Christmas Morning

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"Whoah whoah whoah!" Cliffjumper yelled, holding up a red knitted Cybertronian sized hat with holes for his horns, "Where did this come from?"

The rule of Christmas was that no one could go in the rec room to open presents until the sun rose. So at seven am, a horde of Autobots had stood in eager anticipation outside the doors of the rec room until Optimus had opened them. Shouting in joy, most had thrown themselves at the pile while the rest took their time finding a seat to watch the madness. The Dinobots had a grand time throwing their weight around to get most of the presents and before reading the tags and passing them out to whom the belonged to. A small number had no names and it was assumed they were for everyone.

Seconds after everything had been sorted, the opening frenzy had begun. People cackled at the rocks, candy canes, autobot symbol ornaments, and plastic flamingos that had been wrapped. Sideswipe had a hard time calming down and was laughing so hard he was overheating after he opened one labeled for him and found a traffic cone inside. There were some more serious gifts though. The Aerialbots opened a large package filled with beanbag chairs for their room. Someone had put some effort into finding rainbow crystals for Sunstreaker and Wheeljack, both pleased with their presents. Powerglide was ecstatic over the model airplane kits. Quietly satisfied with the new tools, Ratchet positively glowed but said nothing Not that it would have been heard with the entire base in one room and causing a ruckus.

After Cliffjumper's shout, people gawked at the over-sized clothing and a few others started finding similar items among their presents. Grimlock crooned loudly at the silver and blue hat made for him. Softly fingering a cream colored scarf, Prowl wrapped it around himself and leaned back against Jazz while Hoist held up a pine green and turquoise blanket. Optimus got up and started to open the gifts for everyone. Many were jokes of course. But one package held another knitted blanket.

When he held it up for everyone to see, it unfurled to show a red Autobot symbol on a gray background. The face was the tiniest bit lopsided, showing amateur work but it was so slight, nobody noticed or cared. Several cheers and wolf whistles broke above the noise at the sight.

"Seriously, who wrapped these?" Looking around, Cliffjumper was determined to figure it out.

Warpath piped up from the pile of wrapping paper he was tossing into the air, "Who made them? I didn't think humans made clothes for our size."

Everyone looked at one another, seeing confusion and denial on their neighbors faces. Inferno tore the paper off a present and pulled out a large red and orange striped shawl to go across his shoulders. He turned to give Red Alert a sharp look, mouth partially upturned and eyes narrowed. Rolling his optics, the security mech finally sighed and waved a servo to get everyone else's attention.

"I don't work all the time," A huff, "And I need to do something in my spare time. Don't ask how much yarn I had to use to make those things."

Everyone exclaimed over the works, yelling at Red that they were wonderful. Trying to hide his embarrassment, Red Alert just shrugged and hid his face by opening his own presents. Ironhide had put off opening his own, having too much fun watching everyone else, until people started harping at him to open them already. There were several laughs over the bumper stickers. A black blanket with a carnelian diamond pattern on the back got several whistles and Red Alert scooted behind Inferno so everyone would stop looking at him.

"Ooooh, reminds me of Darth Maul." Sideswipe leaned over Optimus' shoulder pads to get a better glance.

Raising an optic ridge, Ironhide looked at the hellion like he's spoken another language, "Of what?"

"Darth Maul! Star Wars!" Blaster yelled from the other side of the room.

Air Raid joined in, "The guy with the red and black face."

Starting to bounce in place, Sideswipe looked pleadingly at the Prime, still leaning against his shoulder, "May I please please please borrow that blanket?" It was accompanied with puppy optics and the most innocent voice ever spoken.

The corners of Optimus' optics crinkled as he handed over the blanket, "It is everyone's Sideswipe."

With a whoop, the lambo had the blanket tossed over his shoulders and hanging around his helm like a cloak. He pointed a cardboard cylinder, saved from the wrapping project, at Ironhide. "You forsake the Jedi ways Sith Lord!"

The crowd scooted back to make a circle of space in the middle of the room. Ironhide copied Sideswipe and put the blanket on himself, taking a cylinder that was offered by Ratchet. "Yah shall never beat meh young Jedi punk."

Cheered on by the audience, the two swatted at each other and whacked with their pretend lightsabers, making bad sound effects and whooshing noises the entire time. Almost falling backward to escape a low swipe, Sideswipe dramatically held up his tube, gestured at Prowl, and declared, "I will beat you and rescue Padme from your evil clutches!"

"Padme? I'm not- Jazz!" Prowl yelped as Jazz took his new scarf and wrapped it around his helm and shoulders like a head covering.

"Is that how the story goes?" Someone spoke up.

"It thought it was different..."

Everyone shut up as several people made loud shushing noises and the mock fight continued, clapping and yells of encouragement egging them on. It was all interrupted though, by a shout from Perceptor.

"I found my scissors!" He held up the missing tool from where it had lain with his presents and started to do a victory dance, much to everyone else's amusement.

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"What is that Pit forsaken noise!" Shrieked Starscream, opening the door of his lab to peer out at the noisy rabble. Several mechs were holding cubes of high grade and giggling like mad, humming out of tune. Others were snickering and flashed their teeth at him. Before he could open his mouth to order them off the base or into the brig, Skywarp flopped against the air commander.

"We're caroling! Because it's Chrissy mass."

"It's what?!" Starscream sniffed at Skywarp but couldn't smell any high grade on him and his optics were too clear for him to be drunk, unlike a number of other mechs in the dimly lit hall. He shoved the purple seeker off himself.

Skywarp twirled, not even stumbling at the push, "A human holiday where you give stuff. It's mushy. But they do this thing called caroling where you go around singing at people's doors and they have to listen to you."

"They do not."

It was stated in disbelief. Several of the mechs in the crowd disagreed loudly, proclaiming it's validity even as Skywarp nodded. "They really do."

"Drunk caroling."

"Is there a better kind? Wanna join us?" Wings flicked up hopefully, pure and evil joy in his face.

"Why in the name of Primus would I..." An idea popped into Starscream's head, as he took in their direction. A few mechs swayed as they stood in place, forgetting why they were standing around waiting. Some started singing off-key again. "Are you going past the command center?" The exact room Megatron was in because he was always in there at this time.

"Yep."

Well since it was a holiday about giving, Starscream supposed he could be in a generous mood and give his lord a song. Lips curled up into a crooked and devious smile. Those awake and aware enough to notice took two steps back on instinct.

"Of course Skywarp," tone raspish and sugary, the tri-colored seeker nearly purred, "What song are we singing?" He asked as he stepped out and closed the door behind him, walking with the motley group, "I'm sure everyone else on base would love to hear our singing."

He would get scrapped for this. Starscream knew it. But the idea of tormenting everyone else and especially Megatron was too tempting to pass up.


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They are all drama llamas, I swear.

Merry Christmas everyone.