TF-'verse. Nellis AF base. Moving in

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Starforge looks up from where he's building a bunk in one of the spare rooms of what will be he and Arcee's new quarters. "Hunter! Knock it off. Now."

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"Uh..." Sunhunter's optics went huge. "Course not, dad!"

Startracker immediately hid his project, the look identical as he curled up.

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Their creator sighs. "Guys, we wanna healthy clean place ta live."

He holds out his hand. "Gimme."

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The boys had a quick and obvious mental discussion, and Sunhunter bolted from the room.

""I'll find him dad, don't worry!" he said over his shoulder. "I'm already as good as mom!"

Startracker gave his father a worried look.

"He's going to get the mouse. We only brought one in," he said, still hiding something small in his hands.

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"Whaddya got?" rumbles Starforge with gentle firmness.

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The young bot blinked, then slowly put something an object the size of a rat on his father's hand. The small animal was designed after a mouse, and though it was a little clunky and without and finished plate, showed a high level of detail and craftmanship.

"Please don't take it, dad, I've been working on him all week," Startracker said softly, voice full of tears. "I didn't bring the mice inside till today, and they never got away. Sunhunter held them real careful, and we let them go right after."

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He hunkers down and takes it to carefully turn it over in his hands. "This what ya did with the stuff Ratchet gave ya?"

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He slowly nodded.

"N' some stuff that was left over from the buildin'. Me n' Sunhunter looked in the trash trucks before they left," he mumbled. "I haven't even turned him on yet."

He stared at the floor, then slowly glanced up, fearfully. "Are... are you gonna take him away?"

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Starforge turns it over again, then shakes his head and hands it back. "Nah. That ain't no danger. Jus' don't bring in anymore 'a the real thing, alright?"

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The boy looked immensely relieved as he took it, holding it carefully. "I won't, dad, I promise!"

He set it on the floor, then blinked and looked up at his father, looking excited and nervous. "Wanna see if it works?"

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"Sure." He grins, resting his arm on his knee.

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Startracker beamed, then carefully put a tiny, straightened paperclip behind the neck joints of the robot, fiddling for a moment before there was a tiny clanging sound. A moment later the robot twitched, then sat suddenly on its hind legs, turning its head for a moment before lifting a paw and scratching at its cheek.

"It works!" Startracker breathed, amazed.