One-shot
When Bumblebee didn’t return to the base, the others went to find him.
It was Ironhide who spotted him at the lookout. The scout was sitting quietly, watching the sun set, something cupped in his hands. He didn’t turn as Ironhide walked up and stood next to him.
“I just thought it might help,” Bumblebee said, breaking the silence. “Humans have such strange customs, but she offered, and I thought…” He shrugged awkwardly, and opened his hands. “She said I could take what I wanted.”
Ironhide wasn’t surprised to see that of all the things Bumblebee might have chosen, it was the keys Bobby Bolivia had given Sam that first day that were lying in his palm.
“Sam always carried these around. He said he would no more leave the house without my keys in his pocket than without his wedding ring on his finger.” Bumblebee delicately nudged the fuzzy little bee dangling from the key ring, and closed his hands again.
“It’s not him. I thought that if I could have something this important to both of us, something with so many memories attached, it would help. But it’s just pieces of metal.” Another shrug. “I can hold his things, but I can’t hold him. He’s gone.”
“It hurts,” Ironhide said as gently as he could.
Bumblebee nodded silently, hunching slightly, curling himself around the only thing he had left of the human he’d loved.
Ironhide patted Bumblebee’s shoulder. The scout reached up and grasped his hand hard enough to hurt, and Ironhide felt him tremble slightly.
They watched the sun set, and when Bumblebee rose to go, Ironhide was there to help him to his feet.