dracoqueen22 | [TFP] Event Horizon Origins

Thanks to azardarkstar for the title and the last-minute beta-work on this teensy ficlet!

Title: Take Off
Universe: TF: Prime, Event Horizon
Characters: SideswipexFirst Aid, Knock Out, Hot Spot, Streetwise
Rating: T
Desc: When Sunstreaker and Ratchet argue, Sideswipe makes himself scarce.

At the first echo of raised voices and the loud crash of something thrown and subsequently shattering, Sideswipe knew he had to make both himself and the bitlet scarce. The last thing he wanted to do was somehow end up in the middle of the usual lover's spat, and if the anger he could feel radiating from his twin was any indication, this particular discussion was sure to last for joors and cause massive amounts of destruction.

“C'mon, Knock Out,” Sideswipe said as he scooped the youngling into his arms, fingers diving into narrow seams teasingly. “Let's go visit Aid, yeah?”

Shrieking with laughter, Knock Out tried to bat his hands away. “You're going to scratch my paint!” he protested.

From the next room over, Sideswipe heard a large thump and caught the tail end of such language that was not supposed to be used around youthful audials. Temper, temper there Sunstreaker.

Definitely time to flee.

Which was how he found himself tucking Knock Out at his side and making a beeline for Praxus. If previous experience was any indication, Ratch and Sunny could be at this for cycles. Oh, one of them would comm him later, make sure Knock Out's been cared for, but there’d be a chilly atmosphere around their shared apartment for a bit. Better to go somewhere with a friendlier ambiance for the time being.

First Aid and his brothers lived in a large tower on one of the middle levels, the view from their windows extending all over Praxus. Compared to the meek little apartment Sideswipe shared with Ratchet and his twin, Aid lived in a palace. He was also higher caste than Sides. Not that he and his brothers ever made a point of it. There wasn't a single one of them that wasn't in some kind of service-position.

Groove was already starting to get into politics, trying to speak to the council and any audial that would listen about more freedom for bots. Freedom outside of caste; it was practically treason. But he'd also made himself somewhat of a hero with the lower levels.

Nevertheless, Sideswipe still couldn't shake the sensation of not-belonging that hunched on his shoulders when he walked into the tower and took the lift up to First Aid's level. The long, near-hostile stares of other bots felt like scraplets on his plating. He shivered.

Knock Out, oblivious mechlet that he was, didn't notice. He happily took in the sights from where he perched atop Sideswipe's shoulders, clutching at his helm for balance.

The door opened wide when they arrived, Aid's visor lighting up at the sight of them.

“Sideswipe, Knock Out, what a pleasant surprise.” His voice was warm, genuine, and he stepped aside in wordless invitation.

“Shoulda commed,” Sideswipe said as Knock Out started squirming atop of him in his eagerness to be put down.

“Spot! Spot!” he called out, spying one of his favorite temporary caretakers.

“What am I, rusted transistors?” Sides grumbled.

But he lowered Knock Out to the floor and watched the youngling scamper straight toward Hot Spot. Where he was immediately hefted and tossed into the air. Laughter filled the room.

“You know you don't have to,” Aid murmured, watching his brother play with the youngling, who looked even smaller when compared to Hot Spot's massive bulk.

Sideswipe sidled up to his partner, nuzzling against First Aid's helm. “S'only polite.” He snaked an arm around a not-too-narrow waist, tugging the medic toward him. “Me 'n the bitlet need a place to crash for a cycle or two. Got a berth to spare?”

“For you? Always.” Amusement filtered into First Aid's energy field. “Besides, I suspect you'll have a hard time convincing Hot Spot and Streetwise to give up Knock Out anytime soon.”

The medic had a point. At the moment, Streetwise was trying to lure the youngling away with sweetened energon while Hot Spot was shooting his brother an irritated look as he plied Knock Out with a toy of some kind.

“Spoiled.” Sideswipe shook his helm and nudged Aid toward the hallway. “Well, he's in good hands. Why don't you and me sneak off for a joor or two?”

First Aid twisted around in his grasp. “Trouble in paradise?”

The red twin winced.

“When is there not?” He followed First Aid down the hall, passing the rooms of Groove and Blades – both of whom were out. “They're either going to offline each other one of these cycles, or they're going to bond in a fit of pique.”

“Ratchet is stubborn,” First Aid agreed with a sigh. He'd mentored under the older mech for several vorns. He knew the medic well.

“Yeah, well, so is Sunny. And when they clash, all I can do is make myself scarce until the scrap settles.” Sideswipe's face twisted with irritation. “Then after that, they'll be interfacing six ways from moonbase, and my poor audials can't take it.”

“Jealous?”

First Aid laughed. He tugged Sideswipe into his personal room and closing the door after the red twin.

“Why would I be?” Sides grinned, pushing the younger bot up against the door. “I've got a sexy-aft medic all of my own.”

“I suppose I should be flattered.”

First Aid's visor flashed as his blast mask slid aside. Sideswipe's hand rested on his faceplate, thumb stroking a sensitive panel.

“You know you love me. Besides, I'd take you over Ratchet any orn.”

“You're such a charmer.” First Aid rose up, brushing his mouth over Sideswipe's with a teasing tickle of charge passing between them. “Now how about that overload?”

Mmm. A much better way to spend the evening than listening to his brother argue with his partner. Much better.

“Happy to oblige."

***

a/n: I was randomly inspired for more of First Aid and Sideswipe already so expect more of them to come soon. Just gotta get it typed up and polished.

"Goodnight and Go" by Imogen Heap, by the way, is Sideswipe and First Aid's theme song.

I hope you enjoyed!