(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Inside the training room, the training battle continued, neither wiling to give and both very effective with their chosen weapon. As the fighting continued, the fifth brought out lots of hormones out of Lancex and Wheeljack, though Predaking could decipher which hormones were whose. And when he smelt Lancex's, it took all of Predaking's Will and strength to not run into the training room, pin Lancex down, and frag the bot senseless. Predaking knew he would have to bide his time but it didn't make anything any easier.
After quite a bit of aggressive training, both bots were tired and agreed that the session was over. "You are a worthy opponent" Wheeljack offered up.
"As are you" Lancex replied and soon, the two worn out bots headed out of the training room and headed toward the rec room where energon would be waiting for the exhausted pair.
From their different vantage points, Optimus and Predaking watched as Lancex and Wheeljack walked off, with neither of the combatants aware that they had been watched while they trained. Once the pair was far enough away, Optimus began to carefully follow the bot. Predaking followed from another direction.
Even after refueling, Lancex found himself drained. Using one of those royal arms always did so. In the hallway he nearly collapsed and would have hit the ground but was caught by Predaking. Predaking saw that Lancex was in no shape to talk but needed to rest and so took the bot back to Lancex's assigned quarters. Optimus, having seen the incident, followed closely. He wasn't sure why, but he felt compelled to do so.
Soon, they reach Lancex's room and Predaking set the exhausted bot down on the berth. Predaking was about to snuggle up to the bot when he felt a presence. He turned around and noticed Optimus. "What do you want, Prime?" Predaking asked, fiercely protective of what he thought was his.
Optimus was a bit surprised by the attack from Predaking. "I merely came here to make sure Lancex was okay" Optimus replied, thinking it was true but didn't realize his systems were giving off other signals that Predaking picked up.
"You say that, yet your systems indicate that is not the only reason you arrived here. Back off, Prime. I will always defend what is mine" Predaking spouted off, nearly lunging at the Prime.
"Let's take this outside this room so we don't wake Lancex" Optimus first said. They then moved into the other room to allow Lancex to rest. "Just what is your interest in my soldier, dragon bot? We have a war to fight before anything else."
Predaking was a bit surprised, Optimus was still trying to feign interest while being completely interested at least according to the Prime's systems. "I saw Lancex first. He saved me with the truth and in turn I saved him. He is mine!"
"Bots are not possessions, Predaking. They have thoughts and feelings of their own. Just because he helped you and you helped him you think he is required to be with you? Does he owe some debt of gratitude for that?" Optimus retorted.
"Have you even done anything with him? Because it doesn't sound like it" the dragon bot retorted.
"When I was injured, I snuggled with him to help my injuries. I kissed him as a thank you" Optimus reluctantly revealed.
That left a sour taste in Predaking's mouth. "Well, that is nothing. I got to snuggle with him and give him some pleasure" Predaking retorted, a bit annoyed that he wasn't getting further under the Prime's skin.
"First off, Lancex is his own bot, he can make his own decisions. Second, Lancex acts as if he would want a bot who loves and cherishes him. Third, he doesn't seem like the bot who wants a mate who will frag him senseless and have no regard for his feelings" Optimus replied. Predaking was getting to the Prime, but Optimus was doing well in hiding it.
"At least I am strong! You are weak Prime!" Predaking through back, heading back into the berthroom was Lancex was. Optimus was a bit flustered by that, but decided against his better judgement to head back into other room. Predaking was already snuggled up on one side of Lancex, holding onto the bot possessively. Optimus wasn't sure about joining in, but his systems betrayed him and he curled up on the other side. Predaking glared at the Prime while Optimsu shot a weary but warning type look to the other bot. Soon both joined Lancex in recharge. Boy would Lancex be surprised when he woke up.