Title: Blades and First Aid XV
Rating: T
Warning: Mentions of Suicide, Incest

The following cycles were a blur. First Aid, for the first time a patient, lay tucked into a hospital berth, machine hums and gentle beeps filling the floor as the night worked itself into the early cycles of a new orn. It was a peaceful atmosphere, though a few cycles ago it had not been such. Between colleagues and Ratchet, and his family, Ignis especially, the swarm of visitors hardly seemed to taper; everyone fretful about the australian shepherd's well-being after the news of his near death spread like fire. The white mech had assured them all with a kind smile that -minus a few scrapes and cuts- he was fine, listening to those who needed to vent their fears to him a little while longer. Hugs were had, servos held tightly and kisses given before one by one, everyone finally departed for the night, allowing First Aid some time to rest before his morning discharge.

Now though, the vet found that he couldn't recharge, despite how the exhaustion had tugged at him earlier when the adrenaline dissipated.

He stared at his servos, rolling the hem of his blanket between his thumb and forefinger, as he fretted in silence. They had separated Blades and himself upon admission, and though First Aid knew that his brother was in good care, the lack of any updates on the bull terrier only weighed heavily on the white autodog's spark.

Blades had nearly killed himself again...

The australian shepherd had almost died trying to prevent that a second time.

Sure, it was thanks to his brother that the vet was even still alive, but had the mercenary really woken from his shell? Or would he merely take another attempt at his life, with a higher probability of success this time? He was trying so hard to show Blades that he was needed, but maybe First Aid's words meant nothing after all...

Sniffling, the small autodog lifted a servo, about to wipe at the coolant collected heavily in his optics when roughened digits stroked the plating before him. Gasping, First Aid onlined his optics, immediately flinching away from the contact -and feeling his spark wither into itself as he saw Blades step away just as quickly, looking as if he'd been struck.

"N-no, wait!," the australian shepherd whispered imploringly as the red mech turned to climb back out the window quickly. A hiccup escaped as the tears swelled again, little legs hurrying to kick away the bedding so he could grab his fleeing brother. "P-please, Blades, don't go!"

The bull terrier hesitated, his helm turning an inch toward the smaller autodog. First Aid froze, legs dangling over the side of the berth and spark puttering chaotically in his chestplates, realizing he had one chance to get this right.

"P...please don't l-leave me."

Slowly, Blades lowered his pede to the floor, turning about to face his brother; helm ducked and fists clenched tightly at his sides, optics darting about the ground anxiously. It seemed the Wrecker anticipated abuse to rain down upon his helm at any moment, but all the vet could do was smile broadly, a watery chuckle escaping in relief.

"I-i was worried that m-maybe...," he mumbled, pressing his cupped servos to his mouth momentarily to stem another wave of tears. "T-thank Primus you are alright, b-brother Blades. I couldn't l-live if something happened to you."

First Aid looked up, finding the red mech staring at him in shock. He hadn't expected such a response from the usually confident bull terrier and the vet's spark ached horribly at the revelation. Filled with sadness now, the australian shepherd lowered his servos to his lap, struggling to find his vocalizer in his brother's continuing silence.

"I-i... I'm sorry, b-brother Blades," he began shyly. "F-for pushing you away t-that orn, a-and every o-orn after. I... It h-hurt-," He glanced away, lower lip component trembling as the confession started to spill out, "Hurt s-so much. T-there were so many l-lies and secrets, a-and no one told me, t-then I fell a-and..."

First Aid paused, keeping the whimper down as he remembered bloody bands and grey claws and dark tunnels, a violent tremble wracking his frame. "I p-pushed you away e-even though all I wanted was f-for you to come swooping in like a k-knight a-and save m-me from t-that nightmare," he choked, a sob slipping out, "J-just like we p-pretended when I w-was little. But I didn't say a-anything, b-because I s-saw you with St-streetwise and I-i couldn't..."

"B-but then you tried to k-kill yourself. A-and you were going to do it ag-again," the white mech wheezed, his processor flashing back to several cycles ago, up on the rooftop. "A-and even if I-i never m-mean anything to y-you like S-streetwise, I-i-i knew I c-could not bear to lose y-you entirely. I l-love you, brother B-blades. P-please don't l-leave me a-again!"

Blue optics lifted up just in time to see the bull terrier bridge the gap between them suddenly, pulling the vet up into shaking arms and crushing the smaller autodog against his chestplates. White fingers twisted themselves deeply into the other's shirt, First Aid sobbing into his brother's neck cables. "I need you, B-blades," he declared tearfully, clinging on tighter, determined to never release the Wrecker again, "I-i love you. I-i'm sorry."

It took the vet a moment to realize Blades was crying as well.

"D-don't say sorry, don't say sorry, d-don't say so-sorry," he murmured, over and over again as his tears dampened the australian shepherd's shoulder. "I-i fragged up... I-i hurt you. Dr-drove you away... I t-tried to keep all my p-poison away f-from you but I still ended up t-tainting you... M-my angel... M-my sweet First Aid..."

He shivered to hear those words come from the Wrecker's vocalizer; tightening his hold, he nudged his olfactory sensor against a flattened ears, giving it a gentle kiss. "I forgive you, brother Blades," First Aid said sincerely. "You could never mar me. You were always my chosen protector."

Strong servos were pulling the australian shepherd away. The white mech didn't want the distance to open up between them again, but he allowed the bull terrier to set him back down on the hospital berth, watching as the Wrecker crumpled to his knees before the vet; servos trembling uncertainly on either side of First Aid's legs, while a tormented expression painted Blades' face. "Y-you... you f-forgive me... e-even after...? H-how? How c-can you say that after how stupid I-i've been...," the red autodog cursed, slapping the mattress. "I've greedily wanted your presence, but I was too cowardly to say anything. You were so brilliant and pure; I'm nothing but a killer! I've used Streetwise as a toy to bury these feelings all these stellar cycles, knowing that these filthy servos should never touch something as precious as you, and even then I still managed to fail you! This is what my 'love' results in- you don't deserve this kind of toxic affection!"

Hearing how little Blades thought of himself made First Aid's spark wither all over again. The mercenary was worth more than what he said, no matter what faults he had. Reaching down, the vet grasped one of his brother's servo, pulling it up and pressing it to his cheekplate tenderly, holding on tight despite the minute yank the other gave. His loving optics onlined, staring into the matching coolant-laden pair, smiling as he spoke. "I know what you have done, Blades; I know the roles Streetwise has played. It doesn't matter to me. I loved you, still love you. You're all I've ever wanted in my life," he shared, a knot forming around his vocalizer, "I w-was saving myself f-for you, be-before..."

"I-i don't care if you think I'm b-broken, o-or if you s-say you're a monster," First Aid continued strongly, nuzzling the bull terrier's servo, "I love you still. I need you here. Only these servos could keep me safe. C-can... can you love me in return?"

The Wrecker's intakes stalled for an astrosecond, before he lunged upwards, capturing the vet's mouth in a heated kiss. The australian shepherd gasped in surprise, toppling to the berth as his brother loomed over him; their passionate lip-lock having yet to break, despite the change of position. It felt like an eternity passed while they remained melded into the kiss, strong servos cupping the white autodog to his taller partner, so sure and warm, before finally lip components slowly parted, tingling in the aftermath. Looking up, First Aid felt his chestplates swell as Blades glanced down on him in return, his optics shining with unshed tears also, a glimmer of hope reflected in their depths.

"You are my world, First Aid," the red mech whispered back. "I would die without you, that is how much my spark burns for you."

Oh, how he'd longed to hear those kind of words directed at him and him alone. The vet sniffled again, the smile on his face star bright as he pulled Blades down, planting soft pecks along his forehelm and cheekplates. His brother received them all, scooping First Aid up and clambering onto the tiny hospital berth, until he lay across the mattress with the small autodog cradled safely between his arms and legs. It was a different experience... but it was warm, and secure, and he was surrounded by the bull terrier's comforting scent. The australian shepherd could think of no better place to be, at this very moment. Finally, exhaustion was creeping up on him again, and he turned further into his brother's chestplates, servos clutching the fabric closest to the Wrecker's spark.

"Y-you... you won't be gone, when I wake, right?," the white mech asked, a sliver of doubt still remaining. He couldn't imagine the horror he'd feel if he awoke and this all turned out to be a dream.

There was the sensation of Blades' olfactory sensor pressing hard into the top of the vet's helm, lip components mouthing against a folded ear. "Not a fragging thing could get me to let you of my sight or grasp again, Aid," he promised, hugging the smaller 'bot hard for an astrosecond. First Aid smiled broadly, allowing himself to slip off to recharge in the cage of his brother's embrace.

xxXxXxx

Epilogue

xxXxXxx

Everything had seemingly gone back to normal after only a few weeks. Blades left to do secret missions, Groove returned to calling and insisting that First Aid visit as often as possible, and to his credit, the australian shepherd did. There were still cracks in his spark and psyche, but the world was much brighter than before; those dark spaces fading until their presence was forgotten entirely. Even his probation at the hospital was coming to an end, and the white mech looked forward to getting his new schedule in a few orns.

Walking to his creators' home for another family dinner, First Aid had a bounce in his step and a lightness in his spark as he turned his optics skyward. Was there anything more beautiful than this pleasant spring afternoon?

"Gotcha," a vocalizer piped up suddenly, a larger servo grabbing a wrist and spinning the autodog around.

The australian shepherd didn't have a chance to be frightened as he was lifted up by his waist, the crooked smile of his brother greeting the nurse before he was wrapped securely in the other's embrace. "Frag...," Blades mumbled, his face pressing into First Aid's neck cables, cycling an intake deeply to drench himself in his brother's scent, "If you sprouted wings right now, I wouldn't be fragging surprised. You really do look like a slagging angel, Aid."

The white mech smiled, dropping his optics shyly when the bull terrier released him just enough so they could see each other face-to-face again. "You're so silly, brother Blades," he replied with a giggle. He caught the taller autodog's gaze as his spark swelled in yearning. "I missed you so much."

"And I missed you," Blades shared, setting First Aid back down on his pedes. He had only pulled back a few inches, and then he was on his knees this time, crushing the nurse in another hug. "Ah, Primus, Aid. I just... That mission came at such a bad time, and Yoketron is such an aft, I just wanted to run back to Iacon every slagging day I was gone. I want to just hold you, smell you, and never be away from you again."

The australian shepherd was reminded of their night together at the hospital and he felt his spark whirl in similar need. Now that he knew he had a place in Blades' spark, First Aid didn't want to be away from his brother more than necessary either. But there were things that they hadn't really discussed since the reconciliation. "Well," he hummed, freeing his arms enough so he could wrap them around the red autodog in turn, "I guess it's a good thing that we're having dinner at mom and dad's tonight."

The bull terrier groaned, releasing the stunned nurse as he turned begging optics onto the white mech. "Do we have to? Let's just skip out and go somewhere else -anywhere else! Tell me where you want to go and I'll take you there," he insisted eagerly, tail wagging in anticipation.

First Aid felt his cheekplates warm at his brother's words. It sounded like Blades wanted to take him out on a date! Though it was unlikely the Wrecker was aware of the implication as he spoke. As he opened his mouth to politely tell his brother that it would be rude to just ditch the family dinner, especially when Groove had worked so hard to prepare a nice meal, a third vocalizer chuckled behind them. A quick glance revealed their unexpected guest to be none other than Streetwise himself.

"Careful, Blades," he teased casually, optics twinkling impishly as the pair faced him, "It sounds as though you're asking our precious First Aid on a date. But if he knew what you really want to do to him once alone, I'm afraid our delicate brother might faint!"

Blades' fangs bared angrily at the akita, his anger stalling as he caught the bright magenta splashed across the australian shepherd's face as he quickly ducked it out of sight. "S-shut up, af-aft!," he snapped at Streetwise, blushing as well. "Go get bent!"

The cyborg sighed wistfully, walking around his brothers as he waved a servo at them dismissively. "Oh, if only... Well, I'll let mom know you're just a few houses down. Don't dawdle now," Streetwise sing-songed, heading up the street and disappearing into their creators' house.

Embarrassed, the bull terrier grumbled under his intakes to himself as he got to his pedes again. He fell quiet as he glanced at First Aid and found the nurse still flushed from helm to pede, staring at the ground as he played with his fingers idly. "I-i, eh...," Blades coughed, stumbling for something to say, "S-streetwise is... I mean, don't listen that toaster, I-"

"I-i wouldn't mind going out on a date with you," the australian shepherd whispered.

Blades nearly hit the floor in shock. "Y-you would?!," he gaped loudly, cheekplates heating to an uncomfortable level. "I m-mean, awesome! I-i... I just don't know how to do the, uh, d-date... stuff... I-i'm probably gonna be super bad. J-just a heads up."

First Aid finally looked up again, smiling despite how flustered he was himself. "T-that's okay," he replied, gently reaching out and grasping one of his brother's servos. "I'm just happy being with you. A-also, I... I wouldn't mind if you moved in with me. I-if you want, o-of course."

This time the bull terrier did collapse, drawing a concerned yip from the white mech as he moved about the red autodog's frame fretfully.

"B-brother Blades!"

"D...don't," the mercenary growled softly, grabbing First Aid's arm and yanking the nurse closer as he began to sit up, "Don't s-say stuff like that, Aid. My spark can't take it with you making those sort of offers."

Their lip components were almost brushing against each other as they spoke, the smaller autodog's optics dimming as he shivered under the bull terrier's lustful gaze. "I-i... I mean it, though. I love you, brother Blades," he mumbled back.

Blades said nothing this time, merely pulling First Aid to his frame and mashing their mouths together. The kiss -their second!- was unlike the one at the hospital; that had been pure and shy, looking to heal, rather than anything else. This one was an inferno burning molten hot, catching the nurse suddenly with its relentless passion, urging him to surrender himself fully to his champion's control. As he opened his mouth to voice this, a glossa flashed inside; two, large servos grasping his waist as he was yanked ever closer and molested.

"By Unicron's bowels- You're fornicating with your other brother now, Blades! And in public, no less!"

As if drenched in cold water, the pair separated; First Aid, covering his bright face with shaking servos, and Blades scrambling a few inches away as he faced Groove, now storming towards his sons. He whipped the bull terrier about the shoulders with his dish rag, smacking him again when the red mech yipped. "Slagging pervert! Get, get in the house! Have some decency for First Aid's sake," the komondor snarled.

"What the slag?! I ain't a fragging pe-" Blades yelped as he was smacked a third time, this time around the ears. "O-okay, okay, I'm going already!"

Before he could get whipped again, the bull terrier hightailed it for the house, grumbling quietly the entire way. Cheekplates still bright magenta, First Aid looked shyly up at his carrier, watching uncertainly as Groove tucked the dishrag back into his apron strings with a heavy gruff. "I am accepting of how you feel towards Blades, honey," Groove said to his son gently, "But First Aid, please... Do not let that idiot turn you into a frag-needy deviant. You are the only one of your brothers with any modesty left."

"Y-you... you really don't mind t-that I'm dating brother Blades," the australian shepherd asked nervously.

Groove smiled, hugging the nurse tightly. "I am happy with whatever makes you happy. But that overgrown sparkling is going to be a handful for you, sweetspark."

First Aid grinned back, nuzzling into his carrier's hold for a moment longer before pulling back. "That's okay. He's my Blades and I love everything about him," he replied sincerely. The komonodor only patted his son's helm tenderly, the pair walking back to his creators' house as they chatted about the events of the last week.

When they got to the door, Ignis and Hot Spot were waiting to greet the white mech; inside, Streetwise served drinks with a smile and a few jokes, and Blades waited on the couch, his tail thumping loudly as First Aid took his place beside him. Their fingers entwining, the australian shepherd felt his spark swell with love and joy. Nothing could ever replace this feeling of belonging, of being home, with the love of his life and his family once again.

As things were meant to be.

C.M.D: Took a long time, but we got there.
Be kind; give me your mind. Review, please?