There really was no opportunity for trust to be earned without it first being given. And when Charlie was (finally!!) contacted and appraised of the status of Bumblebee's new team, his first request was to be given a capture to help. Fifteen years of working close with Chase had taught him that he needed to be involved up close and personal with robots, had taught him a lot about his place in the galaxy and how best he could help visitors.

Or in this case, temporary detainees onto a small, otherwise unoccupied island just south of Griffin Rock, ostensibly for the purpose of rehabilitation.

While Chase wasn't far off, Charlie requested meeting with the detainee (deertainee, Blades had offered jovially, eliciting a groan from Heatwave) in private, at least initially. He kept a fair distance, at first.

"Thunderhoof?" Fixit had sent along his file, though almost all the bots had been somewhat mystified by the human justice system, Heatwave had offered it probably had something to do with how short lived the humans were, but the Chief had countered that they all perceived time in the same way from second to second, and every moment was precious. This was an effort he was determined to try. "Welcome to Gryphus Minor. This is temporary accommodation for you, outside of stasis confinement. I don't know how much you were briefed on the way over, but I'm happy to answer any questions you might have."

He was kind of enormous, and certainly imposing, the first Decepticon Charlie had ever seen.