, the incessant noise seems even louder than before, if possible. You groan and glare towards the direction of the house. If you had laservision or anything of the sort, that building would be nothing more than a smoldering pile of beams right now.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, you looked at your phone to see a picture of your friend hanging out with her ex. Again. You told her over and over that he was bad news and she could do so much better, but no matter what you said, she still went running back to him whenever he flashed her a smile. You knew that in a few days time she would be at your doorstep sobbing, and you'd pull out two tubs of ice cream to eat during a night full of movies.

You sighed, closed your eyes and massaged your temples. "I really can't take this anymore."

Adding to the annoyance, you hear the loud honk of a car. You close your eyes tighter, ignoring it. It honks again. Morons, don't they know not all people like early mornings? To your complete and utter fury, it honks again.

"Are you kidding me!" You shout, stomping over to your windows and ripping the shutters down to see who on Earth was being such a jerk.

You let out a small squeak of embarrassment as you realize that the person isn't actually from Earth, and are waiting for you by the curb.

You rush back to the kitchen and practically throw your bowl in the sink, slipping on your shoes and hopping over to the door as you struggle to pull them on. You put your phone in your pocket and rush out the door, locking it and smoothing your hair back down as you jog over to the Autobot.

"Hi Bulkhead! Sorry, I didn't realize it was you." You smile sheepishly.

Right then another scream echoes through the air and you flinch, glaring at the house.

Bulkhead chuckles. "Rough morning."

You groan. "You have no idea."

The door opens on its own and you yelp in surprise. Bulkhead bursts out laughing. You glare at him playfully before getting in.

When he finally calmed himself the rearview turned towards you and he said, "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's fine." You laugh, "Just wasn't expecting it."

You look around the cabin. "Where's Miko?"

"School day." He says, "Won't be here til later."

"Ohhh, right." You mutter. "It's gonna be quiet without her."

"Yeah, always is. Sometimes it's nice and sometimes it's lonely." He answers.

You frown at his tone. "Well...maybe I can help with that." You offer.

You feel a change in his mood as you say it. "Maybe you can." He repeats, "Maybe you can."

The drive is otherwise quiet, really just the two of you enjoying the comfort of the other, watching the sky grow brighter as the slow slips higher into the sky. The orange desert is mostly desolate and lifeless, but still beautiful in its own, alien way. You can't help but smirk at that. Alien. How perfect of a word. It was harboring a few in its canyons after all.

You noticed Bulkhead started to go off the road.

"Bulkhead?" You ask, nervously.

"Yea?"

"You do realize that we're not on the road anymore, right?" You question.

"Yea." He says again, almost like you should know why.

"Why, exactly?" You ask clearly confused.

"We're going to the-oh! You've never been in the main way! I forgot that you entered by the ground bridge. Don't worry about it, I'm just headed to base. It's just off the main road so it's not so obvious."

"Suspicious to who?" You snort, "All the 'superstitious' Jasper civilians?"

"Y/N, Decepticons. Remember, the evil guys we're here to fight?"

The smile falls from your face. "Oh. Right. Forgot about them."

Bulkhead chuckles. You're an interesting character Y/N, gotta give you that."

You blush slightly and sheepishly rub the back of your neck. When you look forward again, you see a huge stone formation. Right in front of you. Coming towards you pretty frickin fast.

"Uhh, Bulkhead?"

"Relax, Y/N. You'll be fine."

You eye the rock warily. "Easier said than done." You whine.

In not even half a second the thing looms ahead of you, infinitely bigger and massively tougher. It speeds forwards at seemingly the speed of light and you let out a small sound of panic before shutting your eyes tight and wrapping around yourself in the seat.

Nothing happens.

You slowly open your eyes and see you've entered a tunnel. Bulkhead laughs.

"I told you nothing would happen!" He chuckles.

:And I told you that was easier said than done! It looked like we were driving straight into rock, how was I not supposed to be scared?" You retort half-heartedly.

"Ya just gotta trust me I guess." Bulkhead says.

You pondered over his words as he let you out, transforming and picking you up gently in his big hands to carefully set you on the platform. Arcee, Bumblebee and Optimus stand in front of the ground bridge. The leader turns to you, no smile on his face, but a kindness in his eyes.

"Good morning, Y/N." He says, his deep, patient voice soothing your nerves.

Bee's little door wings perk up and he waves excitedly over at you, a chorus of beeps and whirls making you grin.

"Good morning, Optimus. Hi Bee." You respond smiling.

"You guys going somewhere?" Bulkhead asks.

"I discovered another energon mine signal somewhat nearby." Ratchet offered.

"We have not yet explored this area, and have decided to assess how valuable it is to our cause." Optimus continued.

"Alright! Gonna kick some Decepticon can!" He shouts, punching one hand into the other.

"Not this time Bulkhead, you need to stay here with Y/N. Ratchet is going to be busy monitoring how we're doing, and if anyone else shows up, we're going to need you here."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a man stepped through a door on the side of the room. Everyone went quiet as the grey suited, dark skinned man walked in.

"Prime! I heard that you all found a new energon source, but I've also gotten intel on a recent-" The harsh voice stops short as his eyes focus on you. You smile and wave awkwardly. His eyes narrow. "-who is this? Another civilian? You can't keep bringing innocent people into this war Autobots!"

"Agent Fowler," Optimus starts, his voice still that same, calm tone, "This is Y/N. She discovered our presence due to accident."

"How?" He asks skeptically.

"Miko-" Optimus started before he was cut off.

"Miko! No wonder!" Agent Fowler shakes his head. "That girl." He turns to you. "Well, Y/N, was it? This is a crazy world you've been brought into, but it's also dangerous. You must swear to never, under any circumstances tell anyone anything about the Autobots, ever. The fate of this world relies on your promise."

With wide eyes you nod. "I promise."

He nods as well. "Good. Prime, I will speak with you when you return."

Optimus nods at him, then looks to you and Bulkhead. The wrecker seems unwilling to stay, and you look up at him in sympathy. You turn your attention to the leader.

"Optimus, if it's okay with you, I would have no trouble waiting until you all return. I can stay and help here if needed, but otherwise, I'm mature enough to last a while without running off or ruining anything." You say with a smile. You turn to your new friend. "I don't want to hold him back."

Optimus glances between you, a certain recognition sparking in his eyes. "If you wish." He says. "Bulkhead?"

The wrecker looks down at you. "Are you sure Y/N?"

You smile at him. "I'm sure. Ya just gotta trust me I guess." You say, quoting him from earlier.

He smiles, before following the others through the now open portal.

You turn to Agent Fowler. "So...how were you paired with them?" You ask.

After a short while of chatting up Agent Fowler and trying to help Ratchet whenever you could, the other Autobots return. To your contentment, you notice as soon as Bulkhead comes through the portal, he searches for you. Relief at you sitting on the platform causes a weight to leave his shoulders as he walks over.

"Didn't get in any trouble I'm guessing?" He asks.

"Who, me?" You tease.

He raises an eyebrow. You laugh.

"No, no trouble here, just kept Fowler company. You?"

"It was all good. Got some more energon for us all, without having to fight off any Decepticreeps."

You notice the hint of disappointment in his voice and chuckle. "You don't need to battle every time you go out of base." You point out.

He pouts, "But where's the fun in that?"

Your laugh bubbles up and off the walls, making Bulkhead chuckle. When you look up at him, your eyes glow a bright E/C. The wrecker falters for a moment, surprised by the intensity of their light, until a soft smile breaks across his face. A warm feeling overcomes you, like someone had wrapped a blanket around your heart. You smile back, and in that moment, you can't help but hope the wrecker feels the same.