mlev. ABC. The Healing of the Ugly Duckling

[mylittleeek]

((Takes place at the same time as this))

Daniel: *watches Chip and Bumblebee leave the ball room to go get juice, then chuckles and pats the big boardbook that he and Silverbolt were reading when they'd come in* Uggaducky.

Silverbolt: *attention back on young Daniel* You want to keep reading?

Daniel: *gives Silverbolt a serious look, as though he's wondering if this uncle is asking questions with no point, as he's noticed some adults doing. Satisfied that Silverbolt is asking in earnest, his whole little face lights in his grin as he nods* *turns his attention to the page and points to the lonesome little ugly duckling sitting and watching the other ducks who chase him away* Uggaducky awwayone. Mubbywanna payf 'im.

Silverbolt: "The ugly duckling was all alone. No one wanted to play with him."

Daniel: *nod nod* *carefully turns the next page, then proceeds to tell Silverbolt what this one says, so that the big Aerialbot can read it too. Is very happy. After having tried to climb Silverbolt, bury him with balls, and feed him a red ball, finding the storybook and helping Silverbolt read it is the perfect ending to a wonderful visit with an uncle that he hasn't gotten to see much yet!* Winna tum. No faw. Uggaducky CODE! Awwayone 'n ungee.

Silverbolt: *has enjoyed his time with Daniel* *having the young boy climb on him was a bit stressful, but it wasn't as bad as he thought it might be* *he didn't lose the boy in the balls like he feared, and keeping an eye on him, especially when Daniel found the book and settled down, was actually quite relaxing* *listens carefully and then repeats* "And then winter came. The snow fell, and the ugly duckling was COLD. And all alone and hungry."

Carly: *came home early to spend time with Daniel after finishing a project. Has been searching frantically after finding out from the daycare that Sparkplug had never registered his grandson there. Bursts into the room that Brawn had pointed out to her* Daniel! Give him to me!

Silverbolt: *STARTLES badly and unconsciously gathers Daniel up and closer to him in a protective position* *seems to doubletake as he realized who was actually talking to him* Carly!

Carly: *nearly shrieking in her panicked state of mind* Give him to me! Give me my son!

Daniel: *finally figures out what's going on and frowns down at his mother for talking in such a strange, loud way*

Silverbolt: *trying to intake slowly to calm down his excited systems* *her shouting isn't helping* *wants to ask for patience but all he can get out is* P-Please. *doesn't want to drop him handing him over to her*

Carly: Don't "Please" at me, you!

Daniel: *angry squeal* Toppit, Mama!

Carly: *gobsmacked staring at her little son*

Daniel: *very angry little one year old! Mama has frightened his Uncle, and he knows that frightening someone is wrong* No mean.

Carly: *mouth open. Mouth shut* I want you to come to me, Danny.

Daniel: *folds little arms across his chest and shakes his head* TakacaraBort!

Silverbolt: *had been trying to intake calmly but all the shouting--* *finds himself looking at Daniel as well*

Carly: *finally gets her voice to work again past the surprise* You're too little to take care of people.

Daniel: *has never shown this much temper before* No. Me takacaraBort. Torybook, 'n balls, 'n dooce. Mama no mean.

Silverbolt: N-no, h-he's r-right. He is taking care of me.

Carly: *gives him an uncertain scowl* You're a top soldier. How can a little baby boy take care of you?

Silverbolt: *lopsided grin and he manages to chuckle ironically* *has calmed enough to to stop stuttering* I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm broken.

Carly: *gives him a nonplussed look, but then her expression changes to dismay as she notices the colour of his eyes and his body language* *quiet dismay* What happened?

Daniel: Mama mean. *nods*

Silverbolt: *now it's his turn to look nonplussed* I'm surprised you didn't hear . . . And what happened . . . *looks down and shudders* m-might n-not be b-best to e-explain a-around Daniel.

Carly: *hand to her mouth* Why didn't anyone tell me something had happened?

Chip: *softly, from the doorway* We weren't sure you wanted to hear.

Silverbolt: L-long s-story s-short, I'm terrified of heights again. And even being out under the open sky makes me u-uncomfortable.

Chip: *softly* First Aid was a little shaken up too. Oh, and Rumble is an Autobot now.

Carly: *turns to stare at him*

Daniel: *anger forgotten. Cheer!* RUMBA!

Carly: *gasp* You let Rumble near Daniel?

Silverbolt: *hoping this will help ease Carly's fears* Rumble's near Kia, too.

Carly: *looks like she's going to have a heart attack or a meltdown*

Chip: *softly* Rumble nearly died, and Ratchet and Kia saved his life. He calls Ratchet "Boss" now.

Bumblebee: *dares to speak up from where she's hunkered next to Chip* The Dinobots like him, too.

Carly: *actually startles. Knows very well that if the suspicious Dinos like someone, then that person may not be likable, but they are unmistakably trustworthy*

Silverbolt: *nods in agreement with Chip and Bumblebee's words*

Carly: *legs give out and she plops to her bottom among the brightly coloured balls. Then she looks around the room and sees the careful paintings of all of Daniel's favourite animals and story characters on the walls. Wonders just how much of her son's life she's actually missed by being so obsessed with providing for him since his father died* *quietly, sounding lost* Daniel's never been to daycare.

Silverbolt: *reaches out to catch her before she falls too hard* *surprises himself in this endeavor* *Silverbolt shakes his head* *brings her son down and sees if he will go to her*

Daniel: *looks up at Silverbolt. Quietly, with baby appeal* Huggamama?

Silverbolt: *realizes what Daniel is asking* Only if she wants one. *looks at Carly, his look asking her if she wants a hug*

Carly: *looks up at him, and there are tears on her face as she absently lifts her arms* *quietly* Who's been taking care of Daniel?

Silverbolt: Sparkplug. Optimus. Jazz. Ratchet. Gears . . . *trails off in such a way as to make it seem like a community effort* *picks her up, bring her close to his chest, and brings Daniel to her*

Carly: *looks at Daniel*

Daniel: *worried look on his little face* Oppamus nap?

Bumblebee: *falls over backward and shakes with silent mirth*

Chip: *amused as he pushes his glasses up*

Carly: *as she leans against Silverbolt and holds Daniel close* Why is Optimus napping funny?

Silverbolt: *very sober* He does not get as much sleep as he needs, so Daniel helps him.

Carly: *eyes widen slightly* He takes his nap with Optimus?

Daniel: Uh huh. Nappanow?

Carly: *looks up at Silverbolt* Is this when he naps on weekdays?

Silverbolt: *checks his chronometer* I think so.

Bumblebee: *sits up and frowns* Where is Optimus, anyway? We didn't see him as we were coming in.

Chip: *looks up at her, and then frowns too*

Silverbolt: Optimus was playing basketball with the Dinobots . . . It's why Daniel's taking care of me.

Carly: *blinks* Optimus plays basketball?

Bumblebee: *staring at her former best friend with shock* Carly, what planet have you been on?

Carly: *scowls at her, but then hides face against Daniel as her shoulders shake slightly*

Silverbolt: *winces* *hesitates before seeing if he can rub Carly's back or if she will reject him*

Carly: *hugs her baby and leans close, too overwhelmed with the realization that she's put such a distance between herself and her remaining family that she's nearly a stranger to them. Is going to have a hard cry, praying desperately as she does that she won't frighten her son*

Daniel: *looks at tears on his hand, and then snuggles and starts singing* *this is what people do for him sometimes when he cries*

Silverbolt: *relaxes as he realizes that she is open to comfort and keeps rubbing her back* *smiles as he hears Daniel sing like he's heard Optimus and Jazz do*

Daniel: *crooning softly about "inda getto"*

Bumblebee: *tiptoeing closer and putting a couple fingers on Carly's shoulder. Chip is now sitting in the crook of her other arm, his prematurely grey hair a bit tousled by his hurry to be lifted*

Silverbolt: *tries not to let his startlement at seeing Bumblebee get close affect his rubbing* *smiles when he sees Bumblebee and Chip trying to join in*

Carly: *cries till she's pooped and just can't cry anymore. Looks down at her son to see why the song has stopped and sees him conked out and sleeping hard* *really feels like joining him*

Silverbolt: *has the patience of one who's been the leader of a crazy team and will rub her back as she cries* *it helps when he finally gets used to Bumblebee and Chip standing there with them* *cautious as Carly makes more movement, and isn't sure if she is going to want him to stop*

Carly: *looks up at him a little blankly, then gives him a hug without arms* *softly* You can put me down.

Silverbolt: *surprised by the hug* . . . Are you sure?

Carly: *nods* *still quiet* Thanks. *then she notices Bumblebee's hands twitching and wibbles, but she really is too tired to cry anymore* You can give me to 'Bee.

Chip: *perks and looks from Carly to Bumblebee, hoping that the two women who were so close before Spike's death will become friends again*

Silverbolt: *can only manage a nod at her thanks* *careful as he transfers the widow and her young son over to Bumblebee*

Bumblebee: *offers him Chip, so that she's got both arms for Carly and Daniel*

Chip: *climbing toward Silverbolt already*

Silverbolt: *oh, it's a trade* *takes Chip*

Chip: *grins and pushes his glasses up, then turns to watch as Bumblebee hugs Carly and Daniel*

Carly: *leans against Bumblebee and apologizes softly for chasing the little yellow scout away*

Bumblebee: *whoops. She's having her turn to cry. Didn't mean to!*

Silverbolt: *smiles as he sees that Carly is letting Bumblebee back into her life*

Chip: *quiet sigh* *softly* Think Carly'll get better now?

Silverbolt: I hope so. I think Optimus has been worrying about her. And so has Jazz. And Ratchet. And Bumblebee. And everyone else.

Chip: *quietly* Even Gears.

Carly: *glances over* Gears doesn't even know I exist.

Chip: *softly* Wanna bet?

Silverbolt: *sheepish as he realized they were overhead*

Gears: *looks in as he passes the doorway* *seemingly oblivious to the comment just made* Carly, you found Daniel. Good. Would have been horrible to lose him.

Bumblebee: *lifts her head and gives Gears such a hurt and surprised look, then looks down and cries more*

Carly: Gears, stick a sock in it.

Gears: What?

Chip: *simply* They're talking again.

Gears: *raises an optic ridge in disbelief and then looks over at the two* . . . *smiles at the sight of the two being friends again* *then he realizes something* But what does that have to do with putting a sock in it?

Chip: *face palm* Sorry. Carly was just being a little rude. She's had a hard day.

Gears: Ah. Carry on then. *though his look seems to say to keep an eye on them and make sure things continue to go well* *leaves the room*

Brawn: *looks in to see if Carly's found Daniel, and doesn't even playfully shoulder Gears in passing* *grin fades as he sees Carly and Bee* *gruffly* What happened?

Silverbolt: *doesn't want to say the wrong thing* *will let Chip take this one*

Chip: I think they need a hug.

Brawn: *deep scowl, but then steps inside, wades through the balls, and gently hugs the two women and the baby* *gruffly* It'll be okay.

Bumblebee: *shocked out of tears. 0_0*

Carly: *will not laugh at 'Bee's expression. Will NOT!* *pat pats Brawn* Thanks.

Silverbolt: *relaxes relays that he didn't realize were still tense* *but keeps a good hold on Chip* *glad to see Carly seem back to normalish*

Brawn: *checks to see if the hug worked. Sees no more sad faces and grins satisfaction. Pat pat for 'Bee* See? *then frowns as he hears something in the hall, excuses himself in his usual gruff way, and goes to school whoever is out there needing it*

Carly: *soft laughter*

Silverbolt: *watches Brawn leave, and then turns back and startles slightly when he hears Carly laugh*

Carly: *shaky sigh* Brawn hasn't changed.

Bumblebee: *quietly* Well, he doesn't dent Sunstreaker and Sideswipe as much as he used to.

Carly: ...Okay. The important parts haven't changed.

Chip: *chuckle*

Silverbolt: *small smile that turns to a slight frown as he picks up the "Ugly Duckling" book*

Chip: What's wrong, Silverbolt?

Silverbolt: *checks to see that Daniel is still asleep*

Daniel: *so asleep that he's drooling slightly*

Silverbolt: *attention back on the book as he carefully closes it* I am the Ugly Duckling. . . . I just don't think that I'm going to end up being a swan in the end.

Carly: *confused*

Chip: *concerned*

Bumblebee: Sure you will.

Silverbolt: *distracted gaze on the book* Swans aren't terrified of the sky.

Bumblebee: But a lot of 'em can't fly.

Silverbolt: *turns to look at Bumblebee* Huh?

Bumblebee: I've seen videos of 'em being chased. They flapped like crazy and didn't go anywhere.

Silverbolt: *looks . . . confused*

Bumblebee: *looks from Carly to Chip, then perks and grins that gentle and ever hopeful grin at Silverbolt* *softly and simply* You're going to be okay.

Silverbolt: *doesn't look convinced* *and he's not sure he wants to know what she was trying to say about the swans that don't go anywhere*

Carly: *looks down at a sound from Daniel, then up at Silverbolt* I better put Danny to bed. Will you be okay?

Silverbolt: *manages a small smile, though it seems a bit forced as he tries to be his old self for a moment* He needs his bed.

Chip: *leans back slightly* *quiet grin* We're good.

Bumblebee: *uncertain look, but another sound from Daniel has her turning toward the door with her armful of friends* See you soon, guys.

Chip: See you, 'Bee and Carly.

Silverbolt: *goes still at the movement but tries to put on a good face until the other two are gone, managing a nod of goodbye*

Chip: *looks up at him* *gently* Is it really that bad?

Silverbolt: Me being out of action has gotten Slingshot so self-reflective he's gotten a job as a pilot instructor, and Skydive's had to take on watching the other two all by herself. *and Chip should know how much trouble Fireflight and Air Raid get into*

Chip: *slight smile* That's why Fireflight has a job now too.

Silverbolt: 0_o?

Chip: He files Prowl and Optimus' paperwork.

Silverbolt: 0_o?

Chip: *smile falters* What is it?

Silverbolt: *wondering how good his oft-distracted brother is at that* *shakes his head and looks down at the ground, thinking*

Chip: *softly* I was afraid to go out for awhile.

Silverbolt: *looks up, surprised* You were?

Chip: *nods* Uh huh.

Silverbolt: *blinks a bit* Why?

Chip: *simply* Human kids can be pretty mean to people they think are different.

Silverbolt: *looks down at the braces on Chip's legs* Because your legs didn't work?

Chip: *also looks at the robotic braces* That only happened later. At first it was just because I didn't like the things they did, and I knew all the answers in class.

Silverbolt: *frowns, letting Chip's words sink in* *looks like he's trying to figure out why they'd do that*

Chip: *quietly* Think of the times Slingshot's been in the same room as Perceptor in lecture mode.

Silverbolt: But it sounds like you were actually contributing to the class.

Chip: Perceptor's contributing when Slingshot trolls him, too.

Silverbolt: *oh that aspect of his brother's personality* *Silverbolt has been away from the bot so long, he forgot that*

Chip: If they don't understand it, they don't like it.

Silverbolt: I'm sorry.

Chip: *gentle smile* Silverbolt. The point I'm making is that you shouldn't give up on yourself.

Silverbolt: *really looking sorry now* I-I c-can't. I get to the point that I think I can, and then I-I c-can't.

Chip: *simply* You have a long time. *pats the arm he's sitting on* And a lot of people to stand by you all the way.

Silverbolt: *probably a good thing he's already sitting on the floor* *shakey exhale of air*

Chip: Have you been talking to your team?

Silverbolt: Not really. *despite listening in when Fireflight forgets to exclude him on the line and when his team is on the open Aerialbot channel* *And the not "really" means that he still talks to Skydive and Fireflight when they come to visit him*

Chip: *surprised* Err. You better check Slingshot's back messages.

Silverbolt: He sent me back messages? *checks*

messages: *careful reports every two hours, starting with an apology that day Slingshot had sent the entire team an image of the open sky in front of him. Reports contain sit reps, corny jokes, interesting things from the conversations of piloting students, and a commentary about the show that all the Aerialbots used to like, but that Silverbolt's had to give up due to the amount of flying in it*

Silverbolt: *shocked to see just how many messages there are* *silent as he starts to scan through some of them*

Chip: *leans back more comfortably* You got Skydive's messages, right?

Silverbolt: *doubletakes and snaps his attention to Chip* *checks, thinking of the quick little bursts of nerdy peptalk and encouragement that his quieter sister leaves him on scraps of paper placed in his favorite haunts and occasionally sends him over comms* *. . . how did he miss this?* *he had thought he had still been checking these things* *wasn't that what a leader was supposed to do?* *although he admits that he did put a higher priority on real time messages* *hesitates before seeing if Air Raid and Fireflight happened to send him things as well*

Fireflight's messages: *all the cute baby animal motivational posters he's ever run into*

Air Raid: *...macaroni and cheese recipes?*

Silverbolt: *looking completely and utterly flabbergasted*

Chip: Silverbolt?

Silverbolt: *turns to Chip, looking lost*

Chip: *worried* What's wrong?

Silverbolt: *can't get words out of his vocalizer*

Chip: *hand on the young Autobot's arm* Was there something bad in your mail?

Silverbolt: *blinks* N-no.

Chip: Then what's wrong?

Silverbolt: *still looking shocked but has recovered his vocalizer* How did I miss Slingshot sending me stuff every two hours?

Chip: *sputters* Really? Every two hours?

new ping: *just arrived*

Silverbolt: *sees THAT ping* *looks at it*

ping: *Slingshot sent a feed of newborn ducklings weebling around in a box and beeping*

Silverbolt: *sad as thinks about the story Daniel shared with him* *sends back a ping: Where did Slingshot find them?*

Slingshot: *startled, but then comes a comm reply* //One of my students stopped by on his way home to show them to me.//

Silverbolt: *regretting pinging back so soon; he is embarrassed that he never got back to any of Slingshot's messages* *not sure what to say*

Slingshot: //They're female white Pekins. Jake says he's been wanting pet ducks for a long time. He says they'll be over twice this size when they finish upgrading.//

Silverbolt: *still not sure what to say*

Slingshot: //...'Bolt?// *grumble* //They're not flying or anything. They're just in the box. You're not afraid of baby ducks?//

Silverbolt: // N-no. I actually think they're kinda cute. //

Slingshot: *silence for a long moment*

Silverbolt: *takes a breath* *here goes* // Slingshot, I-I'm sorry for--// *how did he explain this? He wasn't even sure what he has been doing the last few weeks*//--for letting m-my f-fear overwhelm me. A-and s-shutting you out. //

Slingshot: //...Whatever. What's the cute part on these ducks?//

Silverbolt: *sounds a bit more like his old self* // Does 'cute' really have to have a reason? //

Slingshot: //Sheeya.// *cheerful snort over comms*

duckling in the feed: *weebles over and bites the big Slingshot finger that just went down near the box*

Silverbolt: *trying a bit more brotherly teasing* // I think she heard your skepticism, Slingshot. //

Slingshot: *sounds a bit shocked* //Actually, Jake says she's asking me to feed her. And I wasn't being sceptical. I was asking!//

Silverbolt: *understanding dawns* // Ah. That would make sense. //

Slingshot: //So answer my question. Jake wants to take the ducks home.//

Silverbolt: // All right. Cool your jets. It's their yellow color and small feet as they go waddling over each other. //

Slingshot: //Over... Hey! Get off your sister's head!// *line goes dead*

Silverbolt: *reflects on the fact that Slingshot showed outward concern for the ducks*

Chip: *shifts slightly to see if Silverbolt's ready to notice him again*

Silverbolt: *starts at the movement but keeps a good grip on Chip*

Chip: Were you talking to someone?

Silverbolt: Slingshot. He sent me another feed. *and the bot actually noticed this time*

Chip: *slight, interested grin* What kind of feed?

Silverbolt: *thoughtfully* Baby ducks.

Chip: *curious* He isn't at work?

Silverbolt: *thinks* He said something about a student coming by with them on the way home.

Chip: Ohhhh. *chuckles* I haven't seen baby ducks in years. *expression changes to concern* I have to go send some data to my lab partner. Are you going to be okay?

Silverbolt: *freezes* *was he going to be okay?*

Chip: *quietly and firmly* Remember what I said.

Silverbolt: *processor blanks* What did you say?

Chip: *quietly and patiently repeats his words of encouragement and advice*

Silverbolt: *breathes a bit easier but doesn't completely relax* I have a long time. And a lot of people to stand by me all the way. *sounds like trying to reassure self*

Chip: Yup. *grins* Including Optimus and Ratchet.

Silverbolt: *frowns* I think I'll check on Optimus.

Chip: *more grin* That's a good idea, Silverbolt.

Silverbolt: *smiles slightly* *glad that the idea is a good one, even if he feels a bit like a coward going from person to person* Want a lift?

Chip: I need to go a different direction. But I can stop by later, if you want.

Silverbolt: You sure? . . . And I'm not sure what I will be doing later. *though it might just be more sitting around*

Chip: *nods, the grin gone down to that reassuring smile* I'm sure.

Silverbolt: All right. *sets Chip carefully down among the balls*

Chip: *distracted by the terrain, and laughing about it as he shuffles toward the door so as to not crush any of the balls*

Silverbolt: *makes sure the human gets through safely before getting up and making the journey through the balls himself*

Chip: Hahaha. That's crazy. I can see why Danny likes spending time in there. *looks back before stepping out of the room, his face shining*

Silverbolt: *looks down* I'm still not sure what I think about it. *since it doesn't seem incredibly wise to have the stepping hazard*

Chip: *looks up* No?

Silverbolt: *nod in confirmation* No.

Chip: *starts to ask Silverbolt why, but then looks down as his phone beeps* Ack. Alex wants that data. I'll see you later. *sets off down the corridor with a little wave*

Silverbolt: So long, Chip. *watches him go down the corner for a few moments before turning towards medbay, where he finds Optimus awake* *he tells the Prime about how he unintentially ignored his Aerialbot brethren, and the bot he thinks of as a father gives him comfort* *from there, the troubled Aerialbot leaves Optimus to rest because Silverbolt's mind is racing too much to ask to stay* *Instead, he wanders the hall until he finds a window showing the sun setting outside* *sits down to watch it*

Slingshot: *pauses when he spots his brother and watches him for a moment, then makes his footsteps loud as he comes down the corridor. No need to get Skydive yelling at him again for startling Silverbolt*

Silverbolt: *doesn't notice the footsteps at first and startles anyway*

Slingshot: *actually cringes slightly* Scrap. You actually didn't hear me coming?

Silverbolt: *trying to calm down* *doesn't want push his siblings away again*

Slingshot: *gruff and uneasy* You gonna make it?

Silverbolt: *look says he's not completely sure of what he is going to say, himself* With time. *turns to look at the sunset again* I'm starting to feel the itch again.

Slingshot: *slight perk* Yeah?

Silverbolt: *glances back at Slingshot* Though it probably never was intense as the rest of the team's. *back at the sunset* But then I remember the sky and it dies in the fear.

Slingshot: *gruff again* Uh. Okay. Hey... *sound of a scuffed foot*

Silverbolt: *turns at the scuffing foot* *quizzical glance for Slingshot*

Slingshot: *holds out a box* I got you something.

Silverbolt: Oh? *reaches out to carefully take it*

Slingshot: It's the yellowest one, with the smallest feet. *awkwardly* The one that bit my finger.

Silverbolt: *smile even as he gingerly lifts the lid* *looks at the duckling*

baby duck: *lifts her head and beeps eagerly as she gets up and toddles toward him*

Silverbolt: *beeps back* *holds a finger out*

baby duck: *bite a finger. Bite bite a finger. Lifts head and beeps more*

Slingshot: *is holding a guinea pig cage in one hand, and a bag of feed and a waterer in the other as he watches the meeting*

Silverbolt: *is about to ask about food for the duckling when he looks up and sees that Slingshot is ahead of him* She's beautiful.

Slingshot: *cheerful shrug* For a little baby fuzzy thing that poops all over the place.

Silverbolt: She likes you regardless.

Slingshot: She bite... Yeah. She does. *smirk*

Silverbolt: *smile and looks down at her* Is there anything I need to keep in mind while taking care of her?

Slingshot: Jake says no drafts, and that in a couple days she's going to want to swim about as bad as Seekers want to... you know. She's got all her firewall patches 'n junk. *offers the book about pet ducks he stopped to get along with the cage and feed and other supplies*

Silverbolt: *winces a bit but nods, he understands* *carefully closes the lid to the box and takes the book*

Slingshot: The guy at the store said that book had everything you needed to know. And he said not to leave it where the duck can get it, or she'll try and eat it.

Silverbolt: *slight chuckle* That seems to be the case with a lot of animals. At least from what I heard from Hound.

Slingshot: *snort* And he's got like, fifty of the things. I thought he was smart.

Silverbolt: He is.

Slingshot: Yeah, right. I saw him that time he came in looking like a mud monster.

Silverbolt: Do you know why he looked like a mud monster?

Slingshot: *snort again* Because Sideswipe planted one of Jazz's mini charges in his carrot patch. After Smokescreen had flooded it with the hose.

Silverbolt: I don't see how that relates to Hound having six pets.

Slingshot: *looks at his brother like the answer should be obvious* He's got fifty. I'm counting the plants too.

Silverbolt: *does what he usually does in this situation* *shakes his head and wonder what he was going to do with Slingshot*

Slingshot: *grins at him, and the expression holds no mockery*

baby duck: *suddenly beeping broken heartedly. Ducky is all alone!*

Slingshot: o.0?

Silverbolt: *starts!* *subspaces book and opens the box, looking inside and beeping as he does so.

baby duck: *stops crying and sasses at him. You bad for running away!*

Silverbolt: *sheepish beep*

Slingshot: Jake says giving her a bottle of warm water wrapped in something she can crawl under will help. I guess all kinds of baby things need a doll sometimes.

Silverbolt: *raises an optic ridge, surprised that Slingshot wasn't making fun of him for talking to the duck* I suppose that makes sense. And we all need something to love.

Slingshot: *starts to retort to the raised ridge, but then suddenly glances away* Right.

Silverbolt: Or at least feel like we're needed.

Slingshot: *looks back to him, unable to fully conceal a hint of sheepishness* Yeah. That's right.

Silverbolt: *raises the optic ridge again as he feels he's missing something in his brother's behavior* *wondering just how much this guy has changed since Silverbolt's been incapacitated as the team leader* But you seemed to have figured that out with your pilot training.

Slingshot: *again that grin that holds affection* Sure. Yup.

Silverbolt: *now getting a bit creeped out* Uh. Am I missing something?

Slingshot: *considering look. Does he dare snark at brother a little more than making not listening replies while actually listening?* *decides to try it* Probably. You've always been a little dense.

Silverbolt: *looks a bit guilty* Doesn't help that I put myself out of the loop.

Slingshot: *shrugs* Scrap happens. *comes over and gently slugs his brother on the shoulder* You better take care of that duck.

Silverbolt: *why does Silverbolt get the feeling that Slingshot is avoiding the question?* *keeps a secret of his own by foregoing mentioning that with him being grounded there's not much else to do other than take care of the duck* I'll do my best. And I better get her back and make sure our quarters are draft-free. And tomorrow, I'll have to see about finding a wading pool.

Slingshot: *snerks* Jake was letting his swim in a yogurt dish.

Silverbolt: *looks a bit confused* Doesn't yogurt usually come in those truncated cone containers?

Slingshot: That's frozen yogurt, dork. *grin*

Silverbolt: *Silverbolt forgot how thick of plating he needed when dealing with Slingshot* No, I've seen Carly put some in the fridge. Frozen yogurt is often mistaken for ice cream and goes in the freezer.

Slingshot: *puzzled scowl* This was a thing like Sparkplug gets butter out of for Danny's buns.

Silverbolt: *remembers* Oh. Okay.

Slingshot: *again the non mocking grin* They had to take turns in it.

Silverbolt: I was wondering if that was going to be big enough. *looks down into the box he's still holding

Slingshot: What was that little bucket Kia was playing with the other day? The one that wound up on Rumble's head?

Silverbolt: You mean the gallon and a pint ice cream bucket?

Slingshot: Yeah. That's bigger.

Silverbolt: That could work for now.

Slingshot: Oh. Wait! *turns and runs off down the corridor*

Silverbolt: *startles and doesn't have time to say anything edge-wise as Slingshot runs off with the rest of the supplies* *looks after him for a moment and then checks on the boxed duckling again*

Slingshot: *back he comes, and holds out a little blue dog dish* Hound's mutt's too big for this.

Silverbolt: *had been using his finger to play with the duckling, trying to keep a look out for Slingshot so he wouldn't startle again* *flinches anyway when he sees him and then reaches out for the dish and holds it up to the box to compare sizes*

Slingshot: *measuring too, and nods* She could puddle around in that.

Silverbolt: *nods his agreement* This should work.

Slingshot: *again the grin* I don't have anything to offer for her doll, though.

Silverbolt: *subspacing the dish* It's all right. Kia might have an idea.

Slingshot: Uh. She's asleep.

Silverbolt: *checks his chronometer* *and looks out at the darken sky* *looks back at Slingshot and shrugs* I don't think she needs it tonight.

Slingshot: *blinks at him* She needs to be warm. I'm callin' Hound.

Silverbolt: *checks on the duckling* *hears Slingshot's reply and starts half-doubting himself*

Slingshot: *quietly, with a maturity that Silverbolt won't have heard before* It's alright to go to somebody who knows more when you're just learning.

Silverbolt: *lopsided grin* It was my lack of making a good decision.

Slingshot: *chuckle* Nah. You're just new to this. Don't worry. *turns his head as Hounds walks toward them*

Hound: *looks from one Aerialbot to the other* Someone has a baby duck that needs a brooder?

Silverbolt: *still thinks he should have known better, even if he thinks that he would have figured something out* I do. *though he has no idea what a brooder is*

Hound: *grins as he reaches the two brothers, and then holds out a yellow plush duck and some heat packs* This worked really well for my magpie when she was young.

Slingshot: *expression says, "Seriously???"*

Silverbolt: *as he realizes something* Are they really old enough to be away from the mother? Or is it really the heat that they need?

Hound: As long as they're warm, clean, fed, and out of drafts, little ducks are fine without a mother.

baby duck: *little duck is biting her box and beeping*

Silverbolt: *absent beeping and poking at her with a finger*

baby duck: *bite a finger!*

Hound: So you squeeze this thing like this. *activates a hotpack* Then put it in the doll like this. *shows* Close that up so your duckling can't crawl inside... *fiddles with tiny velcro patch*

Silverbolt: *is a big bot, so doesn't notice the biting anymore than little tickles* *watching very carefully* *also wondering if compartments would be okay*

Hound: *holds up the duck* Then you put it in her cage and she'll crawl under the wing when she wants to be warm.

Silverbolt: How long do the hotpacks last?

Hound: About seven hours.

Silverbolt: How do you recharge them?

Hound: You can't. You have to get new ones.

Silverbolt: *thinks that could be a problem*

Slingshot: *sees brother expression* What's wrong, 'Bolt?

Silverbolt: Logistics.

Hound: I'm not sure I know what you mean, Silverbolt. *head tilt*

Silverbolt: How long will she need them?

Hound: Till she's got her feathers.

Silverbolt: How long will that be?

Hound: There's a book. *offers the name of the book that Slingshot brought* It's got everything in it.

Silverbolt: *which he put into subspace* Oh. Right.

baby duck: *snugga finger and sleep*

Silverbolt: *finger feels different* *looks*

baby duck: *sleeeeeeeep*

Silverbolt: *smile when he sees that*

Hound: *chuckles* Looks like she's ready for you to bring her to bed.

Silverbolt: *nods* *will have to read the book and figure out if heating an onboard compartment will work*

Hound: Anything else? *grin*

Silverbolt: *thinking he's crazy for thinking of a pocket or even just himself as the heat source*

Slingshot: *still that kindly voice* 'Bolt, are you overthinking things again?

Hound: *looks like he's wondering who is wearing Slingshot's shell*

Silverbolt: *snaps out of it* Uh. Possibly?

Slingshot: *still kindly* That's the fastest way to crash.

Silverbolt: *BAD choice of words, Slingshot* *shudder*

Slingshot: *winces* *sigh* Come on, 'Bolt. Let's go home.

Silverbolt: *TRYING not to flashback though he didn't actually crash then* R-r-right. *wondering if he can have his hand back* *oh!* *checks to see if he woke her up by accident*

baby duck: *beak down and sound asleep*

Slingshot: *thanking Hound and urging his brother via arm around the shoulders*

Silverbolt: *gently removing his finger and closing the box* *tries to hold it carefully as his brother leads him away* *which is a bit odd how he's doing it since Slingshot is shorter than him*

Slingshot: *gets Silverbolt and the duckling home and tucked into their beds, then sits by his brother and watches YouTube videos via wifi till morning*


((co-written with random_xtras))