Take Off
Sideswipe was listening, without really paying attention, to a conversation between Bluestreak and a fast-talking Autobot that had come on the Xantium. Somewhere in the midst of the incoherent speed-talking he thought he'd caught the mech's name as Blurr.
He stayed only because it put him at an angle to watch Prowl surreptitiously.
The tactician stood with Ultra Magnus, the bright lights radiating off his white paint, and creating an ethereal glow in counterpoint to his black accents. If Sideswipe tilted his head just so, he could hear Prowl's precise voice, and he let it roll over his sensors, inundating every linked system. He wished it was him over there, listening to Prowl. He couldn't restrain the jealousy he felt for Ultra Magnus; the unit commander seemed to be happy just to spend time with Prowl.
He wished he could be so open, and he wished that he didn't envy the unit commander. It took an effort to remind himself that Ultra Magnus would only ever be able to look, Prowl had broken off their relationship vorn before he'd started the one with the red twin. He clenched his fist as he remembered the time that Prowl used to turn to his former lover in the times that Sideswipe had been damaged. It had been one of the few times that he'd lost his temper with the tactician, but Sunstreaker had gotten there first.
Those thoughts only made him ache more for the Datsun's presence at his side. It would be a balm after Sunstreaker's grating company for the past day. Even if it meant that they'd get into an argument; he wanted to be able to talk to his lover. He could tell Prowl was agitated by the set of his door wings. He wondered if it had something to do with the restrictions imposed by Ratchet, at least the ones he'd heard threatened. It would be like Prowl to evade Ratchet's orders in some way. The tactician hated to be idle as much as Sideswipe, himself, did.
He should go over and tease Prowl. He had not tried to cover up the fact that he had been listening in on Ratchet's reprimand.
He made to excuse himself from the two talkers when a roar suddenly overlaid the party's general chatter.
Programming had him looking up, scanning the skies for a Decepticon presence.
Then the noise filtered through his audio receptors and he turned toward a sudden commotion by the bar.
"You traded me in to bond to a slagging hub!"
Flame red and forest green swept about a golden form. The pink in the midst of it all rolled out of the fray, only to gain its feet and leap right back in with an angry shout.
He only processed the scene for an astrosecond before he shoved his way through the swiftly gathering crowd. He only hesitated long enough to find an opening before he threw himself in.
He caught Hot Rod around the middle, flipping the other mech over his shoulder before he went after the femme, kicking her off Sunstreaker's back. Springer turned on him long enough to kick his feet out from under him; the vicious, thruster-powered kick bent the support struts in his lower leg.
Hot Rod and the pink femme-he thought he heard her name as RC- charged him. They threw him to his back again. Hot Rod pinned the red twin to the ground. RC turned and lunged for Sunstreaker's legs, grabbing at his knees and pushing them in. He toppled to the ground arms wheeling in a vain effort to catch his balance.
Sideswipe vented harshly, wriggling for leverage against the flame-painted chestplate. He gathered his knees to his chestplate and shoved the other mech off. He rolled to his feet, whipping out his gun.
A black barrel stared him straight in the face, and he froze.
"Now, I think, that we're getting off on a bad fuse, here." Springer's sure voice grunted with the effort of holding Sunstreaker down.
Sideswipe's gaze swept down to his brother as he heard the give of metal plates.
Springer held Sunstreaker with his arms twisted behind his back, face shoved into the ground. Even so, Sideswipe could see the white fury in the golden Lamborghini's optics. Hear the snarled moan of a mech pushed beyond the edge.
"Get your slagging hands off my brother, Springer." Sideswipe glared with all the rage that echoed from Sunstreaker.
Hot Rod narrowed his optics, shifting his grip on the gun he had pointed at Sideswipe's face.
"That's enough!"
"Everybody stand down!"
No one moved a servo, each waiting for the other to give ground.
"Hot Rod, Arcee lower your weapons. Springer, on your feet."
Two of the guns lowered, but neither Arcee nor Hot Rod relaxed their stance, ready to bring their arms back up.
Springer untangled his arms, and scrambled away from Sunstreaker, before the golden Lamborghini had a chance to roll a punch into his face. A very real threat as the warrior shoved himself up and swung around, fist raised.
Ventilators worked to draw in the cool night air for heated systems. Sideswipe watched as his brother stood, glaring at Springer.
Sunstreaker never even looked at his scratched paint, his dented plating, nor utter a word of complaint.
Prowl stood with Ultra Magnus, both with their arms crossed; Prowl with his door wings flared, and Ultra Magnus with his chin tucked down. Their bright optics and stern scowls bode ill for the five brawlers.
"What is the meaning of this?" Prowl snapped, his gaze locking on the two Lamborghinis with silent reproach.
Ultra Magnus simply frowned. "Springer?" That one word managed to convey question, accusation, and surprise rolled into one neat package.
Four out of the five Autobots scowled at each other. Sideswipe shrugged, waiting for one of the others to speak up.
"Space will be tight enough without fights occurring among the crews. We are all Autobots. Let's act like it, and not oversized organic young." Prowl's gaze encompassed all five of the miscreants, but his attention focused mostly on the two Ark members.
Ultra Magnus shifted his weight. "We won't be worrying about where to put three of you, at least." The frown on his face, and the tilt of his head showed his displeasure with this. "You're all going to the brig."
Prowl's gaze swept over them again, and then centered on Sunstreaker. "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, you heard the mech, get going."
Sideswipe lurched forward, feeling the effect of his damaged leg. Sunstreaker stomped on ahead of him, fists clenched at his side.
Still without a word about his dented and scratched frame.
"Springer, a word with you before you three go." Ultra Magnus' voice rumbled with irate indignation.
The red twin didn't even slow down as he caught a familiar paint job walking by his side. It eased something within him to finally have his lover there, even if Prowl was blowing exhaust over the whole ordeal. He slowed down purposefully to allow the tactician a chance to gain another step.
"I hope that you can keep your sparkling tendencies under control while Ultra Magnus is in charge," the black and white mech said, after they'd passed open hangar doors that served as the entrance to the Autobot base.
"Why? Planning on taking a vacation now that someone's here to relieve you?" Sideswipe slowed again, exaggerating the limp.
Prowl glanced down at his leg, and looked back up at Sideswipe from under his chevron. "If you're that damaged, you should see Ratchet before you go to the brig."
Engine grumbling, Sideswipe affected a sudden stagger that knocked his shoulder into Prowl. "Shut up, sir." He straightened, swinging arms negligently brushing Prowl's doorwing.
"Shall I add insubordination to an officer to your steadily growing list of charges?" A slight misstep in the rhythm of his steps, and the tactician was out of Sideswipe's immediate reach.
Sideswipe glanced back, frowning at Prowl's neutral face. "Insubordination? That wasn't insubordination, sir. That was well-intentioned, good-natured, friendly, not to mention humorous banter." He put on a wide grin in response to the tactician's frown.
Prowl looked at the warrior at an angle from under his chevron, tilting his mouth in an oblique smile. "Nothing you ever do is ever well-intentioned or good-natured, Sideswipe. And you know perfectly well that I do not have a sense of humor." He quickened his pace and drew up beside the red Lamborghini. "When you get out of the brig tomorrow, you will be heading straight to the forward compartments to clean the bulkheads."
"Oh, Primus like I don't have anything better to do."
Truthfully his systems picked up at the prospect. There were no cameras toward the front of the ship, because they had never had the chance repair the faulty wiring.
It was one of the few places inside the Ark itself they could meet without too much fear being discovered.
He almost forgot to limp.
Ever since they'd spoken to Jazz, their meetings seemed to have become fewer and farther between. More so than normal.
And when they did meet...
Sideswipe felt like an aft.
The signs had been there, but his firewall had been set too high to see it. Prowl's reticence to initiate interface should have told him something was wrong. He looked back and he could see that Prowl had been defensive, a little more withdrawn than normal, spooked. Sideswipe's touch had made his lover uncomfortable, and Sideswipe felt like a stupid, slagging aft not to have realized it. Perhaps the biggest indication, which Sideswipe had stupidly not pressed for an explanation, was when Prowl had pulled out the manacles, and used field manipulation.
His fuel tank churned as he looked back on those times in this new light.
He glanced back at Prowl, and the tactician's optics glowed brightly back at him. His lover seemed to be recovering, now that Sideswipe knew what to look for. The spring was back in his step, and his doorwings rode high on his shoulders. Sideswipe had stopped pressing himself on Prowl, letting the tactician recover at his own pace. It gave the second-in-command a sense of control that soothed his frayed circuits.
"You don't have anything better to do, unless it's an assignment. And since I handle all of your assignments, you have nothing better to do." Prowl's flicked his doorwings, a dismissive gesture from any other mech. Sideswipe, however, read the joke, the humor in the angle of their brief decline.
"Aw come on, don't you have a patrol route that needs to be covered?" Sideswipe flashed his most put-out look. "Or something?"
The black and white mech tilted his chevron. "No, I'm sure that all patrol routes will have excess coverage for quite some time."
"Which is why you're taking your vacation?" Sideswipe asked, returning the original topic of their conversation. Sunstreaker waited for them at the entrance to the brig. He glared at the door, bouncing on his heels impatiently.
There was a moment of silence, during which the red twin could make out the soft sigh of a ventilator. He turned a little at that, wondering what was on the tactician's mind.
"War does not allow for a vacation, Sideswipe." Prowl hastened his pace. "Some of the crew is being reassigned to patrol Cybertron."
"Oh, really?"
The tactician stepped past the red mech, his doorwing banging against Sideswipe's shoulder tire. He glanced up at Sideswipe, and then looked to Sunstreaker.
"Hey, Sunny, sounds like we're going to-"
"You're not going."
Sideswipe looked at Prowl in surprise. "But we're your best front liners..."
Prowl frowned at Sideswipe, his optics bright. "And you're too reckless." He paused, his doorwings drawing back while he considered his next words. "Jazz doesn't think you're suited for what he needs, and Prime agrees."
Sideswipe's optics widened. 'Jazz?'
"You mean, we're stuck on this slagging dirtball, while you guys go have all the fun?" Sunstreaker's fingers creaked as he clenched his fists.
Prowl keyed in the entry code and gestured for the twins to precede him. "I highly doubt it will be much fun, Sunstreaker." He entered the brig, heading for the cells practically assigned to the twins.
Sideswipe frowned down at the black and white mech. "This was Jazz's idea?"
Prowl paused just in front of the red mech. "I do know Jazz's techniques and methods better than anyone. Besides, I imagine that Prime doesn't want to split us apart. I believe he is trying to do us a favor."
Sideswipe stared at the white helm as Prowl opened Sunstreaker's cell. Prowl wasn't one to imagine, or believe. Anger sparked in his circuits as he took in Prowl's words. He looked up at his brother, but Sunstreaker stared at the wall, no doubt imagining someone else.
"Can't..." Black hands clenched. "Can't you talk Prime into letting us go?"
Sunstreaker's bars came online just as the main door opened to admit Ultra Magnus. The unit commander came into the brig, Springer, Hot Rod and Arcee on his heels. Springer glanced at Sideswipe, but turned his head away from Sunstreaker. The other two openly glared as Ultra Magnus took them farther into the brig and opened three adjacent cells.
The red twin didn't have to look at his brother to know the anger that smoldered there. "You don't want to leave Sunny here with them, Prowl. This would be just the beginning," Sideswipe turned to Ultra Magnus, trying to appeal to the large truck for the sake of his subordinates.
Prowl gestured Sideswipe into his own cell. He glanced at the large blue mech briefly. "I will consider your request."
The two officers left after settling their charges in.
Sideswipe vented a sigh, hearing nothing but Sunstreaker's deadly silence next to him. He went to the wall, and leaned against it. He sifted through Prowl's words, not wanting to miss anything his lover said. Not wanting to add anything that wasn't there. He buzzed in annoyance as Sunstreaker continued his silent vigil of the other three occupants, even if he couldn't see them.
Sideswipe knew that his brother was a coiled spring ready to snap into action at an astrosecond's notice. The golden warrior listened for anything, ready to react.
"Fraggit, Sunny.."
A soft scrape of metal on metal was the only clue that his brother was listening.
"Just what the slag was all that about, anyways?"
Ironhide and Jazz waited for Ultra Magnus and Prowl to come out of the brig. The Security Officer wore a scowl fit to set circuits on fire. Jazz stepped forward first.
"What's with your breaking protocol to escort them down to the brig by yourself, Prowlie? 'Sides ain't ya supposed to be off the duty roster, unless it's related to the mission." Jazz reached out to draw the tactician closer.
Prowl tensed as he stepped into the circle of Jazz's arm. "I am perfectly capable of escorting two miscreants to the brig, Jazz."
"Those two?" Something akin to a growl rumbled through the saboteur's frame. "We all know how unpredictable they can be Prowlie," Jazz rapped the back of his fingers against Prowl's bumper, "especially Sunny when he's in a temper."
Prowl slipped out from under the Porsche's arm, holding his doorwings up and forward. "Do you doubt my ability that much, Jazz?"
Jazz frowned. "Nah, man, that ain't what I meant. I'm just sayin' that they got a temper." His visor tilted and dimmed as he narrowed his optics. "After all, they're yer best front liners, righ'? They've both done some serious damage to some of the crew."
Prowl stiffened, holding his doorwings from drawing back, and rerouting the power that wanted to blaze in his optics. "If nothing is done to provoke them, then usually there is no problem." He turned to Ironhide. "Sideswipe will be cleaning the bulkheads in the forward compartments when he gets out tomorrow."
The Security Officer nodded. "Sure thing Prowl, but I gotta say, I completely agree with Jazz. Ya shouldn't be breakin' protocol like that. Especially when Sunny's in a mood-"
Prowl lifted his brow ridges. "Has he ever attacked you when you were escorting him to the brig?"
"Well, no... But he puts up one pit of a fight..." Ironhide shifted uncomfortably.
"That's only when you handle him roughly, and scratch his paint, Ironhide." Prowl tilted his head, optics flashing. "It's simply a matter of knowing the mech you're dealing with." His brow ridge lifted. "Surely, you would have learned that by now." Prowl looked up at the bigger mech evenly. "I'm certain you will have Sideswipe's cleaning supplies ready for tomorrow."
The Security Officer rumbled affirmatively and moved down the hall.
"I guess I gotta scat if I'm gonna get ready for my own work tomorrow." Jazz tilted a speculative frown at the tactician, and Prowl returned the regard coolly. The saboteur leaned toward the tactician, his ventilations a soft puff of air on Prowl's lips.
Prowl stood stock still, fingers digging into his thigh. 'Part of the arrangement,' he told himself, 'part of our cover.' They would continue the charade of being partners until such a time as Prowl reasoned they could end it without drawing suspicion. No matter how many times he told himself that, he couldn't suppress the discomfort that came from Jazz's face hovering so close to his own.
The saboteur didn't say anything about Prowl's relationship with Sideswipe. They wouldn't imply that he'd known about it for far longer than he truly had, nor would they say that Jazz had done such an unsavory thing as to blackmail and rape his fellow Autobot, much less a ranking officer.
Jazz tilted his audio horns toward Ultra Magnus, in silent reminder of the show they needed to put on, his fingers curling over the tactician's shoulder tires. The saboteur scooted another step closer, covering Prowl's lips with his own. One of the black hands slid around the tactician's neck, resting lightly even as he pulled Prowl in to deepen the kiss. Prowl's systems churned with remembered helplessness and that feeling burned through his circuits.
Jazz tucked their chestplates together, his hands far gentler than they ever were when he had control of their relationship. Prowl had to suppress the tremor that wanted to shake through his frame, he'd almost preferred Jazz's rough handling to this newfound tenderness. A caress along his bumper was the final straw.
Prowl's doorwings angled back, and his optics burned. He turned his head away from Jazz, making sure not to look toward Ultra Magnus. "I don't like public displays, Jazz. You know this." He did his best not to spit those words out, but his vocalizer still buzzed with emotion.
The normally jovial mech smiled bitterly. "Don't like public displays? Or don't like displays in front'a Ultra Magnus?" Jazz released him and turned with a wave toward the unit commander.
Prowl watched the black and white saboteur walk down the hall, trying to quell the unease that grated through him.
"If you don't like him touching you, why are you with him?"
Prowl felt his systems seized at that softly delivered query. He turned toward Ultra Magnus, forcing his doorwings down into a more relaxed position. His optics still burned and he looked away quickly. "I just don't like public displays."
The big blue mech gave a noncommittal hum that made Prowl cringe.
"You're not jealous, are you?" Prowl allowed a partial smile to pull at his mouth.
Ultra Magnus didn't even reset his optics. "Hardly. Merely expressing concern for a friend. You don't normally stay in situations that you can't control." He tilted his head, frown in place.
"All relationships have their rusty spots, Magnus. Especially so for one between two mechs like myself and Jazz." Prowl offered up a smile for his friend. He could equally compare it to the relationship he shared with Sideswipe, though it made his logic circuits ache to do so. They were so different, and yet managed to maintain a healthy relationship, excepting recent occurrences.
Ultra Magnus' gaze drifted from Prowl to the closed door, and his lips pulled down again. "His baseless accusation about Sideswipe?"
Prowl gestured Ultra Magnus ahead of him. "That is a part of it. My inability to remove myself from the Ark has not been of any help to us. And their constant trouble is what lead to the accusation."
The big blue mech drew his stare from the closed brig door and to turn it on the tactician. "That might also be why Optimus didn't want them accompanying you to Cybertron."
Prowl paused, glad that Ultra Magnus wasn't looking his way to see the flickering emotion on his face. "I... hadn't thought of that." Maybe Prime didn't know the truth? It was a dim hope that his battle computer darkened with its pessimistic view.
Since when did he view the truth that was in his numbers as anything less than fact?
He turned his processor from those illogical thoughts. Instead he began considering Sideswipe's request. He had intended to attempt to persuade Optimus anyways, but it was good to know that the warrior wanted to accompany them. Should he have ever doubted Sideswipe?
Ultra Magnus' quiet presence at his shoulder reminded Prowl that he was supposed to be giving the unit commander a sit rep. His doorwings dipped a little in embarrassment as he turned to Ultra Magnus with an apology.
"It's okay, I could see that your processor was on something else." The big mech was silent as he followed the tactician into his office. "Prowl…" Ultra Magnus paused as though uncertain of how to approach the topic that cycled in his circuits.
Prowl paused in rounding his desk, turning his full attention on his vorns-old friend, his former lover. He waited patiently as his less verbose comrade processed his words.
"Prowl," Ultra Magnus began again, "lying to Jazz is not a healthy way to maintain a relationship. If you have your optics on someone else, then you shouldn't stay with him," Ultra Magnus vaguely jerked his head to indicate Jazz.
Prowl quietly regarded the big blue mech. Ultra Magnus suspected; Prowl knew this. Ultra Magnus knew Prowl like no other, besides perhaps Sideswipe. It would be logical to assume that he would see signs that Prowl could not hide. Ultra Magnus would also know that Prowl knew that the unit commander suspected. Prowl knew Ultra Magnus well enough, that he knew as long as nothing was said directly about the matter, Ultra Magnus would not feel obliged to say anything to Prime. It was a mutual, wordless understanding between the two mechs.
"I appreciate the advice, Ultra Magnus, but," 'Jazz knows' would be too close to revealing the truth, "I have my reasons for staying with Jazz at the moment. Once they are sorted out, we will mutually end the relationship." He completed the circuit of his desk to sit in his chair, giving him access to the controls and the files within Teletraan-1's databanks. He didn't miss the unit commander's narrow-eyed gaze, or the thin frown Ultra Magnus sent his way. "You are here for that sit rep. There's a lot to go through, and I still have my own work to take care of."
Ultra Magnus took the chair opposite Prowl. "Take your time, Prowl. The night cycle has just started."
Prowl went over the information with Ultra Magnus, pausing every so often to clear one of his datapads. Even as he did so, he organized an argument for bringing the twins to Cybertron. The topic carried him into restless recharge and he onlined to muffled shouting with the problem still running through his battle computer. A query sent to Ironhide confirmed that it was just the brig residents. Apparently Sunstreaker had finally broken his silent fuming, forcing Prowl forced to deal with that, starting the day cycle earlier than he might have liked.
He didn't dare try to rationalize his reasons for convincing Optimus. His battle computer wouldn't be able to withstand the largely emotional decision.
So he found himself bringing his daily report to Optimus, the datapad clenched tightly in his grasp. He held his doorwings at a stiffly neutral position, doing his best not to let his agitation show. Bringing up Sideswipe and Sunstreaker with Optimus Prime could quite likely cause more trouble than Prowl wanted. Yet he could not rest easy with the knowledge that Jazz would be accompanying the mission in their place.
He handed the datapad to the Autobot Commander, outlining the most relevant bits of information aloud. Optimus nodded, drumming his fingers on the energon cube sitting on his desk, his optics already scanning the datapad. Prowl waited, unusually nervous about speaking to his commander. Prime looked up, seeming to realize that Prowl still lingered. His hand pulled away from the energon cube, and he clasped his hands in front of himself, his gaze relentlessly pounding into Prowl's optics. "Did you need something, Prowl?"
Prowl mentally squared his shoulders. "I wish to ask you to reconsider taking Sideswipe and Sunstreaker along."
Prime drew back, his optics dimming.
Prowl continued on, determined not to let Optimus shut him out without even being heard. "Allowing them to take part in the mission could increase the success rate of any battles by ninety-three percent. They are our best front liners for a reason, Optimus. The Dinobots are too inexperienced, and unfamiliar with Cybertron's terrain, their rashness is actually more of a detriment than you might realize. Their presence decreases the success of a battle by twenty percent. Cliffjumper is also known for his rashness and there's a forty-six percent chance that he will disobey orders and need rescuing."
Prime's vocalizer buzzed in a polite attempt to halt Prowl, but the tactician plowed on.
"If last night is any indication, the likelihood of Sunstreaker repeating his attack upon Springer or his bondmates is eighty-seven percent. Taking both him and Sideswipe out of the equation will allow Ultra Magnus' unit to acclimate to Earth that much more quickly. " Prowl paused, only long enough to draw his doorwings higher on his shoulders. "Sideswipe's jetpack will be of great use in patrolling Cybertron-"
"Prowl," Optimus cut in, silencing the tactician just as much with his stern gaze as with his powerful tone, "I don't believe you are looking at this objectively enough."
Prowl tensed, doorwings riding higher on his shoulders. "I don't understand what you mean, sir."
The Autobot Commander leaned forward, his optics flashing. "You are certain there is no ulterior motive behind Sunstreaker or Sideswipe joining the mission?"
Prowl stared at Prime wordlessly for a brief astrosecond. Guilt churned through his processor and chipped away at the fine balance between his emotional programming and his battle computer. He hated lying to his commander. That it hadn't been uncovered after all this time was almost beyond the comprehension of his battle computer, even though he had used it to avoid detection. He hated breaking Prime's trust like this. "No Prime, there are no ulterior motives behind my suggestion."
The Autobot Commander was silent for a breem, his thumbs tapping together as he regarded his second-in-command. "Very well, then Prowl. The front line has not moved. Earth is still in danger with the Decepticons here. This is the perfect opportunity for the Dinobots to learn about warfare on Cybertron. You know their vagaries so much better than Ultra Magnus, I suspect that you'll be able to up those odds to a more acceptable percent. As for the display last night, I'm certain that Ultra Magnus knows how to deal with delinquent soldiers. They are two soldiers, when I am asking him to build a city. If I didn't think he could handle Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, I would never have suggested he take this endeavor himself."
"I'm sorry, Prowl, but my answer is still no."
Sideswipe quietly scrubbed the walls, his headlights and optics the only illumination for him to see by. As he scrubbed at the bulkhead, he ran his fingers over the long grooves that dented the metal. He could tell, by the shape, and the depth which ones were his; which were made by Prowl. Prowl's slighter hands, more suited to the dexterity required in handling a gun, and datawork, left shallower, narrow grooves. Sideswipe paused, his optics darkening as he splayed his hand over a palm print. His hand easily covered the mark, but the memory of how it got there, how Prowl had writhed over him, white hand slamming into the wall, turned his engine.
Down here, they could meet. Down here, they could enjoy one another's presence almost without worry of being discovered. Those who did happen upon them could easily mistake Prowl for the similarly shaped gunner, as this was an occasional meeting place for Sideswipe and Bluestreak
Down here, he could be away from the brig, where Sunstreaker was likely still having a shouting match with Springer, and the other two. It had earned all four of them extra time, because their shouting could be heard throughout a good portion of the ship. Granted Sideswipe had joined in for a while, but soon he just huddled in the corner, covering his audio horns, which is how Ironhide found him when the security officer came to pull him out.
His receptors still buzzed from their shouting.
He took a moment to swipe at one of his jointed horns.
Hands abruptly slammed him into the wall, and a shorter mech pressed against him,
"I sent you down here to clean the bulkheads, not yourself," a voice rumbled in his audio horns. The white hands moved from his shoulder plates to his sides, digging into the seams there.
"But I was in a fight yesterday and haven't had a chance to clean up." Still pressed into the wall, he reached up with the scrubpad to swipe at his cheekguard. "I'm just doing what I can now, while nobody's looking."
The weight lifted off the warrior's back and a hand touched his arm in a silent request for Sideswipe to turn. The red twin obliged, wrapping an arm around his lover's shoulders and pulling Prowl in for a hug.
Prowl, however, pushed away, his optics dim, although he kept his hands on the red twin. "I can't stay." Despite his words, the white hands grasped Sideswipe's cheekguards, pulling the warrior's head down for a kiss. Prowl indulged for a breem or two, lips moving needfully; sensuous in a way that made Sideswipe twinge with regret. He had almost been no better than Jazz in the way that he had expected Prowl to give without objection. His grip on the tactician's arms tightened as he returned the kiss.
"Then why did you come down here?" he murmured just before Prowl pulled away.
The black and white doorwings flicked irritably. "I didn't want you to think that I was forgetting you." His gaze focused on the wall behind Sideswipe. "I was unable to talk Prime into letting you and Sunstreaker come. I'm sorry."
Sideswipe leaned his head back, not letting go of his lover's shoulder struts. "Does he know, Prowl? I thought you said he didn't believe Jazz."
"I said that Jazz provided no evidence to his accusation. Prime is suspicious, but that is all." He gently pulled Sideswipe's hands away from his arms. "I need to return."
"Why aren't you recharging?" Sideswipe could hear every motor in Prowl's body seize, even though he still stared at the ceiling. He glanced down at his lover, watching the tactician's optics dim.
"I..." he hesitated, doorwings drooping as Sideswipe watched him struggle to put words to his feelings. "It's hard to explain. It makes..." His brow furrowed and he looked up at Sideswipe. "It makes no logical sense."
Sideswipe crossed his arms over his chestplate, and leaned his shoulders into the bulkhead behind him. This was typical; Prowl, normally an eloquent speaker, had trouble putting words to his emotions. Especially ones that came out of nowhere, such as his initial attraction to Sideswipe. It tested Sideswipe's not-so-limitless patience. "Try."
"It's Jazz…"
Sideswipe straightened, optics blazing, vocalizer hissing with static. "What'd that fragger do, this time, Prowl? We had an agreement!"
Prowl frowned, his optics flashing at the Lamborghini's interruption. "Do not interrupt me, Sideswipe. I don't have the time to argue with you. He has done nothing untoward since we made that agreement." Prowl turned to look down the hallway, his doorwings flicking. "And remember, that although he agreed, it was not willingly." His voice muted to a bare whisper that Sideswipe had to strain to hear. "Not with you and Sunstreaker standing on either side, having beaten him to slag." He turned his gaze back on the warrior. "You are aware that he approached me in my quarters?" He barely waited for Sideswipe's nod before he plowed on, glancing down the corridor again. "When I try to recharge, I can feel him touching me. It's as though he is there on the berth with me and I have to activate my optics to prove to my mind that he's not." Prowl edged away from Sideswipe. "It's not logical, not at all."
"Dreams?"
"We do not dream, Sides."
Sideswipe's shoulders sagged helplessly, unsure of what he could do to help his lover. "Why the frag didn't you say anything before? Primus, you've been going the past few decacycles without any recharge. No wonder Ratchet was so fritzed!" Sideswipe grabbed his lovers shoulder tires and shook him. "You need to take better care of yourself!"
Prowl twitched. "It has been over half a stellar cycle since I was able to recharge in my quarters."
Sideswipe's fists tightened. "And you never said anything?"
The tactician tilted his head, shrugging a doorwing. "I was able to relieve some of my need when I was with you. I need to return to my duties." He leaned forward, pulling Sideswipe closer with a light grip on his shoulder. "I will see you later." Prowl brushed light lips across the warrior's own.
Sideswipe swept a hand up to cup the tactician's face, nuzzling Prowl's cheek. "Prime doesn't know, right?"
"He can only suspect, and that is just as bad, Sides. I will not be able to change his mind."
Unwilling to watch his lover walk away yet, Sideswipe grabbed the white hand. "Is your leaving Jazz's suggestion?"
Prowl glanced at Sideswipe's hand on his. "Jazz made a valid point in suggesting my presence on the mission." He eased his hand out of Sideswipe's fingers. "Just as Prime made valid points about not allowing you and Sunstreaker to accompany us." The tactician's demeanor changed, his doorwings rising, and his optics flashing in warning. "I'm sorry, but you'll just have to reason with Sunstreaker if you want peace and quiet."
Sideswipe straightened, scowl in place as Ultra Magnus came into view. The unit commander's large optics widened as he noticed Prowl.
"Optimus is looking for you, Prowl." The carrier's gaze turned to Sideswipe and the warrior snapped about, irritably.
"Fragging have to put up with Sunny, and his stupid issues," Sideswipe grumbled at himself.
He could hear them as they turned a corner. He waited a breem, and then his fist slammed into the wall, adding to the multiple dents already there. "Slag you, Jazz!" he hissed. It would be a gross understatement to say that Jazz and Prowl going to the Moon Bases together, without Sideswipe or even just Sunstreaker, made the red twin uncomfortable. He knew the saboteur had something planned, and he hated what it would cost Prowl to keep up appearances.
The training room, at the best of times, was hardly quiet. With a second unit in residence, cacophony couldn't begin to describe the its state. Washed and his paint touched up, it was the most logical place for Sideswipe to go. That and Sunstreaker was already there, having finally been let out of the brig.
He paused in seeing Fireflight talking with a large orange triplechanger at the entrance to the training room. He recognized the strange mech as one of the ones that seemed to center themselves around Springer...
Oh, Primus...
Sideswipe pushed past the two flirting mechs, shoving against the triplechanger's shoulder aggressively.
"I hope you realize he hasn't even been aware for a half a vorn yet."
The triplechanger jerked, glancing down at the younger mech. "Say what? Wasn't he part of the original-"
"Nope."
Fireflight glared at Sideswipe, unappreciative of the intrusion. Sideswipe clicked his vocalizer at the young mech, grinning. He threaded his way through the spectators. His tall frame, and the elevated height of the fighting area allowed him to easily view the two mechs tangled together on the mat.
He wasn't entirely surprised to find his brother up there, but he had truthfully expected a green mech with him (maybe red, the pink one was no match for Sunny, and couldn't be stupid enough to try him). Instead a blue-hued mech wrestled Sunstreaker in the ring, Sideswipe caught glimpses of massive drills peeking out from within the mech's leg seams. Another one of those that hung around Springer?
Sideswipe's circuits crawled with unease as he noticed how close the so-called 'Wreckers' were to the ring. He didn't see Springer or either of his bondmates anywhere nearby. An enraged yell attracted his attention back to the ring.
The Wrecker had rammed a fist through the warrior's left foot. Sunstreaker shouted again, wordless and furious; he lashed out with his other foot, snapping the blue mech's head back. The other leapt to his feet and lunged for the golden mech, no longer concerned with training protocols, but driven by anger. They ripped at each other, and the crowd watching them shifted uncertainly.
There was the sound of metal tearing and suddenly another mech (Headspin, wasn't it?) leapt onto the fighting area, throwing himself at Sunstreaker. Sideswipe tensed, watching the two mechs gang up on his brother.
"Sides?"
The red twin glared at gunner. "Don't call me that, Bluey." His expression softened at Bluestreak's offended scowl. "What'd you want?"
"You're not going to...?"
Sideswipe turned his face back to the fighting mechs as Sunstreaker threw the new one into the crowd. Bluestreak moved closer, touching Sideswipe's arm.
"They're pretty tough, Sideswipe."
Sideswipe crossed his arms over his chestplate, watching Headspin climb back into the fighting area. "So's Sunny."
Sunstreaker wrenched his first sparring partner around, favoring his left foot. The Wrecker noticed this, and stomped on the damaged foot, eliciting a snarl from Sunstreaker. A golden hand lashed out and glass shattered.
The blue mech cried out, hand going to his optics.
"Twist!" Headspin rushed over to his comrade, pulling the drill's hands away to look at the broken optics. The other's visor flared as he whirled on Sunstreaker. "You slagger! Why'd you go and do that?"
The Lamborghini easily brushed off the white mech's furious punches. "He slagging put a fragging hole in my foot!" Sunstreaker threw himself into a roundhouse kick, the lights flashing off his golden finish in a brilliant display.
Headspin landed with a grunt, sliding to the edge of the mat.
Bluestreak edged closer to the red warrior, his touch turning into a halting grip.
Another blue Autobot pulled himself onto the mat, his monocular gaze flicking from Sunstreaker to the fallen mech, "Heard you couldn't control your temper, Sunny." Sunstreaker tensed at that name. "You really need to learn." The single optic turned to the white mech. "Spin, you okay?"
Sideswipe didn't hear the white mech's answer, as Bluestreak suddenly began speaking again. "You haven't been hearing it, cause you were down in the forward compartments. The Wreckers are fritzed at Sunny because of that fight with Springer and his bondmates. They've been twitching to take him on."
Sideswipe eased away from the doorwing that brushed his shoulder plating. Uncomfortable at the proximity of the grey gunner, yet unable to move away without hurting his occasional lover's feelings, the red twin frowned down at Bluestreak, running his words through his mind.
"What the frag do they care about it? It doesn't concern them."
Bluestreak looked up at the warrior in surprise, forcing Sideswipe to smooth away his frown. "Springer's their leader."
Blue optics widened in realization, and then Sideswipe turned and pulled himself onto the fighting area, suddenly aware of the harsh words passing between Sunstreaker, and the three mechs facing off against him, the orange triplechanger having joined his two comrades.
"Come on you slagging aftheads, I can take you all on!"
Sideswipe pelted toward the sudden brawl throwing himself in without a thought of the consequences. He pulled no punches as he landed hit after hit on anyone that came too close, even the ones trying to break up the fight. Words boomed in his audio horns but so lost in the desire to defend his brother was he, they made no sense. Everything was a blur of metal that bent under his blows, he only cared if it belonged to the three Wreckers.
Large hands suddenly grabbed his arms, yanking him off his feet, and dangling him in the air. He saw the other four participants in the fight in similar positions, each hanging from a Dinobot's hand.
"Me, Grimlock, say, what fight for?" The irritated red-visored gaze swept all five, including the one in his grasp. When no answer came forth, the Dinobot growled in anger. "You not have answer? Talk to him, Ultra Magnus, and him, Prowl, maybe then have answer."
Sideswipe scowled fiercely, meeting his brother's gaze. They both knew what would come of this.
Sideswipe lost count of the number of times his brother went into the brig. He lost count of who picked what fight, at what time, in what place. He knew that in the past few decacycles Sunstreaker had spent more time in the brig than out, and the constant fighting strained the relationships between the Ark-based Autobots and their Cybertronian reinforcements.
Sideswipe knew, and appreciated, that most of the fights occurred nowhere in the vicinity of the red mech. Sideswipe would never stand by as anyone attacked his brother, and it had landed him in the brig a few times as well.
He actually wouldn't have minded so much, except that disciplinary measures had started to get handed out by Ultra Magnus instead of Prowl, which took away that opportunity to see his lover. The few times he ran across the tactician in the hall, Prowl never even had time to stop and reprimand the warrior for any of his recent, and rather frequent infractions. The medical orders for Prowl to rest seemed to have fallen through the crack while they prepared to leave. Occasionally as he passed by the med bay he could hear Ratchet ranting at Prowl, or Wheeljack when the tactician was scarce, about his orders being so thoroughly disregarded.
The date had been set, and as it drew closer, Sideswipe began to honestly worry that he wouldn't have any time with Prowl before they left. He started to try to arrange time, thinking that Prowl was so caught up in his work he'd forgotten the warrior, but even when the tactician agreed to a rendezvous, he never showed. Quiet inquiries revealed that Prime had Prowl running to and from the local cities at unexpected hours to retrieve necessary supplies or meet with particular people.
He wanted to see Prowl, to touch his doorwings and to hear his voice. Bluestreak was a poor substitute, but it was all he had; hoping that Prowl would have a few cycles free. At the least, there was always after he returned from Cybertron. Or maybe, Sideswipe would be able to join them on the Moon Base.
When he and Sunstreaker received the summons to Prime's office, where Ultra Magnus and Prowl both waited next to Prime's desk, his hope sparked along his circuits, cycling through his processor. Prowl looked up, but turned away just as quickly to speak softly to Ultra Magnus.
"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, thank you for coming so promptly." The Autobot Commander put aside the datapad he had been working on.
"Oh, you know we like having our recharge disturbed at your leisure, sir. Not like we had anything else planned."
Optimus rumbled in amusement as the other two glared at Sideswipe. "Well, I'm sorry about the odd hour, Sideswipe, but this was the most convenient time for this. I assure you, I would like nothing more than to send you back to your recharge berths and be in my own." Prime tapped his fingers together, his optics turning to Sunstreaker. "Sunstreaker, your inability to peacefully reside with your fellow Autobots has forced me to reconsider the recommendation to allow you to accompany us to Cybertron. Your fights are disturbing even our human visitors, and I will not tolerate that while the City is being built."
Sideswipe rocked forward onto his toe joints, his optics wide with barely contained excitement. Sunstreaker regarded Prime with unconcerned optics, though they flickered briefly at Sideswipe.
"So you're going to let us come to beat up some Cons?" A smile stretched itself across the warrior's face.
Prime's optics darkened. "I asked you to come here, Sideswipe, to make certain that you understood the orders."
Sideswipe's grin melted.
"Sunstreaker will be accompanying us."
"Just Sunstreaker?" the red twin's voice rose into a despondent whine.
Sunstreaker's disinterested air suddenly dissolved and he stood straighter. Arms that had been crossed over his chest dropped to his side. "You can't be serious."
"Yes, and I am." Optimus turned his gaze from one brother to the other and back again. Then his gaze centered on Sideswipe, and the warrior who would happily jump on Starscream midflight, who would willingly and eagerly kick the shins of Devastator, shrank down like a berated child. "I am certain that you both can understand why it is necessary for Sunstreaker to accompany us."
The relentless stare made Sideswipe drop his own optics, looking down at the spotless orange floor. He didn't even dare glance toward Prowl, not with Prime's accusing glare still on him. His fists clenched and he lifted wide, pleading optics to Prime. "You're separating us, Prime?"
Optimus lifted his brow ridge. "Sunstreaker has shown that he cannot work with the mechs based here. You have no such problem."
"Consider it an opportunity to learn and grow, Sideswipe. He can't be there with you forever," Prowl's stern voice suddenly cut in.
Sideswipe shot the Datsun a surprised look, never having expected those words to come from his lover's vocalizer. Prowl's doorwings rose slightly as he frowned at the warrior, but his dim optics put a lie to his body language. Sideswipe didn't know if he could let it go so easily though. They were taking Sunny away from him! "What part of us being twins do you not understand?" Hurt filtered through his hopelessness, and he wondered if this was Prowl's idea; his doing.
Sunstreaker stepped closer to Sideswipe. "I ain't going anywhere without Sideswipe," the golden mech's voice growled, his engine rumbling with ire.
Optimus' turned flashing optics on the other twin. "You are, even if we need to have Ratchet immobilize you and drag you on the shuttle; you are coming."
'He was mad,' Sideswipe realized. Prowl was lying to him, and Prime knew this, but had no way of proving it, and he was mad, perhaps even furious. "Is this punishment?" Realizing too late that he'd spoken those words aloud, Sideswipe met Prime's expectant gaze.
"And just what do you think I am punishing you for, Sideswipe?"
Sideswipe caught the briefest of shifts in Prowl's postures, the soft scrape of metal as the black and white doorwings dipped. "You're punishing Sunny, but do you have to hurt me, too?" He didn't even try to keep the hurt out of his vocalizer. "You don't even know how long you'll be gone, do you?" He turned to look at all three of the officers. "Do you?" None of them answered, or even winked an optic. He focused back on Prime, emotions heaving through his circuits and churning through his fuel tanks, panting out of his ventilators; desperation, hopelessness, betrayal. "You'll do this, because those fraggers out there," he jabbed sharply toward the door, "don't know how to talk to Sunny?"
Sunstreaker's fists creaked as he tightened them, never relenting the glare he directed at Prime, not unless it was to direct it at Prowl.
"Because they don't know when it's best to just leave him alone? It's not like he's the only one that's starting those fights, it's the Wreckers, and Hot Rod, and even Arcee. Springer should know better, he knew Sunny, or I thought he did."
"Wouldn't you agree, then, that it would be best to remove your brother from those who would continue to antagonize him?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"You don't have to take me away from Sides to do it," Sunstreaker scowled. "Let him come." The scowl morphed into pleading, an expression Sunstreaker never wore if he could help it. He looked at Prime, optics glowing softly in supplication. "Please?"
"He is needed here on Earth, Sunstreaker. Prowl, if you would take Sunstreaker and give him a sit rep of the mission."
Prowl nodded and moved away from where he stood next to Prime's desk, beckoning the yellow Lamborghini to follow him.
Sunstreaker glanced at Prowl, the scowl back in place, optics alight in rage. "This is a heap of cold slag. I don't see you punishing any of those retrorats like this, but I have to leave."
Prowl paused, frowning as he looked back. "Sunstreaker, that's enough. The decision has been made. Come with me." Prowl turned fully around, doorwings twitching higher as Sunstreaker remained where he was. "That is an order, Sunstreaker," the authoritative tone brooked no argument and the golden mech reacted almost without thought, taking two steps toward the tactician.
He froze, face blank.
"Sunstreaker, you are dismissed. Don't make it be said again," Prime said.
Prowl flicked his doorwings, the only indication he gave of surprise. Sideswipe caught the brief glance the black and white mech threw his way. Prime wasn't excusing him, Sideswipe realized. Too much of the Autobot Commander's attention was focused on the red twin for his own comfort.
Sunstreaker's engine ground as he moved to follow the second-in-command.
"I suppose I should go catch up on some more of that datawork," Ultra Magnus said after a moment. The new Earth-side commander walked out, but not without first tossing a quiet look down at the warrior.
Sideswipe turned his attention from the receding footsteps of his lover and his brother, to apprehensively turn his attention back on Prime.
"Sideswipe..."
Sideswipe immediately knew that he wouldn't like what Prime was about to say, and lifted his chin defiantly. "What, Prime?"
The Autobot commander's optics narrowed, but he didn't comment on the insubordination. "Sideswipe, I realize that you are sworn by duty to obey the orders given to you by your commanding officers. However, this does not give them a right to wield their authority over you and use you for their own amusement. Any officer, who is taking advantage of you in this manner, is not doing so with my permission. It is not within their purview to ask anything illicit of you. Sideswipe, has an officer been acting out of line in regards to his treatment of you?"
He waited two astroseconds, keeping his expression relaxed, before giving his answer, not wanting to respond too quickly, nor look like he was thinking up a suitable lie. "N-"
"I will be most... angry, if I discover that you are not being truthful with me, Sideswipe."
"No, sir." He met Prime's optics with his own unflinching gaze.
The blue helmet tilted. "There is nothing you would wish to discuss with me? A reason for your desire to go to Cybertron?"
"None that I haven't already told you, sir."
The commander's optics darkened. "Very well then, Sideswipe." He paused, and Sideswipe felt any chance of ever peacefully revealing the truth slipping out of his grasp, and it panged him that he hurt his leader's trust like that. It pained him that he forced Prowl to do so on a regular basis. "If ever it should happen, that an officer abuses the trust that is placed in them, I don't want you to hesitate to bring it to my attention."
The red warrior bowed his head. "Of course not, sir."
The blue optics stared hard at the Lamborghini, before Prime lifted a datapad from the pile on his desk. "We are leaving first thing in the morning, Sideswipe. I would recommend you say your goodbyes to your brother, and your friends whom are leaving. Dismissed."
Sideswipe turned smartly and left, unable to shake the unease in his tanks. He wished he could explain to Optimus Prime that of all the mechs, and all the officers, Prowl would be the least likely to take advantage of any of his soldiers; no matter the relationship he harbored. Prowl knew how to differentiate the way he acted with someone on and off duty, but his workload prevented him from being off duty often enough for it to shine through.
Sideswipe froze. 'First thing in the morning? Why, that isn't even five cycles from now.' He hastened his pace, calling his brother in the hopes that he was still with Prowl. They hadn't even had a chance to lovingly insult one another, and Prowl would be leaving soon.
Sunstreaker answered muzzily, which meant that he was already back in his quarters (if not his, then at least someone's), recharging. Sideswipe caught Bluestreak's name within his brothers mumblings and headed for the Datsun's quarters, not caring who else he would disturb.
If he couldn't see Prowl, then nothing would keep him away from Sunstreaker. And he wouldn't let go until first thing in the morning.
Prowl looked out amidst the moving sea of metal. Friends parting company, lovers kissing in farewell. He averted his gaze from these intimate gestures, painful reminders of the red mech somewhere in that crowd, likely spending every last astrosecond with his hellion brother. His lover, whom the last words he'd spoken to had been perhaps the most cruel he had ever uttered, implying that one twin might possibly outlive the other. Even he had accepted as fact that should one die, the other was sure to follow; how he hated his programming sometimes.
In the mix of all those mechs, he could possibly slip a kiss onto his lover's frame, perhaps even his lips with none the wiser. Instead he was stuck here, directing personnel and the last of the supplies as the sun peeked over the horizon. Optimus had already retreated into the ship, readying the Xantium for its flight. He wouldn't be back out until they were ready to leave. Yet if Prowl left his station, he would surely be missed, and sought out, and noticed in the company of his lover.
Jazz carried a crate up the ramp, a limp still in his step from his latest mission. He had only just returned the day prior, and had only the most basic of repairs, Ratchet promised that more would be done en route. He paused next to Prowl, sure smile ready on his face as he leaned over to press a kiss to Prowl's cheek seam.
Prowl looked askance at the mech, wondering at his cheerful mood. "Not in front of everyone, Jazz."
"Why? 'Fraid someone might notice?" He leaned in again, kissing Prowl's lips tenderly. "I haven't gotten t' see much of ya. Seems like my missions have been gettin' more dangerous, recently. Can't imagine why."
The tactician's optics flashed, the only concession he would make to that accusation. "A challenge never harmed anyone, Jazz. Consider it testing your limits." Prowl didn't want to exchange banter with Jazz, he wanted to resume his search for the red warrior that he hadn't properly spoken to for too long.
Jazz stared at Prowl, his grin fading briefly before he looked back into the crowd. "He's over by th' Protectobots, with Sunny and Blue. Don' think 'Aids takin' Ratch's leavin' very well."
Prowl's doorwings jerked upright in surprise and he shot a startled look at the saboteur who simply turned and resumed his march up the ramp. He homed in on the Protectobots, finally seeing the golden and red mechs, arms wrapped around each other in an endless embrace, and Bluestreak with his arms around them both.
Prowl turned away, his chronometer indicated that the departure time had swiftly approached. Everywhere he looked he saw farewells being exchanged. Mirage gripped Hound's arms as he kissed his bondmate, quite likely senseless, and Prowl hoped that Hound would be up to his launch duties. Wheeljack and Ratchet huddled together, grey hands caressing the medic's face as Ratchet's lips moved over the engineer's vocal indicators. Ironhide was already aboard, unable to stand the emotional overload of leaving his longtime comrades. Such displays were being demonstrated all throughout the landing field, and the one mech that Prowl truly wished to see was inaccessible.
"I suppose with Jazz aboard, no one's going to bother with you." Ultra Magnus stepped out of the ship.
"They have come and told me farewell as well." They had and Prowl had answered with as close to his normal tone as possible. Sideswipe hadn't left his brother's side, not even to see Prowl. Prowl's doorwings dipped, although he understood Sideswipe's reasons.
"All of them?"
"There are some who have not, but they are occupied with friends whom they don't know how long it'll be before they see." Prowl looked up at the soon-to-be city commander. "I will be most displeased if you don't take care of my crew, Magnus."
The blue mech rumbled with laughter. "They are my crew now, Prowl." He glanced down at the black and white mech. "But I'll be sure to take care of them." Ultra Magnus hesitated. "Anyone in particular?"
Prowl vented softly, his doorwings dipping. "All of them, Magnus."
Optimus put out a call for those leaving to board the ship, and Ultra Magnus moved down the ramp. Prowl looked for Sideswipe again, seeing that Sunstreaker already made his way toward the shuttle.
Sideswipe had his gaze intently focused on the black and white mech, staunchly ignoring the gunner next to him, despite the arm he had flung over Bluestreak's shoulders. Their gazes locked, a brief moment in time that could have stretched on forever and the world seemed to slow as Sideswipe tilted his head back in a sharp nod, his optics flaring, mouth set in a tight line. They could not even mouth the words, although 'I love you' buzzed within Prowl's vocalizer. He didn't say it often enough, he realized. Just as he knew that it bothered Sideswipe how rarely the tactician said it. Here he wanted to say it, he wanted to put a voice to the affection that he felt for the warrior, and he couldn't. All he could do was to lift his doorwings, and acknowledge Sideswipe's gesture, and rein the emotions in for the sake of his battle computer.
Prowl's vision broke into intermittent static as the incoming crew members forced him to move inside. The last he saw of Sideswipe was the warrior pulling Bluestreak into a tight embrace, that the gray mech eagerly returned. Would that he could imagine himself in those arms; hear the words he wanted to hear. Say the words stuck in his vocalizer.
He retreated down the corridor, pausing to rest his hand on the bulkhead, systems stuttering with the uncertainty of being stuck on a Moon Base with Jazz. Not knowing what Prime would throw at him next. His chevron brushed the wall, and he dug his fingers into the metal, a whine squeezing from between his dental plates.
He had never even had the chance to tell Sideswipe 'good-bye.'
AN: Not there just yet, but I'm both relieved and dreading reaching the impending last chapter. (No, I'm not going to dare say how many are left; only that there's very few.)
Thanks go to Tiamat1972 for looking it over.