Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers (2007) or Transformers: Generation 1.

The following songs were used in this chapter:

Changed the way you kiss me by Example

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri

I cannot take credit for the socket idea, history, or terminology. Although I am not part of the socket community, the gateway for new ideas for this story that it opened was too good to give up or let go to waste. Therefore, I would (once again) like to thank Femme4jack, who gave me permission to post the story, and all of the authors who worked on any of the stories on the Sockets account. They include, but are not limited to: Femme4jack, Aniay (the original co-creator with Femme4jack for the POV verse that helped spawn Dathana de Gray), Gatekat, Chai16, Wilderness, Zomgitsalaura, Fallentaiyoko, Prophetbot, Ace_of_the_arts, Antepathy, Laulun-siivet, sakon76, thepheonixqueen, Flybystardancer, baka_no_neko and Karl Wolfemann.

Bonded Speech

~0~

:I've never been afraid of the highest heights

Or afraid of flying now

I've never been afraid of the wildest fights

Not afraid of dying:

Those who truly care will not leave.

:But now I want off this ride

'Cause you're scaring me and I don't like where we're going:

He left.

:I know you're gonna miss me

I guarantee you'll miss me

'Cause you changed the way you kiss me:

What am I supposed to do with that?

:We used to be so so soulful

Al Green on the background vocals

T-Total we're on the next high

We get by with a so called soul mate made for each other chit chat

But that dried up wise up to the cutting edge facts:

It only counts if he doesn't come back.

:Now I'm chilling on my Jack Jones

Looking for a way back home but I can't get back

Our love feels wrong please wind it back

Our love feels wrong can't hide the cracks:

He said he was getting Prowl.

:I guarantee you'll miss me

'Cause you changed the way you kiss me:

Have some faith.

:Heart beats fast

Colors and promises

How to be brave:

If you didn't have any...

:How can I love when I'm afraid to fall

But watching you stand alone

All of my doubt

Suddenly goes away

One step closer:

You wouldn't be here.

"Lil...Lil?" I lifted my head up slowly, like a second hand inching across a clock like a snail. I slowly got to my feet and stumbled into Jazz's hands. "Easy." He lifted me up. I said nothing as I felt his plating beneath my hands. Smooth. Silver. Real. I closed my eyes as I lifted the hand that wasn't touching Jazz's armor to my neck, tapping the socket. Prowl plugged in after my hand fell to my side.

I know it sounds silly...

:I have died everyday waiting for you:

Maybe it only sounds silly in my head...

:Darlin' don't be afraid:

But...

:I have loved you for a thousand years:

Please...

:I'll love you for a thousand more:

Never do that again.

:Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath

Every hour

Has come to this:

"Ya ready ta talk now?" Jazz whispered as he rubbed my back.

Your not mad?

"It is common knowledge that Jazz was a decepticon. You had no reason to fear that he would react negatively."

He left.

"Ah came back."

"Regardless of what Prowl told me, I still expected the worst possible scenario." Less heartbreak that way.

"Lil, we ain't gonna leave ya. We love ya."

"I know, but..." I don't know if I can make you both happy.

"I do not believe that you are truly aware of the magnitude of our love for you, Lilly," Prowl said as he took me in his hands. "If you did, you would know that we don't care that you are asexual."

But you guys feed on pleasure. I can't give you the pleasure you need.

"Ya won't have ta worry 'bout the physical pleasure. We already have that taken care of."

I raised an eyebrow. "We already have another socket," Prowl explained.

I see... "How long has this person been your socket?"

"Few months."

"Species?" Jazz's visor flashed. Just checking, mech.

"Human."

"Name?"

They stared at each other as if to say, you tell her. No, you tell her. "Miles Lancaster."

"And I haven't seen him around because...? At least, I'm assuming-What?" They stared at me. "I don't know if the kid is male or not! Could be trans for all I know..."

"Male," Prowl clarified.

"We didn't want ya ta freak if ya found out his last name. Why ain'tcha freakin' out now?"

"If Miles was the Desmond I knew, you wouldn't let him be your socket...I'm assuming...Well, unless Desmond changed his name..." Prowl shook his head. "Point is, if you guys chose him, he has to have a good heart. Um...how old is he, exactly?"

"Nineteen."

"Lil, thing 'bout Desmond...He's kinda-"

"Deceased."

Nice, Prowl.

What?

I was tryin' ta break it ta her gently.

No sense beating around the bush if we're going to end up with a guessing game, I pointed out before shrugging. "At this point, I don't have any emotional attachment to the guy." I glanced at Prowl. "How's Miles doing?"

"Better."

"We've been keeping him real happy," Jazz said with a grin.

I chuckled when Prowl nudged him. "I bet you have." I winked at Prowl. "Help out much?"

"Don't break him, Lil," Jazz teased.

"If he didn't break wearing those glasses and strutting with heels-Where'd your tutu go?"

Jazz laughed while Prowl cracked a smile. "Lil, ya jus' noticed that Ah wasn't wearin' it?"

"Well forgive me for being a little distracted."

"Oh, Prowl..." Jazz teased. "Ya jus' gotta hear the record-"

"Don't you dare play that! Jazz! Iswearbloodyrecordinggoingup inflamesain'tnowayinhell-!"

"Okay, okay!" Jazz laughed. "Chillax!"

"I'll ask later," Prowl said after surveying the situation.

"When I'm not in the room, for the love of Primus," I begged.

"Whatever makes ya happy, Lil."

Speaking of making me happy... "Will your socket be okay with a platonic relationship with me?"

"The fact that ya considering will make him happy."

"What'd ya do? Tell the kid I was misspsychodon'ttouchmeordiebloodalloverthe place?"

"Sorta?"

"Did you plan on giving him a heart attack? Sheesh. Now he's going to be all nervous when I meet him...I am meeting him, right?"

"Soon. Lilly..."

"Yes?"

"Will you allow us to test your boundaries as our socket?" I blinked at him curiously before tilting my head. "No intercourse aside from injecting the claiming nanites and setting up the protocols. Nothing spontaneous." I nodded. "Kissing?"

"We can test it."

"Socket connection?"

"Fine."

"Cuddling?"

"Fine." I smiled at Prowl. "I may have to get used to it with you, though."

He twitched a smile. "You will find that it will occur less often with me unless you ask or Jazz ignites a group cuddling session. That has happened before."

I raised an eyebrow. "In your office?"

"There have been more awkward locations."

"Such as...?"

"Prime's office."

I laughed. "How did Optimus react?"

"You kidding? Prowl was sandwiched between me and him."

I snorted. "I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?"

"Jazz came in during a private meeting and randomly hugged me. I told him to move and he wouldn't. Prime joined after Jazz asked after I attempted to move."

"What did he do? Put his arms around your neck?"

"Leg."

"You have officially ruined my mental image of Optimus Prime."

"You did ask."

"True." I yawned.

"Wanna recharge with us tonight? We won't try nothing."

"Well I'm certainly not going to Blaster's quarters tonight."

"Morning," Prowl corrected.

"Time?"

"Two."

I yawned. "Feels like it." Jazz kissed my forehead and rubbed my back as Prowl placed me on their berth. I gave up trying to remain coherant and collasped on my back. "You make me way too comfortable."

"I'm down with that," Jazz mumbled as he laid next to me.

Prowl kissed one of my hands before powering down his optics. "Pleasant dreams, Lillian."

:And all along I believed

I would find you

Time has brought

Your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more:

For once, I believed in that possibility.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, etc!