The first week has come and gone without bloodshed, and Steeljaw and Ramulus no longer automatically try to kill anyone who gets too close. Residents of Nova Terra took the lull in full stride and appeared to fawn over the sparkling. Underbite was especially taken, and with close enough experience in taking care of minicons, Fracture was promptly tasked with babysitting duty while Steeljaw and Ramulus tended to business with Saberhorn and Bumblebee. At least, until Sandstorm barges in and calls it quits for the day on everyone's behalf.
Thunderhoof was the only one who didn't participate in the festivities. He was only interested in making sure Steeljaw was alright. He promised Phantomjaw just before he left that he would look after his brother. Not Ramulus, not the sparkling, just Steeljaw.
After his daily check-in, Thunderhoof returns to his neck of the woods.
"Miss me?"
Thunderhoof didn't hesitate. He turned on his heel and swung. His fist punched straight through a tree, breaking it in half.
"Woo! Glad I dodged that!"
"I's almost killed ya!" Thunderhoof exclaimed, massaging his knuckles. "Do yous have a death wish or somethin'?"
"I guess I could have kept my distance…"
Phantomjaw sidled on over to Thunderhoof and wrapped his claws around his neck.
"But where would the fun in that be?"
Thunderhoof scoffed and rolled his optics.
"Yous are so not your brother."
Phantomjaw laughed. Soon, both mechs were locked in a desperate kiss, full of want and longing…
And it certainly didn't take long for their positions to change as things grew sparking hot.
"Ey, by the way, did yous see your brother and the bitlit?" Thunderhoof asked, squinting at the equally exhausted Lupicon laying beside him.
"Not yet," Phantomjaw quietly replied, shifting closer to his partner and curling around him. "I wanted to see you, first."
Suddenly, his ears perked.
"What?" Thunderhoof asked.
"Brother says he saw my signal reappear and now he wants to meet," Phantomjaw said. He reluctantly removes himself from the warm embrace of intimacy and shakily rises to his pedes.
Together, the pair drive to Comet.
"So, you're back," Steeljaw stated, optics narrowing and tail swishing back and forth. "Here to stay for as long as you promised, I hope."
"Sorry, brother, but I still have a job to do," Phantomjaw half-heartedly apologized. "Work doesn't just stop, you know."
"Oh, believe me, I do."
Phantomjaw decides not to push his luck and instead changes the subject. His gaze lands on a small bundle of white curled in Steeljaw's arms.
"I see the emergence was a success."
Steeljaw may be upset with his brother, but not enough to refuse him access to family. With a small nod, he allows Phantomjaw to approach.
"Aw, they're so small! How adorable!"
Intrigued by Phantomjaw's unfamiliar voice, the pup turns around and looks up. Tiny yellow optics blink.
"Hey there, little one!"
Phantomjaw reaches out to rub the pup's head, but Ramulus growls and pulls his mate and sparkling out of reach.
"I'm not going to hurt them, Ramulus," Phantomjaw said.
"How can I trust you not to?" Ramulus questioned.
"Ram," Steeljaw warned, flicking his tail tip against his mate's legs. "My brother wouldn't intentionally harm us. He's actually quite protective, though not overly so."
"Are you saying I'm overprotective?"
Steeljaw chuckled. He leaned over and nuzzled his mate's neck.
"For you, I'm willing to make an exception."
"Have you named them yet?" Phantomjaw interrupted.
"Not yet. We're waiting for her to grow a bit before picking a designation," Steeljaw explained.
"A femme, huh? Things are bound to be interesting."
"Speaking of interesting…" Steeljaw followed his daughter's gaze to Thunderhoof, who had remained quiet and at a distance. "Thunderhoof, you're the only one left on the planet who hasn't met her."
"Ain't interested," Thunderhoof rapidly replied.
"And why is that?"
"Hows about yous discuss whatever you wanted to discuss with your brother and then we can all go back to our day?"
". . . What are you talking about?
"I got a message from you a little while ago saying that you found out I had returned and that you wanted to talk to me," Phantomjaw elaborated.
"I didn't send you a message," Steeljaw answered, vocalizer tense. "I didn't even know you were back until just now."
An uneasy silence fell upon the group.
Something wasn't right.
"Hey, Phantom!"
Rounding the building, a blocky, black and blue mech with teal detailing and red optics makes himself known.
"Long time no see, mech!"
"Doubledealer? What are you doing here?" Phantomjaw questioned.
"What do you think?" Doubledealer chuckled. "I'm here for a job."
"You are?"
"Yeah, but I'm afraid I can't cut you in on this one. You see, I have to retrieve those two for a client…"
He pointed to Steeljaw and Ramulus.
"And considering your connection to them, I can't allow you to get in my way."
Doubledealer immediately armed himself and charged Phantomjaw head-on. At the same time, other mechs were beamed down to assist in the capture and containment of their targets. Despite being outnumbered, Ramulus instantly jumped into the fray.
"Thunderhoof…" Steeljaw said as the two of them backtracked.
"No, Steeljaw, I ain't doing it again!" Thunderhoof interrupted, covering his leader's flank.
"But…"
"I said no!"
"Thunderhoof, listen to me! Whatever is going on, a part of me feels like it has something to do with my past. I kept my old life a secret for a reason, and I don't want you, my daughter, or anyone else on Nova Terra getting dragged into it!"
Steeljaw was frantic with desperation, and Thunderhoof couldn't bring himself to deny him a third time.
"Don't make me come save you again," Thunderhoof threatened.
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Steeljaw whispered. He nuzzled his daughter before handing her off to Thunderhoof.
"Use the space-bridge to get off of the planet. I don't want anyone to find you guys."
"What about the law?"
Both mechs couldn't believe that Thunderhoof just said that.
"Screw the law! Just get out of here!"
With sparkling safely in-servo, Thunderhoof ran.
He rushed to activate the space-bridge, but his free servo was unsteady.
"Focus, Thunderhoof, focus!"
He pulled a lever and the portal burst to life.
"Finally!"
"Hoof!"
Phantomjaw came running in, panting and leaking Energon.
"You can yell at me for this later!"
Before Thunderhoof could say anything, Phantomjaw shoved him through the portal…
What he is greeted with on the other side is one long airdrop. He pulls enough sense together to tuck the pup into his subspace, just in case.
Seconds later, he hits water and sinks far below the surface. The impact temporarily freezes his systems, preventing him from moving.
Once his systems rebooted and he was able to move again, Thunderhoof reached out and grabbed a hold of a jetty in the rock face of an underwater ravine. Digging his hooves into any grooves he can feel, he hoisted himself up and over the edge. He crawled a short distance away before rising to his full height and picking out bits and pieces of his surroundings: rocks, algae, and a myriad of aquatic animals.
Blasted Pits! Not only am I back on Earth, but I'm stuck IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAGGING OCEAN!
Thunderhoof circulates his vents the best he can underwater. He is tired, and after all that has happened, is far from being in the mood to deal with this scrap right now. Keeping his anger in check, he picks a direction and heads that way, hoping it leads to dry land.
Unfortunately, today doesn't seem to be his day.
Thunderhoof grunts in surprise when he loses his balance. He quickly steadies himself and looks down. His left hoof broke through a crack in the ocean floor. He tries to pull out, but something hard and heavy lands on top, bringing him to his knees. He attempts to shake whatever is on him off, but only further entangles his antlers in the accompanying chain.
FRAG DAMMIT! CAN ANYTHING ELSE GO WRONG TODAY?
A boiling heat swirls around his entombed leg, crumpling his plating and burning the protoform underneath. Thunderhoof writhes in pain and discomfort, and while in such a distressed state, doesn't notice the boat he nearly drags below the surface.