Work Text:
“Come on sproutlin’, say dada.” Rattrap was the floor of his and Botanica's living quarters. Right in front of him, their sparkling, Swift.
Swift just stared at her dad and then went back to playing with her toys.
Rattrap observed his little sparkling she looked like him. Her optics were the same as his except hers were rounder, her helm has the same shape as his except her’s was teal, in the middle of her crown was a piece of metal that to him looked like a leaf. On either side of her helm are two antenna that gave her the appearance of a rabbit.
Swift was at the age where she would’ve begun to speak and Rattrap wanted her first words to be Dada.
Rattrap sighed. Botanica reassured him that when Swift was ready she would talk but Rattrap was not a patient mech. “If you annoy her she might never say it out spite.” She warned him.
But Swift wouldn’t do that…right? “Ya wouldn’t break your daddy’s spark right, sproutlin’?” Rattrap asked Swift as he placed her on his lap.
Swift squeaked and clicked as Rattrap picked her up. She responded to her father’s question with a questioning click.
Swift reached for the block that she was playing with. Rattrap grabbed and gave it to her.
She clicked as a thanks and proceeded to chew on the block.
“Sproutlin’ don’t chew on that.” Rattrap said as he got the block and placed it far from Swift.
Swift did not like this. She let out a high pitched squeak in annoyance.
“Hey don’t ya get an attitude with me.” Rattrap scolded.
She tried to give him a glare but to him it looked like a pout. Rattrap couldn’t deny that she looked cute. He huffed.
“Just a sparklin’ and already gettin’ an attitude.” Rattrap chuckled.
A knock at the front door got his attention. He got up with Swift in his arms and made his way towards the door.
His and Botanica’s apartment were big enough for all three of them. He passed by Swift's room, the washrack, and through the lounge area of the apartment to get to the front door.
He knew who it was.
He opened the doors. On the other side of the doors was Optimus and Cheetor.
“Hey Rt.” Cheetor walked in, he noticed Swift. “Hey Swift. “ he cooed.
Swift responded with a happy clicking noises as she reached out to Cheetor.
Rattrap let Cheetor take Swift from his arms.
“Be careful with ya claws.” Rattrap warned.
“I will I promise.” Cheetor reassured him as he headed towards the lounge area to sit on the couch.
“How have you been Rattrap?” Optimus asked him as he crouched to enter the apartment.
Since Optimus was now Optimal Optimus he was big but not too big as to where he couldn’t fit into places. Luckily Botanica was tall and the accommodations would be big enough for Optimus.
“Doin’ pretty well. Swift should be by any day now startin’ to talk and ‘am tryin’ to get her to say dada. But so far nothin’” Rattrap replied as he closed the door behind Optimus.
They made their way to the lounge area to where Cheetor and Swift were.
Cheetor was making Swift laugh by playing peek-a-boo.
“Where’s the baby?...There she is!” Swift repeatedly squeaked and click with laughter.
Rattrap and Optimus smiled at the scene. Optimus joined Cheetor while Rattrap went into his and Botanica’s quarters to get the blanket and toys that Swift was playing with.
Optimus looked down at Cheetor and Swift. Cheetor had grown a lot from and after the Beast wars although he was as Rattrap put it ‘a moody teen’.
He had faith that Cheetor would be an excellent leader.
“Hey Optimus.” “Hm..” “I think Swift wants to be with you.” Optimus looked down at Swift.
Cheetor was correct. Swift was currently making grabby hand at him.
Cheetor placed Swift on Optimus’s palm.
Swift was bigger compared to when she was born. But to Optimus she was still tiny. Optimus needed to be extremely careful with her or otherwise either Rattrap or Botanica would have his helm if something happened to their precious sparkling.
While in his palm Swift was mesmerized. She had to lift her little helm just to look at Optimus.
Optimus chuckled and wiggled a servo on his other hand in front of her. She immediately tried to grab it.
Swift got a hold of Optimus’s servo. She analyzed it for a nano-cycle and proceeded to try and put it in her mouth.
Just before Optimus could say no Rattrap came in with the blanket and toys.
“Sproutlin’ don’t.” Rattrap warned as he laid down the blanket and the toys on the floor near the couch.
Swift responded with a annoyed click.
“Heh Rattrap she already giving you an attitude.” Cheetor laughed. Optimus chuckled.
Rattrap huffed and picked up Swift from Optimus.
He placed her on the blanket. Swift let out a squeak of happiness when she saw her toys.
Rattrap, Cheetor, and Optimus smiled at her.
Optimus turned his attention to Rattrap.
“Rattrap will you tell Swift about the Beast wars?” Optimus asked. Rattrap took a deep intake of air and exhaled. “Yea she deserves to know what her papa did…But I want to tell her about the others too like Tigatron, Airrazor, Tigerhawk, Depth Charge, and….Choppa’ face.” Rattrap had this somber look on his face when he said Dinobot’s nickname. His gaze was on Swift watching her play but his thoughts somewhere else.
Optimus and Cheetor glanced at each other.
The whole team knew that Dinobot’s death affected Rattrap. Especially his ‘second’ death. It hurt Rattrap.
“I want to honor him some how so I want tell my daughter everything about him from him being a pred to his death.” Cheetor patted Rattrap on the back trying to comfort him.
Rattrap gave Cheetor a reassuring smile.
A little pat on his leg brought him out of his thoughts. Rattrap looked down. Swift was patting his leg in comfort. Her optics were filled with concern for her dad. She gave him a questioning click.
Rattrap gave her a soft smile and picked her up, placing her on his lap.
“I’m sure Dinobot would be glad to know that his legacy would be told.” Optimus reassured him.
After a couple of mega-cycles of discussion Cheetor and Optimus left.
After they left Rattrap decided to wash both himself and Swift before Botanica arrived home.
“Sproutlin’ stay still!” Rattrap scolded the giggling sparkling as he tried to clean her with a rag.
By the time he finished washing and drying himself and Swift , Botanica arrived.
“Well don’t you two look cute.” Botanica said as she walked through the front door.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that.” Rattrap grumbled under his breath.
Swift clicked rapidly in happiness when she saw her mother.
Botanica made her way over to them as Rattrap handed over the little sparkling to her mother.
“My little rosebud did you have a good solar-cycle with father.” Botanica asked the sparkling as she lifted her into air. Swift only responded with giggles.
Botanica kissed Swift cheek then bent down to kiss Rattrap. Rattrap seemed to perk up but still a little annoyed about the ‘cute’ comment.
“Rattrap?”
“Hm?”
“You didn’t try to get Swift to say ‘dada’ did you?” Botanica asked.
“N-no I..uh gave up after you left.” Rattrap stuttered, looking away from Botanica.
“Rattrap.”
“Okay maybe just once. Then I gave up.” Rattrap admitted.
“Rattrap give it time she’ll say it soon.” Botanica reassured Rattrap as she stood up and made her way to the lounge area to sit on the couch.
Rattrap followed her to the couch and sat next to her.
For the next 4 mega-cycles they decided to just talk, about their day, their past, and their sparkling.
“Sprouts I wanna tell our daughter about the Beast wars…especially about Dinobot.” Rattrap said to Botanica. He wanted to get her approval.
Botanica put her hand on his cheek. “Rattrap why you have the need to ask I have no clue. I know how much Dinobot meant to you and the Beast wars so I have no problem.” Botanica reassured him.
Rattrap gave her a smile.
“But maybe you should tell her tomorrow. She looks sleepy right now.” Botanica said as she looked down at Swift.
The sparkling was rubbing her optics and yawning.
Rattrap chuckled. “I’ll take her to the nursery.” Rattrap got up, picked up Swift, and carried her to the nursery.
Rattrap opened the doors to the nursery.
“Tomorrow sproutlin dada is gonna tell you all about the beast wars and a great warrior called Dinobot.” He whispered as he placed Swift in the cradle-like berth. He kissed her helm and turned away to leave when.
“Dada..” it was quite like a whisper but Rattrap heard it. He turned around to see Swift offlining her optics to slip into recharge.
He closed the doors behind him. As what his sparkling said slowly started to sink in.
Rattrap in excitement rushed over to Botanica to tell her.