"Mirage, Hound, Red Alert, Inferno, Smokescreen!" I call before stepping back over to empty, then refill the tub.
Once finished, I turn to find the five new mechs by the door.
Wordlessly, I step over to- once again- shut and lock the door- carefully ignoring Red Alert's frightened squeak and how he clings to Inferno's arm even tighter.
They follow hesitantly as I step back over to the bathtub, offering my hands to lift them in.
Mirage- the most enthusiastic at the prospect of a wash of course- and Hound are the first to step on and I gently settle them down, handing Hound a washcloth to go ahead and get started.
Turning, I once again hold my hands palm up a few inches from the ground and wait.
It takes a few moments- and some reassurance over their bond by the looks of it- but Inferno and Red Alert finally hop on, the latter shaking visibly.
My heart clenches at the sight.
Once they're in and Inferno's given a cloth to begin washing his bondmate, I turn back to Smokescreen and offer him my palm patiently.
His bright blue gaze holds my dull green one, then he seems to steel himself and cautiously steps on, me lifting him in and grabbing a washcloth.
"Mind if I wash you?" I ask carefully.
He nods after a moment, not meeting my gaze.
I return it- even if he can't see- and get to work, staying mindful of his doorwings.
"Did you figure out what you're going to do with us?" Smokescreen winces at his own wording.
The soaked cloth in my hand drags over a doorwings gingerly, earning a shutter.
"Yeah." I nod. "I have an idea on berth arrangements, labs, a medbay, etcetera."
He seems startled, along with everyone- since they'd obviously been listening in- else.
"What is your idea?" Red Alert eyes me.
An eyebrow raises of its own accord. "Set ya'll up in different rooms, lay down some fabric and maybe cotton balls or a book down as a berth, among other things."
"That what ya got at tha store?" Inferno speaks up.
"Mhm. And some other stuff."
"Like what?" Hound asks curiously.
"Entertainment, stuff for in here, for the medbay, labs, blah blah blah."
"Oh." The scout nods.
I return it.
Silence.
We finish shortly and I got through the routine of lifting them out, drying them off, unlocking the door to let them out, calling for the next group and pressing the thing- I truly have no idea what it's called- down to let all the water out.
Not long after, Jetfire, Skyfire, Wheelie, Blurr, Drift and First Aid clear the doorway.
Standing, I shut and lock the door back, then begin to refill the tub.
Once it's to about two inches, I cut the water off, turn, then offer my hands, this group being less hesitant than the first and stepping on almost immediately.
Jetfire, Skyfire,- with a washcloth- Blurr, Drift- with their own also- and Wheelie in the water, I twist back around to wait patiently for First Aid to climb on.
The CMO in training is wringing his servo's nervously and his visor is bright in nervousness.
"Come on, Aid!" Jetfire calls, making the medic jump. "She won' bite!"
The blue band concealing his optics turns to me and I watch as he- after a moment- steps on slowly.
My movements are attentive as I deposit him into the water between Jetfire and Skyfire and Wheelie.
I grab a cloth. "Mind if I wash you two?"
"Sure thing, toots."
"Umm..."
"We're right here, Aid." Skyfire comforts.
The red, white and blue mech slowly nods.
"Care if I go ahead and do Wheelie since he won't take too long?"
"I resent that!"
I ignore him for the moment.
The medic slowly nods, armor sagging slightly as he continues to wring his servo's, although at a much slower pace.
I turn back to Wheelie. "Sorry. Didn't mean to offend."
He waves me off. "Don't worry your pretty little face 'bout it."
I ignore his comment and get to work.
Once he's finished, I lift him out to go ahead and dry him off, then send him on his way out the door.
Closing the small crack I'd opened and locking the door back, I step back over and kneel to begin on a slightly less skittish, yet still hesitant First Aid.
It takes a bit longer than the others and I end up having to pause to lift the others out, dry them off, then open the door to let them up and call the others in. It's alright though.
As I'm just starting to clean his chest plates off, the five newbies apparently decide to step through the door.
"Just a sec please. Gotta finish First Aid." I call over my shoulder, not casting my gaze away from the task at hand.
"Alright." Optimus Prime's unmistakable voice speaks, I can practically feel his nod.
"You can call me Aid if you want.." The masked and visored apprentice standing with his arms to the side practically whispers.
The barest of smiles tilts up my lips as I nod.
When I finish with Fir- er, Aid, I go through the routine of lifting him back up, drying him off, then allow him to head off as I drain the water.
As it does so, I turn to face the newcomers and usher them towards the tub as I shut and lock the door, aware of their- especially Ratchet's- optics on me as I lift the thing up and refill the tub. I grab some more washcloths since I have the time.
Shutting the water off a moment later, I get off the closed toilet lid- my perch as we waited- and crouch down to offer both hands.
Optimus and Ironhide don't hesitate to step on and I lift them in,- handing the latter a cloth- followed by Ratchet and Wheeljack- handing the former a cloth.
Turning, I offer Ultra Magnus a palm and wait patiently as he debates for a moment, then climbs on, me spinning back around to deposit him in the lukewarm-if-not-a-little-cooler water.
"Mind if I wash you?" I grab a cloth, allowing my hand to make it droop over the side if he denies.
"You may." He nods.
I return it, getting to work.
A low growl catches my attention a few minutes later as I'm washing the middle of the former commanders backplates.
"Yes, Ratchet?" I don't have to look up to know it's him. He's been eying me over Wheeljack's shoulder guards since he started.
"You being careless about your wound." His growl deepens as he speaks.
I pause, my movements actually faltering but I'm quick to continue when Ultra Magnus glances over a rocket launcher.
"I honestly forgot."
"How do you continue to 'forget' about breaking a vital part of your body?!"
I shrug. "Happens a lot."
I ignore his snarl.
"I'm struck, might notice it and patch it up, then otherwise forget about it unless someone points it out."
There's a steady moment of silence, besides the ever constant dripping or sloshing of water and armor shifting.
"You shall be the end of me, femme."
"Sorry."
"No you aren't." He and Wheeljack trade places, the inventor's helmfins flashing a merry blue that makes me wonder what he's plotting to do with the new tools in the kitchen.
"Actually, I am. I don't purposefully try to tick you off."
"You'd be the first." Ironhide mutters, only to curse when a wrench collides with his helm.
"No wrenches in the washracks, Ratchet." I scold, not even thinking about the consequences.
"I will not hesitate to use this on you femme. Wounded or not." The red and white medic waves it around in emphasis.
"I have no doubt."
"Humph."
Silence reigns.
Until...
"Thank you."
"For what?" I raise an eyebrow at Ultra Magnus as he turns for me to start on his front.
He shifts slightly.
"For returning Illustrious to me."
"No problem." I shrug, swiping over his chassis, then down his legs carefully.
"It had been a problem but no longer now that she's in my care. Our care." He reiterates
I don't have a reply.
Not long after, I'm opening the door for the now clean and dry mechs to step out.