Disclaimer: Transformers: Prime and everything related belongs to the rightful company Hasbro. I am in no way shape or form making money off this.
Author's Notes: Trine: (n) s set or group of three; triad; (adj) threefold; triple. Seekers weren't the only Cybertronians who lived as a trine.
Title: Trine
Pairing: Knock OutxBumblebeexSmokescreen (Prime)
Request: Blu3g1rl (AO3)
Humans had a saying: "Hell has no fury as a woman scorned." Fighting along Arcee, Bumblebee could believe that. Cybertron didn't have a lot in the way of sayings, but in the mood, he was in not even the great destroyer Unicron himself would be able to stop him. He continued to ignore all comm links and made sure his tracking was off. He was also aware he was burning through his reserves but he didn't care about that.
'You'll pay for this, you slagger. You took everything from me, and now I'm going to return the favor.' His anger grew hotter than the Pitt itself but a ping on his GPS pulled him from his musings, showing he was getting incredible close to his destination. With a roar of his engine, the Camaro sped even faster.
Patrol duty was one of the easiest jobs one could have, but it was the one none of the soldiers enjoyed. It meant you were the Autobots' target, but if you were able to get back to the warship under your own power when a retreat was called, you were considered lucky. A soldier watched as some miners walked out of the cave, pushing a hover lift stacked with energon cubes.
"We have several more loads coming out," he explained.
"Put them with the others other there," the soldier gestured but tensed when he noticed a cloud of dirt in the distance. "What is that?"
"Is it one of ours?"
"Unknown. Its ignoring all comm requests." He turned to another soldier even as he held up his blaster. "Alert Commander-"
"Autobot!"
The soldier turned and the last thing he saw was a yellow sports car with black racing stripes barreling into him with so much force, his lower stabilizers obliterated but his digits left shallow scratches on the hood as the vehicle did a tight turn, sending him flying. Although his visual feed was glitching he watched as the car transformed and the Autobot scout annihilated those around him. He had had been one of the very few lucky enough to survive for so long, he had seen video feeds from others who survived battles with the Autobots, but nothing could have prepared him for this level of brutality.
Bumblebee was venting deeply, straightening but he ignored the carnage and immediately made his way to the entrance of the energon mine. When Vehicons saw him, he wasted no time in shooting at them, stepping past their fallen frames. Some even tried to block his path but after seeing him rip the upper stabilizer off one drone and used it to pierced the spark chamber of another, they decided in their limited processing power, to let him pass. Drones they were, but it was clear that mech was on a mission.
Starscream's digit tapped on his upper stabilizer where they were crossed over his chassis, wings twitching as he tried hard not to look at the cave's walls. He despised being here, unable to feel the wind on his winds. The light from the energon crystals help but the sooner they were done here the happier he would be.
"Aren't you done yet?!" he snapped at the small cluster of Vehicons.
"Yes, Commander Starscream. The rest of the mine has been stripped, this is the last of the energon crystals to be converted," the drone explained.
"Then don't just stand there like fools! Get the rest of the cubes and the mining equipment out of here! And contact Soundwave for a Ground bridge!" Watching the drones rush around to obey his orders allowed the seeker to vent to himself. "The sooner we're done the sooner we can leave this accused place!" As equipment was packed up, the conversion machine running through its final load, no one noticed as another bot walked in. He took in everything but his optics located his target and he focused solely on him.
"[STARSCREAM!]" Vorns of having his designation bellowed make the mech in question flinch but Bumblebee didn't make any notice of it, allowing his blasters to transform back into his servos.
"W-What are you doing here?!
"[Where is Megatron?]"
"What do I look like, his keeper?!" How dare this mech bother him with such a question! "Destroy the Autobot!"
"[Big mistake.]" With a rumbling growl Bumblebee charged forward, tearing through the drones like they weren't even there. Anybot that stood in his way was either torn apart, or crushed with incredible strength. Through it all he never took his optics off the Decepticon SIC, ignoring digits as they scratched at him, even used their own blasters until there was nothing remaining. Which meant there was nothing to stop him from advancing on the terrified seeker.
Starscream couldn't believe it even though he had witnessed it with his own optics. The Autobots had always been known as "the good bots," that the ones that claimed all sentient life was sacred. "S-Stay back!" he warned, not even bothering to hide the fear in his vocalizer. "I'll-! I'll destroy you myself!"
"[Where is Megatron?]" he growled lowly, continuing his advance. No one was going to stop him, not when he was this close.
"I warned you!" His digit twitched, clicks were heard and the missiles screamed to lift, heading for the Autobot. But they never connected with the Autobot. With a snarl the scout swung his upper stabilizer out, deflecting the missiles' path. One went streaking to the side, going off and destroying a great portion of the cave's wall, and the other upward, compromising the structure's integrity that a small cave in was started. Being the self-preserving coward he was, Starscream scrambled to get away, blindly making his way down one of the mine's many tunnels. He tried coming for help, begging someone, anyone to save him but the mineral deposits contained his signals. But just as he feared himself running around forever, he found himself in a smaller cavern that they had been using as storage, which included an extra mining drill and a communication relay.
"Finally!" With a wail of joy, the Deception immediately began pressing buttons, trying to remember the frequency to get a hold of the Nemesis. No Vehicons, no weapons, not even an escape route, he didn't care about the humiliation, he just wanted to survive! "This is Commander Starscream, contacting the warship, Nemesis!" Static. "This is Commander Starscream, requesting emergency assistance!" More static. "Someone open a Ground bridge and send reinforcements!" Nothing but static. "Can anyone hear me!?"
"[I can.]"
"!" The seeker turned and was immediately introduced to a fist that cracked both optical lenses. His wings took the brunt of his impact with the communication relay, leaving him stunned but online. His processor began skipping, making him experience brief black outs and completely fragging up his chronometer. But he remembered see the Autobot moving about, felt him drag him somewhere, then the rumbling of a heavy-duty engine. For a moment, he thought that his frantic message had gone through, that he was being saved but when he forced his optics online, he let out a shriek of terror.
"[This is the last time I'm gonna ask this, seeker,]" Bumblebee snarled, digits creating dents as he held the helm dangerous close to the whirling, ragged blades spinning rapidly. "[Where is MEGATRON?!]"
With a gruesome, painful death mere moments away, the deadly and fearsome SIC lived up to his namesake as he screamed loud enough that even deep in a cave, the stars could hear.
"Lord Megatron, we have a situation."
"What is it this time?" the warlord growled lowly.
"No one is responding from the energon mine in sector gamma, sir."
"Who was in charge?"
"Commander Starscream, sir. But we have been unable to contact him, as well."
Dark red-violet optics narrowed in thought. If his traitorous SIC was stock-piling the energon for himself, he would do more than beat some loyalty in him. "Soundwave!"
From the shadows a lithe, silently mech said nothing as he made his way to the main communication hub. Digits flew over the keypad, locating the failed signal and secured the connection. Looking at his lord, he nodded. Megatron wasted no time as he came forward and pressed a button. "This is Megatron. Report." Silence. "Report!" Still nothing. "Starscream, answer me or I will-"
"[Starscream can't answer right now, but I can.]"
He recognized those beeps and clicks anywhere. "Bumblebee. I would ask why you are the one answering my communication, but I believe I know the answer."
"[Listen closely, you slagger. You took everything from me: my home, my voice, my friends, and now my trine. You've gone too far.]"
"Oh, my dear scout, still pinning over your deactivated comrade, are you? At least his spark extinguished when you were nearby. Knock Out on the other servo, he had no one. Did you know that his final vent was your designation as well as your follow comrade's?"
There was a brief sound of what sounded like gears grinding and a sharp burst of static. "[Frag you! I don't care how long it takes me, how many drones I have to go through, how many mines I have to destroy to get your attention, but I will not stop until I have ripped your spark from your chassis! I swear to Primus AND Unicron both!]"
Dead silence filled the warship, the hum of machinery heard but soon a dark chuckle was heard. The gladiator-turned-warlord's chuckle was dark, sinister, amused? "Such brave words, Bumblebee! If you wish to be reunited with your sparkmates so badly, then I shall gladly send them to you myself. And just to prove how much of a gentlemech I am, I will let you pick the location."
"[… where we last fought, where you took Smokescreen from me. Oh, and Megatron, bring all the mechs you want, slag, bring Soundwave! I know you don't give a flying slag about anyone around you, but you can watch as I crush their sparks with my bare servos. I can be a gentlemech myself so when the time comes for your offlining, there won't be an audience.]" The connection was lost despite Soundwave's attempts but it wouldn't have mattered as Megatron blasted a hole in the communication hub with his ion cannon with a snarl.
Back at the energon mine, Bumblebee vented deeply, servos clenching and unclenching. This was it, there was no turning back but he had nothing left for him. Snagging a cube of energon he drained it and tossed the empty cube aside where it rolled and stopped next to the peds of a motionless bot, most of its upper fame hidden in the shadow of a still warm mining drill.
Once Bumblebee was outside, he wasted no time in transforming and speeding off. This was the last straw; Megatron had crossed a line that he never should have known about. The three of them had been careful, even Optimus didn't know about them! But now they were both gone and he couldn't help but think it had been his fault.
'Knock Out… Smokescreen… I'm sorry… don't worry, I'll be with you both soon enough…'
MEMORY MANAGEMENT
SEARCH FILE: KNOCK_OUT
SEARCHING … … …
FILE FOUND
INITIALIZING PLAYBACK FEED
Bumblebee was exhausted. Today nothing seemed to go right all he wanted to do was recharge early but he ended up making a wrong turn and found himself here at the oil house. 'Already here. Just a drink then I go.' Entering he wondered if it would be too late to just turn around and leave but more bots made their way in that he had no choice but to enter. Venting to himself, he moved deeper inside and sat at the bar. Looking at the bartender he put in his order for some high-grade. Thanking the bartender once his drink was set before him, he took a long sip.
"You look like you spend your cycle running all over Cybertron, twice."
"I think I did." He turned to the side and looked at a very attractive mech sitting next to him, his frame polished to a fine shine with curves he could definitely appreciate. "Is it that obvious?"
"Mmm hmm. But don't worry, I won't say a thing," he smirked, and leaned into him. "I'm Knock Out."
Bee considered himself a quiet mech, a solitary bot with few close friends, and while part of his processor was still arguing that he should have just gone straight home, he was glad he stayed. Afterall, he wouldn't have met this mech before him. "Bumblebee. Mind, if I buy you another drink?"
Crimson optics widen, clearly surprised but the way he leaned in, practically purring as he answered, "Can't say no to a well-maintained gentlemech."
It took Bumblebee a while to realize that Knock Out was flirting with him, surprising the fiery red racer who seemed to take it as a challenge in trying to get him to blush more and more. By the time they left the Old Oil house, Bee was pretty overcharged. In fact, he wasn't sure how he managed to transform but he knew it had something to do with an enticing crimson vehicle mode he had followed. So, he was only mildly surprised when Knock Out pushed him up against a door and kissed him. The logical part of his processor shut down and his own frame seemed to know what to do as servos wrapped around the curvy frame pressing into him, moaning as their glossias slid against each other's. Bumblebee heard a low beep and stumbled back as the door he had been leaning against slid open.
"This your place?" Bee asked, optics trying to adjust to the unlit hab suite but he was getting distracted by skilled digits tracing along his seams, tugging at wires and making his charge burn a bit hotter.
"Next time we'll go to yours," Knock Out purred. Guiding the mech through the darkness was easy and it didn't take them long to arrive to the berthroom. With a slight push, he watched as the yellow mech fell back onto his berth. Joors later, even well into the next cycle, Bumblebee was introduced to so much pleasure and just how talented a medic's servos could be. Even though he had just meet this attractive mech, his spark was rapidly falling in love with him.
PLAYBACK COMPLETE
SEARCH FILE: SMOKESCREEN
SEARCHING … … …
FILE FOUND
INITIALIZING PLAYBACK FEED
Smokescreen was only slightly younger than himself, but he was excited as a newspark and it showed. Bumblebee wasn't sure what to expect, certainly not that a revolutionary was slowly taking over Cybertron. He had signed up to try and preserve Cybertron's peace, much to Knock Out's displeasure but he didn't try to stop him either. While he agreed things needed to change, the racing medic wasn't going to risk his finish. But now he was given this newbie to show around. It was fine, but he was, well, Smokescreen was kinda-
"Bumblebee!"
-clingy.
The yellow cadet vented but stopped and waited until the eager blue and yellow rookie ran up to him, grinning so large but he blinked and cleared his vocalizer as he snapped to attention. "I mean, Bumblebee, sir!" he saluted sharply.
"Relax Smokescreen, we're not in a training simulation. You don't have to keep calling me sir," he said, waving his servo at him. The rookie was eager, that's for sure.
"Oh! Right, sorry, I keep forgetting that!" Laughing nervously, he began walking with his mentor, doorwings twitching in excitement. "So um, I was wondering if you wanted to have a drink or something? As a thank you!"
"Why would you be thanking me?" bee asked, a bit curious himself.
"It wasn't for your training, I never woulda passed my marksmechship exam!" Yes, he was excited to be serving Cybertron, but he had trouble trying to focus his aim. No one was willing to help him out but Bumblebee did. He even showed him how to aim and stay focus even under pressure.
"Oh well, you don't have to thank me for that. I mean, you still managed to pass the exam on your own," Bee smiled, nodding to him. He was about to tell him he had plans, but then he remembered that Knock Out was gonna be running late. "A drink sounds like a great idea, but it'll be my treat."
"Alright! Wait, no I'll pay so let's go!" grabbing his servo Smokescreen pulled the other mech along, fighting the urge to blush at the warm feeling of their servos linked together. Unfortunately, Maccadam's Old Oil House was packed much more than usual, there wasn't a single seat available much less two. Stepping outside they found themselves able to vent much easier.
"Sorry sir-I mean, Bumblebee. I guess I wasn't the only one celebrating today," he vented softly, doorwings drooping slightly.
The trainee smiled and reached out, patting the other mech on a shoulder rotator. "It's not your fault. In fact, I have some high grade at my place. We can still celebrate your score without having to speak to one another through our comm links."
"Y-Your place? Um, yeah. I'd really like that!" He didn't have to look in a mirror to tell he was blushing like a newspark but that didn't matter as they transformed and he followed right after him.
A few joors later found them in Bumblebee's hab suite, drinking some high grade and sharing stories. The yellow cadet sipped at his cube, wondering how his medic was doing when he felt Smokescreen drop down next to him on the couch. He blinked when he was presented with an holoimage and asked about the red mech posing with him. "Oh, that's my partner, Knock Out."
"So that's him." Smokescreen had meant it as a question but he stared at the image with a studious expression. He knew his mentor was bonded, to some medic-in-training who also raced on the side. He never met the mech, but he instantly didn't like him. "How come he's not here?" he asked, setting the holoimage to the side.
"He had something to do, but he'll be home later." It was strange; they hadn't been together long but it just felt natural to move in together, meshing together in a way that surprised the both of them but slag if he didn't wish he was here. It felt nice coming to have somebot waiting for him. Bee didn't realize Smokescreen was looking at him, emotions racing across his faceplates.
Why did Bumblebee have to bond to some-some racer? Why couldn't he have meet him sooner? It wasn't fair! Smokescreen finished his high-grade as he felt that now was the time to tell the other bot the truth. "Bumblebee, there's something I've been wanting to tell you, but I'm kinda worried how you'll take it," he began, looking down at the empty cube in his servos.
In the short time he had known the rookie, Bee had never heard him speak so sorrowfully. Setting him cube down he turned and gave his mentee his full attention. "Smokescreen, you can tell me anything." When he refused to look at him, Bee silently took the empty cube, setting it down before taking his servos into his own. Pale blue optics looked up at him, feelings of hope, longing, shame, anger seemed to flicker over his faceplates, making the yellow mech worry.
"I… I like you, Bumblebee. Like, I've never liked anybot else before and I know you have a spark mate but I don't care! He's not right for you, but I am!"
"Smokmmphf?!" A confession was the last thing Bee expected to hear, suddenly being kissed was the last thing he expected. Having drank some high-grade his systems were running just a tad slower, which included his reaction time, so he couldn't stop himself when he fell back onto the couch. He still struggled against the other mech, tried to push him off without hurting him, but what was worse was his system was beginning to heat up, his spark pulsing rapidly. Torn between wanting to give in and trying to get Smokescreen to stop, he missed the way his spark seemed to "jumpstart" or that somebot just walked in.
"Well now, this is not what I was expecting after a long cycle," Knock Out pointedly out calmly, posture relaxed even as he crossed his servos over his chassis.
"Mmpft! K-Knock Out!" Bumblebee knew his was blushing, his faceplate burning with the amount of energon rushing through his cables. Not only had he managed to push an equally surprised Smokescreen off him, he also sprung to his peds. "You're home! I mean, this isn't what it looks like!"
The medic simply raised an optical ridge. "So, you were not kissing another mech in our living space, surrounded by cubes of high grade?"
"N-Not exactly…" Oh he was slagged; where was a smelting pit when you really needed one? But the surprise continued as Smokescreen managed to get to his own peds, a bit unsteady, and clung to Bee's stabilizer like his spark depended on it.
"You! You're not good enough for him!" he said angrily, faceplates flushed, derma plating tingling from the kiss, high grade lingering in his systems like a pleasant burn. He was still coherent, and he was going to say what was on his processor before he lost his resolve.
"Really? And who are you to decide something like that?" he asked. While he appeared calm, he did not appreciate the way he was clinging to his bonded. Knock Out was vain, perhaps even a bit petty, but he was very possessive of those he considered his and that included partners. All the more reason to grab ahold of the other upper stabilizer, even going so far as to interlock their digits together.
Bumblebee knew a fight was inevitable, what he didn't count on was being pulled into separate directions like a toy between two spoilt sparklings. He tried reasoning with them, but that seemed to escalate things until the two were now yelling in each other's face plates, throwing insults at the same time.
"You clearly don't have any originality! Anybot with optics can clearly see you used the same yellow paint Bee does!"
"So, the color looks good on me! The only reason you're so slick is the amount of wax you use!"
"Least I use it! Looks like you haven't used a buffer the moment you emerged from the Well!"
"Alright that's enough!" Perhaps it was dangerous to impose himself between two very upset mechs, but he had to put a stop to this before it became physical. "Smokescreen, go sit down. That's an order." He hadn't pulling rank, but the rookie obeyed tensely as he backed up and slowly lowered himself on the couch, glaring hot enough to melt plating. Facing his berthmate, the yellow soldier wasn't surprised to see him glaring back and once more, put himself between them. "Knock Out-"
"So, he can be trained! What other tricks can be do?" he mocked.
"I'm not a pet drone! And I don't flash myself like a prostibot!"
"Why you little-"
Bumblebee's optics widen and immediately swept his berthmate into upper stabilizers, ignoring the scratches as his furious medic tried to come after the tense cadet. He grunted as he ordered the rookie to stand down and park himself then turned his snarl partner into the berthroom. Once the door closed, he released him long enough to grab his servos. "Knock Out! Slag, Knock Out!"
"What?!"
"Calm. Down." Normally it wasn't easy to get him to calm down once he was in one of his moods, but he did what he always did. He waited. Bee was surprised when he heard his venting slowing down after a servoful of breems, the roar of his engine idling, frame untensing but he wasn't fooled enough to release him. "Knock Out… first, I'm sorry. Smokescreen caught me off-guard with the kiss but know that I would never hurt you like that."
"I know that. But I don't like it when bots think they can take something of mine and expect me to be fine about it," he hissed lowly. He looked away, plating pulled tight to his frame. After a klik, he spoke up and asked a single question. "Did you kiss him back?"
"What? Kiss back—I told you he caught me off guard! I didn't have time to do anything before you got home."
"But you enjoyed it." The crimson mech slowly looked up and tried not to wince at the look of shame in those gorgeous blue optics. The servos around his slowly released him but he didn't care about the mech in their living space right now. "… how long?"
"… almost as long as I've known him." he didn't know why, but Bumblebee found himself telling Knock Out, his berthmate, his partner, about his secret attractions to his mentee. He never acted on his desires though, hoping it would fade but it didn't. Then the kiss happened, and if his medic hadn't come in when he did… "I didn't say anything because I didn't want you to think I was the kind of mech that goes around using others."
"Oh, my sweet Bumblebee." Purring softly, the racer took Bee's faceplates in his servos and pulled him in, kissing him. Unlike their first kiss, it wasn't driven by passion but like their first time, the yellow mech responded in kind. He deepened the kiss as servos wrapped around the slender waist, holding the other frame as tightly as he dared. Knock Out moaned lowly, parting his lip plates his glossia sought the other. Coaxing it into his orifice where he sucked on it gently. Digits curled as they dragged down backplates, digging into sensitive rotators of doorwings which drew an engine rumbling groan from the frame. Neither of them noticed as the door to the berthroom opened, a lone blue optic watching the two mechs for a bit before quietly pulling away, the door sliding close. The kiss stopped and the two broke apart but not from each other.
"It's normal, to feel this way," the crimson-opticed bot began, sliding his servos from sensitive doorwings to the broad chassis, rubbing at the plating that protected the spark. "We haven't shared sparks, but you feel an attraction for him, even though you're already in a relationship. It's called a trine effect."
"Trine? You mean, like seeker trines?" The heat was still curled tightly in his tanks, wanting to continue where they were doing but he forced it back. He still needed to talk with Smokescreen as well.
"Not quite. Trines were very common a long time ago, three bots coming together to form a relationship, going so far as to bond together. Carriers need a lot of stimuli, more than a single partner can provide. But I'm guessing some bots were jealous that some had two partners and they couldn't get one. So, bots started saying it was wrong. But it's part of our coding and you can't stop that than you can stop a seeker from flying."
"Coding, huh?" Something to think about but Bumblebee frowned slightly. "But I've seen seeker trines, so what's the difference?"
"Tradition? You'd have to ask a seeker but unless you know another way to travel to Vos…"
"I see." It made sense but Bee filed that bit of information away and caught the servo on his chassis, holding it firmly over his spark. "I like him, Knock Out. I want Smokescreen. But I also want you."
"As much as he irritates me, I admit he is—attractive." Ugh, he hated admitting that there might be another bot just as attractive as him, but Knock Out also knew what his partner was not asking him. His possessive personality always got him in trouble, and ended a lot of relationships in the past, but Bumblebee was the only one who stayed. "If I promise to play nice, can we keep him?"
"First, we talk to him. Then, we ask."
"Oh, alright." But before they left, he pulled Bumblebee down for another kiss, a bit rougher as he pulled back but not without nipping a lip plate. "Later."
The two stepped out of the berthroom but found the living space empty, the door to their hab suite slightly open. Rushing out they noticed there was no sign of Smokescreen at all, and he wasn't answering any of Bumblebee's comms. Shocked and sadden, they returned back to their hab suite but they were worried about the rookie.
The blue and yellow mech was clearly avoiding them, purposely ignoring all comms and keeping away from them; even in the academy he went as far as to request to have another Autobot mentor him. He just explained it as having learned all he could with Bumblebee and needed to broad his experience. It was during a race late one cycle when Knock Out was the one to spot him. making sure the other mech hadn't seen him, he commed his sparkmate his location and waited. Bee made it in record time and working together, they managed to corner him and after much talking, begging (Bumblebee), threatening (Knock Out) convinced him to come with them back to their home. The cadet, now sporting a blue and white paint with minimal red accents, was currently sitting on the edge of the bots' berth, staring at his servos clenched in his lap, plating pulled in time, doorwings sagging on their hinges.
Hesitant peds moved closer, hydraulics hissing as a frame silently knelt before him. Once more the field reached out, making him slowly lower his servos and looked at a concerned Bumblebee. "Smokescreen, why were you going to leave without telling us?"
"I… I'm sorry… for insulting your partner… for making a slagging glitch of myself… but I'm not sorry for kissing you, or for telling you how I really feel. But I could also see how much you two care about each other." At this he lowered his gaze, staring at their joined servos. "I don't want to be the reason to ruin your happiness."
"You're right, I do love Knock Out… but I also enjoy my time with you. I, well I was flattered when you told me you liked me, but I'm in a relationship with Knock Out." At this he paused, wondering if this was a good idea and looked over to his berthmate, silently asking for help.
Love made bots do foolish things, but if done correctly, it was well worth it. Silently Knock Out climbed onto the berth and knelt behind the blue and yellow mech, wrapping his servos around him, pulling them close enough that their frames were pressed firmly together.
"Whoever said that you can only love one bot at a time was lying through their denta," the red bot murmured, digits tracing the transformation seams on his abdominal plating. "What Bee is trying to say, is he likes you as much as you like him. And as much as I don't like anyone touching my stuff, I can make an exception this time."
"W-What?" he wanted to ask what he meant but Smokescreen's attention was drawn back to Bumblebee who slid his own servos over and up lean stabilizers, tracing seams along the way. He caught the servos, wanting to ask what he was doing but shuddered in pleasure as he felt lip plates on the back of his neck cables. He let out a low moan, feeling an all-too familiar heat building in his tanks. "But… wait, what…"
"Knock Out explained that this, even though it's frowned upon, it's completely normal. But more importantly, I want this and he's willing to share," Bumblebee murmured as he continued his ministrations, moving closer as the lower stabilizers spread open but paused before he went any further, looking up. "But, we're both willing… if you are as well."
"Think about it, Smokey. You'll get to see sweet Bee like no bot has ever seen before," the medic whispered into his audio receiver, slipping his digits into the widening gaps, stroking wires and pulling another groan from the rookie. "Just say yes, and you'll get a cycle you will never forget."
Smokescreen was torn and it didn't help that he was being held by two very attractive frames. He whined and shifted, tried to get them to continue but they refused to budge, waiting for his answer. If he said no, he would never get Bee's attention, maybe even get transferred to another squad. And if he said yes, he would have to deal with the planet's vainest mech with an ego twice as large, have to share Bee's attention with him. But he was willing to share, to be the bigger bot. If Knock Out could do it, so could he. His glossia felt like it was made of solid lead but he managed to force his answer out.
Like before him, Knock Out proved his could teach a bot new tricks, but with his lovely assistant helping him he knew thiese lessons would be stick in such a young processor. He looked so good withering in pleasure, they both did and his sweet Bee was enjoying himself. He could feel his spark pulsing wildly; he would do anything to keep these mechs with him as long as they wanted him.
When it was over Smokescreen felt lost, even as he lay there, still gasping as his system tried to regulate his temperature, plating pinging as it cooled. His faceplate was tilted up, derma plating pressed against his but he was surprised when he felt coolant filling his mouth. Gratefully he swallowed what was offered, his system cooling down faster but he actually whimpered when he felt digits cup him, twitching almost violently from the over-sensitivity. Pulling away from the kiss he tried to move but couldn't even find the energy to online his optics
"P-Please… no more… can't…" He sounded so weak, helpless but the servo was removed and instead wrapped around his waist, a warm frame pressing into his backplates as another pressed into his chassis.
"No more, sweetspark. Just making sure we didn't damage anything," Knock Out whispered. As much as he hated recharging without cleaning up, none of them were in any condition to do, well, anything. Except sleep.
Bumblebee gentle nuzzled the blue helm, optics dim as he felt his recharge initializing. "We have you, Smokey… just, recharge… we'll talk about this… later, okay?" he murmured sleepily.
The rookie wanted to ask so many questions, but he was so utterly drained, he was surprised he hadn't been knocked offline during his overload but that didn't matter. Even though his cooling fans were still running on high he didn't pull away from their equally hot frames. They spoke of warmth, safety, and love. His recharge protocols activated and within moments, he was deep in recharge, right along with his berthmates.
PLAYBACK COMPLETE
The drive was silent, cutting through the desert, making multiple turns, hiding when he thought he heard anything. Just like he was trained. Old habits were hard to break, but determination pushed him on. This was a suicide mission, one where he knew the likelihood of surviving was astronomical, but to take out Megatron alone with no back up? No set plan? Without Optimus?
Gears shifted and his speed increased. There was no time to think about him or the others, it would only distract him. Instead, he though his sparkmates, his trine. He remembered the smell of Knock Out's wax he used daily, the hum of his buffer as he worked it over their frames, his spark wit and silver glossia revealing a complex processor; the way Smokescreen's doorwings would always show what he was really feeling, the boundless energy and enthusiasm for everything and anything, the endless affection he showed whether it was two of them or all three; Bumblebee remembered all of it and more. He remembered feeling like he had gotten in well over his helm but knew it had been worth it, the petty arguments and verbal sparring that ended with the three of them pressing in close, even the feel of their sparks pulsing with his and thinking he would do anything to protect them, even sacrifice himself for them.
'Instead, they lost their sparks because of me.' His dash display pinged that he was getting closer to his location and he began to slow down. The area was like his remembered, barren and void of any organic life. There also seemed to be little remains of their previous battle here, pieces that to a human may appeared to be scrap metal but to the scout he knew them to be blasted pieces of plating from Cybertronians. Pulling to a stop the Camaro stayed idled for a bit before it cut off and he transformed into his primary mode, scanning the area as he continued walking forward. He didn't know who initiated the cleanup, maybe Fowler, but they didn't get everything. Stopping he knelt and removed a piece of metal that looked like it had been partial buried. Lifting it he felt his spark clench when he noted the white and blue pain that was still evident even though it had been scored black.
'Smokey…'
MEMORY MANAGEMENT
SEARCH FILE: BATTLE_127
SEARCHING … … …
FILE FOUND
INITIALIZING PLAYBACK FEED
"Bumblebee, behind you!"
The scout whirled but not fast enough as he felt something strike the armor plating of his backplates hard enough for it to get stuck, followed by an electrical charge that sent his entire system into shock. Errors cascaded his HUD, his equilibrium failing he fell to the ground. He thought he heard someone shout his designation but even so he tried to get himself back onto his peds.
"Hold on, Bee! I'm coming!" the young Elite Guardmech shouted, blasting as Vehicons as he ran to his sparkmate. He knew he should have paid better attention to his surroundings; they were fighting in the middle of a war after all, but he didn't. He watched as the yellow and black mech got up only to stumble to his knee rotators, desperate to reach him. But when the scout looked up in his direction, he had a look of shock and fear in his optics.
"[Smokescreen, look out!]" he screamed.
"Wh-!?" But it was too late. He never heard the roar of an airborne engine flying in low, never registered the EM field that threaten to crush him with the weight of a mountain, never felt the blade as it pierced all the way through his frame and emerged through the front, nor the warm drops of energon staining his plating. His HUD was actually glowing red with the number of errors but he didn't care, struggling to reach his sparkmate. "Urk-!" The sword jerked from his frame, having him stumble before slowly falling to the ground, energon now staining the hard-packed earth.
"Another pest dealt with," Megatron smirked, flicking the remains of energon off his blade with a simple flick of his upper stabilizer.
No. No, no no no no no, oh Primus, NO! Bumblebee didn't know care that he still couldn't move, that his relays were still lagging but he reached behind himself and managed to remove what he struck him. Blue optics shuddered at what he held. "[But… t-this is… Knock Out's…]"
"Don't you mean, was." The smirk never left his scared faceplates, sharpen denta bared. "I know everything, scout. I know something was going on, the way that vain medic never seemed to put so much as a scratch on either of you. How during battles even where he was present, you two never harmed him even when you had the opportunity." So sure of himself, Megatron left the still leaking Autobot he had stabbed and made his way to the still down scout, ignoring the furious bellow of his most hated rival to not go near him. "Laserbeak confirmed your secret meetings, but it wasn't until recently I found out about your secret." The warlord leaned in, his massive frame casting a shadow over the yellow mech. "Tell me, bug. Does Optimus know that two of his own Autobots have trined themselves to a Decepticon, and just any one, but the Chief Medical Officer of the entire fraction?"
Doorwings immediately went taunt, plating clamped down tightly, even internal fans stopped spinning. He didn't have to say anything because his optics betrayed him. He growled lowly, digits tightening over the energon prod as the tyrant chuckled darkly, slowly straightening. "[Where is he? What have you done!?]"
"All my Decepticons know the price for treason, especially my commanders. The only difference is I eliminated him with my own servos and I savored the look of fear in his optics as I felt his spark expire." Slowly the smirk left his lip plates and he lifted his massive cannon, the barrel glowing a dark purple as it powered up. "Give them my regards when you are one with the AllSpark, bug!"
PLAYBACK COMPLETE
Bumblebee didn't need the rest of the file to know why Megatron didn't finish him off then and there. With uncheck fury, Optimus Prime himself barreled his way into the madmech, striking at him with immeasurable strength that made him unpredictable. He even tore the weapon right off Megatron's upper stabilizer and used it to strike the 'Con it belonged to, sending him flying back. The rest was a blur but bee remembered crawling to where Ratchet was struggling with emergency repairs on his bonded, servos stained with Energon. Still suffering from the paralyzing effects of the prod his processor began shutting down unexpectedly, his nanites trying to repair the damages done onto him. When he was finally able to online fully, his systems read that he was unable to reach their spark signatures, which only meet they were gone. His trine was broken, and he wanted revenge.
Digits curled around the blackened metal, trying to rub it clean but it was no use. He held it tightly to his chassis, optics dim but his frame was still tense, still wary, locked in battle mode. "[I'm surprised you came alone,]" Bee said calmly, refusing to look away from the only piece he had left of his trine.
"I would say the same of you. Or are your fellow Autobots hiding in the darkness, waiting to strike him when I least expect it?" Megatron asked, studying the other mech closely.
"[This has nothing to do with your corrupted ideals or this fragging war. You murdered my sparkmates, because of what, jealousy? You couldn't get Orion when you were Megatronus, couldn't get Optimus now, couldn't get anyone you period so you decided if you couldn't have a bond, then no one could.]" Doorwings tilted, allowing an electric blue optic to glare at him. "[Is that why you were so desperate to find Dark Energon? You thought it might help you get your spike up?]"
"Insolent pest! I… am the Dominator, I… am the Destroyer, I am Megatron!" He charged forward, blade sliding free from under his plating, primed to destroy the Autobot but the bug seemed ready as he spun sharply and jammed the prong deeply into one of his seams. The sensors were friend, making him lose sensation in that part of his upper stabilizer but still he continued to lug. Bumblebee ducked and once more jammed the prod into another seam, this time behind his knee rotator. With a snarl he felt the stabilizer buckle and down he went but not fully. "You-!" But he couldn't finish what he wanted to say as the prod immediately struck him in the center of his vocalizer, the surge reaching his processor and causing it to initiate an emergency reboot. He barely managed to keep himself from collapsing completely with his still functioning servo. Megatron tried to curse the Autobot but his systems were still struggling with the lingering electricity from the energon prod, nanites rushing to friend circuitry even as his processor struggled to recalibrate.
During the war, when the fighting shifted from protection to survival, Bumblebee's mentors warned him of losing himself in the carnage. He had seen it happen on both sides, and the end results were disturbing. He swore he would never let it happen to himself but there was no guarantee. So, an older mech, Kup, told him if he ever felt like he was getting sucked in, to remain calm and stay focused on the objective. And it worked even now. He circled the slumped frame, moving smoothly as he continued to hold the former CMO's energon prod in his servo. Even at its max setting it wouldn't have done much damage to such thick plating but if you can get to the malleable protoform one can do some serious damage. Bee took his time and when he had an opening, he would drive it deep into a seam and let loose, watching as the monster withered, letting out snarls and growls. Through it all he remained calm, cool, collected. Finally, he stopped and watched as the Pitt-spawn slowly, painfully lifted his helm to glare at him, the light of his optics flickering.
"… … … satisfied…?... … no…" Though his vocalizer was damaged and his words laced with static, Megatron chuckled wetly. "Had I k-known… you, Prime's little scout… could be so brutal… … I would have recruited you… Personally."
"[My answer now would be the same if you tried; "Stuff it up your aft",]" Bee beeped coldly.
"Yes, you would have, fit in perfectly… … am I not right… Soundwave?"
Optical lenses drew in tight and the scout whirled, looking for the silent yet deadly mech but he struck hard by a sparking cable. More powerful than the prod, warnings and errors flooded his HUD in a red glow. Somehow, Bee managed to stay on his peds but not for long as a servo grabbed a doorwing and hurled his frame where it collided with a long boulder. Another error message popped up, indicating he had lost his connection with his doorwing but he didn't have to know that as he watched as Megatron threw it to the side. He should have guessed he would bring his TIC, there was no one more loyal than Soundwave but even though he couldn't move any of his frame voluntarily, the rogue scout refused to make a single sound as he was beaten.
Plating dented, nearly broken from punishing blows, wires sparked when they were torn, internal struts groaned each time he was thrown or slammed into the hard-packed ground. Energon spilled from his injuries, staining his frame. Pinned to a stone cracked and stained with fluids, Bee still struggled as clawed digits dug into his chestplates and forced them to open, snapping latches open and tearing rotators out of alignment. In the darkness the brilliant blue glow of his spark was pulsing erratically. One of those same servos gripped him by the front of his throat, forcing his helm back as they began to crush the vulnerable cables, sharpened digits tearing into delicate protoflesh.
"I had always intended to use one of you Autobots to pass on a message to your Prime, but this will also serve as a reminder why no one should ever cross me," he growled lowly, scarlet/amethyst gaze focused as he drew his servo back, sword ready to pierce the flickering spark. "I win by any means! At any cost!"
"MEGATRON!"
Sharp, radiating pain struck so suddenly, the warlord felt his frame freeze. Even his processor was unable to diagnosis what was wrong until he looked down and saw a gleaming silver blade emerging from his chassis. The blade was so broad, it almost split his entire chassis in half, not unlike his spark as it struggled to pulse. Even with Dark Energon rushing through his cables, it was unable to combat the EM field of the weapon. His sword silently slid back beneath the protective plating and his servo gripped the protruding blade, as though to remove it but he could feel his strength rapidly draining away.
"W-Who-dares…?!"
"You… will never rob anyone, of anything… ever again."
Optical lenses flared in size, he struggled to turn but as the blade was pulled free a gush of energon spilled free. He dropped the weak scout and stumbled. His processor was unable to process anything, his fuel pumps were slowing down, his spark was beginning to feel cold, now his optical feed was glitching, burst of static blinding him but when he tried looking for Soundwave, he found the loyal mech on the ground. Or rather, pieces of him scattered, data cables still sparking weakly, visor dark. Even the mini-con Lazerbeak was offlined, looking like it had been cut in half with a ragged weapon. Pressing a servo to his chassis in a feeble attempt to stop the leaking, he saw the one who had stabbed him and snarled. "You-!" The blade struck once more, a silvery blue streak. Once more his felt his systems stall but he watched with glitching optics as his right side slowly slid down then away, soon followed by his left. Realization came too late as both halves of his frame gave up and permanently offlined.
Bumblebee didn't know what was going on: due to the severity of his injuries his systems had starting shutting down lesser primary functions, such as his optical feed. He barely registered servos on his plating then inside his components, wincing as tubes and wires were pulled none to gently but he was beyond caring. He went after Megatron knowing he would not come out of it active, and he accepted it.
"Bee? (static) -umblebee?!"
"Stop shaking (static) -leaking (static) already!"
"T-Tell me (static) then!"
"(static) -slagging Groundbridge!"
Primus, even so close to the end he could hear his sparkmates arguing, if he had the energy he would have smiled. Even with most of his sensors offline, and relays disconnected he could feel a bright light on him and he knew it was not the moonlight. That could only mean he was getting close to the AllSpark.
'Please, don't fight… I'm coming… wait for me… until all are one…'
Waking up from stasis was the closest thing Cybertronians would get to what the humans referred to as "dreaming". Sure, their processors could play out memory files and even record what went on around them, to a degree, but only because their systems will give a read-out on their HUD. Everything from energon reserves, oil pressure, defragmentation, even updates and completions of installs or recovering from surgery. Those were not things Bumblebee had wished to see. Afterall, why would he need a read-out if he had joined the AllSpark? He didn't even bother to bring up his memory banks, inventing deeply then letting it out with not even a wince.
'They found me,' he thought to himself somewhat bitterly. '… why did they have to find me? I didn't want them to find me! I wanted to die—I still do!' He was furious and disheartened that not only had he not been able to avenge his sparkmates, he couldn't even reunite with them! He didn't hear peds coming at him, growling when he felt worried EM fields trying reaching out to him. "[Don't touch me!]" he snarled. "[Unless you're here to extinguish my spark, leave me the frag alone.]"
"Well! If I had known that was the reaction I would receive after saving your skidplate, maybe next time I'll just let you."
Wait! He knew that vocalizer! Bright blue optics online and he sat up so quickly, he nearly slammed his helm into another helm but thankfully/luckily, the other mech managed to pull back but servos had already reached out to steady him.
"Bee, it's okay! You're gonna be alright, 'kay?"
"[S… Smokescrean…? Knock Out…?]" For a moment he thought his processor was glitching, that he was seeing after-images of his loved ones but no they were both here. Smokey's servos were warm and real where they rubbed at his pauldrons, and the still huffing medic was none to gentle as he yanked the cord from his medical port. "[Ow.]"
"You are not welcome," he fumed, moving to the side to set the cable down.
"Don't listen to him, Bee. He was really worried about you. I mean we were all like, seriously worried here! I-I didn't think you were gonna make it…" Servos silently slid down upper stabilizers until they settle on Bee's black servos, not fighting it as digits curled over his own tightly.
"[I… I don't understand… you were killed, right in front of me… h-how did you survive?]" Confused optics looked at the crimson-frame that was working on something, backplates turned to them. "[He said, he had killed you.]"
"And you believed him? I thought you were smarter than that."
"Knock Out, c'mon. Can you really blame Bee for snapping like that? He thought we were dead! I thought I was dead!" Tense silence. "Can we at least explain it?"
"… fine." Slowly turning he approached the medical berth and showed the still recovering scout a d-pad. "In a way Megatron was right, he did kill me. But I didn't survive being the CMO for the Decepticons without installing some failsafes of my own. He was always unstable, but ever since he decided to jam his spark full of dark energon, I believe that sent him right over the edge."
"[But, our bond. I couldn't you and I tried everything I could think of!]"
"Like I said, I picked up a few tricks. Big M wanted to use me as an example and crushed my throat, or he thought he did. I forced myself into stasis but I also issued the command to idle my spark as well. Result: offlining." Frowning, the medic subspaced the d-pad as he unconsciously rubbed his neck cables. "It was a risk; he could have easily just ripped my helm right off or blast a hole through my spark. Guess he didn't feel like playing anymore once his prey was out for the count." He shuddered his optics when he felt something grip his servo; he froze, then slowly, squeezed the servo, letting their digits interlock. He huffed as he was pulled down and sat on the edge of the berth.
"[So… you played possum?]" Bee said with a slight tilt of his helm. He had to smile when the former 'Con gave him a confused look. "[It's an Earth thing.]"
"Gee Speedy, with the amount of racing you do I thought you woulda learned all sorts of Earth stuff by now," the blue and white mech said teasingly.
"I told you not to call me that!"
"[So, you faked your own death. But Smokey, I watched as you were pierced from behind. You lose so much energon, you never would have survived that. I couldn't feel you anymore even though you were right there… so how did you survive?]" Bumblebee asked, absently rubbing his digit over the back of their servos, as though to keep reassuring himself that they were there.
"Dumb luck. No seriously, Bee. Megatron actually nicked my spark chamber, so I didn't offline right away but it threw me really off. I blacked out for a few kliks, but woke up and saw Speed—Knock Out and Ratchet finishing up my repairs." At this his optics shuddered and he turned upset optics to his other bonded. "Ratchet said if you came through our Grondbridge an astrosecond earlier, then buckethead would have known you were still alive. You nearly blew your own cover!"
"And wait for him to get you stable enough to get back to base? That medic was doing more damage when he couldn't get his servos to stop shaking so I stepped in," he snapped, once more feeling unappreciated but the servo squeezing his stopped him from storming off. A moment later he heard the young Elite Guardmech murmur an apology. "If I want to be the bigger mech, I suppose I should apologize as well-"
"Apology accepted!"
"[Wait. Knock Out, you planned your own death. Then you helped saved Smokescreen. What happened after that? How did you two find me? What happened to Megatron?]" Bee asked, trying to diffuse the argument before it could escalate.
"I made my case before the Big O himself. Once I was "take care of" I sent Optimus Prime a triple encrypted message to come alone. He came, alone, and I told him everything. He admitted that he knew something was up, that you, Bumblebee, had been acting out of sorts. Reckless, charging in helm first, unnaturally angry all the time. Our trine," at this he touched his chassis, right above his spark chamber; "it was being pulled apart. Being away from each other, our sparks couldn't take it but we all reacted differently." Now he paused and looked away, optics dim. "I… had Breakdown help me a few times. But it was to get me through when it became too much! We never touched sparks; I swear!"
The Camaro said nothing, instead he tugged on their joined servos and leaned forward, pressing their forehelms together. "[I believe you, KC. It's alright.]" Red-optics brighten, a small smile tugging at his lip plates. Bee didn't fight it as Smokescreen pressed in close as he could, taking the medic's servo in his own.
"Who could resist such a hot frame?" he smiled, despite his teasing there was great affection in his vocalizer. "We both knew that since our sparks offlined, it broke our bond. And we knew you would want revenge. You didn't make it easy, Bee, but docbot was still tuned to the 'Cons frequency but while the others were scrambling to chase after you, I told Knockers-"
"That one's even worse."
"-that wasn't your goal. You were gonna challenge Megs. I took a guess it would be where we last fought so when everyone left, we borrowed the Groundbridge to the site some miles away and found you just in time."
"[So, it was you two, I wasn't imaging it.]"
"I, um, also borrowed Optimus' Star Saber. We went up against Soundwave, but our sparkmate took him AND Laserbeak down. I took the chance and killed Megatron." His optics dimmed, plating clamping down tightly, lip plates pressed into a firm line. "I made sure no amount of dark energon would ever bring his corpse back."
He couldn't believe it, he thought he had lost his sparkmates, was suffering from a broken trine and yet it was them who saved him from his vow of vengeance. Bumblebee didn't know what to say, but the low keen he let out was enough for them to settle themselves on either side and held him between themselves. bee clung to them as tightly as he could. He was afraid this was a hallucination, something his processor was playing as he lay there dying but no, they were very real and very much alive. The trine was still broken, but they were here and once he was well enough, they could reestablish their trine once more.
The war was officially over. Megatron was dead, as was Soundwave with his Mini-Con; Starscream was not in any position to lead, so when word came that the Autobots led by Optimus Prime wanted to call a truce, the collapsed forces agreed. Whether Cybertron would ever be able to sustain life was unknown, so plans were made to make Earth their new home for all remaining Cybertronians. It would be a very long, very tedious process, but with everyone agreeing to work together and to listen, hopefully the past would not be repeated.
Knock Out was making his way to their shared hab suite; small for his taste but enough room for their needs. It had been a very long cycle working with the outdated medic and he was glad to be done! Since Bumblebee had been released with an all clear, he seemed unsure, certain that none of this was real. He and Smokescreen just held him, repeated they were there and they were not leaving him. For several cycles after they spent most of their time like that, wrapped around each other, memorizing frame lines with digits and caressing healed scars. It was decided the next time they were all able to have a cycle to themselves, they would reform their bond, to become a trine once more. And tonight, was to be that night.
He entered his shared berthroom and noted Bumblebee was laying back on their berth, reading a d-pad. Smokescreen was curled up against his side, looking like a sparkling with his helm on the yellow chassis, a stabilizer thrown over the other mech's. Bee smiled as he looked up, subspacing the tablet. "Someone had an exciting day," he mused, making his way to the berth.
"[Smokescreen introduced the Vehicons to a water balloon fight. They thought it would be fun to "start a war" with the Wreckers,]" the former scout said with a smile, his servo stroking a doorwing, feeling it twitch into his touch. "[It was in good fun, until Ultra magnus ordered a stop to it. You can guess what happened.]"
"That's why he looked exceptionally shiny when I last saw him! And here I thought my ritual of keeping a perfectly washed frame was rubbing off on Wheeljack!" he grinned, then explained, "Bulkhead came by, asking for some of that solvent I use that cut through organic matter like a duryllium blade but leaves your plating slick and exceptionally shiny. Something about that Wrecker friend of his constantly covered in grease and whatnot." He always liked the way his sweet Bee laughed, but he was careful not to wake their sleeping mate. Upon reaching the berth, Knock Out silently settled himself on his lover's other side, purring as a servo wrapped around his frame while his stroked the upper stabilizer draped across. "… Are you certain you want to do this?"
"[My answer isn't going to change. I love you both, and I want this if you want it.]"
"And him?"
"You can ask him yourself, speedy," the third mech said quietly, systems humming louder as he roused himself from his sleep cycle, smiling at them, optics already a deep shade of blue. "That mean we gonna do this?" Before they could argue, Smokey leaned over and kissed Knock Out, his eagerness showing.
Even with their lives in constant real danger, the three mechs were eager to re-explore each other frames, coaxing plating to open and remembering what sounds were made when something was done. Even with the teasing and name-calling, it was easy for them to fall back into familiar roles. There was no more being cautious, no more looking in the shadows for danger, no more wondering if this would be their last time together. Ecstasy flowed over, around, and through them, patience waning that even as they reached completion together, they weren't close to being done. Sparks were pulsing wildly, begging for the other one another. Now was the time, to join as a trine once again. Resuming their position earlier, with a crimson frame pressing into his right and a blue/white frame pressing into his left, they panted softly as chestplates opened, plating folded back to reveal three different sparks, each glowing brilliantly, like three small suns. There was no hesitation, no holding back as the two leaned in, gripping at one another tightly as bared sparks pressed together.
The coming together was like coming home, three sparks once joined only to be forced apart by war, damaged by a forced separation, broken when two sparks nearly expired. A true trine, strengthen by love they held for one another. Tears were shed, but no one knew who shed them or really cared for that matter. Even as the merging finished and their chestplates closed, they didn't pull away from one another. They were sticky and exhausted, lingering charge still in their systems but they were too content to move right away. With the war officially over, the three mechs had all the time in the world to re-explore one another, and strengthen their bond.
Author's Notes: (slams hands on desk) DONE. Cross this off I am finally done! I know I've said past chapters were hard but this one (shakes fingers) Ooooh this, was my ultimate challenge so far. Sad to save, it was thanks for covid that I finally sat down and finished it. And this is probably my longest one yet (shrugs) I got carried away.
Blu3g1rl, I hope I meet your explanation and I hope you and everyone else enjoys reading it.
Next Chapter: Sideswipe+Bumblebee; Optimus PrimexBumblebee