TransWarped (An Animated/Prime Crossover)

Chapter 15: Full House, Full Tank

Jack fought off the frigid cold weather with his new winter clothes and a thermos of bisque. Normally he'd be inside trying to get warm but he didn't want to miss an opportunity to see the triceratops in action. While Grimlock remained in the medbay under Ratchet's care, the other two Dinobots lingered around the Autobots' home. Jack didn't mind squirming on the cold aluminum bleachers in the courtyard of the base if it meant he'd see Bulkhead give the Dinobots and Wreck-Gar Lobbing lessons

"Alright Slug, your strength's perfect. Now all we gotta do is work on your aim." Bulkhead said with a proud grin. Despite his injured foot, he had no problem playing. Bulkhead moved his right leg forward and opened his palms toward the triceratops, ready to catch the Lobbing ball they'd crafted. "Throw it right down the middle."

Slug nodded resolutely and hefted the ball in his right hand. His optics narrowed as he tried to adjust his grip for the perfect throw.

"We're bottom of the 9th, bases loaded! All we need is one good pitch and we're off to the playoffs, Slug!" Wreck-Gar cheered from his corner of the courtyard. He'd been spewing baseball phrases for hours and Jack was sure half of them were incorrect.

On the roof of the plant, Swoop squawked encouragingly. The flying bot turned down the opportunity to play but he enjoyed spectating. While the two Dinobots were the same height, Swoop was pretty scrawny. One mistimed hit from the Lobbing ball would probably flatten him.

Slug turned the ball in his servo before launching it. The ball curved as soon as it left Slug's grasp, hurtling toward Bulkhead's left shoulder instead of his palms. Bulkhead pivoted and caught the ball just before it hit him. Bulkhead twisted and lobbed the ball to Wreck-Gar in one fluid motion. Wreck-Gar caught the ball with a wince and passed it to Slug.

"They're improving," Prowl observed as he sat on the bleachers beside Jack.

Jack, startled by Prowl's unexpected arrival, nearly dropped his thermos. His breakfast splashed onto his new gloves and Jack nearly rammed his fist into his mouth to quickly lick it up. Jack could practically hear his mom scolding him for his behavior.

'It's not like I have a choice. I don't have a washing machine,' He justified to the imaginary mom in his head. Jack also used the washing machine excuse to justify why he hadn't changed clothes or showered in three days.

"Jack, aren't you cold?" Prowl interrupted Jack's imaginary conversation with Mrs. Darby. He looked down at the teen with genuine concern. "Humans get ill if they stay in cold conditions for too long."

Another frigid breeze swept through the air just as Jack removed his fist from his mouth. Jack responded with chattering teeth. "I kn-know, Prowl. I-I'll be f-fine." Every day, Jack swore he'd never visit a city on the Great Lakes again.

The ninjabot didn't back down. "Sari said the same too before her nose began leaking slime."

'Gross.'

"I'm not Sari." Jack stubbornly pointed out and curled inward to shield himself from another gust of wind.

Prowl didn't respond and Jack was too preoccupied totally not shivering to look at him.

The loud rattling of the base's entrance opening stopped their conversation.

Bumblebee's yellow body gradually appeared as the door lifted higher and higher. He waved at them enthusiastically while cradling an energon cube under his arm. "I got the cubes!"

Bulkhead caught the lobbing ball just as Bumblebee shouted. He lowered the ball to the floor immediately. "Okay, you guys know the deal." Bulkhead straightened up and stretched, ready for an break.