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“No, no, no! Don’t wanna! Wanna stay with Oppy!”
Skyfire sighed as he watched Starscream flop to the floor, fist swinging and legs kicking. He had certainly expected a little tantruming, but this was truly one for the ages.
“Little jet, I know you’re scared, but -“ Skyfire began, trying to keep his tone gentle.
“I NOT! NOT A SCAREDY BITTY!”
Well, that was on Skyfire. He should have known that word would set off his very independent little mech. He crouched down and put a gentle servo between Starscream’s wings. Starscream quieted briefly, glaring at Skyfire.
“You’re right. You’re a big mech, I know that. But even big mechs can feel…icky about new things. Especially when they didn’t have a good time the last time.” Skyfire said, rubbing Starscream’s backstrut.
Starscream huffed. “I just don’t wanna. Daycare is stupid! And full of meanies!”
“This is a new one, Star. It’ll be much better.”
“Don’t know that, Oppy.”
“I don’t. But I do know you can call me if anything happens. So I would like it if you gave it a try.”
Starscream grumbled as he picked himself off the floor and straightened his shorts. They have a little plane stitched on the bottom left leg. They’re such cool, big mech shorts.
Maybe he could show them off at daycare.
A new daycare meant new kids. Maybe Skyfire was right and it would be different. He could rule over the place. Like a king!
“I wear my crown and cape?” Starscream asked.
“Maybe not today. But if you have a good time, we’ll talk about it for tomorrow, okay?” Skyfire asked, pressing a kiss to Starscream’s forehelm.
“Aww…fine…I pick my lunch?”
Skyfire smiled. “Of course.”
*****
All of Starscream’s circuits were buzzing as he slipped his servo into Skyfire’s, his wings pressing flat against his backstrut. The building looked so…big. Bigger than him, bigger than Skyfire, bigger than even Primus himself! How could he possibly go in there and be safe? There was too much room! And it was probably room for grounders. He wouldn’t even be able to fly!
“Oppy, wanna go home.” Starscream whimpered, making a grabbing motion until he was picked up. “Go home now, no daycare…”
“Let’s go inside and just take a look.” Skyfire said, bouncing Starscream gently.
“No! No no no! Home! Go home!”
“That’s enough, little Star. I’ll hold you and we’ll see what’s inside. Maybe they have a playground and fun toys.”
“Toys at home funner…”
“Oh, you have your plane plushie from home in your bag. Do you want to hold it?”
Starscream nodded. If he couldn’t go home, having his plane was the next best thing. Skyfire unzipped Starscream’s bag and pulled the toy out. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling as Starscream cuddled with it. The poor little fellow was just so cute with his toy.
Skyfire walked up to the door and rang the bell. A bot appeared to open it. They smiled at Skyfire and Starscream.
“Oh, wonderful! You’re here! I assumed you’d want to show Starscream around before leaving, so please follow me.”
Skyfire followed the bot through the colorful halls of the daycare center, nodding along as they pointed out the different rooms and features. They had dedicated therapy and sensory rooms - something that had initially drawn Skyfire to the center - and an indoor play space with equipment for both ground and air vehicles. Many rooms had transparent ceilings. Skyfire knew Starscream would like that; seeing the sky always put him a bit more at ease.
They passed the fueling area, where many of the Littles were having their morning meals. Skyfire stopped for a moment.
“Just checking again, do the kids fuel on a specific schedule? Because I’d like Starscream to have access to fuel whenever he asks for it.” Skyfire said.
The employee smiled. “We do have set breakfast and lunch times, just to give a little routine to the little ones. And we have a morning and afternoon snacktime. However, we don’t ever deny access to fuel unless asked by caregivers. I know you brought some extra snacks for him, they’re labeled and stored in the pantry.”
“Oh, good. Hear that, bud? You can fuel like you do at home.”
Starscream hugged his plane close. That didn’t sound too terrible. His last daycare never let him just eat; he only got to when everyone else ate. Sometimes, Starscream just wanted an extra snack to eat alone.
The tour continued. They passed the nursery, where some of the especially little bots were lying on mats and giggling at the rattles the staff shook for them. Starscream peeked through the window and waved at them.
“Babies.” He said.
“They are babies indeed.” Skyfire chuckled.
“I not in there!”
“Of course not. You'll play with the big mechs and femmes.”
“Ewwww! Not with femmes, yucky!”
Skyfire decided to let that one go. Starscream struggled with his gender, especially when little. He wanted to be seen as a mech through and through. It had given him an unfortunate “femmes yucky” stage that he hoped being at daycare would help with.
They reached the main play area, where the bulk of the kids seemed to be. They were playing in little houses, chasing each other, coloring, and building with blocks. There were bins of toys stationed around the room that were being dug through. The kids all looked so happy. Skyfire felt Starscream relax as he looked around curiously.
Upon seeing the playground outside, though, Starscream flew out of Skyfire’s arms and went all the way to the top, until he could touch the safety netting. He did loops and spins and flew through the hanging hoops. His giggles filled the playground, and a few other little fliers began to chase after him. Skyfire finally relaxed.
My bitlet is going to be okay.
“Anything else we should know about him? We want him to feel safe here.” The employee said.
“Well, I have his lunchbox and bag, and he has his plane with him. He has a change of shorts and underwear in there, just in case. He’s potty trained, but…well, he sometimes gets nervous in the bathroom. Just try to make sure he has privacy to go, and let him do it himself. He doesn’t want people seeing that he has, uhm…”
“We understand. We have a few Littles here that are trans, we do our best to make them feel comfortable.”
Skyfire let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. His last daycare didn’t really understand. Uhm, on the topic, actually, Starscream is a little…fascinated. By anatomy. And everything else, really. So I apologize if he says anything that might be a bit out of subspace.”
The employee chuckled. “It’s fine. Kids are always a bit curious and they don’t come with a filter. He’ll be okay, really.”
Skyfire nodded. “I guess I should slip out before he changes his mind. I’ll be back this afternoon, please call if anything happens. Or if he wants to talk. Or -“
“Don’t worry, Oppy. He’s in good servos.”
Skyfire smiled. Of course Starscream was. He had nothing to worry about.
*****
Starscream played outside until he was forced to go in for morning snacktime. He was a little sad that Skyfire left without saying goodbye, but he had so much fun playing that he could forgive him. He sat at the table with some of the kids he’d played with - they’d called themselves Springer and Windblade - and after a moment, another femme sat down. She’s all in pink, down to her sparkly skirt. Starscream stuck out his glossa.
“Bleh. Pink.” He said.
She stared at him for a moment before ducking under the table and popping back up. “Bleh. Blue.”
“Mechs like blue! Mechs like Starscream!”
“Well, femmes like pink! Femmes like Arcee!”
They’re quiet for a moment. Then, Starscream pointed at Arcee’s snack.
“I want gummies.” He said.
“No! You has your own! Can has pudding, though.” Arcee said.
She held out the cup to Starscream. He snatched it from her with an excited squeal. Maybe this was the start of a nice friendship. Starscream smiled to himself.
He’s never had friends before.
*****
“NO!” Starscream screeched.
“It’s okay, friend. The bathroom is empty, it’s just a newspark getting a diaper change.” A daycare employee said gently.
“I NOT GO POTTY! I NOT I NOT I NOT!”
“Okay, we can wait for them to finish. Then we can go potty when they’re gone.”
Starscream flopped to the floor and sobbed. His tank had been full and he was starting to feel them cramp, but he couldn’t go with other kids in the bathroom! They might see his…his valve and then they’d call him a femme! They'd act like he wasn’t a mech!
The bathroom door opened and Arcee walked in. Starscream screeched. He couldn’t go with a femme in here! He couldn’t, he couldn’t, he couldn’t!
“Ew! Star, you’re going pee-pee in your undies!” Arcee said.
Starscream stopped for a moment, the realization sinking in as he felt the wetness of his shorts. An accident meant he had to change. Changing meant someone needed to help him. Someone had to clean him up. Only Skyfire did that. Only Skyfire helped him when he had an accident. He began to cry again.
“Want Oppy! Want Oppy!”
“Oh, I know, sweetie, it’s okay. We’ll get you changed, okay?” The daycare employee said softly.
The employee with Arcee tried to gently guide her around to the stalls. “Arcee, let’s get our pull-up changed so we can go play.”
Starscream pointed at her. “Diaper baby!”
Arcee scowled. “Pee-pee panels!”
“You have a pee-pee!”
She kicked him. “You gots a femme part!”
Realization dawned on Starscream. Arcee was like him. Just the other way!
“SO!”
“SO SO!”
Starscream got up and pushed her. “Go change, pee-pee diaper!”
She pushed back. “Yous change, pee-pee undies!”
“I change FASTER and I get to pick what we play!”
“Nuh-uh! I faster!”
Starscream ran into the stall and slammed it shut. He reached his servo under the stall door.
“Need shorts! Now now!”
The daycare employee sighed. At least Starscream was making friends.
*****
It’s nap time, but Starscream refused to lie down. He’d been put in the baby room! With all the babies!
Well, the babies and the bigger kids that still nap. But still!
The staff had made him a small nest on a ledge in the nursery, close to a window so he could see outside per Skyfire’s request. They had put his blanky and his toy plane, and a sippy cup of energon. It should have been perfect.
But he’s with the babies.
In fact, his ledge is right next to the crib of one of them. He’s green, with a star on his shoulder and a pacifier in his mouth. He kept looking at Starscream and making little noises. Starscream huffed.
“Go nap, baby.” He whispered.
The baby just cooed in response. Starscream grabbed his blanky and plane and flew over, landing in the crib beside the baby. Starscream laid down and closed his optics, leaving them just open enough to see the baby. The baby blinked at him sleepily and did the same.
“We both sleep. ‘Kay?” Starscream said, settling in.
No response came. The baby was already asleep, venting softly. Starscream made a happy noise.
He’s such a big mech, helping get the babies to sleep. He could get used to being a big helper.
*****
Skyfire made sure to be at the daycare right in time. He’d received a call earlier informing him that Starscream had trouble going to the bathroom, but that he’d seemed to feel better with a friend there. He wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but he supposed a tantrum that hadn’t gotten out of hand was a good thing.
He was led to the playroom as an employee brought him Starscream’s things. He stopped in front of the window when he caught sight of Starscream in one of the playhouses with a little femme. He smiled. His little jet was playing with other kids. And playing nicely.
“He’s had a great day. He loves Arcee, though they enjoy picking on each other a lot. And he likes Hound, too. They napped together today.” The employee said.
“Really? He didn’t want the nest?” Skyfire asked.
“He sort of made his own in Hound’s crib. Is he typically a co-sleeper?”
“He is. Guess it makes sense he wanted someone else there. Hopefully it wasn’t upsetting for Hound.”
“Not at all! He napped very well. We might just start putting them down together along with Arcee.”
Skyfire smiled. “If it works.”
The door to the playroom opened and Starscream ran out, jumping into Skyfire’s arms.
“Oppy! You’re back!” He squealed.
“I am! I saw you playing. Did you have fun today?” Skyfire asked, kissing the little one’s forehelm.
“Mhm! Wanna come back tomorrow!”
“Of course. But we have to go home for now, okay?”
“‘Kay! Let’s go get treat!”
Skyfire chuckled. Seems like all Starscream’s first day blues had melted away.