"OH, YES. Get snuck-up on."

A few days later...

It was the end of a long Friday.

Y/n stepped out of the school building under the dull Nevada sun, the heat hazy across the pavement. Her crutches clicked rhythmically against the concrete, each step deliberate. She walked awkwardly, head supported by one hand, backpack slung loosely off her shoulder. She moved like a ghost through the crowd of chatting students, many of whom still gave her that sideways, unsettled glance.

She didn't care. Not today.

Today, she knew someone was watching her.

Actually—someones.

Across the parking lot, parked just far enough to not be suspicious, was a glossy red 2010 Aston Martin One-77 with gleaming gold rims. Polished. Flawless. Overkill.

Knockout.

Right beside him, a hulking, matte-blue armored military truck idled like a sleeping bear.

Breakdown.

They didn't look like they were trying to be subtle. But somehow, that made it even more amusing.

Y/n stopped in the middle of the school steps, turning her head just slightly. Her lenses glinted. She raised her hand slowly and gave a mechanical little wave.

Both vehicles flashed their headlights at the exact same time.

"...cute," she muttered, unimpressed but vaguely amused.

She didn't head straight to the bus. Instead, she took the longer route through the sidewalk that looped behind the school. She could feel their engines rumble to life, slowly trailing her from a distance, always staying just out of full sight. But it wasn't threatening.

It was... almost comforting.

Knockout's flashy ego and Breakdown's silent protective aura—both shadowing her every step like enormous mechanical guard dogs.

As she turned down the street toward her neighborhood, she sighed and spoke her next words aloud, as she always did.

"Shuffle...shuffle...shuffle."

Then she let the smallest smile ghost across her lips.

They were here.

They were watching.

And despite the fact they were giant alien robots who could crush buildings and had a war on their backs—Megatron had told them to keep her safe.

Y/n didn't say it out loud, but she thought it:

I'm not alone anymore.

Knockout's engine purred with idle irritation as he rolled to a stop beside Breakdown on the edge of the neighborhood.

"Tell me again why we're playing glorified babysitter to a glitchy, unhinged little human girl," Knockout groused, revving slightly for emphasis. "This paint job wasn't meant to bake in the sun on surveillance duty."

Breakdown let out a tired vent. "Megatron's orders."

Knockout scoffed. "Oh please, everything is Megatron's orders. 'Kill the Autobots.' 'Find the Energon.' 'Babysit the creepy meat child.'"

There was a pause. Neither of them spoke for a moment as they both watched Y/n hobble down the sidewalk, clearly aware of their presence but choosing to ignore them—likely for her own amusement. She didn't even look back, just gave a slow, deliberate "low head tilt, mild glance over shoulder" gesture.

"...She's doing that thing again," Knockout muttered. "Narrating."

Breakdown rumbled. "Kinda used to it."

Then, as if sharing a single spark between them, they both recalled it at the same time:

"She is not to be harmed. She is not to be taken. And if the Autobots try to steal her from us again... I expect you two to be the first to make them regret it."

Knockout groaned out loud.

Breakdown sighed, "He said it with that voice too."

"You mean the one where your fuel lines freeze up and you forget how to transform?" Knockout muttered. "Yes. That one."

They sat in silence for another beat.

Knockout added bitterly, "He also said—and I quote—'I don't trust her with anyone else. Especially not Starscream.'"

Breakdown chuckled. "Smart mech."

"Still doesn't explain us!" Knockout huffed.

"Oh come on," Breakdown rumbled. "You like her."

"I like her the same way I like wielding a plasma scalpel near a high-yield energon barrel," Knockout snapped. "Cautiously. With protective gear."

"She made you laugh."

Knockout glared across the invisible radio link.

"She stared at me until I laughed! There's a difference."

Breakdown snorted.

Knockout let out a long, defeated sigh as Y/n finally reached her front steps, unlocking her door with one hand while still holding her head up with the other. The front light flickered to life as she disappeared inside, her form swallowed by shadows.

"...Okay, but real talk," Knockout muttered, low and quiet now. "She smiled yesterday. Like, really smiled. That... that felt weird."

Breakdown was silent for a long moment, his tone a little softer when he replied.

"Yeah. But not bad."

"...No," Knockout admitted. "Not bad."

They sat there in the quiet desert dusk, two massive Decepticons hiding in plain sight on a human street, assigned to protect a disabled girl with a sharp little mind. Assigned by Megatron himself.

And for once?

Neither of them complained out loud again that night.

Words: 833

The next chapter with be the last chapter for this bonding stuff 😈

Edit: The x eyes thingy was meant to be for silly lore stuff and now that I look at it, it was genuinely a mistake. I need to work on my writing ;-;