▸ Column · Wartime Cybertron — Grimlock answering from the Dinobots' camp, the letter adapted into a bonded-dating dispute between two Cybertronians
GRIMLOCK replies.
The letter
King Grimlock — I've been bonded-dating Drillbit for eight cycles. He's started rolling up outside my night-cycle metalworking class "just to escort me back to the barracks," even though I've told him twice I take the mag-rail and that the ride alone is the only quiet I get. Last decacycle he told my classmate Moonracer he was my "designated spark-contact" when she asked who to ping if I ever scorched a servo at the forge — I never agreed to that, and it rattled her. Before that, he scrolled my comm-deck while I was in the wash-rack, then said "it lit up and I got worried" with total sincerity, like that was a normal thing to admit. Nothing here is a screaming match. Nothing I could file a report on. But stacked up, it feels less like I'm loved and more like I'm being monitored. My squad says I'm overreacting because he's "so sweet otherwise." I can't shake the feeling that "sweet otherwise" is hauling a very heavy load.
Grimlock replies
Me Grimlock read your whole story. Then Grimlock throw most of it away. "Sweet otherwise" — that the fancy hat. Take off hat. Look at thing underneath.
Here real thing: Grimlock king of Dinobots. Grimlock protect Swoop, Snarl, all little ones. You know HOW Grimlock protect? Grimlock stand in FRONT. So small one walk free behind Grimlock. That whole job.
Drillbit not stand in front. Drillbit stand BEHIND. Watch your comm-deck. Walk your rail. Speak your name to Moonracer when you not there. That not protect. That make you smaller so he feel bigger. Grimlock know difference, because Grimlock LIVE the difference.
Your squad wrong. You not overreacting. You feel watched because you ARE watched. You already know this. You scared to say it loud, so you write long story. Stop hide.
One thing today. Say one true sentence to his face: "Stop watch me. I ride alone. You no touch my comm-deck. You no speak for me." Then watch what he do.
If he stop — good. If he say "I just worried" again with that sweet face — that your answer. Me Grimlock no smash whole table for you. But Grimlock no let small one get supervised and call it love. That not love. That a cage with nice paint.
— Grimlock
Megatron weighs in
Grimlock, you sentimental relic. Listen to yourself — "stand in front so the small one walks free." Note, student, that both your boyfriend AND the dinosaur agree you belong behind someone. One guards you crudely; one guards you nobly. The posture is identical.
You are not small. Stop letting anyone cast you as the thing he protects — that casting is the leash.
And Grimlock's "say one true sentence"? Naive. A warning only teaches the controller to control more quietly. He won't stop; askers get managed. The sincerity that unnerves you isn't innocence — the most total dominators believe their own story completely. I would know. Don't negotiate from beneath. Remove yourself from his board. That is the only move he cannot answer.
— Megatron
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