Transformers Prime: Merely a Whisper

Chapter Three

"Well, Danielle, welcome to your new home!" Mr. Jamieson smiled enthusiastically as he unlocked and opened the door to their home, revealing the well-furnished interior. The young girl had remained shy and quiet on the car ride from the adoption centre, and there were no changed in her behaviour now, save a small grin and some colour to her cheeks, "I hope you like it."

It had taken 4 months for the family to gain full legal custody of Danielle, and they were ecstatic. Their dreams that had existed since their marriage had finally come true. It had finally happened. They had a beautiful daughter.

"Do you wanna see your room?" Ana said excitedly, squatting to look Danielle in the eyes. They were gleaming with a playful mood, and the new mother knew she was matching it. Holding out a nimble hand, she stared happily but expectantly at the child, waiting for her to accept the hand and tour the home.

The mother felt a sense of overwhelming joy and pride. She could not conceive children, but knowing that she had a daughter regardless made her feel like she could burst.

Danielle, giggling timidly, put her significantly smaller hand in Ana's, and was scooped up by a grinning woman with tears of joy brimming her eyes.

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13 years later......

Danielle warily eyed the girl before her, taking in her posture, tone of voice, muscular build, and type of posters around the bed. She was definitely an intimidating person, but Danielle would never verbally admit it.

Hope was gazing firmly into the new girl's eyes, reading all of the emotions she held in the beautiful chestnut color. The red-haired girl was vaguely impressed, there were few signs of weakness, in fact, there were almost none at all-to be seen on the surface. She new that this girl had herself well in check. Danielle was a closed book, under lock and key, and Hope knew she disliked Danielle already. There was something about her.....

"Hello, Hope," the black-haired girl smiled coolly as she extended a hand, and they shook formally, "funny nickname, Chiller, in contrast to your ginger hair."

Lee glanced at her warningly, telling her that taunting this girl meant playing with fire. Danielle merely dismissed him, her calm, outward demeanour never diminishing, but inwardly, she accepted the warning gratefully. However, she still wanted to test this girl's temper, and see how easy it was to reach her breaking point.

Hope didn't look angry, but she didn't exactly appear all that amused either. She gave Danielle a look that said 'watch it.' Hope wasn't teaching the new girl a well-deserved lesson only because she was new, and she didn't feel like receiving another earful from Megatron. Had it been Lee or Drake, well, there would be some casualties. For Danielle's sake, she hoped that Lee would tell Danielle her own backstory later. Yes, she knew that would certainly put some respect in the girl.

"Yeah," Hope shrugged, "but hair color doesn't matter. I can kick Bot ass any day."

"Danielle still needs to be briefed on the history, Hope, but that's not until tomorrow. Lord Megatron requested it," Lee interjected. He could sense the tension that was slowly rising in the room between the two girls, and knowing too much Hope and too little about Danielle, he didn't want to let their be an outcome.

A sly grin twisted onto Hope's lips, her grey eyes gleaming dangerously.

"Oh, yeah? Cool. That wasn't my favourite part, the one-on-one chat with Old Megsy, but still, it was cool."

Danielle nodded curtly, her face and smile made her seem calm and collected, but suddenly her masked eyes screamed distrust and contempt. Her arms were folded underneath her chest, and she had all her weight shifted onto her left foot. A natural habit of hers when she felt vulnerable. And hope noticed it.