Title: Complication
Rating: PG
Summary: He'd hoped their problems were over

He wasn't stupid. Air Raid pulled his pants up, shakily walking towards the counter; a small, plastic device carried in one servo. He glanced quickly at his reflection in the mirror, before turning his optics away, avoiding himself entirely.

He wasn't stupid.

He'd spent enough time with his brothers and experienced the same slag as them, that when something was out of place with himself, it would become noticeable right away. And Air Raid was uneasy to admit that something felt out of place...

Trying to shake off his feeling of foreboding, the shih tzu quickly washed his servos; splashing water on his face and grasping for a towel. His optics fell immediately to the white counter top, staring at the thin, purple stick lying their innocently. The small, pocketed red plus sign on its one end was not so innocent.

He wasn't stupid...

But that didn't make him any luckier either.

Fuel tans roiling suddenly at the confirmation, Air Raid leaned against the counter top, servos shaking against the wood as his processor raced. It felt like he'd stood there for millenia, but was more than likely only for a couple kliks -long enough for him to come to a decision. Graduation was just a couple months away...

It should be enough time. It would have to be enough time.

Sighing, Air Raid looked up into the mirror, surprised to find tears rolling down his cheekplates. "It'll be alright...," he smiled to himself. It was almost soothing to see his reflection trying to comfort him back. "It'll have to be..."

Grabbing the stick, the shih tzu snapped it in half, shoving the plastic deep into the bottom of the trash can; making sure it was good and buried from view, before turning and leaving the bathroom with a grin.

Title: Cake
Rating: PG
Summary: There's a surprise waiting for him at home

Air Raid shifted his backpack as he approached his house, noticing that the mailbox at the front lawn was full; its tag shifted down and a couple envelopes sticking out from its mouth stubbornly. Curious, the shih tzu altered his course, stopping in front of the mailbox. He paused to make sure no one was around to see, before yanking the mail out, thumbing through it quickly. There were at least three reply letters from several Academies, two of them large packages.

Spark starting to sputter quickly, Air Raid stared at the one envelope that carried a small, city symbol that he was not familiar with. Tucking the others under his arm, he quickly unzipped his backpack and shoved the one letter in among his things, hiding it from view before slinging his bag over his shoulder plating and heading for the house finally.

The youngling barely was inside for five astroseconds before glittering paper was exploding in his face, accompanied by loud, cheerful cries of "SURPRISE!"

"W-what...," Air Raid grinned, stepping back, looking from each of his brothers in a mixture of confusion and joy. "What's all this for, huh?"

"For getting into the Academy!," Firefight chirped, bouncing a happily cooing Breakdown lightly.

"For finishing highschool, he means," Silverbolt corrected kindly, taking all the empty party crackers from everyone's servos. "A graduation is a big accomplishment, especially when completing secondary. It means you've gone through one big hurdle in your life and now, you have millions of doorways open to you."

"Well, he still did get a bunch of letters from local academies, saying that he'd been accepted to all of their programs."

"That is true," Skydive noted from the couch. Surprisingly, he was there, accompanied by Onslaught and Trailbreaker, who had been visiting more frequently than many of them would have guessed. Both mechs sat on either side of the shih tzu, each glancing at him every few kliks, checking to see that he was alright. Even though he was cupping his swollen belly, Skydive looked every bit a happy 'bot, and that in itself was enough to make Air Raid beam as he faced his brother. "You've done so much, Air Raid, even preserving through... well... a fairly hectic year, but you've grown handsomely then. We're really proud of you."

A round of confirmations came from everyone. Overwhelmed, Air Raid stood there uncertainly in the doorway, trying to think of a proper response to give, before his family got tired of his silence and playfully yanked him into the living room. Fireflight tickled Breakdown momentarily, before grabbing a quiet Slingshot's wrist and pulling the both of them out of the room, just as Silverbolt gently urged for the red youngling to sit on the love seat.

Air Raid was surprised when his two younger brothers came back into the room, Slingshot carrying a cake in his servos and Fireflight skipping excitedly beside him. "We got you a cake!," the littlest autodog exclaimed, "'Bolt got all the ingredients and him and Skydive worked to bake it, and then me and Slings decorated it. It's your favourite too -chocolate!"

"Thanks guys," Air Raid vented softly, servos shaking a little as he reached out for the cake. He smiled up at Slingshot, giving him a quick wink, hoping that his younger brother especially knew how much this meant to him. "You guys really didn't have to do this for me, honest."

"Nonsense."

"It was fun!"

"You're our brother, Air Raid -of course we'd celebrate every one of your achievements! We love you!"

Touched, the shih tzu smiled brightly at each of his siblings, trying to ignore the heat slicking his optics. "And I love you guys too... Now, if this is a party, let' Y!"

Title: Blessing
Rating: PG
Summary: He's given an unexpected gift

"For you," the serval said.

Air Raid shuttered his optics, staring in disbelief at the slip of paper in the kittycon's fingers. It fluttered as Onslaught waved it; silently insisting that the youngling take it. Not wanting to be rude -or, otherwise, upset the bigger mech- the shih tzu uncertainly grabbed the cheque, looking at it again incredulously. He was practically floored when he saw the sum penned across the amount line.

"I-i... I can't take this!," he protested, trying to shove the cheque back at Onslaught. The kittycon refused to lift his arms or take the slip of paper back; grabbing the youngling's wrist and gently lowering his arms.

"Keep it," Onslaught said lowly, "I'm proud to see you pursuing something so distinct and important to you. I wish to help you succeed, if at all possible. Without this, both you and I know college would be out of your budget... and we know how much your brothers wish to see you get farther in life than them."

At the statement, Air Raid stopped struggling. He looked, with flared optics, up at the serval; suddenly realizing how much this mech actually knew about his family... and how good he was. "Y-you..."

Onslaught raised an optic ridge at the chopped reply. "Yes...?"

Air Raid didn't answer back. To both the kittycon's and his own surprise, he threw himself at the bigger mech instead; wrapping his arms as far as they would go around the older mech's wide frame, face pressed into his chestplates. They stood there for almost a klik; each frozen in their own actions, before Onslaught uncertainly lifted a servo, patting the youngling on the back.

"Y-you, um...," he gruffed uncomfortably as Air Raid slowly pulled back. "You should g-go back to the celebrations... i-it's your g-graduation party, a-after all..."

Wiping quickly at his face, Air Raid nodded, slightly embarrassed now at his bold action. He stepped around the serval to head back to the living room, but paused before he got very far. "Onslaught...?," he called softly, turning his helm to the other mech. Onslaught gave him his full attention silently. "T...thank you," the shih tzu smiled shyly, "For e-everything."

The serval's ears perked slightly at the unexpected gratitude, but the kittycon's expression softened still, a small smile of his own appearing on the old faceplates. "You're welcome, pup. But let's keep this a secret between the two of us, alright?," he asked jokingly.

Air Raid chuckled, nodding, before strutting merrily for his brothers in the other room.

Title: Insomnia
Rating: PG
Summary: There's no hope for rest with troubles filling his helm

It was quiet in the house; dark too. Slingshot lay in his berth, staring across the room at Air Raid's backstruts, unable to sleep. He knew why he wasn't able to settle down and recharge like his brother was so capable of doing, but that didn't make it any less easier on him.

Exams.

It had to be because of exams and his graduation ceremony coming up and everything. That's why the older youngling had been ignoring him recently, keeping their interactions to a bare minimum. It was the only reason.

...it had to be...

Otherwise, what reasons did Slingshot have to console himself with? If he thought everything that they had gone through to get to this point now was a waste, a lie... It would kill him. Plain and simple. Air Raid was the one brother he could not afford to lose. Trying to swallow back the rising clot of fear that was growing in his vocalizer, the youngling shuttered his optics, forcing himself to vent deeply.

He onlined them again a klik later to see blue optics glowing back at him from across the room -Air Raid was awake.

"...hey," the older shih tzu whispered softly, a smile growing slowly on his face, "Couldn't sleep?"

Slingshot didn't reply.

The blankets lifted and folded over as Air Raid raised a servo, gesturing for the grey youngling to come over. He didn't even hesitate before scrambling out of berth and diving under the other's sheets. A part of him wanted to shove his brother down into the mattress, kiss him and get into his pajama pants... but another side of him was suddenly too scared to do it. Slingshot felt that if he did any of that, Air Raid might suddenly break or shatter underneath him. He didn't know why but... it was a feeling he couldn't shake, and he'd do everything to keep this moment going.

Laying down, Slingshot nuzzled under the older mech's chin for an astrosecond. Air Raid chuckled softly at the action, wrapping his arm around the shorter shih tzu's waist, before pulling back, nudging their olfactory sensors together shortly.

"...sorry I've been ignoring you the past week," the red youngling apologized. Slingshot tried to keep his gaze level with Air Raid, but couldn't after a klik. Still, the older mech smiled, hugging the other just a little bit tighter. "Remember when you always got lost...?"

Slingshot remembered. That was back in the bad orns -before Silverbolt got them a home of their own. "Yeah...," he mumbled back, "You always came and found me again. No matter what."

"What..." Air Raid paused in his whisper. "What if I happened to get lost...?"

The grey shih tzu shuttered his optics in confusion, tilting his helm, trying to look at the other autodog. But he couldn't see Air Raid's face from this angle, and sleep was finally creeping up on him. "What you talking about, Ar-Ra," he mumbled sleepily, frame relaxing on the sheets, "You never get lost."

Air Raid looked down at Slingshot, watching as he drifted off into recharge at last. His optics dimmed as he saw how the younger shih tzu relaxed completely -no anger, no confusion, no sign of worry or fear on his faceplates. Slingshot didn't understand how lucky he really was... And he really didn't want to be the one to take that away from him...

"Sweet dreams, Slings," he whispered against the other's helm; pressing a kiss to his ear, "Always r-remember that I love you..."

"...I'm sorry..."

Title: Smoke and grease
Rating: PG
Summary: He's at the corner-stop of his life

'Thank you for your application. We are honoured to say that you have been accepted and...'

Air Raid lifted his optics from the paper, already aware of what the rest of the words said. They'd been words he'd studied for orns before finally sending in his confirmation. The college had sent back an immediate response, attached to the tuition fees and the deadline for paying -something that he would be doing in person.

Folding the slightly crumpled paper up, the shih tzu tucked the letter into the front pocket of his suitcase, turning his attention away from the other patrons still taking taking their seats on the bus and staring out the window to the smoggy station beyond. Alone with his thoughts now, the doubt started creeping back in.

You still have time to leave, a small voice whispered in the back of his helm, Time enough to get off; take your things back home. No one would ever have to know about you leaving.

The prospect was tempting. It would make his brothers happy, he knew, but... Air Raid slid a servo over his suitcase, squeezing the handles tightly. No, he told himself, he had to stay. He didn't have much choice. Still, the ligaments in his legs tightened, ready to spring him up and carry him in a mad rush to the door.

An angry hiss cut through the rest of his thoughts; lifting his helm, the autodog saw the bus doors snap shut, sealing his fate. Slowly, Air Raid laid back in his seat, staring at the back of the blue, stained chair in front of him. This... this was for the best, he reassured himself.

A small, cynical smile worked its way to his lip components.

Right... the best...

Title: Room 227
Rating: PG
Summary: Some things we learn at the wrong time

Silverbolt lept to his pedes the moment Trailbreaker walked into the waiting room, guiding a sleepy Fireflight by one servo; Breakdown cradled securely in the other. "O-oh, th-thank you," the shih tzu breathed, rushing forward, picking his younger brother up and giving him a hug. "I d-didn't k-know who else to call, a-and well..."

"It's okay, Silvy," Fireflight yawned, still trying to rub the sleep from his optics. "This is a good thing, a happy thing. Finally, See-Dee is going to have a bornling too!" His smile helped to ease Silverbolt's anxiousness a little.

"Your brother's right, ya know," Trailbreaker smiled shyly, nudging Silverbolt with his elbow. The karelian bent down momentarily to hand the waking Breakdown to his carrier; both mechs watching as the younger autodog crossed the room to go sit by a grumpy-looking Slingshot. "By that, I mean," the country 'bot continued self-consciously, "Well, ya don't really need to worry an' all. You're in a hospital, after all. Your brother's got a whole bunch of medical staff to look after him -he'll be safe."

At the look Silverbolt gave him, the dark autodog trailed off, standing awkwardly; rubbing the back of his neck. Seeing this, the shih tzu tried to swallow back the rest of his nagging doubts, taking a small, side-step closer to Trailbreaker. The karelian jolted a little in surprise, but did not comment, his helm turned towards the other mech patiently.

"...T-thank you," Silverbolt said softly, "All the same. I'm g-grateful that you w-wanted to help. I... I admit, I'm not... not r-really able to h-handle all of this yet. I'm scared... and uncertain... and even a little excited... B-but, I think, I think I c-can manage."

"S-sorry again for c-calling you so late a-and m-making you g-get my brothers," he added, blushing a bit in embarrassment, "W-with the exception o-of Slingshot, I w-was too frazzled to grab a-anyone else, a-and I r-really didn't w-want to p-panic them e-either."

A dark ear twitched at the last statement, drawing the shih tzu's attention. Pausing, his good mood fading again, Silverbolt faced the other mech; his gaze locked with Trailbreaker's visor. "Trailbreaker... what..." He paused, finally looking around, realizing that Air Raid was nowhere in sight. "...W-where's Air Raid?"

Trailbreaker vented softly, his shoulders sinking with an unseen weight. "I-i... I'm sorry, Silverbolt," he quickly apologized, keeping his vocalizer low, "I didn't know -I mean, he wasn't there when I went to your place, and I'd assumed..."

The multi-coloured mech could only press a servo to his mouth, taking a stumbling step backwards as he felt his earlier nausea and fear rise up inside him like a sudden flame. Collapsing into a chair, Silverbolt tried to fight down his panic and confusion, glancing frequently at his younger brothers. Trailbreaker quickly knelt in front of the other autodog, his uncertain servos taking the shih tzu's servos into his own.

"S-silv... please... Don't... don't worry, ok?," the karelian tried to soothe, his thumb rubbing the back of Silverbolt's servo softly. "A-air Raid's a big mech... I'm sure he's got reasons for not being at home. He wouldn't just disappear or anything like that. B-besides, you've got to stay here... your one brother's going through the biggest m-moment of his life and the o-other two, they'll n-need you to stay strong for them a-as well. Let's... let's wait until t-tomorrow, before we jump to conclusions and-"

"...Air Raid's gone...?"

The two mechs froze at the low whisper, helms turning to face Slingshot. The youngling stood not but a foot away from them, servos balled into fists at his side, shaking, as his optics narrowed behind his visor. "Where...," he bit out slowly, denta clenched tightly, "I-is Air Raid?"

Silverbolt reached a servo towards his younger brother. "S-slingshot..."

The grey shih tzu slapped the extending servo away with a snarl, taking a angry step towards the pair. "Tell me now!," he shouted, causing a few helms to turn in the waiting room. "W-where is he?! What did you d-do to make him leave!? I swear i-if you don't tell me right now, I'll-!"

"Onslaught!"

Slingshot cut off the rest of his threat as Fireflight's exuberant vocalizer cheered behind the trio; tearing them all away from the chaos they had slowly been spiraling into. Getting to his pedes quickly at the distraction, Silverbolt crossed the room to the kittycon, servos clasped worriedly before his chestplates. "I-is...is everything alright, O-onslaught?," he asked, optics flickering across the serval's face. "W-was there a problem? I-is-"

Onslaught raised a servo, silencing Silverbolt and his anxious fretting immediately. Slowly, the weariness on the older mech's face began to fade away; a proud smile stretching across his lip components, his optics glowing with joy and love. "Everything's fine... Skydive would like you all to come in now, and to meet the twins."

Silverbolt gasped in surprise and Fireflight bounced a little in place at the unexpected news. "You hear that Bedo," he giggled, looking down at the little bornling half-awake in his arms, "You've got not one, but two new cousins! Let's go say hi!"

Onslaught chuckled warmly as well, resting a large servo on the white shih tzu's shoulders as he turned them towards Skydive's room. Looking back to make sure they were all interested in coming, the serval shortly continued back down the hall, chatting softly with Fireflight, who was rapidly firing away curious and excited questions.

Trailbreaker hung back for a moment. His gaze rested on the silent youngling that stood in the middle of the waiting room still, staring out of the hospital windows into the dark, glittering night. It seemed to take forever before Slingshot slowly turned around; his pedes dragging, helm down, his fists now limp servos at his sides.

Ears lowered sympathetically at the shih tzu's unknown plight, the karelian turned around, silently leading the younger autodog from a few metres ahead. He glanced frequently behind him to make sure Slingshot still followed and was saddened to see that with each step, the brazen, loud pup seemed to grow smaller and smaller...