Chapter Warnings: Explicit sexual content - Deleted. If you want to read the whole chapter I encourage you to go to AO3 and search - Author: Arabis Story: Tribulations
The first time that Sam woke up, he rolled over with a grunt and buried his face into the pillows. He had the vague memory of urgency and purpose, hazy relics from his fading dreams, but he drifted back to sleep before he could reflect on it. The next time that Sam awoke, he felt warm and heavy in the way that only a deep, uninterrupted sleep could achieve. He shifted against the mattress, stretching his legs until they trembled, before tucking a knee up to his chest. The motion made him come to an abrupt and surprising realization—he had an erection, for the first time upon waking in almost two years. He slanted his eyes open, equal parts interested and relieved, when he caught sight of Bumblebee's holoform. Bee was lying on his side, between Sam and the bedside table, with the blankets draped loosely around his hips. As Sam cracked a sleepy smile at him, he noticed for the first time that the holoform was still clothed.
"Good morning." Bumblebee murmured, returning his smile, "Well, technically, good afternoon."
"What time is it?" Sam asked curiously, his voice rough from disuse.
"Almost one."
Sam rolled onto his back, yawning so hard that his jaw cracked, before he scrubbed his good hand over his face. He turned to look at the holoform, reaching out to tug at the neckline of his shirt.
"It's considered bad manners to wear your street clothes to bed." He teased.
The holoform tilted his head, something like confusion flickering across his face.
"These aren't clothes, Sam."
Sam laughed aloud, rolling onto his side again so that they lay facing each other.
"I know, but I've been told that I'm prone to good-natured teasing." Sam replied meaningfully, as he propped himself up onto his elbow. It only took a second for comprehension to spread across the holoform's face.
"First Aid?" He guessed.
"First Aid." Sam agreed, grinning, "What other stories have you been spreading about me?"
Bumblebee's expression did something complicated as his good humor visibly faded away. The sight of it made Sam's stomach clench with anxiety and he shifted forward until his lips were inches from Bumblebee's mouth.
"What did I tell you about brooding in bed?"
The corners of Bumblebee's mouth quirked up, but he did not move to close the distance between them.
"That it is both attractive and desirable?"
"Swing and a miss." Sam laughed, reaching out a hand to nudge against the holoform's shoulder. Bumblebee obliged him, rolling onto his back without complaint. As soon as he was settled against the mattress, Sam threw a leg over the holoform's body before pushing up to straddle him across his thighs. The look of curious expectation on Bumblebee's face flashed into wide-eyed surprise, and Sam was enormously gratified to have caught his bonded off-guard. He reached out, brushing his fingertips over the hallow of the holoform's throat, before he trailed them down his chest.
"You told me once that you enjoy it when I touch you." Sam murmured, "How much, exactly?"
Bumblebee's expression sharpened, becoming voracious.
"It is difficult to explain." He replied slowly, raising his hands to settle against Sam's hips.
EXPLICIT SCENE REMOVED – AKA most of this chapter.
When at last Sam was capable of rational thought, he released his grip on Bumblebee's head and fell back against the mattress with a weak groan. He was absolutely wrecked—soaked in sweat and trembling from the force of his release. After a moment, Bumblebee climbed up to lie down beside him, his hand coming to rest against Sam's chest. As Sam struggled to get his thundering heart under control, Bumblebee kissed him gently, chastely.
"I love you." His murmured, pressing his forehead against Sam's temple.
Sam grunted in response, a sound that might have been charitably interpreted as "You too."
Bumblebee chuckled, tracing a familiar pattern against Sam's sternum. They lay there like that in silence, until Sam's breathing eventually evened out.
"Jesus fucking Christ, Bumblebee." He managed, at last, "Where did you learn how to do that?"
"Samuel James Witwicky, you watch your mouth." The holoform replied, a shit-eating grin on his face. Sam made an uncharitable noise, reaching out to flick a finger against the holoform's neck.
"That was… yeah, that was… intense." Sam said slowly, almost wondrously, "Wherever that came from, you can definitely add it to the list of turn-ons. All of it, from start to finish."
Bumblebee laughed good-naturedly, "I already told you, Sam. I have access to terabytes of data about human sexuality."
Sam glanced over at the holoform as his meaning became clear, "Are you talking about porn?"
"Only partially, but yes."
Sam considered his words, when something occurred to him. He glanced down at the holoform, feeling suddenly uncertain.
"Do you enjoy it? Or are you only doing it because I enjoy it?"
To Sam's surprise, Bumblebee threw back his head and laughed. If it were not for the genuine affection that he could feel across their bond, Sam would have been insulted.
"Of course I enjoy it." Bee replied after a moment, his tone reassuring, "Yes, I enjoy that you enjoy it—I can experience the same sensations that you experience, through the bond—but I have my own preferences that align with yours."
Sam stared at the holoform in confusion, before understanding dawned on him. He couldn't help the blush that spread across his cheeks as he asked, tentatively, "So you enjoyed that, then? Being in control?"
Bumblebee's expression became warm and tender. He rolled towards him, raising his hands to bracket the sides of Sam's face. The way that the holoform looked at him, really looked at him, made Sam feel as though he were something precious.
"I enjoy it very much." Bee murmured, pressing a kiss against the bridge of Sam's nose, "You are very pretty when you beg."
Sam's blush deepened to vivid crimson, and he groaned softly.
"Bee, we really will be in bed all day if you keep talking like that."
Bumblebee pulled back, smiling at him almost apologetically.
"About that. Your mother has been calling you for the last twenty minutes." Bumblebee replied, "I sent her a text message from you to say that you were just getting up."
Bumblebee's words were like a bucket of cold water, and he groaned as he pushed up into a sitting position.
"I better go shower. She'll be knocking down the door before too long."
"Go on, then." Bee agreed, smiling at him, "I'll text her to let her know you won't be long."
Sam smiled back at him, before shuffling to the edge of the mattress and climbing to his feet. As he made his way into the bathroom, he glanced over his shoulder towards the bed. Bumblebee's holoform laid in the mess of sheets and blankets, clothed once again, with a thoroughly content look on his face. The sight made Sam's heart flutter with a complicated twist of emotions, and without second-guessing himself, he pushed the swell of it across their bond. The answering thrum of affection-satisfaction-mine stayed with Sam the entire time that he was in the shower.
By the time that Sam was brushing his teeth a short while later, he felt a warning nudge from across their bond. He understood at once that his mother had arrived. He huffed a heavy sigh, spitting the toothpaste into the sink and rinsing out his mouth. He wrapped his towel around his waist, holding it with one hand, before making his way back into the bedroom. As he crossed the entryway towards his closet, his mother called out to him.
"Good morning, Sammy. Did you sleep well?"
He glanced over his shoulder to see that his mother was sitting on the couch, her arm resting against the outside back as she turned to regard him. He felt his cheeks heat, and he ducked his head as he made his way to the closet.
"Ma, do you mind? I'm not even dressed." He complained in embarrassment, rooting through his closet one-handed.
"I brought you some breakfast. I thought we could go for a walk after you've had something to eat." She called back, as though he hadn't spoken, "Ratchet suggested we visit… is it Eclipse Point? Near the souvenir shop."
Sam stuck his head around the corner, staring at her in mounting exasperation.
"When were you talking to Ratchet?" He asked.
"Oh, we spent part of the morning together." She replied, oblivious to the way that Sam winced his eyes shut, "He showed us around the Hive—honestly, what a strange name for a military base—and then he introduced us to his employees."
Sam stepped back around the corner, pulling on his clothes as quickly as he was able.
"His employees?" He asked loudly, yanking his shirt over his head.
"Hoist and First Aid." Bumblebee replied, an edge of amusement in his voice. Sam sighed, leaning against the door frame as he pulled on his socks.
"They aren't his employees Ma, they're his subordinates." He corrected dryly, making his way into the living room. She stood up as he approached, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a hug, before pushing him towards the couch. As Sam sat down, his eyebrows rose to his hairline of their own accord. His mother had brought a cafeteria tray heaping with an assortment of food and drink—fruit, pastries, pancakes and bacon, yogurt, juice, and a carton of milk.
"Ma, I can't eat all this." He spluttered.
"Ratchet said that you didn't get enough to eat yesterday." She said, patting his shoulder before she made her way into his bedroom. He twisted to watch her go, feeling equal parts flabbergasted and resigned.
"What are you doing?"
"I noticed your dirty clothes are piling up." She said, as though that explained everything. He blinked at her in confusion, before he realized her intention. He pushed himself to his feet, quickly stepping around the couch and walking into the bedroom. His mother had already dug out a pile of dirty clothes and bath linens from the floor of the closet.
"Ma!" Sam protested, aghast, "You don't have to wash my laundry!"
"Don't be ridiculous. Agent Carter showed us the laundromat this morning."
Sam felt his cheeks heat in a combination of exasperation and embarrassment. He took a moment to compose his voice, before he tried again, "Ma, you're here to visit, not to do housework."
"I can do both." She said, glancing at him with a glimmer of disapproval, "Go eat your breakfast."
Before Sam could protest, his mother gathered the dirty laundry in her arms and then dropped it onto the bed. In the next moment, she was pulling the sheets off the mattress with quick, efficient tugs. Once the sheets were free, she gathered up the bundle—bedding, clothing, and all—and carried it towards the front door.
"That breakfast better be finished by the time I get back." She called over her shoulder, and then she walked out of the apartment. As the door shut behind her, Sam turned to look helplessly at Bumblebee. The holoform was leaning against the wall, his arms folded over his chest and an easy-going smile on his face. When Sam's stare turned pointed, Bee raised his shoulders in a cheerful shrug.
"You heard the lady." He said, inclining his head towards his breakfast tray, "Time to eat."
Sam rolled his eyes, but walked over and sat down on the couch all the same.
"I don't know whether to be worried or relieved that Mom and Dad spent the morning with Ratchet." Sam grumbled, taking a drink, "On one hand, I figured they wouldn't leave North Quad their entire visit, on the other hand, no good can come of my mother and Ratchet getting to know one another."
Bumblebee laughed softly, pushing off the wall to cross the space between them.
"They are both very determined." Bumblebee replied, diplomatically.
Sam quirked a smile around a mouthful of banana, "That's one word for it. You could also use stubborn, single-minded, and overbearing."
Although the Creator-bond remained still and quiet, Sam was sure that he hadn't imagined the scoff of disapproval in the back of his mind. The sensation made him laugh quietly as he reached for the yogurt.
Serves you right. He sent, as loudly as he could. The admonishing rap that followed a moment later was entirely worth it, Sam decided with a grin.