A/N: Yes, I had to double check when Jenga was invented to make sure it didn't screw anything up

Despite his brothers' best efforts, First Aid still thought of how things were on the Ark. It took the medic a while to get Skyfire to even trust him, let alone talk to him. Could Smokescreen do the same? These thoughts plagued him on his drive back to the Ark, and every mile covered just caused his spark to pulse harder.

He tried to calm down as he transformed, and First Aid made his way inside the ship. He greeted mechs he passed on his way to the rec room. He stopped when he stepped in, and all his worries came flooding back. Smokescreen, Skyfire and Grapple were sitting at a table near the back, mechs glancing at them curiously or amused. One look and First Aid knew why.

There were rectangular, thin blocks stacked on the table, spaces between several tablets and it stood precariously. Skyfire pointed to a tablet near the top, and Grapple carefully pulled the block free. Skyfire slumped, in apparent relief when the tower wobbled, but didn't fall. The shuttle noticed First Aid, and his expression brightened.

First Aid's spark twisted with joy and nervousness. He hesitated in joining them, but the shuttle gestured him over. The medic did, and slid into the seat across from Skyfire. "May I ask what you're doing?"

"It's a game Smokescreen thought we could play." Skyfire said, with said mech plucking a block off the top of the tower. Grapple scowled at him, but Smokescreen grinned.

"Yeah, it's from England I think." Smokescreen said. He glanced at First Aid, who tried not to stiffen. "Strategy and building, lots of processing power. The point is not to the let the tower collapse while stacking it higher." He tilted his helm as Skyfire pointed at another block for Grapple to remove from the tower.

"I'm…surprised that they made blocks these big." First Aid said.

Smokescreen chuckled. "Oh, they're not the actual game pieces. Found and fixed up some blocks to look like them, not really hard to do." He plucked another tablet from the top, and Grapple crossed his arms.

"This defeats the purpose of strategy to just take the piece from the top of it." He said.

Smokescreen shrugged. "Hey, if it works, it works."

Grapple huffed, but plucked a tablet from the tower that Skyfire pointed out. "Even in a game that requires precision and thought, you still find a way to cheat."

Smokescreen straightened up. "I take offense to that." He said, and First Aid tensed, but then the mech grinned. "Do you know how hard it is to cheat at this game? I'm dealing with two geniuses right now."

Skyfire didn't say much, but when he chuckled, First Aid took notice of it. It was a relief, to be honest. He didn't know what Smokescreen had done to get Skyfire to speak to him, but clearly it was working. "If Perceptor were here, I'm sure he'd have figured out the best way to win."

"And then we'd frag it up by picking a block that threw a wrench into all his plans." Smokescreen said, and Skyfire smiled.

Grapple plucked out another block, and carefully set it on top. "Truly though, I'm going to win again. You should not have asked an architect to participate in a building game."

Smokescreen smiled and shrugged. It wasn't a nice thought, but First Aid wondered if the other mech invited Grapple to play this game specifically to put Skyfire at ease. "And I'm sure after the last time, no one wants to have a round of poker with me." he leaned his elbow on the table, and rested his chin on his servo. "How about you, Skyfire? What other games do you like?"

Skyfire's wings hitched, and a tense but thoughtful expression formed on his features. "It's…quite embarrassing, but in the science academy St - er, I used to get roped into doing energon shots. Everyone in our dorms would gather up whatever we could, and add it to the energon." His expression softened in memory. "It was completely and utterly irresponsible, but it was absolute fun."

'And probably ended up with a lot of you in a clinic.' First Aid thought. It confounded him as to why anyone would take a chance with unknown additives, but his medical professionalism took a backseat when he glanced at Skyfire's wistful expression. 'It's the most he's ever said about his life before the ice.'

"Sounds like fun too." Smokescreen chuckled. He plucked another block from the top of the tower, but when he tried to place it back onto another block – the entire thing fell apart. The blocks clattered to the table, scattered around haphazardly. Smokescreen stared at it, then at the tablet between his digits.

Grapple grinned. "Ha! I knew your cheating would be your undoing."

Smokescreen shook his helm, and leaned on his servo again. "Huh, kinda like how Prowl gave me brig time after I scammed you all."

"We could do another round." Skyfire said, and Smokescreen straightened up.

"Of course, I'm not losing that easily." He gathered up the blocks. "Hey, First Aid, you got a shift or do you want to play too?"

First Aid stiffened in surprise. "Me? I-I don't have a shift, but I also don't think I'd do very well."

"I was uncertain too, but it's been really quite fun." Skyfire said, another small smile forming on his lips.

First Aid's visor brightened, his spark giving a warm pulse. "Well, I can't very well say no with that glowing endorsement."

Smokescreen sorted the blocks where they could all reach, and placed the first tablet in the center of the table. "Say, Skyfire, I've been thinking of asking First Aid out, do you know any good romantic spots? Really want to impress him."

First Aid slammed his tablet onto the table a bit too hard, and his helm jerked up to stare at Smokescreen, who just grinned back at him. "W-what?"

"Bold of you to think that you'd get past the other Protectobots, and Ratchet and Wheeljack." Grapple mused, and placed his block next in the forming square.

First Aid wanted to disappear, but he knew why Smokescreen picked him for this; First Aid was in on it. 'He didn't have to blindside me like that.' he thought, but noticed Skyfire giving him an uncertain look. The medic's visor dimmed. "It's okay, you don't have to say anything. Smokescreen," he shot the mech another look, "should be able to think of that on his own."

"Aw, that's harsh, 'Aid." Smokescreen said, and had the audacity to pout.

"No, I don't mind." Skyfire assured them, and his optics glanced down at the table. "I always liked going to the lake, but Sunstreaker never really did. It was always a tight fit, but I did enjoy going to those…" Skyfire paused, as if trying to find the word, "drive-ins? Yes, I believe that's what it's called. It's always interesting learning more about earth culture, and through their art is one way to not be…intrusive, I believe."

"Oh?" Smokescreen leaned on both his servos, optics brightening with interest. "And what about more…private places for private things." Skyfire probably would be flushing if he could, with how high his wings got.

:What are you thinking? You can't ask him that: First Aid sent to Smokescreen, who answered just as promptly.

:I'm learning more about what I'm working with.:

Grapple grimaced as he added another block. "Really, Smokescreen? Must you pry into personal matters?"

"I-er-it's-it's-we-er-" Skyfire sputtered, as this topic clearly left him uncomfortable.

First Aid was about to speak, but Smokescreen beat him to it. "You're right, that was over the line. I'm sorry, Skyfire."

The shuttle looked cautiously relieved to have the subject dropped. "Thank you, for the apology." His tone seemed to suggest if it should have been a question.

Smokescreen smiled as he put down a tablet. :I can't speak to if Skyfire ever interfaced, but he's definitely never done it with Sunstreaker.:

First Aid tried not to react, because what? :How could you possibly know that?:

:Skyfire is too jittery. Shy mechs I've talked to get defensive, not edgy. Skyfire likely refused Sunstreaker, and he made him feel like scrap every time. I'm not going to speculate further on it, because I ain't that kind of nosy.:

And First Aid wasn't going to either. It was horrifying enough that the thought never even crossed his mind. He tried not to falter when it was his turn to place a block on the tower.