Do you hate it when I do this?
So... was writing (or rather attempting to write) the sticky sammich, when the characters (read: Prowl) started flailing their (her) arms at what I was implying. 4500 words later, still no sammich. This will A) end abruptly, or B) be another 4500 words (since my smut scenes seem to be notoriously long --;).
But, look! Conflict!
Title Twin Ties (tentative)
Series (ooh look, it's a series now --;) Sticky Situation
Pairing Prowl/Sideswipe, Sunstreaker/Sideswipe, implied Sunstreaker/Tracks (is it the same Tracks though *shrug* We'll say it is for now ;)
Warnings Twincest Ahoy! (brief, but definately there), Mechanical Sticky, Further Butchering of Prowl's Character.
Summary Prowl, meet Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker, meet Prowl. Sunstreaker is an ass. Prowl freaks.
Author's Notes (also called Fun but Ultimately Useless Facts) This is pre-war Prowl and Sideswipe; rather, the war’s going on, but they’re not yet participating. Therefore, they both have civilian alt modes. Something noteworthy, is that the Enforcer is not a military model of the Gingeroll. The Enforcer is strictly a mech model, and the Gingeroll is strictly a femme model. The Enforcer is actually an upgrade of a Tilt model: the Winged Tilt. (Much like Jazz’s Sleektilt, which is an upgraded version of Fastilt model). Both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were upgraded to military Line models, and no major alterations were made besides the installation of armor and weapons.
This also means that femme!Prowl’s appearance is rather different than usual. Imagine her like a larger, longer VW Beetle. (It gives her curves ;P) Ergo she's a bit like Bumblebee (except she's taller), maybe someday my art muse will be freed and allow me to draw her. This makes it feel like I’m creating an OC rather than playing with Prowl. *sigh*
Master List
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The two vehicles weaved in and out of traffic, laughter dancing through their assigned channel. The red Fineline flickered his turn signal, warning the blue Gingeroll following him of the turn he was about to take. He whipped onto the offramp, and she zipped right after him, narrowly missing the big Convoy that blared it's alarm at her. She tooted back at the larger bot, swinging her tail before snapping a hasty right turn after the Fineline.
Prowl sped after Sideswipe, pulling up along side him on the narrow one-lane road. “You sure Sunstreaker won't mind me staying. Not even if it's a decacycle or two?”
Sideswipe slowed, down shifting as he turned down another street. “Trust me, he won't mind,” his voice trailed off with an unfinished thought.
She gunned her engine, laughing. “Go ahead and say it, Sideswipe.”
"Say what, Prowl?”
They pulled up to a high-rise apartment building and she transformed.
In root mode, she spoke aloud, shaking the hum of the road from the mag plates covering her shoulders. “He has never minded before.” She had no disillusion that she was special. She knew his reputation. Was there a femme in Kaon who didn't?
“Well, he hasn’t.”
She watched as he folded upright, admiring the smooth transition from vehicle to robot. The red mech grinned, turning to give her full view of what he called his best angles. Her fingers twitched to dig into his seams, and run her glossa over his holding area. She had no illusions that she was the only one who had such desires, nor the only one who'd had such a pleasure.
Sideswipe keyed the entry code into the main entrance and gestured her inside, his darkening optics watching as she sashayed past. She pinged her fingers against his thin chestplate, pausing to take in the tidy interior. It wasn't the Towers, nor was it the lowest slums. While trash didn't litter the floors, it wasn't exactly spotless.
Sideswipe entered after her, the door sliding close behind him. He tilted his head, awaiting her evaluation. Finally, she turned to him, doorwings twitching.
"You could afford so much better.”
His optics flashed and he grinned. She realized she had answered as he'd predicted. “The rent is just right for the amount of space we have.”
She crossed her arms over her chestplate as he walked up to her, putting an arm over her doorwings. “Let me guess, you calculated it?”
He grinned that disarming grin of his, the one that made her fuel tank flutter. “Of course. Expect any less from me?”
"Not from the mech who judges a bar on how much they put in the cube and what consistency the energon is, rather than the location.” She looked at him from under her chevron, quirking a grin.
Wide optics stared at her in all innocence. “Hey, we got out of there without being arrested didn't we? I told you, I know the beat cops there.”
She rolled her doorwings as they stepped onto the lift. The lift doors closed and she shoved him away and into the wall. She pressed herself into him, hands running all over his body as she shoved her face toward his, her lips and nasal ridge barely grazing his own. “If you ever put us into that situation again,” she pulled just out of his reach as he inched toward her moving lips, “I promise that you will be spending a recharge cycle, hardware running, strapped to your berth, and no one around.” She pushed away, optics flashing as he stood there, panting, arms frozen in a movement to encircle her.
"Primus, Prowl, don't tempt me.”
Her brow ridges lifted as she shook her head at him. “You're not supposed to be excited about that, Sides.”
He caressed her neck, cupping his black hand over her jaw hinge. His lips brushed against hers. “Then don't make it sound so exciting,” he murmured. He pulled away, optics bright and took her hand.
The lift opened as if it was waiting for that one cue and he pulled her into the hall. “Now, Sunny's probably working, but don't worry; we don't have to be quiet, just don't get in his way.”
He keyed opened the first door on the right and once again gestured her in first.
She twitched her doorwings back as she moved into the apartment.
She froze, ventilators hitching as she took in the brilliant shine of limthzi crystals hanging from the ceiling. They rotated on an axis, sending sparkling shafts of light out from the luminescent liquid inside. She looked at the colors reflecting off of her arm plating, dancing over her cobalt finish in intricate patterns. The door slid closed and she turned to face Sideswipe, suddenly conscientious of the plating that seemed such a thin layer between her frame and his optics.
He stared at her, gaze intent on the arms she held before her and she dropped them to her side, turning her attention to anything but him.
“These are some beautiful paintings,” she started haltingly.
She reached out to touch one frame, admiring the latticework that coiled around the still life painting, like the vines of a wirevein.
Sideswipe gently pulled her hand away from the frame. “Sunny has an eye for color. I'll eventually sell those when we have ones to replace them, or when Sunny gets tired of admiring his own work.”
He guided her past an altar that looked like it should be in a museum and into a well-furbished living area. The couch looked to be one of the types that flattened into a mobile recharge berth, even connected to the power grid of the main building. The end tables and the foot rests looked to be made of some reflective material. She ran a wondering hand over the flat surface of one of the tables, the mottled stone smooth under her fingertips.
“Where the frag did you get marble?” She turned to her lover, optics wide. “Are you sure you're not one of the noblesparked.”
He shrugged, but his optics glowed with pride in himself. “Just know how to manage my credits and how to strike bargain.” He gestured to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable, I'll grab us a cube, and see what Sunny's doing.” Sideswipe patted her shoulder as she sat down on the edge of the fine couch. He left her side, walking into the dispenser area as he shouted his brother's name. “Hey, Sunny! We have a guest here, you going to come out, or be unsociable.”
The dispenser hummed to life, and she could hear the distinct sound of a cube filling. She didn't move, uncomfortable with the fine things around the home. Much finer than anything she was used to.
She knew she wasn't bad off herself, but the government salaries at her level would never afford her this much. Embarrassment sparked along her processor as she recalled the time he spent at her apartment, and how beggarly her sparsely decorated home must seem in comparison. Never had he offered a word of complaint, but she still felt uneasy. Home decorating, and interior design had never been a concept she understood. She had what she needed, and a few things that meant something to her, but saw no need to upgrade the appearance of her home.
A second cube was being filled, and still no response from the mysterious brother.
Prowl twitched her doorwings, wanting to be active, instead of stewing in her own processor. “Would you like me to see if he's here?”
"Sure,” Sideswipe responded from within the dipenser area. “He's here, but you can look in on him. Second door to the right, just down the hall. While you're at it you can see what he's working on, just make sure he doesn't respond to you before going in there.”
Prowl stood, confident now that she had a goal in mind. She tread over the soft fabric that covered the floor, the material rush-rushing under her feet. A row of paintings lined the wall of the corridor; abstract lights, spheres recognizable as sparks; solar systems, and spatial anomalies, all splashed with the vibrant colors reflected in the abode.
The second door on the right stood open, lit brighter than the rest of the apartment. She looked in, taking stock of the objects within. Half-finished paintings stacked against the wall, blank frames of unmade statues posed, ready to be finished. The fabric flooring had some sort of plastic covering, spattered with paints, and dyes, and what looked like dried clay. Where on Cybertron did they get clay?
A golden mech knelt in the middle of it all, the light glinting off his finish almost blindingly. He didn't seem to notice her, his attention on the small figure before him. His nasal ridge hovered within a few inches of the piece, dark blue optics intent on his work, the tool in his hand scraping precise lines into the clay.
"Sunstreaker?”
The golden mech didn't lift his head, or give any indication that he heard her. She moved closer, repeating his name again, still to no effect. Her gaze went from the beautiful mech to the clay figure he worked on.
A dancer posed on a toe joint, arms spread, leg stretched out in a classic pose. Sunstreaker's steady hands added the seams of the plating, giving the genderless form shape. She marveled at his rapt attention to his work.
Surely he couldn't ignore her when she stood this close? "Sunstreaker?”
Apparently he could, and she retreated back to the dispenser area, where Sideswipe mixed additives to three cubes.
"Couldn't get a response?” he said as soon as she stepped through the threshold.
"Not even a reset.”
He paused, looking toward her suddenly. “You didn't touch anything, did you?”
She tilted her head. “No. I just looked at him working.” She frowned as he sorted through label-less containers. “Is there a glitch in his auditory system?”
Sideswipe laughed as he squeezed a few drops of a grey substance into the energon, making it glow brighter. “Nah, he just shuts them off when he's working.” He grinned impishly at her.
"He...” She flicked her doorwings. “You slagger, you knew this, too, didn't you? But you were calling out to-”
She stopped as his fingers tapped his chestplate just over his spark. “Why you!” She stormed out of the dispensor area, systems heated as he chortled behind her.
She sat down on the black couch again, silently fuming over his prank.
A brightly glowing energon cube appeared next to her, held in a black hand “I'm sorry, I do that to everyone who visits. I have no excuse for it.”
She glared at the cube for an astrosecond, but those pleading optics, and that engaging grin won out and she took the offered energon. “You're incorrigible, Sideswipe.”
He sat down next to her, still ginning. “I know,” he took a sip from his cube, “but you love me for it.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek, but she shoved him away, still perturbed at his prank.
"You made a third cube?” she asked, noticing he set one on the low table before the couch. She realized too late that Sideswipe had mixed a potent high grade, and already she could feel it spreading through her systems.
"Of course, Sunny has to refuel sometime.”
Prowl and Sideswipe sat there for a while, going through first one, than another cube of the red mech's special mix. Sideswipe had gotten up to make a third round for them, leaving Prowl relaxed on the couch, when Sunstreaker finally decided to make his appearance.
She noticed him, suddenly standing before her, reaching for the extra cube on the low table, not seeming to notice her sitting there. His seemingly brilliant frame, she now saw, had scratches and dings, paint and clay riddling the seams and finish. He had nearly drained the entire cube when his optics lit on her.
The cube lowered and he stared at her in confusion, a scowl marring the perfection of his face. “Who the frag are you, and what are you doing in my apartment?”
She lifted her chin, doorwings riding high on her shoulder. “I'm Prowl, Sideswipe invited me in.”
"Prowl?” He frowned at nothing, trying to place her name. His optics focused on her again, and he stared at her quietly for a breem. Finally a smirk crossed his face. “He never brings home any mechs.”
She tilted her head, puzzling out that phrase. “Femmes don't spark your circuits?”
He took another gulp of his high grade. “Didn't say that. He just never brings home any mechs.” His gaze lifted to her shoulders and he stepped forward. “Do like the doorwings, though.” His engine rumbled as he reached for the panels gracing her shoulders.
She twisted out of his grasp and he blinked down at her.
"Sunny,” Sideswipe's admonishing tone made the golden mech lift his gaze to his brother. “She'll be staying with us a decacycle or two.”
Sunstreaker arched his brow ridge and downed the rest of his energon. “Really? Don't I get an opinion on this?” His optics never left Prowl, and she shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “Stand up.”
Sideswipe stood behind her, reaching past her to offer another cube to his brother. “Sunny, please...”
"I just want to see that she's pretty enough for you, bro. And I’ll not have anything unattractive in my apartment.”
Her optics burned with chagrin and matched Sunstreaker’s scowl with one of her own. “Really? You can't see that with me sitting down, is that it?”
Sideswipe's buzzed in irritation. “You never bring a femme home, and I don't do this to you.”
Sunstreaker didn't move, an imposing figure in the midst of so many nice things, a Convoy in a lift too small. “You could be hiding scratches and dents like that. Stand up.”
She glared at the brother of the mech she had been seeing for only a metacycle. She weighed her options, and they were few indeed, at least this night. It was too late in the solar cycle to impose on any of her friends, and she couldn't go home, the entire building was being renovated to pass an inspection. She could find a recharge shelter for the night, but she didn't favor shutting down around questionable mechs. She could rent a berth at the local inn, but finding a free room, or even a berth at this cycle? Reluctantly she stood, mouth set in as fierce a glower as she could manage. She had been told that it was quite intimidating, but the mech in front of her wasn't even looking at her face.
His gaze traveled over her frame, optics flickering lightly as he reached her hips and then her chest. He set his mouth in a lopsided smirk. “I approve, bro. And I don't need to bring femmes home, bro. You do that for me. You, however, wouldn't know a good-looking mech if they punched you in the face.”
"Well, I'm glad you think I'm pretty,” she growled from between her dental plates, fuming.
"Enough,” the paint-scratched twin was quick to correct. “Doorwings certainly add to your appearance.”
"Slagger,” Sideswipe hissed. She looked back at the red mech, who stood with two energon cubes in hand, his head hanging. “Where's Tracks?” His bright optics as he handed her one of the cubes gave tell of his embarassment
"He's gone.”
Sideswipe blinked. “He's not coming back?”
"The slagger could go interface with a maintenance drone for all I care.” Sunstreaker downed half the contents of his cube. “I need to get back to work.” He finished off the rest, optics glowing with the potency of the mixture. “See you later, Sides.”
She frowned at the look Sunstreaker gave his twin, the look of someone who saw something beautiful, and knew what it felt like to touch that beautiful thing, and possess it. She hastily put the mostly full cube down, deciding that if she was seeing such things, she'd had enough.
"Done?”
"Your brother spoiled my appetite.” She refused to look at the red mech as he gathered the cube.
Sideswipe pressed his lips together as he looked down at her. He seemed to come to a decision and finished off the contents of his own cube, disposing of it with a specific signal. He sat next to her, venting a sigh. “I can't tell you how sorry I am about that. I wish I could say that he's not always like that, but he is. I was hoping I could catch him before he came out here, though.”
She glared at him. “I am tired, Sideswipe.” She flicked her doorwings, looking away from him. “I'll look into other arrangements, for the next couple of decacycles.”
He was silent for nearly a breem, his gaze never leaving her face, although she looked anywhere but at him. “Yeah, Prowl, okay. Let me set up the couch for you.”
She stood, watching as he folded the couch down into a recharge berth. He moved over to her, touching her shoulder plate. “Can’t we talk about this?” Pale optics pleaded with her.
She raised her doorwings, twitching her shoulder away from his fingers. “I just want to recharge right now, Sides.”
"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. Good night, Prowl.”
"Good night, Sideswipe.” She waited until he moved down the hall, only pausing by the control panel to dim the lights, before she lay down. She heard him puttering about one of the other rooms for a breem, his brother noticeable in his silence, before she succumbed to shut down.
~*~*~*~
She couldn't identify immediately what brought her online. She looked about in brief alarm at the unfamiliar surroundings before recalling herself. Then she heard it again.
A wordless cry, the buzz of someone in distress. The constant sound of metal striking metal.
She stood, following the muffled noises down the hall. She paused to look into Sunstreaker's work area, but the golden twin wasn't there. She reached the end of the hall, and the door situated there slid open automatically.
She stepped back, doorwings flaring at what lay beyond. She covered her mouth, pressing against the wall, unable to tear her horrified gaze away.
Two mechs lay tangled together on the berth, shadows flashing across their naked frames. Transformation plating lay in a neat pile at the foot of the berth: red and gold. Their dark, glowing optics and a lamp in the corner gave the only light.
But she didn't have to see them to know who they were. She didn't have to see, to know what they were doing.
Sunstreaker thrust at his brother's hips, mouth open; panting into the shadow of Sideswipe's cheek seam. He clutched at the white thigh, drawing the leg up, and along his side.
Sideswipe did not simply lay there, his hands roved his brother's naked arms, circling invisible seams, sliding up to caress the vents on Sunstreaker's face, hips returning his brother's thrusts.
One of them moaned, the sound purring out of a vocalizer surging with energy, so intent on their lovemaking they hadn't even noticed the door opening, or Prowl standing there.
Sideswipe turned his head, lips molding to the other's; opening to allow their glossae to twine.
Sound finally escaped Prowl's vocalizer: a squeak of disbelief, of horror.
Two pairs of optics glowed brightly at her in alarm.
Sideswipe's optics widened. “Prowl.”
She turned and fled.
"Prowl, wait!”
Something heavy landed on the floor and unplated feet chased after her, spurring her on faster.
The mech behind her was faster; hands seized her doorwings, yanking her back. She turned, expecting to see Sideswipe, but it was Sunstreaker's horned visage that glared down at her.
She lashed out, fist slamming into his cheek seam, snapping his head back. “Let go of me!”
He released her with a cry, hands clapping to the indentation her fist had left on his face. A growl rumbled from his frame, but she didn't stay to apologize.
Not with Sideswipe coming up the hallway, clasping plates to his hips, face intense.
The same expression he had worn earlier in the evening when his brother had been looking at him like... oh, Primus! She took a step away, and then broke for the door. The door didn't open fast enough for her, and she shoved it open, hearing it squeal offtrack. She didn't care. As soon as it was wide enough for her to squeeze past with her doorwings angled back, she went through. She dashed down the hall, slamming the button for the lift to return, turning to watch Sideswipe step out of his apartment. He eyed the broken door, turning to frown at her.
She squeaked again as he approached. “Stay away from me, you, you...” Words failed her for a moment, and then the lift doors opened. “You freakish machine!” She zipped in, slapping the door controls to close the entry.
His footsteps quickened and she yelped as he smacked the door open again. She pressed herself against the back of the lift watching him approach.
"Prowl...”
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!” The lift shifted as it began to descend, leaving her in the lift with Sideswipe. “How could you? You just...” she ground her dental plates. “And with your brother!”
He lifted his hands placatingly, still approaching her. “It's not what it looks like.”
"Oh really? You wanna try that again? Cause I think it was exactly how it looked!” She yanked away from the calming hand he lay on her arm. “Don't touch me with your disgusting hands! Augh! You touched me with your hands, and your mouth, and your...” She slapped his hand away, scooting into the corner. “He's your brother! How could you do that with your twin!”
She realized her mistake when he caged her in with his arms. “Yes, he's my brother. And yes, he's my twin. Yes, we-”
"Your twin, Sideswipe! You can breach each other's firewalls, did you ever think of that? Oh, Primus, I think I'm going to purge.”
The lift door chose that moment to open, and a security guard waited just outside. His purple optics widened as he took in Sideswipe's state. Sideswipe turned a glare on the larger mech, moving one of his hands to key the door close, and the lift back up.
He turned back to her, his optics dim, and expression pensive. He caged her in with his arms again. “Prowl, calm down. We're both mechs; breaching each other's firewalls is not something we have to worry about.”
The lift moved, taking them back up to Sideswipe's floor. Prowl could almost sense her escape receding.
"Listen, I never meant for you to see that. I didn't think we'd jolt you online. I'm sorry.”
"You've been saying that a lot today.” Trapped, she crossed her arms over her chestplate, unable to look him in the face.
"Things haven't been going as planned,” he admitted. He was silent for only a brief astrosecond. “I was hoping Tracks would be there for Sunny. He always comes away from his work with his hardware active, art's like lubricant for him.”
"You should make him take care of his own needs,” she muttered.
"What, like plugging himself into an outlet? That doesn't spark his circuits, he needs someone there to hold him and to kiss, and, well, other things. Usually it's whatever mech's currently keeping him company, like Tracks, ” Sideswipe finally looked away, mumbling out of the side of his mouth, “I was really hoping he'd be here tonight.”
"Did it have to be you?”
He looked back at her, blinking rapidly. “Would you rather him jack into you?”
She twitched, turning her face away from him a little more. “Primus, no!” She jerked her head back up to glare at him. “But why you? That's what dolls are for!”
"Because I can't deny him anything. Because I'd rather it be me, than someone he cares nothing about,” he looked almost sad as he whispered that.
The lift stopped and the doors open. “Unicron above, you love him.”
He nodded, shutters covering his optics. “He's my twin, my bro.” He straightened, dropping his arms. “I want you to understand, Prowl. I love you, too.” He leaned forward, as if to kiss her but he stopped when she flinched away.
"How many have you told that to, Sideswipe? Why should I be any different?”
Much to her relief he moved away. “Not as many as you might think, Prowl. I'm a merchant; I know the power of words. I don't use them lightly.” He looked at the waiting doorway, and the damaged door beyond. “I can't make you stay, Prowl, but I'd really hate to see you go.”
"I can't, Sideswipe. This is wrong on so many levels, and my logic programs can't take the strain...” she trailed off, noticing the other mech at the apartment door, optics glowing at them.
Quickly, she averted her gaze, too upset to say anymore, but found herself looking at Sideswipe instead.
He nodded, stepping away. “Alright.” His fists clenched at his sides, and his vents stuttered. “See ya later, maybe?”
She looked away, optics. “Maybe.”
The lift door hissed close on his broken posture, and she slid down to the floor, drawing her knees to the chest, tears leaking down her tear tracks. She sat there for a long time, until the lift moved down to the ground level of its own accord, and the doors opened to an empty hall, waiting for her to leave.
Part Two
But, look! Conflict!
Title Twin Ties (tentative)
Series (ooh look, it's a series now --;) Sticky Situation
Pairing Prowl/Sideswipe, Sunstreaker/Sideswipe, implied Sunstreaker/Tracks (is it the same Tracks though *shrug* We'll say it is for now ;)
Warnings Twincest Ahoy! (brief, but definately there), Mechanical Sticky, Further Butchering of Prowl's Character.
Summary Prowl, meet Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker, meet Prowl. Sunstreaker is an ass. Prowl freaks.
Author's Notes (also called Fun but Ultimately Useless Facts) This is pre-war Prowl and Sideswipe; rather, the war’s going on, but they’re not yet participating. Therefore, they both have civilian alt modes. Something noteworthy, is that the Enforcer is not a military model of the Gingeroll. The Enforcer is strictly a mech model, and the Gingeroll is strictly a femme model. The Enforcer is actually an upgrade of a Tilt model: the Winged Tilt. (Much like Jazz’s Sleektilt, which is an upgraded version of Fastilt model). Both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were upgraded to military Line models, and no major alterations were made besides the installation of armor and weapons.
This also means that femme!Prowl’s appearance is rather different than usual. Imagine her like a larger, longer VW Beetle. (It gives her curves ;P) Ergo she's a bit like Bumblebee (except she's taller), maybe someday my art muse will be freed and allow me to draw her. This makes it feel like I’m creating an OC rather than playing with Prowl. *sigh*
Master List
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The two vehicles weaved in and out of traffic, laughter dancing through their assigned channel. The red Fineline flickered his turn signal, warning the blue Gingeroll following him of the turn he was about to take. He whipped onto the offramp, and she zipped right after him, narrowly missing the big Convoy that blared it's alarm at her. She tooted back at the larger bot, swinging her tail before snapping a hasty right turn after the Fineline.
Prowl sped after Sideswipe, pulling up along side him on the narrow one-lane road. “You sure Sunstreaker won't mind me staying. Not even if it's a decacycle or two?”
Sideswipe slowed, down shifting as he turned down another street. “Trust me, he won't mind,” his voice trailed off with an unfinished thought.
She gunned her engine, laughing. “Go ahead and say it, Sideswipe.”
"Say what, Prowl?”
They pulled up to a high-rise apartment building and she transformed.
In root mode, she spoke aloud, shaking the hum of the road from the mag plates covering her shoulders. “He has never minded before.” She had no disillusion that she was special. She knew his reputation. Was there a femme in Kaon who didn't?
“Well, he hasn’t.”
She watched as he folded upright, admiring the smooth transition from vehicle to robot. The red mech grinned, turning to give her full view of what he called his best angles. Her fingers twitched to dig into his seams, and run her glossa over his holding area. She had no illusions that she was the only one who had such desires, nor the only one who'd had such a pleasure.
Sideswipe keyed the entry code into the main entrance and gestured her inside, his darkening optics watching as she sashayed past. She pinged her fingers against his thin chestplate, pausing to take in the tidy interior. It wasn't the Towers, nor was it the lowest slums. While trash didn't litter the floors, it wasn't exactly spotless.
Sideswipe entered after her, the door sliding close behind him. He tilted his head, awaiting her evaluation. Finally, she turned to him, doorwings twitching.
"You could afford so much better.”
His optics flashed and he grinned. She realized she had answered as he'd predicted. “The rent is just right for the amount of space we have.”
She crossed her arms over her chestplate as he walked up to her, putting an arm over her doorwings. “Let me guess, you calculated it?”
He grinned that disarming grin of his, the one that made her fuel tank flutter. “Of course. Expect any less from me?”
"Not from the mech who judges a bar on how much they put in the cube and what consistency the energon is, rather than the location.” She looked at him from under her chevron, quirking a grin.
Wide optics stared at her in all innocence. “Hey, we got out of there without being arrested didn't we? I told you, I know the beat cops there.”
She rolled her doorwings as they stepped onto the lift. The lift doors closed and she shoved him away and into the wall. She pressed herself into him, hands running all over his body as she shoved her face toward his, her lips and nasal ridge barely grazing his own. “If you ever put us into that situation again,” she pulled just out of his reach as he inched toward her moving lips, “I promise that you will be spending a recharge cycle, hardware running, strapped to your berth, and no one around.” She pushed away, optics flashing as he stood there, panting, arms frozen in a movement to encircle her.
"Primus, Prowl, don't tempt me.”
Her brow ridges lifted as she shook her head at him. “You're not supposed to be excited about that, Sides.”
He caressed her neck, cupping his black hand over her jaw hinge. His lips brushed against hers. “Then don't make it sound so exciting,” he murmured. He pulled away, optics bright and took her hand.
The lift opened as if it was waiting for that one cue and he pulled her into the hall. “Now, Sunny's probably working, but don't worry; we don't have to be quiet, just don't get in his way.”
He keyed opened the first door on the right and once again gestured her in first.
She twitched her doorwings back as she moved into the apartment.
She froze, ventilators hitching as she took in the brilliant shine of limthzi crystals hanging from the ceiling. They rotated on an axis, sending sparkling shafts of light out from the luminescent liquid inside. She looked at the colors reflecting off of her arm plating, dancing over her cobalt finish in intricate patterns. The door slid closed and she turned to face Sideswipe, suddenly conscientious of the plating that seemed such a thin layer between her frame and his optics.
He stared at her, gaze intent on the arms she held before her and she dropped them to her side, turning her attention to anything but him.
“These are some beautiful paintings,” she started haltingly.
She reached out to touch one frame, admiring the latticework that coiled around the still life painting, like the vines of a wirevein.
Sideswipe gently pulled her hand away from the frame. “Sunny has an eye for color. I'll eventually sell those when we have ones to replace them, or when Sunny gets tired of admiring his own work.”
He guided her past an altar that looked like it should be in a museum and into a well-furbished living area. The couch looked to be one of the types that flattened into a mobile recharge berth, even connected to the power grid of the main building. The end tables and the foot rests looked to be made of some reflective material. She ran a wondering hand over the flat surface of one of the tables, the mottled stone smooth under her fingertips.
“Where the frag did you get marble?” She turned to her lover, optics wide. “Are you sure you're not one of the noblesparked.”
He shrugged, but his optics glowed with pride in himself. “Just know how to manage my credits and how to strike bargain.” He gestured to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable, I'll grab us a cube, and see what Sunny's doing.” Sideswipe patted her shoulder as she sat down on the edge of the fine couch. He left her side, walking into the dispenser area as he shouted his brother's name. “Hey, Sunny! We have a guest here, you going to come out, or be unsociable.”
The dispenser hummed to life, and she could hear the distinct sound of a cube filling. She didn't move, uncomfortable with the fine things around the home. Much finer than anything she was used to.
She knew she wasn't bad off herself, but the government salaries at her level would never afford her this much. Embarrassment sparked along her processor as she recalled the time he spent at her apartment, and how beggarly her sparsely decorated home must seem in comparison. Never had he offered a word of complaint, but she still felt uneasy. Home decorating, and interior design had never been a concept she understood. She had what she needed, and a few things that meant something to her, but saw no need to upgrade the appearance of her home.
A second cube was being filled, and still no response from the mysterious brother.
Prowl twitched her doorwings, wanting to be active, instead of stewing in her own processor. “Would you like me to see if he's here?”
"Sure,” Sideswipe responded from within the dipenser area. “He's here, but you can look in on him. Second door to the right, just down the hall. While you're at it you can see what he's working on, just make sure he doesn't respond to you before going in there.”
Prowl stood, confident now that she had a goal in mind. She tread over the soft fabric that covered the floor, the material rush-rushing under her feet. A row of paintings lined the wall of the corridor; abstract lights, spheres recognizable as sparks; solar systems, and spatial anomalies, all splashed with the vibrant colors reflected in the abode.
The second door on the right stood open, lit brighter than the rest of the apartment. She looked in, taking stock of the objects within. Half-finished paintings stacked against the wall, blank frames of unmade statues posed, ready to be finished. The fabric flooring had some sort of plastic covering, spattered with paints, and dyes, and what looked like dried clay. Where on Cybertron did they get clay?
A golden mech knelt in the middle of it all, the light glinting off his finish almost blindingly. He didn't seem to notice her, his attention on the small figure before him. His nasal ridge hovered within a few inches of the piece, dark blue optics intent on his work, the tool in his hand scraping precise lines into the clay.
"Sunstreaker?”
The golden mech didn't lift his head, or give any indication that he heard her. She moved closer, repeating his name again, still to no effect. Her gaze went from the beautiful mech to the clay figure he worked on.
A dancer posed on a toe joint, arms spread, leg stretched out in a classic pose. Sunstreaker's steady hands added the seams of the plating, giving the genderless form shape. She marveled at his rapt attention to his work.
Surely he couldn't ignore her when she stood this close? "Sunstreaker?”
Apparently he could, and she retreated back to the dispenser area, where Sideswipe mixed additives to three cubes.
"Couldn't get a response?” he said as soon as she stepped through the threshold.
"Not even a reset.”
He paused, looking toward her suddenly. “You didn't touch anything, did you?”
She tilted her head. “No. I just looked at him working.” She frowned as he sorted through label-less containers. “Is there a glitch in his auditory system?”
Sideswipe laughed as he squeezed a few drops of a grey substance into the energon, making it glow brighter. “Nah, he just shuts them off when he's working.” He grinned impishly at her.
"He...” She flicked her doorwings. “You slagger, you knew this, too, didn't you? But you were calling out to-”
She stopped as his fingers tapped his chestplate just over his spark. “Why you!” She stormed out of the dispensor area, systems heated as he chortled behind her.
She sat down on the black couch again, silently fuming over his prank.
A brightly glowing energon cube appeared next to her, held in a black hand “I'm sorry, I do that to everyone who visits. I have no excuse for it.”
She glared at the cube for an astrosecond, but those pleading optics, and that engaging grin won out and she took the offered energon. “You're incorrigible, Sideswipe.”
He sat down next to her, still ginning. “I know,” he took a sip from his cube, “but you love me for it.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek, but she shoved him away, still perturbed at his prank.
"You made a third cube?” she asked, noticing he set one on the low table before the couch. She realized too late that Sideswipe had mixed a potent high grade, and already she could feel it spreading through her systems.
"Of course, Sunny has to refuel sometime.”
Prowl and Sideswipe sat there for a while, going through first one, than another cube of the red mech's special mix. Sideswipe had gotten up to make a third round for them, leaving Prowl relaxed on the couch, when Sunstreaker finally decided to make his appearance.
She noticed him, suddenly standing before her, reaching for the extra cube on the low table, not seeming to notice her sitting there. His seemingly brilliant frame, she now saw, had scratches and dings, paint and clay riddling the seams and finish. He had nearly drained the entire cube when his optics lit on her.
The cube lowered and he stared at her in confusion, a scowl marring the perfection of his face. “Who the frag are you, and what are you doing in my apartment?”
She lifted her chin, doorwings riding high on her shoulder. “I'm Prowl, Sideswipe invited me in.”
"Prowl?” He frowned at nothing, trying to place her name. His optics focused on her again, and he stared at her quietly for a breem. Finally a smirk crossed his face. “He never brings home any mechs.”
She tilted her head, puzzling out that phrase. “Femmes don't spark your circuits?”
He took another gulp of his high grade. “Didn't say that. He just never brings home any mechs.” His gaze lifted to her shoulders and he stepped forward. “Do like the doorwings, though.” His engine rumbled as he reached for the panels gracing her shoulders.
She twisted out of his grasp and he blinked down at her.
"Sunny,” Sideswipe's admonishing tone made the golden mech lift his gaze to his brother. “She'll be staying with us a decacycle or two.”
Sunstreaker arched his brow ridge and downed the rest of his energon. “Really? Don't I get an opinion on this?” His optics never left Prowl, and she shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “Stand up.”
Sideswipe stood behind her, reaching past her to offer another cube to his brother. “Sunny, please...”
"I just want to see that she's pretty enough for you, bro. And I’ll not have anything unattractive in my apartment.”
Her optics burned with chagrin and matched Sunstreaker’s scowl with one of her own. “Really? You can't see that with me sitting down, is that it?”
Sideswipe's buzzed in irritation. “You never bring a femme home, and I don't do this to you.”
Sunstreaker didn't move, an imposing figure in the midst of so many nice things, a Convoy in a lift too small. “You could be hiding scratches and dents like that. Stand up.”
She glared at the brother of the mech she had been seeing for only a metacycle. She weighed her options, and they were few indeed, at least this night. It was too late in the solar cycle to impose on any of her friends, and she couldn't go home, the entire building was being renovated to pass an inspection. She could find a recharge shelter for the night, but she didn't favor shutting down around questionable mechs. She could rent a berth at the local inn, but finding a free room, or even a berth at this cycle? Reluctantly she stood, mouth set in as fierce a glower as she could manage. She had been told that it was quite intimidating, but the mech in front of her wasn't even looking at her face.
His gaze traveled over her frame, optics flickering lightly as he reached her hips and then her chest. He set his mouth in a lopsided smirk. “I approve, bro. And I don't need to bring femmes home, bro. You do that for me. You, however, wouldn't know a good-looking mech if they punched you in the face.”
"Well, I'm glad you think I'm pretty,” she growled from between her dental plates, fuming.
"Enough,” the paint-scratched twin was quick to correct. “Doorwings certainly add to your appearance.”
"Slagger,” Sideswipe hissed. She looked back at the red mech, who stood with two energon cubes in hand, his head hanging. “Where's Tracks?” His bright optics as he handed her one of the cubes gave tell of his embarassment
"He's gone.”
Sideswipe blinked. “He's not coming back?”
"The slagger could go interface with a maintenance drone for all I care.” Sunstreaker downed half the contents of his cube. “I need to get back to work.” He finished off the rest, optics glowing with the potency of the mixture. “See you later, Sides.”
She frowned at the look Sunstreaker gave his twin, the look of someone who saw something beautiful, and knew what it felt like to touch that beautiful thing, and possess it. She hastily put the mostly full cube down, deciding that if she was seeing such things, she'd had enough.
"Done?”
"Your brother spoiled my appetite.” She refused to look at the red mech as he gathered the cube.
Sideswipe pressed his lips together as he looked down at her. He seemed to come to a decision and finished off the contents of his own cube, disposing of it with a specific signal. He sat next to her, venting a sigh. “I can't tell you how sorry I am about that. I wish I could say that he's not always like that, but he is. I was hoping I could catch him before he came out here, though.”
She glared at him. “I am tired, Sideswipe.” She flicked her doorwings, looking away from him. “I'll look into other arrangements, for the next couple of decacycles.”
He was silent for nearly a breem, his gaze never leaving her face, although she looked anywhere but at him. “Yeah, Prowl, okay. Let me set up the couch for you.”
She stood, watching as he folded the couch down into a recharge berth. He moved over to her, touching her shoulder plate. “Can’t we talk about this?” Pale optics pleaded with her.
She raised her doorwings, twitching her shoulder away from his fingers. “I just want to recharge right now, Sides.”
"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. Good night, Prowl.”
"Good night, Sideswipe.” She waited until he moved down the hall, only pausing by the control panel to dim the lights, before she lay down. She heard him puttering about one of the other rooms for a breem, his brother noticeable in his silence, before she succumbed to shut down.
~*~*~*~
She couldn't identify immediately what brought her online. She looked about in brief alarm at the unfamiliar surroundings before recalling herself. Then she heard it again.
A wordless cry, the buzz of someone in distress. The constant sound of metal striking metal.
She stood, following the muffled noises down the hall. She paused to look into Sunstreaker's work area, but the golden twin wasn't there. She reached the end of the hall, and the door situated there slid open automatically.
She stepped back, doorwings flaring at what lay beyond. She covered her mouth, pressing against the wall, unable to tear her horrified gaze away.
Two mechs lay tangled together on the berth, shadows flashing across their naked frames. Transformation plating lay in a neat pile at the foot of the berth: red and gold. Their dark, glowing optics and a lamp in the corner gave the only light.
But she didn't have to see them to know who they were. She didn't have to see, to know what they were doing.
Sunstreaker thrust at his brother's hips, mouth open; panting into the shadow of Sideswipe's cheek seam. He clutched at the white thigh, drawing the leg up, and along his side.
Sideswipe did not simply lay there, his hands roved his brother's naked arms, circling invisible seams, sliding up to caress the vents on Sunstreaker's face, hips returning his brother's thrusts.
One of them moaned, the sound purring out of a vocalizer surging with energy, so intent on their lovemaking they hadn't even noticed the door opening, or Prowl standing there.
Sideswipe turned his head, lips molding to the other's; opening to allow their glossae to twine.
Sound finally escaped Prowl's vocalizer: a squeak of disbelief, of horror.
Two pairs of optics glowed brightly at her in alarm.
Sideswipe's optics widened. “Prowl.”
She turned and fled.
"Prowl, wait!”
Something heavy landed on the floor and unplated feet chased after her, spurring her on faster.
The mech behind her was faster; hands seized her doorwings, yanking her back. She turned, expecting to see Sideswipe, but it was Sunstreaker's horned visage that glared down at her.
She lashed out, fist slamming into his cheek seam, snapping his head back. “Let go of me!”
He released her with a cry, hands clapping to the indentation her fist had left on his face. A growl rumbled from his frame, but she didn't stay to apologize.
Not with Sideswipe coming up the hallway, clasping plates to his hips, face intense.
The same expression he had worn earlier in the evening when his brother had been looking at him like... oh, Primus! She took a step away, and then broke for the door. The door didn't open fast enough for her, and she shoved it open, hearing it squeal offtrack. She didn't care. As soon as it was wide enough for her to squeeze past with her doorwings angled back, she went through. She dashed down the hall, slamming the button for the lift to return, turning to watch Sideswipe step out of his apartment. He eyed the broken door, turning to frown at her.
She squeaked again as he approached. “Stay away from me, you, you...” Words failed her for a moment, and then the lift doors opened. “You freakish machine!” She zipped in, slapping the door controls to close the entry.
His footsteps quickened and she yelped as he smacked the door open again. She pressed herself against the back of the lift watching him approach.
"Prowl...”
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!” The lift shifted as it began to descend, leaving her in the lift with Sideswipe. “How could you? You just...” she ground her dental plates. “And with your brother!”
He lifted his hands placatingly, still approaching her. “It's not what it looks like.”
"Oh really? You wanna try that again? Cause I think it was exactly how it looked!” She yanked away from the calming hand he lay on her arm. “Don't touch me with your disgusting hands! Augh! You touched me with your hands, and your mouth, and your...” She slapped his hand away, scooting into the corner. “He's your brother! How could you do that with your twin!”
She realized her mistake when he caged her in with his arms. “Yes, he's my brother. And yes, he's my twin. Yes, we-”
"Your twin, Sideswipe! You can breach each other's firewalls, did you ever think of that? Oh, Primus, I think I'm going to purge.”
The lift door chose that moment to open, and a security guard waited just outside. His purple optics widened as he took in Sideswipe's state. Sideswipe turned a glare on the larger mech, moving one of his hands to key the door close, and the lift back up.
He turned back to her, his optics dim, and expression pensive. He caged her in with his arms again. “Prowl, calm down. We're both mechs; breaching each other's firewalls is not something we have to worry about.”
The lift moved, taking them back up to Sideswipe's floor. Prowl could almost sense her escape receding.
"Listen, I never meant for you to see that. I didn't think we'd jolt you online. I'm sorry.”
"You've been saying that a lot today.” Trapped, she crossed her arms over her chestplate, unable to look him in the face.
"Things haven't been going as planned,” he admitted. He was silent for only a brief astrosecond. “I was hoping Tracks would be there for Sunny. He always comes away from his work with his hardware active, art's like lubricant for him.”
"You should make him take care of his own needs,” she muttered.
"What, like plugging himself into an outlet? That doesn't spark his circuits, he needs someone there to hold him and to kiss, and, well, other things. Usually it's whatever mech's currently keeping him company, like Tracks, ” Sideswipe finally looked away, mumbling out of the side of his mouth, “I was really hoping he'd be here tonight.”
"Did it have to be you?”
He looked back at her, blinking rapidly. “Would you rather him jack into you?”
She twitched, turning her face away from him a little more. “Primus, no!” She jerked her head back up to glare at him. “But why you? That's what dolls are for!”
"Because I can't deny him anything. Because I'd rather it be me, than someone he cares nothing about,” he looked almost sad as he whispered that.
The lift stopped and the doors open. “Unicron above, you love him.”
He nodded, shutters covering his optics. “He's my twin, my bro.” He straightened, dropping his arms. “I want you to understand, Prowl. I love you, too.” He leaned forward, as if to kiss her but he stopped when she flinched away.
"How many have you told that to, Sideswipe? Why should I be any different?”
Much to her relief he moved away. “Not as many as you might think, Prowl. I'm a merchant; I know the power of words. I don't use them lightly.” He looked at the waiting doorway, and the damaged door beyond. “I can't make you stay, Prowl, but I'd really hate to see you go.”
"I can't, Sideswipe. This is wrong on so many levels, and my logic programs can't take the strain...” she trailed off, noticing the other mech at the apartment door, optics glowing at them.
Quickly, she averted her gaze, too upset to say anymore, but found herself looking at Sideswipe instead.
He nodded, stepping away. “Alright.” His fists clenched at his sides, and his vents stuttered. “See ya later, maybe?”
She looked away, optics. “Maybe.”
The lift door hissed close on his broken posture, and she slid down to the floor, drawing her knees to the chest, tears leaking down her tear tracks. She sat there for a long time, until the lift moved down to the ground level of its own accord, and the doors opened to an empty hall, waiting for her to leave.
Part Two