Transformers belongs to Hasbro

They don't pay him enough for this.

They really don't.

Bumblebee is sitting awkwardly in front of him in his office, shifting back and forth in his seat, "So, I guess you're not . . . terrible. Sari likes you. Likes you enough that she made me come and apologize this sol, but that's not really why I'm here. I want to know . . do you have any idea where I can get a valve mod installed? Percy really wants me to get one."

Nowhere near enough credits.

He continues to stare at the minibot, and Bumblebee shifts a little more, "So... you don't?"

"Do I look like a bot that would know that?" He wishes the mech would leave. He just wants to get done with his work, and that will be that. He needs to talk to Cliffjumper about the date he's going to be at changing. He had gotten it right for Bulkhead, but now they're switching it. He isn't going to have Optimus go alone and Bulkhead suddenly have two dates. Or Optimus with Rodimus. It wouldn't turn out well at all.

Bumblebee shrugs, "I don't know what mods you got. I don't stare at your pelvic armor. I'm just not interested in you."

Thank Primus for that. He doesn't want the minibot lusting after his spark. He doesn't date other mechs, eve in some are quite nice looking. He has femmes that like him, and now he's settling in for a bond with Sari. The idea of Bumblebee staring at his aft... is more than a little unsettling.

"But I figured you'd probably know where I could get the mod, 'cause you're always aware of stuff like that. Decepticons like those mods, so you probably had it on your list of dangerous places, right?"

He had most certainly not tried to shut down interfacing toy and mod shops. If he had, his people would have rebelled even more than they did when he shut down places of potential Decepticon gatherings like the less reputable bars and oil houses. "I have no idea, Bumblebee. Why don't you ask Ratchet?"

The minibot flushes, "No way. If I ask him, he'll try installing them on me himself. I don't want his servos up in my wires that way."

"Red Alert could possibly answer that. She's in the medical bay right-"

The minibot shakes his head, "No. Ratchet is also in the medical bay, and she'll shove me over to him."

"You're dating Perceptor, and he is one of her mechs. She would happily help you with it. She'd know exactly what type Perceptor liked best, as well."

He wishes he wasn't the one Bumblebee had chosen to ask this. He is not the least bit knowledgeable about this sort of thing. He isn't the type of bot to want one, and Sari is far too small for him to install anything like that. He wouldn't do that to her.

"Or you can talk to Alpha Trion," he adds, because the old lech needs distracting. The bot keeps staring at Sari like she's a particularly fresh, sweet cube of energon and he's suffering deprivation. Sentinel does not appreciate that at all, because Sari is dating him and not an old lech.

But the mech would know everything there was to know about interfacing mods of any kind.

Bumblebee wrinkles his faceplates. "I don't want to ask him. The last time I talked to Alpha Trion, I somehow ended up bent over his desk and I'm not even sure how it happened."

That does sound like a visit to Alpha Trion for most bots, and why Optimus and him are never alone when they talk to him. There's always another bot to shove in front of them, or to help defend against the old lech. He always has his office door locked to the bot, and had it double guarded against him when he was Magnus.

"Well, you could have Perceptor tell you. It is easy enough to do, and you could choose it together." That way he doesn't have to hear about this.

Bumblebee looks shy, and it feels oddly out of place for the normally exuberant mech, "But what if he doesn't want to join me? He told me he wanted it on me, but didn't say anything else."

"If a mech asks you to mod yourself for them, they'd better be there every step of the way or they aren't worth it," Sentinel counsels him. If Sari ever asked him to mod himself, he would expect her to be with him the entire time. And to agree to some modification herself. He wouldn't object to minor 'facing mods. Maybe something nice and simple that he could use with her.

But they had a long time before they would need to worry about that at all.

Bumblebee looks at him intensely, then suddenly nods. "Yeah. I can go ask him. That way I'll get something he likes, and he'll know I really do want him." The bot looks apprehensive again, "I hope this works."

Sentinel stands up, pulling the minibot out of the chair, "I'm certain it will. You won't need to worry about it. Just go ask him, and he'll most than likely be incredibly happy you want to do this with him. I don't know if Perceptor has a spikemod," the sciencebot most likely does if he wanted Bumblebee to have a valvemod, "but I'm sure he'll be glad to help get you fitted with something he likes best."

"I guess so." Bumblebee shuffles his peds, "It's fragging embarrassing though. I don't really want to ask him about it."

Sentinel arches an optic ridge, "But it wasn't embarrassing asking me?"

"Frag no. You're-" the bot trails off. "Um. . well, no. I don't really care what you think about it, so I don't mind asking you. Nothing to lose if you think I'm a weirdo for having to ask." He looks down at his hips and wiggles them, "You think I've got enough room for a valve mod?"

He rubs his optics, feeling tired, "I don't know." Pushing the mech to the door, he says, "I am sure that Perceptor would know. You can ask him and see what he thinks is best." He opens the door to his office, gesturing the little bot through. "You should do that now. Or, better yet, you can do your work. I have yet to get your report for what you did last sol."

The minibot blushes, rushing out of the room, "Yeah-I'll-get-right-on-that.-Bye!"

He really doesn't get paid enough for this.

Sentinel takes out a cleaning cloth, and works a few smudges out of Cliffjumper's frame, "Now, remember what I said about th-"

"Yeah, yeah. The bot you put me with is really old-fashioned, and that you want me to be on my best behavior. Is there any reason why I can't know who this mysterybot is? I could just go talk to them and tell them I don't mind waiting. I'm good with a slow courting if this works out."

He severely doubts that this will end up with Cliffjumper and Optimus dating. It doesn't seem possible at all. They aren't really well matched, from what he can tell. Granted, it seems like he has no fragging clue what other bots like in the berth, judging by Perceptor and Bumblebee.

"I'd rather keep it a surprise." In case Cliff doesn't want to date Optimus and flees the klik he informs him. The restaurant is a significantly nicer one this time, because Sentinel wants to impress Optimus. It's not quite the World's End, but the Twisted Wire caters to the upper class bots with credits to spare, and it's a very romantic place, with soft, glowing crystals at every table, keeping the room dimly lit while soft music plays from a live band that the Wire employs to keep the atmosphere peaceful.

He rather likes it, but he's still not sure how Optimus and 'Jumper will take it. He hopes they both like it. He knows Sari does, because he's taken her here once before and she'd blushed the entire time.

Cliffjumper gives him an irritated look, "Surprises are rarely a good thing, Sent. What if I hate the bot?"

"I doubt you will. He's a good mech, Cliff. You already know him, and you get along fine with him." You can't work for a bot you actively hate. Not as closely as Cliffjumper has to be with the Magnus. That's one of the reasons they're such good friends now. Planning together does that to a bot.

The minibot huffs, "Fine. But it better not be..." The mech waves a servo as they head out the door, "Sedan or something. I told you no minibots."

"I wouldn't match you up with a minibot, Cliff." He pats the mech on the back, "I'm not that stupid. You like your partners bigger than you, but not too much bigger."

The mini just huffs, "Frag. I don't care about their size as long as they're not a minibot fetishist. Or another minibot, because you think minis should only date minis. I get enough of that frag from bots."

Sentinel just pushes him towards the Twisted Wire.

When they get there, he spots where Sari and Optimus are sitting. Before going to join them, he gives the mech one last look over; he doesn't want Cliff to look bad for this. When he's certain the bot is clean, he pulls the bot over. Cliffjumper's optics widen when he realizes what table they're going to. "That's Optimus Magnus! You can't be serious!"

He murmurs back as they walk, "I am. I told you, he's old fashioned. He'll want you to wait for him, and court him. You said you could do that. Should I just call the whole thing off?" He hopes not, this is more than a little important. He wants Optimus and the team to leave him alone.

"I can't date the fragging Magnus," Cliffjumper hisses at him, before giving the other bots a brilliant smile. "You're an aft for not warning me, you fraghead." When they're in audio distance, he falls silent, and slips into the booth across from Optimus, taking a more neutral position than Perceptor had, choosing to avoid direct contact. "Hello, Optimus, sir."

Optimus rubs his optics, "Hello, Cliffjumper. I suppose, since we have been set up on a date, that we should drop the formalities while we are here."

"No, sir, I don't thi- OW!" Sentinel kicks the bot under the table, and Cliffjumper glares at him as he rubs his leg, "Yes, Optimus. That seems fine."

That's better. The bot is on a date, and will be polite about this. He's not letting Cliff get away with that sort of thing.

Optimus gives Sentinel an annoyed look, and cautiously puts a servo on the minibot's shoulder. "We... we don't have to do this. I was hoping to get a bot that would like me, since Sari has been reassuring me since I was informed about the blind date, but you are welcome to leave if you really don't want to try this. No one will force you to stay."

"It's a blind date, sir. The entire point is getting surprised and finding out if the other bot suits you." Cliffjumper stretches a bit, and then settles down beside Sari. Sentinel's not thrilled that he has to sit by Optimus. "I'd like to see how we work out together."

Optimus's cheeks flush pink, "That's very thoughtful, Cliffjumper, but please, do not feel obligated to stay."

The minibot waves a servo. "It isn't a problem, sir. I am willing to try if you are."

Optimus looks at the table, blushing still, "I really would prefer if you use my actual name. We aren't at work, so it would be ... nice to have the formality dropped."

Cliffjumper looks a tiny bit uncomfortable, then nods, "I can do that... Optimus." Sentinel can tell that the minibot is fighting not to add 'sir' to that. And judging by Optimus's face, the truckbot can tell, too. Which is amazing, since normally he's so oblivious to everything.

He wonders if Optimus fancies minibots. He's never shown that sort of predilection before, but it's hard to tell with most bots. Anyone could be a secret mini fancier.

If the mech calls Cliff small, little, tiny, or any other diminutive, he's going to get a fist to the face, even if he is the Magnus. Cliffjumper doesn't react well to things like that, though he'd reportedly allowed Longarm to call him 'little' several times without reprimand.

Not any visible one, at least. It's possible he was beating Longarm in private and the sick 'Con was getting off on it.

Optimus smiles cautiously, "Thank you." The mech turns to Sari, "You never even gave me any hint that I would be set up with him. For awhile, I had thought I was going to be with Perceptor. I was going to tell you not to bother, since Bumblebee has been walking around my offices talking about him. I'm glad I didn't."

Sari frowns, "How long has he wanted Perceptor?"

"The last..." Optimus frowns, looking at Cliffjumper, "How long as he been visiting my office at a regular basis?"

"About six stellar cycles," Cliffjumper answers easily. "Almost seven, but he was after another bot then."

"Six stellar cycles, then." Optimus shakes his head fondly, "Our Bee gets his processor stuck on a bot and it takes him a while to get over them. I'm glad he's found a good match with Perceptor, though I wish he would stop sharing information about what they're doing together. Or how he intends to mod himself. I have learned more in the past decacycle about what a whip can do than I had ever hoped to learn."

Sentinel shudders, wondering why Bumblebee didn't ask Optimus where to get a mod, only to remember how much of a virgin the truckbot is. Optimus wouldn't have a clue where to get a 'facing mod. Even less of one than Sentinel.

Cliffjumper nods, "He has been talking to me about it, too. Whenever you're busy." Cliffjumper makes a face, "I do wish he'd stop, but asking him to didn't really work all that well."

Optimus sighs, "It rarely does. He's not very good at being silent."

"He's Bumblebee," Sari says, as if that explains everything, and maybe it does to them. "Anyways, I'm gonna go visit Earth again next week." She smiles across the table at Sentinel, "So you can expect me to be gone for a week. Just about a decacycle. It's my birthday, and Dad wants to have a big party. I'm not really sure who he plans on inviting, since I don't really have friends there, but it should be fun." She laughs, "Maybe he'll hire some strippers or something without realizing it, like he did when I was fifteen."

He blinks, not sure how to react. The idea of humans stripping down to their bare protoforms makes him want to shudder in disgust. While Sari going bare like that is wonderful, anyone else makes him feel ill. He's glad that the organics visiting them cover up with something, and don't come in completely bare.

"I'd come with you, but-"

"I know. You have to work. It isn't like I told you what was happening before now. Don't worry about it." She reaches over, and he lets her take his servo to squeeze, "I'll be back before you even realize I was gone."

"I'll know," he promises her, lifting her servo to brush a kiss against her knuckles. She likes when he does that; it always makes her smile.

Cliff coughs, and stares at him until he lets go of her servo. The mech turns to Optimus, "I was thinking about having Sari work as your secretarybot. If we're going to date, it really won't be appropriate for me to work under you like that."

Optimus nods, "It would be too easy for me to-"

"I could manipulate your schedule and tasks in all sorts of nasty ways if we got in a fight," Cliffjumper continues, over the top of Optimus's words, "so I don't think I should have such power over you while we negotiate a possible courtship."

Optimus's optics widen, and he holds his servos to his face to hide the incredibly obvious blush. "R-really? You'd be willing to-? I never had a bot willing to-" The bot looks down, blushing even harder, servos holding himself, "If... if you want to, I'd like that."

Sentinel really has no clue how to react to this. He didn't know that Optimus liked Cliff like this.

Sari smiles, "Well, we can start up a courting contract next sol, how does that sound?"

Optimus nods slowly, and Cliffjumper smiles, "I'm happy with that. We'll figure something out for it."

"Sure." Sari pats Optimus's servo across the table. "It'll be great."

Sentinel thinks it'll either turn out perfect or it'll be a disaster. Optimus and Cliff barely know each other. Optimus is a softsparked glitch, and 'Jumper would gun down an entire platoon of Decepticons if he could, just for the fun of it. And then brag about the size of his gun and his accuracy while doing it. Optimus didn't go for that sort of thing at all.

He smiles when the waiter comes over to take their orders, "I would like a medium grade with a mix of crystals." That will mean that he can finally have Sari try it without shying away. He kind of wonders if this is how she broke that gear in her mouth, since she doesn't want to have it in her energon.

Sari squirms a little bit, "I'd like a cube of extra refined high grade, in scooterbot size, and a plate of sliced spiral crystals."

Optimus orders next, and he's oddly quiet and shy, "I'd like a cube of whipped energon, medium grade. With a spoon." He seems to have taken the lectures on energon etiquette to spark this time, and Sentinel is thankful for it. The last thing he needs is the entire fragging restaurant panting after their Magnus all evening long.

They'll be bad enough just listening to him moan and whine while he nibbles on his energon whip from a spoon.

Cliffjumper is last with, "Medium grade with rust flakes."

The bot most likely chose that since it is the simplest fuel on the menu. If he had a choice, he'd make Cliffjumper get something else, but he'll let the minibot choose whatever. He knows Cliff likes rust flakes, at least.

The waiter nods, taking the menus and disappearing. Optimus smiles shyly at Cliffjumper, "I..." he trails off, unsure what else to say.

Cliffjumper reaches over cautiously, and pats Optimus's servo once before pulling away, "I'm glad I'm here, too. I really am willing to go through a courtship with you."

"Thank you." The bot flushes and looks away, "I know it is rather old-fashioned of me to insist on one, but . . . I cannot imagine simply committing to a relationship without one."

Sentinel can. Sentinel hates courtships and their mandatory fragging rules about everything. If he wants to go on a date without a chaperone, he should be allowed to. If he wants to adjust the timeline for fragging, he should be able to without having to submit a form in triplicate.

Cliffjumper smiles, "Well, I don't mind taking this slow. It is good to get to know the bot you're with before getting bonded or interfacing. Any pace you need is fine with me."

Optimus smiles, still blushing brightly, "G-good." The mech looks down, "I'd hate to rush, and have everything turn out badly."

The minibot nods, "Well, I won't let it turn out badly. Don't worry."

"Thank you," Optimus repeats, before changing the subject. "I was wondering if you'd like to visit the petting zoo later this decacycle with me, Sari, before you have to leave. They have a new litter of turbofox kits that just onlined, and they're adorably small." A flush heats his cheeks, "I don't feel . . right, going alone. But if you wanted to go, I could escort you."

Sentinel feels a small spike of jealously when Sari smiles and says, "I'd love to, Optimus. It sounds fun." He knows she thinks of Optimus as a creator, so pushes that feeling away. She is allowed to have friends and family, even if he'd like her with him at all times. He can't do that himself, so he certainly can't ask Sari to do it, either.

Besides, she'll have fun at the petting zoo, while he always tries to avoid it. He has never been very fond of them. The cybergoats are always carrying or are incredibly fat. And there are always so many of them just wandering around.

He does like the flock of tame laserhawks, but not enough to actually have to suffer through the rest of the animals just to see them. He'd enjoyed it as a sparkling. Not now.

"Make sure you bring some spare credits," Cliffjumper advises them both. "They have little dispensers with energon pellets that you can feed to the animals there, but you have to pay for them."

Sari nods, "Never go without a creditpad, anyway." She perks up when the waiter comes, placing the fuel in front of each of them. Her optics brighten when she takes one of the crystal slices and puts it in her mouth. Her little teeth grind them up, and she grins. "These are rather good." she pushes the plate to him, "You try it."

He takes a sliver of crystal and nibbles on it, and finds it sweet, but a bit brittle for his tastes. He likes his crystals to have a better crunch, and less of a crumble. "It's nice." He lifts one piece up and offers it to her, "But I think you enjoy them more than I do."

She takes it from his servo with her mouth, flicking her glossa against his fingertips with a giggle. Sentinel smiles at her. She's such a sweet femme.

Optimus coughs, "You should not share energon and crystals that way after just a few dates."

Sari shoots Optimus a scathing look, "We've been on a great deal of dates. We have lunch every sol, and make sure to check out several restaurants. We went through five before settling on this one for you and Cliffjumper, Optimus. Don't tell us it is just a few dates. If I was still at home, Dad would be wondering if we would be getting married at the end of the stellar cycle."

It has been an almost insane amount of time he's been with her in such a short period, but he can't find it in himself to even care. He loves being with her, just to see how she talks and moves. It isn't even just physical anymore. She reminds him of how Elita used to be. Headstrong and capable. She may have been shy at first, but he's certain that was just her being worried about him getting upset at her.

Now he knows how strong she really is. She is a femme, and knows what she wants. He's glad to be the mech she wants. The one she is willing to wait for.

Cliffjumper saves him then, by reaching across the table to catch Optimus's servo in his. "I will warn you, Optimus, I am not willing to undergo the most rigorous courtships. While I am happy to court you properly, I am not going to do one of the ancient ones. If it takes longer than a vorn, we're going to have to renegotiate something. There is no need for ceremonies that long."

Optimus has the nerve to look disappointed by that. He's such an old-fashioned romantic at spark. "Of course. I would not expect you to undergo one of those, Cliffjumper."

The minibot squeezes Optimus's servo, "We can discuss this later, if you want. Or," the mech looks at him and Sari, "we can try hammering out a contract now?"

Optimus shakes his head, "No. It is always better for the whole family to be there. I will have my team come to my office in the morning, and we can do this. You should bring bots you consider family as well."

Cliffjumper nods, "I can do that."

Sentinel feels ill. He's almost certain that Cliff is going to drag him into this mess. Cliffjumper does consider him very close, and there's not much of Cliff's actual family left alive any longer, not after the 'Cons had blown up the city he'd grown up in. He's going to end up having to sit and watch the bot negotiate a courtship contract with Optimus.

He's sort of horrified about that.

He can't believe he set this up.

He doesn't even like Optimus all that much anymore. They used to be friends, and would have easily considered each other family, but then everything with Elita happened, and it just broke. He isn't really happy with this. He was just hoping that Cliff would act like a gentlemech while Optimus got into his usual huffy self about dating a bot.

He was certain that Optimus would offline a virgin.

Sentinel had always joked that Optimus was trying to be one of Primus's virgin consorts, hoping that he would offline innocent and be reborn as a pure spark deep within Primus's core, to serve him there. Optimus had flushed, and not denied it.

But apparently worldly pleasures are alluring to the mech after all, if he's considering accepting a courtship.

Sari distracts him wonderfully by placing a crystal in her mouth and chewing. He sighs happily, watching her, and sips on his energon. "Want to try mine?"

She nods, reaching over as he gives her the energon with crushed crystals. She sips it, then makes a face, "Too low of a grade. I can't drink this."

He does keep forgetting how little she likes the lower grades when it comes to his own energon. "That's fine. How is your high grade?"

"It's nice. Sweet, like I like it." She reaches over and pats his arm. "Thank you, sweetspark. But you can stop offering me your energon all the time. I get enough fuel, and you drink stuff that's kinda bleh most of the time. I like things sweeter. Richer." She licks her lips, cleaning away a bit of pink energon smeared there, and Sentinel feels his spark pulse heavily in his chest. She's so attractive.

He smiles at her, "I know. I'm glad you like it, though." He gently nudges the plate of crystals closer to her, "You eat up. You said you always feel better after having a meal of crystals."

She beams at him, geared dente flashing, "I do. It makes me more alert somehow. I like it."

He nods, "I did some research into it, and it turns out that most bots with dente like yours have them just for that reason. Certain frametypes do better with more crystals and minerals in their diets. If anything, you should cut down on the energon, and up the amount of crystals."

"But now that I know some kinds of energon are nummy, I don't want to." She pouts at him and then flickers her optics at him flirtatiously. "Why don't you just feed me more crystals and I'll have more energon too."

He pats her armor right over her tank, "You'll end up bulging out of your armor if you fuel on too much, Sari."

She sticks her glossa out at him, "Nu-uh. Not gonna get fat."

He smiles at her, "Well, we'll see won't we? When you're all bulging and I'm still trim and fit, we'll see who has the last laugh." He taps her tank again.

"But you'll help me get thin again, won't you?" She flickers her optics at him in that spark pulsing way, "You wouldn't leave me to stay like that, would you?"

He would bond with her even if she was twice the size she is now, but he knows she'd never get that far. He'd end up cutting her intake and help her exercise. "I wouldn't."

"You'd help me burn it all off?" Sari flickers her optics again, trailing a servo down his arm.

Sentinel flushes, "Not like that."

She grins, "Not like what?"

He flushes darker, "You know what, Sari. I would help you increase your activity so the extra energy would not get converted in your system by your nanites. However, I doubt a frame as small as you can overfuel. Your tank is small enough that you would simply purge it naturally."

She rubs his arm, just missing his seams, "If you say so." She rubs her servo over his seam for a brief moment, then moves away. "In a vorn or so, I suppose."

He loves how she accepts him taking so long. That she doesn't mind him doing this. That she will wait for him. He could fall in love with her so easily. They spend the rest of the evening in companionable conversation, drifting closer together until their legs tangle under the table.

Optimus casts disapproving glares at him the entire time. But they leave without Optimus threatening him, so he counts it as a win.

Please Review

Okay, this is going to be over with in two days, guys. I still don't know what I'm going to be uploading if anything o3o

So we'll see how it goes!

Also, if you know Korean and can read this: 데도도라곤

Please tell me what it means. A friend of mine had a Deino in pokemon traded to him with that name. If you know what it is, that would be a great deal of help. Please... don't use translation software. We've tried that.