Sunstreaker looked at Bluestreak, not saying a word. The silver mech was different from the last time the artist saw him. For one thing, though his frame was still as broad as always, it was certainly much heavier now. Golden stripes decorated his shoulders, and there was a wide cerulean streak adorning his black chest. His countenance was proud, with doors held high behind his back and a set of optics that locked on to the other mech's unwaveringly. In fact, if it weren't for the small smile that sweetened Bluestreak's features, Sunstreaker would have thought that he was looking at someone who was long gone.
Prowl had indeed left his mark on his protégé.
"Yes, I suppose I've changed," Bluestreak said, cutting off Sunstreaker's train of thought. He took a step farther inside, looking momentarily at his surroundings – very much like the soldier he still was, to Sunstreaker's chagrin – and then faced the artist again. "Are you alone?"
Sunstreaker smirked out of habit. "Not anymore, I'm not," he answered, chuckling at his own joke. Bluestreak's neutral expression, however, sobered him at once and he caught himself unsure of what he was supposed to say.
"I… uh… I just saw you in the holo-vid," he said, pointing at the computer. "I thought it was a live transmission."
Bluestreak shook his head. "No. We arrived three hours… three mega-cycles ago," he corrected.
Sunstreaker raised an optic ridge. "So why aren't you still with Ultra Magnus? Isn't a bodyguard supposed to be with the one they protect at all times?"
The yellow mech was aware that that was a taunt, but he couldn't help it. On the other hand, Bluestreak didn't look all that upset; he probably thought Sunstreaker was only teasing him.
"Ultra Magnus deemed that my services were no longer required on Cybertron," he said simply. "We're among friends."
"I see," Sunstreaker's tone softened in a form of amends. He had promised himself not to get angry about Bluestreak's choices, even though he hadn't approved of them. "And how did you find me?"
Bluestreak's lip components tugged once more into a small smile. "Jazz. He sends his regards, by the way."
Of course. Sunstreaker had forgotten about the former saboteur. Bluestreak was bound to see him first along with Optimus.
"How is he?" he asked curiously.
"His Second-In-Command position keeps him busy 24/7, but he's happy," the silver mech answered with a nod. "And I think I know why. Cybertron has become beautiful."
Sunstreaker couldn't agree more to that. "It's become home again," he said.
A strange expression crossed Bluestreak's features, surprising the artist; but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"Earth has changed a lot too," he said softly. "Did you know Grapple's been building space-bridges?"
Sunstreaker frowned. "Space-bridges to where?"
"Anywhere on Earth," Bluestreak answered, "All you have to do is send the coordinates of the place you want to go to the main computer, and then the space-bridge is activated right before your very optics." He chuckled. "Skyfire said that it was high time he took a vacation."
Sunstreaker snorted though. "I'd like to see him in a couple of months' time, when he's done exploring fungi and gets bored out of his mind."
Bluestreak cocked his head, regarding the yellow mech in a perplexed manner. "I doubt he will get 'bored out of his mind' as you put it. He likes Earth. That's why he stayed there."
"Is that why you stayed too?"
Sunstreaker mentally kicked himself for the slip, but it was already too late; the damage was done. The yellow mech could see it only too clearly in Bluestreak's optics, and Sunstreaker expected him to turn on his heel and leave.
Oddly enough, Bluestreak remained.
"That was one of the reasons," he said simply.
"One of them?" Sunstreaker asked in mild surprise.
Bluestreak's features saddened, becoming almost rueful. "I didn't dare hope peace would last."
"It's been a vorn, Bluestreak."
Sunstreaker tried not to sound too chiding. Even so, Bluestreak lowered his gaze for the first time ever since he came through the door.
"I know."
Sunstreaker winced inwardly. This wasn't how he had pictured their reunion, and he could only blame himself for it.
"Hey…"
Bluestreak lifted his gaze once more, looking at Sunstreaker almost shyly.
"You're here now," the artist pointed out kindly. "That's all that matters now, right?"
Bluestreak shook his head. "No."
Sunstreaker stared at Bluestreak in disbelief. "No?"
"I'm leaving again tomorrow – on the first light of day."
Sunstreaker's spark missed a pulse at those words. "Why?" he exclaimed.
"There's still much to be done on Earth. We've just come for the festivities," Bluestreak answered. He heaved a deep sigh. "It wasn't my decision to make, Sunstreaker."
Sunstreaker was that close to thinking something very unkind about the Earth Commander, but he controlled himself. He knew it wouldn't do any good, after all. So he put his mind to work instead, trying to figure out what he should do, if there was a way that he could fix this somehow; but he couldn't come up with anything. His hands clenched into fists in his frustration, and he was tempted to punch the wall behind him.
"Sunstreaker?"
The yellow mech looked back at the soldier, who was regarding him with uncertainty.
"One day, huh?" he asked.
Bluestreak nodded. "I'm sorry."
Right. There was nothing for it then. If Primus was in the mood for games, Sunstreaker was willing to play along.
"Then how about we make the most out of it?" he asked the silver mech, forcing his lip components to a smile.
Bluestreak blinked in confusion. "What did you have in mind?"
Sunstreaker stood up and approached Bluestreak to grip him gently by the arm. "Showing you the place, for starters," he said, "Would you like that?"
Bluestreak hesitated momentarily. "Won't Sideswipe mind?" he asked.
Sunstreaker grinned, already prodding Bluestreak towards the interior of the store. "You don't see him around here, do you? What he doesn't know, won't hurt him."
"If I had a credit for every time I've heard that argument…" Bluestreak noted wryly, but he let Sunstreaker drag him along. "Where's Sideswipe, anyway?"
"He decided to leave me in charge for today, which is one more reason that I can do anything I want," Sunstreaker said, a very clear, almost comical 'so there' look reflected in his optics.
That answer didn't seem to satisfy Bluestreak. "Why?"
Sunstreaker looked at the soldier in an affronted manner. "Are you saying that my brother doesn't trust me to keep an eye on his store?"
"No, I'm saying that you would never agree to such a thing unless he blackmailed you or..." Bluestreak's face lit up when he figured it out, and he regarded the artist with a knowing smile. "What's her name?"
Sunstreaker scratched the back of his helm, embarrassed. Apparently, Bluestreak knew him and Sideswipe only too well.
"Nightrider," he admitted, "Bro wanted to spend some time with her during the celebrations."
Bluestreak nodded almost absentmindedly. His gaze drifted to a piece of iron plating that Sideswipe had put on display – obviously to sell it – and he flicked it. The light clanking sound filled the place for a few brief seconds before Bluestreak spoke again.
"How long?"
Sunstreaker blinked. "What?"
Bluestreak chuckled and faced Sunstreaker again. "How long have they been together?"
"Oh." Sunstreaker searched his memory databanks. "A bit more than seven Earth months."
Bluestreak nodded his understanding. "Have you met her?"
"Yeah," Sunstreaker answered with a shrug. "She's okay, I guess."
"And what does Sideswipe say?" Bluestreak insisted in a teasing lilt.
"Oh, Sideswipe is ecstatic," Sunstreaker said with a light huff. "He keeps saying that she's the 'one', if you know what I mean."
Bluestreak shook his head and his smile broadened. "You never know, Sunstreaker. Maybe she is," he said, "Admit it. You're just happy for your brother."
Sunstreaker feigned a scowl and he kicked an invisible stone in a pouting manner. "Alright, maybe I am… a little."
Bluestreak didn't say anything this time. He just laughed a bit, then looked at another piece of iron plating and ran his fingers over it to trace the smooth surface. It was strange, but Sunstreaker noticed that Bluestreak's optics darkened momentarily in thought. He certainly didn't face the artist when he made his next question.
"What about you, Sunstreaker?"
Sunstreaker preferred to pretend that he didn't understand the question. "What about me?"
Bluestreak didn't get to ask any further, though. At that moment, the door hissed open again, and a large purple mech walked inside. Sunstreaker bit back a groan of frustration and smiled in a friendly manner at the newcomer.
"Hey, Lightyear. What can I do for you?"
The purple mech looked at Sunstreaker, seeming surprised to see the artist. "Hey, Sunstreaker. Isn't your brother here?"
"Not today, no," Sunstreaker answered, "Is there something wrong?"
Lightyear sighed. "I've run out of bolts for that ceiling I've been working on. They were a special type, made of electrum alloy. Do you know which ones I'm talking about?"
Sunstreaker knew he had been pinned. He had no idea whatsoever, and he didn't want to say that in front of one of Sideswipe's best customers! He activated his communication frequencies to contact Sideswipe, even though his brother did say he didn't want to be disturbed.
"How many do you need?"
Sunstreaker froze and stared at Bluestreak incredulously, for it was the soldier who said that. Lightyear regarded Bluestreak warily, not sure what to make of the silver mech.
"Ten bolts," he finally answered.
"Size?" Bluestreak asked again.
"5/14."
Bluestreak nodded his understanding. He walked with the air of someone who knew his way around and picked up a small glass box from where he dug out exactly ten copper-coloured bolts. Lightyear smiled broadly.
"Thank you, you're a lifesaver," he said. He took the bolts and placed them in subspace, then handed several credits to Bluestreak. "There's also a little extra something for you. Keep up the good work."
Sunstreaker opened his mouth to say that Bluestreak didn't work at the store, but he didn't have a chance. Lightyear turned on his heel and left, waving briefly goodbye as he walked out the threshold. Sighing in resignation, the artist shook his head and faced Bluestreak.
"Sorry about that," he said. "Lightyear has a nasty habit of assuming too much."
"It's fine," Bluestreak said with a smile. He handed the credits to Sunstreaker. "You'd better keep this for Sideswipe."
"Yeah, thanks." Sunstreaker took the credits and put them in subspace, but there was still something that he didn't understand.
"How did you know which bolts to give him?"
Bluestreak chuckled. "My mother was a blacksmith, remember? She taught me to tell the difference between the various metals and alloys."
"Just by looking at them?" Sunstreaker wondered aloud.
"Yes," Bluestreak said, "Even by sound or touch."
Realisation caught up with Sunstreaker. "Is that why you kept flicking every piece of metal you passed by just now?"
Bluestreak shifted his legs uneasily. "Yeah… call it a habit of sorts."
Sunstreaker frowned a bit. "I don't remember you doing that back at the Ark."
Bluestreak scratched his head, a sheepish expression on his face-plate. Sunstreaker didn't know what to make of that at first, but he quickly caught on.
"You only did it when no one was watching."
Bluestreak nodded. "Being a living chatterbox was bad enough, don't you think?" he said with a shrug.
He was joking, that much was obvious. Even so, Sunstreaker couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. After all, the artist recalled a lot of times that Bluestreak's incessant babbling was just too much for him to handle. He even recalled a lot of times that he wanted to scream at Bluestreak to shut up, regardless of their friendship… or that other emotion that eventually developed.
"You… weren't that bad."
"Liar," Bluestreak replied, smiling knowingly. He patted Sunstreaker on the shoulder. "Thank you, all the same."
Sunstreaker tensed the moment the white fingers rested on his plating. The very same fingers, which caressed his temple so tenderly in a time when peace was only a wishful dream, now reached for him again in a touch he had longed for for far too long.
The touch was gone in a flash. Bluestreak stepped back, his look almost apologetic.
"So… shall we continue with the tour?"
Sunstreaker had enough presence of mind to nod. "This way," he said, practically in a daze, and beckoned the soldier to follow him. Ironically, Sunstreaker did all the talking, while Bluestreak merely listened; but the artist couldn't bring himself to care. The soldier's presence was to Sunstreaker what a breath of fresh air was to a human. It invigorated him, waking him up from that state of lethargy Sunstreaker hadn't realised he was in this whole vorn.
I missed you, he thought, watching Bluestreak when the soldier declared he wanted to examine the storage area where Sideswipe kept the spare supplies. The soldier's movements were graceful and without error, yet Sunstreaker noticed the silver doors twitching in an exuberant way that was all Bluestreak. He leant against the doorway, a sigh of contentment flowing out of his lip components.
Unfortunately, Bluestreak's audios worked only too well and picked up that sound. He faced Sunstreaker, a look of curiosity written all over his face-plate.
"Is something wrong?"
Sunstreaker waved his hand in a dismissive manner, not wishing to admit that he was acting like a love-sick robo-pup. "Nothing. Just a little tired, that's all." He pointed at their surroundings, a smile gracing his features. "So what do you think?"
Bluestreak frowned momentarily, probably seeing through Sunstreaker's evasive answer; nevertheless, he nodded in approval. "It looks great. And you guys managed to do all this in a vorn?"
"Yup," Sunstreaker said, quite proudly. "I had some paintings to sell, Sideswipe had the right connections and the processor for business… you can see the results for yourself."
Bluestreak nodded again, looking around. "Still, it mustn't have been easy."
"No, but it was well worth it," Sunstreaker replied. "Bro has even let me use the upper floor as an art studio, so I can keep painting."
Bluestreak smiled. "Doing commissions?"
Sunstreaker shrugged a bit. "An artist has to make a living; he might as well make one by doing what he likes the most."
"So you're happy?"
Sunstreaker thought fast. "It's better than having to fight big Ds."
Bluestreak sighed softly, his smile still there. "I bet. I'm really happy for both of you."
Sunstreaker's spark warmed at that heart-felt declaration, and the yellow mech almost wished Sideswipe was there to hear it. It would have meant a lot to his twin.
It was then that a strange rumbling sound cut off Sunstreaker's train of thought. And, to make things even stranger, the sound was coming from Bluestreak. Bluestreak must have realised it as well, because he winced visibly.
"Sorry. I'm still accustomed to Earth time."
To say Sunstreaker was confused would have been an understatement. After all, what did Earth time have to do with sounds coming from a mech's midse… Oh.
"Time for lunch?" Sunstreaker asked.
The soldier nodded. "But never mind, I can wait," he added hastily.
As if on cue to utter their displeasure, Bluestreak's insides rumbled again. Sunstreaker stared at the soldier, his optic ridge raised in quite the scolding look.
"Right." Deciding that this wouldn't do, he prodded Bluestreak to move forward. "Come on, let's go."
"Where?" Bluestreak asked, seeing that Sunstreaker was guiding him toward the exit.
"To feed you," Sunstreaker declared.
"Sideswipe asked you to look after the store," Bluestreak pointed out.
"Well, Sideswipe didn't know you'd show up in the doorstep and make a Grimlock impersonation with your stomach," Sunstreaker retorted, "You have reprogrammed your transformation sequences to Cybertronian mode, right?"
"I did, but-"
"Then move. I know a good place nearby, and the owners will be happy to see you."
Bluestreak blinked. "Who are they?"
"You'll see," was all that Sunstreaker said in a big grin, and they walked out.
TBC…
