This is a little plot-bunny inspired by Getting to Know You written by Tamesis. My thanks for letting me springboard off your wonderful idea! This is going to be a short little fic: 4 chapters. Hope you enjoy!

Optimus stared at the human standing on the concrete runway in front of him. For how small and fragile the human was, he stared – no glared – boldly up at not just him, but at Ironhide as well. Almost as if completely unaware of how easily either of the two mechs could squish him.

Or perhaps he trusted them enough to abide by their promise not to harm humans – regardless of the provocation. That would indicate a level of trust that was simply processor blowing for the Autobot leader. Of course, it was also possible that the anger all but radiating off of him had led to a disregard for his own safety.

It was hard to know for sure with humans.

All Optimus did know was that he really did not want to be having this conversation. He did not like where it was headed. He could tell his weapon specialist, bodyguard and close friend felt the same.

Lennox had listened to Ironhide's latest tirade about the ineffectiveness and fragility of the human troops with hands clenched into fists. Now the human was letting the tense silence hang for a moment before shaking his head.

"You would have been defeated at mission city without us. And you are still out numbered here on Earth."

Ironhide's optics narrowed angrily. "There were over two hundred humans killed in Mission City. Two hundred."

Like Optimus, Ironhide had been appalled at the death toll their human allies had been forced to deal with and had determined not to let that happen again.

This time Lennox nodded, thankfully not bothering to contest the facts. "And of those all but eight were civilians, Ironhide. Civilians. Of those eight that weren't, only two were trained soldiers."

Lennox looked down, a hint of some emotion deeper than his current fury flicking across his expressive features. "The loss of civilians was tragic but…. Not unexpected…"

"We failed to prevent the war from taking human lives." Optimus interrupted the human gently but firmly. "That is not something we want to repeat."

Which was why, in all subsequent Decepticon incursions, he had his Autobots had gone out of their way to ensure no human was even put into jeopardy. From Major Lennox's expression, at least he understood their reasoning.

The human looked down. "Look, I know this isn't our war… or wasn't. But it has been ever since Blackout destroyed Soccent." He looked back up. "We don't like standing by watching others do the fighting for us when we can help."

Optimus was glad that at least the major's smoldering anger had cooled. He was about to respond with a diplomatic attempt to put the major off, but Ironhide spoke first.

"Your kind are two fragging fragile. Mission City…"

"Was my fault." Major Lennox interrupted, surprising both Ironhide and Optimus into silence.

How could such a tiny being carry such a self-imposed load and not become completely crushed by it?

Lennox continued before either of the Autobots could reply, looking up to meet Optimus' blue optics, biting his lip with regret briefly. "It was my call… my decision to take the Cube to Mission City. Not yours. I didn't know what we were dealing with."

Lennox shook his head and looked away, clearly weighed down. "If I had known… we would have gone to the middle of nowhere so only me and my team would have been in danger." Then he looked back up, his eyes strangely intense. "You can't blame yourselves for the lives lost in Mission City. That was unavoidable as soon as the fight started."

The major's voice dropped in volume. "In fact, I am well aware that it would have been much worse if not for you guys. There is no way you can be blamed for what happened."

Lennox then looked between them for a long moment in which neither mech could find their voice.

Then the human continued, sounding almost fatigued, but no less sincere and intense. "That wasn't your fault. It was mine and it is something I have to live with. I want to help make sure something like that doesn't happen again. We all do. That's why we're here. That's why we want to be allies. We have a duty to protect our own people no less binding that yours."

Optimus exchanged a long look with Ironhide while Major Lennox watched them.

/They did manage to take out Blackout./ Optimus noted.

Ironhide huffed a vent of air. /A fluke of luck. That's all. They are to easily extinguished. Too inexperienced in warfare. Too fragging young!/ That was ended with increasing emotion.

Optimus thought for a moment. /They do have a stake in this war now. And Sam did kill Megatron./

/By shoving the AllSpark into his chest./ Ironhide grouched with a tiny shake of his head. / It's not like we have extras hanging around. This is not a good idea./

/What if they can prove themselves?/ Optimus was aware Lennox was watching them, his arms crossed.

Humans had quickly deduced that Cybertronians were able to communicate silently and the major was making it clear he was aware that was what they were doing. Ironhide, of course, did not seem to care.

/They will just get squished./

/They deserve the opportunity./ Optimus gently rebuked his weapon specialist before focusing again on the human soldier. "Major, you are aware that our base coding is to protect all life. The idea of intentionally putting members of another species who are not as strong as us into harm's way is not something we are inclined to do."

"Then give us a chance to prove we can handle it as equals." Gray-green eyes focused angrily on Ironhide's optics. "That we aren't just 'squishies.'"

Ironhide huffed and Optimus stifled a touch of amusement at the black mech's discomfiture.

"A fair proposition." The Prime addressed Lennox

Ironhide ignored his leader, narrowing his optics at the tiny organic. "But you are easily squished."

Lennox's eyes suddenly blazed with renewed fury as he stepped toward Ironhide, taking both Autobots aback once again.

"You want us to call you 'machines'? You've proven to us you are more than that. Might as well call us insects like the 'Cons do." Those firm lips were pressed together briefly before he continued. "When we prove we are more than squishies, you stop calling us that. Deal?"

Ironhide shifted in a manner that told Optimus the other mech was impressed despite himself. /Spunky./ Then aloud. "And if we prove you aren't up to combat with Cybertronians?"

Lennox paused, thinking that over though he was clearly unhappy with the idea. "Then we find another way to support you and you can call us 'squishy' all you want."

Ironhide smirked, arms crossed. There was no doubt in Optimus' processor that his friend was confident about what the outcome of such a contest would be.

But Optimus was considering the human in front of him. There was a strength of will, of determination he had not really seen – or allowed himself to see before. Oh, he had seen courage in Sam and the soldiers at Mission City. He had seen bravery and loyalty that day as well. But not this. He knew now it was blindness on his part, for those attributes he had seen would not have been possible without this determination underlying them.

He made a decision, one he realized he should have made months ago when Sideswipe had landed and soon started calling the humans by a name they clearly despised.

Nodding regally, Optimus addressed the soldier. "Agreed, Major. However, you are right about that demeaning term of address. It should be discontinued regardless." He glared briefly at Ironhide

Lennox shook his head once. "Only if we prove it is inappropriate. That was the deal."

Optimus blinked in mild surprise even as Ironhide ignored his look and rubbed his hands together with an amused huff. "I'll look forward to this."

… … …

Two days later Optimus was staring down at Major Lennox, who was now standing on his desk, as the human waited for him to review the military officer's proposal. What ever else he might have to say about human technology, the species was definitely adaptive. They had managed to find a way to transfer data to Cybertronian datapads instead of having to rely on their technologically superior colleagues to hack into their systems and retrieve the data.

As impressive as that was, it only reinforced Optimus' determination to be very careful and extremely selective as to which technology, if any, he allowed to fall into their hands. The human penchant for violence made it imperative that they not be given the opportunity to gain access to their weapons.

But that was not his concern at the moment. At the moment he was trying to think up a proper response to Lennox's proposal. He had already read the thing and had committed it to memory with the first read. But he was now using the action of reading to buy time as he considered his options.

He looked up at Lennox. "Capture the flag?"

Lennox smiled. "A timeless military contest here on Earth. Each team has a flag which is planted somewhere defensible and the goal is to capture the apposing team's flag while simultaneously protecting yours. It is frequently played now days with the weapons described in the proposal. And my techies have assured me that similar weapons could be fashioned for your Autobots too."

Optimus considered this, wondering if he would ever understand humans. Why would they choose to use more primitive tech when fighting a clearly more technologically superior opponent, even in a training exercise?

"Hmm." He began carefully, hoping to get some of those questions answered. "I don't see why you would prefer tiny projectiles of paint to the more sophisticated training weapons currently utilized here on Diego Garcia." He referred to the intricate setup of lasers and sensors he had seen humans train with on the island.

Lennox's only reply was to grin even wider, so Optimus tried to clarify. "They cannot possibly be as accurate. The simplest principles of physics would apply."

The human's grin turned decidedly devious. "They're accurate enough. Trust me."

Optimus briefly shuttered his optics. Was the human military truly wanting to undertake the task of trying to prove their worth on the battlefield as allies with an even grater handicap than they already suffered?

Very well, he would indulge them.

Optimus nodded. "Very well, Major. I shall look forward to this contest. I see you have Ratchet and myself set apart as judges… non combatants. I want to modify those plans."

"Yes…" Lennox eyes him suspiciously.

"Indeed. If my Autobots are to have the privilege of facing your team in personal combat, I want to take part myself. We, of course will retain the use of our own weapons."

Optimus watched a kaleidoscope of emotions play across Lennox's face. A face which, if he was reading correctly, ranged from dismay to disbelief to worry and so forth.

He allowed his optic ridges to quirk slightly. "Unless you do not believe that would be a fair contest?"

Then the soldier's face morphed into a smile and Optimus realized his human counterpart had accepted the challenge.

Lennox's next words would have removed any doubt. "If it would be easy, it wouldn't be worth doing, would it, Prime? I'll let you know when we're ready?"

Optimus frowned. "Ready?" Were they not ready for combat on short notice?

Lennox's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Paintball weapons are not exactly standard military issue."