On the Autobot team, there was a new sparkling aboard—a small, curious youngling. And right now, the team was in absolute chaos trying to figure out what in the world to do with them.

“I say leave them where we found them,” Arcee huffed, arms crossed as she eyed the tiny mech sitting quietly on the med berth.

“Arcee, are you insane?!” Ratchet snapped, optics wide in disbelief. “We found them alone! Just leaving them there again would be reckless—no, cruel!”

The sparkling flinched at the raised voices, pulling their tiny servos close to their chassis. Bumblebee, noticing, made a soft beeping noise and crouched beside them, offering a reassuring servo. The youngling hesitated before slowly reaching out, gripping his finger with a quiet whir.

“We don’t even know where they came from,” Arcee argued, though her tone had softened slightly. “For all we know, they could be Decepticon-created. We don’t have the resources to care for them, Optimus.”

Bulkhead shifted awkwardly. “I dunno, Arcee… they’re just a kid. Doesn’t feel right just leavin’ ‘em.”

Optimus, silent until now, finally spoke. “A sparkling is not a threat. They are not a burden. They are innocent.” His optics softened as he looked at the small mech, who was still holding onto Bumblebee’s servo. “And we will not abandon them.”

Arcee sighed, rubbing her temples. “I just don’t want to get attached to someone we might not be able to protect.”

The youngling shifted slightly, hesitating before reaching for Optimus with both servos, optics flickering with something hesitant… hopeful.

Optimus knelt to their level, extending his own servo carefully. The sparkling leaned forward, hesitating before pressing their tiny frame against his palm, seeking comfort. Optimus let them stay, his expression unreadable but gentle.

Ratchet exhaled heavily, running a servo down his faceplate. “Primus help me… this is going to be a long cycle.”