A Sidelong Glance

As Promised, ANOTHER UPDATE!

AN: Be warned, I made Sideswipe a jackass in this chapter. He's suave, sexy, and a jerk. He likes to prey on those with low self esteem or worried over something that he can manipulate to his advantage. What can I say? He's a bastard.

But we love him.

Rated: T (suggestive adult themes)

Cybela- Glad you got a kick out of it. I just got the idea of Sideswipe getting drunk and wanting to grab a partner, and Ratchet just jumped into my mind. LOL Glad you liked it!

Blitz-Krazi-1- I'm glad I brightened up your day. And as far as I know, no one has done the "twin ghosts' but I would LOVE to see it if you decide to draw it. I hope you regained your breath, because this one may steal it again.

Yoong- Yeah, I nearly choked to death myself. Hence the warning. And I would love to see what Jazz did when Sideswipe started his proposal on him.

Starfire201- Thank you. Glad you enjoyed. Hope this one surprises you!

Kimmie98- Don't hold back a laugh, it'll turn into a fart! Well, I have a feeling Sunny could outrun you and beat you to Prime. Don't think you could snitch on him

VaRa129- Yes, you can join. We coddle smexy car, then get crushed by said smexy mech. Lol

Lambor Terror Lep- Yes, Sunstreaker is his brother's door mat at times.

AD Axel- Yeah, Ratchet loves the attention. Who wouldn't feel special with two hot Lamborghini's always self harming just for a visit? I can see Sides slow dancing.. Sunny… not so much. LOL

StarLitDawn- Thank you my dear! And yes, Poor Prowl. Poor sucker. LOL

CRAZY little dragon- Yeah, I can symptathize with Sunny to. And I had to put the warning up there because I cracked up when I reread what I wrote. I have the best ideas when i'm half asleep.

SEZwho94- Thank you! I think my fav part was Sides kept trying to cop a feel and Ratchet was getting mad at having the moves put on him. LOL That still cracks me up, no matter how many times I read it. Well, Prowl's BEST crash was the love sonnet to Megatron but when Prowl walked around the corner, he hit the 'fumes' and it knocked him out. It wasnt a processor crash. It was a full systems freeze. LOL

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Disgraceful. That's what it was! A pure, lowdown, disgusting disgrace.

Sideswipe fumed as he exited the transport and spotted the first bar that spouted of having premium high grade. He stalked from the public transport service, still fuming about the audacity of having to take said transport to his current destination. Having been a regular at his local bars, both around his workplace and private apartment, he now had the public label of being an intoxicated menace and prohibited from visiting his favorite drinking establishments. Now he had the added insult of traveling several miles to another district, just to get a cube of decent high grade!

It was insufferable!

He pushed open the door and was hit by the ambience of the high grade dispensing facility. It was lit by pale illumination, like most bars, and littered with all manner of games and pleasurable entertainment. There were booths for private encounters, or one could pay for a room upstairs for more spirited interactions, with a partner or a group. Sideswipe planted himself at the bar, noting the stools in this place were of better quality, seeing how it didn't wobble when he planted his weight on it and the cushion actually felt plump and hearty against his angular aft. He smiled, settling himself on the comfortable seat and raised his hand, signaling for the barkeep's attention.

The barkeep nodded in affirmation and hurried along the line, serving drinks to his customers in prompt, orderly fashion. He was mostly black, blending into the dark atmosphere that inhabited a bar, with white and chrome accents.

Sideswipe held back a sigh, watching as the mech made his slow progress down the line, the other customers taking forever in placing their orders. There were two femmes who couldn't decide if they wanted their energon carbonated or not. He rolled his optics until they landed on the mech seated next to him, and instantly, Sideswipe perked up.

Yes, he had to travel a great distance to find a suitable tavern that would allow him on their property, but the new establishment also came with another added benefit. New people to meet and potentially berth.

Sideswipe had a rather extended list of conquests from his usual haunts. That was another reason he was 'escorted' from the last establishment and tossed to the curb. He had berthed the proprietors spark mate. In hindsight, Sideswipe should have asked the designation of his berth partner, but at the time, it just seemed so unimportant. If he was honest with himself, he was never one to learn designations before berthing them. Designations were for people who were interested in maintaining a relationship. Sideswipe just wanted to overload and go home, putting another dent in his lists of conquests.

Now, he had a whole new crop to comb through and find the best ones to take advantage. The small mech beside of him looked like a good a place to start as any. Sideswipe cast him a gaze, sizing him up without appearing to do so. He was slightly smaller than Sideswipe, mostly ruby red, and had blue and black accents that looked very striking on his frame. Though it was hard to gauge his true colors as he was coated in several layers of grime, grease, and dust associated with a hard working class frame.

The barkeep clicked at the red mech to gain his attention, and with a slight wave, the barkeep skipped the mech and turned his full attention onto Sideswipe.

"What can I get you?" he asked in a bored tone.

"Give me the strongest thing you have," Sideswipe said with a disarming smile. He noted the mech beside him still looked forlorn and nodded, "And one for my friend too."

The smaller mech didn't realize Sideswipe meant him until the barkeep planted a brilliant purple vial in front of him and set the top on fire. It burned an acidic green, causing the mech to gasp and push back from the bar.

"You have to extinguish it before you drink it," Sideswipe said, giving a quick puff of air across his own vial and downing it in one gulp. He smacked his lip components together a few times, giving an appreciative look before nodding, "I'll have another."

"I don't drink the heavy stuff," the mech said. His voice was meek and by the way he moved, Sideswipe guessed him to be rather flighty in nature.

"The heavy stuff is what keeps us grounded," Sideswipe said, saluting his new friend and downing another vial. "Drink up! I'm not doing these shots alone."

The mech gave a timid look to the still flaming vial, weighing his options. With a squeak that sounded like a small organic being trodden on, he grabbed the vial and blew across its surface before tossing it back. His whole frame shuddered, his hydraulics hissed, and a weird grating noise issued from the back of his throat as he fought against the urge to purge. The liquid was just as vile as he imagined.

Sideswipe gave an appreciative whistle, recognizing courage when he saw it. He clapped the smaller mech on the back, uncaring of the greasy transfer that smudged his hand.

"Now that was brave," Sideswipe praised, motioning for another round.

"I don't feel any braver," the mech said, and his voice somehow became even more diminutive.

"You just need a few more doses," Sideswipe said wisely, clinking glasses with the smaller mech and downing another dose of the high potency grade. He signaled for another round, earning a raised brow ridge from the barkeep, who moved to another dispenser to comply.

The mech wheezed, accepting a cloth from the barkeep to wipe his face as he sputtered on the burning liquid. He coughed, clearing his vents, his vision already starting to blur. When he regained his senses, he noted the discoloration on the cloth and proceeded to wipe down his arms, neck and chest as well, reveling a ruddy paint job that rivaled Sideswipe's own. Sideswipe ordered another round, and when it was delivered, the mech paused in his cleaning long enough to down it, shudder, cough, then toss the now thoroughly soiled cloth behind the bar.

"Still not brave," he muttered, sounding defeated. He slouched against his seat and drank the pale pink concoction in his square glass.

"What do you have to be brave for?" Sideswipe asked out of genuine curiosity. Whatever it was, it had to be bad to dispel the bravery that comes from the ultra refined grade that would land a seeker on their afterburners.

"I've decided to ask my girlfriend to spark bond with me," the mech said with panic in his voice. He turned wide blue optics to Sideswipe, every line screaming that if he heard a loud noise, he'd drop with a spark attack. "Am I crazy? Am I ready? Is she ready? Oh, Primus, what if she says no? What if….?"

Sideswipe planted his hand across the mechs mouth to prevent him from rambling any further.

"You're getting yourself worked up in a spark seizure because you are afraid your girlfriend won't accept you?" Sideswipe asked, noting how the red mech trembled.

"What if she doesn't want me?" the mech squeaked from behind Sideswipe's hand before he removed it. He grabbed the flaming vial as soon as the barkeep set it down. Without blowing it out he gulped it, coughing as the flame sputtered in his throat before extinguishing.

It was Sideswipe's turn to be scared. His optics were wide as he watched the mech drink the burning shot, flames and all. He had never seen anyone do that before. No one was brave enough. Apparently this mech was feeling a lot braver than what he thought.

"How long have you been together?" Sideswipe asked, downing his own and feeling the burning effect scorch his throat before hitting his absorption relays with a fiery vengeance. Primus, it actually felt… good!

"Since we came online it seems," the mech said, now sounding proud and like a love struck mech who was marching to his doom. "I can't imagine what my life would be without her."

"Tell me about her," Sideswipe prompted, giving the signal for the lower grade stuff as the harder shots were taking longer to absorb. He ordered a rotational drink, alternating the charges and additives, ensuring a pleasant buzz and amicable suggestiveness.

For the next couple of hours the red mech talked about the love of his life. How they met, the soft melody of her voice, the music of her laughter, the tenderness of her touch when they were alone. She was studying to be an archivist, and she always carried the scent of ancient dust and burnt-out datapads. It was the sweetest aroma he could ever imagine.

Sideswipe sat and listened to the smaller mech pour his spark out, talking about rather intimate details of the femme he was enamored with, and all of her favorite things. Her favorite music, color, city, and the planets she wished to visit when she passed her apprenticeship.

"Wow," Sideswipe muttered, feeling overwhelmed with the strange red mech.

Sideswipe didn't know the femme the mech spoke about, but a part of him wished he knew her. He couldn't imagine knowing that much about someone and finding even the tiniest detail to be the most extraordinary thing about them. The love and devotion the two shared for one another was something of legend.

"And you worry that she will not accept you?" Sideswipe asked, feeling a warm tingling all over his frame, his processor buzzing with a constant drone. Or it could have been his interface equipment. Both sounded the same when they were engaging. And some of the most memorable interfaces he had involved a lot of high grade and a partner with lower tolerance. He smiled at his companion, finding the red hue to be a perfect match to his own highly polished frame.

Oh yes, this was definitely a great new place to enjoy oneself.

"What if I'm not good enough?" the small mech asked, his upper body swaying as he felt the ebb and flow of energy crashing over his frame. It felt fantastic! This new mech certainly knew how to brew the right drinks for a pleasant feeling.

"What exactly is your basis for worry?" Sideswipe asked, noting how bright his companion's optics was. "What are you afraid of being ranked so poorly?"

The mech mumbled but Sideswipe didn't catch the words. He was going to ask him to repeat himself, but then he noticed the molten hue along the mechs cheeks. It was easy to guess the topic that brought such discomfort.

Sideswipe leaned in, his forehead touching the mechs temple as he spoke into his audio. "Have you interfaced with her?"

"No," the red mech admitted. His venting hitched when he noticed the proximity of his drinking partner. He felt hot all over, and there was that Pit damned tingling dancing along his frame. There was also a strange little voice inside his processor, chanting a mantra to just let go and give in. He was trying to decipher on what he was to give in to, when he felt the other mech's lips along his cheek and couldn't stop the whine of longing that issued from his vocalizer.

"Why haven't you interfaced with her?" Sideswipe asked in a husky voice, low and sensuous. He felt a chill run up his own spine at the sound.

"We were never ready," the mech offered as a weak excuse. He felt that wonderful tingling take over his frame and making it itch, demanding to be released from the constricting prison. "And… and I… don't…. know…."

"Practice makes perfect," Sideswipe whispered, smiling when he noted the mech shiver at his words. Oh Primus, he was good. And he had every intention of adding this mech to his list. He liked them shy and inexperienced. He could get them to do anything.

With a shuddering breath the mech turned, sealing their lip components together. Sideswipe had to brace himself against the bar as the strength and voracity behind the kiss threatened to rob him of his senses. Primus, who was taking advantage of who? Sideswipe was barely coherent to guide the smaller mech toward one of the private booths and palm his credits for the billing before finding himself shoved against a cushioned berth, the door slamming shut and locking with a click.

Though the other mech was smaller, he easily subdued Sideswipe, but he gave in easily enough with the promise of what was to come. Both were well past the intoxicated stage and were running on pure instinct. Sideswipe wanted to overload and his partner wanted to gain experience while he still had the steel nerve from the fortifying drinks.

Fumbling, the smaller mech disengaged his transfer cable and opened his access port for a data transfer, but Sideswipe didn't think a data link would be satisfactory. He was hoping for something a little more intimate than a cable and port interaction. Taking initiative, he retracted his interface panel, his spike pressurizing in grand display, his valve already slicked with want. He rose to his pedes, grasping the mech's fumbling hands and pulled him against his chest, one hand clasping the trembling digits while the other slipped between the red mech's thighs, finding his interface panel to be scalding.

"I have a valve," Sideswipe whispered, pulling the mech on top of him without protest.

It took a couple of minutes, but once the obviously very inexperienced mech figured out how to engage his full interface array, his spike pressurized with a vengeance.

Sideswipe gasped, noting the mech may be smaller in stature, but he certainly had been well equipped at the factory. And blessedly, he was a fast learner. With stamina that rivaled the most experienced pleasure slave. Sideswipe lost track of how many times he overloaded, valve and spike being thoroughly exercised by the vigorous mech who once his initial shyness was overcome, turned out to be a dominating berth partner that fully satisfied in every aspect. Each overload robbed the couple of their high grade charge, slowly bringing them back to normal as they lay tangled in a mass of legs and arms, Sideswipe pinned to the berth by the mechs smaller weight and twitching with dual aftershocks. He wasn't going to be able to walk properly for some time, he just knew it. And he wasn't complaining. Primus, if this was the first sample of what this district had to offer, then Sideswipe was considering moving his business!

The duo fell into charge, their systems needing to recalibrate after such a vigorous physical exertion. Sideswipe was too sore to move the mech off of him, but he admitted the weight felt nice. The now dormant spike buried inside his valve was slumbering as peacefully as the red mech, who sighed in contentment as he charged.

When the duo awoke, the mech took one look at the mech below him, let out a bark of surprise and jumped from the berth, dislodging their intimate connection and earning a wince from Sideswipe.

"Primus, what happened?" he asked in a squeaky voice. His optics were wide, as he stared at the contented mech that was almost lost in the cushion.

Sideswipe was slow to pull himself upright, wincing at the tenderness in his valve and knowing it was definitely another momentous evening that involved high grade.

"You can't remember?" Sideswipe asked, his brow furrowed. Yes he liked to get them drunk and frag their processors out, but it was better when they actually remembered the encounter!

"Yes… I mean, well as to … say.. uhmm… yes… yes, I remember," the mech stammered, looking away, his shyness back in full force.

Not one to mince words or waste time, Sideswipe gained his pedes, fighting back the urge to whimper at the soreness of his body, and gave the mech a beaming smile.

"You were worried that your femme wouldn't accept you," Sideswipe said, hoping to reassure the mech that had drove him with the force of an interstellar transport. When the smaller mech nodded, still refusing to make optic contact, Sideswipe added, "After experiencing the best overload of my life, I would say you are going to have one extremely happy femme that will be reluctant to leave your berth."

The smaller mech's head whipped around, staring at Sideswipe in shock that slowly turned into incredulous surprise. "Really?"

"I don't lie about overloading,' Sideswipe said in honesty. He pulled the red mech closer, stealing a kiss and adding, "Of course, this femme may have to share you with me because I don't know if I wish to give up someone who can induce such a processor blowing experience."

"My spark belongs to her," the mech said, pulling away and giving a firm smile. He was adamant. This was a one time occurrence. Though the offer did more for the mech's self esteem than having so many incredible overloads.

"Lucky femme,' Sideswipe smiled, accepting the mech's terms. With companionable silence the two wiped down their plating, Sideswipe trying to hide his pained grimace as his spike was reluctant to return to its housing. When the two were presentable, Sideswipe nodded to the door, gracing the other red mech with a wink.

"And be sure to warn your femme before you drive her into the berth." Sideswipe gave a charming, handsome grin and disappeared through the door, his companion slow to follow.

The mech burst into laughter, his face so dark with embarrassment it was almost ashen. He followed Sideswipe outside, where the pick up zones were located for inter-territory transports. Sideswipe looked at the departure listing and felt his spark flutter, realizing he didn't miss his ride back home. A flash of red beside of him signaled his new friend was waiting beside of him at the pick up zone.

"Thank you," the red mech said after a moment.

Sideswipe started and gave the coy mech a smile that could melt the steeliest of resolve. "It is I who should thank you. I have enjoyed the evening."

The smaller mech smiled in return, his voice now strong and adamant, "I'm going to ask her to bond with me."

"Really?" Sideswipe asked, a little surprised. He was hoping the mech would agree to meet him again. He wasn't expecting the mech to be so confident now in his decision.

"As soon as I see her," the mech said, and every inch exuded assurance and adoration toward the object of his affection.

"Lucky femme indeed," Sideswipe repeated, hearing the alarm call for the approaching transport.

The red mech nodded. "I am the lucky one." He glanced over his shoulder and grabbed Sideswipe's arm, spinning him around. "That's her!"

Sideswipe let out a whistle of appreciation. The femme was rather tiny, a minibot frame perhaps, with a dusting of pink and silver along her slender frame. She didn't sport a lot of curves, like Sideswipe usually preferred, but she had gentle planes and a delicate feature that left no doubt to her fair gender. Her head was bowed, her attention absorbed in a datapad in her hand.

"Wow," Sideswipe muttered, feeling rather warm. His spike gave a twitch, voting its approval.

"Hey mech, she's taken!" the smaller mech chastised, waggling a finger at Sideswipe.

Sideswipe held up his hands in a defensive manner. "Nothing to worry about. I know she's in good hands." He dropped his voice so no one could over hear and added, "And excellent parts that will leave her wanting more in your berth."

The mech blushed molten again, causing Sideswipe to laugh and step onto the awaiting transport. He smiled, watching the mech sputter, trying to recover from his embarrassment. Sideswipe waved, watching as the mech turned and sought his femme. Sideswipe smiled to himself, watching as her face lit up like a nova before she raced to his arms, embracing him with genuine love.

As the door slid closed, Sideswipe heard the mech speak.

"Ariel, there is something I want to ask you."

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Yes, I know I'm evil. Sideswipe seduced Prime! Ekkk! I really have NO IDEA where this came from!

Ideas? Thoughts? Con crit? Questions of what in the bloody hell I was thinking?

Reviews are loved!

And I hit 200! Thank you so much! Now... let's try for 250! Unless ya'll wanna lynch me for this chapter. Apologies if its already been done to death. (hides but Sunny is standing nearby pointing at me)