Swindle liked to think he isn't, wasn't, and never would be a particularly lazy mech. No, any and everything but that. Active, be it physically or mentally, heck even verbally. But never, ever lazy. But at the current moment, nice and relaxed, tucked safely into Vortex's arms to be carried home, he sort of felt that way. He didn't mind it, in fact he loved the fact he wasn't going to be forced to walk, drive, or possibly even fly "home" himself. After he...calmed down from his most recent "emotion explosion" as Vortex so gleefully dubbed them, and let go of Brawl after realizing he was - in fact - hugging him, Vortex had scooped Swindle up, made the crack about "emotion explosions", then announced that they should leave before Onslaught and Brawl got into another fight.

And then they were off, before anyone even had the chance to say anything. Because Vortex took off - with Swindle - forcing the others to fallow.

Speaking of Vortex - who Swindle reminded himself he is currently being carried by - he has quite a few injuries that will be needing repair. From his position held comfortably in the Copter-Formers arms, he can see quite a few already. Like that little blade looking thing, about the size of Swindle's own index finger, sticking from his neck. Did he even notice that there, yet? It looks painful, what with the Energon dripping down it, and how every time he talks or moves it shifts with a painful skritching sound, that is likely the tip of it scraping against something inside his neck.

In fact, Swindle had long been resisting the urge to just reach up and yank it out, like a human would a thorn. In fact, his hands were currently shaking from all the strength he had to put in keeping them from moving up and grabbing at it. He'd even become a bit twitchy, especially sense it's right there! Pretty much the only thing in his view short of Vortex's chin, and occasionally his masked face when he looks down at him every now and then. So it's pretty much all he can see, that is even of mild interest.

And it's starting to irritate him. Sort of how Thundercracker has that weird urge to straighten anything that leans to the side. Or how Starscream get's twitchy when one of his Trine mates wings are crooked after repairs, and he bugs them until they let him "properly" fix them. Or how Soundwave pretty much has a break down whenever he hears country music. The list goes on and on. Damn, never realize just how many issues a faction has until you stop to name them all off...

Even Megatron has that issue that involved the color pink...

Poor Starscream found out that the hard way after Soundwave's little twin brats decided to play a prank by dumping a bucket of pink paint all over him.

No one has ever seen Starscream run that fast, or hide behind Soundwave. Poor Soundwave, Starscream smeared some of the paint on him when he grabbed him. Needless to say, everyone got rid of anything pink, fuchsia, or any other color even close.

"Hey, Swin." Vortex mumbled, knife in his neck vibrating. "You're makin' faces. What's going on in that head of yours?" He spared Swindle a curious glance, before turning to look where they were flying again. Swindle kept silent for a moment, eying the blade. "Ju-u-us-st thi-in-n-nking a-abou-ou-ut every-y-o-one-ones is-s-s-sue-ues-s." He muttered, optic twitching. "You-ou-u kno-o-ow-ow, how ever-r-ry-yone ha-a-as som-m-me so-or-ort of is-s-sue? Star-r-scre-ea-eam with wi-i-in-ngs, Thu-un-n-nder-er-crac-ck-cker with th-th-ings be-e-eing strai-ai-ght, Sound-d-wave w-with Co-o-untry, Mega-a-tron with Pink, so on..." He felt himself nearly reaching for the blade, but quickly forced himself back down.

Vortex hummed, blade shifting from vibrations. "What brought all that on?" He chuckled, curiously tilting his head, though refraining from glancing back to Swindle. With another twitch, the golden Combaticon tore his optics from the blade to look up as best he could to Vortex's face. "The bla-a-ade in you-our ne-eck." He watched for a reaction, though wasn't sure what kind he wanted to see, what with the mask and all. Vortex made a curious sound.

"The what in my what?" Okay, so that answered the lingering question of whether or not Vortex knew about the object of Swindle's almost undivided attention. "Blade...in y-your ne-eck...how d-i-id you no-o-t noti-i-ce?" Swindle gave him a skeptical look, but Vortex removed one of his arms from under Swindle - who in turn grabbed a hold of him to keep from falling - and started feeling around his neck. Soon enough he brushed against the blade, which shifted with a squelch and flinched. Hard. Nearly dropping Swindle.

"Ow!" He cried, jerking his hand from the blade to secure Swindle yet again. "Fragger that hurt! How long has that been there?" He twisted his neck around, continuously, as if he was causing him discomfort. How it hadn't sooner, Swindle figured was because of sweet, blissful ignorance. "I'll have to get Hook to remove it or something when we get back to base." He mumbled, turning his attention back to the skies. Considering they were already over the ocean, that probably wouldn't be long from now.

So, Vortex kept quiet after realizing talking shifted the blade and made it worse, and Swindle took up staring at it.

And holding himself back from grabbing it.

Soon enough they came upon the rising form of the Decepticon Base, Swindle latched onto Vortex as they went in to land, knowing Vortex the landing wouldn't be very graceful. And it wasn't, he hit, stumbled, nearly fell, and proceeded to drop Swindle. Which he apologized for, twice, and helped him to his feet. Of course it took Onslaught to keep him from falling back down again, as he glared at a chuckling Vortex.

"Okay Swindle, let's get you to the med bay so Hook can repair your helm." Onslaught spoke, picking Swindle up off his feet and carrying him down to the med bay before he could protest. Brawl walked along with them, to one side. Vortex on the other. If it seemed like Brawl was avoiding Vortex, it's because he is. Ever sense Vortex "awed" when he hugged Swindle back, Brawl had been glaring Vortex down. And staying as physically far away as possible sense they lived together and had to go the same way.

Swindle would have rolled his optics at them were he able.

Instead he turned his attention to the blade still dangling from Vortex's neck, who he seemed to of forgotten about, turning all his attention to Brawl to stick his tongue out at the tank. Who glared at him, silently threatening to rip that tongue right out of his mouth. So the walk to the med bay was quiet mostly, aside from growls or giggles from Vortex and Brawl. Onslaught kept quiet, stoic, and focused on fallowing Hook to the med bay. Swindle stared at the blade.

Just stared.

Until they walked through the med bay doors, which cut off his vision of the blade. He turned to look at the room as they entered. Filled with various machines and about five berths, purple walls. And Starscream sitting with Skywarp in the far corner, repairing his wing. So, the usual. Same, plain old med bay. Swindle grumbled as Onslaught sat him on a berth and sent a command through their comm. for him to "Stay put", before walking over where Hook headed.

Vortex flopped down beside Swindle, and proceeded to poke and prod at his blade, flinching or seething each time. Or mumbling "ow". Swindle just stared, at the blade. Even ignoring Onslaught and Hook as they came and started talking right in-front of them. "Swindle is fine for now, just needs his helm repaired. I have no way to repair his emotion chip...thingy...though. It should eventually fix itself." A shrug. "But I should probably remove that knife before Vortex shoves it farther up his throat." He turned to send a warning glare at Vortex, who stopped messing with the blade.

Until Hook and Onslaught turned their backs to them.

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow." Swindle continued to stare a the blade, they said he was going to be fixed soon, right? They would have to remove it, right? Hook's already getting the supplies.

"H-he-ey, 'Te-ex?" Vortex turned to look at Swindle, tilting his head curiously. Exposing the blade.

"Yeah, Swind-AH-OOOWWW!"

Authors Notes: We all have little issues like that. I for one, have the issue with things being lopsided like Starscream and Thundercracker. Ha-ha. This chapter is kind of random, made just to be funny. Show the less serious sides of everyone. And look, Starscream appears! So does Skywarp. Wonder how they'll react to the five being there? Blast Off wasn't quite mentioned much in some chapters because he's the less involved in the story, at least until later chapters. After things develop a bit, so no, I haven't forgotten him. No worries! Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: Transformers does not belong to me, nor do any of it's Characters.