"I think Sunstreaker loves me

"I think Sunstreaker loves me."

Wheeljack looked up slowly at his friend, too shocked to speak. The comment came in the middle of a totally unrelated discussion about human politics, and therefore, took Wheeljack completely by surprise.

"Come again?"

"I think that Sunstreaker loves me… not only him but Sideswipe as well…" Ratchet said in an undertone.

Wheeljack was utterly blown away by the turn in their conversation. Ratchet and Wheeljack had been friends for a long time, but never did Wheeljack think he was on such a level that Ratchet trusted him with something like this. Ratchet usually kept these things to himself, so it's no surprise that the inventor was thrown off by the medic's sudden need of comfort.

"And you think so because?…" The inventor finally managed.

"Because I asked him…" Ratchet stated, with a clear tone of sadness and shame in his voice.

Wheeljack, yet again, was taken aback by the medic's words. "So you think he loves you because he told you he loves you, but your not sure if he loves you?" Wheeljack concluded confusedly.

"Yes… and no… Sunstreaker may not have been in his right mind when I asked." Ratchet seemed immensely uncomfortable by the whole situation.

"Ok you lost me Ratchet… Start from the beginning." Wheeljack observed Ratchet expectantly. After a few moments of gathering his thoughts Ratchet explained himself, as only he knew how, with a rant.

"Well you see, for a while now the twins have been acting funny around me, you had to have noticed it, I mean everyone in the ark noticed it. And I just let it slide, because… well because when they aren't acting like complete idiots or pranking the living crap out of you, they are really nice to be around. And its common knowledge that the three of us have been drinking together after our shifts and that sprang from the fact that they are really nice to be around when they aren't being unsociable or plain annoying. But then there was this… This… nagging 'feeling' in the back of my processors that something wasn't right. I mean it didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that the twins might have affection for me, especially after the kiss…"

"Kiss?!" Up until that point Wheeljack was nodding and making the occasional 'ahuh' sound to show he was following but when the information about the kiss was thrown out there, he couldn't help but blurt out his thoughts. "What kiss?!"

"Well, one day after our shifts, we all had a little to much energon, and, well… Sunstreaker kissed me…" If Ratchet were human, he'd be as red as a radish at this point.

"He kissed you?"

"Yes but we were all a little over-charged…"

"And…" Wheeljack asked after a moment of silence.

"And?" Ratchet seemed generally confused.

"And what happened after the kiss?"

"I left right after it happened…"

Wheeljack sighed and shook his head; Ratchet was clearly upset over this. "And what else makes you think they love you?"

"Well, I asked Sunstreaker if he loved me and he said yes."

"So what's the dilemma?" Wheeljack was getting the feeling the medic was leaving something rather important out.

"Well Sunstreaker was sedated when I asked." Ratchet said, in an almost inaudible whisper.

"He was sedated!! How did you even ask him…" Wheeljacks optics narrowed "You messed with the CPU restraints didn't you?"

Ratchet lower his head. "I'm sorry… I had to know…"

Wheeljack sighed a deep, unhappy sigh before continuing. "So you think the twins love you because they are being nice to you, one of them kissed you when you all were over-charged and because one of them told you he loved you when he was under the influence of CPU slowing drugs, ya that all sounds like rock hard evidence." Wheeljack couldn't help but sound sarcastic. Ratchet didn't take well to the criticism.

"There's more then that!" He snapped even though there really wasn't. At this Wheeljack lifted an optic ridge; one asset of being friends with another for so long is that you can read them like a book.

"And where are the twins now?" Wheeljack deadpanned.

"They were discharged for the med bay about two hour ago. Last I saw them, Bluestreak was taking them to the rec room." Ratchet replied hesitantly.

"Ahuh." Was all Wheeljack replied.

"Well what do you think?" Ratchet asked upsettingly of his friend.

"I think you love them back…" Wheeljack said calmly.

"WHAT?!" Ratchet yelped.

"You heard me. You love them back. You wouldn't be this upset about it if you didn't. Lets look at the facts shall we? You messed with a medical tool while said medical tool was in use on a patient, something you would never do. And you sought advice for a personal matter, also something you rarely do. And finally, you're indecisive, which is very uncharacteristic of you." Wheeljack stated equanimity, almost happily.

Now it was Ratchets turn to be dumfounded by the other's statement. After a moment the medic brought his head up, wide optics meeting the inventors.

"I…love…them…" The ambulances voice was but a whisper.

Upon hearing Ratchets reply and the silence that followed, Wheeljack took the opportunity to add, "As to the matter of what you should do. There isn't enough proof to say the twins love you with 100 accuracy, but if they do, then I think you should wait for them to make the first move. Knowing their personalities, if they do indeed love you, they will most likely be the ones to make the first move." Wheeljack paused. "Anyways, I have to go get some supplies from the storage, do me a favor and help me lug the stuff back here."

"Why would I do something like that?" Ratchet chuckled, elbowing Wheeljack playfully in the side. Not minding in the least that Wheeljack was trying to change the subject.

"Because I was a good friend and helped you with your conundrum and I am going to continue being a good friend and keep the conversation we had a secret." Wheeljack said, teasingly back.

"Slagging rights you are, or I would be forced to weld you to the ceiling." Ratchet shot back playfully. "Came on then, lets go get the supplies." Ratchet said as he pulled Wheeljack to his feet.