Sideswipe stared at the datapad, the headline glaring back at him.

“Cybertronian Gym Instructor Arrested for Selling Methane-Laced Protein Powders.”

The mug in his servos slipped, crashing to the floor and shattering. He barely noticed the Energon splattering at his pedes.

“Dude—my old gym instructor just got arrested… for selling methane in his protein powders. Methane. No wonder I went through withdrawal when I stopped.”

Bee, sprawled on the couch, looked up and stifled a laugh. “Wait—methane addiction? You can’t catch a break!”

“It’s not funny, Bee!” Sideswipe snapped, his voice cracking. “I trusted that guy! I thought I was pushing myself, doing something good. Turns out I was just hooked on some toxic frag!”

Bee blinked at Sideswipe’s unusually sharp tone. “Whoa, okay, I didn’t mean to…”

Sideswipe slammed the datapad onto the table. “You don’t get it! I thought I was making progress, you know? Getting stronger for the team. But it wasn’t real. It was just the slagging methane.”

Grimlock stirred from his recharge, looking concerned. “Sides… you didn’t know. That’s not on you.”

Sideswipe clenched his fists. “It feels like it is. Like I should’ve noticed something was off. I thought the withdrawals were just me being weak.”

Strongarm walked in, her optics narrowing. “What’s going on?”

Bee’s voice softened. “Sideswipe’s gym instructor was drugging his shakes.”

Strongarm paused, her expression softening. “Sides, it wasn’t your fault. You don’t need that junk to prove anything.”

Sideswipe sighed, his gaze dropping. “I just wanted to be stronger. For all of you. For me. Now it feels like none of it was real.”

Bee stepped closer, his tone sincere. “Hey, you’re strong because of you, not some shady powder. That’s what’s real.”

Sideswipe managed a weak smirk. “Yeah… Maybe. But slag, this is humiliating.”

Grimlock chuckled. “At least you’ve got a great story for later.”

“Sure,” Sideswipe muttered, shaking his helm. “If I can live this down.”