Transformers: Sparky

Chapter 5

It dawned on me that this was a stranger, a stranger that could be part of the police department. Granted he didn't look like one, he wasn't wearing anything remotely official or even something that could be seen as 'smart'. His tattered black trench coat hung from his shoulders, it looked about as old as Dan was- been, with holes and shedded coat ends. Definitely not police material.

Still, I should be careful...

Clearing my throat, I lent on the dumpster with my arms crossed. My split second decisions are freaking awful, did I really think that this was the way to act? I was suspicious as heck. Geez I suck.

"Uh- Yeah, I was looking for something I threw away- you know in the dumpster. My mom threw out my um- bed? I mean not my bed, like the bed frame. No- not the frame-" My bullshiting skills needed work. Look, this was the first time I tried, well with someone new anyway. I could bullshit my way through stuff with Dan and Steve- I think?

"You're terrible at lying-" I opened my mouth to retort, yet I couldn't think of a comeback; I was really debating booking it again and finding somewhere else to hide (Not another dumpster). "-I saw what happened with the police."

Oh no.

I shrank, slowly shuffling backwards, the anxiety was creeping up on me again. I tossed a glance over to the exit of the alleyway; calculating how fast I could escape without causing him to react.

"Calm down kid. I'm a Cybertronian too."

I made a face, I don't know what kind of face; but from the way it made my eyes widen and my mouth hang, I'd say it was a dumb expression. He offered me a hand which I stared at like a marginally wet potato. Good to know that robots have sweat glands, or at least I do anyway.

He withdrew it and sighed "Habit. You probably don't know what a handshake is"

Shaking off the gormless expression on my face, I fumbled over my words to try and save my dumbassery.

"I know what a handshake is... " I extended my hand, my palm looked grossly shiny from all the sweat I was producing, I felt my life drain from my muscles- do I even have muscles?

I so wish I got hit by a car crossing that road earlier... I'm so stupid.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise, but took my hand and shook it. As soon as I made contact with him, his form flickered, glitching in places revealing parts of a robot underneath. Startled, I let go.

"My hologram projector is getting pretty old. Physical contact does disrupt the photons more than it used to." He crossed his arms, still smirking.

I began to claw at my arm, sucking in a shaky breath as I aimed my blue gaze to the ground, searching for something to say that wasn't dumb.

"Oh... You're small like me. Well you're taller than me, but you're not like the size of a house."

"Ah- well, I used to be. This isn't my real body. This is a Minicon, you're a Sparkling, two completely different things. Once upon a time I was a tank and a jet"

I stared at him wide eyed, he snorted at my response, however it didn't feel like he was mocking me. I figured asking: 'hey how come you're not a Tank/Jet robot anymore' might be a weird thing to ask. So instead I decided to question him over "What's a Sparkling?"

"Has nobody else told you?" There was a slither of bitterness in his voice, I wasn't sure what caused his tone to change, however he did elaborate.

"A Sparkling is what a child Cybertronian is called." Why did he sound so serious about that?