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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Hunter started, then blinked and frowned.

"The mouse got away," he said.

In his corner Startracker looked up and blinked, then ducked his head. "It's ok. I've gat it," he said.

"Awesome!" Sunhunter hurried over, grinning. "See, dad? You didn't mess it all up!"

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"Mouse?" Starforge straightens and comes to see. "You didn' bring a wild mouse in here, didja?"

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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.

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"Cute." Starforge chuckles. "Bet Roach'll git a kick outta it."

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"He's not for Roach. He can't dance," the young bot said softly, bending down and looking at the rat, holding out his fingers. The giant mouse perked almost at once, ambling over and sniffing his hand before nuzzling it. The look on Startracker's face was that of utter contentness as he gently scooped up the artificial animal.

The little bot responded by nuzzling his cheek, and suddenly it was quite clear that the young mech had created the creature for companionship more than anything else.

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Starforge watches them for a moment, then reaches out and gently pulls Startracker close. "That's real good work, son."

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Startracker blinked, then grinned and hugged his father.

"Thanks, dad," he said.

Sunhunter skidded in almost as soon as he finished speaking, then arched a brow plate. "Should I scat while you two have a moment?" he snickered, giving a reason why his brother would create a comforting friend for himself.

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Starforge gives his older son a stern look without letting go of the younger one. "You wanna go take all those foam peanuts outta the livin' room 'n bring 'em ta the recycler?"

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"Not really," he grinned, then went closer. "Hey! He works! Lemme see!"

"No," Startracker withdrew and hid in his father's arms.

"I helped you make him!" Sunhunter said, reaching in. "I wanna see!"

"I'll make you another. This one's mine," Startracker turned to his father quickly, hiding the mouse against his chest as it let out a frightened squeaking sound.

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"Sunhunter, I asked ya ta do somethin'," says Starforge sternly. "Leave yer brother's mouse alone."

Then he pauses before adding, "And I wanna talk ta you later."

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Sunhunter froze, then sulked and walked out. "Fine."

Startracker shakily turned, then opened his hands to make sure the shivering minibot was alright.

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Starforge gently rubs his quieter son's back. "Will ya finish the bunk while I go 'n talk ta yer brother?"

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"Ok, dad," he said, nodding and getting up, putting his new pal on his shoulder and going o inspect the tools he'd get to use.

Upstairs Sunhunter muttered fiercely as he grabbed the peanuts and shoved them into the boxes, sulking and sending Roach scurrying away out of precaution.

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Starforge frowns as he goes up in the elevator, mentally talking things over with the Sparkmaker as he tries to figure out exactly what to say to his older son. He never had a male creator there while he was 'growing up', so he's not even totally sure yet what it is and isn't his place to say or do. But Sunhunter's hurting Startracker, and he can tell that even Ratchet and Chromia are starting to frown about it.

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Sunhunter finished piling all the peanuts in, then looked at them.

Hmm... what would it be like?

Without a second thought the young bot grinned and leapt in the air, smashing all the boxes flat and sending peanuts everywhere like a foam cloud that rained down on him. Laughing gleefully Sunhunter sat up, looking around excitedly. He had to show this to Startracker when they were speaking again.