Universe: G1
Characters: Bumblebee, Ironhide, Optimus Prme, Ratchet, and others.
Rating: PG -13
Warnings: Transformers foul language
Plot: After Bumblebee's first battle, he tries to hide an injuiry to prove his strength.

7

The whispers were almost loud enough for the whole Ark to hear. The Ark was very quiet during the night when almost every bot was asleep. Almost. So at night when bots whispers it was as if playing Jazz's light and music show on full blast. The senior officers were gathered in the rec room, talking among themselves in a silent debate. All annoyed and frustrated with the topic and answers. No matter how quiet they tried to make their decisions, little Bumblebee had heard every word they were saying so far. He was pressed against the hallway wall listening in to their discussion. His spark was fluttering in excitement and confusion. However, the young spark's excitement overthrew his confusion. Bumblebee could barely control himself. He quickly hurried his little quiet legs down the hall and to his berthroom, him and Ironhide shared. He couldn't wait! He was actually starting his first mission! Bumblebee stopped suddenly that he almost fell over. He quickly clamped into the vents and the twins walked around the corner. Bumblebee held his breath. Sideswipe frowned.
"I could have sworn I heard something. Didn't you just hear that?" He asked Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker grunted and crossed his arms.

"I don't care. I want my high grade. I have a slagging headache." He mumbled. Sideswipe rolled his optics.

"Come on." He waved a servo and the two continued down the hall. Bumblebee breathed in relief. His smile then formed back on his face.
He couldn't believe it!

Meanwhile...

"You are not fragging sending my youngling out there!" Ironhide snapped at Prowl, his finger sharply pointed at him. Prowl glared right back.

"We both know he has to go into battle one day, Ironhide." Prowl said. Jazz winced. Way to be blunt about it. Ironhide snarled.

"Doesn't mean you have to bring it up! Besides, he's still too young!" Ironhide slammed his hand on the table. Ratchet threw him back with his arm.

"Shut it! Both of you! If you're going to act sparklings then take it somewhere else. Bumblebee is sleeping and the way you're talking he could be hearing for all we know!" Ratchet snapped. Prowl straightened his posture. Ironhides engine rumbled as he rolled his shoulders as if ready for another round. Jazz gave a small smile.

"Ratchets right. Ah don't think lil' Bee will enjoy his favorite mechs ta be fightin'." He said. Prowl snorted and crossed his arms.

"I highly doubt I'm his favorite mech. I put his favorite companions in the brig more than he gets to see them." Prowl spoke. Optimus finally entered the conversation with a chuckle.

"On the contrary. He is actually very fond of you. All of you." He said with a small smile behind his face mask. "And whether we like it or not, Bumblebee will be on a mission tomorrow. He has the twins guarding him. Bumblebee is in good hands." Optimus spoke. Ironhide grumbled.

"You honestly can't go with this, Prime! He's a youngin'!" Ironhide said close to begging. Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He will be fine. He has a lot of trust in us. But we also should return the trust as well." He said. Ironhide sighed deeply and nodded. Ratchet snorted.

"Besides if his little behind gets injured he'll be answering to me. He'll learn not to show up in my medbay with dents and energon rolling down his armor." Ratchet said swinging his wrench around his servo.

"You hit him and you won't have the cons just to worry about." Ironhide snarled.

"Mechs! Stop it! Ah have my full trust in him. Ah mean, frag we trained him! He sneaks off in base and we can't find em for hours! Am pretty sure he will be fine. Slag with that and he will be with the twins!" Jazz interjected. "He gonna be just fine. If it goes down hill, den we can postpone his later assignments." Jazz shrugged. Ironhide rubbed his face.

"Fine. But I won't like it." Everyone agreed silently to themselves.

...

Bumblebee bent his doorwings low as another explosion went nearby.

"We shouldn't be hiding. It's for cowards." Sunstreaker growled. His servos twitching as they stayed under cover by a few rocks. Sideswipe rolled his optics as he searched inside his subspace.

"Quit your whining. We're not on frontlines. Not today." Sideswipe said as he brought out his swords. Sunstreaker grumbled to himself as he leaned against the wall. Bumblebee was nearby climbing on a few rocks, trying to get a view of the battlefeild.

"Dis isn't what I thought when you said I could fight." Bumblebee said in disappointment as he watched the others. He yelped as his scruff was snatched and forced back down. He grunted as his aft hit the solid dirt.

"Are you trying to be seen!?" Sunstreaker snapped. Bumblebee gave a sheepish grin. Whatever brings action, I'm for it. Sunstreaker sighed and paced. "Did you finally find his weapon? We have a mission to do." Sunstreaker glared at his twin. Sideswipe finally got it out and handed it to Bumblebee. Bumblebee looked at the engraved blade in awe.

"Wow. This is mine?" He asked. Sideswipe smiled.

"Yup. Made it by yours truly." He smirked. Bumblebee smiled.

"Thanks, Sides." He said and tucked it in his subspace. "Now where to?" He asked. Sunstreaker snickered and Sideswipe punched him in the arm.

"Alright. Now we're going to head up the other side of that temple. See that's where Megatron is at?"

"Yeah."

"Good. He's being distracted. Now we just need to go behind and put this bomb thingy that Wheeljack made on the machine. Got it?" Sideswipe asked. Bumblebee nodded.

"Got it. What route are we taking?" He asked. Sideswipe grinned.

"Just follow us. And don't get seperated. We can't afford you being alone. Your amor isn't too strong yet so you're with us the whole time. Understand?" Sideswipe asked, his face firm. Sunstreaker uncrossing his arms. Bumblebee nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Can I hold the bomb?"

"No."

"Please?" Bumblebee asked. Sideswipe snorted and tucked it in his subspace.

"What do you take us for? Idoits?"

"You said it, not me." Bumblebee grinned. Sideswipe knuckled him between his antennas. Bumblebee laughed.

"You little twerp. Come on." He said and they began running and crouching around the fight. Bumblebee watched in amazement at his family fighting the cons. They looked way better then when they were sparing. Bumblebee watched with intrest. He wondered if he could even get to that level of skill. He doubted he could. Only they were the best. Bumblebee shivered as he watched them beat down cons as they begged for their life. Bumblebee quickly turned around, ready to continue with the twins when-.

"Hello young one. What are you doing out here? It's not safe in this warzone." The mech shook his helm with a tsk. Bumblebee's optics widened he gasped. Starscream. Bumblebee quickly took out his blaster.

"Don't come any closer." He ordered, his voice shaky. Starscream smirked.

"My Oh my. A youngling shouldn't have any guns." He said grabbing the gun. Bumblebee yelped but stayed determined as he clung to the gun. Bumblebee was lifted into the air. Starscream laughed in amusement as Bumblebee attempted to kick him. His doorwings rose in determination.

"Let go Starscream!" He snapped angerily. Starscream chuckled.

"If you say so." He said and dropped the weapon.

"Oh scrap." Bumblebee muttered as he fell. He hissed as he landed on his aft and his elbow hit the ground wrong. He groaned inwardly as it snapped quietly when he hit the ground. Starscream smirked. Bumblebee snatched his gun and aimed in quiet pain. Starscream snarled and kicked it out of his hands again. Before Starscream could grab his throat and say anything, a swift kick to the face made his stumble back. Bumblebee blinked it was so fast. Starscream growled.

"You'll pay for that!" He aimed his own ray. Sunstreaker glared and had his twin blades out. His stance was defensive and protective.

"Come at me piece of slag." Sunstreaker sneered. Starscream shot at him. Sunstreaker moved quick out of the way and ran at him. Bumblebee was shocked at Sunstreaker and was suddenly scooped up into some bots arms.

"What did I say about leaving us! Primus, I was serious!" Sideswipe growled angerily. He grabbed the gun and kept running. Bumblebee shrunk down in his arms.

"Sorry..." He mumbled.

"Sorry ain't going to cut it. This is war. Bee this isn't fun and games out here. You could get killed!" Sideswipe scolded. Bumblebee hung his helm.

"Didn't mean to..." Sideswipe sighed.

"I know. You'll get used to it." Sideswipe mumbled sadly. Sunstreaker eventually caught up.

"Slagger finished. Probably won't be leaving the berth for a good while." Sunstreaker mumbled. Sideswipe snorted.

"Good." He said. He looked back and glimpsed the temple exploding. Sideswipe smirked. "Jackie never ceases to amaze me with his explosions." Sunstreaker rolled his optics.

"The slagger didn't hurt him did he?" Sunstreaker then asked. Sideswipe looked over Bumblebee.

"Doesn't look like it."

"I'm okay, Sides." Bumblebee mumbled. Sideswipe sighed and nodded.

"Good."

...

Bumblebee was carried into the Ark and set down on his berth by Ironhide. Ironhide rubbed his optics stressfully.

"Oh Bee. What am I going to do with you?" He asked sitting on his own berth. Bumblebee shrugged.

"I really tried. But...I got distracted." Bumblebee said defensively. Ironhide looked up.

"By what!? Ugh you know what? I don't care. You know you're life could have been ended today if the twins didn't notice you were gone." Ironhide said lowly. Bumblebee nodded slowly. His doorwings drooped.

"I'm sorry.." He mumbled. Ironhide sighed.

"I know. Me too." He leaned back against the wall and watched Bumblebee look down at his pedes.

"The twins said you weren't hurt. Are you sure? Starscream is quick to damage." Ironhide said with a hum. Bumblebee looked up. At first pain entered his optics but he nodded.

"I'm okay." He said quietly. Ironhide rose an optic ridge.

"Alright well go to recharge. We'll keep training in the morning." Ironhide said laying down. Bumblebee grunted as he did as well. A silence loomed the air. Bumblebee shifted and looked at Ironhide, trying to conceal his pain.

"A...are you mad?" Bumblebee whispered. Ironhide looked over.

"No, Bee. I didn't do too hot on my first mission either. You'll get better. I promise." Ironhide smiled. Bumblebee nodded and smiled back slightly. Ironhide then frowned as Bumblebee then groaned. Ironhide shot up and went over. "Bumblebee? What is it?" He asked quickly. His face filled with concern.

"My...my arm. It got hurt...it hurts to lay down on it." He whined. Ironhide helped him sit up and Bumblebee cried out in pain. Ironhide flinched but helped him up.

"Starscream?" He asked as he looked at his bent elbow. Bumblebee nodded slowly. His optics closed in pain. Ironhide cursed.

"I'll comm Ratchet. Stay still." He said. ::Ratchet, get to my berthroom.::

::Why on earth wou-.::

::Bumblebee's hurt, slaggit!:: He slammed the link shut. Bumblebee's intake were fast as he whined in pain. Ironhide rubbed his helm in comfort. Bumblebee leaned his helm against his chest plate and tried slowing his intakes. "It's alright. Ratchets coming." He sooethed.

"I'm...I'm so sorry. I'll never be a good soldier! I'm just nothing!" Bumblebee cried out as he began crying. Ironhides spark fell.

"Oh Bee. You're everything to me." He said.

"Nu-huh. You said that...that you didn't want me to fight." Bumblebee shook his helm a against his chest. Ironhide heaved a sigh.

"Because I don't want you to be a part of this war. You're so young. I'd hate to see you get hurt. To even die. Bumblebee, so much could happen to you on the battlefeild." He said rubbing his helm. Bumblebee wiped his tear and sat straight.

"I guess so..." he mumbled. Ratchet burst in and pushed Ironhide out of the way, scanning Bumblebee.

"Why the frag did you not tell me!?" Ratchet questioned sternly as he scanned him. Bumblebee whimpered.

"Didn't want you mad." He shrunk back slightly. Ratchet pinched the bridge of his nose then flicked his antenna.

"Nothing gets me more mad then when a bot hides an injury. Do you understand that it could get worse!?" Ratchet scolded and he began digging through his tools. Bumblebee hung his helm.

"Oh.." He said quietly. Ratchet sighed and began attaching what looked like a human brace.

"You're lucky it wasn't too bad. You're armor joints need to reconnect. But it will in a few weeks." He said as he's snapped the clips in place. Bumblebee grunted and looked at the brace. "Now, don't be a foolish mech and hide any injury. You come straight to me. Understand?" He asked with at grim stare. Bumblebee nodded.

"I promise."

"You better. I take people's health seriously. Especially yours." Ratchet said packing up his tools. He turned to Ironhide. "Make sure he gets plenty of energon and that he keeps that elbow still as possible." He said. Ironhide nodded.

"Thanks Ratchet. I'll make sure of it." He said in relief. Ratchet nodded and left the room. Ironhide sighed and looked back at Bumblebee with a smile. "Get some rest Bee. I think you had too much excitement for one day." He chuckled. Bumblebee blushed.

"Night Ironhide."

"Night Bee. Love you." He responded.

"Love you too." The lights went out and they laid back on their berths, falling into a heavy recharge.