Kneeling to the Sword

by Gatekat

Knights of Light. Dai Atlas/Axe. When General Dai Atlas and his SIC decide to retire from Nova Prime's army, they know it could cost them dearly and plan accordingly.

4. The Next Step

Fandom: Transformers G1
Author: gatekat, ultrarodimus on LJ
Pairing: Axe/Dai Atlas, Wing/Dai Atlas, Wing/Axe, Shogun/Stormcloud
Rating: NC-17
Codes: Slash, Sticky, Historical Setting, Knights of Light
Summary:
Disclaimer: The authors are only playing with their own twisted muses. Transformers belong to Hasbro. Fandom-side, check the inspirations page (gatekat-fics .livejournal 290 .html). We draw from a ton of amazing stories and authors you should read.

Kneeling to the Sword 04: The Next Step
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Repairing Dai Atlas in the aftermath of his penance only took a couple of joors to complete. His damage was almost exclusively from lack of energon and gradual strain rather than violence. Most was ruled for self-repair, once it was confirmed that there wasn't any damage that would heal badly. Despite that, it was severe enough for Hardwing to keep him in the medical bay for an extra orn to make sure everything would recover correctly. Axe was with Dai Atlas the whole time, while Wing was nowhere to be seen, something that puzzled the blue mech.

The Knight Initiate was finally released from the medical bay with strict orders to rest and warned of dire but unspecified consequences should Hardwing find out that Dai Atlas had been pushing himself too soon. With Axe hovering close enough that their plating touched, the large triple changer made his way to the quarters he shared with Wing.

The small white jet appeared before the door had even opened all the way, skidding out of his berthroom and launching himself right at Dai Atlas. The impact made the larger mech take a step back as Wing landed right on him and clung, much to the not-so-silent amusement of Axe as the large black and gold mech braced his mate.

"I think he needs some snuggle time, love," Axe teased, though he was serious enough.

Wing was already purring, clinging to Dai Atlas' armor like a cyber-barnacle. Wide golden optics lifted to meet red, the young white jet's field pulsing shyly against the larger blue mech's.

A huge white hand reached down to stroke Wing's helm. "Agreed, if he'll let me walk."

It took a moment for the white mech to loosen his grip and drop off of Dai Atlas' frame, staying close to the larger mech. Axe chuckled at Wing as he shooed his mate into the berthroom.

"Let him get settled, and then you can pounce on him," Axe told Wing, reaching over to gently tweak the tip of a white audial flare.

Wing nodded, his field touching when he wasn't allowed to. Once more he was allowed to see what he would want in a mate as Dai Atlas allowed himself to lean on Axe, allowed his mate to settle him.

"Come on," Axe motioned for Wing to join them as the black mech settled at Dai Atlas' side.

The words had barely left Axe's vocalizer when Wing pounced, again landing on Dai Atlas. The blue mech shook his helm at the younger mech, settling Wing between himself and his mate. Wing purred as he snuggled between the two warm frames, resting his helm against blue armor.

"He's very tactile, this one," Axe chuckled, resting his helm on Dai Atlas' shoulder. ~The next time will be easier, I hope.~

"Very tactile," Dai Atlas agreed, looking down at the white helm resting on his chest and lifting his free hand to lightly stroke white armor. A slightly louder purr answered the touch. ~I hope so as well. That was... not easy to deal with.~

~Is that the worst hurt you have?~ Axe asked gently. He had an uneasy sense that it wasn't. The death of a charge, while terrible every time, he didn't think it could even touch on the pain of being betrayed by one and having to execute them.

The larger triple changer shivered faintly, triggering Wing to croon and press closer. ~No, it isn't,~ He admitted, tilting his helm to rest his against Axe's.

~Maybe we can try to tackle that one without the binding?~ Axe suggested hopefully.

Dai Atlas considered that. ~I think I would prefer that to facing it in a binding,~ he decided finally. He looked down as Wing shifted, nuzzling into blue armor, one wing flaring out to touch black plating.

Axe stretched a bit to kiss him lightly. ~I think I would too. I'm pretty sure they aren't going to allow either of us to not face all our losses and pain.~

~I do believe they are going to make us face every aspect of our pasts, one way or another.~ Dai Atlas returned the kiss, humming softly.

Axe hummed through a grunt of displeased agreement. ~What is it like, a binding? I only feel what slips through, the emotions. Not what it is like.~

~Aside from having your hands bound over your helm until they go completely numb? It's... very unnerving. It hurts, both physically and emotionally. It's like being thrown back into your memory and being made to face every facet of your past, dictated by the color of the binding. How that works, I'm not sure. I would bet that the Great Sword has something to do with it, since every time I have been bound, the binding has been looped over the hilt of a Great Sword,~ the blue mech answered after a moment of intense thought.

~Mystic things,~ Axe grumbled. ~I guess I need to get over that, don't I?~ He actually chuckled.

~I get the distinct impression that we're going to run into quite a bit of what we would term 'mystic', so yes, I would think so,~ Dai Atlas agreed.

Axe hummed, then nuzzled his mate. ~Has Wing told you about the point of all this, for him? To see you bonded to one of those swords?~

~He has mentioned bonding to a Great Sword several times... I have been wondering how one bonds to a blade, but I haven't yet asked,~ Dai Atlas replied, his gaze briefly dropping to the brackets on Wing's back, between his wings, where the young jet's own Great Sword usually rested.

~The things are sentient. Though he didn't say it outright, I have no doubt they gain that sentience by keeping a bit of each bearer's spark. He did say that they become more complex and opinionated as they bond to more mecha,~ Axe didn't hide that it disturbed him on more levels than he could name. ~We talked a lot while you were occupied.~

It took Dai Atlas several kliks to wrap his processor around the idea of a sentient sword. He'd suspected the weapons were special, having felt energies around Wing's several times, but he'd never thought the blade might have been alive. ~Sentient blades... Did he say how one actually bonds to one?~

~No, and I didn't ask,~ Axe admitted. ~If it's a real spark bond like he implied the options are limited.~

~That is true.~ Dai Atlas chewed on that for a klik, one hand absently brushing over the Great Sword connection points on Wing's back and getting a deeper purr from the half-in-recharge white mech.

~When he's willing to talk instead of snuggle, maybe he'll tell you if you ask,~ Axe suggested. ~I have no doubt it's something of a secret, but you are an Initiate.~

Dai Atlas hummed softly. ~I will ask,~ he agreed. ~Right now, though, I wouldn't expect a coherent response from him.~ The blue mech looked down at Wing, chuckling very softly as he noted the expression of utter contentment on the jet's face.

~No, I don't expect he would,~ Axe chuckled and snuggled in a bit more himself. ~I think you'll be less lonely than I am when I'm away. I bet he'd be happy to spend most nights right there.~

~Of that I have absolutely no doubt. He's like a cybercat ... eager for attention and melts when petted,~ Dai Atlas chuckled. One large finger ran over the red crest of Wing's helm, his smile widening when the helm pushed against his hand.

~It's adorable. If I hadn't seen him fight I would have sworn he was created to be a pet in mech form,~ Axe chuckled softly. ~He's adorable, snuggly, agreeable ... and a pit of a good interface.~

~Even cybercats have claws,~ Dai Atlas pointed out. He tilted his helm at his mate. ~That good, is he?~ Curious interest accompanied the words.

~It's true,~ Axe hummed at the image of Wing with feline features in the way of some noble pets, then shared the image with his mate. ~He is good, mostly because he's always eager and unbelievably tight. I'm sure you noticed his perpetual arousal?~

~It's rather hard not to notice, considering how much time I spend around him,~ Dai Atlas replied. He chuckled at the image, sending back a few choice images of what the mech would be able to do with a tail.

~Nice thoughts,~ Axe rumbled. ~I'm sure he'd find a stunning number of uses for one too.~

~Without a doubt, he would,~ Dai Atlas agreed with a snort. He contemplated the purring jet cuddled into his chest, still lightly stroking the red crest. ~I have noticed the permanent arousal in his field. He is good in the berth, hm?~

~Decidedly,~ Axe nuzzled his mate. ~Inclined to try him out?~

~The thought has crossed my processor.~ Dai Atlas returned the nuzzle. ~As long as no one has any objections...~

~I don't, I'd be stunned if he does,~ Axe kissed his mate and offered a few memories of what Wing felt like around his spike and just how much the young jet enjoyed it. ~He took some stretching to take me in, so he'll need you to take your time.~

Dai Atlas purred softly as he viewed the memories. ~From his reactions to you, I'd say the slower pace would be worth the results.~ Leaning over, he lightly kissed Axe's forehelm.

~It was,~ Axe shivered. ~I needed the release badly, a recharge in full oblivion, and taking the time to stretch him was well worth the added pleasure he offered for it.~

~Something to look into later.~ Dai Atlas shifted slightly, running one palm over Axe's black armor. ~After I get my strength back. And after I've had some mate-time with you.~ A purr threaded through the words.

~You'll have many nights alone with him to explore the options,~ Axe agreed, forcing his arousal down our of respect for both his mate's condition and the mech recharging on top of Dai Atlas.

~It promises to be interesting.~ Dai Atlas settled back, feeling recharge sneaking up on him. He was still recovering from the lengthy binding, and tired quickly. Shifting slightly to get comfortable, without dislodging the jet draped over his chestplate, Dai Atlas wrapped an arm around his mate, draping the other over Wing, and let recharge claim him.

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Three orns after Dai Atlas was released from he medical bay Axe was back at work among the supplicants. He could feel that most were happy to see him, but not because it lessened their work - he knew it didn't. If he was back with them, his mate was recovered enough to be without him, and that was welcome news all around.

Axe nodded greetings to some of the other supplicants as he worked, returning a friendly greeting from Dart. It had been many orns since the last time Axe had been this relaxed while going about his daily chores. With his mate finally finished his penance and resting, Axe's temper had settled considerably.

He paused to glance up at one of the other supplicants, hovering next to one of the towers in a rather odd position to repaint storm damage, before getting back to his own task of polishing a courtyard stature of the founder of the Order.

He heard Atl walk up well before the grounder spoke, and made a personal note to himself that the Knight was now among those he knew.

"It is good to see you out and about again, Axe," Atl said with an honest smile.

"It's good to be out and about again, without having to worry about potentially biting someone's helm off," Axe replied, looking at the red mech and returning the smile.

"I thought it might be good to teach you to meditate," Atl offered. "This will not be the last time your mate is in such a condition."

Axe tilted his helm as he regarded the smaller mech. "It's as good a time to learn as any, I think... Dai is resting and fairly relaxed, and Wing is with him." The white jet had taken to curling up on Dai Atlas' chest at every opportunity, and the larger mech didn't mind at all.

"Still plastered to his plating like some kind of cybercat barnacle?" Atl laughed, knowing his friend well. "Come on then, I've cleared it with Dart."

"He curls up on Dai's chest at every opportunity, purring whether he's being touched or not," Axe agreed. "I have some choice image captures of Wing turning into a white puddle when his wings are petted." He detoured to put the supplies he'd been using away, following Atl.

"Oh I'm sure of that," Atl grinned at the giant beside him as they entered the tower that Atl lived in. "Shameless as he is though, all they're good for is cooing over how cute he is."

"Both Dai and myself agree that he is cute," Axe chuckled. "He's one pit of an interface, too. But I'm sure you already know that."

"Yes," Atl chuckled softly and palmed open his door. "There aren't many here who don't. Though I bet it was more intense for you than most, given the size difference."

"It was very intense," the black and gold triple changer agreed. He followed Atl inside, glancing around at the now-familiar decor before returning his attention to the smaller grounder.

"I'd like to show you a binding, but one that isn't painful for you," Atl looked up at blue optics.

The larger mech regarded Atl for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I have been wondering about the experience... Dai tried to explain it, but he could not quite find the words."

"No one ever does," Atl said simply as he turned, taking his Great Sword from the brackets on his back. "I don't think it can be explained. Would you get the lilac cord from the cabinet?" He set the long blade vertically in a set of brackets he could barely reach. "Axe, this is Guardian of Honor."

Axe moved over to the cabinet, taking a moment to find the cord in the named color. Cord in hand, he walked over to Atl, his blue gaze moving to the Great Sword. "Guardian of Honor." He extended his field slowly, brushing tentatively against the Great Sword. "Wing told me about the Great Swords..."

"Then you know it is semi-sentient," Atl said with a nod of approval, feeling Guardian of Honor respond to the greeting with a flicker of acceptance. "It will guide you during the binding if you allow it."

"I am aware of that, yes." The larger mech managed to hide any signs he found the Great Swords at all disturbing. Then he caught the last comment. "So they do influence the binding."

"Yes," Atl nodded. "True Masters can undergo a binding without the assistance of a Great Sword, but most of us can't. The Great Sword is what differentiates a binding from meditation."

"Hm." Axe eyed the Great Sword for a moment, then handed Atl the spool of cord. Steeling himself, the black and gold mech held out his arms, wrists close together, and watched with a detached sort of interest as Atl wrapped the cord around his wrists in an intricate pattern that seemed at least as much decorative as functional.

When it was done Atl put a loop near Axe's thumb. "Pull this and it will free you if it's too much. I will be here the entire time as well."

Axe nodded, looking at the loop. "If I have to, I will use it. But only if I have to."

Stepping closer to the Great Sword, Axe hooked the binding over the hilt, as he had seen Wing do for Dai Atlas the first time the blue mech had undergone a binding. Venting heavily, Axe slowly sank to his knees. In the back of his processor he noted that the height was just enough lower that he could actually kneel, rather than having his full weight on his wrists and shoulders. It would still become uncomfortable in time, but not nearly to the extent it had been for his mate.

A gentle but strong hand and field touched the center of his back. "Simply relax and allow your processors to contemplate what comes," Atl suggested.

Axe nodded once, venting heavily before turning off his optics and trying to relax. It took him most of a breem to settle down, though he eventually managed to relax enough to feel Guardian of Honor pulsing against his field. He permitted his processors to go where they wanted, or where they were guided, and found himself contemplating his bond.

He wasn't sure what he had expected, but that wasn't it. There was a dull throb of old pain, from the loss of his first bond and what it had felt like when the bond had broken. So too there were dull throbs of the losses of lesser loves over his long existence. Central to his experience was his love for Dai Atlas. The fire between them that warmed, burned and protected in turn.

The black and gold triple changer examined that love, that fire, contemplating it from all angles. It burned as bright and as hot now as it had the orn they had bonded. Axe contemplated that first overcharged night of pleasure that he had initiated had eventually triggered Dai Atlas to pursue him. How that love had built up, the courtship between himself and the larger mech who was now his mate despite the risk they knew would eventually end in one losing the other. Distantly, he was aware that black plating slicked down with nervous tension was relaxing, puffing out slightly.

He had always known, just as Dai Atlas did, that battle would one orn shatter this bond, just as it already had twice for Dai Atlas and once for Axe. It was a pain that never left, but both accepted that was the price for the pleasure and support while the bond lasted.

How long Axe spent in that state of contemplation, he wasn't sure. In some ways it felt like it had only been a moment, in other ways it felt like forever.

As he finally became aware of the outside world again, the first thing he noticed was the pulse of Guardian of Honor's field against his own, then it gently drawn into the Great Sword once more. Right on its heels came the pain from his hands and forearms.

The brush of Atl's field appeared a sparkbeat later with the warmth of a hand held just a breath away from his back plating. "Are you ready?" his voice was gentle and ... proud.

Axe managed a nod, his optic shutters opening as the blue optics underneath warmed up. It took a nanoklik or two for his optics to focus. When his hands were released from the binding, Axe almost fell over backward before catching his balance with the help of Atl's support. The Knight knew what to expect.

Without a word Atl helped Axe to the berth and laid him down before settling next to him to rub one hand.

Axe gazed up at the ceiling for a long moment, slowly flexing his other hand to try and get the feeling back into it. A tingling sensation crawled slowly up his arm as the power and energon flows began pushing their way back into cold metal.

"Lilac..." the black and gold mech rasped after a moment, his voice rougher than usual. "It stands for love, doesn't it?"

"Yes," Atl smiled at him with another flare of pride. "It does. I wanted your first binding to be a good one."

"It was nothing like I had anticipated," Axe admitted, slowly flexing the hand Atl was rubbing. "And I see what Wing meant when he told me that some bindings do leave a mech feeling good."

"I hope your mate can draw from this as well," Atl moved his attention to the other hand. "I can tell you that even the more painful colors lose their sting once the hurt has been dealt with. Pink will always be a brutal experience, but all the others have many positive aspects to them."

"Dai and myself might not be able to see the more positive aspects until we've dealt with the pain," Axe pointed out. "As old as we are, there is a lot of hurt in our past. Getting through all of it will not be quick. Or easy."

"No, it will not," Atl agreed. "Even the lesser hurts that relative youngsters such as myself and Wing do not settle easily. It is a goal to keep in mind, however. Both bindings and life will improve as you work through your hurts."

The black giant chewed on that, nodding slowly. Turning his helm, Axe looked over to Guardian of Honor, watching the gem set into its hilt glitter back at him. "Wing explained to me what the Great Swords are... But he never said anything about how a mech bonds to one."

"That won't be explained to any mecha until it is time to bond," Atl said gently but firmly. "It is a secret of the Order."

"That would explain why Wing didn't say anything. But I would bet it involves the spark." Blue optics slid from the Great Sword to Atl.

Atl hummed neutrally, refusing to confirm or deny. "You will learn when it is time," he insisted.

"First someone has to choose me as an Initiate," Axe pointed out.

"You have doubts that someone will choose you?" Atl cocked his helm at the larger mech, a slightly teasing smile tweaking at his mouth plates.

"There are three mechs, yourself included, who seem to have their optic on me. But so far no one has given any indication they might choose me," Axe responded.

A flicker of gentle understanding-support crossed their fields from Atl. "What happened with your mate is extremely unusual among Knights, though very much Wing's way. There has never been a question among us that you would both be trained, only who would do the training. We are currently feeling you out, trying to work out who would be best to train you. The relationship between an Initiate and their Daoshi, the Knight who trains them, is much longer and more intimate than that between creator and creation, or even most unbonded mates. For most Knights it the strongest bond they develop."

"I've seen it, with Dai and Wing." Axe nodded slowly. "I think I would work well with either you or Dart. Blueflash I'm not struck on. But that's just my opinion."

Atl nodded. "It will definitely feature into the choice, ours and yours. It is in everyone's best interest that both sides are convinced it is the best choice."

Axe hummed softly, digesting that. Slowly, he levered himself up into a sitting position, flexing his hands as the power flow fully resumed, the gray tint his plating had taken on vanishing back into a healthy obsidian.

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Three nights after Axe had once more returned to the supplicant lodging Dai Atlas found himself in the now-familiar arrangement of laying on his berth with Wing curled and purring on his chest. Between missing his mate and the little jet's constant arousal, it was getting to him. He missed overloading with a lover. He couldn't keep his processors from returning to the memory files his mate had shared of the white jet around Axe's spike, how eager and slick and tight he was.

It was enough to cause a shiver of desire to pass through his frame.

Feeling the shiver, Wing shifted and lifted his helm, blinking as gold optics warmed up. Uncurling, the young jet looked into red optics, flaring his audial fins slightly. Wing's field reached out to brush against his student's and caught the growing arousal there. "Dai?"

"Axe mentioned you might be agreeable, despite the size difference ... he shared a few files of what you did with him," he added by way of explanation.

Wing trilled, tilting his helm to one side. "He did, did he?" There was a purr in the young jet's voice. "Would you like to find out for yourself?" He wiggled slender wings teasingly.

"If you now believe it is possible," Dai Atlas said cautiously. "It will leave you even more sore than my mate did. It takes vorns of very regular activity, or medical reconstruction, for a mecha your size to become acclimated to one my size."

Wing smiled. "I would like to try. And the soreness would be worth it." He uncurled, stretching out on Dai Atlas' frame, kneading blue metal lightly. A bright flare of arousal wrapped around the white jet as large white hands moved over Wing to stroke his back and wings.

"Is Axe as big a spike as you've taken?" Dai Atlas asked as he caressed soft white armor.

"Yes, he is." Wing leaned into Dai Atlas' hands, lowering his helm to rub his cheek against the larger mech's. His own hands lightly explored the black chestplate he was sprawled over, fingertips darting along the edges of the plates. Behind him he heard an interface panel slid open and a spike begin to pressurize.

Shifting, Wing rubbed one leg against the spike pressurizing behind him, grinning brightly down at Dai Atlas. Catching hold of a large white hand, Wing nipped at the pads of the larger mech's fingers, glimmering golden optics meeting red.

"If you want my first load inside you, you're going to have to stop playing with me," Dai Atlas rumbled as his hips rolled into the contact with his spike.

"But it's fun," Wing chirped teasingly, reluctantly moving his leg away from the spike. Leaning down, he nipped lightly at Dai Atlas' lower lip, his valve cover sliding open.

"Yes, and enjoyable," Dai Atlas agreed before kissing the smaller mech's mouth. "But I have at least two breems of prep work to do on you before I can get inside without hurting you."

With gentle but insistent hands the giant shifted and got Wing to settle on the berth with his aft in the air.

"You, however, came overload as often as you feel like it," Dai Atlas chuckled as a strong hand ran over Wing's aft to let a finger far larger than any normal mech's spike tease the jet's valve platelets. "Just try to save one for me."

Wing began purring deeper as he settling onto the berth, chestplate pressed against its surface. The jet looked back over his shoulder, wiggling his wings at Dai Atlas, watching with bright and eager gold optics. The touch on the platelets surrounding his valve entrance got a drawn-out "oooooooooooooooh" and a delighted shiver of the smaller mech's frame.

"If anything starts to hurt, or Primus forbid you feel something tear, you have to tell me immediately," Dai Atlas said seriously before teasing the tip of his finger against the valve entrance, testing just how tight Wing was to something as large as his finger.

Wing nodded and wiggled his wings in assent. "I will let you know," he replied. A moment later, a soft whine escaped as the white jet pushed back into the teasing finger, wanting more. He was given it, the slickness squeezing out around Dai Atlas' finger and the pleasure-want more in Wing's field were enough to convince the giant it was safe.

All the way to the second knuckle, as deep as most mecha ever reached, and Dai Atlas paused again.

Wing let out a purring moan, the calipers of his valve cycling down on Dai Atlas' finger as the jet pushed back into the giant's hand. Gold optics gleamed over Wing's shoulder, the white mech letting out a whine of need.

Slowly Dai Atlas pulled his finger back half way, then pressed in again, going a bit further with each cycle until his fingertip stretched the lining at the very back of the valve and held there.

The small white jet rocked his hips into each slow penetration, field flaring and expressing quite clearly how much he was enjoying it. The touch at the very back of his valve sent him keening into overload, frame stiffening, charge darting over white armor and arcing between the edges of flared plates, the calipers of his valve clamping down on Dai Atlas' finger. It took a klik for Wing's frame to loosen, hot air gusting from his vents, purring so hard his plating rattled.

"My spike is four times that thick," Dai Atlas told him as he took advantage of the utterly relaxed state to try and work a second finger inside his lover. "And much longer."

A moan of pure anticipation answered that comment, Wing craning his neck to see past his own frame and admire the spike in question. A hot rush of want flooded through his field at the thought of it inside him, the black and light blue base glistening with his lubricants that brought out the gold, red and white spirals.

"You'll have it," Dai Atlas promised as he applied a little more gentle pressure to press his two fingers further in. "Only when I feel you are ready for it."

Wing shivered from helm to pedes, wings fluttering and wiggling, as the second finger slid into his valve, stretching it even more than Axe had. He tried to hold still, but his frame pushed back into those digits, letting out a soft mew of bliss. Lubricant leaked out around Dai Atlas' fingers, pooling on the berth between Wing's legs.

"That's good," Dai Atlas purred. His spike ached, but he knew he had work left to do. His own frame was shaking lightly as he worked his two fingers in and out, pressing just a little deeper each time and holding still until the valve lining relaxed, accepting the stretch.

Wing pressed into Dai Atlas' hand each time those fingers slid into his valve. He was already well past the ability to speak or make any kind of coherent sound. Dark hands kneaded the berth, white armor flaring to vent heat more quickly. His cooling fans were whirring loudly, engines purring. The valve calipers shifted restlessly, working the blue giant's fingers as they would a spike.

It seemed like a blissful eternity before the paired fingers pressed all the way in to stretch the back of Wing's valve once more and held still briefly, then wiggled against the thick knot of sensor nodes there.

Wing overloaded hard, his voice almost a shriek. His cockpit scraped against the berth surface, back arched, helm thrown back, fingertips striking sparks as he clawed at the berth. For a klik he held that pose, frame locked, wings shivering from bases to tips, before sinking back to the berth in a contented puddle. His armor was standing on end, the air shimmering over his frame from the heat of his systems.

He shuddered involuntarily as the thick fingers withdrew half way and then spread enough for a third finger to work its way in between them.

"You're only half way there," Dai Atlas rumbled, his field almost white hot in his arousal. "Don't check out on me now."

Wing huffed at the idea, flipping his wings. He had better stamina than that. A deep, throaty moan escaped him at the fullness as the third finger slid in. The white jet's hips wiggled slightly as he leaned into the touch.

"Good," Dai Atlas rumbled as he began a much more complex stretching pattern with his fingers, alternating between spreading them, pressing them deeper, pulling out and twisting. He was careful not to go too deep to stretch the very back, wanting a few good overloads for his spike before Wing became unresponsive.

Slender white wings fluttered so hard the young jet looked like he was trying to take off like an organic bird did. Wing moaned and whined with bliss, optics flaring almost white but unseeing. What the blue triple changer was doing felt so very good.

A few more strokes and Dai Atlas pulled his fingers free.

The young jet whined a protest at the lack of contact, wings and pinions twitching, then looked back over his shoulder eagerly. Anticipation flowed through his field, gold optics watching every move Dai Atlas made as the giant spread Wing's lubricant along the entire impressive length of his spike, then lined the tip up with Wing's valve.

Two strong white hands closed around Wing's hips to brace the much smaller jet against the pressure of being penetrated by such a large object.

Wing shifted a bit, spreading his legs a bit wider and bracing himself. Under Dai Atlas' hands the compact frame was trembling with eagerness, plating vibrating as Wing again started purring. He wanted to feel that spike in his valve so very badly. His imaginings were not left disappointed as his valve was stretched further than he'd ever believed possible.

"Oh Primus," Dai Atlas gasped, trembling uncontrollably with the ornate tip of his spike the only part inside.

Wing let out a sharp cry, but the sound expressed only pleasure. The ache was minor, and easily overwhelmed by the rest of what Wing was feeling. Only the strong hands grasping his hips kept him from pressing back onto that spike, though the slight squirm of the rest of his frame made it clear he wanted to.

"Give me a klik," Dai Atlas gasped, every line of his frame strained to avoid overloading with that first squeeze around his spike tip. He pressed forward, driving his spike in deeper as quickly as he dared.

The white jet's whole frame trembled. It hurt. But nothing was torn or damaged, and the pain receded quickly, leaving only a dull ache that was quickly overwhelmed by the pleasure. Slender wings performed a complex wiggle before stretching out to their full span, tips quivering.

With only a quarter of his spike inside, Dai Atlas began to pull back, nearly keening in his efforts to retain control. "So tight."

Wing echoed the keen, the sound pure want. The white mech pressed his chestplate against the berth, digging his fingers into its surface, kneading absently. All his attention was on the sensations he was getting from his valve and the huge mech behind him as Dai Atlas pressed forward once more.

Half buried he paused again, gasping for air and for enough self control not to injure his lover with his first overload. As intense as this was, it also reminded him why he generally stuck to larger mecha.

"Primus give me strength," Dai Atlas whispered as he drew back and drove forward again with a bellow that was both exquisite pleasure and near-pain. Hot transfluid rushed into Wing's valve, lighting up every sensor not already maxed as it filled what little space was left, compressing against the node clusters at the back of the valve and pressing even harder as Dai Atlas drew back and slammed forward again.

The shriek of overload Wing let out almost shorted out his vocalizer. His whole body bucked, hips still being held in place by the giant blue triple changer. Charge sizzled over his plating, leaping off onto his lover, dancing between the tips of puffed-out armor plates. This time Dai Atlas provided no relief as his own much more potent charge snapped back into Wing.

Despite the intensity, Dai Atlas retained enough control not to sheath himself fully, the bucking of his hips moving only a quarter of his spike in and out as he continued right through his overload to drive himself into another.

Wing's fingers were leaving grooves in the surface of the berth as he fought to remain still, wanting to press back into each thrust. His optics were almost white, blind with ecstasy, mouth open in a silent cry. His field seethed with pleasure. Dai Atlas' charge raced through Wing's sensor net, driving the young jet's charge even higher. Static electricity cracked over his plating and that of his lover.

It wasn't even half a klik before Dai Atlas all but screamed another overload, this time the tip of his spike pressed hard against the end of Wing's valve when the first rush of transfluid exploded into the incredibly tight space.

Wing's whole body stiffened and locked up as Dai Atlas' overload triggered the white jet's fourth, mouth opening in a silent screech of pure pleasure. His vocorder shorted out from the excess charge even before any sound actually escaped. Lubricant and transfluid leaked out around the blue triple changer's spike, adding to the puddle on the berth and the wet, shining streaks running down the small jet's thighs.

Dai Atlas leaned forward until his helm rested on the berth and he completely covered Wing. It radically changed the angle, though the fit was so tight it was hard to tell the difference as he began to thrust in earnest, grunting each time he tried to hilt himself and was stopped by the end of the valve he was driving into.

Wing pressed his back against Dai Atlas' chestplate, wings wiggling against black metal, his front half writhing against the larger mech while powerful white hands held his hips still. Tilting his own helm, he nipped, licked, and kissed at anything he could reach. He'd never felt this full, or a fifth overload rushing up to claim him so quickly. He could feel it crackling in Dai Atlas' systems as well, though the larger mech seemed to be focused solely on the rhythmic thrust and withdraw of his hips.

Wing braced himself with trembling arms, pressing up into Dai Atlas' chestplate, tilting his helm and stretching a bit to gain access to the giant triple changer's jaw and neck. Hot air blasted from Wing's vents in time with each thrust, a purr by now the only sound he could make. His plating vibrated against blue metal, nacelles revving. The young white jet was almost mindless with pleasure.

A few more grunting thrusts and Dai Atlas cried out, a low, rumbling growl of pleasure taken almost to pain as he pumped more hot transfluid into Wing, filling the small jet to bursting.

Transfluid leaked out around Dai Atlas' spike in copious amounts, creating a large silvery puddle on the berth. Wing's vocalizer let out a high whistle as the jet reached a fifth overload, sinking down onto the berth, trying to catch his breath. His purr never let up, nacelles screaming briefly before spooling slowly down to a high idle. White armor stood on end, trying to vent the heat that had built up underneath.

"More?" Dai Atlas conveyed more through his field than his voice, his hips still moving as he sought another high.

It took a moment for the jet to respond, and when he did it was with the calipers of his valve rippling suggestively along Dai Atlas' spike as best they could. Wing squirmed a bit, arching his back to press his own back and quivering wings against the larger chestplate over him.

A rumble vibrated down from Dai Atlas and he picked up the speed and strength of his thrusts. Never hard enough to rupture the lining, but taking it as far as possible without having a medic needed.

Wing's nacelles revved high, vibrating against Dai Atlas' plating. The white jet rubbed shamelessly against the larger mech's frame, leaving streaks of white paint behind and not caring in the least. Tilting his helm, he followed the line of Dai Atlas' neck to his jaw, nipping at the triple changer's chin. He wouldn't be walking right for orns, and he couldn't begin to care. This was an unbelievable experience every mecha should have at least once.

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Axe groaned in the kind of pleasure one could only take from a shower when the orn had been a dirty one. Despite looking forward to being clean again, he was looking forward to cornering the two newest arrivals with his mate. Despite what Atl had said, what the grounder hadn't said had been crystal clear; he didn't dare take Axe as his Initiate until Dai Atlas had someone to spike hard when the bad bindings ran too long. That had spurred them both to see how well they connected with one of the few mecha in the Citadel that Dai Atlas wouldn't have to be careful with.

Shogun was an older mech, younger than Axe but not by much, a red Altihexian slightly shorter than Axe was, though the size difference was only apparent when the two were standing fairly close together. He wasn't military, but he had some sort of official training, most likely city guard or police. The red mech could usually be found humming to himself as he went through his chores, returning the greetings from other mechs, and possessed a ready smile. A few other mechs had playfully flirted with him, and he flirted right back, much to the amusement of his companion, a large Praxian grounder named Stormcloud.

The Praxian had arrived at the Citadel with Shogun; the flier had carried him the whole way and had promptly collapsed into exhausted recharge at the Citadel gates. Stormcloud made his name all honor; his armor was all shades of gray from pale smoke to deep charcoal, shading to black at his shins, forearms, and the tips of his sensor wings. He looked like a looming thundercloud, only a metallic gold chevron and green optics standing out against the grays. Despite the somewhat ominous color scheme, Stormcloud was as open and friendly as the mech he had arrived with.

Lovers, arguably long-time mates, but not bonded and far more relaxed about sharing than the military had made Dai Atlas and Axe. It was a good start, enough for Axe to arrange for his mate to visit and meet the pair.

Clean, dry and presentable, Axe made his way to the common room and swept it with his optics for the couple.

The Altihexian was easy to spot; his red armor, his size, and the elaborate silver crest on his helm made him quite visible. He was leaning back in his chair, a half-empty cube of energon on the table in front of him. Stormcloud was sitting next to him, leaning on the table, one two-panel sensor wing twitching slightly behind him. Both looked up as Axe arrived.

The black mech smiled at them and walked over. "Mind if we join you?"

"Certainly," the red mech replied, inclining his helm in a friendly greeting. Warm orange optics watched the slightly larger mech while Stormcloud smiled at him.

"We don't mind at all," the gray Praxian agreed. "Company is always welcome."

"Good," Axe rolled into a chair, feeling more relaxed than usual in the company of mecha he could actually look in the optics. "My mate plans to join us as soon as his Daoshi cuts him loose."

"He's welcome to join us, too," Stormcloud replied. "I look forward to meeting him."

Shogun stretched his downward-sloping wings, wiggling one to get a bit of debris out of a joint and sighing with relief when it dropped out. "I too look forward to it. Not many mecha our size here... It's nice to be around mechs our size. I don't feel like I might damage someone by accident."

"I know the feeling," Axe agreed with a stretch. "It's very different from what we're used to. Are either of you angling to become a Knight, or are you here for sanctuary?"

"I wouldn't mind becoming a Knight," Shogun answered. "I was a court officer in Altihex; I saw far too many abuse cases, especially far too many concerning sparklings and younglings. Enough was finally enough. I had to get out."

"He's also had to duck a few very unsubtle and pointed attempts to recruit him into the military, so we figured it best to find someplace well out of the way," the Praxian added.

The red mech snorted. "One thing you learn after millennia of being a cop is how to disappear. Nova's henchmechs can chase shadows from Altihex to the next star system."

"You don't know the half of it, Shogun," Dai Atlas said as he joined the table. "You truly don't. This seems to be a gathering place for folks who crossed him, or don't want to."

"I'd rather keep out of his sights. I saw enough while I was just a cop." Shogun nodded to the larger blue mech. "I never met him, he never met me, and that's the way I like it."

"Smartest move you ever made," Dai Atlas nodded.

"And where Shogun goes, I go," Stormcloud added, reaching over to take the red mech's hand.

"Any reason you two haven't bonded yet?" Axe smiled indulgently at the pair.

"We just never got around to it." Stormcloud fluttered his sensor wings slightly.

"Weird hours mostly drove the thought right out of our processors," Shogun admitted. "We will bond. Eventually." He tilted his helm at Axe. "How long have you two been bonded?"

"A long time," Axe chuckled.

"Hundred and twenty vorns after Nova became Prime," Dai Atlas added. "It was worth everything too, every time."

Axe hummed softly. "Yes, it's worth everything it brings."

Stormcloud smiled. "Good to know." The sidelong glance he gave his own mate hinted at interesting times in the future, gaining a huff from the red mech's vents. Then the Praxian turned his attention to the older mechs sitting with them. "So you're training to become a Knight, Dai Atlas?"

"For three vorns now," the giant nodded. "It is ... different."

"That might have been because of Wing," Axe snickered. "Both of mine seem a lot saner."

Shogun tilted his helm to the side slightly, clearly curious. "Wing is the mech training you?"

"Yes," Dai Atlas returned a curious look. "He's quite the instinctive mech."

"Read: Acts before thinking, won't back down from it and can't get enough cuddling," Axe smirked at his mate.

"No complaining about that until he pushes you out of the berth," Dai Atlas huffed.

Stormcloud laughed. "There's a story there, I can tell."

Axe snorted. "Only real story involves a cuddly mech and my having to stay here thirty-one orns out of thirty-two. He makes himself scarce when I can actually stay."

Shogun grinned. "Sounds like quite an interesting mech to learn from. He's that small white mech I've seen around you here and there?"

"Yes, that's likely Wing," Dai Atlas nodded. "He's not actually that small, just compared to me," he chuckled.

"I think most mechs look small compared to you." Stormcloud's warm smile made the statement a gentle tease.

Shogun's orange optics fixed on Axe. "Are you going to enter Knight training as well?"

"Yes, as soon as a couple things get settled," Axe turned serious. "There are parts of training that are very intense, to the point that for now, the other needs some help to stay level."

"Before Atl will train him, I need a casual berthmate, or two, that I don't have to be all that careful with," Dai Atlas spelled it out. "An orn or two binding they'll let the other watch. Much longer than that, or more serious, and it is no longer an option. As you've noticed, there aren't many mecha here I don't have to be careful with."

"Because most mechs here are too small." Shogun nodded, regarding the larger blue mech.

"Yes," Dai Atlas nodded. "As intense as it can be with that much of a size difference, it's not a good mix when what I need is to let go. I've never injured a lover before and I don't intend to start now."

Shogun and Stormcloud exchanged glances, the red mech lifting an optic rim. The gray mech tilted his helm slightly, looking the other couple over for a moment before nodding. Shogun smiled briefly, returning his attention to Dai Atlas. "We've never turned down an offered interface, either one of us separately or with both of us."

"It's a good start," Axe purred. "Ever been with a mech just trying to forget for the night?"

Stormcloud pointed at Shogun. "Cop."

The red mech snorted. "Many times, especially with fellow officers and a few beat cops."

Axe and Dai Atlas both relaxed at that. "It's likely to be much the same then," Dai Atlas said. "And I wouldn't mind having you both there."

Both of the pair smiled at him. Shogun sent Dai Atlas a quick databurst. "Those are our personal comm frequencies; you can contact us whenever you need to. We'll make arrangements with Dart so we'll be available when needed."

"He's expecting it," Dai Atlas assured them. "He'll also be notified when Axe is starting something I might need the help with. Anything that distracting will require coordination between at least Wing, Atl and Dart. If I need your help, I'll be in no condition to train either."

"I think you were here when I was so out of sorts," Axe tried to remember exactly when the pair had arrived.

"I was," Stormcloud replied. "We'd just arrived, and he was in the medical bay. He'd carried me the whole way here, without stopping to rest until we found this place; I'm a grounder, not a flier." He flared shorter-than-usual sensor wings for emphasis. "He was so burned out he had to spend most of a decaorn in the medbay. I remember seeing you, Axe, and wondering why you were so twitchy."

"If you bond before you're Knights, you'll have a solid understanding of why," Axe said grimly. "I'm not sure I can explain it if you don't know what you get across the bond. We've held it open for so long neither of us can close it well anymore."

"We'll keep that in mind." Shogun nodded, finishing the last of his cube.

"Most definitely something to keep in mind," Stormcloud agreed, the tip of a sensor wing brushing a red jet wing.

"So you were a cop," Dai Atlas inclined his helm at Shogun. "What was your function?" he looked at Stormcloud.

"I was an artist," the gray mech replied. "I did commission work, some armor-painting, and commission patterns for mechs who liked to show off. My creators were less than thrilled, to put it mildly."

"You got a kick out of scandalizing your creators," Shogun pointed out with a chuckle.

"Any work I might have seen?" Dai Atlas was suddenly very interested as he tried to recall as many of the armor artists as he'd heard about.

"I've worked on a few military mecha." Stormcloud sent the large blue mech a databurst containing images of some of his work. Everything from delicate patterns for courting and bonding to intricate tribal-ish styles designed to make fighting mechs look more fierce and formidable. "Some in Praxus, and others when I moved to Altihex to get away from the constant disapproval raining down on me from my creators."

Dai Atlas hummed, then shared them with Axe, whose optics brightened. "You did Ironhide and Chromia?"

"That was my work, yes." Stormcloud nodded, puffing up slightly with modest pride.

"You did well being an artist," Dai Atlas said with all the definitive nature of a long-time commanding officer. "Your creators should be proud of you."

"Yeah," Axe nodded his agreement. "Anyone with that resume ... you could name your price anywhere there are military stationed."

Stormcloud snorted. "You'd think they'd be proud. My creators are fairly wealthy merchants who enjoy rubbing elbows with the upper crust of Praxus. They were shocked and horrified that I went off to do something completely different. And the horrified howling when I got involved with Shogun here could be heard all the way from Praxus to Altihex without needing a comm."

"His creators are mechs I am glad I never met," Shogun interjected. "I've heard the lectures they commed to give him."

"I think I will never understand some mecha," Axe shook his helm. "We were thrilled for every creation who was happy, be it in their function, for a lover or hobby."

"My creators had ambitions of handing me off in an arranged bonding to try and get themselves into the nobility." The gray Praxian snorted in disgust. "To hear them, you'd think that getting involved with Shogun equated with selling my spark to Unicron or something."

Dai Atlas cycled his optics. "They wanted to..." he groaned. "Primus give me patience for delusional mecha. It's been a while, but I know it doesn't work like that. It might get you in, but not them."

"Try telling them that." Stormcloud shook his helm. "I am away from them, away from their power plays and schemes, and I am my own mech. I think they finally got around to disowning me completely. Took them long enough."

"If you're happy with what you are, it's a good thing," Dai Atlas smiled at the pair.

"Far happier than I would have been if I hadn't escaped," Stormcloud agreed, scooting his chair over to lean against Shogun's shoulder.

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Several orns had passed since Atl had chosen Axe as his Initiate, to train as a Knight of Light. Dai Atlas, upon finding out, had pointed out that he had been told that once both he and his mate were Initiates, they would be permitted to live together, and Aurora had had to agree. The quarters Wing and Dai Atlas inhabited were not large enough for four mechs, two of them being considerably larger than the others, and Atl insisted on having his own berthroom. It had taken several orns to overhaul two sets of existing quarters into one larger set, with Dai Atlas and Axe having a berthroom larger than the entire quarters of most full Knights, while Wing and Atl had their own separate berthrooms and all four shared a common room. The most debate had involved the washrack; whether to have one that managed to accommodate all four very differently sized mecha, including one grounder, or to build two, one for the giants and one for Wing and Atl. In the end it was agreed on that one room could be used, with multiple racks.

Axe had promptly dragged his unresisting mate into their room and pointedly shut the door behind them, while Wing and Atl remained in the main living area.

"I hope those walls are soundproof," Wing commented absently, digging a cube of jet high-grade from his stash and offering Atl a cube of grounder high-grade.

"Oh, they are," Atl chuckled, having been the one to oversee the remodeling with Axe. "As are yours." He took a small sip and sighed in pleasure. "You always keep the best high grade my friend."

"Good to know." Wing grinned cheekily. "When I can get my hands on the good stuff, I keep a stash for later. Both jet- and grounder-grade. This seemed like a good time to bring some out."

"It does mark one of the most important moments in a Knight's existence," Atl agreed. "Bonding to a Great Sword, becoming a Daoshi for the first time, seeing your Initiate become a Knight, seeing them become a Daoshi."

"You're going to have an interesting time working with Axe; he's as interesting a character as his mate is," Wing pointed out. "Prying them apart long enough to drill katas into their processors is going to be interesting."

"Less difficult than you might expect," Atl smiled and sipped his cube. "They are both successful military; heavily pre-programmed for discipline and compliance to orders. Everything you aren't," he gave a teasing grin for his friend. "Though I agree, they will be an interesting pair to train. Far less focus on katas and far more on bindings than our own training, I expect."

The white jet chuckled, making no attempt to deny that he was not the most rule-abiding mech in the Citadel, or the most obedient at times. "They are probably going to spend a good chunk of their time in bindings; they have a lot to work through." He took a sip of his high-grade. "As long as they don't have to go through it at the same time."

Atl cycled his optics at the very idea. "I think we need to do what's required to avoid that," he pointed out. "The feedback could hinder things, or worse, lock them into a cross-mech feedback loop. It's bad enough when just one in a binding."

Wing nodded. "You spent as much time around Axe as I did when Dai was undergoing his first penance binding; he was a bit of a handful then. Dai is going to be even more of a handful when Axe undergoes his first traumatic binding."

"Much more," Atl agreed. "Axe has told me that he's never suffered a flashback. We already know that Dai Atlas has. I'm fairly sure that your Initiate isn't as easy to calm as mine either."

"I think getting him to calm down that time required a stun bolt. I was too busy lying on the floor in a heap, barely able to move, at the time," Wing pointed out. "Aside from that, I've never really seen him worked up."

"You've never seen him when his bonded is in agony either," Atl shrugged slightly. "As open as those two still keep their bond I expect he'll take it worse than Axe. Though I understand that you were caught off guard when he dropped you."

"I don't doubt it. And yes, Dai caught me by surprise. One of the few times I was not fast enough to get out of the way." A white wing twitched. "Though Dai and Axe have made arrangements for when Axe has to undergo his first binding penances."

"Shogun and Stormcloud," Atl nodded, content to simply relax after the basics of moving in. "I'm glad they have that option. Dai Atlas needs someone big and tough enough to take him letting go. I rather hope Axe take advantage of them as well. Comfort by interfacing seems to be a language all of them understand."

"It would be a good idea, for them to get used to each other before the next time Axe undergoes a binding." Wing shifted on the couch, sprawling over it and taking up more room than a mech of his size should be capable of occupying.

Atl chuckled at his friend. "I expect they're taking care of that. I have no doubt those two have things planned out that we'd never dream of."

"More than likely," the smaller mech agreed. He tilted his helm at Atl. "Would you mind if I used that hot oil bath in your quarters every once in a while?"

"Not at all," he grinned, knowing that question was coming the moment Wing figured out he had one. "It's there to relax in."

Wing chirred. "I'll try not to interrupt you if you're in there after a bad orn... I know what your temper can be like."

Golden optics rolled before Atl took another sip. "You mean the opposite of your interface drive?" he teased back.

Wing snorted at that, flipping a wing at the larger grounder. About to say something, he tilted his helm to one side, audial fins flaring out. "Feel that?"

Atl stilled completely for a long moment before laughing as a stronger rumble passed through the room. "So the soundproofing isn't perfect. At least I can recharge through that."

"Better than the alternative," Wing replied, reaching for his cube and taking a drink.

"Much better than your screams and screeching," Atl snickered. "Just remember to close the doors when you have company." He paused for a sip.

"You never seemed to mind my 'screams and screeching' when it's you in my berth," Wing huffed.

"I'm never trying to recharge through that," Atl smirked. "So what are you going to do for warmth now that Axe has reclaimed your Initiate?"

"Heated berth and a pillow to curl around," the jet replied with a chuckle. "It's the petting I'll miss." He lazily chucked his empty cube at Atl's helm, huffing when the red mech ducked.

"Aww, poor Wing," he laughed easily and finished his cube. "No more nightly dose of wing-petting. How will you ever recharge?"

"Maybe I'll pester you for a joor or so of wing-petting before recharge," the white jet mock-threatened, flicking the appendages in question at his friend. "I'll manage."

"You better come with something to trade," Atl grinned with easy teasing. "I'm going to be a busy mecha, you know."

"I'll keep that in mind." Wing grinned over at him. "And I'm going to be just as busy. Both of us have Initiates to train."

"You're just higher maintenance than I am," Atl chuckled and stretched before standing. "Though speaking of recharge, I'm going for a soak and to catch some."

Getting to his pedes, Wing stretched, ambling over to retrieve the empty cube he'd thrown earlier and bounce it off the back of Atl's helm before disposing of it. "I'm going to head for recharge, too. Then, in the morning we'll see if we need to break out the towing cables and pry-bars to get those two out of their berth."

Atl laughed easily and deeply. "All we need to do is master Hardwing's bark. They'll move. Might not be self-aware, but they'll move."

Wing laughed. "That would be something to see." The white jet wandered toward his berthroom. "Until we master that particular skill, we'll have to find some other way to get their large afts out of the berth for their training."

"I'm sure we'll manage," Atl grinned at his friend before closing the door to his berthroom behind him and heading for the small hot oil bath he had spent much of his savings on vorns ago.

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"Ready to see the damage?" Atl glanced at Wing as the jet came out of his berthroom. As expected, the white jet was all but a bouncing ball of pure energy. Atl liked mornings well enough, but he had nothing like Wing's apparent built-in reaction to pre-dawn.

The younger jet actually did bounce over to his friend. "Yup! Let's see what lengths we're going to have to go to in order to get them up and moving."

With a bemused shake of his helm Atl walked up to their Initiate's door and palmed it open. It was locked, but all that meant was that those of higher rank were notified that they were breaching a privacy lock before it opened.

Atl wrinkled his nose at the rush of slightly stale, heavily ionized air rushing out at them, thick with the scent of lubricant and transfluid. "They had fun."

"They certainly did." Wing hovered, eying the black streaks in Dai Atlas' blue finish, and the blue, gold, and red streaks standing out vividly against Axe's dark armor. "And both of them are still out cold."

"Wing, you like morning petting entirely too much," Dai Atlas grumbled, his optics off and unmoving. "Com'ere then," he shifted an arm in a familiar offer to let the white jet join him and be petted.

"While I would love to, it's time for you two to get your afts out of bed and get ready for the day," the white jet chirped in response. "Don't make us figure out other ways to get you moving."

An inarticulate grumble escaped the giant, but he powered on his optics and nudged his mate. "Time to move."

The grumble from the black mech might have been rude had it been even halfway intelligible. Axe swatted at Dai Atlas' hand, rolling over and trying to go back into recharge.

"Axe! You have to get up!" Wing called from where he hovered.

"Is he always like this?" Atl asked thoughtfully from the doorway.

"He hates mornings as much as the chipper one there loves them," Dai Atlas said as he shifted to get his pedes on the floor. Atl hummed as Dai Atlas grabbed his mate's shoulder with a long, long familiarity with dragging the reluctant mech out of the berth.

This time the sound Axe made was definitely a growl. The black mech made some valiant attempts to avoid being dragged to his pedes, but was hauled off the berth anyway. Axe shook himself, black armor fluffing up before resettling, grumbling under his breath.

Wing settled beside Atl, poking the red mech with one wing. "You are going to have fun with that one."

Atl cocked his helm slightly and gave his Initiate a measured looked. "Axe. What joors do you like to recharge?"

"Pre-dawn to noon, for preference." Axe yawned, blinking owlishly and trying to shake the cobwebs from his processor. The black mech muttered something to himself, leaning on Dai Atlas' shoulder.

"Night turbo-owl," Wing commented, tilting his helm slightly.

Atl nodded. "Dai Atlas, does he function better on that shift?"

"Much," the giant nodded, not daring to hope this was going where it sounded like. His wings gave him away to Wing however.

"Then let him recharge," Atl decided. "I'll be back to collect him at noon."

Axe heaved a massive sigh, giving Atl a grateful look before crawling back onto the berth and collapsing across it. He was deep in recharge in a few nanokliks.

Wing chirred softly, smiling up at Dai Atlas before waving for the larger mech to follow him. "We Knights can tailor our training schedules to the needs of our Initiates... It makes it much easier for everyone. Now let's get you cleaned up and get our orn started."