TF-Lucky

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers, or any of the song/movie quotes used in this story.  However, the idea for this story does, indeed, belong to me.

NOTE: DO NOT READ THIS FIC UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN REVENGE OF THE FALLEN!!! ALSO, DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE MOVIE PREQUEL COMICS. MAJOR SPOILERS ABOUND FROM BOTH!
Writing Prompt #41/50
Title: Lucky
Rating: T (Just to be safe)
Words: 1815
Characters: Sam, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jolt (mentioned only), Megatron (mentioned only), Ratchet (mentioned only)
Pairings: None
Takes Place: After Revenge of the Fallen
Teaser: In today's exciting episode, Optimus and Sam have a late-night chat while on the ship back home from Egypt, and the Prime lets Sam know how lucky Bumblebee is to have him as a friend…no. To have him as a brother.

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A friend is someone who knows the song of your soul, and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words.
~Anonymous


LATE NIGHT ON THE OPEN OCEAN.  IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE peaceful, and after everything that had happened that day, it was something that seemed much more enjoyable than it would have under normal circumstances.

Optimus Prime stood on the deck of the aircraft carrier, looking at the night sky as he reflected on the day's events.  The others had reported to him everything that had happened while he was in stasis lock, and it was a lot to think over.  Suddenly, the sound of footsteps reached his audio receptors.  He recognized the sound of the limping gait combined with the metallic thud of crutches hitting the ground, and a small smile appeared on the Autobot Leader's face.

Apparently he wasn't the only one too preoccupied to rest tonight.

He waited a few moments until the person the footsteps belonged to was closer to him, and then spoke.

"You know, if Bumblebee wakes up and finds you gone, he will, as you humans call it, 'freak out'."

Sam flinched.  "Oh! Uh, yeah.  Please don't tell him I'm out here, okay? And don't tell Ratchet or Jolt either," Sam added as an afterthought.  "Ratchet probably won't like it that I'm up and about instead of resting. Jolt might be cool about it but he'd probably tell Ratchet, just to make sure it was okay, and if Ratchet knew, then-"

Optimus cut him off with a smile.  "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you snuck off." He immediately turned serious.  "Why are you awake? Was it another nightmare?"

Unbidden, memories of the nightmare he had earlier that night filled Sam's mind.  Shuddering, he shook his head, trying to get the images out of his thoughts.  "No.  I just…couldn't sleep.  I just feel really restless, and I don't know why."

"Is it because of what I taught you earlier?" Optimus's voice was concerned.  "Because if it's keeping you up at night, I don't think you should learn how to read any more Cybertronian symbols."

"It's not that, it's…oh, I don't know.  Lots of things. Things that happened before I left home; at college, and what happened in Egypt.  Everything that happened was my fault, all because I was too stupid to listen-"

"Sam, you more than made up for that today, and you know it."

Sam was quiet for a minute.  "I still feel guilty about it though.  I guess that's normal, but I feel like I haven't done enough to make it up to you guys. "

The leader of the Autobots looked down at the young human who had done so much for his people.  "Don't worry about it, Sam."

"I know."  With a sigh, Sam looked up at the night sky, rubbing his arm absently.  After a moment's silence, he spoke again.  "I have no idea what's going to happen now."

"Are you planning on returning to college?"

"I'd like to. Problem is, I don't think I can.  There's the whole thing with me being absent for several days.  Not to mention all the damage that was caused to campus, and the whole 'World-wanted' thing.  I don't think I'll be able to go back."

"But you want to, am I right?" Optimus asked.

"Well, yeah."

Optimus smiled.  "Good.  You will find that those in charge at the school have mysteriously forgotten the events that took place there, and all the damage has been repaired.  You will also discover that there will be no problem with you having a car on campus, even though you are a freshman."

Sam stared. "Wha…huh?"

"Those at NEST managed to, as you humans say, "pull some strings" and got everything straightened out," Optimus explained. "Everything's been taken care of.  Your being on the wanted list will also no longer be an issue."

"Thanks." The word seemed completely inadequate for what Optimus and the rest of NEST had done to smooth things over for Sam.  He stood in silence for moment, then, one of the things Optimus had just told him suddenly clicked in his mind.  "Wait, Bee can come with me to college now? That's great! He'll be so happy when I tell him he can come now; he was very upset when he couldn't come before."

"That doesn't surprise me," Optimus replied thoughtfully.  "Bumblebee always has been…well, clingy, as you humans call it. It's not his fault; he's always disliked being alone.  It's most likely due to the fact that he is so young; well, young for our race, at least."

"Is he really that young? I mean, I know he's the youngest of all you guys, but I didn't think he was that much younger," Sam asked.

"Bumblebee is the Autobot equivalent of a sixteen-year-old human.  If things had been different, if there had not been a war, he would still be attending the Youth Sectors-what you would call a school.  The war forced him to grow up faster than any of us would have liked."

There was an awkward silence following Optimus's remark.  Well, the silence was awkward for Sam, at least.  He absently tapped the fingers of his right hand against his crutches, thinking over what he had just been told.  He'd always known that Bumblebee was the youngest, had been able to tell it just by the  way Bee acted and the way the others acted around him, but he'd never realized just how young his friend actually was.  Knowing that Bumblebee would be two full years younger than him if he was a human was a bit of a shock, and it made Sam both admire what Bumblebee could do (there was no way he'd have been able to fight full-on in a war when he was sixteen; Mission City had  been hard enough) and feel sorry for him, because, in a way, Bumblebee's childhood had been stolen from him.

"He's…been through a lot, hasn't he?" Sam asked, somewhat hesitantly.

"Yes," Optimus replied. "More so than any Autobot his age should have gone through." The Prime's voice was heavy with regret.  "He managed to keep a positive outlook throughout most of it, but after he lost his voice at the hands of Megatron, he became depressed.  It was the first time any part of the war affected him so badly and we were worried about him.  I almost refused to let him come to Earth ahead of the rest of the team because I thought his depression would put him in danger. However, I am glad that I eventually agreed to let him come."

Optimus turned and looked at Sam.  "Bumblebee is still haunted by what happened to him at Tyger Pax, but now, he is able to push it to the back of his processer, because of one reason.  You see, something has changed since Bumblebee came here, to Earth, Sam."

Sam met the Prime's gaze curiously.  "Something's changed? What?"

"He has you."

That was the last thing Sam had expected to hear. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Optimus smiled.  "Bumblebee's become quite close to you, Sam.  The two of you got along since you first met, and even though you've only known each other for two years you've been through a lot together. When he's with you, he doesn't have to worry about fighting, or acting older than he really is. Bumblebee is able to be himself around you, Sam-you remind him of what good exists in the universe, and that is why he can ignore what happened to him on Cybertron when he's with you.  Am I correct in saying that Bumblebee is your best friend?"

"He's not just my best friend," Sam replied, with an intensity that surprised even him.  "He's my brother."

Optimus looked at the boy, an unreadable expression on his face.  Sam looked evenly back at him.  Then Optimus's look softened, and he smiled.

"If that is the case, Sam," The Prime said, the smile still on his face, "Then Bumblebee is very lucky to have you as his brother."

Suddenly, Optimus paused, head tilted slightly to one side.  He abruptly chuckled.

"Well, it looks like your secret is out, Sam.  Bumblebee is out of recharge and is currently 'freaking out' because you were not then when he awoke."

Sam groaned and sagged on his crutches.  "I KNEW he would wake up.  Did you tell him where I am?"

"Of course.  He's on his way here now.  And Sam..." Optimus chuckled again.  "You had better be prepared to explain why you left."

Sam groaned again.

A few minutes later, a familiar yellow Autobot rushed into view.  Spotting Sam next to Optimus, Bumblebee hurried over, clicking worriedly.  

Sam sighed, then looked up at his friend. "Hey, Bee."

"I was really worried about you!" Came a clip from Bumblebee's radio.  Sam groaned, and gave Bumblebee's arm a light smack that was more affectionate than annoyed.

"Come on, Bee! Pokémon? Seriously?"  He looked up at Bumblebee.  "Sorry for making you worried, Bee.  I should've told you, but you were in recharge and I didn't want to wake you up."

Bumblebee chirped softly in reply, then looked up at Optimus curiously.

"Sam is fine, Bumblebee.  We talked about a few things.  I am sure that he will want to get some rest now," Still hiding a smile, Optimus turned to walk to the area that had been set aside for him to recharge in.  "I will see you two in the morning.  Good night."  With that, he was gone.

Sam allowed Bumblebee to pick him up (it was better than walking with those stupid crutches) and the two of them made their way back over to where Bumblebee had been recharging before.  

As Bumblebee walked, Sam turned over what Optimus had told him in his head.  Then, he looked up at the Autobot.  "Hey, Bee?"

Bumblebee looked down at him and made a questioning sound.

"Optimus told me that everything's been smoothed over.  So, once we get back home, I'm going to go back to college…"

Bumblebee made a sad sound, the doors on his back drooping slightly.

"…And you're coming with me this time," Sam finished with a smile.

"Really?" Bumblebee said excitedly through is radio.

"Yep." Sam replied, still smiling.

Bumblebee chirped happily, sitting Sam down and transforming back into his Camaro form.  The driver's side door opened, and Sam climbed in.  He made his way onto the back seat with slight difficulty, stretching out on the makeshift bed.

"Crazy week, huh?" Sam murmured.

Bumblebee clicked in agreement.

"I think I'll pass on going through any of it again." Sam closed his eyes, feeling the sleep that had been eluding him finally returning.  "'Night, Bee. Love ya."

"Love ya, too, S-sam," Bumblebee replied, in a mixture of radio and his own voice.  

Optimus was only partially right, Sam thought as both he and Bumblebee fell into their own versions of sleep.

The two of them were both lucky.  Lucky to have each other as brothers.