5. On Vacation

Forwards Time Skip - Autobot Base, Sector K-4820-4

"I hate you."

From the adjacent cell, Sideswipe smiled and eased back.

"I really do. This is all your fault. If it wasn't for your glitched logic-processors none of this would have happened."

Sunny had been going on like that for the last two joors and his voice had started to pitch up into that irritating whine of his. To Sideswipe, who hadn't heard that since the war began, it was a welcomed sound.

"Why do you always do stupid things? And why do you always drag me into it?"

Sideswipe let his optics power down as he wiggled, making himself as comfortable as possible.

"Is this your hobby? Do you like to play 'Piss Off Sunstreaker?' Because it's working."

His systems were starting to cycle off and cool as unnecessary programs and servos shut down.

"You fried your processor, didn't you? I knew I should have let you slag yourself. At least then I wouldn't get tangled up in your glitched-out idea of 'fun'."

Sideswipe crossed his feet and the hydraulics in his legs hissed. He crossed his arms, too, tucking his hands in against his chassis. Right behind him, Sunstreaker kicked the wall separating their cells.

"I hope you know that I'm going to beat the bolts out of your stupid head when we get out of here."

He knew it. He was counting on it.

"I swear someone crossed your wires on the assembly line."

The thumps and bangs of Sunny's impressive tantrum were getting quieter as he started to calm down. His closeness helped to ease the ache in Sideswipe's chest, though these orns it was never completely gone. But sitting there, listening to Sunny rant and rave, and he could almost forget about the fighting going on above. No doubt Prowl would be down there soon enough to bail them out early again. They were the best fighters on base; brig or no brig, the war continued. For now, though…

"You're an idiot."

It was nice to sit back and relax. Sunny had pretty much stopped moving by that point and Sideswipe could picture him mirroring his position, arms and legs tucked in, features beginning to relax in a way that Sideswipe rarely saw.

Sunstreaker huffed one last time and then, so quietly that Sideswipe almost didn't catch it, he said, "Thanks."

Sideswipe grinned and the two fell silent.

Many thanks to Exie and Jakera (hi Jakera!) for their reviews last chapter. I also want to thank Litahatchee (and, unofficially, Hearts of Eternity) for letting me use some of her concepts--spark-bond-type-thing between siblings--and for being really nice and letting me bug her over Thanksgiving. Thank you!