"We're baaaaaack!" Skywarp announces with a dramatic flourish once we clear the doorway.

I snort as I allow everybody to get down, stalking over to the counter to heft all the bags on it.

"Took you long enough..." I hear Starscream mutter and glance out of my peripheral to watch him land on the opposite side of the wooden surface than me, Thundercracker right beside him.

"What'd you get?" Rumble and Frenzy stare at the array of plastic transports intently.

I shrug. "Different stuff."

I begin to free the numerous items from their prison- tossing the bags to the floor to clean up in a moment- and scoot them forward for everyone to see.

"Get enough stuff?" Ironhide grumbles from the closest couch arm.

I shrug again. "Hope so."

"Alright, washracks time." I announce, deciding to deal with the stuff later.

Several groans or exclamations of happiness sound.

"Moonlight, Raygrin, Illustrious, Elita One, Chromia and Arcee wanna follow me?" I round out of the kitchen to step over by the couch.

The mentioned femme's nod and climb to my shoulders or palm.

"Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Prowl, Jazz, Bumblebee and Bluestreak are next!" I call over my shoulder, well, technically Moonlight and Raygrin I guess.

Stalking into the bathroom, I shut and lock the door, before letting the six femme's down.

Grabbing a few washcloths to sit on the closed toilet lid, I draw the shower curtains back and slip the inside one out, before flipping the thing up and turning the water on.

Once filled to about two or three inches, I turn back to the group of femme's, holding my hands out for them to hop on.

They do so and I lift them in. They sigh in relief, armor sagging.

Chuckling, I grab one of the washcloths.

"Want me to help or you all do it?"

They share glances and seem to debate over comms.

Elita turns to me once they- apparently- come to an agreement.

"We can aid one another but your assistance would be greatly appreciated."

I nod.

Grabbing the other washcloths, I hand one to Raygrin,- who approaches Arcee- then keep the last.

"I'll get you Moonlight if you can get Illustrious."

"Alright." She nods with a smile.

I return it, then get to work, being mindful of Moonlight's wings.

"So, what are your plans?" Raygrin asks with curious neon green optics from where Arcee is cautiously scrubbing her wings.

Elita, Chromia and Arcee seem to have taken an almost immediate liking to the three new femmes but are still a little weary around them. But for ones who were at war forever and never met- let alone heard of- them, they're doing pretty good.

"Might wanna ease up around her wings a bit, Arcee." I comment as gently as possible. Not aiming to torque her off after all.

"Oh." She pauses, glancing at me. "Sorry." She directs towards Raygrin.

"It's fine!" The orange and red femme chirps.

"Not entirely sure." I answer her former question as Arcee gets back to work, being much gentler around the orange with red striped wings. "I have an idea but I'm not positive it'll completely work. We'll see." I shrug.

"I'm sure it will turn out fine." Elita assures as she scrubs down Chromia's backplates. The trigger-happy femme not looking too happy about it.

"I guess." I mutter and refocus on cleaning Moonlight's wings, being meticulous about not pressing too hard.

"Surprised Ratchet hasn't hassled you three, Darksteel and Sky Lynx into getting a check up." I muse aloud involuntarily.

Chromia snorts. "Yeah."

"He probably will after his turn." Arcee comments.

"All of us most likely." Elita adds.

"May Primus have mercy on your sparks."

All movements pause as they turn to look at me.

We all burst out laughing a moment later.

"That was fraggin' great!" Chromia manages between guffaws as she leans against Elita for support.

"You can say that again!" Illustrious gasps.

Our laughter settles down a few moments later, all of us picking up our disregarded 'cloths to get back to work, amused chuckles falling from their lipplates.

"You should laugh more."

I meet Moonlight's golden optics.

I'm quick to refocus again though.

"It makes you look even prettier."

My gaze slips overs to hers again but quickly retreats. "I'm not pretty."

"Course you are." Raygrin switches out with Arcee.

"No."

Moonlight turns so I can start on her front.

"Yes, you are." She insists, holding her arms out.

"You finished, Illustrious?"

She nods, staring up at me.

"You should listen. You are very beautiful."

A snort escapes my concealed lips before I can stop it.

"Done, Moonlight." I swipe the cloth over her chest plates,- we're all femmes/females here, get your mind out of the gutter!- then just allow it to settle beside her ped.

Mouthplates open to continue further but I cut them off by standing- knees cracking- to grab the towel I forgot from the closet.

Well, it's technically a 'hand towel' I guess. I think that's what they're called anyway...

All six femmes are lifted out of the tub- me flipping the thing down to drain the water- and settled on the mat where I proceed to- carefully- clean them off, ignoring their attempts to get me to agree.

Once finished, I settle the towel on the toilet lid and stand- knees cracking again- to unlock the door.

"Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Prowl, Jazz, Bumblebee, Bluestreak, get your afts in here!" Chromia bellows as she and the other five much shinier femmes saunter out into the hallway.

Aforementioned mechs begin their trek down the opposite end of the hall just as they make it to the living room. Several whistles reach my ears.

Rolling my eyes, I wait for them to enter patiently, then shut and lock the door behind us once everyone clears the doorway.

I pad over, flip the thing back up, scoop the used washcloths up to hang on the little metal bar just for this purpose, grab fresh ones, then turn the water on to a descent temperature and allow it to fill back up to its two to three inches. Once done, I shut the water back off, then lift the six strangely silent mechs in.

Handing Sideswipe one of the white pieces of fabric, along with Bumblebee, my attention turns to the two black and white's.

"I can help one of ya'll if you want." I'm careful to keep a 'cloth dangling in their reach in case they decline.

I can tell they have a brief conversation over their bond, before Jazz nods with a grin, stepping forward.

I wordlessly hand the saboteur the washcloth to work on Prowl and grab my own to start on Jazz.

The SIC's wings are flared out as his mate begins- and not just because they're being cleaned- in what I can easily tell is weariness. Not at the ministrations to his plating of course but to his bonded's.

Understanding completely, I'm careful to be as gentle as possible- and even more so.

I think Prowl notices as it's time for him to turn 'cause the weary stiffness in his frame eases, along with the creasing around his optics. Even Jazz's plating slacks. I don't think he even noticed it was slightly flared.

The seven of us continue in silence.

I'm slightly surprised Bumblebee or Bluestreak aren't talking- even amongst themselves- but the tense set of their doorwings and frame explains it all.

Sideswipe would most likely be running his own mouth if not for Sunstreaker carefully scrubbing him clean. Something tells me his golden brother is keeping him under lock and energon bars.

By the time we all finish,- which is a good bit longer than with the femmes since we have Sunstreaker- the unease had completely left Jazz and Prowl and even Bumblebee and Bluestreak seemed more relaxed.

After toweling them each off,- being extra careful with Sunstreaker- I open the door for them to head back to the living room or wherever else they want to go.