"Strongarm come over here!" Magnus called out. Strongarm walked over, wondering what was going on. Once Strongarm was there Magnus started speaking again, "Steeljaw, do you respect both me and my daughter enough to do anything I command you to?"
"Yes."
"Then stay away from Strongarm for a whole week, no touching, hugging, or kissing."
Steeljaw held back a growl. A whole week? Would he be able to last that long? "Alright."
"I see what you're doing Magnus," Bumblebee says as he walks up to them, "When a mech is truly in love it's torture to be away from the femme but if he's not then the mech won't feel any pain. It's a test to see how true your feelings are. Why didn't I think of it?"
"I bet he won't last the week," Sideswipe whispered to the others who were all listening in.
"I bet he'll only last two days," Wheeljack smirked.
Arcee rolled her optics, "Mechs. At least try to give him a chance to prove he cares about her. What do you think Metalsound?" She asked the other femme, but she was on Ultra Magnus' ship again. She was in her beast form looking at the sky.
"Are you alright Miss?" Slipstream asked the Predacon, who didn't answer.
"Yeah you're right Arcee, he needs a chance to show his love," Bulkhead says in agreement with her.
Steeljaw growled inwardly, hearing Wheeljack's and Sideswipe's conversation, "As long as Sideswipe stays away from her as well."
"Most certainly," Magnus responded.
"This means you'll have to find somewhere else to sleep at night," Bumblebee puts in.
"Right, the question is where," Steeljaw muttered to himself.
"You can sleep in one of the rooms on my ship," Magnus offered.
"Thank you, sir."
"That command starts right now so you two separate yourselves and go about your business," Magnus states.
"Guess that means the game's over," Wheeljack muttered.
"I think it was over when the commander called Strongarm over," Arcee chuckled, "What do you say we go for a drive?"
"Sounds good," they transform and drive out.
"Come on kid, you're coming with me," Bulkhead dragged Sideswipe along with him as they transformed driving off.
"Master Bumblebee, why is Metalsound staring at the sky like that?" Jetstorm asked.
"It's something she does, she likes to be in tune with nature."
"Perhaps we should learn how to be in tune with nature as well," Jetstorm thought out loud.
"That alone would take years to master Jetstorm," Drift responded to his student.
"Why would it take us years to master?" Slipstream asked.
"Because it takes a lot of focus and patients," Metalsound says as she walks over, "You will need to learn to sit still and be patient long enough for anything to happen," she added.
"We know a lot about that," Slipstream says.
"Sort of," Jetstorm corrects his brother.
"If you want to try then show me what you know," she challenged, "Keep your optics on the sky for an hour."
"Alright!" They both said eagerly.
"I'm gonna go check on Steeljaw," Thunderhoof says as he makes his way over to the mech.
"And you have to stay perfectly still," Metalsound added as she walked with Thunderhoof, "They won't last but ten minutes tops," she muttered to her mate.
"They're young so most likely," Thunderhoof says as they reach Steeljaw, "How are you holding up Steeljaw?"
Steeljaw vented out a sigh, "I'm alright for the moment."
"Judging by how you've been acting like you can't live without her I know this is gonna be tough."
"Don't remind me," he growled, causing Metalsound to chuckle, "What are you laughing at?" He growls out.
"Nothing, your whole body's twitching already and it hasn't even been five minutes yet," she grinned, "If I had any part of that bet of Wheeljack's, I think you wouldn't even last the first hour."
Steeljaw grips one of the metal shelves as he looks over at Strongarm, "Just the thought of not being able to touch or hold or kiss her tears me apart," he growls out through clenched dentures.
"I know the feeling from when Metalsound was forced to work with the Mini-Cons," Thunderhoof said.
"Yeah, but you snuck in when they weren't looking. And don't you try that Steeljaw, Ultra Magnus will be watching you like a hawk."
"I know and I won't, I aim to see to it that he sees that my feelings towards his daughter are true."
"Good, and I wish you luck. I need to go check on the twins," she replied as she transformed and slowly stalked toward the twins. Her optics focused on the twins who had their backs to her.
"How long has it been?" Jetstorm asked his twin.
"About five minutes I believe."
"It feels longer than that."
Metalsound was directly behind them, without giving any notion that she was there.
"I wonder what Metalsound is doing right now."
"I think I heard her and Thunderhoof say that they were gonna go talk to Steeljaw."
"I still don't understand why she wanted us to look at the sky," Jetstorm crossed his arms, "Do we have to stand or can we sit down?"
"I think we can sit as long as we're still looking at the sky."
"If you sit down then you are vulnerable to an attack."
Jetstorm yelped in surprise as he and his brother jumped forward before turning around, "You have to be mindful of your surroundings," Metalsound said as she circled around them, "Keep your optics peeled for danger, use your other senses. You must watch, and listen where ever you are. If you had paid close attention you could have sensed me coming, instead, you distracted each other."
"Our apologies ma'am."
"Now try again, and this time no talking," she left once again.
"Yes, ma'am," they say as they look up at the sky once more.
Laying down in the shade she watched them for a moment before she felt someone watching her. Lifting her helm she saw Drift standing beside her, "Need something?"
"Uh... no. Was just watching you with my pupils. You gave them a good lesson."
"Thank you. How long have they been with you?"
"For quite a few years."
"I see."
"I'm a little surprised that you would even have a pupil, much less two of them, Deadlock," she whispered the name, glancing up at him.
He looks at her in shock, "How did you know?" He whispers back.
"I recognized your fighting style, it's similar to mine, only more tamed," she replied quietly, "And your optics betray you. I've heard stories about you, never did I think that they were true."
"Do you think they know?"
"I'm not sure. I understand if you want to keep this a secret, I won't say anything," she replied softly as she looked to the sky again, "It's not them I'm worried about."
"Who are you worried about?"
"The ones all Decepticons fear, especially those who betray the Decepticon cause," she spoke in fear.
"Oh, them. I doubt they'll be this far out."
"That's why I'm always watching, listening for some kind of a hint if they could be out here..."
"Because you never know."
Metalsound looked back to the twins who had fallen asleep while standing, "Well, at least they're still standing," she sighed.
"That's one thing they managed to master."
Metalsound chuckled, "They should get in the shade, if they stay there for too long their metal's going to get really hot."
"That's true," Drift says as he walks toward the twins.
Metalsound started to walk off, glancing at the sky one more time, "Their lesson is over for the day!" She called out to Drift.
Later that night, Steeljaw was laying in the room Magnus gave to him on his ship, this was the first time in a few weeks he was sleeping without Strongarm by his side and it was making it kind of hard for him to sleep. He's laying there looking up at the ceiling and thinking about Strongarm when he suddenly hears a knock on the door. Wheeljack, Bulkhead, and Arcee come into the room, "Hey kid, how's it going?" Bulkhead requires after him.
"Can't sleep," Steeljaw replies.
"Thinking of Strongarm?" Wheeljack asked.
"Is it that obvious?"
"I know because I've been there, there was one time Arcee and I were separated for a few days and I didn't get much sleep because I kept thinking about her and longing to be with her again, so I know exactly what you're going through right now."
"And exactly how long were those few days?" Steeljaw asked as he sat up.
"Five days."
Steeljaw groaned as he leaned against the wall, "How am I going to make it through the week?"
"It will be hard but I believe you can make it," Arcee says with an encouraging smile.
"Thanks. I wonder what she's doing right now."
"Most likely the same as you, this week will be tough for her as well."
Strongarm sat against the wall on her berth as she let out a sigh. She missed him already.
A knock came at the door, "Strongarm, I know you're awake. Can I come in?" Inquires Bumblebee standing at the door.
"Yes sir."
Bumblebee walks in, "How are you holding up?"
"I'm ok, I guess."
"Can't sleep because you're thinking about him, huh?"
"Yeah, even though I know he's across the scrapyard, I just feel like I'm alone," she replied quietly as she wrapped her arms around her.
"I know, but I believe you two will make it through this."
Just then Magnus walks in, "Strongarm?"
Strongarm looked up, "Hey."
"Can you please leave us, Bumblebee?"
"Yes sir," Bumblebee replied before leaving.
"Strongarm, I know this is gonna be hard for you but I need to be sure of his intention."
"I know, I just hope he can make it through the week. You don't know him as I do."
"Then tell me what you know about him."
"He lost his parents when he was a sparkling," she sighed, "Maybe you should be asking him this."
"How did he lose his parents?"
"It was during an Autobot attack, the building they were in got caught in an explosion."
"Really? That explains why he became a Decepticon."
"Yeah. I can't imagine the thought of losing both parents, but I know what it's like to lose someone you love and looked up to," she said quietly.
Magnus looks at her sympathetically, "Your mother loved you very much, she saw great things in you."
"I wish I could remember her though."
"You were just a sparkling when she passed, she was so beautiful and graceful and a fierce fighter."
"You never did tell me how she died, I know I was too young to understand and that you wanted to protect me. You don't have to carry this on your own dad."
Magnus looks at his daughter debating if he should tell her the truth about her mother's death.