Title: Scare
Rating: PG
Summary: There's a monster waiting in the dark

Little, violet optics shuttered open slowly, finding himself cool and alone. Sniffling softly, the bornling began to roll over in his crib, confused by the chill he could feel running up and down his backstruts. The poor little thing froze as he ended up on his back, the sight of his beloved mobile hidden behind the dark, looming shape hanging over his berth.

A band of red gleamed brightly in the darkness; a line parting and unfolding into a grinning mouth of sharp, sharp teeth.

His first instinct was to open his mouth and wail loudly for his carrier, but all sound escaped the bornling entirely as the shadow leaned forward. Something cold and sharp pressed against his tiny throat, solid against his rapidly thrumming energon line.

The shadow slowly shook a finger side to side, the red band winking viciously at him.

Wetness seeped through the cotton, and the grinning shadow literally beamed as he watched the bornling pee through his diaper, so obviously overcome with terror that the hybrid's stressed systems could do nothing else. Apparently pleased with this juvenile bout of mayhem, the shadow leaned back again, taking the cold dagger's blade away with him too.

He could only watch silently in horror as the shadows slunk then for the little berth where his carrier slept, undisturbed by nightmares; his larger servo running down the slumbering shih tzu's backstruts softly as he leaned over him. Was the monster going to eat him?

And then the shadow was gone, slinking for the window and out of it as silently as he had come in. Terrified, the bornling still did not make a sound; afraid that if he did, it would call the scary thing back.

Title: Plea
Rating: T
Summary: He only wants Vortex to stay

Fireflight hummed as he cleaned the nursery, putting away Breakdown's toys and putting extra diapers on the change station for later. He was just setting up the powders and wipes neatly when he felt a servo circle around his waist, yanking him away from the stand. "V-vortex...," the autodog smiled, turning his helm and seeing that red visor glowing down on him.

The lynx grinned, his visor dimming viciously as he lifted Fireflight up, cupping the shih tzu to his chestplates. "Hmm... Eager to see me, snowflake? You going to give me a kiss too?"

At his taunting suggestion, the sparkling blushed, before shyly leaning up the last of the distance and pecking Vortex softly on his grinning mouth. Stunned, the kittycon stared down at Fireflight, watching him quietly for a few astroseconds. Smiling brightly, the shih tzu settled back down in Vortex's arms, resting his helm on the other's broad shoulders for a moment, sighing happily.

"I missed you lots, Vortex," he confessed sweetly. "I miss you more and more every time you're gone. Will you come back home? If you do, then I... I can see you all the time! A-and I'll give you all the kisses you want!" Fireflight pushed away enough to turn his pleading optics up to the kittycon. "P-please, Vortex? I worry!"

Vortex ran a finger down the autodog's cheekplate, watching as Fireflight turned into the touch, giving a little shiver. "...maybe," he answered, his mouth twisting upwards in a mischievous smirk, "You make such a tempting offer, cutie, but... I think something more is needed. I don't think kisses will be enough."

The shih tzu shuttered his optics shyly, his cheekplates tinging magenta with his blush. "W-what...," he asked softly, "W-what w-would you l-like?"

The lynx licked his lip components, loving the way that Fireflight blushed darker at the sight; one servo lifting to his mouth in innocent hesitance. "Well, I can think of a few ideas," he purred lewdly, visor gleaming.

Fireflight glanced around cautiously, but Breakdown was outside with his brothers and there was no one else around to see. Turning his attention back to Vortex, he leaned up again, planting a chaste kiss on the side of the kittycon's mouth. "O-okay," he stuttered willingly.

The mech chuckled darkly before setting the shih tzu on the change table, spreading his legs open as he swept in for a hungry kiss.

Title: Talk
Rating: T
Summary: Skydive shares Onslaught's words with his family

Silverbolt hurried into the living room the moment Onslaught opened the door for them. "S-skydive! What is it? What's wrong?," he asked anxiously, dropping onto the couch beside his brother; grabbing his servos. Air Raid followed behind slower. "When you called and said it was urgent, I didn't-"

"Please Silverbolt," Skydive weakly smiled. "I'm alright, see? There's just... a matter I wanted to discuss with you all."

These words hardly calmed the oldest shih tzu's frazzled nerves, but he forced himself to let go of Skydive's servos anyways, glancing up uncertainly at the kittycon that circled around behind the other autodog. "What...," he swallowed slowly, "Was it that you wanted to discuss?"

Skydive's polite expression crumbled as he sighed, servos curling into fists in his lap. "S-slingshot... Slingshot told me that he saw that... mech... sneaking out of Fireflight's window the other night. I, I don't want to blame you or anything, but I know you didn't want to tell me Silverbolt." He smiled sadly at his brother. "You know how I worry, just as much as you."

Onslaught set a servo on the blue mech's shoulder plating as he sighed again, helm lowering as he took a moment to compose himself. In the silence, Silverbolt flustered, hurrying to explain himself. "I-i'm sorry I didn't tell you, S-skydive! I j-just didn't want you to w-worry when y-you were so far al-along and knowing t-that he w-was-"

"I-it's... it's alright, Silverbolt," Skydive interrupted kindly. "Please. I... I'm not mad at that, and again, it's not why I asked you to come here today. I... I wanted to discuss a possible solution..."

That caught the other two autodogs' attention. Air Raid straightened up, sitting himself down in the armchair, leaning forward in his seat seriously. "So that's why you only wanted the two of us to come..."

At the statement, Skydive nodded, looking at each of his brother's in turn. "Because of... Vortex's training, Onslaught can vouch that normal routes of action would be unavailable to us. He... he won't be stopped, and he will more than certainly return to harass Fireflight. It's what he...," the shih tzu tried not to scowl, "Likes. What he finds fun."

Silverbolt squirmed a little in his seat, obviously unnerved now. "Are you...," he glanced at Onslaught again, optics flared, "Are you... honestly suggesting what I think you are?! Skydive, how-"

Skydive quickly grabbed his brother's servos, looking at him pleadingly. "Please, don't judge! I know it's horrible, but... but, after the war, Onslaught and a select handful of ex-soldiers were signed on by the government for various work. He explained to me already and... and they have connections. T-they could hire someone to take care of Vortex! It would all be hush-hush and Fireflight would finally be safe from him! Can't you see how beneficial this would be, Silverbolt?"

The taller autodog opened his mouth in horror, but it closed shortly after, his optics dropping to the side as he actually mulled over what the younger one had said. The room grew tenser as they waited to hear what the oldest shih tzu would say. "W-well...," Silverbolt stuttered, "Maybe... Maybe w-we c-could-?"

"Would you just listen to you all..."

Helms turned to Air Raid, the red shih tzu staring at them all with disgust. "How can you sit here and talk about murdering another 'bot like it's... it's... nothing!?," he demanded angrily. "Don't you see what's wrong with this?!"

"It's just not some random 'bot, Air Raid," Skydive frowned, one servo cupping under his belly tersely. "This is Vortex that we're talking about. The very mech that has ruined our lives..."

"And the same one who led Silverbolt to meet Trailbreaker and for you to meet Onslaught, and for us to have a beautiful home and not have to worry about the System ever again!," the youngling quickly retorted, "You can't just say he ruined our lives, when even everything terrible he has done has led us right here to this moment."

Silverbolt leapt to his pedes. "But he has hurt your baby brother! Does that mean nothing to you?!"

"Of course it does!," Air Raid snapped back, hackles raised. "Don't you dare for an astrosecond ever imply that I have never cared about Fireflight's well-being, 'Bolt! We've all looked out for him the same, and he still ended up in this situation, and you want to know why? Because he chose to! This is something that Fireflight has chosen out of his own free will!"

"Don't," the blue shih tzu hissed, optics narrowed behind his frames, "You dare use that as an excuse, Air Raid.."

"Fireflight is a child!," Silverbolt added quickly. "He does not know nearly enough about the world to be giving any sort of consent!"

"Well maybe he does!," Air Raid screamed, drowning out anything else his brother's were going to say. Onslaught did not intervene; glancing frequently from the sidelines, double-checking that Skydive was alright. "I mean... Primus!," the younger sibling shouted, "He gave birth to a sparkling for crying out loud -one that he's proven to be amazingly efficient at caring for all by himself! You can't keep saying that he's a child, when it's very obvious that Fireflight is growing up. Even before Breakdown, he was always very insightful. Fireflight is a lot smarter than you're giving him credit for and you saying he's nothing but a sparkling is just insulting."

"But he is, Air Raid!," Skydive retorted angrily. "He isn't-"

The red shih tzu raised a servo, pointing a sharp finger at his older brother as he snarled. "Wrong. Fireflight is a youngling now. Why don't you two get it through your thick helms," he continued, looking between Silverbolt and Skydive each. "You can't keep treating him like he's five... One day, Fireflight will be a full-fledged mech, and he won't need your servos to hold onto anymore. What are you going to do then? Still call him a child and try to spoon feed him?"

"I... I can't believe you're honestly defending that... that... fragger!," Silverbolt cursed, his optics wide with disbelief and disappointment. "How could you, Air Raid? How-"

"I'm not defending him!," Air Raid yelled, fists clenching at his sides. "Primus, are none of you listening to me?! I want to see that fragger in a pool of his own energon as much as you do, but I'm saying stay out of it! This isn't our choice to make!"

"Because...," the youngling softened his tone, sighing wearily, "Because as much as we don't like it, he still makes Fireflight happy. And until such a time when he does not... we have no right to do anything. We've got to let Fireflight grow up sometime, you know..."

The room was silent. Glancing one last time at his brothers, Air Raid turned around and left; shaking his helm as he hurried from the living room. Neither Silverbolt or Skydive attempted to stop him. Onslaught watched as the youngling ran past the living room window and across the yard to the street, before he returned his attention back to the two mechs staring remorsefully at each other. What their younger brother had said struck the oldest shih tzus hard; it would take time for them to digest Air Raid's words and respond.

Silently, Onslaught left the living room as well, heading to the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

Title: Happy
Rating: PG
Summary: He needs clarification

"Ar-Ra...?"

Fireflight padded softly into the room, watching as his older brother folded the last of his shirts, packing it away quietly in a suitcase. At his soft call, Air Raid paused, turning and facing the smaller mech. "Hey, Firefly," he smiled sadly.

The white shih tzu canted his helm to the side slightly, his optics dim and worried. "You're leaving... aren't you?," he asked, knowing without a doubt that was the case. Air Raid glanced at his packed suitcase, before turning his gaze back to his baby brother, sighing in regret.

"Yes. I can't stay any longer," the youngling answered, zipping up the suitcase and walking towards the door.

Fireflight kindly stepped out of his way, servos wringing themselves nervously before his frame. "Y-you'll... you'll come back though, right?," he called out, "I'm not never going to see you again, right Ar-Ra?"

Air Raid stopped, setting the suitcase down and facing his younger brother. That sad smile was back on his face as he knelt before the smaller shih tzu, taking Fireflight's servos into his own. "We'll see each other again, one day," he promised, optics dim. "But I must go and spread my roots elsewhere. You understand that, don't you Fireflight?"

The white autodog nodded slowly, sniffling a little.

Air Raid searched his brother's face, before he pressed his lip components together tightly; giving Fireflight's servos a light squeeze. "Fireflight... Tell me why you like Vortex," he requested softly.

Fireflight shuttered his optics in surprise at the request, but he smiled anyway, a glimmer of joy shimmering through the tears collected in his optics. "B-because, he makes me happy," the little shih tzu answered. "I... I know you don't like Vortex, but he's really not bad. He says funny stuff to make me laugh, and he brings me gifts to show that he likes me. When I'm sad, he cheers me up, and when I'm hurt, he comforts me. Sometimes... I get sad when he's not there... especially when I really wanted to see him... but he always comes back, without fail. And when he does, he says he's sorry and hugs me."

"When," Fireflight continued, cheekplates colouring slightly with his affection, "When I'm with Vortex, all the bad stuff seems to go away. I don't have to feel scared, or lonely, or sad anymore. He protects me and he cares for me... That's why I love him."

The very definition of love.

Lip components quirking upwards queerly, Air Raid leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his brother's brow. "Be happy, Fireflight," he mumbled, quickly giving the other shih tzu a hug. Fireflight wound his arms around his neck, squeezing back tightly before releasing the youngling and letting him stand up once more.

Fireflight did not cry or ask confusing questions, instead, watching as Air Raid walked downstairs and out the front door. Smiling sadly, he wished his brother good luck, before turning and padding for Breakdown's room.

Title: Outcomes
Rating: T
Summary: There's only so many paths left when everything else has been rejected

"Congratulations...," the voice growled as Vortex attempted to sneak through the attic, "...You're slagged."

The lynx only had an astrosecond to feel his spark jolt in surprise before a fist was slamming into his neck cables; wrapping tight around the cords and crushing them as the mech was knocked to the floor. The wood groaned loudly at his fall, the whole room spinning. Visor winking in his pain, Vortex tried to stop his aching processor from twisting and winding, forcing his gaze to focus on the ceiling above.

He coughed and offered a weak grin as Onslaught's face pushed into his line of sight.

"H-hey... d-daddy-o," he hissed cheerfully.

Onslaught squeezed Vortex's neck cables tighter, lifting him up and slamming him back down against the floor for extra measure. "Believe you me," he snarled, "If I had a choice, it would be the cold end of my muzzle you'd be greeting, not me."

"S-still...," the lynx coughed, "S-still u-upset t-that t-the l-lil' pup e-ended up r-running away f-from you t-that f-first time?"

"And whose fault was that?!," the green mech roared. He punched Vortex, watching as the smaller kittycon spat energon across the attic floor. "Here I thought you'd gone off and scampered somewhere far away for good... Only to find out that you've been sneaking around the city, making frequent visits to a certain sparkling we all know." He punched the lynx again.

"And also you've been sneaking into my house..." Onslaught narrowed his optics, fangs bared at his son. "Bold, bold move, brat... Did you think I wouldn't notice that my food was missing? Or that certain things had been moved around in your room? It would take a giant fool not to predict your course of actions, and I..." He crushed Vortex's neck cables once more. "Am no fool."

The grey mech writhed and choked, claws scraping up and down Onslaught's arm; trying to wriggle out of his centre of balance and trip the older 'bot up. But the serval was good... well-trained and experienced... Vortex's cheap tricks would not work on him. Sniffing in disgust, Onslaught let his son go before he blacked out, standing up and kicking the lynx in the side for the fun of it.

"Well, since you're here anyway, there's a few things we need to discuss," he began, walking to the attic door. He shut and locked it, turning next and barring the little window in the room. Satisfied that Vortex would not be running off anytime soon, the serval turned, seating himself in a chair that the other kittycon could not recall ever having been there before.

Wheezing and hacking lightly in pain, Vortex pushed himself up, wiping the energon off of his face. He stared, unimpressed at his sire, as the other kittycon pulled out a dagger and block of wood, whittling away as he sat in his chair.

"Now, you're probably wondering why I haven't killed you yet," Onslaught continued casually. "Again, not my choice. After all the slag you've done, I'd love to string you up by your nasty, little spike and flay you alive, son. To bash in your helm and put an end to your sick, little games would bring me no end of joy... unfortunately, to the chagrin of my wife and I, I can't. You see..." He twirled his piece of wood idly. "The little one's family has discussed it, and one of the younger ones -Air Raid, I believe- brought up a good point. Somehow, someway, you make my son-in-law happy..."

"Now, I wouldn't want to upset lil' Fireflight, who's sadness would in turn upset my grandson and also my wife, henceforth including my soon-to-be bornling as well... so, killing you is no longer an option," he explained, cutting away at the wood again.

The lynx's tail twitched. "...you have a point?," he croaked.

Onslaught sent the grey mech a vicious glare. "Silence you. I did not give you the permission to speak." He worked away at carving for a couple kliks, before he started speaking again. "Because of this... delicate situation, an alternative course of action is being taken. As you obviously mean so much to Fireflight... you will now be a permanent fixture in his life..."

"...what?," Vortex gaped.

The serval smirked. "You will be moving back here and live in your pathetic, attic room, where I can keep a constant optic on you. You will visit Fireflight and Breakdown every day, whether it be here or at his house, and you will be under constant surveillance. Seventy-five percent of your finances will be transferred over into a bank account accessible only to Fireflight, with the intent of giving the lil' one all the funds he needs to support himself and Breakdown."

"Seeing as you knocked him up in the first place," Onslaught explained, ignoring the lynx's shell-shocked expression, "It's only fitting that you accept your role as Breakdown's sire and assist in his upbringing. Though if you hurt that child in any way, I shall break every pipe in your body..." The serval snarled dangerously, fixing the other kittycon with a glower. "Fireflight thinks you are something good. We all know otherwise. But because he cares for you so deeply, you shall be there for him. The moment you hurt him, or the moment when he discovers what you really are... I'll be there, with my gun. Don't think for an astrosecond that I won't."

At the threat, the grey mech's hackles rose; cracked visor flashing in rage. "W-who are you t-trying to fool, o-old-timer?," Vortex hissed. "Y-you can't do anything! You're w-washed out! I'm a free mech! I can do whatever I-"

The green kittycon rose to his pedes, taking one step forward and back-handing the lynx- hard. Yelping in pain, Vortex dropped to the attic floor, clasping his face in his servos. Rolling his optical sensors, Onslaught turned away from his son and walked casually for the door. "You should consider it a blessing," he called over his shoulder plating as he undid the lock. "For once, there's a 'bot in this world who doesn't consider you a psychotic, raping scumbag. Maybe you should learn to appreciate him..."

Ignoring the soft groan that echoed behind him, the serval opened the door, stepping out of the attic and locking Vortex in once again.