With All My Spark → Transformers

Babysitting

I immediately turned around to see Ironhide's holoform sitting on the couch. A small smirk was plastered onto his features as he pretended to look through a fashion magazine all while his feet were propped up onto my coffee table. Normally, at this time in the morning, he would be at the base. I really wasn't sure as to why he was still here, but I couldn't say I didn't mind.

"Well, that was unexpected," I stated as I turned back to my mom.

She glanced down at her watch. "Can he please? I really need to go before I'm late."

I sighed and turned my head again. "Hide," I called.

"Hm?" His eyes never left the magazine.

"Can you watch Annabelle today please?" I inquired.

"I'll take it into consideration," he answered.

I just rolled my eyes and turned back around, pulling Anna through the door and into the apartment. My mom smiled at me.

"Thank you so much. I love you. I'll be back for her later," she chirped as she scurried off. I quickly shut the door and turned around. Hide was still in the same position on the couch and Anna had run off to the kitchen.

"Annabelle," I called after her.

She poked her head around the island in the center of the room and looked at me, an innocent look on her face. I didn't give in to it though. She was five years old and already too much like me. It was almost impossible to leave her alone without her getting into some sort of trouble. She couldn't be trusted. "Yes?"

"What are you doing?" I asked curiously as I walked over to her.

"I'm going to practice throwing the knives. Daddy told me you started playing with the guns early, so I want to start early too," she smiled. I could hear Ironhide chuckle from the living room.

Aside from acting like me, she also wanted to be like me. She always wanted to fight or do something moderately destructive like I had done when I was younger. To me it was just a little sister thing and hopefully she grew out of it.

"I didn't start as early as you're trying to, though. And I especially don't want you to hurt yourself," I told her as I pushed her little body into the living room.

She frowned. "You're no fun."

"Sorry, kid."

She let out a huff and turned to face me. "And how come you don't get in trouble for not wearing pants, Lea? Mommy smacks me if I run around the house without them," she whined.

I chuckled. "Well, because I'm twenty-one and I'm an adult. I can pretty much do whatever I want," I answered.

"So, Ironhide doesn't smack you for not wearing pants?"

I pursed my lips and he laughed.

"Oh, he does," Ironhide jested from the couch.

Anna gasped and I just let out a sigh before bending down to her level. "Why do you still walk around without pants on if you get in trouble, Lea? That's no fun," she exclaimed rather sadly.

"Look at me, child. I'm going to go get ready for work now, okay? I need you to stay down here with Ironhide," I told her, completely disregarding her question.

She nodded and Ironhide grunted. I stood up quickly and grabbed the magazine from his hand before hitting him on the head with it. He glared at me. "Was that necessary?"

I threw the magazine onto the table. "Yes it was. Watch her please," I pleaded with him.

He glanced at Annabelle before looking back at me. I knew exactly what he was thinking about too. He had basically known Annabelle her whole life, yet he still didn't know how to properly interact with her. He cared for my little sister just as much as he cared for my mom, dad, and Adalyn, but the only thing he knew how to do was watch over her and protect her as he's had to do plenty of times. He couldn't interact with her the same way he could with me or my father, and it was completely understandable; there wasn't really much you could talk about or do with a five year old.