Chapter Text
Sentinel was prepared for basically any possibility. Training for anything is the whole point of the academy. Sentinel would know, it’s been shoved down his throat the first 3 years he’s attended. Finally it was the last year of it.
The year orientation started as usual. The auditorium was filled with bots, all finding tablets to their unit schedules and barracks stations, sarges and tutors yelling for attention, chaos aggravating everyone. Sentinel, however, was able to maneuver the crowd perfectly and reach his designation. Sentinel quickly scanned the list of bots who were in his unit, pretty sure that no one warranted his attention. Then, at the end of the list, just to spite him, were the names Elita One and Optimus.
Now, Sentinel had nothing against these bots. On the contrary, actually. Those two were a force to be reckoned with. The problem is, they were more popular than him. They’re a duo, best buds, they’re hot and they can fight. What’s not to like? Sentinel needs to know. So begins The Plan™️:
- Infiltrate the friend group
- Find out what their weaknesses are
- Spread the rumors
It’s a flawless plan, obviously. It begins as soon as Optimus and Elita make it to the barracks. Well, Sentinel needs to reach the barracks himself. Sentinel opens his shield and sets all of his stuff into it, then muscles through the crowd to get to the elevators. Sentinel glances back at his tablet, and he’s on the third floor.
“Hold the door!” A femme bot yells.
“Elita, wait!” Another voice yelps, not far behind.
Sentinel starts jamming the close door button, but then registers the name that was yelled and holds it.
“Thank you!” Elita one says, Optimus sliding in behind her. “Usually people are too scared of us.”
“You, Elita, they’re scared of you,” Optimus corrects, an amused smile on his face.
“Don’t pretend you don’t have as much of an aura as I do,” She makes a pose, showing off her ‘aura’.
Sentinel rolls his optics, pretending not to be interested, but the energy of the duo is intoxicating.
“Well I guess it’s a different one then, because no one fears me.”
“Sure, sure, until they see you with your axe.”
“I’m afraid you’re going to get us into trouble with statements like that,” Optimus says, shaking his head. “Someday soon, I fear.”
The elevator dings, they’ve reached the 3rd floor.
When Sentinel follows Elita and Optimus out of the elevator, Elita smiles deviously. Optimus glares at her, a half-serious warning to her.
“Are you also Unit 7?”
“Obviously. That’s the reason I held the door.”
Elita flashes a glance at Optimus. He shakes his head, trying not to crack up.
“Well, then,” Elita looks almost creepy. “Better be up for some trouble.” She brightens. “Let’s hope your berth is next to ours!”
“Do you even know if your berth next is his?” Sentinel raises a brow.
“Well, no, but we can always do some… persuasion.”
When Optimus shakes his head again, she laughs at his indignance. She elbows him, and he just shoves her coy face away. Unfortunately for Sentinel, both of their laughs are as precious as flowers.
“Get a room,” Sentinel shrugs past them, trying not to scoff. From amusement.
“We are. It’s the same as yours though,” Elita catches up with him.
“Elita, you can’t just flirt with every bot who tolerates you,” Optimus says as he rushes up to her.
“It’s part of tolerating me,” she remarks.
“I suppose that’s true,” Optimus returns, and they lapse into silence.
Sentinel stops at the door to the barracks, and types the password given on the tablet. Optimus and Elita don’t follow him in. As much trouble as Elita is rumored to stur, she still follows some rules.They each enter separately.
Sentinel’s berth number is 20. He sets all his stuff into the storage unit above. He sits on the lip of his berth, pulling out the one accessory to magnetize to the sides. A mirror. Sentinel always looks his best.
Of course, out of pure luck, Optimus’ berth to Sentinel’s right. Elita is on the other wall, as 19.
“Primus, we’re lucky,” Elita says, looking at Optimus.
“I’m surprised as well. Don’t they check student records?” Optimus asks, left to wonder if assignment mechs do their job properly.
“I’m surprised you two are in the same unit in the first place,” Sentinel adds his two cents. “I also thought they looked at student records.”
“It's a mystery,” Elita leaves it at that.
“So…” Optimus breaks the silence. “You’re Sentinel?”
Sentinel blinks, not sure how Optimus would have heard of him. “Indeed.”
“The one who threw the biggest party on campus ever recorded?” Elita’s jaw drops. “That’s pretty epic.”
“What’s more deserving of a party than the academy having top scores all around?”
“Good question.” Optimus sits back in his berth. “Probably winning the war?”
Sentinel is startled with his own laugh. “Well we’re gonna win it.”
“Do you mean the Autobots in general or Unit 7?” Optimus sat back up to look at Sentinel.
“Unit 7, of course, it's got the academy’s three best fighters.”
“Scrappin’ right it does!” Elita leaps over the trunks in the middle of the room to join Optimus and Sentinel.
“We’ll show those rogue Decepticons,” she smirks at them. “Well, you’ll have to show us first.”
Sentinel can’t help but reflect her smirk. He’ll show her all right.