Fandom: Transformers G1, season 3 (now with IDW aspects)
Author: gatekat
Chars: Jazz, Tsubasa, Drift. Past Drift/Wing, Drift/Perceptor, Jazz/Prowl
Rating: PG-13
Codes: AU, Sparkling, Slash
Summary: Tsubasa's on a learning curve and picks something a bit beyond his reach.
Notes: klik = 1 minute; breem = 8.3 minutes; joor = 1.2 hours; orn = day/32 joor; metacycle = 6 (5.9285) years; vorn = 83 years/14 metacycles
Starfire201 on FFN worked out the deal with Tsubasa's name and requested my OC Windsong (a minor char from Wanderer's Home and Wolf in the Fold) join the party. The contest is still open.
Reminder that antepathy on LJ (writing: shadow_vector) is basically the base of my Drift, Wing and Sniper!Perceptor and much of what she writes of them is my head-canon, especially the Drift/Wing stuff.
This Winter Won't Last Forever 25
Drift snapped to awareness with all the suddenness he was renown for as Deadlock. Close-range sensors first, then combat protocols, then weapons. About then was when he identified a small mech, a small minibot, creeping up to Wing's Great Sword. It reached out, straining to touch the gem set in the hilt. The former Autobot knew without turning on his optics that the mech, less than half his height, would never manage. Still, it wouldn't do to have some sneak-thief scum touching what was left of Wing's spark in the physical world.
He moved with the swift, precise grace that a lifetime of combat had drilled into him, snatching up the intruder by the neck as the Decepticons has taught him but merely hoisted the wide-opticked mech to his optic level with the restraint his first true lover had somehow managed to instill in him. Something niggled the back of Drift's processors as he took in the bright emerald-green optics and terrified features level with his own.
It took him a moment to place it, to work out that it was three things. This was a sparkling, a young one; likely under a vorn, which meant he'd he a giant if he survived to his final frame. It was the same sparkling that stared at him every time they crossed paths. Skyswept's brat with that performer with the green visor.
But what really hit him was that this sparkling he'd never actually met felt familiar to him.
"I'm sorry," the sparkling whispered, not actually fighting, only using his hands on Drift's forearm to take a little weight off his neck. "I couldn't resist."
Drift cocked his head and put the little one down, shifting to cross his arms and glare down.
"Start with your designation and that of your creators," he demanded curtly.
"I'm Tsubasa. My carrier was Prowl, my creator is Sirenis," he answered quickly, looking away, desperate not to meet Drift's sharp blue optics.
Drift raised an optic ridge at the statement. So this was the infamous Autobot Second in Command's spawn. Which did leave two questions, only one of which he cared about.
"What role does Skyswept have?"
"He was assigned to my creators to help them adjust to civilian functioning," the sparkling answered easily. "He's my creator's friend."
So Sirenis was an Autobot at one point. Also a former Decepticon, if Drift was any judge of character and training. He opened a comm line and pinged Skyswept with a brief message that Tsubasa was in Drift's quarters and was not welcome to stay.
He'd comm Sirenis if there wasn't a response from Skyswept within a klik.
"Sit," Drift pointed to the floor where the sparkling was standing and was only half surprised at the immediate compliance. Sirenis definitely wasn't one to tolerate direct disobedience if this was any indication. "Do either know you aren't in your berth?"
"No," Tsubasa shook his head, his emerald green optics already shifting towards Wing's Great Sword once more.
Drift watched him silently for a moment.
"Why don't you just pester Skyswept about his Great Sword?" Drift decided to pass the time - and keep the sparkling from trying to touch Wing's Great Sword again.
That got the sparkling's attention, and apparently made him think too.
"It's not interesting," Tsubasa answered pensively. "That one sings to me."
Drift grunted again and gave a nearly-audible sigh of relief when Skyswept commed him back.
::Is he okay?:: The Knight sounded more than slightly terrified, though he was keeping it controlled.
::The sparkling's fine,:: Drift tried not to roll his optics. ::Who here would hurt one?::
::No one,:: came the immediate, reflexive reply. ::Convincing his creator of that isn't so easy. Don't antagonize Sirenis, please. He's likely to lash out right now.::
::What could I possibly have to fear from an entertainer?:: This time he did roll his optics.
::Not much. But from who he was before, far too much. He can change his designation and frame, but hasn't changed much of his programming.::
::So who was he? Sounds like I knew him.:: Drift was suddenly very curious. It sounded like Sirenis' previous life was a secret like his was. Not suppressed or deleted, but not spoken of without good cause either.
"Jazz," the vaguely familiar voice caught Drift's attention from the huge picture window that opened onto a balcony. The quarters were really designed for a flier - for Wing - but Drift would never change them in such a fundamental way. "Seems the kid takes after Prowl more than I thought."
"After Prowl?" Drift raised an optic ridge at the lounging form, only paying slight attention as Tsubasa rushed to his creator and buried himself against the sleek white armor that no longer bore any real resemblance to the heavy wartime frame the Autobot TIC was known in.
Sirenis chuckled, stroking his creation's helm. "He sees a 'shiny' and doesn't give up until he has it. How do you think Prowler got me?"
That raised an optic ridge even further, but Drift said nothing.
"Well, sorry for letting him disturb your recharge," Sirenis continued as he nudged Tsubasa to the floor and followed with the smooth, lethal grace Jazz had long been known for. "I'll improve the security on his room before I recharge."
Drift meanly nodded, watching as the pair left his quarters by the door.
Tsubasa's optics never quite left Wing's Great Sword.