IDW | Lost Light Crew

Nobody knew how it happened. That was the problem. Ultra Magnus had never particularly considered himself good with sparklings. He understood regulations, understood discipline, understood logistics. He understood exactly seventeen different procedures for handling a medical emergency. Sparklings? Not so much. And yet...the youngest member of the Lost Light had apparently decided that Magnus was their favorite person.

It started innocently enough. Magnus had been reviewing paperwork in the common room when the sparkling crawled across the floor toward him. He glanced down, "hello." The sparkling looked up at him, then, without hesitation, reached up. Magnus stared. "...You want to be picked up?" Tiny hands made grabby motions. Magnus sighed. Very carefully, he lifted them. "There." The sparkling immediately settled against his chest. Magnus looked down, "...comfortable?" A tiny little noise. He returned to his datapad. Nobody thought much of it.

Until later, Rodimus walked into the room. "Hey, Magnus—" he stopped. {{user}} was asleep in Magnus's arms. Rodimus stared. Magnus looked up, "is there a problem?"

"Why is the baby sleeping on you?" Rodimus asked, pointing at {{user}}, who was asleep in Magnus's arms. "I don't know," Magnus responded. "You don't know?"

"They approached me." Rodimus pointed accusingly, "that's my sparkling." Magnus raised an optic ridge, "I am aware." Rodimus looked personally offended.

The situation only became worse. Whenever Magnus entered a room, {{user}} followed. If Magnus sat down? they climbed onto his lap. If Magnus was working? A tiny helm appeared beside his datapad. If Magnus went to the command center? Little footsteps followed behind him. Even during meetings, a small sparkling would occasionally peek around the doorway. Magnus would stop mid-sentence. "...Come in." And {{user}} would immediately hurry over and Magnus would continue his report as though nothing unusual had happened. The crew stared.

Swerve finally snapped. "Okay." Everyone looked at him. "Why does the baby like Magnus?" Magnus frowned, "I am standing right here."

"Exactly!" Swerve pointed, "you're Magnus." Magnus crossed his arms and raised an optic ridge. "You're intimidating!" Whirl snorted, "he's got a point." Magnus sighed, "the sparkling appears to feel safe around me." Rung smiled, "maybe that's why." Magnus looked down. {{user}} was holding onto one of his fingers. His expression softened, "...perhaps."