Title: Puppy Love, Chapter 7
Fandom: Transformers G1 AU
Pairing/Characters: Sideswipe + Sunstreaker, Ratchet, Jazz, Bluestreak, Wheeljack
Rating: PG
Summary/Warnings: Wheeljack comes to visit and gets 'welcomed' by some of the Enforcer crew.
Disclaimer: This is a piece of fiction. No harm was intended in the creation of this work. All rights belong to the original creators.
*** I'm just coming out of a 4 day weekend for me which ended up being very productive for me. I can't say that updates will be as forthcoming in the future as they have been for the past 3 chapters. Thanks for reading! FP
They eventually untangled themselves so that Ratchet could retrieve his reading materials. As soon as he settled back into their nest, Sideswipe wriggled around so that his head rested on Ratchet's thighs and Sideswipe's legs stretched out across Sunstreaker's lap. Sideswipe quickly fell into recharge, helped along by Ratchet's stroking of Sideswipe's helm.
Sunstreaker propped his sketch pad on Sideswipe's good hip, and his stylus was soon flying across the pad's surface. Ratchet was quite eager to see what Sunstreaker came up with, but instinctively knew not to pry. Sunstreaker would come to him when he was ready.
Ratchet quickly became engrossed in his studies, excited to be coming back to his rotations. He quite enjoyed his time with the Twins, but his natural desire to learn new things made his hands twitch for a patient beneath them.
The three of them settled into a companionable quiet. Ratchet lost track of time and probably would have kept on reading, but Sunstreaker suddenly startled with a faint growl. Ratchet looked up to follow Sunstreaker's gaze to the apartment door. Now that Ratchet had emerged from his haze, he could hear the faint sound of shouting out in the hall.
"Stay here," Sunstreaker commanded, slipping out from under Sideswipe's legs and standing. Sideswipe stirred as Ratchet tried to gently extract himself from Sideswipe's weight.
"What's going on?" Ratchet asked as Sunstreaker opened the door and warily stuck his head out. When nothing presented itself, he transformed into his dog form and loped out onto the landing.
"Sunstreaker! Fraggit it all, wait!" Ratchet called, nearly tripping over Sideswipe's game stacks as he hurried after the yellow twin. Ratchet glanced over his shoulder when he reached the doorway, relieved to see Sideswipe sitting up and looking around blearily; he was awake enough to defend himself if necessary.
Out of the apartment, Ratchet realized that the shouting was coming from below and followed the rapidly disappearing tip of Sunstreaker's tail balancer down the stairs. Ratchet moved so quickly, that he nearly fell over Sunstreaker who was sitting on his haunches at the bottom of the stairs. He glared over his shoulder as Ratchet reached the landing.
I told you to stay put.
"Like I'm really going to do that," Ratchet retorted. Sunstreaker snorted.
You should probably rescue your friend, he advised, and Ratchet finally realized that the mech flattened on the floor just a few feet away was Wheeljack.
Jazz crouched on Wheeljack's back, his arms pulled behind him in a painful looking hold. Wheeljack babbled nonsensically as Jazz shook him, asking him his purpose in the building. Another mech, gray and white and with the same build as Prowl , stood a few feet away with a pulse rifle aimed quite steadily at Wheeljack's head.
"Whoa, whoa!" Ratchet exclaimed, stepping forward. He stilled as the rifle snapped up to point directly at his spark. From behind him, Sunstreaker snarled and bolted to his feet, his claws screeching across the floor.
"Ratchet? Ratchet, is that you?" Wheeljack asked. His voice was muffled as his faceplates were pressed into the flooring.
"Do you know this mech, Ratch?" Jazz asked, never taking his eyes off the mech beneath him.
"Yes!" Ratchet said, fidgeting in place. "He's my best friend. We used to be roommates until a few days ago, so could you please let him up? And maybe get your friend's rifle out of my faceplates?" Ratchet said, a little unnerved at the unwavering tip of the weapon.
Jazz looked up finally, and his optics widened. "Blue, stand down!" he ordered.
With a jolt, the rifle bearer blinked and then dropped his weapon to his side, looking at Jazz with confusion. As soon as the rifle lowered, Sunstreaker flew across the landing and leapt up onto the gray mech.
The mech went down with a shout, Jazz and Ratchet both springing forward.
"Sunny, no!" Ratchet yelled. Sunstreaker snarled over his shoulder at Ratchet and continued growling in Blue's faceplates. The growling was interspersed with barks and yips, and Ratchet relaxed fractionally as he realized that although Sunstreaker had the mech pinned, his claws and teeth were nowhere near vital areas.
"What in the Pit?" Jazz said, visor blazing nearly white. The point of his sidearm wavered in the air. "Get him off!" Ratchet halted Jazz's rush with an outstretched arm.
"He's yelling at him," Ratchet said with a breathless laugh. He tugged on Sunstreaker's tail balancer, eyeing Jazz and his gun all the while. "Sunny, come on, that's enough."
Sunstreaker snarled once more and then jumped off, the motion leading into a transformation back to his root form. The growling transformed as well, into snarled words as Sunstreaker glared down at the mech still flat on his back.
"… pit slagged, trigger happy hatchling with an ugly, hack job finish…" Sunstreaker rambled even as Ratchet pulled him away a few steps.
"Ugly? Is my finish ugly?" Blue asked Jazz as he leaned over and helped Blue to his feet. "Smokey said that these colors made my optics pop. Do you really think my finish is ugly?"
"… fat, little, fragging…"
"Hush, Blue, your paint is just fine," Jazz soothed, handing Blue his rifle.
"… and if you ever point that thing at Ratchet again, I'll rip your faceplates off!" Sunstreaker yelled, optics bright with rage. Blue quivered as the last was delivered with a jabbing finger inches away from his nasal ridge. Suddenly, the focused steadiness from moments earlier was gone, leaving a shaky mech that looked barely into adulthood.
Jazz shot Sunstreaker a dark look as he placed a comforting hand on Blue's shoulder. Ratchet whipped around to face his ward. "Are you done now?" he asked in a low, warning tone.
Sunstreaker crossed his arms over his chest plates and huffed, a little abashed at Ratchet's glare. "Yes."
"Oh! You're Ratchet!" Blue said, blinking rapidly. Some of the tremors dissipated as he stared frankly at the vet medic. "Prowl's said so much about you and your younglings! Are you one of the younglings?" he asked, looking up at Sunstreaker. "Wow! I thought you'd be a lot smaller, but you're almost as big as Ironhide, huh? There's not many mechs as big as Ironhide, there's Optimus of course, but…"
"Blue…" Jazz said, shaking the mech's shoulder slightly.
Ratchet frowned, taking in the still rambling Blue. Then he turned and glared at Sunstreaker.
"Hey, no, I didn't hit him that hard!" Sunstreaker protested.
"Bluestreak's normally a little chatty," Jazz explained, waving a hand. "There's not a scratch on 'im," the Enforcer said approvingly, brushing off dirt from Bluestreak's backplates.
"That was a pretty good takedown, kid," Jazz said to Sunstreaker.
"Can I get up now?" a querulous voice asked from the floor, and they all turned to see Wheeljack peering up at them from between arms tucked quite securely over his head.
"Yeah, sure!" Bluestreak exclaimed. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know that you were Ratchet's friend. I guess you didn't know which floor he was on, huh? Here, let me help," Blue said, leaning over and practically yanking Wheeljack up.
"All right!" Jazz announced, taking a step back. "I think some introductions are in order, yeah? I'm Jazz and my sharpshooter friend over there is Bluestreak. That's Ratchet and Sunstreaker," he said, pointing, "and you are…?"
"Wheeljack," the mech said, his helm fins flashing rapidly in a rainbow of colors. "I just came to visit," he said, looking helplessly at Ratchet.
"'Wheeljack'," Jazz murmured, his visor dimming momentarily. "You've worked with Prowl before! Now I remember the name! Hey, mech, I really am sorry for jumping on you like that. Ratch and the twins are under watch by everyone in the building, and we've already had a few threats, so we're all a little jumpy."
"There's been threats?" Ratchet asked, Sunstreaker twitching beside him.
Jazz winced, a hand rubbing the back of his helm. "Oh. Yeah. Well, you know. One or two. Or three. I thought Prowl would have told you," he said, apologetically.
"He hasn't. At least not yet," Ratchet said, sighing. Suddenly his talk with Prowl and Optimus earlier that day was becoming much more real.
"I'm sure he will. So, hey, is there anyone else that we need to know about?" Jazz asked.
Ratchet shook his head. "No, I can't think of anyone. If there is, I'll be sure to let you know, so there won't be another repeat of… this," Ratchet said, waving a hand to encompass the landing.
"Woah," Sideswipe drawled, gaining everyone's attention as he limped down the stairs. "There's a party, and no one invited me?"
"No party," Bluestreak spoke up. "Jazz and I accidently attacked Wheeljack," he said, almost proudly. "Hey, are you the other youngling? Wow, you guys don't really look all that much like twins. I would have thought twins would have looked more alike. I mean you two are similar but not that similar and…"
Sideswipe paused at the rapid fire words and then cut a glare to his brother. "What did you do?"
Sunstreaker threw his hands up in the air and stalked across the landing, grabbing Sideswipe's arm and ushering back up the stairs. "Nothing. Move."
"But I just got down here!" Ratchet heard Sideswipe protest as the Twins made their way back up to the apartment.
"I really am sorry," Bluestreak said, placing a hand on Wheeljack's arm as he hesitantly moved towards Ratchet. Large, earnest optics stared into Wheeljack's faceplates, and the sensory panels on Blue's back quivered. Ratchet decided that the mech was entirely too adorable to be holding a pulse rifle in his other hand.
Wheeljack must have felt the same way because the strobing of his helm fins slowed and pulsed a light purple. "No, no, I understand. You were doing your job," he soothed, patting the hand that was latched onto his arm. "And you did it so well," he added, casting a wry glance at Jazz.
"You're sure you're ok?" Jazz asked. "We should let you get going."
"Yes, I'm fine. Questioning my friendship with him," Wheeljack said, pointing at Ratchet, "but otherwise fine."
Ratchet grinned, happy to see 'Jack's familiar face once again. "You love excitement," he said, gesturing for Wheeljack to precede him up the stairwell.
"I'm not so sure about that anymore," Wheeljack commented. "Lately, every time I come near you I end up tossed on the floor."
"It was nice to meet you!" Bluestreaker hollered from behind them as Ratchet and Wheeljack began climbing to the next floor.
Wheeljack turned and waved over his shoulder. "I'm not sure I can say the same," he replied honestly. "But maybe next time will be better, huh?" he rushed to add when Bluestreak's faceplates dropped.
"It will!" Bluestreak exclaimed, expression lightening. Jazz caught his shoulder and began leading the gray mech downstairs.
He waited until they were in front of the apartment door; then Wheeljack turned and gave Ratchet a wry look.
"That was surreal," Wheeljack said.
Ratchet shook his head. "Now you know what I've been going through."
When they got back to their apartment, Sideswipe immediately went over to the nest and sat back down with a pleased sigh.
You're getting lazy, Sunstreaker commented. Sideswipe stared at his brother through narrowed optics, watching his twin pace back and forth across the common room. Sideswipe could feel the desire to move singing across their bond. Fortunately, Sideswipe had long ago learned how to block out Sunstreaker when he was like this.
Yes, I am! he said, leaning back against a pillow. What happened to get you this riled up?
Sunstreaker paused, his hands flexing. That gray one, Bluestreak. He had a rifle on Ratchet.
Sideswipe bolted upright in shock, dimly happy to note that he only felt a dull ache at the rapid motion. A rifle? What did you do?
Jumped on him, Sunstreaker said, shrugging. Yelled at him. Forgot I was in dog form and mostly ended up barking at him, he added, looking a little sheepish.
Sideswipe grinned, remembering how often Sunstreaker would curse out their captors and other opponents; he would remain safe, however, because it all came out as nonsensical growling.
So the mech just babbles like that normally? Cuz I was getting worried there that you messed up his processor.
Jazz said he's 'chatty', Sunstreaker said, resuming pacing.
Sideswipe made a face. He must be fun to hang around with, he said sarcastically. Remind me to avoid him. Sideswipe had a natural inclination to talk, one which had gotten him on the receiving end of Sunstreaker's short temper quiet often. But still, even Sideswipe knew when to shut up.
Wish you were better, Sunstreaker replied.
I do too, Sideswipe said and meant it with his entire spark. Sunstreaker was much more stable now than he had been at the arena, but Sideswipe still worried when Sunstreaker got like this; he was easily provoked. Ordinarily, they would spar until Sunstreaker burned off the extra energy. But for now Sideswipe couldn't do much except send calming pulses over the bond.
Wonder if that Ironhide mech is still around, Sunstreaker mused.
Sideswipe cocked his head to the side, probing to see how intent his brother was on that line of thought. Unfortunately, Sunstreaker was pretty serious.
Don't. He's big and likely experienced if he's training recruits. I don't want you getting hurt; you won't have me to back you up, Sideswipe cautioned.
Sunstreaker glared at his brother. I don't need you! And I wouldn't get hurt; I'm not some newly hatched sparkling!
Sideswipe looked away, a little hurt. But he reined in the anger that accompanied that hurt as the apartment door slid aside revealing Ratchet and Wheeljack.
Fine. But it's not me you have to deal with, Sideswipe shot back. Imagine how disappointed Ratchet will be.
Sunstreaker whipped around and stared at Sideswipe, a stricken expression drawing his faceplates tight.
"What's going on?" Ratchet asked, coming to a standstill just inside the door. He looked from one twin to another obviously sensing the tension in the room.
"Nothing," Sideswipe replied lightly, looking at Ratchet and smiling a disarming grin. "Did that little bit of a building manager really beat you up, 'Jack?" he asked, peering around Ratchet to wave at the science student. "You're like, twice his size."
Sunstreaker snorted and walked over to Ratchet's desk, pulling out the chair and sitting on it with a grunt. He stared pensively out the window, ignoring the rest of the room.
"I'm not that much bigger, and he was quite quick," Wheeljack admitted, finally brave enough to emerge from behind Ratchet.
What's wrong? Ratchet sent Sideswipe with a concerned look.
He's cranky because he didn't get to finish a fight. Or really start one, from what it sounds like. Don't worry about him. Just leave him alone, and he'll join us when he feels like it, Sideswipe explained quickly.
"So how are you two settling in?" Wheeljack asked, searching for a place to sit. Sideswipe gestured for him to take a pillow and get comfortable. The scientist positioned himself perpendicular to Sideswipe while Ratchet sat on Sunstreaker's chair at his desk.
"We're good. A shrink came by to test us on the things we don't know. Which is pretty much everything so I think we'll be seeing him for a while," Sideswipe said, wincing internally when he realized that it was probably true.
"A shrink?" Wheeljack asked, lifting an optic ridge in Ratchet's direction.
Ratchet nodded. "Smokescreen does the evaluations for several precincts in the area. He also has a teaching degree so he'll be tutoring the twins."
"Interesting. So have you met everyone in the building yet?"
Sideswipe let Ratchet and Wheeljack's voices float over him, not really paying attention. He still felt groggy from his medication induced recharge, and was devoting a lot of effort in soothing his brother's irritation.
Wheeljack was nice enough, Sideswipe thought to himself. But he hoped Wheeljack would leave soon so Ratchet could devote his attention back to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.