Hello! Sorry I didn't post basically all Summer! I was busier and more tired that I thought I would be. But I think I'll be writing more now. Thank you all for your support and the reviews. I love writing, but reviews are icing on the cake for me and make me so happy. Enjoy!
Chapter 7
Surprise House-Welcoming Party
"Party, party!" Starlight sings to herself as she bounces softly on the couch in Sunny's studio. "Go-in' ta a party!"
"Don't fall off that," Sunny says watchfully, giving her a sideways look as he doesn't quite turn away from washing his paint brushes.
Starlight's chin juts up immediately. "I big an' smart enough t' not fall off couches!" she retorts. "Mind ya business!"
Sunny quirks an optic-ridge up but doesn't answer. Nothing he could say would appease or appeal to this tiny femme, so there is no point in provoking her with more words. He just wishes Praxus had taken her along instead of leaving her on the couch for twenty-some minutes while he ran off to get a trinket or whatnot from someone.
"I'll be right back, very soon," Praxus had said, and Starlight had been content to wait. She was quite happy playing by herself as long as Sunny didn't bother her with any words.
So Sunny kept quiet. Aside from that little warning to not fall off the couch. He remembered falling off couch and stuff multiple times when he was little; how could he not say something?
The door swings open, and Sideswipe breezes in with a grin on his face.
"Are ya coming t' th'party, too?" Starlight asks him.
"You bet I am!" he answers, going over to the couch to scoop her up in a hug. "If there's music, do I get dance with you?"
She grins happily. "After I dance with Praxus. An' Pruddle. An Ironhide… an…"
"I'll just wait a bit, I guess," he teases, chuckling.
"Yeah," she giggles. "But maybe we'll jus' eat an' drink an' have games."
He plops her back down on the couch gently and caresses her helm. Then he goes to his brother.
"Looking good," he says, peering over at what Sunny had created thus far.
"Thanks," Sunny answers, washing his hands now, the brushes dripping dry.
"Everything's ready," Sides tells him just above a whisper. "Where's Prax?"
Praxus scampers in before Sunny can answer.
"There you are," Sides says. "You wanna be late for the party or something?" he teases.
"I just wanna look my glorious best," Praxus quips back, grinning. "Ironhide finished up my new armor pieces for my arms today, and I wanted to get them before he left the shop. I like them!" He holds out his arms for inspection, and Sideswipe taps an inspecting finger on the new armor.
"Nice!"
"And he added this bit of chrome here, which I really like."
"It does look good," Sides says with approval.
"Have fun with the extra polishing work," Sunny puts in.
Then a thump catches all three mechs' attention, and they look toward the sound to find Starlight sitting on the floor by the couch.
"I told you-" Sunny starts.
"I didn't fall off the couch!" Starlight squawks, interrupting sharply. "I fell after I stood on the floor."
"Starlight…" Praxus goes over to her with a bit of stress in his expression. "I know you don't like Sunny-"
"Yeah, he bad!"
"But you need to be polite," Praxus says as she picks her up tenderly. "And you need to not interrupt him. He doesn't interrupt you, you know. Can you try to work on that?"
Starlight's lower lip makes a small stubborn motion, but then she nods begrudgingly. Far be it that bad Sunny is more polite than she is. "I'll be polite."
"Thank you, sweet spark," Praxus says, snuggling her. "Did you want to see my new armor?"
"Yes!" she perks up instantly. "That why I got down from th'couch. I wanted t'see!"
Praxus shows her the armor, and she admires it.
"It nice fo' th' party," she comments, caressing the silky polish.
"You're excited for this party, aren't you?" Praxus notices.
"Yeah! It like a s'prise party, but we found out!"
Praxus chuckles at the description, but he agrees. Sunny had decided about two hours ago to have a party, and the party was that night. Praxus doubted Auri and Prowl would come, but they were invited. And some other bots were invited, too.
"Here's the address," Sunny says, passing Praxus a tiny scribble of data.
"You're not going with us?" Praxus asks.
"I gotta wash up," Sunny says. "Go on."
"So you're gonna be late for your own party?" Praxus asks.
Sunny chuckles. "Better late than unsightly. Now go."
"Okay, okay," Praxus says, catching just a hint of irritation in the golden mech's voice. "Are you coming?" he asks the other twin as he starts for the door with Starlight.
"Yeah," Sides says, "But I have to run an errand real quick first."
"You're both going to be late for your own party," Praxus laughs, teasing them as he slips out the door. It never occurs to him that they are waiting for him to clear the area so they can speed out an alternate route and reach the address before he does.
He is unaware, and Starlight is full of words and ideas. Her interest in colors is dormant at the moment, aside from red and purple; Auri coming to live with them is still her main excitement. Will they stay up telling stories every single night like they do on sleepovers? Will they have noodles every day? Will Auri come to kindergarten with her? Is it certain that Chromia and Ironhide won't come live with them, too? Will Flareup come stay when she visits earth?
Praxus is content to answer all the questions he knows the answers to, and to reserve others with "We'll have to ask Prowl about that one," or "We'll have to see what Auri thinks about that."
"I see mushy-faces!" Starlight sings out presently, and Praxus follows her pointing finger to where Prowl and Auri are standing up ahead and talking with each other, their optics glowing with delight and adoration, their body language flirting gently.
"Hello!" Praxus calls to them, wanting to give them a chance to finish up whatever they are saying before he and Starlight reach them.
"Hello!" Auri calls back, and Prowl tips a gracious wing.
"Are ya coming t'th party?" Starlight asks as they draw near.
"Yes, we are," Auri answers.
"Even Pruddle?" Starlight asks hopefully. She knows Prowl likes avoiding parties, but she likes having him around.
"Yes," Prowl answers with a twinkle in his optics. "Shall we go on together?"
They walk on toward the address Sunny had given Praxus, and they reach it before long. It seems rather quiet for a party place, and the door isn't even open. Praxus stops at the door with wings shifting as he checks the address.
"Why th'door closed up?" Starlight asks.
"I believe we are early," Prowl answers.
Starlight frowns, thinking about Sunny.
Auri smiles at her reassuringly, and her optics twinkle at Prowl as he moves toward the door. It's unlocked and opens easily.
Praxus peeks over her shoulder, and Starlight peers at the dark silent interior. "Why they no party?" she asks.
"Maybe we're extra early. We'll ask Sunny when he gets here," Praxus says, shifting a wing.
"Late-bot," Starlight says accusingly.
Prowl activates the lights, and Auri peeks in eagerly at their future home. There's a big couch, the perfect size of big for four or five Praxians, and it has end tables and a short table in front of it. Away from the couch, in its own space, there is a low table with cushions around it like they have at the Praxian clubhouse. There is a hallway on the opposite wall, and a door on the wall to the right. There's also a little kitchen area with a cupboard, an energon dispenser, and some nice counter space with a sink and cabinets below it.
"It's perfect so far," Auri whispers to Prowl, daring to say a word since Starlight and Praxus are talking to each other already.
"Is it a trick?" Starlight asks them.
"It looks like a good place for a small party," Prowl says. He kisses Auri gently and then leads her into the living room, their fingers interlocking.
"Maybe it a trick," Starlight says. Even Praxus looks a little suspicious now.
"Oh," Auri says, smiling. "It's safe."
"Nothing seems off," Prowl adds. "Aside from the dearth of guests."
"Maybe they're down the hallway," Auri suggests, eager to tour her home.
Starlight shakes her helm, but Praxus ventures into the room with her. He has mild suspicions, especially about the shut door on the one wall, but he still trusts Sunny.
"This way, Prax," Auri calls, her wings flicking up a little as the dark winger eyes the shut door.
They go into the hallway and find another door. Auri opens it against Praxus's advice and finds towels and blankets and sheets and cleaning supplies neatly on shelves.
"Weird," Praxus says. "Don't touch the stuff," he adds.
Prowl keeps a straight face and leads the way down the hallway until they come to several doors. He nudges open the first one, and it has a berth and a nightstand in it. The second one has two beds and a set of nightstands. The third one has a berth and a nightstand and a nice desk with shelves above it.
"Is this actually a house?" Starlight asks with wonder.
"It certainly looks like it," Prowl answers.
"Where are th' bots? What bots got this house?" she asks, her optics growing wider and wider. A house this big must hold a family with sparklings.
"Let's check out the backdoor," Prowl says. "We'll find out in time, I'm sure."
Praxus looks hard Prowl and harder at Auri. He has new suspicions. But Auri and Prowl just act like normal mushy-faces all happy with each other, and he follows them out the backdoor to a great little patio with a table and chairs.
"Where th' bots?" Starlight asks, looking around.
Praxus looks around, too. He can almost sense Ratchet. Maybe? "Maybe they're beyond that other door in the living room," Praxus says, eyeing Prowl.
"Maybe," Prowl agrees, double-checking the address.
They head back into the hallway and toward the living room. With Praxus in the lead and Starlight looking forward in curiosity, Prowl and Auri find it safe enough to grin at each other in delight. This house is going to be perfect.
Prowl stops Auri without warning and quickly draws her into a kiss as Starlight turns back to looks at them.
"Mushies," she giggles.
"Really," Praxus says, glancing over his shoulder at them. Then he hears a noise in the living room, and the look of suspicion returns to face. He hands Starlight to Prowl and then hurries ahead to investigate.
"SURPRISE!"
Praxus stares at the dozen or so bots who have crowded into the living room as the confetti flutters down around him.
"Ah, the look on your face," Sunny chuckles, draping an arm around Praxus's shoulders.
"What is this?!" Praxus demands, but he's not worried now.
"Welcome to your new home," Optimus says, gently shaking his end of the banner with those same words on it.
Praxus looks at the banner and at Optimus and then at Ultra Magnus who has the other end of the banner.
"Oh…" Praxus falters in wonder, looking around. His new home. So roomy and nice. He starts to smile.
"We wanted to surprise you," Prowl says gently. "Auri and I hadn't seen it before we arrived, either."
"It our house?!" Starlight asks in amazement, wanting to be sure she's understanding what the adults mean.
"It is our house," Auri confirms.
Starlight squeals with delight and wriggles happily. Then she hugs Prowl and then she reaches for Praxus. "It OUR house! It big fo sparklings!"
"It's perfect!" Praxus yelps with delight as he finally overcomes his wordless amazement.
"I smell noodles!" Starlight chirps a moment later.
"There are indeed noodles," Mirage answers from the little kitchen area. "That's why I had some for your surprise lunch today," he explains with a wink at the little femme.
"Now disperse," Ratchet tells the bots. "There are too many bots in this one room, and I won't have you stressing out Prowl."
"No, wait," Prowl says, lifting his voice slightly, surprising them all at this contradiction. He halfway smiles as he looks at them. Auri is standing partially in front of him, hiding his copper braid, and he's had her turn slightly away from the bots, hiding her own braid. "Thank you for-" he starts, but the panic of speaking before a crowd, albeit small, starts to freeze up his vocs. Auri slips her hand into his and grounds him. He cycles air through his system. "Th-thank you for coming to celebrate the joy of our new home with us," he says. He's sincere, but his words sound slightly forced, and his wings tremble a little. "We- also have- have… a-another-" he falters. He'd had the words all lined up perfectly in his processor, but they've scattered now. "Another joy to celebrate… w-with you… th… this evening," he manages. He looks to Auri, and their optics meet. He doesn't think he can get any more words out, but he knows she'll have the right ones.
She smiles up at him and then out at their gathered friends, and her voice is clear and happy as she speaks. "Prowl and I, well… it's not a secret that Prowl and I care for each other." She pauses at Chromia's gentle chuckle and smiles back at the blue femme. Then she grins up at Prowl. "We took time some getting used to each other and learning each others' ways, but now we can't imagine being apart. We have lots more to learn, I'm sure, but we're ready. We're committed. We're before you this evening as a bespoken pair."
Chromia whoops with delight a split second before the other bots raise a cheer, and Auri kisses Prowl.
Ratchet allows everybody to make their congratulations and felicitations, but then he makes sure the bots clear out or at least re-focus so Prowl isn't overwhelmed; he can see the tension in Prowl's wings.
Uplink goes over to see how comfy the couch is, and the twins take Praxus and Starlight down the hallway to show them Praxus's room. Optimus and Ultra Magnus finish putting up the banner. Mirage tucks himself back in the corner with the energon dispenser and counter so he can finish setting up the food. Chromia pulls Auri away, dances around her, and hugs her, and Ironhide puts a gentle hand on Prowl's shoulder. Elita smiles as she watches, and Ratchet shoos Bumblebee from the still-mysterious door while Bluestreak and Smokescreen test out the cushions around the low table.
It's a joyful chaos of celebration, everybody moving around and talking, inspecting things and giving well wishes and other pleasant words. Prowl is happy, happy that Auri and he are officially betrothed, happy that the others know and approve, and happy that Praxus and Starlight are happy about the house. His anxiety is ebbing away nicely now, and he silently thanks Ratchet and the other bots for that; if they had made him the center of their attention too long, he wouldn't have done so well. Things are good.
The other door intrigues him, though. The part of the quarters he has seen is perfect, but the master suite is missing, and he knows Optimus would not leave that off when Prowl asked for it. All he'd asked for was a room for him and Auri, and a room for his desk and a couch. Those two rooms had to be beyond that door, and he wondered what they would be like. Given the size and shape of the building and the rooms he'd already seen-
Chromia chuckles as she walks up to Prowl, interrupting his thoughts and surprising him, and Prowl turns slightly widened optics toward her, a wing flaring.
"You know," she says, smirking, "it'd probably be easier to just walk over and open the door and see, rather than try to guess."
Prowl glances back at the door. "I believe we will be directed to it when the time is appropriate," he says.
This makes her chuckle again. "Okay," she says and gives him a pat. Then she wanders off, and Prowl realizes that Auri has left the room at some point.
He goes down the hallway in search of her and hears her voice mixed with Sunny's and Starlight's voices. He finds them in the room with the shelves above the desk, along with Sides, Praxus, and Starlight.
Starlight is singing happily as she bounces on the berth. Praxus is rather subdued with excitement, looking around in delighted wonder while sitting on the berth, inattentive to Starlight's bouncing. Sunny is discussing the potential of the room; Auri, of course, agrees. Sides smiles at Prowl as he enters the room.
"Pruddle!" Starlight welcomes. "It all perfect! We got everything fo a home an space! This Praxus's an mine room! An the nother room can fit Chromia an Ironhide an Auri, an the next nother room fits ya! But ya still needs t'get a desk fo ya works stuff."
"Ah…." Prowl's wings shift. Somehow Sunny manages to choke down a snicker, but there's no way Sides could ever hide his grin of amusement.
"Chromia and Ironhide aren't coming to live with us, remember?" Auri says. "They'll visit us, but they'll stay in their own quarters."
"Then why gots a big two-berth room fo ya?"
"That's not my room,"
"It Prowl's?"
"No,"
Starlight stares up at her, looking mystified.
Auri smiles fondly at her, and takes her to cuddle in a gentle hug. "We're planning that some more sparklings will come life with us in time, and that room is going to be for them."
"Moe sparklings!?" Starlight looks excited.
"Yes, indeed." Auri says, and her answer makes Starlight squeak in delight and squirm away to bounce.
Then the bouncing stops. "But where ya gonna sleep? Not on the couch?"
"I'm going to sleep beside Prowl," Auri explains, smiling.
Starlight pauses as she sorts out the berths that she knows of in the house. "That berth small, Auri. Yas'll be squished."
"I believe there is another berth room we have not seen yet," Prowl says, finally finding some words.
"Wha-? Where?!" Starlight optics widen in awe. This is a huge abundance of rooms that she'd never imagined having in one house. She slides off the bed, and Auri steadies her on her pedes for just a second before she dashes off to search.
"I don't know why you need a fourth berth-room," Sides teases. "That room with the two beds would do just find. Bed for Prowl, Bed for Auri."
Prowl shakes his helm slightly, but Auri is amused and giggles at the cheery twin. "Silly mech," she says.
"Yeah, Sides," Sunny says, smirking playfully. "Didn't you hear? She said she was going to sleep beside Prowl."
"Well, they could slide the berths parallel," Sides offers nonsensically. "That'd be 'beside.'"
"That's true! Which is different than sleeping with Prowl. I noticed that distinction you made," Sunny tells Auri, winking. Prowl glances out the door.
"Silly, Sunny," Auri says, blushing a hint now, blushing but pleased. "I wasn't going to say that to a sparkling, but you know."
"Eeeew," Praxus complains exaggeratedly. "You're talking about this in my room!"
"We're just using euphemisms, okay?" Sunny says.
"But I know what you mean, though," Praxus says, putting his hands out dramatically.
"Okay, okay," Sunny says. "I'll think up some new ones you haven't heard yet."
Praxus raises an optic-ridge in doubt.
"We should see where Starlight has gotten to," Prowl says, motioning, hoping to divert attentions elsewhere. Where Praxus doubts Sunny, Prowl doesn't.
"We should," Auri says, leaving Praxus's berth to go to Prowl's side. "She can be a bit of a handful when she's excited, and there are a bunch of bots out there."
"You just wanna know what your room looks like," Sunny teases, winking at Praxus as they follow Prowl's lead out of the room. Sunny follows behind Auri. "Where you're gonna sleep beside Prowl," he adds.
"Sunny," Auri rebukes with a giggle, smiling at the thought.
"Where you're gonna- Ah!" Sunny trips, Praxus's left pede hooking around his leg from behind, and Praxus slams the heel of his palm against Sunny's right shoulder while grabbing Sunny's left arm, effectively spinning the golden mech to the floor and then piling on top of him. He slaps Sunny's helm once, sharply.
Sunny, lying on the floor, offers no resistance. "What the actual… stuff," he says, sounding likes he's amazed at some unwarranted outburst.
Praxus sits still, looking completely startled. He'd actually put Sunny on the floor. Sunny. On. The Floor.
"Get up," Prowl tells Praxus, motioning. "There are better ways to handle situations like this."
Praxus looks up at Prowl and doesn't obey. Now that he's over the initial shock of acting out, he's ready to test it a little. "I use words all the times, and he never listens very long."
"Then we need to try different words," Prowl explains. "Violence is not the answer."
"It works sometimes," Praxus answers, looking at the patiently motionless Sunny. "Besides, haven't Autobots been doing violence with Decepticons since before I was made? Someone must think it's the answer."
Prowl shifts a wing. "I will amend that to 'violence is not a good answer.' And the war is an entirely different situation from Sunny provoking you with teasing words. Now, come on up. Get off of Sunstreaker."
"I don't like you provoking me, Sunstreaker," Praxus says, leaning in toward Sunny's helm.
"I think Prowl gave you an order," Sunny answers.
"You hear Prowl fine, but you don't hear me!"
Prowl and Sideswipe make optic contact, and Sideswipe sends Prowl a quick intercom message. Prowl gives Sunny's pede a nudge with his own pede then.
Ironhide peeks down the hallway, and Auri motions him back. Praxus and Sunny needs to settle this.
"Okay," Sunny says after another moment. "I'll listen."
"Those teases you do about that upset me, and they make me… make me very upset. All through me, not a little upset on the armor. They get in me and upset me. Other teases you do don't do that to me. You can do those, but I don't like these ones! Ever!"
Sunny is quiet for a few moments, but then he answers calmly. "I didn't realize that, Praxus. You complain about all teasing as a matter of form. There wasn't much distinction."
"Well, I told you now."
"Yes, you did. I'll try to be careful and tease about… Uh…"
"Squirmy things."
"Squirmy things," Sunny repeats. "And I apologize for previous upsets."
"Thank you," Praxus says.
Sunny waits for him to get up, but it's another couple moments before anyone does anything, and it's Prowl who makes a motion.
"Do you think you can get off of Sunstreaker now?" he asks.
Praxus nods. He leans down and kisses Sunny lightly on the helm where the finish is scuffed from his slap, and then he moves a leg over and gets to his pedes.
Sunny picks himself up easily and then tilts his helm as he looks at Praxus. He's mad that Praxus kissed him, but he puts that aside. There are more important things to handle. "Do you see how all that was just words, Prax? You didn't need to put me on the floor to talk to me. Okay?"
Praxus looks at the floor where Sunny had been and then shifts a wing. "It felt kinda good, though."
This simple truthfulness breaks Sunny's hidden aggravation away, and he finds himself chuckling. "I imagine so," he says, realizing the catharsis Praxus must have felt. It's a feeling he's felt many times in his life, and that makes him smile. "Okay. That's fair, this time."
Praxus smiles back, happy about being understood.
"Just don't ever kiss me again," Sunny says. "I hate that."
Praxus looks confused, a puzzled frown crossing his face. He had meant it as a kind gesture, a little repair, like when Starlight got herself scuffed and needed a "kiss all better." He starts to explains, "But it…" His wings shift as he reconsiders. "I guess it's not nice to you if you don't like it. I won't anymore."
"Thanks. Let's go now and see the rest of the place."
Praxus nods agreeably, and Prowl turns to lead on.
When they enter the living room, they find Starlight perched up on Optimus's shoulder and looking around.
"There 'em!" she crows, pointing at the three wingers and the twins. "We can find em room now."
Prowl's wings tuck a hint at the renewed attention, but Auri slips her hand into his and reassures him.
"You are very sure there is another room," Optimus says to Prowl, just a hint of fun in his typically serious optics.
Prowl looks up at him peacefully. "Of course I do. I trust you."
Optimus smiles back at him and then motions to the door that had evoked so much curiosity.
"Open it, open it," Praxus says eagerly.
Prowl nudges Auri, and she smiles up at him. She gets to open this one. She does so and peeks in. It's a perfect second living room crossed with an office. Prowl's desk is in a corner, placed so he'll be facing the room, as he likes it. A large couches faces the desk, its back against the wall, and a second couch sits perpendicular to the first one, its back against the other wall. There's a little table with two stools on the other side of the room, along with a cupboard and a sink.
"Do you like it?" Chromia asks as Auri enters the room and Prowl follows, looking around.
"I love it!" Auri says.
"It's not that different from Prowl's current living room," Praxus says, sounding pleased. Optimus hands an excited Starlight to him.
"Someone touched an moved Drifter here!" Starlight exclaims, mildly outraged, pointing at the gray and white plushie on Prowl's desk. No one was allowed to touch this plushie, and Starlight always made sure everyone knew that.
"They had permission," Prowl tells her, and she calms down almost instantly with a little "oh."
Praxus checks out the cupboard briefly.
"Are yas gonna sleep on th' couches?" Starlight asks after a few moments of puzzling.
"No. We have another door to check," Prowl says.
"So many doors!" Starlight giggles.
Auri opens the door, Prowl at her side, and they peek in together.
"Mm-hm," Prowl purrs with approval, and Auri feels her spark heat with pleasure. It's a simple room, and it's perfect. The bed is big, not just for two bots to share their love, but for the whole family to congregate and snuggle. The nightstands on either side of the bed give it a nice symmetrical look, and the full-length mirror from Prowl's room graces a corner. The windows are nicely curtained, and the sunlight filters down through the diffusers in the specially designed skylights and catches on the little crystals that have been hung from the ceiling.
"This one ya bedroom?" Starlight asks.
"It is," Auri answers. "It's perfect!" She slips into the room, Prowl following. She twirls and grins at him.
Praxus peeks in, Starlight on his shoulder. "Yeah!" Starlight agrees. "That perfect!"
"And there's another door!" Praxus points out, entering the room.
"Why?" Starlight asks.
"I don't know," Auri answers, and even Prowl shakes his helm, not knowing either; everything he asked for has been provided. A number of the other bots have come into the second living room. Optimus is at the doorway to the berth-room, and he smiles when Prowl looks at him with curiosity.
Praxus opens the door, and Starlight squeaks, "a bath!" She giggles. "They a bath in th' house!"
Prowl and Auri hurry over to see, amazed and delighted. It's a wonderful bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and two showerheads, a vanity with a bench and mirror, and a shelf for more towels and soap and scrubby things and polish. A private bath is an unexpected luxury Auri hadn't even thought of and Prowl hadn't dared to ask for. Praxus simply stares, and Starlight continues to be completely diverted by the novelty of a bath in a home.
Prowl realizes that Optimus has come in, and he looks up at the Prime. "Thank you," he says softly, wings dipping. He feels like there is more to say, but he can't find the words.
Optimus nods. "You are more than welcome," he answers humbly. "We thought this would be an extra nice touch for your family. It's much deserved."
"Wow," Sideswipe says, peering in once Optimus leaves. "I'm gonna move in with you."
"You'll have to sleep on the couch," Praxus teases him, setting Starlight on the vanity so she can inspect it to her spark's content.
"Hey, that room with two berths is still free," Sideswipe says.
"Oh, right. True. You can sleep there," Praxus decides, stepping into the tub. "You'll have to wait in line for the shower, though. I got dibs." He plays his hands in an imaginary spray of water. "Splishy splashy, got a bathy," he sings, shimmying.
"Pretty sure Prowl and Auri have dibs," Sunny chuckles.
"Wishy welly, Sunny's jelly," Praxus continues, shaking his wings. "Non-slip floor and everything."
"I'll just take a nap while I'm waiting," Sunny says.
"We have lots of berths to choose from!" Praxus exclaims, as if he's just realizing it. "The big one's the best, though!" He hops out of the tub and scampers out of the bathroom.
Prowl and Auri are sitting on the big bed with their pedes drawn up, facing each other and talking softly, only their fingers chastely touching and their legs almost brushing.
"Big for so many bots," Praxus declares, sprawling onto the bed. Prowl's wings twitch at the boisterous intrusion. "Lots of sleepovers, right?" Praxus asks.
"Lots of sleepovers," Prowl confirms soothingly as he settles his wings.
"Lots and lots," Praxus sings, kicking his pedes, squirming.
"Hey," Prowl says gently, putting a hand on Praxus's helm; a hyper Praxus is not a very stable Praxus.
Praxus wriggles a little and then curls up and lies still, putting a hand over Prowl's hand. "I guess I'm getting too excited," he says, his words somewhat muffled by the blankets.
"You do need some time to process and calm down," Auri says, scooting over so she can rub Praxus's back. "This evening has been pretty exciting."
"Lots of excitement," Praxus murmurs, his optics widening.
"Do you like your room?" Auri asks.
"I like it, really like it," Praxus answers softly. "I like all the rooms. Good rooms."
"They are good rooms indeed." Auri smiles at Prowl as she settles Praxus with her words. "They're going to be wonderful for our whole family."
"Can we snuggle?"
"Right now?"
Praxus nods, and Auri scoots closer. Prowl lies down facing Praxus so Praxus's helm is against his chest, and Praxus cuddles up closer like a sparkling seeking warmth. On the other side of Praxus, Auri's pedes are toward the mechs' helms, so she scoots up a little more, and then gently lifts Praxus's wing and puts her legs under it, nestles up against Praxus's back and pillows her helm on his hip as she rests a hand on his side.
"Best snuggle," Praxus murmurs, shifting just a tiny bit, adjusting between Prowl and Auri.
"We'll have lots of snuggles," Auri says, watching with love how Prowl caresses Praxus helm to help reassure him. This is her Prowl. Not the cool detached Prowl the humans see or most of the bots think they know. If they could see this scene, how they would stare in amazement. A few jaws might even drop. She smiles at the thought, and answering smile touches Prowl's face. He doesn't even know what she's thinking, but her happiness makes him happy.
Optics twinkling softly, full of adoration, she intercoms him. Praxus needs some quiet time, but they can intercom while they snuggle him; he doesn't need their entire attention, and he'll let them know when he's ready to get back into things. They shares their thoughts with each other, keeping still, and Praxus settles and relaxes, soothed by their presences, their peaceful happy energy soothing and centering him. In time, he shifts a little and slips away from his silent thoughts.
"I can't believe I put Sunny on the floor," he says in a small wondering voice.
Prowl's wings shake as he suppresses a chuckle. "Prax, I can't believe you've put up with him so long and not put him on the floor sooner."
Praxus tilts his helm at this idea.
"You have amazing patience," Auri agrees, giggling softly as she remembers the look of shock on Sunny face. "I would have slapped him way sooner."
"Oh," Praxus says, surprised. It hadn't occurred to him.
"I'm not encouraging it in any way," Prowl says cautiously. "But it was long called for."
"Oh," Praxus says again. "Oh, yeah…" He shifts a little. "Why didn't I slap Sunny sooner?"
"Because you're very good and patient," Auri answers. "More patient than I am."
"Patient like Prowl?" Praxus asks, optics twinkling up at Prowl with a bit of hero-worship.
"Yes, like Prowl," Auri answers, and Praxus looks pleased while Prowl looks self-conscious.
Sunny has heard his name, and he looks in on the cuddling Praxians and quirks an optic-ridge upwards. "That's not how you party, you know," he says, coming over to the berth nonchalantly to see if Praxus is okay.
"This is a timeout," Praxus says, looking happy. "We need some quiet time, so come be quiet or go away."
"Bossy all of a sudden, you," Sunny says easily, settling on the edge of the bed, amused with Praxus's new confidence. "I distinctly heard you talking, so how's that quiet time?"
"We're talking quietly, Sunstreaker," Praxus answers, smiling up at him. "Come snuggle."
Not one for snuggling, Sunny looks at the Praxians like they're covered in wet paint, and Sideswipe comes in with Starlight before he decides what to do.
"Pwax?" Starlight reaches out for Praxus with concern, and Sides brings her over.
"I'm okay," Praxus reassures her, but she still hurries to scramble over Prowl and snuggle up on her brother. "Just taking a cuddly timeout."
"You do need those," Starlight says, making herself lie still. "Yeah, Sides?"
"Definitely," Sides agrees, joining the Praxians without hesitation, pillowing his helm on Auri's pedes, draping an arm over Praxus, and tucking his legs up against Prowl's helm. "Definitely good to take some time to settle down after a bunch of excitement."
"C'mon, Sunstreaker," Praxus coaxes, smiling persuasively up at the golden mech.
Shaking his helm slightly, Sunny pulls a pillow from the top of the bed and settles himself so he's just barely touching his brother. Starlight sits up and looks at him with accusation, glaring at him like he's some trespasser. Something flares in his spark, and he shifts so his helm is on Sides' legs, his chest is against Prowl's helm, and his legs are in contact with outer edge on Prowl's wings.
Prowl shifts his wings in surprise at the contact, but then they settle and his lower wing rests on Sunny's leg. He doesn't say anything, but Sunny doesn't sense approval from him.
Sunny resists the urge to growl at himself in aggravation. He doesn't like making himself this physical, this vulnerable, and he knows he's betrayed his feelings. Prowl can read his energy like a data-pad now, with him up against those sensitive wings. But now that he's done this, he can't very well back down. Besides, he belongs here as much as the next bot. Praxus asked him.
Starlight's optics are narrowed at him, wings shifting for a fight, challenging him to do one more thing.
Sunny wants to snap at her and tell her off, but he doesn't say a thing. He shifts, puts his arm on Prowl's shoulder, and rests his fingertips on Praxus's helm.
"Get ya hands off!" Starlight explodes, screaming, furious, tiny wings pinning up and back fully. "Get ya hands off mine Bwuvver an Prol, ya cwoss-wired moldering cable-tie!"