[FoF] Scars of Yesterday 18

[dracoqueen22]

Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Eighteen

Sideswipe was shaken out of a rather nice dream involving both Sunstreaker and Soundwave. He blinked blearily at the back of Soundwave’s head when he registered the hand over his mouth and Sunstreaker leaning against his back.

“Get up,” he whispered urgently, nipping at Sideswipe’s ear. “We have work to do.”

Work?

Sideswipe sighed and rolled over, away from Soundwave’s enticing warmth, and to the cool spot on the nest where Sunstreaker no longer was. Instead, his twin was perched outside the nest, looking down at him and making urgent motions with his hand.

Soundwave was still asleep. So were the siblings. They’d all curled closer together overnight, a mixed up knot of colorful feathers snoozing away, and they were unbearably adorable. Sideswipe’s core gave a throb of affection, and he wanted to dive back into the cozy pile and stay there all day.

Except Sunstreaker was giving him a Look, and Sideswipe would never hear the end of it if he ignored Sunstreaker on a mission.

So he wriggled out of the comfy nest, and away from the enticing warmth, being sure to sigh and look as pathetic as possible.

Sunstreaker rolled his eyes.

He didn’t explain why Sideswipe had to leave the cozy cuddle pile until they were outside the nest. Sideswipe wasn’t even allowed time to rifle through the pantry, despite the hungry grumbling of his stomach.

“What is going on?” Sideswipe demanded as Sunstreaker dragged him away from Soundwave’s nest and down the curving path toward the second level.

“We need advice,” Sunstreaker said.

“What?”

“We don’t know what we’re doing, and I think if I have to sit through another one of Laserbeak’s helpful diagrams, I’m going to pluck out my eyes,” Sunstreaker said.

Sideswipe blinked. Okay, fair. Laserbeak was amazingly sweet and helpful and Sideswipe loved her dearly, but no one had ever taught her the concept ‘less is more’ and her complete lack of shame somehow managed to embarrass even Sideswipe.

“Who then?” Sideswipe asked.

Sunstreaker’s rapid pace slowed a little. He glanced back at Sideswipe as if embarrassed, heat turning his cheeks an interesting hue. “Mirage and Tracks. Remember, they have hatchlings, so they don’t go through heat.”

Right. Because apparently having babies suppressed the rut. Sideswipe vaguely remembered that from Ratchet’s very boring lecture that Sunstreaker must have been paying more attention to.

Huh.

Sunny actually made a good point. Laserbeak’s perspective was great, and what the others had said helped a lot, but when it came down to the basics of romance, none of them were particularly helpful. Frenzy and Rumble had each other, and at the moment, weren’t interested in anyone else. Laserbeak was a romantic, but not eager to seek a match for herself, and who knew what Buzzsaw wanted?

“Good idea,” Sideswipe said. He supposed this was a good reason to get out of the nest. They needed a plan of attack if they were going to convince Soundwave a relationship was worth fighting for. “Let’s go.”

Sunstreaker beamed.

It was early, but Sunstreaker seemed confident Mirage and Tracks would be awake, and he wasn’t wrong. The curtain over their home nest was already drawn open, inviting visitors within, and the noise of breakfast chatter floated out to greet them. For once, Sunstreaker didn’t hesitate and Sideswipe followed him inside – both stepping over the gate that reminded curious hatchlings they weren’t to wander outside the nest without one or both parents present.

Tracks sat in the middle of a pile of hatchlings – Heatwave, Chase, Boulder – watching over them as they all ate their breakfast to various degrees of cleanliness. He’d given them each a bowl of steamed oats, though they looked to be individually flavored.

Mirage was nowhere to be seen, but Sideswipe suspected he was probably up in the loft. Mirage and Tracks had an interesting, two-section nest where an upper floor accessible by ladder was used for their crafts. It was not accessible from outside their nest, and one wouldn’t know it existed simply by walking around the floor above.

“The walls are a little thin,” Mirage had once said with a brief wince while Tracks laughed. “But the extra space is worth it.”

Sideswipe had done some snooping of his own. As best he could figure, the little nook rested somewhere between Drift and Perceptor’s nest, and Radiance and Windfall’s nest.

“Good morning,” Tracks said without looking up at either of them as he gave Heatwave a firm look and said, “You asked for blueberries. Don’t tell me you don’t want them now.”

“They taste funny,” Heatwave said.

“I’ll eat them,” Boulder offered, leaning hopefully toward his brother’s bowl.

“You will not,” Tracks said firmly. He swept the bowl from Heatwave’s hand, snagged a blueberry, and popped it into his mouth before handing them back. “They taste the same as they always do.”

“No, they don’t,” Heatwave grumbled.

Tracks sighed and finally looked up. “I thought the two of you would still be in your nest, enjoying your privacy.”

Sideswipe pretended not to notice Boulder and Heatwave sneakily trading bowls. “Guess not,” he said with a smile. “Was hoping to get some advice from you and Mirage if you’re not too busy.”

“Advice?” Mirage’s voice floated from upstairs, his head appearing briefly in the opening to the loft, though upside down. “Regarding what?”

“Um, romance?” Sunstreaker said, and he ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck as though embarrassed.

Mirage broke into a smile. “Oh? Would this have something to do with Soundwave perhaps?”

“Heatwave doesn’t have blueberries anymore,” Chase said loudly, pointing to his brother’s bowl. “He and Boulder swapped.”

Sunstreaker buried a chuckle behind his hand. “He’s such a tattle.”

“As long as they are actually eating it, I no longer care what flavor they have,” Tracks said, pressing two fingertips to his forehead.

Chase’s bottom lip popped out. “But you said–”

Mirage swung down from the loft, landing without a sound. “Chase, love, while we appreciate you keeping an eye out for us, it’s only breakfast.”

Sad blue eyes turned toward his own bowl. “I would’ve eaten the blueberries,” Chase said with such a wan droop of his feathers, Sideswipe almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

“You can have some of mine,” Boulder said, trying to offer his bowl to his brother. “There’s plenty left. Here. Switch with me.”

“Every morning they do this, I swear,” Tracks said, looking heavensward as if calling for patience. “Heatwave wants blueberries. Boulder wants apples. Chase wants his plain. Then suddenly, they change their mind and the endless bowl swapping begins.”

Mirage leaned over to press a kiss to Tracks’ forehead. “But the bowls are empty by the time they are done, and none of them are hungry, and that is all that matters.”

“I’ll remind you of this conversation the next time we find peas cleverly hidden beneath a plate,” Tracks said, but there was a curve of amusement to his lips and affection in his eyes as he grabbed Mirage’s hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.

Sideswipe wondered if he should be taking notes. Mirage and Tracks were free with their affection for one another, as though it was something they couldn’t do before, and now relished the opportunity. They were rarely not in contact — hugging, brief kisses, a glancing touch, a gentle squeeze.

“I will prepare my counter-argument,” Mirage said, amused, before his gaze flicked to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. “We can talk over here, away from the breakfast madness.” He gestured to a nook off to the side, with a table and stools sized for adults neatly tucked into the space.

A curtained window suggested the glow of sunrise, but Mirage pulled back the curtain, letting streams of golden light pour through. He pulled down a bowl from an upper shelf, one filled with breakfast pastries, and set it out for them, along with a carafe and three cups.

“Now, why don’t you tell me about Soundwave and whether it has anything to do with Buzzsaw’s hilarious attempts at casually asking me if I had seen Soundwave a few nights ago,” Mirage said as he started to fill their cups from the carafe.

Sideswipe gave it a tentative sniff – juice of some kind. “There was a misunderstanding,” he hedged. “It’s mostly sorted now, but we’ve kind of hit a wall.”

“What kind of wall?”

“Soundwave doesn’t get that we like him,” Sunstreaker said, and Sideswipe would never cease to be amazed by how open his brother was with Mirage.

“Ah.” Mirage nodded slowly and lowered himself into one of the available stools, curling his hand around a cup. “Yes, I imagine that would be difficult for him. Yours is a unique situation.”

“He feels responsible for you,” Tracks offered from several feet away as he wrestled with Heatwave, trying to wipe the protesting hatchling’s face.

“Yes,” Mirage agreed with a slow nod. “He would. And Soundwave is a very noble individual. He would never wish to harm you, even to his own detriment.”

“Yeah, we know all that. And we’ve told him that we get it, and he’s not hurting us, and we like him, too, but he still doesn’t get it,” Sideswipe pointed out. His stomach grumbled and Mirage nudged the bowl of pastries closer with the tip of his talon.

Sideswipe got the message and took one.

“We need to show him,” Sunstreaker said. “Words aren’t working.”

“You wish to court him,” Mirage said, his lips pulling into a soft smile.

Sideswipe blinked and exchanged a glance with Sunstreaker. “You say that like it’s some kind of an official thing. Or a word we should know.”

"Soundwave is just old-fashioned enough that he'll appreciate a good courtship," Tracks offered as he gave up on Heatwave and started gathering empty bowls and spoons. "Especially with those siblings of his."

Mirage nodded. "He'll want to know that they accept you as well, though I suspect that is not an issue."

"I don't think so...?" Sideswipe shrugged. He knew Laserbeak was on their side, and Frenzy and Rumble hadn't protested. He didn't know Ravage's thoughts, or Buzzsaw's.

He suspected Buzzsaw didn't like anyone and no one would be good enough for his brother but hey, three out of five weren't bad odds.

"It's just courting then. Letting him know you are interested and how you feel through actions and deeds," Tracks said as he approached, Heatwave and Boulder under an arm each and Chase hanging from his neck. "I'm off to bathe the littles. Unless you need me to stay?"

Mirage rose to nuzzle Tracks and pressed a kiss to each of the hatchlings. "I think I can handle this much. All of you behave."

"We will," the hatchlings chirped in adorable unison.

"That goes double for you," Mirage said with a raised brow toward Tracks.

"I have no idea what you mean," Tracks purred, and off he went, hatchlings dangling from his feathers.

Mirage's smile was both fond and soft, and Sideswipe's core throbbed again, envious of what he had with Tracks, and wanting it for both himself and Sunstreaker.

"Courting," Mirage began as he sat back down and tugged his mug within reach. "It's really quite simple though it varies based on Aerie. Fortunately, we happen to be from the same Aerie as Soundwave, so I know what's traditional."

Sunstreaker leaned in eagerly. "Like?"

Mirage hummed. "Some of the courtship gifts aren't relevant -- you won't need to build Soundwave a home, for example. But showing that you'd like to care for him? Those are certainly within reach."

"How?" Sideswipe asked.

"Bring him meals, for one," Mirage suggested as he rapped his talon tips on the mug. "Tradition would have you hunt it yourself, but I do believe the thought counts in this instance. You might also consider helping him bathe -- between the scapula is often overlooked by the single harpy since it's beyond reach."

Sideswipe wished he had the good sense to bring some kind of paper so he could take notes, though it was fairly simple so far.

Mirage continued, going through a number of ideas, gifts Soundwave would appreciate, gestures he would understand better than words. He explained how courting worked back in their old Aerie – Crystal City – and some of the newer concepts Kaon itself had adopted.

“And it never hurts to be creative on your own,” Mirage told them. “If there’s something you know Soundwave would like, lean toward that. He’ll recognize the effort.”

Sideswipe’s eyes spun, but it was the good kind of overwhelming. He felt they could actually do something with the information, make a plan of action, rather than sit around and wait for a conversation.

The sun steadily rose through the window, and that in itself gave Sideswipe an idea – breakfast in bed. Everyone should be rising soon enough, and if they could catch Soundwave before he tried to hobble down to the dining hall, all the better.

“Thanks for the help,” Sideswipe said, abruptly standing from the table and causing it to rattle. “I just got the best idea. Come on, bro.”

Sunstreaker sighed. “He has no manners.” He gave Mirage a look both apologetic and grateful at the same time.

“Do come back and tell me how it goes,” Mirage called after them. “We’re here if you need any more advice.”

“Will do. Thanks!” Sideswipe called back, and locked his hand around Sunstreaker’s wrist, tugging him out the door. “So here’s what I’m thinking. Breakfast in bed today. What do you think?”

Sunstreaker stumbled after him. “It’s a good idea, but what’s the hurry?”

“What good is breakfast in bed if he’s not still in bed?” Sideswipe asked, rolling his eyes. “We gotta spoil him so he realizes that’s what we want to do. And take care of him, too.”

“I was there for the conversation, Sides.”

“Then hurry up!”

They didn’t run to the dining hall, but it was a near thing. Sideswipe let Sunstreaker fuss over the choicest bits for Soundwave while Sideswipe gathered a basket and stuffed it full of assorted things for the siblings. He tucked a bottle of cider under his arm, and when no one was looking, grabbed one of the decorative flower vases from the tables, too.

“For ambiance,” he told Sunstreaker when his twin gave him a confused look.

“Sure. Whatever.”

This was going to be the most romantic morning Soundwave had ever had. Sideswipe was determined.

~

It was the lack of warmth which woke Soundwave, though again, he awoke disoriented and confused. He knew he was home, but his nest was empty of every warm body he’d previously had piled atop him, and his shoulder ached. He shifted onto his back, and a dull throb settled in his arm. He hissed air through his teeth.

The nest dipped beside him. “Careful,” Sideswipe said, his voice gentle as he eased Soundwave upright, stuffing pillows behind his back to support him. “And uh, good morning, too. Sleep okay?”

“Yes,” Soundwave replied on automatic, more than a little baffled. He was not sure what he’d expected, but it was not this. “You?”

“Yep,” Sideswipe chirped. “Nothing but sweet dreams.” He eyed Soundwave’s bandaged arm, guilt flickering briefly around him. “How’s the arm?”

Soundwave glanced up as Sunstreaker moved in his periphery, though he couldn’t discern what occupied the other twin. “It will heal,” he said.

“Give him the salica,” Sunstreaker said.

“Oh, right.” Sideswipe rustled in a bag at his side and produced one of the packets Ratchet had distributed. “Need some help or…?”

“I can manage,” Soundwave replied and pushed the entire packet into his mouth.

The bitter powder was pressed between dried leaves which dissolved on his tongue. He grimaced through the taste, and gratefully accepted the water Sideswipe pressed into his hands. He envied the humans their capsules and tablets sometimes, though their stock of human medicine was limited to emergencies. His current pain was more irritation than agony.

The nest rustled as Sunstreaker joined them, and the scent of food floated to Soundwave’s nose – assorted fruit, warm muffins, juice squeezed from an orange. There was a bowl of rolled oats as well, sweetened with cinnamon and raisins.

“After breakfast, we’ll help you down to the hot springs,” Sideswipe said as he started digging into the food, but not before he took Soundwave’s uninjured hand and pressed several slices of a freshly peeled orange into it.

“What about…” Sunstreaker said, trailing off. He probably gave his brother a meaningful look Soundwave could not see.

“Oh, yeah.” Sideswipe radiated comprehension before he turned dizzy-bright and the weight of it fell across Soundwave. “We should probably have a conversation with Megatron, right? So we can get the permission you need.”

Soundwave gnawed on the orange slice. “Yes,” he agreed, still more than a little flummoxed. “Megatron available?”

“Shit,” Sunstreaker muttered.

“Probably not,” Sideswipe said with a sigh. “He wasn’t a couple day ago anyway. We could check? We should probably do that.”

“Patience,” Soundwave said, his throat raw and achy, but better than it had been. He swallowed the orange, but before he could consider what to eat next, Sunstreaker pressed a pecan roll into his hand.

Sideswipe offered him a sip of juice, guiding a straw to Soundwave’s lips without any hesitation whatsoever. “Right. Patience,” he said.

“We can be patient,” Sunstreaker agreed around a mouthful of whatever it was he’d chosen for his own breakfast. He leaned closer to Soundwave, shoulder pressing to Soundwave’s uninjured one, warmth seeping between them. “Though we all need a bath.”

“You have pitch in your feathers,” Sideswipe said. “I don’t mind it, but you know Sunny here. He’s kind of picky about these kinds of things.”

“Only because I can be now,” Sunstreaker huffed. He nudged Soundwave with his shoulder. “Do you want the pecan roll or something else? Laserbeak said it was one of your favorites.”

"It is," Soundwave said, and he ate because it was a thing he should do, even if he was having trouble comprehending the current circumstances.

Their last conversation -- full conversation -- had ended on a tense note. Whispered requests to never leave angry had followed, but they hadn't sat down and discussed anything, and it seemed Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were planning to fly right past complication and land in... what? Full commitment?

He'd barely swallowed before Sideswipe offered a handful of berries, and Sunstreaker urged the straw against his lips once more.

"What else do you like?" Sideswipe asked.

Soundwave gently nudged both of their offerings away. "Answers."

"To what?" Sunstreaker asked, a spike of indignation rising around him like a bristlecone. "What did we do wrong this time?"

Sideswipe sighed. "Sunny, calm down."

"I am calm!" Sunstreaker snapped before he sucked in a breath and then released it very slowly. "I just don't get it. I thought we were doing the right things."

"He didn't say we weren't," Sideswipe said, and he rested a hand on Soundwave's back, palm warm and gentle. "Right?"

Soundwave inclined his head. "Confusion only," he said as he gestured to the offerings tucked in the nest around them. "By this."

"What's to be confused about?" Sunstreaker huffed, embarrassment clinging to him in a fog. "We're taking care of you. We're helping you. Just like you helped us. We're being nice."

Oh.

It was nothing more than reciprocation.

"Understood," Soundwave murmured, reaching out with his free hand to gently pat Sunstreaker on the knee. "Thank you."

Sideswipe made an inarticulate noise, frustration brimming in a halo around his face before he said, "So, more breakfast or is it time for that bath?"

It wasn't until they mentioned that Soundwave felt the grime of several days worth of panicked flight, even more panicked crashing through the forest, and slightly less panicked trudging through the underbrush. He was filthy, he seemed to shed detritus in his wake, and the nest would need to be washed.

Not to mention all of the managerial duties which must have stacked up in his absence.

As much as he enjoyed the idea of lounging in the nest with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, there was too much work to be done.

"Definitely bath," Sunstreaker said, but hesitation swirled around him. "Unless you're still hungry?"

"Bath," Soundwave confirmed, and the relief-joy-pleasure radiating from Sunstreaker was a beautiful blush of color.

They tidied up breakfast before Soundwave could offer to help, and all but slapped his hand away if he made any motion to assist. They squabbled, good-natured, as siblings do.

Siblings.

It occurred to Soundwave that he'd not heard from a single one of his own siblings. Not even Buzzsaw loitered nearby, and he was usually the last to leave Soundwave on his own.

This reeked of Laserbeak's meddling.

Luckily, there was no one else in the hot springs, save Roadbuster snoring as he soaked in one of the smaller springs in a distant corner. He was in no danger of drowning, otherwise Soundwave might be concerned. As it was, Roadbuster barely fit in the tiny pool.

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe towed him along, in the direction of what Soundwave had come to learn was their usual pool. It was tucked in the corner and allowed a modicum of privacy for those harpies who were more modest about their bathing. Some of the aeries had stricter rules regarding who could bathe with whom and when, and though Kaon was different, old habits die hard.

Sunstreaker’s hand was firm on Soundwave’s elbow as Sideswipe entered the pool first, then helped guide Soundwave into it, their hands warm but chaste. Soundwave didn’t have the heart to tell them he didn’t need the help. Delight was spiking from them in waves. They genuinely enjoyed taking care of him.

“Sit and relax, we’ll take care of everything,” Sideswipe said as he nudged Soundwave to one of the lower shelves, where he could sit comfortably. “Don’t move that arm too much.”

“I’ll get his scapula,” Sunstreaker said as he nudged Sideswipe out of the way. “You’re not thorough enough.”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you.”

Water swished, the sweet scent of the oily soaps filling the air around them as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker popped open vials, and made their selections. It was strange, how quiet it was. Soundwave rarely bathed on his own, usually with one set of siblings or the other. Frenzy and Rumble wrestled each other frequently, and Laserbeak liked to splash around to irritate Buzzsaw.

It was more soothing than Soundwave thought it would be, especially when Sunstreaker started on his back, long talons digging between his scapulae to get the stubborn bits of winter molt that never wanted to work themselves free on their own. Soundwave had not had the opportunity to tend to them with all that had been doing on around the Aerie as of late.

Sunstreaker sucked at his teeth. “I should have helped you with this sooner,” he said, tone apologetic. “Next time, just ask.”

“He shouldn’t have to,” Sideswipe said before Soundwave could respond. “Just start dragging him down here same as you drag me.”

“I’ve never seen someone fuss so much about being clean,” Sunstreaker sighed.

“I have no problem being clean,” Sideswipe grumbled as he took Soundwave’s uninjured wing in hand and started gently working the oil into his feathers. “I’m just not obsessive about it.”

“Only because you’re obsessive about other things,” Sunstreaker retorted, his words sharp, but his hands gentle, until it came to a knotted molt-feather that he tugged out, and Soundwave startled, only to sag in relief.

By Adaptus, he hadn’t realized how much it was bothering him until now.

“It’s not obsessive, it’s eager to learn,” Sideswipe said, and nudged Soundwave with his knee. “Isn't that right, Soundwave? There’s nothing wrong with being excited to learn.”

Amusement rumbled in Soundwave’s core. “Education is important.”

“See?” Sideswipe said, and Soundwave imagined he was probably sticking his tongue out at his brother. Mischief hung around him in a halo.

Sunstreaker sighed. “I’m ready for mating season to be over. I need intelligent company again.”

“Excuse me?” Sideswipe said, indignant.

“Everyone’s either in rut, or so busy with their hatchlings that I’m stuck with you all the time,” Sunstreaker said, but there was affection in his voice, and he radiated amusement. “I’m ready to try oil paints. There was some really pretty moss in the forest.”

“Moss,” Sideswipe echoed as he carefully oiled every one of Soundwave’s feathers, his touches gentle but chaste, business-like for all that bathing another was considered quite intimate. “You are so weird sometimes.”

Sunstreaker sniffed. “We should go for an actual walk in the forest. Maybe a picnic? Someday when it’s not an emergency, so I can get some sketches. What do you think, Soundwave?”

“A walk would be nice,” Soundwave said. “Time permitting.”

“Maybe even get Ravage to talk to Harrison again,” Sideswipe said with mischief in his voice. “Eh? I think he finally found a friend.”

Sunstreaker hummed agreeably. “He did. And if you tease him about it, I will rip out your tailfeathers.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Soundwave smiled to himself. There was something soothing about their comfortable chatter. It felt so natural, as if they’d all known each other for far longer. The twins worked in concert, cleaning the lingering mud and twigs from his feathers, without letting him lift a finger to help, while chatting casually as if this was an everyday occurrence.

“There, now you sit and soak while I subject myself to Sunstreaker’s thorough and not-so-tender mercies,” Sideswipe said with a brief, chaste kiss to Soundwave’s cheek and a pat to his good shoulder.

Soundwave tingled at the brush of his lips. “Much work to do,” he reminded them.

“We’ll be quick,” Sunstreaker promised, and promptly pushed his brother beneath the surface of the water, Sideswipe emerging with a splutter and a complaint.

“Give me some warning next time!”

Sunstreaker chuckled. “It’s more fun this way.”

They promptly started to wrestle, though Soundwave noticed, despite their grappling, not once was he splashed or jostled in an untoward way. They had an amazing sense of space, and the very fact they were allowing him to see them like this – open with each other, their guards completely down – was a gift in and of itself.

Soundwave tried to sneak out when they weren’t paying attention. He had every intention of heading to the office, perhaps snagging a sibling along the way, to see what mess of paperwork and management needed his attention. But no sooner had he stood to ease out of the pools then he caught the attention of both twins, who descended upon him with offers of assistance.

“Duties to be completed,” Soundwave protested as they assisted him out of the pool.

“Ratchet says you need to rest,” Sunstreaker pointed out as he locked his arm with Soundwave’s.
“He says you’ll heal faster if you need to take it easy.”

Soundwave sighed. “Duties cannot be avoided. Megatron indisposed. Orion indisposed. Ratchet indisposed. Shockwave indisposed.”

“Everyone’s indisposed, yeah, we get it,” Sideswipe said and rested his hand gently on Soundwave’s back. “But technically, you’re indisposed, too. You’re injured.”

“And since it’s our fault, we’re going to help you,” Sunstreaker added. “We promised and we always keep our promises.”

“Exactly,” Sideswipe said before Soundwave could get a word in edgewise. “And since we know how important this is to you, I’ll go to your office and get some things for you, and Sunstreaker will take you back to the nest.”

Soundwave glanced between them, sincerity wreathing both of their heads in gentle shades of peach. “You will not know what to fetch.”

“Nope. Not a clue. But I’ll bet Ravage can tell me,” Sideswipe said cheerfully. He leaned in, pecking a kiss on Sunstreaker’s cheek, then Soundwave’s. “I’ll meet you upstairs in a bit. Be good!”

And then he was gone, leaving Soundwave in Sunstreaker’s care, without a single viable protest to offer. Well, that explained why no one had chased him down with an abundance of needs yet. If his siblings had taken it upon themselves to manage his duties in his absence, then he had little to be concerned over.

“It would make us feel better if you’d rest,” Sunstreaker said as he gently urged Soundwave toward the ramps spiraling upward.

Well. His arm was aching, and if Sideswipe brought him relevant work, Soundwave supposed a little rest couldn’t hurt. Besides, there wasn’t any salica in his office. He’d taken the last packet a few weeks ago and hadn’t remembered to restock with everything else going on.

“Very well,” Soundwave conceded.

Sunstreaker beamed as if Soundwave had given him a gift, and Soundwave’s core throbbed at the radiance. Sunstreaker squeezed his arm warmly and escorted him upstairs, a comfortable quiet between them. Unlike his twin, Sunstreaker wasn’t one to babble to fill a silence.

By the time he had Soundwave settled in the nest, propped up with pillows and liberally dosed with salica, Sideswipe returned with Laserbeak on one shoulder and a basket stacked with papers on the other.

“Brother!” Laserbeak chirped as she leapt down and scrambled to perch on Soundwave’s uninjured shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“I am well, flitterling.”

Sunstreaker climbed into the nest beside him, the scent of charcoal and paper accompanying his approach. He meant to sketch apparently while Sideswipe pressed in on Soundwave’s other side, tugging the heavy basket with him.

“I had no idea there was so much paperwork involved,” he said with a note of disgust in his voice. “How do you stand it?”

“Needs must,” Soundwave said. He reached for the basket, but Sideswipe gently pushed his hand away.

“Nope,” he said as he dragged out the first scroll and started to unroll the thick vellum. “Me and Laserbeak are gonna work, you’re gonna tell us what to do, and you’re going to rest while doing it.”

Soundwave sighed.

Laserbeak nuzzled him with her head. “Don’t worry. We can handle it.”

“I’m going to sketch,” Sunstreaker announced. “If you need anything, I’ll go get it.”

Clearly, the decision had already been made.

“Very well,” Soundwave conceded. “What is the first matter?”

“Supplies apparently,” Sideswipe said as he bent over the scroll. “What we have versus what we usually have versus how much we should order? Looks like it just needs approval so I’ll start at the top and you can tell me if it’s good to go or not.”

“See?” Laserbeak said. “Easy as cake.”

Soundwave supposed she was right. Besides, he was rather cozy, and reluctant to abandon the warmth and intimacy of the circumstances just to retreat to his office.

“Start from the top,” he said.

***