A Continuous Courting

by Zira Angel

The courting of Optimus Prime. TFA Optimus Prime/Ultra Magnus

3. Chapter 3

Okay, guys!

There is actually less days of fic to update than I had thought o3o;

But that is less to do with Tash and me not writing enough to draw it out, and more with Vienne being all, "10-20k words per chapter you say? I will stay at about 15k, but most likely more." When I was actually planning on the first one to be the longest! So it is because of Vivienne that you get more all at once!

She has all the chapters

All of them

Yeah! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

And she gave them all to me to give to you, so I kinda mangled that reference. Whatever.

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers.

---

The council room is excessively large, and Optimus has never liked being here. He carries Firefly to the bowl-shaped space reserved for him, and puts the sparkling on one of the seats, offering him a datapad to draw on. "This is a very important meeting, so you should try to stay quiet."

Firefly gnaws on the edge of the datapad.

It isn't long until the meeting actually starts, and he's called to give his report on trying to find the jet twins and the remaining Decepticons. He hates that he has to give the same report that he's been giving for the last several decacycles; the longer it takes, the more he sees them slipping out of his grasp. He hates that Megatron and Starscream somehow escaped, and that Lugnut disappeared before they could even get to him.

He's nearing the end of his report when Firefly ignites his thrusters and leaps into the air. Optimus curses, and tries to grab him, but misses the little bot. Across the hall, Perceptor and Wheeljack share a look, and Optimus thinks they're laughing at him. With one bot's face covered with a mask, and the other largely expressionless, it is hard to tell.

He's waffling on if he should jump out of his area to grab the tiny mech, when Firefly alights on Ultra's shoulder. Relaxing visibly, Optimus smiles at Ultra when the bot tucks the sparkling gently in his arms. Glancing over at the other council members, he finishes up. Firefly spends the rest of the time with Ultra, either in the mech's arms or tucked gently between missile turrets.

Several other reports are given, and Optimus tries to stay attentive to them, but he really isn't meant for this type of work. Instead, he finds his attention drawn repeatedly to Ultra and Firefly. His spark flutters, seeing Ultra handling the sparkling so well. Someday, that could be their sparkling. He ducks his head and scrolls through a datapad to hide his blush.

When everything is done, Optimus is intercepted part way though walking over to Ultra by Perceptor and Wheeljack. Wheeljack puts a servo on his arm, "You're heading over, and you know you can't be alone with him. We'll be with you, since a sparkling doesn't count."

Optimus can't help but laugh. "I'm just going to be-"

Perceptor gives him a blank look, and interrupts him with, "And he will make an excuse for you to stay until the room is empty or for you to walk with him. We will be here."

Wheeljack pulls him on, making him continue walking, "Besides, your side can't be doing all the chaperoning. That's just not fair to us."

Optimus makes an agreeing sound as they approach Ultra. "I would like it if we had you as chaperons for an upcoming date. I'm sure Ultra can schedule something that will work for all of us." He smiles, "Red Alert is welcome as well, of course."

Before they can reply, Ultra carefully pushes Firefly into Optimus's servos. "I see that this little sparkling decorated you for today's meeting."

Adjusting Firefly he nods as the sparkling shakes his head violently and shouts, "No!"

Sighing softly, Optimus looks down at the tiny mech, "What don't you want this time?"

"No hold!" Firefly whines, and pushes at Optimus's arms. "Ultra! Gun! Gun!"

He gives Firefly back to Ultra, "Looks like he prefers you." It's not surprising. Ultra is more heavily armed and is of a size closer to a Seeker than Optimus.

Ultra allows the sparkling to climb up and play with his gun turrets again. "I suppose it won't do him any harm. Bumblebee or Sunstorm should be along soon to pick him up?"

Optimus shrugs, "I have no idea." He frowns, and starts to walk with Ultra, Wheeljack, and Perceptor to the exit of the council chamber, "Did Blurr call in sick today?"

Ultra glances down at him, "He did. Any reason why you're asking?"

He shudders, "Then it is very likely I'll be looking after Firefly for the rest of the day."

Ultra gives him a confused look, Wheeljack and Perceptor may have done the same -not that he can tell-, before the larger mech's optics widen in understanding. "Do you think this means that Sunstorm will be getting two votes?"

Optimus rubs his temples, "If I know anything about seekers, and I'm pretty good at reading them by now, I'd say that is incredibly likely."

Ultra reaches over and catches one of Optimus's servos, giving it a squeeze, "I believe he won't be any trouble, Optimus. He voted positively last time, and with each meeting, we need fewer approvals."

Audio lights flashing, Wheeljack interjects, "So, Optimus was saying he'd like us to chaperon you on a date, Ultra Magnus. You okay with that?"

"Of course," and Ultra smiles at Optimus. "Provided you try not to cause any explosions, Wheeljack."

Firefly peers down at them, "Boom?"

Optimus winces, and he thinks Perceptor is doing the same, as the mech's shoulders are shaking slightly anyway. "Hopefully not."

The sparkling gives them a sad look, and goes back to curling up in Ultra's turrets. Wheeljack coughs softly, "I make no promises, but I certainly do not plan on it."

Reaching his office corridor, Optimus vents a sigh and holds out his arms, "I have more reports to read. I'll take Firefly back now." Firefly whines and hides behind one of Ultra's turrets. "Don't be like that, Firefly."

Ultra reaches up and plucks the sparkling off his shoulder, "I'm willing to have him stay in my office."

Firefly nods frantically, clinging to Ultra's fingers, "Guns!"

Optimus looks at the sparkling to Ultra, and can't think of any reason why the Magnus can't do it. It isn't like Sunstorm or Bumblebee would be upset, and will give him free time to get cleaned up. He vents a tiny sigh, "If you're sure?"

Ultra nods slowly and happily as Firefly yells out, "Yes! Guns!"

Optimus takes a step back, "Just..."

Ultra tugs him close, and kisses him softly, "I'll be careful, Optimus. You don't have to worry."

He steals a second kiss from Ultra, before stepping back. "We both have work to do. I'll remember to invite Cliffjumper along if I need to speak to you before our shifts end." He turns to Wheeljack and Perceptor, "Thank you for agreeing to chaperon us. I hope it is entertaining for us all."

Wheeljack's audio lights flash amusement as the mech nods, "I don't imagine there will be a dull moment, Optimus."

He smiles, and bids the bots goodbye before walking into his office. Propping himself on his desk, he lets his fans turn on from reacting to the kiss. The sound of them makes his processor flash to the sound of Ultra's in the video he was sent, and he sinks to the floor, grateful that he's alone while he deals with his over enthusiastic imagination.

He checks that the vid file is still securely tucked away where no casual scan will ever find it, and focuses on trying to get his systems to stop heating up with want. There are reports that need to be examined, and he can't just ignore them because his spark wants an overload. Optimus lets his fans cool his frame, picking up a datapad filled with the least interesting materials he can find to keep his processor away from Ultra.

It is several megacycles later that there's a knock on the door. Looking up from his almost finished pile of datapads, he blinks. "Come in."

Cliffjumper steps in, holding Firefly, "You need to eat something, sir."

Firefly pouts, "Candy."

"No candy, Firefly," Optimus responds absently. "And I'm not hungry, Cliffjumper."

"Well," Firefly is put on his desk, beside a carefully organized stack of datapads, which the sparkling promptly knocks over, giggling at the crash it makes, "Firefly is hungry, sir. We don't keep sparkling grade energon around, and I like keeping my emergency ration of it for my own sparklings."

Optimus stares with dismay at the ruined datapad pile. He's going to have to re-sort them all. "He drinks normal energon already." He pulls out the partial cube meant for Firefly and sets it carefully in front of him.

Firefly giggles and sips on the energon, while Cliffjumper gives Optimus a disbelieving look. "Already? That's not ve-"

Optimus shakes his head, stopping the minibot. He picks up the datapad stack, "I know. But he's Bumblebee and Sunstorm's sparkling, and I do not control how they raise him. From what I can tell, they also fill him with candy whenever Firefly demands it."

The sparkling puts down the now empty cube, "Candy?"

Optimus blinks in surprise, reaching over and moving the little jet's wings so he can see them easier, "No candy. Cliffjumper... when did he get the elite guard wings on his Autobot symbols?"

The minibot snorts, "When do you think? Ultra Magnus has always been a pushover when it comes to sparklings. Dunno if he'll be the same way with his own, but I bet Firefly just asked him with big, wide optics." Firefly flutters his wings. "I suppose it's easier with ours," Cliffjumper muses, "we raise them all together, so they don't end up too horribly spoiled."

He starts to organize the datapads again, "I can see how that would work, but not a very effective tactic with seekers with easily convinced Autobots. I'm absolutely certain that Scatterstar," he pauses.

"Scatter!" comes Firefly's happy cry.

He continues, "Has been coaching the sparklings on how to get things from the seekers and various autobots."

"Like Ultra Magnus," Cliffjumper laughs, and reaches forward to rub at the paint on Firefly's wings. "Looks like he used his own insignia paint on them. Those aren't gonna come off for quite a while. Guess you've gotten yourself a little set of wings on your wings, kid."

Firefly gets a look he must have picked up from his father. Seeker smugness.

Optimus sighs, "He's been wanting them for the longest time, too. He'd finally stopped bugging me for them when he saw me. When those wings come off, he's most likely going to be back at it."

He hands Cliffjumper the finished datapads, and watches as the minibot puts them in sub-space, "Well, we may have a future elite guard on our servos." Cliffjumper rubs Firefly's horns, "Not a bad thing, right?"

The sparkling just beams at him.

Optimus looks at Firefly, "Are you going to stay with me the rest of this shift, or do you want to go back to Ultra?"

Firefly's peds hit the ground with the distinctive sound of Seeker heels, and he picks a datapad up off the floor, "You."

Reaching over, Optimus plucks the datapad from the sparkling's servos, replacing it with one that isn't filled with sensitive information, "If that's what you want."

Firefly looks at him, optics wide as the little bot nibbles on the pad, "... yes."

He smiles, "Thank you for bringing him over, Cliffjumper. You can go back to work or go on your break or whatever it was you were planning on doing before this happened."

"Thank you, sir," Cliffjumper exits the room, leaving Optimus to look after Firefly once more.

"Do you know how to draw on the datapads, Firefly?" he asks, unsure if Sari explained it to him or not.

The sparkling gives him an insulted look and punches a few buttons, calling up the art program. "Dumb." He goes back to gnawing on it.

Optimus shakes his head, "If that's what you want to do, then."

The sparkling doesn't respond, and he's not the least bit surprised about that. About a megacycle later, he's finished with all the datapads, while Firefly is soundly recharging on his desk.

Standing up, he pets the tiny mech on his side before pulling out a mirror; it is time to clean off all the stickers, and figure out how to remove the toy wings without somehow ripping off his headfins.

He starts on the stickers; they all peel off without too much fuss, though he ends up having to wipe a lot of residue off afterward. The paint decals take more work, but they don't stand up to a low grade solvent. Optimus stops and studies the wings in the mirror. Those were going to be a problem.

He begins to peel and scrape the stickers securing them on away, and winces. Fragging sensitive headfins.

Several breems later, he's gotten the wings off, but still has several stickers stuck to his fins. He is seriously considering just leaving them there because it hurts to think about them, much less touch. Firefly woke up part way through this painful procedure, and Optimus is sitting in his chair with the sparkling on his lap. "Sorry," comes the soft whisper when he drops the wings on the desk.

Optimus pets the little mech on the back, "You know not to do it again, now. That's about all I really expect."

There's a knock on his door, right before Bumblebee comes in. He's immediately tackled by Firefly, and he's knocked to the floor, "Woah." Bee looks at the sparkling, hugging him back, "Guess you missed me, huh? I missed you too, Firefly." He kisses the top of his helmet before looking at Optimus from the floor, "Did you have any problems with him, bossbot?"

Looking down at Bee, Optimus points to his headfins, "I'm not sure if you watched the news this morning, but your little jet covered me in stickers. Perfectly aligned and symmetrical stickers, but stickers none the less. He also stuck these," Optimus lobs the toy wings at the minibot, "on my headfins. With said stickers. I only just got them off."

Bee bursts into laughter, holding up a servo to give his sparkling a tiny high-five. "Way to go, kiddo, that's epic quality pranking there!" Optimus gives them both a stern look, and Bee forces his laughter down to a less hysterical level. "Oh, bossbot, I'm, uh, sorry?"

Optimus shakes his head and sighs, "You're not at all." He crosses his arms over his chest, "You've been feeding your sparkling energon sweets? Those aren't good for sparklings, Bumblebee. I can't imagine how you ever get him to recharge."

Bee looks away, "He sleeps when he's tired?"

Optimus rubs his optics, "Is Blurr going to be staying with you, or was this just a one time thing?"

Bee sits up, Firefly curled in the minibot's lap, and rubs the back of his head, still looking anywhere but Optimus, "Sunstorm and I are really hoping Blurr will stay, but he..." Bee looks down at Firefly, petting the sparkling on the back, and lowering his voice unhappily, "He may decide we're a huge mistake and take off."

"Will Sunstorm allow him to leave?" Optimus asks, skeptical of the Seeker's ability to simply allow a bot he wants to run away.

"Sure," Bumblebee says, before wincing, "Uh, actually, if Blurr decides to leave, you might want to assign him offplanet for a while. Sunstorm's kinda ... persistent."

Optimus arches an optic ridge. Persistent was one way to put it, yes. "I wouldn't worry too much, Bumblebee. Blurr seems to like you quite a bit."

Bee pulls Firefly into a hug, "But I don't know if he likes Sunstorm, we kind of come as a set, you know."

Optimus walks over, and helps his team mate up, "I'm sure it will turn out just fine, Bumblebee. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't like Sunstorm. He isn't that kind of bot."

"Wings!" Firefly interrupts them, turning in Bee's arms to better display both sides of his wings.

"Yeah, yeah, they're very nice wings, Firefl-" he cuts himself off, "Bossbot? Why does he have Elite Guard wings on his insignias?"

Optimus casts a glance up and sighs, before answering, "You have Ultra Magnus to blame for that."

Bee looks at them, "... really?" Optimus nods quietly, and Bumblebee breaks out into a broad grin, rubbing foreheads with his sparkling, "That's great! Now you'll stop bugging everyone for real wings on your symbols. Hopefully these won't wash off too easily."

Optimus rubs a thumb over the wings, "They're going to be there awhile. Cliffjumper said Ultra used his own paint. Kind of unlikely to go away any time soon."

"Awesome," Bee kisses Firefly's forehead, which makes the little bot squirm. "Did he, you know, actually recharge for you?"

"Of course he did," Optimus sighs, "though not a full recharge cycle, I am relatively certain he came close to one."

Bee's optics widen, "Really? How'd you manage that?"

"By not feeding him candy every time he asked."

While Firefly is making his normally demand for candy in response to it being mentioned, Bee gives him a disbelieving look, "... how?"

Optimus rolls his optics, "No candy, Firefly."

Firefly gives him and Bumblebee the most sparkbroken look Optimus has ever seen, even better than the one last night, "Candy?"

Bee automatically starts to reach into his sub-space, only for Otimus to grab the minibot's wrist. "Because of the way he reacts to a certain name." Bee gives him a dirty look, and he continues, "Scatterstar."

"Scatter!" the bot smiles brightly, clutching at Bee, sparkbroken look gone as if it had never been there.

Bumblebee stares at Firefly for a long moment, "Aw slag. How long's he been able to do that?"

"My guess?" he asks, continuing when Bee nods, "the very first time Scatterstar ever sparklingsat for you."

Bee makes an irritated grinding noise, and Optimus pats him on the back. "Just don't keep feeding him candy. It is bad enough you feed him normal energon, you know they need the sparkling blend so they learn to drink an entire cube instead of just a little bit."

"He hates sparkling energon, though. He drank from my cube instead of touching the blend when we got to cybertron. Isn't that when you're supposed to switch? When the sparkling demands it?"

"I suspect the same rules may not apply to Seeker sparklings," Optimus watches Firefly continue to demand candy. "I'd suggest you split some of the candy you've been giving into small pieces, and wean him off it with those."

Firefly gives Optimus a dark glare, aware that he is trying to take candy away from him.

Bee nods, murmuring weakly, "I'll have Sunstorm do that, too." The minibot ignores Firefly's look of utter horror, "Thanks for telling me this. Looks like I'll have to tell Scatterstar," Bee pauses, but it seems that the lack of candy has really sunk in and Firefly can't even cry out his favorite uncle's name, "to stop feeding him so much candy."

"I'm sure Blurr will help."

Bee shrugs, "I hope so. But we'll manage if he doesn't." He perks up a bit, "Speaking of Blurr, he's still recharging on our ber-" he glances at Optimus's expression, "still recharging. Want to go wake him up with me, Firefly? I bet he'll chase you if you ask."

Firefly stops pouting long enough to nod eagerly, "Blurr!"

Bumblebee grins, "Well, looks like I've been given my orders, bossbot. I'll talk to you later?"

Optimus waves him away, "Go. Have fun, and make sure you don't give him more than a third of a cube of real energon at once. That's all he should need until he hits a growth spurt."

Bee steps out, Firefly waving as they go, "I'll remember, thanks for watching him, Optimus."

When the door closes, Optimus pokes his headfins. They don't hurt nearly as much as they did, so he gets to work on cleaning them off.

---

He polishes himself for nearly a megacycle prior to this date. Optimus wants to impress Ultra Magnus's family, and a glossy coat of polish will help. Theoretically. Red Alert often has energon and oil caked into her joints after long shifts of medical work, and he knows that Wheeljack routinely blows himself and Perceptor up.

Regardless, he's going to make himself look as nice as possible without the help of an AllSpark shine. His spark sinks. He's been alone again for close to a decacycle, since Sari moved into her new ninjabot home. His apartment echoes with silence.

He's tried to get Bulkhead to move in, but he only gets told that he's lucky that the larger mech can make it to family meetings, and that's only because those are going to be scheduled way in advance. Optimus sighs, finishing up the polishing, and heading down the elevator. Nodding at the securitybot, he heads out of the building, and drives to the restaurant.

It's a very nice location for a date; upscale, but not enough so that Optimus is going to feel terribly out of place. He wonders if Ultra knew that, or if it had just been a lucky guess. He's thankful for it, no matter which.

Ultra is waiting outside, along with the trio of sciencebots. "Optimus," he hums, pulling the bot close for a hug. "It's good to see you."

Pulling Ultra into a quick and tiny kiss, he ducks down, and rests his head on Ultra's chest, just missing the sparkplates. "I missed you, too," he whispers softly.

The larger mech chuckles, and Optimus can feel it through his frame, safe and comforting, "It is your day off, surely we weren't apart for that long?" Ultra kisses the top of his helmet, "I missed you as well, my lovely Optimus."

He doesn't want to let go, just stay and soak up the feeling of his intended, but he knows that if Sari or Lockdown were here they'd knock more privileges back; they may do that anyway, since the AllSpark seems to know no matter what. He lets go reluctantly, taking Ultra's servo in his before turning to the trio of chaperons with a soft smile. "Are you ready to head in?"

"I'm ready," Red Alert announces, and drags Wheeljack and Perceptor in by their servos. Optimus bites back a smile and follows, servo squeezing Ultra's.

Ultra leans in close, murmuring, "I suppose it would be too soon for me to offer to feed you the energon?"

Optimus flushes, "Yes, I do believe so."

Ultra murmurs, "Pity," then nips on Optimus's headfin quickly before pulling away.

Optimus blushes bright red and drops his head, not wanting to draw too much attention to what just happened. He whispers softly, "Sari is going to yell at us if you go too far, you know."

"And Lockdown said we're allowed to do this now, just that we have to be quiet about it."

"Lockdown also told you to send that," he flushes and lowers his voice, "that video too soon." A few of his fans click on against his will.

Red Alert glances back at the noise, while Perceptor is telling the staff what their party is reserved under. Ultra waves a servo and smiles at her, and she turns back to the other sciencebots. He keeps his voice just as low as Optimus's, and says, "If we were not so thoroughly observed at the moment, I would steal another kiss from you."

A happy shudder goes up his backstrut, but he doesn't look up, "You are allowed to."

"Not the way I want to, and if I do it the way I want to, your engines will rev so loudly. Just like they did when we were in your room on earth."

Optimus's spark throbs with want and remembrance. He misses being able to sit in Ultra's lap and get kissed as he's held lovingly. "You aren't allowed to do that, no." He drops Ultra's servo so he isn't tempted to get closer. Instead, he walks after the sciencebots as they're all lead to their table.

It's a nice set-up, with seats of differing height to accommodate all the bot sizes in their party; although Ultra Magnus is always the odd one out, when it comes to height. Optimus sits beside Ultra, so they can hold servos—on top of the table. He gets the feeling that even the much more relaxed sciencebots will object to their servos linked and out of sight.

He leans his head on Ultra's shoulder, smiling at the trio. "How was your day?"

Perceptor's voice is as emotionless as ever when he holds up a singed servo, "Much better than normal. Red Alert and I did not blow off any body parts."

Red Alert nods, "And Wheeljack only lost one audio light, rather than blowing them both in addition to losing an arm."

"That's," he fumbled for a word that would adequately describe their situation, "good?"

"Exceptionally so," Perceptor intones, before studying the menu.

Following suit, Red Alert leans over to read from Perceptor's menu, rather than her own. "Ooh, they have triple-refined with a rust additive. I want that."

Perceptor gently pushes her away, "They provided you with an identical menu to mine."

Wheeljack looks at Perceptor's menu while the bot is distracted, "I think I want the crystal and iron shavings."

Perceptor gives Wheeljack as dirty a look as Optimus has ever seen the sciencebot have, "You have one as well."

Red Alert steals his menu out of his servos, "Do we really?"

Optimus laughs, and then ducks his head down when all three sciencebots focus their attention on him. "What will you be having, Optimus?" Red Alert asks in a sugary sweet voice.

He hasn't even looked at the menu yet. "I'm not picky," he murmurs, lifting the menu to study it. "Do you have any suggestions, Ultra?"

Ultra shakes his head fondly, "If it were up to you, Optimus, we'd all be drinking ordinary energon tonight."

He hides his face behind the menu, "Bad enough the AllSpark modified all my dispensers so I can't get them to give me the normal kind."

Wheeljack gives him a confused look, "It did?"

Optimus nods sadly, "Sari walked by them, and the AllSpark changed it so even she can't modify them at all." He sighs, "She said the AllSpark didn't like that I looked like I was trying to reject Ultra's precourting gifts."

Ultra rubs his servo, "You deserve to have nice things sometimes, Optimus."

He ducks his head and studies the menu harder, as if that will keep the flush away from his cheeks. "I don't need expensive energon. I grew quite accustomed to the energon on Teletraan, and then on the earth."

Red Alert makes a face, "Yuck. I helped modify that slagging dispenser when I got there. You bots were drinking slagging awful stuff."

Optimus scrolls through the menu, "I didn't mind. We used what we could."

Ultra kisses him gently on the temple, "If I had known, I would have given you a better one."

Optimus shrugs, a faint blush across his faceplate, "I couldn't have imposed."

"It would have been no imposition at all," Ultra insists, before tapping on two different listings. "I think you would enjoy either of these."

He looks at them: a simple quality of energon mixed with several minerals, or a more refined energon blended with an equally refined oil. They both look good. Perhaps they could each order one, and share? He flushes with heat — no. That would be a bad idea.

"I'll get the..." He bites his lower lip, "The refined energon and oil."

Ultra squeezes his servo, lifting it up to brush a gentle kiss along the back of his knuckles, "Want me to get the other one?"

Optimus shakes his head, "No. Get what you want to drink. You don't have to limit what you want, just because I prefer it to be simpler."

"I like sharing with you, Optimus," the mech reminds him. "Even if I can't have you on my lap this time."

"Maybe some time in the future," he offers, putting the menu down before he crushes it. "Please, order what you want."

Ultra leans in close, kissing him softly, "I want-"

Red Alert clears her throat, "Ultra Magnus, you are pushing your boundaries for this date. Just order what you want already. The longer we sit here, the more likely it is Wheeljack will make something explode."

Optimus flushes, and waits for one of the staff to come and take their order. Ultra continues to rub his servo gently, and he has to fight to keep his fans off even as his frame slowly starts to heat.

Eventually, a waiterbot comes up, smiling pleasantly at them. "Have you made your decisions, or do you need more time?"

"We're ready," Ultra squeezes Optimus's servo. They place their orders, and Optimus thinks someone else must have placed his, because he was so thoroughly distracted by looking into Ultra's optics.

Ultra runs a servo along Optimus's face, and he sighs into the touch. It is all he can do not to just lean on the larger mech and let the bot hold him. It is lucky the energon shows up quickly, even if he doesn't notice it until Ultra puts the cube in his servo.

Blinking down at it, he blushes deeply, and abruptly lets go of the mech's servo to sip at the energon. He smiles happily, it is much simpler than what he gets out of his dispensers. "Maybe I should go out for energon more often," he murmurs.

"It meets with your approval?" Ultra asks, taking a sip of his own energon.

He answers with a nod, wondering how many of the other bots in the room are recording as much of this as they can. At least they're far enough away to avoid audio recorders. "Better than I expected."

"This is the kind of stuff we should have had on Earth, Optimus," Red Alert slaps a servo on the table to drive her point home.

Holding the cube with both servos, he sips on it, "It is still more than what I'd prefer to drink, Red Alert." He offlines his optics, savoring the simplicity, "But so much less complicated than what the AllSpark insists I drink now."

He blinks his optics online when he feels a tug at the cube, and Ultra switches cubes with him. Giving his mech a confused look, he watches as Ultra takes a sip of it. "This is simple, Optimus? It is better than what I get from my dispenser."

"Your dispenser is not AllSpark-modified," he murmurs, and tries the energon Ultra had. It's nice. "You could come by some time and look at it yourself." Red Alert coughs, and Optimus flushes, "With chaperons. Of course, with some of our family there."

"Tomorrow, maybe?" Ultra switches their cubes back, servo lingering over the touch. "Make a day of it?"

Optimus looks away, a faint blush still dusting his faceplates, "That depends entirely on whether Sari okays it. If she does, then we will see."

"Then I shall hope she approves of it." He keeps his touches relatively platonic the rest of the date, giving Optimus the precious time he needs to cool his engine — and his spark — down to reasonable levels once more. They are nearly done with their energon when a sudden explosion throws Optimus from his seat. Blinking dazedly, he pushes himself up.

Singed armor and a few dents from flying debris, but he's otherwise alright. He looks at the other bots as he stands, and there appears to be no serious damage—he stops and picks up a severed arm. Wheeljack's severed arm.

Wheeljack's audio lights blink frantically as the bot reboots, and he onlines with a yelp, jerking himself up with his one functional arm. "Frag, what happened?"

"You happened," Perceptor vents a careful huff of air, checking himself for missing parts.

Red Alert walks over and takes the arm from Optimus, "One of you two pay, I'll do a field patch to deal with until we get to a medical bay." She walks back to Wheeljack muttering about idiot team mates, and Optimus is about to pay when it becomes very obvious Ultra is doing that.

He sighs, feeling more than a little useless, when Perceptor walks over to him. The scientist bot puts a servo on his arm, a very faint smile on his face, making Optimus smile back, it is nice to know that Perceptor can have visible emotions. The red mech murmurs, "We're going to have to leave when Red Alert finishes," the bot's optics dart subtly to one of the waiterbots, "And it is very likely we will not be welcome back." Optimus is about to appologize when the other bot shakes his head, "This is fairly normal for us, Optimus. Any time you deal with Wheeljack, you deal with possibly exploding. We've been thrown out of far more places than you'd ever think."

Optimus vents a sigh, "What did he do to create that explosion?" There'd been energon, yes, but it was nigh on impossible to make a single cube of edible-grade energon explode like that.

"It's Wheeljack," Perceptor says, as if that explains everything. And perhaps it does.

He rubs his head again, looking down at his scorched armor. "At least no one else was injured."

Perceptor nods once, and they are joined by Ultra. Optimus allows himself to be drawn into his intended's arms, and kissed softly. Ultra looks over to the other two sciencebots who are just finishing up, "Looks like they're ready. I paid for the damage, and told them how sorry we are. However, as usual, that didn't really matter, and we are still banned until they decide we're allowed back."

Red Alert heads over, dragging Wheeljack after her, and they all walk out. When they are outside, Optimus, reaches up, and tugs Ultra into a goodbye kiss, pulling away in the time he knows Lockdown would give them, rather than the quick peck Sari would allow. Ultra looks disappointed that he couldn't sneak a glossa in, but the sad look disappears when Optimus murmurs, "I'll see you tomorrow." Optimus bids the trio of sciencebots a less loving, but no less caring, farewell, and transforms to head home.

---

Optimus adjusts the camera carefully, checking three times to make sure it is recording. He is not going to do this a second time. His faceplates would end up melting if he tried.

He sits on the edge of his berth, and smiles hesitantly at the camera, lifting a servo to wave. "I know it's been a while, Ultra," he begins, and rubs the back of his helmet sheepishly. "But I only managed to convince myself to do this now. When you've gone off-planet for the solar cycle, and I have every door in my apartment locked."

He lifts up his servo, and slowly starts to rub his windshield, "I don't really feel ... comfortable with sending this with my spark showing, though." He glances away, faceplate heating up, "But I think of you." He turns back, "Not just when I-I ... you know," he tilts his head quickly to the side then back upright, "not just then. But all the time. Like, right now, I'm thinking about how you, uh." He looks down, peds kicking the floor, "How you kept saying I most likely turned off the video. I only did it the first time you said it, but only almost the second time."

His fingers start to rub at the seams, "But you had told me to watch all the way through, and I'm glad I did." He looks straight at the camera, a small smile on his face, "Though I also think of you at other times."

He lifts up a leg, resting the ped on the edge of the bed, "I have a hard time going by that energon shop we went to before we started courting without thinking of you feeding me energon. I... I'd like you to do that again." He bites his lower lip, "Not at the shop again, but when we can finally be alone together." The rubbing speeds up, "I could sit on your lap as you put the cube up to my mouth. And maybe I could feed you a cube, too? I'd like that."

Optimus stares shyly at the camera, dragging his fingers down the center of his sparkplates, "I know we're not supposed to talk much during this, but since I'm not trying to overload, it should be alright?" He dims his optics, and slides his servos away from his chest, because his engine is starting to rev now, spark pulsing hot beneath his plates. Opening them would be admitting defeat.

"I think about later in our courtship," he admits, ducking his head down, servos playing with the wheels on the sides of his ped. "When we," he hopes his flush isn't picked up from this angle, "are allowed to share a berth." Optimus looks up, so very aware of the camera on him. "Am I going to online some mornings to your glossa, playing with my headfins?" He leaves his treads to rub a headfin slowly, optics offlining at the sensation. "I hope so."

Gentling his touch, he lets out a soft and happy sigh, "I could lick yours, too." His engine revs at the thought, startling him into letting go of his headfin. Blushing brightly, he unconsciously starts to rub his plates again. "I think you'd like that as much as I like you playing with mine. I wonder what it would feel like if we rubbed them together?" Going back to playing with his wheels, he murmurs, "Maybe we could find out when we're allowed to be alone together?" His frame shudders happily. "We can find out then."

He looks straight at the camera, "I love you too, Ultra. Maybe not as long as you have, since I've been told that you'd be willing to bond right now if I asked, but I do love you. The fact that you're willing to wait makes me love you even more, and wish that the courting didn't have a set time." His spark aches with want, and his goes back to rubbing his plates, "I just to be held by you as you tell me how much you love me, and I tell you how much I love you."

Optimus knows his locks are going to disengage if his spark gets any hotter, so he drops his servos away from himself. "I love you, Ultra," he whispers to the camera. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to overload for you." Flushing, he approaches the camera, and adds, when he's behind it, and can't be seen on screen any longer, "When we bond, I'm sure you'll remedy that."

---

Optimus is in Ultra's home.

Well, he's been there before... once. But that had more to do with Ultra wanting to show him something the Magnus thought he would like than anything like this. He can't even look at Ultra in the optics, flashing back to the video he can't believe he actually sent. And Ultra clearly wants to do nothing more than to lead him up to a room where they can be alone. He's very grateful this is a family meeting; if it weren't he is absolutely certain that he'd be on his back on a berth clu- he cuts off that thought before his fans turn on. He's glad that Sari keeps glaring at Ultra like it is the Magnus' fault that the AllSpark refuses to tell her why he is acting like this; it keeps her from asking him.

Optimus talks to Cliffjumper, who has not managed to keep Shockwave away. This time, he's not even draped with sparklings — instead, he has a single sparkling perched atop his head, and he spends his time skulking around the room. Blurr has spent the entire evening thus far hiding behind Sunstorm.

Optimus is not hiding from Ultra. It is pure and utter coincidence that Optimus happens to remain on the opposite side of the room from him at nearly all times.

He looks down at Cliffjumper, who is sighing in irritation and glaring at Shockwave, "He needs to stop harassing Blurr."

"Does he realize that Blurr is with -"

The minibot glares at him, waving a servo discretely at Bee kissing Blurr lovingly, "It is remarkably obvious, isn't it?"

Optimus makes a face and looks away. It wasn't surprising, really, that Bee's loving kisses tended to quickly morph into intense make-out sessions with more glossa than Optimus ever wanted to see from his family. "Will Shockwave need to be ... escorted out?"

"He'll be on good behavior," Cliffjumper narrows his optics, tracking Shockwave as he walks around. "I told Contraclaw to yank on his antlers if Shockwave does something stupid."

He glances at the claw marks decorating the antlers, "He seems to have it well in servo."

Cliffjumper smiles, and it is not a nice smile, "He was also told to yank if he got too close to Bumblebee or Blurr. That's part of Shockwave doing something stupid."

"I see," Optimus coughs. He couldn't imagine attempting to control Shockwave's behavior the way his collection of minibots apparently does.

Sipping from a cube of energon — in proper minibot size, no less — Cliffjumper eyes Optimus carefully. "Had any serious fights with Ultra Magnus yet?" He lifts a servo to cut Optimus's reply off. "And I don't mean at work."

"We haven't. At all. Not at work or otherwise." He glances over at Sari and then at Lockdown, "We haven't been alone enough to get into an argument."

Cliffjumper raises an optic ridge, "And that won't be happening any time soon."

Optimus sighs, rubbing the back of his helmet, "Not if Sari has anything to do with it."

"Just remember to take the time to cool down when you eventually do get in a fight," Cliffjumper rubs his horns unconsciously. "You're both pretty strong mechs. And you live in pretty expensive places. Can't be cheap to have to fix anything you break."

Optimus flushes, "I moved most of the things in my apartment into the basement storage."

Cliffjumper is about to say something when there's the sound of cursing from Shockwave, and the minibot stalks off to deal with the fact that the ex-Decepticon is misbehaving. He walks over to Sunstorm, Blurr, and Bumblebee, "And how are you all this solar cycle?"

Bee puts a servo over Sunstorm's mouth, "Estatic, boss-bot. If you're willing, we'd like to make an announcement about something before we leave."

Optimus frowns, "You're leaving already?"

Blurr shakes his head quickly, "No,-we-are-just-willing-to-wait-until-everything-has-settled-down-to-say-it."

Optimus smiles brightly, highly amused, "And I'm betting you're the reason why Bumblebee is willing to wait."

Bee looks like he wants to protest, but Blurr talks over him, "Only-partially.-Sunstorm-thinks-it-is-better-to-wait,-too."

"If this is about the three of you being together, it is already very obvious to everyone."

All three of the bots glance at each other, Sunstorm looks immensely smug as Blurr continues, "That-is-only-part-of-the-announcement,-sir."

Shaking his head, Optimus isn't sure he wants to know their secret. "Announce it whenever you're ready." He notices Ultra approaching out of the corner of one optic and smiles, "I need to say hello to Perceptor and the others." Optimus slips away before Ultra reaches them; even though stealth had never been his forte at the Academy, Optimus knew the basic tricks.

Making it to the Sciencebots, he slips in with them easily, "And how are you all?"

Red Alert raises an optic ridge, "I think we should ask you why you are avoiding Ultra. You do seem suspiciously frantic about avoiding him."

Optimus ducks his head, fingers twitching nervously, "I've done nothing. Nothing that broke the rules, in any case."

"You did something," Red Alert asserts, bumping his shoulder with her fist in a playful punch. "And it had Ultra beaming like crazy all morning. You really gotta tell us what it was. And if you can do it more often. He's usually bitter and cranky after off-planet meetings with diplomats."

Optimus blushes brightly and shaking his head, "I won't be doing it again."

She pouts at him, "But he was so happy, Optimus."

Perceptor interrupts her before she can continue, "I imagine it was something that was just on the limits of the rules if Optimus is acting like that, and how happy Ultra is. Do you think the AllSpark will let you do it again?"

Sari wraps her arms around Perceptor's neck, the loud thump betraying how she managed to do it. Peering over the bot's shoulder, she nods, "Oh, it would, since it keeps insisting he is absolutely adorable. But you need to tell us, Optimus, since it refuses to say."

"If the AllSpark won't tell you, I don't believe I should either," Optimus mutters, keeping his head down. If he gets a good look and Sari gives him big, wide, pleading eyes, he's not sure he'll be able to prevent himself from blurting it out. It wasn't fair at all, for her to use dirty tricks like that on her own teammates.

Sari makes an irritated sound, "The one time I want it to tell me, it doesn't say anything."

"I don't want to tell you, either, Sari."

She sighs, and he can hear her as she slides down Perceptor's shoulder and into the bot's lap, "I bet it was a video. But not as bad as Ultra's. You were blushing this badly when that happened, but the AllSpark didn't think that was adorable. It only seems to think you are."

Optimus wishes Sari wouldn't climb all over bots like that when they don't know her very well. It's a bit disrespectful. They weren't furniture, and some bots were intensely private about touch. "I am not blushing." At the moment.

Sari grins. "No, but you were."

"You've been blushing every time you get a look at Ultra Magnus," Wheeljack corrects him, audio lights flashing merrily.

He stands up. "I'm going to go talk to... Lockdown now."

He nods at each of them, even Sari who is making herself comfortable on Perceptor's lap, and walks away. He can hear Sari's smug voice, "Yeah, that was totally a video he sent."

He ignores her and walks over to where Prowl and Jazz are posing artistically in front of a camera Lockdown is using for the meeting. He gives the bounty hunter an amused look as he walks over, the mech is making no attempt to disguise that he's taking far more pictures of Ultra's failed attempts to get at Optimus, than he is of Optimus himself.

"Are bots still buying your articles?" Optimus asks, because the articles have grown increasingly full of rambles about the beauty of ninjabots. One of them, while scattered with a few images of Ultra and Optimus on a date, had never used their names anywhere but in the picture captions. As far as Optimus could tell, from the poor writing and occasional bouts of either seizure-induced typing or ancient Cybertronian, it had been a long screed soliciting femme ninjabots.

Lockdown smirks, not setting the camera down, "You'd be surprised at how well they sell."

Optimus offlines his optics so he doesn't see Jazz and Prowl kissing with far more glossa than is really needed. "Not really."

A body slams into his, arms wrapping around him tightly. Optimus onlines his optics and looks down at blue arms. "I'm-terribly-sorry-sir,-but-Ultra-Magnus-requested-that-I-keep-you-in-one-spot-long-enough-for-him-to-track-you-down.-I-apologize-for-the-imposition,-of-course,-but-he-is-the-Magnus,-after-all."

Optimus shakes his head, "It's alright, Blurr. I wasn't hiding from him."

"He-certainly-doesn't-think-so,sir."

He gently removes the bot's arms, "You don't have to hold on to me, Blurr."

He's clutched even tighter, "The-Magnus-said-not-to-let-you-go,-Optimus-sir."

Lockdown is laughing at him, not even bothering to hide it, and taking a hundred or so pictures of it. Optimus puts on a resigned face. He's not getting out of this until Ultra comes over. He fights down his blush. It would not look good to be in Blurr's arms, blushing like mad.

It is a less than a klik later that another set of arms wraps around him, these larger and significantly more welcome than Blurr's. The carbot takes off the moment Ultra has a firm hold on him, and he leans into his intended's touch. "You know, maybe I wanted to talk to family before I got pulled into your lap."

Ultra chuckles, leaning down to murmur into his audio, "You and I both know that's not why," and kissing him softly.

They continue to kiss, one of Ultra's servos drifting up to gently pet a headfin, before Sari coughs pointedly. Optimus breaks the kiss. "Sari."

Sari has her arms crossed over her chest, and she glares at Lockdown, "Worst. Chaperon. Ever. I can't believe you just stood there and took pictures of that."

Optimus's optics widen. He'd photographed that?

Lockdown grins unrepentently, "Of course I did, this is the time we're supposed to allow it."

She pulls Optimus away from Ultra. "They are supposed to be sneaky about it! You being able to take pictures means they are very obvious, and I think I should take away kissing privileges for it!"

Optimus frowns at her, "Sari, that isn't fair."

Ultra doesn't try to grab Optimus back. "I apologize for making such an obvious attempt, but Optimus was insisting on avoiding me." He smiles fondly at Optimus.

Optimus looks away, blushing violently, so he only hears Sari's angry hiss, "Don't you dare blame Optimus for this, Ultra. He may have sent a video, but that doesn't give you any right to do what you just did."

Optimus looks over, horrified, "Sari!"

She glares at him as well, "And you keep running off! You are supposed to be sitting next to each other!" She pushes Ultra toward a couch, pulling Optimus along with. "The both of you don't get to hold hands because of this, but you're so lucky I'm going to let you kiss goodbye when the time comes."

Ultra sits first, and Optimus sits next to him, as close as he can without risking Sari yelling at him. It shouldn't take that long for her to get distracted enough that he can shift closer, and press himself against Ultra's side.

Sari fixes her eyes on them both. "Try to behave."

Ultra nods regally, "Of course, Sari." Sari glares at him, and sits across from them both. He continues, "I was planning on telling you in private, but," the blue bot reaches into his sub-space, pulling out a datapad, "I think you'll like this. I am sorry I could only get Cyclonus."

She takes the pad from him, looking through it. "... What is Spittor's bad behavior that means he can't get out?"

Ultra sighs, "He keeps destroying the cell he's in. He claims that it isn't on purpose, but..." he trails off unhappily.

Sari holds the pad to her chest, "But some things not even the Magnus can change. And one of those things is getting the last bot from Team Chaar out of prison just because the... the..." her voice drops, soft and hurting, "techno-organic whore wants them out."

"Sari," Optimus leans forward, reaching out for her.

Ultra fixes his gaze on her, "If you can identify the bots that insulted you in such a manner, I can have them relocated off-planet. Cybertron is under Elite Guard control."

She waves her hand, "No. No, don't do that. You'd have to move half the fragging population."

"I am completely serious, Sari. This sort of ... prejudice is not allowed."

She gives him a dark look, "I'm in a ninjabot neighborhood now. They're all very polite and kind to me. The only propositioning they do is the kind that they do to anyone they think is nice looking." She smiles softly, hugging the datapad, "I am happy there."

"I'm glad you like your new neighborhood, Sari," Optimus says, halting his servo midway to reaching for Ultra's. He puts his servos on his lap. "I," he coughs, "I admit that I still sometimes drive through your older neighborhood. And I might have, on one occasion ... painted a certain bot's door bright yellow."

She cackles. "He certainly deserved it."

Ultra gives them a confused look, and Optimus shakes his head. "I'll explain later. Don't worry about it."

Ultra nods, and if just about to say something when Sunstorm stands up, clapping his servos to get everyone's attention. "I am so sorry to interrupt, but the wonderful Optimus has given us permission to make an announcement."

Ultra and Sari give him a disbelieving look, and he can only whisper, "Blurr asked, I wasn't going to say no."

Sunstorm pulls Blurr and Bee forward, cradling them both against his sides, "Seeing as you are all such brilliant Autobots, you will already know that we three are now in a committed relationship." Sunstorm pets the smaller bots possessively. Optimus wondered if Firefly would inherit that habit. Everyone in the room was watching now, curious. "But I believe," he continues, "that even the most intelligent among you will be pleasantly surprised to know that we are expecting again!"

Optimus blinks. Another sparkling?

Sari scoffs, "Let me guess. This one's Blurr's, right?"

Sunstorm positively beams at her, "You are quite correct, canny Sari. You are always so-"

She waves him into silence, "Heard it all before, still sounds like you don't really mean it. Go back to talking about your sparkling, and try to ignore Shockwave who looks like he wants to murder you for having two bots he's wanted for a very long time."

Sunstorm pulls Blurr up into his arms, giving Shockwave a superior, smug look. "I think our sparkling will be one of the fastest bots alive."

The intel agent squirms in his hold, clearly not used to a Seeker's tendency to pick up the bots they care about. Optimus wonders if Ultra will pick him up more often when they're allowed. He dismisses the idea. They're both too dignified for such actions.

Ultra gives them a small smile, "Is it far enough along to tell what model it will be?"

Sunstorm spreads his wings proudly, "He will be a seeker."

Blurr coughs softly, "Not-that-it-is-surprising,-since-Sunstorm-is-the-one-carrying-him."

"Congratulations," Lockdown hums, lifting his camera, "let me take some pictures. Can I get some pictures of it?"

Prowl arches an optic ridge, "You think Optimus will let you publish the next batch of articles if you include pictures of an open sparkchamber, even if the focus is on a sparkling?"

Lockdown waves his servo and scoffs, "It's a fragment of the AllSpark. It's not filthy. Much."

"I'm terribly sorry," Sunstorm says regretfully, "but I must decline."

Lockdown sighs, "Fine, then. I'll get other pictures." The bot straightens up, "Blurr, kiss Sunstorm for this one." Blurr gives the mech a dirty look, but is quickly distracted by the seeker's glossa shoved in his mouth.

Optimus turns away, and scoots over to curl up next to Ultra, since Sari is distracted with Lockdown. He whispers softly while being pulled closer, "We should have more ... parties like this. The both of our families together." He looks over to where Shockwave is standing, the mech being thoroughly chewed out by Cliffjumper, "Maybe we can convince Cliffjumper to keep Shockwave away, though."

Ultra laughs, and kisses his forehead, whispering back, "We'll see what I can do."

---

Sari is muttering irritably under her breath as she pulls Optimus along with her. He can just barely make out something about innocence and dirty old bots. From that, he can certainly tell how unhappy she is that he and Ultra are finally being allowed time to be alone together.

He doesn't know why she's so worried, really. Ultra is the Magnus, and he has a great deal of willpower, and Optimus is fairly certain he won't 'shove you down and peel open your plates like the pirate villain in a bodice-ripper.' Optimus doesn't entirely understand the reference, and he doesn't want to.

They approach the doors to Ultra's frankly horrifyingly enormous home — Optimus is constantly afraid of getting lost and not finding his way out for vorns, even with a map. "It'll be alright, Sari," he reassures his companion.

Sari fixes a dark glare on him, "Just remember to keep your plates locked."

"He's not going to do anything that will break the courting."

She gives him a very dirty look, "Just remember, that if he tries..." he sighs and makes a 'go on' motion with his servo, "you have an axe. Use it."

"I'm not going to draw my weapon on Ultra," he shudders at the thought. Ultra is both his intended and the Magnus. You didn't just casually threaten him with a weapon. "I will, however, ask him to stop if he does anything I am not comfortable with."

"And if he doesn't stop, you will use your axe. And no matter you much you want to open your plates, you will not."

"I'm not going to open my plates, Sari! Why would you think I a-"

She pushes him, "Because he's a dirty old bot, and knows you like having your headfins played with."

Heat rushes to his faceplates. "This is a courtship. It's good for us to know those things about one another."

She gives him a highly skeptical look, and draws her answer out long, "Right."

Before he can answer, she tugs him into the room that was prepared for this. It is very ... stark, which is the best word he can use. There are two chairs for the only furniture, and everything is very white. He looks around, then down at Sari. "... couldn't we have more comfortable chairs, at least?"

She glares up at him, "You're going to end up in his lap anyway. I'm not making it easier on him."

The room is also devoid of anything possible that could distract them, but Optimus doesn't point that out to her. And Ultra's blue is going to stand out brilliantly against the harsh white of the walls and chairs.

Ultra walks in a klik or so later, and Optimus knows he was correct in his assessment. His blues were vibrant, and Optimus wants to touch them.

Sari huffs, "You are both sitting down before I leave. And you should feel lucky I'm not counting this as alone time." Optimus sits as slowly as he can, not wanting Sari to get irritated at how eager he is. Ultra walks slightly faster than usual, but sits relatively slowly. She glares at them both. "You," she points at Ultra, "If you try to get at his spark, I will know, and you will be dead." She turns to Optimus, "You. If he does anything that breaks the courting, and you let him... I will remove your headfins."

There's no doubt in his processor that she absolutely means that. "I understand, Sari. We aren't going to break the courtship. Not after we've been courting for months."

"Oh, I don't think you'd try and do it on purpose, Optimus," she pats his arm.

He sighs unhappily. "But you think Ultra will?"

She smiles meanly. "Yes." She walks to the door, pausing with it open in her servo, almost stepping out, "You have about an hour. I will be back in exactly a, ugh, megacycle." She shuts the door firmly behind her.

Without any chaperons at all, Optimus feels guilty simply sitting alone with Ultra. He keeps looking at the door, expecting some bot to burst in and scold them for hiding like this.

"You look good, Optimus," Ultra says quietly, though it seems startlingly loud in the empty room.

He jumps slightly in the chair, "Y-you do, too." Rubbing the back of his helmet, he blushes softly, "You always do, though."

Ultra leans down, looking at him in the optics, "You always do, too," making him blush even brighter.

If he ends up with Ultra's paint all over his chest, Sari is going to glare at him. He wants to sit on Ultra's lap again. It's been too long. Behind his plates, his spark flutters nervously.

"Sari did an," Ultra pauses, "interesting job, decorating this room."

"She did," Optimus replies, forcing himself to stay seated.

Ultra reaches over, taking Optimus's servo in his, "I missed being able to just be... alone with you, Optimus."

Optimus relaxes, squeezing Ultra's servo, "So did I."

Ultra tugs Optimus gently into his lap, "Missed just being able to touch you without someone pulling you way." The mech runs a servo over his back, "Missed just having you near me." The servo switches from his back to his side, and turns him so they're face to face, "I love you so much, and not being able to do this," Optimus is kissed lovingly, only a faint hit of glossa before the other bot pulls away, "it just breaks my spark."

Servos pressed to Ultra's chest, Optimus leans up for another kiss, brushing his mouth against Ultra's. "So long as we don't upset Sari too much, we'll be able to do this a lot more now." One of Ultra's servos comes up to cup the back of his helmet, pulling him close, venting hot air against him.

"I look forward to it."

They kiss and Optimus loses track of time; all he's aware of it the feel of Ultra's mouth on his, the heat of his fans, the way their engines rev desperately. It's better than he remembers, because he's not worrying about accidentally opening up this time, or of being caught in the hallway. He knows his frame is going to be striped liberally with Ultra's paint; his own bright red and blue on the larger bot. It makes his engine rev harder.

Sari is going to yell at him for this.

Ultra moves from his mouth to his headfins, and he clutches at the larger bot. He is so glad he had all that practice keeping his plates locked with Starscream, even though it is significantly more difficult to keep closed with the bot he loves teasing him in a way he adores. His venting speeds up, and he offlines his optics to focus on the pleasure.

Denta close around one headfin, and Optimus gasps, grinding his chest against Ultra. If Bumblebee's horns are anywhere near as sensitive as this, it's no wonder he shows up to work with them marked at least once a decacycle. One of Ultra's servos comes down to squeeze his aft, while his glossa continues to tease his headfin. Had Optimus been more coherent, he would have worried about his fans breaking from overuse.

Sari bursts in. "I knew it! On his lap! Off! Your hour is up, and you," She points an accusing finger at Ultra, "are so very lucky the AllSpark didn't tell me you cracked his plates open!"

Optimus slips off Ultra's lap during her yelling, blushing faintly at the paint covering him. "I told you he wouldn't break the courting, Sari."

She glares up at Ultra, "But he wanted to. I know he did."

The larger bot smiles, still venting air hard, "I'd be lying if I claimed I didn't, and you know that." He gives Optimus a deep look, optics dimming slightly. "But this courtship is important to Optimus. And he's important enough to me that I won't intentionally break it."

"Like I'm gonna trust you on that," she mutters, and pulls Optimus out of the room. Optimus waves at Ultra, and blows him a quick kiss when Sari isn't looking.

---

Optimus glares at his dispenser, which has taken on a life of its own since Sari accidentally AllSpark-upgraded it, and right now it has decided it wants to dispense high grade. He's tried to modify it so it will give him something he can serve his guests, but that only managed to change it from merely very high quality high grade to high grade with various expensive mixes in it.

He needs to make sure this dispenser isn't charging him for energon he doesn't even want. Considering what had caused the upgrade, he was fairly certain he wasn't being charged for these rare ingredients and ten-times refined energon. Primus, the scent of it was making him lightheaded.

"Can I help you with that, Optimus?" Wheeljack's audio lights blink cheerfully, and Optimus shakes his head, remembering the last time Wheeljack had been allowed near energon. He didn't want holes in his apartment walls.

"No need. I've got most of it set out already."

Wheeljack smiles at him, or he thinks it is a smile, it is hard to tell with the face mask up. "I'll leave you to it, then."

Ultra steps next to him, "Trying to get them overcharged to make a better impression, Optimus? I'll have to warn you that it won't work on Perceptor or Blurr. Perceptor prefers not to touch it, and I've never seen Blurr overcharged, no matter how much he drinks."

He mutters, "I wish." Looking Ultra in the optic, he nods at the cubes he's holding. "My dispenser should be evaluated as having developed possible sentience. It is refusing to dispense anything but this right now."

Ultra takes a cube and sips from it, optics widening slightly, "This is an exceptional blend, Optimus. I was unaware the models we installed were capable of this. Even ... AllSpark upgraded, as yours is."

Optimus just sighs and walks over to Red Alert and Perceptor, handing them each a cube. "Ultra said you don't drink high grade, Perceptor. I can go try to get some ... fairly normal energon from one of my other dispensers if this doesn't work for you."

Perceptor gives him a slightly surprised look, "High grade is perfectly fine, Optimus. I'm not sure where Ultra got the thought that I didn't." The bot sips it, smiles, and says, "I wonder if I could ask Sari to upgrade my dispenser if this is what happens."

"You are welcome to ask her, but the AllSpark is ultimately responsible," Optimus explains, sipping from his own cube with a slightly sour expression. "I'm thinking of giving this dispenser to Bee. He'd appreciate it more, especially with Blurr around now."

"I'm sure he would," Red Alert snorts. "Probably needs oodles of energy to keep up with a Seeker and agent Blurr."

Optimus shrugs, "I wouldn't know, but judging by how tired Sunstorm is, it isn't Bumblebee that needs the energy. Maybe the dispenser will give a special blend for a carrying bot. It seemed to know that I had everyone visiting."

He notices Sunstorm almost wilted against the wall, across the room from them, and he smiles at Perceptor and the others. "In fact, I should see about that now." He enters his room quickly, and asks the dispenser for a blend meant for carrying bots. It pops out a rather large cube, which Optimus frowns at. He dips a finger in it to test, and bites back a curse at how strong it is. Well, there was no harm in letting Sunstorm decide if he wanted it or not.

Carrying the cube out of his room, he approaches Sunstorm slowly. "Would you like some energon, Sunstorm?"

The seeker smiles at him gratefully, taking the cube, "You are a wonder of the autobot force, Oprimus."

Optimus puts a servo on Sunstorm's arm before the larger mech can drink, "Be careful, I'm not sure if my dispenser decided to give you high grade or not. I told it something for a carrying bot, but ..." He trails off meaningfully.

The other bot smiles, and takes a small sip, perking up instantly, "I could drink this all day. You are a true lifesaver, Optimus Prime."

He vents a sigh of relief. "I'm glad it is acceptable." He eyes Sunstorm shrewdly, "Would you be interested in taking it off my servos? It's obvious you need it more than I."

"Oh, I couldn't do that, Optimus. It would be too kind of you, even as noble as you are," Sunstorm mock protests, but Optimus knows he'll agree to it. "But if you insist ..."

"I do," he's slagging happy to be rid of the cursed thing.

The seeker's optics alight with silent gratitude, "Only because you insist, generous Optimus."

Optimus pats the bot on the arm, and turns away. "I'll go inform Blurr and Bee about it. If you need more, just tell me or get it yourself. It is kind of temperamental, just so you know."

The two bots in question are tucked away in a corner, kissing each other. Optimus coughs loudly, and they startle apart.

"Bossbot?" Bee asks, servo still resting on Blurr's hip. "Didja want something?"

"Only to inform you that you'll be taking another one of my dispensers home."

Bumblebee shakes his head, "No way, bossbot. At this rate, you'll end up with no dispensers, and you'll get all your meals from one of those crappy take-out places I know you go to way too often."

"Sunstorm is carrying a sparkling, Bumblebee. I would say he needs it more than I do. Especially when it actually created a special blend for him." Optimus pulls the two smaller bots up, "And you should be with him, not here in a corner."

"He doesn't mind," Bee protests irritably, but gets up anyway.

"I mind. He is there, and you are left him hiding against the wall, looking sick."

Blurr flushes, but stands at attention, "If-we-go-over-to-him-now,-like-this,-Optimus,-sir,-we-will-almost-undoubtedly-end-up-borrowing-one-of-your-guest-rooms-for-a-few-megacycles,-and-I-was-unsure-if-you-would-be-upset-by-this-fact-or-not,-so-I-encouraged-Bee-to-come-over-here-with-me."

Optimus blinks. He really hadn't wanted to know that. "If you need to take Sunstorm to rest on a berth for a while, you can use one of the rooms. The one furthest away from my own, please."

Bee takes Blurr's servo, "Thanks, boss-bot, We'll go do that," and takes off. The minibot grabs Sunstorm, and drags the grinning seeker with.

Optimus shudders, then starts walking over to Lockdown, Prowl, and Jazz. They all look immensely amused at him, and Prowl comments, "Are you trying to get Ultra overcharged, Optimus?"

"No," he answers, a bit irritated now. "It's the only thing my dispenser will provide right now."

Lockdown laughs, "Ha, told you Prowler. I knew the little truckbot wouldn't try and get Ultra to open his sparkplates after a few cubes of high-grade."

"I suppose it was a bit unlikely," Prowl admits, leaning easily against Lockdown's side.

Jazz wraps an arm around the both of them, "More than a bit, Prowl. You know how straitlaced OP is."

Prowl gives the other ninjabot an unreadable look, "Yes."

Lockdown hands the camera to Optimus. "Take some pictures of us," he orders, and pulls both ninjabots against his sides, fondling them in entirely inappropriate ways. Nevertheless, Optimus snaps the camera a dozen times or so, without even bothering to look at what sort of pictures he's managed to take. It isn't like Lockdown takes particular care with the photographs he takes.

"There," he hands it back, "Don't ask me to do that again."

Lockdown kisses Prowl possesively, taking the camera as he does, and Optimus shudders, walking away. He heads over to Cliffjumper, sitting next to the minibot, and murmuring, "I am glad you didn't bring Shockwave."

Cliffjumper sips on the cube, "I had to cuff him to the berth to do it."

"That's," he gropes helplessly for a word, "wonderful. I'm very glad you managed it."

"He'll probably make a game of it when I get back," Cliffjumper sighs into his cube. "d'you mind if I grab another cube? I'm going to need the energy."

Optimus blanches at the image that sticks in his processor, and he stutters out a weak yes.

Cliffjumper walks off, and he is joined by Ultra. The larger mech takes his servo, and kisses it softly, "Finished making the rounds, Optimus?"

Leaning on his mech, Optimus sighs happily, "Not quite. I should go talk to Perceptor, Wheeljack and Red Alert again before they get too overcharged, but..." he trails off, and just soaks up Ultra's heat. "It is nice to be with you."

"I know it's terribly selfish of me, but I would prefer you stay with me as well," Ultra admits, stroking Optimus's hip. "You already know that every bot here is going to say yes." He tips Optimus's face up and kisses him; just a brief touch of a mouth against his own. He then nods in the sciencebots' direction. "And I'm relatively certain they're overcharged already."

Wheeljack is doing ... something. He's flipping small objects into the air, and Optimus hopes they aren't explosive, whatever they are.

He sighs softly, "Think they'll blow up my apartment?"

Ultra tugs him into his lap, kissing him gently on the neck cabling before answering, "I think they're far more likely to go hit on the ninjabots when they're like this."

Optimus moves so Ultra has a slightly better access, "All three of them?"

Ultra hums thoughtfully, "No. Two of them are more likely to convince the other one that it's a good idea, and cheer the bot on."

The three are huddling together again, laughing occasionally, and eventually Percy is pushed away from the group. He's swaying visibly as he slowly approaches Prowl and Jazz, left alone while Lockdown has gone to collect compromising overcharged images of every bot he can. Red Alert cheers him on, "Go P-Percy!" And promptly breaks down into overcharged giggles.

Optimus's engine revs when Ultra licks his headfin, but he tries to pay attention to the sciencebot, who's just managed to get to the ninjabots.

Perceptor stares blankly at them for a moment, as if he'd forgotten why he'd come over.

Jazz seems to take pity on him, "You look a bit overcharged, man. You wanna chill with us for a bit?"

The sciencebot continues to stare at them both. "Yes. Chill." He lunges forward and wraps his arms around Jazz, yanking him into a kiss.

Wheeljack and Red Alert break into happy giggles and catcalls when Jazz kisses back. Optimus is immensely unsurprised by that; a ninjabot is unlikely to turn down a kiss when it is so enthusiastically given. He absently bats Ultra away when his mech tries to nibble on his headfins, "Shh. I want to see what happens next."

Perceptor is drawn into a smaller kiss, and Jazz says, clearly amused, "Is that all you wanted?"

Perceptor sways slightly, shaking his head unsteadily, and pointing at Prowl, "I want to kiss him, too, and then get the both of you in the berth."

Prowl gives the sciencebot an amused look, "And what if we insist Lockdown joins us?"

Perceptor gives him a studying look, "Then we see if I can handle three bots' sparks against mine."

Both ninjabots' optics dim at that, and Prowl pulls Perceptor against him, kissing him, glossa delving into his mouth. Across the room, Lockdown stops mid-picture, straightening as he tips his head in a way indicative of accessing a file from a message. He spins abruptly, optics blazing with lust.

Apparently, either Prowl or Jazz must have sent him that particular offer, because he's striding determinedly towards them. Optimus hopes they make it into one of the spare rooms. And lock the door.

Lockdown picks up Perceptor, kissing the bot thoroughly as he carries him into one of the, thankfully, empty guest rooms, the two ninjabots following closely. There is the click of a lock, and Red Alert and Wheeljack burst into loud giggles again. "He did it!"

This is not what Optimus had in mind for this particular meeting. Fragging glitched energon dispenser. Cliffjumper was swaying unsteadily in the living area, apparently speaking with Shockwave on his comlink, "No, frag you. I don't ... don't even know how you got outa the cuffs … but you're not coming over here. Or I find someone to weld your plates shut."

Slipping off of Ultra's lap, he kisses his mech quickly before heading over to the minibot. Setting a servo on the bot's shoulder, he murmurs, "Maybe you should go to a guest room, and have another of your ... companions deal with Shockwave?"

Cliffjumper gives Optimus a dark look, "You know what? I think ... I will." The minibot sways slightly, fingers still at his temple, and focusing angrily at the wall, "I wasn't talking to you. You are going to stay there, and I am going to stay here. Play with Contraclaw and the other sparklings. ... then with the other bots! You only want me there because you hate that I don't give the slightest bit of a damn what you do with them without me. Go harass Thunderclaw."

He cuts the com off then, offering Optimus an apologetic look, "Sorry about that. I didn't ... want to shout at him in your home."

Optimus guides him towards one of the unoccupied guest rooms, "Do you fight with him often?" Ultra considers Cliffjumper family—if he needs protection, or a place to hide from the ex-Decepticon, Ultra will offer it gladly. Even Optimus knows that.

"Only when he's being a clingy idiot," Cliffjumper mutters, stumbling alongside him. "He's a Decepticon through and though, but he's willing to try and tone it down for us. And the sparklings. All a bot can really expect, I guess."

Gently helping Cliffjumper to the berth, he shrugs, "I suppose so." Making sure that the minibot is okay, he stays for half a cycle before leaving the room, closing the door softly behind him. He walks back to the common room, glancing over at the two giggling sciencebots before walking over to Ultra, "Sorry about that," he murmurs before kissing his bot softly. "Cliffjumper is recharging now."

Ultra slides a servo down his back. "We're almost out of chaperons at this point, Optimus." He smiles, "Will you be offering me a guest room as well?"

The sciencebots are curled up around each other, and Optimus needs to get them into a room before they fall into recharge on the floor. He looks up at Ultra, "As much as I'd love to offer you my own berth, we both know I can't." He flushes, "You'll need to leave. And come back in the morning, when you think they'll all be online again."

Ultra leans down, giving him a soft kiss, "I'll just go now." There's a pause, "Unless you want me to help with Wheeljack and Red Alert?"

Optimus looks over at the sciencebots, "... no. I don't think so." He kisses his mech. "I love you."

Ultra smiles, kissing him back. "I love you, too." His bot lets go slowly, and walks out the door, blowing him a kiss just before leaving entirely, making him smile.

Optimus watches the door for a klik, before steeling himself and risking life and limb to transport a very overcharged Red Alert and Wheeljack into one of the remaining guest rooms. Hopefully they won't mind sharing a berth.

---

Optimus is sipping a cube of energon when the first bots stumble out of their rooms in the morning. Cliffjumper joins him at the table, rubbing the back of his helmet. "Fragging strange to online without other bots clinging to me."

Optimus nods towards the dispenser, giving permission for the bot to help himself, "I wouldn't know."

The dispenser gives a minibot sized cube, and Cliffjumper gives it a confused look, "I didn't know dispensers could give different sized amounts without programming them to." The bot sits down with Optimus, "Did you program it to do that?"

He shakes his head, "It seems to have a mind of its own. I can't program it to do anything since Sari accidentally upgraded it so many times. All it wants to do is give me the most expensive energon possible."

"Seaquake would like that," Cliffjumper murmurs, sipping from his cube carefully. "It's been stellar cycles and he still stores a stockpile of energon in his subspace."

He nods sympathetically, "That's understandable, after what he went through." Optimus gives the dispenser a dark look. "Sunstorm will be taking the dispenser with him, but you're welcome to get a few cubes to take with you if you like."

Cliffjumper smiles, "I might."

Sunstorm is the next one out, carrying a still recharging Bumblebee, and Blurr stumbling after. Optimus calls out before they can pour any energon, "You'll each want to get your own, since it does seem very temperamental about that sort of thing."

The seeker nods, getting his own, and looking utterly amazed at the Decepticon sized cube. While Blurr gets what can only be high grade, and a very good quality at that. The blue carbot looks at the dispenser to Optimus, taking a drink, optics wide at the taste, "Sir?-Are-you-sure-you-want-us-to-have-this-dispenser?"

"Yes. I want it gone." He shudders when the dispenser makes a little beeping sound, like it is reprimanding him. "You'll be happy with it, I'm sure."

Sunstorm clamps a servo over Blurr's mouth when he tries to protest again. "We will be delighted to place it in our home."

Optimus just waves at them dismissively, looking down at his far too expensive energon in disapproval. He looks up when Red Alert and Wheeljack come out of their room, clutching their heads. "Energon is over there," he jabs a thumb at the dispenser, and they stumble over, each getting their own cube, and smiling brightly. At least, Red Alert does, Wheeljack's audio lights just flash happily.

Sunstorm sits with both Bee and Blurr perched on his lap. Bumbleebee looks at the assembled bots curiously, "Hey, where's Percy? Did he go back home last night?"

Red Alert and Wheeljack share a look and giggle. Like giddy sparklings. Bee gives them a confused look, murmuring softly, "I'm just wondering, since he isn't here."

Optimus shudders, "He's ... resting with Prowl, Lockdown, and Jazz."

Blurr, Bee, and Sunstorm blink in surprise, and Bee comments under his breath, "I wouldn't think that's restful."

Red Alert and Wheeljack both giggle even louder, foreheads rubbing together, as if sharing a secret or private joke.

Bee finishes his energon, "Did Ultra stay here last night?"

Optimus flushes. "Of course not." He would have never allowed that, even with all their chaperons offline. "He left. And he'll be coming back shortly. Hopefully, Lockdown and the others will be done ... resting by then."

Bee hums agreeably, "Good idea, boss-bot, no need for the newsbots to get hold of that – all they want is another false reason for the courting to be broken."

Optimus stands up, and walks over to the dispenser, poking it irritably. "Wheeljack? If I showed you my other dispensers, do you think you could get those to give me the kind I like?"

Audio lights flashing dubiously, Wheeljack stands at approaches him, "It's possible. I make no guarantees that it won't explode every time you want energon."

Optimus pauses, "What if I give you a dispenser to take with you? You can experiment in your lab."

"Sir,-you-really-can't-be-going-and-giving-away-all-of-your-dispensers.-They-are-rather-expensive-models,-and-you'll-end-up-with-no-dispensers-at-all."

"What a wonderful concept." He prods the dispenser again, and it beeps at him warningly, "Maybe I can get one that actually gives me energon I like to drink, and instead of fussing at me for not wanting something that you normally get in an expensive restaurant." The dispenser beeps angrily, and Optimus turns away. "Not that it matters, since the AllSpark seems insistent that I get it, and I won't stop inviting Sari over just because it keeps using her to mess with the things."

"Should you really be fighting the AllSpark on this, Optimus?" Red Alert asks, enjoying the energon the dispenser made for her. "Because this is utterly fantastic energon. I think I'd offline a dozen bots to get something like this for my own place."

"It's great energon," Optimus admits, before giving up on the dispenser entirely. "But I'd rather not grow accustomed to a type of energon I won't be able to get again the moment this dispenser breaks." And he slagging liked ordinary energon. There was no need for this ridiculously refined and mixed energon.

Cliffjumper looks over at it, "Are you sure it will break? It isn't like the AllSpark makes things that fall apart."

Optimus drops into a chair, and glares at the dispenser poisonously, "If it doesn't, then you three," he waves at Bee, Sunstorm, and Blurr, "have an unbreakable dispenser."

He waves away Blurr's attempt to protest, and is actually grateful when Sunstorm silences him with kisses. He wants the dispenser gone. They sit and chat for a few more breems before the ninjabots finally emerge from their room. Optimus thanks Primus for the washracks in every guest room — there are few signs of their activities the previous night. A few missed scuffs here and there, but they do not look like they've been fragging a sciencebot senseless for megacycles.

Prowl gets himself a cube of energon, leaning against the wall beside the dispenser casually. "Perceptor and Lockdown should be out soon."

Optimus keeps from shuddering. "I'll call up Ultra, then."

He puts a two fingers to his temple, and dials the frequency, waiting patiently for his mech to pick up. He smiles automatically when he hears, "Yes, Optimus?" said lovingly.

"If you head back here, we can have the vote soon. And you can get a cube of energon from the dispenser before I give it away."

"You're giving it away?" Optimus could have sworn Ultra sounded disappointed. Perhaps he was. Most mechs enjoyed the ridiculous energon it provided. He'd give the next horribly upgraded one to his intended.

Turning away from the other bots at the table, he answers, "Yes. Sunstorm and Blurr can make better use of it than I, and I'm sure Bumblebee won't mind having it either."

"I suppose so," Ultra is definitely sounding disappointed. "Blurr needs a special energon blend, and Sunstorm is carrying."

"Which is why they get it." Optimus watches as Perceptor walks in with Lockdown, a smile on the normally expressionless bot's face. "But just head on over, everyone is awake, and we need you to be here so we can take the vote before going to work."

"I will be there shortly," Ultra promises, and his voice sends a shiver racing down Optimus's back.

The call is disconnected, and Optimus offlines his optics when Prowl and Jazz both go over to kiss Perceptor. He loved the fact that every room was so perfectly soundproof.

Resting his head on the table, he says, "Ultra is heading over, either as we speak or in a little bit."

He onlines his optics when there's the sound of someone sitting next to him, and Perceptor comments, with a hint of cheer in his voice, "I would say that you certainly know how to throw a party, Optimus."

He groans, "That would be the AllSpark's doing, and you know it. If I didn't have that..." he refrains from cursing, "dispenser, you wouldn't be saying that."

Perceptor shrugs, and his tiny smile widens a bit when Lockdown tips his head back and kisses him. Optimus covers his face with a servo. Perhaps he should implement a 'no kissing at the table' rule, but that would prevent him from kissing Ultra, so ... He sighs.

A little while later, there's a soft knock at the door, and he lets Ultra in. Allowing himself to be drawn into a gentle hug, he leans his head on his mech's chest, optics offline. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," Ultra murmurs before kissing him again.

A sharp whistle startles them apart, and Lockdown lowers his servo from his mouth. "Some of us have jobs to get to, loverbots. You gonna let us do the vote?"

From the way Lockdown has pulled Perceptor onto his lap, Optimus doubts that they intend to get any work done this solar cycle. He gives Lockdown an unimpressed look. "Please, go ahead."

Lockdown plays with Perceptor's head dials, "I'm going to vote yes."

Jazz leans over, a servo on Lockdown neck spikes and Perceptor's shoulder, mirroring Prowl. "I would have to agree, yes."

Perceptor seems to be soaking up the attention, "Even if I hated you, which I do not, I would have to vote yes."

The other bots all give their approval as well, and Optimus leans against Ultra, spark warm and happy. They've all agreed that they would be happy to have him included in their family, and it leaves him feeling a bit lightheaded with satisfaction.

Of course, Lockdown manages to shatter that mood entirely by standing up, sweeping the sciencebot into his arms. "We're gonna kidnap Percy for a bit. I'm sure you'll understand his being late to work, Ultra."

Ultra nods, and they all watch Lockdown and his – kidnap victim? - leave. Waiting a little bit longer, Optimus stands up, "And I think we should head to work. Get your cubes for Seaquake and everyone, Cliffjumper, so we can give the dispenser to Sunstorm before we head on out."

"Thanks again, Optimus," the red minibot says, filling four cubes with different shades of energon that he tucks away in his subspace. He leaves with Red Alert and Wheeljack, after both sciencebots get a cube for themselves. Wheeljack promises to come back in a decacycle or so to get one of the dispensers from him to experiment on.

That left only Sunstorm and his partners, and Optimus hurries to disconnect the dispenser for them. "I'm sure you'll get far more enjoyment from this than I ever have."

The dispenser beeps angrily, not even powering down when he unplugs it. Putting it in Sunstorm's arms, he leads them all out of the door and into the elevator. When they're heading out of the building, he nods to the securitybots as they pass, and they all transform except for Sunstorm.

Every instinct in him is telling him to give the order to roll out, but Ultra is higher on the command structure, and Sunstorm is giving a kiss to Bee and Blurr's vehicle modes. They watch the seeker take off, and Ultra coughs softly to get their attention. "Is everyone ready?" At the murmur of agreement, his mech continues, "Then let's head to work."

---

Please review

Since I know some of you don't read the notes up there, I have some down here.

This will not be updating all month. We just don't have enough fic for thirty days, it seems. Not with these long chapters. This isn't me asking if I should make the chapters smaller, because that's just not happening. They are staying at this length, and I'm sure you think that's exhaustive, but this is the length they stay.

Vivienne Grainger did the italics and reading over of this, she is to thank for the reason this is even out on the web right now.