Title: Dinner
Rating: PG
Summary: Suddenly he realizes there's no going back

This shouldn't be happening...

Air Raid looked up from his plate, noting with dim optics that Slingshot was still resolutely staring down at his own, shoveling back his meal without care or concern for the somewhat disapproving look Silverbolt was sending his way. Venting softly, the red mech returned his own gaze to his dinner, trying to swallow back another bite.

He hadn't meant to kiss Slingshot -had wanted to, yes, but he knew better than to do something like that with his volatile brother. It was because of one lacking moment of restraint that suddenly he was cut off from the younger shih tzu; brutally ignored, shunned and ostracized. Air Raid would give anything to have Slingshot talk to him again.

"I hear from Skydive that you have a girlfriend, Slingshot," Silverbolt began, smiling as he set down his fork for a moment. The red shih tzu froze. "Your brother tells me she's a lovely lil' femme, and that she seems quite enamoured with you."

Slingshot looked up from his plate, turning bored optics to the oldest autodog. "Yeah," he shrugged neutrally, "She seems that way."

Fireflight gasped in delight, clapping his servos together excitedly. "What's her name? Are you going to go on a date?," he asked, optics shimmering in joy. "Is she going to be like your princess, Slingshot?"

Silverbolt patted the sparkling's helm. "Her name is Rosanna, I heard, and she's very sweet. Skydive says she's very polite too."

"She wants to go to the movies," Slingshot informed dully as again their youngest brother gave a squeal of excitement, "I might need to borrow some money."

"Why of course, Slingshot," the older autodog replied. "And if you need a ride as well, I'd be glad to-"

"Excuse me," Air Raid quickly mumbled, rising to his pedes. He hurried from the table just as the rest of his family fell quiet at the unexpected interruption; missing the visor that slowly glanced at him as the red mech fled from the room.

Title: Her
Rating: T
Summary: He can't help but hate her

He watched from the window as Slingshot walked down the yard casually, meeting up with the petite femme that stood at the gate patiently. She threw her arms around his brother the moment he was close, saying something with a bright and joyful smile on her face. The grey mech patted her back with one servo, replying.

Fist strangling the curtains, Air Raid forced himself to step away from the window; the anger and jealousy that had been flowing through him just then disappearing as soon as he was out of view of his brother and his new botfriend, leaving only the anguish and sparkache. Crumpling onto the edge of his berth, the shih tzu choked on a sob, dropping his face into his knees as he hugged himself.

Why, he cried silently, why did Slingshot have to do this to him?

Why couldn't his brother just talk to him, let him apologize, instead of going around, blatantly rubbing it in his face that he had a botfriend now?

...why couldn't Slingshot just love him back...?

Spark withering in pain, Air Raid gasped brokenly into his legs, feeling tremors run up and down his frame as he wept over his brother's cruel rejection.

Title: Rescue
Rating: T
Summary: He remembers their past

They had made Slingshot go away.

A little shih tzu crawled through the bush, getting closer and closer to the little lean-to that tried pathetically to pass as a house. Wiping the grime from his face, a red helm peeked up from the branches, trying to peer through a grungy window into the home. This is the place that the System had sent Slingshot to.

Even as young as he was, Air Raid could see this was a bad place. No one should live here, especially not his younger brother. Seeing that no one was around, the sparkling grabbed the window's ledge, trying to yank it up. To his horror, it was nailed shut. Shuttering his optics uncertainly, the shih tzu dropped back down to the bushes, scrambling through the dirt and dark until his servos curled over a sharp rock.

Smiling in hope, the autodog returned to the window, digging the rock's sharp edges into the wood and under the nails' head; ripping them out one by one. It was hard and long work, made difficult by how rusted and deeply imbedded the nails were. At the end of it, the sparkling's servos were shaking and in pain, the tender palms a little torn up and leaking beads of energon.

Ignoring it for the time, Air Raid once again tried shoving the window frame up; breathing a sigh of relief when it gave after a spark-dropping moment, slowly grinding upwards. A little scurry of noise echoed from within the room at the sound of the window opening, a shadow picking itself up off the floor and shuffling uncertainly towards the light.

"Slings... Slings, it's me," the red autodog called out softly into the house, praying that none of the 'bots that took his brother heard. "It's me, Air Raid."

"A-ar... Ar-ra?," came the tiny whisper.

Air Raid nodded his helm rapidly, giving a little gasp of relief when he saw the younger autodog come into the light. He was concerned though with how tired and dirty Slingshot looked, not to mention battered, but he was alive and he wasn't bleeding (that he could see) and that's all that really mattered to Air Raid right then and there.

"Come on," he said quietly, shoving his arms into the room, "We're going to go back. Back to our brothers."

Slingshot looked at the older sparkling as if he didn't quite believe this was all happening, but something moved heavily further in the house and like a bolt of lightning, the grey shih tzu was running for his brother's arms. "A-ar-ra!," he gasped, tears flooding his optics as he was lifted out of the room and cradled close to his brother's chestplates. Slingshot threw his arms around Air Raid's neck, pressing his wet cheekplate against the other's.

"Y-you c-came for m-me..."

Air Raid hoisted Slingshot higher, quickly walking away from the house. "Of course, Slings," he mumbled quietly, kissing his brother's ear. "I'll always come back for you. Same with Silverbolt and Skydive. We're a family and we're going to stick together."

The smaller sparkling sniffled, nuzzling closer. "I...I love you, Ar-Ra. I want to b-be with you forever."

Optics flaring in surprise, Air Raid gazed down at his brother, watching fondly as the worn-out sparkling drifted off to slumber in his arms. Shifting Slingshot's weight again, the autodog continued on down the dark street, his spark rotating calmly now that his brother was with him.

Title: Revelation
Rating: PG
Summary: Slingshot is mad

Slingshot peeked into the room quickly, before venting in relief and walking inside. A tiny bit of him wondered where Air Raid could possibly be, but he quickly squashed those questions, finding them unimportant. Where ever his brother had gotten to, was away from him, and considering how angry he was at the other youngling at this moment, that was for the best.

The shih tzu clenched his fist as he headed for his nightstand; rifling through the drawers, trying to locate his game system. Just what the slag was Air Raid trying to pull?! Slingshot slammed the drawer close, cursing and kicking the nightstand for extra measure. For once, things seemed to be finally looking up for them all after that whole 'Fireflight getting sparked' fiasco, when suddenly his brother had to turn around and play some nasty prank on him.

Slingshot couldn't stand for it! Not one bit! And if Air Raid thought he could get away with his sick games, then-

"...S-slingshot?"

The youngling paused in his motion to punch the wall, turning slowly on the spot and staring idly at his youngest sibling standing in the doorway. Fireflight canted his helm to the side at Slingshot's attention; his little brow furrowed in concern. "Are you alright, Slingshot?," came the quiet question.

The grey mech tried his best not to snarl. "...No." He failed.

Fireflight's optics dimmed further and he cupped his servos before his chestplates. "Are you... still mad with Air Raid?" Slingshot tried not to flinch as the smaller shih tzu addressed his feelings. "Y-you shouldn't be. If Ar-Ra did something to make you upset Sling, then you should t-talk to him! It's not right that you should just be mad at him all the time..."

"Oh, what the slag do you know?!," Slingshot shouted at the sparkling, losing control of his temper. He regretted it immediately as he saw his brother cringe at the yell, taking a small step back. From down the hall, came Breakdown's whimper.

Glancing out the door quickly, Fireflight looked back at his older brother, sighing sadly as he stepped back out of the doorway. "...I know Ar-Ra cries in the shower, when he thinks no one can hear him," the little autodog shared quietly, before turning completely and exiting the room.

Stunned, the other shih tzu stood there silently as his brother left him alone.

Title: Grasping
Rating: T
Summary: He's grasping at old memories like life-lines

They'd been the closest when they were younger...

Air Raid tipped his helm back as the water cascaded down from the shower head, shuttering his optics through the downpour quickly; praying that it would be enough to wipe away his tears again. He didn't know what he was going to do anymore, or even why he bothered to lie to his brothers and pretend that everything was alright.

Little servos clutched his sleeve as they snuggled into a tiny cranny for the group home's game of hide-and-seek. Slingshot had wanted to go find his own hiding spot initially, but once the game had started, he'd clung to his older brother's side like glue. Air Raid didn't mind. He was always looking out for the smaller sparkling, just like they Skydive and Silverbolt looked out for him.

"D-do... do you think we're hidden good here?," Slingshot hissed, in what could barely pass as a whisper. The red shih tzu nodded back.

"I think so, Slings," Air Raid replied back, setting a servo on top of the smaller pup's helm and petting him roughly. His younger sibling made a little sound of discontent but when he pulled his servo back, the other autodog was snuggling further into his side.

Soap suds slipped down his thighs, trailing for the drain at the bottom of the tub. Air Raid tried to resist, but it was too late... his frame was burning hot to the touch and certain areas ached for contact. He always hated his heat cycle (more frequent in its arrival than any of his brothers') but it had never bothered him as much as it did now. Holding back a whimper, the autodog leaned against the wall; pedes evenly spread as was physically possible in the tub, plating retracting as his fingers curled up under his aft, running along his valve's rim.

"S...slings...," he mumbled, as one digit slid inside.

The biggest sparkling turned his helm to look down on his sibling, optic ridge quirked curiously. "...What are you doing, Slings?," Air Raid asked, trying to ignore the pounding of his spark as Slingshot finally stopped nuzzling, obviously having found his comfort spot half-under the other autodog's arm.

The grey shih tzu didn't reply immediately at first. "... Ar-ra?," Slingshot whispered after a moment.

"Hm?"

"What are bondmates?"

Air Raid shuttered his optics in surprise at the question. Mulling it over quickly, figuring his brother must have heard some of the older 'bots talking, the shih tzu decided to answer. "Well... They're kinda like mommies and daddies. Two 'bots, or sometimes three, who make a promise to always stay together and love each other," he explained to the bright-optic sparkling. "They get dressed up real nice and have a big party, like a birthday, and then go and live in a nice, big house, where they kiss and hug a lot, and eventually, have lil' sparklings like you and me."

Slingshot gaped in awe. "I... I like that...," he whispered, beaming in joy.

"Do you, now?," Air Raid giggled, bending low to rub olfactory sensors with his brother. The red sparkling was shocked when suddenly his lip components were pecked, Slingshot giggling in guilt.

"One day, I'm going to be your bondmate!," he vowed, his little tail wagging with his excitement. "Then we'll be happy and we'll have lots of sparklings too!"

"W-what...?!," the older autodog stuttered, still caught off-guard by first the kiss and then the proclamation. "Why?"

"Because," Slingshot answered, his optics burning brightly through his visor as a contented smile spread across the sparkling's lip components, "Ar-Ra is special to me. He's my Ar-Ra and I love him very much. I want to be with you always!"

The other sparkling didn't know what to say. Cheekplates flushed magenta, Air Raid watched as his little brother snuggled close again; all thought of the game or the other children wiped clear from his processor. There was only him, Slingshot and his pulsating spark.

Gasping softly, Air Raid slipped his fingers out of his valve, feeling his lubricants slowly wash away. Though the dregs of bliss still remained, the mind-numbing haze of his heat cycle was quickly fading, leaving only regret and shame to wash over the autodog. Again... again, he had thought about Slingshot while he touched himself, imagining that it was his brother's servos sliding across his frame and into his valve, instead of his own, desperate ones.

His self-loathing was enough to overwhelm him.

Unable to stand any longer, the youngling slid to the bottom of the tub, folding into himself and sobbing softly as water continued to pitter-patter over his frame.

Title: Thoughts
Rating: PG
Summary: It was bound to end

"You... you don't actually like me all that much, do you?"

Slingshot startled at the question, looking up from the ground and turning his helm to the femme. Rosanna's visor dimmed a little as the other autodog's focus was put on her, her smile a little sad around the edges.

"I know I asked you out first and everything, but..." The poodle trailed off momentarily, folding her servos in her lap as she glanced away from the mech. "You don't actually like me, do you?"

Slingshot frowned, confused first by the femme's confrontation and now her conclusion. "...Just what are you going on about?," he gruffed, not in the mood for anyone's mind games this orn. He hadn't even wanted to come to the slagging park, but he wasn't going to tell the femme to frag off either. ...Silverbolt wouldn't be pleased if he did...

Rosanna kept her gaze on the ducks in the pond. "They must be very special, this person you're always thinking about," she said. She turned slightly back to the other youngling. "Your focus is always slipping when I talk to you and if I ask you a question, you always open your mouth before closing it again -as if you were going to say something but then realized I was not the person meant for it."

The shih tzu opened his mouth, but as stated, closed it again. Honestly, what could he say to that anyways? It wasn't like the femme was making it sound like, he just knew he had to be polite and whatnot around her, otherwise Silverbolt and Air Raid would-

The grey autodog clenched his fists, glaring down at the ground again.

He jumped again when a delicate servo rested on his shoulder. "...Not to mention," Rosanna added, her smile even sadder as Slingshot looked up at her, "You always shy away from my touch. I had hoped that perhaps it was just nerves, but I'd be fooling myself if I kept believing that was so."

The poodle rose to her pedes, smoothing down her skirt as she stepped in front of the stunned mech, smiling at him kindly. "Thank you for trying anyways, even though your spark was never fully in it," she said graciously, tucking in her chin shyly, "I hope that this person loves you back, just as equally much as you love them. Goodbye Slingshot."

Then she turned and left, leaving the other youngling to stare in mute shock at her departure.

Title: Overwhelm
Rating: M
Summary: He doesn't know what to do anymore

It was quiet when he got back in. Mutely, Slingshot walked into the kitchen, dropping his bag on the counter and picking the note that was left off the fridge. It stated in Silverbolt's neat handwriting that him and the rest of the family had gone over to see Skydive. They'd be back for dinner. Not particularly concerned, the shih tzu crumpled the note, tossing it over his shoulder and slowly wandering for the staircase.

He didn't quite get what happened with Rosanna in the park, but Slingshot wasn't about to say that he wasn't slightly relieved it happened all the same. The femme was obviously starting to become more and more attached, and truthfully, the youngling found it altogether unsettling. At least he was spared the effort of breaking up with her, alongside the tears and unnecessary guilt. But now that meant he didn't have a decent excuse for avoiding Air Raid anymore...

Scowling to himself, Slingshot made it to the top of the landing, almost half-way to his room when he stopped dead in his tracks; olfactory sensors twitching as the musky scent of heat met them. His processor thought to turn tail and run; his frame seemed to have other ideas though. Tip-toeing closer, Slingshot paused outside his berthroom door, grasping the knob and pushing it open a crack. The smell hit him hard then, but not nearly as hard as the sight he could glimpse from this angle.

Stretched out across his berth was Air Raid, pants missing and trembling legs spread wide open, one servo scrambling over the side and yanking one of Slingshot's shirts up onto the berth. The smaller youngling wanted to growl when he saw this, but kept silent as he watched with disbelieving optics as Air Raid pressed the material to his cheekplates, breathing deeply.

"S-slings...," he gasped and for a frightening moment, the grey shih tzu thought he had been discovered, "...p-primus... S-slingshot!" His brother arched, panting. "Slings... slings... slings... a-ah! YES! S-slings... m-mmmhaaaa... l-love you! I love you! S-Slings...SLINGSHOT!"

Slingshot pulled away from the door quickly, shaking as he pressed himself to the opposite hallway wall, able to hear every heavy intake and soft whimper as Air Raid overloaded. Part of him was disgusted, another part was horrified... another part wanted to rush into the room and pin Air Raid to the berth and frag him. It was all so messed up inside, just a mass of over-lapping and uncertain emotions, driving the youngling further and further into confusion. Unable to take it anymore, Slingshot bolted; rushing back down the stairs and out of the house in a flurry.