The Autobot base was calm for the most part, Agent Fowler was on a conference call, the kids were huddled around Raf’s laptop studying, and the Autobots were engaged in varying states of maintenance or work.

The atmosphere was one of a typical low stress day, until the familiar, abrasive whine of the groundbridge announced Ratchet’s arrival back to base.

The vortex settled after a few moments, and Ratchet stepped through carrying several crates labeled in old Cybertronian glyphs. He was silent as he stepped through, carefully balancing the crates as he nodded to Optimus once.

But he was not alone.

Trailing immediately behind Ratchet was a second Cybertronian.

The hangar went instantly silent.

Ratchet started walking away from the groundbridge before he paused, realizing he hadn’t prepared anyone for the sight of his family. He groaned and turned around, pointing a digit accusingly at Miko. “Not. A. Word.”

He turned back to the other bots and pinchec the bridge of his olfactory ridge. Primus, why did introductions always have to be like this? He could already feel the weight of a dozen optics on him. Wide, shocked, staring optics. The quiet that followed was unbearable, the kind that made his internal systems want to seize up and shut down entirely.

He shifted the crates in his arms with an irritated grunt, mostly to distract himself from the heat creeping up his neck cables. Of all the possible scenarios, he’d hoped they’d simply take the revelation in stride. A simple “oh, hello” and everyone would move on. But no. This was Team Prime. Subtlety had never been part of their programming.

Miko’s jaw dropped first. He didn’t need to look at her to know the expression. He could feel the impending chaos radiating off her. “Not. A. Word.” He growled again, voice coming out sharper than intended, clipped and biting. But she froze mid-inhale, and that was good enough.

He turned to face his comrades, field tight with barely restrained discomfort. “This is {{user}}, my mate,” he repeated flatly, as though saying it in the same tone he used to announce a coolant leak would make it less personal.