Hi, I’d like to make a request. Could you write a Transformers One headcanon featuring Optimus, Elita, and Bumblebee, with a male Cybertronian reader who has a dual personality? The reader’s original personality is friendly, sweet, and even a bit goofy. However, his other personality is cold, terrifying, and more prone to violence. This darker side may have been born from a traumatic experience so intense that it triggered a new, more aggressive and dangerous persona as a form of self-protection. The only way to bring the reader back to his normal self is by making him lose consciousness.
☆|♡ [TFO] BOTS w/ a Dual Personality Reader
OHHHHH I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS FOR THIS ONE HEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHE but you didn't mention whether platonic or romantic so again, taking a thin middle line! i initially has two separate plotlines in mind but went with this one, other one was about reader being trapped in a cave-in at the mines and ending up with life-long trauma
scenario: a traumatized ex-High Guard member chose to stay with the Autobots instead of following the flock to Megatron
warning: mentions of anxiety attacks
including: Optimus, Elita One, B-127/Bumblebee
BACKGROUND:
You were initially a part of The High Guard. But for some vaguen unnamed reason, you shifted to the Autobot's side instead of joining Megatron. Something along the lines of not wanting to follow "a newcomer hot shot who dares to think he's the second coming of Megatronus". Clearly, you weren't very fond of having, once again, in your words "a miner nobody" cosplay as your old Commander, Megatronus who you clearly to this day hold immense respect for.
You're somewhat of a mystery to most Autobots. They wonder if you have some or the other ulterior motive, maybe a spy? But its only a very small portion of Autobots who suspect this. You do your best to ignore them.
As a seasoned soldier who's seen the horrors of war during your time in service, you are an important asset to the Autobot Cause. Of course, this also meant you had your own... hurdles to say the least. One which made you quite feared amongst the High Guard during Starscream's reign of it but most of your Autobot friends have yet to really see that part of you. They don't understand why the Decepticons seem to get so tense when they see you.
Optimus:
— Optimus actually appreciates your presence a lot more than you'd think. With your experience as a member of the old Cybertronian High Guard, you're able to provide valuable and insightful viewpoints when it comes to military tactics.
— Not to mention the fact that you've interacted with most of the newly formed Decepticon High-Command so you have more than surface level knowledge about the newest treats to Iacon city. Again, more valuable information especially since Optimus' is inexperienced with running a military.
— Optimus once asked for some intel on the Quintessons, what you know of them as the Hall of Records did lack significant data about how Quintessons function. Whether it be their biology or their society. But the moment you heard "Quintesson", its like you froze on the spot. It confused him and concerned him but he managed to snap you out of it before the other personality could take over. This is the first time he feels something odd about you.
— Optimus doesn't doubt your loyalty to the Autobots no matter what the others may think. It baffles the other Autobots but it makes you a lot more approachable to them, your war-frame is a bit intimidating to the old Autobot miners of Iacon who hadn't really seen anything outside of the mines.
— But Optimus actually likes that you're friendly for that very same reason, you're disarming despite being a rather well-known figure back during the days of the High-Guard.
— He notices how strange your behaviour is whenever the topic of the Quintesson War is brought up. Prime doesn't really say anything about it because he isn't sure how you would take it and how you'd feel about it either. Optimus doesn't want to bring up bad memories. He can definitely tell that the war with the Quintessons has taken a great toll on you.
— And it gets even clearer when the talk of going to the surface emerges. You visibly stiffen and the crimson hue of your optics get a little more dim. You look lost, almost. The other side of you threatens to take control during such moments but he doesn't really know that.
— Until he sees it first hand, he had told you that you could sit out the expedition if you didn't want to come, that you weren't obligated to come along but you insisted it was alright. Only for a, now looking back at it, an unfortunate Quintesson soldier to come into your periphery.
— Optimus didn't know what happened but it was like you went on autopilot, as if you were programmed with the soul intention of terminating Quintessons. You looked exactly the same but your EM field no longer had any of the amicable, laid-back fun; it was tucked to tightly to your frame, Optimus thought you might combust. It was like your guard just shot up immediately and you became a different person.
"Stop. It's... they're dead. There's only one of them" Optimus holds you servo tightly, he's clearly caught off-guard with the sheer violent depravity of your actions. Granted Quintessons were their enemies, you don't need to bash their helm into unrecognizable fragments with the muzzle of your servo-held blaster. His blue optics are narrowed at you, in soft way— your actions remind him of D when he got his servos on Sentinel. While he hadn't seen it, he'd seen the remains of the false Prime to know what his old friend had done. You turned your helm to him and your optics seemed hollowed out for a moment, the usual gleam of mischief and fun replaced with a cold, violent seriousness he's yet to see from you. Optimus has never felt so concerned about you ever in his life. Thankfully, the other's didn't get to see this. You and Optimus were unfortunate... or fortunate enough to get separated from the others. "There's never just one of them." You mutter out, flat as you look into his optics before walking towards the others. "Stay close. We have to leave quick." Your words ring through his helm as he stares at what remains of the Quintesson with one question on his processor:
Just what have you been through?
— The entire trip back to Iacon after successfully surveying Quintesson activity, you were quieter than usual. It really confused him... He wonders if anything to do with Quintessons might be some sort of trigger? Optimus isn't sure. He might have to talk it out with someone who's educated on the matter. Optimus does want to help you, you understand what's wrong. He consults Ratchet, without really mentioning you in the context out of consideration (what if you don't like being mentioned?) but the old medic is more familiar with... physical injuries than mental scars so Ratchet informs Optimus that he would have to see into some medical datapads.
— Until then, he's going to refrain from bringing up anything about Quintessons. He is sure there's a chance you won't like it when he tells you that you're not going to come with him for the next expedition...
Elita One:
— She was a bit skeptical of you at first, she will be entirely honest about that. It was just a bit suspicious how you seemed to stick with them when the rest of your friends, your comrades you'd known for years all flocked like sheep to a shepherd, towards Megatron.
— But Elita soon realized her suspicious were for nothing because you're actually a pretty cool bot, to her at least. You're fun and the two of you often spar. It's a relationship which took a while to build though.
— Your battle experience makes it so that you often give Elita advice on how she would make her kicks hurt even more and her punches dent even deeper, its solid advice and it soon turns to having training sessions with her. Elita enjoys the time she gets training with you. Especially since she is a member of the current Autobot High-Command, it is pivotal she knows more than just the basics of combat; especially since she's to be Commander.
— And you can see she's got the skill! You constantly motivate her while teaching her different methods and providing constructive crticism, she likes that a lot. Elita's battlefield powess only seems to grow after a good, long training session with you. The two of you are a deadly duo!
— So when on the way back to Iacon after the surveillance mission, she wondered why you looked and felt so... off. Your usual open EM field tightly held to your frame, you're typically not a closed off individual and it makes her frown.
"Hey, you okay?" She asks as the party continues to move forward. Optimus too was eerily quiet after giving out the order to go back to Iacon.
You don't respond and it annoys her but seeing that dead stare, as if you weren't even in this world... it was unsettling. Elita chose not to say anything after that but she's going to keep a close optic on you. Your behaviour is nothing like how you usually are. It's a complete 180.
Elita huffs as she continues to walk side by side with you, Optimus leading the team at the front. She knows you and Optimus got separated from rest of the team... she wonders what happened. Elita will be sure to ask Optimus what went down
She notices the strange oozing substance on your servos. Her optics narrow at the droplets, they don't look like energon— instead almost like some organic matter she just has never seen before.
Elita will get to the bottom of this.
— When Elita cares about someone, as a friend or anything else, she will make sure to find out what exactly is going on when they're acting odd. She isn't the type to sit around and do nothing. Elita One goes on to ask Optimus what happened and he explains, almost hesitantly. But he conveniently leaves out the more gorey details. From what she can conclude, you must've had something like an anxiety attack which understandably would make your mood a lot more sour.
— But ever since the expidition, you've been... moody. You're usually never moody. Granted you have an attitude sometimes, it was never permanent! Bee was also confused.
— Not to mention how much more... careless you've been during your usual sparring session with Elita. You always said her footwork could use some improvement but just take a look at yourself! You're moving unfocused when it comes to dodging her attacks, as if you're tanking it all for the sake of landing a blow on her. The sparring session the two of you had the next day after the whole expidition did not go well.
"HEY!" That punch thankfully landed right against the wall, the small impact crater formed in the shape of your balled up servos a testament to the force behind that blow— It was like you had nothing more than killing intent!
Elita does feel slightly scared but she manages to mask it with her will to snap you back to normal, using the time you were trying to turn around to deal a crisp kick right against your helm and knocking you out.
Her vents are huffing, you always you were 'holding back'... she didn't think you were serious about it! She barely managed to dodge your tackling attempt. What really had her concerned was the way you were taking every hit from her just to land a single, painful blow. Your pain receptors much be a lot tougher than she previously assumed; it's both terrifying and awe inducing in a way, she does admire your strength.
Elita looks down at your knocked-out form and decides she should probably take you to the med-bay... Your training sessions with her did get a little intense sometimes so Elita doesn't really expect anyone to some prying for an explanation.
— Your optics flicker open to see Elita looming over you as your flat against a medical berth and she can see the confusion etched across your features. You're looking around and looking back at her as if you have no clue as to why you're here! She's frowning hard and demands an explanation as to why you were acting that way.
— Elita is taking notes of how your frame stiffens, how you seem to go speechless for a moment as she reminds you of what you did. If it weren't for the genuine surpise your EM field was radiating. It shocks her too and the two of you are suprised.
— After talking to you a bit more, it finally dawns on her that you genuinely have no idea what happened or remember anything up until you saw that Quintesson.
— Elita looks at Ratchet and he's shrugging, saying how he'll have to check with more medical texts to come up with a diagnosis for this one. Elita is genuinely concerned. But she tries to pretend it didn't ever happen, until she can figure out what exactly was with you.
B-127/Bumblebee:
— You and Bee are thick as thieves with your usual shenanigans and tomfoolery when you're not being 'advisor to the Prime'. So it basically means you and Bee get very little time together.
— Nevertheless, with how chatty he is, it didn't take long for you to really get close with him because he's the one initiating most of the conversations. His talkativeness also ends up making the bots who converse with him open up quicker.
— He may not look like it but he's a silent observer, he can see the subtle discomfort on your frame whenever the topic of Quintessons are brought up in your conversations with him. Bee has learnt to avoid it. He has people-pleasing tendencies so he picks up on things like this rather quickly unlike what most bots would think. He's just incredibly optimistic but even he can't think of a positive reason as to why you'd be on edge when Quintessons are mentioned.
— Bee is probably the only one who's ever gotten to hear you war stories, it takes time but as the more you talk to him, the more you end up opening up despite the barriers you've set for yourself. Bee can feel how guarded you get; how you EM field shrinks as you try desperately to ensure that he can't feel how overwhelmed you are despite the strong face, how your voice goes uncharacteristically soft, the way look like you're remembering something which Bee can only describe as bad.
— Despite being able to pick up on these cues, he doesn't really know... what to do after. Usually, its just him nervously laughing and desperately trying to change the topic. This is not only for you but also for him because Bee is terrified of being left alone again, he doesn't want you to lose someone who means a lot to him like you do— Bee doesn't want you to leave him because of something he said. Whether its platonic or otherwise.
— He would, by sheer fucking accident, end up learning about this... issue you had back when you were in the High Guard and how you don't really know what's wrong with you, how you have these episodes and you can't really remember somethings when you have these episodes. He knows this but he's sworn not to tell anyone. He's trying his hardest not to jump up and down, shout it out at Ratchet while he's trying to figure out more signs and symptoms as to what could be up with you, a secret task assigned to him by Optimus & Elita. Ratchet is huffing, he's no damn psychologist!
— Bee is also relatively good at relatively pacifying the darker personality with how disarming he is. While Elita just knocks you out cold, Bee is more of a talking type but it just tames that darker side a bit more, not really makes it go away.
— Sometimes, Bee even matches the other violent personality's style. He's showing off what his knife hands can do and why he's banned from the training grounds while you rack up more bodies. There are times when Bee can't tell which personality is currently in control but he knows that the switch only happens when you see something with deeply reminds you of the Quintesson War. Bee is able to heal that traumatized soldier within you, slowly.
im sorry for how short the Bumblebee segment was, i blew up my budget on Elita & Oppy... ran out of ideas for Bee </3
FYI, every time you guys forget mention whether you want the request to be platonic or romantic, this is me:
