«… and, just like the priestess had promised, his spirit never rested. To this day, he's doomed to haunt the old village, ensnaring anyone who comes by, sentencing them to suffer as he himself has suffered."

::Skyfire tells the best scary stories.::

Silverbolt grinned at Skydive. He had to agree.

"So what happened?" Slingshot asked. His brother was leaning over Skydive's lap, the devil horns on his helm knocked askew, bright optics focused on Skyfire. "Is that the end?"

"That's the end," Skyfire confirmed. He glanced at Silverbolt. "Unless, of course, you count the story of the one mech who managed to escape?"

Skydive looked at Silverbolt eagerly. "Escape?"

"Oh, yes," Silverbolt agreed. He sat up, pulling away from Skyfire's arm slightly. "See, legend has it that one mech, a young grounder from Iacon, managed to find the village. And when the ghost found him, instead of ensnaring him, it possessed him. The mech was stricken mad by it, and for ages he just roamed the countryside, surviving on wild mechanimals and drinking the energon of unfortunate travelers. But the planet was failing, and the mech had to make his way to one of the two factions warring for control." He paused for effect, careful not to look at where Jazz was sneaking closer to the back of the sofa. "No one really knows where he went. Which faction he joined. The only thing that's certain is that the Mad Mech of Iacon is still around, because you can't kill what isn't alive."

"And who knows?" Skyfire continued in soft, haunted tones. "Maybe tonight, he's out there in the wilderness. Or he's still prowling his old hunting grounds near Iacon. Or he could be… right here!"

On cue, Jazz leapt across the back of the couch, snarling like a wild beast, throwing himself at Slingshot. Both Slingshot and Skydive screamed, though the terror quickly turned to breathless laughter as Jazz proceeded to tickle them into submission.

Silverbolt chuckled and stretched up to nuzzle Skyfire's cheek. "Skydive is right, love. You do tell the best scary stories."

Skyfire smiled that gentle smile of his. "I suppose I remember more of them than anyone else. The bonus of spending millions of years hibernating in the ice – my memories are fresher."

"It's good that at least one good thing came out of that," Silverbolt agreed.

"More than one," Skyfire said. He put his arms around Silverbolt and pulled him close. "For another, I missed a lot of the war. That's a lot of pain and fear and suffering I'll never have to live through. For the best part," he kissed Silverbolt's temple, "I found you."

"Get a room already," Slingshot hollered, still giggling a bit. Jazz, done up as a vampire for the occasion, had already slunk away hunting for his next victim.

"You can handle a bit of kissing, Slings," Skydive defended them. "You've seen worse. Primus, you've done worse."

"I have not," Slingshot argued. "I've never – what the actual frag?"

Silverbolt turned to see what his brothers were staring at. From the corner of his eye he saw Skyfire do the same. Then his lover stiffened.

Starscream had just walked into the room. He raised his arm threateningly, aiming his null ray at anyone who moved, grinning madly.

"Star," Skyfire breathed. It was quiet enough that Silverbolt thought he was the only one who'd heard.

Starscream stepped up on a chair, then up on a table. He twirled in a circle, holding his arms out for effect. Then he stopped, facing the room, and pushed at his own chin.

When Fireflight's grinning face appeared underneath the very lifelike mask, the room erupted. And Skyfire slumped against Silverbolt's back, his forehead on Silverbolt's shoulder.

"Primus," he sighed, and there was a tremulous quality to the sound. "Primus."

Silverbolt turned to face his lover. He barely noticed Slingshot and Skydive darting away from the table and heading towards Fireflight. "Are you okay?"

Skyfire shook his head and chuckled grimly. "Not by a long shot. Primus, that gave me a scare."

In a flash Silverbolt understood. "He looks just like him."

"Not only that." Skyfire looked at Fireflight again. "He moves just like Star used to. Like he did back when we were both young. The real Starscream doesn't move like that anymore, he's more gracefully dangerous now. Seeing Flight dressed up like that, moving like that…" He drew another deep in-vent. "It was like the ghost of my own personal Starscream had decided to appear tonight."

"You miss him," Silverbolt stated, trying to ignore the twinge in his spark.

"I used to," Skyfire replied. He shuddered as Fireflight put the mask back on. Gone was the quirky, distracted Aerialbot – in his place stood a cocky young air commander.

"He's going to keep doing that all night," Silverbolt said. "As long as anyone thinks it's interesting." He lifted a hand to cup Skyfire's cheek. "Want to get out of here?"

Skyfire leaned into the touch slightly. "I don't want to make you miss the party."

Silverbolt grinned. "It's just Halloween. I don't really care. I thought my excuse for a costume gave that away."

Skyfire laughed, booping the fake red nose stuck to Silverbolt's nasal ridge. "You sure?"

"I'm sure," Silverbolt confirmed, standing up and taking Skyfire's hand. "Come on. Let's go hide away somewhere."

Skyfire followed willingly, and Silverbolt marveled again at how the big mech trusted him. He wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve that, but he adored it nonetheless.

Unfortunately, Fireflight noticed them leaving. Silverbolt had hoped they could sneak past without being seen. There was no hiding how upset Skyfire was from someone as observant as his brother, and now Fireflight would probably be upset too.

::Bolt? What's wrong?::

::We're just leaving, Flight. Stay and have fun.::

::But why are you leaving?::

Silverbolt sighed. This wasn't Fireflight's fault, but his brother would feel like it was. But he also wouldn't be satisfied with half-truths, and the last thing Silverbolt wanted right then was for Fireflight to come over and ask Skyfire directly.

::Your costume brought up some bad memories for 'Fire. That's all. It's not your fault. But we need to be elsewhere for a while.:: He smiled up at his brother. ::Have fun, okay? Don't worry about us.::

There was a slight pout to Fireflight's lip, a downcast look to his optics, but he nodded. ::Tell him I'm sorry, okay? I'd never dressed like this if I knew it would upset him.::

::He knows you didn't do it on purpose,:: Silverbolt assured. ::He adores you, you know that.::

::Likewise. I'll see you tomorrow?:: The tone was hopeful.

::Definitely. Night, Flight.::

Silverbolt put his hand around Skyfire's waist as they left the room. "Do you want to hide out in the lab for a while? It's bound to be quiet there."

"No." Skyfire smiled, pulling Silverbolt close. "I want to take you back to my quarters. And then I want to tell you more stories." He kissed Silverbolt's helm. "Thank you, love. For understanding."

Silverbolt nodded. "Of course. You've told me about him before. I'm sorry Flight's costume brought it back." Then he grinned, determined to lighten the mood. "So what kind of stories? Are you intending to scare your young lover into clinging to you all night?"

Skyfire laughed and brushed his lips across Silverbolt's forehead. "As it happens, that was my plan exactly. Since you're so young and impressionable and all." The playful tone changed, darkening into something potent that had made heat pool low in Silverbolt's stomach. "When will your brothers need you back?"

"Not until tomorrow," Silverbolt breathed. "They're big mechs now, they can handle themselves."

"Good," Skyfire purred. "Because I have some old memories that need to be chased away. And the best cure for missing the past is being reminded of what I have in the present." He finally pressed his lips to Silverbolt's, though it was briefer than the Aerialbot would have preferred. "You are better, you know," Skyfire murmured. "I love you more."

Silverbolt grinned. "That's what I like to hear."

And it was. He could deal with all manner of ghosts from Skyfire's past as long as he knew that.

"Come on," Skyfire rumbled against his lips. "Let's go hide away."

Silverbolt didn't hesitate in kissing back. Tonight, they could have complete privacy.

Sorting out the mess with Fireflight would have to wait until tomorrow.