[TF] Family Found 09/10
May. 11th, 2020 06:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dracoqueen22Universe: Transformers, Escort AU, All This and Heaven Too
Characters: Sunstreaker/Starscream, Rodimus, Sideswipe, Wrench
Rated: M
Warnings: lost siblings, reunited family, hard choices, angst, bdsm themes, humiliation kink slightly
Description: Sunstreaker didn’t understand why he felt so drawn to Sideswipe, until a mistake revealed the link between them, provoking a turn of events which will change everything.
Family Found
Part Nine
It took Sunstreaker using his firmer voice to get Sideswipe to calm down and not immediately rush to Blue Sun to retrieve them.
“You can wait a couple of days. We have things to handle before we can leave,” Sunstreaker said as he sorted through the items in his closet. He’d accumulated quite a lot over the decades.
He’d made three piles: things to give to the others, things to trash, and things to take with him. The last pile was much larger than it needed to be, but the urge to hold on to things he might need in the future was hard to defeat.
“I can help. Make it go by faster,” Sideswipe said, and his excitement was palpable. Infectious even. Sunstreaker smiled despite himself. “Streamline’s not giving you trouble, is he?”
Sunstreaker chuckled quietly. “No. I’ve let Starscream handle him.” It was a task the Seeker relished. He’d been wanting to tell Streamline off from the moment he’d been hired here.
“Fine. But just say the word and I’ll send an army of lawyers over there to make sure Streamline gets his aft in gear,” Sideswipe said.
It was kind of nice to have someone care that much.
“You’re still fine with me bringing others?” Sunstreaker asked.
Sideswipe chuffed a vent, and Sunstreaker could all but see him rolling his optics. “I have more than enough space. Of course I want you to bring Starscream.”
“And Rodimus?”
“The more the merrier.” Sideswipe laughed and the sound of datapads shuffling and the low murmur of conversation rose in the background. Sunstreaker had caught him in a meeting, but Sideswipe had put the whole thing on pause just for him.
It was very sweet.
“He’s the cute red one, right? I think I was eyeing him once,” Sideswipe mused aloud.
Sunstreaker snorted. “He’s a brat.” He paused and tilted his head. “Which means you two ought to get along just fine.”
“Hey! I resemble that remark.”
“Yes, you do.” Sunstreaker laughed and debated his pile of polishing cloths. Most of them were trash-worthy. “Now I have to finish packing, and you need to go back to that meeting before there’s a mutiny.”
Sideswipe grumbled something sub-vocally before he said, “Sir, yes, sir, big brother, sir. Right away.”
“Brat.”
~
Of all the conversations Starscream needed to have today, he was quite sure this was going to be the easiest.
He strode into Streamline’s office without knocking – the door was open, so he was hardly being rude. Streamline sat behind his desk, reviewing a datapad, idly tapping the end of a stylus against the desk. Given it was nearing the end of the lunar cycle, he was probably working on the cycle’s balances.
It had been a slow month. Business was picking up in the wake of Turmoil’s arrest, but likely too slow for Streamline’s preferences.
And Starscream was about to share the very good news that three of Streamline’s best sellers were going to walk out the door.
He could barely hide the smirk on his face.
“What do you want, Starscream? I’m busy,” Streamline asked without looking up from his datapad. He made a notation, frowned, and glanced at his monitor.
Starscream planted his hands on his hips. “I quit.”
Streamline stilled. He looked up, very slowly, optics narrowed. “What on Cybertron are you talking about?”
“I quit,” Starscream repeated, and grinned, his wings flicking upright. “For that matter, Sunstreaker and Rodimus quit, too. We’re packing our bags, and we’ll be out of here in less than two days.”
The stylus tumbled from Streamline’s fingers. “You can’t do that!” he growled. “Rodimus, especially, can’t skip out on his debt.”
Starscream tilted his head. “Oh, that? I suspect Compute is going to come by any moment now to inform you of a rather massive transfer that should cover all of Rodimus’ debt, and maybe a little extra for the trouble.”
“You all three have an employment contract with me,” Streamline growled, and he rose to his feet, hands flat on his desk as he glared at Starscream.
Starscream folded his arms and arched an orbital ridge. “Oh, the contract you made us sign which is sketchy at best, and illegal to really prominent lawyers at worst? I’m sure Sideswipe would be happy to take a look at those for us.”
Color drained from Streamline’s face before it flared crimson with the rage matching his field. “That explains it,” he growled. “He’s buying all three of you. That arrogant, selfish little--”
“I’d watch what you say, if I were you,” Starscream said in a mild tone, though it was hard to quiet his glee. “I have no qualms about repeating this conversation.”
“Of course you don’t.” Streamline sneered and dropped back into the chair, a mech defeated, though his glare was outright poisonous. “After all I’ve done for you--”
“Frag off with that,” Starscream snapped, refusing to let Streamline finish the sentence. “You’ve done less than the bare minimum. You didn’t give any of us a chance. You took advantage of our desperation. I’m not going to shed a tear for you or whatever happens to this place.”
Streamline picked up his stylus, gripping it hard. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Damn right I am.” Starscream grinned and chuckled, perhaps a bit too dark, but he intended to relish every moment of this. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice about making deals with criminals and start treating your employees better, hm?”
“Get out of my office.”
Starscream wriggled his fingers. “Bye, Streamline. Good luck in the future!”
He sauntered out the door with a sway to his hips and satisfaction pumping through his spark. He hummed subvocally, making his jaunty way to the lift, only to pass Compute along the way, rushing to Streamline’s office with cred signs dancing in his optics.
Perfect timing.
What a beautiful day it was.
~
“I’m going to miss ya, Sunny. No one ever came and saw me quite as much as you did,” Wrench said as he signed off on a datapad before handing it over. “Give this to whoever takes on your medical care. It’s all my notes.”
“You could come, you know. I can afford to pay you whatever you want,” Sunstreaker said. He tucked the datapad away, though it felt so small considering how much of his life it represented.
Wrench chuckled and focused instead on organizing his repair chest. “Now if I did that, who’d look after all the idiots getting hurt here? Someone’s gotta keep their best interests at spark, since it sure ain’t our boss.”
That was unfortunately true.
“Anything I can do to help?” Sunstreaker asked.
Wrench paused and thumbed his chin. “Not right now, I don’t think. I’m pretty well stocked, but how about if that changes, I give you a ping, huh?”
“Gladly.” It seemed the least he could do given all Wrench had done for him. The medic was the first mech he’d ever trusted, and the first mech who ever seemed to give a damn about Sunstreaker’s well-being.
“Proud of you, by the way,” Wrench said as he pulled down a box, peered in it, and then put it back. “Didn’t think you two would ever get your act together.”
“We almost didn’t.”
Wrench hummed. “Sometimes, we just need a push.”
“Never thought it would come in the form of a long-lost twin though.”
Wrench chuckled and gave him a look. “That’s a new one, I admit. Happy for you though. Sideswipe seems like a good mech.”
“It’s easy to tell when your spark is already sure.” Sunstreaker rubbed his chassis, a soft smile curling his lips. He felt so energized lately, and knew meeting Sideswipe was as much to thank as finally admitting his love for Starscream.
“I suppose.” Wrench grinned at him. “Just don’t forget about ole Wrench here, huh? Let me know you’re doing okay now and then. Settle this poor spark of mine.”
Sunstreaker smiled. “Will do.”
~
“Wow.”
Rodimus walked into Sunstreaker and Starscream’s shared room and loosed a small whistle. It scarcely resembled the suite so familiar to him, with stacks of crates loosely assembled across the floor, and the walls empty of decoration.
“You two move fast,” he said as he peered into the nearest box, which looked to be a collection of half-used bottles of oils and paints and polishes and all sorts of menagerie needed for the successful escort.
“Sideswipe is impatient,” Sunstreaker said as he emerged from the adjoining washrack with an armful of mesh cloths. These joined the box of half-used toiletries. “Thanks for coming.”
Rodimus shrugged and peered around. “You call; I come. Where’s Starscream?”
“Making numerous comm calls to all of his clients, I think.” Sunstreaker rolled his shoulders before squeezing the back of his neck. “Probably putting off calling Nightshade as long as possible.”
“Oh.” Rodimus turned in another slow circle. “Should I wait…?”
“Why would you? I’m the one who called you up here.” Sunstreaker gave him one of those patented looks that said Rodimus was an idiot without using the words. “Got a proposal for you, rookie.”
Excitement flicked Rodimus’ spoiler. “Are you giving me this suite?” he asked, giddy. This room actually had a view! He had no idea who he’d let be his roommate, but he’d put up with any number of mechs for a view and a private washrack.
Sunstreaker quietly chuckled. “No, that’s up to Streamline. This is better.”
“I don’t think I can take over your clients. They have expectations,” Rodimus said. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “I mean, I could, don’t get me wrong. Hmm. Maybe I should give it a try.”
“Not that either.” Sunstreaker shook his head and sat on the edge of his berth, his expression shifting to something serious. “We want you to come with us.”
Rodimus cycled his optics, then his audials. “Say what?”
“I’m going to pay your debt to Streamline regardless,” Sunstreaker said. “You can do whatever you want, but the invitation to come with us is there.”
Rodimus blindly groped for a chair and sank into it, his legs refusing to support his weight. “I don’t understand. Why would you do that? How…?”
“Sideswipe’s rich, and we don’t want to leave you behind,” Sunstreaker said with a one-shoulder shrug. “Star will be too worried about you to relax, and we all know how vindictive Streamline can get.”
Rodimus’ head spun. He had at least a decade of good, solid work before he could think about the ‘after’. Freedom was a distant concept to him. He had no idea what he’d do with it. He certainly never expected it to come from Sunstreaker either, who had only ever seemed to tolerate him at best.
“That’s…” He groped for words and found himself at a loss for them. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come. Say thank you. Say you’re happy.” Sunstreaker gave him a small smile, and there was a light in his optics, a joy Rodimus was unaccustomed to seeing from the usually stoic mech. “Or don’t say anything and go pack.”
It was so unbelievable, and yet it was real. It was Sunstreaker sitting in front of him making this offer, which made it seem even more legitimate.
Rodimus stood up, his spark swelling with disbelief and joy. “I’m going to go pack,” he said. It wouldn’t take him long. He didn’t own much. “When do we leave?”
~
Starscream sat for a long time contemplating the comm chip in his possession before he finally slotted it into place and dialed.
Nightshade, of course, picked up immediately, as if he’d been waiting for Starscream to call. “Hello, sweetspark. How are you?”
Starscream’s wings fluttered, warmth flooding through his spark. “I’m well, Nightshade. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time?”
“Nothing I’m unhappy to delay.” Nightshade chuckled softly. “I don’t want to presume, but are you calling me about the offer?”
Right down to business then.
Starscream cycled a slow ventilation. “Yes, it is.”
“I can already tell by your vocals, I am not going to be as delighted as I thought,” Nightshade said, though there was no anger in his tone, only disappointment.
“You know me so well.” Starscream peered out the window, his wings twitching as he thought of how much freedom to fly he would now have. “Another time, perhaps, and I’d have accepted your offer, but there’s someone I can’t leave.”
“Sunstreaker, I presume?”
Starscream smiled, his spark throbbing at the mere mention of his roommate and lover. “Yes. We’re leaving Blue Sun together.”
“That’s wonderful, Starscream. Truly, I’m happy for you.” Nightshade gave a soft sigh into the comm. “I won’t say I’m not disappointed because I’ve grown fond of you, but I’m not one to stand in the way either. You belong together.”
Starscream hummed. “Thank you.”
“You sound happy, and I’m glad to hear it,” Nightshade said, and there was a smile in his voice. “Though if you ever wish to go freelance, you do have my comm. There’s no one in Blue Sun who quite understands my desires like you.”
Starscream chuckled warmly. “Well, I am still available, just not through Blue Sun. Once we get settled, I’ll let you know where to find me.”
“Sunstreaker won’t mind?”
Well.
He might a little, but it wasn’t his choice to make. It wasn’t that Sunstreaker didn’t want Starscream to take clients on his choice, it was that Sunstreaker was still sore with Nightshade over what happened with Turmoil.
“He knows I have my favorites,” Starscream said. “And that he has my spark where it matters.”
“Indeed he does. For quite a long while, if my observations are at all accurate.” Nightshade laughed softly. “Which I’m sure they are. I have a reputation to uphold, after all.”
Starscream huffed a laugh. “Very true.” He cycled a ventilation and sobered. “Thank you, Nightshade. For everything.”
“I did very little in the end, but I understand the sentiment.” Nightshade’s voice was warm, if not a little affectionate. “Be well, Starscream, but most of all, be happy.”
“I will.”
These days, it was a much easier promise to make.
~
Sideswipe had sent a transport for them. An honest-to-Primus, non-automated transport with an extra pair of hands to load the storage space while Sunstreaker and Starscream and Rodimus didn’t have to lift a finger.
Or at least, Starscream and Rodimus didn’t. They sat in the lounge, sipping on spiced energon and sharing a plate of treats, while Sunstreaker directed traffic, a leader in his element of bossing everyone around.
“Be careful with that box,” Sunstreaker barked, and with his gleaming paint, and the air of health around him, he was a sight to behold.
Rodimus chuckled. “He embraced his wealth quick, didn’t he?”
Starscream grinned. “He’s always been a diva. Don’t be fooled by his sour disposition.” He snagged a chewy treat and gnawed on it thoughtfully. “Something tells me he’s going to have the whole manor under his thumb in a week.”
“Sideswipe won’t mind?”
“I suspect he’ll welcome it.”
They shared a little laugh. It was easy enough, even, to ignore Streamline glaring at them from the corner. They’d had the courtesy to do this before Blue Sun opened, but onlookers still gathered, including many escorts who stared agape as two of Blue Sun’s highest earners made their leave. Oh, and took Rodimus with them.
“You think you’re going to miss it here?” Rodimus asked.
Starscream furrowed his brow. “I’d like to say no, but I spent too long here for that to be true.” He brushed some crumbs from his cockpit. “I met Sunstreaker here. I met Nightshade and Blurr and Bluestreak and you. It wasn’t a terrible life.”
“Yeah. I feel the same way.” Rodimus gulped the spiced energon like he hadn’t been taught any manners and swiped the back of his hand over his mouth. “I mean, okay, so I didn’t come here entirely by choice, but Turmoil’s been arrested, and I got closure with Deadlock, and I met you guys, so it’s not so bad after all.”
“Speaking of…” Starscream tilted his head, gesturing toward the guard hovering in the background, his face a mask of emotion, but one Rodimus had learned to read in the past few weeks.
Oh.
He should take care of that.
Rodimus set down the empty cube and stood, dusting off his hands. “Don’t leave without me.”
“It’s up to Sunstreaker. You know how he gets,” Starscream said with a wink.
Rodimus snorted and waved Starscream off, making straight for Drift who straightened as he approached, his face trying to assemble itself into a blank mask and failing miserably.
“Come to see me off?” Rodimus asked, careful to keep his tone light.
“Thought we should have a proper goodbye this time,” Drift said, and his lips curved in the faintest smile. “Got something for you.”
He held out a datachip.
Rodimus cocked his head and planted his hands on his hips. “Tell me that’s not another cut of your pay.”
“Um.”
Rodimus rolled his optics and took Drift’s hand, curling Drift’s fingers into a fist. “Don’t want it. Don’t need it. These two are going to spoil me rotten.” He appreciated the sentiment, however.
Drift needed his guilt, so Rodimus let him keep it. He hadn’t so much forgiven Deadlock as much as he’d decided to let bygones remain in the past, to let go of his own anger so the weight of it wouldn’t drag him down. He wanted to look forward to a bright future, instead of carrying the burden of the past with him.
Drift took the chip back and tucked it into one of his compartments. “I’m going to miss you,” he said instead of insisting, and Rodimus was glad he’d at least learned that lesson. Or maybe guilt made him more obedient.
“You can come see me whenever you want. I won’t be hard to find,” Rodimus said. He’d seen stills of Sideswipe’s estate, and it was enormous. Palatial. His head still spun at the thought of living there.
“I didn’t think I’d be welcome,” Drift said, which he probably had a point. Starscream was largely indifferent to Drift’s presence as he tended to follow Rodimus’ lead, but Sunstreaker was a bit more protective. While he’d been the first to push for them to reconcile, he kept a wary suspicion of Drift.
Rodimus shrugged. “It’s my decision. Besides, if we need to meet elsewhere we can. It’s not like I’m a prisoner.”
“As long as you’re happy.” Drift smiled, soft and careful. “I’m glad you’re getting out of here. You deserve so much more.”
Rodimus scrubbed the back of his neck. “I dunno about deserving, but I’m not going to bite the hand that feeds. I’ll owe them a lot after this.” He looked at Starscream and Sunstreaker, the latter of whom had paused in his shouting to bend down and openly kiss Starscream. “They need looking after more than they realize.”
“Bit of a role reversal, isn’t it?”
Rodimus snorted. “Something like that.” He looked at Drift and held out his arms, wriggling his fingers. “One last hug for the road?”
Drift came into his embrace, and Rodimus squeezed him tightly, hooking his chin over Drift’s shoulders and hearing his armor creak. Their field meshed, warm and affectionate, and it was almost hard to believe that once upon a time, Rodimus had loathed Deadlock with every strut and bolt in his frame.
In the end, he supposed coming to Blue Sun was the best outcome for him after all.
***
Characters: Sunstreaker/Starscream, Rodimus, Sideswipe, Wrench
Rated: M
Warnings: lost siblings, reunited family, hard choices, angst, bdsm themes, humiliation kink slightly
Description: Sunstreaker didn’t understand why he felt so drawn to Sideswipe, until a mistake revealed the link between them, provoking a turn of events which will change everything.
Part Nine
It took Sunstreaker using his firmer voice to get Sideswipe to calm down and not immediately rush to Blue Sun to retrieve them.
“You can wait a couple of days. We have things to handle before we can leave,” Sunstreaker said as he sorted through the items in his closet. He’d accumulated quite a lot over the decades.
He’d made three piles: things to give to the others, things to trash, and things to take with him. The last pile was much larger than it needed to be, but the urge to hold on to things he might need in the future was hard to defeat.
“I can help. Make it go by faster,” Sideswipe said, and his excitement was palpable. Infectious even. Sunstreaker smiled despite himself. “Streamline’s not giving you trouble, is he?”
Sunstreaker chuckled quietly. “No. I’ve let Starscream handle him.” It was a task the Seeker relished. He’d been wanting to tell Streamline off from the moment he’d been hired here.
“Fine. But just say the word and I’ll send an army of lawyers over there to make sure Streamline gets his aft in gear,” Sideswipe said.
It was kind of nice to have someone care that much.
“You’re still fine with me bringing others?” Sunstreaker asked.
Sideswipe chuffed a vent, and Sunstreaker could all but see him rolling his optics. “I have more than enough space. Of course I want you to bring Starscream.”
“And Rodimus?”
“The more the merrier.” Sideswipe laughed and the sound of datapads shuffling and the low murmur of conversation rose in the background. Sunstreaker had caught him in a meeting, but Sideswipe had put the whole thing on pause just for him.
It was very sweet.
“He’s the cute red one, right? I think I was eyeing him once,” Sideswipe mused aloud.
Sunstreaker snorted. “He’s a brat.” He paused and tilted his head. “Which means you two ought to get along just fine.”
“Hey! I resemble that remark.”
“Yes, you do.” Sunstreaker laughed and debated his pile of polishing cloths. Most of them were trash-worthy. “Now I have to finish packing, and you need to go back to that meeting before there’s a mutiny.”
Sideswipe grumbled something sub-vocally before he said, “Sir, yes, sir, big brother, sir. Right away.”
“Brat.”
Of all the conversations Starscream needed to have today, he was quite sure this was going to be the easiest.
He strode into Streamline’s office without knocking – the door was open, so he was hardly being rude. Streamline sat behind his desk, reviewing a datapad, idly tapping the end of a stylus against the desk. Given it was nearing the end of the lunar cycle, he was probably working on the cycle’s balances.
It had been a slow month. Business was picking up in the wake of Turmoil’s arrest, but likely too slow for Streamline’s preferences.
And Starscream was about to share the very good news that three of Streamline’s best sellers were going to walk out the door.
He could barely hide the smirk on his face.
“What do you want, Starscream? I’m busy,” Streamline asked without looking up from his datapad. He made a notation, frowned, and glanced at his monitor.
Starscream planted his hands on his hips. “I quit.”
Streamline stilled. He looked up, very slowly, optics narrowed. “What on Cybertron are you talking about?”
“I quit,” Starscream repeated, and grinned, his wings flicking upright. “For that matter, Sunstreaker and Rodimus quit, too. We’re packing our bags, and we’ll be out of here in less than two days.”
The stylus tumbled from Streamline’s fingers. “You can’t do that!” he growled. “Rodimus, especially, can’t skip out on his debt.”
Starscream tilted his head. “Oh, that? I suspect Compute is going to come by any moment now to inform you of a rather massive transfer that should cover all of Rodimus’ debt, and maybe a little extra for the trouble.”
“You all three have an employment contract with me,” Streamline growled, and he rose to his feet, hands flat on his desk as he glared at Starscream.
Starscream folded his arms and arched an orbital ridge. “Oh, the contract you made us sign which is sketchy at best, and illegal to really prominent lawyers at worst? I’m sure Sideswipe would be happy to take a look at those for us.”
Color drained from Streamline’s face before it flared crimson with the rage matching his field. “That explains it,” he growled. “He’s buying all three of you. That arrogant, selfish little--”
“I’d watch what you say, if I were you,” Starscream said in a mild tone, though it was hard to quiet his glee. “I have no qualms about repeating this conversation.”
“Of course you don’t.” Streamline sneered and dropped back into the chair, a mech defeated, though his glare was outright poisonous. “After all I’ve done for you--”
“Frag off with that,” Starscream snapped, refusing to let Streamline finish the sentence. “You’ve done less than the bare minimum. You didn’t give any of us a chance. You took advantage of our desperation. I’m not going to shed a tear for you or whatever happens to this place.”
Streamline picked up his stylus, gripping it hard. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Damn right I am.” Starscream grinned and chuckled, perhaps a bit too dark, but he intended to relish every moment of this. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice about making deals with criminals and start treating your employees better, hm?”
“Get out of my office.”
Starscream wriggled his fingers. “Bye, Streamline. Good luck in the future!”
He sauntered out the door with a sway to his hips and satisfaction pumping through his spark. He hummed subvocally, making his jaunty way to the lift, only to pass Compute along the way, rushing to Streamline’s office with cred signs dancing in his optics.
Perfect timing.
What a beautiful day it was.
“I’m going to miss ya, Sunny. No one ever came and saw me quite as much as you did,” Wrench said as he signed off on a datapad before handing it over. “Give this to whoever takes on your medical care. It’s all my notes.”
“You could come, you know. I can afford to pay you whatever you want,” Sunstreaker said. He tucked the datapad away, though it felt so small considering how much of his life it represented.
Wrench chuckled and focused instead on organizing his repair chest. “Now if I did that, who’d look after all the idiots getting hurt here? Someone’s gotta keep their best interests at spark, since it sure ain’t our boss.”
That was unfortunately true.
“Anything I can do to help?” Sunstreaker asked.
Wrench paused and thumbed his chin. “Not right now, I don’t think. I’m pretty well stocked, but how about if that changes, I give you a ping, huh?”
“Gladly.” It seemed the least he could do given all Wrench had done for him. The medic was the first mech he’d ever trusted, and the first mech who ever seemed to give a damn about Sunstreaker’s well-being.
“Proud of you, by the way,” Wrench said as he pulled down a box, peered in it, and then put it back. “Didn’t think you two would ever get your act together.”
“We almost didn’t.”
Wrench hummed. “Sometimes, we just need a push.”
“Never thought it would come in the form of a long-lost twin though.”
Wrench chuckled and gave him a look. “That’s a new one, I admit. Happy for you though. Sideswipe seems like a good mech.”
“It’s easy to tell when your spark is already sure.” Sunstreaker rubbed his chassis, a soft smile curling his lips. He felt so energized lately, and knew meeting Sideswipe was as much to thank as finally admitting his love for Starscream.
“I suppose.” Wrench grinned at him. “Just don’t forget about ole Wrench here, huh? Let me know you’re doing okay now and then. Settle this poor spark of mine.”
Sunstreaker smiled. “Will do.”
“Wow.”
Rodimus walked into Sunstreaker and Starscream’s shared room and loosed a small whistle. It scarcely resembled the suite so familiar to him, with stacks of crates loosely assembled across the floor, and the walls empty of decoration.
“You two move fast,” he said as he peered into the nearest box, which looked to be a collection of half-used bottles of oils and paints and polishes and all sorts of menagerie needed for the successful escort.
“Sideswipe is impatient,” Sunstreaker said as he emerged from the adjoining washrack with an armful of mesh cloths. These joined the box of half-used toiletries. “Thanks for coming.”
Rodimus shrugged and peered around. “You call; I come. Where’s Starscream?”
“Making numerous comm calls to all of his clients, I think.” Sunstreaker rolled his shoulders before squeezing the back of his neck. “Probably putting off calling Nightshade as long as possible.”
“Oh.” Rodimus turned in another slow circle. “Should I wait…?”
“Why would you? I’m the one who called you up here.” Sunstreaker gave him one of those patented looks that said Rodimus was an idiot without using the words. “Got a proposal for you, rookie.”
Excitement flicked Rodimus’ spoiler. “Are you giving me this suite?” he asked, giddy. This room actually had a view! He had no idea who he’d let be his roommate, but he’d put up with any number of mechs for a view and a private washrack.
Sunstreaker quietly chuckled. “No, that’s up to Streamline. This is better.”
“I don’t think I can take over your clients. They have expectations,” Rodimus said. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “I mean, I could, don’t get me wrong. Hmm. Maybe I should give it a try.”
“Not that either.” Sunstreaker shook his head and sat on the edge of his berth, his expression shifting to something serious. “We want you to come with us.”
Rodimus cycled his optics, then his audials. “Say what?”
“I’m going to pay your debt to Streamline regardless,” Sunstreaker said. “You can do whatever you want, but the invitation to come with us is there.”
Rodimus blindly groped for a chair and sank into it, his legs refusing to support his weight. “I don’t understand. Why would you do that? How…?”
“Sideswipe’s rich, and we don’t want to leave you behind,” Sunstreaker said with a one-shoulder shrug. “Star will be too worried about you to relax, and we all know how vindictive Streamline can get.”
Rodimus’ head spun. He had at least a decade of good, solid work before he could think about the ‘after’. Freedom was a distant concept to him. He had no idea what he’d do with it. He certainly never expected it to come from Sunstreaker either, who had only ever seemed to tolerate him at best.
“That’s…” He groped for words and found himself at a loss for them. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come. Say thank you. Say you’re happy.” Sunstreaker gave him a small smile, and there was a light in his optics, a joy Rodimus was unaccustomed to seeing from the usually stoic mech. “Or don’t say anything and go pack.”
It was so unbelievable, and yet it was real. It was Sunstreaker sitting in front of him making this offer, which made it seem even more legitimate.
Rodimus stood up, his spark swelling with disbelief and joy. “I’m going to go pack,” he said. It wouldn’t take him long. He didn’t own much. “When do we leave?”
Starscream sat for a long time contemplating the comm chip in his possession before he finally slotted it into place and dialed.
Nightshade, of course, picked up immediately, as if he’d been waiting for Starscream to call. “Hello, sweetspark. How are you?”
Starscream’s wings fluttered, warmth flooding through his spark. “I’m well, Nightshade. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time?”
“Nothing I’m unhappy to delay.” Nightshade chuckled softly. “I don’t want to presume, but are you calling me about the offer?”
Right down to business then.
Starscream cycled a slow ventilation. “Yes, it is.”
“I can already tell by your vocals, I am not going to be as delighted as I thought,” Nightshade said, though there was no anger in his tone, only disappointment.
“You know me so well.” Starscream peered out the window, his wings twitching as he thought of how much freedom to fly he would now have. “Another time, perhaps, and I’d have accepted your offer, but there’s someone I can’t leave.”
“Sunstreaker, I presume?”
Starscream smiled, his spark throbbing at the mere mention of his roommate and lover. “Yes. We’re leaving Blue Sun together.”
“That’s wonderful, Starscream. Truly, I’m happy for you.” Nightshade gave a soft sigh into the comm. “I won’t say I’m not disappointed because I’ve grown fond of you, but I’m not one to stand in the way either. You belong together.”
Starscream hummed. “Thank you.”
“You sound happy, and I’m glad to hear it,” Nightshade said, and there was a smile in his voice. “Though if you ever wish to go freelance, you do have my comm. There’s no one in Blue Sun who quite understands my desires like you.”
Starscream chuckled warmly. “Well, I am still available, just not through Blue Sun. Once we get settled, I’ll let you know where to find me.”
“Sunstreaker won’t mind?”
Well.
He might a little, but it wasn’t his choice to make. It wasn’t that Sunstreaker didn’t want Starscream to take clients on his choice, it was that Sunstreaker was still sore with Nightshade over what happened with Turmoil.
“He knows I have my favorites,” Starscream said. “And that he has my spark where it matters.”
“Indeed he does. For quite a long while, if my observations are at all accurate.” Nightshade laughed softly. “Which I’m sure they are. I have a reputation to uphold, after all.”
Starscream huffed a laugh. “Very true.” He cycled a ventilation and sobered. “Thank you, Nightshade. For everything.”
“I did very little in the end, but I understand the sentiment.” Nightshade’s voice was warm, if not a little affectionate. “Be well, Starscream, but most of all, be happy.”
“I will.”
These days, it was a much easier promise to make.
Sideswipe had sent a transport for them. An honest-to-Primus, non-automated transport with an extra pair of hands to load the storage space while Sunstreaker and Starscream and Rodimus didn’t have to lift a finger.
Or at least, Starscream and Rodimus didn’t. They sat in the lounge, sipping on spiced energon and sharing a plate of treats, while Sunstreaker directed traffic, a leader in his element of bossing everyone around.
“Be careful with that box,” Sunstreaker barked, and with his gleaming paint, and the air of health around him, he was a sight to behold.
Rodimus chuckled. “He embraced his wealth quick, didn’t he?”
Starscream grinned. “He’s always been a diva. Don’t be fooled by his sour disposition.” He snagged a chewy treat and gnawed on it thoughtfully. “Something tells me he’s going to have the whole manor under his thumb in a week.”
“Sideswipe won’t mind?”
“I suspect he’ll welcome it.”
They shared a little laugh. It was easy enough, even, to ignore Streamline glaring at them from the corner. They’d had the courtesy to do this before Blue Sun opened, but onlookers still gathered, including many escorts who stared agape as two of Blue Sun’s highest earners made their leave. Oh, and took Rodimus with them.
“You think you’re going to miss it here?” Rodimus asked.
Starscream furrowed his brow. “I’d like to say no, but I spent too long here for that to be true.” He brushed some crumbs from his cockpit. “I met Sunstreaker here. I met Nightshade and Blurr and Bluestreak and you. It wasn’t a terrible life.”
“Yeah. I feel the same way.” Rodimus gulped the spiced energon like he hadn’t been taught any manners and swiped the back of his hand over his mouth. “I mean, okay, so I didn’t come here entirely by choice, but Turmoil’s been arrested, and I got closure with Deadlock, and I met you guys, so it’s not so bad after all.”
“Speaking of…” Starscream tilted his head, gesturing toward the guard hovering in the background, his face a mask of emotion, but one Rodimus had learned to read in the past few weeks.
Oh.
He should take care of that.
Rodimus set down the empty cube and stood, dusting off his hands. “Don’t leave without me.”
“It’s up to Sunstreaker. You know how he gets,” Starscream said with a wink.
Rodimus snorted and waved Starscream off, making straight for Drift who straightened as he approached, his face trying to assemble itself into a blank mask and failing miserably.
“Come to see me off?” Rodimus asked, careful to keep his tone light.
“Thought we should have a proper goodbye this time,” Drift said, and his lips curved in the faintest smile. “Got something for you.”
He held out a datachip.
Rodimus cocked his head and planted his hands on his hips. “Tell me that’s not another cut of your pay.”
“Um.”
Rodimus rolled his optics and took Drift’s hand, curling Drift’s fingers into a fist. “Don’t want it. Don’t need it. These two are going to spoil me rotten.” He appreciated the sentiment, however.
Drift needed his guilt, so Rodimus let him keep it. He hadn’t so much forgiven Deadlock as much as he’d decided to let bygones remain in the past, to let go of his own anger so the weight of it wouldn’t drag him down. He wanted to look forward to a bright future, instead of carrying the burden of the past with him.
Drift took the chip back and tucked it into one of his compartments. “I’m going to miss you,” he said instead of insisting, and Rodimus was glad he’d at least learned that lesson. Or maybe guilt made him more obedient.
“You can come see me whenever you want. I won’t be hard to find,” Rodimus said. He’d seen stills of Sideswipe’s estate, and it was enormous. Palatial. His head still spun at the thought of living there.
“I didn’t think I’d be welcome,” Drift said, which he probably had a point. Starscream was largely indifferent to Drift’s presence as he tended to follow Rodimus’ lead, but Sunstreaker was a bit more protective. While he’d been the first to push for them to reconcile, he kept a wary suspicion of Drift.
Rodimus shrugged. “It’s my decision. Besides, if we need to meet elsewhere we can. It’s not like I’m a prisoner.”
“As long as you’re happy.” Drift smiled, soft and careful. “I’m glad you’re getting out of here. You deserve so much more.”
Rodimus scrubbed the back of his neck. “I dunno about deserving, but I’m not going to bite the hand that feeds. I’ll owe them a lot after this.” He looked at Starscream and Sunstreaker, the latter of whom had paused in his shouting to bend down and openly kiss Starscream. “They need looking after more than they realize.”
“Bit of a role reversal, isn’t it?”
Rodimus snorted. “Something like that.” He looked at Drift and held out his arms, wriggling his fingers. “One last hug for the road?”
Drift came into his embrace, and Rodimus squeezed him tightly, hooking his chin over Drift’s shoulders and hearing his armor creak. Their field meshed, warm and affectionate, and it was almost hard to believe that once upon a time, Rodimus had loathed Deadlock with every strut and bolt in his frame.
In the end, he supposed coming to Blue Sun was the best outcome for him after all.
