I wrote this as a little backstory for a moment Violetwind mentions during chapter 5 of Until That Day. It didn't really fit having it within the story but it makes a perfect side story :-D

Morning Energon Coffee

"And this is how you make a hot cup of energon," Smokescreen placed a small energon cube into a metallic mug and moving towards a machine they bots liked to call a hot-box.

"That's like a human microwave, right? Won't the cup and handle get hot too? Actually, you can't put any metal into our microwaves, they advise against it..." Violetwind said, thinking about how she was always cautioned about doing such a thing lest the place catch alight.

"Well, it's not quite the same, except that they both heat up stuff," he replied, placing the mug into the machine..

"Can you tell me how they're different?"

"Nope," the mech said with a smile in her direction before pressing a button on the hot-box.

She raised an optic ridge at him, not at all satisfied with his simple, cheeky answer. Folding her arms she narrowed her optics as the timer on the box went down. "So, you don't know anything?"

Smokescreen shook his helm, "Nope. Don't know anything about either one so I can't help you out there."

"Well you're no help," the femme pouted, turning her gaze to the ground. "What about you Windy?"

::Um, they heat things up?::

With a chuckle he wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her closer. Violetwind didn't resist, letting him bring her to his side. She allowed a small smile to play on her lips from the action.

"But I am helping you. I'm helping you make our version of that odd drink humans call coffee. Don't you call that helping?" his teasing tone made her grin wider.

Violetwind opened her mouth to reply when the hot-box beeped.

"There we are," the mech let her go and retrieved the mug. Steam lifted into the air with its wispy tendrils above the cup.

Peering into it, she could see that the cube had melted into a thick liquid. She looked at it in confusion, "So that's it?"

"No." He reached over and picked up a jar with holes on the top. It reminded her of salt shakers back home, only larger; perhaps more like the parmesan shakers. With a quick grin at the femme, she sprinkled its contents onto his mug of energon. "You add stuff to it. My personal preference was manganese."

::I used to like grated gears with mine.::

"Oh, so it's like adding sugar or chocolate. That's kind of cool. Can I try it?" she reached out to take the cup from Smokescreen but he quickly yanked it out of reach.

He grinned cheekily, optics alight with playfulness. "Nuh uh. This one's mine. You're gonna need to make your own."

"Can't I just have a little sip?" she whined, trying to reach around him to get the mug.

The mech shook his head, holding her back with one hand and keeping the cup of steaming energon away from her with an outstretched arm. "I showed you how to make your own, so go ahead and do just that."

::Slag you, Smokescreen.::

"Hmph. Fine," she huffed, knowing that being larger than her there was no way she was going to be able to get it off him. Turning away from him to gather what she needed she muttered, "Some mech-friend you are. Won't even let his femme take a sip of his energon coffee."

After taking a drink of it himself, he lowered it back to his chest and grinned. "I know. I'm terrible. But you still love me."

Taking a mug for herself and popping an energon cube inside she teased, "I don't know. I'm sure I could find someone else. There are plenty of handsome eligible young mechs out there. And more arrive everyday on ships or are born from the Well."

That wiped the smile off his faceplates. A spark of jealous anger flashed through his optics. "Just let them try and court you," he growled, "None'll even get close as long as I'm around."

Placing the cup in the hot-box she pressed a few buttons to set the timer. Once it was going she turned around to smile at Smokescreen. Stepping over to him, she muttered softly, "You know I wouldn't let anyone take your place in my spark." Wrapping her arms around him in a hug, she lent her chin on his chestplates to look up at him. "We've been through so much together. And besides, you were my first friend since being in this body. First Autobot I met too."

His tense posture dissipated as her warmth radiated against him. With the mug still in hand he hugged her back, looking down at her with a coy smile. "And don't you forget it."

"Never."

Turning her helm to be more comfortable, she pressed her cheek onto his chestplate, simply listening to his sparkbeat. They remained like that for a little while, neither one wanting to let go, just enjoying the closeness, each lost in their own thoughts.

That was until Smokescreen broke it.

"How long did you set that thing for anyway? It should have been done by now." A look of concern crossed his faceplates.

"Um, same as you did, two tenths of a breem," Violetwind pulled back to look at the machine. The timer still had half a breem to go.

The mech's optics widened as he shoved his mug of energon into her hands and rushed towards the machine. Just as he was reaching for he door handle there was a blue flash and a boom. The hot-box exploded in front of him. The shockwave was small but still threw him off balance, as he raised his arms to shield himself.

Violetwind gave a small cry of fright, jumping back.

Blue flames danced from the box. Smokescreen quickly rushed over and grabbed the fire extinguisher from the wall. He proceeded to spray foam over the area, inhibiting the fire's spread.

Glancing back over at the femme he let out a sigh. "Don't ever put it in for too long."

"Um... Oops..." she grinned guiltily. Turning her gaze to the mug in her hands, she asked, "Am I allowed a sip of yours now then?"

Hope you liked! And if anyone has any suggestions for a better name of the microwave like thing, I'd be happy to hear it.
Oh and fun fact: while I've never blown up a microwave I have put my drink in for too long. It made such a mess. I couldn't help but recalling this moment and having a good laugh about art becoming life instead of just imitating it.