It was time to leave. Ironhide had made that clear pounding on the twins' door, scaring me half to death. In the first place, it was partial my fault. Sides and I were snuggling without a care in the world; Sunstreaker was out, getting energon for the both of them. With my guard down, the noise frightened me.

Smoke plumed out of my nose as I groggily got to my knees, wings stretching far and wide. Ironhide banged his fist against the door once more. "We're up, we're up! Good gods," I mumbled the last part. My words earned a chuckle from Sides who lazily dragged the tip of his finger from my temple to my chin, a loafing smile on his metallic lips.

Ironhide finally left us alone, mumbling about leaving in ten and to be ready. I, on the other hand, leaned sweetly into Sides grasp, unhurried for the rush.

The sun itself had rising probably an hour ago, still leaving the morning a little dark. No noises came from the forest and base themselves, winter being the cause of it. That reminds me: this flight there wasn't going to be fun. As much as my scales are resistant to the cold, they had their limits.

My thoughts were washed away the longer Sides stroked my cheek with a sweet smile on his face. A purr rumbled deep in my chest due to his actions. "We're going to miss you," he whisper, voice soft like he was afraid any noise louder would break our trance.

"Me too, me too… I won't be long though," I promised and leaned more into his touch without thinking about it. He stopped though, an apologetic look on his face before retracting the limb. A whine escaped me by accident. Red flushed through my scales at the random noise.

Sides chuckled and moved to sit up, forcing me off. "You have to get ready. The sooner you leave, the sooner you can get back." The bot did have a point; didn't mean I liked he was mostly right.

Before my ears could catch the noise, I felt Sunstreaker skating closer due to the bond. A chuff-like noise moved through my nose: a greeting of sorts. The feeling was weak, barely noticeable like usual but I still felt it, nonetheless.

The golden mech moved through the snow and stopped in front of the hangar. It took his a couple of seconds to open and close the door. "Welcome back, Sunny," Sides teased his twin which earned him a snow ball to the face. That's why it took him those couple of seconds to get in!

Some of the snow splattered onto me. A yelp escaped my lips, shoulders bunched up at the sudden cold. I shook out the snow and water that collected on me then gave the two a deadpanned look. "Not sorry," Sunstreaker called out, voice gruff from the morning.

Said twin set down one of the blue cubes in his grasp on the desk nearby. "Ratchet wants you to stop by before you head off," Sunstreaker relayed and skated over to me, a hand resting on right; the other brought the cube up to his mouth.

I groaned, plumes of smoke curling from my nose with orange blots appearing in various place on my scales. Out of instinct, my hands twitched too, causing me to hiss. Pain pulsed from the disturbed healing wound.

"They still hurt?" Sides questioned. A hand gently picking up one of my own. The mech's blue eyes scanned over the limb in his gasp. Timidly, he placed his lips on my shoulder in condolences before lifting his head to stare into my eyes. "Please be careful."

Sunstreaker grunted in agreement and stroked the limited area between my crown of horns. "I'll try." A random shiver ran down my spine the moment I said that. Uhh. Said limb and muscles tensed, eyes scanning immediately for danger.

Both acted as well. Sides hopping off of the bed and their blades sliding out. Sunstreaker dropped his cube on the bed, barely keeping the contents inside. The two circled with their backs to each other, ready for what I sensed.

Then the danger bell rung for real this time. Growls tore from my throat, fingers flexing accidently but I ignored the pain for the moment.

We stayed on this stand-off for an extra two minutes before the two were commed. "Yes, Ratchet, I know… We'll head over there." His words quick after the strange moment. I cleared my throat to gain their attention.

"Well, I don't like that happening right as I'm leaving," I grumbled and leaped off of the bed. The distance from the ground wasn't at all horrible, especially with the added two or so feet still to my frame. Maybe this flight won't be as bad due to the extra wings. I've never flown long distance with them before…

Both grunted to agree. "Yeah… maybe this isn't a good idea," Sides suggested and followed me to the door then opened it for me. His twin shadowed behind the two of us, blades still out.

None of us talked about what had happened a minute or so ago as we quickly reached the Med. Bay. We had to, I had at most five minutes before departure or else Hide will hound on me for being late, more than he already did; and I wasn't even late then.

The Med. Bay doors were sealed off to keep in the warmth as much as the metal walls could. That didn't stop of us from entering though.

Ratchet stood in the middle, arms crossed and a stern look on his face. "Well, well, well, look who decided to show up." Uh oh, someone is not in a happy mood.

"That's my fault, I thought I sensed something off," I explained and flew up to the bed I knew the mech wanted me on. Ratchet's expression softened at my words before grumbling about being on time.

He came up to and did his normal change of bandages. "I'm guessing it was nothing then since the alarm wasn't tripped?" I shrugged free a shoulder.

"I don't know. That extra sense is something I can't always rely on. Sometimes it'll tell me a week ahead or a second before it happens. But it is something I can always trust. It hasn't led me astray. I'm just a bit on edge the fact it's going off right before I leave."

"I can comm. Hide and call the trip off if that makes you feel better," Ratchet offered and looked closely at the healing wounds. They were looking much better. The parts that have already healed had scarring, not as bad as I thought they would look like.

I shook my head and carefully flexed the fingers in his grasp. This caught his attention, an encouraging smile on his face. "Ah, that's awesome, Azar! But I don't want you to try and grab anything heavier than ten pounds though." A pout washed over my face. "Ah, ah, ah, no. Don't give me that look. Your muscles and bones are still fragile."

Ratchet continued wrapping up my arms and handing me a pack to give to Ironhide. Before leaving the Med. Bay, he gave me a goodbye kiss to my horns. As much as I tried, there wasn't a way to stop the corners of my mouth from turning upward. The gesture sweet and caring, something a father would do for their departing child.

We left for the main entrance of the base where Ironhide stood, conversing with Mirage and Jazz. Anger boiled between the three of us at the sight of the imposter red mech.

Their trio noticed us shortly after we did. Mirage's gaze narrowed at the sight, posture turning stiff. Hide on the other hand scoff something about time. "You're a cycle late," he grumbled, yet just barely, you could pin point a playful tone to his voice.

Sunstreaker grunted, acting somewhat like the double cannon wielding mech. "Blame Hatchet."

Over the distance from where we just came from, you could hear a faint 'I can hear you!' That earned a laugh out of everyone besides Sunstreaker; who whipped around, afraid for a possible incoming wrench. Luckily for him, there wasn't.

Jazz had a smirk on his face, the one of two ways to tell what emotions he was feeling. A hip pushed out with a clawed hand resting upon it was another: body language. His blue visor hiding an easy way to convey his emotions. "Whatcha' got there, girlie? Somethin' from Ra'ch?" he questioned.

The weight on my shoulder came back to me. Right, the backpack! "Yeah, it's new bandages and other medical stuff for my arms. He wants Hide to carry it." Named mech groaned like he was being told to pull a trailer full of cows.

At the mention of the limbs, Jazz grew interesting. The visor blocked out his gaze from our side but I could feel his gaze on them. "How are they healing?"

"Pretty good. I have feeling and movement back but of course that comes with the downfall of pain. I can't complain much though, I'm glad I can use them."

"To a degree. Remember what Ratchet said," Sides commented, sounding a little worried. To help ease the concern, I wrapped my tail around his ankle: a physical reassurance. I glanced back to see some of the tension in his shoulders dribble away.

The second in command must have noticed this, same with Ironhide as well. "Everything will be fine, Sideswipe. She can handle herself just fine," Hide lumbered and settled a hand on the red twins' shoulder. Yet, the tension refused to give way. That didn't help with my own worry.

A reminder of the danger soon to happen.

Sides dipped his head to agree with Hide, yet the look in his eyes told me otherwise. In the state of my physical health right now, I couldn't blame him for not completely believing him. I, myself, don't have much faith right now. That didn't mean I wouldn't let that stop me from doing what I believed in.

Jazz's gaze drifted off of me. To where though, it was near impossible to tell. "If you two would like, I can go along to ensure her safety. But we don't have any time to argue with Lennox about you two going," he offered, a gentle, caring aura surrounding him.

It wasn't a surprise he knew. From what I've heard, every Autobot knows about our relationship, maybe not how deep the roots go.

The red mech in my tail's grasp froze, reminding me to release him. Sides scooted forward slightly, his knee now barely scraping against my wings. Him and Sunstreaker glanced at each other, only a couple moments needed to decide. "If you don't mind. Azar sensed something off and it's putting us on edge," Sides accepted.

"I don't. It'll be nice to see the two again. Let me comm. Optimus about the change and we'll head off." Jazz excused himself to walk off to the side and contact the large bot.

Something came to me after all of this conversing, not a word from Mirage. My eyes slid over to the bot to find him shifting around, playing with the snow with his feet. He was trying his best to not catch any attention. I'm guessing he doesn't want to mess with my boys. Good, he learned his lesson, hopefully. Knock on wood.

Hide moved closer and bent slightly down, hand outstretched and palm up. "Azar, here, give me the bag. We'll be leaving soon." With some technique, I slid off of my shoulder and place it on his palm without accidently hitting my wounds. He stood back and held the small bag, looking only slightly awkward.

Sides took note and snorted at this. I smacked his metal ankle with my tail in retaliation. At that moment, a sound of disgust came from the spot I hoped none would come from. Both twins' gaze locked onto him; the red brother looking the more deadly out of the two.

Mirage immediately froze, on the verge of bolting. His gaze flickered quickly between the three of us until it focused mainly on my nonchalant expression. I acted a second later: fangs bared, wings flared, and a look ready to kill set on him. He scuttled backwards, tripping over his feet.

We didn't completely draw away, still in the mood to tear him apart. Ironhide burst out laughing, us three following in less of a dramatic manner.

"Hide, don't encourage the sparklings," a familiar voice commanded, yet there was a jest hidden in his tone. At Prowl's voice, we all turned, unsuspecting his entrance. Sides and I cracked up at Hide getting belittled by the second in command.

Then Sides realized what he had said, truly. "Hey," he whined and pouted. "We aren't sparklings. Bee, Blue, and Smoke are younger than us!" My shoulders were shaking as I attempted to hide my laughter; the tone of his voice getting to me.

The twin caught onto this bumped his knee into my back. "It's true! Don't laugh at me, Azar." I couldn't help it anymore and cracked up, only causing the mech to pout more.

His brother, on the other hand, had joined me with quiet laughter. Sides didn't notice the shaking of his shoulders.

Jazz had joined back, a casual look to him, and stood shoulder to bicep with Prowl; a bit too close for co-workers in my eyes. But what do I know? I'm just a dumb murderous creature.

"We good ta go. Oppy deemed meh leave uh go." Then it really hit me that I was leaving. My shoulders slumped, a shaky exhale escaping me. Everything will be alright. One night there and back, nothing to worry about.

I turned to completely face the two, a soft smile gracing all of our faces; even our mech in gold. Sides didn't waste a second to wrap his arms around me and picking me off of the ground. HIs jagged plating pressed uncomfortably into my more flesh hide. He was careful of my lower arms though and kept his limbs on my upper chest.

"We know it's only for a day, but we'll miss you," his voice quiet, only meant for the two and I to hear. He gently set me down a moment later. I turned to Sunstreaker, already knowing he wasn't going to show much physical affection; which I didn't mind, it's who he is. Instead, I beckoned him to bend down, at least head level with me.

Confused, he did so with hesitance. That I didn't blame him for. Our trio knew how much of a trickster I could be when given the chance. I bumped the front of my horns against his forehead, a simple show of affection. It felt right to do so, and the mech felt the same by the way a smile appeared on his face. "Be back as quick as possible," he muttered quietly with our heads close.

"Of course. Be safe." The second sentence held a meaning we would only know.

"You too."

"Okay, okay, sparkmates, time to go. We are already behind schedule as it is," Hide pressured, an underlining tone told us he was partially playing. Sunstreaker sent the black mech a deadpanned look before rolling his eyes and standing up.

The two going on our trip moved away from the group to give themselves room to transform. Before doing so, Hide turned to me one last time. "You sure you don't want to ride with me? It's a bit colder out then last time."

A look mostly told it all. "I'm now eight feet tall, instead of six and some odd inches, you expect me to fit comfortably?" I sassed, jesting at the large mech. He shrugged his shoulders before transforming, careful of the bag in his hand. Jazz followed suit.

With one last goodbye to the twins and Prowl, purposely excluding Mirage, I headed up to the sky. The colder, rushed air bit at my scales but failed to breach them. My extra wings aided in speed but I could tell this was going to be a long flight.