Prowl shifted uneasily on the metal crate he was sitting on. He found this whole situation illogical and uncomfortable. He really didn't see any point in "family reunions", a custom his mother, Strongarm, had picked up when she had been stationed on Earth many years ago and had decided to bring back to Cybertron. She had soon convinced her husband, Clocker, to start inviting his relatives as well.
Prowl had been forced to attend these gatherings since he was a youngling, but he had never been comfortable at them, he just wasn't the socializing type. The young Autobot gave a low sigh. Kup gave the recruits two days a week off from training, and unfortunately, Prowl's days off happened to fall on "reunion day". Lucky for him, his older brother, Smokescreen, who Prowl had been latched to like an insecure sparkling since arriving at the Crystal City Hotel, felt the same way.
"If you would act like you're gonna throw up, I could say I'm gonna take you home then we'd both be outta here". Smokescreen muttered, taking a lazy swig of his Energon cube.
Prowl thought that sounded like a pretty tempting offer. He was still considering it when a loud, cowboy voice made him and Smokescreen jump.
"What are you two doing sitting here by yourselves?" asked X-Brawn,walking up behind his younger brothers. He gave Smokescreen a slap on the back and Prowl a firm pat on the head.
"Planning our escape route". Smokescreen replied dryly.
X-Brawn gave a short laugh. "You two never did like this stuff, did you?"
"What's to like about it?" Smokescreen asked, tossing his now empty Energon cube into a nearby waste basket. "Surrounded by bots you barely know, and having other bots come up and ask you stupid questions", Smokescreen then raised his voice in a mocking manner. " 'When are you getting married?' 'Have you lost weight?' 'Have you put on weight?' 'Did you change alt modes?' 'Is that a new paint job?' "
Despite himself, Prowl had to chuckle at Smokescreen's act. It was true that every year someone was going to ask at least one of those things.
"Aw they ain't all like that". X-Brawn said. "And it's only for the weekend, you guys can put up with it that long, right?" He gave them a shove. "Come on, instead of moping around over here you can hang out with me and Silverstreak, since Sideburn and Bluestreak are too busy eating up attention from everybody else".
Prowl and Smokescreen reluctantly followed their older brother to a snack bar where their cousin, Silverstreak, stood munching on Energon Goodies.
"This hotel is pretty cool, huh?" Silverstreak asked, a mouthful of Energon Goodies. "Free food!"
"It's okay I guess". Prowl replied, looking around at the crowd of bots nearby and feeling a little overwhelmed. He had no idea why social settings made him so uneasy, it wasn't like they were going to bite him. But to be honest, he would much rather have been surrounded by Decepticons at the moment.
"Hey, me and X-Brawn have been talking, and we're thinking about ditching this chatty group setting and heading for the pool outside", Silverstreak said. "You guys wanna come?"
"Sure!" Prowl said. It would be a relief to get away from this crowd of bots he really had no interest in socializing with.
"You don't know how to swim", Smokescreen told X-Brawn. "Why would you want to go to the pool?"
"Who says you have to know how to swim to go to the pool?' X-Brawn drawled.
Smokescreen gave him a lopsided look before turning and heading in the direction of the outdoor pool, then froze. "Great, I thought I'd be able to avoid her…"
Heading right for them was Clocker's overly critical aunt, Spyframe.
"I was wondering where you three were!" Spyframe exclaimed, yanking Prowl and his brothers into a hug. "Prowl, you really need to start putting on a little weight! Do they even feed you at that boot camp?"
"Yes", Prowl said, feeling more self conscious than he had been already.
"X-Brawn, should we be expecting an announcement from you and Dust-Up anytime soon?"
"Announcement?" X-Brawn asked, confused.
"A wedding announcement!" Spyframe said, swatting a hand at him. "You two have been dating since high school, when are you gonna ask her to be your conjunx endura?!"
X-Brawn, visibly embarrassed, took a step back. "I, uh, well, we ain't in no hurry or anything",
Spyframe rolled her eyes then turned her attention to Smokescreen. "Smokescreen, when are you going to find someone to settle down with?"
"I don't want a relationship right now!" Smokescreen. "Why do you always have to ask me that?"
"If you didn't spend all your spare time in casinos you might be able to find a nice femme". Spyframe said, ignoring Smokescreen's question. "Oh, there's Nitro! Nitro! Wait!"
Spyframe took off to pester the brothers' other cousin and they quickly made their way outside to the pool area.