Off to the Side: Springer

AN: Yeah, this chapter was a headache and a half to get out. I certainly never forgot about Star Crossed. Now, I'm ready to get back to some nummy Prowl/Sideswipe.

Warnings: Brief mention/insinuation of Lambo Sandwich/Threesome

Space travel. There is nothing so long, so boring, so tormenting, as space travel. A lucky mech gets put into stasis for the duration of the trip. Offline at the departure point, come back online at the destination. The time difference is noted by the mech's chronometer, but not their memory banks. If they're unlucky, they fill their banks near to capacity with dull duty. Or dull recreation. Or dull staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore other memories long since archived, but never discarded.

"I don't know when I'll be back." Lips caress with squealing pleasantness against cables on my neck..

A laugh, my own. Making a joke, trying to lighten the mood. "That's normally my line." A sober twist to the spark and the laughter stalls. "Then stay. Don't go. Prime... he'd understand. You don't have to volunteer."

A pained expression makes me regret my words. "Sides is going."

"Ask him not to, then. He wouldn't want to see you unhappy."

You give me that Look. The one You always give whenever we discuss Your brother. It sends another twist through my spark. "I can't do that to him."

Anger then; an explosion of sound as I leap off the couch, my voice rising, hissing. "But he can do it to you, is that right? Just like you can't ask him to bond with me? Did you even ask him? It's not like he has any real attachments. And don't throw out Bluestreak's name-"

"Shut up."

But I was on a roll. "-I know your brother doesn't love him. Don't try to tell me otherwise. You could have transferred to my unit vorns ago, Magnus would be ecstatic-"

"Shut up!"

"-but you didn't-"

"Springer!" Rage marred Your beautiful face.

"Because. Of. Him!"

I admit it. I never should have said that. I deserved every dent, every ding, every scratch. I really should have known better. You have always made it quite clear, that between me and Your brother, Sideswipe wins. Every time. Is it wrong that bothers me?

:Stop tormenting yourself:.

That sweet, soft voice didn't come through my audio receptors, or my comm unit. It didn't come as words either, no more than any emotion does beyond happy or sad; angry or fearful. They aren't even properly described as emotions, for that implies it's an empathic connection that some organics are able to form. It's more of a signal, a pulse, from one spark, one soul, to another.

It makes me remember a time when I thought I'd never experience the simplest of bonding pleasures.

:Stop tormenting yourself, Springer.:

My vision darkened, not like I was looking at anything anyway. :I can't help it, sparklet.:

The constant data stream spiked. :Stop thinking about it.: Her glare ghosted along my sensors. :He can't expect anything after nearly 50,000 vorn.:

I laughed outloud and along that undetectable connection. I felt the mixture of confusion and annoyance from my partner. :You don't know Sunstreaker, sparklet.:

The door to the quarters hissed open, but not closed. "You know, I don't know what you're saying. But stop. We're going through an asteroid belt, and you're distracting her."

I didn't lift my head or activate my optics. I knew that voice, as well as I knew my own vocalizer. I scowled in the direction of the ceiling. According to my chronometer, I still had twenty cycles before I stood duty again. A quick comm. check showed my team in the rec room, but they reported nothing, but a bunch of boring chatter.

"I hate space travel. Couldn't they have placed any of us in stasis for the duration of the trip."

The door finally hissed closed and my other companion approached the berth. "Is it Sunstreaker?"

I did lift my head then, to glare at the mech. "Can't we have a private conversation?" I grumped good-naturedly. "Emphasis on 'private.'"

Hot Rod stood over me, his blue optics shining brightly. "Not when Arcee's navigating an asteroid field." A grin broke out on his face. "Any other time, you're welcome to talk all you want and I won't say a word."

"I would feel better about this if I'd broken it off with Sunny before he left."

The grin turned down and Hot Rod bent, his hand gripping my upper arm, his lips covering my own. For a short breem I basked in his touch and the faint murmur that was his sparkpulse echoing through Arcee.

He broke away suddenly, his mouth squealing its way to my audio receiver. "Stop thinking about it." His grip tightened. "It's not like you." Hot Rod straightened, even though his fingers lingered on my chest plate. "He really can't expect anything after so long. He should have expected you to move on."

I stared at Hot Rod for a long moment, and then I sighed, and sat up, grabbing his hand to keep him from moving away. :Neither of you understand.:

:That's because it's never bothered you before.:

Hot Rod's sharp nod showed he agreed with Arcee.

"I didn't expect to ever find him." Ouch that hurt to admit.

"Exactly," Hot Rod tugged at his hand, "and that's what you're going to tell him."

I laughed, pulling Hot Rod down to the berth, sliding aside to make room for him. The red mech wore his most put upon expression and Arcee sent a query through our bond. I couldn't help it.

They knew about my time with You, but they didn't understand. They don't know You. Not like I do. They'd heard about You (everybody had, at least, heard about the twin terrors, considering how rare twins were) , but Prime's unit and theirs had never had the chance to meet. And sometimes the myth didn't quite match up with the real thing. Not when taken from the perspective of someone as close as I'd been. No one could really claim to be closer.

Hot Rod sat in front of me, his expression curious. I pulled him closer, until our knees touched, caressing the palms of his hands. I couldn't reach out to his spark like I could Arcee, not without going through her, and I wouldn't do that while she was on duty.

Ultra Magnus would throw me in stasis at best; in the brig at worst.

The only other way was to plug into him.

I allowed my affection for the both of them to filter through first. They responded in kind, reaching out to me, and reaching out for each other. Arcee had to pull away first, distracted by her duty, but my memory files still opened for her.

Our bodies twine together. All sensations shared through the cords that connect us. Three pairs of hands roam, caress, clutch. Fingers delve into seams and joint. Lips move with whispered words, vents hissing in pleasure. Red, yellow, and green twine together in an exotic, metallic rope.

Then I delved deeper into my archived memories, unzipping files and uploading them. The exchange lasted only for a breem, because I didn't want to draw too much of Arcee's attention. In that brief time I poured what it was to be with You, and why I kept going back despite Your faults (and they were many). That Your body was as much of a work of art as any of Your paintings was a given. But underneath the violent, reclusive, sociopathic exterior was a loyal, caring, passionate (even if You aren't particularly compassionate) individual. You gave Your all into whatever relationships You formed, whether companions, lovers, or rivals.

I reminded them of my reaction when Ultra Magnus had received that communication from Prime, what seems only a short time ago. The knowledge that You might still be functioning had seized me into speechlessness. It was almost like having an old weld stripped off, I'd thought I'd recovered from losing You. As I considered it, I came to realize that some part of me (that part of my spark that had tried to reach out to Yours, so long ago) still missed the sound of Your voice, the sure touch of Your hands.

The soft rasping of armored plates brushing together. Fingers caress slick paint. Chest plates move aside to reveal the brightness inside. Green and gold is all that there is to the world. And that light that sings across our sensors. That and nothing more.

"Not everyone survived the crash," Hot Rod murmured, both aloud and through our interface.

"Ratchet wouldn't let either of those slaggers go without a fight."

:You tried to bond with him? Arcee's soft query broke through my thoughts.:

:If it hadn't been for that slagging, selfish brother of his, we would have.: Could nothing have come before him? Not even me? Or Yourself?

I felt both of their regards.

"Think you know a guy…" Hot Rod grumbled, and Arcee echoed the sentiment.

"It's not exactly a pleasant memory." And neither was the stay in the med bay after that particular argument.

:I could talk to him.:

I blanched. :No sparklet. That wouldn't be a good idea.: I almost laughed again. I knew exactly how You would react to the news, and being told by Your replacement… I didn't want Arcee on Ratchet's bad side so soon. I smirked at Hot Rod. "The same goes for you. I'll talk to him, and it'll be better if I do it alone. I don't want either of you hurt."

Arcee's outrage spiked through my spark, at the same time Hot Rod's anger surged through my systems.

:"Don't you dare try to protect me!": they both snapped.

The ship shuddered, and Arcee's attention jerked away from the bond for a brief breem.

It took a moment for the room to stop spinning. "I'm just saying he might be less likely to do major damage to me. I don't want it to turn into a brawl. Especially if Sideswipe's there." Primus knows that both of You together could take down a small team. Even against my Wreckers, You would put up quite a fight. It would be spectacular, and my systems heated at the thought.

Arcee and Hot Rod still sizzled at me.

"Just let me talk to him, okay. I'll handle it." I pulled my cable from Hot Rod's port. "If you insist, we'll continue this after Arcee comes off duty."

Hot Rod frowned, his optics flashing. "If you say you'll handle it…"

:We believe you will, Springer.:

"Why don't we head down to the rec room and see if we can't stir up some excitement." I stood.

Hot Rod grinned, leaping to his feet. I let my fingers slide down his spoiler and he pressed another kiss to my lips.

"Let's go find and annoy Kup!" he whooped.

I saw You as I stepped out of the shuttle. Primus, you hadn't changed. You looked just like I remembered You. Was it amusing for You to have discovered how similar humans and Cybertronians process when it comes to vehicular beauty. The alterations from Toughline to Your new earth mode were very few indeed. And the new mode, 'Lamborghini' (whatever the slag that meant), looked very fine on You. It was almost like You had come online with nothing changed.

:Should we be jealous:

I didn't have to glance back to know that both Arcee and Hot Rod wore knowing smirks. They stood with the crew, waiting for the unit commander to greet the Prime. For some of us, it was almost like seeing Primus rise from the Depths (or for Hot Rod; one of the Original 13). Even I wasn't immune.

Although it wasn't the big red and blue mech that had my attention.

You stood out in the midst of a mass of reds and blue. Even Your brother seemed to fade into the crowd, blending in with the rest of the Ark crew. Even from this distance I could see the wink of Your optics. I knew You had found me as easily as I'd found You. I could hear Arcee speaking to Hot Rod, but their conversation did not interest me. Nothing could hold my attention more than You at that moment.

Which wouldn't do me any good if I was to get any work done.

As soon as we received the signal to move down the ramp, Topspin paused by my side.

"Do you see 'em?"

Of my team Topspin had always been the most intrigued by the legendary twin terrors, most specifically You. He thrived off Your exploits during his training, and had the odd habit of collecting objects that dealt with you.

'You're alive. You're alive. Primus risen, You're still alive.' Those words reverberated through my processor, pinging across my cortex. I could almost feel Your finish under my fingers.

Your hands pinned above Your head. My mouth on the cables of Your neck. You gasp, jerking against my grip. Your feet scrape across the berth, Your knees bending as You writhe deliciously under me.

:Missing him, already?: Arcee caressed my spark, reaching through it, stimulating my sensory net. It brought the world back into sharp focus. :'Spin asked you a question, dearest.:

"Yeah, I see him." I glanced at the Jumpstarter A sudden surge of uncertainty swept through me right then and I suddenly had no desire to meet You at that moment.

"Is everything all right boss?"

There were too many mechs around, and it just didn't feel right to put this kind of pressure on You so soon after a battle, and in the middle of a crowd.

"Topspin, why don't you go down and meet them?"

Topspin was no fool however. He crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at me, visor bright with indignation. "I ain't gettin' into your fight with Sunstreaker."

"Fight?" A laugh burst out with the word. I'd been caught. "What makes you think there's going to be a fight?"

His visor band narrowed and he stepped closer. "I've never met Sunny, but even I know how he's going to take finding out about you and 'Cee and Roddy." Topspin paused, glancing toward You and Your twin. "I am not telling him for you."

"Well I wouldn't want you to. Just, distract him?" I gave him my most charming smile.

The blue mech rolled his head, but I knew I had him. "Fine fine. You owe me a round."

I slapped Topspin on the shoulder. "I knew I could count on you."

He shook his head and trudged away, heading for where You and Your brother stood, just as Jazz broke the ice and hollered at Blurr, stepping forward and waving at the fast-talking mech. Everyone moved then, as though a circuit had been closed and they'd been freed to act.

Arcee slipped up beside me, her arm sliding around my back. "Magnus asked you to hurry up and get to the cargo bay." I felt her gaze slide over to You. "You're not going to talk to him?" Her accusation echoed over our bond, and I detected Hot Rod's grumbled agreement.

:Are you both against me?: I asked both of them, making sure my question reached Hot Rod. I made my signal light, skipping through our bond almost laughingly.

Arcee's grip on my waist tightened as she swayed from Hot Rod and I reaching out to each other. I steadied her with a hand on her shoulder strut, pulling away from Hot Rod to steady her.

"I'm going to talk to him, sparklet."

She quickly regained her balance and pushed me away. "Than go to him." She lifted her chin, her optics bright with challenge. "Before you lose the megahertz."

I smirked down at her, not rising to her bait. "There's too many mechs around him. I'm going to break some bad news to him, not embarrass him in front of his friends." She relayed my words to Hot Rod. "It can wait until we get back to base."

:You're determined to try our patience.: Laughter ran in an undercurrent through her datastream.

I grinned, but found my gaze unaccountably drawn to You.

Good old Topspin. I knew from the scowl on Your face that I'd be paying for it later. Your optics winked my way, and I also knew that if I didn't disappear, You would simply walk away and head over here on your own.

"Let me get down to the cargo bay before Ultra Magnus rips me a new port."

Arcee leaned forward to kiss me, but I could still feel Your optics on me and I grabbed her shoulders.

:No need to give him a reason to hunt you down, sparklet.:

:I don't fear him.: Her signal sizzeld through my circuits.

I squeezed her shoulders, pressing her back until she relented. I didn't dare even process that I was trying to protect her. She was close enough that she wouldn't have to touch me to lay me out. It was times like these that made my spark twinge in regret at my inability to have You, thoughts I kept shielded from Arcee. No mech had that kind of power over another mech.

I went down to the cargo bay and began prepping the inventory for transport. Imagine my surprise when Your brother appeared, looking none too happy. He must have come for Your sake, it'd be typical of You to send him to find me. I knew Topspin had held You off for as long as he was able when he appeared on the ramp as I spoke to Sideswipe.

Your brother left, no more pleased than when he'd appeared. I knew that you would hear of my promotion from him, and find out where I was located.

Topspin watched Sideswipe go, his optics dim. "Your memory of them is uncanny. I seriously thought Sunny would scrap me." The grin on his face showed his anticipation at the prospect of taking on one of You twins.

"Save it for the training room, Topspin." But I couldn't help the grin that spread on my face. Because I knew that excitement.

The tangling of limbs as one mech tries to throw the other. A golden foot sweeps out, sending me crashing to the floor. A wrenching yank on my arm had me back on my feet. You swung me out, like some crazy dance partner. At the apex of Your reach I lunge away, using my greater weight to throw You down, landing on top of Your hissing, cursing frame. Inexplicably You stop and begin laughing. I can't help but grin, because it seems that laughter had been so rare from Your vocalizer. Ever since that cycle when both You and Your brother spontaneously crashed.

"You slagger, I just redid my paint." You cup the back of my head, pulling me down for a kiss. "You owe me for that."

I pull away, taking advantage of my position by pinning Your hands above Your head and exploring Your chassis with my mouth.

:Stop defragging, you have work to do.: Arcee's signal pulsed through my processor, drawing me from my memory files.

Arcee and Hot Rod toted a large crate between them; they both flashed me grins. "Where are we taking this?"

I glanced at the markings on the crate and compared it to the list in my hand. "That's bound for medical."

:Seems to me we'll need to distract you from yourself.: The underlying purr that came through the bond set my tactile sensors nearly into overload.

"Topspin? Is Sunny on his way here?"

Topspin grinned. "Magnus has him sorting piles for transport." The Jumpstarter grabbed a few of the bundles of scrap rods, and slung them over his shoulders. "He won't be botherin' ya anytime soon."

Only partially relieved, I diligently directed the growing line of movers until the cargo bay was completely cleared. When I finally stepped back out into the alien air, the system's main star had rotated out of view. Distant stars sprinkled the sky, like so many beacons of lights.

"Springer, we've got a load for you to carry," Ultra Magnus sounded annoyed. "Get over to the loading area, and hook up to one of the platforms. The humans need us to clear out of here, so they can land their planes." Which would explain his annoyance.

As I walked, I kept my sensors scanning for Your familiar energy signature. I spotted You tying a platform onto another helo, one of the Ark based bots. I could have shouted at You, but my fuel tank churned at the prospect of speaking to you after such a long absence.

I… didn't know what to say.

What do you say to someone who's been missing for over 50,000 vorn? Where do you begin? 'Hi, how are you?' seems too simple, too little, after so long a time. Would You be the same mech? Had the time in stasis changed You?

Had I changed?

I turned my head and strode over to one of the other platforms, ready and waiting for transport. I managed a half-smile for Twin Twist. "I thought you'd already be on your way."

"Well, we brought it here, I figured we can make sure it all leaves in one piece."

I transformed, rotors spinning, and took my place above the transport platform.

"I'll get it. Get out of the way."

When did You get over here.

"I've got this under control." Twin Twist turned to the golden mech. "Go get Whirl hooked up."

You turned a glare on my Wrecker, and suddenly I knew why Twin Twist had hung back.

"Get out of here, Twist. Don't go looking for a fight with the twins." I swear all my Wreckers wanted to pit themselves against someone who could hold my interest for so long. It reminded me of the time they'd challenged first Hot Rod and then Arcee, when I'd taken them for lovers. They think so highly of me, and anyone unwilling to take them on they considered unworthy of me.

I could hear the growl of Your engine as You waited for Twin Twist to leave. When the Jumpstarter had finally left, You turned Your optics on me. You were silent as You regarded me, but I could see that fire burning in those bright optics. I knew You weren't happy.

"Are you going to say anything? Or just hover there like I don't exist?" Oh yeah, not happy.

I laughed. "Well I was hoping you wouldn't notice me. I can't be that noticeable."

"Slagger! Too good to come down to talk to us grunts now that you're an officer?" The smile on Your face put the lie to the snarl from Your vocalizer.

You acted as though nothing had changed. You were acting as though we'd only been separated a vorn, or less.

You pick up the cabling, optics still on me, scowl on your face.

"I had to get the inventory ready for transport." A lame excuse, I realized as soon as my vocalizer clicked off.

You slammed the hook into place on an anchor on my underside, hard enough to make me lose altitude for an astrosecond. "You can't tell me Magnus would have minded if you had spent a few breems reuniting with old friends." You bend down to scoop up another cable, slamming it home. This time I felt the plating there give a little.

Well there's no way I can deny that. "Can't this wait until we get back to base?" I felt uncomfortably aware of the optics turned our way. I didn't want to spark a circuit under so many watchful eyes. It was never something I worried about when I was a regular soldier. There were a number of occasions where I'd defended either of my bondmates' honor without thinking of how it affected others' view of me. Experience as an officer had shown that I needed to be more circumspect in drawing attention to my more delinquent activities, at least the ones that I still participated in.

Another hook slammed onto one of my anchors. "Can't what wait until we get back to base?"

"This."

"And what's this that you want to wait to get back to base for?"

I nearly snapped a harsh reply at Your backtalk. But then it occurred to me that You were merely continuing a game (if it can be called that) the two of us picked up somewhere along the way. I'd attempted it with Arcee and Hot Rod, but these kinds of play on words were a moot point when we could read each other's spark.

"I'm not doing this right now, Sunny."

Your optics flicker, as You snap Your head up. "The frag are you talking about? Doing what right now?"

You don't even realize You're doing it? Had it become such a part of our routine that You're not even thinking about it? That… irritated me.

"How… have you been?" I changed subjects, evading the question.

You narrow Your optics drawing Your lips thin into a straight line. "How do you think? Being stuck on this slagging dirtball planet for the last 12 metacycles. Stuck with…" You hesitate, glancing toward Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. Your brother is over there, being loaded onto Ultra Magnus. "Stuck with only these slaggers cycle in and out. And the natives on this planet are disgusting." You sneer and I realize that the words that crackled out of your vocalizer were not the ones you were thinking.

And then you began a breakdown of just what made the humans so disgusting, listing everything from their hygiene to the dirt that came in plentiful amounts on this planet (though how that was their fault, I'll never know). You snapped and snarled so much that I wondered what human offended You so badly.

It was the focus of Your processor, Your dim optics glaring off to the side, Your vocalizer hissing and buzzing.

I used to sit and listen to You hiss and spit about Your finish before You left. Not without complaint and objections, of course. I can only hear so much about how the shade You had to use is the wrong hue and it ruined Your image,.

Why the slag did I ever sit there and listen to You. I know there must have been a reason, but Primus alone knows what it was.

"Sunny…" I had to get him to stop. I didn't have the patience, or the time for this, and I should tell him. Arcee gave me a bolstering nudge over or bond, telling me to go ahead.

You stop Your tirade against organics, looking at me sharply. "What?"

"Did it ever occur to you that I- That there might be someone else?"

You shrug negligently. "Yeah, it occurred to me."

"Well, I-"

You cut me off by patting my side. "Hey, it's okay. I was gone a long time." You grin, but Your flaring optics show You're not as okay with it as You let on. "But you're here, and I'm here." You snap the last hook in place. "We're together again."

I say nothing but my sensors remained trained on You. 'Arrogant, self-centered, sociopathic, vain-glorious…'

"Springer, are you good to go?"

Ultra Magnus' voice was like a snap to reality.

You back away after giving one last tug.

"Yeah, Magnus, I'm ready."

You transform to your earth mode. "See you at base?"

"…yeah…"

"Autobots, roll out!"

How good it was to hear Prime's voice give that command. Primus, I've missed everyone.

Sideswipe was sitting on one of the medical gurnies when I entered the medbay to give Ratchet the special requisition manifest. His optics were dim, but he had his head tilted toward the CMO's office in an eavesdropping pose. He still bore most of his field patches, even though the only mechs remaining were the ones who needed to be taken offline for repairs.

"I take it Ratchet gave you a transceiver-full for trying to help move crates?"

His optics flashed, startled and he jerked his back straight. His gaze settled on me and he grinned back. "He needed it. Warmed him up for Prowl." His optics dimmed as he tilted his head, and his smile took on a strained cast.

"Prowl?" I upped the gain on my audio receptors. Yes, I could hear Ratchet in his office, he wasn't quite screaming, but he wasn't simply yelling either. "How long have they been in there?"

Sideswipe tilted his head again; listening. "'Bout a breem." The corner of his mouth twitched in either a smirk or a grimace. "Prowl's been avoiding him." His optics brightened a micro. "I'd guess, at least."

"Hm…"

I tuned back into the angry rant going on behind Ratchet's office door.

"-recharge is not an option! I don't know what slagfool thing is going on between you and Jazz, but it stops-"

"Jazz?" The lucky slagger. He'd been chasing Prowl for a few hundred vorn before the Ark had left.

Sideswipe's mouth tightened again. "Yeah. Jazz… finally got him-" I snapped a confused look at the warrior as his vocalizer hitched, did his engine just growl? "-after we came back online."

I frowned at the hesitance behind his words. "Well, don't sound so happy about it, Sides." I grin. "I'm sure Jazz has loosened him up some.

Sideswipe laughed, a sound forced from his vocalizer. "No way! Tighter than a gear turning the wrong way. Slag, I swear's he's wound even tighter lately."

"Well, as nice as it is to hear Ratchet's loving voice, I need to drop this off so I can go refuel."

Sideswipe optics brightened for an astrosecond. "You do that. Though, I wouldn't want to go in there when Ratchet's fuming like that. I don't think even Wheeljack would be willing to brave stepping into that room right now."

I smirked, but approached the door and chimed for the CMO's attention. The yelling("-if I have my way, and I always get my way in this, you're going off active duty as soon as you step out of this office for at least a month-") died down almost instantly, and the door snapped open.

Ratchet glared out from behind his desk. Prowl turned and gave me a somewhat relieved look. Both of their optics focused on the area behind my shoulder.

"Sideswipe! I told you to lay down and go offline."

The tips of Prowl's doorwings drooped, and I wondered if he was embarrassed that his most notorious disciplinary problem had been eavesdropping on a reprimanding.

The clang and scrapes of metal sliding down accompanied Sideswipe's hasty obedience.

Ratchet held out his hand for the datapad, which I happily handed over. He thanked me and told me in no few words to get out.

I'd rather be joining Sideswipe than to be Prowl at that breem in time. Of course I also wouldn't have minded being a glitchmouse on that floor either. Not often you get a chance to hear Ratchet dress down Prowl like that, at least not back on Cybertron.

Hey, well speak of the Unmaker and you get the Fallen!

"Jazz! What are you coming to the bay for?" The doors close behind me, clicking softly into place. "You look better maintained than Tracks."

The saboteur grinned. "Nah man, I'm just lookin' in on Prowl's all. He gave us a scare durin' the battle yesterday."

"Yeah, we heard."

It was hard to miss that tense moment when Prowl's constant flow of words had abruptly ceased. Even stalwart Ultra Magnus betrayed his concern as he stopped behind my station. Confusion bounced around the officer's channel, until Trailbreaker took up Prowl's litany, and Ratchet had cleared Prowl's status.

"I suppose congratulations are due for finally getting Prowl into the berth." I grinned at the saboteur, still wondering how he managed that feat.

Jazz grinned back, flashing his dental plates. "Yup, sure did. Lucky me." The grin tightened and I wondered how rocky the relationship was to have Ratchet fritzing over Prowl's health. "I heard ya got yer own team," he paused, searching his memory files. "-the Wreckers? Fitting."

I smirked. "They're pains in the diodes but I wouldn't trade them for anything." I glanced back at the medbay. "Does Sideswipe still give Prowl a hard time?"

That tight smile creased Jazz's face again. "Yes. Was he still online?"

Now why would Jazz care about that? "He was enjoying Ratchet's glitching at Prowl. Ratchet caught him though, so he should be offline." Of course the sneaky slagger could just as well cut all but his auditory sensors off, and still be listening in. Unless Ratchet had checked the monitors.

Jazz appraised the medbay doors. "Sides'll take anythin' fer a chance to be insubordinate." The black and white mech entered the medbay.

As the doors hissed close, I could hear the whisper of vocalizers. Most of the words I couldn't make out, but one voice rose to a level where I could make out the words.

"-don't you get Prowl to tell you?" Did Sideswipe just growl at Jazz?

Probably mad at getting caught.

The door sealed and cut off the sound of their voices. I dismissed the matter and went in search of the rec room. Arcee was already there with Hot Rod and she informed me that Sunstreaker wasn't present, and just when was I going to talk to him, anyways?

:Why are you making such a big deal out of this?:

:Because I know the way you process. You're going to put it off for as long as possible, and that'll just make it worse when you do talk to him.:

There were times I missed being an unbonded mech.

:I'd like to think that even without the bond, I'd know you well enough by now.:

I followed the directions fed to me from Teletraan-1, finding the rec room with an ease I hoped Sunstreaker didn't demonstrate when seeking me out.

Arcee stood by one of the monitors set into the wall, happily chatting with Hound and Mirage. Hot Rod was speaking to Smokescreen, his laughter carrying over the general murmur of the room. The rec room was packed, clearly not intended for two units to make use of it.

"Magnus have you seen the rec room?"

"Prime and I are well aware of the state of the rec room. We are working on a solution. Until then it's only until we start construction on the new city. I'd recommend looking elsewhere for relaxation after you get your ration."

"I hear congratulations are due." Mirage's disembodied voice sounded just in front of me.

"Still up to your old tricks?" I glanced out at the room. "How did you get through all that anyways?"

I heard the soft rush of a ventilator, a chuckle, and then silence. I got the distinct feeling that he had just left.

I made my own way through the crowd, aiming for the energon dispensers set in the back of the room (whose genius idea was that?)

:Are you sure you didn't walk past him in the hall?:

I stopped and turned to glance back.

You stood there, leaning against the threshold and scanning the crowd. I had no doubt who You were looking for either.

:Sideswipe musta told him. The sneaky slagger, I should have known something was up.:

I made my way deeper into the crowd, trying to avoid Your eye. After getting my toe joints stepped on and jostled and poked and prodded and greeted and then getting yelled at for stepping on toe joints or jostling or poking or prodding I finally arrived at the energon dispensor.

:Get your energon and head right back to the entrance, and talk to Sunstreaker.:

Hot Rod appeared at my elbow, empty cube in hand.

"She's running a little hot," I grumbled at him from between my dental plates.

He shoved his way in front of me, the corner of his mouth curling in a smirk. "She's not the only one." He filled his energon cube and walked away.

I watched him leave and then sought out Arcee. She pointedly ignored me, not even acknowledging my soft queries over our bond.

I gathered my wits and an extra cube, and made my way over to where you stood. You straightened as I approached, Your frown morphing into a scowl. I hand You the extra cube and lean against the wall. You unobtrusively slide closer so that our shoulders are brushing just enough to tease my tactile sensors.

"Hey," I began.

"'Hey' yourself," You snapped. "Is there a reason you're avoiding me, again?"

"I'm a team leader, Sunstreaker, an officer. Ultra Magnus depends on me to help him out. I can't-" I drooped, staring at the floor. "I can't just abandon my duties."

"So… is this going to be a regular thing?"

I stared at You, and You're staring at the floor. There were still too many around. "Come on, let's get out of here." I grabbed Your arm and pull, but You pulled back, wrenching out of my grasp.

"You don't have to scratch my paint," You snapped. You glared at the room and then turned your gaze back on me. "Come on, I know where we can get some privacy." You pushed me towards the door and guided me through the halls. I could see the burning intensity in your optics, feel the determined, confident grip of your hand on my shoulder strut.

I knew what You want.

It excited me.

It angered me.

Yet it didn't surprise me.

We were in the crew quarters before I knew it, in front of a set of doors that Teletraan-1 told me lead to You and Your brother's quarters.

The doors closed behind us and You then turned toward me.

"It's about slagging time." Your mouth was over my own and Your hands were all over me.

And I responded until anger surged through me. Then I shoved you away.

And words were glitching from my vocalizer at a pace that could nearly rival Blurr's. "Is this all I ever was to you? A grab and go interface? You don't need me for that and I sure as slag don't need you! You want that, then use someone like Bluestreak! He's used to it and he won't expect anything more!"

"Slag off, Springer!" Your engine growled, and Your ventilators whirred, Your optics flaring brighter. "How many times have you come back and pulled me from whatever I was doing for a quick bang."

I slapped away the hand that came toward me. "I was never gone for 50,000 vorn!"

You pressed forward, pressing against me as I stood firm, until You forced me to take a step back. "I couldn't help that!" And another step. "Primus knows I'd rather be on Cybertron." You grabbed my neck and pressed your helmet against my own. "I'd rather have been with you, but Sides… you know I hate choosing between you two."

"Because Sideswipe always wins," I snarled.

"Because he's my brother," You snarled back before you kissed me.

The back of my knees hit the berth and I lost my balance. You gave me one final shove, pushing my head down to keep me from hitting against the top bunk.

The berth creaked under me as You straddled my waist, pinning my legs down with Your own. You never relented in Your demanding kiss, and even as You hold my wrists down, Your fingers were caressing my hands.

My emotion and logic circuits were ablaze in conflict.

I wanted this. I wanted this reminder of what I had lost.

I needed to stop it. You didn't know the circumstances. And once You found out, You would hate me.

And it didn't seem right. After all this time, to simply return to Your arms like nothing had happened. Like 50,000 vorn of separation didn't exist.

:Springer.: Arcee's datastream reached out to me, steadying my whirling processors. :You know I don't care who else you're with. But I can't stand to see you so dishonest! Everything you're doing right now is a lie! And if Ultra Magnus found out…: Her stream fluctuated with concern. :You're an officer, Springer. You can't just casually interface with any mech you desire.:

"Springer?"

So lost in Arcee's communication that I hadn't realized that You'd stopped.

:Think about what you're doing, dearest.:

My ventilators were rasping in an effort to cool my systems. I realized You were no longer holding me down, but staring at me. Concern warred with annoyance on Your face.

"What the frag was that?" Your optics narrowed. "I didn't detect any transmissions, but.."

Still panting, I propped myself up on my elbows. "That," there was no simpler or gentler explanation, and if I didn't tell You, someone else would, "was my bondmate."

"Your…" You hesitated, optics flickering in a refusal to accept what Your audio horns heard. "-fragging me." You focused Your gaze back on me and You lunged, knocking me back, hands wrapped around my throat. "You're fragging me!"

I knocked your hands away from my throat, and threw you off with a sweep of my legs.

You were on Your feet again, dental plates bared. "Is that all I'm worth to you? Just a short time away and you throw me away for your next bang, is that it? Was that all you ever had me around for? Why the frag did I ever believe a slagging, selfish-"

"A short time? Selfish?" I snarled back. "You're one to talk about being selfish. I thought you were dead! What did you expect? For me to glitch for you the rest of my existence? I moved on! Maybe you should think about doing the same."

You stepped back, ventilator whirring loudly and Your fists clenched in fury.

Did it hurt? Did it make that part of you that You tried to give to me so long ago ache?

"You were gone! And we knew the Decepticons had gone after you. I waited, Sunstreaker, and I hoped."

Did it make You hate Your brother, that he kept You from having what You always desired. If it weren't for him, I would have had no choice but to wait.

"I waited for a long time, too long."

You ground Your dental plates, lips set in a silent snarl. Your fist crashed into the wall, jolting the selves. Your optics blazed and I braced myself to react when You struck.

It never came.

Instead You stormed out, Your steps heavy with rage.

Honestly, I was surprised.

Normally, with something like this, I would have expected You to lash out, and beat the scrap out of... well, me.

Sideswipe was suddenly at the door, glaring at me, optics flickering with a reflection of Your anger. "Get out." It's almost as if the words were coming out of Your vocalizer.

He stood there until I stepped past the threshold, and I could feel his optics on me all the way down the hall until I turned a corner.

I queried Teletraan-1 for Your location. Not surprisingly You were in the training room, undoubtedly beating on some hapless drone, or anyone unlucky enough to volunteer to spar against You.

:Leave him be.:

An arm slipped around my waist, pulling me against a flame-painted chest plate. "Arcee's right. Let it go. You said your piece. Let him assimilate that."

"What are you doing here, 'Rod?"

He shrugged, letting me go, only to place a kiss on my lips. "I was just talking to Sideswipe in the rec room when he suddenly comes charging down here. So I followed him."

My optics flickered in surprise. "You-"

"Don't worry, I didn't tell him a thing." A wry grin flitted across Hot Rod's face. "You didn't worry, did you?"

I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Of course not."

"I'm sure you didn't."

By the time Ultra Magnus and I got to the council room, everyone already had taken a seat.

Optimus had the head of the table, and he gestured for Ultra Magnus to take the other side. Jazz and Prowl sat on either side of the Commander. Ironhide and Wheeljack sat across from each other. Ratchet glowered from where he sat next to Prowl.

What surprised me was that he glowered at Prowl. I didn't quite know what to make of that. Prowl used to be able to stay in Ratchet's good graces by virtue of not actively participating in the battles.

Then again he had unexpectedly shut down, and Ratchet had been threatening to take him off duty a solar cycle ago.

Magnus gestured for me to take the seat on his left, while Kup sat to his right.

"Thank you for joining us on such short notice, Ultra Magnus." Optimus regarded Ultra Magnus with his normal calm demeanor. "Mirage and Hound have both come back with startling and disturbing news that a good majority of the Decepticons have mobilized and taken the space bridge to Cybertron."

"This ain't disturbing news, Prime! This calls fer celebration. The Decepticons have finally left Earth."

Prowl's voice cut in, soft and still carrying the same authority it always held back on Cybertron. "Their returning to Cybertron is not necessarily a good thing, Ironhide. The femmes and the few remaining pockets of resistance will not be able to hold them back to any effect." He paused, his doorwings flicking as he lifted his gaze from the datapad in his hands to regard the assembled mechs. "They transported more energon than we knew they had."

Ironhide grimaced at that.

Ultra Magnus shifted in his seat. "How much?"

The black and white tactician didn't even look at the datapads as he stated a number that sent a chill throughout the room.

I shared a long look with Ultra Magnus, wondering just how in the pit the Ark crew had missed that much missing energon.

Optimus tucked his steepled fingers under his chin, his optics dimmed as he regarded the table in front of him. "Would the Xantium be up to a trip back to Cybertron, Ultra Magnus?"

I stiffened as Ultra Magnus answered positively.

"We just got here, Prime. You're not thinking about sending us away already?" I grinned at the big red and blue mech, ignoring the not-so-gentle nudge I received from Ultra Magnus.

Optimus chuckled. "No, Springer." He turned his head to glance at Jazz. "Jazz, you and Bumblebee will be accompanying me, and a small contingent, to Cybertron. If the Decepticons have anything planned I want them found."

Jazz hummed. "Wouldn't 'Raj be handy for that, Prime?"

"Not all of the Decepticons left. I want him to remain here and look for any remaining strongholds. The Predacons and the Terrorcons were conspicuous in their absence, and I don't doubt they're not the only ones."

A nod of the black-helmed head was quickly followed by a sharp glance in Prowl's direction. "We should prob'ly take Prowlie with us. He knows what I can do, and can plan for just about any contingency."

Prowl's doorwings lifted and he stared sedately at Jazz, before he nodded. "I agree with that assesment, Prime." He turned back to the datapad in front of him, his doorwings twitching as he worked the stylus over the small screen.

Prime's mask dropped in a frown and he looked to the CMO. "Ratchet?"

"As long as he gets plenty of rest, I see no reason why he shouldn't go." A scowl pressed the corners of his lips down. "Especially since I can't even seem to keep him out of simple, fragging meetings."

Optimus' optics glinted knowingly. "Your presence would also be appreciated, in the event he should have a relapse."

A smirk spread on the medic's face. "And to make sure the slagger follows doctor's orders."

Another chuckle rumbled from Optimus' frame. "That, too." He turned once again to the tactician. "Prowl, who else would you suggest?"

The stylus tapped against the datapad as he ticked off names. "Ironhide, both in his function as Chief of Security and his capabilities as a warrior. If we are to do without Mirage, I would like Hound to accompany us, on the off chance we'll need him to scout an area. Cliffjumper's abilities would be a great asset to our mission. The Dinobots, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker-"

"No."

Prowl paused and looked up at both Optimus and Jazz.

I was surprised that both of them had made an objection.

Jazz and Optimus looked at each other in the same surprise that I'm sure everyone felt. Typical of him, Optimus nodded for Jazz to go first.

"They're too hot-tempered for what we need. Cliffjumper's hot-headed enough, but he listens to orders for the most part, and won't get himself needlessly slagged. We'll have the Dinobots for that anyways. Besides, we don't want to leave Earth completely defenseless." A teasing grin broke across Jazz's face as he pointedly looked at our end of the table.

"My Wreckers would make mincement of any of the Decepticons left on Earth."

Optimus nodded his agreement with Jazz, but didn't give voice to his own reason for refusing to allow the twins to accompany them.

Prowl stared at his datapad, his doorwings stiff behind him, and his mouth drawn into a straight line.

"Ultra Magnus knows the situation on Cybertron better than he does the one here on Earth. Surely he would be better suited to the task than myself."

I had to replay that, because I certainly didn't think I'd heard him right. Prowl was refusing a mission, he was refusing work? Alright, where was Prowl, and what did the Decepticons do with him?

"You have plenty of time to update Ultra Magnus on our situation here, Prowl. He doesn't know Jazz's techniques like you do. He is needed here, on Earth, to direct the construction of Autobot City."

Ultra Magnus grimaced, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. The three of us looked at each other, all wondering the same thing. What the slag was going on between Optimus and Prowl. And, from the tight set of his lips, what the slag did Jazz have to do with it? Then I recalled the signs I'd seen that all might not be right in black and white land. It would be typical of Optimus to try and mend things between his two officers.

"Wheeljack, how long is the construction likely to take?"

The quiet engineer tapped his mask. "It should only take about a metacycle, for the actual construction. The delicate circuitry and the transformation cogs will likely take the longest to fabricate and install. Two metacycles and the City will be fully operational."

Optimus nodded. "We'll be at a very vulnerable level with most of our focus on the construction of the City. There will be humans involved as well, and I don't want an attack on the city to endanger any innocent lives. We have to be aware of the Decepticons' every move for the next two metacycles. Prowl, get with Ultra Magnus and give him the latest sitrep. Then I want you to go over the Xantium with Perceptor and give me an optimal date for departure. While I don't want to wait too long, I believe that once construction begins, we should be ready to go. Base your time table on that. Also, compile a complete list of required personnel for the mission. Ratchet, Ironhide put together a requisition list, we know we'll need to be there for two metacycles at the least, but I would plan for longer. The less runs we have to make back to Earth, the better. Dismissed."

My optics were on Prowl as he stood, his normal neutral expression on his face. I glanced at Ultra Magnus for any clue of what he thought the tactician might be feeling. The corners of the unit commander's lips pulled down in a small frown. He caught my gaze and shook his head, as unsure of what was going on as I was, his face smoothing away all emotion.

The tactician disappeared and the black and white saboteur followed soon after. I didn't expect to find them around the corner when I left the conference room. They stood close together, Prowl pressing Jazz into the wall by sheer presence, voices hissing in a soft, but heated argument

"-what the slag do you think you're fragging doing-" Prowl saw me and stopped midsentence.

I couldn't keep the slight shock off my face at hearing Prowl, of all mechs, swearing. His hand on Jazz's shoulder strut relaxed, but I could see the dents he left in the metal.

Jazz looked at me and a grin twitched his lips. "Blaster thinks the 'Cons leavin, and y'all comin's a reason to celebrate. Whatcha think, Springer?"

"Hey, I'll take any reason to party. That hasn't changed." I paused as a thought occurred to me. "As long as we can celebrate somewhere that has more space than the rec room."

Jazz snickered. "I'll be sure ta pass that on t' Blaster." Jazz slipped his hand around Prowl's waist, earning a glower from the tactician. "Are you comin' t' the party, Prowlie?"

"Not likely. I have a lot to do to get ready for the mission." The black and white Enforcer pulled out of Jazz's reach, and walked stiffly away.

Jazz followed the tactician with his hidden optics, his expression inscrutable, and then he turned to me, that forced grin once again in place. "That guy can't relax for all the energon on Earth."

It had been a long, long time since I last had the pleasure of being at one of Blaster's parties. It almost seemed like it had been forever. The lights and music underneath the Earth's night-cycle sky warmed up the chill in the night. The high grade in my hand warmed up my systems.

You were out here, talking with First Aid over by the bar Blaster had set up outside.

Arcee touched my arm. "You really need to let it go. It hurts me to see you like this, Springer."

I grimaced, moving away from her touch as You looked my way. "I don't want to leave things like they are."

I tore my gaze away from You, trying to find another focal point for my attention.

A flash of black and white catches my optics, and I look, expecting to see Jazz. But, no, it's Prowl, talking softly with Ultra Magnus, both with a cube in their hand. What was Prowl doing here when he'd said he wouldn't make an appearance?

I tell myself that was the reason I headed over there. It had nothing to do with You being in between me, and said destination.

I could feel Your optics on me, and I was even aware of First Aid's shy retreat. I stopped by You, still not looking at You. I could hear the growl of Your engine as You turned to walk away.

"Sunny-"

Suddenly You were in my face again, shoving me roughly away. "Don't call me that, fragger. I hate that stupid name, and you know it. What makes you think you have the right to call me that?"

"Sunstreaker-"

I felt Arcee's presence behind me. 'No, don't do this.'

Her hand tugged on my elbow. "You're Sunstreaker? Springer's had a lot to say about you." She reached past me, hand extended in a congenial greeting.

You glared at Arcee.

:Sparklet, you don't want to be doing this, right now.:

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she said, not responding to me.

Your gaze lifted to my face and Your optics widened, comprehension dawning in slack disbelief. "A femme..."

Arcee's hand twitched.

Before either of us could react, You grabbed her hand and wrenched her out from behind me.

"A femme!" You bellow. "You traded me in to bond with a slagging hub!"

Suddenly You had something to take out Your pent-up anger on. You turned on Arcee, ignoring her demands to be released, and striking her down. She jumped back up, anger spiking through our bond, flashing in her optics. You blocked her retaliation with disgusting ease.

I didn't hesitate an astrosecond longer.

Sunny, some part of me might still love You.

But that's my bondmate Your hurting.

Everything You could never be.

She is.

He is.

For Hot Rod is right beside me, pulling, punching kicking.

You are the past.

They are my future.

AN: Hubs- Trying to figure out the exact relationship between Springer, Hot Rod, and Arcee, I debated whether or not it should be only one of the two, or both. Then Bluestreak made a bit of a deal out of Prime and Ironhide being with femmes, and so I had to ponder what made the females so special.

In this fic, femmes are able to bond to multiple mechs. While they are bonded to the mechs, the mechs are not necessarily bonded to each other (hence why Springer had to reach through Arcee to reach Hot Rod). It comes from a time when the mechs would contribute their spark energy to the 'Hubs' as a form of reproduction. Though with the rarity of femmes, it's now considered archaic and unreliable.

I should have done this some time ago. ;; Here's the time units I use.

Metacycle-13 months
Breem- 8.3 minutes
Vorn- 83 years
Decacycle- 3 weeks
Stellar Cycle- 7.5 months
Megacycle- 93 hours
Klick- 1.2 minutes
Astrosecond- .04 seconds
Cycle- 1.25 hours
Orn- 37 years