Title: You and Me...Plus Two?
Chapter: 6/?
Authors: Spider Wolfeh and Scarlet Bruiser
Rating: G
Series: Transformers (Mostly G1 based)
Characters: Wheeljack, Ratchet, OCs, Prowl, Jazz, Optimus Prime
Warnings: I guess OCs would be a warning..Slash!
Summary: In which Wheeljack and Ratchet learn the values of BSing.
Author's Notes:
Holy crap did this chapter turn out long. xD Longest one yet. Hope you guys enjoy! Also, please keep in mine that the portrayal of the characters is our interpretation. They're based off the real stuff but we're also putting our own little touch to it. :3

Comments and critique are love! And we hope you enjoy!

–

Being Optimus Prime was depressing at points. In the field, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Not every decision could be popular, and someone always got hurt no matter what he did.

In his office, there were seemingly endless piles of paperwork courtesy of Prowl, and visitors were rare. And of course, when a visitor did dare poke their head into the Autobot leader's office, it was almost always, without fail, because they had a complaint.

Needless to say, whenever a knock was heard at the door, Optimus' spark hardly ever rose in the hope of some joyful reprieve from his official desk work. No, he rather dreaded having to solve yet another dispute the bots in question probably could have fixed on their own had they listened to him in the first place.

And there came the dreadful knock.

"Enter," he said in a casual voice, masking all too well his dislike of pop-in visitors.

It wasn't everyday one got visitors like Prime was about to receive though.

"Sir, I apologize for the interruption but--" Prowl was cut off by a series of clicks and chirps, the logi-bot frowning some as he glanced over his shoulder at Wheeljack, the inventor's fins flashing a bit as he shot the other mech an apologetic sort of look.

"Ah..sorry..." he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck supports with his free servo. "They were wonderin' where we were so I was tellin' them." Behind him was Ratchet, the CMO carrying Steam Rider after a bit of a fuss during the walk to Prime's office, the little black mechling billowing with smoke as he twittered in fear, having seen the large mech inside the room. Ratchet, to his credit, was doing his best to keep Steam Rider calm, cradling him close to his spark and keeping him partially hidden with his arms to make the mechling feel protected.

Velocity, on the other hand, was just more curious about who was in the room. He was already doing his best to squirm out of Wheeljack's arms to crawl up on the inventor to get a better view.

"They?" Prime asked curiously, sitting up straight and inclining his head slightly to the side to try to see around Prowl.

"Velocity..." A serious of clicks and chirps came next as Wheeljack tried to urge the little one to stay still, stepping into the room as he cast an anxious, nervous sort of glance towards Prime. "I...can explain, I swear I can, Optimus."

"Ah.. Wheeljack had some fun in the labs," Jazz explained, moving to stand off to one side so all present could enter, the inventor doing just that as his nervousness grew. The sparkling in his arms calmed down a bit after he was told, instead turning to stare wide-opticked at the large mech behind the desk, who was staring right back at him. Intimidating much?

Oh yes.

"The type of fun that results in sparklings, as you can see," Prowl added, folding his arms as he stood off to the side, ever the attentive second in command.

Wrong way to say that, Prowl. Very, very wrong. Since the type of fun that results in sparklings was usually... well you get the idea.

"Let's have it, then," Optimus said calmly, studying both sparklings as he expected Wheeljack to launch into a long, detailed story. Clearing his vocal processor and tossing a look at Ratchet, the inventor slowly got his nerve together and started talking, gently digits stroking over Velocity's helm.

"I wanted to see if I could create a sparklin' outside of the normal ways of doin' it. Velocity here...I took a sample of Ratch's spark and combined it with a piece of my own to make him. And lil' Steamer there, well..he doesn't have a spark like ours. He's steam based, runs off water with a lil' bit of Energon thrown in there for good measure. They're both functionin' sparklin's though!" Knowing that he was being talked about, the black mechling let out a weak little whistle, nestling himself against Ratchet's sparkcase, little digits clinging at the curves of it. Optimus sat back in his chair, letting out a soft sigh behind his face mask and looking between the CMO and the inventor.

"You helped?" he asked Ratchet.

"Yes," the Medbot said before Wheeljack could interject. "I oversaw the project. They're both in excellent condition." It took everything Wheeljack had not to interject when Ratchet admitted to helping, though Prowl caught the way the inventor's fins flashed slightly, a frown marring his faceplate but neither got a chance to speak as Prime let out a muffled, almost disbelieving snort, a sound that made Wheeljack's arms curl a bit tighter around Velocity.

"And whose permission did you have for this project?"

".....No one's sir."

Another silence as Prime considered what to ask next. Things like sudden sparklings wasn't exactly covered in Prime school. Heck, nothing was covered in Prime school because it didn't exist!

"... And the purpose of these experiments...?" He asked after a moment.

"..I...just wanted to see if it could be done, I guess," Wheeljack said softly, gazing down at the sparkling he held with a warmth in his optics that hadn't previously been there. "Sparklin's are a rare thing anymore and..I just...." Clearing his vocal processor Prowl interjected, taking a slight step forward.

"Whatever the intent, permission still should have been sought."

"We understand that. To be honest... I didn't expect either to work," Ratchet admitted. "That's why I didn't push Wheeljack to seek permission. And when it started working, we should have come straight to you. But we just got so caught up in the excitement of making new life..." he trailed off, hoping he was convincing enough.

"I trust you'll keep us informed of every experiment from now on, no matter what you believe the outcome will be?" Prime asked pointedly, leaning forward to give stern glares to both bots in question.

"Of course," Ratchet responded subduedly.

"Without a doubt, sir," was the automatic response from Wheeljack, the inventor nodding quickly. A few soft clicks came from the sparkling hidden in Ratchet's arms, Steam Rider peeking over the edge of his safe zone to look at the gathered bots. His optics landed on Prime and he ducked back down a bit, obviously scared of the large mech but still watching him nonetheless, an action that made the corners of Optimus' lip components began to twitch up ever so slightly in a smile, something that no one in the room would be aware of.

The CMO's attention had been drawn back to the mechling in his arms, and he caressed the crest of Steam Rider's helm with the back of a few gentle digits as he awaited their punishment. There was something satisfying about seeing Ratchet so gentle with another being, rather than his usual wrench-flinging self. A soft smirk came to Jazz's lip components, and Prime had to work even harder to fight off a smile.

Wheeljack's fins flashed some and he smiled, Prowl shaking his head from where he stood near the inventor while, in the inventor's arms, a certain mischievous little sparkling, thinking it was once more play time with the very large bot, began to squirm again, trying to get himself onto the large desk to get a closer look at the behemoth before him.

"I assume the two of you will take full responsibility for them and their care?" Prime questioned, the smile creeping into his voice now.

"That was the plan," Wheeljack said after a moment, looking back to Optimus as he struggled to keep a hold on Velocity.

"We should most likely introduce the others on base to them, if only to make sure everyone knows that they are here and to take caution," the logibot murmured, watching Velocity with an arched optic ridge as Steam Rider melted against ratchet, cooing softly.

"Steam Rider and Velocity, you said?" Optimus asked after a minute of surveying the scene before him. A nod was Prime's answer, Wheeljack having drifted a bit closer to Ratchet, hoping the closeness of the two sparklings would get Velocity to calm down some, the action in itself making almost all the sparks in the room melt a bit; the inventor's obvious mother henning was far too adorable. Maybe this time his creations would actually like him and listen to him. They didn't have small brains, right?

"Well then, there's just one order of business left," Prime began slowly, sitting back once more.

"Our punishment?" Ratceht asked a bit hesitantly.

"No," Prime said hesitantly, getting ready to be berated by Prowl. "Can I be their guardian?"

Silence.

That was the immediate response that Prime received from the assembled group. But, silence never lasts does it.

"Prime!"

"What?!"

The outbursts of Prowl and Wheeljack were followed by a series of scared chirps from Steam Rider as the little one ducked down to hide again.

"Oh Primus," Ratchet sighed, turning away partway to rock Steam Rider gently in order to calm him. On the flip side, Jazz was doing his best to remain relatively straight faced with one servo over his mouth to hide the fact that he was laughing at the situation.

"What?" Optimus asked defensively, looking to Prowl. "I like sparklings," he said with a hint of a 'don't hurt me' whine in his vocalizer. Prowl just glared, arm falling as he lifted a servo to point at the Autobot leader, getting ready to berate him no doubt as Velocity took Wheeljack's momentary stunned state to his advantage and took a flying leap from his arms onto the desk of Optimus Prime.

"You are acting--" Once more he was cut off thanks to a sparkling created distraction, Wheeljack flailing a bit as he scrambled forward to try and scoop Velocity up.

"Oh ya' lil' trouble maker!" he scolded, making a grab for the silver mechling.

But Optimus got there first, helping the little one to his stabilizers on the desk and cooing softly at him.

"Little daredevil, hm? You shouldn't do that, Velocity," he scolded gently. "You're going to give your creators a spark attack." Velocity watched Prime's face mask move as he spoke, then looked into his optics, then back down to his massive servo. It occurred to him just how big the servo was, and he backed away, frowning and whimpering softly. Something had finally scared the little one?

"Velocity there's no reason to be scared," Wheeljack cooed, fidgeting some near the edge of the desk as he reached out to touch the sparkling's helm. "Optimus won't hurt ya'."

"He is much like a human teddy bear," the logi-bot muttered as he drifted over to stand near Jazz, giving up on trying to enforce any sort of rules for the time being.

"Mmhmm," Jazz agreed, snickering every now and then. He couldn't help it, really. Optimus trying to gush all over the little bots was hilarious enough, but Prowl's reaction was the icing on the cake. A glare was shot his way but Prowl said nothing, fuming a bit in that irritated, 'there's work that needs to be done' sort of way.

Velocity looked between Wheeljack and Optimus, then seemed to size the leader up, tilting his head this way and that and clicking softly to no one in particular. Optimus waited patiently with one servo still extended to the mechling, waiting for acceptance or rejection. Rejection seemed to be the way it was going to be, as Velocity lost interest in the large bot and looked to Ratchet's arms where Steam Rider was still nestled. He let out a curious whistle to his brother, standing on his toes and leaning this way and that to try to catch sight of him.

"I dunno what's up with him. He's usually friendly as can be," Wheeljack murmured, rubbing the back of his processor some.

Having heard the whistle, Steam Rider hesitantly poked his head up over the barrier that was the CMO's arms, visor covered optics on his brother as he quivered some, letting out a low whistle in response. Optimus chuckled, just watching the exchange between the two.

"They seem very conscious of each other," he noted.

"They act like twins," Ratceht confirmed with a nod, shifting Steam Rider so he could see his brother better. Velocity waved to the other little mech, then without warning sat down ungracefully and leaned back to stare up at Optimus upside-down, clicking to the large bot. Waving back hesitantly, Steamer chirped in alarm as Velocity disappeared from his range of view, the black mechling perking up some in an attempt to see what was going on. The entire atmosphere of the room seemed to change as Velocity pulled his stunt, Prowl muttering something about how their leader was going to melt and they should get buckets ready while Wheeljack just chuckled.

"There's the friendly lil' guy I was talkin' about."

"Well hello there," Optimus practically gushed at the little one, confirming Prowl's prediction.

Growing more and more curious now, Steam Rider started to squirm, chirping as he looked to Ratchet and pointed to the took his cue from Steam Rider very well and set the little one on the desk beside his brother.

"You're going to want back in my arms in five nanokliks, I just know it," he muttered as he stepped back just as Velocity gave the leader and upside-down wave before he righted himself and squeaked happily at his brother, throwing his arms around him and yanking him closer. Steam Rider chirped loudly, steam billowing out of his faceplate as he struggled to get away, fearful of being so close to Optimus so quickly. Breaking free, the little one scrambled away towards the edge, quivering some as he peered over at Ratchet looking ready to lift his arms and asked to be picked up before he paused.

Hesitantly he glanced back at his brother then Optimus, whimpering somewhat before plopping down rather suddenly, facing Velocity and the autobot leader but not moving any.

"...Steamer's a lil'...ah...he gets really scared around other bots if ya' couldn't tell."

"Let us hope that changes soon. There are quite a few bots around base, after all," Optimus commented, watching the steam-powered bot with soft optics.

"I'm sure the little dude will warm up in no time," Jazz shrugged. "Just gotta be patient."

"Patience is a virtue, as the humans say," Prowl commented, watching as Steam Rider ever so slowly began to scoot closer to Optimus, reaching forward with his servos and tugging himself forward like a human toddler would, the mechling using his support struts to help guide himself. He seemed to realize he was being watched because he stopped suddenly, quivering some as he seemed to shrink in on himself, cooing faintly as he traced his digits along the surface of Optimus' desk before glancing up again as Velocity clicked encouragement at him, throwing a bit smile his way.

"I had planned to introduce them to everyone once they get a lil' more use to things. They are fairly new to the world after all," the inventor mused, looking between the Autobot leader and the commanders.

"Just how new exactly, by the way?" Optimus pressed a bit, remembering that he really did need to get information on how far out of bounds his CMO and head inventor had gone.

"I...'brought them online last night' new?"

".........But how long have you been working on them?"

"...A few weeks?" Wheeljack said sheepishly, optics on Prowl and Jazz now as the black mechling started scooting himself across the desk again, trying to be as quiet as he could. Funny thing about bots with visors that Steam Rider would have to learn some day though: just because their visor wasn't pointed at you didn't mean that their optics weren't on you. Jazz was watching the going ons with an amused grin on his lip components, servos on his hips as he partially listened to the others.

"I was more concerned with when they were brought online," Optimus said dismissively. "Since you said you didn't report it since you thought it was going to be a failure, right?"

The CMO nodded quickly.

"Right. After we brought them online, we thought it would be best to give them, and ourselves, a chance to rest before they left the lab and had to encounter other bots."

Who was on to their game? Prowl was. That's who. Then again, the other two command bots most likely were as well. There was a high possibility that Optimus was probably most likely playing along mostly in part just to annoy Prowl. Very good chance.

And he was happy that it was working.

"Exactly!" Wheeljack piped up happily, fins flashing some. "We didn't want to overwhelm the lil' guys or anythin' like that!"

Scoot. Pause. Scoot. Pause.

That was Steamer's rhythm as he finally reached his brother, now within reach of Optimus as he chirped softly at Velocity, visor covered optics still on the towering bot before him. A small tilt of Jazz's head made Optimus looked down at the desk before him, and he noted how close Steam Rider was, then pretended he hadn't noticed, though a smile was very obvious on his face to the other bots in the room.

"Sneaky, hm?" Ratchet mused, looking on Steam Rider fondly.

Unaware that all the focus in the room seemed to be on him now, Steam Rider hesitantly reached forward for one final scoot, watching Optimus like a hawk as he drew closer and closer until finally his support struts bumped one of the Autobot leader's servos. Steamer froze, shoulders hunching as he waited to see what would happen, the whole thing making Wheeljack almost burst into chuckles as even Prowl looked slightly amused. Velocity turned only partway to watch his brother, finding himself laying on his back to watch the spectacle upside down again.

A soft clink of metal on metal informed Optimus that he should look down once more. There was a laugh in his optics as he openly looked down upon the mechling.

"Well hello there," he said in a gentle, greeting tone to the other. Steamer's quivering seemed to get ten times worse as Optimus spoke to him, the little sparkling staring up at the autobot leader, not sure what to do now that he had the attention.

"Steam Rider..it's alright lil' guy," Wheeljack assured softly, optics soft as he peered down at the sparkling.

Ratchet's soft spark was getting the best of him, and he was about to pluck the sparkling off the desk and pull him back into a protective embrace. But before he could, Velocity flipped himself over and crawled on servos and knee joints to sit beside his brother, resting a reassuring arm over his shoulders and cooking to him softly. Once he'd addressed his twin, Velocity's attention went back up to the large mech who might as well be a skyscraper to them, and he glared up at Optimus like he wanted to start a fight, clicking and whistling sharply.

"Woah, sorry, sorry," Optimus apologized, holding up his servos defensively to the little sparklings.. "I didn't mean to scare anyone." With Velocity close by Steam Rider seemed to calm just a bit, leaning into his twin's protective embrace as he cooed back, clinging to the other sparkling like a lifeline. When Optimus spoke though a sort of calming effect happened, the black mechling's quivering ceasing a touch as he cautiously peered up at the Autobot Leader.

"....Say something else," came the request from Prowl, who was watching the two sparklings curiously, picking up in the slight changes in Steam rider.

"Hm? Ah... I am Optimus Prime, it's a pleasure to meet you both," he said after a moment, extending a servo very slowly, and not too intrusively close to the pair in greetings. Velocity let out a small snort and kept glaring at the leader, but since Steam Rider was no longer shaking in his armor, he backed off the offensive attitude. Optimus speaking seemed to have the effect that Prowl suspected it would; Steam Rider's quivering was nothing more than a faint, faint shiver now as he watched the servo get extended, peering at it for a long moment before slowly reaching out to poke at it with his own servo.

A soft click escaped the black mechling as he realized that he was, in fact, alright after touching the Autobot Leader, Steamer looking at Velocity and chirping in a soft, excited sort of way. Velocity blinked a few times and tilted his head at his brother, then looked to the mech in question and pushed himself to his stabilizers to try to get a better look at the mech's face, ignoring his servo for a moment.

Optimus peered curiously down in return at the pair, a smile hidden behind his face mask.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he reassured them, moving relatively slowly to move the servo in question to gently stroke Steam Rider's helm, then Velocity's. Velocity instantly melted into the touch, purring contently and completely forgetting that he'd been playing tough for his brother. Like his brother, Steam Rider melted a bit as well, cooing happily as Optimus kept talking then stroked his helm, little servos pressed against the desk as he pushed himself up slightly to lean into the touch while he still had it. Once the larger bot moved his servo away Steamer rocked back slightly, chirping softly as he leaned forward, watching Velocity get all bubbly.

"Well now we know who to ask to babysit," the inventor mused, fins flashing as he looked at Ratchet.

"He is only allowed to babysit when he has his work caught up," Prowl interjected, using this whole situation to his advantage now.

"But Prowl," Optimus whined like a child protesting their parents telling them to finish their vegetables before they could play, "Overseeing the care of the future generation is part of my work!" Jazz busted into a full laughing fit at this, turning away to rest his head against a nearby wall. Even Ratchet was trying to keep his chuckling from progressing and Wheeljack's fins flashing brightly as a sign that he was more than amused.

An optic arch twitched as Prowl shot the Autobot leader a glare, trying to ignore the laughter that was coming from the other three adults in the room.

"Do not start with me, sir."

Meanwhile, on the desk, Steam Rider had finally climbed to his support struts, leaning against velocity some but at the same time he was trying to reach up to grab a hold of Optimus' face mask, steam drifting out of own face mask as he cooed faintly, standing up on the tips of his supports.

"I outrank you," Optimus continued childishly, leaning down to the sparklings could play with his face mask. This upset Velocity a bit, since he was interested in the expansive panels of glass on the leader's chest, but he adapted quickly enough to trying to yank at the protrusions of his helmet.

"Yes but someone needs to keep you in place," was the immediate reply, Prowl completely not fazed by Optimus pulling rank.

Shrinking back at first, Steamer waited until Velocity had started playing before he once more pushed himself up on the tips of his stabilizers, small digits tugging gently at Optimus' mask. He tilted his processor some, squeaking lightly before he let go, touching his own face mask before reaching up to touch Optimus' again, cooing happily.

"And when Elita comes to visit, I'll behave," he said quickly before turning his full attention back to the sparklings. "Ah yes, we both have face plates. Wheeljack as a faceplate too," he pointed out, gesturing to the inventor.

Optics narrowing, Prowl looked ready to throw something at Prime but since there were sparklings about....

Mumblegrumble.

Prime: 1. Prowl: 0.

And everyone else won for being present.

Looking over at his creator, Steam Rider squeaked and lifted a servo, digits opening in closing in a clumsy sort of wave which made Wheeljack practically start to gush.

"Hey there lil' guy," he cooed, obviously quite the proud parent. Ratchet unwittingly let out a content sigh as a let-down from his laughing, watching the sparklings fondly.

"So... Can I? Be their guardian, I mean," Prime asked, looking back up at the lab bots.

"Huh--Oh! Oh of course!" Wheeljack said as his processor caught up with what was going on, the inventor having been far too engrossed in what the sparklings were doing. "We'd be honored!"

"Couldn't think of anyone better," Ratchet added as a bit of an afterthought, trying not to glance over to see how pissed off Prowl was.

"Cool, cool. Well, Prowl and I should get back to work," jazz interrupted after a bit, giving the second in command a glance to try to get him to leave.

"............"

Without a word to anyone, the fuming second in command turned and left the room, planning his revenge on the Autobot leader no doubt.

Just wait Prime. Just wait.

"He's a lil' too tense," the inventor mused, shaking his processor. "Maybe I should get him to babysit one day."

"He'd do good," Jazz smirked before he made his exit after his superior. Optimus chuckled, shaking his head very minutely since Velocity had climbed onto his shoulder and was holding onto his helmet for support.

"If it works, do it."

Steam Rider, not to be left out now that he had warmed up to Optimus, was trying his best to get up on the Autobot leader's other shoulder, unable to accomplish this task which resulted in him whimpering softly, visor flickering a bit. A servo lifted under Steam Rider to lift him to the shoulder carefully, Optimus watching him out of the corner of his optics to make certain he didn't fall.

"Go on, climb up there," he encouraged him gently. A squeak of surprise escaped the sparkling who flailed a bit as he teetered some then paused, visor flickering as he stared at Prime before looking to his shoulder. Slowly he crawled onto it, little servo grasping at one of the protrusions on his helmet to steady himself as he clicked and chirped softly to himself, getting settled.

"You're a regular jungle gym, sir," Wheeljack said with a chuckle in his vocal processor, the inventor standing with his arms folded over his chest now.

"I try," he smiled, looking between the two, trying his best not to move too much so as not to jar them from their positions. The silver mechling was enjoying the view from his new vantage point, but after a moment he sat down, stabilizers dangling over the edge of Prime's broad shoulders, and yawned, optics flickering a bit.

"It looks like someone is getting tired," Ratchet pointed out.

"Too much excitement most likely." Moving closer, Wheeljack ran his digits over Velocity's helm, gently tipping the little one's processor up. "How 'bout we head back to the lab, huh lil' one? Ya' can visit Optimus again soon, I promise!" The silver and white mechling was more than happy to let himself fall into his creator's servos, ready or not, and curled up against whatever he could reach as soon as he was there while Steam Rider rubbed his own optics a bit before reaching out to Ratchet, cooing softly as his visor flickered. Coming around the other side, the CMO lifted his servos to collect Steam Rider, pulling him close to his spark and cooing softly to him before he caught himself, a little embarrassed.

A light chuckle escaped Optimus as soon as he felt comfortable that he could move, and he looked between the two.

"You're going to be wonderful parents. I can tell," he murmured in a rather fond manner as Wheeljack cuddled Velocity close, lifting the sparkling a bit as he leaned down to nuzzle him, optics flickering over to Optimus.

"Thank ya' sir," he murmured, glancing over at Ratchet before looking away just as quickly, making for the door. "Alright, lil' guy, time to get ya' to berth!" he said softly, keeping his focus on Ratchet as he nudged the door open and stepped out, moving slowly to wait for the CMO who wasn't far behind at all, but before they could exit, Prime's voice cut in.

"Wheeljack? Don't make anything without my permission again, please? Especially not without Ratchet's supervision."

Busted.

Wincing, shoulders hunching some, Wheeljack glanced back into the office, fins dimming.

"Of course, sir...I promise."

"Good night," Prime finished, waving to the sparklings as they departed. Ratchet had gone stiff for a moment, but it soon became clear that was the only reprimand they were going to be receiving.

"Good night, Prime," he said to the leader, shutting the door behind them. "Well... that went well," he muttered once they were out of audio range.

Wheeljack nodded, optics on Velocity again.

"Much better than I was honestly expectin'," he admitted with a weak laugh that melted into a sigh. "I really didn't know what to expect goin' in there."

"Good ol' Prime," the medbot mused, then fell silent. Things could have gone much worse. Optimus was kind, but he still could have had the sparklings taken away and relocated to established couples, since the two who claimed to be responsible for their creation were nothing more than science partners.

"I dunno what we'd do without him." Falling silent then as both the sparklings seemed to begin to drift off, Wheeljack cast a side glance at the CMO, looking as though he wanted to say something else but decided against it, just keeping pace with Ratchet as they made the hike back to the labs.

Maybe some other time...