I love Hound’s holograms but I’d also love to see him with enhanced senses that really make him a valued scout. He sees, hears, smells things other bots don’t, and it’s why he’s so great at sniffing things out.
Except when he’s not in action, the senses don’t tone down. Not at all. In fact, they cause him intense sensory overload at times, especially when it comes to sound. He’s tried manually readjusting his sensory components, had Ratchet and even Wheeljack tinker with them, but even when they manage to dampen them a little, it’s still more intense than it would be for others. Without the excitement, the constant circuit fire, of the field, it’s harder to handle.
Sometimes, it makes Hound embarrassed. He can’t always enjoy things the way his friends can. Music that’s too loud makes his helm feel like it’ll crack in two. He has to sit out. Popping balloons makes him cover his audials like he’s not the largest thing in the room. Certain smells hit his olfactory and his tanks churn. He tries hard, and sometimes he can manage, but it can be tiring.
Surprisingly, it’s his human companions that have a lot of insight to this, particularly Chip. He’s quick to offer Hound some ways to help ease the intensity, even just for a moment. To focus himself elsewhere. To let his other senses take over when one is overwhelmed. Sparkplug and Spike make him big toys - fidgets, stim toys, that’s what Chip calls them - and the other bots jump in to help, to learn, and Hound feels so much better knowing he isn’t burdening anyone. They don’t mind turning it down for him. They like him the way he is.