C.M.D: Hey, look whose posting out of chronological order! Anyways, events here sort of take place before First Aid's story arc, just to keep people from getting confused.
Title: Vortex and Fireflight VII
Rating: T
"Brawl...," the little shih tzu asked, turning his helm around shyly, "Where's Vortex? Isn't he here today?"
The serval looked up from the 'tea party' they were having, his servos full of mud scooped from the garden bed. Glancing up to the top of the house, the mech shrugged, slapping his home-made treat onto one of the plates. "He's sleeping in his room. Daddy says he's not to come out until he can be good -he's placed a spell on the door," he explained, decorating his mud pies with some four-leaf clovers.
"Spell?," Fireflight replied, canting his helm to the side in cute confusion. "Is there a way to break the spell?"
Brawl paused in what he was doing, looking at the youngling. "...you want to play with Vortex instead, huh?," the kittycon said softly, ears drooping a little.
Guiltily, Fireflight turned his optics down to his lap; playing with the hem of his dress. "W-well, I miss him... I promise I'll play with you again though!," the shih tzu vowed. "I like playing with you!"
Immediately, Brawl perked up, tail swishing happily. Leaning across the little, plastic table, he not-so-quietly whispered to the autodog, "Daddy makes the spell work with numbers. Two, two, eight, five, one, zero."
Nodding rapidly at the code, Fireflight jumped to his pedes, quickly hugging Brawl. "Thank you so much, Brawl! Please don't tell See-Dee or Onslaught that I went to see Vortex, and I promise we'll play lots next time!"
Brawl nodded back as the youngling dashed off, returning to his mud pies contently.
xxXxXxx
He'd been sleeping. Not dreaming -he never dreamed. But he'd been resting, for sure, until he noticed a change in environment.
Optics onlining beneath his visor, his pixels slowly focused until they were staring at the little shih tzu sitting quietly at his side. Fireflight noticed the red glow, brightening as the kittycon woke and a shy smile slowly bloomed across his face. "Hello, Vor-"
The rest of the shih tzu's greeting was cut off as his arm was suddenly grabbed, dragging him over the lynx's frame and crashing on his torso. Blushing brightly, he shuttered his optics, face mere inches from Vortex's.
"...how did you get in here?," Vortex lowly asked, his lip components fixed in a flat scowl.
"I-i..." Fireflight swallowed, unable to look away from the red banner. "I w-wanted to s-see you... I m-missed you... So I g-got Brawl t-to give me t-the code, s-since you were g-grounded a-and I..."
The lynx slowly began to smirk. "So you lied? To get to me?," he purred. The shih tzu blushed further, glancing down finally. It wasn't that he had lied, but he was keeping this visit a secret, to make sure that their time together would not be cut short.
Was that a bad thing?
"Fireflight... Oh, Fireflight," Vortex cooed, a servo sliding down the autodog's backstruts, "Look at me?"
Shyly, Fireflight glanced up again, unsurprised to see the kittycon smirking. It was such a familiar look the shih tzu had started to miss immensely, that he couldn't help shifting up a couple inches, pressing his mouth softly against the grey mech's. "I love you Vortex..."
The lynx paused, his servo half-way up the autodog's skirt, as he was kissed. He had honestly not been expecting such a gentle caress or for the breathless, sincere words that followed next. Shuttering his optics, he stared mutely at the sparkling looking back at- no, his processor noted. Not a sparkling anymore. Fireflight had officially become a youngling the other orn; he'd heard the party from upstairs. Growing...
But still small, still sweet, still innocent and still foolishly enthralled by him. Growling lowly, Vortex slammed their mouths together, cupping the shih tzu's aft; holding him close as he rolled them over in the berth, trapping the youngling beneath him.
"Snowflake...," he rumbled softly, lunging down and nipping Fireflight's neck cables between hungry kisses, "Oh, snowflake... I'm gonna frag you so hard. I want to feel you shaking under me."
Mewling, Fireflight attempted to nod, spreading his legs as wide as he could as the lynx shoved his dress up his chassis. "P-please," the youngling whimpered, clutching to the kittycon, "Pl-please, Vortex... p-please, I w-want to be w-with you. I w-want to h-have you i-inside!"
Purring lustfully, Vortex quickly nudged between the spread thighs; spike pressurizing along the other's plating as he started a slow grind.
xxXxXxx
Onslaught slowly walked up the attic steps, stopping on the landing and listening for a long klik. He heard nothing, which meant little considering whose room was up here, but not even the dust had been stirred. He took that to mean that nothing was currently taking place on the other side of the door.
Venting softly, the kittycon crossed the small room, punching in the code for his son's room. When the keypad gave a small beep, the serval opened the door, taking a cautious peek into the room. He was not overtly surprised to see sheets pushed aside haphazardly and clothes tossed carelessly to the floor, along with a sharp, musky scent that permeated the air.
He was, however, a little surprised to see a peaceful, slumbering Fireflight spooned into Vortex's curling form on the berth. Shuttering his optics slowly to make sure he wasn't imaging things, Onslaught cautiously crossed the room; pausing at the berthside. Once he had confirmed that Vortex was asleep as well and not simply lying in wait, the serval reached down and gently eased the shih tzu from his psychotic son's clutching grasp, before carrying Fireflight -dress and all- out of the room. He cradled the youngling with one arm as he closed the door and ensured the lock was in place; after which, he turned and carried the tuckered out autodog downstairs to his waiting, fretful brothers.
xxXxXxx
He hated this.
Vortex sat, by himself, on the living room floor; forced into sitting beside the playpen standing between him and his Fireflight, while the brat played quietly inside. Every time Fireflight looked away, he would make a face at the bornling and smirked triumphantly at the terrified look Breakdown gave him each time. It was enough to make him chuckle contently... at least until his sire kicked him in the back of his spinal struts, growling at him lowly. Turning around, Fireflight shuttered his optics in cute confusion, looking at both kittycons.
"Is something wrong?," he asked sweetly.
Both kittycons answered with a quick, flat "No".
Assured by this, Fireflight went back to his flower weaving, but not before scratching Breakdown behind his ears. Bored once again, Vortex huffed in silent ire, wishing that he could be anywhere but stuck here -and preferably with the shih tzu. He was distracted from his sulking for a moment when Skydive walked into the living room, carrying the twins.
"Look who finally decided to wake up," he smiled cheerfully, bringing both Motormaster and Dragstrip over to the playpen. "Would Breakdown like to meet his uncle and auntie?"
"Of course Bedo would love to meet them!," Fireflight chirped merrily, reaching into the playpen and lifting the hybrid out. The skittish bornling mewed in confusion and slight fear as he was cradled in his carrier's arms; his wide, uncertain optics fixed on the other two strangers inches away from him.
Both Motormaster and Dragstrip stared back, uninterested in responding to the anxious bornling before them. Smiling obliviously, both autodogs turned and settled on the floor, letting the hybrids lay on their stomachs to play or crawl about as they wished; moving all sparkling toys between themselves so that they'd be more available to the bornlings. At this change of position, both Motormaster and Dragstrip slowly wormed across the floor, olfactory sensors sniffing the air frequently as they approached Breakdown.
The poor mechling squeaked fearfully as they drew closer, yet he could not wiggle away like the twins and had no choice but to curl up a little in fright as the other two hybrids reached him. They sniffed for a klik about his helm, ignoring the smaller one's squeaking, before wriggling away indifferently; grabbing toys and entertaining themselves quietly. Surprised to be unharmed, Breakdown looked back up, staring at the twins, then shyly inching across the floor like a worm to play with the rattle next to Dragstrip.
Pleased by the hybrids' first, proper introduction, Fireflight and Skydive set into quiet chatter, updating each other on home and daily life. Meanwhile, both kittycons sat behind them, forgotten for the time being. Scowl deepening quicker and quicker, Vortex sulked at the lack of attention he was receiving from the shih tzu and his lost chance to harass his unwanted spawn.
He was not all that surprised when he got another kick upside the helm from his sire; turning around, he found the serval quietly opening his paper, unrepentant about what he'd just done. "Just sit there and behave," the seval informed lowly, "Or you're going back into the room for the rest of the visit... and Fireflight won't be coming up to say goodbye."
Fangs bared disapprovingly, the lynx crossed his arms, sulking in obvious fashion.
xxXxXxx
Yawning, Silverbolt pushed himself from his berth, rubbing momentarily at an optic to chase away the last of his sleep. He heard another creak on the staircase from down the hallway, softer than the one that had woken him up. Fireflight wasn't nearly as heavy to make the stairs creak so who was out there at this time of orn?
"Air Raid...?," the shih tzu mumbled hopefully, grabbing his robe and walking out of the room, "Are you back?"
There was no one to be seen when he got out on the landing. Perplexed, the white mech paused, trying to make sense of the situation. For caution's sake, he checked Fireflight's berthroom but did not find his younger brother in there. "...Fireflight?," Silverbolt called, turning around hesitantly.
"Boo," a vocalizer whispered into his audio, cruel and taunting.
Whirling around, the autodog slammed back against the wall, glaring up at the lynx even as his knees shook uncertainly. "You!," he hissed, servos curling into fists. Vortex merely watched him, slag-eating grin stretching wider across his face.
"Why so hostile?," he jeered. "Forgot to lock your windows or something?"
"Get out of my house!," Silverbolt barked. His fuel tanks were roiling sickly and he suddenly wished he had at least several layers on rather than just one, but either way, he wasn't going to allow himself to be weak in front of this creep. The kittycon preyed on weakness. "Where's Fireflight?"
"I didn't take him," Vortex grunted, scowling for a moment. His grin was back quickly. "In fact, he is perfectly safe, here... and happy to have me."
The shih tzu glared harder, starting to shake more with anger than fear. "You sick sonnuva glitch- if you even lay a single claw on him, I'll-"
"Vortex! Breakfast is ready!," Fireflight called, stepping into sight downstairs. The shih tzu wore one of Silverbolt's apron, fretfully large on the youngling's frame, which was spotted and splattered with the same mess that covered the spatula he held in one servo. Pausing as he saw the kittycon was not alone, Fireflight shuttered his optics before smiling brightly. "Good morning, Silvy! Would you like some pancakes as well?"
"I..." Silverbolt glanced at his brother, then at Vortex, and back to Fireflight again. He desperately wanted to say 'no', because any appetite he may have had was immediately killed by the lynx's presence, but declining also meant leaving the youngling alone with that psycho. And that was definitely not something Silverbolt could do. "I'll be down in a klik," he replied, to (in some relief) Vortex's displeasure, "I will just throw some clothes on."
"Okay!," Fireflight chirped merrily, no doubt his tail wagging. "I'll get you a plate." With a skip and a bounce, the smaller shih tzu headed back into the kitchen and the white mech was certain to make a quick escape to his own berthroom, before Vortex made up his processor as to whom he should chase after.
xxXxXxx
It was the usual sunny orn. Birds chirped, the sky was a bright blue, sparklings played up and down the street... and one particular kittycon was scaling down the side of a pretty two-storey house via the drainpipe. Ears twitching with every gleeful squeal that could be heard and tail swishing with anticipation, the lynx was a terror to be feared, even as he made his way to the ground like a giant, four-limbed spider. Not that Vortex minded being likened to a spider. Actually, there was very little he minded, especially when it came to the things people called him.
"Pit-spawn..."
Like that for example!
Pausing, the kittycon turned his helm, finding Onslaught had rounded the side of the house; a rake in his servos.
"A rake?," Vortex smirked. "Really?"
"Just where do you think you're going?," the serval growled, glaring at the comment. "I didn't give you permission to leave."
"Ah, well, you see... I got bored." The lynx grinned, unjustifiably proud of himself, as he leaned back, letting go of the house siding as he did a somersault before landing neatly on his pedes. "And I know you were ignoring me, so I figured I'd take the opportunity to get out and breathe in some fresh air."
"And terrorize the neighborhood while you were at it?," Onslaught snidely replied. "Again."
Vortex ignored the jab. "Daddy-o, I believe you have some raking to do," he cooed mockingly. "'Cause it's very obvious you're not doing any plowing in that 'garden' you have indoors."
Dust blue optics flared as fangs revealed themselves in a snarl; the grey mech finding himself slammed against the house, rake pressing against his neck cables tightly. "We," Onslaught hissed between clenched denta, "Have. A. Mission. So, I won't be skinning you tonight." Stepping back, the serval let the other kittycon drop to the ground, greatly resisting the urge to kick the git's denta in.
"Aw, we have to reschedule?," came the taunt.
"Laugh it up, son," the green mech spat. "But you are responsible for telling Fireflight that you're going to be gone for a week."
Immediately Vortex's jeering grin fell.
Smirking himself now, Onslaught thwapped the lynx upside the helm with the end of the rake, before turning and heading back to the front of the house. "Have fun."
xxXxXxx
"Vortex!"
Fireflight rushed at the kittycon with arms wide open the moment he climbed through the window, wrapping his little arms as far around the lynx's frame as they would go. Fingers waggling a little at such an odd greeting, Vortex slowly pinched the back of the youngling's shirt, pulling him away.
"Um, yes... hello," he mumbled back flatly.
"I was starting to miss you already," the shih tzu beamed, shuttering beautiful blue optics up at the grey mech. "So has Breakdown! Did you know that he almost stood up on his own yesterday? It was so amazing and wonderful and I'm so, so, so very happy!"
"Mhmm...," Vortex hummed, very unintrigued with any new development on Fireflight's brat. Unless he came up missing. Or better yet, dead! "Snowflake-"
Fireflight interrupted him immediately, almost bouncing where the kittycon held him. "Oh, I can't wait to show you all the new things we got Bedo and the dress that Silvy bought me and-"
"Snowflake," the lynx persisted, pressing a finger to the youngling's mouth. The autodog shuttered his optics up at him quietly, helm canted cutely. "Now, listen, I unfortunately did not come to visit..." Decisions, decisions. How ever should he phrase this to the pup, Vortex wondered.
"Y-you... you didn't?," Fireflight whispered from behind the digit, servos falling hopelessly before himself. "Y... you're not leaving, a-are you Vortex?" Well, that saved him the trouble of being the first to bring it up.
"No, no, no!," Vortex quickly soothed, stroking the very same claw down the shih tzu's cheekplate as coolant filled the other's optics. "Well, not exactly... See," he rectified, "I do have to go. On a little trip with daddy-o. It's for work you see; totally unavoidable."
"W-work?," the youngling sniffed. "S...s-so, you're coming back?" Crushed hopes were rapidly rebuilding themselves in that innocent gaze. "W-when? Where? Can I go too?"
Calculating, the kittycon shook his helm, rocking back on his heels and pulling the youngling towards him. "Precious things like you can't come, sadly. It's much too boring, and occasionally hard work too. No, you're better off staying here with your brothers and... Breakdown," he forced out, grinning.
Fireflight's shoulders sagged a little at that news, but he appeared to understand, if even just a bit. "O-okay...," he vented, rubbing at an optic quickly. "But, y-you will come back... r-right?"
"Of course," Vortex purred, petting at an ear. "In a week's time."
Venting sadly, the youngling nodded, before suddenly throwing himself at Vortex once again. "B-be safe," he whispered, turning his face into the kittycon's chestplates. Quietly, the grey mech held still, unreadable visor staring down upon the autodog. Only after Breakdown cried in his sleep, stealing his carrier's attention, did the lynx creep back out unnoticed.
xxXxXxx
Hefting the basket higher, Silverbolt headed upstairs with the freshly folded laundry, going through a list of chores in his helm. He knew the washrooms still needed scrubbing and there were some dishes left over from lunch, but his main concern would be dinner which was coming up within a few cycles. A possible visit from Trailbreaker also hung over the shih tzu's helm, both a worry and a pleasure. Shifting the weight of the laundry basket again, the autodog headed for the second floor landing, hearing soft humming coming from down in Fireflight's room.
Smiling, he headed in that direction, peering into the open doorway quietly. Unsurprisingly, Silverbolt found his little brother and Breakdown within, happy and giggling. What did startle him though was exactly what the youngest shih tzu was doing...
Holding his newest white sundress to his frame, Fireflight swayed from side to side in front of his mirror while Breakdown watched; smiling and giggling and humming a few bars that Silverbolt recognized sadly as the Wedding March.
He was just a youngling... The older shih tzu held back a sigh, shoulders slumping heavily. So much had been stolen from Fireflight. His innocence, his youth, a chance to go to school and be and play with other autodogs his age. The poor thing didn't even realize that he lived a life half in secrecy, protected by the mech whose same son had put Fireflight in this position. All his brother had left was Breakdown and love...
But even love would never fulfill a sparkling's dream of being cared for, bonded and loved equally in return. And Vortex would certainly never give that to the youngling in compensation for everything else that he had ruined. Everybody knew it... everybody except Fireflight.
Stepping away slowly, Silverbolt turned to put laundry away in one of the other rooms, praying to Primus that his baby brother's fragile spark be spared such a shattering revelation.