The Autobot leader has many tasks on his datapad. Every day the jobs that keep the city running like a well-oiled machine (Rodimus chuckled at that, realizing he MUST be exhausted if that kind of pun was funny) are delegated/taken care of, while more pile up behind it. If there is a Decepticon raid, or the Quintessons are up to their usual tricks, or ANYTHING important emerges, the pile is postponed. Some tasks can be put off until later; some have to be done late at night. Some take too long. When Rodimus finally finished all of the things he had to do that day it was almost another morning.
Metroplex began to show signs of stirring as Rodimus Prime, Autobot leader, the Chosen One, Carrier of the Matrix of Leadership, crept through the shadows like a Lamborghini brother hot on a prank. He felt ridiculous. All of this sneaking around when he should be able to go and do whatever he wanted, instead of taking the lower corridors to get around higher-traffic areas. All of this was done in the name of personal satisfaction. Keeping a quick stride and an official expression on his face, Rodimus marched through the private quarters of the lower-level Autobot facilities and barged into a room at the last minute without knocking. Nobody saw him.
The light was on. Giant crayons were strewn about as Swoop, asleep on the floor, kicked at them in mid-dream. He had waited up for Rodimus again, something he'd taken to doing since they'd ceased their speechless love-fests and gone back to talking. He loved to draw the object of his affection as they conversed. All over the room were careful renderings of the Autobot leader sitting, standing, shooting his blaster, fighting with Galvatron, or the cutest one of all: Swoop in Dinobot form with Rodimus on his back as they flew among the clouds. Seeing him on the floor, supine, gave Rodimus license to imagine a couple of dirty things before shaking them off and leaning over to wake his lover up.
"Swoop," he whispered softly as the Dinobot continued to remain offline. His walls were thin and neighbors nosy. "C'mon, Sweetie, it's bed time."
"Dumb nickname," the Pteronadon muttered as he clumsily turned over onto his stomach.
Rodimus laughed. "It gets your attention, though." Swoop grumbled softly and crawled on all fours over to his recharge plate. His drawing utensils scattered everywhere. Rodimus glanced around the room, noticing that crayons weren't the only thing out of place, until his gaze rested on Swoop, who'd fallen back to sleep, arm dangling over the edge of the bed, and all of the racy thoughts that clambered to be acknowledged in his database died. Not tonight. Neither of them was up for it. Rodimus mentally sighed in frustration. Well, he couldn't stay here, that would guarantee being caught by someone, the last thing Rodimus desired; so now he had to leave as abruptly as he had arrived.
"Good-night, Swoop." Rodimus left the room unsatisfied ('Not the first time, and probably not the last' he thought sourly). He was so lost in thought that he forgot where he was going and took the main stairway, running into a couple of people on their way upstairs to begin their shifts.
"'Morning Rodimus," greeted more than a few surprised faces. Their Prime was not often seen in this corner of the city.
"Good morning," he responded graciously, nodding to the confused Autobots. He mentally berated himself for getting distracted again by other thoughts. To avoid all of this attention, his goal in the first place, he should have taken the back way. On the same level as the commissary he bumped into Springer.
"He-ey, Roddy. What are you up to this early?" The green mech was one of Rodimus' best friends, which allowed him to use an informal nickname and not be reprimanded. Not that Rodimus minded anyone for being that familiar (he couldn't get Swoop to call him Roddy), it was just an old tradition to keep Prime on a pedestal, one Rodimus' friends couldn't abide with. Come to think of it, Rodimus wasn't too fond of it either.
"Work." Rodimus knew to keep it short and vague; no one ever asked for conversational details when he used a terse, all-encompassing explanation.
"The job of a Prime is never done," Springer commented in a bantering manner, like everything else he said. "So what was it this time? Did one of the Dinobots need a bedtime story?" He had a smile that spread softly around the contours of his lower face in the nicest way. Many an Autobot had sighed over it in their younger days, when both were competing for the attention of as many individuals as possible. It was an intimate smile, one that included you in the joke as well as made you the target of it. Rodimus took it as his way of teasing, although it seemed his words might not be; these had a slight edge to them. Maybe it was Rodimus' imagination. He hadn't had much sleep.
"Yeah." Rodimus set up plans to meet up with Springer and company later, but for now...his recharge plate called. Using his Prime prerogative Rodimus told Metroplex not to allow anyone within five feet of him unless they were being fired at and collapsed offline...five minutes before the earth's sun blazed in its full glory for a new day to begin.
Hot Rod had been unlucky in love throughout his entire functioning existence. He could chase anything, true to his sports car form, with speed and agility, but like chasing his shadow there was nothing to catch. Everyone from Ultra Magnus to Sunstreaker to Arcee had fled his attempts to become closer than friends. He could not understand how anyone could be repulsed by him, since he had friends and no Autobot enemies. Arcee told him it was fate. Ultra Magnus told him he was too sensitive. Sunstreaker claimed he was crazy, and to get away from his door or else. If a kind someone hadn't taken pity on him one over-energized night he would be as innocent as Swoop.
When Hot Rod became Rodimus Prime, things changed, but not for the better. Those who had skillfully eluded his affections continued to do so while those he would never consider adequate race partners, let alone anyone who could bear the stress of being with The Chosen One, threw themselves at his wheels multiple times. Rodimus was not a fool, even with the Matrix muttering admonitions into his processor. He sent them away with no uncertain ideas.
The Dinobots were a strange group of outsiders even after almost two earth decades of existence and constant mental upgrades. Most only considered them large, loose cannons that were kept around on the whim of the deceased Optimus Prime. They kept to themselves, occasionally allowing Grimlock some kind of leader's immunity to diplomatically work with their Prime, whom they considered their only equal. Grimlock was a decent friend and a good warrior, claiming Rodimus to be a kindred spirit (not his words), one worth fighting alongside for a cause they cared nothing about but would be glad to help "Rod-ee-moose" for. When Rodimus needed strength, the Dinobots were called to accomplish the near impossible.
Rodimus Prime had watched Swoop's ability to fight fiercely, curiosity leading him to discover the Pteronadon's sweet, laid-back nature. It was gratifying to see the careful way his comrades protected him from other Autobots but trusted their Prime enough to associate with them, allowing the maroon mech to get to know all of them but favoring the Pteronadon the most. In a moment of impulse Rodimus had accidentally discovered Swoop's secret adoration. The rest had fallen into place.
Strangely enough, the Dinobot tolerated the bizarre behaviors other partners never knew Rodimus had, or ran from as soon as they'd seen emerge. Swoop didn't care that they couldn't be seen together in public, he was not jealous of Rodimus' other friends consuming most of his free time, he never resented his duties as leader of the Autobots, and he proudly stood up to Grimlock when the Tyrannosaurus voiced concern over the dangers of this union. The blue and gray mech good-naturedly saw Rodimus whenever it was feasible and never questioned the motives behind it. Once, he asked for commitment but did not hold a grudge when rebuffed. Rodimus and Swoop couldn't be happier.
The Matrix knew better. It saw far too many elements that should not mix but were; a recipe for disaster. Its warnings to Rodimus went unheeded as it foresaw, and witnessed, its Prime grow tired of his first attachment, listlessly wondering if this were all there was to it and if the excitement wearing off would ever return. He was ripe for disaster, and it concerned The Matrix. There was too much at stake for Rodimus to trip over something so minor.
The wire loomed closer than expected.
Grimlock called his meeting of the Dinobots to order. The response was underwhelming: Swoop continued to color, Sludge and Snarl started a new round of Cat's Cradle, and Slag ignored him while playing jacks with a basketball and some old Dinobot-sized plastic jacks. Around them the commissary was silent. This was the middle of the early-morning shift, leaving the cafeteria an ideal place to meet while the Dinobot rumpus room was being painted. Grimlock had no old business, no new business, and no secretary to read the minutes, so after five minutes he was taking his turn at jacks, while across the room Rodimus Prime sat down with his mug of energon accompanied by Blurr filling him in on what he'd missed while offline.
"TheAerialbotsraodioedandsaidthatthere'satimewarplettingancienthumansbackhereandUltraMagnuslookedupourarchives'causeJazzthoughtitsoundedfamilar-"
He was making Rodimus' CPU hurt, forcing him to use his sterner tone, one he used when negotiating with the enemy. "Blurr, put it on a datapad. I need time to process this." Blurr was an enigma when anyone had a decent night's recharge, but today would be impossible. Prime felt like a zombie. He stared off into space until he was aware that THIS particular space was filled by a placid Dinobot and his paper.
Swoop was adorable. Blue optics concentrated on what he was doing while his lips curved a certain way while he drew his art. He leaned in to get a better look at it, face studiously concentrating, until he was aware of someone's optics on him. The mech looked up to see Rodimus watching. Although they never acknowledged each other in public, as Rodimus had declared it a bad idea and Swoop agreed, the Dinobot was caught in the moment of receiving a tender expression from his favorite Autobot. Surreptitiously Swoop wiggled a few fingers in greeting and went back to work, giggling. Prime chuckled too.
"Hey! Online yet?" Springer whacked Rodimus on the back as hard as he could while the surrounding chairs filled with Kup, Arcee, and Bumblebee. (Bumblebee? Who invited him? This meant Wheelie and Daniel weren't that far behind.) Rodimus was glad he hadn't been mid-drink or it would be all over the table. Only Springer could get away with this. Prime shoved him out of his chair to raucous laughter.
Arcee patted his shoulder, face concerned. "It's almost nine, Rodimus. We thought you'd be gone for the day."
Prime shook his head. "I worked through the night again."
Springer jumped back into his chair, straddling the back as he spoke casually. "I think he was doing something else." His mischievous smile's allusion to a double meaning cracked them up. He had a way of weaving a spell over crowds that still stymied his maroon counterpart. "Any guesses who the lucky mech would be?"
The pink femme piped up first. "Was he downstairs? If he wasn't, my guess is Jazz."
Bumblebee refused to believe that. Jazz had Prowl walking funny some mornings. Roddy looked fine. If it were anybody, it would be Blurr.
The others regarded him disgustedly. For some strange reason Rodimus felt sorry that no one could treat someone so serious about the cause better so he saved the mini-bot by saying, "Had him. He took too long." This cast his own spell, one granting permission for anyone to make the most ridiculous conjectures at their leader's expense. If he kept it informal, he rationalized, maybe they would not take it seriously either. Perhaps they would inadvertently reveal what they were saying about him behind his back. Rodimus tried to relax, telling himself it was a gag, but more than a little nervous since Springer's voice had that edge to it again.
"Nah, Red Alert!" Kup getting involved made it even more unreal. Prime took a sip of energon before responding.
"A screamer."
"How'd you pry him away from Inferno?"
"Who do you think held the camera?"
"AUGH!" Everyone backed away from Rodimus while he had a laugh over that.
"Ultra Magnus!" called Bumblebee.
Rodimus shook his head. "Too bossy." They had not known it, but the large carrier had been pining away for somebody else the times Rodimus had tried to build rapport with him.
"Kup!" quipped Kup.
Prime tilted his head saucily. "Taught me everything I know."
"That would have taken less time than Blurr," Springer's handsome face was furtively scanning the room. Nobody here but them and a few Dinobots.
"Perceptor!" Arcee tried again.
"Have you seen him with ANYBODY? Can you picture it?" The scientist took that moment to enter the commissary in a slow chase with Wheelie to retrieve something stolen. The larger mech could not bear to lose his dignity by breaking into a run, but he wanted the invention back. Wheelie was having too much fun to stop.
"Give it to me, Wheelie! I want it!" Perceptor called, frustrated. The minute he departed the whole table erupted. There were cracks about bleaching their optics, Perceptor asking Wheelie if he wanted some candy, etc.
"Grimlock!" Springer had finally ventured a guess, one that caused the Dinobot leader to stop playing jacks and turn up his audios without looking over at the table. His entire troop became quiet as the others snickered.
"Leave the lad alone, Springer." Kup had felt the need to interject some logic before their conversation took a nasty turn. "He would never take advantage of the Autobots he's in charge of like that."
"Optimus Prime had somebody," Bumblebee replied as Rodimus did his best to keep a normal facade. "He had Elita-1."
Now Grimlock was openly staring.
"That was a femme. No offense meant, Arcee." She declared none taken as Kup continued. "That's a different group altogether, and that relationship was mostly long-distance. Prime didn't have anybody on the warfront."
"He broke a lot of ground mixing factions like that," Rodimus pointed out, hoping to change the subject. "Before him, there wasn't a lot of mingling." Now there were femmes with mechs, Aerialbots with mini-bots, Autobots with aliens; even, in Sandstorm's case, an Autobot and a Decepticon. There were still a few taboos regarding the subject of Autobot miscegenation.
"I liked it better that way," Kup rumbled. "It seemed right."
Here Sludge and Snarl looked up, smiling at each other.
Springer shook his head. "I find it VERY difficult to believe Optimus Prime spent every night by himself. He was PRIME. Why be a leader if you can't have a little fun, right Bumblebee?" Bumblebee didn't know, or if he did, he wasn't talking. "You think Megatron didn't have anybody?"
Slag put down the jacks and glared.
"Soundwave! Prepare for probing!" they chorused. It was a long-standing joke. The laugh they shared filled Rodimus' audios and finally allowed him to accept this as the joke it was and less of an inquisition.
When the amusement wore off an invisible signal must have been given, because suddenly Arcee and Kup had to be somewhere, dragging Bumblebee with them. They patted both of them on the back, Arcee whispering something to the green mech while he nodded in response.
Springer smiled at Rodimus. The same soft, pleasant smile that adorned his handsome face when he saw something beautiful worthy of acquisition. "You get around," he commented. "Red Alert, Perceptor, Blurr..."
The Autobot leader smiled self-consciously. "All one-night stands." Rodimus did not like the turn this conversation was taking. The tone was still light, but there was that accusing undercurrent. "Nothing serious."
"Liar. There IS someone." The smile widened.
"No." The Autobot leader glanced away from his accuser, face neutral. The panic was encroaching, and he couldn't let anyone see it.
He emitted a laugh. "C'mon, Roddy, it's obvious! We've all seen it. Your face lights up every time he walks into the room. You're always looking for him in a crowd, and you spend as much time as you can around him. You're in love."
Rodimus squirmed. His best friend knew him too well. He turned back to him, grin returned. "You're right." Springer huffed air out while his smile broadened further. He shook his head, pleased. Now Rodimus had a new worry. He appealed to the blue optics that shone compassionately on him. "You won't tell anybody?"
"They already know. In fact..." Springer leaned over conspiratorially. "He loves you too."
Swoop must have told. That Dinobot had been so good about keeping secrets, WHY did he break down now? No, it was Prime's fault, he shouldn't have started this whole thing in the first place, it-
('Wait an astro-second!')
Swoop, who had been coloring and tuning out the conversations around him while he tried to give his drawing of Rodimus the proper shade of maroon, looked up at the Dinobot's collective gasp to see Springer pressing his lips into HIS Rodimus' face, kissing him like he OWNED him! All five stared.
The kissing continued too long. Grimlock leaned over to his warriors and whispered "Me Grimlock right. Rod-ee-moose Prime like all Autobots, he not care about us Dinobots." Sludge patted the poor Pteronadon sympathetically. Swoop leapt up and ran, abandoning his tools in his desperation to get out of there. Transforming into his Dinosaur mode, Swoop took to the air shrieking as he tried to fly out as fast as he could.
('Springer. Springer. Springer. Springer?') It echoed in Rodimus' mind over and over again as his best friend's hand reached up to caress his face, kiss still going strong. ('Springer!')
Now would be the time for The Matrix to say something, to tell its Prime to punch this green aggression across the face to get him to stop, something, anything, at least wake up the young mech from the fog that seemed to cling to his processor and keep him from making a rational decision.
Rodimus Prime had never been pursued by anyone. Ever. His best friend making such a frank confession- and proving it wasn't a joke beyond any doubt- did not shock him; it IMMOBILIZED him. Everything was a thick white nothingness as he tried to understand how anything so utterly impossible had sprung (he HAD to be tired still, that seemed humorous too) up from nowhere. He and Springer had competed for the affections of certain individuals for some time now, knowing the tricks the other used, but the triple changer had a different kind of rotten luck from Rodimus'. He could attract his intended for a short enough amount of time to collect bragging rights. Rodimus never got any luck; at least Springer acquired his intended's attention.
He had Roddy's.
Snarl had the jacks ball in his hand as he watched an agitated Swoop run out. Something in his friend's expression saddened him as he turned back to the couple. After a moment, he put two and two together. Furious, the ball left his grip and bounced against Springer's head before any of them could react.
"Hey!" Springer turned to see four Dinobots glaring. He grinned. Obviously they did not like to see affection, which was not a surprise. Perceptor had once told him the Dinobots were too primitive to know anything about love. This probably disgusted them. "We have an audience," he whispered as Rodimus nodded, still stunned and unfocused. He would have agreed to anything Springer said. "So let's go somewhere else." He tried to lighten his tone. "Your place or mine?"
Springer had, Arcee once confided in Prime, an amazing way of being easygoing in every aspect of his life but one. He was so charming no one could resist, even if they wanted to. Most of the time no one did. Rodimus Prime could not get the thrill of being kissed by his best friend out of his system, especially when Springer kept messaging his arm in concentric circles. Something was telling him to keep this Autobot under the radar until this whole thing was sorted out.
"Mine. My office." Rodimus had no intention of letting this mech into his private chambers. Springer grabbed his hand and led his Prime down the hall to smiles and cheers. ('Was everyone in on this? Since when had there been this kind of public expectation for Springer and me to hook up? Why was I the last to know?') Jazz was the only one who seemed uncomfortable seeing the pair. His sunny expression clouded over. Springer led Rodimus into his office and shut the door behind them, his hand reaching out for Prime.
As far as kissing went, Springer was good at some things and bad at others. It took Roddy a minute to realize he was being backed onto his own desk, where stacks of datapads waited to be read but were instead crashing to the ground as Springer swept them off. The mech had years of pent-up emotion that would now be poured onto his leader come Pit or acid rain. His hands were all over the dark red mech, little noises of happiness escaping in ecstatic intervals.
('Nice'.)
It was nice, in that vague cloudy way mechs dream. Rodimus assumed this was a dream, because his whole body buzzed warmly while his processor swam around a fog of bliss that real life never offered. Instead of the inky black and sapphire sacrosanct that he had become acclimated to, bright light and green metal softly caressed him with a twinge of longing that partly lifted him out of the fog to see a beaming tourmaline face. Springer smiled at him before kissing deeper.
Without warning Prime felt the hands on his rear end, hoisting him onto the desk. ('Very nice'.) Rodimus had thought of a similar move when he fantasized about taking Swoop in his office, but had been stumped as to what kind of excuse he could make to get the Dinobot in there-
The fog did not lift; instead he ran into the cliff of reality with an impact that shocked him out of his peaceful euphoria.
With all of the power The Matrix would allow Rodimus took both hands and shoved Springer away from him. The green mech landed in a tangle on the floor while Prime shouted "WHAT AM I DOING?"
Sitting up, Springer chuckled in amusement. "If you don't know, I'd be glad to show you."
"Springer!" This was not the time to be funny. How could he do this to Swoop? He put his head in his hands. "This is all wrong."
Confused, Springer checked to make sure Rodimus did not mean him. Apparently, he had. "Wow, Roddy, I'm sorry. I thought you wanted this." He snorted self-deprecatingly. "I know I did."
Rodimus looked away. He didn't. ('Yeah,I do.') He was with Swoop. ('Why did I like Springer's hands on me so much?') Now he looked at the green mech sprawled on the floor and wanted him so bad he could feel his spark glowing. ('How well does Springer draw me in crayon?') But that could be only because of the lack of affection he was getting from Swoop. ('That relationship seems to be cooling anyway.') Springer is his best friend. (Who up until now I thought was with Arcee, my ex-sort-of-girlfriend who dumped me for this guy.') The conflict inside of him was growing exponentially as Springer slowly rose from the floor and approached Rodimus.
"This is probably a lot to take." He smiled at Roddy's over-emphasized nod. "I know, that since you're Prime, that this is not supposed to happen." Another nod. Springer lifted his fingers to trace Rodimus' neck at that vital spot he loved having touched (thank you, Arcee). He watched Prime squirm, fighting the inevitable. "I also know that you and I are the greatest of friends. This is no different than what we had before. I'm the same Autobot. We'll still joke around with each other, have fun, hang out. There may be a few changes in sleeping arrangements-" He got a snicker from his audience for that. Springer took it as a good sign and lowered his voice to a more seductive level. "but I'm sure that won't be a big deal. You've loved me all your life, Roddy. If you could only allow it to happen. Just shut off your optics...and..." he was about to kiss him again. "...let it go..."
"Rodimus Prime! Come in!" Ultra Magnus's voice erupted from the TV on Prime's desk, facing away from the couple. Rodimus pushed his way out of the embrace with a mix of relief and disappointment.
"I have to take this," he explained curtly as he hurried to answer his call. "Rodimus Prime here. What is it, Ultra Magnus?"
"Has Blurr reported to you what happened to the Aerialbots?" Prime looked at the scattered datapads strewn about the floor and mentally cursed himself for allowing a delay in his efficiency.
"He has...but I haven't been able to read it yet. I asked him to put it on a datapad."
Ultra Magnus scowled. "There was a reason I wanted you to hear it from him, sir. It was lengthy and detailed."
"I can deduce most of it if you give me a summary NOW and save me the trouble." ('This is not a good day to be bossy with me,.') The recollection of the earlier table conversation made him smile, taking the sharpness out of his words.
"Someone is depleting the energy sources of a 'Dinobot Island', causing time portals to open all over the globe. I am sending out various strike teams to push the inhabitants of these portals back to where they came from and close said openings, but I'm having trouble finding your air commander."
That would be Springer, who was leaning over the desk as though he expected Prime to materialize back into his arms at any moment. "I believe I see him walking past my door now. Springer! Ultra Magnus wants you."
"Not as bad as I want you," he countered, ignoring Rodimus' annoyance. Ultra Magnus heard it, but chose to follow protocol by signing off without acknowledging it.
Rodimus Prime scowled. "Report to Ultra Magnus. Dismissed." Springer saluted and walked out, leaving Prime to sink into his chair and try to ignore the wish that Ultra Magnus had not called.
Portal repair continued into the next seven days while the history, location, and cause/effect relationship of Dinobot Island was studied. The island was not found as of yet, and since The Ark had exploded to fragments a year ago the coordinates of many Decepticon attacks went with its demise. Perceptor, who should have known something about this but for some reason DIDN'T (Rodimus guessed he was still recovering from a processor wipe Galvatron gave him a few months back) recommended sending the Dinobots as scouts, as soon as someone could find them. They were Absent Without Leave, as of ten-thirty in the morning last week. He paced his office as reports poured in regarding what search teams had discovered, but both the Dinobots and their island namesake were nowhere to be found.
"Relax, Roddy," Springer drawled from Prime's office chair, his feet swinging off from resting on the desk. "Knowing those trouble-makers, they probably ran out for some goofing off and they'll come back when they feel like it. They'll probably come in a back door, just to mess with us." Springer looked very comfortable in this place. Like he belonged here. There would be nothing easier than the temptation to follow the triple-changer's lead and doff Swoop like a bad Cybertron Academy romance. Who would be the wiser? Springer had an innocent facial expression that made Rodimus' circuits fire a little faster. The look disappeared when he patted his green lap and smirked. "Now come over here and tell Santa what you want for Christmas."
Something that ridiculous put the brakes on the circuit firing, thank Primus. It was incredibly obvious how Springer got/scared away his mates. Rodimus lightly whacked him on the back of the head. "You're in my chair," he said in a playful voice he didn't feel. "Besides, you've got stuff you need to be doing right now." Springer stood up, smiling, and walked outside to see Ultra Magnus in the hall.
"The Aerialbots are ready for you to take them out to scout the South Pacific," the giant mech gave as preamble. "How did your conference with Rodimus go?"
The triple-changer shrugged. "He's ignoring me unless I'm physically in his way. Can you talk to him?" The easy-going mech usually took things in stride, but Roddy was a tough wingnut to loosen. Ultra Magnus might help. He owed Springer a few favors. Nodding in agreement, Ultra Magnus quietly closed the door behind him as he entered Rodimus' domain.
"Prime?" Rodimus did not respond to that particular honorific sometimes, as was the case now. He was reading Metroplex's attendance records for every entryway passed through in the city, and noticed that NO door went unchecked. Including personal chambers. Prime erased Swoop's chamber records as he heard his name uttered again.
"Ultra Magnus!"
"What are you doing?" Ultra Magnus sat down with permission, placing the datapad he carried onto the desk. He was used to bossing Roddy around and obeying Optimus, but forgetting certain protocol never happened.
"Following a hunch. It didn't go anywhere." The Dinobots had not returned. "What do you have for me?"
"Two days ago you promoted Jazz to help Red Alert with security. Today he found a pattern."
"Really?" ('Don't let this be what I think it is.')
"Up until a few weeks ago someone was using your codes to break into private doors."
('It is. It took Swoop a long time to trust me enough to leave the door unlocked'.) "I know, Ultra Magnus. What about it?"
Ultra Magnus gave a startled glance. "This same code was used at eleven hundred hours last week to enter Metroplex from a side entrance. The security cameras show the Dinobots, except that the code was also used at fifteen-hundred hours today to access your own private chambers but there is no footage of that."
"You're telling me you think the Dinobots used MY code to break in to my room? Where are they?" So Springer had been right. And Prime had been so wound up over Swoop's records to notice any side entrance notes.
"No, they haven't. We found the Dinobots with Wreck-Garr on Junk, an hour ago. SOMEBODY else has been using it."
"Slag." Just what he needed. "Change my code, and then set up an alarm to catch anyone who uses my old one."
"Right."
"I'll inspect my chambers myself and compare it with inventory, to see what's missing. Oh, and get the Dinobots to come back here. If they put up a fight, tell them I ordered them to come back." Prime stood up to signal the end of the interview. Ultra Magnus remained sitting. "Something wrong, Magnus?"
"What do you think has upset the Dinobots enough to assume you have to give them an order?"
"Nothing to concern yourself with," Roddy retorted. He could have feigned ignorance but for some unknown reason, he did not. His guilt over Swoop had put him on the defensive.
The large soldier remained gravely silent for a moment. "Would it concern Springer?"
Rodimus glared. Everyone was desperate to make him go to Springer! Prime still didn't know. He liked having him as a friend, but the Springer who wanted more seemed different. Authoritative. It was confusing, and Rodimus hoped that spending an evening talking to Swoop would settle things, as it always did. He would be back before the end of the day if the Dinobots were given an order. Rodimus may not like most trappings of Prime but there was a nice feeling of control when an order was obeyed. Perhaps proper deference had its moments. "Seeing as how neither issue has been assigned to you, and we have more pressing matters at hand, I don't know. Anything else?"
"Yes." Ultra Magnus stood, now that he had been thoroughly offended. Rodimus had always come to him for whatever problem, big or small, and this brusque dismissal was out of character, not to mention hurtful. "Get some sleep, for once." He walked out before Prime could process the hidden meaning in the saddened voice of his mentor.
The only thing missing from Rodimus Prime's room were a few drawings Swoop had made for him. The Autobot leader reported what was gone and signed off, claiming recharge but setting his internal alarm for midnight, when almost everyone was offline. The Dinobots were back and Rodimus planned to take advantage of it. As he crept down to the bottom of Metroplex Rodimus allowed his thoughts to wander. Some part of him wondered if he could keep both friend and Dinobot, but his sense of decency forbade it. He wanted to be with the larger blue mech, and his processing concentrated on that. Mostly, his thoughts focused on Swoop. He missed him. He missed sinking into his arms and forgetting everything around him. He wanted to be told to hold still while Swoop put lines of nobility around his forehead (not the Dinobot's exact wording). He liked simple, direct, non-thought-provoking opinions and someone who didn't expect everything he said to be sound advice. He got all of this from one mech. One mech who had locked his door.
Rodimus inspected the shoulder and spoiler that had made this discovery for damage and knocked softly. "Swoop?" he asked, as low a tone as he dared. No reply. There were ways around this. Rodimus decided to use Prime prerogative and physically typed in his NEW code to unlock the door. It opened quickly to reveal the light on and Grimlock waiting for him.
"Rod-ee-moose Prime." The tone was respectful but assertive.
"Grimlock. Where is Swoop?"
"He not here."
('I KNOW THAT!') Rodimus kept his countenance calm. "Where is he?"
The fierce warrior faceplate that this potent Dinobot wielded did not frighten Rodimus at all. The tone was a little disconcerting, though. "Me Grimlock say, HE not HERE." Grimlock stood up and walked past his guest, motioning for him to follow. Rodimus complied after a moment's hesitation, down the brightly lit hallways and up the stairs to the Dinobot rumpus room that still smelled like a fresh coat of paint. On the north wall was a shelf. As Rodimus waited, Grimlock walked over to this metal wall bracket and pulled some things out of subspace, talking as he put them down.
"Us Dinobots have no secrets," he intoned as he held up the picture of Rodimus and Swoop flying together. Swoop had made two; this must be his copy. Prime's was still missing. "Me Grimlock glad you Rod-ee-moose use dis-dis...smarts and keep love quiet. You not good Prime if you not smart." Grimlock produced a small, heart-shaped brown rock and gently placed it on the shelf. Rodimus waited. Grimlock, like the other Dinobots, often had deep insight buried in their halting rhetoric, like an energon cube hiding on Junk.
"You not smart with Swoop in other ways. You not realize greatness that is Dinobot. Us Dinobots do everything great! We fight great! We think great!" His yelling stopped when Roddy told him he was too loud. "We love great." Here he placed an old, tattered tape, the size Blaster could use, on the shelf. "Dinobot love forever. No matter how hard love is-" Grimlock produced some shattered metal splinters, carefully tied together, and placed it next to the heart-shaped rock. The splinters were a black Cybertronian metal, looking old but steady. That particular kind looked like the same material as Optimus' handgun, but the various scratches suggested it had been around longer. "-us Dinobots love harder."
"You've all had somebody?" There may be no secrets AMONG the Dinobots, but outside of their group their silence was steadfast. No wonder no Decepticon could torture anything out of them!
"Now Swoop." The bitterness in his voice made Rodimus recall that there were Dinobots in the commissary that morning all of this had gone down. Why hadn't he realized it before...
"Did Swoop see Springer and me..." he couldn't finish the thought. Grimlock's immobile face radiated disapproval. Primus, he hadn't even noticed! "I need to talk to him."
"NO! You Rod-ee-moose Prime bad for Swoop! No good!"
The maroon mech was desperate. He had to talk to Swoop, to straighten this mess out, to explain to him that Springer meant nothing CLOSE to what it seemed, and that...that... "Grimlock, let me see him." The Dinobot shook his head. "Grimlock! Don't make me give you another order!"
The Dinobot leader was a formidable opponent for a reason, one made obvious when he transformed into Tyrannosaurus Rex. "You Rod-ee-moose leave Swoop alone! Or ELSE!"
The door banged behind them. "Grimlock? Rodimus? What's going on?"
The large Dinobot, now with a more expressive mode, snorted contemptuously. "Boyfriend call."
Rodimus scowled. "He's not my boyfriend."
"Is now."
Springer, once allowed in, gave them a strange look, one bordering on jealousy. "Is everything okay?" Rodimus nodded, explaining how Grimlock was trying to recall how to get to Dinobot Island. "That's why I've been trying to radio you! We found it!" Prime reluctantly turned his attention to the situation, wincing at the realization that he'd locked Springer's frequency out to avoid him.
Springer explained where it was, and that scouts would be needed to peruse the area for whatever was causing the energy malfunction. The ideal team was obvious, although sending Swoop out without being able to fix the problem here set Rodimus' solenoids off-kilter. He felt ill at the idea. Still, he had a responsibility...
Sigh. "Grimlock, when can the Dinobots leave?"
The giant lizard smiled as craftily as his crocodile relative. "Us Dinobots leave now! Me Grimlock go get them." Grimlock left with a menacing stare that obviously warned them not to follow him. Rodimus mentally sighed again and walked over to the relics on the shelf.
"That 'bot gets stranger every time I see him. Roddy?" Rodimus jumped, hoping Springer hadn't seen him hide Swoop's crayon drawing. Springer regarded him carefully. "What's going on with you and Grimlock?"
Rodimus allowed a chuckle. The suspicion exhibited by the triple changer was strange to see, especially over such an irritating mech. "Nothing. I thought I could talk some sense into him about the trouble he's caused lately, but it didn't work." Springer seemed relieved. "Why?"
"It's crazy, but..." he gestured wildly. "I don't know, it seems like you and he are a lot closer than you act." Springer smiled sheepishly, almost asking for forgiveness but demanding an explanation at the same time.
Rodimus looked into his blue optics, wishing he didn't know the triple changer's behaviors and unspoken communications as well as he did. "There is NOTHING going on between us." ('Do I mean that for Grimlock or you, Springer? Even I don't know that.')
The green mech smiled even wider, showing Roddy that he was very handsome, especially when his fears were laid to rest. He held his hand out for Rodimus to take as they walked out. Roddy wished Mirage had never started this stupid trend; he felt fettered. The touch from this charismatic being excited him at the same time, though. ('So easy. All I have to do is walk alongside him and let him win. Forget how much it bothers me to let him be the boss. No more hiding, no more fear, no more guilt over Swoop. Never mind that I need him.') Any Autobot they passed smiled at them sweetly, one of them muttering 'finally!' under his breath as he receded down the hall. Springer's quarters were closer than Prime's so that turning to say goodnight without some kind of invitation was inevitable. ('I have to say no, even if I kind of don't want to.')
"What if I promised I wouldn't try anything?" Springer asked mischievously, head tilted at an appealing angle. ('I should have known he would make this difficult. Why can't he be ugly?')
"You know I don't believe that." Prime tried to release his hands from Springer's grip and found that he couldn't. The triple changer shook his head, grinning as he pulled an almost-willing Rodimus inside. The flame-patterned mech's spoiler hit the sides of the door with a clang.
"Sorry, buddy." Springer had not stopped pulling. He didn't let go of Rodimus until they were both on his recharge plate. Springer started kissing him again. "Nobody needs you until tomorrow-" he laughed at himself. "-except for me. Now come here, lie down..." Rodimus could feel his resolve slipping away as he was pushed into a more horizontal position. It was so nice to be touched like that. Springer was a powerful enchanter. Still, Prime tried to fight it, although he thought he didn't want to anymore. Grimlock's angry accusations seemed to make sense. Maybe he SHOULDN'T be with a Dinobot. The dreamlike trance slipped over him again, taking him by surprise like a quick fall evening after months of long summer nights.
"Springer-"
"RELAX. I won't do anything...except for maybe this." He was hitting those places on Roddy's chestplate that loved to be toyed with. Rodimus feebly tried to brush him off, but a tingling sensation was growing. It was too much. Even in the rush of desire something still nagged at him.
('Why am I here?')
(Because your drive to get laid is superseding your morality sensors.) That was not his thought. The Matrix was talking to him, at long last. (Get out of there, Rodimus.) Springer had pulled him over to lay on top and allowed Rodimus to hold his hands down while that soft spot where the green mech's chin jutted out was attended to. ('Thank you, Arcee.') Springer was calling his name so loud Roddy couldn't hear anything, which was delightful. ('Good Primus, where did he learn to do THAT?')
(Roddy!)
('Stupid Matrix.') Roddy wished he could turn it off as his conscience slipped. ('Where did the phrase "get laid" come from? Oh yeah, Springer, right there...Oh.') He clenched the green mech's hands hard while Springer's legs wrapped around him and squeezed back. It was like melting into a puddle, or being too euphoric after guzzling spiked energon. (You'll be sorry.) ('I'm already sorry. All I want to do is-Oh here it comes-') He could feel everything rattling as Springer moaned under him.
Someone pounded on the door. "Slag it all to the pit!" snarled Springer, his first curse words in vorns. "WHAT?" he hollered at the door.
"Springer? Where's Rodimus? It's Arcee! We've got trouble!" Only the pink female, the one who'd answered their covert questions concerning her ex-significant others' anatomies, would be allowed to interrupt. Rodimus rolled off of Springer and staggered to the door. Their pileup would have to be postponed.
"What is it?" he asked, voice barely civil as he confronted the warrior. She looked upset.
"The Quintessons have kidnapped the Dinobots!"
('Swoop!')
(We told you so.)