The fact that Silverbolt came to him about one of his gestalt mates proved the new level of trust between Silverstorm and the Aerialbots was real. But Silverstorm honestly wasn't sure what to do about the situation.

"So what's Slingshot doing?" he asked, tapping his fingers.

"I don't know. He won't answer us through the bond, and anytime we get close, he runs away," Silverbolt said.

Silverstorm chewed on that for a moment. "Okay. Do you have any thoughts? Any ideas why he would do this?"

The flier nodded. "He's having trouble flying right now. He's off balance."

"I have trouble flying all the time," Silverstorm pointed out. "Why would that make him run away?"

Silverbolt looked down and clicked indecisively for a moment before looking up. "He's insecure. You know that, right?"

"Yes. I do. And he likes to brag. So?"

"So… he's always had the most difficulty with flying. He had a lot of trouble learning how to fly. He misses being a groundpounder. And because he had a protector who didn't accept mistakes, he feels he has to be the best at whatever he does or he's a failure. So he brags that he's the best to hide how insecure he really is about everything he does."

Silverstorm thought about this then nodded. "And I can help?"

"I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't think you could," Silverbolt said sincerely.

Silverstorm nodded and squared his shoulders, though his wings twitched, betraying his nerves. Silverbolt pointed out toward the southern horizon.

"He's over that way. Several clicks. Please help him, Prime."

"I'll try," Silverstorm said then turned and glitched the barrier as he headed out.

With a backward glance at Silverbolt, he ignited his thrusters and launched himself into the air. He was much better with wind currents after a week of intensive training under Silverbolt's watchful optics. And he'd gotten much better at landing after the battle. Something had clicked that day, and now he could land in bipedal mode with ease. Jet mode was still tricky, but it was still progress.

As Silverstorm flew over the wrecked city, he scanned everything, watching for any movement. He met nobody until he got out beyond the city. Then he saw Slingshot pacing on top of a lone building and wringing his hands together, talking to himself. Silverstorm hovered there and watched as Slingshot shook himself out then took a running leap off the building. His thrusters ignited and he was flying for a moment before his body turned and he struck the side of the building with great force.

If that had happened to Silverstorm, Slingshot would have burst out laughing. But Slingshot did not laugh at his own mishap. He sat there and let out an outraged scream before placing his head in his hands. His wings quivered and were held in such a way as to convey pain and shame and anger. Silverstorm ached for him. He flew over and landed gently beside him.

"Hey, Sling," he said.

"What do you want?" Slingshot hissed, standing up and crossing his arms.

"I was just practicing and saw you. Thought we could practice together," Silverstorm said.

"And?"

"And… your friends are worried about you. Silverbolt sent me to help."

The fact that the Prime gave him a direct answer and didn't try to lie soothed Slingshot, and his wings relaxed a bit. Silverstorm smiled and reached out to gently trace a star on Slingshot's left wing, which quivered under his touch.

"Please stop," Slingshot said.

Silverstorm snatched his hand back. "Sorry. Too much?"

"No!" There was a pause then Slingshot drooped. "A little," he admitted in a small voice. "I think my wing is a damaged. I can't…"

"Can't?" Silverstorm prodded gently after a lengthy pause.

"I can't fly right. I keep turning to the left."

"Why not have Pipes look at it? I'm sure he can fix it."

"He… He doesn't get wings, Prime. A lot of groundpounder medics don't. It's not their fault. They just don't work on them a lot. And you know how sensitive they are. Even a nick hurts like crazy."

"Well, let's go teach him then," Silverstorm said. "It'll be better for all of us if he learns. Besides, he's handled my wings a lot, Sling. He's getting better every time. He's real gentle."

Slingshot frowned then looked up at him, sadness and shame in his eyes. "I shouldn't complain."

"What? Why not?"

"I…" He clicked a few times then sighed. "My protector used to tell me that if it's not falling off, then I don't need to see a medic."

That advice was so stupid and dangerous that Silverstorm couldn't help the noise that came out of his vocalizer. When he found his voice, he spoke loudly. "I'm sorry, but what?!"

Slingshot stared up at him miserably. "It's what he used to say."

"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, Sling! Especially now that you're a flier! Think about it! Even a little damage can get you killed! You could fall out of the sky! You could hit something and get even more damaged! What kind of cockamamie advice is that?!"

Slingshot shrank in on himself as Silverstorm ranted. "But asking for help is for losers…"

Silverstorm stopped himself from shouting some more. It seemed to be having an adverse effect on Slingshot. Judging by what he'd just said and the way his wings quivered with shame, his protector had yelled at him a lot. So Silverstorm took several deep breaths then tilted Slingshot's chin up.

"I'm sorry for shouting at you."

Slingshot shuttered his optics, the dark green glow flashing briefly lime green in surprise. "You are?"

"Yes. I am."

Slingshot shifted. "He never apologized for yelling at me. He'd just yell louder."

"I'm sorry he did that."

"He wouldn't have if I hadn't been such a disappointment."

"You are far from a disappointment, Sling," Silverstorm said softly.

"But I'm not good at anything."

"It seems to me like you don't try to be good at anything," Silverstorm said.

Slingshot looked down. "Why try? I know I'll fail."

"Hm." Silverstorm studied Slingshot's sad face. "You don't have to be perfect at something to be good at it, you know that, right?"

"Quasar told me that if I can't do it the first time, it's not right for me."

"Pit slag!" Silverstorm spat. Then he calmed down when Slingshot flinched. "Very, very few people are good at something when they try it for the first time. The people who get good at something are the ones who keep plugging away at it, learning new things, working slowly, day by day, to build up their skills. You don't have to be perfect at something the very first time. Does that make sense?"

"But I'm not good at anything…"

"Then find something you love to do and get good at that."

Slingshot hesitated then spoke in a small voice. "Do you really think I can get good at something?"

Silverstorm's spark ached at the shy hope that Slingshot's wings conveyed. What had his protector said to him? That he would never be good at anything? No wonder he was so insecure. Silverstorm smiled warmly at Slingshot as he responded.

"I believe you can get good at several somethings, Sling. You just have to focus on it and keep trying. Now, how about we go see Pipes and get that wing taken care of?"

"You won't think I'm a loser?"

"Not at all," Silverstorm said. "I mean, come on. How many times have I been in the medbay this year? Do you think I'm a loser?"

Slingshot hesitated then nodded. "Okay. Let's go. We have a ways to walk."

"How'd you get so far out with a damaged wing?"Silverstorm asked as they headed for home.

Slingshot's optics flashed orange. "Silverbolt tried to get me to talk. I've heard it all. And… And I didn't want to tell him I'm damaged because I didn't want to be… weak. So I ran away."

"Weak?"

"You know we have a weird bond of sorts. They already can practically read my thoughts if I'm not shielding. They know a lot more about me than I'd like. But I can't change that."

"Still, they're worried about you. They love you, Sling. As fragged up as the situation is with the way you guys were forced together, they love you and care for you. I think we should go to them first so you can tell them what's up. They have no idea you're damaged. Are you in pain?"

Slingshot hesitated then nodded. "It's a constant ache," he whispered. "Some of the plating is crushing some sensitive wires. It… it really hurts, Prime."

Silverstorm wrapped an arm around him and shook him as they walked. "It's okay. We'll go and talk to Silverbolt and the others then we'll go to Pipes. Okay?"

Slingshot nodded. "Can you tell me about your home planet?"

"Changing the subject?" Silverstorm teased.

"Something to get my mind off my wing," Slingshot admitted.

"Well, I'm that case, one of the most interesting parts, according to the mechs I've met at least, would have to be that we have a sun."

"Really?" Slingshot asked. "I've heard of those. It's a star that's close to the planet, right? Gives light?"

Silverstorm grinned and talked for the two hours it took them to stroll through the city and back to the bubble. Slingshot hung on every word, fascinated by the descriptions of flora and fauna that he had never heard of or even imagined existed. Anything organic was new to him, and he was thrilled by the whole conversation. When they finally got home, a simple flex of Silverstorm's power got them through the barrier, and they headed for the Aerialbots' house. Slingshot hesitated outside the door.

"Do you have the code?"

"No."

"Then I'll talk to Bolt about it. We should give you the code. But we all need to agree."

Silverstorm nodded and purposefully didn't pay attention to the code on the door as Slingshot typed it in. They walked in, and Silverstorm looked around and admired the decorations that they'd put up.

"It looks nice," he commented.

"Flight and Raid like to decorate," Slingshot said.

"Sling? Is that you?" Silverbolt called from the second floor.

"Yeah. I have Prime with me. Hope that's okay…"

Silverbolt appeared at the top of the stairs. "Yeah, that's fine."

"We, uh, we should give him the code sometime."

Silverbolt nodded. "Good idea." He paused. "Is everything okay? You're still shielding."

Slingshot's optics flashed orange and he scuffed the ground as he opened the bond. Silverbolt's optics flashed white and there was a crash from upstairs.

"Son of a glitch!" Skydive yelped.

"Who's hurt?!" Air Raid shouted.

Fireflight appeared in the doorway to the left of Silverstorm. "You're hurting?" he asked Slingshot, his optics wide.

"What happened?" Silverbolt demanded, hurrying down the stairs as the other two came rushing out of other rooms to follow their leader. "Did you hurt yourself while flying? Slag it, Sling, I—"

"Stop," Silverstorm said. Everybody obeyed at once.

"Prime?" Silverbolt asked.

"Let him talk. He needs to tell you something. Then we'll go to Pipes."

The four Aerialbots surrounded their fifth member, and Slingshot looked frightened, his wings hitching. He looked desperately at Silverstorm, begging with his optics for him to speak for him.

"Go on," Silverstorm said.

"I…" Slingshot clicked then hugged himself. "Don't be mad, but… but my wing was damaged in the battle last week. That's… that's why I've been shielding and having trouble flying."

Silence. Then Silverbolt huffed. "Why do you always do this, Sling? We need to know this stuff!"

"I don't want you to think I'm…"

"You're what?" Firefight asked.

"W-weak," he admitted.

"Why would we think you're weak?" Skydive asked. "You're so strong and brave, sometimes to the point of stupidity. So why do you believe we would think that?"

Slingshot offlined his optics and there was a long pause. The Aerialbots' optics lost focus, and Silverstorm waited patiently. Then Silverbolt exploded back to life.

"How dare he say that!" he roared.

"What a load of pit slag!" Air Raid snarled. "Don't you listen to him!"

"It is not a weakness to ask for help!" Skydive stated firmly. "Carrying damage is not wise, not in any way! Especially as a flier! That is the most asinine thing I have ever heard!"

"Oh, Sling," Fireflight murmured, reaching over to stroke his wing. "Don't believe that. It's okay. You're not a loser."

Slingshot tensed then flinched at the contact to his left wing. Fireflight grimaced and stopped immediately.

"Ow," he said. "Let's get you to Pipes. That needs fixed."

A whine slipped from Slingshot before he could stop it. "You don't think I'm pathetic?" he asked.

"Not a bit," Silverbolt said.

"Nope," Air Raid said.

Fireflight smiled encouragingly as Skydive leaned forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Most assuredly not. Now come. I've noticed you haven't been recharging well. Let's get you to the medbay and then you need a long draught of energon and a proper recharge cycle."

"Contact Pipes for us?" Silverbolt asked Silverstorm.

"Actually… can he come with us?" Slingshot asked quietly.

"If he wants," Silverbolt said.

"Oh I do. I do want. Gotta make sure Sling is comfortable," Silverstorm said, nudging Slingshot, who smiled.

They headed out the door and toward the medbay. Along the way, another mech fell into step with them. They turned their heads to see Primus.

"Hey," Silverstorm said. "How are you today?"

"Much better. I'm ready for another pressure clearing. We'll do the next big vein tomorrow, yes?"

"Sure," Silverstorm said. "If you're ready for it."

"I am. I need a lot of energy considering what's going to happen next week."

"Oh?" Silverstorm asked, smiling. "And are you allowed to tell us what's happening next week, or are you just going to tease us?"

Primus flashed a mischievous grin. "Oh, that's an idea I like…"

"Primus," Silverstorm laughed.

"Okay, okay. The Autobots that were on Earth are coming home. They'll be arriving next week. By my calculations, they'll land a few clicks west of the city. You'll need to meet them."

Silverstorm's steps faltered and he stopped. The Aerialbots turned to look at him, and they were surprised by the insecurity and fear that his wings displayed.

"Really?" he asked, forcing a smile. "That's… that's great. Really great."

"Prime?" Silverbolt asked. "Are you okay?"

Silverstorm shrugged and changed the subject at once. "We need to get Sling to Pipes. So… thanks for the news, Primus. Great news. Really great."

"Silverstorm," Primus chided gently.

"Don't."

The strangled command was grating, and Primus studied him then nodded. "If you need to talk, I'm here. Or Mirage is. And Bolt. And Magnus. You know that?"

"Yep. Thanks. Bye."

And Silverstorm turned away and began to walk toward the medbay. The Aerialbots watched him stride ahead, his wings trembling with so many emotions that it was frightening.

"Is he okay?" Silverbolt asked.

"No," Primus said. "He's anxious about seeing his friends again."

"Why?" Slingshot asked. "He hasn't seen them in ages. Why isn't he excited?"

"Many reasons. Most of them I will not share, as they are his business. But I will say that those mechs know a side of him that makes him ashamed to think of. And he's unsure how they will see him now that he is a Prime."

Silverbolt nodded. "Thank you for telling us. I'll share it with the other younglings."

"Good. And remind them about the pressure clearing. I need energy."

"Sure thing."

"We gotta go now," Fireflight said, smiling a bit vaguely. "Sling is all hurting in his wing."

"Go on then. Silverstorm has informed Pipes, and he is all set up for you."

The Aerialbots smiled as Primus dissolved then turned to head for the medbay. They talked quietly, concerned for their Prime. He had looked so lost and vulnerable, and they didn't know how to help him. But they wanted to. They just didn't know what to do.